Archive of Our Own

At first, it’s not his scent, but the mere feeling shot through his spine: an instinct that another alpha is present. And usually that’d be enough to put him on edge, to make him stand up a little straighter, clench his teeth a little tighter.

Though, weirdly, not this time.

This time he’s keenly and hyper aware—as per usual, however, there is no sense of imminent danger. Just subdued trepidation flooding his gut, sending shivers down his arms and legs.

And maybe that should be his first clue that something is off. But oddly, it isn’t.

Law presented as an alpha at thirteen, the youngest in his class to do so, which caused a slew of issues in and of itself. He was well into puberty when the other teens began coming into their own identifications, and just the mere smell of another sweaty, hormonal, rut-induced alpha was enough to make him gag. 

Omegas as well; he could not stand the overly cloying scent, or the pheromones flooding the air and weaseling its way into his nose whenever any of them were in or even close to their heats. Talk about obnoxious.

Unlike any of his alpha peers, omegas turned him off. He knew it was strange of him, but he assumed it was just because he was too preoccupied with his studies to care, and frankly, lacked much of a drive for sex and romance.

Law supposed that the interest would present itself eventually. He’d meet the right person, someone he could stand, and all would be fine. If it didn’t, then so be it. If he was meant to be alone, then well, there are much worse things in life.

From then on, he avoided alphas and omegas altogether, tending to stick closer to betas, as they were the most tolerable to be around. No headache inducing scents, no dick measuring contests, and overall less drama.

However, as he continued to grow, and as his peers began to only seem to care about finding their mate, the issue only became worse, and he became acutely aware of how repulsive the entire system as a whole is.

It's not that he disregards second genders, but Law never cared much as to what he presented as, or even really put much thought into it. He is what he is. He’s aware of the social hierarchies, and doesn’t do much on trying to break out of it, because what’s the point?  

Be that as it may however, he has always felt as though the concept of a beefed up, sweaty and insensible alpha driving a giant knot into a pliant, tiny little omega, only to breed and claim them as theirs for all eternity is a little dated.

Is that truly all there is to life?

To fuck and bite and mark and possess?

Law has never once felt that way in his twenty-seven years of life, and still to this day he doesn’t understand the appeal.

Ironically though, given the career path he decided to take, being a doctor means spending all his time in a hospital surrounded by both alphas and omegas, which only makes his entire disdainful thought process that much more concrete. He witnesses truly the worst of the worst society has to offer.

For example, having to watch a heavily pregnant omega struggle to even waddle while their dickhead alpha stands proud and tall next to them, growling in ownership at the doctors who even attempt to help them—several times a week as well—truly does something to a person.

So because of this, he decided it best early on to see people for how they choose to compose themselves, rather than focusing on their supposed biologically predisposed behaviors. These internal regulations have kept him sane all these years and prevented him from slipping up, lest he become the stereotypes he so loathes. 

Law would say he’s done a good job at managing thus far, as he’s completely uncaring of any omega who attempts to throw themselves at him, and certainly doesn’t tolerate alphas who perceive him as a threat. He quite simply keeps to his own, making sure to keep his nose and dick in check, nonetheless silently judging.

Which is why it's strange, now being inside of a new coffee shop he has decided to try out before a long shift, standing in front of who his instincts can determine as an alpha, why he doesn’t feel put off. Guarded, of course, though not disgusted.

Law usually has to put in a good amount of effort to keep his subconscious biases at bay and prevent himself from grimacing. Yet now, his instincts are calm without trying, and he is only pulled from his thoughts when a bell above the door chimes. 

The said alpha is before him from across the counter with a wide smile ornamenting his face, and Law comes to realize that he’s staring, having just ignored the question he was asked.

“Uh sorry,” Law stumbles out quickly. “Can you repeat that?”

The kid doesn’t seem to judge his apparent lack of social skills, and he lets out a laugh, bright and warm. “I said, 'how can I help you?’”

“Right, yeah. Black coffee please.”

The boy’s head cocks a bit to the side. “Hm, that’s it? Don’t want any pastries or anything? Sanji’s whipped up some killer coconut macaroons today.”

“No. I’m fine.”

He shrugs. “Well alright. One black coffee coming right up! Can I have a name?”

“It’s Law.”

The boy nods, and Law watches him walk off to begin fixing his drink. Perhaps it's hypocritically categorial for him to point it out, but the kid doesn’t necessarily look like an alpha, his petite stature unusual for one. Though, his build is still quite fit: broad shoulders, toned biceps, a sharp jawline—clearly strong and not someone you’d want to fuck with. And his scent is not disgustingly sugary, so for those reasons alone proves he is clearly not an omega.

Obviously he couldn’t be a beta, given a scent is present at all. Although, now that he’s able to focus on it more, it’s rather confusing; even, almost dizzying.

Warm and electric, like a lightning storm. Like sunshine. A tsunami, sea-salt and ocean air. It holds only the most miniscule hint of something sweet, but it’s not an overbearing, sugary taste that clogs up his nose and ruins his appetite.

It’s something cozy, like the smell of the air just after it has rained and the sun is beginning to poke its head through the clouds. Like a singular packet of brown sugar in his latte, only enough to subdue the bitterness when he’s in a good mood and feels like switching it up for once.

Yet despite those comparisons, it is still like nothing Law has ever experienced in his entire cold, long existence. 

He’s actually able to stomach it, and that in itself is perplexing.

Early on in his teenage years, Law picked up the habit of smoking, looking for something that would clog up his olfactory system when other scents became a bit too overwhelming. Nowadays, working in a hospital has him facing a cesspool of disgusting odors—people, medicine, sometimes even the cafeteria food—on a daily basis. He smokes a cigarette before a shift, during his lunch break, and again after he’s clocked out, the tobacco purging his system of anything and everything.

There hasn’t been one scent in Law’s life that he’s thought to be enjoyable, at the very most slightly tolerable, and cigarettes help him get through the day to day. So, usually when entering a new setting with a new and unknown mixture of aromas, he’d be almost immediately itching for relief.

Except now.

It suits the guy to be working at a coffee shop as his hair and eyes match the color of the very thing he serves. And his scent mixed with the rich notes of espresso saturating and curling through the air is almost too perfect; too… homelike.

He realizes it’s strange to be standing here thinking about a complete stranger—and an alpha nonetheless, in such a way, but he also feels almost unable to stop it. Because for some reason, this entire situation has his blood thrumming faster and his pulse leaping at his neck. 

Which is vaguely worrying, again, since Law has never had such an intense reaction to anyone before—alpha or otherwise.

His rut isn’t even supposed to arrive for another couple of months, so he can’t blame it on that. Maybe he’s coming down with something. He supposes he could have Shachi take a look at him sometime this week.

Though fortunately, before he’s able to continue tumbling down the rabbit hole of frivolous persistent curiosity, Law is pulled from his stare once again as the kid returns, holding out the coffee cup for him to take. 

“Here ya’ go!”

He grabs the coffee and goes to reach for his wallet, clearing his throat before speaking. “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. It’s on me today,” the other replies with an earnest smile.

Law shoots him an incredulous look, furrowing his brows, and he’s immediately defensive, because why would another alpha try to pay for his drink? Is he trying to get the one up on him? Usually something like this would be only mildly irritating and not anything to get worked up over, but at this moment he only feels like fighting back.

“Are you assuming I’m unable to pay?”

The boy giggles at his defensiveness, scent ever calm, but his voice is tinged with the tiniest bit of smugness when he speaks. “I don’t doubt you have the money for it, I just feel like covering you today.”

Law’s shoulders relax a bit at that, but there is still a lingering vexation in his fingertips.

“Why? It can’t be more than a few dollars, right? I can just pay for it, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“So many questions,” the boy drawls, rolling his eyes in a playful manner. “Fine, if you really insist, you can pay for another coffee tomorrow. Sound good?”

Law stares at him a moment, studying his face in bafflement. He’s not joking, and it’s obvious. But there’s something about his grin that illuminates all his other features, those sharp canines twinkling under the fluorescent lighting that only seems to accentuate them, and if possible, his scent transforming into something even deeper, even more complex. Law wouldn’t know how to describe it even if he tried.

He could certainly keep arguing, throw the money he owes down on the counter and walk out. And it is presumptuous to assume Law will be back tomorrow, what if he’s busy? What if he doesn’t even like the taste of the coffee?

But there’s something about the guy: strangely bright and open, that pushes that urge to be rude down, tossing it out the window entirely.

“Fine, whatever.”

The boy nods and wishes Law a good day before he begins to retreat out the door. He doesn’t forget to place some cash in the tip jar first however, an amount likely more than enough to cover his coffee. The first reason being because he’d really rather just pay for his drink, and two because he’s not as much of an asshole as he’s deemed to be.

Once outside, after taking the first breath of fresh air not clouded by the scent of espresso and sea salt and lightning, he exhales sharply and lifts the cup to his lips. Though before he’s able to take a sip, something catches his eye, and he peers down to observe what that could possibly be.

It’s his name, written across the side in sharpie, but what’s not expected is directly next to it being a shakily drawn stick figure with a frown across its face, in its hand what appears to be a coffee cup.

And the fact that something so dumb and childish manages to bring even the slightest smile to his face feels almost concerning, yet what’s even worse is the odd, slight sense of longing that begins to fill his chest almost immediately after.

Like most things in life, Law chooses to ignore it. 

The coffee is pretty damn good, though.

—

The next few days of work are extremely hectic, and Law is running on only fumes and spite at this point. He’s barely had enough time to sleep, his head only hitting his pillow for at most two hours at a time before it’s off to the hospital again.

Simply put, he’s fucking exhausted. Thankfully however, today is his final stint before a much needed three day weekend, and he’s also scheduled to come in an hour later than usual. So with his extra bit of time to kill, Law decides to head to the coffee shop again, as he is very much looking forward to something so overly caffeinated it could kill a small child, and his normal two cups of at-home drip aren’t seeming to do the trick.

The first thing Law notices when he steps inside the store is the sheer amount of people packed into such a small space. Normally he would groan internally at the sight and fiddle with the cigarette pack in his back left pocket, but he decides not to walk out today, and for two reasons. Mostly because the coffee here is refreshingly decent, but also because amongst the frankly overwhelming stench of alpha and omega alike, there’s one familiar scent he’s able to discern almost immediately: the boy from a few days ago—and once he’s able to focus on it, everything else seems to fade away.

Law notices he’s at the register again, going back and forth between taking orders and making drinks along with one other person. He guesses it was a slow day the last time he was here, or perhaps it's just a bad time. Nonetheless, he settles to remain in line. He isn’t in a huge rush anyways.

After about ten minutes of waiting patiently, it is finally his turn, and as he approaches the counter, the boy’s eyes light up once they land on Law, his smile is just as bright as it was before. His scent blooms into something warm and open, the ray of sun peering in through the window is shining directly onto his face, and Law doesn’t recall seeing the freckles scattered across his nose and cheeks last time, but perhaps he was too stuck in his head to realize.

“Hey there, stranger.”

Law feels an itch at the corner of his mouth and a flutter in his ribcage, but he wills himself to ignore it.

“Hi.”

The kid looks him up and down with no subtleties about it, before locking onto Law’s own gaze again, his eyes narrower than before—and Law has no idea what that means. “You know, I was surprised when you didn’t come back the next day, I could’ve sworn one sip of our coffee and you’d get addicted. Most people do.”

“I never said that I would,” Law declares, forcibly keeping his tone dull. “Some of us do have a life, you know.”

“Fair, fair,” the kid relents, lifting both hands up in a lighthearted defense. “Maybe I was just hopeful, then.” He gives a deliberate wink, and Law’s mouth suddenly feels rather dry.

Is he… flirting? With him? Another alpha?

Law tenses, the comment ringing in his ears and making him flustered. If he were braver, he’d call the alpha out for his blatant attempt at toying with him, but he has also never been that weak-willed, no matter how engaging and generous someone is—so he chooses to look past it.

“So um, can I order a coffee?” 

He chuckles. “Of course. Just a regular drip again?”

“Yeah, but add a quad shot if you can.”

The boy nods, grabbing a cup from the stack next to him. “Oh, wow, someone’s tired. Long day?”

Law hums. “You could say that.”

“Well, you definitely look it. Work stuff?”

Law looks past the insult, breathing out a quiet scoff through his nose before giving a curt nod. The other alpha opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by his coworker before he can.

“Luffy, a little help over here?”

The orange haired woman—another alpha, his instincts tell him—appears flustered and annoyed, locked in a multitask of pulling a shot of espresso while simultaneously steaming a pitcher of milk. The boy swiftly turns back to observe, yelling out a quick, “Coming!”

So, that’s his name.

Luffy turns back to Law, his eyes now wide with a light flush presenting itself high upon his cheeks. “Sorry, gotta help out.”

With that, he departs from the register and begins aiding the woman in making drinks, the distance giving Law a chance to observe the other even further, taking in the scene in almost slow motion.

It’s quite difficult to not notice the waved, almost curling hair that lays and stops perfectly right above his nape, the sharp and defined jaw, radiating sepia eyes, or the milky skin of his toned biceps, muscular and defined jutting out from the folded up sleeves of his work uniform. The apron tied around his waist only accentuates the area, though his hips remain narrow—tight and grippable. 

He works with finesse, moving gracefully from one task to another like it's mindless, simple. His fingers grip the metallic pitcher while he heats up milk over and over again, knuckles clenching and turning pallid, the veins in his hands popping out even the most miniscule amount more than they usually would. He giggles alongside his coworker as he does these monotonous actions, partaking in conversation almost too quiet to hear over the bustling of people working and walking amongst the café, but Law is so locked in on the pink lips moistened with spit from the tiniest, focused lick of his tongue now, that he can almost read what he’s saying.

Law thinks he’s rather endearing, his absentminded jokes and comments bringing peace to the obviously stressed barista he works alongside of, making her laugh and roll her eyes playfully. Perhaps then, Law thinks to himself, he’s not so strange to have nearly fallen for Luffy’s charming demeanor, accepting these random off comments and niceties from another alpha. As much as he doesn’t want to, if everyone else is also able to interact with him in such a positive way, maybe he can be a bit nicer to the person who bought him a coffee the first time they ever interacted; even if that said person’s entire existence throws him for a complete and utter whirl.

Luffy returns after a few minutes with a wide smile on his face. “Here ya’ go, Law!”

And of course he remembers his name, the ever personable barista. Law almost wishes he wasn’t like that with everyone else, only him, but that is definitely too possessive for him to think about a person who has made his coffee twice.

But man, is he something else.

“Thank you, Luffy,” Law responds, allowing himself a tightlipped smirk for the first time. 

He reaches for the cup being offered to him, their fingers brushing ever so slightly through the transfer, and his expression immediately drops from the shivers sent up his arm and down his spine from the meaningless contact.

What the fuck?

And to make things even worse; not even the loudest, busiest, most sonorous corner of earth could drown out the reaction Luffy makes—be it only the tiniest, slightly shaky breath, but it's enough to have Law doing the same, sending a flame of pure heat down his throat, into his chest, down to his stomach, as well as a sharp tingling sensation to his canines.

Okay, seriously: what the fuck?

Their eyes remain locked for what probably is only about a moment, yet it seems to last forever—the entire world around them dissipating into nothingness, and with the way Luffy’s almost as speechless and stunned, his scent transformed into something Law can only describe as sharp and confused; Law wonders if that means he felt what he just experienced too.

Luffy is the first to break the stalemate, clearing his throat as he turns his head to the computer below him. “Ha–yeah, of course,” he mutters, beginning to tap away on the touch screen. “So uh, it’s gonna be four-fifty for the… for the coffee.”

There’s a lot of ways Law could react, but the only words that take precedence in his mind are: Wow, I’m actually allowed to pay this time?

Luffy lets out a laugh, dropping his shoulders. “Hm, I guess so, even though you definitely overpaid me via tip jar last time.”

Law certainly did not mean to say that out loud, but he supposes it’s a good thing he did, giving the tension a chance to break. He smiles and pulls out his wallet.

“So, will you be back tomorrow?” Luffy asks. “No pressure or anything, since you actually have a life.”

Law narrows his eyes and shoots them up, smirking. “Mm, we’ll see. Don’t wait for me, though.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Luffy says, the glint in his eyes beguiling. And with that, Law exits the shop.

It’s only once he gets to work and has his scrubs on, nicotine swirling through his veins, and ready to begin his final grueling fourteen hour shift of the week that he notices another drawing on the side of his cup, and he’s a bit confused, as he has no recollection of seeing the barista draw it. It’s his own face—albeit, a very poor rendition—earrings and beard present, with a blank expression and clearly defined bags under his eyes. Next to it are the words, ‘hope this helps!’ and Law has to hold back a snort surrounded by several of his coworkers.

It does help get him through his shift. In more ways than one.

—

Later that evening—well, morning to be exact—Law is finally back home, showered and lying in bed with the lights off. His head is pounding, his limbs are heavy, and he’s looking forward to being dead to the world for the next several hours. 

Eyes closed, in his mind he replays the events of the day, unpacking all of the stressful shit that one does before they fall asleep. Whatever happened at work, the random ominous text from his friend that he has absolutely no energy to reply to yet, and, well, as much as he tries to not dwell on it too heavily: whatever happened today with the barista at the café.

It has been a long time since Law has met someone new that actually peaked his interest. He maintains a small circle, only regularly keeping up with two good friends he’s had since high school. Other than that, he wholly dedicates himself to work, the only true thing in life he feels passion for.

Until now.

As much as he doesn’t want to admit it, he is curious about the alpha barista.

At the same time, it does feel pretty weird.

He has never thought an alpha to be interesting, or someone he wouldn’t mind getting to know. He has never thought an alpha’s scent was tolerable, let alone something he’d be fine with filling his space. His mind has never gone so wild around another person, while also emptying of most logical contemplation.

Luffy is a surprising breath of fresh air in a world he holds mostly disdain for.

And that scares Law.

Law is someone who likes maintaining control, knowing and anticipating when the next shoe will drop. He is emotionally and mentally aware at all times. And that’s just the way he likes it: no surprises.

