Win You on a Bet

Summary: Zoro makes a bet with Usopp that he can seduce any man or woman. Then a certain foul-mouthed chef walks into the bar and poses a challenge.

In the meantime Law attempts to escape his shady past and Luffy can't stop himself from being his curious self. (Modern AU, ZoSan and LawLuffy).

A/N: Hey, guys, the first scene between Law and Luffy takes place a few hours before Zoro wakes up. It was supposed to be in the previous chapter but I mixed up the drafts and uploaded the one without it. I'm really sorry but I realized it later on and thought that adding after posting would be kind of like cheating. So here is the scene, I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 26: One of the Reasons Why

"Torao, come on, get to bed," Luffy whined, propping himself up on his elbows and staring into the dark. After a few seconds his eyes adjusted and he could see the outlines of his lanky boyfriend, towering above the bed.

After everything that had happened Law had agreed for them to sleep at his place, while Sanji stayed behind in the hospital with Zoro.

"You still up?" the Spaniard questioned, turning around and running a hand through his hair.

"Even I can't sleep with you pacing around like that," Luffy chuckled but is sounded a little forced and the soft sound hung in the air, clashing against the low mood.

Law didn't reply, instead turned around and walked up to the window, staring into the empty street. Luffy sighed, he was beyond exhausted but he couldn't let the other suffer like that. If anything Trafalgar needed sleep more than he did.

"What if…he doesn't make it?" the surgeon pondered, voice small and broken. It sounded wrong, as if it was someone else doing the talking instead of him.

"You heard the doctors they said…"

"Luffy I am a doctor! I know the risks, just cause he's okay now that doesn't mean that…"

The shorter man got off the bed and quickly shortened the distance between them, wrapping his hands around his boyfriend on instinct.

"No, don't do this, I…" Law tried to wiggle away from his embrace, but Luffy merely tightened his grip on him and buried his head in his shoulders.

"Law shut up!" he demanded, startling the both of them at the sudden change in tone.

"I know he took the bullet for Sanji but in the end Doflamingo was after me, this is all my fault and-" the Spaniard rambled on, voice hoarse, undeniable traces of panic hidden behind each word.

Luffy hushed him down, raising a tan hand and running in down his face, mindful of the various cuts and bruises. As they stood by the window the fluorescent light from the street lamps illuminated both of them and he could see Law's grey eyes, pupils large in fear. His heart clenched in sympathy, he knew what if felt like to blame yourself for another person's suffering.

That didn't mean he would allow his boyfriend to do it nonetheless.

He himself was scared and worried about Zoro but in the end his faith in his best friend was what prevailed. In his heart he knew for certain the swordsman would be okay. He had to be.

"It's not your fault." He assured, words soft but his voice as hard as steel.

"But Doflamingo came here to-"

"Listen to me!" Luffy all but screamed, effectively waking up the neighbours, "Doflmingo is not your fault. All the bad things that have happened to you as a kid aren't you fault!"

Law looked away and he knew he had struck a chord but he wanted the other to stop blaming himself once and for all. He realized it wouldn't happen overnight, that it would be a long process and one he would support him through, but it had to begin now.

"There are bad people, people who just want to see the world burn. Does that mean you get to take it up on yourself? No, of course not."

The Spaniard didn't seem fully convinced but offered a small nod in agreement.

"But what if Zoro, if he doesn't-"

"Zoro will be fine!" Luffy cut him off, a sunny grin already on his face, "I know him, he's my best friend and I'm telling you – he can pull through anything!"

Trafalgar looked away, biting at his already swollen lip.

"I hope you're right…you have so much faith in your friends."

"And I have faith in you too." The brunette assured, once again running a hand through his face, caressing his cheek with his thumb.

Law raised a hand and cupped his, slowly bringing it down to his mouth. He kissed Luffy's palm, it was slow and gentle, as if a small offering of gratitude for everything he'd done.

It made the skinnier man smile and it was a beautiful sight, making him look genuinely happy.

"Thank you for saving my life twice. From Doflamingo and then when you stopped me from killing him." Law admitted, to seal in his gratitude.

He wasn't the best when it came to expressing his emotions but something told him his boyfriend was adept in reading them, it came like second nature to him.

Luffy met his grey eyes and held his gaze, noticing the lingering ambers of suffering in them. But there was something else, something he could only guess was hope. Hope and appreciation and maybe even love. Granted he was no expert on love but he thought when it came to it, it wasn't really about knowing but rather feeling it.

An instinct at the back of his mind assured him the surgeon did love him, even if he was an idiot about expressing it.

