~

Law was feeling it again – the heavy constriction in his chest, the pulsing of his eyes, the heaviness in his throat. It was making his head ache and he knew it would soon start making him shed dry tears, the universe knew there was a problem with him not being able to physically cry on command to let out the burden. The doctor heaved a heavy sigh and got out of bed. Luffy wasn't with him, he was preparing for the live in a few days. The younger did offer Law to stay and listen but the surgeon was too tired and didn't want to constantly worry his boyfriend by falling everywhere. So he went back to his hotel, thinking, stupidly, that he could sleep.

He couldn't. And it was getting to his head.

Groaning, Law got out of bed, didn't bother to check the time when he stuffed his phone in his fanny pack, grabbed the room and car keys and made for the basement to get to the car. He drove. He just drove around until his nose caught salty air and his brain felt refreshed for a second. Stopping in a safe parking zone, Law fished his phone out and went through the maps to see where he was and how far the sea was. He settled his phone on the dashboard and followed his guts, where he was going, no roads were marked on the map.

The path was untrodden, by humans or cars. There were rocks and grass the more uphill Law drove. He knew his car wasn't a suitable vehicle for this kind of off-roading and that he would have to get it cleaned and checked for damages later but in the moment, he didn't care much and followed where the thrill of adventure led him. It was to a cliff.

A cliff that overlooked the wild ocean.

Law safely parked the car some distance from the edge, though also wanted to drive off there, the calling of the void was very strong with him at the time. He got out and first walked around till the edge and a little sideways to examine the entire space, to see if he was interloping on some animal territory, the forest was behind him so there was always a chance but he found no prints or tracks and considered it safe to sit down and breathe. He left his hat in the car and just took his phone with him, in case someone thought about him enough to text him.

Law sat down on the edge, hanging his feet off it. The ocean was his safe space sometimes when the void inside him was too much. The sky was clear and the moon was shining bright, the breeze was cool and refreshing. But Law could only look down, at the foaming, crashing waves, thinking if he fell down there, and if he didn't die on impact, he would surely die from the viciousness of the thrashing water before even drowning. He mentally counted all the bones that would break from every different angle the water might hit.

The more the doctor stared at the water and considered and thought over what would happen should he fall down, the more his mind became numb to his surroundings and he didn't know when he had stood up, one foot off the edge and the other on the ground, a light shove would push him down into the sea.

It was his phone ringing that brought Law out of whatever blindness had taken over him and he jumped back, fell in his haste of getting away from the edge. His head was racing with the thoughts of what he was about to do but all that was pushed aside by his phone ringing again. Without looking, too shaken up, Law answered the call.

"Torao? Where are you?"

Luffy. It was Luffy.

Law made sure his voice wouldn't shake before he decided to answer. "Went out for a while, where are you?"

"I was heading to the hotel, Sanji made burgers so I was bringing you some, thought I'd ask to confirm if you were actually there."

"Very nice intuition." Law commented. "And I cannot eat burgers, they have gluten."

"He made the buns with rice, especially so you can eat it."

"Alright. You can head to the hotel, I'll get back there too."

"But where are you now?" Luffy asked again, wanting to know because it felt like Law was deliberately keeping the information. When Law took some time to think on how to answer, Luffy caught on it. "Are you safe? You weren't doing anything stupid, right?"

"Send me your live location so I can pick you up and bring you here too." Law decided instead of not answering. Luffy was concerned for him and would be even more so if Law kept these kind of secrets and maybe, sharing this place with Luffy would help him.

"Ok!"

Law got in his car the moment the call ended and drove off to pick his boyfriend once he got the location. Luffy was jumpy as fuck the entire car ride, excited to share that kind of space with Law and impatient because he wanted to eat already but Law was driving so he couldn't eat with him, so Luffy had to wait too.

"Found this place and I don't think anybody's been here." Law said bringing out a sheet from the trunk of his car, something he kept for wrapping up dead bodied but it made a good picnic sheet too. Luffy put the food on the sheet and peeked off the edge.

"The sea seems angry tonight." Luffy commented then turned to Law with narrowed eyes. "You weren't thinking of jumping in there, were you?"

