Title: Panacea
Author: AoiTsukikage
Rating: NC-17
Characters/Pairing:Law/Sanji
Chapter: 5/?
Word Count: 4112
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 Five

"Can I fuck you?"

"I thought that was the plan," Sanji wraps his arms around Law's neck, one hand sliding up through his hair as they stand there.

"Just making sure," Law's got a gleam in his eyes that Sanji's not sure what to think of, but he still doesn't feel like he's in any danger. "You've done this before, yes?"

"Yeah. It's been a while, but I'll be fine," he promises, and Law smirks at him, gripping the back of his thigh and hoisting his leg up so he has no choice but to wrap it around Law's waist and damn, the other man's way stronger than he looks.

"How flexible are you, exactly?"

"Can you make this sound less like a fucking examination?" Sanji's really not annoyed but Law's got this clinical way of asking questions that's not really helping the mood.

"I'm a doctor," Law chuckles darkly. "Answer the question."

"It's not like you can measure it," Sanji grumbles. "I can lift my leg above my head."

"That probably won't be necessary, but it's good knowledge to have," Law yanks him forward by his tie into a rather graceless kiss, tongue licking into his mouth briefly before he pulls back. "You're wearing too much."

"You're the one that jumped me," Sanji extricates himself from Law's grasp and starts undoing the buttons on his shirt, sliding it and his tie off before getting to work on his pants. Law apparently is fine with being half-dressed, and Sanji can't say he minds the view, not with the way Law's jeans are clinging to his hips.

"It only seems fair, since last time I spent most of the proceedings naked," Law's not bothering to hide the fact that he's staring and Sanji doesn't feel especially self-conscious because, all things considered, he knows that while he's always be a little on the scrawny side it's not like he hasn't got a decent amount of muscle mass. "Hmm, you're quite the fine specimen, aren't you?"

And now Sanji feels like a bug that's being examined or something. He's not sure if Law's trying to make him off-balance or something but that's kind of what's going on. "I'm not an experiment."

"I'm well aware," Law moves forward, hand resting on Sanji's chest just below his neck. "I'm amazed at how much trust you've put in me," he smirks then, rather unpleasantly, free hand coming up to create a Room that covers just the two of them. "If I do something to you in here, nobody will ever know until it's much too late," his hand slides up and tightens a little, an obvious warning, and Sanji tries not to react because he knows Law's only playing with him.

Or at least, he thinks so. He's pretty sure.

Something must show in his eyes because Law lets the Room dissipate and sighs, stepping back. "You're frightened."

"Um, yeah, you kinda went all fucking psychotic on me," he feels his legs trembling a little and crosses his arms, more because he's feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation than in any attempt to preserve his modesty. "So is that how this is gonna go? Because I'm not cool with that."

"Fuck. No. I'm sorry," Law rests a hand on his shoulder, startlingly gentle this time. "I don't know why I feel the need to try and drive you away, because you've made it quite clear to me that you're not going anywhere…"

"Damn right."

"So that being said…" Law slides his hand around the back of Sanji's neck, fingers tangling in his shaggy hair before he kisses him, and this time there's no teasing. He's still as forceful as ever, but his control is more measured and less consuming, and Sanji wraps his arms around Law's neck and kisses him back. It's slower, now, more exploratory and less rushed (although, truth be told, Law's fucking amazing with his mouth and Sanji's trying not to get worked up too quickly because last night really didn't count and it's been a long time).

Law pulls away, their mouths making a wet, smacking sound when they disconnect, and noses under Sanji's jaw, teeth scraping against his neck and that feels far better than it should.

"Fuck, I don't think I can handle foreplay right now," Sanji doesn't care if he sounds weak because it's true and Law pulls back a little, inclining his head.

"You were so gracious to me last night I'd be showing horribly poor manners if I didn't cater to you now," he doesn't look put-off, at least. "Do you have…"

"Yeah. Pants," Sanji fumbles with the pocket for a bit before pulling out the same vial from the night before, Law inspecting it closely and apparently finding it to his liking.

