Chapter Three
After Nami's call several weeks prior, it really shouldn't have surprised Law to see Usopp at a bar. Although, the company was definitely eyebrow-raising.
Usopp was sitting in the corner of the bar, his back against the mirrored wall, nursing a bottle of grog while smiling at the man in front of him. He wasn't wearing his usual clothing, rather, he was blending in more with tight light grey jeans and a white t-shirt. Law couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face that despite breaking up, Usopp was still wearing the black leather jacket Law had given him for his birthday.
Law narrowed his eyes as he watched Usopp stir one nail-polished finger into his drink, looking carefully for any colour changes. Usopp had created the nail polish to help protect Nami and Robin after a particularly nasty incident one evening with Nami not watching her drink. A colour change indicated a foreign harmful substance in the drink.
He should leave Usopp alone, it was not his business what he got up to, but Law couldn't help but feel an urge of protectiveness run through him as the man in front of Usopp leaned closer to him and pushed a curl behind his ear.
Law growled, wondering what the sniper was thinking, allowing someone that close to him. He quickly glanced around, wondering where the rest of his crew was. It was unlikely that Usopp was there completely alone.
The man seemed enthralled with whatever Usopp was saying. He was in his story-teller mode— eyes shining, hands moving with a flourish, expression changing to match the tone of the story.
The man was getting further and further into Usopp's space, the more he drank. He was leaning on his elbow on the bar, his face a mere 30 centimetres from Usopp's. Soon enough, his hand was sliding up Usopp's thigh, causing Law to squeeze his bottle until it shattered.
Usopp had his back pressed firmly against the mirror as he grimaced at the man before him. He had taken a quick look at the bartender, but they likely wouldn't do anything. It was uncommon for them to get involved unless a woman was uncomfortable. Law wanted to go over and help him out, but something told him that Usopp wouldn't appreciate his ex-boyfriend getting involved. This was made clearer when Law caught sight of a reporter on the other side of the bar. Enough stories were going around without a new one involving them.
The man reached again, squeezing Usopp's thigh higher, long fingers brushing against the crotch of his jeans.
He was fidgeting under the unwanted touch, leaning back and sucking on his grog nervously. Law could see him calculating his options, eyes scanning the bar for ways out. Law kept his head down, hiding his face underneath the hood of the cloak he had procured on the island so that Usopp wouldn't see him.
He froze as Usopp rushed past him towards the back door, watching as he went. He turned towards the man at the bar, his hands curling into fists.
He stood and stormed towards the man, pulling on his shoulder and turning him around towards him.
"Dude, what the fuck—"
"Scalpel!" The man's heart popped from his chest and skidded across the bar, stopping just before it fell. Law reached over nonchalantly and picked it up, lightly throwing it up and down in his hand. His smile grew as the man began to wince in pain.
The man looked at him wide-eyed as he stared at his heart bouncing in front of his eyes. "W-what?"
"You messed with someone you shouldn't have, and now you will pay for it with your life," Law said simply, squeezing the man's heart, watching as the man screamed in agony. When the man slumped over the bar, Law dropped the heart uncaringly to the floor, turned around, and walked out of the door Usopp had, uncaring of the chaos he left behind him.
Cool damp air and the scent of garbage met him as he pushed out of the back door of the bar. He threw his bloodied gloves into the bins as he peered around the corner into the dark, dingy alley that ran to the road. Closing his eyes, he focused on finding Usopp. He could sense him, several blocks away, walking slowly back towards the docks.
Law jumped, landing on top of the building and quickly made his way over to where Usopp was, dropping into the alley he would pass in several more steps.
He reached out a hand, pulling Usopp unceremoniously into the alleyway. Usopp stumbled, the shock of being dragged sideways causing him to trip over his own feet. Law reached out his hands to steady him, just as Usopp grabbed onto his cloak, hands twisting in the fabric to help keep him upright. Law froze as the smell of Usopp's cologne met his nose.
Usopp's eyebrows knitted before he slowly raised his eyes to meet Law's. "Law?" he asked, incredulously. Usopp took a step back, leaving the warmth of Law's arms to glare up at him, an annoyed frown on his face. "What are you doing here?"
