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Monkey D. Luffy loved the holiday season.
In his opinion, there was nothing better than this time of the year. Christmas – which was Luffy’s favourite holiday – was only a few weeks away, and he absolutely couldn’t wait to spend it with his loved ones. Luffy valued and cherished so much of what the holiday season stood for, almost as if it were a reflection of his own personality. He radiated joy and happiness, encouraged the idea of togetherness and friendship, and was undoubtedly one of the most positive people in the world. Not only that, but he adored all kinds of festive activities and loved getting into the holiday spirit! Luffy couldn’t sing worth a lick, but carolled with his friends at every opportunity he could! Picking out a tree, constructing a gingerbread house, wrapping presents, putting up decorations… oh, and the food! Honey-glazed ham and juicy turkey legs, creamy mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, chocolate putting and rum cake…
Yeah, Christmas was the best!
This year there was even more excitement usual, as it was Luffy’s turn hosting the Monkey Family Christmas Party.
It had somewhat started back when he was a kid. Growing up without a mother, and with a father who was often out of the country for work, Luffy’s primary carer was his grandfather Monkey D. Garp. The old man was ex-military and slightly strict on Luffy and his brothers Ace and Sabo during their upbringing, but he’d throw almost all his rules out the window when it came to Christmas. He always stressed about the importance of family, gratefulness, and togetherness, especially during the holidays.
Luffy had so many fond memories of Christmas because of his grandfather. He remembered waking up on Christmas morning with excitement pumping through his veins as he and Ace and Sabo wrestled each other to get to their presents first, where his grandfather would be waiting for them dressed appropriately in red suit and glue-on white beard as Santa Clause. His deep and booming greeting of “ho-ho-ho!” would leave the children cheering and tackling his legs in a group hug before they’d be handed out their presents, where they’d tear off the wrapping and play for hours on end.
But the tradition truly began when Luffy was in high school. Luffy had a very tight-knit group of friends, and they had done almost everything together. So, he was a little upset when Christmas time came around, because it meant they’d all be apart since they’d be spending the holidays with their families. That’s when he found out that none of them actually celebrated. Zoro and Ussop didn’t have family to spend it with so were going to try and find part-time jobs like shovelling snow or selling trees. Nami’s sister was serving in the military, and wouldn’t be home for Christmas so she had no plans. Sanji had been emancipated from his family and wasn’t on speaking terms with them and definitely wasn’t going to go back to his home town to see them. And Chopper – the youngest of their group – had the audacity to say that since he’d be home alone he’d probably just study for their final exams over the break.
Luffy could hardly believe his ears.
He had decided right then and there that he was going to fix it. Rushing back home after school that day, Luffy had explained to his grandfather the situation his friends were in, and that he wanted to throw them a Christmas party. He didn’t want them to ever be alone on Christmas, and they would always be welcome at the Monkey D. household.
Garp had enthusiastically given his blessing for the party and so Luffy – enlisting in the help of his brothers – began operation ‘Best Christmas Ever’. It had been a mad scramble to get the house ready, but had been totally worth it when saw the look of wonder and bewilderment on his friend’s faces as they took it all in. They had laughed and cheered so loudly with excitement at the sight of the brightly decorated house and the feast that laid on the dining room table and the presents under the tree and just… well, everything! Ever since that first party, Garp’s home was even more filled with life come the holidays.
Truly the place-to-be for the best Christmas ever.
As Luffy’s friendship and family circles grew, it became the standard for the Monkey Family to host Christmas. Now, with all three boys out of Garp’s home, they made plans for it be held a different house every year. Last year it had been at Ace’s, and the year before had been Sabo, and now it was Luffy’s turn.
And he was going to turn it out.
“What are you thinking about Luffy-ya?”
Luffy’s thoughts were broken by a familiar voice. He turned his head to the doorway of their living room where his partner of three years, Trafalgar Law, was standing, watching him with an amused expression on his face. In his tattooed hands were two steaming mugs of what Luffy imagined was coffee for Law and what he hoped was hot chocolate for him.
“Come here and I’ll tell you!” Luffy said, tapping the cushion on the couch he was sat, scotching over when Law got closer. He carefully handed Luffy one of the mugs – ohh hot chocolate and mini-marshmallows! Score! – before sitting down beside him. “Torao knows exactly what I like! Thank you!” Luffy said fondly, calling him by his nickname. He pecked his lover on the cheek and took a little sip of the warm, sweet liquid. It didn’t miss his attention how Law’s expression became bashful, and a small dusting of pink started creeping its way up his slender neck.
