Cotton mouth, easily the worst part of smoking.

You'd always wake up the next morning feeling considerably sleepy, but more annoying than that was how dry your mouth and throat were. At least, that was usually the most annoying thing.

This time, you decided the worst part had to be waking up next to last night's bad decision. Or more like, in his arms.

Lucky for you, both of you were still clothed and you had a decent recollection of how things went down. After kissing out on the porch swing, you'd both moved inside and back onto the couch for an even more heated make out session. Kid did get a little handsy but even in your state you were smart enough to not let it get past that. He was plenty entertained with letting his hands wander over clothed flesh and he was much more easy to convince that was all he needed, though it took a bit more to tell yourself the same at times.

Still, good senses persevered and you could proudly say it didn't turn into sex with a man you could hardly say you knew.

Kudos to you.

But you were still moderately uncomfortable, waking up on the couch facing the back of it with Kid pressed firmly behind you, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist and his chin resting on the top of your head. His metal arm was slung on top and you were honestly amazed that the weight of it hadn't been bothersome until now. It had you wondering if it had managed to bruise you through the night.

You let out a light groan, immediately regretting what had happened last night. The idea was to get him and Law out of your house as soon as humanly possible, not flirt with him and give him an excuse to stick around longer. Now you couldn't get one particular image from last night out of your head. The one where you'd both fallen into the couch and he'd laid down to coax you on top of him, letting you foolishly kiss him again and again until you could hardly think straight.

It was hard to tell who you were more annoyed at; him for somehow being so in control of the situation and letting it happen, or you for even thinking getting high around the men was a good idea.

With a frustrated huff, you pushed his metal arm off of you and wiggled around until you were facing his massive bare chest. The constant movement woke him and he was quick to start grumbling until his tired gaze met yours. Then he was all sultry smiles and wandering eyes of course.

"Mornin' hot stuff." He moved in to kiss you, like last night was somehow the okay for that, only to let out a surprised grunt when you pushed on his chest just enough to send him tumbling off the couch loudly. It didn't hold two people well. "What the fuck was that for?" He growled, piercing eyes glaring at you from below.

"I didn't say you could cuddle up with me." You sat up stiffly, sore from the less than desirable sleeping arrangements. There were two beds free and you guys still somehow decided the couch was a better option.

"It wasn't cuddling and last I checked, you were pretty comfortable there last night." He sat up and drew his legs up enough to sling his arms over his knees, scowling at you with a heavy frown.

"It was and I don't care how comfortable I was then, I was high. You should've just gone to bed."

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"With me?" You scoffed. "Please, I'm not the weird one here."

"Why are you two so noisy this early in the morning?" Law walked out from the hall, yawning as he cradled an equally sleepy looking Hobbes.

"No reason." You shook your head and stood. There was no point in arguing over what happened last night. Your attitude made it plenty clear that it didn't go in a direction you liked. Hopefully Kid would get the hint.

"She's being a bitch again." Kid snapped.

"Right....." Law was unamused as he glanced between you two before deciding on a not so subtle subject change. "Well we can relax for today and then get back to our search tomorrow. (Y/n)-ya, you still had work to do for your classes, didn't you?"

You stepped past Kid, ignoring his deep set scowl before pausing to think. The late night conversation flashed in your head and for a second, you wondered if the work was really worth it. Did you really want to continue with school or were you just scraping by in hopes that you'd have something figured out by the time you were done? Was it really what you wanted?

"Yeah." You finally let out a heavy sigh. "Can I get my laptop back?"

It was still up on the cabinet where the guys had put it yesterday but not for long. While Kid got to his feet, grumbling under his breath and shooting glares at you, Law reached up to the top of the cabinet and pulled your laptop down, handing it over gently. They had said before that this particular kind of technology was completely new to them and at least Law treated it like it was something special.

"What exactly are your plans for the day?" You asked, only half interested as you gathered what little will you had to buckle down and do work that was probably not all going to be finished in time. You weren't sure if you'd be able to focus on it throughout the day if the guys were going to be sticking around.

Law ran a hand down Hobbes' back thoughtfully before giving a halfhearted shrug. "No idea (Y/n)-ya."

"Kid?" You hoped he had some kind of plan to get out of the house.

"Lemme take the car out." He demanded, standing up quickly and holding a hand out for the keys you currently weren't holding.

"No." That was not what you had in mind for him getting out of your hair.

"Bitch." He sneered as you sat down and opened up your computer.

"You bet."

"Quit antagonizing her Eustass-ya."

