The Gold Of The Richest King

by Cooknumber3

An arranged marriage story between Prince Law and King Luffy (Or: The alliance between Dressrosa and Laugh Tale.)

The air in the throne room is thick with tension, and Law wishes he had Kikoku to cut through it all. At the end of the room, elevated on a dais, sits Doflamingo in all his twisted glory. Even his oversized, obnoxiously pink feather coat can't dull the malice in his eyes.

Standing in the middle of the room as summoned, Law is certain he has misheard. "What did you just say?"

Doflamingo's smile widens. "The King of Laugh Tale has accepted your hand in marriage, and with this, an alliance between our countries shall be born."

Alarm bells start going off in his head, and his ears ring. This is the first time Law has even heard of this.

"Now, as for why I did this," Doflamingo spreads out his arms. "Unlike any other country, Laugh Tale is rumored to be a land of indomitable will, with many powerful kingdoms as allies. If I attacked that land without a decent reason, then—?"

"That would be a declaration of war against a formidable coalition," Law says, his mind racing.

"Exactly," Doflamingo nods, body now thrumming with a manic glee. Law feels violently ill. "But with this marriage, any grievance can become a slight against the royal family, which is a justifiable cause for war. Even the most powerful kingdoms must respect the sanctity of marriage alliances."

Law's eyes narrow. "And you expect me to just go along with this?"

Doflamingo's eyes gleam, mirthful like he's looking at a child. "Then you'll have made an enemy of me. What do you think would happen to your darling advisors?"

Nami and Viola would have his head if he ever dares to let them be the bargaining chip. He needs to discuss this development with them as soon as possible. The timing really couldn't be worse.

Something else tugs at Law's mind, making him frown. "What kind of grievance do you think Laugh Tale could cause Dressrosa?"

If possible, Doflamingo smiles even wider, likely anticipating this question all day. "Why, your death of course!"

Law's about to tell him where to shove it when strings appear out of thin air, coiling around his limbs, keeping him in place. His eyes widen when two guards approach him with what looks to be a pair of anklets. "What do you think—"

His heart drops. Those are made of seastones.

And the full picture finally comes into focus in all its nightmarish entirety.

Just earlier this week, Law has collapsed in the middle of dinner, and later found out that Amber Lead has been lying dormant inside his vein all this time. It simply manifested much more slowly than it did with his younger sister.

Law still hasn't had a chance to use his power to begin treating his body yet. If he can't do that, he will die in just a month, while he's in Laugh Tale. Doflamingo could easily blame his death on the other king and unleash war upon countless innocent people.

Hells, the royal wedding usually takes a whole year to prepare, but the betrothal ceremony can be done right away. If he dies right after the ceremony, the disaster that follows will be just as devastating.

Of course he would take advantage of this too. Law seethes as they put seastone cuffs on both his ankles, which then gets covered behind his long robes. The exhaustion immediately kicks in, sapping away his strength, and Law just can't wait for the day he could rip the vocal cord out of Doflamingo's throat to make that laugh go away.

--

For as long as Law can remember, there has always been a war raging on.

His ancestors had crossed deserts, oceans, and mountains to find a land where flowers stretched endlessly. There, they established a small kingdom. With their strategic minds and renowned empathy, others were drawn to settle there as well.

During the reign of Law's parents, the kingdom nearly collapsed due to the Amber Lead crisis. By the time it was resolved, a third of the citizens, including Law's sister Lami, had perished.

In the aftermath of a tragedy, his parents were stretched thin, dealing with paranoia from neighboring lands and the arduous task of recovery. Aid came in the form of the royal advisor, Donquixote Doflamingo. The kingdom began to get better; smiles returned to faces, and flower petals once again danced in the wind.

Then Law found his parents dead in their own bed, and with Doflamingo swiftly taking over the throne, it wasn't hard to figure out who had been the perpetrator.

Under the rule of their new king, Dressrosa transforms from a peaceful kingdom into something unrecognizable, something cruel. No longer just a land of flowers and passion, it became a military battalion. Doflamingo, more suited to be a crime lord, reveled in waging wars with every neighboring country and came back victorious each time, all the while ruling his own people with a controlling intensity that belongs to a puppeteer.

In one of those battles, Rosinante, who has been Law's pillar for so long, who Law would have willingly given up his life for, had fallen.

Apparently, even that hasn't been enough. Now, Doflamingo is going to take away Law's freedom too.

--

"Why did the King of Laugh Tale even agree to this?! Didn't he refuse the proposal of the literal Empress of Amazon Lily just last year?"

Nami paces around the room, while Law sits against his headboard. The seastone's small density, while rendering his power useless, still leaves him strong enough to walk normally. With all his training and endurance, Law's positive he can still hold his own in a fight, but the aftermath will be doubly exhausting.

"Nami, you need to alert Bell-mère later, since I will already be leaving tomorrow morning," he says tiredly. "Don't let anyone make sudden movements just because I'm no longer here."

Nami whips around, anger sparkling bright in her eyes. She looks like she wants to cry. "Are you giving up? Are you just going over there and waiting to die then?"

"No. But I'm no use to the resistance army as long as I'm like this," he points at his legs then looks directly into her eyes. "I won't rest until Doflamingo is gone, Nami. You know me."

A wet laugh chokes out of her. "Yes, I do. Gods, I'm scared. What if we can't find the key and get it to Laugh Tale to unlock those chains before it's too late for you?"

"Then I could always just saw my foot off," he deadpans. Nami whacks him on the shoulder.

She then goes back to pacing. "Do you suppose we could ask for help from your future husband and his entourage?"

No sooner does that idea come out than both of them grimace. That would be a politically catastrophic mistake. The best outcome in that scenario would be him being slain immediately for conspiring against the throne, and the worst would be a war with the strongest kingdom there is, effectively dooming all of his people.

If this had happened during Garp's time, then it could have been salvaged somehow. Law knows for a fact that Cora-san and Sengoku were somewhat friendly with the previous king. But all three of them have passed away, and Monkey D. Luffy, despite his numerous feats, is an unknown entity to Law. Dressrosa's reputation definitely hasn't endeared it to anyone there either.

At that moment, Viola strides into the room.

"There you two are."

"Viola!" Nami exclaims. "Where have you been all day?"

"I have been corresponding with Kyros and Bell-mère to alert them of this new development," she says, concern written all over her face as she looks him over. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit," he drawls. "I'll manage."

Viola is the daughter of the oldest noble house in Dressrosa. Like Nami, she has been a trustworthy confidant for Law from the moment Doflamingo ascended to the throne.

"I know you will," Viola says, clapping her hands together. "Now, seeing that there's not much we can do with you leaving tomorrow, and stressing out won't be good for our morale, I've picked out some clothes for you to wear during the ceremonies. Let's go take a look."

She is also somewhat of a maniac. Law hates it here.

"If you put anything pink on me like last time…" he begins, getting to his feet and giving her a look.

"We were just joking around, Law," Nami rolls her eyes. Then the two pull him out of the room, giggling and putting current pressing matters out of mind for the sake of fashion.

--

When the first ray of dawn streaks across the sky, Law regretfully gets out of bed, not having slept a wink. His joints ache slightly, and during the night he could feel his breath rattling in his lungs. These are the earliest signs of both Amber Lead and seastone poisoning, and it will only get worse from here. If he isn't careful, he could pass out in front of the entirety of Laugh Tale. With that kind of humiliation Law would have no choice but to strangle everyone present and then himself.

Law scowls at the thought. His body will shut down when he allows it to, and not a moment sooner.

He dresses quickly in the clothes Viola picked out for him—long, black navy robes with ornate embroidery and trim. The robes make the earrings he always wears gleam, almost rivaling the shade of gold in his eyes.

He takes a moment to look around his room: at the fireplace where he usually reads beside Nami, at the carpet in the center of the room where he learned to dance with Viola during their childhood, at the chest by the end of his bed on which Cora-san would sit with him, regaling him with stories of pirates and an endless blue.

Law grits his teeth, ruthlessly squashing the familiar bitterness creeping at the edge of his mind. This will not be his last time standing here. He has come too far and survived for too long for this to finally be his undoing.

As he steps out into the hallway, he finds Nami and Viola waiting for him, immaculately dressed as always. The stress and worry from them is palpable.

Nami is the first to move. Her lips tremble as she flings her arms out to crush him in a white-knuckled hug. "I want to say goodbye at the gate, but you know how it is."

Law does know. No one here can afford such vulnerability in front of Doflamingo. "Send Bell-mère my regards. I will be careful, alright?"

"You'd better. If anyone in that kingdom hurts you, I'm marching right over."

Law just pats her back and decides to not bring up the feasibility of that plan.

Viola steps up next, squeezing his hand once. "Remember, we'll be working on our end to find that key and get it to you as soon as possible. Don't lose hope."

Law nods with a grimace. There's no need for hope. He has just always been vengeful enough to keep on fighting, and has too many life debts to die like this.

"I'm counting on you two over here." Law looks at them grimly.

From his room, down the hallways, around the training courtyard, and out into the castle grounds, the morning air is cool and crisp, sending a small chill down his spine. The carriage that will take Law to the port is waiting, its horses already harnessed and ready to go. Next to it stands Doflamingo, and Law suppresses another shiver.

