Chapter Text
Beeping. Once again loud, monotonous, beeping tore him away from his much needed sleep. It doesn't matter how many years Law had woken up this way he will never be used to it. Sluggishly he reached a hand out to feel around on his beat up nightstand, grabbing at his phone so he could pull it under his blanket cocoon. 7:03, and seeing how he had been working until 3 AM he was far from pleased.
With a groan he buried his face into his pillow. Hiding away from the sunlight that refused to stop peeking through the thin curtains. He could get a few more hours of sleep. Yeah, his alarm shouldn't have been set in the first place. With sleep filled haze he couldn't quite piece together his thoughts. Just wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep, but all of that was dashed when a soft voice rang out.
“Daddy? You're supposed to be awake.” Law bolted up right away, eyes blinking away some drowsiness as he looked around the room. Gaze gravitated to the culprit which just so happened to be the tiny form of a little girl. Not just any little girl though, but HIS little girl.
“Clover, what are you doing up?” Clover’s dark eyes just burrowed into him, expression completely unamused at his obvious bedhead. It wouldn't have been the first time she stared at him like that, and it annoyed him that a child would judge him so openly.
"Daddy! You're supposed to take me to Kindergarten!” She stormed towards him, stomping all the way, and the moment she was next to his bed she tore away the blankets. Causing the man to abruptly sit up as his skin was exposed to cold air. Dark eyes making sure to glare bullets into his bossy child, and of course she made sure to return the favor full force (seriously? Where did she get that from?).
“Clover. It's Sunday. You start Kindergarten tomorrow bab-” He had grabbed ahold of his phone in order to check any messages that he may have received, but was instead met with a new realization. The date staring back at him as his blood turned cold. Crap, it really was Monday. He felt his brain short circuit for a second. Trying his best to answer how the hell he had forgotten something like this!?
“Did you forget again? Stupid daddy.” He sent an annoyed look to Clover, but didn't reprimand her this time. Instead he used the small amount of energy he had to get out of bed and throw on whatever clothing was in his reach. The little girl just watching him rush about with a bored expression.
“Don't just stand there Clover. Go get your clothes on, and I can do your hair when I get rea-” Oh. He finally had a chance to get a good look at her, and honestly he shouldn't be shocked at this point. She was already wearing a cute pink and white striped dress, crazy brown hair done up in perfect pigtails, and a packed lunch ready in one of her tiny hands. With how independent she was none of this was shocking. “Um, nevermind. Just wait outside, and i’ll be out in a second.” Thankfully she didn't give him any lip this time and left him to get ready for the day.
Honestly, what happened to him? That question couldn't help itself but rear its ugly head as he just tried to brush his teeth and get ready for the long day ahead. He was normally so organized, and put together. Yet lately everything seemed to have been set into a tailspin. Forgetting what day of the week it was turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg along with other slew of issues.
He groaned before lightly knocking his forehead against the glass of the mirror, eyes bordered with dark circles glaring back at him. What in the world has these couple of years turned him into? Maybe he had early onset alzheimers at the ripe age of 26. With how shit everything has been he wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
“Daddy?” He turned around to see the five year old girl standing by the doorway, a muffin in her hand as she stared at him with wide concerned eyes. The two staying silent before Clover outstretched her hand to offer him the muffin. That brought a smile to his face.
“Thank you sweetheart.” He slowly made his way towards her, ruffling up her hair before gently taking the muffin from her. “Make sure to finish up your breakfast because once im done we’re heading out.” She just pouted, and slapped his hand away.
“I know! Just hurry up!” She stomped out of the room with the force of a tiny Godzilla as the man could only chuckle at her antics. He hadn't planned to have any kids throughout life, but he wouldn't trade his daughter for anything. It didn't matter what was happening to him; he had to at least be strong for her.
Thankfully there weren't any issues with getting little Clover to school. Minimal traffic, and he didn't almost fall asleep at the wheel. He would call that a win any day. Though when they actually got there was a different story.
“No! I want to walk there by myself!” Law was quickly starting to accumulate a migraine. Using his hands to massage his temples as he tried to figure out how he was supposed to bargain with the raging five year old.
“You don't even know what class you're in. Just let me show you how to get there today, and then you can walk by yourself for the rest of the year.” He was trying, but Clover never made things easy.
“No! Let go of me! You cretin!” Law grimaced as he felt the stares of the other parents now burrowing into him. He hated dealing with gossiping moms with nothing better to do, and he would rather avoid creating stupid rumors, but Clover obviously wasnt helping. This would call for a new plan.
