4

The conversation was delayed because more urgent matters had popped up – not for Doffy, there was nothing more important than an explanation and the willingness to share them, but Family always came first.

So Doffy had been absent for two days, having no hope to find Law in his room, when he would return. Even if he had left Den-Den Mushi in his quarters and the man answered every time – dozen, if Doffy counted a little embarrassed – making exasperated sounds.

It was unlike him to call and ask about... To tell the truth he did not ask at all, just hung up after hearing Law's voice. Doffy pretended to himself that other members of the Family would know, trying to persuade him or break the bond – whatever it was, it should have not been broken by anyone other than involved parties.

That condition was not something absolute or unavoidable, even if Doffy thought that Law could never admit he enjoyed their meetings, however infrequent they were.

So when Doffy crossed the doorstep of his own room and found Law standing at the window, an uncomfortable knot loosened in his abdomen. The nausea that disturbed him for two days alongside with the dry throat and the feeling that his body was trembling all the time, rushing him to move, to go back, to check on his own eyes.

The man looked outside, frowning and sighing, then covered his face with tattooed hand. Doffy came closer, to see what was so fascinating to eat his attention to this level of concern. A small smile on his lips made Doffy return it, less feral and more private, the one he used at a rare occasion.

On the yard, where machines worked at their full power, someone walked without any sense of danger. Out of the blue this person – Rosi, of course, Rosi, who else – tripped and hit the ground causing dust to hide him in big, light brown clouds.

Doffy sighed.

"He is always like that" he admitted, when Law grimaced at the sight. "Clumsy and foolish."

He expected a question about details, instead Law hummed, before turning to face Doffy and smirked.

"It's not worse than dead calls at early morning" Law pointed.

Hearing the words, that summed up his action of last two days, Doffy blushed and cleared his throat.

"I've told you, I'll stay and wait. Three times" the man emphasized, then, without a warning, he gave him back sleeping Den-Den Mushi. "One of Kaidou's men called, saying that the preparation started as planned."

Everything around them froze in a fraction of seconds – time, machines. Doffy's heart. One single beat and then... nothing. In peep in ears, blocking noises, words, breaths.

The whole outside world.

Doffy could not find many events in his life when this happened. It was like his ears failed to catch sounds and interpret them, even when he saw Law's lips moved, like his eyes focused so much that Doffy noticed even a smallest grain of sand under his feet, like his skin became more sensible and could feel ruggedness of a flat surface Doffy leaned on.

Then the world just moved a bit faster, still slower than normal, to the extent like it did not moved at all, but it was a progress.

It alerted Doffy – panic lurked on surface of his mind, waiting for a cue to explode and spread.

They looked each other, searching for a sign of treat or bad will. When Doffy saw there was no immediate danger, he relaxed, taking the phone – sleeping, relaxed, dull to its owner's problems.

Then his head snapped so hard, something cracked in his neck.

The time came.

"Who are you?"

The question was a warning and a plea – for what, Doffy did not know, but Law looked like it proved something, because he nodded, then turned towards the window.

When his spoke, the world stopped making sense again. This time for a lot longer than before.

5

Since their first encounter Doffy had knew it had some special meaning. But never in his dreams could he guessed it was something this ridiculous.

How could they ever have such conversation? Practical jokes were funny only if they were realistic, not same crazy talk about things that were not possible.

Expect-

"I'm for the future" Law stated. "I travels thanks to my Devil Fruit's power."

His voice was calm, measured, like he expected to not be treated seriously.

When Doffy laughed, he cringed, curling up a little.

After a good few minutes, when the silence fell again between them, Doffy frowned.

"You're serious" he grinned with fake, big smile, that hide all the anxiety that made his stomach flip. "You're Devil Fruit user" Doffy repeated, when something clicked into place.

Law nodded, small smile on his lips.

"I know about Dressrosa – you'll be the king, you will rule it for a long time." he said, smirking. "Not forever, but enough for the world to notice you and support you with your planes, when needed."

Doffy frowned, siting in his chair. Thoughtful.

Law continued, moving form the window to the barrel. He picked a book from there, before he gave it to Doffy. The titles said something about Flevance – why was Law interested in the subject of a town rich and happy under the World Government's protection?

"What's this?" he asked, letting it rest on his thighs.

"A gift. It'll be helpful in few years" Law smirked, his eyes gray and absent.

Doffy looked at it once more, before nodding and focusing at the matter in hand.

"You and your brother are former Celestial Dragons." Law informed, confirming his knowledge that Doffy had suspected since the day one. "You have told me... in rather disturbing circumstances."

"Very spy could know that" Doffy stressed the word "spy" looking outside the window. Law followed with pained smile.

"I know about... most important things" he admitted. "I know you're suspicious him and you're planning to check on him, when Vergo" the name came like unwanted, ugly split from his mouth "will play undercover agent as Marine recruit. You're preparing. Planning. Predicting" Law trialled off.

By the time he ended, Doffy's breath was quick and shallow.

To be truth it was hard to breath at all, with the room too small and sweaty. He swallowed, caught, but it did not help. His vision become blurry and his hands wet. Doffy could felt like his heart tried to escape from his chest, trapped in ribcage like a wild, scared bird. At any moment his lungs would stop working too and...

