Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A heavy downpour of rain fell across the cityscape, blackening the skies and drowning out all other smells. Except for one that it is. As Law walked along the street, his tall frame shielded from the rain by his umbrella, he caught the faintest whiff of an omega. Your sweet, floral scent permeated through the air and infiltrated his lungs. A strange sensation came over him and suddenly all of his senses were heightened. This wasn’t just any omega he had caught wind of.

This was his omega. His fated mate.

Never in his life had he felt such an inexplicable pull to any one person. While other omega’s scents had been pleasing to his senses and he had even enjoyed the company of an omega or two, this was different. Wherever this omega was, he needed to find them.

Law’s prowling eyes searched the washed out streets and abandoned alleyways. Every step drawing him closer, inch by inch until finally he located the source of that sweet, floral aroma. Tucked in between two buildings, a desolate back street filled with discarded bottles and cardboard boxes was the place where his mate was hiding.

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, every step he took was quiet and calculated. He passed the dumpster and just beyond it was a makeshift shelter made out of cardboard boxes. This haphazardly put together lodging was where his omega resided?

He crouched down to get a better look and he was met with a pair of wide, unblinking eyes. You, the omega who Law now identified as being female, was shivering uncontrollably and clutching at your side. Looking more closely he noticed the small pool of blood staining your ragged garments. They were so torn up they could hardly be considered wearable clothing. 

Law drew in a scant breath and reached his hand out in an attempt to soothe you. Your scent then shifted and you began to omit a burning scent, bitter and unpleasant. You let out a faint whimper and a quiet sob that stabbed through his heart. Law had never seen an omega so neglected, left out in the cold to slowly die.

How long have you been out here? Who had done this? Law knew that his questions were pointless. For now, he just needed to get you, his mate, out of this hovel and to a hospital for treatment. The only problem being of course that you didn’t seem all that willing to move in your terrified state. 

Under normal circumstances fated mates have a mutual desire for one another. However, given that you have been left abandoned in a drab alleyway, wounded and frightened and alone it's no wonder you haven’t fully realised who he is yet. Not even his scent was enough to subdue you into submission or to calm your nerves.

Law took a deep breath and stared into your eyes. “Hey, it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help.”

He watched as you blinked quickly a few times before saying, “You w-won’t?” You poked your head out slightly, scanning the dark alleyway. “My alpha, he promised to come back… I have to stay here until he does.”

Law bit the inside of his mouth to prevent the growl that threatened to escape his lips. Anger twisted up inside him and he fought to stay composed. Rain continued to batter down around him, a seemingly relentless downpour that felt like it could wash away everything in its path.

“We can find him later. For now we need to get you out of this rain, you’re hurt.” Law bitterly spit out the last word. He wasn’t sure who had hurt his omega or why you had been discarded without so little as a thought to your wellbeing but that person was going to pay dearly for their mistake.

You darted your eyes away, wrapping your arm even tighter around your waist. “I know. It was an accident. He promised to get help and that he’d be right back.” Your eyes swelled with tears. “I tried to be good, I swear! It was just an accident! He didn’t mean to hurt me…”

The gash in your side looked deep. It didn’t look like the kind of wound that could be made by mistake. This alpha had torn into you and then left you here to die. It was enough to make Law feel nauseated. He could never imagine deliberately harming an omega, nevermind leaving them in such an alarming state.

“It’s okay. Just come with me and everything will be alright. I’m a doctor. You can trust me.”

You bit down on your trembling lip. “Okay… but if my alpha comes back and I’m not here he’ll get real mad. How will he know where to find me?”

The thought of anyone, least of all an alpha being mad and potentially lashing out at this timid little omega was enough to send Law into a blind rage. He glanced over your small, shaking form. You looked malnourished and your skin was terribly pale. You hadn’t just been neglected, you had been abused. 

Law softly curled his lips into a gentle and hopefully reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll understand if he later finds out you went to the hospital.” He extends his hand out again. “Please, come with me and I’ll get you some help.”

You shook your head, tears fell freely across your face. “No! You don’t understand! He’ll-he’ll…” You lowered your head into your hands and sobbed. The burnt smell grew stronger and irritated his senses. 

“It’s alright. I know you’re scared but you have to trust me. You can’t stay out here, not like this.”

Your cries subsided momentarily and you lifted her head up. Your eyes were puffy and red from your tears and you looked ready to keel over any minute now. “If I go with you, you’ll bring me back here right?” 

Law’s chest constricted and he quickly swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Yes, of course.” At this point Law was ready to do or say anything if it meant getting his mate out of there. There was not a chance in hell that he would take you to the hospital for treatment and then bring you back here. No, he fully intended on eventually taking you back to his apartment where he could keep you safe. For now however, he needed to make sure that you weren’t more seriously injured. Which is why a visit to his hospital was crucial.

He watched you lower yourself onto your hands and knees as you crawled out of your shelter. When you finally stood up he could see the full extent of your injuries. The exposed skin on your arms, legs, neck and face were covered in bruises. Wounds that looked like rope burns around your wrists, hand imprints around your neck and arms. Not to mention the deep wound in your side.

You looked up at him with a half-lidded gaze, your body trembling from the effort of standing on both feet. Just looking at you made Law sad and furious in equal measure. When he tracked down the alpha that did this, he would give them a very painful lesson indeed.

“Can you walk?” He asked, holding his arm out.

You cast your gaze at the ground. “I’m not sure… my ankle, it really hurts.”

“In that case, I shall carry you.” He took off his wool coat and wrapped it around the omega’s shivering form. Your hands grabbed hold of the coat and you pulled it in tighter around yourself. You gazed up at him with an astonished look in your eyes.

Law let go of his umbrella, letting it fall to the wayside. He drew an arm around your back and placed the other behind your knees before pulling you into his arms. He held you tight against his chest. Your scent spiked once more, you burrowed your head into his chest and faintly whimpered. He only hoped his scent would begin to soothe your nerves.

While the rain continued to pelt down on them, Law carried his mate through the streets and thoroughfares towards the hospital that he worked at. Hopefully there he could finally give you the treatment you so sorely needed. If nothing else, you would at least be out of the cold. He glanced down at his omega’s quivering form and swore a silent oath to keep you safe.

Chapter Text

When Law arrived at the hospital, he felt a wave of relief rush over him. The moment the automatic doors slid shut behind him, a nurse had rushed over to his side. She took one look at the now unconscious omega in his arms and hurried him through to the emergency room. His long legs strode down the winding corridors until they reached an empty bed. He carefully lowered you onto the bed and let two more nurses into the partitioned space.

What followed was a blurred frenzy of hurried movements and sharply spoken commands. Before too long, they had hooked a heart rate monitor up and put an IV drip into you. Afterwards they fitted you with an oxygen mask to even out your breathing and layered several blankets over you to warm up your freezing body. 

Law felt dizzy watching the nurses move at such a frantic pace. He watched them clean and bandage the wound in your side before taking a closer look at your other injuries. He wasn’t entirely sure how you came to be in such a worrisome state. If your alpha, someone who had sworn to protect you, to look after you had truly done this…

Monitors beeped, footsteps scurried up and down the corridors and the clattering of wheels echoed throughout the emergency room. That’s when he caught wind of unknown alpha’s scent, salty and briny like the ocean. The smell grew stronger as the alpha approached and Law felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. It took everything in him to suppress his urge to hunt them down, to exert his dominance.

He stood up from his seat and looked across the hall. There, lying in a hospital bed was an unconscious alpha. A young man with dark black hair and a crescent shaped scar beneath his right eye. He was currently wearing an oxygen mask and the fervent beeping of the surrounding monitors suggested he wasn’t breathing well. 

Something about the alpha’s smaller frame and lean form gave Law pause. Perhaps he didn’t have anything to be worried about after all. He just needed to stay right here and protect his mate. Right now he couldn’t bear to let you out of his sight.

The sound of heavy footsteps and the scent of another alpha pulled him from his thoughts then as a doctor finally arrived to properly assess your condition. He looked up into the bright, grinning gaze of Dr. Marco, a colleague of his. It was a relief really, to know that you would be in such good hands.

“Afternoon, Law. Would you care to tell me what’s brought you into the ER today?” He asks, lifting your chart from the end of the bed.

Law gestured at your quiet, softly breathing form. “She is. She’s my fated mate.” He stated bluntly. 

Marco perked up an eyebrow. “Really? Isn’t that something? So few of us ever do find our destined mates. I’m happy for you, Law.” 

“Nevermind my happiness, Marco. You should be more worried about her. I found her in a back alleyway, she had been left there to die.” 

Marco furrowed his brow, his hand wrapped around your arm carefully inspecting it. “This is quite a peculiar situation. Not many alphas have the instinct to hurt or neglect their chosen mates. She doesn’t have a bonding mark so maybe it wasn’t that serious.” 

Law held back the low growl that rose through his chest. “It doesn’t matter whether the relationship was serious or not. Her alpha has clearly mistreated her. He abused her.”

He nodded. “You don’t need to tell me that, Law. I can tell by these injuries that a significant amount of physical abuse has occurred. We’ll keep her in the hospital for a few days for observation but until she wakes up we won’t know anything more.”

Law gave Marco a curt nod. “Of course. I’m mostly relieved that she’s still alive. She said that her alpha had accidentally hurt her and had gone to get help. She seemed so sure that he was coming back for her.”

A somber expression crossed Marco’s features. “I just can’t imagine treating an omega this way. If I had found Ace like this…” He briefly removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Well let’s just say that the person responsible would meet the other end of my fist.” He put his red frames back on and looked over at Law. “I’m going to do my rounds and I’ll be back in a bit. Notify one of the nurses if anything changes, okay?”

