Chapter 6, From warm up issues to stabbed in the heart

Trafalgar was cold. He started to shiver through the wet clothes stuck to his skin. However he stayed unwavering against the door. Silently he had sheathed his sword and kept it firmly at his side like an anchor he desperately hung onto. The storm raging hadn't slowed down at all. The lightings illuminating the cellar where Law kept them in flickered sporadically. The thunder was loud and echoes through the mansion's walls with fury.

Law couldn't stop shaking. He knew the cold was a mere cause to his symptom but he couldn't help it. He hadn't been locked underground since he'd been buried alive. It had left frightening memories imprinted in his head.

The dark haired man attempted to get through the oppressive feeling tightening his chest by following Kid's every movement.

Not willing to stay on the floor eternally, Eustass had started to slowly pace through the room, his cut clothes showing pieces of his bare muscled chest. Kid didn't know what else to do until he stumbled upon the contents of one of the numerous crates. And now he paced while drinking stolen alcohol. The red haired man avoided Law's eyes uncomfortably and warmed himself up with whatever liquor he might have found.

Lightning ran on his darkened face as Eustass finally gave up on going back and forth aimlessly and leaned against one of the walls. Law watched his head fall back on the stone as the mechanic closed his eyes with his arms resting on his folded knees. Kid looked unnaturally quiet but he seemed neither tired nor annoyed; he simply drank and bore it.

Uneasiness began to get heavily on Law. It seemed like the walls were narrowing around him. He felt weak and frightful while memories were resurfacing in his head. He didn't want to rethink about the fateful night when all his kind had left this world. Law had had centuries to dwell on those events and still his brain didn't seem to get it. Images and sounds filled his mind with too much clarity. The swordsman shook nervously and all his attempts to get hold of himself failed miserably.

Then Trafalgar felt the red head's eyes lock on him. No matter how hard he wanted to pout, Eustass' nature was stronger and he didn't hold the quiet face longer.

"Leave that fucking door and sit. I'm not gonna run." Law encountered Eustass' gaze with a doubtful look. "As if I could without you catch me and rip the rest of my clothes off."

"We should go," Trafalgar's fluttering voice suggested.

"No way. If you aren't letting me go after the motherfucker who stole the only thing I've got to get my husband back, then we'll stay here till you yield."

Law resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. "You should not drink again," he said instead of vainly try to convince the red head that continuing was foolish.

"And you should stop being an asshole. Moreover it keeps well warm ya know."

"The cold… does not bother me."

"Of course snow queen," Eustass snapped raising his absent eyebrows in disbelief, "Come on get your ass down here."

.

Cautious people would have stood firmly. Cautious people would have guarded the door against the red haired storm seeming to wave a white flag. However Law wasn't cautious at this moment; he was scared and stiffened. Thus Trafalgar's feet moved without his brain ordering to and he sat against the wall at a safe distance from Kid.

Eustass handed him the bottle he was drinking without looking at Law. He had that strange ability to offer peace in a gesture that seemed to accept no refusal. After a moment the dark haired man took it, even though he was swearing not to less than an hour ago. If the only thing close to hand that could prevent him from thinking about his centuries in a coffin was liquor, it would do. Although he could hold alcohol, it was also a soft way to lessen his reflexes and Eustass would surely take advantage of it. But right now he needed it badly. Something to hold onto and kept him warm.

At his first sip Law instantly felt warmer and couldn't believe the red head was right. He must have been obvious because Kid explained, "It's not the alcohol you felt, it's the wall."

Law didn't understand. Was the mechanic finally drunk?

"There's water's pipes right behind the stone, it's part of the house's heater system."

The swordsman lifted one hand to the wall and then felt a surprisingly warm contrast with the coolness of his fingertips. His body started to relax a bit under the hotness but it wasn't enough to chase his angst. Each time Trafalgar took a gulp, the alcohol stuck in his throat making every swallow harder.

By the time he'd finished that bottle, Kid had opened a second one and asked with mere curiosity, "Have you already killed people?"

Law took a moment to fully appreciate the mechanic's delicacy. To be honest, when had Kid ever been delicate? It seemed like a feature that could never apply to him.

"Several," The swordsman answered tersely.

"Your enemies?"

"Most of them were the Emperor's soldiers," Law replied with a renewed anger filling his words.

