Deadlines Part 2
Summary: For two years, you trained alongside Trafalgar Law and the Heart Pirates, always aware that your stay was temporary. However, two month before your departure, Law approached you with a request: he wanted you to convince your captain, Straw Hat Luffy, to form an alliance to take down Donquixote Doflamingo. A request that totally wasn't a excuse to spend more time with you. As you prepared to part ways, Law made a final, unexpected request, that you return to his crew once everything is over. That you'd officially become a heart pirate permanently. You left him with a tentative promise to consider it, provided you both survived the coming storm. Now, a month has passed since you last seen Law and a week since you rejoined the Straw Hats. With the alliance forged and Law currently aboard the Thousand Sunny, the journey toward Dressrosa is underway. Yet, as Law observes the chaotic, unbreakable bond you share with your true crew, he is beginning to realize just how slim his chances of winning you back to his crew actually are.
Trafalgar Law x gn!reader
Word count: 7,543
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Deleted Scenes
A/N: OK WOW I GET IT! You all are lucky I am currently out of a job and have nothing better to do than write and I already had a good part of this written. But seriously thank you all for all the attention part one of this has gotten! And thank you all who commented encouraging me to write this part! I hope you all like this part! Happy good Friday or Easter or whatever holiday it is here your gift.
Side note I tried to keep things gender neutral but I do have some slight flirty and protective Sanji. It is very slight tho.
You sat next to Law on the bench of the Thousand Sunny, a gigantic smile plastered across your face as your crew surrounded him with an endless barrage of questions. Luffy sat on the other side of the bench with a blissfully ignorant grin, completely unbothered by the chaos erupting around him.
The first part of the plan had been a success—albeit with considerably more complications than Law would have preferred. But it had worked. Luffy had happily agreed to the alliance. Caesar had been properly kidnapped. And now you were on your way to Dressrosa.
Everything was falling into place, and you couldn't resist savoring Law's growing irritation.
He was explaining something about his strategy, something important, no doubt, when his eye began twitching. The telltale pinch appeared between his brows, deepening with each question your crew threw at him. You bit the inside of your cheek to suppress your laughter, but it bubbled up anyway.
Law's head snapped toward you at the noise in annoyance. "Y/N, did you not inform them of anything?"
You smiled, that particular smile that said you'd done exactly what he suspected. "No. That would ruin the surprise.”
The entire crew erupted in shouts of outrage and confusion, and suddenly all eyes shifted to you instead of your much-harassed ally captain.
Sanji stepped forward first, his expression hardening slightly. "Hold on. You know this creep?"
You shrugged with exaggerated casualness. "Well, duh. I joined his crew for the two years we were separated."
More shocked shouts tang through the air, and you snickered at the chorus of "What?!"
"I thought you were hanging out with that polar bear guy?" Usopp asked, his brow furrowed as he tried to place the memory. "At Sabaody? Didn't he help you carry your treasure from that island?"
"That would be Bepo," you confirmed.
"My first mate," Law added with a gruff tone that somehow managed to sound both annoyed and proud.
"Right, I thought you would've recognized him from Traffy's wanted poster. And he was at Sabaody with Traffy."
Law's nose twitched involuntarily. "I told you to stop calling me that."
You grabbed your bottom eyelids and pulled it down while sticking your tongue out at him, "That deal was only for when you were my captain."
Luffy jumped up suddenly, apparently catching onto the implication. "Hey—wait! I thought I was your captain!"
You laughed, the sound bright and unbothered. "Yes, Luffy. You'll always be my captain first."
Law's eye twitched slightly at that.
Sanji's protective instinct flared to life immediately, his eyes narrowing as he looked between you and the grumpy pirate captain. "So for the past two years you've been running around with another crew? With this creep?" His voice carried an edge of genuine concern beneath the aggression. "His crew is all men. Tell me they didn't—"
"Chill, Sanji," you interrupted. "I didn't join any public fights so the Marines wouldn't find out. And the Heart Pirates aren't pervs. Unlike you.” You muttered the last part under your breath.
Sanji still glared at Law, and Law matched the intensity with an equally protective glare of his own.
Zoro laughed from his corner, breaking the tension slightly. "So is this the bozo who taught you that crappy swordsman form?"
“Crappy?” Law repeated with a grumble as his hand moved to his sword with obvious irritation, but you quickly grabbed his arm. You felt him relax under your touch—muscle memory from two years of you being the only one who could talk him down from unnecessary conflict.
"So this plan of Traffy's," Robin said thoughtfully, "you support it entirely?"
"It's more my plan than his at this point," you said with a smirk.
Law's nose twitched again, and an irritated rumble escaped his throat as he shot you a glare. The glare said we planned this together, but you just smiled innocently back at him.
Robin nodded, clearly pleased by the answer in a way that went deeper than your words. "That's reassuring."
