Chapter Text
day 3: cruise ship | lost in translation
“oh, please. i’m not nearly as annoying as i could be.”
Ace looks at the building of the familiar, yet unfamiliar hospital with a sense of anxiety he last felt at the very beginning of his relationship with one handsome, grumpy surgeon. On one hand, it feels nice because he has waited for this for so long, and it finally happened. But on the other hand, it's so scary that he wants to run far away and bury himself under a pile of blankets. Doubts like “what if he doesn't like me anymore” or “what if I ruin everything” are normal when it's the start of a romance. But when you have two cats, shared utility bills, and everything depends on your strict schedules, it feels like something pathological.
Portgas D. could still use some therapy, but he honestly considers himself healthy, mostly cured by his precious boyfriend's T-shirts and his new hobby of coin collecting. No, he didn't become a real collector, and he still isn't a huge fan of coins, but Torao's favorite channels with boring narrators often put him to sleep. He will never admit that sometimes it's actually interesting, and he stays awake until morning, wondering at humanity as a phenomenon.
But that doesn't matter right now. Because tonight, Ace plans to get the deep, peaceful sleep he’s been dreaming about for months. The main goal is not to have a panic attack from all this excitement and not to scare Law to death either. Luckily, Ace jokes to himself, the hospital is right here, so someone will save them if needed.
Ace looks at his phone screen, biting his thumb, waiting for a text from the love of his life. Just a quick word to say that the workday is finally over. Knowing Law, Ace could easily end up waiting on a bench all night. But Ace had begged him several times, without giving any real reasons, not to stay late today. He had even checked beforehand to make sure Law didn't have a 24-hour shift. So, hopefully, Torao would keep his promise, as long as no emergencies came up.
Portgas D. is literally praying that everyone in Germany stays perfectly safe and healthy, because he needs – to the point of physical ache – to hug the guy he just flew across the ocean for. It sounds super romantic, like a movie, but when you spend a big part of your savings and all your vacation days just to have some kid kick the back of your economy seat the whole flight, the mood drops a bit.
But who cares. Ace is here. Ace is staring at the building where his favorite person is wrapping up work. And Ace is shaking from a mix of impatience and pure nerves before the big reveal.
At 6:47 PM European time, a text from Torao hits Ace's phone:
“All done here. Got stuck with some paperwork, but I’m leaving now. I’ll be back at the dorm in thirty minutes.”
Ace’s heart skips a painful, nervous beat, and his shaking fingers quickly type back:
“No need to rush. Take a moment at the entrance, get some air, look around at the people ❤︎”
Without waiting for an answer, he shoves the phone into his pocket, throws his backpack over one shoulder, and walks quickly toward the main entrance.
Surprisingly, there's quite a crowd on the steps, but Ace could never miss the love of his life. And he won't let Law miss him either. Unless, of course, he passes out from the overwhelming anxiety that Law might not love him anymore. It's a stupid thought, really. But the stress and the tired brain of Portgas D., which barely gets any rest, can be cruel. Apparently, his own mind just loves to torture him.
Law walks out of the hospital a few minutes later. Judging by his downcast eyes, he’s only just reading the last text. He doesn't follow the advice; instead, he just knits his brows cutely, steps to the side so he is not blocking the doorway, and types a reply:
“I’ve seen more than enough people today, thanks. I just want to go home, grab a beer, and call you.”
He sends it with a small, rare smile and stands still. He keeps scrolling through his phone, passing the time, and Portgas D. uses this moment.
The watch on Ace's wrist buzzes with an incoming text, bringing him back to reality. He stands there, completely captivated by this beautiful man, feeling dizzy and weak in the knees from the rush of love and silly panic. It’s probably this exact fear that keeps him frozen, unable to just run up and surprise his surgeon with a hug.
He fumbles in his pocket for his phone, missing it on the first try, and instead of texting back, he decides to just call.
The very first ring on Ace's end flashes on Law's screen. Law raises his eyebrows in surprise, then his face tightens with worry, and he answers instantly. He speaks quickly, holding the phone to his ear and looking down at the ground:
“Hey Ace, is everything okay?”
