Law was sitting atop of the hill over the house they'd occupied during stay on this island - some summer cottage, presently vacant. It offered quite a nice view of the area and the sea, but he hadn't come here to appreciate the scenery. With his knees pulled up and arms around them, with his lips pressed into a thin line and glare in the eyes, and in a position screaming, 'Keep away!', he was sitting and cursing. Cursing Corazon, of course, whom else?
Stupid, stupid Corazon! Damn him! Why had Law been punished with presence of someone like him? Why did he had to spend time accompanied by that clumsy lunatic, who attracted all accidents like a magnet? It was high time that he broke his neck, so that Law had finally peace and no longer needed to bother.
Law had turned his eyes just for a moment, for five minutes at the very most. He'd been preparing their lunch from the ingredients they'd got in the village. Earlier, he'd convinced Corazon that it would be better if he took care of cooking; it increased the chances that the food would be edible, and besides, of them two, he was better at handling fire. And, actually, everything else too. In any case, he'd told Corazon to sit down and wait for the meal - so Corazon had sat down and waited... But who'd suggested that he fell asleep, and with his cigarette lit? Even little kids knew that laying down with a cigarette was a bad idea - but Donquixote Rosinante had apparently missed that lesson. That was, if he'd attend any school in the first place. When Law had realised it, half of the cloak had already burned along with one heart-tassel of the hood, and the cottage with Corazon himself had been on a good way to it, for that nut had chosen a pile of wood as his place of rest.
Law's finger clutched at the fabric of his pants.
The fire had been quickly extinguished, for the cottage had a pump and Corazon could swing a bucket a few times faster than a normal person. When the situation had been put under the control, the two of them standing on the yard and dripping water, Law had felt he would explode, tear to pieces or burst out crying, probably all that at the same time. He had clenched his fists and pressed his lips tight, but he still couldn't stop the tears welling up in his eyes.
Corazon, startled, had approached him right away and grabbed his shoulders. 'Law, are you all right?!' he'd began to ask, shaking him somewhat violently. 'Did you hurt yourself?! Law! Law!'
Law had shaken his head, although he'd had to force himself to that move. 'You're a blasted idiot...!' he'd choked, staring at the scorches on the face of his carer that, despite tears, he could see all too well. 'Worry about yourself...! The next time you'll burn yourself to death... and me, too...!'
'Everything's fine, Law!' Corazon had tried to calm him, but Law only had kicked him in the ankle, then had wrenched himself off and run to the forest that started right behind the cottage.
'Law...! Law, I'm sorry!' Corazon had called, following him.
'Leave me alone!' Law had screamed, suddenly perfectly certain he would start crying the next moment, and he'd had absolutely no desire to do it in Corazon's presence, for it had happened too many times already.
When he'd gone past the first trees, he'd heard, 'I'm going to wait for you here, Law!' He hadn't stopped, only had kept running.
And now he was sitting here, atop this small hill, and cursing Corazon like mad. To tell the truth, he was angry with himself at least as much.
That was what attachment did to a person.
He sniffed. He could still remember that terror that had struck him upon seeing Corazon in flames. It hadn't been a new sight - Corazon would put himself aflame at least twice a day - but this time the situation had been different. How could that fool have relaxed so much that he'd dozed off in broad daylight? True, they weren't fugitives who needed to be wary of the pursuit, but they were still the pirates (although Law had his own suspicions about Corazon), the outlaws. Moreover, after the events of the last few weeks - one, more or less deliberately, had set fire to several hospitals, and the other was sick with Amber Lead Syndrome, that was commonly believed to be a lethal infectious disease - it wouldn't be strange if they were considered as dangerous criminals that should be arrested at best, or eliminated at worst. They really shouldn't lower their guard.
And that loony had fallen asleep just like that!
For the thousandth time, Law asked himself how come Corazon had survived twenty-something years; he must have had the best luck in the world, there was no other option. If someone had told him that such a clumsy person existed, he wouldn't have believed. It was a completely new class of clumsiness. Well, Corazon had no problem with it - he wasn't bothered by his constant tripping or slight scathes, unless he hadn't hurt others in the process - but combined with his clearly impaired ability to sense pain, he really risked a serious injury. It was a nice thing to have strong body and endurance at least a few times higher than a normal person, but he wasn't invulnerable nor immortal! Law thought sarcastically that, sooner than Amber Lead, he would be killed by the stress due to staying with Corazon... and due to his anxiety.
