Total Eclipse of the Heart

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/43477441.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: One Piece
Relationship: Monkey D. Luffy/Trafalgar D. Water Law
Character: Mugiwara Kaizoku | Strawhat Pirates, Heart Pirates
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Wano Arc (One Piece),
Wano Arc (One Piece) Spoilers, Chapter 1044 specifically, POV
Alternating, Background Zosan, the zany adventures of the StrawHeart
Pirates, Light Sexual Content, Slow Burn, Fluff and Humor, the crew
side-eyeing Luffy like "Is he okay?", mentions of other relationships
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-12-12 Completed: 2022-12-22 Words: 33,401
Chapters: 7/7

Total Eclipse of the Heart

by Aspiring_TrashPanda

Summary

Following the events of the raid on Onigashima, the Straw Hat pirates wonder why Luffy
seems distracted on his quest to find the One Piece... And what's with his sudden rapt
interest in Trafalgar Law?

Or,

Luffy almost dies, makes a deal with a god, and falls in love. Law's along for the ride.

Notes

Hi there, and welcome to my exchange piece for the holiday LawLu event! I had the honor
of writing this for an incredibly talented writer - please check out their works! I am
particularily fond of this one.

I hope you enjoy! <3

See the end of the work for more notes

 The Beating of the Drum
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Luffy was down.

One moment, he was charging towards Kaido, coated Kong Gun over his shoulder, ready to face
the King of the Beast’s Thunder Bagua head on.

The next, he was on the ground, head spinning, body aching.

He winced. His muscles failed to respond, his weight glued to the shattered roof of the Skull
Dome, limbs protesting any attempt to sit up. It was difficult to discern the chain of events that had
led him here. If he really tried, he remembered a CP0 agent, the stern command of “Iron Body”, a
force far stronger than gravity smashing a crater around his prone form.

He had to get up. He had to. His Nakama were in trouble. He had to protect them. The Samurai
needed to be avenged. The people of Wano were counting on him, the grumble of their stomachs
ringing in his ears, drowning out the...

Oh.

The noise of the raid had disappeared.

Gone were the clash of swords, the shouts of soldiers, Big Mom’s shrieking and Kaido’s grating
laughter. The snap of earth as Law wielded projectiles of rock? Gone. The mechanical whir as
Kid stockpiled various metals? Gone. There was no trace of Zoro’s blazing aura, of Killer’s
shrieking scythes.

No, it was absolutely silent.

He couldn’t even hear the beating of his heart, the sound of his air rushing in and out of his
lungs...
He wasn’t breathing.

His heart remained still in his chest.

Then, cutting through the suffocating silence – Laughter.

What piqued his interest, though, was that the sound was hauntingly familiar, a laugh Luffy had
heard on a near daily basis. It wasn’t one of his Nakama. It wasn’t Dadan. It wasn’t gramps.

“Shishishi.”

It was his own laughter.

It took all of Luffy’s willpower to pull himself into a seated position, bones and muscles protesting
with every pull and tug. He anticipated the rush of adrenaline in his veins, the feeling of
determination pumping through the pain, but it never came. Luffy had the dreadful realization that
he could feel his blood lying still and stagnant within, sloshing with his movements, his heart
failing to circulate his body.

He looked to the man in front of him, immediately registering several oddities, which, considering
all Luffy had seen on the Grand Line and in the New World, was really saying something.

First, the man glowed in the rays of the full moon... Or maybe it was something within, some sort
of power, for he seemed to emit his own light. It had to be more than the fabric of his clothing.
Even the brightest of whites would not shine like that, would not paint his skin with such dazzling
pallor. Sure, the night sky was alight atop the Skull Dome, the moon reflecting off various angles
of stone framing craters littering the empty battlefield, but this was something entirely unnatural.

Not unlike the strange, silvery wisp of a cloud that floated above the man’s shoulders, a scarf of
sorts curling beneath his arms. Partnered with his bright, luminescent hair – lifted towards the
heavens like flames, strands spiraling like the familiar pattern of a Devil Fruit – it almost seemed a
wreath of smoke around a head of fire, just as blazing as the mischievous mirth in his big eyes,
creased into crescent moons from the force of his Cheshire grin.

And the last thing that struck Luffy as odd? He was looking at himself. A perfect mirror, despite
different color palette, right down to the scar beneath his left eye.
No matter how long he stared, his double paid him no interest. Instead, Luffy watched the man
dance to an inaudible beat, his palms pounding an invisible drum. His laughter ceased,
transforming into strangled song.

“Yo ho ho ho! Yo ho ho ho! Gather up all of the crew, it’s time to ship out Binks’s brew...”

“Am I dead?” Luffy interrupted, confused how he could speak despite the lack of functioning
lungs.

“Maybe! Maybe not!” His own voice volleyed back, lilting with each bounce of his feet,
“Anything is possible!”

Luffy gawked, “Who are you?”

“I’m you,” The man answered as if it was the simplest question in the universe.

“But,” Luffy frowned, jabbing his own chest with an index finger. It was a partial relief that he did
feel the press of his hand against his sternum. “I’m me.”

“I’m you, but free,” The other Luffy cackled, throwing his arms in the air. He let out a
rambunctious cheer, reaching for the stars in the sky.

Then, something changed.

Luffy’s heart sputtered back to life, kicking into high gear. He felt his blood cycle through his
veins, igniting the adrenaline he had been craving moments earlier. The heat of battle flushed his
face, his mouth twisting into a grimace as pain lanced through his body, as if Kaido was looming
over him, invisible and bludgeoning his limp form with his club.

He watched, frozen in fear and agony, as his warped twin began to duck and dodge an unseeable
foe. He watched his eyes bug out of his head in cartoon fashion, watched his skull mold to the
shape of Kaido’s weapon. Hell, Luffy watched him skid to a stop after running through mid-air.
And through it all, the man laughed, flitting around the empty warzone as his dance became more
elaborate, moving with the ferocity of attacks incorporated in his choreography.

“What are you doing?” Luffy gasped, clutching at his chest as the air was knocked from his lungs
by an unknown force.

“Fighting Kaido,” The man chirped, hanging upside down from a tall, jagged rock, “Saving you.
Having fun.”

It made no sense to Luffy. Kaido was not here. Kaido was elsewhere. Luffy would guess
somewhere below, terrorizing his Nakama, but the lack of any noise made that particularly hard to
believe. Had they already evacuated Onigashima? Had Kaido taken his friends hostage? Had he
killed them?

Another blow to the gut had Luffy crying out in shock.

“Whoops,” The glowing man chuckled, “Couldn’t dodge that one.”

“What’s going on?” Luffy groaned, only just aware of the warmth of blood seeping from a wound
on his forehead. The red dripped into his eyes, making it hard to see... well, the other man, and the
other man alone. There was no one else on the rooftop.

“Don’t you get it?” The other version of Luffy skipped through the sky, up into the clouds, his
frame growing, multiplying to an impossible size, “This is in your head. The battle still rages, and
I’m about to win.”

A fist larger than Onigashima itself peeked out of the clouds that had temporarily obscured the
moon.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Luffy panicked, trying to pull his aching body off the ground, “Careful!
Don’t punch through the island! My Nakama is down there!”

“So?”
“Aren’t they your Nakama too?” Luffy pleaded to the giant face grinning in the sky, to the
complete indifference in the depths of Luffy’s round eyes.

“I have no Nakama.” The man dismissed, his sniff blowing a stray cloud out of the way. He pulled
his fist back, a thought flashing across his face as he admitted, “Oh, but, I do have a partner.”

Luffy was grasping at straws, trying to drag his broken frame from where it had been molded into
the roof, “Then, think of how it would feel to lose them!”

His giant copy’s fist was practically glowing with conqueror’s Haki. “I already have.”

“Wait! Give Momo some time to move Onigashima out of the way!” Staggering to his feet,
swaying from side to side Luffy cried up to the heavens, to the lightning lancing through heavy
storm clouds, framing a massive Luffy’s determined grin. Though, there was a steel edge to his
smile, a malicious rumble beneath his snicker.

Luffy’s skin puckered. A warning.

“And why should I?” The other Luffy drawled, amusement heavy in his tone as he clenched his
gigantic, cloud-splitting fist tighter.

“I won’t let you hurt my Nakama!”

And Luffy threw himself forward, breaking into a clumsy sprint as he slung his own arm back in
the best Red Hawk he could manage.

The flames smacked against ankles like marble pillars, extinguished, smoke curling weakly around
gargantuan calves.

The giant looked down at him, unfazed and amused.

Luffy grit his teeth, steadied his tired body, screamed through the pain and struck again.
And again.

And again, and again, and again.

The sound of hardened flesh smacking hardened flesh echoed around the silent rooftop, growing
louder and louder as Luffy’s despair began to zap all strength from his soul. But, he kept going.
He kicked and punched and made not a single dent in the giant Luffy’s legs, yet he wouldn’t give
up. He couldn’t give up.

His Nakama.

It was all for his Nakama.

And his clone didn’t seem to care, watching Luffy strike him over and over, his smile persistent
and his stare blank. Until...

“You have spunk, kid,” The giant laughed, voice creeping up in pitch as he slowly shrank down to
Luffy’s size, lungs returning to their initial capacity, "I knew I chose a good vessel.”

“I... I’ll kick your ass!” Luffy’s fist slammed against the shattered roof, his legs protesting as he
tried to use the momentum to force himself into a standing position once more. He could hear the
pop of his joints, the creak of his bones. He was going to die, but he was going to die protecting
them . “You can’t... You can’t touch them!”

“Tell you what,” The other Luffy skipped out of the way of Luffy’s sluggish right hook, flipping
through the air with impossible ease. He whistled cheerily, “If you do something for me, I’ll listen
to you. I’ll protect your friends.”

Luffy’s body crumpled to the ground, the relief too heavy for his exhausted frame. “What do you
want?”

The man looked towards the full moon, clouds of dust and debris, or static and heat, artificial and
direct results from the battle that had raged moments earlier ghosting in front of it, kissing the
midnight glow. His eyes grew wistfully somber, “I want you to find my lover.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.”

The other Luffy laughed, tearing his gaze from the moon’s shimmer to praise, “Such
determination! You haven’t even heard the story, yet!”

“Don’t need to,” Luffy huffed. The ground was far more comfortable than it had been before. The
pillow of negotiation between his shattered ribs and the rock of the Skull Dome comforted Luffy,
allowing him to let his guard down. “Stories are boring.”

His twin eyed him, “You’re funny. I can work with you.”

Then, he stepped closer, until Luffy’s own sandaled feet were mere centimeters from his nose,
hovering just above the ground. Luffy focused in on the unnatural light emitted from the man’s
flesh, his words making the glow pulse brighter. “I need you to find the vessel of the Moon God,
Glaukos.”

“Alright,” Luffy managed a nod.

The man frowned, “Our vessels haven’t co-existed in centuries.”

“That’s fine.”

“You may be unsuccessful.”

“Nah. I’ll find them.”

With a breathy huff that seemed equal parts annoyed and entertained, Luffy’s clone announced,
“Very well. I’m trusting you, Monkey D. Luffy. You have 3 months, during which I will protect
your Nakama from any danger. After that? Well, they best stay out of my way.”

His eyes flitted to the moon, his head cocked in curiosity. “Speaking of out of the way , it seems
the future Shogun of Wano has succeeded in moving you and your crew to safety. Time for me to
end this thing.”
There were no protests from their lack of audience, no witnesses to their agreement as Luffy
watched the strange version of himself bound over the edge of Onigashima, into empty air.

Luffy did not panic. Something told him that he could trust the man. After all, he was him.

Right?

“Who are you, really?” Luffy called as the man hovered, suspended in the air, climbing an
invisible ladder to the heavens, growing as large as a giant and inflating his fist. Luffy’s vision was
but a pinhole now, the edges vignetted, shadows closing in fast.

“Rest now,” The man commanded, his voice shaking the core of Luffy’s spirit. He could hear the
words vibrate every molecule of his body, resonate in his soul. Encouraged, his eyes fluttered
closed, his breathing slowed. He was safe now, his Nakama out of harm’s way. Somehow, Luffy
had a gut feeling that everything was alright, that they had won.

And it was all thanks to...

“You can call me Nika, God of the Sun.”

***

Luffy knew when he had come to, when he had returned to consciousness. He could feel the thrum
of his blood racing through constricted veins, the telltale tightness of bandages squeezing his
frame. He felt as though he was about to explode, overwhelming panic kicking his heart into
overdrive as the pain hit him like the Puffing Tom, accompanied by flashing memories.

The roof. Kaido. A laughing twin. A fist larger than Onigashima itself. A scuffle. A deal.

The air rushing towards his lungs caught in his throat, a strangled gasp signaling his return from
the edge of the abyss. His fingers gripped the ground on which he laid, fingernails scraping against
a straw mat beneath his aching body. His eyes shot open, staring at a plain ceiling in a dimly lit
room, horizontal wooden beams the only décor.

He was alive. Nika had managed not to kill him from overexertion when he had taken control of
Luffy. His Nakama, however...

Had the god kept his promise?

He had to get up. He had to see them. He had to.

Desperation won the tug of war against the burning sensation in his muscles, his core contracting,
spine curling as he pulled himself upright into a seated position. His lungs protested such a
movement, his inhalation forced from his chest in a wheezy exhale. He winced. He felt like a
worn whoopie cushion.

“Luffy!” A familiar voice squeaked from somewhere to his right, “Don’t sit up so fast, you
dummy! You’ll hurt yourself!”

Luffy couldn’t stop his head from swiveling to the side so fast that his neck cracked.

The click of hooves on the stone accented the urgency in Tony Tony Chopper’s words, the doctor
rushing to Luffy the moment he had spotted movement in his peripheral. Luffy could just make
out a flash of baby blue and sakura pink, of big, gleaming eyes.

“Chopper! You’re okay!”

“Well, yeah. What sort of doctor would I be if I wasn’t around to patch up my captain?” A metallic
cold pressed against Luffy’s chest, permeating the bandages as Chopper brandished his
stethoscope.

“Are you hurt?” Luffy spoke with uncharacteristic severity, his eyes raking over the little reindeer’s
frame, searching for any sign of blood or broken bone. Chopper’s smile wavered momentarily, and
though Luffy thought it to be in response to his question, the reindeer’s instrument was directly
over Luffy’s heart, pounding like a drum.
The flash of concern in Chopper’s big eyes was replaced as he beamed, “Nope! Torao patched me
up first so I could help him tend to the wounded. Besides, I wasn’t that bad.”

“Duh, you’re too strong to get that hurt,” Luffy snickered when Chopped squirmed under his
compliment. Though, the brief relief was fleeting, a follow up question spilling from Luffy’s lips,
“And Zoro? Nami? Usopp? Sanji? Robin? Franky? Brook? Jinbei? Torao? Jaggy? The old
yakuza gramps? The samurai? Kinemon? Momo? Yamao?”

“We’re all okay,” Chopper waited patiently for Luffy’s rambling to come to a close, “You were
amazing, Luffy! When we saw that giant, glowing version of you, we were all like whoa.”

Luffy blinked. So his twin really had grown massive, his fist large enough to shatter Onigashima. It
hadn’t just happened in his head.

There was a tug of something in the back of his mind, that same pinprick of a warning. He
shrugged it off, a dopey grin splitting his lips. “We won!”

Chopper cocked his head, little brow furrowing as he peered at his captain, perplexed. "Yes?” He
seemed to speak to himself before addressing Luffy, “Are you feeling okay, Luffy?”

Before Luffy could retort that yes , he felt better than ever – that his Nakama and friends were safe
and he had won against Kaido with the help of someone who looked like him but went by Nika and
wow, he was so full of energy – the door to the room creaked open.

A sliver of bright light shocked Luffy’s pupils, dilating dramatically as they were forced to
readjust. The darkness of the windowless room had left him oblivious to the time of day, the
midday sun rearing its head in a mighty roar and sending the shadows fleeing into dusty corners.

“Oh, Torao,” Chopper squeaked, “You’re just in time. He woke up not too long ago!”

“And his status, Tony-ya?” Trafalgar Law’s tall silhouette slowly accumulated color as he
sauntered into the room, a splash of blue shaped to a pair of jeans, yellow molding itself into a
sweater Luffy hadn’t seen in years.
“Stable!” Chopper chirped, the worry in his eyes vanishing as the other doctor arrived at Luffy’s
(makeshift) bedside. “Potential concussion, but that’s no surprise.”

Law snorted as the little reindeer scurried away to continue tinkering with whatever medication he
had been crafting, leaving Law to check on Luffy for... Actually, Luffy wasn’t sure what. Luffy
knew Law respected Chopper as a skilled doctor. Had he really been unconscious for so long that
Law was worried enough to perform his own examination? If that was the case, he really had to
reunite with the rest of his Nakama, really had to celebrate the downfall of the ugly shogun dude
and Kaido and Big Mom, and oh, he was probably missing a wonderful banquet!

At least, Luffy had expected such thoughts to fly through his head, to rejuvenate his aching body
and send him clambering out the door in search of festivities and enough meat to feed a whole
country (literally).

Instead, something entirely different occurred the moment Law’s steely eyes met Luffy’s.

A barrage of images – simultaneously familiar and yet clearly foreign – sped through his mind,
imprinted on the back of his eyelids with each blink.

Law, his eyes creased in a full laugh that had Luffy’s hair standing on end. Law, reaching out for
something – the soft touch of fingertips on his cheek sliding the puzzle pieces into place. Law, in
glinting silver jewelry shimmering in the light of the moon.

Law, the taste of his lips on Luffy’s tongue.

“It’s you,” Luffy breathed, dumbstruck, entire frame tingling with something he couldn’t quite
place, something that made his chest feel lighter than air.

“Definitely a concussion, Tony-ya,” Law called over his shoulder.

Luffy frowned, muttering to himself, “You don’t remember...”

Law quirked an eyebrow, “I don’t remember what, Straw Hat-ya? How I took down an emperor
with no clear loss? If I recall correctly, that’s far superior to your two losses against Kaido.”
 His words fell on deaf ears.

“What’s that, Straw Hat-ya? Lost for words?” Law teased.

Luffy noticed a pretty blush dusting his high cheekbones, extending to the tips of his ears. Was he
drunk? That meant there was definitely a banquet calling Luffy’s name.

With an indignant huff, as if he was feeling particularly put out at Luffy’s unintentional shun, Law
rolled his eyes and summoned a Room , swapping out pebbles that lined the stone floor of whatever
shelter accommodating them for Luffy’s crewmates.

Chopper’s pleas were drowned out by the affectionate shouts of his crew as they pounced on Luffy,
smothering him in welcome affection. And Luffy laughed, despite the immediate, uncomfortable
twinge in his stomach. He hoped it was from laughter, or hunger.

Though, as he met Law’s eyes across the room, the other man glancing over his shoulder as he
made to exit, Luffy knew it was something else entirely.

Chapter End Notes

This work is a mash-up of two prompts:

1. Law and Luffy coming up with excuses after their alliance ends to cross paths - the
more ridiculous, the better. Bonus points if it’s outsider POV.
2. After centuries, sun god Nika (now Luffy) finds his lover, moon god Law, who has
no memory of being a god.

All chapters are written, but I will update daily for the drama of it all!

The story behind "Glaukos":

Some think that Nika is a variation of Athena Nike, the victory goddess, or a facet of
Athena. I wanted to stick with the god theme, so I looked into Athena and other names
some more. A common epithet for Athena is Glaukopis, meaning bright-eyed, silvery,
gleaming, and also referring to the owl, the symbol of wisdom always seen with
Athena. I thought that, given Law's anime eyes being decpicted as silver up until
recently, it was fitting for our favorite surgeon.

So, he'll have grey eyes in this! Just a heads up!

Thanks for reading chapter 1! Come yell at me on Twitter and Tumblr!

 The Navigator
Chapter Notes

Thank you for coming to chapter 2 of my TEDTalk. Hope you enjoy! <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Nami lowered her binoculars for the third time. Sighing, she stopped her teeth from nibbling her
bottom lip, wiped the crease from between her brows. She was going to give herself worry lines, as
if her scorched cheeks from the biting wind chill and the salty sea air weren't bad enough. She
considered that she would have to step up her skin care regiment. There was a balm in her trunk
from Dr. Kureha, specifically for cold weather. Perhaps now was the time to try it out.

They had entered the winter climate shortly after leaving Wano, and it seemed to stretch on
forever, enveloping many nearby islands in thick layers of fluffy snow. Icebergs drifted along with
the ocean currents, unpredictable with their true nature veiled in watery depths, another obstacle for
Nami to navigate. Throw in the constant spontaneous snow squalls and threat of frostbite around
every corner, and Nami was straight up not having a good time.

Though, she didn’t think she was alone.

The majority of the Straw Hat pirates were hiding indoors, busying themselves in their areas of
interest. Sanji was using the weather to his advantage, crafting new stews and soups that would
warm everyone from the inside out. Chopper was stocking his stores with preventatives for the
common cold, ensuring that everyone popped a capsule with dinner each night. Brook and Jinbei
could often be found in the aquarium lounge, the latter ensuring that the fish were surviving the
shift in temperature, while the former practiced various regional winter anthems on his violin.
Franky was attempting to craft outdoor heaters that ran on snow – something about hydro mills
generating energy with water. Nami had zoned out after that.

Robin and Usopp had set up a makeshift glass greenhouse complete with heating system for their
gardens and Nami’s mikan orchard the moment the first frigid wind had wilted the flowers. Since
then, the archaeologist could often be found sipping tea and reading among the thriving flora,
while the sniper tinkered with tools from his workshop in the enhanced warmth.

Only Zoro and Luffy braved the cold with her, though it was clear that Nami would be curled up
indoors had she been given a choice. The weather had a tendency to frost the windows of the
observation deck, making it an unreliable look out. If Nami wanted to navigate to her very high
expectations, she was stuck outside until she was sure of their course.
This was an important detail, for it set Nami aside from the literal psychopaths who shared the
deck of the Sunny. Zoro had made it known that he would remain in the cold until, and she quoted,
“he beat frostbite or frostbite took his fingers”. Following Chopper’s protest, he had resigned to
wearing mittens, though his bare pecs glowed a worrisome, raw red in the biting wind. Nami found
herself wondering if he could lose his nipples to the chill. His hubris could only take him so far,
after all.

Luffy had made himself comfortable on the figurehead, as per usual. He typically wandered
indoors at the rumble of his stomach to pester Sanji, and had eased Chopper’s worries by agreeing
to don a fleecy winter jacket when the temperature had fallen below freezing. Nothing out of the
ordinary there.