"Have you said goodbye yet?" Doflamingo's voice, dripping with poison, rings through the bustling yard. Law clenches his fists, trying to resist the urge to punch the bastard. The seastone is a leaden presence around his legs.

Law ignores him as he climbs into the carriage. Doflamingo snickers then follows right behind. As it begins to move, he looks back at Nami and Viola standing up on the balcony, their figures growing smaller and smaller as the distance between them expands.

--

Upon the first sighting of Laugh Tale from the crow nest of the Dressrosa's ship, Law feels something akin to amusement warming him up from deep inside, expelling away the seething anger that has been plaguing him for the last few days of being subjected to the company of Doflamingo.

After all, this land does live up to the few bedside stories Cora-san has told him. And these days, anything even mildly associated with that grinning idiot is both a heartbreak and a balm for Law.

It's where golden sunsets paint the sky, mountains tall, and secrets lie, Law!

Right from the port, past the bustling streets with gawking onlookers, he can already see a grand castle perched atop towering cliffs, overlooking dense forests and serene beaches. It looks powerful as all thriving kingdoms should, but there is an air of enchantment rather than ominous and intimidating, as colorful banners flutter in the breeze, like the people here never fully stop partying.

Quaint cottages, old taverns, and grand marketplaces seem to move with the drum beats that the musicians in the town square are belting out. Law is slightly incredulous when he spots many knights, who should be on their patrol routes, stopping to join in random games with the kids. The streets offer many attractions but weirdly, Law notes, there are a lot of food stalls.

Overall, while this place can be a bit too loud, he thinks he might like it if he weren't so worried about things back home.

At the front of the royal guards presented to escort the Dressrosa delegation, according to Law's own research, is none other than one of the king's most trusted advisors, Usopp, with his distinctive long nose. Despite his approachable demeanor, there's a hint of something discerning in his eyes, like a sharpshooter analyzing an unknown target.

As they are led through the castle, Law finds that the interior is somehow not as restricting as castles tend to be, with large open windows throughout every space on the wall, letting the sunlight stream in. The contingent stops in front of the entrance to the throne room and waits for Usopp to announce their presence before stepping in.

A surprisingly small number of people stand inside the room, their curious eyes trailing on him and Doflamingo. Law looks up to see an elegant dark-haired woman with a serene smile and an unimpressed swordsman with hands resting on three swords by his hips, both flanking the throne of the infamous King of Laugh Tale.

The empty throne.

Was this man seriously late to the first meeting with his own consort?

Law can already feel his vein starting to pop before a man jumps into the room through the window, leaves trailing in the wind behind him as if he had been flying at high speed. He forgoes sitting down to look around at everyone before settling his gaze on Law.

The man looks to be shorter than Law, but from the open-buttoned dark red shirt, muscles and battle scars are visible all over. He has a petulant expression on his face, signs of dimples pointing towards a habit of laughing with abandon and, strangely, a tattered straw hat resting atop his head instead of a crown.

He looks like a king, yet doesn't seem like the type to sit on a throne.

Law doesn't know if he should be unimpressed or in awe. Reality has finally caught up to him—he is to marry this man whether he wants to or not.

The king wears the same expression of indignation that Law must be feeling, but when their eyes meet, suddenly that expression morphs into shock. Then it's something more akin to joy, as if he just received an unexpectedly great birthday gift. A sunny smile blooms on his face as he hurriedly descends the stairs to stand in front of Law.

Law stares, confused about what has changed in the last ten seconds. Judging by the woman's slightly widened eyes and the swordsman's confused frown, they must not have anticipated that reaction from their king either.

"My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and welcome to Laugh Tale!"

Law snaps his gaze back to the blazing smile in front of him, and offers a bow as suited to his station. "My name is Trafalgar D. Water Law. The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty."

The king's eyes crinkle. "I'm glad we finally met, Torao! And Luffy's fine."

"That's not my…"

Law snaps his mouth shut when Doflamingo's hand lands lightly on his shoulder, accompanied by a lilting voice. "Thank you for having us. What a beautiful kingdom you have here."

Luffy looks up at Doflamingo, and for a moment, his eyes narrow slightly, as if he's just seen something he doesn't like, but his smile remains radiant. "Thanks. Let's go eat right now!"

Doflamingo seems slightly taken aback, but he recovers quickly as the woman steps up to speak beside her king, the swordsman in tow. "I'm Nico Robin, advisor to the King, and this is Roronoa Zoro, his personal guard. You two must be exhausted, and our head chef has prepared a hearty feast for us to enjoy and discuss matters over."

She inclines her head gracefully, and the meeting is swiftly moved to the dining room. They spend the next hour discussing the ceremony while King Luffy eats as if he has been starved for days. The poor blond-haired chef, Sanji, has to move around constantly to bring out more food. Law grimaces slightly as he nibbles on his meal, his weakened stomach currently hosting a revolution, and receives a displeased glance from the chef for his trouble.

For such a prosperous and grand kingdom, the betrothal ceremony is surprisingly simple. After a few days of both families familiarizing themselves with each other, the castle will host a grand party where a public declaration will be made. In front of all civilians and close friends, he and King Luffy will have a red ribbon tied around one of their hands, and they will remain joined throughout the banquet, symbolizing something along the line of 'to have and to hold.'

"Of course, we would like to incorporate Dressrosan traditions into this as well," Robin gently inquires if Law wishes to add anything from his side of the family.

Doflamingo glances meaningfully at him, so Law simply shakes his head. "No, thank you. There's no particular tradition to add from our end." His parents have shared a drink from the same cup, but Law doesn't particularly care to use it in this farce of a ceremony. He's also not interested in including something from them only to have it mocked later by Doflamingo, fearing that he might really kill the bastard on the spot.

Robin looks at him thoughtfully, but wisely lets it drop.

After the feast, Doflamingo rises from the table with an expansive smile, his presence commanding attention, "This has been most splendid. I shall take my leave, as the esteemed house of Sir Crocodile has graciously offered their hospitality during my stay in Laugh Tale. I hope the king and prince will get along well until the ceremony."

At first, Law thought that not staying at the castle was another nefarious plan by Doflamingo. However, after reading the grudging tone in Crocodile's letter, he realized it was simply a desire to go bother someone Doflamingo found amusing. After all, there's no need to keep a close watch on Law, when the seastone anklets have got it covered.

Robin looks out the window and exclaims softly, "Oh my, I have some documents to attend to as well. Your Majesty, do you want to show His Highness around, or do I need to fetch Usopp?"

"I can show him the place," Zoro pipes up from his seat.

"No, you cannot," Sanji says tiredly as he brings the leftover dishes out of the room.

King Luffy shoots out of his seat, hands waving Law over to his side. "Come on, let's go outside!"

It's only when Zoro stands up that Law realizes what's actually happening. With the assessing looks from Usopp, Robin combined with the glares from Sanji and Zoro since the very beginning, Law is certain this is their way of protecting their king from Dressrosa's royal family. After all, his kingdom's reputation as basically a criminal empire is a well-known fact amongst the nobility. It stands to reason that what Doflamingo does with his time will cast a shadow on people's opinion of him too.

That's reasonable, but it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Law either will die of Amber Lead, or successfully unlock the seastone chains to go back to Dressrosa and fight alongside the rebellion. Whatever path lies ahead, there's only one outcome—he has no intention of staying here and will leave after a month or two.

Law also doesn't care what outsiders think of him. That privilege is reserved for his trusted circle—Nami, Bell-mère, and Viola. If they think he will go out of his way to change their minds, they are sorely mistaken.

He must have let his guard down because in the next instance, King Luffy's abnormally long arm wraps around his waist and he finds himself flying out of the window with bright laughter ringing in his ears.

"Don't worry guys, I'll be back before dinner!"

The moment they touch down, Law wrestles out of the king's grip and yells, "Your Majesty, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" His heart is thundering in his chest, and he can feel an incoming headache knocking around his skull, reminiscent of the first time he and Nami broke into the wine cellar and drank themselves into oblivion.

"Call me Luffy."

"... Luffy-ya," Law takes a deep breath. "Is it really wise to leave like that? Your people must be in an uproar right now."

Luffy nods, apparently satisfied with the name. "That's better. Also, they won't. I do that all the time. Don't you want to go look around?"

Despite himself, Law does feel curious, not particularly about the castle, but about what Laugh Tale looks like and if it's really as fascinating as what Cora-san told him. He wants to decline, but the only reason this would be a bad idea is that Luffy's people would freak out over his safety, and that's not his fault.

Faced with no good reason to object, Law sighs and says, "Lead the way."

The strange thing about the streets in Laugh Tale is that it seems to hum with its own pulse, like the rhythmic beats of drums knocking on the walls, travels beneath the earth, then echoes through one's heart. Law's very aware of his own heartbeats here, and it seems to be even more so in Luffy's case, who jumps around constantly and moves in the same weird manner.

It's not bad, just strange to look at.

