Law's morning started off with him waking up to the sound of police sirens passing by out on the street below. Followed by soft snores, and then the sudden realization his hoodie had become soaked with drool.

He figured sometime during the night the two of them must have knocked out. Luffy had ended up using him as a human body pillow, still fast asleep.

Closing his eyes, he thinks about September. How broken he was, like the beer bottles he'd shatter behind an alleyway near the bridge twenty minutes out into the city. He thinks about Luffy buying him coffee and already knowing how he takes it. Teeth clenched, chest tight to match his fists. Licks his dry lips only to taste poetry in his mouth, pulling metaphors out from between his teeth.

The living room was only a bit brighter than it had been last night, only a flicker of sunlight shined through the curtains. Law blinked a few times to get his eyes to adjust, and looked for the nearest clock. It ticked second after second, reading 11:54am. Even with more than five hours of sleep, he still felt tired and drained of energy.

"Hey," Law called out, "Luffy." Didn't get much of a response verbally as he did physically, Luffy shook his head into his chest. Law tried to slide out from under him, but when he'd felt Luffy's deadly tight hold on his torso, the most he could do was sit upright.

Slouching forward, Luffy's head slid to his thighs. With shaky fingers, he pushed his fingers through Luffy's hair. Massaging his scalp, receiving a couple low groans from Luffy's throat, vibrating against his thigh.

"Come on. It's almost twelve."

"Ten more minutes." He mumbled, and Law rolled his eyes. Stopped moving his hand around, only to leave it flat pressed against Luffy's scalp.

"At least let me go, I need to shower." Luffy did no such thing, so Law had to pry his hands off. They'd both slept without a blanket, and though it didn't make any difference now, Law pulled the lone throw he kept on the edge of the couch over Luffy, and left him to the couch.

He tugged off his hoodie and threw it into the empty laundry bin in the bathroom. Turned on the water, and stepped in. Oh how much he missed his shower. Sure, he'd have showers at the hospital, but they usually made him get out if he was in there for longer than ten minutes. Here, at his home in his shower, he could stay under the hot water trickling down his back for as long as he pleased. Life's little guilty pleasures he could indulge in with no one to stop him.

Or at least until he used up all the hot water.

When Law returned to the living room, he found Luffy not on the couch where he'd left him. Instead, he was on the floor. Curled up in a ball like he hadn't fallen half a foot to the ground. How Law didn't hear a body hit the floor was questionable. He walked over to the large window, pulled the curtains back and stared out at the gloomy looking sky and half melted snow that covered the streets.

He walked over towards Luffy, needing no more than three long strides, and crouched down between the coffee table and the lone sofa chair to hover over him. "Luffy," Stuck his hand back to ruffle his hair, hoping he'd wake up.

"I said ten more minutes..."

"Yeah, and it's been forty." He'd been a little too invested in his shower.

"Mmm lemme 'lone." Luffy groaned, his eyes only opening half way for a second before closing once again once the sun hit his eyes.

"Come on princess, don't make me get the whip out."

"You have one?" Luffy asked in a low voice, eyes still closed. Why that happened to catch his attention, Law had no idea.

"No. Are you into that? Is that how you want to be woken up?"

"No I just had a crazy dream."

"Oh yeah? Indulge me in this dream of yours that involved me owning a whip." Law's hand still tangled with Luffy's dark strands of hair, and at this point he was convinced it was only putting Luffy back to sleep.

Luffy only chuckled, lifted his head a little to see more eye to eye with Law, "I didn't know you were that kinky." He said.

"There's quite a lot you don't know." He gave Luffy a half smile, "Now come on, get up. It's much too early for you to be flirting like this."

"You suck." Luffy mumbled, and let his head fall back onto the pillow that had managed to drop to the floor with him.

"I can," Law began, standing up from his crouched position, "but I'd like to eat first. Didn't you say you missed brunch?" Luffy's eyes instantly opened, and if Law knew it was this easy to get him to wake up, he'd have done it sooner.

But rather than Luffy commenting on what in particular Law would be making for brunch, or throw in his own suggestions, he smiled up at him from the floor. "You seem happy."

"Yeah? Definitely must have been the shower I had."

"Yeah, sure."

"Did you have another possible reason behind it?"

"Yeah, I think it's me. I mean- not to sound cocky. But I work wonders."

