Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was Day 3.

At least, Law believed they had been trapped for some time between 48 and 72 hours, leaving this their third day within Mont-d’Or’s book. 

It was a strange prison, all iron bars and tough brick nestled into flimsy paper. Far from comfortable - as intended - though all things considered, Law was pretty content. Save for the seastone cuffs around his wrists and the kink in his neck, there were worse places to be held captive.

It was easy to remain calm when he knew a minimum of 29 people were coming to his aid. 

Really, Law would say that the Charlotte family had been down right hospitable, if it wasn’t for…

“The islands in the south are warm~! Heads all a-swoon-swoon, buncha fools~!”

Ah, yes. He was in a cell parallel to his former ally. 

He wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it. It didn’t matter how often he closed his eyes, squeezed his eyelids shut. Monkey D. Luffy only sang louder, and louder. 

“The islands in the north are chilly~! Heads all a-brr-brr, buncha fools~!”

Law sucked his teeth, glowering at the captain chained to the far wall. “Do you have to keep making that noise?”

“Hmmm? Did you hear something, Torao?” Luffy blinked, a shit-eating grin stretching his rubber lips. He cocked his head to the side, ruffled raven hair brushing against his forehead as he regarded Law with innocence so fake, it genuinely made Law nauseous.

“I’m talking about your screeching,” Law huffed, chains rattling across the paper floor as he moved his hands to rest in his lap. There was a fair amount of leeway provided by their bindings. Again, strangely hospitable considering they were captives.

“I’m singing, Torao.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Am too!” Luffy stuck his tongue out, blowing an obnoxious raspberry that sent spittle flying everywhere. Law had never been more grateful to be meters away from Straw Hat. “Makino taught me that song.”

With a sigh, Law slumped against the wall, lolling his head against the lumpy surface and letting his eyes flutter closed. He focused on the particularly large bump digging into his shoulder when Luffy picked up right where he left off.

He would like to meet this Makino woman that Straw Hat spoke so highly of. It seemed she had taught him many things in his youth - predominantly his most annoying traits. What else had Luffy gleaned from his time with her?

In fact, Law wasn’t sure Luffy had ever informed him who exactly Makino was. Having assumed she was some sort of motherly figure in whatever strange childhood Law was certain Straw Hat had gone through, he had brushed her off as someone Luffy idealized. Someone similar to Shanks in his eyes, someone he was looking to impress, to make proud, though in very, very different ways.

What if Law had been wrong? What if Makino had been a childhood love interest? What if Makino was waiting for Luffy on the banks of Dawn Island?

The thought preceded a tight pain in his chest, though Law failed to panic. 

He was, begrudgingly, learning to accept his body’s taunts regarding his very not real crush on the Straw Hat captain. What a ridiculous, embarrassing weakness. It wasn’t like it would ever amount to anything other than trouble, anyway. If he hadn’t been so damned concerned about Straw Hat’s wellbeing, they wouldn’t have gotten captured in the first place.

He should have trusted Luffy. Luffy would have been fine against Katakuri. They had this weird respect between them that made the whole territory feud bizarre to begin with. The battle had been a formality. The new Captain of the Big Mom pirates wouldn’t have fatally injured Luffy, Law was sure.

At least, he was sure in hindsight. At the time, he had panicked. He had seen the mochi man awaken his fruit behind Luffy, catching him off guard, and Law had shambled over within the second. Unfortunately, he had brought Charlotte Mont-d’Or with him, and the wielder of the Buku Buku no Mi had been quick to take advantage of Law’s distraction. 

Luffy had surrendered himself the moment Law had been captured. When Law had berated him, chained within the book prison, Luffy had insisted that he had wanted to keep Law company. The sheer confidence of the man astounded Law. 

Though, it would be folly to say that Luffy wasn’t rubbing off on him. Here he was, after all, without a plan, trusting that they’d be rescued any moment now. And wasn’t that a scary thought; the more time he spent with Straw Hat, the more mad he became. 

Gritting his teeth, he turned to his only option - drowning out his frankly stupid thoughts by tuning in to Luffy’s very off-key ‘singing’. However, silence was all that met Law’s ears. 

Well, silence broken by the rumble of Luffy’s stomach.

“Hey Torao.” 

Law already knew the answer to the oncoming question.

“Do you think they’ll bring us food soon?”

And sure enough, like clockwork, the strange door next to Luffy’s cell creaked open. Before Law’s eyes, Charlotte Mont-d’Or sauntered through, flanked by a person about whom he had heard many, many stories. Typically he brought a lower ranked grunt to do the dirty work - to balance two trays of food atop two palms, to slip them through the slot above the floor like feeding dangerous hounds. Though, this time, he was accompanied by a certain Charlotte Pudding, her three eyes sweeping the two cells in an exaggerated act of nerves.

Law had never met Pudding in the flesh. He decided then that, ultimately, he hadn’t needed to in order to discern she was full of shit.

“It’s your lucky day, Straw Hat!” Mont-d’Or proclaimed, leaning towards the bars inhibiting Luffy from socking him in the face. “It seems my dear sister has taken pity on you.”

“It’s not pity,” Pudding sniffed, her kitten heels clicking as she carried the two meals effortlessly, “Consider it compassion. No one should ever starve.”

Her brother didn’t seem to agree, clicking his tongue disapprovingly. “That Vinsmoke boy really did a number on you.” 

Her heel slammed into the ground, the trays in her hand entirely still despite the violent twirl of her body. “You will not refer to Sanji…-san with that disgraceful name! He is Blackleg Sanji, and no less!” 

Charlotte Mont-D’or only regarded her with a look that screamed, 'my point exactly’.

If Luffy’s immediate enthusiasm for the tray thrust towards him was any indication, it seemed that Law was left to do the heavy lifting, glaring daggers at the back of Mont-d’Or’s head. If only he was a little closer. If only there were no sea stone cuffs. Then, Law could kick him right in the rump. 

“Oi, scarecrow,” Luffy spoke through a mouth full of food, “Where’s Katakuri? I’ve slept enough. I’m ready for our rematch.”

The metal of the serving tray screeched against the rough flooring of the book-prison. Law paid no mind, too interested in the conversation unfolding before him.

“Big brother is busy,” Mont-d’Or taunted, “He has no time for the likes of prisoners.”

“He knows that wasn’t the real end to our fight. I’ve gotta kick his ass again.”

“That’s hard to do with those cuffs on your wrists.”

“Then, take them off.”

Law could have sworn he was losing precious brain cells by simply tuning in to such a debate.

“Psst.”

His eyes darted over to where Pudding remained crouched by his food. Narrowing his eyes, Law offered a brusque, “I’m not hungry.”

