Chapter Text
8 years ago
Sabo, Ace, and Law shuffled through the narrow pathway in the forest, pushing aside stray branches that seemed determined to smack them in the face. Sabo ducked under a particularly low one before turning around to look at the other two boys. “We’re close to the lake,” he said, brushing a few leaves off his shirt.
“Guys!” Another voice called from somewhere behind them. “Where are you?”
Ace and Law both groaned. Law rubbed his forehead and muttered, “Seriously? I thought he wasn’t coming.”
“Shut up! He’s gonna hear you, and Gramps’ll beat the crap outta us!” Sabo hissed, glancing nervously through the trees.
“Guys! I know you’re here!”
Much to their dismay, a bush a few feet away suddenly began shaking. Sabo closed his eyes, already knowing exactly what was about to happen. A second later, Luffy burst through the branches, his arms flailing wildly as he shouted random words that none of them could quite understand. He stumbled over a root, caught himself at the last second, and then stood upright as if nothing had happened. With his hands planted firmly on his hips and a wide grin spread across his face, he announced, “Hi guys!”
“Hi, Luffy!” Sabo replied, forcing himself to sound enthusiastic.
“Gramps said I could come and find you guys and play with you!” Luffy said, practically bouncing on his feet.
“Luffy, I think you should go back,” Ace said, leaning against a tree. “We’re doing big kid things.”
Law nodded. “Yeah. You’re too young.”
Luffy's smile immediately disappeared. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. “I’m big too!”
Ace snorted. “You're eight.”
“So?”
“We’re ten.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re bigger!”
“It does.”
Luffy frowned at him, clearly offended by the logic. Sabo sighed and stepped between them before the argument could turn into another one of their usual fights. “Come on, Ace. Just let him come with us. He already walked all the way here.”
“That’s exactly why he shouldn't have,” Ace grumbled. “He's going to tell Gramps everything.”
“I won't!” Luffy immediately promised.
Ace gave him a skeptical look. “You said that last time.”
“I didn't tell him!”
“You told him everything.”
“I only told him a little!”
“That’s called telling him.”
Luffy stuck his tongue out at Ace before turning back toward Sabo. “Can we go to the lake now?”
Sabo sighed, but he couldn't help smiling. “Yeah, we can go.”
Luffy immediately brightened. “Yes!”
He took off down the path before anyone could stop him, forcing Sabo, Ace, and Law to hurry after him. “Luffy! Wait!” Sabo shouted, though he knew there was almost no chance his brother would actually listen.
When they finally reached the lake, Luffy was already kicking off his shoes. He threw them onto the grass and ran straight toward the water.
“Luffy!” Sabo yelled. “Don't go too deep!”
“I won't!”
“You said that last time!”
“I didn't drown!”
“That is not the point!”
Ace laughed as he dropped his bag beneath a nearby tree. “Let him go, Sabo. He's not going to listen anyway.”
Law stayed closer to the shore, watching as Luffy splashed around in the shallow water. After a few minutes, Luffy noticed him standing there and immediately waved both arms.
“Torao!”
Law looked around before realizing Luffy was talking to him. “What?”
“Come in!”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to.”
Luffy frowned. “You're boring.”
Law rolled his eyes. “And you're annoying.”
“Yeah!” Luffy said happily, as though Law had just given him a compliment.
Law stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. “That wasn't a compliment.”
“I know.”
Luffy climbed out of the water and dropped down beside Law, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. He began picking up small rocks and tossing them into the lake one by one, watching the ripples spread across the surface. For a few minutes, neither of them said anything. Then Luffy suddenly looked over.
“Torao?”
“What?”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
Law nearly choked. “What kind of question is that?”
“Just asking.”
“No.”
“Do you like anyone?”
“No.”
Luffy nodded thoughtfully before tossing another rock into the water. “Okay.”
Law frowned and looked at him. “Why are you asking me that?”
Luffy turned toward him with the most obvious expression in the world. “Because I like you.”
Law froze.
Across the lake, Ace immediately started laughing while Sabo groaned and covered his face with both hands.
“Luffy,” Sabo muttered.
“What?”
“You can't just say things like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because... just don't.”
Luffy ignored him and continued looking at Law, waiting for an answer. Law shifted uncomfortably under his gaze before finally saying, “You're eight.”
“So?”
“I'm ten.”
“So?”
“And you're eight.”
Luffy thought about it for a moment before shrugging. “I'll be ten someday.”
Law blinked. “That's not how that works.”
“It is.”
“No, it isn't.”
Luffy crossed his arms stubbornly. “Well, I'm still gonna like you.”
Law let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. “You'll forget.”
“I won't.”
“You will.”
“I won't!”
“You're eight.”
Luffy's expression turned serious for a moment before he suddenly smiled again. “Then I'll just make you like me.”
Law laughed. “You can't make someone like you.”
“I can try.”
Law rolled his eyes, but Luffy had already decided that was a challenge. For the rest of the afternoon, he followed Law around like a shadow, showing him every interesting rock he found, challenging him to races, trying to drag him into the lake, and even giving him half of his snacks despite complaining earlier that he was hungry. Law protested every time, but he never actually told Luffy to leave him alone.
