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It is a well known fact that the biggest criers in movies amongst the Straw Hat gang are: 1) Franky, obviously, and 2) Luffy. Third place is a tie between Usopp, Chopper, or Brook, depending on the genre.
Luffy hardly cries for things that should really hurt, but movies based on fiction? It's a water fest. He even cries for cartoons—really bad ones, too.
Romantic movies weren't usually the move when the whole gang went to the theater, but this particular one had good reviews, so they put it to a vote. Even if they aren't Law's cup of tea, the story was touching and it even reminded him of the game of tug-of-war that eventually blossomed into his and Luffy's relationship.
Except for the part where one of the protagonists in the movie dies at the end. That was really tragic.
"Dorao, dat wush sho swad!" Luffy wailed, rubbing his tears and boogers on the sleeve of his warm, winter coat. That'll have to go in the washer.
"It was a good movie. Now, pull yourself together, your mucus is gonna freeze and it'll hurt a lot."
"But..." he sniffled, "I can'd shdop cwyin!!"
People walking along the streets stared, but Law couldn't care less. Luffy was extremely empathetic by nature, Law could never possibly be angry or annoyed by that. It's one of the reasons he loves him so much after all.
So, he sighs in resignation with a fond smile, "wanna get some hot chocolate?"
"Duh-huh," Luffy nods, inhaling in a gross, wet, ungodly breath of snot.
They headed towards a cafe both of them are regulars at—gloved hands entwined, snow dancing slowly above them, feet crunching below them. Winter time is the best, in Law's opinion.
In the movie, the woman asked the man she loved a question throughout a few instances. One that would define the evolving love they shared throughout their lives:
"Torao, when do you love me the most?" Luffy repeated the question.
Law had been expecting it, but between the movie and their trip to the cafe, he still hadn't come up with an answer.
"When do I love you the most?" he turned his head to the sky in quiet introspection.
I love you at all times, but when is it the most?
Right now, I love the way your cheeks and nose are blotched an adorable rosy hue against the cold. I love that I see that everyday during the winter time.
I love the way you try to wear shorts and sandals in the snow, and I have to force you into something else. I love when I don't win, and you inevitably get sick, then I have to take care of you. You insufferable bastard.
I love the smile on your face when you eat or drink something that warms you up. I love that you make me buy the hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows, and whine about it when I accidentally buy the one without and force you to finish it anyway because we don't waste food.
I love the conversation we had the other day when we were snowed in for four days.
"Torao I'm soooooo bored!" You nagged me, nothing new about that.
"Wanna play a card game? Make a puzzle? Or watch a movie? There isn't much we can do." I asked, even though we were both fed up with doing it all.
You threw your head on my lap while I was reading a book and got under a blanket, "it's okay. I like being bored sometimes as long as it's with you."
I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth. But, I love when you surprise me.
And then you bit me when I told you to get off of me because I was in a bad position, and I just wanted to get comfortable. Asshole.
After we were able to clear the snow, I love how you wanted to spend all your time outdoors. I love the childlike wonder in your eyes during the first snow like it's something brand new even though we see it every year.
I love that you make me feel like a child again when you drag me into snowball fights and get me to build a family of snowmen in our driveway. We come up with stories about each of them, and they range anywhere from "they're in love just like us" to "they've been plotting each other's assassinations for over fifty years".
I even love the stupid way you like to pee in the snow because you like to watch it evaporate. You're so gross! How is it possible to hate someone so much and simultaneously be so endeared by them?
I love that, during the cold season, you don't like to turn on the heater because we can "warm each other up even better". And I love it even more that you're right about that.
I love the holidays with you even though I hated them before. The effort and thought that you put into gifts during Christmas, even the times they aren't something physical. I love that every New Year you say the thing you're most excited about is spending another year with me.
How could that possibly be? I am still in shock and rapture at your love every single day.
When the city is stark white, full of snow, and my mind wanders back to my lost homeland, I love that your smile is there to remind me I'm not a lonely little boy anymore, and I never will be again. The monochromatic scene, like a blank canvas, becomes painted with your warmth and love.
Law pulled Luffy's hand to a stop and answers his question. "I love you most in the winter."
A radiant smile is enough to let Law know he approved of that answer. Honestly, he would probably approve of any answer, and Law loves that too.
Luffy tugged his arm and wrapped the other around his neck to pull him in for a kiss that warmed Law to his very core. He sighed into it, melting into the affection and reaching for his lover's face to run his thumb across the scar under his eye that he can never get enough of.
It ends too soon when Luffy pulls away, "wanna get the hot chocolate to go?"
Law lowered himself to kiss a cold cheek with a smile, "I was about to ask you the same thing."
———
In April, the movie they watched that day hit streaming services, and Luffy wanted to watch it again on a day they had nothing else to do. He cried all the same as if he was unaware of what was coming in the end. What a ridiculous boy.
Then, he asked the question once more: "Torao, when do you love me the most?"
Law considered the question carefully again. The snow had melted away, the city now decorated in a rainbow of freshly blossomed flowers. Fields of deep reds, soft pinks, and exotic oranges—none of their beauty compared to that of his lover.
As they sat on their couch, Law wrapped his arm around Luffy and pulled him close to plant a kiss on his temple, "I love you the most in the spring."
In July, Law would say the summer because the radiance of his lover puts the sun to shame. And in October, he would say it was autumn because his eyes are the warmest shade of brown. The cycle could continue forever because Law loves Luffy the most in whatever season they were in.
But when Law asked the question to Luffy, there was no deliberation, not a sliver of hesitation. "I love you the most right now, Torao."
Their answers are the same, it turns out.