Archive of Our Own

The royal castle of Alabasta was as grand as the Straw Hats remembered it. Law never made it this deep into the country before now, but his former crew had stopped here breifly a few years back, but they hadn't stayed nearly as long, (for Bepo's sake,) though the heat was somehow worse than five years ago. Or maybe he was just more aware of it now; the oppressive weight of the sun-baked stone, the way the air shimmered even in the shade of the massive corridors, the sweat that gathered at his collar and refused to evaporate.

He walked a few paces behind the main group, watching Luffy bounce alongside Vivi as she led them through the palace. The newly crowned queen—or soon-to-be officially crowned, anyway; looked exhausted despite her smile. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her posture had the rigid quality of someone holding themselves together through sheer willpower.

"—And then there's the matter of the visiting dignitaries," Vivi was saying, one hand pressed to her temple, "Father always made it look so easy, but coordinating the seating arrangements alone is a nightmare. The representative from the Sorbet Kingdom can't be seated near anyone from the Goa Kingdom, and the Drum Kingdom's delegation insists on—"

"--Why don't you just put everyone at a reeeaaally long table?" Luffy suggested brightly, "Then nobody has to sit near anybody they don't like! Hehehehe!!"

Vivi sighs, "That's... not how formal state dinners work, Luffy."

Luffy makes a disapproving grumble at that, "Sounds like it should be."

Nami sighed from Vivi's other side, though her expression was fond, "Vivi, you know you can ask us to help, right? I'm pretty good with logistics."

Vivi gasps at the mere mention of such a thing, "Nami..! I couldn't possibly—you're guests!"

"We're friends," Nami corrected firmly, following up with a radiant smile and sweet as bells giggle, "And you look like you haven't slept in three days! Please, let us help take some of the pressure of you if we can!"

Vivi's laugh was brittle as she touches the pads of her fingers below her eyes self conciously, "I-is it that obvious..?"

Law tuned out the rest of their conversation, focusing instead on putting one foot in front of the other. The floor seemed to tilt slightly with each step, a subtle wrongness that he'd been ignoring for the past hour.

Heat exhaustion, most likely. I'll be fine.

Beside him, Bepo was panting heavily, his white fur matted with sweat, "Laaaw... is it always this hot here? Hohh... pheww, oh man... I'm dying here..." His every step leaves droplets of moisture on the stone floors in a snail-like trail.

"Yes," Law said shortly. His own mouth felt dry, cottony. When had he last had water? This morning? The thought of drinking anything made his stomach turn uneasily.

"I miss the sea... the cool, refreshing breeze!! TAKE ME BACK TO THE SEA!!" Bepo whimpered.

"We all do." The words came out harsher than Law intended. He softened his tone with effort, "Just... stay hydrated. We won't be here long... just a few days."

Bepo's response is shrill and horrified, "DAYS of this?!"

Shachi and Penguin had wandered ahead to examine a massive tapestry depicting some ancient Alabastan battle. Their voices echoed in the cavernous hallway, excited and overlapping as they debated the historical accuracy of the depicted armor. Normally Law would have found their enthusiasm irritating in an almost comforting way—a reminder of simpler times. Now it just made his head pound.

The Straw Hats had scattered throughout the group in their typical chaotic fashion. Zoro had disappeared entirely about ten minutes ago, probably lost. Sanji was walking backwards so he could maintain eye contact with Vivi while offering increasingly elaborate menu suggestions for the coronation feast. Usopp and Franky were having an animated discussion about the castle's defensive architecture. Robin had paused to examine a series of hieroglyphics carved into the wall, her expression thoughtful.

Brook's laugh echoed from somewhere up ahead, "Yohohoho! Your Majesty, might I perform at the coronation? I've been practicing a new piece—"

"--Brook, no," Nami said immediately, "This is a formal state function, not one of your concerts!"

"But music is an essential part of any celebration! I can do CLASSY!"

"He's not wrong," Vivi said diplomatically, "Though perhaps something more... traditional? The royal orchestra will be performing, but I'm sure we could arrange—"

Law stopped listening again, the hallway had started to swim at the edges of his vision, the ornate columns blurring together. He blinked hard, trying to clear his sight. The heat was really getting to him. He should say something, ask for water, even sit down for a moment.

He didn't say anything.

Pride, maybe. Or stubbornness. Or the simple fact that everyone else seemed fine; even Bepo was managing, despite his complaints, and Law refused to be the one who couldn't handle a walk through a palace. He'd survived worse than heat. He'd survived Doflamingo, Big Mom, Kaido, Blackbeard, and many more, he survived being shot, stabbed, dismembered, crushed, being adrift at sea atop his best friend barely clinging to life, survived losing his ship and his crew, survived the chaos of the past five months as the world turned itself inside out in the wake of Luffy's victory.

He could survive a goddamn hallway.

"Traffy! Look at this!"

Law's head snapped up too fast, the world tilting dangerously—to find Luffy hanging upside-down from an ornate chandelier, grinning down at him.

Luffy...? Hm, figures. It's always something with you.

"Luffy, get down from there!" Vivi's voice was strained, "That chandelier is three hundred years old!"

"Hehehe!! It's really strong!" Luffy said cheerfully, swinging back and forth. The crystal fixtures tinkled musically, "Traffy, bet you can't—"

"I'm not climbing on the chandelier," Law said. His voice sounded distant to his own ears, like he was speaking from the bottom of a well.

Luffy's grin widened as he taunts, "Scared?"

"No. I'm an adult! And so are YOU!" Law insists with a stomp of his foot... and funny enough, if he didn't feel so unwell, he would have taken the bait and shambled himself up there just to claim it was to prove he wasn't scared, but in reality he does agree it looks like fun to be reckless and swing on a chandelier that's worth more money that he could possibly ever hope to see in his lifetime. And if he broke it? Even better.

"Boring!!! Being an adult doesn't mean we have to be LAMEE!" Luffy squints his eyes mischievously at him, "I know you want to, Traffy! I can see it all over your face! Hehehehehe!!!"

"Luffy, seriously, get down!" Nami had her Clima-Tact out, though what she planned to do with it wasn't clear, "If you break that thing, it'll cause a diplomatic incident!"

Law shakes his head at Nami's attempt to threaten Luffy. Clearly a bluff and he isn't going to buy it.

"I'm not gonna break it! It's super sturdy, see?" Luffy swung harder, and the chandelier groaned ominously.

Law closed his eyes. The darkness behind his eyelids was a relief. He just needed a moment. Just a second to catch his breath and let the dizziness pass. The nausea was worse now, a rolling wave in his gut that made him regret the half-piece of toast he'd managed to choke down that morning.

When had eating become such a chore? He used to enjoy food—not with Luffy's enthusiasm, but he'd appreciated a good meal. Now everything tasted like ash and sat in his stomach like lead. Chopper had been pestering him about it for weeks, insisting he needed to eat more, but the reindeer didn't understand. Food made him sick. The smell of it, the texture, the way it felt going down. Better to just... not.

"Law?"

He opened his eyes. Robin was standing beside him, her expression concerned. When did she get so close to me?

"Are you alright? You look pale."

"I'm fine." The automatic response. He'd been saying it so often lately it had lost all meaning, "Just hot."

"Perhaps you should sit down for a moment. There's a courtyard just ahead with shade and—"

Law bites back with agitation, "--I said I'm fine."

Robin's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't push. She never did. It was one of the things Law appreciated about her—she observed, she noted, but she didn't pry. Not like Chopper, who'd been hovering over him like an anxious mother hen for the past month. If Chopper wasn't so worried about Bepo having a heatstroke, he'd surely be all over Law right now.

...

The group had started moving again, Luffy having finally been coaxed down from the chandelier by Sanji's promise of snacks. Law forced his legs to move, to follow. Each step felt like wading through deep water. His vision was definitely blurring now, the edges going soft and dark.

Maybe... I really should say something...

He didn't say anything.

Vivi was talking about the coronation ceremony itself now, the traditional elements that had to be preserved, the modern touches she wanted to add. Her voice rose and fell like music, words blending together into meaningless sound. Law focused on her back, on the blue of her hair, using it as an anchor point. One foot in front of the other. Just keep moving. They'd reach wherever they were going eventually, and then he could sit down. Drink some water. Close his eyes for a moment.

The floor tilted.

No—he was tilting. The realization came too late. His legs had stopped obeying him, gone boneless and useless. The world spun violently, ceiling and floor trading places. He heard someone shout his name—Bepo, maybe, or Penguin—but the sound was muffled, distant. Then he was falling, and the marble floor was rushing up to meet him, and everything went black.

---

Consciousness returned in pieces. First, the sensation of something cool on his forehead. Damp cloth, smelling faintly of lavender. Second, the rhythmic sound of something moving through air. A fan, he realized. Manual, not electric. Someone is fanning me. Third, the absence of heat. He was somewhere cool, blessedly cool, the oppressive weight of the sun-baked stone replaced by the gentle circulation of air.

Law opened his eyes.

The ceiling above him was white, crossed with dark wooden beams. A fan hung from one of the beams, rotating slowly. Not the source of the breeze. He turned his head carefully, testing for dizziness and found Chopper sitting beside the bed, waving a large palm frond with determined vigor.

"Oh! You're awake!" The reindeer's voice was pitched high with relief and anxiety, "Don't sit up too fast! You fainted and hit your head pretty hard and I was worried you might have a concussion but your pupils look okay and—"

"--Chopper." Law's voice came out as a rasp. His throat was dry, "Where—?"

"-The castle infirmary. You collapsed, and everyone was really worried! Well, everyone's still worried, but I told them you're fine and just need some rest," Chopper paused, his fanning faltering, "How do you feel?"

Law took inventory. His head ached, a dull throb at the back of his skull. His mouth tasted like copper—he must have bitten his tongue when he fell. But the dizziness had receded, and the nausea was... still there, actually. A constant low-level queasiness that he'd become so accustomed to he barely noticed it anymore.

"Fine," he said automatically.

"You're not fine! You fainted and you could have really hurt yourself!" Chopper set down the fan and pulled out a small flashlight, shining it in Law's eyes, "Follow the light... Good. Okay. No signs of concussion, that's good. But Law, you're not fine. You haven't been fine for weeks."

"I'm just—"

"If you say, just tired, I'm going to kick you!" Chopper threatens with a rise in his pitch, "I'm a doctor! You're a doctor...! We both know that what's been happening to you isn't normal tiredness!!"

Law closed his eyes. He didn't want to have this conversation. He'd been avoiding it successfully for weeks, deflecting Chopper's concern with half-truths and misdirection. But lying here in a medical bay, having just collapsed in front of everyone, his usual defenses felt thin.

"Heat exhaustion," he said finally, "I didn't drink enough water."

Chopper seems like he had half a mind to wack Law upside the head but held himself back at the last moment. He calms himself with a deep breath, and half agrees with the older pirate, "That's part of it, maybe. But it doesn't explain the constant nausea. Or the fact that you've lost weight... or the mood swings. Or—" Chopper hesitated, his small hooves fidgeting with the edge of Law's shirt, "Law, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me."

Something in the reindeer's tone made Law's stomach clench. He opened his eyes, "What?"

"I... when we got you in here, I did a basic examination. Checked your vitals, looked for injuries from the fall. And I noticed some things that concerned me, so I... I took some blood. Just to run a few tests." Chopper was speaking very fast now, words tumbling over each other, "I know I should have asked permission first but you were unconscious and I was worried and—"

"—Chopper." Law's voice was sharp, "What did you find?"

