Day Six
Prompt: Conqueror's Haki| Hand Holding
Chosen: Hand Holding

Is there a limit to how much someone can be so rational that they become irrational and that makes them run in a loop of overthinking? There is no limit— the human mind is capable of infinite intelligence and infinite stupidity! And the human heart is only capable of infinite stupidity.

Currently, Dr. Trafalgar Law was driving himself crazy by overthinking irrational thoughts and all this made him conclude love was hard! Love was very hard when your relationship was new and the person you fell for is even younger! It was his fifth attempt to hold his boyfriend's hand, and he failed royally and also ended up displaying his jealousy in the most pathetic way possible!

Love had happened on a surprisingly ordinary day, it was so ordinary that Law wouldn't have been able to say if it was Tuesday or Thursday.

But Monkey D Luffy knew it was a Wednesday! The daily horoscope app that his siblings, jokingly, installed— announced that it was the day he would meet the love of his life.

And surely he did, the love of his life had forgotten his wallet and was embarrassingly suffering in front of the order counter while the cashier looked at him with pity. For Law, it was a horrible experience because it was one day he had decided to not eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria, and it was that very day he forgot his wallet.

Luffy had spotted him from a distance, and something inside him told it was destiny! So he sailed towards his destiny! And slid in his card, on the counter, "And please add four tuna sandwiches and one hibiscus tea with his order!" Luffy looked at Law and smiled, "Sorry, I was late for the meeting!"

Law had no idea what was happening, but he was slightly happier that this man had suddenly popped in on a day that could send him on an embarrassing overdrive, "I forgot my wallet!" Law pulled out the insides of his pocket and blushed. This was a scene he had seen happen in romcoms! He never thought he would be the one enacting the scene!

"Let's sit there!" Luffy pointed at the two-seater corner and walked ahead while Law followed him like a house-cat that had jumped out from the window to enjoy a nap under the sun in the garden but got drenched by unexpected drizzle!

Luffy dumped his backpack and pulled the chair for Law, "Please sit! I am Monkey D Luffy!"

Uncomfortably, Law sat on his chair and rested his hands on a shiny wooden table, "Trafalgar Law." Who would've thought at 37 he would be this awkward?

"Well, if you think it's too much, you can take your food and leave. I know I barged in!" Luffy sat down and itched the back of his neck, "I have never done this before, but my horoscope told me, I will meet the love of my life today!" Hearing this, Law looked up at Luffy with even more embarrassment spreading on his face. "Oh shit that was too direct heh? My brothers told me to be honest in matters of the heart!"

"I am thirty-seven!" Law blurted out, "You will find someone from your age group."

"I am not a college student!" Luffy huffed and folded his arms. Law looked at him again with more attention— Luffy definitely had a baby face with a curious cut mark under his left eye, and unruly hair common to young men. And his clothes, bright red T-shirt and blue shorts, and he was wearing flip-flops, everything was pointing in one direction.

"Are you in high-school?"

Luffy's jaws dropped, "Do I look that young?"

"You look way younger than me! Look at me." So Luffy looked at him, Law was wearing a pinstripes shirt, and glasses and his hair was not unruly. And he was wearing proper shoes; anyone glancing at him would know he was a man well-planted in his 30s!

"I am thirty! Seven years are not that much of a difference!" Luffy flashed his boyish smile, and looked at Law, refusing to believe him. "You don't believe me?"

Law shook his head, "Show me your ID!"

Luffy didn't protest and pulled out his wallet from his backpack and shared his employee ID.

It read, Research associate, Monkey D Luffy, Dpt. of Entomology, East Blue Wing. "Yeah, I study insects!"

"A biologist?" Luffy nodded. Law found it hard to believe. He decided that since he demanded Luffy's ID, he should show him, it was only fair. The doctor put his hands in his pocket and recalled, the entire reason he was sitting opposite Luffy was because he forgot his wallet, which also contained his ID! "I am a surgeon, I will show you my ID, after lunch."

Luffy's dark eyes lit up like a cat who found a laser light flickering on the wall,"So, I can drop you to your workplace after lunch? This is destiny!"

Realizing what he said, Law again went into his favourite pass time— overthinking. Not only he forgot his wallet, he got helped by a man— who he thought was out of his league! This man was very much interested in him. Law had always been a loner, and being in a profession that often kept him occupied for hours; left him with no time for meeting friends and family, let alone new people! So finding a man he just met to be interested in him was information overload. Law opened his mouth multiple times, but was unable to answer!

