As Luffy ran hollering down the hall of the marine ship, Law wondered if he ought to be more optimistic about things. After all, there was nothing wrong with hoping that Straw Hat's foolish antics would go right for once. It had worked throughout Dressrosa, for the most part, but the dark haired Heart Pirate would really rather have not left his fate up to someone so wild and reckless.
Law pointedly ignored the fact that he had been rash and really quite reckless when he had attempted to battle Doflamingo the first time around. To allow for more time for Straw Hat's crew to do something without Doflamingo's interference on Dressrosa.
It was a wonder they didn't all die when all the plans that had been in place were torn to pieces. At the very least it had worked out in the end.
Law's head lolled to one side as he tried very much not to hurl verbal abuse Straw Hat's way for the way he was carrying him over his shoulder. It wasn't the most comfortable position, as he was jostled with each movement Luffy made as the Straw Hat pirate captain ran down the hall. Like he didn't expect for there to be any marine interference.
The Surgeon of Death wasn't as optimistic as his fellow captain in that regard. There had to be some marines around that heard all the racket that Straw Hat was making about his hat. Already Law had already figured out several ways that this could go very very wrong, and most of them were because he was still chained in sea stone prism.
It didn't make for a sure-fire escape.
Law again felt that Luffy was stupid for not thinking it could be a problem, him being chained without access to his op op powers, and with the potential of running into higher ranked marines. On his own, Law had no doubt Luffy could handle them, but when he was carrying the Heart Pirate captain and trying to, from the sounds of it, reclaim his hat and then escape, it didn't seem like the best of ideas.
Mainly because Law had no way to defend himself.
"Where'd you put my hat?" Luffy demanded as soon as he caught sight of a marine rounding the corner that presumably led to the upper decks.
Law hid a not quite groan, figuring that at this point in time, having his memory scrambled around would have better protected him from Luffy's simple mindedness. But he couldn't help but smirk just a little, because he could hear that the poor marine had halted in their tracks as if not expecting to see the captured pirates out of their cells.
The marine in question froze in place, clearly not expecting to see an upset Luffy barreling toward him, with the Heart Pirate captain slung over one shoulder. Had the marine glimpsed Law's face, he may have started running away faster than he had begun to.
If Law could have, he would have used his powers to cut both the marine and Luffy up, though in Straw Hat's case, he would probably find it more fascinating than humiliating to be in pieces. The marine looking relieved a moment later didn't bode well, nor did Luffy suddenly halting in place, because the younger pirate captain sounded confused at the lack of movement.
"Huh? Why'd I stop moving?"
Good question.
Law made an attempt to move himself, and found that he was held in place as well.
That didn't bode well at all, and Law knew exactly what had happened. In the confusion of escape, the dark haired pirate had almost forgotten that the marines had managed to capture Doflamingo as well, and that meant…
That meant…
Law strained to see out of the corner of his eye from where he hung limply on Luffy's shoulder, and he could just barely make Fall out, and as he wasn't the one that had stopped them in their tracks...
That left only one option.
Law being held in place as well as Straw Hat meant that the vice admiral had somehow managed to exert his Devil Fruit powers over Doflamingo. Law closed his eyes briefly. The mere idea of what Fall could do by manipulating Doflamingo and his powers was a terrifying thought all on its own. It almost made the dark haired captain forget to be amused by the fact that Doflamingo was weakened enough for the takeover to happen in the first place. It served the son of a bitch right, though at he moment, it was very inconvenient for Law and Luffy, as they were trying to escape.
Or, at least, Law wanted to. Straw Hat seemed fixated on his hat.
"Not the most brilliant of escape attempts." Fall commented as he came into view, twirling Luffy's straw hat idly. "Did you really think you could get away that easily?"
"Hey! That's mine! Give it back!" Luffy demanded, not seeming to care as to the serious and potentially dangerous position at he was in. Nor the fact that he was unable to move at present. Or to even bother to listen to what Fall was saying, for that matter.
Law was silent as he chose to eye the large figure in the shadows of the hall behind Fall. Even looking at his surroundings upside-down as he was, it was still disturbing to see Doflamingo not wearing a smile, as that normally meant that someone was going to die. In this instance, Law knew that it was likely because somewhere inside, Doflamingo was fighting the control Fall had over him. Law couldn't help but smirk faintly at the sight before he breathed aloud softly. "How does it feel to be manipulated, Joker?"
