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Luffy had been looking forward to reaching the next island since Nami revealed it was going to be a winter island. Luffy loved playing in the snow; he was already planning on the first snowball he was going to throw at Usopp, and Franky had been promising to show off a snow bazooka. Luffy also couldn’t wait to eat all the warm, heavy foods they usually served on winter islands. He was practically salivating by the time Brook called out approaching land.
As the Thousand Sunny ambled into the harbor, large flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. Luffy and Chopper were practically bouncing on the deck with delight, trying to catch flakes on their tongues, while Usopp plotted his snowball fight strategy off in the background. Luffy had just managed to land a big snowflake when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up in surprise to see one of Robin’s hands sprouting out of his shoulder. He looked over at the archaeologist, who stood at the railing.
“Robin?”
“I think you’ll want to see this, Captain,” she said with a smile.
Curious, Luffy bounded over to her side, and as soon as he saw what she was referring to, his face split into a wide grin as something inside his chest swooped. The Polar Tang was a gleaming ball of yellow where it was already docked in the harbor.
“Torao!”
“It seems the Heart Pirates are already here,” Robin agreed.
“Oh, good!” Chopper said, hopping up onto the railing next to them. “I want to show Torao the medicinal herbs I collected at the last island. He’s such a good doctor; he’ll probably have lots of ideas for what to do with them!”
“I’m sure he’ll love that, Chopper,” Robin said fondly.
“Though maybe we should let Luffy catch up with Torao first, eh?” Franky asked, coming up behind Robin with a playful grin. “Captain to captain and all.” Robin smacked his arm lightly, though she ducked her face to hide a smile.
Luffy glanced curiously between Robin and Franky before shrugging. He had already been excited to reach this new island, but now that Torao was here, Luffy thought this island was sure to be perfect. He wondered if Torao would play in the snow with him—he’d probably pretend he didn’t want to but then make the best snowball with his awesome Ope Ope fruit.
“Shishishi, Torao’s going to be so surprised!” Luffy said, perching himself on the railing so he could stretch himself to the shore sooner and go find the Heart captain. He wondered how long the Hearts had been here and if they knew about any good adventures…
“Luffy, get down!” Nami hollered from across the ship. “Don’t make anyone go swimming after you in this freezing water!”
Luffy pouted at his navigator but didn’t want her to charge him more berries, so he got back down from the railing and sighed. It felt like it was taking forever to dock as they pulled up alongside the Polar Tang, but eventually the ship was docked, and their berth had been secured. Luffy was pulling on a warm jacket when Nami gathered the crew.
“According to the dockmaster, there’s a winter festival going on in town today. We’re getting close to the solstice, so this is their celebration.”
Luffy’s eyes went wide with anticipation. A festival! That mean food! And games! And food and games with Torao!
He barely waited for Nami to dole out their allowance of berries for the festival to jump from the ship to the dock with a gleeful shout. He slid on the snow-covered ground but quickly recovered his balance with a shishishi while Nami shouted something at him. He could already hear cheerful music playing in the distance while children laughed, and the smells of delicious foods wafted on the air. Luffy was practically drooling when Chopper and Usopp caught up to him.
Together, the trio headed for the festival. The sounds and smells grew stronger as they approached, and once they emerged into the center of town, they found rows upon rows of booths with various foods, drinks, and crafts. Other stalls held games for both kids and adults to try their hands at. A large Ferris wheel towered above the proceedings, slowly circling its inhabitants. Luffy didn’t know where to look first.
Usopp had just won a shooting game and was crowing his victory while Luffy laughed at the incredulous look on the proprietor’s face when he heard his name being called. He looked behind him and grinned when he recognized Torao’s nakama.
“Bear!” Luffy greeted. “Hi!”
The bear tugged on his snout in embarrassment. “Hi, Straw Hat. Usopp. Chopper,” he added when the other two exited the game booth, Usopp with a large stuffed seal under his arm.
“Hi, Bepo,” Chopper said cheerfully around a stick of cotton candy he’d grabbed at some point. “Hi, Shachi. Hi, Penguin.”
