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It was surprisingly easy for Law to fall in love with Luffy. Even though his sometimes childish behavior, zero skills in planning, or simplicity of his thinking were things Law would think would annoy him. But maybe that was all the things Law needed, all the things he was missing only to be able to relax for a few moments.
It was too easy to go by Luffy's flow. To just fuck all the carefully made plans and do whatever Luffy wanted to do. If Luffy wanted to go fishing with Law, they would go fishing. If Luffy wanted to explore an island they met up on, they would go and explore him. If Luffy wanted to be in Law's personal space, he would be in his personal space.
Law would lie to himself if he said he didn't like those moments with the other captain. He felt at ease with Luffy, like he didn't have those responsibilities he had at the Polar Tang. He didn't get to be worried about anything more than Luffy, his always empty stomach, and the ability to always find new troubles.
And Law would scream at him, scream at Luffy about getting into trouble again and again, about almost getting them killed, about spending all of Law's money on food. Because he knew, that Luffy would smile at him, that fucking smile Law loved so much, that smile Law adored more that the Bepo's soft fur.
Luffy knew that Law had a soft spot for him. That he could make him blush co cutely every time Luffy smiled at Law, do something for him, hug him... And Luffy loved it. Loved the moments only with the other captain, when his long fingers were caressing Luffy's unruly hair when Law thought he was asleep. When Law was reading him with that low voice of his, one of the few reasons why he stopped for a moment, and relaxed with his head on Law's legs.
Luffy was in love.
And so was Law.
But they were pirates. They could die any moment and the other couldn't do anything to help him. Marines could catch them and the others would find out through the newspapers. So why would they make a fuss about their feelings? Why would they want to bring them up, into the spotlight when this could be their most significant disadvantage? Their biggest weakness?
So they let it slide, enjoying the moments they were spending together. Missing the other merely moments crews separated.
Oh God, they felt hard, didn't they?
______
Sometimes, it was easy to find Luffy on a new island. Most of the time, Law would, in the end, go whenever the most people were or the biggest commotion was. But this time, when their ships met up on spring island, there was no trace of Luffy. The island was too peaceful with nothing too dangerous trying to harm anyone.
So Law went whenever his legs take him, where his guts were telling him Luffy was.
He found him at the most unexpected place, for Luffy at least.
"Mugiwara-ya..." Law tried to say, but it was almost unintelligible. The scene before him was too peaceful and too stunning to be disrupted by him. Luffy was sleeping under the Sakura tree, facing the sunset, his hat carefully placed next to him. His relaxed expression and his soothing energy created a peaceful atmosphere.
"What a handful pirate you are..." Law mumbled more to himself and stepped closer to Luffy. Law took down his hat and softly laid it next to Luffy's straw hat. His adored sword was next he simply laid Kikoku down next to the beautiful tree in full blossom. Then, without waking Luffy up, he laid down next to him, softly pulling the other closer to him with the arms hugging him.
Sleep came to him faster than ever, like every time he was with Luffy.
Luffy knew immediately who was sleeping next to him when he woke up. The soft aroma of coffee and disinfection was already a big hint, but when he felt soft fingers entangled with his own, Luffy's heart started to beat faster.
He opened his eyes to take a look at the sleeping surgeon next to him. Law's eyebags were big like he wasn't sleeping for quite some time. But here he was, quietly sleeping with Luffy in his arms, looking like he was having the best sleep in his life.
There was a soft smile on Luffy's face. Torao came back to him and only him. And this right here, the older male sleeping peacefully next to him, was the proof of it. Luffy nuzzled into Law's side, hugging the surgeon slightly closer to him, and started to slowly trace the tattoos on Law's hands.
They were always so soft and cold, but they somehow fitted perfectly into Luffy's carousel one's. And they were so fascinating to Luffy, how they were long, slender, covered with tattoos... How they would comb his hair, caressing his face, the damaged skin around the scar on his chest.
"Luffy-ya?" the soft voice from Law almost startled him. Luffy looked at Law with a slightly guilty face but still with a smile.
"Hi," Luffy whispered, looking at Law's face. Luffy could see some bandages here and there, but Luffy had some too, so it was pointless to get angry at him or asked unnecessary questions. "Slept well?"
"Yeah, kinda," Law admitted, though Luffy could see the pain on his face. Maybe his back? Or some kind of wound Luffy laid on? "What are you doing here?" This was something that was creeping into Law's mind ever since he saw Luffy sleeping here, at the most peaceful and the most beautiful place he saw in the last year or so.
"I... I needed some peace." Luffy admitted, although not after a few seconds of silence. "And this view made me think of many things, you know..." Law hummed in agreement. It was true that the view before them was breathtaking. They saw almost the whole island, with their little ships anchoring in a bay, the sleeping village, beautifully blooming meadows, and green forest with blue reflections of the river and a lake. But why would this all make Luffy think, someone who rarely thing about, well, nothing at all?
"Do you want to tell me, maybe?" Law asked slowly, almost scared that the younger captain, normally full of energy and crazy ideas, would try to run away from him. But that didn't happen. On the other hand, Luffy seemed like he melted even more into their hug, trying to almost look like he wasn't there. Law could feel his heart tug in cuteness.