Luffy chuckled, taking another sip before putting the mug down on the coffee table and turning to Law. “I’m thinking about our Christmas party,” He told Law, who made a sound of understanding. It wasn’t the first time the couple would be spending a Christmas together, but it was the first they’d be planning and hosting the entire gathering. There was a lot to take into consideration, especially the catering aspect. Law was a fairly picky eater and Luffy burned almost everything he touched, so they’d need to really plan that carefully. “It’s going to be awesome! I know it’s going to be a big job, but if we work together we can do it right?”
Law smiled. “I’ve never seen you so prepared. I kind of like this organised side of you,” He teased, bending forward to give Luffy a soft kiss on the forehead. “Of course I’ll help you. You know I’ve got your back.”
Luffy giggled again, snuggling up to his partner, mind already racing with how great this Christmas was going to be.
-
There was something… wrong.
Luffy didn’t notice at first. He wasn’t the most observant person, especially when his mind was already fixated on a particular idea which was – in this case – planning for his party. But then little issues started cropping up, and a worrying pattern emerged which had him thinking that perhaps not everything was right between him and Law.
Which should have been ridiculous notion straight off the bat, because he and Law had been a completely committed and dedicated couple for years now. Not once had Luffy doubted their relationship. Even when they faced more difficult situations – like Law’s ungodly hours at work or Luffy’s obsessive ex-girlfriend refusing to leave them alone – they became stronger, dealing with the issues and overcoming them together. Whatever arguments they may have had were solved within a matter of minutes, they spent a healthy amount of time together and apart, they had bought a home, and their romantic life was great.
Now though… Law was distant. Luffy could kind of compare it to whenever Law returned from a shift at the hospital, which was a highly stressful career. Some days, Law would return from work looking like a zombie from how draining and tiring the day was and usually, he would need space to recharge. For him, that meant he liked to be alone to process his thoughts and feelings before sharing them with others. Luffy had gotten used to giving his partner some breathing room when that kind of thing happened, before gently coaxing him back to his old self by making him a coffee or giving him a massage or smothering him in blankets to keep him warm and safe and protected. Eventually after some much-needed pampering, the life would return to Law’s grey-golden eyes, and everything would go back to normal. He’d talk to Luffy about his day, they’d cuddle while watching a film… it would be fine.
The way Law had been acting the past few days was similar to that bones-deep exhaustion, except there was something off in his demeanour. He was acting strangely. Like he was nervous? Or anxious about something? Luffy had no idea what exactly it was, and any time he tried to address it, Law would brush it off almost immediately. He just couldn’t understand what was going on, and that was both confusing and frustrating.
Why was this happening?
Jeez, this was stupid. Luffy knew he shouldn’t be worried, but he couldn’t help it. He cared so much for the people in his life; each and every one of them had a place in his heart, little treasures that he valued more than all the world’s riches. His family always had his back, and his friends were his rocks, always providing him with strength and support. And Law was his special guy, the man who had stolen his heart and swept him off of his feet all those years ago. He was the most important person in the entire world for Luffy, didn’t he know that?
Luffy sighed to himself, shaking his head at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and trying to push these worrying thoughts out of his head. He just had to have faith that Law would approach him on his own, when he was ready. For now, he was going to continue being as supportive as he could from afar. Plus, there was a lot to do today, since the Christmas party was in a week! For one, Luffy was picking out a tree in the morning – he wanted to be there bright and early to get the biggest one he could – and then he’d be going out to lunch with Vivi, a friend he hadn’t seen in years, before putting his decorating plan into action for the home.
Ah, seeing Vivi was going to be awesome! As the daughter of an important government leader, she rarely stayed in one place at a time, always travelling to help her father with his political career whilst simultaneously building up her own. It was a treat that she was going to visit, though unfortunate that she wouldn’t be staying for Christmas. She was even bringing along her fiancé, a world-famous doctor who had written papers on new medical practice. Law had always wanted to meet him, having studied his work since he had been in med school, so Luffy had asked Vivi to bring him along for lunch.
