A/N: Idk HOW I forgot to say this last chapter, but thank you so much for 7000 hits. *is dead on the floor* I can't believe it. Also, I want to quickly mention- Koby is a little older in this fic. He's 23, where in canon he's 18. It'll make sense later. Well then, without further ado~
42. Dinner
Koby has a scar on his forehead.
Law can't stop staring at it, and he knows his open stare is conspicuous, but he can't help it. It's healed well, forming a small 'x' out of scarred tissues and old stitches, but it's there. Square and prominent on his forehead. He tries not to think about it much, but it's a constant reminder throughout their conversation.
He makes himself look away.
"We'll talk more over dinner," Garp says, ushering Luffy inside his dorm room. "I'll be back in an hour to pick you up."
It's then, with his hands on his grandson's shoulders, that the man finally sees Law. He blinks stupidly. "Who the hell is this fool?"
Law frowns, eye twitching.
"Grandpa," Luffy begins, placing a hand over his larger one. "This is my boyfriend, Law."
He whirls Luffy around, making a strange choked sound in his throat. "You're gay?"
"You're capable of having a boyfriend?" Koby seconds with wide eyes.
"Yes, to both," Luffy scowls, shrugging off the hands on him. His voice is sharpened with protectiveness, topped by a dangerous, threatening edge. "Is that a problem?"
Garp sighs. "Of course not, sonny. Last I saw you, you were a shy little thing in high school. Next thing I know you're in college with a boyfriend."
"And whose fault is it that it's been so long?" Luffy mutters. Another fist of love catches the spread of skin right above his temple, and Garp huffs as the younger goes down with a cry.
"Shut yer trap, boy," he grumbles, moving past him. "And you," he addresses Koby, whose moved to Luffy's side on the ground, "how the hell did you know he was gay before his own gramps? Haven't you two not seen each other since you were young?"
"Yeah, well," Koby begins sheepishly, "I actually didn't know, just picked up the vibes. I just remember Luffy being so carefree and immature as a toddler, I didn't think he had the ability to be in a mature relationship."
Luffy swats at him. "I'm very well capable!"
"Sure you are," the pink haired laughs, helping Luffy to his feet.
Suddenly faced with the grandpa by himself, Law feels a strange pang of nervousness. Garp looks him up and down. "Is that how it is with my boy? A mature relationship?"
Law squares his shoulders, swallows the lump in his throat. "Yes sir."
Garp grins at his politeness and shoves out a hand. "Perfect. Name's Garp. Yours?"
The tattooed man takes it tentatively. "Law, sir."
"Law," Garp repeats, and somehow it sounds cold. His smile slips off his face. "I'll be drilling you with questions tonight, so prepare for that."
"Tonight..?"
"Why of course," Garp says like it's elementary, "you're to attend the dinner as well."
Law felt struck dumb by the words. "I am?"
Garp eyes him warily. "What, can't make it?"
"No, no," Law remedies hastily, "I can- I will. Sir."
A grin stretches his lips once again. "Great. Koby, come. We're to return in exactly an hour."
"Sure thing!" He waves Luffy goodbye, giving him a big smile. His eyes turn to Law then, and he's frozen, unable to move or speak or think straight because it was that Koby looking at him. The same one that he almost…
Law's able to let out a breath when the man's eyes dim with unfamiliarity. He gives him an awkward half smile, turning for the door with an acknowledging nod. Garp follows soon after, giving his grandson a hearty two finger salute.
"You'd better be ready, Luffy!" he bellows, then leaves the room with a loud slam of the door. Likely done unknowingly, he was so strong. Law and Luffy stare at the place he once occupied for a long, long time.
"I'm so sorry about him," Luffy says to break the silence, coming over and wrapping his arms around Law. "He's-"
"Intense," Law breathes out, absentmindedly stroking Luffy's hair. "Good god. When's the last time I called someone 'sir'?"
Luffy chuckles, burying his head in the thick muscles of Law's chest. "But it seems like he likes you!"
"That's what it seemed like?" Law asks, incredulous. "I felt this strange intimidation."
"He does that when the first impressions go over well."
