Cuddle Me, Luffy
My boyfriend of fourteen, years doesn't like cakes, he is allergic to gluten, intolerant to the smell of bread and absolutely sick of people making him cut cakes on his birthday.
So when I asked him a week back what he wanted for his birthday, the answer was two words: "No Cake!"
My reply was: "I know, babes! Anything else?"
My grumpy sunshine pulled up the collars of his pride and joy— his doctor's apron, and looked straight into my eyes: "CUDDLES!" Seeing my surprised expression, he hammered his demand again:"Uninterrupted cuddles! Cuddle me, Luffy."
His command was wish. It was rare for Law to be so direct, which made me giddy. I was prepared to give him all the cuddles, but birthday celebrations without deliciousness on the plate felt half a celebration. Which was the reason I was looking for food he would appreciate and not have an allergic reaction too.
Ace had warned me that the opposite attracts because it creates conflicts. Conflicts are born of having no common ground.
There was no conflict between my beautiful boyfriend and me.
The conflict was in my heart. I love parties, I love partying with friends, and I enjoy being in the company of people when I am happy. Law calls me an incurable extrovert. But today is not about me, it is about Law.
Law didn't like gala celebrations, he was happy to be in the company of his near and dear ones on his special day. Since this year his family was travelling, it was just going to be the two of us. I had asked if he wanted to invite his three best-freinds, but the glare Law offered me ended the conversation. He wanted to spend the entire evening with me. The end, nothing else.
"What are you scrolling so seriously, boss? Your eyebrows are stuck together." Bartholomeo's excited voice boomed behind my ears. He was very loud, even for me.
"Birthday cake alternatives for my boyfriend."
"Is he allergic to all types of cake?"
"Gluten allergy."
"No waffles or pancakes either?"
"If they have wheat flour replacement, sure. I have brought those previous years."
"Why don't you bake him one?"
He hurt my Achilles heel, I just couldn't cook. Growing up an orphan and then being raised by two idiot brothers was not the best environment to learn any cooking, "Look at my hands." I waved my hands to the colleague.
"What about them? They are handsome like your face!" Was this flattery or flirting? According to Law, who clearly said after taking one look at Bartolomeo: "Babes, this junior of yours is crushing on you." Who cares, Law was the one and only resident in my heart.
I pushed the parrothead away from my face, "They are cursed." I waved my fingers again. "I have tried cooking and baking for Law over the years. Nothing has ever worked in the last 14 years." It is true, in the first year of our relationship I tried making cheesecake, but I burnt the bottom. I tried oats shortbread a few years later, they were hard as stone. Now, fourteen years later, I have a full list of failures and not a single success.
"You've dated that long?"
"Yeah."
"Then when are you going to pop the big question? Do want to do a giant proposal?"
"Law hates big parties and drawing attention to himself. Now, if you can't help me choose an alternative, get lost."
"Then why not make a simple cheese board and get some good wine and throw in some fruits. Red grapes look great!" The advice didn't come from Bartolomeo but from my best-friend, the other parrothead of this station.
"Zoro! You know the names of those fancy cheese?"
"I do not!"
"Then?"
Zoro slid in a yellow note, "Sanji sent this list, buy them from Franky's Mart store." I kissed the note. They were really my saviours. "And get some flowers." I bought the flowers in the morning, I just need to pick them up on the way.
"Thank you, Zoro! What is this?" I tried to read the names, "Graa, Gryiii? Gruy—eh?"
"Luffy, just show it to the helpers in Franky's Mart."
I had no time to waste, I gathered my things, "Right! Then off I go shopping then, Law will reach home in two hours!"
"And Lu—!" Zoro grabbed my collar.
"What?"
"Get out of your firefighter uniform!"
"Right!"