The reindeer took a deep breath, "I think... I mean, the results suggest... but it doesn't make sense because you're..." He trailed off, Law catches his eyes drifting down Law's body, concealed by a very thin sheet, "You don't have the right... parts, to fit my diagnosis."

Law furrows his brows, confused and annoyed that Chopper is taking so long to just say it, "What are you talking about? What parts? Spit it out already!"

And he does, "You're pregnant!"

The words hung in the air between them, absurd and impossible.

Law stared at him, "What?"

"I know! I know it sounds crazy! But the blood work is really clear, and when I examined you I noticed some abdominal swelling, and all the symptoms match up—the nausea, the fatigue, the mood changes, the food aversions—" Chopper was talking faster now, almost babbling, "I don't understand how it's possible! I checked! When you first joined the crew, I did full physicals on everyone, and you were definitely, completely, one hundred percent male! I checked really thoroughly because I wanted to make sure I had accurate medical records for everyone and—"

"Chopper." Law's voice was very calm. The kind of calm that came before a storm, "That's not possible."

"I know it's not possible! That's what I'm saying! But the test results—"

"Are wrong." Law sat up, ignoring the way the room swayed slightly, "You made a mistake. Contaminated the sample, or—"

"I didn't make a mistake!" Chopper's voice cracked, "I ran the test three times! And Law, there are physical signs too. Your abdomen is swollen—not a lot, but enough that I noticed. And you've been sick every day for weeks-- actually maybe more than a MONTH? And your mood has been all over the place. And—"

"Those could be symptoms of anything! Maybe I'm dying!" Law swung his legs over the side of the bed. He was wearing loose cotton pants and a thin shirt—someone had changed him out of his Alabasta garb, "Could be stress too, after what I went through, it could be any number of things, just not—" He couldn't even say the word. It was too absurd.

"Law, please." Chopper's eyes were huge and worried, "I know this is scary and confusing, but I need you to take this seriously. If you really are... if the test is right... then we need to figure out what's going on and make sure you're healthy and—"

"—I'm NOT pregnant!" Law stood up. The room tilted alarmingly, and he had to grab the edge of the bed to steady himself, "I'm male! Biologically, completely male. Pregnancy isn't possible for me!"

Chopper looked as if he might start pulling out his own hair, "I know that! Don't you think I know that? But Law, the test—"

"Is wrong!"

They stared at each other, doctor and doctor, both of them caught in the impossibility of the situation.

Finally, Chopper said quietly, "You could check. With your fruit. You'd be able to see if... if there's anything there. They don't have the kind of medical technology here that we do back on the Sunny, so I can't do an ultrasound to check for you."

Law's jaw clenched. He didn't want to. This whole thing is a ridiculous waste of time and energy! This is STUPID! AND it's impossible! But Chopper was looking at him with those huge, worried eyes, and the reindeer had been nothing but kind to him since he'd joined the crew. The least he could do was prove that the test was wrong.

"Fine," he said shortly. He held up his hand, feeling the familiar pull of his devil fruit power, "Room."

The blue sphere expanded around him, encompassing his own body. Within his Room, Law could sense everything. Every cell, every pulse of energy. It was as natural as breathing, this awareness. He'd been using his fruit for so long that scanning his own body was almost automatic. He focused inward, mapping his internal organs with the precision of a surgeon. Heart, lungs, liver, stomach, intestines—all exactly where they should be, functioning normally. No abnormalities. No foreign objects. No—

He stopped. There was something there. Something that shouldn't be there. Law's breath caught. He focused harder, narrowing his awareness to his lower abdomen. And there, nestled against his colon, was... a womb.

A fucking womb.

It was small, about the size of his fist, but unmistakably present. The tissue was healthy, well-vascularized, integrated into his body as if it had always been there. And inside the womb—

No... nope. NO... no, no, no.

No.

NOPE. NO... Negative. No. Impossible.

No, that wasn't possible.

FUCK no to the tenth power! NO!!!

Inside the womb was a fetus. Tiny, maybe the length of his hand, but undeniably there. He could sense its heartbeat, rapid and strong. Could see the developing limbs, the curve of the spine, the oversized head.

Five months, his medical training supplied automatically. Based on the development, approximately twenty weeks gestation.

Law's Room collapsed. He staggered, catching himself against the bed. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears, a deafening rush of blood and panic.

"Law?" Chopper's voice was small and frightened, "What did you see?"

He couldn't speak. Couldn't form words. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of the impossible. He COULDN'T get pregnant!! Except he was. He saw the baby with his own powers, the beat of its heart, and flow of its life energy, so warm and pure, fragile and helpless.

And it's inside me. That life is inside of... ME, and I'M responsible for this life.

Chopper is starting to stress out from the look of panic crossing Law's face and increasing by the second, sweat beads down both their brows, "Law, please, talk to me! What did you find?"

"A womb." The words came out flat, emotionless. Shock, probably, "Attached to my colon. And a fetus. Twenty weeks, approximately."

Chopper made a small, distressed sound, "Twenty weeks? But that's... that's five months! How did you not notice for five months? A-and you aren't even showing! You should have a LOT more fat on you by now, Law! This isn't good! How did this HAPPEN!? Have you always had a womb?"

"I don't know how this happened!" Law's hands were shaking. He clenched them into fists, "I don't—this doesn't make sense. I don't have a womb. I've never had a womb. I would have noticed if I suddenly grew a fucking womb!"

"Obviously you didn't notice cause you DO have one now! Is the baby okay?" Chopper had shifted into doctor mode, his fear pushed aside by professional concern, "Can you tell if it's healthy?"

Law forced himself to focus, to push past the panic and think like a physician. He raised his hand again, recreating his Room, scanning more carefully this time. The fetus was small. Too small for twenty weeks. Underdeveloped, his medical knowledge supplied. Malnourished. But the heartbeat was strong, and there were no obvious deformities. Just... small and struggling.

"Underweight," he said hoarsely, "Severely underweight. But no other obvious problems."

"Okay. Okay, that's... we can work with that." Chopper was already moving, pulling open cabinets and drawers, "You need prenatal vitamins. And something for the nausea so you can actually eat. And rest—lots of rest. No more running around in the heat, no more skipping meals, no more—"

"Chopper."

The reindeer paused, looking back at him.

"The baby isn't healthy because I haven't been eating..." Law's voice was hollow, "Because everything makes me sick. Because I didn't know I was pregnant, so I didn't know I needed to—" He stopped, swallowing hard against the sudden surge of nausea, and tears well up in his burning eyes, "Fuck... I'm... a horrible person."

"Eehh! Don't say that, Traffy!! Calm down! Stress isn't good for you or the baby, please! Just sit down! It's not your fault! You didn't know! But now we do know, and we can help. Okay? Everything is going to be okay! I promise!" Chopper had pulled out a mortar and pestle and was grinding something with fierce concentration, "I'm making you something for the nausea. It should help within a few hours. And I'll put together some prenatal vitamins—you need extra iron and folic acid and calcium. And you're going on bedrest, starting now!"

"I can't—"

"--Yes, you can. You're going to lie down in that bed and rest while I make your medicine, and then you're going to take the medicine and eat something, and then you're going to sleep! Doctor's orders!"

Law wanted to argue. Wanted to insist that he was fine, that he could handle this, that he didn't need to be coddled. But the truth was, he felt like shit. He'd felt like shit for weeks, maybe months. And now he knew why.

I'm pregnant. I'm actually growing another human being inside of me right now. What the fuck...?

The thought was so absurd it almost made him laugh. Except it wasn't funny. It was terrifying and impossible and real. He lay back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling fan as it rotated slowly overhead. Chopper was bustling around the infirmary, muttering to himself as he mixed medicines and pulled bottles from shelves. The sounds were oddly soothing—the clink of glass, the scrape of pestle against mortar, the soft pad of hooves on tile.

Law closed his eyes.

Five months... twenty weeks.

He tried to think back, to figure out when this could have happened. But the past five months were a blur of chaos and violence and world-shaking change. Luffy had defeated Blackbeard. Had stormed Marie Geoise and torn down the World Government. Had found the One Piece and claimed the title of Pirate King. The world had turned itself inside out, and Law had been caught in the whirlwind, fighting and surviving and trying not to think too hard about anything.

But there was one moment. One night that stood out from the chaos, sharp and clear and impossible to forget no matter how hard he'd tried.

Five months ago... on the Red Force.

After the fight with Blackbeard, when Law and his crew had been defeated, Shanks had pulled him and Bepo from the sea. When Law had been recovering, broken and defeated, convinced he'd lost everything. Shanks brought him to Elbaf and thats when they met up with the Straw Hats. Sometime during the evening, Luffy had come to see him, had insisted on helping him, had refused to accept Law's protests that they were enemies.

"I REFUSE to let you help me for FREE, Straw Hat, we aren't friends, and our alliance is DONE! I won't take your charity, and I'm not owing you a favor, I have ENOUGH favors to repay as it is!" Law had said, then he thought... of the only thing he had left in the world at the time he could possibly offer as payment for Luffy's help.

His body.

The memory hit him like a physical blow, and Law felt heat flood his face. He grabbed the pillow from under his head and pressed it over his face, as if he could somehow smother the recollection.

But it was too late. The memories were there, vivid and mortifying. He'd been so desperate. So convinced that he needed to pay Luffy back, that he couldn't accept help without offering something in return. And he'd had nothing left—no money, no crew, no ship. Just himself.

He'd thought Luffy would refuse. Had half-hoped he would refuse, because the whole thing was humiliating and desperate and wrong. But Luffy had just looked at him with those dark, unreadable eyes and said, "I'm gonna help you no matter what, but if you wanna do this 'cause it'll make you feel better, then we can. As long as we both feel good, that's fine!"

And Law had... he'd used his fruit. Had transformed himself, shifting his body from male to female experimentally, curious about the limits of his powers and see if he could mimic what the sick-sick fruit had done to him... also he was sure getting... intimate, with Luffy would be easier this way. He didn't think for a moment Luffy could be attracted to him as a man, and if they were really going to do it, then, he'd need Luffy to be at least a little attracted to him.

He remembered kneeling. Remembered the taste of salt and skin. Remembered Luffy's hand in his hair, gentle despite his strength. Remembered the foreign sensation of arousal in a body that wasn't quite his, the slick heat between his legs that had been both mortifying and intoxicating.

As a virgin, Law had no earthly idea how to conduct himself sexually with another person. He was so clumsy with that blow job that he thought he may burst into flames from humiliation at how bad he was at it. Luffy barely had any reaction to his mouth at all, and neither of them communicated during their encounter. Like the blind leading the blind.

Law sucked Luffy's cock for nearly an hour in a state of limbo. He wasn't getting any better at it, and Luffy was no closer to an orgasm than when they had started... those head pats and bored sighs said enough about what Luffy thought of Law's talents... so... Law thought progressing things might help salvage Law's pathetic attempt at giving Luffy some kind of payment for his ass kicking services.

He remembers feeling so awkward when he stood up and got back on the medical cot. He just couldn't say anything, felt like his tongue was lead and he was mortified almost to tears; thankfully, Luffy took over from there, seemed to get what Law was implying the next step was by hinting at by getting face down to the mattress and ass up.

