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Monkey D. Luffy is a terrible liar. He couldn’t lie for his life, and everyone who knows him is well-aware of that fact. He doesn’t even try lying anymore because his friends can already see through him, so what’s the point? But if he really needs to lie for the sake of his heart… he can at least do that.
In what instances would Luffy lie? He’s always loud and he’s never afraid to speak his mind, no matter how blunt it would turn out due to his lack of filtering his own thoughts. But lately, the Strawhats couldn’t help but notice something odd about their captain and this new friend that he’s been talking about.
They were all hanging out in Luffy's apartment that day. It wasn’t unusual for them to hang out during the weekends, they have their scheduled weeks on whose house would they crash in. And honestly, they’re really curious with who this new neighbor Luffy has been telling them countless stories of their encounters.
At first, they thought it’s just Luffy being Luffy. How he finds everything fascinating about someone he’d just met and would not hesitate to tell them about him. But it’s been going on for the second month now. Robin’s the first one to pick up on the fondness and awe in her captain’s voice - which is entirely different when he’s rambling about something interesting he’d seen.
“So, will you tell us more about this Torao, Luffy?” Nami asked, raising a brow as she observed Luffy’s reaction.
“Well… I could tell you that he hates bread. Can you believe it?! I could never. And, err… he loves to argue. As if I’d just sit still and listen to his plans when we could just do the easier way. He would argue that I should be mindful and listen to what he says!” Luffy let out a huff, a pout forming on his lips.
“Then, hmm, he’s born on the 6th of October and also… his sister’s beautiful!” Sanji perked up at this, looking more interested now. “Really? Tell me- us more about this beautiful sister of his!” Sanji said, which earned him a smack on the head from Nami. She then urged Luffy to resume.
“Hmm.. that’s all I guess? He has an adoptive father, he’s really nice!” Luffy smiled fondly, remembering the tall clumsy blonde man that he met a few weeks back when he paid a visit to Law. The group shared wary looks on each other, as if they’re silently arguing on who’s going to ask Luffy that important question.
Robin decided that she would save her friends from such a dilemma.
“Do you love him, Luffy?” Robin asked, then all of their anticipating eyes laid on Luffy. They all know Luffy, he can’t lie his way out so whatever Luffy’s response will be, that must be the only truth.
“Shishishi, you guys are so silly! Of course not! Torao’s just a friend.” Luffy responded with his usual grin and eye smile.
The Strawhats were all dumbfounded. They truly had thought that Luffy had finally set his eyes on someone, but they were proven wrong. There are no signs of Luffy lying. He’s certainly telling the truth.
Or maybe he hasn’t even realized it yet… but they could let it go for now.
It’s been hours since his friends left his apartment, but Luffy can’t bear to sleep. His mind replays that scene where he never thought that what he said came out as a smooth lie. It was the first time he’s ever flat out lied in front of his friends, and he doesn’t even feel any guilt at all.
Yes, he could tell all the basic things that he knows about Law, but he’ll never show them how much he wished the older man was his.
Luffy doesn’t even have much knowledge about romance, and he knows that it’s probably better to ask his friends for advice but he’d like to figure this matter out on his own. After all, this is a new thrilling experience he’s looking forward to.
Luffy groaned in his pillow. Thinking really hurts his head. This is why he would rather ignore the pounding on his chest whenever he sees the raven-haired man around or even when he calls him “Mugiwara-ya.” If only Robin hadn’t asked him, he didn’t need to lie and now think about what he feels for his neighbor.
Letting out a sigh, Luffy made his way out of the bed and went to the balcony. This is the part of the apartment that he liked the most. Sabo really did pick a nice place for him. He can see the city from his spot, lighting the night with its illuminating lights somewhat calms Luffy.
“Having a hard time sleeping?”
Luffy let out a yelp, then turned to his left, seeing Law standing on the balcony of his apartment with a cigarette that he holds in between his tattooed fingers.
“Sheesh, Torao you surprised me!”
Law let out a low chuckle then took another hit, the smell of the smoke lingering between them. Luffy could only watch him, counting the colors from the lights below that reflect on his golden eyes. He was taught how staring is rude, however, he just can’t take his eyes off the raven-haired man who still looked so good even with the evident dark bags under his eyes.
Luffy went back to his senses when he heard the latter clearing his throat. Law was looking back at him, his eyebrows furrowed as he asked Luffy, “What’s wrong?”
Luffy sheepishly grinned as he leaned on the cold bars of the balcony, looking away from Law and hoped that he hadn’t seen the red flush on his face. Luffy bit his bottom lip, contemplating if he should tell the man what’s bothering him.
