Work Text:
By all accounts, their relationship shouldn’t have even happened in the first place. They were complete opposites.
The Heart Pirates all have differing stories on how the relationship between their Captain and the flaming cowboy even began in the first place. Penguin would tell you that Ace made the first move, cornering the doctor in a broom closet until he confessed his feelings.
Shachi would shake his head, and say that Law had, at one point, had to straddle Ace to get him to lie down and stay still for a procedure, and things "progressed from there," he'd add with a knowing eyebrow wiggle.
Bepo would admit that he didn't know anything and apologize.
The truth was actually quite a bit more dramatic.
--
Ace was staying on the Polar Tang. Luffy had left long ago (much to Luffy's own chagrin) to continue his training and meet up with his crew. Law had explained to Ace that it was probably for the best (for now, at least) that the world believed him dead. He needed to heal, and having the Navy on his ass would not speed up that process.
Not surprisingly, it was a longer process than Law had first envisioned. Turned out that having to replace large amounts of missing, charred organs with the correct blood type was a lot to recover from. Of course, Ace had always been a fighter, no matter how little he had valued his life in the past. True, Law did have to wrangle and restrain Ace a few times, but those instances were always a struggle for Law, and not just in a physical sense.
--
"What the fuck did you do to me?" Ace looked at his legs, which were now separate from the rest of his body.
"I cut up your body so you couldn't run away. This is a necessary and vital medical procedure, Ace-ya. We can't afford you opening those wounds or messing this up." Ace's eyebrow lifted.
"Who's we?"
"Your little brother for one. I don't want him as an enemy. Quite the opposite. He could be a very favorable ally in the future."
"So you're saving me because you want to use Luffy for your own ends?"
"Sounds bad when you put it like that, but yes."
"Sounds like you don't know Luffy. You may form an alliance with him, but he will always do his own thing."
"Runs in the family, does it?" Law snapped on a pair of gloves. "Lay down."
"What are the magic words?"
"What on earth are you talking about?" Ace grinned. Law was proving to be very fun to tease.
"Say the magic words, or I won't lay down, Mr. Captain Dr. Law, sir."
"I don't have time for games, Ace-ya."
"I do." His grin deepened. "C'mon, Law. Play with me a little."
Law lifted an eyebrow, and Ace had the decency to look slightly embarrassed as he realized the connotation of his words.
"Not like that. I haven't taken you out to dinner yet, anyway."
Law's face quickly morphed from confusion to exasperation.
"Tell me, oh great Portgas D. Ace, what magic words dost thou require to get thee to shut thy fuck up and do as I say?"
"Ooh fancy..." Law was practically grinding his teeth together in rage as Ace kicked his legs off the side of the examination table. "You just need to say 'please.'" He batted his eyelashes.
"Are you fucking... flirting with me?"
"Depends... d'ya want me to be? Listen, I'm a simple guy. I see a hot, emotionally unavailable, tattooed medical professional, and I get a bit stupid."
"I don't need to know that. You keep that shit to yourself. Although I can agree with the stupid part."
"You're quite the charmer, you know that? Really know how to make a guy feel wanted."
"Fine. I'll play your stupid game. Please, Ace-ya. Lie down so this can be over."
"Doctor's orders?"
"Stars above, can't you just-" Law looked down to see Ace had fallen asleep. What the fuck? At least he was quiet now, and there was no risk of any blush creeping onto Law's face. Not that there would be. Absolutely not. No, this flame cowboy's flirting tactics and shitty pick-up lines would not work on him.
Law dragged a hand over his face, then promptly changed his glove. Annoying as he was, Ace-ya didn't deserve an internal infection.
--
"Please, Ace-ya, don't make me slice you up again."
"Oh, we're saying please now? Good boy. You learn fast." Law's incredulous face did almost a perfect job of disguising his urge to throw up. No one had called him that since...
"Don't call me that. I'm not asking." Ace's grin dropped.
"What, good boy? Alright, consider it done. Sorry if I offended ya." Ace had noticed Law's reaction, the wince that flashed across his face, covered up by anger and incredulity. Apparently being called such a thing disgusted him.
