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It was a quiet night, for the city, with a hush of fresh snow falling from dark skies.
Law walked down the street on his way home from work, grateful to have remembered to wear a scarf. The top of his ears were beginning to feel chilly, making him regret not wearing a hat. He had considered it when he had dressed this morning. Sure autumn is usually a shorter season, a refreshing break from summer before winter's icy grip, but he'd been reluctant to surrender just yet. So despite the early chill, he didn't want to get carried away with over-dressing and had decided against a hat in the end.
But this city's climate was different than what he was used to -- and it made him feel even more uneasy.
This move was a step forward in his career (he kept on reminding himself). Now a college graduate, he was beginning his residency with his first choice. The research clinic was a marvelous opportunity in his field--but was also far from home. Far from friends and...
His heart ached at the reminder.
He let out a soft sigh, forming a small puff that quickly evaportaed in the cold. Fleeting and as obsolete as his fragile dream.
A sudden slip on the icy street was the redirection he needed. Though he nearly dropped the gift bags he was caring -- a surprise from his co-workers. Law hadn't expected to be surprised on his birthday, and his friends knew him well enough not to. But he hadn't thought it necessary to mention his dislike at work, after all they were colleagues, not friends.
His supervisor and lab partner each gifted a small present that he had yet to open. His embarrassment to be put on the spot must have been so obvious, but thankfully they didn't press him further.
He paused to take a steadying breath before continuing on. A text alert ping echoed in his jacket, and another one as he fished for his phone in his pocket.
A small smile spread across his face to see silly animated gifs from both Penguin and Shachi as they wished him a happy birthday. Then a incoming video call pinged from Bepo and he tapped the center of his phone to accept.
"Captain! Happy Birthday!" His big smile filled up the screen, making Law burst out with a rare chuckle.
"Thanks, Bepo," he smiled. He didn't realize how much he missed that silly nickname. He had been the default leader in organizing his friends with weekly study groups, and so they had appointed him their Captain. "I got your card in the mail yesterday, thanks."
"Did you like the print?" He pressed, though thankfully he pulled back from the screen so he was centered in the frame. "Its new to my shop."
"Aw, that's great but I would have been happy to purchase it." Just then Law noticed some yellow paint on Bepo's ear, so he must have been working on something new.
"Its alright, its inspired by you so I also wanted to gift it," Bepo was quick to reassure, though he blushed from the slight praise.
"Was it really?" His tone raised in genuine surprise. "Well, thank you. It...its amazing. How long have you been experiementing with a new style?"
"For about a month, its a new trend on Instagram that I fell in love with."
Law winced. Love. Even the sound of it still ached.
Bepo paused for a moment, did he notice? He smiled kindly. "Have you heard from Ace recently?"
Law's cheeks flushed pink at the abrupt change in subject. "No, of course not! Why would I?" His voice cracked despite the sharp snap.
"No reason, was just curious is all," Bepo shrugged. "Anyway, I won't keep you, surely you've got plans to celebrate with your new friends."
New friends...friends he didn't have. Law scowled in the face of such blind optimism. "Sure, fine," he huffed.
"Take care, Captain. I'll call you later this weekend."
Then the call disconnected, before Law could answer. It was just as well. He was still thrown off by the random reference to Ace.
He pocketed his phone and turned down the street towards his apartment. Set just off the main street, the building was nice and central and far nicer than he was used to from the dorms. He was greeted by a doorman in uniform and nodded with a small wave. Once inside, he paused to tap his boots on the mat before continuing through the lobby and towards the elevators.
Once inside, he rested back against the wall with another sigh. This one forlorn and wistful -- and in this moment of silence, he dared to remember. He closed his eyes as his thoughts drifted to Ace.
He liked to think they were friends, but Ace was friends with everyone. He just had a vibe that attracted everyone to him, and like a moth Law was drawn in to his brilliant light.
Ace was special though, and not his usual type. Being outdoorsy, althetic, and took far too many risks -- they had more NOT in common. But Ace never made Law feel less than, even when their differences should have kept them apart. He was like a cheerleader, encouraging him to stretch out of his comfort zone. Like the time Ace convinced Law to cosplay at some convention -- something he NEVER would have had the guts to do. And Ace went with him, dressed as Sora's robot partner. They had worked together on those costumes, fine-tuning them, and even won a ribbon for their efforts. Law prized that more than any other award, even still.
The elevator slowed to a stop at the 7th floor and pinged as they opened. He pushed off with his heeled boot to propel himself forward.
Still his thoughts lingered on Ace, but eventually the fondness shifted bitterly into heartbreak. Law had never been able to confess his feelings. As surprising as their friendship had been, falling in love still managed to catch him off guard. Perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised, after all Ace made anything feel possible. But even then, Law still couldn't bring himself to voice such feelings. His broken heart couldn't bear to open up enough. So he kept his mouth shut and locked it up tight. And if Ace ever noticed, he never let on.