Despite practically tasting the spike of anxiety coming in waves off Usopp, Law was pleased to see that he kept his shoulders and stance relaxed. His eyes roved over Usopp's face, a small smile of amusement twitching at his lips as he watched Usopp cross his hands over his chest. "Well?"
Law ignored the question and pushed into his space, feeling unable to keep from being close to Usopp a minute longer. He caged the younger man in between his long arms, hands pressing against the brick wall behind him. He felt a smug satisfaction at the sound of Usopp's breath catching in his throat, his clever hands falling to his sides in confusion at the sudden closeness.
"Law?" Law frowned at the tinge of anxiety that laced his name. His only real solace was that Usopp hadn't broken eye contact and was not pressing back against the wall to get further away from him. He still felt safe.
Usopp licked his lips, tongue darting out to lick at the bottom before dragging up against the top, and Law felt his traitorous heart begin to quicken in his chest, cursing the feeling of it. It was one of those times he wished he didn't have his heart back.
Desperate to ignore the feeling, Law chased Usopp's tongue. He pressed his mouth to Usopp's almost desperately, seeking out his tongue with his own. Law's fingers curled into Usopp's t-shirt, twisting his fingers into the white fabric until it ripped. He pulled, dropping it only when the pieces hung off Usopp's shoulders under his leather jacket.
"Law!" Usopp admonished, pushing back against Law's chest causing his heart to beat just a bit faster. "That was a new shirt!"
Law ignored him and simply ducked his head, dragging his nose across the underside of Usopp's jaw. He smiled, feeling Usopp shiver in his arms as the sniper pressed closer to him. Law ran a hand across Usopp's chest, fingers brushing against a hardened nipple while his lips pressed against the junction between Usopp's neck and shoulder. His own shiver escaped his body at the moan he pulled from Usopp's lips when he pressed his teeth into the tender skin and sucked it red, encouraging a bruise to form.
"Law, don't suck there! I can't hide it." Usopp breathlessly said, his hand sliding into Law's cloak and gripping tightly to his shoulder.
Law merely sucked harder, one hand pulling and twisting Usopp's nipple while the other slid down Usopp's side and took hold of his hip. He pushed forward, pressing Usopp against the wall and working their bodies together.
Feeling confident that Usopp wouldn't push him away, he dragged his hand up Usopp's side and twisted his long fingers into the curls at the nape of Usopp's neck. He pulled, none-too-gently, admiring Usopp's neck and more was exposed.
Usopp panted, grinding his hips against Law's and moaning at the rough handling, letting out a gasp when Law dragged his hot tongue over the sensitive skin beneath Usopp's jawbone. He whimpered as Law sucked and worried at the skin with his teeth, working on a mark dark enough that it wouldn't completely fade from sight, even with his skin tone, for a good fortnight.
"Law," Usopp said softly, even as he brought a hand up to thread through Law's hair. He grunted, when Law leaned down and bit his collarbone, perhaps a bit harder than was strictly necessary. Usopp shifted his head, leaving room for Law to lick and bite his way across his Adam's apple to the other side of his neck.
"I've missed you," Law admitted to him once he was close enough to whisper the words hotly in his ear.
"I—," Law took the shell of Usopp's ear between his lips and trailed his tongue along it. He smirked at Usopp's loss of words, sighing in delight when Usopp's hands moved to grip his shoulders.
He followed the persistent pull of Usopp's hands, allowing himself to be steered into a proper kiss. As their lips melded, and tongues tangled, Law slowly skated his fingers across the planes of Usopp's chest and brushed across his ribs, slowly riding down until they came to rest just beneath Usopp's belly button. They hovered there. They were not together anymore. He no longer had permission to touch Usopp the way he craved to.
"Can I touch you?" Law asked against wet lips, lightly brushing their mouths together as they panted, humidifying the air between them. He wondered vaguely if he would even be able to stop touching him if the sniper said no. He supposed if Usopp did, he would learn the new limits of self-control. Something he thought he had already met while dating Usopp.
He lay his hand flat on Usopp's stomach, feeling the muscles fluttering under his touch, and the way Usopp's breath hitched in his throat.