Law burns at the memory of his first time. It got much better after Luffy took things into his hands. Law didn't anticipate losing his virginity in a foreign version of his own body with anatomy he wasn't familiar with, but it felt really good. It was very... animal-like, he remembered thinking. The way Luffy mounted him and encaged him with his body, Luffy pushing into him, the stretch and burn and fullness. The way Luffy had looked at him, eyes dark and intense. The rhythm of it, building and building until Law had been gasping, clawing at the sheets.

And then—

Someone had tried to enter the medical bay. A knock at the door, a voice calling Luffy's name. They'd both frozen, and Law had panicked. Had transformed back to male in an instant desperately determined to hide what they'd been doing... thankfully they both got the chance to orgasm before the interruption, but they had been on the verge of... maybe going for more? Law wasn't sure. He was face down on the cot, and Luffy hadn't pulled out after finishing in him, and seemed like he might be getting hard again. But that knock came so soon after it was hard to tell if Luffy was just enjoying a little overstimulation or gearing up to go again.

Luffy had pulled out, and managed to get his shorts in order while Law frantically covered himself with the sheets RIGHT as half the crew barged in, SHANKS' crew too... it was perhaps, one of the most embarrassing moment's of Law's life... yet somehow, no one realized what they walked in on. It was both a little thrilling, terrifying and annoying to sit there under the covers half naked with the lingering ache of a part of him that didn't exist anymore like some weird phantom sensation... and... it hadn't occurred to him then, that Luffy's cum, never leaked out of him.

He didn't worry about where the cum went, because there was more important things going on to deal with. His crushing anguish over what happened with his crew, for one. The drama in the New World.... then for a few weeks, his own personal, internal drama about himself and Luffy, waiting and wondering when Luffy would come talk to him about it.

But Luffy had never mentioned it again.

For five months, Luffy had acted like nothing had happened. Had been his usual cheerful, chaotic self. Had dragged Law into adventures and fights and celebrations without a single acknowledgment of what they'd done.

Law had tried to match that energy. Had tried to pretend it didn't matter, that he didn't lie awake at night replaying every moment, wondering if he'd been terrible at it, wondering if Luffy had even enjoyed it, wondering if it had meant anything at all.

And now...

That idiot knocked me up. Of course, if ANYONE could get another man pregnant, it would be HIM!!

Shit, why does this kind of thing happen to me? Of COURSE this happened to ME. Stuff like this has been happening to me since Monkey D Luffy came into my life.

Apparently when I transformed back to male with semen still inside of me, my devil fruit decided to just... create a womb to accommodate it? Or maybe the womb had been there all along, some bizarre side effect of the Sick-Sick fruit that I never noticed because I never got the chance to scan myself after it happened? Or maybe—

Law didn't know. He didn't understand the biology of it, didn't understand how any of this was possible. His fruit let him manipulate bodies, let him cut and rearrange and modify. But creating new organs? Creating life? That shouldn't be possible. But the evidence was literally inside him, growing and developing and depending on him for survival.

"Law?" Chopper's voice was soft, "I have your medicine ready. And I need you to drink some water and try to eat something. Just a little bit, okay?"

Law lowered the pillow from his face. His cheeks were burning, and he couldn't quite meet Chopper's eyes.

"Okay," he said quietly.

Chopper handed him a cup of something that smelled vaguely of ginger and mint. Law drank it obediently, grimacing at the bitter aftertaste. Then came water, blessedly cool. Then a small plate with plain crackers and sliced fruit. Where Chopper had got the fruit and crackers, he had no clue. Maybe he left the room to get them, Law didn't know nor did he care.

The thought of eating made his stomach turn, but he forced himself to take a bite of cracker. It sat in his mouth like sawdust. He chewed mechanically, swallowed, took another bite.

Chopper watched him with anxious eyes, "How do you feel?"

"Like my entire understanding of biology has been turned inside out," Law said flatly.

"I meant physically."

"Nauseous, tired... confused, to name a few things." Law took another bite of cracker and resists the urge to wretch.

Chopper's expression softened, "That's normal. This is a really scary situation. But you're not alone, okay? I'm going to help you through this. We all are."

"They don't know." Law's voice was sharp, "The others. They can't know. Tell me, you didn't already tell anyone."

"I didn't, but Law—"

"--I mean it, Chopper. Not yet. I need... I need time to process this. To figure out what I'm going to do."

A gasp from the little doctor, "What you're going to do?" Chopper's eyes widened, "Law, you're twenty weeks along. That's past the point where—I mean, if you're thinking about—"

"—I'm not thinking about anything yet," Law interrupted, "I just need time. Please. I'd rather not deal with everyone pestering me while I'm trying to come to terms with this. Stress isn't good for the baby, after all..."

Chopper looked like he wanted to argue, but finally he nodded, "Okay. But you still need to rest. And eat. And take your medicine. And let me monitor you regularly."

"Fine."

"And eventually you're going to have to tell people. Especially..." Chopper trailed off, looking uncomfortable, "Well... whoever the father is..."

Law pressed his hand to his abdomen, feeling the slight swell that he'd been dismissing as bloating. Underneath his palm, hidden beneath skin and muscle, was a womb that shouldn't exist. And inside that womb was a life that shouldn't be possible. But it was there. Real and growing and depending on him. Law closed his eyes and tried very hard not to think about what the fuck he was going to do next.

"Speaking of which!" Chopper's voice pitched higher with renewed energy, "How did this even happen? I mean, I know how babies are made, obviously, I'm a doctor, but you're—you were—" He gestured frantically at Law's body, "You don't have the right anatomy! Or you didn't! I checked! So obviously the natural way of making a baby is unlikely to be the reason for this!"

Law kept his eyes closed, "I don't know."

"You don't know? Well think back to anything you might have done five months ago that stood out as odd!"

Law shrugs, pretending as if he had no idea.

Chopper's hooves clicked rapidly against the tile as he paced, "Law, you can't just—this is important! Was it a curse? Did someone curse you? There are devil fruits that can manipulate bodies, maybe someone with a fruit like that—"

"No one cursed me."

"Then how?!" Chopper was working himself into a frenzy now, his voice climbing higher with each word, "Maybe it was exposure to multiple devil fruits? You've been around a lot of devil fruit users lately, and sometimes when powers interact in weird ways—"

"That's not how devil fruits work."

"Well something happened!" Chopper threw his hooves up, "Bodies don't just spontaneously develop wombs! Unless—oh! Oh, what if it was a side effect of your own fruit? You can manipulate bodies, right? Maybe you accidentally—"

"I didn't accidentally give myself a womb, Chopper."

I will never admit to anyone that I turned into a woman to let Luffy fuck me. NO way. I'll take it to my grave.

"Then what?!" The reindeer was practically vibrating with frustration, "Was it an attack? Did someone hit you with something during a fight? There are some really weird abilities out there, maybe someone had a pregnancy-pregnancy fruit or a gender-swap fruit or—"

Despite everything, Law felt the corner of his mouth twitch, "A pregnancy-pregnancy fruit?"

"It could exist! There are fruits for everything! There's a jacket-jacket fruit, why not a pregnancy fruit?!" Chopper was gesturing wildly now, "Or maybe it was something you ate? Some kind of rare plant or—or a sea king with special properties? I've read about some really bizarre biological phenomena in the Grand Line—"

"I didn't eat anything that made me pregnant."

"Then what?" Chopper spun to face him, eyes huge and desperate, "Law, please, I'm trying to understand! This is medically impossible! Biologically impossible! And I need to know what happened so I can make sure it doesn't cause complications or—or happen to someone else accidentally—"

Law opened one eye, watching the reindeer pace back and forth like a tiny, furry storm. There was something almost endearing about Chopper's complete inability to let a medical mystery go unsolved. It reminded Law of himself, years ago, before the world had beaten most of the curiosity out of him.

"Maybe," Chopper continued, his voice taking on a manic edge, "maybe it was a combination of factors? Like, multiple things happening at once that created the perfect conditions for—for spontaneous womb generation? Or maybe there's something in your bloodline? Some kind of dormant genetic trait that got activated by—"

"Chopper."

"—or maybe it's related to your Amber Lead Syndrome! Maybe the treatment you received as a child had some kind of long-term effect on your biology that—"

"Chopper."

The reindeer stopped mid-pace, looking at him with wild, desperate eyes, "What?"

"You're spiraling."

"I'm not spiraling! I'm investigating!" Chopper's voice cracked, "This is what doctors do! We investigate! We ask questions! We figure out the impossible so we can—" He stopped, deflating slightly, "I just... I need to understand. What if something goes wrong? What if there are complications I don't know about because I don't understand how this happened? What if—"

"The baby is fine," Law said quietly, "Underweight, but otherwise healthy. I can monitor it with my fruit. If something changes, I'll know."

"But—"

"And whatever caused this to happen, it's already done. Understanding the mechanism won't change the outcome."

Chopper's shoulders slumped, "I know. I just... I hate not knowing. It makes me feel like a bad doctor."

"You're not a bad doctor." Law surprised himself with the gentleness in his own voice, "You're a good doctor. A thorough one. But some things don't have clear answers."

Chopper was quiet for a moment, his hooves fidgeting with the edge of his hat. Then he looked up, eyes narrowing with renewed determination, "Okay. Fine. I'll let the how go. For now." He took a step closer to the bed, "But Law... do you at least know who the father is?"

Law's expression went carefully blank.

"I mean," Chopper continued, his voice taking on a wheedling tone, "even if you don't understand how the pregnancy happened, you must know who you... you know. With." His face was turning red, "Right? You'd remember that part..? WAS there a... that part..?"

Law said nothing.

"Law..." Chopper's voice was firm now, "I need to know. For medical reasons. Genetic history is important for prenatal care. If the father has any hereditary conditions or—"

"The father is healthy."

Chopper's eyes lit up, "So you do know! Who is it? Is it someone on the crew? Someone we know? Oh!" His voice pitched higher with excitement, "Is it someone from your old crew? One of the Heart Pirates who—"

"No."

"Then who?" Chopper was practically bouncing now, "Law, come on! You can't just—I need to know! What if there are genetic factors I need to account for?"

"The genetics of the father are fine... more than fine, actually. I think my child is quite lucky to have their father's genetics, actually..." Law thinks as he rubs the barely there swell of his tummy, more fondly now that he's starting to warm up to the reality of this. Stressful as it is, he's someone who has a weakness to cute things, and prone to attachments, hence his bad habit for distancing himself from others. Seeing his baby's life energy and heartbeat has already done a number on Law's heart.

Chopper's brow furrowed, "Someone with good genetics... someone you were around five months ago, long enough to—" His eyes went even wider, "Oh my God, is it someone from Shanks' crew? Because that would actually make sense timeline-wise, and Shanks' crew has some really strong fighters... is it Shanks? Benn? Lucky? YASSOP? IS USOPP GOING TO BE A BROTHER?! LAWW! TELL ME!! WAS IT AN ELBAF GIANT?! LAW?!"

Law smirks like a bastard and shrugs, "Maybe." Is all he offers.

"YOU'RE SUCH A PAIN!!"

Law is enjoying himself now, chuckling at Chopper's frustration with amusement.

The reindeer makes a loud frustrated sound and sobs, looking at him with desperate, pleading eyes, "Please? Just tell me who it is? I promise I won't tell anyone! Doctor-patient confidentiality! I just need to know for medical reasons!"

Law's smirk widened slightly. Then, with deliberate slowness, he rolled onto his side so his back was to Chopper, "I'm under doctor's orders to rest. I'm going to nap now."

