Chapter 4, From the worst teacher ever to the backseat

"It's when we talk, it's in books…" Kid said handing over Law's logbook that he always carried with him.

"Words?" The dark haired man questioned.

"No, not words… you put it in your head. You… keep it." Trafalgar's confused look made Kid bristle. "Okay, right before 'knowledge' I have to explain you the meaning of 'keep'"

Law grumbled and took a deep breath still trying to figure how humans now put books in their heads. It was merely the middle of the afternoon and he had the feeling they'd been sitting in the kitchen for a lifetime. And he knew what he was talking about!

It'd been a few rough weeks of cohabitation and the red head and he were on edge. They had easily passed the basic vocabulary but all abstracts concepts were a pain in the ass. Drawing had been quickly put aside since Kid had always been to the stickman level. Once it took them hours to realize that Law thought Kid was talking about murdering someone while he was trying to explain the word 'disappearance'.

"This is undoubtedly the most stupid idiom that I have ever tried to learn!"

"You're hopeless." Kid raged rubbing his tired face. "But you better make progress tonight asshole cause you're not going to eat till you get to that."

"Teach me the word for 'moron' in your language, I could properly name you."

"Fuck, what am I gonna do for dinner? You practically eat as much as me…"

And that was a feat.

"Did it exist a special term to refer to red headed idiots? Or are you one of kind?"

"With a bit of luck there's still some bread left."

Eustass' hands absent-mindedly clenched as he thought of the taste –distaste in that case– the dark haired man facing him shared with his husband.

The brunet in question stood and left the kitchen before Eustass got his attention back on him.

"Where do ya think you're goin'?" Kid snapped.

"Far of you." The old one replied without even sparing him a glance.

"FROM you!" The red head yelled from the kitchen.

Kid stood up in his turn. Actually he wouldn't have been able to put up with another learning session. He didn't bother to look for Law. Kid knew he could find him outside on the porch in the now warmer spring air. Trafalgar often sat here or further in the surroundings, meditating when he wasn't training with his sword. It even had a name, the dark haired man had tried to teach him but Kid hadn't cared. Why would he bother to learn a fucking sword's name when Law didn't give a fuck about pronouncing Kid's name correctly!

Their daily routine didn't match at all. Trafalgar woke up with the sun, enjoying the morning's quietness to commune with himself. He worked his weakened muscles and explored the house's surroundings while the red head was still asleep. Law couldn't leave Kid now but he craved to see anything else other than those mountains lost in mist and vegetation.

Eustass never woke up before noon, especially because he worked all night long on finding his missing husband. He had reread the journal countless time and also hadn't resisted throwing it away a couple of times. He was in a dead end with an evil twin blocking his way and it painfully got on his nerves. So Kid was searching everywhere where he had missed something.

He couldn't take the swordsman out of his head. How could he? Eustass had spent weeks convinced in the depth of his soul he would find his lover, and now he was there in the flesh albeit in a paler version. And Kid couldn't handle that.

The red head had never stopped thinking about his husband during the past weeks, appealing to the memories he had engraved in his mind from the man he loved. The mere details of his tanned skin, his expressions and laugh, the way he looked at him and trembled when they made love.

Now he was living a daily torture seeing the body fulfilling his every dreams being near him, talking with that rough adored voice, moving with that same presence. Several times Kid had almost called the swordsman Law without thinking. The red head was constantly restraining gestures of affection he usually reserved for his husband. Each time was a painful reminder his lover was still somewhere, maybe in danger, and those thoughts tore Kid's heart apart.

Days had passed in a tense atmosphere during which they never talked about the same thing and glared daggers at each other. Language lessons had become an ordeal filled with yelling –mostly from Kid.

The only reason they hadn't jumped all over each other yet was, despite everything they managed to communicate. At the beginning, without even thinking of it, they had physically acknowledged the other. The way each moved or reacted, their mutual boundaries. As if their bodies knew better than their minds how to behave around each other.

.

On the little worm-eaten porch Law was struggling to focus. He glowered at the misty mountains without really seeing them. Earlier days had been hotter and drier. Law could practically feel the loud red head's steps stomping on the apartment floor. At this rate, he would probably fall through it.

