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Kokoro and Tom stood on her balcony looking out at the city.

"I know you've been busy but I appreciate you being here. It's so good to have a night like this every once in awhile." She sighed and leaned against the rail.

"Glad to be here!" He beamed but patted her on the back. "You've been looking a bit worried though, Kokoro. What's on your mind?"

"It's Iceburg."

"Did something happen?" He furrowed his brow.

"No. Nothing that I've heard. It's just…we forgot to talk to him about Aqua Laguna, didn't we?"

"Hm…you know, I think you're right about that."

"We were so worried about everything else we didn't even think to mention it! I couldn't get through to the school either. I think it's starting a wee bit earlier this year. I'm worried about him."

"We have been having strange weather, haven't we? I'll bet we've got time to talk with him about it before it hits though. Even if not, that school is built well out of harms way. It'll stand strong against any storm, with a don!"

"I'm sure you're probably right. But I just can't help worrying! I have this dread looming over me…" she swirled bright red wine around her glass "I feel like we did the wrong thing sending him off like that! Now that I can't keep a direct eye on him…I don't like it."

"Why don't you check in tomorrow morning? You've done all you can for now. Let's enjoy the rest of the evening and trust that they'll call if there's troubles."

"I suppose…" she sipped her drink "maybe the alcohol is making me a bit silly. It's not often I have any after all."

"Well, it's quite the occasion, isn't it!? How long has it been since we've all been together like this!? Nothing wrong with being a little silly!" Iva sauntered in from the doorway with a wide grin on their face.

"Oh! You're back!" Kokoro laughed with her hand to her heart "You have a way of sneaking up on people."

"I do, don't I?" They chuckled as they picked up the drink they'd left behind "I think it's more fun that way."

"So is everything okay? You left in such a hurry after that call came through!"

"Oh it was a whole ordeal but it'll be fine now, I'm sure." They laughed it off with a shake of their head "I just had to deal with a little troublemaker doing what he does best…making trouble." They sipped at the edge of the glass.

"Now I just can't imagine you getting involved with any troublemakers!" Tom bellowed out laughter and the others quickly joined in.

Back in the Sapphire wing, after Iva was gone, Iceburg leaned over and shook Dylin. He stirred awake and let out a loud yawn.

"Hey, what's going on!?" Iceburg felt more lost than ever; dazed from snapping out of a dream of his childhood on the Kimmerios Isles and awaking with a stranger in the room.

"Hm?" he gave him a sleepy smile then closed his eyes again "It's fine. Go back to sleep."

He shook him again but Dylin's hand closed over his and held it tight.

"You're alright, little one. Rest for now."

As Iceburg blinked at their intertwined hands he remembered reaching for the knife but falling. Slowly he tried to piece it all together; why he was so sore, dressed in unfamiliar clothing with his chest unbound and why he was on the bottom bunk, Dylin's bunk, with the taste of his cigarette smoke in his mouth and on his lips.

"Dylin..." Iva's words sat fresh on his mind; he pushed his hand away, sat up cross legged and leered at him. "Did you help me? Why did you help me?" He crossed his arms.

Dylin didn't open his eyes but his smile was wide.

"Hm… why did you help me?"

"I-I don't know what you mean." Iceburg blushed and looked away.

"Oh?" Dylin turned around and leaned in close to Iceburg. "I was outside the window when they came; that nurse and the others. I know you could've given me away and been rid of me at the same time as the other two. You could've done it and never thought twice but you lied for me instead. You spared me twice now. That's why I should be the one asking you why." His wicked grin seemed to challenge him.

Iceburg settled back against the pillow and eyed him up as he thought about how to answer. He still wasn't entirely sure himself as to why.

"Well, you told me not to get involved in your business. I did it just to annoy you, really." He laughed it off and waved a hand at him, but the shake in his voice prevented him from sounding as casual as he'd hoped. "I had to make sure I could mock you in person about it."

Dylin smirked as he pulled himself up to stand. Iceburg burned up when he saw his shirt was ripped open; his wounds were out of sight but his chest was bared. His confusion about him could only double with the realization he had been binding down breasts as well, though his were much larger than Iceburg's.

