Ummm. This is another chapter! Yes this story is a bit lengthy, we have a ways to go...

...Chapter 29

...Checking

Luffy refrains from sucking in a shaky breath as a cool hand graces his forehead. Comforting and warm, the palm moves upwards towards his hair, flicking it away from the hot skin. At that, Luffy's cheeks burn with longing for something more, something personal, but the presence of the limb is gone before the captain's rampant imagination could draw up something else.

Law walks away from the frail body to his desk, focusing not on the boy behind him, but on connecting the dots that this disease had given him. No more would he bend to the words and wants of the younger, for his heart had hardened against the constant breakage. Similar to how after a while one learns from their mistakes, Law did too. While he still liked him, no matter how much it hurt to admit it, he was never to give in to those desires again. Luffy showed him who he wanted.

Basically told him that he was undesirable.

Though his outwards appearance showcased a blank, nonchalant canvas, on the inside, the man was twisting and convulsing under the hurt and pain. But it was ok in the end, for he steeled himself against anything Luffy wished to pull. Nothing like that night of long ago would happen ever again. For in the end, it would hurt Law far more than it would hurt Luffy, if at all.

Law paused and wondered if the small boy was actually toying with him, but then quickly dismissed the thought. For he was sick, not a sadist. Yet, Law didn't want to feel this way, no, for a human can only withhold so much emotion before bursting at the seams.

"Law."

The man jolts at the sound of his name, and clutches the pen in his hands tightly. Though he couldn't help the tingle of excitement that ran down his spine, he turns to the boy with nary an emotion on his face. Though he wouldn't do anything, that wasn't tantamount to not feeling anything. Simply looking at the boy caused him great pain yet... a strange happiness. Luffy was what allowed him to feel, but because he damaged that connection, that gateway, that path, it's closed off. Or rather, closing; shutting down, and his face already shows it.

"Law."

Law finally turns towards Luffy, meeting the dark molten eyes of the other. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said or done what I did back there."

The doctor nods, understanding. But it's too late, for the damage has been done. Luffy cannot take back the actions, cannot silence the words. The memory still rings clear in his mind. Even if forgiveness for Luffy comes easy, physical love for him will not. He had promised.

The sides of Luffy's mouth tug downwards ever so slightly at the wide range of emotions that flashed across Law's face within the blink of an eye, only for the handsome man to settle with a blank, emotionless countenance. Luffy did not blame the man for what he felt, or if he felt, but it doesn't mean it didn't hurt a little.

Luffy mentally kicks himself for his stupidity and disregard for Law's emotions. In the end, it hurt them all.

Law turns his back on him, saying not a word, and works on something at his desk. Distracted, he bites his lip, and takes a deep breath. No more, he had promised.

—•—

"Go check on him, Chopper," Nami huffs with her hands on her hips. "I'm sure you can go in there to see him, since you're also a doctor."

Chopper and Usopp were exchanging various sweets presented by Sanji under the deck. In the midst of the exchange, the orange haired navigator intruded upon them, and demanded immediate action. The worry upon her face was evident, nearly reaching the level of a despondent mother. The males exchanges glances before looking back at the woman again.

"But I'm not as up to speed as Law is," Chopper protests, fiddling with a small, incomplete rumble ball. "As much as I would like to see Luffy, he probably needs some time off after what happened at dinner."

Nami withered at the statement. "But to at least go in there to see if he's alright—"

Usopp shakes his head. "Despite his looks, I trust Law with our captain. I mean, he's saved his life before. Why would he decide to harm him?"

"I know," the orange haired relents, deflated, "but don't you think it was ever a little weird how he would seem to obsess over Lu—"

"Not really," interjects another crew member, who, upon entering the room, revels himself to be Zoro. Cutting his sight to the navigator, he continues. "It's a patient, doctor thing. No one on this ship would understand that complex ass relationship aside from Chopper."

Offended greatly, Nami turns towards the rowdy swordsman. "I'm sorry I'm worried about my captain."

Zoro tightens his lips. "Don't worry, if he tries anything..." he begins, hands itching towards the still sword at his side.

The man flew towards the side of the wall, leaving a swelling dent and splintered wood littering the floor. With a leg rising from the clearing dust, the cook of the ship glares downs on the indolent swordsman with anger within his eyes.

"Let Nami do whatever she desires," Sanji growls, narrowing his eyes at the small doctor. "Chopper, go. Ease my beauty's nerves."

The small reindeer looks up, relenting. "Alright, just hope for my survival. I think Law might be a little mad, since Luffy and Boa were so worked up about him."

Silence takes the group into its arms, caressing them, and fills the air with its suffocating presence.

Zoro grunts as he rises from the debris, ruffling his hair to rid the locks of stray wood. "Well, I'm sure you'll be fine. Just go so Nami will stop worrying."

"You still make that sound like an insult," Nami huffs, embarrassment flooding her cheeks.

Chopper nods, bouncing out of the room. The blonde turns to his opposite, eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "You and Law seemed to hate each other. Why are you so protective of him all of a sudden?"

The swordsman looks at him queerly, then shrugs. "I dunno. It's a swordsman thing. You wouldn't understand. It's in the way he holds himself and his weapon."

Sanji nods sagely, and Nami simply looks between the two, sighing. The sniper, who had been quiet through the entirety of the conversation (he had not bothered to contribute to the talks, but instead work on taking as much of his traded candy back from Chopper's obscene stash) suddenly spoke up, making the men and Nami simultaneously jump in surprise. "Wonder if Luffy is alright."

Nami throws her hands in the air in frustration, stalking away. Zoro snickered at the distress of the woman, hike Sanji prepared his leg for one final attack.

—•—

"May I go in?"

The tall man before the small animal shakes his head, holding up a hand. "Not quite yet. Luffy's still a bit unstable."

The reindeer rocks back and forth on his heels. "Please? Everyone is really worried about him. And I know I'm not too knowledgable about the disease but I'm still a doctor."

Chopper couldn't help but showcase his sadness when yet again faced with another denial. Was Law sure to take care of his? His mood, the young one had noticed, fluctuated between open and closed, relaxed and tense. So much so that Chopper wished to trade out for the man, to give him a break, to let him rest for the time being.

Yet these thoughts met with his common sense, and disappeared, leaving nothing but worry in its wake.

"Even if it's just basic needs," the smaller physician pleaded, "I could take care of him if you—"

"If I, what?" Law repeats, and he doesn't mean for it to sound dark and menacing, but it does, and Chopper recoils slightly. He opens his mouth, bites his lip, says nothing.

The older sighs, and knows, he knows. He understands he's scared the poor guy. And it's not Chopper' fault, it's Law's. "Hey, don't worry," Law begins, "I have a plan."

Chopper looks up, to Law's determined countenance. "And I believe it should work."

ITS BEEN MONTHS. Literally, school hit me like a truck this year. I am terribly sorry for not updating y'all but I should able to get back on track for later updates. Thanks for your patience and continued support! See y'all in the 30s!