Trafalgar had been deep in thoughts for a few days. Upon his arrival here he had felt power rising through this taken body and thought it would be a matter of days to regain his original abilities. But since they kissed in the kitchen, the dark haired man hadn't been able to cut anything harder than rock or even teleport objects.

Law had pondered about the red head. Didn't Eustass read the manual? It was clearly written on the journal he carried everywhere and… on his gravestone's walls. Trafalgar sadly recalled those cold engraved walls between which he'd rested. His strength came from the believers. Thus the more you believe in him stronger he became. It wasn't as simple as believing in his existence; it was closer to worship since people had to have faith in him.

The catch was, he had taken the physical essence of Kid's lover thus he was carrying a part of the archeologist in him. As though the harder Eustass had faith in his husband the more powerful the deity became.

Thus a problem had shown. Kid was eager to extort information from him. But what would happen if Eustass learnt of his husband's death? After he would try to kill him and destroy the rest of the world, he'd cease to believe… and Law would die for a second time.

The swordsman shook his head making his dark hair flogged the air. He will not let that happened.

He recalled his awakening. It had been so blurry and strange, ghostly sensations had run all over his long dead body. He had mournfully thought back then that the imperial soldiers who had put him in that grave had been right. He had sentenced them all.

The swordsman still remembered clearer as time had passed how life had so slowly left his body then left him in silence and darkness. He hadn't been able to die the loss of his worshippers had only weakened him to an endless paralyzed state. So when he had seen a light he had desperately clung to it.

He didn't want to take his discoverer's life forces but the fear of remaining in an eternal silence had been the stronger. He wouldn't return in a box, locked indefinitely while time passed and didn't allow him to pass away with his loved ones. But a second chance to live had shown and the dark haired man would not waste that gift.

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In his wanderings Law had actually explored the tiny apartment's library. It wasn't more than a few shelves of worn out books but the dark head happened to find a tiny Japanese-English learning book. The swordsman was surprised how fast he'd learnt this new idiom as if it had been somehow… familiar. Law took care not sharing his discovery though making sure his terrible teacher didn't get the progress he'd already made without him. Having to remain confused when Kid insulted him was a little price to pay to ensure this advantage.

Law had heard the red head talking through an odd device showing a moving image of a blond man to whom he spoke friendly with. Eustass hadn't mentioned the swordsman, lying that he hadn't found any traces of the gravestone. First the dark haired man had been utterly offended that his existence had been denied so carelessly. However he hadn't got to reveal himself. Law didn't really know what stopped him but it had him wonder on his present being.

Why had he been brought back to existence? Him, who was relinquished to die after the slaughter of his city. Why now?

Part of the answer might lie in the red head. Or so guessed Law and he intended to find out everything he could on the fiery man.

Speaking of the devil.

"They're nothing left to eat at all," Eustass said stepping on the door frame with his lovely grumbling voice, "We're going to town."

Law's eyes involuntarily sparked with interest at the mention of 'town'.

"Don't be so excited! It's a quick two-way trip and I'm only taking you cause I don't want to lose sight of you dummy."

Trafalgar's mood didn't darken for all that. Kid already began to regret his decision.

They had a two hour long trip to reach a city worthy of the name, but first Kid had to take care of his passenger. If Law was trying not to give something away, he wasn't succeeding. He definitely wasn't in his element in that noisy and spluttering metal wreck, however he remained dignified. Until they drove in mountains curves.

That was a little too much for him and when Trafalgar thought his stomach would betray him, the vehicle slowed a bit. His grey eyes had cautiously stayed on the road but Law felt Kid's embarrassment as the red haired man cleared his throat and muttered "If you ruin the car, you're getting out and walking."

Law didn't reply anything, attentions like that were rare although it helped to ease the atmosphere. Eustass wasn't as bad at driving as he cooked. It was a welcome relief which even allowed Law to enjoy the landscape.

It felt oddly familiar and foreign at the same time. There were far less plants than the dark head recalled and as roads multiplied under their path, a light rain showering the countryside. Houses begun to pop along the way and blurry gleam appeared behind the car glass. First it merely was a spot which adjusted at their approach.