"I know you. And I could harm you. But not like that. Not yet at least" the man assured. His voice rose a few volumes from panic.

Only then, when he heard the soothing voice and felt a warm hands on his cheek, Doffy realized that the man had came closer – too close, way too close, too dangerous – trying to settle him down.

How did this happen? Why did Doffy not notice the move? Why his instinct had not warned him? Was he so comfortable in Law's presence that his mind did not recognize the enemy this close?

Coming to himself was a painful process of awarness and panic mixed with a need to run and hide that caused embarrassment, because Doffy knew, what Law would think about him, about the situation, how humiliated it is, the weakness he showed just now.

Trying to take a grasp on the control he had lost, that slipped through his fingers like sand, like cut doll's strings, Doffy brushed off an offer of consolation. The slapping noise that hummed in the room when their hands connected for a few seconds, was like a mirror image of their mutual agreement – shattered into thousand pieces.

It reflected in Law's eyes, when he understand what had happened.

The sadness, disappointment and wariness present in the gray orbits, wide and hopeful just a second ago, were heavy, almost unbearable, so Doffy stand straight, looming on the man and smile – wide, fake, predatory. Insecure for an experienced eye.

The attack was quick, unexpected – or maybe appreciated, because Law did not yelp when the big hand tightened on his neck. He closed his eyes instead, then loosened his hold on Doffy's wrists and dangling like a doll. Puppet ready to its fate.

Doffy swallowed.

Why did he not feel any joy or satisfaction? Why the tickles in his stomach became more and more disturbing? Why nauseate in his mouth could not go away?

His gullet was burning, so was his right hand than connected with Law's skin. He could felt when the man swallowed and how hard it was for him to take even a small breath.

"Why can't I kill you?" Doffy whispered, afraid of the real reason. "Why are you so hard to kill?" he mussed, then pinned Law to the wall and tightened his grip, hoping that the end would be fast, irreversible and final.

Only Law's instincts kicked in then. He started struggling and whining, fighting for his life with wide eyes, open mouth that could not have enough air, the dry, cold finders sunk into Doffy's forearm, the man's nails harming him, but Doffy did not lessened the desperate hold.

A few seconds, just a few seconds. Wait a bit longer. If he would close his eyes, not see who was kicking and making muffled noises.

If only it was not this hard to kill...

Doffy felt the sweat fell through his forehead, temple. Cheek.

Something salty and wet joined the single drop in its way down.

The tear escaped him, when the burning in the corner of his eyes were to much to bear.

Just a few seconds was enough to end one's life.

Everyone's else life.

Doffy unbent his fingers, taking two, three, four steps back.

"Why can't I kill you?!" he shouted. "Why are you so hard to kill. To end your miserable existence?! What trick did you use? Is this your power?" Doffy demanded answers.

He laughed like mad, broken person, when the black figure fell to the ground, fighting for air, coughing and choking, clenching and unclenching his fist in turns.

"You... you..." Law tried to say, but failed at any approach, but a smirk was present on his lips. "You'll not... not... kill me. Not... now... not ever. Accept... that" Law spluttered.

After that statement they fell into silence not knowing what to do next.

6

"I never despised you, because your origins, but because of your actions" Law whispered, making it difficult to miss or ignore, when Doffy stand couple of feet away from him.

His face was serious, the jaw clenched and the fists tighten on his thighs.

"It were your actions that made me hate you, not where or how you were born."

They did not talked.

Doffy just listened. After the initial break down, he could not explain or admit how his mind became woozy. He did not felt shame or embarrassment, just emptiness – the void that he could not recognize or fill, only accept.

Indifference for his part did not stop Law from his speech. It was short, a prelude to the real one, when Doffy would be ready and willing to hear the rest – the main part, the reviling part that could be a warning, an guide to his better future, where he could avoid the obvious mistakes he had made in his previous existence only Law remembered and witnessed.

He had said what he needed to, then fell into silent. Then stand and walk away, only to return after a couple of minutes with painkillers and a glass of water.

Doffy was lying on his bed, with wet clothes on his uncovered, closed eyes and forehead – he only hear the sound of something small rolled and thumb of something being situated on the wooden barrel that served as his table.

"I'll leave you for now, but I won't disappear soon, not until we talk properly" Law warned.

It was a treat – powerful and serious. A plea and a warning that they were not done yet. Only started their real combat, their mutual history.

Their shared destiny.

The doors closed after Law and there was nothing but silence and clung of the metal outside around Doffy.


We're going somewhere finally. What do you think? Did you expected it to turn out differently? Or this actually sutis in your opinions? I'm curious, so share some of your thoughts.

It the moment I find very hard in every time travel story – the truth about time travel. There is no good way to reveal such information for somebody, especially as paranoid and intelligent as Doffy is, but... I hope it did well, believable. Not ideal, but I suspect there is not good way to say it, tbh.

They're having this conversation in next chapter with a little twist that will complicate things (not much, but it's time to make some matters clear). So...

To the next time!