“This is a surprise,” Penguin said. “We didn’t think we’d see you guys so soon.”
“Captain’s going to love this,” Shachi added with a smirk. Penguin snorted in response.
“Hey, where is Torao anyway?” Luffy asked, glancing between the trio. He knew they were Torao’s three oldest friends, so it seemed odd not to see him with them.
“Ah, Captain’s back at a tavern,” Bepo said.
“It was a miracle we even got him off the ship,” Shachi muttered.
“Why?” Chopper asked.
“He doesn’t really… like winter islands very much,” Bepo said, wringing his paws in front of him.
Luffy frowned. “Why not?” It felt like there was something important they weren’t saying, and Luffy wanted to know everything about his favorite people.
The three Hearts exchanged glances before turning back to the Straw Hats. “It’s not really our story to tell,” Penguin said.
Luffy shrugged. He’d just go find Torao and ask him himself. “Okay. Where’s the tavern?”
Penguin gave Luffy some directions, and Luffy took off in the direction he’d been pointed in.
“Don’t tell Captain we told you where to find him,” Shachi called after him.
“Oh, who cares? You know Captain will be happy to see him,” Penguin replied.
Luffy felt something in his chest go warm at those words before he rounded the corner and out of earshot.
Law sat in the corner of the small tavern he’d chosen after his crew had harangued him into leaving the ship on a winter island for once. They’d been so excited about the festival, and Law didn’t have it in him to bring the mood down. They deserved it after everything they’d been through in the last few months. Thankfully, his nakama knew him well enough to be satisfied with him just leaving the ship, and they let him be where he’d settled in the small out-of-the way tavern to get out of the snow.
He was taking a pull from his beer when the door to the tavern slammed open. For a moment, the tavern patrons fell silent at the violent entrance. Law froze as Luffy stepped inside and looked around before his gaze met Law’s. His expression lit up, and he headed for Law’s corner while the other patrons resumed their conversations when it became clear there was no danger afoot. Something behind Law’s breastbone tightened at the sight of the Straw Hat captain.
“Hi, Torao!” Luffy greeted brightly, sliding into the booth across from Law.
“Straw Hat-ya,” Law greeted. “What are you doing here?”
“Following the log pose, same as you, I suppose,” Luffy replied, still smiling. Then his expression turned mischievous. “So, are you going kill me here in the tavern?”
Law blinked. “What?” Then he remembered what he’d said when they’d parted ways in Wano. His face warmed, and he took another sip of beer to collect himself. “It’d be a shame to ruin the fun everyone’s having at the festival. Maybe tomorrow.”
Luffy snickered, and Law kicked him under the table. Luffy, in turn, wrapped a rubbery leg around Law’s ankle and held him in place. Law rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. The barmaid came over then, and Luffy ordered some juice before turning back to Law.
“How did you find me?” Law asked. He’d chosen this tavern in particular because it was out of the way, and he was trying to keep a low profile with the new infamy he’d gained after Wano.
“Your nakama told me,” Luffy said easily.
“Of course they did,” Law muttered, wondering who he’d need to dissect first when they got back on the ship. Traitors.
The barmaid returned with Luffy’s juice, setting it in front of him. Luffy grinned and took a large sip while the young woman asked Law if he needed anything else. When he declined, she nodded, a tinge of pink dusting her cheeks. As she walked away, Luffy stared after her, an expression Law couldn’t read on his face. It never failed to amaze Law the way Luffy seemed to read him like an open book despite his best efforts to keep himself locked up while Law was constantly finding new depths to Luffy despite how open he appeared on the surface.
“Straw Hat-ya?”
Luffy turned back to Law, his expression smoothing into something more open. “Why doesn’t Torao like winter islands?”
Law started. “What? How did you…” He shook his head as he realized where Luffy would have gotten that information. “I’m going to kill them,” he muttered.
“Don’t be mad at them,” Luffy said. “They care about you a lot.”
Law sighed. “I know.” He really was lucky to have the nakama that he did; he was pretty sure he’d be making up sending them to Zou for the rest of his life, and even that might not be enough.
