Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

1. 

“Did you hear? Straw Hat Luffy is on a rampage through the Marine fleet a few islands over.” Law, who had been chaperoning Clione’s supply run for their newly built replacement submarine, the Coral Veer, paused to listen to the group of civilians and local Marines gossiping on the street corner. 

“Captain?” Clione frowned, then seemed to notice what had caught Law’s attention. “Oh.”

“Why? What did they do?” one of the civilians asked. A Marine elbowed him sharply. 

“Hey. Why’d you assume the Marines did something?” the Marine demanded. 

“Cut it out. I bet he’s just looking for his boyfriend,” another Marine said. “I heard Straw Hat’s partner was defeated recently and hasn’t been heard from since then.” Law found himself drifting closer to the conversation. 

“Oh? That makes sense, then. He’s probably worried his boyfriend was captured,” one of the civilians shrugged. 

“Or got killed,” a Marine added. “Even someone who could catch Straw Hat’s eye can’t survive everything.” Several of the other bystanders rolled their eyes. Others nodded their agreement. Law’s fingers clenched around Kikoku, itching to draw her and make quick work of the gossips. 

“Captain, it’s not worth it,” Clione murmured. 

“I didn’t even know Straw Hat was dating someone,” Law replied, glaring at the group of people. 

“What? Captain, you can’t be serious.” Clione was giving him a look that was equal parts confusion and indignation. 

“He never said anything to me!” Law insisted. He couldn’t even think of who might have actually caught Luffy’s attention; Law had never seen even a hint of the would-be Pirate King being interested in anyone, let alone actually starting a relationship. Was it someone on his crew? Someone he’d met along his journey? What kind of person would make Luffy of all people suddenly take an interest in romance?

Or…had Luffy been interested in romance all along, and just never showed that side of himself to Law? 

“Sure, Captain. Let’s just go back to the Coral Veer, okay?” Clione suggested. Law wanted to protest, but then Clione added, “If you really want answers, maybe you should just call the Straw Hats.”

“No.” Law shook off the uncomfortable twisting in his gut and started back toward where they’d docked the Veer. “Let’s just go.”

“Why haven’t you called them yet?” Clione asked as they left the gossiping group behind. 

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Law had been avoiding discussing Straw Hat and his crew with his friends ever since freeing them from Blackbeard. The truth was, Luffy had done enough for Law. Law had no intention of dragging him into the Hearts’ mess. Not to get his crew back, which Law had already done. Not to help construct the Coral Veer, replacing their tragically sunk Polar Tang, which Law and his crew had also done. And not to pursue their new goals, investigating the Will of D. and causing problems for Blackbeard without risking their own safety. That was next on the list. 

“You know…if you’re waiting for Straw Hat to call you first, there’s no way for him to have the number to our new snail,” Clione pointed out unhelpfully. 

“I said I don’t want to talk about it,” Law repeated. He didn’t want to talk to his crew about Luffy, or about the way Law’s chest tightened when he had been on the verge of death and realized that what he wanted most - besides his crew’s survival - was to see Luffy one more time. And Law definitely didn’t want to talk about the way his stomach twisted and rolled when he heard that Luffy had a partner. 

“Fine, Captain. Whatever you say.” Clione shook his head like Law was missing something, or being overly stubborn. Law ignored him and focused on getting their supplies back to the ship. They had better things to do than worry about Luffy’s love life. 

Even if Law was scowling at the thought of someone else dating Luffy. 

2.

“Who would even be crazy enough to date Straw Hat Luffy?”

This time it was a bar, and Law was drinking with Penguin. Bepo had stayed in the Coral Veer, where they had some semblance of air conditioning, rather than trek across a humid summer island for a drink. Penguin had wanted to go drinking and see if he could get some information on the other crews they knew, since they couldn’t get the newspaper while the Veer was submerged. Reluctantly, Law had agreed to accompany him. 

He was regretting it now. 

“It’s gotta be someone who’s pretty strong,” one of the bar’s patrons mused. “I don’t see Straw Hat falling for a weakling.” 

“Strong enough for Straw Hat, and crazy enough to accept his advances,” another patron mused. “There aren’t many people that can say they’d meet those requirements.”

“It’s pretty much just the Worst Generation, right?” someone else pointed out. Law scowled at his drink and wished Penguin wasn’t such a busybody. 

“Makes sense. Those Worst Generation guys all seem pretty close. When they’re not trying to kill each other, anyway,” the bartender pointed out with a shrug. Law had to admit he was right, at least when it came to Luffy. The idea of Luffy dating someone in their exclusive little band made sense to him, too. 

Against his better judgment, Law ran through a mental list of the Worst Generation. 

Blackbeard? No, he and Luffy had fundamentally different positions, and Blackbeard was responsible for Ace’s death. There was no way Luffy would date him. It was one of their fellow Supernovas, then. 

Urouge seemed to have a problem with the government, and hadn’t worked with any of Luffy’s worst enemies, but Law was fairly sure that Luffy hadn’t interacted with Urouge enough to be dating him. Luffy didn’t seem like the type to date someone he didn’t know very well. Still, he couldn’t dismiss the idea completely. 

Bege was easily dismissed as a candidate, though. The gangster was happily married, and Law didn’t get the impression that his wife would have agreed to an open relationship. 

Hawkins, Drake, and Apoo had all been very recent enemies of the Straw Hats, but Drake had joined forces with Luffy in the end, so Law couldn’t rule him out completely. But then again, Drake wasn’t someone the rest of the Straw Hats really liked, and Law couldn’t see Luffy dating someone his precious crewmates didn’t approve of. Hawkins and Apoo were definitely not options, for similar and other reasons. 

Law didn’t know enough about Bonney to rule her in or out, except that the first rumors he’d heard had said Luffy had a boyfriend, not a girlfriend, so it probably wasn’t Bonney. 

