Chapter 3, From a familiar face to death

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When Eustass finally pushed the apartment door opened, he felt exhausted as hell. Despite this he kept going until he preciously laid the unconscious body on the bed.

He felt completely lost, unable to figure out where he stood from now on.

It was still dark. However Kid couldn't care less about the tracks he left behind him. He should have at least closed the temple and cleared every sign of his passage. But the red haired didn't give a shit anymore. Eustass only had eyes for the now peaceful form in his bed.

Kid had tried to soothe himself for long minutes though it didn't work very well. He was unable to stand still and made round trips in the apartment. He cut short as it wasn't aiding to clear his mind and all he ended up doing was bash into old furniture in the dark. Anyway he always came back to the bedroom and the sleeping brunet.

Eustass didn't fully understand what was happening. The only things he could be certain of were what he could see and hear and touch.

Just after Kid had put Law –no, not Law his memory recalled– to bed, he had stripped the swordsman from his sandals, his obi and his shredded layers of clothing. Eustass wasn't embarrassed to do so. It wasn't anything he hadn't already seen and it allowed him to take a close look.

The dark head's lobes weren't pierced Eustass discovered removing a rusted silver necklace above his head. His hair was slightly longer but he bore the same sideburns and goatee as his lover.

The red head's gaze went down to the blank tanned skin that still troubled him. The tribal heart wasn't there anymore. Instead the swordsman's chest only showed well-defined abdomen and pectorals that slowly rose up and down with his breath. Eustass couldn't take his eyes off the angular shoulders, the lean arms and long fingers entirely naked without its black ink.

As Kid had noticed earlier the skin didn't look scarred or redden. If Law's tattoos had been removed it would have left traces. However there weren't any; as well as his scars. Kid had kissed these so many times he could find it with his eyes closed. But when he checked the limp body he didn't find the evidences he was looking for.

When his eyes went down the dark head's crotch Eustass noticed a difference there too. The sleeping brunet wasn't circumcised where Kid's husband was. Not the kind of thing you could easily re-grow.

Kid startled when Trafalgar groaned softly in his sleep. He looked so similar to what Law usually looked like after a hard day work that the red haired had to restrain himself from stroking the dark hair. He bore the same dark circles under his eyes and Law always needed sleep so Kid hadn't found the strength to wake him up. Damn, he missed him so bad.

Mysterious deities help him! He needed to get out of this room. He needed to stop over thinking. Or thinking at all. He needed a drink!

Law woke up with the last sunbeam hitting the top of the building. He felt stiff but surprisingly well-rested. Despite his good condition he stayed lied down a moment. The dark haired never thought he could enjoy sunlight up to that point. The mere sensation of sun-kissed skin was overwhelming.

He wouldn't have left this bed till nightfall if a blaring curse hadn't cut this instant off. Law got out of bed in a smooth movement and finally took note of where he woke up. And what a filthy place it was! The walls were peeling and the window he was catching sun from was covered by a strange translucent material. The sheets Law had left weren't the cleanest he'd seen and were suffused with a musky smell. The scent clung a little on him as if he had spent more than a day in that bed. It was probably close to the truth.

The swordsman caught sight of his image in a dirty reflective surface. He wasn't surprised of his appearance at any rate. It was undoubtedly the most agreeable look he'd had in ages.

Completely untroubled by his nakedness, Law prudently went out of the room whose the aged door barely hung on its hinges. His footsteps didn't make a sound on tiled floor. He followed the series of curses to a central room. It was filled with the same poor properties than the bedroom but covered here and there by papers and weird metallic instruments forming an unnamable chaos.

However he recognized his now ripped costume and his beloved sword in the middle of the mess.

The swearing voice was almost melodious in its rage setting its frustration free. Humans had strange ways to release their emotions sometimes. Law wasn't surprised to see that colorful tone belonged to the impudent red haired man who had waked him up in his gravestone.

In his annoyance, Kid furiously threw a tool aimlessly away. It would have hit Law if he hadn't avoided it mechanically. Then the fierce scarlet seemed to notice Trafalgar's presence. It was about time. Law put a hand on his hip, frowning, and directed a haughty air to his host. He tried to express himself as intelligibly as he dried throat allowed him.

