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A black sheep.
Its meaning can vary from being the most useless or being the weakest. For Law, it was both.
After their victory over Big Mom, Law started to wonder if he was that black sheep. As soon as Luffy won against Kaido, his thoughts became reality.
"We did it, Gizao!"
"Yeah but we wouldn't have done it without you, Mugiwara!"
They celebrated their victory and Wano's freedom from the hands of a Yonko. Kinemon and the others were grateful towards Luffy and Momonosuke allied with Luffy. Eustass was admirable for his brute strength. Law stood by the side, watching them being crowded by his and their crews while drinking a glass of soju.
"How nice it would've been if I was as strong as them." Law mumbled as he sipped the alcohol.
Law then placed the glass down and left the room, walking to the balcony and leaning on the banisters. As he looked at the sky full of lanterns, Law felt a stab in his heart. He bit his lower lip to hold back the whimpers and tears but it didn't seem to work as a single tear droplet managed to escape his eyes. He wiped it off as soon as it came out but more kept trickling down. Covering his eyes with one hand while holding Kikoku with the other, he let it out silently.
"Why am I so weak...?"
ꕤ
"Hm? Gizao?" Luffy called.
"What?" Kid answered.
"Where's Torao?" Luffy asked.
"Law? Oh, right. I thought I saw him walk to the balcony earlier," Kid replied.
"I'll go check on him. He seemed pretty off earlier," Luffy said.
"Well, I'll follow you. I don't have much to do here, anyway."
The duo got off their seats and walked to the balcony. As Luffy was about to call Law, Kid stopped him. Luffy was confused and Kid pointed his finger at the banisters. They looked at the front and Law was leaning against the banisters. It sounded like he was… crying. The two looked at each other and they mutually decided to peek at him from behind the wall.
"For fuck's sake, give me one reason I shouldn't try and fucking kill myself! Besides, it's not like I care about whether people cared that I died because at least, I don't feel like I'm the fucking black sheep!"
Eustass was quite surprised and so was Luffy. The duo knew something made Law like this and they mutually made an agreement. Luffy then appeared and greeted Law while Eustass entered a few seconds after Luffy.
"Law, are you alright? You look like shit," Eustass remarked.
"Torao, were you crying?" Luffy asked.
"No, it's just dust in my eyes. They can get red from the reaction. What do you want?" Law replied.
"Just wanted to check on you. You seemed off earlier," Luffy noted.
"That's just your imagination. I'll go to rest in my room now. You guys should rest, too." Law told them before leaving the duo alone.
Eustass and Luffy looked at each other with concern for Law. Something had to be done.
ꕤ
Lies.
They were all just lies to hide the truth.
Law walked briskly to his room before closing the door. He opened the drawer and found a dagger. A kunai knife, specifically. He took the knife and made thin red lines across his right wrist. He looked at the blood and he felt… great. The thick red droplets trickled down from the blade and his wrist.
"I knew it was a health hazard to cut oneself but I never knew it'd feel this great," Law mumbled.
Law kept going until the twelfth cut and he stopped before cleaning up as he didn't want to be suspected of anything. He also bandaged his wrist and changed into his nightwear before tucking into bed and staring at the wall for a few minutes. Before he knew it, exhaustion overtook him and he drifted off to sleep.
ꕤ
"Law…"
"Torao."
"Wake up. It's time for our checkup."
Law opened his eyes and groaned as he sat up. Law turned and saw Luffy on his left. He then turned to his right and saw Eustass. He sighed and told them to take their tops off so he could see the bandages and change when needed. He grabbed the medical kit as they undressed and prepared the necessary ointments and bandages.
"Law."
Law flinched as he thought he heard Cora-san's voice. He turned and the two were waiting patiently for him. Law shook off the thought and then proceeded to check on their injuries.
After the checkup, Law packed everything back in the medical kit and was about to leave the room when he felt himself being pulled back. He was then cradled between Eustass' arm and Luffy laid on Law's lap. Law was confused by their actions but doesn't question it as he wasn't in the mood to. He just relaxed on Eustass' chest and then, he felt his wrist being held. He flinched and pulled his wrist away, earning a shocked gasp from Eustass. Luffy was already asleep on Law's lap and Law wasn't feeling comfortable with the situation. He told the two he needed to check on the others and excused himself before leaving the spot and walking out of the room.
