Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After Dressrosa, everything changes, and too few things do.

Law is alive. Keeping a memory alive, him and Sengoku.

Luffy is alive, his crew splintered, but the remaining members joyful anyway, celebrating their victory and their new companions as soon as they've shaken the dust of Dressrosa off their collective feet. Law feels he's left something behind, still, or taken something with him that he didn't want.

The Grand Fleet pours liquor like it's water, and though Luffy resists at first, he's eventually drawn into the celebrations, laughing and singing and cavorting with everyone else.

Law sips on his flask, in a corner of the deck.

When Zoro finds him, tankard in hand, Law throws a scowl at him.

"Play nice," Zoro says, teeth white against the dusk.

"Why should I?"

Zoro laughs, too loud. Law would scorn his drunkenness if Zoro's eye weren't so sharp and clear. "Come on," Zoro says. "We're alive. Captain's waiting."

"Still not my captain," Law says. He takes a sip of his drink.

"Are you for real?" Zoro says. Then he barks another laugh. "Of course you are." Law watches him. He's so drunk, and completely serious.

Zoro waves at Law, not touching him. "Look, I don't care what your deal is, but we all made it, and Luffy's right there. Get over here."

"He looks fine where he is," Law says. It comes out with more meaning than he meant it to.

Zoro's grin is keen and white in the fading light. "He always does. You'll never know what you're missing."

There's something else, too much, behind this statement. Law is tired. He doesn't like to get drunk, and he doesn't like drunk people.

"He won't miss me," Law says.

Zoro's gaze sharpens on him like a swung blade. Zoro's hand is suddenly on his swords. "You have got to be shitting me," Zoro says.

Law feels his own attention sharpen. There is noise, around them both, so many people, but Law and Zoro are alone in this silence.

Zoro regards him for several moments.

Then, "This is bullshit," Zoro says, and suddenly his grip is rough on Law's good arm.

Law makes some sort of noise, digs in his heels, but Zoro throws a smirk over his shoulder and shoves Law in front of Luffy.

"Torao!" Luffy shouts, and throws his arms around Law, dislodging Law's hat. He's so warm, even though Law knows he hasn't been drinking.

He's just like this. Always.

Luffy's limbs shoot out to grab Robin, who steadies her cocktail and laughs. Another arm loops around Franky, scoops up Usopp from where he was animatedly interrogating the giant. Zoro is already there, but Luffy squeezes him closer, and Law feels his face pressed between Zoro's and Luffy's, no one caring about his clenched teeth. "We kicked that guy's ass so good!" Luffy declares.

Robin laughs again, and Franky shouts, "We were super!" Usopp chuckles into his own hand, squeezed close against his captain. Law feels Zoro grin against Law's jaw.

Luffy gives a belly laugh, everyone pressed against him. "We're gonna get to Zou and find everyone else and tell them what happened!"

Then he separates his face from Law's so he can look at him. "I told you we'd do it," Luffy says, smile wide.

Robin is watching him. So is Zoro.

"You did," Law finally agrees.

Luffy presses him closer. Law wheezes, feeling Zoro's smirk. "This is great for now, but I just want to go!" Luffy says. "There's all these people, but we're just gonna go on."

"I think they know that," Zoro says. It comes out surprisingly clear, pressed against Law's face like that.

"Shishishi," Luffy laughs. "Well, I told them!"

"You did, bro," Franky says, not discommoded at all.

Luffy releases them, abruptly. "So everyone knows, right? I told them, so they know."

"They know," Zoro agrees, rubbing his jaw.

Luffy laughs, deep from his chest. "All right! We can party, but tomorrow we gotta go."

Robin hums. Franky grins. Usopp smacks Luffy on the shoulder. Zoro crosses his arms.

Law doesn't know what to do with his hands.

Luffy stretches an arm out, grabbing a handful of meat. "Great," he says, his mouth full.

The crew disperses as if this was a signal. Law makes to go back to his corner, but Luffy's arm snaps out to catch him.

"This was you, right?" Luffy says.

Luffy's still chewing.

"I don't know what you mean," Law says finally.

"You're done, right?" Luffy says around the meat. "We're gonna meet your crew in Zou."

Law swallows several responses. "We still have to take down Kaidou," he says.

"Oh yeah!" Luffy says. "We're gonna do it. We're gonna get all of them."

Luffy is looking at him with such shining self-assurance that Law finds he can't say anything. He never thought he'd be here, certainly not like this. Definitely not with Luffy's arm around him, warm in the night, Law alive and aching. Luffy's face is like the sun, too blinding for Law. He looks away.

"Kaidou first," Law manages.

"I don't even know him, but screw that guy. He's an Emperor. We're gonna get him." Luffy laughs, loud in the dark air.

His arm is still around Law.

Luffy turns the full force of his grin on Law, and Law swallows. It's too much, after Dressrosa. He doesn't know what to do with this. His blood heats, pulse picking up. Law clenches his hands.

Luffy sobers. "It's okay," he tells Law.

Law has no idea what he means. "I'm fine," he says instead.

Luffy puts his other hand on Law, even though it's still holding the meat. "You're fine," Luffy echoes him. "You know that, right?"

Law swallows. "It's late," he says. As if it matters to Law. As if he sleeps.

Luffy blinks at this. Then he tightens his grip for a moment before releasing Law. "Go find Zoro," Luffy says. "He's great at sleeping." Then Luffy springs into the middle of the party, where the food is.

Law picks up his hat, looks around to see where Zoro is, and heads in the opposite direction.

Bartolomeo's ship — Law cannot bring himself to think of it by its given name — breaks off from the Grand Fleet.

Luffy waves goodbye to everyone, then springs to the fore of the ship. "All right," he calls. "Let's do this!"

Bartolomeo melts behind him. "Luffy-senpai is so determined!" he sobs.

Law puts his face in his hands, and goes off to find a quiet corner of the ship.

The Strawhats drift around the deck for the rest of the day. Law hunches his shoulders and ignores them, even when they come close to him. Zoro eyes him the most, but Usopp hovers the closest.

None of them say anything.

Law spends the time hating his own company. His thoughts spiral, chasing themselves in circles.

He wasn't meant to survive. He wasn't meant to survive any of it. His country had been dying. His country had burned. Law escaped among corpses, knowing he had a death sentence hovering over him. It was only a matter of time.

Cora-san had bought him time. Force-fed him time, the Devil Fruit disgusting in Law's mouth.

Law had always thought he was repaying Corazón, sometimes sweet like a smile and sometimes bitter like the fruit. After what Sengoku said, Law doesn't know what to think.

After Luffy has saved him, Law doesn't know what to think.

He wonders how his crew is doing, on Zou. It wasn't a thing he had wanted to think about, before.

Luffy flits around the ship, investigating, exclaiming, Bartolomeo going into conniptions every time Luffy praises it. Law feels his face tense, and hides his frown in his shirt collar.

The day is long, Law alone in his corner.

Law shouldn't be surprised when Luffy deposits himself beside Law, limbs loose, looking up at the cloudy night sky.

"Hey Torao. If you have someone else's heart in your chest and you die, will they die too?"

Law frowns. "Yes."

"Good. Okay." Luffy turns to stare at him. "Take mine."

Law's head ticks back. "What."

"You were all ready to die on Dressrosa. I don't like that. So take my heart. That way, you'll want to stay alive." Luffy's eyes are burning into his, wide and black in the night.

Law wants to blink, or look away. Luffy is frowning at him, all will and seriousness. Law licks his lips before speaking. "Strawhat-ya, I'm not going to do that."

Luffy frowns harder, and suddenly his hands are on Law, on his shoulders, shoving him against the mast, and Luffy is up in his face, breath breaking hot against Law's skin. Law's hands jerk up to land on Luffy's wrists, about to pry Luffy off, but Luffy digs his fingers into Law's shoulders. "No, listen. We're allies. We're partners. You can't do this. I can worry about my crew, because they need me to protect them. But I can't worry about you." Luffy shakes him for emphasis. "I already did this with Robin—" did what? Law can't help thinking "—and now you're doing it and I don't like it. Robin's gonna be with me forever, because she's my crew. But you and I are going to split up one day and I can't be worrying about you all the time."

Law regards him silently, the pads of his fingers feeling hot where they're pressing into Luffy's wrists. He can feel Luffy's pulse there, pounding warm and hard. His heart, beating.

"You don't know what you're asking," Law says. His voice is steady; good.

Luffy shakes his head, shakes Law. "Yes I do," Luffy says, voice low and dangerous. And then Law loses the thread completely as Luffy climbs into his lap, straddling his thighs. Law's legs jerk, half an effort to dislodge the other captain, but Luffy distracts him by unbuttoning the top buttons of Law's shirt.

"Hey—" Law protests, only for Luffy to say, "Shut up. Listen to me." Law's shirt is half unbuttoned, Luffy is on his lap, and this is maybe the least turned on Law has ever been in his life. Luffy takes one of Law's hands, which had spasmed closed around Luffy's wrists, and determinedly pries the fingers apart. "Listen," Luffy repeats. "Look."

