Thanks to MyLadyDay and Vergina-spva for beta'ing

Warnings: homophobic language, bi-phobic language

Chapter 10

Kid wasn't sure how long he sat there since Bonney had left. People gave him a wide berth when they saw his scowl, which wasn't unusual per se, but Kid was radiating murder at the moment, so people went even more out of their way to avoid him than usually.

However, even Kid realised he couldn't stay here forever, not in the least because he still had to study for his exam week, and his books were unfortunately in his room. Just like Killer was.

Kid wasn't sure how he should feel, at least not since his talk with Bonney. Because as much as it pained him to admit, he couldn't think of a compelling reason why he should dislike her now. The only reason would be that she was attracted to women, but every time he came to that conclusion, her question rang through his mind. Why would he care?

A woman sleeping with a woman was unnatural and disgusting. But again, Bonney's voice came to mind, asking him if sleeping with women was disgusting. That was the natural thing to do, for a man, anyway. Yet the thought of him sleeping with a woman, Bonney or someone else, didn't sound that appealing to him. He probably just hadn't met the right one yet.

So the only thing that remained was the fact that it was unnatural. Then again, anything made by humans is unnatural, and humans are made by humans, so humans in general shouldn't be natural.

His head started to hurt, and he had lost his point a long time ago.

Raindrops suddenly started to fall from the sky, and Kid looked up, annoyed. He hadn't even noticed that the sky had started to cloud over. He should probably find some shelter, or rather, he should probably go to his room and face Killer, just to get it over with. He could hardly spend the night elsewhere. Well, technically, he could, though he didn't have many friends. He could 'persuade' someone to give up their bed, but it was hardly worth the trouble. He would have to talk to Killer anyway.

Damn, Killer must have rubbed off on him if he made the sensible decision.

Sighing, Kid rose and dusted off his clothes. It started to rain harder, and it didn't take long for Kid to be drenched. Fuck everything.

Killer was sitting behind his desk when Kid came in, all the while cursing about water dripping in his eyes. He wiped red strands away from his face.

Killer looked up, and without a word, he rose to fetch Kid a towel, throwing it at him. He waited until Kid had dried himself off a bit before he started to speak. "Bonney said she talked to you. I still wasn't expecting you here so soon, though."

"Well, I've got to fucking study," Kid grouched and waltzed to his bed. He didn't feel like talking anymore.

"I do think we should discuss this," Killer replied.

Kid kicked off his boots and lay down with a book. "I don't."

"So, you're just gonna pretend like nothing happened?"

"Until the exams are over, yes. Then I'll get a new room," Kid replied without looking up.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. How can I be sure you don't fondle me in my sleep or something now that you revealed your perversion?" Kid replied.

Killer may have well rolled his eyes, it was difficult to be sure. Still, his voice was dripping with sarcasm when he replied, "Oh, yes, because I've found out I can be attracted to men, I must be attracted to you as well."

"I'm a man!"

Killer sighed. "Yes, and you are my friend. I have a boyfriend, and even if I didn't, I'm not attracted to you, I assure you."

Kid smacked his book shut and sat up. "So, why the hell would you tell me?"

"Because this is who I am. I'm bisexual, and as my friend, I want you to know that." Killer sunk onto his desk chair. "I'm sorry about the way I told you. I was getting frustrated because it was taking so fucking long for you to figure it out about Bonney. And does this actually change anything, after all these years?"

Kid remained silent.

Killer rose and retrieved a bottle of vodka, from which he took a draught and then handed it to Kid.

Kid hesitated, but he knew Killer was testing him. If he refused the bottle now, after so many times having shared it in the same manner, their friendship would be over, however dramatic it may sound. Kid didn't want that, despite knowing Killer's true nature now.

Finally, he grabbed the bottle, and resisting the urge to wipe the opening – after all, it could be considered an indirect kiss, though it had never bothered him before – he started to gulp down the contents. When he was done, he wiped his mouth.

Killer smiled pleased.