"Ya seem to hold him close to your heart," Kid darkly snorted, "Was your time as shitty as it sounds?"

"No," The swordsman declared without taking notice of Kid's annoying comment, "I missed it… it's where I belong… People weren't as hurried as they are now. Uses, language, works… our whole ways of life appear so different."

"Actually, it's Law who would love to know everything about you."

Trafalgar gulped a long swallow to hide his nervousness. And suddenly decided to carry on with his past life. If it could avoid the subject of Kid's dead husband then the swordsman would talk till sunrise.

"A large part of the townsfolk were miners. The city had earned a fair amount of wealth through the exploitation of ore."

"Yeah I saw that, I found you in a quarry remember?"

Law recalled too well. He drank again to go through the aching feeling in the hollows of his bones. Time stretched beyond measure and the voices in his head became too loud, the darkness of the night too present.

"How did you get there?" Eustass sincerely questioned after a long moment, knocking another bottle back.

Alcohol had made Law's mind warmer and more sensitive, thus the words slipped from his tongue themselves.

"My own existence defied the Emperor's authority. He claimed the deity as his only privilege and I had made myself his natural enemy."

The dark haired man had set his nodachi down beside his crossed legs and his deep voice continued he looked lost in the past.

"But as long as people worshipped me, I was more powerful than any army he could launch against me. I had never let them touch the people who had accepted me and believed in me… Even if I had decided to leave in order to protect them, they would have been threatened by the army."

Eustass stopped drinking for a moment hanging on the swordsman words. He had heard this loving voice tell so many stories… It was almost like his Law was really there.

"The downfall came upon them without warning. Now, I think I should have seen the signs earlier. But when we realize what was happening, it was already too late. A disease, I assumed some sort of poisoning, had struck the inhabitants one after the other. I was completely in the dark, that disease was beyond anything I had seen until then. I worked all days and nights to understand what was happening and find a cure. But my time was running out, and the Emperor's army took advantage of our distress to finally take down the harmful pain we were."

The lightning struck again and the sky rumble fiercely highlighting the swordsman's history.

"They didn't attack directly as they had done in the past. Instead they let the city crumble and destroy itself from the inside. They spread rumors about the disease that kept killing everyone. It had appeared so suddenly, it was suspicious. And since the mighty being I was didn't seem to find a cure, then I might be the cause of all their misfortune. As hope was slowly leaving them this version sounded more and more convincing… Fear…" Trafalgar continued slipping from one language to another through alcohol and emotions. "That is how everything ended for me. I started to frighten people; they thought I cursed them. I became a monster… a demon in their eyes. They were so afraid… My powers dangerously decreased with the demise of most of my worshipers. It was only when I was weaker that the army attacked."

Trafalgar saw them in his head as clear as the night he had witnessed his city be slaughtered without being able to protect them. Horses were charging, blades clinging in the night, there were fire and so much screaming.

"I remained the last one," Law said with a dead inebriated voice, "But the Emperor knew even without believers I would be hard to kill, so he chose to bury me in the depth of the mountain and waited that time carry my existence away…"

Law's grasp tightened around the bottle, lastest in a long series. He hadn't been able to tell that to anyone and understood now how much it had weighed on his heart. Now he wasn't carrying his history alone. Despite his sorrow Law was free of the lies that had buried him. Because now someone knew the truth.

.

His head felt dizzy; the warm was spreading on his tanned skin and heating his face. Kid hadn't let go of the least features of the dark haired. How his arm had tensed and his knuckles whitened around the bottle's neck. The red head's eyes and ears had take him whole, from the way Law winded, his chest rising swiftly, to the glowering of his wet eyes gleaming when the light hit them.

Eustass snatched the bottle from Trafalgar's hand so he'd have something to hold onto that wasn't the shaking tanned body. It was by far the saddest fucking story Law had ever told him. The mechanic kept telling himself he had to resist the urge telling him to grasp Trafalgar and never let him go again. But he didn't remember clearly why he had to hold back.

"And then I came back to life!" Law unexpectedly bewailed, "It was so weird… feeling the air in my lungs and the texture under my finger, the hunger scratching at my belly… I didn't know why I was alive again but I took the chance to live. I'm still trying to… know why I'm here."