“Of course. Thank you, Marco.”

Marco grinned. “Anytime.” He patted Law lightly on the shoulder before disappearing from the room.

Law’s instincts were screaming at him to move in closer, to grab hold of your hand but he was worried that he might overstep a boundary. Given how you reacted to him wanting to take you to the hospital, he was reluctant to do anything that might further upset you. For now he was going to hold himself in place while he waited for you to wake up. 

o-o-o

Luffy wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he woke up in the hospital. Monitors rhythmically beeped around him, his face felt tight from the oxygen mask and an intense aroma wafted through the air. The sweet fragrant scent of a nearby omega had his alpha senses bristling with desire. A deep and powerful longing unlike anything else he had felt before. It brewed inside of him and his instinct roared at him to find this omega.

His omega. The one known as his fated mate was somewhere in the hospital, he just needed to find them.

There was just one problem. He was currently stuck lying down in a hospital bed with an IV drip in his arm and an oxygen mask around his face. He wasn’t going anywhere. Not until someone came and let him out of course. Frustration churned in his gut and he groaned. 

Minutes ticked by and Luffy’s frustration only grew. It wasn’t until a nurse finally came by his bed and saw that he was awake that he let his instincts take over. He promptly sat himself upright on the bed, fighting with the cords and clawing at the mask over his face.

A young female nurse gently pressed on his shoulder. Judging by the woman’s warm scent she was a beta. “You need to lie back down, sir. The doctor hasn’t been to see you yet.” 

He narrowed his eyes and scowled at the nurse. Letting a low growl emit from deep within his gut. The nurse flinched away, frightened by the alpha currently having a raging fit. She pushed the emergency call button and a pair of male nurses came rushing in. They immediately grabbed hold of Luffy’s shoulders and pushed him back down onto the bed. This only enraged him further and he snarled at the nurses while violently kicking his feet.

A sharp stinging sensation shot through his neck and an overwhelming feeling of heaviness fell over him. It didn’t take long for his eyelids to fall closed and for him to be pulled down into a deep sleep. 

o-o-o

When he next awoke Luffy was greeted by the beaming face of his older brother, Ace. He groggily opened his eyes and turned to face him. “Wha-what happened?”

“You’re not even gonna say hello to your big brother? Come on Luffy, you know better.” He shook his head and took a deep bite out of the apple he was holding.

Luffy shifted to sit himself up slightly. “Ace? What are you doing here?”

Ace perked up his eyebrow, his smile faded. “I came to see you, dummy. What did you think I was doing here? After you blacked out I called for an ambulance but wasn’t able to leave work right away. We still had to get the situation under control.” He took another bite of his apple. “Speaking of, you really scared the pants off that poor nurse. She told me you were completely senseless, growling and frothing at the mouth. What was that about?”

“Oh. Yeah.” The smell of his omega had faded and he could only just catch a faint whiff of their scent. “I caught wind of my omega’s scent, my fated mate.”

“Are you sure? I mean, you know how rare those are. You sure it wasn’t just your senses playing up after the smoke inhalation?” 

Luffy shook his head. “No, I’m sure it was them.” He sniffed the air. “I can still smell their scent but it's not as strong as before. I need to find them.”

Ace clenched his jaw. “Luffy, you could’ve been killed. It was lucky that the fire didn’t spread any further and that I was there to get you out. Besides, you need to rest. You can’t go scampering about the hospital in search of your mate.”

“I don’t care! If my fated mate is here then I need to find them.” He took the heart rate monitor off his finger and pulled the needle out of his arm. He lunged himself off the bed and started heading toward the hallway.

Ace threw away his half-eaten apple and leapt out of his chair to chase after him. “Luffy, wait! You can’t just run off!” 

Luffy ran through the labyrinth like hallways and connecting corridors, his instincts priming him to follow the sweet floral scent that slowly grew stronger with every step. He didn’t know who you were. He didn’t even know if you were male or female. Honestly, he didn’t care. All that mattered was he had to find you.

Eventually he found himself caught at a dead end and only then did he realise that you weren’t on this floor. They must’ve moved you to a different part of the hospital. Luffy scrambled toward the elevator and pushed the button that led to the next floor. He would check every corner of this hospital if he had to. No matter how long it took.

After going up three more floors, Luffy smelt it. That delicate aroma permeated through the air, you were close. He followed your scent until it led him to the trauma ward. Luffy was familiar enough with hospitals to understand what kinds of patients were brought here and a sinking feeling grew in his stomach. 

He passed several rooms until finally, he stopped outside yours. Your scent almost completely encompassed him, wrapping itself around him like a silken sheet. He was about to step into the room when he caught wind of another darker scent. An alpha was with you. One with a rich forest-like scent, strongly contrasted to his own. He hesitated. What if you were already bonded to another alpha? What if you had already found your mate and he was intruding on another’s alpha’s territory? 

No, that couldn’t be true. This was fate. This was destiny. He couldn’t stop now. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and prowled into the room. There just past a curtain, lying fast asleep in a hospital bed was his omega. The alpha he noticed earlier was sitting at your bedside with a concerned look etched into his sharp features.

The other alpha whipped his head around to face Luffy, a pair of gleaming amber eyes met his own and the alpha stood up and took a step toward him. A warning. Luffy felt his hands shaking then and he carefully swallowed down the lump that formed in his throat.

The other alpha narrowed his eyes into slits and in a low timbre asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here because that omega is my fated mate. I caught wind of her scent earlier and I came up here to see her.”

The alpha scowled, “Is that so? Because this omega happens to be my fated mate and I don’t intend on letting any other unbonded alphas near her.” 

This guy sure was being territorial, more so than Luffy had initially expected. He took another look at you and this time he saw what had this other alpha so on edge. You were covered in a litany of dark bruises. A pair of hands had imprinted themselves into your neck and arms. There were rope burns around your wrists and a deep wound now tightly bandaged, was cut into your side.

Luffy’s heart pounded and his gut swelled with anger. He looked back at the other alpha and growled, “Who did this to her? I’ll kill them!” 

The other alpha’s expression sombered and he sat back down in his chair. “I found her like this. She was left in a grungy alleyway wounded and freezing to death. She told me that her alpha had hurt her by accident, that he was coming back for her after he got help. Suffice to say, I don’t think he was coming back.”

Luffy’s eyes widened and he looked back over at you. He stepped up closer to your bed, resting his hands on the foot railing. “An alpha did this? How could they possibly—” 

The other alpha shook his head. “I don’t know. She was so small and frightened. I can’t begin to imagine what she’s been through.” 

“But wait, if you’re her fated mate and I’m also her fated mate? What does that mean? Is that even possible?” 

“No. I’ve never heard of an omega having more than one fated mate. Besides, I found her first. Therefore, you should go.” 

Luffy’s gaze snapped back at the alpha and he clenched his fists. “Hey! Why should I have to leave? It’s not like she even knows you!” He felt the heat of his anger rising then, threatening his instincts to take over.

The alpha leapt out of his seat and stared down at Luffy. His woodsy scent filled the air. “She doesn’t know you either, dumbass! It’s not like either of us have properly staked our claim on her yet. It should be up to her which one of us she picks.” 

Luffy bared his fangs. “Oh yeah? Well I reckon she’ll pick me over someone like you!” 

The alpha scoffed. “What’s that supposed to mean? You don’t even know who I am!” 

He growled, “Maybe not but I at least know I would be a better mate for her than you!” 

The other alpha bared his teeth at Luffy. “Oh that’s it.” He lunged at Luffy, tackling him to the ground. 

Luffy landed harsh against the ground onto his back. He bit down hard into the other alpha’s shoulder eliciting a wince of pain from the other man. The alpha retaliated by sinking his teeth into Luffy’s arm and he fought to release the alpha’s tight grip. 

He wrestled with the alpha on top of him, struggling to get him to release his hold. “Let go of me!” 

The alpha pulled his teeth out of Luffy’s arm, blood now coated his mouth. He pinned Luffy down by his shoulders, digging his hands into his flesh. “Not until you swear to stay away from her!”

Panting, he quickly said, “Never! She’s my fated mate, my omega and you can’t stop me!” 

The other alpha smirked, a grotesque sight with the blood painted across his lips. “Oh yeah? Cause I seem to be doing a pretty good job of stopping you so far.”

Neither alphas seemed at all aware of their surroundings, caught in their rage, their scents filled the air with a heavy and foul smelling musk. Mixing and coalescing into one distinctly unpleasant odour. It wasn’t until the smell of something burning mixed in with their scents that they noticed anything had changed.

Luffy sniffed at the air. “Hey. Wait. Do you smell that?”

The alpha paused, slightly releasing his grip on Luffy and sniffed. “Smell what?” 

“It smells like something’s burning.” He remarked, still trying to uncover the source of the scent.

The man nodded. “You’re right.” He looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened.

“What is it?”

“She’s awake.”

Luffy looked past the other alpha’s shoulder and saw that you were in fact awake. You were sitting up on your bed, knees tucked tight against your chest. Your entire body was shaking, tears streaked down your flushed cheeks and Luffy thought then that he had never seen a more terrified omega.

What had they done?

Chapter Text

Bright fluorescent lights filled your vision. Your body felt heavy and cold. A strong, disgusting odour filled the air. It almost smelled like there was a bin full of rotting garbage somewhere. You felt nauseated from the thickness of it, coating the room with its unpleasantness. You knew this scent, somewhere nearby was an alpha and they were angry.

