Work Text:
Law looked over to the clock. It was eight forty-five in the evening, two minutes after the last time he checked the time. It wasn’t unusual for Luffy to be home late – he was a wild man that like to party with his friends or simply go to the bar when a friend was – but Luffy usually had enough decency to shoot him a quick text. It had been that way since they first starting dating, three and a half years ago.
Eight forty-six.
Law sighed, closing his eyes as he slipped his phone onto the counter. His mug of coffee had long since grown cold, the television was playing some random soap-opera in the background. The show he had intended to watch being over for exactly forty-six minutes now and he couldn’t even understand what the people were saying on the current show.
His leg bounced slightly, fingers tapping the cool quarts of the counter. The barstool he sat on creaked with each movement; he normally would forgo the rickety barstools Luffy just loved, usually preferring to sit on the couches or the table just behind him, but he didn’t feel like moving. Most of the time he stayed standing by the coffee machine, it was easy to refill his mug while also scrolling through his twitter or reading some overdramatic news Penguin sent him every morning.
He pressed the tip of his finger against the screen of his phone. A picture of Luffy smiling met his eyes. Before he got into this stressful but very wonderful relationship with his boyfriend, he used to scoff at the couples that had their significant others as their home screen – he really hadn’t seen the need for something like that, it seemed too extra of an action.
But then Luffy was eating ice cream – chocolate brownie because apparently vanilla is too boring, Torao – some of the treat getting on his nose, and he was smiling so widely and the sun was hitting his face just right, and Law had snapped a picture as quickly as he could. That had been their third date, they hadn’t been official if you asked Law, but Luffy insisted they had been since Law agreed to go to dinner rather awkwardly.
His phone was at nineteen percent, low battery mode long since applied.
Eight forty-nine.
Law ran a hand through his messy hair, punching in his password – Cora-san’s birthday – quickly. He had no new messages, the ten he sent to Luffy still unread and unanswered. Robin had long since informed him that no one had plans that night that would involve Luffy showing. Zoro was out of the state for a tournament, Sanji was working overtime at his newly opened restaurant, Robin herself spending time with her husband Franky, so on so forth.
His fingers flied across the keyboard for yet another text to his boyfriend. He didn’t care if he sounded desperate; he was, and they would both know that when Luffy read his texts. Law hesitated for a moment before turning his phone off, the click loud in his ears. The coffee cup by his side was cool under his fingertips, it had been a gift from Bepo long ago – they had both been in high school if Law remembers correctly. It was faded with use, part of the grumpy cat’s face rubbed off, but Law cherished it deeply.
With a click of his tongue, Law stood from the seat and reached to the left. The blanket that had been previously on his shoulders, bunched in the seat, was strewn onto the counter without care. A charger was plugged into the outlet to his left, Nami had forgotten it the last time she had visited, and he was getting some of his debt knocked off for returning it to her next week when she’s back in town. His phone dinged as he plugged it in, the yellow battery taking up the top half of the screen.
Eight fifty-five.
No texts from Luffy.
“I’m being ridiculous.” Law muttered as he turned towards the living room, taking a quick sip of his coffee. “He’s a grown man, he can handle himself.”
It was cold – his coffee – had sat out too long. He preferred his coffee smoldering to the touch, he usually joked about it helping him feel things. Luffy always laughed, puckering his lips dramatically as he asked for a taste and whenever he managed to get one, he’d be waving at his tongue for minutes because of the heat.
Law would snort and kiss him and then Luffy would ask what was for breakfast and Law would either make something or show leftovers and then they’d sit at the table. Luffy would chatter away, and Law would think I am so lucky and then, sometimes, Luffy was knocking something over or giving him terrible news and Law would wonder how he hadn’t strangled the idiot yet.
Luffy just had that effect, Law supposed.
Law sat down slowly onto the closest couch, leaning back, and letting out a soft sigh. He had been at the hospital for almost twelve hours today, only getting back home at seven; just enough time for a quick shower and to warm up some food while his favorite program started; Sora, Warrior of the Sea. Luffy was normally home at six-thirty, smelling of soot and smoke even if he hadn’t had to deal with a fire that day, and a shower never really seemed to rid the smell.
