Thanks Vergina-spva and MyLadyDay for beta'ing

Chapter 14

Kid wasn't sure how long he was sitting there, dripping wet on his desk chair, the towel Law had given him slung around his shoulders. His stomach still hurt from where Law had driven his knee in, as did his hand. He had been staring at the bandages the whole time. Law had done that. Law had fixed him up even after the way he had behaved. Kid had tried to punch him numerous times, but when he hurt himself, Law still had bandaged his hand.

This evening, hell, this whole day had not gone as he had expected. He hadn't expected Law to show up, and he had definitely not expected to sit here, anger drained from him completely. He had been so riled up when Law had left the hall where they had danced with his umbrella. Kid had been ready to beat him to a pulp. Law would have made a snarky comment to anger him some more, and Kid would have given him what he deserved and then some. Instead, he had managed to tick Law off. That had been one achievement he would never forget. Composed Law, always in charge of his emotions. Kid had never seen him do more than smirk, except for when Bonney had told him Kid taught dance class when he had been doubled over with laughter. But seeing him pissed off like that had been… well, scary, to be frank. Kid had been too angry to notice at the time, but in hindsight, he remembered the dangerous aura emitting from Law as he gave his speech.

It had taken a while and an almost broken hand for Kid to realise what exactly Law had been saying. He hadn't blamed Kid's parents for Kid's behaviour, whom Killer thought were the problem. Law had flat out called Kid entitled. Kid hated that word. His parents were entitled, he wasn't, especially not after they cut him off. It made him wonder once again. Why did he dislike gay people so much? He tried to be okay with Bonney, and that seemed to work. He had danced with her like usual tonight. Additionally, he seemed to warm up a little to Penguin, Killer's boyfriend. So maybe he didn't have that much against gay people, right? He still disliked the thought of it, but he was working on it.

That left Law himself. Kid hated him with a burning passion, but it wasn't just because he was gay, as Law seemed to think. No, it was the snarky remarks he always made, the way he managed to get under Kid's skin every damn time. Sure, it had started mostly because Law seemed to be coming on to Kid when they met on the train, and many times after that, but in all honesty, Kid doubted Law was actually interested in him.

With a sigh, Kid rose. He was starting to get chilly, and he just wanted a shower. The need to wash himself thoroughly because he touched Law had somehow vanished with his anger. He was just tired and cold now.

In the bathroom, he wrapped a plastic bag around his injured hand so the bandages Law had applied so carefully wouldn't get wet. Not because Law applied them, mind you, but because Kid didn't feel like redoing them yet.

As he undressed himself, he couldn't help but watch himself in the mirror. He was good looking, if he said so himself. He had a swimmer's built, thanks to all the practising, and a handsome face, even if he didn't have eyebrows. He lifted up his uninured hand to comb through his hair. He was quite a catch. Law might not be interested in him, but he was a fool for not doing so.

Wait a minute.

Was he insulted Law wasn't attracted to him? He should be pleased. What if he actually wanted Kid and was actually flirting with him? That would be disgusting.

Kid sighed and shook his head. He was acting silly and he wasn't sure why. It was like Law said, why did he care so much? Why did he let Law influence his life? Why did he care about anything Law did or said?

Kid turned on the water spray and stepped into the shower. He should stop caring, even if it seemed like Law had become a constant factor in his life. Fate was a cruel mistress, as she had chosen that of all people, Penguin had to be friends with Law. Or that Killer had chosen Penguin.

Annoyed, Kid turned the water cold. His life officially sucked, and there was nothing he could do about it.

After he had washed his hair and body, he turned off the spray and dried himself off. He then walked into the room naked, as Killer wasn't back yet anyway, and put on his pyjamas. Law would no doubt laugh at him for wearing flannel ones, a voice in the back of his head reminded him, but he shoved it away as he crawled into bed. Who the hell cared what that bastard thought anyway?!

He had been feeling tired before, and it didn't take long before he drifted off.

The sound of the door opening woke him again, and he realised he hadn't even turned off the lights. Killer had entered, placing his backpack on the floor quietly after casting a glace to the bed.

"I'm awake," Kid said.

"Ah, good." Killer pulled his shirt over his head as he made himself ready to go to bed as well. "I wanted to apologise for leaving you behind today. Don't get me wrong, you two were still irritating, but perhaps that wasn't the way to handle it." He took off his pants, and Kid turned his back to him. "I take it you didn't end up killing him."

"I sure tried," Kid mumbled.

"What's with the bandages?" Killer inquired.

Kid cursed softly under his breath. He had forgotten to put away the first aid kit, so now he had to explain himself. No doubt he would get a lecture.

As expected, Killer heaved a sigh. "Show me."

Without turning around, Kid stuck out the arm with his injured hand. He felt Killer taking it and turning it to see.

"You didn't put this on yourself," Killer concluded after a thorough inspection. Kid's way of bandaging was rather messy, if he even bothered at all. "Did Law do it?"

Kid remained silent.

Killer sighed again. "Well, I suppose that explains why someone warned me that I might not want to go into our room, since you went in with some guy."

Kid shot up so fast that he almost hit his head against the upper bed. "What?!"

