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Jinbe looks helplessly at Law while holding up the shivering bodies of Chopper and Luffy, having just fished them out of the ocean seconds prior.
The suspiciously small bodies of Chopper and Luffy.
Law concentrates on keeping the hysteria that comes with the realization at bay.
“Uh…” Brook clears his throat delicately behind Law’s back, as Jinbe looks on with a grimace.
No.
Law turns around to see the remaining Straw Hats squaring off against the skeleton, all looking to be between the age of four and six.
Law pinches the bridge of his nose, and saves his mental breakdown for later. Right now, the remaining three adults on this ship have a lot to do.
---
It should have been a quick battle. The Thousand Sunny was just passing by a small ship peacefully, until those crewmates attacked out of nowhere, and it was all hands on deck in seconds. The guy dressed in colorful garments just shot some weird gas all over board before disappearing completely. Law wasn’t able to give chase, since he was busy yelling at Jinbe to go pick Luffy and Chopper up.
Now here they are.
Law refuses to make eye contact with Jinbe as the man goes to dry off Chopper and Luffy, lest he be talked into assisting as well. Of course, the downside to that cowardice is six kids and one skeleton all panicking in seven different ways.
“Yo… ho ho, I would doubt my eyes with the sight before me, but I don’t have eyes!” Brook laughs, voice cracking in the middle.
It’s only been half a week since he stepped onto this blasted ship, and already Law wants to gouge out his eyes, then walk into the ocean.
He feels his sign deep in his bones, then takes stock of everyone standing in front of him.
Usopp is hiding behind Nami, who surprisingly doesn’t shrug him off right away. Her shoulders are slouched in a seemingly relaxed manner, even though her fists are trembling slightly and her body is leaning into Usopp as well. In contrast, Robin’s fear is shown plainly on her face, shoulders hunched up, hands bunched into her too large blue dress. Franky is standing stock still, looking at everyone worriedly. Sanji and Zoro are shielding them all, with the former worriedly clutching something that’s not there on his head and the latter scowling, ready to throw hands with just about anyone.
“You better tell us where we are right now!” Zoro barks out, always headfirst into any dangerous situation.
“Well, you see…” Brook hesitantly speaks up.
Nami shrieks, while Usopp downright wails, “It still talks!”
Law doesn’t know these people, and he almost weeps when Jinbe appears in the doorway, holding a bundle of clothes.
“Where do you even get that?” he frowns.
“From an incident with a bandit of kids,” Jinbe solemnly says, and Law just nods. He doesn’t want to know.
Jinbe puts the clothes in the middle of the deck, then the three immediately turn the other way. It would certainly make the kids less shaken of them if they are not hanging on to their oversized clothes right now.
Law, once again, miscalculated.
The formation of kids is still the same, now with clothes that somehow fits them perfectly. Jinbe and Brook clearly want to comfort them all, but if they so much as get slightly closer, someone will get bitten and all hell will break loose.
They are kids, facing off adults. What would make them feel like they are on even footing?
Law thinks of the Family. He thinks of wanting to punch Doflamingo in the face, and of arming himself with a bomb. He looks at the anxious look in Zoro’s eyes and immediately realizes the kid isn’t holding any weapons.
He looks around then runs to the far left railing of the deck, not missing the kids flinching, to retrieve the three swords. He returns, then carefully slides them across the floor to Zoro’s feet.
All eyes are on him now, and Law needs to not fuck this up.
He prays for patience, then says in as reassuring a tone as possible, “You are on your own ship and these are your friends. You are kids now because of a Devil Fruit user.”
Nami and Zoro scoff at him.
Right at that moment, the infirmary door bangs open, with Chopper toddling out to hang on Jinbe’s leg, while the slap of sandals being Law’s only warning before Luffy slams into him and keeps on clinging.
“Hi! Who are you? I’m hungry!”
Law signs. This may take all day.
---
Unfortunately, even being fully informed of the situation won’t make the kids act like their older selves. They only settle down a bit, while the distrust is still there.