The helpers were really helpful, I walked out with fancy cheese, two expensive wine bottles one red and one white, names of which I can't utter, not a single syllable of these bottles were familiar to me and colourful fruits! But as I was about to wrap it up, the girl who was helping told me, I needed a birthday banner, a cute little wooden cheeseboard, matching couple's wine glasses and cute mats. Suddenly the things in my hands felt more Valentine than birthday celebration, the only thing missing was a chocolate box wrapped in red ribbon.
I trusted helper girl's taste, and she also reminded me of flowers, which I had forgotten about. I returned home with Law's birthday celebration.
Sanji texted me that if Law wanted to have intimate celebrations, I should light some candles, cover the large couch with soft pillows and a fluffy blanket and set the cheeseboard in the centre, I even got the jams and crisps too. But candles, I didn't feel today was the day for aromatic candles. I could always light them later.
I only had half an hour to set everything up, so I did as my best-friend's husband told me.
Law's favourite colour were yellow and blue, so the cutest yellow blanket we had was on the couch and blue pillows followed after. The numerous soft toys I had gifted him, including his human-size polar bear and panda bear soft toys, were set too!
Thanks to Sanji, who had the foresight and zero faith in me, sent an u-tube link on how to arrange a cheese board. My display was nowhere near the artwork I saw on my phone, Law wouldn't care, but that doesn't mean I can not try. Sabo said my boyfriend was physically low-maintenance but mentally high-maintenance, so I should always show affection and talk with him.
Today was his birthday, so I had to do my best.
The moment I stuck the pink birthday banner on the wall, the doorbell rang! Someone left the hospital on time! Tonight I would cuddle him until he melted butter in my lap.
"Are these real sunflowers?" Even before I could greet him with the flowers, he had grabbed them and flashed his prettiest smile at me. "Oh my god, these are real! I love them, Lu!"
"Happy birthday my lovely boyfriend." I pulled him inside and took away his bag and apron.
"You didn't run into anyone, right?" Law was always suspicious of people self-inviting themselves into our homes on days like this. His colleagues had often barged into our home to party, and Law never liked it. "I trust you. But others I do not." He reminded me. Once he was assured there was no surprise guest, he kissed my forehead and hugged me, and the sunflowers between us almost turned into sunflower jam. "I missed you! I actually sneaked out of the back door to avoid being dragged into an after-work party!" I squeezed my tall lover. Furthermore, I didn't tell him, he was stinking of sweat and disinfectant.
"I have prepared a bath for you, and matching pyjamas! Hehehehe!" Law pushed me back to look at my clothes.
"Are this Sora The Warrior PJs!"
"You will love yours, it's a couple's set. And after that, we will proceed to your birthday party." I tried to gently push him towards the washroom.
"Ah! I missed you, Lu! I want cuddles now."
"No no! No, no!" He was not getting out of it. "I love you, but once you have had a good bath, you will enjoy your cuddles better."
"I am the birthday man!"
"And I love you."
Once he came out of the bathroom in lovely silky black Stealth Black pyjamas. My heart skipped a beat or two. He was looking happy!
"Monkey D Luffy, you have outdone yourself! A birthday banner. Flowers. Both red and white wine, an entire cheese board with fruits! And no cake!" Law flopped into my arms, tucked his feet inside the blanket and rubbed his cold feet on my warm calves.
"Torao!" I hissed at the touch of the flirty cold feet. "Happy 43rd birthday." I opened my arms and Law settled into my chest.
"Thank you!" He began nuzzling his nose in my embrace and broke into a little giggle.
"What?"
"Suddenly I feel old! Not in a bad way. In a happy way. Like we are such an old married couple, you actually made an entire evening to make me happy, if this not the definition of settled in life than what is!"
"I love watching you be happy. Oh, try the cheese, I couldn't utter a single word, the shop-helper found them. I even got jams and crisps too."
"What do we have here?" Thanks, Sanji, Law was really interested in the cheeseboard. "This is Sanji's choice, right?"
I never lie, "Sanji texted me: A cheese board can have anything, go wild ."
