Lint Chapter 1: Seawater / Sweater

Marco had refused to wear the sweater. Law didn't blame him. Two sizes too large, it had covered Whitebeard's tattoo. So, he was wrapped in a cardigan Jean Bart had knit for Bepo. Shivering, though he shouldn't be, while the Polar Tang tussled the currents and swells of the seas with a nickering of metal. The last three buttons of the cardigan were fastened.

Blood speckled Law's face and clothes, any skin that was exposed. The ocean had washed it from Marco, and the Hearts had cut out the seastone that had shot the phoenix down over the waves. Law ordered him—eyes weary but the left pulsing with traces of adrenaline—to leave it a while before he used his flames to heal himself.

"Rest."

"And you?"

Marco sat on the edge of the infirmary bed, feet flat on the floor, sandals drying out by the door. He wriggled his bare toes, bare feet, and pulled the cardigan closer and warmed up a little.

Law nodded. His cape, the captain's coat, was caked in mud and blood and brain and guts, and was singed and tattered at the edges thanks to both Big Mom and Kaidou. Law's powers fixed his body, but didn't mend or clean his clothes.

The Yonkou were still flying above, maybe trying to pinpoint the two devil fruit users. Or hopefully Big Mom and Kaidou thought they'd met their ends. Could Kaidou swim underwater, given the hybrids of his own fruit?

Things were grim. The three captains had separated, not by choice. The first mates too. Law had received a quick message from Shachi, Bepo and Penguin that the Polar Tang had been in touch. The water was kinda calm below.

Kaidou's intentions had been broadcast all over the battleground. Should the Hearts make their way to the capital, his crew asked, warn the folks there, see what could be done? And he was told there was someone on board he'd want to see. Someone who may need his help. Law's shoulders had sagged in relief.

In the keep, Chopper and other healers had taken care of the injured and poisoned, and the Beast Pirates were following the girl from Okobore Town, and Chopper had gained a following of his own, but one healer was absent.

Kaido's sharpshooters—perhaps Hawkins—had sighted the fiery bird circling the island. Looking for what? They weren't sure. The three captains had seen Marco plummet but Law couldn't form a Room in time, facing off Big Mom's lightning and Kaidou's fire and wind and club, and trying to coordinate attacks, defence and retreat with the others.

He noted the Polar Tang's coordinates. By withdrawing now, he'd be able to use his power to transport himself and Marco (if needed) back onto Onigashima or other parts of Wano later. Law had just enough energy to get himself and his oldest friends to the sub. He'd recharge.

In the infirmary Law slid to the floor and rested against the bedside, knowing that he and Marco were needed not just for the fighting, but for repair, once they had rested and regained ability. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and tried to process everything.

Marco lifted his feet and lay down on the mattress. He reached across, removed Law's cap, placed it on his cardiganed chest—tattoo only partially obscured—and ran his hand through the Heart captain's hair. "Rest," he echoed Law's words.

"Mmm," Law agreed. There wasn't much they could do until they got there and his crew was good. He'd have to join them sooner or later, but for now—

Marco also closed his eyes only to jolt awake a couple of vibrations-of-the-sub's-hull later as sleep dragged him into the dip of a wave. Law put a hand up behind him at the sudden movement, patted a thigh, and Marco—after catching his breath—dropped his own hand to the side of the bed, brushing Law's shoulder.

Law withdrew his arm from the bed, and crossed it over his yellow shirt, also stylishly sprinkled with red, and linked his fingers with Marco's like the braiding of an epaulette.

"It's the worst," Law said, "when you can't stop the fall." He ran his thumb over the phoenix's nearest knuckle. Much warmer than before.

It was the worst. Marco pressed down into the cuticle of the same thumb. Frowned at the way Law's hold tightened for a pulse.

Marco loosened their grip, Law's palm falling to his lap, and ran his fingers against Law's scalp again, hair crusty from battle but dryer than the water that had filled his own lungs. The quiet sigh released let Marco know it wasn't unappreciated.

Law didn't kick off his boots. They might have to surface suddenly, though not too fast, and he knew he'd be called to help in whichever way, but he relaxed back a little and stretched his legs. The crew let him get his power up. It was wise to.

"Those seastone nails. Basil got me with one before too."

Marco continued his massage, which brought him as much peace as he gave, and recalled Law's fingers still black from a different application of Hawkins' skills. More specialised. Explained the flinch. He'd have a word with that voodoo guy once everything died down, if Law or the Hearts hadn't got to him first.

"There's an admiral with six legs, two arms," Marco said, his other hand lifted Law's hat a few times on his chest, tiny puffs of air reaching the dip between his jaw and throat. Strange design.

"Too many freaky spiders in this world." Law opened his eyes, drew his knees up, looked across them. Didn't want to move.

"He's a vice admiral. Grabbed me at Marineford. Cuffed me with kairoseki." Marco's fingers limbered up and down against Law's skull like the appendages of their enemies.

"Seastone, man."

Both groaned.

Law shook his head, placed palms flat either side of him and pushed away from the bed and stood. Didn't want to get moving, but had to get moving. Marco peered up at him, passed his hat to him, then looked down at the mismatch of styles he was wearing. "I can't attack Kaido in this old man's jacket."

Law's slow smile showed that he thought it might amuse him though, and if not him then absolutely Robin. "Shirt'll be dry by the time we get there." He turned his hat in the right direction and jammed it on, leant against the counter near the bed, medical supplies neatly stored towards its back, crossed his arms. 'Don't worry, we'll make sure you look dashing."

Of course, Marco thought.

Law nodded. Of course. "Wanna show you something."

A/N: This was a fic ask from tellmewhatyousee. The word provided was sweater, and I attempted to write a MarLaw scene around the word.

This is a quiet piece.

Chapter 2 will follow on from this and will incorporate prompts from op-sheepy of observatory (setting) and notebook (thing); and from Lily Amazon of library (setting) and minor inconvenience (thing).

Thank you for reading. I hope it works in some way. Would love to know your thoughts We'll have more words next chapter. And oh, yes, canon is being bent here (natch). Who knows how Marco or Law are going to end up in canon. Oh, and if you read warm, Marco learnt about Law's torture in that story.