Luffy takes Law's hand and presses it against Luffy's chest, firm and insistent, over where Luffy's heart is beating. Luffy's palm is hot against the back of Law's hand, fingers slotting between Law's; Law can see his tattoos spelling D E A T H between Luffy's lighter knuckles. Then, Luffy raises his other hand, pushes apart Law's unbuttoned shirt and puts his hand over Law's heart, more gently, but still with a determined pressure behind it. Luffy's fingers splay against Law's skin. Law can feel the rough edges of Luffy's scar under his own hand, can feel his own heart beating rapidly against Luffy's palm.

Law pulls his gaze away from Luffy's chest to find that Luffy's eyes are closed, his head down.

"Yes," Luffy says, firm, decision in his voice.

"Strawhat-ya," Law begins, starting to tug his hand out from under Luffy's, but Luffy's head snaps up, eyes open and brows drawn together in a fierce frown. His hand over Law's tightens.

"I don't trust you," Luffy says. It sends something cold spiralling into Law's gut, but Luffy goes on, "I trust you to fight with me. I trust you to die for me. But I don't trust you to live," and Luffy hisses this last, sibilants sliding out and breaking harsh against Law's face. "I don't like that," Luffy says again. "So you're gonna live. For me or not for me, for anything, I don't care, but you're gonna live."

Law stares silently at him for a few moments, choking on his own breath. The air tastes sour in his throat, angry, furious. "Don't I get a say in this?" he snarls in Luffy's face.

"It's my heart. I can give it to you if I want." That heart is beating hard against Law's palm.

Law breathes, carefully, head pushed back against the hard wood of the mast. Anger boils in his chest, making his heart thud against Luffy's palm, because being angry is better than being terrified.

As if reading his mind, Luffy suddenly says, "Don't be scared." Law jerks, caught out. Luffy lets go of Law's hand, moves his other hand off Law's heart, and takes Law's face between his palms. Law is conscious of his stubble and sideburns against Luffy's hands. "Don't be scared. Cause I'm gonna be right there. That's how it's gonna work."

Law's thoughts are spiralling, and he thinks wildly that this is as close to crying as he's been since those desperate hours in Dressrosa. It hurts. He finds his hands clutching Luffy's shirt, to pull him closer or push him away, he can't tell. "Luffy, you can't do this," he scrapes out past gritted teeth.

Luffy stares intently at him. "Yes we can. You can. Do it."

Law had spent a decade planning to die. Luffy has no idea what he's asking.

Or maybe he does. Law blinks. Luffy's eyes are black in the starlight, boring into his own. And Law is abruptly convinced that yes, Luffy knows exactly what he's asking. That thought is far more terrifying than anything else that has happened tonight.

Luffy seems to sense some change in him, because he abruptly lets go of Law's face and gets out of his personal space, sitting back between Law's shins, arms crossed on his own knees. Law heaves in a breath, suddenly aware how long he'd been holding it.

Luffy blinks at him, once, twice, and suddenly grins. "Shishishi," he snickers, the white scimitar-edge of his smile sharp in the moonlight. "Come on," he urges, smiling, like it's that easy.

Come on. Do it for a laugh. Do it for luck. Do it for love. Do it.

Law thinks about what Sengoku said. Thinks about Zoro's gleaming grin, Robin's gentler smile. Thinks about the way Luffy had pressed him close the night before.

"Will you take mine?" Law finds himself asking.

Luffy blinks again before his eyes are squeezed shut by another grin. "Sure! Of course!"

Is it really that easy, that simple, in Luffy's mind? Law isn't sure if anything is simple with this man, or if everything is.

Law takes a breath, and makes a room.

Luffy's breath punches out in a gasp, and Law grits his teeth as he extracts his own heart.

The two organs sit, beating, cubes in each of Law's hands.

Luffy looks back and forth between Law's hands. "Which one's mine?" Law shifts his right hand closer to Luffy. Luffy uncrosses his arms and pushes it back towards Law, curling Law's fingers around the heart. Luffy's eyes flicker. "Ah! That tickles." He snickers one more time. Then his face turns serious once more and he shoves Law's shirt open again. His fingers drift over the square hole in Law's chest. When he meets Law's eyes again, his gaze is steady, calm. "You have to keep it," Luffy says. He pushes at Law's hand again, urging it closer to Law's chest. "Put it in there. Keep it there."

Luffy is staring at him, unblinking. Law swallows, then tears his gaze away. With a morbid fascination, he finds his fingers turning the heart over until it's the right way around, then aligning it with the hole in his chest. Finds himself looking up into Luffy's eyes again.

Luffy puts his hands over Law's, and pushes.

Law watches as Luffy's eyes widen, feeling his heart slide into place; Law's mouth opens helplessly and his breath hisses out, wet, as he feels that heart beat slow and strong in his chest, out of synch with the rhythm of his blood.

They stare at each other, Luffy's heart ticking the moments by, one, two, three.

"Huh," Luffy grunts.

Luffy's hands go to his own chest, splay over the empty hole there.

"I can feel you," he says slowly.

Law breathes. Breathes.

Then Luffy looks up again, grinning.

"This is good! I can feel Torao!"

Luffy sprawls back, and barks a laugh into the sky, leaning back on his hands over Law's legs.

Law feels his own heart thumping helplessly in his left hand.

Luffy's laugh descends into giggles, then into small snickers interspersed with deep breaths. He springs up again, sprawling forward this time, and grabs Law's left hand. Holds it, palms cupped warm and dry around Law's heart and hand.

"Is this okay?" Luffy asks, eyes intent on Law's own.

Law unsticks his dry tongue from the roof of his mouth. "Yes," he manages.

Luffy takes Law's heart out of his hand, fingers gentle, holding it like it is something fragile, precious. Law feels dizzy. What is he doing? What are you doing?

"What are we doing?" he finds himself asking.

"Whatever we want!" Luffy answers easily. He cups his hands around Law's heart again, covering it completely. "And I want this," he says firmly.

Law's heart skips a beat.

"Oh!" Luffy says, then blinks at the heart in his hands. He grins up at Law. "I felt that," he says around the smile. Law can feel Luffy's heart beating, steady and strong in Law's chest.

Luffy turns the heart around in his hands, a look of concentration on his face. Then he pushes it clumsily against the hole in his chest. Law's entire body spasms, and he finds his hands clutching Luffy's wrists again."Watch it," he snaps. Luffy looks so apologetic at that that Law can't help gentling his tone when he continues, "Anyway, it's upside down."

"Oh," Luffy says again. Blinks at him. "You do it then." He holds out Law's heart.

Law picks up the heart and turns it the right way. Luffy scoots closer, sitting on Law's thighs again. Law feels his eyes pulled up once more, feels himself wanting to see Luffy's face. Luffy is watching Law's heart, but looks up once he senses Law's gaze on him.

"I want this," Luffy repeats firmly, looking him in the eyes.

Law licks his lips. His hand moves, lining his heart up, and then he is sliding it in. Luffy's eyes widen again, lips parting, but he doesn't blink, watching Law watching him. And then Law's hand is flat against Luffy's chest, and Law's heart is beating under his palm.

Luffy's eyes slide closed, then, and he heaves a huge breath out, as if in relief.

"Good," he says, with finality.

And then he's out of Law's lap, off his legs entirely, and settling instead a bit away from Law's side, arms crossed behind his head, staring up at the stars.

Law feels like there is something to say, now. So many things to say. He wants to ask Luffy why he'd done that. Ask himself why he'd done that. Ask what is happening, what Luffy is doing to him. Ask what he'd meant about Nico Robin.

Tell Luffy that Luffy's heart feels better than his own, beating in Law's chest.

Law can just see the edge of a soft smile on Luffy's face, in profile, Luffy's head tipped up to the sky. Law watches as Luffy's eyes slide closed, hears his breath deepen and grow even. Feels Luffy's heart slow in Law's chest.

Luffy falls asleep beside Law, and Law watches him long into the night, silent.

Law feels disconcertingly normal, but aware of his own body. He hasn't thought about his own limbs this much since he was a teenager, when Bepo was growing bigger than him and Shachi and Penguin had laughed at Law for shooting up a foot taller than either of them.

He feels as if his tattoos are fresh-inked on his skin, naked and aching.

Luffy flutters about the deck, and Law watches him as if he can't help it. Luffy stretches his arms, rocketing about the ship. His muscles flex, and Law swallows. Luffy's heart speeds up when they encounter a sea king, his whoops loud when he sees it surface. He shouts at Law and Zoro to join him against it, and Law does it, because he doesn't know what else to do.

Luffy grins up at him, the square of odd-coloured tattooed flesh flagrantly visible with his open shirt. The pale patches almost match Luffy's skin, the darker shades a stark contrast.

It's like it doesn't matter, like Luffy doesn't care. But every time Law swallows like there's something stuck in his throat, Luffy's hand comes up to his own chest.

When Law can't watch the way Luffy's muscles move under his skin anymore, the way Law's own skin looks out of place in Luffy's chest, he goes to a distant corner of the ship and leans against the railing, frowning out at the sea. It's been a long day.

He suppresses a sigh when Zoro joins him as the sun nears the horizon.

The swordsman leans on the railing, hand resting easy on his swords. He doesn't say anything. Law doesn't say anything.

The sun touches the sea to their left.

Zoro, still leaning on the railing, isn't looking at him. "So. What are you doing with our captain?"

