"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation." -Roronoa Zoro, comments on first book of law and justice.
Zoro looked down again at the city at his feet. From the high tower of the castle he could see almost everything: the burned houses on the outskirts, the green fields flowing with the winds across the river, and even the port at that same river full of curious citizens.
There were people carrying wood through the streets cleaned of bodies, to fix the broken houses and warm the families in the cold northern weather. On the main square, a few prostitutes were teaching a group of goddesses about the best way to cook a casserole between the laughs of the elderly. Shanks and his gang had also taken control of the port and were building ships to fish and to explore a sea that seemed to have turned pacific and welcoming. The guards and old soldiers patrolled the streets so no one could start more fights in this freed town.
It was taking them all time to restart and adapt to this new land and world they had ended in. The apocalypse and the event now described as the dark day, had happened just one week ago, so everything was still a bit out of control and people were confused about rules and authority. Still, they would come along, they had survived the worst part, now, only peace and happiness awaited.
Zoro was himself adapting to all this. Both their worlds seemed to have mixed and the result was just baffling for him. Zoro felt the sun on his skin with an intensity he had never felt, he felt the clean and pure breeze from the river caress his face with ease, he observed old gods and humans build back a city that had almost been destroyed, and he knew civilization would continue on the right path.
He was now king of this new land apparently. He had been elected not just by the old gods, but by the human population of the city too. Shanks, a red haired man who had seemed to be the leader, had ditched politics wanting to explore the world and had grinned evilly while giving Zoro his support. The other mortals had followed his example happily.
So now Zoro felt the responsibility of all the people of this land like a weight on his shoulders, but it wasn't overwhelming like the last time after killing his mother. There was no end of the world now, and therefore he knew he was prepared and ready for this. After centuries of observing his mother and his people, he knew what to do and how to command a kingdom.
He also had a bit more help now.
Zoro smiled when a man of black hair and intent golden eyes hugged him from behind and rested his head on his shoulder so he could contemplate the view too. His expression was serious, even intimidating, but Zoro had learned to read it long ago and saw the peacefulness and delight in his eyes. He squeezed the hand on his waist closing his eyes and wanting this dream never to end.
"Overthinking again, my lord?" Mihawk commented against his skin, his voice intimate but joking, like an old forgotten dream.
Zoro smirked sadly and turned to kiss him on the cheek. After centuries of loneliness, after centuries of solitude, of culpability, of pure and agonizing pain, it was taking him a lot of effort to accept all this sudden happiness. He now woke every night looking for the other between the sheets they shared, the panic in his chest warning him that all this had been just a dream, and that Mihawk was still dead. Dear god, he was barely able to let the swordmaster out of his sight anymore.
The fact that all gods seemed to have lost their abilities and powers, and that Zoro couldn't just feel Mihawk's presence next to him, only made things worse. If he hadn't been able to protect this man as a god, how was he supposed to protect him like a mortal?
"Roronoa" his lover warned him again, with his mouth against his neck warming him and provoking shivers to ran down his spine, as strong arms caged him against a very real chest.
"Sorry" Zoro said frowning to himself and turning back to kiss those missed lips and forget everything else, he had promised himself he would enjoy this new life.
As the lips of the other slipped against him intimately, he couldn't help remember the nights they had shared this last week. They hadn't been able to take the hands off each other for more than a second, there had been a desperation and passion in every kiss, touch and orgasm, as if they were trying to compensate the centuries apart in a sole night.
Mihawk licked his lips slowly, as if sensing his desire and the train of his thoughts, and answering to them. His eyes were still intense and serious but Zoro saw the sudden amusement in them.
"We were going to train with the swords" Mihawk said slowly.
Zoro hummed as Mihawk, instead of stopping, only lowered his mouth to his neck and sucked hard making him gasp in pain and pleasure. The contrast between his soft caring lips and his rough facial hair turning Zoro crazy. "We also needed to go see Shanks and his stupid ships, and...my brother"
Mihawk bit his neck suddenly making him jump, and separated from him for a moment "I do not like that man you call brother. To be true, I would love to kill him"
Zoro smiled at him knowing exactly the source of that hate "It just happened two or three times, Mihawk, and it's not what you think, it was just...release, I won't need it again"
And again the memories, the loneliness, the nights shared with Kidd while deep under an ocean, trying to ease the pain, and solitude, sharing kisses and touches, with the knowledge that it would never be enough again. Kidd had needed it too, they had been stupid, fading, it had served nothing.