"You're right. That was cocky. But perhaps I can give you a small percentage of credit, if that'll kiss up to your ego."

"My ego isn't what wants the kissing." Luffy pouted, lying on his belly still on the floor, despite the bribery with food Law had offered. Upon other things.

"Luffy, flirting. Get up and change, also wipe the drool off the floor." Law said, walking over and leaning down to pull the pillow from underneath his head. He smiled and threw it back on the couch, raising an eyebrow as if to say get the hell on with it.

"You fiend!" Luffy began, rolled back onto his back to look at Law, who stood over him, "No good morning, just demanding I get out of bed! The nerve!"

"You're on the floor and you've got dried up saliva on your chin, I wouldn't kiss you even if you begged me to."

Luffy's hand reached for his chin, immediately, he felt what Law was talking about, "Shut up!"

"Did you enjoy your dream that much?" Law teased and Luffy, finally, sat up and pressed his back against the couch.

"Ha-ha Law the comedian. You'd be a great stand up act, you know?"

"I think I'll pass. That's more up your alley."

"So what's up yours then?"

"Go brush your teeth and come back to find out." Law told him and walked over to the kitchen.

"You're no fun."

"I can be fun but I like to make my own mess, not play in someone else's." Law said, pointing to Luffy's hair and well, state.

"You know," Luffy stretched and groaned as he walked towards the hall leading to the bathroom, "you've got a really comfy couch."

"That, I'm well aware of."

"What else are you aware of?" Luffy questioned, one hand rubbing his belly, the other pushing his hair out of his eyes that have yet to adjust to the light.

"Right now? That line of dried up drool. It's very prominent right now."

"Stop using big words m'minds not awake yet." Luffy told him, flipped him the bird and walked towards the bathroom that was still steamy from Law's almost hour long shower. He had to wonder if he'd left even a drop of hot water left, but Luffy felt a cold shower could help more, in terms of waking him up.

Luffy, now wide awake thanks to Law's lack of compassion in leaving hot water for he who also needed a shower, walked into the kitchen. Towel hanging off his shoulders, hair wet and dripping. He took a deep breath of whatever Law had cooking over the stove, and looked so in love.

"Better?" He asked, Law leaned in to place a chaste kiss to his lips.

"Much."

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did."

"Are you happy I stayed?" He let Law play with his damp hair, inhaled deeply to smell the coffee he'd started brewing.

"Very." Though Law still sounded sleepy, he also sounded grateful. "I'm very happy you stayed. You smell like me."

"Well excuse me," Luffy said, "I didn't exactly have time to bring over my shower caddy."

"Not a complaint." Luffy smiles at the half assed kiss up compliment he knows Law only says because it's his scent. Luffy walks around the breakfast bar to plop himself on one of the cushioned stools while watching Law mix up batter.

"You're staring." Luffy remarked, to Law's own surprise. He hadn't meant to.

"Tell me something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, something. Anything." Law urged, turning to pour himself a cup of coffee in a large brown mug, then filled one up for Luffy. Luffy squinted and gave a deep hum.

"About? You can't be that vague, what the hell am I supposed to tell you? That robin's are red and blue jay's are blue?" Luffy asked, blowing into his own mug while he watched Law walk to the fridge and return with a carton of cream. He makes a mental note to thank Rocinante for actually grocery shopping.

Law tilted his head, an angle that gave him a better look at Luffy's scar. "About yourself. Tell me something interesting," he explained. Opening the carton of cream for Luffy- who he knew wouldn't drink it otherwise. He could take it dark, he always had.

"Well give me a second so I don't think up something that'd bore you." Luffy gives him a little pout Law tugs at with his thumb and index fingers with his free hand. Putting down the carton to reach for the jar of sugar on the countertop and slid it across the breakfast bar for Luffy. Thanking him, he took a couple dozen spoonfuls and dumped it into his coffee. Which by now, had become just sugar and cream with a hint of caffeine.

It'd been a couple of second of Luffy humming to himself and looking around the kitchen while stirring his beverage. Eyes often darting to the batter on the counter just waiting to be made into pancakes before he caught Law's gaze.

"Don't give me that "anytime now" look! I don't know, that's a lot of pressure to put on someone." Luffy cursed his own frustration, took it out on his cream and sugar by blowing into it hard enough for a few drops to hit his nose. Physics.

"You normally have a ton of things to say and now you can't think of a single one?" Law raised an eyebrow.

