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The deck of the Thousand Sunny is a picture of lazy bliss under the afternoon sun. Franky is tinkering with something that clinks and clanks, Brook is telling a vaguely frightening story to Chopper, and Nami and Robin are sharing a magazine between them, laughing at some inside joke. It’s the kind of day that even makes Luffy feel almost… content.
Almost.
He’s halfway through his third round of wandering the deck, looking for something exciting to do, when he spots Torao. Law is sitting cross-legged against the railing, his sword propped up beside him, a dark figure outlined against the bright shimmer of the ocean beyond. His usually intense air of “do not disturb” has somehow ramped up to an unapproachable warning bell, like he’s silently daring the world to come closer just so he can push it away.
He’s hunched a little, his arms loosely folded over his chest, but there’s something in the way he’s doing it—tight, like he’s shielding himself from an unseen chill that no one else can feel. His face, usually set in an expression of mildly tolerable irritation, is almost blank, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon with a sort of stubborn intensity, as if he’s trying to burn holes straight through the sky. Normally, Law’s got a distinct kind of grumpy, the kind that says, “I’ll put up with you if I must.” Luffy has come to read that look well enough to know that Law doesn’t actually mean it, not most of the time, anyway.
But right now? He’s not even giving off that usual reluctant tolerance. He looks… not there, like he’s been snatched up by some invisible current, tugged far away from where he sits.
Law’s wearing an oddly cozy-looking navy sweater with the feathered collar. It’s soft, fluffy in a way that seems almost out of character, something that belongs on one of those fancy birds Robin points out in her books. The feathers brush along his jaw, and for a second, Luffy has the wild urge to bury his face right there, to see if it’s as soft as it looks, but he knows that thought would probably get him a lot more than a half-hearted death glare from Law.
The sweater clings in some places and drapes in others, somehow making him look both casual and ridiculously put-together. Luffy’s looked at Torao—a lot, if he’s honest, though he’s not sure why. Every time he catches himself doing it, there’s this strange, warm feeling that flares up in his chest, something that doesn’t happen when he looks at anyone else. It’s not like looking at meat, which is exciting in a totally different way. This is more like...like watching the sky just before the sun sets, or the sea when it’s so calm you can see your reflection in it. His gaze drifts to the back of Law’s neck, where his hair is still slightly damp from a shower, curling just above the collar of his sweater, his hat in his lap. Luffy’s fingers twitch at the thought of touching it, brushing his hand over those damp strands, just to see if they’re as soft as they look.
And his eyes—they’re locked on some distant point beyond the horizon, fixed and intense in a way that sends a chill over the sunny deck. It’s not the look of someone deep in thought; it’s something far emptier, almost haunted, like he’s staring at something only he can see and wishes he couldn’t. The shadows under his eyes seem darker, sharper than usual, giving him an exhausted, hollow look. It’s worse than anything Luffy saw back on Punk Hazard, even when they were surrounded by flames and ice and that awful, bitter cold.
There’s something unsettling about it, something that makes Luffy’s stomach twist. It’s like the emptiness is seeping off him in waves, rolling out over the deck and pushing back the warmth of the day. For the first time, Luffy feels the weight of that emptiness himself, like it’s trying to pull them both into whatever dark place Law’s mind has drifted to.
This isn’t the usual Torao Luffy’s gotten used to.
Luffy tilts his head, squinting. “Hey, Torao!” he calls out, loud enough to make half the crew jump. Nothing. Law doesn’t even blink, his gaze still anchored somewhere far out on the horizon.
Frowning, Luffy steps closer, waving a hand in front of Law’s face. But Law’s eyes stay fixed on the ocean, glassy and distant, as if he’s somewhere else entirely. That’s weird. Law usually only ignores him when he’s deliberately avoiding one of Luffy’s hare-brained ideas, but he’s never been…this silent.
