Chapter Text
On the morning of the trip, Law’s alarm went off before the sun was up. Groggily, he dragged himself into the shower and woke his brain up with a blast of cold water. He toweled himself off, then wiped down the mirror. The sight of his own face staring back at him gave him pause.
Despite being wet, his hair had already begun to curl up and stick out in a million directions. His bangs had gotten a little long, and now they shadowed his face, making the dark circles beneath his eyes look even darker. His brows were as severe as ever. He’d been told they made him look pissed off, but that was just his face. Forcibly, he tried to smile, but he just looked constipated.
He pushed at his cheeks with his fingers. Was it just him, or had they lost their roundness lately? Had the line of his jaw become more defined, or was he just imagining it? The hair on his chin had gotten thicker and darker in the last year or so, as had his sideburns. Did he look appreciably older than he had the day he and Cora had kissed?
He traced over his torso with his hands. He’d always been a little bony, but recent growth spurts had made that more pronounced. His shoulders had broadened considerably in the last year, but the rest of him had not yet filled out to match. The hair on his chest was sparse and new. Was he desirable? Attractive? These were questions he normally didn’t bother to ask. Now, they weighed heavily on his mind.
His fingers trailed down his arm and found his tattoo, rubbing it with the pad of his thumb. The last of the scabs had fallen off, and the ink was really starting to sink into his skin. It was part of him now, the way Cora had become part of him. Law couldn’t just forget that like Cora had asked him to. All he could do was state his case and hope Cora was willing to listen.
Back in his bedroom, Law wiggled into his nicest pair of jeans and put on his Sora shirt from the last movie. As he dressed, he thought through the day ahead.
Cora had instructed everyone to meet in the parking lot at school, where they would carpool for the long drive into the city. They’d spend most of the day at the museum, have dinner at a restaurant, then attend the midnight premiere of Sora and the Secret Message. First thing Sunday morning, they’d head home. That meant Law had about twenty-four hours to convince Cora that they belonged together.
Piece of cake, Law thought grimly.
Feeling as ready as he ever would, Law pulled on a hoodie, gathered his overnight bag, and headed out into the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast. His dad was there at the dining table. When he saw Law, he smiled.
“Good morning.” His dad sipped his coffee. “You’re up early.”
“Morning,” Law said stiffly as he rooted through the pantry.
“About that rain check…”
“I can’t this weekend. I’m busy,” Law said, grabbing a granola bar and making a swift exit.
“Busy? Where are you—”
Law charged out the door and marched down to the driveway where Bellamy’s truck idled. Bellamy waved, but Law didn’t wave back, throwing himself in the passenger seat and slamming the door.
“Whoa,” Bellamy said. “Comin’ in hot.”
Law didn’t answer. He stared out the window at the house instead, watching for any movement. Logically, he knew it was better if his dad didn’t pry. Still, part of him hoped that his dad would follow after him, demanding answers—that he’d give a shit about Law’s life.
But he didn’t. The door stayed shut.
They pulled into the school parking lot just as sunrise spilled over the horizon, bathing the gathering students in an orange glow. Law spotted Cora right away. He was bundled up in a fluffy blue sweater, looking harried as he raced back and forth between a set of two school-issued vans. Baby was close by, checking items off a clipboard.
Law watched Cora pretend not to see him as he joined the group. By contrast, Baby scurried over to him immediately and gave him a quick hug. “We got this,” she whispered into his ear.
Law raised an eyebrow. We?
In total, twelve students had signed up for the trip. Law only knew about half of them. The other half—new members, no doubt—cast curious looks his way. Law scowled. They were the ones who were out of place here, not him.
He had hoped that Cora would be the only chaperone, but of course that was too good to be true. Cora was joined by an older woman with frizzy red hair wearing a loud purple-and-yellow dress. Dellinger shifted miserably beside her. With the way she was barking orders at the nearest students, it almost seemed like she was in charge.
“This is Ms. Giolla. Some of you may already know her as the art teacher,” Cora said once everyone had arrived. “She’ll be helping me keep track of everything this weekend, so be nice to her.”
“Please, Giolla is fine,” Giolla said. “I promise to stay out of the way—unless you have any questions about the art. In that case, I’m an open book!”
Next, Cora went over the rules for the trip: no drugs, no alcohol, no leaving the group without a buddy. They would be two to a room, except Cora and Giolla, who would each get their own.