"This is my first time eating a burger, pay attention." Law steered the conversation elsewhere. Luffy let it happen, he was proud of Law for not giving in.

"You have never had a burger before in your life?!"

"Gluten." Law shrugged and took a bite. It was still warm, Sanji had wrapped it so it wouldn't lose its freshness. "Wow. You normies eat these things all the time without consequences? No wonder you are always so happy."

"You like it?" Luffy asked around a mouthful, half of his own burger already gone.

"Yes. It' really fulfilling."

The breeze, the ocean scent, the moon, Luffy, conversation with Luffy, good, warm food, with Luffy, it all brought Law peace.

It brought him peace. But only temporarily.

~

"Isn't it too early to be drinking?" Law pointed to the bottle of alcohol Nami was sipping out of in broad daylight. The woman had insisted Law spend the day with her for catching up because he was leaving soon after the live in two days. The two were just walking, aimlessly.

"It's never early to drink Law." Nami said and took another sip, offering the bottle to Law who refused. "Still weak?" She teased.

"My liver didn't recover." The older deadpanned and his sister's face fell.

"What about everything else?"

Law took time to answer, pretending to look around at where Luffy went, the younger was with him because he did not want to spend a single second without Law. Eventually, Law faced Nami again. "Not peak condition but working."

"Will it ever get better?"

"I don't think so... I'm stuck in a weak vessel until I die." Law grumbled, then added, "I hope that's soon."

"Hey! I'm going to tell Luffy you said that!" Nami threatened.

"Don't! He made me promise I wouldn't say anything like that when he's around."

"Torao!" Luffy called jumping a foot away from his boyfriend and took his hand, pulling him to run. "Lesgo to the dog park!"

Law didn't budge and instead brought Luffy to a halt. "Don't pull."

Luffy could see Law was still tired and not doing well so he relented and fell into pace, holding Law's hand and walking along. Nami cooed internally, Luffy never stopped for anyone, sure he made sure if others were following him but to stop and fall in pace? Never.

"Luffy, Law was being self-loathing again." Nami snitched and Law's jaw dropped.

"Nami!" Law groaned and reluctantly turned to explain to Luffy, the younger was staring at him with a serious face, no frown, just serious.

"I told you to tell me when it gets bad."

"I can't bother you with every little thing, I'm not built that way."

"It's not little if it makes you want to die Torao." Law didn't say anything to that, just hunched his shoulders and hid as much of his face as he could in his collar. "I'll help you. Promise. So just tell me next time."

"Sorry..."

"He's actually more open with you Luffy, and so quick!" Nami pointed. "He hissed at us like a feral cat for a whole year before letting us befriend him!"

"He has more charm." Law smirked, bringing Luffy close. "Of course I would hiss at witches."

"Torao is a cat." Luffy giggled.

The three walked until the arch gates of the dog park were in view. "This is going to be weird, we don't even have a dog. Shouldn't we go to a human park?" Law asked stopping before entering through the gates.

"Oh we do have a dog just fine." Nami said patting Luffy's head.

Luffy brought his hands up like dog paws and went, "woof! Woof!"

"You are both retarded and I am your unfortunate caretaker if someone looks at us wrong." Law said in case he had to lie to someone. The three went inside, walked a little until Luffy ran off to play with the dogs, Nami and Law took this as their chance to sit down somewhere close where they could keep an eye on Luffy from.

"So when have you decided to come to Cocoyashi? I need to tell Bellemere-san." Nami asked, her elbows on her knees and head in her hands, looking up at Law.

"Not this time, I don't feel well enough for that."

"Ok then I'm sending a picture for the time being, say cheese!" Nami said out of the blue and snapped a picture before Law really had a chance to register what happened. The doctor groaned and sighed. Nami took a look at the picture and decided to think about sending it because Law really looked bad and that would only make Bellemere-san more worried if anything. "Law, when Luffy says he wants to help, let him. I know you think going to him for your depressive episodes would be bothering him but it doesn't, trust me. Luffy isn't like all normal people." Law didn't say anything, he felt like Nami wanted to add more. "He doesn't butt in and ignore boundaries unless you ask him for help."

