Title: Panacea
Author: AoiTsukikage
Rating: R
Characters/Pairing:Law/Sanji
Chapter: 3/6 (?)
Word Count: 3488
Summary: There's something in his demeanor, the way he hides his true feelings whenever they start to unconsciously slip out, that speaks volumes. And Sanji would hardly consider himself somebody that wants to fixpeople but, well, he likes a challenge, and Law presents a rather giant one.
Spoilers:For recent-ish chapters, but this is set before Dressrosa.
Chapter Three
The island, thankfully, does have both a market and a hotel, and Nami gives him his allowance with a smile and a wink. A quick look at Robin has her hiding a knowing smile behind her hand, and while Sanji should be annoyed that she'd been gossiping about him, he could never be mad at his angels for long.
"There's a little extra in there," Nami whispers, patting his hand and heading off down the pier with Robin, and he divides the money out, keeping enough in reserve for a night at the inn and feeling Law's eyes on him as he disembarks, making his way through the streets of the sleepy town until he finds the local fishmonger and trying to clear his head enough to shop for supplies.
He's finished with the fish and is heading to the produce stands when he feels somebody fall into step beside him, a quick glance to the side revealing that it's Usopp and he's staunchly trying not to look at Sanji as they wander along.
"If you're shopping with me I'm gonna make you carry shit," Sanji tells him, and Usopp shrugs. "And if you try and talk me out of this I'm kicking you back to the ship."
Usopp gives him an affronted look at that although eventually he sighs.
"I'm not going to say anything about…y'know…him," he whispers, as if somehow saying his name will cause the man himself to appear, and Sanji grins around his cigarette, picking through a carton of fresh mangos. "But what if he cuts you up and leaves you naked in pieces in the hotel room?"
Trust Usopp to think of the worst case scenario, Sanji thinks, but he laughs and shakes his head.
"Well, if he does, you'll avenge me, right?"
Usopp sniffs and holds his nose up high, straightening his spine and nodding resolutely. "That's right! The great Captain Usopp will never let harm befall his friends without dealing swift retribution to those responsible!"
"See, nothing to worry about," Sanji slings an arm around Usopp's shoulders, and truthfully he's grateful and touched by how concerned everybody is, but he can handle himself this time.
"Yeah. Right," Usopp keeps hovering around, though, so Sanji does indeed make him carry most of the supplies back to the ship.
It only seems fair.
000
Everything had been going so well.
At least, until Law had pushed him off and sat on the edge of the bed, knees pulled to his chest and staring at nothing in a way that was a little frightening.
"Law?" he asks softly, getting a tiny head-shake in return.
He's not sure what set the other man off, because they'd both made it to the half-clothed stage, falling onto the bed and trying to kiss and undress at the same time, but it was as if some switch had been triggered in Law's brain and he'd just…frozen.
Sanji doesn't know if he should say anything or just let Law come back on his own, but it doesn't feel right to leave him sitting there, so he carefully wraps his arms around Law, hooking his chin over the man's shoulder and holding him like that.
"I apologize," Law starts after a few moments.
"It's okay," Sanji promises, because he just wants Law to be comfortable with all of this and the way the other man switches from hot to cold is unpredictable and, yeah, a little irritating, if he's being honest.
"It's been a long time since I've allowed myself to be…intimate with anybody. Sex by its very nature is the ultimate baring of one's self, and I suppose my natural instincts toward self-preservation and the way I desire to be perceived are harder to overcome than I had thought," he pauses then, closing his eyes, and Sanji moves back a little, fingers coming up to trace the lines of the jolly roger tattooed on Law's back. He can't imagine what the other man's past has been like, what horrors he's gone through that have caused him to throw up as many walls and barriers as he has, but he knows that Law is carrying some heavy burdens.
"Well, you know I'm not gonna judge you," he drapes his arms around Law's neck again, pressing his chest to the older man's back, and Law relaxes incrementally. "And I'd like to say I'm the same when it comes to how I want to present myself, but every time I try to look cool or suave I end up embarrassing myself so I've pretty much given up on that," he chuckles to himself because there are times he feels like the butt of some universal joke, but well, he's made it this far.
"It would be nice to feel that way."
