Archive of Our Own

─ ⊹ ⊱ 1 ⊰ ⊹ ─

Monkey D. Luffy is a man which many people have, in some way, devoted themselves to.

Roronoa Zoro is one of those people, the first of many actually, and he prides himself in it.

He is the best friend if he were to say so himself. The first “mate”, the first one to have been subjected to the unstoppable force of nature that Luffy is —outside of the other’s family, at least—.

They met when they were nothing but a pair of snotty kids, an 8 year old Luffy forcing his way into a 10 year old Zoro’s heart and life through mischievous shenanigans and an adventurous nature that put to shame each and every one of Zoro’s classmates at the dojo.

“Your sword is so cool! And your hair is so green! You look strong! I wanna be strong too! You think I could ever take down a tree with a punch?” The little sunny boy wearing a straw hat had chimed in out of nowhere one day, from where he sat on a comically huge rock. He’d been hitting a stick against the grass as he looked at Zoro, who hit a wooden pole with his Kendo sword.

“Dunno, try it. But you look weak. Leave me alone” was all he’d replied, unapologetically blunt even as a kid.

The little boy in the straw hat squeaked in response, offended. Little Zoro smirked playfully.

Needless to say, the boy hadn’t paid his words any mind nor left him alone even after that somewhat rude exchange.

Not just that day, but the following ones as well.

In no time Zoro came to realise he didn’t mind the other boy’s company.

“Don’t let the Redhead’s nephew get you into more trouble than you already get in on your own”, Zoro remembers his boring boring BORING! Dad, Mihawk, telling him, all the way back then when they first started hanging out.

Advice which had clearly fallen into deaf ears.

After all the years they’ve been friends, Luffy has indeed gotten Zoro into trouble more times than he can probably recall, but that’s okay, Luffy might be the catalyst most of the time but Zoro has joined in willingly almost every single time.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way, that’s just Luffy for you. Zoro has always lived for the thrill of adventure and chaos they get to experience together.

He doesn’t know where he’d be without Luffy, how boring his childhood would’ve been if they hadn’t met, how his life would’ve turned out without the presence of Luffy and his contagious ideals of being unapologetically selfish and himself that only enforced Zoro’s own.

At this point Luffy’s basically family, and Zoro knows they’re ride or die, until the end of times.

For this very reason, the depth of their friendship, Zoro will always argue that him having grown into being so… overprotective, when it comes to Luffy is completely valid and understandable.

He doesn’t mean it in a way that says he thinks Luffy needs to be protected or that Zoro perceives him as someone weak, or anything like that. He just knows him too well. Which means he’s more than well aware that Luffy can sometimes be a bit of an… airhead. Someone too good and too trusting for their own good; and being that way has gotten him into unpleasant situations more times that either of them can count.

Because of that Zoro thinks it’s just fair that he had reacted the way he did when Luffy dropped that bomb on him.

It happened barely twenty minutes ago, right after Luffy and Chopper had come to pick him up at the dojo so they could walk home together after Zoro’s kendo practice. It was usually the cook —Sanji, Zoro’s boyfriend— who came to pick him up, but he had been busy helping with some catering event that day so Luffy had offered to come along with Chopper instead.

He hadn’t thought anything of it at first, it wasn’t weird for either of them to tag along for stuff like that, sometimes coming along with Sanji if they weren’t on duty at the Fire Station or busy with Med School, they’re a pretty close friend group and they take every little opportunity they get to hang out.

What had made it weird was what his friends had arrived with.

As soon as he caught sight of them Zoro’s gaze went directly to the things Luffy and Chopper had been holding.

They yelled their greetings and mildly waved at him like usual, Zoro on his part having to take a second to blink and look down at their full hands now that they were closer, wondering deeply if they’d acknowledge it if he didn’t say anything first.

Both Luffy and Chopper looked blissfully unaware of Zoro expectantly waiting for an explanation, they didn’t say anything else besides their greetings and asking him how practice had been.

Ok, so it was up to him then.

“Why the fuck are you holding that many bags!? Luffy, did you ‘accidentally’ rob BM’s again!? Ace and Sabo might just kill you if they gotta pay that much because of you again” He yelled, incredulous. Both of his friends' hands were occupied by a worrying amount of paper bags from the stupidly fancy and expensive dessert shop near the city’s park.

It wasn’t like Luffy needing that many desserts to satisfy his hunger was out of the ordinary. What was weird was that they were both casually walking around with said bags like they’d coincidentally found them on the way or something, like they weren’t expensive as all hell.

“Luffy wanted something sweet but Sanji’s busy today and the Baratie’s closed so he made an order online at BM’s Bakery, we just went to pick them up on the way here!” Chopper chimed in, clearly blinded with happiness and excitement about the sweets in their hands, not thinking the situation through and just accepting it from the promise of getting to eat the tasty desserts soon.

Zoro sighed, dragging his hand over his face in exasperation, context was nice and all but it still didn’t sit right with him.

“Just how much did you add to your debt with Nami to buy all that? How’d you even get that witch to lend you that much money in the first place?” He questioned, eyeing in detail just how many paper bags almost overflowing with cookies, brownies and different types of pretty little cakes, his friends were carrying.

Luffy smiled brightly at his question, a mischievous and proud-of-himself scrunch on his nose, “I didn’t, I didn’t! Torao put his credit card on my delivery app. He also gave me one of his shiny cards the other day, said I could use it whenever I felt like it!” he explained, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Well, that explains every—… Wait who?

“Huh? Who the hell is Torao!?” Zoro spat out immediately, looking at Luffy like he’d grown two extra heads.

Does whoever this Torao is even knows how much Luffy eats!? Why would he give him one of his cards!? Did he want to go bankrupt!?

“Zoro, are you an idiot, did you forget? Torao’s my boyfriend! We’ve been together since a little after I joined the Fire Academy” Luffy replied, interrupting Zoro’s inner questioning and looking genuinely confused at him not knowing about that supposed boyfriend of his.

Zoro had tried to nod in understanding, but it still didn’t make sense.

Wait, what the fuck?

“Boyfriend!?”

Luffy nodded eagerly, then turned his head to the side in confusion as a reply to Zoro’s ignorance in the matter.

He blinked once, twice. At the third blink he seemed to realize something, his eyes widening in that very Luffy-like idiot manner.

“Ah. Did I forget to tell you about him too?” he said, cackling loudly at his forgetfulness, not a single care or regret in the world in his words, as per usual.

Zoro stared at him incredulously, he noticed Chopper by Luffy’s side looking at him with a resigned, empathetic expression that told him he just found out about it today too, a silent You know how Luffy is.

“How can you forget to tell us about something like that when it’s been almost a year since you joined the Fire Academy, you idiot! How have you had a boyfriend for all this time and it never occurred to you to tell us!?” Zoro scolded him, a bit annoyed and suddenly worried for Luffy from the newly acquired knowledge.

Luffy only laughed loudly again, motioning at Zoro with a flick of his head that they should start walking home.

“Sorry, sorry, I swear I thought I had told you guys! Or I dunno, I kinda just assumed you knew for some reason. Well… That’s where I’ve been sleeping over sometimes these days, at his place! We hang out at night a lot ‘cus he tends to be super busy during the day. Torao’s a good guy! I think you guys would get along really well, man you gotta meet him someday! He's not very social though, he’s all grumpy and quiet when there’s too many people around because he’s shy and weird. But don’t worry, I think I can convince him, shishishi” he rambled a bit, clearly happy to simply talk about his significant other.

It’s needless to say that Zoro had genuine internal issues processing everything Luffy just said.

It was just so damn sudden.

“Luffy said Torao is a doctor, Zoro! Isn’t that so cool!? I wanna meet him soon too, Luffy!” the youngest of the bunch added before the swordsman could reply.

“A doctor!?”

“Yup! The best one! He works at the hospital near the academy. We met ‘cus we kept bumping into each other at the café, until I finally talked to him! He’s so cool Zoro, he’s got a lot of cool tattoos, they’re my fave thing ever. He said people tend to judge him for them because he’s a doctor so he was super surprised when I blurted out a compliment to him about them, shishi. After that first time we talked we just kept meeting at the café during lunch and after his shift ended if he didn’t have any emergency surgeries after it. One day I just kissed him goodbye because he’s so handsome, and cool, and being with him is fun, so I really wanted to kiss him, and we’ve been dating ever since!” Luffy recalled. There was a giddiness in his voice, a tender smile on his lips and a soft red flush on his cheeks that Zoro had never seen on him before, causing him to remain still mildly in shock.

It’s quite the weird experience, seeing a whole new side of your best friend of twelve years after thinking you knew every side of him.

Suddenly so many things start to make sense.

