Work Text:
The moon was high, centred amid a million stars, it bore down on the Thousand Sunny like a beacon. Underneath it, Luffy felt small but not alone. The grass beneath him was sharp but not cutting, and Luffy relaxed into it. The sound of crunching grass reached Luffy but he didn't look up, only closed his eyes as he felt a body settle next to him.
"Aren't you supposed to be on watch?" Law asked, his voice hushed even if no one was around.
Luffy yawned, loud enough to reach the heavens. Law winced. "I am watching." The seas around them were calm, for the first time in a while. The Grand Line, the New World in particular, had thrown them everywhere with crashing waves and thundering clouds for the past week. Luffy was intent on catching some much-needed rest in a rare moment of peace.
There was a scoff from beside him, as Law dropped to the ground completely and lay beside his Captain. "I would beg to differ." It was teasing mostly, despite the grating way in which he said it. Luffy smiled, twisting to his side and capturing Law in an embrace. Law didn't fight it—of course, he didn't. There was no one around to catch them.
"You're just boring," Luffy mumbled into the slope of Law's chest, his head planted firmly where he could hear the song of Law's heart, a calm thump. He'd asked once to see the organ, but Law had disregarded him. He pondered asking again before curiosity won over: "Can I see your heart, Tora-o?" Beneath Luffy, he could hear the rapid beating of Law's heart. He even felt the man's breath catch in surprise but it settled only a second later, as Law replied.
"Why?" It wasn't an immediate no, which was a first. Luffy broadly grinned, lifting his head to meet the piercing stare of the other. His eyes were a murky gold, flashes of amber mixed with bright yellow. If the mixture of immortal life was real, Luffy would think it to be the same colour as Law's eyes.
Luffy shrugged lamely, fingers tracing the tattoo he knew was covered by the man's white shirt. He knew it by heart, by now. He ignored the shiver Law let out as he said, "I think it would be pretty."
Silence.
Then, a hearty sigh. Law shuffled away, Luffy just barely catching a glimpse of a blush coating Law's cheeks that reached past his face to his neck. Luffy giggled, eyes raking over Law's form as the older man called out, "Mes." And reached into his chest, pulling forth a heart encaged in a glass-like cube. His fingers were timid as they brushed along the surface. Law's shoulders drooped as he regarded Luffy with a serious look. "Be gentle. This is my heart; a vital organ I need to survive—"
Luffy huffed and grasped the heart, holding it with great care as he retorted, "Yeah, yeah, I know, Tora-o." Inside, it beat wildly, as though enraged by its entrapment and perhaps it was. Law had never been a person in favour of being caged, much like Luffy. Though, Luffy suspected the wild batter in which Law's heart sang, was due to another issue entirely. Gently—because this was Law's heart—his fingers caressed the glass-like cube, only to find that the texture was more squishy than hard. He didn't push it, almost frightened of hurting Law, even if knew the other wouldn't crumble over and die from a mere brush. He was hesitant in handling the organ. Hushed, Luffy whispered with reverence: "It's pretty, Tora-o."
Law's cheeks exploded into a blush as he decked his head. "It's just an organ, Luffy-ya..." He murmured but it came off fond, regardless.
Luffy animatedly shook his head, looking to meet Law's gaze, the history locked behind his irises shining through the specs of orange. He looked gorgeous under the moon, his tanned skin glimmering like he belonged in the sea of stars above and not right here, next to Luffy. He disagreed with that sentiment wholeheartedly; there wasn't a place where Law belonged if it wasn't Luffy's side. Selfish perhaps, but Luffy was a selfish pirate, greedy in what he took, hoarding it like a dragon would his gold. His treasure, his crew. And Law was a part of that.
"It beats like Tora-o." Luffy hummed, fingers travelling along its surface, memorizing each curve and twitch of the organ. Its meaty texture was captivating. There was a sigh from across him as Law moved and grabbed back his heart, ignoring the pitiful whine that escaped his Captain in response. The surgeon was tired and missed having his heart.
"Enough of that," Law snapped, but there was no real bite to it. He snapped back the heart into place, filling the empty gap. He began buttoning back his shirt, ignoring the probing gaze of his lover. "I'm not looking to die of heart failure because you got too handsy and squished it."
Luffy pouted and huffed, body slumping to the ground. "Tora-o is so mean."
"I'm logical, there's a difference."
"Not with Luffy." A third voice commented, his heavy boots thudding against the wood until they dropped to the grass. Luffy's grin was wide as he jumped to meet his swordsman and first mate.
"Zoro!" Luffy shrieked, no care given to his sleeping crewmates below.
"It's my turn to watch," Zoro explained, eyeing Law who still sat on the ground. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." A cocky smirk adorned Zoro's features as he made eye contact with Law and swiftly bent down to capture the lips of his Captain. Brisk, but tender, Zoro pecked Luffy's lips and pulled away. He shoved at the shorter and dropped himself right next to Law. Law resigned himself to a long night of handling two idiots. Now that Zoro had joined them, there was no chance of convincing Luffy to sleep now.
As expected, Luffy was buzzed with energy as he began ranting about the stars and Law's heart—the surgeon had begun to tune him out. Turning to Zoro, he asked, "It's not your turn, yet." He raised his eyebrow, eyes fixated on the golden earrings and the way they dangled in the air with each twitch.
Zoro shrugged, idly, fiddling with the hilt of his swords. "I figured Luffy was lonely." He eyed the man next to him, "Though, I guess that's not true." His smirk was confident as he draped himself across Law's lap, the action coming easy to him. Law relented, leaning himself back as Luffy finally caught sight of the two.
"Oh, good idea, Zoro! Tora-o is really warm." Following Zoro, he cozied up to Law, nudging his head where his neck met his shoulder and sighed contently. His arms were wrapped around Law. It was certainly a cage of some sort, but Law had no interest in escaping it.
"Idiots," Law mumbled, even as Zoro placed a fond kiss on his tattooed hand. Even as Luffy trailed little kisses along the inner of his neck. Even as he melted into their soft caresses and embraced their affections.