After a quick Scan, Law estimates that in three days, the Devil Fruit effect will wear off, and everyone will be back to normal.
Jinbe has gone off again to create a makeshift bed for all the kids in the infirmary room. Although technically strangers, they collectively consider themselves part of the same team due to their small size and wouldn’t go anywhere without each other. Brook snickers, while Law is just grateful. This way, none of them would wander off and break their own necks walking down the stairs.
“Is anyone hungry?” Law asks, opening the galley door for the kids.
“I’m starving!” Luffy pipes up then bounces inside, the others following behind at a more wary pace.
It’s best that he cooks right in front of them, or they might think he would drug them somehow.
Law turns to Sanji, “Do you mind helping me cook?”
Sanji’s whole face lights up, eyes sparkling, even though one of his hands is twisting in his hair nervously again, “Can I really?”
“Yes, I can only make basic things, which won’t satisfy these picky monsters,” Law points towards the group, earning him an offended huff from Luffy.
“I’m not picky. I can eat anything you give me,” Luffy helpfully points out.
“Don’t I know it,” Law sighs.
Dinner would have been a quiet and awkward affair if not for Brook playing a small, gentle tune by the counter. At first, the kids are just looking at each other, before Nami tells Luffy to stop blabbering, Usopp stutters at Zoro, who is being held back by Franky. Robin watches all of this with wide eyes, all the while sitting ramrod straight, unmoving.
Law makes an executive decision to scoop up Chopper, then drop him onto Robin’s laps, causing both to yelp.
“Robin-ya, you mind holding onto this raccoon guy for me? He’s the smallest, and I don’t want him to break anything,” Law tells her.
“I’m not a raccoon, stupid!” Chopper yells, before immediately making himself comfortable. Robin looks charmed, hesitantly holding him a bit tighter.
Meal time takes longer than usual, surprisingly because of Sanji. Law has never seen a more enthusiastic and equally clumsy chef before, considering the kid has cut his fingers twice. The food, even with Law’s help, turns out to be slightly burnt and probably too spicy, so he discreetly prepares a tall jug of water for everyone present.
Sanji looks on the verge of tears while insisting quietly, “Can we not serve this to everyone?”
And well, Law isn’t a complete monster. He will mock adult Sanji later.
“Nonsense,” he carefully wraps bandages around the kid’s fingers, then squeezes his shoulder once when there’s a small sniffle. “And everyone will love your food.” This second part he says a bit louder, just so those rascals can hear him.
In that moment, he sounds so like his father that he feels the familiar clench of his lungs. Everytime his mother finished plating the food, father would warn Law against saying anything mean to her attempts.
The kids eat just as loudly as their adult selves, with them quickly rediscovering to look out for Luffy’s lightning fast hands. Franky seems concerned that his captain will somehow faint from starvation, so he tries to put some of his own food onto Luffy’s plate. Law knocks on his hands, and when Franky grins sheepishly at him, “Eat your portion.”
Law then gives half his plate contents to Luffy, who smiles toothily at him as thanks. The kid then proceeds to talk Law’s ears off about everything - how cool this ship is, how amazing the flag looks, what can they all do after dinner, how hungry he is, are you going to eat that? Law is slightly alarmed that he’s listening to it all. He then feels someone lightly kicking his legs.
“Um,” Sanji fidgets. “Do you like it?”
Law doesn’t know how to be extravagant with his praises like Brook, or heartfelt like Jinbe; he can only ever act like himself. He puts his elbows on the table, lays his chin on his stifled hands and talks as if he is giving orders to Shachi, “This is delicious. Thank you for cooking it.”
Sanji giggles softly between his tiny, bandaged hands. “You’re welcome!”
Bandaged fingers. Small smiles. A slightly burnt meal.
Dig in, everyone! I tried a new recipe today.
Law digs in.
---
When it's time to clear the table, Law loudly volunteers to do the dishes, leaving Jinbe and Brook to entertain their own crew.
