Tease

Characters: Law, Penguin, Shachi. Rating: K. Warnings: None

Law was a highly individualistic and proud individual. He controlled the crew in a way that expected to be obeyed on the occasions he gave orders and was well respected for it. Few of the crew were inclined to challenge his orders, and even fewer would even dream of patronising him. He was their captain, and was therefore deserving of their complete and utter respect.

Unsurprisingly, Penguin and Shachi were the exception. Not that they didn't respect him – they did, perhaps more than anyone else (save Bepo) because they knew so much more about what he'd been through, what he was still fighting – but there were times when a bit of light-hearted levity was required.

Teasing was not unusual between Heart Pirates. All of it was good-natured, of course; no-one had any intention of deliberately upsetting their nakama. Penguin and Shachi were two of the worst offenders, tag-teaming their victims with matching grins and raucous laughter. While not a common target, not even Law could escape them when they set their minds to it (often, it coincided with a low point, the pair dragging him out of his funks whether he liked it or not using whatever method appealed to them).

One day in particular stood out in the memories of those who had been there to witness it.

It was the day Mugiwara no Luffy first caught their attention for real, his bounty tripling overnight after something about Enies Lobby, Nico Robin and burning a World Government flag. Whether that had anything to do with Penguin and Shachi's behaviour that day, the crew didn't know, but the event made the day easier to recall.

Law poured over the article with an obsession usually reserved for anything involving Doflamingo. If he found what he was looking for, no-one knew, because that was when Penguin and Shachi elected to begin their day's playful teasing.

"Careful," Shachi warned, a mock-severe expression on his face, looking over Law's shoulder at the bounty poster his captain was scrutinising, a tattooed finger tracing over the D. on the poster absently. "Someone might think you've got a crush on the guy if you don't stop staring." Law's head snapped up, golden eyes glaring at him.

"Don't be ridiculous," he retorted, setting it down on the table. Penguin, appearing on his other side, reached forwards and picked it up.

"Strong, crazy, big grin… kid's pretty cute.. Wouldn't blame you," he added, solemn look melting into a grin as Law snatched the poster back with a glare.

"Keep your immaturity to yourself," the younger man snapped, moving to stand up. "I'm going to my room. Don't disturb me." His attempt to get to his feet was thwarted by both men, who leaned their arms on his shoulders casually, pinning him to the chair in the process.

"Now, you know we can't let you off that easily," Shachi told him seriously. "What sort of big brothers would we be if we did that?"

Law spluttered in shock.

"Big-"

"Our little brother's growing up so fast," Penguin mourned, leaning more heavily on Law. Shachi mimicked the movement on the other side. "Why, it feels like only yesterday he was a little brat and now look at him with his first crush!"

"Little-?" Law demanded. "I'm your captain!" They ploughed on as if he hadn't said anything.

"A delicate situation, for sure," Shachi agreed solemnly. "The boy will need careful vetting."

"We can't have our little brother falling for some careless ruffian," Penguin nodded, and Law pushed at the pair of them indignantly.

"Would you two stop talking nonsense?" he complained sharply.

"Nonsense?" Shachi repeated indignantly. "How is having your best interests at heart nonsense?"

Law opened his mouth to retaliate, before sighing and giving up.

"You two are idiots," he muttered under his breath. "I'm not your brother, I'm your captain-"

"So?" Penguin interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

"Who says you can't be both?" Shachi asked, his voice low. They were teasing – they had to be, the grins from earlier couldn't have screamed it much louder if they'd tried – but there was something about the words that sounded almost genuine.

Caught off guard, Law couldn't find a retort before the pair disappeared, leaving the room with matching grins on their faces.

"Idiots," Law repeated after a minute, pulling himself back together. The observing crew laughed, the subtle tension from Law's obsession with the article and new bounty poster draining away after Penguin and Shachi's performance. Law joined in a moment later, a quiet chuckle at his nakama's antics, before he reached for the article again.

It was gone, as were all of the Straw Hat posters. In its place was Eustass Kid's latest exploits instead, and Law's fingers trembled. He clenched them into a fist to still them.

"Idiots," he repeated in a whisper. "You didn't need to do that."

To clarify, no, there is no actual crush. I have nothing against LawLu, but I prefer it platonic. Someone requested Penguin and Shachi calling Law their little brother, so teasing it was!

Thanks for reading!
Tsari