Word count: 4911 and perhaps an acorn or two
Warnings: None. You know I had to show my tired guy some love
There was something about you that put Law at ease. The captain of the Heart Pirates wasn’t cold, per say, but he wasn’t exactly welcoming people with open arms.
His crew had gotten used to his short comments and answers and how he was overall closed off and quiet. Most of the warm bodies that housed in the Polar Tang didn’t question when their captain would go missing, knowing that he had locked himself up in his study to perform his doctorly duties for the day.
Law didn’t mind being by himself. He actually quite enjoyed it. His social battery was at a near constant low, forcing him to exert his patience quite often. Between the constant foolery of Penguin and Shachi, paired with Bepo’s constant apologies for nothing at all, Law found himself locking away his mind and his body for hours at a time to dive deep into his studies. Knowledge was the key to life, and he was constantly looking to gain as much as humanly possible.
Though, if any of his crew were to follow his rituals he would have to step in and put a stop to it. Law was quite hypocritical when it came to his practice. He didn’t follow his own orders as a doctor. He didn’t hold himself to the same standard. So, when his crew called him out on his bad habits during the few times they had spotted him outside of the office— which was becoming more and more rare these days— he waved them off with a simple ‘I’m fine, get back to work’.
Of course, life on the Grand Line was a mystery and it loved to throw curve balls at unsuspecting individuals. Law was no exception to that phenomenon, so when Straw Hat-ya came into the picture life seemed to be flipped upside down.
The young pirate was… different, that’s for sure. With a thick skull that seemed to protect nothing but gray matter and a spirit that couldn’t be broken, Law wonders why he agreed to team up with the rubber boy in the first place.
There were a few others that Law could handle within reason. Luffy’s crew was diverse and well rounded, though a few were louder than what was normally tolerated. Robin and Nami were nice to be around most days, though they had their moments of cutting up with their crew mates. Luffy gave Law no choice as to whether or not Law wanted to be around him, forcing close proximity at all times.
The swordsman was fine, as he was napping most of the time. The cook as well, though when the two mixed it was like oil and water. The sniper was a coward and a liar, but it made for interesting conversations and amusing moments when trouble dared to rear its ugly head around the two pirate crews. The shipwright was neither here nor there, never giving Law a reason not to speak to him. The two just never had a one on one conversation. To put it shortly, Law stayed clear of the skeleton. As someone who puts their whole life and soul into the study of human health, it didn’t seem natural for the musician to be alive. Devil fruit or not.
Chopper was always a good choice to be around. From one doctor to another, the two were always open to swapping discoveries and studies. It was nice to compare and contrast certain medical practices, along with tips and tricks.
Thanks to the newly formed alliance, Law had little to no time to himself and it was starting to take a toll on him.
But then, there was a break in the seal. A silver lining.
Law sat at the island in the kitchen of the Thousand Sunny, his eyes scanning the thick book that rested in his hands. The two crews had stopped not too long ago at a random island and most of the individuals took off in search of something to get into. Law refused the offer to scout out the newfoundland and opted to have a moment of quiet to himself, thanking whatever god was listening for the break.
Of course, trouble followed Straw Hat like the plague and soon the Navy was chasing after himself and his crew. Hearing the commotion outside, Law stood from his spot on the stool and stepped out onto the deck— eyes squinting at the bright sun above him.
Straw Hat and his friends bound towards the ship, screaming and yelling as they made their escape.
”Traffy!! Hey!!” Luffy grinned widely as his crew’s feet thumped on the dock of the island, preparing to board the ship. “Straw Hat-ya, can’t you go one day without pissing off the Navy?”
Law’s brow irked as the boy laughed, causing his crew to groan.
”Haha! Nope! Hey, Tra-guy!! Catch!!” Law didn’t have much time to process the next few moments as Luffy launched a body into the air, effectively pulling a yell out of the figure and his cook.
”Luffy!! How dare you throw such a beautiful woman!! You could hurt her!!” Luffy only responded as he dodge the thick book that came tumbling through the sky, seeing how it took the place of the woman he tossed. “Nah, Traffy’s got her! She’ll be fine!”
Law acted on instinct, effectively swapping the two objects without much thought. The book that was once in his hand now took hold of plush thighs and small shoulders. Big eyes covered by thin hands hid away features of the woman he had caught, her head coming into contact with his shoulder.
