CHAPTER tWo
When Law opened his eyes, the warmth that was hugging him, was leaner, stronger and clingy and not a buff caressing him to death. Luffy was comforting. Sunlight invaded the privacy of his, correction their bedroom, forcing Law to wake up. Law was an early riser, whereas his husband Luffy was a late riser, compared to Law a late riser. Law looked around his surrounding, the wallpaper pasted was lemon yellow, that rare colour of spring onions in butter, fresh and happy. There were small leaves printed on it to balance out the colour. Baby had a good taste Law smirked. The curtains were off-white, they neither suffocated the huge bedroom or curved out the light.
And Law made a mental note that he would call Baby, to thank her for the mattress, all that weeping, and anger that both Luffy and Law brought back inside the cottage on their first night, alone, as married couple, vanished that very night, when they fell on the bed exhausted, hungry and sad. Luffy crying on the beach was an incident of long past now.
The first morning Law woke up to find himself gripped my Luffy's leg and Law's own tattooed hand was resting on Luffy's chest. Death was figuratively breathing in and out. Law tried to un-grip himself, but Luffy was tough, that was when Homming's word rebounded in his head, "He is a strong policeman Law". "Fucking Hulk, not only just strong dad…" Law hissed. "And why a policeman?" Law turned his head, Luffy's lips were parted, formed into a small, little O that was weeping on the pillow. His husband had a scar with two stitches under the left eye, a knife wound and stitched by a nurse, the experienced surgeon eyes decoded.
"Hey… Luffy-ya, mind removing your legs?" Law poked this stranger that was his husband now. But a poke was not going to wake him. Pat on cheeks, pushes, punches and finally a hard pinch on the nose later Luffy hissed from his sleep. "Who the hell are you?" Luffy's eyes were of that person who drank too much to forget about their bed-date the next morning. "Oh, I am married" Luffy blinked thrice. "Yes, so am I" Law smiled. "It's just five in the morning, why are you up?" Luffy rubbed his eyes. "I am an early riser" Law informed.
"Well I am one too, I wake up at six" Luffy pouted.
"Oh… sorry? Umm, do you want some coffee?" Law asked.
"I don't drink coffee, but I am sure my brother must have installed a coffeemaker, he was always trying to get that machine in this cottage, I will punch him" suddenly Luffy's voice changed to angry from sleepy. "Hey... hey... let's not weep, what do you drink in the morning?" Law asked. "Milk" Luffy looked with huge round eyes.
Law blinked.
Luffy blinked.
Law blinked again.
Luffy blinked.
Law blinked.
And took a deep breath.
"Was that meant to be seductive or erotic?" Law asked with a frown, after all just because he was not interested in getting married, doesn't mean that Luffy hadn't thought of the next step. Most of Law's friends on their honeymoon period were rabbits in heat, even though they were married to total strangers that their parents chose, Luffy could be heartbroken but a rabbit none the less.
"Excuse me? Why is Milk erotic? Cow's milk, if there is no Diary milk, I drink goat's milk, and if that's not available than soya milk" Luffy explained. "You are weird! No wonder grandpa liked you" Luffy concluded.
"Sorry, my mind is a bit scattered, it's all so sudden, new house, new routine, new life" Law mumbled.
"It's okay, from Monday we have work, two more days to go, we can be awkward together" Luffy smiled and flopped out of bed.
Law returned to reality, today was Monday and both men had work to go to.
"Hey, Luffy-ya, wake up"
"Come on… wake up" Law whispered.
"…..wake up" he missed those comforting words. Luffy could feel the strong muscled body he was hugging as he tried to break free from the happy dream of his school camping. The smell had changed, but it was his favourite smell in the world. As he opened his eyes to the blurred world, he could see the confused pair of grey eyes, he missed those annoyed morning stares, the frown that hated Luffy for wasting his time. Luffy was happy they were watching him again, the lovely shade of grey, the grey that happened before rain.
Luffy stretched out his arms and cupped the blurred face, and pulled it towards his lips with all the love he could collect in his sleepy arm. He kissed. He kissed like his life depended on it. He kissed like it was his first kiss. He kissed like it was his last. Luffy kissed.
But the reciprocation never came. Luffy kissed. But the temperature was different, it was a cold kiss, not the fire breathing kiss he was expecting. Luffy kissed. The wrong lips.