“Say, Torao…” Law hummed in response, urging him to continue talking.
“What’s it like to fall in love?”
Law freezes, blinking twice before he regains his composure. He took a drag as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re asking the wrong person here, I swore I’ll never fall in love.”
Luffy let out a laugh. “Torao, don’t tell me you’ll be like one of the grumpy grandpas in the park!” Law frowned at this and he replied, “Don’t compare me to them, I’m not even that old.”
Luffy only laughed harder, but he really hopes that Law’s wrong. “Then, do you really swear to not to fall in love?” he asks, plastering a forced smile on his lips.
“Who knows? I’m already busy with working in the hospital and working on the personal troubles in my life, I don’t think I can handle such vulnerability or what they call love. I’ve never really thought about it, so I don’t know for now.”
For now, Luffy thinks. Well, at least Luffy feels some sort of hope that he still has a chance.
There was a tension that they both couldn’t pin what exactly is it, but as silence falls between the two of them, Law wonders why he feels bothered with Luffy asking him about love. It’s none of his business, but he can’t help but be curious as to who was the person responsible that they made Luffy think of love.
And if there’s an ugly feeling in the pit of his stomach, Law ignores it with all his might.
“So? Who is this person that you think you’re in love with?”
Luffy fumbled with his fingers, his lips in a pout as he avoided Law’s piercing gaze and mumbled, “It’s no one.”
“You do know that you’re a shitty liar, don’t you?” Law raises a brow and Luffy lets out a defeated sigh. Why can’t he just lie like he did earlier? Well… it’s really hard to blurt out a lie in front of the man who sees through everything but Luffy’s obvious feelings for him.
“So?” Why Law still insists on knowing, he doesn’t know. Noticing Luffy’s nervous behavior, he decides to at least drop on finding out who it is… but not entirely.
“Fine, you don’t have to tell me who. Just at least describe them, that would be amusing enough.” Luffy let out a long whine. There’s just no escaping from this, is it? He could hear Law chuckling. He glared at the older man with a pout still on his face.
Luffy huffed. “You know, you just asked what my friends asked earlier.”
“Then that makes it even easier to answer.” Law replied.
Luffy playfully rolled his eyes. “Well, I could tell you that his favorite colors are probably the darker shades. And he really loves to argue. He always has something to counterattack against my retorts.”
Law only listens to Luffy, and doesn’t even react to the fact that Luffy’s referring to a man at all.
“He’s got a beautiful sister, and he probably has his father’s eyes. Erm, he also sees the world monochrome. He gives off the anti-social aura but he’d never tell anyone that he has a soft spot for his fluffy dog, he’d never tell anyone that he can play the guitar even if he claims that it’s only there because a friend left it.” Luffy continues.
A small smile made its way to Luffy’s lips as he thought about the rare moments Law had that only Luffy was able to witness. He’d never tell how his heart flutters whenever he sees Law with Bepo, especially with how delicate the raven is with him. He’d never tell Law actually played the guitar for him that one time he was sad about Ace moving out of the country.
“He also listens to rock bands that I’m not really familiar with. He would never let anyone see him being ‘vulnerable’ as he would put it into words. He’s a really complicated guy, but I’ve memorized him by now.”
It was silent for a while, but Luffy didn’t mind it. He can’t even look at Law after saying all of that. Of course, Law doesn’t even know that he’s asking Luffy to describe the very man himself.
“Do you love this person?” Law asked. Although he immediately regretted it, because he’s baffled with the disturbing feeling that’s been settling inside of him as soon as Luffy rambled about this person. The only person that came to his mind was Roronoa. He was sure that Luffy once mentioned that Roronoa has a sister named Perona.
“I don’t know,” was all Luffy’s reply.
Law let out the breath that he wasn’t even aware he was holding as he awaited Luffy’s response.
“I see. Take your time figuring it out. For now, I think we should head to bed.” Law said as he pressed down the cigarette butt on the ashtray. Luffy smiled at him, nodding his head in agreement.
“Thanks for tonight, Torao! Good night!” he beamed. Law just waved him off and went back to his apartment, not forgetting to shut the sliding door off.
Luffy stayed on the balcony for a little longer. His thoughts linger on what just happened. He had just indirectly confessed what he truly felt to the oblivious man next door. He let out a breath, his actions now sinking in on his mind.
“I don’t know.”
Monkey D. Luffy is a terrible liar. He couldn’t lie for his life, and everyone who knows him is well-aware of that fact. But if you asked him if he loves Trafalgar Law, he’d lie.