A/N: Ahhh shit. Here we go again.

26. An Ally

September isn't even the longest month in the year, but to Luffy, it had dragged on for ages. There's still six whole days left. Six.

When he woke up he was groggy, and soft rays of sun hummed against the panes of the window. He looked at his phone, and it reads 6:03 AM. Damn, he'd been asleep for almost twelve hours.

The teen blinks lazily in the semi-darkness before chucking off his sheets and sitting up in bed. Barty likely put it on him. All Luffy remembers is passing out a few notes into Bink's Sake. He didn't deserve Barty.

He crawls down the side ladder and nearly misses a rung, he's so out of it. When he turns on the light to the place, he yawns aloud.

"Barty, you wanna get something to eat?" he ventures to his bed, and it's the first time he's offered something like that ever since Ace. Luffy just...needed something to focus on or else his head was going to explode.

When he doesn't get a response from the man, the teen frowns slightly. He pads over to the sheets and lifts back the covers.

Barty wasn't there.

If this was someone like Law, Luffy wouldn't pay it much attention, because the man got up at all odd hours in the day and night as a surgeon. But this was Barty. Guy practically had a permanent smile on his face, and easier read than a children's book. He was one of the most honest, transparent people out there. Maybe he left a note?

Humming in confusion, Luffy sets down the sheets and searches his bed for his phone. When he turns it on and finds a message from his roommate, he relaxes.

I'm stepping out for a bit,

don't wait up for me. Make

sure u eat smth.

It was sent a while ago. 10:32 yesterday morning, in fact. Strange. Luffy texts back an affirmative before setting the phone down, not thinking about it much. Barty would probably be back later in the day. Right now, he needed food. And maybe a shower, too. One tentative sniff and grimace later, he concludes he definitely needed a shower.

He gathers his shower caddy and tosses his old towel in his hamper. A fresh one was likely optimal after a week of unuse. He tosses it over his shoulder, eases shower slippers onto his feet, then he's on his way.

Under the hot stream of the shower, he forces himself to unwind as best he can. Which isn't much to be honest, but the scalding water kind of forces him to. Luffy sighs as he scrubs his skin, shedding the layers and layers of dirt and grime he's built up over the last twenty-four hours. Hopefully, some of his grief and worry goes down with it, but when he turns off the water, he still feels like shit. Well, that didn't work.

Luffy dries himself and heads back into his dorm. He really didn't feel like doing anything but napping, but his brain was wide awake and ready for the day ahead. Even if he put on his favorite song, there was no way he would be able to go back to sleep. The teen changes into a fresh pair of shorts and a t-shirt, then wraps a towel around his hair. Normally, at this point of time, Luffy was either already at Amazon Lily, or he would be getting ready to head there. But he was currently doing neither, and it threw off his routine like no other.

He fidgets as he sorts through his options. Boa had told him to come back whenever he wanted, and that he should take his time with everything. As much as she seemed oblivious at times, the woman was actually very intuitive, and Luffy was glad she was giving him his space. He could always go back to Law's place, he's sure the man wouldn't mind, but he didn't want to change locations and still do nothing. He could always go to the studio, but he felt like actually having human interaction for once.

There was his schoolwork he could do, but fuck that.

Luffy makes a decision. He hopes he won't regret it.

He puts on his straw hat because it gives him more privacy from prying eyes, throws on a light jacket because early mornings tended to be cool, and exits his dorm with a soft click of the lock.

The teen makes his way down the halls with his hands deep in his pockets. He's not sure why he's going to Amazon Lily, because it sure as hell wasn't for work. He guesses he just needs to be around people whose lives weren't falling apart like his was. Maybe that would make him feel a little better, their cheerfulness. Or it could make him feel worse. No one ever knew when it came to him.

Outside the dorm building he blows out a low stream of air. The bus stop was a ten minute walk. He's alone on the streets as he begins his journey, the skies above a pale baby blue. Luffy liked being out in the early mornings, because no one was ever out except the students who were actually studious. No one would spare him a second glance, and Luffy wouldn't spare them one, either. There weren't any rowdy groups of guys, giggling groups of girls, or clubs advertising for him to join. It was just him, the wind, and people who minded their own damn business. Bliss.

It takes another ten minutes for the bus to arrive.