"Whatever. Just don't do it again. Let's get this over with. Shirt off," Law commanded.
"Oho, you're getting bolder, Doctor Law." Ace did as he was asked, revealing a chest covered in scars and a massive burn mark.
"Most would consider it in bad taste to flirt with their doctor," Law remarked.
"I am not like most people, and I just consider it to be a bit of fun. I like seeing you get flustered."
"I do not get flustered, Ace-ya." Law absently pulled on a fresh pair of gloves.
"Then why won't you meet my eyes?" A gloved hand shot out, grabbing Ace's chin with a strength he hadn't expected of the slender doctor.
Two gold eyes bored into Ace's brown ones.
"Is this what you fucking want?" Law hissed, his face inches away from Ace's.
Ace just grinned.
"I'm not scared of you, Trafalgar Law. Surgeon of Death you may be, but I know you won't kill me." Law grinned too, but his was much more maniacal.
"And what makes you so sure of that, Ace-ya?" He tightened his grip.
"You need me alive. So that my little bro will trust you." Law didn't like the look Ace was wearing. He swore he felt his eye twitch with annoyance because he knew Ace was right. Still, it was important that this cowboy knew he wasn't the one in charge on this ship.
"Like I fucking need you. Accidents can happen with delicate situations such as yours, and I am very good at staging accidents."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm letting you know that I don't need you alive to accomplish my goals. Your life means nothing to me. This is simply the easiest way. If you insist on being a cunt, I will have no problem throwing you off this ship or letting the Navy know your whereabouts." Ace wrapped his hand around Law's wrist, removing the hand from his face.
"I see. I'll be out of your hair then. No need to check up on me, either. I've always been a quick healer." He grabbed his shirt and left without another word.
Law knew he had overreacted. He also knew that he was in danger if he had let Ace know he got flustered around him. Ace was so shameless with his flirting, and threw affection around like breathing. It reminded him of Cora, in a way. Bumbling idiots that love with their full selves. He couldn't risk getting attached. He couldn't lose a love like that again, so it was better to not allow those feelings at all.
--
Ace cursed himself inwardly, not for the first time. Why did he have to be so damn hot-headed? Did Law know how much his words hurt? More than the scalpel the doctor wielded so easily, they had cut into Ace's heart.
Seeing Luffy coming to his rescue at Marineford had only done so much to heal his lifelong wound. He'd always been told he shouldn't have been born, that he wasn't worthy of life, and therefore, not worthy of love.
He hadn't felt this way in years. Sure, it was partly his fault for pushing Law's patience...but those words Law had said... they reminded him of what he would hear from the citizens of Windmill Village.
He didn't matter. His life was worthless.
He didn't cry. He refused to cry. Instead, he slept and wandered the submarine when sleep escaped him. This went on for several days.
The crew noticed, of course, and reported this information to their captain.
"Let him do what he wants. It means nothing to me." The crew looked at each other with concern. It was hard to miss the dry sobs that escaped Ace when he though no one could hear him. The walls were thin.
"Captain, with all due respect, did you two have a disagreement of sorts?" Penguin asked, immediately regretting it upon seeing the look on Law's face.
"That, Penguin-ya, is none of your business." Penguin and Shachi turn to each other.
"Do you think Ace confessed his feelings to the Captain and got rejected?"
"Yes, that must be it!"
"We should try talking with him later..."
--
The two pirates, freshly-made stew in hand, knocked on Ace's door, hoping he was inside and not asleep.
A bleary-eyed Ace opened the door. "I thought I said you could stop worrying about me..." he looked down at the stew, then up at the ones holding it.
"You're not Law."
"Nope! Though sometimes, when I'm alone, I like-" Penguin shut Shachi up with an elbow to the stomach.
"We thought you might like to talk to someone that isn't the captain... and we brought some food..."
"Sure."
--
The stew left many things to be desired, Ace thought to himself, but it was more in his stomach than he'd had in the past few days.
"So, what happened between you and the Captain?" Ace almost spat out his mouthful.