“I will be showing them their own space, to see if they want to play around there,” Jinbe chuckles, not unlike an amused grandpa.
“Who knows, maybe it can speed up their recovery,” Brook sing-songs as he dances his way out of the kitchen.
Left alone to the plethora of dishes and bowls, Laws takes the rags and resists the urge to strangle himself with it. He’s technically a guest here, a captain to another ship, and here he is, playing house and babysitting for another crew.
There’s a war waiting for them, and Dressrosa is days away. His nights are plagued with Doflamingo’s laugh and Cora-san’s smile. His days are spent thinking about his crew, safely tucked away in Zou and none the wiser that in a few more days, they may not have a captain anymore.
Everything has been for Flevance, for his family, for Cora-san. It’s the furious, bloodied and frenzied revenge that’s years in the making. It’s the least that they all deserve, that he can give. He thinks about his crew constantly worrying over his foul mood. He thinks about the Straw Hats just now being carefully handled by him. And for one manic moment Law is breathless with rage at himself for somehow treating another crew better than even his own.
All in all, Law doesn’t need this right now.
After a while, Law decides to go hole up in the library. He’s tired, he’s aching, his mind won’t stop screaming. He may need a nap. He can just picture Penguin’s eyes rolling right now. A nap? You? Who are you and what have you done to our captain?
That’s how he finds Nico Robin later, reading by the window. The little girl is not yet well-versed in appearing serene like her older self, and it makes Law slightly uncomfortable. He’s about to retreat into the corner when Robin hesitantly speaks up, “Can you help me reach the book on the top of that shelf?”
Law’s so out of it that only after giving her the book does he realize the problem.
“Why didn’t you use your power?”
Robin widens her eyes, then goes back to her book, “It’s nothing.”
Adults are so much easier to ignore. Law signs and sit down on the opposite side of the table, “I’m only asking once, and I won’t bother you again: why didn’t you use your power? Is there something wrong with it?”
Robin exhales, and she seems to have aged a few more years, “I don’t want anyone to get weirded out by it.”
Law’s thankful that at least, this nonsense is nipped in the bud in her adulthood already. It doesn’t help him right now, but it’s a comforting thought.
“One of my crewmates loves high fives,” what? “He would be delighted to meet you.” what?
Robin thankfully relaxes a bit at that. He doesn’t think he’s mentally stable enough to get laughed at by a kid today.
“Everyone here is so loud,” Robin signs, a look of pure wonder shining in her eyes. “Are they really my friends?”
Law really looks at her then, and sees what she wants to speak out loud. It’s dangerous to be associated with me.
Personally, he doesn’t think he would ever risk his neck that much to protect someone like her. But that’s what makes Luffy and him different. There’s a blazing heart bending the world to its will existing in Luffy, while all Law has are dead hearts on his skin from a dear but ultimately still dead person.
“Your crewmates are beasts. That grinning, starving idiot at dinner back there? He burned down the Government’s flag,” he smiles widely. Anything Luffy does seems to awaken something uncontrollable in him. “He declared war on the World Government for you.”
He wishes he could relive the day he saw that news again, to once more feel the shiver running down his spine and the mad satisfaction bursting from his chest cavity.
Robin squirms a bit in her seat, hopeful and incredulous. But that’s alright. She has come to believe it in the end after all.
He’s jerked out of his thoughts by Franky opening the door, “Robin… Oh! And Torao!”
“Don’t call me that.”
Franky sits then looks down at the table, “Why are you reading about divination?”
Only now does Law realize the topic Robin is reading up on, and finds himself ever slightly stiffen up.
“Divination played a crucial role in ancient society, shaping the decisions of emperors, rulers, and even common individuals,” Robin shows Franky the book excitedly. “It’s fascinating. Do you believe in it?”
“It sounds super! But I don’t know. I have never tried it before.”
“What about you, Torao?”
Now they are both looking at him. And he can feel his throat tightening.
