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Chapter Text

"We should get married," Luffy says in the middle of dinner, two days into Law's stay on the Sunny and too close to Dressrosa for comfort.

Law chokes on his fish.

A hand sprouts out from his shoulder and pats him on the back, only to disperse in a shower of petals as soon as Law has calmed down enough to breathe. Law doesn't even offer a nod of thanks, too busy gaping at Luffy, who has returned to enthusiastically consuming all the meat in front of him.

"What?!"

"Huh?" Luffy looks up from his meat. "Oh, we should get married."

"I heard you the first time, Mugiwara-ya," Law says. "Why?"

Luffy looks at him like Law's the stupid one in this conversation. "Because I want to."

"That's not a reason!"

"Go easy on Torao, Luffy," Usopp, of all people, chimes in. The rest of the Strawhats are observing the conversation with vague interest, looking like it's great entertainment to go with their dinner. Nobody seems all that bothered by their captain proposing to another pirate in front of them. "He's not used to you, yet."

Is this normal?!

Blackleg puffs at his cigarette and deposits another platter of onigiri in front of Law. "We did tell you that your definitions of alliance won't match up."

"Alliance doesn't mean marriage!"

"We're pirates, Torao," Luffy points out, sounding like this is the most reasonable thing in the world. "We can do what we want."

"We. Are. Not. Getting. Married," Law grits out, not quite believing that he actually has to spell this out.

"Why not?" Luffy pouts. "We should! I like Torao and I want to marry him."

Law gapes, speechless.

He glares at Luffy, who seems undeterred. Now thoroughly irritated, Law switches his glare to the rest of the crew, though once again it does not seem to have any effect on anyone other than Usopp.

Nico Robin takes pity on him. She aims a secretive smile his way, but her words stop Luffy in his tracks. "Luffy, I don't think Torao wants to marry you. Perhaps this can be shelved for a later date."

"Oh," Luffy says, now looking dejected. "Okay."

"Wait, that's it?!" Law bursts out.

"I'm not gonna marry you if you don't want it, Torao," Luffy says, though he's obviously pouting. "I still think we should do it."

"Oi, oi, Luffy," Usopp says, looking somehow more stunned by this than by anything else Luffy has said during the conversation. "You aren't giving up, are you?"

"Nah," says Luffy, and goes back to his food. "I'll just make Torao want to marry me."

…

Law can admit feeling a certain kind of… apprehension about what Luffy would do to convince him to accept the marriage, but Luffy continues acting exactly the same. He hangs around Law on Sunny's deck, chattering about nonsensical things and generally not mentioning the marriage thing again. He makes no move that could be interpreted as romantic, does not touch Law more than Law himself finds comfortable. He tries to involve Law in his games with Usopp and Chopper, or afternoon snacks with Nami, Robin and Sanji, and pouts when Law refuses. He pesters Law with questions about his crew and the islands they visited and all the meat they ate during their travels. Stupidly grateful that there are no actual attempts at seduction, Law even answers most of them.

The rest of the Strawhats are not so obliging. Law catches them planning his wedding on the very next morning.

"– no, you're right, Vivi has to come, but how are we going to organize that? She's a princess, she can't exactly attend a pirate wedding –"

"– it can't be a formal ceremony, Luffy would never stand for that. Do you think maybe we should ask Torao about any traditions he wants to include? You know Luffy won't really care."

"Once he's on board with the idea, yeah. We'll have to get his crew too, so Sanji should count them in when he considers supplies –"

"– on the Sunny, of course, where else? If it's a proper pirate wedding, it shouldn't be anywhere else."

"What are you doing?"

Usopp and Nami startle and hastily try to stuff several sheets of paper beneath their empty breakfast plates. Nami rallies when she finally registers that it is only Law at the galley entrance, but Usopp tries to sink into his seat and become one with the wood.

"Planning your wedding," Nami admits without an ounce of shame. "Do you know how much work goes into those things? And how much they cost? We have to have everything ready when Luffy finally talks you into it, because god knows he won't wait."

"We're not getting married!"

Nami sends him a skeptical look. "Yes, you are. Luffy said so." She presents the last sentence with iron-cast certainty, as if Luffy saying it makes it true, and no way around it.

Law grits his teeth and grips his sword, white-knuckled. He suspects this alliance might be called off if he kills two of Luffy's crewmates, but surely dismemberment is still on the table?

"Uhm," Usopp pipes up from where he is half-covering behind the table. "To be fair, Torao, Luffy really wants to marry you. Like, really, really wants to. He was all excited about it last night in the boys' cabin."

"And what," Law says, dangerously, "has that got to do with me?"

Nami and Usopp exchange a glance. Usopp shrugs. "Luffy always gets what he wants. You should hear how he made most of us join."

Law crushes a small spark of curiosity inside of him and scowls. "He doesn't get to tell me what to do. We're equal allies."

The two of them exchange looks once again. They are wearing matching expressions of vague pity. Law feels like he’s missing something.

Usopp sighs, exasperated and more than a little fond. "Yeah, that's the problem. He's not going to tell you to do anything. He's just going to do whatever he wants, and by the time he's done, you'll be seeing it his way."

"So," Nami glares and pointedly reaches for one of the papers to slide it closer, "you should just leave us alone so that we can plan your wedding. I'm not paying more than I absolutely have to and I'll take it out of your pocket if you make me."

Just for that, Law switches her nose with Usopp's. It turns out he needn't have worried about Luffy's reaction; he thinks it's hilarious.

…

The night before they arrive in Dressrosa, Law can't sleep. He leans against the railing of the Sunny, guarding a slumbering Caesar and anxiously observing the sky for lingering clouds. He finds none – Nami is an excellent navigator and took all of his warning about Doflamingo seriously – but it does not lessen the tightness in his chest.

He almost misses Luffy shuffling out of the boys' room, bare feet muffled against the grassy deck. It doesn't look like Law was his reason for waking up, but as soon as Luffy spots him, his face lights up in a grin and he waves.

Law nods back. Trying to ignore him will not work, and Law doesn’t feel up to their usual push and pull tonight.

Luffy ambles closer with no subtlety whatsoever. "Why is Torao up? Are you hungry too?"

"No," Law says, and does not bother to explain more.

"Okay," Luffy nods, like that's all the information he needs and doesn't ask for more. Law is stupidly grateful. "If Torao is going to stay awake, he should come eat with me. It's no good sleeping when you're hungry." Apparently, the explanation was not needed because Luffy simply chose to ignore Law's denial.

"Blackleg-ya is going to kill you," Law says, but follows Luffy into the galley for the lack of better things to do. Standing watch over Caesar would only send his thoughts spiraling further and further. He needs to stay focused for what is to come in the morning.

"Shishishi!" Luffy rummages through the kitchen with easy familiarity and Law realizes this is hardly the first time Luffy got up for a midnight snack. He doesn’t know why the thought surprises him so much. Perhaps it is the quiet serenity of the kitchen at night – it does not match Luffy’s exuberance at all. "Sanji acts grumpy, but he always leaves food for everyone. He's the best cook." As if to prove his words, he fishes out a plate of sandwiches and several rice balls from a cupboard. He deposits the rice balls in front of Law. "This is for Torao. 'Cause you don't like bread."

Law pauses as he is about grab a rice ball. "You remembered?"

"Of course," Luffy nods, mouth already filled with two sandwiches. "Food's important."

"Ah."

They eat in silence, Law too caught up in his own thoughts and Luffy too involved with his food to start a conversation. Inevitably, Law starts to think about tomorrow, about Dressrosa and Doflamingo and a plan that could fall apart at any moment. There are too many moving pieces, too many variables to take all of them into account, and the uncertainty is torturous. Even with the Strawhats taken in consideration, it's a stupid, risky plan, and in any other situation, Law would not have gone through with it.

