Chapter Text
For the past few days Law had been staying on some random snowy little island, just a few days away from Punk Hazard.
Everything was in motion now for his revenge.
A few months earlier he had received his Warlord status due to the Rocky Port Incident.
He was now aligned with the world government; his bounty and the bounties of his crew being frozen, granting them immunity, with the promise of leeway to any potential not so lawful actions.
Now, don't get him wrong. Law hated the World Government with a passion. They were a bunch of corrupted pieces of shit that had committed crimes against humanity, they had supported Flevance’s destruction, and he would have loved to see them burn before becoming a pawn to any of their causes.
However, there was one person he hated even more than the World Government; Enough to form an alliance even with people as rotten as them.
Doflamingo.
If he was going to destroy him, Law had to play the long game, from alliances, plan meticulously, track that bastard's moves and map out his criminal network, strategize, and when the right time came, strike.Law's strategizing involved getting his hands dirty, so earning temporary immunity from the world government to be able to act would not hurt.
Most importantly, passing down this immunity to his crew, for he wasn't planning to involve them in any of this, so last thing he wanted was for them to become collateral in his revenge.
Law, emotionally constipated as he was, cared deeply for his crew. Some of them had been with him for nearly 13 years. They were his crew, yes, but they were also nakama, friends.
And yet, cared as he did for them, he just couldn't not take the chance to bring Doflamingo down. He has lived for that moment literally half his life. Everything he had done, the person he had become, the life he had chosen, everything he had accomplished, had been done with this one thing in mind.
Speaking of his crew, he had already sent them off to Zou; It wouldn't serve him right to have them around when he eventually reached Dressrosa.He knew Doflamingo’s tactics, that man was a scumbag, always utilizing dirty tactics to get his way -the most common one; finding your weakness. And if he couldn't exploit it then he'd most certainly use it against you.
Besides, if Law was completely honest with himself, he wasn't sure he'd reunite with them after everything. Mostly because he wasn't sure if he'd be alive.
Yes, the plan was to destroy Smile and send Kaido after Doflamigo, and set his most hated enemy indirectly up against the terrifying emperor of the sea, but he wasn't sure he could let the chance of looking Doflamingo in the eye while he lost everything and let him know he was responsible for it go. An eye for an eye and all that shit.
Besides, even if he did manage to restrain himself and didn't confront Doflamingo directly, there was still the chance Kaido would put two and two together about Law's involvement and come after him.
No, they were better off at Zou, as safe and sound as a pirate crew could hope to be, even if it meant that Law would never see them again.
Law's mood had been taking turns several shades darker than usual and that was saying something.
His chest was nearly always heavy with a combination of hate, anger, fear, anxiety, anticipation, eagerness, loss, sadness and so many other emotions that he was struggling to swallow past an invisible knot always tied somewhere low in his throat..
Focus, focus damit!
He had to be on alert. Marines had a base on the island, coming and going as they pleased.. Word was out that the G5 and Smoker were also sailing around the area.
While they weren't an immediate threat, as Law, even if he hadn’t his bounty frozen, knew he could take down hundreds of them -that was pretty much how he had gotten his Warlord status- their presence in the snowy island was serving as a distraction.
The last time he had found himself in a snowy setting flooded by marine troops was the last day he had gotten to spend with him.
Cora-san.
His most precious person. His savior. The one who had given him back his heart. The one who had died for Law to live. The one Law could never forget -did not want to ever forget.
Law wasn't sure he could love anyone else more than he loved this man in his life, despite knowing next to nothing about him.
That was besides him being Doflamingo’s younger brother, a Navy soldier, his Marine code number, his true name, that he hated bread just like himself, and was the clumsiest fool and kindest and bravest man Law had ever met in his life.
