Fair warning: Doffy is the wife. It's complicated, okay?
I do not own One Piece, but I like to play with its characters.
PART ONE
1
Doffy watched the nearest trash can full of fresh scraps.
He and Rosi had not eaten for a couple of days and only thing their useless father could have done was saying that they should be patient. Day after day he had done nothing more than wailing about them being ordinary people with no power or connection.
It was part of the chastening experience that would teach us to be more human and enjoy every moment of our lives, he said when both of them had returned to home after another attack. Their bruised faces had turned purple in time they had gone to bed.
Every part of his body had been in pain, but he could not have count on medical care. It was too expensive and the little money they had by stealing from grocery shops and local merchandisers now gone to treat their mother's illness.
Their useless father had not even try to find a doctor who would examine her and help with the heavy cough and fever. Doffy knew she has been very sick since the fire and it has been caused by thier environements - they had been living on junks for months - but hoped it could be healed. Their useless father had gave up on them - his family. He could have not protect them when it has been needed. Instead he had doomed them and then abandoned to their own faith.
Loud growl of his stomach cut unnecessary thoughts. First he needed to feed himself and Rosi, before finding a way to save their mother.
He looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention to them. Better to avoid another biting than heal the new wounds and bruises. One day he would have his revenge, but not today. Now he has more urgent issues to deal with.
Doffy signed to his little brother to run towards trash can. They did not know who's it was belonging to, neither they cared. It was free food, nothing else mattered.
Until someone was yelling-
"Thieves!"
Doffy and Rosi turned with mouth full of half-rotten bread.
There was only one exit from the back alley now blocked by an angry looking woman. It took a little time for villagers to gather around and grab their weapons. After few minutes men stand in front of the building's back door ready to drive them off.
"You little thieves! We'll teach you not to take what's not yours, brats. It's not Heaven anymore where you don't need to pay for food!"
"Take them! Before they run."
Villagers did not show them mercy, even if they cried and has nothing to do with the terror they were so afraid of. People just needed someone to take blame for their pain and injustice for being born on the wrong side of the privileged social group.
But they were kids and not at fault either. It was their father that made them this way. If it was only Doffy's decision, he would never allow their family to suffer or strip them from their rightful status. They were kings, gods, immortals for ordinary, useless human servants.
Tenryubito should never live like this.
Doffy has been used to this kind of treatment, yet he feared that Rosi could be harmed because of stupid people who could care less if two royal kids would be injured. Even when Rosi started begging them to stop, it did nothing but intensify their anger. Now more shouts, fists and sharp objects joined to the few that already had been hurting them.
How could have been people doing that? They were their gods, no matter if their had been living in some stupid country or not! They should admire them, give them gifts and beg to spare them even a small glance.
Their useless father once had tried to understand them, reasoning that they had been thieves and borrowed food without anyone's permission. It was crime and they should have been paying for damages.
But Doffy witnessed many times that other young criminals – kids even older than them – had been pleaded and justified by villagers. They had been kind to them, asked about their well-being, offered help and support. Nobody had hit and cursed them just for their origins.
"...thieves, they've got what they've deserve!"
Doffy looked where he last saw Rosi, but his brother was out off sight. Panic stung him. Where was he? Had he run? But Doffy has heard cries just now.
"Rosi...?" he chocked blood.
Everything hurt, but he needed to make sure that Rosi was alright. Just a little more effort to protect his precious brother.
Before he could trace blond hair, someone's hands reached for him. He triad to fight but they were stronger. And cold. Like death. He struggled, yet nothing prevented the hug. Doffy cried from pained and there was only darkness.
2
When he regained consciousness, he was lying on comfortable bed.
A soft material and fresh smelling sheets coming from under his reeking body. He could feel a subtle draft of summer wind. Around him was white and bright. Too bright. And an acrid odor of disinfectants so strong, that made Doffy's nostrils stinging.
After a second he noted the absence of the sunglasses.
Touching his own face without them was an odd experience, the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable. Doffy needed his shield, so he searched with closed eyes, just using small, searing hands.
There was a small table beside the bed and a cup of water in case someone got thirsty. But his sunglasses where nowhere to be found.
Panic began build in him. A bit too fast breath and a stinging sensation in the corner of his eyes. They were raw, unprepared for such brightness after years of shielding them from the sun and other people's attention.
Doffy groaned before he triad to sit.
Everything was achting so much. Damn villagers and his useless father. And damn his stupid insecurity. He was a god, he should not have felt anything like this. The biggest weakness Doffy could never accept.
"Doffy! You're awake!"
His head snapped, eyes opened and head rumbled from the sudden loud sound. Short after that, Rosi cried from pain.
