Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

— “Late Fragment” by Raymond Carver

The celebration of Luffy becoming the Pirate King had been going on for what felt like days, though Law knew it had only been hours. In the wake of the Straw Hats, aided by the reunited Hearts, finding Laugh Tale, the allied crews plus the Straw Hat Grand Fleet and other friends Luffy had made along his trek through the Grand Line had come together to party. The gathering had turned into something like a festival with games and even small rides put together through the joint efforts of Franky, Usopp, Ikkaku, and Uni. Food and drinks had been flowing since before sundown, and once the sun had set, the fireworks had begun.

Law had warned his crew to be careful—he wasn’t going to be reattaching any lost limbs for drunken idiots—but otherwise he’d left them to enjoy themselves. He’d never been one for parties, but he couldn’t begrudge his crew this chance to unwind and celebrate, especially after everything they’d been through at Winner Island and after at Hachinosu. For his part, Law had been content to sit off to the side, watching the goings on and nursing a drink; outside looking in was his preferred location at most gatherings since he didn’t particularly enjoy the loss of control that came from getting drunk, and drunk people grated on his nerves.

Bepo had joined him after a while, and though Law had encouraged him to join the others, the mink had claimed he was tired and wanted to rest. Law had seen right through the excuse but hadn’t called him on it; Bepo had been particularly protective of Law since he’d nearly died after Winner Island, and Law, though he’d never admit it out loud, found the attention comforting. Bepo had always been a grounding presence in Law’s life.

It was after midnight that Law first decided enough was enough; he was happy that Luffy had accomplished his dreams and was proud to have been there when it happened, but his nerves could only take so much chaos. Bepo was dozing behind him, and Law gave his friend a fond pat on the side before pushing himself to his feet. Before he could take even one step, though, Luffy—clad in that blue coat he’d first worn on Wano that had made Law’s breath catch in his throat—was suddenly there, all warm, raucous laughter as he wrapped his arms around Law.

It said something, Law thought absently, that nothing about this situation surprised him, but he wasn’t willing to dig any further into that right now.

“Shishishi, Torao isn’t leaving, are you?” Luffy laughed, his eyes reflecting the bright lights of the party.

“I’m tired, Straw Hat-ya.”

Luffy pouted. “But it’s not a party if you’re not here.”

Law snorted. “I don’t believe that for a second. You can party without me. You should,” he added at Luffy’s put out expression. Law had no idea why Luffy was so determined that Law should stay, considering how little Law had actually participated in the celebration—this one or any of the other parties Law had been subjected to while allied with the Straw Hats.

“It’s not the same without Torao,” Luffy argued. “You’re my ally. You should be here.”

“I’ve been here—” Law started.

“I wouldn’t be here without you. Please stay? Just a little longer?”

“Fine,” Law sighed—because he was a weak man, unable to say no when Luffy was looking at him so softly, like Law’s presence was the most important thing in the world to him.

Luffy immediately brightened. “Great!” But when Law tried to return to his spot leaning against Bepo, Luffy tightened his rubbery grip with a mischievous grin and tugged Law toward the center of the party.

As Law was pulled into the crowd of revelers, he found drink after drink being shoved into his hands as Luffy whisked him around. When they ran into Zoro and Nami setting up a drinking contest, Nami tried to bully Law into joining, but Law managed to beg his way out by promising to bet on her. When Zoro made a face, Luffy vowed to bet on him. Luffy laughed and whooped as his nakama downed drink after drink, but Law came out ahead on that bet.

As Luffy pulled Law away from bar, the first notes of “Bink’s Sake” floated across the night air. Luffy’s eyes widened, and he grabbed Law’s hands and whirled him around with a joyful laugh before pulling him so close that their foreheads were nearly touching.

“Torao’s smiling,” Luffy whispered.

Law blinked, feeling his ears go pink—and not just from the alcohol, though he could feel that making his head fuzzy. “Am I?”

“Shishishi, yes,” Luffy replied, reaching up slowly to rest a hand against Law’s neck. Law shivered at the touch, though Luffy radiated warmth. “I like it when Torao smiles.”

“I…”

Then there was a loud crash somewhere in the distance, and both Luffy and Law looked up as drunken cheers broke out for whoever had caused the damage, breaking the spell. Law swallowed when Luffy looked back at him with a sparkle in his eye, but he let Law’s hand go, as though he knew Law had been pushed enough for the time being.

By the time Law made it back to Bepo, Shachi and Penguin were slumped against the mink. Law dropped down into the space between them, eyes shutting for a moment as he relished the comfort of having his closest friends safe and back with him, savoring the warmth of these incredible people at his sides and back, before opening his eyes once more.

Without meaning to, Law’s gaze immediately sought out Luffy amidst the crowd. The new Pirate King was twirling around with Chopper now, the little reindeer completely pulled off his feet as he giggled, eyes screwed shut against dizziness. Luffy was also laughing, but when he caught Law’s eye, his expression softened. Law’s neck tingled where Luffy’s hand had momentarily rested, and he absently reached for it before dropping his hand when he realized what he was doing.

Law had definitely had too much to drink.

Shaking his head, he leaned further back against Bepo, allowing a small smile to pull at his lips when Bepo murmured something about fish in his sleep. Law let his eyes slide shut, content for the first time in… well, a long time. He must have dozed off, though, as he was pulled back into semi-wakefulness some time later by nearby voices.

“So, Mr. Pirate King, you’ve conquered the Grand Line. What comes next?” someone called.

“Shishishi, I’m going to get Torao to marry me!”

There were laughs and wolf whistles, and Law squinted his eyes open; thanks to the alcohol in his system, the words were taking longer than usual to register. Once they did, though, he rolled his eyes, certain Luffy was teasing him. In the time they’d known each other—a little over a year now, though to Law it felt like a lifetime—Luffy had never shown any romantic inclinations toward anyone…

He thought briefly of the touch on his neck and “I like it when Torao smiles” but immediately shook it off. It didn’t mean anything. This was Luffy—the man who had the world’s most beautiful woman in love with him but had no interest. He loved the sea and adventure, sure, and he loved his nakama—something he considered Law, much to Law’s chagrin at times—but in love? Impossible.

Besides, Law wasn’t about to be anyone’s queen, pirate or otherwise. He snorted a bit drunkenly at the thought before calling, “You’ll have to catch me first, Straw Hat-ya.”

Rather than the amusement Law was expecting to hear in response, though, there were gasps and even some cheers. Next to him, Penguin and Shachi both inhaled sharply. Law fully opened his eyes then and sat up with a frown. But when he met Luffy’s eye, Luffy was grinning widely like he’d already won something.

“You’re on!”

“Congratulations, Trafalgar!”

Law huffed in annoyance, his grip flexing against the mug of coffee he’d been nursing since he’d pulled his hungover ass off the ground, careful not to disturb his friends, and made his way through the piles of sleeping pirates to the kitchen. It seemed like every few minutes, someone else was offering congratulations, and he had no idea why. His head was also throbbing, his insides were queasy, and his mouth was cottony; he was not in the mood for whatever this was.

“Morning, Captain,” Jean Bart said quietly, taking a seat next to Law. He had his own cup of coffee, the mug dwarfed by his large hands.

Law hummed in response as he shut his eyes and took another gulp of coffee. Jean Bart’s company was welcome; the man knew how to be quiet and read a room.

“Congrats on the engagement,” someone called in passing.

Law opened his eyes and muttered under his breath. Next to him, Jean Bart was chuckling quietly. Law glanced at the other man out of the corner of his eye, briefly wondering if he needed to reassess his earlier judgment of his company. “What?”

“Nothing,” Jean Bart replied, though there was still a small smile playing at his lips. “It’s just an unusual reaction to receiving well wishes.”

“I don’t know what I’m getting congratulations for,” Law grumbled.

“Captain,” Jean Bart said slowly, “you realize you initiated a pirate betrothal with Straw Hat last night, right?”

Law stared blankly at Jean Bart for several beats, trying to make the words make sense. Even with several more gulps of coffee, the words still didn’t come together in a way that Law could parse logically. Finally, he shook his head. “No,” he decided. “I am too hungover for this nonsense.”

