Apologies for the wait, beloved readers. I expect chapters from this point out will be released at weird intervals, so sorry in advance for that as well. Still, as always, thanks for reading/reviewing/favoriting/following!
Warning: Please be aware the second scene of this chapter contains some slightly detailed descriptions of injuries resulting from torture.
Law is sulking. He knows he's sulking, and that just makes him sulk more. After the night of the party he was confident that Kid would show up the next day, preferably to grovel at his feet and beg forgiveness for overreacting, but then a few days pass with no sign of the man, so Law figures he would show up eventually and act like nothing happened. By Friday though, it doesn't seem like that is going to happen either. Eustass hasn't called him or gone by the clinic in five days, and Law is getting noticeably agitated.
Shachi picks up on it by the second day, and starts to suspect the cause on the third day when a certain someone is conspicuously absent.
He casually brings it up when there aren't any clients around and they're alone in the clinic, hoping that Law might actually open up for once and get back to his normal self instead of scaring the patients.
"So, Doc, I haven't seen that guy around lately, what's up with that?"
Law sniffs, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah you do, that redhead that you've got wrapped around your little finger. Did you break up with him or something?"
Unfortunately for Shachi, mentioning a break up was the wrong thing to say.
Law turns positively arctic, "I am not in the mood for any meaningless bullshit today, kindly keep it to yourself."
"Wow, okay then, touchy subject, got it." So, that's how it was going to be.
He can't help asking again the next day, however. This time he tries while they're out to lunch. He can tell something is seriously bothering Law, since the doctor isn't complaining about Shachi's choice in restaurant, or the service, or the food, only sullenly taking little bites of his salad. It's very disconcerting. The man was usually withdrawn, but he hadn't seen him this distracted since that time they lost a kid on the operating table in the trauma ward, and even then he didn't brood over it for a week straight. Shachi honestly suspected the guy's heart was made of stone. So what the hell did Eustass Kid do to him?
Halfway through eating, Shachi has decided he's waited long enough, "Hey Doc, I was talking to Killer-"
Law's head snaps ups, "Since when do you talk to Killer?"
Shachi waves his fork dismissively, "Oh you know, we text every now and then. Well, I text him. He doesn't really respond. But sometimes he does! Anyway, he said they're gonna be at the bar tonight, and I was thinking of quitting early and heading over, wanna go?"
"Definitely not! And stop talking to Killer, it's unprofessional!" The irony in him of all people saying that is glaring. Law stabs a tomato and goes back to not talking.
Shachi rolls his eyes so hard his head almost falls off, but he doesn't argue. Law is clearly set on acting like a moody teenager about this. And Killer has been no help either because he and Kid never talk about their feelings, or whatever. He's surrounded by men who have the emotional intelligence of rocks.
After lunch he texts Killer that the plan was a no-go (Killer just says 'I told you so,' like an asshole) and starts thinking of what angle to try next.
-x-
That night Shachi leaves early without making another attempt to pry Law out for drinks, and Law is in his office at the clinic staring at paperwork with no real urge to finish it when he gets a call. The screen says it's Kid's number, he looks at it for a few rings and then answers. If that man was planning to try and persuade him into going to that shitty bar he was barking up the wrong fucking tree.
"Yes, Eustass?"
"It's Killer." Oh. Hmph. Law slumps back into the chair after realizing his eager posture.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Killer."
"We need you to come to us, there's a.. patient that's unconscious and he needs to be resuscitated. I'll send you the address."
"Alright, I'll leave now. What's the injury?"
"Head trauma, among other things," Killer says.
It already sounds strange. For one, Killer didn't mention who this 'patient' was, so it couldn't be one of Kid's crew. For another, Killer was using Kid's phone when surely his own was fully functional. Finally, why didn't they just bring the patient over to the clinic, and weren't they supposed to be out at the bar like Shachi said? Oh well, work's work. Eustass would be there, it would be an opportunity to see what the hell the man had been doing all week that prevented him from making a single phone call.
It takes Law about 20 minutes to drive to the location, which turns out to be some derelict warehouse near the docks on the edge of the city. Killer opens the side door for him when he knocks, and Law looks around with a small measure of apprehension.
The room is pretty empty, there's some desks and office chairs pushed against the walls, and in the middle is a card table littered with beer cans and a half empty bottle of scotch. Kid is lazing on a folding chair at the table, sucking on a cigarette. His jacket is slung over the back of another chair, and his shirtsleeves are rolled up to his elbows. Law can see blood smeared red over his knuckles, after a half-assed attempt to wipe them clean. His eyes flick over to Law when he enters, but they don't linger; he doesn't give so much as a smirk.