"It's nothing, I do it all the time for people!" Luffy beamed while the other rolled his eyes, as if saying, way to go ruining the moment.

The shorter man then tiptoed, placing his lips over the other's. Law reacted with surprising eagerness, taking charge of the kiss naturally and effectively. He licked his bottom lip, as if asking for an entrance and when he allowed him in, their tongues clashed briefly, Luffy wasn't one to give up control that easily.

But in the end he did, melting into the kiss and letting the other explore his body, the Spaniard's good hand running underneath his T-shirt, feeling up his sides and then the large scar over his chest.

Luffy moaned against the kiss, it made him feel things he hadn't before. Things he hadn't even considered before but now craved.

When they broke apart the kiss, there was a trace of uncertainty in Law's eyes and he realized they couldn't be doing this, not right now. Zoro's life was still hanging in the balance and Doflamingo's trial was in the process.

If they had sex now it would be out of frustration and, as sentimental as it sounded, Luffy wanted it to mean more. He wasn't the biggest romantic in the world but even he knew the time wasn't the best. That didn't mean he didn't want it with all his mind and body though.

"You're exhausted," he pointed out and took the other's hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze as he let them to bed.

To both of their surprise, Law didn't fight it, he let himself be guided for once in his life. Luffy helped him into bed, he could see the pain and exhaustion over the other's face and it made his heart constrict in sympathy.

Carefully he lied down next to him and then closer, effectively snuggling up next to him. He wrapped an arm around his neck and Law turned to his side, burying his face into his chest.

Luffy was a little taken aback by it, this new found display of emotions and vulnerability, but he welcomed it with all his heart. It felt like a new era in their relationship, a landmark of sorts.

It made the edges of his lips curl up as he tightened his grip on his boyfriend and they both drifted into sleep.

xxx

Zoro creaked his eyes open and then immediately closed them as the sunlight which streamed from the window blinded him. It was the second time he woke up that day but he barely remembered the first. His head felt a tiny bit better this time around.

The scenes from the previous night flashed before him and he groaned as he was reminded of all that had happened. Still, all was well when it ended well…right? There was some quote like that, he just knew it. He wasn't a big fan of literature but even he could appreciate some optimism when the situation called for it.

He willed his eyes open once more and attempted to sit up, only to have a gentle hand on his chest.

"Easy there, sleeping beauty," he heard a familiar voice and his mind immediately tied it to the source. With some effort he turned around to face the love cook who was sitting in the chair next to his bed.

Zoro had the strangest memory of them falling asleep together and said memory made something in his chest tingle in a nice way but he shook his head – it must have been his imagination playing tricks on him.

"You want some water?" Sanji asked sheepishly as he offered a glass and the swordsman took it earnestly.

"Thank you," he said, voice still raspy.

"I should be the one thanking you," the chef argued, the look on his face a mix of guilt and gratitude.

It was an odd look and it didn't suit him so Zoro merely waved a hand, wincing as his body protested against the sudden movement.

"Anyone would do what I did," he pointed out, genuinely believing it. He was an honest man and a part of him still clung onto the belief others were as well.

"Don't sell yourself short, you saved my fucking life!" Sanji protested, a bout of anger flashing behind his blue eyes.

"A simple thanks would suffice," the swordsman replied dryly, his head wasn't having a good time when the other screamed.

"Thank you," the blonde admitted in a quieter voice, words simple but soaked in appreciation.

Zoro smiled, already feeling a lot better about the situation. He realized that Sanji may not want to be with him, but at the very least he no longer hated him which counted as something in the end of the day.

"You the only one to show up?" he asked, changing the subject which his ex seemed to welcome,

"Some friends I have…" he joked in attempt to lighten the mood.

"Oh, they were here but went to take some food, effectively attacking the burger place across the street. Luffy even sent me a pic on Snapchat,"

The swordsman laughed, his imagination immediately drawing the picture.

As if on cue the door flew open and the entire gang poured into the room. Luffy even dropped the bags of food he was carrying which seemed to shock everyone.

"Zorooo!" he all but screamed, running up towards the bed, hands widely open.

The bartender braced himself for the impact but Sanji was quicker and stood in front of, much like a paid bodyguard.

"He just came back from a life threatening injury, you might as well be more careful!" the chef argued, stopping his friend's advances.

"Luffy, he needs rest, be gentle," Law argued from the door, the more professional side of him speaking up.

"I was going to be gentle!" the brunette argued, a pout on his face.