So, thinking logically; he should probably distance himself from this situation. It is already making his body and instincts react in unique ways that he’s never felt before, his mind traveling to strange territories he’s never found himself crossing.

Especially with someone he has interacted with on only two separate occasions, for maybe fifteen minutes combined. Because at the end of the day, he knows practically nothing about Luffy, who he is as a person, or the morals he upholds. He could very well be putting on a well calculated front to hide his stereotypical disgusting alpha mindset. He could be everything Law loathes about his own kind.

Yet, his scent is not one he’d have trouble forgetting. His smile or eyes are not attributes that could easily slip away; as proven today. He spent the entirety of work thinking about this stranger. He has never thought so much about a single person in his entire life. Even people he’s spent his ruts with on rare occasions, even people he’s considered courting just to make his life simpler.

And God—that sensation of when they touched is entirely too confusing. He has no idea what it means, yet for some reason finds himself wanting more.

However, that is not something he should probably allow himself to do—it could end disastrously.

He should probably avoid developing any further relationship with the alpha.

He should probably avoid that coffee shop at all costs.

—

Law goes back the next day.

And the next, and the next, and the next; despite the logical side of his brain telling him not to.

And before he knows it, he’s become a regular at that little café.

He tells himself it's for the coffee, as it’s the best in town and an easy stop on his way to work—but shit, even he knows that isn’t the whole and entire truth. A rather large part of him that he attempts to push down knows that it’s for the cute alpha who makes his head spin, for some reason still unbeknownst to him.

(Well, if he’s being truly honest, he knows the reasons, he just doesn’t want to face them. Why ruin something good? Something easy?)

He and Luffy spend practically every day together, even if only for a few minutes—a short interaction with delightful small talk, and he begins to find out more and more about the kid.

Luffy is twenty, meaning seven years younger than Law, which he definitely felt odd about when he first found out, but it has proven to not be much of a big deal. He doesn’t have great familial support, so he works full-time in order to cover college expenses, majoring in computer science. He loves video games, music, and sports, and shares an apartment with two of his closest friends.

Law never really asked any of this, but Luffy was more than happy to share, though Law doesn’t mind all that much. He’s found himself finding solace in his new routine, even looking forward to his coffee run everyday, holding that excitement of spending time with someone he can now call a friend near to his heart.

However, as much as they do share basic platonic formalities with one another, the ‘flirting’ has definitely only gotten worse, and Law has even pitched in some remarks here and there when he’s feeling bold. Mostly to make the kid sweat, as he can dish it out but he certainly cannot take it; his ears and cheeks becoming flushed pink after anything Law says. Though afterwards, this entices Luffy to become braver with his flirting, attempting to push it to the next level, but Law always shuts it down before it goes too far.

He isn’t really sure why, because there’s really no problem with them doing so, but it still just feels odd to him. At the end of the day, they’re both alphas, meaning one slip up and they could end up at each other’s throats, and not in a good way. This could wind up being a terrible thing if he’s not careful enough.

But—there’s something about Luffy that’s truly captivating, so unlike any other alpha he’s ever come across.

Every alpha he’s ever known, including himself, is easy to rile up, too snappy and forward, and almost too entirely selfish for their own good. And while Luffy definitely is no exception to that selfishness: taking and saying what he wants, headstrong—he also genuinely cares, and it's visible in the way he interacts with people. He’s loud, extroverted, charming and endearing, but he has a sweet side, and doesn’t try to hide it. He is the type of person to exceed biases and push down the stereotypes. He is somebody that Law is fascinated by.

It’s been about a month since he began his daily visits, and currently, despite today being a rare day off for Law, and his body practically begging him to take a deserved rest, he decided to visit the coffee shop anyways. Once he arrived, Luffy wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but he chose to remain regardless because, well, it’d be a waste to have driven here just to turn around back home.

It’s not like he has Luffy’s schedule memorized, however the barista usually begins his shifts at around one p.m. most days, with the exception of Sundays, to which he comes in at eleven. He’s religiously late, usually by around ten to fifteen minutes, and he always gets bitched at for it, but that doesn’t stop the habit.

Okay, so maybe Law has his schedule memorized. 

But to his defense, it is kind of difficult to not observe patterns when visiting a place every single day. He only is aware that Luffy leaves at six o’clock because he told him. It's not like Law has ever stayed that late. He’s not weird.

Nonetheless, he knew coming early that Luffy wouldn’t be in yet, so he ordered a coffee to stay. The shop isn’t too busy, it being the middle of the day, and there’s only a few people around him working silently on their laptops, so he was able to pick the quiet corner near a window to read a bit of the book he brought.

The ginger-haired alpha girl is on shift right now—Nami—and Law has actually gotten to know some of the crew Luffy works with quite well through this last month. Nami is fiery, bright, and rather authoritarian, her loud voice and demands able to be clearly heard even on the busiest of days. She is the person Law interacts with when Luffy hasn’t arrived yet, and she’s pleasant enough, for an alpha that is.

There’s also Sanji, who Law has only caught quick glimpses of, but knows is the pastry chef, single-handedly in charge of creating and baking the entire menu. He’s also a co-owner alongside his husband, who Law has never once seen or met, but Sanji runs a tight ship, so he doubts another person is actually needed. From discussions with Luffy, Law has learned that Sanji is an omega, but constantly surpasses outdated expectations and stereotypes that omegas can’t do anything other than foster a household and raise pups, and that alone is extremely refreshing and something worthy of respect.

There’s a couple other people who work part-time, but with Law’s mind usually being too clouded when he’s here, he doesn’t tend to focus on them. He’s not the type to be overly-friendly with strangers, anyways.

Approximately forty-five minutes later, along with some light perusal of his novel and a few sips of coffee, the tell-tale signs Law has been waiting for is here: the presence of another alpha, along with the scent of lightning, sea salt, and a hint of brown sugar. 

An annoyed voice. 

“You’re late,” Nami groans, loud enough for the entire café to hear. “Again.”

And then, there’s Luffy. “Am I? Oops, didn’t notice.”

The other alpha sighs. “Whatever. Just clock in and help me with this delivery, please.”

Law lifts his eyes from his book, catching his first glimpse of Luffy of the day. His hair is tousled and messy from his bike ride, his uniform shirt hastily thrown on and apron loosely tied. Yet, his eyes are calm, and his smile is ever present, no guilt making itself known within his expression.  

And like every single time, the sight and pure presence of the man has Law’s pulse racing faster. And to this day, he still isn’t exactly sure why. 

It's not like he could actually like an alpha—the mere concept being against all basic biology. It’s one of the first things a person learns in health class. Well, not that two alphas can’t or shouldn’t be together if they so choose, but moreso that an alpha’s instinct should be to find an omega. They should be attracted to the scent of an omega, go crazy around them, drool over their pheromones. There shouldn’t be anything appealing about an alpha’s scent to another alpha.

Therefore, Law is certain he doesn’t like Luffy. Not in that way. He probably just hasn’t found an omega that drives him crazy yet. And that’s fine. Plenty of alphas fuck around until they find one they want to tame, and Law is definitely in no rush to mate and claim someone. He has a career, a life, and other things that are more important to him.

(Like visiting a coffee shop early just to be able to catch the first sight of a certain alpha he’s been spending time with every single day for weeks.

When he thinks about it like that, it sounds weird. But is it so bad to enjoy the company of another alpha? No. There have been no boundaries crossed, nothing further than some harmless flirting.)

Plus, even if he did like the kid, it’s not like he could ever do something about it. They’re both alphas, like a rock in the river, obstructing their flow and threatening to flood into everything. 

Luffy probably hasn’t thought of Law in such a way. He’s probably waiting for his own omega. Perhaps he’s even courting one right now. With his looks and personality, Law doubts it’d be difficult for him.

That thought doesn’t fill him with the greatest feeling in the world, but he guesses it’s because the idea of Luffy with anyone is a strange concept to think about in general. Not that he cares. Because he doesn’t. He doesn’t like Luffy. Their relationship is wholly and completely platonic and will remain that way. Case closed. No use in dwelling on it anymore.

But, it's definitely a curious thing to ponder. How would Luffy even act in a relationship? Would he want to be spoiled? Would he be a giver? How often would he prefer to scent with his mate? Would he be possessive or would he be more nonchalant? Somewhere in the middle? Law wonders if he’s ever courted anyone before. He’s never mentioned omegas, or even other alphas, in a way to allude he was dating or fucking them. 

Hell, Law doesn’t recall any moment where Luffy has talked about second genders other than surface level stuff. And if he’s being honest, that has Law wildly curious, his mind traveling to the other side of things. He is a doctor, so it’s only natural to be inquisitive about how his friends’ ruts are.

Does Luffy have a normal cycle? What are his symptoms? Is he able to maintain lucidity even during the intense surge of hormones? If not, how frantic and feral does he get? Does he enjoy knotting something, whether it be his fist, a toy, or a person?

Or, perhaps, if Law allows his mind to travel somewhere different: would he want to be knotted himself?

Oh. 

Oh. 

That… is definitely a thought. God. A really, really intriguing thought. 

Fuck. He really shouldn’t be allowing his mind to go to these places—but just the mere thought has his head swirling, a scorching heat traveling downwards. 

Because if that is the case, Law can only imagine how Luffy would be, how he would sound—whining and writing on the bed sheets, a large hand holding both of his wrists together, pounding into him over and over.

Would he like that? How would he look, with red bitten and bruised lips and tears in his eyes, his hair bunched up into someone's fist, face buried into the mattress? 

Would he bite? Would he growl? Would he cry? How would he smell? Would he chant his lover’s name like a prayer? How rough does he like it? How tight would his hole be, wet and stretched and fighting against something that’s pushing itself in because it’s not supposed to be getting fucked? Would Luffy fight against it? Or would he give in? Would he beg for more or beg for it to stop because it’s too much? How many times in a row is he able to co–

“Hey, Law!”

The greeting, even though said naturally from across the room, is enough to break Law out of his hazy, horny daydream, forcing him to snap his head up quickly. Luffy is behind the counter, leaning over with his elbows atop the glass of the pastry display, smiling wide and earnest—and Law only notices now, too late, that he’s been giving off ‘fuck me’ pheromones for the past five minutes, the air around him hot and sharp with arousal. No one around him seems to notice or care, but a flush crawls up his neck and into his cheeks anyways, embarrassed at how easily he allowed his thoughts to overtake him. 

This is not good.

He needs to get out of here. 

Like, now.

Without giving himself another second to stew in this, Law jumps up from his seat, grabbing his book and pulling it under his arm as he puts his head down, speed walking to the exit. Luffy says something to him, but he doesn’t bother to listen; his mind is too consumed by shame and humiliation and arousal to even begin to face his newfound friend. He’ll have to apologize another day. For now, he really just needs to leave—before he makes matters worse for himself.

He rushes into his car and peels out of the parking lot, and it’s only once he’s home, seated on the couch, his cock still half-hard and aching in his pants, that he decides to give into the temptation.

He doesn’t hesitate for a moment before pulling his pants down just enough to reveal his cock which is already mostly hard and leaking heavily, and groans as he envelops it with his hand. It's obviously not his first time doing this, fucking his fist while he imagines someone, but it’s the first time it has ever felt so good; the thoughts incredibly vivid, almost disorientating—the heat simmering in the base of his gut, his cock becoming fully hard with just a few strokes, imagining Luffy’s lips or his hole stretching around his cock. He'd be so tight, too, Law thinks. A pretty boy like him—such a tough little alpha—getting spread out and fucked on Law’s cock until he cries. 

Luffy has such pretty eyes. He’d probably be a pretty crier, too. He imagines a flushed Luffy, teary eyed because he's feeling too much, all thanks to Law himself. Imagines that same Luffy begging, writhing, pleading Law to keep giving him more, more, more.

His hand moves faster at the visual of how Luffy would look all marked up; Law digging his teeth into the smooth unmarked skin of his nape until he drew blood, the skin turning a dark shade of violet, claiming him and solidifying Luffy as his. Luffy would writhe underneath him, his perfect face twisted from the pleasure and pain. Law would fuck Luffy until Law’s name is the only coherent thing left on his tongue.

When Luffy comes in his fantasy, untouched as Law slams into him, Law’s own orgasm overtakes him in real life, having to squeeze his throbbing knot with one hand while the other is painted in streaks of white. This is when he’d claim Luffy as his own, he thinks. When his thick knot is locked in tight, pumping the alpha full with cum, attempting to breed him, all while permanently securing their bond—securing Luffy as his mate.

It’s only after the haze of arousal subsides, and all that is left is the dopamine crash that Law realizes what just happened. He cracks an eye open, groaning in exasperation as he sees the evidence of his debauchery dripping from his fingertips and spent cock, knot still painfully aching and pulsating.

He jerked off to Luffy. To another alpha. He just had one of the best orgasms of his life, imagining someone who he should not be imagining.

Law realizes then, and comes to accept, that he does like Luffy. He likes Luffy in that way—in every way, in all the ways that he shouldn’t.

He also realizes too, perhaps a bit too late, that he is now so; so, so fucked.

—

Law avoids the café for a few days after that. 

His conscience consumes him, and as much as all of this probably isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, the guilt still eats away at his mind, and he can’t bring himself to face the aftermath of what he’s done.

He fantasized about Luffy, his friend, in the lewdest of ways, rendering him nothing but an object of Law’s own sexual desires within his mind. He clogged up the coffee shop with his own disgusting alpha pheromones, subjecting everyone to his internal arousal, which is absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable behavior. Not to mention the way he abruptly and rather rudely ran out of the café afterwards, without so much as a word to the kid who has been nothing but kind to him.

Perhaps he is just like every other alpha out there. Perhaps every stereotype and behavior Law has attempted to fight his entire life is actually everything he is.

That thought keeps him reeling for a while.

No one said anything about how cute other alphas could be, or how intoxicating they could smell. No one said how they could steal Law’s unsuspecting heart without so much as a struggle. No one said anything about the feral need to protect, to bow, to give, to take; like Law has been experiencing for the last month.

No one said any of this could even be possible. And Law has not a single clue on how to proceed.

Though, despite his surprising personal revelation, Luffy is still someone he has grown to care about in other ways besides romantic or sexual. Even if Law never plans on expressing his attraction, he should at least give a semblance of explanation for why he ran out the way he did. 

Therefore, he supposes an apology is a start.

Today is one of those rare days that Law gets out of work early, his shift ending a bit before the coffee shop closes. He knows Luffy is there, or at least should be, so that is right where he drives to.

He pulls up to the café with a few minutes to spare, however, through the windows, there doesn’t appear to be anyone inside despite the sign in the front still declaring the place open. As he pulls the door open and the bell rings above his head, he really hopes Luffy is still here, otherwise this will turn into quite the awkward interaction.

Thankfully, Law has gotten his wish.

“Ah sorry, we’re closing up for the day.” Law hears Luffy shout from inside the kitchen.

“So, too late for me to get a coffee?” Law replies, voice hopefully loud enough for the alpha to hear.

“Wha–” Luffy pokes his head through the doorway, eyes going wide once they land on Law. “Oh, Law! Hey!”

“Hi, Luffy.” Law smiles sheepishly. “Sorry, is it okay that I’m here? I can leave if you need.”

Luffy enters the main area, broom in hand and a cloth draped over his shoulder. Cute. “No, please, stay! I’m just cleaning up, but you can take a seat at the bar!”

Law gives a polite nod and circles the bar, settling on a seat in the center and watching as Luffy places the cleaning supplies down before making his way behind the counter.

“Sorry, I have most of the machines shut down, so I can’t do anything with espresso,” Luffy says, a bit diffident, as he investigates said machines. “But I can make you a fresh pot if you want?”

“Are you sure?” Law asks. “I don’t want to interrupt your cleaning.”

“Psh, don’t worry about it,” Luffy replies, already pulling out a paper coffee filter from a drawer beneath him. “You came all this way, I wouldn’t want you to leave without getting your fix in. Plus, it only takes a couple of minutes.”

“Well, if you insist.”

An elated smile forms upon Luffy’s face, and he begins the process of making the coffee. 

As a comfortable silence overtakes them, save for the sound of hot water mixing with ground coffee beans that drips down into a glass pot, Law begins pondering how he should apologize, or if he even should, since Luffy’s demeanor seems rather ordinary. Perhaps, a bit less talkative than he usually would be, but that could be because this is the first time either of them have been in a room alone together. It’s easy to come up with conversation when surrounded by other people, but being secluded adds more pressure, so he doesn’t blame him.

And honestly, now that Law’s able to focus on it; Luffy’s scent is much stronger now that there’s no one in here but them. It’s incredibly overwhelming, like an alpha’s would be, and it floods Law’s system in the best (or worse) of ways. It takes all of the anxiety and guilt Law has been experiencing over the past few days and quells it, almost like a soothing peppermint tea would, or whiskey. The tightness in his chest slackens, his shoulders drop, and his mind begins drifting to that empty, clouded space that he’s used to experiencing when talking to the kid. Just this time, a lot quicker, and more intensely.

Law would live in Luffy’s scent if he could. He would bottle it up and use it as a cologne, or make it into soap, just so he’d be able to exist around it at all times. He wonders if their scents would mix well together if they were to combine them. Law’s uncertain. He’s never really been able to pinpoint what his own scent is like, as that’s a pretty difficult thing to do—like how one doesn’t know what their house actually smells like because they’re constantly living in it, that sort of thing.

However, from what others have explained to him, his scent holds notes of sterile medical supplies, or pewter metal; not entirely unpleasant, but certainly not anything warm or comfortable like Luffy’s. So perhaps they wouldn’t mix well together, but who’s to say. Law would never know unless they were to scent one another, which is a highly improbable scenario to occur.

Scenting is something that usually happens only between mates, or very close people in life, such as family. It’s also slightly frowned upon to do so in public settings if not made quick or discreet, almost like kissing, and Law doesn’t see him or Luffy hanging out casually anytime soon—and even if they did, they’d still have no point to scent each other. Law probably wouldn’t even feel comfortable scenting him if the opportunity presented itself. He hasn’t scented anyone besides his mother when he was a child, and then his younger sister, when she had broken her arm climbing a tree and needed comfort. 