”Straw Hat-ya! What the hell?!” He growled at the boy, who only laughed again in return as he and his first mate turned to fight the crowd of marines while the rest of the crew boarded the ship. He huffed knowing that it was no use to dwell on his stupid actions and turned his attention towards the warm body in his arms.
Sweet smells of perfumes and products filled his senses, making his mouth water slightly. The feeling of skin to skin contact made him dizzy, his hand gently squeezing the underside of bare thigh without permission. You jumped, the sudden contact from the stranger pulling you out of the shock of being airborne.
When did you land? Only moments ago your stomach had dropped from the sudden movement, but now everything felt calm. Still.
When had you landed in the arms of a stranger? When did he catch you?
Law wasn’t the ‘savior’ type, still getting used to the notion of helping others. He coughed awkwardly, turning his head to watch the battle scene before him.
”I—uh… you alright?” Fingers split a little as you peek up at him from behind your hands. Law’s eyes meet yours for a moment when he doesn’t get a response. The sight in his arms makes him almost stumble and turns his brain to mush. The thought almost made him gag, but he couldn’t deny it. That was cute.
You slowly removed your hands from your face as you addressed the man that… caught you?
”Oh! Um, yeah. I’m fine. Uh— thank you, for… catching me.” Though it seemed a little hit or miss whether he had caught you or not, you were still grateful for the impact of a strong chest and the safety of buff arms instead of the unforgiving deck of the pirate ship.
”Yeah, don’t mention it.” Law’s brows furrowed as he looked back towards the fight, his cheeks glowing a soft pink that caused yours to follow in suit. “You can uh… put me down now… if you want…” Giving him a timid smile as you scratched your cheek.
Law’s eyes widened slightly, realizing that he still held you snuggly in his arms. Letting out a quiet ‘shit—‘, he released his hold on your thighs and made sure you were steady when your feet were planted on the wooden floor.
”I— sorry. This isn’t usually my thing.” Law’s usual cool and calm demeanor had been rocked off its axis slightly, causing his heart to thump a little faster than normal in his rib cage. He didn’t like the feeling at all. It made him feel like he had no control and the thought made him uneasy.
”Yeah… don’t mention it.” You repeated your words back to him with an amused smile before being quickly swept away by the Straw Hat’s cook, who was quick to fawn and drool over you. It wasn’t long before Straw Hat and the swordsman stumbled back to the ship to set sail again, having successfully beaten off the Navy and gathered supplies.
”Hey, where did (Y/n) go? I thought Traffy had her…” Luffy marched around the deck as his crew settled down from the excitement. “Love cook took her. I think they’re in the kitchen.” Law jerked his head towards the way where Sanji had run off with the girl, Luffy mumbling something or other about that ‘being convenient because he wanted a snack’.
Sanji had successfully made you feel at home on the ship, making sure that all of your needs were met at the drop of a hat. Luffy and his crew celebrated at the thought of a new friend and potential crewmate. Later in the day, the bunch sat around the dinner table and feasted— questions about the girl coming in hot and heavy, along with the chaos that followed closely behind.
”(Y/n), you should join my crew!” Luffy was, as always, the first to kick off the madness.
”You are beautiful, may I see your panties?” Brooke soon followed.
”Idiot! You can’t say things like that to strangers! It’s weird!!” Nami was right on top of it.
”I’m sorry Nami!!… Can I see your panties instead?”
”(Y/n) swan, is the food to your liking? I need to talk to you later about all of your favorites!!” The cook was tripping over himself as always.
”Leave the girl alone, love cook. She isn’t interested.” And the swordsman was quick to call him out on it.
”Since when did you become an expert on women, moss head? I’ll kick your ass!!”
”Oh yeah?! I’d like to see you try!!”
“I’m sure you’ve heard of me! I’m the best sniper in the world! They call me god Usopp and I have the highest bounty in the grand line!!” The sniper was already spouting lies, trying to impress the girl.
”Wow, really?! That’s amazing Usopp!! I didn’t know you had the highest bounty!!” And Chopper believed every word.
“It’s SUPERRRR to have another lovely lady on board!!” The shipwright stood from his chair and flexed, causing the three main idiots to gaze starstruck at him.
The only person in the bunch that hadn’t made any comments towards you was Robin, who sat quietly and soaked in the ruckus. Law’s eyes scanned the lively bunch before landing on Robin, who’s eyes were trained on the door of the kitchen. His brows furrowed before he turned and noticed how it swung open and closed slightly, signally that someone had either left or entered the room.