"Of course." He sauntered to the armoire and brought the vodka back out with a few glasses "you're just such an annoying guy after all."

"That's you! Y-you…you're impossible."

"That's probably true." he chuckled and sat down beside him "Here. This'll take the edge off. You need it." Dylin thrust a glass of the drink at him.

Iceburg took it and watched Dylin down one before he'd take his own. Once he swallowed a whole mouthful of it he began to gag and sputter.

"That's awful! What is that!?" He wiped his mouth as thoroughly as he could.

"It's liquor. Alcohol." Dylin laughed and poured him another.

"Are you sure!? Of the most horrid things I've tasted none of them have been anywhere near this repugnant! Oh, god!" He resisted the urge to spit all over the floor.

"Hah!" He dropped his glass off the side of the bed when he was finished with his drink "It'll at least warm you up after such an ordeal. I…" he cleared his throat and looked away "I'm glad you made it through."

Iceburg played around with the cup in his hand before he managed a reply.

"Thank you. You could've left me for dead, you know. Wouldn't that have been easier?" Iceburg was surprised that a warmth was indeed filling him up from the inside; he took a second swig and made another wretched face.

"Probably. I would have missed your ridiculous attitude, though." he set a hand on his leg. "So…it seems like we're stuck with each other for another little while."

"Seems like it." Iceburg stared at his hand but didn't care to move it away. Unsure of what else to say or do he finished off his drink and held out his glass for more, Dylin gladly poured it for him.

They'd drank in silence for a few minutes when Dylin sighed and patted his back.

"Come on then. Let's fix you up." He hid his pain with a grin and led him back to the bathroom. He grabbed a pair of scissors from a cabinet by the mirror. "We're gonna cut that hair of yours and get you looking presentable!"

"Umm…well, okay…"

He plopped down cross legged, set the bottle down beside him and pulled Iceburg down onto his lap. The tiny boy shrieked then giggled as he spilled some onto himself before he quickly guzzled down the rest.

"Hold still would you!?" Dylin shook his head but laughed.

Bit by bit he brushed and trimmed through his mess of hair until it was even. "It's nothing special, but it's all I know how to do. Sorry. It'll grow out like mine. I hope you don't mind it."

"Well I'm sure it'll be better than the wretched job I did."

They both laughed but Dylin's face quickly fell.

"You know…I'm sorry. You probably wouldn't have done it at all if not for me."

"That's not entirely true. I'm sure I would've cut my hair eventually."

"In your own time though. Not like this. You've been through a lot of shit because of me, haven't you?"

"Well, maybe a little…it could be worse though."

"Regardless. I am sorry. if I had any idea you were like me…"

"Don't tell me you chose to help me just because of that!" Iceburg cut him off with a cold glare over his shoulder.

"That's not it." Dylin frowned and snipped off uneven length in his bangs.

"Oh, come on! Why not just keep on hating me!? Nothing should be different now." He crossed his arms snug over his chest and pouted.

"Hey now…you're the one who said you hated me. I never said that."

"Well…You attacked me!"

"That was a long time ago." Dylin shrugged and shot back another swig from the bottle.

"What!? It was only a few hours ago!"

"A lot has happened though, hasn't it?" Dylin laughed at his bewildered face.

"Yes, but…"

"I feel like I've known you much longer. Take another drink."

Iceburg snatched the bottle from him and took as big a drink as he could. He wrinkled up his nose and tried not to gag but soon found comfort in the fuzzy warmth and boldness it made him feel. Dylin sighed.

"I never hated you. When I met you earlier I thought you were just another gay cis boy who'd wind up missing in the end. I figured if I pushed enough I could scare you off before things got out of hand again…but you're oddly steadfast. With everything going on I was sure you'd been lured into their lot but I was wrong. Every guess I've made about you has been wrong…"

After another few drinks he swivelled around and scowled at Dylin.

"If you want to be friends with me than be friends with me for who I am, not what I am! You shouldn't only care for people you can relate to. You should feel bad for how you acted regardless of our… unfortunate similarities…"

"I do." Dylin gently took the bottle back from him and brought it to his lips "I feel awful and…" he snorted out a laugh "you have no idea how strange that is."