How much more Law wanted to know about him that he'd never learn; Where were you from? How was your life before joining the marines? How did you end up a marine anyway? How old were you? Did you have any other family besides Doflamingo? Someone who loves you and misses you too? Friends or a lover? How did you end up being so very different from your piece of shit of a brother? What was your past? How did you look underneath the makeup and the flamboyant clothes and hat, when you weren’t pretending to be a pirate? Why did you try so hard to save me? Did you really love me? So many questions.
Law had lived two years with the man and had hated him, saw him as an embarrassment and a fool. And yet it had taken only 6 months for Cora-san to worm his clumsy way underneath Law’s skin, and make him love the man more than life itself.
Law had stupidly realized only a few weeks right before the end of their journey, and when Cora-san had told him he loved him, Law had never gotten the chance to say it back.
Another question plugging Law's mind was what would have happened if their journey hadn't ended. Would they have traveled the world together or would they have settled down? Because in Law’s mind there was no way that he would go a separate way from the younger DonQuixote brother.
Would they have become pirates together or regular civilians or maybe marines? Law cringed at the thought of becoming a marine and yet if that would have meant that he'd get to spend more time with Cora-san he thought that he would have compromised. How his dynamic with Cora-san would have changed throughout the years? Would the man and Law have become best friends? Brothers, like Mugiwara-ya and Portgas D. Ace? Would Cora-san have adopted him and they'd be son and father?Even more questions.
He still remembered what the sister had told him back in Flevance; about how someday a kind merciful hand would reach out to him. She had been right, Cora-san’s hand had dragged him out of the living nightmare he had been thrust into as a child.
She had been right, Cora-san’s hand had dragged him out of the living nightmare he had been thrust into as a child. And he then he was shot and beaten up and hurt in ways Law couldn't see from inside the chest, but he could hear, before he was left to die alone in the snow...
He needed to switch off, distract himself.
He couldn't wait for the time he'd set sail to Punk Hazard, but he still had to be patient. Two days left, and the crew he had paid to take him there would set sail, taking him one more step closer to his revenge.
His heartbeat picked up at the thought. Despite his cool exterior he can feel the nervousness crawling under his skin.
Maybe having a drink would help him relax.
He walked into a somewhat run down borderline medieval looking pub, poorly illuminated inside by small lamps allocated randomly in the space and a large wooden chandelier that held actual candlesticks leaving parts of it more illuminated and others in complete darkness.
It was decorated with decapitated heads of what Law assumed was local fauna as he’d never before what seemed to be a mix between a deer and a rhino, and a - what the hell was even that thing?- and was definitely a bit smelly; the stale smell of sweat, mold, and ale in the air.
The waiters and waitresses seemed to have questionable morals and side-professions to say the least, judging by how handsy they seemed with the customers who were sprawled around a random assortment of picnic benches and huge barrels that were being used as tables.
That place was perfect.The exact type of place that would serve anyone, no questions asked, and no need to interact with anyone or care about appearances. Judging by the looks of the customers it seemed to serve as a neutral zone for marines, revolutionary army soldiers and pirates alike, and even some somewhat shady locals.
He moved towards the bar and sat himself in a semi-illuminated stool and took off his signature hat.
After he rebuffed the attempts of a waitress to get handsy with him with his signature glare and a clear-cut “Not interested” he was left to enjoy his beer in peace. Peace meaning his dark broody thoughts around revenge, Cora-san being left to die alone in the snow while he was being carried away in the chest, looking from afar, Doflamingo’s deep voice saying he was planning to sacrifice him for eternal life, the moment ‘Calm’ broke and he had heard his own wails...
“Another” he growled to another waitress who was passing by.
After another cold rejection on his part, when she brought his drink which earned him a scoff he briefly contemplated if he should have taken any of the offers coming his way; maybe some company would do him good, it’s been weeks since he had seen his crew, and was all alone in this shitty island.
And well, maybe getting laid would help take some of the edge away. Sachi and Penguin always chatted extra loudly about their ‘sexscapades’ and how their heads would clear out afterwards.
Law had fooled around a bit with a handful of women in his life, when he was younger and he'd like it okay, but was always left feeling awkward and somewhat unfulfilled afterwards. It was his fault he knew.
