~

Luffy tilted his head in confusion at the sight before him. The boyfriends had been at the lake, there was a crowd of people and Luffy had grinned at Torao to 'go be a doctor' and that was what Law had stepped up to do but now, the person who was supposed to his patient, had his shoulder on fire, and Law looked like he wasn't breathing, well, to Luffy both the men looked like they weren't breathing, looking at each other with wide eyes, eyebrows so high that they couldn't be seen anymore. Luffy tilted his head in confusion, did Torao know the guy?

Then it hit Luffy and he remembered the few things he heard from Law.

His hair were a blond mop-

He looked strict without his clown makeup-

He was freakishly tall and equally clumsy-

His shoulder was almost on fire-

Was this... Torao's Cora-san? But that can't be true, Torao said Cora-san died years ago- but-

Regardless, Luffy shook his head and decided he should bring his boyfriend out of whatever stupor the older was in, the man in front of him didn't look good and his shoulder was burning, this was not the time to freeze up. "Torao!"

And with a start, Law's heart started beating again.

"You fucking-!! You were alive all this fucking time?!" Law yelled only to be yelled at in return.

"Law! No cursing! What did I tell you about that?!" Rosinante coughed after, rubbing his throat.

"After this many years I have all the fucking right to curse you clumsy idiot- what were you doing near a lake?! When did you get here?! Wh-" He was cut short when the older guy hugged Law who stopped talking.

"You're alive."

"That's what I should be saying!!" Law yelled back but hugged the man tighter. "Cora-san."

Luffy shooed everyone away telling them that Law had it all figured out and that there was no need to call for police or an ambulance, the younger felt like everyone was intruding on the doctor's reunion.

"You're soaking wet, you idiot! This is Flevance not Spider Miles!!" Law scolded his father and let go of the man to start dousing the fire on his shoulder.

"My coat got burned." Cora said sheepishly, looking really tired all of a sudden. "And I think...I'm going to fall-" He didn't get to finish what he was saying, unconsciousness taking a hold of him.

"Cora-san- oi!" Law checked for pulse, cursed when he found it weak. "Shit." Then he turned to Luffy. "I'm sorry about this but-"

"Hospital?" Luffy asked immediately jumping into action.

"No, let's take him back to the building. I'd feel much better if I have my eyes on him."

"Torao we're gonna need a vehicle." Luffy pointed to the fact that even with the two of them carrying Corazon, the way back home was too long.

"Fuck, ok, call an ambulance, but don't complain when I have to knock the guy out." Law said quickly and shook his head when Luffy laughed. The ambulance arrived within record time and as he had said, Law punched the driver and staff unconscious, secured Cora-san in the back and drove to the Hearts building.

"You can finally relax now, huh." Luffy said from beside Law.

"Oh I'm sure my worries are just beginning." The doctor whispered. "He fucking fell into a lake! The only water body Flevance has and he just found it and fell into it, this is not good for my blood pressure." Law said and although it sounded endearing and fond, Luffy noticed Law wasn't smiling, he was shaking, he looked scared and traumatized.

Once at the building, Law helped Luffy take Corazon to the infirmary then drove the ambulance to a nearby house, abandoned it there and ran back to the building, immediately going to the infirmary and putting his masks, gloves and gown on. Law hadn't accounted on his eyes watering again and his hands shaking, he didn't know what he was supposed to do when it was his Cora-san on the table.

"Torao." Luffy called and took a firm hold of Law's upper arms, making sure he didn't touch anywhere that would contaminate the doctor's gown. The younger pursed his lips into a thin line at the way Law's hands were shaking and he was crying.

"I-I don't know what to do." Law gulped.

"Yes, you do, and you have to take charge fast."

Law shook his head. "The shaking won't stop."

"Don't hate me for this." Luffy said biting his lip and before the older had the chance to inquire about the meaning of the statement, Luffy kicked Law between his legs and held him up for he didn't dirty his gloves.

"Fucking- ow- what the hell!" The doctor recovered in a few minutes and was ready to murder his boyfriend but when he brought his hands up, he noticed he had stopped shaking. Not letting Luffy boast in the satisfaction, Law jutted his chin towards the station that had sterilized equipment. "Gear up, you're assisting."

"What?" Luffy looked at the station behind him then back at the older.

"I only have one pair of hands, I can't do everything by myself."

"...ok." The younger was quick to put the masks and gloves on and Law helped him put the gown on, tied it behind his back.

"Everything goes." Law said and started with cutting the shirt off. "Throw it in the bin there."

