~

Kureha walked to the living room with an IV bag in her hand. It was afternoon, it was time to check on Law's injuries and administer his medicines. From afar it looked like both the boys were still sleeping but when she got closer she saw that Luffy was awake.

"Shift him to his back, I need his arm for the IV." She told Luffy and sat down to help the boy.

"He's still got the fever." Luffy said noticing his wet shoulder where Torao's head was resting.

"It's the infection. He'll be better soon with the correct medicines."

"Thanks for helping him."

"I'm a doctor you brat." Kureha laughed her witchy chuckles and left after adjusting the IV bag. She busied herself with newspapers and going out for a while to meet Chopper while Luffy stayed behind to wait for Law to wake up. He informed his brothers of his whereabouts and answered Nami and Chopper's questions separately when he was texted.

Law woke up a few minutes after Doctorine got back and was putting away her phone. All Law could see were blobs of colour, he couldn't make out one thing from another and that included people. He tried sitting up and only realized Luffy was there when he felt the younger support him.

"Careful with his IV." Law heard Kureha. "Are the painkillers working?"

"How much did you give me?" Law asked. "I can't even see properly..."

"Enough to numb a moose." Law heard the woman say from a distance, maybe she was moving about, he couldn't see with all the confusion blurring his eyes. "Your eyes will clear up in a few minutes."

"Do you want to sit on the sofa?" Luffy asked and he sounded very close. Law moved back a little out of habit and reflex, he wasn't used to anyone but his friends being this close.

"Ok." Luffy helped Law stand, careful and patient, and sat him on the couch, spreading the sheet around the older's shoulders.

"Do you want a stool to rest your feet?"

"No, I'm fine." Law shook his head and sure enough like Doctorine had said, his vision was starting to clear up.

"I'm just going to run to your room real quick and order some of Sanji's food too, can you manage for a few minutes?" Luffy asked putting his phone in the pocket.

Law was going to be snarky about the implications that he could not take care of himself but bit it back because Luffy had literally given him a shoulder to lean on and Law couldn't really have managed if Luffy hadn't helped him. So he said a simple, "ok."

Law had only closed his eyes for a few moments, or so it seemed like to him but when he opened them back, Luffy was already going out again. "Oh Torao that was outside your door, kinda heavy." Luffy said when he noticed Law was awake again. He was pointing to a big box on the coffee table. "Patty's here, I'm going down to get the food." With that, Luffy was out.

Law sat up enough to be able to access the table. He took the knife Kureha handed him, it was wrapped in a lot of plastic. Once the lid was off, the stench hit both the doctors, a stench they were both very familiar with. Law moved the remaining wrapping around and saw a severed head. Upon closer to inspection, he recalled the face as that of his client in Drum, the one who had given him information about Dressrosa. The man's lips were pulled back to make a big grin and his eyes were forced open, a deep line across his face. The entire picture the face painted, Law was very familiar with it. It was the same as the mark on the bullets he was shot with, the same that Luffy was branded with all those years ago, it belonged to the same person Law had fallen victim to, as had his adoptive father. It was Doflamingo's mark.

The head was not preserved nor were there any indications that the beheading was fairly recent. It was old and infested with maggots. The visuals Law was used to but to his current weakened state, the smell did him in. The surgeon was glad he didn't have much contents in his stomach or the carpet would have met those.

"Well this is a problem." Kureha voiced, troubled. "I know this face."

"He gave me information."

"So you getting shot was a closing of this chapter. You must be getting told to stay away."

"I can't do that-" Law breathed through his mouth, covering the box.

"Don't be stupid about it too."

"How did he even find out..." Law heard the door knob rattling. "Don't let Luffy see this."

"Same demons?" The old woman asked, surprised at the odds. She didn't need an answer because Law trying to compose himself so Luffy wouldn't find out was enough to let her know.

"Sanji said soup's good and Chopper added some vegetables so you'd heal faster." Luffy said putting the food containers on the table.

"I'm pretty sure those are herbs." Kureha corrected and shook her head before leaving with the box.

Law didn't know if he could eat after having seen the contents of that box but he didn't want to disappoint Luffy and see him sad so he tried. The soup was very flavourful and light and actually added more to his natural, healthy hunger. Luffy was putting the bowls away when Law spotted the sunflower on the table on his left.

"Did you go back to get this?" Law had to ask.