“You can work out room assignments among yourselves,” Cora said. “No drama, okay?”
Bellamy elbowed Law. “You snore?”
“I dunno. Do you?” Law said.
Bellamy grinned. “Guess we’ll find out.”
Giolla swiftly divided the vans into upper and lower grades, directing the freshmen and sophomores to ride with her. Law gulped. That meant he’d be riding with Cora.
“What are you doing here?” Dellinger snapped as they passed each other.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Law said.
Right as Dellinger prepared a retort, Giolla called for him. He stuck his tongue out at Law and stomped away.
As soon as they finished loading their bags, the fight over seating began in earnest. Baby called shotgun, and no one dared to argue with her since she was club president. But before Law could take the last seat in the back, Baby climbed out.
“Changed my mind. I want to sit with Becca. Law, switch with me,” she said, giving Law a sly look.
Baby! Law mouthed, panicked, but it was too late. She had already hopped into the backseat, folding her hands in her lap and smiling at him innocently.
“If you don’t want it, I’ll take it,” Buffalo said.
Law shot him a poisonous look and climbed into the passenger seat. Was this what Baby meant by “We?” Thanks to her intervention, he’d be sitting next to Cora for three whole hours. That reality sunk in as Cora climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Everyone buckled?” Cora said, twisting around to look.
“Yes, Mr. Donquixote,” the students said in unison.
As Cora straightened out, he glanced at Law’s seatbelt, then at Law. Their eyes met. Law didn’t dare to breathe or move.
“Then we’re off,” Cora said, tearing his gaze away. “Try to keep it to a dull roar, guys. It’s a long drive.”
The first half hour was excruciating. In the passenger seat, Law couldn’t participate in his peers’ conversations, and Cora wasn’t exactly eager to talk to him. But as time wore on, it became impossible not to relax into the familiarity of sitting side by side in a vehicle.
“So… how’s the new class?” Law asked. “Any troublemakers?”
“You mean like you?” Cora said.
“I doubt any of them are like me.”
“Indeed, Law. You are one of a kind,” Cora said, enunciating each word.
After a brief uncertain silence, Law said, “What books are you reading this year?”
“That’s what you want to talk about? Books?”
Law’s cheeks flushed. “I just… forget it,” he mumbled, sinking low in his seat and disappearing into his hoodie.
Cora gave him a long look, but he didn’t say anything. Maybe he felt bad about being snippy, though, because he offered his phone to Law. “Why don’t you put on some music?”
Their fingers brushed as Law took the phone, making his heart skip a beat. After a moment’s thought, he hastily typed in a song, smiling mischievously. The opening bars of In Too Deep started playing as Phil Collins crooned through the speaker.
“Trying to embarrass me in front of my students, huh?” Cora said.
Law grinned. “What’s wrong? You love Genesis.”
“Alright, give me that,” Cora said as Phil’s voice became more emotional and insistent. Cora felt around for the phone, but Law kept it just out of reach. Cora leaned a little further, causing the van to swerve slightly.
“Eyes on the road, Mr. D!” Baby shouted, laughing.
“Unbelievable,” Cora muttered, but Law could tell he was trying not to smile.
“Turn it up,” Bellamy said from the back. “My mom loves this song.”
“Mama’s boy,” Baby teased.
“What’s wrong with that?”
Rebecca leaned forward to say something to Cora, but she was drowned out by the opening bars of Land of Confusion. Baby started loudly singing along, and the others were soon to follow. Even Cora chimed in with a few words here or there. Law tapped his foot and smiled as he looked out the window. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.
*
“We’re here,” Cora said, lightly touching his arm.
Law stirred with a yawn. When had he fallen asleep? Looking out the window, he was met with the sight of a skyscraper so tall he couldn’t see the top from where he was sitting. They had pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and now worked to unload their bags. Law kept his head on a swivel all the while, feeling a little like a country bumpkin—or at least a suburban one.
Bags in hand, they went inside to check in. The sparkling marble lobby far outclassed the band of scruffy kids who entered it. Bellamy seemed undeterred, marching up to the check-in counter and confusing the clerk, who had expected a teacher and got a delinquent.
“Sorry,” Cora wheezed as he jogged up to the counter. “Got stuck in the revolving door.”
A few of the students giggled, and he pretended not to hear them. Once the keys were distributed, Law and Bellamy split off and found their room, a modest double with a view of some air conditioners.