Eventually, the sun began to sink behind the trees, and Sabo called everyone over so they could start heading home before anyone noticed they were gone.
Luffy grabbed his shoes and hurried over to Law. “Come on, Torao!”
Law sighed as he stood up. “You're really not going to stop calling me that, are you?”
“Nope.”
“You're annoying.”
“You said that already.”
“Because it's true.”
Luffy grinned and ran ahead to catch up with Ace and Sabo. Before he disappeared around the bend, though, he turned around and shouted, “See you tomorrow!”
Law raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because I'm gonna make you like me!”
Law shook his head, watching Luffy disappear between the trees with his brothers. “Good luck.”
At the time, he genuinely didn't think much of it.
He certainly didn't expect that eight years later, Luffy would still be trying.
Present time
Luffy slumped against his desk, the palm of his hand mushing into his cheek. He tried, he really tried to focus, but everything Mrs. Robin said would just accidentally tune out. Next to him, Nami was focused on writing her notes in a notebook, occasionally pausing to underline something she thought was important. On the other side of him, Sanji was typing away at his computer, his eyes barely leaving the screen as he somehow managed to keep up with everything Robin was saying.
Luffy, on the other hand, had spent the last twenty minutes watching the second hand on the clock move.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
He watched it make another slow circle around the clock before his eyes finally started to droop. He told himself he would only close them for a second.
That second turned into ten minutes.
By the time the bell rang, Luffy jolted awake with a small snort, lifting his head so quickly that his cheek was still warm and red from where it had been pressed against his hand. Around him, students immediately started packing their things, chairs scraping against the floor as everyone rushed to get out of the classroom.
Luffy stretched his arms above his head, letting out a long yawn as he lazily shoved his notebook into his bag. He hadn't written anything down, but that was a problem for future Luffy.
He was halfway through standing when he heard his name.
“Luffy? Could you stay back, please?”
He froze.
Mrs. Robin was standing at the front of the classroom, watching him with an expression that was far too calm for Luffy's liking.
Luffy groaned quietly.
This couldn't be about him napping.
Or his grades.
Right?
Nami paused beside his desk and gave him a sympathetic look. “Good luck.”
“Why are you saying it like I'm going to die?”
“Because you probably are.”
Sanji shut his laptop and stood up. “Don't worry, Luf. I'm sure whatever you've done, you'll survive.”
“Thanks, Sanji!”
“I wasn't being reassuring.”
“Oh.”
Nami laughed under her breath as she followed the rest of the class out. Luffy watched them disappear through the doorway, suddenly wishing he'd paid more attention during the lesson. Maybe if he had actually taken notes, he wouldn't be in trouble now.
He slowly walked toward Mrs. Robin's desk.
“Did I do something?”
Mrs. Robin looked down at him.
“No.”
Luffy relaxed.
“Oh, okay.”
“Your grades are another matter.”
Luffy's shoulders immediately dropped again.
“...Oh.”
Mrs. Robin picked up a sheet of paper from her desk and glanced over it. “Luffy, you've been doing poorly in this class for a while now.”
“I know.”
“You've missed several assignments, your test scores aren't improving, and you spend most of class either staring out the window or sleeping.”
“I don't sleep that much.”
Mrs. Robin raised an eyebrow.
Luffy thought about it.
“Okay, maybe I do.”
She smiled slightly before setting the paper down. “You're not incapable of doing the work. That's the frustrating part.”
Luffy frowned. He didn't like being told he was doing badly, but hearing that he could do better somehow made him feel worse.
“I just don't get it,” he admitted. “I try to listen, but then I start thinking about something else, and then I look up and everyone's already on another thing.”
Mrs. Robin nodded as if she'd expected that answer. “That's why I think you need some extra help.”
Luffy looked suspicious.
“What kind of help?”
“Tutoring.”
His face immediately fell.
“No.”
Mrs. Robin laughed. “This tutor is very nice.”
“I don't like tutoring.”
“You've never had a tutor.”
“I know, and I already don't like it.”
“Luffy.”
He sighed dramatically and leaned against the edge of her desk.
“Fine. Who is it?”
Mrs. Robin picked up another piece of paper and glanced at it.
“Trafalgar Law,” She started, studying Luffy’s face. “He’s a Senior, do you know him?’
Luffy nodded slowly. “Hes Sabo’s best friend.”
“Perfect, you two already know each other.” She said, filing away the papers. “I told him I would like him to tutor you, but I haven’t given him the details yet.”
“Right, thank you Mrs. Robin.” Luffy forced a grin. “Have a nice day.”
Mrs. Robin smiled sweetly as Luffy left the room, outside Nami and Sanji were waiting for him. “So what happened?” Nami grinned when they caught Luffy’s attention.
His face turned red thinking about it, thinking about Torao tutoring him. In not so long, Torao would be sitting in front of him, teaching him. Luffy is so sure it would be more distracting than Mrs. Robin. Torao’s tattoos, long fingers adorned with “DEATH” and gold rings, his uniform, which for some dumb, stupid, amazing reason he leaves the first two buttons undone exposing his sternum and collar bones.
