#eustass kid reader insert

The first time you laid eyes on him at Sabaody, Hawkins had immediately drawled a stern, “No,” without so much as looking up from his cards. You stood just over his shoulder, cloak drawn in a nice bow over your collarbones, and your hood pooled across the back of your shoulders. You watched, fascinated, as the Kid pirates passed by in the distance. 

“I want him,” you practically sang, raking over his red hair and fur-lined coat. You fiddled with the ring wrapped around your index finger, toying with the sharp little hook that could flick out from the band. You hummed gleefully to yourself, your tune interrupting Hawkins’ steady concentration as you had a word with one of your most loyal attendants.

“Your flavor of pet has always astounded,” he muttered, moving a few more cards around with a glance toward the man you sent off into town. Hawkins was on higher alert here in Sabaody. With so many crews converging all at once and the proximity to Navy headquarters, Hawkins insisted that the crew be vigilant. “But I must beseech you to bypass this one. Toy with another crew if you must, but I assert that a confrontation with Eustass should be saved for the New World, that being if we simply must.” 

“Not a confrontation, Captain,” you leaned over Hawkins’ shoulder, placing one hand neatly over the other as you let yourself lean. You watched as he shuffled the cards in his hands, like he’d done millions of times before. “He’d make a great star for my collection.”

“Your odds are abysmal, as you can see,” Hawkins muttered, drawing your first card. “The Devil,” he began, revealing the dark, grinning figure on the card. He glanced toward you scrutinously out of the corner of his eyes, almost as if to emphasize his apparent disappointment. “Temptation and obsession. Dangerous desire that binds you.”

He drew a second card. “Seven of Swords,” he continued, his voice much like a sighed lecture, as if presenting evidence so indisputable should’ve been beyond words. “Deception and trickery that may backfire…”

And by the time Hawkins drew the third card, he pretended not to notice that you’d already slunk away. You had always been an ornery one, and when it came to consequences, you always seemed to have to see them yourself before you listened to anyone else. You often ventured off like a feral cat, and Hawkins was sure to collect you when a big, scary dog barked you back home. That was, of course, the responsibility of an older sibling. 

“The Tower,” he continued, to no one in particular. “Destruction and consequences you cannot foresee,” Hawkins droned, breathing another sigh, “Didn’t necessarily need a card to tell you that one, not that you’d listen anyway.”

And he was right. You weren’t listening. In fact, you were halfway across the archipelago, briskly following one of your other toys, the same one you’d sent to follow the Kid Pirates as soon as you’d seen them. 

You had quite the collection of specimens who’d had the misfortune of falling into your web. Each of them was sealed to you through powerful blood magic, blessed with living out the rest of their days in loving devotion to you. Although despite your menagerie, you often found yourself growing bored once the ritual was through. And so, ever one to pursue a novel danger, you sleuthed out Eustass Kid, following him all the way to some seedy bar in a faraway grove. 

The bar was loud and dim. You entered, leaving your cloak with your scout, who stood dutifully at the door. You were dressed to kill, sauntering with purpose as you purposefully ignored the pointed stares and whistles tossed your way. Men—people in general—always looked at you like that when you wanted them to, but you had your eyes set on one gaze. 

The atmosphere in the building felt warm and smelled of cheap beer and ale, and at the center of it all was him. Broad-shouldered, loud, and half-shouting over the music, Kid sat with his crew occupying a whole section of the establishment. He sat like a goddamn king, an oversized stein of ale resting on his knee as he shouted some obscene joke across the room. 

You glided between tables, eyes never leaving Kid for a second. You didn’t hesitate. You didn’t ask. You sauntered right up to him, draping an arm over the back of his shoulders as you slid into his lap like it’s always been yours. You didn’t sit—you claimed as you draped your legs over his. 

The crew erupted with catcalls and whistles, but you didn’t spare a glance away. A vial glinted between your fingers as you popped the cap. You took it between your index and middle fingers like a cigarette, never looking away from Kid’s captivated, amused expression. You took the vial between your lips, tipping it back, and before Kid’s grin could twist into a crude remark, you were on him—lips against his, branding him with a kiss. 