Mihawk kissed him hard then, possessive and demanding. He had always been an intense and hard man, but since he was back he had turned even more possessive. As if he also needed to fight his own nightmares and this was the only way.
His hands found the edge of the white shirt Zoro was wearing, and slipped underneath to caress the naked skin. Lust filled Zoro in seconds, and a need to fill the emptiness and darkness that had commanded his soul for so long.
Zoro raised his arms to circle the other's neck, allowing the other to do whatever he wanted with his hands. Mihawk's fingers quickly traveled up his spine raising the shirt and revealing the taut muscles of his belly, then they lowered down to grip his ass and press him against his body.
Zoro melted against him and moaned in the deep possessive hold.
Before he knew it, he was sitting on the edge of the window before the city, with the swordmaster between his opened legs owning the place as if he belonged there. Zoro had his shirt now opened and his chest exposed to the golden hungry eyes, his whole body kept trembling with every caress Mihawk's hands provided between his legs.
"Mihawk" he whispered against the other lips, his hips starting to move on their own, his body trapped between the man and the fall outside "We have... things to do"
The dark haired man however just gripped his erection over his trousers, making Zoro gasp and dig his fingers on the other's shoulders as his back arched longingly. His whole body felt raw, needy, as if only Mihawk could sate him after such a long time apart. Mihawk mouthed at his earrings and Zoro moaned helplessly against his lover. The swordmaster squeezed his erection again between knowing fingers and Zoro found himself fumbling with the other's pants trying to also get his fill.
He needed him inside. He needed to feel him against him. Real. Alive. Together.
"Stop thinking" Mihawk whispered against his ear, calming and understanding "About Kidd, about the kingdom, about threats, about the past. Stop worrying and focus on us, on the future and a life together"
Zoro stopped his movements and for a moment he looked at him breathing hard. At the golden eyes that looked at him with desire and a love that had survived even death. He observed his tanned skin he had trazed so many times in the last days, the little smile that was only dedicated to him, the hands caressing him as if he was the other's heaven, the warmth in his own chest...
"Yes" he agreed, and then he kissed him again.
...oOo…
Law woke feeling as if he had been asleep for centuries. His head ached, his body felt tired and he was just so thirsty and hungry he wanted to groan. He was also in a room he didn't recognize.
With wooden floors and walls made of stone, the rooms seemed to be like those of the castle of Inverness, but unlike the rooms Doflamingo tended to use, this one was decorated sparsely with a big bed covered in soft furs, and a little wardrobe. There were weapons and tapestries hanging from the walls, even a mirror, but it just didn't look as splendid as the rooms Law was used to see in the castle.
He tried to sit up, but his body felt sluggish and numb and it took him more time than it should have. That could turn into a problem if he was in enemy territory. Still, he could feel sunlight coming in from the sole window in the room and he could hear people outside, happy people, a sound so very different from the shouts and screams he had heard the last time he had been here. What had happened? Where was he? Had Doflamingo been defeated? Hadn't he died? What had the goddess done?
He needed answers, but getting out of bed seemed too much of an effort for his tired body, he probably shouldn't walk or move for a while. Unless he was in danger and this room was just a jail. He was still deciding if the answers were worth the effort of getting up, when the door opened silently and a man got inside.
He was still as tall and imposing as Law remembered, a big man of bulging muscles and a huge intimidating physique. His hair was as red as the blood of every living being, his skin a tone so pale that it seemed to have been kissed by snow, and even his way of moving, his way of entering a room, set him apart from any normal human. He was a leader, with confidence in every step and every breath he took. He commanded the attention of every man in his presence.
Yet he seemed more muted than the last time Law had seen Kidd. His shoulders were slumped, downcasted, and defeated. His hair and skin had lost part of his luminosity, that brightness that made people gasp in wonder, and now they looked like those of any other mortal, liveless. His clothes were also made of plain leather and cotton, they looked like nice clothes but were also looked unkempt, as if the god had stopped taking care of himself.
