#opzineproject

🌸☀️MODERATOR SPOTLIGHT🌸☀️

We briefly interrupt Sanuso posting for some blondes!

Merry early Christmas! It's Santa Clause.. with an s? My second piece for the @opzineproject

Kid Pirates are up to no good on a winter island. What are y'all gonna do bout it?

This is the second piece I wrote for the @opzineproject! I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I had fun writing it! Be sure to check out the after-sale!

[Ao3]

Killer’s eyes flicked across the dull, monochromatic landscape, then back to Kidd. He knelt in the snow and adjusted his hold on his hand-made sled –a sheet of metal with the front curved to mimic the local’s sleds– and pressed his feet against a rock behind him.

“A’m gonna beat that bastard’s record, ‘n then a’m gonna beat his skull in,” Kidd growled. “READY?”

At the base of the snowy hill, Wire gave a thumbs up and Heat held aloft a stopwatch. Gathered behind them was a small crowd of local hotshots and their fans, all ready to see whether or not the pirate could beat their champion’s best run time.

“FIVE!”

Killer frowned, comparing a locals’ sled to Kidd’s.

“FOUR!”

“Kidd, shouldn’t you have reins?”

“THREE!”

“I control damn metal! I don’t need bloody reins!”

“TWO!”

“That doesn’t mean–”

“ONE!”

The rock broke from the force of Kidd’s launch. The crowd screamed and scattered as he rocketed down the hill, a stark red blur across the white expanse. Honestly, what were they expecting from Eustass “Captain” Kidd?

The captain blew past the finish line and Heat clocked the time. Kidd’s momentum carried him far beyond the finish. At this rate, he would probably make it to– the lake! It was currently iced over, but was the ice thick enough to hold against Kidd’s weight?!

Shit!

Killer tore down the hill at breakneck speed. He only had a few seconds! Kidd’s sled skidded onto the ice; Killer jumped, ready to dive into the frigid water.

Kidd rolled off the sled.

The ice held.

Killer plummeted downward.

Shi–

Killer broke through the ice next to Kidd, both plunging into the icy lake. He gasped against the icy shock, freezing water filled his throat. It took everything in him to grab Kidd and drag his limp form through the water. Hands pulled Kidd from his grasp and dragged them both onto the ice when they broke the surface, gasping and coughing. The wind chilled his already frozen skin, racking his body with shivers.

Kidd and Killer stood up carefully, arms and legs trembling as if they were foals taking their first steps. Heat and Wire stood to the side, waiting for their captain’s word. Kidd sidled up to the man previously known as the champion. He and the rest of the crowd were laughing hysterically at the pirate’s misfortune.

“Nice splash,” an onlooker jeered. “Should’a told us ya wanted to do a polar plunge! We could have arranged it for yer whole crew.”

“You southies and yer warm-blooded asses, ya can’t even handle a dustin’ of snow!” another howled.

“Heat,” Kidd growled in a low voice, “W-what was my time?”

“Twelve seconds, boss.” Killer would have allowed himself a small smile if his teeth would stop chattering; Kidd had beat the previous record by two seconds.

Kidd smiled viciously, grabbed the challenger by his coat, and launched him screaming headfirst into the lake. A few ran to pull him out, the rest scattering like sheep in the wake of Kidd’s victorious rage.

Here’s a preview of my piece for @opzineproject! I’m exicted to be a part of this. Here’s a peek at snakes on skates :>