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Law huffs as he runs, mentally berating himself for running late for such an important event. The shift at the hospital went on longer than he wanted it too. He loves his job, loves helping people despite how he looks with the constant scowl and tattoos upon his fingers. Him being a doctor is what got Luffy involved in his life after all. With the car crash with Ace.
He knows how much Luffy loves Christmas. Loves the corny songs, the overly bright lights, the hot chocolate, and the Christmas tree. Everything Law despises, yet for Luffy, he's willing to be tagged along. Love makes a man do foolish things after all and that's why the guilt weighs him down even heavier as he runs towards their usual meeting spot in town square.
The evening lights glitter on the water of the fountain, and there, chasing a rather fat pigeon, is Luffy laughing carefree as usual. Dressed in a bright red and white candy cane pattern hoodie with his jeans and iconic straw woven shoes and hat. Law’s heart skips a beat, even now, seeing such a bright smile.
“Lu-ya!” Law’s voice echoes across, his jog slowing to a stroll. His cheeks are flushed from running and the cold, lips slightly chapped, yet he still looks handsome. “I'm sorry for being late but-!”
He quickly stumbles back, hands grasping Luffy's thighs for support as his boyfriend jumped into his arms. “Torao!! Don't worry about it! Bepo said you had an emergency surgery. You're here now, that's all what matters.”
And then, warm lips pressed upon Law’s. He hums, the guilt in his chest uncoiling, as he presses his lips harder against Luffy's. A small groan spills out his lips as he tasted the peppermint and hot chocolate on Luffy's tongue.
“Mm, Bepo covered me once again. I owe him one.” Law chuckles, gently setting Luffy back in the ground. The wintry wind blows, stirring up some fallen leaves on the ground and making the lights sway in the air as Law shivers. He's never been one to handle the cold, always wearing layer after layer.
“Come on, Torao! You did say you have a surprise for me! My brain got fried trying to figure out what it is when you were at work!”
Luffy tugs Law's hand, his hazel eyes bright making him look like an overexcited puppy. Fitting really, as Luffy's energy is endless. Law just huffs, a mixture of amusement and exasperation spilling out his lips.
The walk to the train station is filled with Luffy's chatter, Law listening with rapt attention giving him “Mhm” and “That so” along with some rare laughs that only Luffy can manage to pull out of him. Luffy slips Law's hand into his pocket, intertwining their fingers as he warms up Law’s hand.
“Thank you, Lu-ya,” Law says, making Luffy just lean up and kiss up before continuing the walk and one-sided conversation.
Despite running late, they still manage to make it on the train. After finding a rare open seat, Law sighs in relief, feeling the heater kicking on as the train heads towards the next station.
“Sooooo” Luffy trails off, mischief shining in his eyes as he puts his hat on top of his head.
“You still gave me no hints, Torao! Come on, gimme one! Please, please, please!”
He shamelessly begs, not caring that the nearby people glance over at him with a slight glare. Law quickly places a hand over Luffy's mouth. Cheeks red from something that's not the cold.
“Hush Luffy, you're too loud,” Law hisses, before yanking his hand away, feeling Luffy's tongue drag across his palm.
“You didn't seem to mind me being loud last night.” Luffy grins, making Law groan and pull down his spotted hat, covering the little dignity he has left along with his flushed ears.
“Anyways, your hint.” Law immediately changes the subject and it works with how Luffy immediately perks up. Law pauses, letting the anticipation build, seeing Luffy lean closer and closer. Law then smirks and tugs Luffy's nose. “It's a place that deals with Christmas.”
“That's so unfair!” Luffy rubs his nose, glaring pitifully at Law. That's not a hint at all! There's a million places in Japan, especially Tokyo, that deal with Christmas! Luffy just grumbles, shoving his hands in his jacket, ignoring the gleam of amusement in his sadistic boyfriend's eyes.
Once out of the train, Law and Luffy walk before Luffy's attention is caught by the jingle of Christmas bells and the flashing of lights. The smell of hot chocolate and peppermint sugar cookies floods the air making even the people walking nearby look over.
“Torao! This…you know I've always wanted to go here!” Law gestures to the wooden banner above reading ‘Christmas Town.’ A popular attraction that has been going on in Japan for a few weeks. Law immediately planned a whole itinerary of things to do.
Seeing that wide smile upon his beloved lips, Law couldn't help but feel that familiar flutter in his chest. Warmth blossoms in his chest, a feeling that only Luffy can bring him. Not like he would ever admit it though.
“Mm, I did. Come on, let's go and look around. It looks like the bakery just put out some fresh goods.”
Knowing Luffy's love for food, it easily distracts his boyfriend and they walk into the large, festive Christmas market. After buying some fresh cookies and hot chocolate, they continue exploring around.
“These are good,” Luffy's cheeks are puffed up as he pops a whole cookie into his mouth. The dozen they bought are already about gone now thanks to Luffy's appetite. Law already budgeted the money knowing the majority of it will go towards food.
“Come around! Come around! I can make any shape you want!”
The hawking of a sugar painter draws their attention. On wooden sticks is golden sugar spun into different shapes, like an elf, Santa and a reindeer. There's also tanghulu which glimmers in the soft glow of the decorative lights around his stall.
“Awesome, old man! You can make any shape!?” Luffy leans over the counter, seeing him pouring the melted sugar before expertly drawing an elf for a younger child. She laughs, and her mom pays, leaving them alone again.
“Any shape. What would you like?”
