Thanks Vergina-spva and MyLadyDay for beta'ing

Chapter 19

To be honest, Law hadn't expected to actually hear Eustass' voice in his ear after he had answered the phone. He had imagined a pocket dial, or someone else, perhaps Killer, using Eustass' phone, but it would seem that Eustass had called him out of his own free will. He didn't sound intoxicated either, which was a good sign.

Law rose from his seat at the table and gestured to his friends that he had to take this. Strolling over to his bedroom, he asked, "What would you say we had to talk about?"

Eustass remained silent for a moment. "Are you alone?" he finally asked, hesitant. Hearing Eustass' deep voice in his ear reminded Law that he would be a perfect partner for phone sex, as he could make the shivers go down Law's spine already, let alone if he started to talk dirty. Now, however, wasn't the time to suggest it.

"I am now," Law said and pressed the door shut as if to emphasise his point. He wasn't sure if Eustass heard it, though, but it didn't really matter. Law lay down on his bed, making himself comfortable – after all, he would want to be in a good position should the conversation turn to phone sex after all. "I do assume you call with a point?" he pressed when Eustass still wasn't speaking.

"It's not something I can discuss over the phone," Eustass finally spat. "Meet me somewhere."

"I don't do well with commands, Mr Eustass," Law replied. It would have been a different case if, again, they were having phone sex, then Law would have gladly obliged with Eustass' every command. Since that wasn't the case, Law felt no obligation to obey.

"Could you not be an ass for once in your life?" Eustass snapped, and Law's eyebrows rose, intrigued. Eustass' tone implied he was almost… desperate, and Law found himself riveted.

"Alright," he said, "where do you wish to meet?"

"I'll text you the place and time," Eustass grunted.

Law rolled his eyes, but he assumed their conversation was over, at least for now. He couldn't help but be curious about what Eustass had to tell him that he couldn't over the phone, though. Would it have to do with Killer? If so, Penguin would want to know. Law couldn't think of anything else that had to be told in person. Unless… Unless Eustass was luring him out to beat the crap out of him. If so, Law thought with a huff, he was out of luck. Law had already shown him he could take him easily. Still, briefly, he wondered if he should take backup with him.

"Who was that?" Penguin asked as he rejoined his friends. The bowl of popcorn had been refilled, as had the drinks.

"Work," he lied. As much as he adored Penguin, he didn't think that telling him that Eustass called was a good idea. After all, he still had no idea why he called in the first place, and it was much more probable that it was because of a bad reason than a good one, considering his history with Eustass.

Come to think of it, Eustass did seem to have become a little… milder. When they first met, Law was certain Eustass would have tried to kill him, had that scary conductor not intervened. Since then, their interactions had become better, peaking when he and Eustass had been talking in the bathroom. They had been seconds away from making out, that Law was relatively sure of. If only Penguin hadn't stormed in…

But then what? If they had actually started making out, what would have happened? To Law, kissing was for foreplay, and sometimes after, but on its own, he wasn't much of a fan. Sex in the men's room would probably not have been a good idea, seeing how Penguin stormed in. He would have scarred the poor guy for life, probably.

However, it did seem that Penguin had had sex for the first time with Killer, so Law decided to turn the attention back to that. "So, was it good for him too?" he asked with a smirk.

Penguin's cheeks turned red. "T-that's private!"

"All in favour of not talking about Penguin's sex life?" Shachi asked. He, Penguin and Bepo all raised their hands. Shachi shrugged. "Sorry Law, you're outvoted."

Law rolled his eyes, but had to grin nonetheless.

The night air was chilly, and Law pulled his coat tighter around himself, hiding his face as much as possible in his high collar. The rest of his head was held warm by his hat, but he was starting to wonder why he had agreed to come out in the cold. Kid had decided for them to meet halfway between the college campus and where Law lived, which sounded reasonable enough, but it was still quite a distance to cover. He hoped Eustass would be to the point, or he would miss the last bus, and there was no way he was walking home in this weather.

When he arrived at the agreed upon place, he saw Eustass was already there, sitting on a bench with his back turned to him and his elbows on the back of the bench. He was wearing headphones, and Law was reminded of their first meeting, causing him to smirk. Back then, he had never thought he would meet Eustass in the middle of the night in a park. Watching the scenery, though, with the pond and the moonlight, it was awfully romantic for Law's taste. Briefly, he wondered if it had been intentional, but immediately dismissed that thought. Eustass was hardly the romantic type.

Law slid down next to Eustass on the bench, seemingly starling him as he took off his headphones. "I'm here," Law said. "This better be good." He stared at him expectantly, but when Eustass remained silent, he sighed. "Well, this has been fun." He made to rise.

However, before he could, Eustass grabbed his sleeve and yanked him back down on the hard wood of the bench. "I think I like you," he all but spat.

The tone threw him off for a moment, and Law was about to bite a comment back when the meaning of the words truly sank in, leaving him staring at Eustass wide eyed and his mouth hanging open. People didn't tend to surprise him anymore, yet here Eustass had managed it twice in the same day. Law wasn't sure he liked that, but at least he was impressed. Still, he refused to believe he heard his words right.

"I beg your pardon?" was all he could manage.

"You heard me," Eustass snarled. "Don't make me repeat it."

"You're saying you like m–" Law started, his brain trying to make sense of the situation, but before he could finish his sentence, Eustass had hurled him towards himself and smashed their lips together.

