Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Wa-hoo! Another alliance mission already!” Luffy’s cheer echoed down the cold, barren hallway. 

“Can you not yell? Just because this bunker is cut off from the main research institute buildings doesn’t mean it’s empty,” Law hissed.

Shoulders shaking with muted laughter, Luffy whispered in the biggest small voice he had, “My bad, my bad!” Then, actually lowering his voice, he asked, “What are we looking for?”

Law sighed wearily. “Seriously? I’ll say it again, so listen: Caesar’s research papers on SMILE solubility. If we can get those we should be able to make some serious strides toward dismantling SMILE fruit production from a more indirect front. This is more of a contingency plan should something go wrong with the more direct approach, but it’s importa-”

“Hey, Torao, do you think there’s a hot spring around here? There’s the volcano on the other side of the island so maybe the-,” Luffy rambled.

Law clicked his tongue. “Did you listen to a single word I said?”

“Of course! Don’t worry so much, it’ll work out,” he smiled and patted Law’s shoulder. 

Mouth twitching, Law pulled his hat down further over his brow. He remained silent until they came across a heavy fortified door with a small, circular window. He motioned to Luffy to stay quiet and peered in. Through thick-paned glass, Law scanned what he could see of the room. “Doesn’t look like there’s anyone in here,” he whispered. He jiggled the door handle briefly, confirmed it was locked, and peered back through the window. “Room,” he murmured in a low voice as he searched for a suitable target. “Shambles.”

Luffy flinched as a stool appeared where Law had been standing. Agitated at being left behind, Luffy moved the stool out of the way and pressed his face to the window. “Hey!” he hissed.

Law was already at the door. He raised his finger to his lips and bared his teeth in exasperation through the window. A click sounded from the within and the hinges groaned. 

Law stepped aside for Luffy to enter. “Come on,” he ordered and closed the door after him. 

Luffy’s eyes widened into small moons as he took in the elaborate and fragile equipment around him. Glass beakers connected to tubes, to decanters, faucets, mantles, and heaters. Within the glass vessels, chemicals bubbled and billowed in a polychromatic dance. 

Luffy examined a complicated glass loop-de-loop. It pulled pink liquid in from a jar on the left and combined this with a slow steady drip of an ice blue substance from a rounded flask on the right. The resulting liquid flowed into a beaker and translated into a shimmering amethyst hue. He leaned in to watch the liquids tumble together and form the purple glimmer. Grinning at his discovery, he inhaled deeply through his nose. 

“Oi, Torao!” he called from across the lab. 

“What?” Law asked, not bothering to turn around while he leafed through a notebook on a nearby countertop.

“It smells like yakitori!” Luffy announced with pride.

Law furrowed his brow, half-listening. “Yaki…tori?” he mumbled.

The squeak of plastic moving through glass threads rose above the humming machines and percolating compounds. Law heard the new sound but continued reading. Luffy babbled to himself from his corner of the lab, “...wonder if it tastes like meat, too?”

Law clutched the book in his hand, eyes widened suddenly. He spun around and growled, “Shambles!”

Luffy’s face melted into a disgusted frown at the crumpled notebook that spawned in place of the succulent-smelling tube he held moments before. He snapped his head to glare at Law, who held the glass of purple liquid at arm’s length. 

“I was gonna drink that!” Luffy complained.

“I know, that’s why I took it,” Law retorted. “You can’t just drink random shit you find in a lab!” When Luffy opened his mouth to argue, Law continued, “You don’t know what it is. It might kill you, Mugiwara-ya.” 

Luffy stared at him, vexed and unconvinced. Law began searching for a rack or stand to securely unburden himself of what he theorized were potentially toxic purple meat-drippings. A rush of displaced air gave him just enough warning to step out of the way of Luffy’s aggressively-lobbed hand. Instead of grabbing the glass vessel as intended, Luffy’s hand crashed through the equipment behind Law and thunked against the steel wall.

“The fuck?!” Law bellowed. “Are you trying to kill me now?” 

Luffy scratched the back of his head and started, “Sorry, Torao… but you took my drink!” 

“What is wrong with you?” Law barked.

“What’s wrong with me?” Luffy growled. “You’ve done nothing but yell at me since I got to Punk Hazard!”

“I wouldn’t yell at you if you just stuck to the plan and thought things through for even just one second! It’s like,” Law paused to clear his throat. “All of the time I’ve spent researching and planning just goes out the fucking window when you’re here. I can’t-” he stopped himself and bent over, coughed violently into the crook of his arm. “Can’t predict anything with you,” he finished in a hoarse voice and resumed his coughing.

“Torao…” Luffy started.

“What?” he hissed between coughs. He pressed his hand to his temple as his head swam and vision distorted into a blue and oversaturated haze. Briefly, he looked up and saw Luffy’s azure form hurtle through the air and over the table between them. He closed his eyes and felt his knees buckle beneath him. The pressure of Luffy’s touch was electric against his skin as Luffy hoisted him over his shoulder and bolted. 

Luffy shoved past the nearest door and slammed it shut behind him. He arched forward to place Law’s feet on the ground and leaned him against the steel door. Luffy took a step back and watched as Law slid down, panting. “What happened?” Law asked feebly.

“You inhaled something weird,” Luffy answered quietly. “Looked like blue smoke.” Law just stared up at him, panting as he caught his breath and waited for clarity of mind to return. “Your face is so red…” Luffy commented, voice edged with concern. 

He waited for a response, realized he wasn’t going to get one, and then wandered around the room they now found themselves in. It was smaller than the main laboratory they entered initially and significantly less interesting. Counters and cupboards  lined the walls and overflowed with boxes and papers. Several lab tables stood in the center of the room, largely empty save for less than a dozen cardboard boxes. 

Disappointed with the severe lack of mad scientist energy, Luffy returned to Law. Though his breathing had attained a more even pitch, his skin was still flushed. Luffy crouched down on the balls of his feet before Law, reaching out to touch his forehead. “Sheesh, you’re hot, Torao.”

“Huh?” Law started.

Luffy leaned in closer, bringing their faces just inches apart. Law swiftly grabbed the wrist of Luffy’s outstretched hand. “Hm?” Luffy widened his eyes in surprise. “Are you OK?”

“I-urgh,” he grimaced. “My pulse, it’s just,” Law stopped abruptly and let go of his wrist. “Are you not feeling this?”

Luffy tilted his head and sat back on his heels. “‘This?’ You mean a fever?” Law’s brow furrowed. “No,” Luffy continued and pursed his lips absently. “Actually I’m kinda cold.” He grabbed his elbows and pulled them inward.

“Tch,” Law lowered his head and took off his coat. “Here,” he grunted as he threw the coat to Luffy.

The coat landed on Luffy’s feet and Law quickly unbuttoned his shirt. “Hmm, you’re really that warm?” Luffy asked. “Will cooling you off make the fever go away?”

“I … don’t think that’s the problem,” Law grumbled and shifted, meeting Luffy’s gaze briefly before closing eyes and tilting his head back to rest against the door.

A strong and sudden grip on his shoulders startled his eyes back open. “Hrg!” he tensed when he found Luffy’s face just inches from his own again. “Mugiwara-ya, what are-”

“Tell me what to do!” Luffy interrupted, brows furrowed in determination. 

Heart pounding, Law let out a shaky breath and drew his eyes to the floor. “Mugiwara-ya, I need you to listen.” He glanced up to see Luffy nod. “Do you know what an aphrodisiac is?”

A pause filled the air. “Afro-what? Is that an afro thing? Afros make you super strong… Is this something you need to be super strong to beat? If you need to grow an afro we can probably get Franky to help,” he rambled.

Law rubbed his temple and let out a pained laugh. “Listen,” he began. “That gas in the other room, I think it’s an aphrodisiac. But real, not the kind that’s just a myth. I don’t know how, or better yet why, Caesar did it but…” he paused and tugged at the open face of his shirt. “It’s fucking strong.”

Luffy cocked his head. “Hmm, okaayy. So, what, you need an afro real bad?”

As Luffy started looking around the room, presumably to see if he could find something to help, Law blurted, “An aphrodisiac increases sexual desire and pleasure, Luffy-ya.” His voice faltered as he exhaled, “That’s what I’m…dealing with.”

The heat rose in Luffy’s face as he stared wide-eyed at Law. “Oh,” he whispered and let go of Law’s shoulders. Law covered his face with his hands and let out an unsteady sigh that filled the otherwise silent room. Listening to Law’s breath, Luffy grabbed his straw hat and slowly placed it on the tiled floor beside him. “That’s all, huh?” he laughed tentatively. Quietly, he added, “You should’ve just said so.”

Law’s eyes shot open as Luffy gently pushed his hands down and away from his face. The pulse in Law’s veins shot through his body, throbbing violently as their eyes locked. His throat bobbed as he tried to swallow. He fought the instinct to bite down on his lip while taking in the glow across Luffy’s cheeks that reached up to his ears and down his neck. Luffy’s gaze searched his face and singed his charged nerves. 

Luffy pressed his lips against Law’s before he could react. A desperate moan fought its way from Law’s throat and hummed against Luffy’s lips. They both pulled apart in surprise, staring at one another and breathing heavily. 

“Torao…” Luffy murmured after passing his tongue over his own lower lip. 

The pause dissolved as Luffy pushed himself back into Law’s space and gently rubbed his lips against Law’s, whose breath steamed against Luffy’s skin. Cautiously, Law ran his tongue along the velvety pink of Luffy’s lower lip. His tongue slipped into the heat of Luffy’s mouth as Luffy dropped to his knees and drew closer. Finding himself pinned against the door, Law withdrew his tongue and nipped at Luffy’s lip. Surprised, Luffy drew back.

Law chuckled at the deepening red of Luffy’s complexion. The breath left Luffy’s lungs with a startled puff as he fell back onto the floor from the calculated force Law used to push him to the ground. He had no time to inhale before Law was above him, straddling his hips and leaning down to claim his mouth once more. The strength of Law’s kiss drowned Luffy’s last remaining thoughts and enveloped his skin in a suffocating heat. 

He shifted as Law pulled at the zipper of his coat. Law sat back to peel the coat off Luffy’s arms. “You’re not still cold, are you?” Law panted, a devilish smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. Luffy shook his head shyly. 

Law drew his fingers along Luffy’s arms and down his chest. He brushed over Luffy’s nipples, watching with hunger as his body shivered beneath him. A bloom of satisfaction swelled in Law’s chest. Planting a hand next to Luffy’s head, Law leaned down and inhaled the musk of skin and sweat behind Luffy’s ear.

“Ah!” Luffy yelped as Law’s teeth bit into the tender flesh of his neck. “Law, are you trying to eat me?”

Law's breath was hot on Luffy's skin as he chuckled. He wrapped his hand about Luffy’s waist and dragged his tongue, wet and deliberate, from his collarbone to his jaw. His grip tightened when Luffy squirmed beneath him. “If you keep wiggling like that I might just have to swallow you whole,” Law purred into his ear. 

Luffy surprised him with a swift nip on the shoulder before planting his lips firm against the skin and sucking. Law gasped as the sensation sent sparks down his spine and he rolled his hips forward instinctively. The pressure of Luffy’s body underneath him strained the shred of control to which he still desperately clung. He grabbed Luffy’s head in both hands and met his lips with his own. Their lips moved together in mounting hunger, tongues intertwined and searching. Law’s mind filled with the contact, taste, and wet sounds of their mouths interlocked. When Luffy moaned gently, Law let his hand travel down Luffy’s collarbone and to his chest. Law gently rolled Luffy’s nipple between his thumb and forefinger and relished the whimper that escaped Luffy’s mouth. 

When Law realized he was impulsively grinding into Luffy’s hips, he froze. Luffy’s eyes widened at the sudden change. “Wh-what’s wrong?” Luffy asked. 

Law’s chest heaved while he took in the flush of Luffy’s skin and the deep pink of his lips. His quick and shallow breath almost matched Law’s. Struggling to remain composed while Luffy’s shining, moist eyes glowed up at him, Law rubbed his temple. His voice shook as he rasped, “Luffy-ya… You need to get out of here.”

Luffy pushed himself to sit upright, unbalancing Law briefly as he came to look up into his face. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he hollered.

Law took in his indignant expression and sighed, “I c-can’t control this and… I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You can’t hurt me!” Luffy retorted.

“That’s not what I mean,” he snorted. Taking his hand away from his brow, he continued more quietly, “If you don’t leave now, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from … going further.” He met Luffy’s gaze briefly before averting his eyes to the ground beside him. “Do you understand?”

“Shishishi,” Luffy laughed, his belly shaking and sending a jolt through Law’s core. “I get it. So what’s the problem?”

Law groaned and blurted, “If you don’t leave now, I am going to fuck you, Luffy-ya.” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger as his face burned hotter.

Luffy’s laughter died. “I’m not dumb,” he murmured. 

“Well, sometimes it really doesn’t seem like you hear what I’m saying, so…” Law snapped before trailing off in exasperation.

They remained in silence, Law tense as he grappled with the frustration in his mind and body and Luffy watching him from below.

“Hey, Law…” Luffy broke the silence in a quiet voice. Law looked down. “Can I…touch you?” Law swallowed and nodded. Slowly, Luffy traced Law’s waist with his fingertips. He smiled in awe as Law shivered. “Does that feel…good?” he asked quietly, trailing his fingers across Law’s abs before straying to his back and running them up his spine.

“Uh huh,” Law gasped, practically shaking beneath Luffy’s touch. 

Luffy grinned and grabbed Law just below the ribcage. With a playful shove of his forehead to Law’s chest, he upset Law’s balance once more so that he was leaning back and suspended by Luffy’s grasp. Law squirmed as Luffy rubbed his cheek against his stomach. “Your skin is so soft, Torao,” he murmured happily. 

Law’s mouth twitched and he looked away, letting out a quiet ‘tch.’ Luffy chuckled before planting his tongue just above Law’s belly button and dragging it upward. Law stiffened and gasped as Luffy’s tongue ran over his nipple and stopped at his collarbone.

“Hmm. You liked that, huh?” Luffy chuckled softly. As he spoke, he stretched and looped his arms around and around Law’s waist. “This tattoo on your chest, it really brings my attention here.” Luffy flicked Law’s nipple with his tongue. Law’s body twitched in response and he let out a sharp breath. “Law, hey Law, look at me,” he paused until Law was looking down into his eyes. “I’m not leaving.” As Law’s eyes widened, Luffy bit down on Law’s nipple. A cry burst from Law’s lips and Luffy tightened his hold.

“Luffy-ya!” Law ground his teeth. “Please.”

Luffy slackened his grip. “Hm?”

“I’m burning… Can I please just,” he panted. “Just, take off these clothes.” 

Grinning, Luffy unwound his arms from Law’s body and let them snap back to his sides. He tugged roughly at the sleeves of Law’s unbuttoned shirt so that they slipped down his arms. “Oi!” Law scolded as he was almost pushed backward. Luffy eased his grip on Law’s shirtsleeves and laughed sheepishly. Once Law peeled his shirt off one arm and then the other, he slid off of Luffy to the ground and began removing his shoes. He felt Luffy’s eyes on him so he paused and looked up. “Hm?” he prompted.

“I’ve never seen your tattoos completely,” Luffy smiled. 

“Ah, huh. Guess not,” Law mumbled, hit with a wave of self-consciousness. He averted his gaze to his shoes and kicked both of them off.

“Stand up,” Luffy said.

“Huh?” Law furrowed his brow and looked at Luffy in surprise.

“Stand up. I wanna see the one on your back,” Luffy spoke again, genuine curiosity sparkling in his eyes. 

Law rolled his eyes and bit back a smile. Luffy shed the red shirt from his back as he watched Law rise to his feet and turn.

“Ohh, it’s your jolly roger!” Luffy beamed in recognition and scrambled to stand. Law twitched as Luffy traced the tattoo with his index finger. He slid his hands down Law's back, grabbed his hips, and planted his forehead in the center of Law’s tattoo. “Mm,” Luffy inhaled. “Torao, you smell good.” 

Following the angles of Law’s hip bones, Luffy slipped his fingers into Law’s pants and toyed with the waistband of his briefs. Law’s chest rose with each desperate breath. He found himself pressing back into Luffy, who was now unclasping the button on Law’s jeans. The sensation of Luffy’s hand slowly pulling down the zipper paired with the bulge of Luffy’s erection against his ass strained his self-control. He spun around, pants sagging off of his hips, and tugged at Luffy’s shorts. Luffy’s breath caught in his throat and he squirmed in surprise as Law met his lips with vigor a shade away from forceful. Law fumbled with the clasp of Luffy’s shorts, frustration and impatience rising.

Luffy pushed him back. “I’ll do it.” He laughed, “Sheesh, Torao.”

Law watched Luffy pull his shorts down and toss them to the side, leaving him in just a pair of black boxers. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “You’re still wearing something, Luffy-ya,” he teased.

“What, you want me naked already?” Luffy chuckled and scratched at the back of his head. “You’re still dressed too, Torao.”

Law raised an eyebrow and shrugged before pushing his jeans down the rest of the way and stepping out of them. Watching Luffy’s face carefully, he peeled off his underwear and let it fall to his ankles. A shock went through Law’s body that caused every inch of him to twitch when Luffy’s eyes moved downward and widened.

“You want to put that inside of me?” he asked breathlessly. 

Law grinned and stepped forward. He hooked his thumbs under the elastic band of Luffy’s boxers and leaned down to rest his head in the crook of Luffy’s neck. He sucked on the tender flesh near the base of Luffy’s throat as he pulled the boxers down. “I really do, Luffy-ya,” he whispered. Law took another step forward, pressing into Luffy who took a step back. They repeated this twice more until Luffy was pressed against the wall. 

“I thought you wanted me to fuck you,” Law murmured as he slowly dropped to his knees. 

“Law,” Luffy whispered hoarsely. Trembling, he stared down while Law grabbed his hip in one hand and slowly stroked his cock with the other. Their eyes met as Law smiled before sticking out his tongue and dragging it from the base and along the full length of Luffy’s shaft. Law took the tip of Luffy’s penis into his mouth and worked his tongue underneath against his frenulum. Luffy squirmed and gasped under his touch.

Pleased with Luffy’s reaction, Law moved his hand from the base of Luffy’s penis and grabbed his ass. As Luffy tensed, he took more of his cock into his mouth and sucked and began to bob his head in a rhythm. Luffy moaned and Law gripped him harder. Law moved with deliberate motion, stroking the underside of Luffy’s shaft with his tongue and angling his head to rub the tip along the roof of his mouth. 

“This…feels so good,” he stammered. “Mmph.” Luffy bit his lip to stifle a groan as he twisted his fingers in Law’s hair and widened his stance, hips thrust forward. 

Law drew back momentarily to spit onto his hand. He took Luffy back into his mouth and resumed his rhythm. Gently, he fondled Luffy’s cheeks with both hands. With a lubricated finger, Law circled his anus. “Torao,” Luffy panted, straining. 

“Hmm?” Law hummed around Luffy’s cock and felt the grip on his hair tighten. He snapped his eyes upward to take in Luffy’s expression. His body thrummed with hunger at Luffy’s furrowed brow, slick with sweat, the crease of his eyes shut tight, and his pink mouth formed in the shape of an ‘o.’ Law twitched and the pre-cum pooling on the head of his penis spilled forward, a generous drop painting a line down the length of his shaft. 

Luffy’s eyes fluttered open and he inhaled sharply as he met Law’s gaze. The white around Luffy’s dark irises widened when Law worked his finger past the delicate opening of Luffy's ass and pressed inside. Surrounded by the tight heat of Luffy’s body, Law stroked his finger slowly and deliberately. As he inched his finger further and forced a moan from Luffy’s throat, Law knew he had found the sensitive spot he was searching for. 

Luffy released his hold on Law’s hair and brought his hands to his sides, clenching them into tight fists. “Law, I can’t,” he hissed through clenched teeth.

Law slid Luffy from his mouth and asked with a smirk, “What’s wrong, Luffy-ya?” As he said this, he slipped a second finger inside Luffy and joined the rhythm of the first. 

“Ah!” Luffy gasped and impulsively bent forward. “Law!” 

“You have to tell me what you want, Luffy-ya. I’m not psychic,” Law purred as Luffy planted his hands atop his shoulders. 

As he leaned over and onto Law, Luffy’s legs shook. “I don’t want to cum yet,” he managed to cry. He balanced his forehead on the crown of Law’s head and panted into the tangle of his hair. Law slowed the movement of his fingers as Luffy put more and more of his weight on his shoulders. Gently, he drew his fingers out. Luffy slumped to his knees, spreading them to fit around Law. 

Luffy mumbled and Law stretched out his hands to Luffy’s shoulders in an attempt to keep him upright. “Are you OK?” he asked, doctor’s reflexes kicking in. 

“I’m great,” Luffy croaked. Law bent his neck to look into Luffy’s face. Seeing this, Luffy raised his head and repeated, “I’m great, really.” Met with Law’s unconvinced stare, he grinned. “You’re great. I just haven’t…I haven’t, uh, been…” he trailed off and dropped his gaze to the ground. “I haven’t done that before.” 

Law froze, the honesty of the moment enough to tamp down the flame of his hunger briefly. He laid his head in the crook of Luffy’s neck and inhaled. He wasn’t sure if he grasped the full weight of Luffy’s words, but it seemed irrelevant when faced with the overwhelming pressure in his chest. 

“Don’t laugh at me!” Luffy yelled, tossing his head away.

Law raised his head and replied flatly, “I’m not laughing.”

Luffy stole a quick glance at his face before turning his head to the other side. “You’re smiling,” he grumbled. 

Caught off guard, Law touched his own face and looked inward before muttering, “I’m happy.” Luffy looked Law dead-on this time, head cocked to the side. He searched Law’s face while he waited for an explanation. Law opened his mouth to speak but struggled to form a detailed yet simultaneously coherent expression of the sensation he was experiencing. “I’m just…glad, okay?” he finally stammered before pressing his lips against Luffy’s.

Surprised, Luffy chuckled beneath Law’s lips before returning the gesture. Luffy rose higher on his knees and bent toward Law as the tempo of their kiss intensified. The wet smack of their mouths moving together filled the room. Law was acutely aware of this obscene symphony until his attention was drawn to a light sensation along the shaft of his penis. He broke out of the kiss to quickly glance down and smirked. As he leaned forward, Luffy’s cock had crossed the dwindling distance between them and brushed against Law’s shaft. 

Luffy followed his gaze downward and watched as Law grabbed his right hand. He placed Luffy’s palm along his cock before wrapping his own, larger hand over Luffy’s and capturing both penises within their shared grip. A heavy exhale puffed from Luffy’s lips and settled on Law’s cheek. Law met Luffy’s eyes and began a slow stroke, moving Luffy’s hand along with his own. Lips parted, Law studied the molten glow in Luffy’s heavy-lidded eyes. He was pleased to see a hunger in Luffy that mirrored his own and quickened the pace of his strokes. The swiftness of the sweet ache that built in his groin caught him off guard and he bent forward to rest his forehead against Luffy’s, squeezing his eyes shut. 

“Uhn,” Law moaned through gritted teeth.

Luffy watched Law’s expression in wonder until he realized how close he was to cumming. “Law!” he gasped. Law’s eyes shot open and he froze. “Law…” Luffy repeated, more quietly. He chewed on his lower lip before continuing, “I want you to…to cum inside me.” 

This confession sent Law’s mind spinning, leaving him still and stiff for several moments before he could convince himself that Luffy had in fact said what he did. “I dream of cumming inside of you, Luffy-ya,” Law panted as he vocalized his feverish thoughts. Luffy’s eyes widened. 

Law swooped his arms under Luffy’s thighs and grabbed his waist before pushing up through his legs to stand. Luffy laughed and wrapped his arms around Law’s neck. After stepping back and scanning the area, Law carried Luffy to the lab table in the center of the room. He dropped him onto the black tabletop and shoved the cardboard boxes over the edge. Ignoring the crash and shattering of beakers, tubes, and other laboratory glassware, Law pulled himself onto the table and kneeled above Luffy, who tentatively raised his knees toward his chest. Law’s ravenous gaze roved across Luffy’s body, desperately committing the flushed sheen of his skin and burning anticipation within his eyes to memory.

Law clasped the underside of Luffy’s thighs in his hands, tenderly kneading the flesh as he bent forward. He pressed his lips to the scar centered on Luffy’s chest and traveled upward, pausing to nip and suck at the soft skin. Welts bloomed where he hovered. Luffy moaned and arched his back to press closer to Law. He ran his fingers along Law’s back and biceps in appreciation while he was devoured.

“You’re sure you want this?” Law whispered before he gave Luffy’s neck a slow and deliberate lick.

Luffy pulled back to meet Law’s eyes and nodded, his brow set resolutely. A smile pulled at Law’s mouth. He sat back on his toes and spat into his hand, now using his thighs to prop up Luffy’s. Law's hand glided over his own cock before gingerly caressing Luffy’s balls and teasing the puckered skin of his asshole. He drew strokes over Luffy’s anus, across his perineum and to the base of his scrotum, increasing the pressure with each pass. 

Luffy groaned with impatience and strained his hips upward in response. Law flinched when Luffy’s dick rubbed against his own. The last shackle of Law’s self-control shattered as a tidal wave of sensation broke upon him: the obscene whimpers that escaped Luffy’s trembling lips despite his visible effort to hold them back by biting down on his reddened lower lip; the air, heavy with the smell of sweat, sex, and a sharp but sweet hint of acetone; the warmth of Luffy’s penis against the side of his cock. These senses flickered through Law’s mind, simultaneous yet distinct perceptions compounding into a kaleidoscope of what, before today, he could only have imagined as a wet dream.

“Fuck,” Law hissed, muscles tense. 

Eyes narrowed and breathing heavily, Law used his left hand to push Luffy’s thigh back. He took his own cock in his free hand and guided it to the pink opening of his ass. Law prodded the throbbing head of his penis against Luffy with slow but deliberate force. 

Luffy inhaled sharply. “Mmmf,” Law groaned. This last thrust moved past the smooth muscle and left the tip of Law’s cock surrounded by the molten heat of Luffy’s body. 

Law stilled, eyes closed, and struggled to gain at least a semblance of control. After a moment had passed, he opened his eyes and looked down at Luffy. “You good?” he rasped. Luffy nodded, his face beet red. “I’m gonna move now,” he announced. Luffy nodded again. 

Law thrust his hips forward, pushing himself further. Luffy let out an uneven cry as Law stretched and filled his insides. Certain in his bearings, Law shifted his weight and planted a hand on either side of Luffy’s shoulders. Their eyes met as he hovered above him. 

“Law,” Luffy whispered, eyes wide.

“Hm?” Law tilted his head. He moved closer and shoved himself in further.

Luffy moaned and wet his lips before gasping, “I’m going to die. ”

Law blinked. “Are you-are you in pain?” 

Swaying his head from side to side, Luffy answered deliriously, “No. Yes… I don’t think so. I just feel so much, Torao.” As Law searched his eyes, he finally concluded hoarsely, “You feel too good inside of me and…I think I’m going to break apart.”

Law exhaled with relief and smiled as he leaned his forehead on Luffy’s collarbone. “You’re going to be fine,” he chuckled. “Just let me make you feel good.”

Luffy took Law’s head in his hands and pushed it back so their eyes locked from just inches away. “You’re a doctor. I trust you,” Luffy insisted, seriousness blanketing his gaze. 

Law snorted, “That’s why you trust me?” Luffy nodded his head emphatically. 

Law chuckled and pressed his lips against Luffy’s. When the pliable flesh of Luffy’s lips began to work along with his own, Law moved his hips. He thrust slowly at first, for his own sake as much as Luffy’s. He caught Luffy’s half-stifled cries in his mouth, teasing them out with his tongue. Once Luffy’s reactions began to even, Law increased his pace. Luffy arched his back beneath him.

Law pumped his hips, drawing back and then re-stretching Luffy’s rubbery insides around him. Meanwhile, Luffy’s breathing grew less frantic and fell into an eager cadence. Luffy grabbed Law’s hip bones and pulled in time with his thrusts. Noticing the angle of Luffy’s hips and greedy insistence of his touch, Law braced his left fist and forearm against the tabletop next to Luffy’s head and grabbed Luffy’s ass with his right hand. He raised Luffy’s hips in the air while maintaining the angle of his cock. The guttural cry that slipped from Luffy’s throat confirmed the success of Law’s targeted thrusts. Between Luffy’s body squeezing his cock like a vise and the heavy clawing of hands across his back, sides, and arms, Law used every remaining ounce of determination to fight the fervor beckoning him over the edge. He gritted his teeth and ground into Luffy, whose body hummed with a growing pressure. 

“Oh,” Luffy groaned as Law drove hard and deep into his ass. “Oohhh, Tora-,” he broke off abruptly. Every muscle strained, spreading a ripple of tension and subsequent release through the rest of his body. Law exhaled a ragged breath when he felt the clutch of Luffy’s body mid-orgasm. Despite the slick coating across his abs of sweat and pre-cum that leaked abundantly from Luffy’s penis, Law felt the sudden sensation of a steady, hot stream of cum as Luffy came and rubbed his cock against Law’s pelvis. Law worked his dick inside of him with a deliberate force, milking Luffy’s orgasm as far as he could manage. He ceased when Luffy’s body lost its tension and his breath grew steady.

Law pushed himself up on his left arm. The pressure in his chest swelled as he stared down. Luffy's face was flushed, eyes watered with euphoria, and his lips parted slightly. Law watched him for a few surreal moments that he would remember as hours but witnessed as seconds. 

Finally, he spoke softly, “Luffy-ya…” At the sound of his name, Luffy started and met Law’s gaze. “Are you…” Law hesitated before continuing shyly, “Can I…finish?”

Luffy grinned and laughed. “Of course, Torao.”

Law chewed on his lower lip and asked, “Is it still OK, what you said earlier? If I cum inside of you?” He held Luffy’s gaze tentatively, willing himself not to look away.

Luffy nodded, chuckling. “Heh, I promised, didn’t I?”

Overwhelmed, Law buried his face in the crook of Luffy’s neck. He inhaled the tangy scent of his skin and struggled to center himself. Still bracing his left arm against the tabletop, Law shifted the grip of his right hand from Luffy’s ass to the underside of his thigh. He nipped at Luffy’s earlobe and pushed his thigh back and slightly to the side. Satisfied with his improved hold on and access to Luffy’s body, Law pitched his hips again. Luffy trembled as Law plowed into him. Thorough exhaustion dissolved the restraint that previously stifled Luffy’s cries, and Law relished the power he had gained over Luffy’s voice.

Law fucked Luffy with relentless abandon. The eroticism of Luffy giving in to him completely quickened his appetite. He dug his fingers into Luffy’s thigh and bit down on the tender skin of his shoulder. Using these as holds, Law worked his cock into Luffy again and again. Law’s orgasm cleaved through him as a sudden explosion. Through teeth clenched around Luffy’s flesh, he moaned, “Unhh-nnfhh…fuhhh.” Fit snugly around Law’s dick, Luffy felt the pulsation and twitch as Law filled him with cum. Luffy gasped at the molten sensation and wrapped his arms tight about Law’s neck until he had thrust himself empty. 

Law released Luffy’s thigh and neck. He propped his newly freed hand on the tabletop to steady himself. Coated in a sheen of sweat and fluid, Law’s chest heaved as he closed his eyes and caught his breath. Luffy looked up at him with an awe-widened stare. Luffy’s eager, searching eyes startled Law back to reality when he finally opened his own. Mouth twitching in discomfort, Law grumbled an apology and moved to rise. The swift, elastic strength of Luffy’s arms on his back pushed him down instead. 

“Oof,” Law grunted as his face smashed against Luffy’s chest. His pulse intertwined with the pounding beat of Luffy’s heart in his ear. Law shifted his head to the side in an attempt to breathe and flicked his eyes up to see Luffy. Luffy’s eyes were round, with his gaze pointed unfaltering at the ceiling. Law blinked in surprise. Hesitantly, Law rasped, “Luffy-ya?” He tried to move but discovered that Luffy’s embrace (though Law wondered if that was really an accurate term for the chokehold of fondness he found himself in) was locked. He stretched a cautious hand toward Luffy’s face and managed to brush his chin with his fingertips. Luffy’s attention snapped back and he grinned at Law. 

The iron grip released, Law rose to his knees. Luffy propped himself up on his arms. Law pulled back gently and removed himself from Luffy. His breath hitched as he watched his cum leak out of Luffy’s ass and onto the table. He swiftly averted his eyes when he noticed Luffy’s gaze on him. Ears burning, Law glanced over his shoulder and stepped cautiously down from the table. Following his lead, Luffy pushed himself up and moved to swing over the side of the table. 

“Ah, shit,” Law hissed. “Watch your step, there’s broken glass on the floor.” Sheepishly, he recalled the boxes he had carelessly tossed off the table.

Luffy lept to his feet but then stumbled sideways and yelped. 

“Fucking hell, Mugiwara-ya!” Law spat as he moved to catch Luffy from falling to the floor. “Listen to me for once!”

Supported by Law’s arms, Luffy winced and leaned against the table with one foot off the floor. “I feel so dizzy, Torao,” he mumbled and rubbed the side of his head.

“Ah,” Law clicked his tongue. He grabbed Luffy’s torso and hoisted him up to sit on the table. “You stood up too fast,” he explained, leaving one hand on Luffy’s shoulder to keep him steady.

“Hmm.” Luffy rubbed his eyes. Having regained some balance, Luffy grabbed his left foot and pulled it to examine the underside. He looked up pointedly at Law, who had covered his eyes with his hand in frustration. 

Sighing, Law bent to inspect the shard of glass protruding from Luffy’s foot. “Stay there,” he ordered before stepping carefully back to where his clothes were. He pulled on his briefs and slipped into his jeans, acutely aware of Luffy’s watchful gaze. After stepping into his shoes, Law grabbed his shirt and began searching the room. As he pulled his arms through his shirtsleeves, he pulled out drawers, threw open cupboards, and spilled over boxes. Having thoroughly ransacked the room, he grumbled, “What kind of shitty lab doesn’t have a fucking first aid kit?” He peeled back the flaps on another cardboard box and visibly relaxed. “That’s something, I guess.” 

Luffy puckered his lips in interest as Law hoisted the box over to his table. Law fell into the comfortable mindless motions of medical care, laying out tweezers and gauze. He tore a small piece off the strip of gauze before turning to Luffy’s foot. Holding his foot firmly in one hand, Law gripped the glass with the tweezers and swiftly removed it. Luffy flinched but remained silent. Law dabbed at the cut with the torn piece of gauze and leaned in to examine the wound. After moving Luffy’s foot in a few different angles to catch better lighting, Law pressed the gauze to the wound more firmly. Luffy gritted his teeth in discomfort as Law explained, “I’m staunching the bleeding and then I’m going to bandage your foot. If we had some goddamn soap like civilized people I would clean the wound and apply an antibiotic ointment. But putting ointment on it at this point would just trap bacteria in.” While Law bandaged Luffy’s foot, he paused to raise his eyes and order sternly, “This is a very temporary, shitty solution. When we get back you need to have Chopper clean and disinfect this before dressing it.” Luffy nodded, wide-eyed. Once Law verified the integrity of the dressing, he huffed and tipped his head to the side.

“You’re such a good doctor, Torao!” Luffy beamed. 

Law lifted his eyes, caught off guard. His ingrained clinical confidence and level-headedness melted into a giddy anxiety at the blinding sight of Luffy’s grin. Desperately, Law redirected his eyes downward but found no reprieve. He winced as he took in the semen, bruises, and bite marks that stained Luffy’s torso like a kinked-up Pollock painting. Turning back to the pathetic excuse for a first aid kit, Law rummaged through until he found more gauze strewn haphazardly at the bottom. Grimacing, he folded the gauze neatly and gestured at Luffy’s stomach, “You’re kind of a mess…” 

Luffy looked down at himself and laughed, “Shit, you're right. You’re very thorough with your patients, huh?” 

Law ignored him and tenderly wiped up the quickly-drying cum from his abs and chest. “You’ve uh, got a bit yourself,” Luffy pointed at Law’s chest when he was finishing up.

Law froze and stared down at his own torso, which was indeed coated with an unholy shine. “Fuck,” he sighed in defeat. He wiped at his abs with more gauze, now crumpled with frustration instead of folded in a neat, clean square. As he tidied himself, he spun around and focused on collecting Luffy’s clothes off the floor. He threw them onto the table next to Luffy, who nodded in thanks. 

Luffy wriggled into his clothes and watched Law stalk across the room to collect his coat. Law shrugged his coat on and zipped it up to his chin. “What are you looking for, Torao?” Luffy asked when Law started rummaging through drawers again.

“Tch,” Law clicked his tongue. “Did you forget why we’re out here to begin with?” When Luffy made no response, he turned to face him and cried, “The research papers, Mugiwara-ya!”

“Ohhh, yeah! Forgot about that,” Luffy shrugged, chuckling. 

Law rubbed his temple and exhaled. “Just help me look for them? If you can stand on that foot, I guess.”

Luffy huffed and stretched his arm to collect his sandals off the floor. He slipped them on and hopped off the table. Law watched him from the corner of his eye and was relieved to see him stand resolutely on both feet. Luffy swung his head around, hoping to spot the papers for which Law was searching. Noticing this gesture, Law rolled his eyes and increased his pace of combing through boxes and cupboards. 

Luffy crouched down and looked under the table he had been sitting in. “Hmm?” he hummed as he picked up a manila envelope off the floor. Squinting, he stared at the thick sharpie-drawn letters across the front of it. “‘SMITE’… no, ‘SMILE Solvability…Nonpolar Solvers?’” he read aloud, audibly confused.

“SMILE Solubility, Nonpolar Solvents,” Law corrected from across the room. 

Luffy titled his head and squinted again. “Ah! Got it!” He walked over to Law and handed him the folder in triumph. 

Law blinked and took the folder. “The fuck?” he swore in disbelief. “Where did you find this?” 

“Under the table,” Luffy shrugged. “So we’re good now?”

Law raised his eyebrows and shook his head in disbelief. “I, uh, yeah. This is what we were looking for.”

“Shishishi,” Luffy laughed. “I told you it would work out.”

Stifling his irritation, Law said, “Alright, let’s head back.” He paused and swept his eyes over Luffy’s frame. His red and white striped coat was buttoned up to his belly button, leaving his ravaged chest indisputably exposed. “Button that coat all the way up, will you?” 

“Nah, I’m not really cold anymore,” he responded casually.

“Just do it,” Law growled.

Eyebrows furrowed, Luffy stared back in defiance. “Why? I don’t wanna.”

Exasperated, Law scoffed. “You aren’t worried about your crew seeing all of…that?” he gestured weakly at his skin. 

Luffy looked down before returning his eyes to meet Law’s. “No?” Genuine confusion colored his voice.

Law stared, struggling to wrap his head around the complete absence of shame Luffy appeared to experience, or perhaps even understand as a concept. With a quiet, tense voice, he finally spoke, “Mugiwara-ya, it would make me feel more comfortable if you button your coat all the way up. Since I am responsible for the… state you’re in, I’m concerned that your crew will try to kill me.”

Luffy snorted. “Why? It’s my body.” Then, with a blissfully innocent shrug, he began buttoning his coat. “If it’s that important to you, then OK.”

Law exhaled in relief. “Thanks,” he grumbled. The goal of their outing tucked under his arm, Law went back to the door and opened it tentatively. He peered through the opening and ordered, “Looks like the chemical dissipated. Let’s not take any chances, though. Hold your breath and hurry through, OK? Don’t wander off or touch anything.” 

Luffy nodded and followed after Law, covering his nose and mouth with his coat as they dashed through the main lab from which they originally entered. Law was relieved to find Luffy directly behind him when they exited into the hallway. He slammed the door shut once Luffy was through and then paused, listening. 

“Huh, guess there really wasn’t anyone from the research institute around here,” Law mused.

“Told you it would work out!” Luffy smiled.

Law scoffed and turned to leave. After several paces he stopped. “Is your foot OK? Can you walk the rest of the way back?” he asked quietly.

Luffy took a few steps. “Hmm, I’m OK. But I wouldn’t say no to a piggyback ride!” he laughed.

“What? No, I didn’t-” Law began but was swiftly silenced by the sudden weight of Luffy launching himself onto his back. “Urk!” he grunted.

Luffy clambered until he could wrap his arms around Law’s neck. Looping his legs around Law’s torso several times, he shimmied into a comfortable position and settled. 

Law exhaled his pride into condensation in the freezing hallway and resigned himself to Luffy’s whim. Burdened with the extra weight, he walked at a steady but slower pace down the hallway and retraced their steps. Luffy rested his head on Law’s shoulder. His breath tickled Law’s neck when he spoke in a drowsy murmur, “Torao, you’re so warm.” Law cleared his throat and kept walking, suddenly grateful Luffy was glued to his back and couldn’t peer into his face with those inquisitive and endearing eyes. 

“Thanks for taking care of me…again,” Luffy spoke, this time pushing the collar of Law’s coat out of the way with his chin and nuzzling his cheek into the crook of Law’s neck.

“Uh, yeah. No problem,” Law spoke unevenly.

“Was it just a whim this time, too?” Luffy asked.

The softness of Luffy’s voice in his ear pushed every premeditated response and logical line of thought from Law’s head. His mind buzzed. Finally, he stammered, “N-no. I mean, ‘whim’ isn’t really the right word.”

“Hmmm,” Luffy released a breath of amusement before closing his eyes and relaxing into the cadence of Law’s footsteps. 

Chapter Text

“Why would you take Luffy to a laboratory!? You’re lucky this is the only casualty from your little escapade,” Nami chided as she hovered over Luffy, who was seated on a wooden crate. Chopper dabbed softly at the laceration on the underside of his foot. Clicking her tongue, Nami added, “You might want to rethink this alliance, Torao. Luffy is a lot to handle.”

Law opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Luffy’s swift defense. “Torao handles me really well, Nami!” Luffy declared.

Law met Luffy’s eyes briefly. The skin on his neck flashed hot. 

“Uhh, OK,” Nami looked between Law and Luffy. Visibly confused, she threw her hands into the air and walked away.

Chopper smiled up at Luffy. “Alliances seem fun! I wanna make one too,” he mused earnestly.

Law turned to leave, mouth twitching, as Luffy laughed, “It’s great, Chopper! If I had known they were like this I would have--Oi, Torao! Where are you going?” 

“Gonna take a bath,” he barked over his shoulder.

“Oh, Luffy, let’s go too,” Chopper commented. “Your foot could use a good soak before I re-bandage it… Also you smell funny.”

“I don’t wanna. Let’s eat first!” Luffy groaned, easing the tension that had formed in Law’s shoulders.

“Luffy!” Chopper scolded. “We need to clean your foot first. Then we can eat.” 

Luffy slumped, defeated. “Fine.” 

Law spun back around. Struggling with a cold sweat and overactive heartbeat, he frantically suggested, “I’m actually gonna eat first, so you guys go ahead.”

“Huh? OK, Torao,” Luffy cocked his head. Law refused to meet his eyes and scurried away. Luffy watched him leave while Chopper transformed into Heavy Point and slung him over his shoulder. Law’s figure disappeared amidst the crowd, leaving Luffy to reluctantly contend with the restless ache in his chest.

“What’s wrong with Luffy?” Sanji’s voice interrupted Luffy’s emotional processing.

“He cut his foot and needs a bath. It’s easier to just carry him,” Chopper answered.

“Was headed for a bath myself after all this cooking. I’ll join you guys.” Sanji exhaled the smoke from his lungs and added, “Somebody needs to make sure you don’t try to bolt before you’re clean, eh, Luffy?” 

—

Sanji and Chopper were already undressed and sitting at the showers. Luffy stared at his feet, frozen. “What’s wrong, Luffy? Do you need help?” Chopper asked, turning from his stool. 

Luffy fiddled at the collar of his coat, recalling Law’s request. “No… Can I just soak my foot and then go eat?” he grumbled.

“Just take the damn bath, Luffy. When was the last time you bathed? You smell weird,” Sanji ordered.

Luffy hesitated and then undressed. He kept his back to Chopper and Sanji as he shuffled to the open space to the right of them. Hunching his shoulders forward, he sat at the stool and turned his body away. Sanji and Chopper exchanged a perplexed look. Luffy hurried through the motions of washing his hair, face, and body. After rinsing off, he slinked into the tub and tucked his knees under his chin.

The steaming water sloshed against Luffy’s skin as Sanji submerged himself in the bath. Chopper followed and let out a pleased exhale. 

“Why are you hiding?” Sanji’s sharp voice startled them both.

“I’m not hiding!” Luffy immediately retorted.

“Yes you are. Chopper, he’s hiding, right?”

Chopper chuckled nervously. “Ah, I mean…You are sitting in a way that’s very unlike you. Is there something wrong?”

Luffy curled in on himself even further. “No,” he murmured.

Exasperated, Sanji grumbled, “This is ridiculous.” 

Luffy shrank as Sanji waded across the bath to him. “I promised!” Luffy cried.

“Sanji, let him be!” Chopper scolded. 

He ignored Chopper and pulled Luffy’s arms away, throwing him off balance and sending him face-first into the water. The ensuing lapse in conversation was disturbed with the crash of displaced water over the edge of the bath. Chopper and Sanji gawked when Luffy sat up, spluttering. “Luffy, what happened to you?” Chopper cried in horror at the welts and bite marks across his neck and torso.

Eyes narrowed, Sanji asked coldly, “Who did this to you?” Chopper glanced at Sanji in alarm but said nothing. “Luffy!” Sanji snapped when he was still silent.

Luffy crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. “I can’t say anything,” he murmured.

“You can tell us if someone hurt you, Luffy. I can’t imagine what sick fuck would take advantage of you like this but I swear I’ll kill them,” Sanji growled.

“Torao didn’t hurt me!” Luffy retorted, realizing too late what he had revealed.

“Trafalgar Law did this to you?!” Chopper screeched, almost in tears.

“No! I mean, yes, but it’s not…” he trailed off in frustration and scratched violently at his head. 

Sanji waited until he had stopped before speaking more calmly, “Luffy, if Trafalgar did things to you that you didn’t want him to do, I want you to tell us. Did he threaten you? Did he drug you or something?”

“Drug me?” Luffy repeated, confused.

Chopper spoke tentatively, “If you were under the influence of some kind of drug then your decision-making can be impaired, which could be taken advantage of…”

Luffy’s eyes widened and his skin grew pale. “Oh…shit. Did I…?” he trailed off and buried his head in his hands. “I think I took advantage of Torao,” he groaned.

Sanji and Chopper gaped at him, utterly baffled. “ You …took advantage…of Trafalgar?” Sanji spoke slowly.

Shoulders shaking, Luffy confessed, “At the lab! There was-there was a chemical and Torao got caught in it and it’s all my fault. And it made him…made him different. And that’s when I…” He couldn’t bring himself to say more, overpowered with devastation. 

Gently, Chopper waded over to Luffy and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Luffy. Luffy,” he murmured. “It’s OK. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. You just need to talk to Torao and clear things up, which you can do once you’ve calmed down. OK, Luffy?”

Biting back tears, Luffy nodded. “Yeah, OK. Thanks, Chopper,” he rasped.

“Wait! Don’t leave before I’ve dressed your foot!” Chopper barked when Luffy rose to get out of the tub. “And rest a little before you try to do anything else!”

—-

Only a handful of stars fought through the glow cast by Punk Hazard’s volcanic half, feebly announcing the arrival of night. Luffy pushed himself up from beneath the mandarin trees, where he had laid down to rest several hours earlier at Chopper’s insistence. Footsteps creaked across the lower deck as his crew returned from the festivities of the ceasefire. Usopp’s voice reached Luffy from below, “Momonosuke and Kin’emon are already using the last beds in our room, but how about we set you up in the aquarium bar?”

Luffy heard Law’s gruff voice in response but couldn’t make out the substance of his words. He stretched the rubber of his neck and hands to grab the balusters of the railing, peering down on the crown of Usopp’s head as it vanished into the doorway below. Law followed closely behind. The knot in Luffy’s chest tightened as he watched Law cross the space beneath him. Law stopped abruptly and looked up. Luffy’s heart leapt to his throat when their eyes met. His eyes widened to saucers and the heat rose in his face. Law blinked in surprise as Luffy panicked and released the railing, his head and arms snap back into place. With an amused smile, Law ducked his head down and passed through the door frame.

Luffy sat clutching his chest, heart thumping rapidly against his hand. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose. A nap had calmed his nerves like Chopper advised, but seeing Law capsized the steadiness of his heart anew.  While he worked to stabilize himself, footsteps slapped across the main deck. Luffy stilled and listened. When the steps receded, he crawled to the railing and peered out to see Usopp entering the men’s quarters on the other side of the deck. 

He nodded his head and steeled his nerves. Fists clenched, Luffy stomped down the stairs and moved to open the door to the aquarium bar. He paused, took a strong inhale through his nose, and then pushed the door in forcefully. 

“Mugiwara-ya,” Law spoke softly. He pushed himself up from his reclining position on the cushioned bench running along the aquarium glass. His hat laid atop his neatly positioned shoes on the floor beneath him. A blanket slipped from his shoulder as he sat and faced Luffy. “Why do you look like you’re going to fight me?” he chuckled.

Luffy froze, registering that he had bent his knees and raised his arms in what was unmistakably a fighting stance. He deliberately relaxed his posture and stood up straight. “That’s not-” he stammered and then stopped. Frustrated with the poor start to their interaction, Luffy walked in front of Law, got to his knees, and pressed his head to the floor. “I’m sorry for taking advantage of you!” he shouted. Light filtered through the aquarium glass and cast wavering lines of blue across Luffy’s bowed figure.

Law’s eyebrows shot up in shock. He moved his mouth to speak but instead barked out a peal of laughter. Luffy raised his head, bewildered. Law’s shoulders shook as he bent forward and covered his face with his hands. “What’s funny about this?” Luffy cried in indignation.

Law pulled his hands back as his laughter subsided. “You think you took advantage of me?” he finally spoke. “And here I was worried about taking advantage of you. Sit, Mugiwara-ya.” He patted the space next him and Luffy hesitantly rose and seated himself next to Law. “What makes you think I’ve been taken advantage of?”

Luffy pulled his knees to his chin and toyed with the frayed edge of his shorts. “Chopper said that if you’re drugged then you can’t make decisions, so people can take advantage of you,” he began. “When we were in the lab, you inhaled that afro-dish…afro-something. Does that count as a drug?”

Law leaned his head back against the glass. “Chopper’s not wrong, but…I wanted that. I’d do it again,” his voice quieted as he spoke. 

Luffy’s eyes snapped to his face at this declaration. “Really?” he whispered, the temperature in his skin swiftly rising. 

Law nodded and met his eyes briefly. Luffy smiled and let out a deep exhale. “Thank goodness…I was afraid I…” he trailed off with an anxious chuckle, breathing heavily. “I thought I-” he tried again before erupting into tears. 

Law straightened his spine, eyes wide. He raised his hands in a placating motion before Luffy’s diminished form, uncertain what gesture might cross the line, where the line was, and what the line meant. Finally, he rested a hand on Luffy’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “It’s OK, Mugiwara-ya,” he insisted gently.

Luffy burst from his huddled stance, wrapped his arms around Law and buried his face in his chest. Law shrugged off his shock more deftly this time and patted Luffy on the back. Voice muffled and warm through the fabric of Law’s shirt, Luffy groaned, “I thought I hurt you.”

The pressure in Law’s chest grew. He moved his hand from Luffy’s back and stroked his hair. “You didn’t hurt me,” he responded. 

Luffy’s breathing calmed into a subdued rhythm as Law continued to pass his fingers across his hair. Releasing his hold on Law, Luffy pushed himself back to sit next to Law. Wiping at his face with the back of his hand, he cleared his throat. “Sorry, Torao.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Law retorted.

Smiling, Luffy scratched at the back of his head. “Thanks,” he chuckled. “You didn’t take advantage of me either, Torao.”

“I sure fucking hope I didn’t,” Law snorted. 

Luffy paused. “Ya know, I thought my heart would have calmed down now that we cleared this up,” he frowned. “It still feels like it’s gonna explode.” Law cocked his head and pressed the back of his hand to Luffy’s chest. Luffy furrowed his eyebrows and added, “That made it worse.”

A devilish smirk pulled at the corner of Law’s mouth. “Really?” he let out a breathy laugh.

“I’m serious! I think there’s something wrong,” Luffy insisted, grabbing Law’s outstretched wrist.

Law pulled his hand back. “I guarantee you’re fine, Mugiwara-ya,” he spoke flatly.

“How do you know that? What if my heart bursts?” Luffy cried, spiraling. 

Propping an elbow on the back of the cushioned bench, Law searched Luffy’s face. “Do you want me to show you?” he asked, a dark smile creeping across his face.

“Show me?” Luffy repeated.

“Your heart. You can check it yourself if you want.”

“Oh. Like…you would cut it out? Wouldn’t that hurt?”

Law shrugged. “Not really. The op-op fruit power allows me to anesthetize the incisions within the ‘room.’ Might just feel... weird.”

“And you’ve…done this before?” Luffy hesitated. 

Law chuckled. “I’ve stolen scores of hearts, Mugiwara-ya.”

Luffy began to peel off his shirt but paused. He looked up at Law again as his skin reddened. “You’ll give it back, right?” he asked, voice edged with concern.

Law titled his head and just smiled at him. Softly, he ordered, “Get on the floor and lie on your back.” After issuing this instruction, he stood to retrieve Kikoku from the table that circled the mast in the center of the room. Luffy was already lying on the floor when he turned back around. Law’s breath caught as he stepped on either side of Luffy’s hips, got to his knees, and settled on his pelvis. Even in the dim, rippling light, Law could see Luffy’s complexion flushed further. 

“This is making it worse,” Luffy complained anxiously.

Law could feel Luffy’s erection stiffening beneath him. “You’re so honest,” Law purred as he unsheathed his sword. He held out his free hand and murmured, “Room.” Gripping Kikoku more firmly, he steadied himself above Luffy. “Are you ready?” 

Luffy nodded as he bit his lower lip. With swift, clean motion, Law struck Luffy’s chest and carved. Luffy gasped at the sight and sensation. Using his left hand, Law leaned in and pulled Luffy’s encased heart from his body. “See?” he held the heart before Luffy’s face and turned it. “Perfectly fine. Nothing wrong with it.”

Blinking his moon-round eyes, Luffy stared at his heart. There it was, beating and functioning outside of his body. “You-you’re right…It’s fine,” he observed in awe, the light catching on the edge of the clear cube and blinding him momentarily.

Law pulled Luffy’s heart level to his own face and examined it. He flicked his eyes back to Luffy and asked, “Wanna see it beat faster?” 

Luffy’s lips failed to restrain a cry as Law stuck out his tongue and languidly ran it along the encasing that surrounded his heart. Law trained his eyes on Luffy’s, drinking in the complicated excitement that glimmered there. Law’s body rose slightly as Luffy pushed his hips upward.

A sharp scream shattered the fragile atmosphere that had built around them. Law froze and Luffy tilted his head backward to see who stood in the doorway. 

“Put Luffy’s heart back, you pervert!” Chopper screeched. 

In one sharp movement, Law dropped his sword to his side and slotted Luffy’s heart back into place with a satisfying thunk. Footsteps crashed across the deck as he pushed himself up and took a step back. When Luffy scrambled to his feet, nearly the entire crew had crowded at the doorway. 

“The fuck is going on here?” Zoro bellowed, pushing his way to the front. 

“Torao was about to eat Luffy’s heart!” Chopper wailed.

Law put his hands up defensively and Luffy quickly shouted, “That’s not what happened!” Placing himself in front of Law, he stammered, “H-he was helping me!”

“Luffy, he cut out your heart,” Chopper groaned, not bothering to fight back his tears.

“Alright, I don’t really get this, but both of you out. Now,” Zoro gestured at the two of them vaguely. He turned and shooed the rest of the crew back. Luffy slumped out to the deck with Law trailing behind him. 

“Luffy, you need to come with me to the sick bay,” Chopper grabbed Luffy’s hand and pulled. His arm stretched several feet before he moved to follow Chopper with his head down.

“Let me talk to Torao. Alone,” Robin stepped forward and spoke to Zoro. 

Eyebrow raised, Zoro conceded, “Fine.”

“I’ll stand by the door, Robin. If you need anything you just say the word. I won’t let this creep touch you,” Sanji growled.

She giggled, “Thank you, Sanji.” Motioning back to the aquarium bar, she spoke to Law, “Shall we?” She closed the door behind them and the rest of the crew crowded around Sanji, straining to listen to the conversation. 

Law heaved himself into a chair at the rounded center table. Humming lightly, Robin fixed herself a drink at the shelves built into the side of the room. Over the tinkle of ice and glass she called to Law, “Drink?”

“Sure,” he grunted. He leaned on the table and rested his chin in his hand as he waited.

Robin placed their drinks on the table and settled into the chair next to Law, shifting it so she faced him directly. She raised her glass and held it up to him expectantly. Slowly, Law lifted his glass to meet hers with a clink. They both took a hearty sip of the amber whiskey pooling at the bottom of their glasses. 

Robin let out a satisfied breath before gazing upon Law intently. “So, Torao. What are your intentions with our captain?” she asked sweetly.

Law coughed and cleared his throat. “My intentions?” he repeated back to her. 

She giggled, “You’ve been eye-fucking Luffy since we ran into you at the research facility.” Law’s face reddened. Robin tilted her head at his reaction and continued, “I heard from Sanji about an incident that happened earlier today. Something about Luffy coming back with bite marks on his body…” She paused and swirled the drink in her cup. Law squirmed under her gaze. “Well, when I heard that I grew very worried about our captain. He’s so trusting, you know? And it’s hard to know what older men are after…”
“I’m not old,” Law grumbled, downing his drink suddenly.

“Oh, I know,” she laughed. “If you’re old then that makes me old. But the fact is, Luffy is 19. And you’re, what, 25?”

“Twenty-six,” Law answered reluctantly when it was clear Robin was not going to move forward without his response.

She hummed and looked at him thoughtfully. “I don’t mean to imply that a distance in age should prohibit anything. Rather, it’s striking when you place it within the context of Luffy’s character. He is young but he’s also so earnest. Forgive me for thinking so, but I couldn’t help worrying that you were just preying on his good nature.”

Law quipped, “It’s not like Mugiwara-ya can’t defend himself.”

Robin raised a placating hand to acknowledge him. “I agree. But regardless, that’s what I was worried about…Until I noticed that hickey on your shoulder.” She pointed, and he twisted to look down. The welt glowed on his skin where his shirt collar had shifted off. He clenched his teeth and covered his eyes with his hand. Robin giggled, “Don’t look so embarrassed, Torao. You should wear it more proudly. After all, this is your saving grace.”

“Hm?” Law looked up at her and blinked.

“I think we’re all learning that our dear captain might not be as innocent as we all thought,” she explained. 

Law snorted, “That's for sure.”

Robin smiled. “Now, what’s all this about stealing our captain’s heart?”

—

“What’s he saying?” Usopp hissed, trying to press his ear to the doorway.

“Shh!” Nami slapped his arm. Usopp flinched and threw up his arms in frustration. Several moments later, Nami reported out, “Luffy and Torao are definitely fucking.”

“What?!” Zoro cried in dismay. Sanji smacked the back of his head and gestured for him to be quiet.

Softly, Brook gasped, “Oh, my cheeks are burning! Even though I don’t have any body heat. Yohoho!”

“Are Sanji and I the only straight people on this ship?” Usopp mused.

“The shitty cook isn’t straight,” Zoro scoffed as Robin pushed the door opening, startling the group backwards.

“Sexuality is fluid, Usopp,” Robin interjected.

“Lots of fluids,” Sanji smirked.

Franky grimaced. “That’s suuperrr gross.”

Robin chuckled and gestured for her crewmates to follow. “Let’s go talk in the kitchen.” 

The group left Law to himself and gathered around the dining table. Robin approached the door to the sick bay and found it already ajar. She poked her head in. Chopper was at his desk, scribbling notes in a file. “Chopper?” her voice chimed.

“Ah! Robin, good timing. Luffy just went to bed. Did you talk to Torao?” Chopper responded.

She nodded. “Join us in the kitchen?”

Chopper hopped off his stool and trotted after Robin. Once all crew members, save Luffy, were accounted for, Chopper began, “Luffy said this was a misunderstanding and that Law wasn’t trying to kill him… despite what it looked like. He was quite certain about this, so I’m inclined to believe him.”

“Why the fuck did he cut out his heart then?” Zoro spat.

“Torao said Luffy thought something was wrong with his heart, so he offered to show it to him. He said Luffy agreed to this,” Robin responded and turned to Chopper.

With a nod, Chopper added, “That’s consistent with what Luffy told me.”

“Wait, wait. Is Luffy’s heart OK? Can we clear that up?” Usopp asked frantically.

Robin met Chopper’s gaze briefly and stifled a giggle. After a diplomatic pause, she answered, “Yes, it’s fine. It was a misunderstanding on Luffy’s part.” Usopp sighed in relief.

“Glad to know Torao isn’t trying to murder our captain, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he’s fucking him,” Nami grumbled.

“Just once!” Chopper interrupted.

Robin snorted and swiftly covered her mouth. “Regardless of the frequency, it is true that it happened, and consensually,” she emphasized and cleared her throat. “So there’s nothing left to discuss, is there?”

Sanji hesitated before piercing through the blanket of silence that had fallen upon the kitchen. “Should we put Torao up somewhere less…public?” 

Nami looked at him and frowned. “Oh god. That’s a good point.”

“Wait, why? What’s wrong with the aquarium bar?” Chopper asked, swiveling his head in confusion.

The group went quiet again. Brook finally spoke, “Chopper, we all use the aquarium bar regularly. If Torao were to be in a position where he wouldn’t want to be disturbed for… some reason, it might be inconvenient for the rest of us.” Chopper’s eyes doubled in size as he processed this information. 

“I also don’t get the feeling that Luffy would think to be particularly considerate of others in that kind of situation,” Franky sighed. “What about the crow’s nest? That’s at least out of the way.” 

Zoro glowered. “I guess I could move my weights somewhere else for now. How long are we keeping this emo fucker on board anyway?” A collective shrug circled the table. “Fine, I’ll move my shit tomorrow.”

“Make sure to keep your stuff far away from here. I don’t want you training anywhere near the kitchen or the pantry. It’s unsanitary and you’ll make the food smell bad,” Sanji added spitefully.

“Hah?!” Zoro roared. His chair scooted back with a screech as he stood abruptly and leaned across the table. Grabbing Sanji by the shirt collar, he bared his teeth. “You think you’re any better, curlybrows? You go around reeking of cigarettes all the damn time.” 

Sanji grabbed at Zoro’s coat with equal brutality as Franky yelled, “Oi! Just put your damn weights in the armory with my stuff. You can use the space just…don’t touch anything dangerous.”

“That’s assuming he doesn’t get lost on the way down there,” Sanji snickered.

“Shut your fucking face!” Zoro growled, his rage renewed.

The crew’s clamorous banter rang across the Thousand Sunny, reaching Luffy and Law in their respective places. As they each stared at the ceiling, Law watching the light ripple through the fish tank and Luffy studying grooves in the wooden planks above his hanging bunk, both exhaled a troubled breath that bloomed into condensed clouds against the cold. Luffy scratched at the skin on his chest and frowned. His mind spun, unsettled by the intensity of his crew’s distrust of Law despite having established a clear alliance with him, which was only made more complicated by his mercurial physical reactions he now attributed to Law’s presence. Simultaneously, Law rubbed the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes against the volatile thoughts that rocked his heart in time with the waves lapping at the hull of the ship. Sleep visited each in fitful bouts.

—

Encounters and glimpses of one another were fleeting throughout the following day, despite their close proximity within the confines of the ship. To Law’s relief, the Strawhats had shifted from an attitude of hostility to one of mottled acceptance. After informing him of his relocation to the crow’s nest, their interactions were largely limited to consultations on navigation and resource projection based on Dressrosa’s distance and anticipated accessibility. Outside of these encounters, Law spent his day thumbing through Chopper’s medical herbology textbooks and jotting notes down in a bound book.

Drowsiness weighed him down, accumulating like snow upon his mind as the hours progressed and reminded him of his poor sleep. The sun had passed its apex when Law ceded and planted his head in the crook of his arm on the desk. He woke an hour or so later to a gentle scratching sound near his ear. Blinking against the orange glow of the sun setting over the water, Law raised his head. He stretched his neck from side to side and squinted as his eyes adjusted. 

Luffy sat in the chair next to him, hunched over the desk. Law watched the light play upon his hair and flicker slightly with the impact from each stroke of pen across paper. Luffy raised his head to assess his work. The yearning in Law’s heart tugged as he observed Luffy’s earnest concentration. Slowly, he stretched his hand toward Luffy’s face. His eagerness to touch Luffy’s skin and brush his hair out of his eyes dissolved when the contents of the notebook caught his attention.

“Why are you drawing in my notebook?” Law snapped.

Luffy flinched and swung his head in Law’s direction. He stared at the outstretched hand and then Law’s face behind it. “Torao, you’re awake!” Luffy beamed. He fitted the notebook into Law’s hand. “Your notes looked boring so I improved them.”

Whipping his hand back, Law clutched his notebook and examined the page. “You improved my notes by doodling all over the page?” he asked flatly. “What even is this?” He squinted and furrowed his brow at the notebook.

“It’s the ‘Cool S’, duh,” Luffy snorted. “What, you don’t know what the ‘Cool S’ is?”

Law looked at him coldly. “I know what the ‘Cool S’ is and this is not it. Why is it so lopsided?”

“It’s not lopsided!” Luffy argued.

Shaking his head, Law slapped the notebook onto the desk in front of Luffy and pointed to the an empty corner of the page. “Show me how you draw it,” he ordered.

“It’s OK if you don’t know what it is, Torao,” Luffy chuckled.

“I know what it is!” he growled with impatience. “I want to see how you draw it.”

“Sure, Torao. I can teach you,” Luffy responded. Law rolled his eyes. On the page Luffy drew a blocky ‘S,’ starting from the bottom point and moving counter clockwise. “See?” Luffy tapped at the drawing.

Law snorted in disbelief, “That’s not how you draw it.”

Offended, Luffy frowned, “Yes, it is! Ace taught me how.”

Mouth twitching, Law bit back a comment about Ace’s mental faculties. Instead, he sighed and gestured for the notebook. “Let me show you.” Luffy reluctantly handed the notebook back and watched while Law narrated, “You start with a row of three vertical lines, and then make a matching row beneath them - leaving a gap between, OK?” Luffy nodded, though his eyes were still narrowed with skepticism. “From here you draw a line from the bottom of the first line in the top row to the top of the second in the next row, and then a line from the second in the top to the third on the bottom. Form a point on the top and on the bottom like this…” Law paused as he demonstrated the motion. “And then just draw a line inward from the open points to close it off.” He finished the lines swiftly. “That is a ‘Cool S’.”

Luffy stared up at Law with wide eyes. “That’s amazing!” he shouted. 

Law chuckled, “This is half the reason why this ‘S’ is even considered cool, Mugiwara-ya. Here, you can practice.” He turned the page and paused, blinking. “What…is that?” He looked up at Luffy, who had gone quiet. The skin across his cheeks and ears was tinged with pink. Confused, Law stared back down at the page. “It looks like a…potato with hair?” he mused quietly.

“It’s a heart!” Luffy pouted. 

Law frowned at the drawing, looked at Luffy, and then back at the drawing. “How?” he asked, genuinely confused. 

Luffy huffed and leaned across the table to point to the textbook, which sat open to a diagram of the heart. “See! These are the tubes,” he explained, moving back to his drawing and tracing the ‘hairs’ on the ‘potato.’

“Ah,” Law stifled a laugh. “So these are arteries and the venae cavae.” 

Luffy chewed at his lower lip and mumbled, “Sanji told me girls think hearts are romantic.”

“Are you…Are you trying to be romantic?” Law’s brow furrowed. “And, wait…is this supposed to be for a girl?”

“What? No…I don’t know,” Luffy stammered. His cheeks burned brighter. “It’s for you. I thought you liked hearts… Aren’t you, like, the captain of the Heart Pirates?”

“Yes to both points... Hearts remind me of someone I loved who died a long time ago,” he explained softly, currents of bittersweet memory rising and stirring in his chest. 

“Oh,” Luffy spoke quietly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

Law shook his head and gave him a weak smile. “If I didn’t want to be reminded of him I wouldn’t have tattooed a giant heart on my chest.”

“Did it hurt?” Luffy asked.

“The tattoo?” Law titled his head. Luffy nodded. “A little, but that was-”

Usopp’s voice travelled up the hatch and interrupted, “Oi, Luffy! Torao! Dinner’s ready!”

“Coming!” Luffy called back. 

He jumped to his feet and made for the ladder. Law grabbed at his hand to keep him but only managed to snag his pinky and ring fingers, which stretched as Luffy ran across the room. “Luffy-ya!” Law hissed after him.

Luffy stopped and turned. “Hm? You comin’, Torao?” he smiled.

Law released Luffy’s fingers, which returned to him with a snap. He took a steadying step to counteract the force. 

Law cleared his throat, “Come to the crow’s nest later? We need to talk strategy for Dressrosa.”

Grinning, Luffy nodded before plunging down the hatch and skipping use of the ladder altogether. Law followed, shaking his head.

–

“And then you connect the lines like this!” Luffy announced as he traced out a ‘Cool S’ onto Chopper’s napkin.

Clapping his hooves together, Chopper smiled. “Wow! That’s so clever, Luffy!”

“Torao taught me,” Luffy beamed, glancing at Law from across the dining table. Law bit back the disproportionately immense satisfaction that welled within his chest.

“Lemme see,” Franky called. Chopper passed the napkin his way. “Oww! It’s the suuuperrr ‘Cool S.’ That takes me back.” 

Robin peered over at the napkin and nodded. “The ‘Cool S’ is one of the few things that we have definitive proof of being used during the Void Century.”

“Wait, is the ‘Cool S’ part of that old language on the poneglyphs?!” Luffy gasped.

The room filled with laughter and Law choked on his sip of water. Robin added when the laughter subsided, “No, but it’s certainly attained a status as a historical symbol.” Looking at Law, she teased, “I’m glad Torao is teaching you about these cultural intricacies.”

“I had to. He was drawing it wrong all over my notes,” Law grumbled, prompting another laugh from the group.

Once dinner was finished and the crew began to disperse, Law rose to retire to the crow's nest. As he stepped out of the kitchen, Luffy spotted him from across the deck. Waving, Luffy called, “Oiiii, Torao! I'll be up in a little bit!” 

Law twitched his hand in an awkward wave and then ducked his head down. He walked quickly to climb the netting along the fore-mast. In the crow’s nest, he threw his notebook onto the bench next to his sword. A pillow lay atop a stack of sheets and blankets, which he dismantled and spread out on the north side of the room. The weather had grown mild the closer they drew to Dressrosa, allowing Law to comfortably shed his coat and shirt. He folded these into a pile of their own, topping it with his hat. Finally, he kicked off his shoes and slumped down on the bench. 

He leaned back against the window and closed his eyes. A soft breeze came through a nearby open window and played against his neck. The thought occurred to Law that such a gentle wind would not be conducive to swift travel, but he was surprised to find this didn’t bother him. The steady slap of waves lulled his mind further until he slipped into an empty reverie; each pulse of his heart pushed the ocean against the ship’s hull and the harder his chest beat, the farther the ship sailed. He felt flush with power until the sensation twisted, inverted. Seawater rushed through his veins, drowning him from within. 

“Torao?” Luffy’s concerned voice pulled him back to the earthly plane of the Thousand Sunny floating atop the Grand Line. With a strained gasp, Law started and clutched at his chest. “Are you OK?” Luffy asked, watching his chest heave.

Panting, Law wiped a cold sweat from his brow. “Uh, yeah. Yeah,” he breathed, failing to convince both Luffy and himself.

Luffy dropped the bundle of cloth wadded up in his arms and sat next to Law. Placing the back of his hand on Law’s forehead, he spoke, “Are you sick? Do you want me to get Chopper?”

Law shook his head as he caught his breath. “No, just a bad dream. I’m good.” He looked down at the bundle Luffy had left on the ground. “What’s that?”

“Oh!” Luffy jumped back to his feet to retrieve the cloth. “A pillow and blankets, plus some snacks.” He moved the blanket aside to expose a jar of crackers nestled into a pillow.

Letting out an unsteady chuckle, Law commented, “Didn’t you just eat dinner?”

“Yeah, well, I’m hungry,” Luffy shrugged as he opened the jar and popped a cracker into his mouth. He stared at Law for another beat before suggesting, “Maybe you should lay down, Torao. You look sweaty.”

Law swallowed the instinct to argue and conceded with a grumble, “Eh, yeah probably.” 

He dropped from the bench to his knees and turned to lay on his back atop the sheets he set out on the floor. Once he was settled, Luffy shoved a biscuit in his mouth. “Eat! It’ll make you feel better,” he smiled.

Law coughed at the sudden gesture and pulled the biscuit out. After pausing to examine the biscuit, he returned it to his mouth and ate it. He watched as Luffy shook out a sheet next to his own and settled it upon the floor. He tossed the pillow carelessly near Law’s and plopped down beside him.

“Are you sleeping here?” Law observed.

“Yep!” Luffy nodded. Law blinked and opened his mouth to speak but found an absence of words. Instead, he pressed his lips together and bobbed his head briefly. Luffy frowned. “Is that OK?”

“Y-yeah, sure,” Law stammered and cursed inwardly as the heat rose in his cheeks. 

Luffy shifted to his side and propped himself up on one arm so he was facing Law. “I like you, Torao, so I wanna hang out with you. But I can leave if you want,” he spoke casually.

Law’s hand gripped Luffy’s free hand before he could think twice. “Don’t,” Law insisted frantically. The desperation in his tone and movement dawned on him and he pulled his hand back. “Sorry,” he murmured. “I’d like it if you stayed.”

Chuckling, Luffy took hold of Law’s retreating hand and threaded his fingers with his own. Law's pulse sped into a frenetic beat. “So, what’s the deal with Dressroba?” Law asked.

Law raised his eyebrows at his own forgetfulness. “Right. Dressrosa , Mugiwara-ya. We need Doflamingo dead, and if we take out the SMILE factory then Kaido will eliminate Doflamingo for the failure. So-”

“Right, right! Take down Doffy, destroy the factory, then take down Kaido. Got it!” Luffy nodded seriously.

“It’s more complex than that,” Law scoffed.

Luffy shook his head noncommittally. “Doesn’t seem like it. Why don’t you just tell me the details when we get there?”

“That’s absurd, I…” Law began to argue but paused. “Actually, you probably won’t remember anything if I tell you now, will you?” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Fine, OK. I’ll tell you when we get to Dressrosa.”

Luffy beamed. Several moments of silence stretched between them before Luffy mentioned wistfully, “Being up here reminds me of the treehouse I lived in with my brothers.”

“You lived in a treehouse?” Law raised an eyebrow.

“Mmhmm!” he nodded his head vigorously. “We had so much fun out there playing on the mountains, exploring, fighting tigers and shit…” he trailed off. “I miss my brothers sometimes.”

Law nodded in understanding. “You had more than one?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah, it was me, Ace, and Sabo,” Luffy answered, eyes distant. After a beat his gaze focused back on Law. “You have any brothers?”

Shaking his head, Law bit at the corner of his mouth. Eventually, he focused on their intertwined hands and mumbled, “Had a sister.” 

Luffy clasped his hand tighter as they sat in silence. Law stroked his thumb across Luffy’s in response. A few moments passed before Luffy let go, shifted to his stomach, and scooted closer to Law. Raised on his elbows, Luffy looked down at Law. “You seem so sad all the time,” Luffy finally spoke.

Law shrugged. “We all have a shitty origin story.”

“What makes you happy?” Luffy responded swiftly.

Eyebrows furrowed at the abrupt question, Law hesitated. “Efficiency. Revenge…Fresh laundry?” he trailed off awkwardly. “I don’t know. Happiness doesn’t seem that important when I’ve got things I need to do.”

“Like take down Doffy?” Luffy titled his head. 

Law nodded and spoke in choppy fragments, “Yeah. This world’s so fucking out of balance…Maybe I’m gonna end up flipping it too far but…I have to…I’m going to change it. I owe it…I want revenge for what I went through, for what they did to Cora, but…It’s not just me. The people with power in the New World only got it by climbing over the stacks of bodies they sacrificed along the way. I’m fucking done with the World Government and the Celestial fucking Dragons with their fingers up society’s ass playing it like a marionette. Just because they control the dominant cultural capital, they’ve been able to–to design these structures that set people up for failure but then frame it as an inherent weakness of the people! They rig the game so that people have no choice but to follow a script of perceived stereotypes that play right into the government’s fabricated narratives. They’ve systematically created a coil of misinformation to drag people deeper into their fuckery and it’s just, it’s just so…” Law stopped suddenly, embarrassed by his outburst. “Sorry,” he murmured.

Luffy stared at him, eyes sparkling. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in awe.

“Huh?” Law blinked.

“You’re beautiful,” Luffy repeated, chuckling. “I feel happy when I see you. And when I see you care about something so much, it’s like my heart is trying to punch its way out of my chest.” 

Law parted his mouth while his face burned. “I…” he started. He covered his face with his hands when words failed him.

“Hey!” Luffy rose to his knees and straddled Law’s hips. Gently pulling Law’s hands away, Luffy complained, “Why do you always hide your face? And right after I said all that?! Let me look at you!”

Their eyes met and sharpened the rawness of the moment. Staring into the shining pools of intensity contained in Luffy’s gaze, Law swallowed. “I’m not good at this, Mugiwara-ya.”

Luffy cocked his head. “At what?”