Law feels his brows draw together. "Maybe you should ask him."

Zoro grins at the parry, then turns to eye Law directly. "Are you fucking?"

Law frowns. "No." He feels his heart stutter strangely, somewhere else on the ship.

Zoro hums neutrally. "Do you want to?"

"He's not like that," Law evades. "It's not like that," he adds too quickly.

Zoro turns to look at him, clearly not buying it. "You're like that, though."

Law scowls at him. "What does it matter? It's not going to happen."

Zoro raises an eyebrow. "Isn't it?"

Law blinks at him. Narrows his eyes. "What are you saying, Zoro-ya?"

Zoro shrugs. "I've seen the way you look at him."

Law hunches his shoulders. "So?"

"So I know how I look at him, too." Law blinks again at this offhand confession, but Zoro is still talking. "But I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."

Law hunches harder. "I don't know what you mean."

Abruptly, Zoro laughs. Law frowns at him. "Fine, fine," Zoro chuckles. "Have it your way." Zoro pushes off the railing and wanders away.

Law finds his hand drifting up to his chest, palm pressing against where Luffy's heart beats, steady, calm. Law takes a deep breath.

It isn't long before Luffy finds him. "Torao, your heart felt funny."

"Yes," Law agrees.

"What were you and Zoro talking about?"

"Nothing," Law replies quellingly.

Luffy frowns at him.

Then Luffy grabs Law's hand and tugs, turning to the fore of the ship. "Come on," Luffy calls over his shoulder.

Law finds himself following, stumbling a little. "Where are we going?"

"There's a good place on every ship. A best place. We're going there."

Law, bemused, lets Luffy tow him to the front of the ship, where Luffy hops onto the railing and starts up the curve of the figurehead. "Come on," he says again, pulling on Law's hand. Law climbs up after him. At the top of the figurehead Luffy tugs Law in front of him and pushes him down until Law sits. Luffy settles behind him, his legs bent on either side of Law, and hooks his chin over Law's shoulder. Law, intensely aware of being between the younger man's thighs, swallows. Then Luffy loops his arms across Law's shoulders. Law sits stiff and still in the weird hug.

"You don't have to tell me what you were talking about with Zoro." Luffy speaks, not looking at Law but staring ahead into the sunset. "You don't have to tell me what happened with you and Mingo. But you can't just be by yourself and sad all the time, all right?"

Law can't decide what to do with his hands. They lie awkwardly by his sides, slack. "What if I want to be by myself?"

"That's fine," Luffy says. "Just don't be sad."

Law huffs. "It's that easy, is it?"

Luffy snorts, a wet sound right by Law's ear. "Of course not. That's why I'm here."

Law falls silent. He doesn't know what to say to that.

Luffy seems content to let him stew, and starts humming absently when Law's silence stretches on into several minutes. Law recognizes the tune, something Brook played a lot.

What is Luffy trying to do? What had Zoro meant?

Law knows Luffy isn't interested in him the same way, doesn't look at him the way Law looks at Luffy. The way Zoro looks at Luffy. But Luffy is here. Luffy is always there, shoving into Law's space and putting his hands on Law, touching him. Like it's nothing.

Like it means nothing?

No... Law is a fool, but not that big a fool. He's just hiding from things he doesn't want to think about.

Luffy's arms are warm across Law's shoulders, his chest. Luffy's hair is coarse where it's stuck between Luffy's face and Law's own, but Luffy's skin is smooth where their jaws touch.

Luffy's heart is beating steadily in Law's chest.

Carefully, cautiously, Law moves one of his hands. Luffy's ankles are on either side of Law's hips. Law lifts his hand until it hovers over Luffy's foot. Takes a breath. Wraps his fingers loosely around Luffy's ankle.

"Shishishi," Luffy snickers, burrowing his face into Law's neck. Law's own face feels hot. Luffy's ankle is bony and warm under Law's hand. "I can feel your heart," Luffy mumbles into the juncture of Law's neck and shoulder. "It's faster than mine."

Law's other hand drifts up to his chest again. "It is," he agrees. Luffy's heartbeat is slow under Law's palm. Law's fingers are brushing Luffy's arms where they're draped across Law's chest.

What had Zoro meant?

Maybe he meant... that the warmth in Law's veins right now is not wrong. That Luffy wouldn't mind. Doesn't mind.

"Strawhat-ya," Law says, mouth dry. He licks his lips, cautiously tips his head back onto Luffy's shoulder.

"Mm?" Luffy hums. He... nuzzles against Law's jaw, nose against his neck.

"Why are you always touching me?"

"Because I want to," Luffy says against Law's neck. Law feels Luffy's lips move, feels his breath against Law's skin. Law suppresses a shiver. His hand feels hot on Luffy's ankle.

Law closes his eyes. "Why do you want to?"

Luffy raises his head. Law can't see him, but he can imagine Luffy blinking at him. "Because it makes me happy. Doesn't it make you happy?"

Law keeps his eyes closed. "What if... we don't want the same things?" he evades.

Luffy presses his face into Law's neck again. "That's fine," he says, and hugs Law closer.

Is it? Law opens his eyes, stares into the darkening sky.

Zoro seems to think so.

Law's other hand drifts up. Hesitates. Buries itself in Luffy's hair.

"Mm," Luffy hums again, this time an animal sound of simple pleasure. It rushes straight to Law's gut. Law feels his eyes slide closed, his lips part, his hand clench in Luffy's hair. Luffy pulls him closer still, until there is no space left between their bodies, Law's back flush against Luffy's front.

Law breathes.

After a long second, he asks, "You don't mind?"

"No," Luffy says simply.

Law is silent for a few moments. His eyes are open again, staring into the bloodied sky.

"Do you even know what I'm asking?" he finally grinds out.

Luffy laughs against his neck. "I'm not stupid, Torao."

Law frowns. "That's not—"

Luffy bites him, teeth sinking into the tense flesh where Law's shoulder meets his neck.

Law's breath punches out of him; heat shoots from his neck straight to his groin; his back arches and legs spasm.

"Like that, right?" Luffy says against the bite mark.

Law's breath hisses between his teeth. For a bottomless second, he feels alive, painfully alive, hot and panting in Luffy's embrace.

"Luffy—" he starts, and doesn't know where to go from there.

"It's fine," Luffy repeats. "I know we're not the same. But you're allowed to feel good, you know."

Law blinks his eyes open. He'd lost track of when he'd closed them. He stares up into the sky, shaken as much by what Luffy said as by what he'd done.

Luffy hooks his chin over Law's shoulder again. Law draws in a shaky breath, the confused roil in his blood making him dizzy. Luffy's spit on his neck is cooling in the breeze.

The heat that had flooded through him is fading, replaced by a gentler warmth that's less desperate, less dire. More... pleasant.

Law breathes, and thinks about it. Then, slowly, leans his head against Luffy's, relaxes back into him again.

"Shishishi." Luffy shakes gently against him, around him. His laugh fades away, and he starts humming again.

Law lets his eyes slide closed.

Luffy has fallen asleep behind him. The night air is cold, but Luffy's chest is warm against Law’s back. Law has no real reason to move — not-sleeping up here is the same as not-sleeping anywhere else — but he can feel Luffy going boneless and loose, arms sliding lower where they're still draped around Law. If Luffy slides off the figurehead Law will have to catch him.

Law moves his hand where he's still clasping Luffy loosely around the ankle. He smacks Luffy's foot lightly. "Strawhat-ya."

No response.

Law tries elbowing him. This brings some tone back to Luffy's muscles, but all the other man does is tighten his arms around Law again. He snores in Law's ear, loudly.

"Strawhat-ya," Law says again. Takes a breath. Then, sliding a hand into the other man's hair: "Luffy."

Law feels Luffy's eyelashes blinking open against his cheek. "Mmph," Luffy mumbles.

"Strawhat-ya, go to bed."

"Yeah," Luffy agrees. His head nods forward again.

Law sighs. His fingers flick up, the room expanding cool and blue in the moonlight.

Law and Luffy land neatly on the deck, Law making sure to put a few inches between Luffy's back and the mast so he won't be sandwiched. Luffy blinks awake again with a snuffling noise, looking around. Law leans to the side so he can see his face. Luffy turns back to him, moonlight liquid in his sleepy eyes.

"Are you going inside?" Law asks him.

Luffy seems to give this serious thought before he leans back against the mast, taking Law with him. "Nah. Torao will keep me warm."

Law feels, appropriately, warm. Warmed. He isn't sure what to do with the feeling.

Luffy unfolds his legs to either side of Law, not seeming to care how Law responds to his statement. This puts Luffy's thighs where Law's hands had been before, but Law doesn't feel right touching him there. He folds his hands on his own stomach instead.

Luffy starts snoring again.

Luffy's heart beats, slow, slow, in Law's chest.

Law drifts, never really in deep sleep but dozing sometimes. He tries to get up once or twice, but every time Luffy wakes up enough to pull him back in, and Law does suppose it would be cold out here, alone.

Dawn breaks to find Law blinking his eyes open at Zoro's legs in front of him. He follows them up to the man's face, in shadow, his back to the rising sun. Then the white glint of a grin flashes at Law. Law frowns, and gives him the finger. Zoro laughs, and leaves them alone.