Nami crossed her arms, a stubborn set to her jaw. "Well, if Y/N vouches for him, then I'm on board."
"Are you kidding me?!" Usopp threw his hands up at Nami, clearly exasperated. "He wants us to fight a Warlord! That's insane! And now you're on board just because Y/N likes him?"
"Actually, the final target is Kaido," Law corrected flatly.
Usopp's hands dropped. His eyes went wide. Very, very wide. "Kaido. The King of the Beasts."
"What?!" The shout came from multiple crew members simultaneously.
"Okay, I take it back," Nami said immediately, her eyes equally wide as she waved her hands in x positions, "I'm not on board. Y/N has clearly lost their mind. That creep must have manipulated them somehow!"
Law's teeth audibly ground together at the accusation, a low growl rumbling in his chest that would have been threatening if it hadn't been so defensive over the accusation.
Luffy, oblivious to the tension, started slapping Law on the back with his characteristic enthusiasm. "Aw, come on, guys! Traffy ain't bad! He's a friend! And we're gonna kick some butt together."
You leaned back, deciding the moment had come to deploy the heavy artillery. "You all should be a little kinder to him," you said carefully, watching brows pinch in confusion. "He's the only reason Luffy is alive right now."
The words hit like a punch. The crew stilled.
Luffy grinned wider, apparently finding this a perfect moment to demonstrate. "Yeah! Traffy was the one who gave me this cool scar." He puffed out his chest, showing the giant X scar—the wound that should have killed him, the one Law had sutured back together with impossible precision.
The crew froze, staring at the scar, then back at Law, then at you. Something shifted in their expressions; recognition, maybe, of just how much this captain had done to keep Luffy alive.
Usopp, Nami, and Chopper huddled together, muttering to each other in tones too low to hear. After a moment, Usopp turned back around and clapped his hands together. "Okay. We're in."
You let out a sharp laugh. "As if that was going to change anything."
The rest of the crew nodded in agreement, and Sanji let out a breath of smoke. "You all should know better than to think once Luffy decides on something there's any turning back." He gestured toward the stairs. "Now, who wants lunch?"
Everyone jumped up in excitement, rushing toward the kitchen with the kind of energy that only the promise of Sanji's cooking could inspire.
Law's jaw dropped in absolute horror. "But we haven't finished discussing the plan.”
You laughed at his shocked expression, the sound bright enough to cut through the noise of the departing crew.
"Why did you let me go through with this?" he grumbled, leaning slightly closer. "You could have warned me they'd be this chaotic then I would never done this stupid alliance."
"It was your idea to form the alliance," you shrugged, though your smile held a knowing look. "I just supported it. Besides, I did warn you about how they are. You just didn't listen."
He frowned slightly. "I thought they would at least be sensible. Like you."
You shoved your shoulder into his gently, feeling the familiar warmth of being close to him after a month apart. "Aw, that sounded like a compliment, Traffy."
His lips twitched upward, almost forming a smile before he caught himself and forced his expression back into disapproval. "Will you stop calling me that?"
"Nope," you said cheerfully. "You need to get used to it because Luffy isn't going to stop, and neither is the rest of this crew."
He hung his head, defeated. "Only you would come from this insufferable crew."
You got up, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the stairs. "You'll learn to love them. Now let's go eat. You're going to love Sanji's cooking."
Law allowed himself to be dragged along as you held him by the elbow.
You opened the kitchen door with a large smile, and the crew immediately noticed the contrast between your obvious joy and Law's forced pout. Though Law couldn't quite hide the slight smirk he was fighting, the one that crept up when he thought no one was looking.
It had been a month since he'd last seen you. A month of your infectious energy being absent from his life. He'd missed it more than he wanted to admit.
You shoved Law onto the bench next to Robin before bouncing off toward Sanji.
Robin gave Law a knowing smirk as he watched you move with that particular lightness.
"Y/N is sure happy to see you," Robin observed quietly.
"Well, It's been over a month since we saw each other." Law replied, though his eyes never left you as you enthusiastically told something to Sanji. The cook's expression softened as he listened, and he nodded, already mentally adjusting his cooking plans.
You bounced back, sliding onto the bench beside Law—perhaps a touch closer than strictly necessary. "I told Sanji about your gluten allergy, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Thanks, Y/N," he said, and the warmth in his voice was genuine.
"So how did you two meet anyway?" Usopp asked, his tone carrying a slightly sharper edge than usual.
You launched into the story; the island inside the Calm Belt, the overly kind villagers, the Marines trying to enslave them for gold. As you spoke, Law watched the crew's reactions shift. When you got to the part about putting on a show with berries and smoke to scare the Marines away, he saw Luffy's eyes light up with admiration.