“I’m getting tutored,” He decides at the last second not to tell them it’s Torao tutoring him.
“Fuck, sucks for you man.” Sanji offers a pat on his shoulder. “It’ll probably help though, do you know who?”
Luffy shakes his head, scared that any word to come out of his mouth would give it away.
Nami raises an eyebrow. “You good?” Shit, she saw right through him!
“Yeah… Just a little mad I have to be tutored, you know, but it's for the best.”
“You’re right, maybe we should get that idiot Marimo a tutor!” Sanji chuckles, starting to walk ahead. “I’ve got my next class this way, see ya guys.”
Nami waves enthusiastically while Luffy yells “Goodbye!”
—
By the time Luffy gets home, the sun is setting. It's particularly beautiful today, the sky painted in warm oranges and pinks as the last bit of sunlight slips between the houses. Luffy slows down as he walks up the driveway, his backpack hanging loosely from one shoulder while he stares up at the sky. Maybe one day, he could watch a sunset with Torao. They could sit somewhere quiet, maybe by the lake, and Luffy could tell him about his day while Law pretended not to listen. Maybe Law would even smile.
Luffy shakes his head.
Yeah, right.
Deep down, he knows that would never ever happen.
He kicks a small pebble across the driveway and watches it roll toward the grass before heading inside. He barely gets the door open before he hears Ace's voice from upstairs.
“Luffy! Your little Torao told me he's gonna tutor you!”
Luffy stops dead.
His face immediately heats up.
“He's not my Torao!” he shouts back, already knowing that was the wrong thing to say.
A loud laugh comes from upstairs.
Ace's footsteps pound down the stairs, and a second later he appears at the bottom with the dumbest grin Luffy has ever seen. He leans against the railing, crossing his arms as he looks at his little brother.
“So,” Ace says slowly, drawing out the word just to annoy him, “Law's tutoring you.”
Luffy narrows his eyes. “Yeah.”
Ace's grin grows wider. “Your crush is tutoring you.”
“He's not my crush.”
“You've liked him since you were, like, five.”
“I was eight!”
“That's somehow worse.”
Luffy groans and throws his backpack onto the couch. “It's just tutoring!”
Ace follows him into the living room, clearly enjoying himself far too much. “Sure. Just tutoring. Nothing weird about spending hours alone with the guy you've been obsessed with for years.”
“I am not obsessed!”
Ace raises an eyebrow.
Luffy pauses.
“...Okay, maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“Shut up!”
Ace laughs and drops onto the couch beside him. “Does Law even know?”
Luffy's expression changes.
He stares down at his hands, picking at the loose thread on his sleeve.
“Know what?”
“That you still like him.”
Luffy doesn't answer.
Ace watches him for a moment, his teasing expression softening slightly. “Luffy?”
“He knows I used to.”
Ace blinks. “Used to?”
“Yeah.”
“You still haven’t told him?”
Luffy shakes his head.
Not anymore.
Not after all the times Law had laughed it off when they were kids. Not after every confession had ended with some version of you're too young or you'll get over it. Luffy had eventually learned that some things were better left unsaid.
“It's different now,” Luffy mutters. “You know he has a boyfriend.” Saying it out loud makes Luffy’s heart shatter. That it's not him, it’s someone else
Ace looks at him for a moment before leaning back into the couch. “Oh please, Kid isn’t even the one for him”
Luffy shrugs.
“I don't know.”
The truth was, it wasn't different at all.
He still liked Law.
He still thought about him more than he should. He still remembered every little thing about him without even trying. He still got that stupid feeling in his chest whenever Law nodded at him in the hallways, even if it was only for a second.
The only difference was that now Law had someone else.
And that someone else was Kid.
Ace suddenly nudges his shoulder. “Well, at least you're getting tutoring.”
Luffy looks at him.
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you'll finally stop failing.”
“I'm not failing.”
“You got a forty-three.”
“I was tired!”
“You sleep through half your classes.”
“I was tired!”
Ace laughs again, and Luffy grabs the nearest pillow and smacks him in the face with it.
“Ow! What the hell?”
“Stop making fun of me!”
“You're the one who's in love with your tutor!”
“Ace!”
Their shouting carries through the house, followed by the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway.
“What's all this yelling about?” Sabo asks as he walks into the room, looking between the two of them.
Ace immediately points at Luffy.
“Your little brother has a date with Torao tomorrow.”
“It's not a date!” Luffy yells.
Sabo pauses.
“...Law?”
Luffy's face burns.
“Yeah. He's tutoring me.”
Sabo looks genuinely surprised for a second before smiling. “Oh, that's good. You actually need the help.”
Luffy's mouth drops open.
“Whose side are you on?”
“The side of you passing your classes.”
Ace snickers.
Luffy sinks into the couch, arms crossed as he mutters under his breath.
“Tomorrow needs to hurry up.”
Sabo glances at him.
“Why?”
Luffy looks away.
Because tomorrow, for the first time in years, he gets to sit across from Trafalgar Law for an entire afternoon.
And maybe, just maybe, that isn't such a bad thing.