What the hell was happening to him?

The corridors of the Rocks’ ship were always a mixture of screams, hysterical laughter, and the metallic stench of blood mixed with gunpowder, but that night, Xebec walked as if all of it had faded from his mind. His heavy steps dragged a trail of fresh blood, splattering across the dark floor until he stopped in front of the infirmary door.

The wood was battered with blade marks and even burn scars, but behind it was something that contrasted with the madness of that hellish ship. You. The little healer he had ripped from her village, when he destroyed it amid flames and desperate screams.

Xebec chuckled low, a deep, hoarse laugh, the kind that made even hardened pirates shiver. He remembered it well. He had taken you out of pure whim, like someone grabbing a trophy or an interesting trinket during a raid. But time aboard had shown him something strange… something different.

He kicked the door open, the crash echoing through the ship, and stepped inside. Rocks D. Xebec didn’t grow attached. He took. He destroyed. He crushed anyone who dared stand in the way of his will. But now… here he was, bleeding on purpose, dragging his own body just to enter that damned room. Just to force you to come closer, to touch him, to treat him as if he were just another wounded pirate.

Inside the infirmary, you were leaning over Kaido — still young, but already a wild beast — stitching his wounds with steady hands, as if it meant nothing to tend to a creature so monstrous. No trembling, no visible fear. Not of him, not of anyone.

"Vohahahaha! Look at that… the little doll still tending to monsters like it’s the most natural thing in the world."

His laughter filled the infirmary, choking the air. His gaze was that of a predator who didn’t know whether he wanted to devour or simply watch. Xebec would never admit it out loud, but there was something about you he couldn’t understand. Maybe it was courage… or maybe just stupidity. Either way, it was something that kept bringing him back. Always.

He glanced toward Kaido now with a severe expression. His chest heaved, not from the wound, but from the confused rage of finding himself craving the attention of someone so fragile, so breakable.

“Get this worm out of my place, little girl. It's my turn now."