"Now that you mention it..." Law agreed recalling every time that Luffy helped him was after Law had explicitly said it or hinted at wanting help.

"When these guys came to Cocoyashi after I had to withdraw from school without notice, even then, I kept yelling at Luffy and the boys to just go away and leave me alone but he hung around, he wanted to help but didn't interfere until I asked him to. Then he beat Arlong. Come to think of it, he might have found another reason to kick Arlong's ass even if I hadn't lost it."

"How bad was it?" Law asked in a small voice.

"I'm not telling you, you would just blame yourself for everything." Nami laughed then her smile faded as she looked in the distance. "But... I think I understood you a little at that time, why you kept pushing us away when we got you."

"You told Luffy to leave so he wouldn't get caught up..."

"They were precious friends I had made, who actually cared, I couldn't lose them to something that had nothing to do with them."

"You get it."

"But that was before Luffy destroyed Arlong Park. Now I trust my nakama, I'd kick anyone's ass for them and I don't stop them from helping me anymore."

"Learning that is a hard path for me." Law said and Nami moved to say something but the angle of her arms brought something else to light. "What was there before this one?" Law pointed to the tattoo. He could clearly see the numerous scars under the ink and a big scar from surgical removal of probably another tattoo.

"It was Arlong's mark."

"This looks less than a year old, are you even taking proper care?" Now Law took the woman's upper arm in his hand and observed closely. "And who the hell did you go to? The job they did is very sloppy."

"Well sorry if we don't have doctors with tattoo removal experience in Cocoyashi." Nami rolled her eyes. "I just wanted it off that instant so I sought out Nako-san."

Law let it go at that but snorted when something registered. "We both have tattoos now. What about Nojiko?"

"Oh! She has similar heart tattoos! Sibling telepathy I guess." Nami laughed. "Bellemere-san is going to be so happy about this."

The both shifted to much lighter conversation until Luffy gathered their attention, his loud laughter from playing with a dog and rolling around with it. Law smiled. "Sometimes... I think he's just putting up with me because he's stubborn and doesn't want to back out." Law found himself confiding in Nami, putting his head on her shoulder.

Nami sighed and put an arm around Law. "Goes to say how much you still don't know about Luffy. Zoro once had to tape his mouth shut because he wouldn't stop talking about you." Law snorted.

"Any luck with that?"

"Luffy chewed through it." They both laughed. "I understand where your doubts are coming from but it's Luffy, he doesn't do anything he doesn't like and if there was something bothering him about you, he'd say. And Luffy isn't a person who suddenly finds himself out of adoration for someone without reason."

"I give him plenty of reasons."

"Plenty of reasons to stay. It will take you time but you'll learn, you just can't get rid of him." Nami said and right on cue, Luffy looked at Law and grinned, running towards him at full speed. "Brace yourself." Nami warned scooting away from Law.

"TORAOOOOOO!!!" Luffy collided with Law who easily settled Luffy in his lap.

"Don't touch me with your dog hands." Law cringed.

"What were you and Nami talking about?" Luffy asked putting his arms around Law's neck and adjusting himself.

"Just Law being Law." Nami answered.

"Torao you were doubting?" Luffy pouted then kissed Law's cheek and grinned. "You're stuck with me."

"Somehow that doesn't seem so bad." Law agreed and nuzzled in Luffy's neck.

"I'm getting cavities here." Nami rolled her eyes but smiled at them both. "You're both idiots."

"You're stuck with us." They both said at the same time.

"Yes yes I know." Nami sighed and hugged both the boys.

~

"Luffy I really don't want to be seen..." Law bit his lip when his boyfriend led him to the special seat he had reserved for the live. The venue was a big, open auditorium inside the city this time, with proper seating and lighting, this time there were tickets too and the profit from tickets exceeded the rent and other expenses so the crew was glad they would be able to use that money for Grey Terminal and other jobs.

"But I wanna be able to see you." Luffy pouted, holding both of Law's hands in his own. It was just the two of them there, the rest of the Strawhats were busy with other final preparations.