"Not anything that'd interest you." He groaned and scratched the back of his head, hair still a little damp.

"Are you a mind reader?" Law asked.

"No, but-"

"Tell me. I want to know, otherwise I wouldn't be asking." He said and left it to Luffy's continue or keep up his displeased expression.

"Uh... you know people eat three square meals a day?" Luffy started and Law raised a brow, wondering where this was going. "I eat five, well I like to- I'm still growing! I'm trying to hit 5'11 that way I'm not that short-" Luffy paused midway when he noticed Law's expression fall flat of his expectations.

"Hey I told you it was a lot of pressure!"

"You told me something I could have guessed right if you'd given me a multiple choice question."

Luffy smiled. "Yeah, but isn't it much more fun hearing it from me? Like straight out of the books. But verbal." He wiggled his eyebrows and Law leaned back against the counter, which put a little distance between the two of them.

Law took a few sips of his coffee before he determined it was too hot, "So you're an audio autobiography." He offered.

"I could be, yeah. The tale of Luffy, almost but not quite there pirate who had to settle for a university education! What a tale!" He shouted, his chest pushed out and head held high along side his arms.

"New York Times best seller, I'm calling it." Law tipped his mug for him, some sort of early on congrats to the award and Luffy bowed in acceptance.

"It'd be made into a movie too, I think. Four parts, to get it all in."

"Yeah? Who would you want to play as you?"

"Myself, obviously." He grinned, "No one could compare. I think they'd all try but fall short of the role I'd want to see on the big screen so, I'd do it myself."

Law hummed into his mug, pulling it away from his lips to speak. "And your co-stars?"

"I dunno, I'd have to think." His brows furrowed as he shut his eyes and tilted his head back, only for a brief moment before they found themselves locked with Law's again. "No one too old though, maybe you could be in it. Unless another tall and tattooed guy walks on set, you might have to rock paper scissors for it. I can't pick sides."

"How very noble of you, though your loyalty there is lacking. You shouldn't even have to choose it should be a given."

"Oh yeah? Then the other guy, definitely." Luffy smiled.

"Understandable."

"Your turn." Luffy smacked a single hand down on the counter and inquired, though it wasn't phrased that way.

"What?"

"You have to tell me something now, something like equivalent exchange, right?" He smiled while looking up at Law, who had the slightest smirk across his face.

"Hardly. I don't think there's anything else for me to tell you."

"Sure there is. There's a shit ton of stuff you could tell me. I like small details about people. Like I know Zoro's favourite drink is booze, and he's super into Kendo! You could tell me uh, your favourite colour, season, meal, instrument-"

"Yet you couldn't think of a single one of those?"

"You asked for something interesting, I'm just asking generally. I could tell you all that but I think you'd forget."

"I wouldn't forget, who do you take me for?" Law asked, eyes narrow and locked with Luffy's.

"I dunno, someone who forgets things, maybe. You know you always have that "talk to me n' I'll punch you through a wall" look." Luffy crossed his arms, as if to insinuate Law did that every chance he had. He definitely didn't. Did he?

"And what does that have to do with my memory capabilities?" Eyebrow raised, he walked back to close the distance between them, though the breakfast bar did prove to be an obstacle.

"Good point, maybe I misjudged you."

"Maybe. Or I could have a terrible memory, you'll never know." Law leaned forward, elbows pressed to the cold rock of the countertop. Mug cupped between his tattooed hands.

"I'd find out eventually, if you forgot my birthday or something. Or my name."

"How would I forget your name?"

"Amnesia?" Luffy offered a suggestion Law wasn't expecting and laughed.

"What are the off chances of me succumbing to amnesia, exactly?" He asked, teeth pressed to his bottom lip in a smirk.

"I dunno, it's early, my brain had a fart." Luffy said with a yawn, "You gonna tell me your fav things or should I think of a super interesting question?"

"Fine. Yellow- don't ask me why, it's ironic, but that's what it is. Autumn, anything without bread and the piano."

"Piano? Can you play?"

"Of course I can't."

"Then why's it your favourite?"

"Dunno, Beethoven was an incredible man. Maybe I just like that he did it while being deaf." He shrugged. No one ever asked him so he never had an answer prepared.

"That's twisted."

"That's genius." Law had an enigmatic smile plastered on his face the way he would if he'd drank too many beers. Luffy couldn't find a reason in him to complain about the million dollar smile.