Jean Bart chuckled. “The Betrothal Chase is a longstanding courting tradition between pirates.”

When the punchline didn’t come, Law finally realized, “You’re serious.”

“Very,” Jean Bart replied, smiling distantly. “I oversaw a few chases in my time as captain, though I never took part myself.”

“What… does it entail?” Law asked, curious in spite of himself.

“Tradition tells us that because we pirates are a greedy sort, any pirate who wants to marry another must take what they want.”

An ugly feeling twisted in Law’s chest at that, mind briefly going back to Doflamingo’s possessive tendencies and his desire to take and own and Cora-san once telling him, “I don’t like the way he looks at you.” When he was younger, he hadn’t really known what that meant, but when he’d found himself chained to the Heart seat, Cora-san’s words had come back with startling clarity.

Jean Bart must have read Law’s reaction because he quickly assured, “Nothing like that, Captain.” Then the larger man winced. “Well, it may have started like that,” he acknowledged. “But no longer. These days, the Betrothal Chase is just what it sounds like: a pirate who wants to marry another must first catch the object of their affection in a chase. It’s more a game than anything—a bit of sport for those courting and the crew.”

“The crew?”

Jean Bart nodded. “The pirate being chased gets to set the rules of the chase. The crew is often brought in as part of the game on both sides of the chase.” His eyes twinkled. “Sometimes the chase is over in minutes as the chasee puts up a token resistance while in others it can take weeks, covering multiple islands. Either way, there’s usually a big party to celebrate afterward.

“The most famous Betrothal Chase was between the previous Pirate King and his beloved,” Jean Bart continued. “Rouge led Roger on a chase all the way through the Grand Land back to her home island in the South Blue before she let herself be caught.” He smiled slightly, glancing at Law. “And I guarantee Portgas D. Rouge didn’t do anything she didn’t want to.”

“So, last night. When I told him that he’d have to catch me…” Law said haltingly, his hungover brain sluggishly processing what he was hearing.

“You set the chase in motion,” Jean Bart confirmed. “Sorry, Captain.” He grinned. “Or, should I say, congratulations?”

“Fuck you,” Law muttered without any heat, and the other man laughed softly. Law was quiet for a few moments as he considered what he’d learned. “There’s no way Straw Hat-ya knew all that, is there?”

For his part, Law hadn’t exactly spent much time contemplating pirate traditions—especially not those related to pirate courtship. His focus had been on becoming the best doctor he could and mastering his Devil Fruit while plotting to avenge Cora-san. Romance had never even been on his radar, especially when he hadn’t expected to live beyond confronting Doflamingo on Dressrosa.

(Law’s experience with romance was limited almost exclusively to what he’d witnessed of his parents’ relationship before Amber Lead had overtaken Flevance. He’d been too young to give much thought to their marriage back then, and now he’d never have a chance to ask what their first date had been like or who had proposed to whom.)

But if Law had been unaware, then wasn’t it likely that Luffy was, too? That maybe this whole thing was just a misunderstanding, the whim of a newly crowned Pirate King? Maybe this whole clusterfuck could be salvaged.

“Hey, Torao!”

Law started hard, spilling coffee over the rim of his mug and onto his hand. He cursed and immediately opened a small Room to remove the steaming liquid from his skin. He glared up at Luffy, who was watching him with amusement. Law’s ears burned from embarrassment that he hadn’t noticed Luffy’s approach, and he used his free hand to tug his hat down.

“Straw Hat-ya, about last night—”

“I’m so glad Torao accepted!”

Law glanced up at Luffy from beneath the brim of his hat, and Luffy was grinning widely at him, though his expression had gone soft again as he looked at Law. Something inside Law’s chest tightened, and he glanced away again, completely out of his depth with what to do with that.

“I wasn’t sure…” Luffy trailed off for a moment, and Law frowned at the sudden hesitance in his voice. He peered back up at Luffy, and the other captain had a surprising dusting of pink across his cheeks. Law blinked in surprise. Was he… blushing?

Luffy cleared his throat. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the chase!” he said, voice rising again. “Torao’s so smart, I know it’ll be good!”

“How did you even know about that?” Law hissed, hunching in further on himself. It seemed like he was the only one who didn’t know what he’d gotten himself into the night before. And if there was one thing Law hated (besides Doflamingo because fuck him), it was not knowing something.

“Hm? Oh, Shanks told me about it! Roger had one with Ace’s mom, and Shanks was there for it. There was a big party after and everything. Shishishi, it sounded like so much fun. And now I can’t wait to have one with you!”

Thankfully, Law was saved from having to respond by Chopper calling for Luffy. The other captain gave Law a cheeky grin before stretching his arms and vaulting off in the direction of his crew. For a moment, Law sat stunned.

“Captain?” Jean Bart finally prodded, which kicked Law’s brain back into motion.

Law jolted to his feet, suddenly feeling jittery, anxious energy itching beneath his skin. “I need to think.” He lifted a hand to open a Room and shambled himself back to the ship.

“Hey, Captain?” called a familiar voice alongside a tentative knock on his door.

Law sighed. He was lying on his bed, knees bent and one leg crossed over the other, his arms crossed behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He was absently tracing the lines of paneling with his eyes; he was still getting used to the differences in the Polar Tang 2.0 (or, as Shachi, entirely too pleased with himself, had taken to calling her, the Pollar Tang) since they’d rebuilt the ship in the wake of Winner Island.

The combined efforts of the Hearts’ and Straw Hats’ engineering experts and their contacts for supplies in Wano had gotten the job done remarkably quickly, considering the complexity of the project. The new Tang was an upgrade in nearly every way mechanically, but Law would always miss the original—the one gifted to four boys looking to find their way in the North Blue, the one that had watched Law grow from an angry, broken teenager into a one-time Warlord and rival of Emperors.

“Come in,” Law called. He wasn’t going to get rid of his friends without dealing with this whole shitshow, no matter how much he just wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening.

The door opened hesitantly, and a moment later, Bepo’s head poked in. “Law?” When he saw Law on the bed, he stepped inside and was soon followed by Shachi and Penguin. The latter two looked a bit worse for wear from the night before, and Law couldn’t stop his lips from twitching at the pathetic sight. Unlike those two, Law had taken painkillers and drained several glasses of water when he’d gotten back to the ship, so his hangover was finally, blessedly, starting to recede.

Law pushed himself into a sitting position and, taking pity on his idiots, headed into the bathroom; he grabbed a bottle of painkillers and filled two glasses with water before coming back into the room. He put the bottle and glasses down on his desk and raised an eyebrow at his guests before sitting back down onto the bed. Shachi and Penguin made grateful sounds and rushed over to the desk, quickly downing the medicine and water. Once that was done, they all turned back to Law.

“So,” Shachi finally said, breaking the silence. “A Betrothal Chase.”

Law groaned and flopped back onto his back, throwing an arm over his face. His thoughts had been running in circles since he’d spoken with Jean Bart earlier that day. And then Luffy’s revelation that he’d known exactly what he was doing…

“Am I the only one who didn’t know about that?” he muttered.

“I didn’t,” Bepo said, sitting down on the bed next to Law’s hip. Law used his free hand to pat the mink’s leg in silent thanks.

“How long have you been a pirate, Law?” Penguin snorted.

Law pulled his arm down from his eyes so he could glare at Penguin, but the asshole didn’t even have the decency to lose the amusement in his expression. Law pulled his arm back over his eyes and muttered, “I’ve had other things on my mind.”

“Ah yes, revenge,” Shachi said solemnly.

“And medicine,” Penguin added.

“And the Straw Hats,” Bepo said, causing everyone to wince. Somehow, despite the two crews being allies for more than a year, their alliance still earned a place high on the list of Law’s stressors.

“It’s not like this shit is written down anywhere,” Law said petulantly.

“No,” Shachi agreed, also sounding amused; Law thought he was showing remarkable restraint by not cutting his friends into pieces. “But it’s the sort of thing you just pick up after a decade and a half on the sea.”

Law flipped Shachi and Penguin off, but the two just laughed because they enjoyed Law’s misery.

