[ Poor Law, who ( even temporarily ) has to deal with the awkward dance between Ace and Sabo. Poor Law, who must juggle his oath as a doctor with a patient both transparently bold and deeply evasive, ducking and side-stepping pertinent questions because of the naked hopelessness of the situation. But also, not poor Law. Because Ace had asked him to do the work on his behalf, and because Ace retained faith in him — he knew there was no saving him, but he'd never asked to be saved. Just made comfortable. Just prolonged, for a little while longer. A little more.
He finds Law in the tiny kitchen area of the boxcar-shaped apartment the three of them share. Haggard and limping with exhaustion, his hand out to catch his weight on the counter as he shifts himself around the corner of the lopsided cabinet made of splintering wood and checker-print drapes to make it all seem homey and warm. ]
[ these days, there is a tightness to the corners of his eyes that hasn't always been there — and a weight on his shoulders, a cloak woven of anger and frustration at the sheer inability to do anything of note about ace's condition. the cloak grows heavier every day, and he can't do much to shed it.
still. he treats ace the same as always, mostly because he knows, instinctively, that he'd hate being coddled. so he sighs, the coffee cup clinking against the counter when he sets it there. ]
Don't tell me what to do, [ he grumbles, and yet complies with the request nonetheless. ]
[ At this point, he knows there's no outrunning it; it feels like the slow walk to the gallows once again, seastone heavy on his wrists and ears ringing with insult and injury. At least this time, he knows he'll come back. Even if it is changed. Even if he's scared he'll come back wrong, some fundamental part of him irrevocably brought to light — the monstrous lineage in his blood finally, shamefully on display.
That's why he slips his hand into Law's, and squeezes down on it. A simply, quiet gesture as he joins him in their lopsided kitchenette. Sabo's out — prowling and investigating and preparing to overthrow the world, and Law works hard to court Patho-Gen and provide medical services to the Augmented. He admires them so much. No wonder Luffy made friends with Trafalgar Law. ]
Come on, don't be that way. [ Even with all the changes overcoming Law, making him look,
well,
like he has Amber Lead. Ace isn't shy about taking his hand into his own, black-fingered and oozing faint, pale miasma. ]
I never asked what drew you and Luffy together in the first place, yanno'?
[ he doesn't look at their hands — his own with a smattering of white spots like someone has scrubbed his skin too hard and leeched all the colour off it, ace's fingers a stark contrast in their midnight, a pale aura around it.
instead, he looks at the coffee cup.
and, after a moment, he sighs. ]
I can't really speak for him, can I? [ there's a dryness to his tone, one that holds the implication that surely, surely straw hat's reasons would be too stupid for him to even think about. too friendly, too nice. (like ace's, really.) ]
We ended up watching the same black market auction. Within the first two minutes after arriving, he punched a Celestial Dragon to the face.
[ his gaze doesn't waver from the black liquid in his boring, white mug; but there's the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, despite himself. ]
When the Marines came, it was us and one more pirate remaining. We fought our way out at the same time. [ not together, because that would imply some form of cooperation. they'd quarreled the entire time.
(he doesn't say when the next time he'd seen luffy had been. the shadow of marineford hangs over them heavily, even now. especially now.) ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
countershocks) wrote2020-06-29 04:08 pm
ACTION!
He finds Law in the tiny kitchen area of the boxcar-shaped apartment the three of them share. Haggard and limping with exhaustion, his hand out to catch his weight on the counter as he shifts himself around the corner of the lopsided cabinet made of splintering wood and checker-print drapes to make it all seem homey and warm. ]
Give me your hand, doc.
[ An exhausted tone, but still a warm one. ]
slides here late and grips you!!
still. he treats ace the same as always, mostly because he knows, instinctively, that he'd hate being coddled. so he sighs, the coffee cup clinking against the counter when he sets it there. ]
Don't tell me what to do, [ he grumbles, and yet complies with the request nonetheless. ]
no subject
That's why he slips his hand into Law's, and squeezes down on it. A simply, quiet gesture as he joins him in their lopsided kitchenette. Sabo's out — prowling and investigating and preparing to overthrow the world, and Law works hard to court Patho-Gen and provide medical services to the Augmented. He admires them so much. No wonder Luffy made friends with Trafalgar Law. ]
Come on, don't be that way. [ Even with all the changes overcoming Law, making him look,
well,
like he has Amber Lead. Ace isn't shy about taking his hand into his own, black-fingered and oozing faint, pale miasma. ]
I never asked what drew you and Luffy together in the first place, yanno'?
no subject
instead, he looks at the coffee cup.
and, after a moment, he sighs. ]
I can't really speak for him, can I? [ there's a dryness to his tone, one that holds the implication that surely, surely straw hat's reasons would be too stupid for him to even think about. too friendly, too nice. (like ace's, really.) ]
We ended up watching the same black market auction. Within the first two minutes after arriving, he punched a Celestial Dragon to the face.
[ his gaze doesn't waver from the black liquid in his boring, white mug; but there's the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, despite himself. ]
When the Marines came, it was us and one more pirate remaining. We fought our way out at the same time. [ not together, because that would imply some form of cooperation. they'd quarreled the entire time.
(he doesn't say when the next time he'd seen luffy had been. the shadow of marineford hangs over them heavily, even now. especially now.) ]