Finally I had the chance to finish this! XD I'm very sorry for the long wait. I had some business to take care of and it turned out to be a hell of a lot more annoying than I previously anticipated. I thought I'd be done in a few days, turned out to be over a week...I'm very sorry about that.

Well hopefully I won't disappoint you! XD Hope you like the new chapter and please review! I treasure each and every one of them.

6

Chopper all but gave a startled cry at the sudden situation that materialized out of thin air. It was only his doctor training and years of dealing with shocking, life-threatening situations that prevented him from losing his calm. Thanks to those years he was able to give clear and assertive instructions to the red-haired, panicking boy blocking his exit.

Kid stormed into his clinic, out of breath from running, with the other boy clutched securely in his arms. Doctor Tony Tony Chopper only had to give a sweeping glance to verify the raven-haired victim was in no eminent danger. He instructed Kid to lay him on one of the many, matriculate empty beds.

Kid complied and hovered in the back as the doctor went about his business. Chopper checked Law's vitals and, as he suspected, he was pleased to say all Law needed was some good sleep. It wasn't hard to figure the reason behind Law's state. The wet clothes clinging to his body were death-give-aways.

His theory was confirmed when Kid re-told the events of how Law ended up in the pool. Eustass omitted the reason why he had been there (no point in getting in trouble for ditching class now) and the guy who pushed Law. He thought it was better to keep those parts to himself for the time being.

'Would you mind going to one of the vending machines and getting me a sandwich? I missed lunch, and I'm quite hungry.'

Kid nodded curtly and left in the mentioned direction. He was happy to have an occupation. Sitting and twiddling his thumbs was driving him insane. He took Chopper's money from the birch bureau, as instructed by the doctor, and exited the clinic.

Once the boy was out of sight, Chopper redirected his attention to the slumbering patient. His white shirt was easily see-through since it was wet. Chopper's trained eyes noticed something strange. Either way, Law needed a dry change of clothes. It was unhealthy to stay drenched for any long period of time.

The kind doctor peeled the shirt off and widened his eyes in horror. He continued to remove all the layers of clothing and replaced them with a spare dry set kept in the clinic wardrobe for just such occasions.

Kid's timing was impeccable. He re-entered the room just as Chopper finished stretching the white sheet over the sleeping Law for extra warmth. Kid extended the sandwich but his eyes were fixed on the boy. The doctor accepted the food and made to leave the room, only to stop after a few steps. He looked at Trafalgar again and opened his mouth to say something. Then thought better of it.

'Make sure you close the door when you leave. Stay as long as you want.' Once more Kid only acknowledged his words with a bob of his head. Doctor Chopper left the clinic, Law's abused body painted vividly across his mind.

Kid's legs were stiff from lack of movement. He threw a quick glance at the round clock hung high on the lime-yellow wall. Law slept on without a stir. Since Doctor Chopper left, fifteen minutes passed. Kid's eyes fixed themselves on Trafalgar's features once more.

Despite repeatedly telling himself all was fine the original panic still held on fast to his overworking heart. He couldn't comprehend how closely they cut it. What if he hadn't arrived at that exact time? What if Zoro hadn't been with them? What if they had been a minute too late?

Kid had no way of knowing that those fears of his were groundless. He didn't know that Law's captor waited patiently for his arrival specifically so he could save Law. He didn't know that all this was a twisted game to them, just to see how Kid would react. Without knowing all this, Eustass was haunted by the horrid two words, 'What if….?'

Law stirred and Kid's mind focused abruptly. Trafalgar's movements were slight and incoherent fragments of sentences left his lips. His voice was faint, little above a whisper. In seconds all was silent again and Law fell into a troubled sleep once more.

The clock informed Eustass that twenty minutes were passed. In situations like those he was glad to live alone. At least he didn't have to worry about anyone waiting for him. He was free to occupy the seat beside the bed for as long as was necessary.

With this in mind he slumped his shoulders and rested his back against the backrest. His feeble attempts at making himself comfortable were useless.

His panic morphed into irritation. Irritation at the ones responsible for Law's near death experience. Irritation at himself for not being faster. Irritation at Luffy and Zoro for getting lost. Irritation, even at Law, for using that one bathroom, that one day, at exactly that one time!

A few days ago, Kid's biggest worry was how to ditch another boring music class without visiting White Beard's office again. Now his mind was preoccupied with confusing scenes and possible murder attempts! It was frustrating enough to scream.

Eustass shoved his hand into his trouser pocket. He searched in vain for his always present packet of cigarettes. His annoyance grew when he remembered having consumed the last one in the stupid school park. He tilted his head back and exhaled a long sigh loaded with rage, through clenched teeth. This day was turning from bad to disastrous, very fast.

He shut his eyes tightly as if trying to lock all the bad things out. Strangely enough the first thing that crossed him when he was completely surrounded by darkness and devoid of most thoughts was the guy with brown hair from the corridor. Kid easily recalled his menacing leer as he rounded the corner.

