Summary: It started before Lammy thought of having a Physical Ed tutor.
Chapter 3: Serve and Receive
It started before Lammy thought of having a Physical Ed tutor, and it was almost four months ago since that fateful day when Trafalgar D. Water Law got swept, albeit gradually, in the whirlwind pace of Straw Hat Luffy.
At the beginning of the year's first semester, when the freshmen still roamed around to familiarise themselves in the extensive campus of Grand Line University, a fifteen years old freshman who's aiming to be a Doctor and Pharmacist signed up in a Chinese Martial Arts Class, where Bepo is learning and practicing the art of Kung-Fu. His name is Tony-Tony Chopper. Of course, the teenager and Bepo got along and became fast friends. Not just because of their shared recreational class, but also because of their passion for medicine and saving lives. And Bepo wouldn't have it without introducing the brown-haired teenager with innocent blue eyes to Law.
Surprisingly, Law found the kid tolerable- no matter how naive and childish Tony-ya seemed to be. However, Law realised early that Tony-Tony Chopper is just a pure nice kid: the epitome of the word "healer". The aspiring Doctor is intelligent, though. He could keep up to Law in terms of medical discussions, and despite being a medical prodigy, Tony-ya believes that he still have lots to learn and that's how the young prodigy got Law's respect.
And because of Bepo's friendship with Tony-ya, Law got acquainted to the young aspiring Doctor and some of his friends, whom a few of them may have known by Law in passing and had few conversations here and there. They were Mikan Nami, Vinsmoke Sanji and Nico Robin. Nami-ya was an acquaintance he knew because of Cora-san. Sanji-ya was a former schoolmate, his junior from North Blue Academy while Nico-ya was a senior RA of Western Dorm Wing when Law was still an Undergraduate.
But that fateful day in April, when Law finally got back in the Northern Dorm Wing after spending a stressful weekened that spring break with Cora-san and Lammy in the delightful company of Doffy and the Family - upon entering the dorm room Law shared with Bepo, Penguin and Shachi, he expected that his albino friend who stayed behind will tackle hug him. Instead, Law was greeted by a bewildered Bepo... and a distressed Tony-ya?
"Why did he have to be so reckless?" Tony-ya quietly mumbled that Law almost didn't quite catch what he said.
The teenager was covering his face with his sun-kissed hands. Law questioningly looked at Bepo, but the albino only shrugged his shoulders in puzzlement. Then, Tony-ya removed his hands from his face with a determined fire in his huge blue eyes. The brown-haired teenager uttered a quick apology to Bepo and Law before he frantically marched towards the door.
Bepo was obviously worried for his young friend, that's why Law accompanied him to follow Tony-ya.
While they went after the seventeen years old boy, Law heard from Bepo that Tony-ya was in their dorm because the teenager personally delivered his research paper for Law and Bepo's perusal. However, Law will never get the chance to peacefully read the research paper until two days later because of the text message that the seventeen years old received that caused his distress.
Law and Bepo found themselves following Tony-ya in the campus of GLU's College of Sports. In the middle of the track and field, there was a large crowd huddling... seemingly surrounding somebody. The two graduating students witnessed how the tiny and ball of fury that is Tony-Tony Chopper managed to make his way to the centre of the gathering people.
A moment later, there seemed to be a general consensus because the crowd dispersed. The only ones left remaining are a group of five people, one of them was Tony-ya. The brown-haired boy and his other three companions - a long-nosed guy with a blue-haired woman... and the other was Nami-ya... even though it had been a long time since he last saw her, he could still recognise that devious ginger hair everywhere - were scolding a guffawing raven-haired teen, who's wearing a battered straw hat, red sleeveless vest, sandals and blue shorts that looked like it was pants before...
"Who the fuck wears that in this cold weather?" Law muttered out loud as he and Bepo watched from afar.
When Bepo deemed that his 'kouhai' was fine, he apologised to Law before the two medical students went back to their dorm.
The next day, Tony-ya dropped by in the Northern Wing again to deliver his research paper. He also invited Bepo and Law to support the teenager's "nakama" in an unofficial match.
Apparently, in the College of Sports, students can challenge and duel each other in unofficial matches if they meet the certain requirements*: (1) an authorised individual to permit the unofficial match. (2) a neutral host and referee. (3) both challengers must agree to have the unofficial match and to the terms of their match, and if one side is unwilling to duel, the match will be dismissed.
At the combined insisting of Tony-ya and Bepo with the use of their puppy eyes, Law found himself in one of the many gymnasiums in the campus of GLU's College of Sports. He was sitting alone at the upper benches in the bleachers because he really didn't want to be there, but he agreed to come, so here he was and having a good view from his seat. He even urged a reluctant Bepo to leave him alone so the albino could join Tony-ya and his friends, and to enjoy himself.
