#Onepiece | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fandomfablesunleashed · 1 day ago

Text

Tangled lives: Chapter Thirteen

Law x reader (she/her)

Chapter thirteen of Tangled lives

Words (for this chapter): 2.9k

Notes: Thank you all for the engagement <3 Seriously, it's awesome to know you're into this story. It definitely inspires me to keep improving it.

And now… the plot thickens

🫶 @chillerkiller @deputy-azor, @henritherogue, @theprincesss5, @hopelesslover06 @forest-haven @milktearose @moonj-fool @miruto1 @wanoisland @cruziival72🫶

You were thinking about him. Again. You hated how Shachi’s words:“I know it’s hard, but you don’t know the whole story. His life was a shitshow. I think… I think there’s more to it” kept replaying in your mind, swirling with the memories of all the things Law had said, all the things he hadn’t.

You couldn’t help but wonder if there really was more to Law’s behavior than just being a complete and utter asshole. What could possibly excuse the way he’d left, as though your feelings were disposable, as though the space you’d built together was nothing more than a fleeting moment to him? What could be a good enough reason to abandon someone, to leave them shattered in pieces, struggling to pick themselves up again?

Maybe you were grasping at straws, trying to find an excuse, a thread of understanding to justify the way he’d looked at you, the way he’d held you, the way he made love to you. It all felt so real. So full of promise, so full of care.

A frustrated sigh slipped from your lips. You really should stop overthinking it. He left. He hurt you. And yet, despite everything, you were still giving him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t deserve.

There was only one thing to do in this case. With trembling fingers, you reached for your phone. The familiar number was already memorized by your heart, and you tapped it without hesitation. It rang once before the line clicked, and the voice you needed most came through.

“Hi. Sorry to bother you. Again,” you said immediately.

“I told you to stop apologizing. I'm here for you. Always.”

That alone lifted your mood a bit. Just those few words, so simple yet so fierce, loosened something tight in your chest. You exhaled, letting the breath carry away some of the weight you’d been dragging around lately.

“Thanks Ikka.”

“I haven't done anything yet.”

“You did plenty.”

And it was true. The moment you’d called her—choking on tears, the story tumbling out in broken fragments—she had dropped everything. Within minutes, she was there, standing beside you with fire in her eyes and a storm of curses aimed solely at Law. You’d barely managed to stop her from tracking him down and unleashing her wrath on him.

She was the definition of ride or die. Your safety net. Your shield. Fury when yours had burned out.

And right now, she was exactly what you needed most.

“You okay there?”

You swallowed hard, blinking away the sting behind your eyes. “Been better… been worse too, I guess. So, you know, I’ll survive.”

“Of course you will!” she said, with that fierce confidence of hers. “Remember, no jerk deserves your tears.”

“Yeah, yeah. You told me that. Like a lot.”

“And I will sing it till my dying days.”

That finally coaxed a real chuckle out of you. She always knew how to disarm your sadness. She always did. From the very beginning of your friendship to this very day, knowing exactly when to speak and when to sit in silence beside you. She was a reminder that you were never as alone as you felt.

You pulled your knees closer to your chest, the phone warm against your cheek. “What are you up to now?”

There was a pause, just long enough to be noticeable. “I was just getting ready for a date.”

You hated that it stung. You were overjoyed that your best friend found the love of her life. And you adored her partner. She was kind, thoughtful, and patient. Everything you’d hope for Ikkaku and more.

They were great together. No, not great. Perfect.

Still, the ache snuck. You could only dream of finding someone who would do everything for you. Someone who would choose you, every day, over and over. Who’d place your happiness above their own. Who’d fight for you, protect you with their whole heart. Their whole being even.

You forced your voice to stay light. “Ooooh, a date? Fancy. Where are you two going?”

Ikka gave a soft laugh, one that buzzed with excitement. “Nothing too over-the-top. Just this little rooftop place she found.”

“Sounds amazing,” you said. And you meant it. Even if your heart was a little sore.

“You okay there?”

“Yeah, yeah. Fine,” you replied too quickly.

“Don’t lie to me. Do you want us to ditch the date and come over? We can drink wine, eat an unhealthy amount of chocolate, curse every man who’s ever existed, and blast that playlist you made for me after my last nasty breakup.”

She really was an astounding friend. Maybe the universe had failed you in love, but at least it hadn’t left you completely empty-handed.

You laughed through the tears. “That sounds great, but no. Have your fairytale night. I’ll be okay. I promise.”

“You better call me if you’re not.”

“I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

She hesitated for a moment, her voice gentler when she finally spoke. “You’re going to get your fairytale too. And if not exactly fairytale then at least some epic love story. Someone who would risk it all for you. I’m sure of it.”