So, perhaps all of these thoughts are futile, as he can’t picture a moment where they’d ever share a physical display of affection like that. He’ll do his best to push it aside for his own sanity, and for the sake of platonic friendship and normalcy. All things he should be attempting to maintain. 

He should also be attempting to come up with a reason for why he ran out the other day, if Luffy even remembers and wants to ask, instead of wondering if their scents would mix well. Kinda pathetic, putting it that way.

“So, uh, how’ve you been?” Law asks, speaking up to take the first step in regaining some of that normalcy for himself.

“I’ve been alright! Same old stuff: work, school, repeat, you know how it is,” Luffy replies, grabbing a ceramic mug down off of a shelf behind him. “How about you? Haven’t seen you in a few days, and the last time you were here you ran out like there was an emergency.”

Well, that answers that.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Work’s been brutal recently, but nothing out of the usual,” Law declares, following as Luffy places the mug down in front of him. “And, I’m sorry about that, about leaving so abruptly the other day. All is well, just had to deal with… some stuff.”

Wow, what a response. Very informative, Law.

“It’s alright! I’m glad you’re good though.” Luffy turns around to grab the pot of coffee now that it’s finished. “I thought maybe that book you were reading had a bad ending or something.” Luffy chuckles, returning to pour some of the steaming hot coffee into the mug.

God, he looks so good like that, all happy and radiant. Law wants to sink his teeth into him.

No. Bad. Stop that.

Law nods in appreciation once Luffy finishes pouring. “Right. Yeah. No, it wasn’t that.”

“What even were you reading?” Luffy asks, placing the pot back onto the warmer before returning. “You seemed like, super locked into it, didn’t even notice I was here.”

Law takes a small sip, the heat warming him from head to toe, smooth shivers traveling through his veins. “Uh, I don’t quite remember if I’m being honest.”

He does remember, but it’s not like he was actually reading much to begin with—especially not when Luffy walked in. But he doesn’t need to know that.

Luffy places both elbows on the counter, resting his chin in his palms as he looks up to Law, wide-eyed and calm. “Must’ve not been that interesting, huh? I get it, reading is pretty lame.”

“Wha– lame?” Law sputters. “How so? Do you even read?”

“Nah, not really my thing. But I do like comics, that probably counts.”

Law can’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “If you believe that, then sure.”

“I think it does,” Luffy assures with a nod to himself. “Whatever, doesn’t matter. You know, I was actually hoping you’d stop by today, so it’s a good thing you’re here.”

“Hm? Why’s that?” Law asks, maintaining complete nonchalance. He’s filled with curiosity as to why Luffy would be so hopeful, but he obviously can’t make that apparent.

“Welllll…” Luffy draws out, looking away, like he’s nervous. “I wanted to know if you’re gonna be busy tomorrow.”

Law’s heart lurches in his chest—that is not at all what he expected.  

“Uh, not sure. Why?” He responds calmly, despite his mind going a thousand miles per minute.

Just keep up the act and everything will be fine.

“Well, my friend Usopp is throwing a party tomorrow night, and I think it’d be cool if you came!”

Disappointment is definitely a feeling Law is no stranger to. He isn’t exactly sure what he expected, but this wasn’t it. At the same time, he can’t expect Luffy to be aware of his distinct aversion to parties or large social gatherings—they’ve only just become friends recently. So it’s not his fault for asking, but it does further Law’s wonder as to why Luffy would think it’s something he’d enjoy. Does Law give off ‘I’m Extroverted and Spontaneous, Sign Me Up For Anything!’ energy? He definitely doesn’t think so.

“Me? You…think it’d be cool if I came to a party?” Law asks, finding it difficult to hide his confusion, though ensuring the discontent doesn’t enter his scent. He takes another long sip from his mug.

“Yeah, why not? You’re pretty cool.” Luffy declares this like it's pure fact. Like it’s scripture. The most blinding smile spreads along his pretty face then, and honestly, Law just can't get used to it.

Law wonders at this moment if he’s being pranked.

Nevertheless, he allows a smile of his own to form upon his lips, intending to keep his rejection polite. “Thank you, but I can promise you that me at a party is not a very ‘cool’ thing to witness.”

Luffy rolls his eyes. “Psh, don’t be stupid, you’re plenty fun to be around. I super need a plus-one, but there are a few people I think you’d get along with, too.”

Ah. Right. Luffy needs someone to show up with, and Law is here, making it an easy ask. It makes sense.

“I don’t know, I’m not really the ‘large get-together’ type. There isn’t anyone else you can ask?”

“Sure there are, but I don’t want to ask them. I want to ask you.”

It’s truly the way Luffy says things: straightforward, confident, and lacking any hint of insecurity that renders Law defenseless. Along with his oversized eyes that seem to hypnotize him, Law’s senses are overcome by the scent of comfort and openness—how is he supposed to deny the man a single thing? At this point, if Law were to continue to turn down the advance he’d seem plain rude. So, he takes a moment, and comes up with the next best thing:

“Can I think about it?” 

Not acceptance, not denial. Just enough to give him a chance to breathe. Though, Luffy beams—demeanor and pheromones alike—like Law just gave him enthusiastic consent, and he fears he very well may have.

“Sure! Just don’t take too long, it starts at nine and if I’m late to something again Nami might kill me.” Luffy quickly whips his phone from his pocket, holding it out to Law. “Here, put your number in so I can text you the details.”

Law does as he’s told, hesitantly typing his number in, questioning everything, before handing the phone back to Luffy.

“Thanks!” Luffy says, following it with a cheerful sigh of relief. “God, it’s been so long since I’ve gone to a party. Everyone’s been so busy lately, I can’t wait to let loose for once.”

Law allows him to speak freely, settling on drinking his coffee and watching the boy ramble his excitement—what he’s going to wear, who he’s going to see. He truly is so, so endearing, it’s almost revolting how attracted Law is to the charisma. He wishes that wasn’t the case.

“So, how long are you planning on staying today? I’m more than happy to chat, but I do need to finish up with closing. Vivi’s forcing me to go to one of her ‘study groups’ after this, too. Ugh.”

“Ah, don’t worry, I won’t keep you any longer. I have some errands to run, I just wanted to stop by and say hi.”

“Okay, I won’t keep you then. See you tomorrow?” Luffy looks at him with his brows raised in expectant curiosity.

“Perhaps. We’ll see,” Law replies, not wanting to give the boy any hope that he’ll be there. Frankly, he would rather die than have to stand in a room with young adults, drunk and exuding nauseating pheromones who attempt to converse with him like he’s part of the group. He finishes up his cup of coffee and pushes it along with some cash across the counter towards Luffy, giving a polite smile in replacement of a thank you.

Law gets up and they exchange their goodbyes, but before he exits the shop he flips the ‘open’ sign onto its other side so Luffy doesn’t have to do it. And in the car on his way home, he decides he’ll fake a stomach ache tomorrow, or car troubles, something of the sort. 

Luffy will understand. It’ll be fine.

—

At first Law thinks he was given the wrong address. Probably not on purpose, but who can be sure nowadays?

He’s standing outside of a random apartment building around fifteen minutes away from his own, one hand in his pants pocket and the other navigating its way back to the text conversation he had with Luffy just a little over two hours ago.

hey! it’s luffy from the cafe! u still coming tonight? :)

Law’s heart had jumped into his throat when he received this. He’d just returned home from the grocery store to replenish on shampoo and cigarettes (not actual food, of course, because takeout is too easy after a late night shift) when he felt his phone buzz. For a moment he stood frozen, unsure of how exactly to respond, pondering over what excuse that he wouldn’t be able to come would be valid enough.

He crafted and deleted about five different rejection messages, all of them seeming either too phony, too rude, or too overly-explanatory to be realistic. Which was incredibly frustrating, because Law has had plenty of experience over the years getting out of plans, so this should have been simple—yet, for some reason, his conscience ate at him the more he struggled to forge a refusal.

The feeling of guilt made itself known right away, and despite him really not wanting to attend the party; it’s Luffy—how could he possibly say no?

Luffy had tried taking the first step to further their friendship numerous times before: asking what Law would be up to later, wanting to know when his next day off would be—Law never rose to the bait, however. He’d always been more than happy to keep things where they stood. The last thing he needed—the last thing he needs is—was to complicate something simple, something good, for his own strange and selfish desires.

And with how deranged Law has been as of late, agreeing to these plans didn’t seem like the most logical decision. He’s been finding it more and more difficult to keep himself in check around the alpha, so being somewhere they can fully be themselves, without the blanket of distance and comfort the coffee shop provides, seemed to be a bit too overwhelming.

Yet, despite it all, he still found himself considering it. Because maybe, just maybe with Luffy by his side, it could be exciting. Other people would be around, so it's not like they’d be left awkwardly alone. It could also be fun to get out of his comfort zone, meet new people, and try new things—all things his own friends constantly try to get him to do.

And how could he say no to the boy who has been nothing but nice to him? How could he say no to the boy who has made Law feel more than he has in years? Made him smile more than other people have in God knows long? How could he rationalize turning down the opportunity to spend more time with the alpha who has taken over his mind in such a short period of time, and without even trying?

So this time, despite everything in his brain telling him to not show, his heart decided against it.

He deleted the most recent fake excuse text he had written up and took the plunge, not giving himself another minute to overthink it.

Yeah, I’ll stop by for a bit. When and where?

Afterwards, he quickly put his phone in his pocket and began trying to distract himself with other things. But of course, Luffy’s response came almost immediately:

sweet! i’ll send u the address, be there at 9 :) dont be late! <3

And so that was that.

And after looking through those texts, he is now certain this is the exact address he was directed to and time he was supposed to arrive—but he has yet to receive a response, even after ringing the buzzer three times in a five minute period.

Law’s not exactly late, but he’s not exactly on time either, and so with each passing second he can feel the dread in his stomach coil and churn, making everything seem so much worse, making him wish he never decided to agree in the first place. 

But alas, he is here, so he might as well try once more before turning around and going home.

He decides against ringing the buzzer again though, as to not be bothersome if by some chance this is the wrong address and he’s currently pulling some random grandma out of her sleep, so he sends Luffy a text reading ‘I’m here’ instead, hoping that’ll do something.

Thankfully, it only takes another thirty seconds or so before the heat of the alpha’s presence is made known to him—and even through the wooden barrier, his scent floods Law’s senses like it’s nectar, ruining any semblance of self control that he has faked.

The door swings open, and Luffy—well, shit. Luffy looks phenomenal.

He’s wearing a short-sleeved maroon button up that’s been left open to reveal a tight white t-shirt underneath, highlighting his petite yet muscular frame. Contrasted by ebony slacks loose and held up with a belt (though still slightly baggy enough to allow Law’s mind to wander.) They’re rolled up casually at the ankles to show off some worse-for-wear converse with little white socks that peek out.

And, holy fuck—after only ever seeing Luffy in his work uniform, this has his mouth running dry. But there's little time to worry about that now. Luffy is here, and Law must maintain composure.

“Hey, you made it!” Luffy beams, his grin wide and charming. Like always.

Law swallows hard. Don’t look over-eager. “Hi.”

Luffy gives a quick glance up and down, resting the hand not currently gripping a beer bottle against the door frame nonchalantly. “You look… really nice. Love the sweater.”

“Thank you,” Law breathes. “You too. You, um, look nice as well.”

Smooth.

Luffy continues to practically appraise him, seemingly having forgotten why he’s here and how to be a decent host. It has Law feeling wide open. Not insecure, because he’s aware that he looks nice. Frankly, he put a good amount of effort into his appearance before he left. His hair is perfectly messy, facial hair is groomed the way it should be, and his sweater drowns him in fabric and sits with harsh contrast against his ivory skin and hand tattoos.

And maybe he spent a little more time than usual in front of the mirror earlier, ensuring his eye bags aren’t too distinct and his lips aren’t disgustingly chapped. Definitely different than his usual appearance from when he just gets off of work, or has just rolled out of bed and his only self-care for the day is brushing his teeth. But he thought that his effort was worth it, that Luffy would like the way he looks.

It seems like that’s true. The sight of Luffy just as intrigued in the way he looks has some of Law’s much-needed confidence returning.

“So, can I come in?” Law asks, one brow raised. “Or are you just gonna stare forever?”

That breaks Luffy out of his trance, and he shoots his gaze up to meet Law’s own. “What, like you aren’t?” Law rolls his eyes, and Luffy laughs. “Alright, come on up, there’s some people I want you to meet.” He pulls on his sleeve, guiding him up two flights of stairs until they reach an unassuming white door.

With his hand on the doorknob, Luffy turns around. “Ready?” He asks.

Law exhales a breath, and nods. “Yep.”

It’s just as he expected once Luffy opens the door. A melting pot of alpha, beta, and omega alike; some on the couch, some sitting on the counters in the kitchen, a few chatting in the corners, drinks in hand. The scent is what hits him first: the amalgamation of booze, cheap cologne, and sweat. It has Law feeling nauseous immediately. He even made sure to smoke a cigarette before walking to the complex; so it shouldn’t be this intense.

Alas, the reason he despises house parties.

Looking around, it’s also proven to him that he somehow failed to realize the potential of him being the oldest person here—because he is definitely the oldest person here. It’s blatantly evident.

He’s not like… ancient looking, obviously. He’s always looked his age, but the stress of life has certainly begun to show on his face, being overworked and sleep-deprived certainly not doing any wonders for his skin. His facial hair has also thickened exponentially since his college days, and he’s not a lanky little fuck anymore unlike half of the people here.

Why did Luffy even invite him again? Does he even have anything in common with anyone here? How is he supposed to mix and mingle with people he could be the boss of?

Luffy must notice Law’s sudden mood change, because he looks back, a slightly concerned look on his face.

“Hey, you alright?”

Law quickly puts on a smile to save face. “Yeah– just, uh, didn’t expect there to be so many people.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Luffy says, scratching the back of his neck. “Usopp and his mate are having a going away party. She’s pregnant, so they’re moving somewhere more lowkey to raise the pup. He wanted us to invite everyone we know to make it extra special—one last ‘hoorah’ or what not.”

Do all normal people have this many friends? This is kind of a lot of people for a going away party.

“Ah, gotcha'. It’s fine, though. I can deal with it.”

Luffy gleams. “Okay! So do you wanna grab a drink? Then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Law nods, and they dodge and weave through a mass of people until they reach the kitchen, where Luffy hands him a beer and takes another for himself. While holding both bottles in one hand, Luffy uses his other to hold onto Law’s, where they depart on their next journey shuffling through the mass of people.

The apartment is an obstacle course of belligerently drunk college kids and people singing along to some random song playing on a speaker, and it takes an immense amount of self restraint to slide through them that Law didn’t know he was capable of. Though, his fingers tingle where they’re laced with Luffy’s, so that works as a pretty decent distraction.

They stop once they arrive at the back of the living room, a small corner with a loveseat and two chairs. Everyone is happily chatting amongst one another, but all turn their heads when Law and Luffy arrive.

“Welcome back, Luf!” Someone says—and it takes Law a moment to register, but he realizes it’s Nami. She certainly looks different than she does at work: makeup on, hair done, and a, well, frank lack of clothing. Not bad, though.

“Everyone, this is Law. And Law, this is Usopp and his mate Kaya, the hosts of this evening. You’ve met Nami of course, and that’s Vivi.”

Everyone smiles and waves, giving their own renditions of welcomes and hellos, and Law gives a polite smile in return.

“And—hey, where’d Zoro go?” Luffy asks, looking around in confusion.

“He said he was going to the bathroom,” Nami replies, checking her phone. “But that was like, fifteen minutes ago? I’m… actually not sure where he’s at now.”

“Typical,” Luffy says. In the corner of Law’s eye, he finishes off his beer before talentedly uncapping the next one with his teeth. Law wants to grimace. But he can’t. It’s honestly attractive.

Lord. He already knows this will be an interesting evening.

“Good to see you not in scrubs for once, Law,” Nami muses. She’s sitting on the arm of a chair, her arm wrapped around the shoulder of the girl with blue hair below, Vivi, who smiles at him sweetly.

“Ah, yeah, you know how it is,” Law says, rather awkwardly.

“Scrubs? You work in the medical field?” Vivi asks.

“He’s a doctor!” Luffy chimes in, sounding proud of that fact for some reason.

The typical responses of ooh and ahh are thrown his way, and Law can’t help but let out a chuckle. “It’s definitely not glamorous. A lot of the same old stuff. Paperwork, mostly.”

“The money’s good though, right?” Nami asks, and Vivi smacks her lightly on the arm. “What? I’m just curious.”

“It’s decent,” Law offers, chuckling humbly. Decent is an understatement, but he’s never been one to brag. It’s taken hard work and perseverance to get where he’s at now.

Nami snorts as everyone laughs—definitely all drunk. That reminds him to open his own beer. This whole thing would definitely be more comfortable with some alcohol in his system.

“I’m actually in my first year of nursing school this year!” Vivi says excitedly.

“Oh, nice.” Law gives a nod before taking a large swig. Gross. He never thought he’d prefer the taste of straight-up warm liquor, but alas, here he is.

“So, Luffy told us you guys met at the coffee shop?” The pregnant beta, Kaya, asks.

Before he can reply, Luffy butts in—again, placing his hand on Law’s shoulder and gripping it tight. “Yeah! He’s my best regular! Comes every single day!” 

Huh. He’s actually really touchy.

“Well, not every day,” Law adds. “Usually only when I have to work.”

“Which is basically every day.” He looks at Law with the prettiest eyes and an honest smile. “It’s okay though. You’re my friend now, too.”

Law does his best to ignore the fluttering in his stomach, giving his own meek smile in return.

“Aww,” Vivi coos. “That’s a cute story.”

“So cute! You know, Usopp and I met rather similarly!” Kaya declares. “I was a waitress trying to pay my way through school, and he would come in every single day for a piece of pie. Only to find out later that he doesn’t even like pie, he was just pretending in order to talk to me! Isn’t that sweet?”

“Kaya, do you have to tell that to everyone we meet?” Usopp mutters, looking off to the side in embarrassment.

“Aw, don’t be shy, babe! It worked, didn’t it?” She all but glistens towards him, rubbing her stomach.

