Iris the Strawhat

His hands shake when he lights another cigarette, it takes him three tries.

You watch him in silence and then finally, you grab the lighter from him “Give it here.”

He smiles sheepishly “Thanks.”

You hand it back “You’re acting strange.”

“Am I?”

“Very.”

He doesn’t answer, instead, he looks toward Law. The little boy is sitting not far away, pretending not to listen.

Rosinante watches him for a long moment and then he quietly says, “Can you come with me for a minute?”

You frown “Now?”

“Please.”

Something in his voice makes your stomach tighten, so you just nod.

He leads you away from there, far enough that even the sound of the fire disappears.

Snow crunches beneath your boots while neither of you speaks.

Finally you stop walking “Rosinante.”

He turns and you think you’ve never seen him look so tired and so... sad.

“Tell me what’s happening.”

Silence.

Then he reaches into his coat and your heart skips. He simply takes off one black glove and he gently takes yours as he says “I need you to promise me something.”

Your eyes narrow “No.”

He blinks “...No?”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

A weak laugh escapes him “You’re always so stubborn.”

“I learned from you.”

He smiles for a second but then it disappears again “If... something happens...”

You immediately shake your head “No.”

“Listen.”

“No!” your voice echoes through the snow “Nothing is going to happen.”

He gently squeezes your hand “Please.”

You stare at him and he almost looks frightened, not for himself but for you and for Law.

Your chest begins to hurt “Rosinante...”

His voice is barely above a whisper “Promise me you’ll watch over Law.”

Your heart stops, the world suddenly feels very quiet “...Why?”

He doesn’t answer, instead he smiles. That soft smile you love so much.

Tears begin to burn your eyes “Tell me why.”

Nothing.

“Tell me!”

He looks away “I can’t.”

You grab the front of his shirt “Then I won’t promise you anything.”

For a second you think he’ll give in but instead he leans forward until hs forehead rests against yours “Please...”

The word sounds broken, like it hurts to say.

You close your eyes while every instinct tells you something terrible is coming… but very slowly, you nod and say “...I promise.”

He lets out a quiet breath, almost relieved “Thank you.”

Before you can ask another question he suddenly grabs your wrist.

“Rosinante?”

He starts running “Wait!”

He pulls you toward an old wooden storage house standing alone near the fireplace.

You stumble after him “What are you doing?”

No answer, he opens the old door and pushes you inside.

You almost lose your balance “Rosinante!”

The door slams shut, a heavy wooden beam drops into place outside.

Your eyes widen and so you throw yourself against the door but, of course, it doesn't move.

“Rosinante!” you scream and hit the door with both fists “Open the door!”

Nothing.

Only his voice through the old wood, so quiet that it's almost impossible to hear “...I’m sorry.”

Your heart pounds “Don’t you dare!”

You shove your shoulder against the door. Pain shoots through your arm but the wood doesn’t move.

“Rosinante!”

You hear his footsteps, walking away.

You scream his name until your throat burns.

You throw yourself against the door again and again, until the old wood barely shakes.

“Rosinante!”

You hit it until your palms sting and your breathing becomes uneven.

You look around desperately. The little wooden house is almost empty, with only broken shelves, dust and old ropes.

Then you see the window. It faces the snowy field outside, exactly where Rosinante and Law are.

You rush toward it “Thank God...”

You grab the handles and pull but… nothing. You pull harder but the window doesn’t move.

“No... no, no...”

You look around but there’s nothing useful, so you just raise your fist, ready to hit the window, no matter how it would hurt.

But before you can even hit the glass… Rosinante looks at you making your body freeze.

He’s watching you… his eyes meet yours through the glass and slowly he shakes his head, then his lips move “Please.”

Your fist relaxes and you drop your hand, while the tears blur your vision.

You shake your head violently “No...”

Outside, Rosinante kneels beside Law.

You press both hands against the cold glass as your tears leave small marks across your face.

You watch him smile at the boy, like nothing terrible is about to happen.

Law is in a treasure chest.

Even through the glass you can see him refusing, crying and begging.

Rosinante says something and then… he gently places Law inside the treasure chest. The lid slowly closes.

Your chest tightens so much it hurts.

Rosinante rests one hand on the chest. He smiles, the kindest smile you’ve ever seen.

A goodbye.

Then he looks at you and time stops. Snow falls between you.

He smiles again, but smaller this time. Then his lips move slowly so that you won’t miss a single word “I love you.”

Your breath catches but he gives you another smile, even softer “Thank you.”

Your entire body shakes as fresh tears spill down your face.

You slam your hands against the glass “I love you too!”

Rosinante’s smile falters a little… he knows you answered.

Very gently… he nods.

Then… he turns around and your eyes finally go toward Doflamingo.

Your heart drops “No!”

You scream, or at least you think you do.

But you saw what Rosinante did to Law, you saw him using his powers and it doesn’t need much to understand he did the same to you.

There’s no sound, only silence.

He did it so that neither of you would be heard. So neither of you could give away your hiding place.

Then you hear a gunshot and see Rosinante’s body fall.

You want to slam both fists against the glass, break it and run to him.

But… you can’t.

You have to stay, for Law and even for… him, because you promised him.

Even while dying… he’s still protecting you and Law.