Luffy and Eustass sighed dejectedly.
"That felt nice but I feel Torao isn't fond of it yet. He probably needs more time to figure himself out," Luffy said.
"If we gave him that time, he'd be worse off. Everyone knows that but they don't know how to help him because Law's too stubborn to let anyone help him. If we leave him alone for too long, he'd be dead before we could even help him." Eustass stated firmly.
They exchanged looks and then, after a few seconds, nodded to each other.
ꕤ
Law walked to a secluded area in the forest. He sat on the edge of a cliff and looked at the sky. The sunset was amazing. The sun landed on the horizon perfectly. He sighed and then, he could see the reflection of Cora-san in front of him. He wanted to be with Cora-san again. He didn't want to live any longer. He stood up and looked below. He'd probably drown because of his Devil Fruit. He wasn't thinking about it now but the feeling of passing out changed his fate as he fell forward. He didn't object to death. He was glad the opportunity was given to him. He knew he was going to die so might as well take the opportunity. Or so he thought.
He felt an arm hold him on the edge. Whoever it was, he was going to kill them for that. Now, he just wants to recharge so he could admire that life-threatening situation he just faced for a longer… time…
ꕤ
"When do you think he'll wake up?"
"I don't know. Last I heard from Penguin, Law could sleep for four days straight. This is a record for him."
"Although it's good for Torao, it's very concerning that he's not getting the sleep he needs."
Noisy. So noisy. He took his time to recharge only to wake up to murmurs that sound too loud for his ears. He weakly opened his eyes and Luffy was playing with his hair. His fingers felt nice. Then, his fingers jerked away from my hair when Law shifted a little. It was nice while it lasted. Law sat up and he could feel a hand supporting his back which felt assuring to have. Law looked to his side and the two idiots were at his side once again.
"What? Are you alright? Did your wounds open? Shall I stitch them again or change your bandages? Is something-"
"Were you planning on it?"
Law froze for a while and bit his lower lip at the bitter question. He then sighed dejectedly.
"No, I was only admiring the sunset. When I stood up, I just felt like passing out. Probably because of how exhausted I am. Anyway, thanks for saving me. I would've died there if you didn't," Law thanked.
"Torao."
Law looked at Luffy and Luffy immediately hugged him like there's no tomorrow. Eustass sat there and watched as Luffy hugged Law. Law was very curious about their actions. Why are they doing this?
"Uhm… Can I-"
"Before you ask, we're just worried about you. We heard you last night. Your… ranting at the balcony during the party. When you said you wanted to kill yourself, both of us were concerned. We didn't want to lose someone to something stupid like suicide," Eustass replied.
"When we found you at the edge, we thought you were going to do it. Luckily, Gizao caught you in time. If he didn't, you would've..." Luffy added.
"Well, I'm fine now. I won't do it again. It was only a coincidence this time," Law told them.
It was a lie again. Law didn't want them to worry about him so much and he definitely didn't want others to start giving him loads of unnecessary attention.
"If you say so, Torao. Well, I'll go eat some meat then. Rest well," Luffy said before getting up and leaving the room.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," Eustass told Law as he followed suit.
Law nodded lightly at the both of them and laid back down. He sighed and stared at the ceiling. There was only a menacing darkness that shrouded his vision. Guess it was only the dim candlelight. He wanted to sleep. He really did. He just can't seem to close his eyes. They kept opening every time he closes them. Could be because he still fears getting nightmares.
"I'm not a child anymore. I shouldn't be scared of nightmares anymore." Law mumbled as he turned to his side and managed to finally shut his eyes.
ꕤ
"Law. There's no such thing in this world for there is always a merciful hand to help you."
"Law. I love you!"
"Brother, happy birthday!"
"You couldn't save them. You couldn't even avenge them without help. You're weak. Pathetic. Just admit it. You're never strong on your own."