He gives Buggy, the driver, his fare. He had gotten to know the man after his many early morning visits to his studio, or to his workplace. He used to work as a clown in a circus, but then he moved to bus driving when the whole thing shut down. Not enough people showed out, he once told Luffy, so they ran out of business. But the man loved it there. It's why he still wears his red nose, lipstick, and blue hair despite the endless jokes people made about him for it. Luffy doesn't mind much, though. Makes him look cool. Plus, it looks like he's been through a lot in his life. The man probably didn't need another strident college kid up his ass.

"Where ya headed to, Straw Hat boy?" he asks, low and rough, but his eyes are kind.

"Work," Luffy responds, making his way further into the bus. Not a lot of people. Thank god. Some rare days the bus would be near full, even this early.

"Gotcha." The driver regards him for a moment more before calling after him. "...Hey."

Luffy turns. "Hm?"

Buggy watches him in the big rearview mirror. "Ya alright?"

Fuck, was he that transparent?

At the teen's slow nod, Buggy sighs and closes the doors. "Okay then." He doesn't sound convinced, but doesn't press the matter.

Luffy heads to the far recesses of the bus as it lurches toward. He plops down in an empty seat with a soft grunt and looks out the window to the scenery passing by. Everything was prettier in the early morning, he concludes. The sun wasn't bright enough to shine harshly- instead, it softly eased illumination onto nature and buildings alike. The shadows are soft, not quite black, and encased everything to the left. The bus makes a turn, and the angle allows Luffy to feel a lovely warmth from the sun glide across his face. Then the light continues up to the seats behind him, and the fleeting moment is gone.

The bus rolls to a stop.

More people gather on board, and Luffy inwardly groans. There were a lot of them. Hopefully the bus wasn't full enough for someone to sit next to him.

Even if that is one way he was able to talk to Law way back then.

The teen lifts his chin up, sneering, trying to look as uninviting as possible. But it only made him look grumpy. Curse his baby face.

People don't mind him as they find seats of their own. When the bus starts up without a body beside him, he relaxes against his chair in relief. Thank god. Luffy lowers his lids, ready to be caressed by sunlight again if the bus makes another turn.

Then he jerks them open. There are eyes on him.

Luffy feels the peculiar feeling of being watched tickle the back of his neck, and he stays as still as possible. He's been through this before. Sometimes, people would recognize him from the Going Merry, and after the bus ride they would shower him in praises, maybe ask for a quick handshake. Those people, he could stand. But then there were those who asked for a quick fuck or four. There was no in between.

So usually, he ignores the feeling and hopes that they leave him alone.

But this time, the eyes seem neither lecherous nor admiring. They were just...curious.

The teen isn't too sure what to make of the revelation, so he continues to ignore the prodding gaze, hoping it goes away. He had a lot on his plate at the moment, and wasn't in the mood for a crazy fan this early in the morning. Luffy just wanted another frappuccino.

The bus slowed to a stop at another street, and the tenseness of the teen's shoulders loosen as he realizes more people were leaving than getting on. And his stop was the next one. Luffy licks his lips, anxious to get the sweet drink in his system. As bodies pass him in the aisle, a man with a coat bumps into his seat quite rudely, and Luffy shoots his retreating back a look. That had totally been on purpose. How rude.

Frowning, he settles back into his spot when he sees a folded note beside him. That had definitely not been there before. Luffy glances around him, but the seats were now devoid of passengers, and the bus had started to move again. Luffy turns to his window, but frowns when he realizes he faced the side opposite of the front door. The teen picks up the folded piece of notebook paper, and from the sunlight shining in from the window, sees hints of a dark, scrawling handwriting.

He shouldn't open this.

Luffy's seen enough horror films- the movie night with Law had paid off, somehow- to know that shady shit like this only got people in trouble, or worse, hurt. Not to mention, the note could very well not even be for him. Maybe someone just dropped it on accident.

But the man did bump into his chair a little pointedly.

Luffy turns over the note hesitantly in his fingers, wondering if he should open it. Maybe it was a love letter? He gets a surprising amount from his fans, actually. Or maybe it was-

"Fuck it," he mutters, unfolding the paper. No use in thinking too hard about it. Better just rip off the bandaid now.

It's been a while, but I can help

you. I have info you're probably

looking for. Meet me at your

club by 7 tonight.

Oh yeah, straight out a horror film.

Luffy snorts and folds the note back up. That was the most blatant attempt at abduction he's ever seen. Who the hell asks their victims to show up to get kidnapped?