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Then: "WHAAAAAAAAAT?! Law!!! You can't just—that's not fair! I told you to rest but that doesn't mean you can use it as an excuse to—Law! Law!"

Law pulled the thin blanket up over his shoulder, his smirk hidden now, "Doctor's orders, Chopper. You said so yourself. Rest is important for the baby."

"Don't you use the baby against me!" Chopper's voice was reaching truly impressive octaves now, "That's—that's manipulative! And mean! And—and—" He made a sound of pure frustration, something between a growl and a whine, "You're the worst patient ever! The absolute worst! I'm trying to provide you with quality medical care and you won't even answer basic questions about—"

"--Napping now," Law said mildly.

"I hate you! I hate you so much right now!" Chopper's hooves stomped against the tile, "This is—you're impossible! Absolutely impossible! How am I supposed to do my job when you won't even—" More stomping, "Fine! FINE! Nap! See if I care! But when you wake up, we're having a serious conversation about patient cooperation and—and medical transparency and—"

The stomping retreated toward the door.

"—and you're still taking your medicine! All of it! Even if you're being a stubborn, secretive, impossible, jerk!—"

The door opened.

"—and I'm telling Luffy you're being difficult! He'll make you cooperate! He's good at that! He's the only one that can make you LISTEN!"

The door slammed shut. Law waited a moment, listening to the muffled sound of Chopper's continued grumbling fade down the hallway. Then he let out a long, slow breath, his smirk fading into something more complicated.

Telling Luffy I'm being difficult. Right. Because that would definitely help the situation... does he realize Luffy will want to know WHY I'm being difficult? And he's literally the worst liar on this planet? He can't keep a secret to save his own ass.

Law closed his eyes and tried to sleep. His body was exhausted, wrung out from the fainting and the shock and the emotional whiplash of the past few minutes. But his mind wouldn't quiet, spinning through possibilities and consequences and the increasingly unavoidable reality that he was going to have to tell Luffy eventually.

Just... not yet.

Not until he figured out what the hell he was going to say.

---

The evening air was blessedly cooler. Law noticed it the moment he stepped into the grand dining hall; the absence of that oppressive, suffocating heat that had been crushing him all day. The sun had set, and with it had gone the worst of Alabasta's temperature. The massive room was lit by crystal chandeliers, their light warm and golden. Servants moved quietly along the walls, refilling glasses and bringing out new dishes. The long table in the center of the room was absolutely laden with food.

Law's stomach didn't turn. He paused in the doorway, surprised. He'd been expecting the usual wave of nausea, the immediate revulsion at the sight and smell of so much food. It had been his constant companion for months now, that low-level queasiness that spiked into full-blown sickness whenever he tried to eat. But now... nothing. Just a strange, hollow feeling in his gut. Not quite hunger. Not yet. But not sickness either.

"Traffy!" Luffy's voice carried across the room, bright and cheerful, "You're awake! Chopper said you were sleeping!"

Law's eyes found him automatically. Luffy was already seated at the table, surrounded by plates and platters and bowls. His usual spot anywhere they go, right in the middle of everything, where he could reach the most food with the least effort. He was grinning, waving enthusiastically.

The hollow feeling in Law's stomach intensified.

"Come sit!" Luffy patted the empty chair beside him, "Vivi's chefs made so much food! There's meat and—and more meat and—oh, and some other stuff too probably!"

Law moved toward the table, hyperaware of the eyes tracking him. The Straw Hats were all there. Nami and Robin seated across from Luffy, Sanji emerging from the kitchen with another platter, Zoro already working on what looked like his third bottle of wine. Usopp and Franky were engaged in some kind of animated discussion at the far end of the table. Brook was tuning his violin in the corner. Chopper was conspicuously avoiding Law's gaze, still sulking. Penguin, Shachi and Bepo were gobbling down food and hooting and hollering like a gaggle of goons as per usual. Jinbei's deep laugh bounces off the high ceilings as he shares a conversation with someone from the palace far down the table.

Vivi sat at the head of the table, looking more relaxed than she had earlier. She smiled at Law as he approached, "I'm so glad you're feeling better. Chopper said it was just heat exhaustion and a mild flu?"

"Something like that," Law said, sliding into the seat beside Luffy.

"You gotta be more careful, Traffy!" Luffy said, already reaching for another piece of meat, "Can't have you passing out all the time! What if you hit your head really hard and got hurt?"

Law feels a rush of blood to his cheeks and ears at Luffy's concern, "I'll keep that in mind."

Luffy bit into the meat, some kind of roasted bird, the skin crispy and glistening with fat. Juice ran down his chin. He chewed enthusiastically, already reaching for the next piece before he'd finished swallowing the first.

Law watched him. He couldn't help it. His eyes tracked the movement of Luffy's hands, the way his fingers tore into the meat, the flash of white teeth. Luffy ate like he did everything else; with complete, unselfconscious enthusiasm. No hesitation, no restraint. Just pure, uncomplicated enjoyment.

The meat looks... good.

Law's mouth watered. He blinked, surprised by the intensity of the reaction. When was the last time food had looked appealing? When was the last time he'd felt actual hunger instead of just the intellectual knowledge that he should eat?

Luffy grabbed another piece of meat, a thick slice of something red and rare, blood pooling on the plate beneath it. He bit into it, and Law watched the way his jaw worked, the way his throat moved as he swallowed. Watched him lick his fingers clean before reaching for more.

Law's stomach clenched. Not with nausea. With want. He needed that meat.

"Uh, Law?" Nami's voice cut through his focus, "You okay?"

Law blinked, realizing he'd been leaning forward slightly, his eyes locked on Luffy's plate. He sat back quickly, "I'm fine."

"You sure?" Nami's eyes were dancing with amusement, "Because you're literally drooling."

Law's hand flew to his mouth. She was right—! There was wetness at the corner of his lips. He wiped it away quickly, heat flooding his face.

"Ahahahaha!!!!" Luffy laughed, not unkindly, "Traffy's hungry! Here!" Without hesitation, his hands moved in a blur—grabbing meat from his own plate, from the platters in front of them, from bowls and dishes all across the table. He piled it onto Law's empty plate with enthusiastic abandon. Chicken and beef and pork and lamb, all stacked haphazardly on top of each other, "Eat lots! You gotta get your strength back!"

Law stared at the mountain of meat on his plate and swallows. It was easily enough food for three people. Maybe four. The smell hit him—rich and savory and perfect—and his mouth flooded with saliva again.

He picked up his fork. The first bite was a revelation... his eyes go big and sparkle.

The meat was tender, falling apart under his fork. The flavor exploded across his tongue—salt and fat and the deep, complex taste of properly roasted meat. It was the best thing Law had ever tasted. The best thing. How had he been living without this? How had he been choking down plain crackers and forcing himself to eat bland rice when this existed in the world?

He took another bite. Then another. His fork moved faster, shoveling food into his mouth with increasing urgency. He barely chewed, just swallowed and reached for more. The meat was so good. So impossibly, perfectly divine like it was made by angels and blessed by God. His eyes were stinging.

"Whoa," Usopp said from down the table, "Law's really going for it..."

Law didn't care. Couldn't care...! He's lost in a meat frenzy. There was only the meat and the overwhelming need to consume it. He was crying now, he realized distantly. Actual tears running down his face as he ate. But he couldn't stop. Didn't want to stop-- if anyone tried to take his food from him right now, he may actually bite someone.

"Is he... crying?" Franky sounded bewildered.

"He's definitely crying," Nami confirmed.

"Maybe he's just really emotional about feeling better?" Robin suggested diplomatically.

Law grabbed another piece of meat with his hands, abandoning the fork entirely. It was faster this way. More efficient...! Luffy definitely has it right! He bit into it, and a sob caught in his throat because it was so good. How could food be this good? How could anything be this good?!!

Beside him, Luffy continued eating at his usual breakneck pace. But Law noticed—distantly, through the haze of his own consumption—that Luffy's hands never once reached for the meat on Law's plate. Every time Luffy grabbed something new, it came from the serving platters, someone elses' plate. Never Law's. Like he'd decided that food belonged to Law now.

"This is kind of disturbing to watch," Zoro muttered.

"It's fascinating," Robin said, "I've never seen Law display this much emotion about anything."

"Should we... do something?" Bepo sounded worried, "I've... NEVER seen Law eat like this? Is he okay?"

Law finished the last piece of meat on his plate and immediately looked around for more. His eyes landed on a bowl of glazed fruit—some kind of local Alabastan delicacy, the pieces swimming in honey and spices. Sweet. He needed sweet. But also... more meat.

Why not both?

He grabbed the bowl and dumped half of it onto his plate, then reached for the nearest platter of meat and added several more pieces on top. The honey from the fruit mixed with the meat juices, creating a sticky, glistening mess.

"Oh my God," Nami said, "Is he mixing dessert with his dinner?"

"That's..." Sanji looked physically pained, "That's not how food works."

Law took a bite; the combination of sweet honey and savory meat was transcendent. He sobbed again, louder this time.

"Okay, this is definitely weird," Usopp said, "Like, really weird. Should we be concerned, guys? At WHAT point should we start worrying about Traffy?"

"Maybe it's an Alabasta thing?" Vivi suggested weakly, "Some kind of... cultural appreciation for bold flavor combinations?"

"That's not a thing," Nami said flatly.

Law didn't hear them. He was too busy creating his next combination—a piece of roasted lamb wrapped around a honey-glazed fig, the whole thing drizzled with what appeared to be chocolate sauce from a nearby dessert plate. He bit into it and made a sound that was probably inappropriate for a formal dinner.

"I'm concerned," Bepo announced, "I'm officially concerned now." Shachi and Penguin both share in the sentiment.

Shachi is choking on a sob, "Law..! My bro! I SEE you, and I LOVE you..! Don't eat your pain! We're HERE for you, dawg!! TALK TO US!"

"Traffy's fine!" Luffy said cheerfully during a break in his mouth stuffing, "He's just really hungry! That's good, right? Chopper said he needed to eat more!"

"I didn't mean like this!!" Chopper says, pale as a ghost while watching the way Law is gorging himself with increasing concern.

But Law was already reaching for more. A piece of spiced chicken, dipped in caramel sauce. A slice of beef wrapped around a piece of candied ginger. Everything sweet and savory mixed together in combinations that made Sanji look like he was having a physical crisis.

"This is an affront to culinary arts," the cook muttered.

Law's plate was a disaster—a sticky, glistening mess of meat and fruit and sauces that had no business being together. He ate it all with single-minded intensity, tears still streaming down his face, small sounds of pleasure escaping between bites.

The table had gone quiet. Everyone was watching him now, their own meals forgotten. Even Luffy had slowed down, looking at Law with curious interest.

"Law," Robin said gently, "are you sure you're feeling alright?"

Law looked up, suddenly aware of the attention. His face and hands sticky with honey and sauce. His eyes were red from crying. His plate looked like a crime scene and so does the table around it.

"I'm fine," he said hoarsely.

"You're crying into a plate of meat covered in chocolate sauce," Nami pointed out.

Law chews the bite still in his mouth, takes a moment to swallow while heat builds up the back of his neck and up to his cheeks and ears as he realizes EVERYONE is staring at him in near dead silent. He clears his throat into his sticky fist after swallowing and supplys a meager, "... It's really good meat."

"That's..." Nami exchanged glances with Robin, "That's not a normal response to meat, Law."