“That is a nice story,” Law offers. He doesn’t know how that relates to him and Luffy. It isn’t really the same scenario, but he’s not going to say that. Instead, he nods to her pregnant belly. “How far along are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh! No problem at all. I’m twenty-seven weeks today, actually. Almost to the finish line! We’re so excited to meet our little boy!”

“That’s very exciting,” Law smiles, putting on his doctor voice. “Congratulations to the both of you.”

“Thank you,” she says bashfully. “However, I am quite sad that we have to move away. I’m going to miss everyone so much.”

“Aw don’t worry, Kaya. We’ll come visit as often as we can!” Luffy says.

“Yeah, we will! Your baby shower is so soon. Nami and I are going to come help you guys set up,” Vivi adds.

“Plus, if you think I’m letting Usopp get out of Switch Saturdays, you’re crazy,” Luffy chuckles.

Law has to hold back a snort. 

Usopp scratches the back of his head. “Luf, I don’t know if–”

“Aw, I love you guys,” Kaya coos, interrupting. “Thank you, seriously. But enough of the sad talk. Let’s try and enjoy tonight.”

Everyone agrees, and the group goes off into conversation after that, discussing topics Law can’t really give his own takes on: peer drama, television series’, upcoming exams. But it’s alright, he’s fine to simply listen.

Parties typically went like this for him back in the day—he and his friends would be off in some random room, playing drinking games or discussing normal teenage topics. Though, he’d always end up the caretaker when his friends got too drunk, only once in a while getting to that point himself. 

Neither Luffy or his friends seem to be like that, though. They’re confident in themselves, and honestly pretty cool. No one’s too fucked up, no one’s making a giant mess of things. He figures, too, that if he's able to tolerate Luffy, his friends are most likely similar, so it makes sense he doesn’t mind them.

However, as time continues on and the alcohol begins to loosen him up ever so slightly, he begins to find it difficult to focus on whatever Luffy’s friends are talking about. Rather, all he can pay attention to is how Luffy stands by his side, their shoulders brushing together, each touch feeling like electricity running down his spine. He’s so hyper aware of how Luffy’s words are so animated even when he’s talking about the most trivial things, his smiles exuberant and so bright, it almost feels blinding. How every time he laughs, he laughs with his whole chest, his scent filling the space with contentedness and confidence; and it fills Law’s own chest with something fluttery and buoyant. Weirdly.

Law keeps the bottle close to his lips, trying not to look at the elegant fall of tawny hair across the alpha’s forehead, or the way his skin pulls taut atop muscles as he lifts his own drink to his red, red lips. It proves to be rather difficult.

Though what’s worse is that sometimes, Luffy looks back. When he laughs, he looks to Law to see if he’s laughing too, even if that glance is not returned. He can just feel Luffy’s eyes on him, a weighted brand against the side of his face, but lets boredom or subdued amusement suffuse his features instead of characteristic annoyance.

There’s just this silent, growing band of tension between them, winding through the air. He wonders if anyone else notices it. Or if Luffy even does himself. Law definitely does.

Despite all of this, Law does think he’s having a good time. He’s never felt so welcome somewhere and very quickly, almost like it’s natural. He’s decidedly happy that he was invited to come tonight.

After a while of conversing, Usopp and Kaya depart to begin mingling elsewhere, leaving him and the other three, who also eventually run off to go ‘find more alcohol’.

Now being alone, Law resigns himself to take a seat onto the couch, finishing off his beer as he pulls out his phone. He genuinely doesn’t feel odd that he’s left alone as it gives him some space to breathe, which is good for someone like him.

However, that semblance of peace doesn’t last very long.

“Having a good time tonight?”

Law turns a bit too quickly, startled by the unfamiliar voice. It’s a party so obviously people he doesn’t know will probably approach him, but it hasn’t happened in a while so he forgot it could happen.

Huh. Law vaguely recognizes her from when he had just arrived, mostly because it was difficult not to. Tall, long green hair, confident in her movements. He can tell she’s an omega, but with that amount of confidence it’d be easy to fool her for an alpha. Her scent holds saccharine notes of artificial cherry and jasmine—not terrible, but also not to his particular liking.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I guess so,“ Law replies, sticking his phone back into his pocket. “You?”

“Yeah, as much as you can be surrounded by a bunch of twenty-one year old's,” she laughs. “I haven’t seen you around before. Are you a student? Or, um, are you here with someone?”

“Oh, no, I’m not a student. I’m just, uh, friends with someone here, they invited me.” Maybe he’s being a bit too honest for his own good, but isn’t this what he’s supposed to be doing? Socializing, putting himself out there? Shachi and Penguin would be proud. Hell, he’s proud of himself.

She hums, smiling. “Well alright then. Name’s Monet, and you?”

“Law.”

“Nice to meet you, Law.” She lifts her cup and takes a sip, so he does the same. “So if you’re not a student, what do you do?”

“Uh, I work at a hospital currently. Cardiology.”

Monet’s eyes light up substantially brighter. “Oh wow, really? That’s super cool. I’m a grad student currently, but I also work as a T.A. Going into pharmaceuticals.”

“Ah, so we both got roped into a party with the early twenty-something year old's?” He attempts to muse. “How ill-considered of us.”

Her laugh rings out like a bell, bright and sharp. “Seems like it. Guess it’s a good thing we found each other then, huh?” She bats her long false lashes at him, and it sends a wave of disgust that churns inside of his stomach.

In normal circumstances, he would have shut this down already: the blatant flirting of an omega. She’s just like all the rest of them that have tried before.

At the same time, he does recognize that perhaps he shouldn’t be so cynical. It has been proven recently that opening himself up to change can be a positive thing for him. It worked with Luffy. Who would’ve thought he’d be where he is today?

“Ha, yeah. So, how do you know Usopp and Kaya?” He asks, trying to change the subject.

“Who?” She genuinely looks confused.

“The hosts? This is their apartment if I’m not mistaken.”

“Oh, no, I don’t. I heard about this through a friend of a friend.” She shrugs. “Cute place, but overall kind of lame if you ask me.”

He goes to retort something but Monet places a hand gently on Law’s shoulder before he can, the touch radiating heat through his sweater. “In fact, I was kind of thinking about getting out of here. Would you maybe wanna come with? Go somewhere a bit more… exciting?”

Law all but chokes.

“Uh, now?”

“Yeah. I don’t live that far, and I think we could have a lot more fun there than we’re having here.”

“Um…”

To be fair, he appreciates the forwardness. Monet is objectively cute and seemingly intelligent—but for some reason, it feels wrong. Her scent doesn’t do anything for him, and it’s not warm and open like… like others he has come across.

It also wouldn’t be fair to abandon Luffy here just for a fuck after he so graciously invited him—especially not with an omega who probably sees him as an available alpha. Not that he thinks Luffy would care much, but it’s still principle.

Suddenly though, before he has the chance to turn her down, someone is intruding on his personal space.

Speak of the devil.

“Heyyy, Law~” Luffy practically sings as he takes a seat on Law’s lap, slinging his legs over his thighs as he wraps his arms around his shoulders. “Whatcha’ up to?” His eyes are practically sparkling.

Law has to suck in a breath. Okay. So this is what they’re doing now. Sounds good.

“Uh, hi Luffy,” he manages to stammer out.

Luffy’s scent is more than warm now—it’s burning; lightning and sunshine and alcohol permeating his nose and tongue. They’re so close, his thighs feel like they’re on fire from where they rest under the alpha.

“Gosh, sorry I took so long. I got roped into a shot contest and I had to prove I’m not a lightweight” he giggles, sounding significantly drunker than he did fifteen minutes ago. He turns his head, looking up at Monet with a tight-lipped smirk. “And you are?”

“Ah, just mingling around,” Monet says, a bit defensively. “I should probably get back to my friends now, Law, but it was nice to meet you!”

Law nods, attempting to apologize through his eyes as best he can despite the circumstances. “Likewise. See you around.”

Monet walks away, leaving him and Luffy alone in the living room. The alpha turns back around and rests his head on Law’s shoulder. Law can feel the light puffs of his breath against his nape, and wildfire flares in his veins. He has to dig his teeth into his bottom lip in order to keep himself from twitching.

He’s drunk. He’s doing this because he’s drunk.

“Gods, I forgot how much fun it was to be at a party,” Luffy practically slurs. “Do you know her, by the way?”

It’s a struggle to keep his hand by his sides, the muscles in his fingers tingling to touch—something, anything. “Um, no, not really. She just came over here.”

“Mm. That’s good. Smelled like an omega. Gross.”

Law holds back a laugh. “Exactly how much did you have to drink over there?”

“Umm, not tooo much. Maybe like, five shots? I think?” Luffy giggles to himself, his fingers beginning to play with the hair against the back of Law’s neck. “I dunnooo’. I super won though, Vivi’s somewhere throwing up, but not me. I’m the greatest. ”

Law just hums, biting his lip again hard enough to draw blood. He desperately tries not to look at the flush goes all the way from the tips of Luffy’s ears down to where his chest is poking through his collar.

But Luffy decides to not make this easy on him. He nuzzles in closer, tickling Law’s scent gland with his nose. “Mm, you don’t smell like an omega. Has anyone ever told you how good you smell? Can’t get enough of it.”

Law grabs his waist with two hands, but he doesn’t push him off. He’s suddenly at a loss for words, cheeks flushing despite his best attempts to reign in his emotions. He can feel his own scent blooming into something akin to pure desire, and it’s overwhelming. Law usually has his biology controlled, scent kept on a tight leash and instincts tampered down to not impede others. 

Law means to protest, to tell Luffy that what he’s doing is inappropriate. That he doesn’t let anyone do this to him because he’s a good person and has no interest in things like this. That they can’t cross this line.

“You too, Luf’,” is what comes out instead.

Fuck. This is absurd.

Then again, he supposes that Luffy brings out the worst in him.

“Nooo I’m so serious,” Luffy breathes out. “Your scent is like… like when it snows. But warm, too. I love it.”

“R-really?”

“Mm. Hey, can I tell you a secret?”

As if none of the words he’s spoken are already secrets. As if they aren’t suspended in their own world, floating within the cracks of time, like specks of dust caught in a ray of afternoon sunshine.

He can do nothing but nod.

Luffy lifts up, voice drenched in honey and silky velvet when he whispers directly against his ear: “I really, really wanna scent with you right now.” 

“Uh– why?” Is all he can think to ask, taken aback.

“I dunno,” Luffy drawls, teasing around the top notch of his spine with a single fingertip. “But we’re good friends, right? Might be fun.”

Law can barely breathe. Luffy’s scent is all but suffocating him, taking hold of his lungs and squeezing so tight they might burst.

Why is he letting this happen? Why on earth is he letting this happen?

God. Why doesn’t he want it to stop?

“Of course, but um, don't you think that– that might be weird?” Law stammers out. “There’s a lot of people here.”

Luffy huffs an annoyed breath. “I don’t care about other peoplllleee. I need to. Can I? Please?”

What can he do? No one has ever said that to him before; described his scent as warm or even moderately pleasant. No one has ever asked to scent with him like this before. What is he supposed to do?

“I-If you really want to, I guess you can, sure. How would you like–”

Law’s words dissolve into thin air when Luffy adjusts to be straddling him, hooking his chin around his shoulder and pressing their necks together until their scent glands are touching. His fingers dig deeper into Luffy’s sides, but other than that he has nothing to say. All he knows is that he’s never felt anything like this before.

Fondness blooms in the depths of his chest, unrestrained lust and desire curling around his ribs. Law can almost taste the alcohol in the alpha’s blood from how potent it is. He can almost hear as his lungs expand to take in oxygen, feel the others ribs where they’re against his own. He’s all over him, that heady sensation of openness and desire the alpha exudes enveloping him, drenching him from the inside out.

He knows that this, scenting, is something meant to ground him, to further enhance a bond between two people, to instill comfort and relaxation. But as time continues, it seems to be having the exact opposite effect. Instead, Law’s breath is caught in his throat and the blood in his veins is thrumming with pure electricity; pulsating an amalgamation of lightning and sun rays and salt that combines with his own intrinsic scent. Creating something uninhibited; a sensation so ineffable that it’s staggering.

The longer it continues, the slower his heart-rate ticks, his breath beginning to come out in short, small gasps—but he isn’t sure if he’s actually breathing. He isn’t really sure of anything anymore. Something deep inside of him begins to coil and whirl, pleasure and lust and heat sparking in the worst of places.

“Mm, you like when I do this, huh?” Luffy mumbles.

“I–” Law breathes.

“I can tell that you do. Smell so fucking nice,” Luffy sighs, and settles in even deeper. “Such a good alpha.”

Fucking christ.

With Luffy on his lap, his scent enveloping him, Law feels high. The way he nuzzles into his neck, lips grazing the skin ever so softly, has his mind reeling; a constant mantra of don’t be stupid don’t be stupid don’t be stupid playing over and over again like a broken record.

His arousal grows with every second that passes, as does the will to grab, hold, to bite—and oh does it make him dizzy. He’s aware that he’s not allowed, but his instincts tell him to anyway. He’s never felt this way, and has to use the last thread of restraint still left within him to not do these things. To not grab. To not hold. To not bite—for god's sake do not fucking bite.

It’s overwhelming. 

In the best way. 

In the worst way.

But again, what can he do? What is he supposed to do? This is everything he’s only ever dreamed about. This is everything he’s never allowed himself to have, being given to him so effortlessly.

“Want you so bad,” Luffy utters, so low and breathy Law could only believe he’s imagining it. “Wanna fuck you. Take me somewhere– so that, so that we can.”

Luffy’s dangling the apple right in front of him—and he’s so indefinably starved that it’s tempting. This must be how Eve felt.

And although he’s never been a holy man, Law understands that taking it is the original sin.

“We– we can’t, Luffy. You’re drunk.”

“Doesn’t matter.” The alpha begins biting at his neck and rutting his hips back and forth, unrestrained. “You’re so hot, I need it.”

“Luffy,” Law pants. “N-no. You know we can’t do that.”

But he keeps going, scraping his canines against Law’s flushed skin, sending chills up his spine, and when he grinds straight into Law’s erection, that almost compels him to toss away all of his resolve.

Only almost.

Because still, underneath all of the resounding concupiscence wracking his being, there’s that minuscule voice in the back of his head, pleading for him to put an end to this. 

This is not how things are supposed to go. And his logic knows this. His impulses and instincts may not—but he does; the person who has disconnected himself from the inner alpha that tries so hard to get him to fuck up, to ruin all of the progress he has made thus far. He being the man who refuses to falter, despite all temptation thrown his way.

Perhaps, if he were more of a saint, a holy power would recognize him and his efforts. Are they listening in, now? And if so, are they proud of him?

“Luffy.” He tries again, but the half-baked plea falls on deaf ears.

He just keeps going—biting at Law’s skin, nipping at his scent gland, scratching his nape, pulling his hair, grinding in his lap, and it’s to the point that Law begins blooming into a hunger he’s never experienced.

This urge to completely unravel, to utterly destroy the person on top of him. It’s a violent maelstrom of want and coveting—jaw aching, fingers itching to grasp, a stark ringing in his ears.

He feels dangerous. He feels uninhibited.

Really, it’s too much.

This buzzing of unadulterated adrenaline in his veins. This craving that’s so inexpressibly distinct. This transcendent desire for the alpha he cannot and will not have. His mind is whirling that it feels nearly impossible to contemplate all of his different options—he just knows he needs to do something.

It’s way too much. All too soon.

He isn’t really even cognizant about how he does it, but he does somehow manage to disconnect himself from Luffy, lifting him off of his lap before rising from the couch. He quickly excuses himself, something about needing a glass of water—he’s not sure, but he still doesn’t look back as he rushes from the room towards the kitchen, accidentally bumping shoulders with people while apologizing under his breath after the fact.

Law has only had a single beer and isn’t even close to being tipsy, but no one has to know that. Because with trembling fingertips and a renewed urge to completely unravel the alpha that sits less than ten feet away from him, there’s not much else he can do than remove himself from the situation entirely. Hiding in the kitchen is easier than dealing with a drunk Luffy, who is obviously only doing these things because he’s, well, drunk.

He finds a random clean(?) solo up and fills it with lukewarm tap water, gulping it down as quickly as he can. Though it does nothing to quench the rampant unbidden thirst—the hunger. Luffy is still with him, all around him, coursing through his veins and lingering in the back of his throat. Nothing can help it. Nothing can take it away.

Is he cursed? Is this some sort of sick joke the universe is playing on him, some sort of negative karma he’s currently having to face? Has he committed a sin so unforgivable in a past life that he is now forced to reap the consequences of what he had previously sowed?

How can he want something so much but have to stay away from it? Why is his heart pulling him one way, when he knows he must stay the opposite? It doesn’t matter how fascinating or wonderful Luffy is—this is not supposed to happen. He is not supposed to feel this way about another alpha.

Throughout the duration of his existence, he has never felt such an uninhibited sense of yearning for someone, that longing that digs into his chest and tugs on his heart, allowing him to make senseless mistakes based solely on lust. It’s foolish, and he knows this. He’s aware this will only leave the two of them hurt. For the entirety that Law has lived, he has never felt so clueless.

There are so many questions and way, way too little answers.

All that he does know is that he should have never allowed Luffy to sit on his lap. He should have never allowed him to scent him. He should have never agreed to come here in the first place. Hell, he should have never allowed himself to disregard all of the safe walls he’s built up for a person he’s just recently met.

There's no way that he can spin this to make it fine. There’s no life in which this—this thing with Luffy, could work. There’s no reality where he could let himself want; or possess; or love; it’s not in the cards for him, and it never has been.

Law is meant to be alone. That is how he came into this world, and that is how he will exit. He could never give somebody what they need, let alone another alpha. He can barely take care of himself. And for that, he knows he must cut this off before it goes any further. Call him selfish, call him a narcissistic asshole, but there’s no point in fooling himself into believing this entire situation is fine.

There’s also no point to be standing around in some random beta’s kitchen, grieving over somebody he could never actually have. Someone he could never give himself to.

So, he leaves. And if he’s opening himself up to a shitstorm of negative consequences, then so be it. That’s for future Law to deal with.

—

law where’du go??