"That's a very specific lie," Robin noted, tilting her head with interest.
Your breath hitched—just slightly, just enough for Law to notice. He'd spent two years learning to read the micro-expressions of your tells. "Yeah, well, it was all I could think of and it worked," you recovered smoothly. Then you pointed at Law. "This guy, however, heard the rumors of a plague and decided to lend his aid as a doctor."
Chopper sat up immediately, his eyes sparkling with childish admiration. "That's very kind of you!"
Law actually pouted at the compliment. "But there wasn't a plague. Just Y/N running amuck."
The crew laughed, but Sanji's gaze lingered on Law with that protective scrutiny. Law met it head-on, refusing to look away.
"So you just thought, 'Hey, let me join the surgeon of death and not think about how someone gets a moniker like that'?" Usopp asked, clearly still suspicious.
Law smirked dangerously. "If you'd like, I can show you how I earned that title." He held his hand up threateningly, and a Room flickered to life around his fingers.
Usopp yelped and jumped backward.
"He's joking," you insisted quickly, grabbing Law's wrist and lowering his hand. You felt him relax at your touch, the Room dissipating immediately.
But Law kept a playful glare on the sniper. "Sure. Joking," he said sarcastically, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement he was barely suppressing.
Usopp yipped and ran to Luffy's side, who was busy laughing at the whole exchange. "You're a funny guy, Traffy."
Law scowled deeply. "That is not my name."
Luffy just continued laughing, completely unbothered by the correction.
Sanji appeared moments later with a large tray of sandwiches, setting it in the center of the table before placing a special plate in front of Law, perfectly prepared rice balls with none of the ingredients he couldn't have. Law gave a small nod of appreciation, but Sanji just scoffed looking at the small distance between you and him.
The crew erupted into chaos as they dived for food, each person trying to grab as much as possible before Luffy, the human vacuum, consumed everything. Law quickly pulled his plate away from the melee as you leaned over him, reaching for your own food.
Law looked in absolute horror at Luffy, who was shoving food into his mouth like a machine with no off switch. He leaned toward you, lowering his voice so only you could hear. "This is the captain you owe everything to?"
You smiled fondly, watching Luffy with obvious affection. "Yup."
Law sighed in disappointment. This wild child with no concept of structure or order. This man with rubber powers and the attention span of a goldfish. This was who you preferred. This was who you'd chosen.
You shoved him slightly, reading the disappointment in his expression. "Just wait. You'll see why soon enough."
Law looked around the table at the chaotic collection of misfits; the giant cyborg with neon blue hair, the literal skeleton who somehow still ate, the childish captain with his vast dreams, the cat burglar with the sharp eye for treasure, the stoic archaeologist with secrets in her gaze, the aggressive moss-head swordsman, the perverted chef with his protective streak, the raccoon doctor who was too innocent for this crew, and the guest samurai with his son.
Each of them carried a chaotic energy similar to yours but amplified to extremes he couldn't quite comprehend. While Law had grown—against his better judgment—to enjoy your energy, multiplying it by ten felt like standing in the eye of a hurricane.
The table quickly dissolved into laughter and overlapping conversations as the crew shared stories from the two years they'd been apart. They recounted their adventures with the kind of easy affection that came from genuine trust and love. And as the conversation continued, Law began to understand something he'd been resisting.
Your smile was brighter here. Your laughter came easier. Your energy matched theirs in a way that it never quite matched with his crew, no matter how hard you'd tried.
Law tried to ignore the ping of jealousy in his chest as he slouched in his seat, eating quietly, watching you be exactly where you belonged.
"Y/N?" Robin's voice cut through the noise, and your head snapped toward her with interest. "Do you and Traffy happen to be related?"
You froze mid-bite, and Law's eyes went wide.
"What? No," you said, recovering quickly. "Why would you think that?"
Robin gestured between you both, and Law realized with a sinking feeling that you were holding nearly identical poses, both carefully eating with your right hands, both leaning back slightly at the same angle.
"I've noticed quite a few similar mannerisms between the two of you. You also have similar accents, similar skin tones, and some of the same slang."
You slowly lowered your sandwich and straightened your form, creating deliberate distance from the pose. "No, Robin. We're not related," you said firmly, with no room for argument.
"Then do you think you're from the same island?" Robin pressed gently.
You put on a relaxed expression that didn't quite reach your eyes. "I mean, we're both from the North Blue."
"You're from the North Blue?" Sanji perked up, processing this new information. "Really?"
Robin tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's right. You're from the North Blue too, aren't you, Sanji?"
"I thought you were from the East," Sanji said, his brow furrowing as he tried to place the pieces.
"I moved to the East when I was eighteen." you said, shrugging as if it was inconsequential. But Law could see the tension in your shoulders, the way your jaw clenched slightly.
