Law dreams of the cold of winter. The echoes of a fading gunshot. Clutching the hem of a thread bare white shirt as the one thing he held dearest falls limp to the ground full of bullet holes.
When he jerks bolt straight up in bed shaking it's not the first time, not even the hundredth time it has happened. His breathing is erratic and his heart pounding in his chest. He holds his head in his hands and tries to force them both to steady. Except the dream is too real and has hallowed him from the inside until all he can feel is the overwhelming weight of loss crushing him.
"Captain…?" The voice is soft, hesitant. Law swallows and manages to glance towards the bedroom door where Bepo stands with his ears pinned back. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a bad dream." Law's voice isn't as steady as he would have liked, but it serves to put his crewmate at ease just a bit and maybe convince even himself somewhat. Bepo's ears right themselves. "Why are you here, something wrong?" Law asks and Bepo walks over to him.
"Nothing's wrong per say, but I was trading off watch with Penguin and heard some noises from your room on my way back so I thought I would check on you," Bepo said.
"Oh. Well I'm fine." It's a lie and from Bepo's expression a bad one. Law flinches at his friend's angry look.
Bepo huffs, he raises a paw and brings it down on top of Law's head in a karate crop. Law blinks up at him. It's more of a gentle head pat than anything else. Bepo's stern look slips away to total exasperation, maybe a bit of hurt. It makes Law feel guilty. "Don't you trust me?"
"Of course I do, dummy." Despite himself, his heart lightens just the slightest at his navigator. He has the urge to lean into Bepo's warm fur, so he does. Law rests his head on Bepo's chest. "I trust every one of you with my life," he says. For a moment Bepo is stunned. Law can feel in the way he intakes a sharp breath. The way his paws hover at Law's sides unsure of what to do. Law doesn't blame him. This type of behavior isn't like him at all. It's the damn dream's fault.
The past's fault, Law thinks. The nightmare's fault.
"Captain…" It's almost in awe the way he whispers it as his arms finally settle around Law in a light hug. "It must have really been a bad dream," Bepo says and Law can't answer him, if he does it feels like something might break, crack open inside of him. It doesn't matter, Bepo doesn't need him to say anything. He just holds Law, maybe a bit tighter than he has to. "I know, they say the best way help someone after a nightmare is to share body heat!" He exclaims suddenly.
Law looks up at him then, eyebrows raised.
"It's true!" He insists. Law just scoffs and pulls away from him. Bepo's ears deflate.
"That's ridiculous," Law chides, but scoots over to make enough room for him all the same. "Let's try it." He smirks as Bepo's ears swivel upwards once again. So predictable. He's already climbing into bed before Law can blink. He's so big he nearly bounces Law out of the bed, but before he knows it he's instead enveloped in a mess of white fur and blankets. Eventually they both settle into comfortable positions, and Bepo is warm against his back as he hugs Law close.
Law thinks, 'Maybe this is enough for now.', and Bepo is right, sharing body heat does help ease his mind. Neither one of them speaks. Soon enough Law drifts off with the sound of Bepo's steadying breathing.
Thank you for reading! This is a part of my attempt to post something each month. Good luck to me, lol. :B