Chapter Text
Beads of sweat drip down Luffy’s forehead. He tightens his jaw and groans in frustration. He stares down the opponent in front of him. His feet are firmly planted into the plastic mat beneath him. He holds his gloved fists out in a readied stance.
Luffy swings out his arm in a wide throw, targeting his opponent’s head but his attack is easily dodged.
“Come on, Luffy! You need to loosen up a little!” his coach barks from the sidelines.
Luffy shifts his stance slightly before going in for another assault. This time his fist collides with the man’s jaw, stunning him momentarily. Before he can throw another punch the man retaliates and sends his fist directly into Luffy’s face knocking him backwards. He lands harsh against the railing and his limbs crumple beneath him. A dull aching pain shoots through his head. His mind feels fuzzy and disoriented.
“That’s enough, Luffy! I think we should call it quits for today.”
Luffy shakes his head and wearily rises to his feet. His opponent has already left the ring and is now patting himself down with a towel. He reluctantly hops out of the ring and walks over to his coach.
“I don’t know why this keeps happening! I swear I had him this time!” Luffy pouts. He’s dripping in sweat and his muscles ache from exertion.
“It’s because you’re too stiff, kid. It’s like I keep telling ya, you need to loosen up a little. You’re never gonna get back into an official match with your current form.”
“You keep saying that but I don’t get how you expect me to do that! It’s not my fault that I’ve been out of practice for the past two months!”
A stern look crosses Rayleigh’s aged features. “I think it's time you consider doing some unconventional training.”
Luffy tilts his head. “Like what?”
Rayleigh sits down on a nearby bench. “I’ve got a couple of tickets to this ballet show happening tonight but something’s come up and Shakky and I can no longer go. I think you ought to go and see it. Watch how the dancers move, how fluid and light their movements are. You’ll probably learn a thing or two.”
Luffy scrunches up his face. “Ballet? That sounds boring. Can’t we just keep training like we have been?”
“No.” Rayleigh pulls his wallet out of his pocket, rifling through it until he finds the two tickets. He hands them over to Luffy. “Take a friend with you. You might even enjoy yourself.” His lips curl into a mischievous grin.
Luffy snatches the tickets out of Rayleigh’s hand and stuffs them into his pocket. “Fine. I’ll go. Just don't be surprised when I’m back here tomorrow after I’ve wasted my time.”
He walks away, grumbling to himself about the ridiculousness of it all. What could a ballet dancer possibly have to teach him about boxing? The two are nothing alike. In his mind this entire exercise is a complete waste of his time. He’d much rather be sparring with Zoro at the dojo or hanging out with Nami at Nojiko’s cafe. Anything would be more fun than watching a bunch of prissy dancers twirl around on stage for two hours.
Luffy leaves the boxing studio and heads for the showers. Now he just needs to find someone willing to go with him on such short notice.
-o-o-o-
After ringing each of his friends and asking them if they want to come with him to the show, he finds himself sitting beside Robin, the only one of his friends who didn’t have any other plans and is actually interested in seeing the performance.
“Based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Robin reads aloud from her pamphlet, “Frederick Ashton’s The Dream is about Oberon, King of the Fairies, who quarrels with his Queen, Titania. He wishes to humiliate her, and orders Puck to make her fall in love with a monster. Meanwhile, he and Puck meddle with the lives of four mortal lovers who wander across their path.” She flips through a couple of pages. “This is meant to be quite a lavish production. It says here that the costumes took nearly six months to craft and the set designers spared no expense. If this pamphlet is anything to go by, it should be quite a spectacular show.”
Luffy crosses his arms and sinks down in his chair. “I don’t care what it says! This is so pointless! I’m bored, Robin. Can’t we just go now and tell Rayleigh I watched the show?”
Robin smiles. “I think your coach might be onto something, Luffy. Ever since your injury you haven’t been the same. Besides, these tickets were free so it would be a bit of a waste to leave now.”
The theatre lights dim then, plunging the room into darkness. The previously murmuring crowd falls into a hushed silence. Luffy’s seat has a clear view of the stage, only a few rows back from the front.
The stage lights come on, drenching the space with a soft blue light. The sound of violins fill the air, the music setting a lighthearted tone. Tall twisting trees and black silhouetted shrubs stand towards the back of the stage.
