Work Text:
Bepo has known Law for a long time. He knew Law’s habits, how he thought, and he knew that Law generally didn’t give most people a second glance unless he saw something about them as interesting. When Bepo first met Law, he had been a small kid with a harsh look on life, and he was rarely seen without a large stick of pipe by his side. Now, as he got older, he used Kikoku, but Bepo knew that pipe was still kept in his captain's room, for safe keeping.
Bepo doesn’t know exactly why his captain was so adamant about no one touching that old pipe, but everyone on the ship knew to never even look at it after Shachi was left without a torso for a few hours. That was the only thing Bepo has ever seen Law obsess about to such a level, and he hoped there was never a day to when he got obsessed with something else.
“Captain Law! The News-Coo brought the new bounties.” Bepo called as he walked back into the Polar Tang. They had resurfaced after being underwater for four days, and Bepo was never happier to feel the wind again.
Law looked up, nursing his newest glass of coffee, and listen as Bepo read out the new bounties. Law’s bounty had gone up several thousand in the last month, which caused the captain to smirk, but no other Heart Pirate was seen on a wanted poster as of yet.
“And then there’s Monkey D. Luffy, his bounty is thirty-million belli.” Bepo finished.
Law just stared at him, posture no longer relaxed and slouching but alert and taught. Bepo started to deflate, looking around at the crew to see if he had done something wrong.
“Uh, Cap–" Bepo started, only for Law to cut in.
“Give me that.” The man hissed, snatching the wanted posters from the Mink’s hands. Bepo’s “I’m sorry” was heard by no one as Law stared at the newest rookie’s wanted poster with a weird glint in his eyes, his lips stretching into a smile that was, frankly, scary.
The captain walked out of the room, newspaper, and Monkey D. Luffy’s wanted poster tucked under his arm.
“Oh, so Law’s interested in that guy, isn’t he?” Penguin asked after a few long minutes.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Shachi knocked on his captain’s door before he opened it. After a particularly long surgery the other day, Law had been resting to gain his energy back and the crew mostly left him alone, but with the newest island coming up soon, the Heart Pirates figured their captain would want to be there to see it. Law’s room was neat as always; books piled on the desk and an empty cup of long-since finished coffee waiting to be taken away, notes and paperwork held tightly with metal clips sitting on the center of the desk.
Shachi was used to his captain’s need for cleanliness, and he wasn’t surprised to see Law out of the bed and out of sight. The sound of running water in the room over told Shachi that the captain was bathing, already awake, and that he should tell Law of the upcoming island and nope the fuck out of there. But Shachi was curious, having little opportunities to sneak a peek at his captain’s room.
He made sure to stay away from Law’s treasured pipe, still having no idea why it was so important, and looked around. His eyes caught on the newest bounty for Monkey D. Luffy, and he paused. His captain never kept one person’s bounty in his room; they were always kept in the dining hall for everyone to see so they would be aware of who they could be dealing with.
For Law to keep one person’s bounty just for himself and even go as far as to hang it on the wall, well...
“Shachi?” Law questioned when he came into the room, toweling at his hair. He raised an eyebrow, and Shachi hurriedly informed him of the approaching island.
“Uh, Law,” Shachi started slowly, “Why do you have that here?” he pointed towards the bounty.
Gold eyes landed on the poster, and Shachi felt a sweat break out when he saw the man’s slow to form grin, “I want to see him, is all.”
Yep, Captain Law really wanted that guy dead, Shachi high-tailed out of the room, ready to share the news with his crewmates.
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Penguin rushed into the Polar Tang, face flushed and a newspaper in his hand. When he read the newest record of the Straw-Hat pirates’ whereabouts, he hadn’t been able to believe it. They wrecked Enies Lobby for one crewmate, and it was Nico Robin at that! His captain was going to lose it, Penguin just knew it!
“You guys will not believe this!” Penguin yelled, waving the papers around.
The crew quickly piled around, peering at the newspaper in Law’s grip or the new wanted posters Penguin was showing.
“I can’t believe this crew,” Ikkaku muttered, eyes wide as she read the paper.
“Hey, she’s a looker.” Shachi said, eyes at “Cat-Burglar Nami”s wanted poster.
Bepo looked at ‘Chopper’s wanted poster and frowned, “Do you think he’s a mink too?” he asked no one in particular before deflating, “My bounty is that low too.”
Penguin looked over to his captain, who has been oddly quiet since he walked in with the news. Law was staring at the bounties in what could only be described as hateful before he stood, grabbed Luffy’s poster, again, and walked out with his morning coffee.