"Yeah, maybe," Sanji isn't all that sure that getting used to being embarrassed is the best thing for a person's self-esteem, after all. He also knows he's shit at being supportive or trying to make somebody feel better if they're down (it's probably the result of never having that kind of support growing up. He loves Zeff, but it's not as if the old geezer ever coddled him or showed him sympathy, and as such he's kind of emotionally stunted in that department) but he's got a feeling that Law won't respond well to being pitied anyway. "Look, if you don't wanna do this, it's fine."
"I suppose you'll be wanting to find a warm body elsewhere in town," Law sounds…bitter, for some reason, and Sanji places his hand over Law's chest, feeling his heart (a heart? Truth be told that whole thing kind of freaks him out) beating a little too rapidly.
"D'you really think I'd do that?"
"Truthfully, no, but since you were prepared for it and I'm hedging, perhaps it would not be so unremarkable if you did," he sounds bored as usual and Sanji curled his fingers in a little, not sure how to proceed.
"Is this one yours?"
"Hmm?" Law jerks his head up. "Oh. Yes," he nods. "As…useful as my power might be, there's still something that feels off about not having my heart physically inside my body. Would it matter?" he sounds vaguely amused now and Sanji chuckles lightly.
"Nah, not really, but it's kinda nice to know I've got all of you here. Or only you here," he adds, because the first sounds a little too sappy even if that wasn't his intent. "Hey," he murmurs. "Will you let me get you off, at least? You don't have to do anything if you don't want to, and we can stay like this so you don't have to look at me, but I can make you feel good."
"That's awfully gracious of you," Law seems suspicious now and Sanji holds him a little tighter.
"I'm a cook, remember? My entire career is based on doing things that make people happy, and it's enough for me to know I can do that. I mean, I'm not a saint, it'd be nice to get something out of it, but I'm not asking if you're not offering," he's not exactly sure why he's being so nice about the whole thing, but well, there's still no denying how gorgeous Law is and the chance to make him fall apart, to see him bare himself in a way that very few people ever get to, is more than a little appealing.
"Okay," Law sounds like the word is hard to get out, but it's still permission and Sanji lets his hand slide down resting over the other man's flat stomach and feeling him breathe for a few moments. "Don't treat me like I'm fragile."
"Trust me, I know you're not," Sanji promises. "But I'm gonna need a little help if you don't want me to look."
Law sighs but undoes his jeans, shoving them down and settling back on the bed, body a little tenser now, and Sanji tries to get himself a little more comfortable, eventually deciding it's not going to work.
"C'mere," he tugs at Law's shoulder, scrambling up the bed so that he's braced against the headboard, and Law looks over his shoulder, furrowing his brow. "I won't look, just…" Sanji puts his hand over his eyes, hoping it'll be convincing, and he hears the rustling of fabric that probably means Law's kicking off his jeans before the bed dips. Sanji moves his legs apart, hoping that it's a sign Law can read, and he hears the older man sigh again before he feels Law's back press against his chest, elbows looped over his knees and yeah, this'll work. "Okay?"
"You can look," Law sounds sure of this, at least. "I'm hardly ashamed of my body."
"You shouldn't be," Sanji says honestly, hooking his chin over Law's shoulder and opening his eyes. And yeah, Law really has no need to be embarrassed, because he's more than adequate. He can hear Law's breath hitch at the first touch of his fingers against the other man's cock (he's already hard, but Sanji's not going to take that as proof he's enjoying it yet because it could just be his body's response to being close to somebody), but Sanji pauses then, shifting enough so that he can pull a tiny bottle out of his pocket.
He doesn't think it's too presumptuous to have brought it along, especially considering what he thought was going to occur, and it would make things easier. He pours some oil onto his fingers, letting it warm more against his skin, before he wraps his hand around Law's cock and feels him shudder at the action.
"Okay?"
"It's fine," Law sounds more like he's doing an unpleasant operation than getting a handjob, but Sanji's not going to question it as he starts stroking in earnest. He knows his hands are exceptionally talented, and while this isn't something he's going to brag about to most people, he's fairly certain it's a skill that transfers remarkably well over to sexual acts.
Law lets out a slow breath, head tilting back onto Sanji's shoulder. His eyes are half-lidded, focused on a spot on the ceiling, and Sanji kisses the side of his neck, determined to make this as good for Law as possible. He's always been rather single-minded when it comes to achieving his goals, after all.
"Half expected you to have more tattoos where nobody can see them," he murmurs in Law's ear, as much to defuse the rather awkward silence as anything else, and Law shrugs in response.