But this is also the only plan he can think of that guarantees Doflamingo's defeat, be it at the hands of Kaido or the World Government. After tomorrow, Doflamingo will have no way out, and if Law has to sacrifice himself and the Strawhats to achieve his goal, he is ready to burn in hell after everything is done and over with.

This is a revenge over a decade in making. Cora-san deserves no less.

"Torao should stop thinking so much." Law is brought back to present by Luffy's voice. He is surprised to find both of their plates empty, and realizes that he's been out of it for longer than he thought. Luffy is looking at him from the other side of the table, expression unusually serious. It should have looked silly with the crumbs gathering around his mouth, but the only impression Law gets is that Luffy can see through his soul. "Everything is gonna be fine."

Law is suddenly incensed. "How can you be so careless?! We're up against Doflamingo and you don't even know how –" Stopping himself, Law tsks and looks away.

"I know Mingo's strong," Luffy says, calmly. "And I know Torao is scared of him." At that, Law meets his eyes in surprise. Luffy has that undecipherable expression on his face, sitting heavily on his otherwise cheerful mien. "But everything is gonna be fine. We're going to blow up the factory thingy and then we're going to send Mingo flying. Torao shouldn't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid!"

"Then that's fine," Luffy says. "You'll see, Torao. Everything is going to be great."

Law wants to snap at him. Law wants to shake him until he realizes that his blind faith cannot make the world turn like he wants it to. He wants to yell and yell and yell, until Luffy realizes that not everything is sunshine and roses and that people can die and villains can go unpunished. He wants to make it clear that the world is unfair and cruel and that there is no guarantee any of them will survive the next twenty-four hours. He wants Luffy to stop.

But as soon as he opens his mouth, he meets Luffy's gaze, calm and unflappable, as if nothing can touch him. As if he is speaking an indisputable truth of the universe, something that cannot be denied or broken. The words get stuck in Law's throat.

He remembers, suddenly, Marineford. He remembers Amazon Lily, and the furious, raging, grieving creature that bears almost no resemblance to the man sitting across from him. Law, of all people, knows that Luffy is intimately familiar with loss and grief and that ripping, heart-stopping pain when you find something integral to your life missing.

Luffy knows, intimately, that wishing something does not make it true, but he still stares Law straight into his eyes and says with calm confidence that everything is going to be okay.

Inexplicably, Law feels himself relax.

…

If he is going to lose here anyway, says Law in Dressrosa, armless and half-dead, watching Luffy stand against Doflamingo with a desperate sort of hope that he hasn't felt in years, then I ought to be killed along with him.

Nico Robin is kind enough not to comment.

…

After, when Doflamingo is down and they're safely tucked away in Kyros' house, Law jerks awake, only to see everybody else dead to the world. He's disoriented for a few second, the pain in every part of his body taking his attention away from the surroundings. When the events of the last day finally catch up to him like an avalanche, he drags himself up, ignoring the sudden stabbing pain in his chest and arm. Mindless of the bodies piled up around him, Law scrambles towards the only bed in the room and grabs Luffy's arm, fingers settling over his wrist.

Da-dum, goes Luffy's heart, slow and steady, and Law sags in relief. Da-dum, and Law allows his forehead to rest against the bedframe for only a brief moment.

The moment passes. Law gathers what little strength he has to stand up and check Luffy over. He knows that not one person in the whole country would have allowed Luffy's wounds to be left untreated, but Tony-ya is not here and there is no other doctor with his skills close-by. Methodically, he goes over every single wound littering Luffy's body, checking the bandages and re-checking the treatment, until he is sure that everything will hold until the morning. His shoulder flares with every movement, but he grits his teeth and forces his hands to remain steady. He cannot allow Luffy to get even more injured because of Law fumbling around with his wounds, not now when Doflamingo is no more.

Doflamingo is no more.

The reality of the situation crashes through his brain like an unstoppable flood now that he allows himself to think of it. Doflamingo has been beaten. He is going to Impel Down, never to see the light of the day again. Law's personal monster, Cora-san's killer, has been defeated so thoroughly that he will spend the rest of his life in a tiny cell, tortured by the loss of everything he's ever built. This was everything Law has ever wanted for the last thirteen years, and something he's never planned to live long enough to see.

He can't quite stop himself from trembling as the enormity of it all finally dawns on him.

He's done with his revenge. For more than a decade, the thought of Doflamingo's defeat was the one thing that spurred Law on, the one thing he could barely hope to achieve. Everything he's been doing since that terrible day on Minion Island has been in the service of avenging Cora-san. And now…

Law has no idea what he should be doing now, when everything is over. He did not think he'd live this long.

He is brought from his thoughts by a hand suddenly gripping his forearm. Warm and callused, the fingers wrap against his skin and squeeze until Law opens his eyes – when had he even closed them? – and looks down. Luffy stares at him unblinkingly, not backing away from Law's wild gaze.

"Torao should stop thinking."

"Mugiwara-ya–"

"Mingo's gone," Luffy says, in that simple way of his. "So Torao should stop worrying and go to sleep."

"I can't." Law is shaking too much, his mind abuzz. He won't be able to fall asleep, not now, not with the thought of Doflamingo's defeat so fresh on his mind.

Luffy nods. "I get it," he says and he sounds like he really does, like he understands everything that is happening inside of Law's brain. For once, Law is too tired to mind. He has just enough energy to notice that Luffy is screwing his face up in a way that means he is deep in thought. "I know! I'll get Torao to sleep!" With that, Luffy unceremoniously yanks at Law's hand with more strength than anyone with that kind of injuries should ever have, and Law topples over him, right into the bed.

Law yelps, and then closes his eyes, praying that nobody got woken up by the commotion, because this is just embarrassing. He's laying half-sprawled on top of Luffy – a part of his brain notes that this probably does nothing good to Luffy's injuries – but the man himself does not seem to mind and happily pulls him even closer until they're side-by-side on the narrow mattress.

"Mugiwara-ya! What–!"

"Torao should sleep," Luffy says, self-assured, and buries his head between Law's neck and shoulder. Law freezes. "Mingo's gone and everyone's safe, so Torao can stop worrying. And if Torao can't, then he can just sleep here until he stops worrying anyway."

Law grits his teeth. "That does not make any sense!" he hisses, but Luffy's already conked out and starts snoring right into Law's ear.

It should be uncomfortable. Law should hate this – he doesn't like people touching him without permission and does not usually permit anyone other than Bepo and, sometimes, the rest of his crew this close. But Luffy is warm and solid at his side and he's proven time and again that he would never hurt Law – that he would do his best to defend him, in fact. Luffy would stand between Law and any treat, be it Doflamingo or Law himself, and that thought is strangely comforting. Law has not known safety since his island burned, but he thinks it might feel like this, Luffy standing between him and the rest of the world.

The certainty of it softly lulls Law back to sleep.

(Law spends the next three days ignoring the knowing and smug looks the rest of the Strawhats keep giving him every time he takes a nap and somehow ends up serving as Luffy's pillow.)

Chapter Text

Luffy gets a fleet.

Luffy gets a fleet, and maybe Law should have been incredulous, or frustrated, or quietly calculating how to react to the fact that his biggest competitor for One Piece gained such a huge advantage. Law, shamefully, does none of that.

Instead, Law feels a sudden and irrational stab of jealousy that makes him scowl throughout the whole party.

He's not Luffy's only ally anymore. He's not even his best ally now, because Luffy has 5600 loyal people to choose from, and Law's made it clear he'll stay on Luffy's side only until Kaido is defeated. Their alliance has a time limit, and Law didn't mind before, but seeing Luffy dive into the celebration with single-minded cheer makes his chest tighten uncomfortably.