"Maybe he just really missed eating?" Vivi suggested, "If he's been sick and unable to keep food down, the relief of finally being able to eat might be—"

"He's mixing roast pork with strawberry cake," Sanji interrupted, his voice strained, "That's not relief it's madness!! He's eating like a pregnant woman!"

Law tries to mask his reaction but can't stop the flood of blood rushing to his cheeks and ears.

Usopp cackles and adds, "YEAH! A pregnant woman who got knocked up by LUFFY! HAHAHA!!"

Luffy blinked as his friends laugh, his handful of food pausing halfway to his mouth, "Huh?" He looked genuinely confused, his head tilting to the side, feeling left out on a joke he didn't get, "Why would someone I knocked up eat like that?"

The table erupted in laughter further, which causes him to scowl in annoyance at being left out. It makes him feel like they are making fun of him.

"Because, you idiot," Nami said, wiping tears from her eyes, "the baby would have your appetite! Can you imagine? A tiny person inside someone, demanding meat constantly? They'd be eating for two—and one of those two is you!"

"The poor woman would be ravenous," Robin added with an amused smile, "Constantly craving protein. The child would inherit your metabolism, your energy requirements. She'd need to consume an enormous amount of food just to keep up with the baby's demands."

Sanji nodded grimly, lighting a cigarette, "It'd be a nightmare. The cravings would be insane. Meat, meat, and more meat. Probably weird combinations too, because pregnancy does that—makes you want strange things. But with your genetics?" He gestured at Luffy with his cigarette, "It'd be a disaster."

"Hehehehe!!" Luffy laughed, going back to his food, "That sounds—"

He stopped.

His hand froze, a piece of meat halfway to his mouth. His eyes went very wide, staring at nothing. The smile slipped from his face. The table didn't notice. They were too busy laughing, the conversation already moving on.

"Can you imagine the grocery bills?" Usopp wheezed, "You'd need to hunt a Sea King every day just to keep up!"

"The morning sickness would probably be terrible too," Nami added, "All that food, and then suddenly you can't keep anything down? Ugh."

"Although," Robin mused, "the second trimester usually brings relief from nausea. That's when the appetite would really spike."

"Five months," Chopper said absently, then caught himself, "I mean—hypothetically! If someone were pregnant! Five months is when—"

"When they'd start eating like a monster!" Franky finished, "SUPER pregnancy appetite!"

Law wasn't listening anymore. The voices had become background noise, a distant buzz that he couldn't quite focus on. His hands had stopped moving. The fork lay abandoned on his plate. He was full—actually, genuinely full for the first time in months. The meat frenzy had worn off, leaving him sticky and exhausted and suddenly, terrifyingly aware of how much attention he'd drawn to himself.

He reached for a napkin with shaking hands, trying to clean the honey and sauce from his fingers. His face was still hot, his heart pounding against his ribs. The joke had been too close.. but it was just a joke. Just Usopp being Usopp, making ridiculous comparisons that didn't mean anything.

Luffy had laughed it off. Had gone back to eating. Law could see him in his peripheral vision, still working through his own mountain of food. The moment had passed. Everyone was talking about something else now—Zoro and Sanji arguing about something, Usopp telling some elaborate story, Nami and Vivi discussing coronation logistics.

Law wiped his hands carefully, methodically. The napkin came away stained with chocolate and grease. He was being paranoid. There is no way anyone could actually figure it out from a stupid joke about eating habits. It's fine. Everything is fine.

He took a breath, trying to calm the racing of his heart... that's when he felt it—a presence, suddenly too close. The warmth of another body leaning in from his right side. A shiver ran down Law's spine.

Luffy's mouth was right next to his ear, so close Law could feel the ghost of breath against his skin. The noise of the table seemed to fade even further, like someone had turned down the volume on the world.

When Luffy spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. Quiet enough that no one else could hear over the chaos of overlapping conversations. But there was something in it—something that made Law's blood run cold.

"When were you going to tell me you're pregnant?"

Law's entire body went rigid. His hand froze on the napkin. His breath caught in his throat. The world tilted sideways, and for a moment he thought he might faint again—just tip right out of his chair and hit the floor because this couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening.

Luffy couldn't have figured it out. That was impossible. Luffy didn't figure things out like that. He was oblivious to subtext, to implications, to anything that wasn't stated directly to his face. He'd laughed at Usopp's joke. He'd been confused about why someone he'd gotten pregnant would eat like that.

He couldn't have— but his voice. The way he'd said it... so certain. Law's mind was spinning, trying to find an explanation, trying to rationalize how Luffy could have possibly connected those dots. The joke had been stupid. Meaningless. Just Usopp being an idiot. There was no way—no logical way—that Luffy could have taken that joke and somehow arrived at the truth.

Unless.

Unless Luffy wasn't as oblivious as everyone thought. Unless he paid attention to things in ways that didn't make sense to anyone else. Unless he'd been watching Law for months, noticing things, filing them away, and that one stupid joke had been the final piece that made everything click into place.

Law's hands were shaking. He couldn't move. Couldn't turn his head to look at Luffy. Couldn't speak. His throat had closed up entirely, his voice trapped somewhere behind the panic that was flooding through his system.

Around them, the table continued its chaos. Zoro was yelling at Sanji about something. Usopp's story had reached a crescendo. Nami was laughing. No one was paying attention to them. No one had noticed Luffy leaning in close, whispering something in Law's ear.

No one knew that Law's entire world had just shattered.

"Traffy," Luffy's voice was still quiet, still right there against his ear, "You don't wanna talk about this here, right? Me neither." He pulled back slightly, and Law could feel the weight of his gaze that he's trying to avoid directly, "Let's go use the bath."

Law's breath gets a little clumsy and labored in a fluttery, nervous manner. The bath...private, and away from all these people, all these eyes and ears and the constant noise. He managed a jerky nod, not trusting his voice. His hands were still trembling as he set down the napkin.

"Okay," Luffy said, and there was something almost gentle in his tone, "You go first. I'll be right behind you."

Law stood on shaking legs, grateful beyond words that they weren't going to have this conversation here, surrounded by the entire crew and half of Alabasta's court. He didn't look at anyone as he left, didn't acknowledge the brief glances thrown his way. He just walked, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, on not collapsing again.

Behind him, he heard Luffy's voice rise above the din.

"Ahhhh, I'm full! Thanks for the food!"

The table went silent.

"What?" That was Nami, her voice sharp with disbelief.

"You're... full?" Usopp sounded like he'd just witnessed a miracle, "Luffy, you never stop eating early. Are you sick?"

"Nah, I'm good! Just gonna go shower and head to bed. G'night!"

"But there's still three whole roasted boars—"

"Night, Sanji!"

Law was already in the hallway by then, but he could hear the confused murmuring behind him, the crew trying to make sense of Luffy's unprecedented behavior. Any other time, it might have been funny. Right now, it just made his anxiety spike higher.

The castle halls stretched endlessly before him, long and quiet and dimly lit by ornate sconces. His footsteps echoed against marble floors. He had no idea where the baths were. He'd have to wait for Luffy, follow him like some lost— footsteps behind him. Sandals slapping against stone floors.

Law's shoulders tensed, but he didn't turn around. Luffy fell into step beside him, not speaking, just walking with that easy confidence he always had. Like he knew exactly where he was going. Which he probably did—Luffy had an uncanny ability to navigate places he'd only been to once.

They walked in silence.

Law's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might break through his ribs. Every step felt like walking toward an execution. His mind was racing, trying to figure out what he was going to say, how he was going to explain this, what Luffy was thinking right now—

But Luffy didn't say anything. Just walked beside him, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable in the dim light.

The silence was suffocating.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached a set of ornate double doors. Luffy pushed them open. The baths were massive. Grand and luxurious, with high ceilings and elaborate tilework that gleamed in the soft light. Steam rose from multiple pools of varying sizes, and the air was thick with warmth and the faint scent of oils. Private shower stalls lined one wall, each separated by carved wooden screens.

Luffy headed toward the stalls without a word. Law followed, his legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

They chose stalls near each other. Law could hear the sound of water starting, Luffy moving around on the other side of the screen. He forced himself to undress with shaking hands, to step under the spray of hot water. It felt good against his skin, washing away the stickiness of honey and chocolate and grease, but it did nothing to calm the panic thrumming through his veins.

He kept waiting for Luffy to say something. To start the conversation. To demand answers... but Luffy was quiet. Law glanced over once, through the gap in the screens, and caught Luffy looking at him. Their eyes met for a brief second, and Luffy flashed him a smile, small, but genuine... ever so slightly reassuring.

Law's chest tightened. He looked away quickly, focusing on scrubbing his hair with the luxurious floral scented soap supplied by the castle, on the mechanical motions of washing. But that smile had helped. Just a little. Just enough to keep him from completely falling apart.

They finished in silence and dried off with the plush towels provided. The walk back to their temporary quarters was just as quiet, just as tense, but somehow less suffocating than before.

The barracks room was large, designed to house multiple guests. Beds lined the walls, and their luggage was scattered around—bags and weapons and personal belongings in various states of organization. It was empty now; the rest of the crew was still at the feast.

Law found his bag and pulled out his pajamas with numb fingers. Simple black pants and a loose shirt. He changed quickly, hyper-aware of Luffy doing the same a few beds over. When he was done, he sat on his assigned bed, spine rigid, hands clasped in his lap, just, breathing and waiting.

The bed dipped beside him.

Law's entire body tensed as Luffy plopped down next to him, close enough that their shoulders touched. Then Luffy's arm came around his shoulders, pulling him in, and Law's lungs stopped working properly.

"So," Luffy said, his voice bright and casual, like they were discussing the weather, "You're pregnant, huh?"

Law swallowed hard, "...Yes."

"Congratulations!"

The enthusiasm in Luffy's voice was genuine, but the arm around Law's shoulders tightened, not quite painful, but close. Dare he say, possessive...? Law could feel the tension in Luffy's body, the way his muscles had gone taut.

"I'm so happy for you, Traffy," Luffy continued, and there was something in his voice now, something that made Law's skin prickle. A low growl underneath the cheerfulness, "So who knocked you up? I wanna congratulate him too."

Law's eyes widened. He turned his head to look at Luffy, and— Oh.

Luffy wasn't smiling anymore. His expression was dark, his jaw clenched, his eyes sharp and focused in a way that Law had only ever seen in battle. Jealous. Luffy was jealous, and he wasn't even trying to hide it.

Luffy continued without giving Law room to answer, "At first at dinner, I thought maybe it was me... but I was looking at your belly in the shower, and noticed you aren't that far along so... it can't have been me...! U-unless, did you take advantage of me when I was drunk at some point? Or sleeping? You can tell me, I won't be mad, I promise!"

Law deadpans at him, "... No, I didn't do any such thing to you."

"Oh," Luffy says, drooping and disheartened.

Law's jaw drops, he's disappointed that I didn't?? What the hell is going on!?

"Was he better in bed than me?"

The question came out harsh, almost aggressive, and Law—

Law laughed! He couldn't help it. Seriously, what the hell is happening?! The absurdity of it, the ridiculousness of Luffy sitting there seething with jealousy over a mystery man who didn't exist—it broke through the panic and the fear and the anxiety, and Law laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

"What's so funny?!" Luffy demanded, his grip tightening even more.

Law's face was burning. He pressed his hands to his cheeks, feeling the heat radiating from his skin, and looked down at the floor. His heart was still racing, but for a different reason now.