“Holy shit, where’d you come from, baby?”

“Don’t mind us, brother!”

You brewed the draught yourself. You ensured its potency could easily incapacitate a man more than three times Kid’s size, and with a little extra, he’d be entirely yours because you got to point at the biggest, loudest man in the room and make him yours.

Kid felt solid beneath you, radiating intense heat through his skin. You leaned farther into him, pressing the side of your chest against his as your hand immediately tangled within the roots of his hair. You tugged on his red strands, trailing your hand to the area behind his ear where your ring would bite. 

The sharp hook bit into his pale skin with a flick of your wrist, and when you pulled back, you licked from the base of his neck all the way up to the shiny red drop of blood you’d just prickled from him. He’d jerked, like he’d felt a mosquito bite, but you only held him closer, waiting for the moment the spell took hold. You could feel the energy thick in the air, swirling around the dense atmosphere of the bar. 

But… nothing happened. 

There was hardly an ember of anything, like trying to start a fire that won’t light. Kid didn’t soften under you. His eyes didn’t glaze over with enchantment. And then… a spark pierced through you like a shot. The dizzying electricity of conquorors' haki backfired against you.

But Kid didn’t seem to notice. You weren’t even sure if he fired off the spark in the first place or if it was his body’s natural defense to your magic. He grabbed you roughly, kissing you back harder, brash and unyielding. He leaned you back, almost as if dipping you over his lap, and any power you thought you had over the situation soon fizzled. 

Your spell had failed for the first time in a long line of powerful people. His sheer willpower was overwhelming. You had never encountered such resistance. 

And when Kid finally drew away, his lips were slick with saliva, and yours were bruised. He held you, slightly bent over you as you were nearly lying across his lap, feet off the ground, his grin unwavering.

“Well, damn,” he gruffed, heaving you back up like you were nothing as he sat somewhat straight once again. Your arm still draped over the back of his shoulder, this time clutching the fur lining as you unconsciously grounded yourself. “What corner of hell did you crawl out of?” he teased. 

The group roared with approval as you burned within. This had never happened before. Your potions were flawless, and sealed with blood; he should have been yours to command the moment his blood touched your tongue. But no, he’d retained control, taking a swig of his ale as he laughed boisterously at something one of his crewmates said. His opposite hand wrapped tightly around your waist like you were some sort of local arm candy. 

And then, his eyes flickered upward, doing a double take as he noticed a pair of eyes staring his way. Kid lifted his cup to his lips again.

“Who’s the bastard with the stupid face?” he asked, no longer paying any attention to you.

“That’s the Sea Roar, isn’t it?” someone from the crew confirmed. 

Before you knew it, Kid was standing, practically dumping you from his lap as he charged forward, exploding the front of the establishment in a flash. Dust and debris filled the air as the Kid Pirates began to pack up around you. No one said a word to you, gathering themselves to disappear into the smoke after their captain.

You could hear the confrontation outside. 

“Could you really not wait for the other side of the Red Line to fight me?” the other voice yelled over the chaos. “Just curious, but do you have any idea who I am?”

“All I know is you wouldn’t stop staring at me.” Kid passed through the smoke, a hand on the hilt of the knife strapped to his chest. “You are one creepy lookin’ bastard. Why don’t you just let me put you out of your misery?”

You’d scrambled to your feet, slipping out of the building before the integrity crumbled. You watched from a distance, brooding and licking your proverbial wounds like a cat. The toy who’d accompanied you to the bar draped your cloak back over your shoulders. The clash between Kid and Apoo caused another explosion to shake the ground, but you couldn’t have been less impressed. 

Really? He’d tossed you aside like a half-finished drink because some idiot looked at him wrong? This brute of a man just had a beautiful, powerful witch on his lap, but no, he wanted to take things outside to laugh and throw punches with some half-rate pirate. 

You had half the nerve to step in and hex him right there. You wanted to curse and mark him and drag him back to you with such a show of strength he’d forget all about some stupid bar brawl.