“I call the window,” Bellamy said, flopping onto the bed on the far side of the room.
Law tossed his bag on the closer bed. “Knock yourself out.”
He returned to the hallway just in time to spot Cora coming out of his room a few doors down. Cora looked at him, then quickly looked away, making a beeline for the elevator. Law followed behind him, his heart thundering in his chest. Maybe this was his chance. As he stepped into the elevator beside Cora, his palms began to sweat. He’d rehearsed exactly what he wanted to say, but now that the moment was here, he couldn’t remember any of it.
Before he could even say a word, Bellamy called, “Hold up!”
Law sulked as Cora held the door open with his arm to let Bellamy board. Getting him alone was going to be harder than he thought.
After doing a headcount in the lobby, they headed to the museum on foot. Most of Law’s trips into the metro area had been to see his mom’s specialist at the hospital, so he’d never really experienced the city proper. Everywhere he looked there was something to see. The street was lined on both sides with colorful shops and busy cafes and even the occasional garden. The sidewalk bustled with an eclectic crowd, meandering tourists and speedwalking businesspeople and joggers with their dogs all jockeying for space. Every few blocks, Baby called Law over to look at something in a shop window.
“This way!” Cora said, directing them to turn onto a broad thoroughfare, where the buildings immediately became wider, shorter, and more spaced out. There at the far end of the sloped street shone the museum like a jewel atop a crown. Flags featuring various museum exhibits flapped in the wind all along the sidewalk leading up to a stately plaza. As they passed an ornate bronze fountain, Baby closed her eyes and tossed in a coin.
Make a wish, Cora whispered in his mind.
Law shivered and hustled toward the museum. It was much larger than he had imagined, towering over the plaza atop a long series of shallow stone steps. On either side of the entryway were a pair of banners advertising the exhibition, one featuring Sora and the other Stealth Black.
“Law, take a picture with me,” Baby said, climbing halfway up the steps and waving to him. She’d changed into some approximation of a Poison Pink cosplay at the hotel, featuring a purple scarf, a short pink dress, and thick pink tights.
“But I’m not in costume,” Law said.
“Just get over here!” She spotted Cora a few steps down. As they watched, he stumbled and caught himself. “Hey, Mr. D! Can you take our picture?”
Cora smiled tightly and took her phone. “Sure.”
Baby slung an arm around Law’s shoulder and pressed their cheeks together.
“Smile,” Cora said. After a moment, he added, “I’m talking to you, Law.”
Law rolled his eyes and mustered up his best smile, though it probably came out as more of a grimace. Cora took a few pictures, then handed the phone back to Baby.
“Wow, you actually look happy to be here,” Baby said to Law. As he blushed and grumbled, she shooed Law and Cora together. “Okay, your turn.”
Before Law could even start to panic, Cora cleared his throat and said, “Good idea. We’ll take a group photo. Everybody, gather round!”
They organized themselves on the landing between the two banners. Giolla herded them together, arranging them roughly by height. She stuck Cora on the end next to Law and instructed him to stoop since he was so much taller than everyone else.
“Squish in, now! It’s just for a minute! You won’t catch cooties,” Giolla said, eliciting some groans from the group.
Bellamy snickered, then quieted as Baby scooted in closer. Law’s breath hitched as Cora’s hand briefly found his back, then retreated just as fast.
“Just precious! Smile, everyone! On the count of three…”
As the flash went off, Law prayed he didn’t look like a deer in headlights. Giolla took a few more photos, then dismissed the group once she was satisfied. Cora practically leapt away as soon as he was able, fleeing toward the front entrance. Law’s eyes followed him all the way inside.
“Look how freaking cute we are!” Baby exclaimed, shoving her phone in Law’s face. She zoomed in on the four of them at the end: Baby, Bellamy, Law, and Cora.
Law took the phone from her and zoomed closer. He looked… happy, actually. His smile didn’t seem forced at all. Cora was smiling, too, and leaning further into Law’s space than Law had realized. The sight made his cheeks burn.
“You are such a goner,” Baby said.
“Shut up,” Law mumbled.
Eager to escape the conversation, Law headed inside. Cora distributed the tickets, handing Law his without looking at him. But Law didn’t linger on that for long. With the ticket in hand, the exhibition finally felt real. But before the excitement could fully take over, he reminded himself of why he was here.