Luffy drags him to try out all the food stalls they come across. Law gets handed stuffed pastries filled with meat, deep-fried rice balls, cornmeal cakes,... all foods that are both small and stomach-filling, which he suspects is because of the influence from Luffy's void-like stomach. In the specific case of Laugh Tale, it really takes a whole kingdom to feed one man. Law tries everything, but mostly he passes it off for Luffy to finish, his coiling stomach unable to handle even the smallest of steamed buns.

They sit by the waterfall in the middle of the town square, allowing Law to catch his breath and Luffy to finish what could be his tenth helping of street food. The sky above is cloudless, and the sounds of beetles from the nearby forest blend gently with the murmur of voices and the rhythmic sound of people walking by.

He wants this for Dressrosa too - this sedate stroll instead of hunched shoulders and quickened steps. He wants to see roses in his people's breast pockets and bouquets of flowers passing from hand to hand like before.

"Hey, let's be friends."

That snaps him out of his reverie. Law turns around to look at Luffy, who is polishing off the rest of the food as if he never spoke up in the first place.

Law hesitates. "Does that mean," he begins warily, "There will be no need for… my more personal duty as a consort?"

Luffy looks curiously at him. "What duty?"

Law refuses to beat around the bush, so he just says bluntly, "Will I share the same bed with you?"

"No, you have your own room."

"I meant sex," Law can't believe he has to spell this out for the leader of a whole nation.

Luffy just stares at him like he's speaking utter nonsense. "Do you want to?"

Law's so taken aback, he can feel his face go hot as he snaps, "Of course not!"

"Then there we go," Luffy nods like it's really that simple. "I can tell you are a good guy, Torao. You're also far from home, and while I think it's exciting, Robin said some people would find it a bit scary. That means, right now, you need a friend!"

Law doesn't know what to say or even which part of that sentence he should fight on. Even though Luffy's objectively good company doesn't make all the stress magically disappear, or expel the exhaustion marring his bones, it makes the pain easier to shoulder, somehow. Maybe he's witnessing the true power of Monkey D. Luffy - the ability to make people feel lighter in their own battles.

While Luffy's antics make his adrenaline skyrockets, Law can tell that he is an easy person to trust. There's no reason to be hostile, and it would be even less wise to make an enemy out of a potentially powerful ally.

"Alright."

As far as he is concerned, this is the true alliance between Dressrosa and Laugh Tale. It won't last, but it will do for now.

--

"It's been a few days, how are things on your end?" Law sits down by the window in his room, looking out at the darkened streets below.

"Kyros and I have been working on locating Sugar. This damned tunnel system is harder to navigate than I thought," Nami's frustrated voice filters through the snail.

Sugar is an important member of Doflamingo's court, possessing the power to transform people into toys, erasing their existence from others' memories. Her sole job is to deal with anyone who voices their displeasure at the current regime. Finding and defeating her is crucial to liberate the citizens and allies trapped in toy form, revealing Doflamingo's true tyranny and advancing the rebellion's cause.

Law suddenly remembers the two surprisingly competent blue and red toys he had saved a year ago, after finding them almost broken beyond repair outside the Colosseum. "Have you asked Red and Blue to help?"

"What, that favorite duo of yours with way too much attitude? They've been working hard too, but there's nothing. And," Nami's voice sing-songs, "they haven't settled down much since you left for Laugh Tale. I think they miss you."

"Stop it," he says, feeling some of his worry slowly drain away at the cheery tone of her voice.

Nami snickers for a bit, then sobers up. "How about you? Getting along with anyone there?"

Law pinches the bridge of his nose tiredly.

For the past few days, like clockwork, Luffy has dragged him out of the castle in the morning to explore the streets and the surrounding forest. They try out several new food stalls at lunch and go back just in time for dinner. If he doesn't know any better, he would think that Luffy and Sanji have been trying to stuff as much food as possible into him.

Law doesn't know what it is and doesn't want to find out, but no matter how much he wants to stay inside his room or spend time having a surprisingly good conversation with Robin in the library, Luffy's smile always makes him cave in the end.

"It's been… eventful."

"Oh?"

Law hums, then coughs again. He has been doing that a lot more with each passing day, and today Usopp even pushed him to meet the royal doctor, Chopper, to get checked. Law irritably informed him that he is a doctor himself, then scared the poor guy off.

On the other hand, the little doctor was overjoyed to meet another person well-versed in medicine and would come find him throughout the day to chatter about some fascinating texts in books he just read. Law enjoys those conversations more than he thought.

Nami's worry is palpable. "Viola has been doing her best to find the key over here, but she hasn't been making any headway. You'd better hang on."

Law rolls his eyes, knowing that Nami can tell. "Yes, yes, I'm taking good care of myself. In fact, I will be taking a stroll down to the kitchen right now." He didn't have any appetite at dinner earlier, much to the befuddlement of Luffy and the outright anger of Sanji, but Nami doesn't need to know that.

"Alright, be safe!" then she hangs up. Law signs a bit before standing up to leave the room.

The whole castle is currently asleep. The moonlight bathes the stone walls in a silvery glow, casting long shadows along the cobblestone path. As Law walks past the training ground, he hears the soft clinking of swords before catching the sight of Zoro apparently doing his midnight drill. He supposes this much training is necessary for someone who wields three swords.

Zoro stops his training, his lone eye glaring at Law. "What are you doing at this time of night, Your Highness?"

"Watch your tone," Law drawls, unfazed and honestly a bit amused. Zoro seems to be the only one not to warm up to him, keeping a close watch on him and Luffy equally throughout the day. "I'm heading for the kitchen. Do you really train at this time of night?"

The swordsman bares his teeth, voice dripping with mockery. "It's important if one wants to be able to fight. Not that you would understand."

Law's body has been weakened, the seastone is a leaden weight, food doesn't have any taste to him, and his nights are spent worrying over the plan and what's going on back home. There's no need to care for the opinions of others, let alone a king's personal guard in a foreign kingdom, even if this one is grouping him in with the other nobles who can't hold their own in a battle. Law's not a competitive person, and he doesn't have to prove himself to anyone.

Law keeps repeating that mantra in his head while he walks briskly to pick up a wayward wooden sword at the far end of the training ground, then readies his stance and raises his eyebrows at Zoro.

If Cora-san were here, he would hit Law upside the head, but he's sure Bell-mère would have laughed and settled in to watch.

It's been a month since he did any real training, but his body remembers the training drilled into him at a young age, and whatever tension was remaining in his posture vanishes, leaving space for nothing but discipline and precision. He wishes he could have snuck Kikoku here with him.

Zoro's eye widens slightly, but then a smirk spreads across his face, like this is actually a preferable outcome to him after all. He picks up another wooden sword. "Not gonna fight me with a real blade?"

"I don't have mine with me."

"Shame."

Then their swords clash in the middle of the field, both having moved at the same time, and Law lets loose a feral grin of his own.

Zoro is a renowned swordsman, a direct descendant of Mihawk, the greatest blade wielder of his own generation. Law, as Nami likes to remind him, can be a bit bullheaded when it comes to competition, no matter how big or petty. In this instance, once again, he lets his eagerness get the better of him. He may train with his sword a lot, but he always relies more on his power, and his specialty lies in being a doctor. Coupled with his traitorous body right now, Law may lose all dignity in front of this smirking bastard.

Law decides that whatever happens, he must at least last long enough for Zoro to break a sweat, or he will never live this down.

His sword slices through the air with a sharp whistle, aiming for Zoro's blind side, which unsurprisingly gets parried right away. Zoro counters with a swift upward slash, making Law twist out of the way, the wind from that impact blowing past the blood running in his ears. Law jumps up and brings his blade down in a precise overhead attack. Zoro quickly raises his sword above his head, halting the hit. With a pleased grin, Zoro pushes harshly, forcing Law to take a step back. Law winces slightly when the familiar ache in his joints creeps in at the worst possible time.

With a sudden burst of speed, Zoro closes the distance between them, feigns an attack at Law's midsection, and when Law unwittingly looks down, he gets the breath knocked out of him as his shoulder is hit by the hilt. Zoro then sweeps his feet out from under him.

Law sprawls out on the ground, looking up at Zoro, feeling both satisfied and mortified that the match is already over.

"You tire quickly, which doesn't match up to your skill level," Zoro gazes at him, not condescending but with a confused frown. "It was starting to get fun too."

Law must admit that it has been quite fun for him as well.

Zoro then stretches out his arm like an olive branch. "Good fight though. Let's do it again tomorrow."

Law hesitates, but relents and lets himself be pulled up. He then makes to leave for the kitchen, pausing when he sees that Zoro is following him while tucking his three swords back in place.

At his questioning look, Zoro shrugs, "I could use a snack." So they both make their way through the silent palace hall, Law having to pull Zoro to the correct direction every few steps.

Reaching the kitchen, they are met with the warm aroma of freshly baked cookies, a comforting contrast to the night's crisp air. Sanji is humming over the stove, and when his eyes notice Law, he points a spoon at him and growls, "You."

Law shares a confused look with Zoro, who just shrugs and makes himself comfortable on a nearby stool, hand already pulling over a small plate of fruits to gorge on.

Law squints. "What?"

