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Chapter Text

Luffy: 4 years old (night furry)

Ace : 9 years old (red monstrous nightmare)

Sabo: 9 years old (half-dragon)

Law: 12 years old (?)

Shanks: 30 years old (half-dragon)

Benn: 41 years old (human)

Corazon: 36 years old (human)

"Dragonese"

Thoughts

The day was nice and sunny when suddenly a storm passed. The rain was pouring on the deck. The waves rocked the ship to a dangerous degree, and the wind was howling like a crying giant. Around the deck, pirates were busy trying to roll the screen, the first mate screaming orders to keep the ship and its people safe while the captain ushered their children inside.

Sabo and Ace ran inside the galley, away from the deadly weather. Behind them, their mama followed. Everyone was so busy that they did not realize a crying hatchling trying with all his might, hanging to a scrap of rope.  

"Hwelp! Hwelp! Hwelp!" Screamed the little lungs.

Shanks was back from getting dry towels when he realized there were only two boys instead of three. He stopped on his track and frantically scanned the galley high and low for his youngest son. Panic started to bubble in his chest when he saw Benn close the door and lock it tight. Towels dropped to the floor.

"Luffy! Luffy!" Everyone turned their heads to the source of the voice, seeing their captain looking at his surrounding with erratic breath. Immediately, they, too, started to look for the little guy.

Across the room, Benn caught Shanks' panicked eyes, and it was as if he was splashed with ice water. Without uttering a word, the snipper turned around and busted the galley door. His trained eyes swept the dark rainy deck.

"Mama! Mama! Hwelp me!" The scream was deafened by the heavy rumbling of the lightning that Benn almost missed it. Almost.

"LUFFY!" Benn screamed into the night as he held tight to the ropes lining the ship's railing while walking along the deck.

"LUFFY!" The baritone shout of Shanks followed him, fighting against the wind. The red hair followed Benn close behind.

By now, everyone was scattered to search for the toddler, worried sick of what might or would happen. Roo was the only one staying inside, having the job and the strength to hold the two older kids back.

"Let us go! We need ta find Lulu!" Complained Ace, kicking Roo's stomach.

"Down, boy! We don't need ya gone too!" Roo clicked his tongue at them.

"Ace!" Sabo called his brother, "shift! You might be able to hear him better!"

"Ah, right!" In seconds, Roo was holding a dragon, Ace. His size changed significantly from a big dog to Shanks' size in one year. The oldest of the three siblings spread his hearing, carefully separating different sounds to pick up his baby brother's.

"Mama! Daddy!" Ace's eyes snapped open, a frustrated growl in his throat as he heard Luffy's voice. The toddler was on the ship's left, hanging to a net cut string.

"Ma! Dad! Lulu's outside! Left net!" 

"Mama, Lulu's on the left side of the ship! The net!" Sabo yelled. Outside, Benn and Shanks immediately changed course to the left side, but it was hard for them to navigate. Despite the spotlight turned on, the sea at night--a hard stormy night--like this was the darkest. To the point it was hard to see. Shanks and Benn were relying on their observation haki alone on this.

"Akh!" 

"LUFFY!" Ace screamed, horrified at what he just saw. His brother had lost his grip on the rope and got tossed to the figurehead, hugging the wooden sculpture with tiny blunt claws. His shriek must have been dreadful that his parents got alerted instantly.

"Where is he!?" Benn demanded.

"Front! Front! By the figurehead!"

"Figurehead!" Hollered Sabo back.

Benn was about to move when Shanks got in front of him, moving faster but carelessly that he slipped several times.

"LUFFY! SON! HOLD ON BABY!" 

"Mama!" Cried the baby. Although dark and barely a distinct shape, Ace could see his brother had lost grip on all his paws. His mouth was his last survival effort, showing how exhausted Luffy was. Ace couldn't take it anymore! He had to do something! 

"BROTHER!" He roared into the night desperately, ripping out from Roo's steel arm by will alone.

"Ace, no!" 

"Ace!"

The red dragon hatchling chose not to listen to them, too focused on reaching his younger brother on time. Ace was too distracted that he, too, almost got flung away. Luckily, Benn saw and managed to catch Ace on time. They hit the railing hard from the momentum.

Shanks still struggling to reach his son a few feet to their right. Now that he was close enough, he could see his youngest clamping down on the head figure, but his small and young mouth was not strong enough. Luffy was slipping, and Shanks felt dread pooling inside his stomach.

Shanks reached out his hands to grasp his baby. However, the ship hit a nasty wave and jolted upwards. The captain could see in slow motion as Luffy's mouth lost its grip, and his boy was thrown away with the wind. His big green eyes were teary as the boy shouted.

"MAMA!" 

"LUFFY!" The scream that left his throat was unearthly, for he felt forlorn and despair as he watched his son lost to the storm. An arm reach away.

Luffy had never flown this long before. He was not flying by himself, though. The wind had taken him away from his home, twirling him up and down, left and right, for a very, very long time that his belly had grumbled. He could do nothing to satiate his hunger but to let the wind carry him.

After another very, very long time, the wind stopped, and he promptly fell to a heap of thick snow. Luffy digs up with his feet to the surface, gasping for breath. It took a moment for the little one to regain his regular breathing, and when he did, he noticed the white surrounding below the night sky. All around him was fluffy snow, covering various surfaces like the giant boulders and forests in front of him. 

Where was he? Was this an island?

Instinctively, the black baby dragon sniffed the air, checking the safety of this new, strange land. Aside from the nutty scent of the pine forest in front of him, the ice-y cold of the snow, and the salty tang of the sea nearby, Luffy's sensitive nose caught a subtle scent of the white melt-y thing in his birthday cake and something that his mama sometimes drank. However, the smell was covered in something nasty, like a rotting smell of meat, that made Luffy whine in sadness.

Intrigued, the little thing decided to follow the scent without changing to his human form. He knew his mama told him not to do that, but it was too cold for him to change! It was definitely warmer for him to stay in his dragon form, and his mama said he could only turn into a dragon in front of another that smelled like Ace. Whoever the smell belonged to, they definitely were like Ace. Luffy silently weaved his way through the pine forest to see the owner. They may have something for him to eat.

He jumped and glided inside the forest. Since it was pretty big, it took moments for him to get to where the person was. Luffy stopped himself a few feet before the forest line, following what his intuition told him to. Another kid was in front of him, illuminated by the warm glow of the yellow bulb. He looked older than his older siblings and cold despite warping himself with a layer of thick blanket, sitting on the step of an ugly-looking building.

The kid was shaking, and his teeth clattering from the cold. This close, Luffy could smell the rot-ness off of him clearer. He whined as he rubbed his nose with his front paw. The smell made his nose itchy so much! Luffy abruptly stopped his whine when he realized that the person was staring in his direction, and a small gasp escaped him.

Oh, the person saw Luffy!

"Hewwo! I'm Wuffy! Awre you sick?" the toddler asked in happy warble while walking towards the person slowly.

Corazon had left him waiting here for no more than a few hours. He was cold, tired, and ready to give up, but the blond man had spent months with him just to find a cure. Pessimistic as he was now, Law couldn't help but have a flicker of hope. Even if the worst came to worst and they didn't get the fruit, Law would be happy to spend the rest of his days with Corazon.

He rubbed the long frozen blanket with his numb fingers, trying to gain warmth when a sound came from before him. From the dark as night winter forest. Law turned his head sharply, unprepared to face whatever it was. Was it the enemy? Yet, it didn't sound like it. More like a wounded animal?

Through blurry eyes, Law forced himself to refocus on where he thought the sound came from. He couldn't help but gasp at what he saw. Two giant green orbs blinked at him. The eyes were curiously staring at him--from what he assumed was its attached head--tilting from side to side. What on seas?

Is it a dog? No, it couldn't be right? The eyes were too big to be a dog's...

His hypothesis was proved wrong when the creature moved forward and made a... warbling sound? The first thing that Law noticed as the creature stepped over the forest line was a round and black scaly head. Something that he saw from his late sister's fairytale books. A chill ran down his spine as Law realized he was scared of it.

A dragon...

Of all the things that could possibly happen when he was dying, why would it be the sighting of an extinct mythical creature? Good lord...

It sat just shy of the light line, still staring at him with that big green curious eyes. Law dared not move a muscle, opting to hold his breath. Could his mind make up such a detailed being? Law was aware enough that his condition was a close call. A few days top, to be honest, but Law was not on the creative side. Never. That was Lamy's job. It was possible, too, because Law was delirious. A tired and overheated mind could definitely make up hallucinations. Though Law was never interested in animals...

Law got startled when the dragon was suddenly in front of him, crooning with its ears lying flat. When did it get here!? His weak heart started to beat faster, sweat trickling down his temples, and his body leaned back from the unknown threat. The dragon's nose twitched before it sat on its hind legs and put the front legs on Law. He swore his heart stopped beating there. He thought he was a goner, but Law realized that the dragon was only inspecting him. Inspecting his white spots, to be precise. Law lets it do whatever it pleases as he, in return, gets to observe the creature. 

The dragon was (perhaps) talking to itself as it pawed on Law's different spots, making confused warble all the while. This was Law's first time with animals other than the ones he used for medical knowledge. He was... fascinated. The dragon has a coating dark as night. It was shiny and mate in various areas. Some scales were more prominent than others, creating distinct and unique patterns, while others were smaller, like leather. The claws weren't as pointy as house cats. The shape was more like canines but more elongated and broader. It has wings folded to its back, covering its whole back length. The tail looked powerful with two fins at the end, which also folded at the moment. 

Staying near like this made Law feel the warmth from its body like a heater. He almost leaned on the dragon, but it pulled away first. Law watched as the dragon studied him. After a few seconds, its face lit up in excitement, and it grinned toothlessly.

"Toothless...?" Law rasped. The dragon wiggled in a little dance before opening its mouth wide and lighted a blue flame.

"W-what?"

The dragon approached to sit beside him, looking at him in eager expectation. When Law did nothing but made a confused face, the dragon's ear flaps back in annoyance. Its eyes slit, sending a nasty glare at him. What on seas? The dragon opened its left wing, stretching it wide above him. Law's jaw dropped, mesmerized. He understood the message now. Without wasting time, Law slid right into the dragon's side and the wing blanketed him right away. 

Once again, its face turned in joy at him. Law could only blink as he experimentally leaned on the corgi-sized dragon. The texture of it scales felt smooth on his skin, similar to a snake's. Law held out a hand to put on its body and..

It's warm...

It did not take Law long before he shut his eyes and fell asleep. Cuddled on the dragon's side.

Luffy was trying very hard to be still. It was a feat, really, for the usually hyperactive child to stay still for almost an hour. But he did not want to disturb the older boy, who finally looked at peace and less cold. Although, his doing did not help lessen the rotting smell problem as he thought it would, but at least it did made the boy seem more alive. He had long since close his mouth in favor to cuddle properly. And by properly he meant, laying on his side with the older boy cocooned in his wings protectively. 

Luffy was content with the arrangement until he felt someone coming with a smell of blood. He became alert and tense as the figure going near. A growl vibrated in his chest when the figure loomed over them. The figure was tall like a tree and clad in black feathers. If it wasn't for the clothes, Luffy would have thought it was a bird.

The man let a surprised shriek the moment he laid eyes on them, dropping something to the ground and fell on his bum himself. Through his wariness, Luffy giggled (a dragon throaty giggle) at the silliness. The older boy in his wings woke up groggily from the commotion. First, He yawned and blinked at Luffy, receiving a happy yip with a nuzzle to the cheek. Second, he turned around to look at the man and suddenly sit up straight, ignoring Luffy.

"Cora-san." A puff of hot air emitted from his mouth.

Both strangers did not notice that the dragon was sulking.

How did Law found himself curled with a D while he was gone mind boggled Rocinante. He was gone for a few hours and this happened!? This was why the world government (celestial fake-dragons) hate and fear the D clan so much. At first, Rocinante thought it was just a rumor, yet the very prove of it was nuzzling his ward now. He shook his head to clear his mind. This could wait. Must wait. There is other urgent matter to attend!

"Cora-san." The call of his name made him looked up to Law's worried face.

"You're bleeding! What happen!?" The boy freed himself from the dragon's wings to ran to him.

"Nothing, Law. Just a bunch of weaklings." He grinned in assurance. Though, the aching and bleeding wounds disagreed with him.

"We have to treat it! It's bad Cora-san!" Law, his precious vicious traumatized Law. Always so sweet even in front of death door.

Rocinante gave the boy a goofy smile as his hand grasp the stolen fruit. All eyes zoomed in on the heart-shaped oddity of a fruit, seeing an opening, Rocinante did not waste any time for he force-fed the fruit to Law, earning a yelp from the victim and the animal. 

"You have to eat this Law if you want to live!" The boy struggled to chew the fruit. His face turned blue and green from how bad the fruit tasted to choking. Rocinante laid back on the snow once he saw Law gulped the damn thing down. His wounds felt worse now the adrenaline was gone. 

"Cora-san!" In the distance, the blond man could hear the marines had arrived. With ragged breath, he dug something out from his secret coat pocket.

"Law, I need you to take this and give it to the marines. They'll know what to do." Rocinante gave the boy a small tube with marine logo. Law eyes widenned at the item and for a moment the boy could only stare.

They were too busy with each other that they got startled when the ignored black dragon came towards Rocinante. It sniffed at Rocinante's wound and whined at the man. As if reminded that Rocinante was badly injured, Law left towards the dock. Rocinante reached out to touch the dragon's head and implored the best he could.

"Protect him, please." 

The dragon considered his request, looking at him straight in the eyes and nodded. It left in a heap of trotting and jumping silently, following Law's track. Rocinante closed his eyes. His job of finding a cure for Law was fulfilled, though it did not mean the mission was finished. He had to make sure Law get out of this island safe first. At least, he thought as he coughed, a D was by his side now.

Chapter Text

The twelve years old froze. Too numb to do anything beside watching the man he came to love as his second father being beaten to death. He was so stupid! Of course he would choose the one person that infiltrate the marine for Doflamingo. Of course he would lead the man to his heavily injured guardian. Of course he would stand a few feets away in stunned silence, doing nothing because his mind and body was too out of it.

After all, Law had always had a bad luck.

Flevance. Lami. Amber lead. 

And now...

He grinded his teeth as his body shook from rage. Law wouldn't let Cora died over his stupidity. He couldn't! Not even if fate had something to do with it. He would fight and trample fate if it mean he could save Cora! Law surged forward to head-butt the fake marine, however, he got attacked midway and rolled to the side into the dark forest. He was clutched in a tight embrace of black limbs and camp-fire warmth. They landed with Law on his back while the dragon growling to him. Its expression dark and menacing.

" You can't! That pewson's dangewous! Wuffy pwomise biwdie to pwotect!"

"Let me go you stupid reptile! I need to save Cora-san!" Law growled back. He did not have time for this nonesense!

"No! You'w stupid, stupid! Biwdie don't want ya huwt! Ssstay heweeee!" The dragon continued its uninteligent ramble, pining him to the snowy ground easily. Each of its four limbs held Law's down and its wings caged them, shielding them from the cold wind.

"YOU STUPID IDIOTIC USELESS EXTINCT SORRY EXCUSE OF A REPTILE! LET ME GO!" He snarled, clawing whatever part of the dragon he could reach. Law attacked mercilessly, desperately, because his heart overflowed with worry and guilt. The dragon let out a pained shriek but Law could not care less. Not when Cora was dying!

He did not know how he got the strength to tople off and head-butt the heavier being but he done it. Law was crazed as he left the dragon to ran to Cora and what he saw choked him to tears. His guardian laid in a blood soaked snow angel. Alone and still like an abondened corpse. The only clue that Cora was alive was the small puffs of air leaving his mouth.

"Cora-san!"

His hands shook as they hovered above Cora's torso. Law couldn't call it a torso anymore from how much holes it had. Blood, torn muscles, and little pieces of skin litered the body. The brunt smell of fabric and meat nauseated him so much that he would have puked. For once he was thankful that he hadn't eaten anything the entire day.

"I-I.. I'm sorry!" He whisper-yelled. 

Law would live now that he ate the ope-ope fruit yet at what cost? Did it even worth it? He should be happy but all he felt right now was immense sadness and despair. Cora gave up his precious live to help a  hopeless, murderous, and hateful kid like him, was a burden Law was going to carry all his life. And right now, the thought weight him too much. His head hurt, his breath erratic, and his surrounding melt. He sobbed into the night, fisting black feathers of Cora's coat in frustration.

"I'm sorry!"

Those who have privillege of living their life away from tragedy could not understand how Law's current condition prevent him from being aware. He was drowning in his own mind that he did not realize when the dragon had came back, worriedly watching from a far. Rocinante had noticed its presence and asked it to come. The black reptile came trotting unsurely but Rocinante assured it by weakly wiggling his finger. It warbled low and nudges the man's finger before staring with worried eyes towards Law and his wounds.

What an amazing creature...

"Can you... move us... there," the weak finger pointed at a far vague distance. "to the... piled crates... please..." The blond man wheezed. The dragon did not answer him but its action was obvious as it flew soundlessly and wait for further instruction.

"Take him first, please." 

It did as it was told. The mythical creature hugged a shut-down Law tight in its limbs before it took off. As he waited for the dragon to come back, Rocinante thought how lucky they were to met a strong and kind being. This way, Rocinante had more time and energy to protect Law. If he was to ran there with Law in his arms, the chances for one of them to leave the island was close to none existence. Besides, Rocinante thought bitterly as he watched the sky sliced with thin but steel hard threads, he wouldn't let his monstrous brother become immortal.

The dragon was back and now it was Rocinante's turn to be moved. However, because Rocinante's body was too big for the dragon, they ended up suporting each other. The dragon tried to haul what weight it could and Rocinante limping all the way. It took some time but they made it. When Rocinante got there, Law was leaning on a treasure chest, eyes empty.

The blond spy felt bad for making the kid went trough so much in the past months. It was undoubtly selfish of him to want and force Law to live. It wasn't right. He knew that. Out of all the other children his brother 'adopted', Law was the only one who had a bit of humanity left. Rocinante would be damned if he let it wither away. The boy was briliant and Rocinante knew that some day, Law would contribute good things for the world. A chance was what Law needed and Rocinante was happy to provide it.

The man knelt in front of the sickly child and hoisted him up to be put inside of the treassure chest. Next, Rocinante also picked the dragon and place it beside Law. Though confused, the dragon had embraced and nuzzled his ward instantly. Rocinante chuckled as Law was brought back to the world and appeared to be disoriented. 

"Cora-san?" The boy questioned but soon frowned when the dragon licked his cheek, leaving a trail of slimy drool.

"Law, listen to me. I need you and the dragon to hide inside here. The only chance for you two to get out safely is by hiding. If Doffy find the both of you, you two will be dead. But someone would surely take this treasure chest outside and when you two are far enough, you can make your escape." 

"But what about you?! Don't tell me you're staying!" 

"Law," Corazon smiled his goofy smile, ignoring his breaking heart. "I'm strong. Besides, Doffy's my brother. He won't kill me, we're family! So don't worry, okay? I'll be fine." 

"No! Cora-san, they definitely will kill you! Don't go!" Cried the usually stoick child.

"Do you trust me, Law?" His eyes fond as he pat his ward's hair.

"I do, b-but...!" 

"Then, no need to worry yeah?" However, Law gave him a doubtful and long faced look.

"I love you, Law!" Rocinante made an idiotic expression and was happy that his ward chuckled, albeit weakly.

With heavy heart, he closed the treassure trunk and told them that he would silenced them for as long as he could. Rocinante did not need to wait long before his demon brother cornered and interrogated him. The spy commander was afraid, sure, but he'd make sure Doffy wouldn't find Law or the dragon. If death was the price he must pay in exchange, he would gladly do so.

Such a pity, he thought, as he watched his brother's bloodied body stop breathing. The blond man clicked his tongue in annoyance as he pocketed his pistol back. It must be whomever adopted Rocinante fault that his brother turned against him. His brother was such a sweet, sweet thing. Always relied on Doffy for help and guidence. His brother, his corazon, wouldn't ever betray Doffy like this. How dare lowly humans defiled his precious brother into pathetic martyr! Gods like them did not need to serve nor sacrifice anything! It was them who must do it! What a waste. A terrible waste.

His corazon...

The self-acclaimed god mourning was interrupted by a running Diamante. The flag man looked frazzled as he stood behind him. Eyes filled with horror and hands flapping uselessly, pointing somewhere in the eastern dock.

"What." The captain spat. He did not appreciate being interrupted in his internal rant.

"T-t-the! T-the, t-the!"

"The what, Diamante." At this point, Doffy might start hissing like a cat.

"T-t-the Akagami! The e-emperor! H-he's here! We gotta go!" 

What. What an emperor doing here in North Blue?