Trafalgar closed his hand on the empty space left by the bottle Kid was nursing. When the grey eyes fell on Eustass, Law growled.

"It's all your fault! You got me back in this filthy strange world with your weird ass language!" The dark haired man scolded, "You hadn't stopped yelling at me and casting me those languorous looks at the same time! I might not understand your words but I know what your stares means! And… you did that thing with your tongue!"

It was enough, the swordsman deemed. He wouldn't stay with that disrespectful man for one more second. Law tried to stand up but his legs were unsure and he remained on his knees. What was he doing already? The wall was so warm. Get out. Yes he had to go. Then the startling sound of glass hitting the stone rang into Trafalgar's ears. And a hand gripped his drying vest.

"Don't…" Eustass pleaded tugging firmly on the dark haired man's jacket.

If his voice was begging, his face held the resolute features of a man who'd not let go of what he wanted so easily.

"Law… stay."

His second of hesitation sufficed to Trafalgar to fall back towards Kid, drawn by his sleeve's vest.

"I'll do anything ya want, just don't leave me again."

Red bangs had fallen on Kid's forehead. It was so odd to see his hair bended through gravity. Eustass' breath exhaled alcohol's scent but it didn't matter that much since Law probably smelt the same. It took long minutes for the dark haired man's brain to acknowledge he noticed the smell because they were close. Really close.

Trafalgar didn't wonder how their faces ended up so near, or how he had landed between the red head's knees although he was supposed to leave. All these legitimate thoughts didn't have a room in Law's blank mind anymore.

He was overwhelmed by the thrilling anticipation of what should follow that hanging instant. The swordsman didn't know if he wanted to stay or go …But by all gods he wanted to take those dark lips once more!

.

Thunder burst when their lips pressed hardly on one another. Their minds were cracking opened as Law claimed Kid's mouth as his. The rush of power that burst through Trafalgar's whole body made him light headed. Well more than he already was. The dark haired man tilted his head further to have a better grasp of Eustass' lips. Kid couldn't believe he finally tasted these tempting lips that had haunted his nights and days. Quickly all these powerful sensations melt in a craving desire for more.

With their eyes closed, the men's mouths opened in a ferocious competition of who would leave the other more out of breath. They fought on each other lips holding back the urge to bite at the adverse flesh.

Kid won the first round as the dark haired man lost himself in the marvelous thrill coming through his lips. Trafalgar's senses were assaulted all over, aware of every shiver running on his skin and the delightful energy creeping in his bones.

Once the red head took control it got a lot more skillful and Trafalgar experimented touches he had never thought a kiss could provide. A callous hand placed itself on Law's neck, holding the dark haired closer like a treasure he would fiercely keep all for himself. Their lips were moving erratically, unable to remain simply pressed but craving to follow their tongues licking at each other with desperation.

This kiss held back everything they couldn't say to the other. They were things they couldn't tell out loud or express with words. They choose to seal every truth and annoying feelings between their raging lips and the rolling of their tongues. Leaving nothing but mouth-to-mouth combat.

.

Lightning harshly struck the earth, the subsequent sound grounding them and causing the two to part. They were panting and wet but the rain wasn't completely to blame anymore.

Flickering light enlightened their tangled bodies half spread between the wall and the floor. During those few seconds they stared hungrily at each other. The lightings casted a wild gleam on their dilated pupils. Their swollen lips hung impatiently.

Then cloud's lights turn off.

When the lightning from outside floodlighted the room again, Law had sunk further between Eustass' folded legs. The red head had set his back up against the warm wall resting his legs around Law's hips. He had gripped Trafalgar's collar to pull him in another electrifying kiss.

Law's outstretched arms were on either side of Kid's head. Even kneeling deep between the red head's thighs Law had to bend his lean frame to get to his mouth. However it was the perfect angle for Trafalgar to rock his hips against the red head's. He was hot. So hot he felt dizzy. Or was it the alcohol? He couldn't remember. The only thing that hadn't already gone south was the intense rapture filling their light heads.

Law's rolling kept a steady pace and he swallowed the soft moans escaping from Eustass' throat. The dark haired man looked for Kid's harsh and demanding breathes, but he couldn't focus on anything else aside from their crotches rubbing on one another. The friction was increased by their tight and wet clothes adding an enjoyable pressure below their waist.

