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Usopp will freely admit that he is scared of Trafalgar Law the first time he meets him. 

Who can blame him? That guy is terrifying, okay?! He’s tall and dark and broody, and his power is very, very creepy. Usopp has seen him juggling screaming heads, and that’s not the kind of thing you just get over. And he’s crazy strong too, a Supernova like Luffy and Zoro, so Usopp definitely knows he wouldn’t be able to beat him if Law decides to dissect him for science. And he just might! There were entirely too many floating hearts on Punk Hazard to trust that Law wouldn’t reach into him and take one of his internal organs. 

So he thinks his fear is perfectly justified, thank you very much, even after Luffy drags Law back to them and declares they’re allies now. He shakes in terror from the moment they take a step on the Sunny and leave the party on Punk Hazard behind; they’re in close quarters with the creepy guy now! Anything could happen. 

He decides to stay close to Nami for backup. She won’t be able to fight him off either, but if he runs faster than her, maybe Law will dissect her first. Fair’s fair, Nami is also staying by his side, so he knows she will try to run away first if something happens and leave him behind. Usopp will just have to keep an eye on the situation and react before she does. 

But Law doesn’t act anything close to what Usopp expects. He’s quiet and withdrawn, sitting against the opposite railing and keeping an eye on Caesar. The steady, focused look on his face doesn’t really help with Usopp’s fear, but at least he doesn’t attack anyone once they’re out on the sea.  

Still, Usopp keeps an eye on him, even as his hands shake. Better to see the danger coming than be surprised. 

The terror lasts all of half an hour, which is how long it takes for Luffy to slingshot himself into Law, slam them both into the railing, and then leave them crumpled in a heap on a grassy deck. 

Usopp cringes, half expecting Law to take off one of Luffy’s limbs for this. His hand hovers hesitantly over his Kabuto. Nami, lounging on a lawn chair, lowers the newspapers she was reading and peeks at the scene. 

Law doesn’t take off Luffy’s arm or a leg. He doesn’t even reach for his sword. Instead, he lies down on the deck under Luffy’s bulk and yells, “Watch where you’re going, Mugiwara-ya!”

Luffy laughs in the face of his irritation. He does not get up from Law, and Law makes no move to dislodge him. 

“Huh,” says Usopp, all the fear abruptly drained from him. 

“Interesting,” says Nami, a dangerous speculative glint in her eye. 

Luffy perches cross-legged on Law’s stomach. It can’t be at all comfortable; the guy might look scary, but he’s also real bony. Luffy doesn’t seem to mind as he leans closer towards Law’s face and says, “Torao! Wanna go fish?!”

Usopp huffs, kind of miffed that Luffy didn’t ask him first. He opens his mouth to interject, but Nami clamps her hand on his shoulder and digs her fingers into his skin. Usopp snaps his mouth shut. 

“What the hell?” Law asks, bewildered. Perhaps by Luffy’s question, perhaps by the entire situation. He still makes no move to remove Luffy from his person. Usopp squints suspiciously. “We’re going into battle against a Warlord, and you want to fish?! Are you insane?” 

“No,” Luffy says, dead certain and also entirely wrong. But who’s Usopp to tell his captain that? “I’m hungry. Sanji says dinner will be in an hour. But if I catch a fish, I can eat it immediately.”

Law takes a second to process the words. “Raw?!” 

Luffy looks at Law like he’s stupid. “Nah, that doesn’t taste good.” Law looks gobsmacked as he realizes that, yes, Luffy had eaten a fish raw, and it most certainly wasn’t proper sushi. Usopp sympathizes. It’s a rough realization. “We can grill it first.”

“We are not doing anything!” Law protests, for all the good it will do to him. “And dinner is in an hour! It would take you longer to catch a fish and grill it than for Blackleg-ya to serve dinner!” 

“Oh, right,” Luffy says, as if that had not occurred to him. Law has that stupefied, startled look of all the people interacting with Luffy and realizing they’re talking to an idiot. “We should still go fishing.” 

“Why?!” 

“Because it’s fun. And I’m bored.”

Law takes a deep sigh.  “No.”

“Toraoo,” Luffy whines, leaning even closer until their noses are almost touching. “You should come have fun with me.”

Usopp squints. Is Law blushing?!

“No,” Law says, once again, through gritted teeth. But he also tilts his head away so he’s not meeting Luffy’s eyes. He’s definitely blushing. “Go bother one of your crewmates before I chop your arm off, Mugiwara-ya.”

Usopp thinks Luffy will push his point because he always does, but Luffy surprises him by taking a long look at Law’s face and saying, “Okay. But you’re coming with me next time.” Before Law can even exhale in relief, Luffy stands up directly on his stomach, forcing the poor guy to choke down on air, and yells, “Chopper!” before launching himself across the ship. 