Law pulled his hands free from Luffy’s grasp and threw them up in a vague, frustrated gesture. “Social interaction?” he laughed bitterly.

Luffy shook his head. “I don’t think so. I like interacting with you,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone, which did nothing to diminish the magmatic heat that was bubbling in Law’s body beneath him. Whether in response to the visible reddening of Law’s skin or due to a complete absence of observation, Luffy spoke again, but with a delicate hint of timidity, “Hey, Torao. I want to look at you more. Could…Could you take off your clothes?”

Law exhaled a laugh and narrowed his eyes. “You have to get off of me first.”

Grinning, Luffy pushed through his feet to balance on his toes in a crouch above Law. He unbuttoned Law’s jeans and tugged them down around his thighs. Frowning, Luffy stood and took a few steps back. Law barked out a laugh as Luffy struggled to pull at his jeans from the ankle. “Why are your pants so tight?” Luffy grumbled.

“I thought they looked good,” Law chuckled and pushed himself up on his elbows. 

With a grunt, Luffy peeled the fabric away and tossed them aside. “They do look good but they’re not very accessible,” he muttered.

Law smirked and raised his hips. Luffy leaned down and stretched the elastic of Law’s boxer briefs, pulling them out and over his quickly growing shaft. The sight of Law’s cock springing forth arrested Luffy’s attention. His breath quickened and he paused. Law watched Luffy’s cheeks flush deeper; the rush of blood in his groin pulsed harder in response. Luffy refocused and dragged Law’s briefs down his legs and past his feet. 

“Socks too?” Law puffed in amusement when Luffy peeled his socks off, one foot at a time.

Luffy nodded firmly. “Everything.”

“In that case, don’t you think you should strip too?” Law teased and lifted his foot to catch the rough hem of Luffy’s shorts between his toes. He tugged and Luffy grinned before sliding his shorts and boxers off with one smooth yank. Law mused as his open shirt followed suit, “I see your point about accessibility.”

Kicking his clothes out of the way, Luffy knelt on the floor at Law’s feet. Law watched intently as Luffy took Law’s right foot into his hands. Luffy ran his middle finger along the underside of his foot, just grazing the skin. Law shuddered at the delicate thrill. Periodically flicking his eyes up to Law’s face to gauge his reactions, he cupped the heel of his foot in his palm and reached to do the same to the other foot. He pressed his thumbs into the soles of Law’s feet and worked them back and forth. 

Law hummed with satisfaction and laughed, “Are you pampering me?”

A playful light gleamed in Luffy’s eye. “I’m just doing what I want to do,” he answered. Dropping Law’s right foot, he shifted his focus to the left foot and raised it to eye level. The lift of his leg sent a flash of cold and then expansive heat in the pit of Law’s stomach while Luffy’s gaze trailed across his newly exposed intimate flesh. Luffy turned his attention back to Law’s foot, examining it briefly before tracing his tongue around the lower curve of the ankle bone. Law twitched as Luffy gently bit into the span of skin where heel meets calf, over his achilles tendon. He released Law’s ankle and traveled up his shin, planting succulent kisses and caressing his calf. 

Once he reached Law’s knee, Luffy raised his head and positioned himself between Law’s legs. He rested a palm on each of Law’s knees, spread his fingers, and then dragged his fingernails over the skin as he drew them inward to a point in the center of Law’s kneecaps. A shiver rolled down Law’s spine and he let his head loll back. Luffy slid his fingers around the back of Law’s knees and softly stroked the delicate skin. Law snapped his head forward when Luffy tightened his grasp and maneuvered Law’s legs further apart and then planted the soles of his feet upon the floor, leaving his knees bent. 

“Luffy-ya,” Law murmured, his body quivering sporadically at the intensity of touch and exposure. 

Luffy’s searching eyes roved over his body until he met Law’s watery gaze. A wicked smirk crept at the corner of Luffy’s mouth as he let out a breathy laugh. “I want to savor every bit, Torao.” Law bit down on his lower lip, darting his stare from the starved glow in Luffy’s eyes lower to Luffy’s swollen cock dripping with pre-cum. Luffy fondled Law’s thighs greedily and savored the sensation of thick muscle beneath smooth skin.

Dropping to his stomach, Luffy propped himself up on his left forearm and wrapped his right arm along the outside of Law’s leg. Holding it in place, he nipped at the pale inner thigh. “Oi!” Law gasped, hips twitching in response. 

“What, does it hurt?” Luffy asked, a playful challenge rising in his voice.

“Unf,” Law clenched his teeth and laid his head back on the pillow when Luffy bit down further along his leg. “No, it’s jus-haahn,” he started but was quickly suppressed by the sensation of Luffy sucking with all of his might. Luffy released; his flesh tingled. Excitement and anxiety peaking, Law exhaled audibly through his nose as Luffy planted his mouth even closer. Luffy’s cheek brushed against the supple skin of Law’s scrotum. The wet suck of his lips rang loud but failed to drown out Law’s unsteady breaths. Luffy found himself moving his hips against the floor, relishing the pressure on his groin as Law’s sighs hastened the rush of his blood. His head clouded with the sensuous aroma of Law’s sweat, pre-ejaculate, and skin.

Luffy pulled his right arm in and repositioned it to push on the back of Law’s thigh so that Law’s knee nearly touched his chest. With his access greatly improved, Luffy extended his tongue and carried it across Law’s ballsack, down the raphe and back up to the base of his shaft. Tenderly, he took the right testicle into his mouth and sucked. Luffy hummed as he worked his lips around the skin, coaxing moans from Law’s throat despite his efforts to maintain self-control. 

Law shifted, grabbing at his own thigh with one hand and resting the other on his stomach. He lifted his head when Luffy brought his mouth to his cock. Luffy sucked at the base while wrapping both arms outside of Law’s legs and grabbing his hips. Their eyes met. Luffy held his gaze and dragged his outstretched tongue up the side of Law’s shaft at a deliberate and languid pace. 

“Mmnh,” Law groaned and furrowed his brow. Luffy repeated this twice more, once along the opposite side and then underneath, before encasing his dick in the moist heat of his mouth completely. He plunged down, pre-cum collecting in the back of his throat. He raised his head, wrapped his lips around the head of Law’s penis, and sucked. Luffy paused to swirl his tongue around the pink tip before returning to suck on the head like a piece of hard candy.

“Fuck,” Law hissed through gritted teeth. He hovered a hand above Luffy’s head, fighting the urge to grab and thrust.

Flicking his eyes up, Luffy popped his lips as he rose. “Not yet, Torao,” he smiled. 

Law’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Now you’re just tormenting me, Luffy-ya,” he said amidst a frustrated laugh.

Luffy released Law’s hips and pushed himself up. He climbed above Law, legs on either side, and sat down slowly. Law leaned back on his forearms and watched as Luffy settled onto his pelvis. Luffy shimmied backward slightly so that Law’s cock nestled against the crack of his ass. After releasing a sigh, Law resorted to chewing on his lower lip while he admired Luffy’s slight but chiseled form before him. 

Luffy reached for Law’s wrist and pulled it toward him. He grabbed Law’s elbow and steadied it in the air. Turning his arm gently outward, Luffy traced the muscular lines of his bicep and forearm with his free hand. He returned to the inside of Law’s elbow and stroked the veins that rose there. With his fingertips, he followed the blue lines down to the wrist. 

Luffy’s eyes widened at the sudden, firm grip of Law’s hand around his right ass cheek. Law pulled Luffy’s cheek to the side, tilted his hips to push his cock closer, and then let go. Wedged between Luffy’s cheeks, the head of his dick nudged at Luffy’s tailbone. Law grabbed Luffy’s hipbone and smiled through gritted teeth as he slowly raised his hips in small measures. The warmth and pressure of Luffy’s ass around his dick triggered a gratified rumble in his chest. Luffy’s mind melted into white hot disarray as the base of Law’s shaft brushed against his asshole. He arched his back and angled his hips to increase the area of contact. 

Heavy-lidded and exhaling steaming breaths, Luffy pulled Law’s hand forward. He pursed his lips around Law’s thumb and drew it into his mouth. The tension in Law’s body coiled tight as his thumb vibrated with Luffy’s moans. Luffy ground against the length of Law’s cock while he rubbed his tongue along Law’s thumb. Luffy moved to the index finger and suctioned it within the velvety, wet heat of his inner cheeks and tongue. He repeated this with each finger. 

Luffy surrendered his hold on Law’s pinky finger and dropped his arm. “Luffy-ya,” Law purred as Luffy bent forward and planted his hands on either side of Law’s head. Their mouths met, churning fire as tongue twisted around tongue. Using his freed and slickened hand, Law ran his fingers up Luffy’s thigh, round his hip, and across the pale delicacy of his ass. He slipped them between Luffy’s crack and glided his middle finger along his center and over his anus. He repeated the sweeping motion twice more before stroking around Luffy’s asshole, tightening the circle with each pass. 

“Uhhn,” Luffy grunted and tilted his hips to press into Law’s finger. Law’s eyes flew open as Luffy’s teeth came down around his tongue. He smirked against Luffy’s mouth and slid his finger inside of his ass. Luffy released Law’s tongue as he cried out, his brow furrowed over eyes cast up toward the ceiling. Reveling in Luffy’s raw, visceral reaction to a single finger, Law mashed his mouth against Luffy’s. He dragged his teeth along the pliant meat of Luffy’s lips, biting and sucking while he pushed his middle finger further and caressed the tender flesh by inching his finger back and forth. 

Luffy gasped and slumped to his forearms. He tucked his head down next to Law’s and panted against his neck. “Torao, nh,” he choked before lengthening his tongue and tracing the outer edge of Law’s ear. Luffy’s breath burning in his ear, Law shuddered with hunger and dragged an arm up Luffy’s back to clutch at the soft wisps of his dark hair. A soft moan escaped Law’s mouth as Luffy’s teeth sunk into the cartilage.

“Torao,” Luffy whispered into his ear after releasing him from his bite.

“Hmm?” Law exhaled through his nose. 

Luffy licked the side of Law’s neck before pushing himself up, Law’s arm sliding down to rest on his bicep. As Luffy hovered above Law, their eyes met. Their chests rose and fell for several beats as each studied the voracious smolder in the other’s eye, overlaid with an identical gleam from their reflection. “Fuck me,” Luffy pleaded softly.

Law’s mouth pulled into a grin. “If that’s what you want,” he teased, despite struggling against the urge to just plow into Luffy’s body like the animal he felt closer and closer to becoming.

Luffy bit his lip and nodded. Law’s head spun as he withdrew his hand from Luffy’s arm, spat into his palm, and reached behind Luffy to stroke saliva over his own cock. Gradually, he pulled his finger from inside of Luffy, who sat back up on his knees. Holding the base of his throbbing shaft with one hand and guiding Luffy’s waist back with the other, Law rubbed the tip of his penis against Luffy’s anus. His heart crashed against his chest while he pulled down on Luffy’s hips. 

Law gasped when the head of his cock slipped past the puckered rim and the tight fever of Luffy’s flesh clutched his nerve endings. Gritting his teeth, Law threw his head back and grappled with his senses. After a moment passed, he tilted his head forward again. Luffy kneeled above him with his mouth agape and eyebrows creased. Law tilted his head as he met Luffy’s gaze. Before he could ask if he was alright, Luffy forced his hips down quickly enough to bring an overstimulated cry from both of their throats. 

Through clenched teeth, Law groaned, “Holy fucking hell, Luffy-ya.” He squeezed Luffy’s hip bones with both hands, digging his nails into the soft skin. 

“L-Law,” Luffy stammered. “It’s all inside…Law, I feel so full.” He chewed on his lower lip, each exhale a soft moan. Head tipped back and steadying himself by pressing his hands against Law’s raised thighs, Luffy slowly drew his hips in a circle. 

Law watched the carnal expressions on Luffy’s face with still reverence. His eyes flickered down his body to where Luffy’s cock pressed against his abdomen, pre-cum gathering in the dark hairs of his happy trail. Law brought his right hand to his face and spit once more. Palm and fingers wet, he slathered Luffy’s dick until it shone. Luffy watched, wide-eyed, as Law traced a pulsing vein with his thumb, then wrapped his palm and remaining fingers around Luffy’s shaft. Law squeezed once he had the full girth firmly in his grasp and trained his eyes to Luffy’s face. A single stroke of his hand along the length forced a desperate gasp from Luffy’s diaphragm. 

Law hastened his pace, gliding his hand over the slick, stiff rod of Luffy’s erection. 

He surrounded Luffy’s rosy glans with his cupped palm and rolled it against his hand. “Hey, Luffy-ya,” Law began, voice rasping with desire. “You’ll let me cum inside you again, won’t you?” He stared into Luffy’s watery eyes and managed a desperate half smile as he pulled himself back from the metaphorical and physical edge. 

Luffy met his gaze with a quivering grin, “I want all of it.”

Law bit into his lip and shook his head in blissful disbelief. He chuckled, “Then that’s what you’ll get.” 

Luffy cried out as Law moved his hips in short but strong thrusts. He kept a firm grip around Luffy’s cock as he pumped his dick within him. Law’s hand was still slippery enough to allow Luffy’s cock to move within his grasp as Luffy’s body bounced above him. Luffy moaned again at the combined sensation of Law’s shaft shoved deep inside of him and the deliciously suffocating clamp of Law’s hand around his own dick, both working at an increasingly forceful, swift rhythm. The obscene slap of skin against skin filled the room and drifted from the windows. Luffy began moving his hips to collide with Law’s thrusts. 

“You feel so fucking good, Luffy-ya,” Law hissed. His muscled body gleamed with sweat. Shutting his eyes tight, he rasped, “I’m getting pretty close.”

Luffy waded through the murky, luxurious chaos of his mind to beg breathlessly, “Just a little longer, I’m almost…” He trailed off, his voice replaced with gasps. Law tensed and slammed into him harder. “Law, uhhnn,” Luffy moaned. 

A heightened flush raised on his chest and shoulders as he widened his mouth and grabbed frantically at Law’s thighs. The tip of his tongue rested atop his lower lip, glistening, while he convulsed around the blinding sensation forced from his body. Hot semen surged from Luffy’s cock, splattering across the heart tattooed on Law’s chest and reaching up to his jaw and lip. Law milked the orgasm completely from Luffy’s dick, cum dripping down his fingers as he pumped his hand along the shaft. 

Three more thrusts pitched Law into his own climax. “Luffy,” his hoarse voice rumbled from his chest. He bent his head forward, veins bulging and tendons taut along his neck. The euphoric heat cleaved through his core and radiated outward into his limbs. Luffy raised his hands, dragging his fingers through his own hair and clasping them atop his head, as he focused on the subtle but luscious warmth of Law cumming within him. Law watched Luffy’s face through the rapturous veil of his orgasm and drank in the glow that mirrored his own. With a final buck of his hips, Law descended to reality. 

They remained unmoving for some time, basking in the blissful annihilation of thought and catching their breath. Slowly, Law stroked Luffy’s diaphragm with the fingertips of his left hand and drew them down to linger over Luffy’s rigid abs. Their eyes pored over one another, eventually meeting in tender awe. A grin spread across Luffy’s mouth and he burst into laughter. Law flinched at the unexpected convulsion of Luffy’s body around his cock before chuckling hesitantly. After a few moments he found himself overcome with giddiness, a laugh bubbling from his lungs that was unquestionably genuine. 

As Luffy’s own laughter calmed, he smiled down at Law. “Torao,” he purred. “You have a little something here…” He pointed to his lip.

Law recalled Luffy’s violent ejaculation and smirked as he swiped his tongue across his own upper lip to catch the pearl of white liquid. Luffy’s eyes sparkled at the intimate gesture, intensifying when Law brought his cum-soaked hand to his mouth. Law licked his thumb and forefinger clean. Luffy grabbed Law’s wrist and wrapped his lips around the remaining fingers: ‘a,’ ‘t,’ and ‘h.’ He ran his tongue between each finger, catching the remaining semen and swallowing.

Luffy released Law’s hand with a grin and proclaimed proudly, “There, all clean.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “All clean?” he asked skeptically. 

Luffy scanned his body again. He folded at the hips and licked a spot of cum off of Law’s nipple. “Good enough,” he laughed after sitting back up. Law rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue, though unable to wipe the smile from his lips. In response, Luffy pushed himself up and climbed off of Law, wincing slightly as he did so. Wadding up the sheet that he had brought with him, Luffy kneeled and pressed it to Law’s chest, rubbed it in circles.

Law laughed and took the sheet from him. “You’re just gonna smear it around if you do it like that,” he chided and used a single corner to wipe away the semen from his body. After folding the sheet neatly to ensure the outside contained no trace of stickiness, he looked back at Luffy. “What do you look so smug about?” Law asked, observing the satisfied smile stretched across his rubbery face.

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled. “Now you have to share your blanket with me.”

“Hah?” Law raised his brow. “What makes you think that?” he challenged.

Luffy’s smile melted into a vexed frown. “Mine is all gross now! I can’t sleep under that. Besides, I’m Captain of this ship,” he pouted.

Smirking, Law observed, “Oh, you’re using that card now?” He pushed himself up to sit and leaned toward Luffy with narrowed eyes and stopped inches from his face. “You’re lucky you’re as strong as you are cute, otherwise you’d be in trouble,” he purred before kissing him. 

“Mmmm,” Luffy hummed against Law’s mouth in mixed annoyance and pleasure. 

Law nudged his tongue past Luffy’s lips and smiled at the creamy saltiness mixed in his saliva. He pulled away with languid slowness. “Why don’t we go take a bath, hm?” Law suggested.

“I already took a bath yesterday,” Luffy complained.

“So did I, but look at you,” Law scoffed, flicking his eyes down Luffy’s shining, fluid-streaked body. 

Luffy followed his gaze and frowned. He surrendered, “Fine.”

Law stood up and reached out to Luffy. As he pulled Luffy up by the hand, Law added, “I’m going to get you to like baths if it’s the last thing I do.”

“What about fixing society?” Luffy teased.

“Dismantling oppression seems like an achievable goal in the face of this challenge, Mugiwara-ya,” Law layered his amusement under feigned indifference.

Chapter Text

Suds gathered around Law’s fingers as he lathered soap into Luffy’s hair. Letting out a satisfied hum, Luffy leaned back into Law’s touch. Law smiled. “Not so bad, huh?”

“Mmmm, it’s nice,” Luffy agreed. “But nobody else does this for me. What’s the point if I have to do it myself?”

“Tch,” Law clicked his tongue. “Then just ask someone...” he trailed off as a hollow ache formed in his chest. He cleared his throat. “Just ask me for help. When I’m around.” Law winced at the curt delivery of his latter statement. 

The reminder of Law’s impermanent stay on the Thousand Sunny, however, hurtled right over Luffy’s head. Luffy grinned and agreed, “Deal! I can help you too, Torao.”

“If you want,” Law shrugged, acutely self-conscious of his words and tone after earlier missteps. 

“Only seems fair,” Luffy added as he tilted his head forward to give Law better access. A shiver ran down Luffy’s spine when Law stroked the soft skin behind his ears. Law observed this with a smile. 

Next, Law grabbed a soapy cloth and began washing Luffy’s back. Capitalizing on the emotional security created in the absence of eye contact, Law started, “Mugiwara-ya, the other day when we were in the lab… You said you hadn’t done ‘that’ before.”

“Hmmm,” Luffy tilted his head and pondered. “I don’t remember.”

Law’s mouth twitched in frustration and his cheeks grew warm. He explained tersely, “I’m trying to ask you if you were a virgin before that, or what you meant.”

“Oh!” he nodded, understanding. “No, not exactly. I’ve done stuff but nobody put anything in my ass before,” he explained casually. 

“Cool, cool,” Law responded after a beat, cursing himself for the awkward response. “I was a little worried that it was your first time, ever,” he added. 

“Why would you be worried?” Luffy asked lightly, turning over his shoulder to look at Law.

Law’s face burned as he scrambled for an answer. “A lot of people view losing their virginity as an important memory or milestone…I doubt the ideal circumstance is getting fucked in a lab by…me,” he trailed off and darted his eyes downward. 

As he returned to face forward, Luffy shrugged, “That would be fine with me.”

Law grew quiet and finished scrubbing Luffy’s back, a complicated blend of emotions percolating in his chest. He handed Luffy the washcloth and turned to use the showerhead attached to the wall. The squeak of the handle was followed by a steady surge of water. As Law directed the water over his own head, Luffy’s gaze burned into his skin. 

“What?” he asked gruffly.

“You look different when you’re wet,” Luffy blinked.

“You don’t like the sad, wet rat look, huh?” Law snorted.

“I like it! It’s just different, that's all,” Luffy laughed. “Here, I’ll wash your back.” He gestured with the washcloth. Law hung up the showerhead and rotated the stool 90 degrees, offering his back to Luffy.

“Guess it’s no surprise you haven’t seen me like this before, given the whole devil fruit issue,” Law mumbled.

After several moments of silent scrubbing, Luffy asked, “Do you miss it?”

“Miss what?” 

“Swimming in the ocean,” Luffy clarified.

Law paused before answering, “Not really. I didn’t swim much before I ate the op-op fruit.” He shrugged. “Would be nice if I didn’t have to worry about fucking dying if I fall in the ocean but I don’t have a choice… Do you miss it?”

“Nah, I’m pretty used to it at this point,” Luffy shook his head.

“When did you eat the gum-gum fruit?” Law asked.

Luffy cocked his head to the side, brows furrowed and mouth pursed as he tried to recall. “Like, twelve years ago I think?” 

Law raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You were young.”

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled. “I ate it without realizing what it was.”

Letting out a puff of laughter, Law mused, “That sounds right.”

“What about you? When did you eat the devil fruit?” Luffy asked as he circled the washcloth over Law’s back tattoo.

“Thirteen years ago,” he answered quietly. 

“Oh, almost the same time as me!” Luffy observed. “How old were you then?”

“Thirteen,” Law responded.

“Half your life, huh? Hey, wait, that’s so much younger than I thought,” he chuckled.

Law furrowed his brow in irritation. “How old did you think I was before we had this conversation?” he grumbled.

“Hmmm, like 38?” Luffy guessed.

“Thirty-eight?  Fucking hell, Mugiwara-ya. How could you think I’m that old?” he growled.

Another shrug. “You're so serious all the time. Usually only old people are that serious.”

Resting a hand on his forehead, Law sighed. “Old people? And you were just OK with the idea of sleeping with someone twice your age?” he scoffed. “Your crew already thinks I'm too old for you and I'm only 26. You get that, right?”

Luffy laughed. “Is that why they've been acting so weird about you?”

“Something like that…” Law murmured. In a tired voice he added, “I'm glad my age isn't an issue for you but you should probably examine your standards.”

Luffy teased, “What? Are you worried about me?” He dropped the washcloth and wrapped his hands around Law’s waist. Fingers slippery with suds, Luffy traced Law’s hip bones as he moved his hands lower to follow the trail of dark hair at the base of his navel.

Law leaned over, unhooked the showerhead from the wall, and cranked the handle. Law twisted and pointed the stream of water at Luffy’s face with a swift jerk. “Hey!” Luffy spluttered, jumping up from the stool and stepping back so that water hit him in the stomach. “Torao!” 

“Back, beast,” Law ordered, smirking. He aimed the showerhead back up to Luffy’s face.

“Pffth,” Luffy spat and threw up his arms in defense. He turned and jumped into the bath, submerging his entire body. Law watched as he eventually surfaced up to his nose. Luffy narrowed his eyes and blew frustrated bubbles. 

“Careful what you start, Mugiwara-ya,” Law purred as he sat back on the stool and resumed washing the rest of his body.

“Jerk,” Luffy grumbled after raising his head out of the water.

Law raised an eyebrow. “Are you really that insatiable?” he asked, tamping down the hypocritical desire kindling in his core. Luffy pouted, so Law confessed, “If I didn’t think your crew would try to kill me for it, I would fuck you right here in the bath.” 

After quickly washing his hair, Law rinsed himself. Luffy watched the rivulets of water roll over Law’s skin, carrying the suds away and exposing his chiseled form once more. “I wouldn’t let them,” Luffy declared suddenly.

Law displayed no sign of hearing him. Slumping, Luffy shifted to the edge of the tub. He settled on his knees and pitched his arms over the bathtub wall. Resting his forehead on the tiled edge, he waited. The rush of water ceased and the slap of Law’s bare feet sounded across the wet floor. Water rippled around him as Law stepped into the bath. Luffy held his breath when Law’s tattooed arms surrounded him. 

Law gripped the edge of the bathtub and kneeled around Luffy’s curled frame. He hovered above, nudging his nose against the tender skin of Luffy’s neck. “Don’t sulk, Luffy-ya,” his voice was husky and warm in Luffy’s ear. Luffy raised his head and tilted it to the side. In response, Law kissed the skin behind his earlobe before lingering lower and nipping gently. 

“Torao,” Luffy moaned quietly as he sat upward, the strength of Law’s erection prodding at his lower back. 

Law let out a long breath that tickled the damp skin on Luffy’s collarbone. “I want this, but…” he chuckled before continuing, “What if your crew walks in on us? I don’t think my heart could take it if your little reindeer calls me a pervert again.”

Laughing, Luffy argued, “But you are a pervert.” He was quickly interrupted as Law bit down swiftly on the crook of his shoulder.

“Guess you’re right about that,” Law purred when he unclamped his teeth from Luffy’s skin. He shifted his hips forward and rubbed the stiff shaft of his cock against Luffy’s back in a languid motion while he nuzzled his nose along his neck once more, travelling upward. A rumble sounded in his chest. “Your postauricular artery is beating so fast, Luffy-ya,” he whispered with a pleased hum.

“My what?” Luffy chuckled between heavy breaths.

“This artery, right… here.” Law flicked his tongue against the space behind Luffy’s ear. 

Luffy twisted his neck and torso to the side to meet Law’s eyes. Through the steam of the bath, Law detected the pink of Luffy’s tongue dart across his lower lip. With a force that upset the quiet tension of the water, Law wrapped his left hand along Luffy’s jaw and swooped in to kiss him from the right. He pressed into Luffy from both sides, coaxing his tongue out with his own and intertwining them. 

Enveloped in Law’s hunger, Luffy returned Law’s fierce kiss with a fervor of his own and forced his tongue into Law’s mouth. The grip on his jaw tightened. Luffy shivered as a moan broke from Law’s throat and tickled his tongue. 

Abruptly, Law pulled back and released Luffy’s jaw. Bathwater sloshed with the sudden displacement as Law forced Luffy’s hips back with his hands. Exhaling a sharp breath of surprise, Luffy grabbed the tile along the edge of the bath to steady himself. Law jutted his pelvis forward and wedged the shaft of his dick against the crack of Luffy’s cheeks. He admired the supple pink pliancy of Luffy’s ass while he pressed his throbbing cock between his cheeks. Luffy whimpered as Law bent over and bit down on his shoulder. But then Law froze.

“Torao?” Luffy whined, pushing his hips into Law in response to silence.

“Shh,” he hissed, unclenching his teeth from Luffy’s flesh.

Luffy stilled and listened. Muted thumps resounded against wood; the distinct sound of someone climbing the ladder through the library to the bath area. 

“Room,” Law murmured as the steps grew louder. He paused. “Shambles.”

With a startled yelp, Luffy fell forward onto his hands as the world shifted. The tiled bath ledge beneath him became a void above the floor of the crow’s nest. Law caught himself with an outstretched hand, almost slipping as water dripped from their bodies and pooled on the floorboards. After finding his balance, Law cast his gaze over Luffy’s wet, shining body; he lay prostrate on the floor, hair slicked against the back of his neck and hips in the air. The ice that had crept into Law’s veins at the threat of discovery quickly melted as he drank in the vulnerability of Luffy’s pose.  

Luffy flinched and hissed beneath the resounding smack of Law’s palm against his ass. The tender skin of his cheek stung as he moved to turn and confront Law. “What was that for?!”

Law had already moved in above Luffy, his wet chest pressed against Luffy’s back. “Couldn’t help it,” he chuckled deviously into Luffy’s ear. Bracing against the floor with one hand, Law spat into the other and glided it once over his cock. Luffy panted as Law reached around and enveloped Luffy’s shaft with his hand. “So you like that kind of thing, huh?” Law hummed with satisfaction at the swollen girth that filled his palm. 

Pouting, Luffy began, “Tora –ahn!” His complaint was cut short as Law released his cock and roughly slapped his ass once more. Luffy’s body jolted under the impact. Law dug his fingers into the soft skin, watching as it bloomed pink, before working his middle finger inside of Luffy’s ass with swift and brutal efficiency. Luffy moaned as Law fucked him relentlessly with his finger. Muscles rippled along Luffy’s back and arms while he writhed under Law’s manipulation; the sight stirred a feral appetite that swelled in Law’s core.

“La-aww,” Luffy whined.

Law leaned into Luffy as he moved his other hand and pinned Luffy’s wrist against the floorboard. “What’s wrong, Luffy-ya?” Law whispered.

“Mmn,” he groaned as Law slammed his finger into him with more force. “Why are you just playing around?” Luffy finally managed to growl.

A rich laugh rumbled in Law’s chest. He abated his pace to a luxuriously slow measure, curving his finger to stroke the inner wall against Luffy’s prostate. “You don’t like it when I play with you?” he chuckled as Luffy shuddered.

“No, I…unh,” Luffy struggled to speak as pressure mounted within him, intensified by the tortuously luscious ache of Law’s teeth sinking into the skin along his back. He cried out as Law clamped, released, clamped, and released the flesh around his shoulder blade, his ribs, and the slight flare of his hip. His head spun with the mixed signals of pain and desire that warped into a dark hunger. 

Law paused the movement of his finger. Gasping, Luffy arched his back when Law planted his tongue against his tailbone and trailed it along the spine to the nape of his neck. “Law,” Luffy murmured at the delicate yet staggering touch. 

Slipping his finger from Luffy’s ass, Law braced against the floor to shift and collect Luffy’s other wrist in his hand. Luffy yelped as Law secured both wrists within his grasp. “Is this what you want, Luffy-ya?” Law breathed into his ear.

“Law,” Luffy moaned impatiently.

Law’s amused chuckle tickled the back of his neck. “What do you want?” he asked. Luffy squirmed below him, so Law planted more of his weight on Luffy’s pinned wrists to stifle the movement. Using his other hand, Law stroked his own cock and moved so that the head nudged at Luffy’s asshole. “Tell me, Luffy-ya. Do you want me to fuck you like an animal?” Law purred before biting down on his neck and digging his nails into his wrists.

A cry burst from Luffy’s throat. His body shook as he panted, “L-Law!”

“Luffyyy,” Law sang when he surrendered Luffy’s neck. “Is this what you want?”

With a gulp, Luffy nodded and grunted, “Uh huh.”

The slick head of Law’s penis prodded against him harder. “What was that?” Law teased.

“Yes,” Luffy gasped. 

Law’s tongue trailed behind his ear before he mumbled, “Hmmm?”

Gritting his teeth, Luffy yelled, “Yes! ”

“Yes, what?” he snickered.

“Fuck me, Law. Now,” Luffy pleaded. 

Law pressed his pelvis forward and pulled Luffy back by the hip with his free hand. Law’s cock thrust inside in one slick motion, drawing a hiss of pleasure from between Law’s teeth and a moan from the depths of Luffy’s chest. Eyes watering, Luffy bit into his lip as his body stretched around Law. His neck burned with the heat of Law’s labored breath. 

“Luffy-ya, how are you…how are you this tight?” Law groaned before he began to pump his hips.

Luffy cried out as Law pulled back only to fill and stretch him again, again, and again. The slap of Law’s skin against supple flesh rang out as an exclamation point for each thrust. Tendons and veins in Law’s neck and arms bulged while he moved with unrelenting strength. Law felt the fortitude of his mind slipping as it submerged beneath a thick layer of sensation and pleasure. Luffy’s ass constricted his cock with luxurious warmth, luring him toward orgasm. Jaw clenched, Law reclaimed his self-control and moved his hand from Luffy’s hip to press, palm-down, onto his upper back. 

The wood floor muffled Luffy’s exclamation. He turned his head to breathe–a difficult effort now that his upper body was mashed against the ground and hands were still pinned in place. Luffy’s hips remained in the air, bearing each rough slam of Law driving into him that translated into a sting of pink along his thighs and ass. Law’s palm on his back forced them both into a more exaggerated angle that Luffy felt in his core. Luffy chased the pleasure building inside of him with every stroke of Law’s dick grinding against his innermost wall. 

“Harder!” Luffy gasped as his head swam.

Grinning, Law drove himself into Luffy with more force. 

“G-gonna cum,” Luffy moaned desperately. He quaked under the impact; the molten bloom of ecstasy ignited and spread from the root of his body. A tender satisfaction warmed Law’s chest as Luffy shuddered beneath him. Cum surged from Luffy’s cock, splattering warmth along his stomach and pooling on the floor.

With a choked whisper, Luffy called out, “Law.”

“Did that feel good, Luffy-ya?” Law smirked while slowing his pace to give them both a chance to catch their breath. 

Luffy nodded, eyes closed. “Mmhmm,” he murmured.

Law chuckled and shifted to release Luffy’s wrists. The pale skin began to regain color as blood flowed more evenly through Luffy’s veins. Twisting to face him, Luffy pushed himself up and fought through his delirium, “Aren’t you going to cum in me?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You want me to cum in you again?”

“You have to,” Luffy argued. 

Law slammed his hips into Luffy once with a sudden jerk, pulling a cry from his lips. “And why’s that?” he asked.

Luffy groaned before spitting out an impatient explanation. “I need you to fill me, Torao.” 

Law bit down on his lip as he watched Luffy’s expression turn to a pout. “I’ll fill you up completely then, you insatiable little animal,” he purred before moving his weight to his legs and grabbing Luffy’s hips in his hands. 

Bracing his forearms on the floor, Luffy gritted his teeth at Law's thrusts. Law worked his glans against the velvet of Luffy's insides, each movement deliberate and grinding. He sank into the primal greed lapping at the edges of his mind until only the feeling of Luffy’s body around his cock and within his grip remained.

The tension inside of Law built. Just moments away from reaching his limit, Law’s attention snapped to his surroundings as Luffy cried out a string of curses. “Fuck, fuck! I’m gonna–again, I’m gonna c-cu…fuuuck,” Luffy’s voice was urgent and hoarse. 

Law watched Luffy’s body tense and shake under him, awed by his susceptibility to pleasure. His own orgasm ruptured through him seconds later, the delicious ache transformed into a sudden blaze. He came inside of Luffy with a volcanic release and slowed the heave of his hips to prolong his rapture. 

The subtle sensation of Law erupting within him elicited a satisfied moan from Luffy’s throat. Energy depleted, Law collapsed atop Luffy’s back. Luffy felt the pounding of Law’s heart against his back while the gasping breaths warmed against his sweat-slicked skin. 

Law’s chest rumbled with a delirious chuckle. “Was that enough for you?” he teased.

“Mmmm,” Luffy could only muster a pleased hum in response. They remained in a stacked heap upon the floor until Luffy finally gasped, “Torao, I can’t breathe.”

“Shit! Sorry,” Law winced and quickly pushed himself off of Luffy. He flopped onto his back beside Luffy, who shifted onto his side. Luffy draped his arm across Law’s stomach and stared at his profile. The gesture stirred Law’s heart with its tenderness. He turned his head to meet Luffy’s gaze.

“Torao,” Luffy began quietly, eyes shining. “I think I…I think I came twice.”

Smirking, Law observed, “It did seem like that.”

“But, I only…” Luffy paused, eyebrows furrowed. “Nothing came out the second time.”

“Sounds like you had a dry orgasm,” he responded.

“That’s a thing?” Luffy widened his eyes as Law nodded. Grinning, Luffy asked, “Have you had one before?” 

“Yeah, a few times,” he answered quietly.

“Woowww, you’re so good at this!” Luffy exclaimed.

Law snorted, “Good at it?” 

“Yeah,” he smiled and propped himself up on his elbow. “You make me feel amazing. Hey, you should join my crew!”

“I…” Law faltered, taken aback by both the suggestion and the careless joy in Luffy’s voice. Flustered, he finally laughed bitterly, “Why? So I can be your boy toy?”

Luffy pondered Law’s reaction before suggesting quietly, “We could be each other’s…boy toy?”

Law relaxed his shoulders and sighed, “I have my own crew, Mugiwara-ya.”

“Ah, yeah…” Luffy looked away. Just when Law was beginning to fear that he had upset him, Luffy met Law’s gaze again and asked mischievously, “Hey, Torao…Can I fuck you next time?”

The heat rising in Law’s cheeks was masked by the flush of his earlier exertion. “Mhm,” he nodded.

“Really?!” Luffy beamed, getting to his knees and bending over Law in his excitement.

“Er, yeah,” Law smirked. “But not right this second, yeah? I’m fucking tired.”

Luffy shook with laughter. “Of course not, Torao! Just next time.” He paused abruptly and yawned. “I’m sleepy too. Should we go to bed?”

Law’s eyebrows rose. “You seemed wide awake a second ago,” he remarked in disbelief.

“I dunno, but I’m tired now,” he shrugged and stood up.

“We should probably shower off first,” Law frowned at the cum smeared across Luffy’s stomach and dripping down his legs.

“But we just bathed,” Luffy argued.

“Yeah, well, you’re a mess,” Law sighed, impatient. “Look, I’ll shambles us down there and back. You don’t have to get in the bath. Just wash off.”

Luffy slumped in defeat. Again.

—

The pillow depressed beneath Law’s head with a thump. He exhaled with relief as he sprawled atop his makeshift bed, pulling the sheet over himself. Luffy’s pillow hit the space beside Law’s head and startled his eyes open. He watched Luffy drop to his knees and wriggle under the blanket. Law blinked as Luffy shifted his body against his own, wrapping an arm across Law’s stomach and nestling his face against Law’s shoulder. Luffy slipped his feet between Law’s and shuffled, tangling them.

“Are you…cold?” Law asked hesitantly. 

“No,” Luffy answered casually. “You?”

“Uh, no. I’m good…especially now,” Law suppressed a chuckle. After clearing his throat, he spoke again, “You’re very close.”

Luffy raised his head. “Well, yeah,” he blinked. “This way I can feel you…is that OK?”

“Y-yeah,” Law stammered as heat spread across his face. “That’s fine.”

Luffy grinned before nuzzling back into Law’s upper arm. “Good night, Torao,” Luffy murmured against his skin.

“Night, Mugiwara-ya,” Law whispered. Tentatively, he rested his hand atop Luffy’s arm. Then he closed his eyes.

—

Darkness pressed in, consuming and stifling. The persistent stench of rotting flesh was his only air. Above, the weight of the dead threatened to crush him. He could breathe the death-tinged air or suffocate. Choosing survival, he tried to inhale.

The breath of corpses faded into the musty tang of damp, worn wood. He was walled in. Stuck and powerless. Still he saw nothing, but he felt the scratch as he struck his fists against the wood. His cries spilled from his throat but all he could hear was the firing of a bullet into flesh, over and over and over. He tried to scream Cora's name.

No sound now. Just darkness, pressure, and a chill that cracked him open to freeze every cell, tissue, and thought that made him whole. His lungs ached as he took a desperate gasp for air, filling with saltwater instead. He convulsed and the weight grew heavier, dragging him further into nothing.

“Torao?”

Law’s chest heaved as he sat up with a startled gasp. Black settled into shapes and shades of grey he eventually recognized as the crow’s nest. Luffy’s voice rang distantly as if through water, murky but growing in clarity. 

“Torao!” Luffy’s voice finally broke through. Law snapped his head to face him. Shining eyes, round as saucers, brimmed with concern. “What’s wrong?” Luffy asked quietly.

Law moved to run his hands to his head but found that he had Luffy’s arm in a tenacious grip. He quickly released his arm and ran his fingers through his hair. With a shaky exhale, he explained, “Just a dream.”

Luffy searched his face. “What do you need?” he whispered.

After barking out a self-deprecating laugh, Law sighed, “Nothing…Nothing.”

“I want to help, just tell me what you need,” Luffy insisted, voice edged with unease. He pulled Law’s hand back and entwined it with his own. 

Law glanced at their hands before returning to Luffy’s gaze. “This is enough,” he rasped.

They sat like that for several minutes, Luffy stroking the letters on Law’s knuckles while Law caught his breath. Finally, Luffy spoke gently, “Do you have dreams like this often?”

Law’s shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly. “Yes,” he murmured after a tired exhale. 

Luffy tightened his grip on Law’s hand. “What…” he hesitated. “What do you dream about?” Law’s mouth twitched so he quickly added, “Sorry! You don’t have to answer that.” Luffy looked down sheepishly.

Silence stretched between them. Luffy was surprised when Law finally answered, “The past, usually. Suffocating or being trapped.” 

“Oh,” Luffy breathed. After a beat, he furrowed his brow and asked, “Why did you choose a submarine as your ship? Or is that why you have nightmares? You should just get a normal ship.”

The breathy laugh that shook Law’s chest startled Luffy. A smile tugged at Law’s lips as he responded. “I guess it is a pretty bad choice in this context, huh? But no, it’s not a problem. If anything I feel more in control because of it. It’s a great vessel for strategy and stealth.” He shrugged and chuckled, “I guess I also just think it’s cool.” 

Grinning, Luffy nodded. “It’s super cool! You really helped me out back at Marineford. Dunno if you could have pulled that off without the submarine.”

“Yeah,” Law smirked. “Thanks.”

“For what?” Luffy laughed. “You’re the one who rescued me.” Law struggled with the knot of feelings in his chest and mouth. As he opened his mouth to respond, Luffy continued, “I still don’t fully understand why you saved me back then, but I’m glad you did. I mean, obviously because I want to be alive.” He paused, chuckling. “But, hmm…how do I say this? I want to be tied to you somehow. I owe you a debt and I’m going to pay you back, of course. I kind of feel like I’m meant to help you. And you keep saying that after this alliance we’ll be enemies…but what if you help me out more? Then I’ll owe you more. And we can keep paying each other back and we won’t have to be enemies. It’s like…” Luffy hesitated again and scratched the back of his head with his free hand. “It’s like, I want to take the thread of fate binding us and rub it between my hands so it’s so messy and knotted up that there’s no way it can come undone.” 

Law’s heart was stuck in his throat, the rush of blood almost audible in his ears. Over the drumbeat of his heart, he choked out, “You could use a surgeon’s knot. It’s effective.”

“A surgeon’s knot? I don’t know that one,” Luffy tilted his head, a grin spread wide. “You’ll have to teach me.”

Law nodded and hesitated before speaking in barely more than a whisper. “Mugiwara-ya, we’re pirates. It’s indulgent to hope for anything constant or positive in this world when we’re surrounded by nothing but impermanence and suffering.”

“You’re not wrong, but you’re also missing the other half of the picture, Torao!” Luffy teased. “I’ll shape my fate into what I want. Once you teach me how to tie a surgeon’s knot there’s no way I’ll fail.”

Law shook his head, stifling a smile at the radiating warmth. “We should go back to sleep,” he mumbled as he laid back down.

“Hmph,” Luffy pouted playfully and sprawled beside him. Their fingers remained tangled.

Exhaustion settled back over Law. He let sleep pull him in. Luffy’s voice still reached him, quiet and distant. “Let’s go on a date when we get to Dressroba. OK, Torao?” 

Through the haze of grogginess, Law mumbled, “Mhm.”

—

“Why is there a bedsheet in the bath?!” Nami’s outraged shout traveled to the port side of the ship, where the rest of the crew gathered. Law shifted uncomfortably, eyes trained the ground.

“A bedsheet?” Usopp mumbled in confusion.

To Law’s horror, Luffy laughed and yelled back to Nami, “My bad! Forgot it yesterday!”

Nami stormed out to the deck, the soaking sheet balled up in one hand. She plopped it to the ground before Luffy. “Don’t leave shit in the bath! Why did you even bring it in there?” she growled. Her eyes darted from Luffy, grinning like he had made a joke, and Law, whose blushing face glowed beneath his cap. “You know what, nevermind. I don’t even wanna know.” She rolled her eyes in exasperation. 

“Can we go now?” Zoro grumbled as he picked at his ear. 

Nami’s eyebrow twitched. “Yes, we can go now,” she answered through gritted teeth. Then, in a more even tone, “Everyone has their disguise ready?” Nods of confirmation traveled through the group as they donned their hats, sunglasses, and coats and adjusted their fake mustaches. “Alright, make sure to be back here by midnight. Just because we got here a day early doesn’t mean you get to stay out all night. We need to be rested if we’re going to pull this insane plan off tomorrow,” Nami ordered.

As the group went ashore, Luffy hung back. “Oi, Nami! Can I get some extra berries?” he asked.

She narrowed her eyes. “I already gave you your allowance for the day,” she retorted, arms crossed.

“Well, yeah, but I’m taking Torao on a date so I need more,” Luffy explained. 

“You’re what?” Nami blinked. She looked over at Law, who had frozen as he was about to step onto the gangplank. 

“Pleeease!” Luffy pouted.

“I, uh…fine, OK. Here.” Flustered, she handed him a wad of bills. “What are you planning on doing on your…date?”

He stuffed the cash into his shorts pocket. “Thanks, Nami. And don’t worry, Sanji told me all about what to do!” 

Nami put a hand to her forehead and muttered, “Oh, no.”

Luffy waved, spun on his heel to go ashore, and almost ran into Law’s still-frozen form. “Ah, Torao! Thanks for waiting for me,” he called. Law stared down at him, face burning. “You ready for our date?” Luffy beamed.

“Date?” Law finally broke out of his shock.

Luffy blinked and turned his head. “Yeah. Last night you said you’d go on a date with me…” he trailed off.

Law rifled through his memory of the evening, finding one he could have sworn was a dream. He opened his mouth to speak, to remind him of the impending mission, and then stopped. Shit. Luffy’s eyes shone like globes of condensed hope, wavering on the edge of despair–all depending on Law’s response. “Right, yes,” he yielded. “I didn’t uh, plan anything though…”

“That’s OK! I have it all planned out,” Luffy reassured him, radiating excitement.

The corner of Law’s mouth pulled into a smile. Planning was not something he expected from Luffy. “Lead the way then,” he murmured.

—

“Mugiwara-ya,” Law began, mouth twitching. “Why are we at a maid cafe?”

Luffy looked up from the menu across the table. “We’re on a date, Torao,” he explained, head tilted in confusion.

Law rubbed his temple. “I know that. I mean, why did you choose a maid cafe? Over, say, a normal cafe?”

“Wellll,” Luffy pursed his lips. “Sanji said men like maid cafes. Plus, you’re always so neat and tidy…I thought you would like a cafe that’s got tons of maids keeping the place clean.”

Eyes closed, Law was silent. Abruptly, he convulsed with quiet laughter. Opening his eyes didn’t help, as Luffy peered at him from behind sunglasses and a fake mustache and beard.

“What’s so funny?” Luffy smiled, confused yet pleased with Law’s apparent amusement. 

“Sorry,” Law gasped as he stifled his laughter. “Nothing. It’s-it’s great.”

Luffy’s grin stretched wider. “Shishishi! You have such a bright smile, Torao; I wanna make you do that more.”

Law’s heart thudded against his chest as his face burned. He struggled to respond, finding his thoughts scrambled. Fortune fell upon him as they were interrupted by a cheery voice, “Thank you for waiting, Masters! Are you ready to order?” A petite blonde woman hovered over their table, the frills of her black and white maid outfit bouncing with every movement. 

Law glanced back at the menu while Luffy studied her outfit: the corseted top fitted to the waist, fluffy skirt stopping short at the thighs to reveal a stripe of naked skin before being swallowed by the elastic of black stockings. Eyes sparkling, Luffy looked to Law, who glanced at the waitress and back at Luffy in confusion.

“Uh, I’ll have the omurice. Thanks,” Law mumbled awkwardly. 

“Excellent choice! Hey Master, what’s your favorite animal?” she giggled.

Law furrowed his brows. “Why?” he asked bluntly.

The waitress’ eyes widened briefly before she restored her customer service persona. “It’s a secret!” she whispered, pressing her finger to her lips with a wink.

“Uhh,” he struggled, never having bothered to ponder the question before. He looked around the room frantically until his gaze landed back on Luffy. “Monkey,” he blurted abruptly.

“Ohhh, very cute!” the waitress nodded. “And for you, Master?” she asked, turning to Luffy.

He scanned the menu again. “Can you put meat in the omurice?” 

“Of course! What kind of meat would you like?” she answered politely.

“Beef!” Luffy answered confidently. 

“Understood. And your favorite animal, Master?” the waitress looked at Luffy expectantly. 

He looked at Law and grinned. “Tiger!” Law bit back a smirk and averted his gaze.

“So fierce!” she chuckled playfully, curling her fingers into claws.

Law breathed a sigh of relief when their waitress left. Tracing a drop of condensation on the water glass with his finger, he observed Luffy through narrowed eyes. When Luffy finally turned around to face him, Law grumbled, “Quit ogling her, Mugiwara-ya.”

Luffy’s eyebrows raised. “Ogling? No, I…Ohhh. Are you jealous?”

Law shifted in his seat, lips pressed. “I’m not jealous, it’s just not respectful.”

“Ah,” Luffy chuckled. “Don’t worry. I was just looking at her outfit - got an idea!” Law cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. Luffy continued, “Would you wear that for me? If I could get you the costume?”

Law’s mouth gaped as the blood rushed through his body. “You want me to wear that? A…maid outfit?” he stammered, voice hushed.

Luffy nodded. “It would look so good on you, Torao,” he insisted.

“I mean, sure, if you could get your hands on the outfit, yeah,” Law mumbled as he ran his hand through his hair. 

Luffy’s eyes glimmered. “It’ll be fun, I promise!” 

“You sound so certain that you’re going to be able to get it,” Law observed.

“I’ll definitely make it happen,” he declared.

“One omurice and one omurice with beef, for the Masters,” their sunny waitress announced, sliding plates before them. “Oh, but it’s not done yet!” she waved her hands frantically as Luffy moved his fork toward the plate.

Luffy looked at the food. “It looks done,” he said flatly.

With a giggle, the waitress explained, “We need to complete the good luck spell to make it even more delicious!” Luffy’s eyes lit up and he nodded emphatically. “OK, make a heart with your hands like this and repeat after me-” she began.

“We have to do this too?” Law grumbled, watching as Luffy already had his hands shaped into a heart.

Her smile tightened. “Of course! Only my Masters’ help can make this into the tastiest meal.” She paused, waiting for Law to follow her instructions. He sighed and made the heart, shoulders slumped. “Now, repeat after me: moe, moe, kyun!” the waitress instructed, gesturing her hands toward the drink.

“Moe, moe, kyun!” Luffy cried enthusiastically. 

“Moe, moe…kyun…” Law trailed off, hiding his voice beneath Luffy’s loud participation.

“Well done!” she nodded fervently. “This is now ready to eat. Please let me know if you need anything else,” she giggled before leaving to greet new customers.

“Look, Torao! It’s a tiger,” Luffy turned his plate for Law to see and pointed at the ketchup drawing.

“Ah, looks more like a tabby cat but I guess that works,” Law shrugged off his sense of degradation and looked to his own plate. With a smirk, he remarked, “They drew a picture of you on my omurice.”

“Hah?” Luffy scoffed and leaned across the table. He squinted. “That’s a monkey!”

“Yeah,” Law snorted. “Like I said, it looks like you.”

“Oi, are you teasing me?” Luffy pouted, stuffing a bite of omurice into his mouth as he spoke.

Law laughed, “You’re fun to tease.” Deftly, he reached out and wiped a grain of rice off Luffy’s cheek with his thumb. Luffy froze and watched Law lick the rice from his thumb. A flush spread across Luffy’s cheeks, which he tried to hide by shoveling down the rest of his meal.

“You don’t have to eat so fast,” Law reminded him, shaking his head.

“Ageedooaghooemeij,” Luffy explained, mouth full.

Law blinked. “Right. Of course. That makes total sense,” he sighed, eyebrow twitching. 

After a painfully large gulp, Luffy smiled. “You get it!”

“I didn’t actually–oi!” Law cut himself off as Luffy jumped up from his chair. “Where are you going? Mugiwara-ya!”

Luffy ignored him and sauntered past the doors at the back of the restaurant, presumably to the kitchen. Burying his face in his hands, Law cursed quietly to himself. After several minutes passed, Law called out to another maid-attired waitress and explained, “Could you do me a favor? My, uh, friend went back there and I don’t think he was supposed to. Can you go get him?”

Her face paled with concern. “Right away, Master,” she blinked rapidly before speed-walking to the back doors, serving tray pressed close to her chest.

Two more minutes passed before Law’s patience dissolved. As he stood, the doors swung open and the room filled with laughter. He stared in disbelief as Luffy stepped out, holding a bright pink dish of ice cream and fruit and flanked by the two waitresses, who giggled as they approached the table.

Law slowly slumped back into his seat, confused and tired. Luffy beamed down at him and plunked the dessert onto the table in triumph. “Look, Torao! The nice maids gave us free ice cream!”

“Free ice cream?” he blinked in confusion.

One of the waitresses pulled out Luffy’s seat for him and explained, “We just couldn’t help it! Lucy-sama is just so sweet.”

The other waitress, their original server, plopped two spoons into the dish. “You’re a lucky guy, huh?” she winked at Law before turning to Luffy. “I’ll leave this here, but you just let us know if you need anything else, OK?” She draped a black garment bag over the back of a free chair next to them.

“Thanks, nice maid ladies!” Luffy waved.

“Lucy? The fuck is going on?” Law asked when the waitresses were out of earshot.

“I got us ice cream,” Luffy explained, gesturing to the dish.

“I can see that. I mean, what happened back there? You’re just best friends with the staff now?” he sighed, exasperated. 

Luffy’s eyebrows raised. “Oh! I just went back to ask for the costume.”

“Is that–?” Law gestured to the garment bag, eyes wide. Luffy’s eyes took on a mischievous glow as he nodded. Law rubbed his temple as he continued, “So they gave it to you? Just like that?”

With a shrug, Luffy explained between spoonfuls of ice cream, “I told them why I wanted it…and then I told the lady that I liked the omurice and that she looked familiar and…it turns out I helped out her sister in Water 7 a couple years ago. So they gave me the costume…and the ice cream.”

Law rested his chin in his hand and stared, a bewildered but gentle smile pulling at his lips. “You really can make anything happen, huh?” 

—

“Huh, that took longer than I thought,” Luffy muttered as they stepped into the plaza outside the cafe. He studied a scrap of paper in his hand.

Law leaned to peer over his shoulder, but Luffy ducked away. “What’s that?” Law asked, nodding to his hand.

“Nothing!” Luffy grumbled. Law raised an eyebrow and Luffy sighed. “It’s the plan for our date,” he finally mumbled.

“That looked…kinda long,” Law observed.

Luffy pouted, “I didn’t realize each thing would take so long.”

Heart stirred, Law suggested, “Why don’t we look at it together and we can pick what to do next, then?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Luffy nodded and handed over the paper. Law read aloud, “‘Things Men Like’?...Maid cafes, gambling, drinking…strip clubs? Watching sports games…love hotels…” He stopped and turned to Luffy, whose brow was furrowed as if in deep thought. “Mugiwara-ya, who gave you this list?”

“Sanji,” Luffy answered innocently.

“Fucking hell,” Law laughed to himself.

“What’s wrong?” Luffy asked, concern welling in his voice.

Law waved his hand quickly in dismissal. “Nothing! I just thought this list didn’t seem…well, it didn’t seem like something you would have made.”

“So you…don’t want to do any of those things?” Luffy whispered, voice cracking. 

“I do!” Law assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I do. Well, some of them at least. But I’d rather do something that you want to do. I’m not interested in Sanji’s ideal day. Dude can cook but he’s weird as hell.”

Luffy sat quietly, looking at Law and then scanning his surroundings. His eyes widened, countenance brightening, as he pointed sharply at a building across the plaza. “That!” he cried.

Law followed his finger, squinting. “A playhouse? You want to see a play?” Law asked.

“Read the sign!” Luffy insisted, urgency growing in his tone.

“Oh shit!” Law smiled. “Let’s do it. I fucking love ninjas.”

Luffy jumped to his feet, the garment bag slung over his shoulder. He pulled Law along to line up outside the playhouse featuring “A Ninja’s Honor.” As they waited in line, Luffy turned to Law. “You pick what we do after this, OK?” 

Law smirked and nodded. “Deal. I’ve already got an idea from that list of yours…But first, cool ninja shit!” 

“Nin nin!” Luffy grinned, raising his middle and forefingers on both hands and pressing one to the palm of the other.

Chapter Text

“This is a love hotel?” Luffy asked, eyes wide.

Jasmine perfumed the air from dense vines that crawled the sandstone-blocked face of the building. A lavender scalloped awning kept the blossoms from obscuring the entrance: a polished wooden door featuring a stylized wrought iron handle. 

Law shrugged. “Dressrosa puts up a classy front.” 

He held the door open for Luffy and followed him in. Orange light from the fading dusk swept across a mahogany counter peppered with miniature crystalline cat sculptures. A voice rang from a doorway behind the counter, “Be with you in a moment!”

Luffy leafed through a binder that lay open on the counter as they waited. “Ohh, Torao, look at this one!” he called, pulling at Law’s sleeve. Law leaned against the counter to peer over Luffy’s shoulder. “This one has water in the bed!” Luffy exclaimed.

“That’s why it’s called a waterbed, love,” a warm voice giggled as a person appeared in the doorway. Taking up a position behind the counter, they pushed a pair of spectacles up the lengthy bridge of their nose and waved a lock of electric blue hair from their face. The streak of blue stood in stark contrast to the translucent white hair that fell to their shoulders. 

“It’s not seawater, right?” Luffy asked.

They laughed, “Oho, of course not! Worried, are you? You must be one of those fruity devil folk then, eh?” After a pause, they began, “Unfortunately, dears, that room is occupied now.” They frowned with apology, the wrinkles on their aged face exaggerated by the gesture. “So many pirate folk visiting for the tournament over at the colosseum, you know. Such as it is, we only have one room available right now.”

“Ah,” Luffy sighed, disappointment radiating from his single breath.

“Now, now, hold your judgement till you see it,” the manager said and scanned through the binder. Upon locating the desired page, they tapped and smiled. “See here, two mustachioed gents such as yourselves might enjoy this one. What do you think?”

Law and Luffy leaned in to study the page. With a delighted whoop of laughter, Luffy nodded, “We’ll take it!” Law smirked and dipped his head in agreement.

“Excellent, dearies! Now how long d’you think you’ll be needing it for? We rent our rooms by the hour,” they explained. 

Law looked down to Luffy. “What do you think, like, two hours?”

“Sure,” Luffy shrugged.

“Very good. You can always extend your time if you need it,” the manager explained. After accepting Luffy’s payment for the allotted time, they handed over the key. “There you go now. You’re in room number five, just down that hall and to the left. Have a wonderful time,” they winked. 

“Thanks, nice love hotel person!” Luffy grinned as he pulled Law down the hallway by the wrist.

He located the door for room number five, which bore a shiny plaque reading, ‘Gol D. Roger’s Treasure Pleasure Palace.’ He turned the key and pushed past the door, Law close behind. 

“Huh. Doesn’t actually look that different from the picture,” Law muttered as he closed the door behind them and took in the garish golden paper lining the walls, the floor covered in a deep burgundy carpet. He pulled his disguise from his face with relief.

Luffy tossed his sunglasses and mustache to the ground and belly flopped onto the bed, the red satin duvet rustling beneath him. Turning his head, he called to Law, “Torao, c’mere!”

As he lay down on his back beside Luffy, Law mused, “I really don’t get why circular beds are even a thing.” In a lighter tone, he pointed up and remarked, “Ah, look, Mugiwara-ya. There’s a mirror on the ceiling.” 

Luffy shifted onto his side and twisted his head upward. “Oooh! That’s gonna be fun,” he exclaimed with sparkles in his eyes. Turning his head to Law, he smiled, “You should put on your outfit.”

Law rolled his eyes, a smile betraying him as he complained, “I agree to wear a maid costume one time and now you’re just gonna order me around?”

Luffy shot up to sit above Law and stammered, “I didn’t actually mean to tell you what to do! I thought it would be fun to…I would never–I don’t actually think of you as a maid! Really, Torao, I–”

“Shh,” Law interrupted him, chuckling. “It was a joke.” His eyes softened at the relief in Luffy’s face. He reached out to run his thumb along Luffy’s jaw and whispered, “Your concern is precisely why I’m happy to do this for you.”

A pleasant hum tuned out all of Luffy’s thoughts as his skin burned. The blush glowed across his cheeks, neck, and shoulders. Bending at the waist, Luffy licked his lips before gently pressing them against Law’s. He felt the curve of Law’s smile with pliant lips. His kiss was returned in slow, tender movements, the wet smack of their intertwined mouths an erotic disturbance amidst the silence of the room. Luffy sighed softly as Law drew a hand up his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. The insistent throb in Luffy’s groin made him pull back. Quietly, he smiled at Law, “Get dressed for me?”

With a smirk, Law pushed himself up from the bed. He grabbed the garment bag off of the floor and disappeared into the closet-sized bathroom adjoining their room. Luffy got to his feet when the door clicked shut. Deftly, he shed his clothes. After shuffling through a gold-painted safe in the corner of the room, as it was not and could not be locked, he collected his spoils and sat upon the golden throne centered against the wall opposite the bathroom. Despite being constructed of resin and sporting chips all throughout the armrests, the throne nevertheless succeeded in radiating an aura of stately decadence.

Luffy placed a bottle of lube on the floor next to the throne, for later. Two ‘treasures’ remained from his earlier exploration. He draped an arterial red cape over his shoulders, imitation fur rounding the collar. Satisfied with the lay of the felt fabric, Luffy then settled a crown atop his head. Encrusted with plastic rubies, sapphires, and smudged fingerprints, the crown was a snug fit.

The bathroom door creaked as it swung open, startling Luffy as he fidgeted with a plastic jewel that had fallen from the crown. Beneath the flush of self-consciousness, Law’s eyes widened in surprise at Luffy’s arrangement. Simultaneously, Luffy’s mouth dropped as Law stepped into the room.

Shifting under Luffy’s gaze, Law laughed unevenly. “Where did you find those?” he asked as he pointed toward the cape and crown.

Luffy was silent for another moment before grounding himself back in reality. “Ah, these? They were in the safe. You like it?” he chuckled. 

Law nodded with a smirk and took another step forward. The hunger in Luffy’s eyes lit a fire in the pit of his stomach. 

“How does it feel?” Luffy prompted, voice raspy with awe.

After a quick glance downward, Law scratched at his neck. “It’s…a little tight in some places. It’s cute, I think? I’m not really sure how I feel about it honestly but…” he paused and took a breath. Shyly, he finished, “I like the way you’re looking at me.”

Luffy’s teeth bit into his lower lip as he stared. “Wait,” he spoke suddenly. “Where are the stockings?”

“You wanted me to wear those too?” Law asked, surprised. 

“The stockings are like, the most important part!” Luffy groaned. “Here, sit,” he said, gesturing to the bed. 

Law perched on the edge of the bed while Luffy retrieved the stockings from the garment bag. He returned and knelt before Law. When Law reached to take the stockings from his hand, he shook his head.

“You don’t have to-” Law started, surprised by the speed of his heart hammering in his chest.

“I want to,” Luffy retorted with a grin. 

Placing Law’s heel on his knee, Luffy bunched up the first stocking to the toe and slipped it over Law’s foot. His thumbs pressed into Law’s arch as he brought the fabric around the heel. Law shivered when Luffy lingered along the skin under his ankle bone. Gradually, Luffy rolled the stocking up his leg. The warm buzzing in Law’s skin intensified beneath Luffy’s gaze. He looked from Luffy’s hands moving over his legs and back to Luffy’s face, trying to understand the glimmer he found within his eyes. It was more than desire, more than excitement. Under Luffy’s stare he felt venerated. The breath hitched in his throat at this realization, creating a brief choking sound. 

Luffy jerked his head upward and paused at Law’s knee. “Does it tickle?” he asked apologetically. 

Law shook his head vehemently. “No, no…” his voice wavered. He swallowed. “Keep going.”

The sleek fabric rolled over Law’s knee, guided by Luffy’s hand. He pushed the stocking further up the leg, reaching far enough to send a rush of blood to Law’s crotch just by proximity. Luffy stretched the nylon to fit around the thickest width of Law’s thigh.

Noticing this, Law rubbed the side of his face and laughed nervously, “Well, that’s kind of embarrassing.”

Luffy shook his head, eyes wide. “No! It’s perfect. This is what it should look like,” he explained, demeanor serious.

“I-if you say so,” Law chuckled. A mixture of relief and disappointment flooded his chest as Luffy released the stocking and moved to the other leg. He repeated his effort, edging the stocking up Law’s leg until it sat even with the other. 

“There,” Luffy beamed. He pushed through his feet to stand and pulled Law up with him. “Come look!” he pointed to a standing mirror near the safe. 

Guided by Luffy’s hand on his lower back, Law moved to behold his reflection. “Huh,” Law murmured. “You’re right. The stockings are important.” He turned to the side, observing the flounce of petticoat-esque black fabric around his thighs, which only barely kept him decent. 

“Shishishi,” he chuckled. “I told you it would look good on you.” Carefully, Luffy reached over to trace the upper lines of Law’s chest tattoo, which stood in sharp contrast to the white frill lining the low-cut neck of the dress. “Somehow your tattoos make everything about this so much hotter,” he breathed.

“Go sit on the throne,” Law smiled mischievously, silently hoping the erection nudging at his skirt wasn’t too obvious. 

Luffy obeyed and plopped himself upon the throne, legs slightly spread and forearms on the rests. After one last swift self-examination in the mirror, Law turned. He approached Luffy slowly to let him appreciate the sight. Law was rewarded with a twitch of Luffy’s cock, the tip pink and glistening with pre-cum. Carpet depressed beneath Law’s legs as he kneeled at the throne, situating himself between Luffy’s shins. From the top of the knee, Law spread his fingers and ran his hands up Luffy’s thighs. At the plump flesh below Luffy’s hips, Law caressed the soft skin of his cheeks before wrapping his hip bones in a tight hold. 

Law locked Luffy in his upward gaze while he leaned forward. He paused, lips parted, and hovered an inch away from the head of Luffy’s erection. A pulse was just barely visible in the vein staggering down the side of his cock. Luffy’s breath quickened in anticipation. His knuckles grew pale as he grabbed the arms of the throne. A sharp exhale burst from Luffy’s lungs as Law’s lips grazed the tip of his penis. Still holding his gaze, Law pushed Luffy’s cock past his moist lips and into his mouth. 

“Shit,” Luffy shuddered and threw his head back.

Swirling his tongue to coat Luffy’s shaft in saliva, Law bobbed his head. Luffy twitched with his limbs and his cock as he was taken in with a suction that brought the velvet of Law’s cheeks and tongue taut against him. He gasped when his glans rubbed toward the back of Law’s throat.

Rumbling with amusement, Law pulled back until Luffy was completely exposed. He licked his lips. Teasing, he purred, “You know you can’t cum yet, right? You still have to fuck me.”

Luffy caught his breath and shifted to sit at the edge of the seat. Patting his thigh, a playful smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “Bend over,” he ordered.

Law raised an eyebrow and obeyed, draping across Luffy’s knees and pressing his stomach to Luffy’s thigh. The hem of his skirt caught, pinched between their bodies, and hitched up to expose the slope of his backside. Luffy settled a hand upon Law’s back and traced the spine with his middle finger. His touch followed the subtle dips between Law’s vertebrae through the black fabric. Law shivered as Luffy’s hands trailed over his tailbone, brushing along the fabric until he reached bare flesh. He lingered over the back of Law’s thigh to slowly trace the gentle curve that distinguished cheek from leg. The languid motion wrenched a sigh from Law’s lungs. With a knowing smile, Luffy slapped the flesh of Law's ass and squeezed. The bite of the blow pulled like a string at Law’s core as the impact nudged the head of his cock against the underside of Luffy’s thigh, sending a connecting vibration of pleasure from one end to the other.

“Mmf!” Law stifled a yelp of surprise. He turned his head to Luffy and opened his mouth to speak, but his quip was cut short with another smack, another strum along the string of pleasure reverberating in his center.

“Got something to say to your king?” Luffy snickered as he leaned his elbow on the armrest and supported his head upon a closed fisted. The crown had slipped to an angle, lending authenticity to Luffy’s portrayal of an impish monarch.

Law narrowed his eyes and smirked, “A little handsy with the staff, aren’t you?” He gritted his teeth as this once again earned him a slap across his ass. The skin bloomed pink with the repeated contact and blood rushed to his face.

“Only with the ones who fail to address me properly,” Luffy purred.

“And that would be?” Law snorted, meeting Luffy’s gaze defiantly. 

Smack. Law hissed through gritted teeth as his body jolted forward. His eyes stung, watering, while pre-cum dripped from the stiff head of his cock.

“Guess,” Luffy ordered with a grin.

Rolling his eyes, Law tried, “Master.”

“Wrong!” Luffy announced as his palm met with Law’s flesh again.

“Nngh,” he grunted. After a breath, he grumbled, “Your Highness?”

Another slap resounded. Luffy sang, “Getting warmer!”

“King?” Law asked desperately. “Fuck!” he yelped, his thighs quivered as Luffy’s hand struck the cheeks of his ass.

Luffy’s mischievous laugh sent an icy hot thrill through Law’s veins. “You’re practically on fire,” his voice rumbled in his chest.

Lowering his head in defeat, Law sighed, “Pirate king.”

Another smack. “You got it!” Luffy beamed.

“Then why the fuck did you smack my ass again?” Law growled.

Slap. Watching Law jolt beneath him, Luffy’s voice lowered conspiratorially, “I just like the face you make.” 

“Hmph,” Law snorted, defying the euphoric flutter in his chest. He turned his gaze briefly to find Luffy opening a bottle of lube. 

“Fuck, that’s cold!” Law hissed as Luffy drizzled lube onto the crack of his ass. 

The viscous liquid dripped with agonizing lethargy along his skin. Fingers crept along the throbbing exterior of Law’s backside; Luffy buried them under the frill of the skirt and planted his thumb atop Law’s tailbone. Law exhaled a shaking breath as Luffy slipped a middle finger down the crack of his ass, gliding with the aid of the lube and spreading it over his anus and perineum. Luffy slid his finger back and forth until he was satisfied with the lack of resistance. Law tensed as Luffy circled his anus.

“Relax,” Luffy chuckled, gently cradling Law’s chin and jaw with his free hand. He bent at the waist and pressed his lips to Law’s neck, maintaining the circular motion around the soft puckering of Law’s asshole. With his lubricated finger, Luffy diverged from his orbit and drew a line along the tender skin of Law’s taint. He inched the pad of his finger up and down with a firm rhythm, pressing harder as he rubbed. 

A low rumble in Law’s throat tickled Luffy’s lips, driving him to smile and plant languid kisses further up Law’s neck. Luffy collected sweat on his tongue as he dragged it over Law's sharp jaw. He kissed Law’s cheek with surprising softness before turning Law's chin toward him. Their lips met briefly, Law’s breath steaming against Luffy’s mouth. Luffy extended his tongue and dragged it across Law’s lips, moving from upper to lower lip. 

Law sighed, closing his eyes as Luffy toyed with his lips and returned his finger to stroke his anus. Luffy’s unhurried movements lulled Law into a state of passive cognition. He savored the exquisite sensation of lightness that accompanied his complete surrender to Luffy’s touch. 

Luffy nudged at Law’s lips, molding them against his own. Law offered himself up with pliant lips, flicking his tongue against Luffy’s. The subtle change in curvature of Luffy’s mouth served as Law’s only warning. He yelped as Luffy pressed inside of him from both ends, middle finger working past the entrance of his asshole and tongue searching deep into his mouth. Luffy smothered Law’s cry before it could leave his lips, stretching to tangle their tongues. 

The sweltering heat of Law’s insides clamped tight around his finger. He moved gradually, exploring further and swirling his finger slowly. On the downward curve of the swirl, Law twitched. Luffy hummed into Law’s mouth when he observed this reaction. He flipped his hand over, palm down and bracing his free fingers against Law’s buttcheeks. From his strategic positioning, Luffy stroked the soft wall of Law’s insides backing against the prostate. 

The heightened pressure ignited Law’s appetite. Stirred, he moved his lips against Luffy’s, biting and sucking at the malleable flesh of their twisted tongues. Law’s hips raised and strained for more as Luffy rubbed his finger harder inside of him. Luffy pressed his index finger within him and Law moaned as his body adjusted to the second finger. The pace of Luffy’s fingers increased; Law’s legs shook. Pulling his head back, Luffy left a miniscule gap between their open mouths. He plucked the gasps and groans from Law’s lips and inhaled his breath. Their tongues were the primary contact, anchoring one to the other across the liminal space between their lips. 

A shudder, a hoarse groan, and Law came. The reverberation in Law’s throat telegraphed his climax across Luffy’s tongue. The knot of pleasure burst and blossomed from the root of Law’s core to the profusion of nerve endings in the head of his cock. A swell of cum rose and burst forth from him, collecting along the fabric of his skirt while the excess dripped down his shaft. When the vestiges of Law’s orgasm had either dissipated or been expelled, Luffy slipped his fingers from Law and leaned back. Law hung limp over Luffy’s knees and gasped for air.

Luffy watched him with a barely contained hunger. “I’m gonna make you do that again,” he rasped.

“Huh?” Law raised his head, still recovering from delirium.

A warm chuckle bubbled from Luffy’s chest as he admired Law’s deliciously disheveled face and reddened lips. “I’m going to make you cum again,” he repeated, his own cock twitching in response to the verbalized desire. Gently, “Stand up.”

Law gulped. “I don’t think I can.”

“Guess I’ve got no choice then,” Luffy laughed. Bending forward, he thrust an arm under Law’s stomach and lifted until he was high enough in the air to wedge his shoulder beneath him. He stood and Law hung off of him, surprised at the sudden change in altitude. Luffy only had to walk a few paces before he tossed Law onto the bed. He put his hands on his hips and grinned down at Law, triumphant. 

Law smirked at Luffy’s pose. The cape flowed behind him and the crown, miraculously, remained atop his head. Most striking, however, was the imposing form of Luffy’s erection. The sheen of saliva from Law’s earlier efforts had dried, allowing beads of precum to paint glossy streaks as they spilled down the length of Luffy’s cock. Atop the swollen shaft, his head glowed with the roseate blush of distilled desire. Law raised his stocking-clad leg and tenderly pressed the underside of his foot to the length of Luffy’s penis, hard and hot against his skin. He stroked slowly.

Luffy let out a pleased hum. Law’s leg stretched luxuriously beneath him, lifting his cum-stained skirt enough for Luffy to peek at the soft pillowing of his balls around the base of his shaft. “Shit, you’re cute,” Luffy purred. 

Pressing his hand to his sternum, Law willed his heart to slow. Luffy grabbed Law’s raised foot and climbed onto the bed. He let Law’s leg fall to atop the satin cover and hovered over him on all fours, legs straddling his hips and hands planted on either side of his head. As he admired the lingering post-orgasm bloom of color in Law’s complexion, Luffy smiled. Law’s heart jolted again, the saccharine sensation of being seen and so overtly wanted almost too much to bear. 

The tumult of emotion quelled into a warm hum when Luffy leaned in and kissed him. Their lips met softly, neither overpowering the other as they reached an equilibrium of yearning. Law sighed into Luffy. After releasing Law’s lips, Luffy took the flesh of Law’s neck into his mouth. He bit and sucked, pulling blood to the surface. Beneath him, Law moaned and arched his back. Luffy’s lips smacked against his skin when they parted. He chuckled as the crown tumbled from his head and to the floor.

“Hey, Torao,” Luffy whispered into Law’s ear. “Know what I’m gonna do to you?” He paused to drag his tongue vertically along Law’s throat before continuing. “I’m going to fuck you, ‘cause I wanna know every inch of you, inside and out.” Law shivered as he nipped his ear lobe. “I’m gonna make you cum and then I’m gonna cum in you. I’m gonna fill you up, Torao.”

“Luffy-ya,” Law breathed against Luffy’s hair, voice laden with anticipation.

“I want you to feel like you’re full of me,” he murmured. Pushing himself up, Luffy grinned, “But first…flip over.”

Biting at his lip, Law obeyed. Once he was flat on his stomach, Luffy took his hips and raised them in the air. “Bend your knees,” he urged. “Yeah, like that. Perfect.” He leaned to the side and smiled at Law, who looked back over his shoulder. “It’s a good view, Torao.” 

Law snapped his head forward, face burning as Luffy kneeled behind his raised hips. Palms pressed on his cheeks and fingertips brushed lightly over his skin as Luffy pushed the skirt up past his hips.

“You have such a great ass,” Luffy mused as he squeezed a cheek in each hand.

Law’s blood surged. Luffy pulled his cheeks apart and leaned in. Breath tickling his anus, Law twitched. The air moved and Law was overwhelmed with the intimate sensation of Luffy’s tongue spread and pressed along the raphe of his scrotum. He licked upward once, tongue wide and flat, and then again, fine and pointed. Law breathed heavily as Luffy repeated the alternating licks, reaching just far enough along his perineum to stir his hunger for more. Amidst Law’s audible gasps and shaking breaths, Luffy enclosed both testicles in his mouth. He rolled them over his tongue and sucked gingerly. Releasing the left ball, he focused his attention on the right before switching back. 

Luffy pulled back for a quick breath and admired the bright pink of Law’s ass beneath his hands. Law worked to steady himself but was granted only a brief reprieve. Luffy’s tongue dragged in long, languid strokes over his taint and asshole. Clutching at fistfulls of the satin bedspread, Law gritted his teeth as Luffy’s area of coverage grew smaller until he was drawing a ring around his anus. 

“Luffy,” he gasped.