Ace smiles, keeping his eyes glued to him, and says, trying to hide the shake in his voice:
“Torao, you've already got that frown line between your brows. Relax your face and just look at the crowd for a second. Trust me, you'll like it.”
Law’s shoulders relax under his heavy coat, and he lets out a soft, relieved sigh. He shakes his head, comforted to know that Ace and family are perfectly fine, and a quiet, gentle smile touches his lips.
“Seriously, you’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days,” he grumbles affectionately into the phone, turning his head to the left, then looking straight ahead, and finally to the right. At the same time, he mutters, “What’s with the weird requests today anyway? I’m not…”
Law chokes on his words as his eyes catch a very familiar figure. He freezes, completely breathless. His eyebrows shoot up, and his smile completely vanishes in absolute shock. He holds the phone slightly away from his ear, staring at Ace with wide, unbelieving eyes, not even blinking. He’s trying to process what he’s seeing. Or maybe, just like he said, he really is about to have a heart attack.
Ace is in the exact same state. He can't breathe either, staring back at the love of his life with a bright, happy smile. His heart is racing from pure joy, and his legs feel so heavy that he can't move an inch. But he wants to; he needs to, more than anything. Because he desperately needs to hold that lean body in his arms and finally breathe in the scent he misses so much every single day.
Their eyes meet for a few seconds, and Law is the first to come out of his trance, quickly cutting the distance between them. The people dodging around his feet don't bother him; they aren't even in his field of vision. He nearly runs into a little kid whose parents aren't watching. Still looking completely shocked, Law keeps his eyes glued to Ace, who only manages a couple of shaky steps forward because his knees are weak from the nerves.
The collision of their bodies might have been painful if it were summer, but their thick winter coats absorb most of the rushed, hungry roughness. Law pulls Ace’s strong body into his own with a jerk, burying one hand in his overgrown, wavy hair. He presses his nose just above Ace’s ear, breathing deeply in the mix of his natural scent and hotel shampoo, while a soft, blissful, almost growl-like sound escapes his lips.
Ace squeezes Law's waist back so hard it feels like he might crush it, hiding his face in the crook of Law's neck, which is exposed to the cold air. Joy and pleasure completely wash away his past anxiety, but his heart refuses to calm down. Instead, it beats faster and louder, making his head spin like after the young wine. Ace kneads the back and sides of the love of his life, trying to press even closer into his lean body, wanting to hide there and melt into him down to the very last cell. This is exactly what he wanted, what he dreamed of – to never be apart for even a single minute. It’s impossible, of course, but right now Ace doesn’t give a damn about any rules or logic.
Even though he is in a foreign country where he doesn’t understand a single word, Ace is finally home. Nothing else matters anymore.
“You… How is this even?.. Ace,” the genius surgeon, who has enough knowledge in his head to get lost in, completely loses his voice. And Ace is incredibly proud of himself. Not just because he broke Law's brain, but because not everyone can bring out such raw emotion from this reserved, rational man. Honestly, maybe only one person can.
“I’m a romantic who missed you,” Ace jokes against his skin, closing his eyes tightly in pure pleasure. Law smells amazing, and the hand gripping his hair teases his senses in the best way possible. “Are you surprised?”
Standing up is getting hard, and his ribs actually ache from the overflow of emotions.
“Very,” Law breathes out, pulling back just an inch with great effort. He only does it to look at Ace’s face with a mix of disbelief and a deep, almost otherworldly emotion. Then, letting go of his hair, he cups Ace's face with a freezing hand, needing to check touch-wise that he hasn't overworked himself into having hallucinations. The touch is so good that a shiver runs down Ace’s spine. Ace presses his cheek into Law's palm, smiling up at the flustered but unusually happy man.
“I can ruin the moment and say something totally dumb just to prove it’s me,” Ace laughs softly, his eyes watering slightly. He hasn’t seen the love of his life in so long, and Law’s beauty is almost overwhelming; especially his eyes, which are wide with shock and pure devotion.
That's the only reason, honestly; trust him.
