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Cora was out on his balcony, watering his plants when his phone rang. He looked at the number in surprise. Law tended not to call - he either sent texts at random hours, or just showed up. He put the watering can on the small table and watched as it fell off too close to the edge and drenched his sweatpants. No big deal.
“Hey, what’s up?” Cora asked and sat on the chair beside the succulent display. “You never call.”
“I know, I wanted to do this in person but I am on call as ER surgeon. Pulling a few extra shifts so that I can go on vacation in a few weeks.”
“Vacation?” Cora blinked a bit. “Am I in an alternate dimension? Who are you and what have you done with the real Law?”
“Fuck off, I’ve gone on vacation?”
“Since our trip to Sabaody for your high school graduation?” Because he was pretty sure that was Law’s last trip and the silent that met agreed with him. But still. “Vacation, or work conference?”
There was a huff, “vacation. My boyfriend said if I didn’t take him away for a few nights, certain…activities would be curtailed. I do not want that to happen. So four nights away at the beginning of next month.”
Cora didn’t care that he sounded like a Victorian mother when he gasped, “you have a gentleman caller?” Okay that was a bit much but the groan it made Law let out was worth it. “I need my smelling salts.” He snickered at the string of curses that came through the phone. “If you are engaged in a courtship then I should meet your suitor.” There was silence. Maybe that was too far.
“That’s why I am calling. Zoro said since I’ve met all his family, or near enough. He should meet mine. Was kinda hoping we could come for dinner tomorrow night?”
Cora dropped all teasing and pulled out his cigarettes because this warranted a smoke. He had two a day and fuck he deserved that right now. “Meeting family sounds serious.” He hadn’t know Law was dating. Mainly because Law didn’t date. Law had made a life plan and relationships were apparently off the table until he was thirty five. Last he checked Law was only thirty three. Rare for his kid to deviate from plans like that. “I didn’t know you were dating someone.”
“Yeah, okay so, here’s the thing,” was said and there was no thing.
Law was nervous which he was many things but never that.
“You are completely sunk on this guy?” Cora immediately started thinking about where he would order take out from for this meeting. Flowers, there should be some fresh flowers as well. Did he need to buy a new suit for this?
“I had a game plan. And then he showed up, and it just all was gone,” Law wasn’t whining it was close though. “Who does that? Zoro, that’s who. He just storms in with all his clueless Zoro-ness and smiles that stupid smile at me and I forget my name.”
Cora wouldn’t squeal but he did get up and do a happy dance as Law kept ranting about Zoro’s smile. When Law took a breath, Cora wanted more details than just a smile. “Does he work at the hospital with you?” Because where else would he meet a guy.
“No, we met at the hospital but he doesn’t work here. His best friend needed an emergency appendectomy and he wouldn’t leave, stayed right outside the room and he shoved power of medical attorney paperwork in my face and demanded to know if his friend was alright when I left. I was ready to yell at him, but he looked so scared for his friend, that I explained everything and once he knew it was fine, he adrenaline dumped so I took him the cafeteria. And then it just sort of spiraled.”
“They’ll make a Christmas movie about it,” Cora sniffled because that was beautiful. “So what does Zoro do for a living?”
“Oh, he plays with swords.”
“I’m sorry what? Where do you go to school for that?” Cora froze because that had to be a weird joke. Law had a bad sense of humour when he had one at all.
“School? Zoro? He didn’t even finish high school.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Cora decided to have cigarette number two of the day. “You are dating a thirty something high school drop out who plays with swords.”
“Did I say he was thirty? He’s twenty two. No wait, I think twenty three, because he finished his two years of house arrest when he was twenty two, he liked all those twos together.” There was a laugh. “Three is his favourite number, but two makes him laugh.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Cora took a heavy drag of the cigarette. “I don’t get the joke.”
“Don’t worry, neither do I. Oh and don’t worry about serving one of your good bottles of wine.”