"What makes you think something happened?" The two rolled their eyes in practiced unison.
"Oh, Ace. You can be honest with us. Our captain may be a literal heart-stealer, but we know he's never been good with returning affections." Shachi offered.
"W-What? I don't have feelings for your captain. I might flirt, but it doesn't mean anything."
"You lyin'?" Penguin narrowed his eyes. Ace didn’t meet his gaze, blushing lightly.
"Attractive as he may be, neither of us are really in great positions to be thinking about a relationship, and he's made it clear he doesn't care about my existence whatsoever."
Shachi and Penguin looked at each other for a long moment, before Shachi got up and said:
"I'm getting some alcohol."
--
Ace ended up drinking more than his fair share of shitty beer and sake, spilling his guts to the two equally wasted Heart Pirates.
"A-and the worst part is," Ace hiccupped, "that he doesn't fugging know how much his words 'urt! Like, who would say that! I mean, I should be used to it, but he really hurt me. It's stubid to eben cry about, and I don' know why it's avvecting me zo much!" Ace sniffed.
"You should tell hib! It's always good to be hones'!" Shachi said, laying his hand on Ace's shoulder.
"Yeah, tell him!" Penguin agreed. Ace staggered to his feet, wiping his nose with his hand and chugging the rest of whatever was in his glass.
"I'm gonna do it. Fuggin'... tell that bastard he hurt me...I know I'm worth loving; Luffy wouldn't have come for me if I wasn't!" The two pirates cheered their encouragements as Ace left the room to do just that.
--
Law sat at his desk, looking up at the moon shining through the water. It was an unusually quiet night on the Polar Tang, and he was enjoying it.
But that was quickly shattered as a heavily drunk Ace burst into his room. Law got up from his chair, startled. He gave Ace a cursory glance, noting his flushed face and unstable stance.
"Ace-ya, what are y-"
"You fugging bastard...Shut the fugg ub and listen to me. Like, agshually listen to me. You think you're so fugging imbortant, telling peoble that their lives don't matter, and you don't think about how that hurts them!" Ace stalked closer to Law. " You don' know what I've been through, how I had to deal with complete strangers telling me I didn't deserve to be alive because of who my father was, how I should be killed because I was rotten from the womb, so don't agt like you can jus' throw words around like they mean nothin'. Azzhole."
"Ace-ya, are you... drunk?"
"Doesn't fuggin' matter to you, does it? According to you, my life is a waste anyway, so I should hurry up and get it over with, huh? You don't care if I live or die, and I wonder if you think the same about your crew? For all you care, I can drink myself to death or cut my arms to hell an' back; you wouldn't bat an eye, would you?"
"You shouldn't be drinking; your liver was horribly injured-"
"FUCK YOU, TRAFALGAR! Don' start actin' like you care now! An' don't you even think about going near my baby brother ever again." He walked forward more, backing Law against the wall of the infirmary. Law felt a blush fight its way onto his face, despite his better judgment. After all, it's not every day you get cornered by a hot, drunk cowboy. "Because if you do, I guarantee I will find you and burn you to a fuggin' crisp-" He coughed harshly, splashing blood across the doctor's face. Ace's eyes widened.
"Law, I think I fugged up..." Law watched it all, seemingly in slow motion - Ace's eyes rolled back, and his entire body went completely limp into Law's arms.
"Fucking idiot. You think I don't care? I do. I just..." Law gritted his teeth, starting to lug Ace's unconscious body to the operating room. Ace's liver wasn't prepared to deal with the onslaught of alcohol it had received - it was still healing. Who on earth had thought it was wise to let him near-
Law sighed, because he heard raucous laughter from his two subordinates. Of course.
"Penguin-ya! Shachi-ya! Get out here!" The two peeked out from Ace's room.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Were you the idiots that let Ace-ya near alcohol?" They had enough decency to cower.
"Aye, Captain."
"Next time, don't do that when someone's liver is still healing from severe trauma!" Law sighed again. "I'm taking him into emergency surgery. Let's hope your little slip-up is reversible."