So that's how it was going to be. Well, at least he wasn't acting like nothing had happened. Law looks him over coolly, since Eustass wasn't going to acknowledge him he might as well get an eyeful.
He hadn't seen Kid so serious before, not even when Heat had come in with a broken leg. Back then Eustass had been angry, brimming with loose energy that was ready to lash out. Now he reminded Law of a snake, cold-blooded power kept tightly coiled and controlled. He looks lethal.
Law can't help thinking of the last time he saw him. Cold eyes. That must have been just a glimpse of the rest of the picture. It was difficult to reconcile this version of Kid with the swaggering nuisance that characterized the Eustass in Law's mind; clearly the man had unexpected depths. It puts a bit of a damper on Law's self-righteous annoyance.
Killer leads Law past Kid and into the next room, where his patient—their victim, he realizes now—is curled up on the floor in a disgusting puddle of what seems to be blood and vomit. Law glances at Killer but can't find a hint of how he's supposed to take this, so he sets down his bag of supplies and gets to work.
He drags the limp body out of its own filth and rolls him onto his back so he can check for vitals. The man's face is swollen and bruised with a deep cut on his temple, both eyes blackened, many of his front teeth are broken as well. One of his hands is mangled, like it was crushed by a boot heel. Law tears open his shirt to find more severe bruising, and the man moans when his ribs are pressed.
Besides the broken hand, teeth, and probably more than a few cracked ribs, the man's pulse is strong and his breathing is shallow but steady. Law can't find evidence of a concussion either, after peeling back his eyelids and checking his pupils, and tells as much to Killer, who stayed in the room to watch Law work silently.
Law sits back on his heels when the examination is complete, "He probably lost consciousness from the pain. I'd suspect the teeth are what put him over the edge. How long has he been out?"
"About forty minutes," Killer says.
"Well he's not in danger of dying from these injuries."
"When's he gonna wake up so we can keep working on him?"
Law looks up. Kid is filling up the doorway, looking at the man on the floor with an intent expression that makes Law shiver reflexively. He hadn't heard the door open.
"I can use ammonium to revive him now, but I couldn't tell you how long he'd stay up. I have a liquid analgesic that might dull the pain in his teeth enough so he won't immediately pass out."
Kid bares his teeth, a disturbing expression halfway between a snarl and a smile, "I like how you think, Doc. A real problem solver. Do it."
Law does.
He applies the painkiller generously over the bleeding remains of the man's teeth before he breaks open a capsule of ammonium and waves it under his nose. The man jerks away after a moment and groans pitifully, trying to curl up on himself again. Kid squats down in front of the man's face with a sneer.
"Welcome back, Rawls. Feeling better?"
Rawls moans and pants and tries to flop away, but Eustass grabs his hair with a fist before he can get very far.
"That's great, let's just start where we left off then." He shoots Law a dark look, keeping his prey's face pinned to the floor, and Law takes that as his cue to leave. He grabs his bag and is quickly out the door.
He stops by Killer sitting in Kid's vacated seat on the way out, "Should I stay?"
"No. A few more of those wake up pills might be useful, though."
Law places a packet of the ammonium capsules on the table, enough to keep Rawls more or less lucid for the rest of the night, then hesitates. He knows it's not a good idea to ask questions, especially in these circumstances, but...screw it. "What's all this for anyway?" he has to ask.
Killer looks at Law directly, and seems to consider him for a moment. Law holds his gaze, determined to get something for his trouble.
"He talked to the wrong people. Crocodile wants to know what he said."
Too vague. "And you and Kid? This is what you do?"
Killer shrugs a shoulder, "Sometimes."
"Not always?" Law says, still unsatisfied. Killer was difficult to prod.
Killer nods towards the room, where muffled cries are starting to leak through the door, "Ask him yourself."
Law switches his attention to the door, where he can imagine Eustass is working methodically to extract more information from Rawls. He wonders whether it was Kid or Killer who crushed the man's hand and shattered his teeth.
"You know, torture doesn't guarantee legitimate information," he says offhand.
Killer gives another lazy roll of his shoulder in response, apparently he did already know that. Law watches the door for a minute, finally leaving when Rawls starts wailing. He's not sure if he will ask Eustass or not. He does want to know.