"Worshipers usually don't leave my side till I am completely recovered. It would have been the least you can do after waking me up from a so long sleep." Law reproached. "I would not hold that against you if you consent to behave from now on. I need appropriate garment and victuals. Are you skilled enough for those charges?"

Then the swordsman realized he utterly talked to himself since the man he was facing hadn't taken his eyes off his body. The red head's mouth was hanging half opened and he didn't seem able to form coherent thought.

Law clicked his tongue with annoyance and it brought the red haired back to reality.

"Did your ears function–"

"We need to find you some clothes." Kid cut him off. "It's too hard when ya're awake." He grumbled heading for the bedroom.

Law took a moment to acknowledge he didn't understand a single word the pale man had pronounced. It sounded a bit prompt as if the man minced his words when he spoke and the vowels were far more stressed than the Japanese he spoke. But in a deep manly tone. The dark haired reconsidered his situation with a different perspective. He couldn't tell from how long he'd been sleeping. …Actually he had resigned to never waking up the last time he closed his eyes. Eternal rest had appeared the gentlest way to go at the time.

But fate… or rather this disrespectful red haired man had brought him back to life and Law appreciated it much more than he actually wanted to concede. But his current situation had him wonder… how many dynasties had passed if language had changed that much?

Any further questions were halted when his host came back and threw a bunch of clothing at him. Law caught it glaring daggers at Kid's back. How dare he?!

"Cover yourself so that I could think what to do with ya. You useless stiff."

Law angrily looked at the rag he was left with. Was he supposed to wear those thick and rough clothes? Since his demand for garments had been answered he supposed he'd have to but he resolved to fix that later.

"Be assured, I'll tame your insolent behavior once I regain strength."

Law had a hard time putting on the pants Eustass had given to him. He wasn't used to such tight and weird clothing. Only the rather cold room temperature forced him to put the sweater on.

On his side Eustass was already regretting giving him his husband's clothes. It was the only thing he had on hand that could fit the dark haired so he didn't really have a choice. Kid gestured for his antique problem to sit on the old moth-eaten couch. Gesture helping, the dark haired man complied seconds later then folded his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"I hope for you, you have the intention of bringing me nourishment."

Eustass sat on the coffee table in front of him, resting his scratched elbows on his spreading knees. He had the whole night and day to dwell on the recent events and ponder about what he was going to do now. Suffice it to say Kid had reached a good annoyance level. At this very instant he looked older than the dark haired probably was. The red haired rub his aching nape and ended gazing at Law.

"Listen… I know ya don't get a heck of what's coming of my mouth but I need you to co-operate ok?"

Law didn't really appreciate the firm tone Eustass had taken, but since he didn't seen any of his requests fulfilled the swordsman kept going on a quiet stare. Kid got a thick leather wallet out of his pocket and took a picture out. It was an old snapshot of him and Law at Sabaody Park. It was their third or fourth date and Kid absolutely loved Law's sly grin and the crazy glint in his eyes on this photo.

The swordsman was more interested at first sight by the photograph in itself. He'd never seen such accurate painting before. He looked at it under all its angles before remember more vital needs.

"Is that the only source of food you possess in this era? I will not sustain from that."

"That's Trafalgar Law. He's my husband and I haven't seen him for almost twelve weeks now. There's no way you didn't know where he is. Come on spit it out, show me, whatever… just help me!"

Law didn't like the command tainted Eustass' voice. He saw the red head furiously boiled in front of him. The swordsman's lack of reaction only made his host angrier. It was breathtaking to witness that red haired man's hope to find his loved one. Law felt right through his bones. He could also see the tension traveled along Kid's arms' muscles. The dark long sleeved t-shirt he was wearing highlighted his broad shoulders. Eustass snapped his fingers at Trafalgar's face.

"Hey stay with me stupid doppelganger."

His degrading tone added to his irreverent gesture was one time too many for the swordsman. Law brushed the picture away with his hand and abruptly stood up. He took a step away from Kid. But the raging red head had none of it and grasped Law's arm.

"Where do you think ya're going? Ya've got explanations to give shithead!