Sanji throws up his hands. "What, he says…. What is going on with you? You barely touched your dinner, and now you go eat this late in the night? Are you finally hungry today? Because I sure as hell didn't see you any other nights!"

"Curly worries that you're starving yourself," Zoro pipes up from his corner, only to get immediately shrieked at.

"I'll stuff that grape into your nose, Mosshead. Don't think I won't!"

Law sits down slowly to rest his aching legs and to not spook what seems to be a rapidly enraged chef. "I pass my food to Luffy-ya not because your cooking isn't delicious, Blackleg-ya. I just don't tend to eat much." This remains true, even before he got ill. "Even now I'm not hungry, I just need something light before bed."

Sanji seems to be placated at that, as he goes to assemble a small plate of rice balls for Law. At his expectant gaze, Law begrudgingly picks up and chokes them down without outright grimacing. It smells great, but his taste buds are all messed up.

Sanji leans back against the counter, hands lighting up a cigarette. "You and Luffy have been going out a lot lately."

Ugh, small talks. Law shrugs. "He wants to show me his favorite spots, which turn out to be everywhere in this kingdom."

Zoro snorts at that, while Sanji just keeps looking at him with an unreadable expression.

Law signs irritably. "If you have something to say, best be out with it."

Sanji breathes out a cloud of smoke, then says gravely, "This… might be a bit out of nowhere, but I have never liked warmongering countries. And your reputation precedes you, Your Highness."

"Doflamingo's."

"What?"

"Doflamingo's reputation. Have you ever really heard of me, aside from my title?"

Sanji blinks in surprise, and at Law's unimpressed look, turns slightly red in indignation. "Well, you're the closest in power and proximity with him. I don't see you expressing any disapproval either. What was I supposed to think?"

"You are not supposed to think anything," he drawls. "It's Dressrosa's business, and what Doflamingo wants, goes." he waves at their surroundings, "Not saying there's any intention on our end, but I must admit that when it comes to fights, your kingdom would have no problem overpowering mine."

As much as it annoys Law, he must admit this at least. Having witnessed the hurricane that is Luffy, not to mention the kind of allies he has, Dressrosa will be no match for the king.

Sanji looks at him intently. "Does that mean you don't approve of what your king is doing then?"

While their utter loyalty and protectiveness for Luffy is endearing, this conversation is straying into dangerous territory. Law can't outright say that he has spent the better half of his life planning for an uprising, but he also doesn't want to be grouped in with the likes of Doflamingo. He settles for as close to the truth as he could, "Just know that we're two very different people."

Zoro exchanges a meaningful look with Sanji, then the swordsman throws his arm around his shoulders, raucous laughter filling the tense moment in a second. "Well I'll be damned. You're alright after all, Your Highness."

"Law's fine," he would prefer Zoro to use his name rather than saying his title with mockery all the time.

"Torao then."

"Don't call me that." Law pushes Zoro off, who sprawls across the counter and guffaws.

Sanji's eyes crinkle a little, and his expression towards Law is much kinder than mere minutes ago. "Whatever. Now, since you're already here, I'd like a chance to curate my menu a bit more. Is there any food you don't like?"

"I hate anything with bread, pickled plums, citrus fruits,..."

"Damn, alright, let me go get a pen to note it down first."

--

One morning, Law wakes up to an insistent pounding at his door, so he hurries to open it, only to be immediately accosted by none other than Nico Robin.

"We have an emergency," she strides inside his room, hands holding up a bundle of clothes. "A foreign dignitary and powerful ally of Laugh Tale has made a surprise turn on their route, and they are now heading here to meet the king and his new consort. We need to get you ready as soon as possible."

Law frowns. "Without prior notice? And I can dress myself, Robin-ya."

Robin whirls around to look at him with wide eyes, and he's so startled by the normally serene woman that he quickly picks up the clothes she brought and changes into them in the bathroom.

When he walks out, Robin sits him down and asks him to close his eyes. He feels something featherlight dusting across his eyes, then at Robin's approving hum, stands up to look at himself in the mirror.

What he immediately sees is the rich, royal blue color of the robes that seem to shimmer, reflecting the sunlight like faceted sapphires. Intricate embroidery, stitched in golden threads, adorns the sleeves and hems. Delicate beads, sparkling like dew-kissed diamonds, are sewn into the fabric. All of it is cinched at the waist by an ornate, gilded belt. He turns around carefully, satisfied that he can move easily in this getup. When the sunlight catches his face at a certain angle, he can see the faint traces of glimmering blue at the corners of his eyes, making them stand out like the full moon in a cloudless night.

He looks over at Robin, eyebrows raising. "This seems a bit casual for a dignitary meeting." And something suspicious is definitely going on here.

Robin waves her hand. "Oh, they don't care much about formalities," she glances at the clock by his bedside. "Let us hurry."

The moment Law steps outside, he can hear the sound of Luffy running down the hallway, likely to drag him into town again as always. It's a shame that they will have to welcome some nobles right now.

At the sight of Luffy, Law's heart seems to stop and start up wildly again in a blink of an eye.

Instead of the normal clothes he wears every day, today Luffy has donned a cream-colored shirt with sun-dappled embroidery, the voluminous sleeves billow wildly with each running step. The dark, red pants flatter his figure, and his sturdy boots, now polished to a high shine, are adorned with decorative buckles that jingle softly with each movement. On his half-exposed chest lies a necklace with a gleaming pendant bearing the symbol of the sun. Luffy looks every bit the adventurous spirit that he is, yet ruggedly practical like a warrior. He looks handsome.

Law needs his heart to calm the hell down right now.

Luffy skids to a stop in front of him, eyes widening comically, then he aims a brazenly bright smile at him, a red hue laying gently across the bridge of his nose. "Torao, you look so nice! Are you ready to head into town? There's a celebration happening today."

"That's unfortunate, since Robin-ya just informed me…" he turns to Robin, only to see that the harried expression is already replaced by her familiar serene smile, yet her eyes are shining like Nami when she's about to play a prank on Viola.

Law narrows his eyes. "Do we need to attend any meetings today?"

Robin claps her hands together, head tilting to the side. "Of course not. What makes you think that?"

"You—" Law's gearing up for a tirade, only to be pulled away by Luffy.

"Come on, let's go!"

Law glares daggers back at Robin, and her laughter rings like a bell throughout the palace hall.

--

As Law steps into town, for a moment he thinks he is back in Dressrosa many years ago.

All around him, houses are decorated with colorful banners and garlands. Every corner is alive with the vibrant hues of flowers—deep crimsons, rich golds, and vivid blues.

In the central square of the kingdom, the cobblestone streets stretch out, adorned with colorful chalk art—swirls, flowers, and other patterns that must have been hand-drawn by little kids. Amidst the swirl of colors, the very center of the dance ground is painted with a symbol of the sun and moon weaving together, gold and silver spreading out across four directions. On it, people are dipping their partners in time with the drumbeat, their faces alight and their laughter unrestrained with joy.

Law looks over at Luffy, bewildered. "What is this celebration about?"

Luffy looks thoughtful for a moment, like he genuinely forgets that people don't just party because they feel like it. "Oh! It's kinda like a pre-celebration for our ceremony tomorrow, which is indoors. I prefer this, though."

"Ah, that's right… don't pull me—"

Luffy pulls Law into the crowd, where passersby pause briefly to place colorful flower wreaths on Law's head and atop Luffy's straw hat. Just as Law reaches to remove the crown, Luffy spins around to face him. All around them, the crowd bursts into song and dance, and Law suddenly realizes they've been swept to the center of the dance floor.

"Luffy-ya, I don't want—" he slowly backs away when Luffy grabs his hand to pull them together, almost chest to chest. The warmth spreading from their bodies is no match for what's radiating from Luffy's smile.

"Come on, just one dance," Luffy whines, holding tightly onto his hands and dancing away without waiting for an answer.

Law's heart races with the rhythm of the music, a vibrant melody that seems to pulse through his very being. It reminds him of when Viola taught him the traditional dance of Dressrosa—full of flowery, exaggerated moves that seemed every bit as passionate as the dancer herself. She had even insisted he put a rose between his teeth before he had swatted her hands away.

All that's to say, Law knows how to dance. He just doesn't know how to dance with Luffy.

Luffy skips and hops all over the place, his feet barely touching the ground. He dances as if he has never attended a royal lesson in his life—movements neither refined nor structured, nor following a set of rules. He pulls Law close for a moment, their bodies pressed together, then, with great delight, spin apart in a wide arc.

As the tempo quickens, the world around them seems to blur into only vibrant colors and bright lights. Luffy looks almost divine as he jumps and claps away, flower petals trailing behind him like falling stars. His eyes shine like the sun at its highest point in the sky, his smile so wide it hurts to look at, his movements the picture of pure, unrestrained joy. Luffy's laughter rings out, filling the space between them with an infectious energy that seems to pulse with life itself.

Law can't keep up, and even if he wants to, his feet are rooted to the spot as the scene unfolding in front of him takes his breath away.

Luffy pauses momentarily and looks at him curiously. "Why did you stop?"