Once, just once, when the nauseating pain twisted inside his ribcage a bit too deep on a winter island, Law had stopped at a divination stall on the side of the streets.
“If she had been alive, what would she be doing now?” he asked, thinking of Lami coughing against his shoulder.
“She would go on to become a doctor,” the woman declared, eyes never leaving the cards in front of her.
The pain didn’t go away. Law remembers thinking that siblings aren’t supposed to outlive each other.
He blinks slowly, and intones mildly, “If it helps you in any way, then it’s real. Personally, I would like to trust it.” He doesn’t believe in the afterlife, but he wants there to be one so badly, because this can’t be it for her.
Maybe kids can read minds after all, since suddenly Law finds his arms full of a bony and quiet Robin, with Franky standing to his side, patting his shoulders.
Whenever someone touches him, he feels all his muscles lock up and his breath catch in his throat. Now he feels boneless, grudgingly melting like ocean ice against the Polar Tang’s window, succumbing to the warmth within, from a crystalline solid turning into rivulets of water that slid down the glass. He gently, keep steady Law, holds her against his heart where the pain is slowly trickling in, and imagines he’s hugging a brown-haired little girl in his city of white instead.
---
“Well, this is just adorable,” Jinbe proudly rumbles. It’s like the man has always wanted to have grandchildren of his own.
The sterile feel in the sickbay disappears under the soft, golden string lights peppering across the walls above a mountain of blankets on the ground, with every kid already nodding off a bit and accounted for.
“Why does a pirate ship even have string lights?” Law wonders aloud.
“Franky made a bunch of them for Chopper and Robin,” Brook laughs slightly.
The kids didn’t even stir at the sound. Whatever they did after dinner seems to have warmed everyone up significantly to Jinbe and Brook.
“Some of them seem fond of you too,” Brook tuts at him, which makes Law scowl back.
He has this weird feeling that even Jinbe and Brook have warmed up to him too, considering they are asking him to guard the kids room for the night.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Law murmurs.
“I will be busy steering. Tomorrow we will stop at an island first, before continuing on towards Dressrosa,” Jinbe reminds him, like he wasn’t there when they discussed the next move. “Brook will be on the crow’s nest. You can perhaps switch with him after the first shift?”
Law needs to be a grownup about this, since Jinbe is the perfect picture of cordiality, “Fine.”
And now here he is, leaning against the railing outside the kids' room, feeling indignant but unable to find a legitimate reason to object.
The moon is a crescent tonight. Law leans back to look at it, twisting the cord around Kikoku, and thinks of the nun lady who used to teach him back at school.
The crescent moon symbolizes change. It reminds us that life is always evolving and that moments of clarity can come unexpectedly.
It’s been years, and he can’t remember her face clearly. At least he has this memory, vague and meaningless, another connection to another day in Flevance.
He still hoards it all though; like the coins he finds every other month during his time with his crew. They are something to be shined, to be kept safe, even if he can’t bear to look at them for too long.
There’s some worried mutterings from the kids room, and Law immediately stands up to open the door.
“What happened?” He demands, wincing when everyone whips around at his entrance.
“Nami and Sanji had a nightmare!” Usopp pipes up then yelps when Sanji glares at him.
“That’s it?” Law blurts out, like a fool.
“None of your business!” Nami snaps, blushing furiously, fingers keep scratching her ankles.
Phantom pain, Law realizes, his stomach sinking at the thought of why a kid would even experience it.
While usually refers to pain felt in a body part that has been amputated, similar sensations could occur in the area where the shackles were if the body has adapted to the constant pressure and constriction.
Law’s father has spoken softly to him, while giving treatments to a recently freed slave.
He thinks of the haunted look in Jean Bart’s eyes and recalls how the crew huddled close on the deck after a particularly rough night, laughing into each other’s hands and knocking back bottles of booze. The restock trip afterward had been downright horrendous.
If he gives them booze now and be done with it, he will surely be thrown overboard.