Law doesn't want to think about why that happens. Instead, he grabs a tankard of beer, finds a quiet corner of the ship and settles down to nurse his drink and ignore that awful, crushing feeling in his chest. He’s gotten very good about not thinking about things over the years.

It takes Luffy only half an hour to find him and Law bets most of it was spent looking for meat.

"Hey, Torao," Luffy says casually as he drops down beside Law, their shoulders and thighs suddenly touching. "Did you see the buffet? It's great! The giant guy sure knows how to eat."

Law can feel the tension seep out of his body and refuses to think about that too. "You would think that's the important part."

"Huh? What else?" Luffy tilts his head cluelessly. "I guess booze must be good too, because Zoro’s really happy right now." Swallowing the last of his meat, Luffy snickers and leans more heavily against Law, his hair brushing Law's shoulder. "He’s gonna be so angry tomorrow. Zoro’s always grumpy when his head hurts."

Law is briefly distracted by a mental picture of Zoro with a hangover, before he manages to reign in his thoughts and focus on the subject at hand. "I suppose you paid no attention to the fact that the whole fleet swore their allegiance to you." Luffy squints at him in confusion, and Law sighs. "You're just going to ignore the fact that those people want to follow you?"

"What's that gotta do with me?"

"What's that–" Law splutters. "They follow you!"

"So?"

"You should definitely care about that!"

Luffy is now frowning at him in a way that makes it clear he thinks Law is the weird one here. "Why? It's not my problem."

"They're your fleet."

"But that's what those guys want," Luffy points out, sounding perfectly reasonable. If only he wasn't spewing out the most ridiculous shit out of his mouth, maybe Law would have less heart attacks. "Not what I want. So it has nothing to do with me."

Law gapes. He tries to think of something to say to this, but well… He can’t bring himself to be surprised by Luffy’s logic. Because Luffy always does what he wants, no more, no less, and expects everyone else to do the same. The newly created fleet might have used that thought process to swear their allegiance, but if Luffy doesn’t want to deal with it, he will simply ignore their entire existence unless and until the whole situation starts to become interesting to him personally. Never mind that most people would have been delighted by such following. Never mind that some pirates would kill to gain a fleet. Never mind that the whole world will assume they are acting in Luffy’s name. Luffy’s decided that he doesn’t want the fleet, so, in his mind, the whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with him personally, despite every rational evidence pointing otherwise.

It will bite them in the ass one day, Law can already tell. Hopefully Nico Robin will keep an eye out. She might be as crazy as the rest of her crew beneath that elegant veneer, but she’s smart enough to understand the consequences of the entire situation and protective enough of Luffy to make sure it will not hurt him.

“You’re ridiculous,” Law says, eventually. He hopes Luffy cannot hear the pathetic relief in his voice.

Because Luffy ignored the oath of 5600 strong New World pirates and sailors. Luffy decided they are not something he wants, that he has no need for a whole damn fleet. But when Law presented the idea of alliance back on Punk Hazard, Luffy didn’t even hesitate to accept it over the protests of his crew and every single sign that Law might betray him some day. When Law tried to break off their deal in Dressrosa, Luffy refused without thought and then proceeded to wreck his every plan only to give him the revenge he’s been looking for ever since Cora-san died.

Luffy has never thought that Law’s alliance is something he does not want to deal with.

“Shishishi,” Luffy laughs, softly. “Torao is silly. You always worry about the boring things.”

“It’s important, Mugiwara-ya. And someone has to.”

Luffy nods decisively. “That’s why Torao is a good nakama. You worry about all the boring things, and I do things Torao can’t, so everyone is helping everyone and it’s perfect.” Law’s breath stutters in his chest. Luffy ignores his momentary panic in order to lean more heavily against Law’s side, dropping his head against Law’s shoulder. “Torao should sleep a little more if he doesn’t want to party. Mingo got us all pretty good.”

And with that, he closes his eyes, leaving Law to realize that Luffy left the party and his whole crew just to find Law here and to take a nap. The realization is like a hammer to his chest.

They stay like that, leaning against each other, until dawn.

…

The trip to Zou could have, perhaps, been considered uneventful, if only Bartolomeo were not so fucking weird. Law spends every second of the journey avoiding the man and his whole crew.

Probably, he would have been more successful if Luffy didn't insist on clinging to him like a particularly stubborn limpet.

Luffy seems to have taken Law's surrender in Kyros' cabin as a permission to invade Law's personal space whenever the whim strikes him – and it strikes him very, very often. The fact that Law never actually does anything to stop him beyond some annoyed grumbling probably doesn't help, but Law can't quite force himself to be more determined about his refusal. Every time Luffy drapes himself over Law's shoulder or drops himself into Law's lap, there is a split-second where Law's first reaction is to remember the complete safety of that little bed in Dressrosa. By the time he gathers himself enough to react, Luffy has already noticed that he doesn't really mind and then just stops listening to Law's half-hearted protests.

The Strawhats notice. Of course they do. It would be hard to miss, what with Luffy accosting him in the galley or in the middle of the deck. Mercifully, they don't react beyond Usopp snickering under his breath and Zoro keeping a lazy eye on his captain. Law can take the covertly smug I-told-you-so looks, as long as nobody wants to talk about it.

That is when Nico Robin comes to talk to him about it, of course.

She corners him one evening while Law is looking for some peace and quiet away from Bartolomeo and his whole damn crew. One second, Law is alone, and the next his Haki pings and there she is, leaning casually against the railing, flowery skirt flapping in the wind. Law stops himself from reflexively running her through with his sword, but only just.

"Good evening, Torao," Robin smiles and does not comment on his white-knuckled grip on Kikoku's hilt. "The weather is very nice out here."

They encountered a small hurricane this afternoon, which they only survived after much panicked fumbling and a screaming den den call to someone's grandma. The heavy clouds partially concealing the sunset are a blessing in comparison.

"Nico-ya," Law inclines his head in greeting. "Did you need something?"

Robin doesn't even bother pretending that she found him here by accident. "I considered approaching you in Dressrosa, but thought this conversation might better wait for relative peace." She meets his eyes fearlessly, a polite smile on her face. "Luffy is very pleased by the change in your relationship."

Law's lips curl in distaste and he turns to leave. "There is no relationship to talk about. Good night, Nico-ya."

She doesn't let him leave, of course. Law expects her to try stopping him. No one has ever accused any member of the Strawhats (Usopp excepted) of cowardice or leaving a job only half-done.

He does not expect her next words. "When I first met my captain," she says, with no waver in her voice, "I wanted to die."

Law stops. The wind beats against the sails and the waves crash against the hull, but their surroundings are strangely silent.

"He wouldn't let me," she continues, and oh, this is familiar, he knows exactly what she's doing, but he can't help it. Law turns around and stares at her, seeing only bone-deep understanding and painful sympathy on her face. "I wanted him to leave me to die, but he said that he doesn't have to listen to me." A fleeting smile, faint and sincere. "He saved my life against my wishes and I forced him to take responsibility. He's been doing so for the last two years, and I've never regretted my choice."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"He saved you too," she says. She's not talking about Luffy stopping Doflamingo from crushing Law's skull, not really. She's talking about late-night conversations in the kitchen, about a tiny bed in Kyros' cabin, about seeing Doflamingo beaten into the ground. Saving people like Nico Robin and Trafalgar Law has nothing to do with their physical safety. "You understand what it means when he says he will protect you."

Law grips his sword tighter. "Is this a warning, then?"

Robin hums. "Partially, I suppose, though I don't think you really need it. Mostly, I want you to know that I understand. We understand. Luffy saved us all, you know, one way or another. That's the kind of person he is."

