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Dylin wasn't ready for the morning but it arrived just the same. The sun hadn't shown its face but the birds were loud as ever. He grimaced at one that sat and trilled on the windowsill closest to their beds.

"Quiet down, would you? You're annoying." He grumbled as he tried to shift into a comfortable position.

The effects of Iva's power had long worn off and without the shock and urgency of the previous nights events he'd been left with nothing to distract him from the suffering. The hours before daytime had passed slowly as he'd laid awake through the pain awaiting any other intruders that might be sent their way. He knew if Desmonde could still manage to talk it wouldn't be long before the others asked questions - then they'd come.

Later.

He breathed out a quiet groan and rose to sit; the thought of climbing to the floor almost made him regret letting Iceburg have the bottom bunk after all. However, when a sleepy sigh drifted up from below he couldn't help the smile that curled up the corners of his mouth.

Almost.

With a wince he slid down and landed hard; it was impossible to tell if there was more pain from the bullets or Iva.

"Vaffanculo!" He cursed through his teeth and curled into himself "T…i… o…dio…" He took a step but faltered; even for someone with a high pain tolerance it was near crippling.

The bird chirped louder as if to mock him. He did his best to glower a hole through it.

"Will you just go!?" He hissed at it and pointed at the window; he felt great triumph when it fluttered its wings for takeoff.

Instead of leaving it landed on his outstretched finger. For a moment they only regarded each other.

"Hm." He cocked his head and the bird followed suit. "Leave." Even after giving his hand a quick shake it remained.

He sighed as he limped back to the window.

"Go on then." he leaned his elbow on the sill and tried shaking the bird off again, but it held its perch "This is the last place you want to be..."

With a sigh he drew his hand closer and studied the tiny creature. A smile slowly filled his face as it lightly pecked at his fingers then continued its excited song.

"What? I don't have anything for you…"

With hand shaking timidly, he reached out to touch it; it startled and was gone before he could even blink. He straightened himself up and stood by the sill, looking out at the dismal horizon. After a moment his shoulders drooped.

"At least you made it out of here by your own free will..." he bit his lip as he scanned every building in view.

Where did they take you?

He shut his eyes, breathed in the heavy smell of rain that wafted from outside and waited, listening intently as if waiting to hear that stupid laugh on the wind.

"P-Please don't!"

"Hm? Don't what?" He turned with a brow raised at the sound of Iceburg's weak plea. "Oh…"

In the dim light of the early morning he could see how he tossed and turned; his bruised face was twisted in distress and his hair soaked through with sweat.

"No…" the soft whisper was followed by rapid breaths.

"Hey, hey," Dylin was at his side as quickly as he could manage – kneeling down was excruciating but he tried to ignore it "you're dreaming…it's okay, marmocchio." He reached out and hesitated with his hand lingering at his face; he touched his shoulder instead.

"Please!" Iceburg broke out in shaky sobs and wrenched away from his touch.

"It's okay." He brushed the wild hair from the young teens face and stared down with heavy eyes "You're okay..."

His eyes opened but they were foggy as he jerked his head about and scanned the dark room. It seemed like he was finally coming to terms with where he was but as soon as he focused on Dylin he scurried backwards and cried out, eyes wide with horror.

"No! I said don't touch me!" he reached and grabbed the closest object he could find – a heavy book – and flung it into his face before leaping from the bed. "Stay away!"

"Oi!" He fell back to the floor and clutched the bridge of his nose where it'd made impact "Iceburg! You're fine! You're safe."

He stood heaving out shaky breaths until the words fully sank in, then breathed out pure relief.

"Oh…it's you." He smiled then collapsed back to the bed.

"It's me." Dylin whispered, unsure of what else to say "I'm sorry for scaring you like that."

"I was having a bad dream." He shook his head "It wasn't your fault. I'm so glad it's you."

"You are?" Dylin blinked "Me?"

"Of course. Come on, I'll try to help you up." Iceburg laughed and held out a hand "I'm not very strong though."

"I don't know about that," Dylin grinned and took his petite hand "you have one hell of an arm to have pitched that shitty literature at me like you did. Seems like you're already stronger than you were yesterday."

"I-I'm so sorry." Iceburg looked horrified as he pulled him up to stand – Dylin didn't have the heart to let on that he did most of the work getting himself up "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thank you." He laughed it off with a wave of his hand.

"Do you really think so? That I've gotten stronger, I mean." He twirled his bangs around a finger.

"I know it." He stretched out but winced.

"Your legs! Oh my goodness, what now!?" His hands flew over his mouth as he laid eyes on the gouges across his inner thighs and then the rest of his injuries "What on earth – your chest! Your shoulder!? Your hand too!? Oh, wait, no… I remember the hand from last night…are you really okay?" he knit his brow and looked in his eyes.