Life had hardened him to the point that he felt like he lacked the capacity to be gentle even with those he cared about, so instead of trying to pretend that he was something he wasn't, he discretely interacted only with prostitutes, and that was strictly when he was in desperate need for a gentle touch, which was a rarity in itself. It worked for they couldn't care less about him or his distant, constipated attitude for the short few moments they spent together.
Besides, with him devoting his life to revenge and living the life of a pirate, barely staying in one place for a few nights before sailing back to the sea there wasn’t really much time or a point for relationships, let alone trying to open up to anyone.
Law had seen hell by the age of 10 and then when things had started looking up for him, he had been thrown back into it. People could empathize and pity him, but not a lot of people could understand what this does to a person and are willing to share such a burden, for someone as messed up as him.
Losing everyone you have ever loved as a child screws you up like that.
Okasaan-sama, Ottosan-sama, Lammy, Sister and everyone else he had grown up with, and then Cora-san too!
His eyes met with his.
In the opposite direction, there was a man sitting on a stool, on arm leaning on the barrel-table in front of him, a cigarette hanging loosely on his fingers that held a couple now empty beer bottles.
For a moment there Law thought he was staring at a ghost and then..
Marine, Law’s senses tingled.
He wasn’t a cadet or an officer. Too old for that. He wasn’t a G5 either, Law would have heard if they had arrived on the island. Moreover, the G5 were usually quite..rough looking. This one was for lack of a better word, polished.
The telling Marine coat was nowhere on sight, but Law could just tell from the white dress pants and the light blue shirt. These were Marine colors after all. Moreover, there was something about the way the man was carrying himself, his spine straight even though he was apparently relaxed and leaning on his elbows, as if he'd spent years standing at attention. Law had fought tons of Marines after all, he could tell them from a mile away.
They held each other's eyes for a few moments, Law’s hand that was out of the man’s view reaching for Kikoku in case the other man would be stupid to start a fight. Law’s bounty was frozen all over the four Blues, but you can never trust the Navy to pull some shit.
After what felt like hours but could have only been seconds, the man averted his eyes and went back to his cigarette.
Law would have turned back to his beer as well, but after he had gotten the initial fight or flight response from having a fucking marine single him out in a pub full of scumbags when Law only wanted a moment of peace he had taken a few more seconds observing the man.
He was big - much bigger than a normal human that is - because from a first glance at least, the man didn’t have fins, horns, tentacles, metallic body parts or whatever other unusual characteristics Law had come across in the Grand Line.His hair seemed to be be a shade of blond and fell around his head in somewhat fluffy waves.
Sure the clothes, the make-up free face and the fact that the man was smoking without catching fire or causing any other accidents were all wrong and yet Law’s chest was growing heavy again; the resemblance was uncanny.
Or had the two pints of beer Law had been one too many already.
He would never forget Cora-san’s big red smile,what he had done for Law, all his silly antics and clumsiness, and his feathery coat which swelled like cigarettes that Law had slept under as a boy. But Law was scared that the older he got he might start to forget those tiny unimportant details without realizing.
He somewhat forgot he was staring, but then the man raised his head again sensing and their eyes were back locked.
Law couldn't tell if the man had recognised him from his wanted poster, if he might have crossed paths with him before, or if he was coming on to him. He definitely had a poker face.
He also wasn’t sure what came over him either, he wasn’t one to approach people first, let alone do anything without a plan laid out and a clear goal in mind. But perhaps his guilt and longing for his benefactor was so strong the closer he got to his goal that approaching one of the many look-alikes he had come across to his travels seemed like a good idea.
Next thing he new had walked over to the man’s table, drink in one hand, Kikoku and his hat on the other.
He didn’t miss how the man did a double take as if trying to figure out if Law was moving towards him or someone else, nor how his eyes grew in size upon the pirate standing in front of him before getting himself comfortable to the stool opposite of him,leaning his sword on the barrel-table and hanging his hat on to it.
