A/n: Finally, an update! Thanks to Mazout for helping me fluff up the chapter ; )
Thank you all for reading, and Naghi-tan for your comments. : )
Shadow: 10
The sight of the iron ship sinking in the distance caused the onlookers on the Tangerine Dream some awe and horror. The sun was slowly lowering in the distance, and they could hear the shouts and screams of men as they sought safety onto smaller ships. The sound of the sea swallowing the lengthy, twelve level ship caused the air to hiss and bubble. There were occasional cracks of sound as weight caused by flooding caused particular sections of the sinking ship to break.
Ussop, binoculars to his eyes, reported gravely, "There goes another…what is down there, exactly?"
He directed this question to Law, who was frowning down at the water the Tangerine Dream charged through, head turned away from the sight. His mind was running over and over the encounter with trouble, forehead furrowed with thought.
Ussop began to fret, nails to teeth. "Should we be alarmed? They're going down like something is dragging them -!"
"I wouldn't know, I'm not there to see it," Law murmured in reply, but he had the thought that even Kidd wasn't that talented to finish off the remaining humans in their lifeboats. He wondered if his plan had worked; the angry sharkman should be appeased with feasting off such powerful flesh. His heart and head were turning at different speeds; he knew he should feel something about the matter, feel satisfied that he avenged Cora, but something felt heavy and uneven.
Cora had lied to him; essentially, the merman was partly responsible for what happened to Law's family and colony.
Perhaps I couldn't feel for that individual as I thought I did, he thought. Even if Doflamingo had aroused my anger and disgust, even if he'd confessed and made me feel such things during our conversation, I should feel something of the matter. Satisfaction, relief…something!
"Perhaps Cora put some kind of spell on me," he decided aloud, the motley collection of crew members looking to him with some confusion. He didn't dwell into explaining that loud thought, and he wondered if the moving shadows below their ship were merfolk or…something else. What was Doflamingo's former form? Something similar to Corazon? The colorful merfolk was definitely fitting for the cold waters of the North, but Doflamingo had inspired predator to Law in such a way that perhaps he was something different from a fishman.
"I hate when he does that," Sanji murmured with irritation. He stood the furthest from the fishman, Zoro looking at him with vague interest. The green haired fisherman looked from one man to the other, noting the distance. "Says something completely out of the blue, without any context, without bothering to…!"
He tutted, pushing away from the railing. "I'm going to change. I smell like a damn fish."
Robin watched him walk away, her gloved hands steady on the quietly sobbing doctor's shoulders. Next to her, Luffy was rubbing his head, looking quite alive and sturdy, despite Jimbei's curious stare in his direction. Robin then looked to the others, noting that Nami's dress was overflowing with pads of cash and a heavy bag of looted treasures at her feet. Brook was looking through another, his violin placed carefully atop of his folded jacket.
"We've won, but at what cost?" Zoro wondered aloud. "It feels like some lopsided victory."
"Yeah, those guys had no chance against us!" Luffy said cheerfully, but his expression was completely different from his tone. His clenched fists were resting atop of the railing, and Robin noted his angry frown. "But that guy sure was something else. I feel cheated! Law! Why'd you throw him in the water?"
Law glanced over at the sound of his name, and noted that Sanji was no longer standing there. He wondered if the man were still upset at him; but then again, he felt an issue with it, anyway. He couldn't compare to an invisible deity. After a glance around the deck, he shrugged a shoulder. His human legs felt awkward, and he gave them a little shake.
"He was stronger than you. Even if you're a stronger human than most, it makes sense to…"
"Fight fire with fire?" Robin suggested, fingers tightening as the doctor attempted escape.
"Who is this kid?" Ussop asked her with exasperation, clicking his tongue at the sight of the doctor's tear-dirty face.
"I found him - !"
"She stole me! This is kidnapping!"
"Luckily, he and I ran into each other before the boat could sink."
"I was pirated!"
"Robin," Nami said, crooking her head as she looked over at the kid with a start, as if suddenly realizing he was there, "are you sure he's a doctor? He looks…foolish…"
"You're the fool!" Tony shrieked at her, before wiping at his face. "All of you!"
Robin smiled again. "After last night's episode, I was convinced that a doctor would come into handy. We were fated to find him."
"I mean, we could have lured one – I mean, befriended one of our own," Nami said with exasperation, stuffing wads of cash further down her bodice and giving the woman a look. "This one could do disastrous things to us in the name of medicine."
"I was angry," Law said, Zoro looking in his direction. The other's voices continued to float between them, making it difficult for the fisherman to pick out the fishman's words. "I took action because I was forced to. But in the end, it leaves me with no fulfillment. The only reason why things happened was because I'd met Sanji by happenstance. If Doflamingo had used him to coax me out from the depths, then his reasoning to kill me, without me knowing the weight of the circumstances, gives me nothing in the end."
"I could!" Tony vowed angrily, shaking as he clutched his bag close to his chest. "You people just barged into my place of employment and pirated me, like I was some victim - !"
"I mean, how rich is your family to put in effort to find you?" Nami asked tony curiously. "Are they loaded?"
"I don't…" Tony balked, looking up at her before his eyes welled with fresh tears. "I have nobody!"
"It works out," Robin said brightly. "We'll be your family, now!"
"You people are scary!"
"How old is this kid?" Nami asked incredulously. "How is he a doctor? What if he doesn't know anything, other than placing a bandaid on a wound?"
"How dare you - !"
"I mean, now you don't have to wander through the water thinking some guy is gonna find you and kill you," Franky told Law with a gesturing hand, lifting his voice to be heard over the shouts. "So it's a positive thing."
"And you had the chance of being human for a minute," Zoro added, pushing past the others so that he could hear the fishman better.
"Wait, so we're just - ! We're really just stealing off with this guy?" Ussop asked with horror.
"I mean, this is pretty much how I was found," Jimbei muttered. "I was also forced into the whims of you people."
"I didn't ask to be human," Law insisted. He looked down at himself with trouble. "This body is clumsy…I couldn't even swim. Something that I was born to do and suddenly…why should I think that this is a life I'd want?"
"You were shipwrecked," Nami said sourly to Jimbei. "And this is how you repay us. Either join us, or pay the price for our generosity. Which, I guarantee, would earn us a much bigger and grander ship than the one I borrowed."
Jimbei fidgeted with one the lapels to his robe. "I…do not have that much money."
"'Borrowed'," Brook scoffed.
"That solves it!" Nami said cheerfully.
"They stole you, too?" Tony asked Jimbei, looking him over. "But…! But…! You're so big!"
"Let me tell you, size matters not to us," Nami said with satisfaction. "What matters is, can it get the job done?"
"Hear, hear, sister," Robin said with a chuckle.
"Robin!" Franky exclaimed, reddening.
"NO! NO TO THIS CONVERSATION!" Zoro suddenly exclaimed, looking at them with embarrassment. "Can't we go five minutes without it turning into some sick joke?"
"Zoro's a virgin," Nami whispered
"God, I'm starving, and no one cares about it," Luffy muttered bitterly, chin on railing. "No one ever pays attention to me, or says anything positive about what I've done."
"If anything," Tony said with a sniffle in Luffy's direction, "I thought you were pretty strong for a guy your size. I'd never seen someone punch like you can."
"Oh my god, are we pirates?" Ussop cried with horror, hands in the air. Franky caught the binoculars before they could fall.
"Are mermaids capable of spells?" Zoro asked Law skeptically. "I mean, you've got this other magic you've used…maybe others are capable of that sort of thing."
"Wait, how many conversations are happening, here?" Brook asked, confused as he looked up from examining a gold ring.