"Hm... how about your best memory?"

"My best memory? I can't remember what I even ate for dinner last night."

"We didn't have dinner, just four bags of popcorn. Hey- see! I told you you had memory issues." He chuckled and pointed a finger at him, only to have it caught by Law's tattooed ones.

"Could be the lack of sleep."

"Or you've got amnesia."

"You can't get that from listening to a certain idiot talk all day, so I'm positive it's not that."

"Harsh. Is that like, a pet name? Should I go around callin' you bastard or asshole all the time cause you call me idiot?"

"I hardly call you idiot, idiot. It just comes out quicker than your name does." Law hadn't realized he still had a hold on Luffy's index finger until his hand went for his coffee. Seeing as Luffy didn't try to take it back, he must have not minded.

"That's no fair, now you sound like my gramps." He pouted, and curled his fingers into the handle of his own mug which he'd hardly drank from due to the excessive amount of talking.

"In what way, exactly?" Law wondered if Luffy would go into not excessive detail, but detail enough. He only knew limited about his family and now that it'd been brought up in a way, found himself curious.

"The idiot way. I mean, he calls me that, or did. I haven't talked to him in a long time, but I bet every once in a while he mumbles it under his breath." Luffy half heartedly laughed to himself before he caught the look of interest Law was giving him. Urging him to continue without interrupting him. "When I told him I was gonna keep goin' to school I thought he'd be proud or something. But instead he got mad at me for going in uh, blind, as he said I think. Cause I didn't have a major or anything, I was just kinda wingin' it."

"Why didn't you tell me that? That's much more interesting than your eating habits." Law smiled but could tell Luffy wasn't big on the topic. He couldn't blame him. If he'd been asked he'd probably react worse, a lot less verbal, much more physical.

"Cause no one likes to hear the whole family thing, I don't ever ask cause no one likes to talk about it either. Unless they've got the perfect family but let's be honest everyone's flawed." Luffy yawned once more, all this before his meal was wearing him out. Words kept coming, though. Law's facial expression didn't seem to show off any resentment. "Hell, Nami could tell me her mom, sister, plus her make the perfect three woman household, but I still wouldn't believe her. People fight all the time." He wasn't sure if he was babbling, but the more Law didn't tell him to shut up, the more inclined he was to continue.

"That's hypothetical."

"That's realism! You fight with Roci don't you? Maybe not crazy arguments but small shit that bugs you for a couple hours in the day at least." Luffy responded with a purse of his lips and looked to the side for a few seconds. Law didn't understand at first but he speculated maybe one of their own arguments made him feel that way. By the time it clicked and he opened his mouth to apologize (though it'd been months since), Luffy continued on his own. "Me n' Sabo do all the time, it's normal. People get under other people's skin but it's only cause they care, I think. I know he does it a lot especially if I don't call when I'm not coming home, he loses his shit."

"Anyone would in that situation. Hell, I would too." Law reassured him.

"I think it's mostly cause of Ace, him being gone I mean. He's gotta be the bigger big bro now and takes it too seriously." He shifted in his seat, Law could tell he was getting a little bit agitated. Not to mention he'd been eyeing the bowl of batter.

"Hm. He sounds like a good guy." Law coaxed, and turned on the stove, setting the pan on the burner.

"He is, yeah. I'm lucky cause I got two really good brothers not just one. Or none! Could you imagine?! I'd probably be at the bottom of a ditch for ten years!" Luffy laughed, this time whole heartedly. Smile very resemblant of the sun, Law thought.

"Then I'll thank them for being there for you since you're here, and not a skeleton under bugs and dirt."

"Me too, I'm happy I could be here. Bugs are cool, but I think you're maybe a little bit cooler."

"A bit?"

"A little bit."

"Well, I'm flattered. You shouldn't hand out such hefty compliments like that at this time of day. You don't know what'll happen." Law tapped the hand that reached for the empty bowl of batter. He figured Luffy wanted to make sure was absolutely clean of it, presumably by sticking his finger into it.

Luffy frowned at the tap, however his smile couldn't help but creep back. "I love surprises so saying that only makes me want to do it more."

"Unfortunately, my magic hat is out of surprises for today. But come tomorrow, and maybe there'll be a little something."

"Only a little?"

"Depends on my mood."