"Anyway, you don't seem to share mannerisms with Sanji, but you do with Trafalgar," Robin continued, her tone curious rather than accusatory. "I'm not judging just curious. Similar background, perhaps? Same region, at least?"
You slammed your hand on the table "Just drop it, Robin," you said, your voice sharper than you'd intended. Shame flushed across your face as everyone looked at you. "Sorry. I just... I don't want to talk about this."
Law felt something twist in his chest watching you retreat into yourself.
"Wait, Y/N," he called, but you were already standing, already moving away from the table.
"What was that about?" Luffy asked, his expression confused in that innocent way only he could manage.
Law sighed heavily, hanging his head before making a decision. "Yes, we're from the same island," he admitted quietly. The words felt heavy, weighted with all the history they carried.
All brows raised. The crew knew little of your past beyond finding you in the East Blue, performing magic shows and disappearing into the crowd. They knew you were skilled at sleight of hand and tricks, that you could vanish into thin air. But they didn't know why. Never cared to ask.
"What island is that?" Brook asked with genuine curiosity.
Law stood up slowly, "I'm not going to discuss Y/N's past without their permission," he said firmly. "But our home doesn't have the best memories. If they want to tell you, they will."
He walked toward the door without another word.
"That was odd," Zoro commented, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Who cares what island they're from," Luffy said through a mouthful of food. "They're with us now."
Sanji nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Agreed.” He knows what it's like to not want to share your past, they all do.
The rest of the crew also nodded, the past never mattered to them, all that matters is the future.
They all turned back to their meals, the moment already fading in the way that only happened with people who truly accepted each other.
Law stepped out into the salty air and scanned the deck. It took him only moments to spot you, you'd climbed up to the main mast, sitting on the beam where you could see the horizon stretching endlessly before you.
Law summoned a Room and blipped to stand beside you, appearing without warning.
You didn't startle. After two years, you'd learned to sense when he was using his powers. Your eyes opened slowly, taking in his presence with a tired expression.
"You alright?" he asked, lowering himself to sit beside you on the wooden beam. He was careful not to sit too close, giving you space while remaining present.
You nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just didn't realize how similar we are. Or at how much stronger my accent became after talking with someone from my home.”
Law snorted softly. "Neither did I, but I suppose it's obvious if you know what you're looking for."
"Robin is perceptive. Too perceptive, sometimes. But she means well." you said, "She's good about respecting boundaries once you set them, though. I just... I wasn't ready for those questions."
"I hope you don't mind that I told them we're from the same island," Law said carefully. "I didn't tell them it was Flevance."
You shrugged, "I don't mind. I trust them, and they should know. They will understand, especially Robin…” you curled inward pulling your knees to your chest, “she also lost her entire island when she was young due to a buster call.”
Law's eyes widened at the information glancing down at the kitchen door where she remained.
“I've been actually meaning to tell her just haven't found the right time. I don't know why I freaked out." You paused. "It just felt like acknowledging something I've been trying to avoid to admit to anyone else."
"That we're connected?" Law offered quietly.
"That there are only two of us left," you corrected, your voice barely above a whisper.
Law placed a hand on your shoulder, and you lifted your head to meet his gaze with a small smile. The touch was familiar, easy—two years of reaching out to each other had made it second nature.
"I'm glad to see you again," you said, your tone light and genuine.
And Law couldn't help but smile in return. "Same here."
He leaned back slightly and looking out at the vast sea stretching before you both. "How's the crew? My crew, I mean?"
You looked out at the water, your expression fond as you began to recount the past month. "They're great, we mostly kept out of trouble the past month just traveling to different islands while we waited, it's a lot easier to travel when your captain is a warlord.” You laughed slightly, “Bepo is beyond worried taking both Sachi and Penguin to keep him from turning back to punk hazard."
You looked longingly at the sea, "They should be at Zou by now. They dropped me off at Sabaody only last week. Since then I've fought a Army at Fishman Island, befriended a giant princess who holds the ancient weapon Poseidon, and..." You laughed, almost in disbelief at your own words. "Luffy declared war with Big Mom."
Law's eyes widened in alarm. "I'm sorry—did you say declare war with Big Mom?"
You chuckled at his reaction. "Yeah. Luffy ate all her candy and claimed Fishman Island as his territory."
Law grabbed his hair, looking genuinely distressed. "That idiot!"
"It'll be fine," you assured him. "Luffy will handle it."
"I don't understand how you trust him with anything," Law said, though the words lacked heat.
"It's best not to think too hard about it," you said with a smile. "He has a good heart and is insanely determined. When he sets his mind on something, there's no stopping him. It doesn't always make sense, but it works."
"You really love this crew," Law noted, and there was something vulnerable in his voice.
"I never made it a secret," you said gently. "I've been very vocal about how much I love them."