"So, was this the hand of God," Franky said, looking to Law, "or that of a man that knew what he was doing? How did that conversation go?"
"He confessed to looking for me. He had a purpose, but she died before he could find me," Law stated. "And this…God…I have no weight in that subject, as I don't believe in it."
"Oh, please don't smite me," Nami said hastily, sign of the cross over her chest as she looked up with a pleading expression. "I have nothing to do with his words!"
"You, too, Nami?" Luffy cried with shock.
"Only when it benefits me, but one can't be too careful!"
"I should definitely start," Ussop muttered, hands together. "Because being with you people has convinced me to do such terrible things…like kidnapping!"
"I was kidnapped! Help me, Ussop!" Tony cried.
"Where's Sanji?" Jimbei asked with a bewildered look. "Did we leave him behind?"
"That ninny needs a bath," Zoro said with a roll of his eyes.
"Of course," Law murmured, looking down at the water once more, "now that it's over, I can go back to a life that allowed me much comfort in its peace and silence. With my friends…whom I haven't seen since I've grown legs…tell me, did you hunt them and not say anything?"
"Don't worry, little buddy," Ussop assured Tony, "you and I can stick together. We share the same mindset!"
"But of course," Robin said, releasing Tony, who shuffled over to the man.
"He's so little!" Luffy laughed at Tony, rumpling his hair. "Look at you! Did you even drop your balls, yet?"
"Did you?" Nami asked, kicking him and causing him to shriek in an undignified manner, Ussop and Tony hugging each other out of fear. "Everyone! Let's load our loot into the ship. Franky, Ussop, did you dismantle the explosives, or will we die in our sleep later on?"
"We're going to die out here!" Ussop cried with horror, hands to his face.
"Oh, but think of the life we'd save by feeding ourselves to the sea," Robin said, following after her as Brook attempted to pocket some treasure into his trousers.
"Not a trace left," Law said assuredly. "Plus, with the sinking of this ship, I'm sure many merfolk will be pleased by what they can find of your carcasses, and the treasure you've amassed."
"I'll send them to Hell for taking my treasure!" Nami snarled.
"I'm starving, and no one cares!" Luffy cried, sinking against the railing.
"Go fish, then," Zoro scoffed, avoiding Franky as the man picked up one of the bags Nami had carried from one ship to the other. "Feed yourself. When did you get so helpless?"
"SANJI!"
"Will you be returning to the sea, Law?" Robin asked the fishman curiously, giving one last look to the sinking ship in the distance. "Now that it is all over?"
"Yeah. Any minute, now," Law said with a nod, following after the others.
"Then do it before us. I'd like to see your fish form."
"Any minute now," Law assured her, bypassing her and entering the open doorway with the others while Robin watched with amusement.
: :
The dining room was cleaned and dinner was made. Sanji kept himself busy as everyone crowded around the dinner table and spoke noisily. He served them various plates and attended to their needs while they discussed their next plan of action and recounted their brief adventure. Tony hadn't released his doctor's bag, but he ate from his plate with an expression of growing interest and joy as the others relayed their tales and aspirations. Law sat at the end of the table and seemed to sulk over some fish and rice – giving Sanji a glare every time they made eye contact. Sanji kept himself busy just to avoid saying anything to the man, resolved to keep their distance; to keep face in front of the faces of his friends.
Night shimmered over the ship like a ghostly blanket. They didn't need a crew to keep it in operation, their ragtag group with different pieces of personal knowledge guiding the way. But Zoro's and Ussop's voices, along with occasional laughter from the crow's nest assured their wakefulness. The water was dark, glinting from the brilliant light of stars overhead. The crescent moon oozed enough light to show them that the sea was theirs for now.
Sanji approached Law cautiously as the former fishman stared down into the water below. He felt that familiar ache and glow in his chest, paused in mid-movement.
Even as a damn brooding human, he is so fucking gorgeous! Sanji thought, swallowing tightly. He could feel his cheeks flushing as images from Doflamingo's iron ship hit him. Only, the images seemed to change a bit from actual truth; in Sanji's memory, all he saw was a tall, muscular man with perfectly ruffled hair striding barefoot through the wreckage caused by his form.
Sanji was unaware he was drooling at that moment. In his imaginings, Law, with his wet clothes that clung to outrageously glorified muscle, tossed his head to look directly at him with his pouty, regal features. Sanji's heart fluttered dangerously before he realized he was dreaming and drooling.
Stop acting like some simpering maiden! Sanji's inner voice screeched noisily at him. He wiped his mouth. He tried not to show any expression; feeling guilt for his earlier feelings and choices.
"Even if you were a fish," he said, knowing he startled the other man because of the jump he made before he clutched at the railing, "fishes can get cold. It's cold, out here. And somehow, you are wearing no shoes. Are you looking to put that new doctor to the test?"
"He knew that dropping you out here would guarantee my presence," Law said, frowning at the words that seemed to linger like a bad taste.
"Because apparently," Sanji said deliberately, wearing a scowl, "I somehow resemble this other person. Which is somehow bothering me."
"And had saboteurs sink his own ship to guarantee this."
"Whether or not I would actually survive was God's choice in the matter."
Law's scowl weighed heavy on his face. He watched the churning waters lapping at the ship's hull before turning around.
"Was it the one that caused your legs to kick? Was it the one that made you think to put a…a…" He indicated his torso, Sanji looking at him and guessing what he was referring to.
"Life jacket," he supplied sourly.
"…Those? Did it make you think to do that? Or was that your own survival instinct, something only you thought of?"
Sanji stared at him blankly. Being scolded by him and his simple outrage definitely causes a stir in me, he thought, hands starting to flutter to his collar. He caught himself, steeled his stance. I will not be scolded by a simple man!
"I learned to swim at a young age – it was mandatory. Life jackets are definitely…helpful advice."
"But this was something you did. There wasn't anyone in the sky that night that was actively telling you to do these things, because I didn't hear anything! These were your own actions. Plus, as you've said so before, with your friends confirming this on their own, you're tough to kill. So perhaps it wasn't that choice at all, but it was your choice - !"
"I see you're still angry about those things. I must admit, I am, too," Sanji interrupted, drawing out a cigarette from his jacket pocket. He didn't light it, frowning down at the deck beneath their feet with a slight shake of his head. "But let's put that shit aside. When are you leaving, dumb ass?"
Law gave a disgusted shake of his head, returning his attention to the water. "Any minute, now."
"Robin would like to see your true form. Appease the lady."
After some reflection, Law turned back to face him. "Do you insist that I return to the sea?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"It is!" Law snapped, turning back to the railing and clutching with both hands. "It is! It's home! I had nothing to worry about down there, I didn't have these silly – stupid – human ideals or thoughts or troubles - ! All I had was Shachi and Penguin and all the damn lobster I could eat – none of this stupid clothes wearing, propriety…!"
"Please don't rip those clothes off in this temperature," Sanji said dryly, seeing the man's hands snake to his shirt collar and pull at the suspenders. Yet, even as he said so, seeing the glimpse of tanned, tattooed skin caused his mouth to dry. He swallowed hard.
He sneaked a look towards the crow's nest, but Zoro and Ussop were looking in another direction, involved in some conversation. Zoro was drinking from a bottle and Ussop was fiddling with something that required some angry curses. Their voices were soft in the cold wind, faint; leaving Sanji no indication of their words. He had to be willing that his and Law's voices would appear the same to them.
"Then…go home. If all this shit is something that isn't you, just…leave it behind. Take it as a bad memory. Make new ones if you have to…"
Law exhaled noisily, scowling at the water. His hands dropped back to the railing. He suddenly registered the chill that made his skin ripple with discomfort, but he fought any reaction to it.