Then Kidd finally turned from closing the door and Law couldn't help but gasp. His golden eyes were so empty and lost. The little stubble on his face made him look like a misfit or one of those abandoned mercenaries. He had lost so much weight.
Upon hearing the sound, Kidd however rose his eyes to meet his, and froze.
The tray of food he had been carrying when entering the room fell to the ground with a breaking sound, and with a strange desperation in his golden eyes, Kidd crossed the room with big long steps.
Law just opened his arms as Kidd almost threw himself at him. Kidd gripped him tight. Tighter than he had ever done. His arms circling his shoulders and squeezing him against his chest, his legs climbing the bed until he could press himself firmer against his body, until he could cover Law up with his body in a protective welcoming embrace.
For a moment, they just hugged. Tightly, positively, and desperate. Kidd breathing hard, Law still confused but not wanting to separate and break this dreamed moment. He hid his face against Kidd's neck, feeling his warmth, listening to his rapidly beating heart, incredulous by the fact that Kidd was here. With him. Again.
Then the moment broke. As if kicked, Kidd suddenly pulled back and pressed their lips together in a kiss. Harsh, without care, just pure and raw need, and that horrible darkness in his eyes. Law tried to answer him, but Kidd was suddenly kissing his check, his jaw, his neck. All in quick rapid succession, as if he wanted to touch and taste everything at the same time. His breaths were still fast and small, his hands trembled as they tried to srip Law in eagerness.
Law felt Kidd's tongue trace his collarbone as his shirt was opened, ripped from his body, and discarded on the floor. He gasped against Kidd's mouth as the other's hands instantly lowered to unfast his pants anxiously, not even waiting a second to strip him naked. Kidd's fingers felt rough and possessive against the delicate skin of his buttlocks when the redhead gripped them, but Law said nothing as he was pulled and seated on the other's lap moments later.
Kidd kissed him breathless once again, violently, as if he was facing a battle, tongue against tongue, sucking, liking and making Law want to plead for a breath. Law moaned in the open mouthed kiss as Kidd's hands squeezed his ass again crudely, and lowered him into the sheets with a clear intent.
"Kidd," Law gasped as he felt the other's fingers getting rid of his pant just as quickly, disentangling his legs from the clothes so he could have him completely naked under him "wait."
The redhead, however, didn't seem to listen. His eyes were still darkened, unfocused, his breath was fast, just too fast for Law's liking. His hands kept caressing him now from head to toe, skin against skin, pulling his legs apart so he could roll their hips together in an intimate caress, but Law felt them trembling way to much.
He hadn't looked him in the eyes once either.
"Kidd, wait" he warned him again, but the redhead just squeezed his ass again pulling their erections closer, and rolled his hips again.
Law arched on the bed with a groan on his lips, his body seeming to be responding to Kidd in ways it had never done before. He felt Kidd's eyes on his body, drinking in the sight of him, every move and every sound, but not daring to look at him yet. Law felt Kidd's hands planning his next move too, lowering to his erection with clear purpose, but Law had had enough.
Circling the other's waist with his legs so he couldn't move grind against him, and gripping his wrists with still weakened fingers, Law subtlely forced the other to stop. Kidd didn't resist at all. He suddenly froze adove him as if he didn't know what to do now. His eyes moved over Law's chest, his whole body seemed to be shivering, and his breathing was still hard in what Law now recognized as anxiety.
Law didn't say anything. He just waited for the other to react knowing that no matter what he said now, it would be to no avail with him in this state. So instead he just caressed him. He lowered his legs to the bed and released one of Kidd's wrists so he could touch the soft red locks.
A tear suddenly fell from one of Kidd's eyes. "I thought you were…" Kidd started, his voice sounding breathless, rough and broken "They said you won't wake up. I couldn't...feel you, you were…"
He lowered his head to Law's chest and silently, he started to cry. Broken little sobs as his arms circled around Law's waist and hugged him as if he was the most precious thing in the world.
Law felt his own chest hurt when listening to him, his heart broke into a million pieces as he hugged him back. He caressed his hair and his back, he tried to console him, to make the tears stop, but he knew by experience that the fear, the loneliness, and the pain would take years to heal.
"I'm sorry" he told him. For not being able to survive. For scaring him. For almost losing all this "I'm so sorry" he repeated drawing him in.