“Daddy was so excited to see you off though. If you really want to go by yourself though i’ll just go, and sit in the car until you're inside.” He made sure to wear a comical frown on his face, playing up his sadness for the sake of his daughter. It seemed to have been working too as Clover’s angry expression slowly began to soften.
“A-Actually daddy, can you walk me inside?” Her body relaxed, and her tiny hand had reached out to him to be held. He obliged.
“Of course. Anything for you baby.” It was hard to hide his smirk at the success of his plan, but he did it. Opting to just watch as his daughter walked by his side through the busy halls of the school. Her face started to grow more and more nervous as they approached the Kindergarten classroom, and though she tried to act tough, Law could always see right through her.
The entire Kindergarten hallway was decorated from head to toe with bright colors, paper cut outs of animals, and even had a play area filled with toys. Honestly it was a kid wonderland, and Law couldn't help but feel out of place. It didn't take them long though before they ran into a teacher, clipboard in hand as she helped kids find their classroom. A young woman with dark hair and piercing blue eyes greeting them the moment they stepped up to her.
“Good morning. Welcome to Kindergarten! I’m Ms. Robin, and i’m one of the teachers here.” She sent a warm smile to both father and daughter. Her tone held a sense of regalness to it as she spoke oh so calmly. “Now what's your name so I can help you find your class?” She held up the clipboard in her hands, an expectant look on her features. Law honestly felt out of his element. With his tattoos, and dark expression, he didn't belong with so many overly happy people.
“Trafalgar D. Clover.” Thankfully Robin didn't seem to mind his sluggish response, and instead used her energy to start looking over the clipboard.
“Oh! Seems you're in my class Clover! Alright, your cubby is over there and has your name on it. Same with your desk. Do you need my help to find it?” Law watched as his daughter puffed out her chest, his face scrunching up as though she was insulted about such a question.
“I don't need help! I’m smarter than all these babies!” The poor man ended up almost choking on his spit after that. Only able to stare wide eyed at his devil child as she stood proudly over what she did. If the parents weren't already spreading rumors, then they definitely would now. He could only grumble to himself before lightly pushing the little girl into the room.
“Ok you brat, just go put your backpack away. I’ll see you at 2:45.” Thankfully she did as she was told. Leaving Law alone with the laughing woman.
“Well, she's a funny child.” The teacher laughed more when Laws' face contorted into an exasperated expression. Seeming to find it entertaining to watch the father’s suffering.
“Yeah, she's unapologetically herself.” How else was he supposed to put it? She was his daughter after all. “Oh, right! Some weeks you’ll see me picking her up, but other weeks it’ll be my-”
Before he could finish there was what sounded like a stampede coming from behind him, and when the man tried to turn to see what the commotion was he was met with a blurry figure heading right towards him. Shit.
“WE MADE IT!” Law literally had to jump out of the way in order to avoid being run over. The man clinging to the nearby wall like it was a lifeline as he stared at the scene that was unfolding before him.
“ROBIN!? We’re on time right!? The bus was right late, and we had to run here!” The man across from him was not what Law had expected. Short, skinny like a twig, and messy black hair that seemed to have a mind of its own. He was also carrying a little boy under his arm. Patiently staying still, and missing a shoe on his right foot. This was the person who had almost killed him!?
“Don't worry Luffy. You're not late.” The woman surprisingly kept her calm, and Law was a little baffled that she seemed to know this guy by name. Luffy relaxed when he heard that, letting out a breath he seemed to be holding before his large chocolate brown eyes moved to where Law was standing. A smile breaking out on his slight baby face as though he didn't just almost kill a man.
“Woah! You got such cool tattoos! Hey! Have I met you before? I know almost everyone in town, but I don't think I have ever seen you around!” Law could only blink dumbfoundedly at the excited young man. Unsure how to respond to his upfront, and boisterous attitude other than silence.
“Your kid is missing a shoe.” It was the only thing he could think to respond with, eyes still locked onto the barren foot as though it had personally wronged him. Luffy just sat there dumbly, blinking a few times before he looked down at the boy in his arms with the same blank expression. Staring at the shoeless foot before his jaw dropped to the ground, and a scream erupted from him.
“WHAT!? Spade, what happened to your shoe!?” Law decided to just leave them to it. Making sure to quickly wave goodbye to Clover before he scurried away from the weird man. Making his way down the hall, past a small abandoned sneaker, and out the doors of the school. Face buried in his phone as he did so.
He grumbled to himself. He had the graveyard shift again. So he would need to let Cora know he was babysitting again tonight. For right now though, he just needed to sleep the day away. Hopefully to get the thought of large chocolate brown eyes out of his head.