A/N: The honour idea came from an old SmoLaw fic I read on ff: Chasing Shadows by devv.

Warnings: No warnings really. Some (mild) mature content. Language.

Chapter 25: Brunch: The Day After

Zoro lay next to Luffy that night, finally pleased that he'd got to prove his worth to Law, sorry that it had to be in those circumstances. He'd listened to Kid's cruel words and excuses after and knew he'd used them in the past too, but when he thought – once he got to know Luffy better – just how much Law had helped his captain on his life journey, spiritually as well as physically, and as Law had gradually unfurled his trust across the years when he and Luffy had visited, his lack of hubris at their partnership, his damn grace, he knew he loved the person, not in the way he loved Luffy, but he respected him greatly.

Was he cursed, Law? Maybe it was something only those singled out for difference would understand. His past was known and he had to fight against preconceptions at every turn. Zoro wished he'd got there earlier. He wasn't sure if the surgeon would be able to keep his gaze when they went for brunch in the morning. Zoro had felt good at seeing the relief in Law's eyes, and then devastated as he saw the horror that crept into them when he thought that Zoro was next in line. No, he didn't forget, that shitty surgeon, he really didn't. He wasn't sure if the relief ever returned. It was a compromising and humiliating position to be in, and Zoro was witness.

He wondered – if Luffy had been the one to free him, if Law would have stayed longer instead of racing away to lick his wounds and hide his disgrace. Probably. He and Law didn't have the closest relationship. Understandably. Law didn't deserve it though. What happened earlier, he didn't deserve it. To have that thug on top of him grunting away. Law's face twisted in pain, fear and shame when he saw Zoro. But also that goddamned magestic defiance that let anyone know he was slave to no fucking one, no matter what they did.

Luffy probably wouldn't have noticed the shackles, and would have just ripped Kid off, causing Law further pain. It was probably good it was him. Though maybe he was underestimating his partner. Luffy might have been able to remove the restraints if Kid could touch them.

Luffy or Marco possibly would have killed Kid at discovery. Zoro didn't know if it was a positive or not that he was still alive. Law hadn't put the word out to have him gone. Something Kid would take as attraction, whereas Zoro knew it was just part of Law's moral code. Not that the doctor was against killing. He was definitely lighter since Doflamingo was no longer on this earth. And those executives had not met friendly ends.

The tension between Law and Zoro had gradually dispersed across the years. It flared up now and then. But mostly he was struck by the graciousness of both Law and Marco, and he hated to see the doctor's special day and his happiness on that day shattered. His hard fought for well-being set back.

XXXX

Everything smelt good, was going well. Law opened the wine at 10am. It was Sunday. If they'd been at a restaurant they'd probably have a drink. There was such a thing as a champagne breakfast. And he was as nervous as fuck.

Staff had brought up beverages. Marco had chilled those that needed it. One of the barkeeps, a cool chick who played guitar on their acoustic night, slipped Law some dope. He wasn't going to get wasted. He was tempering everything with water, coffee, juice and actual food. He was really pleased that only four people were coming, and that he felt close to two of them, and respected their partners.

Marco came up behind him. Law wore a full body, dark brown, restaurant apron over his clothes. It fell to mid-shin. He wore black, so it was necessary when using flour and similar items. He prepared individual quiches. The apron looked as sexy as fuck as those muscled arms rolled out the pastry, lined the pie dishes with it, basted the dough, stirred the mixture – flavoured with herbs from the garden – and poured it over the pastry. Marco nuzzled Law's neck. He loved him so much. Look at him fucking cooking pastry dishes for others. Then again, he probably used cornflour, maybe even chickpea, so he could eat too. It only made sense.

He cuddled close into him. Law smiled. It was heaven to be respected. He could get into kink, but having been subjected to too much meant he was incredibly wary. There was ecstasy in Marco's reliability. A source of relief, like a stream flowing steadily, consistently underground.

"Let me put these in the oven, then we can have a drink, a smoke, a coffee, whatever you like."

Law felt Marco nod, but he didn't let go. "How're feeling?"

Law picked up the tray the pie dishes rested on, turned and indicated to Marco that he had to move. The Phoenix dropped his arms. He blanched at the bruises on Law's face, but loved the glint in his eye.