"Hmph."

"You don't have to believe me." He brushed the trimmings from Iceburg's bony shoulders with great care "But if I found out any of the other boys here were, you know, like us I probably would've still let them die had they wound up in the same situation."

"That's terrible!"

Dylin shrugged then laughed loudly.

"Maybe, but the way I see it…you shouldn't drag yourself down trying to save just anybody. Save people worth saving, eh!? The ones you care about!" After finishing off the bottle he clapped Iceburg on the back. "I just can't care about most people even if I try my hardest, y'know – I dislike who they are not what they are." He smirked " Is that really so terrible?"

"I don't know…" Iceburg pondered it. "I guess not, if it's your feelings."

"Well…all I was gonna say was if I knew you were transgender like me I just wouldn't have said a lot of those things I did – nothing to do with saving you or not. I'd have been more straight up with pushing you away from this place."

"Transgender?"

"Yeah. I mean…I'm assuming you're not just a girl in disguise are you?"

"No! Well…I guess in a way I am…I wish I wasn't though."

"Then you're not. You're transgender."

"I am?"

"Yeah. That's what we are. When we were born they looked on the outside and said we were girls. Inside we know we're not though, right? That's all."

"Oh. So there's a word for it?" Iceburg sounded hopeful.

"Yeah."

They sat quietly for a moment until the younger boys curiosity got the better of him.

"So what did make me worth saving then?"

"I dunno, just you." He shrugged "I told you; you're different. You make me laugh. Besides, I haven't quite figured you out yet…can't have you dying on me."

"Well, I haven't even figured me out yet." Iceburg offered a half-hearted laugh "so…good luck."

"I think my luck has been pretty good so far. I'll manage." He leaned back and after a brief chuckle he frowned. "I thought it had run out when I had to call for help though. You wouldn't wake up…you were so cold." his voice broke but he recovered quickly with a small laugh. "I didn't know until I had to take off your bindings that you were anything like me. Our unfortunate and coincidental similarities are just that: unfortunate and coincidental."

Iceburg scoffed again but looked down at his feet to avoid eye contact.

"Like I said, you don't have to believe me. You said you'd been injured. I figured that had something to do with why you were knocked out like that. Turns out you'd been binding yourself too tightly - but not to compress an injury…you gotta cut that shit out, by the way. You'll kill yourself." Dylin sneered at him as he pulled out his cigarettes.

"I know…that lady said the same thing to me before she left."

"Lady?" He furrowed his brow as he thought, then let out the most boisterous laughter he'd ever managed before then. "You mean Ivankov!? They're not a lady – but on the other hand they're not exactly a man either. Either way, they're a fucking bitch! A total pain in the ass."

"They? Oh…well, they helped us, right? So I wouldn't say anything bad like that. They were a bit strange though..."

"Hah! A bit strange!? Utter nonsense is what they are. Just be glad you're not the one in their debt." He shook his head and popped a smoke in his mouth "You'd have some choice words for them yourself if you were, believe me. Ah well. I'll have to face the music sooner or later and find out what they want from me in return. In the meantime lets be grateful they don't always demand upfront payment. I'm not sure I'd have been able to manage it."

Iceburg mulled it all over for a moment before he spoke again.

"Did you put yourself in debt because of me?" He swayed as he stood up.

"For you. Not because of you. It was my choice after all." Dylin watched him with a skeptical eye as he walked unsteadily towards the door "Where do you think you're off to? You're shedding hair all over the place!"

Instead of replying he giggled lightly as he zigzagged into the bedroom, kicking the empty bottle over on his way by.

"You drunk already, Ice-boy?" He leaned back on one hand and grinned.

"No! Well, I don't know…maybe." his laughter grew louder as he bumped into the armoire and grabbed the handle. "I only had a few drinks though! I'm used to having a glass of wine with dinner and it never makes me feel like this!"

"That was a lot stronger than most wines," Dylin tried to hide how much he struggled to get up from the floor "and hey, if you're a lightweight it's only natural that you – Oi! Oi! What the hell are you doing reaching your creepy little hands into my stuff!?" He pointed his cigarette at him.