Law's eyes opened wide and he took it on himself to not open his mouth too. Gripping his nodachi's sheath he saw buildings grow all around them. Concrete, asphalt, electric wires, neon lights… The profusion was so much for his mind to take all in once the swordsman felt a bit dizzy.

A bark laugh broke the silence and his owner received a dark look. You should see your face, Kid's smile said. That was also new the dark haired thought as they parked in an alley; he hadn't seen Eustass smile before. It suited him well. He looked lively almost sparkling with an inner fire Trafalgar hadn't seen yet. He would like to see more of it.

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They entered an average food shop and Kid expertly leaded the food supplies. He made Law useful by carrying their bags and the latter didn't even think to take offence since he was too immersed in his surroundings.

Everything felt so disturbing for the swordsman. It wasn't so much the evolution of technology or the odd way people lived in these future days. It appeared more an underlying impression Law couldn't get off. He felt apart from this world as though the oddity in the whole present time was him.

They hadn't shopped more when the shop's owner came back from the backroom then stopped. He grumbled and pointed Law out with a stiff face.

"No weapons. You. Wait outside."

Law readjusted the bags in his arms and tried a diplomatic answer.

"I not want harm. We…"

"Out!" The man snapped.

Law's wrath ran dangerously under his skin at the merchant daring to order him around, however he contained himself. He had no use in mauling a mortal particularly when this one was simply afraid of him. He looked around him and saw unease fill the other clients' eyes

"Get out!"

Not wanting to cause the human any more trouble Law started to drop off the groceries but Kid's hand interrupted his move. The dark haired man felt Eustass boiling at his side and thought it really was a day where everyone was trying to stop him from doing what he wanted.

"Hey shithead!" Kid snarled at the merchant, "Let us finish this without me broking your kneecaps. Would be nicer huh?"

"My…my knee–"

The red haired man's fist closed on the man's collar and he lifted the poor soul in the air with one hand.

"Yeah, you know those pretty little bones serving you to kneel and run far away from me."

As he told, Kid let the man fall down on his knees. The merchant started to crawl back but not fast enough to avoid the red head's feet kicking his side. Law could now see Kid's threatening figure reflecting in the frightened man's expression. Difficult for the swordsman to consider himself dangerous opposite to the hothead mechanic. As he finished his shopping the red head's huge smile and broad frame made him appear like the sociopath he truly was.

Clients turned their eyes away from them, petrified on their path. The look Kid glanced to the frightened man now hidden behind his counter made the merchant quiver in fear. Eustass, his arms full, leaned in enough to invade the merchant's personal space and giving him a devilish smile.

"You're too generous to not make us pay this time," he mocked, "I'll come back here; meanwhile enjoy your legs."

Taking advantage while Kid's arms were occupied, the dark haired man picked the wallet out of his vest and threw a bunch of bills to the merchant who flinched to avoid the money as if it would burn him.

"Eh! That's my money you dick!"

Frowning grey eyes casted Kid an unimpressed look and pushed the red haired toward the exit.

"Move or I slice you."

They left the shop and Kid behaved until they dropped the groceries off in the car. It was raining harder as hours passed and sky darkened. They were alone in that back alley barely lightened. Law was more annoyed than he would have thought by Kid's behavior. It didn't help to notice Eustass was a dick to everyone. Law threw a murderous glare when a pale hand caught his arm again.

"Ya know you could kill people with looks like that?" Eustass meanly joked when he faced the swordsman.

Law snorted, trying to remain unflappable. The red haired man didn't know why he persisted but he felt weeks of frustration rose to the surface. They both were so uptight anything could trigger their threatening burst. Maybe it was what they needed.

"I know how hard you bite pretty ass, you can't harm me." Standing under the rain made his red hair darken and bend to gravity. Trafalgar stepped back as his body tensed. It turned alarms on in Kid's mind. Actually he had no idea what the dark haired man was truly capable of. Except for reject, Law's expression was unreadable. Not the kind of thing to freak Kid though.

