Thanks MyLadyDay and Vergina-spva for beta'ing

Chapter 7

Law couldn't say he hadn't been surprised when a certain redhead came into the emergency room the previous night. Sure, he wasn't the first who had had an 'accident' while drunk, but still, Friday was the only night Law worked, so it had been a coincidence to say the least.

Law wasn't an intern, not officially, anyway. He still had a year of studies to go through before he could work in the hospital. One of the doctors, however, had seen potential in him and had taken him under her wing by letting him work one night a week.

Kureha was… eccentric. Most of her colleagues avoided her as much as possible, and even her patients were glad when she was done treating them. However, she was a brilliant doctor. Her diagnoses were spot on every time, and barely anyone died on her watch. Law was grateful for the opportunity, despite the fact that while his study mates were out drinking and unwinding on Fridays – Law had even treated some of them – he had to work without getting paid. The experience was well worth it.

And not just the work experience.

Law hadn't dared dream that he would get to treat Kid, no, Mr Eustass. He kind of liked his surname, and it was way better than 'Kid' anyway – why his parents would do that to him, Law couldn't tell.

It had been quite clear from the moment Law stepped into the room that Mr Eustass was drunk, as he had been struggling to get his shirt off. Law had been thrilled to be able to help him, especially since he finally got to see what those fashion disasters he called clothes hid.

He had not been disappointed.

Mr Eustass' body was hot. Broad shoulders, six pack…

Law had expected that at some point, Mr Eustass' infamous temper would surface, especially when Law made himself known, but Mr Eustass didn't seem to recognise him. He had just stared at Law blankly and said that he knew him, but he didn't seem to know where from. Which was a good thing, because Law was sure that fighting in a hospital would be frowned upon. Or rather, attempted murder would be.

Law had been surprised about how agreeable Mr Eustass was when drunk. He had compared him to a puppy, and that was really the only suitable comparison. A puppy who begged to be petted.

Law had been curious whether the obnoxious red colour of Eustass' hair was natural. He doubted it, but because he didn't seem to have eyebrows – did he wax them or had there been an accident? – and no different coloured roots, Law couldn't be sure. Well, he could have checked somewhere else, but that would hardly have been professional, wouldn't it?

Kureha had approved of his work of taking out the pieces of glass from Mr Eustass' shoulder – a wound Law wasn't sure how it got there, perhaps Eustass had gotten into a bar fight, which wouldn't surprise Law – though she had left him again immediately, so he had to deal with a drunk and sleepy Eustass.

When Law had helped him off the examination table, because he would have fallen off without Law's help, Law could have sworn Eustass smelled his hair.

Eustass' friend – Killer, if Law recalled correctly – seemed to have been surprised as well when they appeared together. Apparently, he did remember Law and was just as amazed by Eustass' lack of anger as Law was.

Law stretched himself in his bed and yawned. He had worked a long shift last night, and after Eustass, many others had followed with wounds even more ridiculous.

His insomnia had graciously left him alone so he could get a few hours of sleep, but now that Luffy was awake and bouncing around, he knew he wouldn't get more sleep than that. He read for a while in bed, until Luffy started to get bored and came into Law's room to see if he was awake – though, if he still had been asleep, it wouldn't have lasted.

He had agreed to meet Penguin and the others tonight. Since he had helped Bepo out – even though that hadn't been necessary in hindsight – they had become friends, and, if he was honest, Law preferred them over the D-brothers. They weren't as nosy as Ace was, or as clingy as Luffy. And they had a certain respect for him because he was studying to become a doctor, which Law had to admit he liked.

Shachi went to the same university as Law, while Bepo and Penguin went to the college Eustass went to. They had told Law that they met in secondary school and stayed friends. When Law had time while he was at the university, he sometimes met up with Shachi. He only saw the others when they agreed to meet in town.

Law used his day to study a bit and avoid Ace and Luffy as much as possible. After he had fed them dinner, he left for the bar where he would meet Shachi and the rest. Fortunately, Ace and Luffy had other plans, or they would have joined him to meet "Law's new little friends", as Ace put it.

They would no doubt meet Ace and Luffy at some point, but Law wanted to postpone that moment for as long as he could.

When he arrived at the bar, which was small and not too crowded, Shachi, Penguin and Bepo were already waiting for him. Law sat down, and Shachi slid a beer over to him, which he gratefully accepted.

"So how are you?" Law asked after he had taken a sip.

Bepo and Penguin groaned simultaneously and placed their heads on the table.

"Their exams are starting," Shachi explained with a smirk. "So they're a bit worn out from studying."

"Can't you hook us up with a drug to stay awake?" Penguin said in a whiny voice and grabbed Law's arm. "You said you gave your friend drugs for narcolepsy."

Law pried his arm loose from Penguin's desperate clawing. "I hooked him up in a drug trial, yes. As far as I know, there aren't studies for medication to stay awake without having narcolepsy, though. Try coffee or energy drinks, but don't overdo it."