"Oh, we all know your bone crushing gentleness," Zoro pointed out but still gave a sign for the other to come closer.

Though he would never admit it, he adored his best friend's closeness, the way he expressed his emotions with no restrictions. He wasn't one for compliments or the sort but he valued his friends love for him more than he was able to express.

Luffy wrapped his hands around him as gently as he could,

"I told them you would be okay!" the shorter man insisted, burying his face against his neck.

"You guys doubted me?" Zoro scoffed, ignoring the implications of what the other had said.

A thick silence fell over the room which gave him the answer.

"You scared the hell out of us!" Nami chided, walking up to him and hugging him as well, "I might as well increase the fee on your borrowings for that!"

"Oi, Nami, if I remember correctly you promised to take away some of his loans if he were to recover," Franky pointed, a joking look over his tan face.

He shook hands with Zoro,

"Glad to see you're okay, bro!" he grinned, "It would be so not super for you to die!"

"Franky!" Usopp nudged him in the ribs with his elbow, as he broke apart from the embrace with Zoro, "You didn't have to mention that!"

"Did I really get hit that bad?" Zoro asked, grey eye falling over Law.

He knew the surgeon would be the most honest out of everyone, one because he was a doctor himself and two because they weren't close. Well, at least not yet.

Trafalgar nodded, a solemn look on his face.

"I didn't think you'd make it. Injuries like yours are tough to deal with but it seems like this Kurega guy is pretty good."

The moment Law said that he heard a scoff and snapped around, only to face an older woman with starkly white hair, dressed in a hot pink lab coat.

"It is Miss Kureha," she argued, sending a glare towards the Spaniard, "And what are you looking at? Never seen a good female surgeon? Or are you just checking me out?"

The entire room erupted in laughter while Trafalgar was red in the face,

"I'm so, so, sorry Miss," he stammered, pure horror painted behind his grey eyes.

The older surgeon waved it off, walking up towards Zoro and sticking out a finger,

"And you, young man are a miracle!" she exclaimed, "Never have I seen someone wake up hours after a surgery like that only to be joking around with his friends!"

"Zoro is so strong!" Luffy grinned, a proud look over his face.

The swordsman wasn't sure what to say, he merely gave a nonchalant shrug. He didn't get what the big deal was, he was alive and recovering wasn't he? He could swear people made a big fuss out of nothing.

"Well, I'm pretty sure your hot boyfriend here was as a good of stimuli as any other to come back from the dead, right?" Kureha joked, slapping a hand over Sanji's shoulder.

Now both the chef and the swordsman joined Law in being embarrassed as hell.

"He's not my-" Zoro tried to argue only to be cut off once again,

"Oh, don't give me that shit, he was all cuddly and sappy in the morning!" the female surgeon boasted with laughter, "Looked like a cat had fallen asleep over you!"

The bartender's eye flew back to Sanji who could only give him a tiny nod,

"Don't look at me like that…the chair was uncomfortable!"

"Oh, you guys are so cute! I might have to write a song about you!" Franky exclaimed, wiping off some totally manly tears which ran down his face.

"When can I finally go home?" Zoro pleaded, already feeling fed up with all the attention he was getting.

"Not so fast, young man," Kureha argued, "I get that you want to go home and have some make up sex or whatever with this one here, but you need to recover. I'm keeping you here for at least two weeks."

"Make it a week, grannie," the swordsman chided but his remark was lost in the overall cacophony of the room.

"You do need to recover and I'll make sure Chopper takes the best care of you. He's my favourite intern, just don't tell the others."

"Don't flatter me like that!" the young doctor said, but the look on his face showed he loved every second of it, "And I will make sure you don't strain yourself Zoro, you seem like the type to do it!"

"Oh, you have no idea!" Nami and Usopp exclaimed in one voice while Zoro merely rolled his eye, mumbling something about them acting like babies.

"Ok, now all of you out!" Kureha demanded, "Only the blonde one can stay, looks like the two of them have a lot of catching up to do."

"But what about us? We want to stay here with Zoro!" Luffy whined from the swordsman's side.

"He needs his rest," Law argued, dragging the brunette with his good hand out of the room while the rest of the gang bid their friend goodbye.

"Yeap, listen to your boyfriend," the older surgeon agreed, directing a devious look in heir direction.

Trafalgar shook his head, he could swear the woman had some sort of superhuman ability to figure them out with just one glance.

"We going back to the burger's place now?" Usopp wondered.

"Seems like it,"

"Chopper, you should go with them, make some new friends!" Kureha instructed, placing a hand over his student's shoulder.