And yet, something about watching him fight with Apoo made your heart pound. He was like a wild animal. He was arrogant, untamed, impossible. It equally annoyed and thrilled you, a far too eager part of you already imagining what it’d be like to have such a magnetic force of a man under your thumb. 

You retreated for now, undeterred. 

When you reunited with Hawkins, he’d already made his way across the grove. He posted up at a fountain in the middle of a square, sifting through cards as usual. He didn’t look up when you approached. You often came and went. 

“I assume the attempt at… persuasion didn’t go as planned,” he said plainly. His typical neutral frown adorned his lips. 

You scowled. “It’s not like that,” you defended. “He weilds strong conqueror’s haki. That’s all.” 

Hawkins’ gaze lifted to eye you, calculating and unamused. “We’re about to cross the Red Line. Not accounting for such a factor is reckless, even for you. Did the cards not warn you thoroughly enough?” 

You crossed your arms, turning away. “I don’t need a lecture from you.”

Hawkins sighed, tearing his eyes off his cards for a moment as he addressed you. “If you insist on a souvenir, perhaps you might have more luck with X Drake.”

You scrunched your nose at the name. “I don’t like his chin,” you grumbled. “And his bounty is too low.”

“His bounty is higher than yours,” Hawkins reminded you, causing you to bristle. 

One of your pets approached you, holding up a hand to whisper in your ear. Hawkins’ eyes returned to his cards. 

“I need you not to make a scene,” Hawkins said flatly. “Our objective is to pass through to the New World. Do you understand?” 

You weren’t listening, already turned away as you put your fingers to your lips like you were about to blow up a balloon. You took the hook from your ring into your mouth, the faint copper taste still lingering on the metal. You focused on the taste, holding the memory of your first attempt vividly in your mind. 

The droplet of remembered essence formed on your tongue, growing larger until it passed through your lips as if delicately blowing a bubble from gum. The bubble popped from your mouth, bouncing delicately to your open palms. You could still see the memory in the glint of the ball, alive and distilled from Kid’s blood. 

“I probably have time to brew another batch,” you mused, looking into the bubble. “Is that out of the way enough for you? Or does that bring you concern?”

“Dare I say everything you do brings me concern.”

You’d begun to slink away again, waving over your shoulder the moment Hawkins glanced your way with a sigh. “Brewing it is!”

***

Your many eyes and ears followed the Kid Pirates around Sabaody for the rest of the day, reporting that they’d ended up at the auction house by the time you were fully prepped and ready for a second attempt. Grove 1 was a distance away, and you didn’t arrive before the auction started. By the time you walked in the door, a portion of the event had already gone by, but the Kid Pirates remained posted up at the back all the same. The pet you’d sent to track them took your coat once more, standing obediently to the side.

You weren’t interested in what was for sale tonight. Instead, you found auctions like these cheating. You’d rather hand-select your specimens and hunt them organically. Call it ethical collection. 

Kid appeared entirely at home among the greedy, shady figures that gathered among the rows. He leaned against the back wall, arms crossed over his chest, his hulking figure hunched slightly as he made passing comments about the beings on stage. 

You wore a new talisman around your neck, threats of his essence woven into the jewel at its center. The air seemed to shift the moment you walked in, Kid’s eyes immediately finding you the moment you were in sight. The talisman tugged him, beckoning him. He grinned wickedly, meeting you partway as you approached him. 

“Well, look who wandered in,” he mused. His eyes raked over you. You’d cast an enhanced glamour charm before you came in, intensified with the blood sample you’d obtained earlier. You wouldn’t be surprised if, in his eyes, you were glowing. “Come here to place a bid, darlin’?”

You shook your head. “Buying up your collection takes away the thrill of the hunt,” you hummed, cheekily moving past him. Kid followed. 

“Careful now,” he warned, now circling you, “Keep talking like that in a place like this and someone might add you to a collection.” 

You laughed, stopping to face him with your hands behind your back. “Do you enjoy a good hunt, Captain Kid? I must say, I give a hell of a chase.” 

You offered him a sly, sultry smirk. Kid leaned against the adjacent wall. The very lack of space between you was a subtle victory in and of itself. He couldn’t tear his attention away from the jewel around your neck, your chest, your eyes, your lips. 