Trafalgar arched his back to go with the lustful move and felt Kid's hand run on his sides, wandering under the dark head's jacket. The mechanic's touch was burning, setting fire to Law's skin through thin layer of his shirt. Kid lifted just enough to close the space between their chests.

Both could felt how tensed their muscles still were, but the shared warmth eased them a little. Their bodies fitted well in that position, allowing them to feel clenched muscles and their fluttering hearts. The tickers pounded heavily and sent thunder claps through their chests down their bellies.

Eustass left Trafalgar's attractive lips to assault the crook of his neck, barely holding his urge. The red haired man sunk his teeth into the spots he knew it drove Law crazy. And rough moans answered the love bites Kid dutifully marked on the tanned skin. At these sounds the red head's cock stuffed with desire.

A cocky smile spread on Law's parted lips as the dark haired man felt Eustass hardened fully against him. He fisted his long fingers through the shock of red hair. Digging his nose in the strands Trafalgar breathed Kid's musky scent between his soft groans. He could have drowned himself in that smell if it wasn't for his hips still rocking against the red head's crotch.

Kid's hands slid further down and possessively groped the dark head's ass. Their caress rushed with eagerness. Then Law's fingers caught in Eustass' torn clothes. Trafalgar's fingertips tickled the mechanic's bare skin, shivers spreading under his touch. Law straightened up and took a single second to admire his earlier work. A few threads only kept the red head's clothes on his torso leaving him half unwrapped like a blushing red gift.

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Eustass seemed to realize what Law had in mind the moment the dark haired grasped tightly on his shirt's edges. But he hadn't the chance to think any further, Trafalgar eagerly tore his clothes apart.

Sustaining his momentum, the dark haired man brushed the naked skin of Kid's chest with his fingertips and went down the hem of his pants. Long tanned fingers attacked the fly while the red haired man slid Law's jacket off his shoulders.

Law's t-shirt followed his jacket and swiftly bare skin was covered with hungry kisses. Eustass did neither restrain his teeth nor his tongue to lick and bite all over. He was in heaven, tasting the heated flesh he couldn't take his mind off, but he somewhat missed the bitter taste of ink under his tongue. He licked devotedly anyway too hammered to really think about anything else.

Down Kid's pants, Trafalgar hadn't wasted time to take what he wanted. Tanned hands started to stroke his cock to full hardness, to what the red haired enthusiastically responded. His mouth took in one of Law's nipples and feverishly sucked it. He enjoyed the dark head's sultry pants as his tongue licked its sensitive spot before taking the other.

Law's voice sounded so sexy in his ears, his free hand gripping hardly on the red head's thigh and taking his pants further down. Eustass just couldn't stop assaulting him. Rather soon he had to deal with new pleasure though. The sweet pressure of the dark head's hand slid from his dick to rub his balls, making Kid moan louder than expected. Immediately Trafalgar pressed his other hand against Eustass' mouth.

Their dilated pupils met in an intense stare. However the dark haired man never stopped massaging Kid's groin, made him lose track of things and be unable to do anything but open his mouth, eyes shut and enjoying the touch. Frustrated that he couldn't voice how much he appreciated Law's skill, Kid did the first thing that came to his drunken mind and licked the dark head's fingers shutting his mouth.

Without letting go of Law's eyes, Eustass traced the length of one finger with his tongue and watched as the dark haired man stared at him in trance. Oh what a sweet payback for what Kid had to endure weeks ago. He couldn't suppress a smile as he slid his mouth further on Trafalgar's fingers. He took two between his thin lips in the smuttiest move he'd ever made. Adding a third finger, Kid sucked with fervor feeling his head spun. He was making a mess in his elation, coating Law with saliva that ended drooling at the corner of his mouth down his chin.

Fingers left Kid's demanding mouth and the red head felt them going down until long fingers began to tease his hole. The red haired man was shivering and so hot he spread his legs further without thinking, desperate to be filled. Quicker than care recommend one then two fingers entered his tight hole. His inside stretched harshly from a long abstinence –nothing his craving desire couldn't handle though. Pain felt more bearable when Law's fingers started to move, forcing him open.