Luffy’s sudden absence from the station’s dorm and his unavailability to hang out from time to time, how he sometimes mentions he’s already been to weird restaurants or new plazas without having gone there with anyone from the crew, the added giddy step on his feet, his overall glowing aura, the weird mosquito bites that sometimes show up on his neck and chest.

God, the mosquito bites was such a stupid assumption, now that he thinks about it.

How could they possibly have been so ignorant about this for so long!?

Zoro’s mind spiraled with questions as Luffy kept rambling about his Torao, until it stopped and went back to what Luffy said about Torao having put his card on his delivery app and… giving him one?

Something inside him suddenly clicked.

What the fuck.

Has Luffy somehow unknowingly ended up with a… What’s that thing twirly-brow always jokes about leaving Zoro for? A… sugar daddy!?

See, such an airhead sometimes.

That is so like Luffy.

After his discovery, Zoro pondered for a while if he should say anything about it, question his relationship, ask Luffy if there’s any power imbalance he’s uncomfortable about, but Luffy just looked… so genuinely happy, the happiest Zoro’s ever seen him and Luffy’s always been genuine sunshine-incarnate so that’s saying a lot.

Though the more he listened to what Luffy said about how this boyfriend of his treats him, the more it reinforced Zoro’s assumption.

Thankfully, he didn’t sound like a perverted, nasty old man that’s taking advantage of him, but through what he’s gathered from Luffy’s yapping —26 years old, taller than him, handsome, serious, tattooed, a doctor, wealthy, spoils him rotten— Zoro thinks Yep, definitely a Sugar Daddy.

In the end, the swordsman decided to not question it any further until he actually meets this Torao, or until he gets input from their other friends regarding the matter.

He doesn’t tell Luffy anything besides “If he hurts you I will kill him”, not needing to have processed much of what was Luffy basically just gloating and waxing poetic about his man.

He’d gotten a cheerful laugh from Luffy and a scolding from Chopper because “Human lives are precious Zoro! We would just need to beat him up…”

─ ⊹ ⊱ 2 ⊰ ⊹ ─

Zoro doesn’t happen to be the only overprotective one over Luffy among their friends. In fact, when it comes to Luffy, almost everyone that knows him is.

The next time Luffy accidentally reveals to some of his friends that he has a boyfriend, and has had him for almost a whole-ass year now, he’s in Nami’s apartment, hanging out with her, Sanji and Usopp.

Unlike Zoro’s blind trust in Luffy’s judgment —he knows he’s an airhead but one that can take care of himself— they’re slightly more overprotective of him.

In their case, the root of their over-protectiveness is “We know Luffy’s a huge idiot and we worry it’ll get him actually killed one day”.

Just like Zoro, they’re all childhood friends. They met him just a few weeks after Zoro did, making them all an extremely close-knit friend group.

Nami, aged 9, had found him in her backyard not-so-sneakily stealing tangerines from her mom’s garden; his endless monetary debt to her —which he shares with almost everyone else in their crew— started all the way back then. “You owe me a thousand berries just from today!” she’d declared, “I don’t have that much money!” he’d —literally— cried out, and so they’d settled on being friends forever or at least until Luffy was old and loaded enough to be able to pay her everything back, with added interest of course.

Usopp, aged 8, met him while he’d been running back home after pestering some neighbours with his tale-telling. Luffy had been trying to catch bugs to make a “Bug army ‘cus they’re cool!” he’d said. Usopp agreed with the sentiment, and so it had resulted in them running around the forest together seeking for said bugs for hours, then playing pirates near the creek close to town, then making running and climbing competitions, and so on. They’d been inseparable since then, Usopp’s the most willing in the crew to fight Zoro over being Luffy’s “number one best friend” —though they both know Luffy loves them all just as much, Usopp’s arguing is always very one-sided—.

Sanji, aged 10, had met him because as a kid the other cooks from the restaurant —his dad included— sometimes didn’t consider him a full blown cook yet, so he’d be shunned out of the kitchen and sent out on side quests from time to time. That day his duty had been to go out and tell the visibly hungry little guy drooling onto the window of the restaurant to go away after handing him a little plate of shrimp-fried rice.

It took him a few hours to warm up to Luffy because he was childish in a way Sanji wasn't really used to being, his mom only having custody of him and his five years older sister; but when he finally caved and let Luffy in he realized he’d just hit the jackpot, as he’d just gotten himself a very useful, personal taste-taster. Luffy clung to Sanji like a tick from then on, just because he always gave him tasty food —his taste-testing role ended up being kinda useless as they grew up, Luffy always adoring whatever Sanji cooked for him—.

After that Luffy eventually ended up making everyone meet each other and they’d formed their little friend group, or their “Gang of rascals” like the people from their town liked to call them.

“The Strawhat Crew! I like it, shishishi” Luffy had declared one day, sometime during their first Christmas together, when they were all out in Sanji’s huge garden brainstorming names for their group because they were “not rascals!” as their parents and caretakers mingled and chatted inside the residence.

Everyone had agreed to the name without as much as a second thought, after all Luffy had been the one to bring them all together.

It’s needless to say that they’ve been through thick and thin together, after all these years they’ve been friends. Inseparable to the point where they even ended up forcing their parents to let them go to the same high school.

Being proper young adults ranging from twenty and onward now, university and whatsoever has made it almost impossible to hangout altogether as often as they did back when they were kids. It’s been reduced to around two or three times a month whenever all of their schedules manage to match up.

But they still find ways to hang out with each other albeit separately, or in smaller groups, just like today before their monthly hangouts with the whole friend group.

Zoro, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook and Jinbei —everyone else besides Zoro having become part of their crew a bit later along the way— couldn’t make it to Nami’s apartment today, busy with work, school and life, so today it was just the four of them.

Luffy, Nami, Sanji and Usopp.

Their hangout went on as every other, whining about professors and coworkers, gossiping about the people in their town, catching up with family drama, half-watching a bad movie, eating Sanji’s heavenly food and snacks, Nami finding ways to make them owe her more money, Usopp making up playful lies, Luffy cackling loudly and talking about anything and everything and somehow making it entertaining.

Sometime into the evening, in the middle of watching an ancient and surprisingly interesting scary movie they found themselves really invested in, Luffy had scared them all with an obnoxiously loud gasp of realization, “I just remembered Zoro told me to tell you guys!” he’d started.

Before he could even think about continuing, Nami had angrily thrown right into his face the huge duck plushie —a gift from her currently long-distance girlfriend, Vivi— she’d been holding onto for comfort against the movie. The other boys laughed at Luffy’s whiny “Hey!”

“Don’t yell so suddenly when someone’s about to get murdered on screen, you dumbass!” Sanji said, explaining Nami’s outburst because Luffy clearly didn’t understand why they’d gotten scared.

“What did Mosshead tell you to tell us that’s so important you remember just now after being together for like five hours now?” the cook asks, an easy smile settling on his face as he reaches over for Nami’s plushie from Luffy’s hands to give it back to her.

Usopp is clearly about to join in on the banter, probably about to say something regarding how forgetful Luffy is for remembering what Zoro told him so out of nowhere, but Luffy interrupts him.

“About my boyfriend!” He says, a huge smile on his lips, a light flush on the apple of his cheeks.

Two pairs of eyes and a half grow into saucers, never in a million years expecting that to be the thing to come out of Luffy’s mouth.

“I told Zoro and Chopper the other day and realised I'd forgotten to tell all of you guys, shishishi. It’s been so long too! I dunno how it just slipped my mind!” He explains without an ounce of hesitation.

It’s so like him, to just drop that on them and say it like he’s talking about a daily occurrence, like he’s just talking about what he had for breakfast or something along those lines.

The three remain shocked for a moment, processing their friend’s words. Luffy on his part, expectant for their answer, simply tilts his head to the side in confusion as they don’t say anything.

He’s about to say something when they all yell in unison, same cadence, same degree of incredulity, “WHAT BOYFRIEND!?”

Luffy bursts out laughing as they grow almost hysterical. They talk over each other, throwing endless questions his way, “What do you mean boyfriend?” “Since when?” “Who is it?” “When did this even happen?” “Since when do you like like people?” “Who asked who?” “Have you guys kissed already?” “Does he treat you well?” “What does he do for a living?” “Oh my god Luffy, do your brothers know?” And so on.

He holds his stomach as he laughs, they know him well enough to know he hasn't caught a single question they’ve asked him because of the mess they are. Nami sighs, exasperated, “Ok, ok, calm down guys!” She yells at Sanji and Usopp to which they immediately comply.