"I've..." He had to force the words out past the embarrassment, "I've only ever been with you, so..." He let the sentence trail off, let Luffy figure out the rest.

The silence that followed was deafening. Law could feel Luffy staring at him, could practically hear the gears turning in his head. The arm around his shoulders had gone slack, the possessive grip loosening.

"Wait," Luffy said slowly, "You mean..."

"It's yours," Law said to the floor, his voice barely above a whisper, "And before you ask why I didn't tell you... I just found out today, before dinner, so I haven't had the opportunity, but I was going to..."

Luffy made a sound, a squeak that turns into a bubbly giggly sort of laughter—and suddenly Law was being pulled into a tight hug, Luffy's arms wrapping around him completely, his face pressed into Law's shoulder.

"Mine," Luffy said, and his voice was muffled but full of wonder and relief in equal measure, "It's mine. Our baby... phew, I'm glad... I thought for a second there I was gonna have to kick someone's ass!"

Law's throat tightened. He's not sure what Luffy meant by that, and is trying to not read into it and get his hopes up for something that isn't going to happen and he gave up on months ago. He didn't know what to do with his hands, where to put them, how to respond to this. But Luffy was warm and solid against him... and he wants to return the hold, wants to melt into Luffy and squeeze and squeeze that strong, squishy body of his like a stress toy... but he doesn't. His hands awkwardly hover instead.

Then Luffy pulled back, his hands moving to Law's shoulders, his eyes scanning Law's face with sudden intensity, "Wait," he said again, and now there was concern in his voice, "If we... if it was five months ago, on the Red Force..." His gaze dropped, traveling down Law's body, and his brow furrowed, "Why don't you look more pregnant? You're so thin, Traffy."

Law's face burned hotter. He looked away, unable to meet Luffy's eyes, "Like I said, I didn't know," he said quietly, "I've been sick for months. Couldn't keep anything down. I thought it was just... stress, or exhaustion, or..." He gestured vaguely, "I didn't know until today. Chopper found it in my blood work after I fainted, then I scanned myself and I saw the baby... i-it must have..." Law struggles to say the rest without turning scarlet, "m-must have happened when... we got interrupted, and your sperm got trapped inside of me because I switched back so fast."

Luffy's expression shifted, concern deepening into something that looked almost like guilt, "You've been sick this whole time?" His hands moved from Law's shoulders to his face, cupping his cheeks, tilting his head up so Law had to look at him, "And you didn't say anything?"

"I didn't know what it was," Law said, and his voice cracked slightly; "I just thought... I thought I was falling apart... 'cause everything that happened... a-and I've..." Law lets himself loosen a little, open up to Luffy, "I've been in dark places like this before, where everything is just... a daze, and nothing tastes good, and I can't keep food down... I thought it was like that again."

Luffy went quiet. His thumbs brushed over Law's cheekbones, and for a moment Law thought he might say something... something comforting, maybe, or reassuring; but instead Luffy's gaze dropped. Down to Law's throat... then his collarbones... lower.

"But you're okay now," Luffy said, and it wasn't quite a question. His voice had gone softer, almost distracted, "Chopper's medicine worked. You ate a lot at dinner."

"I—yeah," Law said, confused by the shift, "I mean, I'm still... it's going to take time to—"

Luffy's hand slid down. From Law's face to his shoulder, then his chest, then-- Law makes a pathetic squeak of a sound in the back of his throat out of surprise as Luffy's palm pressed flat against his stomach, warm through the thin fabric of his shirt.

"Luffy, what are you—"

"Can I?" Luffy's eyes flicked up to meet his, and there was something in them Law couldn't read. Something dark and intent and hungry in a way that had nothing to do with food.

Law's mouth went dry, "Can you what?"

Instead of answering, Luffy's fingers found the hem of Law's shirt and slipped beneath it.

The touch of skin on skin made Law jolt. Luffy's hand was rough, scarred from years of fighting, and it spread wide over Law's abdomen, all possessive, searching, like he's taking note of each detail. His thumb traced a slow arc just below Law's navel.

"Luffy—" Law's voice came out strangled.

"You're so thin," Luffy murmured, almost to himself. His hand moved lower, fingers splaying as if trying to cover as much of Law's belly as possible, "I can feel your ribs."

Law wanted to pull away, wanted to snap something defensive, but he couldn't move, far too stunned but the confusing shift of things to react.

"It's in there," Luffy said quietly, "What I did to you."

Heat flooded Law's face and nearly made him burst with embarrassment, "D-don't say it like that..."

"Why not?" Luffy's eyes lifted, meeting his again, and this time there was no mistaking the look in them... Law swallows nervously at the half-lidded eyes staring back at him, "It's true, isn't it? I put a baby in you."

Is he turned on that he knocked me up..? Seriously? Am I misreading him right now?

Law opened his mouth to respond—to say something, anything to break the tension coiling tight in his chest—but before he could, Luffy leaned in and kissed him.

It was sudden and impulsive. Luffy's lips pressed against his with no preamble, no warning, just a firm, claiming pressure that stole the breath from Law's lungs. For a moment, Law was too shocked to react. His eyes stayed open, wide and disbelieving, as Luffy kissed him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then Luffy pulled back. Not far. Just enough to look at him.

That was... their first kiss. When they had sex five months ago, they hadn't kissed at all. Law's heart hammered against his ribs. Luffy's face was so close he could count his eyelashes, see the ridges in the scar tissue under his eye, could see the way his pupils had blown wide, could feel the ghost of his breath against his lips.

Luffy's gaze dragged over Law's face—his eyes, his mouth—and then he leaned in again. This time the kiss was slower. A press of lips, a pause, then another. Soft, almost chaste, except for the way Luffy's hand tightened on Law's stomach, fingers curling possessively.

What is he doing?

Law's thoughts were a mess, tangled and incoherent. This didn't make sense. Luffy didn't—he wasn't—

Another kiss. Longer this time. Luffy's mouth lingered, and when he pulled back there was a soft, wet pop that made Law's face burn.

"Luffy," Law managed, his voice shaking, "What are you—"

Luffy kissed him again. And again. Each one a little longer, a little wetter, until Law could hear the obscene suction sound every time their lips separated. His head was spinning. This was insane. They were kissing. Actually kissing. And Luffy was doing it to him as... him!

I didn't turn into a woman by accident, did I? Luffy isn't attracted to me, he doesn't like men! Why is he kissing me? Something weird must have happened, I changed into a woman somehow, didn't I?

Law pulls back from their kiss to assess himself, look down at his body, feel his face for his side burns and goatee-- all still there. No breasts, no wide hips, his muscles are still there-- all the while Law is fussing over his appearance, Luffy keeps stealing kisses.

He's kissing me.

The realization hit him like a freight train.

He's kissing me out of pity!

"Wait," Law said, turning his head to break the contact. His pulse was racing, chest clenching unpleasently with something awful, "Wait, you don't—you don't have to do this."

Luffy blinked at him, looking genuinely confused, "Do what?"

"This," Law gestured vaguely between them, his face hot, "You don't have to—I know you're not—" He swallowed hard, forcing the words out, "You're not into guys. I get it. You don't have to... pity-kiss me or whatever this is just because you knocked me up. I know I was bad in bed, so..! Tch..! JUST DON'T PITY ME, ALRIGHT?"

For a moment, Luffy just stared at him...then his expression shifted into something Law couldn't quite name. Something darker and almost annoyed, "Pity?" Luffy repeated, his voice flat.

"I—yeah," Law said, and he hated how defensive he sounded.

Luffy's hand shot up and grabbed Law's face, and not gently. His fingers dug into Law's jaw, firm and unyielding, forcing Law to look at him,"You think I'm kissing you because I feel sorry for you?" Luffy's voice was low, almost a growl.

Law's mouth moves and only an airy sound manages its way out of him, "I—"

"Shut up,"

And then Luffy kissed him again. This time there was nothing soft about it. Luffy's mouth crashed against his, demanding and possessive, like Law's mouth belonged to him and was meant to be kissed and used by him however he pleased. Luffy's other hand tangled in Law's hair, gripping tight enough to sting.

Law made a startled sound against Luffy's lips, his hands coming up instinctively to push him away, but Luffy didn't budge. He kissed Law like he was claiming him, like he had every right to, and when Law tried to turn his head Luffy's grip tightened, holding him in place.

"Luffy—mmph—"

Luffy's tongue swept across Law's lower lip, and Law's knees nearly buckled. He could feel everything. The heat of Luffy's mouth, the rough edge of his fingernails against Law's scalp, the way Luffy's body pressed close enough that Law could feel his heartbeat. And his lips. God, Luffy was obsessed with his lips. He sucked on Law's lower lip, pulling it between his teeth, then released it with a wet sound that made Law's entire body flush with heat. Then he did it again, slower this time, his tongue flicking out to taste.

Law whimpered.

He didn't mean to. The sound just escaped, and Luffy made a low noise in response—something pleased and primal that sent a shiver down Law's spine.

"You taste good," Luffy murmured against his mouth, and then he was kissing him again, deeper this time, his tongue sliding past Law's lips to explore.

Law's hands fisted in Luffy's shirt, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer... not that he had the physical strength to fight Luffy off of him. Luffy could have him if that's what Luffy wanted... and that reality was thrilling, sending tingles up and down Law's spine. This was too much so soon. He couldn't think with Luffy kissing him like this, couldn't process the fact that this was happening, that Luffy's tongue was in his mouth and his hands were in Law's hair and—

Luffy's tongue caught on Law's piercing.

He paused, pulling back just enough to look at Law with wide, curious eyes, "You have a tongue piercing," Luffy said, like he'd just discovered something fascinating.

Law's face burned, "You didn't notice before...?" When I was sucking your dick for almost an hour? How could you NOT notice? Law didn't want to say the rest out loud.

Luffy grinned. It was a sharp, dangerous expression that made Law's stomach flip, "I thought your tooth fell out, like with your devil fruit, like you let it fall out on purpose, and you were trying to use it to be sexy," Luffy said completely serious.

Law drops his jaw, "Y--hh?? wh..? You thought I was WHAT?"

Luffy's shoulders shake with giggles, "It was really distracting, but I was trying to just roll with it, I dunno. You're a freak, it made sense..." and then he kissed him again, his tongue deliberately seeking out the metal barbell, flicking against it experimentally.

Law makes an annoyed sound into Luffy's invading mouth. He wanted to be more annoyed, outraged even! Question Luffy's brain and why he would THINK Law would do something like that-- and why Luffy would go ALONG with it-- but... thinking is so hard to do, at the moment, Law's fingers tighten in Luffy's shirt. The sensation was euphoric, making Law's eyes roll and pathetic sounds rumble out of him from Luffy's tongue, so hot and wet, sliding about and flicking, playing with his piercing, the way Luffy's teeth scraped against his lower lip before sucking it into his mouth again.

"Luffy," Law panted when they finally broke apart, "what are you—why are you—"

"I like your mouth," Luffy said simply, his thumb brushing over Law's kiss-swollen lips, "It's pretty. And soft." His gaze dropped to Law's mouth, focused and intent, "And you've got sharp teeth. I like that too."

Law stared at him, completely at a loss for words. Luffy leaned in again, but this time instead of kissing him, he dragged his tongue slowly across Law's lower lip.