That left Kid, Killer, and Zoro, who were all genuine possibilities. Zoro was Luffy’s first mate, his first crew member, and one of his strongest supporters. Zoro’s loyalty couldn’t be questioned, and Law could understand the appeal in having someone so loyal. Being on the same crew was also easier than not, when it came to relationships. However, those first rumors had mentioned that Luffy’s boyfriend had been defeated, and Luffy might not know where he was. Zoro got lost often, but Law couldn’t imagine him getting defeated and then so lost that Luffy had to attack random Marines to find him. 

So Zoro was a strong maybe. 

Killer and Kid…well, it probably wasn’t Killer. Law couldn’t imagine Killer choosing to date someone as reckless and wild as his captain. He also couldn’t imagine Killer dating a captain other than his own. Killer’s loyalty was as strong as Zoro’s, and Law couldn’t see Killer splitting that loyalty between Kid and anyone else. Maybe he could see Killer dating someone from another crew, but not the leader of another crew. Especially not one who was a direct rival to Kid. 

Which left…Eustass Kid. Law turned that idea over in his head for a moment. That wasn’t so far-fetched, he decided. Yes, Luffy and Kid were rivals, but they also worked well together when it came down to it. They were similar brands of stupid, too, and could choose to ally their crews again at any point. There was also the possibility that neither of them would hold a grudge, no matter which of them finally got the One Piece. 

Law also hadn’t heard anything about Kid after he set out for Elbaf to challenge Shanks again. He easily could have been defeated and be hiding out, regaining his strength. 

Law resolved that if he saw Kid again, he’d have to just kill the man himself. How dare he make Luffy worry and get into extra fights because he was worried about him? 

“Uh, Captain?” Penguin leaned towards him, frowning. “You good?”

“Fine,” Law answered darkly. 

“You sure? You’re doing the finger thing,” Penguin pointed out. Law stared down at his own hand, realizing he’d been flexing his left hand in the motions for some of the more creative techniques he’d like to use on Kid. Or whoever Luffy’s partner was. 

Luffy had been through enough; he shouldn’t have to worry about his partner, who was supposed to support him, not cause more problems for him. 

“Let’s just head back. I think I found out more than I wanted to today,” Penguin sighed. Law didn’t argue, just paid for their drinks and left the bar with Penguin on his heels. 

3.

“I don’t understand Straw Hat’s taste in men.” Law had thought that he’d put enough islands between his own crew and Straw Hat’s, but apparently not, because now there were other pirates gossiping about Luffy’s partner. Law was suddenly very glad that he’d been lurking in the shadows, where passersby wouldn’t notice him. He was waiting for Ikkaku to finish her errands, and his spot gave him a good view of the surroundings without being obvious to anyone else. 

“I do.” The second pirate had a smirk on his face that Law didn’t like. “The only part I don’t understand is why Straw Hat lets his boyfriend walk around without a proper shirt on. I mean, I appreciate the view, but I wouldn’t let my partner walk around with their shirt open like that.” Between Zoro, Killer, and Kid, Killer was usually the least-exposed one. If Law hadn’t already mostly ruled him out as an option for Luffy’s mystery boyfriend, that probably would have done it.

“That’s because you’re gross,” one of the other pirates said, shoving the second one’s shoulder. “You can’t tell someone how to dress just because you’re in a relationship, asshole.” 

“I also didn’t mean physically,” the first pirate added. “I get it; the guy is objectively hot. But he’s scary.”

“Straw Hat is scary. That whole generation is scary,” the second pirate shrugged. 

“No, no, I get that, actually,” the third one said. “The guy isn’t just strong, he’s creepy. And he’s got such a bad attitude; I don’t see how anyone could want to spend time with him.” Well, that wasn’t helpful at all. Law would classify Kid as having a bad attitude, for sure. He would even acknowledge that to anyone who didn’t know him well, Zoro probably seemed like he wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around. But…Law wouldn’t call either of them creepy. That was usually a description reserved for Hawkins, or for Law himself, and he’d already ruled out Hawkins. 

“Exactly. I don’t know how someone so unfriendly and grouchy managed to bond with Straw Hat of all people. Straw Hat’s a partier, and that guy…” The pirate trailed off, and Law was left more confused than ever. Kid and Zoro could both be grouchy, but Law knew they could both handle a party. Maybe this specific pirate had a bad experience with one of them at a celebration in the past? 

“Captain! Quit lurking and help me carry this!” Ikkaku called, snapping Law out of his thoughts. Law stepped out of his shadowy lookout and into the street, meeting Ikkaku halfway. Law took half of the packages in Ikkaku’s arms, then glanced around as he realized the conversation he’d been eavesdropping on had gone strangely silent. The three pirates he’d been listening to stared at Law, faces pale and mouths open in what looked like abject horror. Law met each pirate’s eye for a second, then smirked. They should be afraid of him, even if he didn’t know why they looked quite so horrified. 

“We’re dead,” one of them whispered.

“Maybe he didn’t hear us?” another one said hopefully. 

“You shouldn’t gossip about people like Straw Hat so openly,” Law informed them, letting his smirk shift to something more predatory. “You never know who might be listening.” All three of them managed to get even paler. As a doctor, Law was a little impressed. As someone who hadn’t exactly appreciated their previous conversation, he was also pretty smug. 

“The poor things probably didn’t know any better,” Ikkaku sighed. “What were they saying, anyway?” 

“Apparently they think Straw Hat’s boyfriend is attractive, but creepy and unpleasant to be around, especially at parties,” Law answered. 

“We didn’t mean-”

“We’re so sorry, please don’t kill us!” The three pirates scrambled to try to apologize, but Law just ignored them. 