“Seriously though,” Penguin said once the laughter had died down. “What do you want, Law?”

Law blinked in surprise and sat up again to find his three oldest friends watching him. The humor was gone, and they were all watching him without any judgment.

“What?” he asked intelligently. He must still be a bit hungover, he decided, as his brain struggled with what to do with the sudden change in mood.

“Do you actually want to marry Straw Hat?” Bepo asked.

“Straw Hat might be a lot,” Shachi said, “but he’d never push you into something you didn’t want.”

Law opened his mouth to snark that Luffy almost exclusively did that, but if he was being honest with himself, he knew that Luffy only pushed him if he really needed it. Freedom was Luffy’s highest ideal, and he wanted all his loved ones to be free to make their own decisions. If Law really didn’t want to go through with this, all he had to do was say so, and Luffy would respect that.

So, what did Law want?

“I…”

He thought of Luffy’s hand on his neck again and the softness in his expression as he said, “I like it when Torao smiles.”

He thought of waking up in the Sunny’s infirmary after Winner Island, Luffy at his bedside with his hand in Law’s and righteous fury crackling just beneath his skin; according to Bepo, Luffy had sat sentinel at Law’s bedside nearly the entire time Law was unconscious in the infirmary.

He thought of Luffy finding him sitting on a balcony at the palace during the celebration in Wano and sitting down next to him; they’d watched fireworks and passed a sake bottle between them, their shoulders just brushing with each pass.

He thought of falling asleep against Luffy’s shoulder on the deck of Bartolomeo’s monstrosity of a ship on the way to Zou and sleeping blissfully dream-free—and once waking up to the feeling of Luffy’s hand carding through his hair.

He thought of sitting on the floor next to Luffy’s bed in Kyros’s cabin, body wracked with pain, only for Luffy to wake up in the middle of the night and pull Law up into the bed with him before curling up against him like a satisfied cat. “I’m glad you’re alive, Torao,” he’d murmured before drifting back to sleep, and Law had frozen.

He thought of Luffy’s tired and relieved face once Doflamingo had fallen and Law had used the last vestiges of his energy to shamble him from the sky down to the rooftop. “We did it, Torao,” he’d said. “I told you we would.”

He thought of Luffy’s wide, open grin as he’d seen Law for the first time in two years on Punk Hazard and the sudden surge of warmth that had flooded through him after months of nothing but cold.

“I don’t know,” Law finally said, dropping his gaze to the floor.

If he was being honest with himself, he’d started falling for the other captain sometime after Dressrosa, but he’d known how dangerous feelings like that could be, especially when they were for someone who would never return them. While sailing with the Straw Hats, Law had watched Luffy flit around his crew, throwing arms over shoulders, his smile wide and laughter loud for everyone that he counted among his. Law knew he wasn’t special, so he’d locked those feelings down as tightly as he could and tried his damndest not to acknowledge them.

“I care about him.” Even that admission took a herculean effort to extract from his chest. Law could feel rather than see the looks his friends were exchanging over his head. “But marriage?” He shook his head. “I doubt he really even wants to be married. It’s just one of his fancies that he’ll get over.”

And if Luffy changed his mind after Law allowed himself to want this, to open his heart in a way he hadn’t dared in a very long time, well, Law would be ruined.

“Captain…” Bepo began.

But Law kept talking over the mink. “Besides, you guys are my top priority. I’ve already been such a selfish captain. My focus needs to be on the crew. I won’t do anything to jeopardize you.” He swallowed, his hands tightening into fists as Blackbeard’s laugh echoed in his ears. “Not again.”

“For such a smart guy, you can be an idiot, you know that?” Shachi said after a moment.

Law blinked and looked up. His friends were all looking at him with varied expressions of exasperation. He wanted to duck under his hat, but he’d taken it off when he’d laid down. “What?”

“We just want you to be happy, Captain,” Bepo said. “If Straw Hat would make you happy, then that’s what we want.”

Penguin and Shachi nodded, and for a moment, Law felt his argument die on his tongue. Not for the first time, he wondered what he’d done to deserve such good friends. And really, shouldn’t that be enough? He had the most amazing crew, and he was so damn lucky they’d all survived to be with him now. They’d wanted him back even when he’d left them behind on a likely suicide mission. And they’d welcomed him back as though he still deserved to lead them after that.

After everything, these were the people he needed to put first; it was his responsibility as their captain to look out for them over his own wants and needs. And while he knew the Straw Hats were good people to whom he had trusted his own life and the lives of his crew on multiple occasions, there was something about the idea of marriage—of linking the two crews so tightly—that felt… dangerous.

But then Law thought of Luffy’s face earlier that morning.

“I’m so glad Torao accepted! I wasn’t sure…”

“I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the chase! Torao’s so smart, I know it’ll be good!”

“I can’t wait to have one with you!”

Even if, as Law suspected, Luffy didn’t really feel that way for Law, if this was nothing more than a passing whim of the new Pirate King, Law wasn’t sure he had it in him to just turn him down and see the disappointment in his face.

There had to be another way.

And that’s when Law remembered what Jean Bart said about the Chase between Roger and Rouge. If Law went through with the Chase but made it long and difficult, then Luffy would have time to realize that this was not something he wanted after all. They could call it off without hard feelings and go back to the status quo.

The status quo was safe. The status quo was something Law could handle.

Law took a steadying breath and met his friends’ eyes. “I know what I want to do.”

Chapter Text

Luffy yawned as he stepped out of the boys’ dormitory on the Sunny. The early morning sunlight was bright in his sleepy eyes, so he rubbed them a few times then naturally turned to the right, where the new Polar Tang was anchored, and froze. He blinked and then blinked again when the picture didn’t fix itself.

The Polar Tang was gone.

Why was the Polar Tang gone? Where was Torao?

(Ever since Bepo had swum from Winner Island to bring an unconscious Torao to the Straw Hats for help after the Hearts’ fight with Blackbeard and Luffy had sat next to his ally, who looked so small and broken in the infirmary bed after Chopper had looked after him, well, Luffy had felt anxious when he didn’t know where Torao was. He’d never tell Torao that, of course, because Torao was strong and smart, but Luffy never wanted to feel like that again.)

“Nami!” Luffy called, still staring at the empty dock where the Hearts’ submarine had been moored just the night before.

The kitchen door opened, and Nami poked her head out. “Oh, Luffy! There you are. Hold on.” She disappeared back into the kitchen for a moment then came out, the kitchen door shutting behind her and drowning out the sounds and smells of Sanji’s cooking.

“Torao’s gone,” Luffy said blankly as his navigator walked up to him.

“He is,” Nami agreed, but there was a smile on her face. She wouldn’t be smiling if something bad had happened, Luffy told himself. “But he left something for you.” She winked as she held out a folded piece of paper to him. “I think the Betrothal Chase has begun.”

Relief flooded through Luffy as he took the paper. He recognized Torao’s tight, sharp handwriting on the front of the paper: Straw Hat.

“What’s that, Luffy?” Usopp asked, coming out of the boys’ dorm.

“Torao’s first clue,” Nami said, eyes glinting.

“Read it, Luffy!” Chopper called from the lawn.

“Read it over breakfast,” Sanji said, sticking his head out of the kitchen. “Food’s ready.”

Luffy whooped in excitement and immediately sprinted for the kitchen. Luffy slid Torao’s paper into his pocket and took his usual seat at the table; soon, he was scarfing down Sanji’s delicious breakfast. That never got old! Once the food was gone and Robin and Brook were sipping tea, everyone’s attention turned back to Torao’s note.

“So, what does it say, Luffy?”

“Hm? Oh, right!” Luffy pulled the paper from his pocket and opened it. He squinted at Torao’s doctor writing for a second before reading,

The Polar Tang is gone, the Chase begun,
So, to catch this Heart, you better run.
The first stop of this Chase will be
The place from where we set my crew free.

Luffy frowned at the paper, wondering what Torao’s clue meant. “Hmm. So, it’s a mystery clue.”

“Luffy, that is obviously Hachinosu,” Nami said, exasperated. “That’s where we helped Torao free his crew from Blackbeard.”