“It’s okay, you’ve already proved it,” Law whispers, his eyes scanning the freckles across Ace's nose, a soft smile appearing on his face. It’s that exact smile Ace fell so hard for. The one that completely, selfishly belongs to him alone.
Law doesn’t say another word. Done with just looking at Ace like he’s the most precious exhibit in a museum, he suddenly leans forward, pulling Ace’s face toward his. The moment Ace feels those familiar lips against his own, he closes his eyes in pure bliss and throws his right arm behind Law’s neck. He pulls him closer, barely trying to hide from the outside world, pressing his whole body against him.
Their frantic kisses are hungry, like a series of promises stamped one after another, but they are completely free of sexual passion. That, Ace thinks, they can save for later. Right now, this is a breath of air, a source of life, a ritual to make them realize they are finally in the same space. It creates the beautiful illusion that their long, painful separation never happened.
Law kisses his way from Ace's lips to his cheeks, chin, nose, and eyes, his fingers gently tracing his neck and cheekbones, welcoming every single inch of Ace's face. Ace happily lets him, catching bits of Law’s skin with his own lips, completely losing himself in the touch and scent of his favorite person. He wraps his arms around Law's waist and neck, silently cursing their thick winter clothes, and he figures Law feels the exact same way. Law grips Ace's jacket, pulling him as close as physically possible. It’s still not enough contact, but they can't do much more out in public. Then again, it’s a sin to complain; just a few minutes ago, they didn’t even have this luxury.
Ace completely loses track of time, dissolving into the moment. The magic doesn’t break, but it cracks slightly when the sound of cheering and playful teasing from Law's – as Ace understands – colleagues reaches their ears. Law’s lips freeze on Ace’s cheek, right above his own thumb. He pulls back just a millimeter and clicks his tongue in annoyance.
Portgas D. laughs, kissing Law’s unshaven chin, his toes literally curling with delight. God, he loves everything about this man, even his irritation at other people [and at himself, if he's being honest], and he hopes it never changes. Ace is completely, utterly happy, and his adoration for the best man on earth knows absolutely no bounds.
“I think we need to get out of here,” Law says, breathing the words against his partner's skin. Without even glancing at the people he knows, he reluctantly takes half a step back. Law frowns as if remembering something and looks Portgas D. up and down. His cold fingers instantly intertwine with Ace's warm ones. “Did you travel with just a backpack?”
“No, of course not,” Ace shakes his head, pretending he's fine with letting go. He wasn't, obviously. He never will be. Refilling his empty heart is going to take a lot of work from Torao, and their time together is going to be so short. “I landed this morning, checked in, and even had time for a shower. I specifically picked a room with a huge bed just to invite you over.”
A super king-size – Ace thought about that almost immediately while booking the room, his face buried in a body pillow wearing the surgeon's t-shirt. Thoughts of a normal night's sleep together felt like a forbidden fantasy, and Ace's brain was entirely focused on comfort and satisfying basic life needs.
“Yeah, the dorm bed is definitely not made for two,” Law says thoughtfully. He shoves their linked hands into his coat pocket and leads Ace down the steps, away from curious eyes and the place where he practically lives. “It’s cramped even for me alone, especially for my legs.”
Law has complained about this more than once. It’s his own fault for growing so tall. Luckily, he isn't as broad as Ace. Otherwise, it would be a real disaster.
“That's what I thought. I love your legs, but I don't really want to sleep head-to-foot. I want it normally, spooning. You know I could literally kill for that right now,” Ace says with a chuckle, brushing his thumb against Law's palm. Then, just for a bit of mischief, he narrows his eyes, adding a playful tone and a sly curve to his lips, voicing what he has also been thinking about a lot: “And as a nice little bonus, I don't plan on being quiet. The walls there seem to be of normal thickness too.”
Well, of course. Right now Ace is being well-behaved, since the tenderness and joy of the meeting wash everything else away. But in a couple of hours, he will stop being a good boy, and he certainly won't let Law be one either.
Law looks at him with clear tenderness and a hint of amusement. He smiles, the emotion shining in his eyes, and squeezes Ace's hand a bit tighter. God, Portgas D. missed this beautiful face and those freezing hands more than words can say. He is only staying on his feet thanks to a rush of happy adrenaline and a strong desire not to collapse onto the pavement.
