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Law stifled a yawn and raked a hand through his messy dark hair, effectively making it even worse. The night shift was finally nearing its end, and so was his patience.
“Hey,” someone called, but Law didn’t bother looking up. Unless someone paged him directly, it wasn’t his problem.
Just one more hour, his wristwatch reminded him as he took a sip from the cup in his hand. Filled to the brim with black coffee that was 40% caffeine and 60% regret, just the way he liked it.
“Hey!” the voice came again, louder this time, followed by a rattling noise. “Gimme that!”
Against his better judgment, Law turned his head.
He stopped, almost choking on his coffee. He swallowed hard. Coughed, then looked up again, blinking.
Yeah, okay, this was really happening.
There, at the vending machine, was a young man in a ridiculous straw hat and even more ridiculous flip-flops, crouched in front of the machine with his arm stretched into the slot like a thief caught in the act.
Law narrowed his eyes. “Do you work here?” He asked slowly, already knowing the answer. Lack of sleep was making him do stupid things.
The man looked up with wide, bright eyes and a huge grin. “Nope!”
“…Are you a patient?”
“Nah!”
“Visitor?”
“Yup! Visiting a friend and got hungry, but the machine ate my dollar,” he explained with the look of a kicked puppy.
Law just stared. The stranger stared back, eyes cheerful and entirely unbothered.
Suppressing the urge to squirm, Law averted his gaze to the side. His eyes landed on the guy's awful red vest, tag sticking straight up in the back. Shirt was possible inside out. Possibly stolen.
Security. He should probably call security. What if this weirdo was an escaped psychiatric patient?
“This is the staff lounge,” he said instead.
The guy didn’t even flinch. And as if this guy wasn’t already breaking hospital rules, he stretched his arm even further into the machine, fingers wiggling for a sandwich.
“You can’t be back here,” Law clarified for the apparent idiot.
The guy just looked at him again, dark eyes searching his own as if staring right into his soul.
“You’ve got the ‘I hate everything’ face,” he said with a huge grin. “Very doctor-y. What’s your name?”
Law frowned. “None of your business.”
“I'm Monkey D. Luffy,” the guy chirped, pulling his arm out, precious prize in hand, and springing to his feet.
“Luffy…ya,” Law tried the name, just in case he had to inform security. It rolled off his tongue so easily. What a ridiculous name.
“Yup.” Luffy skipped toward him. “And you are…?”
Unlike any normal human being, Luffy came in close, too close, leaning forward with his bright gaze falling on Law’s ID card.
His breath hitched.
Luffy furrowed his brows, his nose scrunched as he read aloud. “Tra…traf…Torao!”
“That's not—”
“Torao suits you!” he declared, beaming.
Law’s eyes widened, mouth falling open to protest when—
The sound of a phone vibrating filled the small space between them. Luffy fished a phone up from his shorts and gave it a quick glance before shoving it back into his pocket.
“Ah, sorry! I gotta go,” he said, eyes downcast and voice sounding more apologetic than the situation warranted. “Here, have this.” Luffy pushed the sandwich into his arms and bolted.
Only to come to a screeching halt halfway down the sterile corridor and turn with the most blinding smile.
“See you later, Torao!” His loud, cheery voice rang through the quiet hospital. He waved with his whole arm before he took off again, flip-flops slapping against the linoleum floor.
For a split second, Law stood frozen, then— “What? Wait!” he called, taking a step forward, “I don't like bread!”
But the corridor was empty. White. Cold.
His gaze fell on the sandwich still warm in his hand. His heart thudded erratically in his chest.
“...Luffy, huh?”
Law did not smile. He did not.
Wait. His head snapped up, eyes wide. “See you later”?!