And why the hell was Luffy entertaining the idea?

Nothing about the note seemed safe. Meeting up at his club? If the sender meant the Going Merry, they must not have known that the club was burned down. Wait. How...did they know he stripped there? His influence wasn't so big that everyone who saw him knew. Unless they were a fan? If so, then how come they started with 'it's been a while'? Had he met them before?

The questions turned over and over in Luffy's head, and whenever he thinks he finds a satisfactory answer to one, three more questions come up. Although the message seemed to promise nothing but trouble, he would be lying if he said it didn't pique his interest. The one thing him and his friends were in desperate need of was information, and this note was saying its sender had it.

He ignores the alarms in his head and slips the note into his pocket. Luffy would talk this over with Law. If he was really going to go, there was no way in hell was he showing up alone. That was a one way ticket to danger. He isn't sure what to expect, but one thing is for sure. If what the message promises holds true, and they really know Luffy and has information for him…

Then this person is an ally.

The bus reaches his stop, and Luffy stands quickly, mouth dry. He gives Buggy his regards as he steps off the bus with the swarm of people.

"Don't work too hard, ya hear?" he hears the man call out.

Luffy smiles softly. "Loud and clear. Thank you."

Buggy gives him a quick nod before shutting the doors, and the bus zooms on into the distance.

Luffy begins the short walk to Amazon Lily. He hasn't seen his coworkers in a long minute, and wondered if they knew the news of his brother's passing. They likely did. The thought makes his heart clench a little, so he digs his nails into his forearm, and the pain is just barely able to distract him.

He had a single foot on the sidewalk in front of the strip mall when a familiar head pokes out of the cafe. Her green eyes widen almost comically before she breaks out into a wide smile. Luffy couldn't help but return it. The girl's energy was contagious.

"Luffy's back!" she calls into the shop. The teen hears sounds of several things being knocked over, then a cry of pain. Luffy stops just shy of the front door, watching the scene behind her in mock concern.

Sonia moves to let him in. "Boa's been...uh. Eagerly awaiting your return."

Luffy enters and hears the door behind him close. The green haired steps around him to the counter. "...You don't say."

Boa stood behind the register- a never before seen image- panting with her cheeks flushed. She gives Luffy a wide, goofy grin, and her eyes sparkled.

"Luffy!" she says breathlessly. "How've you been? I've missed you so much. Are you okay?"

From behind her, Mori stands up from the ground shakily, rubbing her arm as she glares at her older sister. "Damn near dislocated my shoulder trying to see him," she grumbles. As Boa turns to scowl at her, the brunette gives him a curt nod in acknowledgement. Luffy waves back.

"I'm good," Luffy makes himself say, and that must be all it took for Boa, because she swoons. "Ah, I'm so happy you feel better!"

"Did you come in to work today?" Sonia asks from his right. "There aren't too many customers."

She's right. The cafe was unusually quiet. Luffy glances around to the handful of guests in the room and furrows his brows slightly. Law wasn't there.

"No, I actually just came by for a drink, if that's okay," he says.

Boa huffs and swats at the air. "Oh, don't even mention work right now. We got this hun, take your time." She pauses, and brings a hand to her reddening cheek. "...I said hun," she squeals quietly.

Boa drifts away, and Mari takes up her place at the register, sighing. "What do you want?"

"Probably that vanilla bean frap, right?" Sonia butts in, and Luffy gives her a small grin. "Exactly that. Large."

When Luffy takes out his wallet, Mari makes a chiding sound and shoos it away. "Luffy, if I take any money from you, Boa will make sure a dislocated shoulder is the least of my worries."

The teen raises his eyebrows at that, and Sonia laughs. "Dude, you work here. Coffee's on the house anyway."

Oh. Right.

Luffy thanks them both and eases into the main seating area of Amazon Lily. He sits in the same place he sees Law all the time, limbs sinking into the soft padding. It's ironic how he'd usually glare at customers to keep them away from this spot, as it was Law's, yet now here he was, taking up his space.

It's barely been a day, but he already wanted to see him again.

The teen knew he needed to get some sound sleep in his own dorm, but not having Law a room away was something he never realized he would miss. Plus, his breakfasts were pretty tasty. Maybe he liked the man more than he initially thought.

They were only reaching the end of two months together. How did he get so far gone?