Smiling to himself, Luffy left the bathroom and bounded down the stairs to grab his scarf and coat, both gifts from Law a few Christmas’s back. They were soft and warm, and filled Luffy with a feeling of love and care, which he needed now more than ever. Making sure to slip on his fuzzy earmuffs and to grab his phone and keys, Luffy was ready to leave the house and start what he hoped would be a good day.
-
After purchasing the Christmas tree – and managing the nab the best one right in the nick of time – and paying for it to be delivered to his house, Luffy checked his phone and saw it was almost time to meet up with Vivi. He decided that he’d pick up Law on the way, since the hospital was enroute to the restaurant. Adjusting his ear muffs and scarf, Luffy made his way down the street, excited to see his partner despite the doubts and worries he had about the way he’d been acting. Law would come around, Luffy was sure of it.
Walking into the hospital lobby, Luffy waved towards the front desk. He had become well-acquainted with most of the staff now, thanks to Law. Some of them would be coming to the Christmas party too, like the two currently at the desk – Penguin and Bepo.
“Hey Luffy, what are you up to today?” Penguin said with a smile, beckoning the man to the side of the desk so they could chat quickly.
“I’m picking up Law for lunch,” Luffy replied happily. “My friend Vivi is finally in town, and I’ve organised for them to meet.”
“That sound great Luffy, but uh… Law’s not working today. Did you get the day mixed up?” Penguin asked, cocking his head to the side,
Luffy paused for a moment, puzzled. Huh… That couldn’t be right. Law didn’t tell him he was taking any days off, and they both knew that the lunch with Vivi was today. He should be here. “…Are you sure?” He asked the two.
Bepo smiled at him apologetically, nodding. “Yeah, he called in last week to admin. Sorry you came all this way in the snow Luffy, I hope you were warm enough.”
“Do you know where he is?” Luffy asked, his throat feeling tight.
Both Penguin and Bepo shook their heads. Bepo offered to call but Luffy could do that anyway, so he quickly said his goodbyes and left the hospital in a flurry of confusion.
Luffy’s heart was pounding and his breath was coming out in little puffs in the air in front of him as he hurried down the street, putting some space between him and the hospital while scrambling to get his phone out of his pocket. He took off one of his gloves and dialled Law’s number, putting the phone to his ear and waiting for the pick-up tone. Maybe Law thought since he was taking a long lunch he deserved a day off too? No, no, that wasn’t like him at all to just not show up for work. He rarely ever just called in, since he did love his job despite the complications. Okay so if not that… maybe it was an emergency? But then Luffy would have been contacted since he was Law’s emergency number. And Bepo had said he called in just this week, meaning it had been a planned leave and not something spur-of-the-moment, right?
This is Trafalgar Law’s phone. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you. *BEEP*
Luffy hung up without leaving a message and called again, hoping he’d pick up this time.
This is Trafalgar Law’s phone. Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you. *BEEP*
Not the second time either. What the hell?
“Don’t do this to me Law,” Luffy mumbled to himself, quickly sending through a few text messages instead. He waited a few minutes, hoping for a reply, but impatience won out and he tried calling again.
This time, he got a different message.
The person you are trying to call is unavailable. Please try again later. *BEEP*
Luffy stared at the device in his hand in disbelief.
Law had turned off his phone.
Law never, never turned off his phone. He always kept it close at hand in addition to his pager, in case he was needed at the hospital.
That meant that Law had to have seen his calls to let them go to voicemail and instead of responding, decided to cut Luffy off completely.
Shoving his phone back into his pocket, Luffy took a few shuddering breaths to calm the shakiness he felt over his body, clenching his hands into fists by his side. How could Law do this to him? It hurt, his actions these past few days cutting through Luffy like a knife. He was being ignored and dismissed and lied to and it pissed him off. He had tried being patient, tried to be understanding – but how could he be that way anymore if Law was playing dirty? Not only that, but Luffy had really wanted Law to meet Vivi. She was one of the closest people too him despite the distance, and he loved her like a sister. Law knew how Luffy valued his friendships. He knew so why… why…?
Luffy swallowed thickly, using the back of his hand to wipe the mist from his eyes. He needed to think, but now wasn’t the time. He was going to meet Vivi and her fiancé, they were going to eat a good meal, and tonight – when Law got back from wherever he was – Luffy was going to confront him face-to-face.
This had gone on long enough.