Someone kind. Someone strong. Someone who always does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, and, often, he wants to save people. Someone who inspires such a frantic, desperate devotion that a whole country of people would fearlessly run towards an Admiral just for the possibility of saving him.

Robin seems to read the thoughts on his face, because the satisfaction in her expression only deepens. Law scowls reflexively.

"And your point is?"

"None, really," Robin says and pushes off from the railing, clearly ready to leave him alone. "It is important to us that you understand just how precious our captain is. And it seems you do, despite everything." Pausing, she looks back to aim a smile in his direction. "I'm glad."

She starts to walk off and Law stares, mind thousands of miles away. "Why did he save you?" he asks before he can stop himself. Robin stops once again and glances at him. "Mugiwara-ya? You weren't his crew back then, right? So why did he save you?"

Why did he save Law, who is no one and nothing to him, who planned to sacrifice Luffy's whole crew on the altar of Cora-san's revenge? Luffy must know that. For all that he's an idiot, he's not really stupid. He must know that none of them were supposed to walk out of Dressrosa, that all of them – his whole damn crew, the people Luffy loves the most in the world – were supposed to die just so Law could take Doflamingo down with them.

And yet.

Robin tilts her head in thought. "You know, I never did ask."

"Why?" Law grits out.

"I was afraid at first, I think. I didn't want to hear the answer."

And Law understands. He cannot imagine himself asking Luffy the question. The answer would make him crumble completely, because Luffy would answer, and he would answer honestly.

"And now?"

"Now?" Robin smiles, small and breathtaking, looking like she's remembering the best thing in her entire life. "Now I don't need to ask anymore. I know the answer."

Law envies her certainty. "Good for you," he grumbles and moves to leave. He doesn't want to think about any of this, not really. It just makes him think about Luffy, and him and Luffy, and that cheerful we should get married that still hangs over their every interaction.

Law has never wanted to be saved, not since Cora-san tried and died for it.

…

When they reach Zou, Law stays within sight of his crew until forced otherwise and doesn't even complain at Bepo clinging to him throughout the whole night.

The others mostly leave them to it. The Strawhats and the Minks check up on them from time to time under the guise of offering more food and drink, but everyone seems to have clocked on the way Law’s crew clings, and they have collectively decided to leave them alone. Law would have found the presumption grating, if he wasn’t desperately relieved.

His crew was supposed to be safe. That’s the one thing he counted on during his whole time on Punk Hazard and in Dressrosa – that, even though he might die and lead his new allies to slaughter, at least his crew will be safe and sound, hidden on an impossible island and protected by a whole race of warriors. He sent them there over vehement protests, because he was ready to die for his revenge, but he was not ready to include the Heart Pirates in the deal. They might have knowingly signed up for the dangers of piracy, but this was different. This was personal, and Law was not going to have his crew anywhere near Doflamingo, not when he knew how sadistic Doflamingo was. Not when he knew exactly what Doflamingo would do to them.

Law doesn’t know what he would have done if it was Shachi or Bepo or Penguin in front of that gun instead of Law himself. He only knows that he is ready to do horrible, terrible things to keep his crew safe, and Doflamingo would not have hesitated to use that fact. Law couldn’t allow him that kind of leverage. Law couldn’t afford the distraction.

Coming back to a destroyed city after believing he would never see them again was like being stabbed directly in the chest and left with a hole through his lungs. He didn’t calm down until he saw them safe and sound – a little banged up, but alive and well, all thanks to Blackleg’s group coming to save them.

Just another debt to be repaid to Luffy and his crew. They keep piling up.

“So, Strawhat, huh?” Shachi asks, after they’ve all calmed down a little and settled in a corner of the party, the whole crew huddling together. “How’d that happen?”

“Met them on Punk Hazard,” Law grimaces. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

The crew snickers. Law determinedly ignores the fact that everyone present knows very well that he would have ditched the Strawhats after Dressrosa if he really wanted to, convenient transportation be damned.

“Never thought you were gonna be able to stand being around him for so long,” Penguin says. 

“He doesn’t seem so bad,” Bepo says, and then, when everyone looks at him in disbelief, “Sorry.”

“He punched a Celestial Dragon.” Ikkaku gestures with her drink for emphasis, beer sloshing out of the tankard. “He’s crazy.”

“Well, so is the captain,” Shachi says, completely ignoring Law’s withering glare. “I guess it makes sense for them to get along.” 

“I am not—” Law starts, only to get interrupted by Penguin.

“Yeah, that tracks. The captain’s been pretty weird about Strawhat ever since that thing in Enies Lobby.”

Of course Law was going to be interested in the only other D in the whole Paradise. He kept track of all the other rival captains even before they became Supernovas, but like hell was he going to miss out on learning more about the Will of D. Still, what the hell did his crew think he was doing with all those wanted posters?

“I’m not weird about him.”

He gets about a dozen doubtful looks for that one. 

“He punched a Celestial Dragon and you smiled like it was the best thing you’d seen that month,” Shachi says. 

It was, in fact, the best fucking thing Law had seen that month. Also, the stupidest and most reckless, but seeing Saint Charlos flying across the auction hall had been almost worth all the trouble that followed. Almost.  

“And the Marineford thing,” Clione adds. “That was pretty weird, captain, even you have to admit that.”

Law has no explanation for Marineford, not really. Thankfully, his crew has never asked, unhesitatingly following his lead, but he’d noticed the looks. The whispers. It would have been weird if they had not wondered. 

The thing is, Law doesn’t know what he would even say if someone was brave enough to ask. That he went there as a giant fuck you to the World Government and the Navy? True, in some ways, but not enough of a justification for the danger he put himself and his crew in. That he went there for clout and reputation, regardless of all the ways that could have got him killed? The only thing Law’s ever truly done for clout was deliver hundred beating hearts to the Marines, and even that was ultimately in service of a different end goal. To take a shot for Doflamingo in the chaos? No, not even Law is that reckless.

Some part of him thinks that maybe he saw Luffy descend from the sky, desperate to save his brother, and was moved to help him. Cora-san would have wanted him to. But not even that is a reason, no matter what anyone else might think. Law has seen countless people suffering over his life. He hasn’t felt the need to help anyone who’s not on his crew since Cora-san died. 

But maybe, there is a hint of truth in all of that. Law only knows that seeing another senseless, pointless massacre at the hands of the Navy certainly did not help him sleep at night. 

Belatedly, Law sighs. “It got us a strong ally, didn’t it?”

The crew looks at him dubiously. There’s a chorus of disbelieving scoffs. Someone burps very loudly. 

“Well, captain’s crush aside—”

“It is not a fucking crush.” 

“— the Strawhats have come through so far, so I guess it’s fine either way.”

“Good,” Law says with malicious satisfaction. “Because we’re going after Kaido next.”

Watching them screech in outrage and fear is a balm upon his soul. Maybe now they’ll forget about the whole, ridiculous ‘obsessed with Luffy’ idea they seem so attached to. 

…

“So, how have you been getting along with our captain?” Shachi asks at breakfast the next day, with a not-so-secret teasing look in Law’s direction that makes it clear the last night’s discussion has not been forgotten.

Luffy grins at them, widely. “Torao and I are gonna get married!”

Law groans and feels a headache incoming as the Heart Pirates explode. 

…

“I’m gonna get Sanji back,” Luffy says, the night before he’s supposed to leave. 

“Yes,” Law says drily. “It’s been made clear.”

Law’s opinion has, of course, not been consulted. It grates, even though Law expected nothing less. Even though he understands where Luffy is coming from. To leave a crewmember in the hands of an Emperor, especially one famous for her cruelty? No, Law would not have been able to do it either. 