“So. Boyfriend. Luffy. Ok. When did this happen Lu? And who is he? Don’t tell me it’s that Koby that has had a crush on you forever? Though I swear I saw him making out with some ugly blonde the other day… Or that rooster-head guy that’s obsessed with you!? Gosh, don’t tell me it’s him!” She asks, all three of them getting closer to Luffy, like that’s going to make his answers come out faster.

He laughs loudly once again as he thinks about dating either Koby or Bartolomeo. Absolutely not.

“His name’s Torao! Well, Law, but Torao’s his nickname ‘cus his last name is all long and complicated. We’ve been dating since I started at the Fire Academy” he says, and goes off after that, telling them their little meet up and falling in love story just like he’d done with Zoro.

His friends listen attentively and ask questions in between his rambles.

He sounds like a…good guy actually, if he makes Luffy happy like this. But Usopp, ever the anxious one, holds onto every little thing that sets off his red flags and worrying instincts.

He’s glad Luffy has no filter at all so they manage to get so much information about this boyfriend of his.

The moment Luffy stands up to go to the bathroom Usopp grabs onto Nami and Sanji so they huddle together to point out to them the worrying details he noticed.

“I know Luffy looks really happy and all, but… Isn’t it a bit weird that they’ve been dating for so long and we haven’t met him yet… Like, what if he doesn’t want to meet us because he knows we won’t approve?” he starts, a finger thoughtfully settling on his chin, a worried tilt in his brows.

“And he’s twenty-six, six years older than Luffy! And full of tattoos? And very serious? Doesn’t he sound a bit like a gangster or something like that to you guys?” Usopp bites his nails out of worry now.

“Oi. Assuming stuff to that extent is a bit disrespectful to Luffy, man. But I’m not gonna lie, someone like Luffy suddenly having an older, mysterious boyfriend that nobody seems to know is a bit concerning” Sanji pouts, a small frown on his eyebrow that matches Usopp’s.

“I find it a bit strange too, like… It’s Luffy! He’s never been lacking in suitors, but he’s never been interested in them either. I wonder why so suddenly? And with someone that sounds so suspicious of all people…” Nami agrees, crossing her arms over her chest, visibly worried.

“What if he’s being coerced or threatened into being with him and just doesn’t know it!?” Usopp yells, his hands slapping his cheeks.

It’s chaos between the three after that, suddenly scared about this man Luffy has probably been somehow forced or tricked into calling his boyfriend, their minds running wild creating scenarios and situations that man could have put Luffy through during all this time they’ve been “together”.

They wonder what they can do? How can they save Luffy’s innocent dumb ass from that creep!?

They need to find some way to finally meet this guy and judge his character properly. Nami’s good when it comes to background-checking, Usopp can lie his way to questioning people about someone, and Sanji can use his food to coerce people himself, they just need to map out a proper plan.

Eventually, Luffy comes back from the bathroom and eyes them suspiciously, an adorable pout in his lips as he whines about being left out of the fun.

Usopp saves the situation with a little white lie, telling Luffy they were discussing which movie they could watch next because the scary one clearly wasn’t doing it for Luffy.

As the bright man they all call their best friend laughs in understanding —thanking Usopp for noticing how he thought the movie had been super boring—, the three of them think about how they’ll do anything in their ability to free Luffy from the alleged relationship he has with that possible creep. They’ll need to debrief and plan later.

─ ⊹ ⊱ 3 ⊰ ⊹ ─

To say Luffy and the Strawhats are a regular bunch would be a blatant lie —and an insult, Luffy has said, “We’re super awesome, not regular”—.

One of the very reasons being the fact that their friend group isn’t conformed by just a bunch of rascals like they’d been told when they were kids.

Over the years, they’ve added more people, including the odd couple that are Robin and Franky —odd couple as in literally a couple, because they happen to be dating and odd because they’re both really special people—.

It’s really curious, a mystery if you may, how life and fate work, Luffy dragging them both into friendship without even knowing they’d been together or that they knew each other.

During her senior year, Robin, aged 18, had come first. A 15 year old Luffy had approached the lonely older girl who spent most of her time alone in the library one time he’d been stuck in detention with Mr.Crocodile —the grumpy librarian Luffy knew all too well because he happened to be one of his dads— as his watcher.

Luffy, bored out of his mind from just sitting there, had asked Crocodile —irresistible puppy eyes on full action— if he could at least wander around the shelves to see if there was any book that might interest him. As he’d been given a grumbly affirmation, he’d stumbled upon her in a faraway corner. He approached without hesitation, Robin didn’t acknowledge him until he talked. He said he had heard of her, “Is it you who people think is a ghost or a devil or something like that ‘cus you’re always seen here alone in the library?” he had asked, curious and direct, that innate tactlessness that would’ve gotten him a kick on the head from Sanji ever present.

Robin had been immediately amused by the younger boy, she didn’t say but she’d heard of him too. “Yes, that’s me I believe. Doesn’t bother me, though. Isn’t it kinda interesting, being a devil?” She replied, making Luffy cackle. “Shishishi, you’re weird! What’s your name? I’m Luffy!” He’d said, taking a seat in front of her with a familiarity and genuine friendliness Robin wasn’t quite used to.

And just like that, before she knew it, Robin found herself being dragged out of her everyday spot in the library on the daily, and quickly getting acquainted with the rest of the strawhats. She fit into the group like a glove. They’d remained close even as she graduated a few years before them, and to this day they still are.

Franky had come around a month after Robin had joined the group. He was 19, a year older than her, already graduated and they’d been dating for a year.

Luffy had run into him by accident, walking into his mechanic shop as he tried to hide from Usopp during some impromptu game of tag. Franky was chill and cool enough to act like he didn’t see Luffy either as Usopp walked past the shop yelling Luffy’s name and asking where he’d gone, he knew anyone else would’ve kicked him out for rudely walking into their place without zero intentions of using their services.

After Usopp went out of sight Franky had told him “He’s out of sight little bro, you’re safe now”, a dashing smirk on his lips.

“Shishishi, thanks man!” He’d replied, fist bumping the big man with the extravagant blue hair. “What’cha doing?” he asked, curious as one can be, taking a seat cross legged above the hood of the car Franky was attaching a door to.

The older man had gone off about the car having been in a super crash recently, so it was his duty to repair it and make it a thousand times more super than it had been before. Luffy listened attentively to the man's exaggerated story, immediately finding him one of the coolest people ever.

At some point he’d even gone out for a second just to bring Usopp back with him, their game of tag forgotten, because Usopp was also into those “repair-y kinda things” he’d said. Before he knew it, the very next day Franky was invited to the after school hangouts the Strawhats shared. Both Robin and Franky had been pleasantly surprised to see each other there, surprising everyone when they revealed they were dating.

It’s been around five years since then, and at twenty-three and twenty-four they remain strong and steady, living together and in love, still very much part of the Strawhats.

Luffy hangs out with them a lot. Franky always shows him his newest crazy inventions, and Robin brings him peace and understanding in a way only she can. They’re like his cool way-too-young-to-actually-be parents, or something like that. His cool older siblings, more like —besides the ones he already has—.

They’re the next ones Luffy tells about Law.

Very unlike him, for some reason Luffy finds himself kind of nervous about telling them. The other guys had reacted kind of weird so he doesn’t know what to expect from Robin and Franky.

He’s hanging out on their couch playing on his phone as Robin reads a book next to him, Franky’s making burgers on the kitchen —on the stove because their small apartment unfortunately doesn’t have a balcony where they can pull the grill out—.

Luffy drops his phone on his chest and fiddles with the strings of his hoodie as he thinks about how he should start. Robin notices the switch instantly, it’s a bit scary how she can read him like a book, “Anything on your mind, Lu?” She asks, putting her creepy novel down and carding her fingers through his raven hair instead.

Franky leans over the kitchen counter, turning off the stove as the burgers have finished cooking. “Yeah, what’s up, bud? You look like you’ve got something on your mind” he asks too, a comforting smile on his lips.

Luffy doesn’t know why he’s so embarrassed about telling them specifically, but he knows he has to. He clears his throat.

“Well… Y’know I was talking with Zoro and Chopper the other day and realised I forgot to tell you guys something… I’vegotaboyfriend” he blurts out, still fiddling with the strings of his hoodie, still wondering why on earth he’s so embarrassed about this all of a sudden.

There’s a beat of prolonged silence in which Luffy grows uneasy over what their reaction will be, disrupted by the sudden sound of Franky’s boisterous laughter.

“We kinda figured you had something going on with someone, bud. I mean, that boyfriend of yours sure is SUPER possessive! Those love bites you show up covered in sometimes say a lot” he explains, a slightly teasing tilt in his voice. Robin giggles in agreement. Luffy feels his cheeks heat up.

