~

'When did you fall in love?'

Luffy thought over Ace's words the entire time in school. It got to the point that Usopp had to repeatedly throw paper balls at him to make sure Luffy paid attention in class. Luffy knew what he felt for Torao was different than what he felt for anybody else but to call it love... Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Luffy just knew he couldn't tell Torao yet until he found out for himself and learned how best to tell it to Law.

"Oi Luffy! We're going to the arcade today! You're coming right?" Usopp asked exiting school with his friend.

"Nah, I have to go somewhere today." Luffy answered getting his phone out.

"Where?"

"Made an appointment with someone." Usopp raised a brow at the lack of explanation but let it pass. Luffy had been really weird the entire day, maybe it had something to do with it. The long nosed boy decided to leave Luffy be for the time being and not push him.

"Ok, see you on Monday! Or before if we made some plans!"

"Yeah! See ya Usopp!" Luffy texted Torao that he was heading to the basement house and to meet him there. Ace was discharged late at the night before so Luffy didn't worry much about his brother and went ahead with his plans. Upon receiving an affirmation from Law, Luffy stuffed his phone in his pocket and picked up his pace, heading towards Law's basement.

"Directly from school?" Law inquired when Luffy appeared in his line of vision. He was still far enough to have heard Law so the older tried again when Luffy neared. "Eager to get your tests done?"

"I get to spend time with you!" Luffy justified, grinning. Law just stared at Luffy, stumped with the boldness again. The older cursed inwardly for not having the courage to tell Luffy what he felt for him and the reason he was looking out for him.

"Stop being so mushy, I don't like that."

"I don't care." Law rolled his eyes and led Luffy down the stairs. "Did you get to sleep last night?"

"That's not your concern."

"Torao you're mean sometimes."

"Don't touch anything." Law warned when Luffy looked around at the machines with stars in his eyes. The place was equipped with all the medical machinery one could need to perform a variety of surgeries and procedures. Law made sure the sterilization vents were working before he took Luffy's bag and put it on a chair in the corner. "Did you eat anything before coming here?"

"Yapp!"

"How long ago was that?" Law inquired writing down different blood tests that needed to be done without fasting.

"An hour." Luffy peaked at the chart Law was making until Law turned around and pushed Luffy towards the bed in the middle of the room. Law put on his crisp white overalls and gloves. "You look like a real doctor now!"

"I am a real doctor!" Law almost pouted at Luffy's laughter but caught himself. "Take off your shirt and lay down." Law said and walked to wheel a few machines to the bed. The older's words threw images of Ace with his lover in Luffy's mind and he was red in the face again. When Law turned back to Luffy, having expected him to be lying down, he found the boy still sitting on the edge of the bed, buttons barely touched, eyes unfocused and face steaming. "You ok?" Law asked and checked for fever. Luffy moved back to avoid the touch.

"I'm fine!" Law raised an eyebrow.

"...sure. Shirt off then. X-ray first, then echo." Law informed and set the x-ray machine while Luffy took off his school uniform shirt and undershirt, draping them at the edge, finally lying down. Law adjusted the x-ray machine over Luffy's chest. "Take a deep breath and hold it when I say so."

"Got it."

Law looked at the screen and found the placement perfect. "Deep breath and hold it." Law watched as Luffy's lungs filled up with air and stayed that way. He pressed a button that saved the image and pushed the machine aside. "Ok, exhale."

"Done already?"

"X-ray is easy. You were co-operative too. Good job."

"What's next?" Luffy asked lifting himself on his elbows and looking at the other big machine Law was typing into.

"I'm going to check your heart." Law answered lifting the echo probe and pushing Luffy back down, smearing the cold gel on his chest and pressing the probe on it.

"My heart?"

"Stop talking. And hands behind your head." Law guided, resuming after the position was perfect. "No vegetation, valves look ok." Luffy giggled to himself at the way Law was mumbling to himself, pressing buttons on the machine and moving the probe to the sides of his chest. The next few giggles got caught in Luffy's throat when Law looked at him with a mix of wonder and curiosity, a grin without malice or sarcasm on his lips. "Wanna hear your heart?"

It took Luffy a few moments to get the words out. "We can do that?"

"Yes."

"Sure! Let's do it!" Law pressed some buttons on the machine again and the room was filled with loud 'shsssakkk ssshssaaskkkk' noises and a weird goopy kind of sound that Luffy couldn't really describe but he was hearing his own heart! How rad was that?! "Can I see too?"

"Ok. Turn on your left side, arm under your head." Law guided again and moved the screen so Luffy could see. He pressed the probe on Luffy's chest again and pointed at various locations on the display. "That's your right upper chamber, this is the valve connecting it with the right lower chamber. This is your aorta- look at the colours, that's blood flow and oxygen."

