Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

At first Law didn’t pay it any attention. He dismissed the weird stares the Straw Hats were giving him on their way to Dressrosa, let Nami take his measurements without care, ignored their obvious planning for a huge feast. After all, what reason was there other than suspicion over his intentions with this alliance—rightfully so, Law wasn’t entirely honest with them—preparation for their disguises, and premature excitement for victory.

Oh how wrong he was.

It was the very first night he had spent on their ship that he happened to walk into the kitchen just when Nami and Straw Hat himself were deep into some kind of discussion. He didn’t pay them any mind, since it obviously didn’t matter to them whether he was there for it either, but as much as he didn’t care what they were talking about, it was still impossible not to hear their conversation. 

“What do you mean you don’t want to invite him?” Nami asked, frustration obvious in her voice as she whacked her captain over the head with the pen in her hand. “He saved your life and gave you your hat!”

Straw Hat slumped over the table lifelessly. “I promised not to see him until I became a great pirate,” he mumbled after a moment; there was an adorable pout on his lips, too.

Wait, no. No, Law didn’t just think the idiot was adorable. Absolutely not. Law shook his head, quickly turning away from the scene to head for the kitchen counter. He simply needed to get his coffee and get the hell out before his stressed out brain came up with any more ridiculous thoughts.

Nami sighed behind him. “Men,” she huffed, and he could hear her furiously scratching something out on the paper in front of her. “Fine, who do you want to invite?”

“Vivi.” The answer was immediate. Law wondered who this Vivi was. Maybe a girlfriend? Yeah, right. Why did the idea bother him so much?

“Obviously.” Law could just hear Nami’s eyes rolling back even without looking. “Who else? Your grandpa and dad?”

Straw Hat groaned at that. “I’ve never even met my dad. Grandpa is definitely going to make a scene but yeah, I guess. Also Jinbei and Rayleigh.”

Law wasn’t sure he even wanted to know what this was about. With that line up of people, he felt like he would be dead if he only looked at Straw Hat wrong; whatever the hell this was about, he was definitely going to pass if they decided to ask him to come. And if he knew Straw Hat at all, he was absolutely going to ask him.

“Torao, who do you want to invite beside your crew?” And there it was.

Law sighed, ignoring Straw Hat’s question for a moment in favour of finally pouring himself his goddamn coffee before he slowly turned around to look at the other captain. “Invite to what?”

“The wedding!” Straw Hat said, beaming at Law with eyes full of excitement. Law really hoped he wouldn’t keep looking at him like that or he was going to actually agree.

“What wedding?” Law asked, raising an eyebrow. He hadn’t heard about any weddings.

If at all possible, Straw Hat’s grin widened even more while he gestured between Law and himself. “You know, our wedding! Do you have any family or friends you want there?”

“Oh. No, not really.” Bringing his cup to his lips to take his first sip, Law shrugged, uncaring. After all, his family was long dead and all his friends were on his crew and no one else exactly— “Our what?!” Law cried suddenly, then cursed loudly when his coffee spilled, burning his hand. But that didn’t matter when his brain had finally processed what the hell Straw Hat had just said.

A wedding.

‘Our’ wedding.

“Torao, are you okay?” Straw Hat asked in alarm and shooting up from his chair to run over to him.

Ignoring his burning hand and simply depositing his cup on the counter, he could only stare at Straw Hat with wide eyes. “We’re not getting fucking married,” he said bluntly, incredulous, and maybe a little too loud.

Straw Hat blinked at him, tilting his head to the side and looking at him with those big puppy eyes. As if that would work on Law now of all times. Even if his heart skipped a beat at the sight, he really, really didn’t care right then. Not when Law was closer to cold-blooded, brutal murder than he was to even thinking about kissing that pout away.

“Of course we’re getting married,” Straw Hat started speaking then, deliberately slow as if Law was a child that needed something obvious explained to him. “We made an alliance, didn’t we?”

“So what?” Law hissed.

“That means we’re engaged!” the idiot stated, crossing his arms over his chest decisively as if to signify the discussion was over.