Except...

There was something going on with Luffy.

Nami couldn’t put her finger on it. It wasn’t as though he was spouting nonsense or claiming that
he no longer wished to be King of the Pirates. He still ate more than triple the amount of
everybody else. He still pestered about their course and how long it would take to get to the next
island. He still sought out Usopp and Chopper when he was bored and looking to play a game.

But, he was quiet.

Far more quiet than usual.

For Luffy to sit pensively on the lion’s head of the Sunny was commonplace, expected. For Luffy
to sit there for days on end, the last to turn in for the night and the first to wake (even before
Sanji, who had a hell of a lot of prep work to do each morning), was abnormal. Worrisome, even.

They had all noticed his relative absence in the last two weeks, Chopper even formulating
questionable reasons to take Luffy’s temperature, to check his blood pressure. According to the
doctor, their captain was in tiptop shape. Physically, at least.

Robin had simply asked him over dinner the other night, a blunt, “What’s been on your mind,
Luffy?” breaking through the sound of gnashing teeth and gulping swallows.
Luffy had blinked, eyes fixed to the archaeologist instead of the meat in his hand. “Just
remembering,” He had shrugged.

And that was the most they could get out of him.

Even now, Luffy sat stone still in front of the spikes of the lion’s mane, unmoving despite the
ferocity of the wind. Peering through her binoculars, she watched the straw hat bounce against his
shoulders, grateful for the twine around his neck anchoring his treasured hat. She frowned. Was
Luffy shaking?

The sound of fluttering pages returned her attention to the notebook balanced in front of her,
teetering slightly on the railing. Her hand – clumsy within woolly mittens – steadied the book, her
clothed palm sliding over worn paper, bending pages as she tried to return to her previous topic.
She scowled. Winter weather made everything harder.

“Berry for your thoughts?” Delicate fingers bound in lined leather turned the pages with ease.

Nami shot Robin a grateful smile, the other woman exiting her greenhouse to lean on the railing
next to her. She wondered briefly if she should divulge her true train of thoughts to the
archaeologist, before deciding against it. She would be redundant. They were all worried. They
simply had to put their faith in their captain and hope he would tell them if something was wrong.

Instead, she elaborated on her the second problem nudging at her brain, “There’s a landmass in the
distance, but none of the log poses are picking up its magnetic field.”

“Is that not ideal for our course?”

“It is. It won’t throw us off,” Nami hummed, “I’m just wondering if we should stop there...”

“Have you found any information on the island?” Robin glanced down at the page of the book, a
collection of information Nami had gathered from various encyclopedias in the library. She
answered her own question, “Fjorlorn Island...”

Nami nodded, reading aloud an excerpt , “A winter island home to vast forest and raging blizzards.
A small port town houses the only civilian population on the small landmass, the export of mined
goods and fine jewelry rendering the town affluent.”

Robin grinned, “I’ve never known you to turn down a pitstop where gems and jewels are plenty.”

“Stopping means another week of this godforsaken weather,” Nami huffed, “We can make it to
Silvergust Peak in five days if we maintain the course.”

Robin’s eyes held that mischievous glimmer that told Nami the archaeologist knew something she
didn’t. Sure enough, she wondered, “What difference is two more days in exchange for,” Her voice
dropped to a dramatic whisper, “Buried treasure?”

Nami stifled a moan as warmth shot through her core, like she had just stepped into a steaming
bath. Robin always knew exactly how to get her going. Still, apprehension pricked at the back of
her neck, and she managed to pout, “You’re not serious, are you?”

Any hint of teasing disappeared as Robin assumed her very serious, borderline grave, historian act.
“Fjorlorn Island has a deep history steeped in tales of gold and treasure. It is said that it was
founded by a shipwrecked noble, that he was the sole survivor upon the winter shores. The man
was thought to be disgraced, the son of a wealthy family that took to the seas in search of
adventure. Rumor has it that he could not bear to part with all he had accumulated throughout his
journey, and so he brought his treasure deep into the maze of caves stretching beneath the
snowcapped mountains, appealing to the kindness of the island natives by posing as a poor, dying
man. Though his intentions had been to stay in the village until his ship had been rebuilt, he ended
up falling ill, leaving nothing but his treasure behind, somewhere in the mines.”

Nami couldn’t help it. She was already formulating her proposal to the crew. Maybe it was worth
the extra time in the winter weather...

“Oi, Nami!” Luffy hollered from the figurehead, his voice cutting through the howling winds. Or
perhaps it was more his head cutting through the snow squall, his neck stretching endlessly as his
eyes poked out above the tips of the lion’s mane. “There’s an island in the distance!”

Robin shot their captain a calm smile, though her words were only meant for the navigator, “Well,
it seems we have no choice now.”

With an exaggerated sigh despite her mind whirring with visions of sparkling gemstones and
glinting gold, Nami threw open the door to the galley behind them, locking eyes with each member
of the crew conveniently gathered for the upcoming meal that Sanji was preparing. “Jinbei!” She
barked, startling the helmsman as he looked up from the newspaper in his hands, “We’re altering
course!”

“Ugh,” Usopp groaned dramatically, back of his hand to his forehead as though he was burning up,
“My I-Can't-Go-To-This-Island-Or-I'll-Die disease is acting up.”

Chopper stuck a thermometer in the sniper’s mouth, frowning at the results, perplexed. “Your
temperature is fine, Usopp.”

A flurry of pink petals marked a phantom limb sprouting from the wall just above the little
reindeer, patting his head affectionately. Robin smiled softly as she slid into the empty seat next to
the doctor.

“Yow! What’s with the change of plans?” Franky frowned, a tiny hand jutting out of his larger
palm, twirling a screwdriver in his opposite forearm.

“Fjorlorn Island can be seen on the horizon,” She explained, “There is a port town that is said to be
rather... well, rich.”

Brook’s sockets bore into her, “Are we to pillage them, Nami-san?” He lifted his teacup to his
bone-white teeth, his face lacking any judgment. Not that it was capable of ever showing much
emotion, anyway.

She had no doubt that if she were to say yes, the skeleton would ask to see her panties as incentive,
and really, she was not that desperate.

“No,” She huffed, seeking Sanji’s pale blue eye among the pots and pans in the kitchen. It was
only slightly obscured by the haze of smoke spiraling from his cigarette. “Sanji-kun,” She cooed,
snatching his attention with the first honey-sweet syllable, “I can’t imagine our food stores are full
right now. I don’t think any of us wished to take much supplies from Wano, isn’t that right?”

“You’re right, as always, Nami-swan,” Sanji swooned, lighting up beneath Nami’s spotlight, “They
needed it far more than us! We could use a trip to a market. Or two! Perhaps they’ll have some
winter pastries for you and Robin-chan!”
Nami beamed, clapping her hands together. “Perfect! Fjorlorn Island it is! Jinbei?”

“I don’t know, Nami,” The helmsman spoke up, “Is it wise to make a pitstop for some shopping?
Sanji was actually just telling us that we had enough in the pantry to make it until Silvergust Peak.”

Sanji scowled at him as if he had just revealed a terrible secret. Nami thought she heard him mutter
something about betrayal.

Before she could even propose another reason for stopping, the door to the galley flew open once
more. This time, a trembling Zoro – stone-faced and acting as though he wasn’t visibly shaking
violently – waltzed into the warm room. The skin of his bare torso glowed an angry red in the light
of the kitchen, rivulets of melting snow slipping over broad shoulders as he wrenched open alcohol
cupboard. Tugging the cork out of a bottle with his teeth, he took a deep swig of sake – ignoring
Sanji’s shout of “Hey! Not the good stuff!” - before grunting, “We’re going to the island.”

“We are not going to enable your liver disease, mosshead,” Sanji growled.

“Nah,” Zoro shrugged, jutting his thumb over his shoulder to where the winter winds tossed about
the door to the galley like a piece of flimsy paper.

Sure enough, in less than a second, Luffy was barreling through the entrance. “YAHOO! NEW
ISLAND!” He cackled, more himself than he had been in days.

There was a glimmer of relief in Jinbei’s eyes, the large fishman chuckling, “Very well, then. I’ll
go adjust our course.”

The group fell into easy chatter as the door slammed shut behind the helmsman, blocking out the
cold winds once more. Nami sighed in contentment as she sunk into a seat next to Usopp, her raw
skin burning as it slowly grew accustomed to the warmth of the indoors. Chopper was regaling
Robin with a tale of experimental medicine he had found in one of the books gifted to him from
Wano, Franky listening in as he tuned up the mechanics of his arm. Brook offered Zoro some tea,
while Sanji fought off Luffy’s desperate limbs flying this way and that all through the kitchen.

She smiled to herself. It had been a while since they had been at sea for such a long stretch of time,
with no marines on their tail or rivals knocking on their door. The peaceful company of her found
family filled her heart, almost as efficiently as money, and, well, that would be hers in a matter of
days, too.
A loud hum, low and suspicious, sounded to her right, and she flinched as she turned to meet
Usopp’s accusing eyes. “There’s something you aren’t telling us.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Nami picked at her nails. She was in dire need of a
manicure.

“I’m not going if you don’t tell me the truth,” He tried.

“Fine,” She shrugged, “Don’t go. You can watch Sunny.”

His face paled, the thought of guarding the vessel on his own in the face of an ambush no doubt
lancing through his anxious mind. Deciding that he wasn’t going to get any information out of her
by being intimidating ( Nami held back a laugh), he switched tactics. With a loud whine, he poked
Nami’s side, right where he knew her to be ticklish, “C’monnnn Nami! Tell me!”

Squealing as a squirming pain shot through her stomach, Nami recovered to snap, “Fine! There’s
treasure, okay?! In the mines!”

“Treasure?!” Luffy paused his plight to find food, head swiveling like an owl to fix Nami with big,
sparkling eyes.

“Yes, treasure!” She threw her hands up in exasperation, “Money and jewels and gold! We go in,
get some food, get the treasure, and roll out. Easy. We’ll be back on the ship by sunset.”

Everyone at the table held their breath, waiting for their captain’s reaction. Was anything really
easy when Luffy was involved? Anytime they went anywhere with a relatively simple goal in
mind, Luffy had found a way to overthrow the government or take down an emperor. Nami was
fully aware that she was spouting a mouthful of lies, and Luffy was surely about to prove it.

The galley was silent, Luffy blinking slowly.

Then, he grinned. Nami could practically see the light bulb over his head as he chirped, “I’m gonna
go call Torao!”
“What!?” The crew exclaimed.

Nami protested, “I am not sharing the treasure with the Heart Pirates!”

“But Nami!” Luffy deflated in a manner that was far from humanly possible, “His scan
thingamajiggy would make finding the treasure so much easier!”

Usopp furrowed his brow, muttering to Chopper, “Since when did he like things to be easier?”

Nami was stuck in between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, she knew Luffy was entirely
valid. Utilizing Law’s devil fruit would halve their time on a snowy island, and really, wasn’t that
worth 15% 10% of the treasure?

But...

But treasure...

“Fine,” She huffed, Luffy’s puppy dog eyes shifting to crescent moons as he snickered his
signature laugh. He vaulted over the table with ease, scampering towards Sanji, who had already
procured their transponder snail.

“Hello?” A timid voice answered, the snail’s face shifting to beady black eyes.

“BEAR!” Luffy shouted, “YOU GOTTA REROUTE!”

Nami opened her mouth to reassure that there was no immediate danger, but Bepo’s expression had
already morphed into one of concern.

“Straw Hat?” He squeaked, “What’s wrong?”

“You gotta come meet us on this island!”

The snail’s eyes fogged over with confusion, “I’m sorry, but... why? Captain says we’re no longer
allies.”

“It’s important, bear! Come on!”

Was the snail sweating anxiously? Nami sighed, taking the receiver from Luffy’s hand. “Hey
Bepo, meet us at Fjorlorn Island.”

“But...”

“Tell Torao it’s of the utmost importance,” And with that, she hung up, the snail relaxing into a
state of slumber as the receiver clicked into place.

Luffy beamed, eyes brighter than the sun reflecting off the snow that had gathered on the deck –
Oh. The squall had come to an end.

As she marched out of the galley, intending to navigate Jinbei by the helm, she glanced at her
captain in warning, the message clear in her fiery glare: You owe me.

“Shishishi ,” Luffy shot her a thumbs up, “Thanks, Nami!”

***

“Oi, Nami!” Luffy slumped over the railing of the sunny, the snow that had built up on the wooden
surface crunching under the weight of his pliable body.

Nami wrinkled her nose. How Luffy managed to throw himself against a fresh pile of cold snow in
simply a jacket was beyond her. She shivered by the helm, binoculars pointed at the growing
landmass in the distance, Jinbei whistling to himself as he kept their route steady.
“Yeah?” She managed to control the tone of her voice. Just because she was uncomfortable in the
frigid air, didn’t mean she could take it out on the crew.

Luffy slid down the railing, melting into a puddle at Nami’s feet. “Do you think Torao will
come?”

“I don’t know, Luffy.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Luffy pouted, a strange solemnity to his gaze as he peered up at her.

“Because you’re rivals.”

“But we’re friends,” He protested, “Friends help each other.”

“You do realize we don’t actually need his help, yes?” She turned away from where she could just
make out the docks of Fjorlorn Island, a plethora of masts pointing up towards the sky. There was
no sign of a yellow submarine.

Luffy was quiet for a moment, the only sound the rustle of his jacket and shorts as he pulled
himself up to a seated position, leaing against the railing. When Nami looked at him, he seemed to
look past her, over her shoulder, his eyes glossy and distant.

“Nami, have you ever been in love?”

She choked on the saliva she had been in the midst of swallowing. “What?!”

Shrugging, Luffy tried again, “Have you ever been in love?”

“Are you feeling okay?” Nami asked weakly.

“Yup!” Luffy beamed, as if a smile could brush off the worries lancing through her mind. She
should go get Chopper, right? Luffy didn’t talk about love.
He was full of love. They all knew that. He loved them deeply and fiercely, loved every misfit they
had encountered on their adventure, every being that had offered him a speck of kindness or a
warm meal. He was more likely to love someone at first interaction than to distrust them, and
though the words never tumbled from his lips, his affection seeped through every single touch,
smile, and laugh.

Nami frowned. Luffy was bursting at the seams with love for the people he cared about, that was
obvious. Though, to speak of being in love? That was something else – something completely
unprecedented and, frankly, terrifying – entirely.

But there he was, staring past her with such a wistful look in his big brown eyes, and suddenly,
Nami saw a different Luffy. One that didn’t nap against Zoro, but someone else. One that didn’t
steal from a single person’s plate. One that wound around another body in the still of the night.
One that would shout his love from the highest mountain, for the whole world to hear.

It really didn’t seem that odd, when she actually thought about it. After all, people did not become
somebody else when they found a partner. Sure, perhaps some habits changed, and personality ticks
warped, but they were still the same person. Simply, the same person with the love and support of
somebody else. And really, who was Nami to think that Luffy was incapable of craving a partner in
a manner different than his Nakama?

With a sigh, she stepped over to where Luffy sat, kicking away the snow with the toe of her boot.
Once the wooden deck was mostly free from the freezing powder, she plopped herself down next
to him. She tried to follow his gaze, though the heavy winter clouds seemed unmoving, and there
were no gulls in the sky to catch her eye. Whatever Luffy was seeing, it was in his head.

“Love is... weird,” She winced at herself. Good job, Nami. Real strong start. “I mean... It comes in
so many shapes and sizes. I love a lot of people. I love Nojiko, and our crew, and my tangerines.”

“And money,” Luffy nodded resolutely, his eyes glinting with cheeky amusement.

She leaned into his side, knocking her shoulder against his bicep, “Yeah, yeah. And money. What
kind of love are you thinking about, Luffy?”

He pursed his lips, eyes fixed to the heavens. “Well, duh, Nami. I know there are different kinds of
love.”
“Well,” She sniffed, “Then I’m not going to answer your question.”

They fell into silence once more, Jinbei’s whistling from the helm and the warmth of Luffy pressed
against her side lulling Nami into a comfortable trance. Just when she thought that maybe she
could get a nap in before reaching Fjorlorn Island, her captain piped up once more.

“What about love love?” Luffy’’s voice was quiet, an edge of frustration hardening the question
into a grumble, “Have you ever felt that?”

She let her head fall onto his shoulder, the steady lift of his torso with each inhale grounding her
from the barrage of memories, the film reel winding through her mind.

It had been cold that night, the desert sun sleeping beneath tall dunes and large rock formations,
their fire casting long shadows over the expanse of sand shining silver in the moonlight. She had
been on watch, her knees to her chest in an attempt to make herself as small as possible, to warm
herself faster. Her teeth had chattered loud enough to wake any light sleeper.

Thankfully, the boys had slept like rocks.

But, she hadn’t been the only girl on the crew, then.

A shawl had been draped around her shoulders, silky and thin, yet deceptively warm. Though,
perhaps it had been the heat from the blood rushing to her face, the close proximity of a princess
out to save her country, that had Nami feeling feverish in a matter of minutes.

They had laughed and traded stories, until it was well past Nami’s time to wake Sanji to take over
the watch, until the embers of the fire were blinking like fireflies in the night, and their giggles had
subsided into soft smiles that seemed to captivate all attention.

It had been Vivi who had made the first move. Brave, strong, beautiful Vivi.

“Yeah,” Nami whispered, her fingers flitting over her lips as she slouched against her captain. She
could no longer taste that hint of vanilla, smell the campfire smoke that had wound around her hair
like a halo, but that light pressure, the whispered promise of a future that had yet to come, would
stay with her forever.

“When did you know?” Luffy asked, glossing over the details, never one to pry.

Nami closed her eyes, the flickering light of the fire dancing on the back of her lids. She smirked,
“When - despite all my hopes and dreams – I never wanted to leave the moments with them.”

“Wouldn’t you regret not making your dream come true?” There was no judgment in Luffy’s voice.
There rarely was.

She hummed, “One day, I’m sure. But feeling like that was enough to tell me it would be
something worth altering my plans for. Maybe...” A soft chuckle escaped her lips, “Maybe I could
still chart the world without sailing, you know? Or maybe they could come with me. It made me
want to explore my options.”

Luffy nodded brusquely, jostling Nami’s head where it rested on his shoulder. She straightened up,
about to protest, when he slammed a fist into his palm and exclaimed, “Yosh!”

“Luffy,” She scowled, “If you’re about to tell me that you no longer want to be the Pirate King,
I’m charging you for this headache of an adventure you’ve put us through.”

He looked at her like she had grown a second head, “Don’t be stupid, Nami. I’m going to be King
of the Pirates.” He snickered, “But maybe I can have a Queen, too. That’s what Nika says.”

“Nika?” Nami frowned, Luffy’s statement so bizarre on so many levels, she wasn’t sure what to
address first. “What does an old legend have to do with love? Wait – a queen?! What’s going on,
Luffy?”

But, Luffy was already gone, Jinbei’s holler that they were approaching the port of Fjorlorn
sending their captain swinging up the main mast, launching himself over the remaining expanse of
sea to land upon the frozen beach in the distance.

Nami groaned, lifting her binoculars to ensure that he landed safely and not amidst a bunch of
hostile civilians.
“He good?” Zoro grunted from somewhere behind her.

“Yeah, he’s good,” She answered, watching through the glass as Luffy made friends with an
elderly merchant peddling cured meats.

***

“Luffy,” Nami threw her hands up in exasperation, “Come on. We’re wasting precious treasure
hunting time!”

“We can’t leave yet,” Luffy shook his head resolutely, plopping himself down on the edge of the
longest dock as if to say he wouldn’t budge.

“The longer we stay here,” Sanji drawled, casually flicking the ashes from his cigarette into the
subzero water sloshing against the wooden legs of the dock, “The longer it will take to get us to
Silvergust Peak.”

“That’s fine,” Luffy shrugged, “We can use the money from the treasure to stay here for a night,
right Nami?”

Angry beast yowling inside her aside, the fearful expressions on her crewmates’ faces told her she
looked downright demonic. “Luffy, we did not stop here to not turn a profit! If we use the money
to stay here, there was no point to our detour!”

“But Nami,” Usopp whimpered, eyeing the shadows of deep forestry cast across the snowy
landscape, “We’re not gonna just spend the night out in that creepy forest.”

Robin hummed her agreement, “It would be a shame if we were all eaten by Lapins while we
slept.”

“Besides,” Franky piped up, “Why don’t we just sleep on Sunny, Nami-sis? No hotel rooms
involved.”
Nami rolled her eyes, “Right, because the one town on this entire goddamn island is going to let us
dock here for the night without charging an arm and a leg.”

“They can have the mosshead’s other eye, then,” Sanji gestured to Zoro, who seemed entirely
unfazed by the comment. Nami thought that, if Luffy had asked him to do so, Zoro would sacrifice
his sight if it seemed like a reasonable request.

“Nami has a point, Luffy,” Jinbei’s voice rumbled in the still winter air, “What good is waiting
around in the cold?”

“I’m frozen to my bones! Yo ho ho ho!” Brook cried, bony arms wrapped around his torso as he
rattled in the frigid sea breeze, “Let’s move out, Luffy-san!”

Luffy murmured something under his breath, something that Nami – who was standing closest to
him – thought sounded suspiciously like, “But I want to see Torao.”

“Oh, for the love of...” She scoffed, arguing, “The Hearts aren’t coming, Luffy! They’re not our
allies anymore! They have better things to do then go on a treasure hunt with us!”

“A treasure hunt?”

The Straw Hats whipped around faster than their vision could register, the world blurring by in a
haze of colors. White, white, white, orange, blue, yellow...?

Trafalgar Law stood at the beginning of the snow-dusted cobblestone path winding from the dock
to the sleepy town nearby, members of his crew close behind. Bepo waved to the Straw Hats
amicably, Penguin and Shachi swooning over Nami and Robin, much to Sanji’s chagrin. Law,
however... Well, Law was angry.

Sharp silver eyes glared at the pirates at the end of the dock, raking over them with clear contempt.
A vein just below the brim of Law’s hat pulsed threateningly, his knuckles white where he gripped
Kikoku against his shoulder. His frown was so deep, Nami wondered if his face was about to split
in two.
Yet, despite the frigid (lack of) greeting, she took it upon herself to ask, “Where are you coming
from?”

Bepo opened his mouth to respond, but Law cut him off as he stalked towards Luffy’s group, “We
docked to the east of here. Didn’t want to announce our presence so easily like some.”

