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If you asked Nami, she would tell you that Luffy was acting weird. Well, more of the referential value for Luffy. Lately Nami's wallet had money to spare, and that should be cause for joy, but it was starting to worry her.
If you asked Sanji he would tell you that Luffy was strange. The food he used to prepare for him had increased, but surprisingly Sanji didn't see a hint of it. He shouldn't be surprised by Luffy's appetite, but there was certainly something wrong.
If you asked Brook or Usopp, they would tell you that because of their captain they had been punished themselves. Where was Luffy to stick up for mischief?
If you asked Chopper he would tell you that possibly Luffy was sick or that he was just nervous about the upcoming exams and just had to be given his space.
No one believed Chopper.
You wouldn't ask Zoro, because he would tell you that Luffy just looked happier, what's so weird about that?
But if you did ask Robin, she instead of speculating like the rest would give you a solution:
"Why don't we follow him and find out what's going on?".
And that's how they found out.
The truth is that Luffy wasn't acting strange. Yes, maybe at breakfast times he wasn't going with his crew and disappearing for the whole half hour, or maybe he was ordering extra food from Sanji, or maybe he wasn't getting into as much trouble as he used to, but those are things that happen when you want to meet new people, right?
Especially when it's your new best friend's gang of friends.
Luffy had promised his grandfather that he would get into less trouble (that last scolding almost cost him not being able to visit his brother Sabo the following vacation) and had also made Law worry (even if she wouldn't admit it). So Luffy was spending less time in the detention room, but also less time with Law.
Who he had grown accustomed to hanging out with.
So after two very long weeks of not being able to talk to Law as much as he wanted to, he came up with the great idea that he could go see her in her classroom whenever he wanted to!
The third-year classrooms were in the last building, it was just a short walk.... And no more eating with his crew, but hey, they were the ones he saw daily, while Law, despite her pleas, had denied her address time and time again.
Luffy just wanted to get together to play video games! Why did Law have to be so bitter?
On the other hand, Law's nakamas were quite nice and fun. Once they met Luffy, they wouldn't let him go.
Shachi, Bepo, Penguin and Ikkaku loved to prank him and talk and laugh with Luffy. Luffy wondered when would be a good time for the two crews to meet. Oh, he was looking forward to it.
That's how Luffy ended up in what was today, again involved in another game of UNO against Sachi and Penguin. With his tuna sandwich in one hand, his cards in the other and, of course, sitting in his favorite spot whenever he came to the 3°H classroom: Law's legs.
It's not that there weren't more places, it's that Law, Aka, a lover of annoying Luffy, seemed to enjoy harassing Luffy by making him sit on her long legs or share a seat.
Luffy didn't particularly mind. Law didn't participate in the UNO tournaments and just used her cell phone while Luffy cohabited with her crew, but every now and then Law's hand would reach out and almost unconsciously stroke Luffy's head. Her long fingers tangling in the messy hair, her blunt nails scratching in circular motions at his scalp.
If Luffy secretly snuggled more into Law's space, no one commented.
"I already want to see what you do with my reverse, Mugiwara!". Shachi shouted as he placed a letter on the small table on his desk.
"I just put another reverse!". Luffy shouted as he also placed another card on the pile.
"You can't do that!". Penguin spoke.
"Sure I can!!! and besides you didn't shout UNO so you have to grab more cards!".
"What, but we've never had to shout UNO! It is not in the rules!".
"Of course it is, that's how I've always played with Usopp and Zoro."
"But we're not them!". Shachi's face looked like it was about to explode either in anger or with a tantrum. "Captaiiiiiiiin!".
It was the latter.
"Toraooo!" Luffy turned to Law as well.
Law let out an exasperated sigh and put down her cell phone, leaving it face down on her desk. Then her gaze landed on Luffy and she smiled as one of her hands landed on Luffy's back, rubbing circles with his palm.
"What's the matter, babe, you beat those idiots again and they don't want to accept your victory?".
Luffy blushed at the nickname. It wasn't the first time Law had called him that. It had started in private, when it was just them, and when she used it in front of other people Luffy didn't mind, but lately he felt Law's sharp gaze was more intense. As if she was doing it on purpose to provoke fear in him.
Fear he clearly didn't feel, but something different that he couldn't put a name to.