Luffy’s mouth made an o. “Nami is so smart, shishishi,” he laughed. And he knew Torao was going to come up with good clues! He was so smart. Luffy glanced around at the expectant faces on his nakama’s faces. “Let’s go back to Pirate Island!”

It took two days to reach Hachinosu. When the Sunny docked at the island, Luffy could tell the people there had been working hard to fix all the damage from the fight with Blackbeard to rescue Torao’s crew. After Blackbeard and his men had been defeated, the Straw Hats’ flag had been hoisted over the city; it wasn’t a lawless haven for pirates anymore. Instead, people who’d lost their homes because of the World Government had started moving there and rebuilding it since the Pirate King’s flag protected it.

The Polar Tang wasn’t moored anywhere that Luffy could see, but since Torao’s ship could go underwater, Luffy knew that didn’t mean anything. No, Torao was definitely on the island; he could feel Torao’s presence.

With a giddy laugh, Luffy catapulted his way onto the shore and started walking around, looking for his ally. For the man he hoped would become his husband.

This was so exciting!

Luffy had never given romance or marriage much thought before, other than being happy when his friends found their special people. Love was something Luffy knew a lot about; he had so much love in his heart to give—love for his brothers, for his nakama, for the sea, and for adventure. But he’d never been in love like in the stories Nami and Usopp liked to read.

And that was fine! Luffy had so many wonderful people in his life to share his love with. He got to live freely on the seas with his nakama and watch them achieve their dreams. He was so happy. He didn’t think he was missing anything…

Until Torao.

Luffy had vague memories—more like dreams—of being on Torao’s ship after the Paramount War, but it was when he met Torao again two years later on Punk Hazard that he found his attention captured by the other captain. Torao, back on that island, had seemed both so strong and smart but also so sad and lost. And Luffy hadn’t been able to look away. When Torao offered an alliance, Luffy didn’t hesitate to agree, to do anything to spend more time with Torao and to get to know him better.

He'd known instinctively that he and Torao were meant to meet again and that Torao was going to be someone important to him.

Luffy never could have predicted just how important Torao would become to him as they went to Dressrosa to face Mingo and then Zou and Wano, though.

Luffy had realized when he’d been sitting next to the infirmary bed where Torao lay unconscious and injured after facing Blackbeard while Chopper’s machines helped him breathe that he never wanted to be apart from Torao. It wasn’t just that he wanted to protect Torao after what had happened; he wanted to be with him. To be near him, to share meals with him, to spar with him, to nap with him, to watch fireworks and share drinks with him.

He liked listening to Torao talk about things he cared about like his crew and medicine and, rarely, his favorite comic books or a rare coin he’d found. He didn’t always understand what Torao was talking about, but he liked the way Torao looked and sounded when he did. He liked the way Torao’s lips twitched when he was smirking like he knew something no one else did and the way his golden eyes went soft and warm like honey when he smiled. He liked the way Torao was kind even when he pretended he wasn’t and was caring with his hands, even if his words were blunt.

Luffy liked Torao.

No, Luffy loved Torao. And not the way he loved his nakama and the sea and adventure. It had taken a while for him to realize the difference, but Nami and Robin had eventually helped him realize that he was in love with Torao.

And that was when Luffy had remembered Shanks’ story about Roger and Ace’s mom. If the first Pirate King had used the chase to get his special person, then Luffy wanted to try it for his. He’d been so excited when Torao seemed like he knew exactly what Luffy had in mind that night at the party, though the next day he’d seemed surprised and Luffy had started to doubt… but then he’d gotten Torao’s clue, and something had gone warm and fuzzy in his chest.

So now, he couldn’t wait to find Torao—to catch him and make him his husband. Luffy followed the sound of Law’s Voice as it moved around the island; a lot of people called to Luffy and waved, and some even offered food, which Luffy happily took. But Luffy eventually managed to get away from the well-wishers to continue his search.

After a few hours, Torao’s presence finally stopped moving. Luffy grinned and followed it back to the harbor. When he reached the harbor, he could see Torao standing on the far end of the docks. His back was to Luffy as he looked out over the water, the setting sun setting the water aflame with sharp reds and bright oranges. Luffy grinned and launched himself down to the near end of the docks. Torao turned at the sound of Luffy landing, though he didn’t look surprised.

“Found you, Torao!” Luffy crowed.

“But you have to catch me,” Torao replied, and his lips twitched up in that smirk that made Luffy’s knees weak. The look made Luffy’s heart pound in anticipation of a challenge.

Feeling his own lips turn upward at the sight of the other captain, Luffy was preparing to grab at Torao—his Torao—when Torao lifted a hand and a blue dome spread out over the dock and into the harbor. One finger twitch later, and Torao was standing on the deck of the Polar Tang, which had suddenly surfaced in the middle of the water.

“No fair, Torao!” Luffy called as he ran toward the end of the dock, his eyes never leaving Torao’s.

The other captain gave Luffy a cheeky salute before entering the submarine, and, moments later, the ship submerged once more.

“Dammit!” Luffy dropped down to the deck, crossing his legs under him and pouting. Torao was so sneaky. He was grumbling to himself and swinging his arms back and forth in frustration when his fingers brushed across something.

Frowning, he picked up the piece of paper that had been trapped under his sandal. And when he recognized Torao’s handwriting on the paper, his pout stretched into a grin. “Game on, Torao!”

After Hachinosu, Torao’s clue led Luffy to Wano. Yamato and Kin’emon were at the port to greet the Sunny when she docked, and Kin’emon assured them that they’d already talked to Torao so knew why the crews were there.

“Do you know where Torao is?” Luffy asked, glancing eagerly between the two.

“I think that would be cheating,” Yamato replied with a wink. When Luffy stuck his bottom lip out in a pout, Yamato laughed and pretended to look thoughtful. “Well, maybe there was a rumor about one of the heroes of the war returning.”

Luffy’s eyes widened. “That’s gotta be Torao!”

“If I were you, Luffy, I’d talk to Momonosuke first,” Yamato said. “He’ll be excited to see you.”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, I’d like to see Momo, too. You think he knows where Torao is?”

Yamato mimed zipping his lips, and Luffy tilted his head. “Eh?”

“Good idea, Yamato,” Nami said, shoving up next to Luffy. “We’ll go to the palace first.”

“We can take you,” Kin’emon offered. “We’ll be heading back that way anyway.”

“Great!” Nami replied.

“What was that about?” Luffy grumbled at Nami as they started for the Flower Capital. “I need to find Torao.”

Nami rolled her eyes. “Torao is probably at the palace, Luffy. Obviously, the shogun is going to host one of the heroes of the war against Kaido.”

“Oh! That’s great! Good thinking, Nami! Shishishi,” Luffy laughed. He had the smartest nakama.

Yamato and Kin’emon led the Straw Hats to the Flower Capital. There were many cheers and waves as they made their way through the streets. Kids ran alongside them like they were in a parade, and Luffy grinned and waved back. When they reached the palace, Hiyori and Toko were waiting at the entrance.

“There you are,” Hiyori said. “Momo’s been wondering when you’d get back.” Then she turned to the Straw Hats. “It’s good to see you all again,” she added with a bow. Then her gaze zeroed in on Zoro, and she blushed. “Especially you, Zorojuro-san.” Sanji seethed in the background while Toko ran over to Robin, who knelt to take the girl into her arms. Luffy snickered.

Kin’emon beckoned them to follow. “Where is the shogun?”

“Oh, he’s meeting with Trafalgar-san in the banquet hall,” Hiyori called from where she was hanging off Zoro.

Luffy’s ears perked up at Torao’s name. “Torao’s here!”

Without waiting, Luffy took off into the palace in search of the Heart captain. Now that he was focusing, he could sense Torao further inside the building. He could also sense Momo nearby. That was perfect! With a laugh, Luffy followed their Voices until he was barging into a large room. Momo and Torao sat at the head table, a bottle of sake and two cups between them, while the Hearts were scattered around the room. They all looked up when Luffy entered.

“Luffy!” Momo—it was still weird seeing him as an adult—called in surprise, jumping up to his feet. “You’re here!”