"Well, you certainly haven't skimped on the necessities," he notes, and Sanji laughs softly and all but falls onto the bed, no time to feel self-conscious when his body is practically aching to be touched. "How would you prefer we do this?"

"Well," Sanji pauses, biting his lip and looking to the side. "If I'm gonna be totally honest, it's always been from behind before, whether I'm, you know, fucking or being fucked. But that just seems…."

"Impersonal?" Law questions, and Sanji nods. "You're more than flexible enough to have us facing each other, if that's what you'd prefer," the way he words it is vague enough that Sanji sits up properly, cupping Law's cheek and pulling him into a chaste kiss.

"Law?"

"Feelings are curious things, aren't they?" Law sounds like he's talking to himself, fingers tracing idle patterns on the bedspread, before he looks up with hardened resolve in his eyes. "That we as humans can override our own natural instincts of self-preservation in order to let ourselves care about others so deeply."

"Um," Sanji replies, because that's a fucking weird thing to say. "I guess?"

"I'm not implying anything," Law assures him. "I know this isn't anything more than passing the time, but still, the mere fact that you've gotten me to become a little more open around you is commendable," he sounds impassive and Sanji has to admit that, even though he knows this isn't deeper than that, it still hurts to have Law so casually brush aside the idea that there ever could be anything more.

"So…" he swallows and Law shrugs.

"So I suppose I'm…grateful, that you've been as stubborn as you are with me, because I'm quite sure I'm rather unlovable," he smirks and Sanji rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, well, I don't give up once I've decided what I want," he half-sits up, leaning back on his elbows. "C'mon, don't chicken out on me now."

He's not thinking about the fact that Law had said 'love', because he's sure he doesn't mean it in the romantic sense. And it becomes hard to think rationally at all once Law's fingers are inside of him, slick with oil and moving with a singular purpose. He's as methodical in this as he is in everything else, brow furrowed and biting his lower lip like he's doing this all to achieve some goal, and Sanji tries to force his brain to function at full speed and reaches to grip Law's shoulders. "I'm not hurting you, am I?" Law asks.

"No, 's fine," Sanji promises, because Law's so accurate about this that he's pretty sure he doesn't have to worry about getting hurt, physically at least. "Just…you look like you're doing a job and…"

Sanji thinks he's doing a piss-poor job of explaining so he yanks Law into a kiss, wrapping his legs around the doctor's waist and licking at his lips until Law opens his mouth. Law does relax after that, his movements less robotic. Law's free hand slides under his back, lifting his hips a little. "Better," he pulls away, feeling more than a little self-satisfied, at least until Law curls his fingers. "Fuck!" he claps a hand over his mouth because he doesn't really want the whole fucking hotel to know what they're doing. "Law, fuck, stop, or I'm gonna…"

Law does, thankfully, sucking at Sanji's neck and sighing.

"I'm good," Sanji promises, because even if it's been a while he can handle it, and Law slides his fingers out, frowning a little before creating a Room and swapping a pillow for a towel from the bathroom to wipe his hand off. "Never thought that ability would be useful for sex," he laughs, rubbing a hand over his eyes because it's absurd if he thinks too hard about it, but Law lets the Room disappear and smirks.

"It's good for a lot of things," he purrs, "but I'm sure you can appreciate, as a cook, how important proper sanitation is," he says this while he's slicking his own cock, voice completely steady and no trace in his body that he's close to losing control at all and Sanji kind of hates him for it.

"So," Law wipes his hands again, fingers gripping the back of Sanji's thighs and hoisting his legs so that Sanji's calves are resting on his shoulders. "You say you're flexible."

"Yeah," Sanji shifts himself a little bit, hooking a hand around the back of Law's neck and pulling him in so it's not as much of a strain on his neck and back. He knows now why he's never done it this way before, because it's impossible to not look at your partner and there's no chance of being impersonal. "Okay. If you…" he cuts off with a strangled yelp as Law shifts his hips forward, no real warning but maybe it's better that way because he hasn't tensed up yet. "Oh, fuck."