Kid had probably fucked up his exams, but he was just glad they were over at the end of the week. To celebrate, Killer took him out for drinks on Friday night.

They hadn't talked much since Sunday because they both had to study, though Kid suspected that Killer evaded him deliberately to give him some space and time to think.

But Kid was never one to say no to free booze, even if he still wasn't quite sure what to think. It took a couple of shots to loosen his tongue. "Does Heat know?" he asked.

"That I'm bi you mean?" Killer emptied his glass in one. "Yeah, I told him before I told you."

"Why the hell would you do that?" Kid asked with a scowl, but his face lit up when his glass was refilled.

"'Cause he's a little more open-minded than you are."

The scowl returned to Kid's face. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You were raised by two white, rich bigots, both of whom are at least homophobic and xenophobic. It's not weird that you've taken over their views," Killer replied and downed another glass.

"You don't think I can think for myself?" Kid asked, still scowling.

"The way we are brought up has a lot of influence on us," Killer replied with a shrug.

"So, no?"

Killer sighed. "I'm just not surprised that you turned out like this."

"I dislike my parents as much as you do," Kid spat. "And I don't agree with anything they say!"

"Alright, prove me wrong."

Kid sat up a little when he heard Killer's "let's make this a challenge" tone.

"Meet my boyfriend."

Kid almost spat out his drink and instead almost choked on it. While he was coughing, he looked at Killer disbelievingly. "What?" he managed to bring out hoarsely.

"Meet my boyfriend and behave as civil as you're able to. Don't worry, my standards aren't high. I know you long enough." Killer took a sip from his drink, looking a little too innocently.

Kid narrowed his eyes. He had the feeling Killer knew exactly what he was doing and would win at something if Kid agreed, but he could hardly back down from a challenge, now could he?

"Fine," he eventually said begrudgingly, and he knew he had fallen for it when Killer smirked triumphantly. "When?"

"Tomorrow evening."

"You better treat me again."

Killer sighed. "I could have known." He took another sip from his drink.

"What's his name, anyway?" Kid inquired.

"Penguin."

Kid almost choked again on his drink, but this time from laughter. "Are you shitting me?"

"Obviously, that's not his real name, but he likes to be called that. Indulge him." Killer's tone indicated he wouldn't allow any contradiction.

Kid snorted and turned back to his drink. Really, if you were gonna pick a nickname, you should pick something cool, like Killer. Not name yourself after some flightless bird.

Kid would never admit it out loud, but he was kind of nervous because of tonight. He would meet Killer's boyfriend for the first time, and honestly, he had no idea how to behave. Not that he had ever been fond of meeting Killer's girlfriends. If he was honest, he preferred to hang out with just his friends.

But Killer had challenged him, so he couldn't back out.

"Relax, it's just guys having a beer," Killer said. "We're not going to make out or anything."

Kid shuddered at the thought. He hated being a third wheel, no matter whose face Killer was sucking on. "So, you met recently, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, like I said, he goes to college here as well. We met on campus," Killer replied absentmindedly while he was fixing his hair.

"And did you already… You know." Kid's face was bright red – something he would deny later – and he made a vague gesture with his hand.

Killer snorted when he noticed it. "Not that it's any of your business, but no, we haven't. Yet," he added with a smirk, and Kid's relieved face turned into a disgusted grimace.

"Don't ever tell me if you do."

"But I wanted to tell you all the details," Killer said mock-disappointedly. "Besides, we share a room, remember?"

Kid shot him a deadly glare, but Killer just laughed and ruffled his hair. Kid growled. Killer was older than him, and he hated it when Killer treated him as a younger brother.

Killer pushed him towards the door. "Come on, you won't die from meeting someone."

Kid wasn't so sure about that, but let himself be led towards the bar anyway.

A guy wearing a cap perked up when he saw them and waved them over.

Whatever Kid had expected that Killer's kind of man was, this wasn't it. Penguin – or, at least Kid assumed it was him, since he was wearing a cap which said 'Penguin', so Kid assumed that was where the nickname came from – was a thin, almost fragile looking guy, and Kid didn't doubt he would be able to snap him in two without breaking a sweat.