Someone saidthey saw u leave? 

hope u get home safe :(

im sorry if i made things weird but i rlly figured u wanted it too. am i crazy???  

hey. i hope you aren’t upset with me. if you are, i guess i deserve it. but i dont want to lose you as a friend. can u stop by the cafe later? ill buy u a coffee and we can talk.

i understand if u dont wanna talk. really thats fine. we dont have to be friends anymore if u dont want to & ill respect ur wishes if thats the case. but i feel like this mightve been a misunderstanding.

wishing u the best always :) u know where to find me if u need me! ☕️

—

“Well, you look like shit.”

“Thank you. Seriously, thanks so much.” Law rolls his eyes, and uses the insult as an excuse to take a rather large swig of his old fashioned.

The dive bar is quiet tonight, only a couple of people lingering around the pool table, and the low lighting along with the classic rock playing over the speakers creates a comfortable atmosphere. 

It’s been a while since Law has stepped into a bar, but since Shachi all but begged him for hours during their shift earlier, here he is. He guesses it’s fine though, as it has been a while since he’s seen a friend of his—and considering this week has also been the definition of hell, he decided getting wasted beyond belief is the best way to go.

He wasn’t expecting to be shit on from the jump, but whatever.

“I’m just being honest, bro,” Shachi chuckles. “When’s the last time you slept?”

“Does it matter?” Law retorts, all the bite in his tone he can muster. Maybe it’s mean, but he knows if anyone can handle it, it would be Shachi.

“Hey, I’m just looking out for you man. No need to get so defensive.”

Law exhales an exasperated sigh. The beta is right. He hasn’t slept and he knows he looks like shit—feels that way too, but the last thing he wants is to explain the reasons behind it. He just wants to get drunk and forget about the world for an evening.

“I’m fine,” Law declares. “Can we just not talk about it? It’s been a long week.”

“Alright, fine. Whatever you want man.”

“How’s life going for you?” Law sighs out, hoping to switch the focus onto Shachi instead of himself. Even though they work together everyday, they still don’t get a lot of time to catch up on personal things. Law’s usually thankful for it, but he’s well aware that in order to foster friendships, reciprocated interest is the way to do it. 

He read it in a book once, and it’s seemed to work out for him so far.

“Eh, same old shit honestly. Penguin’s been annoying lately, as per usual. The oncology supervisor’s been running me ragged. Landlord’s raising the rent, again, so I’ll probably have to move soon. Hm, what else… oh yeah, I also started seeing a girl recently!”

Law raises a brow. “Oh?”

“Yup. Here, I have a picture.” He whips out his phone and takes a minute to scroll before turning it to Law, a smug grin painting his face. “Pretty, right? She works in pediatrics. An omega too, believe it or not.”

“An omega? How’d you make that work?” Law’s genuinely shocked. Omegas don’t tend to go for betas, as they don’t typically hold a strong scent. It certainly happens, but it’s a bit harder for anyone but alphas to garner their attention. They just can’t do… well, what an alpha can, basically. Certainly dumb in his opinion, but it is what it is.

Shachi giggles in childish excitement. “Genuinely, no idea dude. And I didn’t even have to beg this time, she’s the one that asked me out!

Law snorts. “Well, congrats.” He lifts up his drink and clinks it with Shachi’s before taking a sip.

Shachi takes a few long gulps of his beer, wiping his mouth of the foam afterwards. “Mm, how about you? Any prospects? Any new omegas attempted to throw themselves at you this week?”

Law tenses on the spot, clenching his jaw so tightly accidentally that his teeth squeak. “Didn’t I say that I don’t want to talk about this?”

“No, you said you didn’t want to talk about your sleeping habits. Why, is your love life the reason for your awful looking appearance?”

Law side eyes him mid sip.

“I’m gonna take that as a yes.” Shachi chuckles. “Damn, you’re fuckin’ picky. So many perfectly fine omegas throw themselves at you, Mr. Big Bad Alpha, but you just turn them away. Why do this to yourself?” He looks off to the side, mumbling to himself. “Some people truly don’t know how lucky they are.”

The vexation coils and tingles within his stomach, rising into his throat. “Why are you saying all this? When have I ever tried to have a conversation with you regarding this stuff?” He huffs out a sigh for dramatic effect, though utterly serious. “Go back to being my friend with no care for this shit, please.”

“I don't know man, maybe I’m actually happy for once?” Shachi declares. “Being with someone made me realize how important it is to fill that void, so I guess when I see you unhappy, I just want the same for you. You’re my boy, all I want is for you to find that someone that holds you down.”

“Well, maybe I’m just not capable of that.”

“Why wouldn’t you be? Just find someone who you can tolerate and go from there. I’ve heard all omegas smell sweet, what's so bad about that?”

“Maybe I don’t like omegas,” he says, and regrets the words immediately after they come spilling thornily from his lips. This is the first time he’s said that out loud—or admitted it to himself, frankly.

“Oh, so that’s what this is about?”

“What?”

“They’re not an omega.”

“Literally what are you talking about?”

“The person you're seeing. They aren’t an omega. What, a beta then?”

Law doesn’t say anything as he swallows down the rest of his drink, hoping to get drunk so this entire conversation becomes the tiniest bit more tolerable, if it’s even possible.

“No? Then… wait– an alpha?”

Law slams his glass down on the counter, placing his head into his palms. “Please, shut up. Seriously, just stop talking.”

“Law. I have known you for over a decade at this point. You think I didn’t know? A different omega flirts with you every week, practically presenting themselves right then and there for you to take them, and not once have I seen you go for it.”

He snaps his head back up. “Well, I’ve never gone for an alpha, either. I don’t date.”

“Yeah but you know you’d eventually go for it, dude. You’re an alpha, you can resist that temptation forever, and you definitely would have by now.”

Law needs this conversation to end. Like now.

“So. What are they like?”

Clearly, Shachi doesn’t care.

“Dude. Please, stop.”

His friend lets out a gasp. “Oh my god, you actually like them? Holy shit, wait, what did you do? Is this why you’re so upset, did you fuck up somehow?”

His glare bore daggers, completely intentional. “Why do you assume I was the one who fucked up?”

“Because you’re stewing,” Shachi says, like he’s supposed to know what that means. “And you don’t tend to keep people around once they hurt you. It’s a Trafalgar Law thing.”

Law sighs. “Why am I friends with you again?”

“Because you can tolerate me, or so you’ve said. Therefore, you can tolerate a little questioning—so answer the damn question, because I’m over your bad fucking mood tonight.”

He rubs his thumbs into his shut eyelids, attempting to massage the migraine away as he sighs out in exasperation. “What do you even want to know?”

“What are they like?”

“I am not telling you that.”

“Okaaay, then at least tell me what happened. What did you do? Bad breakup?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Law snaps back. “Him and I are friends, that’s it. We wouldn’t work even if I wanted it to.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Do I have to answer that? We’re both alphas. Forbidden by destiny or whatever.”

“And who said that?”

“I don’t know, biology? Whatever higher power created us? I don’t have a say. No one does.”

Shachi laughs so loud that even the bartender turns their head. “Dude. When has your ‘biology’ ever been normal? You said it yourself, you don’t even like omegas, dude.”

“Yeah, and that’s the problem.”

“It doesn’t have to be a problem. Literally, what’s the big deal? If you like an alpha then be with an alpha. It’s not ye’ olden days anymore, Law. You can do whatever you want. Do they not like you back, is that the issue?”

“No– I don’t, I don’t know. Maybe? Maybe not.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Shachi starts, turning his entire body towards Law and straightening his posture. “You like this person, and there’s a chance this person could like you back. But instead, you’re sulking because you’re not ‘supposed’ to like them? Do you understand how insane that sounds?”

Well, when he puts it like that…

“Why the fuck should it matter? Live your life dude, be happy. Free love and all that shit.” Shachi waves his hand, turning back to his drink.

Maybe from an outsider's perspective, Law has been a bit selfish and nonsensical in his decision to avoid any sort of romantic affairs, but to him, this is what makes the most sense.

Besides, everything has turned out fine so far. He’s been able to focus wholly on himself and the things that truly matter in life. Sure, he may be suffering now, brooding when he should be enjoying a nice hangout with a friend, but he’s not the one who wants to talk about it.

Nonetheless, this entire situation has been so difficult, maybe he should allow some outside interference. Advice, a push in the right direction; anything at all. It’s utterly embarrassing and none of anyone’s damn business—but he’s already dug his grave. Might as well curl up in a ball and lie in it at this point.

“Yeah? But what if I fuck it up, Shachi? What if I’m not what he needs? Shit, what if he’s not what I need?”

Shachi shrugs. “Then who cares. Onto the next one. It doesn’t have to be this grand thing, you know. You can like who you like. But considering this is the first time I’m ever hearing about you having a crush, you guys must work in some regard, right?”

Law doesn’t respond for a moment, swirling around the ice in his drink. “I…don’t know. I genuinely just– ugh, I don’t know,” he mumbles. “This entire thing confuses the fuck out of me.”

“Trust me, I get it. And I’m sorry you’re having a difficult time with this—but seriously, don’t let this fear or whatever it is hold you back from giving into something that makes you happy. You’ll only regret it in the end. Be honest with yourself about your feelings. You don’t have to be miserable, you know. You’re allowed to be happy.”

Law glares at him, wondering who this man is in front of him because it’s certainly not the bumbling, immature fool he met ten years ago.

“When the hell did you get so profound? Jesus, I need to be drunker for this,” he mumbles, but also can’t help but laugh.

Shachi chuckles along with him. “I don’t know man, love does crazy things to ya’. But alright, we don’t have to talk about this anymore. Seriously though, give it some thought. All I want is for you to be happy, Law.”

Law allows the first smile of the night to grow upon his lips. “Thanks, Shach’. I appreciate you.”

“You too, man.” He pats Law’s shoulder. “Now, let's get some more shots, and maybe you’ll let me talk about my omega. Because man, is she—”

“Nope, nope, nope. Save it for when I’m wasted, thank you.”

“Ha. You’re on.” He calls over the bartender and the night officially begins.

—

Hey. Sorry, it’s been a crazy few days at work. I’ll swing by tomorrow afternoon. Holding you to that free coffee btw.

—

Standing outside of the coffee shop, Law lights up a cigarette.

The first pull is as satisfying as it always is, flooding his system with nicotine and quelling the craving. The second treats him to that nice short-lived headrush, while the third dulls any offensive odors that threaten to pervade his nose. And the fourth—well, the fourth is just for recreation.

Though, he would be a liar if he were to say that's all he sees the hobby as now. As much as it is a self-indulgent pleasure, there’s another layer to it that took a while for Law to admit to himself.

Because sure it’s a distraction, a pastime, something to do with his hands, an addiction; yes, all of these things, reasons he tells his doctor when they ask why he has yet to kick the habit.

But as he has recently discovered, or perhaps always knew but never wanted to face; it is also something to soothe the ache built up years within his chest—or, possibly to make it worse knowingly. Still up for debate. He hasn’t gotten to that part in his healing journey yet.

Nonetheless, for someone who has spent their entire life caring—thinking, contemplating, judging, regretting, avoiding—the act of smoking, as Law has now come to realize, is a way to prove to himself that he can ignore the consequences sometimes.

Obviously he’s aware of the repercussions of sucking down carcinogens just as any smoker is. Anyone who partakes chooses not to care for the mere sake of doing it, for whatever reasons they decide matter more than the inevitability of a shorter lifespan, health risks, or whatever else scientists have discovered in the past fifty years.

Because the self-serving hobby matters more than that. It’s entirely selfish.

And for Law, it’s the one thing in life that he does not have to care about and the one thing his mind decides it’s okay with.

Which perhaps is hypocritical of him, but he’d argue it’s also quite righteous. It serves as proof that he’s more than capable of looking past things, which is necessary, even if he doesn’t always think so.

Law hasn’t always been aware of this. In fact, this is only something he began understanding these last few days while going through a pack a day, choking on the smoke whenever he had the chance.

For obvious reasons, things haven’t been easy since he decided to leave the party that night. He certainly wasn’t lying in his text to Luffy: work has been kicking his ass into a new dimension, even if that is nothing particularly new.

What was unfamiliar, only beginning to make itself known after his discussion with Shachi, was the compunction. The overwhelming amount of self-reproach. The guilt. All three similar emotions not often felt by Law, and it was daunting to say the least.

And frankly, Luffy’s texts broke him down, and he debated responding back multiple times. However, Law was undeniably angry. He was hurt, and ultimately, he did blame Luffy. How could the alpha attempt to push them to the next level? How could he be so selfish in taking what he wants, when Law is not allowed?

However, he did also condemn himself. He allowed his guard to come down. He allowed Luffy to enter his life and did little to stop the natural flow of their relationship. Sure, he never intentionally pushed for things to go further, but he didn’t stop it, and as he’s come to find out, inaction is oftentimes just as effective as direct action.

Therefore, it became even more difficult to pull himself out of bed than it usually is. He was discontent with all aspects of his life and wanted to cease any and all contact with the outside world. Although, his responsibilities inevitably kept him from wallowing for too long, which in hindsight he supposes is a positive thing.

So, instead of focusing on the hurt, he smoked, and probably more than he has since he picked up the habit however many odd years ago. Sometimes, it was a stress reliever. Other times, it was to overpower the odors that come with life as a doctor. But for the most part, it was in an attempt to rid his system of the lingering humming; the leftover lightning and tsunami waves and comfort and warmth he knew he was undeserving to continue grasping onto.

He realized then, or rather was slapped in the face with the harsh truth that he does one thing and is utterly uncaring of the consequences, even though he is well aware that it is bad for him. But for the other, the thing that may be good and offer goodness to his world, he pushes it away—for the fear that it may be terrible.

Attempting to abandon one of the good things in his life for the fear of it going awry. 

And how flawed is that?

Though despite this revelation, he still understood the necessity to be cautious. As proven the evening of the party, his want seems to know no bounds. The intensity of his desire can be dangerous. Violent, even.

Not that he thinks Luffy wouldn’t be able to handle it. He’s an alpha, of course he could. That fact doesn’t make it any easier though. It only makes it worse for him, pushing his fantasies to the furthest degrees.

At the end of the day, Law is still aware it shouldn’t be biology—Luffy is the farthest thing from an omega that he could imagine. But it somehow is, nonetheless. Because every thrum of his blood seems to yield to the desire in Law’s chest. It’s illogical, irrational, and unwise to boot.

He just can’t stop. His mind and body are consumed by everything the alpha is and the potential they could have. So, perhaps it is time to plunge into the deep end. Close his eyes and lean into the fall—damn the consequences and finally dare to hope for the first time in his life.

Like Shachi said, he doesn’t have to be miserable. He can allow himself to be happy. And he should be doing that. Life is too short to dwell on the negative.

What else can he do? He doesn’t want to push away someone important to him. He’s grown to care for Luffy in ways he’s never allowed himself to care for others before. Luffy has sunk into Law like vines, weaving and winding their stems around his ribs, his mind, his heart.

There’s no one like Luffy. And it’d be foolish to abandon that.

So here he is, preparing himself for an inevitable confrontation that he only hopes is a productive one. Whether it turns out that Luffy wants nothing to do with him after all of this, then so be it. He’s ready for whatever repercussions come his way this time. He’s sick of avoiding them.

Law takes the final hit of his cigarette, the cherry crackling as it burns the cotton filter before tossing and stamping it out on the concrete below. He allows himself a singular inhale of fresh oxygen before pulling the door open.

And despite the taste of dry, bitter tobacco holding residence within his throat, it is his scent and his presence, as well as the instinct, that has Law keenly and hyper aware. Yet as per usual, there is no sense of imminent danger. Just that subdued and overall quelled trepidation flooding his gut and sending shivers down his limbs.

Instead this time, he welcomes it.

Law walks up to the counter, one hand in his pocket. Luffy must sense he’s there, too, because he turns his head away from rearranging the pastry display rather quickly, a light pink already crowning the tips of his ears.

“Law,” he breathes out. “Hey.”

Electric fiery lightning, satisfying sea salt, and warm sunshine saturates the empty space surrounding them, and it feels like home. Law offers a smile.

“Hey, Luffy.”

“It’s, um, good to see you! I got a bit worried that maybe you died or something,” Luffy says, adding on an awkward chuckle at the end.

Law returns with his own version of amusement, huffing out through his nose. “Yeah, no, I’m uh, I’m alive. It’s good to see you too, though.”

The younger alpha lights up. “Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

There's a tinge of silence, but Law breaks it fairly quickly.

“So, about that free coffee?”

Luffy snorts, taken aback. “You were serious about that, huh?”

“I mean, you did offer. I’m just making good on it.”

He rolls his eyes playfully. “Touché. Just the usual then?”

“Yeah, please.”

Luffy gives a delightful nod and walks off, grabbing a cup off of the stack. Law watches him through all of the actions, as he likes to do, and when he returns, the coffee is placed onto the counter along with a small muffin-esque pastry on a white plate.

Law cocks an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s this?”

“Just something new Sanji’s been working on. Since none of us can really give valid criticism because Sanji’s cooking is perfect no matter what, I thought maybe you could be the official taste tester?”

Law hums. “How do you know I’ll like it?”

“Well, it’s the first savory pastry he’s made, and so I figured that because you never wanted to try any of the sweet ones… maybe you’d prefer something like this.”

Law takes a moment to consider.

“A peace offering?”

Luffy’s eyes widen, but it’s overcome by a sly smirk.

“Maybe. Is it working?”

“Perhaps. Can’t say. I’ll have to try it first.”

“Well, my lunch break is in about ten minutes, can you wait for me? Want to see it live when that thing blows your mind.”

Law chuckles. “Yeah, I can wait. Come find me when you’re ready.”

As agreed upon, Law gets his drink for free (no drawing this time, but it’s fine), so he walks off and ventures outside; it’s a nice day, and he thinks Luffy would prefer to spend his break somewhere other than the workplace. After choosing a table away from a majority of the other customers enjoying the sunshine, he takes a seat and waits.

It doesn’t take long before the alpha’s pheromones come wafting around the corner, leaving him to sit up straighter in his chair, adjusting himself away from the heat searing onto his shoulders through his shirt.