The sound of Zoro's retreating boots rouses Luffy. He squeezes Law close, seeming to do the opposite of a stretch — does a rubber human need to stretch after sleeping? — and Law suppresses a wheeze as his midriff is compressed. Luffy lets go of him, putting his hands on Law's hips and extending his neck to look Law in the face. "Hn? Torao, didn't you sleep?" Luffy's hands are a steady weight on Law's hips. Law swallows.

"I don't sleep much," he reminds him.

Luffy frowns at him. "That's not right," he declares.

Law sighs. "It doesn't matter if it's right. It's not something you can fix."

Luffy's jaw firms, but he doesn't say anything.

"Oi, Luffy!" Zoro calls. "Breakfast is ready!"

Luffy's head snaps around. He springs up, hand holding his hat on his head. He's halfway across the deck before he realizes Law isn't following him, or at least not quickly enough. "Come on, Torao!" he calls, and stretches a hand out.

Law looks at it for a moment before he takes it in his own.

Luffy has wandered off, Bartolomeo following him like a puppy, and Law has found a quiet spot on the deck. It's not a big ship, so Zoro is nearby, pressing weights. Usopp is doing something with his slingshot, brows drawn together. Law ignores this, leafing through a new horror book, something Robin bought in Dressrosa, until Robin herself folds down onto her knees a few feet away from him. He looks up, and sure enough, Franky follows, thumping down more solidly with a cola in his hands.

"Do you like the book?" Robin asks politely.

"I just started it," Law tells her.

Robin smiles. "Beginnings are good," she says. "They can come after endings, sometimes. A lot of the time."

Franky chuckles and takes a swig from his bottle. Zoro lifts his weights, behind them. Usopp stretches the rubber band in his slingshot.

Law thinks for a minute before he says, "Don't you like horror stories?"

"Oh, yes," Robin says with relish, her voice low, her smile curling, subtle. "There's so much potential."

Law considers how much he wants to say. "I thought it was about feeling helpless."

"If that's what speaks to you," Robin says, unoffended. "I think it's about feeling something bigger than yourself and then deciding what to do about it."

Law looks at her for a moment, serene in front of him, acutely aware that she is a member of Luffy's crew.

It takes him a moment.

"What did you do?" he asks, finally.

Robin's eyes meet his, brown and blue. Franky puts down his cola, and leans back against the hull, elbows spread, as-if relaxed. Behind him, Zoro's weights are on the deck, unmoving. Usopp is looking up now, his slingshot loose in his hands.

"I ran," she says. "But before that, I laughed."

Law resists a swallow. "Who made you laugh?"

"Luffy, later," she says. "A giant of D, at first," she follows. "It was the same thing, in the end."

Law turns this around in his mind. The pages of the horror novel are rough against his fingertips.

"The Will of D is strong," he says in the end.

"Oh, yes," Robin agrees. Franky takes a sip of his cola. Zoro lifts a weight, slowly. Usopp plucks at the arm of his slingshot. "I met Jaguar D. Saul when I did not know my mother. He saved me, in the end, him and Kuzan. I wasn't sure what it meant until Luffy saved me again."

Law feels his jaw moving, tense, as if chewing on this. Ohara died a long time ago. Robin is older than he is. "That's a long time to wait."

She smiles at him. "Isn't it?" And then she leans forward, leaning her chin against one hand, her smile curling upwards. "Isn't it worth it?"

Law feels his heart beat, somewhere else on the ship.

"What happened at Enies Lobby?" he asks. None of the reporting told the truth, he knows.

Robin leans back. Franky slants a look at her, but she smiles at him, and he takes another sip of his cola. Usopp frowns. Zoro is lifting his weights in the background, steady.

"I thought I could save them by leaving myself behind," she says. "I thought that would be worth it." She laughs, then, a soft, low sound. "I thought my life was worth so little."

"Luffy would never think that," Franky interjects, loudly. Usopp's frown deepens. Zoro's mouth is flat, watching them.

Robin smiles, serene. "I know." She looks up at Law, odd-coloured eyes meeting his own. "It's not that he wouldn't let me sacrifice myself. It's that he wanted me to say it to his face." Her gaze sharpens. "I couldn't."

This hangs in the air for a minute before Law hears Zoro's voice.

"There's only one person who's died in front of Luffy," Zoro says.

Law's head swivels around to look at him, Zoro's one eye meeting his own.

There is silence, for several moments.

"That was bad," Franky breaks in. "But Luffy's almost lucky. You lose a lot of people, you know?" he says before taking another swallow of his cola.

Law's mouth is dry, but no one is saying anything.

"I know," he says in the end.

Franky laughs, abrupt and sharp and nasal. "Tra-bro," he says, gesturing with his bottle. "We tried to tell you. It was never gonna work."

Law scowls, suddenly aware of his hands on the book, his bent knees, his toes curling in his boots.

Zoro, of all people, rescues him. "Eh, everyone's done it. It's fine," he says.

Robin chuckles, a low sound that shivers up Law's spine. "It's how the best horror stories start and end."

Franky laughs, loud in the sea air. "That's right! And this is just the start, you know?"

Usopp finally smiles, and says, "It's always the start, with Luffy. I've thought it was the end, before. But I was wrong. Even Luffy was wrong."

Robin smiles. Zoro smirks, and flexes against a weight.

Law feels his heart beat. And Luffy's heart, steady in his chest. His own fingers, against the paper of the book.

"Tell me how it ends," Robin says. "I haven't read it."

Luffy takes his hand after dinner. Sanji wasn't there, so Law ate a lot of vegetables, assorted meats, none of it harmonizing. He recognizes that he has become irretrievably spoiled by Sanji, but then Luffy is tugging on his arm, leading him through the narrows of the ship.

Bartolomeo had ceded the captain's cabin to his star guest. Luffy tugs Law inside before letting him go, and Law loiters by the door, feeling awkward. He's never felt like this in his scattered encounters, but those had been about fucking. Law has no idea what this is about. Certainly not sex.

And then Luffy strips out of his shirt and shorts, completely unselfconscious; kicks off his sandals and removes his hat, and Law's mouth goes dry, and he is very confused. Luffy fusses with the bed, in his boxers, moonlight striping strong lines across his back, muscles shifting.

Then Luffy settles cross-legged on the bed, looking back up at Law expectantly.

Law considers his options and decides he needs more information. "Strawhat-ya, what are you doing?"

"You can't sleep, right? Come here." He pats the bed.

Law stays by the door. "Are you... propositioning me?"

Luffy blinks at him. "What?"

Law rubs his face. "Are you asking me to have sex with you?" he asks from between his fingers.

"What? No. Come here," Luffy repeats, giving no more illumination to the question.

Law can feel his own heart beating strangely, across the room. Luffy's heart is calm and even. It steadies Law, a little bit.

He approaches the bed, wary. Sits down on the edge, setting Kikoku to the side.

Luffy smiles at him, encouraging. "People don't sleep in their shoes, Torao. Maybe that's why you can never fall asleep, out on the deck in your boots like that." The smile turns into a grin, affectionate, teasing.

Law feels his lips tug up, and he has no idea why. "Maybe," he agrees.

Strawhat shoves him lightly. "Come on, take them off."

Law unfolds his hands, his long fingers, uncomfortably aware of them, their movement. Of Luffy's eyes on him. He bends over and undoes the buckles, slides his right boot off.

Luffy's hand stretches out to tug it out of Law's fingers and toss it across the room.

"The farther away they are, the better you'll sleep," he says, half prim, half sly. Law swallows, not sure what to do with this attitude. He busies himself taking off the other boot instead, then holds it awkwardly in his hands. Luffy nods at him, grinning, encouraging.

Law lobs the shoe over to its mate.

Behind him, Luffy laughs, an easy, warm sound, and he reaches out to tug Law back towards him so he can nuzzle into Law's nape. Law's lips curve up again, uncertain, a bubble of warmth growing in him that he doesn't know what to do with. He feels supremely silly, but... Luffy seems to realize that, and as long as they all know they're being silly it seems... all right.

Then Luffy runs his hands down from Law's shoulders, down Law's back and sides, to settle on his hips. Law shivers, the warmth becoming less soft, melting and pooling low in his gut. Luffy plucks at his shirt. "Is that comfortable enough?" Luffy asks.

Law turns to face him, dislodging his hands. "Strawhat-ya, what are you doing?" he asks again, dry-mouthed.

Luffy's hands slide smoothly off Law's hips to come up and cup his face. "I'm going to stay awake with you," Luffy tells him seriously. "I'm gonna keep you company."

Law is lost. He doesn't know what to do with this, with this warmth, this ease. With Luffy.

Law's hands come up to take Luffy's off his face. "Luffy, I can't— I don't— I'm not like you."

Luffy's hands slide out of his own only to come back and encompass them. "So? I'm not like you either."

Law barks a laugh suddenly, surprising himself. "This can't— this can't work."

Luffy's jaw firms. "Sure it can! If it feels good it's fine, right?"

"It's more complicated than that."

"Why?" Luffy asks. "It's not, not really." He lets go with one hand, and runs his fingers lightly down Law's neck. It's an innocent touch, no heat behind it, but it leaves a shivery trail on Law's skin. "You like that, right?"