"Mine too, I get cranky when I don't eat." Law already knows this, and has to admit the smell isn't too displeasing to his own senses either. He can only imagine what it's doing for Luffy, no doubt torturing him even more with his lack of patience.

Law asked him to watch over the stove while he went out for a smoke. Luffy asks him if he should be doing that, and Law says it doesn't make as big of a difference as he'd think.

It was a bold faced lie Luffy foolishly bought into.

He walked to the balcony. It was cold, he was barefoot and the cement floor under him felt like it would give way any moment. He didn't really care. There was something Law knew when he was with Luffy that he couldn't quite remember when he was away. He spent time staring out at the sun that's nearly covered in dark clouds that are already bringing down light flakes of snow. He hopes all the staring could make his eyes bright again. With shaky fingers, he brought a cigarette up to his lips, held it in place with his teeth as he flicked his lighter. He heard Luffy- vaguely- shout the food looked good enough to eat. He just hoped he wouldn't burn anything in the three minutes Law would need to unwind.

It was January, and Luffy's clawing his way up his throat and into his mind now.

It's January and the way Luffy kissed him made the soil in between his ribcage felt like spring time again.

Luffy made flowers grow between his bones. And he'd be so damned if any of this ever came out in a form that wasn't a mental metaphor.

His eyelashes looked like daisies. He'd be so fucking damned.

He was a sunrise with two eyes and a strong heartbeat.

Maybe it was because they were both a little broken. Maybe it was because they weren't when they were together.

"Law!"

He was snapped out of his thoughts by both Luffy's voice, and the sweet smell of maple. Calling him in, telling him their (slightly burnt) pancakes were ready. Law realized his cigarette had gone out, only having taken three drags. He'd been completely distracted by his thoughts.

He inhaled the cold harsh frost, exhaled making his lungs feel clean again, and walked inside. His toes curled at the warmth of the floor compared to the cold of the balcony. Watching Luffy slide back onto one of the seats. Telling him to hurry up and shut the balcony door before the whole apartment got cold with the occasional harsh breeze of cold air. He had no idea how Law went out for longer than ten minutes without a jacket. Law only hearing, not so much comprehending all the chatter coming out of Luffy's mouth. Because it wasthe first day he'd been home. He sat down next to Luffy while vigorously rubbing his reddened hands, and he thought he'd like to, and could, get used to this.

Luffy repeatedly guaranteeing Law that his friends were good people replayed in the back of his head. Luffy had noticed Law was anxious, the two of them walking alongside each other down the main streets, sidewalks covered in a fresh coat of snow. So cold patches had frozen, the ice groaning underneath the hard plastic soles of their winter boots. Luffy's hands in Law's warm navy coloured gloves, holding onto a hot chocolate that acted as a portable heater. One of Law's hands stuffed into his jacket pocket, the other holding a large dark roast coffee he occasionally took sips of.

Luffy had a scarf wrapped around his neck and the lower half of his head so many times Law wonders if he can even breathe through it. Through a muffled voice, Luffy tells him he can. That's reassuring.

It was the second Monday of the month, Law felt like he was running on fumes and that might not be the best start to going back to school. But it was the best he could give. Luffy was talking about meeting up when his class ended, Law was listening, but it kind of went in one ear and out the other. He was envying the dead trees. Sure, it'd occurred to him that it was a little strange for him to be no short of jealous of a tree. Dead, but still providing oxygen for those that walk by to breathe in.

Quite honestly, it was a weird way of looking at things. He wouldn't be surprised if he'd received a look that read "what the hell?" from Luffy if he'd told him. So he kept his mouth shut, tries not to wander off in his own train of thought and keep up a conversation that Luffy, seems to be into.

The day was another where a blanket of never ending dreariness flooded the skies, the fourth day in a row it'd been like this. Law didn't seem to mind as much as Luffy did. He'd much rather it be sunny and bright out.

If Law could get the words out he'd tell Luffy he was the sun. He thinks his smile illuminates everything it touches from millions upon millions of miles away. Could blind him with the genuine passion that radiated off his surface.

Instead, he agreed. Told him the weather was just absolute shit.

Which it was.

But it's not what he wanted to say.

He wanted to tell Luffy about how appreciative that on days like this, he'd have the courage, the boldness, to hold him. To kiss his skin and bring back his colour.

None of that managed to find its way past the lump in his throat.

"Are you okay?" He heard Luffy ask through his muffler, Law nodded.