Kidd cried for a while, and with every silent sob, Law felt his heart break again and again. He petted him as the anxiety and fear subsided and Kidd calmed down, he kissed him for every tear he shed, he apologized for his weakness, and kissed him once more.
After a while Kidd finally raised his head and kissed him back. No rush this time, no desperation or fear in his movements, just a plain and deep devotion, a slow and tender kiss that seemed to compensate for all the pain and suffering they had endured. This time, when Kidd's hands again roamed over his body they did so unhurriedly, knowing they now had all the time in the world to do what they wanted.
Law sighed in bliss as Kidd finally entered him moments later. He moaned in satisfaction as they both started to move in unison and with leisure, rocking together over the sheets and under the warm sun of the morning, sharing kisses and little touches between thrusts and moans.
Kidd now looked into Law's eyes adoringly, his stare focused and unmoving as their foreheads touched and pleasure built in their bodies. Their moves were still smooth, slow, but grew in intensity as they collided. Law's body arched again for Kidd's delight, and his hands gripped his. Kidd kissed him and increased his speed drawing every gasp of pleasure he could from his lover. The bed started to creak, the cold room filled with the sounds of their love making and Kidd felt raw and on the verge of tears again, the happiness, the love and protectiveness about to break him.
"I love you" Law whispered against his ear, his nose nuzzling against Kidd's hairline, his voice sounding rough and wasted and just like Kidd loved it "I love you Kidd"
Kidd felt his soul break and heal at the same time with those little words. Suddenly he knew that no matter what, he would fight and face hundred more gods just to hear them again, that he would wait millenia for Law to come back from the dead if it was needed. Because Law would do the same for him. Because they won't live again without the other, because they were the two different sides of the same coin, the sun and the moon, a god and a mortal.
...oOo...
Kidd threw the potato pieces into the pot and observed the as they sank into the dark liquid of the casserole. He frowned. It was hard to control this kind of things now that their powers had disappeared, his senses were less sharp, his control over time seemed to have turned more acute with mortality, so things like cooking were now a challenge and were becoming one of his favourite hobbies. It felt like he needed to re-learn everything.
Zoro in front of him was also looking at the casserole frowning and with a bunch of pieces of deer meat in his hands waiting for the right moment. He was also having troubles without his powers, even more than Kidd since he was now king of this stupid land, but they would get over it all with time.
Zoro tried to dump the meat into the pot and Kidd kicked him.
"Not yet" he said shaking his head. Zoro rolled his eyes in exasperation, he had always hated cooking, and was getting mad with Kidd's instructions and sudden control of the process.
Kidd kicked him again because he could.
Kidd turned around to observe the little clairing were they were preparing the food. Kidd and Law's new home, recently built, sat on one of the edges of the place where the door that had connected their two worlds had once stood. The green grass still covered the little place around it, and the little white flowers had started to cling and bloom on the walls of the house, but the most striking change had happened on the forest around it.
Where once this land had looked deadly and toxic, the rain killing everything that grew in the swamp, now a lush old forest covered the place. There was always plenty of food to hunt or harvest, and the solitude and tranquility of the place shooted their souls after the wars and problems they had needed to face. Zoro had invited them to live in the castle after Law woke, but no place had felt as right as this one.
Now Kidd turned around searching for the man training with the last member of his family and old dinasty. Law and Mihawk had quickly gotten along, their love for weapons, books and the calmness had created a very close friendship no one had expected. Mihawk had taught Law the old traditions of the family, had told him the myths and legends of old ancestors, and taught him what he needed to learn, while Law was trying to help Mihawk get used to the current world. Even though they were far related, no one would see them and doubt the blood line.
It kind of worried Kidd, because Mihawk seemed to hate him.
He looked down at the pot ignoring the two men fighting with swords and signaled at Zoro to finally dump the meat into it. Zoro did so and observed the casserole intently as Kidd removed the content. Last time they had done this, the casserole had been disgusting, the meat had been half cooked and the vegetables raw. Time was just annoying in the mortal world.
"Why does Mihawk hate me?" Kidd finally asked as he tired to concentrate on the meal as well.
In front of him, Zoro shrugged in a non-caring gesture, but Kidd knew his brother and saw the little blush on his ears. A new strange blush. He raised a brow amused, but before he could ask, the other two finally finished their training and approached them with content and satisfied smiles.