"Ah."
Luffy reaches up on his toes and catches Law's lips with his own. "Are you excited to be meeting them over dinner?" He murmurs against his lips.
Law hums confusedly, breaking off the kiss. "Them?"
"As in my grandpa and Koby! I'm pretty sure he's bringing him as well." Luffy sighs happily. "It's been so long since I've seen Koby, I wonder what he's been up to."
Dinner with Garp was something he could manage, but dinner with Koby was something Law would much rather avoid. As if sensing his shift in mood, Luffy curls his arms tighter around Law. "What's the matter?"
Law zips his lips. Nothing Luffy needed to know. "Nothing. Let's start getting ready before your grandpa rips us both a new one."
The worry on Luffy's face is replaced by a smile, and it's the brightest thing in the whole damn world. "Yeah!"
"Shoot him, shoot him!"
"Law, you've got to hurry, there's no more time!"
"You know Doffy's not gonna like this."
"I know, I know! Shut up you guys!" Law steadies the gun in his hands. It's the first time he's realizing just how heavy it is, just how cold. The metal nearly burns his hands as it points at the young boy. It's searing now, painfully hot, but he continues to hold it steady. The heat spreads down his hands to his arms, over his shoulders, and down into his heart.
He couldn't do it.
"Law, come on!"
"What are you doing, Law?!"
"Law, let's get this over with already!"
He grits his teeth.
He couldn't do it, but he had to.
"I'm so sorry," he murmurs, steadying the metal in his hands. He pulls the trigger and-
A speed bump jerks him out of his reverie, bumping his head on the top of the car. He grumbles a few curses as he rubs the top of his injured head. Luffy's hand finds his forearm. "You good?" he asks, unable to keep the smile out of his voice.
Law sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Dandy."
Luffy chuckles and returns to looking out of his window. "We're almost there, just a couple more minutes."
"What?" his grandpa calls out from the driver's seat. "Don't like my driving?"
"You're much too reckless, Mr. Garp," Koby chuckles, and the grandpa laughs boisterously.
"You young'uns are just too used to peace and calm. Back in my day-"
Law tunes him out as he spirals into some anecdote from decades past. From Baby 5's reappearance to Koby's, it seems like everyone from his past was slowly beginning to resurface back into his life. He had even met Ivankov again. He frowns to himself. He wasn't too sure he liked that. He hopes it's just a passing phase.
"We're here!" Garp announces, slamming on the breaks. Luffy and Law surge forward, saved only by their seat belts. Luffy lets out a laugh as Koby scrambles in the front seat.
"Mr. Garp, slowly!" he chides breathlessly, watching the man as he parked with relative gentleness.
The grandpa simply snickered as he undoes his belt, vehicle securely immobile. "Ah, we'll be fine. Now come along now, I want some food!"
Law exits the car, motioning for Luffy to stay still. The man obeys, confusion flickering across his face for a moment before astonishment takes over. Law rounds the car and opens his door, motioning him out with a small flourish.
"Cute," Koby murmurs as he passes, and Law has to do everything in his power to keep a cold shudder from sliding down his spine.
"Oho? Why thank you," Luffy says, blowing Law a chastise kiss.
Law makes to capture it, and places it over his heart. "You're welcome."
Garp eyes the scene with a knowing eye, approval just shining behind the rampant disgust at their PDA. Law could only chuckle as they walked towards the front door.
"Oh man," Luffy grimaces as he approaches. "Out of all places."
It was a burger place. Law raises a brow in question as the grandpa pushes through the front doors, Koby right on his heels. "What's up, Luffy?" he asks.
"Nothing, I just." Pain flashes across his face, and then it's gone, a buried thing. "This restaurant comes with lots of baggage for me."
Law looks up at the bright sign above the doors. "Spice Bean? Never heard of it."
"Yeah," Luffy mutters, "I wish I hadn't either."
Sensing he didn't wish to talk about the subject any further, Law quiets. Garp leads them into the restaurant and speaks in hushed tones to the waitress at the counter, who then leads them to their booth with some menus. Law sits next to Luffy on one side, and Koby and Garp sit on the other. He faces Garp though, which he guesses couldn't be helped, but it still doesn't make him any less uncomfortable.