After a moment’s consideration, he said, “I told you about Cora-san.”
Luffy nodded. “Mingo’s brother. The one who saved you.”
“Yes.” Law took another drink of beer to give himself some liquid courage. “The night that…” He swallowed around a lump in his throat. “The night that he died, it was snowing. The last time I saw him, he was bleeding out in the snow.”
Luffy frowned as something seemed to occur to him. “But you were on that fire and ice island for months.”
Law grimaced. “I was.” The nightmares had been incessant while on that gods-forsaken island. “It was all part of the plan to take down Doflamingo. It was worth it.”
“But aren’t you from the North Blue? Doesn’t it snow a lot there?”
Staring at the younger captain, Law wondered why he continued to be surprised by Luffy’s perceptiveness. Shaking his head, he said, “It does. But not everywhere. It didn’t snow a lot on my home island.”
It wasn’t often that Law brought up Flevance, and Luffy seemed to recognize there was something loaded in the Law’s words. He tilted his head and took the opening. “What was it like? Your island?”
“Beautiful,” Law said immediately. When his mind caught up with the question, he noticed that Luffy had used the past tense, just as Law had. That damn perception again. “All the buildings were built from white stone. My home was famous for an ore that turned everything white.”
Luffy’s eyes widened. “Even the food?”
Law snorted. “Yes, some of the food was white. Mostly the produce.” He went on to describe what he remembered of the city, of the people, of his family. Luffy interjected with questions now and then, especially about Law’s family and his life with them. He seemed particularly amazed to learn Law had a sister whom he had adored. The barmaid returned several times, bringing refills of beer for Law and juice for Luffy.
“Did they have festivals?” Luffy asked at one point, eyes glancing toward the window where the current island’s festival continued.
“Yes. Lami loved them. I never wanted to go, though. I just wanted to keep studying.”
“Shishishi, Torao was so serious even as a kid!”
Law didn’t disagree. “I don’t have the best memories of festivals either. Lami… fell ill at one.”
Law didn’t say that she, as the youngest, shouldn’t have been the first one of the family to manifest symptoms or that his parents worked themselves into exhaustion after that, trying to help both Lami and the other townspeople who were falling left and right—including after they had started developing symptoms themselves.
Still, Luffy seemed to hear something more in his voice so let the words sit between them for a moment before speaking. “It’s time Torao had some good festival memories then!”
Law blinked, pulled from his memories to stare blankly at the younger captain. Luffy released Law’s ankle and jumped to his feet, a grin on his face.
Law frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Luffy stretched an arm to grab Law’s elbow and pulled Law from the booth. Law hissed as his hip banged the corner of the table, and Luffy just chuckled an apology. His grip slid from Law’s elbow down to his hand as he tugged. Law barely had time to pull some berries from his pocket to cover their drinks and drop them on the table before Luffy was pulling him out the door and into the festival.
While they had been inside, the sun had set and the various booths had turned on their lights. Further strings of colorful lights illuminated the town square in reds and yellows and greens and blues. The Ferris wheel was a bright beacon towering about the festival, while a spotlight shone onto an ice skating rink. Snow continued to fall, dusting the festival with a light layer of white.
Luffy turned back to Law with a wide grin. “Let’s make some good festival memories, Torao.”
“Straw Hat-ya…” Law started but couldn’t bring himself to argue more at the genuine look on Luffy’s face. “Fine.”
Luffy’s grin, if possible, widened more, and he pulled Law into the mass of festival-goers. Law let himself be led around, the tension slowly thawing from his shoulders as Luffy flittered from booth to booth, oohing and ahhing over the various offerings. He convinced Law to buy him several types of meat, which he chomped on while pointing out things he thought were neat. Law made a show of annoyance when he pulled out his wallet, but they both knew Law wouldn’t refuse.
When they made it to the ice skating rink, Luffy’s eyes widened, and he turned to Law.
“Absolutely not,” Law immediately said before Luffy could ask.
“But Torao, it looks fun!”
“If you considering sliding around a slippery surface where you’re very likely to fall on your ass and get all wet fun…”
Luffy’s eyes narrowed. “Have you been ice skating before?”