"I'm looking for more!" Iceburg nearly cackled as he dug through his things. "If I know anything about you I bet you've got more somewhere around here."

"You don't know anything about me!" Dylin turned red as he glowered at him from where he lingered in the doorway.

"I bet it's in a fancy container, like the one you keep your cigarettes in." The smaller boy glanced over at him and beamed at the sight of his frustration.

"You little brat! Get out of my stuff! Close those doors or I'm gonna kick your fucking ass again!"

"Oh, I don't think you would... after all - ah! Here it is!" He wagged an exquisitely fashioned flask up above his head. "It's full!"

"It's mine, boy! Do you think I don't know it's full!? Keep it that way!" He reddened further and stepped towards him but stopped and braced himself against his wounds.

Iceburg, still oblivious to Dylin's injuries, closed the doors of the armoire and began to unscrew the lid.

"Is it the same stuff from before? That clear stuff?"

"No. I'd say what you have there is a fair bit stronger. You should probably just take it easy for – hey! Marmocchio!" He gawked in disbelief as the tiny boy pinched his nose and chugged back several mouthfuls of what was in the flask. "I just said take it easy, didn't I!? That shit isn't cheap! I've saved that for a long time for a special occasion! Y-you're getting your hair everywhere! Get back into this washroom, now!"

"Well, I'm sorry. I've just never felt like this before." Iceburg laughed as he bounded his way back in.

"Don't get too used to it. It's poison in the end, remember. The shit will kill you too." He grumbled as he turned the shower back on and waited for it to run hot.

"I don't really care at this point." He shrugged "My body isn't sore, I actually feel like laughing, and even you're tolerable. I'm happy to drink this poison!" He beamed and touched Dylin's arm.

"T-tolerable!?" he nearly choked on the words as he glanced back and forth from his hand to his shining brown eyes.

"Yes. Tolerable." Iceburg laughed as he passed him the flask and giggled even harder when he went to tuck his hair behind his ear only to remember his long hair was gone – it was a strange but happy feeling.

Dylin eyed him up as he drank from it.

"Alright. I mean it now. You've had enough. Get your stuff off and rinse off – oi! Is that my shirt!?"

"Yes, I believe so." Iceburg leaned against the vanity and grinned at his reflection "I like how it fits. Even without the wrappings I can't see m-my chest. It's comfy too. I guess that lady – that person - put it on me if you don't know anything about it."

"Of course it was them! Like hell I put it on you!" Dylin grit his teeth and crossed his arms. "What do you think I am!?"

"Grumpy." Iceburg giggled and slipped the flask from between his fingers.

"Oi!" He reached out to snatch it back but was stopped again by the pain spreading through him; he could tell Iva's powers were wearing off fast. "You'd better give me that back, all bullshit aside. I want at least one drink left for when I need it!"

He took a quick sip then handed it back to him. He cast his gaze downwards and traced his fingers along the vanity.

"Well…it was you though, right? Ivankov, I think you said their name was, said I had you to thank for being alive. You said you called for help…but you're the one who really saved me aren't you?" Iceburg's eyes watered as he looked back in the mirror at himself.

"What does it matter which of us saved you?" Dylin shrugged and turned to watch the running water "You're alive. That's what matters, right?"

"I'd just like to thank you properly, Dylin." He turned away from the mirror and watched the Head of Dorm go rigid at the sentiments "If I may."

Dylin whipped around.

"You may not! You may get in the shower! I don't need thanks! I-I don't want it! Who says I'm the one who did anything for you!? Let's get this nonsense cleaned up!"

"Well…You said you had to take my bindings off, and all I can taste is that wretched tobacco you smoke - even over the alcohol." He stumbled towards the shower as he spoke "So I'm guessing you are the one who did the work saving me. After all," he broke into a grin at the sight of Dylin's flushed face "I doubt you were just kissing me.."

His jaw fell open.

"O-of course I wasn't! Where's this boldness come from all of a sudden, eh!? You little shit! How dare you!"