"Any minute now," he muttered, fingers clenching and unclenching. His grip left imprints. "I'll change and – be over this stupid shit…I won't even watch humans, anymore. I'll make my home in the deepest trenches, learn to navigate in the dark just to avoid situations like these…"
"Perhaps that sort of thing is necessary," Sanji murmured, lighting up his cigarette. He exhaled heavily. "Now that you know what we…murderous scum are made of, what we're capable of towards others, you can quit those daydreams you might've had towards us."
Law was reluctant to admit he could hear heavy weight in Sanji's tone. He sneaked a glance in the man's direction – it wasn't as if Sanji was pushing him away. No, the man was being stubborn, much like how he was when Law met him. There was relief in Law's heart, but he remained impassive.
He frowned down at the water below. "Or I'll be angry like Kidd and kill humans like I was supposed to do."
"I've had upfront confrontations with that guy," Sanji said thoughtfully. "I wonder who was the sort of companion he'd had that made him so…him."
"Probably another shark. Something as stupid as he is."
"But whoever they were, must've been a companion to cherish. That's not something I should mock…"
"Not that I'd know anything about that. My friends are the only ones I cherish. I feel mad without them. I think your fishing friends ate them."
Sanji thought of Luffy's mallet and intentions towards Ivankov. He wore a skeptical look. "I sincerely doubt that. Luffy wouldn't know how to defeather a penguin to eat it."
Law looked murderously at him, Sanji shrugging. He gestured at the water. "Well, do go on. Turn into a fish, and, oh, wait…"
He rummaged through his pockets until he found the piece of coral, tossing it Law's way. Law didn't think to catch it, the piece flying past him as he stood still. It sailed over the rail and into the water with a splash that went unnoticed, disappearing within the waves.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO CATCH IT, DUMBASS!" Sanji then shouted furiously at him, ripping off his jacket and shoes, making to jump over the railing. His cigarette went out into the water, the glare of the ember bright against the darkness.
Law easily ensnared his shirt with one hand and shoved him backwards, the human skidding over the deck and crashing against one wall of the upper deck with a grunt. In the moments that followed, Law looked down at himself, expecting a change. When nothing happened, he gestured at himself. Sanji did look at him – looked a little too long in certain areas that he shouldn't. His eyes darted back up as a startled expression overwhelmed his face.
Oh, you're so pathetic, you disgust me, he told himself, faintly embarrassed. Eyes up, asshole!
"That was just a placebo," Law said skeptically. He had to wonder if he were a little too rough with his toss; Sanji looked moments from being upset. His face was red, and he wore such a trembling frown as he looked some point away from Law. "Cora wore his in his necklace, but he lost it several times during our travels. Sometimes we'd go for miles or days without it, and nothing happened. Ivankov wanted to amuse herself by thinking I'd believe in her shit by hanging onto it. And besides…I CAN'T CATCH WITH THESE DAMN HANDS."
Sitting flat against the wall, Sanji scowled at him. But he lifted a knee to rest an elbow onto it, shivering against the cold that battered them. He waved at the water with one hand. "Then go. Your task was completed. What's keeping you here?"
Law thought about it for a few moments, then looked at the water with distrust. "It looks cold. I might die if I did it, tonight. Maybe tomorrow, in the full sun."
Sanji rolled his eyes, rubbing at his forehead. He accepted that both men were both in the same level of expecting something from the other; Law realized that his reluctance, made simple excuses that were voluntarily leaving his lips, was embarrassingly obvious. It made his temper that much shorter; Sanji was angry at himself for continuously pushing with hands that refused to let go. The obviousness of their feelings was so thick in the air, but both of them were hideously stubborn.
Law swallowed tightly. "But I could change my mind…any minute now…"
"Will you stop saying that? You're giving me a migraine. You're the most indecisive fish I'd ever known. No wonder you all flock in one group – many of your brains put together create one active brain…"
"I feel nothing for the actions of today," Law snarled angrily, hitting the railing with a clenched fist. "I should feel the anger I started to feel when he confessed to what he'd done, but it's gone, now. Which is why I am saying, insisting, that Corazon put a spell on me. Somehow."
"Maybe to numb you from the trauma felt? Witnessing…multiple deaths in front of you, seeing his…maybe so. That's an answer that you won't find with humans. We aren't capable of magic."
"Because you believe in invisible deities…"
Sanji sighed noisily, rising to his feet. He slid his shoes back on, and swept his jacket back over his torso, adjusting and refitting until every button was in place. Law found himself caught by the way Sanji's hair fluttered in the cold breeze – how every angle in his face pushed against the shadows. When he looked at Law with his blue eyes, Law swore he'd lose his train of thought again. How the tailored clothing presented a rather…princely picture compared to whom he'd met in the first place. Sanji was the figure in the books Law had rifled through, but Law had never given those particular books a second glance. He found himself regretting that he had.
He looked away with frustration, fist clenched. Focus, idiot! he told himself.
"Aren't you dead?" Law then asked with grinding annoyance. He was growing distempered with the way he just couldn't stop talking to the princely figure. His mouth seemed to be running without weight; it almost felt like he was stalling.
Of course I'm stalling, he thought with frustration.
I'd regret losing this for the rest of my life, Sanji thought, looking at the other man's back with eyes that felt heavy with fear and remorse. He took a deep breath, commanded his voice to remain strong and unemotional.
"I am obviously standing before you, breathing in this fresh oxygen, fish for brains."
"If you are dead," Law said slowly, "then perhaps meaningless loyalty to a deity that has sworn you dead is a waste of energy. Shit for brains. Ass. Mr Blackleg."
Sanji bit his lips as Law released these mutterings with clear antagonization. He couldn't help but feel amused, and he fought the feeling. He refused to look upward towards the sky, but he did sneak another glance towards the pair in the crow's nest. They were laughing and swatting at each other. It made Sanji cringe at the sight of their freedoms before he caught himself.
I am dead, so why am I still clinging to something that…? He thought, making a face of exasperation for his own actions. I've sinned…multiple times…and none of them I've regret.
"I am dead to the living, yes," he then said slowly, "which is fine and dandy because that sort of titled life was a bore. This…this one with my friends, it's more satisfying. I haven't felt more alive than when I am with them. Adventure beckons."
"Well, being human so far has been riddled with problems. Humans are problematic. I have lived a peaceful life, and this…" Law trailed off, thinking about the days that dragged past him. Thinking how every time a human ship passed, his attention was riveted, filled with thoughts of wonder. Now that he was actively standing atop of one, looking down at the world he'd briefly left below, it felt perplexing that he was taking so long to return to it. He drummed his fingers against the cold wood, which was soft and yet rigid beneath his grip. His thumbs smoothed around and over it, wondering what material was capable of protecting this material so strongly that it resisted the sea's hungry teeth above it. He tilted his head upward, catching sight of the sails that had been furled for the night, wondering just how strong an anchor had to be to rivet this massive bulk atop of the moving seascape.
Sanji sighed noisily, noticing that Law's attention was turned elsewhere. Hearing the sound snapped Law back to attention, and he blushed ever so slightly.
"Anyway, I shall change back and return to my life down there, wondering what the point was to all of this madness," Law muttered, propping both hands atop of the railing and looking down at the waters below. The soft foam collecting against the ship's walls seemed to glimmer against the crescent moon's light. They weren't moving, but he felt like they were still charging forward. His toes gripped the cold surface underneath. Every part of him felt so weighty with reluctance.
He looked back at Sanji. "Lift and throw me in."
"Do it yourself," Sanji said, amused. "Push up and over."