"What can I get you guys started on?" the lovely waitress asks, pulling out a small clipboard.
"Water," Law and Koby say at the same time. They look at each other, the pink haired giving an awkward smile as Law gives a tight lipped one, before looking back to the woman. She nods and jots it down, then looks at Luffy and Garp expectantly.
"What do you want, son?" Garp asks, snickering. "A smoothie, like the kid you are?"
The words seem to put Luffy on edge, as if the choice of words were a bad call. Law takes his hand under the table and squeezes it. He relaxes, flashing Law a dazzling grin. "No!" he scoffs without missing a beat. "I want soda! A coca-cola, please."
"Sure thing," she says, "and you, sir?"
"Same please," he gruffs.
She finishes writing down the drinks and smiles. "Understood! I'll be right back."
"Why am I not surprised you reserved at a burger place, Mr. Garp?" Koby sighs as she walks away. "I didn't even know you could do that."
"Excuse you," the older man huffs, flipping through the menu, "this is pretty fancy for a burger place, of course you can."
"That's true," Law admits, looking around. He glances at the menu and sees a fish plate that catches his eye. "I think it's pretty neat. How about you, Luffy?"
"Eh," he shrugs, swallowing. "I think the Baratie is better. We ate there on a date, after all."
"So sweet," Koby croons as Garp gags. "I think they're adorable, Mr. Garp."
"And I think I'll be sick," Garp says, sticking out his tongue and pointing to the back of his throat. "You keep that cutesy shit to a minimum, you hear me?"
"Fine," Luffy mutters, pouting.
Law thinks he knows where Luffy got his childish, playful nature from.
"Here are your drinks!" the waitress chirps as she returns with a platter of ice cold glasses. She places them in front of their corresponding requestor and straightens with a smile. "Have you all decided what you wanted to eat yet?"
"Yes," Garp answers for them. "I think I'll have five burgers, a couple large fries, the twenty five piece nuggets, and the side of rings."
"I'll have what he's having!" Luffy seconds, and Garp sends him a glare.
"You think I'm made of money, boy?!"
"But you're getting the exact same thing!"
As the two family members bicker, the pink haired chuckles softly. "Sorry about them," he waves at the waitress.
"No worries, I've seen worse," she laughs. "Now, for you?"
"Just a salad with extra bacon bits is fine. Oh, and an ice cream please."
She writes down the order, then turns to Law. "And you?"
"The fish fillet meal," Law answers, folding up the menus and handing them to her.
"Thank you, I'll get that out to you as soon as you can." She gathers them up into her arms and gives them a small bow, then scurries off into the kitchen.
Garp sighs and returns to the table. "So. How did you two meet?"
Luffy and Law exchange knowing looks. Their meeting was pretty...unconventional. Law found himself flushing slightly as he remembered the first time he saw him at the Going Merry, his sensual dancing on stage to the lap dance he received after. It was all so long ago, but the mention of it makes it seem as though it was yesterday.
"Why are you so red, boy?" Garp asks, eyes narrowed. "I don't like the look on your face."
"We met in a strip club," Luffy deadpans honestly.
Law nearly chokes on his water. "Luffy-"
"You what?" Garp slams his hands on the table, jaw dropping. "How in the world-"
Luffy makes a face and crosses his arms, raising his brows at his grandfather. "I'm a stripper." The tenseness relaxes from his shoulders. "Or used to be one, I guess. But yeah. I dance."
Garp stared at him like he grew a second head, cheeks darkening to a puce. Koby was trying and failing to hide laughter from behind a hand over his mouth, turned away from the whole situation. Law rested his head in his hands, certain that death by embarrassment would come and take him right then. Luffy exhales roughly at his side, staring at Garp expectantly.
"Since when?" the older man cracks.
Luffy snorts. "Over two years now."
"Two years." Garp shakes his head and rubs his temples. "Luffy..."
"I don't care what you say, Grandpa," the younger snarls, defensive. "I'll do whatever the hell I wanna do. If that means shaking my ass for people to toss money on, then so be it!"
