Touch
Characters: Law, Bepo, Heart Pirates. Rating: K. Warnings: None
Trafalgar Law was not a touchy sort of person. At least, that was the impression he gave off, and therefore the belief held amongst most people that had met him. And it was true that he never initiated physical contact for the sake of physical contact. He wouldn't even reciprocate if someone did touch him, so he was quickly written off as someone who liked his personal space.
Bepo was the first person to see through this façade. His blood family didn't count because this so-called aversion started with the Donquixote Family, and Cora-san didn't count because he didn't work anything out. He just did whatever the hell he wanted, regardless of Law's personal feelings on the matter. Bepo, though. Bepo felt the small shift the first time he hugged his captain, the twitch of someone surprised by the contact. Bepo noticed that he didn't pull away, didn't even make a move to increase the distance between them after the hug ended. Bepo caught the smile behind the smirk, the softer look in his captain's eyes, and promptly hugged him again.
The rest of the crew caught on over time. None of them were as physically affectionate as their navigator, so a hug was rare, but hands would rest on shoulders as they passed each other in the corridors. Arms would brush together even though there had been plenty of space to walk in. Supportive pats on the back grew commonplace, even if there was no reason.
Law never reciprocated the hugs. He rarely gripped a nakama's shoulder in support. Law didn't give physical contact. But he craved it, and his crew delivered.
Thanks for reading!
Tsari