Law stays lying down on the deck. He thuds his head against the grass, groans, and tugs down his fluffy hat so it hides his face. His ears are still red. 

“Wow,” says Usopp. 

“Wow,” agrees Nami. 

“Do you think Luffy knows what’s going on here?” Usopp asks, morbidly curious. 

“No way. The idiot is probably following his instincts like he always does. I bet he has no idea where this will end up.”

Usopp nods in complete agreement. “Right, right.” He studies Law some more. He’s burrowed completely into his hat with no face visible, but the fact that he had no negative reaction to Luffy’s… Luffyness is telling. “Do you think Torao knows?” 

Nami squints even harder in Law’s direction. “No. He’s as much of an idiot as Luffy,” she says, with all the conviction in the world. 

“I guess he did ask Luffy to be his ally,” Usopp agrees, because that’s insane behavior. 

“And then expected it to stay professional,” Nami finishes, because, yeah, that really is something only a stupid person would do. It’s not like Law doesn’t know how Luffy is. He was there when Luffy punched the Celestial Dragon. 

Actually, he seemed pretty amused by that too. Maybe he’s more off his rocker than Usopp expected? 

“Poor guy,” Usopp sighs, because that’s really all he can do. Law got himself into this situation, and now he has to reap what he had sown. It’s his own damn fault for deciding to shack up with Luffy. Even if he didn’t know he was doing it. “Luffy’s gonna eat him alive.”

“Hmm,” Nami says, a contemplative look in her eye. “Five thousand berries that Luffy will be the one to make the first move.”

Usopp definitely shouldn’t do this. Luffy would laugh if he ever found out about the bet, but Usopp feels like Law maybe wouldn’t be as forgiving. And there’s a risk of losing money to Nami, which always means more berries in her hands than initially agreed upon. Usopp has been very careful to keep his debt to her manageable. 

But Usopp also came to be a part of the Strawhat crew honestly, which means that when confronted with a dangerous situation, he leaps without hesitation. “Five thousand on Torao snapping and kissing Luffy first.” No way is Luffy going to figure out what’s going on, but he might accidentally drive Law to insanity with all of his undivided attention. And also, all the touching. Usopp feels like that might tip the scales in his favor. 

They shake on it. 

Now just to make sure Law never finds out about this. Usopp likes his limbs where they are, thank you very much. 

…

Law doesn’t find out about the bet, but the rest of the crew does even before dinner is served. Gossip travels fast on a small ship like theirs. 

“I don’t see it,” Sanji proclaims during the meal, chewing on a cigarette as he leans on the counter. The table in the galley is filled out more than usual with all the guests, so he, Usopp, and Franky had taken their plates back to the counter to eat in relative peace. 

“Really?” Usopp asks in surprise, as Luffy elbows Law in his face in an attempt to grab food from Zoro’s plate, and all Law does is nudge him carefully away and also incidentally stop him from pouring sauce all over himself. Perhaps that wouldn’t have been so strange if Law hadn’t intentionally sat next to Luffy, which is honestly the biggest danger zone at the table. He’d glared at Kin’emon to free up enough space. “It looks pretty obvious to me.”

“Oh, Torao’s smitten all right, poor bastard,” Sanji agrees. “I just don’t know about Luffy. He doesn’t act any differently than with any of his other friends.”

And all right, Luffy is a touchy person in general, happy to hug and cling to people he barely knows as long as he likes them. Law is not special in that regard. He’s maybe freer with his affection than usual, but he’s the same with anyone else on his crew. 

But that’s just it. Law’s not on Luffy’s crew. 

“I think Luffy likes him,” Usopp says, stubbornly. “You didn’t see them earlier. Luffy’s really happy Torao is here. They were very cozy.”

“He did save Luffy-bro's life,” Franky points out, pretty reasonably. “Maybe Luffy-bro wants to thank him.”

“He listened when Torao told him no,” Usopp adds, like he’s throwing down a winning hand. 

And he might as well have, because both Sanji and Franky turn their heads in unison to look at Luffy and Law. Luffy’s chattering about something or other, and Law seems to be listening intently. His expression is as dark as ever, but his eyes never stray from the smile on Luffy’s face. 

“Poor bastard,” Sanji repeats, because it bears saying twice. Imagine having a crush on Luffy. That’s nightmare material, right there. 

“Yeah, Torao is a goner,” Usopp agrees, because that is not up to debate. “What are your bets about Luffy?”

“No way does Luffy like him back,” Sanji says. “Not in that way. He’s Luffy.” 

Well, Usopp is not one to let the opportunity go to waste. “Willing to put your money where your mouth is?”

Sanji bites down on his cigarette again. It’s not lit, because he never smokes during meals, but he clearly longs for the distraction of it. “Ten thousand on it being one-sided. Can’t imagine Luffy liking an ugly bastard like that.”