But that wasn't the first time he had seen the stranger. With sudden clarity he remembered the guy with Law in the bathroom. Of course! How could that have slipped his mind after thinking of that scene so many times? Talk about irony. His bangs, sliding around his face, and the way he strolled, like he was the freaking king of the world, were one and the same.

Just as easily he knew the stranger at the pool was the same guy. He didn't see him at all, but Kid knew it was him. Call it intuition, guessing or a sixth sense, but he just knew. The menace emitted from his green eyes flashed in Eustass' mind. Even the memory was vivid enough for Kid to realize this was a guy with no morals or pity. The worst of the worst and cruelest of the cruelest.

The mention of his name brought him to reality once more. He looked around only to discover he was still alone in the spacious room, not including the unconscious boy. He definitely heard his name, though it sounded unnaturally soft. His first thought was that of a ghost, but he dismissed the idea as absurd and instantly came to the more logical conclusion. Law talked in his sleep again.

Intrigued Kid moved slightly closer to the bed, but nothing else was said. Inexplicably a part of him was conscious of the fact that Trafalgar was dreaming of him. That simple thought had more success in calming his nerve than all his failed attempts put together. His heart filled with warmth.

Just like that Kid's resolution of not thinking of Law in any other way than a simple friend crumbled to dust. He took solace in at least finally being able to give a name to his erratic emotions...

His chair screech as Kid dragged it closer to the bed. When Law stirred he slightly lowered the sheet and his neck and left shoulder lay exposed. The shirt Chopper used to clothe Law was too big for him. Thanks of this Kid had a clear view of the supple skin covering the neck and the slightly visible collar bone.

One thing which immediately captured his attention was a bluish tint flourishing across one side of Trafalgar's throat. The bruise consisted of a series of thin horizontal lines associated with the grip of a hand. Kid furrowed his eyebrows in puzzlement. He gently tugged at the loose shirt for a better view.

There was no mistaking it. The bruise was there because of a strong hand grip most likely from behind. Kid only hesitated for a second before he gently pulled back the bed sheet to Law's waist. He proceeded to unbutton the shirt and expose the flesh under.

He didn't know it, but Kid was mirroring Doctor Chopper's previous horrified stare. He slumped back in his seat with his eyes glued to Trafalgar's torso. It was literally covered in colors. Bruises of all kinds stretched from the neck down to the ribs, the stomach, the chest and shoulders. Red, yellow, blue, indigo and purple. If it wasn't for them being bruises, Kid would have probably marveled at the multitude of hues and taints decorating the skin.

Reluctantly, Kid carefully lifted the nearest arm to him and removed the clothing off of it. Sure enough, just as he expected the grip of a hand blazed a vicious red around Law's bicep.

Eustass had his fair share of fights. He got plenty of bruises, all of which he returned with interest. He was familiar with the age of a bruise from experience, and the red marking was about a week old. He would bet good money on it being there since Wednesday.

Another murmur escaped Law's unconscious lips and Kid's attention drifted to his face. He was sure the rest of him was just as bruised and broken but Law's face and hands were mark-less. Whoever was responsible for this attrocety was careful to hide his cruelty. The stranger with leering green eyes flashed across his mind again.

Just as gently as before, Kid redressed the unconscious boy and re-covered him with the sheet. He sank into his chair, hands gripping the wood harshly and eyes throwing daggers at the imaginary stranger. 'New food for thought'.

Law's eyes shot open and he sat up abruptly, fear evident in his every movement. Sweat cascaded down his face and he remained upright, as tense as a frozen statue. He stared, not seeing, while he tried desperately to make sense of his situation. He half expected to be underwater yet he was surrounded by white sheets and lime-yellow wall paint. His critical eyes continued to search for the blue no doubt hiding somewhere just waiting to eat him up.

Maybe he was dead. The notion was melancholic and he didn't feel afraid at the morbid thought. He pinched his skin only to wince from the stinging pain, taking that as confirmation of his living existence.

After he took a short time to fully come back to reality, things started to make sense again. Clearly he was in the school clinic. He looked down and became aware of the loose clothes covering him. 'How did I get here?...'

The perfect silence was disturbed by a noise similar to that of heavy breathing, low and tranquil. It came from his right and he looked startled in said direction. Instantly his panic was replaced by comfort. He wouldn't have been able to describe with words the relief of simply seeing that one person.

Kid's head was resting on his hand. He looked like he just dosed off to sleep a little while ago, his posture upright and stiff. Law smiled slightly at have the opportunity of seeing Eustass Kid's sleeping face. Absentmindedly he reached forth and brushed some loose fiery strokes of hair that fell across Kid's face. When he realized what he was doing, he rapidly retracted his hand as if burned by the flaming strands.

Unfortunately this also succeeded in waking Kid up. He looked bewildered at first, but quickly regained his composure. The first thing he did was stretch his arms high above his head and fill the silence with the faint sound of cracking stiff bones. It was a very satisfying feeling.

'Sorry. Must have dozed off. How're you feeling?' He added noticing Law's watching eyes, following his every move.