"Ok." Luffy took a deep breath and just followed directions, he felt steady and proud because Law never asked him for help in medical regards, he either did everything alone or Law's three bestfriends always helped him.

Law felt around all the skin he could see for any internal injuries, any broken bones that had yet to form bruising, anything injury at all, he found none. While Luffy was taking care of the pants, making careful cuts, Law prepared a regular hydration IV, on the double, so at least the pulse would start picking up. Next, Law cleaned the sites where he needed to attach the stickers for various life-monitoring machinery and plugged everything in.

"Done." Luffy announced and threw the pants in the bin. The younger put the scissors aside first thing before he accidentally hurt anyone.

"Good job." Law said without looking up and started examining if the blond had any injuries on his legs. "Come here, and lift him so I can check the back."

Luffy obeyed and helped Law to the best of his ability until Law took off his gloves and masks, and threw them away with a sigh.

"There is literally no injury." Law pointed.

"Isn't that a good thing?" The younger asked.

"I'm going to clean the rest of him, if you want to help-"

"I'll help." Luffy said immediately, there was no choice, Law was in his zone being a doctor but Luffy was feeling something off from him all the time, avoiding answering some things and talking in general.

Quietly, Law changed his gloves and readied the cleaning supplies and began working. The older handed Luffy a clean towel to wipe the excess water away and the skin dry after Law had cleaned the site. Law worked very meticulously, even more so than Luffy had ever seen him as work, the younger chalked it up to the fact that it was Law's Cora-san that was why he was being like that. The men were working silently and efficiently until Law stopped to trace a scar on Rosinante's left chest cavity.

"What's that one?" Luffy asked breaking the silence.

"I gave him this..." Law trailed and when Luffy didn't speak, Law continued. "Some time after I first arrived at their doorstep. I was angry at the world, a lot worse than I am now and I absolutely hated how this clumsy fucking idiot got to live while everyone I knew died..." Law started cleaning again. "So one day, I stabbed him through the back. I don't know how he survived, I thought it went clean through the lung. It was supposed to be fatal." Law smiled under his mask a little then threw the used supplies, fishing out a patient gown and trousers. "I'm glad it wasn't."

Luffy just listened. The younger had heard that humans were prone to getting stuck in the time they received their worst trauma so Luffy was being attentive of the fact that a thirteen year old Law could make a comeback, all scared and heartbroken, and Luffy wanted to make sure that Law knew he was loved and ok, and safe, and that the person he thought he had lost, was right there, alive and well.

"Now we wait, I guess." Law scratched his head, his gear all in the bin, along with Luffy's. Adjusting the sheet one final time to calm his anxiety, Law sat down on the bed beside Cora-san's, his legs up.

"You look tired Torao, go asleep. I'll keep watch." Luffy said raising an eyebrow at the way his boyfriend had just taken to the bed, as if that was where he belonged.

"No way in hell I'm leaving both of your clumsy asses in the same room with expensive medical equipment and tons of shit that can go wrong." Law countered. "I'm not leaving until he wakes up."

"Didn't you have to burn your warehouse today?"

"That was a lie."

"What?" Luffy asked but didn't receive an answer and decided to let the matter go for the time being.

But the 'time being' didn't change after one hour, or the hour after it, or for the next twelve hours until the sun had set and risen anew and reached its peak and had begun to set again. Luffy was trying to be strong so Law could lean on him because the older had refused meals and sleep, and denied that he was uncomfortable sitting like he was, shaking and rocking himself to obtain a little peace.

"Torao you have to rest a little, just a teeny bit." Luffy tried bargaining but it was of no use, Law was ignoring him altogether. "I'll get your blanket then, maybe you can sleep here."

"Don't bother." Law whispered but it fell on deaf ears because Luffy had already left.

Luffy walked to Law's room, felt himself a bit hungry so he detoured to get something to eat. There was a plate of onigiri in the fridge for Law so Luffy left that alone and decided he would wait a little with Law since the older hadn't eaten anything as well. The two had been cooped up in the infirmary since they got back and since nobody had gone there for injuries, nobody knew that the two were still in the building. Thinking he should let someone know what had happened, Luffy bundled Law's blanket in his arms and left the room.

.

"If I could, I would hang my skeleton to get some air, all my bones are so tired." Shachi complained, back slumped.

"Pretty sure that'd kill you, but ok, I'm not above murder if that's what my dear friend wants." Penguin joked back with a small laugh.

"Screw you."

"You already have, once."