“Let’s get back to the ship,” Law sighed, shaking his head at the terrified pirates. As he and Ikkaku started back towards the Coral Veer, he realized she was trying not to smile. “Something funny, Ikkaku?”

“Nothing, Captain,” she lied. Law frowned at her, but didn’t question her further. His whole crew had been acting weird lately, and eventually one of them was going to let whatever it was slip. 

In the meantime, Law still couldn’t figure out whether Luffy was dating Zoro or Kid. Either way, he didn’t like it, but Law thought maybe he could be okay with it if it was Zoro. Zoro had been with Luffy from the beginning, after all. It would make sense if Zoro was the one who’d wormed his way into Luffy’s heart. 

If it was Kid…Law wanted to kill him. But he had also realized that if he murdered Luffy’s boyfriend, then Luffy himself would probably be devastated.

So if Kid was the one Luffy was dating, Law would only almost kill him. Probably wouldn’t even do real damage, just rearrange him a bit to scare him and make sure he wouldn’t break Straw Hat’s heart. 

4.

“As if the Straw Hats weren’t bad enough by themselves, now we’ve got your grandson’s boyfriend to deal with, too,” a vaguely familiar voice griped. Law tensed and slouched farther into the coffee shop booth he was sitting in with Bepo and Shachi. Bepo had wanted to get out and explore the first winter island they’d come across since building the Veer, and Shachi had volunteered to come along. Law wasn’t sure why, but he suspected it had something to do with why the crew had been acting so strangely lately. 

“Captain, is that…” Bepo stared over Law’s shoulder, at the entrance of the coffee shop. Law risked a glance back and immediately regretted it. He’d recognized Sengoku’s voice, but he hadn’t realized the old man wasn’t alone!

“We already had to deal with the boyfriend, remember?” Garp grumbled. “That boy doesn’t have any more respect for his elders in him than my grandson does.” 

“Still. You heard about how the Straw Hats are tearing our fleets and rival pirate ships apart looking for him, right?” Sengoku sighed. That was news to Law, but apparently not to Garp.

“Of course I heard! I’m the one that had to deal with the aftermath, remember?” Garp scowled and clenched his fingers like he wanted to punch someone. “I swear, you’d think the Straw Hats lost one of their own, not a rival pirate captain.” Well, that settled a few things. It definitely wasn’t Zoro or Killer, then. Law had been right; it had to be Kid, the bastard. And he still hadn’t contacted Luffy? How could he do that? If Law stumbled across the one-armed asshole before Luffy did, Law was going to chop his remaining limbs off and haul him to the Thousand Sunny himself. 

“Captain?” Bepo whispered. Garp and Sengoku stepped up to the counter and ordered their drinks.

“You’re making the scary face,” Shachi added, looking a little nervous. Law scowled at him, and Shachi leaned over so he was half-hidden behind Bepo. “Maybe we should just head back to the ship?”

“I haven’t finished my cocoa,” Bepo protested. Shachi elbowed him. “Sorry.” 

“Finish your hot chocolate, Bepo. If we leave now, we’ll have to walk right past them,” Law pointed out. 

“They’ve even got some of my officers worried about him,” Garp grumbled. 

“I heard the boy from SWORD was poking around,” Sengoku mused. “Maybe he’ll be able to find him. But honestly, couldn’t your grandson just get a Vivre Card for his boyfriend?”

“I don’t think he knows how,” Garp muttered. “But that sure would be easier for the rest of us, wouldn’t it?” Law risked another glance at the pair of them, only to accidentally make eye contact with Sengoku. 

“Speaking of things that would be easier for us…” Sengoku said slowly, staring straight at Law. 

“Shit. Room.” The comforting blue tint of his power slid over the coffee shop. A few other patrons gasped or cried out in confusion, but Garp and Sengoku glared at him and started towards him. “Shambles.” Law switched himself, Bepo, and Shachi with a trio of snowmen that had been built just outside the coffee shop. 

“So, we’re running from the navy?” Shachi sighed. “At least it’ll warm me up.”

“Shut up and run,” Law ordered. The other two obeyed, and managed to sprint a whole block away and around a corner before Garp’s fist came crashing through the coffee shop’s wall. 

5.

“Morning, Captain!” Law blinked sleepily at a handful of his crew, who were gathered suspiciously around one of the tables in the Coral Veer’s galley. Law decided figuring out what they were up to could wait until he’d gotten coffee, so he went to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup. While his back was turned, he heard shuffling and what sounded like paper crackling and a whispered, “Quick, hide it!” Law took a slow sip of his coffee, then slowly turned around. He leaned back against the counter, crossed his arms, and took another drink before he looked at his crew members. 

Shachi, Penguin, Bepo, Ikkaku, and Clione were trying - and failing - to look nonchalant as they did a terrible job hiding the newspaper they’d apparently been pouring over. He wondered when they’d surfaced to receive the paper, and why they’d done so without telling him. Law took another slow sip of his coffee. 

“Why are you hiding a newspaper from me?” Law asked. 

“Well…” Clione began. Penguin and Ikkaku elbowed him hard enough that Clione yelped. “Hey! What was that for?”

“We all agreed to let Bepo tell him, remember?” Shachi hissed. “Bepo always gets off easy.” 

“Sorry,” Bepo sighed. 

“Use your cuteness privilege for good this time,” Penguin insisted. “Tell him.” 

“But I don’t want to,” Bepo protested. 

“Bepo? What are you hiding from me?” Law asked. It was kind of a dick move to ask the mink directly, because he knew that Bepo couldn’t lie to him. Bepo slumped, then retrieved the newspaper and carefully folded it to show one of the front page stories. Law frowned, wondering what could possibly be so awful in the newspaper. Bepo got up, crossed the galley, and held the paper out to his captain. Law set aside his coffee and read the headline.