A quartet of ballerinas flutter onto the stage in a flurry of lively movement. Dancing on pointe, their feet barely touching the ground as they glide past one another. Their powder-blue ensembles made of fine tulle bouncing with their movements. Their steps are graceful and light, each precise and poised.
Luffy’s eyes follow the various dancers across the stage when suddenly the music shifts and the first key of a piano is played. Out of the shadows appears a tall, lean figure. The ballerinas continue to dance and pirouette around the stage almost as if they haven’t noticed the presence of the man standing behind them.
Lingering in the back, atop the twisted tree roots, the man continues to watch the dancers. His golden eyes shift about with an intense commanding gaze. The same piano note is played, albeit only briefly and catches Luffy off guard. The sound is low and ominous, almost like a warning.
The man disappears from view and the ballerinas continue to expertly twirl and pirouette in time to the music. The mood is once again cheerful and joyous. But now, Luffy is wondering if the strange figure from before will return.
The ballerinas’ performance carries on for another five or so minutes and Luffy shifts about in his seat. He can feel his eyes drooping. He lets out a low yawn. This is just as boring as he expected it to be. It hasn’t been long since the show began but it already feels like an eternity. Why did Rayleigh even put him up to this?
In one swift movement, the man reappears at the front of the stage. He has a worried look in his eyes, his hand outstretched in front of him. This must be Oberon, King of the Faeries. Atop his head is a gilded crown of leaves. Vibrant green makeup is painted across the man’s sharp features. His costume is made of various green fabrics that are both loosely draped and tightly wrapped around his masculine frame. His long legs are covered by a green leotard.
Luffy’s heart clenches. He sits himself up and drinks in the man’s mesmerising form, from his dark hair to his muscular limbs, his narrow waist and those amber eyes. Luffy doesn’t think he’s ever seen anyone more handsome. With just one appearance, Oberon has made himself known and Luffy can’t tear his eyes away from the stage.
To the right appears a ballerina, presumably playing the role of Titania. Oberon rushes over to her and the pair meet in the centre of the stage. Luffy watches Oberon playfully chase Titania around before they begin dancing side by side. Titania moves away, each time Oberon follows after her.
Luffy continues to study the fluid way the male dancer moves with such agility. His movements seem as natural as breathing.
Oberon steps to the left side of the stage before commencing a series of tight pirouettes and pronounced leaps.
The ballet continues on and Luffy watches, enraptured by the elegant form of the ballet dancer portraying Oberon. Towards the end of the ballet, Oberon and Titania have the stage entirely to themselves and that’s when Luffy witnesses a performance more beautiful than he can properly put into words.
The music is slower now, the mood somber. Titania steps down from the tree and into the middle of the stage. Oberon is already there waiting; he extends his hand outward and she takes it. Her feet take the tiniest of steps while remaining on pointe.
Oberon never leaves her side, anchoring her. They dance in tandem for a moment with Oberon behind her before grabbing hold of her waist and pulling her down into an upside-down pose with her head lowered and leg stretched behind her. He carefully spins her until she’s upright again. The ballerina’s movements are featherlight and delicate.
Oberon and Titania seem to float across the stage with each series of carefully orchestrated movements. Oberon lifts and carries Titania, her elegance further enhanced by the soft tulle encapsulating her. Their costumes sparkle and gleam beneath the stage lights. As beautiful as the prima ballerina is, Luffy can’t take his eyes off Oberon and how exquisite the contours of his body are.
When the ballet finally draws to a close, the crowd erupts into rapturous applause. All of the dancers retake the stage and bow. The theatre’s main lights illuminate and Luffy is left with only one thought.
He needs to find the dancer playing Oberon and ask him how to move with such agile precision.
-o-o-o-
With the show over, Law heads to his dressing room to change out of his Oberon costume. He skilfully removes the delicate fabric, so easily torn by careless hands. He hangs it up on a hanger, putting it aside for the next show.
He sits in front of his vanity and starts removing his vibrant green makeup. The yellow bulbs around his mirror cast a warm glow over him. After each show he likes to take a few minutes for himself, to catch his breath and reflect on his performance. Often however, the nights spent onstage blend into one another, a surreal blur of elegant movements and lavish costumes.
Out of all the ballets he’s had the privilege to perform in, portraying Oberon has been one of his favourite roles. To play such a powerful yet mischievous figure, it’s one he has definitely enjoyed. With the season soon coming to a close, Law wonders what his next role will be. Perhaps his agent will have something lined up for him?