All three of her eyes rolled to the heavens, before following the trajectory of her skull in a stilted jerk towards the corner of the tray. His stomach curdled in distaste at the sight of the little chocolate soufflé. With a grumble, he dismissed her. “I don’t do cake.”

She could not have looked more exasperated, hissing, “ No.”  This time, when she repeated her gesture, he got the message. 

Gods, he really was losing his mind. 

“What did Pudding want?” Luffy asked the moment the door had clicked shut into the wall - or page - of the book. 

Long adjusted to Luffy’s keen observation skills despite his pure, unfiltered idiocy, Law shrugged one shoulder. His brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at the dessert on his plate, trying to tune out the sound of Straw Hat’s gnashing teeth working through his own meal. 

Carefully, he lifted the soufflé cup to his face, peering through the haze of disgust clouding his judgment. The chains linking him to the cell wall jangled enthusiastically as Law dug his fingers into the moist cake, grimacing at the texture.

There was a note baked into the middle.

Shitty surgeon,

Figured you wouldn’t eat the dessert like my gluttonous captain. Too close to bread. Pudding slipped the key inside. We’re working on getting you out from our end, but no harm in you two pulling your weight.

- Blackleg Sanji

Sure enough, another dive into the soufflé gleaned favorable results, a chocolate crusted key to the seastone cuffs held between Law’s fingers. 

“Well, Straw Hat-ya,” He drawled, Luffy pausing his feasting to stare blankly across the hall dividing their cells, “Ready to stretch your legs?”

Luffy swallowed before speaking for once, “That’s a bad joke, Torao.”

Oh.

He hadn’t - He didn’t - That wasn’t - 

Law made quick work of freeing himself, using a quick Room to bend the cell bars, and uncuffing Luffy all while avoiding eye contact. He would say that he hoped some higher power would put him out of his misery, but unfortunately, he no longer prayed, and Monkey D. Luffy had given him a stupid fucking will to live. 

“What’s the plan, Torao?” Straw Hat practically skipped out of his prison, cracking his knuckles as he sidled up to Law in front of the mysterious door. 

“Strange of you to ask.”

Luffy shrugged. “Well, you have one, don’t you?”

“We go through here.” Waving to the potential exit, Law offered the best he could come up with.

“And then?”

“We see what’s on the other side.”

“You don’t know?”

Law scoffed, “How would I know, Straw Hat-ya?”

“You’re usually better prepared than this.” 

The teasing lilt of Luffy’s words set Law’s face aflame. He made quick work of ducking his head, tugging down the brim of his spotted hat to hide his infuriating blush. “Let’s just go.”

He could feel Luffy’s eyes fixed to his tattooed fingers as he grabbed the foreign doorknob, as he pushed the panel open. White light rushed in to fill the empty space, the displaced air. It overwhelmed Law’s eyes, blinding him, yet beckoning him forward. It almost felt as though a vacuum was tugging him into the unknown, his feet moving on their own accord as he stepped into the dazzling abyss. 

The last thing he heard before his senses were completely overwhelmed was Luffy’s alarmed yelp. “Torao!”

Time was a strange concept to Law. So easily manipulated, so relative to whatever was occurring around him. Law didn’t necessarily like things that weren’t stable, that weren’t set in stone, that couldn’t be summarized with a simple formula. 

Thus, it was no surprise that his first reaction to the light had been annoyance. He didn’t know how much time had passed in the void. All he knew was white, and then, he came to.

His second reaction was pure, genuine confusion.

He had been expecting to find himself somewhere somewhat recognizable. If he ended up in an unfamiliar setting, he was sure there would be something he understood, like the presence of guards, or the interior of the Mirro-World he had heard so much about. 

He hadn’t expected to find himself…

Well, he wasn’t sure where, really. 

It was a coffee shop of sorts. All brick walls with a plethora of plants escaping their pots to creep towards hanging lanterns, bulbs glowing warm against the snowy landscape just beyond the café’s entrance. The surroundings were unexpected, though somewhat familiar, Law supposed. At least, until he paid closer attention.

Various customers sat crammed in the cozy space, their winter jackets overlapping on the back of uncomfortable chairs. They hunched over strange devices, bright blue light burning their retinas as their fingers hit boards of assorted keys. Law supposed they were working on some sort of computer, but… where was the associated transponder snail?

The quiet din of the café was blanketed by the churning buzz somewhere behind him. It was only when Law spun around to locate the source of the sound - a machine grinding coffee beans - that he realized his clothes were… different. The cotton of the sweater and the scratch of the denim pants were nothing alarming, something he would have worn aboard the Polar Tang, deep in the depths of the ocean. The apron pressed against his chest, falling to his knees and tied at the small of his back, was what tipped him off. 

A quick glance showed the apron to be embroidered with a coffee bean, decorative lines emanating from it to illustrate a roasted effect. It matched the logo on the disposable cup in his…

Wait, what?!

He wasn’t sure what shocked him more; the concept that he was somehow working at the coffee shop that had manifested on the other side of Mont-d’Or’s door, or the fact that his tattoos were gone . Naked fingers cupped the paper cup, gripped a marker. He blinked slowly, disbelief numbing his senses to the rest of his surroundings. 

He took a moment to flex his hand.

He felt no trace of the Ope Ope no Mi. 

“Yo, are you gonna make my coffee or what?!” 

Law’s neck cracked with the speed at which he swiveled his head to glare at the person in front of the cash register. 

The man was dressed in a tight suit, hair slicked back like some sleazy business tycoon. He’d seen their likes around Sabaody. But, this wasn’t Sabaody. Law wasn’t even sure where this was, and the man huffed in Law’s absence of an answer.

“Look, I already told you twice. Are you a moron?” He hissed, his briefcase flapping in the air as he gestured in anger. 

Law wasn’t sure how to respond. In this moment, he felt like, yeah, maybe he was a moron.

The man turned away to shout over his shoulder at the waiting line growing with each chime of the front door. “Get a load of this idiot! Can’t even make a fucking coffee!”

“Hey.”

Law knew what was about to happen the moment fingers curled around the man’s shoulder, the source someone shorter, someone hidden behind the imposing figure. 

The man was tugged to the side, Monkey D. Luffy fixing him with a tight frown.

Though his clothes had also been changed, the book placing Luffy in a striped t-shirt beneath a puffy fleece-lined bomber jacket and shorts despite the snow outside the café, there was nothing foreign about that expression. Chills ran down Law’s spine, the tips of his fingers tingling as he watched Luffy’s brow furrow underneath the brim of his straw hat yellow baseball cap, his lips twitch even further towards the ground.

“What do you want, punk?!” The business man laughed loud and brash, surveying the crowd within the café for support, “Can you believe this?!” 

“Apologize to Torao.” 