“Torao’s pretty hot, though,” Usopp says. When Sanji swings to look at him and Franky raises an eyebrow, he clears his throat. “You know. Objectively.”

“Sure is,” Franky agrees easily, without commenting on Usopp’s flustered face. “Not my type, though. Wouldn’t have thought he would be Luffy-bro’s type either.”

“I didn’t think Luffy even had a type,” Usopp adds, and both Sanji and Franky nod in agreement. 

At the table, Luffy has switched focus from Zoro’s plate to Brook’s. He’s leaning halfway out of his chair and over Law’s shoulders to reach for it even as Brook fends him off with a fond — if very toothy — grin. Law sighs heavily, says, “Room” and somehow dumps a bunch of drumsticks onto Luffy’s plate.

Sanji curses and turns towards the platter on the kitchen counter, in reserve for the inevitable request for more meat. It’s empty. “That shitty bastard—!” He starts making his way towards Law, leg tapping dangerously against the floor, before Franky stops him with a hand on his shoulder. 

“Wait a second, bro,” he says, subtly — or as subtly as someone of Franky’s size can manage — motioning towards the pair at the table. 

Luffy sees the meat, glances at Law, and then beams, as bright as sunlight, directly in Law’s face. “Thanks, Torao! You’re the best!”

Law clears his throat and looks away. Usopp keeps saying it, but really, poor guy. 

“Just shut up and eat, Mugiwara-ya,” Law grumbles and turns his head back towards his own plate. 

“Here!” Luffy says and then promptly deposits a chunk of meat onto Law’s plate. 

Usopp takes a deep breath. Franky’s eyebrows rise so high they meet his hair. Sanji chokes on his cigarette. The rest of the Strawhats at the table stop and stare for a moment, eyes switching from Luffy to Law and then to Luffy again. Faced with all that attention, Law looks like he’s going to kill someone or bolt. 

Luffy is still grinning. “Torao doesn’t eat enough!”

There is a moment of breathless silence. Kin’emon and Momo don’t look like they know what’s going on, but even they notice the tension. Law’s eyes are painfully wide. He stares at Luffy for a couple of long, stressful seconds. 

And then Zoro slams his sake back on the table. “Good booze,” he says, instead of addressing the elephant in the room. “Cook, give me more!”

“Grab it yourself, you shitty mosshead!” Sanji yells back, seemingly on autopilot, as the rest of the crew slowly starts to resume their conversations, following Zoro’s lead. There are more than a few side-eyes in Law’s direction, though.  

Law has managed to collect himself enough to turn back towards his own plate. He’s poking at the meat carefully, like he thinks it might be a trick. 

“This is super,” says Franky, very quietly. There are tears in his eyes. “Never would have thought Luffy-bro would fall in love.” 

“Shit,” Sanji says, taking a break from his argument with Zoro to address Usopp. “Do you think I can change my bet?” 

“No way,” Usopp fires off immediately. That’s ten thousand free berries right there. Nami would kill him dead if he lets Sanji change it now. 

“Thought so,” Sanji sighs, dejected. “Well, at least the money will end up in Nami-swan’s perfect hands. That’s not such a loss.” 

And okay. That figures.

…

After that dinner, nobody else bets on Luffy not having any feelings for Law. Instead, the bulk of the pot focuses on who will make the first move and how. The majority of the crew think it will be Luffy, but Usopp stands firm in his conviction that Law will one day snap and either kill Luffy or kiss him. Mostly because Luffy will leave him no other option. 

Luffy keeps touching Law, is the thing. He glomps him when they’re on the deck. He drags him by the arm when he wants to show him something. He flops against him when Law wants to take a nap. On the one island they stop to resupply before reaching Dressrosa, Luffy spends almost half an hour hanging from Law’s back as they explore the town, which is honestly a record for him staying in one place when on land. 

And Law blushes through all of that, so obviously frustrated that Usopp is surprised there is no steam coming out of his ears. He doesn’t touch back, but he also doesn’t shamble Luffy away even though literally everyone on the crew knows he could do it easily if he wanted to. He just takes it and pretends no one notices him tracking Luffy’s progress across the ship with fascinated eyes. 

Guy probably thinks he’s smooth, but he’s as obvious as Luffy, really. Not a subtle bone in his body. 

Bath time is the worst. This week, Usopp is on Devil Fruit user duty, and he has to wrangle Luffy to the bath every other day. And Luffy drags Law in with him, even though Law tried to schedule his bath at the same time as Chopper and Brook, for self-preservation purposes. He had little success once Luffy heard about it. 

So here they are, Usopp, Law, and Luffy, sitting in the bathtub, naked as the day they were born, and Usopp can’t even flee for his life because one of them might drown. 

This is the worst. 

Law is very determinedly not looking at Luffy. Luffy is shamelessly staring at Law. Usopp tries to ignore the whole incredibly awkward situation, but the bathtub is only so big.

