LawLu Week 2022 Day-1
Theme: Alliance/First.
Chosen: First
"When does a relationship become a relationship?"
"When you kiss?" Chopper, the boy with beautiful curly brown hair, replied, and gulped his ultra pink drink. The cafeteria was relatively empty except for a few benches where overwhelmed university students were having a meltdown. In this particular table, the doom of exam had yet to sink its teeth.
"What, are you a high-school student ? My cousin is fourteen, I have yet to see him have a girlfriend or boyfriend, despite all the girls and boys he claims to have kissed. Even kids don't say this Chopper!" Usopp cut in as he flung his long arms around Chopper and sat down.
"Chopper is fresh out of high school! Stop bullying your underclass man! I think a relationship becomes a relationship when you stop caring about labels and just enjoy each other's company."
"Your opinion are discarded Nami! You are a lesbian, you all move too fast! " Usopp protested.
"That's a stereotype! We lesbians don't get into relationship! Unlike you straight people who take years to decide on who is 'the one', we rather know anyone can be 'the one' with right effort and attitude! Don't stereotype us!" Nami puffed her cheeks and pulled her strawberry blonde hair into a bun.
"You and Vivi dated for a month before moving in! The stereotypes are true!" Usopp smirked.
"How so?"
"Gays can't drive!"
"Hey! I am expert at driving! Have you seen my navigation?"
"You are not gay! You are lesbian! I mean't Zoro, he can't drive shit to save his life."
"I agree!" Chopper nodded.
"And Bi's can't sit properly! Sanji never sits straight!" Usopp grinned.
"By that logic, Blonde women only date tall men. That means you are not Kaya's one true love?" Nami replied.
"You want me call Kaya up and ask her if she thinks you are her one true love or not?" Chopper offered a suggestion, now done with his drink.
"Chopper no!" Usopp begged.
"We can ask Robin?"
"NO. She is a paper due! Unlike you two loafers, she studies." Nami grumbled and continued, "Why are you here, Chopper? Isn't first year medical students supposed to be busy!"
"I had a break, so I decided to join you guys! But who knew Luffy was having a relationship crisis."
At the sound of his name, Luffy looked up, his whole body was a lump of mochi on the table and his head hidden in his arms. The question that lead to debate between Nami and Usopp came from him. Three of the other occupants looked at Luffy and sighed.
"Since when did you care about relationships? In the last three years of university, I haven't seen you date anyone! I thought you were not interested in dating."
Luffy did not reply to Usopp and continued poking him with questions. Chopper decided to close the gap and lay his head on the shiny, cold table and stare into Luffy's eyes.
"You are well, right, Luffy?"
"I want to be Torao's boyfriend." Luffy whimpered back to Chopper.
"I understand, but who is Toarao?" Chopper blinked.
"Who is Trao?" Nami asked as well.
"His name is Torao!" Luffy puffed his cheeks.
"Still no clue, boy, you have to help us here." Usopp inched closer by the seconds to wrap himself around Chopper, Nami and Luffy and become a human burrito.
"He is Chopper's senior."
"A medical student? They have time date?" Usopp blurted.
"Oi, ain't you dating a medical student yourself?" Nami growled.
"If I was, I wouldn't be wasting my time here!" Usopp growled back. "Usopp Kaya dumped you?" Chopper's eyes became liquid. "Usopp, you broke up with Kaya? Why?" Luffy asked.
"STOP IT. We did not break up, go wash your dirty mouth soap water. I meant medical students are so busy. They really don't have time to date-date! Kaya and I haven't been on a film date in weeks! Poor medical students are overworked! You better think multiple times before dating someone, Chopper! You don't want to stress yourself or the other person involved in the relationship."
"Am I stressing you, dear…?" A soft voice, floated behind the human burrito that was discussing relationships. Usopp's face paled and Nami and Chopper's soul escaped from their mouth, while Luffy paid no attention to the new arrival.
"Am I?"
"Kaya no!" Usopp broke away from the hug and faced his girlfriend.
"Thank god! I thought you wanted to break up with me!" Kaya hugged her boyfriend.
"Honey…"
"Yes."
"Nami here was saying…"
"What?"
"Is it true blonde women love tall men?" Usopp blurted.
"But Usopp, you are tall."
"I am tall?"