"You don't have to answer!" Luffy gestured his hands to show he was not going to drop him off! "Once the food arrives, I will scoot away." Hearing this also didn't sit well with Law, and he glared at Luffy. "Or maybe I will scoot away after we have lunch?" Luffy nervously grinned, he was enjoying this encounter! Law was everything opposite of him— Luffy was born confident to the point of running into mortal danger, he was so friendly again to the point of ending up partying with drug cartel lords, he was always curious and did things without thinking, and not many accepted his extroverted nature! Finding Law to be over-conscious, overthinking and hesitant like a shy moth was very very interesting!

That was how they met! After eating together—the unsurprisingly opposite choices of diet established they were so different, Law found Luffy following him, up to his hospital. When they reached the entrance, Luffy stopped outside, which made Law turn around and raise his perfectly arched eyebrows.

"You can show me that ID of yours if you eat lunch with me for the next two days and agree to a movie date on this Saturday! Doable?" Luffy smiled. Seeing Law's face again suffer from an existential crisis, Luffy decided then and there; he wanted this introvert to be in his life. "Don't answer me, I will wait at the same restaurant, same time tomorrow. And the day after! If you don't want to come, it's okay." Luffy bend forward and raised his hands to pat the taller man, but stopped midway because he didn't want to make Law feel like a cornered animal. Pulling back, he waved at the doctor, "See ya!"

Not only, Law went to meet Luffy again for lunch, he paid for their food both times and agreed to the movie date on a Saturday night! Due to a lack of personal life, Law had always taken night shifts to help out people who had private lives. He didn't mind, he was a surgeon, and most of the time he was needed for emergency cases only— which were frequent but not a troubling occurrence.

That weekend, when Law didn't raise his hand for weekend night shifts, every head in the hospital turned to look at him; with a blush, he half-mumbled and half-confessed about meeting an entomologist!

A nurse with dyed pink-hair raised his hands covering his mouth as if he heard a scandal, "Luffy, you mean the hunk from the Entomology department?" Law nodded. "How?" The doctor had no answer for the how! Like a deer caught in headlights, Law looked around!

"Coby just because Luffy didn't accept your date request doesn't mean he is immune to charm. I bet he saw Dr. Law help someone and fell for his good heart." The department head of Emergency Dr. Crocus who was allotting the schedule chided. "You can stop doing weekend night shifts Law, you have done it for years, it's time we stop relying on you. But I am surprised you finally chose to date that hyper-extrovert biologist. Opposites do attract each other, huh?"

There was a department of biology in one of the extended wings of the hospital campus and Law had never heard of it and everyone knew Luffy! Even after looking at Luffy's ID, it had not registered in Law's mind that they were working on the same campus! How would he? Law came to work from his little apartment six streets away, and went back home without looking around anywhere, let alone glance at the neighbouring departmental wings. The doctor actually loved taking long aimless walks, but he forgot to stroll in his own work campus.

"Dr. Law! Luffy has rejected every person who has ever asked him on a date!" Another nurse with blue hair informed. Law got distracted by the colourful hair around him, he wondered if he should dye his hair too. But the image of him meeting a hairdresser bothered him, and how would Luffy react? Now Law was worried, was Luffy toying with him or did he suddenly become important in the eye of the universe; because these young nurses were beautiful, Luffy would look great with them.

"It's just a movie night. I mean, we will have dinner and watch something. People do that with friends. Right?" The pitiful looks he got made him understand, no, it was a date-date.

"You better don't eat garlicky food!" A younger doctor called Marco smirked! "Or too pungent food."

"Huh?"

"When was the last time you went on a date?" Marco asked.

"Marco!" The pink-haired nurse hissed.

"What, it's common knowledge, a first date leads to a kiss!"

"Marco!"

"Okay fine, kiss is for younger people, but old-school people like Dr. Law, at least hold hands!" The new doctor wanted to lecture Law on the etiquettes of modern dating, but pinches from one of their fellow doctors stopped him.

Seeing Law avoid their eyes and gathering his things, everyone let the man be, and let him exit quietly. They were worried about their awkward-king who was also the most famous recluse in the hospital!

Luffy was talkative, but not once Law felt being left out of any conversations they had, the extrovert was a smooth talker, and he could make people talk. He had found out where Law studied, what his hobbies were, and which genre of movie he liked! All within a span of two lunches and one dinner date.

There was a comfort Luffy's presence, that Law was unable to articulate in words, the man didn't try to touch him while talking like people tend too, or when he opened the door for him, he kept enough distance for Law, to let him keep his space. When they navigated through the crowd, the biologist made sure, Law was behind him so that he didn't bump into random people.