Rosinante falls into the snow, and he doesn’t get back up.

Your legs give out beneath you, and for one endless second… the whole world stops.

Movements from the treasure chest make your head snap toward it.

The lid opens and you see Law climbing out.

His face is soaked with tears, his mouth is open in a scream you cannot hear. He stumbles away from where Rosinante’s body is.

Exactly like Rosinante wanted… and your promise starts now.

Your eyes dart to the other side of the house, where it’s more hidden… another window.

You don’t hesitate this time… you give it a few punches and it breaks, even if your hands are bleeding, you don’t care.

When the old glass explodes outward, you feel the cold air rushing inside.

You climb through without caring as sharp pieces cut your hands even more.

You don’t even look at Rosinante… because if you do you’ll never be able to move again.

You run after the crying boy disappearing into the white snow, keeping the promise the man you loved died to entrust to you.

Your hands won’t stop shaking and your chest hurts.

Your mind reminds of his last smile, his last words… and his eyes. The thought won’t leave you alone.

You run until your legs begin to ache, until you see a small figure kneeling in the snow.

His shoulders shake violently. A little boy, broken and alone.

You slow down “...Law.”

The boy freezes for a second, he doesn’t turn around right away, but then he spins toward you.

Now you can see his face, red from crying, cheeks wet and his eyes… are full of something you’ve never seen before. Something more like hatred.

He rushes toward you and before you can even react his little fists slam against you “Why?!”

Another hit.

“Why didn’t you save him?!”

You stumble backward but you don’t even try to stop him.

Another punch and then another.

They don’t hurt… not compared to the ache inside your chest.

“You were there!” his voice cracks “You were there!”

He keeps hitting you, each blow weaker than the last. But you accept every single one, because… he’s right.

You were there, you watched everything and you didn’t save him.

Law grabs the front of your coat.

His tiny fingers shake so much he can barely hold on “You loved him too!”

Your breath catches and the tears you thought had stopped begin falling again.

Law buries his face against your body, still punching but weaker and still crying “You didn’t help...”

Your knees finally give out and so you both fall into the snow.

Law doesn’t have any strength left to keep hitting you, so he simply clutches your coat.

His whole body trembling “Why did he leave me...?”

Your lips part, but no answer comes.

Then, after some silence, your voice finally comes out, but it’s barely a whisper “I’m sorry...”

Law jerks away from you, his eyes still filled with tears “Don’t say sorry!”

He wipes his face angrily “Bring him back!”

Silence, followed by a small “Please...”

That word breaks you.

“Please tell me how to use this power… I can save him…”

Your shoulders begin to shake, so you lower your head “I can’t… I don’t know anything…”

Law stares at you, as if he’s waiting for you to say you’re joking. Waiting for Corazon to appear behind you like this is all some terrible prank.

Instead… you cry.

You cry harder than you ever have before.

Your forehead touches the snow making your tears disappear into the white ground “I couldn’t save him...”

Your voice breaks “I couldn’t...”

You feel so weak and useless.

Rosinante believed in you, trusted you and loved you… and you failed.

You failed him, you failed Law and you failed yourself.

Law slowly stands and looks down at you. His little fists tighten “...I hate you.”

The words are quiet, but they cut deeper than any knife.

You nod, still staring at the snow “I know.”

Law waits, maybe hoping you’ll argue, maybe hoping you’ll tell him you’re lying and that everything will somehow be okay.

You don’t… because you can’t.

Finally you force yourself to stand even if your legs feel heavy.

You don't look at him and just say “Go.”

Law blinks “...What?”

“Go.” your voice is flat and cold, nothing like how you really feel “You’ll be safer without me.”

Law stares, confused, hurt and rightfully angry “You’re... leaving?”

You nod once, very slowly “Yes.”

His lips tremble, but then he clenches his fists “Fine!”

He turns around so fast he almost slips in the snow “I don’t need you!”

You close your eyes “...I know.”

Without another word Law starts walking and doesn't look back.

You watch his small figure disappear between the snow-covered trees, and only when you can’t see him anymore… you finally let yourself fall.

You don’t know where your feet carry you… everything around you is gray, as if the world lost every color the moment Rosinante smiled at you one last time.

You remember every detail as if it's still happening in front of you.

His lips and his smile.

His “I love you” and his “Thank you.”

Then… the gunshots.

You cover your ears but it doesn't help, because they're just inside your head now.

Your legs give out beneath you and you collapse.

For the first time since you met Rosinante… you feel completely alone.

Hours pass, or maybe only minutes… time has stopped making sense.

You whisper into the empty forest “You believed in the wrong person...”

Fresh tears run down your cheeks “You thought I was strong.”

A bitter laugh escapes you “I’m not.”

Your breathing becomes uneven again “I couldn’t even save the person I loved the most.”

You bury your face against your arms “I’m sorry...”

Everything hurts… your chest, your eyes, and even breathing.

You wish you could sleep, just for a little, to forget everything, forget the snow, the blood… the promise…

Your eyes slowly open at that thought.

Promise me...

You stop breathing as Rosinante’s face appears in your mind, this time not the one covered in blood or smiling his goodbye to you, but the one from earlier that day.

The tired and scared one, that was for trusting you.