Then he read it again. 

The third time he read it, the headline hadn’t changed. 

Straw Hat Luffy Announces Engagement to Longtime Ally!

Luffy’s boyfriend had been upgraded to fiance. 

Eustass Kid was a lucky bastard. 

“Captain?” Bepo prompted softly. Law folded the paper in half, hiding the headline from view. For a second, he didn’t trust his voice. Luffy was getting married. Law hadn’t really expected that. Even knowing that Luffy was dating someone, Law hadn’t expected for him to actually get engaged. A bitter, jealous part of him had hoped that maybe Luffy and Kid would break up. He’d even once entertained the idea that if they did, Luffy might need someone besides his crew to talk to. Maybe Law could be there for him, even if Luffy didn’t have the same feelings for Law that Law had for him. And now…Law didn’t know how he was ever supposed to face Straw Hat again, when seeing him would hurt so much.

Maybe he could just avoid Straw Hat forever. Or at least until Law had managed to get over the way his stomach twisted every time he thought about Luffy with someone else. Until he could look Luffy in the eye and be confident that Luffy wouldn’t see pain or regret or anything else there, because if Luffy saw that Law was hurting, he’d want to know why, just like he would for any of his friends. And Law couldn’t tell him. Couldn’t risk seeing pity or rejection in Luffy’s expression. 

“Remind me to send them a card or something when they announce the wedding date,” Law said at last. “I’m going back to bed.” And then he left his coffee on the counter and returned to his quarters without so much as a glance at his crewmates. He didn’t want to know how much they’d figured out. 

He didn’t want to know if they knew enough to feel sorry for him. 

Law flopped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling, processing everything. Yes, he was definitely processing his emotions, and not wallowing in self-pity and jealousy. 

He wondered if it would have made a difference if he’d told Straw Hat how he felt back when they were leaving Dressrosa, on the way to Zou. He wondered if Luffy had already had feelings for Kid then, or if it had happened on Wano. 

It probably wouldn’t have made a difference; for all that everyone seemed to agree that Kid’s attitude and abrasiveness weren’t compatible with Luffy’s light and warmth, Law could only imagine what people would think if Law had been able to tell Luffy how he felt. 

Not that people would probably think anything, because Law wouldn’t have had a chance even if he did say something. Law was the meticulous planner, the one that couldn’t let anything go or leave anything up to chance. He was the dark one, the gloomy one, and as far as he was concerned, it didn’t make sense for Luffy to even consider him a friend; why would someone as bright and warm as that ever be romantically interested in Law? His eyes stung, and his chest felt tight, but Law forced the feeling away as best he could. He might be wallowing - processing - but he wasn’t going to actually cry over Luffy. Not when he never even let himself hope for anything.

Law resolved to leave his quarters as little as possible until they reached the next island.

+1

The Coral Veer surfaced in a secluded cape away from the villages on the next island, and Law was the first one out on the deck. It was the easiest way to avoid his crew while they docked. 

It was not, apparently, the easiest way to avoid people who were not his crew, because someone landed on the Veer’s deck right beside him seconds later. 

“You!” someone shouted. They seized his shirt and shook him. “You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?” 

“Room.” Law’s power swept over them.

“No, you don’t!” the person shouted.
“Shambles.” Law switched himself with an unfortunate fish that had gotten caught on top of the Veer as she surfaced. He straightened his shirt out and eyed the person who must have managed to both predict where the Veer would surface and catch Law by surprise. “Why exactly is a captain of SWORD ambushing me?” Law asked. The Marine - it was the pink-haired one, Luffy’s friend, what was his name? - scowled at Law and stomped towards him. 

“Because apparently it’s the only way to get ahold of you!” he snapped. Oh, right. It was Koby. That was his name. Didn’t he usually have a blond shadow with him? “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through for the last few weeks because of you, you bastard?” 

“What?” Law could hear a commotion below deck as his crew realized something was going on. “I don’t think I’ve done anything to you. I haven’t even seen you since Rockport.” 

“You…” Koby scowled, then seemed to get ahold of himself and settled for a stern frown instead. “Why aren’t you with Luffy?”

“Why would I be with Straw Hat-ya?” Law asked, tilting his head. 

“Because of the engagement!” Koby snapped. Law stared at him, trying to figure out what he meant. Had Luffy been trying to invite the Hearts to an engagement party or something? But wasn’t his fiance still missing? Wait, why would a Marine care about Luffy’s engagement. Why did he even know about it? Did SWORD officers sit around reading the newspaper for pirate gossip?

“You know about that?” Law asked. 

“Of course I know! Everyone knows! The only thing everyone doesn’t know is why the fuck you disappeared and why you haven’t told Luffy you’re alive!” Koby threw his hands up in exasperation. 

“I’m confused,” Law admitted. 

“Your poor fiance has been tearing apart whole oceans to find you, and you’re apparently just, what? Cafe-hopping? Relaxing underwater with your crew?” 

“Wait, my what?” 

“Your fiance?” Koby repeated slowly, like Law might be stupid. “You know, Luffy? Future King of the Pirates? That fiance?” 

“But I’m not engaged to anyone, much less to Straw Hat-ya,” Law protested. Koby stared at him for a moment, and Law stared right back. In his peripheral vision, he could see that his crew had opened the hatch from below deck, and was crowded around beneath them, listening. 

“Yes, you are,” Koby insisted. “Luffy has been going around telling everyone he’s going to marry you. It was even in the newspaper.” Law remembered the headline. 

“I don’t read the newspaper,” he said. He hadn’t read the article. Apparently he should have, because then he would have known it was just imagined gossip. 

“You don’t read the paper,” Koby repeated. “Okay. Fine. But why haven’t you contacted Luffy? He’s been a mess ever since you disappeared.” 