"I am SORRY" Luffy pushed Law back hard, and the doctor fell on his back on the carpeted floor. "Holy shit! I'm so sorry Law. I just… it's you… I mean I thought it was not you. I am not thinking of cheating on you. Fuck it, hold my hand" Luffy pulled up the taller, who had gone silent after his lips were sealed.
Law didn't yelp, or shout or cry. He was confused, he touched his lips with his tattooed fingers. The ghost touch of death.
"You want coffee, right? I don't drink myself, but I make wonderful coffee. Just have your bath, let me fix us some breakfast? Pancakes? Are pancakes great? I mean we had too much salad in last two days no? Pancakes With honey… yes with honey... and some jam" Luffy was speaking fast, his eyes teary.
"With milk, my coffee needs milk and it's not erotic" Law mumbled as he walked towards the washroom still in a daze.
Luffy rushed towards the dresser, to call Nami. He had to tell Nami. That he did something stupid. The dresser was empty! Suddenly he recalled his dramatic outrage on the phone. He needed his glasses, first.
Luffy hurried to the kitchen and began working on the coffee machine. "With Milk, and it's not erotic" Law's words banged in his head. In two days Luffy learned Law hated bread, green bean paste and jelly beans. Luffy bought out the milk from the fridge and saw his diamond shine. He was married! He took out the pancake mix and stared at the ring as he prepared the mixture, the ring was flamboyant with seven arrogant diamonds, stacked in groups of three, two, one and one, a weird arrangement Luffy huffed.
Luffy made a heap load of pancakes and placed them on their new dining table with coffee with whole milk for Law, soft boil eggs, sour cream cheese puffs, blackberry jam, and honey. Though he was angry with Sabo, his brother had stocked the refrigerator well.
"A dozen pancakes, at least five will go to waste" Law gasped! Luffy sighed, Law was over the disaster beginning of the day. "Actually, fifteen, five are for you, rest for me, I have a huge appetite" Luffy mumbled with embarrassment. "Are those sour cream puffs? From Bariate?" Law devoured two on sight. "Yes," Luffy nodded. "They are so hard to get, people wait in line to get a handful!" Law ate two more.
"The assistant head-chef is my best friend" Luffy smiled. "Nice" now Law was complimenting the coffee. "Really nice, will you pour some for me in the flask? Coffee in the hospital is awful" Law slurped his coffee. "Sure! But please have your pancakes first, I need to bath and find my uniform, then I will make you coffee? Is that okay with you?" Luffy asked. "Of course. I have an hour on my hand" Law began slicing his pancake and dipped them in honey.
Luffy rushed to the washroom and shut it hard. His heart was beating fast, what he did to Law was unethical, non-consensual, molestation, abuse. All the laws and rules Luffy knew were falling on his head.
When Luffy rushed off, Law sighed in relief, he knew that kiss was not for him. It was not the kiss of new lovers or honeymooners. It was the kiss of acknowledgment of love. Luffy had given it his all, as soon as the boney hands had cupped Law's face, Law knew, it was doomsday. Now he really wished his sister and Luffy's brother had let the guest room be.
The pancakes were wonderful, as Law gulped the fluffy honey dipped delicacies in his mouth. But that Coffee was out of this world. As Law sipped his coffee and gobbled eggs, his eyes were tearing up. It had been years someone cooked a proper breakfast for him. Yes, Baby, Homming, Doffy, Bepo and everyone called him to dinner or outing, he missed this. The warmth of kitchen and human who took care of him without any need to do so.
"I am sorry! I didn't mean to molest you. I am a policeman. I should have been more careful. Being sleepy and dazed doesn't mean I can kiss without consent. You should complain about me." Luffy in blue formal shirt and trousers with pointed shinny shoes and glasses was bowing to Law.
"What? Luffy-ya? What did you do?" Law was startled.
"You are crying because of me, I forcefully kissed you, didn't I? You are terrified and must be in trauma! And you might victim blame yourself. But let me say you, you are not at fault. Do not be guilty. That's why you are crying I know." Luffy bowed again.