Somehow, some way, he had to get Cora alone. If he failed, he might never get another chance.
But getting one-on-one time with Cora was easier said than done. First of all, Law did actually want to enjoy the exhibition. One full wing of the museum was dedicated to it, and it was hard to know where to start.
The centerpiece of the main room was a partial scale model of the Pearl of the North, towering over them from every angle. It had been constructed to appear as if it were sailing in through the wall—like if Law went outside, he might see the other half. The floor around it had been painted to look like the ocean. By far its coolest feature was the fully accessible interior, with each room fashioned after one shown in the comic. There was a waitlist to go inside, so Law, Baby, and Bellamy signed up and continued exploring.
Locked behind glass in one room was the full set of original inked pages from the first chapter of the comic. Law marveled over the faintly visible blue pencil lines beneath the ink, keenly aware that the pages were slightly older than he was. In the next room, there was a design timeline featuring blown-up sketches of the main characters, tracking their development from initial concept to final execution. Law pored over these with fascination, taking note of even the most subtle changes. There was also a walled-off screening area showing interviews with the artist, which Law and Bellamy watched with interest. Even Cora stopped by and sat in the back row for a little while. Law hoped to catch him when the film was over, but when he turned, Cora was already gone.
Near the end of the exhibition there was a set of full-scale figures of each of the main cast wearing real costumes from the new movie, clearly intended as a photo op. Bellamy did a tough-guy pose next to Sora, while Baby swooned beside Stealth Black. Cora pretended to be caught by the neck by a hook-wielding pirate villain, getting a laugh from the students. But Law just stood there, his brain too scrambled by Cora’s presence to think of a pose.
When they had finished taking pictures, Cora moved in his direction, clearly intending to go past him. Law’s heartbeat quickened.
“Mr. D, can we—” he started, but Cora was already striding away from him.
Law’s hands balled into fists at his sides. It was time to get serious.
Once, he tried joining Cora in the room full of original artwork, but as soon as Cora saw Law coming, he called out “Giolla!” and jogged over to her.
Another time, Law tracked him down to a hallway, only for Cora to disappear into the bathroom. Law might have been desperate enough to follow him in there had Buffalo not entered soon after.
Later, when they got lunch at the museum’s cafe, he hoped to sit with Cora, but Giolla took the seat before he could. So much for staying out of the way, he thought bitterly.
After lunch, their scheduled time to explore the Pearl had arrived. The interior of the boat featured a blend of reality and fantasy, with references to the comic interspersed with real facts about life at sea. They goofed around in the crappy little hammocks in the bunkroom and speculated on what they’d eat as pirates in the galley. Law stayed behind in the captain’s quarters to look through the mess of blueprints and drawings on Sora’s desk while Baby and Bellamy wandered off.
When he was sure he’d seen everything, he slipped out of the room into the mazelike main passage and ran headfirst into Cora.
“Oh,” Law said.
“Excuse me—” Cora said, breaking off when he realized who he was speaking to.
They stared at each other. Wide-eyed and pink-cheeked, Cora looked every bit as surprised as Law was. Nerves seized him as he realized that they were alone.
Summoning his courage, Law said, his voice quivering, “Mr. D—”
“Law, don’t,” Cora said firmly.
Cora’s mouth was set in a thin, angry line, but his eyes told a different story: they looked pained, almost sorrowful, like this was harder for him than it was for Law. Any words Law might have said deserted him in the face of that look. Cora used the opportunity to slip past him, leaving him standing there.
“We’re heading to dinner in fifteen minutes,” Cora said behind him. “Don’t be late.”
When Cora was gone, Law buried his face in his hands and let out a silent scream. That might have been his only chance to talk to Cora, and he fucking choked!
As everyone gathered at the entrance for a headcount, Law stewed. Next time, he wouldn’t be caught off guard… if there even was a next time.
Cora had booked them a table at a pizza place with a pirate theme a few blocks down from the museum. Bellamy relentlessly made fun of the kitschy decor, trying to get Law to join in, but Law was too preoccupied to say much.
“If I stuck my head in its mouth, do you think it would bite?” Bellamy said, jerking his thumb toward an animatronic alligator in the corner.
“Try it and find out,” Law said.
The place was packed so tightly that they had to weave through the crowd to the only free space, a pair of long tables that had been pushed together with a placard reading Donquixote in the center.