When Eustass pulled back, he had questioning, almost shy look on his face. Law was took flabbergasted to respond at first. Was it really Mr Eustass sitting next to him? The guy who had almost broken his neck when Law had barely touched him on the train, the guy who hated his guts with a burning passion? He had to have been brainwashed, or at least been replaced by a good clone.

Eustass' facial expression turned even more insecure for a moment, before it hardened again. Law couldn't blame him. Eustass didn't seem the type to enjoy being vulnerable, and he appeared to be going to punch something if Law didn't react soon.

"That was the worst kiss I've ever had," Law finally said bluntly. Eustass looked surprised, before he turned angry again, but Law wasn't about to let him speak. "Let me show you a real kiss," he said as he leaned in again.

At first, Eustass sat frozen when their lips met – no doubt Law had been the same when the roles had been reversed – but then hesitantly started to move his lips against Law's, following his example. Whenever he became bold and tried to take the lead, Law pulled back a little, until Eustass seemed to understand that this was his show for now.

It didn't come as that much of a surprise that Eustass seemed to be inexperienced in this domain, and Law assumed it would be the same case in the bedroom, should things turn that way. He looked forward to showing Eustass a thing or two, especially after feeling Eustass' abs underneath his hands.

Eustass made a displeased noise when Law finally pulled back – how he had ended up in Eustass' lap he wasn't sure – and sat back on the bench like nothing happened. "That's a kiss."

Eustass nodded numbly.

They were silent for a while, Eustass no doubt trying to process what just happened, though Law himself had some things to think about as well. The change in Eustass had seemed sudden, but perhaps it had been more subtle than Law imagined. After all, he had seen some of the more pleasant sides of Eustass already, for instance when he came to the hospital drunk or when Law had attended Eustass' dance class.

He had to laugh to himself when he imagined Penguin's face if he saw them like this, amicably on a bench in the park. Penguin would be thrilled, if Law ever decided to tell him. First, though, he would have to see where the night took them.

"So, what now?" Eustass broke the silence. "Do I need to woo you or something?"

Law let out a laugh despite himself. "Woo me? I suppose I was right when I said you were behind the times. But if you mean if we're dating, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. I don't do relationships. However, I do find you ridiculously attractive, so if you'd be interested in an arrangement with just sex, I would be up for that."

Eustass stared at him for a moment, but his face was impossible to read. Was he disappointed or was this what he was after anyway?

Law rose from his seat. "You do not have to decide this instant. Think about it and call me if you are interested. Now, I have to catch my bus, so I must be off."

Before he could leave, however, fingers with black painted nails wrapped around his wrist to stop him. "Wait."

Law decided to indulge him and turned around. Eustass once again seemed uncomfortable, almost shy. "How would that work?"

Law's eyebrows rose in interest. He hadn't expected Eustass to agree so easily, or at least consider it seriously. "Well," he started, "you could come over to my place – assuming your dorm room looks anything like Penguin's, we would want more privacy – and we could have sex. That is basically it."

"Whenever I feel like it?"

"It only works if we both feel like it, Mr Eustass. But if you call and I agree, or the other way around, basically, yes." Law was actually kind of excited about the prospect. Not just because there was so much he could teach Eustass, and because the sex would no doubt be satisfying, but also because it would save Law a lot of time looking for a partner. He wouldn't have to be dragged to those dreaded parties anymore that Ace seemed to like so much.

"But like I said," he continued, because even though he was into the idea, he couldn't force Eustass to anything, "think about it and get back to me." He checked his phone and cursed softly when he saw that he had just missed the last bus. Great, now he would have to walk home.

Eustass was silent for a moment, sprawled out on the bench even though that couldn't be comfortable, before he stood up. At first, Law thought he was going to abandon him without a word, and he was about to say something about it when he noticed the small jerk of Eustass' head. Obviously, he wanted Law to follow him, and though Law wasn't sure why, he decided to have a look before giving Eustass lip about it.

Much to his surprise, he found a motorcycle parked not far from where they had been sitting. "Is that yours?" he asked.

Eustass shrugged. "No, but I had make a test drive anyway to see if it's fixed now. I take it you missed your bus, so I'm giving you a ride."

That was surprisingly considerate of him, and Law had to bite his tongue not to make an innuendo out of it, even if it might happen in the future after all.

"I didn't bring a spare helmet, so hold on tight," Eustass said as he put on a helmet himself and slung his leg over the motorcycle. Law did as he was told, slightly surprised at his own obedience. However, it did give him an excuse to touch Eustass, so it was worth it.

Law had driven a motorcycle before and he had been on the back with Ace several times, but with Eustass it was a whole different experience. Not only because Law didn't have to be afraid the driver could fall asleep at any moment, courtesy of Ace's narcolepsy, but also because Eustass drove like he walked, as if he owned the streets. Law was kind of hoping he would be the same in bed.

When they stopped in front of Law's apartment building, Law got off the back with slight reluctance. "Thanks for the ride," he said and couldn't help but wiggle his eyebrows.

"Whatever," Eustass grunted. It didn't come unexpected, as Law doubted Eustass would change that much, but still, he decided to throw him a bone. Eustass had seemed to have enjoyed their kissing – Law couldn't say he himself hadn't either – so Law unfastened Eustass' helmet and took it off, leaning in for another kiss. Perhaps it would help convince Eustass to comply with Law's proposal.