"Oh my god, Luffy," Law mumbles into his palms, cheeks turning redder.
"I think it's cool," Koby interjects with a smile. "I don't have an ounce of dancing in me."
Luffy turns to him with a relieved chuckle. "Everyone has it in them somewhere. Just need the right teacher to bring it out." He slaps a hand on Law's back, who jumps and turns to glare at him. "I'll drag it out of this one someday."
"The hell you will," he bites without any force behind the words, and Luffy just laughs then, previous tension gone.
Garp sighs heavily. "Of course sonny, it's not my place to tell you what to do with your life. Hearing you suddenly becoming a stripper would surprise just about anyone. I worry, you know? I haven't seen you or Ace in ages." His demeanor changes, and he suddenly becomes crestfallen. "Speaking of which..."
Law feels Luffy still beside him, a somber air suffocating the man. Law reaches out to his hand under the table and gives a supportive squeeze, and Luffy squeezes back weakly.
"That's the reason why I came to visit," Garp admits, eyes cast downward. "I heard Ace passed away a few weeks back."
"He did," Luffy croaks. "He was...he had been-"
"The hospital told me the specifics. It's truly a shame I wasn't here earlier for him. Or you, either." Garp's expression twists into one of pinched pain, leaving the once harsh, imposing aura behind in place of a sad and weak elderly man. "I was so consumed with work I wasn't there for you when I should've been. I'm so sorry, Luffy."
Luffy inhales shakily, closes his eyes. He nods vigorously and whispers, "It's okay." Law can't even imagine the emotions going through Luffy right now, hearing those words. He's been fighting a battle by himself for a long time, and with his only family uncontactable, he's had to shoulder everything concerning Ace by himself.
It must've felt like a godsend to hear an apology.
"I know it must've been hard," Garp continues softly. "Hearing it was almost unbelievable. Poor Dadan, she couldn't stand the news once I told her. But you...you're a strong young man. Pushing through."
Luffy nods, the bounce of his head so little it was almost unnoticeable. "Thanks, Gramps. Law helped a lot."
"You did, son?" he asks the tattooed man.
"I tried as best as I could," Law confirms softly.
Garp looks between the two of them with a renewed sense of hope. "Well, for caring for Luffy when I couldn't be there for him, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. That's a type of sadness that could kill ya, and you saved my boy."
The words pierce Law's heart harder than he ever could've imagined. "I'd do it hundreds of times over, sir."
"You can drop the sir, Law," Garp shakes his head. "You can treat me as family."
Law widens his eyes and swallows thickly. "Okay...Mr. Garp?"
"Grandpa or Gramps is fine."
The surgeon fidgets, the name almost too familiar. "Could I call you Garp?"
The older man sighs. "If you insist."
"Here're your orders!" The woman bustles back with a wide smile and several plates of food. Koby perks up immediately. "Oh yay!"
Law offers a small smile, and Luffy seems to have brightened as well at the prospect of his burgers. Their orders are soon distributed with a flourish and a friendly smile. She bows slightly as Luffy's plate is set last. "Don't hesitate to holler at me if you need anything, alright?"
"Thank you so much," Garp says.
She turns and gives them a wave. "My pleasure!"
Once she's out of earshot, Luffy lets go of the breath he was holding and watches Garp as he eats carefully. "So. What were you doing then, Gramps?"
"A deep internal investigation of the police force," he says around bites, swallowing with just as much gusto as Luffy did when he ate. Yup, they were related all right. "I was tasked to sniff out some rats. Koby here was one of my men."
"You're a police officer?" Law asks, jaw slightly agape.
"Yes," Garp chuckles. "Why, did you break some law? ...Get it?"
Law realizes that even though he was a grandpa, it didn't save him from the dad jokes. "Yes, I do. Quite a lot, actually."
He laughs then, big and boisterous. "You're a real funny guy, son."
Luffy turns and smiles at him then, all gums and teeth, and Law's heart skips a beat. He squeezes their fingers under the table once more before turning to their respective dinners.