It grounded Eustass a little and his mind got the control of his hands back. Immediately he put them on Law's hips and went down under the dark head's clothes. Pale hands groped the heated flesh of that rounded ass, possessively digging his painted nails in Trafalgar's cheeks.

Three fingers deep now Law's fingers had taken a jerky rhythm that make Kid bite his lower lip to hold back his moans of pleasure. The red haired man suddenly felt Law's other hand in his own pants, rubbing his sack helplessly. Kid owned him to care of that; as he tugged down Law's briefs, he finally got his hand on the dark head's painfully hard sex. It had been leaking for so long, the inside of his pants was coated with precome.

Eustass licked his dry lips before he tightened his grip under Law's hand. Then they both jerked him off. He gladly dirtied his palm along Trafalgar with his slick substance, earning more of it each time they arrived up Law's length, bobbed his hot head and slid down around his cock. They tried to match their rhythms between jerk off and fingering but as their frenetic panting, they weren't in a state clear enough to be synchronized.

However they were overheated and eager enough to not wait any longer. They kissed intensely, growling with the storm as they devoured each other mouths again. There wasn't time for tenderness, they had enough foreplay. Trafalgar entered in Kid's warm hole impatiently and didn't wait to move inside him.

The first thrust sent Eustass' head back while a loud and sultry moan passed his swollen lips. At the same time thunder echoed and covered every sound. Kid's groans seemed subtitled by the storm. Raging as he did, they melted furiously while Law assaulted the red head's neck. Between kisses and bites he thanked the weather to hide them from any unwanted ears.

They definitely couldn't be discovered like this, fucking each other, half dressed and flushed. Law's hips were more powerful than it seemed, and he pounded mercilessly into the red head knocking his back on the wall each time their skins slapped. What a sight they made, sweat dripping on their back, their pleasure driving them to the edge where they weren't able to kiss but simply gasping for breath between their lips.

Their shaking bodies weren't supporting them enough and they slid along the warm wall until Kid's back lay on the stone floor. Eustass spread his legs farther and lifted his ass allowing Law to keep pounding with fervor. An unbelievable energy was circulating right through their connected bodies as if the storm itself had entered them. The sensation was everywhere, blurring their surrounding and senses, leaving them only to desperately latch on each other in the eye of the storm.

Eustass set his hands on Law's bare ass going along with the hard thrusting of his pelvis. He felt so heavy, holding so much for too long, Kid needed this release badly. So he lost himself in that feverish lust and let the world spin around him. All he could feel was that long wet cock sliding in and out of him, hitting sensitive nerves on his path.

They were close. Trafalgar felt release build up in his hard rock up to his belly. He was overwhelmed by the feeling making him vulnerable and powerful at the same time. When the red haired around him began to shiver he felt Kid's hand grip his own neglected sex, vigorously jerking himself off.

Kid came from a few strokes only and spattered his belly with white streaks. The red head's asshole clenched in his release sending Law to following right after him. He didn't stop thrusting until the friction was too much to handle.

.

They took time to catch their breaths, enjoying the bliss filling their heads. They let the thunder growl above and the lightning flashed the mess they were after fucking each other's brains out. Everything was light and cool on the after effect of such intense release. It appeared almost the same calm following their fight albeit on a higher level of intensity.

Eustass didn't recall falling asleep. It'd surely happened somehow because he opened his eyes he didn't remember having closed on Law's lying form. The dark haired man was hunched up on his side and from his spot Kid could see the fluffy guard of his sword sticking out like a mast.

Then the mechanic's brain finally turned on. And all he drank the previous night hit him right in the face. Fuck! A throbbing headache was drilling his skull and these vibrations rang through his ears. His surroundings were too bright although it was still dark. From what Kid could guess from the outside the storm had passed and dawn would shine soon. Ah… it's been a while since he got that shit-faced.

However Kid's body wasn't done with him yet. When he straightened up to rub his dopey face, his back didn't like it at all. Pain roughly ran down his stiffened spine to his ass and he frowned deeply, eyes closed. Right… when he got fucked up he didn't do things by half.

The red head's jaw clenched, following his fists, his guilt changing him from a whining mess to a ball of anger. How could he have been so stupid?! He couldn't deny he wanted it badly. He consciously made them drink after all. Until alcohol blur the frontier between the swordsman and his lover's memory enough. Well done! Now he had satisfied his urge, and also he felt awfully wrong.