“Something tells me you’re envisioning yourself as the chaser in this scenario, which is cute, but dangerously misguided.” He leaned in a little closer. You didn’t realize how big he was standing up. Perhaps you’d miscalculated the dosage after all. You cocked your head to the side, taking another inch of space. 

“Look at you using the big words.” 

You’d applied an alluring musk in combination with your glamour charm. The closer he got, the harder it would be to pull away. Things were going perfectly. 

“You know, I’m sure you get this a lot—” Kid bent forward, one forearm steadying himself against the wall as he leaned toward your ear. You focused on where his mouth was. One more kiss and he’d be yours for sure. He opened his lips, speaking directly in your ear. —“But you and Hawkins look nothin’ alike.” 

Your eyes glistened with a feverish curiosity, your lips twitching upward. You reached up, dragging your hand down the fur lining that peaked out from the inside of his coat, the side of your thumb just barely brushing his bare chest before you stopped at his abs. 

“We’re very different, Hawkins and I.” You flipped the hem of his coat in your hand, smoothing the inner fur with your finger. The material had been through hell, but it was surprisingly still quite soft despite the matting. “He forecasts the storms, I make men drown in them.” 

You pulled on Kid’s coat, but he didn’t budge. Rather, he pulled back to take in your face, a grin stretched across his lips.

“So the witch is playing pirate, huh? Don’t you think you and Hawkins oughta start a side show and leave conquering the seas to the rest of us?” he teased, the red glow of your jewel cast over his pale skin. You could see the glint of it shining in his eyes. 

“You should be flattered,” you purred, “I have extremely high standards for my personal collection, I’ll have you know.”

You took a step back and Kid unconsciously followed as you led him a few paces away from the wall. The room thinned out around you, the bustle of the auction becoming nothing but background noise. Kid watched you closely as you circled him one, scanning him up and down before coming to stand decisively in front of him. You stood gutsily close.

“Skull; I approve of the shape overall. Clean lines, pronounced cheekbones, sharp chin. Nose—distinctive, angular.” And to his own surprise, Kid let you approach, leaning to take the side of his face in your hand. Your thumb tugged at his cheek, pulling down his bottom eyelid as you did so. “Eyes: bright, alert. Dare I say your irises are a blood orange in pigment? Quite unique.” Your touch trailed to his lips, brushing over his bottom lip. “Muzzle: a strong pigmentation is a good indicator of a good constitution.”

“This some sort of livestock auction, judge?” Kid grimaced. “If I wanted someone to sell me, I’d be on that stage like some fucked up masochist.” He scowled, but appeared still somewhat amused overall. 

“Call it a formal appraisal. I wouldn’t even charge,” you hummed with a nod. Your hand trailed over his neck. “Might I say, the neckset is excellent. Shoulders are broad, although it appears you hold the left a bit higher than the other. Don’t worry, this is normal. Most people have one shoulder that’s a bit higher. Wrists and hands appear surprisingly dextrous. And, of course, this all isn’t to write off your chosen decor. We all love a good accoutrement. Big fan of the footwear. I love a man in heavy boots.” 

“Shit, no wonder you go for the sloppy smooch of the bat,” he scoffed, crossing his arms. “Ya get far too technical with these things if you get a chance to talk.” 

“The nail polish signifies an attention to detail. The gold bangles are classic pirate attire: showy, and you don’t care too much about being cliché. Temperament is as important as physicality in my humble opinion. You’re brash. Courageous if not arrogantly gutsy. Handleability? Low. Prey-drive? Likely extreme. Trainability? I’d grade you moderate if I’m right about you being reward motivated. Danger and novelty would be the places I’d start with you.”

“Do I look like some kinda dog to you, witch?” he spat, barking out a boisterous laugh. 

“Overall,” you continued, “I know a high-quality specimen when I see one. One of a kind. Perfect for a collection like mine. And believe me, Captain Kid, I do intend on collecting you.” 

Kid cocked a brow, his grin never faltering for a second. “Is that the verdict? Buy? Rescue like some sort of goddamn stray?”