Puffs of breathy laughter caressed his exposed flesh before the tip of Luffy’s tongue centered on his anus. He pressed his mouth firmly against Law’s ass and licked with unbridled zeal. Keeping one hand on Law’s ass to maintain his angle, Luffy snaked the other hand around and surrounded Law’s cock in his grasp. Law moaned as Luffy rubbed his shaft at a lethargic pace while increasing the pressure and point of his tongue against his anus. He pushed his hips back and Luffy’s tongue slipped inside of him. Delighting in Law’s groans, Luffy swirled his tongue. He relaxed and then tensed the muscles of his tongue to toy with the soft muscle of Law’s asshole. 

Finally, satisfied with his work, Luffy pulled his face away from the luscious landscape of Law’s backside. After a moment to catch his breath, he planted lingering kisses along Law’s thighs and cheeks. 

“Nnh!” Law grunted in surprise as Luffy bit down on the soft flesh of his right asscheek. He pushed himself up on wobbly arms and twisted around. Luffy lifted sparkling eyes to meet his gaze.

“Ceahekuao?” Luffy asked, teeth still clamped around Law’s ass.

“Hah?” Law chuckled, bewildered and amused.

After reluctantly relinquishing Law’s ass, Luffy repeated, “Can I fuck you now?” 

Law smirked and nodded, triggering a dazzling, excited grin on Luffy’s face. 

“Get on your side,” Luffy ordered gently as he tore the cape from his shoulders and flopped down beside Law.

Again, Law obeyed. He lowered his hips before turning on his side. Luffy shuffled up to press his stomach to Law’s back. He propped himself up on his elbow and wrapped his free hand around Law's waist. Nuzzling into Law’s neck, Luffy hummed, “You always smell so good, Torao.”

Law turned his head and smiled. “What, like sweat?” he laughed. 

“Hmmm, I guess,” Luffy pondered. “The smell, it’s just you, ya know? That’s why I like it.”

Teasing, Law snorted, “Glad you like eau de sea rat.”

“Ode to what?” Luffy repeated, furrowing his brow in confusion.

A bark of laughter burst from Law’s chest. “Never mind. Just kiss me, Mugiwara-ya,” he smirked.

Luffy pushed himself up to lean in and eagerly pressed his lips to Law’s. As their tongues danced together, Luffy drifted his hand over Law’s hip and tugged the hem of his skirt up. Law moaned and Luffy pulled his head back, a string of saliva connecting his tongue to Law’s lower lip. The thread snapped as Luffy moved his body lower and wrapped his free hand along the black stocking and around the underside of Law’s thigh. Law bent his knee while Luffy pulled his thigh inward, spreading his cheeks further apart.

Angling his hips forward, Luffy prodded the head of his penis against Law’s asshole. Law willed his body to relax while Luffy pushed into him. Breath hitched in Law’s throat as his body stretched around the head of Luffy’s cock. The steam of Luffy’s breath warmed Law’s skin as he clamped his teeth on Law’s shoulder to strengthen his hold. “Ahn!” Law yelped when Luffy pushed further.

“Oh, fuuuck,” Luffy released his bite and groaned. “Torao, how are you this tight? Shit. How am I supposed to last like this?”

Law drew ragged breaths, barely registering Luffy’s string of curses. Gentle kisses along his neck roused his attention. “Torao…” Luffy whispered. “Oi, Torao. Are you OK?”

“Give me a second,” Law murmured. Luffy rubbed his cheek against Law’s shoulder, otherwise keeping still. After a few moments, Law continued, “I’m good. Sorry, Luffy-ya…it’s been awhile since I’ve done this.”

Luffy chuckled, “Don’t apologize….We can do something else if you want?”

Law shook his head. “No, keep going,” he breathed.

After giving Law’s throat another kiss, Luffy resumed the press of his hips. As Law breathed more regularly, Luffy’s shaft drove deeper. Law strained to accommodate the solid girth of Luffy’s cock. 

“Oh,” Law moaned when the ache burnished into a glow of pleasure. Within him, Luffy worked gentle thrusts that sent waves of heat through his body. The sensation of fullness set Law’s mind spinning.

Against Law’s shoulder, Luffy exhaled a breathy laugh. “You took all of it, Law,” he murmured, voice filled with awe. “Fuck, you feel good.”

Law gasped as Luffy accelerated his pace. Luffy’s sweat-slicked abs tightened, rubbing against Law’s back. With each thrust, the tension in Law’s core swelled. Luffy kept a tight hold on Law’s thigh, and pressed his mouth to Law’s shoulder. He furrowed his brow in concentration while he watched Law’s face, his resolve to make Law cum immutable. 

“Harder, Luffy,” Law growled through clenched teeth. Pitching himself higher upon his braced elbow, Luffy slammed into Law. “Unf… yes,” Law panted as his body shook under the impact.

The smooth nylon of Law’s stocking ripped under Luffy’s vigorous grip. His fingers passed through torn fabric, digging into the flesh of Law’s thigh. When Law came, it was with violent intensity. He weaved his left arm around the thigh Luffy held aloft, pulling it further out of the way and clutching at Luffy’s hand. With his right hand, he clawed at the bedsheets as the orgasm tore through him. His muscles across his body tensed and released, driving the deeply-rooted climax through the rest of his corporeal form. A few small but satisfying spurts of semen streamed from Law’s cock onto the satin bedspread and the fabric of his dress. 

Luffy studied the flush of Law’s face and the bright pink ‘o’ of his mouth. His heart bubbled with adoration and pride. As Law’s orgasm faded, Luffy slowed to a stop. He nibbled at Law’s ear lobe and asked, “Did that feel good, Torao?”

“Uh huh,” Law nodded breathlessly. 

Physically and emotionally warmed, Luffy chuckled and pressed his cheek to the crook of Law’s neck. After several heartbeats passed, he purred, “It’s my turn now.” 

Law’s eyes widened as Luffy pounded into him with renewed vigor. He braced against the bed, allowing Luffy to ram the length of his dick inside of him. The impact jolted Law’s frame and forced a cry from his lips. Luffy turned his head to watch Law’s reflection in the mirror above them. The ceiling exposed more of Law’s vulnerable form than Luffy had been prepared for. Each movement of his hips drove Law’s face into an expression that looked completely carnal, strength mingled with equal parts pain and pleasure.

“Law,” Luffy groaned, pumping his hips to the finality of orgasm. Cum surged from his body into Law’s, filling him with a heat to match his own. Spent, Luffy collapsed beside Law. Between gasps for air, he murmured, “I love them.”

“Huh?” Law twisted his neck to look over his shoulder. 

Luffy grinned and rallied his strength to shift closer to Law. He wrapped an arm across Law’s ribs and explained, “I love the noises you make.”

Law bit his lip, ears burning. “Now you know how I feel,” he retorted quietly.

“Hard to imagine anything could compare to your voice like that, but OK,” Luffy laughed. He buried his face in the crook of Law’s neck. “That was amazing, Torao…” he sighed.

“It really was,” Law smiled. The warmth of Luffy’s body wrapped around his own stirred something tender in his chest. As if sensing this change, Luffy gently traced the exposed upper curves of the Law’s chest tattoo.

The peaceful silence that settled over them shattered as Luffy began, voice serious, “Hey, Torao…” He paused before continuing. “How come the heavenly-anointed ninja didn’t use the shadow clone technique to fight the king’s advisor in the last act? He could have beat him so easily if he just confused him with that.”

Amused, Law thought for a moment. “I assumed he didn’t have enough power at that point. They had been fighting for a while.”

“Hmm,” Luffy pondered this. “But he used the smoke and earth escape techniques like, one after the other in the same fight! Wouldn’t those combined equal at least a single use of the shadow clone technique?”

Law flipped over to face Luffy and stared, brows furrowed. “Damnit,” he cursed. “I think you’re right.”

Luffy laughed, “Hey, but the effects they did for the wall run were cool, weren’t they?”

With a smirk, Law nodded before he pushed himself to sit upright. “Not a lot of time left,” he commented as he glanced at the clock near the front door. “I’m gonna shower.”
“Why do you always end our time together with baths and showers?” Luffy pouted.

“Because that’s what people do when they get cum all over themselves, Mugiwara-ya,” he answered, mouth twitching. 

Luffy eyed Law as he stood. “You are a pretty mess,” he chuckled.

—

The towel fell from Luffy’s waist. He reached for his shirt from the top of a neat pile Law had assembled of his clothes. “Whatcha looking at, Torao?” he asked as he slipped his arms through the shirtsleeves.

Over his shoulder, Law answered, “They’ve got a picture of Gol D. Roger.”

“Oh! Neat,” Luffy said. 

“Yeah, but somebody drew a dick on his face,” Law continued.

Luffy buttoned his shorts and walked over. “Aw, you can’t do that to Roger!” he frowned at the cartoon phallus roughly sketched over Roger’s cheek. 

“Right? I…” Law began but trailed off. He stepped to the door and turned his head. 

Luffy joined him and they exchanged a concerned glance. Heavy footsteps tramped down the hallway on the other side, followed by shouting and distant knocking. They jumped back as a fist hammered on their door.

“Marines. Open up!” a voice bellowed.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Law hissed. He darted to apply the mustache and sunglasses that served as his disguise. He motioned for Luffy to do the same. 

“Why are the Marines here?” Luffy groaned as he followed suit. “Did they see through our disguises?”

“Lower your voice, Mugiwara-ya,” Law scolded as the knocking continued. “It sounds like they’re not just here for us… Shit , I bet this was a set-up. The manager said there were lots of pirates in town for the tournament. Sounds exactly like the kind of fucked up thing Doflamingo would do.”

Luffy was unlatching the window when the voice from the hallway boomed again, “We have the key. You have three seconds to open this door or we will enter directly. Prepare to surrender!”

“Come on!” Luffy motioned, straddling the window sill. 

Law climbed onto the window ledge once Luffy dropped the negligible distance to the ground outside. He hopped over the sill and landed in the dimly lit alley, where Luffy waited. 

Law stifled a cry of surprise as Luffy grabbed his hand and ran. “Wait! Shouldn’t we be a little more strategic about this?” he grumbled.

“It’ll be fine!” Luffy beamed over his shoulder at Law.

“Oi! Watch where you’re running!” Law shouted.

His warning arrived too late as their path dumped them out onto the main street directly into a marine. Luffy managed to stay on his feet after bowling the marine to the ground. Pulled along by the hand, Law failed to stop before crashing into Luffy’s back and ultimately sending them both tumbling atop the wiped out marine. 

“Fuck!” Law cursed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, which had made biting contact with Luffy’s head. Unfazed, Luffy bounced to his feet. Law blinked in surprise as Luffy lifted him by the arms until he was on his own feet.

“Oi, there’s more of them over there! Don’t let ‘em get away!” a voice cried. A cluster of three marines ran towards them, long shadows cast against the walls as street lamps illuminated them in orange light.

Law found himself dragged behind Luffy again, the darkness of the night interrupted by bright patches of light from lamps and windows that blurred as they ran by. Footsteps pounded behind them. “Do you know where you’re going?” Law yelled. Luffy just laughed. Gripping Luffy’s hand harder, Law marvelled at the lightness in his chest. A puff of laughter escaped his lips before he could think to stop it. 

Luffy swerved into a narrow alley and pressed his back to the brick wall, pulling Law into him. They huddled, panting, as they waited for the marines to pass. Luffy bit down on his lower lip and watched Law’s eyes until the sound of running moved past them. Together they laughed, the contagion of reckless humor infecting one and then the other in a vicious cycle. Law broke through first and cradled Luffy’s head in his hands as he pushed his lips into Luffy’s. He could still feel the shadow of a smile in Luffy’s mouth as their lips moved together. The bristles of their fake mustaches tickled against their skin. Law pulled back in surprise when he tasted the iron tang of blood. 

“I think your nose is bleeding, Torao,” Luffy whispered, flicking his tongue across his upper lip.

Law laughed, “Shit.” He wiped his nose with the back of his hand, blood smearing across his skin. 

“Over here! Found them!” A loud voice from the other end of the alley startled them both. 

“Room!” Law called out. “Shambles,” he continued, bloodied hand stretched outward. The marine who had spoken disappeared, a flower pot smashing into pieces on the cobblestone ground in his stead. Two men stood further behind, swinging their heads around in confusion. A small, baffled cry reached them above.

Looking up, Luffy laughed at the sight of the marine perched perilously on a balcony ledge. “Nice, Torao!” he smiled before intertwining his hand with Law’s and resuming their escape while the other marines were distracted.

Together, they crashed through crowds, narrow streets, and the false sense of security in Dressrosa’s gentrified neighborhoods. Their descent into the packed lanes of the shopping district issued a bedlam wholly disproportionate to the severity of their crime, the nature of which was still not even entirely clear. People screamed and panicked to see marines barreling through the market in pursuit of two men, but their shit was utterly lost when friends and family members spontaneously teleported, leaving carts of tomatoes, barrels, and even other confused people in their wake, all conveniently in the path of the marines. Luffy cackled amidst the chaos, stretching his free arm to swipe legs of meat from market stalls at every opportunity.

“How can you eat at a time like this?” Law snorted.

Teeth deep in a nondescript but succulent piece of meat, Luffy smiled and shrugged. After devouring the meat and tossing the bone over his shoulder, which Law quickly switched with a befuddled jeweler, Luffy pointed to an unobtrusive storefront at the end of the block. “Let’s hide in there!” he shouted.

Law nodded, lifting his hand and murmuring “shambles” under his breath. The marines stumbled as a single wooden stool appeared in place of the two pirates. Law pulled his hand back to steady Luffy and keep him from running into the wall when space shifted and the shop materialized directly in front of them. With Law’s help, Luffy careened through the open doorway.

A gasp broke from Law’s mouth, prompting Luffy to spin around with his fist raised for a fight. Instead he found Law staring, eyes wide with childlike wonder, into a glass display case. He relaxed and leaned over. “What are these?” he asked.

Law looked at him with sparkling eyes. “Coins,” he explained.

“Like…money?” Luffy furrowed his brow.

“No, no,” Law shook his head fervently. “They’re commemorative coins. They make special ones and you can collect them.”

“Ohhh, like cool rocks! Or those jokes you can get on popsicle sticks!” Luffy nodded in understanding.

Rolling his eyes, Law scoffed, “It’s a little cooler than that.”

Luffy observed Law, who had returned his attention to the coins behind glass. “You collect these then?” he spoke before examining the display for himself.

“I’ve got a pretty decent collection,” Law smiled. “See this one,” he pointed to a coin detailed with a massive tower. “It’s pretty new. They issued this when they finished building New Marineford.” Pointing further right, Law’s eyes gleamed. “I’ve been searching for this one for years.”

Squinting, Luffy leaned in further to inspect the coin. It depicted a pristine building with onion-shaped domes and an elegant iron and stone fence along its perimeter. “What is it?” Luffy asked.

“It’s a hospital in Flevance,” he answered softly. 

“Flevance?” Luffy repeated.

Law nodded and murmured, “Yeah, where I’m from.”

Luffy blinked, trying to understand the change in energy surrounding Law. “Ah, so it’s a…good souvenir…” he began and trailed off, clearly not hitting the mark. 

He opened his mouth to speak again when a shrill scream interrupted him. They turned to see a woman backing away from them, face pale and eyes wide. “Someone call the marines!” she screeched as she stepped back into the street.

The store owner shot out from the back of the shop at the commotion. Seeing them, he cried, “Pirates! Help! They’re raiding my shop!” 

As Law rolled his eyes in frustration, Luffy smashed his fist through the glass case. 

“The hell, Mugiwara-ya?” Law grumbled, raising his arms to protect his face. 

“C’mon!” Luffy ordered.

His hand once again locked in Luffy’s grasp, Law followed as Luffy barged through the store. He shouldered past the owner to the door in the back, the familiar shouts of marine law enforcement floating in from the street as he jiggled the handle. With a single kick, Luffy sent the door flying off of its hinges and clattering into the alleyway. He pulled Law through to make a swift escape. 

Marines already filed down the narrow walkway to their left when Luffy and Law stepped into the alley. Luffy swung right to avoid them and came face to face with a stone wall. “Ah, crap,” he grumbled, realizing they were trapped.

“Put your hands up!” the marine at the front of the group warned as he pointed his standard-issue rifle at the two pirates.

Law raised his hands hesitantly. Luffy, however, dropped Law’s hand and stepped forward. “Gomu gomu no ballon!” he roared before inhaling rapidly. His body swelled and inflated to completely block Law from aim. Panicked, the marine fired a bullet into Luffy’s gut. Luffy grinned as it bounced off of his air-filled stomach. The crowd of marines looked upon him in horror. “Gomu gomu no gatling!” Luffy cried out. Limp marines littered the alleyway as Luffy pummeled them with his fists. 

When the dust cleared to reveal that not a single marine remained standing, Luffy deflated. Law yelped as Luffy stretched his rubber arm around his waist and threw his hand upward. They landed on the roof above the alleyway after Luffy’s grip slingshot them upward. Luffy spun around, taking in his surroundings. After spying the western coastline, he ran straight toward it, jumping nimbly from rooftop to rooftop. 

“You can put me down now!” Law grumbled.

“Nah, not gonna just yet. It’s faster this way,” Luffy teased.

He ignored Law’s complaints until they reached the last building on the western edge of town. Snapping his arm back to his side, Luffy plopped Law onto the tiled roof. He panted and looked around. “I think we lost them!” he beamed. 

“Yeah…” Law watched him take a seat. “What are you doing?” he asked.

Luffy looked up at him, face tinged with moonlight. “Sit with me,” he said with a warm smile. After a moment’s hesitation, Law sat beside him. “Wow,” Law murmured as he took in the view; the brilliant moon hovering over the ocean, painting a glowing line of platinum across its currents. 

“Right?” Luffy breathed. 

Law’s heart flipped as Luffy scooted closer and leaned his head against his shoulder. Tentatively, Law shifted his weight and leaned back against his arms to let Luffy fall into him further. 

“I had a lot of fun today, Torao,” Luffy chuckled softly.

Grateful for the cover of night that hid his flushed cheeks, Law agreed, “Same. Thanks, Luffy-ya.” He swallowed before continuing, “Did the date, uh, live up to your expectations?”

“Yes, definitely,” Luffy nodded. “We’ll have to go on more.”

Words evaporated from Law’s tongue as he gazed down into Luffy’s starlit eyes. The sincerity struck him right in the chest.

“Oh!” Luffy cried abruptly. He fumbled around his shorts pocket and then held out his hand to Law. “For you.”

Shifting his weight, Law leaned forward and opened his palm. Metal chilled his skin and his vision swam as he stared down at the coin in his hand. “The…Flevance Memorial Hospital…” he remarked, his voice barely a whisper.

Luffy beamed up at him. “That’s the one you wanted, right?” he asked. Law bit down on his lower lip and nodded his head once. When the silence lingered, Luffy tilted his head to peer into Law’s eyes. “Torao, are you OK?”

Law cleared his throat. “Yes. Yes! Thank you. Sorry,” he stammered, voice uneven. After a steadying breath, he smiled. “Seriously, thank you.”

“Ah, phew! I was worried I grabbed the wrong one,” Luffy sighed. He leaned over to look at Law’s palm. “Why did you want this one so much?” he ventured.

Collecting himself, Law eventually answered, “My parents…worked there, at the Flevance Memorial Hospital. The coin was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding.”

“Ohh, your parents,” Luffy pursed his lips in thought. “Where’s Flevance? I don’t think I’ve heard of that country.”

“North Blue. But it’s gone now,” Law explained quietly.

“Oh,” Luffy blinked. Softly, he whispered, “I want to hear about your parents someday.”

Silence stretched between them. Finally, Law declared, “After we beat Doflamingo I’ll tell you all about them.”

“Deal!” Luffy grinned and nuzzled his face against Law’s shoulder.

They settled into one another’s quiet company and watched the moon rise further into the sky over the ocean. 

“We should probably head back to the Sunny, huh?” Luffy eventually sighed.

“Ah, yeah. Your navigator wanted us back by midnight, right?” Law agreed.

As they got to their feet, Luffy burst, “Shit!”

Law blinked in surprise. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“The dress!” Luffy moaned. When Law looked at him with brows furrowed in confusion, he explained, “I forgot the maid outfit back at the hotel.”

“Ah,” Law observed, amused and relieved at the source of Luffy’s despair.

“There were so many other things I wanted to do with you in that,” he sighed and slumped his shoulders.

Law ruffled his hair and chuckled, “Perv.”

Chapter Text

Luffy stares at the blood dripping from his sandal. He stares, and stares, and stares. He knows it’s not his own blood, and he knows what he’ll find when he looks up. This scene has played over and over in his head, a broken track running on a machine with no interface. Luffy watches as the past dictates his head to rise, his gaze to land on Law’s mangled body. He hears himself speaking while his chest aches with a silent scream.

The emblem on Law’s coat returns Luffy’s stare with a discordant grin as bile rises in his throat. Bullet holes perforate Law’s back. He is face-down in a pool of blood. His right arm, severed, lies on the ground paces away. The palm of his detached arm faces the sky in a gesture that would border on inviting, if not for the blood that streaks the flesh.

“He’s dead. It’s obvious.” Doflamingo’s sneer is deafening.

He knows this will not be true if he can move forward in time, but his mind has trapped him here in this fragment. Again, Luffy staggers under the chill and the nausea, the sensation of his heart in his throat. He wonders if he can vomit up his heart–it feels like he could–and he wonders if that would solve anything.

“It seemed like he trusted you so much. What a shame.” 

This is not the first time he has faced violent loss. A fist of magma thrust through Ace’s chest flashes in his mind. The despair is the same, the horror is recognizable, but the specific wrenching of his heart is not. Luffy shakes while he examines his pain. Fond remarks, the soft curve of Law’s lips; intimate moments are stained with violence and anguish. The once-bright future is gouged, leaving gaps devoid of feeling save grief and regret.

He trusted you. He’s dead. 

He’s dead.

—

Faded linen crumpled between Luffy’s fists. A scream scratched at his throat and dragged him out of sleep, into the present. Through wide eyes he scanned the men’s quarters of the Thousand Sunny, though his mind lagged several moments behind. When the images transmitting to his brain finally registered, Luffy found Chopper and Zoro standing to the right of his bunk, with Sanji, Usopp, Kin’emon, and Franky to the left. 

“Luffy!” Chopper’s voice rang. “Luffy, calm down!” 

The gentle push of Chopper’s hoof against his arm grounded him. Luffy stopped screaming and his chest heaved. His crewmates exchanged concerned glances. They spoke to one another, voices audible but incomprehensible while Luffy struggled with his pounding heart. Nami and Robin appeared at his bedside.

“Snap out of it, Luffy!” Nami ordered and shoved her way forward to grab his ankles through the blanket. “You are OK. Everyone is OK. You’re on the Sunny and we are going to Zou. Everything is fine.” Luffy met her eyes and nodded slowly as her words seeped in. His breathing slowed.

“What’s wrong with him?” Usopp whispered across the bed to Chopper, voice weak with concern.

Chopper opened his mouth and hesitated. “I’m not sure,” he finally squeaked. “He’s having some kind of psychological episode but I don’t know the cause.”

Luffy looked from Nami to Chopper. “I’m fine,” he croaked.

Sanji snorted, “That’s a fat ass lie.”

“No, really, I just…” Luffy trailed off as Law stepped in beside Nami. 

All eyes turned to Law. He frowned at the sudden attention. “What’s going on? I heard screaming,” he grumbled awkwardly, looking around the crowd. When his gaze landed on Luffy’s haunted expression, he blinked in shock. 

Luffy raised a shaking hand toward Law and parted his lips. Everyone waited for him to speak. Instead, Luffy leaned over the right side of the bed and vomited. 

“Oh, that’s nice,” Zoro sighed and shuffled further away from the bed, grimacing.

“S-sorry,” Luffy gasped, still leaning over the bunk. “I think I just…need to get some air.”

“Everybody out,” Chopper ordered as he shifted into Heavy Point and moved to pick Luffy up from his bed. “Zoro, go wash your feet,” he added with disgust. 

The room emptied as the Straw Hats and company filed outside. Chopper cradled Luffy in his arms and carried him to the deck at the bow of the ship. Carefully, he set Luffy down against the railing. 

“Luffy, can you tell me what’s going on?” Chopper spoke firmly.

“I just panicked, Chopper. It’s nothing to worry about,” Luffy responded, the weakness of his voice conflicting with his casual tone.

Chopper folded his arms. “This seems more serious than that,” he argued.

“Sorry, Chopper, I just…I’d like to be alone for a little bit,” Luffy said quietly.

“Please just promise you’ll let me know if I can help?” Chopper sighed.

“Sure thing. Thanks, Chopper,” Luffy flashed him an unsteady smile. Alone, Luffy leaned his head back. His vision adjusted in the dark and his heart calmed. The ribbon of stars glowed brighter and anchored him. 

The staircase creaked and Luffy turned his head. Law appeared on the steps, a sack nestled into the crook of his arm. He paused, the lap of waves against the hull filling the gap until he spoke, “Chopper-ya said you wanted to be alone…Thought I’d at least bring you some stuff. Might get sick if you sit out here all night like this.” He stepped forward.

Luffy watched him in silence. Kneeling in front of him, Law dropped the bag with a thunk and rifled through it. He pulled out a canteen, bento, and finally a blanket. “There,” Law murmured. “At least drink some water, Mugiwara-ya,” he added, nudging the canteen forward.

“Thanks, Doctor Torao,” Luffy whispered hoarsely, a phantom of amusement flickering in his voice before he gulped from the canteen. 

He set the canteen down and they both remained still, watching the other. Finally, Law rose to his feet. 

“Torao,” Luffy called as he turned to leave. Law stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Sit with me?” he asked.

Law settled in at Luffy’s side without a word. He tossed the blanket over his own shoulder and then wrapped it around Luffy, encasing them in a protective warmth. Luffy smiled softly, took another swig of water, and closed his eyes. 

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Law spoke after several minutes had stretched between them. 

“What do you mean?” Luffy feigned ignorance.

Law snorted, “You know what I mean.” He turned to look at Luffy. “You woke up screaming. You looked like you saw a ghost. And you threw up on Zoro.” 

Luffy’s mouth twitched. Finally, he opened his eyes and met Law’s gaze briefly. “Bad dream,” he mumbled.

“I’m familiar with nightmares, Luffy-ya. You know that,” Law whispered as he pressed his nose into Luffy’s hair. He inhaled gently while he waited for Luffy to speak.

“I know, but…I don’t know what to do with it,” Luffy gulped.

“You don’t know what to do with your nightmare?” Law repeated, trying to understand.

“I don’t know what to do with these feelings,” he explained, unconsciously rubbing at his chest.

Law turned his head skyward. “What feelings?” 

“I’m scared,” Luffy’s voice wavered toward the stars. “I keep seeing you on the rooftop. Full of bullets with your arm torn off just lying there and I just, I feel sick. And afraid.”

Law’s heart beat faster. “Afraid of what, Luffy-ya?” 

“Losing you. Or hurting you. Failing you,” Luffy spoke, his tone quiet but strained.

Wrapping his arm around Luffy’s waist and pulling him closer, Law narrowed his eyes. “You think I’m not afraid of doing those things to you too?” he murmured.

“I thought you were dead, Law. I failed.” His voice cracked.

Law grappled with the weight of Luffy’s despair and finally spoke, “But I didn’t die.”

“I know, but…In that moment, when I thought you died…everything broke,” Luffy croaked. “When Ace died I felt broken too, but somehow…I don’t know how to explain it but this was…more consuming.”

“I’m sorry, Luffy,” Law whispered.

Luffy scoffed, “Why are you apologizing?” His tone grew angry, “I failed you. You trusted me and I failed.”

Law leaned sideways to meet Luffy’s gaze more directly. Taking Luffy’s jaw in his hand, he spoke firmly, “You did not fail. Because of you, the man who I have dedicated my life to destroying is in Marine custody. Cora’s will lives on and Doflamingo is over and it’s because of you, Luffy. You succeeded in making my life’s purpose a reality.” 

Luffy watched him with wide eyes. Law paused to untangle the feelings knotting in his chest. Frustrated, he abandoned this effort and brought his lips to Luffy’s mouth. A tiny moan bloomed from Luffy’s chest in surprise. Law pressed into him, lips soft but static, the kiss a statement rather than an invitation or a question. 

He released Luffy and leaned in so that their foreheads met. A tear slipped down his cheek as he closed his eyes. “Thank you, Luffy,” he spoke.

“Law,” Luffy breathed. Slowly, he raised his hand and brushed the tear from Law’s face with his thumb.

Under Luffy’s touch, Law opened his eyes and moved back to meet Luffy’s gaze. “Trust me, Luffy-ya,” he smiled.

“Of course I trust you. But what am I supposed to do if you’re dead?” Luffy retorted softly.

Law sighed, “I’m not dead yet. I know it looked like I died, but I didn’t, did I? I took care of myself. I’m not willing to throw my life away, especially now that I…” He trailed off, cheeks flushed, and shifted to hide his emotion in the night sky. “I trust you, Luffy-ya,” he added. “Trust me like I trust you.”

Luffy’s saucer-round eyes glowed as he watched Law. “Torao,” he sighed sweetly and buried his face into Law’s chest. The grip around his waist tightened as Law rested a cheek against his head. 

—

“Oi, Chopper-ya. Do you have any weed?” Law asked as he pushed open the door to the sickbay.

Chopper laid his book down atop the desk. “Weeds? You’re going to have to be more specific,” he frowned.

“Marijuana,” Law enunciated. 

“Oh! Yes, of course,” Chopper nodded enthusiastically. Abruptly, he paused as pity spread across his face. “Torao…Do you suffer from migraines, too?”

“Migraines?” Law blinked.

Chopper sighed, “Almost everyone here gets migraines, and often. Poor Robin, she gets them almost every night.”

Eyebrows raised, Law stammered, “Oh, yeah uh…Luffy’s got a migraine, actually, so he needs some.”

“Luffy, too?!” Chopper frowned in horror. “Even Luffy is getting them now?”

“Yeah,” Law mumbled. “So, can I have some?”

“Yes, yes,” Chopper jumped to his feet and pulled a small metal box from a nearby shelf. As he placed the box on his desk and shuffled with its contents, the door swung open behind Law. 

“Torao!” Robin greeted cheerfully. Before he could respond, she spoke again, “Chopper, I’ve got a migraine.”

“Wait right there, Robin,” Chopper called over his shoulder. “I’m preparing some marijuana for Luffy so it’ll just be a second.”

“Luffy?” Robin repeated, surprised. She turned to Law. “Luffy smokes pot?” 

Law looked from her to Chopper and back. “Well, no. But I told him it might help him sleep better, so he agreed to try it,” he answered.

Robin’s eyes gleamed. “Our Captain’s getting high for the first time and you didn’t think to invite us?” she scolded.

“I didn’t realize that would be a…uh, a thing,” Law stumbled awkwardly. “Sorry…”

She giggled, “Calm down, Torao. I will be inviting the rest of the crew, though.” Pausing as she turned to go, Robin spoke, “Chopper, would you mind preparing more?”

Chopper turned, “I can do that. How much more?”

“Well, everyone on the crew has a migraine. So however much you would prescribe for that,” she responded.

Law stood uncomfortably in the sick bay after Robin left, unsure of what to do while the doctor of the Strawhats passed cured buds through a grinder. He almost jumped when Chopper spoke up. “It must be hard to be both a captain and a doctor, huh?”

“It’s…time-consuming,” Law answered quietly.

“Well,” Chopper began. “I’m grateful that you’re both. We all are. You took care of Luffy when I wasn’t there, after all.”

Hesitating, Law swallowed. “Sure,” he murmured while his memory flashed back to Luffy sitting in the sickbay bed, swallowed in bandages and pulling at his hair while the loss of his brother wrenched sobs from his body. Gruffly, he added, “Any doctor would have done that.”

Chopper laughed and jumped down from the chair. “From one doctor to another: thank you,” he beamed. 

The precious authenticity of Chopper’s smile melted the ice from Law’s chest and distracted him as he thrust a tray into Law’s hands. Law widened his eyes while he surveyed the bowl of evenly ground weed and a row of neatly assembled joints. Picking up a joint and examining it, Law marveled, “You’re good at this, Chopper-ya.” 

“Of course I am. I took the Hippocratic oath to prioritize the well-being of my patients, Torao,” he chuckled.

—

Bubbles gurgled in the chamber of the bong as Franky pulled smoke through the water. Plucking the stem free, he inhaled before passing the bong to Brook. Luffy’s gaze shifted from Franky to the fish wriggling through the water, their forms blurred through aquarium glass and the haze that clouded the bar’s atmosphere. 

“Want some more?” Law squeezed Luffy’s hip and extended the joint toward him.

Luffy nodded and shifted atop Law’s lap. Law twitched beneath the pressure of Luffy’s ass, the sensation sending warmth through his body. He watched as Luffy took the joint between his lips and sucked inward, the tip glowing. When Luffy released the smoke, his body wracked with coughs. Law rubbed his back and took the joint, drawing a quick hit before passing it over to Usopp. 

“Oi, Sanji-ya,” Law called. “Can we get some water over here?”

Sanji turned from the bartop and nodded. He filled a cup with water and handed it to Luffy. “Rough on the lungs, huh?” he remarked sympathetically. Luffy gulped the water, paused to cough, and continued to drink until the cup was empty. 

“Take it easy, Mugiwara-ya,” Law chuckled.

“Thanks, Sanji!” Luffy spoke hoarsely when his lungs finally calmed. 

“No problem,” Sanji said and settled into the bench next to Zoro. 

From across the room, Nami asked, “Zoro, you’re joining us today? Thought you usually stick to alcohol.”

Zoro exhaled smoke and shrugged. He stretched his arms along the top of the bench, draping a hand over Sanji’s shoulder. “I’ll partake since the little cook likes it so much,” he laughed before nipping at Sanji’s earlobe.

“Oi!” Sanji growled.

“Yohoho!” Brook tittered. “How about I play us something?” he offered. 

Luffy’s reddened eyes sparkled. “Play something we can dance to!” he shouted. 

“Ooh, yes!” Nami clapped and jumped from her seat. As Brook tuned his guitar, Nami pulled Robin to her feet. “Dance with me, Robin!” she giggled.

Robin smiled and obeyed. Together, they moved to the music. Luffy bobbed his head in time until he reached the threshold of action. “I’m gonna go dance, Torao,” he whispered conspiratorially into Law’s ear. Law smirked with amusement. 

Luffy slipped from Law’s lap and crossed the short distance to join Robin and Nami, feeling electric as the chords thrummed in his ears and vibrated along his skin. His body moved to the sound, translating the music into motion as if through a new dimension illuminated by his altered mind-state. 

Franky joined alongside, grooving and dishing out some of his signature dance moves. Nami’s delighted laughter pitched high as she spun Robin in her arms. Meanwhile, Law relaxed into the sensation of his body melting against the chair and focused on following Luffy’s movements. His dancing was far from elegant, but it exuded a confidence and freedom that intoxicated Law. Luffy gyrated his hips, twisting his arms in the air and running a hand through his hair before going back to his side. Each time he lifted his arms, his red shirt moved and exposed the taut skin along his hip. Brook’s guitar manipulated Luffy in a fluid, languorous dance and Law couldn’t pull his eyes away. Luffy looked over his shoulder, flashing Law a bright smile. Law’s mouth spread into an uncontained grin. He imagined his hands roaming over Luffy’s chest, his stomach, his hips. 

“Little lamb, it looks like your wolf is hungry,” Nami sang as she grabbed Luffy’s hands with her own.

“Hah?” he chuckled as she twirled him around the room. Abruptly, she let go and Luffy stumbled backward into Law’s lap. Feeling the warmth of Law’s chest behind him, he twisted and laughed, “Sorry, Torao! Guess I’m a little clumsy.” The intensity he found in Law’s red-rimmed gaze surprised him.

Law slipped his hands around Luffy’s hips and up under his shirt. “That’s OK. You came back to me. Like you should,” he purred into Luffy’s ear. Luffy blushed as Law’s fingers dragged over his abs and up his chest. Law swiped a finger across Luffy’s nipple before wrapping his arms around his torso and pulling him close. 

“Torao!” Luffy laughed, squirming under the tickling sensation of Law’s fingers. 

Law breathed against Luffy’s neck and brushed his lips across the skin. “Can you feel how much I want you?” he whispered. “If you keep moving so much I don’t know if I’ll be able to restrain myself, Mugiwara-ya.”

Luffy’s eyes rounded as he registered the solid pressure of Law’s cock against his ass.

“Get a room, pervs!” Franky’s playful shout rang across the room.

They raised their heads in surprise. “How can he say that when he’s literally just wearing a speedo?” Law grumbled.

Luffy burst into laughter before observing, “I don’t think he’s talking to us.”

“Hm?” Law furrowed his brow. Following Luffy’s gaze to the bench, he blinked in surprise. “Damn, you’re not kidding,” he snorted. 

On the bench, Zoro pulled Sanji’s lips to his own via a fist full of blonde hair, his other hand gripping Sanji’s ass. As they kissed, Sanji worked his hands up Zoro’s biceps with white knuckles. One leg wrapped around Zoro’s back while he pressed his other foot against Zoro’s hip. 

“Are they fighting or making out?” Law mused.

Luffy shrugged, “I dunno. They do this all the time but pretend they don’t so I’m not sure what it is.” Law raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, Luffy cried out and pointed to the bar table, “Oh, Torao! Let’s draw!” 

“Sure,” Law nodded, swallowing his mild disappointment in Luffy’s attention span. 

Luffy leapt to his feet and pulled Law up by the hand. He led Law to the table that circled the main mast. “What are you guys drawing?” Luffy asked Usopp, Franky, and Robin, who sat around the table.

Franky and Usopp looked up from their shared sheet of paper. “We’re workshopping some upgrades for Usopp’s slingshot,” Franky explained.

Usopp nodded fervently. “I get some of my best ideas when I’m high,” he asserted, as if that explained everything. “Like, what if we put a smaller slingshot in the projectile pouch so you can launch it and then launch it again?”

Franky scratched his head. “You mean to double up on the momentum?”

“Exactly! See, it’s genius!” Usopp grinned.

Law frowned. “How do you plan to fire the smaller slingshot once you launch the larger one?”

Usopp’s grin vanished. “Why do you have to be such a downer?” he grumbled.

“Oi, oi, wait!” Franky spoke. “I’ve got a superrrr idea. What if we attach a set of small hands to the micro-slingshot? We could program them to fire the slingshot after the main one is launched.” With his left hand, he pointed to the tiny hand that extended from the palm of his larger right hand. 

Luffy leaned in, eyes sparkling. “That’s amazing!” he beamed while Law rolled his eyes. Turning to Robin, Luffy asked, “What are you working on?”

Smiling gently, Robin leaned back to give them a view of her paper. “Are those cats?” Law frowned.

“They’re kitten-dragons,” she chuckled.

“Aw, cute!” Luffy nodded appreciatively before reaching for paper from the stack atop the table. He handed a sheet to Law and gestured to the single open chair. “Sit, Torao!” 

Law hummed as he took the paper and sat in the chair. Holding Luffy’s gaze, he patted his thigh. “This seat is open,” he smirked.

Luffy laughed and climbed onto Law’s lap once again. He grabbed two markers and handed one to Law. “What should I draw?” Luffy wondered, face serious as he contemplated his options.

Law leaned to hover a marker over his paper next to Luffy’s elbow. “What do you like to draw?” he asked.

“Hmm,” Luffy cocked his head. “Robots, ninjas…swords.”

Nodding appreciatively, Law suggested, “Why don’t you just draw all of them?”

Luffy’s eyes widened. “A robot ninja with a sword. You’re so smart, Torao!” he cried as his enthusiasm burned bright. 

Law exhaled a puff of laughter before turning his attention back to the paper. While he sketched, he spoke up, “Robin-ya, what’s with the migraines?”

Robin paused over her drawing. “Chopper doesn’t condone the use of marijuana for recreational purposes,” she explained.

“So you all just…lie to him? And he believes it?” 

She shrugged. “I get migraines sometimes, so it’s not a complete lie. Chopper just doesn’t need to know about our recreational use. We would invite him to join, of course, but you can’t give drugs to animals. That’s animal abuse.”

“Huh,” Law lifted an eyebrow as he considered this. “Even if the animal ate the human-human fruit?”

Robin narrowed her eyes and stared at Law. “If you try to corrupt Chopper with drugs I will drown you,” she responded tersely. 

Law shivered under her stare and turned back to Luffy, who was hunched over and drawing with tremendous concentration. Warmed by Luffy’s enthusiasm, Law wrapped a hand around Luffy’s waist and returned his attention to the paper before him. They drew side-by-side, letting the boisterous conversation and laughter around them settle into comfortable background noise. 

“Perfect!” Luffy announced, capping his marker with a flourish. 

“That’s pretty sick, Mugiwara-ya,” Law smirked as he beheld the sword-wielding robot ninja with a ‘Cool S’ emblazoned on its headband, hastily drawn but obvious enough. “Looks very powerful.”

“Right? How’s your drawing coming, Torao?”

“Eh,” Law chuckled sheepishly and picked at the corner of the paper. 

“Whoahh!” Luffy exclaimed. “It’s your submarine. That’s so cool!” Squinting at the figure standing atop the submarine, he added, “Is that…Zoro?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Law shrugged, “He’s lost.”

Luffy exploded into laughter. “H-he’s lost!” he cackled loudly enough to draw the attention of the group. “Guys, guys, look at what Torao drew! It’s Zoro. And he’s lost!”

The rest of the crew huddled around the table while Luffy’s body shook with amusement. Zoro shouldered his way forward. “First of all, that doesn’t even look like me!” he roared. “And second, you’re not even part of this crew! You don’t get to make that joke!” Baring his teeth, he hovered over Law.

Law leaned back in surprise. Eyebrows raised, he mumbled, “It’s not a joke, it’s just the truth.”

“Oi, oi, oi! You wanna f-” Zoro growled but was quickly cut off.

“What is this even supposed to be?” Nami scoffed, pointing at the drawing.

“Submarine,” Law answered flatly.

Nami snorted. “It looks like a sunfish.” 

Offended, Law retorted, “Submarines look like fish because of their naturally streamlined forms. The shape reduces resistance in the water so–”

“Don’t mansplain fish to me, Torao,” Nami interjected and swiftly turned her attention away. “Let’s see your drawing, Luffy.”

Eagerly, he held up his drawing for all to appreciate. Usopp and Franky were especially enthusiastic, and Luffy glowed with their praise. 

When the excitement died down and the focus of the group turned to something else, Luffy twisted to look up at Law. “Torao,” he pouted. “Why did you draw Zoro and not me?”

Law blinked. “I thought it would be funny if it was Zoro,” he explained.

“Yeah, but…” Luffy trailed off, dissatisfied.

“Luffy-ya…” Law began and moved his hand to Luffy’s thigh. With his other hand, he pointed to the center of the submarine roughly three quarters of the way down. “You’re here, inside the submarine.”

Luffy’s face brightened. “Oh…Is that the room I stayed in when we left Marineford?”

“No, we kept you here,” Law shook his head and pointed higher up, “where the patient room is. But in this drawing you’re in my room.”

“You have your own room?” Luffy’s eyes rounded in awe.

He swept his hand further up and squeezed Luffy’s thigh. “Mmhm. You should see it sometime. I’ve got a bed that you’d look perfect in,” Law whispered. He smiled as a blush spread across Luffy’s cheeks and ears. With his free hand, Law ran a finger down Luffy’s sternum and past his belly button to toy with the waist of Luffy’s shorts. 

As Law’s fingers slipped under denim, Luffy shifted and exhaled a heavy breath. Luffy’s body throbbed as Law pressed his mouth, wet and hot, against his neck. “Mnn, Torao…” Luffy breathed, overtaken by single-minded sensation. “Torao, wanna go back to the crow’s nest?” he asked.

The warmth of Law’s breath behind his ear answered him first. “I’d like that,” he whispered.

Luffy arched his back while Law flicked his tongue under Luffy’s jaw and squeezed his hips. Growing impatient, Luffy slid from Law’s lap. “Come on, Torao,” he urged, pulling at his wrists. 

Law laughed, “I’m coming, hang on.”

Their exit from the aquarium bar and eventual ascent to the crow’s nest took just under two minutes, but lasted eons in their jumbled minds. 

“Wahhh, we finally made it!” Luffy remarked as he collapsed on Law's bedsheets. 

“How did we get here?” Law wondered aloud between fits of laughter. He plopped down beside Luffy.

Giggling, Luffy pulled a marker from his pocket. “Hey, Torao. Let me draw on you,” he grinned and poked Law’s side with the cap. 

Law snickered. “On me? Seriously?” When Luffy nodded, he sighed and assented. “Fine.”

After fumbling with the buttons on Law’s shirt, Luffy managed to strip the fabric from his body. His appraising stare searched Law’s bare skin. “Here!” he declared and pointed to a spot on Law's hip just above the waist of his pants. 

“What are you gonna draw?” Law asked.

Luffy grinned. “You’ll see!”

“Shit, that tickles,” he laughed, fists clenched. 

“Don’t move, Torao!” Luffy scolded. “You’ll mess it up.”

Stifling the instinct to squirm under the touch of the marker, Law watched as Luffy carefully traced a shape onto his skin. “Ah,” Law chuckled in recognition. “The potato heart.”

“It’s not a potato!” Luffy pouted after pulling away to reveal the finished design.

Law’s shoulders shook as laughter breached the confinement of his chest. “I know, I just,” he began but quickly choked on his words as hilarity took over once again. 

The pout on Luffy’s face dissolved beneath Law’s contagious laughter. His own body trembled as a giggle bubbled from his lips. “It’s a heart!” Luffy pointed to the drawing. Law buried his face in his hands as his body shook harder. Punching Law lightly on the shoulder, Luffy challenged breathlessly, “Why don’t you try drawing one if you’re such an expert?”

Law nodded, took some deep breaths to calm his amusement, and extended his hand. “Okay, okay,” he agreed. He took the marker and ordered, “Lie on your back. No, wait. Take your clothes off, then lie on your back.”

Luffy blushed and retorted, “Only if you take off your clothes too!”

“Deal,” he agreed with a devilish smirk.

Luffy shed his clothes almost instantly while Law struggled to peel his jeans off. “Need help?” Luffy laughed and leaned over to tug on the leg of his pants.

“I’m fine!” he grumbled.

After pulling Law’s pants off completely, Luffy chuckled, “I’m telling you, your pants aren’t practical.”

“Tch,” Law scoffed. “Fine, I’ll look into getting other pants.”

Luffy hesitated. “Well…” he frowned. “I don’t actually want you to stop wearing them. They look good on you! Your ass looks so nice and defined, and I love how they pull tight against your hips and when you twist a bit you get that little gap where your hip bone suspends the waistband from your lower abs. When that happens, I always wanna stick my pinky finger in the gap.”

Law blinked. “Wow.” He laughed and added, “You really like those pants.”

“When they’re on you,” Luffy shrugged and flashed Law a blinding smile.

“Lie down,” Law ordered again, trying unsuccessfully to calm his rapidly beating heart. It worsened as he watched Luffy lie on his back, every inch of flesh exposed. He slipped out of his underwear before straddling Luffy’s waist. 

Luffy’s face reddened at the sight of Law’s fully-aroused penis atop his stomach. It loomed, thick with appreciation, and sent a throb through Luffy’s body. Law glued his gaze to Luffy’s chest as he uncapped the marker. “Alright, I’m going to draw your heart,” he announced superfluously. Luffy nodded. 

“You’re right, that feels so funny,” Luffy laughed as the delicate strokes on his skin sent a shiver traveling up his spine.

Law smirked but said nothing, absorbed in his work. He traced the outline of the heart, doing his best to approximate accurate size and placement, and then began to fill in the details. As Law worked, Luffy studied the focus in his gaze with awe. When Law finished he met Luffy’s stare. They both blinked, surprised at the abrupt ending to the quiet moment. 

“Done,” Law smiled softly after several moments had passed.

Luffy bent his neck, bringing his chin to his chest to examine the heart. “Damn, Torao,” he remarked. “That really looks like the ones in your book.”

Equal parts thrilled and embarrassed, Law scratched at the side of his face. “I’m a surgeon. It’s important that I know the anatomy of the cardiovascular system,” he explained quietly.

“That makes sense,” Luffy nodded, eyes sparkling. “What about the other parts?”

“Other parts?” Law repeated, brow furrowed.

“Yeah! Like, the lungs or the muscles or the veins or… You know, the other stuff!” he answered.

“Are you asking me to draw those on you?” 

Luffy pursed his lips as he thought for a moment. With sudden finality, he nodded his head. “Yep!”

“Uh…Okay, sure,” Law shrugged to himself. He examined Luffy’s body from above as he contemplated his next move. “I guess I’ll just focus on the muscles…Er, can I just like, label them? Drawing them is gonna take forever.”

Luffy smiled, “Sure, whatever you want, Torao.”

“Alright,” he murmured and began. In thick block letters across Luffy’s chest, he wrote ‘PECTORALIS’ to the left of the heart and ‘MAJOR’ to the right of the heart. 

Looking down, Luffy squinted. “What’s it say?”

“Pectoralis major,” he answered while he moved on to the next muscle. 

Across each shoulder he wrote: ‘DELTOID.’ On his upper left arm: ‘BICEPS BRACHII.’ On the underside: ‘TRICEPS BRACHII.’ Further down: ‘BRACHIORADIALIS.’ ‘EXTENSOR CARPI RADIALIS LONGUS.’ ‘EXTENSOR DIGITORUM.’

“Hm, running out of space,” Law mumbled to himself. 

Luffy watched as Law got to his knees and shifted backward. With the newly gained space, he brought the marker to Luffy’s stomach. Vertically across his torso, he wrote: ‘RECTUS ABDOMINIS.’

“Ah! That tickles!” Luffy twitched with laughter. 

Law chuckled as he labeled Luffy’s right external oblique, drawing more giggles from his body. He paused and suggested, “Why don’t you flip over?”

Once Luffy was settled on his stomach, Law continued. Across his upper back: ‘TRAPEZIUS.’ Over his ribs: ‘LATISSIMUS DORSI.’ He hesitated over Luffy’s ass and bit down on his lip as he laughed. 

“Hey, why are you laughing?” Luffy asked, twisting to look over his shoulder at what Law was scribbling onto his ass. 

Between poorly repressed giggles, Law responded, “No reason.”

“Torao!” Luffy frowned. “What did you write?!”

Law sat back on his heels and smirked. “‘The One Piece,’” he finally answered. 

Luffy snorted, “That’s not a muscle, Torao.”

“I know,” Law scoffed. “But your ass is a treasure, Luffy-ya.” Stroking his finger over Luffy’s right asscheek, he added, “You’ve also got my jolly roger here.”

“Eh? But what if somebody sees that?! I can’t have someone else’s jolly roger on my ass,” Luffy complained.

“Well then don’t go showing your ass to anyone else,” Law purred. 

Luffy’s eyes narrowed. “Sneaky.”

Grinning, Law tossed the marker to the floor. He got to his feet and sat on the bench lining the interior of the crow’s nest. “C’mere,” he beckoned, patting his thighs. Luffy rolled over and clambered up to straddle Law’s lap, his knees squeaking against the wooden bench as he settled across Law’s thighs. They faced one another and Law tilted his head upward to answer Luffy’s gaze. He relished the reignited flush that bloomed in Luffy’s cheeks when he ran his fingers over his thighs. Goosebumps rose across Luffy’s skin from the electric delicacy of Law’s touch. Law moved his hands over Luffy’s hips before tracing the fullness of his ass. 

“Mmh,” Luffy moaned as Law suddenly grabbed the flesh of each cheek in his hands. The warmth of Luffy’s erection pressed into Law’s stomach. “Torao, I feel so funny.”

“Funny?” Law smiled, head tilted in interest.

“So warm. And when you touch me it’s like I feel it everywhere,” he explained breathlessly. 

Law massaged Luffy’s ass in his palms. “You’re high, Luffy-ya,” he chuckled.

“I know!” Luffy pouted, defensive.

Resting his forehead against Luffy’s chest, Law sighed warmly, “I get what you mean, though. It’s hard to imagine anything existing outside of right now.” He pulled his head back and looked into Luffy’s eyes once again, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. 

Luffy had pushed his mouth against Law’s lips before he even registered his own movement. Law tightened his hold on Luffy and drew his body closer. The sloppy urgency of Luffy’s kiss matched the keen movement of Law’s mouth. As they desperately sought one another out, they created a symphony of moans, wet interlocking of lip and tongue, and heavy breath. Luffy rocked his hips so that the shaft of his dick crossed with Law’s before grinding against Law’s abs. 

“Let me,” Law whispered into Luffy’s mouth. “Get up on your knees.” 

He leaned back and pulled Luffy up by the waist. Once Luffy had fully risen to his knees, Law let one hand roam up Luffy’s back while he wrapped Luffy’s cock within his other fist. Luffy gasped and gripped the back of the bench, angling his hips forward. Law grinned as he slowly stroked the shaft and felt it harden further under his touch. He brushed his fingers over the head of Luffy's cock, collecting the precum that leaked there and slicking it along the shaft. Working with reduced friction, Law pumped his hand faster. 

“Toraooo, that feels so good,” Luffy sighed as he tensed and released his shoulders. 

“Luffy-ya,” Law murmured and slid down the bench. Having reached his desired angle, Law moved both of his hands back to Luffy's ass and extended his tongue to press along the bottom of Luffy's shaft. The breath hitched in Luffy's throat as the warmth of Law's tongue cradled his cock. Law stretched his tongue as far along the shaft as he could manage before hardening it into a point and flicking upwards. He drew his tongue towards the head and slowed when he reached the frenulum. There, Law rubbed the pointed end of his tongue up and down with measured, deliberate pressure. Each flutter brought his tongue just over the corona’s flare to tickle the base of the glans.

Luffy exhaled through his nose. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the bench harder and thrust his hips instinctively. Law readily received Luffy’s dick into his mouth, letting the shaft slide along his tongue to his throat. As Law closed his lips, Luffy let out a gasp. Law held him there, encasing his cock with the wet warmth of his mouth, tongue, and throat. He hummed and flicked his eyes up. A searing pleasure rippled down his spine to his core as he took in Luffy’s expression: eyes shut, brow furrowed, teeth sinking into his lower lip. Luffy opened his eyes slowly and looked downward. Surprised to meet Law’s gaze, he twitched. “Mmh!” he moaned when his glans nudged along the roof of Law’s mouth.

Law narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. Luffy’s ass cheek clutched in one hand and his hip in the other, he pushed the fullness of Luffy’s cock further into his mouth. Law continued to manipulate Luffy’s movement, pulling him back until the head of his penis rested between thick, pursed lips, only to shove him in again.

Each breath that escaped Luffy’s lips came more strained than the last. “Sh-shit, Torao!” he groaned as he hit the back of Law’s throat. His shoulders tensed and he curved over Law.

When Luffy began moving on his own, Law let his hand wander over Luffy’s ass, tracing the dip above his cheek before slipping into the crack. Luffy’s hips twitched in surprise as Law’s finger brushed over his asshole, the reaction pushing Luffy’s dick further into his throat. 

Law shut his eyes once they began to water. He relaxed his throat and focused on coaxing Luffy’s ass into doing the same. The task was surprisingly easy, thanks to the soothing properties of the blunt they had shared earlier. His middle finger gently worked past the smooth muscle and triggered a groan from Luffy’s chest. Luffy pumped his cock past Law’s lips while Law held his finger in place, letting it slip deeper every time Luffy pulled backward. 

“Torao,” Luffy gasped, legs quivering from the simultaneous external and internal stimulation. He twisted his fingers in Law’s hair and folded over to rest his forehead against the wall. 

Feeling the tug on his scalp, Law emitted a throaty rumble that vibrated along Luffy’s dick. This sensation eroded Luffy’s restraint. He thrust his hips forward and back with equal vigor, savoring the velvety wall of Law’s throat against his cock and the intrusive pressure of his finger rubbing inside of him. 

Luffy moaned through clenched teeth. “Law, I’m so close,” he whispered. “I’m gonna cum. I’m gonna cum in your mouth. Fuck. Your mouth is so warm, Torao. Torao.”

Law’s eyes widened as Luffy came and spilled hot semen into his mouth. The grip on his hair released. He listened to Luffy’s heavy breaths. When they slowed, Luffy slid from Law’s mouth and sat upon Law’s lap. Law straightened his spine and pulled his hand free to lay on Luffy’s hip. He looked up and their eyes met. Luffy leaned in and pressed his mouth to Law’s lips, prompting a surprised moan from Law.

“Share,” Luffy murmured before teasing Law’s lips apart with his tongue. Slipping inside, he tangled their tongues together amidst the cloud of cum in Law’s mouth. As Luffy withdrew, Law followed his lead by pushing his own tongue past Luffy’s lips and letting cum flow from his mouth. A pleased smile spread across Luffy’s face while Law indulged him. The drops of semen that escaped their mouths ran down Luffy’s chin. 

Satisfied, Luffy leaned back. He extended his tongue as he did so; a pearly thread stretched across to Law’s lower lip and snapped as the distance increased. Law marveled at Luffy’s disheveled appearance. His ruddy cheeks glowed with a post-orgasm sensuality that was heightened by the deep red of his lips and the streaks of cum along his chin. The messy swathe of dark hair was pushed back but for one lock that swept across his eyebrow. 

“What?” Luffy laughed as Law studied his face.

Law met his gaze and felt the tips of his ears burn hotter. Finally, he explained, “You’re so pretty. And just so…fuckable.” He deftly licked up the semen on Luffy’s chin before giving him a swift kiss.

“Then fuck me,” Luffy grinned as he rose to his knees.

Law’s eyes widened at the touch of Luffy’s fingers against the hard throbbing of his cock. Holding Law in place, Luffy dropped back down over him. 

“Luffy-ya,” Law breathed as the head of his cock pressed into Luffy’s asshole. The sensation grew in magnitude while Luffy lowered himself further. Luffy threw his head back, eyes closed and brow furrowed. A little more force and Law’s glans was surrounded by the sultry heat of Luffy’s ass.

“Fuck, it’s in,” Law groaned and dug his nails into Luffy’s backside. “Ah, Luffy.” 

Wrapping his arms around Law’s neck and nestling his face into his shoulder, Luffy dropped lower and moaned until he had filled himself with Law’s entirety. “Mmh,” he moaned sharply as he felt his body stretch. 

The unusually high pitch that squeaked from Luffy’s throat prompted a harder throb in Law’s already rigid, blood-swelled cock. He asked through his clenched jaw, “Does it hurt?”

Tickling Law’s ear with his hair, Luffy shook his head before raising it. “It aches so good, Torao,” he whispered into his ear. His voice was slow and breathy, the movement of his tongue to shape his words wet and emphatic. 

A shiver ran from Law’s scalp and across his back. He exhaled before adjusting his hold on Luffy’s ass and lifting him up and down in gentle motions. Luffy hummed sweetly against his neck. When the ache within him morphed into a deeper hunger, Luffy chuckled, “Don’t be gentle.” As Law’s whole body twitched, he teased, “I felt that.”

“You know what you’re asking?” Law spoke once he could compose himself.

“Mmhm,” Luffy murmured. “I want i-ah!” Law pulled him flush with his lap before he could finish.

He drowned himself in Luffy’s moans. The slap of skin against skin was at once keeping the beat and inspiring it. He pumped Luffy along his shaft, tightly gripping his ass and imaging he could almost feel the added pressure around his cock. With each downward motion, Law was balls-deep inside of Luffy. “Fuck, fuck,” he groaned to himself. 

“Torao,” Luffy gasped, his voice uneven as Law slammed him up and down. “Tell me something.”

Law slowed only briefly as he tried to contemplate this. “Like what?” he hissed through his teeth.

“Anything. Just…” Luffy trailed off as Law resumed his pace.

Through heavy breath, Law finally spoke into Luffy’s ear with a rasping, hungry voice. “When I fuck you like this, fucking your tight little ass, it feels like it’s grabbing me, you know? Luffy-ya…Does that mean you like it too?” he paused when Luffy dug his fingers into his shoulder and mewled. “I don’t know if it’s ‘cause your ass is made of rubber, but it’s just so…fucking…tight. Your ass is mine, Luffy,” he continued. “Even after the marker washes off your ass will still belong to me. Only I get to fuck you like this. Right, Luffy?”

Between moans and whimpers, Luffy exhaled frantically, “Yes, Torao. Fuck me.”

“Luffy-ya,” Law ordered. “Do that thing you did when you were dancing earlier.”

Luffy leaned back and asked through the seismic jolts of his body, “Wh-what thing?”

“Your arm,” he instructed. “Lift it up. Yeah, and then run it through your hair.” Biting his lower lip, Law watched as Luffy stretched one arm up, gripping Law’s shoulder with the other hand for stability, and trailed his fingers through his messy locks, pushing them down only to have them spring back once he rested his hand behind his ear. Law groaned, laughing with delight, “Fuck, yes, just like that.” 

“Mmm, Law,” Luffy cried. “Yes, harder! I want you to use me. Fuck me!”

Veins bulged and muscles flexed along Law’s arms as he lifted Luffy like a doll and drove his dick into him. “Your ass is my One Piece, Luffy,” Law panted, bordering on delirium. “I don’t care if you become the pirate king, or if you’re not part of my crew. Your ass will always be mine.” 

Through ragged breaths, Luffy gasped, “Yes, yes, yes. It’s all yours. Just give me more. More. I love the feeling of you so deep. So deep, like you’re gonna split me in half.” He murmured, voice almost unintelligible, “Law, Law, Law.” He lifted his bent arm completely, exposing his armpit and stroking the back of his own neck. 

“Ohh,” Law moaned as the tension in his body transcended into a mind-bending orgasm. His toes curled from the pleasure that ignited in his core and wiped out all thought. As he came he imagined himself pouring not just his semen but his heart into Luffy’s body. An unfamiliar pleasure ballooned in Law’s chest. He slowed his thrusts and released his grip on Luffy’s ass to wrap his arms around his torso. All remaining motion came from his hips as he pressed his face into Luffy’s chest and held him tight. 

Even after he finished, he kept his hold on Luffy, who wrapped his own arms around Law’s head. They gasped for breath, Luffy’s heartbeat thudding against Law’s forehead and Law’s breath tickling Luffy’s skin. Eventually, Law swallowed and lifted his head. Luffy released his hold and leaned back, meeting his gaze. 

With a dazed smile spread across his face, Law observed, “You’ve got such a dirty mouth when you’re high.”

Luffy chuckled and raised his hand. Tenderly, he cradled Law’s jaw as he kissed him. Their lips met softly, heat passing between their mouths as they both caught their breath. Tongues brushed only lightly as they moved mostly with their lips. Wet, soft, and warm, they let themselves sink into one another’s touch. 

Luffy pulled away first. Law opened his eyes and they searched one another’s gaze. Mouth parted, Luffy moved to speak but stopped. Finally, he managed to ask, “Do you wanna lay down?”

Law nodded gently. “Yeah. Can I still, uh…Can I still hold you, though?”

“Sure,” Luffy grinned. 

Once Law released his embrace, Luffy climbed off of his lap. Law sighed as his dick slipped free and he watched cum drip down Luffy’s thigh. When he turned around, Law’s mouth twitched. The words and his jolly roger on Luffy’s ass were smeared and almost indistinguishable. He glanced down at his palms and lap, finding the remaining ink there. 

Luffy kicked the blanket back and settled amongst the sheets. Looking up expectantly, he patted the space next to him and said, “You comin’?”

Law pushed himself up and filled the space next to Luffy. He huddled up to Luffy’s back and draped an arm over his side, sneaking his hand under Luffy’s arm and placing it against the now-smudged heart on his chest. Luffy pulled the blanket over both of them and wiggled in place. 

“What are you doing?” Law chuckled.

“Nothin’. Just cozy,” Luffy answered, shimmying backward to press their bodies closer together.

Amused, Law laughed into Luffy’s hair. He basked in the warmth and comfort of Luffy’s skin against his own. Eventually, he spoke cautiously, “Sorry about some of the stuff I said earlier…It was kind of…possessive and I got carried away. I know that’s really not your thing.”

Luffy shook his head slightly. “It’s OK,” he started. “I…actually kind of liked it.”

“Really?” Law blinked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Mhm. Which is…confusing,” he answered quietly, almost to himself.

Law thought about this. “Huh.”

Several moments passed before Luffy spoke again. “It made me happy to have you want me like that.”

Smiling, he retorted, “Well, it makes me happy to have you let me want you like that.”

“...What?” Luffy snorted.

“Nevermind,” Law laughed. “I’m still too high to make any sense.” He nestled his nose closer to the space under Luffy’s ear.

Luffy giggled and then let out a contented sigh. “Torao, we’re gonna get to Zou soon,” he observed. “Will your crew remember me? Do you think they’ll like me?”

“They’ll definitely remember you,” Law assured him. “And it doesn’t matter if they like you.” 

“Hmm. Still, I want them to like me. Especially your polar bear.”

Law smiled and softly stroked his thumb across Luffy’s chest. He closed his eyes and thought about his crew. It had been so long since he’d seen them. He hoped they were well, but wondered how they would react to his…situation with Luffy.

His thoughts were interrupted when Luffy’s voice called him back. “Hey, Torao.”

“Hm?”

“You promised you would tell me about your parents,” Luffy reminded him.

Law paused. “Ah, yeah. I guess I did…What do you want to know about them?”

Luffy shrugged his shoulders, bumping into Law’s jawline. “I dunno. Whatever you think is important about them? Or how about what you liked most?”

“Hmm,” Law contemplated this. “My parents had high expectations, but they were really kind. They were both doctors, so I think they liked how excited I was about medicine…My mom was a neurologist and my dad was a gastroenterologist. They worked at the same hospital and my sister and I would go hang out for ad hoc lessons when they worked on the weekend.”

Looking over his shoulder, Luffy stared at Law with sparkling eyes. Law paused, surprised by his attention. 

“What’s a gastroenterologist?” Luffy asked.

Law smirked. “Someone who studies the digestive system.”

“Ohhh. That seems important.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “My parents, they were always trying to get me and my sister excited about their specialties.” With a puff of laughter, he recounted, “My dad would tell me to make decisions with my gut, and my mom would get all pissed and tell him that I should be making decisions with my head.”

Luffy beamed. “And you went with your heart instead. That’s so like you, Torao.”

Law hid his face in Luffy’s hair. “I guess so,” he murmured shyly.

The silence lengthened, interrupted only by Luffy’s loud and languid yawn. “Thanks, Torao,” he whispered. Law nuzzled his neck in response. “Good night, Torao,” Luffy added.

“Night, Luffy-ya,” he responded and closed his eyes. The ambient noise of the ship lulled him toward sleep: the wind buffeting the sails, ocean waves, the creak of wood along the deck. 

“Will you wake me up if I’m having a nightmare?” Luffy jolted him to the waking world.

After processing the question through a groggy mind he muttered, “Yes, Luffy-ya.”

“Thanks,” Luffy sighed in relief. “I’ll do the same for you.”

Law smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“I hope we don’t have nightmares at the same time,” Luffy mused, voice edged with concern.

“I think we’ll be fine,” he chuckled. “Go to sleep, Luffy.”

The sheets rustled as Luffy rotated towards Law. “Torao…” he whispered.

“What?” Law grumbled.

“Can I have a kiss?” 

He sighed loudly and pressed his lips to Luffy’s, kissing him with a deep tenderness and warmth that betrayed his poorly-hidden affection. “Satisfied?” he asked after pulling away.

“For now,” Luffy answered, his voice mischievous.

Law laughed. “Let me sleep, you little shit,” he teased.

Luffy’s amusement came out as warm puffs of air along Law’s neck.

Chapter Text

“See? Wasn’t this worth the stop?” 

Law frowned. “I cannot justify this trip with a corn dog, Mugiwara-ya.”

“Aw, c’mon. It’s good,” Luffy laughed.

“It’s…bready. You can have mine,” he grimaced and handed the corn dog to Luffy, who inhaled it immediately. “I thought the whole reason we came to the Pirate Festival, split up from half your crew, and delayed our arrival to Zou-where my crew is still waiting–was so we could get Gol D. Roger’s treasure. Not to eat corn dogs.”

Luffy pointed to a stand across the crowded pathway. “How about onigiri?”

Law folded his arms and huffed. “Better, but still not what I had in mind.”

“The treasure hunt doesn’t start until tomorrow. Why not enjoy the festival in the meantime? Plus, Nami, Chopper, Sanji, and Brook will check in on your crew once Bartolomeo gets them to Zou. It’ll be fine,” Luffy grumbled, his normal charitable attitude wearing down.

“Sorry,” Law sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I just…it’s hard to relax.”

Luffy softened his tone and ventured, “What if we treat it like another date?”

The skin on Law’s face warmed. He pulled his hat down and nodded. “Yeah, that could be nice.”

“Perfect! It’s a date!” Luffy grinned.

“Oi, don’t say that so loud.”

Luffy cocked his head. “Why not?”

Law’s face pinched in frustration as he explained, “Look at all of the people around us. They’re pirates. A lot of them know who we are. Do you really want them to know we’re on a date?”

“Torao…” Luffy blinked. “Are you embarrassed to be on a date with me?”

“No! I-no, that’s not it,” Law stammered, a hollowness growing in his stomach at the dejected look on Luffy’s face. “I just don’t want anyone to use that against us.”

Lips pursed, Luffy considered this. “Will you hold my hand anyway?” 

Law shook his head in defeat and laughed. “Fine. That’ll make it harder to lose you in the crowd at least,” he conceded. Luffy intertwined his fingers with Law’s and tugged. “Where are we going?” he asked as Luffy pulled him along.

Luffy pointed to a stall across the pathway. “Shooting range!” he shouted over his shoulder. 

Together, they weaved through the crowd. “Look, Torao! They’ve even got prizes!” he beamed. To the left of the shooting range, which featured three evenly-spaced bullseye targets set roughly twenty yards away from the front counter, stood a rack of shelves carrying an array of trinkets, weapons, and jewelry organized by value. Luffy gestured to the top shelf. “That’s kinda cool.”

“I hope you’re a good shot then,” Law mused, eyebrow raised, before turning to the rough-edged man running the range.

“Will you both be giving it a try, then?” the man asked. Law nodded and tossed him the requisite coins. In exchange, the range master placed two battered handguns on the counter before them. “You get five shots each. Five points for hitting the center bullseye, three for the inner ring, and one for the next ring. Anything outside of that doesn’t earn ya shit. Doesn’t matter which of the three targets you shoot; same rules apply. Got it?”

“Alright!” Luffy exclaimed as he eagerly picked up his gun.

“Do you know how to shoot that?” Law hesitated.

Laughing, Luffy shrugged. “Pretty much! I’ll go first.”

Law stepped back and watched Luffy line himself up with the center target. Bang! The bullet whizzed past the target and burrowed into one of the haystacks lining the back of the range. “Hm,” Luffy frowned. He looked at the gun, squinted, and then returned to his stance. He pulled the trigger; another shot landed among the hay. 

“Maybe try focusing on lining up your shot more…there’s no rush,” Law suggested. 

Luffy considered this. “Good point,” he mumbled and promptly pulled the trigger. Another bullet in the hay. Law bit back a chuckle and scratched at the bridge of his nose. “OK, this is gonna be the one!” Luffy announced. Taking more than one second to take aim this time, he slowed his breath and shot. The bullet tore through the outermost ring. “I did it!” Luffy cried, turning to Law with sparkling eyes. 

Law grinned but was quickly stifled by the range master’s snort, “Too bad that doesn’t win a thing.”

At this comment, Luffy’s brow furrowed. He glanced at the prize shelf before taking a step back with his right foot. Gun in hand, he spun his arm and stretched it back. “Gomu gomu no pistol!” he bellowed as his fist hurtled dead center into the target. His arm snapped back into place.

“Mugiwara-ya,” Law groaned, rubbing his forehead with his hand. 

“Bullseye!” Luffy admired the fist-sized hole in the target and cackled.

The range master’s chin bobbed as he looked between the target and Luffy in disbelief. Finally, he roared, “You aren’t getting shit for that!”

“Hah?!” Luffy scoffed. “But I used the gun to hit the target!”

“Are you taking me for a little bitch?” the man growled. “That’s not how this games works and if–”

“How about I just take my turn now?” Law interrupted, desperate to diffuse the situation.

Arms crossed, the range master grumbled and settled on a stool beside the prize shelf. Luffy dropped the gun atop the counter and stepped back. He pouted while Law adjusted his stance. Several moments passed before Law pulled the trigger. A bullet-size hole appeared in the outermost ring of the target.

“You hit it, Torao!” Luffy yelled in awe.

Law bit on his lower lip shyly. “Still no points though…” he grumbled. Steadying himself again, he focused on lining up his shot. 

“Any day now…” the range master snorted.

“Let Torao take his time, you cheap carney!” Luffy spat. 

Law laughed in surprise, causing his second shot to miss by a wide mark. The third try went more smoothly, hitting the third ring and earning a point. His fourth shot hit the outermost ring again. He exhaled slowly, calming himself for his final try. In the absence of snarky comments from the range master and surprising exclamations from Luffy, he lined up the shot and tore through the ring just outside of the center, earning him four points total. 

Over Luffy’s cheers, the range master grunted, “Nice try. Cheapest prize is five points though. Better luck next time.”

Luffy scowled, “C’mon, Torao. This dude sucks.” Wrapping himself around Law’s arm, he ushered them away from the stall. 

“Watch where you’re fucking going, shithead!” a voice rumbled as Luffy ran face first into the chest of a grizzly man with a body not unlike the shape of a bowling pin. Luffy and Law stepped backward. “Oh, what’s this?” the man sneered. “Looks like we got ourselves a couple of queers.”

The two rounded men on either side of him snickered. One gestured at Luffy’s hands around Law’s arm. “Pretty clear which one’s the bottom, Captain.”

“I’ll say. Didn’t think the Pirate Fest would attract pervs like this,” the odd-shaped man snorted. “Oi, wait, I think I recognize that–”

“Why are you bothering my fiancé?” a cold voice rang out behind them. 

All heads turned. “Oh shit, that’s Boa Hancock,” a round crewmember gasped.

“Damn!” their captain howled. “Now that is a woman.” Turning to his crew, he muttered, “Did she say ‘fiancé’?”

Law blinked in confusion at the scene unfolding before him. Hancock pointed at the thugs, head thrown back and a hand on her hip. “If you don’t get out of my way now I will not hesitate to turn you to stone,” she cried. 

The pin-shaped captain swiveled his head around, equally if not more baffled than Law. Hancock returned to a normal stance and huffed. In one swift motion she shaped a heart with her hands, sending a beam that struck the leader of the thugs. In a blink he had turned to stone. Seeing this, the two men beside him screamed and ran. 

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Hancock stepped aside to let them pass. When she turned back, her cold expression had transformed into a gentle, flushed gaze of adoration. “Luuuuffyyy!” she squealed and approached him.

Grinning, Luffy wrapped her in a warm hug. “Long time no see, Hammock!” 

“It’s Hancock…” she corrected gently. Still glowing, she continued shyly, “I hoped I would see you here. How fortunate that I should run into you so early on in the festival!”

Luffy laughed, “Yeah, there’s so much fun stuff here! We were just trying out the shooting range.”

She looked behind him. “Oh, I see! I’m sure you performed well,” she giggled.

“Ehh, actually not so much,” he responded with an embarrassed smile. Pointing toward the prize wall, he added, “I was really hoping to get those earrings but we couldn’t get enough points.”

“I can help with that,” she spoke resolutely. “Please wait just a moment, Luffy!”

Law and Luffy watched in awe as Hancock spoke to the range master, who insisted she go ahead without paying. Certain in her stance and form, she proceeded to hit the center of the bullseye five consecutive times. Pointing to the top prize, she ordered, “That one. For twenty-five points.”

The range master scrambled to get her the prize, shocked and confused. Returning to Luffy, she held out her hand and dropped the pair of earrings into his palm. “F-for you, Luffy,” she stammered, visibly blushing.

“Thank you so much!” Luffy cried, beaming as he slipped them into his pocket. “You’re so good at that. I had no idea.”

Hancock pressed her hands to her cheeks and failed to stifle a high-pitched squeal. “Oh, Luffy! If it’s for you I can do anything.” In a more measured tone, she added, “Besides, everyone learns archery where I’m from. Good aim is essential.”

Baffled and increasingly frustrated, Law grumbled, “How about we go do something else, Luffy-ya?”

“And who are you?” Hancock asked, voice icy as she turned to Law.

“Trafalgar Law,” he answered with narrowed eyes. “A Warlord of the Sea…until a few days ago.”

“Oh,” she scoffed. “I guess I remember you.”

“We’re in an alliance!” Luffy announced proudly, wrapping his around Law’s waist.

“Hmph,” Hancock huffed quietly.

Luffy turned to Law. “What should we do next?” he asked innocently.

“There’s a bazaar with some interesting shops a little further that way,” Hancock suggested. “We could take a look.” 

Law rolled his eyes at the audacity of this woman and frowned when Luffy nodded emphatically. “Good idea! How about it, Torao?” Luffy smiled in his direction.

Weak to Luffy’s whims, Law shrugged. “Sure.”

The three of them walked to the bazaar, which overflowed with tents and booths selling everything from weapons to clothes to snowglobes. As they browsed through the stands, Law pulled his hat lower and walked a pace behind. Hancock’s presence drew a tsunami of attention their way that made him itch with discomfort. Grudgingly, he admitted to himself that he didn’t like how beautiful Hancock was but hastily assured his conscience that this was because it made it impossible to be inconspicuous, not for any other reason. 

“What do you think of this?” Luffy asked, holding up a tight black mini dress with a neckline that plunged halfway down the torso.