Law usually watched Sora with Luffy before they headed to get ready for bed. Luffy would try to brush his teeth with that one terrible bacon-flavored toothpaste – which Usopp bought as a joke but ended with Luffy loving – before Law managed to get him to use regular mint. He normally won with the threat of kisses being revoked and Luffy would grumble as he gave in.
On the days Luffy was out late, Law would go through their normal routine then scroll through cat videos on his phone while waiting for Luffy to come home. Law simply couldn’t sleep without Luffy anymore, no matter how inconvenient it was. Luffy somehow managed to get rid of half of his insomnia.
Law jolted slightly when there was a sudden crash from the television, the people on the screen gasping and being overall too dramatic for – a quick check at the clock – nine fifteen in the night. Law sighed once more, and closed his eyes, letting his head tilt back and rest on the back of the couch. They had two couches, both large, and they were certainly comfortable, but they didn’t match. One was a worn leather, the other a light grey cloth – the former coming from Luffy’s old apartment with his brothers, Ace and Sabo both deciding they wanted nothing to do with it anymore and getting a new one when Luffy moved, while the latter came from Law’s old apartment.
They had moved in together six months ago, had created a rhythm and they worked well together. Luffy had decorated the walls in pictures of their friends, family, the adventures they’ve gone on, and themselves. The hallway leading to their room was filled with their personalized photos, unlike the simple, modest art Law had originally wanted. Luffy called the art really weird, shishi, but Law preferred to call it abstract. It now resided in the office.
All the photos of them that Law loved were framed and splattered around the house, much like the rest of their pictures.
Just as Law started to drift off, he heard the lock in the front door turn and the door opening. Sandals slapped against the hardwood floor and Law relaxed; Luffy was home.
It was nine thirty, but it was better to be late than to never arrive.
“Luffy-ya,” He called as he stood. His back cracked, not enjoying the position he had been in, and he looked over to the entrance. His slipper-clad feet slid against the floor softly as Luffy finally appeared.
All the tension in his body left at the sight of his lover. Luffy’s usual straw hat was draped over his back, hair messy and curling everywhere. His usual smell of smoke and soot flooded Law’s nose and he unconsciously inhaled deeply, happy that Luffy was home. He smiled softly, walking forward and Luffy grinned widely.
“Torao!” Luffy said cheerfully, hands wrapped around his coat, which he had surprisingly still had on.
Luffy could wear sandals in the fall, yet always had to take one of Law’s hoodies. Not that Law was complaining; he certainly wasn’t. Seeing Luffy bundled into his sweatshirt was one of the highlights in his days just because he was so cute in it.
Law finally made it to his boyfriend, leaning down slightly to press a kiss against his lips. Just before their lips met, Luffy tilting his head back and eagerly leaning forward, his sweatshirt rustled and there was a disgruntled meow from his stomach.
“Sunshine…” Law said slowly, suspiciously.
Luffy laughed, a sheepish thing, and adjusted the hoodie and carefully pulled a small kitten from the clothing.
Law stared.
“Sorry about being late, shishishi, I was picking her up!” Luffy said, raising the cat up.
Law blinked.
“What?” He muttered, staring at the cat in confusion.
“I got us a kitty?” Luffy asked, tilting his head, “I saw how much you like watching cat videos!”
“You got us a cat?” Law repeated flatly.
“Mhm!” Luffy nodded, bringing the cat to his chest, snuggling her close. “I didn’t name her, I thought you’d like to! But she’s ours, we’re parents!”
Law blinked once, twice, thrice before, “Give her here.”
Luffy snickered as he handed the kitten over, Law gently holding her up. She was a crème white, legs and tail a light grey that slowly turned darker. She had brilliant blue eyes, ears brown and her face also the beginning of brown before bleeding into white. A Birman, one of Law’s favorite breeds of cats.
Law thinks he’s in love.
Well, he certainly was in love with Luffy – that’s a given – but this kitty? He’s in love.
And he’s also a dad, now. To his kitty baby.