Law’s heart hammered in his chest, Luffy’s warning rumbling through his entire being. The customers in wait were silent, their eyes fixed to the scene unfolding in front of the register. Even the tapping of keyboards had ceased, the howling winter winds stilling momentarily.

“Who?”

Luffy jerked his head towards Law. “Apologize.”

It was so quiet that the whole room could hear the soft squeak of fabric as Luffy’s jacket protested the movement.

“Why should I? The dumbass can’t understand a simple coffee order,” Raising his voice, the man added, “Where’s the manager? This man should be fired! Who would let someone so worthless work - ACK!”

Luffy moved faster than most eyes could perceive, knuckles making contact with a sharp jaw like a flash of lightning. The resounding crack of bone on bone echoed like thunder, gasps rippling like shockwaves in the aftermath. 

The man crumpled to Luffy’s feet, eyes wide and watering. Clutching at the violent red blooming across his cheek, at the imprint of Luffy’s fist indenting the side of his face, he gasped for breath. Chest heaving, the curse that tumbled from flapping lips was barely audible over the excited chatter of the café. 

Law barely registered the brisk draft as the man stormed out of the shop, too busy gawking at Luffy. Straw Hat seemed so unbothered, flexing his fingers and rolling his shoulder. It was as if he hadn’t just sauntered into some made-up alternate universe and socked a guy in the face, as if he was completely unfazed by Law’s new existence as a barista.

“Straw Hat-ya, what - “ Law was interrupted by the swish of a panel behind him, the apparent manager stepping out from the back office to address the coffee shop.

“Alright everyone, settle down!” The woman hollered, hands on her hips as if accenting the stark black apron in contrast to the gray aprons worn by the rest of the staff, Law included. Her sharp eyes swept over the crowd crammed into the four walls, adding, “Please note that we do not tolerate harassment of our staff.”

She joined Law behind the cash register, though he noted how she failed to look Luffy up and down, how she seemed to almost expect his presence. There was almost a hint of sympathy in her voice as she addressed him. “However, I do have to ask you to leave, sir. Violence is never the answer.”

Luffy simply shrugged, shooting Law a dazzling smile as he was escorted to the entrance. He didn’t even flinch as the manager whispered something in his ear. Law watched the violent winds tug at her auburn hair, threaten to knock Luffy’s hat from atop his dark locks. He wondered if Straw Hat had even heard her comment over the building blizzard. 

It hadn’t been snowing so hard mere seconds ago.

“Law, may I have a moment?” The manager beckoned to him as she went to return to the back office. When he hesitated, a man roughly his age moved to take over the register, nodding to Law as if he had understood a message Law hadn’t thought to send.

Sinking into the seat across from a small desk nearly hidden between looming shelves of takeout cup lids and syrup bases, Law noted that the manager’s name tag read Christine.

She looked at him with genuine concern. “Are you okay?”

Law bit his tongue. That was a loaded question.

As far as he knew, he was currently trapped in Charlotte Mont-d’Or’s book. He was trying to escape alongside Straw Hat. They were on route to reunite with their crews, and then the two captains would part ways and life would go on as usual.

However, it seemed that he was also stuck in a scene from the very book holding them hostage. Luffy had just defended his honor by punching a stranger in the face and getting removed from the establishment, and Law’s brain had already kicked into overdrive simply absorbing the circumstances. He had to start piecing together a plan, and in order to do that, he needed some privacy. 

And none of the aforementioned even considered they way Law’s knees quaked, the way his palms were clammy and his heart raced in a worrying rhythm. He didn’t even want to think about Straw Hat’s powerful fist rocketing into that sleazy man’s jaw, the muscles twitching in his forearm with the follow-through, the brilliant smile as he had been escorted out. 

He was sure he’d have plenty of time to reflect on the event, back in the captain’s quarters of the Polar Tang. Such a concept had Law’s stomach curdling in disgust, and definitely not anticipation.

So, was Law okay? 

“Yes,” He lied, “Yes, I’m fine.”

Christine looked unconvinced. Resting her cheek in her palm, she sighed. Her eyes fluttered closed, remained closed for a millisecond too long. The woman looked exhausted, and the sentiment was only echoed in her tone, “Look, I know you have a lot going on right now. Your backpack went missing on your commute here today, and you’ve got that big final for your degree tomorrow. But, you have to put that aside. If you’re going to be here, I need you to be here .” 

Law blinked, considering the exposition unnecessary, but helpful nonetheless.

“It’s not fair to Brian and Alyssa if you’re not pulling your weight during your shift. It is the holiday season, after all. It’s always busier during this time,” Christine lamented, eyeing the calendar hung behind her strange computer. Law could make out multiple scribbles in various colors detailing the scheduled staff each day.

“I understand,” He spoke slowly, tasting his choice on his tongue, “I’m good to work. I promise.”

Christine spun in her chair, effectively dismissing him as she began typing on her keyboard. “I don’t want you to burn yourself out, though. You can work a shorter shift today. Clock out for 7pm, alright?”

“Sure.” Law’s attention was divided, his mind crunching the potential paths he could take to reunite with Luffy and get out of the book. He almost stood and left the office the way he had entered, when a flash of light appeared in his peripheral vision.

A door appeared over Christine’s shoulder.

A door that was different from the one through which he had entered.

A door that the manager didn’t seem to notice.

“Huh,” He breathed to himself, stepping past an eerily unaware Christine to open the new exit. This time, he was prepared for the blinding white abyss, all of his nerves on edge and ready to be dumped into another unfamiliar setting…

Just to end up back in the café, as if he had walked through the original door of the office. 

Only this time, the large windows in the shop’s entry way reflected his perplexed expression. The sun having set and the snow having transformed into a full fledged blizzard, the room seemed far larger in the absence of customers. 

Law’s stomach lurched and the border of the puzzle took shape, the pieces slipping into place. The doors appeared when he progressed the plot. The doors were how he could move through the book, how he could get out.  

“There was a news broadcast about a big storm,” A young woman with freckles and twin braids supplied. She must have mistaken his gawking for confusion and not an epiphany. “You were probably too busy thinking about your knight in shining armor to notice.”

Her teasing tone meant no offense, but Law’s pride reared its head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” He scoffed, eyeing her nametag, “Alyssa -ya.”

Alyssa wasn’t upset in the slightest, simply calling out to their coworker. Brian, Law mentally noted from his conversation with the manager. “Did you hear that, Bri?” She laughed loud and boisterous, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty café, “Law thinks we haven’t noticed him pining over cute baseball cap boy for the past month.”

Law decided then that he did not like the sound of Brian’s keening, nasally snicker. He busied himself with the cups by the fancy steel espresso machine. What was the next step? Where was he supposed to go from here? A quick sweep of the shop revealed two door - one to the office and the exit to the snowy street. Did he have to use one of them himself before stumbling into the next plot point?