When they arrived at the table, Penguin rose and smiled at Kid as he held out his hand. "Hi! I'm Penguin. You must be Kid."

Kid just stared at him, still unsure what to think of him. This was the guy Killer indulged into perversion for?

Killer elbowed him sharply in the ribs and shot him a warning look. Grumbling, Kid grabbed Penguin's hand firmly. He had trouble not to grin when Penguin winced in pain. What the hell did Killer see in this guy if he was so fragile, a stiff breeze might blow him over? Kid had expected at least someone who could pack a punch, and Penguin hardly seemed the type.

They all sat down and ordered beer when the waiter stopped by.

Penguin opened his mouth several times to ask a question, but Kid's intensive glare shut him up every time, until Killer kicked Kid under the table and gave him another look.

When the beers came, Penguin immediately started gulping from the glass, using it as liquid courage, no doubt.

Kid tried not to look too amused when Penguin turned to him once more.

"S-so, you're Killer's roommate, right?" he finally asked.

Kid huffed. "I'm a little more than that." He ignored the smirk Killer shot him.

"Of course! You've known each other for years, right?" Penguin glanced at Killer nervously.

"Yeah, so?" Kid leaned back in his chair, only to almost fall over when Killer kicked him again. Kid shot him a glare. What was his problem? He was on his best behaviour, wasn't he? At least he hadn't punched anyone yet.

"Ehm, that's great! S-so, what are you studying?" Penguin changed the subject. He was playing with his glass.

"Same as Killer."

"I see. That should be fun, studying the same as your friend." Penguin made a desperate gesture to Killer, who sighed.

Suddenly, a melody came from Penguin's phone, and relief was written on his face when he read the display. "One second," he said and picked up the phone. "Hey, Law."

Kid froze when he heard that name. Killer had said that was the guy he had met on the train!

A vein in his forehead started to throb. This was all his fault! Everything had gone south ever since Kid had met him on the train!

"I'm having beer with Killer and his friend. We were just– Oi!" Penguin exclaimed when Kid pulled the phone from his hand, but one glare from Kid was enough to make him shrink back.

Killer rose to reprimand Kid, no doubt, but Kid just walked away with the phone. "You've got some nerve," he growled in the receiver.

"Mr Eustass, is that you? What a pleasant surprise," Law's smooth voice sounded from the other end of the line.

Kid froze. "How the fuck do you know my last name?!"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about our little rendezvous."

"The hell are you talking about?!" Kid snapped.

"I fixed your shoulder at the hospital last week. Which reminds me, your stitches should be removed soon," Law continued unfazed.

"Tomorrow," he grumbled, but he was confused. Law made the stitches? He had been reading a medical book on the train, but apparently, he was a doctor already.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. Had Law been the one to stroke his hair? Why the hell hadn't Kid broken his jaw?

"That should be correct. Too bad I won't be working then. I hope you haven't let them get wet, like you were told."

"The hell is that to you?!" Kid barked.

Law sighed as if Kid was a stubborn child, which only enraged him more. "Because I don't want to have to redo it, of course. Or have to amputate your arm."

Kid could have sworn he smirked.

"So, I take it you don't have problems with the stitches? No pain or itching?" Law continued.

"No!" The bastard kept talking so Kid couldn't get in between.

"They haven't burst? No signs of tetanus?"

"No! Shut up, you bastard! My fucking shoulder is fine, but that doesn't mean I won't strangle you slowly the next time I see you!" Kid grouched.

"Hm? It's quite rare to find a partner who's into that. But perhaps we should start with dinner," Law replied amusedly.

Kid's mouth fell open. Did he just…? He grit his teeth. Fucking bastard. "You better hope I won't see you again! You have ruined everything!" he spat.

"That sounds rather dramatic."