Your mind was harkened back to the times when your alpha would brutally lash out at you in anger. His hand tugging harshly on your hair or striking you across the face. Your heart raced at the memory, tears welled in your eyes. You slowly sat yourself up only to be met with the fierce gazes of two alphas, one having pinned the other to the floor. Fresh blood coated the taller alpha’s mouth and you instinctively shifted up the bed. Fear coursed through you, goosebumps raised along your skin.

You weren’t sure what had them so angry or what they were fighting about. All you were sure of was that you felt frightened and your first instinct was to go into a fawn response. You buried your head in your knees and choked out a sob. Your alpha still hadn’t come to find you. Maybe this time he really was done with you.

A few moments passed and then a low timbre voice spoke softly beside you. “Hey… hey. It’s okay. We’re not fighting anymore, you can look up now.” The scent in the air gradually shifted to something less abrasive, calming even. The alpha’s scent was woodsy, rich with pine and freshly fallen foliage. 

You looked up into a pair of honey coloured eyes, the blood had been wiped away from his lips leaving a faint red stain around his mouth. This was the alpha who had found you in that dark alleyway. He’s still here? 

“It’s you.”

The alpha nodded. “Do you know where you are?”

“I’m in a hospital. You brought me here.” You took another sniff of his scent and a wave of realization washed over you. This alpha standing next to you, he was your fated mate. The person you were destined to be with. You clutched your knees a little tighter. “You’re… my fated mate.”

He nodded again. “That’s right. It’s how I was able to find you. I’m sorry that you had to see that.”

You shook your head and glanced away. “It’s fine. Nothing I haven’t seen before.” You looked up. The other alpha stood a little further away, an unsure expression on his face. “Who are you?”

The alpha slowly approached the other side of your bed. The closer he got the more you noticed the salty, briny scent that he brought with him. He smelt like the sea, an ocean of calm waves. It was nice, you thought. 

He threaded a hand through the back of his hair and gave you a nervous grin. “My name is Monkey D Luffy. I’m your other fated mate.”

“Other?” You looked back at the first alpha. “Wait, you didn’t tell me your name.”

“My name is Trafalgar Law and yes, there are indeed two of us.” He eyes Luffy across the bed.

You shook your head and tucked into yourself. “This doesn’t make any sense. I can’t have two fated mates, I’m not supposed to have any…”

“What makes you say that?” Law asked.

You looked up at him, barely holding back your tears. “Because, there’s no way anyone would want me. Not even my alpha wanted me. He always told me how pathetic and useless I was as an omega.” Those last words stumbled out of you as the tears finally broke free and you cried into your hands.

No one said anything then. Your floral scent dulled and muted, the air in the room became quiet and still. You wanted to go home. You knew deep down that you didn’t deserve to have any alpha let alone two fated mates. There was no way any of this was real. This was some sort of trick, one of your alpha’s cruel mind games used to humiliate you.

Once your cries finally subsided you wiped away your tears. “It’s okay. You can go now and tell him that I’m thoroughly amused and he doesn’t have to keep up his game anymore.”

“What are you talking about? We came here by choice. Your alpha sounds super weird.” Luffy remarked.

You shook your head. “Kid isn’t weird. He just likes to play games with me sometimes.”

You sensed a subtle change in Law’s scent and glanced over at him. He had his arms stiff against his sides and was clenching his jaw. 

His eyes were narrowed and his voice was in an even deeper timbre than before, “Did you say Kid? As in Eustass Kid?” 

You nodded. “Yeah, he’s my alpha. Why? Have you heard of him?”

He averted his gaze. “Yeah. I’ve heard of him. Everyone has.”

Your ankle throbbed then and you winced at the pain. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Luffy asked, leaning over the bed’s guard rail.

You extended your leg out slightly, trying to alleviate the pain. “It’s my ankle, it hurts!” You cried.

Law sat down on a nearby stool and swivelled it close to the bed. “Let me have a look.” His words were firm and the sincerity in its gaze was reassuring. 

You silently nodded and threw the blankets off to reveal your bruised legs. Law gently cradled your ankle in his hand and inspected it. It was rather swollen and the skin was a deep shade of red. You couldn’t even remember how you had injured yourself. Law pressed his thumb and forefinger into your ankle and you cried at the pain.

“Sorry. I needed to check that it wasn’t numb. It’s only a minor sprain. You haven’t fractured it.” He let go of your ankle. “I’ll get a nurse to bandage it. You’ll need to stay off it for a few days.”

He stood up then and moved to leave. You reached your arm out and grabbed hold of his sleeve. “Hey, wait! When will I get to go home? I’m sure Kid is wondering where I am.” 

Law looked at you then, the seriousness of his gaze left you uneasy. “Dr. Marco wants to keep you here for a couple of days for observation.” He paused then and you took a short breath. Your heart raced, the way he carefully studied you made you feel like he was looking at you through a microscope. You wanted to retreat back in on yourself, hide away from those fierce amber eyes. “Then you’ll be coming back with me.”

You felt your entire body tense up and the room blurred around you. “What? No. I need to go back. Kid is looking for me. He’ll be mad when he realises how long I’ve been gone.”

He turned to face you, his eyes held barely concealed rage. The way his lips were pulled into a thin line and his scent slightly shifted to a more pungent odour revealed his true feelings. He was furious. 

You tried your hardest to keep yourself still. To not do or say anything that might enrage him further. You wanted to disappear then. Your entire body trembled from your nerves.

“I'm not letting you go back to him. Not after what he's done to you.” With that he turned and stalked off. 

o-o-o

To say that Law was angry would be an understatement. He was furious. It wasn't enough that you had been abandoned, freezing and wounded. Or that your alpha was the one responsible for your myriad of injuries. No, that alpha just had to be Eustass Kid. The leader of one of the most notorious underground crime syndicates in the city. He had a reputation and Law was all too familiar with the kinds of punishments Kid would deal out to those who crossed him. 

As a surgeon, Law had been responsible for treating countless of Kid's victims. Sometimes the damage was irreversible and other times the person would die as a result of their injuries.

Kid was beyond cruel, he was sick. He knew no mercy and had maintained a tight grip on the underground crime circuit. He was ruthless and it would seem that his brand of cruelty extended to you as well. 

There wasn't a chance in hell he would let you return to someone like that. Not to mention that he's one of your fated mates. The very thought alone of having to share you with another alpha upset him deeply. Most alphas and omegas were exclusive pairs. With how possessive and territorial some alphas can be with their mates, it's no surprise that polyamorous relationships were incredibly rare.

He found the nurses station and walked up to ask for assistance but he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Marco approaching.

“Law, I was just coming to check on your omega. Is everything alright?” He peered more closely at Law's face. “Is that blood?”

How did he even begin to explain what had happened between him and Luffy? Even he was still getting accustomed to the idea of an omega having two fated mates. He shifted his gait and glanced at the ground. What could he even say?

“No, it's not alright. She’s got a sprained ankle and I… got into a fight with another alpha.” He felt the heat rushing to his cheeks as he said it. Plenty of alphas had fought over a mate before but this was different, both him and Luffy were fated to be with you. The whole situation left him feeling uneasy.

Marco smirked. “About what exactly? I’ve never known you to get into fights.”

“There’s another alpha. He’s also her fated mate.”

His eyes danced with his amusement and his lips spread into a wide grin. “Two fated mates? You gotta be joking! There’s no way. I mean, what are the chances?”

Law shook his head. “I’m not joking. Neither of us is particularly happy about the situation.”

Marco let out a light chuckle. “Yeah we’re not exactly known for sharing, are we? How does the omega feel about this whole thing?”

Law let out an exasperated sigh, his shoulders rolled with the motion. “I’m not entirely sure. She still seems pretty insistent on going back to her alpha. I don’t think she’s really accepted things yet.”

He shrugged. “Well of course not. After what she’s been through, I’m hardly surprised. Let’s go and see how she’s doing.” He set off down the corridor back toward your room. 

Law followed along behind him, silently hoping that Luffy hadn’t yet stolen you away somehow. They were going to have to come to some kind of agreement about how best to handle things but for now, Law just wanted to make sure you were well enough to bring home.

o-o-o

Luffy watched Marco expertly bandage your foot, his precise and careful movements were clearly the result of years of medical training. Luffy knew first-aid and being a firefighter meant that the occasional minor injury was inevitable, but seeing you like this in such a weakened and wounded state tore him apart inside. His primal instincts wanted him to curl up into the bed alongside you and hold you in his arms, make you feel warm and safe. He wanted to more than anything but he also knew that would be crossing a line. It’s not what you needed at this moment.

Instead he watched and listened to Law and Marco go over your medical chart, assessing when you might be allowed to leave the hospital. It would seem Law had already made plans to take you back to his place. Which really pissed him off. How dare he go ahead and take you right out from under him like that? Doesn’t he get a say where you stay? If anything you would be safer with him, with Ace and Sabo around as well.

He looked down at you, you were staring off into space. You hadn’t said a word since Law left the room. He wondered what you were thinking about. Were you really missing Kid or was that just a result of his manipulation? You seemed intent on going back to him but there was no way Luffy would ever let Kid near you ever again. Law held a similar stance so they at least agreed on something.

“We can definitely discharge her in a couple of days. I want to run a psych evaluation as well while she’s here. As for where she’s going to stay afterward, I’ll leave that up to the three of you.” Marco’s voice was calm in a sea of chaos. Luffy had a feeling this was only the beginning of their troubles. 