“Do you know where Stra-” Clearing his throat, Law tried again, “Where does Luffy live?”

Brian paused, the cloth stilling as he ceased wiping down the bar. “Luffy?”

“Ah!” Alyssa clung to Law’s arm, prompting him to flinch. She ignored his scowl. “You finally got his name! That’s so exciting! Are you going to ask him out?”

Brian snorted, “Law?! As if. He’ll just yearn like the coward he is until the guy makes a move or stops coming in for coffee.”

And Law took offense to that, to the insinuation that he had no backbone. He wouldn’t ask out Straw Hat because he was too broken to ever deserve love, not because he was scared. Clicking his tongue, he went to fight back, poised words barbed with iron and infused with venom. 

Alyssa never gave him the chance. She tapped her chin, considering, “Actually, it’s kind of strange that he was here so early today.”

“What do you mean?” Law frowned - not like he had any reason to smile in his current predicament. 

Alyssa looked at him like he was insane. “Because he usually comes in later, duh. Actually, typically around now…”

And sure enough, the door flew open, the howling winds deafening the chime of the bell fixed to the frame. As the glass panel slammed shut with worrying force, rattling the hinges on which it swung, Law felt a rush of blood to his cheeks. 

He cursed under his breath. 

Straw Hat looked positively radiant, beaming up at him as he beelined for the order counter, messy bangs dotted with melting snowflakes beneath his (apparently signature) baseball cap. The droplets sparkled in the warm light of the hanging lanterns, kissing his wind-bitten cheeks and framing big brown eyes.

“Hey Torao! You won’t believe what’s happened to me!” He waved, ignoring Brian’s confused mutter of, “Torao?”

Law tried to save face, though his breath had been effectively stolen. He feared that if he expressed any gratitude to Mont-d’Or’s book for aligning their paths once more, then the sentiment would snowball into something far worse. The last thing he wanted was to embarrass himself by spewing, ugh, sentiment. So, he did what he always did.

He scoffed, “What are you doing here?”

Before Luffy could answer, Alyssa butted in. “Oh, would you look at the time, Law! Your shift is over, Law! Why don’t you clock out and I can take this gentleman’s order, Law!” 

Law bit his tongue to prevent an exhasperated groan. It seemed that his character in this book was spineless. Apparently his romantic interest didn’t even know his name. (Absently, he considered that yes, it seemed he did have a thing for people who wouldn’t even read his nametag). 

“Uh,” Luffy narrowed his eyes, understandably confused. “Yeah. Let’s go, Law.”

His actual name oozed from Straw Hat’s lips. A sound so unintentional, and yet, it sent shivers cascading down Law’s spine as if an ice cube had been dropped down the back of his shirt. And he knew what that felt like. Because Luffy had executed that very prank on Law on route to Dressrosa. 

Law had not found it nearly as endearing as he would currently, though. 

It took a handful of seconds for Law to retrieve his apparent belongings - a long wool trench coat and over the shoulder rucksack. He tugged an off-white beanie over his dark hair, and braced himself for the storm outside with a matching scarf. It looked to be knitted by hand. Law wondered if it had been a gift or a purchase. 

If this was some cheesy romance novel, then perhaps it was from an ex-partner. For the drama.

There was no way in all the blues that Law could have prepared himself for the blizzard outside the café. Even for someone from the north, the snow squall was something else . Wind whipped snowflakes like arrows shot from bowstrings, pelting his tongue the moment he tried to speak. He could barely even see through the white flurries.

“Torao.”

Law blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. It was futile, more snow assaulting his vulnerable eyeballs. 

“TORAO!” 

A fuzzy glove enveloped his freezing fingers, and Law felt his heart skip a beat. Tugging him into the safety of a nearby shelter - made of a sturdy plexiglass and advertising some sort of time sheet for a numbered route, Straw Hat laughed, “Crazy, right? This is worse than Drum Island!”

Law’s interest immediately piqued by the mention of the famous Dr. Kureha’s home-island, he had to fight down the urge to ask an obnoxious amount of questions. Knowing Luffy, Law was certain he had met the doctor somehow. There would be time for questions later, when their crews inevitably rescued them or they escaped. Whatever happened first.

It took exactly 23 seconds within the little enclosure for Law to realize that his hand was still held by Luffy, even as the latter rambled. “I wandered around for a bit after leaving your work - or whatever that place is.Then, I found this backpack outside a bookstore! And the contents belong to you, Torao! They look like textbooks. Are you missing textbooks?”

When Law failed to answer, too caught up in his whirring thoughts regarding his hostage hand , Luffy squeezed said fingers. “Torao? Are you alright?”

That managed to knock Law back to pseudo-reality. Ignoring the way he flushed with the prolonged contact, he urgently asked, “Did a door bring you to the coffee shop?”

“Yeah! I thought I was walking into the bookstore, but it brought me back to the café instead.” 

“Fascinating…” His heart panged as he extracted his fingers from Straw Hat’s fuzzy glove. 

“What is it Torao?”

A particularly heavy gust of wind rattled the walls of the shelter, the sheet material bellowing like a sea chart unfurled over a table. Law repeated himself, “I think we’re stuck in the plot of this novel, Straw Hat-ya.”

“Huh?”

“Certain choices allow us to take doors that lead to the next plot point.” It seemed even more absurd as he spoke his hypothesis aloud. “I received some exposition about my character’s current situation, then chose to keep working. I took a different door, but it led back to where I had entered the first door. Though, more time had passed than what would be considered realistic.”

“So, we’re part of the story?” Luffy gasped. Law had been prepared to break it down even further, but Luffy’s eyes lit up with comprehension. In true Straw Hat nature, he seemed positively thrilled by such a concept. 

“I believe we’re playing the roles of the main characters, yes.”

“Is it a cool story? Do we have to kick someone’s ass?” Straw Hat was practically skipping about the small shelter. 

Oh, how Law wished they were stuck in an action/adventure novel. Hell, he would even take a romp through a sci-fi story over… this.

“No, Straw Hat-ya,” Law gulped, averting his eyes and hoping the red of his cheeks could be dismissed as a result from the frigid air. “It seems to be a… romance novel.”

Luffy stilled. “Romance?”

“You know, when two people are in love,” Law hissed, far too antagonistic. It was his go to defense mechanism. He couldn’t help it. 

“I know what romance is, Torao.”

Flinching under Luffy’s eerily serious gaze, Law cleared his throat. He busied his hands by checking the buttons on his jacket, by tugging at the cuffs of his sweater beneath. “Right.”