“Shishishi, hi Momo!” Luffy said before fixing his gaze on Torao. “Found you, Torao!” He stepped forward, grin turning mischievous. “And this time, your ship isn’t nearby.”

Torao murmured something Luffy couldn’t hear to Momo before pushing himself to his feet. “That’s true, Straw Hat-ya,” he replied, settling Kikoku against his shoulder. “But you should know better than to think that would matter.”

Luffy saw the first hint of Torao’s hand moving, so he leaped forward to try to grab the other man before he could get away, but then blue was covering the room. Luffy got close enough to see his reflection in Torao’s golden eyes before the other captain said, “See you next time, Straw Hat-ya,” and was gone.

A piece of paper floated to the floor where Torao had just stood.

Luffy stumbled as he flew through the empty space where Torao had disappeared from then spun around just in time to see Yamato, Kin’emon, and the other Straw Hats stop in the doorway. The Hearts were also gone.

Luffy made a frustrated sound as Momo bent over to pick up the piece of paper with Torao’s next clue. He held it out to Luffy with a laugh. “I’d say congratulations, Luffy, but maybe good luck would be more appropriate.”

And so the chase went. Luffy followed Torao’s clues as the Heart captain led him from island to island, retracing their journey together in the New World. After spending a couple of days in Wano to resupply and visit with their friends, the Straw Hats followed Torao’s next clue to Dressrosa.

Luffy tracked Torao down to the sunflower field outside Kyros’s cabin. For a moment, he simply stood and watched the other captain’s back, noticing something heavy in his shoulders, until Torao seemed to notice his presence. His spine straightened, and he reached up to wipe at his face before turning around.

“Straw Hat-ya,” he said, voice rough.

“Torao, are you—”

“I’m fine,” Torao said, cutting Luffy off.

For a moment, Luffy forgot about the Chase; he was just worried about Torao. He knew Torao had come to Dressrosa the first time to avenge his special person and had been prepared to die for it. But they’d beaten Mingo, and Torao was still alive, which is definitely what Cora-san would have wanted. But Luffy knew that wouldn’t have made the hurt go away. Luffy missed Ace every day, and he was sure Torao missed Cora-san like that, too. Being here must remind him of that.

Luffy took one step forward then another, but Torao didn’t move. “Where’s your crew?”

“In town. Where’s yours?”

“In town.”

Torao huffed a weak laugh as Luffy approached. “I feel bad for the people in town then.”

Luffy stopped when he stood right in front of Torao. Up close, he could see the redness in Torao’s eyes; he wondered how long the other captain had been out here by himself. He knew Torao’s crew was protective of him, especially after Dressrosa and Winner Island, but he also knew that there were certain things—certain weaknesses—a captain, even if they weren’t as private as Torao, didn’t like to show his crew, no matter how understanding and sympathetic they might be.

Not having to hide those things from Torao was one of the things that Luffy appreciated about his ally. Torao was his equal, a captain in his own right, so he didn’t have to hide his own weaknesses from him. Hell, Torao had seen Luffy at his lowest point and still wanted to ally with him two years later. And Luffy had seen Torao on that rooftop, unable to move as Mingo’s foot had aimed for his head, and he’d acted without thinking.

They’d saved each other.

Over and over again, they saved each other. And Luffy didn’t doubt that would be true in the future, too.

Luffy found himself reaching for Torao’s face to wipe away some of the moisture from his cheek. His hand had moved without him even noticing; it just felt right. His hand was inches from Torao’s cheek when Torao stiffened and stepped back. He cleared his throat, and Luffy could practically feel Torao’s walls coming back up.

“That would be a disappointing way for this to end,” Torao said, his voice shaky.

“Torao—”

“Until next time,” Torao said. Then the world turned blue, and Torao was gone, leaving another piece of paper behind.

Luffy sighed in disappointment as he bent over to pick up the next clue.

He followed Torao from Dressrosa to Punk Hazard. The island was completely wrecked from the time they’d spent there, but the gas had cleared out. After searching the island, Luffy eventually found Torao standing in the same spot he’d suggested their alliance before he disappeared yet again, not giving Luffy a chance to say anything—to ask him to stay this time. Or to at least talk to him because Luffy was starting to wonder if Torao actually wanted to be caught. But Torao was still leaving clues, so Luffy followed the next one and hoped maybe this time they could talk.

Torao’s next clue led to Sabaody. As he walked down the streets, Luffy heard people whispering about the Pirate King’s Betrothal Chase, so the news must have gotten out. He even had people come up to him to tell him they’d seen Torao earlier in the day and where to find him.

Luffy thanked them, but he hadn’t needed the help; he’d immediately known where to go: the former auction house where Luffy and Torao met for the first time.

It didn’t look like anyone had used the building in the years since Luffy had crashed through the ceiling to save Camie and had punched a Celestial Dragon. Doors and windows were knocked out of their frames, and plants were starting to grow on the stage and in the seats. Mingo’s Jolly Roger was still on the wall, and Luffy’s fist tightened briefly at his side.

And Torao sat in the exact same seat he’d sat in that day three years earlier, his arms thrown over the back of the seats beside him.

“Do you remember the day we met, Straw Hat-ya?” Torao spoke up, glancing back at Luffy in the doorway.

“Of course I do, Torao.”

“I thought you were insane.”

“Shishishi, I thought your powers were cool. I wanted to fight you.” Luffy pouted. “And you still won’t fight with me.” Torao’s lips twitched, but he remained quiet. “Hey, Torao.”

“Hm?”

“I’m really glad we met that day.”

Torao’s ears turned pink, and he pulled his hat down. He muttered something, but Luffy couldn’t hear him.

“What?”

“I am, too,” Torao repeated more loudly as he hunched in his seat.

Luffy felt something flutter in his chest at the words. He grinned and catapulted himself down to Torao’s row of seats. Torao looked up at him, and Luffy was surprised to see he seemed… spooked. Nervous.

But that couldn’t be right. Why would Torao be nervous? It was just them.

And that was when Luffy remembered Torao stepping back from him on Dressrosa, his walls slamming back into place as his expression shuttered.

Luffy frowned, a horrible idea suddenly occurring to him. “Torao, do you want me to catch you?”

Torao started and looked up at Luffy. “What?” There was something fragile in his expression that took Luffy off-guard and sent alarm bells ringing in his head. It reminded him of Torao right after they’d beaten Mingo but before Torao really seemed to accept Mingo was gone and couldn’t hurt him anymore.

Luffy hated that look… and he hated that he was the one to put it on Torao’s face even more.

“Do you want to get married?”

Torao hesitated, his gaze darting from Luffy’s face to the floor next to him.

Luffy’s stomach dropped. “Torao.”

“Straw Hat-ya, I…” But he trailed off as Luffy started walking toward him.

Luffy sat down a couple of seats away from Torao to give the other captain some space. He didn’t want to get too close and spook Torao into running again. “I want to marry you, but only if you want to, too. If you don’t want to—”

“I don’t know.”

Luffy frowned. “Torao?”

It seemed to take all of Torao’s strength to prize his gaze from the floor to meet Luffy’s gaze, but when he did, that fragile look was back. “I don’t know,” he repeated. “I don’t…” he shook his head. “I’m sorry.” He let out a bark of laughter, but there was no humor in it. “I’m a fucking mess, and you deserve better.”

“I don’t want better,” Luffy argued a bit desperately. He had the sudden certainty, the way he sometimes knew things, that Torao was scared. And if Luffy wasn’t careful, he would run. But the last time Torao had left, it had been terrible. Luffy couldn’t—wouldn’t—let that happen again. “I want you.”

Torao looked at him, his eyes wide, before he huffed and looked away. “No, you don’t.”

With a growl, Luffy scooted toward Torao, making sure to get into Torao’s space so he couldn’t hide. Sometimes, Torao wanted space, but sometimes he needed to be pushed, too. “Don’t tell me what I want, Torao.”

He reached out for the other captain, to anchor him to the spot, to keep him from running, but Torao had that fearful expression again. Then the world turned blue, and Torao was gone.

There was no paper left behind this time.

Chapter Text

Luffy landed at the end of the dock and began to stretch his arms back so he could fling himself at Law.