"No… I am not feeling guilty. Startled. Yes. But definitely not violated" Law patted Luffy's hair. "Don't patronize a thirty-eight-year-old man!" Law laughed. "You are what?" Luffy looked up to Law and his jaws dropped. "3-8, thirty-eight" Law smiled. "God my husband is hot and looks so young for his age" Luffy laughed.
"I am hot? With dark-circles?" Law raised his eyebrow.
"Yes…" Luffy sat down and began gulping the pancakes. Law looked carefully, Luffy's jet black hair had been combed neatly back into sides, hence he was unable to hide the blush rushing up his cheeks behind his dark bangs. "Honey?" Law offered and Luffy nodded with his glasses sliding down the tiny nose and the doctor poured the golden liquid on the super moist pancakes.
"Where is your hospital located?" Luffy asked Law as he locked the door of their cottage. "I teach and practice at Frevalnce Medical University" Law informed as he opened the garage to bring out his sleek black car. "Do you operate every day?" Luffy asked. "No… I am called for critical cases in general. Rest of the day I teach kids how to dissect dead humans and nurses to stitch" Law winked as Luffy's eyes turned into stars. Law was a bit surprised that Luffy was not revolted only to realise Luffy was a policeman, he was used to dead bodies.
"You can visit our police morgue sometimes, we have a lot of them turning up, nameless, family-less, friendless, I mean to teach your kids" Luffy smiled.
"Where's your station?" Law asked. "On Marejois Street" Luffy was carefully looking at the flowers. His garden seemed fine. "Let me drop you" Law informed. "But… it's five streets away from your University" Luffy pouted. "Come on… I am always the first to reach university, always, a detour won't hamper me" Law waved Luffy towards the car. "Well… then thanks... that saves my bus fare" Luffy galloped inside Law's car.
Law cut open the skin of the unknown body, a fifty-something, who died of over-consumption, no one to claim, no one that would bury him. "Here look at my hands, your knife must be precise, not a millimeter apart or near. Life depends on every tissue we cut and stitch up" the surgeon explained. To Law's surprise his, students were too quiet, it was chilling him.
Talkative students meant he had the attention of some, but too quiet meant the kids couldn't understand a single word he said. "Don't tell me, you didn't understand a single scaling! You guys are too silent for my liking" Law sighed. Law considered the eyes of his students. Nope, they were his best students, handpicked for advance surgery program in their final year.
"Out with it. What is happening?" Law sighed.
"That ring on your hand" a girl spoke. "I am don't wear any ring on my hand when I am performing surgery, that's the universal rule for any surgeon" Law frowned. "Not now, but you were wearing one half an hour ago" another boy spoke. "Yes, I was. So?" Law asked.
"That means that two-week holiday you took, was for your marriage" another brat called Chopper, an eighteen-year-old medical prodigy blushed. "Really? What are you guys? Sherlock Holmes? Everybody knew the leave was for my marriage. I put a note on my door! See that's why you should read. If you don't believe me, look at my door after we are done here. Now concentrate on the dead dude." Law laughed.
He was embarrassed, but Law had written an information notice up his door.
Today was the day Bartolomeo was waiting for last two weeks. Ever since he joined the police force, he had a crush on Luffy. Such obvious was his crush that the chief of station made Bartolomeo Luffy's partner on multiple raids. But the thirty-three-year-old sergeant was oblivious of Bartolomeo. Bartolomeo even asked Luffy out for dinner and the sergeant agreed. But Luffy never let him pay or choose the restaurant and dreams of his date turned into men's night out! When drinking parties happened, he made sure Luffy drank more than a normal human could, so that he would nurse Luffy back from a hangover. But it was always Luffy who nursed him back to health.
Now that Luffy was returning from a sudden two weeks' vacation, the man with parrot hair could not control his heart. He was in love with Luffy. That smile, those deep dark eyes behind the glasses, soft black hair and that personality he carried with the uniform.
Bartolomeo was not the only one who crushed on Luffy. Rebecca the new constable always went soft on him and of course there was the bombshell, the most feared inspector in the whole district of Dressrosa, Boa Hancock. Boa Hancock would kill for Luffy. She worshiped the sergeant. But Bartolomeo knew he had better chances with Luffy because everyone knew Luffy was gay.