"WHAT?!" Bepo nearly screamed. "How did my nose miss that?!"

"We pretended to wear each other's clothes to trick you." Penguin said.

"I don't want to think about this on my tired brain, I'm going to sleep." The bear said and lazily walked to his room.

"Same." Shachi followed suit, as did Penguin.

The moment the three entered their respective rooms, they sighed in peace, then noticed something out of place on their desks, got triggered, went to inquire what it was that needed to checked, found out what it was, then the three frowned. Much in sync, the three oldest Hearts picked up the vial of a strange purple liquid, sloshed it around in its glass container, then put it back and picked up the second item, a letter.

The three exited their rooms at the same time and stared at each other, confirming just through the others' eyes that they all had received a letter with the same contents. Penguin was angry, Shachi was concerned, Bepo was straight up bawling.

"Oh, hey guys, sup?" Luffy called from down the hall and upon hearing him, the three Hearts ran to him, crowding the young man.

"Where is he?" Shachi asked, the only one calm enough to verbalize his thoughts.

"Where's... who?"

"Law! Where's Law?!"

"I- what's wrong-" Luffy managed to utter between the shaking and the rough voices. It was Bepo who handed Luffy the letter and waited for him to read it, putting both his paws on Shachi and Penguin's backs to keep them calm too. "But... Torao's in the infirmary..." Luffy spoke amidst his shock of what he had read.

Penguin was the first to move, followed by Shachi and then Bepo who first looked back at Luffy to see him still staring at the letter in his hands, then moved ahead with the two older Hearts. Truth to Luffy's words, the infirmary lights were on and the more time that passed reaching the door, the angrier Penguin got, the more anxious Shachi became and the sadder Bepo looked.

"YOU MANIPULATIVE ASSHOLE!" Penguin yelled wanting to throw hands with Law but he was pushed back by Luffy, who stood protectively in front of Law.

"Now's not the time guys!" The youngest said, his own hands balled and teeth clenched to gain control of the anger that was taking over him. Law, in his letter to his friends, had written that he was grateful for all the love and care and good times, but he had to go and achieve his goal of revenge, the one he had been working for on painfully long years, and that no matter what happened, he was not coming back at all, alive or otherwise.

Luffy wanted to sort of punch Law, sort of hug him, sort of hand him over to Robin and Zoro so they could get information out of him so Luffy could take over that task of revenge. Luffy felt betrayed and somewhat disappointed that Law who had, to some extent, learned to ask for help, didn't think he could rely on the younger for this particular thing – Luffy didn't blame Law, he blamed himself for not making it clear to the older that he was always there for him.

Then Luffy remembered how Law had been out of communication and the younger had to find him, and that made him worse, the realization that Law was going to his death if Luffy hadn't stopped him at the Red Line International Airport.

"Just let me land one punch." Penguin said and took a step forward.

"No." Luffy furrowed his eyebrows more resolutely and pointed to the occupied infirmary bed that was in the three Hearts' current blind spot. "Look."

The three Hearts turned around and saw a blond man in the small infirmary bed, hooked to nearly all the machines they had. Shachi detached the patient board from the bed and passed it to his friends after taking a look himself. It said – Rosinante.

"Oh hell." The redhead scratched his head, confused about what he should be feeling at the moment.

Luffy moved aside and let Bepo through because he knew the bear was the least likely to hit Law, and he was right because Bepo only just sat down beside his friend and hugged him. Nobody said a thing, Shachi and Penguin also sat down beside Law and Luffy cocooned his boyfriend in the blanket he had abandoned on the nearest chair in favour of stopping Law's friends from hitting him.

When Luffy was standing in front of him and blocking his view, Law was only able to hear the shouts from his friends, the older was too tired to move and find out what the shouts were about but Law recognized that it was his friends and they were no doubt angry about the letter he had left them. While the entire thing was going on, Law just sighed, considering it finally time to face his friends' wrath. Law felt too resigned to do anything. All the anger and hatred that had been fueling him for a long time was now gone with Cora-san coming back and replaced with a void and emptiness, the two things Law was afraid of more than death. As unfeeling as he was, Law was waiting for at least Penguin to hit him but nothing came, except Bepo's sweet hug followed by the two older Hearts forgetting everything and just sitting beside Law in silent support. Law was vaguely aware of the blanket that was draped on him and he didn't know when he closed his eyes and fell into slumber, subconsciously assured that his friends were there now, he could rely on them, and Luffy was there, he wouldn't let them hit him at all.