He withdrew his head into his shoulders and pulled knees closer to his chest, hating that feeling weighing down on his heart. Anxiety, fear, terror. He was scared. He was scared to lose again what was dear to him. He hadn't wanted to become attached, for he'd known that the next stage would be constant uncertainty and fear. Corazon had said he would stay with him forever - and maybe he was one of the strongest people Law had ever known - but those were just words. Only life could verify such a promise. In his short life, Law had lost too much already to bear even more. He'd lost his family, home, childhood and sense of security. He was twelve - he should live in his city, enjoy the daily safety, study, and give in to his passions, have friends and relatives around, have vision of future and the whole life ahead. Instead, he was an outcast damned by all people, and no longer a child, who kept wandering around the world and knew he had only a few years, months left.
Corazon was the only good thing that had happened to him - really, the only one - but it seemed to him it was enough. He would never admit it aloud, but recently he'd been under the impression that Corazon's presence compensated for a family and home, restored his childhood and gave security. If he were to lose him now... The very thought made him feel terribly cold, made his heart froze in his chest and his lungs long for air. Such was the price of attachment.
He hadn't wanted to become attached, yet it had already happened and he couldn't do a thing about it. Sure, he could try to run away again, but he knew well that, first, Corazon would find him anyway - how was he doing it? - and, second... To part with him was the last thing Law wished for. So, he'd walked into a trap and could no longer get out. He wanted to stay, even if it were to cost him nerves and fill him with constant fear. Foolish situation - foolish going from one extreme to the other - but he'd brought it on himself, so there was no use whining about it. In the end, he told himself just like he'd used to recently, that soon his dilemmas would end anyway. It was a strange thing, to comfort himself with a thought of being dead soon, but it was already his habit. He'd long since stopped fearing death; fear of inevitable was pointless. Yes, soon all his problems would cease to be, and before that, maybe he'd experience something good, too...
He sniffed again. For some reason, today such consolation didn't work - but Law chose not to think of the possible reasons now, for it might worsen his mood, and instead he returned to the previous matter.
So, he'd decided to stay, instead of running away. And he used to stick to his decisions; even if he couldn't trust anything else, he could at least trust himself - it helped, gave him some support. He didn't want to leave anymore. Well, it didn't mean he'd believed they would find the cure for his illness... but maybe, at the very least... he hoped for it? Hope was dangerous - but could it really harm him? As long as he was alive, he could as well hope to survive. If he died, then... well, he would be dead. He wouldn't feel disappointed; he would feel nothing at all. While hope... maybe it might give him strength? Over those last weeks, Corazon had stubbornly tried to implant that hope into him. There was no doubt he was one hundred percent convinced that Law would be cured. Law realise that, at some point, it had stopped unnerving him. He'd accepted it just as he'd accepted Corazon's clumsiness, his idiotic make-up and smoking. He'd accepted Corazon whole.
His lips quivered in the very first shade of a smile, but he quickly became serious again. He still had no idea why Corazon did this. Why did he care about some strange kid with a death sentence? Why did he say he would always be by his side? Why had he left Doflamingo... and, obviously, his another employer, whomever might be that person that he'd occasionally talked with on Den Den Mushi...? He was risking that they were displeased - and only for Law? Why had he decided to help him and kept saving him from every predicament? Forget all that 'care' that he bestowed upon him, half of it exposing Law to harm - but what about those situations he really put himself at risk? Why did he act as if, for Law, he would be able to sacrifice absolutely everything, everything?
It was all wrong. Law was to die the next year - then why did Corazon protected him with such zeal? Should he die in the process, it... it would be utterly pointless. Was it about 'D'? Probably. After all, Corazon had taken interest in him when he'd learned his full name. Law had that conversation - their first conversation - recorded in his mind and would often play it. Corazon had said that Doflamingo considered the Ds as his natural enemies. He'd also said that his goal was to stop his brother... Then, it was probably a sound assumption that he'd taken care of Law because he regarded him as a mean to achieve that goal?
For some reason, that thought was unpleasant; however, Law knew he would never dare to ask the truth. Maybe he really was capable of hoping now...? He foolishly hoped that Corazon acted not only because of 'D', just... Just what? Liked him? That, if anything, was preposterous. Law couldn't imagine anyone to like him. He couldn't believe what Corazon had said, 'I'm happy because of you.' Even Corazon was capable of lying; after all, he'd done it skilfully for years when in the Family. Yet, such thoughts evoked more unpleasant emotions... and he almost wished he could return to what he'd been: that creature that could feel only hate.