“Easy, Torao,” Zoro grumbled, stepping into Law’s way, shoulders back and frame bulked up in a
clear warning. His hand rested on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. “The people here aren’t half bad.”

Law didn’t seem to care, pushing past the swordsman to loom over Luffy’s seated form, glaring
down at big eyes and a dopey grin. The Straw Hats watched in nervous anticipation as an
unfamiliar tension spilled between the two captains, the Surgeon of Death scowling at the bright-
eyed Straw Hat.

“Straw Hat-ya!” Law finally growled, “What the fuck?!”

“ Torao!” Luffy exclaimed, wasting no time in winding all four limbs around Law, tugging the
taller pirate down to the surface of the dock, “You came!”

Law collapsed in a tangle of arms and legs, an undignified yelp tumbling from his lips as his head
was pulled against Luffy’s chest, bouncing as the latter snickered. “I knew you’d come!”

Nami giggled to herself, exchanging an amused glance with Usopp as they watched Law fight to
extract himself from Luffy’s octopus-like affection. Bepo, Penguin and Shachi sidled up to the
Straw Hats with casual familiarity, as if the tousle between the two captains perilously close to the
edge of the dock was of no concern to any of them.

Managing to pull his body away from Luffy’s clingy embrace momentarily, Law hissed, “Your
navigator told Bepo it was of the utmost importance that we met you here.”

“I have a name, Torao!” Nami called, though she was too amused by the view to actually care.

“Yeah, Captain!” Penguin agreed, Shachi adding, “Show Nami some respect!”
She heard the swish of the wind and two sharp smacks behind her, ensuring that Sanji had
effectively told them to back off the only way he knew how.

Though, Law ignored them all, too focused on curling his tattooed fingers into the neck of Luffy’s
sweater, shaking the other captain in frustration. “And for what?!” He fumed, “A treasure hunt?! I
thought you were in trouble! I thought you were going to die!”

A hush fell over the crowd of spectators, the strain in Law’s voice lost on none of them.

Except for Luffy, who beamed up at Law, basking in his attention like it was the golden rays of the
sun on this shitty grey island. “Nope!” was all he offered, laughing when Law wrung his sweater
once more.

“You... You...” Law was losing momentum. His shoulders slumped forward, his fingers lost their
grip, He knocked his head against Luffy’s shoulder, his hat dislodged from the movement and
falling to the dock. He heaved a sigh, “You idiot.”

The Straw Hat pirates looked to the Heart pirates in bewilderment. Bepo pointedly looked away.
Penguin twiddled his thumbs. Shachi, apparently unaware of the actions of the other two, nodded
sagely and muttered, “Wow, right?”

And Nami decided then and there to wipe any memory of her previous conversation with Luffy.
After hearing the raw vulnerability in Law’s voice as he clung to Luffy’s sweater? Luffy’s
stubborn refusal to leave until he saw Law? Nope. No way. Absolutely not.

She was not going to waste her brain cells wondering when that had become a thing.

Besides, she had treasure to find.

Once Law had resumed his usual frosty demeanor, it hadn’t taken Nami long to corral the group
towards the mountain range that housed the promise of treasure, Bepo sticking close to her side
(welcome) as they referenced the map Nami had done up after researching Fjorlorn legends that
afternoon. Penguin and Shachi flanked her right (unwelcome), pretending they were simply fast
walkers, that they were always at the head of the pack, despite the evidence of their lie in their slow
arrival to the port.
 Though the trek was relatively uneventful, Robin and Chopper pointing out interesting winter flora
while Zoro and Sanji brought up the rear, always on high alert, it took them approximately three
hours to retrieve the treasure after entering the mines. Not an ideal amount of time, considering
their advantage in Law’s Scan.

Nami was sure that it would’ve taken twice as long to find the treasure without the Heart pirates,
but made a mental note that it was a worthy sacrifice for future scavenger hunts. Law and Luffy
bickered constantly, the former unwilling to forgive the latter for tricking him into joining them for
something so menial, and no amount of Luffy’s sulking seemed to change Law’s mind.

It was worth noting, however, that Law never ordered his crew to withdraw, to leave the Straw
Hats in the mine without a clue as to where the treasure was. And if Law smirked at Franky’s
occasional jokes, accepted Sanji’s invite to a late dinner upon the Sunny, well, Nami wouldn’t rub
it in his face. He was helping her, after all.

She had just about come to terms with having the Hearts along for the ride by the time they dug up
the old chest, was just about to gift them 20% 15% of the treasure, when Luffy rushed forward to
smash the lock. He fell to the ground, howling with laughter. When Nami laid eyes upon the old
scroll within, detailing " The friends we made along the way ", she actively suppressed the urge to
punt her captain into the stratosphere.

Chapter End Notes

See you tomorrow with chapter 3!

Come yell at me on Twitter and Tumblr.

 The Sharpshooter
Chapter Notes

Heyo, here's chapter three!

CONTENT WARNING: Lots of blood. Like, copious mentions of blood. It's a blood
drive. They are giving blood. No violence, just medical procedures.
If uncomfortable with such procedures, skip the last segment (after the second ***) to
"Once Law was out of earshot". That being said, it is NOT graphic by any means. Just
mentions of IVs and blood.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The brush guided a thick glob of violet paint down the rough knit of the canvas, molding the
pigment into a silhouette. Highlight the curve of a thigh here, shade the dip of the sternum there.
Slowly, the image began to take shape – a dress, almost an exact replica of the garment clinging to
Robin’s frame.

Usopp hummed softly to himself, neck craning over the canvas as he observed the archaeologist,
posed on the wooden deck next to her flower beds. She was reading, book open in her lap, and
Usopp would have felt creepy had he not known that she was fully aware of his current project. She
never sat like that – leaning to the side, dress artfully positioned around her long legs – and it
would have been an uncomfortable position to fall into naturally.

When Usopp had clambered up the steps to the garden, dragging his paints, easel and canvas,
Robin had already been basking in the soft summer sun (a welcome reprieve from the wintery
hellscape of Silvergust Peak left a week’s travel behind them). He had frozen in place, a deer
caught in the headlights, as he had been planning on painting his Pop Greens. Though, Robin had
simply shot him an encouraging smile as he set up his space, an understanding in her eyes telling
him that she had perhaps eavesdropped on his conversation with Nami the night before. The
navigator had not taken as kindly to Usopp asking to paint her. She had called him a pervert,
despite his protests that he simply wanted to capture something beautiful, that it wasn’t like that.

So, Robin had silently volunteered to help Usopp practice painting human likeness, and he had
leapt at the opportunity, fumbling with his paints as he had debated where best to start. Of course,
this hesitation had attracted Luffy’s attention as the captain had exited the galley post-breakfast,
and now Luffy sat at Usopp’s feet, painting art of his own on the back of a recipe Sanji claimed he
knew by heart.

Tongue darting out to wet his lips as he focused on a splash of particularly tricky lighting, Usopp
curled a vivid orange paint around the edge of the shades making up Robin’s skin, blending it so
she seemed to glow on the canvas. He beamed as he stepped back to admire his work. So far, so
good.

Glancing down at Luffy, he watched as yellows and reds were mixed together into swirling streaks.
A half-circle on fire, burning bright on one section of the page, Usopp wondered if Luffy was
thinking of his brothers. It had been a while since they had seen Sabo, and though Luffy had
grieved plenty for Ace, Usopp knew there would always be a hole in his heart, spade-shaped and
flickering with friendly flames.

Though, when Luffy stuck his brush into the pot of inky black, sweeping a Cheshire grin beneath
the fire, Usopp couldn’t help but ask, “What’re you painting, Luffy?”

The tilt of Robin’s head told him she was listening. For someone so polite and considerate, she was
extremely nosy.

“Nika,” Luffy chirped, washing out his brush.

Usopp took another look. Oh. A head on fire. A smile. Of course. “Ah,” He hummed, “I see it
now! Of course, I could always see it. Nothing escapes the great eye of the magnificent artist,
Usopp!”

Luffy snickered, wiping his paint-stained hands on his shorts, a gesture that said his art piece was
finished.

“In fact, one could argue that your masterpiece is open to interpretation,” Usopp continued to play
the part, “The flames represent freedom, right? The grin – joy and laughter! Well, the artist has
even captured himself in the painting! Doesn’t it also resemble Gear 5?”

Luffy’s smile faltered, “Nika is Gear 5.”

Robin’s hand stilled over her page.

“Hm?” Usopp frowned, “I thought Sun God Nika was just an old legend?”

Shaking his head, Luffy reiterated, “No, Nika is Gear 5.”

“Oh,” Usopp no longer knew what to say, completely caught off guard by the implications of such
a claim. So, he laughed nervously, “Well, he's cool.”

Luffy laughed, loud and brash and borderline manic, like it was the funniest thing he had heard in
his whole life, like the atmosphere hadn’t turned stiflingly awkward.

Usopp blanched, “Hey, um, I’m not that funny.”

Barely holding back his giggles, Luffy explained, “He says that’s a grand compliment coming from
a fellow god.”

Glancing at Robin, relieved to see that she had gone stone still (he would need a witness when he
brought this up to the rest of the crew later), Usopp prodded, “What do you mean? He talks to
you?”

“Yup!” Luffy’s smile fell for the second time in the conversation, “He’s getting bored, though. I
need to get to Torao.”

Usopp’s heart stopped in his chest, his air escaping from his lungs in a shocked gasp. This was
officially too much . This was Robin territory now. Or, Chopper. Hell, Zoro would probably be
more helpful in case monstrous strength was required if things went south.

Startled by Luffy’s blunt admission that a god was living in his head , he stumbled backwards, heel
knocking over a pot of crimson paint. With a clatter, the container tumbled through the slats of the
railing behind Usopp, flying over the edge of the upper deck, flecks of red spraying in all
directions. A smash marked the pot’s landing, and Usopp and Luffy peered down to the lower deck
to see a large puddle of paint seeping into the lawn.

Chopper looked up at them from his position on the swing, spots of red glistening in his fur. He
blinked, turning his attention back to the dark, thick liquid melting into the blades of grass, staining
the green an ugly brown. His little brow furrowed as he considered the spill for longer than
necessary.

Then, because Usopp’s heart was just asking for another jolt, Chopper called, “We need to stock up
on our blood reserves!”
“Ugh, I hate giving blood...” As fast as he had deflated against the railing, Luffy brightened, an
idea flashing across his eyes, “Oh! We can call Torao! We can all give blood!”

Robin giggled from her spot by the flowers, ignoring Usopp’s absolutely done expression to muse,
“Like a blood drive? What lovely crew bonding time.”

“So morbid,” Usopp paled, muttering to himself as he made to clean up his painting. So much for
finishing it today.

***

“Usopp,” Sanji stopped the sniper from exiting the galley, “Hold on a moment.”

Freezing mid-step, Usopp’s wide eyes darted back to stare at the table. He had made to follow
Luffy and Chopper out to the lawn, the two planning on fishing until the Heart Pirates arrived for
their impromptu blood drive. A suspiciously cheery smile from Robin told him that he was going
to have to talk now about what happened earlier instead.

With a sigh, he fell back into his seat next to Nami, the entirety of the crew, save for Chopper and
Luffy, watching him expectantly. Their gazes were teeming with concern, and it pained Usopp that
his information was just going to worry them more.

“So,” He laughed nervously, his fingers trembling as he shot them like little guns, “What’s
happenin’, folks?”

“Robin tells us you had an interesting conversation with Luffy,” Zoro stated plainly.

Usopp pushed his index fingers together, avoiding eye contact. “Shouldn’t Chopper be here for
this?”
“I filled him in earlier,” The archaeologist supplied, “I figured one of us would have to occupy
Luffy while we talked.”

“Ah,” He muttered, eyeing the door, “Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool –”

“Usopp!” Nami swatted his head, “What’s going on with Luffy?”

“Just tell us what you talked about, Usopp,” Jinbei’s push was gentle, quiet reassurance that they
weren’t expecting some deep analysis on Luffy’s psyche. He definitely wasn’t ready for anything
like that.

“Uh, so,” Usopp shrugged, “We were painting, and I noticed it looked like he was drawing a smile
on fire, so I asked what he was drawing, and he said it was Nika.”

Nami tapped her fingers against the surface of the table, “He mentioned Nika to me when we were
on our way to Fjorlorn.”

“That’s the thing,” Usopp took a deep breath in, “Apparently, Nika is living in Luffy’s head and
talking to him and I think that’s who Gear 5 is and it’s very possible that Luffy’s possessed and –”

“Usopp, bro,” Franky stepped around the table to pat the sharpshooter on the shoulder, surprisingly
light despite his massive palm, “Don’t forget to breathe.”

“Possession is a big claim,” Brook hummed, taking a sip from his personalized teacup, “That
would mean that Luffy has been exposed to a spirit that could then possess him.”

Robin nodded, “Have you ever tried to possess someone, Brook?”

“I have,” The skeleton answered solemnly, “Back on Whole Cake Island, I managed to overwhelm
Big Mom’s Homies and knock them unconscious due to their fragmented souls.”

Zoro laughed, alarming everyone at the table with his hearty chuckle.
“What do you find so amusing, mosshead?” Sanji snapped, “Read the room!”

“Brook just admitted to possessing pieces of an emperor’s soul like it was nothing,” Zoro nodded
his approval, “Pretty badass, if you ask me.”

“Thank you, Zoro-san,” Brook preened under the praise.

“So,” Nami brought the focus back to the subject at hand, “If it’s not possession, then what do we
think is going on?”

“Actually,” Jinbei rumbled, “I believe I have some knowledge that could point towards an
answer.”

Usopp straightened his spine, peering at the helmsman with unveiled curiosity. The anticipation
brewing around the table was near tangible, interrupted only by a loud laugh, muffled by the
wooden walls, marking Luffy’s first catch of the day.

“During the raid on Onigashima, I went head-to-head with Who’s-Who of the Tobiroppo,” Jinbei
began, “He let me in on a secret – he was the former member of CP9 who had escaped from Impel
Down.”

The table gasped, Sanji immediately clamping a reassuring hand onto Robin’s shoulder.

“I had heard rumor of such a breakout, though I did not know what had placed a government
special agent in prison in the first place. He enlightened me – he had been arrested for failing to
safely escort a certain devil fruit. The devil fruit in question? The Gomu-Gomu no mi, stolen by the
Red Hair Pirates.”

It was deathly silent in the galley. Usopp had to actively remind himself to inhale and exhale.

Robin was the first to speak up, her voice hushed as she pondered, “What would the government
want with the Gomu Gomu no mi? What purpose would such a paramecia fruit serve to them?”

Jinbei stroked his chin in thought, “I’m not sure, if I’m being honest. What I do find interesting,
though, is that right after revealing this information, Who’s-Who began talking about the Sun God,
Nika.”

“Shut up,” Nami breathed, “No way.”

“In all fairness, he was not relating them intentionally. He was simply regaling me with the tale of
his escape from prison, and was wondering if I had heard of such a God due to my affiliation with
the former Sun Pirates,” Jinbei explained, “But in hindsight, the two topics back-to-back seem...
suspect.”

“It’s not like the government’s never hid something before,” Franky snorted, sarcasm thick in his
voice, “Maybe Luffy’s fruit has something to do with Nika.”

“It is thought that devil fruits have a will of their own, some sort of influence over their wielder...”
Robin added.

Usopp bit through the anxiety flooding his senses, muttering, “Maybe this was a conversation for
Chopper, after all.”

Before Nami could swat at him again, Sanji nodded in agreement, “He has a point. Most of us have
experienced Chopper’s Monster Point before he could control it. Perhaps he would be able to shed
some light on the will of the Hito Hito no mi.”

“If Luffy’s fruit has really been influencing him so much this entire time...” Nami fretted, her
paling expression mirroring the nervous beating of Usopp’s heart.

If Nika had been using Luffy as a puppet this whole time, who was Luffy?

“I wouldn’t go that far, Nami,” Robin voiced her dissent, “Luffy is still Luffy.”

“And he’s still our captain,” Zoro grunted.

Robin continued, “I, for one, have never had the voice of a flower in my head, telling me what to
do.”
“Maybe it has something to do with the awakening of his fruit?” Brook offered.

Jinbei raked his hand over his face, “At this point, anything is possible.”

Usopp’s voice warbled, “What do we do, then?”

“Nothing,” Was Zoro’s spectacular advice.

Though, it seemed that no one else had any better ideas, the table silent, the whir of Luffy and
Chopper’s fishing rods in the distance. Sanji’s chair protested, the legs squealing against the
wooden floor as he returned to his prep table in the kitchen. As the rhythmic thump of a knife on a
chopping block filled the galley, the conversation came to an official close.

They had reached a unanimous decision, suggested by Zoro of all people.

All they could do was wait for more information to reveal itself, and hope that Luffy had
everything under control.

***

The snap of latex gloves echoed around the infirmary of the polar tang, the fluorescent lights
casting stark shadows over Law’s terrifyingly delighted expression. His silver eyes gleamed
greedily, and Usopp wouldn’t have been surprised if the surgeon’s tongue darted out to wet his lips
in excited anticipation. Surprised? No. Nauseous? Definitely.

“Well, Nose-ya?” Law grinned. With teeth, sharp and bright. “Are you ready?”

Usopp shrunk under his predatory gaze, “Er, well, I'm sure you’ve gotten enough blood already...”
The members of the Straw Hats were spread throughout the steel-plated room, perched atop
operating tables with IVs embedded in their arms while members of the Heart Pirates scurried
about, monitoring each rival pirate as if they were members of their own crew. Considering there
were not enough surfaces for each person, and a lack of potentially fatal injuries, Robin had
suggested sitting upright on the tables to maximize the amount of blood donated at a time. When
Law had protested the potential headrush that could accompany such a procedure, she had kindly
argued that two people could sit back-to-back on the table, leaning against each other for support.

Usopp had shuddered when she had referred to the plan as romantic, elaborating that there was
something poetic about the act of relying on a trusted friend while your life drained before your
eyes.

Really, between Law and Robin, Usopp could not catch a break. Didn’t they know by now that his
imagination ran rampant? How inconsiderate.

Speaking of, it did not seem that Law was willing to let Usopp walk without drawing blood.
“There’s never enough blood,” Law beamed, abnormally cheery.

Usopp’s eyes flitted to where Chopper was seated in Zoro’s lap, hooked up to an IV of his own.
Though he understood that Chopper needed backups of his blood, too, Usopp lamented that he
hadn’t asked the doctor to drain him in the comfort of Sunny , before they had met up with the
Heart Pirates. Chopper was always reassuring and gentle when taking Usopp’s blood, while Law...

Well, the glint of Kikoku’s hilt, resting against the wall closest to the surgeon, had Usopp
worrying that Law would just slice him open to complete the job as fast as possible.

“C’mon, Usopp!” Luffy called, patting the empty space on his operating table. He leaned against
Jinbei, though there was room for Usopp to join, to create a little huddle of comfort and -

Dammit, maybe Robin was right. This was good for crew bonding.

“It’s not as bad as it seems,” Jinbei comforted, scooching his large frame over to welcome the
sharpshooter. “Trafalgar knows what he’s doing.”

“I know,” Usopp muttered, “He’s harvesting our blood, like a maniac.”

Law arched a brow, “This was your doctor’s idea.”

“Yeah, well...” Usopp faltered as he slid onto the table, holding out his arm with a petulant frown,
“Remind me to get his psyche checked.”

“I also offer psychiatry,” Law responded, his tone dry and teeming with sarcasm.

Usopp whimpered when the cool latex of Law’s gloves gripped his wrist, though he was pleasantly
surprised that the surgeon’s grasp was featherlight, extremely gentle.

Luffy must have noticed the shift in Usopp’s expression, for he snickered, “See? Torao won’t hurt
you.”

Law said nothing, though Usopp noted how his lips, set in a focused line, twitched into a slight
frown.

“Because he’s your friend, Usopp!” Luffy pushed.

And sure enough, Law broke, maintaining his delicate grip on Usopp’s arm though hissing like an
angry cat, “I’m not his friend, Straw Hat-ya.”

“Sure, Torao,” Luffy laughed, his legs swinging over the edge of the operating table, “Whatever
you say.”

The cold swab of disinfectant sent a shiver through Usopp’s body and he flinched into Jinbei’s
kimono. The helmsman chuckled lowly.

“You know, Torao,” Usopp recognized the shit-eating grin spreading across Luffy’s face, the
teasing lilt of his voice as he prodded at Law, “I think you’re my best friend.”

Usopp decided not to be offended by such a claim, fully aware that Luffy was simply trying to push
buttons. Though, he was affronted by Luffy’s decision to ruffle Law’s feathers while the man was
about to insert a big ass needle into Usopp’s arm.
“Shut up, Straw Hat-ya,” Law grumbled.

Usopp’s jaw may as well have hit the ground. He was so fascinated by such a brief exchange, he
didn’t even feel Law insert the IV beneath his skin. Not only had Law failed to voice any direct
disagreement with Luffy’s statement, but Usopp had caught the subtle curl of Law’s lips, the way
his silver eyes flashed with amused affection. There had been no heat to his growl, empty words
that he had clearly felt he had to say.

What.

The.

Hell.

(Usopp tried to ignore the jealousy muttering in a shadowed corner of his mind. He knew he was
Luffy’s best friend, or, at least, the Straw Hats were. Law would never take that from them.)

To make matters even more strange, Law’s behavior while unhooking Luffy from his IV was
downright alien. Not only did his eyes go as soft as fleecy sheep, or fluffy clouds dotting the sky,
but he handled Luffy’s limb with such care that Usopp felt he had been manhandled.

Then, when Luffy’s arm was needle-free, Law hesitated . He lifted his hand, let it drop to his side,
worried his bottom lip, then lifted it again. This time, he let it fall like a deadweight onto Luffy’s
head.

Usopp gawked at the display.

A painfully awkward tussle of Luffy’s messy hair later, Law averting his eyes as his jaw clenched
and a faint – holy shit – blush dusted his cheeks, and Law was procuring a cured meat stick from
the pocket of his scrubs. He handed it to Luffy (who snatched it out of his fingers like a starving
animal) with a mumbled, “Here,” before making to check on the rest of his patients.

(The envy reared its head once more. Usopp actively fought against it. Law wasn’t Luffy’s best
friend. No. But if he wasn’t, what was he...?)
Once Law was out of earshot, apparently coming to Ikkaku’s rescue as Sanji sang her praises,
Usopp let his head flop against Jinbei’s shoulder. His brain chose that moment to remind him of
Luffy's previous claim of Nika's impatience, of Luffy's need to get to Law. Trying to ask as
casually as possible, he mused, “So... What is Law to you, Luffy?”