"Yeah, not as tall as intern Law, he is the tallest senior we have, but Usopp is tall."
"I agree, Kaya, Torao is tall." The mopping boy spoke.
"Who?"
"Toaro."
"Who is Torao?"
"The Tall intern." Luffy sat up with a frown! Unable to make his friends understand, Luffy rummaged through his bag and fished out his phone. After a few moments of searching, the screen flashed a picture in the groups' direction. Luffy was being hugged by a tall man in an apron.
"Oh, he is tall!" Nami added. "Bit skinny, isn't he? Must be Bi." Usopp cut in again."Stop the stereotyping! Would you like it if someone made fun of your dreadlocks?" Nami elbowed her friend. "Not my hair! It has history!"
"You are dating him?" Kaya and Chopper almost yelled.
"You know him?" Nami and Usopp looked at Chopper and Kaya whose faces were paler than a bowl of yogurt.
"He is the tall intern," Kaya cried. "He is scary and mean," Chopper hooked his arms with Kaya in mutual fear. "He is a loner and has no friends." The first year medical student and the fourth year medical student added in unison.
"He is shy, and he looks scary, but he is not, he is amazing." Luffy barked.
"Says, every Pitbull owner." Chopper replied.
"But I love pitbulls!" Luffy pouted.
"But how come you are in relationship with him? He has never said yes to anyone who asked him to date. Men or women, no one." Kaya was swaying with newfound desire of gossip.
"I… Don't know if it is a relationship or not." Luffy pouted. The thing is when Luffy realised he was madly in love with his Torao, he had assumed he would be unbothered by opinions and happenings around the world. But relationships were not just eating out, spending time together and making love. Somethimes other people's opinion would contribute to how one percieved their own relationship. Insecurities crawled up and tampered with stability.
"What do you mean if you don't know?" A new strained and husky voice asked Luffy a question.
"Hey Torao." Before the group stood a tall guy with uncombed black hair, dark circles and shrunken cheeks. If not for the burning golden eyes in those dark holes and the apron, anyone would've mistaken him for a patient.
"Hi love… what was the question again?"
"I will get you a cup of coffee." Chopper decided to flee.
"Bring him tea–" "Tea for me" Both Luffy and Law spoke.
"Sure tea." The next moment, Chopper was gone.
"Ummm tee hee…" Luffy tried to follow Chopper, but he was pinned to his chair and Law sat beside him.
"You can't tee hee out of this. I thought we were boyfriends, when did we change the status?" Law sighed and rested his head on Luffy's shoulder. The younger pouted his lips and tried to avert his eyes that glowed up at the word boyfriends.
"Torao"
"Your lips are dry… You want lip balm?" Luffy asked while Nami and Usopp stood like statues and Kaya took the opportunity to run after Chopper.
"My hands are aching."
"Alright… Alright… I will put it on you." Luffy nervously began looking for a chapstick in bags.
"Hi… I am Nami."
"Hello, I am Torao, Luffy's boyfriend."
It had been an ordinary evening when they met, Usopp had dragged Luffy with him to deliver Kaya dinner because of her night shift. Luffy had tagged along because he was bored, and he loved hanging out with Usopp and Kaya. Luffy's eyes had landed on him first. Love at first sight it was not, it was concern at first sight. Luffy had gently nudged Kaya asking who this tall guy slumped on the table with a cup of tea was. Luffy knew how hard medical students worked, so he wanted to help that gremlin sitting alone.
"Trafalgar Law, intern and the highest merit holder, and he has full scholarship." Luffy had concluded this overachiever was going to be his new friend. "Should I offer him food?" Luffy asked. "Do not offer sandwiches. Apparently he cracks up at the smell of bread. My advice would be stay away from him." Kaya had informed and forgotten about this conversation five minutes later. After the couple was done with eating; Luffy excused out of Usopp's offer to see Kaya off to her duty.
"Do you want ramen?" Luffy had sat opposite him and offered the intern a bowl of steaming instant ramen.
"Who are you?" Instead of declining the food, the intern wolf downed the bowl.
"You were hungry!" Luffy grinned.
"I was. I had duty for four consecutive nights. Thank you."
"Your welcome!"
Law was shabby, extremely shabby, his face had three day old stubble, his goatee was out of shape, his hair was sticky. And he wanted sleep.