Law's grey eyes were filled with pure murder. He might not understand what the red haired said but the tone was speaking clearly annoyed and it was enough. Trafalgar detached every word when he said.

"Release. your. hold. immediately."

It wasn't a refusal Kid would easily stand. He blew up instead.

"LAW'S DISAPPEARED CAUSE HE WAS SEARCHING YOU! AND NOW YOU'RE HERE, LOOKING LIKE HIM! TELL ME WHERE'S MY–"

Eustass' sentence died as one abrupt blow made him hit the wall a few feet behind him and emptied the air in his lungs. It took Eustass a few sharp breaths to acknowledge his body has been lifted through in the air and threw over the room. Law's fingers –where no 'DEATH' weren't spelled anymore– were still twisted at the end of his raised arm as he walked to the red head.

He didn't look better than Kid who still had a blurred vision from his brutal landing though. This trick had cost the swordsman obviously.

"I am not here for you to release your suffering! The only reason you are still alive at this instant is because I need you!" Law's hoarse voice barked and he coughed. "For fuck sake, I need water…"

The dark haired scanned the room on quest to find anything that could quench his thirst. He found the glass bottle Kid had left on the little kitchen table and emptied his content in one long swallow. From where Eustass was still rubbing his bruising back, Law looked a bit psychotic rummaging in every closet he could get his hands on.

When one of the closet's doors stayed in Law's hand, Kid sighed and stood up. The red haired dusted the wall's plaster from his clothes and headed for the kitchen. He prudently approached the starving brunet not wanting to get another blast.

Eustass offered a helping but not friendly look and saw Law's wrath yielded for hunger. Law sat down at the kitchen table laying down the closet's door. A breath of wind entered the soft lightened room. It struck how their environment was so quiet while palpable tension reigned between the two men.

Both were over cautious of their any movements gauging themselves like two wild beasts locked in the same cage. Eustass refilled the water bottle at the sink earning an astonished look from the dark head. However he stopped caring from the moment he could drink again.

"I guess I just have to mother you to get what I'm looking for." Eustass complained, without being able to hide his wary. The other man's powers weren't so much of a surprise, but it was a dangerous feature he had to take in count from now on if he wanted to stay alive.

The red haired man fished crackers on the counter and threw it to the sleeping beauty.

"Here eat that while I try to cook someth–"

Kid hadn't finished to talk Law had already ate half of the packet. Eustass took various ingredients out to make something eatable. It would be a real challenge since the red head only feed himself from junk food those last days. That and the fact he was also a terrible cook.

The domestic life he had set up with his husband included several evident rules. For example Kid was buying groceries and Law cooked. It didn't worked well the nights Law came back late from work though. So Kid had to learn the basics and Law to suffer food poisoning from time to time. This perspective prevented Trafalgar from returning too late most of the time. Eustass cracked a smile at that thought.

"You make everything a lot easier by complying, don't you think?"

Since he didn't understand a word what Eustass could reply? So he kept going on whatever he was trying to make.

"You seemed very effective in that place." The swordsman continued as he saw the red head busying himself. "Perhaps I should let you keep that position."

Really, Kid had no idea what he was doing whatsoever.

"I seriously doubted of your usefulness more than once." Law admitted. "I couldn't kill you since I feel you are the strongest worshiper I have ever had in my whole existence. But it is an option I might reconsider when I will find the others."

The way the dark haired spoke wasn't unpleasant despite its harsh tone and the 'r' sounds' absence. But it didn't make it more understandable. The negative effect was, intelligible or not, it was Law's voice. Eustass could deny it as much as he wanted but he craved to hear it.

"There has to be others, I couldn't have regain so much strength yet if that was not the case… Or you truly believe in me with all thy soul, this say I highly doubt it."

The dark haired disdainfully snorted.

"Might it be possible you are a hopeless dreamer? You appeared to desperately cling to your love one." Then his tone softened when he declared. "Your utterly love that man don't you? It is truly uncommon… and dangerous. You could be hanged for such behavior. Whatever it is, you will be an utter fool to carry the hope to ever find him, even though it serves me well."

As the food cooked an appetizing smell filled the kitchen and Kid could almost hear Law's mouth watering behind him. Eustass was even surprised to not see him drooling with the look the brunet dropped onto the dish.