One of the conversations had revealed, that Law loved walking, hence the path Luffy chose to the theatre was a long one. It was a late-night movie, and they had ample time to walk.

"Say Law, am I the first person with whom you have tried dating?"

After walking a few more steps, Law decided to be bold, "Yes."

"No wonder I made you so nervous."

"What about you? I heard you rejected people from the hospital?"

"I did. Did they your colleagues tell you?" The doctor nodded. "If it makes you feel better, Dr. Law is also my first time dating."

"But—" Law paused.

"—But, you are an extrovert, how is that possible?" Luffy completed Law's sentence, and Law nodded.

"..." Law opened his mouth, and then looked at Luffy, "Was it the horoscope thing? I don't even know what I star sign I am. I can learn." Listening to this, Luffy broke into laughter and clutched his stomach, and reclined on the glass pane of a shop window to keep himself steady. The passer-by didn't appreciate the roaring laughter, but Law decided he would glare back at anyone who gave Luffy a side eye! Law liked the sound of Luffy's laughter.

After Luffy calmed himself, Law tried to offer his hands to hold Luffy, but Marco's words revibrated in his hands and he pulled his hands away even before Luffy could look. Luffy actually saw it but pretended to let Law be.

The atmosphere in the theatre proved more romantic than Law had anticipated, there were very young teen couples and college-going couples canoodling on their seats and then there were two people in their 30s! Luffy was an unbothered-king and strolled in with buckets of two flavoured popcorn— salted butter for Law, caramel for himself like he owned the place and called for Law who followed after him carrying two choices of drink— hibiscus tea for Luffy and cold bitter coffee for himself.

Once the movie began to play, Law became hyper-aware of the kisses and other bodily activities happening in the theatre. Luffy was seated with his choice of drink and munchies, and laughing at the film— it was a romantic comedy of Law's choice, yet he was not able to make any sense of such a predictable boy-meets-girl at mutual friend's wedding plot, as he was busy observing Luffy's adam apple move up and down in a very tempting manner. One day Law would place infinite kisses on that place, but that day was not tonight.

Then he saw Luffy's large hands grab a handful of sticky popcorn, the doctor, who had never felt much urge for physical touch— wanted his hair to be grabbed by Luffy. By the time Luffy's popcorn emptied, half of the movie was over. Law decided to be courageous and attempted to replicate the most common scene out of romcoms, he offered his untouched popcorn bucket to Luffy, who immediately looked at him.

"Share with me, it's not that bad."

"I know it's not bad. But are you sure? You didn't even try my popcorn!"

Law nodded, mentally he was planning on how he would time his hands in such a way that, when Luffy decided to pick his popcorn, it would collide with his hands. Instead of the hand coming for his popcorn, Luffy offered his hibiscus tea to Law.

"You don't have to like it, but sip it!" Law did so and drank a gulp while Luffy held the cup, and the doctor was surprised by the tangy and the mild sweet playing on his tongue! He liked it. And it showed on his face!

"Like it?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah, I thought it would be like grape juices— it would taste purple."

"Shishishi! No, that's made with artificial stuff, this is just the flowers!"

"You want a sip of my coffee? It's bitter."

"No harm in trying!" Law offered his cup and Luffy took a sip and made a face. "Too bitter! But it can cut the sweetness of caramel popcorn." Luffy entered his hand into the bucket and began catching his popcorn, and Law entered his hand too in hopes of bumping it, but the biologist had more to say it seems, "Next time, we will order two of each drink shishishsi!"

Luffy had not even looked at Law, but Law panicked and pulled his hands away just seconds before their fingers could brush, "Next time?"

"Yeah, this is a trial round. Serious dating begins next week."

Law finally drank his black coffee, it was just too bitter, now that he had tasted hibiscus tea, he could no longer enjoy this drink like the way he used to. Similarly, the last two days eating and talking with Luffy had made him understand how lonely he had been, he wanted this man, but black coffee couldn't ask why was it someone's choice of beverage, but a human could ask why they were the choice of someone's heart, "Why me?" Law asked.

"Because it is you."

"Please don't say destiny!" Law blushed.

"It is destiny!" Luffy shamelessly slurped his hibiscus tea and observed Law suffer because of his overthinking.

The third time Law tried to hold Luffy's hand was on their fourth weekend date a month later!

Since the first dinner date, Law had spent many lunches with Luffy and walked across the hospital campus, earning jealous glances and surprised yelps. The hermit and the hunk were in love.