“What? Why would you say that?”
“Because it sounds like Torao knows a lot about it.” That mischievous look returned, and Law’s stomach very much did not swoop, thank you very much. “You have to teach me.”
“I haven’t been since I was a child,” Law protested as Luffy tugged on his hand, pulling a reluctant Law toward the rink.
“I knew it!” Luffy crowed victoriously.
Knowing that arguing further was a futile event, Law let himself be dragged to the ticket booth and gave his shoe size for skates. He was more than a little surprised when Luffy’s hand dug into his pocket and he pulled out some berries to give the ticket taker.
“What?” Luffy asked at Law’s astonished expression as he handed Law his skates.
“You had money this whole time?” Law demanded.
“Shishishi, yes. Nami gave everyone some money for the festival.”
“But you made me pay for your food.”
“Yup,” Luffy agreed as he led Law to a bench where they sat down to change their shoes for skates. “I was saving my money for something really special.”
Law was thankful the cold air was already flushing his skin, as it masked his embarrassment. “Idiot.”
Luffy gave him an amused grin, reading between the lines as he always did, and rose to his feet once his skates were secure. Law finished tying his laces then stood as well. They walked awkwardly on their skates to the gate, and Luffy immediately opened it and made to go running onto the ice… only to fall flat on his face.
“Ow,” he muttered as Law stepped onto the ice around him. He took a few test steps and was surprised how quickly he found his balance on the skates despite not having done this in nearly two decades.
“I told you,” Law said, making his way back to Luffy, who was sitting up.
“Teach me,” Luffy said petulantly.
Law chuckled and reached a hand out to help pull Luffy back up. Luffy stared at his hand for a moment before shaking himself and taking it. Law pulled him to his feet and helped him find balance. He then guided Luffy to a corner of the rink where they would be out of the way, letting Luffy hold onto the wall for support, then he started going over some basics.
Law looked back to Luffy, who was holding onto the wall, after demonstrating how to stop with the blades, and Luffy took on a determined look.
“I’m going to do it. Watch this, Torao!”
Luffy pushed off from the wall with as much strength as he could muster, sending him flying across the ice. His eyes widened comically. “I forgot how to stop!” he cried, flailing his arms.
“Idiot, I just showed you how!”
“I forgot,” Luffy wailed as he careened in Law’s direction.
“Bend your knees and twist your bottom half—” Law started, and Luffy followed his directions. But when he went to twist his hips, his rubber body just went in a full circle, causing him to spin like a top… directly at Law.
“Shit,” Law cursed as the wailing Luffy slammed straight into him.
They went down in a pile of tangled limbs, and Law’s eyes shut instinctively as his back hit the ice hard. There was an oof from somewhere above him, and when he opened his eyes, he found Luffy’s face inches from his own. He could feel Luffy’s warm breath on his cheeks, the racing of Luffy’s heart against his hand, which ended up between them, and the weight of the younger captain’s surprisingly solid body pressing him back into the ice.
For a moment, Law’s gaze met Luffy’s and he felt frozen, his own heart pounding in his ears. This close, Law could make out a dusting of freckles across Luffy’s nose and cheeks. Then Luffy burst out laughing, and Law rolled his eyes.
“Shishishi, that was great. Let’s do it again!”
“Absolutely not,” Law replied, using his free hand to form a Room big enough to reach the benches and Shambling them off the ice.
“Fine, fine,” Luffy said with a laugh as they landed. “But admit it, Torao. You had fun, didn’t you?”
“Tch. In what way is getting body slammed onto the hard ice fun, Straw Hat-ya?”
But Luffy seemed to take that as a challenge; once they returned their skates to the booth, Luffy grabbed Law’s hand again and dragged him through the crowds.
“Where are we going now?” Law demanded.
Luffy turned back to Law and grinned, pointing up at the Ferris wheel. “There.”
Law groaned as Luffy wound them through the various booths and stalls until they reached the line for the Ferris wheel. As they took their place in line, Luffy was practically bouncing with excitement.