-x-
Law spends the next day mulling it over.
The evidence of Kid's cruelty didn't shake him nearly as much as seeing Eustass without an easy grin and a suggestive remark. It was like a layer had been peeled back to reveal a new distinct personality entirely. It occurs to him that it had been the first time he had really seen Eustass working. Was that what he was like all the time on the job? This is who he had been playing around with?
It wasn't like he hadn't known Eustass hurt people for a living. He had figured the man spent his nights tracking down sleazy men who ran up gambling debts and then skipped out on their loans, and Kid would make some threats, rough them up, and come back later to collect. Not like this calculated torment in a back room. This was... admittedly much more interesting. He had been looking at Eustass all wrong, he wasn't merely the annoying but useful mutt he had originally thought.
He gets out of the clinic at 2:30 AM, after finishing up a final set of supply request forms. Shachi had already left an hour ago, there wasn't anything to do besides the forms and they all needed doctor's approval. He locks the door and turns towards his car, but he's quickly distracted by the dark figure leaning against the wall. It's Kid, suit jacket folded over one arm, shirt unbuttoned at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, no tie as usual, and he's casually smoking a cigarette. He looks over with a half grin as Law exits the building, "Hey, Doc."
Law stops in the entryway and eyes him suspiciously. The mobster cut an intimidating figure during
the day, but in poor lighting he was downright sinister. "Eustass. What are you doing out here?"
Kid pushes off the wall and takes a few short steps until he's crowding into Law's personal space. "What's it look like I'm doing?" he asks mildly, as if he hadn't just deliberately cut off any graceful exits Law could have made, and takes another drag off his cigarette.
Law sighs, "You appear to be loitering. If you needed something from me I would recommend you come inside the building, during normal clinic hours."
Kid blows a lungful of smoke to the side without taking his eyes off Law. "I wanted a smoke, and you don't allow that inside. I might have expected a little gratitude for being so considerate, but I already know what a prick you are."
Law glances around Kid's sides to scan the dark parking lot, completely unmoved by Kid's aggressive posturing. "How did you even get here? I don't see your car."
"Killer dropped me off. Speaking of, how about a ride? You're leaving now, right?"
"I'm not driving you home."
Kid finally closes the last bit of distance between them, looming in to plant his free hand on the wall and crushing out his cigarette on a brick right next to Law's head. "Yeah, I was thinkin' we'd go to your place actually."
Law bats his eyelashes, "You're not scary enough to convince me."
Eustass smiles, looking like a dog ready to lunge, but he leans down slowly and presses a kiss to Law's lips instead. And another. And five more. Law accepts them all graciously, but stops Kid from deepening the kisses or from reaching behind him to grope his ass. Eustass breaks away and nuzzles at Law's cheek, "I didn't want to scare you away, sweetheart. In fact, I wanna do something good for you." He slides his hand around to the front of Law's jeans and rubs the heel of his palm over Law's crotch.
Law sucks in a breath. He had hardly allowed Eustass to touch him like this, preferring to be in control of them both. But the idea is tempting... and Kid did finally come and find him, maybe he owed him a little. It doesn't take long for Kid's confident rubbing to make up his mind.
"Alright, but this better be good, Eustass."
Kid chuckles low, and his tongue flicks out to lick at Law's earrings, "Yes, darling."
-x-
The drive back to his apartment takes forever. Neither of them talk, Kid spends most of the time looking out the window at the passing city, giving him only a glance and a little smirk every now and then. Law can't tell what he's thinking, or where all this patience is coming from. The first time Kid had driven him home he had been pawing at him nonstop. It's testing his own patience, he's been hard since Kid had felt him up outside the clinic and the anticipation for more is grating his nerves.
The tense silence continues in the elevator as they ride up to his floor. Law can feel the other man's presence at his side as a palpable thing, so close but still not touching. Every second he's expecting Eustass to snap and push him into the wall and finally take what he's been waiting for ever since Law saw him last night with blood on his hands. His head is buzzing with all the possible scenarios, but Eustass still holds back.
The moment they step through the front door, however, Kid's restraint evaporates, then his hands are on Law's hips pulling him closer, getting under his clothes to roam over bare skin. The tension bursts open all at once, it makes lust jump in Law's belly, and he hurries to return the favor and undo the buttons of Kid's shirt, but the man grabs his wrist and drags him straight to the bedroom instead.