Jinbei’s muscles contracted under Usopp’s frame. Good. He was listening, then.

Luffy didn’t even hesitate, stating with a wide smile as if it was the most obvious answer in the
world, “Torao’s my soulmate.”

Jinbei hummed softly, the sound rumbling through Usopp. Usopp, on the other hand, simply stared
at his captain incredulously.

What.

The.

Fuck?!

Before he could even react, before he could even voice his disbelief on the matter, Luffy was
pursing his lips thoughtfully. “Have you ever been in love, Usopp?” He asked in a manner so
genuine, it pained the sniper.

Usopp took a moment to register what exactly was happening. It felt as though reality as he knew it
was unraveling before him, a mess of red threads tangling at his feet. And wasn’t that fitting for the
concept of soulmates? Usopp sighed. It would make one hell of a painting.

Back to the question at hand...

Well, Usopp didn’t have to think too hard about his answer. “Of course, I have. The great romantic,
Usopp, lives for love.”
Luffy beamed, “What’s being in love like?”

“Well,” Usopp decided then that there was no use lying to his captain. Pushing aside Usopp’s
inability to comprehend Law and Luffy, he instead focused his brain’s efforts on pale, silvery
blonde hair, the scent of fresh linen, bluebirds on the windowsill and soft music box melodies. His
heart throbbed, a wistful ache spreading across his chest. “Being in love is... Art, I guess.”

“Like a painting?”

“Hm, no,” Usopp pursed his lips in thought. He absently wondered if it was the subject matter that
was scattering his brain, or the blood bag steadily filling next to him. “It’s more abstract than a
painting. But, also not? It’s simple. Yet, complex.”

Luffy furrowed his brow in confusion.

Usopp held back the urge to lament, “Me too, buddy.”

Instead, he tried to elaborate. “When you know, you just know. It fills your entire being. It’s warm,
like the rays of the sun on a winter day, parting an overcast sky and melting away all the snow.
Like, you’ve been pushing through these snowbanks for so long, and you’re so tired, and then
there’s just this warm relief. Like coming home after a long, arduous journey."

He sighed, “It’s nostalgic, even if it’s new, you know? It invokes emotions you didn’t think
possible. It makes you want to create , makes you want to mold your feelings together into a vase
to hold flowers for them, makes you want to take all the colors of the universe and put them on
canvas so they can see what you see when you look at them. It’s everything all at once, and yet it’s
never overwhelming. But, it also is, because it feels as though there’s never a way to fully express
what being in love is like. It’s just too much, like an artist who has found their muse bursting at the
seams. It’s subjective, different – but the same – for everyone – something they can’t quite explain,
but hold dear to their soul.”

Luffy blinked.

With a sheepish chuckle, Usopp shrugged, “I don’t know. It made more sense in my head. But, I
guess, love always does.”
 It was quiet for a moment, the crease in Luffy’s brow smoothing as he absorbed all of Usopp’s
ramblings. Then, there was a reassuring hum from Usopp’s back.

“Well said, Usopp,” Jinbei rumbled, “Spoken like a true artist. There are many sides to everything
in this world, Luffy, endless perspectives for even the most mundane activities. Feelings are no
different.”

Usopp stifled a gasp.

It struck him then, as he rested against his captain’s side, the imagery sparking inspiration in the
creative depths of his mind, that perhaps he had misunderstood Luffy’s painting from earlier.

Had he glanced at the paper horizontally, a different perspective, he would have interpreted the
smile and the flames as something else entirely.

A sun.

And a crescent moon.

Chapter End Notes

Shout out to artist Usopp. We love that artsy bastard.

Hope you enjoyed chapter 3 :) See you tomorrow with chapter 4! Come yell at me on
Twitter and Tumblr if you're enjoying this so far and wanna talk LawLu <3
 The Cook
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

One foot in front of the other.

A moment’s hesitation.

Then, the flex of polished dress shoes, toes pressing down on that one squeaky, wooden board. He
had done this a thousand times before, knew the exact spot that would creak like Brook’s bones.
Once he was sure that he would make not a single sound, he shifted his weight, hand reaching for
the entrance of the galley. Fingers curled silently around the doorknob, and he sent a prayer to the
heaven’s above as he gently tugged the door open.

It slid across the polished flooring, the quiet swish near imperceptible.

He peered into the dining room, the kitchen. Brook’s empty teacup rested on the table by Franky’s
abandoned coffee mug. Nami’s sea chart she had been discussing with Jinbei over breakfast
fluttered softly in the light breeze spilling through the propped open portholes. The fridge was,
thankfully, still locked.

The coast was clear.

“SAAAAAAANJIIIIIIII!”

Motherfu –

He was catapulted into the kitchen before he could even finish his thought, sliding across his prep
counter before landing with a thud on the ground, bringing several pots and pans with him,
clanging against the floorboards. Apparently, he had also brought Luffy with him, for his captain
was wound around his torso, laughing maniacally in his ear.

Sanji groaned, his head aching from where it had made contact with the floor, “Oi, what was that
for, shitty rubber?”
His brain answered in time with Luffy’s stomach, rumbling angrily.

“I’m hungry,” Luffy leapt to his feet, stepping around the mess of kitchen utensils without a hint of
guilt in his round eyes. He held out a hand, hauling Sanji upright as he pleaded, “Can you make
me something to eat?”

Sanji huffed, “Breakfast was an hour ago, Luffy.” He set about tidying up the galley, procuring a
cloth to wipe down the surfaces of all the equipment that had been knocked to the floor with the
unexpected Luffy-sized, rubber bullet.

“Sanjiiii,” Luffy whined, tugging at the locked refrigerator door, “That was so long ago.”

Just as Sanji was about to surrender anyway, fully aware that there was no denying his captain any
meat whatsoever, Nami and Usopp popped their heads into the galley. Sanji frowned, perplexed,
as they began making flapping motions with their hands, open and closed, like a bird’s beak.

Nami, frustrated, stopped her gesture to point at Luffy, Sanji shooting a glance over his shoulder to
see that Luffy was too busy moping against the fridge to notice the navigator and sharpshooter in
the doorway. When Sanji turned back to Nami and Usopp, the former rolling her eyes, Usopp
heaved a silent sigh, jabbing his index finger at Sanji, flapping his hand again, then moving his
finger back towards Luffy. Sanji tried to read Nami’s lips.

Talk... to... him.

Oh.

Ears tinted pink as Usopp and Nami quietly shut the door behind them, disappearing out onto the
lawn, Sanji considered himself lucky that Zoro had not been privy to such an embarrassing
display. Maybe he was the Prince of Moronica.

“Fine,” Sanji muttered, hip-checking Luffy out of the way, unlocking the fridge with the key he
kept tucked into his pocket at all times. Unfortunately, the key was for appearance only. It was
hard to come across seastone locks, leaving Sanji with an entire cabinet teeming with identical
locks in the bunks. Normal locks were not immune to giant rubber fists.
Snatching a pound of bacon from the top shelf, Sanji failed to duck beneath Luffy’s greedy fingers,
the glutton managing to snag two slices before he leapt to the other side of the kitchen, snickering
mischievously.

Before Sanji could scold his captain, Luffy’s fist ignited. Flames curling up his arm, he scorched
the bacon to a crisp, filling the galley with the scent of smoked maple. The flicker of the fire
danced in Luffy’s big eyes, even after he had snuffed out the blaze, popping the meat into his
mouth with a loud crunch.

“I...” Sanji gulped, hands shaking as he tried to place the ingredients for an omelet (chock full of
meat, of course) on his prep table, “I thought fire was a friction thing with you.”

Luffy lifted his shoulders to his ears, licking the grease from his fingers, “Nika likes crispy bacon
best.”

“And so,” Sanji steadied his breath despite the nervous pounding of his heart. Something felt... off.
Dangerous. “He wanted the bacon so bad that he just... lit your hand on fire?”

“Yup!”

“And how?” It pained Sanji as he realized he had grabbed his sharpest kitchen knife, not just for
prep purpose. He sliced into an onion, fully aware that, if push came to shove, he would turn a
blind eye to his vow if it meant going toe-to-toe with a god to save his captain.

“He’s the god of the sun,” Luffy seemed entirely unfazed, “He makes the impossible possible.”

A strained hum of feigned comprehension sounded from Sanji’s throat. He did not look Luffy in
the eye as the latter slid onto a bar stool, settling himself at the counter where he could watch Sanji
work. The sound of Sanji’s knife rhythmically slicing vegetables filled the galley.

Until Sanji broke it, musing nonchalantly, “So, this Nika... Usopp says he talks to you?”

It wasn’t the first time he had been tasked with gathering intel. Despite his prickly attitude when it
came to the same gender, years of working in a restaurant had taught him how to maintain an
unassuming, personable front. People took comfort in bartenders and servers, perhaps due to the
anonymity of the profession. One could spill their history to the cook preparing their meal, and
then never see that person again. Thus, Sanji knew how to get information, how to sidestep around
the real question and still receive the answer. He had used this skill time and time again, always
one to look at the bigger picture during their adventures, to figure out where to go next based on the
whispers he overheard.

Sure enough, Luffy responded as though Sanji’s question was nothing out of the ordinary. “When
he feels like it,” He rested his chin in his hand, eyes glued to Sanji’s knife, sliding back and forth
through a pepper.

“And this is since Onigashima?”

“Yup!” Luffy flashed a toothy smile, “He saved my life! Just like Torao.” A small gasp tumbled
from his lips, “Oh, maybe that’s why he likes Torao so much.”

“So, it’s Nika that likes Torao,” Sanji tried his best to veil the relief in his voice.

Luffy frowned, “No, Nika likes Gloopy.”

Sanji blinked, making an active effort to not pause in his ministrations, to avoid making any move
that would signal confusion. “And Gloopy is...?”

“Nika’s soulmate. The moon god,” Luffy’s arm extended across the counter, snagging a piece of
sausage.

“Okay,” Sanji nodded, as if this wasn’t an absolutely bonkers conversation, “Nika, the sun god,
likes Gloopy, the moon god. What does this have to do with Torao?”

Luffy looked at him incredulously, like the answer was the most obvious thing in the whole world.
“Torao is Gloopy.”

Sanji began sautéing the vegetables, the fire curling around the bottom of the pan not unlike the
flames that had licked at Luffy’s fist like it was nothing. He shook off a chill. “You’re the vessel of
the sun god, and Torao is the vessel of the moon god.”
Though his back was turned, he could hear Luffy hum in consideration, could picture the way he
pursed his lips and rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. “I am Nika, Sanji. Nika is me. And Torao is
Gloopy.”

With a flick of his wrist, Sanji flipped the contents of his pan before adding the eggs. He spoke
over the sizzle of the cast iron skillet, “Does Torao know this?”

“He can’t remember.”

“Why’s that?” Sanji watched a bubble burst through the milky yellow of the cooking omelet.

“Maybe he hasn’t met Gloopy yet.”

The eggs were starting to steam. “That’s when you remembered? When you met Nika?”

“When I first saw Torao,” Luffy paused, correcting, “After Nika, yeah.”

“And Nika,” Sanji’s head was swimming. He felt his mind cooked from the litany of vague
answers, not unlike the meal simmering on the stovetop, “He means well? You like him?”

“He’s...” Luffy trailed off, and Sanji glanced over his shoulder to see Luffy staring at his hands,
resting on the counter. His head was bowed, his fingers curled into fists.

Sanji’s calves flexed, his right leg lifting off the ground, tip of his shoe hovering just above the
floorboards.

Then, Luffy smiled, “He wants to get Torao to remember.”

The grin did not reach his eyes.

Sanji could hear his own heart rioting in his chest, his pulse hammering in his veins. He had to tell
the others. This was not good. There was no way this was good.
But then, there was a flash of a painfully familiar expression across Luffy’s face, and Sanji knew
what was coming before it was spoken aloud.

“Saaaaaanji, is it almost ready?”

“Yeah, yeah, you rubber glutton,” Sanji grumbled, already moving Luffy’s snack onto a plate. He
pushed the meal in front of his captain, not the slightest bit surprised when it was shoveled down
Luffy’s gullet before it had cooled.

“Shishishi,” Luffy beamed, mouth full of food, “Thanks, Sanji!”

The click of Sanji’s lighter sounded the exact moment the door to the galley slammed open. As the
sweet relief of nicotine and tobacco filled his lungs, Sanji looked up to see Nami in the entrance to
the room, panting heavily with a crazed glint in her eye.

Concern immediately pushing aside the headrush from his cigarette, Sanji rushed towards his
sweet Mellorine. “Nami-swan! What’s wrong?”

Nami wasted no time, shouting, “PASHMINIA IS NEARBY!”

Sanji exchanged a glance with his captain, blank gaze meeting blank gaze. “Who?” He ventured.

Nami growled, unimpressed, “Only the most revered hair stylist on the seas! She travels the Grand
Line and New World! We have to get her to come aboard!”

Sanji retrieved their transponder snail without further question, kicking Luffy out of the way to
allow Nami access. “Yeah, yeah, Torao can wait, Luffy,” Sanji drawled, taking a drag from his
cigarette as he held a rabid Luffy back with the point of his shoe against the captain’s sternum.

His Nami-swan always took priority.

 ***

“Alright, cuties! Who’s first?”

The woman was huge, towering over everyone gathered in the galley. Her sleek, stylish platinum
blonde hair nearly grazed the high ceiling, which Franky had surely built with his ideal self in mind
(thankfully, Brook was not too much taller than the shipwright). Two arms rested on her hips,
another two crossed over her chest, the last pair of the octopus fishman’s upper appendages
arranging her scissors, combs, sanitizer, and sprays on the dining table.

Usopp and Robin sat at the table, next to where the cosmetic transformations would take place,
eyeing the tools spread out across the surface with clear intrigue. As the designated hair stylists of
the crew, they had been the first to voice their approval regarding Pashminia’s visit to Sunny,
claiming that they could learn a lot from a professional’s display, up close and personal.

On the other hand, Brook, Jinbei, and Franky had opted to refrain from entering the galley for the
foreseeable future. The cyborg had claimed that Pashminia’s talents would be wasted on him
considering he could change his hair at the press of his nose, and Jinbei and Brook both felt
uncomfortable flaunting their luscious locks out in the open with no intent to change them. Brook
hadn’t wanted to make the hair stylist jealous. He insisted that it was every stylist’s dream to work
wonders with an afro, and he did not wish to tease her so.

Nami, Chopper and Luffy were thrilled at the prospect of a new ‘do, milling about the galley in
eager anticipation while Pashminia prepared her work station.

Sanji couldn’t blame them. His mop of silky golden hair was getting unruly, starting to curl at the
ends, giving away the natural wave of his tresses. He was entirely unopposed to the concept of a
trim. However, by no means was he going to volunteer to be the first in the chair. Even if she was
world-renowned, he wouldn’t trust Pashminia’s work until he saw it with his own eyes.

The last thing he wanted was an ugly crop cut, born out of a mistake and rendering both his
eyebrows visible. Though his identity as the son of Vinsmoke Judge was pretty common
knowledge at this point, he still wished to hide his likeness to his siblings as much as he possibly
could. More so for himself, a reminder that he was not them. Not only would a bad haircut send
him eyebrow first into an identity crisis, but it would also leave him looking like...

His lip curled as he glanced across the room at the brawny swordsman, scratching at his jagged,
mossy spikes like an unsophisticated ape.

Zoro.

Ugh.

“You’re staring,” Nami teased, prodding his bicep with a freshly painted nail.

Sanji narrowed his eyes, but before he could deny such a ridiculous claim, the door to the galley
swung open, revealing a heaven-sent beauty.

“Yeah, at Ikkaku,” He muttered in response, fluttering towards the curly-haired mechanic of the
Heart pirates like her long lashes had swept him off his feet with a single, doe-eyed blink.

Hands clutched at his heart, Sanji swooned before Ikkaku, charmed by the smear of engine grease
on the bridge of her nose and the curl of disgust on her perfectly plump lips and the way that ugly
boiler suit hugged her curves and –

Smack!

Sanji’s vision cut out momentarily, then, he felt something broad and blunt shoved into his gut, an
arm around his waist. He heard Zoro grunt a half-assed apology, followed by footsteps as his limp
body bounced upon the swordsman’s shoulder like a ragdoll.

When Sanji began to protest, regaining his motor functions and squirming in Zoro’s grasp, the later
huffed, tightening his hold. “Keep it together, Curly,” He grumbled, dropping him
unceremoniously atop the kitchen counter, as far away from Ikkaku as possible.

Sanji lamented being thrown across his prep table for the second time in one day.

(He also lamented the fierce pounding of his heart in reaction to being manhandled by Zoro, but he
was not willing to get into their whole deal.)
By the time Sanji got his shit together, smoothing out the wrinkles in his blue dress shirt and
fashionable, cropped white slacks, Nami and Shachi had opted to be the first of Pashminia’s
clients. They sat side by side in the dining table chairs in front of the octopus stylist, the hulking
woman’s hands flying this way and that while Robin and Usopp observed, fascinated. Pashminia
spoke with a thick South Blue accent, rattling off tips and tricks as she cleaned up Shachi’s ratty
‘do and praised Nami’s hair care routine.

With both of his lovely ladies busy across the galley, Sanji turned to Ikkaku, voice honey-sweet
despite Penguin and Bepo’s warning glare, “Ikkaku-chan! Can I offer you some tea? Maybe a cake
to accompany?”

Luffy and Chopper lit up at the mention of sweets, Bepo and Penguin politely requesting tea. Law
pointedly eyed the cupboard where he knew Sanji stored his tea. Ikkaku, of course, excused his
offers with a brusque wave of her hand.

“Piss off,” She rolled her eyes, “You got anything stronger?”

Zoro beamed, passing her his bottle of sake. She drank from the lip, a hearty swig sending rivulets
of liquid down her chin. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, passing the alcohol back
to Zoro for his turn.

“I like her, Torao,” Zoro clapped Ikkaku on the back as she chuckled.

Sanji huffed, turning on his heel to snatch the second-grade pastries he had baked that morning.
They were delicious. as expected from everything he crafted, but lacked the aesthetic to render
them worthy for Robin and Nami. A misshapen flower here, a cupcake top too lumpy to ice there.
He considered tossing one of the broken sugar cookies to Zoro, but knew the half-heart shape
would be completely lost on the moron.

He was not jealous. Of Zoro, or Ikkaku.

The kettle whistling in no time at all, Sanji set to steeping teas while the group around his kitchen
mingled. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Luffy offering Law one of...

Sanji did a double take.

Oh wow.

Luffy’s hand was extended, a lemon tart balanced on his palm. He beamed up at Law like he was
holding out his still-beating heart, like he had ripped the source of his life and love from his own
chest and was begging Law to take it.

Law hummed his appreciation as he plucked the dessert out of Luffy’s hand, speaking to Zoro,
“Ikkaku is certainly a skilled mechanic and a fine triage nurse. You’d be shocked to hear that she
once severed a man’s jugular with a dismantled pen.”

As the group showered Ikkaku in well-deserved praise, Sanji fixed Luffy with a hard stare, though
the intensity did little to distract from his thorough observation of Law. Had Luffy, of all people,
remembered Law’s dietary preference, offering him something that wasn’t bread based? And if
that wasn’t weird enough, had Sanji just witnessed Luffy give away food?

It didn’t compute in his brain, the idea rattling inside his skull like steel bars holding back an
innocent prisoner, like an iron helmet stifling the future that had once stretched before him.

The memory of his childhood, locked away as if he had never been born, sent a chill down his
spine. All he had wanted then, failure or not, was to cook for others, to feed the hungry and watch
them smile upon the first bite.

It was a basic show of kindness – to offer food. A manner to render one more appealing in the eyes
of others, to show care and love for another person.

Sanji stroked his chin in thought. Perhaps Luffy really did have feelings for Law.

“Ta-da!” Pashminia cried, shining an invisible spotlight on the two pirates before her.

“I look beautiful,” Nami gasped, running her fingers through loose, silky curls. She admired her
stylized trim in a hand mirror, turning her chin this way and that. Her hair had been getting awfully
long. The new cut brought it just below her shoulders, bouncy and easy to manage.

Of course, Sanji thought Nami was always stunning, though the clear display of Pashminia’s talent
certainly eased his worries about letting the stylist anywhere near his hair.
“Damn, you’re real good,” Shachi breathed, snagging the mirror from Nami’s grasp to ogle his
trimmed red hair, healthy and shiny and gleaming in the light of the galley.

Pashminia didn’t have time to ask for the next two, Luffy tugging Law into the seats before she
could even instruct her previous clients on daily upkeep. Law’s hat fell to his feet in a flash,
Luffy’s rubbery arm winding around the other man’s frame to knock it from his head, his own
straw hat already tossed upon the dining table.

“You’re an eager one!” Pashminia laughed, teasing Luffy as he twisted around in his chair to
whisper something in her ear. Her eyes brightened, a grin stretching across her pastel skin, “Of
course I can do that for you! But first, you gotta take that sweater off. The hood’s in my way!”

Luffy complied instantly, shrugging off his yellow sweater and tossing it next to Law’s cap. He
was squirming in the chair with anticipation, unable to keep the giggles from vibrating in his throat,
in a heartbeat.

Law froze the moment the sweater came off, and Sanji found himself following his gaze, curious
as to what could have caught Law’s eye.

It appeared that Luffy had donned a tank top beneath his outfit that morning, a mangled expanse of
fabric that Sanji could hardly recognize. In fact, he had to squint to make out the attempted pattern,
to figure out why it seemed so familiar.

The patch job was Nami’s doing, that much was clear. Typically the one to fix up torn clothing
articles for the crew, she had become quite adept in stitching together garments thought to be past
the point of no return. That being said, she lacked the patience to execute her ideas to their full
potential, leaving most of her projects with wide swaths of fabric pulling in weird directions and
clumsy, apparent stitches that stuck out like mountain ridges.

This aside, she was still the best seamstress out of the whole crew (barring Robin, though no one
knew her comfort level with a needle and thread, as she had refused to attempt patching up one of
Sanji’s ties. She claimed that she had been cursed as a child to fall into a deep slumber at the prick
of a sewing needle, though Sanji thought that she simply didn’t want another title after crew
archeologist and hair stylist). It was obvious that Nami had done the best she could do with the
destroyed fabric she’d been given.

