𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑
Law was walking Luffy home like he does every day. They've been dating for about a year now, still going strong. As they walked home from East Blue High, the aura was silent and worrisome.
Why? Because Luffy made the bold decision to come out to his older brothers when he got home. Law was already out to his dad and had met Luffy a year ago when they first started dating. As the end of high school was around the corner, and Law was going to New World University soon, Luffy only thought it would be fair to tell his brothers. He doesn't want to hide his relationship from his brothers anymore. He can't hide forever.
As the young couple stopped in front of Luffy's house, Law turned to face Luffy. He grabbed both of his hands and laced their fingers together, forever connected.
"Now remember, no matter what they say, no matter what they do, you are you. And I love you. Call me as soon as you tell them okay? Promise?" Law was just as worried as his partner. Coming out was dangerous. You could never know for sure how people will react. You think you know who they are but then you tell them and everything turned out the opposite of your perspective. It happened when Law came out. His dad was understanding and supported him unconditionally. However, his uncle, Doflamingo, was not supportive at all. He hasn't seen his uncle since he was fifteen because of that.
"I promise Torao," he stood on his tippy-toes and hugged his boyfriend "Thank you for comforting me" He kissed Law on the forehead.
They stood there in each other's arms for a minute longer until Luffy broke the silence. "Okay, I'm off. I'll call you as soon as I tell them, I promise."
"Love you." Law gave a quick peck on the lips and let go of Luffy's hands.
When Luffy walked into his house, Sabo and Ace were already home from work. Sabo in the kitchen and Ace in the living room.
"Hey Lu welcome home!" Sabo hollered from the kitchen. "Want a snack? I'm cutting up some apple slices!"
"Yeah! Thanks Bo!" He yelled back as he took off his shoes. "Hey Sabo, Ace, can we talk?"
Ace turned off the television and gave him all the attention in the world, "Of course Lu! What about?"
Sabo joined them with apple slices and sat down on the couch. Luffy took a chair and sat in front of them. He played with his hands a bit. All this attention he was getting from his brothers was a bit overwhelming to say the least.
He cleared his throat, "Um, I wanted to tell you that I'm pansexual... and I have a boyfriend!"
When none of his brothers said anything or made any movement Luffy mocked them jokingly, "Gasp! What! Our brother is grown up already?!"
Suddenly, he got very worried by the silence he was receiving. Are they mad at me? Should I run? Why aren't they responding?
"Get out." Ace snapped at him, his eyes flaming with anger and shame.
"What?" Luffy muttered, his hands starting to shake. This can't be happening! This has to be a dream!
"You heard him," Luffy turned towards his other brother, Sabo. "It's unnatural. It's wrong. Do as your former brother says and get out." Sabo had the same fire in his eyes as Ace did. Angry. Hateful. Shameful.
"Former?" Luffy whispered, his eyes filling up with tears. I'm not their brother anymore? They're getting rid of me already?
Almost as Ace heard his thoughts he stood up and yelled, "Get out! I told you already! Like Sabo said, you aren't our brother anymore, so scram!"
Luffy was so shocked that he couldn't move. "Do I have to beat it into you?" Ace shouted again, raising a hand up.
Instantly, the youngest brother was on the floor, a red hand print on his face. Ace hit him. Ace never hit him. They really do hate me.
Trying to choke back a sob, Luffy ran up the stairs to his room. He started throwing his stuff in his duffel bag. This was wrong, I should've never came out. I ruined everything.
"Shut up!" Ace screamed. "I don't want to hear you make your pathetic noises. You really are a f*****!" Luffy slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle out his cries.
He hurried up and packed everything. He reached out to pack his scrapbook. His scrapbook of him and his brothers. All of their memories together. All a lie. They didn't really love him.
If they did then they would've been okay with me being me. At least Law loves me.
He decided against bringing his scrapbook. He made sure not to forget anything. This would be the last time he came here. The last time he called this house a home.
He escaped through his bedroom window, climbing down a tree. He always used to sneak off with Law this way. Or coming back home late.
This would be his final time.
Law heard a loud banging coming from his door. Strange, he wasn't expecting anyone.
