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“Maybe today is the day”
That’s what hope told him.
Every week.
Luffy had been sitting at their table in their café for two hours now, listening to that little diminishing voice inside his head that would always encourage him to return week after week to their former special place. Encourage him to wait.
Wait for Law.
With who he used to always come here every Friday afternoon for a date they never voiced out, but both knew the other would attend.
They would encounter each other at the entrance with perfect timing and step inside together, make their order that normally consisted on a black coffee for Law with no sugar, and hot chocolate or cold tea for Luffy, depending on the day’s weather.
Then, they would take their seat at one of the farest tables from the entrance, one sat in front of the other, so they could appreciate each other’s features being hit by the sun. Luffy always wondered if Law could see the same beauty in Luffy that the latest saw in Law.
If he did, he never mentioned it.
After receiving their order, they would talk about nothing and everything, joke around, eat some pastries – more like Luffy ate - or just stay quiet if Luffy felt like it. Thing that almost never happened, Luffy knew Law liked to hear all the nonsense he had to say.
Nothing of that ever felt like the first time they met, when they were just stranger starting conversation.
Right in that same café, in that same table.
Luffy entered the establishment completely soaking wet by the rain storm outside looking for a shield just until the storm was over and he could go home with his brother, Sabo.
He made his way to the counter, where a blond barista glared at the trail of water that he left and then looking at him up and down, probably debating on whether letting him stay or kicking him out. Finally, the barista took his order and disappeared into the staffroom to look for a mop.
Meanwhile, Luffy turned around searching for a table to sit while he waited for his hot chocolate, but all the tables were full to the top, something weird considering that there was a storm outside and any logical person should be home. Guess he wasn’t the only one taken be surprise.
He then spotted a small table back in the corner. There was only one person there, and he looked lonely, not like if he was waiting for someone, and even if he was, Luffy was pretty sure no one would come. So that meant it was okay to go join him, right?
“Yes” Luffy thought.
Making his way to that table, Luffy took the seat in front of the gloomy guy, who had his eyes fixed to the rain outside the window looking rather thoughtful. Luffy immediately took notice of all the tattoos decorating the man’s hands, fingers and forearms – he could see the tips of some spiky design under the guy’s jacket -. Even with the word DEATH inked on the knuckles, the guy looked nice to Luffy’s eyes.
Taking his eyes off from the rain, the guy turned to face Luffy, who was still staring at his tattoos in his own world. He didn’t say anything at first, but he was frowning and glaring intensely at Luffy in a bad attempt to make him leave. Luffy lift his dark brown eyes to look into the golden ones. Smile plastered on his face, oblivious to how unwelcome he was.
The guy stopped glaring, finally giving up. Normally, anyone who saw his tattoos would stay away and, even if they were bold enough to speak to him, one slight frown would do to make them leave.
“You’re wet” he said instead in a low voice.
“Yeah, I know… sorry about that” Luffy answered with the big smile still on his face, not sounding sorry at all “Can I sit here?”
“You’re already sitting there”
“Thank you!” Luffy chirped, not getting that that answer was not really an invitation or approval “I’m Monkey D. Luffy, by the way”
The guy just nodded, not interested in knowing this kid that had just stolen his seat and loneliness. He wanted to tell the kid to just wait for his order in silence and then get the fuck out of here, but it was still raining, and seeing him all wet to the bones and still managing to smile after he glared daggers at him made him feel a little bad. Not guilty, but maybe he could at least be a little nicer.
“What’s your name?” Luffy had been expecting the guy to introduce himself after him, but he didn’t.
“Law”
“Law? What law? There is no law that prevents a person from answering their name” Luffy tilted his head in confusion, why would a person not be able to say their own name?
“Law is my name” Law was feeling irritated, he knew Law and law sounded and were spelled the same way, but who can be stupid enough to confuse one for the other when asking for a name? Apparently, this kid.
“Ooh, my bad” Luffy laughed, he had never heard that name before, it probably was very uncommon.
“Luffy?” the barista called from the counter, Luffy stood up and walked to grab his order. The barista immediately regretted not delivering the order himself, now there was even more water to mop.
Luffy took seat again and drank form his mug of chocolate. Bad idea.
Too hot.
“Damn it!” Luffy exclaimed, his tongue and throat burned, he took his hands to his throat trying to ease the burn from outside. He needed water.
