A/N: No warnings. Smoker makes an appearance though

Chapter 21: Old friends visit and revisited: The party continued

The bar was jumping later. Times were quieter since Luffy had found One Piece, and the more upright, or trustworthy at least, members of the marines came to power. With the demise of Doflamingo and Vergo, others had followed.

Akainu and Kizaru were transferred to desk jobs and outposts a long way from people, Law hoped, a long way from any living creature. Smoker was one of Fleet Admiral Fujitora's most important admirals. He was still physically powerful despite the extra years on him. Law didn't know if those guys ever lost strength. Look at Garp. Luffy had achieved his goal with the help of men like Smoker in the government, Fujitora, supporting them, covertly and sometimes directly protecting them.

When Marco and he realised that both Luffy and the gruff marine would be passing through about the same time, they struck on the idea of a survival celebration. Or Marco did really. Law just wanted a catch-up. Marco was keen on the day especially being to celebrate his partner's survival. He knew that Luffy had fought hard too, and often, but the odds Law had beaten to come out leagues above semi-coherent, both in heart and mind, was something he wanted to acknowledge. He thought it was extraordinary. His birthday, one day after Marco's, had been a couple of weeks earlier too, but Marco knew he liked to keep that low key. Most things low key. He could celebrate the Phoenix's birthday, but find himself mysteriously all booked out with extra shifts and commitments for his own. So this was a casual affair, but Marco worked hard behind the scenes to make sure that some of the main players in Law's past were there.

It wasn't a massive celebration, so it didn't matter that Benn and Shanks were away, and that Shachi and Penguin couldn't take time off from their own very busy bar to pop in. They lived close by, and Law and Marco knew they'd see them soon. Likewise, Robin and Chopper were on an island that was a ferry ride away. But it was special enough. Marco loved seeing Law smile. Made it this far was the unspoken sentiment.

Smoker and Tashigi, and Luffy and Zoro had been dropping by anyway. Circles of friendship and acquaintance fluctuated, depending on who was in the area – theirs was a port town.

In the bar now, Tashigi didn't really mind seeing Law's hand rest on Smoker's hip. The pirate was looking good. Still with those gold hoops, the slightly mocking smile, but she'd learned to find the softness in it, or maybe he sent her a softer smirk nowadays. He was still tanned. He had a natural olive complexion anyway, and obviously kept fit.

She wondered about his brand. Remembered Akainu humiliating him, and it made her all the more relieved that he stood against the bar, leaning over and mixing their drinks himself – the barkeep pulling up the ingredients for him – relaxed, comfortable and grateful, she could feel it, in Smoker's presence, at least. Free. Both men were easy to embarrass, but Law was better at teasing.

He was a creature of habit, even if the spotted jeans and hat were not in sight at present. He still wore a short-sleeved black button-up shirt, low cut, with his crew, his ex-crew's? heart design on the pocket. Maybe that detail was different. She eyed the swirls that could be seen of his chest tattoo. His forearm, back of hands and finger tattoos were on display too of course.

They all dressed casually for the warmer weather, and like the locals, Law didn't wear shorts, but lightweight slacks. He was wearing flip-flops now, his feet no longer bare, though they didn't provide much cover. She noted the ink there, too. That was new. She was proud she'd helped him, even if it had been under Smoker's orders.

Law was talking. He hadn't stopped. So unlike the battered and bruised prisoner, or the smug and surly opponent she'd faced in the past. Tashigi wasn't really in the conversational circle yet, but she would be.

Law had seen Smoker across the years, and he'd thanked him too, but he felt he'd never really been able to convey just how much he thought he owed the man. He'd only seen him intermittently, and not often in this relaxed kind of situation. Usually it was after a battle, or business on Shanks' ship, for some reason. Of course they'd had to keep their distance from each other while he was a wanted man. How broken he'd been when the marines arrested him. He couldn't express it at the time, but the kindnesses, small and large, had gone a long way toward rehumanising him.