“Wow, Torao,” Luffy says, inching closer to Law. Law goes rigid in his seat. “Your tattoos are so cool!” 

“Mugiwara-ya,” Law grits through his teeth. His hands are white-knuckled where they’re holding the edge of the bathtub, clinging for dear life. “Do you even know what personal space is?”

“No.” Luffy tilts his head. “What’s that on your chest? Is that a heart?” 

Law takes a deep breath and chances a look in Luffy’s direction. His eyes visibly catch on Luffy’s chest. 

Usopp wishes he was anywhere but here. 

“Yes,” Law says, seemingly deciding that Luffy won’t stop asking until he gets an answer. Or maybe his brain short-circuited at the sight of Luffy’s pecs. Who knows. Usopp is certainly trying not to. 

“Cool!” Luffy says, leaning even closer. Law’s ears are on fire. “What’s it for?”

“What?” Law asks. His eyes are following a very determined water droplet sliding down Luffy’s neck. Usopp wants to drown himself. Maybe that would be enough to get the two of them out of this bathtub. Surely this would stop if there was a corpse in the water. 

“Ace had tattoos,” Luffy says, and seems oblivious to the way both Law and Usopp freeze at the name. Law finally snaps his eyes away from Luffy’s body to focus on his face. Luffy smiles, guilelessly. “They meant something.”

“Even the one…” Usopp says hesitantly, faltering when Luffy turns his head to meet his gaze. “Uh, even the one on his bicep?” Honestly, Usopp has always thought Ace just managed to misspell his own name on the tattoo. That seems like something Luffy’s brother would do. 

But Luffy appears utterly sure as he nods. “Yeah,” he says, and doesn’t explain. He turns back towards Law and completely unselfconsciously places his palm over Law’s chest tattoo. And wow, that blush sure does travel very far down. “Does this mean something?” Luffy asks, sitting very close to Law, touching his chest and looking directly into his eyes. 

Usopp is kind of impressed Law doesn’t combust on the spot.

“None of your business,” Law says, very weakly. 

Luffy huffs. “You’re so stingy, Torao.”

“Because I don’t bend to your every whim?” Law asks, like he isn’t sitting naked in a bathtub, staring at Luffy while Luffy feels out his chest, all because Luffy wanted him to. Honestly, he didn’t even put up that much of a fight. 

Nami’s right. The man is an idiot. 

“I don’t make people listen to me,” Luffy says, because he’s also an idiot. Though perhaps this is more easily forgiven. Luffy doesn’t want people to follow his every word, but they do anyway, because Luffy is Luffy, and he is a man worth following. “But you should tell me what the tattoo is for! We’re friends now.”

“We’re not!” Law hisses and rears back like an offended cat. Water splashes around as he jerks as far away from Luffy as possible. “We’re in a mutually beneficial alliance.” 

Luffy nods. “See? Friends.” He scoots closer to Law once again, crowding him against the edge of the tub and practically throwing himself on Law’s lap. 

“Yeah, friends that should get a room,” Usopp murmurs under his breath and then sinks lower until water reaches his nose when Law sends a filthy look his way. Law can’t get him while Usopp is in the water. He’ll drown first.

“We’re in a room,” says Luffy, obliviously. “This is a bathroom. It has a room in its name.” 

Law looks like he’s questioning all of his life choices. “I’m not explaining it to him, Nose-ya.” Usopp nods. That’s fair. He won’t be explaining it either. “And Mugiwara-ya!” This comes out as a snap, words sharp as his attention redirects to Luffy. There is something wild and dangerous in his eyes. “Stop asking me personal questions! Whatever you might think, we’re not friends. I don’t owe you any information.” 

Usopp sees the moment Luffy registers he encroached on a sensitive subject. The thing about Luffy is that, despite his bluntness and curiosity and general insensitivity, he always knows just how far he can push with people. He knows when he has to stop and when he can take just one more inch, demand that little bit more. In the emotional minefield that is the Strawhats’ collective pasts and trauma, Luffy always knows what to say and when, and when it’s best not to say anything at all. 

Luffy looks at Law and visibly backs down. “Okay. But Torao’s tattoos really are great. Did it hurt to get them?” 

“...A little,” Law says, obviously bewildered by the sudden change in the intensity of conversation. 

“Woow,” Luffy enthuses, leaning closer to look at the ink on Law’s bicep. “Maybe I should get a tattoo. Wouldn’t that be cool?”

Law seems stricken by the very idea. 

Usopp takes pity on the poor guy. “What kind of tattoo would you get, Luffy? It has to be something badass. To show the world that we mean business.”

“Hmm.” Luffy tilts his head. “Maybe meat?”

Law seems stricken again, but for a very different reason. Well. That’s what you get for having a crush on Luffy. 