Without really thinking about it, Luffy reaches out and puts a hand on Law’s shoulder. The touch jolts Law back to the present, and he flinches violently, his whole body stiffening as if burned. He pulls away from Luffy’s hand, just enough to make a point, mumbling, “Leave me alone.”
It’s quiet, barely a whisper, but the raw edge in Law’s voice makes Luffy’s chest tighten. He’s never heard him sound like that.
With a little frown, Luffy pulls away and makes a beeline for Robin. She’s always got answers to questions, even the ones he didn’t know he had. Plus, she’s good at reading people, which he figures comes in handy for things like figuring out why Torao is acting like a weird statue instead of his usual, scowly self.
“Oi, Robin!” he whispers loudly, crouching beside her to avoid disturbing Nami. “Why is Torao sitting there all weird?”
Robin glances up from the magazine, her gaze drifting thoughtfully to where Law sits hunched by the railing, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She watches him for a long moment, something quiet and analytical in her expression as she takes in his posture, his tense shoulders, the way his gaze seems locked on a point far beyond the horizon. It’s the look of someone used to reading people and seeing things others don’t, even in the smallest details.
Luffy, meanwhile, begins stretching his neck to peer over Nami’s shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of the magazine’s bright pages. Before he can get a good look, Nami snaps it shut with a practiced flick of her wrist and smacks him lightly on the forehead so that his head snaps back into place, wobbling a bit on impact. “Back off Luffy!” she huffs, giving him a warning glare. Luffy pouts but backs off, rubbing the front of his head.
Robin chuckles softly at the exchange, her gaze returning to Luffy with a touch more warmth, then leans a little closer to him, her voice gentle as she speaks. “It might be that he’s having a panic attack, Captain,” she says softly, as if sharing something secret.
Luffy tilts his head, still rubbing the spot where Nami got him. “A panic attack?” He squints at her, the term unfamiliar, and glances back at Law, who still looks somewhere between haunted and frozen in place.
Robin nods, her eyes serious as she watches Law again. “Yes. Sometimes, when someone is overwhelmed, they can seem calm on the outside, but inside, it feels as if they’re being pulled under by something they can’t control. It’s like their mind is frozen, even if everything around them is still.”
Luffy frowns. Panic? Torao? The words don’t make sense next to each other. If anything, Law is the calmest guy around here—like that creepy calm before a thunderstorm. But panic? That sounds… wrong. He squints at Robin. “But Torao’s always calm?”
“Calm isn’t always what it appears to be,” Robin says, her gaze softening as she looks at Luffy. “Sometimes, people are calm because they’ve hidden what they’re feeling for so long that it becomes a habit, even when they’re struggling.”
There’s a brief silence as Luffy processes this, looking back at Law. It doesn’t quite make sense to him, but he knows enough to understand one thing: whatever is going on with Torao, it’s hurting him.
“So… what am I supposed to do about that?” he asks, scratching his head.
Robin smiles softly. “Sometimes, doing something small and kind can help remind them they’re not alone. Maybe you could try that.”
Luffy’s face lights up, and he gives her a big grin. “Thanks, Robin! You’re always so wise!”
She chuckles, clearly amused, and leans in, pressing a light kiss to his forehead. Luffy’s eyes widen, and a bright blush spreads across his cheeks. He stammers something incoherent, scratching his head as if that might help him process things, before giving her a nod.
Then, with a determined look, he scrambles off toward the galley, his heart beating a little faster as he starts piecing together his plan to cheer up Torao.
–
Luffy steps into the galley quietly, almost sheepishly, a rare sight that catches Sanji off guard as he chops vegetables for dinner. He glances up, eyebrow raised, watching Luffy shuffle in with an uncharacteristically polite, “Hey, Sanji?”
Sanji leans back against the counter, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. “What’s with you? Did someone finally knock some manners into that thick head of yours?”
Luffy laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nah, I just wanted to ask if you’d make some rice balls for me. Like, really good ones.”