And it would have been ravaged, because Sanji had only seen that shirt once.
It was the one that Luffy had worn in Dressrosa. The navy one, with the sunflower pattern.

Shirt to a tank top, mangled by Doflamingo’s hand and resucitated by Nami, it was the most
hideous garment Sanji had ever seen.

Yet, Law was looking at it as if it was ancient coin retrieved from a long extinct civilization,
because yes, Sanji listened, and yes, he knew what Law was into. Law didn’t do small talk, which
Sanji had learned while running his soba stand in Wano, rendering Law’s frequent check-ins silent
and cold. Conducting a little social experiment, Sanji had started prodding him about obscure
subjects. Eventually, he had gotten a bite.

So, yes, Law was enamored by Nami’s valiant efforts to save one of Luffy’s favorite shirts, his jaw
falling slack as his mouth popped open into a soft ‘o’. His eyes went wide, grey irises shining so
brightly, Sanji was sure he would be able to see the memory of Luffy punching Doflamingo
through Law’s point of view if he tried hard enough.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law’s voice sounded strained. Tattooed fingers tentatively brushed the mangled
fabric, “I... like your shirt.”

“Shishishi,” Sanji was positive he had never seen Luffy look so wise, his smile so much more than
what he let on. “Thanks, Torao!”

“So? Did you learn anything earlier?” Nami nudged Sanji’s arm with her shoulder as she leaned
over the counter, reaching for a tangerine and cranberry muffin.

Knocked from his stupor, Sanji tried to collect himself, tried to shake the strange feeling that was
curling around his limbs and tightening his chest. He felt as though his heart was suffocating, like
his stomach was rejecting his breakfast. Though he also found it hard to repress a wide grin, a
cheerful giggle.

It was like admiring a beautiful elephant tuna before slicing it open, like oggling the whimsical
landscape of Totto Land despite the lead in his stomach and the explosive bangles on his wrists.

Giddy and nauseous at the same time, Sanji reached for another cigarette, lighting it with ease.
Smoke spewed from between his lips as he tried to recall what he had discussed with Luffy earlier.
“He says that Nika’s partner, the moon god, is inhabiting Law. Though, Law doesn’t seem aware
of that, yet.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Nami nodded, plucking a whole berry from within the pastry, “With all
his talk about love, I worried Luffy was looking to, I don’t know, court Torao, or whatever.”

“Well,” Chopper piped up, nibbling on a cookie, comfortably seated in Zoro’s lap, “I think that’s
still the case.”

They looked over at the two captains, barely visible beneath the blur of arms dancing around their
heads. They were chatting, though Sanji couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. Law had a
look of resigned amusement, affection lacing every small smile, every squint of his eyes. Luffy
was gesturing wildly, perhaps telling a story, all big eyes and pearly teeth.

Sanji wouldn’t have faulted Pashminia had she just smacked him upside the head for his inability
to sit still.

“I don’t get it,” Zoro muttered.

“Me neither,” Nami sighed.

Penguin shrugged, slurping his tea obnoxiously, “Captain’s always had a soft spot for Straw Hat.”

Shachi nodded sagely, calling from the other end of the counter, “Why else would we even be here
right now?”

Nami scowled, pointing an accusing finger at the Heart pirates, “Are you eavesdropping on us?!”

“Sorry!”

Ikkaku frowned, patting the polar bear on his back before sending a white hot glare skidding down
the counter. “Don’t apologize, Bepo. They’re the ones talking about Captain behind his back.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Sanji drawled, tapping his cigarette against the side of his ashtray, “All good
things.”
They stared.

Somewhere, in the far off distance, a cricket chirped.

“Okay, you got us,” Sanji snorted, “We don’t understand why our shitty captain is so infatuated
with your sleep-deprived asshole.”

Sanji chose to ignore Shachi’s whisper to Penguin, “How does he know my asshole’s sleep-
deprived?”

Ikkaku, however, cocked her head to the side, regarding the Straw Hats thoughtfully. “You don’t
get it?”

Nami answered for lot of them, “Absolutely not.”

Ikkaku shrugged, gesturing to Luffy and Law, rising from the chairs, Pashminia waving her arms
about in a flourish, as if presenting the captains to the crew. Ikkaku shot Sanji a wry smile, “If you
don’t get it now, you never will.”

Though, her words were only partially absorbed, as his brain was too busy taking in the horrific
sight before him.

Law and Luffy stood, side by side, with matching perms, and one captain seemed significantly
more thrilled than the other.

But, even as Law frowned, his crew cackling, pointing to the nest of dark curls upon his head, his
eyes held no malice, no contempt. In fact, he watched Luffy laughing with such fondness, Sanji
could taste his yearning.

He wondered if anyone had ever looked at him with such adoration.

And then, Sanji understood the dread coiling in his stomach, for Law was looking at Luffy with
 unveiled affection, but was it Luffy or Nika staring back?

A solid mass of muscle bumped his shoulder.

“Quit sulking, pervert,” Zoro grunted, jerking his head towards Pashminia, “It’s your turn.”

As the scissors snipped away at his golden locks, tried to tame the moss that grew over Zoro’s
scalp, Sanji met the swordsman’s eye. Zoro didn’t need to say anything. The sentiment was as clear
as a chip on a freshly polished blade, as a cup full of sake.

Sanji smiled.

And he knew Zoro grinned back.

Chapter End Notes

Sanji likes to think he's all clever but we know he's a dumbass 80% of the time.

So happy everyone is enjoying this so far! Thank you so much for reading! I don't
know if I'll be able to update tomorrow since I have a pretty busy day, but the next
chapter will DEF be up on Saturday, and the last on Sunday :)

As always, please come yell at me on Twitter and Tumblr!

 The Swordsman
Chapter Notes

My apologies that this is a couple days late! Life, you know?

This chapter does not have a ton of Law content, I admit, but the next one is ALL Law
and Luffy, so it makes up for it, okay? (Please don't be upset)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Luffy was having a nightmare.

Zoro could feel every twitch of Luffy’s muscles against his side, every shaky breath rattling in his
chest, every fearful whimper squeaking between trembling lips. It was the jerking that had woken
Zoro in the first place, his peaceful slumber on the sun-soaked lawn of the Thousand Sunny
interrupted far earlier than he would have liked.

Not that he was complaining about his captain, the man who had saved his life, ruining his sleep.
Hell, the only reason he was asleep in the first place was because the crew was enjoying the warm
weather, and he felt that everyone's presence meant they were sufficiently guarded. Nami may
have scoffed at his behavior around Fjorlorn Island and Silvergust Peak, but it was his duty as first
mate to ensure the ship’s safety at all times. Had they been ambushed in a snow squall with only
Luffy – caught in a trance – and Nami – busy navigating the currents – out on the deck, they had
risked starting a fight at a disadvantage.

Yeah, his nipples still hurt like hell, but it had been worth it.

So, no, Zoro did not care that Luffy had unintentionally roused him.

Zoro did care that his captain was in distress.

“No...” Luffy yelped softly, his body twisting, his face shoved against Zoro’s shoulder. The drool
trailing from the corner of his mouth spoke of a very deep sleep.

“No, don’t...” He reached out, grabbing at something invisible, a crease between his furrowed
brows, “Not them...”
Zoro decided that if he didn’t wake up in a moment, he would wake him himself. Chopper had
warned months ago, when they had first reunited on Sabaody, that Luffy had started to have the
ocassional night terror He had advised against interrupting any negative dreams, claiming that
there was the potential of Luffy becoming violent upon waking.

“No... hurt my...,” Luffy whimpered, sweat dripping down his temples, “Nakama.”

Zoro grit his teeth. To hell with Chopper’s advice. If anyone could handle a violent Luffy, it was
Zoro.

He lifted a large hand, twisting his body ever so slightly, reaching out to jostle Luffy’s shoulder,
when...

“TORAO!” Luffy sat upright, the shout ripped directly from his chest. Eyes bugging out of his
skull, he grasped at the air in front of him, all frantic wheezing and twitching limbs.

Zoro jumped into action, two steady hands pushing Luffy against the railing of Sunny as he
positioned himself in front of his captain. He dodged the blind kicks, Luffy squirming as his eyes
darted unseeingly around the deck.

“Luffy!” There was a flash of recognition in Luffy’s panicked eyes as Zoro called his name. He
tried again, “Luffy, calm down!”

A balloon swept away amidst a storm, Zoro reached for Luffy’s string, tried to tether him back to
reality. Strong grip on his shoulders, Luffy began to come to, his breathing tapering out into
shallow gasps as his limbs stilled.

“Zoro?” Luffy came back to earth.

“Bad dream?” Zoro peered at Luffy, reluctant to step out of his personal space just yet. He needed
confirmation that Luffy was actually okay before he relinquished his position of advantage.

Luffy took a shaky breath, his jaw clenching as determination flashed in his eyes. “Gotta see
Torao.”
Zoro wasn’t an idiot. “Nika getting impatient?”

Luffy shrugged, like he didn’t wish to tell the truth. Lips pursed and eyes pointed to the heavens,
he whistled, “Just haven’t seen Torao in a while.”

Zoro narrowed his eye. Despite the truth in the claim, as it had been nearly two and a half months
since leaving Wano and approximately a month and a half since ‘running into’ the Heart Pirates,
Luffy was a shit liar. He was hiding something.

With a huff, Zoro plopped down onto his ass, crossing his legs in front of him. He made a show of
removing the three swords from his haramaki, placing them on the grass of the lawn at the end of
arm’s reach. Could he grab them if necessary? Yes, but not as swiftly as he would like, giving
Luffy ample time to punch him square in the face if he so desired.

Unarmed and vulnerable in a position that he’d also have to clamber out of, Zoro felt he was
showing his captain – and the god in his head – that he meant to harm. With that in mind, Zoro,
for the first time in a long time, actively went searching for personal information. “Oi, Luffy,” He
tried to pick the other man’s brain, “What’s really going on?”

He could see it, clear as day. The exhaustion blurring the edge of his irises, little red veins
spiderwebbing across previously bright eyes. The grit of his teeth as he slept restlessly. The way
he’d been zoning out mid-sentence, like someone was talking to him, but for his ears only.

Luffy was getting tired, and who knew how long he could hold back Nika.

Zoro frowned. Luffy was the strongest person he knew, but even he was human.

“You gotta tell us, Luf,” Zoro pushed, “We can’t help you if you don’t tell us. Remember, you’re
not alone in this.”

Luffy hesitated, fingers curling into fists, squeezing, and then unclenching. Finally, after what felt
like forever, he looked Zoro in the eye. Zoro was struck by the depth of the protective concern in
his gaze as he explained, “I need to get Torao to remember, to protect my Nakama.”
Zoro was surprised by the lack of shock he felt. Yeah, that checked out. It was almost too
obvious. “Protect us from what?”

“Nika,” Luffy explained, “When I met him, in my head, he was so strong. My punches did
nothing. And he was just gonna punch through Onigashima! Where everyone was fighting!”

“So you...” Zoro tried to put himself in Luffy’s shoes. Suddenly, there he was, in front of Kuma on
Thriller Bark once more. “You made a deal.”

“Nika said I have three months,” Luffy nodded, “If Torao doesn’t remember in three months, Nika
will do what he wants. Doesn’t matter who gets in the way.”

Zoro suppressed the urge to snort in bitter amusement. A selfish god who cared not for others.
Classic. It was no wonder he considered himself an atheist.

“Does Nika have some sort of plan?” Zoro prodded, an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He didn’t
like questions. He liked to take things at face value. He would’ve been happy with Luffy’s
previous answer, could have left it like that, but he knew. He knew if he brought that to the rest of
the crew, they’d bombard him for further information, and, quite frankly, he was tired of the
weather witch and the cook calling him an idiot.

He was not an idiot.

If anything, he was more perceptive than most. He trusted his captain with his whole soul and
being, and his captain was hurting. What more did he need to understand before he rose to fight
off Luffy’s demons?

Still, he supposed he had to be a team player. Not everyone knew Luffy like he did.

“Nah,” Luffy replied, relieving Zoro of the burden of recalling a plan, “He just likes to do as he
pleases, and not worry about others. He doesn’t care if my Nakama get hurt.”

A small voice in Zoro’s head argued that, if he didn’t care about Luffy’s friends and family, there
was no telling he cared about Luffy either. Why trust a so-called god to uphold their end of a
bargain?
Skeptical, but content that Luffy had divulged to him, Zoro grunted a noise of comprehension, “So
you need Law to remember that he holds the god of the moon’s spirit to ensure our protection from
Nika’s whims in the future?”

“Shishishi,” The snicker was weak, at best, “Yup!”

And then, like their conversation hadn’t carried the grave weight of a timeline that was nearing its
end, Luffy bounded away across the deck, shouting to Nami about their next destination.

Zoro huffed, straightening up and fixing his gaze on the horizon, on the ripples of the waves
glittering in the bright midday sun.

“I can feel your presence, you know,” He spoke after a while, low and quiet.

Soft footsteps signaled Robin’s approach. “I admit, I was listening in.”

“Figured as much,” Zoro smirked, “Looks like we’ve gotta meet up with the Hearts soon.”

Robin hummed, “I’ll investigate the lore of Acorn Hollow. Nami estimates we’ll be there in a
day’s time, given no obstacles. Perhaps I can find an attraction that would pique Torao’s interest.”

Zoro nodded, “Can you pass on what you overheard to the others?”

“You don’t wish to be the bearer of bad news?” She teased.

“No,” Zoro rolled his shoulders, eye already set on the crows nest, body aching to lift the heaviest
weights he owned. “If they don’t show, then I’ll take on Nika myself.”

***
“Straw Hat-ya,” Law acknowledged the arrival of the crew with a dip of his head.

Luffy, of course, was far more exuberant in his greeting, flinging himself across the sandy shore to
rocket into Law, knocking him to the ground. The Heart pirates stepping over writhing limbs on
their way to meet the Straw Hat crew, the two captains tussled in the sand, laughter and protests
harmonizing in a sound far too familiar for Zoro’s liking.

The beach of Acorn Hollow was cold, which was to be expected from the autumn island. Damp,
hard sand gave way to massive boulders, once jagged rocks rendered smooth and slippery from the
constant splash of waves, and Zoro found himself admiring the strength of nature, to stand tall and
proud despite the relentless sea.

“Oi, shitty swordsman!”

The voice grated his ears in the most welcoming way.

He looked over his shoulder to see the cook, posed with his hands in the pockets of his crisp black
slacks, accentuating his long legs. They seemed to go on forever, but eventually Zoros eye found
that unobscured grey-blue eye, the smoke of his cigarette fogging Zoros view.

Sanji’s lips were twisted into a scowl as he scoffed, “Hurry up! We’re not gonna wait for you, you
lug!”

And yet, Zoro grinned, because the silhouettes of the Hearts and the Straw Hats were steadily
shrinking in the distance, and the cook was just as close as he had been moments before.

Matching his stride, Zoro said nothing of Sanji’s patience as they caught up with the group. He did,
however, choose that moment to purposefully retrieve the flask from his haramaki, taking an
exaggerated swig.

“That better be the cheap shit,” The cook warned.

Zoro responded by offering him a sip. His lips split into a cheeky grin when the flask was
accepted, a scoff of, “Dammit marimo! I said not the good stuff !” following the cook’s suspicious
sniff. Regardless, he gulped down a mouthful as well.

By the time they had reunited with the two crews, the group had already arrived at their destination
– A trailhead marked by an elaborate stone arch. Beneath the structure, dripping with ivy and peat
moss, stood an elderly man in silk robes, eyes so sunken they were hard to discern beneath sagging
wrinkles.

Zoro had been expecting this. Robin had gathered the crew after her conversation with him the
previous day. Acorn Hollow, according to her books, was home to the Victroli shamans. Zoro had
tuned out most of the explanation, though he had caught the words Trial of Strength , and Luffy’s
shout of “Yahoo! A banquet!”

The promise of gold and a fest for those who could accomplish such a trial had been enough to
sway the Heart pirates into joining. All it had taken was Luffy’s guess that Law wasn’t strong
enough to complete the test. The age-old dick measuring competition continued, and Law had
promised to see them at Acorn Hollow, where he would win.

Zoro had scoffed. Children, honestly. If he ever acted so prideful, he hoped the witch would be
there to knock him out and put him out of his misery.

“Ah, quite a large group of pirates, I see,” The old man mused, reedy voice barely audible over the
crash of the waves in the distance.

“We’re two separate crews,” Law clarified instantly.

Luffy blinked up at Law, his amused, “You should join my crew, Torao,” completely ignored by
the other captain.

The shaman seemed unfazed. “One crew, two crews... Red crew, blue crew... It makes no
difference to me.”

“So we can still do the test thingy?” Luffy beamed.

“Your number may make no difference,” The man reiterated. Zoro thought he would look smug
had he been able to make out his eyes. Alas, he just came off a little constipated. “But your status
certainly does.”
Penguin and Shachi gasped. Usopp yelped in surprise. Chopper clung to Zoro’s leg.

Everyone else remained calm. Really, what had they expected? They were notorious within the
New World at this point. If anything, Zoro puffed out his chest, a sense of accomplishment filling
him with a burst of warmth.

“Do our bounties disqualify us from such a trial?” Jinbei asked.

“Disqualify? No, no,” The shaman waved him off, “But our Trial of Strength would be far too easy
for the likes of you. Gold, we have plenty, but we would prefer you at least work for it.”

“Very well,” Robin bowed her head, “Do you have another trial in mind?”

The man nodded, “I need two volunteers to complete the trial.”

Before anyone could recommend a side bar to discuss who would be best suited to take on an
unknown task, Luffy’s hand shot right into the air. “Me and Torao volunteer!”

“No!” Law hissed, “I’m not walking into the unknown without a plan!”

Luffy pouted, “Who needs one of your plans? They never work, anyway.”

“I wonder why!” Law scoffed, fingers tightening on Kikoku. His face fell, as if he’d been slapped.
Turning cold eyes onto Robin, he grumbled, “This is moronic. We should have never agreed to
this. We have places we need to be.”

“But Torao,” Luffy protested, tugging on the sleeve of Law’s blue sweater. His voice swelled in
the deathly silence that had fallen over the two crews.

“No,” was the other captain's sharp response, “We’re leaving.”

He turned on his heel before he could be dissuaded. Zoro watched as Luffy’s eyes glazed over,
following the bob of Law’s shoulders as he stalked away the direction they had come, the Hearts
trailing nervously after him.

Zoro took a deep breath, steeled his resolve, and stepped forward towards the Shaman. “I’ll do the
trial, too.”

“Very well,” The man hummed, completely disregarding the small blowout that had happened
before his very eyes (which Zoro still couldn’t discern between folds of ancient skin), “Let me
prepare the ritual.”

He held out both hands, Zoro mimicking Luffy as his captain grabbed one. The man relinquished
his grasp after a moment, lifting his pruned fingers.

A loud snap echoed through the air.

A scream rang out across the beach.

“Captain’s gone!” Bepo howled.

“He disappeared!” Shachi shrieked, clinging to a paling Penguin.

The Straw Hats whirled around, looking over their shoulder to see the majority of Law’s crew
panicking, scampering about the cold beach in search of their captain. Yet, there was no sign of the
tall man in the spotted hat, save for Kikoku lying on the hard sand next to footprints that lead to
nowhere.

Only Ikkaku remained calm. She sighed, shrugged, and pivoted back towards the Straw Hats,
casually slinging an arm around Usopp’s shoulders as she muttered, “Guess we aren’t going
anywhere, after all.”

“Ikkaku!” Penguin wailed, running after her, “How heartless are you!”

Usopp side-eyed Nami. Zoro had to stifle a chuckle. Perhaps the weather witch had met her match.
“I’m not heartless,” The mechanic rolled her eyes, “I’m just smarter than you idiots. This is clearly
part of the trial, or whatever.”

Nami’s eyes flashed in realization. Ginger hair whipped from side to side, the navigator surveying
the group intently. “Hey,” She frowned, “Has anyone seen Sanji?”

“Yeah, he's right here...” Franky’s eyes bugged out of his head as he looked to his right to see the
imprint of dress shoes flattening the ground, “Huh?”

A ball of lead landed unceremoniously in Zoro’s stomach.

So it was that kind of trial.

“Excuse me, kind sir,” Usopp stammered, fleeing from Ikkaku to cling to Nami (there was comfort
in familiarity). He looked to the old shaman with fear in his eyes, “Um, what exactly did you do to
our friends?”

The man beamed with ancient yellow teeth that seemed far sharper than natural, Usopp shrinking
under such a creepy grin. For once, Zoro was with the sniper on this one. Something told the
swordsman that he was out of his element, that the trial was not going to be all brute strength and
black blades.

“Worry not,” The shaman soothed in that wispy voice, “Your companions are fine. I have simply
relocated them to the temple at the peak of the highest mountain on the island.”

“And, um,” Shachi chuckled nervously, “You wanna tell us why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ikkaku snorted, Robin and Jinbei voicing their agreement.

When half the Straw Hats and half the Hearts stared at them blankly – Zoro pointedly avoiding eye
contact as he glared, not daggers, but swords at the shaman – Nami groaned, gesturing for the old
man just get on with it, already.
“I possess the Mani-Mani no mi,” The man explained, “It has been passed down for generations
within the people of the Victroli to guide those seeking gold through various trials. The fruit has
granted me with the ability to manifest physical obstacles based on a target’s emotional setbacks.
For example, in our typical Trial of Strength, I would offer my hand, as I did just now, and gain
access to a participant’s mind. There, I would choose a facet of their physicality that they believe to
be holding them back, and create a task for them to overcome on the way to the temple.”

“What astounding power,” Robin hummed, “I can only imagine what horror such a fruit would
bring if granted to one with malicious intent.”

“Robin,” Usopp groaned, “Can we just be grateful that’s not the case?”

“Usopp’s right,” Chopper squeaked, “That would be scary.”

“So,” Bepo blinked at the shaman, clear intrigue in his beady black eyes, “What sort of obstacle
would you create?”

“Say you have a person who believes their arm strength to be their best asset,” The man explained,
“Then perhaps I would have them push a boulder up the mountain to test their stamina and legs, as
well.”

Usopp shuddered. Zoro considered that he would have been able to complete such a task with
minimal difficulty.

“This trial, however,” The shaman continued, “Will require both volunteers to look inside their
hearts.” He jabbed a wrinkly finger into Zoro’s chest, the swordsman scowling as blood rushed to
the tips of his ears. “I hope you are both ready to explore your hidden truths, for the barrier I’ve
placed around the temple will not fall should you learn nothing from this trial. Only after clearing
your obstacle will you be able to retrieve your friends.”