When the red head turned to set it on the table Law completely forgot the rest of the world; he took the pan from Kid's hands and begun to eat with the wooden spoon Eustass had use to cook. The red head left it all for Law not attempting to take some at risk of losing fingers.

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If someone said to him one day he'll made another person climax with his cooking he would have laugh his ass off. And probably punch him in the face. But here Eustass Kid was witnessing a non-complete stranger voraciously eat his dish as it was the best he never had. And he felt a bit knocked right now.

Law really couldn't help himself. The moment the smell of food had hit his nose his brain had shut down leaving him with a primal need he had to satisfy. He somehow tried to justify his enthusiasm by the fact he hadn't eat anything in ages. It wasn't even that good moreover but the slightest spice exploded in his mouth like a firework. He couldn't stop even though he burned his tongue at his first mouthful.

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Since he wouldn't have the right to eat tonight and despite the cold, Kid helped himself a beer from the fridge he had successfully fix at his arrival. It truly was a miracle in a region whose inhabitants barely knew about gas engines.

There weren't much alcohol left from his last raid. Kid grumbled as he put the cold drink on his still bruised temple. He had to do the groceries or there wouldn't be any supplies left by tomorrow… or the next hour if the dark haired man kept that frantic rhythm. The nearest decent city –i.e. where people knew what Internet was– was two hours drive.

All of a sudden, Eustass practically spit his beer out when a moan burst from Law's mouth. A loud, rough and enthusiastic moan which made Kid painfully grabbed hold of the kitchen counter.

Was it some sort of goddamn punishment? Eustass was now pretty sure he had done something awful in his life for having to listen to such obscene whimpers at this moment.

It kept going on and on, until Law had cleaned the entire pan with his tongue. And the red haired man was hard by the time he wondered why he hadn't left already. He set his unfinished beer down the counter. Was it horrible if he wanted to touch himself so bad? And if he felt a hot flush running on his skin? Was he an awful cheater if he wanted to be the attention of that frantic tongue? And licked all over until he got his rocks off.

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Eustass was about to leave the kitchen most likely heading for the bathroom when realized the dark haired man had stood up and opened the fridge. Kid saw red and caught the wrists of the walking stomach.

"Oh no that's enough for you tonight! You've already eat for two, you won't handle more."

The voracious look Eustass received from Law made him feel like a piece of meat. The red head saw himself through the dark head's eyes. He seemed delicious. It sent shivers down Kid's heated spine and then over his whole flushed body. Despite his best efforts Kid had no will under that look. The dark head's gaze was so starved Kid felt wolfed by Trafalgar's dilated pupils.

Law ravenously devoured him with his eyes. The bright red spiky hair held up by his goggles. The twitching nerves on the man's forehead, intensifying the frown of his hairless eyebrows, going down on his crooked nose. The anger that had never completely left the red head… Law could see it crawling beneath his white skin, his square jaw so tensed it might tear, his thin dark red lips shut tight.

Law's observation lost itself on the stiff sinews of the man's thick pale neck. He lusted to sink his teeth into the delicious crook of this neck. A bite would not be enough; Trafalgar wanted to eat that man alive and finally sated his hunger. He craved to satisfy the lustful desire he felt rising in his so tight pants. Eustass had stayed indecisive and scowling, though Law might help that.

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The red head was holding Law's wrists at each side of his head to keep away from the fridge and Trafalgar took advantage of it. He brushed his lips against Kid's fingertips and focused his eyes on the red head as he languorously took one finger in his mouth. Dark red lips parted, enabled to form words and hung pathetically while Law sucked his finger in the lewdest way. The dark haired went back and forth with half lidded eyes. Closing his soft lips around the offered extremity it felt like he could take so much more than fingers though.

Inside his busy mouth, Law's tongue began to move and tasted the appetizing skin. Things turned hotter and far more wet and the red head seemed unable to think about something else other than that demanding tongue swirling expertly at his fingertips.

As Kid was still anchored to his wrists, Trafalgar left the red head's hands to lean his lecherous body in the circle of Eustass' arms. He felt Kid's skin shudder to his touch instantaneously where Law touched him. Despite that the man stubbornly remained stiffened.