Why was this shit that hot?
Law stared at Luffy holding his hurt throat for a second, before speaking.
“Here, you can drink it” Law scooted his cold coffee towards Luffy, who took a large gulp without hesitation, just to spit it out on himself right after.
“What is this?” Luffy cried sticking out his tongue – at least it wasn’t burning anymore - and making a face to the bitter taste.
“Don’t you drink coffee? I just gave it to you because it was cold already and you needed something like that” Law defended himself.
“I do drink coffee, but this one tastes bad, it’s too bitter” Luffy replied glaring at the cup in front of him.
“It doesn’t have sugar, I prefer it that way” Law said, not sure why he added the last statement, he normally wouldn’t reveal any personal information or preference to strangers.
“I like sweet drinks better” Luffy answered looking down at himself, now he was also soaked in coffee, but there was no use in trying to dry it with napkins.
Yet, he did take a few to wipe the table, even if most of the coffee landed on him there were many stains on the table too.
Law chuckled “Yeah, guess most people do”
Law also took a napkin to help Luffy clean.
“Why are you here alone?” Luffy asked when they were done with the table, not caring if he was being impolite. He was just curious.
“You could say that I was waiting for someone, but after it started raining I guessed they wouldn’t come, even if it wasn’t that hard at the time, so I just came here to grab a coffee before going home. The storm started almost right after and I got stuck here” Law said nonchalantly.
“Oh, was it somebody important? Maybe the person did go meet you and didn’t find you” Luffy said turning to the entrance, like expecting the person Law was waiting for to come right through the door at any moment “You don’t leave a person waiting”
It was strange for Law to see a someone he just met look so concerned for his privet life problems, any normal person would just say “I sorry” and change the topic. Luffy was different, Law noticed from the first moment.
After an hour, Luffy had decided he liked Law. Even if he seemed to be an unsociable jerk at first, he actually was very kind, probably he just had a bad day. Luffy even managed to make him open up to him, not as much as Luffy himself did, but he could see Law wasn’t a person to just talk about himself to anyone so it was a pretty good advance. Law was going to be a good friend; he could feel it.
At some point, they exchanged numbers, both smiled to the other as they parted ways. Not knowing they would be meeting up every Friday evening from then on.
The bell chimed.
Luffy instantly turned to the entrance.
Nothing.
Just a couple holding hands with intense love in their eyes, the girl had a bouquet of roses hold up tight to her chest, smelling them with a soft smile on her lips.
Luffy felt his heart ache just from staring at her.
“I would give you a thousand sunflowers… ”
There was this one time when Law asked to meet him at the station after work.
Luffy had been impatient the whole morning while Sabo lectured him about why Law was not a good person. But Luffy wasn’t listening at all.
Nothing of what Sabo or anyone said could convince him that Law was a bad person, their arguments were just so stupid and didn’t make sense in his head.
What is wrong with Law’s tattoos? They are beautiful. And Ace had too.
Age gap? Law would not take advantage of him, and they were just friends to begin with.
The dark aura Law had? It’s just that he likes to be left alone most of the time, so he tries to scare people away.
And all the gossips involving him? They are gossips.
Luffy was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t’ notice Law’s presence until the man was barely a few feet from him.
Law was holding his briefcase in one hand and a bouquet of mini sunflowers - “Sunray yellow hybrid” Law said they were called - in the other.
Luffy knew he had feelings for Law; he had known it for several weeks now. And he also knew a man only bought flowers for another person; which, most likely, was for their special someone.
So Luffy felt heartbroken knowing someone else already owned Law’s heart and he would have to keep all those feelings to himself, never letting Law know that he was the owner of his own heart. He felt like crying, but he wouldn’t let his unwanted feelings ruin Law’s happiness.
Without saying anything and as if reading the sadness in his eyes, Law stepped closer to Luffy and offered him the bouquet of sunflowers; Law kept his head down, trying to hide the blush that was threatening to appear across his cheeks, and his eyes glued to the floor to avoid eye contact.
But Luffy didn’t noticed any of this at the moment.
All that was in his mind was the fact that Law bought flowers for him. Those beautiful sunflowers were his. What was his previous thought?
‘A man, most likely, only buys flowers for his special someone’.
Luffy carefully took the bouquet in his arms, hugging them tight, but not tight enough to damage them. This was special.