Sanji’s eyebrow lifts higher, and he tilts his head, smirking. “Are you… feeling okay, Captain? This polite request business is a little out of character. And rice balls? Seriously?”
Luffy just grins, shrugging. “It’s for a special mission.”
Sanji huffs in amusement but motions for Luffy to take a seat at the counter. “Fine, fine, I’ve got a lot of scraps from dinner prep to use up anyway,” he mutters, reaching for the rice. “Guess it’s my duty as chef to support the captain’s ‘special mission.’”
Luffy hops up onto a stool, watching Sanji shape the rice with quick, practiced movements. After a moment, he asks, his voice unusually soft, “Hey, Sanji… have you ever been so sad you forgot how to move?”
Sanji’s hands pause ever so slightly, a knife in midair. He catches himself quickly, but his eyes flicker with something just for a moment before he clears his throat. “Y-yeah,” he says, voice low. “Sometimes. When I was little.”
Luffy’s face lights up, his eyes wide with interest. “What did you do?”
Sanji places the knife down, his gaze thoughtful. “I made as many friends as I could.” He says it softly, almost as if to himself, but there’s a small, almost wistful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Luffy beams, his voice bright with that unique brand of warmth only he has. “I’m so glad to be your friend now, Sanji. Sanji is so cool!”
Sanji’s face flushes slightly, and he stammers, looking away as he presses a little too hard into shaping the rice. “Idiot,” he mutters, but there’s a softness in his tone. “Just… don’t go saying stuff like that so casually, alright?”
Sanji clears his throat, glancing at the rice balls he’s been shaping with maybe a little too much focus, they’re looking kind of squished. “Alright, leave me alone for a bit, will ya?” he mutters, his tone gruff, but a hint of a smile sneaks onto his face, clearly touched by Luffy’s words. “I’m going to make a few different fillings, and I don’t need you breathing down my neck while I work. May as well make a few extra for that mouldy house plant we keep around, he’s been working out all day,”
Luffy just grins, hopping off the stool. “Got it! I’ll be back soon.”
Sanji gives him a casual wave, nodding toward the door. “Usopp was looking for you earlier, by the way. He’s tinkering around in that ‘factory’ of his. Go bother him for a while instead of me.”
With a cheerful salute, Luffy bounds out of the galley, leaving Sanji to his work, still hiding that small, almost proud smile as he sets to crafting the best rice balls he can manage.
–
Luffy bounds into Usopp's workroom with all the subtlety of a cannonball, and Usopp jumps about a foot in the air, letting out a strangled yelp. His hands flail wildly, clutching a small vial filled with a mysterious, ominous-looking green liquid that swirls dangerously close to the lip.
“LUFFY!” Usopp shouts, diving to the floor in a desperate attempt to keep his grip steady. He lands hard, both hands clamped around the vial as he hugs it protectively to his chest, breathing heavily.
“You… almost made me drop it!” he pants, casting Luffy a wide-eyed glare. “Do you have any idea what would happen if this hit the floor? It’d take out half the Sunny in a green cloud of DOOM!”
Luffy tilts his head, blinking, clearly not concerned in the slightest. “Whoa! That sounds awesome.”
“It is decidedly not awesome!” Usopp hisses, clutching the vial closer. “I’m working on a new type of explosive for long range.”
“See? So awesome!” Luffy beams, entirely unfazed by the danger. “You’re so smart, Usopp!”
Usopp straightens up, his chest puffing with pride at the praise, his fear melting away. His expression shifts, and he raises a hand dramatically, leaning into full, exaggerated grandeur. “Yes, yes! Of course I am!” he declares, striking a pose. “I am the Great Usopp the Great and Powerful! Master of inventions, the genius of long-range destruction!”
Luffy laughs loudly, the sound echoing off the walls of Usopp’s cramped workroom. He claps Usopp on the back, and Usopp lets out a strangled yelp as the vial slips from his fingers for the second time. He scrambles to catch it, managing to get a grip just before it hits the floor, then quickly secures it in a holder on the table, clutching his chest as he lets out a shaky breath.