“Yo.” Law greeted more casually than he felt.
He didn’t miss how the man’s eye took into him, and then Kikoku, and then him again; mild interest; mind suspicion.
Something on the way he moved his shoulders made Law realize; a pistol was hanging from an under-arm holster.
“Do we know each other?”, the man spoke with a deep voice, tone serious and measured.
There was something in the cadence that resembled Cora-san a bit, though the man was either screaming profanities at him, and later on at the doctors that had refused to even examine Law, or was talking like a happy-go-lucky buffoon; the big smile in his voice almost tangible. And then there was that time that Law had heard him from inside the treasure chest; in pain, exhausted, angry and desperate as he screamed at the monster that Doflamingo was that Law was free right before the first gunshot pierced the momentarily silence that came after his benefactor’s outburst and-
He needed a fucking distruction!
“No.” Law answered cooly.”But we can get to know each other now. I noticed you staring” said Law leaning on this elbows towards the man more.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable”, the other apologized?
Now, a polite apology wasn't what Law would have expected from a man drinking on his own in such a shady shithole.
Law was divided on whether the man was being sincere or if he was a pushover.
“But you were also starring.”
Their eyes locked and the atmosphere grew tense in an instant.
Oh. So not a pushover then.
Interesting.
“Fair. I was just wondering if you might recognise me from somewhere”, like a bounty poster, Law thought but didn't voice.
The blonde Marine took another drag of his cigarette and exhaled slowly, and Law would have lied if he said the man's mouth didn't catch his attention.
“I don’t. But your coat caught my eye. I like the pattern” he nodded towards his coat with his head.
The comment was innocent, but Law knew how to read in between the lines. Marine-ya had practically commented on Law walking around with a Jolly Roger plastered on his clothing. In his aloof way he had just given him a warning.
Law’s lips pulled up in a smirk; “I thought this island is supposed to be a neutral zone”, he responded with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t want any trouble. But I’m not sure if you are asking for it. You are the one who walked over to a Marine’s table afterall.”
“Maybe I thought you wanted to get in my pants Marine-ya”.
He didn't know why, but something in him wanted to get a rise out of the man, see how he would look like when he lost his composure and snapped. What it would take for his temper to start rising. And would he look even more like Cora-san then?
The man's reddish-brown eyes grew in size and his cheeks flared momentarily as if he didn't believe Law had actually said that, but the next moment he was back to his aloof composed manner.
“What a coincidence. I thought you wanted to let me in your pants, boy .”
The condescending way in which he pulled the age-card was the most subtle way Law had ever been told to fuck off, and he couldn't help being amused.
However, he didn't actually believe Law was trying to hit on him, did he?
Law had never done anything with a man before. He wasn't against the idea necessarily, probably the boundaries would be easier to define with a man, rather than a woman who wasn't a prostitute.
The men he had met so far though held no particular appeal to him. They vary from unwashed unkempt Neanderthals that had let themselves go, pretty boys who needed babysitting or otherwise took the piss out of him like the Mugiwara crew, or some hybrid in between.
This man though seemed clean, mature and easy on the eye, in a way that was kind of appealing. Law could admit to himself that from the men he had seen so far, he was probably the most attractive one. The only con was his too big body structure but there were ways to work around it.
Law’s brain could use a distraction and his body some very necessary endorphins.He wasn't sure going all the way with someone 9 feet tall would be a wise idea but perhaps a dry humping session and some heavy petting in an alley sounded safe enough.
“I didn’t, but I’m starting to entertain the thought. You seem interesting. Do you find me interesting, Marine-ya?”
“Not sure yet.” The man said not missing a bit before continuing. “It depends on why exactly you are interested in the first place. Few seconds ago you were about to chase after the redhead's skirt. In case you haven't noticed, I'm twice her age, four times her size, and a man. Not a redhead either.”
“Maybe that's why I ended up at your table instead.”