This obviously meant something to Law, he meant something to Law.
It’s not like Luffy didn’t know he meant something to Law, because he did, the thing is that you don’t just give flowers to an average friend. No, even if you’re a close friend you don’t receive flowers out of nowhere, and Law definitely doesn’t give flowers to anyone.
But there was Law, who had gotten out of his way to buy flowers for Luffy; and not just any flowers, but sunflowers, his favorites. Luffy didn’t know the meaning of them, nor did he care; the important thing was that Law gifted him his favorite flowers.
“I-I thought you would like them, you mentioned you liked sunflowers a few weeks ago, and I just saw them and thought-“
“They’re beautiful” Luffy interrupted him, he knew Law was having problems thinking of an explanation for his unexplainable gift.
“They reminded me of you” Law gave Luffy a soft look that made the later blush.
So Law thought about him even when he wasn’t around? It was nice the warm feeling that spread through his chest at the thought. It was good to know that he invaded Law’s mind just like he did to his own.
“Thank you, I love sunflowers” Luffy stated and almost choked on his spit when he was about to add “And you”. Instead, he looked up at Law and gave him the brightest smile he could manage.
He saw Law’s eyes shine with the same feeling he felt.
“I would give you a thousand sunflowers…” Law started with the softest voice Luffy ever heard him “… just to see you smile like this again”
Luffy felt his heart skip a beat or two at hearing that.
Everything felt hot inside of him and he knew he was completely red. Law’s words were repeating in his head making him unable to think of anything else.
Luffy didn’t have words to answer, so he just opened his arms and took Law in them. Both of his arms wrapped around Law’s waist and his face buried in the tattooed chest that Luffy wished wasn’t covered with so many layers of clothing, so he could hear Law’s heartbeat better and not just the barely audible but rapidly pounding against the taller’s ribcage. More of that pleasant warm feeling filled him.
Law hugged him back after a second, and slowly rested his head on top of Luffy’s, taking in he’s scent while closing his eyes, just relaxing.
He had been really nervous about the flowers. He didn’t know how Luffy would react to such a sudden change in his actions towards him, but this felt so nice right now.
People walking through the station stared at two, some parents even covered their children’s eyes and both could hear them murmuring shit about them, but neither cared. Fuck all of them.
This moment was theirs, and nothing could take it away. Nothing could ruin it no matter what. Because they were holding each other, because they didn’t need anyone else’s opinion, because they were the only thing that mattered in their mind. They didn’t have need to care for anything else.
For them, time had stopped, even if people kept moving and the clock kept ticking, everything was frozen.
Luffy would treasure this moment forever in his heart, he knew it.
I so he did.
Even after their breakup, that scene kept playing in his mind from time to time, like a reminder of his loss.
Why couldn’t he just go back in time and relive that moment? Fix the most unimportant details of their relationship? Hold Law’s hand tighter so he doesn’t let go this time? Beg for a second chance? He will do things right this time, even if he doesn’t know what he did wrong.
What he did to lose Law’s love.
The blonde waiter that had attended him two hours ago had approached him again and asked if he didn’t want anything else. Luffy knew he had to keep ordering if he wanted to stay here any longer, but even if he was hungry he couldn’t order anything, or else his anxiety would make him start eating one plate after another and by the time Law came he would be too full and, therefore, wouldn’t be able to eat with him.
So he told the waiter just as much. He could see the guy’s eyes look at him with empathy and pity before turning around and leaving him alone again. That was the same waiter who attended him the first time he met Law, and he probably noticed all the steps their relationship took from then on. Even this grievous forever-wait.
The guy never said anything, though. He even let Luffy stay all the time he wanted, just coming every now and then to check up on him.
The sun was starting to set. All rays of sunshine hitting Luffy straight on the face.
One evening, Luffy escaped from Sabo’s scold and ran to Law’s apartment.
Sabo had been more insistent with trying to get Luffy away from Law now that he knew about Luffy’s feelings; stating that he would end up hurt. He forbade the teen to go meet up with the other man for today’s ‘date’.
Just like he did the other thousand times.
And just like the same other thousand times, Luffy did not listen.
When Law asked him if he was okay with having all these arguments with his older brother for his fault, Luffy nodded. He didn’t want Law to distance himself from him.