“Careful, Captain!” Usopp gasps, casting a wary glance at the vial.
Luffy just grins. “Oh, right! Sanji said you were looking for me.”
“Oh! Yeah, I was!” Usopp’s face lights up, any lingering nerves forgotten as he proudly holds up a small device covered in colorful nozzles. “Check this out, Luffy! It’s a paint bomb—completely non-lethal, but it’ll mark a target from a hundred meters. Great for picking out the bad guys, right?”
Luffy leans in to look, but his reaction is barely more than a distracted “Whoa, cool…” as he flops down into Usopp’s spinny chair and slowly starts turning in it.
Usopp’s smile fades, and he raises an eyebrow, watching Luffy spin lazily. “Hey, what’s up with you? You’re usually bouncing off the walls when I show you new stuff.”
Luffy stops spinning, tilting his head back to look at Usopp. “It’s Torao,” he says, voice drawn out and strangely soft.
Usopp blinks, confused. “What about him?”
Luffy sighs dramatically, stretching his arms out over the sides of the chair. “He’s saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad,” he says, his voice dragging on the word, filled with a kind of helpless frustration.
Usopp raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Torao’s always sad, Luffy. That’s, like… his default setting.”
Luffy shakes his head, looking genuinely bothered. “No, not like this. Robin said he’s having a static attack.”
Usopp squints, trying to follow. “Static attack? You mean a panic attack?”
Luffy’s eyes brighten, and he snaps his fingers. “Yeah! That! But it’s weird, ‘cause he’s not all jumpy. He just… shuts down. Like he’s turned to stone or something. I don’t know,” he finishes, slumping further into the chair, his brows knit in frustration.
Usopp looks at him curiously. “Why does it bother you so much, Luffy? Torao’s not exactly sunshine and rainbows any day of the week.”
Luffy straightens up, a spark of something fierce in his eyes. “Because—I just want to see him happy, you know? Like, really happy.” He leans forward, his voice more earnest than usual. “When Torao smiles… I dunno, it makes me feel happier than ever. Like I could bounce right off the ship and into the sky. And I don’t want him to be all sad and stone-faced. It doesn’t feel right.”
A slow, knowing grin spreads across Usopp’s face as he watches his captain ramble on, clearly amused but keeping it to himself. “Gotcha, Captain,” he says, patting Luffy’s shoulder. “I think I’m starting to understand.”
Luffy squints at Usopp, tilting his head. “What do you understand?”
“Nothing, nothing!” Usopp says quickly, waving his hands dismissively. “I just think you should, uh… talk to him. Not, like, about anything in particular, but, you know, just show him he’s not alone. That you want to spend time with him.”
Luffy nods, his expression brightening. “Sanji’s making rice balls for him! I’m gonna bring them to Torao.”
Usopp smiles, nodding approvingly. “That’s good, Luffy. I hope… you guys can work it out, like, uh, me and Kaya.”
Luffy blinks, looking genuinely puzzled. “Work what out?”
Usopp stammers, his cheeks reddening slightly. “Well, you see, Luffy, sometimes when two people like each oth—”
Before he can finish, Sanji’s voice booms from the galley. “OI! Shit-captain! Get in here and grab your damn snack before I toss it overboard!”
Luffy jumps up, a grin splitting his face. “Coming!” He gives Usopp a quick wave and darts out of the room, leaving Usopp to chuckle to himself, shaking his head as he watches Luffy go.
–
Luffy bursts back into the galley, his eyes lighting up as he sees the neatly wrapped rice balls on the counter. Sanji has prepared four in total, wrapped in a cloth, ready for Luffy to take. “Here, Captain,” Sanji says with a mock scowl, pushing them toward him. “Two for you, two for Torao. Try not to eat them all yourself before you get there.”