"Indeed, but my favourites! He really observes what we dine at his restaurant. I can see triple cream-brie, a generous piece of sharp cheddar, oh my-my is that goat cheese! A blue cheese, wow Luffy!."
Law picked a piece and chewed on the soft cheese, which was like a roulade. I had to ask what was the other one that I failed to pronounce, I pointed at it, "What is that called?"
"Gruyère."
"Like it?"
"I love it! This one hits a spot, like how you hit my spot when you rail me in the bed." People mistook me for the foul-mouthed person, my lover had a dirty mouth too. But no one would believe me if I told them Dr Trafalgar Law compared eating cheese to climaxing. No one!
"So do you want candles before I began cuddling you like a hungry shark? I was not sure if today is the day of candles. I mean, if we had a cake, a thin candle would be fine, but those lavender and peach candles—"
My boyfriend placed his palm on my mouth and shook his head. Then he melted further into my arms, who would've told this man was 193 cm tall and performed surgeries almost every day! Right now he was clinging to me and would throw a tantrum if I didn't cuddle him hard, "pour me a glass of wine." I knew he wanted to have a movie marathon of his favourite series, Sora The Warrior of Sky.
After handing him his glass, I thought of easing into the conversation, as I had a question I wanted to ask for days, "Should I play your favourite movie?" No this was not the question.
If hearing these words made him misty-eyed. What would my next question do to this kitty of mine?
"Yes please." He really loved them! On our first date, we had gone to watch the first instalment of the franchise. Since then, these movies had become part of our love life. When upset we watched it together, when hurt we saw it together, and when happy we saw it together. Law craved the comfort of familiarity, and I would do anything to make him happy.
So we watched the movie for the next two hours without much talking and only cuddling. I loved him, I wanted us to be like this until we were old. After the movie ended, Law was back to tasting things off his cheeseboard and sipping his wine from the couple's glass. When I was sure he was relaxed and a bit buzzed like a kitty with a full belly, I pulled him by the waist into my lap.
I made him straighten up and face me, my boyfriend settled on my lap like an experienced horse rider and rubbed his nose against mine. "So Law…" Suddenly I was feeling nervous. I mean, this decision was not sudden, I know he wants to move to the next step so do I. And I think we are ready for the next step. Yet I was feeling so nervous. I fumbled in my equally silky pocket, and he noticed it and raised his beautiful eyebrow.
"Yes, Lu? Is it what I think it is." I didn't know if it was the right time or not. I took his hand in mine and toyed with a blue box that I fished out in my other hand.
After taking a deep breath, I began my little speech, "You don't have to say yes, but even if you say no, I don't—
Law didn't let me finish the sentence as he sealed my lips with his. His equally flirtatious hand took the box from my hand and opened it. There was a blush on his face, which meant he liked it. Again, his unoccupied hand came for my face and kissed me full on the mouth until I felt cheesy and wine-sour.
After we pulled away from the kiss with wild currents of emotions, I put the ring on his lean finger. Just like he liked, the ring was nothing fancy or elaborate, but elegant, a silver band with little stones. He liked it, I could see it. Then my boyfriend of fourteen years moved his lips to my ear and whispered:
"YES!"
THE END
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, yet!
Hi, long time no see!
My life has entered, the sad fanfic author cursed life. My laptop is dying, I haven't got salary in the last two months, and I am bloody exhausted! I had also been knocked out by fucking mold allergies, from which I am still recovering.
This fic was written on phone, so I will not accept any complaints about typos and syntax. You have to suffer through it. This fic is inspired from Diam_Red aka Supernovayuko's art from her twitter. I saw the art and I fell in love with the story she had created in four panels! You all should check her art out and follow her everywhere!
So I wrote this fic to cheer myself up, as I want to become 40 and have a loving partner like Luffy! Sadly, none is happening.
P.S- Since 2019, I have sifted my base to Ao3, where I go by the name khepiari, so if you want to read my stories early, subscribe me there, I have Wattpad too, but I upload everything on Ao3 first now.