“They had one of these at Sabaody,” Luffy said. “I wish I could’ve gone on it.”
“Punching a Celestial Dragon puts a damper on riding carnival rides,” Law drawled.
Luffy grinned. “Yeah, but it was worth it.” He ducked his head, and when he looked back up… was he blushing? “And I got to meet you. I’m glad we met, Torao.”
Law felt his ears go warm. It was true that their meeting on Sabaody had been a prelude to some life-altering events for both of them. They’d saved each other in more ways than one, and Law had to admit he was glad to have met Luffy that day.
“Me too.”
Luffy smiled widely in response to Law’s mumbled response, and he dragged Law along to the ticket booth where he paid for their tickets to the ride.
“Another ‘special’ thing, Straw Hat-ya?” Law asked, attempting to keep the mood light as they waited for their bucket.
“Yup! It’s with Torao, so of course it’s special!”
Law ducked his head into the collar of his coat to hide his embarrassment. Luffy’s open affection was something he was still getting used to. He’d mostly become desensitized to Luffy’s constant touching after being carted around Dressrosa like a sack of potatoes, but his willingness to express love and affection with words was something Law struggled with.
Though he intellectually knew he wasn’t a sickly child anymore, he couldn’t help but feel the burden of losing so many people he’d loved and had loved him in return. Distance had become a defense mechanism over the years, though a select few—like Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and the other Hearts—had wormed their way through those walls. But Law was strong enough now to protect those he kept close.
Meanwhile, Luffy acted as if Law’s carefully constructed walls didn’t exist, demolishing them without hesitation and shoving his way into Law’s heart.
It was terrifying.
“Our turn, Torao!” Luffy cheered as the Ferris wheel came to a stop to let more passengers on.
Rather than jump into the bucket first like Law expected him to, though, Luffy nodded for Law to go first. Raising an eyebrow, Law took a seat. He expected Luffy to sit across from him, but the younger captain took the seat next to Law.
Before Law could ask what he was doing, Luffy said, “I want to see the island with Torao.”
What was Law supposed to do with that? “Do what you want.”
Luffy grinned, and after a moment, the ride began moving again. Law could feel his heart in his throat as Luffy was pressed up against his side, every point of contact burning despite the snow falling around them. The younger captain was peering over the edge of the bucket, pointing out different things. Law didn’t hear a word he said.
Eventually, the captains’ bucket made it to the top of the Ferris wheel and stopped. Luffy looked around over the festival with wide eyes before turning to look at Law. Then his expression did something funny and went soft.
“Hey, Torao.”
“What, Straw Ha—”
Law was cut off by Luffy pressing his lips to Law’s.
At first, Law’s eyes went wide in shock. What the hell was Luffy doing? What the hell was Law doing? They weren’t allies anymore; they were two rival captains on a quest for Laugh Tale. Law should have done as he’d promised back on Wano—kill Luffy the first time he saw him.
Who was Law kidding? He’d been caught up in Luffy’s pace since Dressrosa—hell, probably longer than that—and somehow he’d become accustomed to it, even welcomed it.
Yes, it was terrifying.
Law’s eyes slid shut, and he returned the kiss. Luffy made a satisfied sound before reaching a hand up to rest on Law’s cheek. Law, leaning into the touch, lifted his own hand to rest atop Luffy’s.
But it was also amazing.
After a time, the Ferris wheel started moving again, and Luffy broke the kiss. Rather than pull back all the way, though, he rested his forehead against Law’s. “Is this okay?”
“Yes,” Law exhaled. It shouldn’t be—his brain could come up with an alphabetized and collated list of all the ways it shouldn’t be okay—but Law’s demons had been put to rest and he was, in no small part thanks to the man in front of him, free. His future was his to choose, and this…
This felt right.
“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled.
More than a little self-conscious, Law pressed forward to swallow Luffy’s laugh, and Luffy melted against him, returning the kiss. When they disembarked the ride, Law slid his hand into Luffy’s and entwined their fingers. Luffy sent him a bright grin and squeezed his hand.
This was probably crazy, but Law was no stranger to crazy.