text: Ace realized a problem as he and Law headed up to the stern—he really didn't know anything about Law, which would make conversation a bit hard.
  
  "So you're from North Blue, right? Like Sanji?"
  
  "Yes," Law said. "And you're East Blue, like Luffy and Sabo?"
  
  "Grew up there, but was born in South," Ace said.
  
  "Huh," Law said. "…You recovered from the surgery okay? Your crew grabbed you a bit prematurely, if you ask me."
  
  Ace knew he was making a face, "Ugh. Was in bed for over a week."
  
  "Good. You'd have needed it."
  
  "I ever thank you for it?" Ace asked.
  
  "No, you were more concerned with crying over and being cried over by Luffy," Law said. "Though thank you for keeping him in bed and not bleeding all over my ship."
  
  "Oh, well, thanks. Guessing they were both hard surgeries…or all three were, there was Jinbe too…"
  
  "Jinbe was the easiest, you were the worst," Law said. "Jinbe merely had serious trauma injuries and your brother's organs were just damaged while yours were barely there in some areas. You're lucky you and Luffy and Jinbe were all compatible, and that some fishmen have spare livers…and Jinbe was awake enough to consent to organ donation."
  
  "So my liver isn't mine anymore?" Ace asked.
  
  "A little bit might be yours," Law said, wiggling his hand a bit in the air as if unsure. "Also you only have one kidney, no appendix, and I shortened your small intestine by about two feet, not all in one place. Be grateful I figured out a way to save your spleen; that one was really touch and go."
  
  Ace blanched, "How do you remember all that?"
  
  "Most complicated and interesting surgery of my life. I'll never forget," Law said, gesturing at Ace's abdomen. "Of course, Luffy's ability to easily replenish lost blood was very helpful as well once we got his systems repaired…I should ask Chopper about that, I just realized I haven't yet…"
  
  "Are you always this creepy or am I just special?" Ace asked.
  
  "You asked about my performing one of the messiest and most interesting operations to ever occur in this world, what did you expect?" Law asked, shrugging.
  
  "…So you are always this creepy," Ace said.
  
  Law smirked. Ace fought the urge to roll his eyes at him.
  
  "How my brother even ended up with you…"
  
  "Tell me about it!" Law laughed darkly. Great, even his laugh was kind of creepy! "I thought my odds were either his crew accidentally wrecking my plans or involving them in my plans to try to marginally decrease the wrecking of my plans."
  
  "And how badly were your plans wrecked?"
  
  "They were gloriously destroyed," Law said. "Far beyond anything I could ever have imagined."
  
  "So it was a good thing?"
  
  "Mostly, yeah," Law admitted. "I mean, Doflamingo had a trick I couldn't foresee and I'd be dead if it wasn't for the Straw Hats. I could have done with slightly gentler handling, sure…"
  
  "Ah, the 'carry all over the island' thing?" Ace asked.
  
  "And the dropping. And the grabbing again," Law said. "Dropped me on my face more than once."
  
  "Then your good looks are very resilient," Ace joked.
  
  Law smirked. "Thankfully."
  
  "So I've met the Straw Hats…what's your crew like?" Ace asked. "Since we're going to be allies and all."
  
  "You've seen most of them," Law said. "Bepo's the navigator. He's good. Also apologizes for almost everything and if you take advantage of that I will hurt you because he is my best friend."
  
  "Do not take advantage of the bear, got it," Ace said. "But seriously, the creepy Surgeon of Death and an overly nice polar bear? Interesting pair."
  
  "I use him to get people to let their guards down," Law said. "It works because he's fluffy."
  
  "I see," Ace said.
  
  "Also to swim because he's a polar bear and I'm a Devil Fruit user so I sometimes need someone to fish me out," Law admitted.
  
  "Yeah, we've got positions like that in the Whitebeard Pirates too," Ace said. "Should see when Marco gets knocked into the water while he's a phoenix. It's crazy."
  
  "That sounds like it could get really dicey," Law mused. "Anyway, Jean Bart's strong and quiet and usually likes to be left alone unless you have board games, Penguin…cooks, really I don't know what he does in his free time he's usually dragged into what Shachi wants. Shachi's fun, he throws harpoons at people."
  
  "Oh, we've got a harpoon guy too. They should compare," Ace said. "Any knife nuts?"
  
  "Mara. Long knives, not thrown ones. She's the one who hangs around Zoro sometimes, they talk blades and get drunk," Law said. "Also one hell of a cast-maker. I'm very proud."
  
  "And there's two more, right?" Ace asked.
  
  "Wes and Dean. Wes did your stitches," Law said. "They're more medical than pirate, really."
  
  "I see," Ace said. "Yeah, our cook's like that. So, you guys are really going after Kaido?"
  
  "We have some idea in the works…okay, Robin and I do, Luffy just wants to find him and punch him. As his brother, any ideas for talking him out of it?" Law asked.
  
  "You've known Luffy for how long?" Ace asked.
  
  "Yeah, was afraid of that," Law said. "Oh well, I can work it in, I'm used to it by now."
  
  "Bit nervous about Luffy going after him. Rumors are he's unkillable. Even attempts suicide for fun."
  
  "And you call me creepy," Law sighed.
  
  "You are. My brother's creepy boyfriend," Ace said. "Jeez that's going to take some getting used to."
  
  "Take your time. I don't mind."
  
  Ace decided he really hated that smirk Law had. The asshole smirk. It was so annoying. "Duly noted, Dr. Creepy."
  
  "Actually it's Dr. Heartstealer." And the smirk was widening.
  
  "That better not be a joke about dating Luffy."
  
  "Nah, it's a joke about how I can rip out hearts."
  
  "Why are you so damn creepy?" Ace yelled.
  
  "Sorry about him, it's been a while since he's had someone new!" Luffy said, running over. "Traffy!"
  
  Law chuckled that creepy chuckle again, "I couldn't resist!"
  
  "Weirdo," Luffy said, smacking him in the shoulder. "Anyway, come on, Ace, Sabo wants to hang out and I want to hang out with you and Sabo and you and Traffy have probably talked enough by now."
  
  "I'll be on the sub if you need me," Law said. "Want to make sure the engines won't self-destruct next time we start it up."
  
  "Bye Traffy," Luffy said, grabbing Ace's arm and walking off to wherever Sabo was presumably located.