Luffy warms slightly at the thought, but shakes his head. He needed to focus. What the hell was that weird message he got on the bus? The teen definitely needs to tell Law about that. Showing him was best. Luffy chews his lip thoughtfully and brings up his phone. To his surprise, there's a message from his boyfriend from just a few minutes ago.

Got called in early for

an urgent surgery.

Wasn't able to go to AL.

Ignoring the twinge of disappointment in his gut, Luffy texts back a reply.

It's okay, thats way more

important. I'm here. Boa and the

others were rlly excited to

see me back. Missed them.

Sonia comes and sets down his drink, and Luffy reaches for it, thankful. He takes a small sip and makes a sound of appreciation. This shit was good.

I'd rather not imagine

Boa's reaction to you.

She was pretty chill

about it, actually.

Were there

customers nearby?

Well yeah.

That's why.

A warm smile spreads on Luffy's lips. Law had him worried for a little bit after Corazon died, and to be honest, he still does. It was still strange to Luffy how he was able to act so nonchalant when the man was to Law like Ace was to him, but he's put the thought on the back burner for now. Because there were times like this, when Law would just be so casual and unintentionally funny, and it made it seem as if everything was alright, even just for a moment. It always makes Luffy feel better.

The teen takes a generous sip of his drink, and switches it between his hands to offset the cold. He lets his mind wander to the white walls of Flevance, imagining his lover working hard, helping others, giving orders, and talking to patients. Being authoritative but gentle, firm but kind...

Luffy felt red creep up his cheeks. He needed to stop.

He guesses...he just wanted to know what Law was doing at the moment.

Law was panicking.

The patient's blood pressure was rapidly deteriorating, and that was only the first of his problems.

He wasn't the main surgeon operating, as bullet wounds weren't his forte per se, but there was one lodged close enough to the patient's heart that he was called in and told to haul ass to the OR.

A nurse had briefed him on the situation as he damn near sprinted to the room, and thanks to that, he got the general gist of what he was dealing with. The man had been shot twice, and both bullets were still lodged in his body. One was in his lower left abdomen, and the other grazed his left arm and stopped somewhere under his thorax. He was surprisingly stable, and showed no signs of complications. There was only one slight problem.

The bullet near his heart was starting to embolize. Shit like that does not tend to end well.

Dr. Chopper was the surgeon heading the operation. By the time Law arrived, the bullet wound on his arm had been tended to, and the brunette was focused on the one in the patient's torso. A quick glance at the machinery around them, blinking and beeping as they displayed summarized information in real time, was all it took for Law to be greatly disturbed.

He was going to die if they didn't act fast.

When he came in, the man's blood pressure had been ninety-five over sixty-two. The number nearly made Law's own blood pressure drop. Why the hell was it so low? Dr. Chopper seemed to have been just as perturbed as Law was, as he was switching between frantically telling the nurses to check the CPB and tending to the man below him. Law soon joined the commotion, anxious to get the man back into a safer range.

After the controlled chaos ensued and the man's blood pressure bounced back to normal, the patient became stable enough for Law to let go of a relieved breath. Then, he got to work on the bullet near the man's heart.

"He's extremely lucky," his fellow surgeon murmurs from under his mask. It's the first time he's spoken up in a while. "Disregarding his low BP earlier, he's basically asymptomatic. I mean, there's the shortness of breath, but that's pretty much it."

He focuses on the incision he made in the man's side as he tries to sound hopeful. "It's uncanny."

"It'll be uncanny if he actually lives," Law grunts, staring down at his green haired patient. The guy looked to be around his age, too. It'd be a real shame if he died, no matter who he was. "What do you think the chances are?"

Dr. Chopper spares him a grim glance. "...Not the best."

Law narrows his eyes down at his blooded gloves. "Thought so."

"But he's doing alright so far. I have confidence he'll pull through."

"I'm sure he will. You're working on him, after all."

Dr. Chopper pauses, and Law can feel the man's embarrassed blush. "Y-Your compliments don't m-make me happy at all~"

Law chuckles, shaking his head at the man's inability to take praise, then returns his eyes to the open cavity before him. To be completely honest, the man was...doing okay so far. The area he was working with was already drained of fluids through large tubes that connected to his chest, and an oxygen mask was combating the man's slight dyspnea.

But the positives didn't mean that the man was out of the woods. Guy was nowhere near.

Law carefully works around the vented needle in the patient's heart with his clamp. He reaches back with an outstretched hand. "Pack of dissolvables."