"Okay?" There's a slight tremble to Law's voice that shows he's not completely unaffected, and Sanji nods.

"Yeah. I'm good."

"Good," Law's got a rather evil smile on his face and Sanji gulps without meaning to. Law has one hand braced beside him, the other spread against his back to hold him up. "Tell me if I'm too rough."

"You won't b- shit!" he's pretty much given up on other people not hearing them because Law hadn't been kidding and he's got a lot of power behind his hips for as skinny as he it. Sanji doesn't want to be treated gently, though, so reaches both hands around Law's head, holding him there and breathing against his lips. "Yeah, keep doing that."

Law seems to take that as permission, slotting into a rhythm rather quickly, and Sanji tries to move with him, feeling the ache in his muscles because they're not used to being stuck in this position. He's hardly going to wimp out, though, and he grits his teeth and trusts that Law's going to hold him up, letting his body relax enough that the other man's completely controlling the pace.

Law's breathing harshly against his lips, eyes dark and wild and it's about the most free Sanji's ever seen him. He's still silent, though; his breath the only sound he's allowing himself to make, and Sanji kisses him as best he can. He knows this is going to be over quickly, especially since neither of them have had much chance to do it lately, and there's a part of his brain that wonders what it would be like if they could really take their time and draw things out.

He shouldn't think that way because they'll never get a chance to find out, and melancholy thoughts like that weren't useful during sex anyway, but it's still there in his mind and Law nips at his bottom lip, Sanji blinking and focusing back on him.

"Now who's thinking too much?" Law's words are clipped, breathless, but he looks smug and Sanji forces himself to smirk and lifts his hips up a little more.

"Obviously you're not doing a good job of making me forget my own name," it comes out sounding far too much like a challenge and Law's eyes flash threateningly.

"Oh, is that what you want?"

He's ready this time, sort of, and clamps his mouth shut to stop himself from yelling again, but if he'd thought Law was going all out before he was apparently sorely mistaken. Law has both hands on the bed now, rolling his hips, but there's a slight tremor in his limbs and Sanji knows he won't be able to keep this pace up for long.

He snakes a hand between them, wrapping it around his own cock and jerking himself off rather roughly, chasing the edge of that pleasure his body is all but screaming out for at this point. Law's hips stutter a little and the slight widening of his eyes tells Sanji that he's caught off-guard by his own orgasm, so wrapped up in what they're doing, but his entire body ripples and he clenches his fingers in the sheets, eyes squeezed shut as his hips jerk in little aftershocks.

Sanji grits his teeth and moves his hand faster, not caring about much now other than finding his own release, and he's a little surprised when Law bats his hand away and takes over, somebody else's hand on his cock all it takes to end things.

He muffles his moan against Law's mouth, body tensing up and feeling cum spurt onto his stomach, and when he falls back and lets his legs drop, covered in sweat and ejaculate, Law pulling out of him with a sound that's less than pleasant, he feels used but in the best way possible.

Things get a little hazy after that, Law apparently using his ability again to get a wet cloth over to them, and he's surprisingly gentle when he cleans Sanji off.

" 'm fine," Sanji assures him, waving a hand idly because he knows he'll be sore but it's not anything he can't handle and besides, he'd kind of needed it.

Law tosses the cloth aside, still touching him softly as he pulls the blankets over them, and Sanji rolls toward him, throwing his leg over Law's waist and pressing his nose against his shoulder. He smells of nothing but sex and sweat, and it's almost too-hot but the sea-breeze coming in through the open window feels nice against his heated skin.

"Thanks," he mumbles, because it feels appropriate somehow, although he's not exactly sure what he's thanking Law for.

Law sighs heavily, lips pressing momentarily against Sanji's forehead in a move that seems far too tender, and murmurs, "no, thank you…Sanji."

It's so soft he can barely hear it, but he'd never thought hearing just his name would cause him to feel so…accomplished, somehow, but it really does.

000

He can't sleep. He supposes that's odd, in a way, because he'd always assumed after good sex that falling asleep would be easy, but it's the middle of the night and he's wide awake. He sighs and leans back against the headboard, an unlit cigarette in his mouth and a sense of restlessness overtaking him.