It could be accidental but the timing was too coincide with the shit show. Could it be that the emperor was also looking for the ope-ope fruit? But for what? This element of surprise aggravated Doffy up the wall that he got pulses of headache attack. A proud god that he was but he wasn't a fool. He was no match for someone like Akagami and in his unstable (vulnerable) state, Doffy did not trust himself to be in his best behaviour. Especially, when facing someone cunning and formidable as Akagami. It'd be a dead man's wish. Tch. Truly, what a disastrous day it had been! Doffy glanced back at his brother in thought before he ordered his family to wrap things up. 

"Bring everything!"

"Yes, young master!"

They do it quickly, albeit clumsily but it was done. However, what they did not expect was to encounter the very man they tried to avoid, waiting for them. Doffy fisted his hands in his pocket as to not seem obvious that he was tense and fidgetty. Who wouldn't, when a fucking emperor stood in front of your ship with a pissed off look, looking like he was ready to slaughter anyone gutsy enough to stare at him. Nonetheless, Doffy marched forward because he was no coward.

"Akagami no Shanks... fancy seeing you here." He address the stoick man.

"Doflamingo... I can't say the same." The red hair muttered in obvious disdain.

Little shit.

"What's an emperor doing outside of New World? Couldn't be about business, could it?" It was a risk worth Doffy's head but he wouldn't toss a business opportunity like this (he did not want to seem tongue tied).

Instead of answering, the emperor chose to study the blond man. Not in consideration but analyzing, as if Doffy was hiding something. Then, the red hair smirked with dead eyes locked on him. 

"It could be, if you have anything to do with a dark haired young boy." 

Doffy paused at this. That was oddly specific. He narrowed his eyes behind the orange glasses. The only important dark haired brat in this island was Law. How did the emperor knew about Law? News shouldn't be out that fast unless he had someone in the marine like Doffy, who also knew Rocinante gave the fruit to Law. Was that possible? What were the chances?

"And if I do?" Doffy decided to challenge him.

"You'd be dust in a second." The red hair promised menacingly. His haki flared and surpressed Doffy's.

Fuck. He's powerful!

"Well, unfortunately, I d-don't." Doffy gritted his teeth, trying to kept his cool under the suffocating air and pressure. It would seem that Akagami was not happy with his answer as he flared his haki more, squashing them. Doffy could hear his family fainting from the murderous aura. He'd be as well, soon, but he had a face to keep up. Any minute now and he would be on the floor.

"So it seems..." and the haki was gone. Doffy ashamedly coughed, trying to breath normally. He fell to his knees while patting his hurting chest. He went still when the other captain stopped beside him, leaning down just enough to whisper to his ear.

"Fool me once, Doflamingo, you won't make it to the second." The man gave a friendly-mocking soft pat to his shoulder before walking away. To where his crew shouted his name.

That fucker...!

"Do open the cage." And with that last order, the emperor was gone.

He chuckled a darkly as he obliged the powerful man's request, releasing the island of his control. Doffy would not forget this shameful moment. Never! 

Meanwhile...

"H-he was here, dad! Come on, quick!" Ace made his way through the dark forest. Behind him, Benn with Sabo on his shoulder followed along with Roo. They did not need to confirm anything because Ace was trained to hunt since he was five and he always led them correctly. It was a second nature now for Ace to track down scents expertly.

They had docked on Minion Island just a few minutes ago, right before the weird glistening lines enclosed the island. Their navigator, Limejuice, had been quick to measure the wind and where it might head to, the moment people started to search Luffy. At first, the blond did it to get the ship out of the storm but when Luffy gone, his preparation came in handy. Thus, they came to the island. Shanks and Benn agreed to split up. Aside from covering more ground, the cage thing was suspicious. Too incidental for it not to. Shanks decided he should be the one to check with Yasopp while Benn, the kids, and Roo, were the one to track Luffy down.

Luffy's scent and trail brought them to a bloodied scene. If not for Ace assuring them it was not Luffy's, Benn would literally have cold feet. It was gruesome and worst, fresh. Though, they did not have to worry, they do question how and why Luffy was here with this badly injured person? Was Luffy here before or after the person came? What was going on?

"They went West, dad. Both of them." Sabo informed. The knowledge that his baby brother together with this mysterious person disturbed him a lot. His heart was heavy as they continued to follow the bloodied trail.

What they found was not their youngest family member. Instead, a dying giant man with black feather coat, bruised makeup face, and too many disfigured hearts welcomed them. The veteran pirates were of course wary and hesitant to help the man but the two boys were adamant. In their reasoning, if they were to help the suspicious man and still hadn't got a clue where Luffy was, the man might be able to help them. Roo had looked at him and inclined his head in agreement. So, Benn had reluctantly shot a signal for medical help. Trusting Roo to save the man in time.

"Where did Luffy go from here Ace?" He knelt down.

"It's... weird." The freckled boy rubbed his nose.

"What is, Ace?" His brother asked.

"I smelt it before but I thought the smell was the man's. And yet..." Ace sniffed at the air, particularly behind the man's position.

"There was this rotten stench," Ace frowned at them, "at first, I thought it was from the injured man but here, the stench were seperated from his." The nine years old bit his lip in worry.

"Son," Benn called his oldest, giving him a nod to continue.

"It went together with Lu's." Ace's lips wobbled as he avoid his family's shocked gaze. 

For the seas knew how many times that day their heart had been fallen and drowned with dread.

Oh, Luffy...

They returned to the ship after going the trail blindly. Benn told him that Ace was furious of himself for not able to follow where Luffy's and the rotten smell stench had gone to. The group was somewhere away from where they found the injured man when they met Shanks and Yasopp. Benn had filled him with what they discovered and Shanks collapsed right there. His tired mind and weak mental condition could not processed the fact that his child was still missing. Since the parents were too shaken, Yasopp decided to take charge and lead them back to the Red Force. They left the island before the marines could take notice and start chasing. The crew, although capable, was not in the right mind to fight.

Shanks headed off to their room with Sabo and Ace held tight to his chest while Benn checked on the last hope of finding Luffy. The captain laid down with his two remaining child, sleeping from exhaustion and hunger in his arms. Shanks rubbed them on their back gently, softly, rocking them with little movement he managed to do. He nuzzled their hair, seeking comfort from the texture and scent but drops of tears flowed anyway. Truly, his heart was heavy in so many different ways that normally he would thought of it as ridiculous.

That how Benn saw him after opening the door quietly. Glum and empty in a dim-lit room. The wetness on his cheeks reflected the yellow glow of the bedside lamp. Benn sighed, understood the feeling well as he too felt the same. The older pirate laid next to his family and engulfed them in a hug, needing warmth for his cold heart. 

Perhaps, it was because he was too emotional or maybe because Benn was one of the few people Shanks trusted with his life. But either ways, Shanks bawled his eyes out the moment Benn hugged him. He couldn't take it anymore. At some moment, his partner had shifted their kids from his arms to better angle him for hug. His body shook as he released his distress. The last time he had cried this hard was when his father told their crew they were going to disband. 

It was heart-wrenching.

The couple stayed like that for a long time, past the dawn, into the morning light. Yet, both were unable to shut their eyes. As Shanks ran out of tears and grown slightly calmer, he asked Benn of the man's condition.

"He's in a coma," the older man whinced from how hoarse his voice was. "Guy had eighteen bullet wounds, a dozen broken bones, and a light concussion on top of bruised to hell. Good thing he's a giant. Otherwise, he'd be long gone now."

"Any idea who?" Shanks whispered tiredly.

"There's a marine tatts on his back and three stars. He's a commander, probably on infiltration mission but got caught." The man draw a lazy circular pattern on his lover's stomach with his palm. The motion comforted them both.

"A spy, huh." 

"Yeah."

"I miss him." Shanks suddenly whimpered, his free hand clutched Benn's tightly. 

"I know, love." Benn kissed the other's temple, wiping the fresh tears off. "We'll find him. We'll find him."

North Blue, Calm Belt's border - A hidden island in the mist.

Luffy had been flying again for a very, very long time again. He was tired and hungry but he hadn't reach the island yet. However, he was not alone. In his arms, the unconscious sickly kid was asleep. He was awake before they left the previous island, crying silently for a long time. Then, the kid almost fall to the sea and that was when Luffy saw that his new friend's eyes were closed. 

As promised to the bird guy, Luffy hugged his friend and left the island. He did not have any destination in mind beside following the strong wind. The element had carried him in the air and through a thick mist where a small island was. Luffy's stomach growled loudly and his eyes closed shut for a moment and he lost his grip on his friend as they tumbled down. 

Luckily, islands in North Blue was generously covered with thick snow during winter, providing the two children with safe natural cushion. Luffy shivered from the cold but unable to see with his blurry eyes. He was cold, hungry, and tired for far too long now. He missed his mama. And like any other child in distress, the little dragon cried. The pained screech drew the attention of a man, who was walking back to his temporary place. Curious, the man decided to went to the direction the sound came from. His heavy but sure steps was heard by Luffy, slowly stopping him from his crying.

The child remembered being lifted by big hands and swayed from someone's shoulder. Bit and pieces of wine colored clothing filled his mind before he succumbed to the dream land.

Warm...

Chapter Text

Pale eyelids fluttered at the soft morning light. Their owner's eyesight was a bit blurry since he had been unconscious for quite some time. With a groan, the child tried to sit up but found it difficult. His limbs were weak like matches and he felt lethargic somehow. It took him a while to properly sit up and had a look of his surrounding.

He was on top of a big wine colored cushion, placed near a dim fireplace. The room was bright from rows of tall and elegant windows similar to Flevance's. There were ceiling-high racks filled with various kind of books and Law took note of how old those seemed like. A chandelier hang above, right in the middle with glimmering crystals. The only exit was an opened doorway that lead to a sitting room with linear type of exit as well. The pattern continued as far as Law could see. This place was huge, similar to his old house. Where was he, exactly?

What came to his mind was the fragment memory of gun shots, pained groan, a stupid face, and silent screaming. 

Law's eyes watered at the memory. His body shook as he started to break down. Cora was dead. Doflamingo had came and Cora had lied of Law's whereabouts, resulting with more holes on his injured body. He was crying and screaming Cora's name but no one could hear because his guardian had silenced him with his fruit. If only the ability could make him deaf at that moment as well. It was torture to hear Cora being disregarded and shot.

Like the snap of a rubber, Law's mind caught up at the after events. The treassure chest they were in was brought out by someone to the side of the port and in his emotional state, the dragon had tugged, dragged and carried him out of the island. Law remembered how he had hurted the black dragon in the forest and a second time, during their flight, clawing and biting, demanding to go back to Cora like the brat that he was. He was ashamed. All it ever do was trying to help and keep Law save and what did he do in return?

The tired boy sighed in exasperation, a sorry was at the tip of his tongue when he relized... that he had been alone. Law's breath quickened as he started to panick. Where was it? Why is it not with Law?

The boy stood up after stumbling several times, passing the luxurious sitting room and the empty ballroom until he was at the entrance room. There were two staircases, each leading to a different part of the house and a closed double door in front of him. Law chose to check upstairs first, assuming the other door would eventually lead him outside.

He found nothing but empty and well made bedrooms, bathrooms, a study, and a library. All designed carefully with intricate details and matched colors. As Law descended the stairs and made his way to the double door, he wondered who the house belonged to. 

The heavy doors opened with no creaks. It was well maintained then, Law bemused. Yet so far, he had not encountered anyone. The raven noticed that this room was more private, with a lone grand piano placed near a glass wall that lead to a beautiful patio. The instrument was a bit dusty but not enough to be called abandoned. The next room was a large oak dining room. It look marvelous in its simplicity. Whomever the owner is, they were rich. Crazily so. Perhaps someone like Doflamingo? Law was not so innocent to think a noble would be generous enough to help him and the dragon.

Oh, right. The dragon.

He must hurry! He did not know if they had done something to it or not! That, assuming the dragon made it with him in the first place. He was too enchanted that he almost forgot. So, Law ran. He bypassed the kitchen and the pantry to outside, where it led to an empty stables and vast pine forest. He looked around, checking the stables and the small cottage nearby but no hide nor scales of the black dragon. Where was it!?

In his worry, Law even check inside the forest, following the sound of a nearby stream. It was quite rocky as he grew nearer and more lively with different birds singing and chirping. He stopped his jog when he saw a pile of caught fish laid at the edge of the river bed. They were still fresh, about several minutes or an hour top. Also, diverse; cod, salmon, mackarel, herring, and a few crayfish. The skins were glistening and their eyes shiny. Predictably, Law's stomach growled. Just as he was about to put his hand on top of his empty stomach, something brusted out of the water and surprised him. 

One familiar pair of green eyes and a round, black, scally snout greeted him. His eyes widen and the weights inside his heart gone. The dragon was okay and Law unknowingly relaxed his tense shoulders.

The dragon was too busy enjoying his catch, eating the fat cod with a happy purr to notice Law. The said boy chose not to announce his presence, opting to observe the ignorant dragon. Out in the light like this, the creature looked less ominous and more magnificent. He carefully sat on a rock and observed the mythical being. The dragon was now clawing at the fish head, trying to scrap little meat inside. But in doing so, its tongue lolled out followed with frustrated whine.

Law couldn't help but let out a small breathy chuckle. His first since Flevance.

The flaps on the dragon's head stood in attention and it turned its head until its eyes landed on Law. The poor thing was confused for a moment before its eyes lightened in recognition. Like a switch, the dragon dropped the dead fish's head and jumped out of the water to Law, making chittering noises in excitement. It cooed and whatnot, nuzzling his head, neck, and chest. The dragon grinned a toothless grin as it laughed a throaty sound. Believe it or not, Law's chest fluttered, light and warm. It was foreign for his broken heart but luckily, before Law could overthink and had a crisis, right on cue, his stomach began to grumble again. The reptile blinked at him and then, to Law's disgust (he was touched), the dragon brought him several fish to his lap.

"Ugh..." the boy complained but he had to asked. "You want me to eat these?" 

The black reptile nodded and gave Law another cheery smile before going back to gather as many as it could to its mouth. Law relented, taking the hint with a sigh. He made a basket out of his shirt and help carried the remaining fish. 

"I've never cook. Not that its important to you." He walked beside the dragon, recalling how the creature ate raw fish. They made their way leisurely, enjoying the silence's of each other company. As the house became visible, the human felt the need to blurted his gratitude.

"Thanks," Law started with his eyes glued to the ground. "For staying... And for helping me." He sniffed to his dirty clothes, rubbing phantom itch on the fabric.

"You'w welcome!" The dragon asnwered, but of course our human couldn't understand. Not really. Law appreciate the warble though. He considered it as an answer.

Together, they opened the side door Law used to go to the backyard. They went to the kitchen and Law put down the fish into a big basin he saw laying nearby and motioned for the dragon to copy what he did. He then washed the fish in the stone sink, cleaning the stuck dirt and intenstine with knife while the dragon opted to play with Law's pants, laying on its back. 

"You've finally awake." Someone said from behind him when he rubbed the last salmon.

Law was so startled that he accidentally squeezed the fish and it flew from his hands and drop to the floor with a smack. An awkward silent filled the air as Law turned around, gripping the knife behind his back. On the other side of the isle, was a tall black haired man in white linen shirt. The man sat on the stool with both elbows on the isle, joined at hands. He was staring at Law with a poker face. The most intimidating part of the man was his sharp yellow eyes, studying Law's every movement.

I didn't hear him sitting down!

The fact itself was enough to let Law know that this man was dangerous. Probably more than Doflamingo. While the two humans were having a staring contest, the black dragon obliviously enjoying the fallen fish. It chewed the unfortunate being noisily, smacking and purring all the while. As if enjoying a rare delicacy. Law stared at the reptile incrediously, judging its weird timing to ate a meal during a time like this.

"Why did you saved us?" Law asked straight to the point, locking his gaze with the man once more.

"Curiosity. Mostly." He said nonchalant, stirring his glass of dark beverage.

What the--when did he get that!?

"You said finally. How long have I been out?" Although the question was asked with an even voice, internally he was balking at what the man did. Nevertheless, Law thought the man could tell how agitated (shook) he was. 

"A week." The man took a sip of his drink, barely bothered. The older man's eyes did not blink or stir from Law's.

A week?! A WEEK?!

"What do you plan for us?" Law gripped the knife tightly. He felt threatened (and embarrassed, not that he would admit that. Over his dead ego, please).

"Nothing. Do as you like." This created a seven feet deep frown on the confused child's face. Why would the man saved them and did not demand anything in return? No sane man would do that. Suspicious is what this is...

"Who are you?" And the man ignored him. Law clicked his tongue after waiting for the man to answer but did not get any for five minutes. He knew this play, the executives in Donquixote family did this to him the first time he joined.

Douchebags, the lots of them.

"I'm Trafalgar--" he stopped himself, recalling Cora's warning to not tell his real name. He cleared his throat, hoping his slip up was not obvious (it was and the man smirked a little behind his cup of tea).

"Trafalgar Law." 

"The world called me Dracule Mihawk." The man finally intoduced.

Dracule... Mihawk...? Why did it sound familiar? The man must be someone important if I've heard of his name.

Law was about to interrogate more but the man stood up, elegantly so, and brought his empty cup to the sink. Law stepped aside, knife at the ready. His companion did not make room, though. In fact, to Law's utter horror, the dragon's eyes lit up at Mihawk and rubbed the man's trousers affectionately. The reptile purred and... and... Law felt betrayed! His face was pouting so hard like a child robbed of their toys. He did not realize that, obviously, but Mihawk did and if he find amusement in it, he rather indulged it silently.

"Your knife is backward." He said coldly and gained the expected shriek in return. Oh, he would have a live entertainment in return, alright.

It had been a few days since Law woken up and approximately two weeks since both he and his companion stayed under the care of Mihawk. Their morning routine consisted of waking up early, help around the house (cleaning and/or foraging food), let their landlord cook their meals (the older man refused to let the mansion burned down or so he declaired), and had breakfast. Afterwards, like the man said, they were free to do as their please and Law chose to study because Mihawk had incredible collection of medical books and devil fruit encyclopedia. Then, they would have lunch and Law would try to explore his power until afternoon to play  before the dragon got too bored. Law did not understand how the creature could be having so much energy after spending its day in the forest. Dinner would be served only after Law and the dragon cleaned themselves and repeat the next day.

On one night, though, he witnessed something that made his brain explode. Law was thirsty and had woken up because of it. He had not been able to sleep properly as well lately. The nightmares had made his sleeps short and usually, his friend, the dragon, would be by his side. Warm and grounding that Law only need to snuggled it and sleep again. Tonight, however, there were two things missing. One, his supply of water was empty. Two, his friend was gone. Thus, Law went down to refill his jug of water while searching for the dragon.

At night, the house was thriving with the sound of crickets and toads. It made the night better in his opinion, more lulling. Drowsily, Law made his way to the kitchen but he stopped when he heard something. 

"Hungry?" Mihawk's voice asked.

Law tip toed to the door and peak to see who the man spoke to. The older raven had his back facing the door and his head ducked a little, in front of him, Law could see scaly black tail swishing. The child was being nosy, he was aware of it but being a big brained kid makes curiosity win over most of the times. Law narrowed his eyes as his friend moaned sadly, clawing at the man's silk pajama pants.

"I'm not your mother." The man uncharacteristically rubbed the reptile's head, earning a pathetic whimper.

For a moment, Mihawk did nothing but continue to gently scratch the creature's jaw. And then, to Law's surprise, the man picked up the dragon and carried it like a baby. Law's jaw dropped to the ground. On the other hand, Mihawk took a bottle of milk and a pot. He pour enough and heat it with small fire, occasionally stir the liquid to prevent foam. His friend had given Mihawk's cheek a lot of licks and grinning sleepily. The act was appreciated by gentle back rubs and rocking. To say Law was flabbergasted was an understatement.

A light steam came from the pot and Mihawk turned off the stove. He took an empty glass bottle and filled it with milk. While the milk was cooling, Mihawk opened a cabinet and picked a large size rubber nipple. He struggled to attached the nipple to the bottle due to carrying the dragon in one hand but he managed. Mihawk checked the temperature of the milk and deemed it suitable before offering the beverage to the dragon's snout. It moved and readjusted its position to how baby usually do in Mihawk's arm and accepted the bottle. The man did not need to hold the bottle since the dragon hug it with its arm. 

For a stoick man, Mihawk was incredibly caring in Law's eyes now. The child was sure that the older already aware of him watching so he decided to announced his presence by knocking on the kitchen's wall and help himself filling his jug of water. Mihawk said nothing to him, just tilting his head on his direction slightly. Once Law got his fill of water, he glanced at the pair and contemplated whether he should ask or not. He decided to dig his grave anyway.

"You... you understood what it said." He approached the pair and glared up at the sleeping but sucking reptile. Mihawk shifted his golden eyes to the younger's ones and answered truthfully.

"I do." 

"W-what! But, how?!" 

"I learned it." Law face-palmed.

Well, obviously you did!

"How?" The child bit his cheek. Seas, this old man was annoying as hell!

"Differentiate each sound." The bottle was finished and Mihawk removed it from the dragon's clutch, placing it in the sink to wash later. He re-adjusted the dragon's position so its head laid on the man's shoulder and began to softly pat its back. A moment later, it let out a loud burp, making itself comfortable on the man's broad shoulder. 