Law felt like he was about to faint. Or burn this entire godforsaken ship to the last godforsaken splinter, complete with it’s godforsaken crew.

“It absolutely does not!!”

And so, the fight over Law’s status as the ‘hottest single in the area’—as Penguin loved to advertise it whenever trying to ‘get Law laid’, much to Law’s neverending annoyance—and, more importantly, the last, sad remains of his sanity began.

Over the course of their travel to Dressrosa, he had tried time and again to make Straw Hat see reason and explain to him that ‘pirate alliance’ did never, under any circumstances, mean ‘engaged’ but to no avail. The stubborn, maddening rubber ball of energy just refused to listen and his crew of idiots didn’t make it any easier for Law either. If anything, they seemed to be only affirming Straw Hat in his ridiculous beliefs with their insistence to continue planning the ‘big day’. Law was half-convinced that they were the ones who put the idea in Straw Hat’s empty head just to fuck with Law in some twisted sort of iniciation to their group but that wasn’t the case in the end, as Law had soon learned the truth was simultaneously better and much worse.

Better, because he didn't actually have to murder all of his allies; worse because Straw Hat's ultimate argument apparently was 'Why would Shanks lie to me? I think you're embarrassed.'

Law never wanted to go against a yonko, not directly at least. He really, honestly didn't. But now it was personal and oh, he was going to enjoy chopping Red Haired goddamned Shanks to tiny little pieces once he found him.

And then he was going to feed those pieces to Straw Hat for good measure.

Ironically, the thought resonated most strongly in his head at the exact same time as when he was the most ready to die. Seriously, everyone in the room at that time was so damn lucky Doflamino had decided to chain him to the heart seat with sea prism stone or else he would have ended everyone and himself right there and then.

When Doflamingo brought up the birdcage, nothing short of dread ran through him. Immediately, he was thirteen again, powerless, hopeless, and broken. Screaming, shivering from the cold that wasn’t there, weak from a sickness long since cured. Alone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about but, Mingo, stay away from Torao!”

Suddenly, a voice tore through the darkness, bringing Law back to reality. Blinking a few times, his vision slowly cleared and Straw Hat’s figure came into focus. He was facing away, standing in front of the Heart seat as if shielding it from something, energy and power radiating off of him. Law didn’t have to see his face to know the man was angry—he was sure everyone in the castle could feel his haki humming in the air.

And then, the quiet, distinctive laughter that Law had come to hate started; at first, a quiet chuckle, then gradually growing louder and louder until it stopped suddenly, only for Doflamingo himself to appear, towering over Straw Hat with that wide, everpresent grin pulling on his lips even while obviously just as angry as his opponent was.

“And you think you can stop me? You think you can keep me from my family?” Doflamingo said, taunting. "How naive of you, Straw Hat."

Straw Hat stood his ground, not moving a single inch and judging by the annoyed twitch on Doflamingo’s face, Law could imagine the look Straw Hat was giving the warlord. It was probably the same one that he gave the world nobles two years ago in that auction house on Sabaody. A glare of pure, quiet rage. ”You won’t touch him,” Straw Hat said then, voice clear and commanding. “He’s not your family anymore! He’s mine now and I’ll kick your ass to hell right now if you don’t back off!”

“I’m not your family, Straw Hat-ya!” Law snapped, baring his teeth at the man even though he couldn’t see him. He might be a little indisposed right now but like hell was he about to let himself be protected. He didn’t need it, didn’t want it. If he was to die, he was perfectly capable of doing so alone.

Now, if only the both of these infuriating assholes stopped ignoring him.

“Straw Hat. You think you’re so much better than me?” Doflamingo started chuckling quietly again. "We're not much different, you and me. You want Law for yourself and want to tame him. Don't you, Straw Hat?"

At that, Straw Hat finally moved, preparing himself for the inevitable fight by moving one leg back and raising his fists. Law was surprised, however, when that was all he did. Instead of throwing the first punch, Straw Hat retorted, "We're nothing alike! You just want to use him and restrain him! Torao is free and he'll be the freest when he’s the Pirate Queen with me!"