-
Law didn’t come home until after dinnertime, and Luffy was still pissed off. He had tried to distract himself all day after lunch with Vivi, but his mind would continuously wander, putting him back into a sour mood. Being alone in the home didn’t help much either, but Luffy hadn’t wanted to miss Law’s arrival. In the meantime he tried to distract himself by putting up the Christmas decorations for the house, though there was no joy or excitement involved in the activity. The result was a haphazardly decorated living room. The garlands were lopsided, the stockings were inside out, the tinsel was hanging onto the ceiling for dear life with just one piece of tape on the edge… it was a pathetic attempt at Christmas.
Luffy was in the middle of pulling out the baubles from the cardboard storage box when he finally heard the front door open, his head whipping over at the sound. There was shuffling – presumably Law taking off his shoes and coat and closing the door behind him – before his partner finally appeared into the entryway of the living room. He froze when he saw Luffy, his cheeks tinged with pink – from the chill or from embarrassment, Luffy didn’t know.
The silence between them was tense, and colder than the snow outside.
Luffy decided to break it, clutching a smiling Santa Clause ornament as he stood up from his kneeled position on the ground. “Where were you today?” He asked, skipping over the greeting. Law’s throat bobbed as he swallowed thickly, and he averted his eyes. Luffy’s grip on the bauble tightened. “Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
“I’m sorry Luffy-ya,” Law said softly. “I just was… I was busy.”
“Doing what?” Luffy asked with a huff. “Because you weren’t at work when I went to pick you up for lunch. We were supposed to meet Vivi today before she leaves tonight! She even brought her fiancé because you wanted to meet him, he flew in all the way from the other side of the country! I was totally embarrassed that you didn’t show up!”
Law’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, genuine shock on his face. “That was today? Oh, gods, Luffy, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot!”
“You know how much she means to me! How excited I was to introduce you, after so many missed opportunities!” Luffy shouted. “It would be one thing if you forgot but I sent you text after text and you didn’t reply! And when I tried to call you, you turned off your phone. Why would you do that to me? What are you trying to hide, Law!?”
CRACK!
The increased pressure of Luffy’s grip on the bauble as he let out his feelings caused it to pop and crack in his hand. Pieces of shattered plastic pinged onto the floor, littering it with glitter, and Law immediately strode forward to inspect the damage. “Luffy!” Law exclaimed, reaching out for the man’s hand.
Luffy pulled it back from the hold, lifting up his palm as a gesture for Law to stop. “I’m fine. Don’t touch me right now,” He said, glancing down at the skin of his hand which was thankfully intact. He let out a shaky sigh, trying to gather his thoughts before staring back into Law’s worried eyes.
Oh, what are you hiding from me, Torao?
“Luffy-ya,” Law said softly. “I…I shouldn’t have done what I did to you today. It was wrong, and I am sorry. But I just… I can’t tell you where I was okay? Not yet, anyway.”
Luffy was silent, trying to comprehend Law’s explanation. He sounded sincere, and he had never given Luffy a reason not to trust him in the past… but his actions today had really cut deep. And the fact that he still wasn’t willing to share where he was and why this had happened… it meant that they couldn’t really come to a proper resolution.
“Why?” Luffy persisted, feeling his bottom lip quiver. “What’s so important that you have to keep it a secret? That you had to treat me that way?”
Law’s eyebrows furrowed into concern, and once again he averted his eyes from Luffy’s gaze. Luffy hoped, prayed, that Law would just give in and provide some sort of explanation for this kerfuffle…
But Law was silent, shaking his head slowly.
It was another knife through Luffy’s heart.
Slumping down onto the couch, Luffy hunched over and put his head in his hands. He wasn’t crying – not yet, though the tears were threatening to burst any second now. Law hovered close by. Luffy could feel the ghost of Law’s fingers over his shoulder, wanting to provide comfort but hesitant to do so after Luffy had already rejected his touch.
“Alright.” Luffy finally said, sitting up straight as he made a decision on which direction he was going to take. “I think… We need to be apart. I’m going to stay at Ace’s for a few days.”
“Luffy-” Law started to say.
“No. If you don’t want to tell me, it’s your business. It’s fine.” Luffy interrupted. “But that doesn’t mean I have to deal with being treated this way because of it. Especially now. Christmas is important to me, and I’m not going to let this ruin out party. Although… it kind of feels like it already is.” Luffy said sadly as he glanced around the living room. The brightly coloured lights and tinsel and sparkles seemed to mock him, now. “I’m going to sleep at Ace’s, and I’ll come back here during the day to decorate. You can help if you want, but until you tell me what’s going on, I won’t be speaking to you unless it’s about planning for the party.”