"Yes," Law says on an exhale. His hands feel hot in Luffy's.

"So come here. It's okay if you can't sleep. I'll stay up with you."

Law feels this hasn't really answered his... question, concern, reservations. But Luffy's skin looks a dusky silver in the scant starlight leaking into the cabin, and he's smiling at Law again, tugging lightly on his hand.

In the end, Law decides to keep his clothes on, to minimize the getting of ideas. His own, mostly.

Law sets his hat aside. He slides onto the bed.

Luffy's grin widens, and he lies down, back to the bulkhead, facing Law; curls his knees up; waits for Law to settle himself. Law decides his socks feel weird, and takes them off. Luffy pokes him with his bare toes. "You read Robin's books, right?"

Law never has any idea what Luffy notices. It might be safest to assume he notices everything his crew does. "Yes," he says.

"Which one was it?" Luffy asks.

Law doesn't know where to begin. "What do you know about her books?"

"I don't really like reading, but she tells me stories sometimes."

Law hesitates. He's never done this before.

Luffy's smile tips into teasing. "Did it have zombies?"

Law feels his own lips tug up. "Yes."

"Great! Funny zombies or scary zombies?" Luffy's face switches to thoughtful. "I dunno, I think all zombies are funny."

Law chuckles. "These are not funny zombies."

Luffy looks at him skeptically. "Well, okay," he allows.

"They're coming for the city. All the people are in the city square. The soldiers are still fighting. There's a child, and he goes up to the mayor."

"I know a mayor!" Luffy interjects. "He has a mouse, it's great."

"I don't think this is that kind of mayor. The kid is trying to tell the mayor he needs to fight, but the mayor says that god sent the zombies, and their king can't save them."

"I punched god in the face," Luffy says. He pauses a moment, then follows this with, "He deserved it."

Law doesn't know what to do with this, but he fears it is true. "This one probably does too. The mayor says the zombies are coming, and this is what god wills, it's fate, and in front of this kid—" Law hesitates, but Luffy blinks at Law, attentive. "He shoots himself in the face," Law says.

"Ice-dude would never do that!" Luffy exclaims, and he clutches Law's shoulders for a moment, as if to convince Law of this.

Law tries to put this together, and connects it to Iceburg, of Water Seven, from right before Luffy's bounty jumped up. "It's not that kind of mayor."

"This is a dumb mayor."

"... Yeah," Law says.

"What happens to the kid?" Luffy asks.

Law takes a breath. "Well. The zombies are still coming. So the kid comes to the window and tells the people in the square that they have to fight."

"Yeah!" Luffy exclaims, taking Law's hands.

Law can't help smiling. "So they go to help fight the zombies, all these women and children and old men."

"That's right!" Luffy says, fierce. "I don't think Vivi would want that, but she'd be proud!"

Nefertari Vivi. The Strawhats' net of miracles.

"You don't always get what you want," Law tells him.

Luffy shakes his head. "You gotta fight for it."

"Sometimes that's not enough," Law says quietly.

Luffy grows still. Law can see him chewing on this.

"I know," Luffy says finally.

Law watches Luffy's immobile face for a moment.

"It's just a story," Law says in the end.

Luffy looks back up at him. "How does the story end?"

Law hesitates. "I'm not sure. The book's unclear."

Luffy frowns. "That's stupid. Tell me how you want it to end."

Law looks at Luffy's face for a second, fierce and dark-shadowed in front of him. The starlight paints glints against his wide pupils. Law hesitates for a long moment.

"I think the boy will be all right. The country recovers. He's not alone. They defeat the zombies."

Luffy watches Law silently for a few moments, as if he has any idea what Law is talking about.

Then Luffy chuckles, snickers, laughs. "That's right!" he says. "They'll be okay!"

Law curls his toes, tangled with Luffy's.

Luffy subsides slowly, taking several moments.

"Has Robin given you any other books?"

Law pauses. "There wasn't time, before."

"It's not before," Luffy tells him. "What about now?"

"... She gave me another one."

Luffy nods, decisive. "Good. Don't tell me about it until you've finished it."

"... Okay," Law says.

Luffy's blinks are getting slower.

"Tell me about the bear again," Luffy demands.

Law isn't sure if he wants to chuckle or scowl. "You've seen him," Law reminds Luffy. "His name is Bepo."

"Yeah," Luffy yawns. "But he's a bear. How do you have a bear? I want a bear."

"You have a reindeer," Law tells him.

"I think Chopper should meet your bear," Luffy mumbles.

Law watches Luffy's eyes flicker, drift closed, flicker open again. His eyelashes look long and dark, in this light. "I think Bepo would like that," Law says.

"We're gonna..." Luffy trails off. Snorts himself awake. "We'll get you there," he says, before his face goes slack again.

Law watches him, for a few minutes.

"I know," Law says.

Luffy starts snoring, his hands slackening against Lawn's own.

Law watches him. Drifts, warm and wakeful. Blinks when the sunrise paints Luffy's skin in warm tones.

Luffy stays asleep, and Law doesn't know what to do.

Luffy touches Law a lot, and everyone sees it. Law's face heats constantly until he decides he's done with that, and then it only burns when Zoro gives him that look and Law wants to flip him off again.

Luffy hauls Law around the ship, strong arms hot around Law, showing him all the things Bartolomeo had shown Luffy.

And then he leaves Law alone, as if he knows Law has had enough, or far too little, or doesn't know what to do, as if Luffy knows about the febrile tug inside Law's skin.

Law tries to read Robin's book. Not because Robin will ask him about it. Not because Luffy will ask him about it, Law tells himself. It rings hollow inside his own head.

Law is drowsing, the book open in his lax hands, when Usopp sits down in front of him.

Law blinks himself alert. Usopp's hair is loose again, and Law wonders if he always keeps it like that when the Strawhats aren't on a mission.

"Look, I think you know Luffy is a lot," Usopp begins. Puts his hand in his thick hair. "He's always a lot." Then Usopp laughs, helplessly. "I thought I knew that, before I fought him. But I had no idea. It only gets worse." Usopp thinks a moment, then: "Better," he corrects himself.

Law remembers Usopp's hands, casual and easy on Luffy when they were trying out the waver-cycle.

He decides, very tired, to take a page out of Zoro's book. "Were you fucking?" he asks.

Usopp's eyes snap wide and white. "What?! No!"

Law ponders a moment before he asks, "Do you all always touch each other like that?"

"Well, yeah," Usopp says. "It's just how Luffy is."

Law's stomach turns over, and he isn't sure if this is a relief or not.

Usopp seems to see something happen to Law's face, because he reaches out to grip Law's shoulder. "Oi. Seriously. You're fine. Luffy doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do." He pauses a moment, then says, "Nami would kick your ass if she was here."

Law is not sure if he wants clarification on this.

"Look," Usopp says. "I'm not Zoro and I'm not Robin." He pauses. "I'm not Franky, either, but as long as Luffy's happy, I don't think Franky cares." Usopp's hand goes to his own chin. "What is it, anyway?" he muses. "They're doing their own thing, I guess." He looks up at Law again. "Well, okay, I'm just me, but I gotta tell you. We all said to be careful. We all told you it wasn't gonna work. And now you're here and you know, right?"

Law considers denying this. He thinks of Sengoku's words. Of Luffy's heart, beating calmly in his own chest.

He decides to say nothing.

Usopp rolls his eyes. "Oh my god, I don't know if you two deserve each other or if this a disaster." Nami had said something similar, a long time ago.

Not that long ago, Law realizes. It's a matter of days, maybe a couple of weeks.

Usopp watches Law's face. "It happens real fast, right?" he says.

Law blinks. He shouldn't be surprised that Luffy is not alone in his uncanny ability to read people. It's not like all of the Strawhats hadn't given him hints. Broad hints.

Law considers Usopp a moment, feels Luffy's heart beating in his chest, and then says, "How long?"

Usopp laughs. "Oh, like a day for me. Well, I mean, we had this big fight later. That was rough. Nami left too, though. And Robin. But," Usopp's face grows serious, "Luffy doesn't let go."

Law regards him, wordless. Luffy's heart is so steady. Law doesn't know what his own heart is doing, somewhere else.

Usopp reaches out and pokes Law in the chest, where Luffy's skin is showing around the bandages and Law's half-unbuttoned shirt. "I mean, look at that. He's gonna do this, right? So—" Usopp's face firms, then, eyelids lowering, eyes darkening. "So be careful. Not just about him, I mean. About you. I don't think he expects you to be careful, but we do."

Law thinks anything he could say at this point would be counterproductive. He keeps his hand from drifting up to his chest.

Usopp regards him silently, then unfolds his knees, stands up, brushes them off. "We all tried to warn you," he repeats. And then he smiles, and throws Law a high sign. "I hope it's great," he says, before leaving.

Luffy drags him to the captain's cabin again, and Law doesn't resist.

Luffy sits him down on the bed. Puts his hand on Kikoku.

Law looks him in the eyes. Luffy looks back at him, mouth flat.

Law lets Luffy set Kikoku aside.

Luffy takes off Law's boots, Law's hands tense on the edge of the bed. Then Luffy looks up at him, Law's shoes in his hands, and smiles, and tosses the shoes into a corner.