"I don't do well in crowds."

"Then..." Luffy looked around the entire area and spotted three seats in the very back. "How about those? I can put all three on reserve so nobody else sits there."

Law turned his head back to see which seats his boyfriend was pointing to and found the solution satisfactory. "Works. What about speaker noise there?"

"Lemme check." Luffy ran down the stairs and jumped on the stage to push some buttons on the stereo there and music flooded the area. Law skipped stairs till the very back and observed if he could stay there long enough. The music wasn't too loud but he wasn't sure if the day's live would have beats that could trigger him. Regardless, Law considered the volume ok and showed Luffy a thumbs-up from his place, receiving a grin in return.

"Works." Law said after Luffy got back to him.

"Do you want snacks? I can get you some."

"No thank you, I want to keep my full attention on you." Law said with a grin and Luffy grinned back, wider and sunnier.

"We can go eat later then! Before you have to leave!"

"Sounds like a plan."

Luffy stepped on the tips of Law's shoes to make himself taller and kissed Law's cheek before the two exited the auditorium and went to where the rest of the group was, rolling things to get to the stage. Law decided it was best that he stayed out of their way because with his healing injuries, he couldn't really help and didn't want to disturb anyone either.

"We are going for makeup! See you guys behind the stage!" Nami announced then turned to Law. "See you after the live Law!"

Law waved then Luffy caught his attention, bouncing to where Nami and Robin were going. The doctor silently followed because what the hell was Luffy going to do with the women, surely not makeup, right? Regardless, Law arrived at the makeup room and the door was open enough that he could spot the younger.

"Nami! I want one too!" Luffy whined and Law didn't bother keeping his presence hidden, he just opened the door and closed it behind him. The women weren't very shocked.

"Law can you please tell your boyfriend that I am not wasting lipstick on him?" Nami sighed, already tired.

"Why not? If he wants to wear it, let him." Law shrugged and grabbed Nami's eyeliner, taking over the job, her application was just horrible. "Why do you have two left hands?" Law teased as he was told the kind of wing Nami wanted and began the job with his steady surgeon hands.

"Ara, you are very good at this." Robin commented from behind. "Luffy, I will help you with a lipstick, sit here. I am curious how you would look." Law was frankly curious too but he brushed it off, guys wearing lipstick rarely looked good to him, so Luffy would probably just look stupid too.

"There, done." Law stepped back and put the eyeliner cake and brush on the counter. Nami observed herself in the mirror and gasped.

"Waah! Law this is amazing!"

"Oh my." Robin was the next to let out an astonished sound, but not at Nami. Law and Nami turned to look at what she was so surprised about and found Luffy with a matte black lipstick on.

"That looks so good on you!" Nami exclaimed, leaving her seat to take a closer look. "Right, Law?"

But Law couldn't answer. He could just stare. Luffy looked so... Something down below reacted. Something that had never reacted to anybody before, especially not like this. Law knew his entire face was red. Luffy looked so hot. Law felt so hot.

"Torao?" Law watched Luffy's lips as he spoke. Then his heart clenched and he decided that he just could not let Luffy go out like that. Law walked to Luffy and grabbed his squishy, round face. Nami and Robin both busied themselves in another corner of the room. Law stared at Luffy's lips until he couldn't take it anymore and viciously rubbed the lipstick off his boyfriend with his sleeve. "Wha?!"

"Nobody is going to let him wear makeup again, ok? Ok. Best. I'll be out now. Thank you." Law said through his quick heartbeats and left the room to cool down, his skin and that other something.

"I didn't think he would get jealous like that." Nami sighed.

"How cute." Robin chuckled. "Luffy, it's best for Law-kun's sanity if you don't wear makeup in public."

"But..." Luffy slumped on the available chair. "Why was Torao all red? I thought he got angry."

"It's best if you ask him that directly." Nami said with a wave of her hand.

~

Zoro and Sanji took to the stage way before Luffy arrived. The live was to start soon and everyone was already settled. Law was grateful for Luffy to have reserved the back seats because he sure as hell did not want anyone sitting beside him in that kind of a crowd. The surgeon had forgone snacks and eating anything in general because he couldn't calm himself down much till the live started and then it was too late. Law sighed in relief that Luffy wasn't wearing makeup when the younger faced the crowd.