“Thank you, Marco. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime, Law. If you need anything you know where to find me.” He left the room and disappeared into the corridor.

A lull of silence fell over them and Luffy quickly became agitated. He couldn’t bring himself to touch you, not while you were like this. He didn’t want Law to get you entirely to himself either. It just wouldn’t be fair.

“So, what happens now? Do we take turns or?” He asked nonchalantly. 

Law shot him a piercing gaze and growled. “Don’t talk about her that way! She’s not a toy, Luffy!” 

“Um… do I get a say in any of this?” You murmured.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Luffy growled back. “I just don’t think it's fair that you get to keep her all to yourself!” 

You raised your hand in the air slightly. “Um, guys. I don’t think—”

Law’s breathing became shallow. “I never said I would. But she should live with me, I’m a doctor. I know how to take care of her properly.”

“Guys please don’t fight.” Your eyes welled with tears.

Luffy huffed. “As if I wouldn’t take good care of her. If you’re gonna insist on her living with you then I only see one solution.”

Law folded his arms across his chest. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

“I move in with you! Then we can all be together!” Luffy flashed him a wide grin.

Law rolled his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. As if I would want the likes of you living with me. You’d just become a nuisance.”

“Hey, I’m not a nuisance! I’d be extra helpful!” 

“With what exactly? As far as I’m concerned you can barely tie your own shoes.”

Luffy let out a low growl. “You wanna go? Cause I’ll go.” He bared his teeth and tightened his grip on the guard rail.

He locked eyes with Law, anger and frustration boiling away inside him. He needed to release it, to assert his dominance. To prove that he was stronger, that he would be a better mate. He couldn’t let Law push him over, he needed to be the one you chose.

The smell of burnt tinder filtered through the air and infiltrated his lungs. He looked down and the furious haze he was in started to cool off. Sure he was angry and upset but seeing you like this, it saddened him. You were lying on the bed clutching your side. Your face was a hot molten mess of tears and your entire body was shaking. 

Law let out an exasperated sigh. “We can’t keep fighting like this, Luffy. It scares her. We need to come to some sort of agreement about how to proceed.”

Luffy frowned at your quivering form, the temptation to stroke your arm or clutch your hand was overwhelming. “You’re right. I still think I should come live with you. You’re an alpha too, so you should know how hard it is to be away from our mates. I don’t think she’d want to be apart from me either.”

“We can’t be selfish about this. We need to do what’s in her best interest. If that means we all live under one roof, then so be it.”

“What about Kid? Won’t he come looking for her?” Luffy asked, his eyes wide with concern.

“I doubt it. Even if he does, we'll protect her. We need to give her a safe space. Someplace that she feels is hers, a home.” 

That last word plucked at Luffy’s heartstrings. He considered whether you’d really ever had a home. The last place you stayed was a makeshift cardboard shelter in a dingy alleyway. Hardly a suitable place for anyone, least of all an omega. Alphas can take care of themselves and betas don’t have the same heat cycles as omegas do. So for you to be left like that… 

You shifted to sit yourself up and Luffy caught your gaze. “Wait… so I’m going to be living with you guys? Do I not get a say in any of this? I mean… I know you don’t want me going back to Kid.”

Law knelt down beside you. “It’s not that we don’t care about your feelings in all of this, we only want to keep you safe. You’ve been through so much, you deserve a fresh start.”

Luffy nodded. “That’s right. I promise that we won’t let anything else happen to you. Besides, I think you’ll like having us around.”

You looked down at your feet. “I don’t know… I hardly know the both of you even if you are my fated mates.”

“Which is why you can trust us. Give us the chance to prove ourselves at least.” Law smiled softly.

“Okay… but only if you agree not to fight anymore.”

They both nodded then.

“Then it’s settled. From here on, we’re together.”

Those words were music to Luffy’s ears. He couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of living with you, getting to know you better. He wanted to know everything about you from your favourite kinds of meat, to the way you smelled after first waking up, what your laugh sounded like. Everything. 

But more importantly than any of that, he wanted to know what it felt like to hold you in his arms, to nuzzle you and mark you with his scent and soon he would find out. The thought brought a smile to his face and as he looked down at you, for the first time you smiled back. A tiny little curl of your lips, so faint that you’d blink and miss it. Luffy saw it and he knew then that you truly were meant to be his.

Chapter Text

A few days later you were discharged from the hospital and Law brought you back to his apartment. Luffy joined you, with a small suitcase in tow. You weren’t sure how you were going to go about living with not one, but two alphas. Both of whom seemed all too eager for your company. 

The moment you crossed the threshold into Law’s apartment you immediately noticed how immaculate the place was. Every surface was pristine and free of clutter, the decor was carefully thought out in a minimalist style with shades of sage, grey and white. To the right of the entry was an extravagant kitchen fitted out with the latest appliances. 

Bright lights lit up the room, drenching the space in a soft golden glow. Directly in front of you was the open living space, flanked by floor to ceiling windows giving a spectacular view of the city’s nighttime skyline. Kid’s city. You knew that somewhere out there he was looking for you and it was only a matter of time before he did.

At least for now you could rest a little. You didn’t want to get too comfortable. Deep down you knew that at any moment Kid could come bursting through that door and take you back. It didn’t even feel remotely like a possibility. It was a certainty. 

Law led you through to a spare bedroom with a single bed and a small closet, not that you owned any clothes. Everything you had was back at Kid’s hideout. You wondered how many nights of undisturbed sleep you would get before everything went back to normal.

You took a seat on the bed. You were exhausted. Before you were allowed to leave the hospital they performed some sort of evaluation. It took forever and they asked an endless series of questions, many of which you didn’t have the answers to. Law and Luffy had been asked to stay outside so you couldn’t even turn to them for support.

Law kneeled down in front of you, his musky, woodsy scent brought a little bit of comfort. A part of you wanted more but you didn’t know how to ask. You wondered what Law’s hands would feel like against your skin. Would they be soft or hard? Would he touch you gently or would he be firm? Whenever Kid touched you it was rough and often painful. You shut your eyes and tried to push him from your mind.

“Hey, I know you’re probably tired so why don’t you sleep in here tonight? I’ve left some clothes on the bed for you to sleep in.” He gestures at the small bundle of clothing beside you. “In the morning I’ll make us all some breakfast. Does that sound okay?” His voice was smooth and despite the low timbre of it you appreciated him softening his tone.

You gave him a silent nod of approval.

“Alright then, try to get some sleep.” He got up and shut the door behind him. 

You crawled under the covers and closed your eyes. You weren’t sure how long you’d be allowed to stay here. Everything had happened so fast. Law finding you, then Luffy and then them immediately agreeing to live with you in this apartment. It was all too much. 

You picked up and inspected the clothes Law had left you. The t-shirt felt soft and faintly smelled of a forest after a storm. Law’s woodsy scent clung to the garment and soothed your nerves. You pulled the shirt on and crawled into bed. The sheets had an almost clinical scent, one that you didn’t find appealing. 

You curled yourself up into a ball, the first tears slew down your cheeks quickly followed by several more. You thought about where you used to sleep, how cold the ground was beneath you. How Kid didn’t even leave you with a scrap of material with his scent on for you to sleep with. Whenever night fell and Kid was done with you for the day, you were left alone. The first time you had sought his affection was the last. You never dared ask for anything more.

You tossed and turned in the sheets. The fabric cool beneath your skin, your pillow plush beneath your head. You lied there and whimpered quietly into your pillow as you cried yourself to sleep.

o-o-o

It hadn’t been long since Law left you to sleep in the spare bedroom and already he could tell that you were upset. Your scent had dulled and even began to emit a slight twinge of something burning. It took everything in him to fight the instincts telling him to go back in there and comfort you. He wanted to, he truly did, but he also knew you needed space. 

He forced himself to move away from your bedroom door and back into the living room where Luffy was waiting. 

“You can smell it too, huh?” He poked his head up over the back of the sofa. 

Law nodded. “Yeah. There’s nothing we can do about it though.”

“There is, but you want to leave her alone. Don’t you?” Luffy’s eyes were wide and sad.

“I don’t want to but it’s probably for the best that we give her a little time to warm up to us. She only just got here.” Law more closely studied Luffy’s face, dark circles had formed under his eyes. Neither of them had slept much in the past few days. “Will you be alright sleeping on the couch?”

“Yeah. I’ll be right. Get some sleep, Torao.”

Law narrowed his gaze. “What?”

He tilted his head. “It’s your name, isn’t it?” 

“No. My name is Trafalgar Law.”

“Right. Torao.” 

Law sighed. “Whatever. Just get some sleep.”

Law wandered into his bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind him. He took off his shirt and collapsed into the bed. As he was lying there he wondered what it would be like to share his bed with you and maybe even Luffy too. You could be curled up, nestled in between the two of them as they showered you with affection or held you close. You would feel so safe and warm he reckoned, being bundled up between two alphas. 

Before he could imagine for too much longer what sort of scenarios that could play out in his bed with you and Luffy, Law closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

o-o-o

Luffy woke up the next morning to the smell of pancake batter sizzling away in the kitchen. His stomach let out a low growl of discomfort and he pulled himself off the sofa. Law was standing over the stove, making breakfast. A freshly brewed pot of coffee was sitting on the counter and the table was set for three. It was only his first morning living with you and Law but everything about it just felt right.

The door to your bedroom opened and you groggily shuffled toward the kitchen. Your soft, daisy scent wafted through the apartment. It was pleasing to his senses and made Luffy sprint across the living room toward you. Your eyes were only half open and you were wearing one of Law’s t-shirts. The hem of the shirt sat just above your knees, leaving your legs bare. Your hair was tangled and a tiny bit of drool clung to the side of your mouth. You looked adorable. 