“Ah, I was hoping we could get a two-seater,” Cora said with a pinched smile. “You know, for the grown-ups?”
“Sorry, honey. That’s Saturday night for you,” the waitress said.
Defeated, Cora took a seat at the head of the table. Law froze. There was an empty seat beside him. He could take it, but would they even be able to talk with so many people around?
Movement at the other end of the table caught his eye. It was Baby, mouthing Do it!
Fuck. She was right. Steeling himself, Law pulled out the chair.
“Oh, uh…” Cora trailed off. He looked to his other side, but the nearby seats had already been taken.
“I can move,” Law said, a challenging edge to his voice.
“No,” Cora said quickly. “No, it’s fine.”
Law seethed. Of course. Cora wouldn’t want anyone to notice that there was something weird going on between them. He only cared about impropriety when there was someone else around to witness it.
After ordering, everyone discussed the exhibition and the upcoming screening. Law could barely think straight, let alone talk, because Cora’s knee was pressed against his thigh. There was no avoiding it—the table was just too small for Cora’s long legs.
“So, which exhibit was your favorite?” Cora asked the group, determined to ignore the whole situation.
“Is this for a grade?” Buffalo said.
“He’s going to ask us to provide three pieces of supporting evidence next,” Baby said.
“I have to submit a report on how this was a ‘good educational experience’ when we get back, you know,” Cora grumbled, but he dropped it.
Finally, their food arrived. The gimmick of this place was that the pizzas were unreasonably large, taking up almost the full table space, leaving barely any room for their elbows. Law wrinkled his nose and picked the piece with the fewest objectionable toppings.
“You gonna eat that?” Buffalo said, pointing to Law’s crust. Slowly and methodically, Law had picked each and every bit of cheese and toppings off his slice. He’d even scraped off and eaten the sauce, but he left the crust untouched.
“No. You can have it.”
“You don’t like crust?” Dellinger piped up, even as Giolla tried to shush him.
“It barely even tastes like anything,” Law said.
Everyone apparently had strong opinions about crust, because they erupted into a fierce debate about whether it was the best or worst part of the pizza. Law realized that no one was looking at them, too absorbed in the argument to pay attention to the far side of the table.
“Mr. D,” Law said quietly, “Can we please talk?”
“Not now,” Cora said.
“Then when?”
Cora didn’t answer that.
After dinner came the premiere. As they filed into the theater, Law’s frustration was immense. Cora had evaded Law at every opportunity. That was never clearer than when Cora split from the group, rounded the block of seats, and seated himself at the far end of the row.
Law collapsed into the seat next to Baby and crossed his arms over his chest. In the days leading up to the trip, Law had naively fantasized about sitting next to Cora in the theater. He’d imagined whispering occasional commentary into Cora’s ear, hearing him chuckle deep in his chest. He’d thought about Cora’s hand creeping up his thigh and squeezing—how no one would even notice in the dark. Now, seated as far away from Cora as he possibly could be, that fantasy evaporated into nothingness.
“Any luck?” Baby whispered into his ear.
Law shook his head.
She was about to say something else, but the dimming of the lights hushed her. Law focused intently on the screen, trying to take his mind off his predicament.
As the ninth movie in the franchise, Sora and the Secret Message had some freedom to play with the genre. This time around, Sora was made into a noir-style detective on the trail of a thief that had recently stolen a relic from the Navy archives. At the scene of the crime was a coded message that Sora deciphered with the help of the chief Navy archaeologist, Wren. Together, they uncovered the location of an ancient ruin where, naturally, Germa’s forces were waiting for them. The plot was pretty predictable up until the end, when it turned out that the person who had stolen the relic was a former star-crossed love interest of Sora’s who had been brainwashed by Germa. It was only through an impassioned speech from Sora that she was able to break free of their control. As the two embraced, Law snorted. Baby was bound to have some opinions on that.
“You didn’t like that the real secret message was love?” Law said as they exited the theater, knowing it would provoke her.
“Don’t make me gag,” Baby said. “They didn’t have any chemistry. Luna’s introduction was so rushed, and they barely developed her as a character. Like, why should I even care that her love for Sora survived the brainwashing? Not to mention that Stealth Black was in it for, like, five minutes total. Why even put him on the posters? It’s false advertising.”
“It’s always about Stealth Black with you,” Bellamy said.
“Is there a problem with that?”