“Hey, thanks for waiting!” Luffy says, taking a seat next to him. He folds his hands together atop the table, but quickly brings them down to his sides, then to his lap.

“Of course,” Law says, taking note of the alpha’s nervous fidgeting. “Busy day so far?”

Luffy lets out a sigh, shrugging his shoulders. “Meh, not really. I don’t understand why though, it’s so nice out.”

“Does the weather correlate to how many people come to coffee shops?” Law asks, playing with the thin cardboard sleeve wrapped around his to-go cup just so he has something to do with his hands. 

Perhaps he’s a little nervous too.

“Nami says it does. She thinks people don’t want to drink coffee on a sunny day, but I think that’s fake. Who doesn’t want to play at the park with a coffee and a pastry? That sounds like a perfect day to me.”

Law hums. “I would think people drink more in the winter. You know, to warm themselves up.”

“Yeah, that’s what Nami thinks, too. I guess I can see why, but it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”

“Well, what can you do,” Law states, shrugging.

“I know. I just feel bad for Sanji and Zoro when it’s slow. They deserve all the business in the world.” Luffy frowns, a bit dejected, but he quickly perks up again. “But it’s whatever. Have you tried the pastry yet?”

Law shakes his head. “I haven’t. I was waiting for you.”

“Try it, try it! I swear you’ll love it.”

Law picks up the pastry, squeezing the squishy material between his fingertips. “Alright, but I’m putting my faith in you. If it sucks, I expect free coffees for a month.”

Luffy’s mouth opens in retaliation, but it’s quickly overtaken by a smirk. “Oh, you’re so on.”

Law laughs, then brings the pastry to his lips and takes a bite, beginning to chew carefully and methodically all while maintaining eye contact. He’s suspecting not to like it, however he’s surprised when the egg (he assumes) thing is actually quite pleasant, the savory flavors exploding deliciously on his tongue.

His eyes widen as he swallows down the goodness. “What– what is this?”

“Ooh, you like it, huh?” Luffy’s grin is goofy and wide, nodding his head smugly in self-satisfaction. “It’s a quiche bite! Egg, cheese, salmon, avocado, and soy.”

“Huh. Yeah no, that’s pretty incredible,” he says earnestly, shoving the rest into his mouth.

“Yes! I knew you’d like it! Sanji’s gonna be so happy.”

Law lets a genuine smile creep past his lips, wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “I’m glad. He’s really talented.”

“Isn’t he?” Luffy sighs, content. “Thank you for coming by today, Law,” Luffy admits, turning to Law with a sheepish smile. “I’m really happy that you aren’t upset with me.” 

The sudden shift from one topic to the next takes Law off guard, but he forces himself to adjust quickly. He understands they need to have a conversation about this eventually, but he was secretly hoping to do it at a later date, preferably somewhere not in public so he could truly be upfront with his feelings. 

But as much as Luffy is pretending to be happy, Law can tell he’s holding onto some shame regarding everything. So, he can do his part in reassuring him.

“I’m sorry for making you think I was, but I can assure you, I was just busy with work.”

Not entirely the truth, but there’s no need to make Luffy feel worse. He is, at the end of the day, just an alpha. He was doing what the alcohol was telling his brain (and dick) to do. Is Law allowed to judge? Yes, quietly. But can he blame the kid? No, absolutely not.

“I know, but still, I– uh, was pretty certain you never wanted to see me again. You know, after… after the party.”

“Yeah. I get that. But, don’t worry. You don’t really have to apologize for that.” Because he really doesn’t. He doesn’t owe Law anything. He was drunk and it was a heat of the moment type of situation.

Really, it’s water under the bridge now.

Luffy frowns, furrowing his brows slightly—clearly unhappy with Law’s response. “What do you mean? Of course I do. I put you in an uncomfortable situation. I can’t blame you for leaving.”

“Well, you were drunk,” Law attempts to reason. “I don’t blame anyone for the actions they make while intoxicated. Believe me, I’ve had my fair few of fuck ups blasted out of my mind.” He almost winces at the thought of his college days, but he cracks a smirk instead to help the alpha feel better.

Luffy returns the smile, but it’s obviously half-hearted. “Yeah– well, I mean, I probably would have asked to scent with you even if I wasn’t,” he admits.

Oh?

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t tend to make the smartest decisions sometimes—drunk or sober,” Luffy chuckles timidly to himself.

That does make sense—but still, there’s a lingering question in the back of Law’s mind that’s been beckoning to come forth since it all happened.

“Well, why did you want to do it in the first place?”

An alpha scenting another alpha isn’t a very common thing, especially in public. Most alphas don't get any satisfaction scenting with someone other than an omega. The only reason Luffy would want to do something like that with another alpha is if he, well, was into them, in a romantic way.

However, Law isn’t going to get his hopes up. He understands it’s an unrealistic expectation to have Luffy reciprocate his feelings.

Luffy pauses for a moment, ostensibly considering the question. “I guess… it just felt right? Like, it was something I had to do, if that makes sense. I was following my instincts, and they led me to you.”

Law is taken aback, but tries not to let it show.

“Ah,” is all that comes out, because he truly doesn’t know how to react to that.

Luffy places a hand on top of Law’s, lightly, the rough skin of his palm rubbing against Law’s knuckles, the sensation making his chest feel tight. “But genuinely, I am sorry. I really do value you as a friend and I hope I didn’t fuck things up.”

“You didn’t,” Law assures, sounding as serious as he can muster. “And, I value you, too.”

“Yeah?” Luffy’s eyes brighten, chestnut irises glittering in the sun. “That’s a relief. I was so worried.”

“Seriously, don’t be.” To show Luffy just how nonchalant he is, Law finally takes a sip from the coffee he has neglected, the contents having lost most of its heat now, but he doesn’t mind.

The tension in Luffy’s shoulders subside, leaving them to drop until he’s displaying his usual nonchalant posture. “In that case then, would you be down to hang out again? But don’t worry, no alcohol this time,” he chuckles.

“Yeah, I would,” Law answers truthfully. “Just maybe not at a party this time. Your friends are great, just… not really my scene. Sorry.”

“I gathered that,” he laughs. “Of course. It can be just us this time. Maybe I could come over to your place. Bring a pizza, watch a movie or something.”

Law smirks. “I’d like that. When are you free?”

“Honestly, not sure,” Luffy says, slumping back in his seat as he runs a hand through his already messy hair, biceps flexing subtly. “School’s been killing me. I have this project I’m working on and it’s taking up all of my free time. Vivi is forcing me to dedicate this week to working on it, so until exams are done, I don’t think I have much time outside of work.”

Law understands completely. School was hell for him back in the day; he’d sit in his room for hours, sometimes days, at a time; studying, doing homework, writing papers. Barely ate, barely slept, barely had the time to take care of himself. Not that he truly minded much, but his social life also definitely took a blow during exam season. For someone as extroverted as Luffy is though, Law can see how that’d be difficult.

“Ah, I get that. What’s the project?”

He crosses his arms, grouching. “A stupid coding thing. I barely understand it.”

Law hums. “Maybe I could help?”

Luffy’s eyes widen in surprise. “You know how to code?”

“Eh, sort of. I did some stuff in university, though I’m not an expert. But maybe I could help you stay focused?”

“Yeah, okay!” Luffy confirms, nodding in excitement. “Yeah, that sounds fun. When are you available?”

“Um, I think Friday?” The last sip of his coffee is bitter, but he forces it down swiftly. “Yeah, Friday I should be good. Don’t work this weekend, so I can help you complete it.”

“Perfect! Friday it is,” Luffy beams, and Law thinks he just might actually be the source of all the sunshine today. An alarm tone begins to ring from the phone in Luffy’s pocket, and he pulls it out quickly to shut it off. “Shit, looks like my break is over now.”

“Ah, alright.”

“Sorry we couldn’t talk more today,” Luffy mutters, almost appearing bashful. “But seriously, thank you for coming to see me, Law. I’ll see you Friday, okay?"

Luffy disappears into the café before Law has a chance to react to that at all. He allows himself to finally exhale the breath caught in his lungs, releasing the tightness in his shoulders. There’s a jittery fuzziness lingering in his chest, and usually he’d chalk that up to exhaustion, or too much coffee too late in the day, or possibly an oncoming heart attack.

But not now.

Now, he knows to allow himself to feel it. To acknowledge the feeling, and instead of pushing it down somewhere far, far away; Law lets it in. He lets it linger. Allows it to exist.

Law chuckles to himself as he lights up another cigarette. 

What has Luffy done to him?

He thinks of it in fondness, though. Only ever fondness.

—

Four days blend together like nothing. It’s staggering how life seems to go by incredibly slowly while also zipping by at lightning speed. Even more so than usual, but Law chalks that up to having spent all of his time at work, pushing himself harder than usual, but feeling satisfied because of it. He isn’t sure if it’s the radical acceptance or the excitement of seeing Luffy on Friday that has his body buzzing with adrenaline, but he’s not upset about it. If anything, it’s been giving life a new sense of direction. A new purpose. There’s no sense of stagnancy anymore, and it’s refreshing.

When he hasn’t been at work or sleeping off the stress put onto his body because of it, he prioritizes doing things he’s pushed off for a while now. Such as, spending time cleaning and reorganizing his apartment, making sure everything makes sense and switching it up if it doesn’t. Dusting his bookshelf and rearranging all of the books inside, moving his couch to a different wall, scrubbing the baseboards and light fixtures—mundane things like that, yet still important.

Another new thing was purchasing a membership to a nice gym, despite Law holding the capability of being able to keep fit naturally. The gym has always been something he avoided, as a place where people sweat and exude all kinds of nasty pheromones always seemed like his personal hell—but for some reason, the thought of it doesn’t disgust him anymore. He figures that if he’s taking the time to care for his mental state, physicality is just as important. He’s only been twice now, and the feeling of total satisfaction after a tough workout is something he never knew he needed.

He also did a huge grocery shop yesterday, spending more money than he has in the last six months restocking everything he could possibly need for the next few weeks. Mostly because he thinks it’d be nice to get into cooking again—but also, if Luffy’s going to be spending time at his place once in a while, it shouldn’t look like he doesn’t take care of himself.

It’s been a long time since he held the motivation to do any of these things for himself and he feels content in himself, living in the moment and enjoying the little things.

However, some strange physical symptoms have begun to make themselves known, throwing an occasional wrench in his newfound sense of ease.

The other day, Law was mid-way through planting a new ICM device into a patient when a dizziness spell hit him out of the blue, and he almost fumbled so hard that he had to ask the assisting nurse to take over. However, that passed in a few minutes, so he was able to continue and ultimately chalked it up to a one-off oddity.

And then, later at the gym, while he was running on the treadmill he had the sudden urge to go faster—harder, to really and truly push himself. He increased the speed, and ran as fast as he could for numerous minutes, sprinting and dripping sweat, but it felt so good he didn’t want to stop. However, he ended up having to when stars began floating through his vision.

Though when he stopped, there was still a lingering adrenaline coursing through his veins, causing him to feel overwhelmingly restless and antsy. So, he decided to walk home instead of driving his car. He figured he’d go back for it in the morning.

And then back at home, after a very long cold shower, he sprawled out naked upon his bed, hair still dripping freezing water. He was still sweating, his body heat making him want to claw out of his skin. His stomach growled, but there was no instinct in his body to make himself go eat. So, he lay there, burning, panting, although he somehow was able to fall asleep.

Despite all of these weird situations, it still hasn’t occurred to Law what could possibly be happening to him. Maybe it’s what it feels like to be in a good, energetic mood for once. Maybe this is what normal people feel on a daily basis, and he still has some adjustment to do.

He isn’t concerned. Life is good. What’s there to stress?

It’s Friday now, and Law thankfully wakes up more level-headed than when he went to sleep. Luffy is also coming over tonight, so there’s a lot to be done. But work must come first, everything else later. 

He jumps out of bed and gets dressed for work, hops in the car and clocks in diligently once he arrives. He realizes he forgot to smoke a cigarette, but the craving hasn’t been so bad recently, so he doesn’t feel the need to excuse himself. Maybe he’ll smoke one later, but also maybe not. Thankfully, there are no intensive procedures scheduled for him, so he’s able to relax for the most part, mostly checking in on patients in recovery.

The day goes by quickly, and it is now lunchtime, so he grabs a salad from the cafeteria and heads into the break room. 

He’s sitting at one of the tables, picking at his food but not having much of an appetite to eat it when his friends walk in.

“Wassup, Law,” Penguin greets, fist-bumping him as he pulls out the chair across from him.

“Hey dude. You’re looking better.” Shachi pats him on the shoulder and sits next to him, pulling out his lunch bag to begin eating. “Wait, ew—what is that smell?”

“What smell?” Law asks. He doesn’t smell anything. It’s all hospital and cleaning supplies for him.

“It’s like something’s burning kinda.” Shachi grimaces, nose wrinkling in disgust. “You smell that, Peng?”

“Sorta, now that you mention it. Do you really not smell that Law? …Oh, wait.”

Both Shachi and Penguin look at each other, then turn back towards Law, a knowing expression painting both of their faces.

Law looks back at both of them, confused.

“What?”

“Dude. You smell.”

“Huh? No I don’t. What are you talking about?”

“Yes, you do,” Shachi chuckles. “You haven’t noticed?”

“Noticed what? I don’t—” Law stops himself, eyes going wide in realization. “Oh. Shit. My rut.”

“Damn dude,” Penguin laughs. “Took you this long to realize? Shit smells like you’re already days in it.”

“Fuck,” Law groans, placing his head into his hands. “How did I not realize?”

The manic bursts of energy, the compulsion to clean and reorganize his den, the dizziness, adrenaline, unnatural rising of his body temperature: all tell-tale signs that his rut is coming.

Fuck. Is he an idiot?

His cycle is consistently normal and he’s always able to tell it’s coming at the first sign of his pre-rut, dead set on not exuding alpha pheromones onto people who don’t want it. Perhaps his mind has been too caught up in other things that he failed to realize—but still, this is strange for him.

“It’s alright, it happens. Just head home, Law. We’ll tell Jean you’re out of commission for a few days.”

“I’m sorry guys, I don’t know why I didn’t notice it this time.” He’s thankful it was his two closest friends to call him out at least. If it were a stranger, they’d think he was disgusting and ridiculous for coming to work this close to his rut.

His friends reassure him some more, but he doesn’t listen too intensely as he gets up swiftly from his chair, throwing his salad away as he rushes from the room, the sound of his friends laughing to themselves growing distant as he goes inside the locker room to grab his things.

He doesn’t think much before leaving, getting in his car and driving home.

And once he’s home, a sudden wave of fatigue hits him hard that he’s only able to strip off his clothes before crawling into bed and falling asleep.

He naps the rest of the day, going in and out of sleep, until he’s pulled from his slumber from a knock at the front door. Law rises groggily, confused at what’s going on, until he goes to check the time.

It takes a moment, but then it hits him.

Luffy.

Fuck.

He forgot to send a text before he fell asleep, and now Luffy's here just as they planned, and Law’s probably only a few hours away from going full blown feral alpha mode, and—

This is not good.

Luffy knocks again, and Law’s heart all but falls into his stomach.

Okay, alright, this is fine. He’ll just go to the door and explain to Luffy that he isn’t feeling well and will have to reschedule. He’s sure he doesn’t look the best, so the alpha will surely have to buy it. Well, maybe not, but this is the only plan he can think of in such a short period of time.

He jumps out of bed and has half a mind to pull on a pair of sweats and a loose t–shirt, checking himself in the mirror to make sure he doesn’t look too disgusting. And thankfully he does, because there’s a trail of drool dried on his chin. He grimaces and wipes it away before quickly rushing to the entrance of his apartment.

Luffy knocks again, like the impatient bastard he is, but Law opens the door before he can finish.

“Oh, hey!” Luffy smiles, pushing past Law to enter the apartment unprompted, a backpack slung over his shoulder.

“Luffy—” Law tries, but the words come out meek.

The alpha stops in his steps, looking around in amazement. “Wow, this is your place? Not what I expected, but still pretty nice!” He turns around to look at Law, and it’s only then his eyes widen, cheeks quickly turning pink. “Hey, you okay?”

“Luffy, I’m sorry, I meant to tell you—” he starts, the words coming out jumbled and frazzled. “I was asleep all day, so I forgot to text. I’m um—tonight’s not actually a great night for me.”

His head cocks to the side, face falling in disappointment. “Hm? Why’s that?”

There’s no point in lying. He’s certain the kid can already sense it despite Law not intending to let him in on what’s going on.

Law scratches the back of his head. “I uh– it’s um, my rut. I didn’t know it was coming.”

“Oh.” Luffy visibly sniffs the air, the flush on his cheeks becoming an even darker shade of crimson. “Oh, yeah. You’re right.”

Law has never felt so ashamed, this moment trumping every embarrassing situation that’s ever befallen him. Worse than the time he tripped down the stairs in front of his boss. Worse than the time he got a terribly-timed boner in the middle of class right before a presentation. This tops all of those, and he isn’t sure how to come back from it.

“Yeah—I feel bad, I’m really sorry. Like, seriously.”

Luffy shrugs, his smile returning like nothing happened. “It’s okay. No biggie.”

Luffy’s just being polite, because of course he would be. He’s way too kind and accepting for anyone’s good.

“We can reschedule for sometime next week, if you would like. If not that’s cool too, I just—”

“Hey, it’s alright,” Luffy interrupts. “Really. I’m not mad, it happens. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, no I’m okay.” Law shakes his head, directing towards the kitchen. “I have food and um, everything I need.”

“Ah. Okay.” Luffy nods, casually dropping his backpack onto the floor. “Is someone coming over, then?”

“What?”

“Like, to assist you. Is there someone you call to help?”

“No, no. I don’t—” Law stammers. “I, um, spend it alone, usually.”

“Hm.” Luffy takes a step closer, looking Law up and down confidently. “Well, do you want help?”

“Uh, what?”

“With your rut? Do you want help?” Luffy repeats.

Law exhales a quiet breath. “I don’t—”

The implication of the words and the gravel in the alpha’s voice makes him shiver. He can’t be serious, right?

The alpha takes another step closer, now standing less than a foot away. “Because I’m already here. I can help you.”