The nurse gives him a small packet of medical string with gloved hands. Law sets down the clamp and opts for a needle holder. He slowly lifts up the needle from the packet with a firm grip on the holder, then gets to work sewing close the small tear in the descending aorta the bullet opened. Judging from the trajectory, the bullet should be somewhere to Law's left.

But if it's been moving, who knows where it could be.

He finishes the suture and reaches for scissors to cut off the remaining thread. He gently removes the vented needle. That was one hurdle down, but there was still the highest one to go over. He's yet to see the bullet.

On the other side of the patient, there's a collective sigh of relief as Dr. Chopper pulls out a small, shiny object. "Here it is," he breathes, lines of worry starting to disappear. Nurses behind him give hushed words of praise as he sets the object down carefully on the tray beside him. Law feels himself freeze with shock when he glances over to the other doctor, but immediately brings his attention back to his own work. He shouldn't mess up the operation because of something that he could be imagining.

Because there's no way the bullet was the same one that Corazon got shot with. His eyes must be playing tricks on him.

As Law carefully searches around the tender arteries, he finally spots the foreign object. His heart jumps into his throat. It had emigrated up to the aortic arch, and must have been mere millimeters from connecting.

"Good god," he whispers, letting go of a soft breath. He grabs some forceps from the table of utensils. "Let's get you out of there."

A few gut wrenching minutes later, the bloody bullet is extracted, and Law has to consciously keep from shaking lest he drops the damn thing.

It really was the same one that killed Corazon.

The surgeon keeps a mask of impassivity as he places it on a clean sheet and it's taken away. Now that it's been confirmed, he was desperate for answers. It could be a coincidence, yes, but it's strange that this comes not even two days after the man's passing. Law makes a mental note to ask the green haired man what happened to him when he wakes up.

A little under an hour later, the patient is resting in the recovery room. They were told he was to wake up in a few hours by the anaesthetist, and that he shouldn't have any problems coming to, so the surgeons left to wash up and sterilize. After, when Law offered to talk to family, Dr. Chopper said none came. He was a lone man. Law knitted his brows at that. And the man was alone? That wasn't unheard of, but it only added to his curiosity about the man.

Law put the finishing touches on the patient's paperwork and sat back in his office chair, sighing. It was a quarter to noon, and he hadn't had anything to eat since he got there. He had rushed out his apartment so fast that food was the last thing on his mind.

The man peels himself up from his chair and makes for the door. Getting some lunch in his system was probably a good idea. He exits, closing his office softly behind him, and starts down the hall. Doctors and nurses greet him politely as he walks towards the cafeteria, congratulating him on another successful surgery. He waves them off, telling them to thank Dr. Chopper. He deserved the praise. He had been leading the operation, after all.

Another doctor gives him his regards just as a familiar red head pops into view with bags slung over his shoulders.

Law feels a smile tug on his lips. "Shachi, I thought you were off?"

The man scoffs. "Like I could ever really be away from this damn place for more than twenty-four hours."

Law chuckles as he approaches. "You and me both, if we're being honest. What're you doing here then?"

"Bringing Zoro and Sanji their final change of clothes." Shachi holds up the bulky bag as proof. "Zoro gets discharged later today."

"Oh, thank god." The surgeon feels something in his chest area beat softly at the news.

Law continues his walk to the cafeteria, Shachi right beside him. "Right? I feel like it's been forever. Even though it's only been a day. You going to see him?"

Law shakes his head. "Right now, I need some food. After I'm off, I might swing by and say hello." He'd also try to visit that patient as well. He had some questions for the guy. A sudden thought comes to him. "Has...Sanji ever left that room?"

Shachi makes an indifferent sound in his throat. "No. Dude's practically moved in. It's always awkward being there because I feel like a third wheel."

Law almost snorts. Almost. "That's because you probably are."

The man turns to him questioningly, then widens his eyes in realization. "...Really?"

"Shachi, I don't know what they have, but you've gotta be blind to not see something."

The red head is quiet for a few moments after that. "...Oh, so you get to make jokes like that now? What happened to 'you're in a hospital'?"

Touché. "...God damn it, Shachi."

"Um, excuse us..."

The surgeon and nurse pause as a young couple makes their way up to them. The man before them has blonde hair styled in short waves around his kind face. He wore a high collared blue dress shirt with two lines of buttons down each side, gray pants, and combat boots. Though the scar over his left eye is a little off-putting, he gives them a smile. He seemed friendly.

