Chapter Text
It was another regular day – coming off work and heading straight to the gym. Skyler had been practicing mixed martial arts, initially as a hobby, but it had quickly become a crucial part of her daily routine.
She had taken it up because something in her life felt incomplete. Or maybe something was lacking in her. Either way, she needed a routine that would push her to exhaustion, leaving her too tired to dwell on intrusive thoughts. After a long day of dealing with clients who nit-picked every detail of her photography, training at the gym was her escape. Especially on days like today, when her trainer scheduled a fight.
She rushed inside, heading straight for the locker room to change. Within minutes, she was back in the main gym, stretching and warming up with a few drills before moving to the punching bag. Her hands were already wrapped in tape for protection, her gloves secured tightly over them.
“Ready for another workout?” A familiar voice called out.
Turning, she spotted her coach prepping his gear.
“Yeah, I am. Is the match still happening later?” she asked, reaching up to quickly gather her black hair in a messy bun. She’d tighten it properly before the fight.
“Absolutely! And I expect a far K.O. You’ve been on fire these past weeks.”
Skyler grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. “I always do my best.”
She focused on her drills, striking the bag with precision before gradually increasing her power. Everything around her faded as she counted her punches, alternating between strikes and kicks. Her body moved on autopilot, each motion precise, each hit stronger than the last.
But then, something felt off.
Everything around her was too quiet. No chatter from the gym, no sound of weights clanking, no footsteps. Just silence.
Her vision darkened at the edges, like a vignette closing in. her head felt heavy, her breathing suddenly laboured. Her arms grew sluggish, her strikes losing strength. She reached out, steadying herself against the punching bag as nausea twisted her stomach.
Blinking rapidly, she willed herself to focus, but when her vision cleared, she wasn’t in the gym anymore.
She wasn’t even standing on solid ground.
Instead of the padded flooring, she saw wooden planks beneath her feet. And instead of gripping a punching back, her fingers clutched at the edge of a long, dark cape.
“I-I’m sorry… I wasn’t – “ Skyler stammered, looking up at the person she had grabbed.
The man before her was dressed… oddly. A mesh crop top, black and orange leather straps, a striped sash, and leather shorts over fishnets. A bold fashion statement, yes, but not exactly gym attire.
Slowly, she turned her head, taking in her surroundings. A ship. And actual wooden ship, floating in the middle of the ocean. The people around her wore similarly bizarre outfits, and their collective stares bore down on her.
Her grip on the cape slackened, and she took an instinctive step back. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, glancing around in a growing panic.
Before she could process what was happening, a sharp glint caught her eye – a trident, pointed directly at her throat.
The man holding it loomed over her, but before he could speak, another figure stepped forward. His face was hidden behind a striped mask, but his presence alone was imposing. Long, wild blond hair cascaded down his back, almost resembling a mane.
“Who are you?” His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge of menace.
Skyler swallowed hard. “Where am I?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t ask the questions here,” another voice cut in – high-pitched and nasally. Skyler’s gaze darted down to a petite girl in a black dress with long pigtails. “You heard the boss! Answer him!”
“Hey, hey… take a breather, Dive.” The masked man said, motioning with his head.
The man with the trident casually grabbed the girl by the collar of her dress, lifting her off the ground and carrying her away. The scene was almost comical, but Skyler was in no position to laugh.
“Skyler,” she finally answered, cautiously raising her hands. “My name is Skyler. I don’t know where I am or how I got here.”
“I don’t know if I believe you, girly.” The blond man stepped forward, forcing her to back up – until her spine pressed against the ship’s railing. Behind her, nothing but open ocean.
Blades extended from the bracers on his wrists.
Instinct took over. Skyler deflected his arm and lunged, her knee slamming into his abdomen. He stumbled back, but the moment of advantage was short-lived. The crew around her was already closing in.
“There was no need for that,” she spat, shifting into a defensive stance.
“I could say the same to you.” He rolled his shoulders, recovering quickly. Though her kick had hurt more than he’d like to admit, he wasn’t about to let it show. “You know you’re outnumbered, right?”
“I have eyes.”
Her guard dipped just slightly, and it was all the opening he needed. In an instant, he was on her, landing a devastating punch to her chest. She barely managed to brace with her arms, but the force still send her flying back against the railing. The impact stole the breath from her lungs and she collapsed onto the deck, coughing.