“He’s the third coolest character, tops.”
“Oh, I’m sure. Only beat out by Poison Pink in second and Poison Pink’s boobs in first.”
“I like Poison Pink for more than just her boobs!”
“You do like them, though.”
Law rolled his eyes and left them to squabble, pushing through the front door into the thick dark night. It was nearly two in the morning, and a heavy chill had blanketed the world in a fine mist. Cora was smoking a cigarette beneath a street lamp, haloed by fuzzy yellow light. Upon hearing the voices of the emerging students, he took one last drag and crushed the butt beneath his shoe. Law couldn’t see Cora’s eyes in the dark, but he could feel Cora looking at him.
Law thought about that look all the way back up to their room. In the elevator. As they got ready for bed. When it was Law’s turn to brush his teeth, he splashed his face with cold water and stared hard at himself in the mirror.
Did he even really want this? Because he wasn’t acting like it. He’d frittered away the day with meaningless half-measures and cop-outs. It wasn’t enough. Not for Cora. Cora would never give him an opportunity, so Law would have to make one.
Back in the main room, Law changed into his pajamas, slid under the covers, and pretended to go to sleep. But as soon as Bellamy began to snore, Law slipped out the door. His heart pounded with each step he took down the hall to Cora’s room.
He had kept his word. He had been patient. He had given Cora time. All he wanted was an answer. Not an evasion or an excuse. Just a simple, straightforward answer. Cora could at least give him that.
Law rapped hard on Cora’s door, counting on his obligation to his students to compel him to respond. Sure enough, Law heard shuffling inside the room. The peephole briefly darkened. Law swallowed hard in anticipation.
The door opened, and a very displeased Cora appeared behind it. He wore a plain t-shirt and sweatpants slung low around his hips, revealing a tiny sliver of torso. Wet hair hung in clumps around his face.
“Law,” he said, icy-cool, “Do you need something?”
“Yeah. I need to talk to you.”
“What is it?”
Law’s eyes flicked to the hallway and back to Cora. “Not here.”
“Here’s where you’re getting.”
Law gritted his teeth. If Cora wanted to do it this way, fine. “I want to talk about what happened last spring.”
“Don’t do this,” Cora warned. But this time, Law wouldn’t be shut down so easily.
“Look, Mr. D,” Law continued resolutely, “I know it was sudden, but when we kissed, I—”
Cora yanked Law into the room by the arm and shut the door. Suddenly, Law was caged against the wall. Cora had always been conscious of his height, making himself seem smaller so as not to intimidate his students. Now, he used it to its fullest extent, towering over Law, his face half in shadow, lit only by a bedside lamp.
“Bringing that up here, now? You must have lost your mind,” Cora hissed.
Law straightened his back, holding Cora’s gaze. “What choice did I have? You’ve been avoiding me for weeks!”
Cora’s face twisted with regret. “Law, listen. I can appreciate the position you’re in. Certainly I made my fair share of mistakes with you. But you’re my student—”
“Was,” Law said. “Was your student. Not anymore.”
“You’re still my responsibility!” Cora raked a hand through his hair. “Look, Law. We’ve been over this. It’s not that I don’t enjoy spending time with you…”
Law pounced on the opening. “How about this: answer one question and I’ll leave you alone for good.”
“What is it?” Cora said warily.
“Do you like me?”
Cora let out a breath. “Law…”
“Say it,” Law insisted. “It’s easy, right? Just say ‘no.’ You had no problem telling me how I feel. But what about you? Why won’t you say it?”
Cora’s grip on his arm loosened slightly, but he didn’t respond.
“Tell me I made it up,” Law continued, his voice wavering. “Tell me I’m crazy. Tell me you don’t like me back and I’ll never bother you again.” Law’s eyes searched Cora’s desperately. “You can’t say it, can you? Because you know it’s not true.”
In that moment, Cora looked completely helpless.
“I told you I wouldn’t lie to you,” Cora whispered.
The next thing Law knew, Cora’s lips were on his. Cora kissed him ravenously, like he’d been waiting for this just as long as Law had. Law met that kiss with everything in him, wrapping his arms around Cora’s neck, pulling him as close as he could. Cora’s hands skimmed down the small of his back and gripped his ass. Law moaned into Cora’s mouth as his hips bucked forward into nothing, his hardening cock searching for friction it didn’t find.