Law hung his head, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet and careful. "So my chances of getting you to officially join my crew are slim, then."
You sucked your teeth, listening to the sounds of your crew laughing as they left the kitchen below. The weight of the question settled over you both like fog.
"Law, this was always the plan," you said softly but refused to look at him. You could already hear this the disappointment in his breath.
"You knew this from the beginning."
You sighed and stood up, grabbing the rope that cascaded down to the ship.
You paused, your hand on the line, but still couldn't quite bring yourself to look at him. "I'm sorry, Law." And then, more quietly, "Looks like we have a new deadline."
Before he could respond, you descended quickly, using the rope with practiced ease.
Sanji greeted you at the bottom with the leftover sandwich you left behind, his expression warm and protective. You smiled brightly, accepting the sandwich.
The two of you descended into an easy conversation with new found knowledge of your shared history growing up in the North Blue, sharing stories that made him laugh.
Law watched from above, his hands gripping the mast. He watched the way Sanji's hand stayed on your shoulder. He watched the way you leaned into his presence. He watched the way your smile never wavered, bright and beautiful and belonging to someone else's crew.
Once again, his request for you to stay had been declined.
Law stayed on the mast long after you'd disappeared inside, watching the endless stretch of ocean and wondering how long it would take before he accepted that some things were never meant to be kept.
Night fell, and the Thousand Sunny transformed.
The crew had migrated to the deck, and the atmosphere had shifted from the structured chaos of dinner to something more genuinely celebratory. Lanterns had been strung up overhead, casting a warm glow across the grass that covered the deck. Someone had dragged out cushions and blankets. The energy was lighter, freer; the kind of ease that only came from people who truly belonged with each other.
Luffy bounded over to you with the brightest smile, his rubber arms already stretched out. "Y/N! Can you please do a magic show!"
You returned his smile without hesitation, your entire face lighting up. "Of course! Usopp made me some new smoke bombs and sparklers I want to try."
"Everyone! Y/N is doing a magic show!" Luffy announced at maximum volume, and the crew cheered at idea.
You disappeared for a moment while everyone settled comfortably on the grassy floor in a loose semi-circle in front the front wall. Law remained on the bench beneath the main mast, on the opposite side of the deck. It was a bit of a distance like his usual spot for your shows. He told himself it was the best vantage point. He told himself he preferred the distance.
The truth was more complicated.
With the crackle of sparklers and a cloud of smoke that seemed to come from nowhere, you appeared.
Everything about you had changed.
The top hat you'd somehow acquired sat perfectly on your head, cocked at an angle that screamed showmanship. Your outfit was a sparkly suit that clung to your form, all sequins and shine and theatrical flair. On the Polar Tang, you'd worn the same practical boiler suits as everyone else. Law had insisted on it. It kept you unremarkable to any Marines who might catch sight of the crew. Made sure no one suspected you to be a Straw Hat. It kept you safe.
But on the Thousand Sunny, you were allowed to be brilliant.
You snapped your fingers and a spotlight illuminated the deck, the rest of the world falling away into darkness beyond its radius. You stood in the center of it all, and Law felt something in his chest clench.
The show began, and you moved through your tricks with a fluidity that came from genuine joy. Your smile never wavered, it was the brightest thing on the entire ship, brighter than the lanterns, brighter than the spotlight.
Luffy kept jumping up, requesting particular tricks and begging to volunteer. But you never selected him, you typically chose Usopp, who was clearly in on all the tricks and wouldn't accidentally destroy the entire performance the way Luffy inevitably would. Of chopper who's childish wonder is easier to fool.
Law's brows pinched slightly. His crew loved your shows. They did. But they were respectful. They raised their hands to volunteer. They applauded politely at the end of each trick. They could be chaotic as well, particularly when Bepo got favored or when a particular tricks shocked them.
The Straw Hats were different.
They were practically part of the show themselves, jumping around, calling out encouragement, creating chaos that you somehow incorporated into your performance with ease. When you asked for a volunteer, they all practically fell over each other to be selected. Usopp would wrestle Luffy back, Chopper would squeak in excitement, even Robin's usual composure cracked into genuine delight.
And you adjusted to every single disruption with the brightest smile, incorporating their chaos into your act as if it had always been part of the plan.
Somehow, as the night deepened and drinks began flowing, the magic show transformed into something larger. The finale came and went, but instead of ending, the energy simply shifted. Someone brought out instruments. Brook appeared with his guitar and violin, launching into a melody that somehow managed to be both melancholy and joyful. Franky brought speakers out from inside the ship and added a steady bass that thrummed through the deck.
The deck became a dance floor.
You held Chopper's small paws as you swung around in lazy circles, the raccoon doctor laughing. Luffy and Usopp was attempting to teach the samurai's son Momo some ridiculous dance move that involved far too much flailing. Nami and Robin were trading sake between sips, their laughter musical and easy. Zoro and Sanji were bickering over something stupid.
