Chapter Text
It was therapeutic, taking care of children. Rosinante found himself falling into the routine of changing diapers, playing silly games and introducing easy exercises to teach all the little ones how to read and count and speak properly.
It also helped filling the void, the loneliness he felt every single day to go back to an empty house, only his TV and memories of happy old times serving as his companions.
It was also an easy job, not long hours, but also not great pay, enough to keep the bills up to date, food on his table, and sometimes a small splurge on makeup or new clothing.
At 19 he thought his life would be completely different; maybe he'd be living in another country or even would be in a great university, following a brilliant career.
Maybe in another time, another life. Maybe if his parents were still alive.
"That's really stupid, Corazón." Suddenly a small voice caught his attention.
The blonde looked up from the exercises he was grading only to find one of his students standing right in front of his desk.
"What is, Law?" He was already getting used to the boy's antics, not being shocked by his harsh words anymore.
Even though the Trafalgar was only 6, he was very advanced compared to his classmates, which was evident with his acid tongue.
"You look like a clown with this make up." The boy pointed out, making Rosinante breath sharply before a smile spread across his face.
"Well, that's the point!" And he laughed, shoving golden locks of curly hair away from his face. "Most kids like it. It's meant to make them happy."
And he almost asked if Law didn't enjoy the make up he wore in class, every day trying a different style, going from butterflies to animals, clowns and shapes.
Majority of his students even asked for a similar one done to them, but then, Law wasn't like his other students. He was more serious, as if he didn't like to be a child. As if he had to grow quickly.
"Anyway, I need help with a word."
And he placed the book he had been reading right in front of Rosinante, the pages being text heavy, some minor figures showing what seemed like the anatomy of a human body.
Rosinante felt himself sweat a bit.
It wasn't a secret that Law was a genius and came from a very prestigious family of doctors and surgeons, but it was still perplexing to see how he could read such difficult books at such a young age and understand all of it.
"---Uh, maybe we should consult a dictionary?" Rosinante suggested weakly, not knowing half of the weird medical terms plastered on the page, to which Law looked him sharply in the eyes.
"Haven't you already graduated school?"
"Yes…?"
"Then how can you not know?"
Another jab like that and Rosinante felt like he could cry out of shame.
"We don't learn anything hard like this in high school!"
It was so embarrassing to have his intellect challenged by a 6 year old… But he recovered fast.
"Listen, don't you want to have a break?" The blonde asked, fishing in his red apron with hearts sewed to it a piece of candy. "You should find time to be a kid too, Law."
And he offered the sweet, watching as something seemed to shift in his student's eyes.
Law took the gift and without a word turned to leave for break time.