It took Law a moment to realize Luffy was talking to him. Law’s face burned as Luffy stepped forward and thrust the dress so it hung in front of Law’s body. “It’s uh, it’s nice,” Law stammered. 

He made the mistake of looking at Hancock, whose face glowed beet red. She tossed her head and laughed nervously, voice too loud, “Is that the kind of thing you like, Luffy?”

“Yeah!” Luffy answered earnestly. Pointing to the scandalous neckline, he explained, “This big gap here really makes it special.”

“I-if you really like then…I’ll do it!” Hancock decided, taking the dress from him.

“Oh!” Luffy blinked. “Good for you, Hancock!”

At the correct pronunciation of her name, Hancock swiveled around and buried her face in a coat hanging nearby. Luffy appeared unfazed by the barely-muffled screech leaving her lungs. Eyes wide, Law muttered, “The fuck is happening?”

“What was that, Torao?” Luffy asked.

“Nothing,” Law shook his head. 

Luffy returned his attention to the dresses displayed on the rack, picking them up and holding them against Law’s body when he found one he liked. Law followed and allowed him to assess the look of the fabric against his body, the rush of heat inside of him jumbled with embarrassment and excitement. 

Just when Hancock had finally recovered, Luffy found the lingerie section. Law stuffed his hands in his pockets to prevent himself from hiding his face while Luffy thoroughly examined each set. Hancock looked up as Luffy held a strappy leather cage bralette and thong, complete with matching garter belt, up to Law. She doubled over at the sight, both hands pressed to her face. Law flitted his eyes between Luffy and Hancock as his mind reeled and pulse quickened. 

“You OK, Torao?” Luffy cocked his head to the side, eyes worried.

Law blinked and stared down at him. “You’re asking me that?” he finally managed to laugh before gesturing to Hancock.

Luffy looked over to her and frowned. “Oi, Hammock! You good?”

“Mmh!” she squeaked, her whole body twitching at being addressed.

“Let’s get food,” Luffy announced suddenly.

“You just ate,” Law snorted.

Luffy shrugged. “So?”

Law nodded his head, used to the whiplash of Luffy’s attention at this point, and looked around. “There’s a bar over there. That work?” he suggested.

“Ooh, they have kebabs! Yeah, let’s go,” Luffy agreed. Turning to Hancock, he asked, “Coming, Hammock?”

“Yes, Luffy,” she smiled sweetly and followed after them.

Law’s jaw tightened and a twitch pulled at the corner of his eye. He sped up until he was in line with Luffy and stretched his arm across his shoulder, pulling him close. Luffy beamed up at him, striking him straight through the heart. Blushing, Law returned a soft smile before tossing a look over his shoulder. Hancock fumed behind them. He smirked. 

The interior of the bar proved nicer than expected, in sharp contrast to its patrons and dingy exterior. They sat at a circular table in the back corner of the room. Law scooted his chair closer to Luffy once seated. He frowned as Hancock did the same.

While Luffy looked over a menu, Hancock glared at Law. “You know, the way Luffy and I met–it’s a funny story,” she began.

“Oh?” Law grumbled.

She laughed softly, covering her mouth. “I was taking a bath and he fell through the ceiling. I was completely naked. It was such a surprise.”

Law sneered, “That’s nice.” He glanced at Luffy, who appeared completely unengaged in their conversation.

“We also traveled to Marineford together a couple years ago,” she added. “We were basically in an alliance at that point.”

“Well I got him out of Marineford, and made sure he didn’t die. And we’re actually in an alliance,” Law countered with arms crossed. He cocked his head and threw her a challenging look.

“Oi, I need to take a piss. Can you guys order for me if the waiter comes by?” Luffy interrupted.

“Of course, Luffy!” Hancock nodded emphatically. “What do you want?”

“This,” Luffy gestured his finger across the right half of the menu before getting up and leaving.

Hancock blinked. “That’s…just everything on the kebab menu…” she murmured to herself.

Law snorted. “Sounds right.”

Narrowing her eyes, Hancock scowled at Law. “What do you think you’re doing with my fiancé?” she spat.

“Fiancé?” he huffed, a waver in his voice cutting through his mask of disbelief. 

Registering that she hit a nerve, Hancock let her mouth creep into a satisfied smile. “Yes, fiancé. Luffy proposed to me some time ago. It was right before he left for Sabaody Park.”

Law swallowed as the blood drained from his face. “I don’t believe it,” he croaked.

She shrugged. “Well, it’s true. I mean, look at me. I’m beautiful; it makes sense.” Her voice hardened as she asked again, “So who are you to Luffy?”

Through gritted teeth, he answered, “We’re in an alliance. We…we took down Doflamingo together. I’m sure you heard about that. And we’re going to Wano together eventually. And…well we were having a nice date until you showed up.”

Hancock let out a shriek of laughter. “A date? Ha! You couldn’t even get Luffy the prize he wanted at the shooting range.”

“Like that means shit!” Law reddened. “I would’ve made it happen if it was that big of a deal.”

“Hmmm,” she hummed in disbelief. “If you were on a date then why did Luffy invite me to join you? You don’t think that has anything to do with your…inadequacy?”

“He didn’t invite you, Boa-ya,” he growled.

“Well I–” Hancock began, face twisted in rage, before stopping abruptly. “Luffy! Welcome back! I missed you,” she greeted Luffy as he arrived at the table.

Luffy chuckled. “You’re so weird, Hammock!”

“Hancock,” she corrected gently, the smile on her face wavering.

“Right,” Luffy nodded, placing a hand on the back of Law’s neck and brushing his earlobe with his thumb as he sat down.

Law gazed at Luffy with warm eyes. The delicate gesture restored his confidence and kindled a warmth in his core. He shifted as his pants grew tighter.

Twenty-seven kebabs later, they paid the bill at Hancock’s expense and left. The sun had since passed its apex and now gilded the festival with warm, inspiring light as it made its descent. Law admired the glimmer of Luffy’s hair as he ran ahead of him to try his hand at goldfish scooping. 

“I don’t know how you tricked Luffy into liking you, but you seem to make him very happy,” Hancock observed quietly.

“I didn’t trick him into anything,” Law retorted before adding softly, “He’s just…special.”

“I know,” she sighed. “I just didn’t think he would be interested in…someone like you.”

Law frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you surprised he’s gay?”

Hancock scoffed and explained, “First of all, just because he likes men doesn’t preclude him from liking women. Second, I live on an island of only women. Being queer is the norm. So no, I am not surprised that Luffy happens to like men.” She finished wistfully, “Really, it just goes to show how open-minded and beautiful his soul is.”

Clearing his throat, Law offered awkwardly, “Well…sorry. I didn’t mean to assume but you don’t seem very good at listening.” He dodged the glare she threw his way. “Anyway, Luffy is…Luffy is important to me.”

“I know,” Hancock rolled her eyes. “I can tell.” Law stopped and blinked, her bluntness catching him off guard. She sighed loudly, “Just because I’m beautiful doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”

“I didn’t–” Law was quickly cut off.

“Here,” she mumbled as she shoved something into Law’s hand. “I was going to use these for Luffy and myself but something came up. Don’t waste them.” 

Law looked down at his hand. When he glanced back up, Hancock was walking back toward the bazaar. “Oi! What? Where are you–” he began but was interrupted yet again.

She turned and pointed at him, head back and stance wide. “Don’t fuck it up!” she ordered before turning on her heel and leaving.

He stared at his palm again, reading the two identical squares of paper:

Admits One (1) - VIP Ticket - Ferris Wheel Admission - Firework View (entry from 6:00 - 6:15 PM)

Law clasped the tickets and wandered toward Luffy, who was deftly scooping up a fish only to have the paper break immediately. The fish fell back into the pool with a plop as Law stepped to his side.

“Torao!” Luffy grinned at his arrival. “This game is harder than it looks.”

“These games are designed to make money, Mugiwara-ya,” he observed.

Luffy looked behind Law. “Where’d Hancock go?” he asked.

“She said something came up,” Law answered.

“Oh, bummer,” Luffy shrugged as he reached for another scooper. “She’s nice.”

Law scratched at the side of his face. “Yeah,” he mumbled. After hesitating, he held the tickets out to Luffy. “She gave us these.”

Luffy turned his head to read them, another fish breaking through the paper while he looked away. “Oh sweet! That’s gonna be a great view.”

“Totally,” Law agreed quietly. He chewed on his lip before venturing, “Luffy-ya…Are you engaged to her?”

“Pffft, what?” Luffy snorted. “What are you talking about?”

Weight lifted from Law’s chest and a puff of laughter, edged with high-pitched relief, burst from his lungs. “Oh,” he smiled. “She said you guys were engaged, so I thought maybe…”

Luffy rolled his eyes. “She always says shit like that. She doesn’t listen to me when I tell her otherwise.” Pausing to meet Law’s gaze with a glow in his eyes, he smirked, “Were you worried, Torao?”

Law just shook his head, laughing at the tingling warmth that bubbled from his heart to his head.

—

“How did Hancock get tickets for this?” Luffy wondered aloud as he leaned over the edge of the ferris wheel passenger car. 

The sunset bathed them in a deep peach light. Law looked up at the gradient sky, visible through the open-top car, as the wheel came to a stop. The car swung gently and settled into its central position at the top of the wheel. 

“Being beautiful really has its perks,” Law muttered in disbelief.

Luffy scooted down the bench until he was pressed into Law’s side. Resting his head on Law’s shoulder, he sighed. “Do you think Hancock is that beautiful?” he asked softly.

“Huh? I mean, yeah. Boa-ya is objectively beautiful,” Law responded as he swung his arm around Luffy.

“Hmph,” Luffy pouted and looked down at his feet.

“I’m not attracted to women, Luffy-ya,” Law chuckled, squeezing him gently.

Luffy looked up sharply. “Really?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Why would you think so? I thought I made my stance pretty clear,” he laughed before pressing his lips to Luffy’s ear.

“I dunno,” Luffy murmured. 

Thoughtful, Law looked at him. “Do you like women?” 

Luffy hesitated. “Women are cool. I don’t know, I just like the person, I guess? Like, I’ve never been attracted to someone because they’re a woman…”

“Huh. So you’re bisexual or something like that?” Law ventured.

“Maybe? I’m not sure,” he sighed. Brightening, he flashed a smile and added, “Right now I think I’m just Torao-sexual.”

Law’s mind blanked as he stared into the blinding sincerity of Luffy’s being. A choking noise escaped his throat, which painted concern across Luffy’s face. “Torao?” he asked.

Law finally exhaled. Tongue thick with bewildered joy, he rested his head against the back of the bench and said, “You’re going to kill me if you say things like that.”

“What?” Luffy laughed.

Law rolled his head back up to look at Luffy. In lieu of a response, he leaned in and pressed his lips to Luffy’s mouth. Luffy sighed gently, the puff of air tickling Law’s lips and sharpening his hunger. The edge of Law’s coat was soft against his skin as Luffy pushed it aside to expose his torso. Luffy searched Law’s mouth with his lips while his fingers roamed over his abs. Law spread his fingers and gripped Luffy’s shoulder tighter when it became apparent that Luffy was more than just responsive to his advances. Fingers creeping higher, Luffy eventually reached Law’s chest. Softly and just barely grazing the skin, he circled his fingertip around the areola and finally brushed across the nipple. Law shivered. 

Luffy whispered playfully, “Torao, get on the ground.”

“Of this thing?” Law asked, stomping his foot against the floor of the ferris wheel car.

Luffy nodded so Law obeyed, shaking his head in amusement as he tossed his hat onto the bench before crawling to the ground and lying on his back, knees bent to fit within the limited space. “Like this?” he chuckled.

“Yup,” Luffy grinned. 

Glancing around, Law mused, “You’re really gonna owe me a shower after this.”

“But I love making you filthy,” Luffy laughed.

Law clicked his tongue but failed to hide his smile as Luffy straddled his pelvis. 

“Mm, Torao,” Luffy breathed while he ground his ass against the bulge in Law’s pants.  

Law grabbed Luffy’s hips and pulled down to double the pressure. A satisfied hum rumbled in his throat as Luffy extended his arms to touch the tattoo on his chest. 

“How is your chest so perfect?” Luffy whispered. His fingers outlined the heart, tracing both sides from top to bottom and back again. “I know you got this tattoo for Cora, but did you know it was going to look this hot? Like, did you go to a tattoo parlor and just tell them to give you the sexiest heart they could imagine, in just the right place so that you could drive me crazy?”

Law gnawed on his lip and laughed, drunk on Luffy's attention. “If I had known at the time that you would be so into it, then yes, that's exactly what I would've said.” 

Luffy deviated from his course along Law’s tattoo and ran his thumbs over the raised curve of soft flesh and pectoral muscle. Ascending the sloped skin, he angled the pads of his index fingers against Law’s nipples. “I was kinda bummed that Hancock bought that black dress earlier. It would have looked perfect on you, with that big gap to show off your tattoo,” Luffy sighed.

Law’s chest moved beneath Luffy’s touch as he laughed, “I don’t think that dress would’ve fit me, Luffy-ya.”

“It was stretchy!” Luffy pouted.

Law smirked. “You want me in a dress again that bad, huh?”

“Yep,” Luffy nodded as he pinched Law’s nipples, teasing a gasp from his throat. “Did you not like wearing a dress?”

Voice strained, he answered, “For you, I–nh–liked it…”

Luffy leaned forward, cupping the supple flesh of Law’s chest while flicking his tongue across the firm bud of his left nipple. “Do you like this?” he asked before moving to the right.

“Mmhmm,” Law hummed, lips closed and eyes shut. He ran his hands along Luffy’s sides, slipping under his shirt and savoring the shallow curve from hip to waist. “Ah,” he moaned as Luffy’s teeth clamped into his right nipple, striking a chord of pleasure and causing his hips to buck.

As his body was pushed upward, a wisp of air puffed from Luffy’s lungs and tickled the moist, sensitive skin on Law’s chest. Luffy shifted back to the left nipple, where he planted his lips around the pink flesh and sucked. Wary of neglecting the Law’s right side, he rolled the raised skin of the right nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He strained his eyes upward to glimpse Law’s face beneath the darkening sky; he was lavishly rewarded. 

Law had tilted his head back, black locks sweeping away from his face to accentuate the dark hair on his chin and along the sides of his face. Framed by his hair, the cut of his jaw struck harder. Luffy’s eyes trailed over Law’s mouth where white teeth dug into the plump swell of his lower lip, which twitched every so often. Eyes shut, Law furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. Even as daylight had all but vanished, the flush of Law’s cheeks was unmistakable. Each observation fueled the heat that surged through Luffy’s body.

Luffy’s breath hitched as Law swallowed, causing the sharp protrusion of Law’s Adam’s apple to bob in his throat. Abandoning Law’s nipples, Luffy lunged forward and encased the Adam’s apple in his mouth. Law’s eyes flew open and a choking sound escaped him while Luffy swirled his tongue around the mass of cartilage and sucked.

Luffy released it briefly to ask, “What’s this called? In doctor slang?”

“Lar–urgh,” Law broke off as Luffy enveloped his Adam’s apple in his mouth once more. Law grabbed Luffy’s shoulders and answered, voice husky, “La–…laryngeal prominence.”

Luffy sat up and stared at Law’s throat with gleaming eyes, the sudden movement startling Law once more. “A prominence…that’s the perfect word for it,” Luffy smiled. He stroked the cartilage with his thumb and wrapped the remainder of his fingers around Law’s neck. 

Law moaned as Luffy shoved his lips into his own. Their mouths met and moved together with sloppy desire. Spit and tongue mingled, occasionally intercepted by tooth or lip. Luffy shifted his free hand from its place on the metal floor until it was next to Law’s head. He tangled his fingers in Law’s hair, effectively locking his head in place while he kissed him. Law gasped at the tug on his scalp. 

Luffy tore himself away from Law’s mouth with a wet smack. He grinned as their eyes met. Just as swiftly, he leaned back down and placed a kiss on Law’s forehead. Law chuckled as Luffy planted his lips on his nose, his left eye, his other eye, and then his cheek. Luffy’s mouth moved to Law’s ear. Law sighed warmly while Luffy nibbled on the lobe and used his tongue to toy with his earrings. 

“Shit!” Law yelped as Luffy’s teeth sunk into his neck, flinching only to self-inflict a sharp yank on his hair from Luffy’s static grip. His heart danced in his chest and the blood rushed through his veins. Luffy bit harder, sucking and igniting a tingling sensation along Law’s spine. “Luffy!” he cried breathlessly, legs twitching and hands scrabbling along Luffy’s sides. A welt bloomed as Luffy coaxed blood to the surface of Law’s skin.

Law gasped when Luffy finally surrendered the skin on his neck. Luffy raised his head to look Law in the eye. “You can tell me to stop, ya know,” Luffy laughed quietly as he registered the wild expression on his face.

“I don’t want you to stop,” Law countered, a smirk pulling at his lips to reveal a stretch of shining teeth ending with the pointed cuspid. 

Aroused by Law’s eagerness, Luffy extended his tongue and planted it atop the hollow at the base of Law’s throat. He dragged it upward, over his ‘laryngeal prominence,’ and ended at the base of his jaw. 

“Mmm,” Law groaned as Luffy ran his tongue up and along his collarbone. 

Luffy raised his head and hovered just inches over Law’s right nipple. “I want to devour you, Torao,” he murmured, his usual playfulness tinged with an intensity that eroded any pretense of casual affection lingering in Law’s mind, heart, and cock. 

Law’s hips jerked at the thrill of Luffy’s teeth clenching around the pliant skin of his chest. A sharp cry broke from his lungs, dissipating into the sky and newly-visible stars above them. Luffy released his flesh and sat up straight. He withdrew his hands to Law’s waist as they stared at one another, chests rising and falling with urgency. Law moved first and ran his hands up Luffy’s thighs and under his shirt. In response, Luffy hovered his fingers over Law’s abs. He traced the contour of his muscles, just barely grazing the skin.

“Hey, Law…” Luffy whispered.

Sighing under the delicate touch of Luffy’s fingertips and the rock of Luffy’s hips atop his pelvis, Law mumbled, “Hm?”

“Can I fuck you?” he asked.

Law shivered at the raw hunger that pierced Luffy’s voice. “Sure, Luffy,” he purred. Hooking his finger in the hem of Luffy’s shirt, he tugged forward. “How do you want it?” 

Luffy grinned, “Like this. I wanna see your face.”

“OK,” Law responded quietly as he was hit with a bout of shyness. He added, “You have to be gentle though. Other people on the ferris wheel might hear us…”

“Hmmm,” Luffy hummed. He leaned back and sat down. “I’ll consider it. But first we gotta get these clothes off.” 

Law smiled and pulled Luffy’s shirt toward him. Luffy ducked down and raised his arms to let the fabric slip over his head. He leaned over to untie Law’s shoes, slipping them off quickly and setting them on the bench. Under Luffy’s manipulation, the button and zipper of Law’s jeans soon gave way. He gathered the denim in his hands and pulled from the upper thighs until he had exposed the skin of Law’s legs. Next, he pushed Law’s thigh inward and pulled the jeans from his ankle. He repeated this with the other leg and removed Law’s jeans with a proud flourish. Law chuckled, amused but mostly impressed with Luffy’s improved proficiency in extracting him from his form-fitting pants. 

Rising to his feet, Luffy kicked off his sandals and shed the rest of his clothes. He crouched down and peeled Law’s briefs down and over his legs. Law watched as Luffy kneeled between his legs and gathered up the clothing they had discarded. Balling the fabric into a lop-sided mass, Luffy stretched forward. “Lift your head,” he ordered, and slid the clothes beneath Law’s skull. “There,” he smiled, pleased with his work. 

Law’s heartbeat hammered in his chest. “Thanks,” he managed to murmur amidst a riot of emotion. The grin Luffy flashed at him in response did not help calm his heart.

Luffy settled back onto his knees and spread Law’s thighs apart. He scooted closer, hips angled forward, until the root of his cock was almost level with Law’s. Luffy spat into his palm. Using his slickened hand, he coated the length of their shafts with a sheen of saliva. He wrapped his hand around the base of both cocks and squeezed before stroking at a lazy cadence. 

“Do you remember when we did this, back at Punk Hazard? When we fucked for the first time?” Luffy asked with a breathlessness that made Law bite down on his own tongue. 

“I remember,” Law whispered. His gaze followed Luffy’s hand, straining to fit the girth of them both within his grasp.  

“I was so excited when you asked to form an alliance. I thought you didn’t like me,” Luffy mused. 

The pressure of Luffy’s dick against his own vied for Law’s attention. He struggled to focus on Luffy’s voice.

“Things just got better and better. You wanted an alliance, then you wanted to adventure around the lab together, and then you let me touch you…you wanted me to touch you,” Luffy continued. His fingers glided over the reddened corona of Law’s glans. 

“I really did. I do,” Law sighed, eyes closed.

“You were so worried about hurting me, Torao. As if I was just doing you a favor…” he chuckled. Law’s eyes opened as Luffy stilled his touch. He found Luffy staring into his eyes. Registering that Law was finally returning his gaze, Luffy leaned forward and whispered playfully, “I wasn’t just doing you a favor.” He resumed stroking abruptly, moving faster and gripping harder.

“Luffy,” Law groaned. 

“Since then you’ve given me so many sensations. It’s like, I’m hungrier than ever but not just for food and I don’t really understand what you’ve done to me but I want it all so bad, Torao,” Luffy spoke between heavy breaths. “I want you so bad…What did you do to me?”

Arching his back, Law chewed on his lower lip. The sensation around his cock and the influence of Luffy’s words blurred together until his body hummed on the edge of ecstasy. “Luffy, I’m–” he began.

“Wait, Torao,” Luffy smiled impishly. 

“Nnh,” Law whined and curled his toes in frustration.

Luffy slowed his strokes until it was unbearable. “Fuck, Luffy,” Law growled, helpless beneath his touch. 

Finally, Luffy let go. Law caught his breath. As Luffy began massaging Law’s thighs, Law studied Luffy’s face and found his gaze met with equal intensity. He couldn’t fathom a more fitting description for what he saw in Luffy’s eye than ‘hunger.’ Luffy’s hand on the underside of his left thigh snared his attention away from the intoxicating desire to be desired that Luffy’s stare fulfilled. Law’s knee bent into his chest as Luffy pushed against his thigh. Luffy pressed the index and middle fingers of his free hand into his own mouth, sticking his tongue out and coating his fingers in spit languidly enough to make a show of it. The corner of Law’s mouth twitched in anticipation.

Law inhaled sharply as Luffy brought his hand away and gently caressed Law’s asshole. He slid upward with his forefinger along the perineum until he reached his balls. Luffy fondled them softly and rolled each one in his palm. He stroked them with a delicate touch, traced the seam of the scrotum, and ventured downward once more. Luffy teased Law’s anus with his finger while bending over his torso. Holding Law’s bent leg in place with his own thigh, Luffy planted a forearm beside Law’s head and leaned in to kiss him.

The pattern of Luffy’s finger against his asshole evolved from slow circling to a vertical stroke, delicate on the upswing but firm when moving downward. Law’s hips twitched. He bit into Luffy’s lip, wanting more. Luffy indulged him, working his middle finger until the tight, puckered entrance welcomed him inside. 

“Oh,” Law released a muffled moan into Luffy’s mouth.

Luffy pulled his head back and snickered. “Oi, Torao…Aren’t you supposed to be quiet? If you can’t stay quiet with one little finger then how are you gonna be quiet when I fill you with the rest of me?” he teased and rubbed his finger upward. Law gasped at the motion. “Guess I’m gonna have to keep you quiet myself.” 

Returning his lips to Law’s, Luffy pressed into him with carefree ardor. He traced the silken flesh of Law’s lips with his tongue as they traded sighs and spit. Luffy latched onto Law’s lower lip while he slipped another finger into Law’s ass, lining up tight against the first finger. 

“Shit! Luhhy,” Law groaned. 

Teeth still firmly clamped around Law’s lip, Luffy caressed Law’s soft inner wall. He maintained the rhythm until Law’s movements graduated from frantic twitching to languid, measured nudges of his hips against Luffy’s hand. 

Luffy relinquished Law’s lip and murmured, “I can’t wait anymore, Torao.”

“Fucking finally,” Law chuckled. “Mmn,” he sighed as Luffy pulled his fingers out of his body. 

Luffy shifted his hips back and guided his cock to Law’s asshole with his right hand. With careful force, he pressed his hips forward. Law’s breath shook as his asshole strained around the sensitive tip of Luffy’s cock. Burrowing his face in Law’s neck, Luffy moaned, “Mmmm. Oh, Law. ”

Luffy moved his right hand to the other side of Law’s head before thrusting forward and stuffing more of himself within Law. 

“L-Luffy!” Law groaned and clawed at Luffy’s back. His body ached around the fullness Luffy imparted upon him.

“Shhh, Torao,” Luffy giggled. He trailed his left hand along Law’s neck until he reached his mouth. Law cried out as Luffy pushed his fingers past his lips and shoved the remaining length of his dick into his ass. His fingers hooked around Law’s lower set of teeth. He paused, giving them both a moment to adjust.

BOOM

“Fuck!” Law shouted in surprise.

Luffy flinched as Law’s teeth clenched around his fingers and looked up to see the first firework of the evening spread out above them, a red bloom of sparks. He pulled his hand from Law’s mouth and grinned, laughing. When he turned back to Law, he found he was doing the same. Another firework screamed through the air, blooming into a white and green concussion that fizzled into long streaks. 

“It feels so weird,” Luffy shouted. “I can feel it in me, and in you…” he stared back at the sky in awe.

Law gazed at the raw joy in Luffy’s face, colored by the sequence of explosions. “You’re so beautiful,” he smiled as another firework rattled the sky.

Luffy looked down. “What?” he yelled.

“You’re beautiful!” Law cried back, his shout coinciding with a momentary break in the pyrotechnics and reaching far further than he anticipated. The heat rose in his face.

“That’s what I was gonna say!” Luffy beamed, eyes sparkling. 

Luffy planted his hands atop Law’s biceps, fingers burrowing into the fabric of his coat, and began to pump his hips. Law tilted his head back as he felt Luffy move in and out of his body and thunderous explosions hammered through his chest. Vibrations ran along his skin and rendered him electric with sensation.

When Luffy picked up his pace, he squinted and furrowed his brow. “Ah, Law. I don’t think I can last very long,” he groaned. Panting against Law’s neck, he added, “You feel too good.”

“Hold out…a…little longer…Luffy,” Law teased. 

The smoothness of Law’s directive was betrayed by his inability to speak more than two words at a time. This lack of composure only served to stoke the fire of Luffy’s hunger further. Law bit down on his lip to keep from crying out as Luffy plowed into him faster. He dug his fingers into Luffy’s back, nails scraping against skin.

Luffy released Law’s arms and shifted back on his knees. Wrapping his hands around Law’s ass and lifting his hips upward, Luffy pumped furiously inside of him. Law failed to hold back his moans. The metal hinges of the ferris wheel car creaked as it swung with the momentum. Luffy drove his cock into Law again and again. He focused on the pitch of Law’s voice and grounded himself in his objective. Angling his hips upward, he thrust with more force. Luffy was certain that the strangled cry that escaped Law’s throat was the most delicious sound his ears had ever witnessed.

“Fuck! Holy fucking…mmhn,” Law swore as Luffy’s dick massaged his prostate. His mind went blank. Suddenly he was floating, in himself but also above himself. He felt the crown of his head rising, pulling him upward in an almost spiritual manifestation of his physical pleasure. Every inch of his skin was a conduit for climactic ecstasy, heightened by the powerful rumble of fireworks. All feeling channeled into the deep orgasm that erupted within him. 

When his vision cleared and the ascension proved temporary, Law raised his head. His torso was doused in his own cum. Each pool and droplet reflected the intense colors that exploded in the air above them. He lifted his gaze higher, finally registering that Luffy had ceased all motion and trained his entire attention upon him. He found the fingers on his right hand intertwined with Luffy’s; he couldn’t recall when that had happened.

Law panted and swallowed back saliva that had gathered in his mouth. Luffy’s mouth twitched into a smile as a bead of spit trailed down Law’s lip, refusing to be contained. “You make such a good face when you cum, Torao,” Luffy grinned, projecting his voice to be heard over the fireworks.

“Huh?” Law blinked, dazed.

Luffy laughed. Disengaging his hand, he leaned forward to kiss Law’s cheek and then his lips. Law gazed up at him with watering eyes. “Torao…I still want more,” Luffy finally whispered in his ear. 

As the meaning registered, Law nodded. 

“Brace yourself,” Luffy chuckled mischievously.

He wasn’t kidding. Luffy took Law’s hips in his hands, holding them steady, and pounded him with a force that made Law’s eyes swim. Taking Luffy’s advice, Law bent an arm over his head to plant his palm against the metal wall. He braced his other hand against the floor and gritted his teeth. As Luffy fucked him without restraint, the jolts in his body grew indistinguishable from those of the fireworks. His flesh yielded to the ramming of Luffy’s cock deep within him, to the rattling thunder, and to Luffy’s appetite. He realized the futility of stifling the sounds which clawed desperately at his throat, so he moaned. He cried out, he gasped, he whimpered, he groaned. The sense of freedom was intoxicating.

Luffy watched him, eyes smoldering. Tension churned in his stomach as Law’s voice rose above the fireworks. “Oh Law, I’m so…” Luffy cried. “Law, I wanna cum on you. On…On your heart. Can I?” he panted.

Law answered in a ragged groan, “Anything you want, Luffy.”

Law’s submission accelerated the approach of Luffy’s orgasm to an impossible degree. Luffy pulled his shaft from Law’s ass with abrupt urgency. He hovered over Law and came, lips parted and eyes unfocused. Beneath him, Law’s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. Cum shot from Luffy’s cock and painted Law’s chest in an unholy sheen. The force of the ejaculation sent semen splattering across Law’s neck and cheek. 

Luffy’s legs shook with the luscious delirium of orgasm. In the midst of rapture, Luffy hovered around the vaguely unhinged feeling that he had taken pleasure from Law’s body and was now giving it back in a material form. The more he could cum, the more he could give him. As his climax subsided and his mind unscrambled, he recognized the absurdity of the idea and refocused on the heart of the sentiment: Law. 

The glowing warmth in Luffy’s chest, not strictly tied to his orgasm, remained while he sat on his knees, gasping for air. “You look so good like that,” Luffy purred, inciting a satisfied but exhausted grin on Law’s face.

Releasing his hold on Law’s hips, Luffy bent forward and swirled his finger in the considerable pool of cum that gathered on Law’s torso. “You’re just covered now. What a mess,” he chuckled to himself as he painted over the heart on Law’s chest with semen. 

Law pushed himself up on his forearms and threw Luffy a lopsided smile. His mouth moved as he spoke, his words drowned under the explosion of another firework. 

“What?” Luffy yelled.

Law shook his head, laughing. Luffy tilted his head to the side and surveyed Law’s chest once more. His eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration. Swiping his finger through a stripe of cum near Law’s pelvis, Luffy popped it into his mouth. He held his finger there, thoughtful, before returning to gather another serving. This time he stretched his hand before Law, who raised an eyebrow. “Taste test!” Luffy explained, projecting his voice.

Law extended his tongue to assess the sample of his own cum that Luffy offered. Pleased, Luffy bent forward and licked his semen directly off of Law’s cheek. He dragged his index finger through the cum on Law’s neck. Law accepted it, enclosing Luffy’s finger in his mouth. Luffy smiled.

Simultaneously, voices raised above the boom of the fireworks, they concluded that Luffy’s cum was sweeter. The synchronous observation pushed them into a shy fit of laughter. When their amusement settled, Luffy stood up. He offered his hands to Torao, who latched on and allowed him to pull him to his feet. Luffy moved to pick up their clothes from the floor, but found his left hand was firmly clutched within Law’s grasp. He looked at Law and blinked in surprise. A tender warmth radiated from behind the tears welling in Law’s eyes. 

“What’s wrong?” Luffy shouted, his gaze frantically searching Law’s face for the source of the problem.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Law smiled before pulling Luffy into him. He wrapped an arm around Luffy’s back and cradled the back of his head with his other hand. Confused, Luffy hesitated before stretching his arms around Law, around himself, and around Law again. His face pressed against Law’s chest, the beat of Law’s heart tickling his cheek. 

When Luffy released Law, arms snapping back to his sides, Law leaned back to peer into his face. “Oh, fuck,” he swore, eyes widening.

“What?” Luffy asked, brow furrowed as he tried to understand Law’s moods.

“Your face…It’s, uh, covered in cum,” Law stammered.

Luffy dabbed at his cheek tentatively before bursting into laughter. “Lemme wipe it off on your jacket!” Luffy ordered.

Law grimaced. “Hang on,” he mouthed, holding up a finger to indicate Luffy should wait. Cautiously, he knelt on the bench of the car and leaned over the edge. He turned and repeated this with the other side while digging a coin out his pocket. Law’s mouth moved as he extended his hand. A red and black striped scarf materialized in his palm, the coin a small price to pay for the convenience. He turned to Luffy and, taking his chin in his fingers, wiped the smear of ejaculate from his face. Once he was satisfied with his work, Law rubbed at his neck and torso with a fresh side of the scarf. 

Now that they were both passable as clean–a term Law found himself using more loosely as of late–they conceded to the necessity of clothing and quickly dressed. Law winced as he lowered himself onto the bench. Following suit, Luffy settled in beside him. They turned to one another when the rumbling ceased and the ringing in their ears was all that remained. 

“Did we seriously just miss the show?” Law remarked in disbelief. 

Luffy shrugged. “I wouldn’t say we missed it completely but…the timing is funny,” he chuckled. Warmly, he added, “I don’t regret it. Besides, I felt it all.”

“Same,” Law smiled and laid his head back.

Luffy picked at the hem of his shirt. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. Finally, he ventured, “Torao…Why were you crying?”

Law brought his hand to his temple and rubbed. The silence grew between them. “I’m not sure I know how to explain it,” he responded. Lifting his head to meet Luffy’s eyes, he asked, “Can we…can we talk about it another time? I think anything I say now won’t be right.”

Luffy cocked his head. “So long as you’re honest I don’t think you’d be saying the wrong thing,” he smiled gently.

“Thank you, Luffy-ya,” Law sighed, somewhat defeated. “I just need some time, that's all.”

“OK, Torao,” Luffy nodded, dropping the issue. He nestled his head in the crook of Law’s neck and placed his hand atop Law’s. “Let’s just focus on our date, then.”

Law exhaled the knot in his chest and leaned into Luffy’s side. 

—

Luffy’s nose twitched at the overwhelming scent of antiseptic solution. The liquid was cold against his ear. 

“Hold still, Luffy-ya,” Law warned. “OK, now take a deep breath. Good. Now exhale.” 

As the breath left Luffy’s chest, Law pushed the needle into the upper cartilage of Luffy’s ear, just below the helix, until it exited cleanly through the other side. 

Luffy peered at Law from the corner of his eye. “Did it work?”

“Yep,” Law chuckled. He picked up the gold hoop from the tray on Chopper’s desk and threaded it through Luffy’s ear.

“Ow!” Luffy pouted.

“Relax,” Law scolded and clicked his tongue. “There.”

Luffy jumped to his feet and ran to the mirror along the wall of the sick bay. He tucked his hair back and examined his ear. “It looks so cool, Torao!” he beamed.

“Yeah, well, get back here. I want to disinfect it before you go fucking around with it,” Law snorted.

Reluctantly, Luffy trudged back to the swivel chair. Law wet a cotton ball with the strong-smelling liquid and applied it to Luffy’s ear. “OK, now you’re done,” he announced. As Luffy returned to the mirror, he added, “You need to clean that every day though. Got it, Luffy-ya? Otherwise it’ll get infected.”

“I know, I know,” Luffy nodded.

Law rolled his eyes, unconvinced. He sat in the chair and watched Luffy admiring himself. “What made you suddenly want a piercing anyway?” he asked.

Luffy answered casually to the reflection of Law in the mirror, “You have earrings. I wanted one too.”

Law tamped down the fluttering in his chest. “Good thing Boa-ya was there to win you these earrings then,” he mumbled and fiddled with the second hoop on the tray. “Do you want me to pierce you for this one, too?” he asked.

“Nah, you can keep it,” Luffy turned and shook his head. 

“What do you want me to do with it?” Law chuckled as he peeled the blue latex gloves from his hands.

Shrugging, Luffy pondered this. “If you don’t want to wear it as an earring you could probably use it as a ring,” he mused.

“A ring?” Law blinked and swallowed. 

“Yeah! I’m sure it would look great next to those tattoos on your fingers,” he suggested.

Law rubbed the bridge of his nose as his face reddened. Hesitantly, he slipped the earring over his right pinky finger. It couldn’t get past the first joint. 

Luffy shuffled over to examine it. “Aw, too small. Bummer,” he observed. “I’ll have to find you some that fit!”

Looking up into Luffy’s gaze, Law stammered, “Luffy-ya…about the other day. On the ferris wheel...”

“Hm?” Luffy tilted his head as he listened. 

Quietly, he began, “I uh, I’ve been thinking a lot about how–” 

“We made it to Zou! Oww!” Franky bellowed as he burst through the door to the sick bay. “We need you out here, Luffy!”

Eyes sparkling with excitement, Luffy grabbed Law’s hand and pulled him up. “C’mon, Torao! Let’s go find your crew.”

Law gulped down the nausea of his convoluted feelings and followed Luffy outside, to the next stage of their journey and to reunite with the crew he had been separated from for months.

Chapter Text

“Captain! You came for us!” Bepo wailed, bursting forth from the densely clustered trees. Law grunted as he was engulfed in white fur. He leaned back within the bear hug and chuckled. Bepo whimpered, “I missed you."

“Bepo, are you trying to crush him?” Shachi scolded from the entrance to the clearing, where he stood with the rest of the Heart Pirates.

Bepo froze, cheek-to-cheek with Law. “What?” he mumbled before jumping backward. “Sorry, sorry!” Quickly regaining his composure, he remarked, “Captain! I’m so amazed that you beat Doflamingo!”

Law began quietly, “Ah, no, that was Mugiwara-ya’s–” 

“We have a lot to catch up on! Let’s go deeper into the forest; our camp is just a bit further,” Penguin interrupted.

Law fell into step between Bepo and Shachi, shifting Kikoku against his shoulder. “Good to see you guys,” he smiled.

As Bepo blinked in surprise, the nearby vegetation rustled wildly, followed by a dull thud. Law burst into laughter. “Months on land and you’ve still got sea legs, Shachi?” he snorted.

Shachi pushed himself up from the forest floor and wiped at the dirt on his white jumpsuit. He grumbled, “N-no! Just all these fucking roots everywhere.”

Law shook his head in amusement. Noticing Bepo staring from the corner of his eye, he turned. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing, Captain,” he chuckled nervously.

Eyebrow raised, Law clicked his tongue but let the matter drop. The forest soon gave way to another clearing, where his crew led him to a circle of tents. Jean Bart gestured for him to sit on a stump near the center. “Thanks,” Law nodded. Looking around at the campsite, he added, “Glad to see you all were able to settle in OK.”

Penguin leaned into Shachi and whispered, “Was he smiling?”

“He’s definitely been smiling,” Shachi murmured back as he sat on a nearby log.

“And what’s on his neck? What happened to him?” Bepo joined him.

Penguin grumbled, “Those Straw Hats must’ve done something to him.”

“The fuck are you guys whispering about?” Law snapped. 

“Nothing, Captain! Sorry, Captain!” Penguin squeaked, straightening his spine.

Law sighed and rested Kikoku against his knee. Arms crossed, he asked impatiently, “Did something happen while I was away? Anything I should know about?”

Bepo grunted as Shachi elbowed him in the side. His ears twitched as he stammered, “Er, no, Captain. I mean, yes, Captain. There’s stuff we need to catch you up on but…We were actually wondering the same thing. You seem a little…different. Did something happen?”

“Haah?” Law scowled. “Different? I’m the same as I was before we split up. What are you talking about?” He searched the clearing, taking in the uneasy looks shared by the rest of his crew that seemed to ease at the sight of his displeased countenance. 

“Oh! OK, Captain,” Bepo laughed nervously. “That’s good to hear.”

Under his breath, Penguin suggested, “Maybe this just goes to show how much Doflamingo running free bothered him.”

Ikkaku stepped out from a tent, holding a metal box by the handle. “Here, Captain,” she said as she placed the box at Law’s feet. “Thought you might need this.”

He frowned, “Why would I need first aid?” 

Her eyes widened in confusion. “O-oh. Sorry, Captain. I just saw your bruises and scratches,” she stumbled and waved to Law’s neck and chest. “We thought you got in a fight or something.”

Law’s face flushed. “I’m fine,” he growled.

“OK, Captain!” Ikkaku nodded and shuffled backward. She sat on a stump near Jean Bart, who gave her a bewildered look.

Breaking the silence, Penguin asked, “So the Straw Hats treated you well then, Captain?”

“Y-yes,” Law nodded and cleared his throat. The lull stretched on until he finally ordered, “Tell me what happened while I was gone.” 

—

“Where’s the treasure, Luffy?” Nami demanded.

Luffy groaned and leaned back into a cushion, letting his body go limp. “We didn’t get it,” he sighed. “It turned out to be a set-up with this Bullet guy who had a really stupid devil fruit power and I had to break the treasure in the end.”

“You broke it?” she repeated.

“Yeah, I had to. It was a whole thing. Anyway, the rest of the festival was fun though!” Luffy explained vaguely.

“Did they have cotton candy?” Chopper asked, eyes gleaming.

He nodded. “Yeah! I had some really good corn dogs, too.”

“Corn dogs?” Wanda gasped.

Laughing, Luffy explained, “It’s not made of dog! It’s made of…of…actually I dunno what it’s made of but it’s not dog meat. I think.”

Wanda eyed him skeptically. Brook turned his head as he examined Luffy. “You got an ear piercing, Luffy!” he observed.

“Yeah!” Luffy beamed. “Hancock won the earring for me at a carnival game, and Torao pierced my ear for me.”  

“Wait. Hancock? You mean Boa Hancock?” Nami interjected.

“Yup, we ran into her at the festival,” he nodded.

Robin hid a laugh under her hand as Nami raised an eyebrow and asked, “How’d Torao do with that?”

“I mean, I think they’re friends now. She hung out with us for part of our date,” he answered casually.

Nami buried her face in her hands. “You can’t be that stupid. Please tell me you’re not that stupid.”

“What? I’m not stupid!” Luffy pouted. Robin’s giggles bubbled over as her shoulders shook. “What? ” Luffy growled, frustrated.

“Luffy,” Usopp started. “You brought a woman who is head over heels for you–a woman considered the most beautiful in the world–on a date with your emotionally-damaged boyfriend.”

Luffy blinked. “Torao isn’t my boyfriend,” he corrected matter-of-factly.

“That’s the point you want to make after Usopp laid that out for you? After self-proclaiming that you went on a date? ” Robin asked as all amusement evaporated from her body. 

Zoro snorted, “I’m actually starting to feel sorry for that sadboy.”

“As if you’re one to talk with whatever fucked up thing you’ve got going on with Sanji,” Nami muttered. 

“Hah?” Zoro bared his teeth as he snapped his head in Nami’s direction.

“Where is Torao anyway?” Chopper asked. 

“With his crew,” Robin answered as Luffy stewed.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Chopper smiled. “He must be really happy to see them after–”

“Oiiii!” Carrot’s voice reached them before she stepped in the room. “The feast is ready!”

Luffy leapt to his feet and gratefully left his complicated thoughts behind him.

—

The heat from the distant bonfire warmed Law as he leaned against a column, watching the Minks, Straw Hats, and some of his crew eat, drink, and dance in celebration. 

“I’m just saying we’ll need to recalibrate the pressure sensor in the ballast tanks. It’s been months since we’ve used it,” Shachi explained.

“But why would it have gotten messed up if we haven’t used it?” Penguin grumbled.

“Look, I agree it’s unlikely but if it did get messed up and we don’t recalibrate it then we’ll be fucked,” Shachi retorted.

“What do you think, Captain?” Penguin asked, arms crossed as he turned to Law.

Law blinked, only vaguely following their conversation. “I, uh, Shachi’s probably…” he began but tapered off as Luffy caught his eye and waved from the bonfire circle. His crew mates followed his gaze. As Law’s cheeks glowed pink, he managed to mutter, “Shachi’s right.”

Bepo exchanged glances with Shachi and Penguin. “How was Mugiwara?” he ventured.

“Hm? He…” Law stammered as his face grew hotter. “He was a, uh, big help at Dressrosa. Glad to have him as an ally.”

His crew watched as Luffy bounded up and launched himself into Law’s side. “An ally, huh?” Shachi muttered.

“Toraoooo! Garchu!” Luffy sang, face reddened with alcohol while he wrapped Law in his arms and bit into his ear. Finally noticing the others, Luffy unwound his arms and grinned. “Oh, hey guys! Long time no see. Been a couple of years, huh?” 

“Err…Mugiwara-ya, you remember Penguin, Shachi, Bepo,” Law shook himself into composure and gestured to his crewmates.

“Polar bear!” Luffy whooped with glee before attaching himself to Bepo and burying his face in his fur.

Bepo twitched but quickly softened. He sniffed as he patted the top of Luffy’s head. Leaning toward Penguin, he muttered, “He smells like Captain…”

Penguin raised his eyebrows. “Thanks for what you did at Dressrosa, Mugiwara,” he spoke, prompting Luffy to release Bepo. “We’re grateful to have our Captain back in one piece.”

Luffy’s mouth twitched, eyes dimming. “He almost didn’t come back in one piece though,” he murmured quietly.

Law narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re a sad drunk, Mugiwara-ya,” he teased.

“I am not. Sad. Or drunk. But I still get bad dreams about it,” Luffy argued. 

“You said that wasn’t a problem anymore,” Law frowned.

Luffy tilted his head. “I meeaaan, it’s better. I’ve still been getting the dreams but they’re not as bad anymore,” he explained.

Penguin flashed Shachi a look of confusion.

“Why don’t you go back to your crew, Mugiwara-ya?” Law suggested flatly.

Pouting, Luffy wrapped himself around Law’s arm and rested his chin on his shoulder. “You don’t wanna spend time with me, Torao?” 

“I haven’t seen my crew in months,” Law huffed, refusing to meet Luffy’s entreating gaze.

“Fine,” Luffy sighed. Turning to Law’s crew mates, he smiled. “You guys should come hang out with us by the bonfire!” 

They watched as Luffy ran back to the fire and seamlessly stepped into the dance circle that moved to the beat of the drums. A thick silence settled among the group.

Cutting through the atmosphere with some difficulty, Shachi spoke, “Captain, with all due respect, what the fuck was that?”

Law rubbed his temple, struggling to explain. Bepo piped up before he could speak, voice warped with horror, “Captain, has Mugiwara been sexually harassing you this whole time?”

“Fuck, Captain. I’m so sorry. One of us should have gone with you. We had no idea–” Penguin wailed.

“No!” Law interrupted, his voice sharp. “It’s not…it’s not sexual harassment.” He pulled his cap further in front of his face.

“Oh,” Bepo blinked. “So…That means you’re…you…” 

“It’s complicated, OK?” Law sighed. “But it’s…nothing bad.”

Quick to pivot to the positive, Penguin smiled, “Well that’s great, Captain! Good for you. Mugiwara seems uh, really nice.”

Bepo nodded eagerly. “Yes, we’re very happy for you Captain!”

“Does this mean we’re going to have to hyphenate our crew name?” Penguin teased. “Heart-Straw Hat Pirates? Or would it be Straw Hat-Heart Pirates? Straw Hearts?”

“What? No,” Law snapped. “This is an alliance, not some fucking merger.”

“A ‘merger’? Very romantic, Captain,” Shachi snickered.

Bepo turned his head thoughtfully. “So it’s more of a casual thing, then?”

“Well, I don’t know,” Law grumbled.

Shachi repeated, “You don’t know?”

“If you keep asking me about this I’m going to cut you all in half and keep you that way until we get to Wano,” Law growled.

His crew went silent. Bepo cast a glance at Penguin before suggesting, “Why don’t we go get a drink?”

“Good call,” Shachi mumbled and started toward a stack of barrels, shortly followed by Penguin and Bepo. Turning over his shoulder, he called, “Captain, come on. Seems like you could use something to distract you awhile!” 

Law shrugged, muttering something unintelligible under his breath, and trudged after them. 

—

Social spheres merged smoothly under a dousing of alcohol that effectively evaporated inhibitions. Usopp regaled Minks and Heart Pirates alike with his “improved” account of the event at Dressrosa while Chopper used chopsticks to demonstrate the pinnacle of party tricks. 

“OK, but for real, do we think Doflamingo’s Ferragamo loafers are actually real?” Nami posed the question to the group as they sat near the bonfire.

Shachi took a swig of beer before shrugging, “Ehh, I bet they’re just knock-offs.” 

“Yeah but he clearly has enough money to afford them,” Nami argued.

“Think about it though, Nami, he’s making all those SMILE fruits. Dude clearly does not give a shit about authenticity,” Shachi retorted.

Franky interrupted, pausing as he walked by, “Those sunglasses he wears are hideous. I don’t think he has enough taste to buy real Ferragamo anything.” 

“If that shitty cook were here he’d be able to tell for sure,” Zoro muttered, throwing a stick into the bonfire from his seat on the ground.

“Heh, that’s for sure. Also, would you stop throwing shit in the fire?” Nami rolled her eyes.

Zoro paused, a leaf pinned between his thumb and forefinger. “But it looks cool,” he mumbled. The leaf fluttered to the ground. 

Sitting atop a log, Luffy stretched his arm over Bepo and grabbed the leaf. He dusted it off before throwing it into the flames. Nami scoffed and Robin, leaning against her, let out a soft giggle. “Ohh, it does look cool,” he grinned as the edges of the leaf shrunk inward, curling into black then deep red before oxidizing into invisibility. 

While he watched, mesmerized, Carrot draped herself over Luffy’s shoulder and clamped her teeth around his ear. “Garchu!” she giggled around the rubbery cartilage.

“Shit!” Luffy yipped when Carrot’s teeth bumped into his piercing. 

She pulled away immediately, startled. “Sorry! Sorry. Did I hurt you?” she asked.

Luffy shook his head. “All good. I just got this ear pierced earlier is all. Still kinda sore,” he explained. 

“Ohhh,” Carrot nodded and examined the shiny loop. She stood up and, forcing herself between Luffy and Bepo, bit Luffy’s non-pierced ear. This prompted a hearty laugh from Luffy.

“Keep that up and you’re gonna piss off Torao,” Zoro chuckled.

Carrot released Luffy’s ear and said, “Oh, is that Luffy’s mate? ‘Garchu’ is totally platonic, though.”

“Well it can be platonic,” Bepo mumbled, throwing an unamused sideways glance at Carrot.

Zoro dipped his head to the left. “Torao doesn’t seem to think it’s platonic,” he smirked.

Following the direction of Zoro’s gesture, Carrot let out a sharp squeak. “He’s gonna kill me,” she gulped as Law’s eyes bore into her skull from halfway across the clearing, where he sat at a nearby fire. 

“Don’t make eye contact!” Bepo warned, swatting at her arm. 

She turned to the polar bear with rounded eyes. “I didn’t…I didn’t realize they were actually mated!”

“You guys really use the term ‘mate’?” Zoro asked as he observed in confusion.

“Yes, it’s kind of a big deal,” Bepo explained impatiently.

Nami frowned. “But Torao isn’t a Mink. So whatever the…cultural implications of being ‘mated’ have for you all, he wouldn’t have them. Right?” she observed, peeking at Law’s still-scowling face from a safe distance. 

“What does that mean?” Luffy asked, completely lost in the conversation happening around and about him. 

Robin ignored Luffy and turned to Nami. “Bepo, Carrot, correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve read, a number of significant cultural landmarks in Mink society are rooted in foundational instincts, meaning those that we’re born with and rely on to survive rather than what we cultivate through social interaction, play, or mirroring. This would include sacred rights such as Sulong transformation, which honors the Mink’s connection to the moon and the strength it gives–something that occurs with little to no control, like instinct. The significance of being mated is similar, in that it ties to the instinct of self-preservation in both a literal and broader sense–protecting one’s life, one’s happiness while ensuring the population doesn’t end. Taking a mate reflects the joining of two individuals in body and soul. Mates are incredibly protective of one another since the well-being and identities of both parties are so closely intertwined.”

“But…what does that mean for Captain?” Shachi blinked, struggling to follow.

Robin smiled gently. “Whether a society values life in its basic, instinctual forms or not, instinct is at the center of all life. Torao exhibits the behavior of a ‘mate’ in Mink culture because his actions are rooted in love, and the instinct to preserve it.”

“Bitch, I love how smart you are,” Nami grinned and leaned her head on Robin’s shoulder.

Robin smiled at Nami before asking, “Does that sound right, Bepo? Carrot?”

Bepo nodded, “Yes. Yes, I think so. It’s not how I would’ve explained it, but it sounds right.”

Carrot shrugged.

“Shit, I thought Torao was just jealous,” Zoro muttered to himself.

Nami snorted and threw a twig at Zoro. After it bounced off his shoulder, Zoro picked the stick up and threw it into the fire. He stuck his tongue out at Nami, who returned the gesture.

Robin chuckled, watching them, and conceded, “You’re correct, Zoro. I just thought my explanation sounded better.”

“It really did, Robin,” Nami turned away from Zoro and smiled.

“Luffy…” Robin ventured as she looked into his pensive face. “Are you OK?”

He blinked and tore his gaze from the fire. “Yeah,” he finally nodded.

“Mugiwara,” Bepo began. Luffy’s demeanor snapped back into shape. He turned to Bepo, smiling, as the bear continued in a serious but not unfriendly tone, “Why did you choose our Captain?” 

Luffy beamed, “He asked me to be in an alliance! Didn’t he tell you guys?”

Shachi spoke up, “We know that. Bepo’s asking why you chose the Captain as…as your ‘mate.’”

Titling his head, Luffy considered this. “I’m not sure I really get the whole ‘mate’ thing, but…I want to be around Torao. And I like making him feel good,” he shrugged.

“What do you like about Captain?” Shachi asked impatiently.

Luffy chewed on his lip momentarily before continuing, “Well, I like that he’s so passionate about stuff. He does cool drawings…Oh! And he’s super smart. Like, he’s got all that doctor knowledge stored in his head. He makes such a good face when he pretends to be mad. Torao also knows a lot about ninjas. And whenever he’s mean to me it’s just because he cares, so it’s like he’s actually being nice. Umm, he’s super pretty, especially his eyes. His lips too. And he makes me feel super warm all the time…I dunno, he’s just great, ya know?”

The Heart Pirates stared at Luffy in awe as he finished his explanation. Slowly, Shachi observed, “That’s…very honest.”

“We think he’s great too, Mugiwara,” Bepo smiled.

A laugh bubbled from Luffy’s chest. “You guys get it!” Abruptly, he froze and furrowed his brow. “Why is Torao just sitting alone over there, anyway?” he mumbled. After rising to his feet, he flashed a smile at the two Heart Pirates. “Talk to you guys later, OK?”

Bepo and Shachi exchanged a glance. “He seems nice enough,” Shachi muttered. 

Bepo agreed, “I don’t get it, but he has a kind of charisma. I guess I can see why Captain would like him. He certainly could use some sunshine like that.”

—

Law leaned into the back of the carved log bench, watching the flames of the bonfire dance against the night sky. Fingertips brushed against his neck and jolted his attention back to his body. He tilted his head backward and found Luffy standing over him. 

“Torao,” Luffy purred, running his hands over Law’s shoulders. “I found you.”

“Finally,” Law smirked. 

Luffy traced the muscle on Law’s upper arms before dragging his hands lower. “You sent me away because you hadn’t seen your crew in a long time, but here you are all by yourself,” he complained playfully as he bent down to Law’s ear. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Ordering around more than one person lost its novelty sooner than expected,” Law explained.

Hands roaming, Luffy pulled the hem of Law’s shirt up to expose the skin above his jeans. “Are you saying you only like ordering me around?” Luffy asked.

Law teased, “On the rare occasion that you let me.”

Law inhaled sharply when Luffy nipped at his neck. Luffy slid a ring finger under either side of the waistband of Law’s jeans, snug within the subtle dip between his hip bones. With his thumbs, he stroked the skin around Law’s navel. “Toraooo,” he whispered, voice husky. “I’m horny.”

A warm chuckle rumbled in Law’s chest. “I can tell,” he breathed.

“You promised to show me your room,” Luffy pouted as he rested his chin in the crook of Law’s neck.

Law smiled, amused. “It’s pretty early. You want to leave the party already?”

Luffy’s breath was hot on Law’s collarbone. “Mhmm,” he answered. “I’d rather go to our party. Just the two of us.”

“How drunk are you?” Law laughed.

“Not very, anymore. Why?” Luffy responded impatiently. 

“What I’ve got planned for you won’t be as fun if you’re drunk,” he taunted before standing up, slipping Luffy from his shoulders. Turning around, he smirked, “Come on, then.”

Luffy studied the invitation in Law’s expression, made warmer from the glow of the bonfire. He shifted the waistband of his shorts before stepping out from behind the bench. Together, they left. 

When distance dimmed the sound of drums and rowdy laughter, Luffy grabbed Law’s waist and pushed his back against a nearby tree trunk. Law grunted in surprise. Luffy raised himself on his toes and pressed his lips to Law’s as his hands travelled under Law’s shirt, grabbing and stroking the skin along his sides. 

Beneath Luffy’s mouth, Law moaned before gathering himself and pushing Luffy backward by the shoulders. His well-laid plans were the only thing keeping his will rigid. “Didn’t you want to see the submarine?” Law teased, panting.

“We can do that later,” Luffy answered as he tried to kiss Law once more.

“Luffy,” Law said sharply before softening his tone. “Just wait. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

Luffy breathed a dramatic sigh and stepped back, letting his fingers trail down Law’s stomach as he moved. He caught his middle finger on a belt loop and tugged just hard enough to pull Law’s hips forward without throwing him off balance. Law recited his plan in his head, like a prayer to a god of sexual fortitude, to keep himself from giving in and fucking Luffy on the forest floor.

When they finally arrived at the edge of the elephant overlooking the Polar Tang and Thousand Sunny, Luffy craned his neck. “You got a way to get down there?” he asked.

“It’s not elegant, but…it’ll work with just the two of us,” Law answered as he uncoiled a rope that was knotted around a nearby boulder. 

Luffy watched him. “Is that rope really long enough?” 

“No,” he snorted. “But between this, your ability to stretch, and ‘shambles’ we can get down fine.”

“Huh, OK. You really did plan this all out, didn’t you?” Luffy observed.

Law shrugged shyly. “I wasn’t sure when I would get another chance.” 

Luffy smiled before asking, “And…we’ll be able to get back up?”

“Look at you, thinking about the future,” Law chuckled as he let the length of rope dangle over the edge. “Yeah, got a plan for that too.”

“You’re so smart, Torao,” Luffy beamed. “So what do I need to do?”

Unable to hide his pride, Law pointed to the rope. “First we’re gonna slide down the rope. See, I’ve tied knots throughout to help break the acceleration. You’ll go down first. Once we get to the bottom, you’ll hold onto the rope and stretch us down as far as you can. I’ll hold onto you and from there, I’ll make a ‘room’ and ‘shambles’ us to the lowest point using the rocks I’ve got in my pocket. I can do it multiple times if we need to.”

“Wow,” Luffy blinked. “That’s elaborate.” His smile stretched into a grin as he teased, “You really wanna fuck me that bad?” Law turned his head away to hide his burning complexion. “Thanks for doing all of this, Torao,” Luffy added softly.

“Mmh,” he grunted, his brain unable to shape his feelings into words. “Ready? This is all going to happen quickly so I need you to be on top of it.”

“I’m ready,” Luffy beamed, radiating confidence.

Law nodded and stepped to the edge. Luffy edged up beside him. As Law opened his mouth to speak, Luffy leapt into the open air. “Wahooo!” he cried as he plummeted through the sky, the rope slipping rapidly through the loose grip of his hands. 

“Fucking hell,” Law muttered before taking the plunge himself, albeit with more caution and taking twice the time to reach the end.

Luffy’s laughter billowed upward once Law arrived at the second to last knot in the rope, a few feet above Luffy. “Took you long enough!” he teased.

Law looked down at Luffy’s grinning face surrounded by the vast blue of the ocean. “I don’t want to be remembered as the guy who died because he was desperate to get laid,” Law called down.

Luffy chuckled before shouting, “Hey, Torao!” 

“What?” Law asked, shifting his grip on the rope as he spoke.

“I wish you were wearing a skirt right now!” he announced.

Law’s hand slipped. He scrambled to regain his hold on the knot while his face burned. “What the fuck!” he roared after securing his grasp. He looked down at Luffy again. “You little perv. This is not the time!”

“Yes, it is!” Luffy argued, freeing a hand to point upward at Law. “It’s literally the most perfect time for you to be wearing a skirt!” 

“That’s not what…” Law sighed and quieted the rumbling in his chest, equal parts exasperated and giddy. Calmed, he announced, “I’m going to climb down to you now, OK? Then I’m gonna need you to hold my weight up. If I hang from your ankle that should give you enough weight to stretch pretty close to the ship. Got it?”

“OK!” Luffy confirmed. 

Law inched down the rope slowly. “Ow! You kicked me in the face, Torao,” Luffy complained from beneath him.

“Sorry, sorry,” Law grunted. “Almost there.” 

Finally, they were almost eye to eye. Law clung to the free space of rope just above Luffy’s grip. “Hi,” Luffy beamed when Law met his gaze.

Law blinked. “Hey,” he responded softly, caught off guard by the warmth and proximity of Luffy’s expression in the midst of their ridiculous escapade. He swallowed. “I’m gonna climb down…you, I guess.”

“Here,” Luffy said as he raised his leg to Law’s chest. “Grab on.”

“Alright. When you feel like your leg has stretched as far as it’ll go, tell me and let go,” Law explained before taking a deep breath. With his right hand, he grabbed Luffy’s ankle. Luffy nodded encouragingly. Law pushed doubt away and released the rope. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he hissed to himself as air rushed around him and his stomach dropped, clinging to Luffy’s ankle with both hands now. The movement slowed as Luffy’s rubber body reached its limit. 

Far above, Luffy’s voice was faint, “...letting go!” Frantically, Law released his right hand to dig into the pocket of his jeans. He eyed the submarine below as he pulled out a rock and dropped it. “Room,” he muttered, straining and focusing while the rest of Luffy’s body rocketed down towards him to snap back to its normal form. When Luffy collided with Law, he quickly wrapped his arms around Law’s torso. “Shambles,” Law grunted once Luffy was securely attached.

As Luffy bit into his thumb and exhaled, the submarine magnified beneath them. Thump. The cold metal of the submarine’s outer deck broke their fall. Luffy’s inflated body depressed against the surface, pancaking into a cushion. Law’s body bounced off of him in a parabolic arch and tumbled across the deck. 

Luffy deflated and ran to Law’s side. “Torao! You OK?” he cried, pushing Law over onto his back. To his surprise, Law was laughing.

“We made it, Luffy. It worked,” Law chuckled. 

Grinning, Luffy nodded and helped Law to his feet. “Gravity is kind of a bitch though,” Luffy snorted.

“I’ll say,” Law agreed. After stretching his neck and working out the kinks, he gestured to the door. “You wanted a tour?”

“Finally!” Luffy ran to the door and threw it open with a flourish.

Law hurried after him, grumbling. The tour passed quickly thanks to Luffy’s abbreviated attention span and Law’s deliberate efforts to keep Luffy away from buttons, switches, and anything else catastrophically tempting to touch. 

“Here,” Law pushed in on a metal door.

Luffy stepped in behind him and looked around, brow furrowed. “This isn't your room,” he declared, annoyance oozing from his tone.

“Nope,” Law smirked as the door closed behind them. He gestured to the row of showers along the wall. “Clean yourself up,” he ordered.

“What?” Luffy pouted. “You’ve already made me wait this long!”

“And you’ll wait a little longer,” Law teased. “Shower, or I’m just going to go to sleep.”

Groaning, Luffy begrudgingly stripped down and stood beneath the showerhead. Law handed him a bar of soap before removing his own clothes. They showered side by side, Law eyeing Luffy and chiding him to ensure he was thorough with the soap. Luffy’s skin shone pink from the hot water and vigorous scrubbing by the time they were done.

“Can we go to your room now?” Luffy sighed, scalp tingling while Law ruffled his hair in a towel.

Law smiled and released the towel. “Yeah.”

Luffy pulled on his hand, hurrying him out the door. Their bare feet padded softly against the cool flooring as they walked naked down the hallway. Law took the lead, clasping Luffy’s hand within his own, until they stopped at an almost identical metal door at the end of the hall. 

“If this is another shower room, Torao…” Luffy warned.

“It’s not,” Law chuckled as he released Luffy’s hand. He turned the handle and held the door open, gesturing for Luffy to go inside. 

Swiveling his head, Luffy wandered in until he was standing in the middle of the space. “This is Law’s room. Like, his actual room. Not just a ‘room’ room,” Luffy mused aloud, lowering his voice in an imitation of Law as he said the second to last “room.” 

Law snorted. Then, he mumbled bashfully, “Sorry it’s kind of a mess. Haven’t had a chance to clean up.” 

Luffy turned to Law and waved his hand at the pristine room, the neatly made bed, the organized bookshelf. “How is this a mess?” he laughed. Law just rolled his eyes. Luffy’s attention diverted and his eyes widened while he took in Law’s queen size bed. “Can I…?” he asked, pointing at the bed.

“Go for it,” Law nodded, smirking. 

The plush comforter compressed beneath Luffy’s weight as he flung himself face down onto the bed. “It’s so soft!” he exclaimed, voice muffled in the black fabric. Law watched Luffy stretch out atop the blanket, the skin on his ass still glowing from the scalding shower. His stomach twitched, his heart pumped faster. He could feel the rush of blood as his cock hardened. 

The bed creaked when Law climbed over Luffy, hovering above him on all fours. He brushed Luffy’s damp, dark hair out of the way and pressed his lips to the nape of his neck. Luffy sighed into the blanket. His own breath warmed his face, adding to his already rising temperature beneath Law’s touch. The gentle caress of Law’s lips morphed into a quick, sharp pain as he nipped at the skin on Luffy’s neck. Luffy twitched his shoulders and twisted to look up at Law, half of his face hidden in the comforter’s plush volume. Law’s shaft, thick and warm with desire, brushed along the back of Luffy’s thigh as he moved. A hungry smile pulled at Law’s face when Luffy peeked up at him with a single eye and flushed cheek. 

“Luffy, will you let me do things to you?” Law asked, his voice husky.

Luffy turned his head further. “Like what?” he chuckled.

“Liiiike this,” Law started and traced Luffy’s ear with his tongue. He bit the soft lobe and tugged before continuing, “I kinda wanna tie you up, Luffy.”

“Tie me up?” Luffy repeated. The flesh of his cheek rose as he smiled, narrowing his eye. “You’re not gonna throw me in the ocean are you?”

Law clicked his tongue and snorted, “No, I do not plan on tossing you into the sea. Why would I do that?”

Luffy’s shoulders shifted in a kind of shrug when he answered playfully, “Just had to check.” Turning onto his side completely, he added, “I don’t really get it, but you can tie me up if you want.”

Law’s chest tightened. He clambered backwards off the bed. “Stand under that when you’re ready,” he gestured to a hook in the ceiling, just a few feet away from the bed, once Luffy had extracted himself from the captivating warmth of the blanket. Law removed a wide tin box mottled with stickers from beneath his desk. He set it on the edge of the bed and opened the lid with a click. “Stay there,” he laughed when Luffy moved to look at the box, curiosity twinkling in his eyes. “You can look at it after.”

From within the box, Law pulled out a thickly looped cord of undyed rope. 

“You have a lot of rope just lying around, huh?” Luffy observed while Law ran the rope through his hands.

Law wrapped the rope behind Luffy’s back and over one shoulder. He chuckled as he pulled the other end of the cord under his opposite arm and through the loop hanging from Luffy’s shoulder. “Heh, not really. The Minks lent me the rope we used to climb down here,” he explained, stepping behind Luffy and sliding the rope around so that the loop rested in the center of Luffy’s upper back. It hung across him like a sash.

Luffy hummed, unconvinced, while Law passed the rope under Luffy’s arm, to the front of his torso, and over his opposite shoulder, creating an ‘X’ on his chest that overlapped slightly with his scar. Behind Luffy’s back, Law pulled the cord through and repeated the motions once more. He wrapped the rope beneath Luffy’s armpit, threaded it under the upper segment of the ‘X’ before passing it back under his arm and looping around Luffy’s back to repeat on the other side. From there, he wrapped the top of Luffy’s rib cage in a horizontal circle and tied it off at the back.

“You done?” Luffy asked, shifting slightly.

Law grinned and pulled at the rope, testing the strength and tension of his work. “Nope. Feel OK, though? Not too tight?”

Wriggling, Luffy inspected the constriction: loose enough to slip a finger or two beneath but tight enough to create a succulent swell of flesh around the rope when he moved. “It’s fine,” he nodded. While Law pulled another skein of rope from the box, Luffy caught his own eye in the full-length mirror against the wall before him. His pulse quickened.

Law shifted Luffy’s arms behind his back, bending them at the elbow so that his forearms rested atop one another. “Keep your arms like that,” he ordered. He looped the cord around and around Luffy’s wrists before deftly knotting the rope. He wrapped the remaining rope through the back of Luffy’s chest harness, effectively keeping Luffy’s hands in place and slightly elevated.

“Now are you done?” Luffy chuckled when Law tied off the rope.

Returning to the box, Law grinned devilishly. “Nah. Getting closer though,” he answered.

Luffy watched as Law dropped more rope at his feet. He disappeared behind him, working another cord into the knots and twists of the back of his harness. The rope scratched against metal above him and Luffy felt himself lifted upwards. Law grunted, pulling the rope through the ceiling hook until Luffy dangled above the floor. In the mirror, Luffy admired the intricate knots and twists Law had devised around his body. 

When Law appeared in front of him again, Luffy remarked, “You’re good at this.”

Law chewed on his lower lip shyly. “Thanks,” he smiled gently. “I haven’t gotten to practice much on anyone besides myself.” Law got to his knees before Luffy.

“No wonder you were so excited about this then,” Luffy grinned. “Like, you can’t get around the Grand Line without knowing how to tie knots but this…This is a whole other level.”

Bashfully ignoring Luffy’s compliments, Law tied the rope around Luffy’s ankle before bending Luffy’s knee so the heel of his foot was just inches away from the space where thigh met cheek. He held him in this position while he spiraled the cord around the thickness of his thigh and calf three times. Starting with the circle of rope closest to the knee, Law looped the free end through it twice. He moved to the middle circle, repeating the loops, and finished with the circle near Luffy’s hip.

Desperately, Law focused on bringing the rope down and around to repeat knots on the other side of the leg from bottom to top. Luffy’s growing erection was getting harder to ignore. Law quickly twisted the leftover rope around itself and moved to the other leg to repeat the process.

Luffy watched the mirror, mesmerized by the elegant complexity of his entanglement and the backside view of Law kneeling before him. Muscles rippled beneath the tattoo on Law’s back as he tugged and tightened. 

Law’s movement ceased suddenly. Luffy looked down to see Law swipe his thumb across his own cheek. Their eyes met. “You got me wet, Luffy,” Law purred, eyes scorching with pleasure and the desire for more.

Luffy’s body burned as he registered the volume of pre-cum pooling and dripping down his cock. “S-sorry,” he giggled, arousal mixing with embarrassment. 

Law chuckled, “Nothing to be sorry for.” He paused as he straightened his back. “I’ll just clean it up for now.” Grabbing the base of Luffy’s cock in his fist, he angled the shaft downward and brushed his tongue over the glans. Luffy gasped while Law collected the pre-cum on his tongue. Returning to the rope around Luffy’s leg, Law swallowed before flashing him a wicked smirk. “Pick a safeword,” he ordered while tightening the knots. 

Luffy contemplated this. “Helmet,” he finally answered.

“Helmet?” Law repeated, blinking as he got to his feet. “Why ‘helmet’?”

“Helmets are pretty safe,” he explained.

“I…” Law paused. “Do you know what I mean by ‘safeword,’ Luffy?”

He hesitated before speaking slowly, “A word related to…safety?” 

Law fought off a smirk. “A ‘safeword’ is something you can say if you want me to stop what I’m doing. You say it and no matter what, at any point, I’ll stop,” he clarified.

“Ohh,” Luffy nodded. “How about I just use Haki?”

“Haki?” Law thought for a moment. “You mean Conqueror’s Haki?” Luffy nodded, so Law shrugged. “I guess that’ll work if you want. Just don’t like, knock me out, OK? Use it just enough so that I know you don’t like what I’m doing.” 

“OK,” Luffy agreed enthusiastically.

Taking a step back, Law surveyed his work. “I think this might make up for you carrying me around in seastone cuffs for so long back on Dressrosa,” he teased.

Luffy rolled his eyes. “This seems like a bit much compared to that,” he pouted.

Law raised an eyebrow. “I disagree. But I’ll compromise. Let’s say this makes up for that and the fact that you let that bunny chew on your ears all night,” he smirked.

“It’s not my fault Carrot did that!” Luffy argued. “That’s just normal Mink stuff.”

“Sure,” Law scoffed. Turning once again to his box of illicit materials, he rummaged until he found a thick strip of black fabric. 

“Oi!” Luffy shouted as Law pulled the fabric over his eyes and tied it at the back of his head. “How am I supposed to see you with this?”

Law explained flatly, “You’re not. Blocking out senses makes the others stronger.”

Luffy released a skeptical huff. “Then prove it,” he grumbled.

“Appreciate the invitation,” Law snickered. 

Luffy tensed at the sound of metal against tin. He could feel Law approach him, close enough for Law’s breath to tickle his lips. 

“Ah!” Luffy cried out at the sharp pinch on his right nipple. He panted, surprised by the sudden and persistent sting. A matching sensation bloomed on his left nipple, prompting him to hiss through clenched teeth. “What are you doing, Law?” he breathed.

“‘Law’? You don’t usually drop my nickname until much later.” Law’s voice was slow and syrupy, right against Luffy’s left ear. “This is going to be interesting,” he chuckled and stepped back, gently tugging on the chain connecting the nipple clamps together. Luffy’s body twitched within his restraints. 

Law paused to fully appreciate the spectacle. Every inch of Luffy’s skin was flushed pink. The rope tightened over his chest as he inhaled heavily, accentuating the soft flesh. Law walked in a circle, savoring the view of Luffy’s cock, hard and slick above his balls. Lining himself up behind Luffy, he wrapped his arms around his torso and pressed his cock against the pink skin of his left ass cheek. Luffy sighed while Law ran his tongue over his shoulder. Law stopped at the base of his neck and planted a soft kiss over the tendon. He kissed further up, and up, until he reached Luffy’s ear. The earring clouded with the fog of Law’s breath, surrounded by tender skin. Avoiding the piercing, Law chuckled gently into his ear. “You look so good like this, Luffy.”

Luffy chewed on his lip as Law’s words tickled his skin. “Mmh,” he moaned, equal parts pleased and frustrated. Abruptly, the space where Law had been emptied. He could hear him moving in front of him now.

Law kneeled before Luffy and cradled his foot within his hands. Using his thumbs, he pressed firmly into the skin along Luffy’s sole. A warm hum rumbled in Luffy’s chest when he rubbed them up and down again. “That’s nice, Torao,” he sighed.

Law switched to the other foot, repeating the massage. Once Luffy had visibly relaxed, Law cupped the skin over Luffy’s Achilles tendon and dragged the tip of his tongue up the middle of his heel, along the arch, and to his toes. 

“Torao!” Luffy giggled uneasily, trying but failing to move within the rope. “That feels weird,” he laughed between heavy breaths.

Law licked his foot again and plucked another shaking laugh from Luffy’s chest. Again, and the pitch grew higher. When he returned once more, he flattened his tongue to cover more area as he drew it over the bottom of Luffy’s foot. This time, Luffy exhaled an unmistakable moan. Law allowed himself a hungry glance at Luffy’s face as he licked. Luffy’s mouth twitched, the roseate edge of his tongue just barely visible as it rested atop the lower lip. 

He switched back to the other foot to repeat the process of licking from heel to toe. Luffy’s enthusiasm remained undiminished. On the upward stroke of his tongue, Law encased Luffy’s big toe in his mouth. Luffy hissed while Law swirled his tongue around the toe. “Torao,” he groaned.

Law glanced up as Luffy’s cock twitched. He bit down on his toe before releasing and purring, “You’re just a deluge today.” Raising his head and grabbing onto Luffy’s hips for support, Law planted his tongue at the root of Luffy’s dick and moved upwards. The clear liquid of Luffy’s pre-ejaculate gathered on his tongue, sticky and salty. When he reached the head, he circled his tongue around the glans before plunging downward and surrounding Luffy’s dick in the heat of his mouth. The moan in Luffy’s throat was strained as Law bobbed his head, pressing his cock to the back of his throat four more times. Luffy gasped when he pulled away. Law allowed Luffy a moment to catch his breath, using it for himself to enjoy the sheen of spit over Luffy’s feet and cock. 

The return of Law’s tongue to the base of Luffy’s foot telegraphed molten sparks up his spine and into his abdomen. “Law,” he panted, voice frantic. “Why does that feel good?” Law’s laughter was hot against his toes. Luffy shivered. The deafening pulse within his body beat like a drum against his burning skin. Pressure built within him.

Once Law tired of licking, biting, and sucking at Luffy’s feet and toes, he rose to his feet. His head spun as he watched Luffy, a combination of standing up too quickly and the intense bloom of warmth in his chest. He stepped toward Luffy and extended his hand. Using the back of the fingernail on his index finger, he traced a line down the center of Luffy’s stomach and curved his finger to gently stroke the top of his cock. 