Why was it so tense? Why was there this cloying awkwardness sticking to his limbs? Did Straw Hat feel it too? 

It was impossible to tell, as Luffy nonchalantly posed, “So, what happens now?”

“I assume we have to finish the plot to get out of the book.”

“Okay, so…” Pursing his lips, Luffy hummed to himself for a moment before clapping his hands together. He beamed with his sudden realization. “We go on a date!”

“A date?!” Law nearly choked on the word. 

Luffy scoffed, “Well yeah, Torao. That’s what people do in romance stories, right?”

“I suppose so.”

It was truly impressive that Luffy’s rumbling stomach could be heard over the vicious winter winds. “I’m hungry. Can we go eat?”

“Sure,” Law spoke as steady as his nervous heart would allow. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Ducking his head against the storm, Law plowed forward, allowing Straw Hat to race after him. He didn’t want to grab his hand, to read into Luffy’s strange confession of understanding romance that seemed to hang in the air like there was some underlying meaning that remained unspoken. He was sure he had imagined it.

The closest restaurant was only a few steps away, a welcome haven from the blizzard threatening to toss their bodies back into the middle of the street. It was large. Tacky, with plastic checkered tablecloths and matching chairs. The general public must have come to a similar conclusion, as the place was relatively empty. 

Regardless, Luffy happily took a seat, not even bothering to look at the menu. Law already knew he would order one of everything with no foresight regarding the final bill. A quick look into the backpack Straw Hat had retrieved showed a wallet with many crisp bills. They wouldn’t have to dine and dash, then. Good.

The date - if he could call it that - was quiet. 

Law was far too concerned with the upcoming appearance of a new door - would it blend into the tacky wallpaper? What happened if they missed it entirely? - to pay attention to Straw Hat. There wasn’t much to pay attention to, anyway, other than the smacking of his lips and chomping of his teeth. He was truly disgusting when he ate. Why Law was attracted to him, he didn’t know.

Of course you know, the little voice in his head chided. Law sighed (not that Luffy noticed) and picked at his boring plate of rice. 

Yes, he did know. He was drawn to Luffy like a moth to a flame, a creature lost in the ashen shadows of Flevance, in the acrid burn of Amber Lead, in the smoky tendrils of Doflamingo’s strings. But there he was, a beacon of hope and joy and liberation, and Law couldn’t stop himself from flying too close to the sun. 

There was no use getting his hopes up. He needed to stay as detached and distanced during this date as possible. 

They sat there in semi-silence, the only words exchanged to the server for their table. At least, until Straw Hat grew bored of the chatter of the other restaurant patrons. 

‘Hey, Torao.”

“Hm?” Law’s eyes darted from his meal to meet a heavy stare. 

Luffy had stopped midway through a porkchop. “You don’t seem to be enjoying this date.”

There it was. That flicker of hope.

“That doesn’t matter,” He snapped, snuffing it out with a pinch to his skin, “I’m waiting for the door, idiot.”

But the door never appeared.

“Maybe we’re supposed to go somewhere specific,” Law theorized, stuffing the billfold with an appropriate sum of cash. 

“Maybe we’re supposed to, y’know,” Straw Hat sulked, stretched (a normal, human amount considering the lack of his Devil Fruit powers) across the sticky tablecloth, “Go on a date.”

Law rolled his eyes, insisting only halfheartedly, “But we are on a date.”

“You’re not having fun,” Luffy argued, puffing his cheeks out stubbornly. Insistent, he added, “People have fun on dates. That’s what Makino told me.”

Law’s left eye twitched. That damn Makino, again.

“It must be specific to the story.” Law narrowed his eyes, pointedly ignoring Straw Hat’s previous statement. When he seemed to deflate against the countertop, Law grumbled, “Fine. Where do you want to go?”

He perked up instantly. “Anywhere with food.”

Before Law could brush off his suggestion, the realization hit him like one of Usopp’s pop greens to the face. An especially obnoxious plant that served for distraction, or something with a branch meant to knock him upside the head.

Of course.

Of course.

If Law and Luffy were the characters, Law had to put thought into the date. If he half-assed it, then the character would be botching his chance at a second outing, which meant he couldn’t progress the plot. 

He tried to rearrange his racing thoughts. What sort of restaurant would Luffy like? Where would Law bring Luffy for their first date, had this not occurred?

He grimaced at the suggestion they would ever have a first date.

Straw Hat was watching him closely. Law could feel his eyes tracing every twitch of his brow, every tap of his strangely bare fingers on the tablecloth. Ignoring the way his fingertips stuck to the surface a millisecond too long to be sanitary, Law wondered if the character he was playing had significantly less trauma in his life to consider tattooing DEATH on his digits. That would certainly make for a more lighthearted romance. 

He shifted his gaze back to Luffy. The scar beneath the latter’s left eye was gone.

Huh. How peculiar.

If anything, at least this would allow them to distinguish the return to the real world.

“Torao,” Luffy whined, impatient. The gurgle of his stomach echoed throughout the restaurant, as if he hadn’t just feasted more than physically possible. Wait - if Straw Hat did not possess his Gomu Gomu no Mi in this book-universe, then how could he eat so much?

As if reading him like the freaking book in which they were stuck, Luffy leaned over the table to flick Law’s forehead. “Where to?”

Right, right, right. Law mentally kicked himself. Was he purposely distracting himself to avoid the topic at hand, to avoid actually choosing the location of his first date with Straw Hat Luffy? Panicking, he extracted himself from his seat with far less grace than he usually possessed, practically tripping over his feet to get to the large window in the front of the restaurant. 

It was difficult to make much out through the whirling snowflakes of the winter storm, but a handful of neon lights shone through the squall. His eyes fell on a sign that prophesied a happy Straw Hat. 

All-You-Can-Eat BBQ

“Come with me,” He huffed, desperate to ignore the heat of Luffy’s palm as he tugged him by the hand. It was the only warmth felt as they trudged through the snow to their next destination.

It wasn’t lost on him how Luffy failed to protest the action, though perhaps that was due to his jaw hitting the floor. A drop of drool dripped from the corner of his mouth as he gazed upon the massive buffet, piles upon piles of bacon and prime rib and pulled pork spilling over heated trays. 

The host escorted them to a cozy table in a corner, and Straw Hat disappeared in a flash. Law busied himself by preparing a small plate with the slim pickings of vegetables offered, as well as some grilled fish. He hadn’t eaten much of the subpar rice at the previous restaurant, but he doubted he’d finish any more here. Stomach twisted into anxious knots, Law was far too on edge to concern himself with food. 

