Chapter 4: bankruptcy

A/N: So little info on the title there, my predictive text here decided that Bankruptcy was going to be the title so I checked to see if there was a song and lo and behold there was!

I was planning on having another chapter before this one but shit happens and I just couldn't think of anything else to write so here you go.

Anywho, I really hope you all like these next chapters. They took me hours to fit all together. I want to make it as detailed as possible but at the same time these are short moments in their lives so it all feels rushed to me. I dunno I don't particularly like what I write anyway so I have issues with it a lot.

Review Time!

poyochin: Awh thank you! I'm really glad you like it! It means a lot to me!

natlaredo: I know right!? Thank you! I hope the story is all you expect it to be! And thank YOU for reading! My writing means nothing without its readers!

roo17: 1) Thanks! I try to write them as I see they would act. I dont want them getting too ooc so I'm glad I'm doing a good job! And yeah, I thought he'd make a good barista. ^_^ 2) Luffy and The Paper Clip had me just laughing to myself there was no way Law couldn't. Luffy is sort of like this annoying as hell sibling that won't shut up or go away but you wouldn't trade them for the world. xD

daydreamfox: (When I saw that you had reviewed I freaked out no lie omg I love your writing you're amazing. Your review made my week ^-^) I'm really glad you like it! I try to make them more dorky than they should be to up the cuteness factor I'm glad it's working xD

And now a word from our editor: hella

By now another month had passed.

Luffy had expanded the surgeon's friend circle by eleven and they met every Friday night to hang out at a selected group member's place. The group consisted of Zoro and Sanji: a physical therapy student and a chef. They lived together in one of the junior dorms and currently had been dating for a year and a half. Robin and Franky: the archeologist professor and the wood/metal shop technician who had been married for two years. Ace and Marco: Luffy's older brother and his boyfriend. Ace was currently working with Marco in a semi-popular tattoo shop downtown, so they lived in the apartments close to campus. Brooke: an old friend who gave lessons for all the instruments one could think of in the music college. Nami and Vivi: two good friends of Luffy's from high school. Usopp: the barista and art student. And Chopper: the young pre-med student whom Law had taken a liking too. Luffy had made him come along one night and since then, he'd never missed. He had also taken to hanging around Zoro, Sanji, and Ace in the middle of the day and often met them for lunch. For a while all he had were Penguin and Shachi and the hospital staff to talk to. Now he had eleven more people he felt comfortable talking to. He had Luffy to thank for these new friends.

But Law's college days were coming to a close and soon he'd be out of the dorms and working at the hospital full time. There'd be a few missed Friday's and he wouldn't see them as much as he did now. He wouldn't have to act as Luffy's personal alarm clock and chauffeur. He wouldn't have to help him with his algebra or biology. All the things Law constantly complained about he now realized he'd miss a lot. Why? He didn't know. He didn't want to think about it.

The morning started off as any Monday morning would. He got up, did his thing and then got Luffy up, who followed suit. After getting Luffy into the car he set off for Grandbucks where he had his morning chat with Usopp and now Nami, who'd begun working there as a way to earn more cash for her expensive taste in everything. They'd worked out a schedule where Law and Luffy would spend about thirty minutes there every morning. Luffy didn't complain about getting up earlier if it meant getting coffee.

Law leaned on the counter Nami and Usopp were working and watched Luffy. A small smile became acquainted with his lips as he watched the normally hyper young man interact with a small child who'd found his camera fascinating

"You should ask him out." Nami smiled and handed Law a straw for his water.

"What?" He responded, raising an eyebrow. He was not starting this again. No. He did not like that idiot in a friendship way much less a romantic one. However, the two baristas could see the small blush that gave him away and grinned slyly at each other.

"You really should, it's been like, what, four months now since you two started coming here? It's getting a bit old watching you look at him like that." Usopp said, mixing a drink for another customer. "You don't want anyone else snatching him up."

Nami nodded. "And especially when you leave in the spring!" She pointed out. "What happens when you're not there all the time for him? What happens when he gets a new roommate and they realize what a great opportunity lies in the next bed? What happens whe-" Law had had enough. He didn't want to think about that. He didn't want to think about anything he'd been avoiding thinking about. It would only piss him off.

"Shut up just...just shut up." He glared at the two behind the counter. "I don't like him I never liked him there's no way-" while speaking he turned his head to look for the younger man to prove to himself that he didn't like what he saw and when he did he wished he hadn't. Luffy was now sitting beside the smaller boy showing him his camera. The small child looked at each photograph in awe and Luffy proudly told each picture's story; where he'd taken it, what he'd taken it for, ext. He looked so passionate about the pictures, so soft and gentile and everything Law was not and He realized just why he'd miss college so much. He'd miss Luffy. "-shit, I like him."

"I can hear the bells!" Nami squealed, clasping her hands together and leaning her head on them.

"Can I be your best man, buddy?" Usopp laughed, holding up an empty cup as a toast.

"I don't have time for your shit what do I do?" He asked them, his brain thinking in several different directions. "No, what am I saying I don't need your help I'm going to forget about this whole thing."

"No!" The redhead practically shouted. "Nonono! You have to tell him! If you don't he'll never know!"

"That's the whole point!" Law hissed back.

"But what if he likes you back?" Usopp said with his arms crossed over the counter. "What if he does but he's too shy to tell you?"

"Too many what if's." Law shook his head. "I can't...I mean...I just can't." There was so many things Law could think of that would stop him from ever dating anyone. Gender wasn't a problem, he'd known he was bisexual for a while now, but it was the relationship part that, for lack of better words, frightened him. He'd not had a great experience with his last one. In fact it's one of the reasons he'd left Mariejois.

'But think about it' the voice Law'd come to hate over the past few weeks whispered. 'Luffy's nothing like Kidd. In fact he's the complete opposite. Plus he's really cute. Imagine-' no.

"Fine, think whatever you want to but I'm calling the whole group and telling them you finally saw the light. And I'm fining you two hundred Beli for being such an idiot." Nami huffed. "Also you should talk to Zoro, Sanji and Ace. Either of them could really help you here."

Law rolled his eyes and took a sip of water. No. This couldn't be happening. But it was. This was awful but for some reason it made him feel happy and warm and all the feelings he normally tried to avoid. In fact Luffy in general made him feel happy and warm despite all the headaches and migraines he caused him. Had he really liked the photographer for that long? God he was such a fucking idiot. He'd thought about it a few times but just drowned them in medical books. 'I told you.' Shut the fuck up.

"You're going to be late if you don't leave soon." Usopp reminded him nodding his head at the clock and dragging him out of his thoughts.

"Fuck." Law shoved the water cup at the two and walked away towards Luffy. "Come on we've gotta go. You're going to be late."

"Okay Torao just let me tell him goodbye." The younger smiled up at the other resulting in Law having to clench his teeth to avoid smiling back. " I have to go, but if you're here any other day I can show you more okay?" Luffy had a tone with this child Law had never heard him take on. In a way Law was impressed. "See ya later, bean sprout!" Law blew air out of his nose at the ridiculous nickname before walking to the door and holding it open for his roommate. He definitely did not watch the way Luffy said goodbye to the small child and ruffled his hair or the way his body moved as he stood up and walked over to him. "Come on, hustle." He said just wishing he'd get the hell out of there. Wanting to drop Luffy off and be alone with his thoughts. Maybe he would talk to Zoro. Or Ace. He was Luffy's brother after all.

"Bye, Law! Remember what I said!" Nami called out while Usopp snickered. Law showed them a tattooed middle finger and shut the door behind them.