"I told you not to move."
The voice was odd.
Doffy could not identify if it was more annoyance or fondness ringing there, echoing with warm feeling inside him, but he knew it sounded like their mother's voice when they had done something improper, yet she has been happy to have them around. Only it was male – deeper and stronger, soothing his worries.
Doffy swallowed, curling his finders around the white, clean sheets and allowing himself to watch as doctor's eyebrows knitted together at the miserable sign that was his littler brother.
The man sat at a small chair beside Rosi's bed exterminating him with calm and reassuring aura. His moves were measured and slow – like he was avoiding to scary kid in front of him.
Doffy saw his black and messy black hairs, but only half of his face.
It was hard to guess, neither he was trying to harm them more or help them. Doffy looked down – his hands and arms were strapped and smelly. It must have been some herbal medicine that always made Doffy sick.
"Look out!" doctor shouted before the loud bang filled the room.
The man signed, trying to help Rosi untangled his foot from sheets. But before he could succeed, Rosi got him a kick in the shin and fell on the floor face down. Sometimes Doffy thought that his little brother would kill himself if no one kept an eye on him for more than two seconds.
Doctor fell over the chair with another loud bang.
It has gave Doffy a moment to look and search for any signs of possible treat. He was younger than Doffy expected, yet old enough to be their father, around thirty years old, but handsome.
He looked like idealistic type of person who thought he could have helped two kids that had been bitten by villagers.
Red hot anger exploded behind Doffy's eyes with overwhelming intensity. More than injustice and incompetence Doffy hated pity. Those who showed them should be dead! Like his useless father, maybe then World Government would take them back into Mariejois and give their status.
The moment of silence passed.
"Where are they?" Doffy asked. "Where are my glasses?!" he demeaned.
There was no answer at first, then-
"Here."
The doctor came to him, offering a familiar pair. Doffy's breath slowed, when his eyes were surrounded by comfortable shades of brown. Darker and more real than the humbling tones of Mariejois grounds.
"What do you want?" Doffy asked after regaining his confidence, trying to ignoring the stabbing feeling of failure.
Sudden nausea made him feel sick even more – the odor of disinfectants adding salt to the sore wound. Same as the indifferent look on this handsome face.
Nobody was selfless enough to do something like this for free. There was always a price – neither too high or too low to pay.
Doffy shook with anger.
His knuckles where white by the time he triad to loose them a bit. The man looked at him, but did not answer, calculating and watching him with interest. Yet he did not indicated any action betraying his motives behind his odd behavior.
"What do you want?" Doffy repeated more forceful. Demanding.
Then the doctor smiled. It was not a pretty sign – ugly and raw, telling more about him and confirming his true intentions.
Rosi started sniffling in the background, but it was not his concern now.
"Even if I want money for treating you, how could you give them to me, young master?" doctor mocked him, using their manner of speaking when their were addressing Doffy.
The way people once had fallen to their knees, their foreheads touching the ground, their hearts biting faster at the sound of his laugh, their clothes ready to clean the soles of his shoes.
Their voices shook from fear and admiration.
It was in the past, yet still alive inside of him – the feeling of being god and the pain of being stripped, exposed to ungrateful, disgusting lowlifes.
And this man mocked him, like it was a joke.
He was no different than others, maybe worst, because they at least did not try to heal them from physical harm to stab them mentally.
"Doffy" pleaded Rosi, clinging to the stranger's leg.
His little brother was too naïve, thinking that this guy would help them from the bottom of his cold heart. Rosi saw only good sides of things which was as useless as their fathers good will.
This man was dangerous.
Sudden shudder overwhelmed him with desire and eagerness. And urgent feeling to run as far away as possible. Those eyes did not know mercy or fear, their were made to cause pain and suffer, attracting Doffy's attention like fire done with flies.
"Let's go!" he commanded his little brother.
Doffy sprung out of bed, ignoring pain and stiffed muscles crying from sudden move and steadying himself before he stormed out of the room.
Rosi hot at his heals, crying and trying to catch up with him.
So... Time Travel AU with a twist. Did you like it?
There'll be more in few days (kind of second part of current plot with kid!Doffy). Then there will be another instalment to this series... no idea when I'll publish it though (didn't write it yet). But there'll be something about Law jumping in time from different moments of his life. It'll be sort of messy, but still fun. I promise.
Ups, you get that it was Law, right? I didn't spoiler you... did I?
I admit I love Time Travel AU, but am not a fan of this kind of storytelling - Time Travel's Wife - jumping here and there. So it's new to me, I hope I'll get it right.
To the next chapter (in few days, I hope)!