“Really now..” the man replied in a tone that said he didn't believe a thing.
“You are ticking most my boxes Marine-ya, so I wanted to take a look at you up close”.
Even as he said that in the back of his mind he knew that he was taking interest for all the wrong reasons.
“I won't bring you into the base if that's what you're after, kid. I'm not stupid.”
“I think we’ve established it's your looks I'm after you for. Your personality is all wrong though; too grumpy.”
Law had been a child when he had met Cora-san; he didn't think he was attracted to him. Cora-san was just this kind, selfless adult trying to save him; The first kind and loving presence in his life since he had lost his family. He didn't even know what attraction was at that time; his body frail and underdeveloped due to his illness had stalled his puberty, and his most pressing concern at the time was destroying everything, and later surviving.
But he had grown to love the younger DonQuixote so much in that short time they spent together, maybe even more after the man’s death. He was longing for his presence.
And now he was finding himself somewhat physically attracted to a look alike of his.
Wasn't he sick and twisted for feeling like that, entertaining the thought of getting cozy with the enemy, and disgracing Cora-san's memory?
“Sorry to disappoint. I'm not much of a happy person as you can see” the man said, taking a few sips of his drink before putting the bottle down empty.
Something about the way he said that, sincere and vulnerable, and upset as if he just admitted a weakness, made Law avert his eyes, for the man didn't remind him of a ghost anymore. He had become human. Even worse, he had become relatable.
“Yeah, same..” Law admitted gaze focused on a beer stain on the wall.
“Do I get a name Pirate-san?” The Marine snapped him out of his stupor. “It's only polite to introduce yourself, when you are propositioning someone” he continued, lips slightly pulled up in a smile and tone a bit lighter, and Law knew it was meant to be somewhat of a joke.
“Names can get us both in trouble Marine-ya. Fraternizing with the enemy and all”, he responded casually.
He couldn't risk giving his name to anyone. Even if his bounty was frozen they were close to Punk Hazard, Dressrosa just a few weeks away at most. He couldn't risk word getting out of him being in the area in case any associates of Doflamingo's were around.
“Fair enough” the man chuckled while exhaling another breath of tobacco.
“And for your information, before I’m anything else, I'm a doctor”.
He didn't know why he said it, maybe because he didn't want this strained and somewhat sexually charged atmosphere to turn awkward, or maybe because he was lonely and he actually wanted to say "to hell with this bullshit” and just just have a talk with another human being like normal people.
“Doctor you said? I didn't see that coming!” Marine-ya said and gave him a full look from head to toe, suddenly observing him closely.
For the first time since Law had walked over to him, the man had actually looked interested in anything Law had to say, rather than just humoring him grumpily, silently for Law to piss off.
“You’re not like most of the doctors I've seen.” he said, head tilted to the side slightly after his new observation had been concluded.
“And how were the doctors you’ve seen?” Law challenged, half expecting to hear something offensive.
“Older” Marine-ya said, once again not missing a bit.
Ah, It always got back to the age with guy.
“I'm old enough” law scrowled.
“And fucking pricks” Marine-ya tsk-ed with open disdain, as if every single doctor out there had personally offended him in same way.
So, they had another thing in common apart from both of them apparently being miserable bastards.
Law couldn't help but think back to when he was young, and every single doctor had chased him away calling him a ‘monster’ and a bunch of other names in disgust and fear.
But Cora-san had been there too, to scream and punch his way out and burn down the hospitals that had refused to provide even so much of an examination to Law.
Young Law had yelled and cried and had hated every moment of it and yet these times now were fond memories.
Law's lips had pulled up into what felt like the first genuine smile that had graced his face in what felt like months.
“Yeah, most of the doctors I’ve met were like that too” he said, mind still reminiscing.
“Ugly” Marine-ya continued and Law almost missed it.
“?”
“You are pretty”, the marine said, looking straight into his eyes with a sudden intensity that Law couldn't help but feel both pleased and conscious of his appearance. “The ones I’ve seen were definitely ugly, but you're pretty”.