The long hallway felt endless as Law made his way to Apartment 725. The number was marked in shiny, brass letters on the door, just above the security peephole. He unlocked the door and set the giftbags aside by the shoerack. He closed the door, locked it quickly out of habit (Luffy was the reason for that one), hung up his jacket and unwound the length of his scarf. Once hung, he pulled out a chair to sit down as he unzipped his long boots and placed them on the doormat to dry off.
He picked up the gift bags and set them on his lap. He couldn't see through the decorative tissue paper to see what was inside...and part of him wanted the surprise to last a bit longer.
Its not like he had any other plans.
He set the bags on the table and stood up, set to make some dinner. Or rather, to pick a microwave one. He was still living off his savings, waiting for the first paycheck, so he had to make them last. He shuffled through the selection when he heard a knock on his door.
He stopped. That was unexpected...surely he was hearing things.
Another knock, followed with a pitterpat of knuckles to echo a familiar tune.
His eyes went impossibly wide and he flew to the door. Throwing it open, Ace jumped back in surprise but recovered quickly. "Hey Torao! Wazzup?" He threw his arms around Law's neck to give him a big bear hug. Law went limp, his long legs felt boneless, and Ace was quick to catch him. "Woah! Hey, you alright?" Law's face burned red and his voice mumbled incoherently. He squeaked as Ace gathered him up, bridal-style, and carried him inside. He paused to kick the door shut and carried him over to the loveseat. Law hadn't wanted to waste money on a large sofa, but this felt much too small for two people to squeeze in. Ace did though, sitting close beside him as he smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Law burst out in a panic. "How did you where know I lived?"
"I was just visiting my Mom on the way back to university," he explained. "She mentioned a new tenant that was a doctor with death written all over him." His mouth curved into a teasing smile.
"Only on my hands," Law grumbled.
"But it stand out in one's memory," Ace softly countered. "Lucky for me though, otherwise I might not have found you."
Law's breath caught in his throat. "You've been...looking for me?" He tried to keep his tone casual, but the closeness was distracting him.
"I just...I wanted to..." he huffed in exasperation as he shook his head. "Sorry, I should have called ahead and asked but...I forgot." Law looked frustrated by his answer, which made him laugh. "Alright, I was afraid you'd say no."
Law blinked in genuine surprise. "No? But why--?"
"Probably for the same reason why you haven't texted since you left," Ace gave him some disapproving side-eye.
Law's gaze dropped awkward. "I know you're really busy and I didn't want to bother you."
"Hmm, is that so?" Ace asked in a tone that sounded like he didn't believe him. Law didn't blame him -- it sounded like such an excuse, even to him. He leaned in, resting an arm along the back of the loveseat. "Well...I'm not busy now." Those dark eyes smoldered in a way Law had never seen before.
He swallowed hard enough to squeak. This was strange but thrilling as he felt on the edge of something unknown. He jolted as Ace rested a hand on his knee, nearly jumping out of his skin. Ace pulled back, but Law caught his hand. He meant to rest it back on his knee, but, this felt much nicer. Ace's warm fingers softly shifted to interlace with his icy fingers before resting their hands between them. Law just stared at them in disbelief to see inked fingers intertwined with calloused ones. Feeling warmth along his cheek, he looked up to see Ace stroking his face with his other hand.
He let out a soft sigh, one of surrender. "I'm sorry Law, I thought that maybe we could have dinner and a movie or something but...I don't wanna leave."
Law blinked slowly, not understanding. He stiffened as Ace shifted to press him back against the loveseat, his knee inbetween Law's long legs as he leaned in. "And maybe I'm assuming things but...I can't help but feel like you've been avoiding me."
"Its not that!" Law protested in a weak rush. "I...I just..." his gaze dropped down to Ace's sad smile, a bittersweet line. Law absent-mindedly licked his lips as he suddenly wondered what they'd taste like.
"You didn't even tell me you were leaving," his soft tone accused.
"It was sudden---"
"You're making excuses," Ace insisted. "C'mon, Law. I thought we were friends."
"We were--I-I mean are!" Law quickly corrected.
Ace suddenly swooped in to claim his mouth. Law whimpered into the kiss as he readily surrendered. Ace's hand rested on the back of his neck as he tipped Law's head back to deepen the kiss. Law groaned as their tongues tangled together. His heart pounded in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Ace's neck. Shifting again, he allowed Ace to push him onto his back. This angle was awkward and proved impossible to maintain for long before they tumbled onto the floor. Ace just laughed as he crawled over towards Law. "Sorry, I imagined our first kiss being better than that."
Law smiled at that, a silly, goofy, breathless grin. "Let's have a do-over."
Ace considered that with a scheming look on his face, something Law knew would be absolute trouble. "A do-over with a sleepover," he purred softly in a tempting tone.
Law raised up on his elbows but Ace didn't back off. "Alright." Law whispered with a sly smile.
"Really? You mean it?" Ace just brighted at that as if he couldn't believe his luck. Did he really think Law wouldn't jump at the chance? But instead of answering, Law kissed him back.