Chapter VII: The Encounter
Vivi felt the wind knock out of her as her back hit the boardwalk after Mr.5's attack. Time stood still in the few seconds that it took her to realise what had happened.
Thanks to Miss Valentine's calculated hit, Vivi's silver hairband lay shattered back in the tavern. Her luxurious blue locks now covered her face, effectively blocking her vision. Disoriented, Vivi winced in pain as she tried to move her neck from side to side.
Carefully turning over, she pushed her arms against the wooden boards and tried to lift her upper body, but paused midway. Vivi noticed a pair of pointed black dress shoes (well someone's feet clad in those shoes, to be precise) in front of her face.
Sensing that someone was watching her, she slowly looked up, noting along the way, the muscular physique and bright clothing of the towering individual before her. Vivi's eyes stopped at an oddly familiar, pink feather coat. This is the last thing I need right now. Reluctantly, she leant her head back to confirm her suspicion.
Staring down at the young woman, from his remarkable height, was none other than the Shichibukai himself! His pink sunglasses almost glowed under the moonlight. His expression- indecipherable.
What should I do now? Is he going to kill me?!
Transfixed with fear, Vivi's mind blanked for a split second. Ironically, it was Miss Valentine's annoying laugh from somewhere above that made her snap back to reality. Of course, Miss All-Sunday must have reported me already. Or was it the Unluckies this time?
Ignoring Miss Valentine for the moment, Vivi scrambled to get up from her awkward position.
Once up, she dusted her clothes and moved her hair to the side. The Shichibukai watched her the entire time with curiosity but did not say a single word.
Feigning calm and confidence, she took a deep breath and boldly looked into the face of the intimidating man before her, "Excuse me, but I can't properly introduce myself at the moment." she tried to recreate Miss Wednesday's lighthearted speech manner but felt it failed. Why did I even try that?!
He just grinned at her and continued to watch the scene before him, with a bottle of wine in his enormous hand. He seems to enjoy watching people suffer, she thought, remembering the scene she witnessed earlier in the night.
The Shichibukai's offbeat demeanour made Vivi uncomfortable, not knowing what else to say she quietly readied her weapon to counter Miss Valentine's upcoming attack. Doflamingo diverted his attention towards the sky, "A devil fruit user eh, how fun fufufu" he laughed and took another drink from the bottle in his hand.
His laughter startled Vivi as she watched Miss Valentine hover with an alarming precision right above her her head. Focus Vivi.
"Kyahahaha, looks like we have an audience to witness the beginning of your end, isn't that nice?" Miss Valentine nodded at Doflamingo.
Does she not know who he is?
The tall man frowned, but did not bother to respond; the bottle in his hand was of more interest to him at the moment. This is just a show for a man like him, Vivi thought bitterly.
"What do you want from me?" Vivi yelled back in response, trying to buy herself some time to slip the Kujjaki Slashers on her finger.
"Shouldn't you know the answer to that question better than I do Miss Wednesday hmm?" the woman asked in her signature, saccharine manner, as she ascended further into the night sky. Doflamingo's head turned back to Vivi.
Vivi observed the woman fly even higher. Bracing for Miss Valentine's next attack, she mentally chastised herself for not having her bazooka on hand. Why did I leave it back at the tavern?!
She made a quick mental note of the difficult situation she found herself in.
Alright, Miss Valentine is above me, the Shichbukai is behind me, she felt her panic rise at that fact. Mr.5 is inside the tavern in front of me with Mr.9.
Her eyes went wide.
MR.9! He must be holding up Mr.5 for me. I need to go back and see if he's alright there! I must find a way t—
"Fufufufu, are you having a rough night Miss...Wednesday?" Doflamingo interrupted her "assessment." Pondering her answer, Vivi turned her head to the side. Doflamingo grinned appreciatively at the outline of her delicate profile in the moonlight.
What was his codename or nickname again? It was in that book from Nanimonai...Donquixote Doflamingo aka Heavenly Yaksha? No that's not the one that was highlighted there. Think Vivi, think! Ah!
"Isn't it quite obvious Mister...Joker?" the young woman mustered her courage and opted for his tactic. It had to be Joker; I can't let him know who I am.