Law watched from his bench, his distance suddenly feeling very intentional.
The ping of jealousy that had been present all evening sharpened into something more painful. Because it wasn't just envy of being left out—it was the full, crushing realization that he would never be part of this. That his ship, no matter how capable, could never offer you this. This freedom. This lightness. This belonging.
You bounced over to him suddenly, your energy almost tangible. Your smile was radiant, infectious, "Traffy! Come dance!"
You held your hand out to him, and Law felt the warmth and ecstatic energy radiating off you. It was as if you were your own ray of sunshine, lighting up everything around you. Everything in his body loosen and he couldn't help but catch your infectious smile. He reached to take your hand.
But then he stopped, his hand hovering halfway between you.
He looked over at the crew, at Sanji's easy confidence, at Zoro's drunken grin, at Luffy's obvious adoration. He looked back at you, at the way you fit into their world so perfectly that it made his chest hurt.
And he lowered his hand.
"No, I—" He tried to keep his voice steady, but he could see the exact moment your radiant face fell, could feel the shift in your expression like a physical blow. "I'm going to turn in for the night."
He stood up and walked past you without looking back.
He didn't know where he was actually going, but he needed to be anywhere else. Anywhere that wasn't here, watching you be happy in a way that had nothing to do with him.
"Law, wait. What's wrong?" Your voice came from behind him, confused and hurt. He felt your arm reaching toward him, felt you take a step to follow.
His jaw clenched. He didn't turn around. Instead, he summoned a Room with a sharp gesture and vanished.
You were left reaching out into empty air, your hand closing on nothing but the space where he'd been standing moments before.
Your chest tightened with a mixture of concern and rejection. You wanted to chase after him, to demand answers from the grumpy captain, but a rubbery arm wrapped around your waist.
Before you could protest, you were pulled back into the heart of the party. Zoro immediately materialized at your other side, tapping a fresh bottle of sake on your arm. You were surrounded by your crew's smiles, their easy affection, their obvious care.
"Where did you go?" Luffy asked, finally releasing his hold on you as he watched your expression.
You turned back toward the space Law had occupied, your gaze lingering. "I just wanted to see if Law would dance," you admitted quietly.
Sanji appeared at your other side, his expression shifting into something more flirtatious, more intentional. "You can always dance with me," he offered, extending his hand in a way that was far too smooth.
You rolled your eyes, "I would rather get Zoro to dance before I danced with you." shoved Zoro as you grabbed the bottle from his hold, who laughed at your obvious deflection.
Sanji's hand retreated in offense, his voice rising dramatically. "That moss head?!"
"Just accept it, curly brow. No one wants to dance with you," Zoro shot back, taking a swig from his own drink.
The playful argument escalated exactly as you'd predicted, and you used the opportunity to drift toward Nami and Robin, who were watching the interaction with knowing smirks.
"Where did Traffy go?" Robin asked carefully.
You shrugged, trying your best to hide the hurt that was sitting uncomfortably in your chest. "Said he was tired. Probably ended up in the lounge." You said it casually, as if your brief moment of rejection hadn't stung.
But the two women noticed. Of course they noticed.
Nami wrapped an arm around you and smoothly stole your bottle of sake, taking a deliberate sip. "Well, good riddance," she said playfully. "He's kind of a buzz kill anyway. Come on, let's dance. Don't worry about him."
You snatched your bottle back with a smile that took effort, watching the sake slosh slightly. "Alright. Let's dance." You laughed, chugging the rest of the bottle in one go before Nami could steal the rest. Before you could think too hard about the grumpy captain. Before you could dwell on what had made him pull away.
Before you could wonder if you'd done something wrong.
Law sat on the impossibly large couch in the ship's lounge, positioned directly beneath an enormous fish tank. The tank was filled with creatures of various sizes, some graceful, some strange, some far to large.
He stared up at them with a mixture of amazement and something that might have been envy.
The Thousand Sunny's lounge was nothing like the Polar Tang. His ship was small and cramped, with metal walls and utilitarian portholes. Everything served a function. Everything was compact, efficient, necessary.
This lounge was grand. The wood was warm and richly stained, crafted with the kind of care that spoke to actual artistry rather than mere construction. Natural light filtered through large windows during the day; something Law's submarine couldn't offer.
The entire ship was like this. The furniture was comfortable, lived-in. Books and maps were scattered in organized chaos. There were paintings on the walls and plants in corners and little touches of personality everywhere.
It was as bright as you. As colorful as the rest of your crew.
And suddenly, Law realized what had truly been bothering him all evening. It wasn't that his ship was inferior. It was that his ship was incapable of offering you what this one did.