Later, Law drove with Luffy to the outskirts of the town; Law took them to a small cliff, close to the beach but too far for them to try to walk to it. Luffy asked Law why didn’t he take them to the beach directly, and was answered that the view was beautiful from there. It was true.
The sun was setting, it would probably disappear in a few minutes, but you could tell that the view would still be beautiful at night. Every place where Law had taken him since the Sunflower Day – as Luffy called it- a few weeks ago, had been beautiful.
It seemed Law was looking for something, or for a place, to be more precise. Every time they had a ‘date’ Law would analyze the place and then shake his head and frown, Luffy didn’t get it, all of them looked perfect to him. But perfect for what? He didn’t know.
He could ask Law, sure. But he had the feeling that Law would not answer him. The thought made his heart shrink.
Finally, Law sat on the roots of the tree closest to the edge and Luffy took a place right beside him. They stared at the ocean for a whole minute or two before Law talked.
“Do you like it here?” he said in a very low and insecure voice that Luffy almost didn’t hear.
“Hmm? Yeah! I like it everywhere with you!” Luffy answered without any hesitation. Closed eyes and a shy smile on his lips.
Law stared at them a couple of seconds.
By now, they were used to flirt with each other, hug, cuddle, they even kissed a few times, but never talked about any of that later. Luffy didn’t know what they were at this point, and that gave him a heavy feeling each time he thought about it.
Law shifted.
“Luffy,” the named one turned his full attention at the older, hearing his voice full of confidence that was gone barely a moment ago “do you...” Law moved closer, leaning into Luffy’s warmth and wrapping an arm around his waist, almost leaving no space without Law’s scent for Luffy to breathe “want to be my-“
“YES!!”
“Wait, I didn’t even-“
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Luffy felt like the happiest man on earth, Law wanted him with him, nothing could be better than this. Every feeling of heaviness could go fuck itself. This was the moment he didn’t know he had been waiting for, the moment where one of them asked the other the question. His heart had been pounding hard against his chest the whole while Law spoke, his hands were sweating like crazy, and in his mind all doubts were being answered at the same time. He had been so eager for Law to finish his question and for him to answer his “Yes” that at the end he hadn’t been able to be patient enough to wait the other word.
Luffy was so happy, there was no other place he rather be.
“Luffy, would you kiss me?” Law asked, like mocking him if it weren’t for his serious expression.
Luffy immediately stopped shouting ‘yes’. Suddenly feeling nervous.
Law had never asked him for kisses before. Normally when they kissed, Law would ask Luffy for permission to do so, and Luffy would always give it or, sometimes, when Law didn’t voice his wish for a kiss, Luffy would steal a quick peck from his lips and then run away, as if he had stolen the greatest treasure.
As if Law himself wasn’t his actual greatest treasure
But right now, even if it wasn’t their first kiss, the idea felt foreign, Luffy felt unexperienced. When Law actually took his first kiss Luffy hadn’t felt so nervous, he felt eager for more, instead. Why was this different?
Why didn’t Law just shut him up with an unexpected kiss like in the movies? Luffy wouldn’t be feeling so self-conscious now.
Leaning even closer to Law while slightly parting his lips and taking a deep breath, Luffy innocently locked his lips with Law’s.
He could feel his blood rushing to his face and the heat of his body increasing to the point of almost making him black out. Law cupped his face with one hand while the other was still tightly wrapped around his waist, bringing him closer, Luffy on the other hand, pulled on Law’s shirt, trying to hold on to something, to know he wasn’t dreaming. You couldn’t even tell that there were two persons lying under the tree now, Law Was covering Luffy’s body completely, just giving him that exact space enough to not squeeze him. Luffy would not mind if Law did, though.
The innocent kiss had tuned into something more passionate, full of feelings and love that spread through both males. Not like the type of kiss you give your lover before making love, but very close.
To them, the kiss felt like their completion, like finally living, like one second being in hell and the other being in heaven, like finally experiencing what they were made for.
There was so much love in that act that they could almost read the other’s mind and know there was nothing to be afraid of. Because they were together and that’s how things were meant to be, how they should have been from the beginning. And they were so perfect together, perfect for each other.
Or that’s what Luffy thought.
Six months into their relationship Law was saying goodbye to him.
Luffy was standing in front of their bank in the park they barely visited yesterday, when everything was fine. He was staring at the path where Law came from, the same path he took when leaving. Tears were soaking his face, and if it weren’t for his red puffy eyes, anyone could have thought it was just the rain that started pouring right after Law was out of sight.