~

Law lazily took off his masks walking in the lobby, Luffy had dragged him out to a walk so the older would feel better and Law had agreed because he wanted to feel better and he had Shachi, Bepo and Penguin who were looking after Cora-san, so he could leave with peace of mind. Godfather happily trotted to the kitchen where Musta was calling him for food. Luffy was chattering happily about something Law wasn't listening to because right before him, sitting on the sofa and staring at Law, was Cora-san, all conscious and awake and aware, and waiting.

"He's ok, really, so I let him out of bed and walk." Shachi explained before Law could ask.

"You should eat something too Captain." Musta called.

"Not hungry." Law answered plainly, his eyes not leaving the blond in front of him. The doctor was confused about what he should be feeling. Law knew he should be happy and over the moon that Cora-san was alive and well, but he strangely wasn't, he wasn't sad either, he wasn't worried or anxious as well.

"Law, you should eat something, you look very thin and underfed." Rosinante said despite seeing Luffy shaking his head vigorously and making an X with his arms behind Law's back, telling the oldest to not say the very thing he had went ahead and said. Penguin and Bepo peeked from the kitchen and Shachi hid behind the kitchen wall, all with bated breaths, to see what would happen because Law had been silent since Rosinante woke up and he was avoiding the blond altogether when Cora started asking questions.

Something snapped in Law and the air around him changed. Luffy mumbled a 'oh boy' under his breath and tiptoed to the kitchen as well, hiding with everyone else.

"Where have you been all this time?" Law asked, voice low and shaking.

Anger, that's what he was feeling. Anger.

"Law really this?-" Corazon started, beginning to stand up.

"Where the fuck have you been all this time?!" Law shouted this time, eyes finally conveying the anger and suspicion he had been feeling all this time. "There's no injury on you, no old injuries, no bruises, no scars that can be said to be at least a few years old- you don't have a hair out of place on your head, so where the hell have you been all this fucking time?!"

"After I sent you to Otsuru-san, I blacked out- and woke up at Dof-"

"Don't say his name." Law warned through his clenched teeth. The doctor didn't want Luffy to hear that name even by chance, it was one thing that Doflamingo had captured Luffy, it would be another thing entirely if Luffy somehow found out that the Doflamingo who had hurt Law was the same man who had hurt the younger himself, Law knew Luffy would go apeshit on the entire Dressrosa if he found out.

"I woke up at my brother's- he had captured me and somewhat made sure I didn't die. He kept me in a cell, Law, believe me. I don't know how much time I stayed there but I was finally able to break free a few years ago and I immediately called dad to let him know that I was alive." Cora took a breath to first gauge Law's reaction then continue.

"I heard the recording."

Rosinante smiled sadly. "My call was intercepted and my location was busted so I had to run and shake the tail off before I could come see you-"

"And it took you so many years to shake that tail off? I don't believe you- you could have fucking called!!" Law rubbed his chest to get rid of the tingling from his heart, he needed to calm down but he couldn't see that opening.

"I tried Law, I really did. I didn't want to put you in danger or get you hurt, but I can't be tracked now, dad put out a formal KIA notice in the News Coo and buried me publically a few days before I slipped in the lake, so nobody's going to come after me anymore, I'm here now, and I'm not going to leave you alone, ever again."

Law could feel every blood vessel pulsing in his head, he was breathing hard and loud, his heart was racing so much it felt like it might jump out of his chest. Law wanted to believe Cora-san, some part of him was already believing him though, because when the anger that Cora hadn't contacted him sooner left, the anger that took its place was of a worse nature.

"What do I do with all this now...?" Law whispered looking at the ground.

Penguin who had assumed the situation was deescalating and had stepped outside the kitchen, backtracked his steps and hid again, there was no way Law was going to let everything go so easily. The Hearts all understood the kind of life Law had been living was something he was making himself do to achieve his goals, they knew Law was kind and didn't want to be a bad guy and that their captain felt himself cornered enough to not be able to see that he had choices.

"I will help you put this behind-" Rosinante started, stepping closer to his son, all ready to calm him down because Law was displaying classic signs of an attack, countless of which Cora had held the young man through.

"I spent so many years fueled by revenge... and now that's taken away, I didn't make many friends, didn't indulge in anything good, because I was going to die anyway so what would be the point! And now I find out you've been alive all this time?! What do I do with all this, I'm not getting that time back, that life's gone! What do I do now?! You should have stayed dead and let me die too!" Law yelled to the horror of everyone listening.