Killer waved with his hand. "Never mind. But at least you didn't kill Law. That's a good first step."

Kid huffed and laid back down. He didn't even want to think about what Killer had insinuated. Him with a man. Him with Law. Ridiculous and disgusting.

"So what happened?" Killer asked.

"He just put on the bandage!" Kid shouted, sitting up once again. "Don't you even dare to think…!" He trailed off when Killer stared at him, no doubt with a raised eyebrow. It was hard to be sure with his bangs.

"I meant with your hand. Is it broken?"

"I-I knew that," Kid muttered as he tried to hide his face that should have the colour of his hair by now. "And no. I just… missed."

Killer let out a sound between a snort and a choke. "Let me guess, you aimed at Law's face and hit a… what? Wall?"

"Tree," Kid muttered.

Killer snorted again, trying to cover it up with a cough. "Well, you're lucky then that it's not broken. And that Law was willing to put on a bandage despite the fact you tried punch him in the face. What did he do this time?"

"The bastard came to my dance class," Kid said, his teeth clenched.

Killer hummed and sat down on his own desk chair, only clad in boxers, eying the wet stain on Kid's for a moment, before he asked, "And the reason he's not lying dead in our room is…? Or did you put his body in the closet?" he added amusedly.

Kid turned his back to Killer. No way he was going to tell him that he had his ass handed to him today. "Nothing. Just shut up."

Of course, he should have known better than that Killer would just let it go, since his behaviour was out of the ordinary. After all, if things had gone as usual, Law wouldn't have been capable of bandaging Kid's hand anymore. Or there would have been a trail of blood leading out of the room.

"Something must have happened," Killer mused. "Did he say something?"

Kid didn't reply, wishing Killer would just let it go. He didn't want to talk about Law anymore. That guy had been enough on his mind already lately.

"He did, didn't he? He gave you something to think about." Killer actually sounded somewhat smug. "What was it?"

"Stop it," Kid growled.

"Just tell me."

"I said stop it!"

"I'm not gonna let it rest until you tell me what got you so shaken up," Killer said firmly. "Something he said must have stuck with you, so what was it?"

"He called me entitled, okay?!" Kid jumped from his bed, standing in front of Killer. "He said I was self-involved." Slowly, he sunk back on the bed, rubbing his face with his hands. "He said I have no right to tell other people how to live."

Killer had become quiet.

Kid sighed. "I've tried to become okay with you and Bonney and… Penguin too… I'm working on it, okay?! And he just…" He clenched his fists.

Silence filled the room for a minute, as Killer seemed to be lost in thoughts. "Let me ask you something," he finally said. "Why do you dislike him so much?"

Kid looked up. Killer had folded his hands in his lap and looked at him expectantly, his head cocked slightly to the side. Kid scratched at his head, noting absentmindedly that he needed to repaint his nails. The black polish was starting to flake off. "He's just…" he started. "From the moment we met, he's been a smug, arrogant bastard, and when I see that smirk of his, I just want to…" He slammed the fist of his injured hand into the palm of the other and winced in pain.

"But not because he's gay?" Killer inquired.

"At first it was." Kid rose and started to pace up and down, his hands behind his back. "He kept coming on to me."

"Like in the garage," Killer helpfully reminded him.

Kid thought back at how he had almost smashed in Law's skull with a wrench. It was a satisfying thought. "Yeah."

Killer hummed again. "Do you think he's attracted to you?"

"Nah. Not really," Kid said. "The only thing he likes about me is to rile me up."

"He is awfully good at that."

Kid snorted.

"Well, the solution is simple, isn't it?" Killer walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth, but left open the door so Kid could still see him.

"It is?" Kid asked confusedly.

"Don't get mad." Killer put toothpaste on his toothbrush and started brushing.

"About what?"

Killer spat out some toothpaste in the sink. "I meant, don't let him get you riled up. That's what he wants, so don't give him the satisfaction." He continued brushing.

"That's easy for you to say."

Killer shrugged and rinsed his mouth. "I'm not a huge fan of Law either, but he is Penguin's friend, so I'm stuck with him. And you're my friend, so you're stuck with him too."

"Looks like I drew the short straw," Kid muttered.

Killer crossed his arms before his chest and leaned against the doorpost of the bathroom. "Well, there are two things you can do. Keep this up and let him bother you, or be the bigger man. The latter will save you a lot of trouble, since Penguin doesn't like it that you two don't get along, so he'll want to put you together until you work out your differences. If you act civil towards Law, you won't have to go through all that."

Kid thought for a moment. It did sound sensible what Killer said.

"Unless it backfires, of course," Killer added in afterthought.

"What do you mean?" Kid sat up a little in bed.

"Well, if he thinks you like each other, he might invite you more often. But," Killer said hastily when Kid was about to reply, "acting civil is still your safest bet. So what do you say?"

Kid sighed and lied back down on his pillow. "I guess you're right. Fine, next time I'll be civil." He all but spat out the last word.

"Good, 'cause we already made plans for next week." Killer fled into the bathroom and locked it, just in time before Kid's pillow hit the surface.