Apparently both Law disapproved his social behavior. So what? He always loathed people who think they're better than others or lashed out at the ones he loved. He didn't let anyone get in his way it was as simple as that. And the dark haired man was no exception.

"What did I do this time? Not feeding you? Or give you enough clothes?"

"Let go of me," Law spat ready to use his powers to force the red head to comply.

"Should I make rituals for the great demon–"

"Don–"

"–or else you'll rip my heart out like the rest of your city?"

A punch projected Kid a few step away, raindrops flew off his bloody hair. He knew he totally deserved this one and damn it he needed it. The red head's smile didn't fade as he brought a hand to his throbbing jaw. He hadn't bled yet. Such progress!

A second more assured fist struck his other side and made him see stars. This time when he opened his eyes Eustass saw blood on the swordsman fist. Law had lost all composure, he was merely as furious as Kid. Water dripped on his lean frame, soaking his clothes.

Kid took a fighting posture and started the second round. He grabbed Law's forearm as another fist came for him then past the dark haired guard. Eustass took advantage of his strength to knock Law into the car door, taking his breath away.

The dark haired man flexibly passed through Kid's arm and punched him in the ribs with a hard precision. Eustass missed the chance to kick the man to the ground but didn't let pass the occasion to knee Trafalgar's stomach.

That was how the red haired let off steam. And every jerk talking to you about footing and tea were fucking liars. He never felt more alive than in those moments. Fighting worked fine. As well as sex.

They were both shuddering and wet, not even remembering why they were fighting already. The men exchanged hard kicks, punches, head-butts and beat the shit out of each other. Water splashing at every hit.

Lecherous thoughts dispersed Kid's mind. He wondered if he could bring the dark haired man against the car again and fiercely take his hot mouth. He would angrily spread his lips not letting him a room to breathe. They'll probably be still fighting, gripping on each other hair, biting each other flesh.

Eustass started to get hard on the simple thought of their bodies pressing on one another. What a sight Law would make furious and slippery against him. He wanted to spread the brunet's legs and ripped just enough clothes to reach his heated ass. He wanted to pound into him, fuck his brain out and see him bite his lips not to moan his name.

A kick knocked him hard on the reality's parking and his fantasy burst on the concrete. Eustass hadn't time to think more as Law's knee was on his chest and the dark head's weight preventing him from rising. He heard an object being scraped on the floor followed by the clank of a blade being unsheathed. Eustass' heart pounded heavily in his chest; he was suddenly so stunned he couldn't make a move. The red haired panicked as he tried to catch his breath. Why couldn't he move?! Then a sword stuck near his head deeply entering the floor and killing his heart's track. Blood was dripping from the corner of Trafalgar's mouth and fading with the rain.

"You do not understand anything," Law gasped bent over him, both hands on his nodachi's guard and his head lower between his lean arms, "I realize you have absolutely no idea of who I am… Call me murderer if it pleases you but… I forbid you from talking about my people."

The dark haired man's voice was so deep it melted with the heavy droplet's sound and Eustass knew by the way Law shook he had to shut his trap.

"I never killed any of my city's inhabitants… A violent disease struck everyone. My abilities were inefficient, I… I never felt so powerless… The emperor's army slaughtered my own kind while I tried to save them."

Kid didn't understand what the swordsman was saying but the emotions Law were feeling he felt them too. Empathy wasn't in Kid's emotional range. It wasn't his problem if people were weak. He wouldn't feel pity for them. But Trafalgar was different; Kid had learnt where he was coming from. He was stronger than average people. Eustass could be wrong on a lot of people but he was never wrong on Law. The red head was more perceptive of him than anyone else.

He had imagined things would be quite a different matter with the demon he had woken up but he was fooling himself. From the slightest expression or change of attitude, Kid could tell what his husband felt. To his surprise it was the same with the swordsman. He never would have bet on that, considering all the misunderstanding they had been through since their encounter. But here he was, remaining dumb as usual. He felt Trafalgar's sorrow hit him. And it bit harder than he thought.

The dark haired man ended up standing up under the waterfall the sky was now dropping on their heads. Eustass followed his move ignoring the bruise striking his side. He went near Law resisting the urge to hold him tight. The red head was enabled to step back, stuck halfway between the image of his husband and the one of deity who had take his appearance for whatever goddamn reason! What a fucking loser he was!

