Law and Caring; Cora-san's Wish
I think it is both very funny and incredibly touching that Law had helped Cora-san and Luffy by saving their lives through either mercy of keeping a damning lie or direct medical intervention and then they do not leave him alone. Both of them refuse to leave him behind during his self-destructive episodes, literally picking Law up and carrying him off to face his fears and keep him alive. For Cora-san this included hospitals for his disease, but both of them end up going against Doflamingo directly.
They face down Doflamingo and ultimately he loses. Because of Cora-san, he lost Law and the Op-op no mi; because of Luffy, he lost everything—including Law and the Op-op no mi once again.
Both Luffy and Cora-san are known for being rather determined people and physically violent when mad. Luffy was not being the most gentle ride and accidentally hurting Law compared to Cora hurting Law from hospitals, their relentless drive to ensure Law makes it causing some damage in the progress. The fact that both would rather die first then let Doflamingo kill off Law, pushing him out of Doflamingo's reach and taking the attention upon themselves.
It’s fascinating how for both Law and Luffy the other can remind of loved ones they've lost so fiercely. No wonder they both care for each other.
Luffy has never doubted that Law is a good person; if anything, he ends up taking him for granted and assuming he will agree with his behavior, like with expanding the alliance. Law does, but to him that's really besides the point!
Law's got a facade of a cruel pirate and a reputation to back it up. Apoo calls him out as known for brutality at Maineford and the G-5 marines are terrified at the sight of Law, wanting to turn tail immediately. Hawkins is intimidated by the murderous man that doesn't fear not reaching tomorrow. He's known for taking a hundred hearts to become a Warlord, and, in all respects, the man is terrifying. Law can dice people into bits and do as he pleases.
And yet, despite what you hear, we see repeated moments like this. Flipping the script from last time where Luffy was advocating for action on a countries behalf, Law is the one actively arguing for the citizens. A captain of a silly, friendly crew that loves him, cherishing his accomplishments and hyping him up even as he's exasperatedly sighing in the back. He saves Luffy's and Jinbe's lives for no good reason that could justify a cruel pirate intervening in a war just to save people. Law cares for the Punkhazard children of his own volition when the goal is accomplished even knowing Doflamingo is on the way. He repeatedly saves people by teleporting them from certain death, from Sanji, Luffy, the samurai, Viola and Rebecca. Law doesn't directly kill anyone, even stating that he doesn't like killing. His abilities are centered around not the taking of life but instead to preserve it.
Law has a tendency to help people out despite him trying to seem uncaring and a scary pirate and then that coming around and biting him because they end up caring for him back. Cora-san, Bepo, Penguin & Shachi, Jean Bart, Luffy & the Straw Hats, Punkhazard, Dressrosa, Zou, Wano. It's a consistent facet of his character that I thoroughly enjoy.
Despite his bluster with the samurai being on the ship, everyone knows better and is genuinely thanking Law for letting them on. After all, he’s the one who saved them from sinking in the first place. Then he saved the plan too! It was a small but super cute interaction that made me very gleeful while also very clearly summarizing the Trafalgar plight. A doctor cursed to save lives and then pretend that he doesn't do that, actually. No one listens to him trying to be a scary pirate, he's constantly undermined in his efforts.
Saying this seems counter intuitive considering the last time they parted as enemies Law proceeded to save Luffy's life, but whatever helps him sleep at night!
Law doesn't admit to caring easily, it's incredibly terrifying for someone who has been burned so severely in his life to face down potentially bonding with other people as anything other than inviting more pain. Especially when he's keenly aware of the active hunt his fruit draws upon him and the name he bears. He ends up confessing to it in his actions. It's part of why he is so consistently disgruntled with being seen positively, being kept at a distance keeps him safe. Law has multiple layers to keep from connecting with those around him but we see people getting through the cracks in them. Law can't help but leave those gaps because he is a doctor; at a fundamental level, he cares about the well-being of other people.
Even when it seems hopeless in Law’s life, where he is unable to move and faced with once again being dehumanized, coveted, used because he is not a human to a monstrous Blackbeard but instead a valuable tool—Law is saved by people he’s saved before. Law’s bluster about being enemies was passed over by both the Straw Hats and his own crew who had worked together even with their alliance ‘over’ and the goal complete. Chopper had been working on something for Bepo and because of that bond, it is the Straw Hats helping Law and Bepo avoid a fate we saw for another D. defeated by Blackbeard all those years ago in Pre-TS. Not seen as a human, but a tool for the powerful to use and kill for their own gains and greater schemes.
Law knew Doflamingo was a monster. He didn't care. He wanted to use Doflamingo to become one himself and being use as a tool by Doflamingo was fine by him. After everything that happened to him, he wanted to be a monster in his last years because the world stripped everything away from him.
But even then, after having lost everything and been a member of the Family for two years, he still cared. He didn't snitch and purposely wanted to be fair to repay Corazon.
His family, his home, his dignity and rights as a human being, his future… Cora gave them back. Law got to be human again, not a monster.
Cora-san got what he had wanted from the beginning, for Law to have the opportunity for a free life. He safeguarded Law's heart and helped bring him back, making sure that the boy who cared enough to keep him alive wasn't snuffed out. Destined not just for destruction but greater than that, Cora-san freed him from Doflamingo's strings by making him care again.
Law keeps that spirit alive through the carefully considered kindness he keeps tucked away from open view. Seeing it is always a treat, but seeing the kindness as the gift that keeps on giving? Law is surrounded by care, both his own and the people around him.