Almost.
In fact, he couldn't resist the impression that, as far as he was concerned, it didn't matter in the slightest whether Corazon did it only because of 'D'. Even if he did... Law knew he didn't want to leave. Suddenly, he hoped he would never need to.
That thought was sneakily followed by another: What if Corazon grew bored of him? If he decided he was sick of him, and, in spite of his promise - was it even a promise? - left him alone? Just one month ago, Law wouldn't have wished for anything else... but now such an option made him feel as if the precipice opened under his feet. Why, he could easily believe it might really happen. Even if for the last weeks Corazon had stuck to him like a leech and wouldn't let him go, it didn't mean that one month or half a year from now it would continue like that. Law wasn't the nicest kid in the world; quite the contrary, he thought there couldn't be any more nasty than he. After all, he'd been treating his companion in an extremely terrible way and hadn't said a single nice word to him, despite all good Corazon had done. Actually, now that he thought of it, he'd responded to the man's kindness with increasing aggression, just like today... Even though Corazon had treated him like angel so far, there must have been some limits to his patience. What would Law do if one day - maybe even today? - Rosinante told him they should go different ways now...?! It would mean an end of him...!
Law blinked... and then punched himself on the forehead. With both hands. Then he also slapped both his cheeks, flushed already before it. It was hard to believe, but he'd just given to a real hysteria, and he still couldn't understand how he'd done it. It was so absurd that he suddenly felt like laughing, although normally he would be devastated. Maybe this journey made him adopt Corazon's tendency to not be bothered by his own slip-ups? Well, any benefit would do, he thought with irony and came to the conclusion he'd spent last half an hour on utterly stupid and futile analysis. However, in the process - which was another benefit - he'd completely forgotten his earlier shock... and he was no longer angry, either.
He stared at the sea farther ahead. The sunlight was glittering on the waves. The scream of gulls could be heard even here. It was a peaceful afternoon, with no danger... Deep inside, Law felt that nothing serious had happened. This day might end just like the previous one, and the previous one, and the previous one. His reactions had been certainly exaggerated.
Back at the only sensible thought he'd managed to brush, though - how was Corazon? He'd got burned in the fire... and Law hadn't cared a bit, only had run to the forest to self-pity. Now he was genuinely displeased with himself, for over last few weeks he would routinely tend to all his companion's injuries, as if he'd obliged himself to. To tell the truth, Corazon didn't need his treatment at all - his every wound healed itself, and very fast, too - but Law would stick to his guns. Since he knew one or two things about medicine, he couldn't stand being around someone with a lousily dressed injury or an open wound. Then again, honestly speaking, he had a vague impression that he did it because, first, he liked when Corazon called him Doctor Law, and second... he wanted to torment him a bit and repay all that 'care' that often made him feel worse... No, he definitely wasn't the nicest person in the world... but now that thought was amusing.
In any case, Corazon had said he'd been alright - and he probably was - but it didn't mean that Law couldn't dress those burns, even if they should heal in two, three days. Law's medical kit should be safe; he'd left it in another room. Besides... Corazon could get into a new trouble even if he only was waiting for him by the forest, like he'd promised. Law knew all too well that Corazon was perfectly capable of hurting himself when just sitting, and often without any own actions involved. In his case, even the most improbable scenario was fully possible. Law's imagination eagerly showed him what kind of predicament his carer could get into. Maybe he'd been attacked by the poisonous spiders? Maybe he'd fallen into a bear trap? Maybe he'd been hit by a branch that had broken in the last storm? Or maybe he'd put himself on fire again, that moron? Someone should really keep an eye on him.
Law got up and began to descend the hill, realising it wasn't that bad: to have someone you could worry about. Upon seeing Corazon sitting where he should sit, he realised that it wasn't that bad to have someone you could return to, either.
"Laaaw!" Corazon beamed at the sight of his, which looked terribly with those blisters. Law would have never thought that Corazon's face could look even more creepy than it did with his normal make-up. "Everything's all right?"
"You better worry about yourself, would you?" Law retorted, relieved at the fact that nothing else had occurred during his absence. Now that he looked closer, he saw that even most of the cloak survived.