"Sorry to disappoint," his voice is a tight, more strained than normal, and Sanji feels a tiny thrill of pride at knowing he's at least making Law feel something. "You can…" he waves a hand idly and Sanji moves his own hand faster, flicking his wrist at the end of every upstroke and feeling Law's body jerk each time in response.
And he can't help thinking that, if Law would just let go of his inhibitions and give in to what he does seem to be feeling, that he would be a rather exceptional lover. Sanji's pretty sure that Law's always going to carry a sense of danger around him but hell, danger on its own gives him an adrenaline rush, so maybe that's something he'd actually find appealing.
Law's fingers wrap around his calves, digging into his pants, and Sanji can feel how taut his body is. He can't say he's surprised, because Law doesn't seem the type to jerk off for fun and if it's been a long time, well, his stamina's probably going to be lacking.
Bracing his free hand against Law's chest, he moves his other one faster, nuzzling his nose against Law's jawline and, acting completely on impulse, flicks his tongue out to lick at the lobe of the other man's ear, the metal of his earrings cool against his tongue.
Law lets out a little noise at that, shocked and sub-vocal, body tensing like a bowstring before he groans softly and Sanji can feel his release running over his fingers, gently coaxing him through it and letting his hand drop away once Law slumps back against him.
He's panting and flushed, and Sanji glances to where his hand is lying on Law's chest, deceptively pale against Law's darker skin. He imagines they probably make quite the appealing sight, but it's not the moment for vanity and he tilts Law's face toward him with his clean hand, catching his lips and breathing an internal sigh of relief when Law kisses him back.
"So?" he mumbles against the other man's lips, and Law pulls back a little, eyes hooded and something that almost looks like a smile on his face.
"That was…nice," he concedes, and it might not sound like much, but for him it's pretty major. "Do you need me to reciprocate?"
"Fuck no, not if you're making it seem like an obligation," Sanji's surprised that he's actually not that aroused, probably because he'd been concentrating so hard on making sure Law enjoyed it, but for right now that's enough. "I need to…" he points toward the bathroom and Law nods, shifting enough that Sanji can get up, and he cleans up a little (the inn they're at is surprisingly well-equipped for being on a small island, but after living with Franky's plumbing for so long it's appreciated) before heading back out into the bedroom.
Law hasn't moved much, but he's got his knees drawn up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, a position that makes him look inherently vulnerable.
"You okay?" Sanji pulls a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, lighting up in a smooth, practiced motion.
"I'm quite fine, Mr. Blackleg," Law intones and Sanji rolls his eyes.
"I've got a first name."
"I realize that."
"It's fucking weird to call me that after what we just did," Sanji points out, because Law's got his odd speech patterns but it's not like he's incapable of calling people by their real names; he just doesn't do it very often.
Law smirks at him then, the bastard, and Sanji relaxes because yeah, they're fine.
"Just a warning that if you ever call me that when we're fucking I'm leaving the room," he blows out some smoke and Law glances at him in surprise. "I mean, if you want to fool around again," he adds, and Law unfurls his body a little and nods.
"I believe I'd like that. I'm sorry you've had to put up with…" he wiggles his fingers in a vague way that Sanji somehow understands, "but I can assure you that you've assuaged all of my doubts about this arrangement."
"The fact that you can still use giant words after coming as hard as you did is kind of scary," Sanji mutters, seating himself on the bed and holding out the cigarette, and this time Law doesn't hesitate to take it. "Knew you'd smoked before."
"I try not to make it a habit," he replies, lying back against the headboard, and there's something unusually relaxed about his demeanor that Sanji finds rather attractive. He moves the cigarette away from his mouth, holding it off to the side and beckoning Sanji closer with his other hand. The blond looks at him curiously but doesn't object, straddling his hips and lying down when Law presses gently on his back.
"What're you doing?"
"This is…customary after being intimate, is it not?" Law brings the cigarette to his lips again and takes a quick drag.
"Didn't peg you for a cuddler," Sanji settles himself more comfortably, head resting on Law's shoulder.
"It's less a matter of me inherently disliking it and more the fact that finding somebody I trust enough to do this with isn't easy," he admits, and it's an honest confession, at least. His hand slides down Sanji's back, thumb rubbing over the bumps in his spine, until he stops and frowns. "What happened?"