Law feels his knuckles unknot.

He sits on the bed in his socked feet as Luffy strips off his own shirt and shorts. It's not as late in the day as last time, and Luffy's skin is golden in the fading light. Law keeps his hands on the bedframe.

Luffy clambers past him, burrowing into the covers with his back to the bulkhead. Law watches him until Luffy's face pops back out of the blankets and he tugs on Law's shirt.

Law sighs, and bends down to get rid of his socks; takes off his hat.

He lies down on the bed facing Luffy again, but Luffy puts his hands on Law, pushes his shoulders and pulls his hips, until Law is facing the other way, Luffy tucked up behind him. Law is over half a foot taller than him, and this is ridiculous. But Luffy sighs against the back of Law's neck and says, "I'm not very good at staying awake."

Law is silent for a moment. "You don't have to," he says.

"I don't have to do anything," Luffy says. "But you should sleep."

Law feels himself smile. "I don't have to do anything either."

Luffy laughs against Law's neck, draws Law closer. "That's right," Luffy agrees.

Law falls silent, and Luffy hums behind him for a moment before asking, "Does anyone keep you company on your ship?"

"...Yeah," Law says. "They try."

Luffy burrows his nose in Law's hair. "Like this?"

"...No," Law replies.

Luffy huffs a laugh into Law's hair, "Shishishi." He curls himself more firmly against Law, tangling their legs together. "You should nap on the bear," Luffy tells him.

Law hesitates a moment before he admits, "I do. Bepo likes it."

"Bepo's a good guy," Luffy mumbles into Law's neck.

Law's eyes flick back at Luffy's use of that name. "He is," Law confirms.

"Zou," Luffy says, smeared and slow.

Luffy's heart slows, in Law's chest.

"Zou," Law agrees into the night.

Luffy is warm behind him, and Law stares straight ahead for a long time.

Bartolomeo has caught on to the fact that Law is spending his nights in that cabin, too.

He follows Law around, and it makes Luffy laugh, makes Zoro grin. All the Strawhats on the ship, really. Law grits his teeth, and ignores the ship's captain. Bartolomeo gets distracted, anyway, trying to steer the ship through the New World's various hazards.

It's hailing out on the deck, and Law's shirt is sticky because he's always keeping it on at night.

The shower is small, and the soap smells weird. Law's hands are perfunctory as he washes himself, and he finishes before the hot water runs out. He bundles his used clothes together, slings the towel around his waist, and heads to the cabin.

He finds Luffy napping on the bed, the covers a mess around him, sandals still on his feet. Law realizes, with the weather outside the way it is, that perhaps he should have been prepared for this.

Luffy chooses to snort himself awake as Law is considering his options, dripping on the floor.

Luffy blinks up at him. "Hey Torao," he mumbles. Buries his face back in the pillow.

Law regards him for several moments before putting his dirty clothes down and grabbing a pair of clean underwear.

The good news, at least, is that he has managed to get the underwear on before Luffy's hand stretches out and tugs him over. Law trips over his own feet, landing wrong on the edge of the bed. He hisses, sharp, and Luffy lifts his head. "Oh," Luffy mutters. "Sorry." His hand moves to soothe Law's hip, where the bone juts out past the hem of his boxer-briefs.

Law's skin, warm and damp from the shower, does something confusing, flushing hotter even as his sweat runs suddenly cold.

Luffy, oblivious, firms his hand on Law's hip, maneuvering him closer. "It's gross outside," he complains. "Let's nap."

Law puts his hand on Luffy's arm to get him to hold still. "Strawhat-ya, I'm not wearing anything."

Luffy blinks at him. "Yeah you are."

"Are you—" Law licks his lips. The calluses on his hand, from Kikoku, are rough against the smooth skin of Luffy's arm. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Luffy comes all the way awake and sits up. "Are you okay?" he asks seriously.

"I'm the one asking you that," Law evades.

Luffy doesn't buy it. "I'm fine," he dismisses. "I just want you to be happy."

Law regards him, wordless.

Luffy takes Law's hand off his arm and places his own hands high on Law's bare chest, almost on his shoulders, over his collarbones, where Law's tattoo flares. "Would you like it?" he asks.

Spit is pooling in Law's mouth, too sweet. He swallows.

He wants to lie. He should lie.

Luffy is staring at him, eyes dark, hands hot and dry where they're on Law.

"Yes," Law breathes.

Luffy's fingers squeeze, pressing into his shoulders. "I'm fine," Luffy repeats. "It's okay. Come here."

Luffy's hands slide down Law's arms, touch steady, leaving roils of shivers in their wake, the hairs standing up on Law's skin, until Luffy takes Law's hands in his own. Tugs.

Law breathes.

He gets all the way on the bed. Luffy, assured that Law will cooperate, takes off his sandals and shrugs out of his shirt. Law freezes, watching Luffy's skin in the rippling light, the skies still raging outside. Luffy's facing away from him, the muscles of his back flexing as he undoes his sash.

Law flexes his fingers on his knees, wishing for things he can't have.

Luffy deposits the sash over the edge of the bed and turns back to Law. He sees something in Law's face, because he says, "Hn? What?"

Law swallows. "It's nothing."

Luffy looks at him silently for a few moments. Then he snickers, "Shishishi. Torao, you're really silly."

And he stretches forward towards Law, scoops him up and against himself, presses their bare chests together, loops his arms around Law in a hug and tips them both onto their sides on the bed. Air lodges thick in Law's throat, searing; his hands spasm, freeze, many inches away from Luffy's back.

"It's okay," Luffy tells Law, mouth against his collarbone, temple tipped against Law's jaw. "I'm all right," he says. "You're all right."

Law feels his lungs swell, Luffy's arms still around him. He can feel his heart pounding where Luffy's chest is pressed against his own.

Luffy's heartbeat is slow, deep, a drumbeat, compelling and calm.

Law flexes his fingers.

When he puts his hands on Luffy's back, the skin between the scars is so smooth, muscles strong underneath.

"Yeah," Luffy sighs against him, going boneless.

Law breathes, breathes. He can't get enough air. He can feel Luffy everywhere, his skin, his warmth.

"Luffy," Law says.

"Mm."

"Luffy, I—" Law licks his lips. Keeps his hands motionless on Luffy's back. "I think this— we—" He swallows several more attempts. "Do you understand what I'm getting out of this?"

"Mm," Luffy says again.

"Luffy."

Luffy runs his cheek against Law's jawline. "Torao, I know. It's okay." Law feels him smile against Law's neck. "If I don't like it I'll tell you." The grin widens, and Law feels teeth. "Did you really think you could do something I didn't like?"

It makes Law laugh, a surprised huff of air.

Luffy hums against him again, and then runs his hands up Law's back, cupping his shoulderblades, as if showing him how.

Law inhales, feeling his torso expand against Luffy's chest, against Luffy's hands, encompassed.

When he moves his hands on Luffy's back, mirroring what Luffy had done to him, he can't understand how there can be so much heat, warmth, so much sensation, coursing from Law's fingertips and Law's palms into Law's body, pooling deep inside him, and Luffy hums against him one more time, a lower sound, pleased.

A groan scrapes out of Law; he can't prevent it.

He feels Luffy's toothy grin against his collarbone again. "Shishishi," Luffy snickers.

Law's fingers dig in a little. "Funny, is it?" he says; he doesn't remember putting that smirk on his own face.

"Yep," Luffy says.

Luffy moves his hands to Law's waist and pushes, a little, separating them; Law lets him go immediately, but all Luffy does is put enough inches between them that he can look Law in the face. He's smiling. "I like it too, you know? It's okay if it's different for you."

Law cautiously puts his hands on Luffy's waist. "You enjoy this?"

Luffy gives him a look. "Torao, I just said that."

Law watches his eyes for a moment, then slides his hands around from Luffy's waist to his back again, trails them up his spine. Luffy buries his face in Law's chest and hums, smiling. Law thinks Luffy would purr, if he could.

Luffy puts his arms around Law again, tangles their thighs together, which Law thinks is maybe not the best idea, but he manages to control himself. He runs his hands along Luffy's back, up and down, as Luffy falls asleep. He stops touching him after that.

The light wavers, in the rain, white lines among Luffy's scars.

"Luffy," Zoro's voice calls through the closed door. Law cranes his head over his shoulder to look.

Luffy mumbles something incomprehensible against Law's chest.

There is a sharp knock. "Luffy, do you want to fight these pirates? We can handle them if you're busy."

Law feels Luffy's eyes snap open. "Fight?" He blinks against Law's skin. "Zoro!"

This is apparently enough invitation for Zoro to open the door and stand in the doorway, leaning one shoulder against the frame, arms crossed and hip cocked. He's stripped down to his pants, which are soaking wet from being outside. Water is dripping down his broad chest, scar stark. He smirks at Law, who, arms around Luffy, does not have a hand free to direct a rude gesture his way, so instead scowls at him.

Luffy, ignoring this byplay entirely, pops his head over Law's shoulder. "Do they look strong?"

"Sure. It's the New World, and it looks like a pretty big fleet."