“Zoro doesn’t drink?” With the rest of what had been said that was a welcome thought.
“No, he drinks a lot. But like high end or low end, Zoro just cares if it is booze. So not worth breaking out the good stuff. I blame his father for that.”
Cora closed his eyes. “Why, is there a history of alcoholism in the family? I know a good treatment centre.”
“Nah, it’s all good. No, Zoro just has a really weird competitive relationship with his father.”
“And you have met this father, what does he do for a living?”
“Don’t worry all the charges were dropped.”
“I -“ Cora cleared his throat. “I -“ No he needed another minute. “Being arrested is his career?”
“No, he owns this really shitty building that is falling down a lot, as Zoro says. He takes care of it. Electricity should be restored soon.”
A tenement, the father of the alcoholic child his son was dating owned a flop house. “And you’ve met this man?”
“Sure, he seemed really happy Zoro was dating me.”
Sure, Law had the inheritance from his blood family’s wrongful death lawsuits, and from Cora’s personal fortune. Cora was a good man, but his brother was not and maybe he could get Doffy to kill these people. Law wasn’t in too deep yet.
“Well,” Cora tried to sound happy. “I look forward to meeting Zoro tomorrow night. Does he have any allergies?”
“No, but he likes seafood. If he had his choice, we’d only go to the Baratie for dinner.”
The most expensive seafood restaurant in town. Of course. “Well there is that place we love that does the Wano style seafood.”
“That’d be great. Cora, I really want you to like him. I know it wasn’t my plan, and he sure as fuck wasn’t my plan. But I think I’m going to marry him, if I can just convince him to leave Luffy.”
“LUFFY? Who the fuck is Luffy?” Cora shouted.
“Shit, a bad pile up on the highway, got to go,” Law said into the phone. “See you tomorrow.”
The dead silence of the hang up, was so heavy in his ear.
Well, he had a clear picture in his head. Cora didn’t need Doffy to kill this guy, a decent enough bribe should do the trick. Fifty thousand berries should do the trick. But he wouldn’t move the money around until after the meeting. He needed to get the measure of them man first.
The next night, Cora wanted to be rude, but he just couldn’t because he knew Law would be nervous. He sent the dining room table well, the food would arrive soon and was all quality and he was even serving good wine. Because my god he deserved it if he was going to be eating with a thug who had ensnared his beautiful baby boy. He put on some soft music, and checked his make up, because Law would find it weird if Cora hadn’t gussied up.
There was a knock and the door opened. “We’re here,” Law called out. “Food is right behind us too.”
“Coming,” Cora hurried over, and he would have tripped over the carpet a bit no matter what and it was not because Law’s fellow had a missing eye and looked like a serial killer. “Hi there,” he managed to say. “Give me just a moment to get the food. Take Zoro on in.”
There was a nod and Cora handed his credit card to the delivery boy. “Holy shit, that was Roronoa Zoro,” the guy breathed out. “Watched him on tv just the other night.”
“On East Blue’s Most Wanted, I am sure,” Cora muttered and tipped handsomely. “Bye,” he took the food and shoved the guy away because he was trying to crane and see Zoro. Cora took a few breaths and brought the food to the dining room. It was all cold dishes so it would sit for a minute fine. He went to the living room and Law was showing Zoro the view. Which it was the penthouse so it was a pretty spectacular view.
Zoro’s eye met his through the glass and it wasn’t a calculating stare. But it was something that Cora couldn’t define. They came inside and Cora held out his hand. “Zoro, a pleasure to meet you. Law couldn’t stop gushing about you yesterday. Told me so much about you.”
There was a huff and a bit of ruddy cheeks on Zoro. The guy was embarrassed? Thugs could be embarrassed? “He watches one demonstration and thinks he knows everything,” Zoro muttered. “Oh, hang on. Not all the manners my dad made me learn are shit.” Zoro was clearly fishing around in a pocket. “Thanks for having me. Law said you collect these?”