“We were waiting for you to be ready to tell us. Turns out you’d just forgotten, huh? Must be fun being with him, then?” Robin adds, that tender smile of hers ever present. The straw-hatted boy giggles loudly as he realises she’s right on the money.

“It is! That’s it Robin, that’s why I forgot! I swear I had told you guys because we’re together so much, Torao’s basically part of me at this point. Like, I guess I expected you guys to just, know, ‘cus you know me y’know, shishishi”

This earns him an equally fond smile from Robin and Franky.

“I see. It’s good to hear he treats you well” Robin says, her tender hand ruffling his hair affectionately.

Franky urges them to the dining table before they continue their conversation. Luffy happily digs in, almost inhaling the burgers because Franky’s burgers are always super. He rants about his lover through it all, the couple accompanying his rant with questions here and there.

By the end of their meal Franky is literally bawling, because “Tora-bro sounds like such a good guy” for how much he clearly cherishes Luffy, at least judging by every anecdote the younger man has shared and from the unknowingly smitten look on his cheerful face.

Robin doesn’t bawl like her partner does, but shares the sentiment, “I’m glad he makes you so happy” she tells Luffy, sincerely.

For all these years they’ve known him, Luffy has always been a joyful, hyperactive, little sunshine, but seeing him so happy and fulfilled from being lovesick is truly something else.

Robin knows Luffy’s happiness has always been genuine, love is the last thing he lacks, and romantic love isn’t something essential that one can’t live without. But it’s still so very sweet, seeing him getting to experience this side of life he had never been particularly interested in before.

He’s always been one to selflessly devote his everyday life to making everyone he likes happy, he shares his love freely with everyone he deems a friend; seeing him experiencing this different kind of love with someone he gets just for himself and who gets Luffy’s heart just for himself in return is a wonderful experience.

It’s unbearably cute, Robin thinks, observing how painfully enamoured by his lover Luffy clearly is and how visibly giddy he gets when recalling past experiences shared with that same someone.

The present couple share a quiet moment where they simply look at each other knowingly, happy for their dear friend who’s clearly very in love, just as they are.

All they want is for that happiness to never waver, and from the looks of it that “Torao” is doing more than a great job. They hope it remains that way for years and years to come, and when time tells, may they be able to meet and thank the man who puts such a gorgeous smile on Luffy's face.

─ ⊹ ⊱ 4 ⊰ ⊹ ─

The last ones out of his friend group to find out Luffy has a boyfriend are the two other people one could say that add to the “oddness” of their group,

They’re the oldest of the bunch, the actual “parents” of the crew that tend to act and behave like adults despite everyone else also being of age.

First there’s Brook, 40 years old, which Luffy met literally on the open street on a random Tuesday two years ago. He was an independent artist who’d been playing a fun mix of his own songs in one of the busiest streets of their city, Luffy immediately clinging to him like a leech and yapping about how he’d always wanted a friend who could play music. They’d kicked it off unsurprisingly quickly, Brook was silly and funny and matched Luffy’s energy perfectly; the first day Brook had been dragged into a Strawhats’ hangout had been loud and lively.

Some of the Strawhats —Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper— had been slightly adamant about Brook at first, when Luffy first brought him in and loudly declared he’d “found him playing on the street”, as well as from having noticed he was clearly much older than all of them. Thankfully, they’d warmed up to him in no time, welcoming him as a Strawhat the moment one of his bad jokes made a few of them laugh and he easily brightened up the atmosphere with a cheerful spontaneous song.

And their most recent addition to the friend group, Jinbei, 33 years old, who Luffy’s actually known for ages now because he’d been a friend of Ace’s friends from the fire station. Despite their long history of being acquaintances, it was only until two years ago that he’d dragged him into their friend group and into being close to them. Jinbei was no longer part of the fire station when Luffy had joined, instead focusing on his passion as a marine biologist and swim instructor.

The switch in their relationship had happened during one of Ace’s beach parties. The older man just seemed to gravitate towards them, fitting like a glove; Luffy had only needed half an hour to decide and announce out loud that Jinbei was going to start hanging out with them more whether he liked it or not. He’d agreed with a loud laugh and a friendly pat on Luffy’s back, all of the Strawhats welcoming him easily and telling him how he wouldn’t have a choice in it now that Luffy had made up his mind, just like how he’d dragged them all into friendship.

The rest is history, Jinbei bringing a warm presence, stability and a much needed voice of reason to their group. They all cherish and respect him very much, he’s part of the Strawhats through and through.

Now, regarding what he needs to tell them, Luffy… doesn’t really know how to bring it up to them either. Robin and Franky had been nice about it, clearly happy for him and indulging his ranting about his dear boyfriend. But he doesn’t know what to expect from Brook and Jinbei. Brook usually got onboard with every of his wild doings and ideas, indulged his craziness, laughed the loudest with him, was as equally annoying; Jinbei on the other hand was more level-headed and made Luffy pause to think, the “voice of reason” of the group for that very reason.

They get along incredibly well, despite how rather different their personalities are. But what they have the most in common when it comes to being with Luffy is how much they care about him and as a result, how much they worry about him because of that, in that similar “dad-like” manner.

So finding himself between them and with something he’s come to learn —from his friends’ reactions and from Robin’s explanation when he’d told her how the others had reacted— is quite the confusing deal, he doesn’t know what to do or how to bring it up.

Today, all three of them find themselves sunbathing in the shore, Luffy had hit them up to see if they were available to hang out because he’d covered a bunch of shifts that weren’t his these last few weeks so his coworkers had made it up to him, the fire chief of the station allowing him the three following days off duty.

Brook and Jinbei happened to be the only ones available, and so Brook and he had driven over to the Jinbei’s place, which happened to be twenty minutes out of town and just a few steps away from the beach.

From the weirdness of not being able to figure out how to say it, Luffy rolls over like a slug on his towel and into the burning sand, letting the sizzling sun burn his skin, maybe the ache-y feeling will help him arrange his thoughts.

“Luffy, you’re growing red already! Come back here to the shade!” Jinbei announces, a fond smile on his face as he stares at the hyperactive young man.

“Maybe his plans for the summer are to become a shrimp, Jinbei-san, yohoho!” Brook says, rising to his thin elbows in order to look at Luffy rolling in the sand too.

The pair observes him for a second, until Jinbei stands up and throws Luffy over his shoulder, bringing him back to the towels they’ve been resting in under huge umbrellas. Brook laughs wildly at their exchange, Jinbei joining in on the laughter as Luffy squirms and protests from being grabbed like a sack of potatoes.

The younger man lets out a sigh as Jinbei places him back in the towel, he spreads out like a starfish between his friends and grows red but not from the sun as he feels their eyes on him.

“Guys… I need tell you something… But I want you to promise you won’t be weird about it, ‘kay?” he starts, deciding the best course of action is to just say it and hope they don’t react weird too. Overthinking like this has never been his scene.

Both of his friends perk up at that, quickly growing worried about Luffy because it’s quite unlike him to say that.

“Of course, Luffy-san. Is everything okay?” Brook replies, leaning over to look down at him. Jinbei also leans over, nodding in agreement at Brook’s words.

Luffy inhales a comically large amount of air, then releases it out as a sigh. His cheeks still feel way too warm and not from the sun.

“I kinda… Got a… Boyfriend. Well. I’ve had him for a while now… I just forgot to tell you guys… Don’t be weird about it like the other guys were! I swear Torao’s nice, he’s the best boyfriend ever!” he finally spills out, shutting his eyes tightly so as to not see his friends’ reaction.

“Oh!” Jinbei says, clearly surprised.

Brook laughs his signature laugh and says, “I see! That’s wonderful, Luffy-san!”

Only then does Luffy open his eyes, the older men still looking down at him. Thankfully their reactions seem normal, happy for him even.

And so he smiles, letting out a relieved sigh before rising back up to sit between them. He starts rambling about Law immediately, telling them about when they got together, their dates, just how happy Law makes him and how good he is to him, how fun this dating thing actually is.

His friends listen to him attentively, keeping their word of not being weird about it like Luffy had asked them to.

Little does he know, both men are quite worried about him.

Brook and Jinbei’s kind of over-protectiveness over Luffy comes from the fact that they’re a bit older than him. Brook listens to his friend ramble about his beloved and the simple fact that the other man is 26 years old worries him slightly. It’s not much of an age difference he knows, but Brook had enough partners during his 20s —despite barely reaching his 40s this year— to know how bad of a player a man that age can be, especially with younger guys like Luffy.

And Jinbei is exactly on the same boat, if the silent way they lock gazes and he furrows his brows slightly tells him anything. He seems even more worried than Brook, even, and Brook tends to be more of a dramatic worry wart like Usopp and Chopper.