Luffy whoops, directly in Law's ear, making him flinch, but Luffy is already not so much disentangling them as propelling both himself and Law off the bed in a big bare-limbed knot. Luffy lands on his feet, somehow arranging for Law to do the same, and snaps one hand out to grab Kikoku, hauling Law along with the other.

Zoro grins at Law as they pass him in the doorway. "Nice," he says. "Black suits you."

Law, still only in his underwear, bares his teeth in a smile. "Same to you."

Zoro laughs, following them out.

Usopp goggles a little when Law strides on deck — no more dressed than before, Kikoku bare in one hand — beside the topless Luffy and equally topless Zoro, but has the wherewithal to immediately go back to shooting at the approaching ships. Luffy grabs Law and Zoro each around the waist, grins at them both, and rockets them to the flagship.

It's not a bad fight. The water runs cool along Law's skin even as the adrenaline kicks his temperature up, Kikoku swinging in wide arcs; Zoro's grin is as sharp as his swords, around the hilt in his mouth; Luffy is laughing even as his arm inflates to gigantic size.

After, they're all on the deck of Bartolomeo's ship, chests heaving, soaked to their skins.

Zoro sheathes his swords. "I'm gonna take a shower," he announces, and disappears belowdeck.

Luffy blinks water out of his eyes, slicks his messy hair back, and turns to grin at Law. "Guess it's warm blankets for us!" he says. Law just looks at him for a moment, in the rain, the way it slides on his skin. But then Luffy is turning towards the cabin again.

Law follows.

By the time Law reaches the cabin, Luffy is pulling up dry boxers, hair fluffed ridiculously from being dried with a towel. It's an arresting sight for several reasons, but Law pauses. Battle-fever lingers on Law's skin, his breath still evening out, and he can feel his heart, across the room, beating fast. His boxer-briefs cling, sodden, to his hips. He's dripping onto the floor for the second time that day.

Luffy looks up and turns around, grins at him, and tosses him a towel.

Law catches it, automatic.

Luffy plops himself down on the edge of the bed, eyes bright and alert, framed by his absurd hair. He watches Law. Law watches him.

Luffy's grin grows toothy.

Law can feel an answering smirk tug on his face.

He steps into the room. Closes the door behind him. Puts his hands on the wet hem of his boxer-briefs. His breathing isn't slowing down.

Luffy keeps his eyes on Law's face as the soaked clothing hits the floor. Law is bending down for a fresh pair when Luffy pipes up.

"You're really hung up on that, you know?"

Luffy is looking up at him from below his lashes, teasing.

"Should I not be?"

"Nope." Luffy grins at him again.

Law looks at him for a long moment, then raises the towel. Luffy stares him in the eye as Law dries himself. Law doesn't make a show of it, though he could. It's not a thing Luffy cares about.

"Come here," Luffy orders.

Law feels himself twitch, against his own thigh; feels his skin flush. It isn't out of embarrassment. Law knows his heart is beating fast, in Luffy's chest.

Luffy scoots back on the bed until his back is against the wall. Law climbs on the bed, and Luffy puts his hands on Law, arranges him between Luffy's boxer-clad thighs with his back to Luffy. In the shocky tracks of adrenaline, heat rises in Law's blood, curling upwards, outwards; pooling low.

Luffy's breath on Law's neck sends shivers of sensation down his arms, skidding across his chest, where he can feel Luffy's heart beating, calm and strong, a steady counter-rhythm to Law's shaking inhalations.

Luffy leans his forehead against the back of Law's head and laughs; the exhale stutters down the bones of Law's spine, counting vertebrae. "Your heart is beating so fast."

Law tips his chin up, neck long and sweating, as his hand wanders to his stiffening cock. "Yes," he breathes.

"Shishishi," Luffy snickers behind him. Luffy's arm comes up to drape lazily across Law's chest, and Luffy presses him uninsistently back, until Law's spine is against Luffy's bare chest. Luffy hooks his chin over Law's shoulder.

Law leans a little to the side, so he can look at Luffy's face. Luffy is regarding Law's bare body with interest. Luffy's other hand comes to rest on Law's right bicep, over the snarl of scar tissue, and Law's hand tightens around himself. Luffy sees him do it. "Does that feel good?" Luffy asks.

"Yes," Law replies steadily. "Have you never tried it?"

"Nah." Luffy closes his eyes and runs his cheek against Law's. The sweep of Luffy's jaw is smooth against Law's stubble, reminding Law of being with women if not for the solidity of Luffy's chest behind him, and Law tips his head back against Luffy's shoulder, letting himself get lost in the pure sybaritic pleasure of it, Luffy warm and bony against his back, around him, Law's hand on his own cock moving in languorous strokes. Luffy hums approval, the noise resonating in his chest, where Law can feel the rough edges of Luffy's scar against his back; the hum melts into Law's bones, a low, pure note that echoes counterpoint to the slow heat building in Law's veins, spreading from where he touches himself, from where Luffy's fingers rest easily on Law's right arm, dry and sure. Luffy's other arm, draped across Law's chest, moves, a lazy sprawl of fingers sliding through the sheen of sweat to trace lightly across Law's collarbones before Luffy flattens his palm there, at Law's suprasternal notch. There's no teasing to it, Luffy's breath calm and steady behind him; only a sort of quiet claiming that Law's body responds to on a level beyond Law's control, breath hitching. And then Luffy's hand drifts upward to Law's neck, palm and fingers a half-circumference, carotid to carotid, continuing his silent exploration with no threat behind the gesture, but Law stops breathing, mouth opening, losing himself to a dark spiral of helpless desire when Luffy pauses with his fingertips just brushing Law's jawline. "Hm?" Luffy's absent hum sharpens into half-articulation; Law can feel Luffy's lashes against his temple, blinking in curiosity. "Your heart..."

Law grips his cock at the root, breathing, breathing. Licks his lips. "Stay there," he manages.

"Why?"

Law just about curses him out loud, but Luffy obligingly keeps his hand at Law's throat, pressure light and steady as before, fingers spreading slightly.

Law licks his lips again. "Because I like it."

"Shishishi." Luffy's shoulders shake under Law's head. It ruins the perilous headiness of the moment, breaks the desperate fantasy of danger, and it is just Law draped against a boxer-clad Luffy, Law's hand on himself and Luffy's hand harmless against Law's neck. Law frowns, feeling abruptly foolish. He feels Luffy's grin against his cheek. "You like a lot of things," Luffy says.

"No I don't."

Luffy's giggles stop, go still, and suddenly Luffy's hand on his throat is not light at all but firm, sure, fingers slotting into the hollows under Law's jawbone and tightening, closing, dancing on the edge of danger, and Law's breath punches out of him, his right hand jerking tight around his cock and the fingers of his left hand digging into Luffy's thigh. "Mm," Luffy hums firmly against his ear. "Yes you do," Luffy tells him, and Law dizzily remembers that his is a will that can move mountains. And through it all Luffy's heart beats in Law's chest: steady, slow. Law swallows, feels his Adam's apple move under Luffy's hand, Law's bones melting with a helpless heat.

Luffy tips his head against Law's temple; Law feels Luffy's lashes sweep closed. Luffy heaves a contented sigh, and the sudden closeness of the air eases, the edge of haki melting away. "I don't mind," Luffy says easily. His hand moves off Law's throat; Law gasps in a shuddering inhale even though Luffy had done nothing to actually hamper his breathing. Luffy's hand comes to rest on the perfect square of off-coloured skin, off-center, where Luffy's heart beats in Law's chest. His palm presses lightly, and Law can feel, against his left shoulderblade, the frantic tattoo of Law's own heart where he rests against Luffy's chest. Law's hands move, unbidden, right hand faster on himself, twisting at the tip; left hand rising to press against Luffy's on his chest, press them closer together, press until Law finds his fingers slotting between Luffy's. Law has seen specimens pinned for display, for study, splayed open; he feels like that, something shaking through him from where he clutches Luffy's hand against Luffy's heart, straight through Law's body to where Law's heart thuds against Law's back.

Luffy's other hand drifts off Law's arm and comes to rest on Law's hip, and even though Law knows Luffy won't do anything, won't take it further, he finds his heels digging hard into the sheets, pressing him back against Luffy, harder, closer, right hand working fast, electricity shooting across his skin with each stroke. And Luffy's breath is calm in Law's hair, Luffy's heart slow in Law's chest, grounding him, a weird disjointed here-and-now awareness of himself, of Luffy, not letting Law lose himself in the sensation but feeling Luffy living this moment with him, closer than blood, closer than breath. Law is panting, head thrown back over Luffy's shoulder, and Luffy rubs his cheek artlessly against Law's sweating face again. "You look nice," Luffy says, too loud, in Law's ear. Law huffs a helpless laugh, unable to muster annoyance at Luffy's utter inability to do anything resembling dirty talk, shying away from the way the comment settles, warm and small, in some part of himself that is dark and hollow, a place he does not like to look. "Here," Luffy continues, disentangling their joined hands, leaving Law suddenly adrift in a sea of sensation before Luffy presses Law's hand back where it had been, against where Luffy's heart still beats, steady and slow and sure.

And then Luffy slots his hand up under Law's jaw again, against where his neck stretches long and vulnerable, and the darkness behind Law's closed eyes thickens, roils, turns inward, Law's back arching off Luffy's chest, muscles tensing helplessly as Law comes.