For one horrifying moment, Law thinks Luffy has seen the stupidly besotted look on his face, but as the seconds tick on and nothing happens, Law carefully rearranges his face into something more neutral to avoid giving himself away.

"Nothing," he rasps, clears his throat, and tries again. "Nothing. I'm just a bit tired. I will go sit right over there, alright? You… you keep doing that."

For a moment, a flash of what might be hurt and confusion crosses Luffy's face, before he aims a beaming smile at Law again. "Just don't go anywhere, okay? Wait for me!" Then he spins into the crowd again.

Must've been a trick of light.

Law sits down on the bench nearest the crowd currently swirling like a tornado of colors and flowers. He takes a moment to watch, allowing himself to bask in complete awe at the sheer happiness Luffy radiates to the world around him. Law's own heartbeat seems to synchronize with the rhythm of Luffy's movements, each beat a reminder of the contrast between Luffy's unrestrained being and his own measured existence. Luffy dances as he wants, without a care in the world, while Law would feel flustered if he so much as moves wrong, always too controlled to allow obvious mischief into his life, let alone laugh at himself.

Law doesn't think he could ever be happy or carefree enough to dance with Luffy. He doesn't like how that thought pangs deeply in his chest either.

As the song comes to a momentary end before another one starts up again, Luffy jumps out with a loud cheer and lands by Law's side, his hat pushed back, face flushed and grinning widely. All the flowers are gone from his head after all that excited dancing.

Flowers are a trademark of Dressrosa, and Law's suddenly overcome with the need for Luffy to be surrounded by them as much as possible. Almost unwittingly, as if in a trance, Law bends low, takes the flower crown from his own head, and carefully places it around Luffy's.

Luffy blinks up at him, face flushing an even more charming shade of red, and he pokes at Law's cheek.

"You're smiling, Torao," Luffy breathes, like he's in awe.

Law immediately schools his face into a mild scowl, feeling heat creeping up the back of his neck.

"No!" Luffy paws at Law's shirt and shakes it lightly. "I like Torao's smile. Do it again!"

He's so ridiculous. Law feels ridiculous just by association. He shoves at Luffy's shoulder, grumbling, "Come on, let's go see if they have other things aside from dancing the day away."

Luffy perks right up, eyes shining, and that warmth spreads through him again.

--

"How does it feel to be betrothed?"

"It's great!" Luffy exclaims beside him, one hand tied with Law's in a red ribbon, the other busily stuffing food into his own mouth.

"I don't exactly have a frame of reference," Law drawls, earning a laugh from Robin.

The grand hall sparkles under the soft glow of chandeliers, casting a warm golden hue over everyone. The air buzzes with delight as Luffy's friends and civilians gather for the betrothal ceremony. Usopp is engrossed in talking with a blond-haired noble lady, while Zoro can be seen helping Chopper reach some of the food on the table near the wall.

Amongst the crowd, Law only knows Doflamingo, who is happily chatting away with a deeply tired Sir Crocodile.

Law looks at the eating machine by his side and signs fondly. Only mere minutes ago, this same person had stood before him, eyes sparkling with excitement as the red ribbon was carefully tied around their hands. The ribbon was secured with a delicate knot, joining their hands together in a tangible expression of their bond. As per tradition, they will stay like this, one hand always tied, til the end of the night.

It has proven more exhausting than he anticipated, as he's pulled around the room by Luffy, who insists on personally greeting all of his friends, which Law's convinced comes from every single kingdom ever.

"How did you manage to make so many damn friends?" he grumbles for what must be the third time.

Robin smiles fondly at her king. "His Majesty does like to liberate kingdoms on his way to breakfast."

Sanji snorts as he hands her a drink with a flourish, before nudging a plate of fruit towards Law. "Eat one." His stomach curdles, but he obliges under three pairs of watchful eyes.

Last night, Law came down with a sudden fever, with a delightful combination of nausea and muscle immobility as the cherry on top. He had collapsed on his way to wash his face because the seastone chains had added more pressure to his already weakened legs. He lay there on the ground, just waiting for the tide to recede, and it did by morning. Short bursts of fever like this used to happen to Lami all the time. This is considered to be the halfway mark of Amber Lead poisoning.

While his pallor is paler than usual, Law's glad that there's been no obvious sign of his deteriorating health.

As Sanji wrestles some food out of Luffy's reach, Robin turns to Law, her voice soft and curious. "King Doflamingo will be leaving tomorrow, yes?"

Law nods, his eyebrows raised. Robin smiles warmly, her eyes crinkling slightly. "Welcome to our family."

Law only nods in response. What can he say to that?

As the party stretches on late into the night and probably til morning, which Usopp says is a normal occurrence in Laugh Tale, Law pulls on Luffy's hand. "I need to take a break. This is too much interaction for one night." Luffy laughs but walks with him to step outside onto the balcony.

Though the hour is late, the palace is still buzzing with life, unlike many previous nights when Law walked around in solitude. Tonight, from the lights streaming out of the grand hall to the lanterns strung through the town square, every corner of Laugh Tale is illuminated and alive, with not a single soul asleep.

"I'm so glad everyone made it," Luffy's satisfied tone tugs at Law, making him glance sideways.

"You're lucky the castle is huge, or there wouldn't be enough space for them all."

Luffy snickers, a soft shishishi. "It's really nice. It wasn't like this before!"

That gets his attention. "Before?"

Luffy shrugs, eyes shining as always, but there's a scrunch appearing between his brows, and Law wants to press into it to smooth it over. "Back when I was small, it was just me and Gramps in this big castle. And Gramps was often busy. There was no one to play with. I only got Zoro a few years ago, and he's my first friend."

Law never would have thought Luffy grew up all alone. He never imagined Luffy capable of feeling lonely, but in retrospect, it makes sense, given how deeply Luffy treasures the company of others and always surrounds himself with people.

For someone like Luffy, being alone in this entire castle must have been torture. With the way he tends to enjoy the present to the fullest, yet to mention how lonely he was like this, it must still be a sore bruise. Mostly healed, but ever-present.

Growing up, Law always had Nami and Viola by his side. He wishes Luffy had someone like that too.

Law wants to erase this pain from Luffy's life forever. But there's nothing he can do now, so he grips Luffy's hand tightly and holds on until dawn breaks.

--

"Be good, now."

Law grits his teeth as Doflamingo's laughter rings out across the castle grounds, startling the nearby staff who are preparing the horses.

It's the day of the Dressrosa delegation's departure. Doflamingo has proclaimed that, since the royal wedding will take much longer to prepare than the betrothal ceremony, he will return to his own kingdom for now and attend the wedding later.

Of course, in that twisted mind of his, Law would already be dead by then.

Doflamingo stands tall by the carriage in all his obnoxious pink glory, physically incapable of stopping the smile etched deep on his face. The bastard places a heavy hand on Law's shoulder and squeezes unbearably tight. Law suppresses a pained grimace, but judging by Doflamingo's delighted smirk, he isn't entirely successful.

As the silhouette of the carriage grows smaller against the horizon, Sanji steps up beside him, handing over a cup of the fruit concoction he just made. Lighting up a cigarette, he comments casually, "I'm sensing a lot of tension between the crown prince and the acting regent," taking a drag of smoke. "You don't seem to like him much."

Law gives him a look that hopefully conveys back off. "You've met him, can you?"

Sanji frowns at him thoughtfully but says nothing.

--

Being a consort to the King of Laugh Tale has one potential drawback, depending on how one looks at it: Law ends up handling most of Luffy's paperwork. Robin assures him it's not something he must do, but since Law is accustomed to this kind of work in Dressrosa, he insists on taking some of it on himself instead of leaving it all to Robin and Usopp.

So, while it might seem like a drawback, it's really not much of one. It turns out Luffy becomes King not because he's the only heir to the throne, but simply because that's a position that grants him complete freedom to do whatever he wants.

And what he wants nowadays is to sit with Law, Robin, and Usopp as they work on the very thing he's been avoiding for years.

Today is no exception, as Luffy strolls into the room and promptly drops a bundle of flowers right onto the scroll Law is reading.

"What's with the flowers, Luffy?" Robin asks lightly as Usopp snickers.

"I just found them in the garden while training with Zoro," Luffy shrugs.

Law feels a vein popping on his forehead and refrains from flipping over the entire table. He snaps, "What will it take for you to leave this room for an hour?" He needs to get some work done before the dizziness, which has started since yesterday, sets in. The way his eyes keep glancing at wherever Luffy stands in a room is not helping either.

Luffy grins at him, eyes squinting. "If you put those flowers on you."

Law growls, "And how do I do that?"

"How should I know?" the king shrugs, and Usopp pulls Law back from throwing everything within reach away.

Law sighs and quickly weaves the flowers into a small, sloppy flower crown—sloppy by Dressrosa standards—and hastily puts it on his head. "Happy now?"

"Yup!" Luffy smiles warmly, reaching out to sweep a wayward strand of hair behind Law's ear. "Torao looks so good with flowers."

Usopp bursts out laughing, while Robin muses, "Dressrosa was originally built in the middle of a vast flower field, so it's only fitting that the crown prince from there looks so right among the flora."