He recalled the night in Kureha's infirmary when the then vice-admiral had passed him a note telling him he was working with the Strawhats for his rescue. That had turned his life around. It had saved him. He would have been publicly debased and executed if Smoker hadn't kicked that plan into action. The older man couldn't prevent the assaults that occurred while Law was in prison. He didn't have that much authority against Akainu and Kizaru at the time. But Smoker had removed him from harm in the case of Doflamingo and Vergo, and the grunt marines too if Law really thought about it. Smoker, Tsuru, Kureha and Tashigi had then somehow pulled off his rendition away from that hellhole. In the nick of time. The idea that Akainu and Kizaru were to take complete control of the case and his custody the day after the rendition occurred still made his blood run cold.

Smoker chomped down on his cigar (he'd cut down). The pub shack was outdoors and far enough away from polite society that Smoker could still light up. Law recalled the man pressing his forehead against his own and giving him hope as he sat on that prison bed. He'd had to act the tough guard for surveillance and had punched him in his already bruised stomach a few seconds later, but Law had known he was on his side.

They'd had a quick fling, before Luffy, before his captivity. It was always hot, hurried and rough with Smoker, but there was an unstated recognition that Law was more than what the marines and freaking Doflamingo had made him out to be. Than what Smoker made him out to be. Law felt it in some, not all, of his actions. Smoker was always conflicted with his views about pirates. He might not have known much about Law's past then.

They'd fought together at Punk Hazard. But Law had changed his and Tashigi's personalities, and cut out his heart at one stage with his Mes technique. Literally. It was as well he'd forgiven him.

He was totally and utterly Marco's, and he knew what Smoker had with Tashigi was solid, so it was no threat when he removed Smoker's cigar, bent down slightly, tipped the admiral's chin up, and kissed him quickly on the lips. Gently. Not the hurried, snarled things they'd sought from each other previously.

Law's grey eyes sought and gave quick reassurance to the older man in the same way they'd communicated at the marine base, except they could both smile freely now. There was something to smile about now. The two were primordially connected. Their interaction had somehow managed to loosen the sea of ice around either of their hearts at a crucial time of their lives, still while doing their best to freeze the other out. Neither of them had understood it. Circumstance wasn't going to give them the chance to.

He then wrapped his arms around the admiral, like he used to with Cora-san, except he'd been a whole lot shorter then, and leant his head lightly against Smoker's beautiful salt and pepper hair. The marine's arms awkwardly went around him in return, and Law could feel he was still well-muscled. "Thank you," Law murmured, "Thank you so much."

Smoker squeezed tighter before he could think about what he was doing, smiling into the black fluffy hair. A smile no-one would see. Law was so vulnerable. He'd seen him after those Doflamingo attacks. The Doflamingo inspired-attacks at the marine base, and watched on the CCTV how he came back disheveled and he supposed totally fucked over – from what Kureha told him – from interrogation with Akainu and Kizaru. His heart went out to him.

He too wondered about the brand. He knew he must feel safe – or be really drunk – and he didn't appear to be, to show his feelings so openly. Smoker was just happy that this one could stay alive, though displaying that publicly wasn't really part of his modus operandi. either. He was sure there were still nightmares. How couldn't there be? But thank god he was breathing.

"Law," and Smoker ran his hand up his back. "Law. Tashigi. Marco."

Law pulled back. The cigar hadn't burned too far. He still smiled, was relaxed. Was he stoned? He gave Smoker the cigar, turned his head, and stretched his hand out to Tashigi. She was still slightly wary of him. He'd cut her in half once, and could do it again.

Law tipped his head to the side. An invitation. "C'mon Tashigi-san. You'll get to tell the tale of holding hands with the Surgeon of Death."

She took his tattooed fingers, and smiled. "I've done that before."

"Outside of handcuffs, I mean." Droll. Mouth downturned, his eyes and voice reflecting his humour. Maybe it was only law enforcers and breakers who really understood each other.

"Sorry, Tashigi," he said once she was ensconced.

"For?" Her glasses were a little fogged up in the humidity of the island. She sipped the drink Law had mixed for her. "It's not drugged, is it?" She pushed the beverage away in slight horror.

He shook his head. "Of course not." Took a sip of his own beer, the three of them standing near the main bar. He didn't kill by poison . . . often. His eyes lively, the dark marks always present under them, his blue-black hair the wild part of him that emphasised his underlying taste, wabi-sabi in human form.

"It's a good night, Smoker, Tashigi-san. I never thought I'd live this long. Hell, I didn't think I'd make my thirteenth birthday. You know that."