Dead silence settled over the room following his statement, only interrupted by Straw Hat himself huffing in satisfaction over his declaration. Everyone else just stared with an open mouth, wondering what the hell had this kid just said.

Law, for one, really fucking hoped he had simply misheard and he did not say he was going to make Law his Pirate Queen.

Baby 5 was the first one to break the silence with a snort but before she could say anything, Law shot her a glare. He had never been more satisfied with how she immediately burst into tears. But, with the spell gone, Doflamingo also started laughing; it was a loud, obnoxious laughter, a rare one full of genuine amusement.

“I guess you really aren’t that little kid anymore. Are you, Law? Getting married to the Pirate King, aiming as high as you can, I see. Joining him as his little Pirate Queen.” Suddenly, the laughter and teasing tone stopped as if it were never there, his gaze turning from Law back to Straw Hat. “Now I definitely need to kill you, Pirate King.”

“Try it, Mingo,” Straw Hat snapped back, steam beginning to raise from his body.

Law had had quite enough.

He turned to the woman Straw Hat brought with him. “Oi, undo these stupid cuffs so I can kill them.”

Viola’s gaze slowly slid to him, and Law could tell she was having trouble holding her laughter inside. Oh, Law was so having a word with everyone in this room and Red Haired. At least Viola didn’t actually say anything and instead started fumbling with the key, struggling to get it into the keyhole without touching the sea prism stone.

Looking away from the only remotely useful person around, Law instead focused back at the fighting morons. “I’m not becoming a goddamned Pirate Queen!”

“You won’t have Law, Straw Hat. You can’t even protect your precious brother’s memento and you think I’d trust you with my family?” Doflamingo drew out after easily avoiding a jet stamp.

“Torao is completely different! And Ace’s fruit is safe!” Straw Hat shouted, throwing a haki enhanced punch this time instead.

Law felt like he was losing grip on his sanity. “Don’t ignore me, you morons! And I told you not to get caught up in his pace, Straw Hat-ya!”

“Now who’s getting caught up in who’s pace?” came a mumble from his side.

“What was that?!” Law hissed, giving Viola a dirty look.

The woman simply shrugged. “Nothing,” she sang innocently while biting her bottom lip to keep a straight face.

Assholes, all of them. Why did he ever think any part of this alliance was a good idea?

Once they got Doflamingo out of the way, Law had thought his moments of mortification were over. After all, who else would Straw Hat babble his big mouth to? And soon, he’d be with his crew and they could help him force the Straw Hats to drop this whole wedding thing and this nightmare would be over. Yet somehow, his expectations were proven wrong once—twice—again.

The first time was while they were still in Dressrosa, recovering after the battle in Kyros’ house. He was too tired to even bother opening his eyes or letting anyone know he was awake when Straw Hat’s brother came in, and it didn’t even really matter to him. It wasn’t like he was that close to Straw Hat or much cared why or how Sabo was alive. He honestly wanted nothing but sleep for the next week but it was impossible while these people were talking so much. But then, when he thought it was finally over and the man was leaving, Law could feel him stop right above him. It didn’t seem like he even moved for a long while, only staring at Law’s face to the point where Law almost wanted to expand the energy to open his eyes and just ask what the hell he wanted.

“By the way, Robin, you still have my Snail number, right?” he asked finally after what felt like an eternity.

“Of course,” Nico answered immediately. “Why do you ask?”

Another moment of silence passed before the revolutionary explained, sounding tired and resigned to his fate, “Call me when the wedding date is settled. I can’t miss it.”

“Oh, you know about it?” Roronoa wondered.

“Yeah, Luffy invited me.” The man sighed deeply before continuing, “I’m happy he found someone important like that.”

Roronoa huffed in amusement at the same time as Robo started laughing. Law wondered what was so funny, maybe hoped this was the moment when they would admit the whole thing was just an elaborate joke, but then Nico spoke up, “Is that why you look like you’re about to crush Torao’s head and turn it into paste?”