Luffy launched himself across the banquet hall toward Law, a grin splitting his face.

Luffy’s hand slowly bridged the distance between them, reaching for Law’s face, brown eyes soft.

Luffy stood at the bottom of the slope, looking up at Law through the snow just like he had the first time.

Luffy stood in the doorway of the auction house, brightly lit by the sun as he entered through the door this time.

“Fuck,” Law groaned, dropping his head into his hands as the images played across his mind’s eye.

“Captain?”

“M’fine, Bepo.”

“No offense, Cap, but that’s obviously bullshit.”

Law lifted his head to see Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo standing in his doorway. He gave them an unimpressed look, but his friends were unmoved. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“He’s still following,” Law finally said.

“Yeah, Cap, he is,” Penguin agreed.

“I thought he would have changed his mind by now,” Law muttered. “It’s been weeks.”

Right after Luffy had suggested they get married and the Betrothal Chase had started, Law had been certain this was nothing more than a passing fancy to Luffy and by stringing this along, Luffy would inevitably lose interest like he did with everything else he didn’t truly care about.

But the longer the chase had gone, the less confident Law had become in that assessment. When he pictured Luffy each time the other captain had tracked him down, there had been nothing but warmth and love in his eyes.

“I want to marry you, but only if you want to, too. If you don’t want to—”

“I don’t want better. I want you.”

It seemed like Luffy really did want this.

And that…

That was terrifying to Law.

When he’d reached Dressrosa, he’d intended to wait for Luffy in Kyros’s old cabin—the man lived in the palace these days and have given his blessing for Law to use the cabin when he’d stopped by the palace after arriving—but something had stopped him as he’d crossed the sunflower field. He’d suddenly felt dizzy and overheated. Doflamingo’s laughter and the sound of gunshots had echoed in his ears, and Cora-san’s smiling face had flashed across his mind’s eye.

It wasn’t until Luffy’s voice had pulled him out of his reverie that he’d even realized he’d been crying.

He’d scrubbed his face as best he could, but Luffy had seen the evidence of his tears. Rather than look down on Law, though, he’d simply looked at him with understanding and gentleness.

With love.

And Law, like the coward he was, had fled.

And he’d done it again on Sabaody, from where the Hearts were currently sailing away—only this time, he hadn’t even given Luffy a way to follow him.

Weak, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Doflamingo accused in the back of his mind. Cowardly. Pathetic.

For Law, love had become inextricably linked to loss. When he was little, his parents and Lami had regularly told Law they loved him, and Law had told them the same in return. And then he had lost them. He’d broken in the wake of Flevance, having lost his loved ones and with his own death impending, but then there had been Cora-san and “Hey Law, I love you!” and six gunshots.

He’d never had the chance to say it back.

After that, the idea of losing anyone else that he loved was simply too much; his heart had been broken and clumsily repaired before being shattered a second time. After Cora-san’s death, Law had slowly and painstakingly tried to fit the pieces back together with the help of Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and Wolf, but the edges were jagged and the seams obvious. It was so fragile that Law did his best to lock it away and raise walls around it.

It had taken years for Law to slowly and painstakingly lower some of those walls for his nakama—the only exceptions to his rule—but then there had been Luffy…

Luffy who had barreled through Law’s walls like they didn’t exist, who currently held the lockbox protecting Law’s heart in his hands and was asking for the key…

The prospect of opening that box and offering his ugly, fragile facsimile of a heart to the literal incarnation of the sun absolutely terrified Law. Not only could Luffy so easily shatter what was left of Law’s heart, but he deserved so much more. So much better than the wretched excuse for a heart Law could ever offer him.

“The crew wants to know what you’re going to do about it,” Penguin said, pulling Law back into the present.

“If you don’t want to go through with it, you need to tell him, Captain,” Shachi added. “Not just run away. He deserves that much, at least.”

Law flinched. They were right. He was no better than Doflamingo with the way he was stringing Luffy along, trying to manipulate him into giving up rather than facing this head-on.

“But if you do want to go through with it,” Bepo added quietly, “that would be okay, too.”

Law looked up at Bepo in surprise. “What?”

Penguin rolled his eyes. “How are you this dense when you’re a freaking surgeon?”

“Penguin,” Law warned.

“We already told you, Cap: we just want you to be happy,” Shachi broke in. “If Straw Hat, for some unimaginable reason, makes you happy, then go for it. Stop looking for excuses to hide from happiness.”

Law blinked, startled at being called out like that. Before he could react, though, he was being enveloped in fuzzy arms, and he automatically melted into Bepo’s embrace, shutting his eyes and pretending, just for the moment, that his world wasn’t shaking beneath his feet.

“We know it’s scary to open yourself up to someone again after everything you’ve been through,” Bepo said, his voice rumbling in his chest against Law’s back. “But since when have you ever played it safe?”

“No risk, no reward,” Shachi agreed.

“This isn’t like gambling with your monthly chores,” Law muttered. “If it goes badly, it’s not a month of laundry duty on the line.”

His friends were quiet for a moment, but Law didn’t bother opening his eyes to see what kind of faces they were making at each other.

Finally, Penguin spoke up. “But what if it doesn’t? Go badly, that is. What if it’s more amazing than you could have expected?” Law slowly opened his eyes at that. “You already took the risk when you asked Straw Hat to be your ally. We know you, Law. You didn’t make that choice lightly.”

Law swallowed. “No. I didn’t.”

“And did Straw Hat let you down? Did he break your trust?” Shachi prodded.

“No.” In fact, Luffy had done the exact opposite, taking on Law’s thirteen-year-old burden as if it were his own and giving his everything for the sake of a man he’d known for less than a week. And after Winner Island, Bepo had trusted no one but the Straw Hats with Law, and that said plenty in itself.

“So, why do you think he’ll let you down now?”

Law sighed. “It’s not just him I’m worried about,” he finally admitted. “It’s me. I don’t do… people well. I’ll fuck it up somehow, and he’ll leave because I’m a fucking mess, and I don’t think I’ll be able to recover.”

“That… is possibly the saddest thing I’ve ever heard,” Penguin said. “And I heard some of your greatest hits when you were fifteen.”

Law flipped him off.

Penguin snickered. “In case you haven’t noticed, Captain, Straw Hat isn’t exactly ‘normal’ either. You’re both weirdos. In the best way,” he added at Law’s sour look.

“I thought this was supposed to be a pep talk.”

“Well, there’s your mistake,” Shachi replied easily. “This isn’t a pep talk. It’s an intervention.”

Law opened his mouth to retort, but Bepo’s soft voice cut him off. “I’ve seen how he looks at you, Captain. From the first night you showed up on Zou, I could see the way he looked at you.”

“He’s like that with everyone.”

Bepo shook his head. “When you were unconscious after Winner Island… he never left your side, even when Chopper tried to get him to sleep or eat. That’s real.” 

“We’ve all seen it,” Shachi said. “Even the other Straw Hats have seen it. Well, most of them,” he added, thoughtfully. “A few of them are even more clueless than you.”

“And we’ve seen how you look at him,” Penguin added, more gently than before.

Face burning, Law hunched his shoulders, wishing he could disappear into Bepo’s fur. But the mink wouldn’t let him get away with that.

“We’ll support you in whatever you decide,” Bepo said. “You’re our captain.”

“But as your friends,” Shachi added, “we’re telling you not to be an idiot.”

Law shut his eyes again and took a deep, steadying breath, Sengoku’s words after Dressrosa coming back to mind unbidden: “Don’t try to find a reason for someone’s love. And you live your life as you like. That’s what he would say.”

Was he living his life the way he wanted? Or was he really running away from happiness?

Law opened his eyes again. He looked between his friends and relented. “Okay. Send the Straw Hats the final clue.” 

When the Polar Tang had docked in the harbor on Swallow Island, Law hadn’t been quite sure what type of welcome to expect after more than a decade away; it was true that he, Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had lived and worked among these people for three years and had helped save them from a pirate threat when they were teenagers, but they had also become pirates themselves and made a name for themselves for sailing under a cruel and vindictive captain and as allies of the new Pirate King. The North Blue had been a war-torn sea for longer than Law had been alive, and there was distrust for anyone who sailed under a Jolly Roger—and for good reason.   