Naturally Doflamingo didn't answer. He just stood there with a blank expression, eyes hidden by those shades. The blond haired pirate merely held a hand out in Law and Luffy's direction to restrain them with his Devil Fruit powers. What Law found concerning was that Doflamingo wasn't breathing as heavily as before. Had he had enough time to recover from his wounds? Law frowned. He couldn't completely heal the internal ones, but he had to have done something to prevent the damage from spreading.
Another inconvenience.
Law wasn't too sure of Fall's control over the older pirate, and wondered what the chances were for Doflamingo shredding them to pieces. After all, from what Law could glean, Doflamingo's other hand that was at his side twitched now and again, and the Heart Pirate captain wondered if the blond haired pirate really was trying to fight back against Fall's mental manipulation of his memories. Law couldn't see how; he'd not remembered much of anything even when he had initially gotten away, memory scattered, and run into Luffy and his crew soon after.
But if it was possible to fight against the confusing loss of memory, then it meant that there was more of a limit to Fall's powers, including its use on one person at a time.
"I didn't think my powers would be able to work on him." Fall indicated Doflamingo with a jerk of his head, before focusing on the straw hat he was absently twirling. "I can't let the two of you escape that easily. My superiors would be very displeased if I managed to let such high bounties get away."
"Give me back my hat!" Luffy demanded, still on a one track mind.
Law wanted to say something, but at the tightening of the string that held him and Straw Hat in place, the dark haired Heart Pirate decided against it. It would just be his luck if his voice triggered something in Doflamingo's scattered memory, and that thought made Law wonder if the other man even recognized him at the moment.
"Bring Straw Hat Luffy with us. I doubt the other will be of much trouble with the sea stone."
Law would have liked to flip Fall off if he'd had the strength to do so, but between being restrained with those cuffs and Doflamingo's powers, the most Law could manage was a soft huff of laughter.
Things were not going very well at all.
A few marines slipped by Fall after the vice admiral had spoken, and as soon as they got one of Luffy's wrists in a sea stone cuff, Fall made some kind of half wave in Doflamingo's direction.
Doflamingo's Devil Fruit power vanished, and Law found himself going in for a meeting with the deck of the hall, which was rather painful, all things considered. The dark haired Heart Pirate lay on his side as he watched as Luffy still went on about his hat.
"I'll kick your ass." Luffy said with certainty. "You're getting in my way!"
It would have been a good threat if Luffy weren't being affected by the sea prism stone that he'd been cuffed. And as he was led away to somewhere above deck, it didn't stop him from harassing the already harassed marines about his hat.
Great.
That left Law with Fall and a scatter minded Doflamingo, which really should have been funny but it wasn't. Not right now, anyway, as depending on how Fall had managed it, Law was in trouble either from Doflamingo having memories of him, or the vice admiral making him think he was an enemy of sorts. Law frowned at the deck. That meant Doflamingo wouldn't like him either way, and in both instances the Surgeon of Death was in danger of being dismembered limb from limb unless Fall had something else in mind.
"Now that that is taken care of…" Fall waved a few marines in the direction of the cells that had remained behind with him. "Take Law back to the cell, and get more of those chains ready as well." Fall subtly seemed to indicate Doflamingo, and Law couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Doflamingo when he became aware again, and chained.
Law felt himself helped to his feet before he was led away, though he had to let the marines do most of the walking. The dark haired pirate had a hard time getting his legs to move right.
Exhaustion was a pain in the ass, and so was sea prism stone. Ten minutes later, and the Heart Pirate captain was cursing his bad luck yet again.
Because Luffy had burst free of his cell, it couldn't be used. Which left the smaller cell, and Law pressed himself up against the wall opposite of Doflamingo, as if expecting the older man to try something, despite being chained rather liberally with sea stone. The sight was amusing, but not when Doflamingo seemed to realize where he was and who he was with, once Fall had left their sight and went above deck with the other marines.
"I take it that that was what you went through with those powers." Doflamingo commented, his voice devoid of any inflection. "No wonder you didn't recognize me before."
"If you mean remembering what happened to you when you had no memories, then yes, that is what I experienced." Law answered, letting his back rest a tad bit more heavily against the wall. Then, since he didn't seem to be in danger of being torn to shreds, Law made the decision to smirk at the blond. "How does it feel, Joker? To be manipulated against your will by someone else?"
Doflamingo grinned eerily at that, but said nothing. He had started to wheeze again, and that, at the very least, let the dark haired Heart Pirate know that the older pirate hadn't made a spontaneous recovery.