Law can feel his whole face burning, and he points to the door. "Out NOW." Luffy cackles as he pivots to the window and swings down toward the garden where Zoro is probably still waiting.

As Law sits down, Usopp nudges his shoulder. "Can you teach me that later? I want to make a flower crown for Kaya too."

Law tiredly nods, then screams into his hand to steady his heart before getting back to work.

--

Things have been tense over at Dressrosa, with Nami forgoing the weekly check-in calls with Law to intercept a slave auction underneath what used to be Lover's Lane. After getting off the call with Viola, Law sits down heavily and looks at his arms.

Despite the hot weather, he has opted to wear only long-sleeved clothes to cover up the ghostly white patches littering his skin and veins visible just beneath the surface. These are one of the last stages of Amber Lead poisoning. Every cough seems determined to draw nonexistent stones out of his throat, each breath rattles around his lungs throughout the night. Clutching his chest, he feels a sharp, stabbing pain that radiates through his entire body, reducing him to a trembling, sweat-soaked mess.

He's just barely getting by with makeup powder and the occasional excuse of insomnia. Even Zoro has stopped sparring and instead switched to meditating with him semi-daily. Luffy is getting progressively more bothered, while Law is also tired and sick with guilt every time he tells Luffy that he's fine.

Just a bit longer.

Law leaves his room to go down to the kitchen. He has made it a habit, going down at midnight to sit with a light snack and watch Sanji prepare for tomorrow's meal. They are both quiet people when in the same room together, and at this time of the day, he's less likely to be accosted by a certain well-meaning king.

The moment Law steps through the door, Sanji takes one look at him and yelps, "Hells, what happened to you?"

Law grimaces as he's hurriedly ushered to sit on a stool and drink some water while Sanji bustles around gathering soup for him. Law feels the need to call out, "Just two spoonfuls of it in a cup for me, Blackleg-ya. More than that and I won't be able to finish it."

It doesn't take long for Law to understand just how much Sanji hates wasting food, considering he blew a huge fuse when Law first left some behind. Sanji had called him spoiled and Law hadn't backed down. It was a long day for everyone in that dining room.

The clattering of dishes snaps Law back to the present, just in time to see Sanji narrowing his eyes. The chef blows out a heavy breath, slumping slightly, and takes a seat across from Law.

Law doesn't realize how tense he has gotten, fully expecting another confrontation, so he deliberately unclenches his fists and tells himself to calm down. Sanji looks at the table, tracing the wood grain with a finger, lost in thought. The silence stretches between them, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, "I used to be a prince of Germa." Sanji rushes out, then seems slightly flustered by his outburst. Law can't help but huff out a small laugh, which must not be what Sanji's expecting.

"I know, Blackleg-ya." With so little time before departing for Laugh Tale, Law has still managed to do some research on Luffy's entourage. Aside from all of their strengths and special abilities, Sanji's the only one whose past is the easiest for him to find out, considering they are both of royal blood.

Law doesn't know the details, but from the general history of the Germa Kingdom, the battles Luffy has waged with them, and the undying loyalty Sanji has for Luffy, it's not hard to deduce the reason why a prince came to become a chef for another kingdom's regent.

"Not the details, mind you," Law drawls, "But I know where you came from."

Sanji raises his eyebrows. "And you never wondered why a prince would decide to become a chef for another king?"

"Frankly, at first, I didn't care. And after coming here, I just chalked it up to whims. You people are weird enough that any attempts at analysis are a hassle."

Sanji snorts at that, before sobering up and looking at Law. "After escaping Germa and staying here for a while, there was one instance where I went back under Judge's order."

Law straightens up, curiosity piqued despite himself.

"Back then, I believed that was the only thing I could do, should do, to protect the people important to me," Sanji's eyes almost glaze over, no doubt seeing the memory as vividly as the day it happened, before snapping back to stare at Law. His tone turns urgent, "I didn't tell anyone, and I pushed them away, even if it was the last thing I wanted."

At Law's continued silence, Sanji slumps down to the table between them, worry taking over his feature. "You don't look well, and I don't know if it's because you are sick, starved, or stressed about something. But all we want to do is help."

And isn't that the crux of everything? That in just a month these people have moved from potential allies to life-long friends, because Law has no doubt they would not let him call them acquaintances. In just a month Laugh Tale has become a second home, with its ever-present drum beats, vibrant colors and carefree people. In just a month, a faceless king of a distant land has become someone Law would hate to leave behind.

It's all too dangerous. He doesn't want to think about it, but they have been exceedingly kind to him, some almost violently so, and he doesn't know if he would grab at their reaching hands, but he owes it to them to at least consider it carefully.

Law nods. "Let me think about it."

Sanji seems satisfied with that answer and whatever he must see on Law's face, so they spend the rest of the hour eating and chatting quietly about Robin's mysterious husband, Zoro's problem with the gardeners about the royal maze, and Usopp's continued effort to court Kaya, which Law deems unnecessary since that lady is obviously taken with Usopp already. To that, Sanji just looks at him pityingly. "You're one to talk."

Law frowns at him but decides to call it a day, his body screaming for a lie-down. He bids Sanji a good night before going back to his room.

When Law steps into his room, Nami calls to alert him that they have located Sugar, and the resistance will be making a move tomorrow evening.

--

Law hasn't gotten a single wink of sleep, his mind conjuring up all manner of things that could go wrong in Dressrosa while he's incapable of joining the fight. Morning comes, and his fever hasn't subsided. At least it makes his cheeks flushed enough to compensate for his pallor from yesterday.

Breakfast is as loud as ever, with Luffy hoarding all the food, Zoro falling asleep and waking up every time Sanji knocks his foot down from the table, while Usopp sits by, going over the meetings for the day with Robin.

"Torao, what's wrong?" Luffy pauses and turns to look at him.

The whole table goes quiet. Law does his best to tamp down his frustration and says, "Didn't sleep last night," which is as close to the truth as he can get.

Robin looks thoughtful while Luffy's unreadable expression seems to deepen, a look he's been wearing for the past week. Law can't afford to care about it, not with the anxiety churning in his gut, his heart pounding out of his chest, and his head feeling like a hammer against a wall. He needs some air right now.

"Excuse me," Law says, standing up and striding out of the room. He's starting to shiver uncontrollably again, and he can feel beads of sweat rolling down his neck. His body is burning up, yet he feels cold all over.

He's rushing as fast as he can to his room when the familiar sound of thumping feet echoes down the hallways.

No.

"Torao, wait up!"

Law closes his eyes. When he opens them again, he meets Luffy's intense gaze and frowning mouth. The king looks displeased, and the familiar smile is nowhere to be seen. Those eyes pin Law in place, and he can't find it in himself to take another step.

"Luffy-ya…"

"Enough," Luffy's voice rings out firmly. "You need to tell me what's going on with you right now."

"I don't—"

"Luffy is right, Your Highness," Robin walks towards them, body deliberately relaxed like she's approaching a cornered animal. Her eyes are gentle, but her tone is unyielding. "We can help you with anything. And if you don't want us to intervene directly, at the very least, just talking to us would make you feel better, no?"

"I…" He wants to respond, but he can't figure out what to say, or even where to start. He has no idea how he still finds the energy to stand tall and steady in the middle of the hallway like this.

He looks down as familiar hands envelop his own, their warmth like a setting sun driving away the clash of deafening cold and sweltering hot beneath his skin.

"Torao." Luffy murmurs, his voice so serious and gentle it washes over Law like a balm, and the words are on the tip of his tongue. He can't quite grasp why he's still so frightened, even now. Perhaps old habits do die hard.

He thinks back to the day news of Cora-san's death reached the kingdom, and the months that followed, when Bell-mère would spend her time wandering on the outskirts of Dressrosa all alone.

There's too much on the line—Nami and Viola's years of effort, Bell-mère's grief, his people's quiet hope. He's used to shouldering everything because his important people are not only doing their parts but also counting on him. He can't risk it, can't imagine himself deviating from his plan, even if it's killing him, has been killing him.

He glances at Luffy once more. This is all too new, too sudden for Law—to entrust something dear to him to someone else. But Luffy would never harm innocent people or wage wars without cause, and he inspires bravery in whoever he touches. Law can do this.

He steels himself, and Luffy straightens, sensing that what's about to be said is of utmost importance.

Law opens his mouth, and promptly throws up blood all over the floor.

There's a moment when time seems to freeze in its tracks, and then, everything around him roars.

Robin flings herself down the stairs to find Chopper. Zoro appears by their side instantly, full of coiling violence like a demon, looking around to find the enemy. And Luffy…

Luffy's face turns ashen as he flutters by Law's side, and oh, he doesn't remember kneeling on the floor in the first place.

"What happened? Is something upsetting your stomach? Tell me what's wrong!"

Law tries to focus on Luffy's words, but they feel distant like echoes reverberating in a chamber. The wracking cough makes him double over to curl around his rolling stomach, and aside from blood, there's barely anything else, since he hasn't been able to eat much nowadays. His skull pounds and bright spots crowd his vision, making his head spin even more. Law blindly reaches out to grip on Luffy's arm to try and get himself together.

"There's so much blood, but I didn't sense anything… Zoro!"