“Wasn’t he just upset because Kid-ya was missing?” Law was beginning to get a terrible feeling like he had missed some important information in the conversations he’d been overhearing. 

“Kid?” Koby shook his head. “Maybe a little, but you’re the one he’s dating, so why would that-”

“I’m the one he’s what?” Law shouted. 

“You’re Luffy’s boyfriend.” Koby said it like it was obvious, but Law was completely stunned. Why would anyone think…Kid was the one who fit all the rumors…not Law. Right?

“My ship sank,” Law said out loud. The Tang’s  loss was still a wound on his heart. “And then I disappeared for a while.” 

“Yes. Luffy was terrified. The only reason he was sure you were out there was because, well, he’s Luffy, but he had your navigator’s Vivre card, and Luffy was convinced your navigator wouldn’t let you die before him.” Law would definitely have to have a chat with Bepo about that idea, because Luffy was unfortunately pretty perceptive about things like that. 

“I’m also a member of the Worst Generation,” Law continued.

“That’s basic information, yeah,” Koby agreed. 

“I’m the one people think is creepy and unpleasant at parties.”

“You do have a habit of removing people’s limbs. And heads,” Koby pointed out. “I don’t know why all of the Straw Hats like you so much.” 

Well, fuck.

All of the rumors he’d been hearing did in fact match Law himself more than they matched any of the other possibilities he’d considered. 

There was just one problem. 

“But I’m not engaged to Luffy. We aren’t even dating,” Law said.

“Yes, you are,” Koby objected. “Everyone knows you’re Luffy’s boyfriend.”

“Everyone except me, apparently,” Law replied. He and Koby stared at each other for a long moment, trying to gauge each other’s sincerity. Finally, Koby sighed. 

“Well, that would explain most of it, I guess. But even if you just thought you were friends, why haven’t you called Luffy? He’s been worried that you were captured, or that you hate him.”

“The alliance ended,” Law reminded him. “We all chose to go our separate ways. My problems don’t need to be Straw Hat-ya’s problems anymore.” Koby frowned at him, and even Law knew it was weak. “…fuck.” Law pulled his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. “Shit, Eustace isn’t the asshole who’s been ignoring Luffy and how worried he is. I am.” 

“Yeah. And my fellow Marines don’t appreciate it,” Koby added. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “What are you going to do now?” Law considered that himself, then sighed. 

“Hey. One of you eavesdroppers. Fetch the snail.” 

“Are you really gonna have this conversation over the transponder snails?” Penguin blurted out, horrified. 

“I gave an order,” Law snapped. “Follow it.” Penguin shook his head and headed deeper into the ship. 

“Captain?” Bepo sounded worried. Law turned his attention to his crew, taking in the way they were crowding around the hatch, staring up at him and Koby. They looked a little surprised, but mostly guilty. They’d all been acting weird, giving him odd looks or knowing smiles ever since the rumors about Luffy dating someone had started. 

“You knew,” Law accused. 

“Sorry,” Bepo blurted out. 

“We thought you knew!” Shachi added. 

“We just thought you weren’t ready to tell us,” Ikkaku explained. “At least, until the newspaper.” 

“Why did you hide it?”

“Well, we know what you’re like when you’re grumpy, and you didn’t even finish your coffee, so-“ Clione broke off as he was elbowed sharply by at least five different Hearts. “Ow!” Law would have to address that in a minute. 

“We didn’t want you to feel pressured to tell us,” Jean Bart piped up from the back of the cluster. 

“And then we saw your face. How you didn’t read the article. We realized you were upset, and probably didn’t see your own name in there,” Shachi added. “We didn’t know what to do, so we just let you sulk.” 

“I was not-“

“You were, too, Captain,” Penguin insisted as he climbed up the ladder onto the deck and handed Law the transponder snail. “Here.” Law scowled at his crew, then took the snail. He studied the little creature for a minute, then handed it to Koby. 

“Call them. Tell them to meet us here. If you have a way to navigate them here, then fine. If not, you can tell Nami-ya to use Bepo’s Vivre Card. And only Nami-ya.” 

“What are you planning?” Koby demanded. Law smirked as he answered. 

“It’s time I had a word with my so-called fiancé.”

Chapter Text

“Luffy?” Nami stepped out onto the Sunny’s deck, looking for her captain. Luffy was perched on the Sunny’s figurehead, where he’d been stewing in his frustration. He peered over the mane, the frown that had stayed etched on his face since they realized the Heart Pirates had been defeated and then disappeared deepening. 

“Did you find Torao?” Luffy demanded. 

“Koby has a lead,” Nami answered. “We’re actually not far away, either. We should be able to meet up with him in a few hours.” Luffy’s frown faded slightly. They’d had plenty of leads, including one on a winter island where Law had been spotted at a coffee shop a few days ago. They still hadn’t managed to actually verify any of the supposed sightings of the Hearts, let alone catch up to them. 

“They’re okay.” Luffy said it like a statement, but Nami was beginning to wonder who Luffy was trying to convince when he said it. After all, going so long without a real update or contact had to weaken even Luffy’s confidence, right? “Torao’s fine.”

“Of course he is,” Nami answered. “You’ll see him soon.”

Just over three hours later, Usopp called out from the crow’s nest to let them know he’d spotted the island where Koby was. Luffy stood up, leaning out towards the ocean, towards the island, towards the hope that this time, he’d catch up to Law. This time, he’d know for sure the Hearts were okay. 

A familiar blue haze fell over the world. Nami had a split second to think, That’s more than just a lead, Koby!  

And then Luffy was gone, replaced by Koby himself, who yelped and scrambled to stay on the Sunny’s head instead of falling into the sea. 

“Well, shit, I guess we found him,” Nami said out loud. 