"I'm scared, Law..." the soft whimper left Luffy's lips, almost inaudible. This was too much of a contrast to the younger's usual behavior that it made Law look at the younger one in fear. What, in the sea, could scare him so much? "I'm scared about my crew, about Sabo, about you... I'm scared that you'll all die before me, and I could do nothing to help any of you!" The tears were flowing down Luffy's red cheeks freely now. He couldn't mask the sob that left his chapped lips. And Luffy didn't want to hide it. Not before Torao, before Law, someone who could see him in his worst moments and still look at him like he was the unbreakable man he was trying to be to everybody else. Not before Law, his Law, someone who wouldn't judge him for his emotions and who could be as vulnerable as him only with the other. Someone who he loved with all his heart and never let die before him or for him.
"I'm scared that if I make only one small mistake, one of you will die merely because of me..." Law was silently listening to Luffy while he tried to comfort him with soft touches. Law got his feelings. He knew where they were coming from. He, too, feared the same things, fear of the death of his loved ones, of his mistakes, that could lead to this scenario. Fear of the day he would lose the brightest light of his life.
"I can't let you die, I can't, I can't, I-" in the final attempt to somehow bring Luffy back from his dark thoughts, Law kissed him. He tried to make Luffy understand that he had the same feelings, but he was too afraid to voice them out even before him. Because what if the nightmares come true? What if, what if, what if...
But Law didn't want to think about this possibility now. No, he wanted to enjoy the moment, enjoy Luffy's lips on his, enjoy the eagerness of the younger pirate.
Luffy's mind was quick to catch up with the thing Law was trying to do. But it was still surprising, with how much love and softness the kiss had been given to him. The two captains shared some secret kisses now and then, but it was never like this. Luffy liked this one.
It wasn't their first kiss, but it still felt like the first one. Maybe because other kisses felt like a feather lightly touching their lips, or maybe because of the faint memory of the said kisses they shared in the middle of the drunken night. Or maybe because this one felt way too real. With many emotions behind it, the kiss was overwhelming and addictive.
But Luffy liked it.
And so did Law.
It didn't stop the tears from falling from Luffy's eyes or hiccups from escaping from his lips, but it still had the effect Law was hoping for.
After Law felt Luffy relax a little in his arms, he slowly hugged him closer and started to move his lips, like a slow dance the two rarely shared. Law angeled his head a little so that he had better access to Luffy's chapped but sweet lips. It made his head spin a little.
Maybe it was a lack of air.
Maybe it was the younger captain, crying in his arms, being vulnerable only for him, saying all those things he was afraid of. Yeah, that sounds like it.
When the need for air was too unbearable to withstand, their lips stopped touching but still stayed close if the need to connect them became unbearable. Law slowly wiped away Luffy's tears, looking deep into the other captain's dark and watery eyes.
"I get it, okay..?" Law cares Luffy's cheek with the end of his fingers, slowly drawing soothing pictures on the soft skin. "I know you're scared, and the thoughts are awful. But hey, we are not going anywhere. We are not abandoning you and definitely not dying on you." A soft whimper came from the younger male, but he still slowly nodded. "You are strong, way stronger than anyone else, Luffy-ya. Trust me, I saw what you can do."
Luffy knew that. God, Luffy knew Law was watching his every move whenever he could. Even in the middle of battle, Luffy could feel the golden eyes of the older doctor on him. It was a soothing feeling. But at the same time, Law could get hurt just because he was looking out for him. Law could get injured because of him! And that was one of the most frightening thoughts he had.
"But I want you by my side and alive, Law!" Now, it was Law's moment to feel the tears in his eyes. "I need you alive... And you can't do that when you're watching only me. I need you to watch over yourself too." Luffy kissed the top of Law's nose only to get his point through. "Please, I don't want to lose you."
Law could feel the soft wind on his now wet cheeks. The warm feeling he always had with Luffy came once again with a brutal force and almost dragged him down to his knees. Only for the boy before him. Law smiled at Luffy while he carefully sat him on his lap.
"Don't say stuff like that to a guy like me, Luffy-ya." a soft huff came from the young captain, but that still didn't stop Law from hugging him closer to him, nuzzling into Luffy's soft hair while he whispered into his ear. "It can make me fall in love with you even more, and that I can't take." Law could feel Luffy's heart beating faster than ever. It made sense his heart was doing the same thing.
The strong arms hugged his shoulders while the fingers were messing around in Law's dark hair. A silent, happy hum escaped Luffy's lips.
"A guy like you, you mean a grumpy, morbid doctor with a sleep problem? Or the selfish pirate who wants everything for himself?" The laughter in Luffy's voice was taunting. "Well, I guess there could be only one selfish person in a relationship, right..?"
Law looked up into the puffy eyes of the pirate before him like he couldn't believe his ears. Did Luffy just say something about them being in a relationship?
"Do you- do you want to be my only person?" Law's eyes filled with tears.
"Of course, dummy." Luffy lowered his head to look into Law's eyes. "Do you want to be my person?" It looked like Luffy was confident in the answer, but Law recognized the slight waver or the uncertainty in his voice.
"Only yours." the kiss was beautiful even though slightly wet from the tears still falling down their eyes.
The tears of happiness.
The tears of hurt.
And two beating hearts living for each other.
Through heaven and hell.
So why worry about the future when there is someone right now who wants to love you?