Law must have misheard him. Maybe he’s hallucinating or something. He doesn’t get terribly delirious and is usually able to maintain a good amount of lucidity during his ruts, but perhaps this one is different.

It suddenly does feel like Law’s burning up inside, so it’s possible that this is a fever dream. A sick, deluded fantasy that gives him everything he wants just to take it away from him once he awakens. However, he knows it’s not, as his head is swirling, his fingers and canines are buzzing, and his scent glands feel like they’re on fire.

Despite all of this, he still has half a mind to deny this absurd request.

This isn’t how this is supposed to go. He’s supposed to take things slow, to court Luffy, to get closer and closer over time. He’s not supposed to spend his entire rut with him before they’ve even kissed or spent any time privately together.

And what if he's somehow manipulating the kid into wanting to stay with him? What if Luffy doesn’t actually want this, and he’s only doing it under a haze that Law’s own pheromones are sending him into? It’s unlikely, considering he’s the one in rut, but still. There’s still a possibility. Because how could Luffy actually want something like this?

“Luffy, that’s probably not a good idea,” Law chuckles dryly, hoping to catch the boy in the sick joke he’s potentially playing.

But Luffy’s face is as serious as ever, and there’s no sense of mocking when he speaks. “Why?”

“Because?” Law replies, voice pitched slightly upwards as his anxious thoughts begin to show through his tone. “It’s my rut. I don’t—I mean like, my ruts are intense, and I usually just get really exhausted and have to sleep the whole time, and—and I’m also not the most… sane, during it.”

“That’s okay.” Luffy smiles, voice light as ever. “Even better to have someone helping you then, hm?”

Law is speechless, but Luffy doesn’t give him time to think of a response as he moves even closer, until Law begins to smell him over his own intensified pheromones. 

He desperately needs Luffy to leave, to run as far away as he can to escape Law and what he knows is to come. But he also sort of doesn’t want him to. He wants to protect Luffy and keep him safe in his den, in his bubble of safety where nothing bad can happen to him.

This is why he despises ruts. This is why he hates having been cursed with the fate of being an alpha, the fate of being born into a world where he’s unable to control his own instincts.

“Can I ask you something?” Luffy’s voice is quieter now, and they’re so close Law can feel the heat radiating off of him. “And can you be completely honest with me?”

Law swallows down nothing, thickly, as his mouth has now gone completely dry.

“O-okay. Sure”

“You liked scenting with me, right?”

His exhale comes out shaky. “Um, y-yeah, I guess I did. Why?”

“So, that means you like me, right?”

“I– uh…” Law breathes, his chest aching with want and all of those disgusting emotions. How could he be anything but honest now? “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

They’re practically chest to chest, pheromones swirling around them—and Law’s own are fervid, though Luffy’s begin to match his in intensity. “So, let me help. You can say no. I won’t force you. But, you smelled so good last time, when we scented. I just… I can’t get it out of my head.”

“But…” Law manually shakes his head, mentally slapping himself into gear. “We’re both alphas.”

“So?”

“So?” Law repeats. “That—that won’t work, Luffy.”

“Why not? It’s not like you’re going to hurt me. I can handle anything you throw my way.”

And that’s the scary part: just how much Law wants to hurt him. Wants to own him.

Luffy looks so easy to bruise in his clothes. He wants to sink his teeth into him. He wants him to spread those legs and pound into him, fast and hard until he's begging him to stop.

Shaking his head, he pushes those thoughts aside, clinging to the final amount of lucidity he has left. “Yeah but– wouldn’t you rather spend a heat with, like, an omega, or something? Why me?”

“Because. You’re you,” Luffy declares, placing a gentle touch upon Law’s arm, the touch making him even dizzier. “And you drive me crazy. Honestly, I’ve never needed somebody as bad as I need you.”

Law exhales shakily, his stomach flipping with the knowledge of what Luffy wants from him, a desire threatening to spill out of him. He wants him so, so badly it hurts.

He is not fucking strong enough for this.

Shit.

“D-do you do this with all of your friends?” Law finds himself asking, and he doesn’t really know why, but after their whole scenting session at the party a couple of weeks ago, the thought has always lingered with him.

Luffy laughs, shaking his head. “No. Only you. I knew from the moment you walked into the shop. Your face, your scent—everything about you. It’s always only been you.”

“I—”

Luffy glides his hand down, fingertips feather light against Law’s skin until he reaches his hand, taking it into his own. “Please? Let me help you. It’d kill me to know you were dealing with it all by yourself.”

“I-I’m just going to want to dominate you,” Law states.

“Yeah, probably. But wouldn’t that be fun?” He grins. “We’re both alphas, it’s going to be such a power struggle.”

Law has to hold back a whine when Luffy smiles all wide and pretty like that, and he feels the urge to sink his teeth into his neck to get it over with here and now.

“But… what if I do, actually hurt you?”

There’s a flare in his eyes, something almost as dangerous as Law’s own desire. “You won’t.”

His self control is clearly quickly dwindling, and this doesn’t feel like something he could deny, as much as the logical side of his brain wants to. That too is slowly being overcome by the arousal of his rut. He’s wanted Luffy since the first time he laid his eyes on him as well, and to hear that the kid feels the same—well, Law doesn’t just want this.

He needs it.

He craves it.

He has needed Luffy this whole time, and only forced himself into believing he didn’t. He’s had wicked fantasies, but the insatiable need only enforced by his quickly building rut makes it impossible to deny this any longer.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” Law declares, voice hardly louder than a whisper.

“Then show me,” the alpha returns in a similar volume; low, dangerous, enticing. “Don’t hold back.”

And with the last bit of control snapping, Law does just that.

The kiss is harsh, all teeth and violent heat. The taste of crackling embers is forced onto his tongue, delicious warmth that has his mind spinning almost immediately. Luffy kisses back with just as much fervor, his hands immediately coming up to tug at Law’s hair.

His mind is reeling, licking into and exploring Luffy’s mouth with a fire he’s never experienced before. No hook-up in the past has ever once been like this; Luffy’s scent is more addicting than anything he’s ever known before, an intoxicating rush of pure heat that rivals any omega’s saccharine sweet pheromones. It fills the air around them, thick and heavy until Law wants to break something. Until he wants to sink his teeth into something—someone, claiming it, claiming him as his own.

But that comes later. Right now, he takes out his hunger on Luffy’s mouth instead, licking into the tantalizing warmth and relishing the growl pulled from the other alpha’s chest. The noise makes him shudder, arousal coming to the forefront of his mind and pushing away any and all apprehension.

They stumble backwards, clumsy, until Luffy is pinned against the arm of the couch, the back of his thighs splayed over it, and the alpha grabs at Law’s hair harder so as to not fall backwards. Law bites at his lower lip in response, ravenously consuming, savoring the flavor of copper and salt. Luffy tastes like pure lightning, something electric, warm and uncontrolled. The growing scent of both their pheromones flood the air.

It’s intoxicating.

Luffy pulls through Law’s hair so hard that it stings, bruising, and Law practically growls into his mouth. Luffy smiles, lips curving underneath his own. Hands scrabbling at a broad back, Luffy tries to pull him down for more, little groans caught by Law’s lips. When he angles himself so that he ruts against the other alpha’s arousal, Law shudders, eyes opening and glinting dangerously. Luffy does it again, daring him to do anything about it.

Oh, and he absolutely will. He swears he’s going to wreck this boy if it’s the last thing he does.

“Bedroom,” Law gasps, spit coating their lips as they pull apart.

“Yeah,” Luffy groans in response, and he seems to be as far gone as Law is, pupils completely dilated and eyes frenzied. They stumble towards the door together, lips reconnecting as if Luffy can’t bear to be apart for long.

They don’t make it to the bed as Law also can’t go a second more without touching him, and Luffy hisses when he’s pushed backwards, the door slamming barely heard over the sound of heavy breaths.

Law pulls off the other's shirt before pressing his own body against Luffy's, breaking the kiss and bending to push his face into the alpha’s neck. “You drive me fucking crazy,” he mumbles, beginning to pepper harsh kisses against sharp collar bones before rising back up to his lips again. He can’t seem to choose where he’d like to put his mouth, feeling so wildly deprived that it’s impossible to decide. “Taste so fucking good, smell so fucking good, too.”

Luffy makes a cute little sound while thrusting his hips forward, allowing Law to feel just how hard he is. His own expression gives way into a smirk at how badly Luffy seems to want this as well.

“Aw, you sure do like this, huh?” He growls against Luffy’s lips. “My cute little alpha.”

“You’re not as good as you think,” Luffy spits, but he already sounds ruined, so the words are practically meaningless to Law. He’ll indulge in the roleplay, though.

“Are you sure about that?” Law chuckles in a grim tone, bringing a hand down to cup around the bulge pressing against his hip. “You certainly seem to be enjoying it.”

“Don’t– don’t act like you aren’t,” Luffy pants.

“I would never, sweetheart,” Law taunts, words coated in affection.

Luffy growls. “Don’t call me that. I’m not your little– little omega.”

Law grabs him by the hair and pulls, forcing Luffy’s head back and up in order to meet his eyes. “Yeah? Well you moan like one.” He slams his lips against the alpha’s once again, licking into his mouth, sloppy and unrestrained. Harsh enough to leave both of them breathless. “Just like a good omega, helping your alpha with his rut.”

Reluctantly leaving his lips, Law moves down to Luffy’s jawline, sucking at the flesh before kissing downwards, taking his time to leave violet bruises before reaching his ultimate goal: the alpha’s scent gland. The flesh looks soft. Law wonders if it tastes as good as it smells. He uses the tip of his nose to brush against it as a tease, causing Luffy to gasp, hands grabbing at Law’s shoulders—but not pushing away, so Law takes that as encouragement to continue forward.

“Mm, maybe I should just bite here,” he mutters, pressing a light kiss to it and drowning in the thick, heady scent that floods his senses and makes it difficult to speak. “Bite down, claim you as my own. Would you like that, baby?”

Luffy’s response comes in a whimper, baring his neck further to the side and giving Law wordless consent. Law opens his mouth and licks around it before landing in the middle and sucking a bruise right into the flesh, pulling a loud gasp from the man below. It encourages a rumble in Law’s chest—something too low and dark to be a purr but too intrigued to be a growl. It’s involuntary, and he’s never heard himself make it before.

It sounds like want. Like need.

“Please—”

Luffy seems to agree, so Law continues, biting into the gland, not hard enough to break the skin but enough to send both of them into a whirl.

“Please, let’s fuck,” Luffy begs, mumbling thickly into his ear. Lifting Law’s head up by the back of his hair, Luffy takes his own opportunity to claim, beginning to nip at Law’s neck while digging his nails into his shoulders. “Let me fuck you.”

Law groans, finding pleasure in the pain and humor in Luffy’s words. “You think you’re going inside me? That’s funny.”

He honestly can’t hold back a laugh, but it’s mostly to himself. It’s only in an alpha’s nature to bite and to claim. To be violently possessive, obsessive. To want with their entire being. Why did he think Luffy would act any differently?

However, he can’t lie and say it isn’t insanely hot. Luffy’s not so pliant and giving in the way Law thought he’d be, yet the push and pull is thrilling. This is the most fun he’s ever had hooking up with someone. His alpha inside is roaring, demanding to take dominance, and he’s sure Luffy’s is too. That’s what makes this whole thing dangerous—yet it’s not as terrible as he presumed.

In fact, it’s perfect. It’s everything he’s ever needed. Law doesn’t think he could spend his rut any other way. Hell, he doesn’t think he could fuck any other person if it’s not like this.

“Why’s it funny?” Luffy grits, sinking teeth into Law’s jawline almost hard enough to draw blood. “You know that I’d fuck you so good.”

“Yeah?” Law asks gruffly, grabbing his face hard enough to make him wince, forcing him away. He tilts his chin up to look straight into chestnut eyes, feeling the other’s heavy breaths mingling with his own from how close they are. “And I’d make you cry. Mold your body to the shape of my cock; my knot, you’d never want anyone else again. Fuck you so good you forget what it’s like to ever want a stupid little omega bitch. You’ll want me, only. In your ruts, you’re going to want me inside of you. That’s how good I’ll make you feel.”

Luffy’s face is stark red, looking at Law with his brows furrowed and mouth pulled into a tight line like he wants to retort, but ultimately says nothing.

“That’s what I thought.” He releases his grip on Luffy’s chin, placing a hand on his shoulder instead. “Now, get on your knees. I’ve been dying to see those lips wrapped around my cock.”

Law pushes Luffy down to his knees, finding the quick compliance that’s given entirely endearing. The sight of another alpha below him has his own inner alpha feeling proud—dominance and power thrumming unrestrained, making him delirious.

He goes to pull his cock out of his sweats, but his hand is slapped away as Luffy takes over, beginning to palm at it through the fabric.

“S’ big,” Luffy mumbles, looking up with wide doe-like eyes, entranced, as he traces the outline with a finger. “Bet it tastes good.”

“Wanna find out?” Law teases.

“Mm, dunno.” Luffy shrugs, continuing to pet at the bulge affectionately. “You gonna force me?”

Law’s lips curl up into a smirk as he begins to run his fingers into Luffy’s hair, enjoying how soft it is. “Is that what you want? Want me to pry your pretty little mouth open and shove it down your throat?”

Luffy looks up innocently through tawny lashes, smirking back. “If that’s what you would like, alpha. Go ahead, make me suck it.”

A growl emits from Law’s chest at the title, something deep and raspy, and he doesn’t waste another second before pulling cock out. It’s swollen, the tip bright red and already leaking; the throes of his rut make things much more visceral. He wraps a hand around it and places the wet head against Luffy’s lips, waiting to gain entrance, but the alpha only moves back.

Luffy rolls his eyes. “I told you. Make me.”

Law huffs a short breath but decides to comply, trying again. Placing a thumb against the alpha’s closed lips, he attempts to force his way into his mouth, but Luffy fights against it. Though, the strength of Law’s rut ultimately has him victorious, using the digit to keep the boy’s jaw open before replacing it with the head of his cock. He thrusts his hips without any warning once inside, and Luffy lets out a desperate choking sound, his throat stretching to accommodate the girth.

It’s obvious Luffy’s doing his best to not push back against the harsh words and treatment he’s being given, squeezing his eyes shut and willing himself to breathe through his nose. The self control is admirable, but Law kind of wants to see it falter.

“There we go,” Law gives a mocking coo, running his thumb over Luffy’s cheek. “Look at that pretty mouth. All full of alpha cock.”

Luffy’s brows furrow, looking up through now teary eyes in annoyance, nonetheless starting to bob his head.

“Aw, don’t pretend you don’t like it, baby. I know you do,” Law says, using two fingers to tap against his cheek, feeling the wetness of tears under the touch. “Doing so good for me.”

Luffy retaliates with some wordless grunt, so Law twines his fingers into the hair at the back of Luffy’s head, grabbing it and pulling hard, forcing himself even deeper. Luffy gags once again, but continues, clearly giving his best effort. His tongue swirls over the tip, traces the distinct vein along the underside, and he sucks his cheeks in as he allows Law to fuck his mouth diligently.

He really looks so good like this, just as Law imagined he would, and it only further has him acting and thinking on instinct now, tumbling deeper and deeper into his rut.

It’s baffling that this very thing was only a fantasy a few days ago; something Law envisioned would never happen. To have the man that has taken over his heart in so little time below him, pleasuring him, being there to aid during his rut—it’s something Law thought he’d only ever dream about at night while fucking his fist.

But the sight and sound of Luffy below, gagging on his cock and offering sweet, selfless pleasure proves that this is entirely too real, and that fact has Law’s head spinning. The only thoughts beginning to assume control are ones of lust and instinctual behaviors—keeping his cock wet and warm, soaking up every ounce of pleasure being given to him, watching every movement Luffy makes as he doesn’t want to miss a millisecond.

Why did he think he could ever live without this?

And despite Luffy’s frustration, Law can tell he likes this too. Every bit of it, clearly, as his own cock is hard and pressing up through his shorts, hips thrusting forward every once in a while in order to gain some friction.

Although it also seems like he’s having too much of an easy time now, swallowing down Law’s cock without much of a struggle since he’s adjusted. And being the sadist that he is, Law decides he’d prefer to make it a little more difficult.

Bringing a socked foot forward, Law begins pressing lightly into the alpha’s arousal, and Luffy immediately whines, shutting his eyes even tighter, yet he doesn’t back away from it. He gives into the frankly humiliating movements, rutting against his foot and whining quietly around Law, the vibrations making things all that much more delightful.

“Mm, how cute. Humping my leg like a bitch in heat.”

Luffy quickly removes Law’s cock from his throat, inhaling a breath of air sharply. He wraps his hand around the shaft, using the remaining saliva to stroke it as he pants, looking down towards the floor. “L-Law…”

“Hm? What’s that, baby?”

Luffy wraps his hand around Law’s ankle, holding it steady as he continues to rut against it. “I-I need…”

“Need what? Use your words.”

“Need…” Luffy cuts himself off with a broken moan. “Need to come.”

“Go ahead, then,” Law says softly. “I’m not stopping you. You’re not allowed to stop sucking, though.”

Luffy whines, lost in his own lust, but guides Law’s cock back into his mouth like a good boy, licking and sucking the tip. Law keeps his foot where it is, allowing Luffy to do as he pleases, because frankly, this is one of the hottest sights he’s ever been blessed with.

Luffy’s breathing starts becoming heavier, harsh pants through his nose as his thrusts turn ragged, sucking sloppily and more interrupted like he can’t really focus. Luffy would probably be less hesitant once he has an orgasm, Law thinks, so he intends to give him just that. Wants him to relax a bit. Wants him to enjoy everything Law plans to do with him.

It doesn’t take very long after that. Luffy gasps, then stops breathing altogether, shaking and whining as his orgasm visibly hits him, rutting against Law’s foot quickly until the movements slow down altogether, hips stuttering as he goes through the aftershocks.

A surge of possessiveness washes over Law then, filling his insides and making his stomach twist. Watching Luffy succumb to bliss right below his feet, how beautiful he is, purely lost to the pleasure. It’s unreal.