"Bold!? Well!" Iceburg hiccupped "Well, you're the one telling me to take my clothes off!"

"B-but not like that! You're getting the wrong idea!" He backed away and waved his hands in front of him, wide-eyed. "You're covered in blood and hair, marmocchio. We've gotta get you cleaned up or there'll be questions. We don't need anyone suspecting us after everything."

"Suspecting us?" Iceburg cocked his head.

"Yeah...?" Dylin gave him an odd sideways glance "If they stick their noses into it deep enough it'll be pretty evident what happened. We'd be linked to it in no time."

"Linked? What happened?" Iceburg, dazed and confused, tried his best to sort his muddled thoughts.

Dylin winced, knitted his brow and grimaced down at him. He exhaled slowly through his teeth.

"You're annoyed!?" Iceburg pouted and put his hands on his hips "What did I do wrong this time!?"

"No, I'm not annoyed. Let's talk about it when you sober up, you naïve shit." He shook his head with a laugh.

Iceburg nodded with a wide smile on his face then staggered to the shower. Dylin turned away and faced the wall as the younger boy began to peel off his clothes.

"Sit down while you're in there…okay? You don't want to fall. You're obviously drunk. Just let the water run over you for now."

"I most certainly am not drunk! I'll still sit down though. It sounds nice."

"Right." Dylin couldn't help but smile.

"Give me your shirt." Iceburg called over his shoulder as he shook the strands of hair from his clothes. "Probably your pants too."

He balked.

"I beg your goddamn pardon!?"

"Well, you'd have hair all over you too, wouldn't you? You're the one who was cutting it for me, so…" he shrugged as he watched the uneven lengths swirl away from him and down the drain.

Dylin looked down at himself; his tattered, blood soaked shirt and pants were, in fact, covered in his hair.

"Indeed…you know, thats some pretty critical thinking from a drunk brat." His face slowly spread into a wide grin "This is gonna take awhile, isn't it?"

"What's going to take awhile? Shower? The shower? Did you mean the-"

"I did not mean the shower! I meant you. It's gonna take me awhile to figure you out."

"Oh…Probably. Well, let's both give it our best shot then."

"I always do." He shrugged the shirt off and began to unbuckle his pants. "No point in doing something half-assed."

"I suppose not! Pass them to me." he leaned out, one hand on the wall and one spread out to take the clothing.

"Don't tell me what to do! And d-don't look at me, stupid bastard!" Dylin covered his chest angrily while he held out his clothes, eyes still averted.

Iceburg laughed and turned away to shake the hair from his things.

"What are you being weird about suddenly? Your shirt was already torn so it's nothing new to me. Not to mention you've apparently already seen me - as if I had a choice in the matter…"

"Oh!? A choice!? You really gonna pretend that wasn't a life or death situation!? Did I make the wrong choice!? Should I have just left your sorry ass to die!?" He turned and glared a hole through Iceburg's bare back. "You know, you-you're reminding me of someone right now and it really pisses me off! Don't push me, boy!"

"Don't be so dramatic." Iceburg scoffed back at him. "Anyways, the shirt is in pieces. You don't want to keep it do you? Why don't we just get rid of it? I'll be able to clean these pants up no problem though." He looked warily at the blood that ran out with the water.

"Yeah. I'll get rid of it. Thanks." Dylin muttered, painfully aware of the warm, humid air against his naked body.

"How did you get hurt? Why were you bleeding?" he called over his shoulder as he rinsed them out.

"It's nothing. Just something that happened earlier, I guess."

"S'you're okay then?" Iceburg's words slurred together as he hung up the pants to dry on a towel rack.

"I'm fine." He stared down at himself and sighed.

"Okay. Here's that shirt anyways, why don't you toss it in the rubbish over there? I got all the hair and blood off of it!"

"Yeah, thanks." As Dylin reached out for it, Iceburg gasped and grabbed his arm.

"Your hand!" He closely examined it and pouted "What on earth?"

"Like I said, I'm fine! Don't worry about it! Let go of me!" he pulled his hand away and scowled. "Something stupid happened, that's all."

"Oohh like at work? You said you're a sh-shipwright, aren'you? You w-work at the shipyards?" His eyes glistened as he looked up at him.