He loses a few moments, then. He finds himself having slid down significantly, kind of bonelessly pooling in Luffy's lap, stomach and hand a mess. Luffy blinks down at him, hands harmless and innocent on Law's side and shoulder.

Luffy grins. "I told you. You like a lot of things."

Law can't find it in himself to argue.

Dinner with the Barto Club has turned out to be maybe an even more chaotic affair than meals with the Strawhats. They all take turns cooking, and they're all terrible at it; there's not enough room for them all in the galley; and they all drink too much.

Luffy is given pride of place at the actual table, and Law finds himself seated next to him. The Strawhats crowd around them. Tonight's chef is particularly unfortunate, and Law stares at the food heaped haphazardly in the middle of the table, buffet style. There's something that looks like couscous (burned), which Law can't have. Apparently realizing the couscous would receive a mixed reception, today's cook also made pasta (with sauce), which Law can't have. The drink is beer, which Law can't have.

Law stares down at his plate.

Zoro, seated on Law's other side, tips his chin against one hand, frowning around at the food. He leans behind Law, looking across at Luffy; catching this, Luffy leans back too, and Law doesn't make out what passes between them, behind Law's back, but when Zoro rights himself, he picks up Law's plate and takes it away from him.

Law starts to say something, but Luffy slings an arm around his shoulder, distracting him, and by the time Law's eyes find his plate again, Zoro has passed it to Robin, who is heaping carefully selected vegetables on it from a haphazard salad Law didn't even see, on the other side of the table. Usopp's chair scapes back, and Law hears him negotiating something with the Barto Club. Franky looks thoughtful for a minute, then gets up too, digging in the refrigerator.

Law stares around.

He hears the sizzle of frying behind him, and then, of all things, Franky sits back down with a tall glass in hand and shoves a bunch of things Law can't see into a compartment in his stomach, which starts buzzing at a high pitch.

Law's head swivels around, trying to follow all the Strawhats, but then they're all sitting down around him again.

Robin passes the plate to Usopp, who deposits a fried egg, sunny side up and looking runny, on the plate next to a decidedly more intentional-looking mix of vegetables. Franky pours something thick, of indeterminate colour, into the glass he'd gotten and puts it in front of Law, who realizes it's a smoothie.

Law stares around at them. They've all gone back to calmly eating, except for Franky, who catches his eye and tosses him a cola. Law catches it automatically.

Zoro leans into the corner of Law's vision, cheek propped against one fist, and smirks at him.

Law wants to say something, but then Luffy squeezes him with the arm that's around Law's shoulder, and Law turns to face him.

Luffy is offering him a cut of the meat Bartolomeo had reserved for him.

Law swallows.

No one says anything.

Law is very aware of his hands when he picks up his utensils.

When he stands back up with the rest of the Strawhats, he is full of mismatched food.

And full of something warm, spreading through him, so much gentler than he knows what to do with.

Luffy takes him to bed.

Law finally sleeps.

He has the nightmare again. Doflamingo is controlling him, fingers framing Law's face from behind, and it is Law's hand on the trigger, flintlock flare sharp for an endless second before the bullet hits Corazón in the heart, Corazón staring up at Law.

Law wakes, gasping, to find Luffy's arms wrapped all the way around him and Luffy saying in his ear, "Hey, I'm here, it's okay, it's not real."

Law shudders, sweat cold on his skin; locks his hands against his own mouth, swallowing the noises that want to jerk out of him. He can't stop his shoulders from lurching, almost dislodging Luffy; his knees come up, toes curling, every muscle in his body screaming.

Luffy presses his bare chest against Law's back, scar coarse, boxers rucking up around his waist, and he has the sense not to squeeze Law, loosening his arms instead and running his hand along Law's arm. His callused hands are rough and warm on Law's skin, and Luffy keeps up a litany in his ear, reassurances and nonsense, his breath wet; Law can't understand a word of it.

Until, suddenly, he can: "I'm here, I love you, you're okay," Luffy says, calm, against Law's jaw.

Law's entire body jerks and then he stills, gasping, eyes wide and staring in the night.

Luffy's fingers go still, too. "I do, Torao. I love you."

Law squeezes his eyes shut. "Luffy, you can't," grinds past his gritted teeth.

Luffy puts his left hand on Law's chest, where Luffy's heart is. "Don't tell me what to do."

Law can feel his own heart fluttering against his back, pulse thready and erratic.

"I love you," Luffy repeats. His other hand grips Law's right arm, over the knotted scar. "I want you here. You are good, Torao, and you deserve to be happy and to have good things."

Law can't get any air in past his throat.

"You should feel good. You should be happy. I don't know what's going on in your head, but don't listen to it. Listen to me."

Luffy takes his hand off Law's arm and grips Law's strained hand, brings it up to press against Luffy's lips as he says again, "Listen to me."

Luffy's voice is dead even; Law can feel the press of Luffy's will around them, boundless, encompassing, adamant. Law feels himself falling into it, feels the darkness uncurling from within his chest and reaching up to swallow him. He doesn't want this; he aches for it. He feels so helpless. "Luffy—" he manages. "Luffy— Tell— Tell me what to do."

Luffy is silent for long moments behind him.

Then he presses a kiss, dry, against Law's palm, and places Law's hand against Luffy's left, on Law's chest. Presses their hands together, fingers interlacing, Luffy's heartbeat strong against their joined hands. "Listen to that. Feel that," Luffy says, low in his ear. "That's me. I'm here with you. I want you."

Law shudders. Feels his body react, transmute one kind of helplessness into another. It's alchemic, undeniable. Shame threatens to overwhelm him before Luffy's voice breaks in again: "It's okay. You should feel good. I touch you because I want you. I want you to feel good."

Luffy breathes, steady behind him. Law can't.

"You deserve to feel good."

Law shivers, cold and hot chasing each other across his skin, his right hand a death grip against Luffy's, against where Luffy's heart beats. He can't breathe, caught on the edge, not daring to hope, not daring to move.

"Law," Luffy says in his ear.

Law squeezes his hand.

"Touch yourself," Luffy tells him.

Law gasps air in, searing frost in his lungs, and his left hand is on his cock, and he is so, so hard.

"You shouldn't feel bad. You're all right," Luffy is telling him. "It's okay to feel the way you do. It's okay to be who you are."

Law's left hand spasms, strokes up. He's breathing, breathing, wet gasps and swallows.

Luffy shifts behind him until he gets his right arm around Law, fingers settling on Law's collarbones. "You deserve to be here," Luffy says. "You deserve to be loved," fierce and low in his ear. "You deserve to be alive." Luffy's hand slides up, firm, fingers skidding through sweat. Law squeezes himself. And then Luffy's hand is on Law's neck, pads of his fingers against Law's veins, palm pressed against Law's throat. "Breathe," Luffy orders.

Law heaves in a breath, feels his throat expand under Luffy's hand, jugulars pressing against Luffy's fingertips.

"You are so good. You're going to be amazing," Luffy tells him. Law's left hand moves, twists. "You are strong." Law shakes, heat molten in his veins, his heart fast behind him. "You are not weak. This is not weak." Luffy squeezes him closer, and Law gulps in air, searingly aware of Luffy's hands on him, of his own hand on himself.

"You deserve to have this," Luffy says. And: "I will always love you," Luffy tells him, calm and steady in his ear, and Law comes apart, helpless.

Luffy holds him until Law's skin stops shivering.

Law thinks he should feel dirty. This is not a thing he's let many people see. Definitely nothing like this.

But Luffy's hand slides off his neck, stacks atop Law's hand still squeezing Luffy's against Law's chest. Luffy presses a kiss against Law's shoulder. "It's okay," Luffy tells him. "You're okay." And: "This is real. Right here."

Luffy's heart is so calm, so strong. Law feels his own heartbeat slowing, steadying.

But.

"Luffy," Law says. He is surprised by how even his voice is. "I can't do that for you."

Luffy presses his forehead against Law. "I know," he says.

Law's left hand feels sticky. "Luffy, what are we doing?"

Law can feel Luffy's lips curve against his nape. "I told you. Whatever we want."

Law surprises himself with a chuckle. It turns into a snicker, and then a belly laugh, and he feels so, so helpless again and it is entirely different from before. Luffy nuzzles him, spreads his palm against Law's chest. "I can't," Law gasps, teeth pressed in a manic grin. "Luffy, I can't."

"You don't have to," Luffy tells him. "It's okay." And then Luffy laughs, too, and hugs him, his whole body, knees and elbows and hips and chest. "You get something I don't, I get something you don't. It works out!"

"Strawhat-ya, that makes no sense," Law tells him. He can't stop laughing.

"Who cares?" Luffy says.

Law shakes, warm, encompassed. Known.

He wipes his hand on a distant corner of the sheets. "This is crazy," he says. He takes a breath. "I can do crazy."

"That's right," Luffy says. He puts his nose in Law's hair, which is a sweaty mess. It tickles.

Law feels absurd, and doesn't care. He curls up again, but this time loose, relaxed. Luffy's body follows his, their legs tangling.

"Go to sleep, Torao," Luffy says.

Law does.