"You're mine," he practically growls, not giving Luffy any time at all to recover from his climax before lifting him up and throwing him onto his back upon the bed.

Crawling on top of him and effectively caging the alpha in, Law smashes his lips back onto Luffy’s, licking into his mouth and savoring the taste of his own precum mixed with Luffy’s saliva. After breaking away, Luffy looks up at him with wide eyes, like a prey captured by its predator. Flushed cheeks, bruised lips, tears in his eyes, all hazy from his orgasm. So pretty. So ruined. All because of Law. Just how he wanted.

Law kisses and bites down all around his neck and jawline, inhaling the innate sense of Luffy—and it’s intoxicating. Like he can’t get enough of him. He begins palming Luffy through his shorts as he does this, relishing in the gasp forced out of Luffy’s throat from the oversensitivity and the presumably uncomfortable feeling of having come in his pants. Though it takes barely any time before he’s growing hard again, having the quick refractory period of an alpha, and the whines of overstimulation give way into ones of lust, ones laced in need.

And fuck, does it drive Law crazy. He needs this so desperately, more than he’s needed anything before. He truly can’t hold back any longer.

Law makes a quick movement of turning Luffy around until he’s on his stomach, pulling him up into his lap by his hips, ass placed perfectly below atop his thighs.

Luffy tries to wiggle away, but Law stops him by using one hand to grab onto his hip, using the other to smack his ass one time in warning. “Don't move,” he commands, voice dripping with lust and natural dominance.

The loud, petulant whine that comes from Luffy’s mouth is interrupted by another slap that Law gives, shutting him up instantly. Luffy doesn't try to take control again. He huffs a breath, his hands clenched into the sheets with the desperate urge to move.

“Good boy,” Law praises him for his obedience. He knows exactly how difficult it is to fight against one's biological urges, so Luffy deserves the praise for doing so. “You're gonna be good for me, right? You'll let me fuck your sweet hole and fill you up with my knot?”

“Y-Yeah,” Luffy gasps, his body twitching when Law starts to massage his ass cheeks through the fabric, kneading the plump flesh between his fingers. “Fuck, yeah– I'll be good… I will, I will.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

He pulls Luffy’s shorts and boxers down until they’re caught around his knees, and he gives his ass another sharp slap, this time skin on skin. Luffy’s gasp turns into a choked whine, and Law relishes how quickly the alabaster skin turns red, and he feels the need to do it again.

So, he does. Again, again, and again—slamming his open palm down onto the soft flesh, watching the skin swell and grow bruised under his touch. And Luffy just takes it, pleading for more, begging for him to do something else, anything. But there’s little thoughts in Law’s head at this point, he just wants to watch Luffy struggle. Wants to watch Luffy take it.

Possessiveness grows and wraps itself like violent tendrils around his limbs, his fingers, watching the marks he inflicts onto Luffy becoming more potent and likely to bruise. He wants to mark all over his body. Show him off to the world, show people who he belongs to. Show everyone how good Law makes him feel daily.

“Say you’re mine, Luffy. Wanna hear you say it,” he demands, giving one final hard slap before rubbing the skin afterwards to soothe it.

“I-I’m yours,” Luffy chokes out, sounding wrecked, and whimpers when Law spreads his ass, grabbing both of his cheeks and squeezing them under his grasp, catching a peek at the pink hole so readily being presented. “I’m yours, Law.”

“Yes you are. God, look at this pretty thing.” He thumbs at his hole, watching the muscles twitch before collecting spit in his mouth and shooting it directly onto the rim. He continues massaging it with his thumb, getting it wet, enjoying how reactive Luffy is, physically and verbally. Then deciding to push his luck, Law pushes the digit into his hole, watching it swallow up what it’s being given.

“Ah– Law,” Luffy gasps out. “We– we need, need lube. Or something, please, anything.”

Law just grunts, because he knows. He knows. He won’t actually hurt Luffy, though there's still some sick desire inside of him to see Luffy squirm, to ruin him a little further. So he spits again, pooling the wetness under his finger and pushes it back into Luffy, fucking him slowly with his thumb.

“Law— ” Luffy straight up moans.

“Patience, patience,” Law murmurs. Keeping his thumb where it is, Law uses his other hand to reach over and pull out the lube from the bedside table, returning to snap the cap open. Removing his thumb, Law pours a decent amount of lube directly onto Luffy’s hole, some of it dripping down towards his balls. He collects that to slick up his index finger, rubbing it against the searing skin before coaxing it inside slowly.

Luffy gasps, beginning to whimper as he arches his back, pushing his hips back in a desperate bid for additional stimulation.

And Law is gone after that. Hyper focused and intensely vigilant of every single hitch of breath, noise, and twitch that Luffy provides, reading and interpreting Luffy’s body like a cardiograph, but he’s not thinking much anymore, uncaring of any and all pleas made by the other. All of his thoughts are set on the person below him, about making him feel good, about getting him ready for Law to take. For his knot.

He takes his time stretching the alpha, slipping in another finger, then another, until he’s at three, fucking them in and out of Luffy’s tight wet hole, the wet squelch like music to Law’s ears. His own cock is hard and throbbing, so close to being able to squeeze its way inside where it needs to be, but there’s an innate need to ensure that Luffy is properly prepared first.

Law thinks he hears Luffy cry out when he crooks his fingers a certain way. He’s not sure, but he does it again, receiving the same response, so he decides to continue doing that. Despite being rather foggy minded, he does know that Luffy’s being so good, and also that Law needs to tell him. He needs to grant praise. There’s something instinctual inside of him that begets it.

“Doing so good,” Law coos. “Does it feel good? Do you like me touching you like this?”

Luffy nods, and that’s all Law needs to know to speed up. 

“Has another alpha ever touched you like this?” Law asks, straight up fucking Luffy on his hand. When Luffy doesn't reply right away, Law slaps his ass once more in warning. “Tell me.”

Luffy shakes his head, and possessiveness swells up in Law’s chest once again, feeling proud that he’s the first one to have his sweet boy like this.

“Good. Really good. You’re a good boy. I’m gonna fuck you now, and you’re gonna take it. Such a good boy. All mine. So sweet.”

Law stops completely, removing his fingers to wrap them tightly around his cock, using the remaining wetness to lube himself up. Pushing Luffy off of his lap, he keeps one hand against his hip to hold him up, then rises to his knees in order to line himself up to Luffy’s hole. He doesn’t waste time as he presses in slowly, working himself into Luffy’s body with small, rolling thrusts, ensuring Luffy is comfortable during this process.

Though despite the slow pacing, Law is still entirely too affected—upper lip beaded with sweat, chest heaving in an effort to keep himself from fucking Luffy into the mattress. And Luffy just looks utterly perfect, that pink flush going all the way from his cheeks to his back, panting and writing under him. His hole clenches around Law’s cock, this tight heat surrounding him, the feeling driving Law mad.

When he finally bottoms out, both of them groan out loud. Law releases a shuddering breath, lowering down to place his forehead against the back of Luffy’s shoulder. Luffy tightens around him, and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he breaks, but he’s content to stay like this for now; even for just a moment, to let Luffy adjust. Not that it isn’t taking everything inside of him to not fuck and knot the kid immediately, but he still has some sensibility, even if it’s growing smaller by the second.

“God, look at you,” Law praises quietly, running his hands up and down Luffy’s back, his waist, his ass. Memorizing the feeling of him under his fingertips. “So pretty and docile—” and, because he just can’t help it, “Just like an omega.”

“As if,” Luffy grunts back. “Just, m-move already. Fucking– just, do something.”

“No. Not yet,” Law demands.

“What, afraid you’re gonna come too quick?” Luffy asks, but there’s no true bitterness in his tone. “Maybe you’re the omega; all needy and desperate you can’t last two seconds.”

The taunt makes Law sneer, and he then and there decides to fuck it all.

Retracting his hips, Law slams his cock back into Luffy, beginning an animalistic pace and driving into the alpha with no qualms about it. He forces Luffy to arch by pressing into his spine with one hand, keeping the other tight and bruising against his hip.

“Feels like this hole was made for me,” Law groans out, panting between the words. “You were made for me.”

“Then fuck me like I’m– like I’m yours,” Luffy murmurs into the sheets, as if Law hasn’t already been doing that.

Is this what Luffy was talking about? That he can take it? Is this what being with an alpha is like? If so, he can’t imagine ever being with an omega after this. Then again, that’s something he already secretly gave up a long time ago.

Quickly his thrusts begin to grow desperate, final restraints snapping as he grips at Luffy’s hips and pants against his skin. “Oh god,” he groans out, driving forward at a stuttering tempo that has Luffy keening. “You don’t know how long I’ve dreamt of this. Getting you under me. You’re so fucking addicting it infuriates me,” he punctuates his sentence by going faster, harder, going as deep as he can each and every time.

Luffy whimpers and Law leans down to breathe in his scent, letting out a desperate groan. “You’re like a bad habit,” he continues. “Can’t quite seem to push you away.”

Through hiccupping breaths, Luffy manages to whimper. “Do you want to push me away?”

This time, Law lets out a proper moan. It’s languid and unrestrained, speaking to his loosening control. “Thought I did. But I could never, now. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”

The admission leaves Luffy reeling, clamping onto Law as if he doesn’t want to let him go, sucking him in at every propel forward.

“Then give it to me,” Luffy murmurs. “All of it. Knot me, mate me, please—just, everything.”

The words snap Law’s last inhibitions, dissolving them as his eyes narrow, pupils dilating as the full force of his rut takes over him entirely. He’s merciless, thrusting into Luffy with glassy eyes and breath panting against his collarbone. “I’ll fuck you until you can’t remember your own name,” he hisses. “Fill you up so fucking deep that you won’t be able to take anyone else, mold you to my cock only.”

“I’d– I’d like to see you try,” Luffy gasps out, obviously a tease, because he’s already having difficulty keeping his head from slumping against the bed. Luffy acts like he doesn’t know if he wants to run away or if he wants more—this push and pull, but Law doesn’t care to fight back this time, solely intent on wringing every last bit of pleasure from Luffy’s body like a wet rag.

It’s what he deserves, after all. After coming into Law’s life and breaking down all of his barriers like it was nothing. Showing him that he’s allowed to want things. That he’s allowed to be happy.

Law pulls out and slams back in repeatedly, reaching deeper and deeper each time as if Luffy’s body is becoming acquainted with him, little whimpers and mewls filling the air each time he does so.

Truly, there’s nothing better than this feeling.

Law’s unable to focus on much besides this, instincts driving him forward and pushing him beyond what he imagined he’d be capable of. Every voice in his head screams to take more, to give harder, to rut and fuck like its his last mission on this planet, to breed and bite and scratch and own and possess. Like he’s nothing but an animal.

A sudden urge bubbles up inside of him to look at Luffy’s face, so he pulls out and flips the boy around, grabbing hold of his thighs and pushing them over his head, sliding back home in a quick motion that has Luffy keening.

“So perfect. Never met anyone who feels as good as you do,” Law confesses.

Grabbing his head, Law holds his face forward so he has no choice but to look up, gazes aligned and breath mingling stickily.

“Law—” Luffy chokes out, barely able to keep his eyes open. “Feels so good.”

“That right?”

“Y-yes. So deep in me, like you’re all the way up here,” he says, pulling Law’s hand down to rest over his lower stomach. Law looks down, and when he does, he notices the base of Luffy’s cock swollen, a knot forming despite him not being the one doing the fucking.

“My my, what do we have here?” Law wraps his hand around Luffy’s cock, fingers gentle over the swollen base. Luffy gasps, shutting his eyes as Law begins jerking him off in tandem with his thrusts, thumbing the leaking tip and twisting his wrist when he gets down to the base.

“O-oh, please,” Luffy begs, arching his back. “I’m close.”

So Law continues, giving quick strokes as he stares at the face below him twisted in pleasure, hitching breaths huffing through an open mouth, eyebrows screwing together. He keeps the strokes consistent, unwavering in order to build Luffy up, and it’s only when Luffy seems to be right on the edge that Law stops, letting go of his cock altogether, watching it twitch upwards in sudden neglect.

“Fuck, why– please, don’t stop, I wanna– wanna come.”

“Didn’t you come once already?” Law asks, taunting as he slams into him with little remorse, his hole much tighter now that it makes it a bit more difficult to move. “So greedy, like a slut.”

Luffy just cries in response, hands grasping at the sheets next to his head as he thrashes, quietly throwing a tantrum due to the neglect he’s experiencing. Law can tell he’s close, but he waits until the boy is subdued a bit more before touching his cock again, continuing with the quickened pace of the strokes immediately once he does.

Law is typically the kind of lover that prefers to bring his partner to bliss as many times as possible, intent on fucking them into submission until they’re mindless and gagging for it, overstimulating their senses and feeling satisfied because of it all. And, this time’s no different; the alpha inside of him wants to see how many orgasms Luffy has inside of him before he taps out, but for some reason, Law himself would rather build him up until he’s crying, until he’s begging for release. 

The instincts are different with an alpha, he guesses. Instead of giving, over and over, Law would rather take. See just how much Luffy can withstand before cracking. He wants Luffy at his mercy, owning his body entirely.

“Taking me so fucking well,” Law murmurs, nearly breathless as he takes in the sight before him. “Can’t believe it.”

Luffy says something, or moreso grunts, and Law isn’t entirely sure whether it’s a plea to stop or a plea to keep going, nonetheless he doesn’t really listen, just continuing to twist his wrist and smear the latest rivulet of precum that he’d just forced out of Luffy’s cock across the head, all while driving into him.

Tears that were stuck begin falling now, droplets of bliss rolling down Luffy’s cheeks as he openly cries, and although Law is able to discern pleasured ones from pain, he still has half a mind to feel a bit of concern.

“Too much? Want me to stop?” He asks, stopping his hand right at the almost fully formed knot adorning the base and squeezing as he feels it throb in vain.

“N-no,” Luffy shakes his head with fervor. “Fucking, just— need to come.”

He wants to deny him again, that little alpha attitude making him grit his teeth, but through the fog he can feel his own climax beginning to crest, heat pooling in his lower stomach as the base of his cock begins to swell, knot starting to catch on Luffy’s rim as he thrusts in and out. And maybe if this were a normal evening he’d take his time, build up his own orgasm and have the other begging for it, but every instinct in his mind is roaring to knot, knot, knot—breed, breed, breed—now, now, now.

“Fuck, I wanna put a pup inside you.” Law’s already dwindled filter falls, words growing breathier with honesty as he speeds back up again, jolting Luffy’s body with the force of his thrusts. “Would you like that? Keep fucking and knotting you over and over until it takes.”

“Oh– oh yes,” Luffy moans. “Come in me, fill me full, alpha.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna,” Law says, tightening his hand around Luffy’s knot, stroking him even harder. “Gonna come so deep.”

Luffy whines, "Please.”

“Want you to come for me,” Law pants, practically massaging the swollen base. “Knot my fist like a good alpha.”

“Oh fuck, that’s so– my fucking God, come in me, please, please, please.”

The words are it for Law, leaning down to press a filthy kiss to his lips as he shudders, fully developed knot pressing against Luffy’s hole until it sinks in, locking them together as deep as he can. It takes only a moment before he’s spilling his soul into the man below him, fingers tight around Luffy’s knot as he comes in tandem, feeling the pulsing and throbbing within his grasp.

Law collapses on top of him without warning, strength giving out at last as he buries his head into the crook of Luffy’s neck, using every bit of control still left in him to not sink his canines in the swollen flesh of the other’s scent gland, set on inhaling fire and warm lightning instead as his knot throbs, cock pulsing as he fills Luffy to the brim. His breath is ragged, gulping down air like a dying man, but despite that they are both silent, only pants and overstimulated sighs exchanged between them for the time being.

It’s achingly intimate, these few moments just after the intensity ends. Law begins to feel a bit more sane now that he’s knotted something, coming back into his head. He’s aware it won’t last, as this is only the beginning and he has yet to hit the peak of his rut, but for now, he feels like he usually does, only more satisfied.

“Fuck…” He rasps, voice weak, rising back up onto his knees. Law looks down to where their bodies are connected, tracing around Luffy’s sensitive rim. "Fucking perfect," he murmurs in awe. “Look at that. Perfect fit.”

Luffy’s panting still, but his breath slows by the second, a fucked-out smile now painting his face. “Course’ it is. I’m perfect, after all.”

“Insufferable brat,” Law snorts, rolling his eyes. He adjusts them so they’re lying on their sides, Law behind Luffy as he cradles him against his chest. 

Luffy laughs, but then they’re silent for a few minutes. Luffy is warm against him, and he buries his nose in the alpha’s neck. They’re still connected by Law’s knot, rigid cock still sheathed deep and pulsing occasionally, but it’s more comforting than arousing at this point.

“I really did a number on you,” he whistles, eyeing the bite marks on Luffy’s neck, the bruises on his hips. “Sorry about that.”

“Guess you did,” Luffy mumbles, eyes shutting lazily. “Thas’ okay. Wanted it.”

Law hums, pulling him closer, breathing in the intrinsic scent that he’s loved since the very beginning, though it’s bloomed into something different now.

“You know, next time you should actually mark me,” Luffy declares.

“Mm.” Law presses a gentle kiss to his neck, right atop the spot they’re alluding to scarring one day. “Maybe I will.”

“Good,” Luffy sighs out, blissfully. “And I’ll bite you back too, so we can be fully bonded.”

Law can’t help but chuckle. “I don’t think it works like that, baby—us being alphas and all.”

Luffy hums sleepily. “Then we’ll just have to do it over and over again.”

“Okay. I’m good with that,” he confirms, curling further into the warmth of Luffy’s body, enjoying being connected in every way possible.

“M’ gonna sleep now.” Luffy’s voice is a dying grumble. “You can wake me when the next peak hits.”

Squeezing Luffy against his chest, Law murmurs an affectionate, “Thank you,” into dark hair. He then shuts his eyes, intending to join Luffy in the fading light of consciousness, even if only for a bit.

The words have more than one meaning, but Law can confess those at a later date. For now, he relishes in the gentle afterglow, entwined limbs and blossoming affections that allows for an overwhelming sense of home to sink deep into his bones.