"I do work at the shipyards." He spoke slowly.

"Well…teach me something!"

"…Huh!?"

"Teach me something. About building ships!"

"No way! Are you kidding me? I'm not gonna teach you a thing! HEY!"

Iceburg snatched his bloodied and bruised hand back up and pouted. This time Dylin didn't pull it away but instead watched Iceburg's expression as he pondered it.

"…What?" His voice softened.

"See?" He took the hand and placed it against a bloody handprint on his own chest "That's definitely from you."

"So!?" He bit his lip and looked away.

"So…you say I've been through a lot because of you…but you've done a lot for me too, haven't you?"

"Who said anything's been for you!?" He slid his hand away and glowered at the floor.

"You said it, idiot!" He chuckled and eased himself under the steamy water "S-stop trying so hard to be cold! We're friends already, aren't we!?"

"Friends!?" Dylin nearly choked on the word "Now, now…let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I wouldn't -"

"Oh, shut your mouth. Are you getting in or not?" Iceburg smiled brightly over his shoulder.

"What!?" Dylin nearly fell back, disarmed by his growing confidence.

"That's what people normally do, right? It's nice having these huge showers all to yourself but it's really meant for everyone to share, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah, normally. I've never bathed with other people here though…I'm sure you can imagine why."

"I'm not those other people though, am I? We're the same. I wouldn't want to undress around them either."

"We are not! We may be similar but we are not the same!"

"Well whatever works best for you!" His voice was still cheery as he called back to him "If you want to just take turns that makes sense too! I just thought it'd be quicker."

"That's what I'm doing! Waiting for you! Hurry up!"

"What do you think I'm trying to do!? I'm a bit wobbly so I'm just being careful."

"Didn't I tell you to sit down!?" Dylin shook his head "Of course you're goddamn wobbly, you drank most my liquor! Jeez you're going to end up getting sick everywhere aren't you?"

"Already did earlier!" Iceburg giggled again though he wasn't sure why it was so funny to him.

"Oh lord. Well you'll probably get sick from this too then."

"What!? You're the one who g-gave it to me!" He put a hand to his heart and gasped.

"I told you it was poison, didn't I!? Don't sound so betrayed! I told you to stop!"

"Yeah, well," he turned to protest but slipped on the shower floor. With a loud gasp he crashed backwards; Dylin turned towards the commotion just in time to see him tumble back against the wall.

"Baka!" He shot over to him and knelt down "What the hell did I tell you about staying down? Are you okay? Can you get up?"

"I-I'm okay." He whimpered and rubbed the back of his head as he sat forward. "I just…I just-" as he tripped over his words he looked up into Dylin's eyes and sniffled.

"Hey…" he held out a hand and set it on his shoulder "Don't play tough. You hit your head pretty bad?"

He nodded.

"It really hurts!" He squeezed his eyes shut to try and keep from crying again.

"You've taken too much damage, marmocchio. Let's get you out of here and back to bed." He took his hand in his and slid the other against his back. "Come on, then!"

Once he was on his feet he felt his tears start to fall.

"S-sorry…you're all w-wet now." He staggered but Dylin kept him steady.

"Oh hush. You didn't force me in here. No need to apologize. It's not like I'll melt. I'll just have to redress these shitty wounds so they stay dry." He tilted his head up towards the running water and smiled.

"W-wounds…?" he looked at his injured hand "D-do you want help wrapping it?"

"Heh." Dylin pushed his hair from his face "We need to worry about you right now."

He led him out to the fireplace then wrapped a blanket around him.

"Stay there. Don't move."

"O-okay."

Dylin grumbled something unintelligible as he trudged back over to his armoire.

"Did you say something?" Iceburg drew the blanket tightly over his head like a hood and turned to him.

Once again he found himself envious of how masculine his body was - even with his chest unbound.

"Nothing to concern yourself with." He leered back as he spoke "And I mean it by the way - don't move anymore you little drunkard! You've been nothing but trouble for me!"

"Funny, you've been nothing but trouble for me too." He managed a teary smile.