“Why does Luffy sit here?” Koby complained as he hauled himself over the Sunny’s mane and onto the deck. The other Straw Hats crowded around. 

“That was Law’s Room, wasn’t it?” Sanji observed. “I hope he put Luffy in his ship, and not the bottom of the ocean.”

“I don’t think he’s going to drown him. Probably. At least not yet.” Koby didn’t sound terribly confident, but Nami knew that Law wouldn’t actually endanger Luffy’s life. If he did drop him in the ocean, he’d at least pull the idiot out before he actually died. “Might depend on what Luffy says to him, though. Did you guys know they’re not actually engaged?” Nami and her crew mates exchanged meaningful glances. Guess it was time to come clean, since Koby knew anyway.

“Of course they’re not. You think Luffy tells people things?” Zoro shook his head. 

“As far as we can tell, Luffy never actually told Torao that he liked him,” Usopp added. 

“He definitely never proposed. He just decided one day that he wanted to marry him, and then he kept saying it, and people believed him,” Sanji shrugged. 

“I’m not sure if he thinks Law is telepathic, or if he just forgot that he never told him,” Robin sighed. 

“Luffy’s an idiot, remember?” Chopper piped up. 

“And you guys never cleared it up?” Koby stared at them in horror. 

“It’s not our business,” Franky explained. 

“If Law has a bone to pick with our captain over his communication skills, we don’t want to be caught in the crossfire,” Brook added. 

“Besides. Nami’s running a betting pool on the whole situation,” Jimbei said casually. Koby looked like he didn’t know what part of this was the worst. 

“I think I’ve just decided to leave before Law finds out and plans some kind of revenge on all of you,” Koby announced. 

Law released his Room as Luffy stared around, confused to find himself somewhere besides his own ship with no warning. 

“What just…” Luffy’s eyes landed on Law. “Torao!” Luffy catapulted himself across the room, slamming into Law and wrapping his rubber limbs around Law’s torso a dozen times. Law stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet. His hat fell off, but at least he and Luffy didn’t end up in a heap on the floor. “You’re here! You’re okay! I was so worried!”

“I heard you’ve been on quite the rampage, Straw Hat-ya,” Law said, doing his best to keep his voice and expression steady despite Luffy wrapped around him like a human eel. “I didn’t realize you were so concerned with my well-being.” Luffy leaned back without releasing a single limb coil and downright pouted at him.

“Of course I was! You disappeared, and then I heard your ship sank, and then we tried to find you and kept running into Marines and other pirates, and then I couldn’t catch up to you no matter how fast the Sunny went, and-“

“Why, Straw Hat-ya? Why did you chase after me like this?” Law interrupted. He knew what Koby thought, what the whole damn world apparently thought, about why Luffy had been so determined to find him. But Law needed to hear it for himself, from Luffy. 

“Silly Torao, you know why.” Luffy leaned forward and rubbed his cheek against Law’s like a cat. 

“You have to say things out loud if you want people to hear them,” Law said firmly. “And so far I haven’t heard a reason for me not to put you back on your ship and sail away again.” 

“What? But I just found you!” Luffy protested. That wasn’t what Law needed to hear. 

“Room.” The familiar blue of his power fell over them. 

“No, wait! Don’t go!” Luffy coiled tighter around Law, clinging to him desperately. 

“Then tell me why,” Law insisted. “The alliance is over, remember? So why go through all this trouble for someone like me?” Luffy stared at him like he was trying to figure something out. It took a few seconds, but then Luffy uncoiled and stepped back, so that the only point of contact between them was him holding one of Law’s hands. 

“I don’t like it when Torao talks about himself that way,” Luffy said quietly. That wasn’t what Law expected, but he didn’t pull his hand away. He wanted to hear what Luffy had to say. 

“What way?” Law prompted when Luffy didn’t immediately continue. 

“Like you don’t matter. Like you’re not important.” Luffy’s fingers trembled around Law’s, then tightened as he leaned closer again. Luffy reached up with his free hand and moved his trademark straw hat from his own head to Law’s. “I don’t care if we’re in an alliance or not, Torao. You’re important to me. You matter. You’re smart, and strong, and pretty-“ Law tried and failed not to blush at that. “-and you’re kind, even if you don’t want people to know about that. You’re so, so important, Torao. Law.” The way Luffy’s voice softened around the single syllable of Law’s name made his poor knees shake. “I love you. I thought you knew that.” 

“There are different kinds of love, Straw Hat-ya.” Law’s voice shook, but he managed to get the words out. 

“There are.” Luffy stepped back fully into Law’s space, his fierce gaze locked on Law’s. Luffy was beautiful in plenty of circumstances, but Law realized at that moment that Luffy staring up at him with a level of intensity usually reserved for food or serious fights, with the blue tint of Law’s Room cast over his cheeks, was the most breathtaking thing Law had ever seen. Still, he hadn’t said it yet. 

“I know you love me,” Law acknowledged. “But you also love your crew, and your home back in the East Blue, and the Sunny, and all of your friends. Why would I think that I’m different than all of them?” 

“Because you’re Torao,” Luffy answered simply. “It’s different.” 

“You never told me.” 

“I thought it was obvious,” Luffy replied. And, Law had to admit, apparently it had been obvious to everyone else. Looking back, Law could see some signs. Luffy shared his food with Law, and made sure Sanji made food Law liked when he was on board, even if it wasn’t Luffy’s favorite. How upset Luffy had been when he realized Law had planned to die back on Dressrosa. The way he’d entrusted half of his crew to Law’s care while Luffy himself went after his cook. The straw hat perched on his head even though he wasn’t in a dire emergency at the moment. Or maybe Luffy considered Law not valuing himself to be a dire emergency.

There were dozens of moments where Law had known that he meant something to Luffy, but he’d never let himself hope that Luffy saw him differently than he did anyone else. 