"No enemy nearby," Zoro confirms grimly as he strides over. "Hey, can you stand?"

Law tries to respond, but his mouth is full of cotton, and his vision is going dark. The fever that has been simmering beneath the surface for half a month now feels like an inferno. He can feel his strength plummeting.

"Keep your eyes open," Luffy's voice is harsh and loud, filled with such desperate fear it makes Law's heart ache.

Chopper bustles in with Robin in tow and gets right to work, examining Law with a mask of concentration on his face. His eyes widen when he's halfway done, "We need him in the medical bay right now." Luffy wastes no time in lifting Law into his arms, and they follow Chopper quickly to the infirmary.

After a lengthy examination that Law's not mentally present for, Chopper shakes him awake with a somber voice, "Law, I have a theory and I need you to confirm it with me, since no one here has medical backgrounds like us."

The little doctor takes a fortifying gulp, "Do you have Amber Lead Syndrome?" to which Law can only nod.

"What is it?" Robin inquires gently.

Chopper's been calm while working, but now his face pales in terror, "I have only heard of this in passing, but it belongs to a disease outbreak many years ago. Due to its quick fatality rate, no doctor had a chance to test or devise a cure for it."

"What does that mean?" Usopp asks shrilly.

"It means Law is the only one left in the whole world to have the Amber Lead Syndrome, something with a zero survival rate. No one who contracted it has made it."

Robin gasps quietly as Luffy shakes his head. "It can be cured! Torao, you must know a way to get it done."

Two birds with one stone. This is as good a time as any.

Law hedges carefully, "Normally, I could remove it with my power."

Robin's eyes widen. Like him, she must have done her research and knows of Law's ability already. She looks ill when she says, "It's been over a month, and we have never seen you use your power even once."

Law grimaces then uncovers his legs to show the seastone chains. It takes a few seconds for everyone in the room to recognize what they are seeing. And when they do, tension shrouds the room instantly, setting Law's teeth on edge.

"This whole time?!" Luffy bellows, eyes ablaze with rage. The room falls silent, and Robin grips Luffy's shoulders, her face drained of color and her knuckles white. Usopp mutters a curse under his breath. "Who has the key?"

Law closes his eyes. "Doflamingo."

Luffy whips around to address Chopper, "How's Torao right now?"

Chopper's eyes well up, his voice trembling as he speaks. "We need to unlock the chains and get all the Amber Lead out of him. He only has a week at best."

"Okay." The king stands up abruptly, casting a long, assessing glance at Law before turning to his oldest friend. "Zoro, get Sanji and the troop ready. We're heading to Dressrosa."

It takes a moment for the urgency of Luffy's words to sink in. Law's breath catches, and he feels a surge of hysteria clawing at his throat. "My people can't handle another war, Luffy-ya! Don't—"

Luffy rushes over and pulls Law into a fierce, reassuring hug. He presses his forehead against Law's, his voice steady and soothing. "Just breathe, Torao." so Law does his best to suck in a lungful of air.

"I'm going over there to get the key," Luffy's voice is patient but firm when he deems Law sufficiently calmed down. "And then I will beat up Mingo only."

Looking at Luffy's expression right now, Law finally sees the true extent of the warrior who always does the impossible, crashing through distant lands, liberating countries, and leaving indisputable victories in his wake. There's nothing Law can say that will stop Luffy.

He squeezes Luffy's shirt tightly and demands, "At least let me tell you about my resistance army back in Dressrosa. That way, you will know what to expect, and no one will get in anyone's way."

Luffy's eyes crinkle slightly, "Of course! I knew Torao would alway fight back no matter what. I'll go help your friends, so stay alive until I get back, okay?"

By afternoon, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji have taken a handful of guards over to Dressrosa. After giving them the snail to contact Nami, Law settles in for a long, anxiety-inducing wait.

--

Usually, whenever Law has a nightmare, he can wake himself up right away. But with the fever trapping him in relentless intensity, making his body feel like it's being scorched from the inside out, he can't escape the repeated visions of Lami, Cora-san, or his citizens' cries during their daily lives. Other times, it's his own fears brought to the forefront of his mind: Nami and Bell-mère hanging onto each other, rage and tears flowing, with bullet wounds scraped deep into their stomachs. Then it's Viola, hung in the middle of the town square by Doflamingo's strings as a warning for everyone to behave.

The world spins in slow, distorted circles around Law as he lies in his bed, his senses overwhelmed by a haze of both hot and cold, the metallic tang of blood mixing with sweat.

On one of those nights, Law snaps awake to the concerned face of Usopp, whose shift must be right at that moment, tendrils of screaming nightmares still clouding the edge of his vision. Usopp grips his shoulder tightly, the pain anchoring him back to reality. "Sorry, but you were yelling, and I didn't know what else to do. Need water?"

He nods, then watches in slight exasperation as Usopp struggles to prop him up to drink.

"Thanks," he rasps, knowing the word doesn't come close to expressing his gratitude for all they're doing for him.

Usopp scratches his nose and puffs out his chest. "Well, not to brag, but I've always been a pillar during medical emergencies. There's nothing God Usopp can't do!"

Law snorts weakly. "Alright, thank you God Usopp."

He must've gone under again right after that because he wakes when Robin brushes a hand over his forehead, propping him up while Chopper tilts a cup to his lips. The bitter taste of supplement medicine slides down his stomach, leaving behind an all around terrible sensation.

Time feels distorted—hours, days, it's hard to tell. His memories come in fragmented, feverish bursts.

Sleep. The cold cloth on his face has changed again. Sleep. A steady hand cupping the back of his neck, slowly pouring broth down his throat. Sleep.

Even napping feels like a burden for Law, as he wakes up feeling more drained each time, and it only seems to get worse.

There are some close calls.

One time, he comes to the sound of worried whispers from Robin and Chopper, their voices distant, muffled by what feels like a thick fog. "Heart rate... weak pulse... eye movement..." Chopper's voice sharpens as he notices Law stirring, and he immediately begins fussing.

"You scared us for a moment there," Usopp laughs, but his eyes are wild and his hair is a disheveled mess, as if his hand has gone through it many times. "You weren't breathing. Chopper had to perform compressions."

That's disturbing. He looks at them solemnly. "If it happens again, just saw my ankles off to get the chains away."

Amidst Chopper's irritated lecture and Robin's amused smile, Usopp pats his shoulder, "I'm glad Zoro isn't here. He would have agreed with you."

--

While the nightmares are relentless, there are times when good memories surface in his dream, giving him a brief respite.

Like in this instance, as Law realizes he's back in his childhood bedroom in Dressrosa, with Nami and Viola snoring away on the rug, and Cora-san writing letters, waving splotches of ink everywhere.

"Where did you and Bell-mère go this morning?" His younger self asks. It's a bit disconcerting, but Law wants to hold onto this memory a bit longer, so he lets it play out naturally.

Cora-san turns around to grin at him. "We took a stroll on the outskirts of Dressrosa today." He and Bell-mère tend to hang out together after each long battle Doflamingo wages.

"Just a stroll? You're so old."

"You wound me," the idiot clutches his chest, and Law laughs lightly.

He walks up to the desk. "Are you writing to that old guy again? Garp?"

Cora-san nods. "Ever since Sengoku passed away, we've been exchanging correspondence more."

"Why don't you just call him?"

"I keep losing my snails."

Law groans loudly. "Whatever, just hurry up. I'm bored."

Cora-san smiles at him warmly before sealing the letter with his trademark heart-shaped wax seal and letting himself be pulled out of his seat.

--

There's a sudden weight lifted off Law's ankles, and the relief is liberating, but his body and mind are too far gone. White patches scorch his entire skin, and half his hair has likely turned sickly white.

Law's thoughts drift to Lami, her final moments flashing through his mind. We match now. The delirium makes it difficult to focus, and he finds himself lost in a haze of confusion.

Distantly, he can hear Nami's voice, a litany of "Oh my god, no no no," which can't be right. She's currently in Dressrosa, while he's firmly in Laugh Tale.

Suddenly, Law feels hands on him, steadying and comforting. The calluses are familiar to him from time and time again being pulled along by those same hands. The sensation cuts through his delirium like a stream of sunlight piercing through a curtain. Law's eyes flicker open, and through the fog, he sees a familiar face leaning over him, dark eyes full of fire.

"The chains are off. Torao, use your power now!" Luffy demands. The urgency in the king's voice tether Law back, his focus sharpening just as Usopp slides in behind him to prop him upright, and Chopper appears in front to assist with the operation.

Law's about to start right away when he notices Luffy's red eyes and swollen face, like he has been crying for hours. "What happened?"

Luffy smiles watery at him, worry waning slightly for joy to etch deep into his dimples. He cups Law's cheeks. "You have no idea what you have returned to me. Torao, heal quickly. I can't wait for you to meet them."

Law wordlessly nods, and when everyone has filtered out of the room, turns back to Chopper and Usopp. "Ready?"

He calls for Room.

--

The operation lasts for three days straight. By the time the Amber Lead is completely purged from his system, Law collapses into unconsciousness immediately.