--
Laying the cowboy/pirate's body down on the operating table, Law swiftly donned his mask, gown, and gloves.
"Room." He lifted Ace's shirt up enough to be able to have access to his torso and placed his hand over where the liver should be, taking it out of Ace's body. Sure enough, the beginning signs of cirrhosis were there. Coupled with the fact that the organ was half its normal size due to it not having finished regenerating, it was in a poor way.
Law considered his options. He could either flush this liver of the alcohol and hope Ace's body had the strength to continue the regeneration process, or he could hope he had another liver with Ace's blood type. He picked up the receiver to the loudspeaker den den mushi.
"Oi! Ikkaku-ya! Do we have any healthy livers with the S blood type?"
"Yeah, why?" She yelled back.
"Bring me one, stat!"
A few moments later, Law was pressing a perfectly healthy liver back into Ace's body.
"That feels... really odd, you know." Shit. He hadn't put him under.
"Ace-ya-"
"Shut up. I feel fucking awful right now, and I don't need a lecture from someone who doesn't care whether I live or die."
"Fine. Get some sleep and please try to actually take care of your body."
"Fine."
--
In the days following, Ace would still wander the ship, albeit much slower, and with Law always a good distance behind.
"D'you think Ace has noticed Law hovering behind him like a mother hen?" Clione whispered to Uni.
"I wonder... do you think Captain...?"
"Ahem." They looked up to see the golden eyes of their captain boring into them. They thankfully failed to see the light blush on his cheeks.
"Alright, that's fuckin' enough. Law, a word if you will?" Ace turned around, a light-hearted exasperation present on his features. Law nodded, and the two went off together, leaving the crew to whisper amongst themselves about what their Captain and the cowboy's relationship actually entailed.
--
Ace led Law into the first hallway he found.
"Okay, 'fess up, Law. Why're you following me around now?" The doctor sighed.
"I'm making sure you don't do anything stupid."
"Relax, doc. I'm not gonna drink again till ya give me the go-ahead. Is that all?"
"Yes, Ace-ya, that is all."
"Don't believe ya." Law's gaze snapped to meet Ace's grinning face, then dropped just as quickly upon seeing the mischief in the cowboy's eyes. Of course. He was going to get teased now. He sighed again, just to let Ace know this was against his will.
"Get on with it. Say what you're going to say."
"How is it that the same man who claimed he saw my life as worthless to him is suddenly following me around, making sure I take care of myself and doting on me like...how did your crew put it? Ah, yes. A mother hen. Has the cold-hearted doctor finally melted before my flames?" Ace reached out to place a hand on Law's face, but his wrist was pinned to the wall by the hilt of Law's sword.
"C'mon, doc. Take a joke, would ya? Also, it'd be better for the both of us if you just answered honestly. I'm sure it's killing ya."
"You don't know that," Law's eyes narrowed.
"What, do I need to get you plastered to have a decent conversation with you?"
"That would be preferable to dealing with you while sober."
"Alright, doc. Let's break down those walls of yours." Ace flashed him a grin.
--
It turned out that Law was a massive lightweight, and he was desperately trying to fight it.
"Why don't you tell me why you wanna have my brother as an ally? I'm curious."
"S'long as you don't spill th' cat outta th' bag..." Law muttered. Ace chuckled. This side of Law was honestly kind of cute.
"I need his help t' uhh... get revenge. On Doflamingo."
"What kinda grudge are you holding against a Shichibukai, of all people? I mean, it's to be expected, he's a horrible man-"
"He killed the only person outside my family who loved me. Can you 'magine, getting orphaned, contracting some incurable disease, and somehow getting cured by the kindest man y'ever met, only to have him killed in front of you?" Law took a large swig of his drink. "This stuff is strong."
"That's beer."
"Oh. Guess I can't handle alcohol then."
"We're a right pair, aren't we?" Law raised an eyebrow.
"Please, I literally collapsed in your arms after coughing blood on your face due to alcohol poisoning. What part of that screams 'able to hold his liquor' to you?"
"All I can remember is you backing me against a wall and threat'ning me."