Your fingers slowly tighten around your sleeves and then you stand up so suddenly that your knees almost give out again.

“Law...” your voice is hoarse.

You left him, a little kid, alone.

Your heart pounds so hard it hurts “No...”

You wipe your tears away with both hands, take one shaky breath and look forward, with a new mission in mind.

Your eyes are no longer empty, they’re determined. Still broken and still grieving, but determined.

“I already failed you once...” your voice trembles “I’m not failing you again.”

You start running and start looking everywhere for Law… until you hear a little kid crying.

You look ahead, and far in the distance you spot a small figure who keeps walking alone.

You don’t call his name and you don’t run to him… you simply follow, far enough that he won’t see you, but close enough that if danger comes you’ll reach him first.

Rosinante trusted you with the most precious thing he had and you almost forgot… but never again, even if Law hates you and even if he’ll never forgive you.

You’ll keep your promise for the rest of your life.

You stay hidden behind the trees, but fortunately for you, Law never looks back, he just keeps walking as his shoulders tremble and his little hands are balled into fists.

You wipe your eyes and you follow.

That first night alone… Law sleeps inside an abandoned house.

You stay outside, curled beneath the broken roof of an old shed across from it.

The wind is freezing, so you don’t sleep, even because every small noise makes your hand reach for the knife at your belt.

Morning comes and you see Law leaving before sunrise.

You follow him again, making sure he’s ok.

The second day… you see him stealing bread. The baker notices and Law runs, but the baker chases him.

You see Law hiding before the man can catch him. So you take that moment of confusion from the baker to quietly step into the alley behind him, and with a single kick, sending an empty barrel rolling across the street.

It crashes loudly and the baker jumps, turns and runs toward the noise instead, giving enough time to Law to escape.

The third day...

He develops a fever, you can see it in the way he walks slower and the way his breathing is heavier.

He hasn’t eaten since yesterday, so you wait until he falls asleep beneath an old bridge to leave medicine next to him, with fresh water and bread.

When he wakes you watch him stare at the little bundle. His brows knit together as he looks around and sees there's no one.

After a long moment and thoughts, he quietly takes it.

Days become weeks and weeks become months.

Your routine never changes.

Law walks and you follow.

Law fights and you step in only if his life is truly in danger.

Law steals sometimes but at this point you just steal first to give it to him before he even does it.

He never sees you, or at least you think he doesn’t.

Almost a year passes and Law grows taller, enough that his sleeves are beginning to look too short.

He’s stronger too, he doesn’t cry anymore, at least not where anyone can see.

One evening he suddenly stops walking and without even turning around he says “You’re terrible at hiding.”

Your heart skips, but then you slowly step out from behind the tree.

Law doesn’t even look surprised, he just sighs “I noticed months ago.”

You blink “...You did?”

He finally turns… he’s still just a child, but his eyes already become the eyes you’ll one day recognize in a pirate captain.

Sharp, calm and always watching everything.

“The medicine.” he points at you “The food. The Marines that kept disappearing… That was you.”

You lower your head “...Yeah.”

You expect him to yell and to tell you to leave, but instead he turns around again “You’re still annoying.”

You blink and then a tiny smile appears on your face “I know.”

He starts walking and you remain where you are, confused.

After several steps Law stops and, again, without looking back he says “Well?”

You tilt your head and he continues “Are you coming or not?”

Your eyes widen and a small laugh escapes you before you can stop it “...Yeah.”

From that day on you no longer have to hide.

Nothing changes, and yet… everything does.

You still don’t walk beside him, you naturally stay a few steps behind and Law never comments on it, but sometimes without thinking, he slows down enough for you to catch up.

You two stop in abandoned towns, sleep in empty buildings and share fires during cold nights.

Grief still sits between you… some wounds need more than time.

Law keeps training everyday. He cuts rocks with a stolen sword. Runs until his legs give out. Practices with his powers until blood drips from his nose.

One afternoon he collapses face-first into the grass.

You kneel beside him “Enough.”

“No.”

“You’re exhausted.”

“Again.” he tries to stand but falls immediately.

You cross your arms “You’re proving my point.”

Law glares “Cora-san would’ve let me keep going.”

You raise one eyebrow “Cora-san… would’ve carried you somewhere to eat, then pretended he didn’t.”

Law goes quiet and then a tiny snort escapes him “...Yeah.”

Years pass slowly and quietly.

The hatred disappears, but not because either of you talks about it, but because life keeps moving.

One day Law throws you a blanket “Take it.”

“You’ll freeze.”

“I’m warm enough.”

You know he’s lying, so you cut the blanket in half with an old knife.

He sighs “Idiot.”

“Learned from the best.”

For the first time Law laughs, small, but it sounds so much like Rosinante’s that tears immediately sting your eyes.

When Law is thirteen a white polar bear crashes into your lives.

Law saves Bepo while he’s being bullied by two boys named Shachi and Penguin, knocking them out with his devil fruit powers.

Bepo follows him in your “home” and slowly looks at you, who are watching at the two confused.

“...Hello.”

You burst into laughter and after that Bepo becomes family almost immediately, even if Law pretends otherwise.

“He’s loud.”

You look at him and say “He’s not, he’s cute and gentle… And actually? You’re louder.”

“Impossible.”