Though what's truly made anger seeped into his flesh, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth was that he could only blame himself. He was the one who did it, who liked it and who lusted to do it again.

Damn, he had really screwed up this time. His husband would cut him to pieces. Well, maybe if he never learnt about that… Fucking great idea! Kid wondered when did he became such fool to even think about lying to his lover. As if he could ever hide something from Law. Gods knows he tried but his lover had that creep talent to see right through him as if he had sliced him open.

.

Eustass chased the weird feeling of that other similarity his lover shared with the swordsman and focused on his next step. The red haired man knew he shouldn't but he painfully got on his feet, already regretting that decision. His thighs were stiff as hell and his back would probably hurt for a while; but after a few steps he managed to not walk like a working girl coming back from a long busy night.

He hadn't walked like that since he started dating his now husband. It could have made Kid smile if it hadn't been such shitty occasion to recall those first weeks. After sleeping with the archeologist, Kid had spent days persuading himself not to see Law again. He had the annoying impression to be a sixteen high school girl with a crush. That wasn't him! He had one night stands, short stories at most but he was up to no one. He was free to do whatever he liked. And Kid didn't like that man. He was arrogant, looking down at people with this taciturn and mysterious way of him.

As if! Eustass had witnessed his naked truth, he'd heard him moan and beg for more. Kid had seen his mask fell, the fierceness in his features and the sparks highlighting his eyes… and the hint of madness hidden deep inside.

So when the archeologist had hired Kid's services to design new research's engines, Eustass' mouth had said yes without his brain consenting to it. Working together had seemed easy at first, but it was an everyday challenge. They really had shitty personalities, always contesting their overinflated egos and never agreeing on anything. Somehow it still was the case. Law liked to plan everything, schemed and scheduled. He liked to see the bigger picture and have two heads start on the others while Kid preferred to follow his instinct.

They spent most of their time together, eating or sleeping together when they weren't working. It was simple and the mechanic still fooled himself about the happiness he was feeling every morning he had to work with Law. He'd kept telling himself he only liked the challenge Law was. It'd taken Eustass quite a time to realize he liked fighting for him more than fighting with him. They'd started dating without Kid even noticing it, without big words or names or restraints of any kind.

But he couldn't get over the grey eyes and black ink that had haunted his nights ever since. As they'd gone along Law had become more than a man to conquest but a dream Kid never thought he could have had. Despite everything that pissed him off about the archeologist, Eustass admired his strength, his wit, his body, his sharp-tongue… He could have worshipped each of his steps if Law hadn't been able to kick his ass for it.

It's funny how Kid first slept with Law to prove himself the dark haired man meant nothing to him. And from this Eustass hadn't been capable of letting Trafalgar go out of his life.

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The swordsman felt a hand shaking his shoulder like a whole cavalry was running on him. It only was when he half-lifted an eyelid he caught a glimpse of red hair and grunted. Could he not take a few centuries more to get through his hangover? Probably not. The dark haired man sat cross-legged and held his nodachi straight beside him while he supported his head in his other hand.

His head ached but alcohol wasn't the cause. Rather than sloshed as he expected to be he felt oddly overwhelmed. Energy was running wildly through his system. The swordsman felt ready to fight a whole army on his own. He hadn't experience so much power since the White city's glorious days. But back in that time he had been around people for years, he had got used to a great level of power. While now all suddenly rushed into him, bursting into his every cell and feeling like a good hangover.

He would kill for something like water or any kind of sustenance to feed him. Thinking about food made him a bit nauseous so meal would have to wait a little. Sun wasn't up yet, but it was a far too late hour for the swordsman. His clothes had completely dried although the cellar wasn't really hot now another body wasn't warming him up. They should have left this place a long time ago.

Which reminded Law of the reason why they were initially here. He glared a blaming look to the mechanic through half open eyes.

"Hey don't look at me like I was the one who locked us here jerk!" Kid hissed crossing his arms. The shreds of his upper clothes were hanging quite amusingly on his sides. It would almost make Trafalgar crack a smile if his head didn't hurt so much.

"So, we're going or what?" Eustass blew annoyingly taking off his ruined rags and tying it around his waist.