This was so stupid, and he proceeded to mentally repeat it to himself while watching Luffy devour his selection. There was no reason to be so nervous. This was Straw Hat. Law had spent countless actually, no, he had counted every one of them minutes alone with the other captain. Though, it was often in the midst of a fight, or in the dead of the night aboard the Thousand Sunny, and Luffy was either fist deep in an enemy’s face or a plate of leftover seafood pasta. Law never had to read into those situations.

This, though? This was different. This was time they were choosing to spend together. Yes, they were technically held hostage in the strangest prison known to any being, but they could have stayed put in the cells and waited for help. Blackleg Sanji had explicitly stated that their crews were working on extraction. Law had chosen an adventure with Luffy over patience for a sure out. 

And Luffy had gone along with it, no questions asked. In fact, he had been the one to suggest going on a date, plot of the book or not. 

Had Straw Hat ever spent an evening like this with Makino?

“Who is this Makino person anyway?” Law had the decency to wait until Luffy had swallowed before his petty inquiry slipped through his lips. 

Luffy blinked. “Why?”

Despite his attempt to come off as indifferent, Law was sure his untouched plate of food revealed his inner insecurity. “You talk about her alot.”

“Is Torao jealous?” Luffy snickered, swallowing a chicken wing whole.

“I am not jealous,” Law winced, and he wasn’t sure if it was due to the accusation or the medical anomaly that was Monkey D. Luffy. He went to tug down the brim of his hat to hide his face, and was met with air.

Oh. Right. He was wearing a beanie thanks to the outfit change the book had provided. Face far too red for his liking, he simply clicked his tongue and ducked his head. “Just… curious, I suppose.”

The look that Straw Hat gave him had Law convinced that the former saw right through his lie, but he kept his mouth shut. At least, about Law’s obviously flustered state. He did, however, answer Law’s original question. In between sips of his cola, he explained, “She worked at the bar in Windmill Village. I grew up in the mountains around there. She taught me lots of important things. Her and Shanks. But then Shanks left, so Makino and Dadan handled the rest.”

“Dadan?”

“She led the mountain bandits. She took in Ace first. Then me. And then Sabo when he ran away from home.”

“Where is she now?”

“In the mountains, I guess.” Luffy paused, poking a piece of steak with his finger before lifting it towards his mouth. “I’d like to visit her and Makino after I become king of the pirates.”

There was no use arguing that Law, too, was interested in such a title. He had decided that Straw Hat was more deserving ages ago. Hell, Law knew that he would follow Luffy to the ends of the earth in a heartbeat. It was a simple fact that many, many others would, too. 

So, he offered Luffy a rare smile. “I’m sure they’d like that.”

Luffy beamed, a piece of meat stuck between his teeth. Law held back a genuine chuckle. 

The server stopped by to refill their water glasses. Luffy ordered another soda, and then returned his attention to Law. “What about you?”

“What about me?” He frowned. 

The moment the server retreated after dropping off Straw Hat’s beverage, he elaborated, “Does Torao have anyone they want to see one day?”

Law paused his chewing, carefully swallowing his mouthful of fish. He mulled the question over like the protein processed by his molars. The answer was obvious: Of course he did. He had his parents. Lami. Cora. Though, that implied a different sort of one day, one far too depressing for a first date. 

Law settled on a different sort of future, then. One far more optimistic than he had previously thought possible. “There’s an old inventor in North Blue. On Swallow Island. His name’s Wolf. He… helped me a lot, when I was young.”

“Will you tell me about him?”

And, strangely enough, Law did. Opening up about his past for the first time in years and years and years, he spilled his history in Pleasure Town to Straw Hat’s patient ears. Luffy listened so carefully, his eyes never leaving Law’s regardless of the flurry of movement from his hands, his mouth, as he devoured multiple rounds from the buffet. 

Law would tell Luffy anything, would divulge all of his secrets if Straw Hat asked. 

“I’m glad it’s you, Torao.”

And when Luffy looked at him with a certain tenderness in his eyes, Law thought that maybe, just maybe, Luffy would tell Law anything, too. 

That didn’t mean Law wasn’t going to play it safe, though. “What?”

“I wouldn’t want to go on a date with Nami. Or Usopp. Or Hammock,” Luffy answered as easy as breathing, a shrug accompanying the squish of his nose. “But it’s okay with you. Good, even.”

Law didn’t know how to take that, so instead, he asked Luffy more about Dawn Island and the Kingdom of Goa. In turn, Straw Hat inquired about Law’s crew, about the path they had taken on the Grand Line. Back and forth, they exchanged stories, little glimpses of moments in each other’s existence. 

What a beautiful existence it was, and how lucky they were to be able to share it together, in that moment. As Law found himself feeling increasingly sentimental, he tried to find the words lodged in his throat, tried to thank Straw Hat for giving him the will to continue living. They slipped back down his throat, into the safety of his heart, never leaving his lips. 

It didn’t matter, though, for there it was, shimmering into existence in the brick of the buffet. 

The next door.

Following Law’s bewildered gaze, Luffy gasped. “TORAO! LOOK!”

They wasted no time in paying for the bill and rushing over to the exit that nobody else seemed to notice. In fact, the closer they got to the wooden panel, the less others seemed to acknowledge their existence, almost as if they were fading from the perception of the customers and staff. 

Law hesitated, his fingers hovering over the door knob. “What do you think we’re walking into?”

“What do you want to do?” 

Law looked at Luffy as if he had grown two-heads. “Get out of this godforsaken book.”

“Well, duh. I mean, on our date.” Waving him off, Straw Hat shot him a beam so blinding, it may as well have been made of the sun itself. He spoke with complete sincerity, insisting, “What do we do next? What’s your choice for after dinner?”

Law wanted to tell Luffy that he’d like to go back to the Polar Tang for dessert, but, well, that seemed entirely inappropriate. Instead, he thought for a moment before answering slowly, tasting the words. “I’d take you to a bar. One that has mocktails and live music. One with just the right amount of people, and the bartender is an old pirate.”

With a gasp of awe, Straw Hat bounced on the balls of his feet, impossibly bright. “That sounds so cool, Torao.” His airy laugh fell on deaf ears as he laced his fingers with Law’s. Law’s ears were too busy ringing, his heart in his throat.

It felt as though his life was flashing before his eyes. Though, it wasn’t what Law had expected from  an overview of his existence. It wouldn’t have surprised him if he saw the burning of Flevance, Lami’s terrified eyes as he closed the wardrobe door, his parents dead on the floor of their office. He thought he’d see Cora’s blood seeping like ink into snow, the barrel of a gun firing into his own chest multiple times.

But, no. He felt Lami’s little palm in his, tasted ice cream on his tongue and the warmth of a sunny day within a brilliant ivory city. He heard his mother’s voice, crooning a lullaby, and his father’s hearty laugh. The scent of freshly printed paper wafted over him, as if he was cracking open a new medical textbook, mingling with acrid tobacco that clung to a pink shirt dotted in hearts. And then, he saw a strong silhouette painted against the glow of the sun, heard that mischievous snicker, felt those calloused hands. 