They stared at each other eyes, the tension that had caused their fight seemed scattered, allowing a quiet instant where they could realize how fucked up they were.

.

Without touching the dark haired man, Kid tilted his head to the side and made a step backward, inviting Law to follow him. Trafalgar first hovered but he knew that stubborn red head would never give up so he conceded and let him take him the lead.

Kid never left his side as they headed farther in the city. Colorful fluorescent lights scanned their dark silhouettes in the cold night, their way oddly peaceful while they walked through the crowd.

It appeared that they could never lose each other, feeling the other heat even from a distance. Kid's presence kept Law on track, surprisingly doing things right for once. For him.

The red haired entered in a rather large establishment where a few customers were leaving. Trafalgar followed him in a heated place with gleaming lights. Tobacco, chemicals and spices' smells filled the air.

The room was mostly wooden and furnished with a lot of stools and tables. Clients were chatting here and there creating a background noise as regular as rain. Three quarters of the seats were occupied however there hadn't been any trouble finding stools at the bar.

They really must have looked scary, all bloody, bruised and wet, because customers walked away from their path and significantly lower their voices. Rows of various shaped bottles were aligned on the wall behind the large counter and two barmaids were keeping clients' thirst quenched. The nearer turned toward them when they seated and recoiled slightly before giving the fighters a knowing smile.

"Rough night?"

"Ya, and not exactly the way I wanted it to be," Eustass replied smiling slightly too, "Do you have anything against bruises?"

"I could pour you a big Mercurochrome's glass but I don't think you'll appreciate it."

"Any good anesthetic then?"

"We have a very good shochu."

"If it's strong enough we'll take it."

"I'll bring you that."

Then Eustass felt Trafalgar's eyes on him. They had taken off their soaked coats but their clothes were still stuck to their skin highlighting arms and chests. Kid could distinguish Law's muscles under his shirt. He had laid his sword against one of his inner thighs. The dark head's silhouette was lightened by several dim lights enhancing his sharp features.

Their quiet observation was interrupted by two glasses landing between them. The red head attention was caught by the liquid reward and he took his with satisfaction. He raised his glass in midair and silently told Law to join him.

As the dark haired man shook their glass, Kid got his drink down with a "Kanpaï!" making Law frown while he did the same.

"Speak Japanese?"

"Worse than you speak English."

Trafalgar searched a beginner way to say he didn't know what he was talking about but Eustass stopped him and ordered new drinks.

"I'm not as dumb as it seems. I kind of suspected it and the first punch I got came from a person who exactly knew what I was saying."

"You are…" Law started suddenly catching the lack of insults in his vocabulary.

"A clever asshole," Kid completed for him, "But you can call me genius." Law rolled his eyes and drank the new refill. "I'm only asking to not suck me too hard I'm still hurt," The red haired continued with a sly grin.

They shared a welcomed silence on the third round, lost on their thoughts and the alcohol warmth.

"The first time I met Law was on a gross joke of that kind," Eustass told, his smile softening at the memory flooded his mind, "It was a fucking hot summer and his crew and he had pushed their old excavator to its limits and the digger's engine had overheated." The red haired man laughed heartily recalling, "They were so desperate when I came to repair their machine. Apart from Law. He hadn't taken off my back the whole time saying he already fixed it a thousand times and they didn't need a shitty mechanic. He already pissed me off. When I brought the old lady back to life I believed he was gonna kill me. I gave him my number telling him to call me if he needed to screw something else."

All at his recollections, Eustass didn't see the sad pity tainting Trafalgar's eyes. Memories were all the red haired man had now his husband was gone.

.

Kid recalled how he had next met the dark haired man weeks later. He was bent over the steaming engine of the scrap-heap he used to drive. His hands grease stained to his elbows and the most pissed off expression painted on his face as he had recognized the red haired mechanic. Eustass hadn't restrained the smile spread all over his face.

"You kidding me!" Law had said not seeing the end of his bad hair day.

"People usually just call me Kid."