"Don't worry about it."

"Obviously I already am!"

"Well don't!" Dylin scowled and pulled his shorts lower to cover himself.

"As if!" He reached and touched his fingers close to the wounds on one leg "Your skin is so hot! You should see a nurse! Oh…of course you can't see any of the nurses about it. With where all these wounds are you'd have to be undressed…" he blushed as soon as he said it aloud, the image of him nude still fresh in his mind.

Dylin stood statuesque with his eyes locked on his hand.

"It doesn't look like it's going to get infected, but it's still bad." Iceburg pouted "These really should've been dressed as soon as possible too."

Dylin gulped, still frozen in place.

Is he scolding me?

"Well, we should probably do that now." Iceburg moved on to check his other leg.

"D-Don't…" He shuddered and looked away.

"I'm sorry!" He drew his hand back as if he'd been burned and hung his head low. "I'm sorry. I didn't think."

"No, no..." He reached down and ruffled his hair with a sad smile "Don't be sorry. It doesn't bother me at all. If someone were to see us like this though… touching each other, being so close to each other…well, they'd think we-"

A slight noise that Iceburg hardly noticed outside the door interrupted him; Dylin's eyes widened and he shoved him back into bed, covered him up and launched himself up to the top bunk with a pained grunt. Just as he laid back the door opened.

"How are we doing today then, you two?" The nurse swept through the entrance and looked between them "still not feeling well?"

"No m'am." Iceburg squeaked out from between the blankets "Not at all." His heart hammered in his throat.

It wasn't a lie – not entirely. He wasn't feeling ill, but he wasn't feeling well either. His mind was muddled, in a thousand places at once, but one thing sat clearly and that was the want for her to leave so they could be alone again.

The nurse felt his forehead.

"Oh! You're burning up! It's probably not serious but nonetheless, stay in bed today. I'll come and check in at noon. After everything yesterday I'm sure you could use the rest anyways."

"Thank you." He was glad she couldn't tell he was only flushed from how shy he felt from how Dylin had touched him; he could still feel his warm fingers laced through his hair and hear his voice; gentle and deep like a sleepy river.

"And you…not doing so well either? You're usually up by now." She reached up to feel his forehead as well.

"I'm not feeling like my usual self at all." was what he replied with; it also wasn't a lie. Not in the least.

"Well you're certainly bordering on having a temperature. It may be best you both quarantine in here for a short. If it worsens we'll send for a doctor."

"Thank you." Dylin pulled the blankets in tighter.

"I'll leave a transponder on one of the writing desks in case of any emergencies. Try to focus on feeling better and I'll be back to check in before you know it – we'll get your breakfasts sent up as well." She gave them each a cheery smile then quickly left.

After a moment of her absence, Dylin threw an arm over his face and exhaled the longest sigh Iceburg had ever heard.

"Oh, god…That was way too close."

"B-but we weren't doing anything wrong! I was just trying to help!" Iceburg sat up and crossed his arms "Why should they care?"

"Why indeed?" He scowled towards the door. "They don't even really know why."

"Well, I didn't mean to put you in a position like that. I'm sorry."

"Put us in a position like that, you mean. We'd both be thrown to the wolves, so it's about us, not me. Regardless, don't apologize. You're not the problem. They are."

Iceburg stared up at the bunk above him.

Us. We. They. The way he spoke made them sound like a team, like it was them against everyone and it put Iceburg at such ease. It was too easy to forget that this was still the same Dylin as before.

He sighed as he pondered the impossible boy.

But which Dylin is the real one? The violent, hateful student I first met? The courteous, well-kept Head of the Dorm? The emotional one who took care of me last night? Was that the same as this one now?

"Are you okay, marmocchio?" His voice was soft but edged with concern after the silence.

This must be him. He's not quite the perfect gentleman he pretends to be to the rest of the school…but he's also not terrible like he was when we met at all. He's not really bad, not like how other people can be…he's actually charming, in a weird way.

For a fleeting second, he wondered if he would've looked at his future a little more promisingly had he been betrothed to someone like Dylin instead of Giroux. He wondered if he'd have even taken that final step and run away in the end; he was handsome, protective, and accepted Iceburg as a boy – maybe someone like him being the one to take him away from there wouldn't have been bad at all.

"I'm okay! I promise I'll be more careful from now on." He felt his face burning, embarrassed by his thoughts though no one else could hear them.

"We both better be." He eased himself back to the floor "This dorm will end up completely vacant if they find out anything about us."

"About us!?" He squeezed the blanket tight. "W-what do you mean about us?"

Dylin turned to him.

"They don't like boys like us, remember? If they find out we're trans that'll be the end of it. If they get thinking we're gay that's bad enough but if they actually found out about us…well…" he ran a hand through his dark hair and chuckled.