“You yelled at a fish yesterday.”

“It deserved it.”

Bepo giggles and Law groans.

A month later, you see Bepo and Law coming back with two unconscious boys… Shachi and Penguin. They tell you they found them like that and you don’t even have the time to say anything that Law starts giving orders on how to treat them. 

You look at him surprised and proud but you say nothing and just help.

After Shachi and Penguin recover, they both bow and say together “Thank you!” and then they look at Bepo and Law and say “Sorry for last time…”

You don’t even ask, you just let the kids be kids and, mostly, you let Law do his own things.

The four boys fill every quiet place with noise.

Sometimes you sit a little farther away, watching them laugh together and your chest warms.

Rosinante… he’s not alone anymore.

The years keep moving and the four boys grow.

Law’s devil fruit powers become stronger and every evening you still train together.

“Again.”

A blue sphere expands around you.

ROOM.

Your sword disappears and appears behind you.

You smile “Much faster.”

Law wipes sweat from his forehead “Not fast enough.”

“Compared to yesterday?”

He hesitates “...Better.”

You grin “Then that’s enough for today.”

“One more.”

“Law.”

“One.”

You sigh dramatically “You’re just as stubborn as he was.”

Law smirks “I know.”

Then one evening, when he’s already sixteen, Law finds you sitting alone outside, as you watch the sun disappear beyond the sea.

He quietly sits beside you “The ship is almost finished.”

You nod… you already knew. You’ve watched him draw those plans for months.

“So...” you smile “You’re finally going.”

He nods once and silence follows.

Then you whisper “Can I tell you something?”

Law hums.

“I loved him.”

He doesn’t look surprised, he simply nods and says “I know.”

You blink “...You knew?”

A small smile appears on his face “Cora-san made it obvious for both of you.”

You let out a tiny laugh “How?”

Law leans back on his hands, looking toward the sunset.

“After he saved me...” his voice softens “When he finally started talking to me… He couldn’t shut up about you.”

You cover your mouth.

Law continues, a little embarrassed “Every story of his somehow became about you.”

He begins counting on his fingers “‘She’ll scold me if she sees this burn’.”

Another finger: “‘She makes the best soup’.”

Another: “‘She’s stronger than she thinks she is’.”

Your vision blurs.

Law smiles “Then...”

His eyes lower and continues “One night...he thought I was asleep.”

Your heart pounds.

“He said...” Law closes his eyes, as if he can still hear Rosinante’s gentle voice “‘When all of this is over’...”

Silence.

“...‘I’m going to tell her I love her properly’.”

A sob escapes before you can stop it. Your shoulders shake but you smile through the tears.

All these years… wondering if those last words had only been spoken because he was dying. And now you know he truly meant them.

Law quietly hands you a handkerchief without looking at you.

You laugh at that through your tears “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After a while your breathing steadies and you look at him.

A young man… surrounded by people who love him and strong enough to protect them.

You smile proudly “I’m proud of you, Law.”

He sighs “You always say that.”

“Because every year you give me another reason.”

You gently straighten the collar of his coat, just like you used to when he was little.

He doesn’t stop you.

“You’ve become someone who protects others.”

“Only my crew.”

“Exactly.” you smile warmly “You’ve found your family.”

Law looks toward the sea, where his future waits.

Your voice becomes almost a whisper “Rosinante would be so proud of you.”

He doesn’t answer immediately, and when he finally does, his voice is quiet but certain “...I know.”

Then he looks at you “And...” he hesitates, as if the next words are too difficult “...he’d be proud of you too.”

You shake your head “No.”

“Yes.” his answer comes without hesitation “You think you failed him, but you didn’t.”

Your lips tremble.

Law gives you a small smile and continues “You kept your promise to him.”

Your eyes fill once more.

He stands, adjusts his sword at his side, and then, before walking back toward Bepo, Penguin and Shachi, he pauses. Without turning around, he says quietly “...Thank you.”

Only two words, but from Trafalgar Law? They’re worth a lifetime.

You watch him walk toward his future, toward the sea, toward the dream Rosinante died to protect, and for the first time, the promise resting on your shoulders no longer feels heavy.

You’ve spent years in Dressrosa… always moving, always watching, gathering names, places and secrets.

Waiting for the day the Heavenly Demon falls.

You always imagined doing it alone, and you never imagined seeing another familiar face there.

You stop walking when across the square you spot a man wearing a spotted white hat… who freezes too, for one long second...

He's taller now. Dark circles beneath tired eyes. A long sword rests against his shoulder.

But… you’d recognize him anywhere.

“...Law?”

His lips part ever so slightly, almost like he forgot how to speak.

“...It’s been a while.”

You don’t even think, you close the distance and wrap your arms around him.

He stiffens, and behind him, several strangers blink in surprise. A long-nosed man’s jaw drops. A dark haired girl smiles.

Law sighs but he doesn’t push you away.

You pull back just enough to cup his face “Look at you...”

Your eyes immediately become wet “You’re so skinny.”

Law deadpans “That’s your first comment?”

“Have you been eating good?”

“Yes.”

You narrow your eyes “You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You always wrinkle your nose when you lie.”

He immediately stops moving his face.

You smile triumphantly “See?”

The boy with the long nose tilts his head “He has people who scold him?”

