~

Luffy was still running and he was crying and he knew he would collapse from not being able to breathe but he couldn't stop himself. He wanted to get away, as far away as possible, from all the negativity and hostility. He wanted to run to Torao and hug him and hide away from the world with him, in his arms, in his so safe arms.

Luffy wasn't watching where he was going so he didn't notice the big body ahead of him that he crashed into. He was trying so hard to breathe and to stop crying that he couldn't hear anything anyone was saying around him.

"Mugiwara!" Bepo called. Luffy was only half a foot away but he couldn't listen. The boy had crashed into Law's friends.

"This looks awful like a panic attack to me." Penguin said and the three led the youngest to a relatively quieter part of the street, all the while patting his back to try to soothe him and bring him back. They sat Luffy down against a wall and he immediately curled in on himself, arms hugging his knees and head hidden in his arms.

"I'm gonna call captain." Bepo goes to the side and called Law while the two tried helping Luffy. "It doesn't look like he's going to calm down any time soon." The three shared a worried look, wondering what had even happened to reduce Luffy to such a state. All they were seeing was a Luffy much too similar to when he was eleven and so small, he would have nightmares and they would find him curled up like that in front of Law's room whenever the door would be locked.

"Where is he?" The three turned around when they heard Law and stepped aside to make space for their captain.

"He isn't calming down, it's been five minutes with us and who knows how long before that." Shachi provided.

Law immediately crouched down to Luffy and put a hand on his back. "Luffy." He called in a whisper and found out through the lack of response that the younger was too far gone. For a moment, Law felt his anger rising, at whatever that turned his boyfriend into such a mess but he controlled himself and looked at his friends. "I'm taking him back."

"We'll get a cab, don't worry about us. Just help him." Shachi assured and Law didn't need to be told twice. The surgeon picked Luffy up in his arms and went for the truck. The front composed of a sofa seat so Law reclined it a little and sat Luffy down through the passenger side before getting in himself. Once the cabin was shut and no other sounds could penetrate the surroundings, Law gave it a chance for the quiet to help Luffy but it didn't.

Law moved and grabbed his emergency bag from the backseat and pulled out his headphones and mp3 player. He quickly plugged them together and put the headphones carefully on Luffy's head and ears. The mp3 player had a lot of songs on it, ranging from Fall Out Boy to Pokémon Juke Box songs, to Imagine Dragons and Uta's songs, including Law's own comfort song so he played it, adjusted the volume so he wouldn't end up doing more damage to his boyfriend.

While the music was providing careful sensory stimulation, Law hugged Luffy close and rocked him back and forth as much as he could in the provided space and kept an eye on his breathing and pulse. Law's worries grew a little when even after fifteen songs the younger showed no signs of calming down but it dissipated just the next minute when Luffy stopped shaking continuously and started taking deeper breaths and opened his eyes. Law looked at what song had done the trick and was feeling all sorts of emotions finding out it was the same song that never failed to help him.

Even though the younger was calming down, Law noticed his breathing was still off and Luffy thrashing a little to claw at his throat tipped Law that he needed to take measures for that. The doctor got his own inhaler out and a spacer with a mask, he put the mask on Luffy's mouth and nose, attached the spacer and puffed the inhaler in the container.

"Deep breaths, come on." Law guided after taking the headphones off so Luffy could listen to him. "Deep breaths." He rubbed Luffy's back to help him more. A few minutes later Luffy pushed the mask off his face and hid his face in Law's neck, sniffling, but overall calm now. Law didn't let him go for a second, this was the first time he had seen Luffy go through a panic attack after so many years. He didn't know Luffy even had those anymore what with the younger being so carefree and chill all the time. "What happened?"

Luffy sniffled and let out a breath, adjusting his head on Law's shoulder so he could speak. "Zoro and Sanji were being bullies." Another breath. "They didn't wanna accept you... so I got angry and then... I don't know..."

"It's ok, I expected something like that to happen."

"It's not ok!"

Law flicked Luffy's forehead when the younger yelled. "Calm the fuck down or do you want another attack?" Luffy pouted a little but settled. "Look, I know how I come off as, with my tattoos and piercing and my overall raccoon face, I barely look like a doctor and Nico-ya knew about my other activities so they all must know I am not exactly on the legal side of things. So, I can understand their maliciousness."

"It's not your fault you can't sleep and look like a raccoon- why do you think so little of yourself?"

"It's not that, these are your friends and you're fighting them because they said something about me so what I am trying to say is that don't do this for my sake." Law reiterated. "And even if your friends do have a different opinion, it's not like you have to obey them."

Luffy sniffled and took the chance of telling Law what Zoro had actually said. "Zoro said you are a predator, that you are only lying to me to use me." With his head ducked, Luffy waited for an outburst, for Law to throw him aside and yell at him but none of that happened. Luffy's ears instead got blessed with Torao's laughter.

"What the fuck, really?" Law laughed openly and covered his mouth to stifle the sounds. "I mean I do look like someone who stands in dark alleys to kidnap people and harvest their organs, but about what Zoro-ya said, I must examine his brain after I'm through with my research on Hana-ya's skull."

"You only look like that when you are awake, I think you make that face on purpose. You're very cute when you're sleeping though." Luffy wondered and Law stopped laughing to hide his blush.

"Anyway! It's up to you to believe what everyone says about me."

"Ok..."

"And look, I personally really don't care what anyone says but don't let my boys hear Zoro-ya or anybody say something like that about me or there is going to be a war."

"Yeah I will fight whoever says bad things about you too! I will fight the world for you if I have to!"

"You do that, I will enjoy the show with some popcorn." Law still rubbed Luffy's back to keep the younger calm, but brought him all the more close to himself at his carefree declaration. Right when Luffy had settled and Law could feel a stable heartbeat, the younger's phone vibrated and looking at the text, Luffy's pulse picked up again.

"Sanji's asking where I am." Followed with the statement, the younger's nose scrunched. "They're spamming the group chat, Zoro's apologizing."

"Don't ignore them, it's not right." Law said when Luffy threw his phone on the truck dashboard.

"Why are you defending the people who insulted you?"

"Because they're your friends and they're important to you and no matter how they said the things they did say, I am sure their intentions weren't bad."

"I still don't wanna talk to them." Luffy pouted and Law sighed, his boyfriend was so stubborn.

"Fine, don't talk, just tell them of your whereabouts so they stop texting you so much." Law provided a better alternative. At this, Luffy grinned out of the blue and grabbed his phone, adjusted his hands so Law could see the group chat and the response he was going to type once the messages stop appearing. "That is a proper spam."

"They even got Chopper worried." Luffy bit his lip at the escalation of the situation.

"So just put an end to it."

"Ok, I will tell them where I am." Luffy grinned again, wider this time and typed just two words, in bolds, and caps, then italicized and underlined the entire thing before sending it. The result was:

Law snorted so hard at the text that he hurt himself. The older shook his head at Luffy's mischievous antics but decided this was an answer better than none. Law was still rubbing Luffy's back when the younger's phone rang. The older didn't peek to see who was calling and let Luffy handle his situation.

"Luffy, are you ok?" Nami asked right when Luffy answered the call.

"Yeah... I think." Luffy answered with a deep breath, his chest was still getting heavy occasionally.

"Good. That's good. I heard what happened, honestly those idiots! Anyway, where are you? Should I pick you up?"

Luffy looked at Law before answering. "That sounds good. I'm with Torao, I'll text you the address."

"Ok see you soon, and be safe."

"Thanks." Luffy ended the call and turned to Law, handing him the phone. "Check the address, did I type it right?"

"Yes this is correct. Who am I expecting?" Law asked when he saw that it was his hotel room's address that Luffy was sending to someone.

"One of my friends you didn't meet today. She's going to come and pick me from the hotel, is that ok?"

"Of course it is." Law helped Luffy sit back in his seat and made sure the seatbelt was fastened before he turned on the ignition and drove to the hotel. Both the boys made their way to Law's room and watched TV, waiting for Luffy's friend. It was half an hour later when Law had gotten enough of a t-shirt and had changed into a tanktop that the bell rang, Luffy was starting to doze off so Law went to open the door but the younger followed him nonetheless.