"I'm fine," Corazon replied happily.
"What a pity we have no mirror," Law threw bitterly.
Corazon patted his both cheeks and didn't even wince, although Law felt worse just looking. "It's going to heal in two days," the giant man assessed.
Law sighed and went back to the cottage. Corazon followed. It was still wet inside, and the smell of burning must have already permeated every item, but the medical kit was intact indeed. Law washed his hands and left to the yard again. He sat down on a rock and looked at Corazon expectantly. His companion grinned - Law tried not to roll his eyes - and sat down next to him.
"Doctor Law," he muttered contentedly as Law started to apply the ointment that should prevent any infection of the wound.
"Be quiet."
"I'm sorry. I was careless."
"You're always careless."
"Not always."
"Almost always."
"Yeah."
"You should quit smoking."
"I already did!" Corazon replied with enthusiasm. "I threw the cigarettes and the lighter into the nettles. There!"
"I wonder if it lasts longer than one hour this time," Law muttered, recollecting the previous attempts.
"I'm sure it will!"
Law said nothing only moved his patient's face to the left to take care of the other cheek. This side looked worse, but it was still quite a superficial burn in question. In normal person, it would require two weeks to heal; in this freak of nature, it really could take just two days. Corazon's recovery prognoses had always been accurate; well, he'd had over twenty years of experience...
Slowly and thoroughly, Law was spreading the herbal ointment over the man's face, trying to be as gentle as possible. Even if Rosinante, like Law himself, had an unnaturally elevated pain threshold, second-degree burns were always the most painful. He wondered how Corazon never had a single scar after all those accidental self-immolations. Maybe his flesh had a protective layer of some kind? Law had seen the flames licking the man's face with his own eyes... But Rosinante's skin under his fingers seemed completely ordinary, and the only abnormal thing here was his permanent make-up.
Ah, whatever. The most important was that nothing serious had happened this time, either. Law saw himself there was no reason to be concerned. And if it were something serious - he thought with stupid conceit that was so unlike him - it would be his job to cure it. Regardless of the injury, Corazon would always be like new thanks to Law's skills. With Doctor Law around Donquixote Rosinante could rest assured. Everything was and would be under the control. There was no need to panic again, Law had to remember it.
"I apologise, too," he said without really planning it. "I reacted too violently. I'm glad you're fine."
Corazon turned his head abruptly - making Law's slick finger almost gouge his eye out - and stared at him with an utter astonishment. Law averted his gaze, for he couldn't bear that sight.
"You were worried about me? " Corazon asked in a complete disbelief that almost hurt Law. Then, however, he thought he deserved it; after all, he hadn't shown his companion any fondness so far... Maybe it was high time to finally start.
Still, something prevented him from answering, from saying it aloud... and, in the end, he only nodded briefly. Well, it was apparently enough, for the next moment Corazon beamed more than the sun. Taking into account that, apart from red lines and blue wedges, he was now having also green smears on the face, it appeared even more grotesque than usually. This time Law did roll his eyes... but, at the same time, the sight made his chest tickle with a funny and pleasant sensation. Corazon's smile just had such an effect.
"I'm happy," Rosinante stated, as if it weren't obvious. No unhappy person would be able to smile like that. However, in case he hadn't convinced him, he added once more, "I'm happy, Law. Thank you."
Law lowered his eyes and nodded again. Then he wiped his hands and packed his kit. A satisfied patient made a doctor satisfied as well. He wouldn't call it happiness... but such situations, when he felt joy of having performed his task well, made him forget all his worries, if only for a moment.
After those short moments of inner calm, the realisation that he should die soon was so uncomfortable that he almost regretted those minutes... felt they'd been futile, completely unneeded. Even that happiness of Corazon, expressed in his moronic smile and honest words, made him want to live - although he had forsaken the will to live already. That happiness seemed so pointless...
"Why do you care about me?" he asked unexpectedly, his eyes fixed on his knees. "I'm going to die anyway, so-"
Corazon straightened himself up, sending almost visible sparks in the air. "Idiot!" he called. "Don't say that! Of course you're not going to die! We'll certainly find the cure!"
"Don't call me an idiot!" Law retorted, casting him an annoyed look. "You're an idiot! I'm terminally ill," he reminded. "Only miracle could heal me...!"
"Then I'll create that miracle!"