Law pinches the bridge of his nose “Can we move on?”

Only then you notice where he is… Dressrosa.

Your smile fades and your stomach twists.

You look around at the city and then back at Law and your expression hardens as you say “...No.”

Law says nothing.

You take one step closer “Absolutely not.”

He sighs “I figured you’d react like this.”

“You’re here because of him.”

Law doesn’t deny it, instead he calmly asks you “Aren’t you here for the same reason?”

You hate that he's right.

You cross your arms “Yeah. But you’re too young for this.”

Law looks at you, then without missing a beat “And you’re too old.”

Silence.

The two Strawhats stare.

Your eye twitches “Oi.” you point a finger at him “I’m not that old!”

A tiny smirk appears on Law’s face.

Usopp practically shouts “He can smile?!”

Law ignores him.

You poke his chest “Listen here, brat.”

Another poke “I’m a pirate too.”

Another poke “I’m the one who trained you in the first place.”

Another poke “You’re still just a kid.”

You grin “Leave Doflamingo to me.”

The smile disappears from Law's face and his expression becomes unreadable.

Quietly he says “I’m twenty-six.”

You freeze as the words echo inside your head.

Law isn’t just telling you his age, he’s telling you that he’s ready to die, just like the man who saved him.

Your hands slowly fall to your sides “...I get it.”

Law says nothing.

You meet his eyes and shake your head as a sad smile appears “But this time...”

Your voice is steady “...I won’t stand still.”

Law opens his mouth, probably to argue, but you don’t let him.

You look around frowning “Where’s your crew?”

Your smile returns “I miss Bepo.”

Law doesn’t answer, he simply looks away.

Your smile slowly fades and your voice drops to a whisper “...Law. You left them.”

Now you understand… of course he did… he came here expecting not to return. He didn’t bring them because he refused to make them watch him die.

Like Rosinante… who locked you inside that wooden house.

You step closer, so that only he can hear you “You’re an idiot.”

Law lets out a quiet breath “I know.”

You smile sadly “No.”

You gently flick his forehead, just like you used to.

He blinks in surprise.

Then you say softly “You’re exactly like him.”

Law closes his eyes.

You take a deep breath and then turn toward the palace looming over Dressrosa.

Your hand settles on the hilt of your sword to give you courage.

The royal plateau trembles beneath every blow.

From below people scream, pirates run and fight.

Up here there are two men, one fighting for revenge and the other playing with him.

Law falls to one knee, his breathing is ragged.

Blood drips from his fingertips, from his chest, from wounds that refuse to close, as he struggles to stay standing.

Across from him Doflamingo smiles, relaxed and almost bored “Is that all?”

Law doesn’t answer but he forces himself upright again.

ROOM.

The blue sphere expands, he disappears and reappears behind Doflamingo.

Kikoku swings but Doflamingo blocks without even looking, strings wrap around the blade.

Another kick and Law is thrown across the rooftop, crashing through a broken stone. The impact steals the air from his lungs.

Luffy is still trapped fighting Bellamy.

Doflamingo slowly walks toward Law, hands in his pockets and smiling “You know… he looked just like you at the end. Broken.”

He takes another step “Bleeding.”

Another step “Still pretending he could protect someone.”

Law grips Kikoku tighter, so much that his knuckles turn white “Don’t...”

Doflamingo laughs “He died like a fool.”

Law suddenly lunges in a desperate slash, but it's too slow.

Strings catch the blade and then another kick.

This time Law doesn't get back up immediately.

A shadow lands between them.

Your sword catches the strings inches before they reach Law’s neck.

Sparks scatter across the rooftop.

Doflamingo’s grin widens in genuine amusement “Well...”

He slowly adjusts his sunglasses “Look who’s finally here.”

You don’t lower your sword.

Your eyes never leave his.

Years waiting for this moment.

Your voice is cold “Get away from him.”

Behind you Law exhales, almost in disbelief “...You finally came.”

You don’t look back “Of course I did. You really thought I’d let you do something this stupid alone?”

Law sighs “...Yeah.”

Doflamingo chuckles low and cruelly, “How nostalgic.”

He spreads his arms dramatically “Rosinante’s little wife!”

For years people assumed you and Rosinante were together but neither of you ever bothered correcting them. Sometimes you even played along to get free food or just for fun.

So instead, now you smile, but a sad one “Yeah.”

Law glances at you surprised.

Your eyes remain fixed on Doflamingo “And I’m here to finish what my husband couldn’t.”

For the first time Doflamingo’s smile slightly falters. Then he laughs louder than ever “Fuffuffuffu! Sure!”

The fight begins again, this time together, you and Law move without speaking.

Years of training, years of surviving, years of protecting each other.

Law uses his powers to make you disappear and reappear above Doflamingo. Your blade comes down but strings block it.

Law attacks from below while you force Doflamingo to dodge left, exactly where Law expected.

A shockwave tears through the rooftop, stone explodes beneath your feet.

“Still protecting him?” Doflamingo laughs while blocking another strike “my stupid brother really infected you.”

You answer with another slash.

The battle grows faster and harder.

Law’s breathing becomes heavier.

You notice immediately. He’s reaching his limit again.

Doflamingo notices too and so, he smiles.