In front of Law stood a young woman, with short orange hair and brown eyes. Law stared at her face for longer than necessary and found she was doing the same, until, they both pointed at the other.

"Ah!" Nami exclaimed pointing a painted nail at Law with her mouth open.

"Ah." Law realized. He could not believe his eyes.

"What?" Luffy asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Neko!" Nami yelled.

"Mikan." Law sighed.

"Neko? Mikan?" Luffy questioned again. "Are you guys high?" Law moved the younger aside to make space for his friend to pass so he could at least close the door. Law knew what was coming.

"I cannot believe you!" Nami yelled and elbowed Law in the abdomen.

"Nami! Torao's hurt there!" Luffy went for Law's defense quick but not before the woman had already delivered a karate-chop on the older's head.

"This is why I padded it earlier- I can't trust people at all." Law croaked and cradled his side, taking slow, deep breaths to regulate his pulse and pain.

"Luffy! This is all your fault!" Nami went after Luffy then, hitting him on his head too.

"What is?!" Luffy screeched holding his head, hits from Nami were on Garp level.

"Why couldn't you just say that Torao was Law?!" The realization made Nami realize that all the hints were always right in front of her, the amazing doctor Torao, the Fall Out Boy songs Luffy learned for Torao, Luffy always prioritizing staying with Torao because Torao had trouble sleeping – it was her own brother all along.

"Do you know him?" Luffy then turned to law. "Do you know Nami?"

"Boy do I." Law answered taking a final deep breath and standing up straight only to get tackled a few steps back by the intensity of the hug by Nami.

"Law is my adoptive brother." Nami said in the hug, loud enough so Luffy could hear her.

"Not legally, it was all on verbal terms." Law clarified but hugged his sister nonetheless.

"Where have you been! You were alive all this time, a little contact would have been nice!"

Law shielded his ears and Nami had to let him go. "I couldn't risk it back then."

"But you're ok right?"

"As ok as one can be dating Luffy." Law joked to dismiss the tense air that was starting to affect Luffy and went to the kitchen to bring out some drinks and snacks and ice cream for Luffy, nobody was going to leave for a while, he knew that.

"So you're our Luffy's mystery Torao huh, can't say I'm not relieved." Nami sat down on the small sofa and took the drink offered to her.

"So you're not going to give Torao a hard time?" Luffy confirmed getting his smile back, stuffing his face with ice cream the moment he was handed the tub and a spoon.

"Oh no, you're safe with him." Nami smiled in her glass. Law shuddered at the slight smirk it turned into in the end.

"Why did you call him neko?" The youngest tilted his head to the side.

"Because he was like a cat! Luffy you would not believe the extent to which he avoided water! Just like a cat! And his habits of staying up at the witching hour!" Luffy laughed a little and both Nami and Law breathed easy, feeling a weight off their chest knowing Luffy was feeling better.

"Don't forget you were just as much of a tangerine as Bellemere-san grew in her orchard." Law pointed as a way of retaliation. "Luffy, have you seen her photos? Her face was just as round and when she was angry she turned orange instead of red, just like a mikan."

"Don't tell him that!" Nami yelled, embarrassed. "How long are you staying for, you are coming with me to Cocoyashi! You have got to meet Bellemere-san and Nojiko again! Even Den-san was asking!" Nami said slamming her hands on the table.

"I do miss Bellemere-san's special tangerine sauce."

"It's decided then!"

Luffy smiled but felt a little left out when he saw the two talking back and forth, a part of their lives that was connected even before they were brought together through Luffy. But he was glad that Nami was accepting of Torao.

"Luffy you're coming too!" Nami said suddenly, bringing Luffy into a headlock. "Everyone is always asking about you so you're coming with."

"I don't know if I should be glad or afraid that Nami is one your friends, Luffy." Law exhaled, setting his glass aside. "You never even mentioned her by name."

"Both, I'd say." Luffy replied, grinning and then shuddering, probably remembering some scary thing that happened with Nami in the past.

"And I'm going to talk with those idiots again for judging Law so easily. I mean sure you look even creepier now with your ever darkening circles and your piercing and tattoos - god you're just the kind of person we deliberately keep away from Luffy-"

"What?" Luffy asked but Nami wasn't done talking.

