2025.10.02 - Drown

They don't know what the tàcharan is exactly, but she's growing up far faster than she should. At least, the crew all thinks so but they admittedly have never seen a healthy child grow up.   With her full set of razer sharp teeth from the start, she'd been just as happy to drink blood than go for milk and had been gnawing on more solid foods already even if she does seem ready to actually eat them, just satisfied with chewing for now. And had taking to crawling only weeks over Reverse Mountain, both adorable and terrifying in equal terms, especially when she took to pulling her self upright on the railing of the deck by the forth month of their voyage into the Grand Line.   For a group of bloodthirsty thugs and hooligans, they got panicky and nervous the first time they look over to see their tiny little changeling starting down at the waves below. No one more so than Kidd, who would be powerless to do anything if she falls; Captain yet the one who could do nothing but watch her drown if she hit the water. Wire had immediately sewn large studs and buckles into her onesies, a feat in-itself to get enough metal on her for Kidd to pluck her from the air, yet not enough for her to hurt herself on.   She got her crew name soon after that - the water call's too temping, and she finally did as they threatened. Six months into their journey, she took her first steps, and right to the dive headfirst over the side. Kidd was able to catch her with his devil fruit before she hit the waves, but she'd gotten a taste for it, and the call of the sea must be heeded.   Killer was right behind her into the ocean, as swift to react as she's been to pull Kidd's own dumbass out of the waves the few times he's toppled over himself. However, their tiny little charge seems to merge right with the water, diving deeper and faster than Killer could swim, moving in the ocean like a caught fish escaping the net.   Killer followed all the same, past the burn of her lungs. If she lost sight of the babe, she'd be lost forever. She'd never find her again in the darkening waters. Deeper into the waters. Deeper into the Ocean's embrace.   Until there was no breath in her lungs. No strength in her arms. Her tiny child just out of reach.   At least she would not drown alone. Killer only prayed Kidd would forgive her for not being able to bring them both back to him.   Deeper in the sea's embrace, the halfling child paused in her wild swim, grinning back at her guardian with glee; the smile fading away to see her new mother still in the water. Her first mother had loved the sea, it was her home. It was to be the child's home too, once she had grown big enough. Now she was finally there....   Her new mother though.... The tàcharan drifted closer. She looked pretty in the water, her long hair flowing around her in, weightless in the water. In the air above, the baby's voice didn't carry, but here in the water she cooed to the human, calling for her to look up.   Killer did not respond.   In the air world, her family was big and strong and heavy. Here in the water, the tiny changeling held all the power. She held her mother's hand in her own, and just as Killer had held her up and steady as she took shaking steps on the deck of the Victoria Punk, she held fast as raced up to the bright blue surface above.   Home was a small shadow above hem, and she swam for all she was worth. Like her first father, her new father could not swim either. But he fixed all sorts of things, and kissed away bumps and owies, and he would fix this too.   She broke the surface in record time, crying out to for family nervously searching the horizon. Their small jolly boat was already in the water, Kidd /grabbing/ at her and mother with his powers and pulling them inside with only his thoughts.   Uncle Heat was with him, and the two laid Killer out of the deck, the child watching with alarm as Captain Kidd pulled her shiny armored face off, revealing the strange soft squishy one she hid under it. He head his ear to her mouth, frowning as he shook his head, and Heat began to press down rhythmically on her chest.   Kidd waited for him to pause, forced a lungful of air into her mouth, and they repeated until she coughed the ocean past her lips. Heat called something back to the crew still on the Punk, and then helped the child up out of the water and Kidd remained curled over Killer and the two spoke softly to each other.   Heat was quiet, gently smoothing out the child's wet hair and putting it back up in pigtails. He first spoke up only to reassure Killer that everyone was accounted for, and the child was just fine.   "Don't scare us like that again little one, " he murmured to the babe, tilting her head so he was sure she was listening to him, "If the Sea calls you, we are happy to let you swim, but don't /dive/ so deep we cannot follow next time."