He just can’t help but think about Ace, Luffy’s older brother who he’s also grown really close to, his words “Take care of my baby brother!” immediately resound inside his head, said to him by the fiery freckled man when Jinbei started hanging out more frequently with the Strawhats.

The idea of having somewhat failed both Ace and Luffy makes him worry. He’ll just have to meet this Torao guy and see for himself. While two years ago he might’ve worried about sounding like an old man who thinks too much, right now with how close they all are, he knows probably every other Strawhat —except maybe Zoro and Robin— must be worrying about it too, now that they know about it.

Brook and Jinbei share a silent look of understanding, and when Luffy starts mentioning something about Chopper having said he’d like to meet him because he’s also on the medical field, Brook takes the opportunity and chimes in with a “I bet we’re all dying to meet your dear boyfriend, Luffy-san! This calls for a traditional Strawhats party, yo-ho~!” he suggests, and to their satisfaction Luffy agrees immediately, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“I gotta convince Torao first though, he’s a bit shy and very inverted…”

Jinbei laughs loudly at that, “Introverted, Luffy” he corrects, and Luffy dismisses him with a matching laugh.

“Yeah that, I’ll send to the group chat later if he agrees or not! It was gonna be a Strawhats party day this Saturday anyways, but man now I really hope Torao joins too shishishi” he says, going back to his earlier rolling on the sand, but this time out of excitement.

Soon enough he’s back to being his usual silly self, now that the cat’s fully out of the bag, and so he drags both Brook and Jinbei to play in the actual sea.

They spend their whole morning together, swimming in the sea and playing ridiculous games Luffy makes up, until lunchtime comes and they head to the Baratie together. They part ways after that, Jinbei makes sure to remind him to text them about what his boyfriend says regarding their party.

They’re pleasantly surprised when later that evening the Strawhats group chat receives a text from the founder of their little friend group.

👒

Torao said he’s coming w me to meet you guys on Saturday ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ !!

And so now, all that’s left to do for them is wait two days until the fateful evening.

─ ⊹ ⊱ 5 ⊰ ⊹ ─

If Luffy’s nervousness about telling some of his friends about the fact that he has a boyfriend had been bad, the nerves from having to tell his brothers about it is beyond awful.

They had been the ones who he’d willingly hid it from, not forgotten to tell them like with the Strawhats.

Don’t get him wrong, Luffy loves them to no end, with his whole life and soul, they’re as close as one can be. But he also knows they can get quite… intense when it comes to him, their dear baby brother.

He thought he’d manage to keep it hidden for a little longer, not wanting to see how they would react because he knew it wouldn’t be that pretty and he didn’t want anything bad to happen to his Torao.

But of course a secret as big as that wouldn't be able to remain hidden for forever.

Right after sending his confirmation to the group chat, laying on his boyfriend’s chest after having convinced him to go meet his friends with a few dirty kisses and a —not really necessary, as Law had said yes after the very first kiss— blowjob, Luffy had felt his blood run cold when he skimmed through his friends’ replies and he read one of Nami’s texts.

🍊

Waittt I’m so surprised you’re not freaking out about Ace and Sabo meeting him ?? Does this mean they already know about him, Lu? They usually come and hang out with us lol!

The text said, the words hitting Luffy like a bucket of ice cold water, jaw to the floor and brain scattering to think what could he do about this now.

Law sensed the shift in his demeanor immediately. “Everything ok?” he asked, voice still low and blissed out. A tattooed hand caressing reassuringly down Luffy’s naked back, easily making him melt.

He groaned out loud at Law’s question, tossing his phone somewhere in the bed without answering Nami or anyone else in the group chat really. Wordlessly, he hid his face on that broad, tattooed chest he loves so much and nuzzled it, hugging his boyfriend tighter, seeking comfort.

Law gave him a minute, half chuckling at Luffy’s dramatic display, he continued caressing his spine until the younger man eventually came back to himself.

A beat later Luffy propped himself up on his chin, still resting on Law’s chest and pouted.

“Nami thinks Ace and Sabo already know about us… I hadn’t thought about it Torao, oh my god! They usually come along when we get together cus they don’t miss out on Sanji’s food and free booze… What are we gonna do!? I don’t want you to get killed in front of everyone!” he explains, looking and sounding genuinely panicked.

Law hums in thought, assessing the situation; He’s known about Luffy’s brothers being rather “intense” from the beginning. He’d actually brought up meeting them so they’d get used to their baby brother dating all the way back when they reached the three months mark, but Luffy had always been pretty dramatic about it, something about his brothers being overprotective and crazy —like you, Law teased— to the point where Luffy was scared of what would happen to Law if he went to them and revealed he had a “hot, older than even them, tattooed, doctor boyfriend”.

Law certainly didn’t mind, if Luffy thought it was for the best, not meeting them. He’d met Luffy’s dads at least, and their grandfathers also knew about them as they were actually really close friends, so it’s not like he was a secret for his family other than to his brothers.

But now that Luffy also wanted to introduce him to his friends —he had no idea Luffy had forgotten to tell them about him, he’d just assumed they simply weren’t interested in meeting him— his decision of keeping him hidden from his siblings was catching up to him.

“Hmmm… Think they’re free tomorrow evening? Maybe we should go have dinner with them beforehand… Just so I can introduce myself properly and they don’t cause a scene in front of everyone on Saturday” he suggests, one of his hands switching to playing with Luffy’s sex-messy hair.

Luffy replies with yet another groan, dissolving into Law’s chest again.

“Maybe… You’re right… Can’t keep hiding you from them… Ugh, I’ll ask” he says, and Law smiles a little at Luffy finally agreeing to it.

Still ignoring his friends’ group chat, he switches to his brothers chat and sends them a quick text:

👒

can we have dinner together tmrw? I want you guys to meet someone……... (˶° ㅁ°)!!

if ur annoying n not normal I'll hate you n be mad at you foreverrrrr !!!! okaaaaayyyy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both of his brothers reply rather quickly.

🔥

!!!!!

Woah lu. That’s a bit ominous .. But yah im free

🎩

Oh…

Yes, I’m free too, Luffy.

My place at 7 works for you? I can pick up some chinese after work :)

👒

OMG yes YUMMM

now i want chinese Sabo… ( •̀ - •́ )

ok see ya tmrw guys.!!

He tosses his phone onto the bed again as he’s done with planning rather quickly, his brothers as spontaneous as him but only when he’s involved. Spoiled much, one could say.

“They said yes.. So we’re having dinner at Sabo’s place at 7. Ugh… I told them to behave but ‘m still so nervous Torao. Comfort me!” he declares, stealing Law’s soft laughter at his dramatic display with a demanding kiss that soon enough turns into a much-needed round two.

Half an hour later, when they are both back to lounging in bed, feeling deliciously spent and sweaty, Luffy takes his designated place against Law’s chest again. He listens to the quick tempo of his boyfriend’s still agitated heartbeat and traces the dark swirls and curves that decorate tanned pectorals with his finger. Law hums in delight under him, inked fingers carding through thick raven hair, Luffy feels the deep rumble of his hum right on his ear and smiles fondly.

They just lay there for a moment, basking in the warmth of each other’s body.

“I don’t know your brothers yet but I want us to believe it’ll be alright. They’re overprotective because they love you, Lu-ya, so they just gotta see I make you happy. You know, if anything, I’m worried they’ll get mad at you because you didn’t tell them sooner”, Law says, voice low and comforting, trying to see things in a logical manner.

Luffy groans, trying to agree with Law’s reassurance in his mind.

“I dunno, Torao. Okay, you’re right about them being mad at me for not telling them about you sooner, but I just know they’ll also make a scene and try to intimidate you even if they notice how happy we are together… I dunno why they’re so weird about me dating”

“How’d you know? Thought you’d said I was your first proper boyfriend” Law inquiries, playfully.

Luffy can’t help but giggle and roll his eyes at his boyfriend’s mock-jealousy, he knows he isn’t really jealous but instead imitating Luffy getting all pouty and actually jealous whenever he asks Law about a past experience with someone else or when Law tells him about someone hitting on him in the hospital.

“You are. But there was this guy back in high school who had a crush on me and was super insistent about it! I just ignored his crush ‘cus I thought we could just keep being friends, I mean I liked him as a friend, but Ace and Sabo thought we were dating! And they gave that guy the scare of his life, Torao. Threatened him and all!

I obviously told them it was nothing like that, but they still even ended up giving my own friends they’d known for ages a lecture because of that guy, telling them to make sure to keep it platonic with me ‘cus I was not of age to be dating, can you believe it!? I was like, fifteen already! They're crazy!” he rambles on, exasperated, clearly still annoyed by that despite how many years it’s been.

