Name

Characters: Penguin, Law, Bepo, Shachi. Rating: K. Warning: none

Penguin wasn't entirely certain when he first realised that people with the initial 'D.' in their name were different. Some, like Monkey D. Garp, had always been figures of some prominence in the news, so he'd heard of it for sure, but it had just seemed like just part of his name.

Then at some point, Gold Roger was turned into Gol D. Roger – a correction of Bepo's, who appeared to know a lot about the pirate king for someone who was born the same year the man was executed – and the idea was planted that maybe 'D.' wasn't as simple as he'd thought. After all, there was no way that the Hero of the Marines and the Pirate King would be related (Penguin realised how naïve that thought was years later, after he met Monkey D. Luffy).

Law seemed particularly interested in the initial, too. There was a folder, small but growing, in his room of all the known individuals with it.

"D. will bring about a storm," was all he would say on the matter for the longest time. Personally, Penguin thought that a D. had brought about enough of a storm already, a sentiment shared by Shachi. If Gol D. Roger hadn't made that proclamation at his funeral, triggering the Great Age of Pirates they currently lived in, then the pirate crew would never have attacked Swallow Island. Maybe it was petty to blame the slaughter of his parents on a man from East Blue who'd never stepped foot in their home, but Penguin firmly believed the man to be indirectly responsible.

He mentioned it in front of Law, once, after they'd met yet another crew inspired by those words, jeering and boasting about how they would be the ones to find the One Piece and claim the title. Irate, he'd said that people called D. were nothing but trouble-makers and he hated them all (if the so-called 'Hero' of the Marines couldn't even save one small island what good was he).

Law hadn't been quite fast enough to hide the pained look on his face, although Penguin had no idea what reason he had for it.

His young captain had never been the most open of people, but there was the distinct notion that he'd retreated back into his shell like a scared den den mushi for several days. He began to avoid them – both Penguin and Shachi, who had agreed with Penguin's frustrated outburst – as best the confines of the Polar Tang allowed. Meal times, once fun and loud, were eaten in uncomfortable silence; Law would flee the moment he finished his food, leaving Bepo to do the washing up by himself.

It persisted for a week before Penguin had had enough. Enlisting the assistance of both Shachi and Bepo, who were equally worried about Law's sudden change in attitude, they cornered him in his bedroom, which he'd taken to haunting the entire time basic needs didn't force him out.

"Are you sick?" was Penguin's first assumption, approaching his captain and gripping his shoulder. Law flinched backwards, and Penguin's hand fell limply to his side. "Law?"

"I…" the younger teen said, looking everywhere except the three nakama, before the hidden steel in his spine straightened it and he looked Penguin straight in the eyes. "I haven't been completely honest with you." Beside him, Shachi made an inquisitive noise. "Trafalgar Law isn't my full name."

Well, 'Penguin' was hardly Penguin's name, either, but he'd had no reason to go into a week-long hibernation just because he hadn't told his nakama his unused real name. If he didn't use it, did it really matter? He crossed his arms and quirked an eyebrow at the shorter boy, waiting for an explanation.

"My full name is Trafalgar D. Water Law," he continued after a pause. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but you're my nakama."

There was a moment while Penguin digested the information, wondering why half the name was secret and if it really warranted Law's skittish behaviour before it hit him like a punch to the gut.

D.

His captain had the same name as the Pirate King, who had inspired a group of men to pillage his home and slaughter the inhabitants just to make a point. The same name as the so-called 'Hero' of the Marines, an organisation who hadn't bothered to help a small island in its hour of need.

As he stared into golden eyes, the challenge not quite obscuring the fear in their depths, Penguin realised that it didn't matter. At least, not as much as the fact that this kid who'd somehow wormed his way into his heart and earned similar rights of protection to Shachi, was afraid of him, was hurting because of his words.

Law couldn't undo all the pain that his fellow Ds had caused Penguin, but he wasn't accountable for it, either. Penguin couldn't simply brush it away, though. Seven years was nowhere near long enough to bury the pain. But Law was hurting too.

"Did you choose it?" he asked. Law shook his head, and Penguin sighed.

"I guess it can't be helped," he said, shaking his head slowly. Law seemed to shrink away, and he reached out to grab him again, pulling him into a tight hug because at some point he'd become too protective of his little sharp-tongued captain to let him wallow alone in misery. Law wriggled to get away, but he didn't relinquish his grip. "D. will bring about a storm, huh? How about this time it's on my side?"

"Our side," Shachi corrected, joining in. Law let out an involuntary oof but they just reacted by squeezing him tighter.

"You two…" Law whined, surrendering to the pressure and gradually bringing his hands up to clutch at them in turn. "You're ridiculous."

Before Penguin could answer, it was his turn to lose all the air from his lungs as Bepo joined the hug.

"What does a name matter?" the mink asked, crushing all three humans together. Penguin couldn't agree with that, and nor could Shachi or Law by the looks on their faces, but there were things more important than a name.

Like nakama.

This story now has fanart! It can be found at mathemayjicksDOTtumblrDOTcom / post / 172044380373. Thank you so much to mathemayjicks for surprising me with this.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari