Chapter 23: A Moment of Calm Before the Storm - Part 5
"So help me, Eustass-ya, if you don't stop breathing down my neck, I will rearrange your face so you know what it feels like!" Law growled, stalking through the galley trying not to clench his hands into fists on his way.
Around him heads turned in curiosity. This was the one common area among the three factions, and thus, Marines sat with Pirates who in turn sat with Revolutionaries. Innocent competitions were waged and bet on, food was eaten and socializing was done, all under the watchful eye of the world's best chef. So, in the hopes of being able to relieve some of the tension he'd been feeling over the last week, the surgeon had sought refuge among the crowd. He was disappointed, however, because his lover had followed on his heels, just as he had every day since the engineer's Reset. The brunette was at the end of his rope, and not being able to be intimate with his partner the way they usually were only made things worse.
He tugged at the hoodie that was just a bit too tight around the middle, but bulky enough that unless someone put their hands on him they wouldn't notice. When they'd all arrived at Marineford for the conference of the world leaders his, albeit borrowed, midsection had still been trim and toned, flat as a washboard, but now... not so much. He knew it was a good thing, and the fact that he was quickly out-growing his clothing showed how strong and healthy she was, but it was damned frustrating on top of everything else. Oh, and plus, because of his Reset Kidd STILL didn't remember being told about the baby. So, at that moment, all the smaller man wanted was a cup of Sanji's rosehip and raspberry tea, a plate of those honey drenched pretzels he'd discovered by accident and a good book to take to some quiet corner for a moment of blessed PEACE!
Kidd growled deeply, reaching out for his lover's hips before remembering that one, he didn't have his left arm, and two, Law hadn't allowed him to put hand on him in nearly a month. Something about not wanting any issues with the other factions coming over to tell them to quiet down. More like he didn't want other people knowing about their sex life, regardless how shameless he'd been with their own crew.
His hand clenched into a fist as he let his fall back to his side. Another wordless snarl preceded his next statement. "Goddamn it Law, I fucking Reset. I'm not leaving you alone!"
The surgeon was the only person he loved more than his own life. The only person he would, if he had to, give up his only remaining arm for. This was not something he said out loud. This was not something he ever let anyone know, not even Law.
"I know you RESET!" The brunet whirled on him, glaring. "You've been going on about it for the last week! You just... UGH! If I didn't know that you were essential for this nonsense with the plaything I'd knock you unconscious until you regained what you lost. You have NO idea how aggravating it has been on me. Every time I turn around you're there! I can't even fucking piss without you! I'm not made of glass!"
Hard red eyes glared at him with a barely-contained fury that made them burn. "...I am fucking allowed to hover over you, considering circumstances," he said slowly, carefully.
His voice was kept forcefully low, reasonable. Law hated it when he blew his top, hated it when he started to yell. And since the reawakening of the deepest part of his soul, the bloodlust and the animal inside, his temper had returned to its previous shortness. Any patience he'd managed to accumulate in recent years had evaporated. Or at least severely shortened. It was a lot harder to keep his temper, even though something in him screamed to stay in control around Law.
"Considering what circumstances, Kidd? You know that nothing is going to happen concerning the plaything here, even he isn't that stupid. So, what? What has you thinking you need to be glued to me worse than your own entourage!" The surgeon gave a pointed glare at Killer, Wire and Heat, who all hovered just beyond their captain. "At least they," he pointed, "don't try to follow you into the bathroom and let you sleep at night."
Kidd's body shuddered and his fur bristled as his lip curled on one side. His voice deepened, gaining a rusty, strained quality mixed with a violent growl. "Only because they know I'll stuff their balls down their throats if they try. And the circumstances include the toy, the Reset, your experiment-gone-wrong, and imminent looming battle. Not to mention the fact that your health has plummeted in the past fucking month."
"It... eh... it has not! I'm healthier than ever!" Law glared off to the side, which he knew wouldn't help his case, but he couldn't help the embarrassment staining his face at the proof that his lover had noticed the changes in his body.
"DONT FUCKING LIE TO ME!"
The redhead couldn't help it. If there was anything he couldn't stand, it was Law lying to him. His power exploded—everything metal within range, from the Flying Pan to the All Blue, twisted, bent, buckled and sparked violently. Stoves flared up, engines fired, bolts popped and screws came loose, and anything even vaguely loose ripped straight off wherever it was fastened. The only thing that remained untouched was medical metal—Law's staples, Heat's stitches, Usopp's splints. He bared his teeth at his mate as he panted, nearly seeing red.
"You can't hold a Room for more than twenty seconds without it flickering out. Unless you feel threatened, in which case ya can't fucking dismiss the thing! You throw up fucking everything you eat, most of it violently! You've been drinking tea for a month and you ONLY do that when yer sick! You falter when ya stand, stumble when ya walk, ya can't git fuckin' comf'table at nigh', ya walk th'fuckin halls n' walls all goddamn nigh', n' fuckall if ya c'n keep yer 'ead on straigh'! Yer calm l'gic 's never feckin' fail'd b'fer, but's failin' yer now!"
The brunet took a step back, closing his eyes and a sheen of sweat broke out across his brow as he struggled to react exactly as his lover predicted. To do so now would mean that most of the galley would wind up pressed against the wall almost violently. "Please... Eustass... calm down? I... I can't talk about this here. I'm sorry."
Somewhere in the background, beyond the swinging door into the actual kitchen, a litany of cursing and banging pots drew the attention of most of the people in the dining hall. Several very abruptly took what they could still control of their meals and left the quickly escalating scene. Others seemed to be either paralyzed with fear, or like most of the Marines above Recruit rank, were literally held to their seats by the master of magnetism's hold on their boots and buttons.
Kidd panted for several minutes, visibly struggling. With himself, with his power. It was so hard not to just reach out for the man who was his world and yank him in, hold him and refuse to let go. But he knew, he knew, if he even reached for him, that fucking Room would rebuff him quicker than he could blink. In this state Law's body counted him a threat, somehow. So, his hand dug into his hair and yanked, bringing tufts of red drifting around his shoulders before he let out a long, low snarl and everything was released from his magnetic power with a sudden jolt.
His jaw was tight and his eyes were dark with both extreme fury and deep, deep hurt as they caught Law's gray ones one more time. "...Never lie."
He then turned on his heel and stormed off, pausing only to snap at Killer, Heat and Wire to take his place watching over his lover and not let anything he said keep them from it.
"But..." The smaller man bit his lip and spoke quietly, trying to will his voice not to tremble. "I'm not lying..."
Several deep breaths did very little to calm him, and the only thing Law felt he could do was continue on to get his tea, though a pit felt heavy in his stomach. He couldn't explain it again, it would make Kidd Reset again, and he didn't think he could handle that. Disregarding the fact that there was precious little time left before the final push to reclaim their missing loved ones. Reports were coming in almost daily now from all over the five seas of people going missing, villages ransacked, and everywhere the attacks were, Doflamingo's symbol was left as a message. They had to put a stop to whatever was going on, and whoever it was that was tarnishing his father's name. It was bad enough the man was dead, but to disrespect him in this way... it made Law's blood boil almost hot enough to forget about the argument.
Just before the door into the kitchen, he put a hand to his head, closing his eyes again, and chewed on the corner of his lip. "Killer...?"
The usually, mostly-stoic blond man turned his head, so the holes on his mask indicated he had given his attention to the man his captain adored so much. Kidd didn't have to say anything for him to know the redhead was head over heels to a frightening degree. The feral man, though he didn't look it, was fiercely protective, and Killer knew better than anyone. Anything Kidd cared about, he immediately claimed as 'his'. And nothing touched what belonged to Kidd. Nothing. Killer would kill it, or throw himself to his sure death trying. Law was right at the top of the list. Even if no-one else in the world knew or would ever know, Killer knew. So he regarded Law with just the same devotion, loyalty and respect Kidd commanded him.
"Could you go get him please?" The surgeon's tone was weary and the sensitive first mate could hear a depth of pain that was uncommon in the usually aloof slender man. "I... find myself at odds with having chased him off. I will accompany Heat and Wire back to my quarters, so you need not worry that I am attempting to elude you. I swear it."
Killer shifted uncomfortably. "...eat first. Cap'n... well... he... he's gunna be unavailable fer a lil' bit. He's... not safe. I'll get him right away when he is, but for now... you'd better get that thing Sanji gives you that settles your stomach. And some food."
Law sighed and nodded, knowing all too well that the scythe-wielder was right. He wrapped his arms around his ribs and went through the door. Sanji was, of course, seething at the way his kitchen had been manhandled, and Flambé was still pulling knives down from the ceiling. However, whatever the blond had planned to say died on his lips when he took in the doctor's expression. Instead, he sighed and held out the shorter man's plate. They exchanged a glance and Law nodded, but no words were spoken as the brunet left the area through the back, heading back to their quarters to dine in relative peace and safety as holding his Room back was beginning to tire him unnecessarily.