Luffy’s breath hitched in his throat at the delicate touch. “I think I get what you mean,” he said softly.

“Hmm?” Law picked up his finger and placed it lightly at the hollow of Luffy’s throat. From there, his fingertip brushed across the left clavicle, skipping over the rope to follow the line of Luffy’s shoulder. 

As Law replayed the motion on the right, moving from his shoulder inward to his throat, Luffy explained breathlessly, “The feeling is so much more intense when I can’t see what’s happening.”

Law smiled, “Told you.” With both hands, he stroked either side of Luffy’s neck upward until his thumbs rested behind Luffy’s ears and he cradled his head in his palms. Luffy instinctively parted his reddened lips. Law indulged him, and himself, by languidly brushing his lips back and forth across Luffy’s mouth. Their breath mingled, steaming against one another’s lips. Luffy’s lips twitched, puckering slightly while straining his neck forward. Law stilled, allowing Luffy to press against his mouth and hold onto the illusion of agency before he relinquished his hold on Luffy’s head and stepped backward. Luffy frowned and huffed.

The creak of a hinge arrested Luffy’s attention, followed by the sound of rustling fabric. At his wardrobe, Law flitted through his clothes until he found his dark blue coat. He plucked a single plume from its feather-lined collar. Returning to stand behind Luffy, he used his free hand to track the curve of Luffy’s shoulder blades with the sharp edge of his fingernail. Luffy sighed and tilted his head to the side. 

His relaxed countenance vanished when a touch so soft, bordering on frustrating, appeared just below his armpit and traveled down his side, ending above the thigh. Flinching, he giggled, “What is that?” The delicate tickle appeared on his other side, repeating the motion and contrasting sharply with the burning ache in his nipples. His stomach tightened as Law circled his bellybutton with the feather. “H-hey!” he panted, twitching.

Law grinned. “Are you ticklish?” he teased, feigning surprise. Luffy grumbled under his breath. 

With a steady and deliberate stroke, Law dragged the feather from the base of Luffy’s neck down the divot of his spine. He stopped where Luffy’s arms crossed and picked back up below until he reached the tailbone. From there, he recharted his course to trace the curve of Luffy’s ass cheeks. Satisfied with his fill of Luffy’s fragile sighs, he let the feather float to the floor. 

“Ah!” Luffy’s startled rupture of a cry burst from his throat as the flat of Law’s palm and fingers smacked against his ass. The force swung his suspended body forward within the air. The skin along his cheeks prickled with the discordant sting. From behind, Law took Luffy’s waist into his hands and dispelled the motion of his own making. He dropped to his knees, shifting his grip lower to the high point of Luffy’s hips, and brought his lips to the center of Luffy’s lower back, pressing them into the groove of his spine. 

The musky scent of Luffy’s sweat and skin filled Law’s nose. He inhaled and held it deep within his chest, listening to the thud of his own heartbeat and Luffy’s heavy breaths. Law shifted to rest his forehead against Luffy’s back. As he pushed the air from his lungs, his heart swelled. The pressure in his chest, in his throat and his lungs, grew tremendous; he feared he might never inhale again. His whole being ached with the sweet warmth that surged through the cramped confines of his body. His ears burned while his mind swirled in elation. Overwhelmed, Law squeezed his eyes shut. “Luffy,” he murmured as he pressed Luffy’s hips between his hands. 

“Torao?” Luffy’s curious voice floated into Law’s trance.

With a contented sigh, Law got to his feet. He kept one hand on Luffy’s hip as he stepped in front of him, letting his fingers trace a semicircle while he moved. Law then took the cold chain of the nipple clamps and pulled. Luffy winced and then breathed a sigh of relief when Law removed the clamps and tossed them to the floor. The reprieve, however, proved brief. After admiring the rosy glow of Luffy’s nipples, Law bent, tongue extended and flattened while he gripped Luffy’s waist. He licked each nipple with a tortuous pressure and lethargic pace. Luffy’s jaw tightened as Law circled and then flicked the raised buds with the pointed tip of his tongue. 

“Law,” Luffy gasped when Law blew air across both nipples. The tender skin tingled and he shivered beneath the icy hot sensation. 

Law massaged the soft meat of Luffy’s chest, enthralled with the bulge of his flesh as it pressed against the ‘X’ of the rope. He gently brushed his thumbs over Luffy’s nipples and brought his face to hover just inches before Luffy’s. Feeling Law’s breath against his skin, Luffy began, “Tora–ah.” Law sunk his teeth around Luffy’s lower lip.

After a moment, Law let go. “How are you doing, Luffy-ya?” he asked, grinning with the heady taste of Luffy’s lip. 

“I’m tired of waiting,” Luffy grumbled as he tried to move his hips forward. 

Resting his hands on Luffy’s waist once more, Law squeezed. His thumbs pressed against Luffy’s firm abdominal muscles while his middle and ring fingers followed the dip of his spine. He released his grip and wrapped his arms around Luffy, pressing him close in an unreturnable embrace. As Law pulled him in, the length of their erections rubbed against one another, warm and solid as they pressed side by side and against their stomachs. “I’m tired of waiting, too,” Law whispered into Luffy’s hair. 

“Fuck,” Luffy released a warm sigh of mottled relief and anticipation while Law rocked their bodies against one another. 

Law pulled away, leaving Luffy to sit within the confines of his ropes. Luffy tilted his head and listened as Law moved behind him and worked on the cord within his chest harness. Fiber scratched against metal, and Luffy felt himself lowered. His shins met the floor. Law’s hands slipped beneath him, one arm scooping under his legs while the other cradled his back. He was raised only to be dropped onto the bed, face-down and ass in the air. Luffy grumbled and turned his head to the side.

After grabbing a bottle of lube and moving the tin box to the floor, Law stood at the foot of the bed. He drizzled lube onto the head of his dick and stroked it within his hand. As he coated the shaft in an even layer, Law indulged in the visual feast before him. In this position, the bindings around Luffy’s legs drew tight so the flesh of his thighs swelled voluptuously along the rope. Law followed his thighs upward to rounded pink cheeks and then between them to the tight asterisk of his asshole. He chewed on his own lip, releasing a heavy breath while dragging his gaze down Luffy’s taint. Lower, Luffy’s balls rested atop the comforter. His swollen cock, mostly engulfed within the fabric, was just barely visible from an angle.

Law’s breath caught in his throat at the tension coiling in his core. “Do I look that good?” Luffy’s teasing voice reached him over the slick sound of his hand pumping along his lubricated cock.

Law slowed his hand, which had picked up speed without him realizing it. Shrugging off his embarrassment, he laughed, “Honestly, yeah.” 

“Then stop playing with yourself and play with me,” Luffy pouted, wriggling his hips back and forth in an inviting gesture.

Law grinned and hopped onto the bed behind Luffy, whose body bobbed as Law’s weight depressed the mattress beneath them. Squeezing the bottle of lube over Luffy’s rear, Law watched lubricant drip across the puckered skin. He tossed the bottle to the floor and worked the lube gently over Luffy’s anus with his right thumb. In time he increased the pressure and found Luffy’s asshole more than ready to accept his finger. Luffy moaned as his body took Law’s thumb inside of it, tickling at an itch that had been building since they arrived at Zou. He twisted his neck further and the blindfold slipped, allowing him to cast an eye at Law over his shoulder. 

“You’ve been so patient tonight, Luffy,” Law chuckled and met Luffy’s eye. He swiveled his thumb in a circle, relishing the narrowing of Luffy’s eye as he did so.

Luffy huffed, “You’ve been torturing me all day, Torao.”

“All day?” Law repeated, eyebrows raised sarcastically. “I tied you up, sure, but I don’t know what else you could mean.”

“You-mnh,” Luffy paused to exhale through his nose while Law pressed his thumb deeper. “You acted like you didn’t want to see me, like you didn’t want me to talk to your crew or look at you or touch you. And the whole time–mmfh–you’re wearing those stupid pants, letting your hip bones poke out while you can’t e-even button up your shirt all the way. Ahn!” Luffy paused, gasping as Law slipped his index finger within his ass, settling in beside the thumb. When he caught his breath, he continued raggedly, “The heart on your chest…you can’t just leave it out like that and not let me touch you. And now you’ve got me here, all tied up so I still can’t touch you unless you…ahhn… touch me.”

Law’s breath came fast and hot in his chest. Leaning forward, he whispered, “Wanna know a secret, Luffy?”

“Hm?” Luffy hummed, curious but not relinquishing his frustration.

“I just can’t stand to share you, or our time together, with anyone else,” Law answered, his voice all breath and desire.

Luffy inhaled sharply as Law removed his fingers. Law shifted forward on his knees and guided his dick to Luffy’s ass. Their eyes met, Law’s gaze to Luffy’s single exposed eye. Law pressed forward, jaw clenched. 

“Oh!” Luffy groaned as his insides stretched to accommodate Law’s cock. 

“Shit,” Law laughed with a kind of desperation, overwhelmed by the strangling pressure of Luffy’s body around him and the exquisite look on the uncovered portion of Luffy’s face: lips wet and red, parted slightly; blood rushing to the surface of his skin to leave him glowing; eye moist, narrowed with feeling but still trained on Law’s gaze.

Luffy gasped from the delirium of being fucked simultaneously by Law’s cock and eyes, “I’m not gonna be able to last long.” 

“Then don’t. You don’t have to be patient anymore,” Law smirked before shoving himself all the way in. He leaned forward, balancing part of his weight on Luffy’s back and the rest on his right arm that he placed alongside Luffy’s shoulder. He planted his left forearm near Luffy’s head and hooked his index and middle fingers on the lower row of Luffy’s teeth, resting his thumb on the outside of his jaw.

Luffy tangled his tongue in Law’s fingers as Law began to pump his hips. Building up a rhythm, Law rounded his back and settled his forehead against the nape of Luffy’s neck. Luffy moaned as he took Law’s thrusts, the fullness alternating with emptiness, alternating with overwhelming fullness and again and again. With each rough slap of Law’s skin against his ass, Luffy jolted forward. His cock rubbed against the comforter beneath him as Law slammed into him. The nerve endings along his glans sang from the friction while Law’s cock reached deep within him and pressed against his prostate with each plunge. Unable to move, Luffy yielded his mind completely to feeling. The form-fitting cage of rope around his torso, his wrists, and his legs squeezed just tight enough to invoke the sense of a hungry, searching embrace. Law’s breath and skin radiated warmth against his back. 

As the ache welling inside of Luffy compressed into a vibrating heat, Law groaned. Law’s fingers tightened around his jaw and in an instant, Luffy’s body tensed with the apex of pleasure. He cried out against Law’s hand while the world spun. Recognizing the frantic edge in Luffy’s voice, Law pulled his fingers from Luffy’s mouth and raised his head. He sustained the cadence and force of his thrusts until the wild glow in Luffy’s eye dimmed to bleary satisfaction. 

Law shoved his right arm underneath Luffy, stretching across his chest until he could grab onto Luffy’s left shoulder. He used this hold to hoist Luffy into a semi-upright position. Law paused as the heartbeat in Luffy’s chest tickled the skin on the inside of his forearm. “Luffy,” he whispered, pressing him closer. When Luffy didn’t respond, he repeated, “Luffy…You good?”

Luffy’s answer came out as a vaguely coherent “uh huh” between gasps. Law kissed the side of his neck and inhaled. After swallowing audibly, Luffy croaked, “You cum, Torao?”

“No,” Law answered softly.

“Then what are you doing?” Luffy chuckled, voice airy.

Law smiled. “Don’t wanna break you or anything,” he teased.

“Dare you to try,” Luffy laughed, his countenance glowing post-orgasm. “Try to break me, Law.”

Law licked his lips and wedged his left hand, palm up, between Luffy’s bound calf and thigh. He tightened his grip on Luffy’s shoulder, lifted Luffy’s leg, and shoved his own angled hips forward. The impact pulled a sharp gasp from Luffy’s lips. It took Luffy some time to establish a rhythm of breath that could keep up with the unrelenting force of Law pounding into his ass. He shook from the collision of their bodies.

Law’s muscles tensed as he worked Luffy over his cock, the slap of Luffy’s dick against his own abdomen a softer half beat to the percussion of Law’s thrusts. He ran his thumb over the protrusion of Luffy’s thigh along the rope before digging his fingers into the pliant flesh. The tightness of Luffy’s body around his shaft and the searing heat against the head of his cock nudged Law closer and closer to the end. Luffy’s desperate gasps for breath evolved into sugary mewls, bringing Law’s orgasm to a sudden peak like a clap of thunder down his spine and through the root of his body. 

“Oh. Ohh… oh,” Law moaned and furrowed his brow. He rolled his hips and tilted Luffy’s body at an angle, drawing out his ejaculation until he was spent. Exhausted, he fell forward. Law slipped his arm from beneath Luffy, released his leg, and gently slid his dick from his ass before collapsing onto his back beside him. Their gasps filled the otherwise silent room. 

Law ran his hand over his face, wiping away the sweat and pushing his hair back. “Oh, fuck. Shit,” he yelped as he recalled Luffy’s state and raised himself on his side. “I gotta untie you. I’m sorry, Luffy.” He continued to apologize while he swiftly released Luffy’s bindings, throwing the rope to the floor once he was successfully freed. Law tugged on Luffy’s left shoulder, pulling him over to lie face-up. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated as he searched Luffy’s bleary gaze. “Are you OK? Do you need anything? I can get you water or–”

Luffy rolled over and wrapped an arm across Law, interrupting his agitated questioning. As he buried his face in Law’s chest, he threw his leg over Law’s and murmured, “Just stay here.”

Law’s heart throbbed in his throat. He enveloped Luffy in his arms, one over his side and the other tucked under his head. Palm spread against Luffy’s upper back, Law tightened his embrace. Luffy basked in the glow, the warmth of Law’s body around his own, the hot trickle of cum as it dripped from his ass and along his taint, and sunk into relaxation. Law stroked Luffy’s hair and smiled when he felt a warm bead of drool trickle down his chest. Luffy’s breathing slowed into a regular cadence, so Law closed his eyes.

—

“That’s the point you want to make?” Robin’s voice echoes in Luffy’s head, distant yet booming.

Ace’s words trickle in from a dark corner: “You haven’t changed at all have you, Luffy?” 

He hears himself say, “The person with the most freedom on the sea is the Pirate King.”

The thwump as each of his crew mates disappeared at Bartholomew Kuma’s touch at Sabaody Park repeats, growing louder with each iteration. Beneath him, he hears the hiss and bubbling of magma. Then, amidst the pitch black, Law’s severed arm falls before him, perfectly lit. Luffy looks down. The magma is visible now. Law's arm begins to sink as the magma deepens in hue until he is standing in an unmistakable pool of blood.

Luffy started awake, eyes flung wide while his heartbeat thrashed in his chest. Law’s face came into focus before him. Luffy let out an exhausted sigh. He studied the plump curve of Law’s bottom lip which had parted slightly from the upper lip in his sleep. His brow relaxed above his closed eyes. 

Luffy smiled softly before carefully withdrawing from Law’s embrace. He stroked the delicate skin on Law’s right bicep and slid off the bed. Looking around, he spotted the tin box on the floor. He sat down cross-legged before it. Luffy ran his fingers across the stickers dotting the box’s exterior and examined them. One featured a comic-book style character sporting a golden helmet and long blue cape. Luffy raised an eyebrow at the Marine symbol in the background. His index finger moved over a sticker of the Heart Pirates’ jolly roger, across a rainbow flag, and traced one that read: “Lost in Shinsekai.”  He chuckled as he hovered over a handwritten note: “BEPO - DO NOT TOUCH.” 

“Why you up?” Law’s groggy voice sounded from above.

Luffy looked upward to see Law hanging off the side of bed, watching him. “Looking at your stickers,” he explained.

“Mm,” Law mumbled. “Come back.”

Grinning, Luffy got to his feet and climbed onto the bed. Law pulled the comforter back for Luffy before slipping beneath it himself. Within the cloud of fabric, Law snuggled up against Luffy’s back and draped an arm over his side. His breath tickled Luffy’s neck as he murmured, “Don’t leave me, Luffy.”

Luffy wrestled with the sweet but complicated feelings in his chest and stared at the wall.

—

“Are you OK?” Luffy asked, bending over Law as he panted and kneeled on Zou’s surface.

He nodded and gasped, “Yeah.” Catching his breath, he added, “Using ‘room’ and ‘shambles’ like that in such rapid succession…really takes it out of me.”

“Ah, OK,” Luffy considered this. “It was really smart though! We couldn’t have gotten back up here otherwise.”

Law shrugged and rose to his feet. Luffy smiled and patted Law’s shoulder before turning to go back to the Rightflank Fortress. “Wait, Luffy,” Law spoke. Luffy stopped and turned to Law, who remained at Zou’s edge surrounded by the morning sky of yellow fading to eggshell blue. “I need to talk to you,” he added. 

Luffy blinked and tilted his head. “Sure, what’s up?” he said and stepped back to Law. 

Law shifted and swallowed. Tugging nervously at his cap, he finally spoke. “Thank you for being my ally. You showed up to Punk Hazard and changed the course of everything…again. In–in a good way,” he stammered. 

“Of course, Torao!” Luffy grinned.

“What we’ve been doing since Punk Hazard, it’s been…really nice,” he explained and looked downward to hide his blushing cheeks. Luffy nodded in agreement. Law cleared his throat and continued, “You’re really special to me, Luffy.”

Luffy chuckled and wrapped Law in a tight hug. “You’re special to me too, Torao,” he replied.

Law’s heart leapt. Pulling gently out of the hug to rest his hands on Luffy’s shoulders, Law explained, “I don’t want it to end. I want…I want this to be something real.”

“But…it is real?” Luffy looked up into Law’s eyes, confused. 

“I mean,” Law sighed, struggling to express himself. “I mean I want to be yours and only yours. And in return, I want you to be mine. Mine and no one else’s.”

Luffy’s smile disappeared. “I don’t understand,” he murmured.

Law released Luffy’s shoulders to twist his hat in his hands, frustrated. “I don’t know how to make this clearer, Luffy. I want you to be my boyfriend. Is that clear enough?” 

“I…” Luffy hesitated. “Why is our current situation not enough for you?”

The blood drained from Law’s face. He bit down on his lip and closed his eyes. Luffy watched, anxiety building in his chest. Law’s sharp, bitter laugh startled him. “I can’t believe how delusional I’ve been,” he spat. “Of course you wouldn’t want anything more from this. Nothing changes. This world isn’t built for this kind of fairytale bullshit. Why would I suddenly be able to hold onto someone I love now?” Law’s desperate laugh grew laughter. “Oh, Law. Haaa, oh, Law. You’re such a fucking idiot.”

“I love you too, Law,” Luffy whispered.

Law shook his head. “Then why the fuck are you telling me you don’t want this? You–you told me I’m beautiful. You took me on dates. You’ve had fucking nightmares about keeping me safe!”

“What is ‘this’?” Luffy retorted, voice raised. “I want what we have now. Why doesn’t that work? Why can’t we just keep doing what we’re doing? Why do we need to change anything? What is it that you want exactly, Law?”

“I want…” Law’s voice wavered. “I want you to want me and no one else. I’m not saying I want you to stop going on adventures or that you shouldn’t go become the pirate king.” He paused, eyes watering. “I just want to know that you’ll come back to me. That you’re not going to abandon me.”

“I’m going to come back to you, Law. You were the one saying we need to trust each other. Why isn’t my word enough?” Luffy sighed, exasperated.

Law slumped. “I need this,” he croaked.

Luffy took a breath to steady himself. “I don’t want our enemies to use our relationship against us. I want to be free.”

“You could say the same about your crew,” Law argued. “I’ve seen how much you care about them!”

“This is different!” Luffy shouted. Law opened his mouth, but Luffy continued before he could speak. “I’m going to become the pirate king. I’ve gotten stronger, and I’ll keep getting stronger. I know my crew trusts me, and I trust them. I trust that you’re strong but I don’t think I trust that you won’t sacrifice yourself for me. I’ve seen how carelessly you treat it and I…I can’t deal with that. It’s too complicated.”

Luffy stared into the storm in Law’s eyes. Tears streaked down Law’s face as he spoke hoarsely, “Is it that much of a sacrifice, Luffy? To do this for me?”

“Torao, I just–” Luffy began before he was interrupted.

“Get out of here,” Law’s voice chilled the air.

“Torao,” he tried again.

Law cut him off. “Go get your cook from Whole Cake Island. I’ll see you in Wano. Go.”

“Tora–”

“Get out!” Law barked.

Luffy paused, searching for something to say amidst his emotional nausea. In the silence, he left. 

Law waited until Luffy had passed beneath the stone archway to Zou before crumpling to his knees. The earth blurred beneath him. “Fuck,” he whispered bitterly.

Chapter Text

The rope suspending the bunk creaked against the hooks in the ceiling as Luffy moved. Spit soaked the collar of his shirt, clamped in-between his teeth. Beneath the blanket, Luffy pumped his hand vigorously over his cock. He squeezed his eyes shut when the tension grew, stroking his abs and hips with his free hand. Law’s visage filled his mind. His thoughts flashed to the angle of Law’s hip bone against his jeans, the muscles along his back, the glow in his eyes when he was on the verge of cumming, his lower lip, his broken expression backlit by the pale sky at Zou. Luffy sighed as orgasm eluded him again. He slowed his hand and took a deep breath through his nose. Clearing his thoughts, he began once more.

“Luffy?” A voice rang from the other side of the door, followed by a knock.

Frantically, Luffy spat out his shirt and pulled his shorts up before the door swung open. “Hey, Brook,” he greeted, hoping the rapid cadence of his breath would go unnoticed.

“Sorry to bother you, Luffy,” Brook started as he stepped into the room. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing. You seem…down.”

Luffy swallowed and wiped his hands against his sheet while he sat up. “I dunno, Brook,” he mumbled.

Brook suggested, “Why don’t we go sit outside and chat?” Playfully, he added, “It’ll be nice to feel the sun…even though I don’t have any skin. Yohohoho!”

Luffy laughed despite himself. Cheered by Brook’s reliable humor, he nodded. “I’d like that.”

Brook returned to the door and held it open while Luffy climbed down from his bunk. Luffy squinted in the sunlight. Shading his eyes, he followed Brook to the bench along the foremast. When they settled side by side onto the bench, Brook asked, “Do you want to talk about what’s bugging you?”

Luffy shrugged and scratched at the back of his head. “Will you promise not to laugh?”

Brook tilted his head toward Luffy. “While I think humor improves most situations, I will avoid doing so now. Besides, you seem unusually serious,” he remarked.

“Thanks, Brook,” Luffy smiled weakly. Staring down at his hands, he explained, “I’m feeling really confused.”

“About?” Brook prompted when he didn’t continue.

“About…love, I guess? Torao got upset and I think it’s my fault.” He slouched forward as he recalled their last conversation.

“Why would it be your fault?” Brook asked softly.

Luffy shifted uncomfortably and a flush spread across his face. “Torao wanted to make things more…serious. Like, he wants a guarantee or a label for what we are to each other and I’m kind of having a hard time with that. And I…I told him that and he didn’t take it well.”

Brook looked up at the sky and pondered Luffy’s situation. Finally, he spoke, “Torao’s reaction aside, could you help me understand what part of his request you aren’t comfortable with? What makes this difficult?”

“I wanna be free. That’s always what I’ve wanted. What Torao is asking…it feels like the opposite of that. And on top of that he’s so…stubborn and I’m terrified he’s going to get himself killed for me at the first opportunity he finds,” Luffy sighed.

“You are also stubborn, Luffy. You know that, right?” he teased. Luffy smirked and rolled his eyes. Continuing, Brook said, “Is there an incongruence of feeling?”

“A what?” Luffy narrowed his eyes and looked at Brook skeptically.

He clarified, “Do you have feelings for Torao? And does he feel the same way about you?”

“Of course I have feelings for him!” Luffy burst. He quieted, embarrassed, before adding, “I care about him. He’s really important to me. And it…seems like he feels the same way.”

Brook nodded. “Did you make your feelings clear to him?”

“Yes! Yes, I…” Luffy trailed off. “I told him I love him,” he muttered and pulled his legs up, resting his heels on the seat of the bench and hugging his knees to his chest. 

“Ah,” he exhaled quietly, surprised by Luffy’s honesty. 

Luffy sighed and settled his chin atop his knees. His brow furrowed as he chewed on his lower lip. The normal brightness of his eyes dimmed beneath layers of troubled thought. The space where Brook’s heart would have been squeezed at the sight of Luffy’s anguish. 

Cautiously, Brook spoke, “I suppose I can understand that Torao might be confused or frustrated to know you feel that way about him but don’t want to…’seal the deal,’ so to speak. Many people find conventional relationship labels and arrangements reassuring or desirable.”

“But I told him I’d give him everything that goes with that, just not in name! He made it sound like I was being selfish,” Luffy pouted.

Brook considered this. “I wonder if Torao’s childhood has anything to do with his need for a conventional relationship. He had a pretty normal family before, well…before they all got sick, right?”

“Yeah, he had parents…and a sister. He even went to school,” Luffy remarked.

Brook held back a chuckle at Luffy’s disbelief in formal education. Collecting himself, he ventured, “So he was raised in a nuclear family. And it seems like it was a very happy time for him.”

“Wait is white lead poisoning a type of radiation sickness?” Luffy interrupted, eyes wide.

“Radiation? …Oh ,” Brook chuckled. “A nuclear family is a way of referring to a ‘traditional’ family. Two married parents and a set of children. Nothing to do with radiation.”

“Oh,” Luffy blinked.

Brook continued, “Anyway, it’s possible that Law’s childhood has led him to believe that a formal relationship will bring him happiness.”

“Huh.” Luffy furrowed his brow.

“If you don’t mind me saying, Luffy…he’s had a very different upbringing than you. You received love and had a family that didn’t center on societal convention or blood ties,” Brook added.

“That…kinda makes sense actually. Although he did have Cora,” Luffy murmured.

“True. I don’t mean to say he isn’t capable of appreciating or reciprocating love outside of traditional labels, but one’s early years are so formative! Knowing Torao’s background, and the fact that he has faced considerable loss since that time, I don’t think it’s surprising that Torao had such a negative reaction to your response.” He paused to look over at Luffy, who shrugged. “You are fully within your right to set boundaries and take care of yourself in any way you need to, but…I do want to emphasize that dreams don’t exist in a vacuum. I understand you want to be free. But does choosing to be in a relationship mean you aren’t free? It’s still a choice, isn’t it?” Luffy blinked and looked up at Brook, nodding slowly.

“I’ve been around for a long time, Luffy,” Brook chuckled. “Love isn’t something to treat lightly. And sometimes love is worth a compromise.” He paused, raising his head nobly before declaring, “It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.”

“Wow, Brook. You’re so wise,” Luffy gaped, eyes sparkling in awe.

Nami’s voice reached them from the helm, “Brook did not think of that line!”

“Yohoho! I’ve been caught,” Brook giggled. 

—

“Pahhhh,” Zoro exhaled loudly after gulping down half of his beer. 

Law twitched as Zoro slammed the glass bottle on the kitchen table and plopped onto a chair beside him. He cast a glance at Zoro from the corner of his eye while he stroked the side of his glass, almost empty save a shallow pool of vodka. Zoro belched, prompting a scowl on Law’s tired face.

“So you’re the bottom, right?” Zoro asked suddenly.

Law looked him in the eye and glared. “What makes you think that?” 

“Ehh, you’re just kinda soft,” Zoro chuckled. “Your emotions are so…‘blah’ all the time,” he added, wiggling his fingers as if this clarified the statement.

“Excuse me?” Law scoffed.

“Hey, hey, don’t take it the wrong way,” he laughed. “I’m just trying to figure out what I’m working with. I mean, I know how to appreciate a bottom. A top, not so much.”

Law shifted uncomfortably as Zoro flashed him a grin. He shifted his gaze downward and was met with a view of the rippling mass of Zoro’s muscles bursting from his shirt. “I-I’m not a bottom,” he snapped and looked further down, feeling immeasurably small and exposed next to this large, sweaty swordsman. He returned his stare to the table and added reluctantly, “I dunno. We switch sometimes.”

Zoro raised an eyebrow. “You switch, huh?” His Adam’s apple bobbed along his throat as he took another swig of beer. After swallowing and smacking his lips at an unnecessarily high volume, he asked bluntly, “So what’s wrong with you?” 

Law tensed. “What?”

“You look like shit. And you’ve been drinking since we left Zou,” he shrugged. 

“Nothing’s wrong,” Law answered coldly and sipped from his glass.

Zoro snorted. “Hah, OK. Sure. So you just miss Luffy, or what?”

Law’s eyes rolled, irritation palpable. Jean Bart lumbered into the kitchen, nodding briefly at Law and glancing at Zoro before grabbing a yogurt from the fridge and hurrying back out. Once he was gone, Zoro mused, “Well I’m fucking pissed Sanji ran off like he did.” Law raised his eyebrows at the sudden turn of conversation, gaze still glued to his glass. “He’s always doing this shit, causing everybody trouble. I miss that asshole,” Zoro sighed.

“What’s the deal between you two anyway?” Law asked cautiously after taking a moment to weigh Zoro’s words.

He chuckled, “You seen those legs? Fucking incredible...He also makes me want to be better, I guess.”

“Huh,” Law processed this answer, slowed by the veil of alcohol surrounding his mind. With a smirk, he added, “Practically a declaration of love coming from you.” Zoro shrugged in response. Law hesitated before venturing, “Do you think he’s gonna come back?”

“Oh, yeah,” he nodded confidently. “Luffy’ll get him. Plus, I think he’d realize pretty quickly that he’s not cut out for hetero married life.”

“So you’re not…sad? At all?” Law asked.

“Sad? Maybe,” Zoro laughed. “Probably. If I start feeling like that I go lift weights or rub one out. Takes the edge off. But really, I know Curlybrows too well. He’ll come back.” 

Law turned this over in his mind, something tugging at his chest. Another silence stretched between them before Zoro spoke again. “So what, you guys get in a fight?”

Law leaned his elbow on the table and scratched at his forehead, issuing a heavy sigh. “Kind of.”

“Huh, shame,” Zoro remarked casually. When Law refused to divulge more, he continued, “Maybe giving it some space will help. Distance grows hardy fronds, or whatever they say.”

“Hardy fronds? ” Law repeated, raising his head to stare at Zoro with disbelieving eyes. “It’s ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder.’”

Zoro barked out a laugh. “Sure, that.” He shifted in his chair and spread his legs further, bumping his knee into Law’s thigh. Acutely aware of Zoro’s leg against him, Law crossed his legs and shifted away. While Law sat in his discomfort, Zoro added, “I’m just saying going to Wano separately from Luffy might be a good thing. I’ll be the first to admit my emotional intelligence isn’t the best, but Luffy’s brain is literally made of rubber. Don’t you think that might stunt his feelings or something?”

“By that logic, his brain should exhibit incredible neuroplasticity,” Law grumbled.

“What did you call me?” Zoro growled, staring into Law’s face with a threatening gaze.

Law blinked. “I…” he stammered, confused.

“BAHAHAHA,” Zoro roared. Law flinched at the sudden burst of laughter and winced as Zoro slapped him roughly on the back. “I’m fucking with you, man,” he smirked. Leaving his hand on Law’s shoulder, he squeezed. “But hey, if things don’t work out with Luffy I can always give you a hand when you need it.”

Law frowned at Zoro’s teasing grin; the tips of his ears burned. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the tabletop. After a moment, desperation got the best of him. “Is there…someone else? For Luffy, I mean.” His voice was lined with frustration.

“Not that I know of,” Zoro answered before tilting his head back and pouring the last of his beer down his throat.

“Captain!” Bepo’s cheerful voice washed Law in relief. Law pushed his seat back and nodded to Bepo, who stood before the table. “Oh, hey, Zoro,” Bepo added politely.

Zoro lifted his chin in greeting. Law brought his empty cup to the sink. “What’s up, Bepo?” he asked over his shoulder while he drew water and soap across the glass.

“Uni just ran the diagnostics for the pressure monitoring system. Everything is in order, no issues,” he reported.

“Good,” Law grunted. He dried the glass and his hands before walking toward the door. He stopped next to Bepo. “Was just gonna catch up on some sleep,” he mumbled, casting a glance at Zoro before turning back to Bepo.

“Have a good night, Captain,” Bepo nodded.

Law hesitated. Leaning closer to Bepo, he whispered, “Did Zoro-ya just wink at me?”

Bepo furrowed his brow in concern. “He…he only has one eye, Captain. I think that’s just how he blinks,” he explained in a hushed tone. Returning his voice to a normal level, he chuckled, “Going to bed is probably a good idea, Captain.”

“Yeah.” Law blushed. “Yeah, you’re right. Later, Bepo.”

Twisting his neck, Bepo leaned back and watched Law walk down the hallway. When he was out of sight, he glared at Zoro. “Why are you harassing our captain?” he hissed.

Zoro laughed. “Didn’t mean anything by it. Just giving him something to think about. Seems like he needs a distraction.”

“Well that would be your captain’s fault, wouldn’t it?” Bepo growled.

“Haah? It’s not Luffy’s fault your captain can’t keep his emotions in check,” Zoro retorted, leaning forward and slapping his hand atop the table.

Bepo’s fur bristled. “My captain wouldn’t be having any problems if it weren’t for this alliance.”

“Yeah well, whose idea was that?” Zoro retorted. 

Penguin poked his head in from the hallway. “You guys good?” he asked.

“No!” Zoro and Bepo shouted in unison.

Ikkaku and Usopp crowded in behind Penguin. “The hell are you guys yelling about?” Ikkaku asked. Penguin looked over his shoulder and, seeing the others, shuffled into the kitchen. Usopp and Ikkaku filed in after him. 

“I was just explaining to Zoro that having the Straw Hats for allies has ended up being a real pain for us,” Bepo said sharply. Usopp’s eyebrows raised. 

“Well things probably would have worked out better for you if your captain wasn’t busy chasing nineteen-year-old ass,” Zoro snorted.

“Hey!” Ikkaku barked. “How do you know your little slut of a captain didn’t trick him into it?”

“Don’t you dare call Luffy a slut, you sex-negative dick!” Usopp spat.

Bepo spoke up again, “I think the Straw Hats would benefit from reminding themselves that they’re on our ship, by the kindness of our captain despite Luffy fucking him over.”

“Fucking him over is right,” Zoro laughed.

“Don’t you have any sense of respect, you shitty musclehead?!” Ikkaku bellowed.

Zoro raised his hands, beer bottle tucked under one thumb, as he got to his feet. He grinned, “You really wanna-–”

The shattering of glass filled the room. Zoro looked down, the bottle in his hand now a mess of glass on the floor.

“Shit,” Penguin muttered, fussing with his arm. 

Bepo turned to him. “Penguin! Your arm!” he gasped.

Everyone turned. Blood seeped from the cut along his arm, staining the pristine white jumpsuit with red. “Look what you fucking did!” Ikkaku shouted at Zoro.

“It’s alri–” Penguin started quietly.

“It’s not alright,” Bepo grumbled. “First their captain breaks Law’s heart, and now this!”

Zoro stomped around the table to Bepo, jutting his chin up just inches from his face. He grabbed Bepo by the front of his jumpsuit and bared his teeth, “That was an accident, but if you wanna finally fucking do something instead of just bitch about it then I’m game, ya puffball.”

—

In his room, Law collapsed face-down onto the bed and groaned. The spinning in his head was interrupted only by a throbbing under his temples. Restless, he flopped over onto his back with a heavy sigh. Sleep was miles away. He sat back up and massaged his forehead. His thoughts were everywhere and nowhere, uncontrollable, painful to the touch, and bitter with an undercurrent of rejection.

Through the murky quagmire of his mind, Law became vaguely aware of voices outside of his room. He frowned as they grew louder and more frenzied. With a grunt, he got to his feet and fished his pants off of the floor. The pant leg caught on his left heel while he pulled the denim over his legs. He hopped forward on one foot and wriggled into them. Pausing before the mirror, Law leaned in as he zipped his pants up. He grimaced; Zoro wasn’t lying. Glassy, bloodshot eyes returned his stare. He dabbed at the circles under his eyes–darker than normal. A loud crash against the wall startled his attention away from himself. The shouting outside of his room intensified.

“What the fuck is going on out here?!” Law bellowed as he swung the door open. 

Silence settled over the hallway. Everyone froze and turned to Law, whose scowl deepened at the scene before him. Blood ran from Zoro’s nose and onto the loose, white fur that burst from Bepo’s torn jumpsuit sleeve. Bepo had Zoro pinned against the wall, balling the collar of the swordsman’s shirt in his fists. The fuzzy scruff of fur along Bepo’s neck poked through gaps between Zoro’s fingers. Law’s gaze fell to the floor where Usopp kneeled atop Penguin’s stomach. Ikkaku hunched behind Usopp, pulling his hair backward while Penguin fended off Usopp’s attempt to strangle him. This left them with Usopp’s hand on Penguin’s throat and his other arm tight within Penguin’s grasp. A turn of Law’s head revealed the rest of the passengers, Hearts and Straw Hats alike, crowded at one end of the hallway.

“Fucking hell,” Law groaned. “All of you, get up.” His voice chilled the air.

The five pirates peeled off from one another, releasing fur, hair, fabric, and skin. As they scrambled to stand in a line against the wall, Law sighed. “Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?” he asked gruffly. The throb in his head sharpened. Through narrowed eyes, he called, “Bepo?”

“Captain!” Bepo straightened and stood at attention. “The Straw Hats were disparaging you, sir.”

Law raised his brow and blinked before turning an expectant gaze to Zoro.

Wiping blood from his nose onto the back of his hand, Zoro grunted, “They were talking shit about Luffy.”

“Are you kidding me?” Law mumbled to himself and rubbed at his forehead. He looked at each of the culprits before him and then to the crowd in the hallway before raising his voice, “Anyone here feel like swimming the rest of the way to Wano?” The silence grew to an uncomfortable weight. “No? Then fucking GET! YOUR! SHIT! TOGETHER! Now get out of my sight,” he admonished, teeth bared. 

The door to his room slammed behind him, leaving everyone else in the silent hallway. Zoro shifted his eye over to Bepo. “Oi. You’re pretty strong,” he remarked.

Bepo’s ear twitched and his face softened. “So are you.”

“Wanna get a beer? I could use another,” Zoro offered casually.

“Sure,” Bepo shrugged. 

In the kitchen, Bepo pulled a round of beers from the fridge and passed them around. Usopp found a broom next to the sink and began to sweep up broken glass from the floor while Ikkaku rummaged through the cupboards for a dustpan. Franky crammed in by the table and used his hands’ smaller hands to bandage the cut on Penguin’s arm. Zoro leaned against the sink. 

“Sorry if we made things tough for you guys with Torao,” Usopp spoke over the clinking of glass.

Penguin shook his head. “Our Captain gets like that sometimes. We’re just…worried about him,” he sighed.

“Same. That dude does not look like he’s handling things well,” Zoro added.

Bepo blinked. “You’re worried about Captain?”

“Of course we are,” Franky smiled. “We owe him–and you all–a lot for saving Luffy at Marineford.”

Usopp straightened his spine once the last of the glass tumbled into the dustpan. “Plus, even if Luffy and Torao got in a fight or something…whatever happened, Torao is still important to Luffy. We gotta keep an eye on him. For our captain,” he explained.

Ikkaku chuckled as she emptied the dust pan into the trash, “The more the better. Sometimes it feels like we’ve got a full time job here trying to manage Captain’s emotions.” Bepo nodded in agreement, smirking.

“Luffy isn’t exactly someone you can leave alone for long either…though for other reasons,” Franky laughed.

After he handed the last beer to Shachi, Bepo raised his own drink and smiled, “To our Captains.”

“To the leaders of the Worst Generation,” Franky added with a grin.

Zoro lifted his glass and smirked. “May they fuck and make up.”

“Bloody hell, Zoro. It’s ‘kiss and make up’,” Usopp guffawed as Bepo’s and Penguin’s eyes bulged. Ikkaku burst into laughter.

“I said what I said!” Zoro snorted.

—

Law shifted his elbows against the wooden surface of his desk and dropped his head in his hands. His clenched jaw tightened in futility, turning like a hex key in a stripped socket within his head. He exhaled a frustrated sigh and ran his hands through his hair. “Just…do something,” he muttered to himself. 

Desperate to overcome the paralyzing effects of his emotional turmoil, Law flipped absently through a notebook from the top of a neatly arranged stack on his desk. He glossed over page after page of notes: summaries and key takeaways from peer-reviewed medical articles, shopping lists, anatomical sketches, further reading lists, and the like. As he turned the page, he paused. Luffy’s barrage of ‘Cool S’ doodles filled in the once-blank space around his notes. He flipped to the next page and ran his finger over the paper. The poorly-rendered not-potato heart floated there, surrounded by emptiness on the white page. 

The small choking sound in his throat caught him by surprise. Slowly, he pushed the notebook to the side, leaving it open to the heart drawing. He shuffled through the stack of books and eventually selected one with a battered green cover. The spine creaked as he bent it back. Twenty-three pages in, Law found what he was looking for. His eyes jumped across his handwriting.

Seventeen hours since departure from Marineford. Patient still unconscious. Hypotensive - 71/53 mmHg … Severe bleeding - issued blood transfusion 07:22… vitals improving but still unresponsive… Pen. monitoring IV/managing replenishment of fluids. Need sleep…patient gained consciousness while I slept. Pen. restrained patient due to strong physical and emotional disturbance … patient demonstrates severe psychological distress; unable to rest; interfering with healing process … administered additional dose of seductive sedative.

He flipped to the next page.

92/63 mmHg – patient eating solid food … restless, relentlessly seeking social interaction. As if I’m there to keep him company. Asked Sha. to sit with him … patient is insufferable delicate unstable. Requesting my presence specifically … patient doing well and stabilizing re: physical trauma… psychological regression. Sleeping on floor next to patient’s bed due to frequent requests episodes … patient refuses sedation; asks for “head pats” instead (ridiculous but proving effective) … 116/75 mmHg … ETA to Amazon Lily - 16 hours. Plan to transfer patient to Warlord Boa - self-absorbed woman, obsessed with Luf patient … Left patient at Amazon Lily. Hope I see May not see Luffy patient again. 

Law sniffed and rubbed his blurring eyes with the heel of his palms, grumbling, “Get a grip.” 

—

“What about a new set of scalpels?” Chopper suggested eagerly as they walked along the chocolate-paved path.

“Chopper, that’s creepy as hell,” Nami snorted. 

Chopper frowned. “A good set of scalpels, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime. I think it’s actually a very thoughtful gift,” he pouted.

Luffy laughed, “I’ll keep that one in mind. Thanks, Chopper.”

“How about panties?” Brook giggled over his shoulder. “Oof!” he yelped as Nami smacked the back of his skull.

“Does this mean you’re going to make things ‘official,’ or whatever?” Nami asked.

Luffy pursed his lips. “I dunno. But I feel bad, so I want to get him something.”

Nami rolled her eyes. “You can’t just shower him with gifts and expect him to be satisfied with that.”

“Bold, coming from you,” Brook snickered under his breath. Another blow to the head threw him off balance.

“Luffy, listen to me. You can’t hide behind a gift. If anything, giving him a gift without an answer is more confusing,” Nami advised. 

“But I don’t know,” Luffy groaned.

“Then figure it out!” she cried. “How dense can you be?!”

The group stepped toward the edge of the path as three people went by pushing a cart full of flowers. Their voices were loud with laughter and excitement as they passed.

“Seems like everybody’s really excited about this wedding,” Carrot observed from the back of the group.

“Well yeah, weddings are fun,” Nami chuckled.

“Why?” Luffy asked, genuine curiosity clear in his voice.

“Cake!” Chopper beamed.

Luffy’s eyes sparkled. “Ohhh!” he exclaimed. “That makes sense. I should get Torao a cake, then!”

Nami rubbed the bridge of her nose. “You’re missing the point, as usual,” she sighed.

“Ah, you’re right,” Luffy deflated. “Torao doesn’t like bread stuff. He probably wouldn’t like cake.” 

Chopper frowned, “I forgot about that. Why does he want to get married then?” 

Luffy shrugged. Exasperated, Nami bellowed, “Torao did not ask you to marry him, Luffy. There’s a big difference!”

“Is there?” Luffy cocked his head to the side.

Pedro scoffed, “Even I know that.”

Nami stopped in her tracks, prompting the others to slow and turn to face her. “You guys go on ahead. I need to take Luffy on an errand,” she explained flatly.

Carrot giggled, “Luffy’s in trouble.”

Luffy crossed his arms and waited as the rest of the group walked ahead. “What’s the problem?” he grumbled.

“What’s the problem?” Nami repeated, her voice pitched with incredulity. She exhaled and collected herself before continuing, “I have things to say to you, and I need you to listen. Come on.” 

“Where are we going?” he asked while Nami dragged him down a side street.

“Wherever you want, Luffy,” she replied curtly. “You hungry? I’ll buy you lunch or something.”

Luffy narrowed his eyes. “How much interest?” His voice was rimmed with suspicion.

“No interest.”

“No interest?” Luffy blinked.

“No interest, as long as you actually listen to me,” Nami clarified.

“Fine,” he huffed. Pointing to a building ahead of them, Luffy declared, “I wanna go there.”

She squinted while reading the sign and snorted, “Really?” Luffy nodded, prompting Nami to sigh. “OK, fine. Come on.”

Together they passed under a wooden sign reading "The Will of D” and descended down a dank stairwell to a basement-level bar. Despite the unassuming entrance and lack of natural lighting, the interior burst with color and energy. Over the bar, a banner of rainbow flags fluttered as they closed the door behind them. Upbeat music played from a Tone Dial in one corner, surrounded by velvet red curtains. A disco ball turned slowly and cast spotted light across the brick walls. There were more patrons than Nami would have expected in the middle of the day, but still enough room for them to get seats at the end of the bar.

A morose bartender, devoid of color, trudged before them. “What do you want?” he asked curtly.

“Ginger beer, thanks,” Nami smiled politely.

The bartender nodded before turning to Luffy, who squinted at the chalkboard on the wall with intense concentration. “Got any food?” Luffy finally asked.

“Tater tots. And peanuts,” he responded.

“Tater tots, then!” Luffy grinned. Turning to Nami while the bartender left to assemble their order, he laughed, “When was the last time you had tater tots, Nami?”

Nami rolled her eyes. “I really can’t recall.”

“Oi! Look, Nami,” Luffy exclaimed, attention bouncing from one place to the next. “They’ve got a picture of Iva!”

“Hm?” Nami followed Luffy’s pointed finger to the framed and signed photo of Emporio Ivankov that hung below the chalkboard. Her eyes lit up in recognition and she remarked, “Ohh, they’re the one who helped you at Impel Down and Marineford, right?” 

Luffy nodded, smiling. 

“Luffy,” Nami hesitated and gently laid her hand on Luffy’s arm to pull him back to the situation at hand. “I’m sorry. I know what’s happening with you and Torao isn’t my business, but…I’m worried about you and I’m afraid you’re going to do something stupid.”

“Why do you think I’ll do something stupid?!” Luffy burst.

“Most of the things you do are impulsive and stupid,” Nami chuckled while Luffy pouted. “Although it usually works out in your favor, for some reason.”

Luffy shrugged his shoulders, offering reluctant agreement.

“What do you want out of your relationship with Torao?” she asked.

“Man, why’s everybody have to grill me about this?” Luffy grumbled, running his hands through his hair. 

The bartender dropped a basket of tater tots on the bartop in front of Luffy. Before Luffy could inhale them, Nami grabbed the basket and pulled it away. “Do you want these tater tots?” she threatened, voice sharp. Luffy nodded in defeat. Smugly, she returned them. “Then talk.”

Between the crunch of fried potato, Luffy answered, “I just wanna be with him. I feel happy around him and it’s a lot of fun. I want to keep having fun.”

Nami swallowed her sip of beer. “Does the idea of Torao being with someone else bother you?” she ventured.

“No!” Luffy answered promptly. After another moment, his face softened. “I mean…I guess it does. But I’m not sure what bugs me more–him being with someone else or the fact I’m bothered by him being with someone. Those feelings seem like they would hold me back.”

Luffy stared at the pale pink cocktail the bartender set before him. He looked up and called to the waiter, who was already turning away, “I didn’t order this!” The waiter gestured vaguely toward a table behind them. They both turned around to see a group of three young men watching them. The tallest one smiled and waved. “Oi, thanks!” Luffy grinned at him before turning back around.

Nami laughed quietly to herself before settling back into her role as armchair psychologist. “Does that negative feeling outweigh your desire to be with Torao?” she asked.

Luffy frowned. “No…”

“OK,” she smiled. “So that’s not a barrier. Is having to commit to one person a problem for you?” 

“No,” Luffy shook his head before dumping the rest of the tater tots into his mouth. He waved for more to the bartender, who threw him a disturbed grimace. 

Nami observed the exchange with amusement. “So exclusivity isn’t the issue. Are you worried what other people will think?” she continued.

“What do you mean?” Luffy asked, brows furrowed in confusion while his lips stretched to chase the straw around his pink beverage. 

“Didn’t think so,” Nami laughed. She drank from her glass and Luffy sipped at his cocktail as she mulled over Luffy’s responses before resuming her inquest. “Are you worried about the relationship being long distance? Once the alliance ends, I mean.”

Luffy blinked and glanced down at the wooden surface of the bar top. “I hadn’t thought about that,” he murmured, voice tinged with gloom.

“Oh, Luffy,” Nami sighed and shook her head in pity. “You might want to consider that.” After another pause to drink and to let Luffy obliterate his second basket of tater tots, she spoke again. “Is this really just about your conviction of freedom?”

Luffy frowned and gulped down the potatoes. “Why do you say that like it’s not something to be serious about?”

“Sorry, sorry!” Nami took a deep breath. “I know freedom is important to you. I just think it’s a shitty excuse to keep yourself from making a commitment or a deep connection with someone. And I think you know that.”

“That’s kinda what Brook said,” Luffy muttered, absently running his finger along the empty basket’s rim.

“He’s right.”

“I know, I know. I get it…I know it’s not black and white. It’s just…” Luffy’s voice quieted. “I’m scared.”

Nami’s eyes softened. “Of what?” she asked gently.

“Losing him,” he answered. “And being responsible for losing him.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder as he leaned his elbow on the bar top. He signaled for more tots and sighed. His voice tightened when he spoke, “I really, really like him, Nami.” Nami retained her grip on Luffy’s shoulder, firm and comforting, while he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. “But he’s got ‘death’ written on his hands. It’s like he invites it. He’s ready for it. His whole goal was to beat Doflamingo and now that it’s done…the pressure feels really intense. Like, he’s still gonna help us kick Kaido’s ass but it feels like he doesn’t even care about that or finding the One Piece. I…I’m kind of afraid that I’m the only thing he wants now. Which I know sounds really fucked up and self-centered! But I’m terrified of being trapped in that. If my feelings change…not that I think they would! But if something changed…I don’t want to be the reason he crumbles,” Luffy explained with an increasingly agitated demeanor. 

Nami brushed her thumb across Luffy’s arm and waited for him to continue.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek before adding, “He’s had so much shit in his life already. I don’t want to be just one more person who messes up and hurts him. Shit, I already have messed up.”

“You need to tell him this,” Nami insisted.

Luffy scoffed, “How do I tell Torao I don’t want to be responsible for his happiness? That’s just so…wrong.”

“Luffy,” she said, leaning forward so she could meet his gaze. “It sounds like you don’t want to be responsible for his unhappiness. Yeah, they go hand in hand but I think that’s an important distinction.”

He met her gaze with red-rimmed eyes and searched her face as he weighed her words.

“Have you ever been in a relationship before?” she asked softly.

“No.”

Nami polished off her beer and cleared her throat. “This is a really intense one to have as your first…But really, Luffy. Just talk to Torao. Tell him what you told me. Even if you don’t change your mind, if you’re not ready to make the kind of commitment he wants, he deserves to understand. And while you’re at it, maybe remind him you haven’t done this before.” Warmly, she added, “If anyone can mold their life into the shape they want, it’s you, Luffy.”

Luffy smiled and leaned over, resting his head on her shoulder. “Thanks, Nami,” he whispered.

“What’s a guy gotta do to get some real attention around here?” a teasing voice chimed behind them.

Luffy lifted his head and turned to find the man who had waved at him earlier. “Oh, hey! Thanks again for the drink,” he smiled.

Nami threw the man an assessing glance before looking back at Luffy with interest. 

“Couldn’t pass up an opportunity to talk to you. Haven’t seen someone this cute around here in a long time,” the man chuckled with a wink. 

Luffy burst into laughter. “Hey, thanks!” He nudged Nami, still laughing, and said, “Nami, he thinks I’m cute!”

She raised her eyebrows at Luffy. “Mhm,” she responded curtly, astonished at the density of her captain. 

“I’m Adrien,” the man offered, brushing hair away from his face. 

“Luffy!” he said confidently. “I’m gonna be th—”

“I’m Nami,” she quickly interrupted. 

Adrien smiled politely. Looking back at Luffy, he tilted his head. “Actually you look kinda familiar.”

Nami chuckled nervously. “He just has one of those faces, y’know?” She pinched Luffy’s cheek and pointed with her other hand. “See, he just looks like anybody!”

“Hah, yeah…I guess so,” Adrien blinked. Redoubling his efforts, he asked, “So, Luffy, you from around here?”

“Nope!” Luffy answered, grinning. 

The awkward silence grew as Adrien waited for Luffy to say more. Eventually, the man said, “Cool, cool. You uh, got any plans this evening?” He gestured to the other two men at the table behind him as he explained, “My guy Kinoko got a bunch of shrooms and we were gonna try them out tonight.”

Nami spoke up before Luffy could respond. “We actually have to leave Cacao Island in like, less than an hour,” she explained, glancing at the Log Pose on her wrist as if it told her the time. Ignoring the frown on Adrien’s face, she smiled sweetly, “But maybe we could get some shrooms for the road?”

Chapter Text

A soft breeze rustled the treetops overhead. Carrot looked up as her ears twitched. “Why is this place giving me the creeps?” she shuddered.

“What’s bothering you?” Chopper asked. He shifted his backpack on his shoulders and quickened his pace to catch up to Carrot.

She looked down at him, eyes narrowed. “I’m not really sure…something just feels off.”

“This place is called the Seducing Woods. Hard to think of a creepier name than that,” Nami remarked.

“If Robin were here she could think of a creepier one,” Chopper chuckled.

Nami smirked and shook her head. “That woman…” she sighed warmly. Pushing a branch out of the way for Carrot to pass, Nami began, “I get what you mean though, Carrot. Still, Sanji definitely went in here so we–”

Trailing behind, Luffy interrupted her. “Why do these taste so weird?” he hollered while he shoveled the dried mushrooms into his mouth. 

Nami froze. Turning slowly, she spoke in a quiet voice, “You did not just eat the mushrooms from my backpack.” Her eyes widened when her gaze fell upon Luffy swallowing and holding an empty plastic bag in his hand. “Damnit, Luffy,” she groaned.

“What?” Luffy looked from Nami to Carrot to Chopper.

Chopper frowned and glared at Nami. “Were those psilocybin mushrooms?” 

Nami grew pale. “L-look, Chopper, I didn’t think Luffy was going to eat them! I was going to use them later with Usopp when we were on the Sunny and not in a dangerous space, I didn’t–”

“Nami!” Chopper interrupted, shaking his head. “There haven’t been enough clinical studies to determine the safety of ingesting these. And it’s especially unsafe to leave them around unsupervised…” he trailed off and looked at Luffy.

“Captains?” Nami snorted. 

“You know what I mean!” Chopper grumbled.

“What’s going on?” Luffy blinked.

Chopper sighed. “You ate hallucinogenic mushrooms, Luffy. We should induce vomiting so you don’t start feeling the effects.” Gesturing to the Seducing Woods around them, he added, “This is an especially bad time and place to start hallucinating.”

“Why did you eat my mushrooms when we’re literally surrounded by candy?!” Nami hissed.

Flustered, Luffy stammered, “I just–I thought they were just mushrooms! You and that guy from the bar made them sound like they were really special so I wanted to try some.”

“‘Try some?’ Luffy, you ate the whole bag. That had two full doses,” she growled.

Chopper’s mouth dropped in horror. “Throw up! Right now, Luffy.”

“I don’t wanna!” Luffy pouted.

“If you don’t expel the mushrooms from your system you will have severe hallucinations. Your senses will be distorted,” Chopper warned.

“What does that even mean?” Luffy scoffed.

Nami responded, “You’ll see, hear, and feel some weird shit, Luffy. Think like, talking trees, creepy sounds. A hell of a trip.”

“Well that sounds kinda fun,” Luffy chuckled.

Carrot watched the three of them argue, confused and horrified. Nami released a heavy sigh, “Well, it’s not like we can force him.”

Chopper slumped his shoulders in defeat. “Maybe it won’t be too bad,” he ventured. “Luffy does have a high resistance to poison.” He turned to Luffy and ordered, “Stay with us. At. All. Times. As a doctor, I need to keep an eye on you. Make sure nothing bad happens.”

—

Luffy watched the rest of the group run ahead after Sanji and disappear into the forest. “Guess I gotta take care of you before I can rescue Sanji,” he spat at the copy of himself that blocked his way forward. Punch for punch, kick for kick, Luffy’s double met his attacks with equal strength and skill. 

“Who the hell are you?!” Luffy growled as his copy matched every single gatling punch. He paused to catch his breath, watching as his other self did the same. An unsettling peal of laughter caught his attention. Turning his head, he grimaced, “Nami wasn’t kidding about the talking trees.”

“Oi!” he shouted at himself. “How did you know about that?” Irritated by the lack of answer, Luffy stomped forward until he was inches from his own face. “You bastard! Outta my way!” he bellowed.

Luffy sighed and plopped cross-legged on the forest floor, facing himself. He glanced up at the treetops and blinked, trying to clear his vision. “Everything is moving so much. Why are the trees moving?” he muttered to himself. “These mushrooms are so weird.” Eyes narrowed, Luffy asked, “Did you eat mushrooms too?” 

“Yeah,” he answered himself. “You know, you’re really annoying. Almost as annoying as that flower that won’t shut the fuck up,” he added spitefully, eyeing the anthropomorphic singing daisy from several feet away. 

Luffy crossed his arm and glared at his double. “This is all your fault,” he grumbled. 

“My fault?”

He scoffed, “If you weren’t here I would have already rescued Sanji.”

“Gonna blame the mess you made with Torao on me too?” he laughed bitterly.

“Look in a fucking mirror,” Luffy snorted and rolled his eyes. “You screwed that up so bad.”

“I fucking fumbled it.”

“I know,” he sighed. 

Luffy sucked at his teeth before scolding, “But you don’t know what to do now.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Tracing the cocoa powder dirt beneath him, he pouted. “Everybody’s been lecturing me about it. Brook and Nami have been trying to convince you to make things with Torao…formal, I guess?”

“What does that even mean?”
“Ugh, I don’t know,” he groaned. 

Luffy looked out of the corner of his eye and whispered, “There’s another tree with a face. It’s staring at us. I’m pretty sure it’s closer than it was a minute ago.” With an exhausted sighed, he mumbled, “This is creepy as shit. You’re never eating mushrooms again.”

He paused, thoughtful, before speaking again, “Torao wanted…what was the word Nami used? Exclusivity. A guarantee.”

“Isn’t that basically what I offered him?”

“Well, yeah, but without a label.”

He hesitated. “...Is a label really that bad?”

Luffy plucked a sprig of licorice grass near his knees and twirled it around his fingers. “No,” he whispered. “Like Brook said, Torao is worth a compromise.”

“But what about Torao being so sad ?” 

The grass tumbled from his hand, eyebrows furrowed. He raised his head and met his mirrored gaze in defiance. His voice dripped with malice as he berated himself, “What, you can’t hold up his problems? You literally saved the island of Dressrosa. You liberated Alabasta. You’ve made promises to people with more at stake than just emotions. You’re going to be the fucking Pirate King. Do you seriously think you can’t carry Torao’s trauma on your back?” 

“Of course I’m strong enough to carry it!” he roared. More quietly, he continued, “I can. And I would. But…is that what he even wants?”

Luffy’s eyes softened. “He never asked you for that, did he?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“Since when did I start thinking I was a hero? We’re just pirates,” he muttered. Turning over his shoulder, he snapped, “Can you back up for like, five fucking minutes? I’m figuring shit out!” The tree behind him frowned and swiftly retreated as Luffy’s Conqueror’s Haki flared. 

“Sorry,” he apologized to his double after turning back around. He stared into his eyes. “I miss Ace a lot, you know.”

“Exactly. What happened to Ace hurt so bad.” His eyes watered.

“It still hurts. I don’t want to deal with that again.” Luffy reached out to brush away the tear that fell onto his cheek. Instead, their fingertips touched midway. He chuckled and folded his hands in his lap. “It makes me feel kind of…stuck. Caring so much, I mean. I don’t know what to do.”

“You can do what you want.” 

“I can do what I want!”

“So what do you want to do?” he asked.

Luffy stilled. “I want to love Torao.”

“Then do it.”

“Shit,” he laughed, toying with a loose straw along the brim of his hat. “I’m kind of an idiot, aren’t I?”

“It’s not like you to overthink things.”

He got to his feet, dusting the chocolate powder from his shorts while he looked around. “Thanks for helping me with that,” he smiled at his double. “I should probably try to find a way to get to Sanji now though…Maybe there’s a gap where I can slip past you?”

“Well?” He rested his hands on his hips.

Luffy exhaled an exasperated sigh. “Fine, don’t tell me,” he muttered before picking a direction at random and wandering away. 

His copy flanked his left while he followed the river running along on his right. Together, they followed it through groves of grinning trees, past a field of lollipop flowers that screamed in a chorus when Luffy tried to eat one of their kind, and around an outcropping of gumdrop boulders. He sat down beside the river and leaned against a neon pink gumdrop, tired of aimless meandering and the unsettling faces that watched him. Malachite water swirled gently around pale, crystalline rocks as he craned his neck to gaze into the river. 

“What are you doing in there?” Luffy asked his reflection. He looked over his shoulder at his double, who cast a similar inquisitive glance back at him. “Why are there three of us now?” he groaned and turned back to the river. Scowling, he stretched his arm out to touch his reflection. 

“Luffy! Let’s get back to the coast!” Nami’s voice rang out behind him. “This forest has a bunch of creepy traps!”

“Nami?!” Luffy cried in surprise. 

The pounding of Chopper’s hooves against rock and dirt grew closer. Luffy scrambled to his feet as they burst from the trees. “There you are, Luffy!” Chopper announced with relief.

“We need to get out of here!” Carrot shrieked. “I can’t take this creepy place with its hellish faces anymore!”

“Faces?” Luffy murmured to himself. Eyes wide, he exclaimed, “You guys can see the faces too?”

“Yes, Luffy,” Nami sighed in exasperation. “Now let’s go!”

Luffy spun around to the copy of himself and gaped. “This is all real? What the fuck?”

—

Law crouched beside Bepo on the rooftop near the entrance to Bakura Town. Once the Heart Pirates spotted Luffy and Zoro plunging into town, Law had mobilized his crew to intercept them. Shachi balanced on the deep teal tiles of the roof, his shadow casting over Bepo’s face. He studied the other end of the village through a pair of binoculars. They had lost sight of the Straw Hats and Shachi desperately searched to place them among the chaos erupting in town.

“The cause of the fire is…” Shachi trailed off as he examined the scene at the other end of the glass.

Law gritted his teeth. “Don’t tell me it’s him,” he groaned.

“Yep, I see Mugiwara,” Shachi sighed.

“Fuck,” Law swore. “I’m gonna go get him. What’s he wearing?”

Shachi chuckled, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I’m asking so I can find him,” Law hissed, rolling his eyes.

“I’m seeing…lace…ooh, some frills, leg as far as the eye can see, that strappy look you like,” he answered mockingly.

Law’s face burned beet red. “If you don’t give me a real fucking answer, Shachi…” he growled threateningly.

“Red yukata,” Shachi finally answered through a grin. “It’s got some blue patches on it.”

“You guys are spending too much time with the Straw Hats,” Law spat before jumping down from the rooftop. Woven straw rustling against his shoulders as he shifted the tengai over his head. His breath was too loud beneath the basket, his body too tense. “Why does he have to do shit like this?” Law muttered. His well-laid plans were, as usual, in jeopardy due to Luffy’s recklessness. The spike of adrenaline coursing through his body only frustrated him more when he realized his adrenal glands were responding not to his foiled plans, but to his imminent meeting with Luffy. His head swam with oscillating giddiness and anxiety. What would he say when he found Luffy? He reminded himself of the plan, of their mission in Wano, only to wander back to a reversal of his earlier thought: what would Luffy say when he found him? For all his planning and strategizing, Law did not feel prepared.

He forced down the mounting nausea in his stomach and darted his eyes across the slots of vision afforded by the tengai. Most of the streets were empty, the people of Bakura Town either crowded around the sumo ring on the other side of the village or inside their homes, having the good sense to hide from impending chaos. Law stuck to side streets and alleyways as he made his way to the opposite end of town. 

After turning a corner, a glimpse of arterial red flashed in the periphery of Law’s eye. The heat ignited in his face and, almost as quickly, blanched into a cold sweat. Heart beating violently against the wall of his chest, he sprinted toward fear and desire. He rounded another corner, spotted red fabric dashing behind a building, and followed. The game of chase continued for two more blocks. Law pumped his legs, willing them to move faster. 

And then Luffy was in full view, looking over his shoulder at his pursuer. The topknot he now sported bobbed slightly as he ran. Law’s chest filled with a buoyant light as he was struck by the mischievous sparkle in Luffy’s eyes. This sensation quickly evaporated when Luffy picked up his pace and sped ahead. Law redoubled his efforts. His legs burned when he finally closed the distance between them and wrapped his hand around Luffy’s wrist.

“Hey!” Luffy growled and pulled his hand away, the rubber of his arm stretching the distance between them.

Law deftly caught Luffy’s other wrist in his free hand before he could pull away further. Using the full weight of his body, he slammed into Luffy and pinned him against the wall in the alleyway. 

The force drove the air from Luffy’s lungs. He thrashed beneath Law’s grip. “What the fuck do you want?!” he roared.

“Luffy-ya!” Law barked, struggling to hold him in place. 

Luffy froze. His gaze dropped to Law’s chest, where his heart tattoo peered from the loose arrangement of the black yukata. He flicked his eyes to the inked skin on Law’s arms. “Torao?” he croaked, squinting into the slots of the tengai. 

Slowly, Law released Luffy’s wrists and stepped away while he lifted the shield of straw from his shoulders. Just as he unveiled his left eye, Law stumbled backward from the force of Luffy catapulting into his chest. The tengai toppled off his head, straw crackling as it bounced along the unpaved street, while his brown and yellow jittoku fell from his shoulders into an unceremonious heap.

“Tora-o!” Luffy’s voice cracked as he cried out Law’s name. He climbed up Law’s torso and spoke again in a strained whisper, “Torao.” Having reached eye-level, Luffy wrapped his arms around Law’s neck and secured his legs behind Law’s back, using the sharp edge of Law’s hips to keep himself from sliding down. 

Law gulped as they stared eye-to-eye. His cheeks flushed with heat. “Luffy-ya, I…” he tried to speak but tapered off as his will faltered beneath the sincere joy in Luffy’s smile. “You need to–” he stammered before Luffy kissed him.

Luffy’s lips were moist against his mouth. Still catching his breath from the chase, Law inhaled through his nose. The heady scent of sweat from Luffy’s upper lip triggered an abrupt cascade of memories: perspiration gathering at the crease between Luffy’s thigh and groin while he worked Luffy’s cock in his mouth; the wet skin behind Luffy’s ear against his lips as he fucked him from behind; the tangy aroma of sweat collecting in the divot of Luffy’s spine, just above the sacrum, when he pressed his forehead to Luffy’s back.

With tremendous effort, Law plunged his mind into the sobering icewater of the present. He pulled away from Luffy, reaching behind his back to grab Luffy’s ankles and pry him off. He tried to explain between gasping breaths, “We’ve got…a plan to take down Kaido…and you need to get out of here…because you–”

Luffy trapped the rest of Law’s explanation in his mouth. The pressure of Luffy’s lips threatened to smother his willpower. Law wanted this, to be smothered in Luffy’s love, so desperately but he frantically fought to remind himself that nothing about this was straightforward. He shouldn’t want this, and not now. Not without knowing more, and not without fixing the mess Luffy had made. “Basil Hawkins is here!” he spat, wild-eyed as he succeeded in pulling away once again.

“So?” Luffy chuckled. The playful glimmer in his eye, paired with flushed pink cheeks, decimated Law’s resolve. When Law’s mouth parted amidst his speechlessness, Luffy locked in his victory. 

Luffy’s tongue slipped between Law’s lips with ease. The once-bottled desire surged in Law’s veins, suppressed hunger morphing to raging famine within him. Luffy was his air and his lust was oxidizing into something wicked. Law moved his lips against Luffy’s while he dragged his hands down Luffy’s back. When he reached Luffy’s ass, a cheek cupped firmly in each palm, he stepped forward until Luffy was trapped against the wall. 

Law reciprocated Luffy’s earlier efforts and stretched his tongue to explore Luffy’s mouth. As he traced the lingual frenulum on the underside of Luffy’s tongue, Law ground their hips together. The pressure on Luffy’s cock, sandwiched between chiseled abdominal muscles and the heat of Law’s erection alongside his own, prompted Luffy to exhale a breathy moan into Law’s mouth. Their bodies burned, all rational thought incinerated.  

Law withdrew his tongue, running it over the top of Luffy’s as he did so. He bit into the malleable pink flesh of Luffy’s lower lip and sucked. Luffy groaned at the sharp sting along his lip; the aching want within him flared. Law used his tight grip on Luffy’s ass to pull him forward while rocking his hips back and forth. The friction built into an urgent heat. Law released Luffy’s lip with a wet smack and moved his mouth to the side of his neck. “Luffy,” he whispered before digging his teeth into the delicate skin.

“Mm!” Luffy gasped. He let his hands roam over Law, through the dark mass of his hair and over the tendons in his neck. The thin black fabric of Law’s yukata was soft against his knuckles as he slipped his hands underneath. Law’s back, muscles, and shoulder blades were slick to the touch with sweat, stirring Luffy’s pulse faster. Luffy’s breath came heavily as he marvelled at the throb in his cock, so strong and rapid it felt like his heartbeat had doubled. Or maybe it was Law’s shaft next to his own, mirroring the flow of blood and the desperate longing to release what felt like a pent-up, overabundance of cum from the weeks of being unable to finish himself. He wondered if Law had faced the same problem, if he, too, couldn’t cum while they were apart. His imagination lingered on Law’s mid-orgasm shudder, on the delicious face he would make, on the cum that Law could pour into his body, splash across his skin, fill his mouth. White, hot, sticky thoughts blended with the reality of Law’s body against his own. 

Luffy murmured into Law’s ear, “Torao, lemme taste you.”

Law slowed the grinding movement of his hips and unclamped his jaw from Luffy’s neck. He took a moment to appreciate the red ring that glowed from his bite before raising his head. Their eyes met, searching one another’s gaze and studying the crimson flush of the other’s skin. 

Finally, Luffy whined impatiently, “I wanna taste you.” He stuck out his tongue, lips parted, to illustrate his point.

The sight alone could have made Law cum. He swallowed roughly as the sanguine tongue shone atop soft, puffy lips. Luffy’s mouth was a wet heat Law wanted in, on, and around him. Law took a step back and released Luffy from his grasp. Luffy dropped to his knees immediately. Law stifled the groan of hunger rumbling in his throat while he watched Luffy settle at his feet, the red yukata darkened with pre-cum where it pressed against the head of Luffy’s swollen shaft. 

Law took half a step forward so Luffy’s face was just inches away from his crotch. Luffy looked up into Law’s eyes, hands raised as he reached toward the white trim of Law’s yukata. Teeth clenched, Law nodded for him to keep going. He nudged his hands between the folds of the yukata and placed his hands around Law’s calves. Slowly, he skated his fingers over the back of Law’s knees and up his thighs until he reached the rounding of flesh where cheek and leg adjoin. After pulling Law’s underwear down his legs, which Law deftly stepped out of, Luffy rotated his hands to run his ring fingers along the curve of Law’s ass while he stroked the side of Law’s thighs with his thumbs. Further up, Luffy rested his palms against Law’s hip bones and raised his thumbs to push the fabric away. It slipped to Law’s sides, the orange obi still knotted around his waist and just barely keeping the yukata from falling away completely. Luffy’s touch was delicate as he lifted his left hand to trace the curvature of Law’s abs, simultaneously drawing his right hand down Law’s thigh. 

Law widened his stance to bring his dick more level to Luffy’s mouth. He planted his left hand against the wall behind Luffy. Biting down on his lip, Law studied Luffy with palpable thirst. Luffy smirked at Law’s revealing movements before pressing his lips to the inside of his thigh. He meandered upward, taking Law’s leg hair between his teeth and tugging gently. The growl in Law’s throat served as a warning that only made Luffy want to tease him more.

Luffy brought his left hand back down, slowing to pass over the shallow dip of Law’s navel. His fingertips grazed the side of Law’s shaft as he descended to cup the tender weight of Law’s scrotum. Law released a heavy breath from his nose. Luffy closed his eyes and turned his head to settle his cheek against Law’s cock while he lightly rolled his balls in his palm. With his middle finger, Luffy followed the raphe to his taint and then forwards to the root of his cock. 

Law kept his gaze trained on Luffy’s face. The juxtaposition of his thick, veined dick alongside Luffy’s serene but flushed countenance was more stimulating than he anticipated. As Law tried to burn the image into his brain, Luffy opened his eyes and met his stare. The pleased glimmer in his eye sent a tremor of desire through Law that translated into a twitch of his shaft. Luffy smiled and bit into his lip as Law’s cock pressed against his cheek. The whimper that escaped Law’s mouth surprised them both.

Gripping the base of Law’s dick in his right hand, Luffy twisted his neck to bring his outstretched tongue to Law’s balls. He kept his hand firm around the shaft and relished the pulse against his palm. The wide, flat surface of his tongue lapped at the seam of Law’s scrotum before swirling around each testicle in turn. 

Law raised himself onto his toes momentarily before curling his them inward. The motion was enough to catch Luffy’s attention. When their eyes met, Law called his name impatiently, “Luffy…”

Luffy decided to indulge him, at least to an extent. He straightened his spine and faced Law’s cock head-on. After moving both hands to Law’s hips, Luffy spat onto his glans. Law flinched. Luffy glanced up before pressing his lips to the head of his penis. He took more into his mouth at a leisurely pace, pursing his lips around the glistening, flushed nerve endings. 

As Luffy slid down the length of his cock, Law groaned. Luffy gave him what he wanted but it wasn’t enough. The rich elasticity of Luffy’s lips tightened around the base of Law’s shaft while Luffy curved his tongue along the underside, cradling the frenulum. Luffy began to bob his head. He pulled the velvet lining of his cheeks inward while he sucked. 

Even with his dick encased in the humid warmth of Luffy’s mouth, Law needed more. He grabbed Luffy’s topknot in his free hand. Luffy strained his eyes upward as he brought his mouth down. He paused when he reached the base of Law’s cock, the head rubbing at the back of his throat. They stared at one another like this for several moments, Law gripping Luffy’s topknot within his fist and Luffy sheathing the length of Law’s shaft in his mouth. Luffy’s eyes widened at the intensity of Law’s gaze. Law breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling in Luffy’s view, while he studied Luffy with severe hunger. 

Luffy exhaled through his nose as he pulled back until his lips were fastened around the flared corona of Law’s glans. He paused again, glancing up at Law to gauge his reaction. The hold on his topknot tightened. Law smirked, biting into his lower lip, before jerking his hand forward and holding Luffy’s head against the wall. He leaned into his other arm, which was still propped along the building wall. With his newly seized control, Law thrust into Luffy’s mouth.

The musk of Law’s skin, sweat, and desire engulfed Luffy’s nose. His chest twinged as he realized how much he had missed this smell. His head spun from the intimate aroma and the ardent force of Law’s cock gliding along his tongue and plunging into his throat. No longer needing to hold onto Law for support, Luffy let his hands travel to the yellow obi around his own waist. He yanked it free and brushed the fabric of his yukata to each side. With his erection firmly in his hand, Luffy looked up at Law through watering eyes and began to stroke himself. 

It took Law several moments to notice what Luffy was doing, the pleasure of using Luffy’s mouth for himself overwhelming. When he finally registered the frantic pumping of Luffy’s fist, his core ignited. He momentarily contemplated the melting point of the human body. Luffy’s face painted the prettiest picture: cheeks streaked with the flooding of his eyes, skin glowing pink, mouth deep red with spit gathering on his lower lip. 

“Fuck, Luffy,” Law moaned as he increased he pace, relentlessly pounding against the soft wall of Luffy’s throat.

A squeak escaped Luffy’s mouth around the thickness of Law’s shaft. The minute reverberation along his cock pierced the thin veil of rapturous pleasure. Law came fiercely. Ecstasy hummed throughout his body and to the tip of his glans, turning him inside out and bathing him in a glow of euphoria. 

Cum painted the inside of Luffy’s mouth and the back of his throat. The taste and heat of the fluid proof of Law’s orgasm served as a balm for his heart and a stimulant for his desire. When Law slowed to a stop and pulled out of his mouth, Luffy swallowed all of Law’s cum with a satisfied gulp. He smiled up at Law, eyes brimming with sweetness. His voice croaked as he declared, “I missed you.”