You needed this. You needed the sunlight and the open air. You needed a crew that was so inherently chaotic that your own chaotic energy fit in perfectly rather than having to be tempered and controlled.
And he—
The sound of voices for outside cut through his spiral of thoughts. They grew louder, more jubilant.
And then they started singing.
"Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho—"
It was Bink's Brew. The crew was singing at full volume, the kind of unrestrained joy that only happened when people were truly together. He could pick out individual voices—Luffy's off-key but enthusiastic rendition, Robin's surprisingly melodic tone, Brook's theatrical performance.
And then he heard you.
He'd only ever heard you hum before. Your singing voice was something he'd caught in rare moments, humming while you did chores, a soft melody while you practiced your tricks on deck. But now, surrounded by your crew, your voice was loud and full of uncontainable joy. It soared above theirs, bright and genuine and so painfully alive.
Law felt something break in his chest.
His breath hitched. His hands gripped the edge of the couch. Because he understood, in that moment with absolute clarity, that even if you did choose him after all of this—even if somehow, impossibly, you decided to stay with the Heart Pirates instead of returning to the Straw Hats. He couldn't take you away from this. He couldn't ask it of you.
And more importantly: you wouldn't choose him.
Over the past two years Law found you to be the only person to fully understand him. The only person who could relate to his experiences and not judge. The only person who could make him smile even on the days where he thinks nothing can bring him joy. The only person who he feel comfortable enough to share everything with, even feeling he hides from everyone else.
But you… you didn't need him. If you needed someone to relate to watching your entire island burn you can turn to Robin. If you wanted to share stories about the North blue you can go to Sanji. If you find a day you can't smile you can go to Luffy. If you need protection you can go to Zoro. Even if you needed a doctor you have chopper here.
And then there was the things he couldn't provide; if you needed someone to relate to stealing to survive you can go to the cat burglar Nami. If you want to talk about your magic tricks you can go to Usopp. If you needed musical enjoyment you had Brook. If you needed something made with pure craftsmanship and care you had Franky.
He laid down on the couch, facing the back cushion, and let the singing wash over him. The sound of your joy was a thing he could never create. Your crew gave you something his never could, no matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he cared.
His thoughts roamed in circles. His chest felt tight. And somewhere in the darkness, he fought back tears he refused to acknowledge.
Morning came too soon.
The Thousand Sunny docked at Dressrosa, and Law emerged from the lounge with a hardened expression. Today was the day. Everything he'd worked toward, everything he'd sacrificed, came down to this.
Today he would take down Doflamingo.
Today he would get his revenge for the hero who'd tried to teach him to love. For the man he'd failed to save. For all the suffering that single person had caused.
Today, he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Even if he didn't survive this plan, as long as Straw Hat destroyed the factory, as long as Caesar was neutralized, Law would have won. Even in death.
Because what reason did he have to fight for his own life. What reason did he have if the deal you made with him was never going to happen.
He followed the sound of cheerful noise toward the kitchen, his resolve hardening with each step.
When he opened the door, he was hit with the sweetest smell, butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Hootenannies.
His expression softened involuntarily.
You were at the stove, holding a pan with practiced ease while Sanji stood beside you, methodically cutting up fresh berries. The morning light caught your profile as you turned, sensing his presence before he'd even fully entered the kitchen.
You gave him that infectious smile, the same one you always gave, like his presence was something that genuinely delighted you. "Traffy! You're up!"
You set the pan down, which Sanji immediately shifted to take hold of, and grabbed a plate you'd clearly prepared in advance and set aside—far away from any gluten contamination. You held it over the bar for him to take.
Law moved slowly, accepting the plate from your hands. He looked down at the cakes, noting that they were crisper than the ones you'd made months ago on the Polar Tang. These were perfectly decorated with berries and fresh cream, each one arranged with obvious care.
"Sanji helped make them," you explained, leaning slightly closer as if sharing a secret. "So they're way better than the ones I made on my own. He also says he added something to help with stamina or something." You giggled, and the sound was so purely you that something in Law's chest shifted. "I think he's started getting into witchcraft or something, because his food really does give some kind of weird energy boost."
Law continued to stare at the cakes, his entire resolve from the morning—the hardened determination to potentially die for his vengeance—completely dissolving in the face of your simple kindness.
You turned back to the stove and hip-checked Sanji out of the way with easy familiarity, clearly catching him trying to add something to the current batch. The two of you bickered in low tones, but your voices were barely audible over the chaos of the rest of the crew, their excited chatter, their obvious anticipation for breakfast, their joy.
Law decided to sit at the bar facing the kitchen, positioning himself away from the immediate noise. He cut a small piece of cake with careful precision and brought it to his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, he felt like he was in heaven.