He caught a faint whiff of Law’s scent from the t-shirt. A part of him felt envious of you wearing the other alpha’s clothes. He wanted to see you wearing one of his hoodies, with his scent. Law had beat him to it. 

Luffy fought the urge to pull you into his arms and nuzzle your neck. There were many aspects of his life where he held no self-control but for you he would remain patient. No matter how much his alpha instincts were pushing him.

“Hey, did you sleep okay?” He hoped his scent was calming to you, with his and Law’s mixing and tangling together he wasn’t sure if you could distinguish between the two.

You gave a light nod and yawned. “Yeah… I guess so.”

Law stepped away from the stove for a moment to greet you. Luffy felt his alpha urges flare, he wanted to step in front of you, to assert himself as the dominant but he didn’t. Him and Law needed to learn to share you after all. He grit his teeth as he watched Law get close to you all the while fighting his baser instincts.

“Why don’t you go and sit at the table? Breakfast will be ready soon.” Law said calmly. The other alpha was being so gentle with you. He wondered if Law spoke to everyone that way or if it was something he reserved for his mates.

You walked off toward the dining table and what you did next rattled Luffy to his core. He wouldn’t have believed it if he didn’t witness it himself. He watched you sit down but not at the dining table as expected. You plopped yourself down on the floor, next to the chair at the head of the table. Your head lowered and your hands placed on the floor in front of you. Luffy froze, his heart clenched so hard inside his chest he thought it would stop. His lungs couldn’t find air, tears swelled in his eyes. 

He looked over his shoulder at Law, his eyes were wide and his body was still. The pancakes continued to sizzle away in the pan. They exchanged a brief look but neither of them knew what to do. It was clear what this meant and the thought itself made Luffy want to rip his own heart out if it meant he could undo all the pain that was inflicted on you.

He took a few careful steps in your direction before kneeling down beside you. He wasn’t sure what to say but he had to think fast. He couldn’t leave you sitting on the floor like this. 

“Hey, um, you don’t need to sit on the floor. You can come sit at the table with us.” He smiled, doing his best to maintain an air of calm despite the raging storm of anger that brewed inside him.

You furrowed your brow, fresh tears brimming around your eyes. “I don’t? But Kid always—”

“Don’t worry about what Kid used to do. You’re with us now and that means you sit on a chair and eat at the table with everyone else.” He beamed a bright grin at you then, hoping that he came across as sincere.

You bit down on your lip. A few tears broke free and coated your cheeks. After a minute you got up and moved to sit in one of the chairs. Luffy walked back into the kitchen and gave Law a baffled look.

“We’ll talk about this later.” He whispered. “For now let’s just enjoy breakfast.”

It was strange he thought, to be eating breakfast in a stranger’s dining room across from his fated mate. Despite his deep connection to you, Luffy hardly knew Law. From what he could gather he was some kind of doctor, with a paycheck big enough to afford a fancy apartment overlooking the city.

Law also came across to Luffy as very guarded. He didn’t seem all that eager to talk about himself. What sort of life Law had lived prior to meeting him was a total mystery. All he knew was that he and Law were now responsible for one very timid omega. Luffy couldn’t begin to fathom what sort of hell you’d lived through with Kid. One thing was for sure though, Luffy desperately wanted to show you the kind of treatment you deserved.

Luffy watched Law put a fat stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes down in front of you. He’d never seen anyone look more nervous to eat. It was as if you were waiting for one of them to snatch away your plate or shove it into your face. The furrow of your brow, the way your lip trembled and the faint burning scent that hung about in the air made Luffy’s alpha instincts go into a frenzy. He wanted to climb across the table and pull you into his arms, keep you against him until all your worries and fears melted away. 

Instead he picked up his knife and fork and began devouring what he then realised were some pretty amazing pancakes. A few minutes passed and he occasionally glanced up at you. It didn’t seem to matter that the pancakes were delicious. You had barely touched them. You held your fork idly in your hand and stared at your plate. If you were this anxious doing something as mundane as having breakfast, Luffy wondered how you would ever recover.

“It’s alright. Go ahead and eat. I can make more if you’re still hungry.” Law’s voice broke the silence. 

He looked back at you. You picked up your knife and began awkwardly cutting up your food. For a brief moment Luffy felt relieved. You were finally going to eat. Then you took one tiny morsel of food into your mouth and… put your cutlery back down. 

Luffy clenched his jaw. A burning wave of frustration rose within him, he growled at you. “You need to eat! Aren’t you hungry?”

Law’s nostrils flared and he gave Luffy a fierce glare. “Don’t talk to her that way!” 

When Luffy looked back at you he saw that your arms had disappeared beneath the table and you were now staring at the floor. Guilt twisted in his gut, he felt awful. 

“I didn’t mean it like that! I’m just worried is all. You hardly ate while in the hospital and…” Luffy stared at your small frame. It was no question that you were malnourished. He lowered his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.”

You wiped your eyes and looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to having this much food so freely given to me.”

Luffy wanted to ask what you meant by that but you already looked so upset and distressed, he didn’t want to push the issue. He curled his lips into a soft smile. “Don’t worry about it. Just eat, if you can.”

You picked up your utensils and slowly picked away at your food. After what felt like an eternity you had eaten roughly half of the pancakes. He hoped that you had eaten your fill and weren’t deliberately denying yourself more for fear of retribution. You concealed your emotions behind a mask of indifference. Luffy would’ve given anything to see you smile just once.

“How do you feel about a bath?” Law asked. “The hospital gave me some clothes for you to change into as well.” 

Your previously stony expression was replaced by the apprehension Luffy saw earlier. It was then he realised that no matter what they asked you to do, there would always come a look of unease, of uncertainty. He didn’t yet fully understand why but a cold anger continued to seethe deep inside of him.

You averted your gaze and mumbled. “Okay.”

Law got up and led you into his bathroom, leaving Luffy alone to stew with his thoughts.

o-o-o

While breakfast hadn’t gone entirely to plan, Law was at least relieved that you ate some of the pancakes he gave you. That didn’t stop him from worrying about you though. The way you had so naturally sat down on the floor, your initial hesitation to eat and how you’d reacted to Luffy yelling at you were all telltale signs that you’d been severely abused. To what extent Kid had traumatised you, Law wasn’t quite sure. He only hoped that a bath would allow you to relax and feel refreshed.

He stepped into his ensuite bathroom and you followed in quietly after him. He leaned over and turned on the taps, water slowly filled the tub and a cloud of steam formed in the air. He turned away from the bathtub to face you and that’s when you pounced.

You were on your knees and had your hands gripped tightly onto the waistband of his pants when you began forcefully tugging them down. Law’s heart raced. His mind went completely blank while he watched you pull his pants down. After a few seconds he felt himself jolt back into reality. 

“Hey-hey-hey! Stop!” He wrapped his hands around your wrists. “Stop that!” His words came out in short bursts and he couldn’t hide his panicked tone. 

You ignored him and started pulling on his boxers.

Law snarled. Things were spiraling out of control. “Cut it out! I told you to stop!” He tightened his grip and pushed you away. You fell backward onto the tile, your eyes wide with fear.

He pulled up his pants and took a minute to catch his breath. What had just happened? He was just trying to run you a bath. You looked so small down on the ground beneath him, he wondered if you felt intimidated by his height. Did it remind you of Kid in some way?

He crouched down in front of you and let out a deep, weary exhale. “Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” His heart was still pounding and he was still trying to process but he needed to understand.

You sat yourself up onto your knees and started at the floor. “I was trying to thank you.”

“I’m going to need a bit more of an explanation than that.” 

You kept your eyes on the floor and clenched your fists. “You fed me and now you’re running me a bath. Whenever those sorts of things happen I’m expected to thank my alpha properly.”

A mixture of confusion and despair swelled inside of him. He felt beyond horrified at what had happened and disturbed by how quickly you had acted. It was trained behaviour. Kid had disciplined you into being his obedient little omega. He couldn’t let this continue.

“Look at me.” You hesitated for a moment, your eyes flicking up a few times before you finally met his gaze. “You don’t ever need to thank me for anything. Least of all by doing… that. Do you understand?”

You nodded. “I understand. How do you wish for me to act then?”

A lump caught in his throat at the sound of your words. “I don’t need you to act like anything. Just try to remember that Luffy and I are not Kid. We don’t expect you to behave like we are.”

Hot wet tears rolled down your cheeks and you started sniffling. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do! I’m worried you’ll think I’m a bad omega, that I’m not good for anything and then you’ll punish me like he did!” 

The thick scent of burning tinder filled the air. Law couldn’t fight his instincts any longer. His omega was sitting on the bathroom floor in a state of distress. He moved in closer and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in tight against your chest. He gently stroked your back and planted a tender kiss on your head. 

“Shhh. It’s alright. You’re okay, I’ve got you.” He lovingly patted your head while you cried in his arms. It was the first time since he found you that he allowed himself to be this close with you. All the turmoil you’d experienced up until now, it was all leading to this. Sooner or later you were going to break and Law knew he’d be there to pick up the pieces.

The sound of footsteps approaching and a salty scent alerted Law to Luffy’s presence. He looked to the doorway to find Luffy standing there, his hand pressed against the frame.

“What happened? Is she alright?” He pushed off the doorframe and came in closer, filling the space with his briny scent.

Even with Luffy right next to you, Law noticed that you didn’t pull away or release your grip on his t-shirt. You kept your head burrowed against his chest. He wondered if having two alphas around was overwhelming for you, two sets of scents in constant competition with one another.