Law opens a Room and Shambles a tray of ice cubes into his palm. “When you start to feel anxious, put one of these in your mouth. The cold will help calm your nervous system, and as the ice melts, it’ll aid in hydration too.”
He meant this for Sanji and Nami, but everyone scrambles to try one. He’s pretty sure Luffy just doesn’t want to miss out on any group activity. Nami curls into herself a bit, before huffing then gets one too. Her eyes widen after it presumably takes effect.
“Thanks,” she mumbles.
“Don’t worry about it,” he drawls before thinking, fuck it, and slowly pulls her into a side hug. “Your friends are here for you. If you need their help, just holler at them or something.”
He feels like a hypocrite reciting Bepo’s words, but her eyes shine like he just uttered some life-changing words, and that’s all that matters. He’s just about to stand up when Luffy sprawls across his laps and elects to not budge at all.
“Stay with us, Torao!” he chirps, beaming up at Law.
“Luffy-ya, everyone would feel safer if I’m not…,” he trails off when Franky, Sanji and Chopper lean into his sides. He can choose to submit to Luffy’s whim, or be a dickhead and shrugs these kids off.
What has my life become? He laments, while settling more comfortably between walls of blankets.
Nami and Usopp settle against his knees, and he has to hug everyone more firmly or else they will roll right off. Robin fidgets behind him, and with no more arms to spare, he simply leans back next to her and lets her snuggle into his hair.
He makes eye contact with Zoro, who sits not far from them, hugging his swords. The kid is tense, clearly waiting for something. Law is tempted to urge him to sleep but reconsiders. He understands the need to watch over those he cares about, and guarding them with his sword tends to bring him more peace than any sleep possibly could.
“Will you watch over us?” Law whispers.
Zoro’s eyes widen, shoulders relaxing, then gives a firm nod.
“You sleep,” the little swordsman insists, and Law does.
---
Brook’s gaze is boring into the side of his head, and he digs into his breakfast harder .
“Did you sleep well last night?” Brook cackles, before Law Shambles him out into the deck.
He pokes his head in the door again, “Jinbe said an island is in sight, so everyone gets ready to stretch your legs on land while we go restock.”
Everyone cheers, while Law’s stress skyrockets. Not only is it a winter island, they are about to wrangle kids in an open space. Brook will take Sanji and Zoro to the supermarket, Jinbe will take Franky, Usopp and Nami to go find some maps and gears for the workshop. Law will take Chopper, Robin and Luffy to restock on medical supplies.
He drops Chopper on Robin again, before taking her and Luffy’s hands. If he loses sight of one child he will surely never hear the end of it.
After letting Chopper run around happily and get all the things he needs, Law is about to walk them back when Robin tugs on his hand while frowning.
“What’s wrong?” he immediately drops down to look at her.
“Torao needs to relax,” Luffy cackles by his side, but wisely shuts it when glared at.
Robin rubs her hands together, and Law signs, “If you don’t tell me what the problem is, I can’t fix it, Robin-ya.”
“I want to look for books before going back,” she blurts out.
“Alright,” he can feel himself smiling faintly at her. “I happen to like books as well. Let’s go then.”
Robin brightens up, then grabs at his hand to swing happily. She then looks downright giddy when they finally manage to go into a small bookstore at the end of the street.
He waves at her, “Go wild.” And off she goes.
He looks down at the little captain, who is picking his nose, “Stop that.”
“This is boring,” Luffy pouts up at him. “I’m hungry.”
“This will only take a few minutes,” Law says, pointing at Robin, who is discussing books with the seller. “When you get back, I’ll work with Sanji to bring you as much food as you want, okay? Please stop picking your nose.”
Luffy beams at him, “You are so nice, Torao!”
“I’m really not.”
Luffy laughs at him, and Law smiles helplessly back. Robin then trudges up to them, both hands holding books, with Chopper hanging off her back.
“Ready to go?” she nods excitedly.
As soon as they exit the store, Law sees Vergo and Caesar from across the street.