"Anyway," Garp continues, coughing lightly, "there's been an issue in the force as of late. Trust and all that. Turns out the Chief and his aide have been taking part in some illicit activities with some bad men. They got taken care of, but it threw the entire department into complete disarray."
Law thinks back. "Akainu and the other one, right?"
"Vergo," Koby reminds gently. "They both were the top of the top, so to hear them of all people compromising the entire force...it messed with everyone's heads. Especially mine. I couldn't stand the environment any longer, so I quit. It was just too stifling to stay after all that went down."
That gets Luffy's attention. "You're not an officer anymore? So what are you doing now?"
"I'm a PI," he grins, and Luffy makes a confused sound as he swallows a handful of fries.
"A what now?"
"A private investigator," Koby clarifies, licking ice cream from his lips. "I get to help true justice prevail and can still use the skills from when I was in the force, so it's a win win."
"This one is bright," Garp slaps him on the back heartily, and Koby nearly drops his cone. "He'll make every bit an excellent investigator as he did an officer."
"That's so cool," Luffy breathes, slurping on his drink. "You're really going places, Koby!"
The pink haired turns bashful. "That means so much coming from you, Luffy."
Law frowns and clears his throat to clear the air. Garp faces him then, chewing dutifully on a burger. "Ah, haven't asked you much, have we?"
The man must've mistaken his interruption for wanting attention. "No, that's-"
"Alright then, I've been curious about you anyway. What do you do for a living?" he questions, eyeing his tattoos as he works on his third burger.
"I'm a surgeon, working at Flevance Medical."
It's always a little rewarding seeing people's reactions when he tells them his occupation. Usually some combination of disbelief, admiration, and confusion. Koby and Garp fit the stereotype to a blissful tee, jaw dropping stares doing nothing but fueling his ego. Law chews on his fish nervously, wondering what they'll say.
"Well I'll be damned," Garp mutters. "A surgeon!"
"A surgeon with 'death' on his fingers?" Koby asks.
Law rolls his eyes. "I'm aware of the irony."
Luffy simply nods from beside him, eyes twinkling, pride radiating off him in waves. "That's my boyfriend!" he proclaims happily, sighing as his head comes to rest on his shoulder.
"Hey!" Garp points an accusatory finger. "I said to cut that shit out!"
The pink haired pauses eating. "That's really cool and all, but I have a question."
Law turns to him, a little wary. "Shoot."
"You're a surgeon, so your arms are important, right? This might be a little callous of me to ask, but how did your arm break?" Koby juts his chin over to his cast, and Law looks down as if remembering he was currently down an arm.
"Ah." Law looks at Luffy, who shoots him a concerned look. He mirrors the expression, then sighs. Lying it was. "I tripped and fell."
"And broke your arm?" the pink haired sputters incredulously. "Seems a little extreme."
"It was concrete, and I was being dumb," Law waves off. "I should get it off here soon, anyway."
"I hope it heals up quickly, Law," Garp bids, and coming from him, it means a lot. "Need those life-saving hands back in a hospital."
Their relationship has changed so much in the course of the last hour that Law almost had trouble keeping up. Garp was so open to meeting new people and inviting them into his life that Law almost wanted to slow down. Surely, if Luffy wasn't going through what he was when he met him, he probably would've been the same way.
"Thanks," he responds, touching the cast gingerly, "I want to get back to work asap as well."
Garp finishes the last of his burgers with a hefty breath, then leans back in his seat, popping fries into his mouth one by one. "So tell me about yourself. I know how you met my boy, but how'd you get to that point? I want to learn about your character."
Here Law was, faced with his past again.
With Koby of all people to bear witness to it.
Law exhales slowly and polishes off his fish. "Well, I guess I can start from when I was a young boy. I was adopted by this man by the name of Corazon..."
He dives into the specifics of his childhood, leaving out the bit that happens before Cora, and instead delving into his teenage years, growing up with Cora. How he's been friends with Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi since the beginning, how he's always been interested in the human body. Law recounts stories that even Luffy hasn't heard, old tales of his teenage years that had the table either sitting at rapt attention or clutching their sides for air they were laughing so hard. The waitress comes back once to refill their drinks during the retelling of his life, chuckling to herself when he describes the time when he cried getting his first tattoo. Law continues on up his years, from the awkward times in highschool to the rough times in college, to the nervousness he felt in residency, then finally to working at Flevance as a surgeon and later meeting Luffy.