Kidd kissed Law when he was near and saw Mihawk frown behind him. Kidd didn't care about it, he didn't like the man either and won't give a damn about his opinion of him. Still, Law laughed a lot when they were together, in fact, he smiled more and more each day, he was a bright spark compared to the shadow Kidd had met that day long ago in a snowy paramo.
Zoro also seemed to have turned alive with the dark haired swordmaster next to him, he joked, he smiled, he frowned, he looked like a normal person again compared to the impenetrable block of ice he had once been. So Kidd thought he would spare the man for now. He was good for his family.
Law looked into the pot and frowned, then he turned to look at Kidd disappointed and a bit disgusted.
"I haven't done anything yet!" Kidd complained frowning too "I know how to cook, it will be fine this time!"
"You said so the previous time" Law commented looking at the bubbling thing suspiciously, the smell was great, but so had it been the previous time.
"And when you burned that pie" Mihawk also said calmly, kissing Zoro on the lips and accepting the towel he offered to dry the sweat from his body. Zoro smiled at him and turned to say something to Kidd.
"Don't you dare" Kidd warned him between clenched teeth.
Zoro smirked evilly and just turned away shrugging. He had given up on cooking long ago "I will be getting the dishes" he said innocently as he walked away with Mihawk following his steps.
"I have faith in you" Law said then when they were alone, leaning against the table they had taken out of the house to prepare the meal, his smile mocking and teasing as it usually was in these days "You seem to have turned kind of useless without your powers, but I'm sure we will find something you can do"
Kidd raised an eyebrow and returned the slow knowing smile. He leaned towards Law and put his hands on the table trapping Law between his body and the wood.
"Is that so?" he whispered amused against his mouth.
Law's smile broadened, his eyes sparkled and Kidd wanted to lick the flush still on his cheeks from the harsh training he had been doing. Law's arms circled his neck and Kidd leaned down to steal a more deep and interesting kiss than the one they had shared moments ago. His hands fell to Law's waist, his thumb sliding under the cloth to trace a hipbone, and Law sighed against his lips relaxed and trusting and content.
"Kidd, for god's sake, you have guests!" Zoro complained when he came back from the house moments later.
"Then go away" Kidd said frowning and glaring at his smirking brother.
Law however only sighed and separated from him as, on the edge of the glade, a group of people also appeared carrying tables, and chairs, and even more food. Shanks and Luffy were looking innocently as Ace and Nami seemed to scold them over an empty pot, and Marco and Killer just laughed. Their friends and family always came one day a week to celebrate whatever thing they could make up. It was a mortal thing Kidd had been told, he didn't know yet if he liked it or not.
Resignated, Kidd let Law go knowing he couldn't kick all this people out of his property now. Law would get angry if he tried too. The family and friend thing was new for his lover, and Kidd could see the eagerness and excitement in him despite his jokes and teasing. Law liked this, so Kidd would kill himself before taking this away from him.
"This thing is burning" Mihawk suddenly commented looking at the pot who had started to smell burnt and was smoking "Glad I told them to bring food"
Kidd cursed approaching the pot.
Then, looking at the swordmaster, he finally punched his dear brother in law.
Law shouted at him in horror as Mihawk stumbled back a few steps thanks to the force of the punch. Zoro gasped surprised and tried to stop Mihawk as the man turned towards Kidd with a deadly glare, but suddenly Kidd was fighting against a very pissed swordmaster armed with his kitchen knife.
People shouted disbelievingly, amused or ashamed around them, as tables and chairs got prepared and food was served. Law threw his hands in the air and rolled his eyes giving up on stopping them both. Ace and Marco started a bet. The pot kept burning and Shanks looked at it worried, Luffy sadly. Furniture soon started to fly and the claire quickly filled with laughs, curses and other noises.
Like an old family starting a new part of their lives together and getting over old conflicts. Like two worlds turned into one to never separate again. Like the sun shining after a long terrifying storm.
END
Well friends, this is the end, I hope you have liked the story and that there is no lose ends or doubts. I know this last chapter is a bit fluffy, but we'll it is the end.
As always thanks for reading and thanks to my dear beta for standing all this craziness. About the future, I will take a few weeks of, cos I can, but there is a new fic ongoing, so wait for it.
See y'all.