Cora straightened up, breaking the kiss. For a moment, Law feared that he might have changed his mind. Instead, Cora sat on the bed and gestured toward him. “C’mere.”
Law climbed into Cora’s lap without hesitation, pinning him to the headboard with a kiss. Cora grabbed Law’s ass and pressed their hips together. A shiver went down Law’s spine as he felt Cora’s bulge, hot and hard, straining against the fabric of his sweatpants. Law rolled his hips against Cora’s, devouring every breath, every sound, every touch, but they only left him hungry for more.
Cora’s tongue slid along his lower lip, so Law opened his mouth to let him in. Law didn’t quite know how to kiss like this, but Cora didn’t seem to mind his inexperience, kissing him slowly, patiently, letting him figure it out as he went along. Law reveled in the taste of him, tried to memorize it.
“Where…?” Law complained as Cora broke away, but Cora swiftly answered that question by kissing along his jaw and down his neck. Law let out a shaky moan, surprised by the shocks of pleasure each lave of Cora’s tongue sent zipping up his spine.
“Shh,” Cora said.
All at once, Law remembered where they were. Giolla was sleeping just next door. He hadn’t made it this far just to blow it on something stupid like getting caught.
Cora gripped Law’s hips and began rocking rhythmically against him. Law bit down hard on his lip to stay quiet, resisting the urge to moan as each brush of his cock against Cora’s added to the heat gathering low in his belly. If they kept going like this, he was going to make a mess in his pants.
But Cora had other plans. His hand slipped between them, grasping Law’s waistband. Law leaned back just enough for Cora to free his cock, shuddering as fresh air cooled the bead of precome smeared on his tip. Law was met then with the feeling of Cora really looking at him for the first time, without fear or reservation. He blushed under Cora’s attention, sitting back, letting him look.
“Can I…?” Law said, sliding a finger along the waistband of Cora’s pants. He wanted to look, too.
“Fuck… yeah.” Cora leaned back to give Law better access, muttering, “Can’t believe I’m doing this.”
Law untied Cora’s drawstring. “I can.”
“What does that mean?” Cora said, the words half-swallowed by a groan as Law freed him from his pants.
Cora’s cock stood tall, thick, and pink against his torso, bouncing slightly in time with his heartbeat, his foreskin revealing a peek of a rosy head. Law’s eyes traced the vein on the underside of his shaft. He wondered what it would feel like to run his tongue along it.
“You’re not exactly like most teachers,” Law said with some effort.
“You know, I’m realizing that,” Cora said, taking both their cocks in a firm grip.
Law wasn’t prepared for how good it felt for Cora to stroke him. His pace was slow at first, gradually growing faster as he found a rhythm. Each stroke sent a jolt of pleasure straight to Law’s core. He wouldn’t last long, not like this, not with the man he’d been fantasizing about for months pressed up against him, hand wrapped around their cocks, cheeks ruddy with desire, looking at him like he was the only person in the whole world. Law steadied himself on Cora’s thighs and thrust into his grip, chasing the feeling.
“Keep doing that,” Cora gasped.
Law threw his head back, his mouth falling open, barely holding in a cry as Cora throbbed against him. Law was close now, his arms shaking as he teetered on the edge of orgasm. He was trembling so much that his hand slid off Cora’s leg, knocking him off balance. But Cora caught him, pulling him flush against his chest with one hand, the other stroking even faster. They kissed briefly, but the rhythm of Cora’s hand and their frantic breathing jostled them apart.
“Cora—!” Law moaned, choking it off a moment too late to stifle it completely. He spilled all over Cora’s hand and into his lap, his breaths coming in quick, short gasps. His thighs jumped and quivered as Cora continued stroking them both. He buried his face in Cora’s neck and endured it, feeling Cora tense against him, knowing he was close.
“Fuck, Law,” Cora breathed into his ear, and it was almost enough to make him hard again. He’d remember the way Cora said his name forever. He’d dream of it.
Law felt every muscle in Cora’s body coil up, then release, his hips jerking messily against Law’s, making them both gasp and shake. Cora pressed lazy kisses to Law’s cheek, his forehead, his hair, anywhere he could reach.
Thoroughly spent, Cora relaxed against the headboard. Law sighed with satisfaction and lay his head on Cora’s chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart.
“Oh, Law,” Cora murmured, petting Law’s hair, “what am I going to do with you?”
Law smirked. He had a few ideas.