“How incredibly sweet of you to look out for my neighbors,” the surgeon teases, turning them in the opposite direction of the hotel. “But we still have to stop by my place first. I need to grab my clothes. And... we need to find a pharmacy on the way.”
“Why?” Ace asks, playing along. He knows exactly what Law means, but he desperately wants to fool around; he has missed this face-to-face banter just as much.
“Don't pretend you don't know,” Law catches him immediately, a beautiful smirk touching his lips. He isn't a saint either, which only makes Ace more excited. Still, Law tries to act like Ace is the only crazy one here: “Your desires literally drove you across the entire ocean.”
“Hey, you know perfectly well that just holding you and getting innocent kisses on the forehead would be enough for me, as long as it's you,” Ace says, feigning offense as he bumps his shoulder against the love of his life. “This is just a nice bonus that you want just as much as I do. So we are in the same boat. Just accept it and be proud.”
“I accepted that a long time ago,” Law smiles, stopping them both at a crosswalk. Taking advantage of the quiet moment, he presses his lips to Ace's temple, breathing in the scent of his hair. He adds in a lower, softer voice: “I really love... that we're on the same wavelength.”
Ace presses closer to him, closing his eyes with pleasure for a second, and lightly bites his lower lip. He feels suddenly shy, as if Law has never said anything like that before, but he doesn't hide a single emotion. A little more, and his face will never return to a calm expression. But even though his cheeks ache from smiling, Portgas D. doesn't mind. He doesn't grudge anything when it comes to Torao.
Law's dorm looks quieter than Ace imagined. The hallways are completely empty. According to the surgeon, it is meant for future and practicing doctors. Portgas D. has no questions after that explanation. If they are all nerds like Torao, then this place should rightfully look like a crypt. They either barely show up here or pore over study materials day and night. There is no third option, and he was hoping for a wild party in vain.
No one controls the entrance or exit, so there is no need to hide Ace. Everything here is surprisingly built on mutual, strict respect and trust, which definitely simplifies the visitor system. The main rule is not to make noise after ten in the evening till six in the morning, but they shouldn't be here by then anyway.
They head up the stairs to the third floor, and it is only right at the door to Law's room that they encounter a living soul. Judging by where he is coming from, he is Law's neighbor. They nod to each other in silence, as if talking here is forbidden, but the young guy doesn't walk far away. He stops right behind them, staring at their joined hands, and raises his eyebrows in surprise.
“Hey, Law, bist du nicht eigentlich vergeben [Hey, Law, aren't you actually in a relationship]?” Torao's blond neighbor asks in German, looking straight at Ace.
Ace looks back at him uncertainly, meeting his small eyes for a brief second before glancing over at Law. He only knows a tiny handful of German words (thank goodness for modern translators) that Law taught him by accident. Of course, none of them come to mind in this quiet hallway. All Ace can actually make out is his partner's name and the fact that this guy is asking a question.
He is just so smart.
Torao gets distracted from his game of “try to hit the keyhole with your left hand” – since the right one exists solely for Ace – and turns toward the sudden speaker as well. He knits his brows, looking annoyed that he was interrupted, and glances briefly at Ace. That single moment is enough for the crease between his eyebrows to smooth out, his gaze turning soft and somehow mysterious. It is as if a revelation has occurred in his head. Law smiles, and to Ace's amazement, there is genuine warmth and a trace of quiet bliss in his expression.
Usually, Law keeps up a cold, distant wall around other people, but it looks like Germany has softened him up. Ace isn't sure how to feel about it. He loves being the only special one, but it's also comforting to know that Torao hasn't been as entirely lonely here as he feared.
“Das ist Ace, mein zukünftiger Ehemann. Er ist aus der Heimat zu mir gekommen [This is Ace, my future husband. He came to me from our homeland],” Law answers him instantly in an unexpectedly gentle voice, and Ace hopes it's only because his name is being spoken. He isn't jealous, but he is a little jealous.