"Fuck you! Ever since I met you, everyone is suddenly as disgusting as you are! First Bonney, then Killer–"

"I have to stop you there, Mr Eustass," Law interrupted him. "I don't know this Bonney, but Killer is bisexual, unlike myself. There is quite a difference."

"I don't care! It's your fucking fault!"

"I assure you, it's not. Unless you accuse me of witchcraft, with which you would be several centuries too late. Then again, I have to say that your views are rather backwards anyway," Law said. "Although, seeing that you seem to tolerate being around your friend and Penguin, perhaps there is hope for you yet."

Kid gritted his teeth.

"Now, I must ask you to treat Penguin decently. If you touch one hair on his head, I will know," Law continued.

Kid snorted. "And what were you gonna do about it?"

"Please, Mr Eustass, don't try to challenge me. However, I'm sure Mr Killer will take care of it before I have the chance."

Kid balled his fists. Law acted as if he knew Killer better than he did. Why did he insist on infuriating Kid? "Shut the fuck up," he hissed.

"It's too bad you're so much more pleasant when you're drunk," Law said with a sigh. "But no one is forcing you to talk to me. In fact, if I remember correctly, you interrupted my conversation with Penguin. If you'd be so kind to hand the phone back to him."

Kid's eye twitched in anger. He hated this guy so much. Somehow, Law knew exactly how to get under his skin, and worse, he enjoyed doing it! And when Kid had had the chance to punch him in the face like he deserved, he had been piss drunk and actually allowed the bastard to touch him! The next time Kid saw him, he would–

Suddenly, Kid noticed that Law's voice didn't sound in his ear anymore. He hadn't hung up either, because Kid didn't hear a tone. In fact, he didn't hear anything anymore.

Bewildered, Kid stared at the remains of the phone in his hand. In his anger, he hadn't noticed how much force he had applied, at the expense of the phone. Well, fuck.

Oh well, it wasn't his phone anyway.

Kid had half a mind to give Penguin his phone back and then punch the biggest guy in the bar in the face. Pretending it was Law would do him good.

However, when he approached the table they had been sitting at, he overheard a little of the conversation between Penguin and Killer.

"He… kind of terrifies me," Penguin admitted. "And he stole my phone!"

Killer placed his hand on top of Penguin's. "He has that effect on a lot of people, and he has some issues with Law he needs to deal with. However, believe it or not, but he is actually trying his best."

"He is?" Penguin sounded surprised.

Killer nodded. "He is… not completely okay with me being bi. Yet. He grew up in a not very tolerant environment, and he still needs to get used to the notion. He'll come around, I'm sure of it. I was actually quite surprised he agreed to meet you this quickly, though it hasn't gone as smooth as I'd hoped. Still, I'm proud of him."

Kid sighed. All the anger had suddenly drained from him. Damn Killer and his sappiness. Now he couldn't even in good conscience ruin the evening by starting a bar fight.

He looked at the broken phone in his hand and sighed.

"I accidentally broke your phone," he said as he had made his way over to Killer and Penguin, and placed what was left of it on the table.

Penguin looked at the remainder of his phone wide-eyed, and his bottom lip trembled. "That's okay," he croaked. "I already had it a month anyway."

Kid could see from Killer's body language that he was about to explode, so he hastily said, "I can fix it!"

Penguin looked up at him, his eyes watery. "You can?"

"Yeah, sure. Take my phone in the meantime. Killer's number is in it, anyway," he added. He felt uncomfortable, but still sat back down again at the table.

A smile broke through on Penguin's face, and he beamed at Kid. "Thank you!"

"Whatever," Kid muttered and started fidgeting with the broken phone. He had to admit – though never out loud – that Penguin looked kind of cute like that. Perhaps that was what Killer saw in him.

Penguin excused himself to go to the bathroom, and when he had left, Killer bumped his knee against Kid's.

"You did well."

Kid snorted. "Yeah, yeah. I'm just fixing it because it gives me something to do. Don't read anything weird into it."

There was a hint of a smile on Killer's face, and he slapped Kid on his shoulder. "Let me buy you another beer."