All of this made Law think of Lami when she was a baby and how Law would help burped her after she fed. Was it possible that his friend was in fact, a baby dragon? Come to think of it, his friend behavior is that of a child. Easily happy and upset of the littlest thing. Moreover, the dragon in Lami's book were told to big and vicious while his friend was small in comparison. Its body was half of Law's and when it sat on its hindlegs, its head only reach Law's waist. 

I'm bestfriend with a baby...

"Its... a baby, isn't it?" 

"No. Its at the age of a toddler. My estimation is four."

Is that supposed to be better?!

"There's something you hide, isn't there? It doesn't make sense for you to pick up various and complex vocabularies under a month! Let alone knowing the exact age of it! Dragons are known to be an extinct race. You have no way of learning their biology unless you found a thousand year old archive or something. What so you know, Mihawk?" Law narrowed his eyes.

The older man did not replied right away. Instead, he gave Law his friend and left with a vague information, leaving Law with his thoughts.

"An old dying lady thought me the art unconsciously. One would eventually picked up a language if they were to observe enough. Others have more natural talent to it."

It took Law three months to clear all the crystalized amber lead in his system and five since he had been staying on this hidden island. The day after he learned that Rurri, his dragon friend, was a toddler was the most awkward day for him. He was confused how to act and how to treat Rurri but the creature washed away his concern easily. It had bitten his ear and pulled hard, growling in displeasure because the emotionally stunted Law had been avoiding it for a week. A simple crime, one that made Law reacted to naturally and lifted the self-made barrier. Since then, they both became more inseparatable.

Law had been too dependable on Rurri. One, because Rurri was there, at one of the most crucial and lowest time for Law. Two, he was forgiven before he had a chance to asked for forgiveness. They were laying on the grass at a clearing nearby, exhausted from chasing around and trained Law's fruit. The sunset illuminated the land with bright orange and cast a aesthetic contour across every surfaces. Including Rurri's skin. 

There were dark thin lines on Rurri's front legs, free of scales, and Law knew he was the cause. The peaceful mood had shifted to somber and Rurri had noticed, Law liked to joke that the other had a sixth sense or something. The pure creature shifted closer to his side and laid its head on Law's stomach, warbling in question adorably. He'd pinch its cheeks if it wouldn't hurt Rurri, he chose to rubbed its snout instead.

"Nothing, Rurri, I just..." he got a repriminding growl instead and Law laugh a bit. The dragon hated it when Law being secretive and ambiguous like this. He moved his hand to where Rurri placed its front legs and ghosted his fingers above the scars. 

"I'm--" his words were cut with a long lick to his cheek, leaving sticky and fishy smelled slobber.

"Gross." Law complained but Rurri grinned his trademark toothless grin and Law knew that the dragon had forgiven him. Had understood and did not need explanation. It was odd that Law made all of this conclusion in his head. It was whimsical at best and not factual like he used to but it felt right. Maybe, Law needed light in a form of imagination or maybe, that was just the Rurri effect.

"Thank you, Rurri."

The third reason Law had became attached to the dragon was because his friend was an affectionate being. You see, Law was shy to a deffault. He would never seek skinship or company first, it would always the other way around. Even when his family were alive, and then later with Cora, Law kept his distance. The boy craved affection of course but he'd rather die than admit that. Godbless Rurri for existing because the dragon couldn't go several hours without some short of physical touch. Most of the time, a rub to its body or sitting nearby would be enough. But there were times when Rurri got pretty clingy that he'd cuddled either Law or Mihawk for hours. Demanding to be carried or hugged. Not that both minded.

It was Law's fault. To be so dependable on Rurri. 

Mihawk usually went to wherever it was and back after a week or two at the longest. He would bring them exotic foods and drinks, sometimes trinkets as well. The man was nice in a cold way and would never admit it but he was generous to them both. However, lately, his aura was always sour when he got back. Though the gifts had not stopped but the man was obviously deeply in thought. When Law asked, Mihawk would brush it off and locked himself in his study, coming out to make meals.

His mistake was shrugging off his instinct that there was something wrong.

Mihawk had came back that afternoon, bringing fresh cut of sea king meat that Rurri loved and a bag of rice (Law's favorite carb). He grilled the meat in North Blue's style, seasoned with herbs and covered in a layer of salted butter while the rice was made into simple rice balls wrapped with seaweed paper. Those are the two's favorite meals and The Mihawk had went out of his way to cooked it for them. Law should had been more suspicious than happy.

After dinner, as usual, Law and Rurri had to do the dishes (more like Law did it and Rurri sitting prettily next to him). However, Mihawk requested Rurri to followed him to his study.

"Rurri, come."

That was the final warning bell in Law's mind. He had done the dishes in record time before snooping near Mihawk's study. The door was ajar slightly and from where he was hiding, Law could see Mihawk stood by the windows while Rurri sat on the dark wooden desk. The young boy frowned as he realized that both were speaking in growls, warbles, and chitters, making it hard for Law to understand.

"Luffy, do you know your family names?"

"Names?" It tilted its head cutely.

"Yes, little one. My name is Mihawk. Your name is Luffy. Who's your mother's name?"

"Shanks! Luffy's mama is Shanks!" the dragon shriek happily.

"I see... Does he have red hair?"

"Yup! Pwetty wed haiw! Like apples! And fiwe! Luffy likes apples and fiwes lots!" It jumped in excitement.

"Do you have siblings, Luffy? Sisters? Brothers?" 

"Luffy have bwa-oews! Ace and Sabo! They-awe oldews than Luffy and biggews too!" 

"I thought so..." Mihawk sighed. A month and a half ago, when Mihawk went out to get groceries, he had noticed the lack of pirates around North Blue. Strange occurance since North Blue was the most dangerous Blues of all. After two weeks of similar condition, he began gathering intel from locals and was in for an earth shaterring news.

The Emperor, Akagami no Shanks, had been turning North Blue upside down looking for a missing young dark haired boy, who was lost approximately four months ago. In a storm. The information was sketchy at best but what were the chances that he, Dracule Mihawk had saved two stranded young dark haired brats, four months ago? One of them must be who his old friend and rival had been searching. But which one? And why?

So, Mihawk had done his research of both Law and Luffy. The older one was easier because the swordsman knew the kid had amber lead and had been training with a devil fruit, if the oddly cut grass and animals were anything to go by. Law was from Flevance, a burnt city roughly three years ago. Joined the Donquixote mafias and kidnapped by one of the executive, which was a spy. Both ended up in Minion Island, where the ope-ope fruit was last seen. 

Luffy, on the other hand was too clean. Mihawk guessed that the boy had been in human form and was missing when he had been transforming. From personality, Mihawk personally thought that the boy wouldn't be aware enough to kept his shifting ability a secret unless told to. 

In conclusion, there was a high chance that Luffy was the one Shanks had been looking for. 

It was a rough guess but Mihawk decided to set sail and gave his friend a visit. A week of tracking down the pirates had led Mihawk to an isolated island at the north-est part of North Blue. His arrival stirred the weaker members and made them report to Shanks. Mihawk strode ahead. He followed the path to a cave, noting the messy items as a clue that the pirates had arrived not long before him. He managed to enter deep into cave's back, where Shanks was sitted beside Benn.

The red hair looked worst to wear. Oily and messy hair, crumpled shirt, sunken cheeks, and unkept beard. Benn was also not better, his usual ponytail was in a messy low bun, beard, and dark eyebags. The two was sitting very close to each other but that was not what Mihawk concerned. It was a red blanket doll and a small red rubber ball that clearly had seen better days.

Red not yellow.

"What do you want, Mihawk." Shanks questioned, abnormally sober.

"I might have information that you've been looking for." He began and was quickly attacked by none other than his friend. Fist coiling around his collar.

This was why Shanks had been called the mighty emperor of the sea. Grey eyes glinting in malice and lips pulled back in a nasty sneer. The air thicken with crackling Haki.

"Don't mess with me, Hawk. I'm in no mood to joke right now. Speak." Hissed the man. If he could, Mihawk would roll his eyes. Such drama.

"Does a black D toddler ring a bell?"

"No way..." Shanks whispered in disbelieve. His grip weakened as he whimpered, eyes wet with tears.

"Don't shit me. Don't you dare shit with me Racule--"

"I'm not. Luffy, right?" Shanks breath hitched.

"H-how--" 

"Five months ago, he fell--" and on Mihawk explained how he came across the missing toddler. He also explained the delicate and quite complex relationship Luffy had with Law but he kept Law's identity a secret. Mihawk knew that Shanks wouldn't ever disclosed anything if he asked but one would never knew who to be trusted. Everything had ears and eyes nowadays, you see. What Mihawk told Shanks was that Luffy had befriended another stranded kid that the swordsman took care of and that the seperation might hurt both party.

In return, Shanks filled him in on the details on Minion Island fiasco. How he had found a badly injured spy and took him in for a while. In his desperation to find Luffy, Shanks had contacted Garp (surprise surprise) for help. The spy, who the Akagami learned as Rocinante was in coma and had not yet awoken. However, due to the clung smell of Luffy and the risk of the man blurting out the D's secret, Garp kept Rocinante hidden in Goa Kingdom from the government. 

Mihawk himself still unsure of the spy's relationship with Law and thus decided to keep the information to himself for now. Both parties agreed to meet again in two weeks at calm belt near Mihawk's island. Crazy decision but safest from preying eyes. He had gone back a few hours ago and felt guilty for seperating his two wards. Law would have had to experience losing another rock in his life and Mihawk wanted to soften the blow so to speak, with the children's favorite.

"Would you like to go home, Luffy?"

Chapter Text

Language is a barrier. True enough. But Trafalgar Law was a medical genius. He couldn't understand what Rurri said word by word, or in this case, growl by growl. However, he had established the meaning of certain sound because they were repeated daily. In a way, the principles aligned with how people understood baby words. Law took pride in it until he eavesdrop on Mihawk's and Rurri's private discussion.

--home, Rurri?

The words echoed his mind, taunting. His eyes halted their blinks. His heart pumping rapidly, he could felt it against his ribcage. Sweat rolling down his temples to his chin. His legs lost their power to hold his body up as Law slid down the wall. It was getting harder to breath and Law realized he was having a panic attack.

He couldn't pull himself out of this though. The only thing he came up with was to hide. Far away from Rurri. And he did.

He locked himself in one of the top floor lavish bedrooms. One that overviewed the beautiful backyard and the dark forest behind it. He took a sit by the windowsill, leaning on the wall sideway, and trying to breath normally by pressing his forehead on the cold glass. Five, ten, fifteen minutes and more passed. Law had lost count sometime after twenty minutes yet he did not care. Couldn't.

--home, Rurri?

Because his mind kept replaying around at what Mihawk said could possibly mean. No, that was not quite right either. He knew. Understood it. So well that Law chose to deny the thoughts and what it entails. If he accepted... that means Rurri would no longer be by his side. He'd be all alone.

Law curled in on himself as he choked his sobs, heart torn in shreds. The thought scared him more than he would have like.

Why hadn't he thought the possibility of Rurri returning to his home? Was it because Rurri was the first and only dragon Law knew? Was it because there were no report or news of recently discovered mythical creature? Was it because Rurri had been by his side during his shit show? Was it because they had been glued to each other these past few months? Or was it because he was so used to have someone all the time that he never consider them to leave him some day?

What exactly that made Law think Rurri would forever be with him?

What?!

Did it matter now, though? Law thought bitterly, punching his fist to the wall. None of this matter anymore because Law had made a mistake and hurt himself silly. None of this matter because Rurri was going away anyway and Law would be alone. 

I hate it! I HATE IT! HATEITHATEITHATEIT!

"I hate it!" blood flowing down his bruised hands. Why is life so unfair to him? He had lost everything he had, destiny-ed to die, and now, his last anchor to sanity was taken away. Why should he life then? What was the point?!

I should have died... I want to die... Everything hurts...

With that dark thoughts, the poor, broken hearted child fell asleep.

Luffy was so happy that his lizard body couldn't stop wiggling in excitement. He was finally going to see his family again! It has been so long since he was flown away from the ship and though Luffy got an amazing adventure--he met Spots!--he missed his family a lot. Playing with his brothers, hunting with his daddy, and eating with his mama, he missed it all!

Most importantly, was the snuggle time they always shared no matter what time of the day. Of course he snuggled with Spots a lot but only during sleep time. Spots had told him that he needed to train and Luffy understood why, so he played alone in the woods. Yellow eyes did not like hugs much unless when Luffy was missing his family too much and couldn't sleep. Then, in the middle of the night, Yellow eyes would hug him to his heart's content.

Unfortunately, nothing could beat his family's snuggle time.

They would laugh or share stories. Most of the times, Luffy would get to drink his milk and fell asleep as well. Those were the best time and Luffy couldn't wait to have those back.

After Yellow eyes asked him whether he wanted to go home or not, which he answered yes--stupid Yellow eyes--the man told him that he'd took him back in two weeks. Luffy did not really understand how long was he supposed to wait but Yellow eyes said soon. Thus, making little Luffy jump and chitter in excitement, purring against Yellow eyes as a thank you for finding his family for him. A cold big hand was all Luffy got in return. He did not mind, after all, like Yellow eyes, Spots also did not talk much.

Speaking of Spots, Luffy wanted to tell the news to his friend. In his young brain understanding, going back home means he would be separated from Spots. Not forever, no! Luffy wouldn't like that nor would he allow it, but he also did not know if Spots wanted to come with him. Alas, knowing that Luffy only had some time left with Spots, he wanted them to spend the rest of their time together.

Luffy had gone down to see if Spots were still in the kitchen or not and he wasn't. So, Luffy turned to look at their bedroom upstairs. His friend wasn't there either, making him frowned in disappointment. Where was Spots? Luffy sniffed the air, looking for the strongest smell of his friend. Something rotten with an underlayer of tanginess. His sensitive nose led him to the other side of the house, where a hall of empty rooms were situated.

In his eagerness, Luffy decided to fly across the house's two wings and landed on the first door in front of the stairs. The toddler stopped at what he smelt from this area. There were something salty mixing with Spots' smell and a hint of... blood? Luffy quickly ran to where the odor came from. He did not bother to open the door like how his mama told him to. Instead, he slammed it open with his body, afraid something bad happened to his friend.

It seemed like something did happen as he saw Spots sat up with eyes red and puffy. Not to mention, dried tracks of tears on his cheeks and the awful state his hands were in. Luffy approached the older child sadly, warbling in concern.

"Spots... what happened? Why awe you huwt?"

However, Luffy's questions were not answered. Spots even flinched away from him when he wanted to lie his head on his friend's lap. Without explanatiom, the older kid stood up and left Luffy in confussion. He followed his friend to their shared bedroom but got a slammed door to the face, nearly hitting his face. Luffy did not understand. Why was Spots like this?

The toddler scratched the door and howled pathetically, asking to be let inside but got no response. He whined, keening in distress when, after more than an hour of continuous scratching, he was still not allowed to enter. His front paws chafed from nonstop rubbing and his body was getting tired as well. Disheartened, Luffy made himself comfortable on the carpeted wooden floor and sleep in front of the door. He just had to wait until Spots open the door then.

Morning came amd the door knob rattled ever so slightly. Luffy eyes fluttered open at the sound and he watched with sleepy eyes as Spots leave their room with bandaged hands and a chemical smell. It took a few seconds for the toddler to processed what he saw and he was up to caught on his friend's steps.

"Spots, Spots! Wait up!"

The older did not heed him, though. The human walked down and made his way outside. Once again slamming a door to Luffy's time in order to halted the dragon's pursue. As he was locked behind the kitchen's side door, his ear flaps lowered, dejected at his friend's odd behavior. His little heart squeezed uncomfortably inside his chest but... Luffy couldn't give up now! He was going home in two weeks and Spots wouldn't know about it! He wouldn't leave his friend just like that without any explanation! What if Spots hated him for not telling? 

With a new determination, the little dragon made a beeline for another door to the backyard and searched for his friend.

Day by day, rejection after rejection, Luffy kept on following Spots. Other than slammed and locked doors, Luffy also received cold shoulder and silent treatment. Spots had stopped doing everything with him. From speaking, playing, eating, and even sleeping. The older child refused to shared the same room as Luffy. Although, disheartening and confusing, Luffy accepted it all and chose to stick by Spots' behind. 

He would sleep in front of their bedroom's door and woke up to follow Spots while babbling about something he found interesting, taking extra care to not be visible to Spots' eyes. Always staying behind. Since Spots had stopped eating with Luffy, he would catch his fish far away from their usual place and snacked on berries he found. Solely surviving on raw food and the occassional milk Yellow eyes offered at night.

Tough as it was, Luffy hadn't given up. He continued to do that until the day he had to leave came. Yellow eyes had told him last night that they'd be going in the morning and that Luffy had better sleep early as to not tire on their journey. He did as he was told and made his mind to tell everything to Spots tomorrow even if he knew the older couldn't understand.

Which was today. Yet, when Luffy opened his eyes, the bedroom's door was already opened and Spots was nowhere inside. Luffy searched for him amd found the other child sitting at their usual place, facing ahead in his pajamas. Unusual because Spots did not like wearing pajamas outside. Luffy sat at the forest's edge and began talking.

"Spots! I'm going home now!" When he got no response, he continued.

"I'm going back to see my mama and daddy and Ace and Sabo! Uncle 'Sop and Uncle Woo too! Evewyone!" Luffy took several steps forward to tell the most important thing.

"Spots! We'll still fwiends! We'awe fwiends fowevew! That's why, ya don' need to wowwy, kay! It's a pwomise!" Luffy grinned at him.

As the silence strecthed on, Luffy's grin flattered. He was about to say something more when something hit him on the head.

"Spots--!" Luffy did not need to touch his head to know that he was bleeding because some drops of blood fell to the rocky road. The child was too stunned to make a sound as he lifted his head and saw his friend's face contorted in anger.

"Leave! Just leave me the fuck alone!" Another sharp object hit his head.

"Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone, you stupid dragon! I don't want you!" Spots swung his hand for another hit.

"I hate you! IHATEYOUIHATEYOUIHATEYOU!" in his rage, Spots had picked a rather long and thin rock and threw it. This time, it hurted. A lot.

The pain did not registered at first but once Luffy looked down and saw the attached rock on his face and the blood that trickles from the wound, he wailed. His cry was loud and alarming, stopping Spots from his tantrum and making Yellow eyes appeared in the speed of lightning. 

"That is enough!" Mihawk spat out. This had been going out of control. 

As their guardians for the past few months, Mihawk had noticed how Law acted 'normaly.' As in, no breakdown episodes. None that he aware of, considering the things the young lad had been through. That, or he had been repressing it. Which was why, Mihawk suggested to his best friend (he won't admit it), to give the two boys some time to say goodbyes. He knew sooner or later Law would snap, had been preparing for the worst as the weeks passed. Mihawk did not want to meddle much because Law had been only ignoring Luffy. Until now.

He knelt down in front of the crying child, frowning at the embbed stone on his face. Mihawk cooed at the toddler and cuffed at him in dragonese. Once he got Luffy attention, he distracted him by making gesture with one hand while the other approached the wounded face. Mihawk took the stone out and covered the wound with his handkerchief. He kept cooing and cuffing to calm Luffy and carefully gathered the dragon into his arms, lifting both of them up to go back to his mansion. The swordsman had thought of giving the two more time to say goodbyes but it seemed to him, that Law's behavior and emotion was too unstable. He knew that the older child did not mean to harm Luffy in any way and to prevent further regret, he decided to leave the island early to the meeting spot.

The setting sunset would look beautiful any other day, but to this pirate crew and family of five, anything with a hint of red and orange only brought pain and reminded them of their failure to protect. It had been officially five months, three weeks, one day, seventeen hours, and twenty minutes since Luffy had gone missing. The Akagami had turned the North Blue upside down and scared everyone with how desperate they searched every nook and crany for their youngest member. Their captain and first mate, did try their best to be dandy and composed but the crew could see their pain.

Although Shanks had stopped his obsessive drinking behavior since Ace came abroad, the red haired captain had not touch a drop of alcohol at all. Nowadays, the cheery captain chose to drink water and carry Luffy's milk bottle, filled, everywhere with him. In the case of finding the little tyke at any given moment. His well kept facial hair was denser, covering his lower face. Eyebags were now a permanent accesories along with red rimmed eyes and sunken cheeks. His clothes hung the strong figure loose-ly and his eyes dimmed slowly as days passed.

Their sniper wasn't any better. As first mate, with their captain currently unavailable, he had to step in and took reign of the ship and their crew. Not that anyone minded, but it hurted them to see Benn acted so strong when they knew he was as bad as their chief was. Even the older two siblings, who usually so energetic and full of laughters were quiet. At first, they did try to play but the automatic calling to their younger brother had dampened the mood. They stopped playing then, choosing to spend their time by their parents side or tire themself out by looking for their brother.

Luffy was small. Yet, the hole he left everyone was gigantic to be filled.