"Yeah, maybe you'd feel better looking at it." Luffy answered and sat down beside Law, he couldn't see the expressions on the older's face but he did spot a smile when Law put his head back on Luffy's shoulder and leaned his weight on the younger.

"I do, thank you."

"No problem Torao!"

"Clione planted these at the back of the building back home so it is putting me at ease, something familiar and I'm used to." Law blamed the explanation on the medicines that were probably fucking with his brain. What was really getting to Law was the fact that instead of a whole bouquet like normal people, Luffy brought him a single flower, he did that with Ace too, so he must have selected that flower, chosen one himself instead of getting handed a bunch and that, to Law, was more special than getting a lot of flowers.

"You can go back to sleep if you feel like it, I'm here." Luffy said and relaxed more in the couch, letting Law put more of his weight on him.

"Did Bepo or the others contact you? They get really annoying if I don't answer them every twelve hours." Law inquired feeling like he should call his friends and let them know of the situation himself but he also felt like they would have contacted Luffy, then Law remembered that he told his friends that he was going to be avoiding Luffy until he could give him an answer so... "They're probably booking a flight right now..."

"Nope, I didn't get any calls. You want me to contact them or get your phone?"

"Just send them a short text if you can."

"Got it."

Luffy was chatting with Law's friends in the group chat, letting them know that Torao was ok now, they were much calmer after knowing that Law wasn't alone, Luffy wondered what was that all about. Law was getting in and out of sleep, waking up with a start sometimes then relaxing once he registered where he was. It was a few hours of that when there was a knock on the door. When the first knock was followed by another one, Luffy noticed that the sounds had started reaching Law even in his sleep, his face was contorted. Luffy quickly shielded the older's ears from the noise and frowned when it didn't stop.

"Pull your weight and at least answer the door you brat." Kureha said arriving in the room.

"Can't, Torao doesn't like the sound."

Kureha saw how Luffy was protecting Law, shook her head thinking whatever the two had going on clearly went both ways then went to open the door. There is a big man at the other side, with white hair and two cigars in his mouth, a dozen more strapped to his jacket.

"And who are you? I didn't do anything yet to get an officer at my door."

"I am Captain Smoker, I have reports that Trafalgar Law is here." Smoker said and Doctorine sighed. She knew there would be trouble and she was prepared for it but she anticipated more of the thug kind of trouble and not the absolute-justice marine kind.

"What do you want with him?"

"Someone reported this trail of blood leading to your room and saw Law going in." Smoker pointed and Kureha moved to get a look out, there was indeed a trail.

"Again, what do you want with him?"

"Just to talk and see what's all this about."

Kureha shrugged, convinced and stepped aside to let the man in. "He's sleeping at the moment, and might not be in the best state of mind for your questions when he wakes up."

"Alright." Smoker agreed and went inside the room. He first spotted Law on the couch and through the hands guarding Law's ears, his eyes went to Luffy. "What even is happening here?"

"Kemurin!" Luffy exclaimed, a bit too loud by accident and woke up Law.

"Shut uppppp." Law whined but he was woken up now and didn't feel like he could go back to sleep so he straightened up and rubbed his eyes, blinking to make sure he was seeing right. "Am I seeing things or is he actually here?"

"Actually here." Luffy provided and Law groaned covering his bandages better with the sheet but Smoker had already seen those. The marine sat down on the available couch and looked from Luffy to Law, trying to make sense of what was happening.

"What are you doing here?" Law asked after the silence got too much.

"I can ask you the same thing, leaving behind a bloody trail like this." Smoker answered, grim, as if not liking the circumstances that brought him where he was.

"I was shot."

"By who?" Smoker's eyes narrowed.

"Doesn't matter, I'm not pressing charges." Law waved.

"I have to write a report for this so give me answers."

"Don't involve yourself in this one."

"Why did you give the receptionist my name then in case she needed to call for police?" Smoker sighed from Law's lack of cooperation.

"Because I know your sense of justice will prevent you from making the wrong call."

"How is this a wrong call?"

"Can you get me that box?" Law asked Kureha. She tsked but put it in front of Smoker who immediately looked like all the nicotine had finally gotten to him.

"What's in there?" Luffy asked pinching his nose from the smell, trying to sneak a peek.

"I will dispose of this." Smoker said shutting the box close before Luffy could look.

"Thank you."