The unofficial match started with the host's self-introduction before dramatically introducing the match duelers and announcing the agreed terms between them: something about a Shirahoshi's hand in marriage or her freedom?
That's the first time Trafalgar Law heard about Straw Hat Luffy, though. And he had no idea what will transpire next: how his life will spiral into a mess by the time this particular battle ended... because somehow, he managed to develop 'feelings' without any clue that his attraction will be out of his tight control for the next four months.
But for now, from where he was perching comfortably, Law watched with indifference the fight between a Decken guy and Straw Hat-ya. At first glance, it would be quickly assumed that the older male with sharp teeth will win against the straw hat wearing young man, especially when the former started to throw the darts and throwing knives from his pocket with incredible speed to the latter.
"Take that, you Straw Hat bastard!" The not-so neutral host loudly shrieked.
According to the biased red-nosed host of the unofficial match, Vander Decken competed in the Dart Competitions and a reigning champion from Nationals for his perfect accuracy, rivaling that of someone called Sogeking Usopp from the Shooting Sports Association of the University.
Law raised a brow and watched with slight interest as the cloud of dusts dissipated to show Straw Hat Luffy- completely unscathed in the middle of the makeshift arena. He stood there as if he didn't move in the first place while the throwing knives and darts were littered on the floor and surrounding the younger male.
Loud gasps can be heard from the audience inside the gymnasium before they exploded in deafening roars that made Law winced at the sudden noise.
But seeing the throwing knives and darts on the floor with the newly gained knowledge that one of those weapons hadn't hit Straw Hat-ya at least seemed to anger Vander-ya. He started to hurl his throwing knives again, but it was clear to everyone present in that gymnasium how Straw Hat-ya could dodge him gracefully... as if knowing where the knives were going.
When Vander-ya stopped to take a breather from his weapon-hurling, which was a mistake, Straw Hat Luffy swiftly moved his small and lithe body - snapping like they were made of rubber - and propelled himself towards the older man with a strong pistol-like punch and fierce determined look on his attractively cute face.
Trafalgar D. Water Law was rooted from his seat with a faintly surprised dilated golden eyes, sweaty palms and rapidly increasing rate of his heart beat. He convinced himself at the time that the cause of this strange behaviour was because of the sudden kick of excitement from the fight below him.
Golden eyes narrowed in displeasure and glared at the scorching hot sun in the cloudless blue sky as the exposed tattooed tanned skin burned red under the sweltering weather before briefly landing at the form of Straw Hat Luffy. The smaller raven-haired male is sleeping soundly beside Law under the palm tree near the infinity pool, and perched over his raven head was his battered straw hat, shielding him a little from the sun... the lucky bastard.
But there's one important thing the older man noticed.
No one was around them anymore, and it seemed their companions abandoned them.
Honestly, Law didn't know how he ended up in this situation. He did know that it's probably Straw Hat-ya's fault. After all, the reason why he's suffering and getting sunburn in this damned island getaway instead of preparing the requirements he will need for his internship and reviewing for his four more examinations, his finals and license exam included, was the younger male- currently drooling and pressing the side of his small round face on Law's arm.
And it all began two days ago...
It was a normal day.
Well, what you can possibly call a normal day in their household for that summer break when Straw Hat-ya is not scheduled to visit Lammy for her training. In short, it's a quiet and peaceful day.
Cora-san and Lammy left the house too- to restock their pantry for the third time in five days and to buy his little sister's safety gear as well for her volleyball training.
Fucking finally, in Law's opinion. Because after all the endurance and stamina training - and the unnecessary stretching exercises - Lammy had to go through for the past two weeks, Straw Hat-ya finally did what he was paid to do in the first place. After their morning run yesterday, when they stopped at the convenience store to rest and hydrate, the younger raven-head started instructing Lammy the proper form of receiving a ball.
By instructing, Law actually meant that while they were drinking water, Straw Hat Luffy suddenly moved his feet apart and happily demonstrated in front of the Trafalgar Siblings his receiving form: knees bending a little and hips moving upwards along with his stretched arms.
(And if someone asked Law if he nearly chocked and combusted upon seeing such aesthetical form in person... well... he will just answer that there's really no difference between watching the young Monkey in NewTube videos or during live action.)
Since Cora-san and Lammy were out of the house, Law went out of his room and decided to chill in the living room with his binder containing his test reviewers that he compiled for his exams.
"What are you doing, Traffy?"