Of course that's what he meant.

"Right...so it's worse to be transgender than it is to be gay?" Iceburg sighed and shook his head. "Great. Good to know."

"Well." Dylin sat down on the end of the bed and kept his eyes on the window "To them, yes. They don't understand any of it so they won't accept it. Can't imagine there's people out there different than them - most of them anyways. They think we're just broken and need to be fixed. But no, it's not worse and it's not wrong. Neither are wrong."

Iceburg sat glued to him, his body, the way his nightclothes fit him.

"What if you're both?" He fiddled with the blanket wadded up in his hands. "What if you're a-a trans boy but you like another boy?"

"Nothing wrong with that. They'll never consider you both though." He shook his head with a bitter laugh "You'd just be a confused girl in love with a boy to them. Your transness would outweigh the gay."

Iceburg stayed quiet for a moment then cleared his throat.

"What if…what if the boy you like is another trans boy though?"

Dylin glanced over his shoulder then quickly back at the window. He fidgeted with his hands for a moment then held them down tight in his lap.

"I…I think you'd be in quite a predicament. They'd consider it the same as if it were two girls, which obviously they also say is wrong. Damned no matter what is what we are." With a heavy sigh he stared down at the floor.

They sat quietly for a while before Iceburg hopped out of bed and trudged to the dorms entrance to lock the door.

"We should be extra sure to keep this locked. I know they have keys to get in anyways but at least it gives us an extra moment to prepare." He leaned back against the door and took a deep breath.

"Yes. Be sure to only dress and undress while you're locked in the washroom from here on out as well. There were so many times last night where we could've been caught had anyone walked in..." he dropped his face to his palm "It could've gotten really ugly fast."

Iceburg shuddered and gave a quick nod. He'd been so preoccupied with the excitement of how the alcohol had made him feel that he hadn't realized how careless it made him. It'd been nice though, having momentary bliss; freedom from the control that the fear of others had over him.

"I guess It's probably best I stay away from drinking while I'm here then. I got a bit silly." He pouted and trudged to Dylin's armoire.

"Maybe." He watched him with amusement as he let himself in the cabinet doors. "So what are you looking for then if not the rest of my liquor?"

He pulled out what he was looking for and returned to his bed to sit close to him.

"Here."

"Hm?" Dylin looked curiously at the outstretched hand that held his cigarettes out to him. "Don't tell me you wanna take up smoking too. Its already bad enough I got you drinking…I'm not gonna condone this."

"Oh god no!" Iceburg laughed and wrinkled up his nose "Never! It's just…you're wanting one aren't you?"

"How did you know?" Dylin sussed him as he took the case; his eyes glimmered with curiosity though his voice remained dry.

"Well...I didn't know. I just guessed." It was easier that way - he thought it might sound weird to explain how he'd noticed the fidgety way he'd get before smoking, how he'd reach around for them and catch himself if he didn't have them with him or if it was a situation he wasn't allowed to smoke in.

"You hate it though, don't you? The smell…" he hesitated as he flipped the pack about in his hands. "…the taste."

Iceburg couldn't stop himself from blushing as he remembered the lingering flavour in his mouth when he'd come back to his senses the night before. The idea that their lips had met at some point was something that left him feeling very frustrated; it's not that he resented Dylin for it but he wondered if there'd ever come a day he'd be able to choose if and when his lips touched another's.

Not that it was actually a kiss or anything of the likes. If it had been though…

He wondered what it would've felt like; were his lips as soft and plump as they looked? Would he be gentle or would he push himself hard against him until it hurt? He touched a finger to his swollen mouth.

He must have been gentle when he saved me. I think it would've hurt more when I woke up if he hadn't been…but then it's his fault I'm this sore in this first place, isn't it?

Torn inside, he looked to him.

"Hate it? Well, maybe a little bit…but you don't though, do you? If you want one you should have one. I told you not to worry about me - go about your business like you normally would. I'll just open the window." He shrugged and tried his absolute best to sound indifferent. "Why should I care about how it'll taste anyways?"

"I dunno…" Dylin curled his knees up in his arms and leaned his chin on them. "and I'm not worried about you! Presumptuous little brat." He exhaled loudly through his teeth.

"Oh?" Iceburg shied away and smiled "Of course not…" his cheeks glowed as he glanced back again and caught his gaze with bright bashful eyes.

"What's with that look!?" Dylin practically leapt to the window to crack it open.

Iceburg just giggled and kicked his legs over the edge of the bed as he watched him fumble to light a cigarette.

"I don't even wanna smoke in here anyways!" He shoved the window open the rest of the way and clambered out, followed by bright laughter.