Luffy could only look with awe, both at the screen and Law. It was fun seeing and hearing his own heart like that, especially since this was an experience he shared with Torao and was made possible because of the older too.

"So? Is my heart normal?" Luffy asked when Law glided the probe head on his chest one last time before placing it back alongside the machine.

"There are signs of strain," Law began and glared at Luffy, continuing, "signs that would have subsided had you gone to a doctor on time like you were told to."

"But it's nothing bad right?" Luffy got up on his elbows again.

"No it's nothing bad. You can take a few meds for some time and exercise to reduce the strain." Law answered with a sigh and handed the boy a few towels. "Wipe yourself and put your shirt back on."

"That's it? No more tests?"

"All the other tests require a minimum of ten to twelve hours of fasting. And I'm going to draw blood right now for the non-fasting tests." Law pointed at the chair in a corner. "Go sit there."

Luffy hopped off the bed and went to the chair Law pointed at while putting his shirts on. He sat down and examined the work station. The table was small but it had some needles and vials on it. Law came to sit on the other side of the table a few minutes later.

"Left arm forward." Luffy did as he was told. Law slid the sleeve back and tied an elastic band above the elbow. "Make a fist, thumb inside." Luffy followed directions. Law tapped the elbow pit for a good blood vessel, cleaned the area when he found a big pulsing one. "Close your eyes."

"I don't have problems with this." Luffy defended himself.

"Alright." Without a warning or any other sign, Law pricked the skin with a thick needle and attached the vials one by one to fill them halfway for testing. Two vials down and the blood flow got disturbed because Luffy was fisting his hand too hard. Law checked on the boy and found him fighting against a probable panic attack. "Dumbass, this is why I told you to close your eyes."

"I-I'm fine." Luffy stuttered. The needle in his arm reminded him of the numerous things the people in those prostitution houses injected in him to keep him going and the reminder was not welcome. He didn't get many reminders about that time and he had learned to control it to avoid panic attacks but this was triggering a bad one.

"Hang in there, I'm almost done." Law opened Luffy's fist and used his own hand to keep the fingers spread and relaxed. It was working because the slight shaking that was there, stopped and the blood flow was back to normal. Another vial in the basket and Law was done. "Good job." Law took the needle out and immediately replaced it with a ball of cotton. "Keep your arm bent at the site." Luffy did so, looking and feeling drained and exhausted. The doctor quickly labeled all the vials and placed the blood in a sterilized chilled facility. He rummaged through his bag, bringing out juice boxes he bought for Luffy for after the test. "Drink."

While Luffy was sipping on the juice, Law draped a blanket on his shoulders, patting him and ruffling his hair, gestures Law thought would calm Luffy down, and replaced the cotton ball with a band-aid. "T-thanks."

"Let me know when you're feeling better." Luffy nodded and sagged in his seat, exhaling to further calm down. Law took this time to print the x-ray and study it. He put on his prescription glasses only for x-ray and C.T. films. "Well your lungs have some webbing. Do you have trouble breathing sometimes?" Law asked, his back turned to Luffy.

"Very little. I thought it was just because I was always tired after I got back from Drum."

"You're lucky it isn't worse than it could have been." Law shook his head and put the x-ray aside, taking off his glasses. "I'll give you meds after all the tests are done. For now, let me hear your chest." Law dragged a chair close to Luffy's and brought out his stethoscope, putting the hearing piece on Luffy's chest. "Take deep breaths." Law listened carefully at each rise and fall and sure enough found some obstruction. "The fatigue you felt, that was natural after what you went through. I'm sorry I should have talked to you and made it clear how necessary those tests were. You wouldn't be suffering now if-"

"I'm not suffering Torao." Luffy cut through.

"Your heart will continue to get weaker if you don't exercise it properly, your lungs will continue to get the webbing till you can't breathe and I don't even want to know the state of your kidneys and liver, they took the worst damage."

"Peng told me very clearly that I needed to go for checkups but I didn't. That's on me."

"Penguin is nice, he would never yell at a patient and always trusts them to follow advice but when the patient is you, even smacking is justified."

"Do you usually smack your patients to make them listen?" Luffy asked, grinning, standing up and stuffing the juice boxes in his bag for throwing away later. He didn't litter.

"Most of my patients come to me half dead. But I smack their attendants and threaten them with the life of their boss so they'd behave."

Luffy hummed as an answer and watched Law put the machines back and discarding the used sheet on the bed and his gloves. Law put aside his overalls and quickly scribbled a list of everything he had used before grabbing his keys and motioning for Luffy to follow him out.