Cora cooed, he couldn’t help himself, because it was a small porcelain cat. He loved stupid little useless animal statues so much. “Thank you. How about we eat and get to know each other?”
They settled at the table and Zoro seemed excited about the food, and okay yeah he downed the first glass of wine terrifyingly quickly, but the second was being sipped. Zoro was able to use chopsticks, which looked small in his scarred hands. It was quiet, but not the usual nice quiet of he and Law. “So Law was a bit vague about your work?” That was a polite way to express it, Cora thought.
“If it isn’t cutting up a person, how much does Law actually pay attention when you talk about work.”
“Hey, I pay attention,” Law protested.
“Name my nine blades. No, easier, name the three I currently work with.”
“Wado,” Law snapped and then froze. “And Enema?” There was a pause. “I get points for knowing Wado.”
Zoro grinned and that was so many teeth like a shark. “Sure, you do babe, one point.” There was a shoulder knock to Law. “I guess I am a teacher? Some days. Historian others. And fighter. That’s actually the lead I guess? I was uhh on tv last week, the World Government Historical Battle Tournament? I won the swords medal.”
Cora blinked. “That is an incredibly prestigious event. Wait, isn’t that competition notorious, Dracule Mihawk has won it for over two decades.” It was one of the most infamous rankings in all of sports. Some people tried to argue it was rigged but the guy was just that strong.
“Had to take Dad down at some point,” Zoro coughed a bit. “He said he was real proud. Happy to pass the mantle to me.”
Plays with swords? Cora glared at Law a bit, who didn’t even notice. “Where does the historian come in?”
“Oh, when not practicing for competitions, I authenticate swords, can tell just by feel the age of steel, whether it is legit from Wano or a knock off.”
“That is impressive, Law mentioned though that you didn’t go to school.”
“Nah, Dad home schooled me and Perona - that’s my sister - out at the manor we grew up. Place is like eight hundred years old. Dad is actually finally getting proper wiring into the east wing, I’ve been holding a lot of stuff for my friends working on it. But yeah, home schooled, and whenever I want to learn something more I just hit up Robin and she finds me books.”
“Robin?”
“Nico Robin, she’s the official head archivist of the East Blue library system. She’s my pal.” Zoro ate a bit more. “This is really great. Almost as good as the Baratie.”
“Oh for -“ Law groaned. “Places other than the Baratie have good food! Your best friend isn’t the only good chef there is.”
“He isn’t my best friend. Shit Cook is just the best there is.” Zoro was almost pouting a bit. “Sue me for having taste buds.”
“You have three working taste buds.”
“I have like seven and Sanji hits them all.” Zoro actually stuck out his tongue. It was adorable. Law and his boyfriend who was not a serial killer were adorable. And it seemed Zoro was incredibly well connected. But he still had one more question.
“Law had to run, but he mentioned Luffy?” Actually he wanted to know about the house arrest thing too, but you couldn’t just ask that.
Zoro laughed, “Law kinda hates my best friend, because Luffy has like zero chill? And no sense of personal space. He hugs Law a lot.”
“Too much,” was muttered.
“My best friend, Monkey D. Luffy - he’s the king of pirates? Maybe you’ve heard of him?” Zoro leaned forward. “That kid’s performer at parties? He made the news a few weeks ago for saving the kids when a car went wild and rammed into the backyard.”
“I remember that yes.” The children’s performer was the grandson of the vice admiral for the East Blue. “No, no I am just asking. If you have ties to the marines how were you under house arrest for two years?”
“Oh that,” Zoro seemed dismissive. “Marineford, had Luffy’s brother as an illegal political prisoner, so we all went to free him. And it got televised that the the world government was doing hinky shit?”
“Hinky shit?” Cora felt a bit faint. “There was a shadow organization the five elders.”