"What are you doing with roses in your hand you little parrot shit." Boa asked as she walked inside, earlier than her time, she knew Luffy was returning today. "T..th..s…e are for L…lu..luffy Senpai" Bartolomeo shivered up. "Heh? He will never date an uncouth parrot like you" Boa walked away sucking away confidence from everyone who was near her. "Are you planning to confess to Luffy?" Tashigi asked as she followed in with piles of paperwork, she was Luffy's good friend. "Hai Senpai Tashigi" the green haired man nodded.
"Well, I just saw Luffy with an extremely handsome man sitting inside an equally extremely handsome and expensive car" Tashigi sighed. "What where?" the admirer asked. "Oh, they are still there, talking, run, you might see him." Tashigi patted Bartolomeo and snatched a rose away from the bouquet. Boa and Rebecca were already running outside, now whole police station was looking outside their windows.
Bartolomeo had to rush.
"Is that a ring I see" someone whispered. "He got engaged! Now I get it why he took sudden weeks off" another laughed. "That boyfriend looks rich" another giggled. "Who knew innocent Luffy would find such a catch" someone was proud. Bartolomeo knew he still had a chance, boyfriends break up, engagements break up and especially rich boyfriends are jerks, Luffy must have gone lonely and got hooked up with a bad boy on some island. In his experience, Bartolomeo knew rich gay men were creeps. He was not rich but dependable, he would still get Luffy to love him. He was dedicated. Luffy would choose him eventually.
As Bartolomeo rushed out, he saw Luffy scribbling something on his notebook and tear it, and give it to the man in the car. And the man in return wrote something on Luffy's notebook. Luffy smiled and gave a slight bow and the man patted the raven head gently. Luffy laughed and the man waved off.
No questions piled him up until he settled at his desk and opened his drawers to bring out pending files. "Here, more files for you" Smoker dropped the huge bundle. "Why did you promote me? I was fine as a Senior Constable, doing duties and rounds and catching petty criminals. I am better at field" Luffy grumbled. "Yes, Zoro, you and Tashigi are my best and my last prodigy. I want you guys to learn paperwork too, cases get solved through paperwork too and I will be promoted soon, Boa will become Division Chief, so she will need an inspector and experienced people in her team" Smoker ruffled Luffy's hair.
"You mean, I have to sit for Inspector's examination?" Luffy rolled his eyes. "I sent your files, recommendation and the form and yes congratulations on getting hitched. How's the husband?" Smoker asked. "Still a stranger, but a stranger who respects space" Luffy smiled. "Good, then let me do the announcement." Smoker grinned.
"What announcement?" Luffy looked up. "No… NNNooo wait" Luffy lost the battle even before the conch blew.
"Everyone…. gather" Smoker yelled. "NOWWWWWW" soon everyone was buzzing like bees.
"Most of you have seen the expensive shit of a ring on Monkey D Luffy's hand. Our buddy Monkey D. Luffy got hitched two weeks back, yes, he is married. At end of the month, Luffy will treat us!" Smoker winked at Luffy who grumbled in annoyance.
"What?" the loudest voice was of Bartolomeo's in the noise that broke out as the crowd surrounded the man with the beautiful smile.
"How's your husband holding up?" Bepo asks. "What do you mean?" Law glared. "It's been almost two weeks you have been married. You know what I mean" Bepo sighed. "Look it's not simple on his part okay. It's not easy to get married to someone who is practically a stranger. And he has issues" Law sighed. "Issues as grave as yours?" Bepo asked. "I think they might be more serious than me." Law sighed. "You didn't do a background check?" Bepo asked. "My family deed! I didn't, it's disrespectful and I think he doesn't know much about me either. We are starting from page one" Law sipped his coffee and stooped his shoulder.
"Hey since when did you start carrying a flask of coffee? I thought you stopped years back" Bepo gives an eyeful to Law. "Luffy makes wonderful coffee, I asked him, and he made me a potful happily" Law smirks. "Hate me?" Law asks. "With all my heart" Bepo pouted, but he saw, that rare Trafalgar Law smile, for a second though.
Luffy couldn't stop, he couldn't stop yelling. "ENOUGH… get back to your work now! For the last time, I didn't just go out to Skypeia and had a Casino Wedding after drinking to oblivion! My family arranged my wedding, and I agreed. My husband is a surgeon and he practices' at Frevlance Medical University and he is thirty-eight years old. And as per your query, yes, he too was previously married to someone else. This is our second shot at marriage and I don't want any more questions! LEAVE ME NOW" Luffy huffed on his seat.