"These limbs - !" Law snapped, hitting the railing with both hands and causing that section to crumble and collapse noisily, causing him to stand back with surprise.
The door nearby slammed open, Franky stepping out, both men looking at him with alarm.
"You have the ears of a bat, Franky?" Sanji asked incredulously as Law wore a guilty look.
"Is it necessary to break the ship in fits of rage?" Franky asked, tone sharpening as he speared Law with a look. His heavy bulk caused the floorboards to creak as he ventured out. He opened his mouth to continue admonishing when his eyes flit upward then his menacing appearance flattened out to something more composed. "Sorry. Just…try not to break anything important. We might be in the Dream's capable hands for a little while longer. I'll fix it tomorrow, no problems."
Sanji tried not to panic at the thought that they were being supervised, but upon review of their confrontation thus far, nothing had been damning. Then he realized that was the problem. Franky said a few things to Law that Sanji didn't hear, Sanji lost in thought, and a few moments later, the bigger man retreated back into the ship. Slowly, Sanji adjusted the lapels of his jacket to sooth shaking hands. He ended up stuffing them into his jacket pockets.
"Don't go," he said quietly, keeping his eyes down on the railing for focus. He thought that if he should look the other man in his eyes, he'd lose courage. "Just…you were given an opportunity, abuse it."
"I feel like sand, and I don't know why."
"Because you're dehydrated, you ass! I haven't seen you drink anything since last night's dinner!"
"Is that what that is? Thirst? Hmm. What a menacing feeling."
"There's plenty to see and experience," Sanji then said, lighting up. He closed the distance between them, arm around Law's shoulders as he gestured out at the night. "Eating new foods, experiencing different adventures…learning a new language, or even, perhaps, seeing mountains and trees. You like those paintings down there, don't you? Don't you want to see the real thing?"
Law did feel a certain push in that direction. He'd scan small islands with some curiosity, watching birds flit from tree to tree, watching grass bend in the wind. He wondered what rocks felt like underneath his feet, and thought about sunscapes painted above the treeline in paintings he'd found in shipwrecks. He thought about the café scenes, the sights of villages in books; while he hadn't any interest in food, he did think about why humans spoke so differently sometimes while they sailed in ships with different flags attached to them.
But then he thought of the comfort in darkness, the quiet in the depths of the water. Having only Penguin and Shachi as companions to tell him tales of human beings. He turned and scanned the waters, shrugging off Sanji's arm.
"Where are my friends?" he wondered out loud. "Perhaps their opinion would be more valuable."
"Mine isn't?"
"You'd somehow convince me of something disastrous, just like this situation."
"I didn't convince you to do this at all! You had your own mind set, you fool." Sanji angrily combed through his hair. He turned to look away and noticed that both Zoro and Ussop were looking straight at them, their expressions stiff; not with any negative emotion, but faces that were created to drive Sanji insane when they focused it upon him. "What the hell do you guys want? Are you spying on us? Looking for entertainment? Jack yourselves off, you fools! You want entertainment, get your asses down here and let me kick them for you!"
Law looked upward to see Zoro and Ussop watching them, but their expressions were rather foolish in nature. Sanji removed a shoe to throw at them, the pair of them ducking awkwardly to avoid being hit.
"What were you saying about impulse?" Law asked Sanji skeptically, the former prince freezing in place. "I probably need a deeper explanation as to why impulses are the wrong thing to fall back upon when emotions take over – "
"You, close your mouth. Do whatever you want. I don't care. USSOP! I better see my shoe sitting aside my door in the morning, or else!"
"You can't threaten me with something you did!" Ussop shouted back at him. "I'm not afraid of you! Not when I'm way up here!"
"What's with the temperament?" Zoro asked, elbows braced before him. "Sounds like you're up to something."
"Fuck off!"
Law looked at Sanji, forehead crinkling ever so slightly as he stood in mute silence.
Zoro tutted. "Flying off the handle like usual – it weirds me out that you were a prince. I can't imagine you ever being composed."
"It's you guys that send me into such a tizzy!"
Ussop leaned far over the rail, laughing noisily. Sanji ripped off his other shoe and hurled it at him. After ducking, Ussop shouted, "All we have to do is breathe to send you into vapors!"
"I will destroy you all- !"
"There's that Vinsmoke dictator blood!"
Law clapped a hand on Sanji's shoulder as the blond snarled, reddening in the face and intending on marching over to the rope ladder. Startled as he was reminded of the fishman's presence, Sanji brushed himself off and struggled for composure.
"When I heard you speaking to Doflamingo," Law said slowly, Sanji angrily fixing his hair and straightening his collar, "you spoke in a completely different manner, and seemed much more composed."
"Well, of course," Sanji muttered, fists in his jacket pockets. "That's the persona he was familiar with. That's…what everyone expected of me."
"And this one…?"
"Well, I mean…sometimes, certain people draw out sides of you that you didn't know existed. Sometimes, it's hard to catch one's self when they're behaving much like a stranger."
Thinking about that, Law gave a grim frown, then nodded. "I see."
Sanji watched him warily. "What's that about?"
"If I hadn't met you, I would have never acted out of my element. And yet…here I am, standing before you…as a human."
"…Yes?"
"And before you met me, you hadn't exhibited certain prohibited behaviors."
Sanji coughed into one hand, glancing about before nodding. He wore a difficult expression. "Of course not."
"So, with that context in mind…you feel free to exhibit certain behaviors in front of your friends that you couldn't before with…your family. As a prince. You are not a prince."
"I am…not a prince. Technically, I am now dead. A free man."
Law glanced from him to the pair watching them from the crow's nest, then back to Sanji again. Sanji watched him, puzzled by Law's thinking, wondering where he was going with this observation.
But Law said nothing more on the matter. He gave another nod. "Tomorrow, I will return to the sea. But for now, I am tired."
"Wait. What…what's on your damn mind? Finish what you've started."
"You promised to show me the world. I want to see it."
"…I did," Sanji said slowly, using a hand to cover the smile of relief that instantly caused his lips to spread. From behind his hand, he said, "And this is the opportunity to do it."
Law didn't miss the change in the air, and the sight of relief on Sanji's face. Despite his actions and his words, the human truly didn't want Law to go. But it didn't make sense that the human couldn't just say that. Was it part of the rule that Sanji had set? What was wrong with words?
Admittedly, he couldn't bring himself to say anything, either.
So, this is probably just a male thing, he thought to himself. A universal understanding that males are incapable of expressing certain words or…okay.
Was that something Corazon had felt when he didn't tell Law the truth? He'd have to think about that later.
Law looked at Sanji cautiously. "But at any minute, I can choose to turn human and go home."
Sanji grabbed the back of Law's right arm. He lowered his other hand once he felt more composed. "You mean turn fish and go home."
"…Right. Yes, that."
"I'm sorry," Sanji then said. The weight of his apology felt too heavy for him to allow his head to remain up. So it lowered so he could focus on the surface at their feet; he struggled to say something that he wouldn't mess up; in the back of his mind, he still felt the presence of judgement that would retaliate against his true feelings. "I…I've been a shitty person."
"Of course you have," Law said, a little outraged. "Mr Blackleg."
Sanji squeezed his biceps while trying to quell a growing smile of amusement, then looked at the man's arm with irritation. He slapped that rigid muscle with exasperation. "You're absurdly hard."
"You keep touching me, so it must appeal to you."
"Shhh," Sanji hissed at him, covering his mouth and darting a glance upward towards the crow's nest, but Zoro and Ussop were back to hand flinging conversation and laughter. "Saying those things is part of the prohibited rule."