He wasn’t sure he had ever felt happier than in that moment, on his not date with Straw Hat, standing at the door that would lead them to the next scene in their peculiar prison. 

“So…” He choked out, holding back the wave of emotions that threatened to tear down his dam. 

Luffy nodded resolutely. “We walk through the door to that cool bar you told me about.” 

“And if it isn’t the bar?”

“Then we do what we do best,” Luffy snickered.

Law’s sigh was saturated with a fondness so thick, he could feel his own arteries clogging. “Get into trouble?”

“Figure it out!” Straw Hat swatted Law’s bicep with his free hand, prompting the latter to push open the door. They stepped through it together.

The overwhelming white light settled into a flickering orange bonfire licking a gold-plated, rosy sky. The flames danced like faeries, in time with the rhythmic swish of the sea, the shore disappearing every so often under a wavy wave of saltwater. Out of the tide’s reach, stacks of books lay scattered in a circle around the pyre, the entirety of the Straw Hat and Heart Pirates flipping through pages, tossing discarded tomes onto the mass of burning paper.

Law let go of Luffy’s hand.

It was Usopp who spotted them first, pointing to the two captains off to the side of the book burning party. “OH! THEY’RE BACK!”

“AHHHHH! Don’t sneak up on us like that, Luffy!” Chopper nearly jumped out of his skin, big eyes tearing up with relief. “We were so worried.”

Law rolled his eyes as Cyborg Franky struck a pose, his metal shoulders glinting in the evening sun. “Yow! What a SUPER surprise!”

“It’s not a surprise when it’s exactly what we were trying to do,” Shachi muttered to Penguin, though his critique fell on deaf ears. The Straw Hats were too busy mauling their captain, showering him with affection as if he had been gone for months, and not a handful of days. Law wondered just how deep their separation anxiety ran.

It was then, as he watched the other crew dogpile on the beach with their laughing smiles painted orange in the sunset, that Law pieced the rest of the puzzle together. They had been burning the books in hopes of releasing Law and Luffy from their prison within one of the many strewn about the beach. The crews must have learned that that was a way to release those held hostage. 

The pride Law felt for his crew was snuffed instantly as Ikkaku shot him a sinister smirk. 

“Wait a second… Hey, Robin!” Ikkaku called to the archaeologist, “What book did you just toss on the pile?”

Brook was quick to intercept the question, extracting himself from the Straw Hat celebration to saunter over to the flames. His height allowing him to peer into the fire from overhead, he cackled, “To Brew A Cup Of Love…? Do my eyes deceive me, or is this a romance novel?” 

A beat, groans loaded into throats. 

And then - “Oh, but I don’t have any eyes! Yo ho ho ho!”

29 pairs of eyes stared at Law, stared at Luffy, returned to Law. It struck him as painfully awkward that not a single person seemed surprised. Their grins echoed their clear amusement. Law had the urge to throw himself on top of the fire, but a hand slipping into his own stopped him. 

“Hey look, your tattoos are back!” Luffy chirped, as if attempting to ease Law’s discomfort and change the subject. 

It didn’t work. 

Law’s nerves felt as though they had actually made it onto the pyre, Luffy holding Law’s digits to the flare of the setting sun, eclipsing the burning star to emphasize the return of the ink on his hands. He would have heaved a sigh of relief if he hadn’t felt so vulnerable, so exposed under the collective stares. 

“Robin, did you know they’d be in this one?” Jinbei inquired, his dark eyes flashing with curiosity. 

Nico Robin’s face was entirely indifferent. “No. I burnt it by my own volition.”

“Robin burnt a book by choice?” Nami gawked, Usopp blinking wide eyes in disbelief. 

She shrugged. “It was an insult to literature.”

Law grimaced. Yes, yes it was. 

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you did,” Penguin cooed, sidling up to her and praising, “We wouldn’t have gotten our captain back without you!”

He wasn’t the slightest bit put out when she flat out ignored him, returning to peruse the remaining books. Perhaps she wished to add some to the Sunny’s library. Law considered that she had the right idea. He considered joining the archaeologist by the books, but found his feet firmly stuck in place, unwilling to leave Straw Hat’s side. 

Even after Luffy pulled his hand away, after he bounded after Blackleg Sanji as the latter made for their ship bobbing on the waves in the distance, Law could not bring himself to move. The ocean roared, creeping closer and closer to the tips of his shoes, and yet Law dared the tide to soak his socks. 

“Sanji! When’s dinner?!” Straw Hat yapped at his cook’s heels like an eager puppy. 

Cigarette smoke spewed from Sanji’s lips. With a grumble, he dismissed the eager captain, “Soon, shitty glutton.”

For once, it seemed that Zoro was on Sanji’s side, clapping a hand on Straw Hat’s shoulder to ground him, to prevent him from chasing after the cook and pestering him in the galley. Law just barely heard Zoro’s low rumble over the crackle of the fire. “Good to have you back, Luf.”

Of course, there was no stopping Luffy when he set his mind to something. Shouting over the pop of embers and the crash of waves, he tried again, “Oi! Sanji! We need to have a feast!”

“We don’t have time for that, Luffy.” Nami shook her head, her tangerine hair swishing with the movement. Law caught sight of his crew ogling where the strands framed her chest oh so enticingly. A quick warning glare had them backing off instantly.

Nami tapped her log pose, explaining, “The next island is a few days out and if we linger, we’ll miss that festival you wanted to attend.”

“OH! The one about the monkeys?” Luffy lit up, the feast forgotten as he whirled around on his heels. “Torao, wanna come?”

“No.” The subtext in Law’s tone was clear - he would go anywhere if Luffy asked him directly. Did he want to go to a monkey festival? No. Would he? Of course.

“Aw, why not?! It’ll be fun!”

It took all of Law’s willpower to turn down that disappointed pout. Turning the timeline over in his head, Law tried to find some sort of valid reason to break course for longer than they already had. Alas, he found none. “My crew and I have other plans. There’s important medical research occuring a few islands over.”

Luffy’s sulking intensified, Law quickly adding, “But perhaps we can meet up for the next festival that tickles your fancy.”

Abated by the promise, Straw Hat set to pestering Blackleg Sanji while the crews prepared to part ways. Law gravitated towards the Heart Pirates, reveling in the familiar pulse of his Room as he Shambles-ed crates and barrels into the underbelly of the Polar Tang, surfaced next to an old wooden pier. The submarine had one hell of a mess of corridors within her, and he was not such a sadistic captain to make any of his crew navigate to the storage room with arms full of heavy supplies.