You let out a quiet scoff. That sounded so far away, so out of reach, and you were about to say as much. To say that those stories weren’t written for people like you. That perhaps some people were just meant to watch them from the sidelines, never truly belonging to the happy endings.

But before the words could leave your mouth, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

You weren’t expecting anyone.

For a brief, irrational moment, your heart whispered that it might be Law—coming to collect his comics, or maybe, to apologize and beg for your forgiveness. That maybe he’d come not just to grab his precious issues, but to say the words you wished to hear: I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please, give me another chance. I love you.

You hated that your mind even went there. But it did. But deep down, you knew better. If he was here, it was for the comics. Not for you.

He really did care about Sora, more than he ever seemed to care about you. You used to think it was cute, the way he lit up talking about them, hands animated, eyes sparkling. But now? The thought only twisted your stomach painfully.

Another knock came, a little louder this time. You exhaled, rubbing your eyes. You weren’t ready for this. Not ready to face your former roommate, the guy who had once meant everything to you, and the man you still had far too many feelings for. Feelings he had never bothered to embrace.

“Someone at the door. I need to go,” you told Ikka, distracted by the sudden weight of anticipation pressing against your ribs. “Have fun tonight, okay? Love you.”

“Love you more,” she said, the smile in her voice a warm contrast to the knot tightening in your stomach.

You ended the call and rose swiftly from the couch, brushing invisible wrinkles from your clothes as if they mattered. As if he would notice.

But it wasn’t him.

A tall, blonde man stood in the doorway, his presence commanding the space with a striking confidence. There was something special about him beyond his height or the sharp, sculpted lines of his face. But what truly caught your eye was the coat. Long, tailored, and unabashedly pink. Definitely not a typical look. And you weren’t sure if you should be curious, impressed… or afraid.

You hesitated, uncertain if this was just another one of Law’s attempts to avoid confrontation. Maybe he’d sent someone else for his comics. Maybe Law was too much of a coward to face you himself.

“Umm, can I help you?” you asked cautiously, your tone guarded.

Did Law really send someone else to pick up his comic books? He seemed to go out of his way to avoid you. Sending a stranger to your apartment without even a heads-up, as though he couldn’t bear to confront you himself. Maybe he had asked Shachi, Penguin, or even Bepo to do it for him first, but you couldn’t help wondering if they were mad at him too. After all, they knew now how he’d treated you. What he did.

The thought of that… the idea that they might be upset with him, even a little, made you feel a little better. You didn’t know them that well—hell, you hadn’t spent nearly enough time with them to be close—but you could tell from their reactions that they were disturbed by Law’s behavior.

They cared about you, or at least, they cared enough to be bothered by what he had done to you. And damn it, you had started to like them. And that just made you angrier at Law all over again. Because if they could see it, if they could understand the mess he had made, then why couldn’t he?

The man smiled politely, but there was something unnerving about the way he looked you up and down, as though trying to measure you before speaking.

“Donquixote Doflamingo,” he introduced himself, his voice smooth. Too smooth. “Pleasure to meet you.”

You didn’t respond right away, just standing there, arms crossed. He was waiting for you to introduce yourself, but you weren’t going to offer up any information to a stranger.

“Is Law here?” Doflamingo asked, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it that made you pause. Now you didn’t like the situation even more. If he was asking that, it meant that Law didn’t send him here.

“No.” You didn’t owe him an explanation, not when the question seemed to cut through the fragile thread of your patience. You were even more furious at Law now, and he wasn’t even nearby.

He didn’t seem fazed. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”

You narrowed your eyes, the anger welling up inside you once more. “He doesn’t live here anymore,” you replied, each word a sharp reminder of what had been taken from you.

Doflamingo didn't flinch at your words. Instead, he simply raised an eyebrow, as if your response was exactly what he expected. “I see,” he said slowly, almost amused. “And I take it you’re not expecting him anytime soon?”

You clenched your jaw, fighting the urge to slam the door in his face. The nerve of this man, standing there as though he wasn’t asking about someone who had hurt you, someone who had shattered your very own being.

“I’m not expecting him at all.”

Doflamingo stepped forward, his posture casual but still imposing. “Such a shame,” he mused, glancing at you, almost as if he were studying you. “I was hoping to speak with him.” He paused for a beat, looking over his shoulder, as if considering his next words carefully. “But it seems I’ll have to deal with you instead.”

You frowned. “What do you want with him?”

He shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes flicking back to you with a sharper focus now. “Let’s just say I’m dealing with a few… loose ends.”

You didn’t believe that for a second. You had no idea who this man was, but something about him—the way he carried himself, the way he spoke—set your nerves on edge. You didn’t know whether he was on Law’s side or against him, but either way, you didn’t trust him. Not one bit.

“I’m not your go-between,” you said, narrowing your eyes at him. “If you’re looking for Law, you’ll have to find him yourself.”