Dylin's laugh was as overblown as ever as he tossed a baggy shirt to him.

"Better not shadow me like they want you too then, marmocchio…that's all I am and all I'll ever be."

"Let me be the judge of that," He looked him up and down as he spoke; he couldn't help but take notice of how wildly different their anatomy was below the waist. "after all, I suppose it hasn't been all trouble. I could be dead."

"Fine." He wobbled as he pulled a pair of loose shorts onto himself "Don't say I didn't warn you though." His voice sounded indifferent but his eyes shone bright above a poorly hidden smile.

"Fine." Iceburg shrugged, unable to take his eyes off of him.

"I told you not to look at me! Get dressed would you!?" He blushed and threw his wet towel at him when he caught his gaze.

Iceburg laughed and pulled the shirt over his head before leaning over to hang up the towel by the fire.

"So…Ivankov said you could teach me how to bind my chest properly. Can you?"

"I could…but you really don't have to bind. I'd feel better if you didn't." He glared off to the side.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't have much there to bind, that's what I mean! You're lucky. Binding can cause problems...Just wear your clothes properly and no one will question you."

"Oh…you really think so?" He cocked his head.

"Yeah. I'll help you out with it. Trust me. I mean…it's natural for boys not to have flat chests." Dylin shrugged "Some do, some don't. Just don't make a big deal about it."

"Yeah, but…mine will keep growing, right? What then?"

"In most circumstances, yes." Dylin smirked "I've got something that'll help you though." he stood straight and wrapped himself with wide bandages; Iceburg noted how he didn't wrap too tight or press his breasts up against himself first the way he'd been doing it himself, just simply bound his way downwards and finished off by his waist. "If you're interested that is."

"Of course I am!" He watched closely as he finished dressing himself with a tight undershirt then a loose fitting button shirt overtop – he was amazed by how well it hid his chest away. "I'd like to learn everything I can…I feel like I've been in the dark for so long. I never thought there'd be anyone else out there anything like me."

He came back over with a leather bag of medical supplies and sat down beside him. He pulled out a syringe and a vial and held it out on his palm. Iceburg whimpered and crawled backwards.

"Hey, hey…calm down…you don't have to take it. I'm just showing you."

"I used to have to t-take a lot of needles back at home. And pills. I hate them."

"Oh? Poor thing…were you sick?" His voice sounded indifferent but he watched him up closely as he thought back to his former life.

"They said I was. They said they had to monitor my blood, and that all the medicine would help me get better..."

"Ah…but you didn't feel sick, did you?" His voice was still placid but he spoke in a muted tone.

"Not really…" Iceburg felt compelled to whisper too.

"So…" an odd look crossed his face "Where was home then?"

Iceburg side eyed him then laughed, breaking the delicate hush in the room.

"It wouldn't be fair for me to give you the answer like that. You've decided to figure it out yourself, right?"

"Heh. Right. Anyways, this is just testosterone. It blocks the estrogen we'd usually produce that bring those…" he paused to grimace "…features that you're trying to avoid. If you start early enough anyways."

"Really!? Th-that can be done!?"

"Well, yes. It can change a lot of things."

"So that's how you're so different then me, even though we're still…similar?" Iceburg blushed and played with his hair, unsure of how else to word things.

"We're not so different, really…a little while ago I was a lot like you. About the same size too."

"For some reason I find that hard to believe." Iceburg turned to the fire.

"Whether you believe me or not, it's true. The changes can happen fast even if they take awhile to get started. You really think I'm just gonna sit here making this shit up? How sad. Here I thought I was cynical." He carefully put the needle back with a laugh in his voice.

"After everything it just seems ridiculous to think I could change myself like that, or even stop anything from changing any more." He glared down at his chest "You're talking about it like it's so common but I've spent every moment of my life thinking I was alone; that I was the only person who's ever felt like this!"

"I know. I know that feeling. Like I said though, if you start early enough, you won't have much of a problem. I didn't have that choice. When I met Iva I was already pretty much fully developed. Seems like you're a bit of a late bloomer. You'll be fine."

"Iva? They're the one that gave you that medicine?"

"Yeah."