Sometimes, both of them were found walking out together to have dinner. Everybody wanted to know what was happening, Law had no tea other than hibiscus teabags Luffy gifted him for his team and Luffy would excitedly announce the places they had been to— which to everyone's horror were absolutely strange choices!

On their first official weekend date, Luffy and Law went to Shandoria graveyard, an 800-year-old place protected by a team of archaeologists lead by Law's friend Robin, she gave them a private tour. Luffy, despite his tendencies to block out historical words, paid attention and listened to Law and Robin talk excitedly. Later, when he found a carrion beetle with mutation, Luffy explained to Law how the graveyard insects were very important to decomposition, and he was surprised to find them here in an 800-year-old place. That day Law learned Luffy specialised in insect mutation studies!

After hearing Luffy brag about their first date, people dreaded what would be their next choices!

Neither of the two disappointed anyone, Luffy took Law on a Ghost Walk City tour, this was run by an acquaintance of Luffy's called Brook, he took a handful of people around the older and abandoned part of the city at midnight and narrated stories of strange deaths, sightings and haunting, though Luffy had done it countless times, having Law the nerd was fun, because, every time Brook told of how some young woman passed away and turned into a ghost— the doctor in Law would explain the historical background and the symptoms of most common diseases of the era! By the end of the tour, Brook told them they were banning the annoying couple from attending any more ghost walks!

After that the two spent an entire weekend camping again in a spooky town known for having spotted mysterious mountain beasts, it was the tea everyone waiting for, but Law had grown too comfortable in Luffy's presence, and the thought of holding his hands slipped his mind. Luffy never made a move, so Law tried his best not to overthink! But Marco could no longer endure this slow-burn 13th-century romance!

"Did you kiss?"

"No. But we found, I mean we solved the mysterious beasts rumour! Luffy found some cicadas that had mutations causing them to lose colour, and he asked the local authorities to check the minerals contents of the local riverbank, apparently an amber lead factory has been dumping their waste secretly in the forest and it seeped into the water, and it infected the animals! So Luffy is being awarded a social service award!" Law bragged without feeling shy or nervous, and everyone looked at him with pity.

"Did you share a tent?"

"Yep!"

"And still no kiss?"

"We had our sleeping bags. Sleeping bags are the best option for camping as they stop unwanted movements!"

Marco almost dug his eyes out, "Are you asexual?"

Law blushed, "I don't think so."

"Have you held Luffy's hands?" Marco cried.

"Not yet."

"And he has not tried!" Coby asked.

"I swear, I will flip my table!" Marco hissed! "Try to hold his hands, please!"

"Why?"

"Because…."

"Where are you going for a fourth date?" Coby cut Marco.

"I bet it is an insect museum!" Crocus added.

Law couldn't help himself, "Ummm the term is insectarium."

Coby caught Marco before he could shake up Law with these two hands. "GOOD LORD! GET OUT OF HERE, YOU NERD!"

On their fourth weekend date, Law was determined to hold Luffy's hand, so he decided to tag behind Luffy as they walked through the winding path, but finding Luffy walking in a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans, was doing things to Law's heart. He was getting distracted from his mission!

Luffy's hands were harder to grab because the man was busy talking and waving his hands at the insects he adored and wanted Law to know everything. And because Law loved knowing things, he couldn't stop playing along and ended up asking questions which made Luffy's eyes brightened up.

By the time their nerd fest had ended, it was time for the couple to get evicted! Law decided the walking path— a serpentine green walk with a pretty view of the rivers, and Luffy followed him. It was surprisingly a sunny Saturday, and no one was there on the path except for a few couples like them. No matter what Law tried, Luffy didn't let him follow today, he was following Law's steps. Hence, Law's plan to hold hands suffered a tragic blow.

The opportunity arose, Law spotted an ice-cream vendor. Again he chose a cliché scene, he would offer Luffy the ice-cream and use that chance to hold his hands. And he proceeded to buy the least offensive flavour for himself—vanilla and the second in-offensive choice— chocolate! Everyone liked these two flavours.

He took his ice-cream-filled hands and Luffy's raised his hands, Law thought Luffy would take them, so he tried to brush his fingers against Luffy's. Instead of taking it from his hands, Luffy grinned and pulled his hands back, "Dirty! I touched the snail there, shishishi!" And Law's third attempt failed.

"Should I feed you?"

"Yeah!"

So Luffy sat on a bench and parted his legs, indicating Law to sit there, "People will see Lu!"