“Yes.”

Everyone started laughing again at the simple, firm response and Law’s fingers twitched. He was too tired to deal with this but he didn’t have the stamina or willpower left to create even the smallest room to get the hell away. So instead, he opened his eyes a crack, shooting a tired glare at the man who was standing above him with a cold smile and his hand coated in armament haki and flames.

“Weren’t you leaving?” Law growled, not bothering to even argue about the wedding.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, the flames that engulfed Sabo’s hand growing momentarily before he closed his hand into a fist, making the fire die. Then he turned away without a word and finally headed straight for the door, only pausing to give Law one last look.

“If you ever hurt my baby brother, better believe I will find you, Trafalgar Law.” And then he was gone, leaving Law to deal with the still giggling Straw Hats. He really couldn’t wait to get to Zou and have his crew to back him up.

Except, Law apparently couldn’t have nice things, which brought him to the second time he was proven wrong, the time of complete and utter betrayal. He was honestly starting to think that maybe he should just stop having any expectations of anyone in his life ever again.

He had been so damn happy when he got to leave the ridiculous Going Luffy-senpai, too; happier when he finally set foot on the solid ground of the back of the elephant. And then, he was happier still when he made his way through the forest to his crew. He had missed them; at some point, he stopped believing he’d ever see them again and judging by the way Bepo clung to him, his best friend didn’t think so either. It truly felt like coming home, complete with the scolding over keeping things from them and ‘why did we have to learn about your engagement from the newspaper?’

“Now, look here,” Law started slowly when he finally managed to pry Bepo off of himself. “Who exactly put that idea in your heads?” he asked, voice dangerously low as he looked at his crew’s faces one after the other. None of them looked even remotely ashamed and Law was starting to lose all hope in humanity.

The crewmembers exchanged some looks before Shachi started, “Well at first we thought it was just an alliance—”

“—but then the Straw Hats came and mentioned the wedding—” Penguin continued, followed by Uni,

“—and we realized that actually made sense since, you know…” he trailed off, seemingly looking for the right words.

Ikkaku decided to finish for him after a second, “Since you’ve been crushing hard on Straw Hat for years.” She then looked around the crew for affirmation, getting hums and nods of agreement, and Law’s eye twitched.

He was surrounded by traitors.

Without a word, he turned around to walk away. He wasn’t sure where he was going to go since there were currently two settlements, one here with his crew, while the other was full of Straw Hats and he really didn’t want to deal with either right then. Maybe the Whale, it looked pretty nice up there.

His mind made up, Law set off towards the large tree. Soon, the panicked whispers of his crew were far behind him, Bepo the only one who dared to follow and the only one Law didn’t mind having with him. Yet, Law sent even the polar bear away after a while, Bepo thankfully knowing him well enough to understand, and Law was grateful to him for it. He was so tired. It had been a long two weeks; constantly surrounded by the pure energy that was the Straw Hat crew while simultaneously dealing with the stress of the fight against Doflamingo.

He really just needed a break; a break from people, from the noise, from the heavy weight on his shoulders that still refused to leave even with Doflamingo gone. He wondered if the last one would ever go away. He had thought that with Cora-san avenged, he would be able to breathe easy but now… Now he had to ask himself if it was the right thing to do, the right way to do it, especially after his talk with Sengoku.

He didn’t regret going against Doflamingo, God no. He was happy and relieved and grateful the man was out of his life for good, that he didn’t have to worry about him coming after him anymore. But had he been doing it for Cora-san, or for himself?

Law didn’t know.

Wasn’t sure he would ever know. He could only hope Cora-san was happy about how things turned out in the end

When he finally reached the top of the Whale, Law took a moment to take a deep breath of the fresh air and to appreciate the view. Zou truly was a beautiful, peaceful country—when it wasn’t under attack at least. The rich, green forests, the city in the middle with its elaborate drains and waterways, the view of the sky and clouds, so far above ground… It was like an oasis of calm after years spent in a constant hurricane.