Doesn’t mean that the decision is not exceedingly stupid and reckless. Luffy is pretty clear he will only sneak in and sneak out, getting Blackleg as quickly and quietly as possible. Law has no doubt the entire situation will turn into a clusterfuck and end up in the newspapers with Morgans delightedly recounting the story to the whole world. He only hopes no one will die, but it doesn’t really seem possible — going against an Emperor of the Sea does not really leave a lot of room for hope. 

“Just…” Raking a hand through his hair, Law sighs. “Don’t die.”

Luffy laughs, loud and delighted. “I can’t die. I’m not the Pirate King yet.” 

It shouldn’t have been reassuring. Somehow, Law believes him anyway. 

“I suppose Nico-ya and Zoro-ya are going to keep you safe,” Law comments. One can always count on those two to commit a murder in Luffy’s name. 

It takes Law a second to notice the abrupt turnaround in Luffy’s mood. The confident smile is gone, replaced by a slight frown. “They’re not coming.”

“What?”

“We’re going to be sneaky,” Luffy explains. “So Zoro and Robin and Franky and Usopp are not coming.”

That’s… that’s half the crew gone while Luffy deals with an Emperor. The stronger half even — none of the Strawhats are helpless, but they’re leaving some of the heavy hitters behind when literally every person counts. It seems risky, dangerously so.

“Where are they going?” Law asks, and is grateful that his voice does not sound strangled.

“To Wano. Alone.” 

Noting the uncharacteristic flatness in Luffy’s tone, Law observes his face. Luffy has tilted his head so that the straw hat shades his eyes, but the line of his lips is grim. 

“Huh?” Law grunts questioningly.

“I don’t like that. They shouldn’t go without me.”

And well… It’s not like Law can blame him. Not really. The last time the Strawhats got separated, Blackleg got kidnapped by Big Mom Pirates. Before that — before that was Sabaody, and then Marineford. Nothing good happened on either of those islands. 

Yes, Law can see why Luffy would oppose the idea.

But he’s not fighting it. If he were, the whole Zou would know about it. Luffy is going along with this idea, because his crew thinks it’s best and Luffy is nothing if not filled with a well of irrational faith in his nakama. 

“They’re going to be fine,” Law says with all the casualness he can muster. “Robo-ya, Nico-ya and Nose-ya know what they’re doing.”

Luffy’s lips quirk up in a smile. “And Zoro?”

“Zoro-ya is an idiot,” Law fires off immediately. “Idiots can’t die. That’s how you’re still alive.”

Instead of getting angry, Luffy laughs out loud. “Shishishi! Zoro’s the stupidest! No way is anything gonna happen to him.”

Law relaxes a little, his shoulders slumping as Luffy doubles over from laughter, leaning against Law’s side. “You say that as if you aren’t an even bigger idiot.”

“Torao is so mean!” Looking up at him from where he’s practically collapsed into Law’s lap, Luffy grins. “Torao will be safe too, right?”

Law stills. Luffy looks like he really wants an answer. Like he’s concerned about Law’s safety. Like the thought of Law getting hurt is somewhere on the same level of unacceptable as seeing any member of his crew in danger.

“... Yes,” Law says, because he’s survived too much and too long to be done in by Kaido. He still has goals. He is not going to die until he fulfills them. “I’m going to be fine too.”

Chapter Text

They don’t get much news on the way to Wano since there is no way for the News Coo to locate them in the submarine, but the fact that Luffy’s vivre card keeps smoldering tells them everything they need to know. 

“That idiot is gonna get himself killed,” Zoro says, as they all gather around the dining table and watch the piece of paper burn. Somehow, it has become some sort of communal event for the two crews to gather around after dinner and guess what Luffy might be doing.

Law, whose piece of Luffy’s vivre card is stashed safely under the red rope on Kikoku’s scabbard, grits his teeth and tries to ignore everyone else around him. He does not, however, leave the room. He tries not to think about it. 

“I wonder if he is currently being devoured by Big Mom herself while we can only watch in despair as his life burns away,” says Nico Robin. Law, not for the first time, briefly contemplates the possibility that she is a sadist. 

“Robin!” Usopp yelps. “Would you stop doing that?!”

“No, no, keep going,” Shachi says, grinning meanly. “If Strawhats dies, does that make our captain a widower? Do we get some kind of benefits? Does he inherit the ship? It’s a pretty cool ship.”

Law thumps his head against the metal wall behind him and grits out, “We are not married.” He feels like he’s been saying that a lot lately. His crew is having a field day with Luffy’s proposal.

Predictably, he gets ignored. 

“Yow! Thank you for your super compliment! But I think Sunny is very happy right where she is.”

“In Totto Land?” Penguin says dubiously. “Big Mom could eat the ship. Who knows what she’s capable of.”

Franky doesn’t seem all that worried. “Sunny is with her captain. That’s exactly where she needs to be.”

The Heart Pirates exchange speaking glances even as the Straw Hats go abruptly quiet. 

During the last week, it’s been made abundantly clear that none of the Straw Hats are handling the separation well. Oh, sure, it was their idea in the first place and they don’t seem to regret it as such. Despite their words to the contrary, all of them are completely convinced Luffy will successfully return from his side trip. That doesn’t stop any of them from obsessively checking the vivre card or keeping an eye out for the News Coo whenever they surface for some fresh air. Nor does it stop them from huddling together for most of the day, always making sure at least one crew member is in sight. Law would have called it paranoia if he didn’t know exactly what happened on Sabaody. He’s not really surprised about all the separation anxiety.

He tries to ignore it. It’s not his problem if the entirety of the Straw Hat crew needs therapy. 

“Anyway,” Ikkaku says, cutting through the awkward tension with sheer stubbornness. “They might not even fight Big Mom. Doesn’t anyone think they will actually stick to the plan?”

“No,” says Zoro. 

“No way,” Usopp adds. 

“They’re definitely fighting Big Mom,” concludes Franky. 

The Heart Pirates share a look. Law thumps his head against the wall one more time and considers giving himself a concussion just to avoid the inevitable fallout.

…

Three days later, they surface for some fresh air and a News Coo manages to reach them. Law can practically feel his sanity slip away as he reads words like ‘seven powerful pirate crews’, ‘extreme charisma and leadership’ and ‘calculated strategic brilliance’ in relation to Luffy. The last one, particularly, makes his eye twitch. 

“Wow,” says Usopp. “1,5 billion berries! That’s bigger than Torao’s, right?”

Law grits his teeth.

“That’s our captain.” Zoro takes a swig of his sake in satisfaction. 

“It is good to know that they weren’t killed and left to float in the endless sea while their skeletons disassembled,” Robin adds. 

Law tries to ignore them, only to let out a whole-body twitch when he reaches the words ‘the fifth Emperor of the sea’. 

“That idiot!” Law spits out.

Kaidou is going to kill them. 

…

The time period between Luffy getting to Wano and Luffy getting arrested is only a couple of hours, and Law can’t even feign being surprised. 

“Well, it’s not like Udon will stand for long once Luffy gets there,” Nami says, pragmatically. 

Usopp nods, “Luffy’s not great with prisons. He tends to break them.”

“You mean… break out of them?” Penguin asks. 

“No, no, I said it exactly right. He breaks them. They don’t work right once he’s done with them.” 

Law was there at Marineford and he knows exactly who Luffy broke out of Impel Down. Somehow, this information does not come as a surprise. 

“So what’s our timeline here?” Shachi says. “Will he be out before the raid?”

Nami and Usopp exchange glances. Sanji puffs at his cigarette, unbothered. “He said he would be there at the raid.” A pause to huff out some cigarette smoke. “Luffy doesn’t break his promises. He’ll be there.” 