Fuck.
He’s about to Shamble everyone, before ducking down to cover Robin, Chopper and Luffy’s faces right when Caesar’s trademark poison permeates the air.
He coughs, then yells, “RUN TOWARDS THE DOCK! I WILL DEAL WITH THEM!”
Luffy looks indignant, while Robin looks stricken with fear and a bone-deep resignation, as if she has had to leave someone behind before. Chopper clings tightly to her back, whimpering.
Law shoves them out of the way and swings Kikoku up just in time to block Vergo’s bamboo attack. He doesn’t need Scan to know that the poison is spreading rapidly through his veins.
Law doesn’t know what it is with winter islands, but he always ends up hurt on them.
He hears Luffy running towards him and feels panic rising. He opens a vast Room that envelops the entire street and the dock, then Shambles the three kids to a safe distance by the water.
The kids disappear, but not before they see Vergo land a crushing blow to Law’s side, sending him crashing into the wall. Before Law can recover, Caesar unleashes a cloud of explosive gas at him, making him roll out of the way before doubling over from the ringing in his ears.
His Room falls, but not before Law manages to decapitate the clown.
He had hoped to leave these two behind in Punk Hazard. But now, the situation presents an opportunity. He had wanted Caesar’s head after all.
Vergo advances, his haki-infused strikes relentless and powerful.
“I knew a brat like you would one day betray Doffy,” he sneers, blocking Law’s strike again. “But you just had to side with his deadbeat brother too? How disgraceful.”
Law sees red, then slices open Vergo’s abdomen.
“Keep his name out of your goddamn mouth,” Law hisses, before collapsing as he realizes two of his ribs are broken.
He’s about to land the killing blow when Monet suddenly touches down and kicks him away.
“You need to get the hell out of my way,” Law snarls, hackles rising at her calm smile.
“Come on, is that any way to talk to…” she trails off, looking up at the approaching footsteps.
Flowers suddenly bloom beneath them, and hands sprout up to wrap around Law’s body, pulling him towards the sound. Everything happens so fast that Law feels lightheaded.
He looks up to see the grim lines on the face of a much older Nico Robin, “We’re here now,” she says. “Leave this to us.”
He’s about to agree when he snaps back to his senses. Her gentle tone grates at him; the last day or so of turmoil and pain and stress tightens around his lungs, choking him up, wringing him dry. Law grips Kikoku until his knuckles turn white, angry and mortified. He might have gone down easily back there, but he can still fight.
Warm rubbery palms cradle his cheeks and turn his face to look into the eyes of a very angry Luffy, “Torao, rest.”
From afar, Vergo is getting up again. Room has disappeared, and Caesar is reassembling himself. Monet’s assessing gaze shifts to the fast-approaching Zoro.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Law spits, before everything fades to black.
---
Law wakes to the sound of Chopper puttering around the infirmary. All things considered, the fact he fainted at all is deeply embarrassing.
Law is contemplating jumping out of the window when Chopper catches his eyes and yelps, “You’re awake!”
Law tries to sit up before falling down again, feeling floaty as all hell, “What the… why?”
Chopper nods at his unspoken question, “I gave you a lot of medicine to neutralize the poison inside your vein, and they’re all gone now so don’t exert yourself with Room. Your body is under a lot of strain though, so you will feel sluggish the rest of the day.”
“So I might as well sleep?” he drawls, weirdly worn out.
“Yes,” the little doctor nods seriously, and he doesn’t have the heart to snap at those worried eyes, “I will ask Sanji to make you something.”
“No need…” and the reindeer is gone.
There’s a snort on his right, and Law startles badly. He’s so out of it he doesn’t notice Zoro’s presence at all.
“Calm your ass down,” Zoro smirks, eye twinkling. “It’s just my turn to watch over you.”
So they do remember what happened the day before when they were kids after all. Law’s so shit out of luck it’s not even funny.
“I’m awake now, so can you not?”
“Nah.”