As it turned out, though, he needn’t have worried.

The town had been more than welcoming of its four wayward sons and the rest of the crew. When they’d gone ashore, Law had been shocked to see the Heart Pirates’ flag flying at the center of town.

“We’re proud that the Heart Pirates were founded here,” the barkeeper, Agnes, had told Law as he sat at the bar, several other members of his crew taking up tables around the room.

Law remembered the woman from when he was younger; she’d once broken her wrist when she’d slipped in a puddle of water while mopping, and Law had set it and put it in a cast for her when he’d worked at the clinic. Her daughter made her way around the room, taking orders from the pirates and bringing drinks from the bar to them. She couldn't have been more than six when Law had left.

Agnes nodded to the far wall of the bar, where Law’s bounty posters hung, starting with his first one from when he was 18 to his most recent one. Shachi’s, Penguin’s, and Bepo’s posters hung below Law’s. “We’ve followed your adventures in the papers.” She chuckled. “There’s a whole collection of newspaper articles about you and your crew in the library.”

“I have to admit, that surprises me, considering the island’s history with pirates,” Law said.

Agnes shrugged. “You’re our boys. I hope you don’t mind we’ve been flying your symbol,” she added when Law turned back to her. “I suppose we sort of declared ourselves your territory without asking. But no pirates have dared mess with us since we hoisted that flag.”

“Good,” Law said, taking a draught of ale before putting the empty mug back down on the bar. “You let me know if anyone ever does. Junk-ya knows how to reach me.”

After Winner Island, Bepo had reached out to Wolf while Law was recovering in the hope of getting his help with rebuilding the Tang. He’d been heartbroken to hear that the submarine had been sunk, but, unsurprisingly, had been working on blueprints for an upgraded ship since giving the original design to four teenagers. He’d sent the plans, and they became the basis for the Polar Tang 2.0.

Agnes smiled softly, and Law pretended not to notice. “Speaking of that old kook,” she said, wiping down a mug with a towel, “you’re going to see him, aren’t you?”

Law nodded. “Of course.” He hesitated. “How is he doing?”

“Oh, he’s the same as ever,” Agnes said with a laugh. “You know how he gets when he’s working on his inventions! He’s always fiddling with something or other.” She put the mug down and looked at Law. “But no one paid closer attention to papers to see what you were up to than that old man did. He might not say it, but he’s proud of you four.”

Law felt a lump in his throat so just nodded. He pulled out his wallet to pay for the drink, but Agnes shook her head. “Put that away. Your money is no good here, kid.”

Law huffed a laugh and rose from the barstool. He waved to his crew, letting them know they were off duty for the time being. He was nearly through the door when he opened a small Room and dropped some berries on the bar, switching them with a peanut.

“Brat!” Agnes yelled as the door shut behind Law.

Law smirked as he pulled his coat a bit more tightly around himself and then headed down the street.

After collecting Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin from where they’d been visiting some old friends, Law led them out of town and down the path through the woods to Wolf’s. As they walked, Law noticed that Swallow Island had changed very little in the years they’d had been away. It was still snowy and rural, though Pleasure Town had grown a bit in the intervening years. There were more restaurants and shops now, and Law had seen more kids running around than he’d remembered from a decade earlier.

“No pirates have dared mess with us since we hoisted that flag,” Agnes had said. Law couldn’t help a small smile at that; it seemed his reputation had been good for something after all.

Once, Swallow Island had been a place for Law to hide from Doflamingo and work through his grief. It had been the place Law had started to become a person again after years of being nothing more than a ticking time bomb—of illness and rage. Law was glad to pay that kindness back, at least a little.

As for now, well, after everything Law had seen since he’d set sail, Swallow Island was quaint. Boring even.

It should be safe.

But Law had chosen it as the place to settle this Betrothal Chase nonsense. There was, he knew, a good chance Luffy wouldn’t even come. After he’d left Luffy on Sabaody without another clue, Law wouldn’t blame Luffy if he decided he was tired of being jerked around. But, if by some miracle, he hadn’t, he would have to solve the clue Law had had his crew send. And to do that, he would have to remember something Law had told him once off-handedly when Luffy had asked about how he’d met his nakama.

Law had no idea if Luffy would remember—and he wasn’t sure if he wanted him to or not.

“Well, this explains what the commotion in town has been about.”

Law felt himself smiling at the familiar voice as he, Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin emerged from the woods into a familiar yard. Wolf stood on his back porch, hands on his hips as he looked at the four pirates. His white hair had thinned out beneath his trademark red visor, and there were more lines and age spots on his face, but he was still unmistakably Wolf.

“Junk-ya,” Law greeted as he approached. He’d talked to Wolf a few times over the Den Den Mushi while they’d been building the new Tang, but it wasn’t the same.

“It’s damn good to see you boys in person.” Wolf eyed them up and down and chuckled. “Though I suppose you aren’t boys anymore, are you?” He waved the thought off. “Eh, you’re still boys to me. C’mon then.”

He gestured for them to follow him into the house, and they entered the kitchen through the back door—like old times. Wolf didn’t even have to remind them to take their shoes off while they were shucking their coats and scarves. Wolf immediately set to brewing coffee and sent them into the living room to wait. It hadn’t changed a bit, other than there being more books spilling off the shelves and a new blanket on the back of the couch that Law didn’t recognize. He absently wondered who had knitted it for Wolf.

Wolf walked in a few minutes later with a tray of mugs and a steaming pot of coffee plus sugar and cream. He put it down on the coffee table before he was dogpiled by Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin. They all laughed and hugged and even cried a bit, but eventually the embrace ended. Then Law rose to his feet and approached Wolf.

The two eyed each other for a long moment, and then Wolf was pulling Law into a tight hug. “You got tall,” he muttered.

Law let out a surprised laugh. While he’d grown quite a bit over the years he’d lived on Swallow Island without his body using all its resources to fight the Amber Lead in his system anymore, he’d grown several more inches after going to sea. He wasn’t used to towering over Wolf like this. “You got old,” he retorted.

Wolf snorted as they pulled apart. “You might be taller, but you’re still a little shit. Good to see some things never change.”

Once everyone had settled down on the couch and in chairs with their coffee, Wolf asked, “So, what brings big-time pirates from the New World back to the backwaters of the North Blue?”

“Law’s Betrothal Chase!” Shachi said, ignoring Law’s glare.

Wolf raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And who’s the lucky pirate? Doing the chasing or being chased?”

“Wait, you know about Betrothal Chases?” Law demanded.

“My son was a pirate,” Wolf replied with a shrug. “You pick some things up.”

Law groaned and slumped back into the couch as Shachi and Penguin snickered. Why was he the only one who didn’t seem to know about this damn tradition?

“Straw Hat Luffy,” Bepo said. When Wolf gave him a questioning look, Bepo clarified. “Straw Hat Luffy is the one who wants to marry Law.”

“The new Pirate King?”

“The very one,” Penguin confirmed before launching into the story of Luffy’s proposal, Law’s clueless acceptance, and the chase that had gone across the New World and had now found its way to the North Blue.

Wolf whistled as the story came to an end. “That’s quite the story.” He turned to Law. “So, what are you going to do when he shows up? Let him catch you? Become the… what, Pirate King Consort?”

“I don’t know if he’ll even come,” Law said, dodging the question as his cheeks warmed.

“Captain—”

“Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose,” Wolf said, interrupting Penguin. “Now, I’ll bet you boys have some amazing stories from your time at sea. I want to hear them all.”

Law gave Wolf a grateful look, but his minute head shake in response said this wasn’t over.

“Captain!”

Law looked up as Wolf’s back door opened and Shachi and Penguin spilled into the kitchen, practically toppling over one another. Law was lying on the couch in the living room, reading a book he’d picked from Wolf’s bookshelf. He frowned and closed the book before sitting up. He raised an eyebrow at his friends.

“What?”

“He’s here!” Penguin exclaimed as he untangled himself from Shachi. “Straw Hat is here!”

Law’s eyes widened. “He is?”