"I am tired of not knowing these human rules, and being scolded for something that, apparently, is a rule." Law looked up at the pair above their heads, then gestured at them towards Sanji. "They're two men, aren't they? Looking at them from this position, aren't they doing something that could be considered prohibited?"
"Men can laugh and joke freely because they're friends! This thing between us, it's…! It's different. It's - !"
"It's what? Wrong? Same sex relationships are not a threat in my world, so why is it a big threat up here? It makes more sense that two men of….of considerable strength and power would be twice to fear in terms of power."
Sanji stared at him for several moments, blinking repeatedly. Law gestured at him. "You feel threatened by their words and laughter, reverting back to some rather…unattractive behaviors, so do you fear their judgement?"
"I don't!" Sanji said with outrage. "Threatened by moss and nose? NO! Absolutely not, it's just – their teasing just tends to drive me insane, it's - !"
"Friends tease each other, right? It's part of the comfort in closeness – those two tease me all the time, and I might threaten them with various promises, but it doesn't mean I'm actually going to crawl into Shachi's insides to hide the fact I'm eating Penguin with my fingers. I'm not actually going to do that. And they can trust that I won't – because - !"
"Okay, okay, I get it. I just…"
"If they can accept that you're some…dictator former prince and allow your sheltered behavior amongst them, then what makes you think making googly eyes at me is going to make them think any different? Or are you still cowering from the invisible sky man?"
Sanji sighed noisily, jiggling one leg as he turned away with impatience. "I don't make that face at you, c'mon…"
"Like I don't feel you raking my flesh with your invasive staring, and you're always touching me under the guise of other things!"
"I'll gouge my damn eyes out, then! I can't help these things, I…!" Sanji cut himself off sharply, the back of his hand against his sputtering mouth as he searched the dark water around them for an answer. Then his hands went nervously to his clothes, checking buttons, forcing the lapels of his jacket flat, pulling at the waist hem; anything to keep them busy. Law frowned after him, unconsciously rubbing at the area where Sanji had been grasping his arm.
"Tell me the truth. Is it physically harming anybody around you whenever you do these things?"
"…No."
"I mean, it's already suspicious enough, isn't it? Hiding it is the same as feeling ashamed of my existence – making me feel like a mistake!"
"Why do you keep saying that?" Sanji then asked him, turning on a heel to face him. "This is some insecurity you're continuously sprouting, like someone convinced you of it before you met me."
"Don't try to change the subject. If I accept your promise to show me the world, then I demand to have acceptable answers to my questions."
"You 'demand', huh?"
Law then reached out to unbutton the top piece that caused Sanji's shirt collar to sit so stiffly on his skin, Sanji's expression changing immediately.
Just imagine, Sanji thought, unaware of how his face glowed with overflowing awe, doing this in a completely different setting…
He caught himself immediately. No, wait, DON'T think about that!
"You look like a turtle with its neck caught in a fishing line."
Sanji caught his hands before he could pull them back, looking at him with sincerity. Law looked at him, startled at the contact, face pulled with indecision. For a moment, Sanji looked up at him in sheer awe, enraptured by the man's features.
I might have been a prince, he thought, his own inner voice stuttering, but he's the king of…GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!
His hands tightened so hard that Law made a face.
"I don't regret meeting you, nor any of the things between us. I am happier knowing what can happen between us. I never felt that sort of freedom before, and I don't think you were ever a mistake – "
"Ugh, when you look at me like that, I have the urge to flee for somewhere safe. Your weird eyes turn all wet and soft and it does something to my chest that makes me think I should save myself."
Sanji threw his hands away from him with a roar, Law turning away with a hand to his own chest to somehow calm the hard throbbing of his heart, certain it was some odd adrenaline rush.
"Sometimes, talking to you is similar to talking to those idiots over there, and it drives me crazy – are you capable of even - ? I can't even - ! You're the one with the weird eyes, I can't believe this - ! Trying to talk to you seriously, let loose of my innermost thoughts, and you say stupid shit – I can't take you seriously, the only thing I regret is your dumb mouth!"
"Anyway," Law mumbled, rubbing at his chest, "all this loss of oxygen and lip flapping has made my throat dry and it's starting to bother me."
"I feel like tossing you overboard," Sanji muttered, fixing his collar, his face and neck red with embarrassment. He used his fingers to then rub over his eyes, to wipe away this 'wet and soft' appearance they had.
"Hey, Mr Monkey!" Zoro called down, drawing their attention upward, "need a hankie for them tears?"
"I got one right here!" Ussop cried, laughing as he caused material to flap in the cold breeze, revealing the item as a stained handkerchief.
"Shut up, assholes!"
Sanji stalked back into the ship, door slamming and cracking behind him. Law watched this with a slight shake of his head, unsure how one could go from ice-cold to burning lava within mere moments. He couldn't imagine this being ever being part of his underwater world – the ocean itself would probably fry-boil whenever Sanji threw a fit. The thought caused his lip to twitch with amusement.
"You okay, down there?" Ussop asked, folding his arms to lean against the bucket. "Mind frazzled, already?"
Law glanced at him then looked away, causing Ussop to snarl and stand, shaking a fist.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! Snob! Stuck up! You won't get a wife with that attitude!"
"Hey, mermaid guy," Zoro interrupted, Ussop huffing and adjusting his jacket once he was sure Law felt battered by his insults. "You staying with us?"
Law looked over the dark waters once more, hoping for some sort of sign from Shachi or Penguin. He felt lonely, worried for their wellbeings; but without a way to send them a message, he held hope that they'd find him. Shachi was good at smelling things from a distance; maybe he'd register the sunken iron ship and track Law on this path.
Then he found himself thinking about Corzon's missing tail, hearing his own young voice cry out with horror.
'Where's his tail?'
The jagged pieces of the mermaid was a blur in his memory; with his experience with humans, surely it took more than just a human to kill a merfolk. He looked at the section of railing he'd accidentally broke with his hands. He furrowed his brow, wondering just what type of predator Doflamingo was. He couldn't shake the feeling of what he'd felt facing off with the man.
Kidd was strong, but how much stronger?
"He ignored you, too!" Ussop gasped, hands on his hips as he looked to Zoro. Zoro shrugged. "Rude! Maybe you can teach him some manners."
"I don't care about that. I think it's pretty obvious he's not going anywhere. But…" Zoro squinted out into the sprawling darkness of the sea, the waves considerably gentle for the area. The crescent moon provided just enough light for him to see that their lights were the only blight in the silent sprawl of water and stars. "I don't like how he keeps looking down, like he's…waiting for something. Something or somebody. Those explosives might come into handy if he's worried about it."
"How do explosives work?"
Ussop choked, head snapping around. "What kind of hearing do you have?"
Zoro lifted his eyebrows, finishing off the last of his bottle. He tucked that away into his pack, looking down at Law as he waited for an answer. "How do those ears work?"
"You could hear us all this time? Sanji was doing his best to keep his conversation with you low," Ussop said skeptically.
"I can hear things underwater that are happening miles away," Law said impatiently. "It's not that different here."
Ussop crouched out of his sight, looking at Zoro. He whispered from behind one cupped hand, "Bet he can't hear me when I do this!"
"You're the one that worked with the explosives," Law said, crossing his arms. "So, you tell me."
"HE HEARD ME!"
"Those are some unusual talents," Zoro said, looking down at Law as Ussop squirmed with discomfort, still hiding.
"We can remote detonate if possible," Ussop said, finally peering up and over to look down at the man that stared up at them. He crouched again. "Are you sure he's not some sort of fish prince? I'm intimidated!"
Zoro kicked him impatiently. "Why? We gonna need them?" he asked Law. "For what?"