Law snuggled her close, staring at her little ears in awe as she pawed at his chest. “Oh my God, I love you,” he told his boyfriend and Luffy beamed, doing a little happy dance, clearly pleased with himself. Law soothed the kitten’s fur, delighted to hear a small purr.
He had never gotten a cat before, even if he had always wanted one. Cora-san would’ve never worked with a cat – too clumsy to take care of one while Law was away – and later when he moved into the dorms, they had a policy of no animals. Then when he moved into his own apartment at twenty-three, he had been too busy to take care of himself, let alone an animal. Lastly when he started dating Luffy and later moved in together, he had always figured Luffy was more of a dog person than a cat person. And yet now, despite thinking he’d be a terrible parent, he had a kitten daughter. With Luffy.
Him and Luffy had a pet together. If this didn’t mean they’d get married one day, Law didn’t know what did.
“What’s her name?” Luffy asked, wrapping his arms around Law’s waist, hugging him from behind. Luffy had grown a lot since they first started dating, now at twenty-three, his lover was almost as tall as he was.
“Kikoku.” Law decided after a long pause.
Luffy snickered and nodded as the newly named Kikoku started to doze.
“Go get a shower, I’ll warm up some left overs,” Law said softly, turning his head slightly to press a kiss against Luffy’s temple, “Then we can go to bed, yeah?”
Luffy beamed, nodded eagerly and after stealing a quick kiss, he was off to their bedroom. Law couldn’t bite back the fond snort when he saw Luffy start stripping in the hallway.
“Lets make your dad some food, hm?” Law mused, starting to the kitchen.
They were dads now! Law felt butterflies fly in his stomach and he smiled. He could get used to that.
Law placed Kikoku onto the blanket bunched on the counter, smiling dopily when the kitten poked her head from the soft material and meowed at him. He started to pull out some of the random left overs they had stocked in the fridge, either from Sanji or from the days Law could cook and felt like doing so. Luffy claimed Law’s cooking was his favorite – even better than Sanji’s! he’d say – and he’d even claim that even when Law had dozed when cooking and thus served slightly charred food.
“It’s super good!” Luffy would cheer, eating it in record time. It never failed to make fondness rise even as Law worried about his boyfriend’s stomach.
Law dumped a stir-fry via Sanji into an oiled pan, click click click coming from the stovetop as he turned the burner on. He made sure to keep an eye on Kikoku as the food slowly sizzled. After a moment of consideration, Law reached for his phone and pulled up the camera, snapping a few photos. Once he was satisfied, he quickly searched what he could feed her – they’d have to buy kitten essentials tomorrow, thankfully it was both of their day off.
One banana peeled and split in half – one mushed up slightly – later, Law was plating his boyfriend’s meal while Kikoku munched on their snack. Luffy’s feet slapped against the floor as he hurried into the room, beaming once he saw the food and their kitten, and he quickly sat on his favorite rickety bar stool. His hair was still dripping, only a pair of boxers on his body not counting the towel over his shoulders, and Law sighed fondly as he slid the plate over.
He walked around the counter, grabbing the towel and gently started to run it into Luffy’s scalp. His boyfriend paused for a moment, humming in a pleased manner, before shoveling as much food as he could into his bottomless pit.
“You’ll catch cold if you don’t dry your hair,” Law chided, not for the first time.
“Shishi, no I won’t!” Luffy tilted his head back, the towel obscuring a portion of his face but his soft grin was seen easily. “I have you, Torao!”
Law smiled, leaning down to pepper kisses over his lover’s face.
“Thank you, for your surprise.” Law murmured.
Luffy smiled, a happy flush on his face, and he grabbed Law’s nape. He directed Law into a soft kiss, rubbing their noses together before he pulled away to finish his meal. “Of course, Torao! I know you’ve wanted a cat forever now!”
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Luffy woke up quickly, Law no longer nestled in his arms like he had been when they had gone to sleep. Luffy made a face as he raised a hand to cover his eyes, the sunlight hitting his tired eyes, and looked over to see where Law went.
He was reaching for his phone a moment later, snapping a few photos of his lover as he cuddled with their kitten. Luffy had a feeling Kikoku was going to be the most spoiled cat ever. He snickered slightly as he took another picture; Law looked really cute with their kitty, after all.