Through it all Killer stayed as a steady, solid presence at his left shoulder. The stoic swordsman watched everything, firm and strong and calm. Law, and Law's Room, knew the first mate would never be a threat to him. Thus, when the brunet relaxed his mind, the light blue barrier passed over the blond man harmlessly.
So, after his snack was finished, and tucked safely back into their private space, Law curled up around his midsection on their bed, no longer caring if Killer saw him break down. His Room extended to the door, and after several minutes of silent sobs, the brunet fell into a fitful doze that left him whimpering slightly. At some point during his nap, his hoodie rode up, revealing the convex curve of his stomach.
Kidd stumbled into the doorway and conferred quietly with Killer for a moment, their deep voices murmuring on the very edge of the surgeon's hearing. The redhead was completely exhausted, and his masked first mate took him by the collar, manhandling him into the shower before he was allowed to get anywhere near his lover. With Law being ill lately, the smell of the oil and grease on the mechanical genius would probably upset his delicate system again and the swordsman knew that the calories his other captain had consumed were too precious to be wasted.
When the master of magnets emerged clean, he tiredly slunk over to the bed, and on seeing the curve of his lover's belly, frowned in confusion. Sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, he reached out to feel that strangely curvy flesh. This was... this was the flesh between the staple rings. This was Law's... failed experiment? It confused him.
"Hm?" The brunet blinked with a sleepy frown, salt crusted on his lashes and cheeks. "Oh... you... wan' kiss... you dun touch me these days... why?"
In his muddled half-awake state the surgeon didn't notice his secret revealed, nor did he even notice the shower-fresh aura about his lover. All he saw was the rough man he loved so much that he deliberately altered his body to please him. Granted, he hadn't meant for it to be permanent, but if it made his lover happy, he'd gladly do it again. Reaching up with a fine-boned hand he threaded his fingers through the deceptively soft red strands, and pulled gently so he could roll over onto his back with the bigger male over him.
Kidd moved as his lover bade him, breathing soft as he let their legs tangle, but kept himself suspended on hand and knees. That strangely soft belly, it didn't belong to the dark man for all that the skin tone matched. He knew it somehow. Knowing that, he was afraid to test its strength with his heavy, muscle-bound weight. But he answered the question.
"Because ya don't let me."
He leaned down and nuzzled his cheek before letting their lips meet sweetly in the kind of gentle kiss only Law had ever managed to coax from him. When he was forced to part for air, he sighed deeply and rested his forehead against his lover's.
"Kami... you don't even... I just... you... nnngh." He gave up. He still couldn't vocalize what he felt. Nope. Stupid brain. Stupid Reset.
"It's cuz you forgot." Only here, like this, and only with Kidd, did the brunet ever let himself be truly open, though the further he went with this, the harder it was becoming to hold everything back. "I told you before, and you forgot. You Reset. I don't wanna see you Reset again." The tears he thought he had under control slipped from between his lashes, "Then you didn't believe me."
"You lied to me when you said you were fine. A fucking cabin boy could see you haven't been fine, Law. And you... you don't know what lying does to me. Especially about your health of all things," Kidd's voice dropped to try and hide the fact that it broke. "Never lie to me, Trafalgar Law. Never, ever, ever lie to me. Ever again."
His arm shook as he took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. He couldn't break down like a fucking sissy. Not when Law obviously needed him.
"B-but I am fine. Everything that's happening is supposed to be happening. I know it looks like I'm miserable, but I swear, I'm fine. I've never lied to you, why do you think I am now?" The betrayal in the surgeon's dark eyes was obvious, and doubts that he'd never experienced before were bubbling up in his heart like an acid, eating away at his confidence.
"Because 'sick' is not 'fine' and you've been sick for a month. And goddamn it, do you—no, just... fuck. Okay. You being sick is supposed to be happening? What the Hell does that mean?" The redhead sat up and back, plowing his fingers into his hair as he carefully avoided the slightly bumped belly.
"It should stop in the next couple of weeks. Maybe. Each time is different for each person but there's a... um..." Law looked down, and instantly paled, then flushed pink across his nose, and tugged his shirt down as best he could, which wasn't very well considering that he was laying on part of it. "Damn it... why can't you just trust me?"
"I do trust you. I just... hate not knowing. I hate seeing you sick, and I really hate seeing you fucking miserable. I mean, goddamn it, I'd give my right arm to see you happy! I worry, fuck it all!" Then, realizing what just slipped out of his mouth without his permission, Kidd slammed his hand over his mouth—his only hand... his right hand.