"Are you going back to your hotel? Can I come?"

"Are you going to take no for an answer?" Law asked tired, locking the basement doors and stuffing the keys in his bag.

"Nope. Nishishi." Luffy grinned and Law sighed.

"Fine. But you're going back for the night."

"We would need to stop by my house, I wanna take a bath, that probe gel felt weird."

"Didn't it dry already?" Law inquired walking to his car and getting in, turning the ignition when Luffy closed the door.

"It has but I know it was there so it feels weird."

"Mugiwara no Luffy, willingly taking a bath. What a time to be alive." Law joked.

"Hey! I'm not that bad!"

"Sure whatever you say." Law chuckled. "Get your clothes, you can take a bath at the hotel, I'm not sitting in the car like a creep for too long."

"Ok!"

When Law stopped at Luffy's apartment building, the boy quickly got out and returned not even ten minutes later with his bag stuffed full.

"What even is in there?"

"Clothes and my medical file, you'd need that right?"

"Yes." Law answered, impressed yet again at Luffy's awareness and perception. He looked and came off as aloof and careless but Law had been a witness to many a times Luffy was just the opposite.

The two arrived at the hotel and Law parked his car in the basement parking, going to his room using the elevator. He put his bag aside, keeping the door open for Luffy who closed it behind himself.

"Remember, you're not staying the night."

"Let's go eat something!" Luffy declared throwing his things on the sofa.

"You wanted to take a bath. And I'm not getting out again till I have to."

"Boooo! Torao you're boring!"

"I always say that but you refuse to believe it." Law sighed and took a seat on the sofa, pushing Luffy's stuff in a corner. Seeing the empty space, Luffy jumped in beside Law.

"Yeah, you're not boring!"

"Order room service or something from nearby places, take your bath in the meantime."

"Sounds nice! Ok imma order!" Luffy quickly went through the different restaurants on his phone but had another idea. He dialed Sanji. "I've sent you a location pin, can you deliver here?"

"Let me check." Sanji answered and there was silence for a moment. Law looked at Luffy curiously. "Yeah I'll send Patty. Text me what you want Luffy."

"Gotcha! Thanks Sanji!" Luffy ended the call and went through his bag to get the Baratie's menu card out, he was there so much that Sanji handed him his own menu card to order whenever he wanted. "Oh right." Luffy turned to Law and handed him the card. "Choose."

"Baratie? Isn't that really famous around here?"

"Yapp! My friend Sanji works there! We get discounts or free food! So pick! The food is always so amazing Torao!" Law took the card from Luffy's hand and browsed through it.

"Onigiri."

"You're always eating that! Choose something else!"

"You order then."

"Ok!" Luffy ordered a lot of meat, some fish, rice, curry, some barbecue and lots of juice.

"By the way," Law started when Luffy gathered his clothes and stood up. "Your other tests, they need to be done on a minimum of eight hours of fasting but just to be on the safe time, I'm advising you a twelve hour fast, no food or meds but you can drink water. Only water."

"Whaaaatttt?! I can't eat for twelve hours?!" Luffy dropped the clothes he was holding. "I'm gonna die Torao!"

"Nobody dies from this. You'll eat now and then you will begin your fast starting from nine." Law rolled his eyes at the dramatics Luffy was exhibiting. "You've probably had worse, this should be nothing."

"I can't even have candy?"

"No. Now go take your bath."

"Grumpy Torao." Luffy pouted and picked his clothes back up, walking to the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. He took a bath as quick as was humanly possible.

The food arrived and the two ate in relative silence except for the times when Luffy asked for reviews and pushed Law to eat more. Law did eat more than he usually did. The surgeon cleared the table and prepared some milk tea for himself to get his system warm, it sometimes helped him sleep too. He offered Luffy a cup and the younger eagerly accepted.

"So warmmmmmm~" Luffy mused, sighing content and exhaling with a big smile.

"It's the last thing you're ingesting before your fast begins." Law reminded him and took a sip from his mug, smirking when the calmness left Luffy at the reminder.

"Torao you're mean." Luffy fake cried and finished his tea, handing Law his cup when the older was going to the kitchen to put his own away.

"You're free to leave anytime now." Law said gesturing to the door. He watched how Luffy's face turned from a pout to a mischievous smile to neutral. He slid down the sofa until he was half laying down and half sitting.

"Oh no, Torao, I am soooo tiiirrrreeeedddddd! I can't walk bacckkkkk! I'm so sleeeepppyyyy." Luffy said and closed his eyes to fake tiredness. Law's eye twitched. Of course this would happen. Luffy was definitely lying. When Law didn't say anything for a few moments to see what Luffy would do, the younger opened one eye to peek at Law, to see if he was buying it. Law was standing unimpressed but sighed.