"Hit me." Cora-san said. "All your anger, take it out on-"

Law didn't need to be told twice, he swung a punch on the older's face and kept hitting until someone stopped his arm, so he hit that person too, found out by the fist he received in his own face that it was Penguin, and thus started a punch fest, everyone taking their anger out about each other until they were all a beaten pile on the floor.

"Very mature." Bepo shook his head and put the first aid kit on the center table. The bear eyed Penguin and Shachi with a condescending glare, disapproving of their childishness of jumping at the opportunity to express their anger too. "You both treat your own selves."

"I knew he was going to be like that." Shachi said wiping the dried blood from his nose.

"Worth it though." Penguin got up and lent a hand to his redhead friend so they could patch each other up in the infirmary.

"Captain, don't hit me." Bepo put out the caution before sitting in front of the surgeon and beginning to clean his busted knuckles and his bloodied face – Penguin and Shachi had done a very fine job.

"Heat pad." Luffy said before adjusting the device against Law's chest having taken notice earlier of the older making faces while breathing.

Law sniffled and let Bepo and Luffy help him, he had let the anger out and he was ready to accept that Cora-san was back, well the way he was sticking close to the blond said enough on its own.

"So, am I forgiven?" Rosinante asked Law with a smile, sitting close to his son on the carpeted floor of the lobby, this time beaten and bruised, blood coating his face and for a second Law was thrown back in time when the older had locked him in that wooden box, Cora-san had a similar smile on his face then too.

"I'm letting you off easy." Law said, something close to a smile on his own face. "I'm leaving the actual beating to Smoker, Hina and Bellemere-san."

"They really did look after you. I can deal with them, I'm strong." Rosinante laughed. "Kinda scared of Belle though."

"Pfft, yeah right. You're not going anywhere near Cocoyashi, you'll burn the entire tangerine orchard."

"Captain, your nose is bleeding again." Bepo called for attention and handed Law a tissue to stuff in his nose.

"Let's get food now Torao!" Luffy suggested since the bad feelings were out of Law's system, he might be up to eating.

"Yeah, food. Sounds good right now, not sure I can chew anything solid though." Law mumbled carefully placing the tissue inside his nose. "And for fuck's sake, no soup."

"Torao?" Cora questioned, looking at Law, wondering who this young man was so casually referring to his son with a horrible mispronunciation of what could only be Law's family name and Law was ok with it???

"Oh, yes, before this passes us by." Law stuffed the tissue further up his nose and gestured to Luffy. "This is Luffy, he's my boyfriend."

"Yo!" Luffy greeted, his palm up, all smiles.

"Hello... I guess." Cora was confused for a second, he thought he had seen Luffy somewhere, an image of a young boy, no older than ten flashed before the blond's eyes but he shook it off as a false memory and a figment of imagination because there was no way he had ever met Luffy before in his life.

"We'll try this again after food." Law rolled his eyes at the obvious vacant look of his father's face. "I'm very sure you'll like him and all my few friends."

"Even the ones who cashed the opportunity to hit you?"

"Yeah, they are my best friends." Law grinned, winced when Bepo drove a cotton swab particularly hard in an open cut. "Bepo's my favourite though." Law corrected himself.

"I am." The bear mink smiled proudly.

"Hey! I'm supposed to be your favourite!" Luffy pouted at Law.

"Get in line Mugiwara." Bepo stuck his tongue out.

"I'm sure you'd be conflicted when faced with the choice between me and meat, yes?" Law asked getting up from the ground, blowing on the tissue in his nose a final time before taking it out and throwing it away.

"Why did you have to put it like that?" Luffy slumped already knowing the choices would send him thinking for at least an hour.

"Nobody's asking you to choose, don't blow a fuse over this."

"You're a lot calmer now." Cora noticed suddenly, witnessing the exchange between the boyfriends. The young Law Rosinante had known was always on edge, anxious and angry, volatile, and not in the least so easily accepting of help and care.

"All their hard work." Law said pointing to the general presence of his friends and Luffy in his life. Rosinante watched Law talk with Luffy and Bepo, converse and fight with Musta on something about the food, watched Law flick his middle finger at the patched up Penguin and Shachi, then smiling at them with a shake of his head, and Rosinante knew, the years he wasn't there for Law, the void had been filled by his son's wonderful friends, and that now there was no place for him, no active role to fulfil in Law's life but to be a constant presence that his son could fall back on if he ever needed. Rosinante was saddened by the thought but he was proud of Law too, for still having strong connections of the heart, despite the world dealing him a tragic hand, time and again.

Law was loved, and that was all Rosinante ever wished for.

~