Zoro glanced at Luffy, just to find that his captain was standing still, arms crossed over his chest
and straw hat tugged low on his face.

To the Hearts, it may have seemed as though he was gathering his determination, plotting as he
listened to the shaman’s quest. However, Zoro knew better. The steady rise and fall of Luffy’s
chest meant one thing and one thing alone: He was sleeping.
A sharp jab of a boot to Luffy’s calf startled the captain awake, a warning glare from Zoro
silencing Luffy before he could draw any attention to himself.

It was agreed that the Hearts and the Straw Hats would go forth to the village along with the
shaman, where they would shop for supplies and mingle with the locals while Luffy and Zoro
hiked up the mountain that loomed over the small island. Zoro almost felt relieved – he would
much rather risk it all in a trial for gold and, more importantly, honor, than window shop.

“You have until sunset,” The old man hollered after them as they stomped through the underbrush,
carving their way through the thicket alight with the golden and brown hues of autumn, “Should
you be successful, we will celebrate with a banquet and a chest of gold!”

Zoro was positive the witch would squirrel it all away somewhere upon Sunny even Franky
couldn’t find.

The hike started rather uneventfully, the cool breeze of the mild island chilling the back of their
necks as they leapt over boulders and hoisted themselves up cliff faces. Songbirds fluttered
overhead, bouncing from branch to branch as they sang of the quest of the two pirates, and small
mammals scurried across their path ever so often, cheeks full of food that they were stocking up for
a winter that would never come.

Zoro worked up a good sweat, and, if anything, was grateful for the full body workout that the path
up the mountain seemed to provide. By the halfway point, the village visible below, civilians like
ants milling about in the streets, Zoro was feeling surprisingly optimistic. Not only had they
encountered zero obstacles, but Luffy had, shockingly enough, not taken any wrong turns. Zoro
had argued that he should lead the way, never one to trust Luffy with directions, but Luffy had
pulled the I’m the captain card.

Zoro had made a point to ignore the knowing gleam in Luffy’s big brown eyes.

The true cherry on top of their trial sundae was that Luffy had yet to fling Zoro up the side of the
mountain in an attempt to reach the top in record time.

Actually...

That was weird. It was also weird that Luffy was relatively subdued. He wasn’t singing, or
bounding ahead, or punching his way through the rocky terrain.

He wasn’t even really talking.

Sure, Zoro loved silence, but this silence? The absence of his captain’s constant chattering was
unwelcome.

It was then, as Zoro turned his head to peer at Luffy in concern, that his Haki flared suddenly. His
reaction was not fast enough, however, as he then proceeded to slam right into a solid brick wall.

“What the –” Zoro choked out, face pressed against the rough stucco surface of the stone. His head
throbbing, he tried to focus his vision on Luffy, just to see his captain slip through the wall like it
was nothing.

“Hmm?” Luffy’s voice sounded clear as day, as if there wasn’t a massive stone structure between
them, “What’s wrong, Zoro?”

“Luffy?” Zoro grunted, “How’d you get through the wall?”

“What wall?”

He blinked, “Do you not see the giant brick wall that you just walked through?”

“No?”

Ah, so their obstacle-free trial had come to a close.

“Well, fuck,” Zoro grumbled, detaching himself from the wall to ready his swords. He smirked to
himself, “Really, I thought my task would be harder than this.”

He charged forward, sharp blades glinting in the midday sun. He reveled in the weight of the hilts
in his hand, the feel of familiar grooves against his tongue as his teeth clamped into place around
Wado. Steadying his center, his spirit, he activated his armament Haki, coating all three of his
blades in energy as black as the night. Like a starved dog released in the presence of prey, he
ripped into the wall as if it was all that stood between him and his next meal.

He was thrown back by an invisible force so strong, his vision cut out when he hit the tree trunk.

“Zoro?” Luffy called from the other side of the wall, “Why did you attack the air? And why did
you lose?”

Zoro groaned as he pulled himself to his feet, leaning on the tree for support as he caught his
breath. “You can see me, Luffy?”

“Yeah, I’m not blind,” came the voice from behind the wall.

“But you can’t see the wall.”

“No, you’re against a tree looking confused?” Luffy sounded just as lost as Zoro.

“Huh,” Zoro was dumbstruck, “Well, then. Should you, uh, go on ahead?”

“Why would I go on ahead without you?”

“Because this is clearly my trial and I have to figure this out on my own,” Zoro grumbled to
himself, taking a seat in front of the wall. He glared at it, the vein in his forehead throbbing with
frustration. He should have known it wasn’t going to be as easy as slicing down some stone.

“Okay! See ya, Zoro!”

Zoro heard Luffy take exactly five steps forward before a yelp bounced through the forest foliage.
There was the sound of Luffy falling to the ground, a soft thud planting his bottom on the dirt road.

“Oi, Luffy,” Zoro called, “You good?”

“Uh,” Luffy responded, “I’m stuck.”

Zoro’s eye narrowed further at the stupid brick wall blocking his view of his stupid captain.
Though, he was certain that, if the wall hadn’t been there, he probably wouldn’t have been able to
see exactly what had ensnared Luffy, regardless.

“Alright,” Zoro got comfy on the ground, “Looks like we’ll be here for a while. What’s your status
over there?”

“I’m,” Luffy snickered, “Surrounded by candy.”

“What,” Zoro deadpanned.

“Yeah! Like, there’s this blue barrier around me, and I can’t get to the good stuff. I can move my
arms, but my legs and body are frozen.”

“Huh.”

It fell silent between them. Minutes passed, maybe even hours. The birds mocked their
predicaments, looping through the foliage of the forest, their song reminiscent of that North Blue
lullaby Zoro had heard the cook hum while crafting desserts. The thought of the annoying blonde
had Zoro sweating, adding to the heat of the sun burning overhead. The mild temperature of the
autumn island did little to make up for the placement of the sun, and the swordsman could feel the
back of his neck turning a fierce red as he hunched over his lap, head in his hands and elbows on
his knees. He replayed the loss against the fucking wall so many times, his mind hurt after a while.

Then, Luffy gasped.

“What?!” Optimism flared in Zoro’s chest.

He heard the sound of rubber stretching, that quiet squeak that accompanied most of Luffy’s
hijinks. Then, “Ah, ha!”
“Luffy, come on,” Zoro’s patience was waning.

“A hole opened up in the barrier!” Luffy’s voice explained, “I could get a candy!”

Zoro wanted to tug his hair out. “You had the opportunity to try and escape, but you decided to
take a candy instead,” He confirmed.

“I can’t move, Zoro,” Luffy spoke to him like his reasoning was the most obvious course of action,
“If I can’t get out, I can at least have some candy. Ooo! This one is salted dark chocolate with
caramel filling!”

Zoro recoiled. That sounded like one of the cook’s experiments that he would pawn off on Zoro,
his attempts to make a sweet that appealed to the swordsman’s savory palette.

It didn’t take long to find out that the barrier opened once every five minutes, allowing Luffy
access to a candy. Zoro didn’t find it very fair. All he was doing was waiting in front of a wall he
couldn't cut down, and Luffy was eating.

“Zoro,” Luffy piped up, words gooey, like his mouth was filled with some sort of sticky substance,
“Why don’t you go over the wall?”

Zoro did not flush in embarrassment.

He had definitely thought of that option.

100%.

Still, he jumped to his feet, making a running leap at the wall. He managed to dig his fingers into
the grooves between bricks, managed to bounce his boots up the surface inch by inch. He found
himself wondering if the cook’s tapered dress shoes would also prove advantageous in this
situation, though he figured Sanji could probably sky-walk over the whole structure. Hell, he
wouldn’t even need sky-walk. He could clear the wall in one jump. Zoro was sure of it. The man
had powerful legs.
Unfortunately, Zoro’s head knocked against an invisible obstacle once he was in reach of the top of
the trial, preventing him from progressing further. With a groan, Zoro fell back to the ground.

Back to square one.

As time passed, the sound of Luffy’s chewing got louder and louder, the smack of lips and
gnashing of teeth beginning to prickle Zoro’s skin. Something wasn’t right. It had started in his
fingers, a soft tingle, before spreading to his gut, heavy and toxic, nausea accompanying the dread
as it flowed through his system. Every time Luffy ate another candy, Zoro got angrier and angrier,
and yet, he didn’t know why.

Luffy loved eating. In fact, Zoro was pretty positive that he considered meat his Nakama. It was
more unusual for Luffy’s hands to be devoid of food than for him to be seated on the figurehead of
Sunny , Sanji quick to give into pleas for snacks.

Oh.

It hit him then – the future King of the Pirates should not be munching on candy from anywhere.
He should be enjoying the finest delicacies by the best cook on the seas.

The sun was beginning to graze the treetops.

“Oi, Luffy,” Zoro pinched the bridge of his nose, eyeing the way the light of the sun flared at the
top of the wall.

“Yeah, Zoro?”

He sighed, “We should talk about this.”

The chewing stilled. “Do we have to?”

“I don’t want to either,” Zoro admitted, “But I think it’s the only way through the trial.”
“Oh.”

Then...

“Okay,” Luffy acquiesced, “I’m running out of the candy I like best, anyway.”

Zoro hummed in acknowledgement, ready to push such a menial claim away, when an idea lit the
lightbulb over his head. Luffy was not a picky eater. He frowned, “There’s one candy you like
more than the others?”

“Yup! It’s got a shiny silver wrapper and it’s that tasty dark chocolate and caramel treat!”

Zoros brow drew together in thought, “And the other candies?”

“OH!” Luffy sounded thrilled to talk about food and not their feelings, “There are lots of different
kinds. The green ones taste kinda bitter. And the ones with the orange wrapping are milk chocolate
with citrus. Blue has something spicy mixed in with white chocolate, and purple taste like... A
flower? Like I think there are cherry blossom petals in them.”

Zoro blinked. Holy shit.

Luffy was rambling, “There’s a lighter green that tastes like those sweets the chef of the Barto
Club made for us that one time on our way to Zou! And the golden wrappers are chocolate hearts
with a snake marking! And then there’s the red ones that taste kinda gross and metallic, and –”

“Luffy,” Zoro interrupted, “Luffy, shut up.”

“Rude, Zoro.”

“Tell me, what do you like about the chocolates in the silver wrappers?” Zoro asked, urgency
oozing out of each word. It was long shot, sure, but they had to exhaust any sort of lead at this
point.
Luffy whistled as he contemplated his answer, an offkey melody that Zoro was sure he had heard
before. Something about sake, he thought. After a moment’s pause, Luffy answered, “I like how
the outside is salty but the inside is sweet. It’s like, if I were to just lick it, it would taste gross. I
need to eat it all at once to get the full effect.”

“And how do you,” Zoro grimaced, “ Feel now that you’re running out of those ones?”

A sniff. “Sad, I guess? I like those ones best.”

“Do you dislike the other chocolates?”

“No.”

“But those are your favorite?”

“Yes,” Luffy snickered then, “Shishishi , Zoro’s talkative today!”

“Luffy,” Zoro couldn’t believe he was about to say the following words to his captain, his best
friend, the man he would happily die for, “How do you feel when you don’t see Law?”

What was he? A fucking wingman?!

But Luffy answered honestly, pausing before speaking slowly, mouth free from any chocolate.
“Sad, too. I... like spending time with Torao.”

“But you knew the alliance was temporary.”

“Friendship is forever, though.”

Zoro didn’t need the wall to disappear to see his captain’s cheeky grin. He tried again, “Did you
ever think about the alliance ending before Nika?”
“Yeah,” Luffy mumbled, “I didn’t want it to.”

“Why?”

“Because I like Torao.”

“Before Nika?”

“Yeah,” Luffy sounded angry, “Of course I liked Torao before Nika! Torao saved my life! Torao’s
so cool! Torao helped us in Punk Hazard and wanted to be friends and I would kick Mingo’s ass all
over again if it meant Torao would be happy!”

“Wouldn’t you do the same for us?” Zoro asked.

“Fight Mingo? Sure.”

“No, but,” Zoro was never more grateful for Robin, or Jinbei, or, hell, even Brook was better at this
sort of thing, “What makes Torao different?”

“Thinking about Zoro doesn’t make my dick hard.”

“Dammit Luffy!” Zoro cringed, “No!”

“Shishishi,” Luffy giggled, “Sorry, Zoro. But it’s true! I... I wanna touch, Torao. I want to talk to
him and tell him about my day and learn about his favorite foods and the places he’s been and I
wanna kiss him, okay?”

“Okay.”

It fell silent again.

“So,” Zoro figured he needed to wrap this up, and fast. The sun was now below the top of the wall.
More prodding it was, then. “Why don’t you want to eat the last of your chocolate?”

“Because I'm worried I’ll never taste it again,” Luffy gasped, the answer unlocking some neglected
part of his brain, “Because I want to save the last one ‘til I know I'll get more. Like...” Luffy’s
voice was filled to the brim with excitement, “Like how I never want Torao to leave because I
don’t know when I’ll see him again. I want the promise that I’ll get more chocolate, Zoro.”

“And what do you think could reassure that you will get more chocolate?”

“An alliance,” Luffy answered immediately.

Zoro frowned, “Allies don’t have to meet up, though. They can communicate through transponder
snail.”

“Then, I want more than an alliance,” Luffy insisted, “I wanna see Torao and I want to see him
often. I want to make him laugh and show him all my favorite spots, and give him Sanji’s food! I
want... I want him to be my partner, or whatever.”

Despite knowing exactly what Luffy was saying, Zoro’s heart stopped in his chest, the concept of
Luffy being romantically involved with anyone simply... incomprehensible.

Though, Luffy came barreling through the stone wall in an instant, phasing through it like it didn’t
actually exist (which, well, it didn’t ). “Zoro! I figured it out!” The captain cried, holding his fists
in the air triumphantly, his grin wide and his eyes wild.

“You sure did, Luf,” Zoro grinned, “Proud of you, buddy.”

He held out a fist. Luffy tapped it with his own.

Plopping down next to his first mate, Luffy let his head fall onto Zoro’s shoulder, staring
unseeingly at the wall. Or, Zoro supposed, the trail behind the wall. “So, if the candy was Torao,”
Luffy muttered, “What’s the wall?”
Zoro groaned, his eye fluttering shut as he prayed to the non-existent god above that the wall
would just disappear once and for all.

Alas, it did not.

“It’s me,” He grunted.

“You?”

“Me.”

“You, but free?”

Zoro frowned, “No.”

“Well, that’s lame!” Luffy stuck his tongue out, drawing an image of a sun in the dirt. “Why are
you the wall? It doesn’t look like you.”

“Because I'm a stubborn asshole,” Zoro grumbled, “The wall is my inability to move forward with
anything because I'm too proud.”

“You came up with that by yourself?” Luffy peered at Zoro in suspicion.

Zoro decided not to tell Luffy that he had been fully aware of the painfully obvious symbolism
from the moment his swords had been rendered ineffective. “Yeah.”

“You’re pretty smart, Zoro!” Luffy patted him on the head. Zoro filed his words under things he’d
never think he’d hear. “It’s Sanji, right?”

Zoro flinched.
“That’s okay,” Luffy snickered, “You don’t have to tell me.”

“No,” Zoro buried his face in his hands, “I do have to tell you. The cook – er, Sanji – he wants
more. He’s a fucking dumbass romantic.”

Luffy didn’t answer, though watched Zoro with big, brown eyes, absorbing every word.

“I’m afraid people will think I’m weak.”

“Why?”

“The Demon of the East, Roronoa Zoro, with a lover? It’s too... soft,” Zoro scoffed, “To be so
dependent on another makes me weak. Plus, it would... It would make Curly a target.”

“Zoro,” Luffy quirked a brow, “Sanji is already a target.”

“Well yeah, ‘cause of the crew and his shitty family and –”

“Because of you,” Luffy argued, “Robin told me they call you two my wings. You cut off one
wing, and the other wing will hunt you down. It wouldn’t matter if you liked Sanji or not.”

“You think?”

He shrugged, “Besides, who cares what other people think? To rely on someone to watch your
back? That means trust. It’s not easy to trust, and,” Luffy shot Zoro that sunshine smile – the one
that was all teeth and gums, “You gotta be strong to protect the ones you love, right Zoro?”

He was gone through the wall before Zoro could fully register his captain’s words. Luffy clearly
believed that he had said his part, that he had fixed Zoro’s problems. Now it was up to the
swordsman himself.

Clambering to his feet, Zoro fixed his one, steely eye on the stupid bricks, as dense as his own
head, sometimes. The shaman had really outdone himself.
He took a deep breath, rolled his shoulders, and thought of Sanji. He thought of his stupid, arrogant
smirk that lit up his ocean blue eyes. He thought of that ridiculous spiral brow that quirked towards
his silky hairline in amusement when Zoro actually tried to compliment him, of the way his scruffy
lip pursed when he thought Zoro was mocking him. He thought of the cook’s passion that burned
so hot, he could set his leg ablaze, of the way he had always had Zoro’s back (literally) since day
one, despite their rollercoaster ride of a friendship. He thought of the quiet moments in the crows
nest, exchanged between watch shifts, when everything was peaceful, and they could chat without
lunging for each other’s throats under the watchful, expectant gaze of the crew. He thought of how
nice it would be to have such talks out on the lawn of the sunny, in the sunshine, while Chopper
snuggled between them.

He thought of Sanji’s perfect ass.

Sue him. He was only human, and the man fought with his legs. His bottom was... Well, Zoro
could appreciate a fine ass.

And with that, he stepped forward, expecting to walk face first into the brick wall blocking his
path.

Though, he didn’t. There was a soft whoosh of air displacing around him, the whisper of a promise
against his cheek, and the scent of cigarette smoke entering through his ears and fogging his brain.
Then he found himself staring at the final climb before the temple, Luffy laughing as he leapt on
ahead.

For some reason, Zoro could not wipe the grin from his face the entire trek up the mountain. Not
even the cook’s surly scowl and heel to the chest could rattle Zoro’s good mood. Besides, there
was so much humor in watching Luffy interact with Law, especially after realizing that he cared
for the other captain in the same manner as Nika. Though Nika adored Gloopy, Luffy loved Law.

The surgeon’s perpetual glare seemed to brighten in the warmth of Luffy’s laughter, bouncing off
the surrounding peaks reaching for the temple like fingers bursting out of the earth. The melody
hung in the air like a song to which only Law knew the lyrics, and Zoro exchanged a knowing
glance with the cook when Luffy’s footsteps beat like a drum across the tiled floor of the temple.
Luffy wasted no time in passing through the glowing yellow ring that held the two captives in the
center of the temple, Zoro assuming that their success in clearing their obstacles allowed them to
retrieve the other men with minimal effort.

Law did not protest as Luffy hauled him over his shoulder unceremoniously, Zoro biting his tongue
as memories of Law’s ragdoll trip through Dressrosa played in his head. Though, this time, instead
of humiliated resignment, defeat heavy in his tired eyes, Law seemed quietly content. Clearly more
than capable of walking alongside Luffy out of the temple, Law made not a sound as his body
folded over Luffy’s shoulder. Instead, he almost seemed to lean into Luffy’s touch, his expression
calm and collected, like he had known all along that Luffy would come for him, like he had never
doubted their retrieval whatsoever.

Zoro watched Luffy carry Law until he dipped out of sight, surely leaping down the mountain in a
manner so reckless, and so Luffy. He was just glad that he wasn’t getting flung down alongside
Law, this time.

“Oi, shitty swordsman.”

The click of a lighter.

The scent of smoke.

“Yeah, cook?” Zoro rumbled, eye fixed on the sun still visible above the horizon. They would
make it back to the trailhead with time to spare.

When Sanji failed to respond, Zoro glanced over his shoulder to see the cook regarding him with a
thoughtful stare, an unreadable emotion glittering in his unobscured eye. “Law and I...”

Zoro grunted ever so eloquently to show he was listening.

“We had some time to talk, you know,” The cook stepped closer. And closer. And closer.

With a gulp, Zoro gave in to his curiosity. “About what?”

And then Sanji stopped, toe to toe, dress shoes to worn boots. Slender fingers removed the
cigarette from perfect lips that parted slightly, the scent of tobacco that Zoro had grown to love
washing over him like the first swig of sake. Zoro found himself leaning forward, spurred on by a
blue fire in Sanji’s eye, by the greedy beast deep within his chest. Now that he had accepted his
craving, he was ready to have it fulfilled.
 A low chuckle vibrated the cook’s chest, his nose nudging Zoro’s as he dipped his head...

Just to step past him in a smooth movement, sauntering towards the exit of the temple with a sway
to his hips. He took a drag of his cigarette, his drawl of, “About what took you two so damn long,”
floating up into the atmosphere on a spiral of smoke.

Chapter End Notes

Thank you for your patience!

Chapter 6 plus epilogue tomorrow <3 I did want to do some Heart pirates POV, like
some have mentioned in the comments, but unfortunately, i needed to keep this
relatively short (LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA) and felt it would drag on too long with
more scenarios.

See you tomorrow! It's gonna be... *eyes outline*... It's gonna be a long boi.

As always, follow me on Twitter and Tumblr for fic updates and ramblings.
 Silver and Gold
Chapter Notes

I lied about posting yesterday. I ended up going to see Canadian treasures The
Barenaked Ladies and had to triple fist the round I bought because the people I was
with were like "oh no thanks", and then I was too lit to finish the chapter when I got
home. Happy holidays, I guess?
Anyway...
Huzzah! The moment we've all been waiting for!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Captain?”

A soft knock on the door accompanied the timid voice, the click of claws on the steel plated frame.
Trafalgar Law lifted his head from where he had been staring a little too intensely at a sea chart. It
was a wonder he hadn’t burnt holes in the dusty, aged paper.

He figured he must’ve looked particularly grouchy, for his first mate and navigator flinched upon
eye contact.

“Ah, I'm sorry!” Bepo stammered, making to shut the door.

“Bepo. It’s fine,” Law beckoned him in to his private quarters.

Unfortunately, the polar bear’s hulking figure had hid the troublemakers of Law’s crew from sight,
and upon inviting Bepo into his room, he had unintentionally invited Penguin and Shachi, as well.

When Law shot Bepo a look of exasperation, he apologized once more before primly lowering
himself to the ground. He leaned against the door to prevent any interruptions, legs crossed in front
of him. For such a bulky beast, the martial arts training had made Bepo extremely flexible and
nimble.