"Fine. But you're staying on the couch. If I so much as sniff you near me, I'll personally kick you out."

"Yay! Thanks Torao!" Luffy called when Law left to get extra pillows and blankets for the younger. Law made sure Luffy had everything before he retired for the night himself. He was tired and felt like he would be able to sleep for at least two hours today so before even that left him, Law went to bed.

It was past midnight and Luffy couldn't sleep, more like got roused from his usually deep slumber by an odd feeling that refused to let him go back to sleep. He didn't blink his eyes in hopes of retaining whatever sleepiness he had but when even his brain started turning its gears, Luffy grumbled when he figured he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore and sat up on the couch, pulling the blanket closer to him. It was cold.

Luffy felt hungry but controlled himself because he didn't want to disappoint Torao for having broken his fast so he got up to drink as much water as he could to quiet his stomach. On his way back, the black haired boy heard sounds of sheets shuffling from Torao's room. The door was slightly open so Luffy decided to check.

Law was still asleep but he didn't look like he was having a peaceful sleep. His brows were furrowed and his jaw clenched. Luffy knew what this was and he wanted to help but he didn't want to wake Law up because the older was finally sleeping after who knows how many sleepless nights.

"Wait here Torao." Luffy quickly ran back to his couch and got his blanket. He sat down on the carpeted floor beside Law's bed and draped the blanket over his own shoulders. He rested his head on the bed and held Law's hand, tightening his hold when it seemed like Law was seeing a particularly bad nightmare. "It's ok Torao, I'll hold your hand. You're safe." Although it was Luffy that was providing the safety and the comfort, he also felt those things himself and dozed off before long.

Law's eyes opened blearily. It was still night but he felt oddly calm, not well rested but calm. The sleep was thick on his lashes and he knew if he tried hard enough, he would be able to fall right back to sleep. He was going to do just that until his brain became aware that his hand was heavy and tracking that, he was led to a Luffy, holding Law's hand and sleeping with his head on the bed. Law remembered he was having a nightmare and that he didn't get woken up by it. Was Luffy the reason for that? Did he really hold Law's hand all through the time just to make sure the older was ok?

Law was overcome by a heavy feeling, like ocean waves all angry and frantic, drowning him but he didn't feel like he was drowning, it was a nice heaviness, it was heavy but it was also light and tingling. Luffy's gesture touched him.

"Luffy..." Before Law knew it, the name escaped his lips and his hand was gripping the younger's that was in his own. Luffy's hand was cold and Law felt like an idiot, cursed himself for not noticing the bundled blanket around Luffy's feet. How long ago had that happened?! Had Luffy been sitting in the cold like that for hours?! "Get up here dumbass." Law muttered and tugged at the boy's arms, scooting backwards himself to make room on the bed.

"Mhmmmnn?" Luffy mumbled sleepily but didn't protest the movement and settled next to Law, humming in contentment at the warmth of the sheets. Law spread the blanket over them both and turned to his other side to sleep. He hadn't accounted for Luffy to also turn and drape his entire weight on Law's back but to Law right now, it was welcome. The older didn't protest and the two fell back to sleep.

The next time Law opened his eyes, it was to loud rumbling coming from a certain boy's stomach. The sun was already out so Law thought he might as well get up. It was still an hour before his scheduled alarm but he still got to sleep a lot. He really wondered if it was because Luffy was there. Speaking of, the younger was getting up, rubbing his stomach, mumbling something incoherent.

"Remember, you're on a fast." Law said, getting up himself and starting his day. He chose to ignore what went about last night, putting it aside for pondering later or never. But no, he wanted to let Luffy know sooner rather than later about what he felt for the younger.

"Noooooooooooooooooo." Luffy whined and fell back on the bed.

"Water's ok." At this, Luffy was up and ran to drink like he hadn't had water for weeks. Law finished his morning routine and grabbed his car keys.

"I'm going to get the car started. Come down when you're ready."

"Nu-uh! Let's walk!" Luffy called from the kitchen area.

"You can barely stand up and the basement is a little farther than you can probably handle right now." Law countered.

"I can walk fine!" Law rolled his eyes at the stubborn monkey and sighed, putting away his keys.

"Alright. Then get ready to leave in fifteen minutes."

"Ok!" Luffy went about his routine behind the bathroom's closed door. Law thanked whatever he could that Luffy learned to close the door, remembering how he had to do it for him a numerous traumatizing times when Luffy was in Law's care.