Law chuckled at the anecdote, listening patiently and amused from seeing Luffy so uncharacteristically stressed out.

“That was five years ago now, wasn’t it? Maybe it’ll be different now, I mean… You are of age to date now, they shouldn’t be so oppressive about it anymore, you’re an adult” he explained, still trying his best to reassure Luffy, ease his worries.

As Luffy sighed, his whole body relaxing completely again, a cute giggle slipping off his lips, Bingo, Law thought.

“You’re right Torao! I am an adult now! That’s what I’ll say if they start being annoying about us!”

Law replied with a sweet kiss to his nose. They’ll be alright. Luffy’s brothers can’t be that bad about it, can they?

He has chosen to have faith.

~

Turns out, Law had been wrong when choosing to have faith.

Fast forwarding to Friday evening, after a long and exhausting shift at the hospital, he’d gone back to his apartment to shower and put on a nice outfit. He wanted to make a good impression, after all.

Opting to not wear a suit this time, like the time he’d gone to meet Mr. Dragon and Mr. Crocodile —Luffy’s parents—, he put on a bright yellow button down and black slacks, presentable enough.

He went to pick Luffy up at the fire station afterwards, he’d die before he told Luffy but throughout the day his nervousness had been building up, his faith in Luffy’s brothers had been slowly fading away as he started to overthink.

What would he even do, if Luffy’s brothers did make a scene? Luffy had said Law is taller and bigger than them, but that they’re still bigger than himself and strong, so he’d have to somehow deal with two wild beasts on his own —he wouldn’t let Luffy join in on protecting him, couldn’t put him against his brothers despite how much they love each other—.

God, why did they have to be like that?

The whole drive to the fire station he’d spent it like that, overthinking a bit about the night they had ahead of them, mapping out possible escape plans to save his life. He hadn’t been this much of a mess when he’d met Luffy’s parents, for god’s sake! He desperately needed to get it together.

Thankfully, the moment he arrived and Luffy jumped into the passenger seat of his blue CRV, greeting him with a loud kiss and smelling like that vanilla body wash he loved so much, Law felt his whole self relax.

“Gimme a few support kisses to hang on for the dinner we have ahead”, he said, suddenly very needy and in dire need to touch Luffy a bit more before he met his brothers. He knew for a fact he wouldn’t be able to touch Luffy much in front of them so he needed to make the most of this short time in the car.

Luffy only giggled and complied, kissing him silly for a few minutes before he loudly declared “Let’s go!!”, like they were headed to war. He buttoned up one of the buttons in Law’s shirt which he usually left open because “Ace has a boyfriend and Sabo has a girlfriend but I still don’t want them looking okay?” he explained, a cute flush on his cheeks. To which Law replied with a giggle and a kiss to one of those rosy cheeks, before he turned on the car and started driving into the lion’s den.

Thankfully it was a short fifteen minutes drive, Law trying his best to bask in the feeling of Luffy’s presence and repeating internally “It’s all gonna be alright”.

The moment they’d stepped out of the car into a lively street, right in front of a huge apartment complex, they’d been immediately ambushed by a blonde man with a scar on his face.

Or well Luffy had been the ambushed one, trapped in what looked like a bone crushing yet warm hug.

“Luffy! It’s been a while! I was just out at the store buying some soda, I’m so impressed, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you arrive on time” the blonde man said, a genuine smile on his face as he talked to his little brother, Law stood by his side completely unacknowledged.

“Sabo! Shishishi, yes, Torao likes being on time to stuff so I try really hard now!” he replied, and the joyful smile on his face said he thought his brother behaving so normally was a good sign.

Law, however, felt his spine straightening into his whole height for once. The icy look the man he didn’t know yet gave him when his eyes finally landed on him was quite… something.

“Trafalgar Law… It’s a pleasure to meet you”, he said, extending his hand. Luffy observed the interaction expectantly, smiling brightly as Sabo shook his hand, definitely not noticing how tightly he’d squeezed it.

“Sabo, the pleasure is mine”

Law almost gulped from the coldness of his voice. Those black void-like eyes that resembled Luffy's were boring so deeply into him to the point where Law couldn’t decide if he was either trying to pulverize him with his mind or attempting to decipher his every thought and intention he had with Luffy.

They were pulled out of their tense staring contest by Luffy suddenly moving closer to Law’s side and grabbing onto his hand like he tends to. The older man bristled slightly, like a scared cat, not expecting Luffy to be as touchy as usual in front of his brother.

“Shall we go in then? Ace’s already waiting inside. Koala and Yamato are also there, by the way, I hope there’s no trouble” Sabo said, a smile so fake on his face and his expression so terribly murderous Law had to wonder how in hell Luffy didn’t seem to notice.

“Omg! That’s perfect! Let’s go, Torao!” the younger man pulled him, leaving Sabo behind like he’s going to his very own place instead of the blonde’s.

Law tries his best to ignore the dark presence that walks behind them as Luffy leads them up two flights of stairs. The siblings —mostly Luffy— making conversation about their day. Law’s glad about Luffy not letting go of his hand the whole way up.

~

Arriving at the apartment caused a ruckus Law was only familiar in receiving from Luffy alone, but this time it came from three men instead.

A freckled, black haired man and another tall man with a really long white ponytail jumped into Luffy the second he opened the door, causing him to finally release Law’s hand and stumble inside. Without the silent comfort of his boyfriend’s hand, the latter grew tense where he stood, until Sabo urged him inside the apartment with a rough pat on the back and that fake smile of his.

Luffy was already chattering like a loud parrot with the two men who got a hold on him when the doctor stepped inside. Law registered the presence of the calm orange haired woman sitting on the couch giggling with fondness at the guys’ lively interaction.

“Ok so, what’s up Lu, why’d you text us so suddenly yesterday? Everything alright? Saying you’ll be mad at us forever if we’re weird is kinda worrying y’know. Don’t worry your big brothers like this and spit it out? Koala said Sabo had been walking worried laps around the apartment before we arrived” the freckled man asks conversationally, before plopping down on one of the ends of the couch, bringing Luffy down with him.

Only then does he notice Law, still standing dumbly near the entrance, Sabo quiet by his side.

Suddenly everyone in the room turns to stare at him.

That seems to finally make Luffy remember what they’d come here for, and rise from the couch, rushing to his side, even pushing Sabo away from Law with a cute frown just in case.

“Oh yeah! Ace, Sabo. Yama-o, Koala… I- Uhm…” the younger man starts, staring at their little audience.

Law quickly notices how he starts panicking, uncharacteristically tripping over his words, his face growing red. Luffy paused and gulped, his body now remembering how fearful about this scenario he’d been for so long now.

Noticing Luffy looks out of words for once, Law takes a deep breath as everyone just stares at them in confusion.

He clears his throat before steadily announcing, “Good evening. I’m Trafalgar Law, Luffy-ya’s boyfriend. It’s a pleasure to meet you all”.

~

To say things had gone smoothly after that would be a blatant mistake.

Luffy had been right after all, his brothers were fucking crazy.

If one were to ask the Law of a year ago, the one who still hadn’t done any advance other than stare from afar at the cute firefighter boy who always came to the café at the same time as him, if he’d see himself running around an apartment he wasn’t familiar with just to save his life, he would’ve laughed all snarky and told you that never in a million years.

But that just happened to be his current situation.

Right after announcing his relationship status with Luffy he’d been met by silence from the brothers. The guy with the long white ponytail had audibly gasped, yelling “Finally!” and shaking the shoulders of the orange haired woman who had also released her own little gasp.

Luffy seemed to relax for a second beside him, as they didn’t jump him immediately. But before they knew it the brothers were steps away from them.

“You get him by the arms, I’ll get him by the legs” Ace commanded, to which Sabo nodded, and Luffy yelled an indignant “Eh!?”.

Law’s fight or flight instincts activated immediately, quickly separating from Luffy’s side and eyeing the living room to map out an escape route. He ran to the open-space kitchen when they stalked dangerously closer.

It was pure chaos after that, Law running around and somehow sneaking away from their grabs as they loudly questioned him.

“What do you mean boyfriend!?”

“Boyfriend as in we’re together, love each other and stuff”

“Where did you even meet!?”

“Cafe. I work at the hospital near the fire station”

“How long has this been going on!?”

“Almost a year now”

“A year!? Why the fuck has Luffy hid this from us for so long now!? Did you force him to?”

“He was scared of your reaction! And I’d given you guys the benefit of doubt, but Lu-ya had been clearly right!”

“Huh!?”

They kept going back and forth, the intensity of their ridiculous tag game and questioning simmering down little by little, meanwhile their significant others looked at their exchange with amusement.