“Please stay Luffy-ya, it’s nothing bad, I promise,” Law said, dropping to his knees in front of Luffy on the couch.
“I don’t want to hear that. Give me the full story, or none at all.” Luffy replied, the final chance for Law to redeem himself after the way he had acted today.
Law, once again, bit his lip and turned away.
Luffy nodded, knowing that there was nothing more to do. He didn’t want to argue with Law, but if they stayed together he knew they’d be going down that path. Law was well within his right not to explain himself; and Luffy was well within his right to request some space.
“I’m going to pack a bag.” Luffy said with a sigh, standing up from the couch, feeling more tired than he’d ever been in his life. It hurt to see how Law’s face crumpled, knowing that nothing he could say – except for the truth that he was concealing – could stop Luffy from leaving. “See you around.”
Luffy didn’t know how he managed to do it. He made his way up the stairs, trying to shut out Law’s final plea to stay with him as he fished out a backpack and shoved some essentials in there. He barely made it out the door before the tears started to leak from his eyes, streaming down his face as he closed the door of the car. Luffy didn’t even bother calling Ace – he knew his brother would take him in no matter what was going on, and so started the engine and drove off.
He didn’t look back in the rear-view mirror, but he knew that Law was watching him slowly disappear into the distance.
-
Christmas Day had arrived, but now with the usual excitement and cheer Luffy had grown accustomed to over the years. Instead, it felt sombre. Luffy and Law had had very little interaction in the past week, other than when Luffy returned home to plan for the party. He had been very firm in shutting down Law’s attempts to speak to him, stressing that the only thing he wanted to hear was the truth and nothing but. Predictably, Law was still silent on that front.
That being said, Luffy still managed to successful transform his home into a magnificent spectacle inside and out. The inflatable snowman he had ordered came in just in time, and was currently towering over the front porch. There were a few LED projectors that made shapes of bells and holly against the walls, and could even be in sync with music that Luffy played from his phone. The lights that adorned the exterior were wrapped around trees and railings and went all the way up to the roof where a model Santa and his reindeer were driving a sleigh.
The inside was gorgeous too, with fake snow and a smoke projector giving a wintery feel even indoors. And the tree was most definitely the stand-out of the entire room, set proudly in the corner of the room with a new, sparkly star on top. Gifts had been sent to the house in advance from their friends, and Luffy had organised the dozens of presents in a stack next to the tree, fighting the urge to open some of them up and seeing what his friends had gotten himself and each other. The dining room had been emptied to allow the caterers that Law had hired to work their magic, with an entire long table set with platters of food, some of which was still coming hot out of the oven.
“You did such a good job with this Luffy,” Law whispered to him, as they took in the beautiful sight of their decorated home.
Internally, Luffy was gushing at the compliment. He wanted to express his happiness, to smile at his partner and hug him tightly and kiss him gently – but he couldn’t, not when there was still this wall between them that needed breaking. Instead, he mustered a polite ‘thanks, you too’, before leaving the room to change into more festive attire. Soon, the house would be filled with people, and Luffy would ride the coattails of their joy – that was all he could focus on, at the moment.
Groups of Luffy’s and Law’s friends began showing up shortly after he had gotten changed into a red, green, and white knitted jumper. Unlike with Law, Luffy’s face broke into a huge smile when he greeted Zoro and Sanji at the door, jumping into the couple’s arms for a big hug and nearly toppling over the dessert trays that the latter had whipped up for the occasion. More people trickled in shortly after; Ace and Marco; Nami, Chopper, and Ussop; Penguin, Shachi, Bepo, and others from the hospital; Franky and Robin; Jinbe and Brook; Sabo and Koala; Luffy’s father Dragon and grandfather Garp, Law’s adoptive father Cora and the man’s brother Doflamingo, who had brought along his partner Crocodile.
Just to name a few.