His own crew was back on the Polar Tang, which for the most part stayed submerged under the Grand Line. That meant that someone had to have left, seeing that the rest of the Straw Hat crew had sat at the table. Robin smiled lightly, her chin resting in her palm as she said nothing about your sudden absence— the rest of the crew too caught up in themselves and their fun to notice her leave.
Not too soon after, the Heart Pirate’s captain stepped out of the kitchen— also unnoticed— and decided to look for the stranger. He found her up against the railing for the Thousand Sunny, eyes turned towards the sky full of stars. Law had to admit, the night sky was always most beautiful out at sea. Upon hearing his footsteps, you turned towards the man and offered him a smile. He didn’t seem as energetic as the rest of the bodies that yelled, bickered, and laughed within the kitchen.
”They can be a lot at times, but they’re good people.” He took his spot next to you, joining you in your stargazing.
You let out a small breath of amusement, a sign of agreement. “I can tell. It’s just been a lot to handle. Today… has been a lot to handle.” Law wasn’t sure what had happened back on the island, but he imagined that it was your home. That you had up and suddenly left the only place you knew to join a pirate crew. To sail the seas away from friends and family. He nodded in understanding, allowing a blanket of silence to rest between the both of you.
It was… nice, he noted. It was calm and between the sounds of the sea and your body heat radiating from your smaller frame, he found a sense of peace. It was as if he were alone, but not as cold. Not like locking himself up in his office and burying himself in his studies. More like, when you first wake up in the mornings. When everything feels still for a moment. When you don’t feel like a wanted criminal and that death is always around the corner.
When you’re in that headspace of wake and asleep, and your heart rate is calm. When you’re vividly aware of the texture of your sheets and you just lay there for a moment. You feel both heavy and weightless. You feel like you’re in a pocket of solitude that shouldn’t be possible, but it is. It is because you’re in it.
Law didn’t sleep well at night, so most of his mornings were not like this. The Polar Tang was usually a few degrees cooler than a comfortable temperature, leaving his bed much colder than what it should be. As if he didn’t lay in them at all. He wondered from time to time if his bed would feel a little warmer if there were another person to share it with. If most of the aspects of his life would be warmer if there were someone else who understood him. Someone who he could be around and it not feel like a chore.
It felt like the warmth of morning was always just out of reach.
”I’m Law, by the way. Trafalgar Law.” You pull your gaze away from the twinkling stars and towards the man who stood next to you, hands lazily thrown in the pockets of his navy blue sweater. You offer him a hand to shake, to which he pulls a warm— and shockingly— tattooed hand from his clothing and places it on your own.
The word ‘death’ is tattooed across his knuckles, as well as an odd shape on the back of his hand. The letters wrap around your smaller hand loosely as you study the ink on his skin.
”(Y/n) (L/n). It’s nice to properly meet you.”
Law was never conscious of his tattoos before, but suddenly he felt a little judged underneath the gaze of your eyes. Your features didn’t hold any signs of negative thoughts. If anything, they struck a cord of amusement in you.
”Death?” You asked with a raised brow and another smile. You seemed to enjoy handing those out to him, smiles.
”Yeah. I’m the Surgeon of Death.” Law explains his title, though he feels a little unsure. You nod in understanding before flipping his hand over in your own, searching for more ink but finding none. With a small hum, you let your hand drop from his hold —Law taking note of his dislike of the absent feeling— you turn your gaze back towards the sky.
”Surgeon? You’re a doctor?” He follows your action as the two of you continue you activities of stargazing.
”I thought you said that saving people wasn’t your thing?”
”Don’t the two usually go hand in hand? Being a doctor and saving people?” You didn’t hold any malicious energy in your words as you questioned him. It was all curious and a little teasing. The thought made Law smirk as he played along.
”Yeah, I guess it does. Does that make me a bad doctor?”
”Because I’m not a doctor.” You shrugged with a snort, causing Law’s lips to form into something that resembled both a frown and a smile. His lips pulled downward and thinned, but his cheeks flexed upward and blushed a pale pink.
As days passed, Law found himself seeking you out. He had unconsciously found a comfort in your presence that being alone didn’t quite solve. When he was alone, he found his mind wandering away from his studies and towards your smile or your teasing comments. He thought of how well you had grown accustomed to the Straw Hat crew, and even his own. He thought about how you would sometimes entertain the antics of the rubber boy and his crew, making the lighthearted fun seem a little less intolerable to be around. He thought about your warmth and how your presence would warm up the submarine.