Shachi looks sceptical. “Even with all the guards out there? Rumor has it that Queen visits regularly.”

Usopp shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. He’ll be there in time. You can count on it.”  

Law’s crew still looks doubtful, and Law can’t blame them. They only really got to know Luffy at Zou and he left immediately to save Blackleg after that mess was over. They don’t really know him, or what he’s ready to do once he has a goal in mind. 

But Law does, so he stands up, and says, “We’re making plans under the assumption that Mugiwara-ya will appear.” Law’s not really one for blind faith, but he made his choice under Doflamingo’s fists, and he hasn’t regretted it since. Straw Hats bring miracles wherever they go, and breaking out of Udon is a small matter in comparison. They’ll need much bigger miracles if they want to come out of the fight with Kaidou alive and with all of their limbs in place. 

Ignoring the sly looks his crew exchanges at this uncharacteristic show of faith, he aims a sharp look their way. “Now get the hell out of here. All of us have jobs to do before the raid is ready. Nobody better slack off, or they’ll be finding pieces of you all over Wano.”

With some grumbling, they do leave. Law’s going to make sure the plan is ready in time, by hook or by crook. He’s come this far; he’s not planning on dying because of some shitty planning. 

…

He should have known better, though. No plan survives the first contact with the enemy.

…

For a moment, while he’s allowing Hawkins’ men to chain him in seastone manacles, Law thinks about whether it should be funny that two of the resistance leaders have ended in prison even before the raid started. Either way, Law finds some sort of dark humor in it. 

He has to take his small pleasures where he can. 

Bepo, Shachi and Penguin are devastated. They shouldn’t be — they’ve never been the best fighters, and Hawkins is, in the end, a member of the Worst Generation. Law doesn’t doubt they fought with all their might, but Hawkins fights dirty, and Law doesn’t blame them for getting captured. 

They’re free now, and that’s all that matters in the end. They’ll carry out the plan until the end. 

There’s just one thing…

“Don’t tell Straw Hat and the others that I’ve been caught,” Law says, and ignores their surprise. 

Luffy can’t know Law’s been captured. So they have to keep it away from his crew, who would undoubtedly inform him. Law remembers Luffy in Dressrosa, and in Kyros’ cabin. He thinks Luffy would trust him to handle this, but he shouldn’t have to. He shouldn’t have to know that Law is going to be tortured for the information he would never disclose, shouldn’t have to live with the choice between trusting Law to deal with the problem himself or to stop him from getting injured. Luffy shouldn’t worry about Law being hurt, not now when everything is close to being over. 

Law can’t do much from his current situation. But he can spare Luffy from this. 

…

“Straw Hat Luffy is dead,” Kaidou says, and Law feels his breath stutter in his chest. 

His first thought is that it can’t be true. It simply fails to compute; the idea that Luffy could lose and die doesn’t quite make sense. Law knows Luffy’s human, knows he’s fallible, but it is only now that he realizes that he’s never really thought Luffy would lose to the strongest creature in the world. 

His second thought is that he doesn’t feel Luffy’s Voice. It’s fallen completely silent. 

Luffy’s never silent. His Haki is bright and overwhelming, like the sun at high noon, or the unending heat of a desert. Law’s gotten so used to the feel of it over the last couple of months that the sudden absence of it is… unsettling. Wrong. Luffy’s presence should never be so silent. 

His third thought, as his and Kid’s crew throw themselves between their exhausted bodies and the Beast Pirates attacking them, is this: If I die here, I will die fighting. 

“Damn Mugiwara-ya,” he huffs, and thinks of Luffy’s laughter and warmth and steady, rock-solid presence. Thinks of his own crew, fighting to the last breath to protect him. Thinks about Kid even, and feels a petty, spiteful part of him that refuses to fall behind that clown. 

He doesn’t have enough energy to call another Room, but Kikoku is not there just to look pretty. And Law didn’t get his reputation by being merciful towards his enemies.

It’s as he’s cutting the neck of an attacking pirate that he first hears it. Da-dum, da-dum, slow and steady, a rhythmic beat that sounds strangely familiar. Da-dum, da-dum, and Law remembers Kyros’ cabin and Luffy’s injured body, his steady heartbeat even as Law’s whole world crumbled away. 

It’s an impossible sound. A sound Law didn’t let himself think about ever hearing again. 

Da-dum, da-dum, and Law can feel hope again. 

The explosion of Conqueror's Haki that follows, as overwhelming as the tide, washes over the whole Onigashima and drops Beast Pirates like flies. Law can feel it, a wave of unending, all-encompassing warmth that envelops their allies, and suddenly, it feels like he can breathe again, like everything is suddenly alright with the world, like they’re going to win and come out of this alive. 

The world without Luffy’s Voice seemed strangely bleak in that one, terrible moment. Law’s glad to have it back. 

…

Later, when everything is over, and Law’s whole crew seen to and bandaged, and everyone else completely exhausted but also completely safe, Law makes his shaky way through the palace in the Flower Capital until he finds Luffy’s room only by the feel of his Haki, muted by unconsciousness, but still bright enough to be felt several buildings over. 

When he enters, the whole Straw Hat crew is there, scattered over tatami mats, cushions, and futons, most of them sleeping in piles. Jimbei is positively buried under Chopper, Nami and Usopp, while Robin and Franky are leaning onto each other in the corner of the room. Brook is lying limply several meters away from the door, between the entrance and the biggest futon in the room, where Luffy and Zoro are sleeping soundly. Sanji is resting against the wall at Zoro’s side of the futon, his head hanging down in sleep, but Law’s seen the speed he can move at; he’d bet all of his berries that Sanji is meant to be the last line of defense should someone actually manage to get through the rest of the Straw Hats to reach their most injured members. 

As soon as Law steps into the room, Brook stirs. Law’s not even sure if he was asleep before — the skull makes it impossible to tell — but he does turn his gaze towards Law as he pads over the tatami floors. 

“Torao-san,” Brook says, and doesn’t seem all that surprised Law is in their room. The Hearts received lodgings just like these to recuperate in, but Law left as soon as he made sure his whole crew was alright and resting. “Luffy-san should be fine, but I understand it might make you feel better to check by yourself.” 

Law should maybe feel embarrassed to be so easily read, but he’s too exhausted to even feel that much. Instead, he grunts vaguely and makes his slow and steady way towards Luffy. He doesn’t even have enough energy to check him over with Room, but he runs a professional eye over Luffy’s bandaged injuries and exhales with relief when he realizes that Chopper must’ve done the patching up. Law couldn’t have done it better himself. 

The realization that everyone he cares about is taken care of is what finally makes the exhaustion hit. Law wobbles on his feet, and slides down onto the floor before he can topple over. 

“Torao-san?” Brook asks. “Are you staying here?”

Law leans against the wall, and places Kikoku on his shoulder, mirror-picture to Blackleg at the other end of the futon. He closes his eyes and grunts in affirmation. 

“Very well,” Brook says, welcoming.”Luffy-san will be glad to see you once he wakes up.” 

Law would have answered, but the tiredness is dragging at him. He’s asleep even before the words register. 

(Later, he’ll think about Brook’s easy acceptance, about the fact that no member of the crew even stirred as Law entered their sanctuary. Later, he’ll think about the fact nobody woke him until he was well-rested, that he was allowed to sleep, safe and sound, in their room without anyone disturbing him. Later, he will start to wonder why he couldn’t even fall asleep until he made sure Luffy was okay. 

But now, he’s aching and tired and unwilling to think more about this. Now, Luffy is right there, beside him, and it seems to Law this is the safest place in the world to fall asleep in. So he does.

It’s the best sleep he’s had in a long time.)