Air, he decides, wouldn't be a bad idea, and he looks down at Law, fast asleep and smiling a little (and it's so strange still to see him this open and unguarded, but the other man looks almost, well, adorable, and Sanji knows he'll never be able to say that to Law's face without serious consequences). He runs his fingers through Law's hair, getting a sleepy sigh in return, and smiles before getting out of bed, dressing himself enough to be presentable before slipping onto the balcony.

He hears the soft guitar music from the side and turns, seeing Franky still strumming the damn thing on the balcony next to theirs (and has a momentary flash of embarrassment because they hadn't exactly been quiet).

"Sanji-bro!" Franky waves and Sanji raises his own hand in greeting. "Didn't think I'd see you out of your room before morning," he wiggles his eyebrows and Sanji rolls his eyes, because Franky's a damn pervert and he's not doing anything to show otherwise. "C'mere so I don't have to yell," he says then and Sanji sighs and vaults across to the balcony, wincing a little when he lands because fucking shit that hurts.

He rubs at his back, grimacing, and Franky grins rather lewdly at him.

"Shut up," Sanji growls, crossing his arms and trying to find a position where he didn't ache because Law hadn't been rough, really, but it's been years and he probably should have taken that into account.

"Is he asleep?"

Sanji turns around, seeing Robin still paging through a local history book, but she set it down to smile rather enigmatically at him.

"Yeah. I mean, yeah, he was," Sanji shrugs.

"Isn't it rude to abandon one's lover in the middle of the night?" she still looks amused and Sanji shrugs.

"Yeah, maybe, if we were lovers, but we're barely fuck-buddies," he hopes the words sound convincing but they ring thin to his own ears so he can only imagine how easily Robin will be able to see through them.

"It's just us, Sanji," she says, something gently condescending in her tone. "You don't have to cover up the truth."

"I know, my dear," he assures her, finally lighting his cigarette just in order to buy himself some time. "It's…complicated. I mean, it's not like I can fall for him when he's the captain of a rival pirate crew and only with us now because you kinda need alliances to survive in the New World," he realizes that's not an answer and it won't satisfy Robin, of all people, but she merely nods and folds her elegant hands on top of the book.

"Setting all of that aside, how do you feel about him?" she questions, and he shrugs. "I'm sure you've noticed that the two of us are quite similar in personality, although I believe in traveling with all of you I've begun to allow some of my emotions to surface more than he's yet to. But it's obvious he cares for you," she finishes and Sanji snorts, chuckling.

"I doubt that, Robin-chan. He might tolerate me, but that's about it," he looks up at the sky, mapping out stars unconsciously before answering Robin's original question. "I guess, even though I'm a sucker for romance, it's never really been something I've craved in an actual relationship," he muses, because it's not something he's thought about a lot, but while he might dote on Robin and Nami and yes, he enjoys it, he doesn't think he'd like that on a regular basis.

Law's fickle and emotionally stunted and moody and dangerous, but he's smart and powerful and can take care of himself and, yes, Sanji can safely say that every damn inch of him is gorgeous, and that to him is far more appealing than somebody to fawn over every waking moment.

"You're smiling," Robin notes, and Sanji tries to adopt a more neutral expression. "Don't be embarrassed, Sanji."

"I'm not, Robin-chan," he promises. "I just know I can't get in too deep."

"Emotions are weird things, bro," Franky chimes in. "You can't just tell them to stop and expect your heart to follow along with it," he starts strumming the guitar again, mumbling some words under his breath, and Sanji rolls his eyes because if Franky writes a damn song about him and Law he's going to bash that guitar over the cyborg's head.

"Well, no matter what you do feel, as long as you're happy for now that's what's truly important," Robin stands up and moves beside him, laying her own hand on his shoulder. "And you are. I can tell."

"'Yeah," he nods, because there's no point in denying it to her. "Yeah, I kind of am."

"Good. Now, I think there's somewhere else you should be," she tilts her head to the side, smiling coyly, and Sanji nods to her and waves to Franky, who's scribbling down notes and great, he is writing a song, leaping back to his own balcony and sliding into the room.