Law wasn’t stupid. He knew what this was. He knew that once he started looking forward to the little moments with you, that this was more than he could handle. When he started to get a warmth in his stomach that made him wonder if he had contracted a sickness, or a potential heart condition from how wildly it rocking in his chest when the two of you would brush hands in passing.
He knew when he found himself glaring down the cook for going the extra mile for you, or when Luffy wrapped his arms ten fold around your waist in an exaggerated hug. He knew when he passed his temporary room on the Thousand Sunny in slight panic when Luffy officially asked you to join his crew.
”(Y/n), I’m going to be king of the pirates and I want you by my side the whole way there!! Join my crew and be with me!! Be with us!”
The words made Law’s lips turn into a sneer as his tanned hands gripped at the roots of his dark hair. You hadn’t given Luffy an immediate answer, tell him that you needed to sleep on it. Law was silently grateful for your hesitation, but that still didn’t help how unnerved he felt.
He had to accept his emotions and feelings, and he needed to speak to you as soon as possible.
A rasp of knuckles against the door pulled you out of your headspace, allowing a small ‘it’s open’ to fall from your lips. You sat on your desk chair, legs tucked up into your chest with your nose buried in a book. No matter how many times your eyes scan the contents of the pages, the information wouldn’t stick as Luffy’s proposition stays at the forefront of your mind. Luffy was gracious enough to let you stay on his ship with his crew, carving out a spot in his space for his new friend. The Straw Hat crew was a group of individuals that were one of a kind and they treated you as if you had been with them since the beginning. So, you couldn’t help but feel guilty when you couldn’t give Luffy an immediate yes.
The tattooed doctor pushed the door open and peeked inside, his spotted hat and dark strands standing out against the frame.
“(Y/n)-ya. Can I talk to you for a minute?” Law’s voice reverberated through the small bedroom, cracking a smile across your lips.
”Of course, come in.” The pirate stepped through the door and shut it behind him. He seemed bothered, eyes narrowed and brows knitted together. His lips were turned down in a scowl, worrying you slightly. “Law? Is everything alright—?”
Law was straight to the point, not wanting to beat around the bush. Your eyes widened once the three words processed in your mind. “What?”
”(Y/n), join my crew. Become a Heart Pirate.” Law understood what kind of position he was putting you in, adding another proposition for you to ponder. Your expression was comically similar to his own as you let out a sigh.
”Just think about it, okay? I know you like it here, but I honestly don’t think that they get you as much as I do.” He tried to reason, as if his words were supposed to lessen the stress on your shoulders. He was right, to a degree.
While you did grow to love the Straw Hat pirates, none of them quite understood you like the man that stood before you. There was something about Law that added a bounce to your steps. The crew could be shouting nonsense to one another, loud as can be— but Law’s eyes could find yours in an instant across the room and the two of you could have a conversation of your own. A conversation just for the two of you and you alone. As if it were a secret.
You too, were not naïve. You have had a crush a time or two. You understood the heart that rose to your cheeks whenever the doctor sent you a cheeky smirk. You understood the butterflies that danced in your belly whenever he would brush past you in the halls, ‘death’ ghosting over your waist.
You had always had an understanding for your own emotions and had to organize them with logic. That being said, that gave you the ability to pick up on and piece together other’s emotions. You needed to nip this in the bud before it got messy between yourself and the two men that had offered you a place in the crews.
By the time that dawn had rolled around, you had made up your mind and you prayed to whoever was willing to listen that it would be smooth sailing.
”No fair… I asked you first…” Luffy pouted as he crossed his arms, brows furrowed with a lip poking out. You gave him an apologetic smile, placing a hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry, Luffy. I’ve really enjoyed my time with you and your friends. I think you are all wonderful people and I have no doubt that you’ll be something great in this world.” Luffy’s frown twitched a little as he processed your words.
”But, I have to follow my heart. It’s what’s right for me. It wouldn’t be fair to myself not to.” After a beat of silence and a small huff, Luffy raised his head to meet your eyes.
”Yeah, I know. ‘Just sucks, is all. They’re your friends too, ya’ know. We’re going to miss you.” Giving him another smile, you rub your thumb over his rubber skin affectionately. “I do. I’ll miss you guys, too. I’ll be in touch, I promise.”
The boy smiled slightly, though his eyes were still sad. “It’s Tra-guy, isn’t it?” His voice was small and very uncharacteristic for the captain. The question caught you off guard, pulling a blush across your nose. It was the first time that the situation was addressed out loud, but not in a million years would you have thought that Monkey D. Luffy of all people was going to be the one to break the ice.
