Pairing: None [Law-centric]

6. Bread

It's been about half a year since they both left their home in North Blue. A month since they've tasted meat. A couple of months eating nothing but bread. Three months since they've landed on the island, waiting for their little ship to get fixed. Law trudged through the snow covered streets, hands in his pocket while Bepo trailed behind him. They turned into an alley and stopped in front of a door while Law fumbled his pocket for the keys, grumbling curses.

Bepo looked at his friend and offered a smile. "You know what they say. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

"When life gives me lemons," Law grumbled and held up a finger. "Fuck you life, I don't need these lemons." The man sighed and leaned against the large furry body of his best friend. "I hate my life Bepo. Why do I have to find a job here? I'm a pirate! And a doctor to boot! I live go on adventures and operate on people! Not to be ordered around by some fat man with an apron!"

"It's okay Captain," Bepo patted his friend's head comfortingly. Law shoved the key into the hole and turned the knob. Sulking, he hung his thick coat by the door and made his way past the kitchen and to his station as the cashier of the small shop. "Well if it's any comfort, our ship should be fixed by today. And it's not as if Penguin and Shachi are just lazing around doing nothing. We shouldn't complain captain."

A large man threw a piece of hard bread at them to get their attention. "Hey brats, stop playing with your pet bear and fetch me that fresh batch! The customers are waiting!"

"I'm sorry I'm"

Law sighed as he got up and took a fresh batch of bread from the oven and placed it on the shelves. "I swear. Working here for about two and a half months makes me wonder why people love bread so much. I'm just so sick of eating it day after day after day. Working at a bakery makes it even worse."

Just then Penguin burst through the door. "Captain the ship's fixed! We can finally leave this shitty island and go sail into the Grand Line! Shachi's already getting the ship ready. We can set sail anytime, Captain!"

Law's face lit up for the first time in months as he grabbed a couple of bread and hauled it at the baker, hitting him square in the face. "Fuck you old man, I'm leaving this place!"

"Why you—"

Law jumped over the small counter and kicked the baker. "Don't block the door geezer. C'mon Bepo! We're finally going to the Grand Line!"

"C-Captain wait!" Bepo scrambled after his captain and stepped on the fallen baker as he tried to run after the man. Law was racing towards the docks with Penguin just behind him. "Wait for me!"

"Since that day, I swore, I'd never eat bread again," he finished, earning differing looks from the Straw hats.

"I didn't know you had such a sad past, Traffy," Luffy sad solemnly, putting a hand on Law's shoulder. "No meat for three months. You must've went through hell."

"You idiot!" Sanji yelled and kicked Luffy. "Bread is still better than nothing!"

"No booze either?" Zoro questioned seriously, ignoring the cook.

"No, just water. I told you, we were short on money. We had to save as much as we could."

"Then that must mean no cola either, huh," Franky blanched. "That's not super at all."

"No sweets?" Chopper stared at the doctor with wide eyes.

"That's horrible Traffy. But it's alright," Luffy gave him a reassuring look. "Here on board the Sunny, you don't have anything to worry about. Sanji! Meat! For Law too!"

Sanji kicked him through the galley door, much to Ussop and Franky's horror. "Dammit Luffy we just ate breakfast! And shouldn't we be talking about more pressing matters like how we're gonna deliver Caesar to Joker and save the pervert samurai's friend?"

"Shut up! You're a pervert too!"

Law sneaked out the galley, hoping to avoid unnecessary brawls. He's been involved in them too much and escaped with a few cuts and bruises. Is this how the Straw hats train? Is this why they're so strong even though they're idiots? Nevertheless, Law's glad he formed an alliance with them.

He finally found someone besides Bepo who understood his undying hatred for bread.

A/N: Law hates bread because when he and his crew first set out for the Grand Line, their ship got horribly wrecked in a storm and so they had to force themselves to eat bread for as long as the ship needed repairs in order to afford it. But no one wants to hire him. Except this bakery with a horribly rude baker.

I might make a little Kidd/Law or Heart Pirated Nakamaship AU fic out of this after I finish Project Cinderella... Lemme know your thoughts? O uO)b