Then suddenly he changes targets from you to Law. Hundreds of razor-thin strings burst toward him.

Law is already moving forward but you’re faster and you throw yourself between them.

The strings pierce your side and hot pain explodes through your body.

Your breath disappears and blood splashes across the stone.

Law freezes and his eyes widen “...No.”

Another string cuts across your shoulder.

Your sword slips from your fingers and it clatters loudly against the floor.

The sound echoes.

Your knees finally give out but Law catches you before you fall.

“No...”

Not again, not someone else, not because of him.

This is what both you and Law are thinking.

Law’s hands shake so badly he can barely hold you.

You smile weakly, trying to be exactly like Rosinante used to.

Doflamingo watches, laughing “How pathetic.”

He slowly walks closer.

“You really want to follow my idiot little brother into hell...”

He stops a few steps away, looking down at both of you “...just for this useless brat?”

You slowly lift your head, even if your vision is blurry and even if your whole body burns, your smile never disappears.

“Don’t call...” you try to say but blood fills your mouth making you cough.

Law grips you tighter “Don’t talk.”

You ignore him and your eyes remain on Doflamingo “...him...”

Another painful breath “...your brother...”

You slowly leave Law's grip and stand up. Your hand stays on the cut at your side “I...”

Your fingers tremble “...still have...”

A tear slips down your face “...a promise...”

You smile softly “...to keep.”

Something inside Law snaps. He stands.

His eyes are empty and way colder than you’ve ever seen them.

ROOM.

The blue sphere explodes around you all. Law vanishes and appears directly before Doflamingo. Kikoku crashes against awakened strings.

The impact shakes the palace and Doflamingo is actually pushed back. Only one step but it’s enough.

Then a voice echoes across the rooftop.

Luffy.

Doflamingo clicks his tongue “Finally.”

His attention shifts to Luffy for an instant and Law immediately turns back, toward you.

He kneels so fast he nearly slips on the blood. One trembling hand presses against your wound, while the other gently brushes your hair away from your face.

He’s breathing too fast. He reminds you so much of that little kid who cried for Rosinante, but he also looks so different from that time… now he’s trying to save someone else.

His voice is barely audible “...You kept your promise.”

You blink slowly, looking at him.

He smiles… a broken smile and says “Thank you...”

His throat tightens “...for raising me.”

Your eyes widen.

“For staying...” his voice cracks “For every meal...”

A shaky laugh, mixed with tears “...for every time you yelled at me...”

You try to answer, but nothing comes out.

Law gently squeezes your hand.

Then very quietly, like he’s finally speaking to both you and Rosinante he says “I can protect people now.”

He smiles through tears “...So let me protect you.”

ROOM.

You crash into someone’s arms. Usopp stumbles backward.

Your clothes are soaked in blood and your breathing is shallow.

Usopp’s face drains of color “LAW SENT HER HERE!”

You weakly grab Usopp’s sleeve as support, looking toward the distant rooftop, toward the captain who sent you away and a tiny smile appears.

He finally did it.

13 years ago Rosinante protected Law. Today you protected Law and Law protected you.

The promise isn’t just yours anymore, it became his too.

For the first time in years… Dressrosa is quiet.

People around are crying, laughing and holding each other after believing they would never see another sunrise.

You walk through the ruined streets slowly, carrying water and bandaging cuts.

The kingdom is broken but it’s alive again.

You smile to yourself.

Later you find Law standing alone at the edge of the harbor.

His hands rest in the pockets of his coat as he’s watching the sea.

You quietly walk beside him “So...”

Law glances sideways.

“You’re leaving again.”

He nods once “Yeah.”

You smile “Good.”

He raises an eyebrow “Good?”

“If you stayed in one place for too long, I’d start worrying.”

A tiny smirk appears “You worry anyway.”

“That’s true.”

He lets out a quiet breath that almost sounds like a laugh.

You both look toward the sea and then you softly say “I’m proud of you.”

Law sighs dramatically “You always start with that.”

“Because it’s always true.”

He doesn’t argue, he simply listens.

You fold your hands behind your back, looking at the waves “You’ve come farther than either of us imagined.”

A pause “You found your family.”

Another pause “You protected them.”

You smile softly “You smiled again.”

He clicks his tongue, but he doesn’t deny it.

You inhale slowly, the next words are the ones you’ve wanted to tell him for years as you watched his journey in the newspapers “Rosinante would be proud of you.”

Law’s little smile disappears and his eyes lower toward the water. For a long moment he says nothing.

Then, very quietly “...It’s not me who defeated him.”

You look at him.

His fingers tighten inside his pockets “Straw Hat did.”

You study him. Then you gently bump his shoulder with yours “And you think you did nothing?”

He looks at you confused and you smile warmly and patiently, like you used to when he was still a stubborn little boy refusing medicine.

“Who brought Luffy here?”

Law doesn’t answer.

“Who spent thirteen years chasing Doflamingo?”

Silence.

You continue anyway.

“Who trusted someone else enough to carry the dream when he couldn’t?”

Law lowers his head and your voice softens “Rosinante never wanted revenge.”

Law closes his eyes.

You already know he’s remembering him.

“He wanted children to smile.” your own voice begins to tremble “He wanted you...” a shaky breath “...to live.”