"-but I knew you before all of this, and you saved Luffy without even knowing him so I don't think anybody should be giving you a hard time. If anything, we should be thanking you for being the reason we were all able to meet Luffy." Nami was genuine in her praise and that kind of affront attack was something Law was not accustomed to getting so he just looked at the carpet and his feet and closed his eyes.

"Thank you." Law said looking at her when he was sure his voice won't come out choked or stuttered. "And... I'm sorry that I wasn't there when you were in trouble."

"Even the marines were involved Law, the situation wasn't something you could have done anything about."

"If I had reached out and known, I could have told Sengoku and then-"

"We tried too but the communication kept getting rounded up."

"It was nearly ten years..."

"It wasn't your fault." Nami said, final. "Besides, if you had done something to help, I wouldn't have witnessed Arlong getting beaten to a pulp by Luffy."

"It was fun!" Luffy chimed in and leaned on Law to make him feel better.

"Of course, beating tyrants up is your thing." Law joked.

"Wait, Luffy said you were hurt earlier-" Nami pointed then turned to Luffy. "Your mystery friend who had to take emergency treatment at the Sunny?"

"Yeah." Luffy nodded. "Torao was shot twice but got three bullets!" The younger was a bit too excited. Law glared at him for giving too much information again.

"What even are you doing that you're getting shot at!"

"Trying to tie up loose ends." Law answered.

"Baasan was here so she helped him too." Luffy provided again, vibrating with the amount of sugar he had consumed. Law peeked in the ice cream tub and took it from Luffy, handing him water.

"Kureha? Oh she helped me too Law." Nami said. "What was it, the kestia bug? Yeah I guess that was it."

"What the actual fuck?! Where did you even get bitten by that thing! It hasn't been spotted for more than two thousand years." Law didn't know how to react except to be shocked at both Nami and Luffy's lack of self-preservation. "I have learned to expect this kind of recklessness from Luffy but you were sensible when I knew you!"

"My clothes got burned off and a random bug bit me, we were at Little Garden."

"Are all of you like this?" Law asked regarding the Strawhats.

"Kinda, yeah."

Law looked at the time and wondered when his friends would be getting back. He wanted to talk to Nami for a bit longer, her introduction was putting away his depression for a later time and he welcomed that. "Do you want something to eat?"

"I am kinda hungry- oh wait! How about I invite everyone over?" Nami suggested and Luffy perked up.

"Please no."

"Zoro and Sanji-kun wanted to apologise when I went by earlier and I'm sure the rest want to meet you too. I can get Sanji-kun to make lots of delicious things!"

Law relented at the stars in both his sister and boyfriend's eyes, and the prospect of good food. "Fine. But I'm murdering everyone when I've had enough and nobody is leaving."

"As you do." Nami quickly went ahead and began texting in the group chat about the updates and addresses. Law was getting his breathing under control when his phone rang, his friends telling him to open the door.

"I have a guest over, so behave." Law said before he let the guys in. "Nami, these are my friends." Law introduced then turned to his friends. "She's my sister I told you about."

"Nice to meet you ma'am!" Penguin and Shachi were about to jump for a hug but Law got in between them, halting them to a stop. "Don't do that or you're eunuchs tomorrow."

"Waah! You have a mink friend!" Nami cooed, petting Bepo.

"He's Bepo, I think you guys will get along well. Bepo is a doctor by profession but he still likes cartography." That was all that was needed for Nami and Bepo to make their own bubble of conversation away from everyone else, until the strawhats started arriving.

They all arrived one after the other, kinda like how the dwarves did at Bilbo's house, god Law was starting to feel like Bilbo too. The most distinguished fellows were Zoro and Sanji because they were sporting numerous huge hematoma on their heads, no doubt from Nami's beating. The one even more distinguished, more than Zoro and Sanji was the little reindeer, Chopper. After that little guy was the living skeleton, Brook. Law noticed all of Luffy's friends had something he was intrigued about in a medical aspect.

The Strawhats and the few of the Hearts mingled well in that small living room, food was shared and drinks were passed, conversation did not take any hostile turns. Luffy was glad and so was Law.

~