…

Perhaps the situation would not have changed at all if not for Dressrosa. Perhaps Luffy would continue to obliviously cling onto Law while Law determinedly ignored his own obvious attraction until the alliance came to its inevitable end and they parted ways as friends and nothing more. Law does already spend most of his time on the Sunny trying his hardest not to get caught up in Luffy’s orbit even if he seems to be unable to resist him completely. Maybe he would have succeeded eventually.

But then they finally land on Dressrosa. 

To be honest, Usopp misses most of what happens between the two of them. He knows that the fight against Doflamingo seemed kind of personal for Law. He knows that Luffy won eventually, with Law’s help. Thanks to Zoro, who seems very happy to share this story with anyone who would listen, he also knows that Law spent the better part of the day chained up and hauled around by Luffy in front of the whole country. 

But he doesn’t know what actually happened between them. 

And something must have, because when he wakes up from a much-needed rest in Kyros’ cabin the day after Doflamingo goes down, the first thing he sees is Law and Luffy collapsed in the same bed. Both are obviously injured, bandaged all over, but that doesn’t seem to bother them as they curl around each other, Luffy’s face buried in Law’s neck.

“That’s new,” Usopp says. 

“Fufufufu,” Robin’s familiar chuckle comes from behind him, and Usopp heaves himself into a seating position. It’s painful, because he’s hurt all over, but it allows him to see Robin and Franky leaning on each other against the wall on the other end of the cabin. Zoro is sitting by the door, Wado Ichimonji in his lap as he checks it for any possible damage. There’s no sign of Kyros or the samurai anywhere, which is a bit of a relief. Usopp likes them, but it feels safe to be surrounded only by his crew. “It certainly surprised us. It seems the captain's pursuit is going to be successful.” 

Zoro snorts. “As if Luffy's even noticed he’s pursuing somebody.” 

“Which makes it all the more impressive that he is so good at it,” Robin agrees with a smile.

“Do we know what happened?” Usopp asks, motioning towards the two lovebirds, secure in the knowledge that they’re too deeply asleep to hear anything. 

Robin and Franky exchange glances. Franky is grinning. 

“Torao was very worried about Luffy when he woke up,” Robin says.

“It was super of him,” Franky supplies. “He checked Luffy-bro immediately, even changed his bandages. And then Luffy-bro woke up and forced him to sleep.” He covers his eyes, tears leaking out. “Such manly behavior.”

“Torao was indeed very sweet.” Robin folds her hands in front of her, elegant, like she isn’t shamelessly engaging in gossip about their captain. “His arm must hurt tremendously after being ripped off and who knows what happened to his internal organs when he was shot. I just hope helping Luffy won’t cause any of his wounds to reopen and make him bleed to death.”

“Robin!” Usopp groans, dropping his head into his hands. 

“That’s the least he could do,” Zoro proclaims, not looking up from his sword. “If Luffy chose him, Torao should be ready to give his everything to this alliance. Even die for it.” A pause. “Or live for it.”

And yeah, that’s a thing. It wasn’t very obvious at the beginning, but it’s not like the rest of them hadn’t noticed Law getting quieter and quieter the closer they got to Dressrosa. They’re the Strawhats. They know what self-destructiveness looks like. And the fact that the rest of the Heart Pirates were nowhere to be seen in this grand plan to take out a Warlord and declare a war on an Emperor was telling. Usopp knows from bitter experience that a captain doesn’t send his crew away unless he’s going into a fight he doesn’t think he will win.

But they’d been content to leave it to Luffy, even when it was obvious that Law was aiming to die in Dressrosa. Luffy knows best what to do in those kinds of situations, what to say, and who to punch. Luffy knows how to bring people away from the brink. And seeing Law sleeping in the same bed as Luffy, injured but alive, Usopp would bet that Luffy had conjured another one of his miracles for the surgeon alone. 

But if Zoro thinks Law might backslide…

Well. Luffy doesn’t need anyone else to die for him. Not after Ace. That would be the highest betrayal of them all. 

Usopp gulps. “And if he doesn’t?”

Zoro’s answering grin is savage. He tilts his sword until light catches at the blade. “Then we make sure he can’t betray Luffy. One way or another.”

There is a moment of silence. 

“I don’t think we have to worry about Torao intentionally betraying Luffy,” Robin says, as calm as the sea on a windless day. “He made it quite clear that he was ready to die with Luffy if Doflamingo won.”

Zoro nods. “He was ready to die. Do you think he might be ready to live?” 

They turn collectively towards the bed, where Law has curled himself inwards, folding himself around Luffy despite being trapped in rubbery limbs. His breathing is peaceful, and the livewire tension he always exhibited is nowhere to be seen. Despite his injuries, he looks relaxed, here in a small, defenseless cabin, guarded only by injured Strawhats and Luffy’s arms around his chest. 