Law’s shoulders stiffen.

“That’s all he ever wanted.”

The harbor grows quiet around you and for a while neither of you speaks.

Then Law lets out a long breath, almost like he’s setting down a weight he’d been carrying for years “...You always sound like him.”

You blink, then laugh quietly “Do I?”

“Sometimes it’s annoying.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

A small smile returns to his face.

After another long silence Law suddenly speaks without looking at you “Come with me.”

You turn “Hm?”

He shrugs, trying to act and sound casual but failing “The crew… You haven’t seen them in years.”

You immediately picture Bepo laughing, Penguin complaining and Shachi shouting.

Your heart warms.

Law scratches the back of his neck “You should come meet them again.”

Your smile grows softer but then you gently shake your head “No.”

Law finally looks at you, not surprised but waiting.

You glance toward Dressrosa and smile.

“This...” you gesture toward the sea “This is your adventure.” then you shake your head “Not mine.”

Your eyes go on the kingdom “I think this place needs help getting back on its feet.”

Law follows your gaze and after a moment he nods as he understands.

You laugh softly and say “Tell Bepo I miss him.”

Law nods “I will.”

“And tell him… I’m proud of him too.”

Law nods again, then he gives you a look. You know that look… one eyebrow raised.

You laugh “Yes, yes...”

You roll your eyes dramatically “Tell the two other idiots I’m thankful for them too.”

Law snorts “They’ll be disappointed that’s all you said.”

“Good.”

He actually laughs softly and for just a second… you imagine how much Rosinante would be proud and happy right now, so much that your chest aches.

You smile small and gentle “I saw everything.”

Law looks at you.

“The Heart Pirates.” your eyes remain on the sea “Your Jolly Roger.”

A tear begins to gather “Everything you did.”

You smile anyway “Thank you, Law.”

He blinks “For what?”

Your voice barely rises above the wind “I’m glad...” a shaky breath “...someone is still reminding the world that Corasan existed.”

Law is quiet, then he answers “You do too.”

You look at him and he holds your gaze.

“Otherwise...” his voice is calm and certain “...you wouldn’t be here.”

Your smile trembles.

You quickly lower your head, you don’t want him to see, not again and not after all these years, but the first sob escapes anyway.

Your shoulders shake and your hands cover your face.

Your voice breaks completely “I...” another sob “I miss him so much...”

The words leave you in pieces, like they’ve been trapped inside your chest for thirteen long years.

Law says nothing, he simply stays beside you, close enough that you know you’re not alone, but far enough that he doesn’t take away your grief.

He understands that kind of pain isn’t meant to be fixed, but it can be shared to ease it.

You cry and he waits.

When your tears finally slow you wipe your eyes with an embarrassed laugh “Sorry.”

Law shakes his head “Don’t apologize.”

You smile sadly and then take one deep breath.

The sea stretches endlessly before you, and a new adventure waits for him while a different one waits for you.

You reach up and, just like you did when he was a child you straighten his collar.

Law doesn’t complain.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I’ll try.”

For a moment… you could swear you see a flash of pink and purple feathers dancing in the sea breeze.

Law picks up Kikoku and turns toward the strawhats.

Halfway there he stops without looking back, he lifts one hand in a small wave.

You lift your own, even if he can’t see it and you watch until he disappears.

“Look at this little guy I found!”

You turned around to greet your lover with a smile, but upon taking in the sight of him, confusion overtook your mind and body.

In the doorway, Rosinante stood sporting his goofy smile and feather coat as if it were just another day, but in his hand, he held up a small, grumpy boy by the back of his shirt.

“Rosi, love, why is there an angry child in your hand?”

“My name is Law!” The boy spoke up. He turned to look at Corazon over his shoulder. “Put me down!” He wriggled a little bit but could not escape Corazon’s grasp.

“He was the kid I was telling you about that was trying to join Doffy.”

“Why is he here? Did something happen?” You immediately grew worried. Rosinante had done everything in his power to keep you and your relationship a secret from Doflamingo, so something must have happened for him to bring Doflamingo’s protégé here to your shared, secret home.

“He needs my help, and I’m going to help him!” Rosinante’s smile grew wider.

“I do not! Put me down already!”

“Are you going to run?”

“Yes! You’re crazy!”

Looking at the scene, you quickly realized this boy was not a threat. Rosinante had told you plenty about him: a sick boy from Flevance with very little time to live and a lot of built-up rage. You couldn’t imagine what he had been through. If Rosi was going to help him, then so were you.

“Are you hungry?” Your words and soft tone surprise Law, pausing his squirming.  

“Umm, yeah.”

“Rosi, dear, can you put him down so you both can get ready for dinner?” You said as you walked up to Rosinante and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Immediately blushing, Rosinante replied, “Oh, yeah!”

As his feet hit the ground, Law pulled his hat down to hide his eyes, straightened his shirt, and took a step away, but did not run.

“Do you like onigiri, Law?”

“Yeah, I- I do.”

“Good! Now, the bathroom is right through there. Wash up, and I’ll make you a plate.”

A bit confused by the kindness but starving, he slowly headed in the direction you pointed.

At the boy’s departure, you turned to Rosinante. “You really think you can help him?” You asked as you tucked yourself into your husband’s side.