As soon as Smoker left, everybody buzzed near his ears like a hive of bees. They were all interested in the story of how Luffy the 'Vagabond Knight' could get hitched, after so many years of bluntly rejecting date with common friends, never attending mixers, or even going to a wedding of friends as people kept trying to hook him with some gay son or cousin of a friend.
"Coffee Senpai?" Bartolomeo handed a cup to Luffy. "You want to get kicked in the arse!" Luffy gritted his teeth. "Oye Parrot Shit, Luffy never liked coffee, here take it, Soya Milk. Luffy?" Boa threw Luffy a carton and ruffled his hair a minute later. "Thank you, Hancock" Luffy smiled. "I am glad, you moved on" saying this the tall woman walked off, her long black hair hissing behind her at Bartolomeo.
"I am sorry Lu...uu…ff..y Senpai" Bartolomeo bowed. "It's fine... fine… all fine" Luffy raised his hand in a dismissive gesture.
"You want to talk something? Shoot" Luffy looked at Bartolomeo with the glare.
"Your first marriage. was a love marriage, right?" Bartolomeo asked. The raven head nodded. "So, I thought the next time you got married, it will be a love marriage too," Bartolomeo said in a small voice. "Barto… I never intended on loving anyone else ever again, the second marriage was never on the list" Luffy sighed. "So, why now? Why marry without love? You could have seen around, dated and fallen in love again? Why enter a loveless marriage?" Bartolomeo's voice nearing to break into a lament.
"Because I would never allow anyone to come near me." Luffy hissed.
"You think I couldn't have waited for second love? I never wanted another love, I could spend my whole life with my memories, but my father, grandfather, brother, sister-in-law, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister, the best friend saw what I was doing. They would put me up with guys on a dinner date, family meetings, and I would be polite enough but never interesting enough for the second date! So, they took the matter into their own hands, they found a broken nut for my broken bolt." Luffy laughed.
"What?" Bartolomeo looked confused.
"My new husband married me only because his family forced him too. He has issues as well, far deeper than mine. So, spare me the questions Barto, I am not to the best of my moods" Luffy gulped his soya milk down. That 'Kiss' early morning still haunted him.
He had to call Nami.
Ever since he primarily shifted to teaching, Law had more time on his hand, except for the exam season when children wrote everything they knew about surgery, but never the main point. He was really loving the coffee, as he poured himself his fourth cup and sat with a croissant for lunch, a blonde man with a burn scar on his left eye sat opposite, a scar almost twenty years old. "Don't tell me you forgot about me already Law-kun!" the smile was like that of his new Husband. "No, Sabo-san" Law smiled.
"Is my little brother doing well?" Sabo bit his lips. "I dropped him at the station, he was fine, still pissed with you about the bedroom massacre" Law sipped his coffee. "Is that Lu's coffee? Did he make you coffee?" Sabo asked with a shocked face. "Yes, and I am not sharing" Law frowned, he would kill for this coffee. "I am not, but it's wonderful news! I can smell his coffee anywhere in the world and recognize it. He has started using the kitchen, good to know coffee is the first step" Sabo sighed.
"Actually, this is the third day he took the helm of the kitchen. Today he made pancakes for breakfast, first two days he fixed us salads and fish and today is the first time he made coffee and I love it" Law sipped his coffee. "He is cooking too!" Sabo's jaws dropped in an inhuman way. "What the ?" Law hissed.
"Well, it's been years Luffy cooked. He kind of stopped, he just survived on take away, pizzas and cereals! Pancakes! Wow… Law you are a good guy. Tell my brother to call me! He blocked me or something which is fine, but he blocked the entire family, we kind of got worried." Sabo scratched his head.
"He broke his phone in anger" Law gulped.
"Wow, and if I know him well, my brother won't even bother getting a new one!" the blonde pouted.
"Don't worry, I will get him a new one" Law smiled.
"You are great man! That would save us the trouble, and tell him I am sorry, I know I went too far with the bedroom even Koala is angry with me, but it was a necessity, trust me Trafalgar, I love my brother." The blonde patted Law and walked out of the cafeteria shouting happily on his phone, apparently to his wife Law concluded.