On the day Dracule Mihawk suddenly showed up at their hideout, the crew got tense and wary as they did not want their captain and first mate to be taken advantage of. However, to their surprise, the shichibukai not only spoke in dragonese but also brought news of Luffy with him. Their captain, was hysteric to say the least. Upset of the possibility that this might be a prank or false hope. Mihawk had not said anything to reassured or claiming his good deeds to be true beside pulling out dark, rounded scales that could only belong to their missing member.

Shanks cried his heart out at the sight of his baby precious scales and accepted the token of proof with careful hands. He had a look on his face that implored his best friend to bring his son back. He'd gave his life, anything, to repayed back but Mihawk refused. Unnecessary he said, since he only looked out for fellow D. The only thing the swordman asked in return was to give him two weeks before returning Luffy, due to complicated reasons. Shanks wanted to object but Benn agreed on the term for him.

"Why?" He asked after Mihawk left, incredulous at the notion of spending more time away from his lost son.

"There must be something important that Mihawk couldn't share with us. He did mentioned another ward, a child. Perhaps the child befriended Luffy. It would be cruel to separate them suddenly." Benn hugged his lover, rubbing his back shoothingly and nuzzled the other's hair.

"I missed him, Benn." Cried Shanks to his shoulder.

"I know, love. We all do. Just two more weeks, yeah? And all of us going to be together again."

"Okay, okay. You're right." Shanks weakly smiled.

"Of course I do. I'm your first mate. Who else can keep up with ya, eh?" They chuckled softly, hearts lighter than it had been for months.

Now, they both held hands while staring at the horizon, waiting for Mihawk's dark boat to show. They waited and waited until the sky turned dark. Shanks had become impatient and jittery from nerves, pacing around the deck. Meanwhile, Benn rocked their older boys to sleep. The two had blamed themselves for not noticing their baby brother was outside during that stormy night. The incident took a toll on everyone, including their two boys. As parents, both him and Shanks had consoled the brothers as best as they could but guilt wasn't able to be remobed unless the person moved on. Both Ace and Sabo had nightmares of Luffy's scream and it messed their sleeping schedule. Especially Ace's, with not enough sleep, his narcolepsy had gotten worse. That was why they took a lot of naptime like this.

At exactly seven o'clock, there was green-ish hue approaching their ship. One of the crew had hollered at them, notifying the arrival of the swordman. Shanks had ran to welcome him, Benn following close behind. Mihawk boarded their ship wearing dark long coat, his usual attire of wine shirt and leather pants with his sword strapped behind. They couldn't see Luffy with him but before they could protest, something inside Mihawk's clothes moved. The man tapped at the moving thing several times before the bundle made its way up to mihawk chest and popped up from the coat.

"LUFFY!" everyone shouted, happy at seeing the little guy again.

The baby gave them giant green eyes before he grinned toothlessly and wiggled out of Mihawk's coat, chittering in joy. His temporaray guardian helped him and placed him on the deck floor, letting him run to Shanks. The two colided in the middle and Shanks laughed jovially while twirling them both.

"Mama! Mama!" Luffy called, licking Shanks everywhere he could reach.

"Oh my boy, you're back! You're back! Oh, look at how big you've gotten!" Having his son back in his arms once more, felt right.

"Daddy! Ace! Sabo! I'm home!" Luffy exclaimed when he saw Benn and his brothers behind his mama.

"Ya sure are, bud. How's the adventure?" Benn inquired. He had agreed with Shanks to not traumatize Luffy and to focus on the good thing first when they met him.

"Daddy, Daddy! Ya know, what? I have a fwiend now!" As his son continued to recite his journey, Shanks turned towards Mihawk, asking silently of the scar beneath his son's left eye. They moved away a bit to talk discreetly.

"They fought. My other ward didn't take well to the news and had finally reach his limit." The explanation was vague as shit but Shanks hummed anyway.

"That ward's Luffy new friend, yeah?"

"It appears so."

Considering the way Luffy talked about his friend, his son did not put a grudge against them. So would, Shanks.

"What do you gonna do with them?"

"I'd wait," he quieted for a bit, eyes thinking. "If what I thought to be correct, he's going to be handfull."

Shanks made a weirded out face as his friend chuckled lowly. Whatever, the red hair knew that Mihawk's scheme--despite for personal musings--wouldn't hurt the person, unless they deserve it. And, judging by Luffy's reaction and mischievious flat face his friend was having, all would turned well.

"Mama! Yellow eyes! Come hewe, let's eat!" His child waved at them. The two snorted, such a Luffy thing to do. They partied hard and long, celebrating the come back of Luffy and as a thank you for Mihawk for all he had done. Shanks had ordered Limejuice to make a special wine delivery for Mihawk as well, a token of gratitude.

Hidden between thick mist, inside an empty mansion, sat a boy with no hope towards life. He had cried his heart out, creating a mess of the once neat and tidy place. Not caring in the slightest if the owner would scold or kick him out. Red rimmed eyes and bloodied knuckles decorated him. His tears dried not long after he had broken some of his bones, punching things around did not bode well it seemed. Oh, well... not that it mattered. Afterall, Law was the scum of the earth. The worst of them all.

Killing his own sister, killing others, killing his adopted father, and even injuring his best friend. The very first that had stood by him during his lowest and was there to anchored him before he could drift away. And what he did? He smirked darkly.

That was right. He hurted him, nearly stealing his sight forever. All because Law was emotionally and mentally unstable but excuses were just excuses, right? He should be able to control himself better and not easily succumbed to rage. His friend had been sweet, caring, and so, so understanding while Law was being such a jerk. Rurri had accompanied him through his temper tantrum, never leaving his side, and what Law did? He was such a spoiled ungrateful ingrate, wasn't he? Why did he always late when it comes to realizing how valuable the people in his life were? Fuck!

And now, Rurri's gone...

His stupidity brought a chocked sob out of his throat and a painful throb to his eyes. Rurri was gone and Law hadn't say goodbye. Instead, he had pushed Rurri away these past two weeks, hoping his act would lessen the blow he would get once Rurri leave. Law had gotten himself a blackhole in his heart. He regretted it so, so, bad. But what could he do? Everything was too late already.

As the boy closed his eyes, his body thrummed with unknown energy. Slowly, the bare skin was replaced by scales. His limbs elongated and paws with sharp claws changed the once human hands and feet. All his hair were gone and in its stead were scaly ear flaps. His body leaned forward as a long tail grow. By the time the transformation finished, Law had not realized what happened to him.

"DAMN IT ALL!" He roared.

Ro... roared?

The sound flabbergasted him. Did... did Rurri come back?!

Hope bubbled inside his chest and Law ran outside, oblivious that he was on four legs instead of two. The night sky greeted him as he ran outside, calling out Rurri's name desperately.

"Rurri! Rurri! Where are you, Rurri!" When Law got no response aside from the echoed growling, he changed his course to their usual place.

Perhaps, perhaps, you'd be there, Rurri!

"Rurri! Wait for me, Rurri! I'm sorry! I'm sorry Rurri! I was being stupid!" Law shouted to the forest, still running to their spot. His heart dropped when he saw no one at the river bed. He unconsciously clawed the soil and cried with eyes close, whimpering.

"I'm so sorry, Rurri! I-I was being an idiot! I should have spent the time with you, I-I should have understand that you miss your family! I'm sorry for being selfish, Rurri!"

He got no response... Law's heart clenched in hurt and nausea overpowered him. The child wandered around, calling for his friend until his body failed him. Law fall on his side, breathing hard from exhaustion and pain. He was about to curled in when he caught sight of his limbs. Slowly, Law felt his panic resurfacing. He examined his limbs once more, making sure that they were indeed his and in fact, attached to his body. After moving them many times, Law reluctantly came to term that they were his. He made his way towards the river at the same time the clouds moved to reveal the moon's light.

The water surface reflected the light, glimmering like crystals as the current rippled gently. Law approached the edge warily. A part of him had already making speculation but the other part of him had shut down and shook in fear. One step, two step and he took a deep breath, bracing himself of what he might see.

What stared back at him was not his usual human face Law had seen all his life but a rounded shape, so familiar, covered in white scales. Big yet slanted yellow pair of eyes blinked in disbelief and horror. Ear flaps, round head, short snout, and scaly skin... 

I-i-it can't be... W-what's the meaning of this?!

Law was staring at Rurri's white dragon form!

"W-WHAT?!" He roared into the night.

Chapter Text

As one of the island in the North blue, it was normal for the temperature and weather to become colder during night time. If throughout the day the island was covered with thick mist, at night, one would only see white wherever they go. Tonight was no exception. Dracule 'Hawkeye' Mihawk had been gone to return one of his wards and came back exactly three days later. With the help of his eerie green light candles and practice memory, the man docked his boat on the secluded part of the island. Although, the risk of threspassing was low due to the geographical condition of the island he lived in, no one could know when or how an intruder would come. To be safe, the swordsman chose being meticulously careful that way.

Barely stepping a foot out of his boat, he heard a roar far into the island. He was quite exhausted from the never ending party the Akagami was notorious of and adding to the back and forth journey also deplete his energy. Mihawk sighed, accepting his fate. With that, he hurriedly went to where the sound came from. 

The seasoned pirate found his ward hunching over the river edge. A white tail swishing agitatedly, wings laid on the floor, and ear flaps laid flat on his head. Considering the state his living room was in--disastrous, like a whale had been trashing there in a form of an angsty teenager--Mihawk guessed that this was indeed a new information for his ward. Just like he had thought.

"Law" he called. The child jumped, obviously startled that he plunged into the river. Mihawk waited with hands clasped behind his back until the white figure stop trashing like fish without water and grip the river bed like his life depended on it. 

Dramatic.

"M-Mihawk-san... you're back..." a pair of yellow eyes similar to his own blinked at him.

"That I am." The swordsman watched as the gear inside the younger one worked. His ward made an equivalent sound of a gasp.

"W-wait--! I-I--! Y-you--!" The child lifted his body out of the water only to stare at his own body, chasing his tail to make sure of something. He even went back to checked over his reflection on the river. His whole body language screamed defeated as reality sunk in.

"I-it's real..." his pupil slanted as he turned to faced Mihawk. "Y-you... you knew..." Law whispered in disbelief.

"Indeed," the older turned around and walk towards his mansion. "Come."

A rustling leaves and clumsy steps of newborn baby was all Mihawk got as confirmation.

They enter through the kitchen door and passed the disastrous living room. Law flinched at the sight, he was ashamed with his behaviour and from Mihawk's silent glance at him, Law accepted his punishment to clean this room later. The two made their way to Mihawk's personal study in silence. Law hesistated to step inside. Somehow, the room felt suffocating and unpleasant. Rurri, his mind supplied unhelpfully, making Law frown.

"Shut up!" He whispered to himself, pretending to act like Mihawk hadn't heard it.

The older pirate sat on the mahogany cushioned chair, arms folded. He gestured for Law to sit in front of him. However, thinking how difficult it must be to sit on a chair with unfamiliar body, Law opted to copy Rurri by sitting on his hindlegs like a dog in the middle of the room. Being on his four legs sure did make everything bigger.

"How did you know?" Law asked. 

"Trafalgar D. Water Law." The man said, shocking Law that he knew his full name. He growled unconsciously, suspicious now. Did Mihawk do research on him? Before he could voice his accusation, Mihawk cut him.

"All who bear the letter are gifted with the abillity," the older started. "However, only those with pure lineage can access it." 

Suddenly the man morphed and Law watched with a hanging jaw as Mihawk transformed into a giant dragon that reach the room's high ceiling. Two big twirling horns adorned the head like a crown. Narrow face but long snout with several strands of rubbery beard underneath the jaw. Legless coiling body like that of a snake and vast thin wings that covered the entirity of the room's walls. Piercing yellow eyes and sharp needle like teeth stared him down. The dragon's rusty color reminded Law of fall season and dying fire camp. A rumbling noise vibrated the air as Mihawk's dragon's head stop in front of him, hypnotizing the shook child.

"This, is the D family's secret."

"How come my parents didn't warn me about this?" Law asked Mihawk, whom changed back to his human form and fancied a glass of wine. Admittedly, the older's transformation had blown Law's mind to a whirlwind. There were so many questions needed to be answered!

"It is only a speculation of mine, but you are from Flevance, no?" The pair of yellow eyes shifted to him. Gulping, Law hesitantly nodded.

"Our ability is not one to be shared with for safety reasons," Mihawk twirled his glass in slow motion.

"As I've said, only those with the letter are gifted but not all allowed to access it. Thus, such rarity become a lost knowledge and those who do have, hide it." Mihawk stopped to see if his ward caught on what he was trying to say. The young child's expression let the older know that he needed to continue.

"For centuries Flevance had mined a toxic ore," Law clenched his fist, a flash of that nightmare replayed in front of him.

"Yet, only recently its affect came as repercussions--"

"What are you trying to say here!" Law snarled.

"In short, Law, your family were not aware of this because they had lost the ability due to Amber Lead."

What?

"Amber Lead made whomever bore it lessen one's life expectancy, yes? As such, it is not too far fetch that the previous generations were not able to transform because they were ill." 

"You mean, because the ability was lost, my ancestors didn't find it necessary for their decendants to know as it was a secret anyway? And it would be better for them to not know, lest they became curious about it? Until me?" Law tried to summarize.

"Yes." 

Holy shit...

First, Law thought dragons were mythical creature. A thing that human made from their creativity. Then, he met and befriended one. Who he had thought, the only dragon left in the world. Yet, as it turned out, the last dragon had a family and he was one too, as well as his guardian. And from his explanation, there could possibly more out there?! 

My life's a joke.

"You said, pure lineage... What does that mean?" 

"Pure lineage are those who have only D blood," Mihawk raised his hand to prevent an interuption from Law. "It means these people were born from two D biological parents. If one chose to reproduced with a non-D, the child and possible decendants have no ability to transform. Unless they reproduced with another pure lineage D."

"So, only children with more than a half pure D blood in them can transform?" Law inquired, processing how the ability work hereditarily.

"Yes."

"But you don't have a D in your name?" Law looked at Mihawk weirdly.

The man did not gave him any answer but moving his eyes slowly to an antique sword display. Curious, Law walked there and inspected the object in detail. His eyes widen as he read what was stamped on the blade in elegant font.

Racul D. Hawk

"Racul... as in, Aracula The Snake Whisperer from West Blue? One of the rumoured Phantom Swords masters?! That ghost story was real!?" he shrieked in disbelief.

"Aracula D. Assas was her real name. How it twisted into that legend, I did not know. She was the woman I told you before." Mihawk finished his wine.

"The one that taught you this?" Referring to dragonese.

"Correct. On rare occassion, a D could develop an egg alone." 

"Asexually?" This fact was a novelty to a medical student like Law.

It wasn't unknown for some lizard species to be able to reproduced asexually. Komodo dragon in South Blue, for example, was one with such ability. The species was also one of the oldest reptile to have existed to this day besides dinosaurs. Cringing internally, Law guessed, because dragons were also reptile, it is possible for that to happen.

.

.

.

Huh... hold on a second!

"Mihawk-san, y-you--!" Law realized a little too late. Aracula had been a legend nearly for two centuries!

"It is late. We should rest, now." The man stood up with his empty glass in hand, leaving a stuttering dragon with existential crisis behind.

"Do clean in the morning, Law." That brought the boy back.

"W-wait! Mihawk-san! Mihawk-san, wait!"

Law clicked his tongue in annoyance, crawling weirdly towards the stream. Tch. It had been several weeks now since his first transformation and he still wasn't able to control the damn thing! He was in his human form a couple seconds ago before suddenly fall flat on his belly, already in dragon form. He grumbled, glaring at his limbs for their betrayal.

The days after that night, Law had pestered the older dragon to tell him more of what he knew about dragons. But unfortunately, the older himself did not know much aside from what he experienced. Apparently, since Law was a pure lineage D, he should been able to transform as easy as breathing. However, because he was just recently freed from Amber Lead and had never transformed before, this phase that hatchling (babies) usually have, was new to him. In other words, he gritted his teeth while stomping.

I'm a fucking baby dragon!

The thought gave him too much headache than he would have like. Five feet long and three and a half feet tall, but couldn't walk? Law looked like a fucking albino slug tying to crawl! No wonder people hide themselves rather than looking like a clown like this, he thought bitterly.

But Rurri didn't

He stopped on his track, still half way to their favorite spot. Law had asked Mihawk about it. Why didn't Rurri transformed to his human form, and the older said that it would be reckless to show just anyone who they are as a human. Law could understand the logic behind it, the wise-ness of it but... he wondered what his friend would look like.

Would they be a girl or a boy? Would they have dark or fair skin? Blond hair? Brown? Red or black, maybe? Short or long? Tame, wild or wavy? What was their eye color? Do they have freckles? How would their smile looked like?

What would they sound like?

His heart clenched thightly and Law banished the thought. He would keep this regret and guilt his whole life, just like the previous mistakes he made but what was done, was done. There'd be no turning back. No second chances. Law just had to man up and own it. He had decided that if ever, the opportunity came again, he wanted to apologize and thank Rurri properly. For now... he had breakfast to catch.

Three months and a couple dozens of scratched skin later, Law was finally abled to control his transformation and aced his ugly walking. No one would believe him how relieved he was when he could walk normally. It was addicting, to be able to move without fear of looking stupid, and once he was far enough from the house, Law would practice running in his dragon form. He did not master it in one day but not as long as walking either. 

Currently, he was running, jumping, and gliding through the forest, enjoying his daily working out. The cool breeze and smell of damp earth were freeing. The texture of leaves and moss against his paws, grounding. The slim built of his reptile form, supported him to be agile and light. His breath harsh as he add up the speed. Without Rurri by his side, Law had more than plenty time to himself and he spent it to explore the island thoroughly.

The place was actually big, with a mountain and all. So far, Law had found several clearings and flower fields, a beautiful hidden cove, two connecting caves, and a beach with stone arch on the other side of the island. He rarely ventured to that beach area, though. One, he was a devil fruit user and two, the backside of the island is in calm belt area. Therefore, sea kings (he saw an unfortunate seagull eaten by a giant crab).

Whenever Mihawk left to one of his trips, Law would pack a bag and camp far away from the house. It wasn't that he preferred the wilderness over safe and warm place but there were too many memory with Rurri. And every time Law caught on his flashbacks, it took him quite some time to be in the right mindset and mood. He did not want to repeat that night again, Law shuddered as he recalled it. He did not need to give Mihawk another ammunition to embarrassed him. The older's silent teasing over his weird walking was enough blackmail for a lifetime.

The reason why he went out early in the morning was because the swordsman had given him a suspicious look for several days now. The man would stare at him, calculating and then muttering to himself in thought. Wasn't that creepy? Especially last night. After dinner, when he was washing the dishes, Mihawk had came and asked how his wings were developing. The older even told him to transform and started to examined his wings! Law's instinct was warning him to stay as far from Mihawk as possible.

Thus, he left to visit one of the flower field. Located somewhere in the east part of the island, an amalgam area of white, pink and purple spread over a hill side. Morning dew and light mist made the scenery ethereal and soothing. Law slowed down his jog to a comfortable walking pace and laid on his belly near the flower bed. He inhaled the fragrant flowers perfume and relaxed. The world around him darken as he was pulled into dreamland by the after-glow of a good workout.

Or so, he thought.

Law frowned as he felt wind around him from different direction, and the way his limbs drop towards gravity alarmed him that something was not right. He fluttered his double lids eyes open and grunted in disorientation. Did the field become smaller? No, that wasn't possible. His a mind in a daze as the world become a miniature and the hold around his middle tightened gently.

HUH ?!

That did not feel right. Then, Law realized that he was the one getting further and further from the ground. He let out an ear splitting shriek in shock. His front legs flailing before clutching at the thing on his stomach, which turned out to be another scaly limb. Only one could be responsible for this!

"What is wrong with you, old man!?" Law glared up at the older dragon, growling his annoyance.

"Oi, answer me!" He hated looking like a scruffed kitten, yowling helplessly like this and the old man did not even spare him a glance! The audacity! The superiority! Ugh!

"Put. Me. Down! I'm not a child, Mihawk-san!" Law tried to break out from the coiling limb but it was impossible. He hufted when nothing seemed to work and Mihawk only fly silently.

Stupid old man and their stupid indifferent self!

"We are here." Mihawk announced. Law stopped grumbling to himself amd look down at... the south beach? 

"What---why? Why are we here?" Law asked. Mainly confused but also nervous--scared--from the unsettling feeling in his gut.

"It is time." 

"Time? What time? Time for what--" Law had never, ever, screamed that loud in his entire twelve years of life before. The fucking asshole of a man had just dropped him from the fucking sky!

"YOU JERK--!" And, with a brust of water, Law free-fall to a sea full of monters. Above him, Mihawk watched his ward drowned like a rock and got eaten by a hungry eel sea king. The man sighed.

"It is not time." He had miscalcullated.

Wet and cold, the human Trafalgar Law stomped his way through the dense forest, muttering and cursing at a certain swordsman. Yet, this occurance served to be the first of many, many, life threatening flying courses.