The blond approached, grabbing a fistful of her black hair and yanking her head up. “You can fight,” he mused, tilting his head. His hidden eyes scanned her face, taking in her deep irises and freckles skin. She was… striking. But now wasn’t the time for distractions.
“So, how about you play nice? Follow our rules, and maybe – if our captain’s feeling generous – you get to leave here alive.”
“Captain…?” The word lingered on her tong as the realization dawned. Her gaze flickered to the skull-and-crossbones flag waving above them. “You’re pirates?”
He nodded.
Skyler chuckled darkly. “And pirates are just willing to let me go if I ‘play nice’?”
“If you play nice.” He shrugged, as if this were an everyday occurrence.
“I have my doubts.”
Without warning, she drove her knee up—right between his legs.
The strangled sound he made was immensely satisfying. As his grip on her hair loosened, she shoved his head down and vaulted over him. But her victory was fleeting. The crew was already surging forward.
She fought hard, dodging and striking where she could, but the numbers were against her. A heavy force suddenly crashed onto her, slamming her through the wooden deck.
The impact left her gasping, splinters embedding in her skin. A blade glinted in front of her face, reflecting her pained expression.
“What the fuck, Killer?!” a new voice barked.
Skyler struggled to focus on the source. Her breath hitched.
A man towered over them, his presence suffocating.
Red hair.
Red eyes.
Red lips.
He radiated danger.
“She appeared out of nowhere, captain, and was hostile.” Killer explained, not raising his head.
“Out of nowhere?” The redhead raised an eyebrow before crouching in front of Skyler. “So who sent you, girly?” His tone was taunting, but laced with venom. “And who the fuck are you?”
Skyler shuddered, the weight on her back unbearable. “S-Skyler.” The chill that rushed down her body caused a sharp pain to irradiate from her thing. Something has stabbed the flesh and was embedded inside.
“Skyler…” He tested the name on his tongue. “And how did you get onto my ship, in the middle of the fucking ocean?”
“I don’t—know.” She gasped out, Killer’s weight on her back becoming unbearable. “I can’t breathe… Get off!”
“Watch your mouth!” He growled in irritation. “Throw her overboard or kill her. I don’t have time for this.” He stood up again, rubbing his forehead. “She seems useless and I really don’t have the patience for this. She wrecked my ship!”
“Blame it on the dude that’s sitting on my back!” She shouted back, her words coming out between pants. “I don’t know how I got here! And trust me, if I could’ve stayed where I was, I would’ve, but no! For some fucking reason! I! AM! HERE!”
“And what do you suggest we do with you?” Killer leaned forward, just enough to make her gasp again.
“Leave me at the next stop.” She choked out, struggling to catch her breath. “I’ll be off your back, as if nothing happened, and you’ll go on your merry way.”
The redhead chuckled, the amusement in his tone unmistakable. “Bold of you to be making requests like that, in your position.” He had to admit – she did have guts. Most people in her situation would be begging for mercy, not bargaining. He didn’t know who she was, and taking risks with his crew wasn’t an option. But there was something about the way she held herself, the defiance in her eyes. A challenge hung in the air, and damn it, he was always one to take the bait. “You’re on thin ice. And you’ll be fixing the ship right away.” He declared before walking away from the room.
Killer stepped off her, making no move to help but keeping his gaze locked on her.
“The captain’s in a good mood.” He nudged her foot lightly, a silent cue for her to get up on her own.
“Oh, lucky me…” she muttered, exhaling sharply. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her battered body. She pushed herself up with shaking arms, wincing as splinters dug into her palms. Looking down, she took in the sorry state of her clothes – torn, stained with blood – and her skin wasn’t faring any better. A nail was lodged deep in her thigh, and just thinking about pulling it out made her stomach twist.
She turned her head toward Killer, who stood motionless, watching. “Oh for fuck’s sake… help me up, please!”
“Now you’re being polite?” he mused, but he still reached out a hand. As she gripped it, he took note of her injuries – the cuts, the bruises, the nail embedded in her flesh. She couldn’t see it, but behind the mask, his lips pressed into a grimace. That was going to hurt like hell.
He let go once she was steady and started walking ahead. “Come on. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”
She managed a nod, but barely took a step before a familiar sensation washed over her.
The edges of her vision blurred. Her head pounded like a war drum, nausea rising in waves. Her breath hitched. She reached out blindly, fingers catching the fabric of Killer’s blouse –
And then everything went black.