“I think he’ll be fine,” Usopp says. “It’s not like Luffy will allow anything else.”

…

The injuries they sustained in battle and the Marine chase stopped them from celebrating their win in Dressrosa, which means as soon as they set sail the party explodes on the ship. 

Usopp is still kind of reeling from Luffy getting a fleet. Not even that people swore eternal loyalty to Luffy — it was bound to happen eventually — but that the whole lot of them managed to do it despite Luffy’s protests. It’s kind of impressive how they’ve managed to latch onto the only excuse Luffy could not steamroll over. And yeah, it’s not like Luffy will acknowledge them as subordinates anyway, but details don’t matter when more than six thousand people sail under Strawhats’ flag.

Usopp hopes Robin will keep an eye on that situation. It’s not like Luffy will. 

And speaking of Luffy… He’s being curiously absent. By now, Usopp has circled around the party while telling stories and met all of the captains of the seven crews, and he hasn’t seen Luffy with any of them. Usopp casts an eye out around the deck of the ship and can’t find him. He’s not with Zoro drinking in the corner or with Franky and Robin, who are talking with Cavendish. The people around the buffet table are too calm for Luffy to be anywhere near it, and the dancing crowd has no rubbery limbs flailing out of it and flinging random bystanders around. 

Usopp frowns. It’s not like Luffy to be absent from a party. Usopp hopes it’s not Luffy’s injuries acting out. Doflamingo really did a job on him. 

He starts meandering around the ship, hoping to catch a glimpse of his captain, but it’s hard with the crowds shifting around him. He has to elbow several people aside as he checks the deck and the galley and even takes a quick peek at the crew quarters. No Luffy anywhere. He’s at his wit’s end and increasingly worried when an arm materializes from the wall beside him and points. 

Usopp follows the pointer finger and sighs. It’s telling him to go towards the figurehead. Of course. 

“Thanks, Robin,” Usopp says, betting that Robin has an ear nearby, listening in. 

Robin’s hand makes a small shushing motion. Usopp nods his understanding and moves as quietly as he can towards the figurehead. 

Predictably, Luffy is there, though he has not climbed on top as he usually does. Instead, he’s leaning against it from the deck, back against his own wooden image. 

He’s also not alone. Law is sitting beside him, entirely too close. They’re touching shoulder-to-hip and don’t even seem to notice it, engrossed in conversation as they are. 

Usopp creeps closer. There is a stack of crates nearby that makes for a really good cover. 

“—weird heart chair,” Luffy is saying. “It was funny-looking! Maybe I should get a funny seat for the Sunny. Franky could make it.”

Law’s lips tug down into a frown. “It was not funny,” he snaps. 

“It was not?” Luffy tilts his head in confusion. “Torao was chained down on it. I guess that wasn’t very funny.”

Law breathes out a harsh sigh. “It wasn’t.”

“Is this why?” Luffy asks without any elaboration. 

“Why what?”

Luffy places a hand on Law’s chest, exactly over his tattoo, now covered by a yellow hoodie. “The heart. Your heart. Mingo chained you down to a heart chair. Is that why you have a heart?”

“No,” Law immediately spits, lips pale with anger. His fingers clench around his sword. 

Usopp huddles closer to the crate, praying that they don’t notice him. Law’s angry enough that Usopp thinks limbs might start flying around soon. 

Luffy doesn’t seem to have the same fear. He scoots closer until he’s sitting in front of Law, leaning forward with his arms on either side of Law’s hips, hands placed firmly on the deck. He’s an inch away from being in Law’s lap, but he ignores that in favor of saying, “Then why?” 

Usopp can’t see Luffy’s face from where he’s standing, but he knows what expression must be on it. Eyes wide and earnest in that particular Luffy way that says you could tell him anything and it wouldn’t change how he thinks about you. It is, quite honestly, a lethal expression. 

Law clearly agrees, because his throat bobs as he looks down at Luffy. “It’s not because of him,” he says, spitting out the last word with such vitriol that it’s immediately clear who he is talking about. He swallows. “Doflamingo had a brother. Corazon. Cora-san.” The hand not holding his sword hovers over his chest unconsciously. He pauses, seemingly not able to continue. 

Usopp doesn’t blame him. Law said ‘had’. It’s clear what happened. 

Luffy nods like a bobblehead doll. “Cora-san. He must’ve been awesome.”

Law’s fingers spasm around his sword. “What the hell makes you think that?”

“Because Torao put a heart on his body to remember his Cora-san,” Luffy says, as if that is self-evident. “So he must’ve been awesome. Torao wouldn’t care so much about him if he wasn’t.” He leans even closer. “I don’t need to know anything else about him.” 

Law looks stricken.

“You—” he says, takes in a deep breath, and then releases it through gritted teeth. He places his sword on the deck only to grab Luffy by the shoulders. “You can’t just—” He shakes his head. “Why are you like this?” 