"Yeah, it's just cold as shit." He said, clenched the fist that was in his jacket pocket tighter in hopes it'd keep his hand a bit warmer. His other, bare, from lending Luffy his gloves. Luffy let out a harsh breath Law could see come out through his scarf in brisk air.

"We're almost there. It's too bad the buses were too slow, at this rate we'll probably get there before they do." Luffy grumbled, complained about the weather ruining their method of transportation. Law doesn't mind walking with him, he'd missed the fresh air. Missed the refreshing feeling he always got when talking- mostly listening- to Luffy.

"That's gross ew, I just ate!" Luffy shouted, turned his head to look back to the sidewalk they were walking on. Law also turned to his left to see what Luffy was disgusted by. It was just a corpse of a squirrel on the street that every car seemed to be swerving to avoid dismembering any further.

The sight of dead animals on the street made him cringe more than dead trees. The thought of someone ramming their car into an animal was more unsettling than anything. He couldn't envy that if he tried. No matter what he could do, he couldn't imagine himself like that.

The less enjoyable, yet familiar feeling of walking down halls filled with hundreds of students, seemed to find its way into Law's core. It sent near shivers he would have in an ice storm though his body. He already hated being back and it'd only been about ten minutes.

It was only when he heard an even more familiar voice he began to really tense up.

"Yo! Law!" Bright red found it's way through the crowd and offered a light slap on Law's back.

"What the hell?"

"You never told me you were coming back! When'd that happen? Bonney's going to be so hyped to see you!" Kid exclaimed in the middle of a large crowd trying to get past the two who've stopped walking to stand and block the way. He was dressed in a large olive green winter jacket, one that made him look even bigger than he already was. His hair out and about, as if to make a bold statement. Which given the colour, it did.

"We don't exactly keep in constant contact, Kid. How would I have told you?" Law asked. A professor by way he looked, telling them they shouldn't just stand in the way of everyone else.

"I dunno, do it the way the cavemen did it. Or you know, text." Kid nudged him toward a narrow hall that had significantly less people. The two walked to it before another person told them to move.

"I had other things on my mind."

"Fair enough, jeez. You had your coffee right? You're still so prissy in the morning, like nothing ever changed." Kid let out a bit of a laugh at the memory of Law always coming to school grumpy. At least, until the two skipped their second period class to grab coffee and donuts.

"I did, it's just weird being back."

"Anxiety, right?"

"Yeah." Law's impressed by the brush up of knowledge Kid's done in the past few years. Not as much as Kid thinks, but he puts on a proud face that oozes egotistical bastard anyways.

"Well I have no fucking idea how to help you calm down, but if you've got any suggestions-"

"Just shut up. And stop being loud, people keep staring. Not helping."

Kid, took a look around. Saw maybe, less than a dozen people, "There are like, six people in the hall-" He said before Law cut him off with a near snarl.

"Six people too many. Plus you, makes seven, so shut up, please."

"You know I hate being told to shut up, even if it's by you Trafalgar."

"Yeah? I could list off a lot of things I hate that you do too, but then we'd never get to class." Law told him, Kid only laughing in return. Felt a little nostalgic, the weird kind. Where it was a little awkward and unsettling, but felt too familiar to be too off putting. He'd dealt with Kid and his shit for years, that now even after all the time they hadn't spoken, it still felt like it was normal.

"What building is your class in?" Kid asked as the two went past large double doors in the main hall.

"Why, you planning on stalking me there?"

"Like hell asshole. Just making sure you don't have a mental break down before you get there."

Law looked at Kid with wide eyes, "Who are you?" He asked, the smile he was going to give getting caught by a yawn.

"Shut up, damn you're still as annoying as ever."

"You're absolutely no different." Law said. Kid scoffed before flashing a smile Law almost didn't catch. In the weird way it felt his old friend was back and felt a little less alone in the world, though he still loathed the past. It was just something he'd have to learn to get over if he wanted to make something of the future.

"Now that you're y'know, out n' all-"

"Why do you make it sound like I just spent ten years in prison?" He raised his eyebrows and Kid gave him a light shove. Law seemed even skinnier than he'd last remembered.

"Shut up, let me talk- don't cut me off! I'm tryna help your sorry ass over here, so listen up. My grandpa needs help at his record shop, you know the one? We used to hang around there after class." Kid told him, refreshing his memory a tad.