"But what about my rounds?"

"I'm taking those, might beat some sense into the heads of our more wayward patients like Roronoa,"

The intern looked a little hesitant, his large grey eyes darting between his mentor and the group of friends who seemed very nice from everything he'd seen in the past day.

"Come on Chopper, we'd love to know more about you!" Vivi exclaimed, stretching out a hand, "I'm Vivi by the way."

"I'm Tonny but everyone calls me Chopper," the younger man said, returning the shake.

xxx

"You graduated Med School while you were being chased down by a drug lord?!" Chopper gushed, a look of pure adoration on his face while he listened to Law,

"Man, I wish I could be as cool as you!"

"Yeap, Torao is the best!" Luffy exclaimed, mouth full.

It was only a lucky coincidence that Camie, the owner of the Burger place was a friend and she never protested against their loud chats and other shenanigans.

"I'm sure you'll be a great doctor as well," Trafalgar admitted, voice genuine.

He'd seen Chopper's approach to patients and it was fascinating, much better than his own in fact. Granted, he hadn't seen his skills with the scalpel but if he'd managed to impress doctor Kureha, it seemed all but a given they were top notch.

"You should hang out with us some time, Chopper!" Nami asserted, flashing him a friendly look.

The kid blushed heavily, "Thanks but…"

"Hey, not buts, we're so grateful you helped out Zoro!" Luffy argued, waving a hand at Chopper, "So, you're definitely coming to hang out with us, Captain's orders!"

The intern looked pretty confused, last time he checked there were no pirates around but he still nodded, he did need friends, even if it was just so he could get Kureha to stop lecturing him about it.

"Maybe we could hang out some time," he said, a grateful look on his face, "And Law could teach me a few tricks!"

The Spaniard chuckled, "I doubt I know anything Kureha hasn't taught you already but I can always try."

"Yes!" Chopper exclaimed, "Maybe you could even come work for us…I mean if you don't like your current job or anything?"

The Spaniard froze, shaking his head. He would love to work at the hospital, alongside with Kureha, who despite her weird taste in fashion and peculiar behaviour, was an excellent doctor. And Chopper too, who reminded him a bit of himself when he was younger, always eager to learn.

And yet…how could they accept him with a past like that? He knew he could operate but most of his work consisted of saving shady people while he was on the run and that didn't look too good on the resume, did it?

Luffy seemed to catch his line of thought so he put a hand over his shoulder, offering a squeeze. It was almost like a signal for Law to get out of his head, to dispel away all the bad thoughts, to run away from his past.

"He'll think about it," the brunette assured, "But for now, let's just enjoy ourselves! We just beat a really bad guy and Zoro is fine! I say that calls for a party!"

His words were met with cheer and approval.

xxx

Franky leaned in against the wall of the fast food restaurant, inhaling the cool December air and trying to clear his head. It was at times like this when he thought of taking up smoking as it seemed like a distraction as good as any other.

"Deep in thought?" he heard a familiar voice and snapped his eyes open, Nami's blazing red hair coming into view.

"Can you blame me?" he chuckled, trying to force on a smile, act as his normal self but failing somewhere in the middle of it.

The redhead shook her head and leaned against the wall as well. She closed her eyes for a second, as if she was thinking about what to say next.

Franky knew what was coming, he could practically hear the lecture before it began,

"If you're here to tell me how Robin and I are such a great couple, you should spare it," he pointed out, his tone a little more stern than intended, "I already know…"

Contrary to his expectations the accountant said nothing which was a first. Usually she was all about words and very often about telling what is right and wrong. At times it was annoying but in the end it was what made her an even better friend, always one to speak her mind and offer advice.

"Hell…it's precisely because we're so good together that this hurts so bad," the bar owner scoffed, burying his hands into his pockets.

"I know," Nami replied, still refusing to face him. Perhaps she was giving him his space and for that he was grateful as that was what needed now.

"No actually…I shouldn't say this since I've never been in your shoes but…Franky, as someone who has hidden things from other people to protect them, I can assure you Robin never meant to hurt you."

The older man turned to face her, catching her dark brown eyes and the genuine concern behind them. Her words resonated with him, he realized they were true but that didn't make him feel any better.

"Protecting me? Why, I can take a damn good care of me!" he argued, raising his voice by a few notches, "Robin knows that!"

"That doesn't change the fact we all want to protect the people we love regardless of how strong they are," Nami pointed out, "And you've learnt how adamant she is in her ways, she can't afford to lose anyone after what happened to her family."