"Second live everyone!" Luffy greeted and this time, there was no feedback from the mic, thankfully. "So I think we are gonna make this a pattern, I'm doing a solo cover then we are doing a group original."

"Are you dedicating this cover to someone too, Luffy?" Zoro asked with a smirk on his face. Law shook his head at the childish behavior.

"Oh yeah! Of course!" Luffy grabbed the mic off the stand and in his hand and looked straight at Law. Law's heart thumped a loud beat. "This is for Torao." There was really no time for Law to react more. He was swept in the music again.

"I got this doom and gloom in my mind, yeah
I got this doom and gloom but I feel all right

I've got love in my heart
So let's sneak in from the cheap seats honey
And we'll drive until the engine just gives up

Feeling so good right now
Feeling so good right now
'Til we crash and burn somehow
Feeling so good right now, yeah

I know, I know I've made mistakes, yeah
I know, I know but at least they were mine to make
They were mine to make

In all of my wildest dreams
They just end up with you and me
So let's drive until the engine just gives out

Feeling so good right now
Feeling so good right now
'Til we crash and burn somehow
Feeling so good right now, yeah

We're drifting from the start, I ripped myself apart
I'll be whatever you need me to be, you need me to be
I cut myself down, cut myself down
To whatever you need me to be, you need me to be

Drifting from the start, I ripped myself apart
I'll be whatever you need me to be, you need me to be
I cut myself down, cut myself down
To whatever you need me

Oh, and in all of my wildest dreams
They just ended with you and me
So let's drive until the engine just gives out

Feeling so good right now
Feeling so good right now
'Til we crash and burn somehow
Feeling so good right now

Feeling so good right now
Feeling so good right now
'Til we crash and burn somehow
Feeling so good (so good) right now (so good, so good)

I know, I know I've made mistakes, yeah
I know, I know but at least they were mine to make, yeah"

Luffy had not once taken his eyes off Law the entire time he was singing. And he was singing another Fall Out Boy song, from an album that just dropped. How the hell did Luffy manage to learn it to perfection in such a short time?! The song felt cheesy as fuck when Luffy sung it like that in public and Law found himself hiding his face under his hat and in his collar when Luffy finally took his gaze off him.

"Luffy, my beloved! Who is Torao?!" A woman shouted from the crowd and Law forgot all the red that was covering his face. He scooted to see who the woman was and why the fuck she was calling Luffy her beloved.

"Oh Hancock! You're here too!" Luffy grinned noticing the woman. Law sighed, the dumbass was speaking it all on mic. The name Hancock though...

It can't be Boa Hancock... right? How the fuck does Luffy even know all these people?!

"Luffy-senpai! Who is Torao! You're dedicating a second song to this person!" Another person added. Law could vaguely make out green hair from his seat, nothing more. "Is it your dog or something?"

Luffy laughed hard at that. "Nyahahahhaha! No silly!" Luffy grinned and looked at Law again, Law who knew what was going to happen and was silently praying, shaking his head ever so slightly.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

But Monkey D. Luffy always did what he wanted.

"TORAO'S MY BOYFRIEND!" Aaaaaand there it was, the feedback from the mic. The entire auditorium had erupted into mixed reactions. Law had been covering his ears from the feedback noise so he was also safe from the crowd's noise.

"What's his actual name Luffy? Surely you were tricked somehow!" Boa Hancock yelled, angry.

"Luffy-senpai! I am sure Torao is a good guy! Your judgment is never mistaken! I am so happy for you!!" The green-haired man cried.

"Step aside simps!" Another voiced butted in, a voice that belonged to the owner of an orange hat.

"Oh! Ace! Sabo! You both came!" Luffy happily sat down on the stage to be closer to his brothers. Law felt his soul leave his body, even Luffy's brothers knew now. Law knew the brothers were both shoot first, ask questions later kind of people, especially Sabo, he was downright mental and unhinged.