"Where?" Law tested him and the mechanic lifted his eyes up, holding back a sigh.

"Out of here. Does that suit your demonic deity?"

"It will do."

Trafalgar got up on his feet and couldn't help a sneeze. It made him frown while catching up the red haired man already at the door. He never had been sick before, his demonic constitution prevented him such state. How odd… he'll have to dig that when they'll finally be out of danger.

They stood together at each side of the door and listened carefully for any sounds coming towards them. A rumble of voices was barely audible through the heavy material as people were busying themselves inside the house. They had definitely stayed too long.

Kid shook his head as if it could wave his hangover off. Dizziness was gone and left his body heavy and gross. Moreover, moving his neck painfully reminded him how stiff he still was. He tried to focus; he had to retain everything he could on their way back. He'd come back here once the annoying swordsman wouldn't be under his feet.

The swordsman took a moment to really scan the mechanic and couldn't help a little wry smile to curl up his lips. Eustass' back was scratched on his sides. The mechanic's hips especially wore an alluring fingernailed pattern. Some bruises had flourished here and there. And when Trafalgar looked closer he could see the few hickeys he managed to leave in the battle.

Soon the voices faded away, allowing a clear path for them to make an exit. Hand on the door handle, Eustass addressed a soundless Ya ready? to the swordsman who nodded shortly in answer. The red haired opened the door, as quietly it allowed him to, and they left the cellar.

The manor was quiet now, bathed in the dim light of the sunrise to come. They took quick steps where they went the night before and reached the first floor up the stairs. It was vaster than it had seemed in the darkness of the storm. The walls were a light yellow with high ceiling but the two shadows didn't stop to admire the decoration.

Instead they froze seeing far away silhouettes in coming. Whoever approached their walk was fast and they just had a few seconds to realize it was coming from the back door they were targeting. Law's grip tightened around his sword. They had few options and had to act quickly. Voices coming from their left made this way too risky, and the steps continued to loudly come towards them!

Without thinking any further, Kid grabbed Trafalgar's arm and they took another way downstairs. It was dangerous but less than going in the upper floor where there certainly were more people to stumble on. They went further in the house, in the empty corridors under the hacienda. Nobody at ear reach but this itinerary was keeping them away from their way out.

With no windows they almost walked in the darkness between the stoned walls if it wasn't for the light coming down the upper floor. This way definitely appeared safer but Eustass recalled his wandering in the mountains and how a clear path could be the most treacherous. Therefore he almost laughed when the swordsman whispered, "I think we are saf–" And a door loudly banged open a few meters before them.

Seriously who were all those people busying themselves so early in the morning!

Trafalgar was the first to react. His sword was unsheathed and for a moment Kid hoped they'd take the hard way and slice their way out of here. However, only the wall on their left suffered from the blade. An entry had been cut as easily as a knife in a lump of butter. The mechanic briefly thought it definitely was the coolest way to step into a room; who cares about doors?

They merely had seconds to close the hole before they heard people passing down without noticing the blade's marks in the stone.

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It hid their progression well enough and they went through many secrets paths that Law hoped led to a discreet way out.

Except for traffic it didn't appear to be a place used very often. Or Eustass thought so until they walk upon basement living rooms. So much for a discreet exit. The hall they stepped in was tinier than the first floor, no living souls was here though. Hangings were bedecking the few entries and seemed to flutter in an inexistent breeze.

Law immediately didn't like that place and he sensed Kid's unease as well. No need to have medical knowledge for skin to shiver under that feeling. Those rooms smelt of death.

The feeling crawled deep into his bones' marrow and Law's throat tightened. It was a long time since death ever frightened the swordsman but his body was reacting instinctively to the deadly scent.

The creepiest things made humans realized what's reassure them. Like wrapped themselves in a blanket to keep away from cold. Death's proximity tended to make humans hold on what's living. The thought crossed Law's mind when Kid's hand unconsciously brushed past his fingers. As if the touch had burned him Eustass withdrew angrily but Law stopped him before he got too far.

"Wait. Not this way."

"What? Why? Ain't we trying to get outta here?"

"It is not safe by here can not you scent it?"

"No! Because I'm not a goddamn hound dog!

"Do not scream you idiot."

"You're screaming!"

.