"Nervous, but I think I'm ready. I want to do this. I don't want to live as if Kid's words mean anything."

"Oh god no, they don't," and with Law now facing him and still holding the tray, Marco pushed him back a touch into the counter and devoured his mouth, the tray between them. Law tipped his face into the kiss, but winced. His jaw hurt. Marco felt it.

"Sorry," his finger softly rested on Law's lips, "You're just so gorgeous."

Law dropped his head confused, tray still in hand. Hadn't Kid said something last night along the same lines?

"In all ways, hon. In all ways, Law. You're just so goddamn fucking tenacious. It's admirable."

Law blushed.

"Well it's true. And no-one should use your looks against you, as an excuse." He took the platter from Law, as he looked up with a querying and wounded expression, and placed it on the counter. He kissed down Law's face and neck so he didn't have to respond. Law's hands, sticky with pastry and flour, taking care not to grip Marco's clothes, sat awkwardly, perpendicular to his back, either side of his shoulder blades. The blond finished very gently on his lips. He then carried the pie dishes to the oven, placed them inside and set the heat for the time Law requested.

Returning the tray to the counter, Marco ran a sponge across the surface, tipping excess flour and raw crust into his hand and then the bin. He cleared a space and picked up Zoro and Luffy's gifts from the kitchen table. Law had left them behind the bar for safekeeping the previous evening.

"I got these this morning. Let's see in all manner of Nana-dom what you're going to subject me to now."

Law wiped his hands on his apron.

There were many kinds of boundaries Law was willing to push, and those that were sacrosanct. Taste, when it came to collections, was one of those he breached. Marco's crows' feet deepened on a regular basis as he howled at Law's latest acquisition. His lover had some peculiar pastimes – though the tea-towels and coins sure beat the jars of organs in formaldehyde that lined one part of his study. That one was a weird arse, creepy-peculiar pastime. Even so, Marco had learnt that if there was something Law liked, he didn't give a shit what anyone else thought. No surprise there, really.

He came up behind Law, hugging him once more. This normality. This recognition and knowledge that Law could pursue the most innocuous and passé of interests, though the Phoenix knew it was woven through with the Heart Captain's sense of the absurd, was exactly what Law needed. That he had as much right as everyone else to have pursuits that defined the complexity and dreariness of humanity, of himself. That there was nothing in his DNA which precluded him from being boring as fuck if he wanted to be. Slaves could and did think beyond the limitations placed on them. Or within them, unfortunately.

Not that tea towels blasted through those restrictions, but in a bizarre way, in their incongruity, in their subversion of assumptions, they did. Or maybe that's as far and as harmless as Law's taste in the provincial went.

"C'mon, Nana. Show me what you've got." He blew into Law's ear so that the brunet moved his head minutely. Marco crossed his arms in front of the both of them, his forearms lightly on Law's hips, so as not to press into any of the bruises there. He rested his head on Law's shoulder and looked over at their booty.

Law shot his lover a look. His eyes danced, lips curling. He could take this kind of teasing from his friends any day. Hell, at least he was easy to buy for. Even Zoro got it right.

"Wallah." He unfolded the swordsman's tea-towel first. It commemorated a naginata tournament Zoro had attended, as a spectator, maybe in Kuina's honour. The masked faces of the women wielding the weapons were printed onto the border of the cloth, and the kanji for the blade and the area of the tournament featured in the middle.

"It's better than the one Franky sent, that submarine surrounded by nuts and bolts."

"Oh," Law tipped his head, "I liked that one."

"You like them all."

"It had a submarine."

Marco laughed, leaned forward and kissed Law's cheek quickly.

"Brook's was cool," he said.

"Dia de los Muertos, with him as the centrepiece? If anyone is qualified, it's him."

They'd framed that one, and it had pride of place in their living room.

"What's the pirate king given you?"

Bruised, grazed, tattooed, Law's fingers unrolled Luffy's gift. This commemorative tea towel actually had something to commemorate. It marked Mugiwara's claiming of the miscreant crown – Luffy's toothy face grinning from the middle of the cloth, the crown glittering, as much as it could in a non-metal material, on his head.

Tasteless, so tasteless, there was almost a corona of meat surrounding the crown – Law should love it. Images of meat also bordered the cloth, just in case there was any danger of forgetting the main object of Luffy's adoration.