"Don't take the conversation somewhere else! When did this happen!" Ace almost jumped on the stage too but Sabo was holding him back in favour of not wanting to ruin Luffy's live. Law wondered if they were fucking serious with their words and actions.

"Oh some time now-" Luffy started but was interrupted yet again.

"My anchor has a boyfriend?!"

Luffy looked in the direction of the new voice and his jaw hit the ground in joy. "SHANKS! You really did come!"

AKAGAMI NO FUCKING SHANKS?!

Law thanked himself mentally for insisting on other seats, otherwise he would definitely have been spotted and probably castrated and murdered on spot. He had done his research on the people involved in Luffy's life and the older the connection became, the crazier the relationship got. Luffy had let go of the mic and was yelling something inaudible at everyone and Law frankly was too numb from the previous exchanges to be able to hear properly. Until...

"Congratulations!"

Law was deadass about to jump and scream at the voice very close to his ear and the hand on his shoulder but the familiar giggling stopped him.

"I'd be jumpy too if this were happening to me, Trafalgar Law." Uta said with a grin and sat down beside the surgeon.

"How the fuck did you even know who I am?" Law asked through his hammering heart.

"Oh sisters always find out." The woman waved her hand. "Like how I just knew you'd be here again."

"What the hell is even going on here!" Law groaned and Uta laughed again. "Is that the real fucking Boa Hancock? And Akagami? Do they even know the implications of stepping into public with their kind of underworld activities?!"

"Well you're here too, Surgeon of Death."

"I am not even going to question how you know that."

"And yes that's the real Boa Hancock and Shanks. That's Bartolomeo, the green one, he's the founder and president of The Luffy Fan Club."

"The Luffy what?"

"Fan club." Uta said again. "And Boa loves Luffy and hates men and anyone who comes close to 'her beloved.' She's asked him to marry her so many times, it's funny."

Before Law could control his tongue, the question was out. "And what does Luffy feel about her?"

"What do you think?" The woman grinned.

"I don't think he knows the difference between friendliness and flirting."

"That might be true but he once told her he won't marry her, so I think he knows." Uta chuckled. "Your biggest worry is all the men right now, my brothers and Shanks. He's been following you around for some time now, since around after the last live I think. Oh and Garp-jiichan, I don't know how he's going to react, he's always new."

"That was Akagami?!" Law nearly exploded. The additional shadow he had been feeling following him, apart from Doflamingo's men, the one that was giving him so much anxiety, that was Luffy's favourite father-figure?! "Just fucking great."

"Now the boys are going to want to meet you- ah they are clearing the stage. Next song! Yes!" Uta said, excited and got Law's attention and mind away from the chaos that surrounded Luffy.

"Sorry about that!" Luffy started. "Anyway, so Torao doesn't wanna be public so you guys also stay away ok? I'll kick anyone's butt if they try to upset Torao. That goes for everyone."

"There you go, you're safe now." Uta said and relaxed in her seat.

"I can take care of myself." Law grumbled but was happy that Luffy was sticking up for him.

"Ok we are gonna start the next song!"

All the Strawhats got on the stage and assumed their positions with the mic and instruments. The stage seemed small with the size of the group and the sizes of the individuals, their voices and presence with the music that followed, were equally so.

"Shiriai ja nakute
tomodachi ja nakute
Oretachi wa Family
(umi ni deru kagiri)
Shinseki ja nakute
kyoudai ja nai
Oretachi wa Family

Dadappiroi kaizu miwatashite mite mo
kore dake no yatsura mitsukannai ze

Ichiryuu no komari mono
nori konda Mother Ship

Sore made no joushiki
sutete kara koi yo

Every day survival!
sugee mon gachi

Ichiban no otakara wo
tsukamaeru Mother Ship

Saikou no yatsura tte
Saikou ni waraun da

Shiriai ja nakute
tomodachi ja nakute
Oretachi wa Family
(bouken no kagiri)
Shinseki ja nakute
kyoudai ja nai
Oretachi wa Family

Honmono no dakai yume miteru me ni wa
honmono igai wa mienai hazu sa

Tobikiri no Dreamer
gentei no Mother Ship

Sentimental muyou
egao only yuukou

Family tte imi wa
hitokoto ja nai tte koto

Tabemono ni mo namida ni mo te wo dasu ze
Mother Ship

Saikou no nakama nara
Saikou ni tsuyoin da!