Luffy grins, scooping up the cloth-wrapped bundle. “Thanks, Sanji!”
Sanji gives a small huff and picks up another cloth bundle, this one containing two rice balls as well. “I’ve got two more here. Gonna bring them up to that moss-headed idiot in the crow’s nest. He’s been working out all morning and probably hasn’t eaten anything.”
Luffy’s grin grows wider, noticing the way Sanji’s pretending this is all for Zoro’s “nutrition.” “Nobody’s making you bring him snacks, you know.”
Sanji bristles, turning slightly pink but keeping his nose in the air. “I’m a chef! It’s my duty to make sure everyone’s getting the right balance of nutrients. Besides,” he adds, glancing at the rice balls with a tiny smirk, “if anyone’s going to keep that idiot from passing out up there, it’s me.”
“Sure, sure,” Luffy chuckles, clearly amused. “Zoro’s gonna be real happy.”
“So is Torao,” Sanji smiles wide, watching him closely.
Luffy’s face flushes a deep red, and he quickly tilts his hat down to cover his cheeks. “Well, uh… good luck to us both,” he mutters, his voice muffled by the brim of his hat.
Sanji scoffs, rolling his eyes as he secures the rice balls for his own “mission,” but there’s a glimmer of excitement in his gaze, betraying his feigned annoyance. With a last nod to each other, Luffy heads out of the galley, gripping his bundle with a renewed sense of purpose, and determination to see Torao smile.
–
Law leans against the railing at the edge of the deck, his gaze fixed on the endless expanse of waves stretching out before him. The sea is calm, deceptively calm, a sharp contrast to the storm raging in his mind. They’re on their way to Dressrosa, and he can’t shake the dread clawing at his chest, thick and choking, like he’s swallowed lead. He’s steeling himself to face Doflamingo, and every instinct screams that he should’ve planned better, prepared more, that he should’ve kept the Straw Hats on a tighter leash. But, of course, they’re impossible to control, as wild and unpredictable as the sea itself.
The worst part is that he’s forced to bring Caesar along, of all miserable companions. He glances back at the ship, faintly hoping that Caesar might have miraculously vanished, but the reality sinks back in. Not only is he saddled with that vile scientist, but he’s also stuck with a crew who, while powerful, seem to treat plans like suggestions—suggestions they’re more than happy to ignore at any given opportunity.
A chill winds through him, one that has nothing to do with the weather. He misses his own crew. He hasn’t seen Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and the rest since this whole mess began, and the gnawing ache of their absence makes the vastness of the sea feel all the emptier. There’s a hollow certainty in him, an echoing certainty that he may never see them again, that he’s led himself into something he can’t get out of, something he won’t survive.
Law’s gaze sinks into the horizon, but his mind is elsewhere, drifting through memories of Corazon—vivid and golden, like sunlight caught in glass. Corazon with his broad, ridiculous smile, beaming so wide that it felt like he’d split his face in two. Corazon with that reckless kindness, a man who hid bruises beneath clumsy grins and bad jokes, who loved like he was immune to breaking, even when the world kept proving him wrong. Corazon, who saved Law just by seeing him, who looked at him like he was something worth protecting, worth every ounce of risk and pain.
The thought of him, after all these years, still feels like a fire against Law’s cold edges, warming him, softening something he thought was stone.
And now…now there’s Luffy, blazing into his life in a way that feels startlingly familiar. Luffy, with his loud laughter and relentless optimism, charging forward with a smile so pure and unguarded that it hurts to look at. Corazon had been just as stubborn, just as reckless. The way he’d thrown himself into protecting Law, with no thought for his own safety, the way Luffy throws himself at life, at danger, at every person he cares for—it’s the same. The same bright, foolish courage. The same warmth that breaks through Law’s defenses, that reminds him of the softness he’s hidden away for so long.