Law jerked up from his futon and groaned as he rubbed his head. Shit. Another one again. Law looked outside and it was still nighttime. He decided to leave his room and head to the cliff again.
He changed into a tank top and blue spotted pants. He wore his hoodie in case it gets cold. He also hid his kunai knife and first aid kit in his hoodie, too. He quietly left his room and crept through the hallway and ran out of the palace before making it to the forest. He passed through the forest and reached the same cliff again.
He parked himself at the edge once again and took out his stuff. He held the kunai knife and started sharpening it so he'd get thin and almost invisible lines. Law took off the dirty bandage on his right wrist, started his usual routine and managed to finish the twentieth cut.
By then, he was losing too much blood and he wasn't able to focus on treating his self-inflicted wound. He dropped his kunai knife by his side and he wanted to use his Room but he didn't have enough stamina due to the increasing loss of blood. He tried to do it manually but his hands were too weak to move. His body was soon to be a ragdoll. Law sighed and dropped the closed ointment bottle back into the kit, showing his defeat against the darkness he tried so hard to push away.
"Guess I'll die soon..."
Law felt himself falling back but then, he felt a big chest support his back. He also heard murmurs of two oddly familiar voices.
"Torao... alright?"
"Oi... wa... up...! D... lea... us...!"
Law wasn't holding much longer. He just wanted to get out of this world so people don't have to... worry... about him... so much...
"Shut... up... Just... let me... leave here in... peace..."
ꕤ
Law woke up but not to the smell of Flevance or the smell of Cora-san's coat. Instead, he woke up to two people by his side, both of them holding each of his hands.
"What the fuck...? Mugiwara-ya, Eustass-ya. Let go of my hand," Law croaked out.
Both Eustass and Luffy turned their heads and looked at Law. Law gulped nervously. They had those serious looks. Specifically, the ones they'd give when something angers them.
"Trafalgar D. Water Law."
Law was fucked. Luffy never says his full name. Then, he knew he was even more fucked when Eustass kept silent all the way.
"Law. Explain yourself about last night. What were you doing at the cliff?" Eustass asked.
"I was... Well, there's no point in lying so I might as well spit it out. I accidentally cut myself while playing with a kunai knife and had to bandage myself," Law reasoned with such confidence they'll believe him.
Well, he should've thrown that confidence out of the window.
"You were cutting yourself on purpose, right? You fucking psychopath," Eustass remarked.
That hit Law hard. He looked down at his freshly bandaged arms and tears started to drop from his eyes. No, he shouldn't. He wiped them away, faking it as just sweat, but they just kept coming down. He wasn't an expert with his emotions. He only knew to hide them. As he was about to ask the two to leave, he felt a pair of arms and another arm embrace him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted you to stop hiding from us. We were both worried for the past week. You always kept hiding your emotions and we can't tell if you want or need help. Turns out, it was both." Eustass told Law.
"Yeah. Gizao is right. You had us balancing on our line of sanity. I hope you reflect on your actions," Luffy added.
Law hadn't said anything and only cried. He only could process so much in his exhausted mind right now. Eustass took an opportunity to peck Law's forehead and Luffy pecked his hand with small comforting kisses. Law was very flustered and the two chuckled as Law blushed furiously. Then, Eustass and Luffy went ahead and kissed Law on his sweet strawberry lips.
Law was surprised but he didn't flinch away or complain. Both of them had nice lips. They kissed for a few seconds before pulling away from each other and Luffy smiled.
"So, do you accept our boyfriend invitation?" Luffy asked.
Law thought for a while and chuckled a little.
"If I rejected the both of you, how'd you think the kiss would've felt?"
The boyfriend trio laughed when they heard the answer and Eustass looked at Law.
"Just promise me, no more suicidal bullshit. I'm not in the mood for those," Eustass requested.
"Of course." Law agreed.
As Law closed his eyes, he felt the darkness shroud him again. That was until his sunlights came to shine upon the overpowering force. Law saw his family, his friends and Cora-san, smiling. Law smiled and looked at them.
"I found them. My suns."
ꕤ
[End]