"By the way, I won't sleep with you just because you bought me Ramen!" Law explained as he gobbled his food.
"You think I sleep with every person I buy food for? I would have a harem of my own. I saw you look tired, we were having dinner, I asked your junior Kaya what you like to eat, she told me not sandwich, since it is late, there were limited options to choose from. Despite you being good-looking, I do not pick up people just for sex!" Luffy laughed. At this, Law relaxed and slurped his gravy like a cat who had finally eased into an environment.
"But you think I am good-looking still?"
"Do you get asked out a lot?" Luffy pushed the paper cup of water towards Law. The intern nodded. It was not the constant asking out that bothered him, it was the assumption people had of him being an easy person that offended him.
"I am Trafalgar Law. Intern here, and you are not from my department."
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, I am from physical education department."
"You are training to be a sports teacher! Cool."
"I can be bodyguard too! Or I can be gym instructor, I am strong." Luffy grinned.
"You look strong. Those arms are well maintained." Law nodded like a buzzing bee, the ramen had warmed his belly and loosened his tongue, he was slightly delirious.
"But you know what?" Luffy replied.
"What?"
"You do not look great right now, are you okay?"
"I am strong; I am training to be a surgeon, I have to work out to keep my core strength."
"Not that Torao! You look like you need a bath and a sleep."
"I do. I do. But my place is far. I will sleep on one of the benches."
"You don't live in campus hostel?"
"NO!"
"Why?"
"My scholarship doesn't cover lodging and food. If I stay here I have to pay for food which I will miss eating anyway because of duty hours."
"Ah, so you have rented a place that's cheap and far from here." Luffy smiled.
"Yeah sort of."
"You want to come to our place? I have warm water and soft bed. And it is five minutes from here." Luffy offered.
"You have no ulterior motive?" Law's eyes were trying their best to stay awake, his body wanted a bath and soft bed. His brain was begging him to agree, with or without ulterior motive on this stranger's part.
That night, Luffy drove Law to his place, "Sabo, Ace!"
"You are late, Luffy, and who is this? Is he okay?" Sabo the blonde guy asked.
"Torao, meet my brothers, guys say hi to him."
"Hi Torao." Luffy's other brother didn't look up from the screen as he was glued into the video game.
"We are going into my room, don't yell when you win or lose, and don't bang pots and pans loudly in the morning. He is a medical student like Kaya, he needs rest." Law was treated like air by Luffy's two brothers, they were not concerned by the information that a stranger was in their house. For a few moments, Law was assured the three brothers would murder him and sell his organ.
Once inside Luffy's room, Law sighed, the intern felt like he was home, the room was warm and lulling. If not for that night, Law had assumed his nostrils were damaged because of constant exposure to the odour of disinfectant. Luffy handed the intern with a freshly washed towel and clean clothes and sent him in the bath.
After the bath, Law's entire body was refreshed and aching, every tip of his finger were sore. His neck pained, his shoulders were knotted, his body was at limit. To Law's surprise, Luffy was fast asleep on his bed, the shorter man had changed into pyjamas and fallen asleep. Law didn't know where he would sleep. He couldn't find the spare mattress to lay, unable to concentrate with a brain ready to blank out, Law shook Luffy. A few more shakes later Luffy grinned at Law and the intern felt the urge to pull his new friend's cheeks, instead of pulling his cheeks, Law cupped sleepy Luffy's face and asked.
"Where do I sleep? I can't find extra bedding."
"Here, with me. It's comfortable." Luffy patted the space beside him and pulled the future doctor into a hug and fell asleep.
The next day, Law found his arms and legs wrapped around Luffy, whose face rested on his chest. Despite the absurdity of the previous night, Law didn't let go, he pulled Luffy further into a hug and went back to sleep.
"Time to wake up, Intern Torao." Luffy had called for him a few hours later. Law didn't want to let go his personal body pillow.
"You told me you have to go back to hospital in the morning."
"I lied."
"Why?"
"I thought you were trying to pick me up." Law mumbled.
"Why will I?"
"Why didn't you?" Law refused to open his eyes or his arms. He was going to exploit Luffy's kindness.
"Eh, you wanted me to pick you up?" Luffy tried to break free, out of respect for Law's fragile body, Luffy didn't try hard.
"No. But…"
"But…?"