“Maybe. But I couldn’t take that risk and assume anything.” Law met Luffy’s determined gaze and said, “I couldn’t let myself hope that you felt the same way about me as I do about you.” 

“Torao’s lost too many people who love him, so he has a hard time believing he can be loved,” Luffy said softly. Law froze, feeling like Luffy had seen straight through him, to a part of himself Law usually reserved for his own dark moods, and pulled that part of him out into plain view. “I should’ve known showing wasn’t enough for you to feel safe believing it without talking about it, too. Sorry about that.” The Room fell as every scrap of Law’s attention narrowed to that moment, to Luffy’s words and the gentle way he curled a hand around the back of Law’s neck and gently guided his head down until their foreheads touched. “I love you. I want to protect you even though you’re strong enough to protect yourself. I want to marry you someday. And I’ll tell you as many times as it takes for you to believe it.” 

If there was one thing Law had learned about Luffy, it was that when he said something, he meant it with every fiber of his being. It was why he’d needed to hear Luffy say it out loud. 

“I believe you,” Law whispered. “But tell me again anyway.” 

“I love you,” Luffy repeated immediately. “You’re special, and strong, and so cool and pretty and-“

“Luffy-ya,” Law interrupted. 

Luffy went silent, eyes wide. Then a grin stretched across his face, and he blurted out, “You said my name!”  

“Luffy-ya,” Law repeated, cupping Luffy’s face with his hands. Luffy stared at him, waiting to see what he’d say next. “Can I kiss you?” Luffy’s eyes blazed as he answered. 

“Aren’t pirates supposed to take what we want?” Law took that as both permission and a challenge, closing the last bit of distance between them in an instant. As their lips met, Luffy wound his arms back around Law’s waist, pulling him impossibly closer. The warmth of Luffy’s mouth on his combined with the heat of Luffy’s body against his and Luffy’s arms around him, and Law lost himself in the rush of warmth, of security, of the comfort and reassurance of finally knowing that Luffy returned his feelings. 

“Captain, did you- oh! Sorry!” Bepo squeaked. Law straightened up and frowned over Luffy’s head at Bepo. The mink must have felt particularly brave at that moment, because he said, “So…I guess the talk went well?”

“Bepo.”

“Sorry!”

“Hi, Bepo!” Luffy grinned, twisting around to wave at Bepo without unwinding his arms from Law’s body. “Whatcha doing?” 

“Um…” Bepo looked from Luffy to Law and back again.

“He’s checking to make sure I didn’t kill you and you didn’t break my heart,” Law answered dryly. Luffy pouted, offended. 

“You wouldn’t kill me,” Luffy grumbled. “And the only one breaking your heart was you, because you didn’t want to assume things.” Something occurred to Luffy, then, and he stared up at Law with blatant curiosity. “But you had to have heard rumors, right? Nami and the others were complaining that all anyone could talk about was me wanting to date you and then us looking for you.”

“I heard some rumors, yeah.” Law shrugged like it was no big deal. 

“He thought you were dating someone else,” Bepo explained.

“Bepo!” Law scolded. 

“Sorry, Captain,” Bepo said without really sounding sorry for once. “We’re ready to surface and drop anchor on the island as soon as you give the order.” With that, Bepo turned and left, closing the door behind him. 

“Who was it?” Luffy asked, refusing to uncoil so Law could lock the door behind Bepo. 

“Who was what?” 

“Who did you think I was dating?” Luffy looked like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to laugh or pout some more. Law considered lying, but he was smart enough to realize he’d probably slip up eventually. And even if he did lie, Luffy would probably be able to tell; he had a habit of being able to read Law when no one else could, after all. 

“Well…based on the rumors I heard…” Law sighed. “I heard it was a member of the worst generation who wasn’t a people person who’d been defeated recently, who was an ally of yours, and who your crew all cared about.” Luffy nodded along with his explanation, his gaze intent. “So…I assumed it was Kid-ya.” 

“Gizao?” Luffy laughed. “You thought I’d like Gizao instead of you?”

“Honestly?” Law cupped the left side of Luffy’s face and dragged his thumb along the scar under his eye, just because he could now. “The possibility of you ever seeing me as anything but a friend didn’t even cross my mind.”

“So that’s why you never told me you were okay after Winner Island?” Luffy asked, his voice suddenly smaller and more hesitant than Law had ever heard it. “You didn’t think I cared if you were alive or not?”

“I didn’t know if you had even heard about that fight,” Law replied, tracing the scar on Luffy’s cheek once more. “At first, I didn’t want to worry you, or distract you from your own journey. I knew you’d want to help me get my crew back, but that was something I needed to do on my own. By the time we recovered and built our new ship, I guess I just thought that if you heard about Winner Island, you’d hear about us surviving, too. And then the rumors started.” Law rested his forehead against Luffy’s and added, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I worried you. I won’t make you worry again if I can help it, okay?” 

“I don’t hate worrying. Even if you don’t want help, or I can’t do anything but wait for you to come back, I want to know what’s going on.” Luffy tucked his head under Law’s chin, his voice still quiet. “So let me worry about you, okay? Just tell me when you’re okay, afterwards.” Law’s poor heart was going to give out at this rate. 

“I promise I’ll let you know what’s happening from now on,” Law replied. “Your navigator has our new Transponder Snail number, too, so we can check on each other.” 

“Good.” Luffy was quiet for a minute, and Law just let himself savor the feeling of being so close to him. “What’s the name of your new ship?” Luffy asked eventually. “I haven’t seen anything about it in the paper.” 

“I’m impressed you had the patience to read the paper,” Law teased. 

“Nami and Robin have been reading it to me,” Luffy laughed, so Law counted that as a win.