"I don't think Doflamingo is dead. But…you should at least have a plan. Out here, we are not safe. Like the krakan, he could be some monstrous animal capable of swallowing ships whole. I will live – I don't know about all of you."
Ussop shook violently, hands pressed to his mouth as he looked with renewed fear at the dark sea around them. Zoro wore a vague expression of concern. He then gave a nonchalant wave. "We will count on luck, then."
"LUCK WILL NOT SAVE US FROM A KRAKEN!" Ussop shrilled, then lowered his voice hastily.
"What sort of monster?" Robin asked suddenly, startling all three of them. She smiled at Law's shocked expression as she revealed herself from the shadows of the upper deck's balcony. "Oh? I'm sorry, I thought you all knew I was standing here."
"ROBIN! You're a ghost!" Ussop accused.
Her face remained bright. "How many mythical monsters are down there, sir? Things that can swallow us whole, or things that require a few chomps?"
"ROBIN!"
"When you say it like that, it makes me a little nervous," Zoro admitted, looking discomfited.
"I've seen many, but I'm not sure what he could be," Law admitted. The unwanted image hit him again. "Definitely something with…big teeth that could tear apart a merfolk."
"The sea will be tinted red with our blood," Robin murmured, eyes widening with delight and sending Ussop into convulsions.
"How are we to know for sure?" Zoro asked with a grim frown.
Law shrugged. Combing a hand through his hair, he then left the conversation by walking through the doorway Sanji had barged through earlier. Ussop squealed, widely awake with fear as he scanned the dark waters around them, Zoro frowning. Robin's gloved hands went to her mouth, but he was sure she was just hiding her excitement.
: :
Sanji stared at the book on his nightstand, nervously clutching his knees with both hands. Like the others on the ship that weren't on deck, he was dressed and ready for bed. So the flowing white flannel nightgown that he wore skimmed his calves, the collar loose around his neck. To preserve the state of his hair, he'd clipped on the nightcap as well. He thought about the conversation on deck, knee jiggling nervously. He had yet to open the book since his arrival on the Tangerine Dream. His own copy was worn and dog-earred, certain passages marked or folded. This one…well…
I don't regret anything, he thought morosely. Because what fills me with joy and freedom is…it's a form of love, and there's nothing wrong with that. Admittedly, some of the perverse things I've taken part of would cause anyone to faint, but…those are things I feel strongly about. They make me…happy…
'It makes more sense that two men of…considerable strength and power would be twice to fear in terms of power.'
Sanji himself was a man that most respected and feared because he beat his opinion into them, or caused men to be weak-kneed due to his preaching commands. Or…perhaps it was his family name, but he was considered a powerful man. Law could break through metal walls with his body, collapse a railing with his hands – throw a freaking boat! If they were a pair, they'd be a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps…a fighting force against a God.
He shook his head fiercely. No. He shouldn't go that far.
He plucked at his collar with unease, looking over at the closet. While he felt relief that Law made up his own mind on the matter, it was frustrating for Sanji for not being able to express himself properly. He'd done fine when he thought he'd die out there; the words spilled out of his mouth, his control over his ethics and morals slipped, and…he'd had a wonderful time.
So what if Law wasn't a woman? Wasn't Sanji's feelings for the man similar in function? He felt in love with a man; thought of him as exquisite, could wax poetry just at the sight of the fishman's side profile alone. And those other things…well, wouldn't men in love with a woman feel similarly? How was this wrong?
Stop it, he told himself sternly. You feel what you feel, and right now, you feel gratitude that you have more time with him. That stupid beautiful fish with shit for brains.
He flopped backward against his bed, looking up at the ceiling. Various imagery of Law in clothes and out of them flashed over his vision. The sight of his defined, very hard muscles under Sanji's palm. The sunken indentures of the 'v' that dropped down to a bushy – Sanji slapped his hands over his face to force the vivid imagery away. He wore an annoyed expression as he exhaled to get a hold of himself.
"You're a silly, randy kid all over again," he muttered bitterly. "As a man, you should be more in control of yourself. Think of practical things – surely, in the events that conspired today, this should encourage more engaging thoughts that aren't all…desire and- and hunger. After all, how often does one see a human being being punched through walls?"
He reviewed the memory, but all he could see was how Law's muscles rippled underneath his wet shirt.
I should gouge out my eyes, he then thought, rolling over onto his side. "Because I can't stop looking at him."
"Looking at whom?" Law demanded, slamming the door open and causing Sanji to jump, crawling over to the other side of the bed to put space between them. Once he realized he wasn't in any danger, he flung a pillow at the man as he closed the door behind him. The pillow bounced off Law's face, but his expression changed from demanding to puzzled. "Did you borrow that dress from Miss Nami? What is on your head?"
"It's not a dress," Sanji hissed at him, embarrassed for his reaction. "KNOCK before you enter one's room. I could've been doing something that was considered private."
"…Like wearing a dress?"
Fuming, Sanji sat on the bed, throwing back the blankets. "Perhaps both of us should retire to get some rest. After all, it was a very…busy day. A ship was sunk, a battle was won. These are the things that create tall tales. Surely you're as exhausted as the rest of us."
"I only sleep when I'm tired," Law said, narrowing his eyes. Sanji gave him a bewildered look, clearly not understanding. He rose from the bed with impatience, gesturing at the closet.
"Tomorrow is another day, and – "
"Are you…not wearing that constraining piece of cloth underneath that?"
"I…normally don't need to under a nightgown." Sanji took a deep breath, struggling not to become modest as he realized Law's eyes were focused on that area. He pulled at the flannel, then gestured again at the closet. "Please, get some sleep."
"We're conversing in private, yes?"
Sanji gave him a desperate look, knowing he would be weak to any protest. But because the setting was right, he felt there was no need to evade or avoid. His physical reaction to the possibilities made any other practical thinking disappear. "Just make sure to lock the door. And did you see anyone walking about in that hall?"
Law locked the door and then stalked towards him. "No."
"I've brushed my teeth, washed my face and hands, and -!" Sanji sputtered uselessly before Law picked him up and tossed him onto the bed. He bounced once and landed onto the floor, Law giving a sheepish cringe.
"Oops."
"For fuck's sake! Make this romantic, you stupid fish!"
"I don't know what that is," Law said, crawling over the bed and hauling him back up onto it with one hand. He then pushed Sanji onto his bed, sitting astride of him as Sanji snarled angrily at the treatment.
"I'm not a damned toy! Unhand me and do this properly," Sanji snapped at him as his collar was grabbed and yanked open. He decided to throw away his demands when Law's hand crept underneath the material and grabbed roughly at one pectoral. Sanji managed to shaky laugh, pushing his nightcap off of his head before reaching up with both hands and pulling Law's head to his. Sanji kissed him roughly as Law's fingers grabbed and clutched before moving to his nipple, fiddling with pleasing pressure.
Law hungrily kissed him, moving away from his mouth and inhaling deeply of Sanji's clean skin around his jaw, enjoying the scent of him as Sanji's fingers moved through his hair, clutching briefly at his ears. Law then shifted the collar open, pulling most of it aside so that he could press kisses at the exposed skin. He grew impatient with the material in his way, reaching down to tug at the hem of the frustrating piece of clothing, Sanji sputtering as he heard material rip.
"You are being so impatient, hold on, let me remove it myself," Sanji said before Law yanked the material up and over his head, Sanji's arms briefly caught within the sleeves. He managed to yank them out and cover himself with a dismayed sound as Law tossed it away. "You should calm yourself, sir, before you end things early."
"I'm excited," Law said heavily, eyes practically glowing as he examined the man's bared skin beneath him, "because you didn't let me go."