"But Captain!" Penguin interrupted with a groan. "Mugiwara is changing the rules again!".
Law sighed and turned to them this time, her hand moving down to Luffy's waist to better accommodate him on her thighs.
"You're telling me you can't beat a first-year brat?" She smiled as only she knew how, Luffy smiled with her. "Is that it, they can't beat a kid?".
"I'm not a k-."
Luffy was silenced by a hand from Law squeezing his cheeks.
"If you can't beat a brat like this, forget about calling me your captain anymore!".
Law growled in the direction of his nakamas, and even Bepo and Ikkaku who weren't playing and had been eating from their food boxes lowered their chopsticks and brought a hand to their foreheads in salute.
"Yes, Captain Law!"
Luffy wanted to laugh out loud, but Law still had his cheeks and face clenched, so he could only stir in place and shake his shoulders.
Law hissed in pain and let go of Luffy to immediately reach down, grab him by the waist and adjust him better on one of her thighs.
"And you, stop moving or eat more! Your bones are hurting me!".
Luffy straightened his back and put a hand to his forehead in greeting as well.
"Yes, Torao!"
Satisfied, Law nodded and returned to her mobile as the silence returned as Shachi began to shuffle UNO's cards again.
The small silence was quickly interrupted by a clatter from the classroom door. A noise caused by a thermos falling to the floor and causing all the Hearts and Luffy to look up in that direction.
Luffy met Nami's eyes, big, blue and surprised and Luffy somehow felt like that time when he was six years old when his brothers caught him stealing a candy from a store and then reprimanded him.
"No. Way". Nami's voice was one of pure disbelief as she opened the door.
Behind her stood the rest of Luffy's Nakamas. All with an expression as if they had seen some alien come down from their ship. All except Zoro, of course, who looked bored at being dragged down there.
"Penguin. Do you know them?".
"I've never seen them before in my life, Ikkaku."
"They're my nakamas." Luffy said with a smile. He wanted to get up, but Law's hand was still tightly around his waist. So he stayed in place so as not to disturb her.
"Oi, Nami! What are they doing around here?".
Nami came striding in. The rest of the crew came in after her.
"That's what I should be asking! We were looking for you because we were wondering where you were sneaking off to all this time, and it turns out you were here!".
"Luffy, I didn't know you were getting along with the third years!". Chopper commented in wonderment.
Luffy smiled, "Shishishi, this is Torao's crew. Torao crew, these are my nakamas."
"Greetings!" Replied the Hearts in unison. Friendly as always.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Usopp! Woa, are you playing, can I play too?".
"Of course, come, come, sit here."
"I'm Ikkaku, I've seen you before in the library."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Robin."
"The rest can sit here, excuse me, I'm Bepo!".
"Can we go now? We've already found Luffy."
"You go if you want to, Marimo! No one wants you here anyway."
"What did you say, you shitty cook?!".
The classroom that had previously been relatively quiet quickly filled with cacophony and hubbub as the two crews got to know each other. It had been just as Luffy had hoped, the two groups of friends quickly hit it off and began chatting about various topics and resumed the card game. Even the fact that Law stayed on the sidelines, quiet while still on her mobile and with Luffy on her lap, was expected. In fact, he was quite surprised that with all the noise Law hadn't shut them all up already.
Luffy could almost puff out his chest with pride as he watched his nakamas mingle with Law's nakamas. However...
"Why do they keep looking at me like that?". Luffy asked, turning his gaze towards Sanji and Nami, who were still looking at him as if he had sprouted a second head.
"Are you going to explain this to us?!".
Nami waved her hand. Luffy didn't understand.
"Explain what?".
"Luffy, you act strange for weeks, without saying anything and when we find you you're already dating the prettiest girl I've ever seen. And you haven't even introduced us!". Sanj groaned as he bit into a cloth napkin and shot a resentful look.
"We're not dating." Luffy retorted.
Law didn't even look up from her cell phone, but her grip around Luffy's waist loosened and Luffy somehow felt sad about it.
"Torao's just my friend."
Nami's nose wrinkled as she looked down at Luffy on Law's lap.
"Then can you introduce me to this beautiful lady?". Sanji was about to start doing one of his weird dances as he leaned over Law.