“Do you feel bad for that kid?” Shachi asked Penguin.
“Oh, yeah,” Penguin felt really bad for Monkey D. Luffy. Poor guy.
The crew was unaware of their Captain’s inner turmoil. Law slumped onto his bed, his chest heavy and face flushed because, holy shit, destroying Enies Lobby and taking down however many marines in the process?
So fucking attractive. Law couldn’t wait for when Luffy and his paths finally crossed.
But there were still the lingering thoughts that ate at Law, did Luffy even remember him? He certainly wasn’t lacking in attractive people’s company, that’s for sure…
⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Law watched as the Straw-Hat pirates started to fight the Celestial Dragons’ guards, attention set on Luffy intently. He hasn’t seen Luffy in person since they were kids and seeing that snot-nosed brat that reminded him of Cora-san and dragged him around the forest turn into this lithe yet powerful man with such an intense presence was something all right.
Law could feel his crew buzzing around him anxiously but paid them no heed. He could worry about that later, after Luffy is gone from his sight and after a long time spent getting reacquainted with one another. In case Luffy didn’t remember him, Law had an entire plan to make him fall in love again. Law’s smirk widened, excited.
“We have to hurry; the Marines will be coming with a Warship any time now!” One of Luffy’s crewmates, Cat-Burglar Nami, shouted. Law watched as several of the Straw-Hats all jolted at the news, shrieking about needing to go and getting their mermaid friend.
“The Marines are already here, Mugiwara-ya.” Law spoke up, enjoying the way some of the crew looked over at him in shock and slight fear at his news.
“What’s with the bear?” Luffy called, not facing Law as he dodged an attack, a hand on his straw hat. Law followed his movements, ready to step in if necessary.
“The place is already surrounded; since before the auction started,” Law continued, “Marine Headquarters has a post on the archipelago. Who knows what they’re after, but I doubt they were suspecting that someone would beat up the Celestial Dragons. An interesting show, I’ll admit, Mugiwara-ya.”
Luffy finally face Law, and the Heart Pirate’s captain found the air stolen from his lungs when those guarded honey-brown eyes met his. Luffy’s face softened to shock before a grin started to stretch his rubber cheeks and Law fought against the blush threatening to rise.
“Luffy, that’s Trafalgar Law, his bounty is–" Nico Robin started to warn, only to get interrupted by Luffy.
“Torao!” He cheered, much to Law’s horror.
He had hoped he wouldn’t hear that nickname again, but this was Luffy we’re talking about. He supposed he should have expected that. The captain shot forward, his grin stretching his cheeks in a way that would hurt anyone else, and he landed next to Law harshly. Law’s eyes widened when rubber arms wrapped around him, and Luffy squished himself into Law’s side.
“It’s Trafalgar, Luffy, can you still no pronounce it?” Law asked, breath still short. Luffy was warm, and Law placed his free hand atop the rubber arm around his torso.
“Torao! Your spots are gone!” Luffy whined, seemingly disappointed, as he unwound his arms and grabbed onto Law’s hand.
Law was stunned for a moment. How Luffy remembered and even missed those spots that Law himself hated was beyond him, but it still made warmth flutter in his chest. “Yes, it was an illness, Luffy-ya,” He explained, patient.
Luffy just snickered, twisting his fingers with Law’s, eyes tracing the tattoos on his knuckles. Law couldn’t believe how right it felt, having Luffy squished against him and holding his hand.
“LUFFY WHAT THE HELL, YOU’RE BOYFRIEND IS THE SURGEN OF DEATH?!” Cat-Burglar shouted, the sound deafening.
Law’s heart fluttered. Luffy talked about him and called him his boyfriend to his crew, how amazing was that!
Law’s own crew shouted and looked at him like their entire world was thrown upside down. “Boyfriend! What!?” Shachi yelled, quickly followed by Penguin’s yell of, “I thought you wanted to kill him!”
Law blinked, eyebrows furrowing, “Why would I want to kill him?” He asked dryly, trying to remember a time when he hinted towards something like that.
“Because you always hoarded his wanted posters and took them away from us!” Bepo cried, before quickly adding in a depressed voice, “I’m sorry.”
“Shishishishi!” Luffy interrupted and Law looked down at him when he felt his fingers getting tugged on. “Hey, Torao, wanna have sex?”
Law short circuited.
“LUFFY!” The Straw-Hats barked, sounding completely horrified.
Law heard the racoon-mink cry, “I should have never told him what it was!” to himself.
Law himself really couldn’t get out of here soon enough, already forming a plan that involved dragging Luffy to the Polar Tang.