“So, am I ticking your boxes too?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
“You do”, the blonde Marine admitted and fucking hell, Law had no right to be so secretly delighted to have anyone compliment him and admit they wanted him in any capacity. Let alone a male Marine, yet here he was!
“You look like a handful to tame though; feisty..”, the man smirked and took another long drag of tobacco.
The alcohol Law's been drinking for the last hour had probably started taking effect because the implication that the older man was going to tame him, was going to do anything to him, had his blood rushing south.
A possible reason for Law's attraction to him, he reasoned, was that the blonde was a good few years older. He had this air of confidence and maturity that people said came with age. It resonated with his own nature.
Also, the man looked like someone experienced; both in life and well… sexually. He had a feeling that Marine-ya would know what to do to make Law feel truly satisfied for once. He had already made him want it in a span of half an hour, and Law could safely say he had never really wanted it before; instead, he had always approached it as a means to an end.
“I'll make it worth your while Marine-ya”, he smirked half drunk with the sudden arousal.
“It’d take more than a while until I'd be through with you, boy. I'd give you proper attention.”
The way the man was talking left no argument in Law's brain that if things between them actually escalated, the man would probably want to penetrate him -with what could Law only assume would be quite a large cock; if that was proportional to the rest of his body. Law found that he didn't have as many reservations anymore, if any at all.
“I have time to spare, Marine-ya.”
How would it feel to give this man control? Get penetrated by him? Would he enjoy it?
<“What’s your specialization by the way? You said you’re a doctor earlier”, Marine-ya asked out of the blue, completely redirecting the conversation and effectively killing the mood.
Was Law the only one who was getting affected when they were flirting?
Regardless, the other man had asked him a serious question and about his greatest passion so he was going to grace him with a serious answer.
“Surgeon. I do both diagnostic and treatment surgeries, but I also practice general medicine.”
“Oh! Impressive! You must have studied a lot!” he smiled at him the softest smile as if he hadn't implied earlier that he wanted to fuck Law's brains out. What was this person's deal?
“Do you like it? You said you’re a doctor before you are anything else” the blonde continued seemingly obvious to Law's baffleness.
“I do like it. I’ve studied medicine for years.” he said somewhat cautiously.
“You know your tattoos might be giving the wrong impression to people” the blonde said pointing at his tattooed fingers the word “DEATH”.
“These are to remind myself of what is at stake when treating patients. I don’t take human life lightly; my patients' lives depend on me. Seeing these helps me focus on keeping my hands steady and my head cool when I operate..” he responded more honestly than he would have liked, rubbing his tattooed fingers somewhat self-conscious from realizing the level of detail in which the other man had been taking in all this time.
“I wish the doctors I’ve met had your attitude. A doctor who doesn't care about a patient's life is worse than a pirate, if you ask me. But, you must be a good doctor! Despite you acting like a brat and your other, em, profession”, he said sincerely.
Another jab about doctors. Law was getting the impression that the man had a personal grudge against every doctor on the Grand Line.
“And how is being a Marine?” he asked to take himself out of the spotlight, but also because he wanted to find out more about the man.
“Shitty. But I don’t know how to be anything else. I was a cadet before I was even of age and somehow I got up the ranks…The man who raised me is a Marine. It’s not like he expected me to join the Navy too, it’s just, it felt right at the time, following his path, you know? Also, I thought being a Marine would have helped me to achieve my goal; but it didn't. Now I don’t have anything else and I'm too old to start anew.. I was ready to give up once, but I don’t have anyone to fight for anymore so, here I am I guess.” he shrugged as if he hadn't just poured his soul out to Law.
Fuck. This conversation had effectively killed Law’s previous arousal, but it gave room to other emotions.