Nami slapped him away and sighed.
"Still, Nami-san and I have questions. Come, let's go."
Sanji, after recomposing himself from Nami's punch, grabbed Luffy by the arm and pulled him.
The grip around Luffy's waist tightened again. This time Law looked up for the first time since they had all entered and stared Sanji in the eyes.
"What are you doing, you want to take it away from me?"
Luffy wasn't able to tell, but Sanji understood the low, possessive tone in which Law had spoken to him and shuddered. Pretty girls were his weakness, but strong-willed girls had always generated in him a feeling beyond the usual, almost like a mix between respect and fear. Maybe it was due to Nami or her sister. In any case, he felt so embarrassed that he quickly let go of Luffy's arm and found no words to respond.
The sound of the others' voices could be heard in the background as Law looked directly at Sanji and Nami and they, in turn, looked at her. Luffy was confused. He thought they would like Law right away, didn't she?
"Oi, Nami...".
"If I say that Luffy and I are dating you'll leave us alone?".
Law's voice volume wasn't even that loud when he uttered these words, but perhaps it was because she had said them at a time when all conversations were paused that it was heard so loudly throughout the classroom that both crews fell completely silent and looked at Law and Luffy.
Luffy for some reason felt his cheeks burn as he felt watched by everyone. Normally he didn't mind being the center of attention, however this time it felt different.
He didn't have time to process the feeling because he immediately felt Law push him off her lap to pull them both to their feet.
Sitting down it wasn't noticeable, but standing Law was quite a bit taller than Nami and a bit taller than Sanji. They all had to look up into her face.
Luffy flinched.
Law sighed and grabbed Luffy's wrist as she made her way out of the classroom.
Luffy willingly followed her.
They walked in silence to the vending machine section and only there did Law let go of Luffy's hand and walked to a canned coffee machine.
Luffy watched her silently insert a couple of coins and ask for a sugar-free coffee.
Only after a few moments of watching her tattooed fingers maneuver the machine's buttons and open the can did Luffy find his voice again and spoke.
"Torao, are you upset?".
Law took a swig of her drink and then looked at Luffy with a genuine smile.
"Why would I be upset?"
Luffy let out a sigh that he didn't know he was holding back as he heard Law's kind and calm tone again.
"So, what happened there and what you said...".
Law shrugged.
"Your nakamas are nice, but that much noise was giving me a headache. I only said it as an excuse to get them to let us out."
Luffy smiled a tightness in his chest at these words.
"Mmh, okay."
"Don't worry. Let them believe what they want, as long as everyone leaves me alone."
Luffy looked up at Law and pursed his lips.
"You want me to leave too?"
Law looked at him with a half smile and leaned toward him. She patted one of his cheeks as she always used to do and then ruffled his hair.
"No, babe. I like your company"
Luffy smiled back.
"Torao, what if I said I do want you to be my girlfriend?".
Law's hand in his hair stopped immediately and the expression in her gaze changed, her smile also disappeared.
Luffy's mouth always tended to be faster than his thoughts, but by the time he realized this time what he had said it was too late.
Two long heartbeats passed before Law's smile returned.
"Too late, because if it were then you'd be the girlfriend."
Luffy had never blushed so much in his life. His cheeks felt hot while for the first time in his life he was speechless. He wanted to reply to Law, but just as he opened his mouth, the words died in his throat.
He heard Law laugh then and then felt something warm and light land on the corner of his lips.
"Shut your mouth or you're going to get flies."
Luffy burst out laughing and taking advantage of Law's closeness, he stood on his tiptoes and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. Just like the ones his brothers used to give him.
"I like you a lot, Torao."
Law patted his head.
"Yeah, now go get your nakamas out of my classroom or I won't bring you chocolate tomorrow."
"Nooo!"
Luffy cried for the chocolate and quickly went back for his nakamas.
"So, how did it go?" Nami asked once they were walking back to their own building and classroom. "Did she tell you she wanted to be your girlfriend or what?".
"Nope."
"Then why that face?".
"I'm the girlfriend."
Luffy replied simply with a big goofy grin.
The Mugiwaras stood, not being able to shape what they had just heard.
If you asked them, they would probably tell you that, with this kind of surprise obtained, they would never spy on Luffy ever again.