"nightmares" - Lulaw

CHAPTER 1 | hand-holding & shanks

FLASHBACK

Third- Person POV

•••

"Please,

please don't go." Law heard the small boy plead.

"Why? I've done all I can for you. You need to rest, and I don't intend on watching you sleep. I have better things to occupy my time with." Law answered with a sense of hostility in his voice. It wasn't that he didn't like the captain, he just had no clue why he decided to save him. And that seriously pissed him off. What was it about Straw-Hat that was so special? 

"Please." Luffy reached for the taller boys hand. This caught Law off guard, he hadn't even spent a full day with him back on the archipelago, so why was he acting as if he knew him so well?

Law sighed. "Fine. But if you wake up and I'm not here, don't be insulted. I'm busy and I don't have the time to deal with you. When you wake up I'll have Boa bring you food. For now, rest." He allowed Luffy to grab his hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze, before realizing that was stupid and instantly regretting the decision.

Usually, Luffy would've reacted to what Law had just said. For example, he would've likely asked for the food right away, before noticing his signature  straw hat was missing, and then he would've asked where Hancock was and checked to make sure she was okay. But Luffy did none of those things. His body hurt, it was horribly poisoned. It was burned and scarred and scratched up. But more than anything, his heart hurt. He wanted to cry, to scream, to do something anything that would lessen the burning feeling in his heart. But he couldn't. He couldn't do anything. So he sat there, holding Trafalgar's hand, wishing he could be anybody else.

***

Bepo's POV

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"CAPTAIN,CAPTAIN" I ran into the room yelling. I knew I would likely get yelled at for it later, since Straw-Hat was still recovering and all. But Shanks, THE Red-Haired Shanks was here to see Trafalgar. How could I not be startled by this? Though, I probably should've waited, because when I run in before Captain sits up I realize he was snoring softly, hand in hand with his patient.

"What. Do. You. Want." Trafalgar answered with a glare, nobody liked to wake Captain up. He was very... unpleasant if awoken.

I swallowed harshly "Sorry, it's just- Shanks- THE Red-Haired Shanks- is here to see you. Something about Straw-Hat," I looked at Straw-Hat as I said this, and realized my captain was still holding the other boys hand. But when Trafalgar realized the same thing, he quickly let go.

"What could Red Hair possibly want with me?" Law thought out loud

"I don't know, Captain."

"It was a rhetorical- you know what? nevermind. I'll be out in a second, wait for me."

***

Law's POV

•••

I hated being woken up, but I couldn't really be mad at Bepo. He had a good reason, after-all. I looked apologetically at Luffy - that was his name, right? - I felt bad for the boy. I knew what it was like to go through grief, and Luffy had seemed so light-hearted, so full of energy, he didn't do anything to deserve this. I saw the way he fought with his brother, his brother was amazing. I would've loved to fight him, he could've been valuable in an alliance. And now, Luffy seemed dead. It hurt to see him like this. What am I thinking? I don't even know him. 

I sighed, and without realizing or even really thinking about it, I left Straw-Hat a kiss on the forehead, I cringed after. I sighed again, (I seemed to be doing a lot of sighing recently, Straw-Hat was a hand-full.) and I walked out to go see what Shanks had wanted.

***

I walk back onto the submarine, holding Luffy's straw-hat. It was mangled, and I decided it would suck if Luffy woke up and saw his prized possession ruined like this. I knew I'd be upset if my hat had a giant hole in it. But I didn't know how to sew, so I asked Boa if she could repair it. To which Boa was more than excited to do for her beloved.

•••