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The orange and white transponder snail on Law's nightstand jerked awake.
“Straw Hat’s approaching,” Bepo notified his captain.
But, of course, Law was already aware. He would recognize that brilliant, insistent aura in a crowd of a thousand, never mind when it was singled out and headed straight for him.
Reclined in his bed, ankles crossed, Law turned the page in the book he was reading—trying to deny how desperate he was to see Luffy again. He had another minute or two to finish this chapter, but the words quickly began to bleed together, turning into nonsense as Luffy drew near. He felt it, like a hum in his bones.
“Straw Hat is onboard and heading your way,” came the update. Law could practically hear Bepo’s amused smile.
“Thank you, Bepo,” he said, and disconnected the line. Law sat up, placed the book on his nightstand, then stood and stretched until his back popped. He crossed his arms, a crooked smile fighting through, and waited in anticipation as Luffy’s aura zoomed down the corridor.
A moment later, Luffy threw open the door to Law’s room, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind him. Even now, his exuberant smile—aimed at him of all people—didn’t fail to make Law’s heart freefall in his chest.
The younger captain was wearing his customary sash, shorts, and red vest, with his signature hat hanging behind his neck. But something seemed different... Had he gotten taller in their time apart?
Law barely had time to register it before his field of vision was flooded by living sunshine.
“Torao!” he cried, coming at a run. Law took a half-step back and braced himself, but it would have been useless to protest. There was nowhere to go, anyway, as Luffy leapt bodily onto him, wrapping legs around his middle and arms around his neck. Law made a choked sound and doubled over under the added weight, but wasted no time rocking himself upright, steadying Luffy with arms linked beneath his backside.
It didn’t matter that he was twenty years old; the other captain still acted like a rambunctious, untrained puppy.
Still, Law couldn’t help the half-smile on his face as he looked up at Luffy’s blinding one. “Missed me, did you?” he teased.
“Of course I missed you,” Luffy said, unable to lie.
And Law’s heart did another flip.
Luffy leaned in, his forehead bumping into the brim of Law’s hat. “Did you miss me?” he asked with a grin.
Law hummed like he had to think about it. “Maybe a little,” he decided.
Luffy snickered. “Liar. I know you did.”
“Oh, yeah?” Law knew the look on his face was disgustingly fond.
“Yeah.” They were practically nose to nose now. “The bear called Nami and asked us to meet you here.”
Law’s face warmed. He didn’t realize Bepo had been so obvious about it. “My crew needed a break,” he bluffed. “It was just coincidence that we happened to be in the—”
Luffy leaned back in his boyfriend's arms, then rocked forward, hard, sending Law stumbling backwards. The back of his knees hit the edge of his mattress and he fell onto it with a cry, Luffy’s weight falling on top of him.
Luffy immediately sat back, straddling Law’s waist. He removed his straw hat; with a flick of his wrist it glided to the edge of the bed.
“What are you—?” Law's question died on his tongue as he watched Luffy take off his vest next, consigning it to the floor, then slide out of his sandals.
Law hadn’t expected Luffy to cut right to the chase, but he wasn’t complaining either, his insides warming pleasantly at the sight of the other man’s broad, tanned chest.
Luffy leaned forward slightly, taking the hem of Law’s yellow shirt in his hands, knuckles tickling his waist. He paused, teeth revealed in a predatory smile. “Be honest,” he said, and Law knew from the dark look in his eyes that his answer would determine what came next.
Law swallowed, weighing his options, but the choice was clear.
“Fine. I missed you.” While he was telling the truth, Law added, “A lot.”
Luffy snickered once, satisfied, and tugged at the shirt, pulling it up and over his head, knocking the fur hat away with it. Both wound up somewhere on the floor. In a smooth motion he grabbed Law’s wrists, pinning them above his head on the mattress.
“See, that wasn’t so hard,” he practically purred. Luffy's eyes roamed his ink-kissed torso with a hungry look, biding his time, when a slight twitch of his thumb over Law’s pulse point drew his eyes back to the wrists he held.
Law watched as his lips parted and pupils dilated in surprise. His grip loosened, hands sliding down to reveal the fresh ink. He cocked his head adorably.
“New tattoos,” he said, half a question.
“Got them a month ago.” Law’s lips tugged in a small smile. “Do you like them?”
Luffy leaned closer, his thumbs brushing over the matching symbols. Both wrists were now adorned with a perfect circle surrounded by wavy, fiery rays.
His eyes lifted from the tattoos to Law. “Why suns, though?”