"I drive just fine!" Kid argued. "I don't see why I can't take the car out for once."

"Because the car is special and I don't trust you with it." You answered plainly as you glanced over the paper you were working on last and began typing.

"It's just a car!"

"And I could argue the same thing. It's just a car so we shouldn't even be arguing about it." You were beginning to frown.

The day had literally just begun for you, the work was already piled up, and you weren't in the mood to fight with the guy who you were cuddled up with just minutes ago.

A glance in Kid's direction told you he was ready to get real mouthy in a minute but lucky for the both of you, the voice of reason spoke up.

"Can we stop arguing?" Law growled.

"Please." You said with another sigh.

"So I'm just supposed to sit around and do nothing all day?" Kid snapped back.

"You're a big boy, I'm sure you can figure something out. Plus all my worlds fancy shit should still be enough to keep you entertained."

"How about a compromise?" Law offered as he plopped Hobbes on the couch by you. The cat immediately climbed his way into your lap, obscuring your view of the computer screen with his tail.

Your patience was wearing out far too fast.

"Whatever makes you guys leave me alone for like, an hour. I'll take what I can get." You spoke through grit teeth as you kept from yelling at both of them.

"We can leave you alone all day." Law hummed.

"Yes, please. I swear if I don't get this stuff done today I'm going to lose my shit."

Law grimaced, confusing you temporarily. "Then how about this. Let Kid take the car and I'll supervise him for the day. You'll have the house to yourself."

You paused, staring blankly at your screen for a moment before staring into his golden eyes wordlessly.

"I'm not keen on spending the day with Eustass-ya but I can make today an exception. I'm sure you'd like a quiet day for once."

He wasn't wrong about that, you'd kill for some time alone. But more than that, you were surprised he'd even suggest it. As far as they were still concerned, you were their ticket out of this place and leaving you unsupervised didn't seem smart.

"....I could use some quiet time." You nodded in agreement.

"Finally!" Kid grinned happily, unphased by Law having to join him. "I wanna go around town!"

"But you need to behave!" You said sternly. "I don't need any cops pulling you over since you don't have a license so go the speed limit and drive safe."

"I guess I could do that." He said with a shrug. He was rather agreeable, more so than you thought he'd be.

"Make sure he does Law, please."

"Of course." Law gave you a tired smile. He was going to have a long day ahead of him.

"Keys are in the kitchen." You nodded in the general direction as you went back to typing. Hobbes had laid down and you could finally see what you were doing again.

Kid giggled happily as he took large strides to the kitchen for your keys and his boots. They'd been discarded there sometime during the night before but you couldn't remember exactly when.

"You're okay with him driving that car without you supervising?" Law asked uncertainly. "I thought you'd take more convincing."

"He won't wreck it, at least not on purpose." You answered confidently. "Just make sure it comes back the same way you found it."

Law nodded. "I know it's been stressful having us here and I'm sure you're ready for us to be gone but we appreciate all the help you've given us so far."

"I'm sure we'll have you home soon." You nodded along.

"Of course." He agreed, right as Kid waltzed back into the room, ready to go with the car keys twirling around his finger. "We'll be back sometime around dark. Enjoy your alone time (Y/n)-ya."

You gave them a wave as they left, barely looking up from your screen, that was until you heard the car drive off.

"It's now or never Hobbes." You snapped your computer shut and began to rush around the house, grabbing anything you deemed important.

The guys still had your phone but they weren't smart enough to ask for your wallet on their way out. That meant you had money at least.

As you found your backpack and filled it with a few school things, some food, and clothes, you thought about how you were going to tackle things.

It hurt terribly to let them take the car but you were reminding yourself it was just a thing. But you couldn't stick through this all because you'd be leaving a car behind. You could come back to the house eventually, they wouldn't stay forever. You'd still make payments on it. As for the birds, well, you were sure Law would do something about them.

But you couldn't stay.

A part of you debated going to a police station and explaining the situation but that idea was short lived. You'd seen the men's strange abilities and had them explained to you in detail. No police force could contend with them and you weren't willing to give it a shot. And along with that, as much as you hated to admit it, you didn't want to put the guys through that either. Whatever they had going on, they could figure out themselves and as soon as they were gone, you could focus on yourself better. That's what you were going to tell yourself at least.

"Okay Hobbes," You stood in the living room, hands on your hips as you stared down the cat. He was definitely going with you, you'd never leave him behind. "Where's that harness you seem to hate so much?"

Things weren't going to be easy but then again, they hadn't been as of late. You could handle one more bump in the road, at least for now.