…

It’s days later, when everyone’s rested and the celebrations are over, that Law decides to address the elephant in the room. 

“I’ve checked with the shipyard,” Law says, as soon as he senses Luffy approaching. He’s not really surprised that Luffy barged into his room without asking or that none of the Heart Pirates stopped him. “We’ll be ready to leave in two days.”

Luffy flings himself to sit down besides Law, shoulder-to-shoulder. “Nami said we’re also going soon.”

“You seem happy,” Law says, eying Luffy’s wide grin.

“Yeah,” Luffy nods. “Wano’s been fun, but we did what we wanted and now it’s time for new adventures. It would be too boring to stay here for long.”

Fun, Luffy says, as if going against two Emperors is anything other than suicide. Fun, as if they all hadn’t almost died. Fun, as if the whole Onigashima and Flower Capital hadn’t almost gotten decimated. 

Law sighs. “Sure. Fun.”

Luffy tilts his head in Law’s direction. “Didn’t you have fun, Torao? We did really good together.”

“We almost died.”

“We won,” Luffy shrugs, as if that’s all that matters. “And, anyway, this was all your idea.”

“It was not—” Law pauses, horrified. Suddenly, he remembers Punk Hazard from what seems like a hundred years ago, where he had been the one to suggest going against Kaidou. Granted, at the time, Law was completely sure Doflamingo would kill him before he would ever catch a glimpse of Wano, but still. “Shit.”

Luffy laughs at him. “Torao has the best ideas.” 

That only makes Law feel worse. Luffy is a lunatic. It’s not really a good thing for him to like Law’s ideas. 

Sighing, he closes his eyes and thumps his head against the wall behind him. He’s been doing it so often, it’s a miracle he doesn’t have a concussion already. Hopefully, it will stay that way until they part ways with Luffy’s crew. 

The thought sends a pang through his chest. He ignores it with the ease of practice. 

Luffy, though, is a warm weight at his side that doesn’t allow itself to be ignored. Despite himself, Law’s gotten used to this. Used to Luffy barging into his personal space whenever he wants, used to Luffy being casually handsy with Law whenever it suits him. Even now, when Luffy’s almost halfway into his lap, Law can’t bring himself to push him away. His presence settles something deep in Law, the paranoid side of him that can never relax fully, unless there is a solid wall of water and a submarine between himself and the rest of the world. 

Luffy makes all that go away. Luffy is safe, in a way no one other than Cora-san and Law’s crew have ever been. 

Law sometimes catches himself thinking that he never wants the feeling to go away. 

Without thinking about it, Law leans fully into Luffy, resting his chin on his head. Luffy’s hair smells vaguely of sea salt, and Law finds himself enjoying the feeling. 

They sit in silence for a few moments before Luffy breaks it. “Torao is thinking too much again.”

It’s not a demand to share his thoughts. It never is with Luffy — Luffy, who never considers himself entitled to thoughts and histories of his friends, who seems to know everything important about them regardless with only a look. Luffy would never demand for Law to share anything against his will. 

Perhaps that is why Law does. 

“Why do you want to marry me?” 

Because it doesn’t make sense. Luffy is simple and impulsive and often acts without thinking, but he never acts without certainty. When he asked Law to marry him, he genuinely wanted it. Three days into their journey, when they were only a little more than strangers. Law doesn’t understand. It doesn’t make any sense. 

“Because I wanted to keep Torao,” Luffy says, simply. As if wanting Law is something that is completely normal, as if Law is the kind of person people want to keep. 

“That doesn’t make sense. We barely knew each other. You couldn’t have been in love.”

Luffy tilts his head. “What’s that got to do with anything?” 

“People usually marry for love, Mugiwara-ya,” Law says, dryly. 

“We’re pirates,” Luffy answers, like that first night when he came up with this ridiculous idea. “Pirates can do anything they want. And I want to marry Torao.” 

“But why?”

“Because Torao is mine,” Luffy says. “But Torao is also his own captain, so he can’t join my crew.”

For a moment, Law’s breath stutters in his chest. “You’d ask me to join your crew?” Crew is— Crew is everything to Luffy. He’d do a lot of things for his friends. He’d fight and kill for them. Raze countries. Fix their entire lives, if they let him. But for his crew… He’d slit his own damn throat for his crew, and everyone knows it. 

Law has never even thought of being in the same category as crew to Luffy. Never even dreamt it. 

…But. “I won’t ever join your crew, Mugiwara-ya.” And it’s true. Luffy is… Luffy, for the lack of a better description, but not even he — not even the person who has saved him in a way only Cora-san and Law’s own crew have before — could make him bend his neck. Law is a captain down to his bones; he has his crew and his submarine, and he won’t leave them until some Marine or pirate gets lucky and separates his head from his body. The mere idea is unimaginable. 

Luffy is one of the greatest people Law has ever met. But nothing and no one could make Law abandon his crew. Nothing. 

Predictably, Luffy doesn’t look angry at the outright rejection. Instead, he smiles. “I know,” he says, because of course Luffy would know what it means to be a captain. “And that’s why we should get married. So when Torao leaves, he’s still mine and I’m his, even though we’re not crew.”

Law’s hand on his sword trembles. He takes a deep breath. “That’s it? That’s why you asked to marry me?”

Luffy tilts his head. “Yeah,” he says, and nothing more. 

Law swallows. He feels a little light-headed. The idea that Luffy wants to marry him to make their… relationship permanent, to make sure that their alliance is never over is near overwhelming. Luffy wants to keep him, forever and without ambiguity. He wants everything to be clear and out in the open, to make sure everyone knows Law is his just as much as Zoro, or Nami or any other Straw Hat is. Crucially, he wants Law to know it, to know he’s wanted, that Luffy thinks a simple alliance is not enough. That it hasn’t been enough from the beginning. 

And because it’s Luffy, his solution is marriage. Binding in a way that everyone recognizes, reciprocal so that they would still be on even footing. Terrifying in its simplicity. 

Law’s not even sure Luffy is in love with him. He is, however, sure that he doesn’t care. What does being in love even matter, when Luffy puts him in the same category as his crew? There is no greater expression of devotion Law can imagine. 

Law is many things, but no one has ever accused him of not being possessive. Once he loves someone, once someone has found a place in his heart, he clings onto them until death and beyond. Look at Cora-san. Look at what he did in his memory.

Law looks at Luffy, and sees his open face and bright smile. He thinks about I wanted to keep Torao, words plain and unassuming, but capable of shaking Law’s whole worldview up. He thinks about the Grand Fleet, and how in the eyes of the world, Law is just one of many, Luffy’s ally in the same way Bartolomeo and Kid are. The mere idea grates. 

Law still doesn’t know what Luffy sees in him, what makes him want to marry Law. It doesn’t make sense, not when Law was ready to sacrifice Luffy and his whole crew for his revenge. Not when Law has spent most of their acquaintance manipulating Luffy and using him to fulfill his own goals. If he were a good man, he might’ve warned Luffy about this, about the kind of person Law is. But Law’s not a saint. He’s a pirate. He’s possessive, and selfish, and ready to take what he wants when it’s offered on a silver platter. So, in the end, it comes down to this; Law wants to keep Luffy, just as much as Luffy wants to keep him. He wants to keep this feeling of safety, of acceptance, of the simple, unquestioning loyalty that Luffy offers without demanding anything in return. 

“Fine,” Law says, decision made. “Let’s get married.” 

Luffy’s smile could have outshone the sun. He throws himself at Law, and Law doesn’t even try to dodge. Instead, he leans into the embrace and hides a smile into Luffy’s neck. 

…

It takes Luffy half an hour to convince Law to leave the room. He knows exactly what’s going to happen as soon as they see their crews, and he damn well wants to avoid it as long as possible. 