Law said nothing in return, not about to press his luck, and merely watched the older pirate warily. He hated those shades that Doflamingo wore, because he couldn't tell if Doflamingo was looking at him, had closed his eyes or was staring off into space. No matter how much he wanted to make a dig at Doflamingo about how long his body would hold out when he was chained by sea stone, Law remained quiet.
Doflamingo's chains clinked as he stretched out. The older pirate let out some low hum of contemplation as he similarly moved his hands, as if testing out the strength of the chains.
Law didn't think the strength mattered, as it was a matter of being able to move while being drained of energy that was the problem. No matter how strong Doflamingo was, injured or not, there was no way for the man to tear the chains apart. Trying to do so would only wear the blond out. Law tensed as the tip of Doflamingo's nearest foot prodded his. Law moved the limb away and eyed Doflamingo cautiously. He really hoped that those chains were secure, because he'd rather not give Doflamingo the idea to kick him to death or something. Bastard was big enough that he didn't need Devil Fruit powers to kill him if he really wanted to.
"So, Law, what were you planning to do when Kaido showed himself?" Doflamingo's grin stretched in a rather savage way. "Because I think I would like to toss you before him and see what he does to the one who was the cause of him losing SMILE."
Law's face set; he was not going to say a damn thing. That is, he wasn't going to, until Doflamingo did manage to move, despite the chains. What the hell were the marines thinking, not keeping the chains set into the wall? Before Law knew it, the older pirate had yanked him away from the wall through sheer force of will, and thrown him none too gently to the ground A foot to the back of his neck stilled Law immediately, as well as any chance of sliding out of range.
Terrible way to go, really. Crushed to death by a formerly pink feather wearing son of a bitch who seemed to be too pleased about something.
"What do you say, Law? Shall I take you before Kaido, or should I just kill you now, before the marines show up?" The blond haired pirate let his foot rest against the back of Law's neck more heavily. "Or would you like to be useful and use your powers on me?"
"And die anyway?" Law's voice was slightly muffled against the deck. "I'd rather die and not give you anything, just to spite you."
Doflamingo laughed darkly, and the pressure of the foot became nearly unbearable.
"By the way, you were a useful mode of transportation." Law dared to rasp out, full well remembering Doflamingo's warning that he'd kill him if he even so much as whispered a word about it. Or remembered it, which the Heart Pirate captain did.
"Making things harder on yourself still? I thought you knew better than to taunt me." Doflamingo's voice held a sneer, even if the blond seemed to become more and more out of breath. "You really are a fool."
"Better a fool than a dead man." Law still hoped that Kaido would come and murder Doflamingo for him.
"That can be arranged." The older pirate replied snidely.
Law let out what suspiciously sounded like a squeak as his breath left him completely as Doflamingo's foot changed positions and drove into his back. The motion also ended any more quips Law may have chosen to throw the blond's way.
Bastard.
"That mouth of yours gets you into too much trouble, Law." Doflamingo said, his voice back to an almost conversational tone as he pressed down harder with his foot. "First threatening me to resign as a warlord, then not saying Straw Hat was your subordinate to buy him and his crew more time, and even your digs about the will of 'D' in an attempt to throw me off in our other fight. You don't know when to give up."
Law cursed wordlessly, and would have indicated that the blond haired pirate didn't know when to give up either. Just what kind of condition was Doflamingo in anyway? He seemed to have hidden reserves of energy just when Law thought the older pirate's internal injuries would be more than just a minor hindrance. Doflamingo really did sound bound and determined to kill him there and now, and it was really inconvenient, not to mention humiliating, to think he really might be crushed to death in this manner after all. He should have just played along and-
"Really? And I thought I told them to chain you more securely." A flat voice said.
Law suddenly had the pressure vanish from his back, though it wasn't because Fall had used his Devil Fruit powers on Doflamingo.
The older pirate had moved himself so he could get close to the cell to leer unpleasantly at Fall, as if he knew that there wasn't much Law could do should he choose to try and crush him under foot again.
Law discreetly edged as far away from Doflamingo as he could, taking in several gasping breaths of air as he struggled to shake the light headed feeling he now had. A few moments more and he very well might have passed out.
"I don't remember you being any kind of admiral." Doflamingo was acting as if he'd done nothing to threaten Law's continued existence. "You must be new if you don't know who I am."
"I don't care who you are, other than the fact that you are a pirate, and no longer a warlord." Fall said, seemingly disinterested in anything Doflamingo had to say. He raised a hand, and in it he held a gun. "I'd rather Trafalgar Law stay in one piece for now. He'll be useful when we make landfall next to keep away any intruders."