Clashing in blue, if that were possible on a dish-towel already so discordant, the righthand corner sported a rendition of the button medallions that Ace used to pin on his hat, buzzy versions of tragedy and comedy. Initially their eyes were drawn to them at curiosity of the non-meat colour, because no way would that monkey child feature vegetables on his own design. Law felt Marco stiffen as they both realised what they were. He turned to him. His lover's gaze was sad, but thankful.

"No-one will ever forget, Marco." Law's fingers rested on the blond man's cheek.

Marco took the tea towel. "This is about as classy as it gets for Luffy."

"It's heartfelt."

Marco nodded. He knew. "I'm glad that Ace gets to share in his glory, even if it's on a ratty bit of cloth that you'll place in your tansu, and pull out to gaze at reverently whenever your old biddy hormones kick in."

Law's laugh was always welcome.

"You're lucky Kikoku's resting." He took the cloth from Marco and held it up. It really was garish.

"We can put this ratty bit of cloth next to Day of the Dead Brook. Why not plaster our whole lounge room with Straw Hats?" He folded the two gifts. There was always a certain pleasure to be had in embracing vulgarity.

"Now that Luffy's the king, I'm sure they'll all be memorialised in all ways imaginable. Next you know they'll be endorsing soft drinks. We may as well pay homage too." He absent-mindedly rubbed the linen-cotton mix between his thumb and forefinger. They were good quality.

"And everyone's always implied that I haven't got a mind - or crew - of my own, and should have thrown my lot in with them years ago." He shrugged. "Our visitors will think that we've finally crossed over to the rooster's side. It'll make a lot of them very happy."

Marco leant into Law and kissed his ear, his cheek again, squeezed him just a bit tighter (just a bit). He'd actually appreciate it, seeing that symbolic remembrance of Ace on their wall. As quiet as it was, hidden amongst Luffy's proclamation. Though he did need to get something more prominent made at some point.

He'd have to see what he could do to materially show Law that he respected his memories of Cora in the same way. Maybe they could also commission some designs of the Heart, Red-Hair and Whitebeard pirates so visitors wouldn't think they'd fallen into some kind of Strawhat worshipping quicksand. Or maybe they'd think it was loyalty to the king, but maybe it was loyalty to loyalty.

Law placed the presents on a table in the living room, far from the mess in the kitchen. They might come up in conversation, so he didn't put them away just yet.

When he returned, they took the bottle of wine, pot of coffee and bag of weed to the table on the balcony, where they'd be enjoying their brunch. At the end of the road, the ocean stretched before them, raptors flew above.

Law kicked his legs up onto the table. A mistake, maybe. Pain shot through his body, but he left his legs elevated. He wouldn't sit like this with company. Or at least not until he'd had a drink or two. The full length apron fell about him, as if he were taking a break from his hammer and anvil. Marco could have easily consumed him there and then. He was just too primal. Instinctual. A paradox. Incredibly contained and at times wound up like a spring around those he didn't know.

Law wondered if Kid's ship had left the harbour.

"How long have we got?"

"They'll be here in half an hour."

The glaze in the doctor's eyes, the tilt of his head, the curve of his lips, showed that he contemplated making out, but it was too much of a risk. Instead he pulled out the papers and deftly rolled a joint to share. "Sarah said it's not too strong."

"Smoker's like a sniffer dog."

"We'll just have the one. It's medicinal," he smiled over at his lover. "I'm a doctor, I should know."

They sat, side by side, Law's hand in Marco's, quiet, contemplative, it was that kind of hit, taking an occasional sip from coffee, wine or water, until the doorbell rang. Law had packed all the paraphernalia away, though Luffy or Roronoa might want to share later.

"Go get 'em tiger," Marco whispered into Law's hair, repeating Law's words to him from the night before, as the latter stood to get the door, and the former gathered settings for the balcony. Law undid the ties at the front of the apron and lifted it over his head, leaving it crumpled on the kitchen table, on his way through the house.

XXXX

Zoro hadn't expected the Heart Captain to be the one at the door. Better over and done with, thought Law. The swordsman grimaced inwardly at the bruising and split lip, but the others cried out in shock.