"It will be easier, you can be between my legs, and I will taste both the cones without you hurting or needing to twist yourself!" And so they sat like that, Law's side-hips touching the insides of Luffy's inner thighs while the younger man gobbled their ice-creams and nudged Law to have it too!

After dinner, Law decided to take the train with his boyfriend, this was his fourth attempt at holding Luffy's hands. He followed after Luffy and tried to create an awkward situation from movies where couples so lost in love tried to swipe their train-card at the same time, and ended up holding hands. Law would buy their tickets and get to rub their fingers!

Law was almost successful had it not been for a girl that cut into the line and pushed Law aside. The weekend crowd was always like a gangster mob. "Law!" Luffy turned around to find his boyfriend had been pushed out.

Luffy was worried, "Let's take a cab. Too many kids, there is a music festival happening somewhere." Law nodded, suddenly he was too exhausted and disappointed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just tired. My introvert is protesting."

"Ah… Then next weekend, let's stay home, watch movies and eat noodles?" That sounded comforting to Law's stretched soul.

"Yes!"

Law was already suffering because of his failures, so when Coby called him, just when he was about to leave for lunch on Monday, he didn't want to answer the call, but he was a doctor it could be an emergency!

"Dr. Law, a woman is flirting with your boyfriend and touching his arms at the Library!"

Law didn't wait for a second and marched on to the library!

After he reached the innermost part of the library where the biology section was he saw an orange-haired woman, actually touching his boyfriend's arms!

The doctor took long strides towards Luffy, who had not seen Law as his back was facing the doctor, and continued talking cheerfully.

The doctor's focus was on Luffy's palms, so he went to grab them, but the orange head woman pushed Luffy aside. It was his fifth attempt to hold his boyfriend's hand, and he failed royally and also ended up displaying his jealousy. And Law found himself shocked and tears were rolling down. "Who are you?" The woman asked.

The biologist turned around, only to find his boyfriend shivering. "Law!" Luffy immediately held Law by the hands and looked at the man, shedding tears. "Nami why did you push him?"

Finding Luffy's warm palms around Law's wrist broke the doctor further, and he began crying. The hands he wanted to touch, finally were holding him. Yet he felt so angry and guilty! Why was it so easy for others and not him? Why was he so different and not like this girl who was able to touch anyone without a pang of guilt? Then he looked at Luffy's whose expression was full of worry— lost in attempts to swim across Law's thoughts!

"This is the boyfriend, Law! I am so sorry!"

"Law, darling are you okay?"

"Why don't you hold my hands when you are letting others touch your arms!"

"Oh god! Let's talk outside."

Once away from the prying eyes, Law found himself being hugged tightly. "You silly man!" Luffy scolded Law. "Please stop crying!" Law was feeling too scared and sad and happy and angry!

"I am jealous. I can be jealous too! You are my first relationship and most probably only one!"

"She is my childhood friend, and she is a lesbian." Luffy rubbed his nose in Law's neck. "I didn't hold your hands because, I thought, we were still getting to know each other. I wanted to spend more time with you! I have never done this before so I didn't know when to approach you. I was holding back. Oh god!"

Law sobbed a few more minutes before talking, "People kiss on the first date, did you know? My colleagues told me! And we are already dating for over a month! We haven't even held hands!"

"But are we like other people?" Luffy laughed. "We are we, we do things in our pace. I will hold your hands when you want me to, I will kiss you when you are ready. This is my first life— I don't have knowledge or a blueprint to navigate this life!" Luffy squeezed Law hard.

"This is my first life too! And first love too!"

"How about you tell me things? If it is hard, tell me about it type on the phone!" Luffy pulled Law's face down, "Can I kiss your forehead?" Law nodded.

"Next time, I will touch you where you want, how you want, you don't have to worry about anything in my life. This heart is yours, this mind is yours, and this body is yours! I am yours."

Luffy kissed Law's forehead, the feeling of comfort returned and the doctor hugged his boyfriend tighter! Luffy's lips were soft and carefully planted on his forehead and his hands firmly locking the doctor in a hug.

Then when the tears dried, and Luffy withdrew his lips, Law replied to him with a mumbled, "I love you!"

The End

This story is a gift for Nimudae on Ao3.

This is prompt given to me by my sweet Nimu! I hope you like it, my friend, and I am glad you exist and feed us such cute LawLu art!

Yeah, I went with demisexual x demisexual, because well! These dumbasses are best exploited when they are stripped away from heterosexual lenses!