Doflamingo seemed to glance at Law, before he sneered at Fall. "You will regret this."
"No more than you'll regret this." Fall shot Doflamingo, and the blond haired pirate cursed as he ended up toppling over to the ground on his back. Fall lowered the gun disinterestedly, his expression not changing. "It wasn't sea stone that I shot you with, if you're curious. It was just a large dose of a sleeping drug. May as well keep you unconscious for most of the trip."
Doflamingo wheezed out some kind of laughter before he went still on his back.
Law saw the rise and fall of the blond's chest, and found that he was slightly disappointed that it didn't kill Doflamingo.
"I'll see you in the morning." Fall directed Law's way, before he left.
The Heart Pirate captain didn't find that very encouraging. But he did appreciate Doflamingo being shot. It was just a shame it wasn't an actual bullet that could have caused harm. Law warily chose to keep his distance, not sure if there was a high enough dosage in the world of a sleeping drug that would keep Doflamingo out for very long.
Morning couldn't come soon enough.
-x
Robin!" Sanji gushed as he flailed around the woman in question. "You're all right!"
Robin smiled at Sanji's antics, clearly used to the blond's fawning over herself and Nami. "I'm glad to see that you all are fine as well. I was worried the marines might have tortured you to death."
"Hey! Don't say things like that!" Usopp said, from where he was watching a ship sailing further ahead.
"We're going after that ship, right?" Zoro queried from where he lounged on the stairs of the Thousand Sunny, hand idly resting on the hilts of his katana.
"That's what we decided after we heard that wiretapped conversation ten minutes ago." Nami informed the swordsman. "They're taking Law and Luffy to another marine base, and they're going to try and execute them there." The orange haired navigator shook her head. "They're both so much trouble."
None of the Straw Hats brought up the fact that Doflamingo was on the marine ship too. They all had seen the blond haired pirate being dragged onto the marine ship in chains in the aftermath of the fight they'd been engaged in. Not too long after they were reunited with the rest of their crew.
"Where is Law's crew?" Chopper asked from where he was trying to get Robin to his level to check on her injury.
The dark haired woman allowed the reindeer doctor to check her as she answered. "They're going on ahead to see if there's a shore that is not as heavily guarded." To Chopper, she added. "I was lucky that attack hit me where it did. It was more of a graze on closer inspection."
"It does look to be okay." Chopper agreed, before he scurried over to where Usopp was. "Can you figure out which one Luffy's on?"
"It's hard to say. They all look the same." Usopp answered his crewmate.
"It may come down to a fight." Sanji said, coming up to stand alongside Usopp to survey the ships sailing on ahead of them. "They're not going to make things easy, especially since Luffy and Law both have high bounties."
"And Luffy's caused them a lot of grief." Nami added before she shook her head. "I hope they have more treasure ferreted away on this next island." The orange haired woman held up a small bag that jingled. "This was all they had at the last base."
"Is that why you took so long to leave?" Zoro asked, turning his head. "The reason why I had to fend those marines off longer when you went to 'go get something?'"
"It was my fee for some of the marines getting a look." Nami mimed showing off her chest, and that set Sanji off.
Zoro brought down the blond haired cook's mood almost immediately with a statement.
"Hey, shit cook, what's for dinner?"
"Huh?" Sanji stopped what he was doing and got up in Zoro's face, as the green haired swordsman had stood up. "What was that you said, moss head?"
"When's dinner, love cook?" Zoro had his hand on a hilt of a katana. "Or did you need some help remembering where the kitchen is?"
Nami sighed as Sanji launched a close range kick Zoro's way, the green haired swordsman stepping back smartly to avoid it.
Robin just smiled. "I'm glad everyone is doing well."
"Will the Heart Pirates let us know what they find out?" Nami asked Usopp.
"It sounded like it." Usopp looked away from the ships briefly. "But either way, we're going to have to likely go through at least one marine ship."
"The Sunny won't have any trouble getting through a marine ship or two." Franky called over his shoulder from the helm.
"At the rate we are going, we'll catch up to them in the morning." Nami said, checking the sky and then her log pose. She pointedly ignored Sanji and Zoro fighting with one another, the blond cook's legs on fire as he launched attack after attack only to have it deflected by Zoro's blades. It was only when the two were getting a little carried away that Nami sighed again and decided to intervene. "Oh Sanji!" Nami called out with a smile.
Sanji immediately stopped his fight with Zoro as he almost skipped over to Nami, the green haired swordsman entirely dismissed from his mind. "Yes, Nami?"