Law stared in awe at the beauty of this man, this creature who could gracefully hold all of his contradictions at once: soft and tough, strong and gentle, willingly serving as a vessel for the rough outpouring of Law’s cum only to gift him with so much tenderness in return. Law released Luffy’s topknot and crouched until they were face to face. He rested his forearms on the edge of his knees, his knuckles almost brushing the wall. Luffy watched with curious eyes as Law trapped him in place.

“Keep going,” Law ordered quietly.

“Huh?” Luffy blinked after clearing his throat.

Law narrowed his eyes. “Touch yourself. I want to watch you finish,” he explained in a flat tone, working to keep his face neutral.

Luffy’s heart hammered in his chest. He spit into his palm and resumed stroking his cock, as directed. The slick squelch of his wet hand around his shaft rang in his ears, too loud despite their heavy breathing. Luffy bit down on his lip and closed his eyes when the delicious friction of his palm against his nerve endings threatened to bloom into something greater. 

“Keep your eyes open,” Law commanded sharply. “Look at me.”

Luffy obeyed and focused on the complicated gleam in Law’s dark eyes, so close to his face. “Oh, Law,” he gasped, eyes narrowing as he hovered at the precipice of orgasm.

Law’s voice brought him back again. “Don’t cum yet.”

“Huh?” he panted, brows furrowing in despair. 

“Not.Yet,” Law growled. 

Luffy struggled to slow the cadence of his hand over his cock, so close to cumming and wanting to finish all the more now that he had been denied this indulgence. “Law!” he moaned.

“Wait,” Law instructed. He studied Luffy’s face, drinking in every detail. The luxury of watching Luffy pleasure himself but on Law’s own terms was not something he would take for granted. “Faster, Luffy,” he purred, and Luffy intensified the stroke of his hand. 

“Please. I can’t,” Luffy murmured, face contorted while he struggled to adhere to all Law’s instructions.

Law smirked. “Cum for me,” he finally whispered. 

He fulfilled Law’s command almost instantly. “Fuuuuck,” Luffy groaned and arched his back. Cum splattered Law’s stomach and the ground between his legs, and dripped over Luffy’s fingers. Law’s face went in and out of focus while he squeezed his hand along his cock, milking the last remnants of his orgasm. Pleasure blossomed in the root of his body and up his spine.

As his mind floated back to reality, Luffy beamed at Law. He reached for the edges of his yukata, folding them over himself before picking up his dust-covered obi from the ground. Law began to fix his clothes while Luffy rose to his feet. 

“Oh shit,” Luffy muttered, eyes widened. Law froze and watched as Luffy quickly fastened the obi across his waist. “I almost forgot. I gotta go take care of something,” he explained.

“Wait, what?” Law stammered, hurriedly tying the white obi across his yukata and pushing through his legs to stand. “Where are you going?” he asked when Luffy moved to leave. 

“I’ll be back!” Luffy answered with a casual smile.

Law frowned, his pulse uncomfortable in his throat. “I-I’ve got things I need to say to you!” he protested.

Luffy spun around so he faced Law while walking backwards. “Me too!” he grinned. “I’ll see you soon!”

“Oi, wait!” Law shouted.

As he turned back around and hastened to a jog, Luffy yelled over his shoulder, “I missed you, Torao!”

“Dammit!” Law hissed to himself. Frustration bubbling in his chest, he bellowed, “You’re just gonna suck me off and leave?!” 

When Luffy disappeared around the corner, Law threw his hands up and turned around. He flinched when he made eye contact with a woman hurrying down the alleyway, tugging a young boy along by the hand. She eyed him warily and pushed her child forward, urging him to move faster. Law pressed his hands into his face and leaned his forehead against the wall. 

“Why is he like this?” he groaned. His feelings were a tangled mess.. Seeing Luffy, touching Luffy, had lightened the weight that had been dragging down his shoulders for weeks since leaving Zou. But his pride smarted with having given in to Luffy’s advances without demanding resolution. He was no closer to understanding than before.

Law sighed and looked around for his tengai. He snatched it from the dirt path several paces away and dusted it off before securing it over his head. “Guess I’ll go deal with Hawkins,” he grumbled. After grabbing his jittoku–also covered in dirt–and throwing it across his shoulders, he headed back toward the entrance to Bakura Town. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he hoped Luffy would keep his promise.

Chapter Text

Luffy twirled Komachiyo’s golden fur absently between his fingers as he sat atop the creature’s back. Kiku was seated behind him, and Law ahead of him, as they ascended the mountain to the ruins of Oden’s castle. Light filtered through the treetops and dappled the skin across Luffy’s knuckles. He looked up, his eyes focusing on the similarly splotched pattern on Law’s hat. His gaze fell lower to Law’s back, where a patch of dust streaked across the pattern of his jittoku. Luffy recalled the slip of the fabric from Law’s shoulders, the way it tumbled to the ground from the impact of his embrace. Just hours earlier, Law had occupied all five of Luffy’s senses.

Now, Law seemed far away. How could he close the distance? How could he possibly find words to match the chaos in his chest? How could he find the words for that and also the ones he needed to make everything right? He studied the hair at the base of Law’s neck, where it flipped outward in a gentle curl. With a twinge in his chest, Luffy realized that his dark locks had grown longer. Why does this hurt? This question ricocheted around his brain, forming silent words on the tip of his tongue. 

The answer came from an aching hollow in his heart: time had passed, and he regretted that he hadn’t spent it with Law. No, he reminded himself. He rejected the notion; Sanji was back and the trip to Whole Cake Island was the only possible reality in which he could help his nakama, his vital crewmate, his treasured friend. But Luffy couldn’t help but wonder, what had he missed?

He tangled his fingers tighter within Komachiyo’s mane, frustrated by the pain of losing something that didn’t even belong to him. He held the complicated feeling in his chest and stared at Law’s back, determined to wrangle his emotions into submission. Luffy tilted his head, as if seeing Law from a different angle would shed light on his emotional struggle. 

Somehow, it worked. His thoughts shifted, lost moments from his time apart from Law flipped on their side and became what could be. Instead of wondering whether Law had nightmares while they were apart, Luffy thought about the nights they would spend together, when he could ward the unwelcome dreams away. The notion of Law struggling to finish his lunch became the possibility of all the leftovers Luffy would get to eat in the future. Luffy shook his head, forcing his attention away from food and back to the present. At this moment, Law was just feet ahead of him. He could touch him if he reached out. What was he doing right now? 

With a heavy exhale, Luffy released Komachiyo’s fur. “Komachiyo, stop here,” Luffy ordered. 

At the sudden projection of Luffy’s voice, a flock of sparrows lifted off from the crown of the treetops. Komachiyo came to a halt and twisted his neck to look at Luffy. 

Luffy slipped off Komachiyo’s side and landed on the dirt path below.

“Where are you going?” Kiku asked as she leaned forward.

Ignoring the question, Luffy shouted up at Law, “C’mon, Torao!”

“Hah? ” Law frowned. “We’re not at the ruins yet. Get—oi, wait!” he roared as Luffy stretched an arm out and coiled it around his torso.

Luffy grinned at Kiku while he pulled the grumbling surgeon down to his side. “Got something we need to take care of. We’ll meet you at the top soon,” he explained. Patting Komachiyo’s flank, he added, “Thanks for the ride. Get Kiku up there safe, okay?”

Komachiyo grunted a response and charged ahead, tongue lolling between his lower fangs. 

“I can walk, you know,” Law complained.

Luffy released his hold and his arm snapped back to his side. “Sorry,” he laughed. “Let’s go.”

Law hesitated before following after Luffy, who stepped confidently into the woods. “Do you know where you’re going, Luffy-ya?” he called from behind.

“Kinda!” he chuckled casually. 

Sighing, Law trailed after him. Luffy’s skin prickled beneath the weight of Law’s stare on his back. The earth crunched beneath their feet, echoing through the otherwise silent forest as they wove between tree trunks and undergrowth. For each of Luffy’s steps, Law echoed with his own. Luffy let his mind focus on this rhythm until he reached a narrow clearing that dropped sharply into a steep cliff. 

The Land of Wano stretched before them: Okobore Town’s dilapidated and straw-thatched roofs dwarfed by the neighboring buildings of Bakura Town, rich with colored tiles and elegant flourishes; the dust-worn expanse of earth signaling the border into Udon; a rash of prison labor camps jutting out as ragged pillars of rock throughout the desert, each spewing smoke and refuse into the veins of the once-great country. 

Luffy balled his fists. The drumming of his heartbeat was quick but certain in his chest. He spun around to face Law, the vista of Wano at his back.

Law spoke first. His voice was teasing but edged with a tension that even Luffy couldn’t miss. “Luffy-ya, why is it that every time you’ve got something important to say, you look like you’re going to fight me?” 

“Ah,” Luffy chuckled awkwardly and shook his hands out. “Guess it just helps me tackle things head on.”

Law nodded, the bob of his Adam’s apple visible along his throat as he swallowed. His mouth twitched. He folded his arms across his chest and started, voice hoarse, “So, yeah…It’s, uh, been awhile.” 

“Yeah,” Luffy flashed him a lopsided smile. He opened his mouth but stopped, opened it, and stopped again.

Law trained his eyes to the ground. Tendons bulged against the smooth skin of his neck while he waited for Luffy to say something, anything. Luffy finally spoke, feigning lightheartedness, “How have you been?” 

The strained, dry shadow of a laugh that escaped Law’s throat stabbed Luffy in the gut. “Fine,” Law’s tone was biting as he answered. “You?” His voice cracked on this last word.

“I’ve been okay.” Luffy leaned sideways, trying to catch Law’s eye. The hollow sensation in his stomach gnawed at him.

Law, however, kept his gaze glued to his feet. Frowning, Luffy watched as Law’s shoulders tensed. His jawline sharpened beneath clenched teeth.

Luffy cleared his throat and stepped forward. “So…” he began to speak but froze when the words wouldn’t come to him. The silence stretched and panic rose in his chest. He reached out to take Law’s hand in his own, hoping this might steady his heart. 

Instead, Law slipped through Luffy’s fingers. “I’m sorry,” Law croaked as he crouched to the ground, hands clutching the top of his skull like something was going to crash over him.

“Wha?” Luffy stammered and dropped to his knees. He stretched his hand out again to cup Law’s chin but stopped, worried his touch might be unwelcome. Craning his neck to the side, he strained to peek at Law’s face. Between the dark locks of Law’s hair, Luffy glimpsed tears spilling down his flushed cheeks. 

Confusion mixed with horror and worry, replacing the hollowness of Luffy’s stomach with a heavy pit of despair. Desperately, he asked, “Why are you sorry?”

Again, Law choked out, “I’m sorry.” His shoulders shook as emotion wracked his body. He cleared his throat and managed to speak, voice tight, “I’m sorry to ask so much of you, Luffy.”

“It’s okay,” Luffy reassured him urgently. “Law…It’s okay. Law!”

Law shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut beneath his contorted brow. He dug his fingers into his hair while he gasped for breath. Finally, he strained to add, “I need this. I’m sorry for how much I need this.”

Luffy’s voice was gentle but firm when he replied, “Okay.” 

“...What?” Law muttered before sniffling and rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. His eyes opened but stayed focused on the dirt beneath him.

“Okay, Torao. Whatever you need,” Luffy repeated. He watched Law raise his head. Their eyes met and Luffy smiled.

Law blinked rapidly. “But I thought…I thought you didn’t want…” he faltered.

“I love you, Torao. Like, a lot!” Luffy declared, eyes sparkling with sincerity.

Law let out a bitter laugh. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Luffy’s mouth straightened into a hard line and his eyebrows furrowed in determination. He began, “Of course I do. Whatever you need, I’ll be that for you…Wait, why are you crying again?!”  Law tried to hide his face with his hands, but Luffy grabbed his wrists to stop him. Law turned his head away. “You’re not happy?” Luffy asked, his voice breaking.

Law lifted his head slowly and chuckled through his tears, “I’m fucking ecstatic.”

Luffy studied Law’s reddened eyes with confusion. “Then why are you still crying?” 

“I just…I’m so relieved,” Law rasped. The smile that spread across his face struck Luffy’s heart like a spear of blinding light. Law’s teeth glowed white against ruddy, tear-stained cheeks. 

Luffy slid his hands from Law’s wrists and wove their fingers together, palm pressed to palm. Quietly, he said, “I’m sorry I didn’t have an answer for you at Zou.”

“It’s alright,” Law sighed. He gazed at Luffy’s face before smirking, “I mean, it was fucking frustrating but…I just assumed you would want to do this because you always just do what you want.” His face softened and he looked to the side, his voice taking on a brittle quality as he explained, “When you didn’t agree, well…it hurt. You always make decisions without a second thought. If it didn’t come to you immediately, I didn’t think there would be a chance. I’ve been trying to stifle this hope for weeks.”

Luffy rose until he was standing, pulling Law up with him through their clasped hands. “Torao, I haven’t felt like this before. And I haven’t done this before,” he struggled to explain. “It’s just kind of a lot. And back at Zou, I thought you were asking me to betray myself.” Luffy looked downward and took a deep breath before meeting Law’s gaze. “But I get it now! This is a choice that I’m making freely.” He narrowed his eyes as if daring Law to challenge him. “I’m choosing to be with you–in whatever way you want–because I want you.”

“Luffy…” Law whispered. 

“Doesn’t mean I’m not scared, though,” Luffy mumbled shyly as he cast his eyes downward.

Law tugged his hands free and wrapped Luffy in his arms. “I’m terrified too,” he chuckled. “We’ll always be in some kind of danger. We’re pirates. This is going to be such a bitch.”

Returning his embrace, Luffy stretched his rubber arms around and around both of their torsos and squeezed. The breath escaped Law’s lungs as Luffy’s laugh poured out, warm and verging on delirious. “None of this makes sense.” 

“Makes as much sense as anything else in this world,” Law added. Gently, he sighed, “Thank you, Luffy.”

A hum of pleasure rose in Luffy’s chest. Tilting his head upward, he leaned into Law’s lips. His head buzzed from the contact of Law’s body snug against his own, bound as they were in the stretched loops of his arms. They kissed delicately and sincerely. A heat began to course through Luffy’s veins from the velvety touch of Law’s lips. When the throb in his crotch grew to a hungry cadence, he reminded himself of his goal and pulled back. Their lips parted with a soft, wet smack.

Law opened his eyes and looked at Luffy’s face just inches from his own. Luffy grinned at him  before stretching out his tongue and dragging it from the corner of Law’s mouth and along his cheek. “You always taste so salty, Torao,” he teased.

Law huffed, and Luffy felt a flicker of satisfaction in the subtle flush of embarrassment that deepened Law’s already pink complexion. Mercifully advancing the conversation, Luffy narrowed his eyes and said, “I need to ask you a question.”

“Can you uh, let me out of this first?” Law asked with a grunt, dipping his head toward Luffy’s arms.

Luffy pouted but released him. Law inhaled deeply before mumbling, “You’re like a weird little python.”

“You mean Snakeman?” Luffy beamed.

“Snake…man?” Law repeated, brow furrowed.

Luffy nodded. “Yeah, Snakeman!” He stared at Law expectantly before he remembered that Law hadn’t gone with him to Whole Cake Island. “It’s a new Gear 4 technique I figured out.”

Squinting, Law hesitated. “Is that…is that a dick joke? ‘Snakeman?’”

“What? No!” Luffy frowned. “Why would you think that?”

“I…” Law laughed quietly and rubbed his forehead. “Nevermind. What did you want to ask?”

“Oh! Right!” Luffy’s eyes shined with determination. He met Law’s gaze and asked, “Torao, what do you want now? What’s your goal?” 

Law blinked. “That’s a big question,” he murmured.

“I mean like, now that Doflamingo is out of the picture,” Luffy clarified. He watched Law shift in place.

“I want to learn about the will of D. So I need to get to Laugh Tale, where the One Piece is…I’m assuming–hoping–that whatever I learn there will help me topple the current power structure,” he answered slowly. 

A lightness spread along Luffy’s body as he studied Law’s pensive expression. Luffy’s mouth widened into a grin, Law’s explanation taking a weight from his shoulders and inspiring a tender warmth in his heart. 

“What’s with the face?” Law scowled. “Why are you smiling so much?”

Luffy giggled and then grew quiet, blushing. “You’re gonna get mad at me if I say it,” he mumbled.

“I won’t get mad,” Law said flatly.

“If you promise…” Luffy hesitated. “I was…kind of afraid that I was the only thing you cared about.” He waited for Law’s response, the silence stretching into discomfort. When he finally lifted his eyes, he found Law staring at him, eyebrows raised.

Law’s serious tone was contradicted by the smirk pulling at his lips as he growled, “That’s pretty fucking presumptuous, Luffy-ya.”

Before Luffy could open his mouth to explain, Law raised his hand and flicked Luffy’s forehead. “Ow,” Luffy grumbled quietly.

“Luffy,” Law sighed. “Do you remember what we talked about? That night when you slept in the crow's nest with me for the first time?”

Through pursed lips, he responded, “We talked about a lot of things…”

“About the imbalance of power in the world,” Law clarified. “And righting that balance so that the world government and the Celestial Dragons can’t just toy with the rest of us as they please.”

“Ah, yeah. I remember,” Luffy nodded. Recalling the specifics, he added with a chuckle, “It was the first time I had seen you worked up like that.”

“Tch,” Law shook his head at this reminder. “Do you think I feel differently because we beat Doflamingo?” he asked.

Luffy chewed on his lower lip as he shrugged. “I dunno,” he mumbled, avoiding Law’s gaze.

“Give me some credit,” Law scoffed playfully. Grabbing Luffy’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, he turned Luffy’s head until they stared eye to eye. His voice was resolute as he continued, “Doflamingo was a big step toward fixing things, and yeah, a very personal problem of mine. But we’re nowhere near done. Taking down Kaido is the next step. We agreed on that.” With his free hand, he pointed to the view of Wano. “This is just one of the many places that have gotten fucked over by corruption. The people here can’t even drink water without getting sick.”

Luffy’s heart swelled. Squeezing his eyes shut, he barreled into Law. He buried his face in Law’s chest and clutched at the surgeon’s arms. “I’m sorry, Torao,” he spoke frantically, drawing strength from the heat of Law’s skin against his forehead. “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t care…I just…You said that stuff about my ass being your One Piece and I wasn’t really sure how to take it ‘cause the One Piece is a really big deal and being someone else’s One Piece isn’t really something I had thought about and it’s just a lot. I know that sounds fucked up but I was kind of freaked out by the pressure and of course want to make you happy, that’s super, super important but I’m also terrified of being the reason you’re unhappy.”

“Luffy,” Law’s voice was stern as he grabbed Luffy’s shoulders and gently pushed him away. 

Still in Law’s grasp, Luffy’s breaths came in quick succession. He stared up at Law with saucer-round eyes. Law shook him and ordered, “Breathe.”

Luffy blinked and held his breath, processing Law’s direction and how it was different from what he had been doing. Finally, he exhaled. Law’s shoulders relaxed as Luffy inhaled a deep, slow breath. 

“Sorry,” Luffy murmured. 

Law sighed, “Don’t apologize. It’s my fault for saying shit like that.”

“I liked it!” Luffy declared abruptly. “It made me feel really special when you said it.”

A quiet laugh escaped Law’s lips as they edged into a smile. Softly, Law said, “You always take on everyone’s problems. That’s what makes you so… you , but you don’t have to do it all the time.” He released Luffy’s shoulders and crossed his arms. “I won’t lie and tell you that the majority of positive emotion in my life recently isn’t tied to you. But I’m not asking you to be responsible for my happiness. I want you to be mine, and I don’t want to fucking hide it.” His cheeks flushed moments after he finished speaking. 

Luffy grinned. “I can do that. I’m still gonna do what I want, but I want you to do what I want with me. If you want.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you,” he chuckled. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna do everything you say though.”

“Well, me neither!” Luffy retorted, his competitive spirit flaring.

Uncrossing his arms, Law ruffled Luffy’s hair and purred, “It’s a different story when I’ve got you tied up though, isn’t it?”

Luffy narrowed his eyes at Law, his ears burning. “That’s…” he trailed off when he couldn’t think of a comeback. Instead, he turned around and stomped back into the forest. 

“Oi, wait,” Law snorted.

Luffy called over his shoulder, “Show me what’s at the top of the mountain!”

Law smiled and ran to catch up with him.

—

“Can you stay still for one second?!” Nami roared as she wrangled with the deep red obi around Luffy’s waist.

Robin giggled from the corner of their tent, one of three they had set up in the mountainous woods near the ruins of Oden’s castle. Kin’emon, Kiku, Momonosuke, and Shinobu sheltered in the dilapidated shack near the peak while the Heart Pirates set up camp on the other side of the mountain. 

Luffy had slept peacefully in one of the men’s tents, waking midmorning to the smell of Sanji’s cooking. He swallowed his breakfast in one gulp when Robin and Nami ambushed him at his seat by the cooking fire. Now he was in the tent they shared with Carrot, being subjected to torture. 

“Why are you doing this to me?” Luffy whined while he flailed in Nami’s grasp. 

“Do you want me to hold him down, Nami?” Robin asked, crossing her hands over her chest and raising her palms upward.

Nami grunted, “Yes! Please.”

“Seis fleur!” Robin called. Six arms sprouted from the tent floor around Luffy and grappled with his legs to keep him in place.

“Calm down, Luffy!” Nami scolded. She quickly wrapped the thin strip of fabric around Luffy’s waist. “I can’t let you wear that gross old red yukata again. Don’t you want to look nice for your boyfriend!?”

Luffy pouted. “What’s wrong with the way I look now?” he growled, using his arms to thwart Nami’s progress.

“We’re…just…trying to…help!” she hissed as they struggled against one another. 

Abruptly, Luffy froze. A distant voice from outside the tent reached his ears. “Torao!” he cried and careened forward, breaking free from Robin and Nami with ease. 

“Wait!” Nami screeched, the end of the obi still in her hand as Luffy bolted through the tent flap.

Her warning went unheeded. Luffy screeched to a halt and just narrowly avoided colliding with Law. “Torao,” he beamed when their eyes met.

Law’s wide-eyed gaze flickered down Luffy. His face burned pink as he took in Luffy’s state of dress: near naked, the obi only loosely wrapped so that the yukata spread completely open at the front, one sleeve having completely slipped from his shoulder and leaving most of his chest exposed. A choking sound caught in Law’s throat. Covering his face with one hand, he tilted his head backward.

“Torao?” Luffy repeated his name and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Get back in here! You fucking menace!” Nami’s roar erupted behind him as she slipped out of the tent. She froze when she registered the scene before her and the tiny trickle of blood that slipped from Law’s nose. Voice level but ice cold, she ordered, “Luffy. Get back in the tent now. You’re going to break Torao.”

Luffy spun to face her, giving her a glimpse of the full frontal. “Break him?” he echoed, brows furrowed in concern.

Nami grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the tent. A kick against his back sent him falling forward. Arms sprouted from the floor, catching him and carrying him further into the tent. Turning to Law, Nami laughed awkwardly. “Sorry about that, Torao! We’ll have Luffy ready in a few minutes. Maybe just have a seat?” She gestured toward the campfire.

Law finally straightened his neck until he faced forward. “Need to talk to your cook first anyway,” he mumbled, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.

“Uh…” Nami hesitated as the blood flowed more heavily from Law’s nose and over his lip. “Maybe you should go see Chopper?” she suggested quietly, tapping vaguely at the side of her own nose.

Law swiped his thumb above his lip, eyes widening at the blood collecting there. He released a heavy sigh and turned on his heel. Nami grimaced before returning to the tent, where she found Luffy restrained against the floor by even more arms. She caught Robin mid-sentence. 

“...can be fun for you and the other person. So why don’t you just try it?”

Luffy’s demeanor had calmed, though he was clearly still unhappy. “But why now?” he whined.

Robin exchanged a glance with Nami before responding, “Just trust me, Luffy. You’ll want to look nice today.”

He rolled his eyes but conceded, no longer struggling against Robin’s arms. “Fine,” he mumbled.

“You’ll be glad you did, Luffy,” Robin giggled. The blossomed arms disappeared with a poof while she leaned over to dig through a bag at her side. “So I know you haven’t been wearing underwear,” she began.

“Everybody knows that now,” Nami grumbled under her breath.

Robin smirked but continued, “But what about these, Luffy?” She held up two pairs of underwear. 

Luffy stared, his expression blank. “You want me to wear those?” he asked flatly.

“Robin picked them out at the Flower Capital. We thought Torao might like them…on you,” Nami grinned.

He looked from Nami’s smug, threatening glare to Robin’s serene smiling face. “Why would he like that?” he finally spoke, brow furrowed in confusion.

Nami rubbed her forehead. “Because it’s sexy, Luffy. Fucking hell. You’re clueless. What does he even see in you?!” she cried.

Luffy pursed his lips and took the underwear from Robin. Cautiously, he examined them: one pair a black silk thong edged in ruffles and the other blood red lace boyshorts with a cheeky cut. “I’d rather see Torao in these,” he remarked casually.

Robin covered her mouth as she laughed. “Don’t you think he feels that way about you, though?” she suggested.

Luffy’s eyes widened at Robin’s wisdom. “Oh.” He handed the black pair back to Robin before slipping into the red boyshorts. 

Nami turned away, embarrassment getting the best of her. Robin smiled up at Luffy. “Those look great, Luffy. Torao will love it,” she remarked encouragingly. 

“If you say so. They’re kinda…clingy,” he mumbled. Turning to Nami, he put his hands on his hips and asked, “What else do I need to do?”

“Just let me finish dressing you,” Nami looked back at Luffy and held up the end of the red obi. 

When Luffy left the tent in his sleek black yukata, red obi, and lacey underwear, Law was talking with Sanji by the campfire. He held a covered basket in one hand and slung a sack over his shoulder with the other. 

Law looked up at him, said a few words to Sanji, and walked over to Luffy. “Hey,” he greeted quietly.

Luffy narrowed his eyes as he looked up. “What’s in your nose?” 

Law blushed and quickly pulled the rolled up cloth from his nostrils. “Nothing, just had a little nosebleed,” he mumbled.

“Ohh, you must’ve seen a really pretty girl, huh?” Luffy chuckled. “Sanji almost died from that once. Such a weirdo!” 

“Uh, sure,” Law blinked in amazement at Luffy’s ability to zero in on something so close to the truth but still strike out. “Anyway,” he began shyly. “You, uh, you free today?”

“Sure.” Luffy tilted his head to the side and asked, “What’s your plan?”

Law swallowed. “I thought we could go on a date,” he said as he shifted his gaze to the ground.

Luffy’s laugh lit a vibrant warmth in Law’s chest. Grinning, Luffy teased, “What about Kaido? And all those plans you need to make?”

“One day won’t make a huge difference,” Law argued quietly while embarrassment and excitement spiked his temperature again.

“Good,” Luffy smiled. “Let’s go then?” 

“Luuufffyyy!” Nami yelled as they turned to leave. She appeared from within the tent, holding up a weathered rucksack. Robin followed at a normal pace behind her. Nami held the sack out to Luffy. “Here,” she said. “You’ll need this.”

Cautiously, Luffy took the bag and peered inside. “Clothes?” he murmured, confused.

“You might need them,” Robin explained gently.

“There’re snacks in there, too,” Sanji added as he sauntered up to them, closely followed by Chopper and Brook.

Luffy’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Sanji!” he grinned.

“Have a great time, Luffy!” Chopper cried gleefully.

Brook leaned down to Luffy’s ear and whispered, “Don’t forget to show Torao your panties.” Leaning back, he burst into laughter, “Yohohoho!”

“Oi!” Luffy grumbled as his face flushed. 

Once they said goodbye to the Straw Hats, Law and Luffy left camp. As they walked, Luffy remarked, “Man, everyone is in such a good mood today.”

Law scratched at the back of his head. “Ha, yeah…Weird,” he mumbled bashfully.

After a few minutes, they reached the base of the castle ruins where Bepo, Penguin, and Kiku waited with Komachiyo. Penguin tightened the ropes that had been fastened around Komachiyo’s torso and to a wooden box atop the creature’s back. Kiku scratched behind Komachiyo’s ears while she assured him he was, in fact, the best boy. 

“Captain!” Bepo called out and waved when Law came into view. “Captain, everything’s ready!” 

“Polar bear!” Luffy wailed and sprinted ahead to launch himself at Bepo.

Bepo grunted from the impact before letting out a small laugh. “Have a good time, Mugiwara,” he said while extracting himself from the embrace. Quietly, he added, “Captain put a lot of effort into this. Don’t be careless.”

Luffy blinked at the bear’s serious expression and nodded. Kiku’s voice called his attention away, “We just gave Komachiyo a big meal so he should be good for a while. And there’s more food in the storage box for when he gets hungry again.”

“Thanks,” Law let the warmth come through in his voice as he patted Komachiyo’s side. “Oi, Mugiwara-ya!” he called over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Luffy’s arms stretched and grabbed Komachiyo’s back. Law’s mouth twitched as he watched Luffy slingshot himself onto the creature. Then, the rubber hand came back for him. He sighed at the increasingly familiar sensation of Luffy’s arm wrapping around his torso and pulling him to wherever Luffy wanted–this time he found himself sitting in front of Luffy upon Komachiyo, his back nearly flush with Luffy’s chest. He frowned. Holding out his hand, he mumbled, “Room. Shambles.” Satisfaction hummed in his chest at their switched places, Luffy’s back now snug against the front of his body.

“Hey!” Luffy complained, whipping his head around to show Law his disapproval.

Law smirked. “You can move if you want. I’ll just switch us again,” he teased and brushed his thumb over Luffy’s hip.

“Hmph,” Luffy huffed as he returned his head to look forward.

As they began their descent down the mountain, Luffy asked, “So where are we going?” 

“Flower Capital, eventually,” Law answered.

Luffy’s voice raised in pitch. “Oooh! To do what?” 

“You’ll see when we get there,” Law chuckled. 

“Hmm,” Luffy’s voice grew mischievous as he looked over his shoulder at Law. “I’ve got an idea.”

“Yeah?” Law raised an eyebrow.

Luffy hesitated, chuckling to himself before suggesting, “What if we switch dicks?”

Law blinked. “Hah?” 

“Like, with your power! You can ‘shambles’ them right?” Luffy explained eagerly.

“I…yeah, but…why?” Law stammered.

Luffy shrugged and laughed, “Why not? Doesn’t it sound kinda fun?”

Law was silent as he contemplated his own definition of ‘dignity.’ Finally, he exhaled a breathy chuckle. “You’re kind of a freak, Luffy-ya,” he purred into Luffy’s ear while he reached around to toy with the edge of Luffy’s yukata. Calling ahead, he ordered, “Stop, Komachiyo.”

He obeyed, head tilted in confusion at another unexpected stop along the mountain. Luffy leapt to the ground and Law followed him cautiously. “Couldn’t make the switch while we’re on Komachiyo?” Luffy teased.

Law rolled his eyes. “Are you fine with me cutting off a little extra by mistake? Surgery requires precision,” he scoffed.

Luffy chuckled, “You’re such a serious doctor.” 

“They literally call me the Surgeon of Death, Luffy,” he snorted. Walking further into the woods, he gestured for Luffy to follow. “Come on.”

“You don’t want the dog to see?” Luffy laughed as he followed.

Law looked over his shoulder. “Is Komachiyo a dog?” 

Luffy shrugged, “Close enough.”

When the trees obscured them from the innocent creature’s view, they stopped. Law untied his white obi and the black yukata fell to his sides. “Room,” he murmured after unsheathing Kikoku. Luffy worked on loosening his obi as he watched Law, eyes wide. Law pulled his underwear to the side and held his dick with his left hand. With his right, he took the hilt of Kikoku and angled it, elbow bent and raised so that a short length of the blade hovered above his shaft. He inhaled deeply before cutting through his flesh. Luffy winced as Law’s cock separated cleanly from his body. Law flashed Luffy a devilish smirk as he held up his dick. 

“Hold this for me?” he asked.

Luffy stepped forward to take it, hands cupped to cradle the dismembered shaft. Law twitched when his cock landed in Luffy’s palms. Luffy raised his hands until Law’s penis was eye level. The look of awe on Luffy’s face sent a tickling warmth through Law’s chest. 

“You ready?” Law tore Luffy’s attention away from the dick in his hands.

Luffy met Law’s gaze briefly before flicking his eyes down to his own crotch. As Luffy’s cheeks reddened, Law followed his stare. “Oi,” Law’s voice was quiet while he took in the sight of Luffy’s red underwear. “What’s with, uh…what are you wearing?” he stammered and cleared his throat.

The deep red lace strained against Luffy’s erection, which was pronounced within the tight fabric. 

Luffy’s focus jumped upward at the warmth and subtle motion in his palm; Law’s cock grew and hardened. When he looked at Law's face, whose skin now burned with a red to rival Luffy’s panties, they burst into laughter.

“Robin and Nami gave them to me,” Luffy explained through his giggles. More quietly, he asked, “Do you like them?”

Law scratched at his forehead and let out a warm sigh. “Of course I like them,” he chuckled shyly and shifted his gaze to Kikoku. “But if you still want to… trade, then you’re gonna need to move them out of the way.” 

Luffy furrowed his brow and nodded. “Okay, I’m ready,” he declared once he had stretched his underwear over the bulge of his erection and pulled them to rest above his knees.

Carefully, Law reached down and wrapped his hand around the root of Luffy’s shaft. With his right hand, he readied his katana. “Take a deep breath, Luffy,” he instructed. When Luffy inhaled, Law continued, “On five, I’ll make the cut.” Luffy nodded again. “One, two, three…” 

“Shit!” Luffy’s shriek shattered the peaceful atmosphere of the forest. 

Law failed to restrain his laughter while he held Luffy’s severed penis out for him to see. 

“You were going to cut on five!” Luffy complained, eyes wide.

“I figured it would make it easier for you…It didn’t hurt, did it? It’s not supposed to hurt,” Law replied, his amusement fading into concern.

“N-no…just surprised me is all,” Luffy mumbled, pouting. 

Law smiled, “Here.” He gestured for Luffy to take the dick in his hand.

Luffy rolled Law’s penis to one palm, the sensation causing Law’s spine to straighten in surprise, and took his own with his free hand. Law tried to ignore the pressure of Luffy’s hand closing around his detached cock and focused on sheathing Kikoku. He leaned the sword against a nearby tree trunk and turned to Luffy. 

Law’s voice rang sharply, “What are you doing?” 

Luffy froze. He stood, knees bent, one foot ahead of the other and his arms raised in the air. With his right arm thrust forward, he brandished Law's penis in his hand. His own dick sat firmly in the grip of his left, the arm bent and raised backward behind his head. A mischievous grin broke across his face. 

“I’m Oden, see! Two dick style!” Luffy announced and slashed his left arm forward through the air. 

Law covered his eyes with his hand and rubbed his temples. “Luffy…” he groaned. Failing to stifle the laughter bubbling in his chest, he struggled to convey his command, “Don’t you dare drop my…pffft… my dick! If you do…I swear!”

Luffy cackled, cutting empty space with a cock in each hand. He ignored Law and observed through giggles, “If I had a third I could be Zoro!” Pausing his movements, he turned to Law. “Do you have more on you?”

Law raised his eyebrows at the baffling question. “More what? Dicks?”

“Yeah!” Luffy nodded like it was obvious.

“No, Luffy. I do not have more dicks on me. Why would you even think that?!” he cried.

“You had to get all those hearts for the government didn’t you? I thought maybe they had you get–oi, Torao! Your dick’s getting softer! Stop! How’m I supposed to fight Kaido if one of my swords is limp?” Luffy roared with laughter.

“Maybe if you stopped slashing it around like a weapon I could get hard again,” Law growled, eye twitching. He folded his arms and waited, fighting against the urge to grin and holler with amusement. Once Luffy’s hysterical laughter subsided, he stretched out his hand. “Gimme yours,” he ordered.

Luffy flashed his grin and his penis in Law’s direction. Carefully taking Luffy’s shaft from the outstretched palm, Law turned it slowly until it was oriented correctly and affixed it to the empty space on his own groin. As he pulled his underwear back up and adjusted his yukata, Law winced at the rough sensations along his own detached penis. “Be gentle with that!” he snapped at Luffy, who had carelessly tucked Law's cock in the crook of his elbow while he moved his yukata out of the way.

“Shishishi, sorry!” he giggled sheepishly. Unobstructed by fabric, Luffy took the shaft in his hand again and brought it to his crotch.

Law's exasperated voice cut in before he attached it, “Make sure it's facing the right way.”

Luffy's mouth flattened in a straight line. Shyly, he rotated Law's penis and adhered it to the spot where his own dick had been. Law watched him pull his underwear back on, the sensation of the red undies slipping taut against Luffy’s skin simultaneously very hot but very confusing as he felt the lace tighten around his thickening cock. He glanced down at his own crotch, noting the tented fabric.

“It’s like yawning,” Luffy chuckled. “Contagious.”

Law smirked and rolled his eyes. “We’ve already wasted too much time,” he cleared his throat and nodded in the direction of Komachiyo. “We should get going.”

Luffy walked ahead and looked over his shoulder at Law, tossing him a devilish smile. Law gasped at the sudden pressure of a hand along his dick, separated only by fabric. It was going to be an interesting ride.

—

“I thought we were going to the Flower Capital,” Luffy remarked as Komachiyo carried them through the bamboo grove outside of Amigasa Village. He leaned back into Law’s chest and watched the vivid green stalks pass overhead. 

Law wrapped an arm around Luffy’s stomach and followed his gaze upward. “We are,” he answered with a smile. “Just making a stop here first.” Stroking the fabric above Luffy’s navel, Law marveled at the dramatic changes to his brain chemistry, at the incredible highs and lows he had experienced in the span of twenty-four hours. Luffy rested his hand over Law’s, triggering another spike of dopamine in Law’s brain. As the smile on his face grew wider, he draped his free arm across Luffy’s chest. He squeezed him and rested his lips on top of his head. 

“Torao.” Luffy’s warm giggle struck a chord of bliss within Law that reverberated to his extremities. 

“Hmm?” he breathed into Luffy’s dark hair.

“Tama lives near here,” Luffy commented.

“Yeah? That’s the girl from yesterday? This is her dog, right?” Law raised his head and asked.

Luffy responded, “Yep!” After a moment passed, his voice softened. “Can you imagine living in this?” He gestured to the bamboo forest around them. “This is what it would be like if I could breathe underwater.” 

Law raised an eyebrow. “How do you figure that?”

“It’s so green, kinda like the sea, y’know?” he began. “Just deep green as far as you can see. And it’s so quiet here. Like, a quiet so big it fills your ears. I think that’s what it would be like to be in the ocean if I could breathe and didn’t have to worry about drowning.”

“A big quiet, huh?” Law murmured with a smile and paused, listening to bamboo leaves rustle in the distant crown of the forest and the soft padding of Komachiyo’s paws over the leaf-covered ground. “I see what you mean…Hey, why don’t we stop here?”

“Hm? What for?” Luffy sat up, breaking out of Law’s hold, and turned to face him.

Law smirked. “Lunch.”

Luffy grinned and bellowed, “Komachiyo! Stop!” His feet hit the ground before the creature had ceased movement. “Where’s the food, Torao?” he asked, surveying the contents of the box tied to Komachiyo’s back. 

“The basket,” Law grunted as he slid along the creature’s flank.

Moments later, Luffy had extracted the basket and was pulling the cloth away to reveal its contents. “Oi!” Law called out.

“What?” he asked, annoyed.

“Help me with this stuff first,” Law ordered as he pulled two sacks down from Komachiyo’s back. He held out one to Luffy. “Give half of this to the dog. He needs to eat too.”

Nodding in understanding, Luffy took the bag and walked up to Komachiyo’s head. He stroked the yellow fur along the creature’s cheeks and grinned, “You’re really helping us out. Thanks, doggy.” 

Komachiyo barked out a friendly woof and wagged his tail. 

Law smirked, observing them from the corner of his eye while he pulled a blanket from his bag and spread it over the ground. With Luffy occupied, he was able to unpack the basket into a neat arrangement atop the blanket. 

Once Komachiyo had eaten his allotted meal, Luffy returned to Law. His eyes sparkled as he plopped cross-legged onto the blanket. “This looks so good!” he beamed.

Law sat opposite him and poured himself a cup of sake. “You can thank your cook for this,” he said before taking a sip. 

“Sanji made this for us? What a guy!” Luffy chuckled.

“Yeah, well,” Law started, an eyebrow raised, “he owes it to you after that list he gave you.”

“Wha lish?” Luffy asked through a mouth full of food.

Law reached for an onigiri. “The one you used for our date in Dressrosa.” He let out a snort as he brought the rice ball closer to his mouth, noticing the meticulously cut, heart-shaped flakes of nori dotting the surface. While he ate the ostentatious–but undeniably exquisite–meal Sanji had prepared for them, Law watched Luffy with an almost morbid fascination. His mouth stretched around heaps of food that he swallowed in one gulp. Law marveled at the weird, endearing man for whom he had fallen so damn hard.

The food disappeared in five minutes; Law was grateful he had thought to keep his portion of lunch separate and close at hand. Now, he drank his cup of sake slowly and admired the view. Across from him, Luffy exhaled a satisfied sigh and rotated one leg up until his foot was flat on the ground, and rested his chin upon his knee. The black cloth of his yukata parted over his thigh, spreading out to the sides. Law choked on the alcohol in his throat when a strip of red peeked out from Luffy’s clothes. Throat burning, he coughed.

“You good?” Luffy frowned.

Law nodded, wincing and closing his eyes while his face and ears burned. “Swallowed the wrong way,” he finally rasped when his lungs had calmed. 

Opening his eyes was a glorious mistake he would repeat again and again if given the opportunity to relive this moment. Luffy’s yukata had fallen away further, exposing more red lace beneath it. Law’s heartbeat struck hard and fast. Panic rose in his chest as he watched the bulge in Luffy’s underwear swell and felt a corresponding pressure against his own cock.

Luffy flashed him a quizzical smile and followed his gaze downward. When he looked back up, a flush had settled over his cheeks. Law darted his eyes up and over Luffy’s shoulder as he brought the cup to his lips and sipped, ignoring the fact that it was already empty.

“Why did you look away?” Luffy pouted playfully.

Brow furrowed, Law steeled himself to look at Luffy and maintain his composure–a futile effort, given that Luffy had turned things into a spectacle. His legs were spread further and his robe had been pulled aside so only the thin red obi fell across the skin of his waist. Law’s mind fell to pieces. He dragged his eyes over Luffy’s skin, down his stomach, up his legs, and finally to the brilliant red panties that he wanted to stroke, pull between his teeth, and tear apart all at once.

Luffy licked his lips. “You still look so hungry, Torao,” he teased.

Law inhaled, his breath uneven, and forced himself to meet his gaze. The fever building in his body amplified under the impish glow of Luffy’s stare. A slight twitch of Luffy’s left eye foreshadowed the solid rod of heat that pressed vertically along Law’s pelvis. Mirroring Luffy's earlier movements, he looked down at himself and observed the shape of Luffy's erection nudging at his clothes. 

Smirking, Law leaned back against two thick stalks of bamboo. “You seem kinda hungry yourself.”

“What do you expect when you look at me like that?” Luffy huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. 

Blaming the sake for his behavior, Law loosened his obi and parted his yukata. He raised his hips and swept his underwear down his legs. For a moment, Law examined the surreal sensation of seeing a dick, not his own, between his legs while he bent forward to unhook the underwear from his ankles. Straightening his spine, he held Luffy's gaze and threw him a daring smile. He relished the deepening of Luffy's blush.

Slowly, Law raised his right hand to his mouth, fingers spread while he stretched out his tongue. Luffy's heavy breaths were audible from across the blanket as Law dragged his thumb over his tongue, the pink of his mouth contrasting against his skin and the black inked “D” on his finger. 

Law brought his thumb to rest atop Luffy’s cock. A gasp bloomed from Luffy’s lips and broadcast a desire that Law felt deep within himself. Wrapping his remaining fingers around the shaft, Law nestled his thumb into the thick bead of precum that welled at the tip. Gently, he drew the pad of his finger in small rotations along the head, widening into larger circles until he skated the full circumference of the corona and covered the sensitive pink skin in a glistening sheen. His movements were slow and silken as he traced the ridge, slipping upward with each revolution to follow the curve where the seam of raised skin met the head.

“Torao,” Luffy moaned. He angled his legs further apart, hips shifting as he watched Law tease his cock. Biting down on his lip, he knit his brows in determination. Luffy raised himself onto one hip to tug the red lace of his boyshorts over the curve of his ass and past Law’s stiff erection. He lifted a knee to his chest and stretched the underwear off of his leg. 

The view of Luffy's balls resting beneath his own cock sent an electric thrill over Law’s skin as he watched. To Law's delight, Luffy left the panties looped around his other thigh, the red lace bright against pale skin and coordinating deliciously with the thin obi still draped over his abdomen. 

Once Luffy sat back down, he splayed his legs, letting one stretch flat on the blanket while bending the other at the knee and planting his foot on the ground. The undies hung from his elevated thigh and against his hip, lace draping down to caress one side of his balls. He grinned at Law.

“Shit, Luffy,” Law rasped playfully. His pulse hammered in his chest and his cock. He flicked the tip of his tongue across his lower lip as he watched precum drip down his shaft, which looked thicker than normal against Luffy's paler skin and smaller frame.

Luffy's smile transformed into a smirk; he slipped a finger under his obi and pulled until he reached the end of the cloth. 

Meanwhile, Law brought his hand to his mouth, spat into his palm, and returned to Luffy's cock. He watched, mesmerized as Luffy raised the strip of fabric and clamped it between his teeth, the red bringing out the flush of his cheeks and making the white of his teeth even brighter. Forgetting that the dick on his body was not his own, Law gripped the head of Luffy's shaft and slid his fist down. Law’s momentary confusion at the lack of feeling disappeared as Luffy hissed around the fabric in his mouth. 

An uneven, breathy chuckle escaped Law’s throat. He studied Luffy’s face like it was a pornographic marvel. His hand pumped along Luffy's cock and coated it with the saliva collected in his palm, each motion emitting a wet, slick sound. 

Luffy's expression was dynamic. Teeth still locked around the obi, his lips twitched with the stroke of Law’s hand. The color on his cheeks deepened and spread until his neck, shoulders and chest glowed with the blush of arousal. He narrowed his eyes, brows lowered above them. Despite the frantic cadence of his breath, he slid his fingers along the cloth hanging from his mouth. With his left hand he looped the fabric over the girth of Law’s shaft, starting just below the head and twirling it around and around until he reached the base. He pulled the obi taut with his hand at one end and his bite at the other.

Law groaned at the pressure along his cock, at this image of Luffy watching him watching him… “Fuck,” he spat when his desire swelled inside of him. Luffy wasn’t giving him more and he needed more , but he refused to give in. Instead, he picked up the pace. He kept his thumb along the underside of the shaft while he tightened his grasp. With each upward motion, he pressed the pad of his finger inward so that it rubbed along the frenulum’s ridged skin and across Luffy’s opening.

The red fabric in Luffy’s mouth darkened with spit as he inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his teeth. Each breath seemed more desperate than the last. His body flushed further, even his knees took on a roseate glow. The cloth around Law’s cock tightened when Luffy squeezed his eyes shut. Law arched his back but maintained his pace while he worked the shaft in his hand. 

“You gonna cum for me, Luffy?” Law teased, voice syrupy but strained enough to betray his lust.

Luffy released a low moan in response before letting his free hand roam across his own stomach. His fingertips traced the ridges of his abs before reaching his nipple. He took the pink bud between his thumb and middle finger and pinched.

Beneath the frantic twitching of Luffy’s foot, the blanket bunched. Law increased the speed of his strokes as he watched Luffy’s toes curl. “Luuuffyyy,” he sang. “You are such a fucking sight.” Luffy opened his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows deeper. Law continued, “Do you know how pink you are right now? You look like you’re burning up.” A spark of pleasure tickled Law’s core when Luffy issued a high-pitched mewl. “You’re just so fuckable when you look at me that way.” With a lewd chuckle he added, “If you keep curling your toes like that I might have to come over there and suck on them. You liked that, didn’t–”

“Law!” Luffy cried, the obi falling from his mouth. 

Law felt the twitch of Luffy’s orgasm in his palm as semen shot from the tip. Thick droplets of cum landed on the blanket and trickled down the shaft and over Law’s fingers. Across from him, Luffy had flung his eyes wide. His teeth sunk into his bottom lip and pulled the supple flesh inward.

“Law,” he called again. His voice had faded to a weak gasp. 

As the spasms in Luffy’s cock ceased, Law slowed his hand to a stop and released him from his grip. He watched Luffy come down to earth, chest heaving. His limbs relaxed and the wild flame in his eyes settled. When his mouth spread into a soft smile, Law couldn’t help mimicking the joy on his face.

Giggling, Luffy rolled his head to the side. “That was good, Torao.”

Law blushed, surprising himself with the intense satisfaction he derived from Luffy’s verbalized appreciation. “I-I’m glad,” he stammered.

Luffy shivered and hummed, seemingly out of pleasure rather than temperature. Suddenly, his eyes sharpened and he glanced down. The red fabric hung loosely around Law’s shaft. Law gulped when Luffy met his gaze and smirked, “You look pretty hard, Torao.”

“Well, you put on quite a show,” Law retorted, hoping he came off smooth despite the need that still ached within him.

Luffy chewed at the corner of his lip and looked down. “Ya know, I couldn’t cum when we were apart the past couple weeks,” he explained while picking up the ends of the obi. Glancing at Law, he added, “Like, at all.”

“Why’s that?” Law asked. His eyes followed Luffy’s hands as they wrapped the thin cloth around the base of his cock three times. “Do you normally ha– ah ,” he stopped sharply when Luffy pulled the obi tight. Swallowing, he finished, “Have a hard time with that?”

“Not usually. I don’t usually feel like I need to get off that much, but since…since you I think about it way more,” Luffy answered. He fussed with the fabric, pulling it neatly into place so it appeared as one smooth loop around Law’s dick. “I tried to get off so many times while you were gone,” he chuckled shyly. His tone grew quiet when he finished, “But…every time I got close I kept thinking about the way we left things at Zou and how hurt you looked.”

“I…I’m sorry?” Law hesitated “I don’t really know what you want me to say.” 

“Ah! No, no. I’m just trying to tell you how much I missed you and this…It’s good to have you back.” Luffy smiled and tied the ends of the obi into a bow that hung at the base of the shaft, facing Law. “It looks so pretty,” he remarked. Before Law could react, he tilted his head and said, “Did you cum without me?”

Law opened his mouth to respond but paused, struggling to find a coherent response while the throbbing in his cock commanded his attention. “Maybe once or twice,” he finally mumbled.

Luffy traced a bulging vein along Law’s shaft with his index finger and hummed. “I know it shouldn’t bother me, but I don’t like that I wasn’t there for that. I love watching you cum,” he sighed. His finger traveled upward, delicately sweeping over the sensitive tip. 

Law’s willpower melted beneath the touch. He whimpered and bucked his hips forward instinctively. 

“Do you want to cum, Torao?” Luffy purred.

“Y-yeah,” Law nodded. He tensed under Luffy’s mischievous gaze.

Luffy gripped the base of Law’s cock to hold it in place, the red bow brushing over his fingers. Jaw shifting, he leaned forward until he lingered directly above the rosy head. From this position, he raised his eyes to meet Law’s. His cheeks hollowed and lips pursed. Law gulped as a thick glob of saliva stretched from Luffy’s lower lip. Luffy nudged it forward with the tip of his tongue and the thread of spit stretched thinner, thinner, until it snapped. A hiss issued from between Law’s teeth when it landed on the head of his dick with a splat.

With a languidness that made Law want to shout, Luffy hovered his fist above the head of Law’s dick. His hand moved downward, slipping Law into his tight grasp one slow inch at a time. 

The blanket caught between Law’s fingers as he tensed. The long-awaited sensation was almost too much to bear. His back arched and he exhaled a loud breath through his nose. From narrowed eyes, he watched Luffy’s mouth curve into a devilish smile. His heart beat even faster. Luffy’s hand moved up and down, maintaining an unhurried, steady pace. 

“Luffy, please,” Law gasped. His request was ignored, despite Luffy watching his every move. The intensity of Luffy’s gaze only served to sharpen his hunger. He tried again, “Faster.”

“Faster?” Luffy repeated, tone light and playful. 

“Faster, please,” Law grumbled.

To his surprise and relief, Luffy did as he asked. “Oh,” Law groaned. His hand slicked over Law’s cock at a rapid cadence. Law’s breath grew frantic as the tension in his core began to glow, edging closer and closer to orgasm. He hissed, “Luffy, I’m gonna–”

“No.” Luffy’s grip loosened and his hand slowed. 

“No?” Law repeated, bewildered.

Luffy shook his head. “No, not yet.” 

Law grit his teeth in frustration but held back a response. Instead, he closed his eyes and tilted his head backward, focusing on Luffy’s touch. 

Calling him back, Luffy mused, “You said once or twice…I guess we’ll go with twice to be on the safe side.”

“Huh?” he mumbled. 

“Twice.” Luffy’s diabolical smirk sent an electric thrill down Law’s spine, a mix of fear and excitement. “That’s the number of times you came without me,” he explained. His cold tone contrasted with the eager gleam in his eye.

Law moaned when the hand around his cock tightened, “Mmmmfh.” His frustration was mounting. Glaring at Luffy, he growled, “Why are you doing this?”

Luffy licked his lips. “If you could see yourself I think you’d understand,” he chuckled. “You’re so pretty.”

Law huffed and turned his head to the side. He didn’t want Luffy to see how much he loved hearing that, especially in the middle of this game he was playing. His breath hitched as the pace of Luffy’s hand increased. The gliding friction of the palm around his shaft drew sparks behind Law’s eyes. Each pass over the nerves of his glans pushed him closer to the edge. He bent his head downward, eyes and mouth clamped shut. The light, the warmth was so near he could feel the fuse of his body burning.

And then it was gone. When Luffy’s hand froze, gripped just above the red fabric, Law’s eyes flew open. Law scowling. “I didn’t even say anything that time!” he spat. “Fuck!” 

Luffy giggled, “You think I can’t tell when you’re about to cum?”

“Fucking… fuck,” Law swore. His skin glimmered with sweat; his body was on fire. Luffy’s smug expression fueled his desperation. “Come on, Luffy,” he pleaded.

Relenting, Luffy began stroking Law’s cock at a languid pace. His palm and fingers wrapped around the shaft, providing friction but hardly any pressure. 

Law’s agony rumbled in his throat. He tried to make the most of what Luffy would give him, passing his hands over his own body to increase sensation. He ran his fingers through the dark locks of his hair. He pulled, imagining Luffy’s hands tugging on his hair instead of his own.

“Mmm,” Luffy hummed with pleasure. “That deserves a bit more,” he teased. 

Law exhaled a deep groan as Luffy tightened his fist. He brought his hands down his neck and slowly dragged them across his chest. He traced a nipple with each index finger, the sensitive skin electric to the touch. “More, Luffy,” he gasped.

His feet pressed into the ground, pushing the blanket forward and leaning into the bamboo behind him. When Luffy didn’t adjust his grip or his pace, Law hissed, “Please.” This didn’t earn a response either. His frustration compounded, the tension in his aching core almost unbearable. He released one nipple to grab at his thigh, fingernails digging into the supple flesh. “Fucking damnit, Luffy! I need it,” he cried. The rhythm of Luffy’s hand quickened, triggering a gasp from Law’s throat. His voice wavered as he murmured sheepishly, “Thank you.” He thought he might weep.

Luffy squeezed Law’s cock within his grip, lingering over the head with each stroke. Law’s mind spun from the contact. The obi, still tied into a bow at the root of his shaft, kept a consistent pressure that telegraphed through the rest of his dick. Every upward stroke of Luffy’s hand triggered a voltage in Law’s stomach as the ridge of his glans was pressed in from all sides. 

“Oh shit,” Law panted. Tension wracked his body, a tight spring coiling in his core that made his body quake. “Fuck! Oh, Luffy!” he cried out, voice urgent. 

Luffy grinned and tightened his grasp, pumping Law’s cock furiously. 

“Ohh! Fuck!” Law swore as his muscles contracted. The tremor drove through his cock, his pelvis, and his core. His stomach felt molten, that much brighter after being twice denied. The muscles on his abdomen twitched as he came. His legs quivered and the crown of his head tingled. Bathed in rapture, relief swept over his body.

Law eventually looked up through bleary eyes. He watched while Luffy wiped his cum-coated hand on the blanket and untied the obi. The red fabric fell to the ground and Law twitched, an aftershock of ecstasy rippling outward from the root of his body. 

Luffy clambered across the blanket on his hands and knees, his black yukata flowing behind him. He nudged the empty basket out of the way and stopped when he was just inches from Law’s face. Law blinked in surprise at his proximity, too exhausted to comment.

“Are you mad at me?” Luffy asked, eyes wide as he studied Law.

“What?” Law mumbled, brows furrowed in confusion.

Luffy averted his gaze briefly before clarifying softly, “For teasing you so much.”

“Oh.” Law hesitated, his post-fuck mind still swimming amidst the clouds. “No,” he managed to say.

A massive grin spread across Luffy’s face. “Can I have a kiss then?”

Law let out a puff of laughter. “Come and get it,” he smirked. 

He caught the sparkle in Luffy’s eyes before he closed them, leaning forward. A tender warmth fluttered in Law’s chest at the brief glimpse of Luffy’s serene, flushed face. Their lips met gently. Luffy sighed against Law’s mouth. Law savored the soft warmth until Luffy pulled back. 

They stared at one another for several moments until Law asked, “Want to switch back now?”

“Nah,” Luffy shook his head and smiled. “I wanna keep yours for a while longer.”

“Alright,” Law snorted and shook his head. He stretched his neck from side to side and added, “We should probably get going. It’ll still take a bit until we get to the Flower Capital.”

Luffy pouted briefly before nodding in agreement. He got to his feet, stepping into the red panties with his other leg and pulling them up and over Law’s cock. After he found his obi, he fixed his clothes. Law followed suit, dressing before turning his attention to cleaning up the chaos of their picnic spread. 

When everything had been tidied and packed up, Law climbed up onto Komachiyo’s back. He flinched when Luffy’s rubber hands stretched in front of him, grabbing hold of the creature’s golden fur. The rest of Luffy followed shortly, snapping him into place before him. Law smiled when Luffy straddled Komachiyo and inched backward until he pressed against his chest. 

They had hardly been traveling more than a few minutes when Luffy announced, “Torao, I’m tired.”

“Eh?” Law scoffed. “So suddenly?”

Ignoring him, Luffy yawned. “Can I sleep on you?” he mumbled and rested his weight on Law’s chest.

“I guess,” Law chuckled. “I don’t understand how this hits you so quickly…Luffy?” To his amazement, Luffy was already asleep. He let himself bend down to inhale the scent of Luffy’s hair and listened to the delicate rhythm of his breath. Smiling, he muttered to himself, “He’s gonna sleep like a rock after tonight.”

Chapter Text

Law's hand tightened around Luffy's wrist as he pulled him to his side. A cart rumbled down the crowded street, barreling through the spot he had stood in moments before. He blinked up at Law in surprise, his chest bumping against his torso as he turned.

Law sighed, “Luffy-ya, you’ve got to pay attention. We can't afford to be recognized here.”

“But there's so much to see,” he frowned.

“Yeah, so look at the stuff in front of you.”

Luffy beamed, “That’s a funny way of saying you want me to look at you.” As he watched the blush spreading over Law's cheeks, a warmth churned in his stomach. He chuckled, intertwining his fingers with Law’s, and nodded. “Lead the way.”

They stepped back into the crowd and moved with the flow of traffic. Luffy stuck close to Law’s side, anchoring himself through their tangled fingers. He tightened his grip when they passed anything that piqued his interest: a stall selling fried octopus, a poet for hire, a table piled high with exotic fruits, a woman who asked him if he wanted to have a good time (he did!) except it turned out to be a bad time because Law almost got into a fight with her, a bookstore that smelled like Robin, a stack of cool-looking sticks… The sights in Wano were endless. 

When they finally turned off onto a narrow side street, Luffy realized he had just trapped Law’s hand in an unceasing crushing hold. He eased his grip when Law stopped in front of a modest building, its facade bursting with purple blooms of wisteria. 

“Takeda Color? What’s that?” Luffy asked, head tilted as he read the sign above the door.

Law moved to the entrance, gently tugging Luffy along. “You’ll see.”

They stepped into a foyer lined with cedar shelves, each featuring row after row of ceramics, some painted, fired and others still unfinished. Luffy’s nose twitched at the earthy scent of clay mixed with the chemical bite of paint and glaze. 

He turned to Law, ready to ask what they were doing there, when the rapid shuffling of footsteps distracted him. A petite woman appeared from a connecting hallway. “Welcome!” her voice fluttered across the room. “You must be Usohachi’s friends,” she exclaimed after taking in the couple. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, she bowed forward. “I am Takeda Megumi. You can call me Megumi.”

“I'm… Torao, and this is Luffytarou,” Law returned the bow politely. “Thank you for having us.”

The woman waved her hand in front of her face. “Don’t be silly. I’m just glad to be doing Usohachi a favor. He’s helped me so much, you know? Come on in.” She beckoned for them to follow as she retreated down the hallway.

“You know Usop–-er, Usohachi?” Luffy asked.

Over her shoulder she answered, “I buy toad oil from him every week now. It’s made all the difference for my mother's joints.”

Law clicked his tongue. “Toad oil, huh?” he muttered, voice overflowing with disdain. 

Megumi didn't notice–-or chose to ignore--his tone and replied, “Unfortunately she can’t work with her hands like she used to, so I’ve taken over most of the business.” Cheerfully she added, “Don’t worry! My mother taught me the trade at a very young age. Only someone with an expertly-trained eye could tell our work apart.”

They arrived in a small but neatly arranged workroom. A breeze drifted through the open window. Delicate tinkling reached their ears from a wind chime hanging under the eaves. 

“Are we making pottery?” Luffy blinked as he assessed clay blocks, stocks of paint, oddly-shaped hooks and knives, still unsure where he fit into all of this.

The woman giggled and flashed a look at Law, who blushed under her pointed smile. He cleared his throat and let go of Luffy’s hand. Tucking a thumb under his obi, he stammered, “We’re going to paint pottery. It’s already been made, so we just have to paint it. I… I thought it might be nice to make each other something since we, uh, probably won’t be traveling together much longer.” 

Luffy’s heart soared while his stomach dropped, two complicated emotions pulling him in opposite directions. The sweetness of the idea and the pain of the reason… It hurt and he didn’t like it. Hadn’t he sorted all of this out already? Wasn’t he supposed to be happy now that he worked through the difficult stuff? 

He didn’t have an answer. So he pushed the negative feeling down further and further until only the positive was left. Eyes glimmering, he exclaimed, “You’re so smart, Torao! That's a great idea.” 

Law’s shy satisfaction was obvious. Turning to Megumi, Luffy asked playfully, “Oi, Megi. You got any paint to match the shade of Torao’s face? I wanna remember that.”

Through poorly stifled laughter, she answered, “It’s harder to come by paint in a red that vibrant, but I’ll check in the back. Have a look around and pick out a piece you each want to paint, okay?” 

Luffy nodded as she ducked under a curtained doorway and disappeared. He faced Law, studying the crimson that had spread over his cheeks and ears. “It's the same color, you know,” he observed. 

Law finally returned his stare. “As what?” he asked, curiosity enticing him into conversation.

“My underwear,” Luffy cackled and wrapped his arms around Law's waist as the surgeon suppressed a tortured but amused groan. Luffy squeezed his arms and locked him in his embrace. The thick warmth of Law's erection pressed against his skin, still attached to his body. “Shishishi, I just mentioned the panties. That's all it took?” he chuckled, voice quiet and teasing. 

Pressing his chin to Law's chest and looking up, Luffy spoke again. “Seriously though… Thanks, Torao. This is great.”

Law cradled the back of Luffy's head with his palm and draped his arm around Luffy's waist. “I'm glad. I wasn't sure if… Well, if this would be something you'd like,” he mumbled.

“Anything is great if it's with you,” Luffy replied, scarcely able to hear his own voice over the drumming of his heartbeat in his ears, his chest, his body. It had grown louder over the past month, which he didn't quite understand, especially since Law had shown him that there was nothing wrong with his heart. Despite that, there was a distinct rhythm he had come to recognize, and it only seemed to amplify with time. 

Pushing these thoughts down, Luffy stepped away and let his hands fall to his sides. He assumed his typical carefree demeanor and declared, “Besides, I'm a pretty good artist.”

“You're something, alright,” Law snorted. “Now come on, we have to pick.”

Luffy's eyes widened at the reminder. He spun around and hovered over the ceramics, inspecting each piece with his face inches away. “Which one do you want?” he asked Law.

“Honestly, whatever you choose will be good. I just want something that will make me think of you,” he shrugged.

“Torao, none of these look like me,” Luffy complained as he gestured to the ceramics before him.

Law smirked and stepped forward to look at their options. “Why don't we each paint one of these?” he suggested, tapping the rim of a simple traditional tea cup. “It doesn't need to look like you. I just want it to remind me of you somehow.”

Luffy picked up the cup and narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, okay. I've got some ideas,” he agreed, flashing a grin at Law. 

When Megumi returned, she set them up at a work table in the center of the room. They sat across from one another, Luffy with his back to the window so the subtle wind drifted over the nape of his neck, where the collar of his yukata lifted to expose the skin. Both had their ceramic tea cups before them along with a variety of paints and brushes.

They worked steadily, exchanging stories about their time apart as they painted. Law maintained order on his side of the table, painting with precise and slow movements, while Luffy took a haphazard approach; the workspace was splattered with a myriad of colors that reflected his chaotic application of paint to the cup’s surface. 

When he finished outlining a string of block letters, Luffy set his brush down and looked up. The thunder in his chest was staggering as he gazed at Law; he instinctively clutched at the cloth draped over his heart. Law’s face possessed a rare serenity that captivated him and, apparently, drove his pulse into a feverish rhythm. His eyes were relaxed while he painted with measured strokes, the breeze lifting a wisp of hair away from his face. Unconsciously, Luffy tapped out the beat with his finger atop his chest while he stared. The subtle movement caught Law’s attention. 

“What?” he asked when he raised his head to meet Luffy’s gaze. 

Cheeks glowing, Luffy stammered, “N-nothing.” He shifted his eyes back to the cup before him and picked up a brush.

Law chuckled and paused to look over his shoulder, confirming that Megumi was still working with her back turned to them, before leaning forward and murmuring, “If you keep making that face I’m going to come over there and devour you.”

Despite the increasing intensity of his pink complexion, Luffy narrowed his eyes. He leaned forward until their faces hovered just inches apart and challenged, “You think your appetite can compete with mine?”

Law lifted his eyebrows and smirked. Luffy closed the gap to kiss him, lips wet and pliant as he closed his eyes. Savoring the taste of Law's mouth against his own, he moved slowly. The smack of their lips rivaled the resounding beat of his heart. Gentle chiming floated around them, following the intervals of wind that carried in the distant din of conversation from outside. Luffy paused, opening his eyes and pulling back to check that Megumi was still turned away. Satisfied, he returned his attention to Law, whose eyes had relaxed into a dreamy silver glow floating above flushed cheeks. Luffy moved in, eager to feel the warmth of Law’s lips on his own again. Law leaned back, a teasing smile spreading over his lips. Luffy chased after him, ignoring the edge of the table that bit into his hips. 

“Don’t run, Torao,” he whispered against Law’s lower lip once he had stretched far enough to kiss him. 

Law’s laughter was a breathy chuckle that Luffy caught in his mouth and tumbled over his tongue. He pressed harder, the curve of a smile pulling on his own lips when Law matched his urgency. Eager, Luffy leaned in further.

“Mmn,” Law moaned. 

They both opened their eyes in surprise at the sound that had risen unconsciously from within him. Law slid back in his chair and moved to grab his brush, knocking over a small bowl of black paint as he did so. 

“Shit!” he cursed.

Luffy froze, watching him frantically try to recover the paint with his hands. 

“Everything alright?” Megumi called over her shoulder before getting out of her seat.

As he sat down, Luffy blinked at Law's solid erection that pressed along his own groin. No wonder Law had reacted like that–it must have rubbed along the underside of the table. He struggled to hide the impish glee that sought to burst from his chest. 

“Oh, dear. What happened here?” Megumi asked sympathetically. She deftly pulled rags from her apron pocket and mopped up the paint.

Law mumbled, “Just clumsy. Sorry about that.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “No worries at all. You’ve got it all over your hands though.”

Luffy studied Law’s face while he stealthily drew his hand under the table, moving his yukata to the side and pulling his underwear down to the base of Law’s cock. 

Law began, “Do you have–-urk! ” Luffy’s hand closed around his shaft and squeezed. Desperately, he tried to conceal his grunt with a cough, “Ehem, sorry. Just, uh, heart palpitations.” He threw a complicated glare at Luffy, who had moved to gently circle the head, before continuing, “You have a–- ah sink?”

Megumi nodded, concern flooding her features. “This way,” she tilted her head toward the hallway. Law followed after her.

Luffy admired the bulge of his own erection poking at Law’s yukata as he walked away. When they disappeared down the hall, he took the opportunity to spit into his palm. He worked it over Law’s cock, relishing how it hardened further under his touch. 

While he pumped his fist, a set of unused brushes sitting at the end of the table caught his eye. He swiped a brush with his free hand, tucking it under his thigh.

Footfall echoed from the hallway, so Luffy slowed his hand until the slick sound of saliva on skin was imperceptible. Law stepped into the room, laughing unevenly at something Megumi had said. The exposed skin of his neck and chest burned with a flush that matched his face. 

Luffy bit into his lip to keep himself from grinning as Law sat down with a loud thunk. He glared at Luffy, eyes smoldering with an animalistic amalgamation of rage, lust, and helplessness. 

“What’s up, Torao?” he asked innocently. Under the cover of his voice, he quickened his strokes along Law's dick. “Do you have a fever?”

Law’s mouth twitched. He took a deep breath through his nose. “Nope, I'm just fine,” he grumbled and focused his attention on the half-painted cup before him.

“Boys, I'm going to run a quick delivery–-it’s an urgent order. Should just be a few minutes. Do you mind?” Megumi's voice chimed as she stuck her head in from the doorway.

Luffy beamed. “No problem, Megi! We can hold things down for you here. Right, Torao?”

“R-right,” Law croaked, still staring down at the table.

“Thank you so much. I'll be quick!” she called over her shoulder.

A second after the front door clacked shut, Law snapped his head up. “The fuck is wrong with you?!” he hissed.

“You’re the one who threatened to eat me!” Luffy pouted. 

Law clenched his teeth. “Would you stop jerking me off now?” he growled, his tone outlined with desperation.

Pushing his chair back until it was against the wall, Luffy pulled his yukata further apart and spread his legs for Law to see. “You really want me to stop?” he teased, squeezing Law’s shaft harder while slowing his pace.

The Adam's apple bobbed in Law's throat as he watched. With a noticeably weaker tone than before, he argued, “This is Ms. Takeda’s studio. She's been kind enough to let us do this as a favor to Nose-ya. Why don’t we just paint?”

“Paint?” Luffy smiled. “Good idea,” he purred as he pulled the paintbrush from under his thigh.

“You've gotta be kidding me.” Law let out a groan that curved upward into a laugh.

Luffy stretched out his glistening tongue and slid the bristles over it slowly, once for each side. 

“Luffy,” Law warned.

Clutching the base of Law's cock with his left hand, Luffy brought the tip of the brush to his glans. He traced a small circle around the opening as he got a feel for the weight and stiffness of the bristles. Feeling comfortable, he painted a line down the side of the shaft. Law shuddered. 

“I’ve told you how pretty you are, right Torao?” Luffy smirked, stealing a glance at Law’s rapt face. In the absence of a response, he continued, “ So pretty. Like a work of art.”

Law scoffed and buried his face in his hands, elbows on the table. Luffy frowned but continued to paint stripes of spit down the length of his cock. “You don't wanna cum?” he asked, playfulness stained with a hint of disappointment.

“Of course I want to cum!” Law spat. He lifted his head, and Luffy could see just how much he meant it. Before he could respond, Law continued, “But what, you want me to cum on the table? Mix it into the fucking paint? This--nngh-–isn't a hotel room, Luffy.”

Neck tilted, Luffy chuckled, “You've got a mouth, don't you?”

Law blinked, stunned. After a moment he ventured, “It's my own dick. Isn't that kind of… fucked?”

“Since when do you care about that? Besides, I'm not asking you to suck yourself off. You just need to catch,” he snorted. Excitement flared in his chest as he watched Law's hesitation melt away. He beckoned to the floor before him. “C'mere.”

Slowly, Law got to his feet and walked around the table. Luffy exhaled a satisfied breath. Gently, he swiped the brush across the head of Law's dick, collecting a droplet of precum into the bristles. He painted a languid loop around the corona, pulling a poorly stifled gasp from Law’s lips.

With Law kneeling between his legs, Luffy smiled. He raised the paintbrush as Law leaned an arm across his thigh, head propped on his tattooed fist. A laugh bubbled from his chest at the confused look on his face when he swiped the brush over Law’s nose. 

Feigning distaste, Law grumbled, “Freak.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not the one who got on his knees to cum into his own mouth,” Luffy cackled.

“Oi!” Law growled. “It was your idea!” 

Luffy’s smile softened. “Yeah, and it’s a good one,” he remarked. Tossing the paintbrush onto the ground, he tapped underneath Law’s chin before holding his hand out, palm up. “Spit,” he ordered when Law threw him a quizzical expression. 

“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Law sighed before gathering saliva onto his tongue and spitting into Luffy’s hand.

Chuckling, Luffy ignored the remark and returned his hand to Law’s dick. As he slid his palm over the shaft, coating the length evenly, Law moaned quietly. The sensuous reaction spurred Luffy to move more quickly, settling into a rapid cadence once he was satisfied with the decreased friction. On every upward pull he tightened his grip over the head and rubbed his thumb across Law's delicate nerve endings. He studied Law as he did this, reveling in the tension of his jaw and neck, the simmering heat in his narrowed eyes, and the subtle twitch of his mouth on each upswing. 

“Shit, I think… I…” Law hesitated, eyebrows furrowing. 

Luffy fixed the thumb of his free hand over the bottom row of Law's teeth, using the hold to widen his open mouth and pull him closer. Law's breath hitched when Luffy aimed his cock toward his gaping mouth while pumping his hand even faster. 

“Stick out your tongue,” he instructed. His own cock throbbed as Law did as he asked, stretching his tongue forward.

“Ah,” Law gasped as cum shot across his tongue, into his throat, and over his lips. 

“Wow,” Luffy whispered. The satisfied glow of Law's face while he stared up into his eyes was too beautiful, almost too blinding. Cum coated his tongue in a creamy sheen, while a single drop rested on his upper lip. 

Luffy released Law’s jaw and lifted his thumb to stroke his cheek, wondering if Law could feel the deafening pulse in his finger. “Torao, I–”

The distant creak of the door stopped him from speaking further. They looked at one another, eyes wide, before scrambling back into place. Luffy scooted his chair inward and hastily pulled his yukata into place while Law gulped and tried to stand up. Instead, he tripped over Luffy's foot and landed on his hands and knees. 

“Told you I would be quick!” Megumi's cheerful voice reached them moments before she stepped into the room. She hesitated in the doorway, frowning at Luffy. “Where did your friend go?” she asked.

Law shot his head up from behind the table and held up a paintbrush. “Just dropped this,” he explained too quickly as he climbed into his chair. 

“Ah,” she chuckled. “Everything going okay? Any questions?” 

“I think we're alright. Thanks though,” Law responded.

She hummed with concern as she examined his face. “I'm going to get you some water. You look like you're burning up.” Turning to Luffy, she chided playfully, “Keep an eye on him.”

“You can count on me, Megi!” he grinned.

—

Luffy peered into the cup, his face just far enough away to let light illuminate the bottom. “It looks so real!” he exclaimed as he turned to Law, who scratched the back of his neck bashfully. Returning to the cup, he craned his neck and examined the sides. The outside was black, featuring white spots along the base that mimicked the pattern on Law's hat. Inside, a detailed depiction of a human heart dried at the bottom. Eventually, he grinned at Law expectantly. “Do you like mine?”

Law stared at the cup before him, Luffy's love and chaos incarnate. The outside was red, a close match to his earlier blush. Layered over the coat of red was a series of symbols and images. He spotted the 'Cool S,' a straw hat, a potato-shaped heart, a white creature he assumed was Bepo. Plastered across the front, capital letters read “#1 ALLY.” The inside of the tea cup was also red, but a cartoonish face rested at the bottom.

“It’s perfect,” Law smirked. “That’s your face, right?”

Luffy nodded enthusiastically. “Yup! It's supposed to motivate you to drink more so you can see my face when you get to the bottom. Chopper is always nagging me about drinking more water so I figured that must be like, an important doctor thing.”

“Chopper is right, ya know. Drinking plenty of water is… Nevermind,” he sighed as Luffy’s attention waned. Shifting his tone, he teased, “What if I just never fill it because I want to see your face all the time?”

“Well…” Luffy hesitated as he thought about this, the confidence draining from his face. “Just don't do that! Drink your water or tea or whatever!” he grumbled.

Grinning, Law placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder and leaned toward him. He lowered his voice and said, “I'm going to drink so much fucking tea, Luffy-ya.”

Between the tenderness of Law's eyes, the firm grip on his shoulder, and the honey-coated implication underlying Law's declaration, Luffy felt like he was vibrating.

“Nice work, both of you,” Megumi remarked as she looked on from the other end of the table, her confusion not entirely masked. “I'll fire them this evening and have them ready for you to take home tomorrow, so stop by then, okay?”

“Thanks, Megi!” Luffy cried.