"Hmm? Oh. Got caught in an avalanche. Fractured my spine," he explains, and hell, that seems so long ago now that they'd been on Drum Island, it's almost like it happened in another lifetime.
"Mm, it's barely noticeable. You must have had an exceptional doctor," Law strokes his thumb over the raised skin and Sanji nods.
"She taught Chopper pretty much everything he knows, so yeah, she's pretty decent," he cringes at the memory. "Can't say her…way of trying to heal me was nice, though. I think the whole island heard me scream."
"I'd like to hear you scream," Law makes it sound like a threat and Sanji glances at him in surprise. "Not in pain," he clarifies. "My reputation might precede me but I'm hardly somebody who derives a lot of pleasure from needlessly harming innocents."
"Well, you might get your chance, if you don't chicken out on me again," he says it as flippantly as he can but Law's smile is tight when he looks down at him. He isn't trying to be mean, but since the chances of Law actually telling him why he's so reluctant to let people close are pretty slim, it's just easier to try and hand-wave it aside. "Look, all I can do is tell you that whatever happens between us in the bedroom stays between us. You don't have to believe me, but I'm not lying."
"I believe you're honest," Law tugs him up a little bit and he goes willingly, bracing a hand on the older man's chest and leaning in to kiss him, and Law responds rather eagerly, dropping the cigarette into a cup on the bedside table and wrapping his arms around Sanji's back, one tattooed hand fisting in his hair.
He's amazingly talented with his mouth and Sanji's never given much thought to the age difference between them but, well, when Law actually asserts himself it's obvious he's got more experience, and five years is still a lot considering he's barely into his twenties. But he seems to like being in control, so Sanji lets him take the lead, not moving when he pulls away.
"So no more freaking out on me?" Sanji sits back on his knees, framing Law's face with his hands and leaning down for another kiss.
"I can't make any promises, but as I said, I believe your intentions in this…arrangement to be the same as mine," he grabs hold of Sanji's wrists, keeping him in place, and Sanji meets his dark eyes and tries to convince the other man just by staring that he doesn't need to shield himself so tightly when it's just going to be them.
"Do you, um, want to get some rest?" he asks, and Law nods after a moment.
"I'm rather tired, all things considered," he pulls the sheet over himself, glancing at Sanji. "But you're a little over-dressed, are you not?"
"If you want to get me naked, just say so," Sanji reaches to undo his pants but a knock on the door stops him, and he rolls his eyes and goes to answer it, seeing Nami and Usopp huddling and whispering on the other side.
Nami squeaks when she sees him, shoving Usopp in front of her, and he clears his throat.
"Well, hello, Sanji. What a lovely evening…"
"Cut the shit, Usopp. I'm fine, and as you can see, I'm not chopped into pieces," he leans against the doorframe and Usopp nods rapidly.
"Yes, I see, well, enjoy your night," he scurries off down the hall and Nami gives him a sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry, Sanji-kun. He's been going on all night about how he's going to save you from being dismembered so I thought I should prove to him that you're still in one piece," she settles her hands on her hips.
"I'm fine, Nami-swan, but thank you for your concern," he assures her, and she nods.
"Well, good-night, then. Don't have too much fun," she waves at him before heading down the hallway, and Sanji heads back into the room, locking the door behind him for good measure and finally taking off his pants, trying not to feel self-conscious when he folds them to set them on a nearby chair.
Law spends the entire time looking vaguely amused and Sanji rolls his eyes, getting under the blankets and resting his head on Law's shoulder, one arm loosely thrown over his chest.
"I can guarantee you that if we were on my ship, my crew would do the same thing. They're rather over-protective," Law sounds reflective and Sanji nuzzles against his shoulder.
"You miss them."
"Of course I do. It's just…with my new position, it's much safer to travel on my own. I don't want to put them in unnecessary danger."
It's a noble thought and one that Sanji can respect, and he closes his eyes, not saying anything more but letting Law's steady breathing lull him to sleep.
Notes:
1. This chapter…was really had to write, because I honestly had no idea where to go with Law as far as sex was concerned. But since a big part of this fic is kind of the slow breaking down of some of his walls, it didn't feel right to have him be completely into everything at first so this happened.
2. Thank you guys for the continued comments and support, it does mean a lot and I'm really happy people are giving this fic a chance! I've got…another chapter written out and my outline probably has two more after that, so we'll see how that goes.