He keeps the whole situation with the Going Merry and Doflamingo secret. No reason to tell more ears now that the ordeal was over, especially considering the Revolutionary Army had been involved.
Garp thinks on his chin for a few moments as he lets the information sink in. "So you've lost a loved one, too. Around the same time as Luffy, huh?"
"Yes," Law says, feeling his heart twist painfully in his chest. "I did."
The older man tuts sadly. "I'm sorry for your loss. That's really terrible, him passing around the same time as Ace. You're a strong man, after everything you've been through."
Garp leans forward. "And you sound like an interesting young fellow. I'm glad I got to learn more about you."
"Yeah," Law says, not sure how to respond. He itches for a new conversation topic.
"Let's talk about something happier, yeah?" Koby suggests, and for once, Law is glad he is there. His gaze moves to Luffy, and he gives the young man a sly grin. "How've you been holding up all this time?"
"Great!" Luffy brightens with a grin. "I've been in college and working at this coffee place, so I'm pretty busy, but otherwise alright!"
Koby laughs and places his chin on his palm. "Nice! Do you still wear that straw hat?"
"Yeah!" Luffy makes a show of reaching behind him, but comes up empty. "I think I left it in my dorm, but I do! And are you still scared of old ladies?"
"Old ladies? Luffy, what-"
"That woman on the boat! What was her name, Alve-something?"
"Her name was Alvida, and no I'm not scared of her!" Koby flushes slightly. "Anymore, at least."
Luffy bursts into loud laughter at the poor man's expense. "Aw man, I remember you being such a wimp back then!"
"Luffy, not funny! At least I wasn't caught in a barrel!"
Law raises his brows. "You were what?"
Luffy scowls and glares without menace at the pink haired. "I was just trying to hide!"
"Did a bang up job of that," Koby grins.
The two descend into talks of their childhood memories, and Law soon found himself unable to keep up. Seeing Luffy talk so animatedly with Koby made up for his initial discomfort about attending the dinner in the first place. He instead turns to Garp, who watches his grandson with amused eyes.
"Garp?"
The man turns to him, making a questioning noise in the back of his throat. "Yes?"
Law watches Luffy's side profile. "What in the world is he talking about? He was on a boat?"
"Yeah, the fool," Garp sighs, shaking his head. "Happened when the boy was only three. Dadan didn't tell me details, but he tried to 'explore the seas' when he was little. Some dream about becoming a pirate? I dunno what goes on in that skull of his."
He leans back in his seat, letting the memories wash over him. "He snuck on a ship and actually left the island for a period of time. I remember Dadan calling me, screaming, but what could I have done? Anyway, he ended up coming back, as the boat only went out for supplies. And he brought back a friend." He nods over to Koby, who was beet red, trying to explain himself out of some situation.
Law tries to connect the dots in his head from his own memories. How did Koby end up on a boat?
"Where did...the boat go to? For supplies?" Law asks slowly. Something told him he already knew the answer.
Garp hums for a moment in thought. "If I remember right, it was Rocky Port."
Law facepalms, groaning into his hand. Of course.
Koby freezes in his conversation with Luffy, turning to the other two with wide eyes. "What..?" he croaks. He looks between Law and Garp, gaze lingering on Law, and something in them changes, vestiges of familiarity dawning in them.
He's been here too long.
Law wants to leave.
"Are you all finished?" the waitress asks as she comes around again.
"Yes," Law answers quickly, "we are."
"Perfect! I'll grab your checks and get you on your way!"
As she bounces away, Garp turns to him. "I hope you know I'm paying for tonight. My treat."
"Woo-hoo! Thanks for the free food, Gramps!" Luffy cheers, and the man scowls at him.
"Not for you, stupid grandson." he grits, "Everyone else."