Law subconsciously pulled his shirt tighter around himself, afraid of giving Kid a chance to see the broken skin under. He nodded his head indicating he was fine. He was afraid to speak, since despite him not showing it, he was still very much afraid. He had no doubt that if he closed his eyes the moment of the fall would play over and over and the doomed fear would take hold of him in an instant. He dreaded falling into the freezing embrace of the merciless water.

Kid didn't seem to take notice. Or he didn't show it. He gave Law a last silent scrutinizing glance, letting his gaze linger on the thin fingers pulling the white material as close to the almost unnoticeably shaking frame as possible.

'Your clothes are there.' He pointed to a neatly folded pile beside the foot of the bed, stacked on an empty chair. 'You thirsty or hungry? I'm heading over to the vending machines, so there's no trouble.'

Trafalgar continued to keep a tight grip on his shirt afraid to leave even the slightest gap. 'I'm fine, thanks.' Kid looked uncertain, so Law mustered the little calmness he had left and put it all into a reassuring smile. Getting the hint, Eustass shrugged his shoulders and left.

But he wasn't fine. He wasn't anywhere close in the vicinity of fine. In truth Law didn't want Eustass to leave. He dreaded being left alone in the seemingly enormous vacant space. He looked longingly at the door, wishing for the other man to materialize out of thin air. He didn't call out though. He had to slip his mask back on. He had to wake up to reality. He had to accept the obvious. He was alone.

With new found energy and motivation, he rose from the bed and undressed. He put his own clothes on with a certain satisfaction. It was like slipping on a second skin, one which hid the original perfectly. While bussing himself with his task he darted a look at the clock and stopped in his tracks. It was passed midnight! Trafalgar gazed at the door again and wondered if Kid had been in that uncomfortable, small, cold chair for all that time. His heart sank with shame at the thought. It was hard enough putting barriers between himself and others without such emotional obstacles.

If Kid's attitude changed to anything kinder, Law knew his walls would be reduced to rubble. He knew he would tell Kid everything, all the horrid details. But would Kid still be so kind afterwards?...

Trafalgar tugged on the last of his garments and left the room with hurried steps, a new fear taking the place of the old one. The fear of being lost…

Kid kept his eyes on the school gate. He didn't go to the vending machines. Outside, the weather 'blessed' him with a heavenly downpour. The large raindrops splashed heavily on the grey pavements and quickly gave the outside surrounding a very gloomy quality.

Just as he predicted, the shape of a certain student was soon distinguishable in the dead of night. His silhouette was barely visible, but who else could it be hanging around the premises after 00:00 o'clock? Kid guessed right when he assumed Law was the sort to try and slip by when he was alone. It didn't take a genius to realize the sort of character Trafalgar was. The sort to keep it all inside and suffer by himself rather than open up to anybody. 'I really hate it when I'm right…..'

Law was close enough for him to catch the pitta patter of his steps as they hit the growing puddles. Law still didn't notice he was no longer alone and Eustass waited until Trafalgar passed the gate before he made his presence known.

'And where do you think you're going?' As expected, Law froze in mid-movement, like a thief caught red handed. He looked uncertainly in the direction of the voice not seeing more than a solid shape defined by raindrops bouncing off of it. Kid moved to where the silent boy stood, filling the night sky with the roar of a strong engine. Law's eyes widened as the motorbike came into view. It was beautiful. Even in the absolute darkness Law was certain of that much. The blood-red paint glistened as water trailed down the machine and Kid couldn't keep his smirk inside.

But Law came to his sense and stared at Kid with open defiance. One thing he knew with absolute certainty was that there was no way he would ever get on that thing. To him it literally looked like death on wheels. A beautiful death, but death nonetheless. He continued to stare disapprovingly at Kid, making it abundantly clear he had no intention of complying with his crazy idea. Another smirk mingled with the drumming of the drops.

'Look, you can either get on. Or I can make you get on. Makes no difference to me. But you are NOT walking alone at this time and in this whether.'

'I can look after myself!...' But even as he said it, Law knew he was going to do exactly as Kid said. All further protests would be a waste of breath and time. He was too drained to put up a proper fight anyway. 'Fine!', he added grudgingly after a last defying silence, testament of his stubborn nature.

'I don't have a safety helmet. Sorry….'

'It wouldn't make much of a difference….' But Law's jabbing words were mumbled under his breath, out of Kid earshot. Very much sulking, Law got on the death bike and locked his arms around the rider's waist. He clenched his hands together, knowing this would be the only thing keeping him from certain death.

Kid fixed a pair of goggles on, always with him around his neck, to protect his eyes against the rain and dust before flipping on the lights, illuminating the road and sped into the night, letting the dark swallow them both whole.

Thank you for the read! Hope you liked! X] I know, I know. I'm a horrible person for making Law go through all this crap...I do feel bad u know. X)

I'll update as soon as I can. (I promise this one will be a hell of a lot faster than the last one...XD) Please let me know what you thought!