Chapter Text
The gateway to Laugh Tale is what people called it. Guardian Island. Said to be the location of the last Road Poneglyph. After striking out on several islands since Wano, the Straw Hat Pirates were discouraged but not defeated.
“What do we know about this Guardian Island anyway?” Luffy asked. The captain was lying in the grass with his hands behind his head. His straw hat was resting on his chest. Along with a sword.
Above him, Nami was making adjustments to her logpost and coordinating with Jinbai accordingly. Zoro was relaxing against the mainmast, polishing his swords. Brooke was lightly picking at his guitar with Chopper resting on his head. Ussap was at the rail with a fishing pole. Robin was relaxing in a chair beside him with a book. And Sanji was in the kitchen as usual.
Without looking up from her book, Robin answered her captain’s question. “It’s said to be protected.”
“Protected how?” Luffy asked.
“No one really knows.” Robin replied. “Supposedly there is a barrier that keeps troublemakers at bay.”
“Hehe. So we’ll just have to stir up trouble ourselves then.” Luffy grinned.
“You idiot!” Nami yelled.
“She’s right.” Zoro cut in. “Why start trouble when there’s no reason for it?”
“Because it’s fun!” Luffy replied as he stood. “Sanji! I’m hunngggrrry!” He whined as he headed inside, placing his hat on his head and sword in hand. “What’s for lunch?”
“Sandwiches but they’re not ready so you can wait!” Came the cook’s reply.
“But I’m hungry now!”
As the argument went on, the crew left outside shared a smile. That their captain was acting this way was a good sign that he was getting back to normal.
Six months had passed since Wano. Six months since that terrible news reached them. Luffy had been ready to drop everything and head to Winner Island but Elbath had needed him more. As soon as that was done however, he had Nami backtrack their course and went in search of Law.
Winner Island was not much more than a rubble pile by that point. The devastation made a Buster Call look tame. The Straw Hat’s search of the land revealed nothing. Scouring the seas only confirmed Luffy’s worst fears. Hearing the news about Law broke Luffy’s heart. Seeing broken remains of the Polar Tang lying on the ocean floor shattered it.
“Traffy…”
The other captain had been a close friend and a trusted confident. But to Luffy he was much more and it was only too late he realized that.
Law’s sword and hat were recovered. Luffy kept both. The hat in his pocket and the sword always in hand. He slept with it now as though he could imagine Law was still there with him.
He held onto it now with his left hand, keeping it against his shoulder like how he’d seen Law do so many times. Luffy was always trying to emulate the older captain whenever he could. He followed Law around everywhere. No matter how many times he got shambled into the ocean, he always came back.
Eventually, Law just gave up and at least tolerated his constant presence. He even taught Luffy a little bit of sword play. Something which made Zorro very jealous due to the fact that he could hardly get his captain to stand still for the five minutes it took to explain just how to hold a sword properly. Law was not the most patient of teachers, but their sparring matches were always fun. Even if they ended with the blade against his throat or Luffy pinning Law beneath his fists.
The captain was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear Sanji speaking to him. “Captain?” The cook said softly.
Luffy turned. “Hmm?”
Sanji’s gaze was patient and slightly concerned. “I said lunch is ready.” He said.
There was a plate of sandwiches in his hand that Luffy took no time wasting in accepting. He shoved half of them in his mouth. “Tastes good thanks Sanji!“
The cook sighed as Luffy left still eating. Though his captain appeared to be mostly back to normal, there were still those moments where it was obvious he was remembering their late ally. Sanji’s cooking could perform miracles, but he doubted there was a dish capable of helping a broken heart.
Luffy returned to the main deck, plate still in hand. The sandwiches were nearly gone now and he savored the last few. People assumed because he was rubber now that his taste buds were damaged but no. He could taste just fine, it was his stomach that demanded even more food. Whether it was some sort of transformation related to his devil fruit he wasn’t sure. No one was. But he’d always had a voracious appetite even before he’d consumed the Gum Gum No Mi.
He climbed onto Sunny’s figurehead. The lion’s mane was as welcoming as always. The ship herself settled under his touch. Sunny was always pleased when he chose to spend time alone with her.
“Good girl Sunny.” Luffy stretched his arm and gave the lion’s face a pat. His gaze returned to the horizon, lost in thought.
He remembered the last time he had spoken to Law. They had just liberated Wano and despite the petty bickering they engaged in with Kid, Luffy could still hear the laughter in his tone.
He could’ve done without Nami’s scolding, but Luffy wouldn’t deny that it was worth getting Traffy out of his shell at least for a moment.
“YO TRAFFY!” He yelled across to the submarine, their divergent courses already sending them separate ways.
“WHAT IS IT, STRAW HAT?!” Law yelled back.
Luffy could barely see him, but he could make out the figure that was distinctive to the Polar Tang’s captain, standing on her top deck.
”I love you!” Luffy thought but instead he said out loud “I will see you again, Traffy!”
“We’ll be rivals!” Came the reply.
“We’re still friends.” Luffy’s answer came easily.
In hindsight he regretted not saying what he really felt. Even if Law didn’t return his feelings, at least he’d have known! And sometimes just knowing meant more, had more value to a person than anything. Maybe if Law knew someone else loved him as Luffy did, he would have fought harder.
Luffy was grateful for his position. Being on Sunny’s bow meant no one would bother him. But that didn’t mean no one could hear him.
From his position against the mast, Zorro listened to his captain’s heartbroken sobs. Luffy had done this a lot, almost every day in fact. The length of these sessions had shortened but they still happened.
The swordsman felt a surge of anger towards the dead surgeon captain. ”I hope you know how much my captain loved you, you bastard.” He thought. It did poor to think ill of the dead and Zorro found he couldn’t hold onto his anger in any case. He simply sighed and leaned more against Sunny’s primary appendage. “The pair of you made quite a team.” He raised his sake in a silent salute. And all the while, the rain kept coming down. A mask for the tears and an indicator of heartbreak.