The party was well and truly in full swing now, with wine being passed around and music playing softly on the stereos that lined the walls. Save for some stank eye that Luffy noticed Ace giving Law – not quite knowing the full story of why his brother had sought out sanctuary in the home he shared with his partner Marco – everything was going wonderfully. Luffy even got up and danced with his friends, unable to resist the upbeat Christmas tunes that he adored so much. Distracting himself like this was definitely working, though his eyes did wander to where Law was chatting in the corner with his uncle and father quietly. It seemed like Cora and Doflamingo were bickering – which wasn’t anything new considering they were brothers and Luffy could attest to how normal that was – but the not-so-subtle gestures that were being made in his direction was a little weird.
Luffy stopped dancing, deciding to take a break and grab a drink, curiously watching Law from the other side of the room. Eventually, the discussion ended and Law left, walking out of the living room in a hurry. Luffy heard the front door open and close, and instantly that sent warning bells in his head.
Was Law leaving the party?
Luffy downed his drink quickly and made a beeline for the front of the house, weaving through the bodies of his friends and families to see what was going on. He almost crashed out of the house, expecting Law to be halfway down the driveway by now. Instead, the man was leaning against the front porch, and clearly surprised by the racket Luffy had made as he jumped up and knocked his below into one of the support beams, dropping a packet of cigarettes onto the snow-covered deck.
“Luffy-ya,” Law said with a wince, a hand covering his chest while his other clutched his elbow. “You startled me!”
“Sorry, sorry!” Luffy apologised, closing the front door behind him and stepping out into the cold. “I just saw you run out here and you didn’t have a coat and I was worried!”
Law – despite his wince – managed a small smile. “You’re very sweet, Luffy-ya. Everything is okay. I just didn’t expect to be followed.” He replied.
Luffy sighed, scratching the back of his head and glancing down at the cigarette packet. He bent down to pick it up, dusting off some residue snow before offering it to Law. “You… sure? Because you don’t smoke when everything is okay.” Luffy commented, feeling as though he was treading on ice. He had had enough of having his concerns be dismissed by Law, and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to take another rejection from the man he loved.
Law took it gratefully, staring at the pack before sighing and putting it to the side. “You’re right Luffy-ya. I’m not okay, and it’s my fault.” He said. “We need to talk.”
“Not now. The party’s still going on.” Luffy said, pointing back at the house with his thumb, starting to feel a bit of a chill from the cool winter air. He was wearing a fuzzy knitted jumper but he could really do with a coat and some gloves. Unlike Law, who had – in the words of Led Zeppelin – come from a land of ice and snow from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow, Luffy didn’t handle the cold very well.
“It can’t, because I believe I’ve royally screwed things up between us Luffy-ya,” Law said with a slight shake of his head.
“You haven’t Law we’re just… it’s a little complicated right now okay?” Luffy told him gently, reaching for the doorknob. “But now’s not the time. Why don’t you put it out of your mind for now and come join the party?”
“They shouldn’t be complicated at all,” Law said softly, glancing up at Luffy bashfully. “And that’s on me. Because I did something really, really stupid last week.”
Luffy fingers froze on the doorknob, right before he was about to twist it open. Last week… Was Law referring to that awful day where he had stood up Luffy and Vivi and then ignored his texts and calls?
Should he take the bait or go back inside to the party?
Curiosity won out. Luffy released the knob and wrapped his arms around himself, shoulders shuddering from the cold. “Alright. I’m listening. What did you do?” Luffy said, finally about to hear the truth of what happened that day.
Law reached for Luffy’s hand, taking it and leading him to the steps on the porch. They sat down beside each other, Luffy instinctively huddling up close to absorb some of the warmth radiating from Law’s body. It was peaceful. The music from inside was pleasantly dull, and the snow was dancing in front of them so beautifully, catching the lights of the outdoor decorations that Luffy had put up. The giant inflatable snowman was watching over them, his smile encouraging and full of promise.
“I don’t know if you remember this Luffy, but you told me something a few months ago that’s stuck with me since,” Law started saying, wrapping an arm around Luffy’s shoulder. “It was the first time you had brought up that we’d be hosting Christmas. I was a little concerned – you know I’m not so great with crowds, even if they are people we know – but you talking about it put me at ease because you knew exactly what you wanted to do. You told me about how the tradition started, how each year was always better than the last because of the new friends you had made, how you loved everything about the season. A lot of this, I knew. But then as you were falling asleep you said… you said that the Christmas party where we met was the most special one of all. Do you remember that?”