“Yup, since we kinda forced that into the public light, they wanted to try us as war criminals, but well, Ace had footage of their war crimes, why they had grabbed him. It all went public, so we were put under house arrest for a couple years while that was in the SWORD court system, more as like witness protection than anything else.”
“I want to be clear here. You are twenty three, a world class ranked competitor, a freedom fighter, son of one of the East Blue’s wealthiest men, and connected to incredibly talented and powerful people.”
“I dunno,” Zoro was blushing, “they are just my people. Don’t make it weird.”
“No, you know who made it weird. My kid!” Cora glared at Law. “He plays with swords?”
“He does?” Law was frowning. “He calls it playing, so I called it playing.”
“You are an idiot,” Cora said but it was affectionate. “He was distracted when telling me about you, and well -“
“Oh fuck, it would have been the worst,” Zoro laughed and it was with his whole body and Cora was charmed at the joy pouring out of him. “Law gives me and my friends shit for not explaining anything we are planning to do, and I bet he made me sound just terrifying.”
“I had a bribe ready to get you out of Law’s life.”
“He needs so much looking after. But I, uhh, wouldn’t mind doing it,” Zoro said and Cora watched Law completely soften at those words. Zoro reached for his wine glass and paused. Look at Law. “You said something about my drinking didn’t you?”
“I said you can’t taste the difference between good and bad alcohol because you drink so much, and okay yeah, I can see how that sounds bad.” Law winced. “He has a think in his body chemistry, alcohol doesn’t intoxicate him in the same way. Want him drunk give him sugary drinks, Bepo is actually writing a paper on it.”
“Lovely, use better words next time,” Cora said. “Now Zoro, you sure you want to look after him. He works too hard, and is a bit of a dick.”
“Dad!” Law snapped. “Come on!”
“I’m working on it, why I insisted he take a vacation.”
“Good. I think we will get along well,” Cora decided. “Shall we go sit in the living room. I can show you photos of young Law.”
“And we are leaving. Right now,” Law snapped.
“No, we so aren’t. Mihawk should you my bare baby ass. I’m seeing you being a dork too.”
Yes, Cora was quite sure he was going to like Zoro.
*
“Hey, what’s up?” Cora was just putting on his coat to run some errands when his phone rang.
“Zoro and I are doing a thing and could use your help?” Law said. “Running behind but you’d be useful in sorting this out. Texting you the address. We’ll buy you food after.”
There was a hang up and Cora shrugged and drove to the address he was given and stared.
He went inside and was directed to the correct place. He glared at Law. “I am in my grocery store pants!”
“So?”
“I would like to be in decent clothes when I see my son married!” Cora threw up his hands a bit in the air.
“I lost a bet, I didn’t know Zoro’s prize was going to be us getting married. I remembered to call and invite you?”
“Was it a lost bet?” Cora looked at Zoro.
“I mean, I said, hey the courthouse has a wedding opening next week, wanna bet I can get us that slot and he said yes?”
Cora groaned. “You need to use your words better,” he said as he adjusted Law’s tie. He then hugged his boy and began to sob. “You are getting married.”
“Yeah yeah, I am due for my shift in a couple hours, let’s move this along.”
Cora was going to murder his kid. But he stood next to Dracule, and Luffy was on Zoro’s back because somehow Luffy believed that was where best men were supposed to be, and he watched as Law’s hand shook for the rings, and his voice was raspy at the words. “Tell me we are going to plan them a lavish and obnoxious reception for a few weeks from now,” he whispered to Mihawk at their sons kissed as newly wedded husbands.
“I will visit untold suffering upon my child. There will be doves released, and a full choir to sing.” It sounded like a dark promise. “Join me in making them pay for I am also in grocery store pants.”
“Full portraits, like actual multiple professional photographer,” Cora said and shook Mihawk’s hand.
But he smiled because Law and Zoro were still standing there staring at each other completely besotted.
Law had used the right words for the ceremony and it was everything Cora wanted for his son.