Even Luffy seemed to notice they were all coming back to themselves, as he’d stopped following behind Ace and Sabo to try and stop them a while ago, probably no longer sensing their murderous intent towards his boyfriend.

Eventually Law yelled, “Are we fucking done now, you clowns!? I came here right after an exhausting shift at the hospital and you’ve been making me run! I’m gonna actually pass out from hunger”

“Yeah guys, get over it! I’m dying of hunger too!” Luffy chimed in, Yamato and Koala joining his chant with a “Me too! Me too!”

Suddenly everyone vacated the kitchen, and Sabo only sighed as he started serving their food as if their prior goofy doings hadn’t happened. Law was even surprised he’d been the second one Sabo had given a plate to —the first one being Luffy—. He was led by the forearm into the couch, Luffy making sure to make him sit right next to the armrest so no one else would sit down besides him.

In no time the whole living room was occupied again, and chatter filled the space. It was so fucking weird, if Law said so himself, how they all acted like nothing happened and even included him in their conversations, asked him stuff and even shared embarrassing stories about Luffy.

But he took it, realising it was definitely showing he’d actually gotten the brothers’ acceptance, albeit after a little silly fighting.

Law learned Yamato was Ace’s boyfriend and Koala was Sabo’s girlfriend. Koala told him excitedly how she’d always wondered what kind of person would be the one to occupy Luffy’s heart and join them as the crazy siblings' partners.

He was surprised by how well he kicked it off with both of them, they told Law how both Sabo and Ace worried plenty about the day Luffy brought someone home, but knowing their boyfriends, they knew Law had gained their respect by simply making them put on a fight to catch him.

He couldn’t help the genuine laugh that spilled out of him. Gosh, the three brothers were so ridiculous.

Before he noticed there was a small body clinging to his shoulders and an annoyingly wet kiss being placed on his cheek. “Torao! Why are you having so much fun without me!?” Luffy whined, and both Yamato and Koala laughed at how quickly Law turned red.

Consequently, he had to do another five minutes of running around the apartment trying to escape from the brothers after that, something about him “Stealing away their baby brother in their own home when he already gets to see him everyday ” like he’d been the one to kiss Luffy and not the other way around.

He briefly wished he had a giant sword to cut them to bits.

~

Ace and Sabo send them off a little past midnight. Law feeling beyond exhausted as the four of them make their way down the stairs. Luffy not faring much better, as he lays literally asleep on Law’s back.

When they make it out of the building, the cold midnight air hitting them, Luffy stirs slightly, holding onto Law tighter even in his sleep, simply seeking for more of his warmth.

Ace lets out a “Tch” as he looks at them, Law frowning at him immediately in response.

He knows what’s coming next, as both Ace and Sabo stand in front of him, arms crossed over their chests.

“Law” Sabo’s the one who starts.

“Take care of him, okay? You hurt him once, we kill you. I mean it” Ace finishes for him.

They both have that stubborn intensity in their eyes that Law's so familiar with seeing in Luffy’s, he doesn’t hold back the fond smile the thought causes.

“Don’t worry, I will. I think I’d kill myself as well if I ever were to do that” he replies, suddenly filled with emotion and the need to hold Luffy close to his chest, like he likes to lay so much in.

“Good” Sabo says, and they also allow Law a little smile. They shake hands and give him a half hug before they help him lay Luffy down on the back seat, and with one last nod, they leave.

Law feels… lighter on the way home.

The sound of Luffy snoring quietly and sleep-talking something about “Torao” and “Cold” and “Meat” causing a soft smile to spread out across his lips.

Luffy doesn’t wake up even as Law carries him up to his apartment nor when he undresses him and lays him on his side of the bed.

He immediately curls up into Law’s chest when he lays next to him and Law melts, placing a kiss on his forehead and a tiny one on his lips before he also surrenders to sleep.

He knows tomorrow when he meets Luffy’s friends is bound to also be exhausting, but as warmth fills him up from simply holding the beautiful man he loves so much in his arms, Law knows he doesn’t mind enduring it.

─ ⊹ ⊱ +1 ⊰ ⊹ ─

And so, Saturday came.

The fateful day of the month the Strawhats were all available to hang out together.

The day that their always supposedly casual hang out will inevitably end up as a party.

And the day everyone is finally going to meet Luffy’s mysterious boyfriend.

The Strawhats gather up together earlier than usual at Jinbei’s place, and from the moment they greet each other it’s chaos.

It had been a rather busy week for everyone, so they hadn’t managed to see each other besides the aforementioned hang outs with Luffy.

By the time they all found out about the fact that he apparently had a boyfriend they’d known nothing about for a whole year, they’d tried to create a group chat without Luffy in it to discuss the matter at hand, but that had felt wrong right away, and so they’d decided to talk things out until today, before Luffy and his so-called boyfriend arrived.

The moment the last ones arrive —Robin, Franky and Chopper— Usopp ends up being the one who brings it up first, a loud, “So what are we gonna do about it, guys!? Tie him up and question him? Anyone have an idea how we can get to that? Luffy said he’s tall and strong, but maybe Zoro can tackle him when they arrive!” he says, flopping down on Jinbei’s couch and hugging a decorative pillow, his mind running at miles per second as it usually tends to.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Zoro says, frowning.

“Tch. Do you not read the group chat, Marimo? Luffy’s ‘boyfriend’ is coming over today. I’ve told you we’ve been worried about that! He just sounds so suspicious… Like, c’mon, when’s Luffy ever been into dating?” Sanji replies from where he’s handing their friends some mocktails.

“I don’t get what’s got you guys this worried! Luffy looked super happy when he told Robin and I about him” Franky chimes in, an arm thrown over the back of the couch behind Robin, who nods in agreement, serene as always and clearly not sharing anyone’s concerns either.

“It’s just so not like Luffy, guys! Like, really!? A whole year with a boyfriend and not a single word about him slipped? We just worry…” Nami says, proceeding to sip absentmindedly through the straw of her mocktail, a furrow on her brow.

“Luffy-san is way too trusting. Sometimes too good for his own good, I’d say. I am also quite worried about this older boyfriend of his” Brook adds, to which Jinbei nods in understanding, “Did he reply to your question about whether his brothers know, Nami?” he asks, still very worried about Luffy and also Ace’s stand on the matter.

“He didn’t reply to anything on the group chat about today or his boyfriend! Only the ‘See you guys later’ he sent today”, Nami pouts.

Chopper looks clearly confused by the whole situation, “Is Luffy having a boyfriend really that worrying? How can he be bad if he gives him money and is a doctor? I agree with Franky, Luffy looked really happy when he told Zoro and I about him…”

“Yeah. They’re just being idiots, Chopper, don’t pay them any mind. Luffy knows what he’s doing”

“You trust him too much” Sanji sighs, “but well, what can you expect from two idiots?”

“Huh!? You wanna fight, idiot cook?”

Nami steps between them before they start.

“Tch. Calm down you two. Gosh, you men date so weirdly. I hope Luffy’s relationship makes more sense than yours, if this boyfriend of his really isn’t some creep!”

They all argue and discuss the matter with many varying points, everyone but Zoro, Franky and Robin —Chopper had been quickly turned into the worrying team by the analyzing speech Usopp had provided them— seems to be concerned about it.

From the lengthy discussions about the probability of Luffy’s boyfriend being this and that, and what he wants from Luffy, they don’t notice the passage of time until the sound of four male voices resounds through the room and the front door to Jinbei’s house is pushed opened abruptly.

“Huh!? Everyone’s here already!? Hey guys!” Luffy yells, walking away from the three other men and further into the room, approaching everyone else.

His greeting fills the room with silence, everyone quieting down as they’re pulled out of their discussions about Luffy’s relationship.

“Woah, did we come in at a bad moment?” Ace asks, noticing the awkward atmosphere and how caught off guard almost everyone looks.

“Looks like it… Seems like everyone was busy” Sabo agrees, laughing shortly and adding to the awkwardness.

“What’s going on guys?” Luffy asks, tilting his head in confusion as he doesn’t get his usual, equally excited greeting from his friends.

“Bet it’s this loser’s fault” the freckled man laughs teasingly, throwing an arm around Law’s shoulder and making him walk deeper into the room.

“Yo, Strawhats! The star of the night is here” He continues, presenting Law like he’s a shiny new thing. The doctor grumbles a curse at him, immediately feeling weird all over as ten pairs of eyes inspect him, Luffy’s included.

That seems to make him remember that Law being here is quite a big deal, so he runs back to Law’s side and holds onto his forearm possessively, Law tries his best to ignore and not grin at the cute way Luffy gives Ace the stink eye for being so touchy-feely with him.

Ace gets his hands off Law immediately, smiling teasingly and propping them in front of his chest as a sign of surrender.

