Sweet

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

It was often a surprise when people learnt of Law's preference for sweet things. For some reason, which he never understood – although judging from the cackling coming from a certain ginger's direction whenever it was brought up, Shachi could see why – everyone seemed to expect him to like things bitter.

His newest nakama would always, without fail, stare the first time he dumped a spoonful of sugar into his coffee, blinking as if they thought they were hallucinating. Once or twice, he'd even been presented with a mug of coffee, only to find it black and bitter, to his dismay. The face of his well-meaning nakama when he invariably either made his way over to the sugar and creamer or simply Shambled them over would have been priceless, if it amused Law at all. It certainly amused Shachi, and more than once he wondered if the ginger was putting them up to it as some sort of prank.

"No!" Shachi had protested the one time he'd brought it up, sounding genuinely affronted. "What's the point in that?"

His own amusement, Law had decided against pointing out, instead letting it slide.

The strange notion extended further, to other things such as cakes. Grabbing a slice of gluten free cake piled high with icing never failed to earn him a surprised raised eyebrow from a new recruit, although why they'd think he didn't like cake was a mystery. As long as it was gluten free and therefore not about to try and kill him, Law liked cake.

"It's your attitude," Penguin finally explained to him, after yet another new nakama showed exaggerated surprise at his desire to put sugar and creamer in his coffee. Law frowned, resting his right cheek on his hand as he shifted the cake in his mouth into his left cheek in order to eat it properly. With his mouth full of food, he couldn't ask Penguin to clarify, but thankfully the man didn't need a verbal response to continue. "The whole "Surgeon of Death" thing you've got going on, for starters. Pretending a smirk's the closest thing you can get to a smile, or that you don't like fluffy things."

A meaningful glance at first Bepo and then Kikoku's hilt left Law under no illusions about Penguin being deceived by that particular mask.

"So what?" he asked, tonguing the cake firmly over so he could talk without spraying Penguin with food.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Penguin scolded idly, and Law restrained himself from defying the order on principle just because it would have been a waste of cake. Also because Penguin was right, technically, as well as being one of very few people in the world Law would take instructions from if he felt like it. Penguin had earnt that respect over the last decade or so they'd been nakama.

He made a muffled noise instead, implying that Penguin should continue with his explanation.

"So, it's a general stereotype that the gloomy people – and you act it, don't even try denying it – don't like sugar." Law had made a sound of protest at being called gloomy. "So when people discover that not only do you like sugar in your coffee and cake, but also devour hot chocolate in seconds whenever Shachi makes it for you, it throws them for a loop."

Law wished Penguin hadn't mentioned the hot chocolate, because now he wanted some, but Shachi was on duty in the control room and no-one else made it as well as him. Changing the shift just so Shachi could make the drink was an abuse of authority – and Penguin was eyeing him in a way that said he knew exactly what he was thinking and wouldn't be letting Shachi off shift a second early.

Law resolved to get him to make it the moment he came off shift, then.

Penguin sighed and pushed another mug of coffee (just the right amount of sugar and creamer) his way. Law had barely noticed he'd finished the first, but wasted no time in making a start on the new one. He heard Penguin sigh in fond amusement.

"We spoil you far too much," the older man muttered, not that he sounded as though he regretted it, to Law's ears.

"I'm your captain," he responded, and chose to ignore the roll of Penguin's eyes and accompanied spoilt brat mumbled under his breath.

I see a lot of fics where Law has his coffee black, and while I can see why authors make that decision, I see him as having something of a sweet tooth at times. After all, he clearly had no issues with ice cream as a kid! That isn't to say he goes for everything sickly sweet, by any means. He'd just rather have a sweeter edge to his coffee, and some nice (gluten free) cake every once in a while. And all the hot chocolate, because hot chocolate is the best drink ever.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari