Disclaimer: I do not own anything. This is fanfiction.

Warning: Fem! Luffy, eventual LawLu, wild west AU, out of character, errors

Note: Originally from Her Straw Hat Fem!Luffy one shot collection

A PROPOSAL

It was unfair.

Had she been like Ace and Sabo, she was sure she'd be out there doing a thousand times more exciting job than being stuck at their ranch taking dance lessons and, dare she say it, preparing biscuits with Dadan. Oh, how she had begged the old woman – she tried her puppy dog eyes and being an annoying little shit but none worked. Dadan remained firm in her decision. There was no way Luffy was going with her brothers in the cattle drive.

It really sucks.

She swore that had she accompanied her older brothers, she would have done a better job. After all, she knew her way with animals best – call it a talent, her brothers almost envied her because of it. She had been the one to tame the wildest horse they had and even the infamous Red-haired Shanks acknowledged her potential.

It was really hot.

"Dadan, why do I have to wear this dress? It's damn too hot! And why do we have to make all these biscuits? I'd understand if it were smoked meat but it's not and it's Sabo who likes these stuff a lot and he's not here... neither is Ace."

"Stop complaining, Luffy! It's unbecoming for a proper lady to swear."

"When did I become a lady?" Luffy grabbed a handful of freshly baked biscuits and stuffed them to her mouth. She spoke with her mouth full, saying it was delicious. She was about the pick more when Dadan slapped her hand and pinched her ears.

"I told you not to eat them! They're for your suitors! Don't you know how hard it is to find eligible young men these days? Be thankful I've managed to lure them out here."

"EHHH?!" Luffy unceremoniously spit the chewed biscuits on her mouth to her poor aunt. Did she hear it right? Suitors? She knew suitors are never a good thing. Her friend Rebecca had a suitor once and they married soon after. Now she's always at home taking care of her children with no time to go horse-riding or fishing anymore. She's yet to have her own adventure – she couldn't have any of those things called suitors anytime soon.

So she did what she first thought of doing and ran – she ran as hard she could.

But her aunt hadn't looked after her since she was a mere child of seven for nothing. Anticipating Luffy's course of action, she whistled and a bunch of men appeared out of the blue, blocking every exit of their home. Luffy darted her eyes from left to right, even up and down. But Dadan had been prepared, there was no exit.

"It had been… err so lovely to have met you, Miss Luffy." A man lightly bowed before the clearly bored girl and promptly placed a chaste kiss on her hand for formalities' sake. After a couple more pleasantries, the man eventually left.

Luffy stuck her tongue in a childish manner and deviously grinned, pleased at another attempt shot down.

Dadan fumed beside her obnoxious charge. She thought everything would go fine if she did this as soon as Ace and Sabo left for another cattle drive to Baltigo. They were as troublesome as their little sister and were rather too overprotective. The last time a man tried to court Luffy while they were around resulted to the three of them visiting the sheriff's office and the poor hopeful scrambling to the next district.

It's the best for the girl – she thought. Already nineteen and long of age, it was a high time she got married. But looking for a beau for an unladylike girl such as Luffy was a headache. Even without the unnecessary meddling of her brothers, she alone was a big problem. Growing up along with the two other males, she had always felt like their third brother and acted like a wild child.

Adolescence didn't help her sense of propriety but her brothers had finally began to see her as their little sister – their beloved little sister and felt it was their duty to protect her until the end of time. While Luffy adored the two, she often found it stifling that they don't let her do much of the fun activities anymore.

Rob Lucci had been the third man this week. Dadan personally thought he was a good catch – he was a banker, seemed reliable enough and he had a good reputation. But Luffy continued her antics and blatantly showed her disinterest to the whole affair. The man could only politely go through the whole meeting and leave shortly after.

"Dadan, how long are we going to keep this up? I'm tired! I do nothing everyday but put on silly paint on my face, wear all these curtains and meet men who keep smooching my hand. Can't I go back to feeding the chickens every morning? It seems a lot more fun than this." Luffy whined as she picked her nose.

Dadan smacked her hand with rolled paper. "You'll keep on meeting more until you choose a good man and marry him!" She yelled at the girl's face.

"But Dadan, I don't want to marry anyone! I don't want to have kids and stay home all the time! I'm still too young to settle down!"

"You're already long past the marriageable age! Why look at your childhood friends, they're all happily married by now and you! You're still going about adventures and seeing the world by your own – that's preposterous!"

"What's wrong about going on adventures, Dadan? Shanks does it. Ace and Sabo often do it."?" Luffy looks at her aunt thoughtfully, "Is it because I'm a girl?""

"I know the world can be dangerous place but I've been training myself! Heck, I'm stronger than most men in our town. I'll be alright!"