"You have guts girl fufufu, and few people live to see another day after they spoke to me with such familiarity." Doflamingo laughed as he took a step closer.
Vivi took a step back; this is very bad. Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?! I should go back and help Mr.9!
Vivi was about to lunge forward towards the direction of her partner when Mr.5 stepped out of the ruined tavern. Doflamingo paused in curiosity.
"Hold it Miss Valentine." the officer agent signalled for his partner to postpone her descent. He then turned to Vivi, "You've wasted enough of our time. We are here because you are one of the spies from the Kingdom of Alabasta..." he held up a small photograph of Vivi's younger self, as Doflamingo took another swig from the bottle in the background.
Mr.5 continued to walk towards the stunned woman.
"And not just any spy of course, but the Princess of the kingdom herself—NEFERTARI VIVI." Mr.5 finished triumphantly.
Doflamingo had his eyes on Vivi again. What a pleasant surprise, I found a Nefertari on Jaya, punishing Bellamy was even more worthwhile than I thought. His lips curled up into a smirk.
Oblivious to the blond man's gaze, Vivi grit her teeth in anger. I can't die here, not just yet. Alabasta needs me. She fixed the arrogant agent with a deadly stare.
"Don't worry, the orders of our Boss specified that you must be captured alive...unlike your partner Igaram," Mr.5 explained dispassionately.
"You monsters! What did you do to HIM?!" Vivi snapped as her fragile composure reached its breaking point. She aimed her slashers at Mr.5's neck. I'll kill you and Crocodile! I will go through hell if I have to.
"You can ask the Boss this question yourself after we hand you over to Miss All-Sunday kyahahaha!" Miss Valentine laughed at the blue haired woman.
Vivi felt her heart sink. No. Igaram can take care of himself, and he's the Head of the Royal Guard for a reason. I can't let them provoke me like this. Vivi's eyes darted from one agent to the other.
The sound of shattered glass caught her attention as Doflamingo threw the empty wine bottle behind him.
"The missing Princess of Alabasta, how intriguing!" His deep voice cut right through the intense stare-off between the agents of Baroque Works. Vivi furrowed her brow at his comment.
"Oh my goodness! Are you a REAL PRINCESS MISS WEDNESDAY?" Mr.9 peered out of the tavern's broken window.
Can this night get any worse?! Vivi's built up rage was about to erupt.
"IS THIS WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT RIGHT NOW MR.9?!" Vivi shouted in frustration. At least he is alright though, Vivi sighed in relief; her eyes went back to Mr.5.
Meanwhile, the higher ranking Baroque Work's agent had finally acknowledged the Shichibukai's presence.
"I do not know what a powerful man like you, is doing on this island, nor do I care to know. But this is an internal conflict of our organisation, so I would appreciate it if you did not interfere. We will be finishing up soon anyway." Mr.5 said simply.
"Fufufufu, I would watch that attitude of yours if I were you. I don't appreciate such forward requests from lowly human trash such as yourself." Doflamingo laughed as he licked the wine off his lips. But his tone seemed more hostile to Vivi. Why is he still smiling though?
Vivi heard Miss Valentine gasp. It looks like she realised who we are dealing with, Vivi thought in contempt. For the last few minutes or so Miss Valentine was sitting quietly on the roof, her earlier confidence notably dampened by the rising tension that emanated from the two men outside.
"My Boss' orders are absolute and come before anything else," Mr.5 replied nonchalantly. He then turned to Vivi as his hand moved up to his nose.
A vein popped on Doflamingo's forehead.
"Nose Canon Fancy."Mr.5 flicked his "nasal weapon" at her.
Doflamingo raised his brow and was about to do the same with his arm, but stopped when he saw a man in a tattered green suit jump out of the broken window.
"Miss Wednesday RUN!" Mr.9 shielded Vivi with his body.
"Mr.9, DON'T!" she cried as the 'snot bomb' hit her partner. The man fell and lay motionless on the ground; a cloud of smoke rose up from his body.
"I will make you PAY for this!" Vivi lashed out and sent her slashers flying at Mr.5. The man stepped to the side, avoiding her blades. He was about to attack her in retaliation when his hand froze right before his nose.