You pulled your bottom lip in between your teeth as you studied the wall over his shoulder. “I… yes. Yes, it is.” You confirmed his question, allowing another blanket of silence to fall over your shoulders.
After what felt like an eternity, Luffy placed his hands on the table and stood up. He reached his arms far into the sky in a stretch, letting out a sigh. He offered his hand out to you to pull you up from your spot on the chair, waiting for you to slip your smaller one into his.
You accepted his offer and the younger man steadied you with a big smile. One that you couldn’t help but return. He had a way of putting on a face for other people. To show that he was fine, even if he wasn’t.
”Well, that’s too bad. Maybe in another lifetime, yeah?” Luffy placed a small kiss to your temple— too quick for you to react— before heading for the door.
”I’ll see you around, (Y/n)! Make sure you watch me become king of the pirates with Traffy, okay?” With his wide signature smile, he closed the door behind him— making sure to leave before his tears could betray his facade.
Law paced his small room, nerves eating away at him slowly. He hadn’t seen you or Luffy all morning. Normally, he would count not running into the boy as a blessing but with current circumstances, he didn’t feel very blessed. His time with the Straw Hat pirates was running out, and he would soon have to leave with his crew to embark on whatever adventures called for him. He hadn’t gone to breakfast and he hadn’t joined the group for dinner the night before, scared that his stress wouldn’t let him keep anything down. This was torture. His own personal hell. God, when was the last time he felt like this? Many, many years, most likely. He thought it would never end.
Until you knocked on his door.
His head whipped towards the entrance, which cracked open without waiting for a response. The frame revealed your body to his eyes, a smile plastered on your face and a blush across your cheeks.
”Hey, captain. Ready to head out soon?”
Hunched over his desk, hands shuffling papers in the yellow glow of a desk lamp, Law sighed a tired sigh as he felt his eyes droop from exhaustion. He had ignored the many knocks on his office door throughout the day, but he had swore he’d only been working for a few hours. The clock on the wall argued with him greatly.
He groaned into his hands, knowing that he was sure to get it later. The many complaints and cross words that waited for him from the other side of the Polar Tang, where he would meet his crew for breakfast. When it came to their captain, the Heart Pirates weren’t so forgiving of his neglectful ways.
Well, almost all of them.
Law hadn’t heard the moan of the heavy door as it opened, nor did he hear the patter of bare feet walking around his desk. It was only when a warmth enveloped him that he was pulled from his mind again.
Warm arms wrapped around his tattooed shoulders gently as soft lips planted a kiss to his temple. A plush chest pressed against his back and sweet scented strands of hair poured over his bare chest. He felt his brows untangle and his face relax as you embraced him from behind.
”Time for bed, my love.” Your tone was as warm as rain, lulling him into a sense of comfort that he hadn’t known until the two of you grew into partners. Being close to you was easy and loving you was even easier. Loving Law felt like second nature, if not first. As if it were the very reason you were put on this earth to begin with.
There were not many things in this lifetime— or the next— that could pull Law from his studies, but you would do it effortlessly in every single one.
Law allowed himself to rise out of his chair, back cracking and popping as his muscles ached for relief. He let you lead him down the hall toward your shared chambers and toward the bed that felt forever cold without you in it. The smell of lavender filled his senses, knowing that you had taken the time to set up a calm and relaxing environment for him to spend with you until sleep inevitably took his mind away.
He pulled back the sheets and allowed himself to sink down into the plush mattress, head hitting the pillows that smelt like the both of. He swore that if he could trap the scent into a candle and sell it, he’d never profit from keeping them all to himself.
A sound of satisfaction slipped from his lips as you crawled in beside him, bodies pressing into one another as you tugged the lamp on your nightstand off.
Law’s eyes drift close as he wraps his arms around you while you trace steady fingers over his tattooed chest, long since remembering every detail of the ink. You needed no light to know where each curl and line ended and began.
His nose dove into your hair, placing a kiss to your forehead as he felt his mind wander away in between dream and reality.
Old habits die hard. They sit deep in our bones and they put up a fight every time one tries to rid their body of its ways.It eats away at your resolve and soon you’re swallowed up by its jaws without even realizing it.
Though, with the right person—
A little mercy can be shown, and one can feel the warmth of morning again.
Oddly enough, I struggled with this one a little. Idk, I feel like navigating Law’s character is a little difficult. I hope I did alright—
To The Window, To The Wall,