“Everyone!” Luffy shouts, dragging Law by his arm into the main lounge where all the pirates tend to gather during the day. “Torao and me are gonna get married!”

“He said yes?!” Nami yelps.

“Finally!”

“About damn time, I was getting really tired of all the dancing around.”

“Aha! Pay up, guys! I won!” 

Everyone turns to glance at Usopp, who initially shrinks from their glares, before rallying bravely. “What? I won fair and square!”

“You bet on us?!” Law says. He doesn’t even know why he’s surprised. 

“We bet on everything,” Ikkaku says casually, handing a wad of notes to Usopp. “Though it’s been getting a bit boring since we teamed up with the Strawhats. Long-nose always wins.”

“It’s like he’s psychic,” Nami nods. “It’s always been that way, that’s why he’s the last one to place his bets. We had to make it a rule back in East Blue, because only Zoro would bet against him.”

“I would’ve won one day,” says Zoro. Law doesn’t really believe him, mostly because he’s also handing Usopp money. 

“So when’s the party?” Penguin asks, completely ignoring the previous conversation. “We have it all planned out, we just need the time and date.”

“Now!” Luffy grins, still clinging to Law like a koala. 

“Now?!” Law definitely doesn’t yelp. 

“Makes sense,” Shachi nods, because he’s a traitor. His whole crew are traitors. “We’re leaving in a couple of days, it’s either now or never.”

Law regrets every decision that has led to this moment. “I’m currently leaning towards never,” he says out of spite. Predictably, he gets ignored.

For a moment, Law considers elopement. Marrying Luffy doesn’t mean there has to be a big wedding. He eyes the distance to the door, and then all the pirates standing between him and freedom, and abandons that notion. He’s pretty sure he’d get shanked for even thinking about it.  

“Zoro, did you learn the vows?” Nami asks. 

“Nah,” Zoro says casually. “Didn’t seem like something I’d want to do.” 

“Wait, what?!” Usopp screeches. “Dude, you’re the first mate; you’re the only one who can marry them.”

“The bear can do it,” Zoro shrugs, and takes a sip of his sake. 

Penguin tilts his head in thought. “Well, Bepo’s a first mate too, so I guess he can officiate. What do you say, Bepo, wanna marry our captain?”

Bepo squeaks and hides behind Ikkaku. Considering the fact that he’s twice her size and at least four times her weight, it doesn’t really work out all that well. 

“You know he’s not good at public speaking,” Shachi scolds, and then, because he’s a little shit who can never leave anything alone, “And anyway, it’s not like we’re out of options. There’s still one other ship’s captain here.”

As one, all the pirates turn their gazes to Kid. Kid, who has been mostly ignoring them in favor of talking to Killer, looks up. “The fuck are you all staring at me?!”

Nami grins, evilly. Shachi snickers. The Kid Pirates, who have been following the conversation in amusement, look positively gleeful. 

“I can work with that,” Nami declares.

…

Three hours later, Law is standing on the grassy deck of Thousand Sunny, his hands clasped in Luffy’s, and Eustass Kid frowning at both of them from his place by the mast. 

“What am I doing here,” says Law, regretting all of his life choices. 

“What the hell am I doing here?!” Kid snarls. “This is your fucking shitshow, and I sure as hell did not want to be involved.” Law’s not sure how Nami made him cooperate. In fact, he’s made a concentrated effort not to know. He’s pretty sure blackmail was involved. 

“Shishishi!!” Luffy laughs. Inevitably, Law’s eyes are drawn to him. Wearing his signature straw hat and wreathed by the setting sun, he looks simultaneously larger than life, and closer than ever. His calloused hands are warm in Law’s grip. “We’re getting married, Torao!” 

The simple delight on his face is disarming. Law softens despite himself. “I guess we are,” he agrees, and the smile Luffy aims in his direction is brighter than the sun. 

“You two are disgusting,” Kid interrupts. “Let’s get this show started so that I can get drunk and forget all about it.”

“Don’t worry, captain,” Heat says. He’s somehow acquired a visual den den mushi, and is avidly taking pictures of Kid’s murderous expression. “We won’t let you forget it. Ever.”

His picture-taking doesn’t stop when Kid flips him a finger. 

Law can’t even blame Kid for calling the whole thing a shitshow. Thousand Sunny is moored at the coast of Wano and is currently playing host to three pirate crews, all of the Minks still present and what feels like half the population of the island. The Straw Hats have been ashore for barely a couple of weeks before the raid started and they still managed to subvert most of the populace, all of whom are now milling on the docks and craning their necks to see Law’s wedding. At least half of them are already drunk. Law’s pretty sure that there are several small-time merchants selling their wares like this is a morning marketplace, and if those courtesans that he can see at the edge of the group aren’t subtly advertising themselves, he’ll eat his own damn sword. 

Law, once again, considers elopement. 

Then he notices Nami standing as one of the members of Luffy’s wedding party. She catches his eyes and smiles, toothy. Law doesn’t quite look away, but he does toss all thoughts of elopement away. It isn’t worth the astronomic debt that would result from making Nami waste all of her wedding planning efforts. 

“Shishishi,” Luffy laughs. “Gizao will have the best wedding pictures!”

“This is your wedding, you absolute dumbfuck moron!” 

“Oh, right,” Luffy says, as if he’s somehow forgotten that. Law’s marrying that man. Law is, somehow, happy to marry that man. What has the world come to? “We should start it, then. Gizao, you first!”

“Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?!”

“Kid,” says Killer, who’s been assigned to stay by Kid’s side, ostensibly to help with the vows Kid definitely does not actually know at the top of his head, but in reality to keep Kid from trying to kill the two of them. Law hates literally everything about this ceremony, but he can’t deny that Nami planned well. “Start the ceremony.”

Kid starts the ceremony. He reads out his part in what he probably thinks is his best monotone, but comes out as incredibly pissed off instead. Law can relate. 

“— Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law, are you here freely, before the captain and your crewmates, to join in wedded bliss? If so, please say, ‘Yes’.” 

“Yes,” says Law, and can’t quite help the small smile that twitches at his lips as Luffy grins at him.

“Do you promise to always be there for each other, to ally against enemies and to share your life and dreams, your treasures and losses, your victories and defeats? If so, please say ‘Yes’.”

“Yes,” they say in unison. 

Someone is crying in the front row. Law doesn’t look, but he’s pretty sure it’s Bepo and Franky. 

“I pronounce you husband and husband,” says Kid through gritted teeth. “You may now kiss the— What the hell?!” His outraged shout echoes across the ship as every guest abruptly falls silent. “I’m not saying that! I don’t even care what the damn witch will do, I’m not having those shitheads making out right in front of me!” 

In the complete silence following that declaration, someone snickers. Zoro snorts. And Luffy, instead of being offended that his own wedding ceremony has turned into a complete circus, shrieks with laughter. 

Law grits his teeth. “Room,” he says. “Shambles.” With a simple gesture of his hand, Kid’s suddenly replaced by a plank of wood, which is a definite improvement. 

Killer aims a dead-eyed stare in Law's direction. “That’s fair,” he concludes eventually, and gets the hell out of dodge as Heat starts snapping his visual den den mushi again, apparently determined to capture the entire ridiculous situation. 

But Luffy’s laughing still, and everything is almost worth it to see him look at Law with such open affection, adoration clear on his features. 

Whatever. Kid can go and fuck himself. Instead, Law reaches for Luffy’s hand and allows himself to smile, content despite everything. It’s such a strange feeling. Law finds that he quite likes it. 

Good thing that he married the source of it, then. Sometimes, Luffy can have some pretty good ideas.