"Why is that what you remember?" Ace held back a chuckle. He had a feeling he knew where this was going.
"Was hot. You stomped in, all blushy and drunk, and I'm not supposed to find that hot?"
"I think you've had enough to drink, Law." Ace reached out to take Law's glass from him, brushing his fingers with his own. He watched Law's pupils dilate ever so slightly as he sucked in a breath.
This was getting interesting.
"Let me finish the fuckin' glass, Ace-ya," Law whispered, voice gravelly.
"Is that why you keep people at a distance? So you don't have to lose people you care about again?"
"Somethin' like that." Law chugged the rest of his drink, and flipped Ace off. "Told ya I could do it."
"Yeah, you're so brave, Law."
"Fuck's that supposed to mean? Also why haven't you had anything to drink?" Ace shrugged.
"Doctor's orders."
"This doctor says you should have at least one drink, too." Ace smirked, watching how Law's eyes trailed down his body. Drunk Law was an open book. At least he'd gotten the answer to his question earlier.
"If you insist."
--
Ace poured himself a drink, glancing over to see if Law was alright. The doctor was staring raptly at Ace's hands, then trailed up to his arms. Ace knew he wasn't an unattractive guy, but this was a new kind of reaction, especially from such a usually closed-off man.
"See something you like?" Ace asked. Law chuckled.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Ace walked over, taking a swig, and getting into Law's personal space, backing him up against the wall of the Polar Tang's mess hall.
"I would."
"Y'can't make me talk, Ace-ya." Law crossed his arms.
"Really now? You were practically yapping at me a second ago." Law squinted.
"I do not yap." Ace took another drink, and took another half-step closer.
"What are you doin', Ace-ya?"
"Tryin' to get all blushy and drunk for you, since ya think it's hot and all." He winked, watching with satisfaction as Law's own blush deepened.
"How would you know a thing like that?"
"Told me yourself, 'bout 5 minutes ago."
"Guess I was yapping."
"Guess so." Ace gulped down the rest of his drink, feeling Law's eyes on his throat.
"By the way, Ace-ya, I was wrong. I don't think your life is worthless. You were right, I do need to gain Mugiwara-ya's trust, and your survival seals the deal on that end." Ace could smell the alcohol on Law's breath, he was so close.
"Promise I won't char you if you form an alliance with him." Ace held out his hand, which Law hesitantly took. The doctor's brow furrowed.
"You're unnaturally warm. Are you feeling alright?" Ace shrugged.
"I mean, I am a man made out of fire, so I guess it's to be expected," he mused, swaying slightly. "Woah, alcohol really kicked in there. Did you give me a lightweight's liver?"
--
Law stared at the man who had cornered him, not just once, but twice now.
"Possibly. Should probably do a thorough examination just to be sure."
Ace nodded, like this was the wisest course of action.
"Need my shirt off, doc?" Law cleared his throat.
"Yes, if you don't mind." Ace seemed to peel off his shirt excruciatingly slowly, giving Law the chance to drunkenly admire Ace's abs. He could reach out and touch them, if he wanted. He did want to.
He was just about to when he felt Ace's eyes on him.
"You can touch me if you want. That's what usually happens during an examination, right? Gotta be thorough." He grabbed Law's wrist, bringing it closer to his torso. "Go ahead."
Law didn't know why he was so nervous. He'd done numerous examinations before, this shouldn't be any different. He looked up at Ace, who, sure enough, was "blushy and drunk." And very shirtless. Law didn't know if it was him or the alcohol that was making him so warm. He knew it was probably the alcohol that gave him the courage to actually touch Ace.
The cowboy hummed softly.
"I'm not fragile, y'know. I'm right here; I promise you're never gonna lose me."
"Nobody can promise that, Ace-ya," Law murmured, tracing his fingers over the scars he'd left on Ace during his many hours in surgery.
"I can sure fuggin' try." Ace grinned, shivering slightly under his touch.
Law's fingers slowly made their way up to Ace's chest, carefully avoiding the places where he knew the nerves would react negatively to touch. Scars were sensitive things, after all.