"Do you think we can have dinner soon?" Nami offered a quick wink. "I'm hungry after being locked up in that cell."
"I'll get on it right now." Sanji said as he headed off, bumping Zoro in the shoulder to try to get him out of the way of the door.
Zoro didn't budge.
"Move it moss head." Sanji said, nudging the other more heavily.
"Shut it, shitty cook." Zoro planted his feet on the deck firmly.
"There they go again." Usopp commented, sounding unsurprised.
"Uh huh." Chopper nodded in agreement as he turned his attention to his crewmates.
Sanji and Zoro ignored their crewmates as they fell into an argument.
"Get out of my way."
"Oh, so you do remember the way to the kitchen then."
"You lose your way on the ship all the time, stupid moss head."
"Idiot cook."
"I'll kick your ass if you don't move."
"Try it. I'll beat you up with one arm behind my back."
"Oh? Then I guess I'll have both hands behind my back and take you down with only my feet."
"Then I'll use one foot and-"
"Enough of that! What about dinner?" Nami interrupted as she checked the log pose again.
Sanji managed to get by Zoro and through the door. It appeared as if the blond haired cook had resolved to ignore the swordsman. At least until Zoro called after him with an obvious query.
"Oy, where's the sake anyway? I can't find it anywhere."
"You drank all of it that was in the kitchen." Sanji said as he opened the door to glower at Zoro. "If you want more, go look in the storage." The blond shut the door with a parting shot. "Don't get lost looking for it."
That statement had Zoro through the door as soon as it was spoken to continue the fight.
Nami shook her head again at the sounds of things being broken and pans seemingly scattering to the ground.
At the very least, once they reached their destination, Zoro and Sanji would be more interested in helping their captain then fighting with one another.
The sunrise would be a very welcome sight.
-x
Doflamingo was still fast asleep by the time morning rolled in, and for that Law was grateful. It made him bold enough to edge over to the cell bars, and peer through. He really should have known better than to think that things were starting to go well, because that same damn large foot of Doflamingo's was suddenly digging into his back and pressing him against the bars of the cell. Law tried his best to hold on to the bars to avoid being pressed too closely, but Doflamingo's foot seemed to just rest heavier. "I thought you were unconscious."
"I just woke up." Doflamingo said, and his voice did sound rough with sleep.
"And you decide that it is a brilliant idea to try to kill me again as soon as you're aware enough." Law drawled. "I'm flattered. I didn't think I was worth the extra effort when you already have sea stone to deal with." The Heart Pirate captain didn't bring up being piggybacked by Doflamingo again, but the blond haired pirate being chained up didn't make him seem as intimidating as before. Besides, compared to last night, the pressure of the foot didn't hurt nearly as much as when the foot had been at the base of his neck. "How is this accomplishing anything, by the way? I thought you wanted to force me to use my powers and have me die that way?"
"You're an aggravating little shit." Doflamingo said through clenched teeth, the older pirate sounding like the sea stone and his injures were taking more of a toll then he let on. "I'd rather kill you and give the op op fruit to someone more tolerable and agreeable."
"At it again, are you?" Vice Admiral Fall rounded the corner of the hall that held the cells, and looked Law and Doflamingo over as if he were disgusted to have to deal with either of them.
Doflamingo started to say something, but Law suddenly found himself not understanding why the blond haired man was saying those words. And Law couldn't remember why he was bothered by that foot against his back and it was because of something Fall had said to him.
But what was it?
He couldn't recall, and it had just been said.
And the dark haired man was restrained too, which, in his mind, didn't make sense right now. In fact, quite a lot of things didn't appear to be making sense.
"Why am I chained?" Were the first words that came to mind. The foot twitched against his back but didn't move away. Instead, there was a low chuckle of disbelief that came from the man on the ground behind him. The dark haired man didn't understand. He was helping the marines, wasn't he? So why was he chained?
"You were luring that pirate behind you here. He made you go out of control with his powers, so we had to restrain you both."
The man on the ground, a pirate, the dark haired man presumed, started to crack up, and just when it sounded like he was going to say something, Fall shot him with a gun.
"So you're killing captives now, are you?" The dark haired man asked as he felt the foot lose some of the pressure it had had on his back.
"It was just a drug to make him sleep." Fall said unconcernedly, as he put the gun away and waved a few marines forward. "I don't want him to escape while we let you out."
The foot against his back slid away, and he...Law. Yes, that was his name. Law. He felt some marines undo the chains that had prevented him from attacking anyone because of the pirate now asleep on the ground, and as soon as he was freed, he felt a lot better. And when Law stood up, a word crossed his mind unbidden as he glanced down at the very tall, blond haired pirate on the ground.