He lazily stroked your head a few more times before gently pushing you away. You whimpered at the loss of contact and Law’s heart clenched. You really were so incredibly touch-starved, when was the last time an alpha had comforted you like this?

You finally turned to face Luffy, your face flushed and lips pouted. Luffy got down on his knees in front of you and cupped your cheek with his hand. He lovingly caressed you, his dark brown eyes full of concern. 

“Hey… it’s okay.” He opened his arms. “Come here.” You leaned into his embrace, resting your head against his chest. He wrapped his arms tight around your trembling body and babbled comforting words into your ear. “You’re okay, my little omega. It’s alright.”

Law’s alpha instincts roared at him to pull you away from Luffy, to be possessive of you and not let another alpha anywhere near you. In truth, he had deliberately pushed you into Luffy’s arms. If this arrangement was going to work then they both needed to show you love and compassion. You needed to feel comforted by them both. No matter what his instincts might say otherwise.

After a few minutes Luffy let go of you and you stared up at him with an uncertain gaze. Your tears may have subsided but the room still felt thick with tension and the burning scent was only beginning to dissipate. 

“Why don’t you have a bath? I promise you’ll feel heaps better.” He grinned.

You nodded and Luffy got up, leaving you and Law alone.

“I’ll be just out there if you need anything. Take your time.” Law got up then and shut the bathroom door behind him.

He breathed out a deep sigh of relief. It had been nothing but a storm of chaos since you and Luffy arrived. He needed time to process everything, he was only now putting together a clearer picture of what kind of abuse had occurred. More importantly however, he needed to talk with Luffy and tell him what had happened in the bathroom.

He just hoped that things would begin to settle down. He would need to return to work soon, Luffy as well. Their jobs were too important for them to take an extended leave of absence, which meant someone else would have to stay here and look after you. A problem he would deal with later.

Chapter Text

Luffy was in the living room, examining Law’s collection of movies, wondering whether maybe later they should sit down and watch something together. It had been a heavy few days; a quiet movie night sounded nice.

The thought barely settled before Law stepped out of the bedroom.

“I need to talk to you.” 

“Okay… what’s wrong?”

Law averted his gaze briefly before staring into Luffy’s eyes. He could sense that whatever had happened in the bathroom had upset Law. To the point where even his scent smelt off, it was more muted than before. 

“I was running her a bath,” he began slowly, “ and when I turned back around she… she was trying to take my pants off.” 

“She what!”

“Not so loud, idiot,” he hissed, eyes narrowing. “She can probably still hear us.”

Luffy froze, wide-eyed and then mumbled, “Sorry.”

“She was pulling my pants down and I told her to stop but she just kept going. Then she tried to take my underwear off.”

He drew in a sharp breath. “Why would she do that?” 

“To thank me,” Law said bitterly. “Apparently, she thought she needed to repay me for taking care of her. When I told her she didn’t have to, she panicked, said she was a bad omega, that she’d be punished.” He exhaled heavily, “I knew something was off when I found her, but I didn’t realize it was this deep.”

Luffy knitted his brow. “Kid really did a number on her. It’s like she’s brainwashed or something.” 

“That’s exactly what it is. He’s beaten her into submission and now she thinks she has to keep acting like an obedient little omega or we'll punish her. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. I have to return to work tomorrow and I can’t leave her here by herself.”

Luffy scratched the back of his head and glanced down at the floor. “I mean I could take care of her when I’m not on call or on shift.”

“And when we’re both gone?” Law countered. “I often work sixteen hour shifts at the hospital and it's not like I can come home when I’m in the middle of surgery.”

He shook his head. “You think she really needs someone watching her all the time? I mean, she is an adult.” 

“She does right now, she’s too vulnerable. I’ll ask Shachi and Penguin to help. Their shifts rotate, so maybe between the four of us we can manage something.”

Luffy nodded slowly. “If that’s what you think’s best. So… what about today?”

“She needs rest,” Law replied. “And after what just happened, we’ll have to be careful. It’s going to take time for her to unlearn everything he drilled into her.”

“Then why don’t we just relax for a bit? Watch a movie?”

Law sighed, “Sure. I’ll call Penguin and see if he can come by in the morning.”

Luffy returned his attention to Law’s movie collection and searched for something to watch. He just hoped that you would be feeling better after your bath. He wondered if you’d snuggle up close to him or Law on the couch, let them be close to you. He wanted it more than anything but also didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. Maybe soon you would feel more settled and he wouldn’t have to worry so much.

He picked out a movie and got everything set up. Now he was just waiting for you, fidgeting with his fingers, anticipation building within while he waited on the sofa. A few minutes later Law returned to the living room.

“Penguin will be here tomorrow to keep an eye on her.”

“That’s great.” Luffy frowned slightly. “Wait, he’s not another alpha, right?”

He shook his head. “No. He’s an omega, Shachi is as well. There shouldn’t be any issues but he’ll call me if there is.”

“Is she okay? She’s been in the tub for a while now.”

“I’ll go check on her.” Law turned and headed back down the hall.

Left alone, Luffy leaned back against the couch cushions. He didn’t like the thought of leaving you tomorrow, but there wasn’t much choice. All he could do was hope that, with time, you’d start to feel safe again.

o-o-o

The sound of someone knocking on the bathroom door startled you to attention. You were sitting on the bathroom floor, wrapped in a towel. Your hair was soaking wet, goosebumps were raised along your exposed skin and the cold tile sent shivers through you.

“It’s Law.”

You weren’t sure how to respond. You had been sitting on the floor for awhile now, unsure what to do once the bath was over. You couldn’t remember the last time you were left alone for this long, it felt strange.

“Are you decent? Can I come in?” 

What did he mean by decent? Was he expecting you to still be in the bath? A pulse of fear coursed through, worry wormed its way into your already anxious mind and you kept yourself still. Maybe if you stayed quiet he would go away and leave you alone. 

“I’m coming in.”

The door creaked open. Law stepped inside, scanning the room before his gaze settled on you. You took a scant breath and pushed yourself backwards up against the bathroom cupboard. You looked away, your body trembling.

He crouched down in front of you. “Hey-hey it’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong.”  His voice was low and steady, almost enough to melt the fear from your chest. “There’s no need to be scared.”

Despite his reassurances you kept yourself small and sequestered. When nothing happened a wave of confusion rushed through you. You lifted your gaze to meet his.

He was staring at you with that same penetrating gaze, his eyes filled with such genuine concern. His calming, woodsy scent seemed to wrap itself around you, bringing you off the brink of despair. You liked how Law smelled but you didn’t like how it affected you. You always felt so vulnerable around him, like he was trying to lower your defenses.

“Can you tell me why you’re sitting here like this?”

You stared blankly at the bathroom tiles and felt a few more drops of water fall against your skin before finally you spoke, “I was waiting for you to…”

Law furrowed his brow, his eyes searched yours while the weight of the unspoken words settled over him. He shook his head. “You mustn’t think like that. I came to see if you were alright.”

“Oh… I see. So you don’t want me then? Am I not wanted?” Tears fell freely down your face and your chest felt tight.

“Of course I want you. You’re my omega. I just wouldn’t do anything unless you wanted me to.” He cupped your face with his hand, gently stroking your cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Right now you’re still so fragile and you need time to get better. We can worry about this later. For now, why don’t you get dressed and join us out in the living room?”

You gave him a hurried nod. 

“There’s some clean clothes on the counter behind you. When you’re ready, put them on and come out to the living room.” He gave you a gentle smile before getting up and leaving the room. 

With Law and Luffy both hardly touching you and showing such clear restraint toward you, a part of you felt like you were doing something wrong. Kid would’ve had you multiple times by now, until you were so physically and emotionally spent you were unable to speak. An uneasiness settled into your gut while you picked yourself up off the floor. 

While you were relieved that they weren’t showing you the same harsh treatment he did, you felt a little undesired. They had been so careful with how much physical affection they showed you. You wanted more of it, you were desperate for their touch but you didn’t know how to express that. Expressing your wants, your feelings or even your needs hadn’t been encouraged. Not that any of those things mattered. You were a vessel for Kid’s pent up rage or lust and nothing more.

Law and Luffy were giving you a second chance at a different kind of relationship, a different kind of life to the one you’ve known. You wanted to embrace it but the pain that gnawed at your heart held you down. You wanted to muster up the courage to feel the warmth of their bodies against yours, to tell them how badly you longed for their touch.

You got dressed into a fresh set of clothes, a t-shirt made of soft cotton and a pair of pants that were slightly too long. The hems dragged along the floor, the material was loose around your legs. You were grateful for such comfortable clothing. It was a nice change.

You left the bathroom and wandered out into the living room where Luffy and Law were waiting.

o-o-o

A wave of relief washed over Law when you finally stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in fresh clothes and the faint scent of soap. Your damp hair clung to your cheeks, and though your skin was clean, your eyes were heavy with exhaustion.

“Feeling any better?” Law asked softly.

You hesitated before nodding, shifting your weight.

Luffy eagerly patted the couch cushion beside him and gave you a wide grin. “C’mon. We left you space, see?”

You crossed the room with cautious steps and sat yourself down in between them. 

Law studied your expression. The dark circles that hung beneath your eyes, you looked exhausted. He exchanged a look with Luffy, who gave a small, understanding nod.

“Hey,” Luffy said gently, “You can tell us what you need, okay? Anything.”

You looked between them both, fidgeting with your hands. “I just… I want to be touched,” you whispered. “But not in a way that hurts.”