The cake melted. The flavors were complex, exactly as he remembered them from his childhood in Flevance. Vanilla and something subtly spiced, the berries bright and tart against the sweetness. And beneath it all, something he couldn't quite identify but that made him feel inexplicably energized.
"If I had known you and Y/N were from the same island, I would have made these yesterday." Sanji's voice came from above him.
Law looked up. The cook was leaning on the other side of the bar, his expression lighter than it had been since Law arrived. He turned to look for you and found you engaged in what appeared to be a gentle wrestling match with Luffy, trying to hand him a fresh plate of cakes while he attempted to steal directly from the pan.
When Law turned back, Sanji was studying him with an expression that was less protective and more... curious. "Now that I have a second opinion, do you think the recipe is accurate to the original?"
Law blinked, genuinely surprised by the shift in tone. Sanji had been protective bordering on hostile since the moment Law had stepped aboard. But discussing food seemed to open something in the cook.
Law nodded slowly. "These are exactly how I remember them."
Sanji's smile widened, and he straightened with obvious satisfaction. "Glad to hear. Make sure to eat it all. You're going to need the strength."
Then he was gone, striding across the galley to deliver a strong hit to Luffy's head for trying to steal from you. You looked smugly satisfied as your captain recoiled, holding his throbbing skull, and you stuck your tongue out at him.
Law turned back to his plate and continued to eat carefully, savoring every bite. He took his time, letting each flavor settle on his tongue. If this was his last meal and given what today held, it very well might be, he was grateful it was something so close to home. Something that tasted like memory and care.
The crew gathered outside the ship as Law recounted the plan. The three teams were laid out with military precision: the Caesar trade-off team, the factory-destroying team, the Sunny security team.
You had your arms crossed in an obvious pout, frustration radiating from you in waves. "I don't understand why I have to be on the Sunny security team."
"Because if something goes wrong, you have Bepo's Vivre Card, which will lead you to Zou," Law explained for the third time, his patience wearing thin as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's not like I know how to use it anyway," you shot back. "And I already gave it to Nami to use. Why can't I just join your team?"
Law's eye twitched. Because he was deliberately placing you on the Sunny for your protection. Because the thought of you in direct combat with Doflamingo made his chest feel like it was being crushed into the ground. Because—
"Because that's not the plan," he said firmly.
Your arms threw up in exasperation. "Since when was that the plan? It's starting to feel like you don't even remember the plan. Since when did the plan involve you talking to Doflamingo alone. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
"Will you just listen to me!" Law snapped, his voice carrying more aggression than he'd intended. He heard the sharp intake of breath from the crew around you. He watched protective postures shift, saw hands move to weapons, saw Sanji's expression harden.
You huffed and crossed your arms tighter, your expression shuttering. "Whatever."
Law felt a grumble building in his chest. He recognized that look. He'd learned over two years to read it perfectly. You were thinking of more arguments, more ways to push back, more reasons why his decision was wrong.
He huffed and turned around knowing if he started a argument he may have a entire crew of pirates after him and you may piece together his true reasoning. He starting speaking to Robin who had questions about her role.
You were trying to think through the reasons Law would have to change the plan, but then Sanji's head turned sharply toward the town in the distance. His body went rigid. Some internal mechanism had clearly activated, overriding his desire to stay.
Sanji started moving toward town with the kind of determination that suggested he had no control over it.
You immediately noticed. Your pout deepened as you realized he was part of Team Sunny too. "Where are you going?" you called.
Sanji didn't respond, already halfway down the path. You cursed under your breath and took off after him, your footsteps quick and frustrated.
And naturally, the factory-destroying team followed, clearly ready to explore the new island.
Law turned back around to find himself staring at an empty beach. The Sunny security team had been reduced to approximately three crew member and Momo, the factory destroying team vanished, and you were already gone, your frustration propelling you into whatever adventure Sanji was about to stumble into.
He let out a loud groan of annoyance, his carefully laid plans already crumbling before the actual operation had even begun.
<<First | Next>
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Deleted Scenes
A/N: Thank you for reading! if you enjoy post like this check out my Masterlist. and if you want to send me a request for my next post please send me a message! If you liked this and want to support me I have a tip jar on Ko-fi.
So remember that thing I said about being jobless well my husband suggested I make a Ko-fi and suggested I posted this there. However I'm not quite sure how that fully works yet so if you want to support me I have a tip jar on Ko-fi. And maybe one day I'll figure out how to use it past that.
Also as you can tell this story does have room for a part three and I may have started writing it but I don't know if anyone will want to read that. Seeing how 1. the following events are Dressrosa. 2. My third parts typically result in really bad ansgt, take my work pages of promise for example:
Pages of Promise
Part 1 | Part 2 | Sad Ending | Bittersweet Ending
But let me know anyways if you would like a part three and four as well and let me know what should be the choice should be in the end!
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