Law laughs, feeling giddy from Kid's eagerness, and allows himself to be led along, "Impatient, are we?"
"I've been thinking about doing this all week," Kid says as he gets back to tugging off Law's shirt and pants before he picks him up and unceremoniously drops him on the bed, "You really know how to piss a guy off, Doc." Law smiles at him slowly, it sounds a bit like a threat and he's really looking forward to how Kid is planning to pay him back. He stretches out over the sheets, savoring the way Kid's gaze never leaves his body.
Kid kicks off his shoes and joins him a moment later without taking off the rest of his clothes, trapping Law between his hands and knees and the mattress. Law can't bring himself to raise a single protest, Kid already has his mouth on him, scraping teeth over the lines of tattoos on his chest.
Law twists under the rough attention, and Kid uses both hands to pin him down and keep him from squirming around. He bites at the soft skin of Law's stomach, bared to his teeth and making his breath hitch, then licks over the spot. Kid moves lower, mouthing over the trail of dark hair leading down from his navel. Oh, he can't possibly be thinking of doing that.
Kid closes his mouth over the head of Law's cock, and Law jumps, surprised despite himself.
"Ah—hey!" Law finds himself reaching to bury his hands in Kid's hair, but he doesn't pull him off. Kid glances up at him for just a second, before he takes hold around the base of Law's length and sucks, hard. It's too much, it almost hurts, and it's making his toes curl against the sheets. Law's head drops back into the pillows with a groan.
Kid is relentless, swallowing him down and using his tongue when he has to take a breath. Even when giving head he's not the least bit submissive, Law feels like he's about to be devoured. Kid's not nearly as careful with his teeth as he could be, but that only makes it better. The sweet edge of pain is so perfect it has Law's nerves melting all up his spine.
He grabs fistfuls of Kid's hair and drags his head down onto his cock until Kid chokes and has to pull off, but that doesn't deter him at all and a second later he's sucking and licking on the head of Law's cock again, stroking the shaft with one spit slick fist. When he tries the same trick again Kid won't allow it, his eyes flash up to meet Law's and he grins defiantly around a mouthful of cock.
Law groans in frustration, he can barely keep his eyes open to watch. Kid obviously intends to not give him another inch until he's begging for it. He must have had a hundred blowjobs from people with better technique, but the way Kid is holding him down and sucking his cock like it's going to be taken away any minute is driving him crazy.
It leaves him panting, trying to thrust deeper into Kid's hot mouth, but Kid keeps him still with just one hand on his hip and doesn't swallow him deeper no matter how hard Law pulls on his hair. Law is helpless to do anything but allow Kid to continue as he pleases, and Kid seems pleased to spend the rest of the night making Law take this, forcing out quiet moans and gasps that Law can't hold back anymore.
At this point Law can't even care that he's relinquished all control and is starting to sound like he's starving for it, he's fully content to whine and writhe underneath Kid until the other man is satisfied enough by toying with him to let him come. His legs close around Kid's chest, trying to urge him to do more, but fails to achieve his desired response once again. He's got his fists twisted so tightly in Kid's hair that it has to hurt, yet Kid ignores all his silent demands and just keeps pumping his cock in between tormenting him with lips and tongue.
Eventually Law doesn't have the smallest inhibition left to surrender. If Eustass wants him to beg before he comes, he can do a little begging.
"Eustass, come on..." he sighs, an almost inaudible plea.
Kid stops and looks up, "Huh? Speak up, Doc." He gives his fist a twist around Law's cock and swipes his thumb over the soaking wet tip.
Law keens and his hips jerk uselessly under Kid's hand, "Mm ahh- I can't- give me more already!"
"You sound good like this," Kid says, watching Law's face screw up as he strokes him again more slowly. He's enjoying it too much to just give Law whatever he wants like he usually does. Having the shithead doctor literally in his grasp is exactly what he'd been imagining for the past week, making all those fantastic little noises that he usually hordes all to himself, at the mercy of whatever whims Kid can dream up. He wants to take everything Law has been holding back.
He lets go of Law's cock and slides his hand between the doctor's legs, pressing his slick fingertips to the tight furrowed muscle of Law's hole. Kid rubs him insistently, remembering how responsive Law had been to being touched there last time but not letting him go further, and Law pants and squirms against him, his hands finally slipping out of Kid's hair to grab the bed frame above his head.