Anger and concern rose in Law’s chest. The instinct to reach for you surged through him but he forced himself to move slowly, deliberately. “That’s alright,” he said. “We can just be close. Nothing else.”

You gave a trembling nod.

Luffy shifted first, inching closer until his shoulder brushed yours. “Like this?” he asked.

You tensed at the contact, then gradually relaxed. Your breathing steadied.

Law stayed where he was, simply watching the two of you. Every movement, every breath told him that you were still so fragile. 

When your head finally tilted, resting against Luffy’s shoulder, Law let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“You’re safe here,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Tears clung to your lashes, “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”

“Nothing,” Luffy replied. “Just watch the movie. Just… be.”

The film began to play. As the minutes passed, the tension in your shoulders melted. Law settled in closer until his arm rested behind you along the couch. He didn’t touch you, but his warmth was there, a steady presence if you wanted it.

Halfway through the movie, your head slid from Luffy’s shoulder onto Law’s chest. Neither of them moved or spoke. They only exchanged another look, one that held an unspoken promise.

When the credits rolled, you were fast asleep, your breathing calm and even.

Luffy whispered, “Didn’t think she’d drift off so soon.”

Law murmured. “It’s the first time she’s felt safe enough to.”

He lifted you off the couch and carried you down the hall. In the quiet of your room, he laid you on the bed and pulled the blanket over you.

For a long moment he stood there, watching the gentle rise and fall of your chest. The shadows on your face had softened, peace replacing the strain he’d seen for days.

“Sleep well,” he whispered. “You deserve that much.”

He turned off the light and closed the door behind him, the faint sound of your steady breathing lingering in his ears like a promise that maybe, just maybe, he could help you heal.

o-o-o

Night had fallen, and the smell of Law’s cooking filled the room. A fresh pot of soup simmered on the stove. Luffy wondered why you hadn’t woken up yet. Law had put you to bed hours ago.  Worry gnawed at him as he stared at your closed door.

He got up and grabbed the doorknob. 

“Luffy, what are you doing?” 

“I’m gonna wake her,” Luffy said. “She’s been asleep all day. She’ll be hungry.”

He idly stirred a wooden spoon through the pot of soup. “Let her rest. She’ll wake when she’s ready.”

“You don’t always get to decide what’s best for her! She’s my omega too!”

“Not so loud, idiot,” Law snapped, finally looking up. “I’m a doctor. I know what I’m talking about.”

Luffy hated the way he said that, like he was the only one who understood anything. “Yeah? Being a doctor doesn’t mean you get to boss me around.”

He turned the knob, but before he could push the door open, Law’s hand clamped around his wrist.

“Don’t,” Law growled. “She’s still scared. You barging in there won’t help.” His gaze sharpened. “Tell me the truth, Luffy. You’ve never been with an omega before, have you?”

“Of course I have.”

“Don’t lie. I can smell it.”

He ripped his arm away, scowling. “Fine. But if she misses dinner, I’m blaming you.”

He stomped back to the couch. His chest felt tight.

A few moments later, the door creaked open. You stepped out, sleepy and soft-looking. Your scent permeated through the air, that same sweet floral smell that made his head go light. Law was already there, of course, leaning close to steady you.

Luffy’s hands curled into fists. It wasn’t fair that he got to have your attention so much lately. You should’ve been falling asleep against his chest, nuzzling your face into him while he stroked your back. He wanted to show you he could be gentle too, that he could be better than Law.

Dinner came and went. He barely tasted the soup after the third bowl. You looked half-asleep again, blinking slowly. Luffy resisted the urge to scoop you into his arms and make you sleep on the sofa with him. He wanted to tuck you in but Law beat him to it. Once again, stealing you away before he even had the chance. 

When the lights went out, he stayed on the couch, wrapped in his blanket. He told himself he’d get used to it. He had to.

But as he closed his eyes, your scent lingered in the air, soft and dizzying and it made his heart ache.

o-o-o

The sharp scent of smoke pulled Luffy from sleep. He gingerly rubbed at his eyes as he sat himself up on the sofa. For a moment, he thought something was burning but the room was dark, quiet. Then he realised it wasn’t smoke. It was you. That same burning scent he’d caught at the hospital, now stronger, almost choking.

His chest tightened. Something was wrong.

He slipped off the couch and padded towards your bedroom, taking light steps along the floor. When he reached your bedroom door, the scent infiltrated his lungs. Luffy took a deep breath and opened the door, wearily stepping inside.

You were lying in your bed, shaking and trembling. Quiet, pained whimpers fell from your mouth. Your skin was coated in a thin veneer of sweat and you were whispering something that made his heart drop.

“No, Kid, please…” 

Luffy’s heart ached at the sight of your sleeping form and how frightened you looked even while you were asleep. 

He took another tentative step closer and stopped beside your bed. He reached out his hand and stroked the side of your face. “It’s alright, little omega. I’m here. You’re okay.”

You didn’t respond. Your breathing stayed ragged, body tense. Instinct told him what to do. He picked up the edge of the doona and slid in next to you. Your body was warm and your skin was soft, but your whimpers and cries still pulled at him. 

He wrapped an arm around you and held you close, gently stroking your head. “Shh… it’s okay. You don’t need to be scared.”

A few more minutes passed, your body was tense in his embrace. You kept crying out Kid’s name and every time you did Luffy saw red. 

Still, he held you tighter.  “Please, please wake up. I’m right here. It’s me, Luffy. Your alpha.”

After a few more agonizing minutes of whimpers and cries your eyes blinked open, puffy and red from your tears. Luffy’s heart sank at the sight of your distressed state. 

“Luffy… alpha…” You murmured.

Luffy caressed your cheek. “That’s right. I’m here, little omega. Your alpha’s here.”

You looked down, biting on your lip you quietly said, “I’m sorry if I woke you up. It was just a nightmare. You can go now if you want.”

Luffy’s breath caught in his throat. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to keep you safe. Do you not want me to stay here and hold you like this?” 

You nodded. “I do… I want you to stay. You smell so good.” You pressed your face against his chest and closed your eyes. Luffy’s heart swelled. You were his.

“You can rest easy now, I’m not going anywhere.”

o-o-o

Law awoke the next morning to the irate sound of his alarm. He hit snooze once, then again. His body begged for more sleep but he relented. He had surgeries to perform. With a groan, he sat himself up and rubbed a hand across his face. For a second he imagined you were here too, to snuggle against him, to hold in his arms. Then he sighed, pushed the thought aside and got up.

The living room was quiet. Luffy’s blanket was hastily strewn across the couch. That was strange. Law’s heart paced a little faster as he crossed the room and opened your door.

You were still asleep but not alone. Luffy’s arm was draped protectively around you, his head tucked near yours.

Law froze. He didn’t know how it had happened. He didn’t care. Everything about it was wrong.

“Luffy,” he said quietly, “it’s time to get up.”

Luffy stirred, eyes half-open. “Too early,” he muttered. “She’s finally sleeping. Let her rest.”

Law walked to the window and pulled the curtains open. Morning light spilled in, sharp and golden. Both of you blinked awake.

You rubbed your eyes, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Law said. “It’s just morning.”

Luffy stretched, already scowling. “You didn’t have to wake her.”

“I needed to wake you,” Law replied evenly. “And I’d prefer you didn’t make a habit of sleeping in her bed.”

“That’s not your call,” Luffy shot back.

Law folded his arms, “Actually, it is. It’s my apartment, and we’re supposed to be keeping things calm for her.”

Luffy stood, bristling. “You think I scared her? She was having a nightmare. I was helping.”

Law looked at you, saw the small shake of your shoulders, the way your hands fisted in the blanket. His voice softened. “Is that true?”

You nodded. “I… I couldn’t wake up. But Luffy held me, and it helped.”

Law exhaled slowly. “Then I’m glad he was there,” he said quietly.

You gave a small smile.  “I appreciate it.” You glanced down at the bed. “My other alpha, he wasn’t… overly affectionate.” You smiled again then but Law could see that your eyes held so much of the pain you were trying to hide. 

The idea of an alpha not being affectionate with their omega was absurd. Especially with one as cute and timid as you appeared to be. It just didn’t make sense.

Luffy frowned. “I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t he—”

Law quickly shot him a stern look and then turned his attention to you. “We understand. You don’t need to worry about that anymore. Luffy and I are here to take care of you but given what’s occurred maybe our current sleeping arrangements aren’t working out after all.”

“Would you prefer it if I slept on the floor?” You asked innocently, your wide eyes full of apprehension.

“No.” They quickly said in unison. 

Law briefly glanced at Luffy, locking eyes with the other alpha and wondered if it was time to take more immediate action. They hadn’t discussed anything but he hoped that Luffy upon hearing the idea would agree to it. Your comfort and safety was paramount after all. 

“I think that maybe all three of us should share a bed. That way, nobody misses out.”

Your eyes widened and your mouth fell agape. “You want me in your bed, alpha? With Luffy as well? But I-I’ve never shared a bed with an alpha before…” You cast your eyes down toward the bed.

Law felt his chest tighten. His heart clenched. The lack of proper care that had been shown to you by your previous alpha was unnerving. To think that all this time your most basic needs had been so sorely neglected. Being forced to sleep on the floor, away from your alpha and from any sense of security or warmth. It was unthinkable. It was downright cruel.

“Don’t worry about that. Torao and I will make sure you’re nice and cosy with us.” Luffy beamed at you.

Your eyes darted between them and then you softly nodded your head. “I suppose we could give it a try. Is your bed big enough for the three of us?”