Shiriai ja nakute
tomodachi ja nakute
Oretachi wa Family
(never be hitori)
Shinseki ja nakute
kyoudai ja nai
Oretachi wa Family"

~

"You really don't drink huh." Luffy observed when Law was sitting with cola in his hands instead of rum or some other alcoholic beverage. The group was gathered after the live at Makino's, Strawhats and plus Ones only, because Luffy had some insane intuition that Law didn't want to meet his brothers just yet. Everyone was occupying tables according to their conversational interests, both Luffy and Law took a separate one in a corner.

"I don't." Law nodded and sipped his cola.

"You look like you have some questions." Luffy said, tilting his head. "You make that face when you wanna say something."

"And what face is that?" Law shook his head.

"Like you gotta poop."

Law shrugged. "That'd be correct."

"So?"

Sighing, Law opened his mouth. He knew no good would come out of his question and Luffy would only just say something stupid in response but Law just had to inquire. "What is your relationship with Boa Hancock?"

"Hancock?" Luffy questioned, tilting his head again and humming loudly in thought. "She's a good friend."

"Luffy, everyone is your friend." Law groaned, feeling stupid himself for even asking.

"Yeah but you're not."

"I'm not?" Law felt a huge vacuum in his chest at those words.

"Yeah, you're my boyfriend. That's different." Luffy nodded to himself as if he was being very wise. Law sighed again and flicked Luffy's forehead lightly.

"I was told by someone that she keeps asking you to marry her. Should I be worried?"

"I don't wanna marry her, I keep telling her that." Luffy stared at Law after answering. "Why would you be worried?"

Law closed his eyes and took a breath. Really, what did he even expect asking Luffy such a thing? "Nevermind."

"No, tell me. Something's bothering you." Luffy insisted, he wasn't stupid, he could see Law was troubled.

"Are you sure she is just a friend? I mean, she's very beautiful to every sex on the planet. Are you sure you're not going to wake up one day and think you want her as not-friends and not me?" Law bit the inside of his cheek, he sounded like a pathetic schoolgirl. He brought his glass up to take a big gulp to avoid looking at Luffy.

"You're more beautiful than her." Law choked on his drink. "Torao!" The younger patted his boyfriend's back to help him.

"You cannot just say things like that." Law said, throat hoarse from coughing out his cola.

"Why? You are more beautiful." Then something clicked to Luffy. "Wait, you said everyone thinks she's beautiful. You think so too?" Luffy pouted, something akin to a fire lighting in his chest, the kind he didn't like. He wanted Torao to deny that Hancock was beautiful.

"What do you think?" Law smirked. When it looked like Luffy was getting the wrong idea, Law pinched Luffy's cute little nose.

"Toraoooo!" The boy let out a nasal whine.

"No way, Boa Hancock is just another face in the crowd, Luffy. I choose to kiss your monkey face every day."

"Then do it!" Luffy said, all aching feelings leaving him, he presented his cheek to Law.

"Not in public." Law said pinching his boyfriend's cheeks next. He was feeling better now, Luffy considered him more beautiful than Boa Hancock, Law had tons of self-doubt regarding that but for now, he'd take Luffy's words for truth.

"Oh yeah, why were you all red back at the makeup room?"

"The lipstick looked very good on you, I didn't want anyone else to look at it." Law answered truthfully. Was he drunk on cola?

"Oh." Luffy realized. "So that's what jealousy is." Before Law could get an embarrassed argument in, Luffy looked at Law, seriousness in his eyes. "I get that too when people are looking at you for too long."

Law did a double take. "You what?" Then decided to phrase it better. "People look at me? When? Where? And you get jealous?"

"Like when we were out the other day, I didn't like it, some girls were being all annoying, giggling looking at you. I didn't understand what I was feeling, thought it was that acidity Brook talked about."