Footsteps echoed hardly against the walls and they stopped all at once. It was coming from behind them and this time the hall they were in was offering plenty of hanging to hide. They rushed behind a hanging, giving their backs to an empty room but making them invisibles for the person coming. Before they could get a glimpse of the arrival though, Law felt the half naked red haired man wriggled away behind him. The swordsman gritted his teeth. They were trying to not get caught right now! That was really not the time to keep his distance!

A man with a huge feathered coat crossed the hall, his blond hair barely visible through his massive clothing. Law merely had the time to look at him in the obscurity when he sensed Eustass burned with fury behind their curtain. The swordsman knew by his guts no one could hold Kid back. Not when he seemed ready to jump at the feathered man's throat. Trafalgar knew it was a matter of second before Kid blew their cover. Oh no, he woudn't let Kid ruin everything after so much hiding.

Without thinking Law exchanged their place with one of the objects he had in sight in a farther room. It had been a lot easier with the rush of power still flowing in his veins. The swordsman couldn't get over that powerful sensation irradiating his whole body.

In his back Kid jerked abruptly, experiencing that kind or transport for the first time. His dignity forbade him to throw up but it was really tempting right now. He was still trying to understand why they weren't behind the curtain anymore. And so disoriented he barely managed to make a full sentence.

"Wha… What did ya…"

"What were you thinking?! Get us caught?!" Law angrily whispered.

They might be out of sight but not hearing. Kid shook his head but the world was still whirling.

"Doflamingo! He was there… I recognize his fucking feath–"

"Great you have spotted a man with a black feathered coat! Then what?! We agreed on getting out of this house!"

"No, that's what ya want!"

"I want you to be safe!"

"WHY?!" Eustass incredulously roared.

"I don't know!" Law snapped back.

It was genuine and had burst out off Law's mouth without him thinking about it. He had never been so protective about his worshippers. It suddenly got the swordsman; he actually cared for Kid but wouldn't be able to explain why. He hadn't thought about it before because he didn't suspect that feeling ever existed. The swordsman recognized it from the night before, it had been more than the need to protect those who believed in him. It was that instinct deep in his guts which had motivated him to stop Kid from putting himself in danger.

That was nonsense! How could he have such feeling for the red head?!

"It does not matter," The swordsman concluded in a whisper, "Keep quiet."

"Oh no, now that I've seen this fucker I–" Kid shouted.

"Stop screaming!" Law warned in a low tone, pressing his sheathed sword against the mechanic's bare chest.

"DON'T–"

"Sssshhh!"

"–ORDER ME AR–"

For an instant Law thought about clapping his hand on Kid's mouth but he held back because the red haired man could easily bite him. Instead the swordsman did the only thing that came to his mind and kissed Eustass.

The dark haired man let his sword fall on the ground to pin Kid against the nearest wall, both hands beside his head. It didn't matter as the kiss surprised Kid so much it indeed shut him up. His brain being AWOL, Eustass naturally kissed Law back in the heat of the moment. Trafalgar thought too late he could be bitten as easily this way but he didn't think about anything when Kid grasped his hair and opened his mouth against his.

.

In the retrospect, they couldn't have chosen a worst moment let down their guards. It's strange how some things are bound to happen no matter how you tried to avoid them. Kid had learnt it when he fell in love with his husband. But there were some lessons he'd never learn.

They barely noticed a sliding sound against the floor's tiles. And footsteps approaching.

Kid had never learnt to be polite or respect people he didn't like no matter how much they had the power to harm him.

Except for stop dead in their track, none of them had time to react at the sharp and rattling noise behind the swordsman's back. They could only stare at the naked blade of the nodachi when it pierced through the dark head's chest and his blood slowly flowed out the clear wound.

Kid had never learnt to be careful or to think things through. And the only thing he could do now was watch the swordsman stepping back in shock. His arms seemed wanting to grasp the blade's end going over his torso but stayed half-way in the air. Eustass' wide eyes lifted up just in time to see a black hooded figure throw a punch in his face. The red haired man didn't avoid it and heard bones cracked in the hit.

Eustass wasn't able to do anything but palm his burning cheekbone, stunned by what was right in front of his eyes.

When a husky croaked voice came through his ears, he knew there was one thing he would learn very quickly. It was his husband's wrath.

"Hello… Eustass-ya."