Franky looked away, guilt flashing through his light blue eyes.

"I realize that," he admitted, voice quieter, "When we got together I understood she has many secrets, part of me always knew Robin meant trouble and maybe that made me love her even more but…"

He couldn't find the words right away and so the sentence hung awkwardly in the air, he was uncertain what to say, what to do.

"I don't know how I can trust her after this." he finished in the end, "Hell, I don't know how we can be together, if we can be together."

Nami's face was locked in sympathy and she put her hand on his shoulder, tiptoeing in the process.

"No one says that it's going to be easy and it will take a lot of time…maybe you can even take a break, sort things out…"

Franky nodded at her suggestion, taking it into consideration as it seemed like a sound idea. The redhead had a habit of coming up with those.

"But in the end if you love each other and we both know you do, you should try to make it work."

With that Nami left, closing in the door of the restaurant softly after herself. The bar owner stared at the pristine blue sky above, wondering if he was ready to give up on Robin all together.

At the back of his head a small voice told him he was not, never would be and that seemed as good of an answer as any other.

It didn't help wash away the bitterness of her hiding things behind his back but it did make him realize that he still wanted to forgive her.

Nor right now, maybe not it a while but one day.

xxx

"I'm starting to really appreciate your cooking," Zoro admitted as he stared at the hospital food in his trey suspiciously.

Sanji chuckled,

"I told you one day you would be beginning me for a decent meal,"

The swordsman smiled and he had to give it to him that it was a pretty sight. In spite of all the cuts and bruises which littered his tan skin and the bags under his eyes, somehow he still managed to look like a movie star. Maybe one that had just come back from the battle field but a movie star nonetheless.

"Something wrong, cook?" the swordsman questioned, catching him red handed at the little gazes he threw him.

"What, no, course not!" Sanji rushed to argue, "Glad you didn't die or some shit, moss for brains,"

He added the insult for good measure, in an attempt to recover a small bit of the normalcy that they'd lost with everything going on.

It didn't seem to do the trick as the bar tender looked away, his one grey eye falling over something distant, features locked in thought.

"You don't have to feel guilt that I took the bullet for you," Zoro said in the end, words laced with certainty, "It was my choice and I don't regret it,"

The blonde was about to argue but he rose a hand, signaling he wasn't finished,

"And I'm gonna kick your ass if you think you should get together with me just because of it,"

"Don't say that!" Sanji argued, raising his voice by an octave or so without even noticing.

"I can tell you're thinking it. You're considering giving me another chance just cause you're drowning in guilt because I nearly died for you."

"Marimo, I don't-"

"Don't deny it. You straight out told me you didn't want me right before Doflamingo appeared but now all of a sudden you seem hesitant about it."

Sanji opened his mouth to protest but yet again he was silenced. Arguing with Zoro when he truly put his heart to it proved to be an even more difficult task than expected.

"Don't be. You already made your choice."

The blonde felt as if a blow was traded to him, his chest sinking in misery. It wasn't just because of feeling guilt or wanting to repay a debt – that much he realized. He loved the damn bastard, even after hearing about the bet and for sure long before his act of heroism.

The thought of losing him had merely sealed the knowledge but it was in no way the only reason why he wanted them to be together, much less the leading one. While he had watched him struggle for his life he had realized how much he meant to him, how much he'd missed their banter, the lazy chats, the rivalry, the amazing sex.

Zoro's good looks, his loyalty, his crude intelligence and street smarts, his will to sacrifice himself, it all built up to a myriad of reasons for him to love him.

He opened his mouth to say all those things but didn't know where to begin, the words dying on his thin lips.

Sanji caught the disappointment in the swordsman's one steel grey and it broke his heart a little. It was blatantly obvious Zoro wanted him to prove him wrong, to prove him he still cared about him and he wasn't doing this merely out of a feeling of debt.

And he was about to assure him but just then the door opened and he heard three pairs of footsteps.

He turned around, ready to scream at whoever was about to interrupt.

Author's Note: So what did you think of Law and Luffy together again?

Zoro waking up and the entire gang being together? Don't you just love Kureha's peculiar sense of humour and her overall badassdness, man I swear she's such a great character but a little underappreciated!

Also how was the gang back together and happy? And the addition of Chopper too? Don't worry Marco and Ace will come back as well!

Last but not least any guesses on who's come to speak to Zoro and Sanji? And do you think the blonde will prove he's doing this out of love and not debt?

Thanks to: lashayluv and anniegirl132 for reviewing!

Please share your opinions! Any support for the story is much appreciated!