"Law, could you get that please?" Cora yelled from the kitchen, he was trying to make onigiri without burning himself but was failing miserably.
"Sure thing" Law got up and walked over to the door. When he opened the door he got the shock of his life.
His boyfriend was crying in the rain with a bag around him.
He immediately took his crying lover out of the rain and into his house. Luffy was still crying when Law gave him a hug.
"I-I-I'm sorryyyyyyy. I ha-had nowhere to gooo!" Luffy sobbed into his shirt.
Law hadn't been more angry in his life. "They kicked you out?!" he shrieked. He tightened his grip on Luffy and whispered in his ear. His brothers just abandoned him, he had no home now. Nowhere to go in this big city. Sure, he could go to the North Blue Orphanage. He was still seventeen after all! But he couldn't do that to his boyfriend. He won't leave him like his own family had done to him.
"It's okay. We're gonna work this out, just like everything we do, we'll work this out together."
Luffy sobbed, "I love you" he whimpered, his grip still strong. Law kissed the crown of his head. "Love you too sweetheart." He murmured back.
Law let go of his and just as he was holding his face, about to kiss his forehead, he noticed something. A bruise.
"Did he hit you?" Law seethed out. They hit him. They hit his one and only love. Law saw red.
Seeing his boyfriend's anger, Luffy tried to calm him, "Law, please, it's not that bad-"
"Not that bad?! He hit you!" Law shouted, throwing his hands up in the air.
The younger gasped and tried again, "Law please-"
"No! You let them step all over you! They don't get to-" Law stopped mid-sentence when he heard Cora walk into the room. Crap, I forgot he was home.
"Law, you're scaring him. He doesn't need to get yelled at right now." Cora-san soothed him, he put a hand on his son's shoulder. Law sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He opened his arms for Luffy to go into.
The shorter male started sobbing again and walked into his boyfriend's chest.
"I'm sorry. I'm just angry at them, not you. I love you, it's okay." He comforted his boyfriend. He picked him up and carried him over to the couch.
"Dad, can you please give us an icepack?" Law called out.
Cora left right away. "And don't forget about the stove! It's still on!" He reminded his father.
He turned back to his boyfriend who was still cuddled in his arms. He held him tightly and wrapped the blanket he was using around him. Law kept giving forehead kissed to Luffy and rubbed his arm up and down, up and down. Luffy was calming down, he had been so panicked over everything that it tired him out.
Cora handed Law the icepack and went back to the kitchen.
"What am I going to do Law? I don't know what I'm gonna do." He looked up at Law and whimpered. "I'm scared Law, I don't know what to do."
It broke Law's heart to see his boyfriend reduced to this. A crying, shaking mess. It made him want to beat his brothers up. But, he knew Luffy didn't need that right now. What he needed was his boyfriend's loving arms around him.
"You could stay here with me and my dad. I'm sure it won't be a problem." the older suggested, looking down at him.
"I shouldn't. It'd be too much. I-"
"Am always welcome." Cora finished. "My son is always welcome here. Both of them." he went to sit down next to Luffy.
"You're always welcome here Luffy, I support you and Law very much. Now, you are staying here. You can share Law's room as long as I don't hear any noises." he joked at the end.
"Dad!" Law snapped back at his father, burning like a red tomato. He pinched his nose bridge again shaking his head.
Luffy just laughed, "Thank you dad. Thank you so much! I'll even get a job too!"
"Oh no, you are too kind. See Law? You should take after him. You could learn something!" Law blushed even more as his boyfriend and his dad were bullying the crap out of him.
Luffy did move in with Law and his father. Cora even signed the adoption papers! Luffy was now a part of their family. Law proposed after graduation too! The two of them lived with Cora until it was time for Law to go to university to study medicine. Luffy went with him and they both went to New World University together. Luffy wanted to study insects. A new chapter for everybody.
Ace and Sabo were not contacted at all during this development. They didn't bother to apologize to their youngest either.
Luffy didn't care. Yes, he did care in the beginning, but, that was an old chapter of his life. His new chapters did not involve them. He was on to live life happily.
With his father, with his boyfriend, with his friends, with himself.