Did they know that? Smoker, perhaps. Law had matured into a capable, strong, self-assured man, Tashigi thought. His past wasn't his present. Not entirely. Though there were parts he was just unable to gouge away, and parts he wanted to remember.

He took her hand again for a while, swung it. He wasn't threatening. She knew from Smoker, from his partnership with Luffy and Marco, that he was gay.

"Are you pleased I didn't finish you at Punk Hazard?"

She blushed at the memory. "You bisected me."

His lips twitched. "Sorry, but I didn't kill you. You wanted me to."

She nodded.

"I was cruel," he said, looking up. "I had to be. I was undercover at the lab, and I didn't want you guys sticking around, but my words weren't my own."

"Weaklings can't choose their way of death," Tashigi breathed out.

Law nodded. Doflamingo had said it to him time again and over. "I was just repeating Joker's words. I heard them again after, and had heard them so many times prior, they were just scorched into my soul. I'm sorry, Tashigi-san."

"But she didn't die," Smoker said, and there was acknowledgement in his eyes. "Though you didn't have to say anything, you saved her."

Law was thankful he saw his method, even though it just cemented his reputation as a sadistic bastard. For not killing someone that time around. Tashigi looked at it from that perspective for the first time. She'd saved face, in a way. She could hate his nature instead of the experience.

"Law." He looked at her. "I get it now. You saved me by being an arsehole."

He shrugged. "I don't know that I'd thought it through."

"You did though."

"I don't think you're weak, Tashigi-san. And even if you were, who am I to play god?"

Smoker grunted from his corner. He appreciated the thought, but when had Law got so sentimental?

"As a D, aren't you the enemy of the gods?"

"Apparently," said Law with a small grin. What did Smoker know about that?

"And an arsehole."

Law's grin widened. It was a given.

XXXX

Kureha came, Tsuru too. Law didn't show it, but he was gobsmacked. He sat at their table in the corner for hours. Late afternoon melted into evening. Smoker and Tashigi joined them. He'd not really ever been able to meet Tsuru before, and she was formidable. Kureha had always been a tough old bird, and boy could she drink. Shot after shot. She'd put Nami to shame, and that was saying something. Chopper would be so jealous that he was sitting here with his idol. A lot of the crowd in the pub gave that table a wide berth though.

She put a hand against his chest. Only an old bird like her could do that. "Hmm, you're looking a lot better than the first time we encountered each other."

Law looked down. Well, of course.

"You're clean."

He looked slightly panicked. Looking across at Smoker. Don't let her go there.

"Nobody's ripped you apart," and she touched his shoulder, her eyes indicating his back. And though she meant Kizaru's flaying of his skin, they all knew she meant it in other ways too. Law wasn't keen on a conversation recapping all the ways he'd been violated while at the marine prison, and so appreciated Kureha's next words. The old woman looked past him and then directly into his eyes.

"Young man, I know so much time has passed, so I'm talking about ancient history really, but I wanted to help you so much more then. You probably would have rejected it, if you had the strength, but I couldn't stand to see them torture and wreck such talent, such spirit. And why? Because you helped Luffy? Because of a stupid brand? Ah, I felt for you, so much. But if I were to help you, I had to keep my distance and act professionally, which was coldly. You understand that, don't you?"

"He is a pirate," Smoker grumbled.

Law ignored him. He did understand Kureha. He recalled being thrown into her office after Kizaru and Akainu were done with him. He could barely walk. He swallowed and nodded. She'd insisted on keeping the key for his cuffs so he could be freed. When everything about his physical being was vile to the touch, she'd not shied away from contact. He indicated another round for the table. These were all on the house. Marco would kill him.

"And a doctor," Kureha looked up at Smoker, thinking of Drum Island. "I wanted to talk about the ope ope no mi, and the operations and healing you'd done. Wanted to give you some tips, to get some."

Law nodded again. They'd shared a lot of information across the years. "I itched to get into your office too, Doctor. It couldn't be helped. They either wanted to use me for my abilities, or just fuck me up. I'm sure they knew we could have an intelligent conversation, but that wasn't Akainu's aim. It's not your fault."