Law sat up, and Luffy didn’t object, scooting back to sit on his heels. Law didn’t want to break contact and set a hand on Luffy’s thigh.
“Why do you think?” he countered, amusement lighting his eyes.
Luffy pursed his lips, brows knitting together as the wheels turned in his mind. “Hmmm.” Finally, he gave a rueful smile. “It’s not ‘cause of the Nika thing, right? I already told you, I’m just me, even when I beat Kaido.”
Law laughed softly and shook his head. “No, that’s not it.” Or at least, it wasn’t the deciding factor. There was no denying how the organic outline of the suns reminded him of Luffy’s hair in that transcendent form, more cloud and light than keratin. “But they are for you.”
Luffy blinked, curious.
Law turned his wrist and glided a thumb over one of the suns.
“I didn’t want to get another captain’s jolly roger tattooed on my skin, so… I had to think of something else,” he explained. Looking at Luffy, he cupped his cheek in a cool hand. He watched his dark eyes widen and focus on Law completely, his fingers gently curling around Law’s wrist to keep him there. “And to me…” Law’s thumb brushed his face, just dancing beneath the old, happy scar. His eyes warmed. “To me, you’re like the sun.”
Luffy made a questioning sound in his throat, eyebrows arching. He smiled, pleased but uncertain. “What does that mean?” Metaphors were never his strong suit.
“It means…” It was so obvious to Law, but now he had to find the words. The silence stretched for a moment, but Luffy was patient with him.
“You’re bright,” Law decided. Luffy’s smile was radiant, but so was his spirit. He was a beacon of hope for the oppressed—from that punch in Sabaody to his mirth in the lanterned sky over Wano, a god reborn.
“You’re warm.” Law remembered their unexpected reunion at Punk Hazard—how Luffy had beamed at him, thanked him, and treated him like a friend as though no time had passed. He loved and cared for people with an ease that Law wished he had the capacity for.
Law’s hand slid down to Luffy’s neck, thumb tracing his jawline.
“You’re…” He huffed a laugh. “...always the center of everything.” The future pirate king had a way of finding attention, unwanted or not. It was a penchant of his that was frustrating and exhausting, but all the same, Law missed him in the eventual quiet, when his life fell back into routine.
“You illuminate the best part of people,” he continued. Law knew, from various stories over the years, how each of Luffy’s crew members had flourished under their captain’s acceptance and faith.
“You’re reliable.” If he called, Luffy would come. No questions asked.
Law leaned in and kissed him gently. “You gave me life when I wanted to quit,” he whispered. He touched his forehead to Luffy’s, peering over at those deep, onyx eyes. Softly, but earnestly, he concluded, “I don’t think I could live without you.” Any more than he could live if the sun vanished from the sky. It would feel just like that—cold, endless night.
Luffy’s eyes crinkled with the sincerity of his smile, his own voice sure and wondering. “I don’t think I could live without you, either.” He lifted Law’s hand from his neck so he could press a kiss to his pulse point, over the tattoo. “Maybe I should get a sun tattoo,” he said, grinning.
Law laughed under his breath. “I don’t know. If you’re the sun, I think I’m more…the moon.” Not as warm, or inspiring, or untouchable, perhaps, but it was enough to be in his orbit. The moon could never truly stray from the sun’s pull.
I'm yours, he thought.
Luffy nuzzled his face back into Law’s palm and watched him with adoring eyes. “But the sun and moon are so far apart,” he whined, lips pulled in a pout.
Law’s heart ached at the reminder.
“Sometimes.” He took Luffy by the nape and pulled him close, breathing each other's air. His eyes closed as he murmured fiercely, “But when they come together, there's nothing else like it.”
Luffy’s wide eyes sparkled, a blush creeping across his cheeks. “A moon tattoo, then.” When he decided something, it was final.
Law disentangled himself and brought Luffy’s hand towards his lap, tracing a crescent shape across his skin with a finger. “The same place?” he wondered.
“Yeah. Then we’ll match!”
Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of affection, Law wrapped his arms around Luffy and pulled them both back down to the bed. Luffy laughed with delight, which quickly turned into happy giggles as Law tickled kisses down his neck.
When Law loosened his grip, Luffy raised himself up and grinned down at his boyfriend. “All those words, Torao, but I know why you really picked the sun,” he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
“Why’s that?” he asked, playing along.
Luffy gave him a smug look. “It’s ‘cause I’m so hot.” And grinned obnoxiously.
“I think that’s enough talking,” Law said, and sealed his lips with another kiss.