So, long time no see! (hehe) I had chapter 2 ready, so I thought, why not! Therefore, post. As a first time writer, I have to say that it felt REALLY good to see so many people reading this fic so soon after it's posted. I know, as a reader, I usually wait until there are a few chapters of a fic before I really get into it. So, I'm going to try and update as often as possible.
LaraLuvKakashi- Thank you so much! Simple words of encouragement go a LONG way, and you really put a smile on my face. Only thing that I want to clarify, I don't think I'll make an alternate ending, but instead, an extension of when they meet again as rookie pirates.
10th Squad 3rd Seat- Thanks for the review, and yes, I agree with you, thank goodness for people who post good doujinshis!
As Law lay in his bed, staring at the blank ceiling, he mulled over the events of that night. He was surprised at himself, that he had helped that red-headed boy. The 16-year old had been studying, reading one of the many books he owned on surgical practices and the human anatomy, when he heard voices from outside his window. Pushing his books to the side, he had kneeled upon his desk, looking through the bars. He watched as a red-haired boy with goggles over his eyes leaped behind the bushes in front of Law's window. He noticed that the boy was bleeding from his left shoulder, and knew that he could help. Thus, Law called out to him.
Of course, there was always the underlying fact that Law didn't have anybody to talk to, so it's equally possible that he craved human contact. Other than the visits he got from Dofy, that is. Law didn't really like to acknowledge this part of the equation, however, so he let it pass.
The boy had been interesting. Immature, like most boys are, and prideful. He was shorter than Law, but his hair was so voluminous that what the boy lacked in physical intimidation he made up for in charisma. His golden eyes were naturally slanted, and paired with his angular nose, the boy wore a perpetual frown, sure to be a menacing thing when he grew up. Despite those sharp angles in his face, his curious eyes made him seem much more docile. His bright red hair was longer than Law's, and when the boy's goggles were flung from his head on entering Law's room, his hair flopped over his eyes in well-defined locks. When held up by the goggles, he gave off the impression of a rocker-punk, but when down, he was just a normal boy.
Law's parting moments with the boy had been particularly interesting. Instead of flashing him a childish, mischievous smile like he would expect of a younger boy, the redhead had simply raised his hand in acknowledgement of their parting and stated "See 'ya soon, Trafalgar." Law wondered what on earth the boy could have meant by that. The phrase, 'see you soon' states clearly that the two people in question will meet again, and Law couldn't comprehend how one could be idiotic enough to return to a place where they are wanted for thievery. It must have been a formality, nothing more. But if that were the case, would the boy have worn that stoic expression on his face in parting? It seemed to Law that the boy had been completely serious. Either way, the encounter confused him, and as he did not like being confused, Law put it out of his mind. He returned to his routine, studying, sleeping, eating, and waiting for Dofy to come home.
Two days later, Law was sitting on his bed, reading. He was studying the anatomy of the foot, the muscles and ligaments, tendons and bones. He was murmuring the text to himself, he found that it was easier to understand the medical gargin if he spoke it aloud. In his position, the sunlight that was able to pass through his barred window shone straight onto the pages of his book. It was nice for Law, because he could almost feel like he was outside reading, instead of in his room. The sunlight also negated the need for using his lamp, another bonus. He didn't have an infinite number of candles, after all.
A shadow passed over his page as he briefed himself on the junction between the calcaneus and the tarsal bones. As Law hoped to himself that the person blocking his sunlight would move sooner rather than later, he heard a familiar voice say his name. But only one person called him 'Trafalgar,' and not 'Law.'
"Trafalgar, you there?" The red-haired boy was back. He knelt by the window, hand on a bar. "There you are!" he stated, seeing Law on the bed. Law stared blankly at the boy. Why did he come back? He said nothing, but moved to the window and knelt on his desk.
"What's with that face? Can't I come?" The boy demanded of Law, seeing his suspicious and confused eyes.
"I was shocked. I didn't think you'd really come again." He rested his chin and fingers on the concrete sill, holding his head above the bottom of the window. "This place belongs to the Donquixote family. Isn't it dangerous?"
The boy laughed and pointed one finger into the air, as if an idea had just struck him. "No need to worry, I'm strong." He rolled up the left sleeve of his t-shirt to reveal the bandage pad on his shoulder. "Anyways, this is the first time I've got stitched, so I don't know what to do."
So that's why he's here. Law observed him, not sure why he felt disappointed with the boy's reason for being there. "I see." He turned away from the window, and waved to the boy. "Just take a seat. I'll get a pair of scissors."