Law pulls Luffy back from the man, muttering an apology about excited monkeys not knowing personal space. Luffy still thinks before looking up at Law and grins. “A snow leopard!”
“A snow leopard? Sure, and for you?” The man asks Law, already starting to pour the sugar on the hot metal surface.
“A…monkey.”
“Haha, unique choices. A snow leopard and a monkey? Very well.”
They watch with rapt attention at how the sugar practically comes to life in the man's hands. He uses the brush, drawing line after line before placing both sticks on it and lifts it up, handing it to them.
They couldn't help but admire them. Truly a man worth his talent.
They thank the man, paying for it along with two tanghulu's and leave. Luffy takes a huge bite of the sugar sculpture, while Law takes a bite and shudders. Too sweet.
Seeing Luffy's pink lips, shiny from the sugar he couldn't help but bend down and press a kiss to his lips. He pulls back, eyes half lidded as he looks up at Luffy's wide eyes and shocked face and smirks.
“Sweet.”
Luffy retaliated by biting off half of the monkey's body.
They continue exploring for a while, riding a few holiday themed rides, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the Christmas markets. One particular stall caught Law's eye though. Along the red cloth table were glass made sculptures, one in particular was a beautifully done poinsettia, a classic Christmas flower.
He knew he couldn't buy it now, as Luffy clings to him tightly and would ruin the surprise. He just hopes that maybe something will happen to let Law slip away.
As if fate heard him, shouts and cheers suddenly echoed from another game. A group of people are surrounding two men, one a rather large muscular man, arm wrestling with another muscular man who looks like a Santa Clause. On the sign above, it says, “Try out your might with Santa's Arm Wrestling!”
“Torao, Santa is arm wrestling! I'm gonna beat him!” Luffy declares, his eyes shining with that usual determination. When Luffy says he's going to win, he means it, no matter how many tries it takes.
Santa ended up beating the guy, making the crowd erupt in who'll go next. The muscular Santa gets up and flexes his muscles in a dramatic way, clearly doing it to hype up the crowd. “Who's up next to their halls decked?”
“Why is he putting a deck in a hall?” Luffy asks Law, making him let out a sigh of exasperation and amusement. Law pushes down Luffy's hat before responding.
“Idiot. Deck the halls, it's a Christmas pun.”
“Ah, very punny.”
“You!”
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Torao, I'm sorry!”
Once Luffy rubs his head from where Law slapped him, he grins and walks over to the Santa. “Hey, Santa, I'll challenge you!”
“Hohoho, are you sure you can win? You look awfully skinny, maybe some meat on your bones will help.”
Law couldn't help but laugh at that knowing that Luffy's figure is misleading. He has a sleeper build, outside of how lean he is, he has muscles for days from being a firefighter.
Luffy's eyes gleam at the challenge, a grin on his face as usual as he sets his arm on the elbow support and grips Santa's hand. “I know I can win, Santa.”
As the referee counts down, the crowd holds their breath before cheering again as Luffy and Santa arm wrestle. Unbeknownst to Luffy, Law slipped away.
“And there we have it folks! The winner of the North Pole! Monkey D. Luffy!” The referee holds up Luffy's hand, the wide grin on his face as he laughs. Santa didn't stand a chance against him.
“Hahaha, see me Torao!?” Luffy asks, looking around the crowd for Law and doesn't see him. He pouts, grabbing the medal from the referee and leaves, looking for Law.
“Torao!! Where are you!?” Luffy shouts, looking around the shopping area for him. “He's not Zoro…”
As he's about to turn around, a hand grabs his collar making Luffy jump and turn around, seeing Law.
“You scared me!”
“Sorry Lu-ya, I thought I had enough time but I should have guessed you wouldn't hold back, even to Santa. Here.” Law hands Luffy another hot chocolate, using it as an excuse for why he left, with an apologetic smile.
“Hmph…didn't watch me win.” Luffy grumbles, taking the hot chocolate and sipping it. Law just bends down and presses an apologetic kiss to his lips.
“Forgive me.”
Luffy glares at him for a moment before letting out a laugh and kisses Law again. No point in letting a small thing like this ruin the atmosphere. Luffy will just make Law beg for forgiveness tonight.
Law suddenly feels a chill run down his back, feeling like a prey being hunted by a predator.
After walking around for a while they end up near a large frozen lake, the lights reflecting off the glistening glass like surface of the ice. It's a beautiful sight, and the perfect spot for what Law wanted to do. He makes a quick peek at his watch.
23:58. Good. Just in time.
Law clears his throat, making Luffy's attention turn from the lake to Law. His cheeks are flushed red from the cold, his golden eyes soft, softer than he ever has seen before and it makes Luffy's stomach flip.
Law grabs Luffy's hand, intertwining it with his before raising it and presses a kiss to his knuckles.
“This is incredibly sappy of me, so you only get this one,” Law mutters, clearly half-annoyed with himself, yet they both know it's a lie. He doesn't consider himself a romantic in any sense of the word, but Luffy manages to pull it out of him all the damn time.
“But, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. After Cora's death, I was alive but not living. It was only after I met you that did I know what living truly meant. You saved me, Luffy-ya, from the darkness and myself.”
He reaches into his coat, pulling out the small bag from the coat pocket, and places the poinsettia in Luffy's hand.
00.00. Midnight. Christmas Day.
Law cups Luffy's cold-kissed cheek, snow starts falling around them, and Law kisses Luffy on the lips.
“Merry Christmas, my beloved.”