Knew
Characters: Law, Jean Bart. Rating: K+. Warnings: past minor character death
Law knew he wasn't the best at handling… emotional situations. He was scarred and broken and put back just a little wrong each time, and his nakama knew at least enough, if not the full story, to not expect him to tackle emotional hurts.
That was normally Penguin's job, honed after a lifetime of Shachi. Bepo offered the hugs, Shachi brought the hot chocolate and Penguin brought the listening ear and sensible comments. Law just fixed up any physical damage.
But, sometimes, they ended up coming to him anyway. Not often, and often when they were new, before realising the emotional support structure of the Heart Pirates, but sometimes.
Jean Bart sought him out more than most. Even after learning that it was Penguin who played counsellor, or Bepo who gave the hugs, the former slave continued to turn to Law whenever he needed to talk. And Law understood why, even though he could never be sure that he helped.
There were some struggles only a captain understood.
"Do you think they knew I loved them before they died?" The question was a quiet rumble in the room. Law's own room, nominally private and no-entry unless it was an emergency, but that never stopped certain nakama invading on a whim. Jean Bart at least remembered to knock first.
It was, to Law's mind, a question that didn't need answering. While he didn't know Jean Bart's old crew beyond reputation - and they'd had quite the reputation - he knew Jean Bart. Like him, the man wasn't so much a fan of large declarations of affection, although he joined in the rest of the crew's antics gamely enough. He didn't randomly hug nakama, or proclaim undying love whenever his favourite food was on the table, but he was steadfast, loyal, and always there.
He was there if someone had fallen and needed helping to the infirmary for the mandatory check-over. He was warmth at someone's back if they got cold, a single touch of the hand enough to remind them they weren't alone. He was, ironically for such a large man, all the small things that went unnoticed in their presence but gaping in their absence.
Like he had with all his nakama after they'd settled into their place in the crew, Law wondered how they'd managed before him.
"They knew," he replied. Nothing overly emotional about it; just a simple fact to be stated. Jean Bart never said it, but he showed it with every gesture of his body.
As far as comforts went, it paled in comparison to Penguin, who would list examples and reassurances until he was blue in the face if he thought it'd help. It wasn't a Bepo-hug or the seeping warmth of a hot chocolate.
But it was what Law had to offer, and from the single, silent nod of Jean Bart's head, it was all that was needed.
Tumblr prompt: "Do you think they knew I loved them before they died?" which was quite frankly painful and there was only one way I was ever going to take this.
Thanks for reading!
Tsari