Law stared at him in disbelief, dumbfounded. Only Corazon could say something like that... He shook his head, but then Rosinante grabbed him by his shoulders and moved his face close to his face in order to look him in the eye with pressing earnestness.
"Law, you mustn't abandon hope," he said with emphasis. "This world is full of mysteries... of things that occur against common sense or science. Everything is possible, everything can happen. The world is like a book; you never know what is be on the next page, and there may be anything. Law...!" he persuaded, shaking him lightly. Then, however, he stopped and only looked at him. The smile had vanished from his eyes, turning him into a normal, scary man. "I can't bear it when you talk about dying," he added, his fingers digging into Law's shoulder, but it wasn't what hurt him. "It's... it's just not right...!"
"I know it's not right...!" Law called, blinking, for his eyes suddenly stung. "But I can't help it...! What should I do? What can I do? Nothing!" he moaned helplessly. "It's not like... I want... to die...!" he choked and sniffed. He'd said it... and now it was impossible to stop the tears.
Corazon stared at him silently... and then embraced him, crushed him in his arms, almost breaking his every bone. Law pressed his face against his shirt and cried quietly, overwhelmed by the suffering of several years - fear of dying and hopeless acceptance of inevitable fate - that he'd managed to hide deep inside, bury at the bottom of his soul that he'd later forgotten of. It seemed to tear his body into pieces, and yet he could only weep softly. Maybe those strong arms, clasping around him so tight, kept him together and didn't let him fall apart.
"Law, Law...!" We'll find the cure. We'll create a miracle," Corazon said with power, never losing his grip. "You'll live. You'll recover. The world is big and full of the most peculiar things that we don't even know of yet. If needed, we'll sail as far as Grand Line. You'll undoubtedly be cured there. Law, do not abandon hope," he repeated. "You must believe as long as you're alive. You must, Law!"
Law said nothing. Sobbing ceased shaking his body; his head was buzzing, and his throat ached, but his mind, after a short breakdown, was already working again. Yet, he didn't raise his face; he wanted to stay in this hiding, in this small world defined by Corazon's arms and heartbeat. Maybe here, in this safe cover, in this specific hideout, death wouldn't find him...? After all, Corazon could defeat every enemy. It would be so easy to give in to that illusion...!
But, were faith and hope some illusions, too? He'd said he hadn't wanted to die... he'd said he'd wanted to live... and he knew it was truth. Even if it was easier - and it had been, until now - to discard the will to live... now that he'd realised it again, he couldn't resign on it. He couldn't deny it. Then, why should he not believe...? Why should he not have hope...? Not so long ago, he'd admitted it himself: hope couldn't hurt him. Why shouldn't he do like Corazon urged him and believe as long as he breathed...? After all, he was alive, he was still alive - why was he so stubborn to change his life into mere vegetation and awaiting the end? Besides... even if the previous years had been devoid of any sense and filled only with darkness - yes, as if he had consciously decided to die when still alive – then those recent weeks... Those recent weeks had mattered. Oh, not only to him, but to someone else, too. In last weeks, someone else was happy because of him.
Not 'someone'. Donquixote Rosinante. Corazon. Cora-san.
He made Law happy, too.
He clutched his fingers at the heart-patterned fabric. He knew that, had he made this step, there wouldn't be turning back - but he didn't plan to go back. He had no idea whether it was his defeat or victory. Actually, he came to the conclusion, it was probably pointless to think of life in such categories. Sometimes it was better to trust own feelings.
"If you stay with me," he whispered, "then I'll believe... I'll have hope... Cora-san, please, st-"
"Of course I'm going to stay. I promised you that, Law," Corazon said, smile ringing in his words that brought comfort. "I'll stay with you. We're on this journey together, and we have that goal together. The whole world is open before us, and what we seek definitely must be somewhere. We're going to find it together, Law. Find the cure to your illness."
Law nodded, sniffed the last time and moved back. Corazon let him out of his embrace but was still holding him by his shoulders. Law wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and blinked a few times before he was ready to raise his eyes... and when he did so, he almost choked, certain he would have nightmares tonight. Although it was utterly impossible, Corazon's face looked even worse than before, because at some point of his emphatic speech the giant man had managed to start crying himself. It also appeared that some of the ingredients of the ointment reacted to his make-up, for, generally speaking, Rosinante now looked like he'd been painted with poor paints by someone lacking any artistic sense. Or the contrary.