"Nor yours," said Tsuru, actually, looking across the table. "Except that, as my fellow admiral pointed out, you chose to be a pirate."

"Well, you guys did destroy Flevance."

"Fair point."

Law saw Marco across the room. Looked out at him and the two exchanged a smile. Some of the other pirates wondered what the top dogs were doing in here, and what was Law doing sucking up to them, being so cosy? They remembered his stint as a shichibukai. That didn't last long.

On the other hand, was there such a thing as a pirate since Luffy had come into power? Somehow Law and Marco's shack could strike that balance between renegade authority and truthful renegades. And the pirate king seemed to have no trouble with it.

Law's earrings glinted a little in the lights that had just turned on overhead.

"You all overrode and subverted the call of duty. I knew you couldn't show empathy to a pirate, and especially not the Surgeon of Death, and a supposed Don Quixote subordinate, so I'll always be grateful for what you could do. You saved my life in more ways than one. Really. There wasn't much left inside when they took me from Doflamingo's compound."

He raised his glass, water at the moment, for pacing, and clinked the bottles and glasses around the table.

"When I ran into that freak again, because of course I did. He was a free man while I was still a fugitive," he looked at Tsuru again. "Thanks World Government."

Tsuru smirked. Smoker looked disturbed. It hadn't really been their decision.

"And when Kizaru and Akainu paid a visit, and all they could do was remind me that my wanted poster stated loudly and clearly that I was a consort, a bearer of loose morals, a slave, and all the motherfucking goddamned shit I went through because of it, when they tried to convince me that I deserved it, brought it on myself, it was all I could expect – and those words were hard to get out my head – my friends would always bring up your names.

"Powerful allies in powerful places. I don't know your reasons for helping, but the fact you did, and didn't leave me to fester and die, got me through some really dark places."

Kureha levelled her gaze upon him.

"So, what you did, within the confines of your duty, it was more than enough, and more than most. The opposite of what Akainu or Kizaru or those marines ever did. So, in my eyes, you did better than well," Law said. "I wouldn't be here if not for you." And he bowed his head.

"You're a good kid, for a pirate," Tsuru said, sipping some Irish cream with a splash of coffee. "Some of us knew Roci." Had chased after Doflamingo.

"You've come a long way, Law. Now drink up you maudlin bastard."

That was Kureha, not Smoker. Law laughed. Tipped back the beer accompanying his water and drained it.

XXXX

He passed by Luffy's table on his way to speak to Marco. Everyone mingled. The atmosphere, magic. Law felt special. He really did. Relaxed. Like life could be great. That drawing attention wasn't always a big fat negative. He loved all these people. He never resented their help. He only wished that Shachi, Penguin, Robin and Chopper had been there, but he saw them often enough. Bepo too. Shanks and Benn.

He tipped Strawhat's head back and gave him a small kiss which was returned. Quick, fleeting. Luffy was telling some kind of story about some kind of fish he caught, if the way his hands were stretched out was anything to go by. And he was rubber. Boy could he stretch.

Law continued walking and squeezed Zoro's shoulder to show he meant no harm. Zoro quickly put his hand on Law's to show him it was okay, though he felt the slight warning in it, and then the doctor was in front of Marco.

He wasn't drunk, just happy. He wrapped his arms around his lover and buried his face into his neck, deeper and with more intent than he had with Smoker. His blond partner kissed Law's cheek. He loved seeing him like this. So carefree.

"Thank you, Phoenix," Law sighed. "It's the best. I'm so glad to be here with you."

Marco laughed. "Did someone slip you a truth serum?" He murmured into the blue-black hair.

Law looked at him, all grey eyes and affection. "I just have so much less to worry about, you know? Especially cos you're with me."

Someone had slipped him a truth serum. Anyone from a distance could see that both Law and Marco packed muscle. Still, their embraces were tender and trusting, respectful and equal.

"How's the bar going?" Law asked. Marco was taking almost all care of that.

"I'm run ragged," Marco said. "All these folks want to talk to my righthand man, and he can't help out."

Law smiled at him.

"But we'll manage," and the Phoenix gave him a quick kiss again before heading to the bar where Max, the barkeep, was waving at him.

A/N: A lot of fluff for you all. Probably totally OOC. Life's going a little too well for Law. Thanks for reading.