"Can I?" Law pressed, pushing his hand further down so that his thumb dipped, just slightly, beneath the waistband of Usopp's grey jeans.
"It bothers you that I was flirting with that guy," Usopp stated matter of factly, his green-brown eyes boring into Law's own, somehow reading deep into his soul. Law wondered if there was a boost to Usopp's own Haki power, one that could allow him to easily ready people, to lay them bare to his unwavering calculating stare.
"You knew?" Law asked, taken aback.
Usopp scoffed, "You weren't exactly subtle, were you?" He threw his head back to get the hair tickling his nose out of his face. "Not only could I sense you all the way across the bar, but you also smell like blood."
Anger briefly flashed across Law's face, and he took hold of Usopp's wrists. He pinned them to the wall above his head, all but attacking the sniper's mouth with his own, nipping at the luscious lips a touch forcefully before thrusting his tongue inside. "It made me sick how he was touching you."
"I'm no longer yours, why—"
Law shifted so that he could hold Usopp's wrists with one hand, his other pressing into the small of Usopp's back to bring him closer. "I know, but you didn't want him to touch you. I could tell. You might be able to read me like a book, but I can also read you." He bit back a moan as the other instinctively bucked against him. "I care about you and refuse to let someone else hurt or take advantage of you. If… if there is someone you want to be with, I will not stand in your way. I swear to you." He moaned softly, pressing his face into Usopp's neck and kissing against his pulse point softly.
"Law?"
Law stilled, holding himself tightly against him. His stomach dropped, certain that Usopp would push him away. That they would have a fight about boundaries and how it wasn't Law's job to protect him, especially now that they weren't together. "Hm?"
"Please touch me."
Law unbuttoned Usopp's jeans and tugged down the fly, jerking both jeans and briefs down his thighs. Law pressed Usopp's wrists between his fingers, ensuring that he couldn't break away, and took the base of Usopp's cock into his hand, giving it a slow, teasing tug. He leisurely pumped his cock, his head ducking to darken the love bites he had decorated Usopp's neck with.
He revelled in the laboured panting above him, the ones that Law recognized as Usopp's I'm so close, pants. It seems that the several months apart had wreaked havoc on Usopp's ability to hold back his orgasm. Law wondered if that meant Usopp's refractory period had also been affected. Secretly, he hoped not. He loved how quickly the sniper recovered.
When he stops, it's so abrupt that Usopp whimpers. He swallowed the sound with his mouth, as he let go of Usopp's wrists to pat at his jeans, and cloak pockets in search of something.
Law," Usopp groans softly, still breathless. He leans back against the wall for support as he attempts to gain control over himself. "What are you doing?"
Law located the small packet he had been looking for - hidden in a small pocket inside his cloak. He catches Usopp's eyes, swallowing heavily at the look of him still clutching at the wall for support, a healthy blush across his cheeks, neck and chest, love bites decorating his beautiful skin, soft pants pushing between Usopp's lips.
He swooped down and pressed his lips to Usopp's once more. His hands pushed his jeans down the rest of his legs and stepped on them to pull them off Usopp's boots. He moved his hands to the back of Usopp's soft inviting thighs, and pulled upward, heart pounding in his chest when Usopp wrapped his long legs tightly around his waist. Law moved a hand to his hip, angling his own to press Usopp back into the wall and keep him there.
They frottaged together, Law rubbing his still-clothed erection against Usopp's unclothed one, both hissing at the friction.
"Law," Usopp muttered in his ear, burying his head in the crook of Law's shoulder as he matched Law's rhythm. "We shouldn't, ahh, we shouldn't do this here." He nuzzled his face against Law's shoulder, peeking over it towards the opening of the alley. It was late, sure, but pirates, marines and reporters still decorated the streets.
"We're fine," was Law's abrupt reply. Quite liking the idea of someone walking in on them while he took Usopp against the wall.
He encouraged Usopp's hips to keep moving against his, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the lube, ripping it open expertly and coating his fingers in the smooth liquid.
