You’re Panicking, Captain
He asked you out...
Now, Trafalgar Law is asking his crew for help, like this isn’t the most complicated situation he’s ever faced
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The knock on the door is unexpected. Not because people don’t knock, but because he is the one knocking.
Inside, Bepo looks up first.
“…Captain?”
The door opens before he’s even fully finished speaking.
And there he is, Trafalgar Law, standing in the doorway.
Looking… off.
Not injured, tired, or irritated.
Just... off.
“…We need to talk,” Law says.
That’s enough to get everyone’s attention. Penguin straightens. Shachi immediately narrows his eyes.
“…That sounds serious,” Shachi says slowly.
“It is.”
“…Are we dying?” Penguin asks.
“No.”
“…Did something go wrong with the submarine?”
“No.”
“…Did something explode?”
“No.”
Silence.
Bepo tilts his head.
“…Then what’s wrong?”
Law hesitates. That’s the first red flag, because Law doesn’t hesitate.
“…I require assistance.”
The three of them freeze. Penguin blinks. Shachi leans back slightly. Bepo’s eyes widen.
“…You what?” Penguin says.
“…I need assistance,” Law repeats, tighter this time.
Shachi looks at Penguin. Penguin looks at Bepo. Bepo slowly turns back to Law.
“…With what?”
There’s a pause, a long one. The kind that tells them everything before he even says it.
“…An outing.”
Oh.
Penguin’s grin starts forming immediately. Shachi’s already covering his mouth. Bepo - sweet, poor Bepo - gasps softly.
“…Captain…”
Law closes his eyes briefly.
“…It is a date.”
That’s it. They lose it.
“YOU FINALLY ASKED THEM?!”
“SHUT UP.”
“You actually did it???”
“Lower your voice.”
“How long did that take you, months??”
“…Stop talking.”
Bepo is practically vibrating.
“I knew it! I knew it, I knew it!”
“You’ve been pining forever,” Shachi adds.
“I was not.”
“You followed them around like a lost dog.”
“I did not.”
“You remembered their favorite drink.”
“That’s observational.”
“You gave them your coat once.”
“They were cold.”
“You don’t even like sharing.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
Penguin leans forward, grinning.
“…You like them.”
Silence.
Law doesn’t answer, which is answer enough.
“…Oh my god,” Shachi whispers. “You’re nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“You’re in our room asking for help.”
“I’m gathering information.”
“You’re panicking.”
“I am not panicking.”
Bepo gently pats his arm.
“It’s okay, Captain.”
“…Don’t.”
“It’s a big deal!”
“It’s not.”
“It is,” Penguin cuts in. “Because you’ve been staring at them for months.”
“I have not.”
“You literally changed your route on deck just to pass by them.”
“That was coincidence.”
“It was daily.”
“…Irrelevant.”
Shachi leans forward, elbows on his knees.
“…So what’s the problem?”
Law exhales slowly.
“…I don’t know what to do.”
That shuts them up. Not completely, but enough.
“…You don’t know… what to do,” Penguin repeats.
“…Correct.”
“…Captain,” Shachi says carefully, “you’ve handled life or death situations without blinking.”
“That’s different.”
“How.”
“…There are fewer variables.”
Penguin snorts. “You’re treating a date like a battle plan.”
“…It requires preparation.”
Bepo smiles gently.
“Okay. Then we prepare.”
Law crosses his arms.
“…That’s why I’m here.”
Penguin claps his hands once.
“Alright. Step one. What are you wearing?”
“…My usual.”
“NO.”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s functional.”
“It’s intimidating.”
“That’s the point.”
“Not on a date!”
Law’s eye twitches.
“…I’m not changing my entire wardrobe.”
Shachi stands, already moving toward Law’s room.
“You don’t have to. Just... less murder doctor, more… approachable human.”
“I am approachable.”
“You look like you’d diagnose me before saying hello.”
“…That’s not inaccurate.”
“CAPTAIN”
Bepo gently intervenes.
“Maybe just… something a little softer?”
Law exhales sharply.
“…Fine.”
That’s a win. They take it.
“Okay, next,” Penguin says. “Where are you taking them?”
“…There’s a place on the next island.”
“Romantic?”
“Quiet.”
“Romantic,” Shachi repeats.
“It’s practical.”
“It’s romantic.”
Law ignores them.
“…What if it’s not enough.”
That slips out before he can stop it.
And that... That’s the moment everything shifts.
Because that’s not Captain Law. That’s… him.
Bepo steps closer.
“They said yes, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Then it’s already enough to start.”
Law looks away slightly.
“…That doesn’t guarantee anything.”
Penguin shrugs.
“Nothing does.”
Shachi grins.
“But it means they like you enough to try.”
A pause. Law processes that.
“…I don’t want to make a mistake.”
“You will,” Penguin says immediately.
Law glares.
“…That’s not helpful.”
“It is,” Shachi adds. “Because it won’t matter.”
“…Explain.”
“Because they’re not going for perfection,” Shachi says. “They’re going for you.”
Silence. Law’s grip tightens slightly against his arm.
“…That seems… inefficient.”
Bepo laughs softly.
“That’s how feelings work.”
“…I dislike that.”
“We know,” Penguin says.
Another pause.
“…Should I bring something.”
All three of them light up instantly.
“YES.”
“Absolutely.”
Law scowls slightly.
“…What kind.”
Bepo thinks for a moment.
“Something thoughtful.”
“…Define that.”
Penguin smirks.
“Something that shows you pay attention.”
Law goes still. That he can do. He’s been doing it for months.
“…I have something in mind.”
Shachi grins.
“Oh, this is going to be good.”
Law exhales slowly. Adjusts his sleeve.
“…This is unnecessary.”
“No, it’s not,” Penguin says.
“…I could cancel.”
Three voices immediately
“DON’T.”
“…I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
Silence settles for a moment, then Bepo smiles softly.
“You’re going to do great, Captain.”
Law huffs quietly.
“…Unlikely.”
Shachi crosses his arms.
“You’ve handled life or death situations without blinking.”
“…This is worse.”
Penguin laughs.
“Yeah. That’s how you know it matters.”
“…It does.”
The words are quiet, but real. No one teases him for it.
— 🌊 —
→ read part two here
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