Oh, Nothing Invasivedon't Worry!

　　　　　❝ oh, nothing invasiveーdon't worry! ❞

　not that rosinante was curious to know such things anyway, but law would probably, definitely, without a doubt try to stab him again if he ventured anywhere close to 'too personal' territory. it wasn't as if there was any moral dilemma stopping him now; he was a doctor. any wounds he inflicted he could just fix later. plus, the ex-marine wasn't exactly versed in all the different ways law had learned to use the devil fruit he gave him all those years agoーbut he had learned law had adapted it to be used during combat, which could guarantee danger in his future if he wasn't careful.

　❝ i'm just... surprised. law's still the same snappy little loner that i remember him being when he was a kid, y'know? getting him to talk about anything too personal is like pulling teeth. i literally had to almost bleed out in front of him to see him cry for the first time. i know he's a sweet kid inside, but... it takes a lot of pushing to get there. you're clearly someone really special to be able to do that. ❞

"Ah-" Little did the man before her know that while Nami appeared incredibly confident in her relationship when she was with Law, that she very much was the type to blush when it came to discussing their relationship. Perhaps the allied pirate captain's combined embarrassment and enjoyment at being one another's is what had Nami along his lap or throwing her arms around him. Little things like grasping his hand in public and stolen kisses while everyone was watching was just an added perk.

Of course his Cora-san would want to know more, but it didn't mean she was prepared in any way to talk about it. Pushing past the flush of her cheeks she nodded. "I don't usually kiss and tell, but I might be willing to make an exception depending on the question."

All that I can say......

later I’m gonna have him remove all the asbestos too

two drafts left, time to add more.

❤️ for a thing.

Yeah

　　❝  yeah, yeah, that’s what all the fussy kids say: ‘i’m not a picky eater, i've just got better tastebuds than you.’ ❞

　agitated as rosinante was, he wasn't oblivious to the fact he should appreciate moments like this. the moments where law wasn't giving him disinterested, one-word answers no matter how hard rosinante pushed, or what topic he brought up. the times where he was quipping with him to encourage conversation, rather than snapping at him to cut it out.

it was a good indicator of two things; the first was just how much more comfortable law had become with him. gone were the days where rosinante would have to tether one end of a rope to law's waist and the other to his own wrist so he could tell if law was trying to run off in the middle of the night. while there was still resistance on occasion, law didn't treat the donquixote like he was his captor anymore and seemed to recognize that he was at least safer with him than he would be alone.

the second thing was law's general mood. when he acted like thisーmischievous, or fussy, or bratty in an endearing wayーhe, at the very least, hadn't fallen too far into another of his quiet, depressive spirals. he, at the very least, wasn't suffering from a flareup of his white lead symptoms so bad he would actually ask rosinante to carry him for once. politely, even. never had rosinante been so concerned to hear a 'please' or 'thank you' in his life than when he heard it from the lips of his favorite little runt.

　❝ how's the pain today? ❞ a routine question. one that was essential when dealing with a kid as fiercely independent & closed-off as law, who would no doubt try to convince rosinante he was 'fine' up to the point he was literally spitting up blood if given the chance. ❝ give me a number: one to ten. the closer you get to ten, the worse you feel. ❞

A  frown  etched  across  the  boy's  face  -  a  battle  waged  within  him,  concealing  the  vulnerability  that  lurked  beneath  his  defiant  exterior.  Yet,  the  subtle  nuances  of  Corazon's  sympathetic  tone  pricked  at  the  edges  of  his  consciousness,  a  sensation  that  he  tried  vehemently  to  ignore.  there  was  truth  to  his  words  and  law  could  hear  it.  he  could  sense  the  emotion  hidden  behind  the  apology  given  to  him.  perceptive  beyond  the  understanding  of  most  his  age.  he  would  never  admit  to  his  own  naivety  in  not  picking  up  on  the  kindness  behind  the  older  man's  gesture  at  the  time.  law's  brow  furrowed,  the  expression  almost  unreadable  as  the  gears  in  his  mind  ground  against  each  other.  his  eyes  flicked  toward  the  blonde  as  he  spoke,  his  gaze  hard  and  sharp  -  a  defense  mechanism  against  the  feelings  of  guilt  that  began  to  bubble  up  within  him.

❝  cora  you  have  no  reason  to  apologize  to  me.  .  youre  not  the  one  running  away  from  me  at  a  moments  glance  nor  are  you  speaking  a  certain  way  nor   giving  up  on  me  you're..  helping  me ❞    he  muttered.  his  gaze  downcast.  he  was  quiet  for  just  a  brief  moment,   watching  rosinante  work,  and  decided  to  help  him  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  pausing  when  there  was  a  thud  behind  him.  he  turned  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  blond  who  had  somehow  fallen  onto  his  backwards.  cringing  at  how  the  pinecones  dug  into  back.  the  blond  was  certainly  clumsy.  he  mindlessly  approached  to  ensure  the  man  was  alright  before  he  spoke  up.

❝  and  for  the  record,  ❞  law  said,  a  mischievous  twinkle  in  his  eye.  ❝  i'm  not  fussy.  just  someone   with  discerning  tastes.  ❞  his  body  shuddered  at  the  mere  memory  alone  of  the  extreme  saltiness  of  the  umeboshi.  the  whole  moment  he  even  took  as  an  act  of  betrayal.  maybe  even  revenge  on  corazon's  part  for  what  he  had  done  to  him.