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It was daytime and everyone on the Thousand Sunny was on the deck except for Law and Luffy who were in the downstairs aquarium area. Luffy had followed Law in here while talking about random stuff with him and ended up sitting next to him on the couch, not letting his ally get any peace or quiet.
Eventually Luffy got bored so he took Law’s arm and started to touch his tattoos, marveling at how it felt no different from his unmarked skin. Law had let him for whatever reason, reading his book with the power of one hand while Luffy played around with his arm.
Law’s body is an intricate collection of tattoos, each one with a meaning that could cut deeper than one of Zoro’s swords. Luffy had always admired these tattoos, tracing as many tattoos as he could whenever he got the chance, which was not very often. The ones on Law’s arms were Luffy’s favorite, the gear-like aesthetic popped out to him like yellow against blue. He found it so extremely cool!
When Luffy asked where he got them, Law had given into conversation. He told Luffy that he had done the arm tattoos himself at first during a bad day before getting a professional to fix it and do the rest of them a week later. Luffy wondered what other tattoos that Law could have around his body and when he asked he was told Law’s shoulders and back had tattoos as well.
Law seemed to enjoy talking about his tattoos, touching them lightly with his free hand and commenting about how he had felt at the time and how he would never forget the feeling of the risen skin on each tattoo.
“How much did it hurt?” Luffy had asked and the mood changed quickly. Law looked distant as he spoke, “It didn’t…not exactly.” He mumbled, lowered his head, and pulled his arm back from Luffy as - apparently - Luffy had touched a part in Law’s heart that he wasn’t supposed to go to.
Luffy just shrugged it off, staring at Law’s other tattoos. As his eyes settled on Law’s chest tattoo, he wondered if he could ever touch that tattoo. He wanted to touch it and admittedly, Law’s chest itself.
Luffy knew about his crush on Law (a surprise to anyone who knew how Luffy could be) and he knew that was why he felt this want to touch the tattoo…to touch all of Law’s tattoos. The urge was unwavering. “Torao, can I touch your chest tattoo?” He blurted out before he could think (he wouldn’t have anyways), catching his poor fellow captain off guard.
“Excuse me?” Law asked, slowly looking between Luffy and his chest tattoo. Luffy laughed and said it again. “Can I touch your chest tattoo? It looks so cool!” He smiled wide as he spoke his mind, pointing a little too closely at the tattoo that was revealed with Law’s yellow button-up.
Law seemed tongue tied with his words and Luffy just tilted his head. Luffy knew it would shock Law (why wouldn’t it?) and he was pretty sure before he asked that Law would say ‘no’ but he stared intently, waiting for his friend’s answer.
“No, of course you can’t!” Law had finally stammered out, pulling one side of his button-up to cover his chest as if Luffy would pounce at any point in time. Luffy loved the sight of a flustered Law and didn’t really care that he had said no. “Oh, alright.” He simply voiced, going back to watching the fish like he had done before getting caught up in Law’s tattoos.
.
.
.
A long silence fell over them both. Luffy, ever negligent, had overlooked how it was an awkward silence to Law and not a comfortable one.
.
.
.
“Why in the hell would you want to touch my chest tattoo?” Law finally questioned, bringing Luffy’s attention away from watching the delicious fish. “Hm? Well, why not?” He snickered, “I wanna touch all of Torao’s tattoos!” He admitted honestly. Law’s blush made Luffy smile even wider and he laughed at the expression that Law made.
“Oi! That’s not funny you asshole!” He growled, smacking Luffy hard on the head. “Ouch! Hey!” Luffy cried, bringing his hands up to his head. He couldn’t help but slip out, “Torao looks so funny when he’s blushing! I can’t help it!” Which made Law turn his back to Luffy, reading his book. “Don’t talk to me.” He mumbled, sounding to Luffy like a grumpy seven year old more than anything.
Luffy rolled his eyes and compiled, not talking but still scooting closer and leaning his back against Law’s, watching the fish and whistling when he started to get bored. “Shut up, I’m trying to read.” Law sighed. Luffy just whistled lower to annoy Law further and Law moved to push Luffy off his back in retaliation. As Law was turning around, Luffy also turned around, wanting to look at whatever Law was reading.
Right as he did he was met face-to-face (not too close, to Law’s relief) with the man himself which Luffy found much more interesting. Distracted suddenly by a flash of black in his peripheral vision, Luffy unashamedly glanced down to look at the tattoo on Law’s chest. At that moment, Law groaned. “Fine, fuck. You can touch the damn tattoo.” He said, causing Luffy to look back up at Law’s face with a sparkle in his eyes. “Really?” He spoke in awe, watching as Law stripped off his button-up. “Yeah, screw it. You’ll just keep on bothering me about it later anyways.”
Law knew him so well, it was quite charming.
When Law was finished taking off his shirt, he continued to read the book and looked to the side, nonchalantly waiting for Luffy to do what he did (although the blush remained on his face). Luffy took a moment to appreciate Law’s form and check him out.
Law’s form, although not buff, was toned and well built. Luffy let his eyes wander from Law’s waist, to his abdomen and up to his chest where the tattoo rested. If he looked up to his shoulders he could see a heart shaped tattoo similar to his chest tattoo resting on them.
He reached a hand towards Law’s chest tattoo and brushed the spiral part just above the smiling face. He felt Law shiver at the touch and sink further into his book. Luffy chuckled at this and followed the spiral up to the part of the tattoo on Law’s collarbone then dipped down to the part of the tattoo on his abs.
He continued to trace Law’s tattoo for several minutes, intentionally ignoring the parts on Law’s chest that would make Law uncomfortable (Well, more than he probably already felt).
Law all the while started to adjust to the touch. His blush had vanished apart from a small tint on his cheeks and he moved his book so that it was positioned on top of Luffy’s head, smirking at Luffy when he glared up at him.
It was a very intimate moment, they both knew that. But they were able to adjust to each other quite casually. Law was probably already planning on what to do if anyone walked down. They weren’t doing anything dirty but Luffy knew his crew would ignore Law and Luffy’s protests that nothing of the sort was happening between them.
After about 30 minutes of just tracing Law’s tattoos and pretending to play some sort of racing game with his two index fingers and Law’s tattoos (the blue team won), Luffy started to get done with touching the tattoos. He had his fill of them (at least for now).
Soon his eyes started to drift towards Law’s waist. Luffy wished there was a tattoo there so that he could touch it. It was so unfair to just stare at it like this and not be able to touch it. It just looks like Luffy could give Law the best hugs from his waist.
Luffy decided today he wouldn’t test his luck by touching Law’s waist. Law was in a good mood and he didn’t want to ruin that for both of them. Another time then. Luffy showed he was bored of this by getting up and shouting, “I’m bored!” Law sighed in relief. “Finally, you’re done.” He said, putting his shirt back on. “You’re such a damn pain Straw Hat.” He commented, chilling with his legs now up on the couch covering where Luffy once sat.
Luffy stretched. “Bye Torao!” He suddenly put out, starting towards the exit to go and see what his crew is up to. “Oh! But before I go.” He says, turning to lock eyes with Law. “Next time I wanna touch your back tattoo.” He smiled, giggling like the gremlin he is and running up the stairs when Law chucked his book at him. Law cursed him out as he left but Luffy smiled uncontrollably, loving the moment they had together.
Just to be fair to both of them…if there were to be a next time that happens, then Luffy will have to be in a relationship with Law. He marked his words. He’ll tell Law how he feels soon.