Law gave you a smug smirk. “Of course it is. A bed large enough to accommodate my height will also be big enough for all of us. I’ll make sure there’s enough pillows and blankets later. For now, Luffy and I need to get ready for work. Penguin should be here soon.”

With that he rose off the bed and turned towards the door. “I’ll get started on breakfast.” 

o-o-o

You wandered out of the bedroom to find Law was busy cooking a batch of omelettes. The delicious smell filled the kitchen and lured you in closer. You wanted to make yourself useful but you weren’t sure how. Luffy was busy getting dressed and packed for the day. He was pulling on his uniform and that’s when you realised you’d never asked him what he did for work.

Luffy’s dark brown eyes locked with yours and he grinned. “Do you like my uniform, omega? Pretty cool, huh?” 

“It has so many layers, where do you work that requires so much clothing?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I work at the local fire station. My brother Ace and I are firefighters.”

You felt yourself shaking slightly on the spot. “That sounds dangerous.” You murmured.

“Yeah, it is. But it's a real important job and someone has to do it. Torao’s job is real important too shi-shi-shi.” 

You spun around to face Law and before you could ask he gave you a sideways glance and quickly uttered. “I’m a surgeon.”

You returned to the kitchen. Every clang of metal or scrape of pan made you flinch. You fiddled with your hands, they felt clammy and your chest too tight. 

“Is there anything I can help with?”

Law gave you a soft smile and replied, “Yeah. Can you grab some plates out of that cupboard?” He pointed up at one of the cupboards just above your head.

You reached up, balancing on your toes and reached for a plate, trying to be careful. You pulled one plate, then another. 

The third slipped from your fingers.

The crash rang out sharp and sudden, the sound loud and fractured.

Before you could think you were on your knees gathering the shards with trembling fingers. Tears blurred your vision. A sudden sharp sting shot through your palm, a slice of pain. You ignored it.

“No-no,” you gasped, “I didn’t mean to, I’ll clean it up I—”

Warm fingers closed around your wrist.

“Omega,” Law’s voice came through, low and steady. “Stop. You’re bleeding.”

He crouched down in front of you, his scent calm and grounding.

You shook your head. “It’s okay. I can fix it. I promise—” 

“Hey.”

You lifted your gaze and stared into his eyes, golden and gleaming in the morning light. He was being sincere and when he lifted his hand, it was not to strike you but instead to softly caress you. His thumb brushed the edge of your wound, and the sting made you wince.

“You don’t need to apologise. It’s alright.”

You spoke through trembling lips, your voice cracking, “I’m sorry, I’ve made such a mess.”

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just get you patched up, alright?” Law wrapped his arm around your back and gently took hold of your arm. He assisted you up and just as you were being led to the bathroom, a sharp series of knocks echoed throughout the apartment. “Luffy? Can you get the door?” Law called out and you heard the sound of hurried footsteps. 

Once in the bathroom, Law guided you to sit on the edge of the bathtub. With his back turned  he rummaged through the cabinet. When he turned around, the first aid kit was already open in his hands. 

He knelt down in front of you and began cleaning the cut. The antiseptic stung. You flinched away, but his fingers quickly followed, soft against your wrist.

“You don’t need to keep apologising. Luffy and I would never hurt you for a mistake.”

You wanted to believe him, you truly did. You couldn't stop your mind from reeling. You were always waiting for a fresh round of pain, of punishment.

He paused, eyes flicking up to yours. “I don’t need to know what he did,” Law said quietly. “Not unless you want me to. I need you to remember that we’re not him. Can you do that for me, omega?”

You swallowed hard. “Yes, I can do that. It’s just that I’ve never been treated any differently. Kid was my first and only alpha.” You stared at the floor, fighting back your tears. “When he bought me—”

The door creaked open.

Luffy’s head popped into the bathroom. “Hey, that Penguin guy is here.” 

Law didn’t take his eyes off you. “We’re almost done,” he said. When the door shut again, he wound the bandage around your palm, tying it off with a neat knot.

“Better?” 

You nodded, “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. You were hurt.” He hesitated, then added softly, “What happened to you, omega?

You breath caught. You couldn’t answer. The words sat heavy in your throat, unmoving.

“It’s nothing.” 

You hopped off the bathtub and reached the doorway.  Behind you, Law stayed unmoving on the tiles.The shattered pieces of porcelain all but thrown away, the shards of your heart left scattered across the floor.

You lingered in the doorway for a moment, your heart pounding. Law hadn't moved. The silence hung heavy over you, full of things unsaid. 

You stepped into the hall, clutching your bandaged hand against your chest. You barely had time to take a breath before a new scent drifted in, bright, floral, unfamiliar.

A man stood by the open door, grinning. He had short brown hair and an easy posture, an omega. Your stomach knotted instinctively.

“You must be the famous omega, Law’s fated mate!” he said and leaned in a little closer.

You took a step back and raised your hands in front of yourself. Your heart was racing and you could feel the room getting smaller by the second. 

“Penguin. What have I told you about boundaries? Leave her alone.” His voice came out cold and stern.

Penguin immediately backed away, waving his hands out in front of him. “Sorry! I just get a bit carried away sometimes.” He gave Law a nervous grin.

Law turned to face you then, his eyes etched with concern. “Penguin here is one of my closest friends. I’ve assigned him and Shachi to take care of you when Luffy and I aren’t here.”

You lowered your gaze to the floor. “Understood.”

He placed his thumb and forefinger beneath your chin and lifted your face to meet his. “We’ll be home later. I’ll be texting Penguin throughout the day for updates. Will you be alright?”

“Yes, alpha.”

Law stared into your eyes a moment longer before releasing his hold. “Alright then. Luffy, let’s go.” He turns to Penguin. “If anything happens to her, Penguin…”

“Don’t worry. I got this!” 

He huffed out a sigh and grabbed his bag. Before you knew it both of your alphas were gone and you had no idea when they would return. You weren’t too fond of Penguin but at least he wasn’t another alpha so there wouldn’t be any issues.

“So, omega. What do you want to do first?”

o-o-o

The first few hours of Law’s shift had gone smoothly. His morning surgery had been a success, and now, with a mug of coffee cooling beside him, he finally took a seat in the break room. When he checked his phone, he was met with a string of messages from Penguin.

Penguin: 6.42am

Omega went back to bed. She said she was feeling really tired. I think she’s hiding from me :( 

Penguin: 9.36am

She’s awake again and now we’re watching cartoons. Some kid’s show about a bunch of blue dogs. It’s actually pretty good.

The next message had a photo attached of some fruit cut up into star shapes.

Penguin: 11.17am

Made her a quick snack. She hasn’t said much since I arrived. Is she always this quiet?

Penguin: 11.49am

She fell asleep on the couch. I’m starting to worry she might be sleeping too much.

Law’s brow furrowed. You had been sleeping an awful lot since you arrived at the apartment. Maybe he needed to check your iron levels and monitor your diet. He’d noticed the signs already: the paleness of your skin, the slight tremor in your hands when you held your utensils. Malnourished. Fragile. 

He reread the messages from Penguin before typing out a quick reply.

Law: 12.23pm

It’s possibly an iron deficiency. Yes she is quiet. She needs more time to get used to us. Let her rest.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and took a sip of coffee, though it had already gone cold. His mind didn’t rest easily. Thoughts kept bubbling up about the unfinished conversation in the bathroom, about the words that had slipped out of you like a confession.

He didn’t want to believe them. People couldn’t be bought or sold, not anymore. Omega trafficking had been outlawed for more than two centuries. Yet the way you’d said ‘Yes, Alpha.’ It was so quick. It felt like a trained response. Reflex.

The thought made his stomach churn.

You weren’t some obedient thing anymore. You were his mate. His omega. But you hadn’t truly warmed to him or Luffy, not yet. You still moved like someone waiting for permission to breathe. Still too quiet. Too careful. Too small.

Law rubbed at his eyes and let out a slow breath. Maybe after tonight, things would start to change. Maybe once you were surrounded by their scents and warmth, you’d start to feel safe again, to see that you didn’t have to flinch anymore. He wanted to know who you really were beneath all that fear. He wanted to meet the person Kid had hollowed.

More than anything, Law just wanted to stop feeling like your roommate and start feeling like your boyfriend. He was sure Luffy felt the same way, two alphas, fated to one omega. He didn’t even know how it was supposed to work between the three of you. 

There were other concerns. Your heats, for one. When was your last one? Were you on suppressants this entire time? He couldn’t be sure, and it wasn’t a question he could bring up lightly. Still, it needed to be addressed sooner or later. You weren’t ready to be with either of them yet, not until you trusted them completely.

His phone buzzed again. Another message from Penguin.

Penguin: 12:27pm

She keeps talking and crying in her sleep. Calling out the name of some guy called Kid? Should I be worried? 

Another nightmare. 

Luffy had mentioned it before, but hearing it again made Law’s chest tighten. Maybe it explained why you slept so much during the day, after being tormented all night.

He typed back quickly.

Law: 12.28pm

There’s no need for concern. She’s just having a nightmare. Kid was her previous alpha. Try to wake her if you can, but don’t startle her.

When he set his phone down, he sat in silence for a long moment.

Would the nightmares ease with him and Luffy close by? Would their scents make you feel safe enough to sleep peacefully? He wanted to believe that. Needed to.

Because when he imagined you asleep between them, finally at peace. He could almost feel it, the faint warmth of your body, the quiet rise and fall of your breathing, the way the air itself might soften around you.

And for the first time in hours, Law let himself smile.