"Thought you'd run away."

Sanji tries not to startle at the voice but still jolts a little because for as asleep as Law had seemed he was certainly awake now. He's sitting up in the bed, a tightness to the corners of his mouth and the way his fingers are clamped in the sheets that tells Sanji he had been wondering, and it's flattering to know.

"Nah, just wanted some air and Franky and Robin-chan were out next door," he points and Law nods in understanding. "Why? Were you worried?"

"I didn't peg you as the type to fuck and run, no."

It's a non-answer and Sanji's not sure what it means, but he shrugs and undresses himself, sliding back under the sheets and curling his body closer. They're both quiet, then, but it's a comfortable silence, and Law's fingers are idly stroking through his hair and down over his shoulder.

"How far is it to where we're going?" Sanji asks after a few minutes, not wanting to sound like he's anxious but, well, he knows once they get to where they're going all hell will break loose and this…this is going to be impossible.

"It depends on the wind and the currents, but it shouldn't be too much longer."

Sanji tries to figure out from his voice if he's disappointed about this but Law's got a majorly impressive poker face and a voice to match, so it's impossible. He's not sure what else to say but Law's still gently touching him, something that speaks volumes about how comfortable he's getting. He pushes himself up a little so he's leaning more on Law's shoulder and brings a hand up to rest on his chest, fingers gliding along the dark lines of his tattoos unconsciously.

"Do you like them?" Law sounds like he doesn't care one way or the other but Sanji nods.

"Yeah. They suit you. I'd look ridiculous with something like that, though," he tries to imagine it and can't, and by all rights the fact that Law's got hearts, of all things, all over his body shouldn't look as right as it does. "So…the hearts…"

"Mm," Law sighs. "Doflamingo's top four commanders are named after card suits. Currently his heart seat is empty and has been for several years, but as they said back at Punk Hazard, word has it he's saving it for somebody."

"You?" Sanji hadn't been paying much attention at the time, truth be told, but now…

"I don't want it. That's quite possibly the last thing I want, but I suppose I was being…bred for it," he sneers and Sanji shivers at the malice in his voice.

"Did you know the…person who had it before?" he thinks he's getting close to something and Law nods tightly.

"Yes. This…I'm not sure myself if the name of my crew and my jolly roger and these…" he gestures to his body, "if it's to honor them or if it's to spite Doflamingo, but at this point it hardly matters."

"Law, he never…" Sanji isn't sure where the thought comes from and he sits up, cupping Law's face in his hands and keeping their eyes locked. "I mean, Doflamingo or Vergo or whoever, I know they hurt you, but did they…"

"No," Law reaches to grip his wrists but doesn't try to move his hands. "No, Doflamingo is merciless and cruel and sadistic, but I don't think he'd stoop so low as to…sodomize a child," his voice is terse and angry and Sanji nods.

"Okay. Good. I mean, not that what did happen to you was good, but…"

"I understand," Law sounds amused now. "I promise you, all of my sexual experiences have been of my own choosing."

"Okay. Guess I should have asked that before we…" he shrugs and Law ducks his head a little. "But, um, if this is overstepping let me know, but if we ever…"

"You can fuck me. I'm not opposed to it," Law moves his head back up, one eyebrow raised slightly and a smirk playing about his lips and okay, yeah, he's serious and Sanji swallows heavily and tries to ignore the spike of lust that shoots through him at the thought of it. "But not tonight. I'm rather tired and I'm sure if you lie down again you'll feel the same way."

Sanji's not sure, considering how he couldn't fall asleep earlier, but as soon as his head hits the pillow he can feel sleep tugging at him and he barely has the presence of mind to wrap his arms around Law and pull him close before he's fast asleep.

Notes:

1. Yes, I've taken the chapter number total off of the top because every time I try to predict that it changes. As always, I am not a smut writer so I hope this was at least acceptable!

2. I'm really glad people are still enjoying this and giving it a chance even if it's not the most common pairing, so thank you :)