It was so calm in fact that he didn’t even mind not being alone up there.

He didn’t notice at first but with the setting sun reflecting off the straw hat, making it shine like a halo around it’s owner’s head, it was impossible for his eyes not to be drawn to his allied captain. How was it that Straw Hat always appeared when Law needed someone like him the most? It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Hey,” Straw Hat greeted quietly when Law sat down next to him at the very edge of the whale’s tail.

Despite himself, Law felt a small smile tug on his lips. “Hey. What are you doing here?” he asked, honestly curious. Straw Hat was usually at the centre of the happenings, surrounded by people. Moments like this, with him sitting alone and off to the side, quiet and pensive, were incredibly rare and Law… Law didn’t hate those moments. If anything, they drew him to the man even more.

“Just thinking,” Straw Hat replied after a moment before tilting his head at Law with a complicated look on his face. “Also had a feeling you’d come here.”

Law startled, surprised to be seen through so easily. Although, maybe it wasn’t that strange; Straw Hat did seem to have the innate ability to just know. “Wanted to have me for yourself that badly, hm?” Law teased, not letting his true feelings show.

“Yeah!” Straw Hat said, showing that blinding grin of his that made Law’s heart skip a beat every time. “But I also wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“My arm is fine now, but thanks for the concern,” Law said curtly, looking away.

“Liar. It still hurts, doesn’t it?” Law clicked his tongue at the immediate accusation. He wasn’t wrong but it really was fine. Before Law could say anything though, Straw Hat continued, “But that’s not what I meant. Are you okay?”

Blinking a few times, Law glanced back at the other man. Seriously, how the hell did Straw Hat know these things? “You’re so—” Law sighed before looking away again. He couldn’t bear looking into those honest, expressive eyes that were so full of concern right then. “It will take some getting used to, having him out of my life but I’ll be okay.” And he knew he would be. He was relieved, he was happy, and eventually, he would be free of all this, too. He just needed time.

“Okay, but I’m here if you ever want to talk,” Straw Hat said, and Law could basically hear the frown on his face and the small pout on his lips.

Law couldn’t help but laugh at the tone, surprised how easy it was; how light he suddenly was and how natural the smile that spread on his lips felt right then. Straw Hat really was something else. And as much as Law wanted to stay away, to not get attached, it was simply impossible. The man had this natural charm, an easy, warm charisma that pulled you in and was futile to fight once it caught you. It made people gather around him, want to believe in him and support him and Law wasn’t an exception.

He was drawn in like a moth to flame the moment he watched this idiot punch a Celestial Dragon and the more time he spent with him, the worse it was. Now, Law couldn’t imagine what sailing without getting dragged along by Luffy’s whims would be like. Boring and empty for sure.

Man, he truly was a mess.

“By the way, Torao,” Straw Hat spoke up again after a moment, this time sounding almost… shy?

Frowning, Law looked at him questioningly. Straw Hat was chewing on his bottom lip, looking much less sure of himself than Law had ever seen him. “Yeah?” he prompted when it didn’t seem like the other pirate was willing to continue.

Straw Hat took a deep breath, then started speaking quickly as if trying to get everything done and over with as fast as he could. “If you don’t want to get married, we don’t have to. I mean. I really do like you. I like you a lot. But I’m not going to you force you or anything, you know?”

Law couldn’t help it. He laughed, loud and easy and unrestrained. After all this time, after all the fights, after all the planning both their crews had done, after Dressrosa… Now Straw Hat went and said he wasn’t going to force Law into this idiotic marriage idea. Looking so uneasy and unhappy and worried while at it, too. It was just so ridiculous.

As if Law didn’t know Luffy was about the last person who would force people into something they truly, honestly didn’t want to do.

“Yeah, I know,” Law replied finally when his laughter died down, though his voice was still shaking with amusement. Mostly from the offended look Straw Hat was giving him.

“Don’t laugh, I’m serious,” Straw Hat mumbled, that damned pout back on his face. And Law once again found himself wishing he could kiss it away.