Law offered her his gratitude with a deep bow before herding Luffy out onto the street.

“So where to now?” Luffy asked.

Law smiled. “Come on. It's close.”

Luffy let Law guide him through more side streets until he spotted the hulking yellow figure of Komachiyo a block away. “DOG!” he yelled, letting go of Law's hand to run ahead. 

The creature turned at the slap of Luffy’s sandals against the earth and let out an excited bark. Arms stretched wide, Luffy dove into the thick fur of his mane. “Such a good boy! You watched our stuff for us this whole time, huh?” 

“Thanks, Komachi-ya,” Law added once he caught up to them.

Together, they unburdened Komachiyo of their belongings. Law spread out the rest of the food they had saved for him. “Come back tomorrow morning, yeah?” he remarked and gave the creature a pat. Komachiyo woofed, tail wagging. 

“Thanks, buddy!” Luffy grinned.

They left the creature to his meal and picked up their luggage. Law started toward the entrance of the building behind Komachiyo. Luffy paused, staring. “Are we staying here?” he asked, eyes wide.

“Yep, just for tonight. C’mon,” Law answered. 

Luffy followed him inside the inn, twisting his head to take in all the decor and furnishings of the traditional structure. A large woman, thickly built with hair pulled back into a tight bun, stood at a counter near the entrance. 

“Take off your shoes,” Law murmured, dipping his head toward his feet. 

Luffy did as instructed, kicking his sandals near the neatly lined row of shoes by the entrance. He rolled his eyes as Law arranged both of their shoes against the wall. 

The woman looked up, finally noticing them. Squinting over a pair of spectacles, she asked coldly, “Do you have a reservation?”

Law stepped forward and explained, “Yes. You should have us under Torao. Franosuke said–-”

“Oh!” she practically squealed. “You’re Franosuke’s friends!” Her demeanor flipped and she rushed out from behind the counter. She shook their hands in turn, her grip overwhelmingly strong and consistent with her initial imposing countenance. 

“Franosuke? Oh! You know Frankyosuke?!” Luffy grinned.

“Do I know Franosuke? Pfft!” she scoffed. “Of course I know him. He’s only the biggest help I’ve ever had in keeping this place in running order.”

Law explained quickly, “Franosuke does repairs for this inn. He helped us get a reservation here… at a rather significant discount.”

“Ohhh,” Luffy nodded. Turning to the innkeeper, he beamed, “Thanks, lady!” 

She giggled. “Call me Ms. Atatakura. And it’s no problem. Given how much money Franosuke has saved me with his repairs and upgrades, I’m still the one winning in this situation.” Pointing at the side garden from an open doorway, she added, “He’s even been helping me expand my birdhouse collection.”

They leaned to the side and peered through the door. Outside, a maple tree stood laden with dozens of birdhouses hanging from its branches. Almost half of them were crafted in wild shapes, explosive colors, and strange materials. 

“Do the birds actually like these?” Law grumbled.

“Of course they do!” Luffy retorted. “Unless they’re dumb. I mean, look at that one. It’s like half a spaceship glued to a burger. It’s so cool!”

Ms. Atatakura nodded appreciatively. “Yes, aren’t they beautiful? Now come, I shouldn’t keep you waiting like this. Let’s get you settled in your room and then you can come back and admire the birdhouses as much as you like!”

Their room showed no signs of Franky’s touch, instead featuring a refined simplicity. The sliding door to the closet was partially open, revealing the futon bedding they could unroll once they needed them. A low circular table stood atop the tatami floor in the center of the room, surrounded by several floor cushions. Two pale blue yukata were folded neatly on the table, soft and plush. There was a door to the right, presumably the bathroom. A floor length mirror hung to the left of the door.

Luffy ventured to the back wall and moved a sliding door aside. “Whoah,” he mumbled, taking in the lush garden that spread out before him. A raised wooden deck adjoined their room and hovered above a pond. Koi swam between massive lily pads, disturbing the serene water with the swish of their thick, golden tails.

“Whoah,” Law’s voice sounded behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “That’s what I said!” he laughed as Law pressed against his back, the sensation of his fingers tracing his hips electric even through his clothes. Leaning into him, Luffy remarked, “It's still weird feeling my own dick on my back when we touch like this.”

“Should we switch back?” Law bent down and asked, his mouth hovering by Luffy's ear.

Luffy paused before answering, “Yeah, I think I’m done for now.” Tilting his head upward, he smiled, “Thanks for going along with it.”

He chuckled, “It was fun. Even if you used it to torture me.” 

Luffy flinched as Law’s teeth closed around his neck. “Hey!” he giggled and spun around, grabbing Law’s waist. Gently, he pushed him back until they were inside. As he dropped his hands to his sides, Luffy looked up and met his gaze. The moment stretched while he sank into Law's eyes. A light radiated from within the silver pools of his irises, shining with a gentle and tender warmth.

Da-DUM.

His veins sang. The thumping in his chest beat louder, competing with the ringing in his ears.

He gulped, blinking rapidly. Desperate to regain control of himself, he finally chuckled breathlessly, “What?”

Law smiled. “Nothing. Just like looking at you.”

Luffy chewed on his lip and turned to hide his burning face. “I uh, should close the door I guess,” he mumbled. 

A soft chuckle sounded behind him, followed by receding footsteps. He took a deep breath and stepped toward the door, absently rubbing at his sternum. The wood of the screen door was smooth under his fingers; he focused on its texture, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the grain as he willed his heart to calm. He slid the door shut slowly, making a game of trying to make as little noise as possible.

“What’s up? Don’t want your dick back?” Law teased when he noticed him lingering by the door.

“Of course I do,” he laughed, spinning around and snapping himself out of his stupor. Deftly, he turned and shed his clothes. Kikoku was already unsheathed atop the table; Law sat nearby, untying his obi. 

Luffy’s pulse was steadying. Trying to zero in on topics that would calm him further, he remarked, “Y’know, it’s been pretty cool to see how involved my crew got in Wano stuff while I was gone. Like, Usopp with the toad oil and Franky helping the lady with her birdhouses.”

“Room,” Law muttered before responding, “Your crew really sticks their noses in other people’s business.” He severed Luffy’s dick from his body and placed it on the table.

After shuddering at the strange sensation, Luffy explained, “They care.”

“I know,” he smiled. “They made this whole day possible, you know. My crew too.” Pausing, he shook his head and laughed. “How did I get this lucky? What did I do to deserve this?”

Luffy slipped the yukata from his shoulders and pulled his underwear down. As Law kneeled before him and angled his katana, he grinned, “Torao, it's not about deserving anything. It just is! You're you, I'm me, and this is what we have. Isn't it neat?” 

Law smirked. “How can you say something so sickeningly endearing while I've got a blade to your dick?” 

“It's your dick,” he corrected. 

In an instant, Law's shaft was detached from Luffy's body. While they affixed their own dicks back to their rightful places, Luffy standing and Law kneeling, Law started off weakly, “So… I didn't actually make any plans for the rest of the night. I was trying to be… flexible. Honestly, I thought you would find something or do something that would derail my plans so, here we are.”

Luffy laughed and grabbed his underwear from the floor. “And I was trying to stay on your schedule. Funny.” The panties clung to his frame as he pulled them on. “You're the one taking me on a date, we can do what you want… “ he added before bending at the waist to snatch his yukata off the ground, his hips moving backward and unintentionally shoving his ass in front of Law's face.

“Luffy.” His tone was playful but strained.

Clothes in hand, Luffy snapped upright and turned around. “What?” he asked defensively. 

“You…” Law stammered, face ablaze. He shifted and draped his yukata over his crotch, a cute attempt to hide his erection. Finally, he met Luffy’s gaze, eyes intense. “I told myself it was important to take you out, to make memories, but now all I want to do is fuck you.”

Luffy licked his lips and formed them into an impish smile. The yukata fell from his hand as he walked over to Law. He stepped forward, a foot on either side of Law’s hips. When he felt the swell and pressure of his hard-on against his own body, his cheeks flushed. 

Law boomeranged his gaze from Luffy’s growing bulge, restrained by red lace and just inches from his face, to Luffy’s rosy lips. The oscillation of Law’s face from panic to desire stirred Luffy further. He bit down on the corner of his lower lip to anchor himself in some capacity before dropping to his knees, tossing the fabric covering Law's crotch out of the way, and settling on Law’s lap. Eyes wide, Law let him push him flat on his back. Luffy sat upright, reaching back to place a steadying hand on Law’s thigh while he arched his back. With his other hand, he stroked his own side. Noticing the heaviness of Law’s breath, Luffy met his eyes and wiggled his hips until Law’s bare cock was snug between his cheeks and against his balls, separated by the thin layer of lace. Law scratched his nails against the tatami floor and gulped.

Luffy let out a soft-spun sigh as he ran his fingers down his own stomach until he reached the waistband of his underwear. His fingers moved at a deliberate, tortuously slow pace. Slipping his thumb under the elastic, he pulled the lace out and downward until it revealed the head of his cock. The panties snapped back when he removed his thumb, the waistband now taut over his erection but low enough to keep the head exposed. Precum oozed from his cock while he raised his free hand and ran it through his hair.

“Think you’ll remember this?” Luffy smirked.

Despite opening his mouth to speak, Law said nothing. His speechlessness drew a bright, body-shaking laugh from Luffy’s chest. The vibration reached Law’s dick and forced a rumble from his throat. Jaw clenched, he grabbed Luffy’s hips to keep him in place and ground against his body.

Heart, blood, and skin singing, Luffy studied the man beneath him. His thoughts were loud and incoherent, making it difficult to process the intense emotion in his chest. He felt a second away from bursting. Below, every inch of Law's skin burned with a pink glow and shone with sweat. The tension and hunger in his face was unmistakable. 

“I really love you,” Luffy whispered, surprising himself with the sudden declaration. The statement itself wasn't news to anyone, but he didn't realize he had said the words until they lingered in the air before him.

Law groaned, his upper body rising an inch as the muscles in his abdomen tightened. “I l–love–-” his wavering voice was cut off by a moan that bloomed in his throat. 

Luffy watched, awed and excited, while Law rocked his body into him with increasing intensity. Finally, the surgeon gasped and froze, eyes shut tight. A hot, wet sensation tickled Luffy’s balls as Law’s cum seeped through his panties. 

“Fuck. I love you too,” Law panted. He rested his forearm over his eyes.

“Torao,” Luffy said quietly, reverently. “You came.”

“I fucking came,” he spat.

Luffy frowned. “Why do you sound upset?”

“I…” Law hesitated. He drew his other arm across his face and groaned, “It’s embarrassing.”

“Why?” Luffy leaned forward, planting both hands on Law’s chest. 

Slowly, Law let his arms fall to his sides. Still not meeting Luffy’s gaze, he grumbled, “We didn’t even get to do anything. And I was selfish and this is the third time you’ve gotten me off today.”

“I like getting you off,” Luffy argued, confused.

Law scoffed, “Three times, Luffy. And you only came once.”

Luffy shrugged. “I wasn't keeping score. Not for this, anyway. Besides, I’m sure I’ll cum again later.”

“Well,” he sighed, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!” 

Luffy infected Law with his grin; a gentle smile spread across his lips. He wrapped his hand around Luffy’s forearm and squeezed.

“Hey, can we go eat dinner?” Luffy asked, suddenly aware of the emptiness of his stomach.

“You’re always thinking about food,” Law scoffed.

Luffy pouted. “I need it so I have enough energy for later.”

Law smirked. “Later, huh? Fine then. They’ve supposedly got a pretty good dinner service here.” He paused, eyes narrowing with mischief. “They also have an onsen. Franky said it’s actually famous… Plus, my hands still smell like paint.”

“Fine,” Luffy snorted. “We have dinner and then we bathe. And then we’ll have the rest of the night to play. Plus, there’s something I wanna show you later.”

A purr of a laugh escaped Law’s lips while we watched Luffy get to his feet. “You bring anything else to wear?” he asked, pointing toward Luffy’s boyshorts, now slicked with cum.

“Aw man. Maybe they packed some for me,” Luffy sighed. While Law went to the restroom to clean himself up, he rummaged through the rucksack Nami had given him before they left camp. When he found what he was looking for, he sent a silent prayer of thanks to Nami and Robin for their interference. 

—

“Oi… Oi!”

Luffy lifted his head from the ledge of the bath. Blinking, he asked, “What’s up?”

Law frowned, “Don’t fall asleep here.”

“Shishishi!” Luffy giggled. “Sorry, it’s just really relaxing.”

“Mm. I know,” Law hummed as he rested his arm on the lip of the bath behind Luffy.

Ignoring the surprised looks from the two customers at the other end of the onsen, Luffy shifted toward him and leaned into his side. He watched the gentle rise and fall of Law’s chest, the semi-submerged heart tattoo a beacon that called to him. Steam lifted from the water and from Law’s skin. 

Law. Torao. His ally, his lover. His… boyfriend. He shifted through these names and titles in his mind. His important person. Yes, that was the one. Whatever Torao wanted to call it was fine with him, but some of these labels felt too… small. They couldn’t fit around what he felt. Plus, he had so many friends who were boys. But this boy was special. And important.

Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-da-dum-da-dum. Da-DUM.

He ignored the beat, the drums in his body. Maybe he was getting used to it. He wasn’t sure. But who cares?! With Law here, with him, next to him, touching him right now, what was the point of worrying about it? He could fill the world with his feelings. Every empty space, every drop of sadness would get swept over with his love for Torao. The Void Century? He’d fill that too. They’d have to call it the Torao Century. The things he could do with all this love. It was…

Da-DUM. Da-da-da-DUM-da-da-DUM-DUM. Da-dum.

Everything was right now: moments and possibilities and realities coursing through his veins. It didn’t matter what the future held. He could feel it, the future just inches away, waiting for him to take it in his hands and make it into whatever he wanted. Whatever Torao wanted. Torao.

DA-da-DUM-DA-DUM-dum-DUM. Dum-da-DUM-da-da-dum. DA-DA-DUM. DA-DA-DUM.

DA-DA-DUM.

“Are you okay?” Law’s voice tickled his ear.

Luffy opened his eyes, head spinning. “Huh?”

Law’s grey eyes were narrowed in concern. He stammered, “Your chest… It's moving. Your heart is working really hard. Look… you can see it.” 

Glancing down, Luffy watched the wall of his chest beat out the rhythm in his body. Ripples moved over the water, out from him and across the bath, fading into nothing by the time they reached the other patrons. “Huh,” he chuckled awkwardly. “Maybe I’ve been in here too long. The heat, you know?”

“Let’s go back to the room and get you some water,” Law nodded. 

—

Law closed the door, the lock clicking under his thumb. The soft blue cotton of the yukata tightened around his waist as he pulled on the ends of the belt. While Luffy rifled through the stuff he had dumped out of his rucksack earlier, still piled in an unceremonious heap near the table, Law pulled the futons and blankets from the closet and arranged them on the floor. He stole a glance at Luffy–-he was chugging the contents of a canteen. 

“We can just go to sleep if you don’t feel well,” he offered, the strange beat of Luffy’s chest still lingering in his mind. Analyses of physical and behavioral symptoms ran through his head, spitting out diagnoses that escalated in severity until he had to force himself to stop for his own sanity. Instead, he focused on lining up the futons next to one another, edge to edge.

“Hhgoh!” 

Law turned around at the choked gurgling sound that came from Luffy’s body. Blinking, he scanned Luffy’s face; his cheeks were puffed out, presumably filled with water. When he swallowed with a loud gulp, Law snorted, “You wanna try saying that again?”

“No!” Luffy frowned.

“No, what?” he asked.

Luffy huffed, “I don’t wanna sleep. I feel fine.”

Chewing on the corner of his lip, Law examined him. Eventually he sighed, “You seem okay now, but… What happened back there? Your heart was kind of… wild.”

“I dunno,” Luffy shrugged. “But it’s fine. Nothing hurts.”

He frowned. Presently, Luffy’s chest exhibited normal levels of movement, associated with the breath rather than an aggressive heartbeat, and his eyes were clear, complexion fine. “Fine. But if it starts again I’m cutting you open.”

“Shishishi,” he giggled and screwed the top back on the canteen. “Deal.”

Smirking, Law sat on the futon and patted the space next to him. “Good. Now come here.”

Luffy grinned and set the canteen on the table. He approached Law, opting to settle on his knees behind him instead of at his side. His hands slipped around Law's torso, pinning his arms, while he pressed his lips to the nape of his neck. 

The gentle pressure of Luffy’s mouth struck like a match along his spine; a warmth radiated from his core and traveled upward to paint a blush over the tips of his ears. Luffy inhaled deeply and held the breath for several moments before releasing it as a sigh.

“What's up?” Law asked softly.

Luffy's voice was quiet. “I'm jealous.”

Law blinked. “Of what?”

“The water,” he murmured, forlorn.

“Luffy, what the hell does that even mean?” Law scoffed. 

His arms tightened around Law as he explained, “All the water all over you! I want that to be me.” 

Searing joy, bright and distracting in the best way, gushed up in Law’s chest. Luffy shifted, pressing a cheek to the back of his neck and emitting a hum that modulated into a frustrated whimper. Law bit the inside of his cheek to calm himself. Pushing Luffy’s arms away, he rotated to face him. “Lay down with me,” he smiled and plopped onto his side, head landing on the pillow with a muffled thump. Reaching out, he tugged gently on Luffy’s earlobe.

Luffy laid down, his body mirroring Law’s as he shimmied closer. When they were just inches apart, he stopped. Silence formed a cocoon around them. He studied the scar on Luffy’s cheek, the comic book symbol of laughter that suited him perfectly. Law rested his fingers on the fragile stretch of skin under Luffy’s jaw. Beneath his thumb, he felt Luffy’s pulse: alive and melodic. And in his eyes, he found his feelings reflected.

Raising his fingers until they were lightly grazing Luffy's skin, Law dragged his hand lower, tracing the outline of his shoulder over pale blue fabric. He followed the slope of his rib cage down to the subtle valley of his waist. Luffy’s hip was a hill he would willingly die on, a knoll to rest upon and look out at the rest of the world with the knowledge that at least here he was safe, welcome, wanted. When he was done lingering over this spot, his fingers swept along the expanse of Luffy's thigh and back again. 

Law held Luffy's stare as he slowly snuck his hand between the folds of his yukata. Luffy shivered, cheeks pink, when Law stroked the bare skin along his side. A smile blossomed across Law's face at the reaction. 

“Torao,” Luffy breathed, letting the word linger and occupy the narrow space between them.

“When you look like that, I could almost believe that you're fragile. Funny right?” Law mused while his fingertips roamed over Luffy’s back and tracked the dip of his spine. 

Luffy smirked, “As if you could break me.”

“Even if I could, I wouldn't,” he replied, tone serious as he caressed Luffy's shoulder blade.

“I know.” Luffy's eyes softened, alluring in their gentle strength.

Law fell into his gaze. “You're the strongest person I know. In every way.” His voice was a whisper; he offered this like a confession. “Somehow I still want to protect you. As if you need it,” he chuckled.

“Thanks,” Luffy giggled. “I wanna protect you, too… Even though you don't need it either.”

Smirking, Law brought his hand back toward Luffy's hip while he remarked, “Eh, I think I might need it more than I want to admit.” 

He toyed with the fabric of Luffy’s panties that rested over his hipbone and then froze. In place of the thick band of lace was a thin strip of slick, smooth fabric, edged with ruffles. Brow furrowed in concentration, Law followed the fabric around Luffy’s hip and over his sacrum. All the way across, his underwear amounted to a single narrow band of silk. He traced his index finger along the ruffle-lined bottom edge as it skirted above Luffy's ass and dipped in between his cheeks. Luffy watched Law's burning face with a devilish grin. 

“When did you…” Law stammered before trying again, “This is…” He gave up, allowing himself to indulge and devote his concentration to the contrast of cool silk against the warmth of Luffy's cheeks. 

“I put ‘em on when you were setting up the beds. Another gift from Robin and Nami,” Luffy admitted.

He gulped, “Can I… see them?”

“Sure,” Luffy beamed as he tugged at the loosely knotted belt around his waist until it fell away. After shrugging off his yukata, he bent an elbow and propped his head up on his hand. “Well?” he prompted deviously.

Fire posed an inadequate comparison to the engulfing sensation in Law's body. He felt purely volcanic as lust exploded within him, magma rushing from the crown of his head to the tip of his toes with a force that threatened to devour reality. What could he possibly say to Luffy that would capture this need? Nothing; words would only provide a diluted snapshot of a blurry picture of an abstract painting, and offering Luffy anything but his raw truth felt blasphemous. 

After studying the bulging black silk between Luffy’s legs and the playful ruffle that simultaneously evoked cuteness and fuckability, Law ordered, “Get on your stomach.”

He obeyed, rolling over and resting his cheek on the arms he crossed beneath his head. Neck twisted, he watched Law’s face like it was a film.

Sitting up, Law pulled frantically at his belted obi. His eyes roamed over Luffy's ass, the heat pooling in his stomach rising to an unbearable intensity. The way the ruffles outlined the fullness of his cheeks, disappearing between his crack, lent his ass a bubble-like aspect. A guttural groan escaped his throat, exposing the cracks in his self control.

“That good, huh?” Luffy's teasing voice interrupted his trance.

Tearing his eyes away from the masterpiece--with difficulty–-he smirked at Luffy. “Yeah, actually.” Shaking his head, he added, “You look incredible.” 

Despite only being able to see half of Luffy's face, Law observed his cheeks take on a deeper hue of red. The desire in his expression pried the gate of Law’s restraint right off its hinges. He tore the yukata from his shoulders and tossed it across the room before lying on his back beside Luffy, his head on the pillow. 

Head turned to meet Luffy's, he pleaded, “Sit on me?”

Luffy grinned as he pushed himself up. “If you want,” he purred and moved to straddle him.

He stopped when Law instructed, “No, face the other way. I wanna see the back of you.”

Eyebrow raised, Luffy rotated and climbed on. Ass settled on Law's stomach, he twisted to look over his shoulder. “Like this?” he asked.

Law released an uneven breath. “Yeah. Like this,” he murmured as he ran his hands down Luffy's waist. After squeezing the supple flesh of his ass, he rested his grip on Luffy's hips and slipped his thumbs under the thong. The design allowed for some stretch, which Law tested by pulling the band upward and letting it snap back into place. Luffy squeaked from the surprisingly sting.

“Luffy, you look so…” Law trailed off, circling his thumbs over the bare skin of Luffy’s cheeks.

“So…?” Luffy repeated, looking over his shoulder inquisitively.

Law met his gaze and flashed him a hungry smile. “Edible.”

The flesh along Luffy's hips bulged around Law’s fingers as he tightened his grip. Luffy exhaled softly when Law guided him to rise to his knees. The pull of his hips back toward Law's face was more abrupt.

“Nh!” Luffy grunted, quickly planting one hand on the ground and the other on Law's hip to steady himself.

With Luffy's ass just inches from his face, Law marveled at the view, at the skin so shiny, so rubbery, so smooth. He hooked his thumb under the vertical strip of Luffy's thong and pulled it aside. Law bit into his lower lip as he spread Luffy's cheeks apart.

“Oh, Luffy,” he moaned as he beheld the tight, pink punctuation of his asshole. Luffy’s balls hung within the confines of the thong, cupped by delicate silk. Law swept a thumb across his opening and down the swath of his taint. 

Luffy arched his back and let out a satisfied hum. “Torao,” he murmured. 

“Luffy, sit on my face?” Law's tone was desperate, equal parts a request and a demand. 

“Will you be able to breathe?” Luffy frowned, twisting around to look him in the eye.

Law chuckled unevenly, “Don't even worry about it. Please.”

Luffy shuffled backward on his knees. “If you say so.” Law let his head fall onto the pillow as Luffy lowered himself toward him. “Tell me if it's too much,” he paused, “If you need a break or something.”

“I will,” Law assured him. In a strained voice, he added, “Right now I just really need you to smother me.”

Luffy obliged, dropping lower until Law’s breath tickled his cheeks. Law pulled on his hips to bring him the rest of the way down. Repositioning his hands to keep Luffy's cheeks spread and thong out of the way, he extended his tongue, wide and flat, to meet Luffy's ass. Above him, he felt Luffy twitch as he dragged his tongue upward. His movements were languid and measured while he waited for Luffy’s body to ask for more, which happened sooner than expected. Luffy’s sighs grew audible, each louder than the last until they warped into mewls and deep-seated ooh’s laced with frustration. Law relented when Luffy began grinding into his face. 

Tongue narrowed to a firm point, he spun tight circles around the opening. Luffy shifted his hand against Law's stomach, fingernails digging into his abs as Law flicked his tongue over his asshole. 

Law worked his lips to caress the puckered skin as Luffy's body welcomed his tongue in. Toying with the smooth muscle, he relished the writhing of Luffy above him and the tension in his legs that gripped his ribs like a vise. The weight pressed down on his chest, a deliciously consuming sensation. Here was a way he could venerate Luffy, to gift him his time, energy, and focus with the singular goal of pleasing him. Every one of his senses was devoted to Luffy in the midst of his all-consuming sexual and emotional trance. 

When Luffy leaned forward, Law raised his head to follow him and slowed the movements of his lips and tongue, thinking he wanted a lighter touch. He quickly learned this was not the case. Luffy's weight shifted onto the palm pressed to Law's abdominal muscles as his other hand closed around the base of Law's cock. A groan rumbled in the surgeon's throat as lips closed around the head of his shaft. The vibration triggered Luffy’s legs to squeeze around his torso once again.

Luffy’s tongue swept over the head of his cock, bringing an acute awareness back to his own body that had diminished amidst his single-minded efforts to make Luffy feel good. The supple flesh of Luffy’s asscheeks yielded under his fingernails as he reckoned with the incandescence of his own desire. Cheeks taut, Luffy puckered his lips so they pulled up around the corona of Law’s glans. He tilted his head from side to side, the thick velvet of his lips stroking the ridged circumference of the head as he sucked. 

Law strained to focus on his own tongue, on Luffy’s ass in his face. This proved difficult, particularly when Luffy released the base of his shaft and moved his hand to cup his balls, gently stroking and rolling them in his palm. His hips bucked, seeking out more Luffy's mouth. Simultaneously, Luffy flicked his tongue over the top of Law’s cock and hummed. 

The reverberation was too much; Law let go and pulled away from Luffy, gasping. “Luffy! Luffy… stop,” he panted. 

Relinquishing Law’s cock, Luffy sat up. He twisted, looking over his shoulder while the light sparkled on his earring and his mischievous gaze. “You don’t like it?” Luffy asked, lower lip pushed out and shining with spit.

Law chuckled, “I loved it. But I don’t wanna cum yet. Again.”

Luffy smiled and shifted forward on his hands and knees to climb off. Law seized the opportunity to push upright, swinging his legs beneath himself to kneel behind Luffy. He wrapped his arms around Luffy’s waist, holding him in place as he pressed his lips to his spine. The simple, clean scent of soap balanced with the subtle tang of sweat in Law’s nose, a soft but not uncommon smell that would evoke memories of this night every time he encountered it thereafter. 

Hands roaming across Luffy’s stomach, he traced the curvature of his muscles and let out heavy, hot breaths against his back. Law drew his lips lower and let his hands slide to Luffy’s hips. “Can I fuck you now?” he raised his head to ask, voice low and sharp with need.

“Mmm,” Luffy giggled as Law took the band of his thong between his teeth and pulled. “I have something to show you, though.”

Teeth clenched around silk, Law mumbled, “What could be better than this?” He shuffled backward, stretching the panties out as far as the elastic would allow and then released. Law grinned as they snapped against Luffy’s ass.

“Oi!” Luffy turned around, pouting. “You’re not listening.”

Softening his demeanor, Law sidled up behind him again. As he slid the thong down Luffy’s legs, he purred, “I’m all ears. What do you want to show me?”

Luffy got to his feet and let the panties fall to his ankles. He stepped out of them and walked over to the pile of stuff from his rucksack. “Well, I kinda wanted to fuck you this time. And, I think you might want it,” he explained over his shoulder.

One eyebrow raised, Law smiled, “Show me.”

Placing a bottle of lube on the ground beside the futon, Luffy stood before Law. He extended his arm, gleaming black with haki, and raised it to his mouth. His teeth sunk into the hardened flesh of his forearm and, cheeks puffed, he blew until steam began to rise around him. Law’s eyes widened when the steam cleared, revealing Luffy’s new form. 

“Is that… your Boundman technique?” he stammered, studying the dark edges around Luffy’s eyes and the bulk of his body. 

No, this didn’t look right. His hair was longer, wavering in the air around his head with a gravity-defying weightlessness. The red-tinted sheen of haki coated his legs and arms like Boundman, though the flame-like pattern ended at his upper arms rather than his shoulders and chest. His haki traveled past his thighs, painting an image of black flames that lapped over his hip bones. In the mirror behind Luffy, his reflection revealed more rippling muscles and flames that followed the curve of his ass. But most of all, the shape of his body lacked the absurdity he associated with Boundman’s hyper-inflated form. Instead, Luffy was just thicker, bigger, and… 

Oh, fuck. Law bit his lip to keep his thoughts from spilling out of his mouth. Whatever this form was, it applied itself to every appendage. The imposing mass of Luffy’s cock kindled an anxious need in the pit of Law’s stomach. Fear swept over him in a cold rush before desire added a layer of burning heat. While Luffy’s shaft retained its normal color, the length had almost doubled. As impressive as it was, this wasn't even the catalyst of Law's horror-lust. 

The girth of Luffy's cock was the source that inspired the twisted need overtaking him. As if in a trance, Law grabbed just below the tip. He wasn’t sure what he expected; of course he couldn’t get his hand all the way around. More surprising was the temperature: hot to the touch, akin to slipping into a steamy bath after a tiring day. Veins protruded along the sides of the shaft; Law could feel the rush of blood against his palm.

“This is Snakeman,” Luffy chuckled, snapping Law's attention back to the rest of his body.

Law released his meager hold and smirked. “So it is a dick joke, then?”

A booming laugh erupted from Luffy's chest. “No, I'm Snakeman. The whole form is Snakeman. Like Boundman, but snakes.”

“‘Boundman but snakes,’” Law repeated with a snort. He gestured to Luffy's cock, grinning, “How is that not a dick joke? That thing is a fucking anaconda.”

Luffy’s confident, eager expression waned as he hesitated, “Is it… Do you not like it?”

Law’s eyes widened with panic and he grabbed Luffy by the shoulders, fighting off the impulse to grope the delicious mass of firm, steaming muscle as he spoke quickly, “Luffy. I love it. I mean, I love you, your dick, your body in whatever form you take but this is… this is incredible. I should be worried about you splitting me in half but I want it. I want it, Luffy.”

Luffy’s face brightened. The air pressed from Law’s lungs as Luffy wrapped him in a hug and squeezed, lifting him up and spinning around the room. “I really hoped you would like it,” he chuckled near Law’s ear. 

Unable to respond under the pressure of Luffy’s embrace, Law just smiled. He allowed himself to settle into this feeling of smallness within Luffy’s arms. When the room stopped spinning, he asked, “You got a time limit on this? Boundman was, like, ten minutes, right?”

“Yeah, but only if I’m fighting. If we’re just playing around I can go longer,” Luffy explained. 

“Good. I'm gonna need ten minutes at least just to relax enough to take that,” he remarked, relieved. 

The futon cushioned his back as Luffy pitched him to the ground. Luffy climbed onto his side, the bedding comically small beneath him. He looped an arm under Law’s leg and pulled it back to the side. To hold the leg in place, Luffy slid his own knee beneath Law’s. Their eyes met when Law turned his head to the side.

“Torao, I wanna touch you more,” Luffy whispered, eyes shimmering like he had just revealed a shocking secret.

“Then touch me,” Law ordered, his voice barely rising above a breath. 

Luffy’s lips sank against Law's mouth, heavy and hot. He offered his tongue and Luffy accepted it eagerly, coaxing him closer and intertwining it with his own. Thick, haki-coated fingers moved over Law's stomach and chest. Luffy leaned in further, pressing his body against him while Law twisted his fingers within the volume of Luffy’s hair. The heat radiating from his skin warmed Law and fueled the urgent hunger growing in his core. When Luffy's cock nudged his hip, reminding him of its solid rigidity, he moaned. 

Luffy smiled against his lips before pulling away. Law's mouth remained parted while he watched him reach to the side and grab a bottle of lube. The lubricant rolled in quick droplets as he drizzled it over his fingers, the high temperature of his body heating it to a low viscosity. 

Slowly, Luffy brought his hand across Law’s torso. He dragged his thumb down the length of his shaft before traveling lower, stopping when his fingers hovered above Law’s asshole and his palm gently caressed his balls. 

“Mmnh,” Law whimpered as the hot, wide pad of Luffy’s middle finger circled his opening. Instead of speeding up or pressing harder, his movements grew softer, slower until Law’s frustration mounted. Eyes narrowed, he glared up at Luffy and grumbled, “Please.”

Luffy obliged, grinning. Law writhed and groaned as the digit slipped inside of him. He reminded himself that it was just a finger, just one finger, but when Luffy started stroking his insides it was difficult to believe reality. 

Sharp pain bloomed on his shoulder. He darted his eyes to the side, taking in Luffy’s teeth around his skin. Abruptly, the sensation transformed into intense suction as Luffy pulled his skin in his mouth. The feeling disappeared and Law focused on the strain of his body adjusting to the finger within him, only to be interrupted by another bite, roughly an inch further than the last. He gasped, overwhelmed by Luffy’s mouth and finger–-fingers , he realized with wide eyes as Luffy pushed his ring finger into his ass. Meanwhile, Luffy moved another inch toward Law’s neck, pulling more welts to the surface of his skin.

“Luffy,” he groaned. “Fuck.”

“What, already?” Luffy teased. “Think you can take it?”

Law scoffed, trying but failing to hide the strain on his nerves. “Of course I can,” his voice shook.

Luffy chuckled, eyes softening while he bent forward and kissed him. The delicate gesture warmed Law’s chest. “You’re so cute,” Luffy whispered when they pulled apart, briefly planting his lips against Law’s forehead.

Mildly flustered but mostly comforted, Law sighed warmly. The reassurance and tenderness relaxed the knot of tension he had held in his body without even noticing. Luffy worked a third finger into his asshole and he moaned, letting his body adjust around it.

“There we go,” Luffy murmured and kissed Law’s neck. “You get so tense, Torao… But I think you’re ready now.”

“Let’s find out,” Law panted.

Luffy chuckled, “That’s the spirit. How do you want it? It might be best if you get on top, so you can take your time. I don’t wanna hurt you.”

Law exhaled through his nose and lifted a hand to stroke Luffy’s cheek. The sweetness of his behavior juxtaposed with the imposing brutality of his physique, mixing together to form a need that Law voiced clearly, “I want you to use me, Luffy.”

A glimmer in his eye betrayed the caution in his voice. “You sure?”

“Y--es, ” he hissed as Luffy twitched his fingers within him.

A small cloud of steam billowed from Luffy’s mouth as he grinned and laughed. Carefully, he slipped himself from Law’s ass, one finger at a time. He grabbed the bottle of lube and got to his feet before squeezing lubricant onto the head of his cock. The clear liquid spilled down the sides of Luffy’s cock. A long way to go, Law mused. He stared, mesmerized by how Luffy’s hand actually fit around the massive shaft. 

“Stand up.” Luffy’s command oozed desire.

Law stood, trying to ignore the throb of his own dick while precum leaked down the sides like tears. Having slicked the entirety of his own cock in lube, Luffy walked up behind Law and encased him within his arms. Law’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. 

Luffy let his hands linger over Law’s hips when he bent down, mouth beside his ear, and whispered, “Remember that you asked me to do this.”

Law’s cock twitched. He nodded, face burning while Luffy bent further. The warmth of Luffy’s hands tickled the backs of his knees and suddenly, he was in the air. Luffy hoisted him up, gripping his thighs and holding him so that his knees bent and pressed into his chest. The heartbeat in Law’s chest hammered as Luffy walked them both to the mirror.

“You look so good,” Luffy grinned.

Law stared at his reflection, at his flushed skin and his dripping cock, how he looked tiny and inconsequential, like a doll, in the hands of this behemoth of a man. There was an edge of shame in his heart that only served to make his lust more rampant. He didn’t have time to examine this, as Luffy had angled his own hips and was carefully lowering Law. In the mirror, Law watched him line his cock up with his ass. He twitched in anticipation until finally, the searing warmth of the head nudged at his asshole. 

“Ready?” Luffy asked.

Law bit his lip. “Mhm.”

“Okay. Just tell me if you need me to stop.” When Luffy loosened his hold, allowing gravity to work in his favor, Law tried to focus on the comforting touch of Luffy’s chest against his back and the familiar scent of his skin. A gasp ruptured from his throat when the head of Luffy’s shaft pressed inside of him. 

The grip on Law’s legs tightened as Luffy held him in place. “Mmm, your face, Law,” he purred. “If you keep that up I’m not gonna last long.”

This prompted Law to look at himself in the mirror once again. His cheeks were beet red, face contorted. Luffy lowered him further. The breath hitched in Law’s throat as he spread around Luffy’s cock, toes twitching while he strained to receive the girth.

“That’s it,” Luffy whispered, his breath heavy and hungry.

“Mmnh! Fuck!” Law groaned as Luffy let him slide further onto his cock.

“Tell me more, Torao. What's it feel like? Does it feel as good as it looks?” he prompted deviously. 

Law began, “It–-urk!” He grunted when Luffy lowered him again and giggled near his ear. Voice uneven, he gasped, “It’s huge, Luffy. I feel like I’m gonna split in half. Look at that fucking thing. How did… how did you get it inside of me?” Law paused, emitting a delirious laugh. “I’m gonna die after this. Nothing is ever going to come close to this feeling. It’s like you’re forcing my body out of its own way.”

“Mmm,” Luffy hummed with pleasure. “Do you want more, Law?” he teased. 

Law caught his smirk in the mirror before noticing how the meat of his own thighs bulged around Luffy’s grip. “Y-yes,” he answered and Luffy obliged. 

“Ah!” Law cried out. His reflection indicated that roughly two-thirds of Luffy’s cock was inside of him now. The frantic cadence of his breath and the intense pressure in his core confirmed this as a fact. 

“You sure you aren’t made of rubber, too?” Luffy let out a husky laugh and began to lift him up, letting him fall a short distance before repeating the gesture. “Your body is amazing, Torao… taking so much of me. You know what it feels like? Stuffing you full like this? It feels like I'm the luckiest guy in the world. You're the only one I wanna fuck like this.”

Law’s eyes rolled back and he chewed on his lower lip as Luffy worked him over his dick in swift but shallow movements. The pressure burned deep and hot in his belly, an ache that blossomed into blissful agony. Law whimpered, “It doesn’t make sense.”

“It makes complete sense!” Luffy laughed. “You’re strong enough to take it, to compete with me, and you’re the only one I want to give this to. So of course you can take it.” He moved him faster.

“Ahhh! Luffy!” he cried, jaw clenched while he let his head fall to his chest.

“Hey. Hey, Torao,” Luffy prompted. Law looked up at his reflection when his movements paused. A smile stretched across Luffy’s face as he whispered, “I can make it bigger, ya know.”

Morbid curiosity flooded Law’s veins. His eyes widened and his body flashed cold, then hot. Luffy giggled, “I thought you might react that way. Do me a favor?”

“Huh?” Law blinked.

“I need to let go of your right leg, so hold onto my arms for a sec, okay?” he explained.

Through the fog of overwhelming sensation, Law nodded and hooked his arms around Luffy’s biceps. He felt his right leg fall as Luffy let go and quickly engaged his muscles to hold it in place. The mirror allowed him to watch Luffy bringing his thumb to his mouth. Law stared as he blew into the finger for a brief second before returning his hand to hold Law’s leg. He wondered if he was supposed to feel a difference.

“Holy fuck!” he shouted. Luffy’s dick suddenly swelled against his already-strained insides. “Fucking hell, Luffy, I… fuck!” Law dug his fingers into Luffy’s arms while his cock stretched him from within.

Holding him in place, Luffy ordered gently, “Look at yourself.”

Law looked forward, gasping and moaning while the tension in his gut coiled tighter. Luffy lowered him, pushing another inch inside of him. The combined friction and force on his prostate sparked a blinding light in his head; he felt overloaded and utterly alive as he came. Semen shot from his cock, several drops catching on the mirror before splattering over his stomach and dripping down his shaft. Shaking, Law leaned his head back into Luffy’s chest.

“I thought I was supposed to use you,” Luffy teased.

“Luffy, I can't,” Law moaned. 

“You can.”

“Luffy!”

Luffy’s tone softened. “Look. Just look.” Law raised his head, facing his reflection once more while Luffy continued, “You're stunning. You look so small and fragile but you're taking it. I'm so far up inside you. I'm not holding back. And you're not just bearing with it, you're loving it. Did you see yourself when you came?” His voice grew quiet, a whisper brushing over Law’s ear. “You are incredible, Law.”

A weak laugh tumbled from Law’s chest. “Now you’re trying to turn my emotions inside out too?”

“Yup,” Luffy chuckled and tilted his head to run his tongue over Law’s neck.

Law shivered. “Keep going, Luffy. Use me,” he rasped.

Luffy’s teeth nipped around the cartilage of his ear before he squeezed Law’s thighs and lifted him higher. Stretching an arm backward, Law tangled his fingers in the hair that settled on the nape of Luffy’s neck. Using his free hand, he grabbed onto Luffy’s forearm. 

Luffy brought him down on his dick with precision and control, no longer allowing gravity to govern or interfere with his movements. The muscles along his arms flexed as he pumped Law over his cock. He started slow but sped up his rhythm, keeping each plunging motion quick but shallow and teasing cries from Law’s throat.

When Luffy pulled him further down each time, Law unraveled. His mind was a blur, sensation and splashes of color permeated his consciousness without any coherent processing to string things together or make sense of them. He knew he was moaning; he couldn’t control it but at least he was aware of it happening. He had to moan, to cry. Luffy was taking up so much space inside of his body that it felt like his emotions were displaced and dislodged. They needed somewhere to go and the quickest route was through his chest and out of his mouth.

Another orgasm rattled his core. Lightning splintered from his center, webbing up his spine to the top of his head and down to the tips of his toes. He was blind. No, he corrected himself--his eyes were closed. He opened them to see a thin stream of cum trail down the side of his dick. Luffy’s pleased laughter reached him, serving as a vague warning. 

“Lu… Luff…” Law tried to cry his name, tears blurring his vision as Luffy pulled him up, down, up down, further and harder. 

“Shit, Law,” Luffy grunted. “I think I’m gonna cum.” 

Law’s fingernails cut into Luffy while his body served as the vessel for Luffy’s desire. “Law,” Luffy moaned. 

Along his back, Law felt Luffy’s abs tighten. Luffy squeezed his thighs harder. Abruptly, Luffy’s cock pulsed. The sensation was acute within Law’s stretched body and, though Law was embarrassed to admit it, was enough to send him over the edge again. His nails scraped over Luffy’s skin while he grappled with his third orgasm, equally toe-curling, spine-arching, and groan-inducing as the last but now tapping from energy he no longer possessed. He gasped for breath.

Luffy slowed to a stop, and Law let his head roll to the side. “Luffy,” he slurred, distantly observing the slam of Luffy’s heart against his back.

“Torao,” Luffy whispered as he rested his chin on the crown of Law’s head. Squeezing Law’s thighs, he let out a satisfied hum. “Hey, Torao.”

“Hm?”

“Look at yourself.”

“Again?” Law groaned playfully. 

Luffy snorted, “Think I fucked you in front of a mirror just so you could avoid it?”

Fighting against his exhaustion, Law raised his head to examine himself. He didn’t expect a pretty sight, but his truly wrecked state of being still came as a shock. Wet streaks of tears lined his ruddy cheeks, while spit collected on his reddened lips. His body hung limp, glowing with a red flush.

“See? You're so beautiful. It's insane,” Luffy’s reflection beamed. 

Law smiled softly, his heart stirring weakly but warmly in his chest.

“Torao,” Luffy spoke quietly. “I'm gonna slide out now. But watch, okay?”

Law nodded. Moving carefully, Luffy lifted him up and off of his cock. He moaned from the friction and sudden emptiness. Eyes trained to the mirror, per Luffy’s request, he watched cum run out of his ass, slowly dripping onto the tatami floor beneath them. “Fuck,” he murmured.

Luffy chuckled, “Right?” 

The room moved around him as Luffy carried him to the futon. Beneath his raw ass, the blanket was almost too soft. Law pushed the thought away and let his body sink into the bed. Blinking, he looked up to where Luffy stood before him. 

“What are you doing?” Law asked weakly.

“Memorizing you,” he smiled.

Law chuckled and closed his eyes, leaning into his exhaustion. Luffy’s footsteps sounded around him, moving about the room. He opened an eye when something wet pressed to his stomach, his legs, his ass. He registered Luffy above him, gently cleansing his body with a damp towel. “Thanks,” he managed to mumble before dozing off.

—

When Law awoke, it was to the thud of a strange, muffled beat. Amidst the dark, he stretched his hand to the futon next to him. It was empty. He sat up and blinked, struggling to adjust to the lack of light. Two beams of red light flashed from the corner of the room. 

“Luffy?” he called out and squinted. 

“You’re awake?” Luffy’s voice sounded from the corner.

“Yeah. You okay?” Law responded, getting to his knees and fumbling for the lamp that was somewhere in the room. When Luffy remained silent, he asked, “Is something going on?”

Finally, his hand smacked against the lantern. He lit the flame and light flooded the room. He turned to Luffy, who sat huddled in the corner with his hands clasped over his chest. A poorly stifled laugh burst from Luffy’s mouth. To Law's relief, his body had returned to its normal state. He wasn't sure he could deal with Snakeman at that moment.

“Luffy?” Law repeated.

“It’s… it’s my heart,” Luffy said between giggles. “It’s not like before… It’s different.”

Law got to his feet and found his yukata, slipping it over his shoulders as he walked to Luffy. He crouched in front of him, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Can you explain what’s happening?” he asked calmly.

Biting on his lip amidst a wide grin, Luffy hesitated before laughing, “My heartbeat has gotten so loud. Like ‘BOOM-BA-BOOM!!!’ All the time.” He paused, entering another fit of giggles. “And it’s like… It’s like it’s beating to a rhythm I can feel inside of me? Down to my bones.”

Law narrowed his eyes. Something was clearly wrong, even Luffy seemed to recognize that, but he couldn’t understand how he was finding humor in this situation. Had he suffered a brain injury? The inappropriate regulation of emotional expression could be a symptom of pseudobulbar affect but… Luffy was also just a weird dude. And how did that connect to the abnormal contractions of the cardiac muscle? Law wondered if this was just another facet of Luffy’s baffling personality. He shook his head and prompted, “When we were in the bath, was that what happened? When your chest was pounding?”

“Mmhmmm,” he nodded while his gaze absently wandered across the ceiling.

“We can look at your heart again,” Law said before adding more softly, “if you want.”

Luffy nodded again and sang, “Yes, pleeeeease.”

As he crossed the room to fetch Kikoku, Law struggled to push down the concern welling up in his mind and his heart. Katana in hand, he ordered, “Get on your back.”

Rather than getting to the floor like a normal human being, Luffy somersaulted to the center of the room and unfurled onto his back. His laughter continued while Law unsheathed the sword and straddled his hips. 

“Torao! It’s like your first night with us on the Sunny,” he beamed.

Law allowed himself a smirk. Pushing the yukata away to expose Luffy’s chest, he remarked, “I’m just glad Tony-ya isn’t here to interrupt this time… Room.” The blue sphere enlarged from his hand and surrounded them. He wrapped both hands around Kikoku’s hilt and paused. “Luffy,” he started, eyebrows furrowed. “Back then, on the Sunny, when you told me your heart felt like it was going to explode… Did it feel like it does now?”

He had essentially dismissed Luffy’s complaint, thinking he was just inexperienced at relationships and emotion. Panic built in his gut and a wave of nausea hit him as he wondered, Has Luffy been sick this whole time? Law reminded himself that he had in fact removed Luffy’s heart and examined it, albeit briefly. He didn’t remember seeing anything out of the ordinary. It was beating fast–- especially when he licked it, he recalled with a flicker of amusement–-but it wasn’t abnormal. Besides, he’s seen countless hearts before. Surely he would recognize an arrhythmia or palpitation if the symptoms had been present.

“Toooooraaaaaooooo!” Luffy shouted. 

Law twitched, startled out of his spiraling thoughts. Luffy laughed at this, kicking his legs with glee.

“Oi, quit moving,” Law growled. “I'm gonna cut it.”

Luffy smirked and let his legs fall flat on the floor. “Do it!” 

With quick and precise motions, Law carved out Luffy's heart. He pulled it from his chest and held it up to examine it in the light. Static played in his mind while he stared. Years of studying and surgical practice had not prepared him for this.

Taking a deep breath, Law numbered off a series of facts and reasonable deductions to ground himself. One: the human heart appeared red or pink in a living body. Two: the human heart appeared red or pink because of the blood that pumped through it. Three: when drained of blood, the human heart could appear white, often with a pale pink or yellow tint. Four: humans required blood to live. Five: the pumping of the cardiac muscle generally indicated proper distribution of blood throughout the heart. Six: Luffy’s cardiac muscle was incredibly active. Seven: Luffy was very much alive. Eight: he had seen Luffy bleed before. Nine: it seemed safe to deduce that blood coursed through Luffy’s body.

Despite trying to reason through the situation, Law voiced the question he was still no closer to answering, “Why is your heart white?”

Luffy tilted his head and chuckled, “White?”

“Look,” Law barked as he shoved the heart toward him, his composure slipping. 

“Huh, that’s weird,” Luffy laughed as he took his heart into his hands. The organ beat vigorously, vibrating the clear encasement with its drum-like pounding.

Law inhaled deeply through his nose and closed his eyes. Why couldn't Luffy see that this was serious? Tersely, he explained, “I'm not trying to freak you out. But this… This is not normal. Between the color and the rhythm it's just… I don't even know where to begin with this, Luffy.” He paused to take another breath. “Do you feel any pain? Now, or recently? When the rhythm starts, does it hurt or make you uncomfortable?”

Luffy hummed, lips pursed while he considered this. Finally, he smiled and answered, “Nope.”

“Okaaay… Do you feel different than normal?” Law ventured.

“Oh, yeah,” he snorted.

Law's jaw tensed. “Please be as specific as possible.”

Luffy watched his heart, wide-eyed, and explained, “Honestly, it feels kinda good. Like, my body feels light and floaty. I could jump up and just float away. I also feel, umm… powerful?”

“Powerful?” Law repeated. He slid off of Luffy and sat on the floor, baffled.

“Yeah!” Luffy grinned. “I feel like I can do anything.” Free of the weight of Law’s body, he hopped to his feet and held his heart in front of him. Gradually, his head bobbed to the rhythm created by his heartbeat. Soon his hips followed, his toes tapped, and then he was dancing, skipping, and leaping around the room.

Law rested his chin on his fist and watched. Though it felt wrong in the face of his pride as a surgeon, he couldn’t argue that Luffy looked more alive and happier than ever. What exactly was there to cure? It wasn’t that he would let this go, but what could he do right now? He couldn’t diagnose this as a problem without understanding more. But for now, he let himself admire the unrestrained joy of Luffy’s being.

When Luffy displayed no sign of tiring even ten minutes later, Law finally spoke up, “Why don’t we put your heart back before you drop it or something?”

Luffy came to a stop in front of him. “Okay,” he smiled.

Law scrambled to his feet when Luffy started to push his heart back into place, flipped upside down. “Let me!” he cried sharply, relieved when Luffy readily handed him the heart. Rotating it in his hand until it was positioned correctly, Law pressed it into the empty slot in Luffy’s chest. He let his fingers linger over Luffy’s skin, feeling a kind of relief at the heart beating from within his body.

“Wanna watch the stars?” Luffy asked abruptly. 

Law blinked and then smiled gently, painfully aware of how weak he was to these bright eyes and endearingly simple requests. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Side by side, they laid down on the wooden deck outside. Stars sparkled in the night sky, bright even in the light of the waxing moon. Law took Luffy’s hand in his own, intertwining their fingers and resting them atop his stomach. Luffy was oddly quiet, which Law attributed to his earlier excessive burst of energy. 

“What’s next?” Luffy finally broke the silence, his voice soft.

A moment passed. “What do you mean?” Law asked.

He whispered, “After we kick Kaido’s ass. After Wano. What happens?” 

Law tightened his grip around Luffy’s hand and spoke slowly, “I don’t know.”

“Hm,” Luffy sighed before chuckling, “I dunno either.” 

Silence fell over them again until Luffy spoke again, “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

Law hesitated. What could he say to this? A warmth exploded in his chest and a smile crept across his face. That’s right, he didn’t know. “Yeah, it’s okay to not know,” he answered.

Luffy chuckled and scooted closer to rest his head on Law’s chest. “I don’t know a lot,” he murmured.

“We can’t know everything,” Law shrugged. 

“I’m glad I know you, though,” Luffy sighed as he nuzzled his cheek into his chest.

The stars brightened in Law’s eyes. “And I’m glad I know you.”

Chapter Text

“Straw Hat Luffy is dead.”

…

Straw Hat Luffy is dead?

…

No. Not possible.

Luffy had promised to defeat Kaido. Hands cradling Law’s face, eyes brimming with confidence, he promised. He had kissed Law after that, his lips sealing his vow. And Law listened and believed him. Believed in him.

When has Luffy ever broken a promise?

Law couldn’t think of any instances that actually mattered. Luffy deviated from his meticulously-laid plans but he always made it work for the better. This could not be for the better. No, this was the worst possible outcome.

Luffy is dead?

When Luffy told him to take Zoro and leave, he hadn’t agreed at first. Zoro definitely needed to get out of there; his odds of survival were dwindling the longer they waited. But surely they could have all left together, regrouped, and figured out a plan. Luffy was putting up a good fight, his ryuo mastery leveling the field between him and the Emperor of the Sea. Even so, how could he ask Law to leave him? Why does he think Law would ever leave him?

But you did.

He left him, alone, to fight Kaido. In the end, Luffy’s confidence is what swayed him. Law had seen him accomplish miracles, practically bending reality with luck or charisma or sheer will–-he wasn’t sure which-–so why shouldn’t he believe in Luffy, the man who was going to become the Pirate King? More than that, he was the man who had shown him how much more there was to feel and strive for, that you could evolve from tragedy and trauma into something marked but beautiful. Those scars were a part of the tapestry of his life. Luffy had proven to him that it was possible to accept the past and still advance in defiance of it all, or because of it all.

Or maybe you’re just a coward.

The earth beneath Law’s feet shifted. Whether it was the rubble falling further in place or the precipitous drop of his heart within his chest, he wasn’t sure. If things were falling apart–-his mind, Onigashima, or both–-maybe that was for the best. He had left Luffy and ran, like a pathetic, selfish child. Was that all he was: a child in a man’s body pretending to be strong? 

Law had considered himself someone who matured at a young age. He had been forced to, given the circumstances. But maybe it was the opposite. Maybe he had never grown up because he didn’t have the opportunity. Maybe his stoic, sarcastic persona was just a traumatized kid’s masquerade of adulthood.

There was no denying that he tried to hide his awkwardness, his loneliness, under a veneer of cold indifference. Love had presented itself in abundance and he kept falling for its charms. His parents, his sister, Cora… he had taken the chance to love and trust and each time he came away with nothing but heaps of agony, piled high upon his shoulders and crushing him into the earth with the weight. 

It’s my fault again, isn’t it?

Without Cora, he wouldn’t be here. He would’ve been a dead body in a cart, a nameless soul in a pit in the earth. Cora’s sacrifice haunted him; a loving and crushing reminder that followed him everywhere. How could he ever make it up to him? Surely he was the lesser life, now drowning in a debt that required him to make up for Cora’s absence.

Bounties aside, how could a life be assigned a quantitative value? The number of lives saved? The number of prayers made to a god that probably didn't exist? The number of times someone regretted their actions? Did regret reflect the goodness of a being? Or was atonement the only way to prove a soul’s worth? How could he atone for existing in place of Cora? In place of Luffy?

You can’t.

…

STOP. Focus.

Cora wanted him to live. Luffy wanted him to live. Law rose to his feet, ignoring the screaming pain in his body, the muscles and tendons that felt seconds away from snapping. Big Mom was in a hole in the middle of the earth, probably–-hopefully-–dead, thanks to him. Kid helped a bit, too. His retinas still burned with the afterimage of the beam from Kid's Damned Punk. He had gotten this far because he and Luffy defeated Doflamingo, because Luffy had rallied thousands to pursue a better future. He trusted Luffy then and he trusted Luffy now. 

Are you sure Luffy is dead?

Luffy defied law, social and natural, with his actions, thoughts, and very existence. If his heart could be white, appear absent of blood while the cardiac muscle worked overtime to an incomprehensible rhythm, why couldn't he be alive while looking dead? If anyone could look death in the face and turn around, laughing, it would be Luffy. But… he couldn't hear or sense him. Luffy's haki could be felt for miles if you searched for it. For it to be silent now…

Get the fuck up and find out for yourself.

“Damnit, Luffy,” Law muttered between clenched teeth. Pressing the tip of Kikoku's scabbard against the uneven ground, he leaned on the hilt to steady himself. Smoke burned his eyes and lungs. Vision swimming, he glared up at Kaido towering in the sky above. 

How can I possibly get past–-FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE STOP THINKING AND JUST FUCKING GO!

Luffy would have already moved, reckless and fearless. As Law leaned down, his knee gave way. 

Shit.

The raw skin on his knees, exposed through torn denim, stung as he collapsed into the rubble and another layer of flesh was scraped away. Ignoring the pain, he frantically stuffed rocks, pebbles, any kind of small debris he could find into his pockets. Kikoku bore his weight while he pulled himself back to his feet. Jaw tense, Law stretched his hand outward and hissed, “Room.” He fought through the stabbing pain in his ribs to shout, “Cover me!”

“Oi!” Nami's scream sounded from his left while he launched himself forward. “Torao's going up! Don’t let Kaido touch him!” A murmur amongst the throng of their allies spread, quickly growing into a raucous roar. Cries erupted throughout the room as they echoed Nami’s directive and called for Luffy’s rescue.

“Shambles!” Law roared after throwing a rock high over the crowd. His surroundings warped and he was hurtling far above his allies, yet Kaido still loomed tall before him. 

A chill crept down his spine as the dragon's golden eyes turned to him, narrowed with amusement. Kaido cackled, “Still won't give up, tiny brat? You might've beaten Linlin but that shit won't work on me.” 

“Shut up, you stupid fucking lizard!” Nami spat. 

Kaido clicked his teeth and faced her. “The whole lot of you are so aptly named, Worst Generation.” 

Bepo’s voice resonated through the room while Law tossed another pebble into the air and teleported forward, “No one gives a shit about your opinion, ya washed up geezer!”

“ORARARA!” Kaido burst into laughter. “You really think this will distract me? You’re all out of options! Your Straw Hat hero is dead. Gone. Now, join my crew or die.” Having made his ultimatum, he widened his fanged jaws. “Blast Breath!” Fire collected in the back of his throat, growing into a bright, burning mass before he expelled it forward. Law fumbled in his pocket for another rock, panic surging as the fiery beam shot toward him. 

ShitshitshitshitSHI–-

The unbearable heat ceased when an electric blue glow flashed in front of him. Something clutched his shoulders. He jerked his head upward, relief washing over him as he recognized Marco’s phoenix wings and pineapple-shaped head. “Thanks,” he coughed and threw him a lopsided grin.

Marco tightened his talons around Law and beat his fiery wings to carry them higher. “Get your shit together, kid,” he laughed before veering sharply to avoid another blast of fire from Kaido. 

“Leave Luffy’s boyfriend alone!” Nami screamed while pointing her Clima-tact in the dragon's direction. “Thunderbolt tempo!” 

Marco’s chuckle floated down, “Luffy’s boyfriend, huh?” 

Face beet red, Law impressed himself with his ability to feel self-conscious amidst a life or death situation. It only worsened as Kaido belted out another menacing laugh, “‘Boyfriend' ? How cute. Too bad he’s dead.” The dragon threw his massive head back, amusement rumbling in his chest while lightning bounced off of his scales. 

Law clenched his teeth and reached for the hilt of his katana. Marco’s voice snapped his attention back, “Cool it, Trafalgar!”

He released a shaking breath. Damnit. The Phoenix was right. “Can you get me up there?” he called upward.

“No prob–-shit! ” Marco swerved as Kaido's clawed hand reached out to grab them. The dragon clipped him on the shoulder and he let out a muffled cry.

Law tumbled from Marco’s grip while the Phoenix hurtled into the nearby wall. He tried to get his bearings–a difficult task to accomplish when somersaulting through the air. 

Nami’s order was distant but clear, “Zeus, go!”

He slammed face-first into the cloud's cushioned surface, the impact still hard enough to issue a shock of pain through his body. With a grunt of thanks, he pushed himself onto his hands and knees. 

Far below, Shachi taunted, “You're just a jealous bitch, Kaido! Your own son doesn't even like you!”

“What kind of asshole puts explosive restraints on their kid anyway?! Afraid he’ll leave you because your personality is shit? Why don't you give your balls a tug, old man?” Was that… Ikkaku's voice? Law couldn't help but chuckle.

“Cloud-ya,” he barked. “Take me to the roof. Can you do that?”

“Err, I guess,”  Zeus whined.

“Tch. Didn't Nami-ya tell you to help me?” Law scoffed.

“Well, yeah. But…” the cloud hesitated before grumbling, “Kaido is scary. I don't wanna go near him.”

Tensely, he growled, “Do it for Nami.”

Zeus gulped and shifted, the cap on his head leaning to one side. “Right,” he sighed before steeling himself and charging forward with renewed speed.

Kaido's voice boomed while they soared through the air, “You think I give a shit what any of you think? I'm a fucking Emperor of the Sea!” 

“Booooooo! Get off the stage!” Kid's unmistakable sneer erupted from the right side of the room, followed by an echo of ‘boo’s.

Zeus zipped behind Kaido as the dragon roared and swung at the rowdy Kid Pirates. When the massive blue scales on the back of Kaido’s head loomed before them, Law pushed to his feet. A glance upward confirmed his estimations; the hole in the ceiling was roughly twenty feet up, centered directly above Kaido's head. He swept his eyes downward, taking in the mass of pirates, ninja, samurai, and Minks struggling below. The Beast Pirates had resumed their fight in the midst of the heckling. 

“I can take it from here,” he rasped. “Go protect Nami.”

The cloud nodded as Law threw a rock towards the ceiling, as hard and as far as his aching arm would allow. 

“Shambles!”

Darkness spread out above him, the roof so close now he could almost touch it.

One more time. 

While he drew his arm back to throw one last pebble, a flash of blue edged into his vision. Law turned his head as he launched the rock upward. 

Kaido’s toothy maw hovered beneath him, breath steaming. “Join Straw Hat in hell!” he hissed before spreading his jaw. A ball of fire expanded in his mouth.

Law’s eyes widened; the intense heat of the distant flame was already an engulfing force. The scorching blast receded as he switched himself with the pebble, but in another blink it had already caught up with him. He darted his frantic gaze around the rooftop, begging his eyes to adjust and lock onto anything in the dark after staring into Kaido’s blindingly bright flame.

There.

He welcomed the pain as his body slammed into the cold, rocky earth, displacing a massive boulder. 

Solid ground. Fucking finally.

The crash of rock against Kaido’s skull was distant, reaching Law's ears but slipping past his mind. Ignoring his spinning vision, the radiating shocks of pain along his leg, his ribs, and now his shoulder, and the fluttering terror in his heart, he scrambled to his feet. He froze after taking an unsteady step forward.

Where the fuck is Luffy?

Stumbling and desperate, he tossed his head to search the rooftop. “LUFFY!” he screamed, voice hoarse.

FUCK WHERE THE FUCKING HELL IS–-

There. A splash of bright red and orange amidst the rubble caught his eye. 

Luffy's body was a limp form across the clearing. Law hobbled over uneven ground, his breath ragged as panic flooded his nerves. “LUFFY!” he bellowed again. 

He's not moving is he breathing he's not moving but maybe if I just if I resuscitate him if he can be alive can he be alive be alive live please live please PLEASE

Law collapsed beside him, his bloodied knees pressing against Luffy’s side as he moved closer. The stinging sensation of his raw knees nudging into his ribcage was overwhelmed with the discovery of how cold Luffy had become. His shaking hands hunted Luffy’s face, neck, and chest for a pulse, a sign, anything that could possibly be construed as hope. Nothing. He wrapped his arms around Luffy’s torso and pulled him against his heart, tucking him beneath his chin. The tightness in his chest crept outward, tendrils of paralysis curling around his body and mind tighter, tighter, tighter until it snapped.

A grating roar ripped from his throat in the vague shape of Luffy’s name. Tears spilled over his cheeks as his emotions ruptured. Between gasping sobs, he spat, “FUCK. THIS. FUCK THIS SO FUCKING MUCH! FUCK!”

What did you expect? You're not Luffy. You can't just manifest whatever you want into reality. Not like you even tried.

What did he even try to do? He got up here, checked Luffy's pulse, and gave up. 

Change it. Don’t accept it. Don’t fall into the same shitty pattern you've let stain your whole life.

Law cradled Luffy's head while he laid his body back upon the ground. Palms down, he stacked his hands over Luffy’s heart and locked in his elbows. “Come. Back. T’ life. You. Fucking. Asshole. ’love you. So. Goddamn. Much,” he hissed as he compressed Luffy's chest over and over, ignoring the uncomfortable pop in his shoulder. “Don't. Leave. Me. You. Made. Me. So. Much. Better. I've. Gotten. So. Much. Better. I'll. Be. Even. Better. For. You.”

After pumping out thirty beats, he inhaled and pressed his mouth against Luffy's. “Stay with me,” he breathed into his lungs. 

When he had exhausted the air from his body, he lifted his head and collected another lungful. Again, his breath inflated Luffy’s lungs along with a whisper, “I’m not done loving you.”

Law gasped for air, head spinning, and returned his hands to Luffy’s chest. Imbuing each press with an energy he tore from the deepest recesses of his heart and body, he watched Luffy’s face. 

You’re losing it. You’re losing him.

Cora’s dying eyes stared up at him. A blink and it was replaced with the pale face of his mother, gaze blank and blood dripping from her mouth. Law slammed his eyes shut, refusing to fall into the trap his mind had set for him.

“Wake. Up! LUFFY! Please.” His words came as ragged gasps. “You're. So. Important. To. Everyone. T’me. To. Me. ’Specially. I'm. Selfish. An’ I. Need. You. Please. Come. Back. T’ me. I. Love. You. More. And. More. All. The. Time. So. Wake. UP!”

An emptiness filled Law's mind as his downward shove was returned to him fivefold, like pressing on a trampoline. Thrown off balance, he tumbled onto his back. Amidst the quiet of his confused mind, the drums reached his ears. 

Da-dum. Da-dum. DA-DA-dum. DUM-DA-DA-DUM.

Law wrenched himself upright. “Luffy?” His voice wavered. 

The color in Luffy's skin had returned, whereas the pigment of his hair was gone. A cloud of wispy white replaced his normal tangle of black locks. His heartbeat was visible against the wall of his chest, forcing the rest of his body in an upward convulsion.

Why are his clothes white too?

Idiot. Who cares about the clothes? What the fuck is happening right now?

Law scrambled back to Luffy’s side and cautiously squeezed his shoulder. “Luffy?” he ventured, shaking him gently.

Luffy’s eyes flung wide and piercing red irises stared upward. A toothy grin spread across his face. “Shishishi, you’re so loud, Torao!” Luffy cackled.

“Y-you…” Law whispered, words cracking and dissipating in his throat. 

Luffy sat up abruptly, swinging his head from side to side. “Oi, where’s Kaido?” he asked. “I gotta kick that dude’s—hey, wait. Torao! What’s wrong?” 

Law’s shoulders shook as a sob erupted in place of coherent thought. “You… you were dead,” he stammered.

“Know what's crazy?” Luffy's body convulsed with laughter as he confessed, “I thought so too! But then the drums were too loud and I was trying to hear you over them and it was like my heart tried to pick a fight with me. And I WON!! But so did my heart I guess, since I’m alive, shishishi! And now I feel so free and nothing’s gonna stop me from taking down Kaido!” 

Emotion tangled within Law’s chest. Anxiety-stained grief mingled with elation and coiled itself around relief, pushing uncontrollable tears from his eyes. He tried to take deep, calming breaths, but they came out as desperate gasps.

The grin on Luffy’s face softened as he got to his feet. Law gazed up at his figure. The moon haloed around him, casting a brighter sheen to his white hair. In the shadow of his face, the red of his eyes glowed. He held out a hand; Law took it. His touch was the reassurance Law needed.

Luffy’s voice was clear with confidence as he said, “It’s you, ya know.”

Law furrowed his brow while Luffy pulled him up to stand. “What about me?” he asked, confused. 

“You make me feel like this,” he explained, slapping the ‘X’ over his bare chest. “Like I can do anything.”

“That’s got nothing to do with me,” Law objected shyly, wiping his nose on the back of his forearm.

Luffy grabbed his shoulders and squeezed. “It has everything to do with you, Torao.” His eyes narrowed in determination. “Let me show you what I can do with everything you’ve given me.”

“Luffy,” he murmured. Overcome, he pulled him into a tight embrace. Grabbing the back of Luffy’s neck and holding him close, he added, “Kick Kaido’s ass to hell and back. I’ll be waiting. Got it?”

“Got it,” Luffy beamed as they stepped apart. He turned with a leap, throwing a warm glance and a wave over his shoulder. 

Law swayed on his feet; exhaustion and injury was catching up to him. He hobbled to the edge of the rooftop and sat on the ground, back against a boulder. 

“KAIDO!” Luffy's roar swept over the landscape.

From a distance, Law watched Luffy's arm inflate, the way he reached into the hole in the ceiling and pulled Kaido out by the tail like a curious kid unintentionally abusing a class pet.

You were that kid, remember. 

Law chuckled to himself. His laughter grew, hilarity fused with awe, as Luffy swung the dragon round and round. Kaido was slammed, tossed, and kicked, his once menacing aura replaced with comedic helplessness. Law’s ribs ached from the force of his cackling while Luffy ballooned inside of Kaido, forcing him into an odd round shape.

It was the best, stupidest, most satisfying fight he had ever seen. Luffy disappeared in the clouds and came down a giant. Bigger than giant. Massive. Enormous. He didn't engage Kaido in a fist fight or anything considered normal. No, he spun the dragon around like a fucking jump rope. 

His amusement ceased briefly when Luffy hurtled off the edge of the island from an especially brutal attack. He moved to make a “room” and “shambles” Luffy back to safety, but quickly realized his concern was unnecessary. The cartoon of a man was powering through the air with the force of blurred, spinning legs.

Soon Luffy was in the clouds again, grabbing lightning as if nature had given him a pass to defy every last one of its laws. The strings of lightning lit up the earth while they bent and twisted under his influence. Law’s beloved rubber menace zipped across the sky until he moved too quickly to be seen. 

None of this makes sense, Law thought with uncharacteristic giddiness. Maybe in a week, in a day, in an hour, he would have to face reality, its rules and limitations, but for now he allowed himself to indulge in Luffy’s splendor and chaos as his colossal, haki-infused fist delivered Kaido into the earth, deep toward its molten core.

But then Luffy's colors faded back to normal. Law squinted to see him as he floated toward the ground. A chill spread from the pit of his stomach as Luffy gained speed. He was falling. Hand outstretched, Law formed a “room” while he struggled to his feet. The blue sphere under his palm flickered out.

Shit. I'm out of energy now?

His feet pounded against the earth as he sprinted forward. Each step struck a chord of vibrating pain through his leaden legs. At this rate he wouldn't make it in time. He held out his hand again and tensed his body, willing his power to activate. 

Lifespan be damned. Just fucking work.

The flash of blue expanded around him. “Yes!” he panted with relief. The “room” didn't reach Luffy, but it would at least get him closer. He switched himself with a rock at the edge of his domain and pressed onward. 

Arms outstretched, Law dove under Luffy's trajectory. Luffy slammed into his arms and sent them both rolling over the ground. Law pressed Luffy's head to his chest while they tumbled and dust erupted in their wake until they finally came to a stop.

Groaning, Law let him slip gently onto the ground beside him. Luffy's skin was warm and unbroken beneath Law's touch as he patted him down for injuries and checked his pulse. His appearance of relative well-being was at once a relief and utterly baffling. Fatigue drew Law's head back to the ground and he allowed himself to go limp. A grin spread across his face as he laughed. 

Luffy did it. 

“We did it,” Luffy’s whisper floated over Law’s skin, warm and tingling.

Energy surged in Law’s veins at the sound of Luffy’s voice. He rolled onto his side. Luffy was staring up at the sky, paper lanterns reflected as glowing freckles in his eyes. Disregarding everything but Luffy, Law propped himself up on his forearms and crawled closer. Delirium spoke through Law in a chaotic giggle, “You're alive.”

Luffy turned his head to the side and studied Law’s face. His smile widened as he teased, “Duh. Why are you still crying?”

“The fuck do you expect?” Law snorted, raising a hand to rub the heel of his palm against an eye. 

“Torao!” he chuckled between fits of laughter, “Your emotions are sooooo confusing but I love them so much!” He rotated to face him, his laughter abruptly ceasing. A wild glow flared in his eyes as he stared at Law. “I want all of you, Law. Your emotions, your love. All of it.”

“I’ll give you everything,” Law smiled. 

Luffy smirked, mischief simmering in his eyes. “I heard aaaall those things you said, ya know. When you were trying to get me to wake up,” he chuckled and shifted forward until their foreheads touched. 

“You heard everything?” Law murmured, fighting off the warmth of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks.

Eyes closed, Luffy inhaled deeply. When he finally exhaled, his breath condensed and drifted to the sky. “You're important to me too, Torao,” he giggled before placing a gentle kiss on Law’s mouth.

The electric sensation of Luffy’s lips against his own sent Law spinning. The tips of his frayed nerves fizzled with warmth and carbonated joy bubbled up his spine and to his head. This outpouring of relief bordered on unbearable. He pulled away and raised his hand to cradle the side of Luffy’s face.

“You’re beautiful, Luffy.” Law heard the words leave his mouth and the blush he had been fighting off bloomed in full force.

Luffy giggled, “Shishishi, Torao thinks I’m pretty!”

“I do. You are so much to me,” he whispered. 

A satisfied sigh escaped from between Luffy’s lips. Law watched his eyelids drop. The spotlight of the moon cast Luffy’s body in a silver glow. He stroked the metallic skin of his cheek, his thumb sweeping over the scar beneath his eye while his ring finger settled under his jaw. The pulse in Luffy’s neck telegraphed through his finger, finally calm and steady. Its warmth and cadence lured Law into relaxation; he closed his eyes and drifted.

“Luffy!” A cry sounded from nearby, accompanied by the clattering of sandals over the earth. 

Law opened one eye as the footfall stopped by his side. Yamato loomed above them, horns silhouetted against the moon. 

“Is Luffy okay?” he asked when Luffy didn’t respond.

Law grunted, “I think so.”

“Oh!” Yamato’s voice was bright with recognition. “You’re the boyfriend!”

Letting out a cough mixed with a laugh, he grumbled, “Yup. The boyfriend. Not like I defeated anyone of note in this battle.”

He let out a heavy breath and darkness settled in around him. Yamato said something he didn’t catch. There was a vague sensation of being lifted and slung over a hard surface, a gentle rhythm of movement started beneath him. 

Pressure around his limp hand as it swayed in the air coaxed his eyes open. He found himself hanging over Yamato’s shoulder. His vision cleared for a moment, revealing Luffy hanging from the opposite shoulder with eyes open, a soft gaze trained on Law. He glanced down at his hand, his fingers intertwined with Luffy’s. The warmth in his chest spread as he closed his eyes and sank back into the entreating oblivion of rest.

—

A breeze caressed Luffy’s face, evoking memories of the warm wind that combed the green hills around Foosha Village. Something tickled his cheek. He saw the grass towering against the sky. He was lying down, looking up. What was he doing here? Where was Ace? Where was Sabo? Was he… That’s right, he needed to stay quiet, still. If Ace found him he would lose. And he was definitely going to win this time.

“... might be if… them?” 

The muffled sound carried on the wind in Luffy’s semi-consciousness. He twitched. It didn’t sound like Ace. Or Sabo. Where were they? He had so much to tell them.

“Don’t bother.”

Another muted voice reached him.

“... if you separate… just end up back in the same bed.”

There was a tittering sound, amusement, and a response he couldn’t make out.

“...ao doing?”

“He woke up a day ago,” the first voice came into focus, “but he’s not fully recov… sleeping a lot. And then he just spends his waking hours fretting over Luffy.”

Clear and bright, the second person chuckled, “You’ve got competition for your job then?”

“... respect him as a doctor but when it comes to Luffy he’s unbearable. It’s easier to care for them both when he’s asleep.”

Luffy’s stomach rumbled, loud enough to force him all the way into the waking world. The conversation around him ceased abruptly. Squinting, he looked at the two shadows hovering above him. “Meat…” he finally managed to groan.

“Can you go tell the chef? Yes, as fast as you can. Thank you, Robin.” The second shape disappeared, replaced with bright light.

“Luffy?” Chopper’s face came into focus before him as his eyes adjusted. 

“Chopper,” Luffy mumbled, extending his hand toward the tiny reindeer with a hungry gleam in his eye. “Good timing. I'm starving.” 

“DON'T TOUCH ME!” Chopper screamed as Luffy's hand wrapped around his neck. Jumping backward and assuming Kung Fu Point, he begged, “Food will be here any minute so please be patient.”