Perhaps he had initiated new recruits that very way, once upon a time, but that had been before the Straw Hat pirates had trampled over everything he thought he knew. It was strange, being friends with another group of pirates. That’s what it was by now, wasn’t it? Their alliance had run its course a while ago, and still, Law couldn’t help but be drawn to that fiery spirit that led the Straw Hats again and again and again.

Was this what Cora would have wanted for him?

He caught Bepo’s eye as his navigator studied a sea chart on the dock, ensuring that he witnessed each crew member boarding. His best friend offered a smile as soft as his silky fur. It wouldn’t surprise Law if Bepo knew exactly what he’d been thinking. 

Yeah, Bepo emoted through his gentle gaze, He’d be so proud of you, Law. 

“Hey, Torao!”

The slap of sandals against the wooden pier broke Law out of the moment. He spun around to find Luffy charging at him, hands balled into fists. “We didn’t finish our date!”

“We didn’t,” Law agreed, feigning confidence by smirking at the frustration flashing in Straw Hat’s dark eyes. Luffy didn’t need to know just how fast his heart hammered. “But, we’re out of the book now.”

“So? Can we go to that bar?”

Really, Law should have known that wasn’t going to stop him. Proceeding with caution, he elaborated, “It’s in North Blue, Luffy-ya.”

Luffy stilled, his big brown eyes going impossibly wide. Law kicked himself. He half expected Straw Hat to laugh at him, to point out the flush on Law’s cheeks and declare the commitment that Luffy had interpreted.

But, of course he didn’t. He didn’t laugh, because he knew Law, he understood Law. And Law was beginning to finally understand Monkey D. Luffy.

The widest smile Law had ever seen split Straw Hat’s face in two. He slammed his fist into his palm, nodding resolutely. “Yosh! Then we’ll go there. And you can bring me to meet Wolf!”

The Straw Hats gasped somewhere in the background, though Law couldn’t bring himself to care. 

“Very well,” His exasperated acquiescence was a ruse. “It’s a date.”

There was a pause, a happy moment bathed in the gold light of the sun just dipping below the horizon. And then…

“Hey, Torao. Does this mean our current date is over?”

Law’s brain screeched to a halt. He had never been more grateful for Blackleg Sanji, as the cook made direct eye contact with the captain of the Heart Pirates before taking a drag from a cigarette. He blinked slowly, and then called to his crew, “Alright, it’s dinner time. Get a move on before the food gets cold.”

Law hoped Sanji understood the gratitude lingering beneath the subtle jerk of his head. 

One by one, the Straw Hats filtered into the Sunny, Sanji’s tone shifting dramatically as he promised specialty desserts for Nico Robin and Cat Burglar Nami. It did not escape Law, however, that Luffy had brushed off the promise of a meal with a lack of characteristic interest.

It was eerily quiet, save for the white noise of the sea and the chirp of crickets creeping out from the distant forest undergrowth. The Heart Pirates now deep inside the Polar Tang , preparing to dive upon Law’s order, Law found himself alone with Luffy in the dim twilight. 

Law cleared his throat, “...So, it’s over…”  

“Yeah…” Luffy craned his head back, watching the first few stars peek out from behind the veil of daylight. He did not smile. 

“Hm, though…” Law’s words buzzed with anticipation, his palms going sweaty as he mentally argued with himself.

Was he really going to ask this? Was it inappropriate? What if Luffy didn’t understand?

Gods, Law was so out of his element, it was genuinely comical. 

He took a deep breath, spewing his inquiry so swiftly the words blended together, nearly incomprehensible. “Though, did Makino tell you how dates typically end?”

Luffy’s squished up his nose, frowning in clear confusion. His brow furrowed, a little hum sounding from his pursed lips. Law floundered, his mind whirring as he tried to think of an alternative answer, something that would sound in character to Straw Hat. 

Before he could further his act, Luffy lifted a finger to his own lips in thought. The touch of his digit to his mouth seemed to spark a memory, Luffy’s eyes lighting up with sudden realization. 

Law reveled in the way Luffy’s cheeks went bright red, a bashful smile Law had never seen creeping across his face. Not wanting Luffy to get the wrong impression, Law quickly elaborated, “Only if you want to, of course! There’s no obligation to end a date that way, and it’s not even a real date and…”

Just as a flicker of resolve lanced across Luffy’s expression, the glass was shattered. 

“Oi! Luffy! Usopp’s eating all the meat!” Blackleg Sanji’s voice echoed from deep within the galley of the Sunny, followed by the sniper’s squawk of protest.

That was enough to pique Luffy’s interest. Heavy footsteps behind Law signaled the arrival of his first mate - clearly, his crew was wondering what was taking him so long. Law stifled a sigh. It didn’t matter anymore. The moment was effectively ruined. 

But he couldn’t find it in himself to be upset, for Luffy’s smile was as dazzling as ever.

“Be safe, Torao!” He paused as he turned on his heel, shooting Bepo a stern look. “Hey, Bear! Make sure Torao sleeps and eats and stays strong, okay?!”

“Aye, aye!” Bepo saluted, just to immediately shrink under Law’s glare, “Sorry.”

With a lazy wave, Luffy bounded back down the dock to the call of his meal, and Law was left in front of his submarine. He felt vaguely queasy, though he wasn’t sure if it was due to nerves, embarrassment, or longing.

He didn’t even mind Bepo’s incessant fretting as he made for the entrance to his submarine. He hesitated just outside the heavy metal door, pausing to shoot one final glance at the Thousand Sunny.  “Until next time, Luffy-ya,” he murmured under his breath. 

As it turned out, next time was a lot sooner than expected. 

Devil Fruit abilities restored, Luffy managed to slingshot his stretched torso from the mast of the Sunny to the deck of the Polar Tang. Arms snaking around Law’s shoulders, Luffy anchored himself to press his forehead against Law’s, effectively knocking the latter’s spotted hat to the deck. With his signature snicker, Luffy breathed, “Hey Torao, is this okay?”

“Yeah.” 

If Law’s exhale was nearly swept away on the twilight breeze, then his sharp inhale certainly was. 

In a single second that Law would remember forever, Luffy pressed a kiss to his cheek. A soft, chaste gesture. All chapped lips and teeth peeking through his grin. Law hadn’t even had time to register the romantic act before the loud twang! reverberated across the stretch of ocean between them, Luffy reuniting with his bottom half. 

A single wave, a brilliant beam, and then Luffy was retreating into the galley, disappearing from Law’s sight. 

He huffed, but there was no denying the bright blush painted high on his cheeks or the fond admiration in his golden eyes. Straw Hat Luffy was a menace, and really, Law wouldn’t want it any other way.