“I’m going to do everything I can to try.”

Looking up at him as he stared at the spot Law previously stood, you said, “You are a good man.”

As he turned to look down at you, he replied softly, “Only because I have a good partner at my side.” He leaned down to pull you into a kiss.

“EW! Can you guys stop that? It’s gross,” Law spoke, returning to the room. “Now, can we eat?”

You let out a small laugh as you grabbed Rosinante’s hand and led him and Law into the kitchen. You were quite glad Rosinante brought that little guy home.

Pairing: Trafalgar Law x Fem!Reader

Warnings: none — pure fluff, established relationship, domestic moments, soft Law, excessive sweetness ♡

Word count: ~1.2k

Summary:-

Law never expects something as simple as your habit of humming while doing chores to become his favorite sound. As he quietly falls into the rhythm of your melodies, the two of you create a small, unspoken tradition of shared hums and quiet mornings aboard the Polar Tang—proof that love is often found in the softest moments.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The first time he hears it, he almost drops the stack of medical reports in his hands.

It's early morning on the submarine, that quiet hour before the crew stumbles out of their bunks, when the only sounds are usually the hum of the engine and Law's own pen scratching against paper. But today there's something else threaded through it — soft, unhurried, a little off-key in the most endearing way. You're in the galley, sleeves pushed up, humming some tune he doesn't recognize while you stack clean mugs back onto their shelf.

He stands in the doorway longer than he means to.

It isn't even a song, not really — just a melody you're clearly making up as you go, drifting from one note to the next like you're not thinking about it at all. Which, he realizes, you probably aren't. You're just happy. Doing something as mundane as putting away mugs, and happy, and letting it spill out of you in sound because you don't know anyone's listening.

He should say something. Announce himself. Instead he leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed and lets himself have this a moment longer.

"You're staring," you say without turning around, and he startles — actually startles, Trafalgar Law, feared surgeon of death, caught flat-footed by a girl with dish soap on her hands.

"I was passing by."

"For four minutes?"

"I have excellent hearing. I was assessing structural integrity of the shelving." He nods at the mugs. "It looked unstable."

You laugh — that easy, unbothered laugh of yours — and go back to humming like he isn't even there, and something in his chest does an entirely unprofessional thing.

After that, he starts noticing it everywhere.

You hum while you braid your hair in front of the small mirror bolted to the wall, hair tie between your teeth so the tune comes out muffled and ridiculous. You hum while you sort bandages in the infirmary, alphabetizing supplies that don't need alphabetizing just to have something to do with your hands. You hum while you're halfway into your boots, one shoe on and one shoe forgotten, like getting ready is a background task to whatever song is playing in your head.

Sometimes it's a real song. Sometimes it's nothing at all, just melody for its own sake. He starts to be able to tell your moods by it — a slow, low hum when you're concentrating, something brighter and quicker when you're in a good mood, an absent little trailing-off when you're tired and don't quite realize you're still doing it.

He would never admit — not to Bepo, not to Shachi, certainly not to you — that he's started listening for it. That the sound of you humming down the corridor is how he knows you're close before he even hears your footsteps.

It happens by accident, the first time he joins in.

You're in the middle of getting ready, humming something soft while you fix your collar in the mirror, and he's sitting behind you at the small desk, ostensibly reading a chart. The melody loops back around on itself, familiar now after weeks of hearing it, and before he's really decided to do it, a low answering hum slips out of him — just a few notes, pitched to match yours, barely audible under his breath.

You go still.

He realizes what he's done half a second after you do, and for a moment neither of you says anything, your eyes meeting his in the mirror.

"That's the first time I've heard you sing."

"I wasn't singing."

"You were humming."

"There's a difference."

"Uh huh." But you're smiling, that soft private smile you don't wear for anyone else, and you turn back to the mirror and pick the melody back up right where you left off — leaving space in it, this time, like you're waiting to see if he'll fill it in again.

He does. Quietly. Just a thread of sound woven under yours, following where you lead because he doesn't know the tune well enough to lead it himself. It's clumsy and a little flat and it is, without question, the most content he's felt in longer than he can remember.

It becomes a thing, after that. Not every day — he's not going to serenade you over breakfast in front of the whole crew, and you seem to understand that without being told — but in the quiet in-between moments. Late at night when you're brushing out your hair before bed and he's pretending to read in the same room. Early mornings in the galley before anyone else is awake. The two of you, half a melody each, filling in what the other one starts.

Bepo catches them once — walks into the infirmary to find Law stitching a sleeve and humming so quietly it's almost subvocal, matching a tune you're singing properly this time, actual words and everything, some old lullaby you must have learned as a kid. Bepo backs out of the doorway without either of you noticing and doesn't say a word to anyone, mostly because he doesn't trust himself not to smile about it all day.

"You know," you say one evening, weeks later, your head on his shoulder while he reads and you hum something slow and drowsy into the quiet, "you have a nice voice. For someone who insists he doesn't sing."

"I don't sing."

"You've been humming the same four bars for ten minutes."

"It's stuck in my head. That's involuntary."

"Sure it is." You tip your face up, smiling at him, and he can't help the small, helpless curl of his own mouth in answer. "Involuntary Trafalgar Law, hopeless romantic."

"I'll have you removed from this submarine."