lawlu fic scrap - deleting off my computer so im storing it here
- absolute fluff and i am sorry
“Mugiwara-ya, you’re gripping very tight.”
He’s right. Luffy can almost feel Law’s bones bending in his hold, and he begrudgingly let’s go, flexing his fingers and muttering a surly ‘sorry’.
Law doesn’t respond, rotating his wrists and not taking that sharp gaze away. It feels like it’s almost burning through Luffy’s brain, and he hums and frowns and pouts and sighs, trying to distract himself from the acute pain that’s building in his heart.
“Sorry,” he says again, with more effort, trying to sound a little more apologetic, trying to fill this weird, uncomfortable silence.
Law asks, “Are you okay?”
His chest aches and his heart is thudding this funny beat, one that reminds him of gear second, where it’s all thudthud thud thudthudthuud. It’s too fast and too much and his stomach flops and flutters, swaying all yucky and gross, like he’s about to be sick.
And he tries to answer Law but all he can do is kinda gasp (what), and he’s sure he didn’t get bit by some weird bug because he’s very aware of bugs and there have been none around to catch or bite—
Luffy tries to focus on his breathing like Ace always told him, but his brain doesn’t slow down, now telling him—no screaming—to touch Law’s face.
So he does just that, hands reaching up and cupping his rival captain’s jaw.
It’s so nice. The sun is playing this dancing game in Law’s eyes that reminds Luffy of the ocean at dusk, all orange and gold, and he pulls him down and close so their noses just brush, Law’s breath warm and minty on Luffy’s skin. His beards scratchy under his palm, which is kind of fascinating, to be honest, because Luffy has never been able to grow a beard, and Sanji and Usopp would never let him this close.
In fact, he realises, it’s weird Law’s even letting him this close.
As if on cue, the jaw he holds tenses dangerously.
“Mugiwara-ya,” Law grinds out.
No. Luffy’s not ready to let go just yet, and Law doesn’t really make to move away despite his obvious discomfort.
Humming softly, Luffy frowns and pouts, moving his fingers across to Law’s nose. It’s all crooked and hard, many times broken, and it reminds him of Ace. An odd feeling holds him there, one that has no word, one he can’t describe. Luffy hasn’t—can’t—break any bones, but here Law is, with his broken nose and this murderous look in his gaze, the sun still shining in that gold.
He hums louder, drowning out the certain threat. He bites down on his bottom lip in concentration, focusing everything on Law. Luffy brushes over open eyes, long lashes tickling his fingertips, and wow, he really likes this. A lot. Law’s skin is responsive, warming under his touch with a pink glow, and he keeps moving, desperate—more, more, more.
He feathers the corners of Law’s lips, which part at his touch, and then there’s this sound Law makes—like a sigh? A word?
Luffy can’t ponder it for long, though, Law snatching his wrists with all the speed of a snake strike.
Law’s voice is weird, whispers and sighs and rumbles, and Luffy’s stomach flips in response.
Then he remembers: “Oh. I’m sick.”
“Really,” comes the deadpan reply.
He’s not quite sure how to respond to that. Why would he lie about being sick? Sure, Luffy’s never been sick before, but he’s positive this is what is feels like—this lightheaded, flippy stomach, heart jumping thing that is happening to him right now. And his doctor isn’t here, and Law is a doctor, so:
“There’s nothing wrong with you.”
“Torao,” Luffy moans, going limp in his grip and just kinda… flopping there. “But my chest hurts. My stomach feels yuck.”
He’s melting like rubber in the heat, and Law holds him for a beat, then two, before completely releasing his grip and dropping Luffy with a frustrated sigh. He doesn’t put his hands out quick enough, landing face first and inhaling a good mouthful of gritty silt.
Luffy spits out as much as he can, coughing dramatically as he slowly rises to rest on his knees. He can’t remember a worse day, to be quite fair. He’s sick, his mouth is a disgusting muddy mess, Law’s mad, it’s so boring, there is literally nothing to eat or do and—
A firm hand presses against his forehead, cool and calming, and Luffy stops coughing enough to look up. Law’s crouched before him, still looking mildly pissed off, but the faintest hint of a smile touches his lips at the eye contact.
“You’re a irksome man, Mugiwara-ya,” he drawls, voice much too soft and nice.
“Shihihihi.” Law’s so good, it fills him whole, and Luffy can’t help but smile. “I always feel better with you around!”
And it’s true. Even though his tummy still flutters, it’s a nice feeling; like that sensation when you jump off a cliff and your stomach disappears somewhere above your body; or when Sanji makes something new and delicious from a fish Luffy had caught all by himself.
Law’s is staring at him, hand still cool on his forehead. He looks… odd. Happy, but also sad. Distracted and quiet. Luffy wants to break the silence, but he finds he kind of likes it, this blissful calm settling around him as he blinks back at Law, the hand on his forehead not leaving.
Law finds him again, because of course he does. Law always finds him. He found him at Sabaody, then at the Marineford War, and at Punk Hazard. He literally soared towards him through the sky at Dressrosa, and Luffy is pretty sure he was unconscious then.
It was something Nami had always said to him: “You attract people Luffy, so you better be careful or — ”
And at that point Luffy usually stopped listening because ‘watching out’ and ‘being careful’ are boring and why would he do that anyway.
So, Law finds him on the northern beach, and Luffy is starting to feel better, shoveling his freshly caught and rashly cooked perch in his mouth. Law takes seat next to him, propping his arm on a bent leg and straightening the other, when Luffy sees it.
“Fawts that?” he asks between mouthfuls.
“Preserved coral. I thought you’d like it.”
Luffy nearly spits out his food. He’s sick again, he can feel his stomach clenching and face warming from a fever and this is so unfair because all he wants to do is thank Law for his present but he is sure if he opens his mouth he will just throw up and why —
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