inspired by for better or for worse by syluk.
hard to believe that law would be able to do half the things he did with the after effects of white lead disease.
luffy stared off into the distant ocean, grounding himself with the feel of dirt between his bare toes. he was waiting. 6 years old in a past he'd already lived. the second pirate king. he was back in his home of foosha.
a towering figure picked him up, seemingly gentle for the man's stature.
'he'll be alright, he just went to town,' corazon rumbled.
luffy burrowed himself in the large man's coat, gripping the pastel shirt impossibly hard.
6 years old. he was 30 years in the past. the second pirate king altered what would have been. now he clung to a man that should have been dead and waited for a boy that was nearly 2 decades too early.
corazon rocked the boy, hoping that the motion would calm luffy's racing mind. he quietly sung as the boy's grip loosened.
luffy was lulled to sleep, dreaming of a future past and what would be. he hoped law would be back soon.
the teen gave a huff as he climbed up the hill, white patches littered his tan skin and his breathes came out ragged. a few days cured of white lead poison was not agreeing with law's plan of building up stamina. his body strained under the weight of supplies he carried and the journey to and back from town.
corazon was going to kill him when he finally reached camp, that is if the full body exhaustion didn't beat him to it first.
luffy roused from his sleep, groggy as he looked for the source of the smell. he was still wrapped in the warm coat of corazon. he sniffed the air, closing his eyes. law was back. just over that hill.
luffy weakly hit corazon's chest, trying to get the man's attention.
corazon hummed, brought out of his daze by a dull pain, 'whats wrong, luffy?'
luffy pointed where he could feel law steadily approaching.
'laws back then?'
luffy nodded eagerly.
the man lowered the boy from his hold, stretching his arms after hours of being in the same position.
law came into view not long after, sweat dripping off him in buckets and his skin sickly pale. his body was not taking the trip so well.
luffy frowned at law's condition, tugging on corazon's sleeve while frantically waving his other hand.
corazon looked over where luffy was pointing, eyes widening when he saw the boy. the man jumped to his feet, making quick strides. he picked up law just as the boy collapsed, what was a hard ordeal on his body weighed nothing to the giant.
corazon gently laid law on his makeshift bed, touching his forehead for a fever.
'luffy, can you go fetch some water?'
the only answer he received was the fading of pattering feet.