People stared as you roamed through the small island town. You ignored their whispers and the occasional object that came sailing in your direction. You lived on the outskirts right on the sea surviving on what you could hustle from travelers. Every other week you had to come back into this town for provisions.

"It's the Mute Gypsy." A small boy pointed from his group of friends as you stalked passed.

You turned suddenly holding your hands up like claws playfully bearing your teeth. The little group broke out in fake screams and giggles as they dispersed.

"Leave those kids alone." A woman barked clearly misreading the situation.

Waving her off you continued to the general store. An empty can bounced off your shoulder blades. You clicked your tongue trying to ignore it. The town's people were off limits even though they made up stories about you and treated you like trash, you had a soft spot for the kids.

You weren't born here, though you did grow up here somehow managing to make it to adulthood on your own with limited means of communication. You'd escaped a group of men that kept you in a cage with other children who had been fed what you later learned were devil fruits and were being sold off to god knows who for god knows what. Before ingesting the fruit, you were able to speak normally, after was a different story.

Every time you started to talk your voice was amplified to an earth rumbling level shattering glass and even making people's ears bleed. To keep you quiet a sea prism stone muzzle was fitted over your face. It made you so tired you couldn't speak or move much for that matter.

On a stormy night, the ship docked on this island. One of the older kids had lifted the keys off the guard and set everyone free. After shedding your shackles and muzzle you fled, finding yourself stumbling through the forest near the port before huddling in a cave for the night.

"Afternoon F/N." The shop keeper's voice yanked you from your thoughts, "Got your list?"

You nodded pulling the small paper from the old leather satchel strapped across your chest.

"Don't help that gypsy." A deep voice called behind you, "You should be kicking her out."

A hand gripped your shoulder yanking you toward the door. You dropped to the floor ripping yourself from his grasp and swept your right leg across his ankles. He gasped hitting the floor with a loud thud. Other patrons of the shop stopped gawking at the scuffle. You swiftly rose and sprinted for the door. You'd always made it a point to not react to their attacks the only exception was of course any brave soul that actually laid hands on you.

Surely, you'd be even less welcome than you already were, especially with the shop owner. Someone caught your wrist as you reached the door. With your free hand, you unsheathed the dagger at your hip and whipped around to face the man again.

This is just a warning. Don't hurt him.

You stumbled back coming face to face with a blue and white striped mask strapped to a mass of fluffy blond hair. His grip was firm but not painful.

"Let's get the things you came for." He pulled you back into the store passing the asshole who had tried to kick you out.

"She's with the Massacre Soldier?" Someone whispered.

"I knew she was up to no good." Another replied.

Where had you heard that name before?

The locals cleared a path for you and the masked man you stumbled behind murmuring things about pirates. The shop keeper met you with a small brown paper bag.

"Not very much." The blond commented finally releasing your wrist.

You shrugged passing what money you had left to the man behind the counter. After the transaction was complete you trudged toward the door, blond man in tow.

Why is he following me?

The streets were bustling now in the late afternoon. It was easier to go through town unnoticed, except the giant man with a mask stalking behind you. People's stares didn't bother you hell even the rude crap they'd holler didn't matter anymore. You'd gone long enough without the comfort of another human.

Do they think he's with me?

He was quiet but you could feel his stare on the back of your head. It made you self-conscious. You peeked over your shoulder as he strolled nonchalantly with his thumbs hooked into his front pockets.

Ugh.

There would be no point in trying to shake him. You were certain he was a fast as you if not faster considering you hadn't even seen in before the incident in the store and yet he managed to grab you before you could leave. Once you reached the edge of town you stopped turning on your heel. He stopped now in front of you and cocked his head to the side. You placed your hand on his chest and pointed back the way you'd come.

"Not yet." He shook his head.

You sighed rolling your eyes.

Just go!

You opened your bag brandishing a pen and small note pad and flipped to a clean page.

"Not a baby." You scribbled

"Definitely not." He chuckled furthering your irritation.

"Can take care of me." You pointed at yourself proudly.

"I'm sure you can." He agreed.

"Then go. Thanks." You tore the sheet out and tossed it at him turning to storm away.

Something in the breeze caught your nose as you spun.

Smoke.

You took off for your small cabin at the edge of the forest near the bluffs that overlooked the ocean. A blazing frame of the home you'd built for yourself crackled before you. This wasn't the first time someone had set fire to it, at least this time you weren't inside. Your shoulders dropped as you kicked the dirt.

"I guess they weren't brave enough to wait for you. Talked a big game though." The soft voice of the masked man piped behind you.

Great.

"Maybe it's time for you to leave this place." He suggested.

You looked at him incredulously.

"What? It's not like you have anything here now right?"

He had a point. But aside from a cage this is the only home you've ever had.

"You're pretty scrappy. Are you any good with that blade or were you just putting up a good front?"

You unsheathed your dagger and flung it dead center into the target you'd fashioned for yourself out of a nearby tree stump.

"Not bad." You imagined a smirk behind the mask, "Come with me."

Despite your flailing protest he threw you over his enormous shoulder and quietly headed for the port. Was this a kidnapping? He seemed nice enough - though he still hadn't properly introduced himself. You sighed tapping the side of his mask. He turned to look at you without stopping. You were close enough now to catch sight of a bright blue eye as light briefly shone through one of the holes in the mask. You calmly pointed down. He decided to oblige but kept a hand hooked into the waistband of your trousers to ensure you wouldn't turn tail. Pulling out your pen and pad again you scrolled your name across the paper and held out your right hand.

"Oh." He rubbed his neck as if it hadn't dawned on him to give you his name, "Killer."

He chuckled at your expression giving your hand a firm shake.

"Doesn't seem to fit."

"Not yet." He added, "Let's get going. Captain is probably looking for me."

Captain?

Shit.

"Look at Killer bringing back a woman!" Someone shouted from the deck of the ship you were being lead onto.

"A woman?"

A few wolf whistles sounded as you shifted behind the blond.

"Ah she's shy ~ " Someone cooed.

"Knock it off." Killer chided, "Where's the captain?"

"In his quarters." A tall man with wavy blueish hair replied.

Killer dragged you further into the vessel stopping at a large wooden door and knocking.

"What?" A deep irritated voice growled.

An uneasy feeling crept into your stomach.

"It's just me." The blond muttered not waiting to be given permission to enter the room before opening the door.

"I wish you wouldn't do that." A redhead sat at a desk with his back to you.

He turned sensing a third person in the room his sharp features scowling as he glanced between the two of you.

"What's with this?"

"F/N this is the Captain, Eustass Kid. Excuse his attitude he's always like this." Killer looked down at you.

The redhead scoffed crossing his arms, "Killer you can't just bring strange women onto the ship."

"She's joining the crew."