Having removed his makeup, Law is now back to his usual plain self. He puts on his street clothes, packs up his belongings, and makes his way to the staff parking lot behind the theatre. The chill autumn air nips at his skin and his muscles ache with fatigue. All he wants now is to go home, take a hot shower, and get some rest.
Is what he would do, if it weren’t for the stranger currently hailing him down from across the lot. He’s dressed in a bright red hoodie and shorts with a wide excited grin on his face. Law notices his dark hair and the crescent shaped scar beneath his eye. Who is this kid? Law doesn’t have time for this nonsense. He just wants to go home.
Reluctantly, Law lets out a weary sigh and approaches him. “You want an autograph or something?”
The boy shakes his head. “Nope. I wanted to ask you how you did all those cool moves!”
Law tilts his head and squints. Surely this kid is joking. “My dancing? Look, kid I need to get home so if you would just quit bothering me—”
“I’m a boxer you see, and my coach told me that I need to be lighter on my feet. He gave me these tickets to the ballet and I watched your performance. You were awesome! You gotta teach me how to do that stuff!”
Law can feel a pit growing in his stomach as he listens to this kid ramble on. He’s not even sure he understands what he’s talking about. Whatever it is, it isn’t important. He puts a hand out in front of his face. “Listen, I don’t have time for whatever this is. I’m just about to head home so… bye.” He turns and walks away, heading to his car.
He has his key in hand and is about to unlock the car when the kid comes running up to him.
“Hey! Why aren’t you listening? You can help me, can’t you?”
Law clenches his jaw, his patience is wearing thin. “Shouldn’t you be asking someone else? I’m not sure I’m the right person to teach… what was it?”
“I need you to show me how to be lighter on my feet. My coach says I’m too stiff.”
Law eyes the boy up and down. His thin frame and lanky limbs aren’t exactly what he would think of when imagining a boxer. Still, there’s something about his physique that Law doesn’t find entirely unappealing. A thought he’ll have to unpack later.
“I don’t have time for this, sorry.”
He goes to enter his car but is abruptly stopped by a hand wrapping around his arm. He looks at the boy; his brown eyes are wide and a desperate look is etched into his soft features.
“Please. Can’t you show me? I really need your help! I won’t be able to get any better otherwise.”
Law rolls his eyes and exasperatedly sighs. “Fine. If I offer to show you a few techniques, will you promise to leave me alone?”
The kid hurriedly nods a smile returning to his face. “Yes, I promise! Thank you, um…”
“Trafalgar Law.”
“Right! Thanks Torao!”
Law furrows his brow. “What did you just call me?”
“Torao! That’s your name isn’t it?”
He huffs out a sigh. “No. You know what? Nevermind. What did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t. You can just call me Luffy.”
Law nods. “Uh-huh. Well, Luffy, meet me at the studio tomorrow afternoon, three o’clock sharp. Don’t be late.”
“Wait. Where is that?”
Law points toward the street opposite the parking lot. “It’s a couple blocks from here, it's the Belladonna Ballet Studio. It’s a private studio for company dancers to practice in.”
Luffy grins. “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow, Torao!”
“See you then.”
He unlocks his car and hops in. Luffy is still standing in the parking lot as he drives off. Law isn’t sure what he’s just been roped into. He certainly wasn’t expecting to be accosted by a complete stranger on his way home this evening. In all the years he’s been performing with the Sabaody Ballet Company, he’s never once had to deal with any of the audience members following him out after the show.
Until now that is. He’s not entirely sure what to make of Luffy. The guy barely looks old enough to be an adult. He mentioned he’s a boxer but Law’s never heard of him before. He wonders if he’ll be able to find out anything about him if he looks him up online. After he takes a hot shower and calls his agent of course.
There’s no way that Law can see himself giving this guy anymore time than is necessary. Strictly speaking, Law doesn’t have much free time to begin with. Between his scheduled performances, rehearsals, and the time he spends at the gym, he doesn’t have time left for a budding social life. Let alone getting tangled up with some doe-eyed, annoyingly enthusiastic guy. No matter how apparent it is to Law that Luffy is indeed attractive. He can’t get distracted, not when he’s so close to clinching his next big role.
All he can do is hope that after tomorrow, Luffy will leave him alone.