Law had felt this man's words radiating in his own fucking soul. Now he could relate with him at an even deeper level. The blonde was obviously orphaned just like him. He stuck with the ones who had taken him as a child. Like Law had done with the Family, looking up to Doflamingo who had offered him a place to belong. And then, all his talk about achieving a goal, and losing those he wanted to fight for.
Law's chest felt unbearably tight. The fingers of his one had squeezing hard enough around his wrist to cut his circulation.
The man spoke again:
“I sucked the fun out of the conversation didn’t I?” He said a bit bushful, scratching at his head lightly. “Sorry, I won’t fault you if you wanna leave.”
“No.”
And damn, how badly the man misinterpreted his silence.
Because Law didn't want to leave at all now. He wanted to say that he was sorry, that he understood. He wanted to say that he could relate.
“No. I want to stay.” He started slowly, trying to convey as much sincerity as he felt. Law wasn't someone who expressed emotions openly, so it was a struggle to find the right words.
“If you want me to..”, he added as an afterthought because only he seemed to realize that he was an intruder in this man's sphere.
“And about what you just said, I'm not uncomfortable. I know what you mean. You stayed a marine because you don’t have anyone else to fight for. I became a pirate because the ones I want to fight for are not here either.”
The man was staring at him again so intensely and Law could feel his face heating up a bit, his stomach doing somersaults.
“Do you-? Would you-? Can I buy you another drink perhaps?” Marine-ya stuttered to get his own words out, and it was the first time that the aloof façade broke. Suddenly he looked younger too.
He continued quickly as if all of a sudden his nerves were getting the best of him:
“I don’t know if, em, you were serious about, well, wanting to sleeping with me, and I’m not sure it is a good idea, cause, I think I’m a lot older than you, like by 20 years or something, and we’re on opposite sides and all..But, I’d like to talk with you a bit more, if you have some time?” he ended somewhat akin to hopeful.
With his cool, cautious mask gone, Law could take peaks of what seemed an ever polite, but more awkward than Law would have ever expected, man of a soft and lonely nature. Someone who felt the need to connect, but whatever happened to him got in the way. But he also saw a man who was witty and snarky, and knew how to stand his ground and drew boundaries when he felt he had to.
“Yes, I’d like that too.” he smiled and the man answered him with a smile of his own.
When the marine turned to one of the passing waitresses to ask for another round of drinks Law took the time to observe him.
His physical resemblance to Cora-san that before was serving as a reminder of how messed up Law was now was an afterthought. Because that's where the similarities stopped. They were night and day.
Cora-san was never awkward or shy or particularly polite. He was loud, and goofy, had a flaring temper, and would do the most ridiculous things without batting an eye. He was the kindest person ever, but Law didn't think Cora-san was soft exactly; sure, he always made sure Law was fed, warm, had medicine, and tried to keep him entertained with his antics, but whenever Law was being a brat Cora-san was not above rough housing him a bit, dragging him around like a potato sack. And he was a fighter through and through, and if he had a goal in mind he'd do everything to achieve it, even die for it. He'd never give up.
Law felt more at ease with himself knowing that him wanting this man was not about projecting onto him his beloved Cora-san.
However he didn't intend for it to lead to anything or let himself get carried away by a passing fancy. Because his love and devotion to Cora-san was above everything. So, in two days Law would still sail to Punk Hazard and set his revenge in motion, and nothing would make him lose focus. And if he died along the way then so be it.
“How old are you anyways?” He asked as soon as the waitress left. “With the way you’re talking about yourself, you’d think you’re some old geezer” he couldn't help but be curious.
“I’m 39”, the man said amused at being called a geezer.
13 years. That wasn't a small gap but it's not like they were 20 as the man originally had assumed. Besides, they both were very consenting adults.
“I’m 26”, he said, not waiting to be asked.
“I see. You look younger, you know?” Marine-ya smirked and he looked a bit more relaxed after confirming they weren’t two decades apart in age.
“Relieved?” Law smirked.
“Yes,” the man laughed loudly.
Reddish brown eyes locked with gray ones and just like that Law knew that fucking was back on the table.