“Reserve.” You let the word roll of your tongue. Your hand reached his chest once more, sliding your index finger to his sternum. You dragged your finger across his skin, tracing invisible markings.  “Held back for special acquisition.”

“Careful,” he warned, taking your wrist in his hand. “The way you’re talkin’ is starting to sound like an invitation.”

“Maybe,” you sighed, still playing coy. You were relaxed, even under his grip, like you were still in charge. “Maybe it’s fun if you chase me back a little.” 

Kid barked out another unapologetic laugh, his eyes narrowing at you with amusement. “I think you’ve been coddled on that little ship of yours if you think everyone’s got the patience to play your little games. Especially someone like me. Now, look.” He gestured around you at the room. “We’re standing in a room full of killers, criminals, and traffickers. But you, little thing, think you’re bold enough to touch me, cast your bullshit voo-doo on me, grade me like an animal, and walk out?”

“That’s exactly what I’m planning,” you smiled.

Kid shook his head, clicking his tongue. And when he set his crimson gaze on you again, he cocked his head, leaning forward. “If you’re gonna play with me, witch, you better be ready to bleed,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. 

You brought your wrist forward, and his hand with it. You slipped his middle finger into your mouth, never releasing eye contact for a second. You sucked the tip before letting the pad of his finger rest on one of your sharp canines. Gravity did the rest, pricking him on your tooth as the slightest droplet seeped into your mouth. 

“Then maybe I should start with a taste.” You lapped it up, letting his now acutely punctured finger slip from your lip. 

His grin sharpened. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

And then, a commotion erupted from behind you. A gunshot sounded, causing you to instinctively turn around. There was Strawhat Luffy marching up the stairs, arm cocked and headed straight for Saint Charlos. 

Every ounce of challenge and reparte that had build up between you vanished, your attention quickly overtaken by pure astonishment as Luffy’s fist collided with a Celestial Dragon’s face. The fallout was immediate as the entire auction house erupted around you. 

You glanced toward Kid as the first burst of gunfire crackled through the air. He rolled his shoulders back like he was about to dive into the middle of the chaos at any moment. 

“Finally,” he gruffed, “I had a feeling Strawhat was gonna do something crazy, and I wasn’t disappointed.” 

You backed up, watching the isolated fights unfold as nobles and buyers ran for the exit. You could take on your fair share of foes, but battle royales like this were not preferred to you. Meanwhile, Kid stepped forward in stark contrast to you, ready to brawl. 

“You’re going to wait around for an admiral?” you scoffed. 

Kid glanced at you over his shoulder. “Of course not,” he sneered, “But fightin’ through the grunts that are probably gathering outside right now… Now that’s the fun part.”

You huffed, turning away from him. “I don’t know how I feel about my merchandise potentially being damaged…”

Kid laughed incredulously. “Merchandise? Darlin’, you don’t got your claws in me yet—you just got the privilege of watchin’ me work.”

“I’m not about to stick around and get shot.” 

An auction house guard attempted to ambush you from behind. Your pendant glowed, and with it, the sword in the guard’s hand began to crackle and shake with a familiar spark. Kid’s eyes narrowed as the sword flew back, slashing its owner in the throat before flying straight into the far wall. 

The noise outside grew louder. 

Kid met your eye, pointing a finger at you. “We’re gonna have a conversation about that,” he said lowly, his gaze flickering toward your pendant. “But go ahead and run. Slither out of here witch. Use your tricks and come back to collect me or whatever another day… If you’re bold enough.”

His gaze pierced yours, his cocky smirk ever present, and did it ever make you want him more.

“Go play with your grunts, just don’t get yourself broken.” You turned toward the shadows, your cloak flowing behind you. “I would hate to lose such a promising specimen before I’ve had a chance to finish the appraisal.” 

Kid laughed again, wild, delighted, and loud as ever. “Don’t worry yourself, witch. I’ll be around for you to chase across the New World.”

You walked opposite directions. You disappeared into the shadows as Kid went out to face the force of Marines. A promise to meet again on the other side of the Red Line hung in the air.