"Or during class." Law remembered and Kid nodded.

"Yeah. He needs help and I'm working at this auto shop everyday so I can't give him a hand, n' you're the next best person. I mean- he knows you so it's no big fuckin' deal." Kid reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to Law he couldn't say no to.

"You want me to work for him?" Eyebrows raised, he played with the cigarette between his fingers as they got closer to the exit of the building. Eager to take a long drag.

"Don't think of it as work, it's just fuckin' around. You could be on your phone the whole time as long as you cash out whoever wants to buy his old ass shit." Kid told him, tucking the cigarette behind his ear. Oddly complimented his flaming red hair Law had always thought was the result of drug store hair dye.

"Why are you asking me, exactly?"

"Did you not just hear me? I need a megaphone or something? He knows you, n' I don't think you'd go out of your way to steal six Lennon records or anything. Get back on your feet n' shit. It'd be good for you."

"How's sitting in that shop for six hours going to help me exactly?" Despite asking, he hummed to himself at the thought of not being home all the time. Also in a bad way, because sometimes he didwant to be home all the time. He hadn't even accepted and already had anxiety about it. What if he felt so depressed one day? The ones where he can't even bring himself to shower,but was expected to show up for the next eight hours of a shift no one else could cover?

"Hey it's money isn't it? Better than being at home with nothing to do but uh- study."Kid said like it was all Law did at home.

"Right." Gave Kid a harsh roll of the eyes, "I'll think about it." He said, and flung open the door towards the larger buildings further into the campus outside. Cold air hitting his still numb face from earlier. He'd only been inside for ten minutes; his fingers were still tough to move. They had a bit of a prickly feeling to them. Joints frozen like he had frostbite. Wouldn't be all too surprised if he did after Luffy snatched his gloves.

"Yeah? You do that, but don't take ages." Kid pointed in the direction Law was headed to show him which building was which. Now outside, Kid lit his own cigarette and turned to offer a light to Law. "Man isn't getting any younger." He finished off and headed to the building opposite Law's with a wave and a puff of smoke while saying 'Cya'.

He stood outside and finished his own cigarette, fingers now redder than he'd ever seen them. Threw the butt to the floor before taking one last breath of the cold air. Heading inside the large building that he'd just have to get used to being a home away from home for the next four months.

Luffy had repeatedly texted him, asking when his class ended. Where he was. He'd never replied, because Luffy managed to find him anyways. He'd said it was the tattered ripped jeans and the smell of cigarettes. Reminded him he should quit, but bad habits die hard.

"C'mon I'm starving, my friends are already getting us food so when we get there we don't have to wait." Luffy grabbed him by the arm, one of the less public displays he'd done in the past and dragged him to the main food court that the school had.

"You mean so you don't have to wait, you know I don't care."

"Yeah, but it's uh, killing two birds with one stone. Getting two orders of food with one wait in line? I don't know." Luffy trailed off when he'd realized it wasn't making any sense. Law found himself chuckling to what he'd tried to say.

When the two arrived, Law noticed the green haired man he met back when he'd just met Luffy, waving to signal where they were sitting. He also noted the ginger haired girl sitting by his side, and the blonde with questionable eyebrows. Another one of Luffy's friends who was nearly as loud as him called out to them to hurry the hell up.

"Is that tall, dark, and handsome?" Nami jokingly asked, Zoro scolding her for the slip up he'd made once before.

"Excuse me?" Law asked and Nami sat up from her seat, swatted the air as if it'd make him forget.

"Nothing it was a uh... a joke. I'm Nami, you must be Law?" She extended her hand to shake his own, Law reluctant to, but saw Luffy's flashing smile and accepted.

"Yeah." He said. Zoro stood up next and gave him some sort of handshake he really couldn't be bothered with, Sanji only sitting and shaking his hand next. Usopp giving him a tough smack on the back saying he was glad to finally meet Luffy's other. He didn't get what the man, who introduced himself as Usopp, had really meant, but got a little too drowned in the sweet smell of his lunch to care. He almost felt like Luffy.

"Where ya been man? Haven't seen you in a while." Zoro questioned while drinking what smelt like booze but was reassured it was non alcoholic by Sanji.

"Just... here and there."

"I thought Luffy said you didn't go to school?" He asked, looking at Luffy then back at Law. Another question. Law felt like this was some odd interrogation.

"I didn't. I just reenrolled, so."