Shaking his head to make himself focus, he smirked at his idiot of a companion. “And it didn’t even occur to you to at least ask me on a date first before insisting on marriage?”

“You’re the one who proposed to me!” Straw Hat cried defensively, a deep, unhappy frown replacing the pout, making Law’s smirk only widen.

“I proposed an alliance, I didn’t ask you to marry me,” Law pointed out. “You’re the one who came up with that idea.”

“We’re pirates! It’s the same thing.” Straw Hat huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as if his conviction would make what he said sound any less absurd.

“It’s really not,” Law said matter-of-factly. “Seriously, Straw Hat-ya. Do you believe anything people say to you?”

Straw Hat didn’t reply, simply sticking his tongue out at Law, making him chuckle. This idiot was seriously too cute and Law was so weak to the bright, carefree energy that surrounded him. He knew he was fucked, knew it probably ever since he had decided to go save him from the war. He knew he was doomed to being jerked around by the uncontrollable force of nature that this man next to him was and Law, in all honestly, couldn’t hate the idea.

He truly was fucked, in more ways than one. And he was done fighting it.

Before he could stop himself, Law raised one of his hands to run through Luffy’s hair before pulling him closer, guiding his face towards his own. Judging by the confused look in his eyes, Luffy had absolutely no idea what Law was doing and Law couldn’t help but marvel at the irony. The man who ran around shouting about marriage couldn’t even tell when someone was trying to kiss him. Oh well, Law thought to himself before closing the distance.

Law’s first thought was that Luffy’s lips were surprisingly soft and impossibly warm. Or maybe that was just him, the racing heart in his chest making his body temperature skyrocket. Law didn’t know kissing someone could feel like this. He didn’t know his skin could tingle wherever it touched Luffy’s, that there were butterflies living inside him, that he could feel a hunger for more; more of his touch, more of his warmth, more of him.

Thankfully, despite his initial surprise, it seemed like Luffy felt the same way. When Law tried to pull away, Luffy followed him, refusing to let go and Law didn’t see a reason not to oblige him. After all, what better way to thank someone for saving you from your past and from yourself than giving them as much affection and soft kisses as you could?

Well. If they were Luffy, at least. Anyone else could get a thank you and kindly fuck off.

Law wasn’t sure how long they spent atop the Whale, kissing and simply soaking up each other’s presence, and he sure as hell wasn’t sure when he ended up on his back, Luffy sprawled on top of him and grinning like the idiot he was. Law couldn’t say he was much better in that moment, however. Deciding not to dwell on that for now, he simply hugged Luffy tighter.

The sun was down by then, Zou’s forest and the Whale only illuminated by the moon, yet somehow, Luffy still seemed to glow with warm light that wrapped around Law like a blanket. Maybe it was the hat which always seemed to shine like a beacon at all times, or maybe it was just Luffy’s natural body heat which added to Zou’s warm climate and yeah, maybe Law shouldn’t have insisted on wearing long pants. In his defense, he wasn’t exactly expecting to end up in this situation when he got dressed that morning.

“What are you thinking about?” Luffy asked then, the loopy grin still on his face.

“That for such a short kid, you’re really fucking heavy,” Law retorted, a smirk on his lips that only widened when Luffy huffed in annoyance.

“I’m not short!” he complained.

Law patted his head then, making sure the gesture was as mocking as he could make it. “Sure you’re not,” he teased, loving the way Luffy’s expression twisted in obvious annoyance. He looked like he was about to literally bite Law’s hand and as funny as that was, Law wasn’t about to test that so he quickly let his hand slide down to Luffy’s cheek instead, tilting his face forward and leaning up to give his lips a quick kiss.

Immediately, Luffy melted against him, the fight in him evaporating and leaving only a soft smile behind.

When they separated, Luffy muttered, “Don’t think I’ll let you get away with this.”

“Noted.” Law laughed in response; he was absolutely getting away with this.

“Does this mean you will marry me then?” Luffy asked cheekily and upon seeing the excited stars that were dancing in his eyes at the idea, Law’s answer was clear.