"I want to keep returning to you after long work hours. This is the best sleep I had in many years." Law finally opened his eyes and looked at Luffy, the younger man had a scar beneath his round eyes.
"You want to sleep in this bed, right, hehe? It is made of goose feathers! You are always welcomed to my bed." Luffy grinned.
"And your arms?"
"My arms too!"
"May I kiss you?" Law had cupped the smaller's face and was running his thumb above his scar. Luffy had never dated in his entire life, so kiss was something he had only imagined. Inexperienced didn't always mean shy, Luffy was opposite of shy, he enthusiastically nodded to Law's question.
Law ran his fingers in Luffy's hair and massaged his skull with his fingertips and gently pulled Luffy's face to his. Law's lips first landed on Luffy's eyes, then he trailed kisses down his cheeks to Luffy's plump lips. He lingered chastely on Luffy's lips for a few seconds, letting the younger familiarize with his actions. Luffy's lips broke into a smile against Law's. Law deepened the kiss, first he licked Luffy's lips, as slowly as he could. Making the smaller man giggle and hug him tighter. The giggle encouraged Law, and he sucked on Luffy's bottom lip, patience was Law's virtue but not Luffy's. Luffy opened his mouth and devoured Law's lips! Their tongues tangled and twisted in and out of the others. Law understood his partner was an inexperienced person who had just hatched out of their egg. Their teeth clashed, Luffy mistakenly bit him, every mistake that could happen in a kiss happened, but ever emotion that could be evoked by a kiss was evoked too. Law pulled Luffy up and made him sit on his lap, Luffy's climbed Law like a koala and continued kissing Law. Luffy didn't know what to do with his hands, which were itching to grab more of Law, while Law's entire body was in pain to do anything more than kiss. They didn't stop kissing, Luffy had settled on Law's lap and he was never leaving his embrace.
They broke apart when thirst for each other was replaced by thirst for water, and Luffy broke into hiccups. Hearing Luffy's loud hiccups, Law began massaging Luffy's back.
"Are you okay? Don't answer, just nod. You have to drink water. This is my first time witnessing the birth of hiccups because of excitement."
"Tee hee… That was ..hic.. my first.. hic.. kiss." Luffy informed.
"Oh…"
"Luffy! I heard you hiccuping! Did you eat spicy food? And why are you sitting on your friends' lap?" Sabo opened the door with a glass of water.
"Hic."
"I…" Law's face blushed.
"Whatever you are doing, you know the rule. Here drink it." Sabo handed the glass to Luffy and Law helped Luffy climb down his lap. " I hope you like spicy food, Ace cooked lunch for all of us, have it before you leave for hospital. God you are skinny! Lu add butter to his rice!"
"Hic. Yes."
"Rule? What?" Law asked Luffy.
"Safety first! You are a doctor, so you know the importance of protection." Sabo sighed.
"Hic. I. Hic. Know!"
"Yes sir." Law almost choked.
"We are leaving now, see you around, Law was it?"
"Yes."
"Take care of my bro, Law."
"Did your brother…"
"Hic. They like you."
"You have been crashing in Luffy's house ever since then?" Usopp asked. Nami and Chopper and Kaya stared at Luffy who was avoiding Law's gaze.
"It has been how many months, Luffy?" Kaya asked.
"Six months, seven days." Law answered.
"Creepy" Nami added and continued. "Why didn't you tell us you were dating? Did you think we will judge you for dating a man? And why did Ace or Sabo not say anything? Argghh! My best friend has a boyfriend! I don't even know!"
"See, I told you, lesbians always attract gays!"
"USOPP" Kay and Chopper hissed.
"I am not gay…" Luffy muttered.
"Then? Why keep it a secret?" Chopper asked timidly.
"It was not secret, we just didn't get the time to meet everyone we know and tell them. Sabo and Ace know! And I think your friend Robin knows. Before we knew it was already six months while we looked for the right time. And I am not gay either. I think I am bi." Law clenched his teeth, he had worked straight for days, his body wanted to go home and sleep in Luffy's arms.
"Traffy is Traffy. I like Traffy, irrespective of things in his pants."
"Then what was this nonsense you were spouting about us not dating?" Law growled!
"Did anyone say anything to you?" Nami joined Law in the growling session.
"Can we go home?" Luffy pouted, he had waited months to introduce his boyfriend to his friends but right he just wanted to run away..