"Wow... So are they a doctor then?"

"Not exactly. They can do some amazing things though." His voice was begrudging. "They can make those changes happen even faster than medicine and real doctors could, basically with the wink of an eye, then put you right back again if they feel so inclined. Same with male to female, too. Anyone. They have such incredible powers but such a shitty attitude! I chose the long way for… personal reasons. It's taken me awhile to get here but I prefer it this way."

Iceburg sat silent for a few moments to take it all in then scoffed and shook his head.

"You…you had me going there for a minute. You're making fun of me aren't you? T-that's crazy! Powers? You think I'm that gullible? People can't have powers like that…that's fairytale nonsense."

Dylin studied him for awhile before he spoke again.

"You really were living in the dark weren't you? You've never heard of the Devil Fruits?"

"No…"

"Oh my. You have so much to learn, don't you?" His smile was weak and there was pity in his voice.

"I guess so…" his head started to pound again; he put his hands against his temples and groaned.

"Don't worry about any of it now. Okay? For now let's just get you rested so you can start healing."

He eased him up from the floor and tossed the wet blanket he'd been sitting on off to the side. Iceburg pulled the shirt down lower as he led him to bed, suddenly very conscious of his nude lower half after seeing Dylin's. At the bunks he went to climb the ladder up but was quickly stopped.

"No. You take the bottom for now. Just lay down."

Iceburg followed the instructions and closed his eyes but his mind raced on. He jumped then smiled at the touch of the dry blanket that was lain atop him.

"So, I thought you were taking this bunk from me?"

Dylin eased himself down to sit on the edge of the bed and gazed at the boy.

"Things changed."

Iceburg giggled and looked up into his earthen eyes for awhile before another question sprang forth.

"What else can change from the testosterone, Dylin?"

"Facial hair. Face shape. Voice….Genitals. We'll talk about it more later on."

"So everything about us that's so different physically…is from testosterone?"

"Well genetics are always a factor for anything and theres a lot more to it than the physical changes…some things aren't always so good. Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow. Go to sleep."

"How long did it take you for your voice to get so deep?" Iceburg scanned his features with an eager smile.

"You're impossible!" Dylin shook his head and readjusted the blanket over him then stood and stretched.

"I think the same thing about you!" Iceburg snuggled deeper.

After a pause, his small voice rang out again.

"Dylin?"

He sighed and palmed himself in the face, his back now turned to him.

"I'm gonna regret letting you drink for the rest of my days, aren't I? What is it, Iceburg?" He kept his grin hidden from sight.

"What were you doing out there? I thought you were supposed to be gone until morning. I'm grateful for how you were there to help me…but why were you?"

The silence that came after lingered for what felt like hours.

"I knew they'd try to come back for you. I couldn't trust the campus security to do anything properly."

"You were…checking on me?"

"I was." He shrugged.

Iceburg gawked at the boy facing away from him; his haphazard stance and wet, messy hair.

"Why though?"

"I came across some of their handiwork while I was out working: a little street kid they attacked. He fought hard and managed to get away from them but he was in a wretched state - scared shitless. I got enough information from him to go off of and tracked them down from there. When I saw them out there by the waterside, smug and laughing…I thought maybe they'd already gotten to you too." His voice was caustic with rage as he spat out each syllable.

Iceburg laid quietly for a bit, afraid to ask the question that was trying to claw its way out of his mouth; deep down he already knew the answer. Instead he skipped to the next question.

"Will he be okay?"

"You mean the street boy?"

"Yeah."

"I think so. He ran off after he gave me their approximate location. He seemed like a tough one…high-spirited even considering what they'd done to him."

"What did they do to him?" Iceburg gulped.

"They can't hurt anyone anymore." His voice was quiet.

Neither of them said anything else for a long time.

"Goodnight, Iceburg."

"Goodnight, Dylin."

When Iceburg's breathing slowed and the room stayed silent for more than five minutes Dylin turned and looked out at the churning sky. The window rattled out furious threats of turbulent weather despite how it had only finally just ceased. He set his hand against the cold pane and stared out towards the centre of town. He sighed then ambled back to the armoire to tend his wounds.