Law wants those little kids back, and feels slightly hysterical at the thought.
He's about to tell Zoro to piss off when Sanji steps into the room, gracefully holding a tray full of soup and glasses of water. He looks Law over, signing in relief, “Eat something then rest up, will you? Luffy asked for a party tonight, so you only have a few hours left.”
The Straw Hats love to party, so it’s not surprising. Law is in the middle of sitting up when Sanji clears his throat again, “Thanks.”
“For what? It’s me who should be thanking you for the food,” Law frowns.
Sanji chuckles while Zoro snorts, “No, thanks for taking care of us, making us feel safe. You didn’t really have to do all that.”
Law can feel a blush blooming on his face, and he needs a distraction right now, “It’s nothing. Thanks for not burning the food this time.”
Zoro guffaws, while Sanji just peers at him. Worry then exasperation flashes across his face, but he looks as if he’s finally seeing Law for the first time.
He then huffs, “Stop being an asshole and eat your soup.”
---
By the time Law walks out onto the deck, the party’s been in full swing. Brook is playing a festive tune to a whirlwind of a dance between Franky and Robin, both grinning breathlessly. Zoro is clinking bottles with Jinbe. Sanji is fixing some ice cream onto a cup for Chopper, occasionally interrupting Usopp’s tirade with more food and drinks. They all stop to holler and smile at Law, before promptly going back to partying. Law is profoundly grateful.
He stops by Caesar’s head, smirking.
Caesar is furious, “If you think you can do whatever you want in Dressrosa, you are dead wrong. Doffy will destroy you.”
Nami passes by and punches right in the clown’s nose. She then proceeds to pull him to sit down with everyone, winking, “You need some drinks in you.”
Law will not say no to some numbing booze right now. He has just got his hands on a cup when Luffy jumps down next to him and gives him an enthusiastic hug.
“Torao! I’m so glad you woke up!”
Law feels flushed and unbalanced as always when he’s right next to Luffy, “Be careful with my bandage, Luffy-ya, or I won’t be able to fight when we reach Dressrosa.”
“Hear, hear,” Nami raises her own tankard while tapping to the beats of Brook’s song.
Law looks back to see Luffy’s already staring at him, eyes reflecting the string lights above them like molten lava, smile deep and quite yet no less blinding when he whispers so softly Law has to lean in, “Thank you for looking after them.”
Law inclines his head tiredly at Luffy. He feels wrung out and hot all over.
“I will do my best to be there for Torao too,” Luffy keeps on talking in the kind of voice that makes Law feels like he’s on a summer island.
He then feels like he's been doused in a bucket of cold water. It doesn’t matter if he’s deeply fond of their younger versions, or if he has seemingly gotten closer to them in a matter of days, or if he has helped them or they have helped him in return. The fact remains that Law is including them in his own personal revenge, and while he might be ready to die for it, he doesn’t want them to go down with him.
“Torao.”
Palms cradle his face again, thumbs wipe across his eye bags, searing warmth back into his skin. Luffy’s forehead touches his gently, small puffs of breath that smell like hearty roasted meat fan across their shared space, eyes as dark as fine liquor. His mind goes quiet, while his heart feels full.
“If there’s anything on your mind, say so,” he implores.
The noises around them come to a halt. Brook and Jinbe stare intently. Robin and Franky look on worriedly. Chopper fidgets, while Sanji stubs out his cigarette. Usopp takes a fortifying gulp from his cup. Zoro straightens up from his slouch, ready for anything.
Over Luffy’s shoulder, Nami looks back at him, a freed bird to a still caged one.
“We are here to help.”
He thinks about his parents, hugging tightly, hands clasping to never be separated.
He thinks about his teacher and classmates, lifeless and unmoving, yet shielding him to safety.
He thinks about Lami and Cora-san. He thinks about a silent closet, and a silent chest.
Throughout it all, there was an expanse of white, limitless and haunting.
Law takes a deep breath.
“Has anyone heard of Flevance?”