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Luffy was startled awake by the sound of something heavy being tossed into his cell and he raised his head from the cold, dirty floor in time to see his captors smirk at him as they closed the door, speaking in a taunting tone then locking it behind them. Luffy groaned and struggled against his restraints to get into a kneeling position and turned to whatever they’d given him, thinking it was that day's allotted portion of food, only to find a body.
A human body.
Law’s body.
Luffy gasped, eyes widening at the sight of his fellow captain, bloodied and bruised, lying motionless next to him. There was a moment that lasted for far too long where Luffy thought the bastards had killed his friend and tossed him in there to mess with Luffy’s head. Then Law’s chest expanded–just the smallest amount–as he tried to breathe.
Law coughed weakly, his head rolling to one side, and Luffy caught the glazed over and disoriented look in his eyes set against pale skin. He was alive, but only just. And if he didn’t get help, he’d slip away before nightfall.
Luckily, about a minute later, the door opened again and a bowl was set on the ground a little bit away from them.
“Torao!” Luffy urged, jerking his head towards the meal. “Look! It- it’s food! You have to eat!”
Law’s lips moved silently, but he stayed where he was.
“Torao, c’mon!” Luffy pleaded. “It’ll make you feel better! You gotta eat!”
Law stared, unseeing, into Luffy’s eyes, then his own fell shut. His mouth moved again and Luffy thought he heard a faint, “Mugi . . . ya . . .”
Luffy looked between the bowl and his friend, then back over his shoulder at the sea-prism stone chain bolted to the wall. He tugged on the other end uselessly. If his hands were freed–or even just in front of him– Luffy could take care of Law himself. But it was impossible for him to break free. He’d tried everything.
And now Law would die because he wasn’t strong enough.
Luffy choked on a sob as a memory resurfaced. What was the point of those two years if he still couldn’t keep the people he cared about safe? Law was too weak to move and Luffy was . . . was . . .
Luffy turned back to the bowl. They always put it just out of reach. No matter how hard he tried, his fingers would never feel the hardened clay it was made out of. He’d had to resort to slurping the contents every day to fill his stomach.
An idea formed in his mind.
He glanced at Law again, then back at the food, determination surging through him, and braced his knees as he lurched forward, face planting a few inches away from the bowl. He struggled to get up again, arms aching behind him as they pulled on his chains, and dug his feet into the dirt, pushing himself forward, one centimeter at a time until he could see inside the dish.
A broth, warm and nourishing, swirled inside.
Luffy took a deep breath and leaned down to gently grab the rim of the bowl with his teeth and slowly pull it closer for easier access. Then, when he didn’t have to strain himself just to reach it, Luffy lowered his face into the bowl, the tip of his nose dipping into the warm liquid as he drew the broth into his mouth. The heat spread through his body, tempting him to swallow, but he didn’t.
He rose, taking even breaths, and turned to scoot over to Law. It was too late to warn him of what he was doing, so Luffy just focused on finding his mark. He leaned down to press their lips together firmly to create a seal before letting the broth flow from his mouth into Law’s.
Law, barely aware of what was happening, swallowed all of it, a soft sigh escaping his lips as they parted.
“Torao?” Luffy whispered as he watched Law’s closed eyelids flutter, but remain shut. His breathing wasn’t as raspy as it was before and that fact emboldened Luffy to do it again. He transported the broth from the bowl to Law, one mouthful at a time until it was all gone. He took note of how much better Law looked, then moved away to rest by the wall.
He did the same thing again the next day, and the day after, dragging the bowl of broth to Law, then slurping it up and passing it to Law in an intimate act. Day by day, Law slowly regained his senses until, at one point, he watched Luffy work and his eyes widened as their mouths connected. Then they fell shut and he hummed as he accepted the nourishing liquid. They did the same with any water they were given.
It was a slow process. More time-consuming than Luffy liked. But he did it anyway.
“You’d do the same for me,” he’d say as they parted before going back to the bowl.
“No, I wouldn’t,” Law would murmur back, watching Luffy’s mouth gratefully until he was close enough to press their lips together again.
Luffy didn’t know how long they were there, forced to share every bit of sustenance. He didn’t know where his friends were. If they were in the same boat, or worse, or just trying to find him.
Luffy also didn’t know why Law would sometimes chase after him as he pulled away, tongue darting out to lick Luffy’s lips. If it was the last drop, Luffy would let him, thinking maybe it hadn’t been enough as Law tasted the inside of his mouth like he was trying to steal all the flavor that clung there.
One morning (or afternoon or whatever time it was), the sound of clashing swords shattered the stillness, waking Luffy from his sleep. He forced himself up again, careful not to disturb Law, who was curled up next to him for warmth. Luffy peered out of the cell, eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway as hope burned in his chest.
His friends were there. They came. He knew they would.
The sounds of fighting drew near and Luffy let out a joyous cry as Zoro ran past, then doubled back.
“Luffy!”
“Zoro!”
Zoro’s swords cut through the bars like a hot knife through butter and the clanging sound as they fell against each other and clattered on the floor drew the attention of the rest of his crew, who gathered around. Nami had managed to steal a bunch of keys and she tried them, one by one, while chattering about how dumb Luffy was for getting caught and how worried they’d all been about him.
Luffy wasn’t able to stand and so he and Law had to be carried to the Thousand Sunny by Franky and Jinbei, where Chopper nursed them back to health. Both their crews visited them often, telling stories and asking questions and telling jokes. But when they were alone, or if there was a lull in the conversation, Luffy would turn to Law and find he was already staring back at him, something soft and sorrowful in his gaze.
Then, after Chopper said they were free to go but before Luffy had the chance to bolt from the confining room, Law asked if he could talk to him alone. Luffy, confused, agreed and Chopper, and the few others who’d been there, left.
Law stood up and went over to Luffy, taking his face in his hands, and pressed their mouths together again in a proper kiss, lips slotting together perfectly. Luffy, eyes fluttering closed, leaned into it.
There was nothing to pass between them. No need to be connected like that again. But their kiss was as desperate as their need for survival in that cold, dark cell that tried to steal Law from the world.
“Thank you, Mugiwara-ya,” Law murmured as they separated. “You saved my life.”
Luffy, blinking open his eyes, something new fluttering in his chest, responded breathlessly. Law huffed out a laugh, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as he turned to leave and Luffy was left wondering what he’d said.