Chapter Text
Even with the roof closed, the Texas heat pressed heavily against the stadium, the air thick and muggy despite the massive air conditioning units struggling to keep up. Down in the premium box, courtesy of Luffy’s sports commentary channel, the atmosphere was just as sweltering.
Monkey D. Luffy, wearing his usual yellow and green jersey, was slouched over the plush leather railing, looking thoroughly offended as he waved an overpriced stadium pretzel in the air.
"I'm telling you, Torao, it's a curse!" Luffy groaned, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Brazil drawing 1-1 against Morocco on Saturday was a crime! And did you see Paraguay getting absolutely destroyed 4-1 by the USA? The USA! That’s just humiliating for Paraguay! Nobody is safe in this 48-team expansion. Even Qatar held Switzerland to a draw. The big teams are cursed in 2026!"
Trafalgar Law sat beside him, looking effortlessly cool despite the heat, sipping a craft beer. He glanced at his husband with an amused, fond smirk. "Luffy-ya, you've been whining about the weekend matches since your livestream this morning."
"Because the football giants are trembling!" Luffy huffed, turning his wide eyes to Law. "Mark my words, Torao, the big names are in trouble."
Law let out a low, smooth chuckle, his gaze drifting down to the pitch where the German national team was finishing their warm-ups. "Perhaps. But Germany is a machine of pure discipline, Lu-ya. I assure you, my countrymen will have absolutely no issue handling Curaçao today."
Luffy’s eyes sparked with that exact same mischievous, utterly competitive glint that Law had fallen for over a decade ago in a sweaty bar in São Paulo.
"Oh yeah?" Luffy smirked, leaning across the armrest. "Let's make a bet. Same rules as the old days."
Law paused, raising a dark eyebrow. His mind instantly flashed back to 2014, to Franky's, and to the glorious, devastating night that had cemented his absolute dominance in their bedroom. "A bet? You still haven't learned your lesson about gambling against me?"
"Shishishi! This is 2026, Torao! Things are different!" Luffy grinned, slapping his hand on the railing. "If Germany struggles or drops points like Brazil did, I call the shots tonight at the hotel. If Germany completely dominates... well, you get a clean sweep."
Law’s smirk turned dark and incredibly sharp. He clinked his cup against Luffy’s. "Deal."
The referee blew the whistle, and the match began.
Right out of the gate, Germany showed their teeth. Felix Nmecha opened the floodgates early, scoring a brutal goal at the 6th minute.
Germany 1 - 0 Curaçao.
"See?" Law murmured, leaning back. "One."
But Curaçao wasn't going down without a fight. In the 21st minute, Livano Comenencia found a pocket of space and shocked the stadium, firing the ball straight into the net.
Germany 1 - 1 Curaçao.
The stadium erupted as the underdog fans went absolutely wild in the Texas heat. Luffy jumped out of his seat, cheering loudly and shoving his fingers in Law's face. "Shishishi! See, Torao?! I told you! Equalizer! Curaçao is gonna break your machine!"
Law didn't even flinch. He simply watched Luffy's excitement with a calm, predatory gaze. "Enjoy it while it lasts, Lu-ya."
And it truly didn't last. What followed was a ruthless, systematic execution. Nico Schlotterbeck struck at the 38th minute, and right before the halftime whistle, Kai Havertz converted a penalty deep into stoppage time.
By the break, the jumbotron read a devastating 3-1.
The second half only compounded the nightmare for Luffy. Jamal Musiala made it four at the 47th minute. Then N. Brown at the 68th, and Deniz Undav at the 78th.
By the time Kai Havertz struck again at the 88th minute to seal his brace, the stadium was reeling from the sheer mathematical precision of the slaughter.
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle. The jumbotron blazed the final score across the hot arena.
FINAL: GERMANY 7 - 1 CURAÇAO
Luffy was slumped back on his stool, staring at the screen with his mouth wide open, completely shell-shocked. The exact same historic score. The exact same humiliation.
Law stood up calmly, smoothly buttoning his coat. He stepped closer, wrapping a hand firmly around the back of Luffy's neck, his thumb caressing the soft skin right at the hairline. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of Luffy’s ear.
"Twelve years later, Mugiwara-ya, and you're still the worst gambler in the world," Law whispered, his dark eyes gleaming with an intense, heavy promise. "Seven to one. Again. I expect total cooperation at the hotel. After all..."
Law smirked, pulling a blushing, flustered Luffy just a little closer against his side as they headed toward the exit.
Luffy looked up, his cheeks burning red, but despite the utter devastation of his football theories, a resilient grin broke across his face. "Shishishi! Shut up, Torao! Just don't think I'll make it easy for you!"