With that Law slid a slender leg along Kid's and brought their crotch to alignment. The brunet's eyelids half-closed as their chests connected. He could feel on his upper body from every Kid's muscles to his fluttering heart. Law would relish running his hands all over this muscle-bound chest.

Damn! Trafalgar wanted to dishonor that man in the most perverted ways he could imagine! He craved to bring the red haired to his knees and get the most exquisite whimpers out of him. Just scheming to make Eustass aroused and feverish drove Law out of his mind. He wanted to pin the red haired on the nearest wall, rip that stubborn scarlet's clothes off and pleased him until Kid willingly spread his legs open for him.

Hence Law acted upon his thoughts by starting slowly to rock his hips against the hard red head's. It would be far more enjoyable taking his time though Law bit his lips with anticipation. His patience was hastily put to the test as their crotches were rubbed against one another.

That thrilling friction was a torture! Heat was flowing through their veins and that touch finally seemed to trigger an eager response from Kid. All of a sudden Law caught something switching in the red head's eyes. It was a new kind of resolution as if he made up his mind at last.

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All thoughts left Trafalgar's mind as Eustass abruptly pressed his lips against his. Law was so stunned he let Kid's mouth move against his, taking him and deepening his raging kiss. He shared Kid's hot breath as the red haired skillfully spread his mouth opened. Eustass could taste the salt on his lips when his fierce tongue entered Law's mouth. It felt as electricity sparked everywhere they touched. It was so thrilling they were overwhelmed by heat spreading from their joined lips to their lower bellies setting fire on the way down.

Suddenly Trafalgar grasped Kid's neck with one hand and pushed him away. Law was a mess, panting and flushed. He tried to catch his breath and think at the same time but his brain didn't want to make the right connections.

"Wh…W…What are you doing?"

For once Eustass came to the same point.

"Fuck… What am I doing?"

As he licked his thin swollen lips Kid felt awfully wrong. He had to get out of here so for once in his life he ran away before doing something irredeemable. The red haired stormed out of the kitchen then locked himself in the bedroom shaking the fragile door on his way.

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Trafalgar found himself all alone. Albeit still aroused his body was steady, but it was trembling fingertips that came to Law's mouth and slowly brushed his lips. Long minutes passed as the dark haired played the scene again and again in his head. The shivers, their bodies so closed, the heat and the electricity… his very first kiss.

From where he came from, kiss someone on the lips was a submission's sign. It was very uncommon even more to show affection. He never thought it could be like that. So heated, so exciting, breathtaking, intense… and what Kid did with his tongue. Law was wetting just by thinking of it. He had to make him do that again!

Trafalgar was so shocked by then he overreacted a little, and now the red haired had slipped through his fingers. Leaving him filled with energy so he wasn't ready to sleep any further.

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Taking leftovers from the fridge, Law stepped out of the kitchen and made his way through the dark living room. It truly appeared as a strange era but the dark haired would just have to make do. Adaptation will require time but it promised to be very interesting time spent by Eustass' side.

Trafalgar scanned the obscure room until his eyes caught the lacquered scabbard of his sword. He lifted it and sheath gleamed in the shadows. He had deeply missed that guard's touch, the weight at his arm's end. Law made a few steps in the room's center and unsheathed his weapon. Training could be a good way to release the energy's overflow. Before he started anything however another object captured the swordsman's attention. Flat and square, the photo's glazed paper was gleaming on the floor.

The second Law thought he wanted to pick it up the blade in his hand switched for the picture. In a blink the sword was on the floor and the photo between his fingers.

Law's eyes opened a bit surprised. The dark haired didn't think he could do that so soon. He was regaining his powers faster than he ever expected.

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His eyes ended falling on the image he was holding. It still pictured the red haired man clasping his partner tightly. They were smiling and seemed happy in that engraved memory.

Law conceived he had to learn the red head's language –it would be by far the easiest option– he ought to tell him what he wanted to know. The dark haired might not understand Eustass' speech but the desperate search he was leading was perfectly understandable. However seeing as the swordsman was standing here in a similar appearance then the man on the picture was undoubtedly no longer alive.