Law shuddered, "L-Luffy, I don't—I don't understand what you're—"

"You're mine," Luffy said, and his voice was so matter-of-fact it made Law's head spin, "The baby's mine. You're mine. I can kiss you if I want."

"That's not—" Law tried to protest, but Luffy cut him off with another kiss, this one slow and deep and absolutely devastating.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Luffy's hands were still in Law's hair, his forehead pressed against Law's, "You weren't bad at it," Luffy said quietly, "Five months ago. You weren't bad... with your mouth, when you were sucking me."

Law's chest tightened, talking about this makes his whole body burn with embarrassment to verbalize these things, "I didn't make you cum... and you seemed bored... but I guess, apparently you also were distracted thinking I was using a tooth to try and please you."

"I wasn't bored, and that part didn't bother me, I didn't care... it was that you looked different," Luffy said, and there was something almost vulnerable in his voice, "You looked like you but... not. It was weird. I couldn't stop thinking about it. You're pretty as a girl, but I like you best like this," His fingers tightened in Law's hair, "But you look like you now... and kissing your lips made me think about it... how they felt on me..."

Law's breath is a little labored and he hasn't realized he's shaking, "Luffy..."

"I wanna do it again," Luffy said, his eyes dark and intent, "But with you looking like you."

Law's brain short-circuited, "You—what?"

"Your mouth," Luffy said, like it was the simplest thing in the world. His thumb brushed over Law's lower lip, still swollen from kissing, "I want you to suck me again. Like before, but as you."

Heat flooded Law's face so fast he felt dizzy, "You can't just—you can't just say that—"

"Why not?" Luffy tilted his head, genuinely confused, "It's what I want."

"That's not—" Law tried to pull back, but Luffy's hand tightened in his hair, holding him in place. Not painfully. Just... firmly. A reminder that Law wasn't going anywhere unless Luffy let him, "I already told you I was bad at it. I didn't even make you finish."

"That wasn't your fault," Luffy said, his voice dropping lower, "I told you. I was distracted. But I'm not distracted now."

Law's heart was hammering so hard he could barely think. This was insane. Luffy was asking him—no, telling him—to get on his knees and—

God, why is that thought making me—

"I don't—" Law swallowed hard, his throat dry, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Because—" Because I want it too much. Because I'm terrified I'll be bad at it again. Because the idea of you looking down at me while I— "Because it's weird, Luffy. We're not—we're not together. We're not anything!"

"You're carrying my baby, and you're part of my crew," Luffy said, and his grip in Law's hair shifted, tilting Law's head back so he had no choice but to meet Luffy's eyes, "That makes you mine. And I want this. Don't you...?" Luffy's eyes shift playfully to the tent in Law's pajama bottoms, "Or is that boner for someone else that I gotta go beat up..?"

Law opened his mouth to deny it. To say something sharp and defensive. To push Luffy away and tell him to go to hell. But the words wouldn't come because the truth was—

Yes.

He wanted it. Wanted to feel Luffy's weight on his tongue again, wanted to hear the sounds Luffy made, wanted to prove he could do it right this time. Wanted to be good for him. The realization made his face burn hotter.

"I..." Law's voice came out strangled, "Even if I did want to—which I'm not saying I do—you can't just... the timing is bad, we're not in a private room, anyone could come in-- a-and..! you can't just expect me to—"

"I'm not expecting anything," Luffy said, and his voice was surprisingly gentle, "I'm asking. If you don't want to, we won't."

Law stared at him, searching for any sign of mockery or pity. But Luffy's expression was open. Honest. He meant it.

He'd actually stop if I said no.

The knowledge should have been reassuring. Instead, it made something in Law's chest twist painfully. Because he didn't want to say no.

"You're..." Law's hands fisted in Luffy's shirt, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer, "You're such an asshole."

Luffy grinned, "Is that a yes?"

"I didn't—" Law bit his lip, his face burning, "I didn't say that."

"But you're thinking about it," Luffy said, and his thumb traced Law's lower lip again, pressing gently until Law's mouth parted, "I can tell..."

Law's makes a whining noise he can't help. Luffy's hand was still in his hair, tangled in his thick locks like his own personal handle, and controlling, all posessive and the weight of it made Law's knees feel weak. He was acutely aware of how much stronger Luffy was. How easily he could hold Law down, move him however he wanted, take whatever he—

Stop. Stop thinking like that.

But he couldn't stop. His mind was spiraling, imagining Luffy's hands guiding him down, the taste of him, the way Luffy would look at him with those dark, half-lidded eyes—

"Traffy," Luffy said softly, and Law realized he'd been silent for too long, "You're shaking."

"I'm not—" But he was. His whole body was trembling, caught between fear and want and the overwhelming vulnerability of admitting he wanted this at all.

"It's okay," Luffy murmured, and he leaned in to press a soft kiss to Law's forehead, "You don't have to be scared."

"I'm not scared," Law snapped, but his voice lacked conviction.

Luffy just smiled, "Okay."

Law closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. This was ridiculous. He was a grown man. A surgeon who'd performed impossible operations and faced down Emperors without flinching. And here he was, falling apart because Luffy wanted his mouth.

Pathetic.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, his body was already moving. His hands slid down from Luffy's chest, and before he could second-guess himself, he was sinking to his knees.

The floor was hard beneath him and cold. He kept his eyes down, unable to meet Luffy's gaze, his face burning with humiliation and arousal in equal measure.

"Traffy," Luffy said, and his voice was rough now. Hungry, "Look at me."

Law's hands trembled as they moved to Luffy's waistband.

He pulled the fabric down slowly, his breath catching as Luffy's cock sprang free—already half-hard, flushed dark at the tip. Law's mouth went dry. He'd done this before. Five months ago. But somehow it felt different now. He glanced up through his lashes, meeting Luffy's eyes for just a moment before his courage failed and he looked away again.

"Don't look away," Luffy said softly, his hand sliding into Law's hair. Not pulling. Just... holding, "I wanna see you."

Law's face burned hotter, but he forced himself to look up again. Luffy's expression was dark, hungry, his pupils blown wide. The sight sent a jolt of heat straight through Law's body.

He wants this. He wants me... the thought was intoxicating.

Law leaned forward, pressing a tentative kiss to the head of Luffy's cock. The taste was salt and musk and something uniquely Luffy, and it made Law's head spin. He parted his lips, taking just the tip into his mouth, his tongue flicking against the slit.

Luffy made a sound—a low, guttural groan that seemed to come from deep in his chest.

Law froze. Last time, Luffy had been almost silent. Distant. Like he was somewhere else entirely. But now—

"Fuck, Traffy," Luffy breathed, his fingers tightening in Law's hair, "That's—yeah, just like that—"

Law's heart hammered. He took more of Luffy into his mouth, hollowing his cheeks, and Luffy moaned—loud and unrestrained, his hips jerking forward involuntarily.

"Shit—sorry, I—" Luffy's voice was breathless, "God, your mouth—"

Law felt something shift inside him. The shame that had been coiling in his gut began to dissolve, replaced by something hotter. He wanted to hear that sound again. Wanted to make Luffy fall apart. He took Luffy deeper, relaxing his throat, and Luffy's reaction was immediate—a sharp gasp followed by a string of broken curses.

"Traffy—aahhh—you're so—ah—"

Law's own cock throbbed in his pants, neglected and aching. He reached down to palm himself through the fabric, moaning around Luffy's length. The vibration made Luffy cry out, his grip in Law's hair turning almost painful.

"You like that?" Luffy's voice was rough, commanding, "You like sucking my cock?"

Law whimpered, nodding as much as he could with his mouth full. His tongue piercing dragged along the underside of Luffy's shaft, and Luffy keened, his head falling back.

"Fuck—that thing in your tongue—God—do that again—"

Law obeyed, swirling his tongue, letting the metal ball catch on every ridge and vein. Luffy was so loud now, so uninhibited, and it was driving Law insane. He pulled back to suck hard on the head, his hand wrapping around the base to stroke what he couldn't fit in his mouth.

"Yes—fuck yes—just like that—mhhh, don't stop—"

Law's eyes watered as he took Luffy deeper, fighting his gag reflex. Saliva dripped down his chin, obscene and messy, and he didn't care. All he cared about was the way Luffy was falling apart above him, the way his thighs trembled, the way his cock pulsed hot and heavy on Law's tongue.

"You're mine," Luffy growled suddenly, his hand fisting tighter in Law's hair, pulling him down, "Mine—you hear me? This mouth is mine—"

Law moaned desperately, his free hand coming up to grip Luffy's hip for balance. He was drowning in sensation—the taste, the sounds, the feeling of being completely owned.

"Gonna—fuck—gonna come in your mouth," Luffy panted, his hips starting to thrust shallowly, "Traffy—God—you're so fucking good—so perfect—"

Law felt Luffy's cock throb against his tongue, felt the way his whole body tensed—but then Luffy's hand tightened in his hair, pulling him off with a wet gasp, "Wait—wait—" Luffy's voice was ragged, his chest heaving, "Not yet. Not—fuck—not yet."

Law blinked up at him, dazed and confused, his lips puffy and slick, "Luffy—?"

"Look at you," Luffy breathed, his thumb coming up to swipe across Law's wet bottom lip, smearing saliva and precome, "So pretty like this, Law. On your knees just for me."

Law's face burned. He tried to look away, but Luffy's hand caught his chin, forcing him to meet those dark, hungry eyes.

"Don't," Luffy said firmly, "Don't hide from me. I wanna see you. Wanna see what I do to you."

"You're—" Law's voice cracked, "You're insane... didn't hear you talk like this last time—"

"Yeah?" Luffy's grin was sharp and devilish, "And you love it. Look how hard you are, Traffy."

Law silently burns as attention is brought to his predicment. He was painfully hard, his cock straining against his pants, and the way Luffy was looking at him—like he wanted to devour him—made it worse.

"Touch yourself," Luffy commanded, his voice dropping lower, "I wanna see you touch yourself while you suck my cock."

That command was like a bolt of white hot pleasure that shot directly up Law's spine and had him shiver and his hairs standing on end, he barely coherently chokes out, "Luffy—" Law's words, whatever they were, died in his throat as Luffy's hand tightened in his hair again.

"Do it."

Law's hand trembled as he reached down, fumbling with his waistband. The moment his fingers wrapped around his own cock, he let out a broken moan, his hips jerking forward involuntarily.

"Fuck," Luffy groaned, watching him, "That's it. That's so hot, Law. You're sexy..."

Law stroked himself slowly, his eyes fluttering shut as pleasure sparked up his spine. But Luffy tugged his hair, making him look up again.

"Eyes on me," Luffy said, guiding his cock back to Law's lips, "Keep looking at me."

Law opened his mouth obediently, taking Luffy back in, and the sound Luffy made sent a jolt of heat straight through him. He hollowed his cheeks, sucking hard, his hand working his own cock in time with the rhythm of his mouth.

"Nhhnn—yes—just like that—" Luffy's hips rocked forward, shallow thrusts that made Law's eyes water, "You're so good at this—so fucking good—why didn't we do this sooner—? Could have had you like this for me every night..."

Law whimpered around him, the praise and filthy honesty coming from his captain making his head spin. He'd been so sure he was bad at this, so sure Luffy hadn't enjoyed it last time, but now—

"You feel so good," Luffy panted, his voice breaking, "Your mouth—fuck—that piercing— nghh, I can't, ahhh ah, fhh...—"

Law swirled his tongue deliberately, letting the metal ball drag along the underside of Luffy's cock, and Luffy keened, his whole body shuddering.

