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trafalgar law had always stuck to a plan. his life was no different. it was mapped out, with little boxes to check off.
he didn’t expect on making any additions to his list.
the first addition came in the form of eustass kid. they met when he was dropping robin off to pick up her car at the garage. he was leaned against the counter when the two walked in, jumpsuit pooled around his waist. despite thick scars and the shock of red hair, trafalgar first noticed the freckles dotting pale shoulders. the pattern was random, but trafalgar came to know it well. he ran the pads of his fingers across the galaxy late at night when he couldn’t sleep.
the second addition came with a black band, sitting around his left ring finger. zoro noticed it first, surprisingly. he peered over trafalgar’s shoulder, eyes squinted, “what’s that?”
trafalgar’s pencil stopped against the page, and he took the time to look at the metal around his finger, “it’s from eustass.”
“so you’re engaged then?”
“he made it.”
“engaged then?” he repeated.
trafalgar sighed, “i guess.”
eustass knew how to throw a surprisingly good party, and by the end of the night, a matching ring was fitted comfortably around eustass’s finger. trafalgar kissed it, “forever is a long time,” he commented, the two of them tucked back into a corner away from their dancing guests.
“you having second thoughts?”
trafalgar scoffed, “absolutely not. was just thinking that it’s not long enough.”
the third and forth additions were added later in life. trafalgar thirty-seven, with a successful tattoo shop, books filled and closed. eustass was a new thirty-four, and just opened another shop across the city that killer would manage. they came late at night, one wrapped in a blanket held to the chest of the social worker. the other held her hand, peering up at the tall men with wide, curious eyes.
“you’re quiet,” she observed, looking at him with those same eyes.
“i’m concentrating,” trafalgar responded patiently.
“on what?”
trafalgar’s lips curved up into a smirk, looking at his foster daughter through the mirror, fingers working on twisting her natural hair into tight braids, “what do you think?”
she flipped the pages of her book, “my hair?”
“we’re home!” eustass called before trafalgar could answer.
“h~i!” she yelled back. some rustling could be heard in the kitchen as he put the groceries away, and trafalgar took note of the gentle conversation he was having with the baby, “get any ice cream?!”
eustass walked from the kitchen, adjusting the newborn in his arms, “your favorite kind.” he assured, plopping down on the couch beside her, “how’s he doing?”
“great!”
“usually does a good job with mine, too.”
trafalgar wasn’t sure where his list ended up, somewhere in the back of his mind, with crumbled corners and countless revisions.