When he reached Ace's pecs, (which were massive, by the way) he glanced up into Ace's eyes to gauge his reaction, and gently squeezed.
To Law's great surprise, (and mild delight) Ace groaned, a delicious, low rumble that vibrated under Law's fingers.
"Careful, doc. I've heard it's in bad taste to feel up your patients." Ace's eyes were closed almost all the way; he looked like he was in pure bliss. Law noted that his body seemed to radiate heat, which was probably, as Ace had mentioned, a side effect of eating the Mera Mera no Mi.
"Your fingers are cold, doc. Feel free to warm 'em up on me. I'm a walking heater." Law brought his hands up to Ace's shoulders, and slid them down his arms. Ace shivered and groaned again as Law softly ran his fingers over the soft skin on the inside of Ace's upper arms.
"Sensitive there?" Law asked.
"Mhm..."
"That's good. It's an erogenous zone, after all."
"Hey, doc, this feels like more than the usual examination- OW!" Law flicked him on the arm.
"Shut up an' lemme do my job, cowboy-ya."
"Cowboy? I like it. Wouldn't mind if you wanted to save a horse with me sometime." The doctor rolled his eyes.
Law's hands then went up to Ace's neck, his flushed cheeks, and finally into his hair.
"Can I pull it?"
"Are you asking if you can pull my hair, Law? Be my fuggin' guest." Law gave an experimental tug, earning a small whimper. "Harder, please."
Law pulled, hard.
The sight he saw was extraordinary. Ace moaned loud, eyes squeezed shut, mouth wide open in pure pleasure.
"Stars, you're amazin', Law. I could kiss you." Law blinked. Once. Twice.
"Kiss me?"
"Yeah." Ace stepped even closer, so that their bodies were almost flush together.
"You may." Ace grinned bigger than Law could have thought possible. Then he felt big, warm hands cup the sides of his face and Ace gently placed his lips on his own. It started off small, like smoldering embers. Ace put his hands on Law's waist, making him gasp. Ace took the opportunity to slip his tongue inside Law's mouth, stoking the flame. Law didn't mean to moan, but one slipped out, which encouraged Ace to kiss him even deeper, licking along the roof of his mouth, tangling his tongue with Law's, sucking on his lips.
Law could barely keep up. He was making noises he wasn't used to hearing from himself, desperately trying to kiss Ace back. Ace's kisses had swelled to a roaring fire, engulfing him in their heat and pure passion. The only thing he could think to do was suck Ace's tongue deeper into his mouth, enjoying how Ace moaned his approval.
"Fuck, Law. That was hot," Ace whispered against his mouth. Law hummed in response, leaning forward to capture Ace's mouth again, but Ace ducked his head down, pressing his lips to the side of Law's neck.
He left a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses up to right under Law's ear, whispering:
"Hey, doc. Thoughts on biting?" Law nodded, his brain in a fiery haze.
Ace started tugging on Law's hoodie, so Law quickly whipped it off and Ace pressed their chests together. The cowboy really was warm, and Law groaned at having all those rippling muscles pressed up against him.
Ace saw his chance, and took it. He bit down on the space between Law's neck and shoulder, hard. Law's head hit the wall with how hard he flung it back, punctuated with a loud moan.
Ace chuckled, soothing the area with his tongue, then starting to suck on it.
"N-not where they can see, Ace-ya, please."
"Of course, darling. Only where I can see. Just for me." He stressed each sentence with a kiss on Law's collarbone, earlobe, and jawline.
"Wait, darling?" Ace pulled back.
"If you'll have me..."
"I can't do tha-" Ace kissed him again, more gently this time, like a spark.
"You won't lose me. I will not die."
"Promise me." Law whispered, not daring to believe this could be real.
"I swear on my pride as a pirate and on the East Blue where I was raised, I will not leave you, Law." Ace brought the doctor in for a tight hug.
"You'd better not," he muttered gruffly.
"Nope! You're stuck with me now."
--
The Heart Pirate crew found them the next morning, holding each other, huddled against the wall.
They all saw the hickey.