Confused, Mr. 5 tried to move his hand again, but it didn't budge.
"No scum alive has the right to brush me off and put someone's orders ahead of mine." Doflamingo smiled sadistically as he swiped his finger in the air. Vivi watched in astonishment as a greyish (A/N:haki infused) string appeared from his arm and slashed Mr.5's neck, the man grunted and toppled onto the boardwalk, his blood seeped out onto the ground; his life along with it. Miss Valentine shrieked in fear.
Vivi covered her mouth with her hands as she couldn't believe what was happening before her.
Turning his head in the direction of the blonde woman, Doflamingo pointed his finger at her. "Bullet string", short strings shot out of his finger. The blonde woman fell back onto the tiled roof.
The night was still again. An ominous silence descended upon the entire town. The air grew thick with palpable tension that Vivi felt she could slice through with a knife. She froze still.
Doflamingo began to approach her, his signature smile fixed on his face. "Looks like we are alone now Princess fufufu."
Vivi gulped, his actions further amplified her fear. She prepared for a similar fate as the duo from Baroque Works. Attacking him is pointless anyway. But she held onto her slashers nonetheless, ready to spin them out at any given moment. Will it end like this?
"We are..." she said uncertainly while looking at Mr.9's body for any signs of life. If he's wounded and I die then no one can help him out.
To her surprise Doflamingo sat down on a large crate nearby, that must have been thrown out of the tavern by the force of the blasts.
"Don't worry he'll live." he said noticing her concerned look and went on, "I've wanted to meet you for some time now...Nefertari Vivi." He stressed her family name.
Vivi couldn't gauge his expression thanks to his sunglasses, but for some reason the way he said her name, irked her. Her fear was laced with the remnants of her rage from before. I had enough. Why do these Shichibukais think they can toy with my life and my country?!
"Why would you want that?" Vivi inquired aggressively. Her slashers gleamed beneath the bright moon.
"Mmmm, so suspicious and hostile...I love that! What an unusual Princess you are." He threw his head back in laughter.
Is he here to laugh at me? Or to kill me for fun? I am wasting my time. Where's Carue?!
"There is no need to mock me, I do not know why you wanted to meet me, but I don't have time for this...so have a good night," Vivi replied coolly. Her response made Doflamingo laugh even harder. This is my chance! She tried to dash towards the docks. Carue has to be there.
Doflamingo stopped laughing and reached his arm forward. His long limbs made it easy for him to prevent the Princess from running away as he pulled her towards him.
Bending his head, he held her forearm.
"Don't even bother to run from me. You saw what I did to the people who wanted to hand you over to old Crocodile. You could be a little more grateful don't you think?" Vivi inched away as an overbearing scent of alcohol, musk and sandalwood filled her nostrils.
I suppose he does have a point. But how does he know that Crocodile is the Boss?
Vivi studied his face, searching for any clues only to be met with the same maniacal grin as before. He was impossible to read or predict.
Doflamingo slid his hand up along her arm, all the way to her shoulder, quashing any hope of escape. Vivi tried to shrug his hand off, only to be met with a threatening smile as the blond man squeezed it. She stopped struggling. Taking a deep breath to steady her fragile nerves, she attempted to look into his eyes. Only to see her tired face reflect from his sunglasses.
Let's try diplomacy.
"I am grateful that you... kill—I mean removed those threats for me. But may I know why did you do that...? " Vivi asked him quietly. She wanted to ask about Crocodile as well but decided to wait on it for a little while. I can't use force nor escape him. Persuasion then? She tried to recall what she learnt from her father and tutors during her lessons.
"We have some things in common you see, and there wasn't enough blood for me earlier tonight." His grip tightened on her shoulder, "Besides I have some questions that only you, a Nefertari, can answer. Could you do that for me...Princess?" he asked.
Vivi felt the heat radiate off his skin as he moved his face even closer to hers. She lowered her head.
As if I have another choice...
"What would you like to know?" Her jaw was set as she looked back at him.
"Fufufu, how generous of you." Doflamingo smiled.
She could feel his breath on the side of her neck. A chill went down her spine, and she felt her face heat up.