It was exactly 8:30 am when a call came through the transponder snail in Iceburg's office. He couldn't help but sigh as he turned away from the open window to answer it. After allowing a silence to permeate just long enough he spoke.

"I suppose I was wrong to think that this would be an in-person meeting. Are you too busy to grace me with your physical presence, Sir Crocodile?"

"Oh my…Well I wasn't going to just show up at your door without hearing your answer first…hmph. I'm glad to hear you sounding well."

"Well enough, anyways. Why not just call in the first place if you were worried about my answer? What was with the cryptic message?" He smirked and it was entirely audible on the other end if the line.

He heard Crocodile try and fail to hold back a frustrated sigh.

"You were out all yesterday. Earlier your lights were still off so I didn't call. I figured it'd be more appropriate to leave a note and follow up with you after...it was only cryptic because I figured you wouldn't want my name associated with you. I know how the press can be."

"Appropriate? You actually know what that word means? I'm surprised you didn't just come right in through the window." Iceburg looked out at Water 7, infuriated for how eager he felt to see him again despite any common sense he tried to speak to himself.

"Like hell I'd do that! You can be such a bitch when you're woken up...just like you are now! May I come in!?"

"Well, after all, I was woken up." Iceburg grinned from ear to ear and took a swig from the bottle. "Not my fault."

No matter the time that passed or how angry they'd been at one another between their meetings, he never grew tired of flustering him.

"Are you kidding me!? You were sleeping!? What kind of a mayor are you?" He scoffed and somehow Iceburg could almost hear him roll his eyes.

"Well if it makes it any better, I didn't ask to be elected. And no, you didn't wake me up. Early meeting. I've been up for awhile now."

"So… someone else woke you up then. Don't have to take it out on me." A hint of jealousy sliced through his mellow voice.

"But it was really early." Iceburg pouted and took another long drink as he scanned the grounds from his window.

"Why would that make it better!? Oh, never mind. It's not like I don't deserve it…" There was a long sigh "I'm sorry. Not just for showing up like this again. For all of it. I won't do this to you anymore. You just come to me if the day comes you're ready to talk about things, okay?" He laid back against the outer wall of the Galley La headquarters and closed his eyes.

"Crocodile..." Iceburg smiled defeatedly and leaned his forehead against the window frame.

"God, it's been so good hearing you again though…" his voice broke but he cleared his throat and continued calmly "I-I hope the little one is well too."

"She's…wonderful." as soon as the words left his lips the bottle made its way back.

"I'd expect nothing less." A bittersweet smile filled Crocodile's weathered face "I'm sure she's absolutely brilliant."

"I'm sure she'd love the chance to prove you right on that." Iceburg leaned out the window, looked straight down at the garden and raised his voice to be heard below. "Would you like to meet her?"

Crocodile nearly dropped the transponder. He looked up and locked eyes with him.

"…you don't really mean that, do you?" His voice was so weak that he hardly heard him.

"I do."

"You do?" The whisper was heavy with disbelief; those two words both excited and pained him.

"Are you going to come up or loiter around the garden all day?" Iceburg backed away from the window.

"May I?"

"What, stand in my flowers all day?" He held back a snicker.

"Obviously that's it. I'm partial to standing on the roses myself." He shook his head and chuckled "My god, you never change. May I come in, marmocchio?"

"You keep asking that! What are you, a demon? Why do I have to invite you in so formally!? Do you need a summoning circle!? Just come already you bloody idiot!" With a laugh he hung up the phone and laid it on his desk.

He closed his eyes as the excited breeze swirled past him from the open window and caught in his hair. The grains of sand on the wind tickled his skin like pins and needles.

"You're late." He grinned and breathed deeply as the crisp, sedating scent of lavender greeted him. "It's 8:32 now, you know."

Papers drifted from his overridden desk and Crocodile's laughter filled the room.

"Don't be so eerie and just show up already!" Iceburg laughed and wiped a tear from his eye.

Their bed was harder than Franky remembered and no matter how he tossed about he couldn't find a comfortable place. He'd gone straight there from the bar hoping to find some peace at home but found nothing but pain. It was cold and quiet. It was unnatural. It wasn't really home anymore, not when the only image of Iceburg he could picture was from the night before; angry, bitter, through with him. Walking away.

For a while he wondered if it was just his mechanical reinforcements that made everything feel so uncomfortable to him – but then he didn't remember ever feeling quite so out of body anywhere else; especially not on Crocodile's ship.

He bit his lip and curled into himself as his fond memories of the past several years went up in flames.

Pluton.

Without even being built it seemed the cursed weapon would continue to wreak havoc on his life; tear everyone away from him and leave him alone again, again and again.

He stared at the empty spot beside him for a long while before he got up and slunk to one of the old couches.