Shachi nodded as he pulled himself up from the floor. “The Sunny docked about half an hour ago. We came running as soon as we saw them.”

“We took the shortcut through the woods,” Penguin added. “But he should be here soon.”

Law pushed himself to his feet and walked to the windows at the front of the house. He pulled a curtain back and peered outside. Wolf’s house was out in the middle of nowhere, giving him space to run his experiments without fear of disturbing—or killing—a neighbor. There was a dirt road that led from Pleasure Town to the house, which is how Wolf got his equipment and supplies delivered, in addition to the walking path through the woods that the boys had made walking from the house to town for three years. Law assumed Luffy would be coming down the dirt road.

At first, Law didn’t see anyone. But after a few minutes, his Observation Haki sensed someone approaching. It wasn’t long after that that a figure appeared walking down the road. Luffy was wearing a long winter coat and earmuffs, though he also sported his trademark sandals despite the snow.

Law’s breath caught in his throat. Luffy was really here. He’d solved Law’s clue after all.

“So, that’s the Pirate King.”

Law started and glanced over to see Wolf and Bepo peering out another window. He frowned; when had they gotten back? Bepo had taken Wolf down to look at the new Polar Tang that morning. They must have come in through the back like Shachi and Penguin had, but Law was so distracted that he hadn’t even noticed. Embarrassing.

“That’s Straw Hat Luffy,” Bepo confirmed.

“Shorter than I expected.”

Law looked back through the window and watched as Luffy continued his approach. He had that determined look on his face that he always got when faced with an obstacle.

“Well, are you going to go out there?”

Law blinked, dragging his gaze from the window. Wolf was watching him, arms crossed.

“I…”

Wolf narrowed his eyes. “By your own crew’s account, that man followed your ass around the New World and into the North Blue because he wants to marry you. I knew you had a hard head, kid, but I didn’t think you were dumb to boot.”

“Hey—”

“Don’t you dare let a love like that go,” Wolf interrupted, his expression fierce. “You’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Trust me.”

Law’s eyes widened in surprise. Though they’d helped Wolf stop his son from wrecking Pleasure Town a decade earlier, they’d also been self-involved teenagers so had never thought to ask what happened to his mother—Wolf’s wife. There was a distinct lack of family pictures throughout the house, and Law had a sudden sinking sensation as to why.

“Junk-ya...”

“You’ve been through hell in your life, Law,” Wolf went on a bit more gently. “I still remember that sick boy I found in a cave all those years ago who tried to attack me with a scalpel.” Wolf’s lips twitched in a smile, and Law huffed a laugh at the memory. “You are the bravest person I’ve ever known, you know that? So, don’t run away from happiness now that you have a real chance at it.”

Law felt tears threatening at the corner of his eyes. “Stupid old man,” he muttered, glancing out the window once more. Outside, Luffy had come to a stop outside the house.

Law turned back to Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin, and his friends nodded at him. They just want you to be happy. Stop running from happiness. Taking a breath, Law nodded.

“Okay.”

With whoops and cheers, Law’s friends were suddenly manhandling him into boots and a coat before shoving him out the door and closing it behind him. Standing on Wolf’s doorstep, he blinked a few times in surprise before absently noticing the curtains twitching in the windows as his friends spied on the scene. Finally, he dared raise his gaze to Luffy’s.

For a long moment, the two captains stared at one another.

“You found me,” Law said dumbly.

Luffy nodded. “I’ll always find Torao.”

And Law knew that he was right. They’d been linked together since that fateful day on Sabaody, though neither of them could have predicted what would become of that bond. His friends were right. Wolf was right. He knew, with a sudden rush of certainty that nearly took his breath away, that Cora-san would have wanted this for him.

“Are you going to run away this time?” Luffy asked hesitantly.

No. It was time to stop running.

Law slowly lifted his hand. Luffy’s expression fell as a Room encompassed the two of them, but when Law twisted his fingers, he wasn’t the one who moved.

Luffy stood on the doorstep in front of Law as the blue dome fell around them. He stumbled, and Law reached out to steady him, arms gripping Luffy’s biceps. He squeezed Luffy’s arms gently. Luffy looked up at Law, eyes wide in surprise.

“Torao?”

“It looks like I’ve caught you, Luffy-ya.” Law smirked. “What do I win?”

Luffy’s grin was blinding as he grabbed fistfuls of Law’s jacket and pulled him down into a kiss. Law was startled and gasped as Luffy’s chapped lips pressed against his. Their mouths didn’t line up right, and their teeth knocked together. But Luffy didn’t let that stop him as he tightened his grip on Law’s coat. Law’s eyes slipped shut, and cupping Luffy’s cheeks with his hands, he pressed back into the kiss. Luffy made a pleased sound, and Law smiled against Luffy’s lips.

It was awkward and the angle was a little bit uncomfortable.

It was perfect.

Finally—too soon—Luffy broke the kiss and pulled back just far enough so he could look Law in the eye. He was smiling so widely that he nearly hurt to look at. “Marry me, Torao.”

This time, Law was prepared with his answer.

“Yes.”

The moon was bright in the night sky as Law stood on the shore, looking out toward the sea. The party celebrating the end of the Betrothal Chase was still going on at Wolf’s house, but after hours of drinking and well wishes from his own crew, the Straw Hats, and seemingly the entire populace of Pleasure Town, Law had needed to get away for a bit.

He’d left the house and walked absently until his feet had brought him to the shoreline. There were lights in the distance from the nearby islands.

“You found me,” Law said when he heard the soft crunch of sand behind him.

“I’ll always find you, Torao,” Luffy replied easily, slipping an arm through Law’s. “Bepo said you needed some quiet.”

Law nodded and Luffy hummed, squeezing Law’s arm once. It constantly amazed Law that, for all of Luffy’s seemingly boundless frenetic energy, he could also be surprisingly quiet and still. He always seemed to recognize when Law needed it and didn’t push. He seemed content just to be there with Law.

It was nice.

Law shut his eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of Luffy’s arm in his, knowing that he would get to have this as much as he wanted in the future.

Because they were getting married.

It still seemed surreal and yet felt completely natural.

“What are those lights?” Luffy asked after a few quiet moments.

Law opened his eyes and looked out over the water. He pointed to one set of lights. “Those are on the island of Rubeck. It’s a small mining community.” He pointed to the other set. “And that is… Minion Island.” He swallowed. “That’s where Cora-san…”

He trailed off, but Luffy made a noise of understanding, which Law appreciated more than he could say.

Law cleared his throat. “After, I made my way from Minion Island here. My memories are kind of hazy from then because I’d just gotten my Devil Fruit and was in the final stages of my illness. All I could think about was that we were going to meet up here and run away together. But when I got here, I had to accept that it wasn’t going to happen. I hid in a cave, where I started trying to use the Ope Ope fruit to remove the Amber Lead from my body. Wolf found me and took me in.”

“I’m glad,” Luffy said.

“Me too.”

They fell back into silence until Luffy shifted to stand in front of Law. “Torao is thinking too much again.”

Law’s lips twitched. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe I’m not thinking too much? Maybe you just don’t think enough, Luffy-ya?”

“Mm, nope,” Luffy replied, popping the p with a grin. “But I like it when you say my name.”

Law rolled his eyes. “But you still won’t say mine.”

“Shishishi, Torao is Torao.”

“Whatever.” He glanced over Luffy’s shoulder toward Minion once more and nodded toward the island. “That night, Cora-san told me he loved me. And then he locked me in a treasure chest while he faced Doflamingo. He died before I could tell him that I loved him back.”

“He knew,” Luffy said certainly.

“I hope so.”

“He knew, Torao.” There was something in Luffy’s voice that had Law looking back at him. As he searched the other captain’s face, he realized Luffy was thinking about his brother. He knew. Law’s expression softened.

“Yeah.”

“Hey, Torao?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

Law’s breath caught in his chest. Luffy was smiling, though it was small and gentle, the moonlight reflecting in his brown eyes. The fear that had once overwhelmed Law at the very thought of those words was… missing.

And suddenly it was the easiest thing in the world for Law to reply, “I love you, too.” He took Luffy’s face in his hands and kissed his future husband.