As the month progressed, Law find himself in paranoia. His sleeps was no longer short from nightmare but wary of the man's silent attacks. No more could he stomach a big amount of food for he had throw up his lunch when Mihawk suddenly snatched him from the ground and flung him to the calm belt. Law also had grown a habit of hiding because his landlord was a crazy kidnapper that likes to put him in high places with no way out beside flying or jumping to his own death. Last but not least, Law would make sure to always bring a warm and fluffy clothes, just in case if the bastard decided for Law to have an impormtu swimming again.

The tortures continued way until it was a year's mark that Law had been co-living with the older dragon. After three months of heart attack flying lessons, finally, Law was able to fly on his own to his heart's desire. Slow and long distance? Piece of cake. Fast and short? Easy peazy lemon squezy. All day speedy flight? He could do it with a blink of an eye.

He had to admit that those unorthodox method had trained him in more ways than just flying and he hated to say this, but he had Mihawk to thank for. As a subtle token of gratitude, Law had harvested some of their produce and caught a wild boar to make a nice fancy dinner today. He had just finished cleaning the its guts when Mihawk found him.

"Packed up for a week. We are leaving in thirty minutes." And... off he went. The child blinked and sighed in resignation. Guess he had to dry aged the boar then.

This was the first time the older had offered to take him outside the island. Normally, Mihawk would refused his request to join him on his trips. Law did not know nor he wanted to know why, but he was grateful. Though vast and beautiful, the island had bored him already. They used Mihawk's eccentric boat to sail the sea and blessed the higher spirits or whatever to not send them in a storm. The journey was not long, only a full day right before dinner. They arrived at a winter island with no snow. It was freezing, probably several degrees below zero.

After they docked the boat, Mihawk led them straight to a nice inn. Law stood by the man as he payed two double-bed room for four night. The younger lifted his eyebrow when the lady gave them a big discount, fluttering her eyes and shaking her overcapacity chest from its sockets to Mihawk. Seriously? Law did not understand how she considered Mihawk attractive. He gagged.

They went to the third floor, and enter a room at the end of the hallway. It was spacious. A fireplace, a sitting room, a small pantry, two wardrobes, and two medium sized single beds. Mihawk had taken the one by the wall, leaving him to take on the one next to the window that overlooked the main street. The buildings and the houses were grey and somber, the settlement stretched thin up on the hills, and smoke dancing in the sky. It had its own charm, Law thought.

"What are we doing here?" He turned to Mihawk, who putting away his stuffs.

"I have business to take care of. Do as you like, but be at the dock after breakfast on the fourth day. Late, and I will leave."

Then, the poker faced man placed a pouch on his hand. Before he could ask, as usual, the man left him with no explanation. He huffed, annoyed at the man and opened the pouch. It was empty. He stared at the closed door and weighed the pouch on his hands. Did Mihawk just gave him a task to fill this? Tch. Bothersome asshole old men, he thought with disdain.

Thankfully, the inn that Mihawk chose gave three meals a day, so Law did not have to worry about that. He could always go fishing if the inn did not offer meals, no biggie. After finishing of a plate of goulash and politely decline the dinner rolls, Law was off to the street. It was around six but the sky was already dark. The street was illuminated with yellow lights from shops and houses as well as old oil lenterns. The inn he was staying at was located in a strategic place. Down the road would be the market, and left from there was the docks. Further up, was houses and communal space. In front and around the inn were shops of anykind. Bakery, florist, butcher, wood shop, clothing stores, jewelry and trinkets, etc. 

He could visit those stores later but for now, he wanted to see places or area, where he could possibly filled the empty pouch. Law went west, far from the nice and lively area he was in. The further he went, the more quiet and dirty the place was. Lamps turned to lenterns and then to short candles. Fine fabrics to old and rough materials that did not offer warmth. Stone walkway to ice covered soil. It did not take a genius that this part of the island was a slump.

He took notes on how this area seemed to lack a clinic despite the amount of sick people loitering the streets. How curious. The next day, he went to check the doctor's practice on the main street and look at the prices. Compared to his old hometown, these prices were actually not much but for an island like this, Law guessed that they were overpriced. He could only assumed of how much the practice charged for a checkup. Not pretty, yet it gives him an idea on how to get money. 

That was the start on how Law went around the west area and help people with their symptoms. He gave them home-made medicine with local ingredients he found last night and in exchange, they payed Law with whatever money they have. Sometimes, the people did not have money but they did offer him other services or favors. By the end of his first day, Law got fifty thousand Belli, three bottle of prized wine, handmade leather bag, and over ten sewing favors, as well as a bag of fresh cod. 

He hid the money underneath his socks and put the wine bottles inside his new bag while carrying the bag of fish. As he walk back towards the inn, making a round through the market first, he was knocked over by someone. A store owner chase the person not far behind. Judging by the smell, whomever it was had stole fish. Law shrugged his shoulder, not his business and came back to his place.

On the second day, Law offered his service to the other side of the island, where the living situation was similar to that on the west's side. This time, he got himself eighty thousand Belli, one bottle of wine, five bottle of apple ciders, fifteen sewing favors, a dozen man power service, a seal pelt, another bag of cod, and a gazpacho family recipe. He shook his head as he organized all the hings he received today. Perhaps he could try making that cuisine once he got back to Mihawk's island? Who knew?

The sun was setting and he made his way to the inn, enjoying the cold afternoon. Law had passed the market when someone stole his bag of fish. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and ran to pursue the thieve. The culprit led him to an area behind the main street, where small cardboard houses were stacked against each other. He frowned as he noticed that this place was dangerous.

He lost the person, preferring to pay more attention to his surrounding then to get back the fish he did not really want. Thankfully, his rough and dark appearance made those sketchy people hesitate to approached him. Law knew he could handle himself well but he was still wary of group attack. His mindless wandering brought him to an alley way where he heard grunting and taunting. Interested, he took a peak of what was happening.

Two boys with identical hats were kicking the shit out of a pollar bear. One of the boys hang Law's bag of fish above the bear's head, mocking its inability to take back the fish. The bear's fur was dirty and there were parts on the fur that looked like dried blood. The animal was thin despite bunddled in layers of rags. Its beady eyes sad and empty, gazing at the fish with such a longing. The eyes spoke to him, reminding him on the last time he had saw Rurri. The dragon, too, had a longing gaze for Law to spend time with them and he had refused cruelly.

Before Law knew what he was doing, he walked towards the scene and called his power. With a small movement of his mess, he cut the two boys' heads. The organs fell to the dirty floor and Law took the chance to glared them down. He kicked both heads like a soccer ball, huffing when the headless body ran to the other way but smirk at the screams in satisfaction. He glanced at the staring bear and did not offer a word as he left.

"I'm-I'm sorry!" He turned his head to look at the now bowing bear. Law stood there in silence as the bear fidgeted. The bear picked up the fallen bag of fish and stepped forward to return it to Law.

"I'm sorry! Please, take it back!" They trembled in fear. Law left the bear with a sentence he often heard.

"Do as you like."

The next day, to Law's annoyance, he got himself a follower. Law wanted to laugh at how bad the bear was trying to hide but he chose to keep silent and continue with his day. This time, he approached the upper area, somewhere near the hill where he could see fields and farms. Throughout the day, the bear kept following him and he could hear the occasional apologize the bear made. Law only rolled his eyes everytime that happened. 

So meek. No wonder they got bulied.

He finished before the sun set because there weren't many citizen living there but he sure did pocketted more money than the first day. Sixty-five thousand Belli, three pairs of knit gloves, two sepherd pies, a jug of milk, a tray of juices, cans of jams, one big wheel of cheese, a carton of eggs, a slab of dry aged pig, and a basket of breads. He had his lips in a line when he received that one. So, Law went back but struggled due to the sizes of things he got. That was when the bear decided to showed up.

"I-I-I c-can help you." They whispered from behind him. Of course Law had to turned around, right? Yet the bear back away, flusterred.

"I-I-I'm sorry!" Law wanted to make a sarcasm and rolled his eyes but he was too tired after helping a birth. Wordlessly, he held out his hand that carry the basket of abomination. When the bear kept on bowing, Law grunted.

"Are you helping or not?" He glared the bear, which get the other moving.

"Y-yes, sir!" They took the basket, the jug of milk, and the tray of juices. Together, they descended the hill with the bear attempted at making conversation.

"I'm Bepo! I'm a mink!" 

"Trafalgar Law." 

Law gave Bepo the bread, pies, juices and all the gloves before he went inside the inn. After he took a shower, he began to organize the stuff he got, which was plenty. All the money he got was stuffed inside the pouch for the first time. Law released his breath when it was full and heavy, three days of work had gotten him one hundred and ninety-five thousand Belli. Not bad at all. He could easily gotten himself one set of medical equipment and a set of high quality winter clothes. He did not know what Mihawk planned for this money but Law definitely could goad on his achievement.

The next morning, he woke up early he took a shower and ate breakfast before taking all of his stuff with him. The street was bustling with life as people bought fresh produce and went to work. Law waited on Mihawk's boat, securing the stuffs he got on the secret compartement below the boat's floor. True to his words, the swordsman came right on time. He payed the fee and then made Law help him with his shopping.

Once all the things were stored, they sailed away. Law pretended not noticing three pairs of eyes watching him from behind wooden crate. Several miles from the island later, Mihawk opened his palm to him and Law gave the heavy pouch to the man. A proud smirk on his face. The man, again, did not react but pocketing the money to his coat, making Law huffed in disappointment.

It was late when they arrived at Mihawk's island and because of the looming storm they saw, Law had transformed into his dragon form and let his guardian strapped their things. Though, he was the one who stored all the food in the kitchen. While Law was busy, Mihawk had strode off doing seas know what. Law finished late and ready to hit the fluffy mattress when he caught the sight of the pouch on his desk. Beside it, was another pouch with different color but similar thickness. 

Law opened the new pouch and was shocked to see bills. He sat down and counted the money inside just to get speechless. Mihawk had gave him the exact amount of money he earned. Not just that, in front of him, on the table behind the pouches, was a bag of newest medical equipments and a set of well made clothes with his favorite color. Next to it was a dragon figurine of Rurri and a bowl of familiar dark scales. His hand covered his hanging jaw and a sob ripped out of his throat.

The figurine was made from a mixture of plastic and silicone. It had joints that abled Law to arrange different poses. The details the artist put on Rurri's scale was amazing and the color was also beautiful. Law could practically hear Rurri's dragonese at different poses. This... this was amazing... Carefully, Law brought the toy close to his chest and relished on the feeling that it was the real Rurri he was hugging.

Just then, Law saw his calendar and a new set of tears flowed out his eyes.

Today is my birthday...

Everything had been a lot to take in lately that Law stopped paying attention to dates. He wiped off his tears to try his new clothes and they fit perfectly on him. With shaky hand, he touch the scales and inhaled deep. Round and small but tough and smooth just like their owner. Law did not know what he can do with Rurri's scales but he was extremely thankful to Mihawk for keeping these. His last tangible proof of befriending a great companion. One he would never forgot his entire life. Smiling weakly for the first time since Rurri left, Law promised himself to take over cooking for a week.

Stoic, indifferent, asshole old man...

Thank you.

Chapter Text

Ever since that first trip, Mihawk had taken Law to his outings more often. They would stay at an island for a couple days, Mihawk doing his own things and Law with his little errand as a travelling doctor. He could do more than concocting homemade remedy now with the bag of medical tools Mihawk gave him. Casting broken bones, stitching injuries, and performing surgeries were his top three saught after services.

By the power of words mouth to mouth, his alias as the 'surgeon of death' had spread far and vast. Funnily, for a scary name, the story behind was not as horrid. They went to an island that was down with an epidemic and Law had the knowledge how to cure it. Using his power to cut off the infected limbs and a threat to not say a word of his appearance, the people agreed to be treated. Because he had saved too many citizens from death by doing surgery and his refusal to gave them his name, they called him 'surgeon of death.' 

Pretty cool alias to have, in Law's opinion.

What was not cool, however, was the discovery that North Blue had poor health care for normies. As in people who are not noble. Coming from Flevance, a city that flourished from its medical knowledge and high percentage of nation health, Law mistakenly assumed that that was the case for other islands. Oh, naive little thing he was.

He should have known that nobles and government were pesky greedy rats. Other than prioritizing the upper class, the common thing that he found was the overcharged price for professional medical treatment. How ridiculous was it for a stitching service to cost twenty thousand Belli?! Even his parents' hospital only charged half, free following checkups, ointment, and thread removal! Law had scared his patients everytime he needed to redo the wonky job those fraud doctors did. Sue him, this kind of things triggered his sailor mouth and living with Mihawk did not really help at all (the man tested his patience daily). Doctors must not perform depending on how much they are paid! That was unethical! Perhaps that was why Mihawk had brought him along.

While Law did demand an exchange for his service, he had never forced any of his patients to returned them in money. One, he would have a dream Cora scolding him for being a little shit. Two, he would be reminded of Rurri's unearthly kindness and felt ashamed of his scheming (bless his best friend for being a goody two shoes). And, somehow, he got the feeling Mihawk would learn about it and confiscated his Rurri figurine. Law would rather go through another flying lesson than be away from the toy.

Speaking of dragons, Law had noticed that his stunted reptile developments had gradually catch up. After basic walking, running, and flying, Law now have sensitive senses as well. He could hear approximately more than a mile range of sound and see better in the dark too. Quite handy, really, especially during the times Law snucked in the hospitals and stole several medicines. That, and to alerted him of stalkers.

The dragons did come back several times to Bepo's island after Law's birthday. They mostly spent two nights there, Mihawk had openly admitted that he had taken advantage of the inn's keeper feelings for discount and because the older liked the island's cheese Law got. One of the best, he said. Due to this, now they made a regular errand for cheese at least every two or three months. And everytime Law was about to do his round on the island, he heard and smelt the three extra baggage that spying him.

He did not even want to know how the victim went along, making jokes and laughing with his previous attackers. Then again, the world never worked in a logical way his whole life. Bepo would showed up at the time when Law had finished for the day and had too much stuff to carry as usual. The mink would talk his ear off about small things Law did not really care for and then the other two would closely tailed them. At first, it did not bother him much but after the third time it happened and incidentally, Law was extremely exhausted that day, he had had enough.

"If you have no shame for spying on me and ate what Bepo gave you, like pathetic little rats you are, then leave!" Law sneered at them, confronting the two by using his ability to swap himself with a little rock behind them.

"You have no place nor right in this world unless you earned it." Law was not exagerrating or trying to scared them. That was just the hard truth.

"A-aye, aye, sir! W-we're sorry!"

"Can--can we help you, sir?" 

Law assessed them for a moment, tilting his head in consideration. He did need help with keeping tabs on his patients and it would be nice to have someone writing down the notes for him. He also need someone to organized the crowd in line, they sure became a problem nowadays. Looking back at the waiting boys, Law scoffed and left.

"Sir, yes, sir! Sacchi in your service!"

"Penguin too! We'll try not to disappoint you, boss!"

Their loud enthusiasm already made Law regretted his decision. Well, he wouldn't be losing too much anyway. He would just gave them the things he did not want or need.

Two years later

In another time, a different universe, where Law had no one to ground him during his lowest and not a descendant of dragons, he'd be a stray on the streets with an obssession to take Doflamingo down for good. He'd be living off of alley ways with his ragtag group, stealing for food, blackmailing for money, and practicing his power as well as medical knowledge to unfortunate bastards.

Today, at fifteen years old, the Law of this universe was currently hands deep in someone's liver, pumping out half digested alcohol. The teen was on one of his doctor round with his three assistants when a skinny bald boy and a disability woman came to them, begging for them to save their great grand mother. Law would have gone anyway, without Bepo begging him with that small beady eyes of him. He still clicked his tongue for appearance, though. The four teens were led to the two's rackety house, where a wrinkly old woman passed out in a puddle of puke.

From the smell that clung to the woman's dirty clothes, Law had figured that she was a heavy drinker or had recently took a bath in beer. He finished the surgery quickly and briefed the woman that their grandma was stable. Law spoke thoroughly that if the old woman went back to her bad habit, she'd have another attack that would ended up lethal. He asked his in training assistants to look after the family while he finished his rounds.

Sometime during dinner time, Law came back to the family's house with some bags of food he received. Everyone welcomed him happily and cheered at the sight of free food. He took his and sat away from them. While Sacchi and Penguin jumped at the chance to monopolized the young woman's attention--soaking in it like a dehydrated sponge--Bepo, glanced at him and shyly took a sit next to Law. The bear apologized and ate in silence. It wasn't a necessary gesture, to accompany him, but Law appreciated it.

Half way to their meal, the patient woke up. Her grand children hugged and explained everything to her. Though, Law did not set his eyes on them, he knew the grandma was digging holes at his skull. No one talk for at least five minutes until the oldest in the room whispered to her grand daughter to bring something. The one armed woman was unsure with the decision but they had nothing else to give, so she did as she was told. She came back with a long sword. A different style from Mihawk's but to Law, its beauty was enchanting. Call him crazy for saying this but Law felt the sword was indeed, calling him.

HoldMeHoldMeHoldMeHoldMe--

"Young man," the grandma called weakly, pointing at Law.

"This sword has been passed down to me from my father, and his father, and the father before, and so on. It has been within this family for as long as this town has existed. I am not aware of its origin but I do know that of its story." She motioned for her grand daughter to place the sword to Law's hand.

He took it with grace and carefully hold the gorgeous weapon. After three years with Mihawk, watching with adept interest as the swordsman took care of his beloved weapon routinely, Law could tell that the sword was in prime condition. He unclasped it from its seath, a zing sound heard from the action, and Law saw himself reflected on the blade. 

"This magnificent girl had once served a humble woman, whom forged the blade herself. Its purpose was never to harm for its first owner only raised the blade to protect. Its sharpness can cut with clean edge, far and wide. Centuries has passed and yet she kept on her only purpose of existence." 

"...you mean to protect?" Penguin asked, confused.

"Yes."

"Isn't that a good thing? That's noble isn't it?" Sacchi added, not understanding the tone the old woman had used while explaining. Why did she sound sad?

"So loyal." Bepo phraised the weapon with starry eyes. In return to all the compliments, the sword pulsed with happiness in his hands.

Wait. How did I know that?

"Most people think of it as a liability and considered the sword cursed." She shook her head.

"Cursed? How so?" Penguin tilted his head.

"Because the sword can't and will not kill." The old woman finished, eyes locked with Law's.

"And you thought she's better with me." Law rubbed the sheath softly, feeling the texture of the materials. Expensive and well made.

"You are a doctor. A good one. She will be more of use to you than sit around collecting dust." 

Law hummed, in thought. "What's her name?" 

"Kikoku"

"I'm telling him." Law announced to his assistants (friends).

"To your guardian? Now? But you didn't want to tell him at first, are you sure?" Bepo, ever the worrywart, was concerned for his friend.

"I need the old man to train me now that I have something of my own." The teen explained while eyeing the sword on his shoulder.

"But if you train, what about the checkups? Are you going to come here less often?" Sacchi asked.

"You just want the boss around for free food." Snickered Penguin at his best friend's antique.

"Hey, that's a legit concern you know!"

"Perhaps," Law cut the two's bickering, making the three sad. "That's the whole point of the training you three are going to do as well."

It was quiet for a few seconds before the relaxing silence was shaterred by complaints. Law let them rant to their hearts' content before interferring, arguing that if they were to survive as pirates, then they would need skills. He pointed out that they would need a navigator, a cook, a mechanic and a pharmacist. Since Law had trained them with basic first aid already, he gave them a choice to pursue medicine further or choose one of the needed skills. Bepo had chose navigation, penguin with cooking, and Sacchi with pharmacist. Law conceded and let them go to went back to the inn. Honestly, the reason why the three chose what they chose was because Law's meticulous teaching and that their brain capacity did not really support to become doctors.

Law laid down on his bed, hands holding up the sword he was given. Although he lived with the world's best swordsman, Law had no interest to become one. Therefore, his knowlege of the weapon was limited to the ones his guardian possessed. But, judging from the shape and the craving on the sword, Law figured that the sword was not from the West nor the North. As he admired his new gift's beauty, the door opened and Mihawk entered the room with a wheel of wraped cheese. There was no welcome back (not like the brat greeted him) or the subtle curious questions, or the eye roll he expected when he bought the diary product. Intrigued, the lord of the seas turned to look at his ward.

The boy was on the bed, already changed to his pajama clothes and holding one of the rarest sword to be produced in the world. One that had gone missing for centuries and rumored to be cursed. Mihawk stood there, stunned, that Law had the fallen legendary sword. The man did not interupt his boy admiring the sword, for he too did the same. He had thought that he couldn't be more happier leaving the island tomorrow after buying his cheese but then this happened. Bless his soul, if taking in brats made him this lucky, Mihawk would not be opposed to have more brats like Shanks.

"Mihawk-san," Law said as he finally noticed that his guardian was back, sitting up. "When did you come?"

"Not long." He answered but his eyes were not on Law's, they were locked in to Kikoku.

Strong. Honor.