Law retrieved a pair of scissors and set to work on clipping the stitches out of the boy's arm. "You live here?" The boy asked.
"Yeah."
Pushing his face between the bars, the boy looked at him eagerly. "So do you know Donquixote Doflamingo?"
Law looked up from his work, a little taken aback by his sudden excitement. "I guess…"
"Awesome!" The boy lowered his face to the ground, as close to eye level to Law as he could get. "So are you really strong, too? Everyone in the Donquixote family is really powerful! And Boss Doflamingo just became a Shichibukai too! Just how strong are the Shichibukai…?"
"I don't know."
"They're the seven strongest people in the world! I was quite overwhelmed myself when I saw him." Kidd vividly remembered the first time he had seen Donquixote Doflamingo in person. When the Shichibukai visited the island, there was always a great party thrown in the port village. Doflamingo's title protected the island from other pirates, so he was very well loved by the populus. Kidd remembered sitting on an apple crate with his friends, watching the towering man in the pink-feathered coat parade through the town. For a child like Kidd, the man who regularly dwarfed grown adults was monstrously large. His curved sunglasses disturbed Kidd. The man's eyes were invisible, and replaced by that human feature was a permanent leer made in black reflective glass. Doflamingo wore a perpetual smirk on his face, teeth bared and smile broad. The experience had been terrifyingly powerful.
"But I'm sure there are people stronger than the Shichibukai out there." Kidd said in a determined voice. That was who he was going to be, the one stronger than the Shichibukai. "Isn't that scary?" He prompted Law, who had remained silent during his little sermon. When the question warranted no response, he tried again. "Is Doflamingo scary?"
"Well…" Law reached out to kid, a strawberry candy in his hand. He leaned his other arm against a bar, and rested his head against his fingers. He smiled at Kidd, his eyes somewhere far away. "Sometimes, he can be really gentle."
Kidd looked at Law. He looked at the candy in his hand, then turned back to Law. "Is he your dad?" He asked in all seriousness.
Law stared at the boy blankly. He felt his lips contorting and quickly turned away from the window to hide his guffawing. He keeled over his bed, grasping the sheets and shaking uncontrollably. He thumped his fist on the bed, trying to rid himself of that giddiness that overcame him. It was too funny, Law couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so hard.
Kidd watched Trafalgar's convulsions with confusion and indignation. He felt slightly stupid for not understanding what was so funny.
"What...? Why are you laughing?! What's so funny?! Tell me!"
Trafalgar didn't respond, only continued to convulse and shake with silent laughter. Kidd was getting really pissed. Why was he laughing? Why was he refusing to tell Kidd the joke?
"You... Just when will you stop treating me like a stupid kid?! You come out here now! I'll kill you!"
Law could only clutch at the bedsheets before him. He was laughing so hard, it hurt. Tears were in his eyes and he almost couldn't breathe.
"Who's there?!" It was a security guard. Time must have passed surprisingly quickly, if it was already time for the security rounds.
"Shit..." Trafalgar hadn't answered for his rudeness yet. But Kidd had to leave, the security guard had a hound with him.
"I'll remember this!" he hissed to Trafalgar before turning and dashing off.
It took a long time for Law to stop laughing.
That evening, as Law sat in the calming gray of twilight, Doflamingo visited him. Law voiced his usual 'welcome home,' and was greeted with that ever present smile. The man extended his hand to Law, and the boy took it, his smaller hand unable to grasp all of the man's fingers. His forefinger caressed Law's cheek, and a thumb pressed gently to his bottom lip. Obediently, still holding his stony expression, Law nipped gently on the thumb, and raised his hands to the one holding his face. He took it in his own, and guided the other fingers to his mouth. Slowly, he licked up the forefinger, past the second knuckle. Suddenly the arm moved to his elbow, leaving Law to glance curiously upwards at the man before him. Doflamingo drew him into a tight but gentle embrace, petting Law's head and cradling his small body against his own. Buried in the man's shoulder, Law's pained smile went unnoticed by the immovable force that enveloped him.
The moon was high in the sky when Law heard the door click shut. "Ah…" Still shaking, he turned his head to the comforting look of the closed door. "He's gone…" His tears, still gathering in his eyes, threatened to fall once more as he lay, spent, on his bed.
I mean, I can't force you to do anything, but I REALLY! recommend going to watch the doujinshi on youtube. The art is surprisingly convincing, really similar to Oda's style. It makes you believe in the characters, plus, it does a really good job of making you believe that young Kidd and Law would behave how they do. Review if you feel like it, I'm fine with flames since they'll help me know what I'm doing wrong!