Luffy blinked and frowned. “Where's Torao?” he asked, jutting out his lower lip in a pout.

The fur on Chopper's twitched with amusement while he shifted back to his normal form. He pointed a hoof vaguely to the right. A sunny grin spread across Luffy's face as he turned and found Law beside him. Aside from the bandage around his forehead, Law looked well. His features relaxed in his sleep and a small spot of drool collected on the pillow beneath his mouth. 

Lightness filled Luffy’s core, momentarily pushing hunger from his mind. “Torao! Wake up!” he yelled while latching himself onto Law's body.

“Hah? Wha?” he mumbled as he startled awake, eyes darting rapidly. When his gaze settled on Luffy’s beaming face, he wrapped him in his arms and croaked, “Luffy!”

Giggles erupted from Luffy’s chest. The tangle of their embrace satiated him for a time, but he quickly needed more. Shifting his weight, he pressed into Law until he was flat on his back. He rolled and sat atop Law’s stomach, the blanket cascading around his shoulders. Luffy bent down, connecting their lips. He moved softly, savoring the curve of Law’s smile against his mouth. Receding footsteps sounded behind them, fading into nothing. 

“You woke up,” Law breathed when their lips parted. 

The adoration in his stare crashed over Luffy, a rip current that dragged him further into feeling. Through a mouth full of emotion, he managed to pour out a response, “Duh. You're here. I'll always make it back to you.”

Law slid his hands over Luffy’s arms and squeezed. “I have so much shit I want to say but… I'm just so happy,” he rasped, voice tightening.

“Me too,” he nodded and tapped his own chest. “There are all these words stuck in here and I need to get them out soon but I know once I start they're all just gonna spill out like ‘blah.'” 

As Law chuckled, Luffy kissed him again, pressing against his mouth with an urgent moan. “Torao,” he whispered playfully between kisses, “I’m hungry.” The flesh of Law’s lower lip was soft between his teeth as he bit down.

Law pulled his mouth away. “Yeah? What kind of hungry?” he purred.

Luffy complained, “I want meat.”

“Hmm, I’ve got some I could give you,” he teased, hands roaming down Luffy’s sides.

“No, like, I’m starving,” Luffy clarified. With a snort he added, “I need food. Perv.”

“I was provoked,” Law scoffed after releasing a sigh. “Maybe put some clothes on first?”

Luffy glanced down. “Oh. I’m not wearing anything. Huh!” he laughed. 

“Luffy…” Chopper’s small voice sounded from the hallway as he poked his head in from behind the screen door, “Do you… still want food? Or are you erm, uh… gonna, um…” Face glowing red, the reindeer faltered.

“Shishishi!” Luffy cackled, “I want food, Chopper. I can’t have sex on an empty stomach!” He looked down at Law, who had covered his face with his hand and was now lying limp beneath him. “What?” he asked, swinging his head from Law to Chopper.

The reindeer ducked his head back behind the door and called out, “There are clothes next to your bed, Luffy. Same for you, Torao.”

“Ohhh, thanks, Chopper!” he grinned once he located the neatly folded clothes by his futon.

“O-of course. Tell me when you’re decent and I’ll have them bring the food in,” Chopper stammered.

Grumbling, Luffy complained quietly, “I hafta wear clothes to eat?” He slid from Law’s torso to crawl across the futon. With incredible speed, he flung the yukata over his shoulders and folded it over his body. “Okay!” he called out while he knotted the obi at his waist.

“Oi! I’m not done yet,” Law growled, still pulling his clothes over his arms.

“You look better without clothes anyway,” Luffy laughed.

“Tch.” He scrambled to get into his yukata, covering himself just in time as Chopper entered the room, leading a procession of attendants loaded with tray upon tray of food. 

Luffy’s eyes widened and sparkled, his stomach rumbling at the sight. He dug in before they had even finished setting up the tables, a happy glow coating his heart while he shoveled meat into his mouth. Law watched him with a raised eyebrow before neatly arranging a normal portion of food on a plate. Footsteps slapped on the wood floor from the hallway. A crowd appeared at the door: Heart Pirates, Straw Hats, and allies alike pushing and shoving to enter. Nami and Bepo navigated through first.

“Luffy!!!” Nami cried, giving her captain a quick hug before backing up a safe distance; she knew better than to get in the way of his meal.

Law raised his plate out of the way as Bepo enveloped him in a crushing embrace. “Captain! We missed you so much!” the bear sobbed. Despite the mass of food in his mouth, Law’s stifled smile was still obvious. 

Everyone settled in around the two captains, raising the energy to a level of festive jubilance. Luffy ignored this; he was hungry. Succulent meats and seafood funneled down his throat to fill the black hole of his stomach. Tender cuts of grilled beef flashed in the corner of his eye; he snapped to the side and tore the meat from the skewer just before it made it to Law’s mouth. 

Sensing Law’s gaze amidst his frenzy, Luffy paused to meet his displeased glare. Giggling around a mouth full of meat, he pressed his lips to Law’s cheek. 

Law rolled his eyes. Quietly, he remarked, “I can’t do anything on an empty stomach either, you know.”

Luffy shifted his gaze to the plate in Law’s hand. The white ceramic was unobstructed save for a single skewer of meat resting on its surface. His eyes widened with panic. Forget sex, how could Torao even survive on such a sad portion of food? Stretching his arms, he gathered up as much food as he could fit within his grasp and shoved it toward Law’s face.

“H-hey!” Law tried to protest before a massive chunk of meat on the bone was thrust into his open mouth. Voice muffled, he held up his arms to block the onslaught of food.

Frustrated with Law's unwillingness, Luffy cried, “You have to eat, Torao!”

“Well that’s something I never thought I’d see,” Nami snorted as she watched Luffy struggle to shove food in Law's mouth.

Penguin leaned over and asked, “What's wrong with your captain?”

“A lot of things,” Usopp chuckled with a shrug. “You're better off just not thinking about it too much.”

After Luffy was satisfied with the volume of food Law had eaten--which required a significant amount of argument and explanation on Law’s part about the physical limits of a human stomach that he didn't think made any sense–-he attended to his own appetite; the remaining food was devoured in minutes. He finally fell onto his back with a satisfied sigh, belly full and energy restored. Yamato burst into the room moments later, hollering Luffy’s name. 

Finding himself in a sudden embrace, Luffy exhaled out a surprised laugh, “Oh, Yamao!” 

“LUFFY!! I'm so glad you woke up!” Yamato wailed. He was on the verge of tears.

“Shishishi. Of course I woke up,” Luffy chuckled.

He glanced at Law over Yamato's shoulder. A scowl had etched across his face while his gaze moved between Yamato and Luffy. Meeting his stare, Luffy watched as the surgeon’s face reddened. The reaction stirred a complicated emotion in his chest: twisted satisfaction and sadness which leaned toward the latter when Law turned away. Stretching his arm, he hooked a hand around Law’s waist and squeezed. Relief flooded his heart as the gesture caught his attention. He flashed a wide grin at Law, who’s face softened. Much better.

“Luffy?” Yamato’s voice forced his focus back to the world around them.

“Huh?” he blinked.

Yamato frowned, eyebrows furrowed with concern. “I asked if you wanted to go to the baths before the festival. It’s customary,” he repeated.

Luffy bit down on the standard response of displeasure cued up in his mouth and paused. If anything would make Torao happy, it would be a bath. He smiled, “Yeah! Sounds good. Huh, Torao?” 

Turning his head, Yamato looked over his shoulder at Law, who shrugged and nodded in assent. “Wahooo! Let’s go, let’s go!” the horned man bellowed as he jumped to his feet. 

Laughing, Luffy released Law's waist and stood. He offered Law his hands instead, willing his fluttering heart to calm while he pulled him up. They shared a glance that electrified his spine.

“C’mon, Torao,” he giggled, releasing one hand and pulling him along with the other.

“Oi,” Law called as he stopped in place, forcing Luffy’s arm to stretch ahead of him.

Luffy turned, confused. “What’s wrong?” 

Heat shot through his stomach when Law closed the distance between them and settled a palm on his nape. Stroking his thumb over a tendon in Luffy’s neck, Law chuckled, “Do me a favor and watch yourself, okay? I’m fucking horny and I don't know how much I'll be able to stand if you’re prancing around in the bath.”

Luffy’s ears burned. He chewed at his lower lip as a mischievous smirk broke across his face. “I can’t promise anything, Torao.” 

Pulling out of Law’s grip, he turned on his heel and continued walking. A glance over his shoulder revealed Law still in place, a hand covering his mouth. “Coming?” he laughed.

With a sigh, Law stepped after him and mumbled, “Soon enough, I hope.”

—

Law was right, Luffy had to concede while his muscles relaxed beneath the steaming water. Baths were… nice. The washing and scrubbing still wasn’t great. But the soaking part--he couldn't deny how good it felt. Had he always felt like this? Or had Law actually changed his mind?

Didn't matter. He was happy.

Eyes closed, he submerged himself. Raucous laughter reached him through the water; a few of Law's crew, most of Luffy's, and a number of their allies had crammed into the bath together. The Shogun's palace within the Flower Capital boasted two large baths to prevent “mixed bathing”--a concept Luffy didn't really understand. But again, it didn't matter. He got to be with Law and that's all he wanted… Except Law was on the other end of the bath, with Penguin and Shachi, instead of at his side. Luffy surfaced, blinking to push the water from his lashes so he could see Law clearly. 

“Stop looking at Yamato like that.” Zoro’s growl was the first thing he heard upon clearing his ears of water.

“Why shouldn’t I? We’re in the bath! What am I supposed to look at?” Sanji argued.

“Literally anything else,” Zoro scoffed. 

Luffy turned around, unsurprised to find the two tangled in another violent semi-embrace. The swordsman had the crown of the cook’s head in a deathgrip, their faces inches apart. Sanji's stare was defiant as he shoved his heel into Zoro's neck. The choking sound in his throat was momentary; Sanji's foot, slick with water, slipped to the side and over his shoulder. 

“Well? What now, shitty cook?” Zoro grinned devilishly at Sanji's compromised position. 

When the cook opened his mouth to respond, a bullet of water shot him in the forehead. A second one struck Zoro in the cheek. 

“Behave yourselves, kids,” Jinbe laughed, water rippling around his massive body.

Luffy swung his head to face him, eyes sparkling. “Was that Fishman karate?!” 

Jinbe's amusement grew into a belly shaking roar. “No, Luffy,” he explained once he had calmed. “You just press your hands together along the water like this.”

Jinbe clasped his hands together, thumbs crossed and partially submerged in the bath, and squeezed. A spurt of water hit Luffy in the sternum. He cackled and mimicked the motion, a feeble spray erupting from between his palms. He repeated this and sent a swift streak of bathwater at Brook, seated next to Jinbe, hitting him in the forehead. 

“Yohoho!” Brook took the attack in good humor and eagerly positioned his hands to reciprocate. “Like this?” he asked, his bones clacking together.

Jinbe leaned over to look and a shadow crossed his face. Apologetically, he explained, “I think you need skin to be able to do it… Sorry, Brook. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

Brook turned his skull to Jinbe and then back to Luffy. He put a hand between his face and Jinbe before feigning a whisper in Luffy’s direction, “I like this new crew member you picked, Luffy. So thoughtful!”

“He’s a soulful guy!” Luffy beamed.

“Soulful? Yohoho! I know a thing or two about soul,” the skeleton laughed. 

Jinbe hesitated before admitting, “I’m actually a huge fan of your music, Brook. Your album is incredible and I was so disappointed I didn’t get to see you live during your tour.”

“Ehhh, Jinbe’s a Soul King fan?!” Usopp chuckled from further down the bath.

A blush spread on Jinbe’s cheeks, tinting his skin purple. “How can anyone not be?” he chuckled bashfully. “‘New World’ was just fantastic! You play violin and guitar, right?” 

Brook rested a hand on his jawbone, clearly moved. In a calm voice he answered, “Yes, piano as well.”

“Ahh, I’d love to hear that sometime! You convey such an energy through your songs that weaves so well with the themes of life after death, time, aging… It’s really quite moving. Especially in ‘The Ballad of Soul King!’” Jinbe leaned forward, hands gesticulating eagerly.

“You’re too kind. I could cry… if I had eyes! Yohoho!” He shook his head as he laughed. Voice softened, he added, “Truly, thank you. I’m fortunate to have many fans but the majority of them are so young. It’s not often that I encounter a fan who truly comprehends those aspects of my work. Growing old, watching those around you pass on… it’s not very accessible to the younger audience. I'm honestly surprised that they’ve taken to a bag of bones like me!”

Jinbe nodded, gaze serious. “Are you familiar with the concept of sea king fall?”

“‘Sea king fall?’ I can’t say I am.”

“When a sea king dies, its body sinks to the bottom of the ocean. The carcass provides nutrients and resources for the creatures living on the ocean floor, so a thriving and complex ecosystem forms around it. The impact can last for decades, leaving essentially the bones–leeched of nutrients, of course. And well… perhaps it’s presumptuous, but the journey you describe for Soul King, for yourself, has parallels to that in my mind. You passed on, but after death you’re living a life that has given back and enriched the lives of so many people. It’s obviously not the…”

Luffy turned away, bored and confused. Across the bath, he spied Law leaning back against the edge. His eyes were closed, relaxed. Luffy plunged beneath the surface again, cautiously opening one eye and then the other. He swam toward the blurry blob that must be Law, kicking gently to avoid disturbing the water. As he got closer and his vision cleared, he recognized Law’s feet with ease. He’d stared at them long enough, touched them enough to know. The inside of Law’s thigh was soft under his grip when he swooped in.

At least, it was until Law thrashed and forced him back. Luffy burst through the water’s surface, simultaneously gasping for breath and laughing--a mildly painful experience. He rubbed his eyes and blinked. Water dripped from Law’s freshly doused hair and rolled down his displeased face. Sheepishly, Luffy giggled, “Hi.” 

Progress: the corner of Law’s mouth twitched upward. The surgeon turned his head and grumbled, “What are you trying to do?”

“Just wanted to surprise you,” he explained, holding back more laughter. When Law remained silent, he added, “You sat so far away from me.”

Law looked him in the eye as his face softened. “Haven’t seen my crew much lately. Been catching up.”

Luffy glanced at the people around Law, Shachi on his left and Penguin on his right. “Where’s your bear?” he asked.

Penguin piped up, “Bepo was afraid of clogging the drain. Said it’s too hot and his fur is shedding.”

“Bears shed?” Luffy’s eyes widened at this new fact.

“Yes, bears shed,” Law confirmed curtly, drawing his attention back. “Do you wanna sit with us?” he offered as he cast sideways glances at his crewmates.

Luffy nodded, grinning, and situated himself on Law’s lap. 

“Oi, I meant…” he began but trailed off with a resigned sigh.

Law’s fingertips tickled Luffy’s scalp as he worked them through the wet mess of hair. Luffy leaned into the sensation and Law's chest behind him, savoring the comfort and ease of the moment.

“Oh! Torao!” he burst with sudden recollection, having gotten his seven seconds of peace (more than enough). “Yamato and Chopper want me to go to the festival with them tonight. You'll come too, right?”

“Sure.” Lowering his voice, Law spoke near his ear, “I do want to get you to myself at some point tonight, though.”

Heat billowed in Luffy's belly, made stronger by the pressure of Law's erection growing against his back. He chuckled, “Me too.” A glance in either direction confirmed that Penguin and Shachi had both taken up conversation with others in the bath. He wiggled briefly and whispered, “Tell me what you want to do to me, Torao.” 

Law’s cock twitched, a delicious signal Luffy couldn’t miss. Letting out a low breath, Law untangled his fingers from Luffy’s hair and wrapped him in his arms. One hand gripped his waist and the other rested on his thigh. 

“Well,” he began, voice slow and breathy, “I want to take you to the festival, so you can eat and drink as much as you want. And if there’s music and dancing, I want you to dance for me. I mean really dance, and for me and no one else. Could you do that for me?”

“Mhm,” Luffy nodded with a gulp. The energy was growing in the pit of his stomach, bubbling and eager. 

Law’s smile was practically audible. He continued quietly, “Good. We’ll stop before you get too tired, though, because next I want to bend you in half and fuck you until you’ve got nothing left to spare.”

“Torao…” he giggled shyly, grateful that even while seated on Law’s lap, the waterline lapped far above the tip of his hardened shaft. Lips pressed against the slope of his shoulder; he shivered. 

Law chuckled softly. “That might be my favorite thing about that devil fruit of yours. You’re just so bendable. Which means I can bend you in all the right angles and fit myself deep, deep inside of you. And I have this insatiable need to fill you with every inch of me. I want to feel you from the inside, Luffy.”

A shaking breath escaped Luffy’s lungs. Law’s hands moved to his hips, grip tight as he pulled him harder against his lap. The pressure built, hotter and more consuming like steam was collecting in his body. Had he gone into Gear Two without realizing it? How much of the steam rising from his skin was from his physical state? Was it just the bathwater? 

Law spoke while Luffy's head spun. “It's been weeks since I got to fuck you like that. Do you know how starved I've been? I think about it all the damn time. So, will you let me?”

Dazed, Luffy nodded. “Mhm. I want that too,” he murmured. “I want to feel you inside of me. It aches, Torao. I need it so much it aches. I like being inside you, but right now… I need you in me.”

The solid warmth of Law's cock pressed against the crack of his ass when Law angled his hips. “Careful, or I'm going to have to rail you in front of our friends and allies,” Law purred.

“Mmh.” Luffy let out a quiet whine. “Do… Do you think you could? Without anyone noticing?”

He felt Law freeze behind him before brushing his mouth over his neck. His breath tickled as he whispered, “Luffy… Are you serious? Do you realize what you're asking?”

Hunger dripped from his voice and coated Luffy's own desire with a crystalline glimmer: sharp in a way that instilled lust and fear, each only serving to strengthen the other. “I…” he hesitated. “I want–-”

“Festival’s gonna start pretty soon, guys! We should head out,” Yamato announced, projecting his voice to carry across the men’s bath and over the fence to the women’s area. 

The water broke into choppy waves as the group rose to leave. Attention diverted, Luffy’s libido lowered to a simmer. He slid from Law’s lap, the hold on his hips released. When he turned, Law met his gaze with panicked eyes. Luffy frowned, “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t get up yet,” he muttered.

Luffy blinked. “Why not?” he asked, head tilted.

Law glanced downward and then to the side. His voice was low, forcing Luffy to lean forward as he spoke, “I’m still hard.”

“So?” he shrugged. “Me too.”

Law sighed, rubbing a hand against his temple while Luffy clambered out of the bath. Dripping with water, he followed the perimeter back to the entrance. 

“Fuck, Luffy, put that away!” Sanji bellowed as he approached, equal parts exasperated and amused. 

He cackled while plucking a single towel from a neatly arranged rack. Hurrying back to the bath, he found Law where he had left him, his forehead dropped atop his arms along the edge. He looked up when the slap of Luffy's feet on the wet stone halted by his head. Luffy unfolded the towel and extended it toward him. 

“Thanks,” Law smiled. The relief in his eyes was palpable, tugging at Luffy's heart. He stepped out of the bath and wrapped the towel around his waist. Smirking, he lifted his chin toward Luffy and chuckled, “You weren't even gonna get one for yourself?”

“Nah, didn't need one.”

Law shook his head with amusement. “Come on then, we've got a festival to attend.”

“You don't wanna have sex first?” Luffy frowned. Law had promised so much and he wanted it now. The blood rushed to his cock, returning it to its fully swollen form. 

“Of course I want to,” he laughed. Cupping Luffy's face, he swiped his thumb over his cheekbone and continued, “If we leave now, people will notice and I’m pretty sure they’ll try to come find you. So let's wait until after you get your fill of the festival.”

Luffy grinned. “And then I can get my fill of you.”

“Exactly,” Law purred.

—

Law was in love with Luffy. In his entirety, and with every minute facet of his being. Months ago, the concept of loving another person in totality would have made him laugh. Call him pessimistic, jaded, damaged… At the end of the day, he would have argued it was emotionally irresponsible to feel this way. But here he was, loving each aspect of Luffy that a past version of himself had regarded as a flaw: his impulsiveness, his dismissal of convention, his unguarded and reckless generosity. It wasn't that his feelings eclipsed these elements. Rather, he had achieved an understanding and appreciation of Luffy that enabled him to see these characteristics in the context of his whole self. What he found in Luffy and what he had come to understand over the past month was this: Luffy had an infectious sense of freedom and a capacity for love and compassion that made Law want to be better. For Luffy, and for himself.

Despite this understanding, he was overcome when he learned that the festival was not being held in Luffy’s honor, because Luffy had insisted that Kaido’s defeat be credited to Momonosuke. He had trailed behind Luffy, Yamato, and Chopper as they wandered through the Flower Capital’s festive streets, bracing himself for the crowds that would surely swarm once Luffy was recognized. But that moment never came. Sure, people would stop Luffy here and there to thank him for times he helped them specifically (an incredible number of people, really, when Law considered the short time that had passed since he arrived in Wano), but it was negligible relative to the reception he assumed Luffy would receive.

Yamato explained it when he mustered up the courage to ask, detailing how Luffy wanted the people of Wano to have confidence in Momonosuke rather than attributing their hard earned freedom to a random pirate foreigner. Law almost cried. He wasn’t surprised by Luffy's decision; it was just one of many selfless acts he did “because he wanted to.” Rather, he was moved by the reminder that this incredible reality-bending force of nature of a man had chosen him.

These thoughts buoyed Law’s spirits high as he watched Luffy beside him. A warm glow bathed his face beneath the strings of colorful lanterns criss-crossing the street. He was laughing at something Sanji said. Law didn’t catch it; he was too busy memorizing every aspect of Luffy’s face. The elation of their victory against Kaido and Big Mom and the relief that Luffy was unharmed were a heady combination. He was high with their good fortune. Even so, he couldn’t force the looming reality from his mind that he and Luffy would be going their separate ways. All the more reason to commit everything and anything about Luffy to memory in their remaining hours.

He had spent most of their time with Yamato and Chopper in the same state–greedily memorizing Luffy’s words and actions while they explored the festival’s offerings. Luffy playing carnival games, Luffy stuffing five piping hot takoyaki into his mouth at once, Luffy eating shaved ice too fast and getting brain freeze, Luffy complaining about his thoughts being "too cold," Luffy in Law’s arms after he offered to warm him up, Luffy’s blinding smile, Luffy, Luffy, Luffy. Law hadn’t even gotten jealous when Yamato pulled Luffy up and down the streets of the Flower Capital. He felt the meaning in Luffy’s eyes whenever he looked over his shoulder at him. He knew.

After they had their fill of games and food, they wandered back to the main plaza where many of their crewmates and allies had already gathered. Alcohol flowed and spirits soared. The group stood in a rough circle, drinking and waiting for the musical performance to begin. Law took a sip from the barrel mug in his hand, eyes still trained on Luffy at his side. 

Bepo gestured at Luffy and slurred, “So, so, Mugiwara, do we call you Captain-in-law now?”

Penguin sputtered with laughter, spitting his mouthful of liquor onto the ground. Reactions varied throughout their circle, some laughing while others grew silent with wide eyes. Law rubbed the bridge of his nose. 

“Hmmm.” Luffy considered this, a serious look forming on his face. “I dunno ‘cause I'm only in Law some of the time. Not like, every time.”

Zoro belted out a laugh and slapped Bepo on the back, who failed to hide his amusement. Nami folded forward, shoulders shaking with laughter as her drink sloshed within her mug. When the static in Law's mind cleared and he understood that Luffy had indeed told the entire group about their intimate dynamic, his face caught fire. Made worse by the alcohol in his system, his head swam with embarrassment. The few individuals who weren't doubled over with laughter, namely Robin, Chopper, Jinbe, and Shachi, stared between him and Luffy. He turned to Luffy, who looked back at him with utter delight. 

Seeing Law's horror, Luffy stopped laughing. “Is it not funny?” he asked quietly.

Ah. That's right. Law had to laugh at the circumstances, at himself, at the joke. Luffy’s lack of shame was still a foreign concept to him, but… He was beginning to understand the appeal. With considerable effort, Law redirected his focus from embarrassment to the fact that yes, it was a good joke (that cheeky little fucker) and it was also proof of Luffy's comfort with their relationship. If Luffy wanted to let the world know that they were deliciously entangled, why shouldn’t he?

So Law let himself laugh. “Guess the Straw Hats can call me Captain-in-Luffy then,” he snorted, his delivery a little rocky but solid enough to generate more laughter from the group.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Usopp spoke between gasps of amusement, “We need to modify the title so it’s not like you're just both in each other at the same time.”

Robin chuckled softly, “What’s wrong with a sexy ouroboros?”

“Or brows what?” Luffy repeated.

Law couldn’t help the bark of laughter that burst from his chest. Warmed, he draped his arm over Luffy’s shoulders and squeezed his bicep. “It’s a snake that eats itself,” he explained, leaning in near his ear.

Luffy’s frown deepened. “Are you trying to make a Snakeman dick joke again?” he grumbled.

Grinning, Law shook his head. “No, I'm just–-”

Kid's voice cut him off, “You eat a faulty smile fruit or something, Trafalgar? Since when do you smile like that?”

“Since he finally got fucked good,” Zoro cackled.

“Didn't realize getting fucked in the ass would make such a difference,” Kid sneered.

To his surprise, Sanji spoke, voice initially muffled as cigarette smoke billowed from his lungs, “There’s nothing manlier than getting fucked in the ass.”

Zoro grinned and slipped his arm around Sanji’s waist, pulling him close. Sanji rolled his eyes but didn’t pull away.

“Anal sex can be quite liberating, Eustass,” Jinbe added, drawing shocked looks from Brook and Nami, who exchanged a pointed glance from across the circle.

“So true, Jinbe,” Robin nodded appreciatively. “Anal is an experience everyone should try at least once. Eustass, if you ever want to explore, Franky and I would be happy to help you.”

Kid’s mouth broke into a horrified frown as Franky added, “This woman knows how to handle a moon, Kid. It’s a SUPERRR time!”

Killer’s frantic laugh was infectious; the group was in an uproar again. Law marveled at the openness of Luffy’s entire crew. Where did he find these freaks? These loyal, incredible freaks. He was reminded of his own crew, maybe not so quirky with respect to their sexual tendencies but definitely unique and lovable in their own way… Wait, or are they freaks and I just didn’t pay attention? That could explain why Bepo keeps trying to go through my box of toys and restraints… and all those times Penguin and Shachi go dark when they’re on night watch duty together… and why Jean Bart keeps leaving carrots in his bunk. Well… shit. Have I been so caught up in myself that I really didn’t put two and two together until now?

The thunderous rumble of taiko drums and cheering from the crowd around them interrupted his thoughts. Luffy jumped in excitement and Law’s arm slipped from his shoulder. 

“Torao! The music’s starting!” he cried over the heavy beat. Handing his drink to Usopp beside him, he grabbed Law’s wrist and tugged. “Come on! Didn’t you want me to dance for you?”

Law downed his drink and pushed the empty mug into Shachi’s hand. “Thanks,” he muttered as Shachi opened his mouth to protest.

Luffy flashed him a heart-melting grin before pulling him into the thick of the crowd. Law threaded his fingers through Luffy’s and tightened his grip. “How far are you trying to go?” he asked, straining to be heard.

“WHAT?” Luffy yelled over his shoulder.

“HOW FAR ARE WE GOING?” he repeated.

With a grin, he answered, “ALL THE WAY!”

As promised, they didn't stop until they had pushed and weaved their way to the very front. The drums were accompanied by other instruments and singers now, but the percussive thud vibrated through Law's body, intensified by proximity. As his chest thumped with the beat, he wondered if this was what Luffy felt like in Gear Five. Was his heartbeat this consuming, a pulsing reverberation that traveled throughout his limbs and bones and organs?

Luffy spun around, satisfied with their location, and tugged at Law's hand while he began to dance. Flustered, Law pulled back. Luffy pouted, “I thought you wanted to dance?”

“I wanted to see you dance,” he argued before adding hesitantly, “I can't dance.”

“Yes, you can!” Luffy's laugh was weightless. “C'mon, dance with me!”

Anxiety faded as Luffy squeezed his hand. Within Luffy's eyes he saw explosions of color–-surely a trick of the light from the lanterns hanging above–-and freedom. He chuckled inwardly. In what reality could you possibly say no to him? Focusing on the rhythm coursing through his body and Luffy’s against his own, Law followed the pull and danced.

Or, he tried to dance. As inspiring as Luffy's uninhibited attitude was, it couldn't impart skills that Law lacked. But it didn't matter because it was just him and Luffy and the music. The fact that Luffy’s dancing consisted of leaps, jumps, twirls, and stomps-–not the languid twist of his hips Law had seen when they got stoned on the Sunny-–made it easier for him to follow along. Their hands locked together indefinitely and he let Luffy swing him along on his chaotic motions, raw and honest. 

Luffy lifted their clasped hands to the sky on the final beat, chin raised, eyes closed, and mouth stretched in a grin. Panting and sweating, Law stared at the sincerity of his existence. As the roar of the crowd died down around them, Luffy opened his eyes and turned to Law. “See! You can dance!”

“Only with your help,” he smirked. 

“Shishishi! You need to give yourself more credit. I…” he trailed off when a new song began. 

The drums picked up, heavy and deliberate. It dripped with sensuality. Law hesitated. Was it actually sensual or did he just think that because he was looking at Luffy? At his skin shining with sweat, the nape of his neck peeking out from his yukata, the scar on his chest exposed as the fabric loosened? Who the fuck cares?

Luffy’s hips rocked and his head bobbed in time with the music. Law stepped forward and pulled him in, their mouths meeting in an urgent kiss. He moved deeper, desire flaring further as Luffy reciprocated his enthusiasm. Cool silk slipped beneath his fingers while his hands roamed across Luffy’s back. He reached his neck with one hand, pushing fabric away to reveal more of the delicate nape. His other arm wrapped around Luffy’s waist and pressed until the space between their bodies vanished. Law trailed his lips over the scar on his cheek while Luffy’s hands stroked his waist, the small of his back, reaching lower and lower until his ass was in a tight grip. Standing on the tips of his toes, Luffy arched his back. 

The pressure between their bodies was crushing but still not enough. Law dragged his mouth over Luffy’s skin and released a hungry, rumbling breath. It was too much, the sensation of Luffy’s hands as they squeezed his ass cheeks and roamed along his thighs, and he needed more. The drums electrified his body and unleashed something primal. 

Grabbing Luffy by the back of the neck, he kissed him and flicked his tongue over his lower lip. “Wanna get out of here?” he whispered into Luffy’s ear when he pulled away again. 

Luffy moaned softly. “Uh huh.”

“Good,” Law purred. “Let’s go back to the palace, huh?”

“Anywhere,” Luffy breathed against his cheek, “just take me. Now.”

The command shattered his sense of decorum. He moved his arms to Luffy’s waist and slung him over his shoulder. Shoving his way through the crowd, he barked, “Medical emergency! Out of the way! Fucking move!”

Luffy’s cackle was either misconstrued as a cry of pain or simply unsettling enough to convince the mass of bodies to part for them. They encountered less success in the streets, packed as they were with people going in different directions, laughing and yelling. Law veered down the first empty side street he could find. 

“Hey! Torao! Lemme down!” Luffy shouted over his shoulder and tapped at his back while they walked down the empty alleyway. When Law didn't respond, he squirmed and flailed.

“Fine! Fine, stop moving. I'll let you off,” Law grumbled, shifting his body forward so that Luffy landed on his feet. With a smirk, he teased, “Not so nice being carried around like that, is it?”

Luffy pouted. “That was different! You had seastone cuffs on. You'd have be in danger if I hadn't carried you!”

Chuckling, he ruffled Luffy's hair and opened his mouth to remind him that he could have, in fact, taken a minute to get the key to the cuffs in the first place. Luffy shoved him into the wall before he could speak, air pushing from his lungs and against Luffy’s lips as he kissed him. The rough edge of Luffy's desire sharpened his own. Fingers still tangled in his hair, Law used this hold to force his head back and expose his neck. He closed his mouth around his throat, teeth sinking into the tender skin and catching his pulse on his tongue. Luffy groaned, a rumble that tickled Law's lips and spurred his greed. Tongue flat, Law dragged it across his Adam’s apple, the hollow of his throat, and along the tendon before nipping his earlobe. The shell of Luffy's ear was cool as he traced its outer curve and toyed with his earring; the memory of piercing his cartilage on the Sunny stirred a sense of pride and bittersweet nostalgia within him. 

Luffy squeezed Law's hips and jutted his own pelvis forward. “Torao,” he sighed, “can we just have sex here?”

“This again?” Law chuckled, voice low and rumbling. “Tempting. But I’ve been waiting so long, I’m not about to give it all up in some shitty alley. I want to fuck you where I can savor you.”

A frustrated moan tickled his ear. Luffy leaned back, forcing him to relinquish the hold on his hair. “Let’s hurry then,” Luffy huffed, clutching his hand.

Law laughed as he found himself dragged along behind Luffy. They hurtled through streets and crowds; that people and property remained unscathed was a miracle. The rush of it was almost comforting. Law had found a place he liked here: attached to Luffy, unstoppable and always moving forward. 

When they finally reached the Shogun's palace, they stopped in the courtyard and exchanged a hesitant glance. “You remember where our room is, right?” Luffy ventured hopefully.

“Regretfully, I do not,” Law confessed.

He shrugged and laughed. “Let's just go up then!”

“Up?”

“Yeah, up!” Luffy pointed to the top of the castle. “Those rooms probably have a great view.”

His lips formed into a soft smile. “Yeah, okay,” he agreed. Luffy's arm stretched and looped around his waist; he braced himself for his stomach to drop. 

“You ready?” Luffy asked.

Law nodded. “Yup.”

They didn't move. Confused, Law turned to find Luffy beaming at him, eyes sparkling and expectant. “What?” he blinked.

Luffy’s smile wilted. With a huff, he grumbled, “I asked you if you were ready.”

“Yeah… I know. I said I was ready.” What is Luffy on about?

He explained impatiently, “You always get mad when I pick you up without warning you first but I warned you and you don’t even seem happy about it.”

Law’s mouth fell open before stretching into a grin. “Thank you , Luffy,” he chuckled. Luffy’s annoyance persisted, so he added, “I appreciate that you listened to what I said and adjusted your behavior. That was uh, really thoughtful of you.” He pressed a kiss to his cheek, and Luffy’s expression burst with pride and glee. “Seriously. Thank you, Lu–-”

The sentence was cut short as Luffy launched them into the sky. The familiar flip of his stomach wasn't particularly uncomfortable anymore. He had gotten used to the sensation of losing his autonomy in Luffy’s grip–-not that he would tell him that. Yet. 

As expected, the view of the Flower Capital was stunning. Law admired the glowing, moving mass of the festival throughout the city streets while they rocketed upward. A moment later he was inside the palace, the tatami floor against his back as Luffy placed him on the ground and snapped his elastic arm back into place. He glanced around; the room was empty, just him and Luffy. Perfect.

When he looked forward again, he was delighted to find that Luffy had already untied his obi and was shrugging the yukata from his shoulders. His sandals and hat were strewn underneath the window. 

Law frantically kicked off his sandals and tore at his own clothes, parting his yukata and slipping through the sleeves until it was just a stretch of fabric between him and the floor. Hips raised, he slipped his briefs down his legs and tossed them to the side. “Come here,” he purred, beckoning to Luffy. “I need to feel you against me.”

Luffy’s cheeks reddened above his devilish smirk. He dropped to all fours by his feet and climbed above him. Law chewed on his lip while he watched his lithe movements, trying to restrict his appreciation to the upper half of Luffy's body. The rigid form of his erection was an enticing mass in his peripheral vision; he feared his restraint would break if he looked at it dead on.

Then they were face to face. Affection glittered in Luffy's eyes and a terrifying wave of emotion crashed into the wall of Law's chest. Shit. He wrapped his arms around Luffy's torso, enveloping the back of his head in his hand as he pulled him down and squeezed. Luffy giggled and moved his arms under Law, slipping up to cradle his head in both hands. 

The length of Luffy's body pressed against his skin, a weight that comforted but simultaneously sharpened the bittersweet swell in his heart. Not now. Please, not now. Keep it together. Please. Law's threshold of emotion was exceeded; tears welled in his eyes while his chest convulsed. Damnit.

Luffy froze. “Torao?” he asked quietly. A moment passed and he tried to push himself up. Law's grip tightened, keeping him in place. His voice was gentle, worried, in Law's ear. “What's wrong? What happened?”

Law inhaled sharply; it was too loud, too pathetic. Through the tightness of his throat, he managed to rasp, “Fuck. Sorry, Luffy… I…” He paused to swallow and wrestle his pain into submission. 

Luffy forced his hands beneath Law's back and tucked his legs under his thighs, locking him into a full-body embrace. The sweet, almost awkward, gesture warmed Law and loosened enough tension for him to speak through the tears. “You happened, Luffy. You're just so fucking incredible and I finally feel happy and I don't want to leave you tomorrow... I'm sorry. I'm such a fucking downer. Thought I could at least keep it together for the night.” He punctuated his explanation with a bitter laugh.

Silence stretched and weighed on his heart. Just when he was edging the line of falling into another spiral, Luffy's voice pulled him back. “Let me look at you.”

That was the last thing Law wanted. Showing his face would make his fear, all the ugly in and outside of him, real. But Luffy asked, so he did. He loosened his hold and Luffy rose until their faces were far enough to see one clearly. 

Streaks of tears painted Luffy’s face, more spilling from his eyes. “It hurts,” he croaked. Law’s heart was in his throat as Luffy continued, “I love you. And I want to make you part of my crew, so we can be together all the time. But I know that won’t work ‘cause you're a captain and I’m a captain but I still want it and it hurts… It hurts, Law.”

At that moment, Law had never felt less alone, more seen. Shared pain still hurt but he wasn't by himself. The suffocating isolation of exhausting self-reliance and misunderstanding was absent, leaving space for the enormous shape of a love reciprocated. 

He moved his hand to Luffy's face, catching a tear and swiping it away with his thumb. “I know, Luffy. I know. But…” he hesitated, clearing his throat before venturing, “It’s not over… Right?”

Luffy’s eyes widened with shock. “No! Of course it's not over! Don’t even… Don’t even say that. Why would you say that?”

Law let out a sigh, relief flooding his system. “I just wanted to make sure…”

“I already agreed to be your guy!” Luffy pouted, playfulness breaking through his sadness.

It spread like a contagion, per usual. “‘My guy?’” Law chuckled, voice still wavering. 

Luffy nodded. “Yeah. My guy. Like, boyfriend but better.”

“Better…” Law whispered to himself and smiled. 

Fingers closed around Law’s raised hand as Luffy pulled it to his lips, planting soft kisses atop each tattooed knuckle. This was it. This was where he could take a step forward and mold the future into what he wanted. He wasn’t like Luffy, never could be, but he could take a page from his book.

So he spoke earnestly. “Here’s what I want, Luffy. I want to set out tomorrow knowing that I’m going to see you soon. I’m not going to fucking wait until we get to Laugh Tale. We’re going to meet up whenever we can. I don’t care if it’s inconvenient for me, for you, for my crew or your crew. We don’t have to stop looking for the One Piece, and we can keep to our own ships and crews and adventures but if we don’t overlap at least once every month I will find you and cut you in half so I can keep part of you with me at all times. I’ll get us den den mushi so we can call each other. You can call me whenever you want, whether you’ve got something to say or not. If you think you’ll lose it, ask Robin-ya to hold onto it for you. And if you don’t call me I’ll call you. We don’t even have to talk for long. I just want to be able to hear your voice and know that you’re okay. And we can coordinate… dates, or meet-ups, outings, whatever you want to call them. Then, when we get to Laugh Tale and you’re the fucking Pirate King we can fix this mess of a world together and maybe sail together and then… And then… I don’t know, we do whatever we want. I want to make you a, a… a pie. I don’t even know how to make a pie but I’ll fucking figure it out. I just wanna make you something and watch you eat it, okay? Then I want to show you my entire coin collection. I want you to read the Sora, Warrior of the Sea so I can finally talk to you about it. And I want to tell you more about my parents and my sister. And Cora. I want you to tell me more about your childhood. I want you to tell me things that don’t matter. And I want to retrace our steps so I can kiss you everywhere all over again. I want to fuck you for the first time and watch you draw all over my notes and then teach you how to draw things properly and go to a maid cafe and I want you to fuck me in a maid costume and I wanna get you high and watch fireworks and tie you up and have you suck me off in broad daylight and trade dicks with you and see you in those insane panties and dance with you again and again and again and I wanna do everything we haven’t done yet… and… And I just want to touch you and fuck you and love you so much.” Law paused to catch his breath. His face burned, dripping with tears from the rupture of emotion he had forced down and locked away, and he didn’t care. “That’s how I want to be with you. With enough regularity so that I don’t feel like you’re slipping away from me. That’s what I want. Do you…Do you want that too?”

So much for the room being empty. He had filled it all the way to the ceiling with his unceasing monologue. Luffy looked at him with wide eyes. Why are you like this? He’s going to get up and leave. You won’t see him again. You freaked him out. 

Luffy’s grin broke through Law’s clouded thoughts. He sniffled loudly, rubbing his cheek with the heel of his palm. “Torao…” his voice broke, droplets pouring from his eyes and following the curve of his raised cheeks. Law waited. Luffy sniffed again and croaked, “Of course I want that.”

Law’s heart skipped. He felt so light, almost dizzy, but he was terrified that he was misunderstanding or confused or dreaming. Stammering, he asked, “So… Are you okay with that… With my plan? I know you don’t really like making plans but I think–-”

“Yes, I love it. Your plan is perfect,” Luffy blurted. “Everything that you said… I want it. I want you so much. I’m not gonna give up on you just ‘cause we have to be apart for awhile. You’re too important and if you walk away what would I do with all of this?” He gestured vaguely at his chest. “I know I don’t do things the way other people do and I’m not gonna start but… For you, I’d do a lot of things. And I’ll never stop being like this but I want to make you happy. And at first I was scared ‘cause I thought it was like, a bad thing–-being so attached, I mean. But it’s not and any of the pain is worth it. So, yeah. Your plan is great, Torao.”

Law blinked. Could it be that easy? There’s no way. Life doesn’t work like this. You’re going to–-

“Torao, say something,” Luffy whined before nipping over the ‘H’ on his pinky. 

“I…” Words rose in his throat only to die on his tongue. He opened his mouth again. “I… I love you. So fucking much.”

“Shishishi,” Luffy giggled. “I love you too. I feel better now.” He let out a satisfied sigh, dropping Law’s hand and closing the space between them. “Do you?” he asked, whispering against Law’s lips.

Law chuckled, “I feel fantastic.”

Luffy’s mouth tasted of salt and reassurance. They moved together gently at first but quickly devolved into a hungry, sloppy, wet mess of lip and tongue. He savored every inch of Luffy’s tongue with his own, tracing the sides and sliding over the connective tissue at the base of his mouth before swirling around to smother his taste buds. Luffy invited him further, angling his head to the side and pressing against him. Law stretched his tongue as far as he could within the humid ecosystem of Luffy’s mouth. He needed this desperately, this proximity and overlap, and yet it still wasn’t enough. Is combining with a person really too much to ask?

A groan rumbled in Law’s chest, a feral call echoing throughout his body that expanded when Luffy bit down on his lip and tugged. Luffy chuckled into his mouth, mischievous and warm, before letting go and raising his head. 

“I wanna touch you,” Luffy declared. 

Law smirked, “What if I touch you first?” 

He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees as soon as Luffy began to move away. Luffy laughed as Law lunged into him, pushing him onto his back and pinning his wrists above his head. The glow in every facet of his body was blinding. Law bent his neck and hovered over Luffy’s chest. He kissed the center of the scar and planted his forehead on his sternum. A frantic beat tickled his skull. Moving toward Luffy’s left side, he took the flesh over his heart between his teeth. Luffy gasped as he sealed his lips over the skin and sucked. Blood rose to the surface, forming a red and purple blossom on his chest.

“There,” Law whispered after releasing the skin with a pop.

“You’re hungry,” Luffy remarked, voice breathy and teasing.

“Is that surprising?” he chuckled.

Luffy shook his head. “You’ve been hungry all day.”

“Can I taste more?” 

“What are you trying to taste?” Luffy chewed at his lower lip.

Law grinned devilishly. “Everything.”

“Mmh,” he hummed. “I won’t stop you.”

Leaning forward, Law brought his mouth to Luffy’s hand, still trapped beneath his grip. He ran the tip of his tongue along his fingertips, one by one. The fragile skin on the inside of his wrist was next; he licked the expanse of flesh and followed the veins to the crook of his elbow. Luffy twitched when he nipped the skin there, hard enough to leave a mark. He moved to his neck, planting languid kisses across his throat. The clavicle required a more aggressive approach, so Law squeezed the bone between his teeth. A whimper on Luffy’s lips pushed his hunger further; his cock twitched in response. Releasing the collarbone, he raised his eyes to meet Luffy’s. When he received a nod, he continued. 

The flat of his tongue dragged over the bruise before he circled the pink bud of Luffy’s left nipple. Luffy shivered beneath him, back arched, as he encased the nipple in his mouth and sucked. He bit at the raised skin, pulling a deliciously low moan from Luffy’s body. Lower still, Law drew his tongue between his ribs and over his navel.

Pausing, he raised his head. “I’m going to let go of your wrists. But don’t even think about moving,” he ordered playfully.

“I won’t,” Luffy breathed. 

Law believed him; he looked like he was enjoying himself. Releasing his hands, he shifted backward and focused on Luffy’s hips. The ridge of bone along the right hip fit exquisitely between his teeth. He trailed his lips down the slope toward his crotch, kissing the skin around the base of his cock before veering off again and biting at the inside of his thigh. Luffy exhaled unevenly as Law looked up and let his cheek brush along the swollen form of his shaft.

He saved a kiss for his kneecap, simple and sincere. Sweeping over the shin, he lifted Luffy’s foot and licked his Achilles tendon. After surrendering his foot, he centered himself above Luffy’s cock. His tongue pressed along the underside of Luffy’s head and he hovered there, allowing spit to trickle from his tongue and drip down the shaft. Saliva mixed with precum in a glistening pool atop the sensitive glans, spilling over the side when Luffy’s abs twitched and broke the precarious surface tension. Law caught the flood on its way down with his tongue and dragged it back to the head of his cock.

“Ahh,” Luffy pushed onto his elbows and moaned as Law circled his lips over the tip and plunged down, taking the length of his shaft into his mouth and throat.

The scratch of Luffy’s feet against the tatami floor while he writhed only served to diminish Law’s mercy. He paused to allow himself to adjust and relax his throat, but only briefly. Cheeks taut and tongue fast along the underside of his cock, Law bobbed his head. He took his time, slowly sucking inward so the ring of his lips hugged the shape of his mushroomed tip when he rounded the top. 

His descent followed the same pace: deliberate and unhurried. The head of Luffy's dick rubbed along the roof of his mouth and down his throat. Law paused when he held the entirety of his length within him. Straining to look up at Luffy's face, he swallowed around his cock. 

The reaction was well worth any discomfort. Wide-eyed and awe-stricken, Luffy let out a guttural groan and gasped, “Y-you swallowed me.” He sat up, moving his weight to his palm against the floor. 

Fingers wove through Law's hair while he resumed full, sweeping strokes, encircling the glans with pliant lips and sliding down to greet Luffy's pelvis with a kiss. He moved faster—gliding, sucking, licking, and kissing.

Luffy sighed dreamily, “You're incredible, Torao. You, your mouth… All of you.”

Law pushed away his smile; it would only interfere. Instead, he hummed around the head of Luffy's shaft, modulating the tone higher along his way to the base. A second hand joined the one tangled in his hair as Luffy bent forward and moaned. He swallowed again; the grip on his scalp tightened. Luffy's hunched form brought his breath closer to Law’s ear, heavy and decadent. Law worked faster and relished how Luffy’s restraint crumbled. It began with twitching fingers that tugged at his hair sporadically, an involuntary motion that Luffy seemed to regret, if his sudden and almost panicked release of Law's hair following each instance was any indication. Except his hands would end up right back where they started, twisted in Law's dark locks, until finally his grip tightened without remorse. 

“Ahh. Mmnh. Law, I can't take much more,” Luffy hissed. 

Law had no intention of letting him cum, but he toyed with the idea of bringing him a step closer to the edge. Ignoring the ache in his jaw, he bobbed his head faster.

“Hey! N-no, wait… Torao, I–-” Luffy cried frantically.

Law let Luffy's cock slip from his mouth. It landed against Luffy’s skin with a wet slap. He rested a cheek on Luffy’s thigh and admired the intensity of his expression.

“I was so close,” Luffy murmured, dazed and panting.

Law smirked. “I know.”

“You’re mean, Torao.” His grin contradicted the accusation. 

Shifting forward, Law swooped into Luffy's lips and offered a kiss, deep but static. He began to pull away but hesitated. No, he hadn’t quite gotten his fill yet. So he kissed him again. Luffy chuckled against his lips. 

When he decided he was done (for now), he sat back on his knees. Voice strained with hunger, he asked, “If I fold you in half and fuck you would it hurt? Or would it be okay since you’re rubber?” 

Luffy blinked and pondered, lips pursed. “Depends,” he finally answered. “Do you mean hotdog or hamburger style?”

Law shook his head and snorted, “Hamburger style.”

“Um, I think that should be fine. Hotdog style wouldn’t hurt either, I don’t think, but I’m not really sure how we would do that,” he answered thoughtfully. A glint sparked in his eye as he smirked, “Do you want to fuck me hamburger style, Torao?”

“Can we please not call it that?” Law grumbled, annoyed at himself for how entertained he actually was by this childish phrasing. 

Luffy laughed, “Shishishi! I don’t see the problem.”

Rolling his eyes, Law sighed. The fluidity of Luffy’s thoughts and feelings, his ability to move from goofy to sexy to ferocious in a split second still baffled him. It was strange, but somehow so natural and right. Even so, he couldn’t deny that he wanted to steer Luffy back on track. The truth was that Law wanted to fuck Luffy so badly it almost scared him. 

“Flip over,” Law ordered, adopting a smooth tone. A salacious smile pulled at his mouth. Maybe Luffy just needed some direction.

He tilted his head inquisitively before rolling onto his stomach. “Like this?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

“Yeah. Now raise your hips.”

Shifting onto his knees and forearms, he lifted his hips in the air. Law gulped. He knew this would test his resolve but the reality of it–-Luffy’s ass poised and pink–-revealed just how difficult he had made things for himself. You can go five minutes without touching him. Fucking relax. Sure, but could he go five minutes without touching him when he looked like that?  

“Now what?” 

Law licked his lips. “Get yourself ready for me,” he purred.

Luffy strained his neck to look at him, his face an even deeper shade of red and lips parted as if to ask a question. 

“Go on,” Law smirked.

Slowly, Luffy brought his right hand to his mouth, popping his fingers in one at a time and coating them with saliva. The slope of his back steepened as he planted his head against his forearm. Twisting at the waist, he reached his lubricated hand across his lower back, between his cheeks. 

“Perfect,” Law whispered when Luffy widened his stance. He spit into his palm and slicked it over his cock while he watched. 

Luffy swept his middle finger over his asshole, traveling down his taint and up again. Once the rhythm picked up, Law began stroking himself. Slowly, he repeated in his mind. The motions were an erotic dance, the way Luffy pressed along his skin, sliding back and forth over his ass and rocking his hips back. His breath grew heavier as he stopped over his asshole and worked his middle finger inside. Toes curling and feet twitching, he swirled his finger in heavy circles. 

Law clenched his teeth. Watching Luffy pleasure himself wasn't better than fucking him, touching him, but it was a different beast on equally sensual footing. It was one thing to use his body to bring him to climax, but to see him use his own body to pleasure himself for Law was a level of intimacy he hadn't fully appreciated until that moment. 

“Another,” Law ordered, his voice rasping.

A whimper caught in Luffy’s throat. He lifted his head and twisted to meet Law’s gaze. An electric current passed between them, a vicious cycle in which Law devoured his image and Luffy touched himself to the sight of Law stroking himself which only fueled Law’s hungry stare and on and on. Luffy eased his middle finger out, exposing two knuckles before sliding his ring finger alongside it and stretching himself to fit both. With his body angled so he could still see Law, his face illustrated the gasps and moans through a furrowed brow, narrowed eyes, and lips raw and red from touching, biting, and sucking. He sighed heavily when both digits reached as far as they could go, and then he worked them in and out, fast and hard.

The scene translated into blood-rushing heat. Law had to catch himself and slow the pace of his hand twice. The whole thing was getting too dangerous: Luffy with his quivering thighs, with his hardened cock hanging between his legs and a string of precum dangling to the floor. 

Law let go of his cock. “Enough,” he raised his voice to be heard above Luffy’s mewls.

Luffy didn’t stop. Instead, he moved more rapidly, one knee angling inward.

Crawling forward, Law grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop. “I said enough,” he chastised, voice like velvet.

“Torao,” Luffy whined.

“Hm?” he hummed, tone teasing and laced with hunger. “You like using your fingers more than my cock?”

Luffy huffed. “That's not true.”

“I dunno, Luffy. You got pretty loud,” he remarked coyly. Using his hold on Luffy's wrist, he pulled his hand back until only his fingertips remained within his ass. “Could you be that loud for me?”

“I'm always loud for you,” Luffy chuckled.

“Tch. Don't lie. I've seen you biting your lip before, stuffing your voice back down your throat so I can’t hear it. I’m not putting up with any of that tonight.”

“O-okay.”

“Good,” he chuckled. “‘Cause, see Luffy, I really want to make you scream.”

Law shoved Luffy’s hand forward, his fingers sliding inside, every knuckle accounted for. Luffy let out an uneven cry.

“That’s a good start. But I think you can do better. Don't you?” Law flashed him a devilish grin.

“Mhm,” he answered shyly. “Torao,” he began a moment later, a mischievous smile creeping across his lips, “it’s fun when you’re like this.”

“Like what?” He hoped Luffy couldn't see the crack that spread over his facade, the way his impish allure weakened his resolve to take control. Law would give him anything he asked for when he looked at him like that.

Chuckling, Luffy clarified, “Scary, I guess.”

Law pulled Luffy's wrist back roughly, triggering a startled gasp. “Does that mean you'll be good, then?”

“I’ll try to be good, Torao,” he giggled.

“You’ll try?”

Luffy shrugged and grinned. “Best I can do.”

Rolling his eyes, Law bit back a smile. “Fine. There'll be consequences if you fail, though,” he explained and released Luffy's wrist.

“Oh yeah? Like what?” Luffy asked, tone daring. 

“Luffy. Do you realize how hard it is to play dom when you fucking talk back every other second?” he grumbled, rubbing at his forehead.

“Shishishi. I don’t know what ‘dom’ is but whatever game we’re playing, I know you can figure it out. You’re so smart,” he chuckled warmly.

Law closed his eyes and sighed. “Now you’re encouraging me? I really am bad at this,” he mumbled as he sat back on the floor and hung his head. 

Luffy turned around and scrambled to kneel before him. “Torao! Don't be sad,” he yelped, eyes wide and panicked. 

“I'm not sad, just…” he trailed off before finishing with a snort, “insecure.”

He frowned. “Why?” 

Raising his head, he smiled softly. “Because I can’t bring myself to tell you what to do when you’re so… so fucking bright and warm.”

“But you boss me around all the time,” Luffy smirked. 

“Shit.” Law let out a puff of laughter. 

Luffy’s face softened, cheeks glowing. “I want whatever you want. So, I'll be good. For you!”

“You haven’t been very good so far, though,” he teased. This was better. Much better. “You know what happens when you’re not good?” He waited a beat before finishing, “You get punished, Luffy.”

“Hamburger style?” he asked, an eager glimmer forming in his eyes. 

“Right,” Law muttered. What use did he have for pride now? He conceded, “Hamburger style.”

Mischief returned to Luffy's face. “I'm going to be the worst, then,” he whispered.

“Then get on your back,” Law purred. 

Luffy flopped backward onto the floor. Law spread Luffy’s legs apart and positioned himself between them. Rising on one knee and planting his other foot on the ground, he hesitated. “You ready?” he asked.

“I’m ready,” Luffy nodded and ran his tongue over his lower lip. Hunger glowed in his gaze.

Law grabbed Luffy’s hips, raising them in the air and dragging his body toward him until only his head and upper back rested on the floor. The remainder of his torso was vertical, propped up against Law’s legs. Luffy bent his knees and let his legs fall toward his face. 

The view was almost too much to bear: the cheeks of his ass pink and inviting, his taint and asshole still shining from the attention of his spit-slicked fingers, his balls and shaft hanging toward his face, and of course, his face, which revealed excitement and… adoration.

“Fuck,” Law murmured compulsively, his heart squeezing within his chest.

“Please?” Luffy whispered eagerly.

Smirking, Law grabbed a cheek in each hand and spread them further apart. He spit onto his exposed asshole, the abrupt sensation pushing a surprised squeak from Luffy’s lungs. With his thumb, he spread the saliva around his ass. Luffy whimpered under his touch. Law took his own throbbing shaft in his hand and guided it against the puckered opening, angling his hips and leaning forward to press the head of his cock inside. It slid in, past the smooth muscle and into the velvet heat of Luffy’s insides. Law paused halfway in to admire Luffy’s increasingly red face, neck, and chest. Blood was rushing to his head, but an even deeper flush spread over his cheeks while Law worked himself inside of him. 

“Can you handle this?” Law asked as he grabbed the back of Luffy’s thighs and pressed down, further and further until his knees settled next to his ears.

Luffy nodded, his smile dazed but confident. “I’m rubber. I can take it. Give me everything.”

Bracing against Luffy’s thighs, Law eased his dick in further. The ring of Luffy’s asshole constricted around his girth, tight and deliciously unforgiving. He closed his eyes and groaned, “Luffy…”

“Mmf… Torao,” Luffy murmured as his body stretched.

Law pushed until every inch filled Luffy’s body. A delirious laugh bubbled from his throat while he watched Luffy’s face contort into an expression of bliss and strain, his eyes narrowed and mouth agape. 

“You feel that?” Law asked, breath heavy. “That’s everything I can give you.”

“It’s… Mmmnh … It’s so much. S-so deep… You’re gonna push me out of myself,” he moaned. 

He seemed small then, the way he folded in on himself so easily. A mote of concern floated in Law’s chest. Surely this can’t be comfortable? Even if he’s rubber, he still–-

“Come back and move, Torao.” 

Luffy’s command re-tethered his focus. He blinked at the mischievous smile shining.

“Shishi,” Luffy chuckled and reached up to stroke Law’s forearm. “You did that thing again… where you go off somewhere. Stay with me.”

He hadn’t realized his tendency to get stuck in his head was that obvious. Of course, over the past few weeks he had learned that a lot of his habits and feelings were much less subtle than he thought. Shaking his head, he smiled. “Sorry. I was worried you–-”

“Stop worrying and fuck me, Torao,” Luffy interrupted.

Law squeezed Luffy’s thighs and moved his hips back before thrusting them forward, stuffing himself inside of him again. “Like that?” he purred over Luffy’s gasp.

“Uh huh. More,” he panted.

Jaw clenched and fingers digging into Luffy’s legs, he pumped his hips. Luffy’s moans and mewls filled the room, stirring Law’s lust further. He worked his cock faster, forcing Luffy to stretch around him with every downward shove. Aside from the occasional glance spared to watch the lusciously obscene act of Luffy’s ass stretched around him, Law held Luffy’s gaze. 

“Oh, fuck,” Law grunted. 

The heat and tension was building within him, and Luffy’s face only accelerated the sensation. The dark hair swept away from his face, leaving his features clear and exposed. His eyes watered and spit trickled from the corner of his parted mouth. I made him do that, Law thought to himself proudly.

“Do you know… how fucking incredible… you look?” Law spoke between heavy breaths.

Luffy blinked and the water in his eyes formed into a teardrop that slipped along his cheek. “Huh?” His fingernails scratched at the floor to brace against the impact.

Law smirked. “You’re a mess. You look,” he paused to catch his breath before continuing, “amazing. So undone. I love it when you look like this. When you look at me like this. Fuck. I wanna… I wanna cum in you so bad, Luffy.”

“I… I…” Luffy groaned. He grabbed at his own hair as Law slammed into him harder. “I, uhn, love how hungry you look. I feel, mmnh, like I’m in pieces. Ahh!” Wedging his knuckle between lips, he bit down.

The stinging slap of skin against skin grew louder, a percussive accompaniment to Luffy’s increasingly frantic cries. Luffy stretched to grab the back of Law’s thighs, as high up as he could reach, and pulled in time to his thrusts, urging him on. Law chuckled amidst gritted teeth and hammered into him. Luffy’s body jolted with the force of each slam, his voice coming out in choked breaths and cries. 

Sweat dripped down Law’s face and back. The friction, heat, sounds, the smell of sweat and sex were intoxicating. A jolt in his core served as a warning: he was getting perilously close. Releasing Luffy’s right thigh, he spat into his hand and wrapped it around the base of Luffy’s dick. As he stroked the rigid shaft, Luffy stared up at him with wide eyes.

“That’s not fair.” His voice wavered. 

Law chuckled roughly. “Why?”

“Y-you… You’re touching me in-inside ahhn… and out,” he groaned. “I’m not g-gonna… ohh. Torao, yes. I’m, nnh…”

Hand tight around Luffy’s cock, he worked faster. “Gonna cum for me, Lu?” he asked, tone thick with desire.

“Ah! Uh h- uh… I’m close,” Luffy croaked.

Law aimed Luffy’s shaft down toward his face. Registering this, Luffy widened his open mouth and stretched his tongue just past his lips. This eagerness, this willingness to roll with whatever Law gave him, set his heart hammering in his chest. His pulse was deafening as he pumped his hips and hand faster.

“Oh!” Luffy cried. His brow pinched as his moans lengthened, “I’m… ahh, I… Law…” 

Luffy tightened around him as he came. Law’s breath hitched at the grip of Luffy’s body along his cock. He felt the twitch in Luffy’s shaft beneath his thumb. Cum shot forward, landing on his tongue and splattering across his chin and cheek.

“Fuck,” Law gasped, overwhelmed with the sight and the sensation. When Luffy gulped, he asked, “Ready for me?”

“Uh huh,” he nodded.

Finally able to really get lost in Luffy, it didn’t take Law long to reach his limit. The suffocating squeeze of his insides, the supple flesh of his thighs, his disheveled, cum-splattered visage: it translated into an electric spark in Law’s stomach that radiated outward. He poured himself into Luffy, gave him all he could offer. 

Law pressed his hips forward while his legs shook with ecstasy. Eyes closed, he leaned into his hold on Luffy’s thighs and gasped for breath. The levitating sense of bliss slowly abated, leaving him satisfied and spent. He started when he opened his eyes again, seeing Luffy staring up at him, crushed beneath his weight. His irises were… red? Law blinked. No. No, just a trick of the light. A part of him was relieved. Gear Five was pure chaos. But on the other hand, he couldn’t deny its beauty. What if Luffy had transformed into that strange godly being mid-fuck?

Releasing Luffy’s thighs and sliding his cock out with a quiet groan, Law brought his other knee down to the ground. He grabbed Luffy’s hips and lowered him carefully to the floor while he backed up. 

Panting, Law clambered forward and hovered above him. His voice wavered with exhaustion as he asked, “You okay?”

A glowing warmth flooded his chest when Luffy nodded. Law smiled and collapsed beside him, hand outstretched to move a lock of hair from his face. 

“That was amazing, Torao,” Luffy giggled, his smile wide and dazed. 

Law inched closer on his side until he could intertwine his legs with Luffy’s. “It was,” he whispered. “You really took it. You’re something else, Luffy.”

“Shishishi,” he grinned and turned to face him. “That angle was great, ‘cause like, when I looked up I saw that big heart on your chest and then your face was right above it and it was like, exactly how I felt and what I wanted to see at the same time.”

The cascade of words tumbled from Luffy’s lips and into Law’s heart. He murmured, “You’re everything.”

“Not everything,” Luffy scoffed.

Law smirked. “Fine. But you’re most things. To me.”

Luffy exhaled a contented sigh. “Oh,” he started, eyes brightening. “You called me ‘Lu.’”

“Did I?” Law raised an eyebrow.

“Mhm. Right before I came.”

“Huh.”

“I liked it.”

“You did?” Law didn’t bother hiding the joy that pulled at his face.

“Yep,” Luffy confirmed. “You’ve come a long way from calling me ‘Mugiwara-ya’ ,” he chuckled, mimicking Law’s low tone.

Law smiled. “Guess so… Thanks for being patient.” He pressed his lips to a clean swathe of skin on Luffy’s forehead. “We should clean you up,” he remarked, reminded of the mess of cum on Luffy’s face. 

“Probably,” Luffy cackled. 

With a warm sigh, Law got to his feet. “I’ll go find you something to clean up with. Don’t go anywhere,” he explained while he threw on his yukata. 

“I won’t!”

“I’m serious,” he snorted.

“I know. I’m not gonna leave you.” 

Law slipped into the hallway, practically floating on his feet as he wandered through the palace. Peeking into rooms as he passed, he finally found a washroom. He pulled a towel from a neatly arranged cupboard and filled an empty bucket with water.

As promised, Luffy hadn’t moved. He had, however, fallen fast asleep. Law chuckled and settled in at his side. Dipping the towel in water, he gently wiped Luffy's face clean. He took his time and traced his chin, jaw, cheeks, and mouth, eventually hovering over his ear and admiring the sparkle of his piercing against pale cartilage. Luffy stirred, the corners of his mouth curving upward as he hummed in his sleep. Smiling, Law rinsed his hands in the bucket.

As Luffy slept, he gathered their belongings and arranged them in a neat pile by the wall. He leaned against the window sill and watched the rise and fall of Luffy’s chest. A breeze brushed at his back, prompting him to pull Luffy’s yukata from the floor and spread it over his sleeping form. He laid down at his side.

Luffy’s eyes fluttered open as Law watched him. “How long was I out?” he asked quietly once his consciousness caught up to him.

“Only like, 20 minutes,” Law shrugged.

“Oh,” he smiled, clearly relieved. “What do you wanna do now, Torao?”

“I want to be with you. Just you. Is that selfish?” he whispered.

Luffy shook his head and scooted toward him, raising the yukata and pulling it over Law’s shoulder to bring him into his space. “No. I want that too,” he answered. 

Law pulled him into an embrace and Luffy hummed with pleasure. “Torao, are you happy?” His voice floated in the small space between them.

“Unbelievably happy,” he murmured.

“I’m going to make you believe it,” Luffy explained softly. “You’ll be happy and you’ll believe it because one day I’ll finally convince you that you deserve to be happy.”

Law whispered against Luffy’s forehead, “You’ve already given me more than I could have imagined, Luffy.”

“Get a better imagination,” Luffy chuckled.

—

“That’s everything!” Usopp called, leaning over the railing of the Thousand Sunny.

Luffy looked up from the map in his hands, which depicted the course Nami had planned for their departure from Tokage Port. 

“If you’re not going to pay attention, give the map back. You’re holding it upside down anyway,” Nami grumbled, seizing the map from Luffy’s grip.

An easy laugh fell from his lips and he turned to Usopp, calling up from the ground below the ship, “Alright! Let’s get ready to set sail!” 

A cheer erupted from the Straw Hat crew. Chopper, Nami, Brook, and Zoro filed toward the gangplank to join the rest of the crew aboard the Sunny. Luffy turned and searched the expanse of the port. 

“Luffy!” Franky’s voice sounded behind him.

He turned, finding the cyborg walking up with Robin at his side. “There you guys are!” Luffy cried and ran toward them.

“Here,” Robin extended her hands, cradling two pieces of folded paper. “They’ve got your names on them so you won’t get them confused.”

Eyes sparkling, Luffy took the paper. “Thanks, Robin! Ohh, they’re folded like hearts. How’d you do that?” he exclaimed.

“Usopp did it. Tama taught him origami,” she giggled.

“And the other thing you asked for,” Franky held out a wooden box and dropped it into Luffy’s hand. It fit easily within his palm. “Should fit like a charm.”

“Thank you! Seriously. You’re the best nakama I could ever ask for!” Luffy beamed, stuffing the box in his pocket and turning. “I’ll be on the ship in just a little bit,” he called over his shoulder.

Robin shouted after him, “Take all the time you need.”

Torao. Torao. Torao. Where is Torao? Luffy swung his head from side to side. A familiar shwup sounded behind him and he turned, finding Law in place of a crate that had been there moments before. “Torao!” he beamed and barreled into him.

“Oof,” Law grunted at the impact but immediately wrapped him in his arms.

“I was looking for you,” Luffy looked up and explained.

Law smirked. “I know. Black Leg-ya told me.”

“I…” Luffy hesitated as dread swirled in his chest. What if he just never left this place? Never left Law’s arms? But then you couldn’t be Pirate King. He shook his head and declared, “I have something for you.”

“So do I,” he chuckled and released him. He pulled a den den mushi from the pocket of his coat. “Here.” 

Luffy took the snail and examined it. “It’s so little,” he observed, eyes wide and curious.

“It’s a direct line. It can only communicate with this,” Law drew a second snail from his coat, the same size as the first.

“Why would you want that?” he asked, confused.

Rolling his eyes, Law clarified, “It’s so we can have a way to talk to each other. Privately.”

“Ohhhh!” Luffy grinned as he finally understood. “Like what you were saying yesterday. About talking to each other. Thank you, Torao!” 

“Sure,” he mumbled.

Sticking the den den mushi in his free pocket, Luffy shuffled between the two origami hearts in his hand. He found the one labeled “Torao” and slipped it in his back pocket. Taking the other between both hands he held it out to Law. “For you!” he announced.

Law took the paper carefully, a blush forming over his cheeks. “Is this your vivre card?” His voice was soft. “It’s shaped like a heart…”

“Uh huh! Robin had one made for me too. So I can’t lose you.”

The silence grew between them while Law stared at the paper. Finally, he brought the card to his chest and whispered, “Thank you. Really, Luffy.”

Luffy watched as tears formed in Law’s eyes. The drum of his heart spiked, intense and frantic and warm. He hugged him abruptly, squeezing against him as tight as he possibly could. Law’s heartbeat tickled his cheek, and he blinked back his own tears.

“Torao! I love you!” he bellowed, loud and triumphant as if daring the world to try and prove him otherwise. 

The comforting pressure of Law’s arms encircled him. “I love you, too, Luffy,” he answered softly, pressing his chin to the crown of Luffy’s head.

Their surroundings faded into a blur of white noise and inconsequential colors. Luffy inhaled the scent of Law's skin: musk tinged with sweat and sunshine. He closed his eyes and let his breath slow until he matched the rise and fall of Law's chest. The chaotic drumming of his heart settled into a leisurely beat and his heart flooded with peace. He looked inward at this feeling, adjacent but somehow so different from the giddy maddening glee he so often felt around Law. Is this love too? Yes , he decided. This is also love. What a huge range for such a tiny word.

“Luffy.” Law's voice tickled his ear.

“Hm?” He raised his head and looked up.

Law's blush was in full force. “Do you, uh, like music?” he asked.

“Yeah! You've met Brook right?” Luffy chuckled.

“Er, right. Bone-ya, yeah. Well, I uh, I'm gonna be chaperoning Bepo at a concert. For, uh, Uta. I guess she's popular? Not that I really listen to her stuff. But anyway… Thought maybe you might want to go too and we could meet up,” Law mumbled.

Luffy beamed. “Yeah, I know Uta! Let's do it. I didn't know she's having a concert.”

Law smiled gently and added, “Cool. It's in like, two weeks. I'll have Bepo give Nami the details.”

“Two weeks?” The elastic of Luffy's face permitted him to stretch his grin even wider. He stepped out of their hug and cried, “I only have to wait two weeks to see you!?”

“Mhm.” Law dipped his head shyly. 

Pausing, Luffy tilted his head. “That’s still kind of forever.”

Law chuckled. “Two weeks is significantly different from eternity. You’ll make it.”

Pouting, he whined, “What, you mean you’re fine with waiting two weeks?”

“No. But it’s better than forever,” he retorted and ruffled Luffy’s hair.

“Oh! That reminds me!” Luffy dug into his shorts pocket until his fingers closed around the box. He grabbed Law's hand, untangling it from his hair and turning it over before placing the box on his palm. “One more thing for you!” When Law stared at it, unmoving, Luffy prompted, “C'mon. Open it!”

He moved slowly, pinching the lid between his thumb and index finger to lift it from the base of the box. He froze again and the lid tumbled from his fingers, landing on the earth below. Luffy lowered his stance, turning his head to look into Law’s face. What’s wrong with him? His eyes were flung wide, face and ears glowing red. 

“Torao?” Luffy blinked.

Law finally looked him in the eye. His voice wavered as he asked, “Luffy, what the fuck is happening right now?”

Straightening his spine, Luffy answered eagerly, “I got you a ring! It’s actually the other earring we got at the Pirate Festival. Remember? Franky made it into a ring. He said it should fit your pinky, I think. Try it on!”

With a gulp, Law pulled the ring from the box and eased it over his left pinky finger. Luffy remarked, “It fits! That's great! I was a little worried–-”

“Luffy,” Law interrupted, holding his left hand flat before him while he stared at the ring. “What does this mean?”

“It's a gift? Like, a keepsake? ‘Cause I love you?” he explained, brow furrowed in confusion.

Law cleared his throat. “Are you aware of the custom of giving someone a ring when you’re asking for their hand in marriage?”

“Hah?” Luffy cocked his head again. “Marriage?”

A powerful peal of laughter spilled from Law's chest as he covered his eyes. “You are so fucking reckless,” he managed to gasp between laughs.

A flush bloomed on Luffy's cheeks. Did Torao think I… “You thought…” he stammered as his lips pursed into a pout. “I just wanted to give you something nice. It wasn’t meant… I mean, I’m not against it, like, maybe someday, but that’s not what I–-” 

“I know, I know,” Law chuckled as his laughter subsided. “It’s great. Thank you, Luffy.”

His embarrassment faded when Law stepped forward and kissed him, arms circling tightly around his body. Luffy coiled his arms around them both and moved his lips against Law’s. A familiar heat pooled in his stomach. He knew this was just a goodbye gesture, but his body wanted otherwise. Instinctively, he slipped his tongue against Law’s lips and nudged it toward his own tongue. A breath of amusement puffed against Luffy’s face as Law nipped gently at his tongue. 

Pulling away, Law smiled. “I’ll see you soon. And I’ll talk to you sooner.”

His arms snapped back to his sides. “Bye, Torao,” he whispered.

“It’s hardly goodbye,” Law remarked, his misty eyes contradicting his cool tone.

As Law walked away, Luffy turned slowly to watch him leave. He muttered to himself, “Two weeks. That’s it. You can handle it. You’re gonna be the Pirate King. And the Pirate King can handle two weeks.” He thought briefly of Ace, of how his father was Gol D. Roger. And his mother…? The Pirate King had loved someone. How had he made it work? ‘How’ doesn't matter. He made it work. So can you.

Closing his eyes and turning his face to the sun, he exhaled a heavy breath. Onto the next adventure. He pulled the vivre card from his pocket and tucked it into the band of his hat before settling it upon his head. As he made his way back to the Sunny, he fumbled with the den den mushi in his other pocket and grinned.

—

Purupurupuru. Purupurupuru. 

Law frowned and pulled the den den mushi from his coat pocket. Nope, not that one. An amused smile pulled at his lips as he realized the call was coming from the other den den mushi. Reaching into a pocket on the inside lining of his coat, he plucked the smaller snail out and accepted the call.

“Luffy. We haven't even left Tokage Port yet,” he spoke flatly.

“So?” Luffy's indignant voice replied. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?” Law leaned against the upper railing of the Polar Tang and turned toward the Sunny docked further along the port. He wasn't exactly eager for his crew to see the juvenile excitement Luffy’s call gave him. 

Luffy's voice hesitated before he asked, “What are you wearing?”

“I can literally see you from here, Luffy.” 

“Just answer the question!” Impatience sounded in Luffy's tone. 

Law smirked. “Nothing.”

Luffy’s laughter was a warming force even through the den den mushi. “You’re lying!” he finally cried.

“And? Did you want me to tell you the truth?” 

“Shishishi. No.”

“Okay, then. What are you wearing?” Law asked, lowering his voice as Jean Bart walked by. 

“Nami’s underwear.”

“Excuse me?” Law snorted. “That’s a joke, right?”

“Er, no. They’re um… Shoot, what were they called? Hang on.” The muffled sound of feet on floorboards sounded through the snail. Law watched Luffy’s distant figure scramble across the ship. “OI NAMI! WHAT DID YOU SAY THESE ARE CALLED AGAIN?”

Law’s body burned with horror and curiosity. Nami’s words were indistinguishable in the background. 

“Torao! You still there?” Luffy’s voice returned.

“Uh huh.” He rubbed his forehead.

“Okay, Nami said it’s called an ‘e-string.’” More muffled shouting came through the background. “Oh, okay,” Luffy laughed. “Sorry, it's a ‘g-string.’ Not an ‘e-string.’”

“I see,” Law mumbled.

“That’s all you have to say?” he pouted.

Checking that none of his crew were nearby first, Law finally whispered, “I want to tear them off of you with my fucking teeth… Better?”

“Shishishi. Much better. Huh? Oh! Okay. Sorry, Torao. I guess I have to go. I'll talk to you later.”

“Okay, Luffy. Bye,” Law chuckled. 

A second passed, the call still connected, before Luffy added, “You call me next time, okay?”

“I will, Lu.” 

“....You promise?”

“I promise.” Law's chest cavity felt too small for his heart.

“Good! Okay, b–-”

Law watched as the call disconnected. He laughed and shook his head. Why had he worried about feeling lonely again? Luffy's sunshine would reach him even in the darkest depths.