Law widen his eyes at what he heard. That was definitely not him talking in his head. The voice was too soft and gentle yet firm. Law looked up at his guardian from below his eye lashes, seeing the man in new light because of the voice. He'd be an idiot to not know who Mihawk was after living with him for three years. A shichibukai, a dog's government, someone strong that ruled the sea but lost the highest respect in Law's eyes. Law could never forget of the kindness Mihawk gave him, yet he also could not agree with the man's way of live. The government had betrayed him more than a lifetime for Law to overlook what it means to be a shichibukai.

However, the voice that he heard--the one he placed as Kikoku's--described Mihawk as a man of honor. Indeed, that was what Law thought as well before he knew the man's second title. But, maybe, there was a reason for Mihawk to accept the shichibukai position other than siding with the government, right? If the man supported the government, he wouldn't be a pirate and be a marine instead.

"I got this after saving an old woman with alcohol poisoning." Law admitted, "do you know this sword? The woman made it seemed like an important one." He shrugged.

"Indeed. It is a nodachi. One of the legendary sword from the closed off land, Wano. It had been missing for centuries after being labeled as cursed. Documented reports said it cannot kill but would kill the person who wields it with ill intention."

Mihawk explained, approaching Law and hovered his hand near the sword. He felt the sword responded towards him in kind, cold-like temperature touch the tips of his fingers, greeting. Mihawk smile the tiniest smile one could make before stepping back and nodded at Law.

"A beautiful one. You must take a good care of it."

"Will you teach me how?" Law stared at him with a determined face and Mihawk agreed. Not wanting to waste the chance to see the legendary sword in action.

"No turning back, Law." He warned his ward. For a second, there was a flicker of hesitation passed on his eyes but the teen nodded his consent.

"Be prepared." Mihawk smirked mischiviously, earning a nervous gulp in return.

True to Law's worst suspicion, Mihawk's training was ruthless. It was time consuming, physically impossible for normal humans, and mentally challenging in the craziest way. Six months had passed and still, Law was not yet allowed to wield Kikoku. The main requirements for that were if Law managed to successfully completing all the given regiments within set time and finished before dinner. Shouldn't be that hard, right? He thought that as well, until Mihawk listed it down.

One, run fifty laps around the island and alternate between two forms for every one lap. Two, move the big boulder by the river to the backyard one hundred times. Three, do not blink nor flinch away whenever Mihawk threw a sudden attack. Four, destroy five rocks to dust with your fist. Five, make a 'room' as big as the mansion and hold it for ten minutes. Law regretted his decision when he listened to these and on top of that, he must do it according to the order. As Mihawk kindly quoted, "Law must build his noodle muscle into real ones." Before he was deemed worthy to practice stances with the legendary sword. It was at this moment, Law knew, he fucked up.

The teen complained at first, saying that it was impossible to do, what with his doctor thing. Mihawk was faster though, the man made a compromise that if Law manage to complete half of one of the tasks in six month, he could go to visit an island for a week vacation. If he failed, Law was going to be stuck until he passed the deal. He was so close to screaming his head off but he did not. Instead, he was going to prove the damn old man that Trafalgar Law did not have noodle muscles!

The first trial had made him threw up from exhaustion and he did not finished twenty five laps, only eight. Thanks to his flying courses, Law was able to achieved this much. However, his human body did indeed, need more exercise, much to his dismay. A few weeks in, Law barely able to force himself to continue his daily study. The moment his body hit the matress, he was out till the next morning. This kept on continuing to his second month, while his best score did not advance from eight laps, he did become faster. And, little by little, Law fulfilled his part of the deal and finished twenty five laps in a day.

When he met his assisstants, they were so worried about his well being and the growth spurt he got. Standing tall in his five-ten feet glory, he was now towering over Penguin and Sacchi. Bepo even poked on his lean muscles (not noodle anymore!), asked what happened to him to changed a lot. Law gave them the brief version of it and asked about their progress in return. The three gloat their achievements in their own ways and internally, Law was proud of them. One, for keeping their words, and two, for initiatively keeping tabs on Law's patients. He spent his one week off attending to patients in need and gave directions to his assistants to improve their progress. All in all, Law was confident that he'd start his real training in no time.

Nevermind, it was always a bullshit if Law said that. It took the devil fruit user another two and a half year for him to completed the ridiculous list of regiments. By then, the teen had almost turned eighteen years old and he had ran through the complete exercise five times before requesting Mihawk to test him.

Law woke up early like usual, at ten minutes before four in the morning. The first thing he'd do would be refreshed himself in the bathroom and then change into tight fit clothes. He chose a black legging, a short black pants over it, and a black sleeveless tank top, which highlighted his tall and lean muscly figure well. He put on his shoes and warm up in his room, being extra careful to not pull a muscle later. Then, before he went out, he greeted Kikoku in Mihawk's study to wish him a good luck. The sword thrummed in excitement, longing to be finally of use. Law rubbed her sheath before meeting Mihawk outside, the man was as meticulous as always.

"Ready? Go!" 

Law took off like a brust of wind, disappearing into the forest in a black blur. The sound of rustling leaves and the coldness of morning mist were music to his ears as they had been accompanied him since the moment he came here six years ago with Rurri. Law jumped high and landed on his feet safely, avoiding a big log of three. In the three years he had been doing this, Law had learned to not think too much and let his instinct as well as muscle memories aid him. It saved him from dislocating his joint more than he wanted to admit.

As the manor came to his vision, Law prepared himself to free-fall from the cliff and turned into his dragon form mid-air. His skin was replaced by silk like scales, his nails elongated, and his senses multiplied. The white as cloud body zoom through the air silently and swiftly. Law could finished the round in ten minutes now as opposed to half an hour previously, with the extra speed he gained by opening his back spine. A trick he unlocked by mistake. He kept on doing his up to his fifty lap and finished right an hour before nine. 

The boulder and the reflexes test was done before lunch time, earning a relieved sigh from Law. If these hard ones didn't make it, Law would have to put up with nausea for the rest of the day. He ate a bowl of smoothie and rest for thirty minutes before clasping his custom made gloves, stell clad fabric, and smashed the hell out of rocks to dust. This particular one had made Law turned his brain upside down, trying to figure out what material strong enough to grind rocks but wont damage his bones. The steel was hard to find but he made it.

As for the last trial, Law had to rest another hour. He could do it right away, but then he would black out for two days. Not the wisest experiment, indeed. So, he sat down at the manor's gazebo and closed his eyes. His mind was blissfully calm and quiet after an extreme exercise like this and he cherished it. For any other time, his loneliness was filled with his past regrets. Groaning at the popping aound his joints made, Law stood up, ready to finish his test. He took a deep breath and raised his left hand, facing the trimmed grass underneath.

"Room." A small blue translucent sphere manifested from within his hand and enlarged, creating a dome around the manor's ground.

Law could feel every little thing inside his room. From the layout of the manor to the pieces of apple seeds in the kitchen's trash can. Every movement, the swaying vegetation, the buzzing insects, and Mihawk's flapping wings above him. Law remembered his first time creating a room. Rurri was there beside him and panicked, shrieking when he saw Law dropped to his knees, exhausted. He also remembered the moment he realized that he could cut anything within his dome without killing. Again, Rurri was there as his third guinea pig and the dragon had happily played with his mutilated flying limbs.

Law's forehead creased and sweat rolled down to the tip of his nose. He was nine minutes in, just one more and Kikoku would be in his hands. The dome flickered, a tell tale sign that Law had reached his limit but he pressed on. He could not give up now!

10...

6...

3...

Two... One... Law gasped in pain, both hands on his knees as all energy was sapped out from him. He did it. He did all the test and even managed to hold the room for eleven minutes today! In front of him, Mihawk descended and turned back to human, Kikoku in his hand. The warlord handed Law his prized sword and smirked.

"Congratulation. We're leaving in an hour. Get ready." Law did not know what caused him to laughed, but he felt light and damned happy of his achievements.

The first thing that greeted him once he checked in was three overjoyed assistants, they were in tears and holding a box of tissue. The reason was of course, the sword on his shoulder. Bepo came running, hugging the life out of him and jumped up and down in celebration.

"Captain, you did it! You finally done it!"

"Y-yeah..." He stuttered. Definitely from all the shaking and not from emotional explosion.

"Cap'n, we should celebrate today!" Sacchi crowded, joining the hugging.

"Yeah, boss! You've been training hard for three years! All of us did! Why don't we chill for today?" Penguin suggested.

Though Law had never told them of his exact birthday date nor why he annually spent a week at the island, they had figured out that it was probably for his birthday. Any other time, Law would rejected the idea of spending money because they would need it later and so that Law could get double the amount from Mihawk. But... he glanced up at Bepo's twinkling eyes and sighed. Guess one day off wouldn't be bad, would it?

"Fine..." he reluctantly relented, yet secretly plotting to overwork for the rest of the week.

"Yes!" The three rejoiced.

Since Law and Mihawk departed from the manor at sometime in the evening, they had reached the island sometime in the morning. And so, his morning begun by having a good brunch at a dinner near the market. Then, with belly full, they walked around the town to look at places Law had never been before. They windowshop here and there, trying on several clothes without buying them, and pick pocket pompous bastards before grabbing lunch at a sandwhich stand. Fortunately, they served salad bowl as well. Later on, Law strolled along the beach while the three spend time swimming. They ate steak for dinner and rode on several rides at the night market.

It was... okay... until Law sneezed non-stop.

From there, his condition worsen that the three invited Law to their house since it was close. He sneezed, and sneezed, and sneezed. His temperature rose slightly and eyes blurry. He knew this would happen, back at the beach. Law had not rested properly after his test. The twelve hours journey and the cold wind from the sea attacked his exhausted body. It wasn't anything serious, really, he just needed a proper sleep and then he'd be as good as new. He explained so, but the three overreacting idiots wouldn't listen. Adamant that Law had caught a cold and were now blaming themselves for forcing Law. He rolled his eyes. Who was the doctor again? Go figure.

"I SAID I'M FI--!" His scolding was cut short with a sneeze. A sneeze that lit the old carpet on fire.

.

.

.

"FIRE!"

"WE KILLED CAPTAIN!"

"OMG THAT WAS SO COOL BOSS!"

Ugh... idiots.

Later that night, Law arrived at the inn sometime after midnight. He grumbled about stupid assistants without relizing that a pair of hawk eyes watched his less than appropriate appearance. His hair was in disaray (the sea wind was strong), cheeks and lips red (he had been sneezing and forced to drink strawberry flavored cold medicine), hoodie crumpled on every surface (too much hugging), and a change of pants that was not his (wet from the beach and he borrowed Penguin's). Law jumped in surprise when Mihawk speak.

"I assume you are aware of the knowledge without me explained it to you?" The comfortable man asked from his seated position on the bed, eyebrow lifted, and reading glasses perched on his nose.

"Can you please stop doing that?!" Law hissed, annoyed that he was still startled after six years living with the man.

"What the hell are you talking about anyway? What knowledge?" Law furrowed his brows when the older did not answer him but instead, cleared his throat and jutted his chin at Law's... clothes? He moved to look at himself in the mirror and blushed. Face-palming at the idea that Mihawk thought he did something frisky.

"I-IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" why the hell did he said that?! It sounded like he did do it. Ugh.

"WE WERE AT THE BEACH FOR FUCK SAKE!" And that, earned two raised eyebrows.

"UGH! LOOK--! WE'RE NOT ALONE, OKAY?! THERE ARE OTHERS!" the eyebrows had disappeared behind the man's bang. 

"I supposed if you enjoyed it.."

"MIHAWK-SAN!" 

At this point, Law had stop counting how many embarassing moments Mihawk had witnessed.

Unlike the previous years, this year Mihawk had told Law that they would sail back in the afternoon. The man had considered that the boy would probably like more time to cash in some money from his doctor rounds. So, Mihawk had thought that with the extra time, his ward would be early. Apparantly, not as he coldly stared at the approaching figure, whom thirty minutes late. As Law stood in front of him and apologized gruffly, however, Mihawk was stunned once more at the ink decorated his ward's skin. Not that there was anything wrong with it... Mihawk just did not see that coming. He frowned in thought, could it be that Law did it to his body as well? The boy was wearing thin and too baggy shirt instead of his usual fluffy hoodie.

"--gized, old man." Law rolled his eyes at him. "Here, I grabbed them as prove." The brat threw him a wheel of goat cheese he fancied and swinging a bag full of crackers from the bakery he often visited.

"We cool?" The boy asked, fidgeting under his intense eyes.

"There will be no next time." Mihawk conceded. Damned brat knew what to give him.

"Yeah, yeah."

The man opened one of the crackers package and took one, eating it slowly as Law man the boat.

Delicious...

In the end, his original plan to set out to sea was post-poned for three years. Originally, Law had plan to become a pirate at seventeen but he changed the plan the moment he received Kikoku. It was a decision worth the effort and result as Law was more confident now that he trained under a warlord for five years. Of course the man did not teach him everything, only basics and weekly spar but that was plenty. At twenty years old, Law was confident that he could survive the grandline with his crew he had gathered. 

Law told Mihawk before they started their training with Kikoku that Law wanted to become a pirate for revenge. Law did not offer any explanation but Mihawk being Mihawk, Law figured the man knew about Law's plan way before he shared it anyway. The preparation had been on going for a year now. Collecting clothes and other essentials they might need, planning operation to steal the ship Law wanted, and robbing North Blue's pirate's treassure. One would never keep too much money after all.

Law sighed as he closed the last box of personal belonging he wanted to bring along. Most of the things he brought were books and clothes, plus Rurri figurine and plushie (unpredictable gag-present for his eighteenth birthday but he loved it so much. The thing was a right size for Law to hug). He was about to teleport the box with a small stone when something fell from one of his top shelf. The one that he rarely checked. The thing rolled to his feet and out of curiosity Law bended down to took it. It was a red and black sea shell. 

What's a sea shell doing here?

Law examined it but nothing seemed out of ordinary. Shrugging, the young adult threw the shell to the bed. The tip of the shell pressed against the neat bedding and suddenly voices emitted from it. Law was two steps away from the door when the sound froze him. The box he had organized fell to the floor as he turned around and stared at the innocent shell, listening with teary eyes.

"Hm? This shell is weird. What kind of animal have this color? Is this event natural? No, right?" Law took steps forward and sat on the bed as he listened to his young self being critical.

"What do you think, Rurri?"

"Hmmmm~ wha's dat, Spots?" Law choked as he realized that he could understand Rurri now.

"Have you seen this before?"

"Ooooo! So cool! Wha's this?" Law chuckled, Rurri sounded so adorable.

"You like it? Should we keep it then?"

"Yes! Yes! Spots should keep it cuz its cool~!" Rurri laughed throatily.

"You like it! Alright, we'll keep it."

"Spots! Spots! Look! Its almost night! Oh, beetle!" Law laughed wetly at how easily distracted the dragon was.

"Oh, shit! It's late! C'mon Rurri, we gotta go or Mihawk-san's going to be all cranky." The recorder stop, before it played another recording.

"Mihawk-san said this is a recorder from grandline. Must be stranded or left behind. Have you ever been to grandline Rurri?"

"Gwandline?"

"Grandline is a dangerous sea. That's what the shitty government told the world. Anyway, all pirates across the world go there to find the One Piece. The pirate King's treassure."

"*gasped* weally?! So cool~!" 

"Do you want to go there, to the Grandline, Rurri?"

"Yeah! Let's go togethew Spots!"

"I don't know what you're saying, but you look excited. So, probably yes?"

"Yes! Yes! Going to da wandwine with Spots!" the recording ended with them both laughing happily and Law had laid on his bed, listening with his eyes closed. He could recall the memory easily, as if it was yesterday. Not long after, a new recording played.

"--ots? Wha's wong? Why is Spots cuwaying? Awe you huwt? Spots smell like blood." There was no answer from young Law. He could barely hear it, but there was a low sobbing and his stomach dropped. This was the night where they fought.

"Spots? Did I do something wong? I'm sowwy. Pwease don't be mad!"

"Spots? Can I go in? I wanna sleep with you."

"Let me in! Let me in! Something's wong! I wanna know! I wanna hwelp!"

"Spots... I wanna hwelp Spots... pwease don't cuway!"

"Is Spots sick again?"

"It's okay, Spots! We'll play tomowwow! Sleep, Spots! Mama said it'll make you feel bettew!"

"Good night *yawn* Spots." by the end of the recording, Law was bawling his eyes out. He was such a shitty friend!

Law laid there and cried until his guilt settled down. Another reason why he wanted to sail was because he wanted to meet Rurri again. He had begged Mihawk to give him Rurri's information but the older refused, saying that the family requested not to be exposed. Law was frustrated back then, especially after he figured out that he was a dragon as well and that Law had hurted someone younger than him and probably as important or more, than Lami. 

For all Law could know Rurri could be anywhere in this world but Law wouldn't give up on him. Never. He had pile of debts to be payed to Rurri and a lifetime of apologizing. He needed to focus on his revenge for now but along the way and if, if, miraculously, he could survive Doflamingo, he would make it his life mission to reunite with Rurri. It did not matter if Rurri refused to see him because Law would wait. He would wait until Rurri accepted him back. Or so Law would rather die. 

Gathering his scattered mind, Law neatly imaging putting his memory back to where they belong and locked it until he had the time to reminesence. Law took the dial with him and waited for Mihawk on the dock. They left and went to an isolated island somewhere in the middle of North Blue, where Law's crew had been waiting. Mihawk did not sent him off, the older had docked his boat on the other side of the island and helped Law unloading his stuff. 

As he finished, Law took a good look at his guardian. The man who had saved him amd Rurri and foster them in his care. The man who Law knew, went out of his way to reunite Rurri with his family. Who Law knew, cared about him a lot in his own grinchy way. A man that he looked up to other than Cora, both as an idol and as a father figure. Even now, when they were about to depart, Mihawk handed him a white denden mushi and two slip of papers.

"One is my number and the other is my vivre card. Take care Law, stay alive." Mihawk shook his hand, like the stoic man that he was. Law bit his bottom lip, not wanting to cry and embarrassed himself but he shook the older's hand back and let go. 

"Y-yeah, you too." Law turned around to call for his crew mates but he couldn't. He stopped and clicked his tongue, trying to silence his sobs. He brought his left hand up and switched himself with one of his boxes. Without thinking of the consequences, Law hugged his old man tight.

"Thank you, dad. For everything." Mihawk sighed softly before hugging the boy awkwardly, patting his back.

"You're welcome, brat. Now, go. Your friends are waiting for you." 

"They are not my friends!" Law denied weakly but turned around anyway, hiding his eyes behind his hat.

"Whatever you say, son." For the last time, Law turned to see his guardian--no, his dad-- but the warlord was already gone. He smirked, creepy bastard. 

"Let's get going! A storm approaching!" Law ordered, showing up out of thin air with his boxes.

"AYE AYE SIR!" his crew answered, helping him with his stuffs. And as Law watched over the horizon, where a faint color of green disappeared to, he let himself a small smile. He would make sure he succeeded with all his agenda. No matter what.

I'll see you soon, Rurri.

Chapter Text

Somewhere near the Red Line, a small archipelago.

Morning light graced the settlement, casting a soft glow through the chilly air. Although there were greeneries across the islands, snow was a fixed feature on every surfaces. Chilly during the day and freezing cold at night if they were lucky. Despite that, life here was amazing. Harsh waves, hungry sea kings attacks, and plenty of snow storms, what more could a person asked for?

This was Jödh, a rocky heap of mountains glued together by the alarming growth of moss and pine trees. Surrounded by many other small rocky islands and overshadowed by Sabaody's immense magnetic pull. Its location was unknown to the world unless by pure luck and sea's will, then one could find it. Even then, the chance of them to survive the island's people were below zero.

You see, while most islanders were native and docile with their every day life, the people of Jödh on the other hand, were crazy invaders. They partied hard at night, ate like starved glutons, chugged barrels of alcohol like its water, ill-mannered, swore like the pirates they were, and had penchant for gambling like a bat-shit crazy old lady.

Like now, for example.

Everyone was gathered at the arena, lined up nicely in rows of seats while shouting in vigor to cheer their chosen players. Tiny little flags fluttering from their hands movement and the occasional whip of wind from the players. The colorful bright tribal decoration on their face accentuated whose team they supported on, which was spread all accross the village. Blue and black against Red and orange.

While the people on the ground were busy exchanging gold coins and cash, up above them, an intense competition was under way. Clad in tight leather sky blue gear and armor was one of the riders. His blond wavy hair was parted in the middle and billowing around the handsome youthful face as his intelligent eyes protected behind quirky glass goggle. The teenager grinned down at his ride, petting the black neck in assurance and comfort.

"Cheer up, Lu. We'll catch up in no time!" He got a bemoaned groan in return.

"Luffy, it'll be fine!" He chuckled at his younger brother as his eyes scanned the ground for their prey. He found one hiding behind a water barrel, the skinny legs quivering as the animal tried not to bleat.