"Your grandfather received the other..." Smoker glanced at Luffy before continuing, "parts. He knows what you're up to and he's not very happy."

For a second Law was afraid that his actions were causing consequences even till his grandfather. "It's something I have to do."

"You don't have to do anything, Rosinante is not dead." Smoker said sternly, he felt like he was scolding a child.

"Where is he then?"

"His message-"

"How many years ago was that? Why hasn't he come back yet?" Law was starting to get angry. When Smoker didn't answer, Law sat back. "That's what I thought." Once Law had calmed down, he looked at the white-haired man again. "Why else are you here?"

"Sengoku sent me but I was already coming here to check on you once I received the call from the receptionist."

"You don't have to look out for me, I can take care of myself." Law almost pouted.

"You're still a snot-nosed brat."

"Something's wrong with all your addict brains."

"If Hina heard that..." Smoker chuckled, low.

"Did you check the house near the hospital?" Law had to ask, if there was someone who could help him clear off evidence, it would be Smoker.

"Sengoku's clearing it up, keeping the thing under wraps. It would be wise if you looked for another place and stayed under the radar for some time."

"It would take a while to get back to the job anyway."

"I hope I won't find any bodies in that house leading to you."

"You won't." Law answered, very sure all that could be found at this point would be ashes.

"So you went on a shooting trip and the game bled all over? That's very sloppy." Smoker said getting up and taking the box with him. Luffy tilted his head confused at the way the conversation changed so quickly.

"I'm sorry I'm making you get rid of the rotten carcass." Law was honest in his apology even with coated words.

"You reap what you sow Trafalgar. Make sure nobody else has to feed on it." Smoker said eyeing Luffy. "And don't stay sitting for too long."

"What're you guys even saying?" Luffy asked finally. "Just say thank you and get well soon like normal people."

"What do you know about normal people Mugiwara-ya?"

"What do you know about normal people Mugiwara?" Both the men spoke at the same time.

"See! You guys get along well!"

"Give your grandfather a call, he was worried about you." Smoker said as a farewell and left. When the door had closed, Law pulled Luffy's arm closer to himself so he could rest his head on the shoulder and go back to sleep, Smoker had reminded him a lot of things, not all of those were welcome in Law's currently vulnerable brain.

"Who's Rosinante?" Luffy asked resting his cheek on Law's head. Luffy wanted to know who that person was because the name was causing all sorts of emotions for Torao and Kemurin.

"He's dead, that's who he is."

~

Kureha kept Law under her supervision for two days before giving in to Luffy's insistence that Torao should rest on a bed and to let him go to his own room downstairs. The only condition she set was that she would get a spare key so she could check on him time to time, Law was always too sleepy and confused to make any agreements so Luffy did so on his behalf. The old woman had just left a few minutes ago after checking on Law's stitches and infection, he was doing much better after days of treatment, when Law remembered something.

"Are you skipping school?" The way Luffy ducked his head between his shoulders and avoided eye-contact gave Law his answer. "Mugiwara-ya."

"Someone has to stay with you." Luffy answered and hopped back on the bed, handing Law some fish to snack on.

"Doctor Kureha has a spare key, you don't have to force yourself to stay." That made the younger frown.

"I am not forcing myself, I'm doing this because I want to and who knows if you can even call baasan if you get sick again- I'm not leaving you alone again." Law sighed and closed his eyes.

"Fine. But, don't complain to me when you fail your grade or something."

"I won't."

"Fail or complain?"

"Both." Luffy huffed but settled closer to Law. "Peng was saying you should go back to Flevance as soon as you're able to travel so you can heal properly."

"I think that would be wise."

"Why aren't you talking to them yourself though?" Luffy found it odd that even though Law was somewhat better now and able to hold proper back to back conversation, he still wasn't talking to his friends.

"They're going to ask how this happened and then they will try to talk me out of my goals when I tell them. I don't want to deal with that just yet." Luffy hummed a response.

"And when do you think you'd be able enough to go back?"

"I don't know, if it was just my shoulder, sitting for long flights would have been ok but the abdomen isn't that friendly."

"I can go with you or we can take you on the Sunny." Luffy offered, wanting to help more.

"Flevance is land-locked. There's only so far a ship can go and sea travel is worse for wounds." Law pointed. "And I cannot have you abandon everything here for me, you'll be wasting school time and-"

"Again, Torao, that's my choice. I won't complain or blame you for it." Law hid his face under his hat not wanting Luffy to see that these were the exact words he wanted to hear.