"If it's not about money or real estate or geography, I am billing you! And why are you calling me from a pay phone!?" Nami's voice blasted inside Luffy's head. "I kissed" Luffy mumbled. "You what? Louder Luffy!" Nami hissed. "I kissed Law!" Luffy yelled. "That's god! I was worried, great that you both are umm exploring?" Nami's voice suddenly turned jolly. "No, it was not that kind of kiss" Luffy sighed.
"Begin from the beginning" Nami scoffed.
"I was dreaming, you remember right, our first school trip, the camping we all went when we were 16?" Luffy asked softly. "Luffy did you mistake Law for him?" Nami's voice turned motherly in seconds. Luffy gulped. "Luffy… it's been years, I know it's tough. But one must get over and move on. You agreed to this marriage. So, it should be fine, if you don't tell Law that… Oh shit… you blurted the truth, didn't you? Luffy are you crying?" Nami asked. "No… I am sad. It's just that, I never thought… And Law he doesn't deserve this you know. Not a marriage where…" Luffy suddenly felt a hand pull his shoulder from behind. His police instincts flared up and next thing he knows Law is holding his stomach and rolling on the road.
"HOLY HELL LAW" Luffy yelled. "Nami, I w…i…ll call you later, it's Law, …ccidently hurt him" Luffy hung up. "Could you not get startled! You policemen, no one would want to mug you! Damn, how strong are you for the tiny body you have!" Law hissed and scrambled towards the booth's wall. "I topped my batch at the Police Academy" Luffy scratched his head in modesty. "That strong huh?" Law smirked.
"What are you doing here?" Law asked. "I do an hour-long patrolling before my shift gets over and I had to make a call, and why are you here?" Luffy asked. "I came to get you a new phone. Then as I was about to leave, I saw you curled up at the booth, it looked like you were crying, I came to look" Law was still holding his torso.
"I don't need a phone, it's all touch and then everywhere you go and meet people, who want to see the phone model, people need a selfie and then the constant social media checking in! If I am not on it my family thinks I am depressed! Bullshit! I don't want a phone" Luffy sat beside Law. "You are carrying a Walkie Talkie" Law smiled. "Walkie Talkies are fine! They are for talking and tracking! But a phone is a…" Luffy stopped as Law was laughing his guts out.
"Why are you laughing?" Luffy huffed. "Here, this is just a phone, all it does is call and text. No camera, no FM, no social media" Law smirked. "You still get those?" Luffy's eyes popped out. "We Doctor's Still Use Pagers, so the answer is yes" Law hands Luffy a soap length phone. "Your brother came to meet me today" Law informed. "That Sabo!" Luffy frowned behind his glasses. "Your family is worried. Call them" Law pats Luffy on the back. "I will, on my own time, I am still angry" Luffy huffed.
"What kind of man was he?" Law asks. "Sorry who?" Luffy asks back. "Your husband, not the one you are talking to right now, the one before me? Mine was an annoying bastard of a husband" Law smiled. "Mine was a show off" Luffy grinned. "Better than a clumsy idiot, who didn't know he was drop dead gorgeous" Law grinned larger. "Oh, that's better, this one knew he was fucking Adonis with swag! God, I hated that I am Mr. Sexy, and I know it attitude, he had" Luffy laughed. "And now all we have of them are memories huh?" Law smiled. "Just memories." Luffy sighed.
"Hey Law" Luffy tilted his head. "Yes, Luffy-ya" Law looked straight into the liquid eyes trying to hide behind thick glasses. "Should we move on? But if we do, will we betray their memory?" Luffy gives his hand to Law as he stands up. The taller takes the hand and stands up.
"But don't you think hankering after past is betraying the present we have?" Law asked back.
"Yes. I want to move on" Luffy smiled.
"Me too" Law nodded.
"But, I need time. Will you wait?"
Both men spoke in unison and broke into a laughter because this question was the answer they needed.
Disclaimer- NOPE ONE PIECE IS NOT MINE.
Thank you for the reviews and follows and favourites.
I am glad you are liking my story, which surprsingly is not a fluff.
Now the question, how many chapters of this story do you want? Five or Ten, either way I will make you weep, so tell me if you want five chapters or ten chapters of Emotional Train Wreck?
See you on next chapter.
I love you all :*