Himself, he wasn't bothered by it in the slightest; his smile was as sincere as always. "And if we aren't succeed... although it's just one chance in a million.. then, Law, I'm going to die with you," he said calmly.
Law stared at him, stupefied. He couldn't possibly hear that... "What d-"
"If I can't save a single kid," Corazon added, ignoring him, "then there was no point in being born in the first place."
All of the sudden, Law was furious. "Moron! Your life is worth much mo-," he started, but quickly corrected upon Corazon's displeased look, "is as important as anybody's. Why should you die with me? What kind of logic it that?!"
Corazon shook his head. "That's what I decided," he said, his voice resolved.
"I don't want you to die!" Law called anxiously, clenching his fists. "Why did you say that? Now I'm going to feel even worse...! Not only I'm going to die myself, but I'll know you will, too... Call it back!" he demanded, but Rosinante only smiled at him. "Cora-san!"
"In that case, you just have to forget all that thing about dying and think only of surviving," Corazon suggested, completely immune to his begging. "Then we'll both have a happy end."
Law snorted and folded his arms on his chest, ostentatiously averting his eyes. He'd forgot that Corazon was as stubborn as himself. "That's... nice that you... care," he dawdled, still looking away, "but dying together with me is overdoing it." He really thought so.
"I told you, I'm not going to leave you, so I'm ready to accompany you to the other side as well," Corazon explained, and something in his voice indicated he had fun, damn him. "So that you're not scared alone."
"I'm not scared," Law replied defiantly. "I'm not a kid."
"Of course you are!"
"I'm twelve and-"
"Twelve is not a kid? Ah, but... it doesn't matter how old you are. I feel like a kid all the time," Corazon confessed happily, "and I'm twice as old as you."
"I noticed," Law replied under his breath... and then realised that no serious mood was possible with conversation like this.
Actually, he didn't feel like getting into it again, so it was a good thing it had vanished itself. He moved the medical kit closer. Concentrating on the mundane problems calmed him. His heart was already beating normally, and his throat was loose again. He would still have time to think of... those matters, there was no need to do it now.
He sighed and looked at his companion. "Come. I'll do it again 'cause you look as miserable as sin."
Corazon was more than happy to give in to his care. Law applied a new layer of ointment, although the final effect was still bad.
"When those burns are healed, you should have a new make-up done," he suggested. "The sooner the better," he added with a sneer.
"I know one place nearby," Corazon replied. "They will even mend the cloak there," he added, lifting one sleeve... or what was left of it after the fire. "It will be like new."
Law nodded; the cloak was important. He swept Donquixote Rosinante's face in one look, before stopping at his bright eyes.
"I won't think of dying," he declared. "So... never cry over me again, Cora-san."
"I have one condition," Corazon replied, never breaking their eye-contact.
Law suppressed another sigh. "What?" he asked with patience he hadn't even expected to have, but then he caught himself, "Why are you making conditions?"
"I want you to smile."
Without a word, Law rose from the rock. He felt like saying, "Over my dead body," but he contained himself in the last second. There had been already too much dying in this conversation. Nevertheless, he turned away to indicate he wasn't going to listen any more and took a few steps towards the fence.
"Laaaw...!" Corazon capitulated after five seconds or so. "It was a joke...! Don't be mad. I mean... it wasn't a joke, you really should smile, but... I'm sorry, Laaaw...!"
Law stopped at the edge of the yard. He stayed like that for a while, staring at the blue sky over his head, then took a deep breath and turned back to his carer, who was sitting where he had before and looking at him with begging in his eyes... and, it seemed to Law, with sparks of a smile as well. Recently, he'd made sure that at least some of Rosinante's exuberant emotionality was a nicely performed act. Since they both knew that, it didn't hurt anyone, and sometimes it even helped. Yet, he sighed and shook his head. It was one of those moments that he admitted he'd almost preferred Corazon as an intelligent mute.
Almost.
'I want you to smile,' he repeated his huge companion's words in his head.
"I'll think of it," he said and, like he'd expected, was rewarded with a wide smile straight from the heart.
It wasn't so hard to believe that one day - probably sooner than later - he would naturally respond to it. Smiling was like yawning... and reflexes usually were formed unawares.
"I'm happy," Corazon said for the third time this day.
"Idiot," Law replied with a feeling everything was back to normal.
For now, it was all he needed.