The woman beside him, however, seemed to be a ball of barely controlled fury.

Or, at least she tried to look that way. But her doll-like appearance only makes it look as if she was pouting, and it was endearing in a way. Short orange hair was clipped at the chin, and eyes the deepest blue he's ever seen were narrowed at her partner, bringing fierce color to her pale porcelain skin. The woman donned a frilly pink blouse, a lavender skirt, and thigh high socks that ended in leather boots.

They both wore dark gloves and hats that kind of matched. Cute touch.

"May I help you?" Law asks, doctor mode initiated.

The blonde gives his partner a reassuring smile, but she just narrows her eyes further. "Uh, we'd like to visit our friend, Bartolomeo. But-"

"But he forgot the room number," the woman interrupts, glaring daggers at the man. The blonde scratches his head self-consciously as the redhead places hands on her hips, puffing as she faces them. "I'm so sorry for this. Do you mind helping us find where he is? I swear he's somewhere on this floor. Or some floor above."

Shachi and Law exchange questioning glances. These guys were strange.

Law verifies their visitor stickers with a quick glance at their chests, clears his throat, then speaks. "When was he admitted? I can check with the front desk his-"

"He was just admitted! Earlier this morning," the woman clarifies. "Room 5B or 6B or something. Or was it C? ...A?"

Law feels his stomach twist. He just left the patient he operated on in Recovery Room 5B. "Does he have green hair?"

The red head turns to him, blue eyes sparkling. "Yeah! Kind of shaped like a crest?"

Shachi purses his lips to stop his guffaw. "Wait, shaped like a what?"

So they were here for him. "That's the guy. You're a floor below. He's upstairs, Recovery Room 5B."

The man perks up happily. "Oh, really? Thank you so much!"

"I told you." The woman playfully slaps her partner's arm.

He turns down to her, pretending to be hurt. "I could've sworn-" the blonde begins, but the red head wasn't having it. Despite her short stature, she reaches up to his ears and pinches, dragging him away with ease. Even when he started groaning at the pain, the man was ignored. Law and Shachi watch the spectacle with wide eyes.

She waves back at them and flashes a wide smile, as if there wasn't a fully grown man whimpering beside her. "Thank you again!"

Law inclines his head at the words, and she trudges on, pulling the blonde along the hallway. When they disappear around a corner, Shachi lets out a breath. "Well that was weird."

"Yeah," Law mutters, watching the hall where they disappeared down. "No kidding. Especially since the man in that room supposedly doesn't have family. Dr. Chopper told me so."

"Oh dang, really?"

"Yeah."

The red head beside him hums thoughtfully. "I wonder what connection they have to him."

Law shrugs. "I couldn't care less."

"C'mon," Shachi drawls, leaning in close. "Aren't you a little curious?"

The surgeon eyes him with disdain. "No. You're just nosy."

"Am not, you're just-"

"Dr. Trafalgar!"

Their conversation is cut short by a man who runs up to them, slightly out of breath. His appearance is haggard as he straightens, drawing his shoulders back. If that was an attempt to make himself seem more calm than he felt, then it was fruitless. His expression betrayed his obvious panic.

"Yes, what is it?" Law asks, taking in his alarm with a raised brow.

The doctor makes a face as if sorry to have bothered him. "Well, you see, the patient in 412 is sleep walking again. Except this time he thinks he's practicing karate."

Shachi bites his bottom lip to stop his laughter but fails, and holds up a hand to his mouth to stifle the sound. Law groans and holds both hands to his temples, rubbing tiredly. "Where is security?"

"He's already taken them down..."

Law curses under his breath and pushes past him down the hall. "Have the nurses hold him down, I got this." The doctor bounds after him, a ball of nervous energy.

So much for his lunch.

"I'll be with Zoro and Sanji!" Shachi calls out after him amusedly. "I'll leave lunch on your desk, okay?"

"Thanks," Law returns sarcastically. He lowers his voice and mutters, "Since everyone wants to stop me from eating."

"I heard that!"

"No you didn't."

Law scowls at Shachi's magical laughter as he grows farther and farther away.

A/N: Thank you for reading~ Until the next!

P.S. I was writing the bus scene early in the morning, so I was looking out the window for reference. :)

P.P.S. I'm no doctor, so if any of you dear readers who are more knowledgeable about the topic spot a mistake in the surgery scene, I do apologize!