"Ah, sick. What're you doing? Like, major, minor? Masters?"

"Uh, bio. Pre-med. If shit goes by well." Law said and it was the first time telling anyone aside from Rocinante or Luffy what he actually wanted to do.

"Woah shit, so you're like, really smart?" Nami intervened and Law only shook his head. He was too modest.

"Law's super smart, he got me a B+ on my essay!" Luffy stepped in; the four of his friends faces immediately turning sour.

"So that's how you did it." Zoro sighed.

"I was wondering how you got a mark higher than Sanji's." Nami pouted and poked at her food, Usopp agreeing.

"That's why you made that bet?" Sanji asked, fiddling with a cigarette between his fingers.

"What bet?" Law raised an eyebrow at the sudden question.

"He bet us each $20 he would get above a 65% on his essay. None of us thought he would-" Nami began, sighing as the sudden realization as to why he'd made the bet came to light.

"HEY!"

"-so we all agreed. He was $80 richer that day." Usopp finished for her, scowling at Luffy's smiling face that was too pure to have any evil intent behind it.

Law turned to Luffy, "You never told me that."

"Yeah 'cause we had our own bet, it was a secret."

"So what'd you do with the money then?" Sanji asked him, "blow it on food?" he suggested, and when Luffy looked to the side, the four of them sighed.

"Good to know where my hours at work go. Straight into that black hole you call a stomach." Nami groaned as Luffy picked at her food, as well as his own, and Law's. The other three swatted his hand away each time it'd wander towards their plates of Chinese.

Law found himself oddly enjoying his time with Luffy and his four new... acquaintances. Friends, maybe.

"I'm gonna go for a smoke." Law said, and watched as Sanji stood up after him.

"I'll come too." He looked like he'd been waiting for someone to go, itching to light up his own.

The two walked towards the nearest exit, where a couple other people were smoking or chatting. Sanji held up the lighter, to which Law thanked him for. His own hands much too cold to fumble and dig in his pockets for his own.

"I believe Zoro's the only one you've met before us, right? Where'd you meet Luffy?"

"Ah, yeah," Law said with an exhale of smoke. What could he say? He just saved his life, is all. "At this cafe, he just started talking, really."

"Sounds like something he'd do." Sanji told him, taking a drag of his own cigarette and breathing out into the cold air. "He talks about you a lot, even over break. Whenever we'd hang and he'd be down- which was more frequent than we've ever seen- he'd bring you up. Kid's whipped." Sanji laughed, letting out the cigarette smoke from his lungs as well. Law only took another hit of his own, not sure of what to tell him.

"Just don't uh, hurt the kid. I think all of us would be pretty upset if something were to happen to him, he's a good person. It's really unsettling to see him upset too, so." Sanji told him, looking up at the sky, noticing it'd begun to snow again.

"I know, I get it. I don't like seeing him that way either it's... not him."

"Yeah. I mean," Throaty exhale, "it's none of our business what goes on between you two. We're rooting for ya, you seem like a decent guy." He nudged at Law's side.

"Hah, thanks." Law gave an empty laugh, Sanji returned with a smile. He threw the butt of his cigarette into the snow and stepped on it with the tip of his boot and released the last hit of smoke from his chest. Sanji took a couple more drags before he did the same.

When the two of them returned, Luffy looked especially happy. Like he hadn't just seen Law ten minutes ago.

"What?" Law asked.

"Nothing," he answered. Went back to eating his food that Law thought for sure he'd have finished. As he sat down, it turned out he had, and was now finishing off his own.

"He said you two were taking too long, so he just-" Nami looked almost disgusted with how much Luffy could eat.

"-He helped himself." Zoro finished for her, laughing all the while.

Law only smiled and sat back in his seat. For a Monday, things felt strange.

He knew some people might even label him as cynical - though he preferred realistic - but he did have a habit of becoming a bit paranoid when things felt as if they were going a little too well.

When Luffy was finished eating, he thanked Law, as if he'd offered his food to him. He'd wanted to say his first day back went rather smoothly. He wanted to thank Luffy for helping him feel comfortable around his friends. Words that never found their way out of Law's throat. He looked out the window to see frost on the edges. Watched a couple of clouds pass by and was reminded this was just... momentary.

A/N: ah, young love. Law's so whipped ha haaaa. As always thank you for reading and pls review cause I'm needy.

~S