“No.”

Chapter Text

When the two of them finally made their way back down to the Guardian Forest, they were surprised to find both their crews crowding Master Nekomamushi’s house. All of them looked like they were having great fun talking and getting to know each other—except Tony, who just looked like he was losing his mind over Nekomamushi’s refusal to rest—and Law was glad to see them getting along. Even though they were simply in an alliance and didn’t have to be friends, they were about to be stuck together for god knows how long while they prepared for their attack on Kaido.

“Captain, Straw Hat! Welcome back!” Bepo greeted them immediately, always the first to notice.

Law nodded in acknowledgment, handing Kikoku over to the mink to put away. “Did anything happen while we were gone?”

“No, nothing!” Bepo replied, just a little too quickly, too loudly, and obviously trying to shield something from Law’s view with his large, fluffy body.

Law’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Bepo, what—”

“Ohh, those guys look like they’re having fun, I’m gonna check it out!” Straw Hat interrupted before running off towards where Shachi, Clione, Ikkaku, Nami and Nose were sitting huddled together over some papers and obviously deep into a discussion.

Judging by how Bepo’s eyes widened and by his desperate attempt to stop Straw Hat, that was exactly what he didn’t want Law to see. He really had a bad feeling about this. Easily side-stepping the polar bear, Law carefully followed the other captain towards the group.

By the time he made it there, Straw Hat was already a part of the conversation, frowning and tilting his head every which way while he studied the papers Nose had handed to him. Finally, he pointed at something and shook his head with the most unhappy face Law had ever seen.

“I’m not wearing this many frills,” he announced, handing the papers back to his sniper.

Clione and Shachi booed in unison. “But the captain would look awful in it,” Shachi complained.

“I keep telling you—” Ikkaku sighed— “we need a different design, this one’s way too cute.”

“Hey!” Nose cried, obviously offended, making Clione pat his shoulder in a mock-soothing manner.

Nami smirked, however, looking at Nose with an outright evil look in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Kaya will look great in it.”

“Who said— I— Ugh, I hate you,” Nose stuttered, burying his burning face in his hands.

“Girlfriend?” Ikkaku asked Nami curiously, making the evil woman nod and laugh at her crewmate’s growing embarrassment.

Law wasn’t even sure he wanted to know anymore. If it involved him, Straw Hat, frills, and someone’s girlfriend… he was absolutely positive he was not going to like it. And about fifty per cent sure their alliance was about to lose a few people.

That probability jumped up to eighty per cent, though, when everyone except Straw Hat nearly jumped out of their skin upon seeing him approach. “What the hell are you people planning now,” he asked, tired and so very done.

“Nothing!” everyone replied at the same time, looking as guilty as they come and frantically trying to hide the papers from him. As if that had ever worked.

But before he could even try to create a room, his question was answered without fight. “They’re trying to make us wear frilly dresses at our wedding. I hate frills,” Straw Hat announced, huffing to himself for good measure.

“Are they now,” Law drew out, glaring at the culprits. They were looking anywhere but him, looking like they were about to run away in fear and honestly? Good. Not that Law would mind seeing Luffy in a dress but he did hear them talking earlier so he knew they had considered putting him in it. God knows what the hell else they—

Before Law could even finish the thought, Penguin gasped loudly behind him. “Captain, are you two holding hands?!” he cried, sounding way too giddy and excited for someone who was about to be very dead.

As if on cue, everyone within earshot turned around to stare at them, stupid smiles plastered on their faces when they saw Straw Hat’s and Law’s intertwined fingers. Law groaned, rubbing at his eyes in frustration. Just what he needed right now, on top of dealing with this stupid wedding dress thing.

Someone, however, didn’t seem bothered by any of this at all. Straw Hat ignored, or maybe didn’t even notice the stares and giggling; instead he leaned over and pried the paper with the dress sketch from Nose’s hands, staring at it carefully once more before looking up and deciding, “I think Torao should wear it.” He sounded so proud of himself when he gave Law that beautiful, bright grin of his, too.