Penguin groaned again, but then his phone, which was lying on the table, started to vibrate, and he jumped on it like a cat on a mouse. "I have to take this," he muttered and left the table.

"What was that about?" Law asked.

Shachi smirked. "Probably his boyfriend. Though he still denies they're dating."

Law raised his eyebrow. "How come?" He hadn't known these guys that long, and sexuality hadn't come up yet. He wondered if Penguin wasn't out of the closet yet.

"Apparently, the guy isn't his usual type," Shachi clarified. "Wait, you're cool with this, aren't you?" he asked after a second, sounding worried.

Law leaned back in his chair. He wasn't one to proclaim his sexuality from the rooftops like Ace did, but he wasn't ashamed of it either. "Of course not," he said. "I'm gay myself, and I live with a bisexual and an asexual. I'm fine with anything."

Shachi nodded, visibly relieved. "Do you have a boyfriend then?" he asked. "You never mentioned anyone, but…"

"I'm not seeing anyone right now," Law said truthfully. He hadn't seen or spoken to Smoker since their one-night stand – which Law was absolutely fine with – and the thing with Eustass didn't seem to work either unless he was drunk. "You?"

Shachi apparently just got his ass dumped, but he wasn't too upset about it. Bepo didn't seem interested in having a relationship. By the time they had moved on to the next subject, Penguin returned.

"How's your boyfriend?" Shachi asked teasingly.

"Shut up! He's not!" Penguin muttered as he sat down again. He took a drink from his beer and looked at Law.

"Don't worry, he's cool with it," Shachi said soothingly.

Penguin looked relieved. "That's good, 'cause I kinda invited him here."

"We get to meet him already?" Shachi smirked, as did Law.

"He was in the neighbourhood," Penguin muttered with flushed cheeks and picked up his glass again.

A couple of beers later, Penguin's face brightened as he looked behind Law, probably at the door. Curious about the so-called boyfriend, Law turned around, one arm slung over the back of his chair. His eyebrow rose.

Was this still a coincidence?

Through the door, none other than Eustass' friend Killer had entered.

For a moment, Law thought it really was a coincidence he was here, but Penguin waved, and Killer nodded in acknowledgement before coming over.

He seemed just as surprised to see Law as the other way around, though he did shake Law's hand when he was introduced, because they hadn't been properly acquainted.

Law would love to have a chat with Killer, who, apparently was bisexual or gay while still being friends with a homophobe, but that was more of a private conversation. For now, he sat back and listened to the chatter at the table. Apparently, Killer and Penguin had met on campus. They hadn't been going out for long, but they seemed to hit it off anyway.

When Killer excused himself to go to the bathroom, Law took the chance and followed him.

"You have to explain this to me," he said as soon as the door closed behind them.

Killer looked over his shoulder as he zipped open his trousers in front of the urinal. "Explain what?"

Law realised that was a poor choice of words at this moment, so he clarified himself. "You and Eustass. He seems to be rather… How should I put it? Small-minded. Does he know about you?"

Killer kept silent for a bit and zipped up his pants again before flushing the urinal. "Not that it's any of your business, but no, he doesn't. I don't even know myself that long." He moved to the sink to wash his hands. "I'm planning on easing him into it, but he is rather… dense when it comes to sexuality."

"He didn't seem dense to me," Law replied as he remembered the disgusted look Eustass had shot him when he suggested they were lovers on the train.

Killer gave him a deadpanned look – or so Law assumed, he couldn't be sure with Killer's bangs. "His new friend is a lesbian and all he talked about was marrying her."

"Like, to marry her straight?" Law asked confusedly. He had people trying weird things to 'turn' people straight, but this one was new.

Killer sighed and leaned against the sink. "No, he hasn't realised she's gay. And not because she's in the closet or anything, he hangs out with her and her girlfriend. Also, he doesn't think he's entitled to her, the marriage idea is just because of pressure from his parents. He likes her, but not like that."

"Let me guess, his parents are rich homophobes?" Law asked dryly.

Killer sighed again. "Homophobes, xenophobes, you name it. I had hoped things would be easier for me when Kid started hanging out with Bonney, but he is so dense." He rubbed his temples.

"How's his shoulder?" Law asked, his doctor's instinct kicking in.

Killer smirked slightly. "He didn't wake up pleasantly, both being hungover and wounded. But he'll live." The smirk disappeared, and Law imagined he was being studied closely. "There's something about you, though. I was there when he threw a spanner at your head – and I'm sure you deserved that – but I've never seen him so affectionate when drunk. Or at all, really."

"Should I feel flattered?" Law asked with a grin.

Killer hummed, crossing his arms before his chest. "Don't get the wrong idea, though," he finally said. "Next time you two meet, I'm sure the fact that you're a doctor will come in handy, because you'll need one."