“Oh yeah! Eh-hem. Hey guys, this is my boyfriend Torao! Please get along well, shishishi!” Luffy announces to the whole room. The pair of older brothers and Law himself notice how most of the people in the room visibly relax at seeing how he’s really just… a regular man.

“It’s Law. Trafalgar Law, not Torao. It’s nice to finally meet you” Law finally speaks up, vaguely noting how it seems like Ace and Sabo had been right on the money about the Strawhats also being worried about Luffy suddenly having a boyfriend, at least judging by their reactions when they’d walked in.

It’s Robin who takes the first step into getting rid of the unnecessarily awkward atmosphere, a sweet smile on her face as she shakes his hand, “Nico Robin. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Luffy told us a lot about you” she says.

Luffy only giggles by his side, he seems to decide it’s alright if Law’s left in Robin’s hands, and so he places a quick kiss to his cheeks before he runs off to the kitchen screaming “Sanji! Food!”.

The rest start approaching him as Ace has made his way further into the room and towards Jinbei’s stereo, putting on some chill music to help fill in the unusual silence.

“That’s ominous. Good things only, I hope” he half laughs, causing a loud cackle to come out of Franky’s mouth and a sweet giggle from Robin’s.

“Super good things only bro, don’t worry! I’m Franky” he shakes his hand next.

“Is it true that you’re a doctor?” Chopper asks from where he’s half hiding behind Franky’s huge frame.

“Yes, I am a licensed doctor, currently on my first year of residency to become a surgeon”

“That’s so cool! I wanna be a doctor too! I-I’m Chopper by the way…”

Law allows the little boy a smile, he knew he was the youngest one of the group, Luffy had already told him he’s in his first year of medicine at college.

The rest also start introducing themselves, Usopp going as far as apologizing for thinking ill of him —Law doesn’t know what he means by that but says it’s okay and not to worry anyways—, Nami immediately tried to get money out of him by bribing him with exclusive Luffy pictures —Usopp not letting him reply and pushing Nami away, telling him to never fall into her traps—, Zoro only gave him a short acknowledging nod before he disappeared into the kitchen and appearing an instant later with a beer in his hand, Brook bowed and shook his hand politely, and Jinbei offered him a steady very dad-like handshake.

It was surprisingly easy after that.

Law felt the casual intense stare coming from Usopp and Brook, but he did his best to ignore it as he fell into easy conversation with Robin and Chopper. He was very surprised about Luffy having a genius like Robin as one of his closest friends, as well as how bright the adorable brown haired boy was and how interesting his medical related inquiries were. Ace and Sabo came over to mingle around him often as well, seemingly making it their lifelong mission to annoy him despite having only met him yesterday.

Law was glad about Luffy’s friends and brothers welcoming him so… warmly, despite the beginning awkwardness and clear judgment.

It was nice getting to see how thoroughly loved his boyfriend is, how great the people he calls his family are.

Around half an hour later Luffy and Sanji finally came out of the kitchen, the delicious smell of food filling everyone’s nostrils and the mere presence of Luffy causing everyone to cheer right up.

“What the hell, Law!? You are Luffy’s boyfriend!?” Sanji said right as he walked into the room, almost dropping his cigarette and the tray he’d been holding when he finally caught sight of the supposedly unknown man.

“Black Leg-ya. I’m not gonna lie, I’m also surprised you’re the same Sanji that Lu-ya’s always telling me about” Law replied, leaning over to grab a plate from the tray the blonde was holding with clear familiarity.

“Wah!? You guys know each other?” Luffy chimed in, he’d looked distracted with doing some stupid shit with Usopp just a second ago but he quickly joined in their conversation.

Law almost spat the bite of the rice ball he’d just taken when Luffy ran to them and sat on his lap, looping his arm around his shoulders, not caring about everyone else being present. Law held him by the waist instinctively, trying his best to act like he didn’t care about being so observed while being so touchy.

“Yeah, what the hell! I’ve known this idiot for years, Luf! For way too many years actually, even more than I’ve known you guys” Sanji started, Luffy gasping with clear envy.

“He’s a childhood friend from up North, from before I moved here to the East. We kept in contact after I left and reunited in real life a few years ago, when I started college” Sanji offers, and then he immediately starts calling names at Law for “Putting your psycho hands on our Luffy”, “Never fucking telling me what’s going on in your life”, “Making me believe you were some creep bribing Luffy”.

The last remnants of the awkward atmosphere vanish thanks to the familiarity and liveliness of their exchange, quickly making everyone join in on their conversation by asking Law anecdotes about little Sanji, then sharing their own about Sanji and Luffy, until everyone’s reminiscing together.

Luffy remains perched on Law’s lap for a while, like he loves to, like he’s his own personal seat.

And Law finds himself thinking once again, this is nice. Especially now that he seems to have gotten everyone’s approval, or at least tolerance —he corrects himself, ever the pessimist—.

The night gets more active and louder the later it gets and as they step out into Jinbei’s backyard area that extends into the beach. Law talks more than he has ever done in a single night besides the long nonsensical conversations he sometimes shares with Luffy, or during the drunken escapades his own friends sometimes drag him into.

Throughout it all, the Strawhats keep observing the couple here and there. Just curious.

They notice every time Luffy subconsciously navigates to Law’s side just to touch him or place a chaste kiss on his cheek, every time Law’s hand instinctively finds its home on the small of Luffy’s back to keep him in place while he excitedly tells him about something, every time they seek each other’s gaze among the sea of people Luffy’s friends make and share unspoken words with just their eyes.

They observe them rather attentively —after the party has started simmering down into a quiet late night hang out back inside Jinbei’s house— when everyone’s already on the verge of being too drunk or exhausted, and Luffy and Law are back on the couch.

Luffy is once again on his lap, despite there being plenty of free space on the couch. He looks a little buzzy from the one alcoholic drink he had, but not enough to make him tipsy. He’s rather quiet for once, as he stares at his beloved with a dopey smile on his lips while his hands play with the twin earrings that shine in Law’s ear.

“Hm?” the doctor inquires about his quietness, basking on the warmth of Luffy’s body against his and the newfound calm of the late hours. He’d closed his eyes a few seconds ago, simply letting himself serve as Luffy’s chair and do as he pleased, no longer put off by the undisputed PDA as no one else seemed to mind either.

“Today was so fun, seeing everyone I love together… It’s awesome… I’m really happy, Torao” Luffy says, and his voice sounds so terribly soft, even as he proceeds to let out that ridiculous ‘shishishi’ laugh of his.

Tender fingers make golden earrings clink before they dive into blue-ish black hair. Law nuzzles into the touch, smiles and finally opens his eyes, staring at Luffy’s gorgeous, joyful face with open adoration.

For the first time in the whole night, it’s Law who closes the distance. Without a care in the world about the people around them, he just needs to kiss Luffy’s beautiful smile.

“Yeah… Anything for you” he says, somewhat out of breath despite them only sharing a few chaste little kisses.

Too lost in the sweetness of the moment, neither of them seem to register their little audience, everyone suddenly very much awake and staring at them.

As the couple talk quietly, all over each other, lost in their own little world, sharing kisses and tender touches, the Strawhats finally believe everything’s alright.

Luffy might’ve taken a whole year to reveal Law’s existence, but as they stare at how… simply in love they look, they all know it truly had only happened because their beloved sunshine friend is one hell of a forgetful idiot.

Law is no longer thought of as “A creep”, “Possibly Luffy’s sugar daddy”, “An older man to watch out for because Luffy is too trusting”, nor “Someone with bad intentions”, he’s simply Luffy’s boyfriend; the one that makes him get clingy and blush and stumble over his words with a smirk alone, the one that makes him smile as warm and soft as the sunrise glow, the one that easily decided to come to this mess of a gathering even though he’s the textbook definition of an introvert, the one who received warning after warning from Luffy’s friends about how they’ll kill him if he ever hurts Luffy and simply agreed, the one that looks at their beloved friend with so much love in his eyes it almost feels like they’re intruding.

And they can tell it’s genuine love.

Despite being as opposite as one can be, they just work. Their little inside jokes, the easiness of their every interaction, the way they navigate around each other, and how clearly comfortable and used to the other and their antics they clearly are, speak volumes.

They’d been so very silly for worrying, it’s almost laughable.

Just as they’re done with their final assessment of the man Luffy so proudly calls his boyfriend, the silence of the late hour is abruptly disrupted by the sound of Law’s steady voice.

“Your friends are so stupid, pretending we can’t see them snooping” he says, startling almost everyone in the room and causing Luffy to immediately start cackling obnoxiously.

Groans and protests fill the room.

Law fits in just right.