He pressed a hand against Usopp's lower back, his other trailing his fingers up along the cleft of Usopp's ass, tracing the puckered hole, teasing it like he knows Usopp likes.
Law licks a trail up Usopp's neck to his ear, biting sharply at the appendage as he eased a finger into him. "Please," Usopp moaned, squeezing tightly against Law's finger.
He inched the finger inside him, working to locate the bundle of nerves that always reduced Usopp to a panting mess. He bit down on Usopp's neck as his finger found its mark, causing Usopp to cry out and dig his fingers into the back of Law's neck and shoulder.
Usopp's hips jerked forward, the weeping head of his cock sliding under Law's shirt to press hot and wet against Law's stomach and abdomen. "Fuck, Law. Keep going," Usopp ground down, using Law's body as leverage to rut himself against him and fuck himself on Law's talented fingers.
Law nudged Usopp's cheek and coaxed him into a deep, soul-searing kiss as he worked another finger in. He could feel Usopp was close again, shivering both from the frottage and his ministrations. "Law, I need you inside me," Usopp said breathlessly, butting his forehead against Law's.
Usopp panted, leaning back to give Law space to undo his pants and coat his cock in lube. Law pressed close, one hand bracing himself against the wall, the other positioning himself, his fingers tenderly caressing Usopp's ass tenderly.
He shivered as he felt himself slowly sink into Usopp's wanton body. He allowed gravity to do its work, not forcing himself deeper into him. When Usopp was seated down to the root, he breathed out slowly, watching him for any signs of discomfort.
"Law," Usopp whined. "Move."
"One minute," he said, a wicked smile crossing his face. There would likely not be another chance like this. He wasn't about to let the chance to tease Usopp go so easily.
Usopp dropped his head back against the wall and glared down at him, a deep frown crossing his face. "What are you waiting for?" He fluttered his muscles, in an attempt to tempt him to move, but Law merely leaned forward to press his lips to his ear.
"Just answer me this," Law breathed, and Usopp shivered against him, a breathy gasp leaving him as Law pressed closer.
"What?" He managed to get out.
"Who do you belong to?" Law teased, his lips so close to Usopp's ear that his mouth brushed against it with each movement.
"Ah, so you are here to start a fight," Usopp said blandly.
"Whose, Usopp?" Law pushed, nudging himself against Usopp's prostate, and he really shouldn't have done that. He was already close to losing control, but to feel Usopp squeeze against him— he truly was learning the new limits to his self-control.
Usopp steadied his gaze, breath panting as he glared into Law's eyes. "Not yours," he said firmly.
He had been teasing, but the finality of what Usopp said, caused his stomach to twist and his heart to drop. "Usopp—"
"Law, move or put me down," Usopp growled, blinking back tears that started to fill his eyes.
Law swallowed heavily against the tightness in his throat and slowly dragged himself out of Usopp, and pushed himself back in, and by God, he would never get used to those first moments of tightness and warmth enclosing him. He shuddered, the hand resting on Usopp's ass letting go to slam against the wall, the treads of his self-control quickly unravelling. He took a steadying breath as stars began to dance on the edge of his vision.
Usopp wrapped his arms tightly around Law's neck and began to move with him, undulating his hips as Law thrust up. "Yes, keep going," Usopp encouraged, hiding his face in Law's neck. His fingers tightened in Law's hair, nails digging into the back of his neck, helping to keep Law's senses just intact enough to keep a rhythm going.
"You're so perfect, you feel amazing moving your body against me like that. You always take me so well," Law said, closing his eyes as the slap of skin against skin became more erratic with his words, and Usopp's grunts and gasps turned into heady pants. Pants that were sometimes inarticulate cries, others definite, but broken, moans of 'Law!'.
Law slid a hand between them, grasping Usopp's cock in his hand and pumping it in time with his thrusts. With each move of their hips, Usopp bounced against the wall, and their lips brushed as they breathed heavily in the space between them. The space around them smelt of sex and sweat and Usopp, and Law wanted to bottle it so that he could drown in the scent whenever he pleased, in the dark loneliness of his room back on the Polar Tang.