When he finally comes to, feeling overwhelmingly better, he finds everyone sleeping around his room in various uncomfortable positions. Robin shares the same long chair with, and he can't believe his eyes, Nami, while Usopp, Sanji and Zoro pass out on the floor, Chopper sleeping soundly on the swordsman's chest.

Law's gaze drifts to the end of his bed, where Luffy is snoring softly. His body is bandaged slightly, but he seems otherwise safe and sound. Law allows himself to let the profound relief wash over him.

"Heya," a cheerful voice pipes up, startling Law so badly that he curls over with a wince, his body convulsing slightly from the sudden movement.

"Damnit, sorry, sorry!" Two pairs of hands ease him to sit back against the headboard before backing hastily away, and Law finally turns to take a look at the source.

Two men are sitting next to his bedside, smiling sheepishly. One wears a sleeveless shirt, dark trousers, and has a powerful build, with dark, tousled hair and freckles. The other dons a blue doublet with a flowing gold-trimmed cape. He's lean, with blonde hair, and a scar covering almost half of his face.

Law has no idea who they are. "Who the hell are you?"

The freckled one grins. "What, it's only been over a month yet you already forgot Red and Blue?"

Law's eyes widen, and he can feel a headache incoming.

The blond-haired one shoots the other an exasperated glare, then turns to Law. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Sabo, and this one here is Ace. We're Luffy's brothers."

Law precisely remembers Luffy mentioning that he grew up alone. "Luffy never mentioned you two."

"Ah," Sabo looks at him meaningfully. "That's because starting from one year ago, he forgot he ever had us."

Law sucks in a harsh breath. There's no way. The world can't possibly be that small.

Ace nods grimly. "Sabo has been going around distant lands to aid oppressed people in his own time. When he caught wind of what was happening in Dressrosa, he set a course there, bumping into me traveling on the way, so we both headed right over."

"I think you can deduce the rest," Sabo grimaces. "We got ambushed, then Ace and I got turned into toys by Sugar, effectively erasing our existence from everyone's, most of all Luffy's memory. We didn't even remember who we were, though we did feel something tugging at our minds when there was mention of Laugh Tale."

Nami's voice echoes through Law's mind from their calls many weeks ago - They haven't settled down much since you left for Laugh Tale.

"We would have died outside of the Colosseum, had it not been for you picking us up and nursing us back to health." Ace and Sabo bow deeply in their seats, their voices hard as steel and full of gratitude. "Thank you so much."

Law feels a lump rising in his throat as his eyes move from the two brothers down to the still snoring Luffy.

Law remembers the insistent pain in Luffy's voice on their betrothal night as he spoke of his lonely childhood. Law recalls fervently wishing he could ease that pain and banish those years of isolation from Luffy's mind.

To realize that in the end he actually did is an euphoric, indescribable feeling.

--

After almost breaking Law's spine with a hug and letting him be yelled at repeatedly by both Bell-mère and Viola via the snail, Nami catches him up on what happened in Dressrosa over the past few days.

Doflamingo had apparently caught wind of their intended movement, so he sent the rest of his court to Sugar's location to apprehend the resistance. With Zoro's surprising appearance—likely because the man had gotten lost and separated from his own group—the underground port beneath the royal palace was almost demolished. Above them, just in time to help Viola, Luffy burst in and beat Doflamingo up so hard the ground caved in.

"It was magnificent," Nami gushes in awe. "And also very terrifying."

While Viola and Bell-mère remained behind to begin the reconstruction of Dressrosa, Luffy and his people were eager to set sail immediately. Nami wasted no time joining them on their ship, determined to reach Law.

"You had to see yourself when I first got here," she warbles slightly, and Law reels her in again for another hug.

He is currently sitting in the gazebo in the royal garden with Nami and Robin, after Chopper insisted he get some fresh air. It's quite early in the morning, with the sun just barely peeking over the horizon. As the conversation flows, nearby trees dance gently with every breeze. The scent of blooming flowers fills the air.

Nami glances at the palace. "I should probably go find Usopp," she says, a note of excitement in her voice. "Yesterday he promised to show me around the kingdom with Kaya."

Law nods. "Go on."

Nami stands, combing out her hair with practiced ease. She gives Law a cheerful wave before walking briskly away, her steps light and purposeful. As she leaves, Law watches her go, a comforting warmth spreading through him.

He turns back to Robin, who offers him an indulgent smile. "It's good to see you so relaxed."

Law stews for a moment before deciding to go for it. This has been plaguing him ever since Doflamingo's downfall, and while he instinctively wants to deal with it himself, the past month is a testament that it's best to ask for outside help before things get out of hand.

At least, this is something he can comfortably broach only with Robin. "I need your thoughts on something."

"I'm listening," Robin says, sounding pleased.

"Do you think calling off my marriage with Luffy now would be wise?"

"No," she immediately says, then much more somber. "Why do you think so?"

"I've owed him a lot since I got here. Luffy deserves to be free, not stuck in an arranged marriage. He's wanted to be friends from the start, so this is the least I can do for him."

Robin looks at him, unimpressed yet still somehow full of understanding. "Back then, we had only intended to meet up first, and if you turned out to be as unpleasant as the Dressrosa royal family is rumored to be, we'd call off the alliance on the spot," she gives a delicate shrug. "When Luffy finally saw you, aside from his history of having a good judge of character, he… well, I'm hesitant to admit it, but that's only because you don't strike me as someone who would believe in love at first sight."

At Law's silence, Robin's voice softens, "But I suspect you have had some suspicion of that for a while already. What is the real reason for this?"

"This alliance has been built on a farce, both of us have been forced into this."

"I assure you, Luffy won't do anything he doesn't want, and I doubt you yourself are truly willing to leave now. So once again, what is it?"

Law clenches his hands tightly.

Meeting Luffy is the greatest blessing that Law has ever been given, and in the dark hours of the night the reason for that meeting makes him sick to his stomach. "I despise the fact that this wonderful thing that happened to me is thanks to Doflamingo, Robin-ya. Given time then maybe… but right now I don't know how I can live with it."

However unintentional, the fact remains that this whole marriage would not have happened had Doflamingo not proposed it to Laugh Tale in the first place.

"Ah," Robin's face clears up, and she seems delighted. "That I can help with. I have been meaning to tell you anyway." Then she does one of her signature signs, and before long another hand pops up right beside them, holding a small wooden box and putting it on Law's lap. At her nod, he opens the box to find it only contains a small letter in it.

A letter that has a painfully familiar heart-shaped wax seal.

At his questioning look, Robin continues on, "After King Garp's passing, amongst a few documents, this letter is included in his will for the next king to consider," her eyes crinkle. "You can read it."

With trembling hands, Law does.

It's been a while, Garp.

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are continuing to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies everywhere. To answer your last letter, no, I did not blow up the kitchen. It was simply a mild fire, and I put it out immediately.

While I also want to meet up again and have a long-awaited chat, I'm afraid my next assignment is coming up, and this one seems to be much more difficult than the others. I don't have much free time nowadays, so I would like to get straight to the point.

There is something I wish to ask of you, old friend. Do you remember my young charge, Trafalgar D. Water Law?

A storm has been brewing in Dressrosa for a long time, and although I can't share the details, I find myself in need of assurance.

Please keep Law in your thoughts, and if somehow in the future you have the chance to get him far away from Doflamingo, please do, and I shall be forever grateful.

Until next time,

Rosinante

"It doesn't matter if Doflamingo reached out to Laugh Tale about this marriage in the first place," Robin says, her voice steady and reassuring as she squeezes his hand. "The fact remains that had it not been for this letter, we wouldn't have entertained even a minute of it."

Law can feel himself tearing up. His fears that Doflamingo's shadow might taint his joy are unfounded, for it has been thanks to Cora-san all this time. "How about we catch up later? I need a moment."

Robin laughs gently behind her hand before taking her leave.

No sooner does Robin leave than Luffy slingshots from the balcony, his eagerness for his first trip to the town square of the day evident in his energetic leap. As he lands in the garden, his gaze falls on Law sitting nearby. His initial pleasure quickly transforms into alarm when he notices the tear tracks on Law's face.

"Torao, what's wrong? Do you need Chopper? Food?" Luffy rushes over to where Law is still sitting frozen, reaching out and enveloping his face with both hands, thumbs swiping the tears away so gently it feels like an open wound. "Is something else hurting you?"

Law laughs wetly at Luffy's confusion. "Just you." All this caring from the beginning has come from a place of deep affection. It's terrifying how quickly Law has latched onto it. It's terrifying to know that another precious thing could have been taken away from him once again.

"Why am I hurting you?" Luffy asks, not offended, just genuinely confused.

"Because I love you."

And Law knows that now, finally stopping his pretense, with his heart splintering open, affection and awe rushing in. Luffy's eyes widen in shock, then almost squint shut under the force of his smile.

"Torao is so silly. That's a good thing, because I love you too!"

Despite half expecting it already, Luffy's easy declaration still rattles his heart. Law can feel a smile blooming across his face, alongside a deep sense of urgency and want.

Law reaches out and tightly grabs Luffy's hand, then whispers his wish into the air between them. "Marry me."

And at Luffy's beaming nod, they seal it with a kiss.