Said 'Traffy' almost shrieked in unwelcomed shock. Almost. At the sudden appearance of Straw Hat-ya behind the champagne-coloured sofa where he was comfortably reclining. Let it be known that Trafalgar Law, medical genius extraordinaire, does not shriek. Ever.
He slightly tilted his head up and scowled at the menace who nearly gave him a heart attack.
...who always gave him a heart attack. Not that he's counting and keeping a tally.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Law questioned through gritted teeth, "And how the fuck did you get in?"
He's certain that the door was locked when Cora-san and Lammy left. And as far as he's aware of, Cora-san wouldn't give away the password of their home... so how did this moron got in?
But like what's starting to be a usual occurence, Straw Hat-ya ignored him.
"Shishishi! You're grumpy as always, Traffy!" Luffy chuckled as he reached over a hand and poked the older Trafalgar sibling's left cheek.
Law continued glowering at the stupid grinning face of Straw Hat-ya as he knocked his hand off his face.
Ever since he joined Lammy and Straw Hat-ya in their morning run, the idiot started calling him that ridiculous butchered version of the siblings' family name. The little shit wouldn't properly pronounce it, and refused to call Law by his name... before deciding all by himself that they're friends.
Not that Law was complaining... okay, so he did complained a lot and continued protesting that he's not Luffy's friend on his face. The reason Law was doing this and will continue doing such was because he found that a daily dose of Monkey D. Luffy is bad for his health. He's so stupidly adorable and when Law's around the younger man, he felt his lifespan are shortening at an alarming rate.
His eyebrows furrowed deeper as he tried and failed spectacularly not to blush at the closeness of their faces. For fuck's sake, the idiot was resting the side of his face on the armchair of the couch.
(And if that squishing of cheek is not cute, then he didn't know what.)
He sighed in exasperation, "What do you want, Straw Hat-ya?"
Law decided that he will just ask again later how Luffy managed to get inside their home despite the tight security system installed in the place.
"Neh, Traffy, you should come with us at the beach. It will be fun!" Luffy beamed at him.
"No." Law quickly replied as he looked away in annoyance and fought the rushing blood on his face.
"Whaat? Whyyy~?" The nineteen years old whined and pouted like a petulant child that he is.
Law glanced at the pouting idiot from the corner of his eyes before sighing in defeat. At times like this, he didn't understand why his stupid heart is still beating wildly inside his ribcage. Sure. Straw Hat-ya is definitely not unattractive. He has certain qualities in him that impelled you to either throttle him in frustration or yourself in regret.
But those qualities are also charming in its own way... still. Law couldn't, for the life of him, comprehend why he's so drawn to an oxymoron that is Monkey D. Luffy.
"Yes, big brother, why?" Lammy's voice echoing from the hall solved the mystery how Straw Hat-ya got in.
The older Trafalgar sibling pushed himself up to see his brunette sister in akimbo at the entryway while Cora-san gave him a conspiratorial smile when the blond man passed by behind Lammy with paperbags in his arms.
And because Law couldn't give a proper excuse at the time, he found himself reluctantly agreeing to come in the getaway trip to Water 7 Park owned by the Galley-La Company that Straw Hat-ya's friends planned for their summer vacation. Apparently, Straw Hat-ya is friends with the President of the company.
Now, Law is planning the slow and painful death of the people who left him with Straw Hat-ya in this kind of state. He's certain that Penguin and Shachi had a hand on this embarrassing situation he found himself in. There are others he's suspicious off, but-
A loud growling of stomach suddenly interrupted Law's morbid thoughts.
The older raven-haired man frowned before shaking the younger man beside him with his free hand, "Oi! Straw Hat-ya, wake up."
He realised that they've been staying under the palm tree for too long. Law guessed that it's time to get inside. But obviously, just shaking Straw Hat-ya wouldn't work and their position only got worse because of the movement. Instead of waking up, the younger raven-head male fell on Law's stomach, face first, and continued snoring while burrowing said face on his exposed and sunburned tattooed skin.
Law hissed in pain and almost cursed loudly as he quickly slapped a hand on his rapidly flushing face.
Yes. Penguin and Shachi will die first. Slowly and painfully.
Somewhere, at the other side of the island, Penguin and Shachi both felt an unexplainable chills in their spines and it's not because of the mango sorbet they're eating with Bepo and Straw Hat Luffy's friends.
*this part is inspired from the rules of Shokugeki and Davy Back Fight.
so as i stated in ao3, i miscalculated when writing the first chapter of this fic. it'll be 10 chapters-length story... so yeah.
~Littlemisslazy