"What the fuck? People have very weird tastes in looks, no offense to you but I look like a zombie-raccoon." Law scrunched his nose in disgust but Luffy's laughter brought it all to peace.

"Torao you're funny."

"And," Law started, ruffling Luffy's hair. "You don't need to cut yourself down for whatever I need you to be."

"That's a megatron, Torao."

"Metaphor." Law corrected with a smile.

A few more mugs of alcohol later, Luffy decided it was enough and with a 'let's sneak in from the cheap seats, honey' and a wink, left with a very flustered Law to help him get to the airport on time. When the boys got to the hotel, Law saw the coffee table had a few things on it that weren't there before.

"Nami brought it earlier." Luffy commented.

"How did she get past the locks?" Law questioned and sat down on the couch to take a look.

"She's Nami."

"Fair enough."

Luffy pointed at everything in turns and explained the gifts. "It's the flower from when you were shot, Robin saved it and Franky and Usopp helped preserving it in resin so you can keep it forever." Then he pointed to a box. "That's friends for Mr. Duckie."

"How the hell do you know about Mr. Duckie?!" Law countered, face red but opened the box. It had two rubber ducks, one adorning Luffy's signature strawhat and the scar under his eye and the other one had Law's new hat and a very tired looking face.

"Usopp modeled them on us!"

"This is cute." Law admitted, observing the clay work on the hats closely. "Do they float with the additional weight?" Law was a man of science, he had questions.

"Nope! They drown face-first." Luffy said, confident. "It's authentic because we can't swim too." Law let out a genuine laugh at that. It was all really heartwarming. "Zoro's sent some polish and oil for your sword, said you should always keep a sword clean even when you don't use it."

"That's thoughtful."

"Sanji sent a few recipes for gluten-free meals you can make back home. He really liked all that stuff from Flevance. Chopper told me to give you his number so you can talk to him about medical things when you want to."

"Tony-ya is very capable, I am impressed with his abilities." Law said and accepted everything that was being given to him.

"Nami gave me these, said it might make you sad but that this was yours to have." Luffy handed Law an envelope and Law knew what it was without even opening it, pictures from the past he shared with Nami. "She also said 'don't jump from any planes.'"

"Thank you." Law was overcome with sudden affection for this new-found family and could only let it out by hugging his boyfriend close.

~

Law got off the plane with his muscles all sore and knotted. He wanted a long, hot bath now. He dragged his luggage bag behind him, had to change his bag because of all the stuff he got from the Strawhats. Law hoped Penguin was standing somewhere he wouldn't have to find him, the older had said he would already be at the airport to drive Law home. Law had only expected to see Penguin and a quiet, nice, easy drive back at the building.

Law instead got the entire Hearts standing behind the rope-way with flashy banners and balloons in their hands. Law's face turned redder the more... variety he absorbed. The first poster his eyes went to, said, 'HE'S BACK!'

Then it kept getting worse.

'He finally has a boyfriend now!'

'He confessed!'

'Luffy's Boyfriend!'

'Law X Luffy'

'Doctor Heartstealer'

'StrawHeart!'

Then there was a one with Luffy's strawhat and Law's hat on one banner and more than a few of his friends were holding yellow, red, black and blue balloons, some normal, some hearts. A few of his friends had started hooting and whistling at Law's obvious flustered behavior.

Law felt so embarrassed and mortified that he turned back towards the big gates he exited from. No way was he dealing with this. No fucking way. He was stopped by the security.

"Sir you cannot go back."

Way to sum up my life, Mr. Security Officer, no backing out.

~

I made a little art for a certain piece in this chapter, you can find it on my twitter @Itachi_Warrior

I also made the rubber ducks mentioned, because when I got the idea to write about the ducks three weeks ago, I absolutely had to make the hats! So well, I went and got the ducks, crafting and modeling hats, especially Lu's strawhat was difficult as fuck, I am very dyspraxic and my hands shake from numerous illnesses so my crafting never comes out neat and clean but I am very proud of how it turned out. I posted pictures of it on my instagram @wasia_w_holehearted, there is a video in the end too, of the ducks drowning XD it was so funny that I had to include that bit in the story as well.