It took another, one, two, three pump-thrusts before Usopp's legs clenched around Law's hips almost painfully, and his nails dug into Law's neck harsh enough to break the skin as he came. Two thrusts later, Law buried his face into the junction of Usopp's shoulder, and sucked at the flesh as he rode out his release, afraid that if he didn't keep his mouth occupied, he would tell Usopp how much he still loved him.
The two of them remained like that for a few moments, Law leaning against Usopp since his legs were shaking a little from the effort of standing this whole time, the two focusing on regulating their breathing as they came down from their post-orgasmic haze.
Minutes later, Usopp frowned and pushed on Law's shoulder to make him pull back. Law frowned in protest – he wasn't finished kissing Usopp yet. He stepped back and allowed Usopp space to pull off his ripped shirt and shove it into his bag.
Usopp ruffled through his bag, growling in annoyance when he noticed his sweater wasn't in there. "Fuck, Nami must have taken my sweater." He ran a hand through his hair and breathed heavily through his nose, freezing when the heavy fabric of Law's cloak was thrown over his shoulders.
He looked down at the cloak and up to Law's face, eyeing him questioningly, "Law?"
"You'll catch a cold, that jacket is much too thin for tonight." Law kept his voice monotone, almost uncaring.
"But, we aren't…"
Law's face softened and he sighed heavily, why could he never keep the facade with Usopp? "That doesn't mean that I don't care about you."
Usopp nodded slowly, pulling the coat around his body like a cape. The bottom of the coat almost brushed against the ground, with how much taller Law was than him. "I didn't… I wasn't trying to make you jealous." Usopp said softly.
He closed his eyes, and Law's heart squeezed at how vulnerable he looked. "I know it seems that way, and I can be that petty, but I honestly didn't even know you were here. It was just information seeking." He shrugged his shoulders and scoffed out a laugh, looking back into Law's face. "Apparently, I am 'pretty' and that makes people want to talk to me and give me stuff."
"You aren't pretty," Law said with a scoff.
"Thanks, asshole?"
Law rolled his eyes, "You're beautiful and you know it very well."
"Law, this… it can't happen again. Not if—"
Law closed his eyes tightly, it was his turn to hide from Usopp's stare. "I know. I'm sorry, it's just when I saw you there, I couldn't help the protectiveness that came over me."
Usopp nodded in understanding, "Hey, I get it. I would probably feel the same way if it were you. We didn't… we didn't break up because we no longer love each other, so those feelings… they're normal." Usopp shook his head, laughing softly. "Well, not how you reacted to them, but the feeling is normal."
Law leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. He stroked Usopp's cheek before stepping away. "I'll keep my protectiveness under control, but maybe you can…"
Usopp nodded, "Yes, of course." He looked down at the ground, worrying his lip as he fiddled with the cloak around his shoulders. "I… no, it's stupid."
"What?" Law asked, bending down to get a clear look at Usopp's face. It was difficult in the darkness of the ally, but he could make out the wetness in the other's eyes. "What is it?"
"Can we stay friends?"
Law's heart stalled in his chest. "Friends?"
Usopp nodded, curling in on himself. "Honestly? I've tried being away from you, and it's been crap, absolute shit." He laughed a harsh self-deprecating sound. "Sometimes, it was so hard just to get out of bed and I think…" Usopp paused, brushing his fingers across his eyes to wipe his tears. "I honestly think I would rather have you in my life, even as just a friend, than not to have you in it. I think… I don't even know what I think." Usopp admitted softly.
He shook his head and sighed deeply before looking up at Law and giving him a watery smile. "I better go before I make an even bigger fool of myself."
"No!" Law grabbed his wrist, pulling Usopp back to him. "You didn't make a fool of yourself." He said insistently. What the hell are you doing, idiot? He yelled at himself in his mind. He shook the thought away.
"Law?"
"I would absolutely love to be friends with you," Law said breathlessly, ignoring his heart breaking further. Usopp was right, being friends, it was better than the alternative. Not having Usopp in his life was not an option.
Usopp burst into tears, wrapping his arms tightly around Law's neck and sobbing into his neck. "Thank you."
Law swallowed heavily, engulfing Usopp tightly in his arms.
He would make this work. He had to.