"There! Dive, dive!" Together, they flew down to catch the scared sheep. The dive was narrow and dangerous, anyone who'd attempt such thing might fall and break bones but Sabo and Luffy had perfected their flying. So, before Luffy got his claws on the sheep, Sabo had already pulled the saddle up for Luffy to spread his wings, slowing the momentum. The crowd cheered as they successfully got their prey and drop it on one of the hanging basket.

"Alright! Good job, Lu!" Sabo complimented his brother, rubbing the dragon's head and giving a jaw scratch. "See? Don't worry, big brother Sabo will make sure you win today."

As he finished saying that, there was another cheer and announcement that their rival had scored another two sheep, earning two points. The said rival pulled up beside them, gloating their score.

"Are you sure about that, brother? Last time I checked, we're seven points above you." Another teen with red and white leather gear grinned cheekily at him, making Sabo rolled his eyes. The exchange brought a throaty laugh from the girl's ride.

"You're going to make 'em combust with jealousy, Uta." Their eldest sibling snickered.

Utterly annoyed, Sabo turned to his younger brother and spoke loud and clear for them to hear. "Hear that, Lu? Your so called favorite nii-chan and nee-chan is bullying me. Why don't you give the title to me instead, huh?"

"What! That's so unfair, 'Bo! Don't bring baby bro into this! I'm sorry, Lu, we're just joking okay?" The bigger dragon cooed at the sad face his baby brother was making. Secretly cursing Sabo for pulling this shit.

"I'm not a baby! And don't say bad things to Sabo! That's not nice Uta, Ace!" The scolded siblings cringed at the reprimand, glaring at the culprit whom obviously enjoying the defense their cute brother did. Coward, both of them think in disdain. The siblings continued to bicker with one another as they flew around the village, looking for another unfortunate sheep.

Below them, on the front seat of the arena, the adults were amused at how the children kept yapping at each other. A man with shoulder length silver hair stood straight from his hunching pose on the railing, shaking his head and chuckling softly at the antics. 

"Chidren..." the red hair beside him sighed in fondness. Hearing that, the man flicked the other's forehead, not bothering to move when he got a punch on the shoulder. He simply rubbed at the barely painful hit to humor the man.

"You and Buggy were like that too. Always arguing over little things." 

"Pops!" Shanks shouted, embarrassed that Rayleigh started to spill his childhood in front of Benn. The former vice captain had been doing this since they arrived at the island eight years ago and somehow had make it his life mission to share embarrassing moments to his husband.

"What? I'm sure its nothing Beckman here doesn't already know, do you?" 

"Aye, your boy hasn't change even in his late thirties. Ya got me some tips on that?" Benn smirked both at his spouse and his in-law. He laughed when Shanks whined to his chest, complaining. As if doing that was not more embarrassing than retelling his childhood stories.

Rayleigh let the two lost in their world, opting to kept tab on the race. When he noticed that there were no progress on the score, which probably mean that either there were no sheeps left or the animals had hidden well, Rayleigh waves his hand to his former teammate. The signal was well received as the afro man moved across the field to blow a giant trumphet.

"The black sheep! C'mon Ace, let's win this!" Uta stopped her arguments and led Ace away from their siblings. 

"Listen to me, Luffy. I have a plan, but you gotta do exactly as I told you to okay?" Sabo whispered to his brother's ear flaps.

"'Kay! Let's beat Ace and Uta!"

Seeing the riders heard the signal, Gaban started to prepare the giant catapult. After he done moving the big weapon to its designated position, he spinned the lever until the catapult head locked and placed a black sheep on it. The poor animal was enjoying his morning grass when it heard a loud click, glancing at the grinning human in confusion.

"A'ight, this is ya big moment. Have a nice flight." The animal bleated in shock and was thrown to the sky. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the sheep was caught in the speed of lightning by a red-yellow-black patterned dragon and his rider. 

"Gotcha!" Uta excitedly claimed. Ace chuckled at his sister, partially happy and amused at how competitive she was being. Of course, all the siblings, him included, were stubborn as a mule and very competitive with each other. But, since today's race was for him, Ace was not going to call himself that and more than glad to call-out his other siblings shared tendency instead.

They were flying close to the baskets when a small purple beam exploded above Uta's head. The girl didn't bat an eye at it, far too used to her siblings way of pettiness. Instead, she crowed, "You missed, losers!" and laughed.

A second later, Luffy flew upside down above her and made a sudden sharp dive to under Ace. The oldest of the four stopped his flight for a moment, surprised and stunned that his baby brother managed to do that. Although Ace's dragon form was bigger and far scarier, Luffy's slim and small body made him agile and flexible. He was too busy thinking about it that both he and Uta did not realize there was a sneaking blond on board. The blond did his mission quick and grinned mischiviously when Uta stared at him in shock. Before his sister could do anything, Sabo free-fall and landed on Luffy's back safely. Then, they flew as fast as they can, away from screaming Uta and laughing Ace.

"Thanks for the hard work!"

"SABO!" 

As the whole archipelago heard the girl throwing tantrum, Sabo and Luffy made a quick job of putting the sheep in their basket and win the race, revelling on the attention and cheers. They lingered only a bit before taking off in the direction of their nap place.

They landed on a cliff situated on the east side of the island, high enough that they could enjoy the view of crashing waves against the beach stone arch, where pinkgulls nests were. And wide enough that the four of them could sleep comfortably, even with Ace and Luffy transforming. Sabo jumped off of Luffy's back and watched as the younger turned to human. He had watched this many times but never get used to it, always mesmerized. Within seconds, his brother was back with a red sleeveless hoodie and black knee shorts, running into him full speed to hug him tight in his rubbery loops.

"We win! We win! You're so cool Sabo!" The boy giggled to his chest. Sabo hugged him back and twirled them around as a little celebration.

"Of course we did, Lu! Without your amazing flying, we wouldn't be able to win." 

"Shishishi, I trained a lot! I trained everyday so I can be as cool as my siblings!" Luffy said like he was telling a mere daily fact.

"Thanks, Lu." Sabo's smile softened in a way he only showed to his family. A sign of pure love. He was touched at the genuine admission and brought the younger to lay on the ground to cuddle while waiting for the losers to bring food.

Sabo sighed as he watch the beautiful scene in front of him, petting Luffy's hair absent-mindedly. They had been living a good live on these islands, creating beautiful memory and unforgettable moments togather. Truly, Sabo was going to miss this place. He was brought out of his nostalgic mood by a sound of running and a slap to the back of his head.

"Ow!" 

"That's for using baby bro on me. And this," the girl punched his arm, "is for stealing my black sheep." 

"Uta!" Luffy greeted her, latching his body to his sister's.

"Hey, Lu. Nice back flip you did there." Uta ruffled his brother's hair, making Luffy laughed proudly.

"Yeah, I was surprised as well. Great job, Luff." Ace said, coming from behind the tall grass, carrying two sack of food. 

"Ace!" The twelve years old moved from Uta to hug his big brother whom equally under dressed for the weather. 

"Hey, buddy. Ya hungry?" The half naked teen asked, opening one of the sack and offered his younger brother a sea king meat slab. Sabo watched from his position, annoyed with his two older siblings.

"Suckers." He muttered. Being a human, Uta couldn't hear the comment and so, she was busy fussing over Luffy's mess while Ace smirked and sat himself next to Sabo, shoulder bumped him.

"Awh, are ya jealous, ya big baby boo? Want me to kiss yer booboo?" Ace playfully made smooching face to his blond brother, which made him fake-gag.

"As if." Sabo pushed Ace's face away and ignored the laughing Raven to steal the older's chicken skewer.

The four siblings enjoyed their food with teasings and laughters until Luffy fell asleep. The boy was on Ace's arms this time, clinging like a monkey and snoring like an old man. The three gazed fondly as they talked about their future.

"So, who's name's you gonna take?" Uta asked Ace. Unlike their oldest and youngest, Uta, Sabo, and Shanks didn't have a last name. So, Uta and Sabo decided to take on Benn's last name to honor him. Meanwhile, Ace got three different choices. His birth parents and Benn's. It was a dilema to choose one and Ace had prolonged the decision until last minute.

"I was thinking on taking my father's but I'm not strong enough yet and since Ma and Pops said I only have my mother's freckles, I decided to take on her name." Ace explained.

"Portgas D. Ace, huh? Not bad.." Sabo complimented.

"Thanks, 'Bo." Ace smiled at him, making the other two to smile as well. "Have you guys decided what you're going to do yet?" Amongst the four of them, only Ace and Luffy who one hundred percent sure to become pirates.

"Honestly? I don't think I want to be a pirate. I just want to sing, ya know? I wanna perform at big stages and make crowds of people happy. Nothing world shaking. What about you 'Bo? Last time you said you wanna join the revolutionary?"

"Yeah, that..." Sabo cringed at the reminder. "I've been thinking about it, but I think I need to make my own name first. I don't care what people are going to call me. I just need to establish and hone my skills first to be of use." 

His siblings hummed in thoughts. Sabo had always been the one who diligently study and opposed the world government a lot. After he knew that Luffy's mother/father was the one who lead a revolutionary army, the blond's dream of becoming a pirate had shifted. However, he was unsure of how Luffy or Shanks would react to his decision, family stuffs and all that.

"If that's what you want... but I think Ma, Dad, and even Pops and Gramps will be okay with your decision. Of course Gramps would complain and spout off marine things again but it's just a front, y'kno? I'd say go for it, lil' bro." Uta reassured the unspoken worry Sabo had.

"Yeah, she's right. It's not like you can kick yourself out from this fam, 'Bo. We're a one time deal, no refund allowed." Ace teased him, making his siblings laugh.

"You guys are right. I'll tell them before it's my turn to leave." 

"Little shit." Uta and Ace said together. 

Shanks sighed, staring sadly at the wooden cabin he had called home for eight years now. Behind him, his crew was also busy emptying their cabins, loading all of their stuffs back to the red force. Although heart breaking, it was time to say good bye to the islands that had kept them safe during vulnerable state. He walked away, down to the village center that overlook the dock below them, appreciating the beautiful sunset bestowed upon the island.

"Ready to go back, brat?" Someone said from behind him. Shanks didn't need to turn around to know who was speaking to him. His mentor slash second father figure's scratchy low voice was unique.

"I have to. Gotta remind the world that I'm still here." He tried to joke to brighten the air but Rayleigh saw through it.

"Alright, enough bullshit. Tell me what's in your mind." The old man sat on the grass, patting the spot next to him. Shanks relented reluctantly, there was no escape once Rayleigh was in interogation mode.

"I'm just sad that Ace's leaving. I'm worried about him." He shared his not so secret, secret.

"Well, you are his parent. It'd be weird if you don't." Rayleigh picked up several rocks on his hand and play with it.

"I know, I just--what if something like Luffy happened again? And I'm not there?" Ranted Shanks.

Rayleigh knew where Shanks was going with this. He remembered what happened all those years ago. Shanks had called him one day, crying his heart out that Luffy was gone because of him. He had waited for his son to calmed down before asking for more details. Once Rayleigh got full understanding of the situation, he promised Shanks to help search on the Grand Line, assuming the worst possibility that Luffy might ended up at Sabaody. Garp too, helped the search on the East Blue while their various contacts keep an ear out in the South and West Blue.

However, the frequent updates were decreased as the months passed and it left him to contact Garp the Fist as well as a Makino, to know that they too received no updates. In the end, Rayleigh called the Red Force and learned of the struggle everyone experienced. Basically, Shanks and Benn were depressed and had trauma as well as guilt. The two brothers also at some degree, blamed themselves of what had happened. He was worried of course, but Lucky Roo told him that Luffy was found and will soon reunited with them. He hoped as he heard the news that the situation would get better. But it didn't.

Rayleigh received another call not from his son or the extended family members, but from Dracule Mihawk himself. Apparently, the lad had came to visit and check on his temporary ward, and yet was welcomed with the paranoid captain and his crew. It was unfortunate that both Mihawk's other ward also shown the same symptoms as Shanks et al. It wouldn't be wise to organize a future meeting while both were mentally uncapable. Thus, Garp and Rayleigh made a choice to help.

At first, the plan was for the Red pirates and family to stay at East Blue, where Garp can keep an eye on them. However, the crew was on the North Blue and to get to the east, they must pass the Reverse Mountain and the Paradise's Calm Belt, where marines loitered. Not a wise choice. It left them with going to New World and met Rayleigh so he could coat their ship and submerged the Red Line. It was a good thing too that Rayleigh had a safe islands, where some of his previous crew members resided.

The theraphy they had to go under once they arrived were not smoith sailing at all. Lots of shoutings, frustrations, complaints, and even relapses. On top of that, little Uta came washed off to the shore in a wooden chest. It was a miracle that she was alive, what with the sea water covering most of the chest. Rayleigh felt that she was the medicine everyone needed. Without knowing, Uta had saved the family from unhealthy obsession and early pirate retirement. 

It took them two years to be classified as mildly traumatic and coherent enough to do daily activity. And during that time, Rayleigh, Garp, and Makino had to take turns on handling the family, the hidden comatose marine captain, as well as updating and helping Mihawk with his ward. Wasn't the easiest year for sure, but documenting every progress of Luffy and the rest of the family was fun. Rayleigh bet that Mihawk could understand too, the importance of documenting his ward life. They might not realize its impact in the future but when someone was mentally ill, often, they would live their live as 'fast' and therefore consider other things as not important.

Makino was the one to suggested taking pictures and videos for future use. She was right, they would some day needed it and Rayleigh and Mihawk would gladly show them the life they did not 'appreciate' since they were to busy. That and because little Luffy had throw a tantrum to visit his friend half a globe away. Rayleigh had gathered all the patience he had to explain to Luffy that his friend was sick and that they both need to be healthy first before being friends happily. It was hard and not an easy task, he even need to ask Garp, Makino, and Mihawk to explain it as well but it was done.

Now, eight years had passed with all of them in a better state of mind and body. Rayleigh was sure that everything would smoothened itself in the end and if it wasn't a lot of people would be happy to help his son and his extended family. The old man laughed at Shanks's worry and clasped his son shoulder warmly.

"Don't worry, Red, if something ever happened to either of you, we'll help."

For the fifth time in his life, Luffy had said good byes. The first time being the painful seperation between him and Spots. Second was when yellow eyes took him back home to his family. Third was Ace, followed by Uta, and then Sabo. As he watched the small boat his brother took disappeared, Luffy felt impatient bubbling inside him. He still have five years left before he could start his journey becoming a pirate king and to meet Spots once more. 

It sucked big deal because Luffy had so many things to tell Spots but he understood. He too, wanted Spots to be the best he could and meet again happily. It was alright, though because Luffy believe that he and Spots would meet again and that no matter what, they would still be friends. As he promised. 

Luffy grinned wide and laughed his trademark laugh, brushing up his straw hat Shanks left with him. He could not wait for his turn. As he, Makino, Gramps, and Woodslap about to go to Party's bar for dinner, a suspicious man with cloak ran towards them.

"S-sir! P-pardon my bold interruption, but--!" The man panted hard.

Gramps looked at him seriously and demanded an explanation as they continue their walk.

"I-it's him! He w-woke up sir!" The man looked pale for some reason.

Gramps stopped abruptly and turned his whole body to shook the man with his big hands. 

"Positive?" The vice admiral whispered.

"Y-yes! H-h-however... it appears that we had some problem..." the man gulped before continued, "I-It seemed that he does not have his memories. Of any past events." 

Gramps widened his eyes in disbelieve, jaw hanging slack and head tucked down. In front of him, Makino face turned sad and anguish, her eyes watery with unshed tears. Even old man Woodslap looked to be mourning. And Luffy didn't understand what was happening. He picked at his nose, not knowing what to do when gramps stared at him. 

"Luffy, come with me." And just like that his gramps took a different path toward the dock and out of curiosity, Luffy followed him.

Luffy never really to be the type to expected something because he saw things and judge it at face value most of the times. What was the point of overthinking anyway? It only made you more confused than ever and he had his family and Spots to do that for him. But certainly, he never did expected his Gramps to led him to a hospital at the uptown part of Goa Kingdom. What made his head hurted was that he was now standing in front of a room, where a giant blond man was sitting on the bed, looking confused by his surrounding.

"Luffy, do you know that man?" His Gramps asked, hope buried under layers of something Luffy couldn't pointed out. 

"Nah, never see him before. Why'd ya ask?" He received no answer but the marine whispered an order to the cloaked man and he scampered somewhere in a hurry.

The man was back fast, bringing pieces of clothing with him. He held it high in front of Luffy so he could take a good look on them. The twelve years old considered the black feathered cloak and the pink heart patterned shirt. It did felt like something Luffy had seen before.

"Do you recognized the clothes, boy?" Gramps looked expectantly at him.

"Eh... I think I saw it before but whe--" Luffy eyes widen as flashes of memory ran accross his mind.

"Oh, bird man!" He recalled, remembering that snowy night. That meant... that meant... that meant that Spots needed to know! Yes, that was right! Spots would want to know that bird man was alive!

"Gramps! Gramps! We need to call yellow eyes so Spots know that bird man is okay! C'mon, c'mon!" He jumped excitedly, happy for his friend. However, his Gramps didn't share the same sentiment amd Luffy frowned.

"We can't, Luffy."

"But why not!? Spots will be happy to see bird man again! And bird will be happy too that Spots is alive!" He shouted, incredulous of his Gramps idea. The old man sighed sadly and stared at the blomd man through the glass.

"We can't... because bird man lost his memory. It means... he doesn't remember your friend, or anyone for that matter." 

"What.. what! No way! That's stupid, Gramps! How can someone just forget!? There's no way he can just forgot about Spots!" Angry, Luffy stormed in the room and climbed on to the surprised blond man.

"Hey, bird man!" Luffy pointed at him, "You remember Spots right?! You didn't forget him right?!" 

On his part, the blond man was tongue tied. For one, he didn't not know who the kid was. Second, he didn't understand what was the kid saying. Was Spots some kind of a pet he owned? 

"I'm sorry, kid, but... what is Spots?" He tried to asked softly but somehow only managed to make the kid cry. He panicked and tried to shooth the child but instead knocked all items on the bed side table. Cringing at his clumsiness, the man unsurely curled his hands around him to stop worsening the situation.

Seeing how Rocinante struggled with his motor skill, Garp entered the room and cleared his throat as his other hand rest on top of his grandson head. The former marine comander looked at him uncertainly with the same innocent expression he wore on the first day Sengoku brought him to the head quarters. As Garp begun his talk to Rocinante, Luffy on the other hand, had calmed down and made a new mission: to make the bird man remembered Spots!

After his talk with Garp, the marine officer, he discovered that he was a former spy agent named Rocinante. Apparently, he had been in a coma for almost a decade and lost his memory from severe concussion, loss of blood, heavy trauma, and prolonged disuse of brain. Unfortunately, due to the result of his last mission, it was not wise for him to go back on duty and so, Garp offered him an arrangement for the time being. At least until he got his memory back. He stayed at the hospitals for a few more days before moving in to live in a bar belonged to a lady called Makino and her nephew, Luffy.

It was weird to be treated as someone familiar by people he considered strangers, especially the child, who shared stories about 'Spots' every day. Not that he minded the company, Luffy was a bright child and a fun company to be with, he just... felt bad of not remembering this 'Spots.' Despite that, the hopeful look in Luffy's eyes made Rocinante hopeful to get his memory back as well.

He would wake up early to help Makino restocked some supplies and played with Luffy when the lady was cattering to her customers. Not that Rocinante didn't want to help, he was just bad at it. Breaking glass, litting furniture and himself on fire, as well as falling down all the time. In order to avoid more hazardous moments, the blond man acted as the town's recident baby sitter. His giant stature helped the children occupied as they used it as jungle gym. Moreover, he got to exercise his muscles every day. It was a win win kind of deal.

Two months in on the routine and that was when Rocinante's life took a turn in the axis, shaking his world. All in the form of one swordsman with yellow piercing eyes called Dracule Mihawk.

The dark haired man had showed up suddenly one fateful afternoon while Rocinante was carrying a sleepy Luffy on his hands, holding him like one would a puppy. They had finished playing in the jungle and was on their way back to Makino's bar when someone commented on his handling.

"He will hurt his neck if you hold him like that." 

Rocinante had expected some villagers with an exasperated face, waiting for him but instead, he was in for a treat. Dressed in white billowy linen shirt and black slacks, with swords strapped to his back and a small knife to his neck, the man looked down right ethereal. Rocinante's cheeks turned red from the gorgeous man as his heart beats faster. He had accidentally drop Luffy from how nervous he was. Thankfully, the man caught Luffy effortlessly and laid the child comfortably to his shoulder, walking away with a deadly glare directed to him. His heart was stolen.

For the upcoming months and years, Rocinante had mooned over Dracule Mihawk like teenagers to their first crush. Turning to a nervous wrecked and tongue tied whenever the man near his personal space. Rocinante even got a nosebleed when he accidentally caught Mihask taking off his shirt, letting his eyes trails the chiseled fair muscles appreciatively. He ran before he passed out, though.