Dadan placed her hands on the girl who continued to look defiantly at her, "I know… I know, Luffy." The image of the girl beating the marauding clown a month ago crossed her mind. "But that's not how the world works, dear. Not everything can be settled with fists alone. Listen to me, it's dangerous for anyone to travel alone in the frontiers…"

The old woman sighed. She knew how strong-willed Luffy can be but she's yet to face what's out there. Bounty hunters, outlaws, thieves, marauders and the wilderness – there was no way she'd make it. "Look Luffy, stop making this old woman worried and choose a nice young man. Didn't you like Mister Eustass the other day? I think he liked you."

Strange enough, despite Luffy's uncouth behavior towards him, the red-haired blacksmith found her fascinating and actually considered coming back after he had finished his business. It gave Dadan little hope that the man might make a marriage proposal to her niece.

"Oh, him? Yeah, I thought he was pretty cool. But I still don't want to marry him." Luffy crossed her hands over her chest and adamantly proclaimed.

Dadan rubbed her temple. Looking for a husband for the stubborn girl was going to be an excruciating process. Her stress had her farm hands scurrying off whenever she bellows a command. Receiving a missive that the nephew of the mayor two towns over, a promising young officer, had gotten lost and would be less likely to arrive this week, only added to her dilemma.

Luffy wanted to go far away – just to avoid the subject of stupid suitors and much more stupid marriages. But her aunt had been so persistent, she almost felt sorry she didn't feel the same way about the whole affair as Dadan did. Also her aunt took her beloved straw hat hostage so she couldn't really go.

Oh, how she wished to journey to the ends of the horizon. She wondered if she travelled towards the sun, will she be able to touch it. What was out there? She heard there was a vast ocean, all blue beyond the stretching sandy lands of Goa. She has ridden a horse, a cart and a carriage before. Luffy wonders if it's all the same when you ride a train, a boat or even, dare she say it – a ship.

Her eyes were all starry in wonder as she looked at the setting sun that she didn't initially noticed an horse neighing loudly at the foot of the small sand cliff.

What was that?

She slid downhill, annoyed with having to deal with the dress. She noticed the white stallion nuzzling a man lying on the ground and the blood around him. Noticing her arrival, the horse placed itself between her and the man.

"It's okay… I won't hurt your friend." Luffy slowly approached the horse and held out her hand. She waited for the animal to walk towards her – to trust her. Much to her surprise, the horse tugged the sleeve of her shirt towards the wounded man. She immediately knelt down and checked him over.

"Oi, are you still alive? Hey?"

He had a yellow cloth with some insignia covering the bottom half of his face, the dark hood obscured the other half. The spurs on his boots made a scratching sound against the rocky surface as he squirmed.

"Nghh…"

Hearing the man utter a sound gave her some relief. He was still alive. However, she shouldn't meddle so much anymore. He could be a murderer for all she knows. She was already breaking her aunt's number one rule in living in the wild lands. But when did she follow rules anyway? The horse looked at her as if telling her to help his friend. She just couldn't ignore that.

"Stay still. I'm just gonna –"

A tattooed hand snapped to her wrist in a weak grip. The man barely managed to speak but he did his best to glare at her.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Unfazed, the girl almost yelled her response at his face.

"I'm Luffy!" She shook her head and smacked the man's hand off out of habit. It wasn't time for introductions. He was bleeding for the love of potatoes. "Wait, that's not the issue right now! You got a bandage or something?"

The man groaned in pain instead.

"Damn, okay uhh…"

Luffy looked for the man's belongings. There should be something she could use to dress his wounds. She had done this before for her older brothers – a graze from a gunshot, a couple of stab wounds on the side and probably some broken bones, nothing new. Perhaps due to blood loss or fatigue, the man eventually passed out. The horse hovered somberly and trotted around them.

His body ached all over.

Law knew it was a risky deal but he had to try. By far, the stupidest plan he has ever hatched since the Rocky Port incident but it ought to pay big time soon. It's not like he hadn't thought of other ways to make it less fatal. But he had done it – just a few more steps and he'll eventually get to the bastard.

His next stop would be at Punk Hazard, a small village far up the Grand Line. But he'd be too conspicuous if he went there alone, especially when there's a massive migration of families ongoing at that area. He had to come up with a plan to sneak himself there without garnering any attention. However, first things first – he had to fix his battered self. Then again, he didn't realize someone had already done that for him.

Bepo hovered over his right side, sniffing at his yellow kerchief tied to his arm as a makeshift sling.

Wait… who did that?

His grey eyes immediately scanned the area and saw her, eating his stash of smoked meat. She almost dropped the piece she had in her mouth when she noticed him staring at her – the stranger had finally woke up. Law had been equally surprised at the presence of the woman as well.