Luffy frowned, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t, but I do remember the party. It was at Shakky’s right? The bar?”
“Yeah. You knew the owner of the bar and I was dragged their by co-workers, we both had a mutual friend in Zoro. Kind of a chance meeting.” Law continued. “As I was saying, you were half asleep when you told me that that party was the most special one of all. And I was shocked, because that was a cramped and crappy little bar that had one measly wreath for decoration and no music or proper heating. How could that be better than the amazing Christmas we had at Ace’s the year before? Or Sabo’s the year before that?” Law smiled fondly, glancing down at Luffy with bright eyes. “I asked you, as you were drifting off to sleep. And you said that it was the most special because you had met the person you were going to spend the rest of your life with, and that was better than all Christmases you had experienced combined.”
Luffy’s eyes widened slightly as Law bit his lip, hesitating before continuing his story.
“I didn’t sleep that night. I was too happy. We’ve never spoken about the future before, but it seems that we both had in our minds that we were each other’s future. And while I was touched that you considered that to be your best Christmas, I couldn’t help but think about how crappy a lot of that night was. The beer ran out, the snacks ran out, there were no decorations, we were surrounded by drunk strangers, and there was a fight between that red-headed guy and that weird blonde man who walked around asking people for money in exchange for fortunes. It just… made me feel guilty. Especially since you also got punched in the face and still had that bruise when we went on our first date that week.”
“Jaggy and I are friends now, it’s alright,” Luffy mumbled, huddling up closer to Law.
“Still, I felt bad. So I decided that I wanted to make this year extra special since we were the hosting house. It’s actually… something I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but the timing was never right. Christmas would have been perfect.”
“What’s the surprise?” Luffy whispered.
Law smiled, peeling himself off of Luffy and reaching into his shirt. He brought out a small box, covered in red velvet and trimmed with gold. Law recognised the logo on the top for a jeweller not too far from their home-
Luffy realised it before Law had the box open, revealing the two silver bands that lay within. “You were… going to propose?” He asked in surprise.
Law nodded, picking out one of the bands and twisting it in his fingers. “I went out the next day to order the rings as was told they’d be ready in a week. For some reason, they didn’t process my order correctly and they didn’t come in until last week. That’s… why I’ve been so weird lately. I was worrying about the order and whether or not the delay was a sign that this wasn’t the right time – northern cultural suspicions getting the best of me, you know how it is up there. Not only that, but I wanted them to be ready before I met up with your father and told him of my intentions, to show him that I was serious about asking you to marry me. I know how methodical your father is, and I suspect he’d have bad impression if I didn’t show up with the rings. Unfortunately, the only day that was free was…”
“The day we were supposed to have lunch with Vivi…” Luffy finished.
Law winced, nodding. “I really did forget, but I feel terrible that I missed out. I was so worried about the rings and stressed about how the conversation with your father would go. And when I told my dad he told my uncle who of course wanted to be there because he just has to stick his nose in everyone’s business, and then my father said I should invite your grandfather too, out of respect. It was stressful, so I took the day off in advance, booked a restaurant and then… avoided you. I didn’t want you to find out about the ring, and I certainly didn’t want to let it slip that I was with your family telling them that I was going to propose. That’s why I turned off my phone – because I was so tempted to just blurt it all out. But the only thing running through my head was that I had to keep it a secret, that I couldn’t ruin the surprise before the party, that it would be so much more special if I proposed to you in a place you associated with love and happiness, surrounded by your friends and family. In doing that though… I worried you and pushed you away. And then by chance I missed out on lunch with Vivi and that seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. In the blink of an eye, I had ruined your favourite holiday.” Law looked away, slightly embarrassed. “Um, that’s part of the reason why I came out here to smoke. I started to get stressed again after my uncle and father approached me inside. I hadn’t told them we were arguing, and they basically gave me a tongue lashing when I explained everything.”
“Oh my god,” Luffy breathed. “You… Torao, you really…” A huge grin broke out on his face, eyes misting over with tears as he leapt up to give Law a hug. Law didn’t grab onto the railing in time and was pushed back, the two of them tumbling down the porch and into a pile of snow by the bottom step, with Law landing with a huff on his back and Luffy lying on top of him, arms wrapped tightly around his middle. “You really can be an idiot Torao!” Luffy said with a laugh.