Oh, Sanji thought wistfully, changing attitude at the admission. Oh, that's lovely…I shouldn't have been so stubborn, he was aching to hear those words!
He ripped the other man's shirt open, vaguely hearing buttons fly. His breathing began to quicken as his hands moved over pectorals that seemed to ripple under his touch. Incredibly, at this point in time, he felt like he was going to faint just from the sight of the other man's beauty.
"There's those weird eyes again," Law muttered, Sanji being too distracted by watching his own fingers trace and pinch at his nipples.
"Every time I'm treated to the sight of your damn, godly body, which seems to have been crafted by an artist's hands, I lose my head. It's a shitty compliment! I don't go gooey-eyed towards other men, god damn it!"
"A compliment," Law repeated, standing briefly to unbutton and remove his pants. Sanji's hands moved from his chest to his waist and hips, following the path of the trousers Law had to shimmy out of. "These things are things I was never conscious of."
"I sometimes desire you to the point of incomprehension, and then you ruin it by opening your mouth," Sanji snapped at him, his face blooming with a blush as he was treated to the sight of the man's genitals.
I've never lost my head at the sight of a man's parts, before, he registered briefly, new to this shivery, almost molten hot desire that fired his own blood. I don't even recognize myself, anymore.
He reached out as Law struggled to kick one foot out from the material that pooled at his ankles. Sanji lightly curled his fingers around Law's penis as it swung with his movements. He was already familiar with the organ, but now that the fishman was human, it was an area that seemed like new territory to explore. It wasn't as intimidating, now. He was alarmed and amazed at how his mouth watered, suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to have a taste. He remembered walking in on the men enjoying this type of pleasure.
"Let me try something," he said, vaguely aware of how husky his voice had fallen, swallowing tightly. "I really want to try it."
"I…that look makes me nervous," Law admitted with uncertainty, finally kicking his trousers aside and shifting so that Sanji was on his knees in front of him. His stomach seemed to flip flop as Sanji looked up at him, his expression alone causing Law to remain standing, eager to find out what he wanted.
"I saw this happen, I've never experienced it for myself, but…do try and tell me what's good for you, okay?" Sanji instructed him, lowering his eyes to visually devour the sight of the hardening organ near his face. He leaned forward with a deep inhale, shaken by how much he enjoyed the scent. He'd never thought he'd experience this type of hungry feeling, before. He'd never imagined himself in a place where he was happily sniffing another man's private areas.
No wonder, he thought, experiencing a combination of seemingly uncontrollable desire as he rubbed one cheek against the wiry pubes before venturing close enough to the organ to trace with his lips. No wonder those men were enjoying themselves…!
Law's thoughts were in a jumble, but no word came to mine as he watched Sanji clearly enjoy rubbing his face against him. He was puzzled by the concept, having never seen this type of enjoyment amongst the merfolk he'd seen. He vaguely remembered Sanji saying something like this, but the words in his head weren't exactly putting themselves together to create a clear thought. The moment Sanji opened his mouth to taste his penis, Law made to retreat because he thought he'd be devoured. But the soft, wet sensation over his cock made his mind jolt in other directions. He hissed because the sensation was intense; Sanji didn't remove his mouth but his eyes rolled up to judge his reaction and Law's most basic thoughts were scattered somewhere in the sea. He was struck entirely dumb just by that brief eye contact, Sanji's lip curling over his sensitive flesh and his tongue rubbing briefly over the tip. He pulled his head back, smacking his lips and exploring the new taste by rolling his tongue from side to side.
He wiped his lips. "That's certainly a very different taste and sensation, isn't it? Is it okay for me to continue?"
Law uttered something that could have been a positive because Sanji leaned forward again. He opened his mouth wide to accompany the the width and length, Law squeezing his eyes shut as the sensations burned his blood. His body wanted to do something, to move, but all his muscles tensed and strained as Sanji's tongue rubbed and licked as he drew his head back. Without releasing, he surged forward, then gagged, releasing and drawing his head back with an awkward laugh.
"I suppose practice is in order for a better performance," he chuckled, wiping his mouth. "It makes my jaw feel a little sore."
Law made to sit because his legs were feeling a little unsteady, but Sanji steadied him with his hands on his hips, fingers clenching insistently. He closed his mouth around his dick once more, exploring the taste and texture with careful consideration to teeth on skin. He sucked as he pulled his head back, one hand curling around the base to hold steady. He found himself enjoying the act, incredulous to the feeling. Never had he imagined…!
While his technique wasn't perfect or practiced, seeing that he had this godly man weak in the knees and watching him with a riveted expression gave Sanji some confidence and power. The taste of Law's dick changed with his excessive saliva; faint hints of mint and ash from his cigarette habit. His mouth grew tired after a few minutes, and he pulled away reluctantly, a little disappointed with his lack of prowess in the act.
Law was grateful to move onto his knees, legs shaky. He pushed Sanji down onto his back, his own hands moving down towards the turgid length that seemed so happy just by Sanji pleasing him. He gave the man a couple of strokes that had Sanji murmuring with pleasure, arching up into his touch while he reached up to grab onto Law's shoulders. Law's hand left his cock, moving down to briefly handle his balls before smoothing down to his hole, which Sanji tightened with response.
"I want to go here," Law told him firmly.
"Good god, you're only human for the third night and already you're planning on conquering uncharted territory!" Sanji scoffed at him, tightening his thighs. "That's a concept that makes me nervous!"
"But you've come to like it when my finger does this," Law reminded him with just a fingertip, feeling the way Sanji tightened even further at the slight invasion.
"I do, but…! Your skin isn't producing the type of – of oil that - ! Wait," Sanji then said, shoving him away and reaching for the nightstand. He held up the oil that he'd used earlier on his hands. He poured a little onto Law's hand, watching the other man's face as he then proceeded to smear the substance over that one finger. He added more for assurance, capping the bottle and tossing it nearby. "That should suffice. Go. I'm ready. Kiss me while you do it."
"That," Law said, fully enjoying his commands as his face warmed with a smile, "is something I can do."
He could convince me to kill everyone on board if he said it wearing that look, Sanji thought in a daze, willingly pliant in the man's grasp as Law forced him back into their previous position. All thoughts were lost once he felt the familiar push up into his body, his throat tightening as he struggled to hold his breath. He remembered he didn't have to hold his breath – they weren't under water, they were both breathing oxygen. It would have to be a habit he'd have to rid himself of; just breathing.
His body enthusiastically took the penetration, both of them moving eagerly against each other in conditioned movement. With the oil remaining on his hand, Sanji stroked Law between them, their mouths occupied while they adjusted their movements without the comfort of water holding them. The frustration that came as the result of somewhat awkward actions only seemed to make their actions more determined. The blanket and pillows that had neatly occupied the bed were either tossed to the floor or kicked into a disheveled mess. Skin was marked with eager mouths, limbs grasped and pinned. Hair was grabbed and ruffled by clutching hands.
Before Sanji could even think, Law was inside of him, and his vocal reaction was muffled by his own hand as his body fell into a state of shock. The sensation of pain flared over the hot heat he had been experiencing, his torso lifting from the bed to try and escape. But what shocked him more as pained tears burnt at his eyelids was the sudden acknowledgement for more. More movement, more sensation, to need to complete this new act. It sent a shudder through him that evolved into arching his head back, biting his hand to keep from shouting. He felt Law touching him, their bodies sweaty and hot as the bigger man panted for breath, but Sanji was amazed at how much this invasive contact made his own body react. Instead of escaping pain, it seemed to cry with delight; acknowledging that he had a part of Law inside of his body, that he could feel the new movement deep inside of him, that he felt complete.
