AHAHAHAH let the kids like each other.


She's cute and Law isn't sure that he likes it.

There's never been enough time to objectively look at girls, what with Cyslodia being a heaping pile of things not good(™), so it comes as a supreme shock. One day he looks at Rinwell and instead of thinking, Ugh, how mildly aggravating, he thinks, ugh, how mildly aggravating that it's cute.

Cue the internal crisis. One that's getting worse. They're over and done with Menancia, and it's only fueled that low-burning twinge in his heart. Law looks at Rinwell and feels his face heat. Sees her smile and feels his chest flip upside down.

Not good for a dude who's supposed to be agile and quick like a falcon. Does him no good if he spends most of his days tripping over his own two feet because he can't stop looking at her.

Worst of all, Alphen notices. Even worse than that- Alphen tries to help. Gives Law encouraging smiles and the occasional thumbs-up; nudges him with an errant elbow when Law's staring and staring.

It definitely doesn't help. At least Rinwell hasn't noticed yet because she certainly will if Alphen keeps it up. The guy's as subtle as a boulder in the middle of the road.

Law hates it, he thinks- girls, liking girls, Rinwell and her cute smile, and those dumb little freckles she's got now that she's been soaking up the sun. These perplexing, warm feelings and how his heart clenches at them because the better part of himself kind of wants to say something.

Only kind of. Law's proud that he's been able to sort of ignore it thus far.

It's Shionne who finally says something, properly.

"Oh, just tell her already," she says with that beloved bluntness of hers as she shoves him across the camp and nearly into the fire. Shionne caught his gaze wandering again while he was focused entirely on Rinwell's face.

Shionne isn't Alphen though; she isn't subtle, but she also isn't quiet about it. She practically shouts it for everyone to hear.

Dohalim looks up, mildly aghast. Kisara looks up, utterly amused.

Rinwell looks up, her brow furrowed and finger pressed to her chin as she thinks. An expression that Law likes more and more as of late.

His face is on fire. The entire camp is quiet and it's painfully obvious that they know, they know but-

"Tell who what?" asks Rinwell.

She apparently doesn't. Law doesn't believe in a higher power but he thanks literally anyone out there that might exist.

"Oh, you know," says Alphen with a chuckle, "Crushes and the like. Guy things."

Oh, Lords above, that's even worse. It truly must be, because Dohalim's trying to hide a laugh behind his hand.

"...Crushes?" Rinwell's head cocks to the side. And then she gets it and she smacks a fist against her palm. "Oh."

Law's going to die, he's going to bury himself into the ground and never live to see another day because anything is better than this-

"Crushes, eh?" Rinwell smirks and then she looks to Kisara, her gaze appraising.

Law blinks. Shionne snorts. Alphen looks, admittedly confused. Dohalim smiles, potentially the most ridiculous thing of all. And Kisara bursts into raucous laughter.

Well. Not how Law thought this would go.

"What?" asks Rinwell, her lips curving into a cute little pout, "Who wouldn't have a crush on you?"

Kisara laughs even harder, practically wheezing at the thought, gasping as she tries to find her breath. And Rinwell, blessed Rinwell, just barely misses the mark.

Alphen leans over, nudging Law with his elbow. "Well, you got lucky, huh?"

Lucky, indeed. Still, Law scowls at him before nudging back hard. "Yeah, no thanks to you," he snaps.

And Alphen doesn't laugh or get annoyed, he just smiles. Then he reaches out and ruffles Law's hair. There are worse things than the teasing.