"Anyway, I'm stuck here for the time being, until I am at least good enough to walk around the block without getting spasms." Before Luffy could say anything to that, Law quickly added, "and this door is going to be locked during school hours so you better find yourself something to do like going to school."

Luffy rolled his eyes and pouted. "Fine, I'll go to school then come here. Kemurin will keep a lookout in the meantime."

"Don't call him to do that."

"I didn't, he's been walking the block two times a day, probably looking out for you." This was news to Law.

"What?"

"How do you know him by the way?"

"Wait, he's been patrolling?"

"Yeah I just said that."

"Why can't everybody just mind their own business?" Law whined under his breath but Luffy caught it and shook his head.

"He must care too." Luffy shrugged. "Did you call your grandfather like Kemurin told you to?"

"I'm not calling him, he's just going to scold me for being careless and dragging his name in the mud." Law muttered, defensive. Luffy stared at the man beside him for a while then handed Law his phone.

"Call him."

"No."

"Do it Torao."

"Are you really going to bully me into calling my grandfather?"

"I won't shut up till you do." Luffy said resolutely and put the phone in Law's hands again.

"Bully." Law unlocked his phone and found Sengoku's number, gave Luffy a scowl at his raised eyebrows then pressed 'call.' The phone rang and thus rose Law's nerves. He hadn't talked to his grandfather in years! What was he going to say and how? "He's not going to pick up at this hour."

"It's only midnight."

"He's an old man-" The line connected.

"Law, are you alright?" Sengoku's voice cut through the silence of the room, concern first thing out of his mouth.

"I- hello, yes, I am find. Smoker told me to call so-" Law started, not knowing what to say, he was caught off guard.

"Wow Torao you are awkward." Luffy laughed.

"I will fucking smother you, shut up." Law pushed his hat in Luffy's face with his good arm to keep him quiet.

"You sound lively, guess I didn't have to worry." The old man spoke again chuckling, Luffy's contagious laughter travelling through the line.

"I am sorry if this had caused you trouble." Law apologized, breathed to get the words out, he had to say it, he felt an obligation to do so.

"Oh this wasn't your fault, you are always careful, to the point that sometimes even I don't know where you are and what you're doing. You were sought out on purpose. I just hope you will continue to be careful about this and ask for help if you need it."

"You aren't going to talk me out of it?" Luffy looked up at the small voice Law asked the question in.

"No but keep me updated too."

"If it's safe to do so, I will." Luffy laughed again.

"That laugh is awfully familiar." Sengoku pointed, a sense of foreboding taking over him. Law put the phone on speaker.

"It's Garp's grandson, your nightmare." Law answered, a small smile escaping him.

"Is he helping or making your situation worse?"

"Kinda both."

"Hey!" Luffy pouted.

Sengoku laughed freely for the first time in days. His grandson was safe. "Thank you for helping Law, Mugiwara no Luffy."

"Don't sweat it Mister Grandpa!"

Law updated Sengoku about a few other things and his health then the old man ended the call because he felt that was the most Law would be able to talk.

"See that wasn't so bad and he wasn't scolding you or disappointed!" Luffy grinned.

"Yes." The smile was still on Law's face and in retrospect he would blame it on the medicines but in the moment, he didn't know why he did it when he grabbed Luffy's shoulder, brought him close enough and connected his lips to the younger's cheek. "Thank you."

There was silence for a few moments until Luffy realized what had happened and to the surprise of both the boys, it was Luffy's face that was red. "Do that again!"

"Wha- no! I'm sorry! I don't know why I did that to begin with!"

"Hey calm down! Baasan said you're supposed to stay calm." Luffy said looking confusedly at a guilty looking Law. "I'm staying for the night as composition."

"Compensation." Law corrected. "You'd have found a way to stay anyway."

"Found one then."

Law didn't protest to Luffy staying the night or the one after it and the one after until Law was better enough to walk and endure long flights to go back to Flevance. His friends gave him calculated hell, as much as he could take but three of them were always present at different times to keep an eye on their captain, making sure he was actually ok and not spiraling into self-destruction. During recovery, Law could only think of ways to talk to Luffy, tell him about his problems and the surgeon really went as far as to write a list of things that kept bothering him. Law had decided that once Luffy was free from his second term examinations the following month, Law would finally talk to him.

~