"Sure." Law nodded.
"I will text you later." Luffy waved bye.
Once away from the maddening crowd, Law was dozing in and out of the bus ride and scolding Luffy. Luffy sat quietly and let his boyfriend drool on his shoulder one second and scold the next. When he had asked about the relationship to his gang, Luffy was sulking because of things he had overheard. He had not assumed that his question would open a can of worms of thoughts he had hidden inside his heart.
"What is going on? If you don't tell me, I will worry."
"Why did you wake up, Torao?"
"I want to know what you mean by when does a relationship become a relationship? And when you shouted, I want to be Torao's boyfriend. Did I do something that gave you a different idea?"
"No! I heard some people say, that…"
"That what?"
"I heard nurses in your department say you were going to move to another hospital for residency and that people asked you if you have a lover, and you said no. So they were wondering who would be your spouse because you were single and so hot."
"Are you an idiot? Sorry that was established, you are. Why couldn't you talk to me?"
"I was afraid you would say we are not boyfriends."
"LUFFY!" Luckily for both of them, the bus was empty and there was no passenger witnessing their domestic life have a public melt down.
"I…"
"You think I was having sex with you just because I am a horn dog?"
"No…"
"You heard it wrong."
"Huh?"
"Yes, I am looking for a new hospital for residency because it is the rule of the profession to study in multiple places! You think I will ghost you? Where will I find a lover who doesn't see me for days and still cares for my meals and health? And they asked me about relationship, yes, but they asked if I have girlfriend. Which I do not, unless you identify as my girlfriend, then I do. If they had asked if I had a boyfriend, I would've said yes. It is my mistake, I will fix this. I should've had done that from the start."
"What are you going to do?"
"Announce the world we are lovers. In my university chat group. You know, my close friends know about you. We all are interning in different hospital, hence I haven't been able to make you meet them! Once exams are over, we will, okay?" Law interlaced his fingers with Luffy's and began typing on his phone.
"You don't have to." Luffy rested his head on Law's shoulder. "I love you. I was overthinking."
"You would've suffered more had I not overheard your conversation! I am still cross with you! But I love you also! Don't keep things inside next time, please?"
"Yes Torao! I can't live without you. You don't have to tell the whole wide world about us."
"I know. But I should, one piece of gossip you heard today, and you were sulking. And I am a doctor, you might not remember I can sense it when a person is not doing well. I thought you were hurting inside for weeks now because of some sports injury, imagine my horror to learn my boyfriend doesn't think we are boyfriends! Do I look like a dumb teenager to you?" Law frowned and patted Luffy's thigh.
"But if something this tiny bothered you, it means you have been stewing similar thoughts in that big pot of a head you have!" Law's was softer now, but angrier nonetheless! "This is the first time I saw you be upset about not being officially out to your friends. If it matters so much to tell everyone you care for about me, I should do the same. So, my love, would you like to buy a couple's ring tomorrow with me?"
"A ring?"
"Not marriage… Not yet. Just a couple's ring for now. Then a few years down the line we can get something more substantial? I don't know. I just…"
"Torao" Luffy cupped Law's face and pecked his cheeks gently and Law blushed like a cherry tomato.
"Hmmm?"
"YES!"
Afterword
That night, the couple ended up cuddling and browsing rings that were beyond their income only to finally settle down on two simple bands. And two days later, intern Law was spotted with a ring and every time someone brought up dating and marriage, the devil intern insisted on talking about his boyfriend Luffy. When he was not happy with bragging alone, he bullied Kaya and Chopper into praising about his super strong Luffy. On the other side of campus, Monkey D Luffy was found himself people asking how he melted the heart of the cold Trafalgar Law?
THE END
SEE YOU TOMORROW
Discalimer : Not my manga
This was a very poorly written draft that I had abandoned a few years back, I fished it out because it aligned with what I had in mind. It is not similar to my other stories which are detail heavy, this is set around a campus couple who are deeply in love but are not the best at communicating. For the topic First, it can mean anything, I decided to make it about the first bumps a couple faces after the honeymoon period ends. There are many firsts we don't remember in our own lives, but are important nonetheless. This won't be the first hiccup this couple will face, but it sure is memorable to this writer.
Happy LawLu Week and Happy ten year LawLu Alliance anniversery.