"You've seen worse," Law said tetchily, and ushered them in, but they weren't having any of it. Luffy was first, pulling Law to him and tipping the taller man's head down to him so he could touch their foreheads. Maybe he thought his haki was healing. He went in for a ferocious hug, but Zoro's hand warned him against it, and Law just felt himself enveloped in warmth instead – those dark eyes spiked with a sharp-edged anger. But for the Heart captain, he knew, not against him. On his behalf. All that work they'd done together. Kid dared threaten it?

Law rested his fingers on the new armband Luffy had been wearing for some time now. He couldn't say it would be okay, he didn't know. But something would be done. Luffy pulled away, knowing he had to contain himself for the time being. Law was glad for it. He knew it wasn't easy for Strawhat.

Smoker was next. Cheek brushed cheek. The marine included Tashigi in the hug, and traced a soft finger along the bruising on the pirate's face. Law tipped his head away, but kept a hand on Smoker's own. The admiral wasn't sure what had happened, but he didn't want to see the younger man this way. He felt a slight tremor in the grip.

After the greeting, following directions to the balcony, the three went inside, and that left Zoro and Law on the landing.

Maybe it was the buzz from the smoke, or just how grateful Law felt, but he walked to the swordsman and also rested his forehead against the shorter man's. Zoro felt the blast of haki and released his own. The nurturing kind. Law had never shown that to him before. Law initiated the hug, mindful of his own injuries, but it was genuine and warm. More than.

Zoro hadn't prevented the rape but he'd stopped it and stopped it from getting worse. Zoro returned the embrace. Returning to captivity, being demeaned. Law hadn't known what would happen beyond getting fucked, which was bad enough. He didn't think Kid would have taken him, but with those cuffs, who knew? What was that comment about sharing him with Killer? His thoughts were scared, though he tried to make them ordered and rational.

"Thank you, Roronoa-ya, for stopping him and releasing me. You have my gratitude."

And respect, Zoro could finally feel it. What a nurturing and buoyant thing it was, and now he saw how his own blindness had prevented him from truly understanding the actual power of Law all those years ago. The older man knew honour was not a choice that all got to have. Zoro understood that now.

He had never been Law's lover in the way that Smoker and Luffy had been. Or in any way or capacity. Even so, the dark haired man brought his fine featured face to Zoro's, tipping the swordsman's head up with his long fingers, his tattooed hand, and brought their lips together in the most exquisite and heavenly kiss Law had to bestow. There was nothing sexual in it, though Zoro imagined it could lead to that. But there was a satisfying softness to it. It was the same kind of kiss Robin had received for helping Law on the Thousand Sunny so soon after his rescue, that Luffy and Smoker often received when meeting.

Zoro's eye widened. Here was the top shelf sake, the whiskey matured for years, given – by Law – to those he chose to. The Heart pirate's fingers were soft and pliant, firm and commanding on the side of his face. Giving. And the Kids, Vergos and marines of the world forced him to utilize kisses in a thousand ways demonic, and in no way nurturing, except to their own debased desires. This talent, this present from the heart, was his weapon against that. His reclaiming of identity, of his right to govern his own sexuality.

"You can bet that Doflamingo never got a taste of that," Law murmured, smiled, both hands on Zoro's cheeks, pulling away, even if that devil had introduced the original technique that he had built upon. "Nor anyone who ever used me as a whore." He softly and briefly ran his finger on Zoro's lips, stepped away and stretched his hand out behind him to the swordsman.

Zoro understood, finally, that Law would give and support those he loved in the most intrinsic way possible, more honest than bodily reactions and assumptions, and Zoro now knew that he was ready to do the same. All it required was true respect, and the first mate was ready to give it and had gained it.

He pulled Law's hand back for a second, and Law hoped he wasn't going in for seconds. It didn't work like that, and if that happened, then Law had lost his ability to convey his intention and to choose those who would not misinterpret.

He looked over his shoulder with a curious expression.

"You broke his jaw, you know, with that punch."

Law lifted his head. A small smile.

"Good." He knew there was no doctor in Kid's crew.

A/N: Thanks for reading. This has pretty much turned into an AU now in setting. It pretty much was from the start anyway. Taranis K, thank you for the lovely comment and for marathoning through the work. It is disjointed in places, so sorry for that, but I'm very happy you're enjoying it, especially Marco and Law. Please feel free to leave a comment. They're much appreciated.