Luffy tilts his head. “I’m just me,” he says, with utter surety. 

“You’re so—” Law says, still at a loss of words. For a moment, Usopp thinks he’ll shake Luffy until some sense falls out, but instead Law’s eyes catch on Luffy’s face. His expression goes dark as if he is preparing for battle. 

And then he smashes their lips together. 

Usopp is so surprised that he yelps and trips over his own feet to smash nose-first into the crate. Swearing under his breath when the pain ripples through his nerves, he freezes as soon as he’s back on stable footing, hoping against hope that he wasn’t heard. 

He peeks over the crate. 

Nope. They’re still kissing. Usopp is safe for now. 

He huddles back behind the crate. He doesn’t really want to watch this. It feels too intimate. Usopp might like to snoop, but this is a bit too much for him. He’s already eying his escape route when he hears harsh breathing. Seems they’ve come up for air. 

Usopp can’t help himself. He peeks again. 

Law is looking stunned, staring at Luffy wide-eyed as if he wasn’t the one to just kiss his ally stupid. 

Luffy is still leaning over him. He tilts his head. “Why did Torao stop?” he asks, completely unselfconscious.

Law is gaping at him slightly. His hands are still placed on Luffy’s shoulders. 

Luffy seems to be taking Law’s silence as an agreement, because he clambers into his lap with no hesitation, grabs the sides of Law’s head, and manhandles him until they’re facing each other. There is only an inch apart between them when Luffy says, “I liked it. We should do it again.” 

Law makes a sound like he’s choking. It doesn’t last long because Luffy proceeds to act on his words and kisses Law with enough intensity that Usopp starts to feel flustered, let alone Law. 

He ducks down behind the crate. He can still hear them, but at least he can’t see them. He starts planning the stealthiest route back to the rest of the party. 

And then it hits him.

“Wow,” he whispers, secure in the knowledge that Law and Luffy are too preoccupied to hear him. “I win the bet.”

Nami’s going to kill him for it, but at least he’ll die with money in his hands. 

…

The question of the bet falls by the wayside when they arrive at Zou and are met with devastation. In light of Jack’s attack, all the revelations and Sanji missing, it takes until the victory party is well underway for Usopp to remember to tell Nami about his win. 

Luffy helpfully reminds him by throwing himself shamelessly over Law’s lap. The Heart Pirates boggle at the sight and the fact that Law doesn’t react beyond a performative grunt. The Strawhats, already used to it, ignore the whole byplay. 

“Oh, right,” Usopp says, once their pose jogs his memory. He scoots closer to Nami and leans in so that he doesn’t need to raise his voice. No need for Law to find out about the bet now when it’s almost done. “I win the bet.”

“No, you don’t,” Nami says automatically. Then she pauses with her sake cup halfway to her mouth. “Wait, which one?” 

Usopp waves his hand as discreetly as he can manage towards Law and Luffy. Luffy is shamelessly stealing ribs from Law’s plate. 

“No,” Nami says. 

“Yes,” Usopp grins. 

“Already? Luffy sure works fast.”

“Actually,” Usopp corrects, because he did in fact win that bet, “Torao was the one that made a move first.”

Nami takes a swig of her drink. “I can’t believe it. I thought Torao wouldn’t have the balls to do it.”

“Well, he certainly went for it,” Usopp snickers. “With how much Luffy was testing him, I’m surprised he managed to wait until they were alone to do it.” 

He realizes his mistake as soon as he says it. His mouth clicks shut, but Nami has already narrowed her eyes and placed a deceptively gentle hand against his bicep. “Usopp,” she says, sweetly. “How do you know that Torao was the first one to make a move if they were in private?” 

“Uh,” Usopp says, sitting very, very still under Nami’s predatory gaze. “I saw it?” He didn’t mean to make it sound like a question. 

“You saw it,” Nami repeats, lips curling up in a smile. It’s not a nice smile. “And I bet you were the only one to see it?” 

“...Yeah.” 

“And so you don’t have any witnesses to confirm that you won the bet.”

“Well, technically—” Usopp tries, because he’s a Strawhat. He doesn’t give up easily. 

Nami’s grip on his bicep tightens. Her nails are very long and very sharp. “Do you have any witnesses, Usopp?”

Usopp wilts down. “No.”

“And you’re not going to be taking my money when you can’t confirm your win.” She does not word it like a question. “Right, Usopp?” 

Usopp shakes in fear under her glare, but like hell he will give up now. He won that bet fair and square. He’s not going to let Nami take all the winnings.

“Fine,” he grits out through chattering teeth. “I’ll prove it to you.” And then he leans away and raises his voice, calling the attention of everyone nearby. “Luffy!”

Luffy looks up from his meal. He’s still sitting in Law’s lap, and Law is still letting him while his crew is quietly freaking out around them. Law is ignoring their distress with considerable aplomb, even if his ears are visibly red. 