“I’m glad you find this amusing,” Law groaned, trying to sit up with Luffy latched onto him like a monkey while still clutching the silver band. “But you are right. I was an idiot, and I’m sorry that I put you through that hell last week.”
“Torao, I forgive you,” Luffy told him, snuggling into his chest. He glanced up at Law, sticking his tongue out. “Well, almost. But I’ll tell you how you can make it up to me when we’re alone tonight, shishishi.”
Law chuckled, hugging Luffy back tightly. “Duly noted,” he replied, his eyes slipping shut for a moment. “Oh, and I’m also sorry that I ruined your surprise. I think that’s a loss for both of us, since I was looking forward to it too.”
Luffy unwrapped his arms from Law’s middle, sitting back in a kneeled position face-to-face with his partner. “Surprise or not, it’s still Christmas isn’t it?” Luffy said. “It’s still that special day you want to propose to me right?”
“It is…” Law mused.
“So? What are you waiting for?” Luffy asked with a grin, scrambling to his feet. “Get on your knees already!”
Law’s face burst into a smile, and he picked himself off of the floor to drop down on one knee, holding the silver band in his fingers up in offering to the man he loved. “Monkey D. Luffy, will you marry me?”
Tears slipped down Luffy’s face again, but this time out of joy. He felt lighter than a feather, lighter than snow, and happier than he’d ever been in his entire life. “Oh of course I will, silly Torao!” Luffy said with excitement, sticking out his hand for Law to slip the ring on. It was a perfect fit, nestled nicely on his finger as if it belonged there his entire life. Luffy admired the band for a moment, awestruck at the beauty of the simple ring, the little diamantes that circled around its perimeter twinkling with every twist of his hand.
Gently, he cupped Law’s face, leaning down to see that he too was misty-eyed. “I think it’s about time you kiss me, Torao,” Luffy whispered, pressing his forehead against Law’s.
“Your wish is my command, Luffy-ya,” Law whispered back, closing the space between them and locking their lips together in their first kiss in over a week. Kissing Law felt like home – it was where Luffy’s world made sense, where the pain and doubt of last week was erased entirely, and replaced with nothing but love. Oh Luffy was definitely going to make sure Law would pay for what had happened. His partner – no, fiancé! – was not going to get off scot-free. But he also knew that Law’s actions had come from a well-intentioned place, and now… they were going to get married.
And that truly was the best gift that Luffy could receive.
They kissed for a while, Luffy sinking onto his knees so that he and Law were on more even ground, deepening the connection between them. “I love you Torao,” Luffy breathed between heated kisses. It had been so long since he had felt Law’s velvety lips against his own, and he couldn’t get enough. It heated his cold body from the inside out, reigniting the flame he had thought was extinguishing. Judging by how tightly Law was holding him, how he managed to moan out that he loved Luffy too, the feeling was mutual. Luffy had half a mind to scrap the party altogether and just drag Law up with him to the bedroom so they could properly expel this pent-up energy – but then the front door opened, putting a stop to those plans almost instantly.
“There you are- whoa! Sorry!” Ace lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sight of his brother and Law, who had now separated from each other. “So uh, I’m guessing you guys have sorted out whatever it was you were going through? Way to go!”
“Ace-ya, you can open your eyes,” Law mumbled, irritated from the interruption. Luffy giggled softly beside him, scratching the back of his head. “We’ve stopped.”
Dramatically, Ace peeked through two of his fingers, making a show of slowly lowering them as if worried he was going to see them kissing again. “Well good, because the food is ready. And we can’t start without you two. So, come on!”
Ace left the door open as he retreated inside, well and truly putting an end to Law and Luffy’s antics. Plus, Luffy’s rumbling stomach at the mere mention of the Christmas feast they were about to eat also put a damper on a second round of kissing. “Later,” Luffy promised with a wink, accepting Law’s hand in getting up. He didn’t let go. Luffy’s fingers intertwined with Law’s, and he could feel the imprint the ring was leaving as he squeezed his lover’s hand tightly.
“Let’s go tell them the good news, Luffy-ya,” Law said, bending down to give Luffy one final kiss on his forehead.
Luffy stared up at their beautifully decorated home. It had been a rocky start but this Christmas, this moment, was well and truly worth it. He couldn’t wait to share this news with his family and friends.
And of course, Luffy couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with Law.
“Yeah. Let’s.”
It really was the best Christmas ever.