What was going on again?
Oh, right.
Law had just broken up with him
That moment was like a blurry memory, even if it had just taken place a few minutes ago.
Law holding his hands tightly, saying how much he loved him.
That was funny, why was Law talking in past tense? Were they taking another step in their relationship and Law just wanted to make sure Luffy understood everything?
Guess that couldn’t be the case with Law’s following words
“It was a pleasure to coincide in this life with you, Luffy” Law said with a lopsided smile before letting his hands go and leaving in the same direction he came. Taking Luffy’s heart with him.
Luffy hadn’t heard completely anything of what Law said before that. He only heard the love statements, nothing in between.
Everything he knew was that all his being felt like crashing within him, and that the tears were falling down his cheeks, and that his frame shaking, and his life escaping his body to run to Law and stay with him forever. His lungs didn’t even seem able to take enough oxygen to keep him breathing.
“Wait…” he whispered “… I still love you”
Law was already too far from his reach.
Law wouldn’t hear him even if he screamed.
He was alone.
And Luffy stayed there.
He knew his body was cold and he could get sick, but he couldn’t bring himself to move and go home. What if Law came back to retract everything he said? What if he didn’t mean it? What if he left and Law came back and didn’t find him and therefore, he would never know Law wanted to apologize?
So there he was, standing in the middle of a rainy day, just like the day they met.
With on one hand, holding the remains of his ripped out heart, hopes and desires.
With the other, all of the damn excuses Law gave him while trying to justify his decision to end their relationship. Excuses that not even Law believed.
Both hands were too heavy for him.
A month after breaking up, Luffy got word of Law dating a beautiful nurse from the hospital he worked for. But it was only two months later that he confirmed it.
Right when he was making his way to their café, he spot Law walking in his direction with a young woman holding tight to his arm. She really was beautiful, just like everything Law showed him.
When they were close enough to greet or at least acknowledge each other, Law turned to face those deep blue eyes that now accompanied him every day, with an emotion that Luffy was not sure he had ever seen in him. The girl smiled at him and Law smiled back, you could clearly see that they meant everything for each other. She was everything in Law’s world, and for him, she eclipsed everything else.
Even Luffy, who was walking right pass beside him.
Luffy could see Law was beyond happy and, even if it hurt him, he couldn’t help but also feel little happy for him.
Still, though, he hoped Law would let go of her and come running after him, desperate for his kisses and his touch. For him.
So Luffy entered their café, sat at their table and waited for Law.
“You don’t leave a person waiting”
Law didn’t come that Friday, nor the following one.
Luffy was tired.
Too many Fridays have passed and Law won’t show up, but his not ready to give up.
Law is his first love, and as his first love, he took all Luffy’s first’s, counting from his first kiss to his first heartache. But he’ll come to repair all of the damage, to bring Luffy back to life. Law has to take the responsibility for this whole mess that Luffy is.
And Luffy is willing to wait for him until then.
Because, how can someone just continue living and loving another person when they are so heartbroken? Do you heal from all the pain and memories alone? Does time really heal everything? Because Luffy doesn’t think he can heal from anything that Law left him.
Maybe Law one and only.
Maybe true love comes only the first time, with your first love. And that’s why they say that no following love ever feels like the first one, you actually never heal.
Maybe all your other loves are only a vague attempt to forget your first one. The one that was real.
And maybe that is what Luffy was for Law, an attempt to forget.
Oh.
There are the tears again.
It has been a long time since he last cried here. The last time, he tried to hide it but everyone still noticed, no one tried to approach him, though. That’s probably the reason why the blond waiter doesn’t kick him out: he feels pity for him and his eternal wait.
That doesn’t matter to Luffy.
Because Luffy knows Law will come, with a thousand sunflowers to buy Luffy’s greatest smile, just like he said.
Law knows Luffy loves all that cheesy stuff despite it being stupid. Because that’s just how Luffy is.
So even if his face is soaked and his eyes hurt from giving more tears then he has, even if he is hurt almost to the point of no repair, even if Law is the culprit of all the pain he is feeling right now, Luffy will wait for him.
Every Friday afternoon, until the day Law comes back to him.
“Stay, maybe today is the day”
And Luffy stays another hour.
Another day.
Another week.
Another month.
Another…
“Law-“