He noticed the bandages at the side of his unclothed torso.

It can't be.

Law glanced at his bags and saw it was opened, the glint of gold shone against the light of a small bonfire. There was no mistaking it – the lass saw his load. It baffled him why it was still there if she saw it. A small thought crept at the back of his mind but he quickly dismissed such an impossible notion, albeit it gave sense to the current situation. He glared at Luffy. "So you saw it, huh?"

The girl shrugged and continued to eat anyway. "Yeah, so what?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you're expecting some deal out of this." Law gritted his teeth.

Luffy tilted her head sideways in confusion but decided to take the opportunity. Deals were nice, she believed. "Really? I can make a deal with you?"

"Huh?" Now it was the man's turn to be confused. He wondered what the hell she was on about.

"But you're really weird, aren't you? I ate your meat yet you still want to give me a favor."

"…" So it was about the meat. Was she really a dunce or just a really good actress? But as he saw her licking and sucking the glaze from the meat off her lithe fingers, and glaring at him in a child-like irritation, he was compelled to believe the former. "Forget about it."

"No way! I think you owe me a favour!" Luffy stood and put a hand on her hip and pointed an accusing finger at him.

He lightly smirked and started to fix his belongings. He can't believe the wench overused his disinfectant and left the rest of the bandage in a mess. Law opted not to call her out on that because she did took care of him after all and she was cute, he mentally admits. "What makes you think I'll honour it?"

She pouted at him.

"But thanks… I guess." Law momentarily looked at her and decided to at least hear her out. It wouldn't hurt, right? No, it wasn't his other head that did the thinking. "It doesn't hurt to hear it though."

Luffy sat cross-legged on the dirt and clutched her skirt. She seemed a little nervous – no, she appeared rather excited. She heaved a deep breath and looked at the man straight in the eye. "Take me to Baltigo! I want to go to Baltigo!"

Baltigo, huh?

He heard of that settlement. It was a fairly young town but business was bustling and it was rapidly developing. It was just en route to Dressrosa. An idea popped into his mind. It was yet another risky attempt but maybe – just maybe if he played his cards right, it'll be to his advantage as well.

"I'll think about it. Taking you to Baltigo, that is."

He hadn't expected the girl to launch herself at him into a hug. His wounds might have reopened a little but what gives, he sort of liked the feeling. But it was still a little painful. She repeatedly thanked him, making him wonder what her business is to that town. "I didn't say yes, you know."

Luffy finally let the man go and sat by his side. Smiling, she lightly tapped his chest. "I know you'll agree anyway!"

Law briefly wondered where her confidence is coming from.

"By the way, what's his name?" Luffy pointed at the horse whinnying beside the tattooed male.

Law turned his head at his horse and sighed, "His name is Bepo and in case, you might want to know… my name's Trafalgar."

"Oh! I forgot to ask, shishishi! I'm Luffy. Nice to meet you two!"

Dadan had a fairly nice dream. She was at a beautiful field of flowers and was wearing an equally gorgeous dress. At the end of the pathway, she saw her troublesome nephews wearing formal suits and embracing each other in tears as her stubborn niece had gotten married. She decided it was a good omen and hoped today, the girl would finally find a beau.

She washed her face and changed to her work clothes. There were biscuits to be baked and gravy to be cooked. It was going to be a good day, she insisted to herself. She was about to leave her room when she noticed a note in place of her niece's straw hat.

Gone for an adventure!

Don't look for me.

With love, Luffy

Dadan just lost it as she ripped the tiny piece of paper and screamed her niece's name so loud it could be heard four towns over. She called for the hired hands to look for Luffy around the ranch and all over the town of Goa. But gone is the girl, not a trace was left. How will she explain this to Luffy's grandfather?

It was only a matter of time before the town was completely out of their sight as they crossed the northern borders of Goa. The man turned to his companion and asked once more.

"If you want to rethink, this is your last chance."

Honestly, Law directed the question to himself as well. He wasn't entirely sure why he had let this suspicious girl ride along with him. She could be a damn spy or a thief. But she could probably be just a naïve girl who wanted to go to a certain town for innocent reasons. He thought as she wrapped her hands around his waist as he sped up, her head against his back.

"Don't worry, I'll work with you!"

The man lightly smiled as he rode farther and farther away from Goa. He thought of their deal earlier that day and questioned himself whether he really made the right decision. A straw hat and a small knapsack was all she brought. Garbed in men's clothing, she came back to him at dawn.

"I have a proposal for you Miss Luffy."

"A proposal?"

"If you assist me with my business, I will take you wherever you want to go. Do you accept?"

"Yes, I do!"

She took his hand and shook it, their temporary arrangement sealed.

-Prologue End-