Luffy's cheers die on his tongue, replaced by child-like whines, and Law leaves them to argue by themselves. He sighs and makes himself comfortable into the seat, reveling in the different facets of Luffy he got to see today while ignoring Koby's conspicuous stare on him.
So that's how Koby escaped.
Fuck.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah," Garp answers, hand lingering on the door handle. "Headed back to our headquarters to take care of some things there."
The man had driven them back to Luffy's dorm. Night had fallen already, a dark pall over the skies. They stood just inside the doors to the entrance of the building in the brightly lit lobby. Garp had bid them goodbye when Luffy spoke up. Law watched the interaction steadily.
"How..." Luffy purses his lips, tries to not let his emotion show on his face. Law intertwines their fingers, a silent support throughout the conversation. "How long will it be this time?"
The grandpa softens at the question. "I honestly couldn't tell you, son. Things are hectic on my end. Dealing with the lack of a Chief of Police and his aide is no small matter. And we still have to deal with crooks and criminals in the meantime."
"Right," Luffy murmurs, shoulders hunched.
Garp releases his hold on the door and comes over to Luffy, scooping him into a giant bear hug. Law moves away from them, lets them have their moment. The younger makes a strangled noise in his throat as he's hefted into the air, large, beefy arms clenched around his sides rather gently.
"Gramps..."
"I'll keep in touch better," he mutters against his ear. "I promise I will."
Luffy is set down on the floor as Garp gives him a grin. "Well then, I'm off! Law!"
He straightens a bit at the rough tone in his voice. "Yes?"
The grandpa gives him a warm smile, one Law would've thought he hallucinated mere hours ago. "Take care of Luffy for me in my stead. Make sure he doesn't get hurt now."
"Of course."
With another two fingered salute, the man pushes through the doors to the lobby, and exits into the chilly night. Koby stares after him for a moment, then turns to Luffy, extending a hand. "See you around?"
"Definitely," Luffy grins, taking it with enthusiasm. "It was nice seeing you again."
"You too," he smiles. He faces Law, a mask of indifference. "And Law?"
"Yeah?"
"Come here a sec."
Cold dread seeps into his lungs as he nods. "Okay."
Luffy watches them move away from him in confusion. The pink haired throws a reassuring thumbs up in his direction. "This won't take too long!"
They move down a nearby hall and into the first empty room Koby can find. Law tries not to let his mounting panic show on his countenance, but it does, and he can't seem to get it off. Memories start to flood behind his eyes, and he blinks them away rapidly.
"Trafalgar Law, huh?" Koby begins, breaking the silence as he closes the door to the room.
He feigns innocence. "How do you know my full name?"
The pink haired only stares at him, and Law could see the clogs of thought struggling to turn behind those dark eyes. "Just a name I heard from my superiors' mouths, that's all. Involved in the incident at Rocky Port."
Law is silent.
Koby continues studying him. "But I wonder...why does the name ring a bell in my mind for personal reasons? I can't quite place it, but I know it's bad." He points to his scar. "It throbs any time I see you."
Law remains quiet, a testament to his guilt, and Koby sighs. "I hope my gut feeling is wrong and you're actually a good person, Law. I don't want Luffy to get hurt."
He's the third person to warn him of Luffy getting hurt. It makes him uneasy.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Law finally responds.
Suddenly, Sabo's words from weeks earlier ring in his mind.
"I just hope that it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass one day."
That day wouldn't come, would it?
No, Law would make sure it didn't.
Koby gives his shoulder a squeeze. "Good. I hope so."
He leaves Law alone in the room, a jumbled mess of foreboding thoughts. He guesses Koby doesn't recall much about that fateful night sixteen years back. If he did, he surely wouldn't be just talking to Law.
He'd be trying to kill him.
Regret slammed into him like a ton of bricks, and he groans under the pressure. Hopefully, Law doesn't have to see him again. With Garp finally leaving and Koby going with him, maybe he won't see him again, and won't have to come to terms with the sins of his past. It's easier that way.
Unfortunately, easier isn't always better.
Life made sure of that, and it would soon be guaranteeing Law remembered that fact.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Until the next!
P.S. Law and his past has been teased for ages now. Things will get revealed soon, I promise~