Yep. This alliance was now one hundred per cent a few people and a captain short.

Chapter Text

Swirling the wine in her glass as she watched people laugh and dance all around her, Nami couldn’t help but think back to when it all first started and marvel at the fact that any of this was seriously happening. When the crew had quietly and collectively decided to indulge Luffy in his ridiculous beliefs just for the hell of it, she really didn’t expect it to go quite this far.

“Did you guys ever think this was actually going to go through?” she asked her companions, the wonder and disbelief in her voice obvious even to herself.

“Not once,” Usopp answered firmly without missing a beat.

Robin nodded as well, chuckling quietly as she agreed, “Me either. But it is quite nice.”

“I’m not saying it’s not, I’m just—” Nami paused, looking for the right words— “shocked that our little joke got this big.” She gestured vaguely around the party area, making her two crewmates laugh.

“Right?” Usopp agreed, voice shaking with amusement. “Like when I remember the first few times when the wedding was mentioned in front of Torao…” Usopp trailed off, bursting out in loud laughter almost as if he could see Torao’s expression of pure horror right then.

A smile on her face, Robin hummed and wondered out loud, “Perhaps we should have seen it coming.”

Nami stared at Robin’s profile, dead serious when she replied, “Okay, I know they were obvious but did you actually think they would get married?”

“Technically, they’re not getting married. It’s not like they can make it official with the government seal or anything,” Robin pointed out, the corner of her mouth twitching in a failed attempt to look just as serious as Nami did.

“Robin, this is a literal wedding,” Nami deadpanned, which only made all three of them start laughing again only a second later.

Honestly, this whole thing was so ridiculous.

It felt like yesterday when, just before they had arrived in Dressrosa for the first time, her and Zoro had joked about and plotted how to drive Law even more crazy with their ‘plans.’ Now, here they were, drinking and laughing and having fun at the very same wedding which used to simply be an incredibly funny and easy way to piss Law off. Hell, even though the wedding itself had been small, these two went so far with the post-celebration as to hijack the entire Sabaody Park, then they made their respective grandfathers go around to pick up all the people they wanted there, starting with Luffy’s  family of mountain bandits and his friend Makino, and ending with the current Fleet Admiral—Nami had to wonder what kind of blackmail Sengoku had used to actually convince Smokey to come. And then they basically kidnapped Zeff, Lola, Chiffon, and Pudding to help make all the yummy food and sweets. Honestly, Nami was kind of surprised they didn’t ask her to get the newspapers to print their wedding announcement just because.

Still, she was so incredibly happy for these two love-sick idiots; they truly deserved each other.

They were also just too cute when they bickered over Luffy scarfing down the entire wedding cake, and cuter still when Luffy grinned and offered Torao a piece from his own plate. Torao visibly melted at that, a warm, happy expression on his face even while he ‘absolutely refused’ to share food and cutlery with anyone, Pirate King included, and ‘no, don’t give me that face, I said no—’.

It was exactly the same scene as she had witnessed countless times over the years of this marria— alliance. Maybe Robin was right; they should have seen this coming.

“Do you think Luffy actually believed the alliance-marriage thing or do you think he was doing it on purpose?” Usopp asked suddenly with genuine wonder.

Nami paused, turning to stare at Luffy’s face where he laughed while pressing a messy kiss to Torao’s cheek and Nami… Nami couldn’t say either way.

“I don’t know,” she said finally, a smile tugging on her lips.

She truly didn’t know; she had spent five years with Luffy, yet he still surprised her time and again with both his stupidity and his ability to just understand everyone. She could never tell with him whether he actually knew what he was doing or if it was plain, dumb luck. But well, as the result was the same either way, she supposed it didn’t really matter in the end.

She was a little sad about having to say goodbye to the marriage jokes but as long as the two were happy, she was okay with that.

In any case, the face Torao would make when they start calling him the Pirate Queen everywhere starting tomorrow, including his wanted poster—courtesy of a single Snail call to one Admiral Coby and few tiny bribes—was going to be so worth the loss.