Penguin and Shachi, on the other hand, pounced onto Law’s bed, making themselves far too
comfortable for Law’s liking. Not that he was particular about the state of his bed, no. It was a
rather spartan thing – a basic frame with one thick blanket and two pillows. The latter on the right
side was lumpy and wrinkled, the left untouched. Law supposed he was a creature of habit, even if
his sleep consisted of multiple power naps a handful of times a week.

Time and time again, he had considered giving the stiff, unused pillow to a member of his crew
who may crave the extra comfort. Though, he never went through with it, the wishful idea of
waking up next to someone anchoring the pillow in place.

“We were just wondering...” Penguin began, a lilt to his voice that told Law he was in for one hell
of a conversation.

“Why we left so early this morning!” Shachi rested his chin in his palms, lying across the blanket
on his stomach and kicking his heels like some adolescent student discussing crushes.

Oh no.

Law clenched his jaw. A flash in his mind reminded him that, sometime in the last year, the
featureless person occupying his dreams had evolved into a scar beneath an eye, fluttered closed in
peaceful slumber, into jet-black, unruly hair splayed across a worn pillow.

He tried to blow off their statement, feigning disinterest. “Perhaps because we have things to do?”

Bepo whimpered, a whispered apology warning Law that this was exactly what he had feared.

Penguin was out for blood, his voice pitching up an octave as he whined, “But we could have had
breakfast with the Straw Hats!”

“Did you not spend enough time with them at the banquet the night before?” Law huffed, keeping
his glare fixed to the small island he had spotted on the sea chart.

“But it wasn’t a Sanji banquet!” Shachi protested.

Penguin nodded enthusiastically, “And any meal where I don’t have to cook is more than
welcome!”
Rolling his eyes, Law drawled, "And how do you expect me to rectify such a blunder?”

“Oh, the sarcasm is strong with this one,” Shachi muttered, Penguin adding, “Bet he learned how
to harness his inherent skill just like Sora, Warrior of the Sea. Did you tame a seagull companion
too?”

Bepo winced, “Guys, can we leave Captain alone?”

Throwing down the pen he had twirled absently between long fingers, Law twisted in his chair,
scowling directly at his subordinates. “What is it that you two want to say? Spit it out.”

Penguin grinned, Law’s threatening aura did little to dissuade their mischief. “It’s not that we have
something to say, really...”

Shachi agreed, “It’s more like we have formulated a hypothesis and are interested in your take.”

Law could feel the nervous energy wafting off his first mate. It was a flare in the middle of the
dark night, the only warning that Law was absolutely, 100% not going to appreciate the next
statement to ring throughout his quarters.

“You see,” Penguin continued, “It confused us that you would leave so early this morning, what
with how willing you’ve been to spend time with Straw Hat and co. Lately."

Shachi lamented, “We had expected to enjoy a Sanji breakfast!”

“Yes, I got that,” Law grumbled, fingers tapping his chair impatiently.

“So,” Shachi barreled on, “We figured if you were so eager to get away from Acorn Hollow,
something must have made you uncomfortable.”

Penguin hummed in agreeance, “You were your same old grouchy, overly sensitive self on the
beach, and you had agreed to reroute to the island in the first place –”
“Oh, screw me for looking out for our finances!” Law interrupted.

“Shush,” Shachi snorted, “We’re pirates . Since when are we fiscally responsible? Since when do
we pay for anything?”

“Since traveling with Luffy,” Bepo whispered, barely audible as he pushed his index fingers
together in a sheepish gesture.

Law shot him a glare.

“Anyway,” Penguin brought the focus back to himself, reaching above his head to fluff Law’s
pillow beneath his hat bearing his namesake. He looked far too comfortable somewhere he should
never have been allowed to contaminate with his irritating presence. “Between the beach and the
banquet, something changed. You sulked the whole feast, went to sleep early –”

“As if we’d fall for that, Captain!”

“– And rolled out in the morning before the Straw Hats were awake. That’s some mighty sus
behavior, pal.”

“Don’t call me that,” Law ran a hand over his face, groaning, “Just get to the point.”

“You’re soft for Straw Hat,” Shachi stated bluntly.

Before Law could protest, Penguin held up a finger to silence him, “Which has been obvious ever
since we met on Zou, if we’re being honest. However, we think that the trial proved that Straw Hat
is soft for you, and that’s where your stunted heart draws the line, right?”

Bepo squeaked, covering his face with his paws, fluffy ears twitching in discomfort.

Law silently fumed while his soon-to-be-former crew members dug their own graves.
“Because,” Shachi flashed a crooked grin, “You silently pining is in your wheelhouse. The love
being requited? Unfathomable to that massive, brilliant, self-loathing brain of yours.”

“So, you ran,” Penguin mimed a figure running with his fingers, “Right? You didn’t know how to
move forward after the reveal of the trial, so you peaced out, right dawg?”

Bepo had to carry the pieces of their dismembered bodies out of Law’s room.

***

“Torao?” Nami sounded suspicious, the transponder snail narrowing its little eyes the moment the
line successfully connected to the Thousand Sunny. “Why are you calling?”

“Is that odd, Nami-ya?” Law’s voice was just shy of a snap. In the hour since he had punished his
subordinates and sent them on their way, he had failed to move from his desk. His back was
starting to ache, spine curling unnaturally as he hunched over the sea chart he had resumed
studying. Eyes dry and sore, the bags underneath probably far more prominent than unusual, he
dug the heels of his hands into his socket to offer his sight some reprieve.

There was the sound of footsteps from the other end of the transponder snail line, the click of a
door latching in place. The general cacophony heard in the background whenever he called the
Straw Hats disappeared, the navigator having moved their call to, if Law had to guess, the
Observation Deck. Now free from distraction, Nami sniffed, “After you disappeared at the crack of
dawn this morning? Yeah.”

“I had pressing matters to attend to.”

The snail rolled its eyes, “You’re not the one that has had to console Luffy.”

Law’s heart stuttered. He waited approximately 3 seconds before clarifying, “Console?”

“Don’t play dumb, Torao. It’s not cute,” Nami groaned, the snail looking downright exasperated.
Law felt bad for the amount of attitude the little gastropod was trying to exude, Nami’s voice
scoffing, “What do you want, anyway?”

“I...” Law cut off his argument that he was anything but cute, that he was actually to be feared and
that Nami herself should watch her words (he knew it would be a crock of shit, but he wasn’t quite
ready to admit it), he chose instead to divulge his reason for calling. “We’re close to an island and
I... er, Bepo thought your crew would be interested in docking there.”

“Oh yeah? Tell me, Torao, why Bepo thought we’d want to stop at... What’s the name?”

“Mikkan Island,” He supplied, eyeing the map spread out in front of him.

The line went silent.

Nami hesitated. Then, “I’m listening.”

Law plowed forward with his plan, ignoring the way the beat of his heart rattled his ribs, the way
his pulse drummed in his ears. He tried to keep his voice clipped and level, as normal and
unassuming as possible. “I would like to propose we meet for a proper party, on the beach. By
campfire. Bone-ya can play his songs,” After a brief pause, he added, “And my crew would like to
request Blackleg-ya cook.”

“This sounds like a lot of work on our end,” Nami hummed, a shout heard in the distance,
somewhere beyond Nami’s hiding place. “What’s in it for us?”

Law had been expecting this. He remembered the way Luffy had babbled on about Nami’s mikan
trees upon the Sunny, how Sanji guarded them with his life, how Luffy could never get a snack
from them unless he begged the navigator. There had to be some sort of nostalgia at play, for fruit
to carry so much value to Nami.

Crossing tattooed fingers, he offered, “Mikkan Island is known for its massive citrus orchards. My
crew will help you harvest.” When she failed to answer immediately, he ground his molars and
admitted the real reason he wished for the crews to meet, “And I’ll take Straw Hat-ya off your
hands for the afternoon.”

The snail’s smug grin would be seen in his nightmares, Law was certain. Nami practically purred,
“Deal. We’ll be there in about an hour.”

“Thank you, Nami-ya."

Law’s forehead hit the desk the moment the line cut out, the clank of the receiver bringing forth a
mix of anticipation and nausea in his stomach. He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he inhaled
the scent of aged parchment, willing it to calm him.

For a brief moment, he was not aboard the Polar Tang, but in a library.

He was not on route to meet up with the Straw Hats per his request, but studying medicinal
practices used in the West Blue.

He was not about to formulate a plan of some sort, a scheme that would lure Luffy away from the
rest of the group in a manner that was romantic. No, he was preparing to perform the autopsy of his
late helmsman and was looking to try a completely new technique.

Or, perhaps he was settling in for a brief nap on route to their next destination, which was
definitely not Mikkan Island.

But when his tired eyes fluttered open, focusing instantly on the two bands of fabric to the right of
the sea chart, on the written bullet points of what their date could consist of (because, yes, he had
contingency plans), he was rooted firmly in reality.

Reality that seemed more delusional each day, unraveling like the brim of a well-worn straw hat,
sunlight poking through the holes in the fibers as mischievous laughter warmed Law’s soul.

What would Cora-san say if he could see him now? Would he mourn Law’s wasted years, seeking
vengeance for all Doflamingo had stolen? Would he chastise Law for clinging to the past, instead
of looking forward towards the future?

Or would he promise Law that it was better late than never, to reclaim the trajectory of his life?
Would he light a cigarette, set himself on fire, and chuckle as Law extinguished the flame? For
some reason, he could hear Cora-san's raspy rumble, reminding him that he was free, though, Law
couldn’t quite remember if he had ever actually spoken such words.
Life was synonymous with reality, wasn’t it? It was what you made it out to be. Luffy’s reality was
one of adventure, of bright colors and tasty food and so much love. That did not mean there was no
strife, no loss and pain and sadness, but Luffy preferred to balance the bad bits with more of the
good, the reasons to smile.

He had a feeling that Cora-san would have liked Luffy.

As he drifted asleep atop his plans, he felt so warm, so sure, as if the weight and warmth of a
feathered coat had been draped over his shoulders, as if a strong hand had tussled his hair and
wished him sweet dreams.

***

Law was nervous.

The southern, uninhabited shore of the summer island had proved to be the perfect spot to set up
their party. An easy trek to one of the few villages on the petite landmass, they had a market for
fresh produce and game at their disposal, as well as various boutiques, and a large stretch of citrus
trees of which the owner had graciously given Nami permission to harvest as much as she wanted
(after Law had paid him a hefty sum of berries).

The highlight of the island was not the ample orchards, though. Not the favorable weather and the
warm waves lapping tantalizingly at the sandy beach, either. No, Law had selected Mikkan Island
for one reason, and one reason alone.

It was home to the largest antique coin collection in the New World, and had been for as long as
history could recall.

He had turned the idea in his head, over and over, admiring it like the glint off a particularly
symmetrical bronze piece. He had caught every flaw, wondering if it was selfish to ask Luffy to
accompany him to something only one of them would find interesting, if it would be boring for
Luffy to listen to Law ramble on about what era of currency he admired most.
He had confided in Bepo, the only person on his godforsaken ship that he could trust to keep a
secret. Bepo had found the idea brilliant, actually. When Law had expressed doubt, Bepo had
explained that, as someone who kept a lot of his hobbies to himself, letting Luffy in on something
he found important was actually, well, quite special.

Now, of course, he found his plan to be idiotic, narcissistic, and full of holes. What if Luffy wished
to fight a coin?! What if he thought they were chocolate coins and is disappointed upon realization
that he can’t eat them?! Law hadn’t thought of a solution to those scenarios, yet!

Not to mention...

Had he really thought this through? It had taken him so long to analyze every past, fleeting
emotion that had rocketed through his system, to observe his physical reactions to Luffy’s
proximity, to break down his train of thought whenever Straw Hat was mentioned. He had only just
come to terms with having feelings for such a wonderful moron, and was acting on impulse before
even considering the future of it all.

How reckless. Perhaps Luffy was getting to him.

The thought of attempting to become involved with the future King of the Pirates was downright
irresponsible, right? Not only would he be putting his crew in danger by the elevated affiliation
with a dangerous (read: ridiculous) group of pirates, but would his own name lose credibility?
Would Trafalgar Law, Surgeon of Death cease to exist? Would he be replaced by Trafalgar Law,
Straw Hat Luffy’s Lover?

In what series of meticulously thought-out plans would that be fair to the people who had risked
their lives time and time again for his name, for his success?

Perhaps he would try again in the coming years, if the flickering embers of his affection could be
sufficiently stoked. For now, he would toss his trip to the museum in a trash can, would dedicate
his time to helping the crews set up their party, and perhaps join Zoro in some silent pining over
multiple bottles of sake.

Yeah.

That would be... just fine.

“Captain,” Ikkaku checked her hip into his side, startling Law out of his thoughts, his fingers
reflexively tightening on Kikoku’s sheath. She peered up at him with dark irises lined with
concern, “What are you waiting for?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Law stubbornly avoided her eyes.

She swept her gloved hand, covered in oil stains, in front of her, gesturing to the group of pirates
milling about the beach. Law allowed his gaze to follow the movement, surveying his
surroundings.

Beneath a palm tree, Robin was demonstrating to Clione and Uni how best to weave the fronds to
create an assortment of decorations, not to mention a canopy that they could prop up with the
tastefully detailed wooden rods Zoro and Jean Bart had whittled from fallen trunks. Hakugan was
crafting paper lanterns with Usopp while Brook serenaded them with soothing melodies. Despite
his insistence that he was not cooking in front of someone as talented as Sanji, Penguin assisted the
Straw Hat chef, chopping up meats and vegetables for a massive pot of stew.

Bepo and Chopper lounged in the shade, having found the perfect spot where the tide lapped at
their toes to beat the heat. Franky tossed a ball back and forth with Luffy, just narrowly avoiding
Jinbei and Shachi nearby, who were busy playing some sort of card game.

Law fought the urge to call upon his Room, to Shambles away the ball just to get Luffy’s attention
directed at him. Ugh.

Tearing his eyes away from the other captain, Law frowned at Ikkaku. “I don’t see what you’re
getting at.”

“I know you, Captain,” She crossed her arms over her chest, fixing him with a stern gaze, “You
must have made up your mind a dozen separate times before even asking Nami to meet us here. So,
what’s stopping you now?”

“We’re a busy crew,” Law chose his words carefully, “I can’t be dragging us off course for
personal reasons.”

Due to the stifling, tropical climate of the island, Law had allowed his crew to forgo the boiler suits
and wear their choice of casual clothes, though some, like Ikkaku, simply preferred to tie the upper
half of the suit around their waists, leaving multicolored undershirts and tank tops on full display.
Without the signature Heart Pirates uniform, it was almost...

Law’s heart twisted in his chest.

It was almost hard to discern his crew from Luffy’s.

They had travelled for so long, had spent so much time together. Of course friendships would
strengthen over time, bonds that would keep the two crews tied together regardless of Law’s (self-
proclaimed) bizarre interest in Luffy. Who was he to tell Clione that he was never to see Usopp
again? Or Jean Bart that sharing sake with Jinbei was inappropriate?

No, the Heart Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates had become irreversibly intertwined, still separate,
unique threads, simply braided together into one thick rope.

Law stared, his brain buffering.

“You do realize that this has become personal for all of us, right?” Ikkaku’s voice softened, the
hard edge to her eyes disappearing, “I might die if Nami doesn’t touch up my nails at least once a
month.”

The relief that flowed through him turned the general weight of his existence to a giddy energy.
She was right. Ikkaku was always right. She was his mechanic for a reason.

He grinned, the realization that his crew would not give a flying fuck about frequent meet ups with
the Straw Hats crossing his latest worry off his list. He allowed himself to chuckle, teasing, “With
all the tinkering you do in the boiler room? Try once a week.”

Ikkaku laughed, affectionately punching Law’s bicep, “There’s that sass I like to hear. Now, go do
your thing and schedule my nail appointments!”

Law balked. All of his plans had started after Luffy agreed to go with him to the coin museum.
“Do I just walk up to him or –”

“OI STRAW HAT!” Ikkaku hollered before Law could finish his question, “CAPTAIN NEEDS
YOU!”

The resounding chuckles from roughly 30 people, all crowing, “yeah, he does,” and, “finally,” and,
“about time,” had Law’s face flushing faster than ever before.

“Oh? Torao?” Luffy stilled in his game of catch, head swiveling eerily on that rubber neck to beam
at Law the moment their eyes met.

Smack!

A ball in the face did little to dampen Luffy’s mood as he skipped over to where Law stood at the
edge of the gathering. Before she scampered away, Ikkaku snatched Kikoku from her captain’s
deathly white grip, muttering a final, “You don’t need this on a date. You’ll be fine. Just... Relax.”

And then she was gone and Luffy was standing in front of him, regarding him with eager
anticipation. He rocked back and forth on his heels, snickering to himself.

“What’s so funny, Straw Hat-ya?” Law no longer knew what to do with his hands, Kikoku’s
absence rattling him to his core. He settled for shoving his fingers into the pockets of his pants,
fingers gripping the soft strands he had stuffed in there earlier, to be gifted later.

“Shishishi ,” Luffy’s big eyes shone brighter than the fucking sun, “You look nice today, Torao.”

Law didn’t want to care. He really didn’t want to care. He wanted to pretend like he had thrown on
the first clothes he saw when they had reached Mikkan Island. Unfortunately, he had spent at least
half an hour picking out a flattering outfit. Having settled on his usual spotted jeans with a white
tank top and open, pale yellow button up, sleeves rolled to his elbows to put the majority of his
tattoos on full display, he hadn’t expected Luffy to comment on the overwhelmingly casual attire.

But he had, like he knew, and if Law stammered over a thank you, Luffy didn’t point it out to their
respective crews. He gulped, masking the nervous tick with a cough, “Er, that’s a nice shirt.”

The words were out of his mouth before he could actually register what we was saying. And he
really wished he had, because Luffy looked at him like he was explaining for the nth time that too
much red meat was bad for his health.
“Are you okay, Torao?” Luffy peered at him, stretching his neck to bring them nose to nose.

Law’s heart may as well have stopped, but he managed to keep his tone level as he frowned, “Just
dandy.”

Luffy tugged at the open red and white striped shirt he wore over his bare chest, “This is Zoro’s
shirt. It’s old.”

“Ah,” Law’s brain was short-circuiting, “Well. It’s... nice.”

“You said that already.”

Law grunted a response, leaning away from Luffy’s face, pressing closer and closer into his space.
Big eyes watched every twitch of his muscles. Fuck it. He was going to have to bail. He couldn’t
do it, especially knowing that Robin had probably bloomed an ear nearby to eavesdrop.

“What do you need, Torao?” Luffy asked, his head returning to his shoulders with an unnatural
twang.

It was the sincerity in his gaze, sparkling and more enticing than the call of the ocean, that pushed
him forward once more. “I wanted to visit the antique coin museum. Would you like to join me?”

He braced himself for the rejection, but it never came. Instead, Luffy’s grin grew impossibly large.
“Okay!”

Law’s hands balled into fists within his pockets.

He was fucked.

***
“And so, this is a newer coin, but it’s in the collection because it was only in rotation for a month,”
Law explained, pointing to the shimmering copper beneath the display glass, “It bears the sigil of
the Revolutionary Army, and was thought to come from somewhere in the West Blue. However,
no one knows where they originated.”

Luffy’s mouth fell open in surprise, “They just appeared?”

“There are no records of any civilization manufacturing such coins,” Law peered closer, narrowing
his eyes at the tiny, engraved script along the edge of the currency, “And look here. There’s a
word I’ve never heard before – Lulusia. Is it a place? A code? No one has a clue.”

"Wow," Luffy breathed, fogging the glass as he ducked close to Law’s cheek, “That’s cool!”

Law stilled, awkwardly bowed over the display, eyes no longer seeing the coin in front of him.
They were glazed over, his mind far away as he registered just how close Luffy was. He could feel
the heat radiating off Luffy in waves, could make out the slightest brush of raw knuckles (Law’s
heart stuttered – who had Luffy been fighting now?) against the back of his hand, hanging limply
between them.

Was it too forward to link their pinkies? Would that make their outing more exciting? Luffy had to
be bored, right? It was common knowledge that he drifted off when bombarded with information
that wasn’t kept short and concise.

So, why was he staring at the coin with such reverence, as if he had listened and understood what
had made it so special? Why was he turning his face, eyes sparkling as he looked to Law with rapt
curiosity?

“Are there any special coins from the North?” He straightened up suddenly, frantically surveying
his surroundings.

“Why?” Law blinked. His brain was overwhelmed with the kindness and oddity saturating the
situation.

“You’re from the North!” Luffy explained bluntly, as if it was obvious.

Law flinched, and before he could stop himself, his eyes flitted to a coin on a pedestal a few feet
away, one he had actively avoided. It shone a deathly white, like a piece of sculpted marble,
enclosed in a glass cube, unable to do any more harm.

Two steps forward, and Law was looming over the case, stare cutting through the protective barrier
like a scalpel slicing through skin. The ridged edges of the coin cut through the white paint to
reveal glimmering silver underneath like tallies of all the lives lost to Amber Lead, the engraved
depiction of the ivory city like a fabled land, a memory considered mythology.

He was conflicted, emotions at war, threatening to spill through splitting seams as he gazed at the
decorative currency from Flevance. He didn’t know how to feel when he looked back on the
tragedy that had shaped him in so many ways. On one hand, he would have led a drastically
different life had he been born anywhere else. He would have probably been somewhere cold and
snowy, studying the effect of cold climate on lifespans with his parents. He would have probably
never even considered piracy. He would have...

He would have never meet Donquixote Doflamingo, and well, wasn’t that troubling? For, if he had
never begged Doflamingo for a spot among his crew as a suicidal, blood thirsty child, he would
have never met Cora-san. And without Cora-san...

Law looked to his right, to Luffy keeping a respectful distance, feigning interest in an assortment of
coins from the Grand Line.

He must have registered the tight line of Law’s lips, the way he shoved his hands into his pockets
and sauntered off in a new direction as ample evidence that Law did not wish to elaborate on the
matter. Though, Luffy didn’t seem to be bothered by Law’s sudden shift towards a new wing of the
museum. In fact, he seemed more than willing to let Law spend some time on his own, admiring
the the most ancient coin to ever be discovered, right where the museum had been founded.

The thing about the oldest coin to ever have been identified, however, was that it had been
unearthed atop a large hill, ending in a steep cliff overlooking a beach littered with sharp rocks.
The archaeologist who had made such a discovery had looked out at the horizon, at the dynamic
landscape, and had said, “This would make a great tourist attraction.”