Though he still emitted pained noises, his hips pushed upward, as if trying to allow his legs to open further. To alleviate the discomfort, but also to embrace it; take more of it. He was actively embracing something he'd thought of dirty and perverse, but he couldn't get enough of it. Every part of him wanted it; actively trying to stay quiet, he used his legs to push Law out and away from him.
Without using words, his hands were shaking and yet hurried as he indicated that they turn to a new position. He grabbed what was left of the blankets, muffling his mouth as he rolled onto his stomach, using his other hand to indicate that Law should enter him from behind. Once he felt the hot, stabbing movement, Sanji ground out his shout into the blanket.
Law had to catch his breath; every part of his body felt so hot and explosive, but where they were connected felt even hotter than that. He was uncomfortable with the tightening sensation that felt like a hard pinch because he knew he was hurting the other man. But Sanji's hand, reaching back to hold him in place, was more than enough encouragement. Adjusting himself to press in and stopping movement only to steady himself, Law felt he now understood why those merfolk were so shameless in their actions, openly showing off their wanton behavior to whoever watched. Both connection with the other person, the overwhelming sensations caused by the act was enough to lose mind and reason over.
He braced himself over Sanji with one hand, the other gripping one hot, sweaty hip. He had to be mindful of his strength, hand shaking as he deliberately loosened his fingers that still left imprints on pale skin. He could hear Sanji muffling his pained noises into the blankets that he'd piled and held against his face, but the human was also pushing against him, encouraging movement.
I am connected, Law thought mindlessly, unsure of what he truly meant. I am connected.
"Move!" Sanji ground out, voice muffled. "Move!"
Law struggled to speak, his lower half so hot and sensitive that he felt movement would cause him to explode; he didn't want to end things that early. He released his hip and reached up to draw his fingers down Sanji's back, watching red marks appear as he drew his hand down over trembling back muscles. He was in awe of the human's appearance in this state; always in awe of Sanji's responses to him, how enthusiastic he was towards Law's efforts. Law marveled over the arched back that made muscles pop, over sweaty hair that clung to a reddened face. The sight of Sanji turning his head to look at him - eyes wet with barely contained tears, desperation and want absolutely clear in his expression - to see why he was still caused Law's heart to skip a few beats and his lungs to tighten.
He adjusted their position, pulling Sanji's hips up high and forcing one of the man's hands to his own straining length; just like how Law had seen male merfolk mate. Law then moved cautiously, hearing Sanji muffle his voice once more as his entire body shuddered, tightening around Law's dick with considerable strength. Sanji then released himself to brace against the bed, panting and whimpering.
Despite his earlier determination, Law felt himself start to release in Sanji, and he pulled out with both frustration and pleasure, watching as his cum splattered onto sweaty skin and rumpled bedding. His body felt so loose and useless, trembling with an orgasm that practically swept his mind of thought. He almost lost strength in his arms, catching himself before he could collapse against the other man. But he did clumsily brace against him, twitching dick nestled between oil-slicked skin, still hard and wet with release. He reached underneath Sanji, pulling and stroking at his length as carefully as he could. With his other hand, he administered healing touches to the hole Law had abused with their first time. The combination had Sanji's body tensing suddenly, and he gave a rather loud shout as his body was bombarded with combined sensations. Law stroked him until he felt his release, finally giving out atop of him once he heard Sanji's shuddering moan.
Both of them rested breathlessly against the stained sheets, still tangled up against each other. Law had the presence of mind to shift his weight from the other man, brushing Sanji's hair from his face and seeing that the human was passed out. There was no indication of awareness or defense in his features, and that spiked alarm in Law as he hastily twisted him onto his back, certain he'd somehow killed the man.
In panic, Law shook Sanji frantically to rouse him, lifting his head and chest up from the blankets and watching with rising fright as the man remained utterly still in his grasp. He made to jolt the man's heart back into working action, when Sanji's face twitched with an exhausted smile. One pale hand slapped against Law's face, an unintentional action as Sanji's fingers curled lightly against Law's cheek.
Sanji mumbled something about the door, still wearing a silly smile and relaxing entirely in Law's grasp as the fishman watched him with intense concern. Once a snore left him, Law let him drop with a snort. He ended up rolling onto his back to look at the ceiling, marveling over what just happened. He was disappointed in his performance, sure he didn't compare to those he'd watched mate, but this was his first time. He told himself that it was a pleasant scenario if his human partner lost all strength to talk him into an early death. It did occur to Law that this was also a pleasing way to tell Sanji that he talked too much; this would be a good way to quiet him.
He folded his arms behind his head and allowed another rare smile to curl his lips.
: :
By the time the morning sun lit up the room, Sanji was still sleeping heavily. Renewed with energy, Law rubbed his eyes as he sat up, feeling oddly rested. He'd fallen asleep on the messy bed, and though it was a pleasant experience, he felt exposed and vulnerable lying out in the open. It'd be preferable emerging from a narrow area; he looked over at his companion, wincing at the red marks and bruises that colored pale skin. His body felt renewed and lively after that coupling. He had energy for days, it seemed.
Recalling Sanji's insistence for their privacy, Law easily tended to the wounds that seemed more obvious. The human didn't even move or respond to the treatment, so Law left him there, tugging the blankets up and over him for some modesty. Morning routines for humans included a trip to the bathroom, so he followed the insistent protocol before emerging onto the deck to absorb the warmth of the sun.
The world looked different now that it was emerging daylight. The sea was dark and cold, the sails already fluttering overhead as the ship was now in movement towards some clandestine destination. Nami was drinking coffee while talking in a sharp tone towards Brook, who was cleaning out his pockets of stolen treasure. Tony was still sniffling as he clutched his doctor's bag, wearing oversized clothes. Something about that kid made Law's chest hurt in the same way he felt when viewing baby sea creatures he'd come across on the sea floor.
Franky was already repairing the rail Law had broken, Jimbei standing clumsily nearby with a toolbox. Luffy caught sight of Law and ambled over, barely awake. Law watched him cautiously, clutching his shirt that was missing several buttons, so he was standing in the frigid air with his tattooed skin rippling with discomfort.
"You're a manly man, Law," Luffy told him skeptically, eyes moving over Law's exposed upper form before looking down at his bare feet. "I couldn't walk around like that, it's too cold. Aren't you scared of shrinkage?"
Law narrowed his eyes. "Why would the cold cause me to shrink?"
"Never mind, stupid. Where's Sanji? Hopefully he's up cooking, because I could eat a whale at this point."
"Asleep. He demands privacy," Law thought to add as Luffy made to venture towards the open doorway.
Luffy scowled, crossing his arms tightly over his chest as he shivered. Nami cried out in dismay, dropping her coffee cup, splattering Brook with hot liquid. Brook shrieked, and Law saw Nami covering her eyes and hastily looking away from them.
Law observed this reaction with a confused frown. "So, the sight of a near naked man does cause feminine distress."
Luffy laughed. "I think it's just you, buddy. All these women are going to faint at your feet, so Ussop's mad at you for taking the attention away from him. But I told them women like looking at nice things – they don't like stupid guys, so you're safe."
Why would they do that? Law wondered with a frown, recalling Sanji saying the same thing with disgust. I don't ooze predator vibes. Wait, did this idiot just call me 'stupid' again?
"Sanji's still asleep, huh? Must be hella tired. I heard you guys arm wrestling all night. He's got real weak upper body strength. But I know that guy, he's pretty stubborn. Always trying to win."
Law didn't understand a word Luffy said. But he knew Sanji would scold him for saying anything about their relations, so he did keep his mouth tight. He didn't say anything, and Luffy just sighed in disappointment, walking over to demand the reason behind Tony's constant crying.