Doflamingo gave a small, mocking chuckle, unfazed by your defiance. “Oh, I’m sure I will. It was truly a pleasure meeting you.” He gave a small bow, his eyes gleaming with something that made you feel uncomfortable, as though he knew more than he let on.

“Goodbye,” you stated firmly, pushing back against the feeling of unease that threatened to rise in your throat.

He gave you a final, inscrutable look, then turned away, walking down the hallway with the same casual grace he had entered with.

What the hell was that all about? Doflamingo’s words, his demeanor, everything about him left a bitter taste in your mouth, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on why. There was something far too deliberate in his actions.

Your thoughts circled back to Law, as they always seemed to. His absence in your life was an ache that refused to heal. And now, it felt like everything was spiraling further out of control.

You couldn’t shake the unease that prevailed. Doflamingo might have been all politeness and smooth talk, but something about him didn’t sit right with you. There was a cold edge beneath his words, and the way he had scrutinized you, made your skin crawl.

You let out a frustrated sigh, trying to shake the chill that had settled over you. Reaching for your phone, you felt a small flicker of hope that maybe Law would answer. You tapped his name in your contacts, but as soon as you pressed the call button, you knew. He didn’t answer. Of course, he didn’t.

But you couldn’t just let this go. Not when there were people like Doflamingo popping up at your door. You needed answers. You needed someone who could explain what the hell was going on.

So, with a huff of annoyance, you dialed Penguin’s number. The one he drunkenly punched in when you had come home that night, only to find Law and his friends inebriated. It seemed like ages ago now. Back when you weren't expecting the tension, the longing, and certainly not the emotional wreckage that would follow. It was that night that started the whole mess between you and your unattainable roommate.

As the call connected, you tried to steel yourself, not sure what you were hoping for, but desperate for something.

The phone rang. And rang.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it picked up.

“Hello?” Penguin’s voice sounded muffled at first, like he was busy with something else, but there was a bit of panic when he recognized who was calling.

You didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “I need to ask you something. There was some creepy guy at my door. He just left. He was asking about Law, and I don’t know, I’ve got a really bad feeling about him.”

“What was his name?” Penguin asked, his tone shifting immediately. You could hear the concern creeping into his voice.

“Doflamingo something,” you answered.

“What’s going on?” You heard a distant voice in the background—Shachi’s, unmistakable.

“Doflamingo was at her place,” Penguin said sharply.

“Fuck, that’s not good,” Shachi mumbled, but you still caught it.

“I know that.” Penguin again.

Then you heard more distorted voices as they engaged in conversation, completely forgetting that you were still on the line. Their conversation was rushed and chaotic. You could make out the occasional curses, and there was a definite panic in their voices.

“Shit, guys, hellooo? Talk to me!” You screamed into your phone.

Penguin’s voice grew more cautious now, as if weighing his words. “Look, I can’t say much, but Doflamingo’s… complicated. He’s connected to Law’s past, to some things I’m not sure you’d want to know about.”

Your chest tightened at his words, and the sense of distress only grew. “What does that mean?!”

There was a sigh on the other end of the line. “Doflamingo’s involved in some shady shit, and if he’s poking around… well, it’s not good. That’s for sure. I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”

You felt the blood drain from your face as his words sank in. This wasn’t just some random visit—it was part of something far messier than you’d anticipated. The knot of dread in your stomach tightened even more. Instinctively, you clenched your phone tighter, the smooth plastic biting into your palm, your knuckles whitening.

You swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in your throat, telling yourself to stay calm, to think with clarity. But the truth was, you were anything but composed.

“So, what am I supposed to do?”

“Nothing!” Shachi��s voice rang out sharply, now crystal clear through the line. The sudden clarity jolted you. He must have taken the phone. “You told him Law is not living there anymore, right?”

“Yeah,” you replied, your voice quieter now, still shaky, but you managed to keep it together long enough to answer.

“Okay, good. We’ll talk to Law,” Shachi said, calmer, as to ease your nerves. “Don’t worry too much, but if you get any other weird visits… anything at all. Call us immediately, alright?”

You wanted to protest, wanted to demand more answers, but you didn’t get the chance. With a final, reassuring, “Take care,” the call abruptly ended.

You stood rooted to the spot, every muscle locked in place, your breath caught somewhere between panic and disbelief. Your mind spun in a chaotic whirl, thoughts tumbling over each other like a storm unleashed. Law’s world—the one you had so desperately tried to leave behind, the one you had painstakingly tried to cut out of your life—was pulling you back in, as though the invisible strings, long thought severed, were tightening around you, drawing you toward a man you’d been desperate to untangle from.

#onepiece #one piece fic #trafalgar law #trafalgar law fic #trafalgar law x reader #law x reader #tangledlives

35 notes · View notes