He realizes this with a sudden, startling clarity, and his heart tightens, an ache that’s too big, too frightening. He steels himself, forcing down the memory, swallowing back the feeling, trying to close that door before it can fully open.
But just as he’s pulling himself together, he senses someone beside him. He turns, and there’s Luffy, looking at him with that same open expression, his eyes bright, his smile so wide and unafraid. He shines in a way that makes Law’s chest feel both heavy and strangely light.
“Hey, Torao,” Luffy says, his voice simple, cutting through Law’s thoughts with the clarity of sunlight breaking through clouds.
Luffy thrusts a small cloth bundle in front of Law, the smell of freshly-made onigiri wafting up. “Here!” he says, voice uncharacteristically hesitant.
Law raises an eyebrow, feigning annoyance as he eyes the bundle. “What’s this?” he asks, though there’s a softness at the edges of his question, a warmth he can’t quite hide.
Luffy shifts his weight, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing anywhere but at Law’s face. When he speaks, it’s faster than usual, his words tumbling over each other. “Well, I—I just don’t like when you’re, you know… sad,” he stammers, his voice almost a whisper, as if admitting it out loud makes it too real. “And food always makes me happy, right? So I thought maybe—maybe if I brought you some onigiri, you’d feel… better? Because you never eat enough anyway, and, um, I just want you to know that, like… I’m thinking about you. And that you’re, uh, great. And you deserve to be happy. I want to help, y’know? Because you’re… worth it, Torao.”
Law reaches out and takes the bundle, his fingers brushing against Luffy’s in the exchange. For a moment, he can’t move, staring down at the cloth-wrapped rice balls like they’re something fragile and impossibly precious. There’s a rush of feeling in him so overwhelming it’s almost painful, like he’s been split open, exposed to something blinding. Luffy’s words echo in his mind, a simple, unfiltered love so powerful it leaves him speechless, stunned.
Luffy plops down beside Law, stretching out beside him with that easy, open smile that somehow manages to dismantle every defense Law has built. He glances over, his gaze soft and sincere, his words cutting straight through Law’s guarded silence.
“I really like you, Torao. You deserve to be happy.”
The words linger in the air, settling over Law like a gentle weight, and he feels something in him crack, opening up in a way he isn’t sure he can control. His hand moves on instinct, reaching for Luffy, his fingers just barely grazing his shoulder. He hesitates, searching Luffy’s face, feeling his own heartbeat quicken in a way that’s both thrilling and terrifying. But Luffy’s expression doesn’t waver; his eyes are bright and steady, full of that boundless trust he seems to carry with him.
Law leans in, a cautious, tentative brush of his lips against Luffy’s, as if testing the waters. But the instant they connect, he feels something shift, something raw and undeniable, and his hesitation melts away. The kiss deepens, growing fiercer, more passionate, as he pulls Luffy close, letting every unspoken feeling pour out, leaving him exposed but, for once, unafraid.
When they finally part, Luffy’s eyes are wide, his cheeks flushed, and he breathes out a soft, “Wow.”
Luffy pulls back, his face breaking into an enormous grin as he declares, way too loudly, “Torao likes me!!!”
Law’s eyes widen, and he quickly clamps a hand over Luffy’s mouth, casting a furtive glance around to make sure no one else is nearby. “Not if you act like that,” he mutters, though there’s a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself.
Luffy just laughs, muffled beneath Law’s hand, his familiar “shi shi shi” bubbling out as he takes the bundle from Law’s lap. He unwraps one of the rice balls and hands it to him with a warm look, settling in beside him with that easy, natural closeness that feels more grounding than anything Law has felt in years. They sit there on the deck, quietly sharing the rice balls, the ocean stretching out around them, hand in hand.
By the time they’re done, Luffy has somehow managed to eat three of the four onigiri, grinning sheepishly as Law shakes his head with a soft sigh. But he doesn’t mind, not even a little, and they sit in comfortable silence, feeling—for the first time in a long time—like everything might just work out alright.