"Traffy—shit—you're gonna make me—" But again, Luffy pulled him off, gasping for air. Law made a frustrated sound, his lips chasing after Luffy's cock, but Luffy was already hauling him up by his hair, crashing their mouths together in a bruising kiss.

Law gasped into it, his hand still wrapped around his own cock, and Luffy swallowed the sound greedily. The kiss was filthy, all tongue and teeth, Luffy licking into his mouth like he wanted to taste himself there.

"Mine," Luffy growled against his lips, biting down on Law's bottom lip hard enough to sting, "You're mine, Traffy. Say it."

"Yours," Law gasped, his voice wrecked, "I'm yours—Luffy—"

Luffy kissed him again, deeper this time, one hand fisting in Law's hair while the other slid down to wrap around Law's hand on his cock, guiding the rhythm, making him stroke faster.

"Please—" Law didn't even know what he was begging for anymore. More? Less? Everything?

But then Luffy was pushing him back down, firm and commanding, and Law went willingly, sinking back to his knees with a broken moan.

"Finish what you started," Luffy said, his voice rough with need, "Wanna cum in your mouth, wanna see you swallow it."

Law took him back in eagerly, his own hand working frantically between his legs. He was so close, so desperate, and the way Luffy was looking at him—possessive and hungry and almost awed—made him feel like he was going to shatter.

"That's it—mhhh—just like that—" Luffy's hips thrust forward, deeper now, and Law relaxed his throat, taking him as far as he could. Law moaned around him, the vibration making Luffy curse. His own cock was leaking, his hand slick with precome, and he was so close he could barely think straight.

"I'm—Traffy—I'm gonna—nhh-ah--ahh-hah--—"

Luffy's cock pulsed hard against Law's tongue, swelling impossibly thick, and then he was coming—hot and bitter and so much—flooding Law's mouth in thick spurts. Law is ashamed to say he thinks it tastes amazing and he'd guzzle down gallons of it if he could. Law's eyes watered as he struggled to swallow it all, his throat working frantically against the rush, but Luffy kept coming, his hips jerking forward with each pulse, his hand tight in Law's hair holding him in place.

"Yes—fuck yes—take it—take all of it—" Luffy's voice broke deliriously on a ragged moan, his whole body shuddering.

Law swallowed and struggles not to choke or waste a drop, but some of it spilling from the corners of his mouth, dripping down his chin. The taste was overwhelming, the sheer amount of it making his head spin. And even still he wanted more of it. He has a deranged thought of Luffy cumming down his throat until he's pumped his belly full and bloating with his cum... When Luffy finally stopped, Law pulled back gasping, his lips swollen and slick, a string of saliva and cum connecting his mouth to Luffy's softening cock.

"Laww," Luffy breathed, staring down at him with dark, hungry eyes, "You look so good like that. All messy for me."

Law's legs were shaking so badly he doubted he would be able stand if he got off his knees. His own cock was painfully hard, throbbing with need, and he was so close to the edge--but then Luffy was pulling him up, strong hands gripping his hips, hauling him forward. Law stumbled, catching himself on Luffy's shoulders as Luffy sat on the edge of the bed, positioning Law right in front of him.

"My turn," Luffy said, his grin sharp and wicked.

His turn?! Law thinks with shock and dazed confusion, unable to catch up to what Luffy meant.

Before Law could process what was happening, Luffy's hands were at his waistband, yanking his pants down to Law's ankles. Law's cock sprang free, thick and flushed dark, the three piercings along the underside glinting in the low light— three frenum piercings along the shaft.

"Whoa," Luffy breathed, his eyes going wide, "Traffy, you have piercings on your dick?"

Law's face burned, "Don't—don't stare at it like that—"

"They're so cool!" Luffy's hand wrapped around him, his thumb brushing over the metal, and Law's hips jerked forward involuntarily, a broken sound escaping his throat.

"Luffy—"

But Luffy wasn't listening. He leaned forward, his tongue darting out to lick a slow stripe up the underside of Law's cock, dragging over each piercing deliberately. Law's knees nearly buckled.

"Fuck—"

Luffy hummed, pleased, and then he was taking Law into his mouth—hot and wet and perfect—and Law's vision whited out for a second.

"Oh god—"

Luffy took him deeper, and deeper, and deeper—and there was no resistance, no gagging, no choking. Just Luffy's throat opening impossibly wide, accommodating every inch of Law's thick cock like it was nothing.

Right. Rubber.

Law's hands flew to Luffy's hair, gripping tight, his whole body trembling, "Luffy—fuck—how are you—"

Luffy pulled back just enough to grin around him, his eyes bright with mischief, and then his tongue—his tongue—

It stretched.

Law felt it coil around his cock like a living thing, wrapping in a tight spiral from base to tip, the texture slick and firm and absolutely obscene. The pressure was perfect, the friction maddening, and when Luffy's tongue flicked deliberately over the piercings, testing each one, Law's vision blurred.

"Fuck—Luffy—what the fuck—"

Luffy hummed again, the vibration traveling straight through Law's cock, and his tongue kept moving—coiling tighter, sliding up and down in a corkscrew motion that should have been impossible. The metal piercings caught on the texture of Luffy's tongue, little sparks of sensation that made Law's toes curl.

"Nghhhh..! God—oh God—I can't—"

Luffy's hands gripped Law's hips, holding him steady, and he took him deeper again, his throat stretching to accommodate Law's girth without any effort at all. Law could feel it—the way Luffy's throat opened for him, the way there was no resistance, no limit. Just heat and pressure and that tongue still coiled around him, stroking and squeezing.

"Luffy—please—I'm gonna—"

But Luffy pulled off suddenly, his tongue uncoiling with a wet schlick, and Law made a pathetically whiny, frustrated sound.

"Not yet," Luffy panted, his voice rough, his lips shiny and swollen, "Come here."

"What—"

"Get on the bed, Traffy." Luffy's hands were already guiding him, pulling him forward, and Law stumbled onto the mattress on shaking legs, stepping out of his pants along the way.

Luffy laid back, his head near the head of the bed, and patted his own chest, "Here. Straddle me."

Law's brain was too scrambled to argue. He moved on instinct, climbing over Luffy, positioning himself so his knees were on either side of Luffy's shoulders, his cock hanging heavy over Luffy's face.

"Perfect," Luffy breathed, his hands sliding up Law's thighs, gripping his hips, "Now fuck my mouth."

"Ah?! Luffy—?!"

"Do it." Luffy's eyes were dark, commanding, "I want you to. Wanna feel you lose control making yourself feel good."

Law's hands braced on the wall above the bed, his whole body trembling. Slowly, hesitantly, he lowered his hips, guiding his cock back into Luffy's waiting mouth.

The angle was different like this—deeper, more intense. Luffy's throat opened for him immediately, and Law sank in until his balls were pressed against Luffy's chin.

"Hhnn, oh my-- ffuck—"

Luffy's hands tightened on his hips, urging him to move, and Law did—pulling back and thrusting forward in a slow, experimental rhythm. Luffy's throat stretched around him perfectly, squeezing eeach time Lufffy swallows him.

"God—Luffy..!"

Law's rhythm quickened, his hips moving faster, harder, and Luffy took it all, his tongue still coiling and stroking, his throat taking every thrust like it was made to get fucked roughly like this. The piercings dragged against the inside of Luffy's throat, the metal catching on slick tissue, and the sensation was so intense Law thought he might black out.

"Aah--hah-- fh---gnnhh--!! I... Luffy—fuck—I'm..!"

Luffy hummed, the vibration traveling straight through Law's cock, and his hands gripped Law's hips tighter, pulling him down harder, forcing him deeper. Law's thrusts became erratic, desperate, his whole body shaking with the effort of holding back.

Luffy's eyes locked on his, dark and hungry and wanting, and that was it—Law was right on the edge, his cock throbbing, his balls tightening, pleasure coiling hot and tight in his gut—

A loud, heavy creak of the big door being pushed opens alerts them both-- just as Law is tipping off a cliff that has no return.

"—telling you, Moss-Brain, you drank the last bottle of the good sake—!"

Law's eyes went wide, his mouth open in the start of a scream and thankfully Luffy's hand shot up fast to cover Law's mouth and smother his scream while he spills creamy spurts deep down Luffy's full throat.

"I didn't drink shit, cook! That was Franky—"

"OW! Don't blame me, bro!"

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck—

There was no time to enjoy working through the orgasm or bask in the high of it. Adreneline pumps through both their bodies. Both men scramble in a panic after Law pulls out of Luffy's mouth an obscene wet pop, hurrying backward. Luffy was already moving, for half a second in his sex fried brain, he tries to look for his pants, but Law grabs him and tugs him under the covers with him just as footsteps entered the room.

Law's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst. He was pressed against Luffy's chest, with the covers pulled up far to their ears, trying to hide and look "asleep," both of them breathing hard, trying desperately to look like they were just... resting and cuddling. Normal.... completely normal... nothing weird going on in here.

"Ah, looks like Luffy's in Law's bed." That was Usopp's voice, amused.

"He does that," Zoro said, sounding unbothered, "Clingy bastard."

"It's kinda cute though," Franky added, and Law could hear the grin in his voice.

"Makes sense. He's probably worried about Traffy being sick." Sanji muttered.

Law kept his eyes squeezed shut, his face buried against Luffy's shoulder. Luffy's arms were wrapped around him, holding him close, and Law could feel the rapid thud of Luffy's heartbeat against his own chest.

They don't know. They can't know. No one would ever think Luffy would fool around like that—

The thought was almost funny. Luffy, the most asexual person anyone had ever met (or THOUGHT theyt met) Luffy, who cared more about meat and adventures than anything else. Luffy, who climbed into everyone's beds for cuddles without a second thought. Of course they wouldn't suspect anything.

No one even noticed the discarded pants and shorts on either side of Law's bed.

The lights went out. Blankets rustled. Someone—probably Zoro—started snoring almost immediately.

Minutes passed. Law's breathing slowly evened out, though his body was still wound tight with tension. Luffy's grip on him loosened slightly, becoming less frantic and more... gentle. Law shifted, pulling back just enough to look up at Luffy's face in the darkness. Luffy was already looking at him, his expression soft and unreadable.

"Sorry," Luffy whispered, so quiet Law almost didn't hear it.

Law shook his head, "Not your fault."

They lay there in silence, the tension gradually bleeding out of their bodies. Law became acutely aware of how close they were—chest to chest, naked legs tangled, damp, sticky cocks pressing up against one another between their bellies. Luffy's arms still wrapped around him.

Luffy's hand slid down between them, settling on Law's stomach. His palm was warm through the thin fabric of Law's shirt, then his hand slipped under, his calloused fingers spreading across Law's belly. The touch was gentle, reverent, his thumb stroking back and forth in a slow, soothing rhythm.

Law's throat tightened. He pressed his face back into Luffy's shoulder, his own arms coming up to wrap around Luffy's waist.

Luffy's hand continued its gentle motion, rubbing slow circles over the place where their child was growing. The touch was grounding, comforting in a way Law hadn't expected.

Gradually, the tension melted away entirely. Law's breathing deepened, his body relaxing into Luffy's warmth. Even when their positions changed to a more comfortable spooning position, Luffy's hand never left his belly, and didn't stopped moving, that constant gentle pressure on Law's belly, and it was the last thing Law was aware of before sleep finally pulled him under.