Were they wrong? Not necessarily, for approaching the marble museum atop the looming hill had
prompted both Law and Luffy to gasp in awe. However, as Luffy wrapped a rubbery arm multiple
times around Law’s waist, leaping off the peak to hurtle terrifyingly fast towards the jagged
boulders below, the shouts of outpaced security guards climbing into the sky, Law didn’t quite
appreciate the topographical position of such a monumental discovery.
It had all happened so fast.

One moment, Law was reading about an old, eroded coin, and the next? Well, he had been pulled
out of the museum by a cackling Luffy, laughing that stupid laugh that always meant nothing good.
Guards had been on them in an instant, reaching for rubbery limbs that swung this way and that,
always just shy of grasping fingers.

Law had run clumsily, half tugged and half booking it by his own volition, trying his best to keep
up with the manic captain of the Straw Hats as he stretched out an arm and looped it around a
conveniently placed bar in the ceiling of the lobby. Swinging out of the museum, they had soared
right past the greenery of the hilltop, plummeting towards the waves crashing on the sharp stones
lining a sliver of beach.

He had been prepared to summon his Room, when Luffy had acted once more, a different plan in
mind. Pulling Law against his chest, flipping them so that Luffy’s spine was feet away from
colliding with the ground, he blew his body up like a balloon, cushioning their landing with ease.

Bouncing off Luffy’s inflated form, Law’s eyes were quick to survey the tiny beach, frantically
jumping from pointed stone to pointed stone, looking for somewhere to hide. He could hear the
security organizing a search team above.

That was when he saw it – a small cave at the foot of the cliff. After a quick Scan revealed the
shelter to have been abandoned by whoever had last used it, a Shambles moved the two captains
into the shadows of the cavern, and a Takt dropping a massive boulder over the entrance,
completely sealing them away from the outside world.

Luffy’s laughter cut through the sudden silence, the whoosh of the ocean waves deafened by the
density of the stone slab blocking their exit. He fell to the ground, clutching his stomach as he
howled and howled.

Rolling his eyes, Law slid down the parallel wall, grunting in discomfort when his bottom hit the
ground unceremoniously. “What’s so funny?” He grumbled, brain struggling to come up with a
plan to ensure they were completely in the clear before attempting escape.

“Did you see the look on their faces?” Luffy beamed, stretching his leg out as he dug in his pocket.
His sandaled foot nudged against Law’s thigh, sending a shook through his system. “They were so
confused. No one’s done that before, I guess.”
“What did you do?” Law was too intrigued to put any threat in his words. He found himself leaning
forward, chasing the warmth of Luffy’s ankle where it had pressed into Law’s leg, peering at Luffy
in boyish anticipation.

A glass box wrapped in a ripped piece of red and white striped fabric was thrust into Law’s hands,
the scrap of Luffy’s Zoro’s shirt falling away to reveal blinding silver beneath chipped white
paint.

“You didn’t,” Law breathed, his heart pounding against his rib cage. He caressed the edges of the
container, whispering, “No way.”

“It’s important to you, yeah?” Luffy was watching him, a nervous energy rattling his bones. Law
could hear them.

Unable to keep his jaw off the floor, Law held up the coin with the soul of Flevance, of everything
he had grown to hate but still loved so dearly, and let the tiny beam of light squeezing between the
entrance of the cave and the boulder illuminate the intricate engraving. The image of the White
City was just as beautiful as he remembered.

He hadn’t heard Luffy breathe in at least five seconds. His eyes darted over to the gift to see him
sitting there, stone still, waiting for Law’s approval. He was so genuine, so sincere, and Law
considered that Luffy himself could have light up the fucking cave had the stone in front of their
hideout blocked all sunshine.

Yeah. He decided then and there that, no matter how terribly out of shape Doflamingo had bent his
life, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“You don’t have to tell me anything, Torao,” Luffy’s smile was uncharacteristically soft, “But I’ll
kick anyone’s ass for you, okay?”

And then Law laughed.

Because it wasn’t until they were nestled in the depths of the small cave, knees brushing, and eyes
wide, and cheeks flushed from the thrill of it all, did Law realize that they were some of the most
infamous pirates on the sea. Notorious, gruesome criminals with incredibly high bounties. They
could have just... knocked the guards out, taken the coin, and calmly walked back to where their
crews were setting up a party on the beach.

None of this had been necessary. Hell, Law was pretty sure he wouldn’t have even had to
dismember the guards. They were but civilians trained in the art of carrying a low-grade firearm.
Oh, so scary.

The moment of clarity made him crack, an ugly snort ripping from his nose as he rasped a hearty
chuckle.

Luffy’s face lit up like he was watching a goddamn fireworks display. “What’s so funny, Torao?”
He mocked, a teasing glint shimmering in the depths of his dark eyes.

“I... This... Just...” Law covered his face with long, tattooed fingers as he chuckled, an endless
stream of laughter that had his chest aching. He took a shaky breath, grinning at the man across
from him, letting the first words that came to mind spill from lips more confident then they had
been in a long time. “Thank you, Luffy-ya.”

And Luffy snickered, a sound that Law was beginning to accept was his favorite chime in the entire
universe. Gently placing the coin on the ground next to him, Law stretched out his lanky legs on
either side of Luffy, toes touching the parallel wall and knees bent at an acute angle. He scooched
a bit closer to where Luffy sat, all cross-legged with a dopey grin on his face and...

Law couldn’t take it anymore.

All of these emotions, this gratitude and affection and trust was ready to spill over the wall he had
built long ago to protect his heart. Hooking an index finger under Luffy’s chin, he tilted his head up
ever so slightly, scanning Luffy’s expression for any sign of discomfort.

But, in classic Luffy fashion, he beat Law to the punch, rocking forward onto his cross ankles to
plant a chaste kiss upon Law’s lips.

There were no sparks deep in Law’s chest, no butterflies in his stomach.

No.
There was so much more.

He pulled away, startled as thousands of images surged through his mind, memories that didn’t
belong to him, seen through eyes that simultaneously were and weren’t his own.

A wide smile, a warm ray of sunshine. White fire curling around limbs that stretched out towards
him, cool condensation misting around the arms that seemed to belong to Law, to the eyes through
which he peered. The fog clashed with the flames to cast rainbows in the thousand droplets
sparkling in the space between them, steam rising as the sunshine man surged forward, evaporating
the cool breeze in a heated embrace.

Luffy.

But it wasn’t Luffy.

It was that strange version of Luffy that had been pictured on his latest bounty poster. The one Law
had gotten a glimpse of during the raid on Onigashima.

And then he was sitting there, in the cave, but Luffy was nowhere to be found. Instead, a mirror
image of himself but... different sat before him.

“Trafalgar Law,” The man spoke with his own voice, “It’s nice to finally be acknowledged.”

The man seemed to glow, to emit his own light in the darkness, his dark hair messy and sticking
out in all directions, like the strands were frozen at the tips. His skin tone was cool, so pale he
almost appeared blue, like the frost creeping across glass on a frigid morning. He wore the same
clothes as law, their colors long faded, the bright haze around the being erasing any details. Law
found he couldn’t stare at the unfamiliar version of himself for too long, his eyes protesting the
cool luminescence bursting from his flesh and blood.

“Where’s Luffy-ya?” Law could feel the panic pulsing through him at an alarming rate.

“Oh, cute,” The man smirked, a curl of the lips so recognizable, it sent a shiver down Law’s spine,
“You’re worried.”
Law grit his teeth.

“Don’t fret,” The voice soothed, and Law found his body obeying despite the suspicion placing
him on edge. There was an almost bored expression on the man’s face, though no hint of malicious
intent. To Law, it seemed as though the man had seen far too much to be easily provoked, which
only made Law want to fight back against the strange hold on his frame even more. If the... the
thing that looked like him, and knew of him, was not the slightest bit intimidated by the Surgeon of
Death, then just how strong was this man?

Like he could read Law’s mind, his clone drawled, “I won’t hurt you.”

“And why should I trust you?” Law ground out.

The man chuckled, “Because I'm you.”

“I’m assuming I am a vessel for you? You’re a spirit of sorts? Perhaps the inherited will of my
Devil Fruit?” Law frowned, narrowing his eyes at the ghostly copy of myself, “So, no, you aren’t
me. You’re using me.”

That smirk was back. “Well, you certainly are smarter than your type.”

Law couldn’t stop the blush from rushing to the tips of his ears.

“You’re not wrong, though. This is indeed all happening in your head. I went ahead and slowed
time so Straw Hat there doesn’t think you’ve gone braindead from his little kiss.” The man
explained, his voice ringing loud and clear as reality shifted around them, his frosty glow fading
into a myriad of colors flashing across Law’s eyes.

It was as if experiencing a thousand different lives all at once, lives he could never fathom,
swimming before him, like Law could reach out and grab them like an intriguing book on a library
shelf. The visions overwhelming his senses had his heart aching, his chest tight, his head dizzy. It
felt like he was being reborn, over and over again, ripped into two as part of his soul died each time
he was separated from that sunshine smile, big round eyes beckoning forth hope and love.

“You see, I am Glaukos, God of the Moon. For centuries my lover and I have been separated, stuck
in bodies unable to awaken us. It seems that Nika was successfully roused by his vessel first. He
must have set out to find me. To find you.”

Law heard his voice speak, transmitted into his head as his lips remained frozen in a perfect ‘o’ .
He couldn’t move. He could hardly breathe. All he could do was sit there as he was bombarded by
moments he never lived, as his blood turned to friendly fire, Nika’s touch upon Glaukos’ skin
igniting crystalline ice, light refracting in a kaleidoscope of hues, movie reels projected around the
cave every direction he looked.

Law and Luffy in robes of silk, candles flickering around their frames, tangled in a lover’s embrace.
Law and Luffy in a field of exotic flowers, ones that not even Nico Robin could dream up, Luffy
tucking a golden flower behind Law’s ear. Law and Luffy in the heat of a battle, drenched in blood
and reaching for each other, inches between their fingertips.

Glaukos and Nika, in shining armor, charging across the plains on majestic steeds.

Law and Luffy, on the rooftop in Dressrosa.

Nika and Law, on the banks of Wano, a banquet in the distance.

Glaukos and Luffy, kissing in a cave dug into a cliff face.

“Nika?” The name was ripped directly from Law’s chest as the images vanished in a flash, leaving
Law gasping for breath, clutching at the front of Luffy’s Zoro’s shirt. His spine curled as he buried
his face against Luffy’s neck, ignoring the timid voice screaming in his head that this was all
moving too fast, desperate to ground himself in the musky scent of salty sea and warm sand and
blazing sunshine.

“Ah,” Luffy seemed satisfied, his voice gentle as he nuzzled his cheek against Law’s, “You
remember.”

“I...” Law tried to speak against Luffy’s neck, but the warmth from his skin, the electricity sparking
through his system as Luffy rested a comforting palm on his back too much. He pulled his head
back to gaze into Luffy’s eyes, seeking some sort of reassurance. “Glaukos... He... I’m...?”

And just like that, Luffy was Law’s rock for the second time in his life. Flashing a brilliant beam,
Luffy promised, “It’s me, Torao. Just like you are you. Nika is happy, but he is not me.”
“And you...” Law knuckles were white as he refused to relinquish the fabric of the striped shirt,
“How do you feel?”

“Shishishi, I’m glad! Now Nika will protect my Nakama.”

Law stilled, letting his eyes fall to the ground, to where Luffy’s sandals poked out beneath crossed
legs. His heart stopped, “What?”

“I made a deal with Nika,” Luffy explained, “To find his soulmate so he wouldn’t hurt my Nakama
if they get in the way when he fights.”

Law slowly unraveled his fingers from Luffy’s Zoro’s shirt. Ducking his head, he forced his rattled
lungs to whisper, “So... Today, and the trial... That was Nika?”

There was a soft huff vibrating Luffy’s chest, ruffling the flyaway strands of Law’s hair as air was
exhaled from Luffy’s nose. Strong hands radiated heat as Luffy stroked Law’s spine to his
shoulders, up his neck, cradling Law’s jaw. He snickered, “No, Torao. Nika has been looking for
Gloopy, but I like you.”

"You do?” Law could feel Luffy’s blood coursing through the calloused skin of his palms, “And
not because of Nika’s influence?”

Luffy’s eyes were dark with longing as he leaned in once more, the puff of air against Law’s lips
the sweetest taste accompanying the sweetest sound. “No, not Nika. Because of you.”

This time, it was Law that captured Luffy’s lips with his own, his shaky hands jumping to action as
relief, excitement and desire thrummed like a live wire through his body. His fingers found
themselves brushing against the hard planes of Luffy’s chest as the other man responded with
equal enthusiasm, tongue sweeping into Law’s mouth with an endearing clumsiness that had Law
melting into his touch.

Kissing Luffy was...

Well, it felt like the rush of memories he had just experienced. It felt like a summer sun on a winter
day, like the breeze in one’s hair when they sprinted towards a dream. It felt like his heart was
ready to burst, oversensitive and raw, stimulated by every touch like it was an eloquent letter of
love. It felt like a lifetime of searching, to finally find exactly what he was looking for.

It felt like so much, too much, and not enough.

Law savored the taste of Luffy’s lips, of his mouth as their kisses became heavier, hotter, more
desperate. Hands gripped hips, legs circled a waist, and all of a sudden, Law was in Luffy’s lap,
fingers curled into the soft, unruly hair at the nape of his neck as he panted against Luffy’s jaw.
Peppering kisses down Luffy’s neck, he moaned as Luffy raised his hips, grinding his arousal
against Law’s own.

Hot. So hot.

Law wanted to cry from the sheer ecstasy, from the pure joy racing through his veins. All this time,
he had fought it and fought it and it had taken interference from a god to show them just how much
they meant to each other and...

They were such idiots.

Now, grinding into Luffy’s lap, hiding from pathetic security guards in some seaside cave, Law
wouldn’t change a single thing about his fucking shit show of a life. Not if it meant he would never
meet Luffy. Not if it meant he would never fall in love.

Love.

Who would have thought?

“I like you, Torao,” Luffy babbled into Law’s ear as the latter sucked on his exposed collarbone,
Luffy’s Zoro’s shirt lost in a flurry of passion, “Law, I like you so much.”

He wasn’t sure when it happened. Somewhere between the 50th and 75th kiss, perhaps. But, next
thing Law knew, he was laid out on the ground, Luffy bracketing him from above, hips moving in
time with his heaving breaths, lips ghosting over the sensitive skin of Law’s neck. The friction of
their pants was becoming a pain. They wanted more. More, more, more.
 Luffy growled, a low rumble that made Law’s cock impossibly hard. He began pulling at the
button on law’s jean with one hand, his own pants with the other.

Grinning, Law hoisted himself up on his elbows, leaning in to capture another kiss. “Should we get
back to the beach before your Nakama,” Law cooed the word, a velvety purr in Luffy’s ear,
“Notices we’ve been gone for so long?”

“Nah,” Luffy nipped at Law’s ear, tongue flicking at the gold hoops adorning the lobe, “The party
can wait.”

Chapter End Notes

I strongly headcanon that Law is so emotionally stunted and dramatic, he would be an

awkward mess when KNOWINGLY trying to flirt.

i know i said epilogue today too but it's past midnight and your girl needs to SNOOZE.
 The Archaeologist (Epilogue)
Chapter Notes

Just a little chapter to tie up loose ends :)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Yow! What a SUPER party!” Franky crowed, plopping down on the fallen log Robin had chosen
as a seat.

The archaeologist struggled to tear her eyes away from where Chopper and Usopp spun around in
circles, hooves in hands, the flickering light from the massive bonfire on the beach casting dancing
shadows across giddy faces. They moved in time with Brook’s guitar, their laughter the perfect
harmony to the upbeat jangle of steel strings.

Robin’s heart swelled as she turned to smile at her new companion. “Indeed, it is quite lovely,”
She hummed.

Franky laughed, the sound booming over the chatter of the Heart Pirates mingling with the Straw
Hats, “I’m shocked you agree, considering no one has fallen into the fire!”

“Yet,” She teased, turning her attention to Ikkaku, Shachi and Zoro, passing a bottle around in a
circle, shoes shucked to the side and feet dug into warm summer sand. She lifted her own mug of
wine to her lips.

“You’re a monster,” Franky chuckled, taking a swig of his cola.

“No,” Robin giggled, “I’m a devil.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re so scary,” His eyes creased with a bright smile as he waved to Jinbei and Jean
Bart, approaching with a mountain of food, courtesy of Sanji and Penguin, the two cooks humming
happily as they turned kebabs over an open grill. Franky made to shuffle further down the log,
intending to make more room for their friends.

“Oh, no need,” Robin excused herself, brushing bits of bark from her skirt as she stood, glancing
over her shoulder, “I was just about to welcome back our captains, anyway. Enjoy your meal.”

The muffled murmurs of gratitude through mouths stuffed with food were lost on Robin, her sharp
eyes fixed to the two silhouettes approaching from the path leading to the closest village. Stepping
lightly over soft sand, the heat of the recently set sun still toasting the shore, she made her way
over to the party’s late attendees.

“Fashionably late, I see,” She squinted her eyes in one of her signature, knowing smiles. It was not
lost on her how fingers hung intertwined between frames hovering close together, how Law ducked
his head as a sheepish blush bloomed across his cheeks, how Luffy practically trembled with
excitement as he beamed up at Robin.

“Better late than never, Nico-ya,” Law’s frown was shaky, half-hearted at best. There was a telling
glimmer in his silver eyes, “You should know that better than anyone.”

Robin hummed, turning her head to survey her Nakama with a gaze steeped in affection. Then, she
eyed Luffy, smirking, “Sanji put all the best meat aside for you, Luffy.”

And with that, her captain was gone, arm stretching comically to keep himself tethered to Law as
he raced towards the cook, hollering for food. Robin and Law watched in awe as Luffy’s arm
stretched thinner and thinner, like a strand of chewing gum pulled beyond recognition, until,
eventually, Law let go. Luffy’s fingers snapped back to their origin at the speed of light, a loud
twang echoing over Brook’s soundtrack.

“Is this when you threaten to castrate me if I ever hurt your captain?” Law raised an eyebrow, his
dry tone barely concealing the mirth beneath.

Robin took a sip of her wine, the lip obscuring her soft smile, an attempt to intimidate Law with the
mischief dancing in her eyes, “Perhaps.”

“You are a truly terrifying woman, Nico-ya.”

“How kind of you to notice. Thank you, Torao,” She giggled. Then, her eyes fell on a ring of fabric
dangling from Law’s wrist, catching the light of the moon as he reached out to accept a mug of ale
from Penguin. “I see you spoke to Nami.”
Law nearly dropped his beer in his haste to shove his hand, and wrist, into the pocket of his jeans.
He scowled, though there was no heat to it.

“What do you owe her, exactly?” Robin pondered, “Your life savings? Your first born? She does
like children.”

Law sighed, “I placed a deposit on the bracelets. They rack up interest monthly. I’m renting
them.”

Robin’s heart exploded with adoration for the crafty red-head. She looked over to where Nami had
joined Ikkaku and her sake battle by the bonfire. Robin raised her wine in a silent cheer . Nami
beamed the moment she saw the look on Law’s face.

“I’m sure you'll find it’s worth it,” Robin held out her hand, “May I?”

Despite the dramatic resignation upon Law’s face, he did not dilly dally. He placed his wrist in
Robin’s outstretched palm.

The bracelet was made out of the leftover scraps of Luffy’s shirt from Dressrosa, three long strands
braided together, curled into a bangle with a golden clasp. The result was a delicate navy rope,
bursting with splashes of orange and yellow, like fireworks in the night sky.

“And Luffy?” Robin did not need to articulate her question further.

Law nodded, “I let Nami-ya have her way with my Corazon jacket.”

“She is certainly talented,” Robin smiled, “What an eye for fashion.”

“More like an eye for profit,” Law grumbled, snatching his hand away. Robin watched his gaze
wander, the light of the bonfire illuminating the calm joy in the depths of his eyes, a spark lancing
through the steely irises as they landed on Luffy, shoving food in his face. He was seated next to
Sanji’s barbeque, snagging meat right off the grill, cheeks stuffed with an absurd amount, a
choking hazard if there ever was one.
 “And Nika?”

“Luffy-ya said the god is pleased,” Law nodded, “If he’s anything like Glaukos, I believe they are
content to simply co-exist again.”

Robin hummed her comprehension, admiring the way the Hearts blended effortlessly with the
Straw Hats. Everyone upon the beach, bathed in the golden light of the bonfire, seemed so carefree,
so relaxed, so happy. Everywhere she glanced, there were wide smiles and booming laughter, full
mugs of booze and plates long emptied from scrumptious food.

What a lovely community they had built together, all thanks to an alliance upon a snowy hilltop.

It really was a SUPER party.

Speaking of...

“Shall Franky fix an extending chain to the Polar Tang?”

Law choked on his beer, “You’re not leashing my submarine!”

Chapter End Notes

WOW. What a journey, eh?

Thank you SO SO SO much for reading this fic, and a HUGE thank you to riverofnara
for the incredible prompts. Please check out her fics, they are SO GOOD (expect a
comment from me on the christmas fic soon bb).

Shout out to my bestie 4Laurus, because I would not have been able to power through
this without her constant reassurance and help figuring out the tricky parts.

Thank you to everyone who clicked on this thing, left a kudos, a comment, or just
smiled as they read it. You mean the world to me <3<3<3

Happy holidays, everyone! Come pester me on Twitter and Tumblr!

End Notes
 This work is a mash-up of two prompts:
1. Law and Luffy coming up with excuses after their alliance ends to cross paths - the more
ridiculous, the better. Bonus points if it’s outsider POV.
2. After centuries, sun god Nika (now Luffy) finds his lover, moon god Law, who has no
memory of being a god.

All chapters are written, but I will update daily for the drama of it all!

The story behind "Glaukos":

Some think that Nika is a variation of Athena Nike, the victory goddess, or a facet of
Athena. I wanted to stick with the god theme, so I looked into Athena and other names
some more. A common epithet for Athena is Glaukopis, meaning bright-eyes, silvery,
gleaming, and also referring to the owl, the symbol of wisdom always seen with Athena. I
thought that, given Law's anime eyes being decpicted as silver up until recently, it was
fitting for our favorite surgeon.

So, he'll have grey eyes in this! Just a heads up!

Thanks for reading chapter 1! Come yell at me on Twitter and Tumblr!

Please drop by the archive and comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!