The young intern's face changes instantly at Law's answer. From suspicious, it turns embarrassed but happy at the same time. It's as if he's so glad Ace stopped by, like he's been waiting for this moment his entire life and now it's finally happened! Ace is stunned, but not wanting to be rude, Portgas D. smiles and nods his head, pretending to be in the loop. And this just hypes the guy up even more.
He places his hands over the locks of their palms, gives them a quick, tight squeeze, and lets go. He speaks so joyfully, all in a rush, with a wide smile:
“Echt? Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Ich freue mich sehr, dass ihr eine Familie gründen wollt. Und dein Verlobter ist wirklich gutaussehend, ihr passt super zusammen [Really? Congratulations! I'm so glad you want to start a family! And your fiancé is really handsome, you two look great together]!”
Ace blinks rapidly, since the chubby guy in front of him is looking straight at him and keeping up that smile. He hopes he doesn't look stupid. Otherwise, everyone around will think that smart Law got involved with some simple-minded guy. It's not that Portgas D. is deeply ashamed of being less intelligent, but he'd feel bad for Law.
“I told him that you are my partner, and he said that you are handsome and we look good together,” Law explains, helping him out. Ace can see the amusement dancing in his eyes; Law is clearly entertained by his confusion, but he finds it completely precious.
Ace snaps out of his daze, nodding gratefully to Law for the translation and to the guy for the sweet compliment. His awkward smile turns into a polite one, and he decides to try out the one word he actually knows. Time to show off a bit:
“Danke [Thank you]?”
It comes out as a question because he’s still unsure of himself.
The neighbor's face lights up with fresh beams of joy, and he laughs. Ace figures it's because Portgas D. is showing respect for a difficult language and at least trying to get along with its native speakers.
“Dein zukünftiger Ehemann spricht gar kein Deutsch [Your future husband doesn't speak any German]?” Law's neighbor asks, shifting his small eyes back to Law with a smile.
“Nein, er versteht uns nicht. Das muss er auch nicht, er bleibt nicht lange [No, he doesn't understand us. He doesn't need to, not staying long],” Law replies, squeezing Ace's fingers a bit tighter. His brows furrow slightly, but only for a brief moment.
The young man lets out an “oh” and nods understandingly.
“Sorry,” he suddenly says in English, tilting his head forward with an apologetic look. “My English is... very bad. Nice to meet you.”
“Don't worry about it,” Ace waves his hand dismissively. Why should the guy apologize anyway? Ace is the guest here, and he's the one who doesn't know the language. “You know way more of my language than I do of yours.”
The guy just stares back blankly, and Law, realizing that smiles and gestures aren't going to bridge this language gap, steps in to translate again. Once the neighbor gets the joke, he laughs happily and starts tossing out more compliments. Ace nods gratefully, feeling a little self-conscious. But Law's fingers brushing his palm and his steady grip help Ace deal with the awkwardness.
The neighbor keeps up the small talk for another couple of sentences and finally, after saying goodbye in both English and German, heads off to do whatever he was doing. Portgas D. watches him go and lets out a thoughtful hum. When the young guy disappears around the corner, he turns to Law and shares his thoughts:
“I’m always amazed that you know German. It sounds so complicated.”
“It's not that complicated when people speak it at home with you since childhood. But if you were learning it from scratch, yeah, I'm not sure I could manage it,” Torao replies, returning to his struggle with the lock.
It goes better than the first time. Ace thinks at first it's because Law is right-handed and using his left is awkward. But looking closer, he realizes Law's fingers are slightly trembling, and he's rushing. Portgas D. would ask stupid questions if he had only known Law for a couple of months. But Law has been an open book for a long time, and Ace smiles smugly.
The moment the door gives way and swings open, Portgas D. is hurriedly, almost roughly, yanked into the room. A second later, the sound of the door closing clicks, and Ace's shoulder blades and the back of his head meet the solid wall. It's exactly what he wants – to be hidden away from the rest of the world, with Law’s lips pressing against his so fiercely it steals his breath, and hands urgently pulling at his jacket. Just to touch, to feel the real presence of a familiar body, and to finally say hello the way they want to; the way they desperately need to.