Slowly, as his chdhood memory started to resurfaced, his relationship with the swordsman also become closer. They did nothing sexual nor serious but anyone with eyes could see them pining at each other. Even Luffy knew and had casually remarked their 'closeness,' saying that Spots had two dads like him. The careless comment had made Mihawk chocked on his wine. No matter, for now, Rocinante was content with whatever it was he had going on with the beautiful swordsman. He just wanted his memory to return fully before he regretted something.

As Luffy sailed to started his journey, Rocinante had took upon Mihawk's offer to join him on his journey to the  Grand Line. The rest of the family, whom Rocinante learned very extensive and inordinary, had also begun to prepare themselves in various locations, ready to help the five children if ever they had gotten into trouble.

Oblivious to all the drama that had been going on, one Trafalgar Law had questioned his past actions and decisions, wondering, why would three infamous pirates by the name of Portgas D. Ace, Sabo and Uta Beckmann had man hunted him in North Blue. Then, proceed to somehow helped him in three different crisis and said thank you so earnestly. Like he had done something good and unforgetable... 

"Are you okay, Captain?" Bepo asked worriedly amd apologize when Law glared at him.

"Nothing. I just think... that the world is ending." Yeah, that must be it. Why else would those pirates came to him and gifted him medical journals?

"EH!? You don't mean it, do you Boss? It's just a joke right!? Right!?" Penguin panickly shouted.

"Oh my seas, if Law said something like that that means we're doomed!" Wailed Sacchi to Penguin's uniform.

In their ruccus, they had missed Law walking toward the kitchen and brought a glass jar filled with white content. Bepo caught the sight of him as he opened the Tang's hatch and climbed out. The three followed behind him but stopped when they saw Law wordlessly opening the jar labeled as salt.

"Captain?"

"Uh.. boss?"

"What are you doing with a jar of salt?" 

They were ignored as Law scooped some salt into his hand and scatter the cooking spices to the sea, muttering something unintelligent under his breath. 

"He's gone mad, hasn't he?"

"Yup, we're doomed."

Chapter Text

He was known as being judgemental and harsh to his peers at school and he owned it. It was hard not being critical when he knew how to do things with excelent results. People disagreed of his method, saying he was too mean or something and Law just shrugged in respond. If they wanted to be foolish then so be it, he would not waste his precious time attending to uncultured people. On this instance, however, as he felt--rather than knowing--himself frowned in disgust, Law was one hundred percent sure, he had all the right to be judgy.

"What. Do you think. You're doing." He flatly said to the little shit, glaring as he did so. 

The said 'little shit' turned its face to him and grunted in confusion. Not understanding why Law had spread his hand to block the creature's path to their shared bedroom. Law moved to close the door and stared down the black dragon's body, scanning its appearance from head to tail, which covered with various things: mud, dirt, leaves, and... was that... branches? 

How the hell did it get stu--? Oh, never mind.

"You can't get in." And again, that confused cute grunt. "You're dirty. I won't let you sleep in the room unless you are clean." Law started to walk to the bathroom. He pinched his nose bridge when the dragon stubbornly stayed and made displeased sounds.

"You. Are going. To take. A bath. If you refused, then I refused to share a room with you." He threatened, tapping his foot with arms crossed. 

"I wefuse Spots'z wefuse! I don't want to take a bath!" The dragon moaned long and face looked like its pouting, while its butt glued to the ground. Law translated that the dragon did not want to. Fine. So be it.

"If you don't take a bath," Law inhaled dramatically. "Then excuse me, but you have to sleep outside. I won't be sleeping next to a dirty and smelly companion." The human turned and walked away slowly.

"It is.. unfortunate... but we have to say goodbye. So long, dragon." 

"Spots?! Spots?! No! Whew awe you goin'?! No!" The black dragon keened in distress, seemingly torn between staying or following a silent Law.

"Don't leave me! Spots! Why'd you say I sweep outside'?! I don't wanna sweep outside! Spots!" the dragon ran to catch up to the human, whom already waiting in the bathroom with a tub of bubble water and a loofa in hand.

"So?" Law dared, eyes trailing to the filling tub, silently asking the dragon. The creature looked betrayed, like Law was the biggest villain in the world. It grunted in displeasure, clearly complaining.

"Fine. Then, I guess we won't cuddle." He shrugged.

"But--! But--! I wove cuddles!" It whined, ear flaps laid flat on its head and teethless mouth opened, showing its red gums.

"No bath, no cuddles." Law must stood his ground, even if the dragon looked adorable and Law want to squeezed the hell out of it right now.

"Ughhhh, fwine! Spots win!" The dragon approached him and the bathtub reluctantly, pace slow and dramatic. It stopped at the edge of the big pool-like tub, staring at the water with hatred. With a quick move, Law pushed the dragon into the water, ignoring the shriek. He giggled under his breath as he saw the dragon flailing around the tub and then it slap him with its tail, complaining in all its teethless glory.

"Spots meanie!" It whined.

"Works every time." Law smirked in triumph and that was how he got the dragon to take a bath every night. Even though it meant he was the one who clean it.

Law clicked his tongue, annoyed at the new trouble Rurri managed to get itself into this time. He tapped his feet, crossed his arms, and gave his friend the most unamused glare he could. To which, the dragon responded with another teethless grin and big, big green eyes, and that cute limp ear flaps. He sighed at the end, might as well help the trouble maker before its condition become worst.

They were forraging the forest for dinner and while usually Rurri would be incharge of hunting fishes, this time, the dragon joined him on searching for edible fungi and vegetables because their landlord brought chicken. Law had taught, mistakenly, that Rurri would do great, considering that Rurri was a dragon, and therefore, should have a better sense of smell. Unfortunately, it appeared that this dragon's nose was broken or just an accessories to glamour the body because the little shit ate a fuck ton of poisonous mushrooms. Not one species, not two, but five!

As he plucked off all the mushrooms growing on the dragon's body, Law nagged. As in, nag like that one bitchy-know-it-all teacher.

"How can you don't know that these mushrooms are all poisonous, huh?! They're all fucking have dots! See, this?! Dots!"

"I swear to seas, you must be one of those disfunctional animal in the wild that would get eaten on the first day of life. No, don't give me that look! You caused this yourself!"

"Good fucking thing we met! I can't imagine you surviving the wilderness on day one."

"Stay still, you shit! You still have mushrooms on your butt!"

"Gah! I need Mihawk-san to help me keeping eye on you. I can't make the medicine and trusting you not to eat another-- Rurri! What did I just say! Didn't you hear me you reptile--! No! Don't eat that--! Ugh..."

After that accident where Rurri transformed into a dragon mushroom, Law had had enough and decided to always educate Rurri on what poisonous mushrooms looked like during their forraging trip.

Did he succeed? 

Well... at least Rurri avoided mushrooms with white dots. Though, he ate other poisonous ones...

"No." 

"Awhhh... Pwease Spots? I wanna hear the stowy!" The dragon whined to Law, though the human did not understand what it said litteraly.

"No. Good night." He turned off the light and burrowed into the soft bed cover, his talking mood depleted to zero after getting inturupted for seas know how many times now.

"But I wanna know what happen to Gewma! Did Sowa win?" The dragon scooted over and placed its big round head on top of Law's stomach, looking at him with that stupid (overly cute) big eyes. Cooing and wiggling its butt. Law hufted, he must be strong with his principle!

"Go to sleep, Rurri. Story time is over." And the dragon did not hear him as usual. Instead the reptile fully moved its body to lay on top of Law, making him hard to breath and then warbled. Seas know what the hell was the dragon talking about.

"I don't like being interupted in the middle of talking." Law explained, "So, next time, if you want me or someone older like Mihawk-san to continue their story, you have to be quiet and listen. Otherwise why would we bother."

"Awh... Spots is no fun!" The dragon grunted and huffed, tail swishing.

"Blablabla, yadayadayada. Complaint all you want, I don't care." Law covered his face with the duvet. 

"Wake me, and I won't tell you the story at all."

"Spots!" The dragon wailed, pathetically trying to paw at the blanket.

Law stared at the disaster in front of him with jaw hanging to the floor. The kitchen was in disaray, to put it lightly. The leftover bread and the arranged fruit basket were gone, leaving trails of crumbs and unwanted skin. The stored cookies and candies were whiped cleaned along with the jars of jams but what made him struck in disbelieve was the ripped bag of waste food. It was also... empty of a week worth of contents.

He followed the trails of food with careful steps, knowing the culprit would be found if Law tracked down the food print. The trash led him outside, to the backyard where one dragon was curling and whimpering in pain, paws holding its stomach. Law ran a hand down his face, exasperated. Why did he even wonder why Rurri did this? 

He crouched down in front of the suffering dragon and waited until the reptile opened its eyes. He did not have to wait long as Rurri immidiately crawled its way to him and whimpered, bagging for help. Law boredly stared back and asked.

"If I help you, do you promise not to eat rotten food ever again?" The dragon did not answered, only nodded.

"Promised me Rurri, if you don't I don't want to help your stupid ass anymore." A weak warble. Law sighed, he was about to give Rurri another lecture when there was a sound of bomb and a repulsing odor Law had ever smell in his entire life. Rurri just farted... and possibly discharged a little bit of poop as well.

"Oh my seas..." 

Nevertheless, it was safe to say that their future waste disposal was not disturbed anymore, not even a scratch.

"Drink your water Rurri." Law reminded his friend. Kindly.

"But it doesn't have taste..." the dragon moaned and nudged away the bowl of water.

"Alright. Here's your special yucky medicine--" 

"Okay! M sowwy!" The reptile quickly finished his boring beverage, not wanting to swallow that horrid taste of thick green thingy Spots made. The flavor ruined his tongue for a week!

"That's what I thought." Law smirked at the dragon.

I think I'm getting a handle of this.

The night was peaceful. With the background noise of buzzing insects, croaking toads, and the gentle pitter-patter of the rain. It was the kind of night that compelled one warlord to broke his routine. To make a nice cup of Lady Grey and a well written novel for a late night entertainment. The man went down to the kitchen to prepare his refreshment and immersed in the ambience when tiny steps approached and a rude demand called.

"I want milk!" The boy in dragon form told him.

"Help yourself." Mihawk gestured to the fridge with one hand.

"I want warm milk!" The boy repeated, sitting next to Mihawk's legs.

"There are no warm milk." He said as he made his tea.

"Make it!" The toddler demanded. Mihawk finished his doing first before answering with a repriminding tone.

"When someone ask for help, they must ask nicely and politely. Try again."

"Um... Yellow eyes... I want warm milk!" the boy looked happy and accomplished. What a saddening sight. Truly, what the world had become with youngs lacking basic common sense and proper attitude? Madness is what it is.

"Wrong. Repeat what I say. May I have warm milk, please?"

"Yellow eyes... m-may I h-have warm milk?"

"Please?"

"Please."

"Very good. Repeat." Mihawk encouraged the boy.

"Yellow eyes... May I h-have warm milk please?"

"Excellent. Yes, you may." The boy cheered in happiness and Mihawk lips' tilted up slightly. "Now, do remember to ask in this polite manner in the future. Understand, boy?"

"Okay!"

Unbestknown to the swordsman, this would be the first of many late night snack time they share in the upcoming months.

Chapter Text

Mihawk frowned as he eyed the leftovers on the plate. This was not the third, nor the fifth, but the thirtieth time, that Law boy had not eat the served carbohidrate of the meal. He let his plate be taken away as he stood up elegantly and excused himself to go to his office on the second floor.

The door closed with a soft click and he sat down on the leather plush chair to open one of the side drawers. Inside, laid a loved black leather journal he chose to write his daily reflections for this year. The sound of turned pages complimented the tranquil of the crackles from the fireplace as the swordsman stopped at a new page. 

Lately, his reflections had not been filled with new knowledge he learned but rather, the two boys' antics he picked up. Most of which aggravated the calm man up the wall and made his eyes twiched in an effort to mask the feeling. It had began on the second day the two boys arrived, while Law was bed ridden and unconscious, the little one, Luffy, was not and as a result, Mihawk became his main source of entertainment.

He had tried to make the toddler stop following him around without much success until he served ratatouille for dinner. The meal itself was cooked as a hearthy, warm, and fulfilling diner. One that can help sleep to come easy, considering how worried the little one seemed for his friend, Mihawk had thought that it would help. 

Oh, boy was it not.

The sight of the boy's expression was such a novelty that Mihawk did not know the appropriate reaction to it. He was torn between laughing at the disgusted face and scolding the rude behavior of rejecting a well-thought meal. Such a look of absolute betrayal and offense did he received from the boy. Over a vegetable based meal. After that diner, the boy reduced the amount of following him around to such a degree that Mihawk felt compelled to note this fact to his journal. In the case that he forgot, which rarely, if ever, but nonetheless.

Since that fateful meal, Mihawk had taken himself observing the little boy's antics and quirks seriously. Aside from being entertaining and fascinating, it became handy when the toddler was difficult to dealt with. Of course Mihawk did not let the boy got his way but the notes had been helpful in drilling some sense and proper manners in a way that can be acceptable to the boy. A reverse psychology, is its fancy name, he believed.

Tonight however, was not about a toddler stucked in his dragon form, but another older one who had no idea that he was a same being as his reptile friend. 

As he began to write in the lost language of dragonese, he marked the title with a little drawing of bread and wrote, "30th victim, sourdough." Mihawk sighed as he pondered on why Law did not even glance at the finely cut and slightly roasted slices of bread. From flatbreads to fancy baquette, the classic dinner rolls, and all time favorite bagel, had been rejected mercilessly by his hat-wearing ward. What was it with bread that Law dislike with a passion? 

While he was no a Blue's-known chef, Mihawk took pride in his cooking skills. It started as a side hobby when he felt the rare homesickness and later developed into a second handy life skill aside from sword art. By any means, Mihawk's list of cuisine he could cook is vast as he travelled one too many and had gone out of his way to learn how to make meal he enjoyed. It was practical than to travel to the place. So, it baffled him when Law did not took a single bite of all the bread he had made.

Including sourdough.

Mihawk had thought that if he made more familiar bread to Law's hometown, he might give it a try. No such luck, though. It frustrated him, really, but it also lit the fire of challenge in him. A personal mission to find out what Law would eat and why exactly he hate bread. Perhaps, there were medical condition regarding bread Mihawk wasn't aware of? He did hear that some people became unreasonably irritable after eating some... Then again, Law was always irritable no matter what he ate. It couldn't be it, could it?

Well, he just need to find out.

It had been two weeks since Law woke up and Mihawk could no longer see the boy wearing the same two clothes every day. He had gone earlier this morning to a nearby island and got a sack of clothing of various styles and colors. He did not need to call the boys, for they had been anticipating his arrival. With the smallest being a curious one, Law had no choice but to come as well.

Mihawk brought the sack to the library where Law had woken up for the first time and placed the sack of clothes a safe distance from the fireplace. The little one did not waste a second before barreling to it full speed and therefore, scattered the clothes all over the place. Sitting on a plush sofa, the swordsman pretended not to care about the mess, carefully keeping his twitching eye shadowed with the bream of his hat. Thankfully, Law had broke the silence before Mihawk could lose his cool.

"What's this? Why do you have so many clothes?" Law scrunched his nose.

"They are a gift." 

From me.

"A gift? Why would someone gave you children's clothes? A lot at that." The child eyed him suspiciously. Mihawk did not answer him, letting the child came to his own conclusion. Meanwhile, the little dragon was busy playing with a red knitted scarf. He rolled himself into a bundle, purring and obviously enjoying the feeling of the fabric.

"Well..." Law cleared his throat, eyes on one yellow hoodie. "Since they are too small to fit you, they would be a better use for us." Although the spoken words were a statement, his tone was questioning. Mihawk inclined his head in response.

"Help yourself." Was his que. Given permission, Law did not waste any time before picking up assortment of yellow and black clothing with bigger size than his body. 

As the two boys went through the clothes, Mihawk noted that they both had a favorite color. Red for the younger one and yellow-black for the older one. He watched a while longer as Law folded his chosen hoodies, knee-shorts, and a thick-fluffy blanket. The man first guess was wrong. He had thought that Law would prefer white and black garments as it was the color he arrived with.

If the boy's favorite color was yellow, why did he not wore those color before? Was there a change of heart? Or a situation that forced him to wear white? Interesting...

Mihawk quietly removed himself from the fun the two engaged with and retired to the kitchen for a drink. Mind dwelling with questions about his two wards.

The swordsman was being extremely quiet as he eyed the crawling creature. Ignorant to the dangerous human while it moved across his silk duvet. It seemed confused to the new terrain, changing direction every now and then. As if exploring. Now, the warlord was not called a hawk eye for no reason. He was patient, dangerous and kill at the right moment efficiently, which was why he did not mind being silent while watching the unwelcomed insect.

Five minutes went by since this observation started and finally, the giant pink atlas bettle turned upside down after trying to climb over his covered waist. Its scrawny pointy legs wiggled on air, body rocking front to back. Taking pity, the swordsman sat up and help the bettle with a flick of his finger. The insect ran away from him, finally sensing his unfriendly aura. Frowning in the comfort of his room, he picked up the poor insect once properly dressed and refreshed to place it back in nature.

The man sighed in disecretion, unsure how to feel at the moment except for exhaustion. Although he had a suspect in mind, he had yet to caught the culprit on action. Therefore, he could not really say his piece of mind without preceived as 'nagging.' Shaking his head subtly, he went inside and prepared breakfast. A simple sunny side up with several roasted vegetables for him and Law while the small one got a bowl of milk with cut fruits and fried bacons. An improvement of only meat meal.

Mihawk was halfway done when Law came down, carrying a sleepy and clingy dragon toddler. The boy placed the sleepy dragon down on a seat beside him before sitting himself, eyes blinking slowly and dark from the lack of sleep. The two continued their half morning doze until Mihawk put their meal in front of them. 

They ate in silence with the occasional chatter from the two children. As usual the boys would clean up the dishes while he prepared for a day's travel to some island, gathering groceries and what not. He came back around dinner time to several missing cushions, an absent Law and a dirty toddler, whom busy playing catch with a mouse. Mihawk let him go to check on the older one. He found the grumpy teen asleep with the missing cushions in one of the guest room, looking at peace. 

Ah... that's where the cushions go...

Mihawk turned around to start on diner and bathed with the unruly baby. Law joined them with a sheepish expression, clearing his throat several times and ultimately failing at acting that everything was normal. The swordsman shook his head internally, noting another thing he must taught to Law. 

He retired to his quarter, spent and ready to rest with a glass of steaming tea and continue his poet book. His excitement died as he opened the door and laid his eyes on the innocent creature on the bed. His bed. Very three dimensional, moving, real, and very much... a bettle. A lime green stag bettle. 

"Damn it."

The culprit has ran away again.

This is the second time in the two months since the children came that Mihawk was locked out of his own library. The first time it happened, Mihawk had hufted and fixed the 'problematic door' but when he managed to open it, he noticed the clean and neat state of the room. Not that means his library was cluttered, by any means he was a perfectly neat and organized person, however, neat here was diffirent. Like how some pillows that supposed to be on the ground, were back to its original place, which was weird because the youngest child loved to nap on those and it'd be Mihawk who placed it back.

Meaning, someone, had locked the room in purpose and who else in this giant mansion aside from the swordsman himself who had a decency to clean except for Law? The room was reeked with salt as well, indicating that the boy had been crying and wanted no one to know. Though Mihawk wanted to start on some gluten free recipe cooking book he got the other day, he figured he could let the child had his blues. What an unfortunate event... guessed they would be having rice balls for today's lunch.

Later that night, he got a visit from equally blue toddler. Asking to be held and carried while Mihawk study his new recipe book. The activity was odd for the cold swordsman but not unwelcomed. As he continued to pat the black dragon's bum while sitting on his sofa and fed the sleepy baby his milk, a thought he never have before, crossed his mind. 

I could get used to this...

It was a rare day where the island was even more covered in mist that Mihawk had decided to transformed and trained his wings. He was flying around the island to check whether there were intruders or if the island showed any changes when he heard a ruccus coming from the river. 

He flew there and perched on one of the tree tops and observed the chaos. It seemed like the two children had gotten themselves into another trouble. Just a few days ago, the little one was poisoned by different type of mushrooms and Mihawk had to hold him still for three hours, waiting for Law to finish the medicine. Plucking the rapidly growing fungi while stoping the said baby from eating them again. What a task.

Now, Law was standing on the river bank, worriedly shouting directions for the dragon to carefuly help a stucked baby sea otter. Instead of saving the poor mammal safely, the hatchling plunged to the river after releasing the otter. With the fast current, both were whisked away. Law had run to caught up with them, trying to use his power to safe them. 

Mihawk had planned to intervere if Law did not managed to secure them and they ended up in the calm belt. Luckily, he managed to switched them in time with several pebble from the river side and proceed to blackout immidietely. Mihawk flew down and gathered them in his coils, bringing them back to the mansion for treatment. 

Two days later, they reunited the baby otter with its mother in the North blue sea. Law had avoided his stare for a week while the little one acted as usual. Suffice to say, this had become one of the normal things in Mihawk life for the next couple of months (and years).