Kid takes the opportunity to sit up in a better position, and Law's legs fall open around him, giving him a great view of his cock leaking onto his flat stomach, his balls drawn up tight underneath, and one of Kid's fingers ready to push into his ass. Kid doesn't want to even breathe, it almost seems too perfect to be real: Law spread out in front of him, the picture of pure sex, ready for whatever he wants to give.
"More of this, yeah?" Kid asks, teasing at his entrance.
"Yes!" Law hisses, arching up to try and get closer, but Kid doesn't relent, "Eustass, please!"
Hearing that word drop from Law's mouth is too sweet to resist, Kid presses all the way inside and Law squeezes down around him.
"So fucking tight," Kid murmurs, pulling out a bit before thrusting back in. He strokes into the smooth heat as it clutches around him, pushing in another finger when Law opens enough for it to fit, and Law's whole body shudders beautifully when he twists them inside.
Kid bends down to mouth over Law's cock, it looks too delicious lying there untouched, and Law's hips practically leap up to meet him.
"Oh please, please more-" Law gasps, breaking off into an open moan and throwing his head back when Kid obliges and swallows him down, thrusting into him faster at the same time, a shallow imitation of how he would like to be fucking him.
Law can stand only a few seconds trapped between Kid's mouth and fingers before he realizes he's going to come. He pushes at Kid's shoulder to warn him, unable to manage words in the moment, and Kid pulls away just in time to receive a smear of cum across his lips. He licks them reflexively, watching mesmerized as the rest of Law's orgasm pulses out onto his belly, then wipes his mouth off with the back of his hand.
When the show is over Kid slips his fingers free, quickly unbuckles his belt and shoves his pants down, and drapes himself over Law, grinding his own untouched erection into Law's thigh. Law turns his head to reject the kiss Kid attempts to plant on him, he might love sucking cock but the taste of himself on another man is a different story. Kid eagerly switches to the corner of his jaw instead, kissing and sucking down Law's neck as he keeps a leisurely pace rutting against him right through his own climax.
Law is just catching his breath when Kid finishes and buries his face into the crook of Law's neck, nosing against damp skin with a sigh, utterly content. Law smooths down his hair that's sticking up in every direction from being grabbed and pulled, and Eustass murmurs something unintelligible into his shoulder. It makes a grin quirk at the corner of Law's mouth, after all the control and dominance it was endearing how quickly Eustass sank into his usual sleepy aftermath.
He pushes a bit until Eustass untangles himself and shifts over into a position that isn't squashing Law into the bed, and Kid loops an arm over his waist to keep them pulled close together, settling his head back on Law's shoulder close enough to plant some lazy kisses on his neck.
Law can feel cum cooling sticky on his skin but the urge to take a shower doesn't win out against enjoying the easy warmth offered by Eustass. He keeps petting Kid's hair idly, "So, was that the first time you've done that?"
Kid chuckles, more of a deep rumble that Law can feel from his chest, and mumbles against Law's neck, "Yep. Lucky you, huh?"
"I could tell," Law smirks where Kid can't see it.
He feels Kid's indignant huff, "Wow, thanks asshole. Just shut up."
Law pats his head teasingly, "It wasn't that bad," he says, "I suppose being your first makes up for you avoiding me all week."
"You were the one avoiding me!" Kid grumbles, his arm tightening around Law as if to prevent him from getting away again, "If Killer hadn't knocked that guy out I bet you would've done it forever too."
"Hmm, Killer did that?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to call your moody ass either, but he did it anyway."
So where Shachi had failed to get them in the same room, Eustass' man had succeeded, though with some collateral damage. Law might have been annoyed at Killer setting him up if he weren't currently so satisfied by the reconciliation that had resulted. He could be annoyed later.
He tugs on Eustass' hair and the man lifts his head enough for Law to kiss him, which he does.
"Well, am I forgiven?" he says after pulling away.
"I don't remember you apologizing for anythin'" Kid says, before he yawns right in Law's face.
Law frowns at him, then leans in for another kiss, this one firmer and more demanding, and Eustass submits amiably enough. This time when he breaks it Eustass is left with a sappy smile. Kid cracks an eye open, "I guess that's all I'm getting from you, eh?" He stretches out and relaxes back into the pillows, settling down to sleep, "Good enough for me."
With that he snuggles his face back into Law's shoulder, obviously intending for Law to stay with him in bed while he slept. Law didn't plan on it, he'd slip out of Eustass' clutches to go take a shower eventually, but for now he didn't mind letting Eustass fall asleep on him for a little while.