“Her name is the Coral Veer. I’ll give you a full tour if you want, but Zoro-ya is not invited. He got lost all the time on the Tang, and the Veer’s bigger. We don’t need to have to rescue him from the hallways again.”

“I can’t wait to see,” Luffy said cheerfully. “Since it’s Torao’s new home.” Law couldn’t stop the fond smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth as Luffy unwound himself. Just when Law thought Luffy would let go completely, however, he grabbed Law’s left hand. Law allowed it, leading Luffy to the door. The second he opened it, however, Law scowled. 

The entire Heart Pirate crew was waiting in the hallway, expressions ranging from knowing grins to outright smirks. 

“Bepo,” Law sighed, his fingers going limp in Luffy’s. Luffy didn’t take the hint and kept clinging to Law’s hand. 

“Sorry, Captain.” Bepo was near the front. “Everyone wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Well, that, and we came to threaten Straw Hat!” Penguin piped up. 

“No.” Law glared at all of them. 

“Aw, but I thought you guys liked me!” Luffy pouted. 

“We do,” Clione admitted unhelpfully. He was elbowed several times as punishment. 

“It’s not about liking you,” Shachi explained. “It’s about protecting our Captain.”

“I don’t need you all to-“

“We’re Captain’s family,” Penguin interrupted. “So we have to look out for him.”

“Especially when it comes to his heart,” Bepo added. 

“It is in our name, after all,” Ikkaku agreed. 

“Guys-“ Law was interrupted again, this time by Jean Bart. 

“If you hurt our Captain, Straw Hat, we’ll make you regret it,” Jean Bart said firmly. 

“I don’t wanna fight Torao’s family!” Luffy protested. 

“Oh, no, we wouldn’t fight you,” Shachi blurted out. “We know we’d be no match for you.”

“But we already kept our Captain hidden without even trying,” Penguin pointed out. 

“We could keep him hidden forever if he wanted us to,” Bepo finished. “So don’t make him want to hide from you.” Law stared at his crew. His silly, rambunctious, devoted, precious crew. His friends, his family, who were willing to face down the infamous Straw Hat Luffy for him. 

“I won’t,” Luffy promised. “I won’t let anyone hurt Torao. Not even me.” 

“I can protect myself, you know,” Law grumbled. 

“We know.” It was Luffy who said it, squeezing Law’s hand as he did so. “But we love you, so we want to protect you.” Luffy beamed at the assembled Heart Pirates and added, “I know you guys always take good care of your captain. I promise I’ll protect him and take care of him, too.” Law was tempted to grouch some more, to banish the crew with orders to clean the whole ship just to keep them busy. He was tempted to deposit Luffy back onto his ship with his own crew. 

Instead, Law just shook his head. 

If there was one thing he knew about Luffy, it was that once he set his mind to something, once he said something out loud - especially if it was a promise - he never went back on his word. That was something Law had been trusting in for longer than he cared to admit, and it was one of the things he loved about Luffy. 

“As long as you know I’ll take care of you, too, whether you like it or not,” Law warned. Luffy just grinned and wrapped himself around Law like a human eel again. 

“Aw, Torao loves me, too!” Luffy laughed, rubbing his cheek against Law’s. “Oh! I forgot to ask, does that mean you agree to marry me?” Law felt his face catch fire as his crew struggled not to laugh. 

“Room.” 

“Wait, Torao, no-“

“Shambles.” Law switched Luffy with the Straw Hat skeleton’s cane sword. He wasn’t about to let Luffy think Law was running away again, but he had a point to make. “Take us to the surface,” Law ordered. His crew scrambled to obey, all except Bepo. “What?”

“You’re wearing the straw hat,” Bepo said. “Sorry.” Law’s hand flew to his own head, where the straw hat was indeed resting. An idea occurred to him, one that would keep Luffy pouty instead of grumpy while the Veer surfaced and docked. Since his Room was still up, Law located his own hat in the room behind him and switched it with an object he could sense near Luffy. He went to pick it up and laughed. “Captain?” Bepo peered at the object in Law’s hand. “Is that an onigiri?”

“Yes, it is.” Law studied it for a moment, then shrugged and unwrapped it. Sanji’s onigiri were always excellent, after all. “I’m going up to the deck as soon as we surface.”

“Of course you are, Captain.” Law frowned at his navigator. “Sorry.”

On the Thousand Sunny, Sanji and Brook were in the galley as Sanji finished wrapping the onigiri he’d been assembling in hopes of luring out the Heart captain if Luffy offended him into running again. 

“Ah, young love makes for a great story, doesn’t it?” Brook sighed from where he was sitting at the table. Sanji was only half listening, at least until Brook yelped in surprise. “Oh no! My cane!” Sanji looked over just as Luffy appeared next to Brook, where the cane had been. 

“Torao switched me back!” Luffy complained. “He didn’t even answer my question!” Before Sanji or Brook could ask what question he meant - or how talking with the other captain had gone - one of Sanji’s onigiri was suddenly replaced with a familiar spotted hat. Luffy blinked, picked up the hat, and then grinned. “Nevermind. I guess he did answer. I’m gonna go tell Nami and Jimbei to dock the Sunny!” Luffy bolted out of the galley, putting the fluffy spotted hat on his head as he did. 

“I guess that means it went well, then?” Brook mused. 

“Guess it did,” Sanji agreed. “I hope Law knows what he’s getting himself into.”

“You say that like he hasn’t wanted to get himself into this since Dressrosa,” Brook laughed. 

“Really? I was thinking Punk Hazard,” Sanji replied. “Guess we’ll find out when Nami announces the winner of her betting pool. Either way, I’d better start making more food. No way Luffy’s letting us leave without a banquet.” Right on cue, Luffy burst back into the galley. 

“Sanji! You gotta make all of Torao’s favorite foods tonight, okay? We’re gonna have a party!”