"Stop talking shit and do your job!"

"Don't order me around!"

They had spent the next hour at each other's throats, Law complaining about the delay it was going to put on his work and Kid getting angrier at the old engine which refused to come back from the scrap yard.

Eustass hadn't believed he could argue with such bad mannered man so long without punching his face. He almost enjoyed listening to the dark head's sharp-tongue snarling at him. He was cold and sarcastic but the mechanic was glad to finally talk to someone who didn't feel scared or threatened by him. Kid ended up flinging cutting remarks just to see Law's frown deepen and his haired jaw set in fury while he tried to keep a bored look on his face.

Finally victory came to their empty stomachs and they went to eat dinner against Law's protests, but he depended on Kid to drive him back home.

At the time Law was a complete workaholic and didn't quite know how to behave with new people. So when they'd stopped fighting he'd got into long archeological lectures.

The more surprised of the two though had been Kid, who had hung on Trafalgar's every word. He didn't give a shit about ruins and studies but that man seemed to make him loved the most annoying things on earth. Eustass had felt so hopeless and dumb that to prove himself it meant nothing he had fucked the archeologist in the back of his car later that same night.

.

It was that or Kid could really ended punching him for never stop talking. The mechanic felt he made the right choice when he got a touch of the other things Law could do with his tongue.

He kissed feverishly great, making Kid's lips feel like they were made for Law's. Their mouths had pressed together, setting their whole bodies on fire. A link had been sealed between them by that fist intimate touch with an intensity they weren't expected. They'd barely breathe in order to not pull their lips apart. When their tongues had eagerly met, they'd both gasped and gripped their clothes tightly to hold onto something. As if they had never really kissed before.

Inked hands all over the mechanic had felt like the most pleasing touch he had ever experienced. Desire rose intensely with every hands sliding under his sweaty top, every bit of skin licked and marked, and the clanging sound of unbuckled pants. It wasn't only going down their crotches but all over their heated skins, even filling the chill summer air on the backseat.

The tightness of the car if it helped closeness also complicated any movements; however Trafalgar had helped the red haired man on his knees. Law had made him suck his cock, eagerly and without the slightest shame; he made Kid relish every touch and taste of it.

Kid had enjoyed himself more than he'd planned. Each time he acted to selfishly, the archeologist gave him a rather bored look that scratched Kid's nerves on the highest level. Eustass took those as a challenge and worked twice as hard to wipe the insulting glares off Trafalgar's face.

Each time the other man groaned and his rough gasping voice echoed in the car, put a winning smile on Eustass' face. The mechanic couldn't keep his hands on one place and had wandered on Law's sweating back, groping his slim hipbones then down his nicely rounded ass.

They hadn't been able to take off all their clothes in the narrow space but soon it hadn't mattered. There were too eager for it to care. Eustass' moans had heavily filled the heated air as he had finally got inside Law's asshole. Even with the lube they used over the condom, the dark haired man had dug his fingernails in Kid's shoulder while his muscles had stretched around the mechanic's cock.

Eustass had gripped Trafalgar's thighs, massaging and spreading Law's legs in a stunning view. It hadn't last long until Law felt good enough to ride him. The red haired hadn't been able to take his eyes off his stiffen member pulling in and out in a perfect motion. The bewitching rolls of his tanned pelvis had hypnotized him. An urgency to get deeper, harder and grab more of each other had taken over them. Their pace quickened in an urging frenetic rhythm to a hard and hot climax.

.

Before midnight, Eustass had almost thrown the archeologist in front of his lab, with zero second thought on his dick move. He even had laugh at his own pun.

On his drive back home, he hadn't stopped brooding about the whole night though. It was nothing. It didn't mean anything. He just needed to get laid. Even once he got back to his flat, thoughts had refused to leave him. It was only a brief physical attraction. Just the heat of the moment. One night stand didn't matter. And even laid in his bed, his brain refused to shut up. It was physical. Nothing more. Just a fucking sexual urge. The guy was just hot damn sexy. He couldn't punch someone with an ass like that. Someone who had none of his shit and snapped back with such defying tone. Someone who look at him like that…