All the mostly slender brunet could do was blink. "You'd... for... but that would mean... but you Reset the last time I told you."
The larger man sighed, dragging his fingers down his face before he said 'fuck it' and gave up posturing. It didn't matter at this point. "Law... there is only ever one reason I Reset. It's when I genuinely think, believe, fear, with all of my being, that someone I... I love... is going to die. I Reset only ever once before I met you: when all my friends died at the hands of a Marine. Then I met you, and got so fucking attached, and I have never Reset, ever, except when I think you're in very real danger I can't save you from. Nothing you could have told me caused my Reset... only something I've seen can scare me that fucking much."
"I know that. The... the stupid bint died and..." The surgeon bit his lip, frowning and clutching the edges of his hoodie. "Part of me died with her. It's... it's why I told you the staples are permanent now. I can't... this won't... even after... I know how you feel about female genitalia."
Kidd peered at Law, now simply confused. "...what the hell do girl parts have to do with this?"
"They're part of the deal... in order to... see, the... oh! By the Joker's left asscheek!" The brunet cursed, blushing more furiously. He spoke aloud without realizing it, "How the Hell am I supposed to tell you that I gave up my dick to give you a baby!?"
Kidd blinked. Once, then twice more, then swallowed. "Y-you... you... ngh... you..."
He couldn't help himself. He needed to check the truth of this statement. He undid Law's buckle, button, and zipper, and yanked them down before the smaller man could stop him. Then he promptly went more white than he already was and made a distressed sort of yelp.
The surgeon scrambled back up the bed, using his smaller frame to get out from under his now-panicking lover. The hoodie wasn't big enough to cover his shame and not for the first time since everything had happened, Law cursed the fact that he hadn't brought the Kuja bint with him. Now, he was sure he'd never be touched again, and being a spawn of the Joker, even an adopted one, the idea of his lover never touching him ever again was almost enough to make him break Rule Number One. So, he curled in on himself, refusing to look at the redhead, face aflame with embarrassment.
The master of metal was breathing rapidly, but was getting a handle on it. In, out. In, out. In, out. Yeah. Okay. So Law had—he choked—Law didn't have his... right. He was still Law. He was still the man he loved. He could handle this. Yes. He'd be fine. Once he managed to get over... over... He made the yelping noise again. It almost sounded like a distressed dog. Maybe even a Hyena's yipping cry.
"...an' tha's permanent?" His voice was strangled and high.
"This is why I didn't tell you!" Law wrapped the blanket from the other side of the bed around himself, trying to hide in a way he hadn't since he'd outgrown worshipping the ground his father walked on. "You think it's disgusting, and vile, and ugly. And yes, it's permanent, because the fucking bint went and got herself killed because she couldn't just stay put, she had to go out with that snake-bitch and become a pirate. So, the fucking plaything found her and stabbed his fucking SPRINGS THROUGH MY STOMACH!"
A long shudder went through Kidd's shoulders and down his spine. "It… it's not vile, or u-ugly, just... just different. You'll get me used to it. You got me used to getting a needle stabbed in me halfway into sex, for Kami's sake, you can get me used to... girly bits. But... but Bellamy will pay." His voice turned bloodlusty and dropped to a snarling rumble. "For touching any part of you, for destroying a part of you... he will fucking pay."
The blush changed subtly at the mention of one of his fetishes but Law still crowded himself as close to the headboard of their bed as he could get, gripping the blanket tighter. "D-don't. I... I don't want to push you away again. I want you close. I want you to touch me. But... this stupid... since the bint's death... I can't... Eustass, please calm down? My Room."
The redhead was calm almost instantly and the turned to the only person in the world who could possibly, ever, get him to touch any part of a woman sexually and not throw up—because he'd have to, now. The thought of never touching Law again was Not An Option. Intolerable. "It's... it's okay, Law. I know. It wants to keep you safe. You and the baby." He leaned his elbow on his knee with a long sigh as the full implications of what his lover told him crossed his mind. "Fuck. Baby. Sired by me, dear Roger's mustache. I can already see the devil-child."
"Chopper works wonders." Though he had to angle his legs a little differently than normal, Law was able to rest his cheek on his knee so he could peer out through the fringe of his dark bangs. "I only supplied the space. If he hadn't worked with Nami on that fertility ball, all of this would be for nothing. And she isn't a devil-child, she's a princess."