“Hey, Usopp!” Luffy grins at him, wide and bright. There is meat sauce on his cheek.

“Just a quick question,” Usopp says. “What’s with that?” He motions towards both Luffy and Law. 

Luffy looks down at his ribs. “Meat,” he answers. The dumbass. 

“No, no, this,” Usopp motions more heavily towards Law, who is looking very spooked by all the attention. 

Luffy turns to look and meets Law’s alarmed gaze. He grins at him, which of course means that Law blushes even more obviously. “That’s Torao!” He turns back towards Usopp, now looking concerned. “Did you hit your head, Usopp? You know Torao!” 

Law closes his eyes and thuds his head into Luffy’s back in a futile effort to hide his expression. 

“And why are you sitting on Torao?” Usopp asks with all the patience of a man who’s known Luffy for three years now. 

“Oh!” Luffy brightens, suddenly enlightened. “Because Torao is my boyfriend!” 

“What?!” the Heart Pirates explode, a single concussive blast of noise as they all clamor to get an answer from Law. Bepo, the one sitting right next to the pair, is suddenly overcome as Shachi and Penguin clamber over him to come closer to their captain, practically shouting into his ears. The rest are not any better, all of them trying their best to shake down Law for answers he doesn’t seem willing to give. 

Law’s head is still buried in Luffy’s back, but he says, “Mugiwara-ya, did you have to say that?”

Luffy tilts his head. “Why not? Doesn’t Torao want to be my boyfriend?”

Law, very conspicuously, doesn’t deny that. Bepo looks to be on the verge of tears. 

“And how did that happen?” Usopp interjects before the Heart Pirates can derail the conversation. Usopp sympathizes, really, he does, but his reputation is on the line here. “How did Torao become your boyfriend?” 

“He kissed me!” Luffy announces to both of their crews, the surrounding samurai, and probably half the Minks on the island. Law tugs his hat even further down to cover what little of his face remains visible. Usopp aims a triumphant grin in Nami’s direction. “Then I kissed him even better!” 

That makes Law spring into action. He straightens up, scowling. “No, you didn’t!” 

Luffy turns his head backwards in a way only someone who doesn’t have to worry about a broken neck can. “I did!” 

“It wasn’t better!” Law insists, now completely ignoring the two crews watching them bicker. The Heart Pirates are gaping, but the Strawhats are obviously amused. “You’re not a better kisser between the two of us!” 

Luffy leans closer to Law until their noses are almost touching. “Then we should do it again so that Torao can see who is better.”

Law looks like he’s swallowed his tongue. He can’t seem to be able to tear his eyes away from Luffy’s face.  

“Wow, that was smooth,” Usopp murmurs to Nami. Shame Luffy probably did it completely by accident. Probably. Possibly. 

Please let it be an accident. 

“Didn’t expect that from Luffy,” Nami agrees, equally quiet. 

“Don’t speak nonsense, Mugiwara-ya,” Law says, but it’s weak. His hands are placed directly on Luffy’s hips, and he’s gripping hard enough for his knuckles to go white. 

Luffy’s grin is mean in the way it only gets in serious fights. He knows he’s winning. “I guess Torao is too scared. I guess I am a better kisser.”

And because Law is as much of a competitive idiot as Luffy, this is clearly working. Unable to resist the challenge, he clears his throat. “Fine,” he says, to the gaping astonishment of his crew. “Don’t say you didn’t ask for it.” He twists his fingers in a familiar motion. “Room.” A second later, both of them are gone, a pair of pillows landing in their place. 

There is a moment of dumbfounded silence.

“I know Luffy is an idiot,” Usopp says, “but sometimes you really have to wonder.”

Nami’s lips go thin, but she doesn’t disagree. 

“What was that?!” asks Penguin, voice high-pitched. 

“That was me winning a bet,” Usopp informs him, tossing a smug glance Nami’s way. She looks a second away from assembling her Clima-Tact and hitting him in the face with it, but she does fish out five thousand berries out of her cleavage and deposit them in Usopp’s waiting hand. 

The rest of the Strawhats start rummaging through their pockets, grumbling all the way. Usopp is going to get so rich for this. 

“There was a bet?” Shachi asks, clambering over Bepo to hit Penguin in the shoulder. The rest of the Heart Pirates are staring at them with wide eyes, hungry for gossip. “How long has this been going on?”

“Long enough,” Usopp answers, and then, because the two crews are obviously going to spend a lot of time together in the future if their captains are anything to go by, “We should get to know each other better. We’re going to be seeing each other very often.”

“How are you at poker?” Nami asks, shifting priorities now that there are new victims right in front of her eyes. She smiles sweetly. 

Usopp would warn them, but. Well. They’re going to have to learn.

It’s not like Luffy is going to ever let Law go.