Law couldn't believe his eyes when he entered his bedroom and saw Kid sitting on the bed. It'd been five days since the Omega had run off pale as death, shaking like a leaf, and he hadn't seen or heard from him since. He hadn't answered his increasingly frantic calls and Law'd watched his crew get more and more concerned from afar. He didn't think Kid would appreciate him approaching them; he knew the younger man hadn't told them about their relationship.
"I used your shower. I didn't think you'd mind."
Law almost laughed. He'd been worried sick, and here Kid was five days later apologising for using his shower.
"I've been worried sick." Kid ducked his head, shoulders slumping. "Where have you been? Your crew's been looking for you for days."
"I know, I-I realised something and I got scared and- I ran away instead of dealing with it … I shouldn't have, but I did. I'm sorry."
Law's anger faded quicker than it'd appeared. Kid looked contrite and vulnerable, and he'd said he'd been scared. He'd never admitted anything like that to him before.
"Are you all right?" Kid's head shot up, confusion apparent in his face. "Are you all right now? Have you worked through your realisation?"
"I'm working on it." He smiled a little. "It's gonna take some time, but- I think it's gonna be OK. I'm feeling better." He hesitated a minute before continuing. "Can I- can I stay here tonight? With you? Killer's so mad at me; I don't think he'll let me on the ship for a while."
Law cracked up, he couldn't help it. Kid had never asked if he could stay the night before, and it was only because his brother was mad at him.
Kid grinned up at him, falling back onto the bed and working on kicking his boots off.
"Oh, no, you're not getting away this easy."
The Omega shrieked with laughter as Law tickled him mercilessly, ending sprawled out on top of him in an attempt to keep from being punched or kicked by the Omega's flailing limbs. He was so fucking ticklish, and so completely and utterly rubbish at keeping him away despite his tries that Law was even more charmed than usual.
His face was as red as his hair, tears of laughter staining his cheeks, still flailing in an attempt to get away, and Law suddenly realised that this was more than just curiosity and attraction. He was absolutely enthralled by Eustass Kid.
Head over heels in love with him.
He didn't know how he hadn't realised straight away, but he did know that he was completely and utterly all right with this development.
He never thought he'd see the day.