Law went through his phone while Luffy was getting ready and deliberately left all messages in his group chat on 'seen.' Luffy was out within exactly fifteen minutes and no sooner were both heading towards the basement.

They were walking in relative peace, Luffy was quiet but keeping pace, he did not at all look tired. Until they passed by a few food vendors that is.

"Toraooo I'm hungry! I can't walk!" Luffy whined.

"I told you, you weren't fit for walking, that's why I said to take the car."

"I wasn't tired thennnnn! I'm tired nowwww!"

"How is that my problem?"

"Gimme a piggyback!" Luffy tugged at Law's sleeve.

"Absolutely not!" Law pulled his arm back to make the younger let go.

"Heeeeeeeeee! You did so when you got me out of the caves!" Luffy pouted.

"I-!! Wait- You remember that?"

"Yeah it's sort of coming back in parts."

"What else do you remember?" Law asked, he was curious to the effects of amiudake on a survivor.

"I was saying some very scary things, I just know it. And I remember you gave me a piggyback because I was decapitated."

"Incapacitated." Law corrected. "And yes I did because that was the only way of getting you out of there."

"Thanks Torao. I know I told you to leave me there but you didn't. Chopper told me how difficult my situation was but you didn't give up." Luffy grinned. "Thanks."

"I-I just promised you to get you out before you had completely lost it so I was only making good on my words." The doctor pulled his hat down to cover as much of his face as he could.

"Nice guy Torao." Luffy sung and laughed, his tiredness all forgotten in the moment. The mood prevailed the rest of the walk to the basement where Law first took blood samples and performed the remaining ultrasound before he told Luffy that it was ok if he left.

"I'm going to analyze your blood and I need absolute peace and quiet for it so go and eat something. You can come back in eight hours." Law explained.

"You haven't had breakfast too, let's go together."

"I'm ok."

"But I wanna eat with you." Luffy jumped off the bed and pulled his shirt back on. Law closed his eyes and sighed.

"Bring me something back then, Mugiwara-ya, after eight or so hours have passed." Law negotiated.

"Ok!" Luffy agreed and checked how much money he had. "Why're you calling me that by the way? You said my name last night, why not use it all the time?"

"You don't use my name so it's only fair that you receive the same treatment."

"But you used to call me by my name back then too-"

"You were a kid. Since you refuse to grow out of it, you'll remain a child and recipient of a formal nickname."

"If you're going to be like this, Law, you said my name twice so I'll return the favour. See ya later Law!"

When Luffy left, Law buried his face in his hands and let out what could only be called a little squeal. Hearing his own name from Luffy felt...good. He liked it. He wondered why he liked it and came to a conclusion that this had to do with what Law felt for Luffy and he absolutely needed to tell him. Maybe today.

Shaking his head like a wet dog, Law began working on the blood samples in front of him. He wanted to get these tests done and see how much Luffy still needed to recover. The ultrasound was mostly ok, now it was time for blood. Time passed by quick and Law was preparing reports for all the blood tests when Luffy arrived.

"Torao I'm back!" Luffy announced hovering over Law and watching what he was typing.

"I could hear you from the ground above, your footsteps are very loud."

"Nishishi. Are you done?"

"Just printing these. Bring me your medical file." Luffy went and got the said file and Law put the pages in it. "Your blood work is mostly ok too, I have written a few medicines that would help recover the damages and a tonic for your fatigue."

"Thanks!"

"And you will get checked out at least a month later." Law warned.

"You can do that."

"I won't be here. Ask your doctor friend since it feels like you don't want to go to a regular doctor. He seems competent enough."

"Ok!"

"That's done then." Law took a deep breath and his stomach made a sound. "What did you bring me back?"

"Nothing. We're going out for food." Luffy started heading for the exit. "You're always taking care of me, I'll treat you to a feast Torao!"

I can tell him now. Law's brain was then adamant about telling Luffy what he had been feeling.

"Mugiwara-ya." Law called and Luffy stopped.

"Hm?"

"I need to tell you something. It's sort of important." Law mentally cursed himself at how unsure he appeared.

"You don't wanna go out?" Luffy asked, face all serious. "Are you tired?"

"Stop, just listen!" When Luffy took in a deep breath and stopped talking, Law exhaled and began talking. "You always keep saying how I'm taking care of you... I, yes that's true. I guess what I want to tell you is that the reason I'm always looking out for you or making sure you're ok..." Law saw as Luffy's face turned red, was he ok?

"Go-go on." Luffy fell on his words, trying hard to maintain eye contact. He was thinking if Torao told him he liked him, Luffy would also say the things he had kept within himself for months.

Law took a deep breath and dropped the bomb. "I do all that because I think- I think of you as a little brother."

~