Enemy.
Yes, Law knew that the pirate there on the floor of the cell, as well as others, were his enemies.
Fight.
He had to fight. Defend.
Yes, he needed to help the marines escort a criminal to shore. That was what he was supposed to do. Law wondered why he had forgotten that. It seemed easy enough.
Straw Hat Luffy was the enemy.
Yes, how could Law have forgotten that as well? Was he the criminal he was helping to escort?
"This way." Fall said, and the marine began to walk away, as if he didn't have a doubt that the dark haired man would follow.
Law fell into step after the vie admiral, pausing only briefly as he accepted his nodachi from one of the marines. It didn't cross his mind to wonder why some of the marines were watching him with some kind of surprise across their faces. What was so surprising, anyway, about someone assisting them when Law knew he was supposed to?
Once on deck, Law was hailed by a voice both relieved and angry.
"Give me my hat!" A gasp, and then. "Hey! What are you doing with them?"
Law stared at Straw Hat blankly. Why wouldn't he be with the marines? He was supposed to help them, wasn't he? And why was a pirate of all people trying to tell him what to do?
Don't listen to him.
He's lying.
Lies.
All lies.
Yes, of course.
Law blinked as if realizing something blatantly obvious.
Pirates lied.
Law didn't have to believe what Straw Hat said.
Because he was a pirate.
"Hey! What are you doing? Don't listen to them! They're marines! They attacked your crew!"
Law didn't have a crew. None that he could remember. Or did he? But…he wasn't a pirate, right? Otherwise the marines would be attacking him, and they weren't. That meant he was on their side, right?
"Take him ashore." Vice admiral Fall said, and seemed indifferent to Luffy yelling at Law to snap out of it already.
Snap out of it?
That sounded familiar. Like someone had said that to Law before. But when would that have been? Besides, Law couldn't think of what he was supposed to snap out of. And then he didn't care about that, as he knew he was supposed to go ashore and wait for some other pirates to show up in an attempt to rescue their captain.
And when Law saw the incoming ships, he smoothly drew his nodachi in anticipation of the coming fight. The long blade was a familiar weight in his hands.
Familiar.
Reassuring.
He had his orders. Law wouldn't let anyone pass him. Because that was what he was supposed to do. He was no friend to pirates so he had no reason to hold back. And despite Luffy yelling at him as he was taken away, it had no effect on Law whatsoever.
Law had a job to do, and there was no use listening to a pirate, as it had no bearing on what he had to do.
Ten minutes later, and Law was seriously considering that somewhere in the back of his mind, someone had done something wrong, and he was surprised to find that it was not the pirates but the marines that were called in to question. Law didn't know what to do then, and in that moment of uncertainty, he was overpowered by one of the people who had a symbol on their chest that seemed vaguely familiar.
Familiar.
Something very familiar, and that was strange to him in that moment.
After all, it was a symbol on a pirate. If it was familiar, then it would mean that Law really was a pirate, and that he was doing something wrong. And if he was doing wrong, then it meant the marines were not his allies. But that wasn't what his mind was telling him. Law still felt that there were enemies before him.
But then again…
There was a small seed of doubt.
Law didn't know why he should have that doubt, but there was the fact that if he really was helping the marines and an enemy to pirates, then he would have been killed. But he hadn't been. Law had no idea why the person who had disarmed him hadn't finished the job, so that could only mean that there was something missing in his memory that would give him the answer to why he was still alive and breathing.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And reaching for an answer in his own mind made things even worse for Law.
Because there was no answer to his question, and that made it very hard for him to deny that he very well could be a pirate. And if that was the case, something had gone wrong.
Law had no idea why or what that something wrong would be. He didn't have to be concerned for long, however, because someone had decided to relieve him of his consciousness. He was in for a rude awakening, but at the very least a piece of the dark haired man's memory would be firmly in place.
The marines were Law's real enemy; not the pirates.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
A/N: I'd had issues with this chapter because the previous one changed the outline ever so slightly but I think the way I transitioned it from the previous chapter to the outline works out. Thanks for being patient about chapter updates. They can be rather erratic depending on my motivation for typing or the mood of what I want to work on (and the issue of writer's block, ugh). So longer chapter because I was having fun with the Law and Doflamingo bits.
Thank you for the reviews, favs and follows, and just reading the fic in general! I hope I'll get around to updating this fic sooner than the last time. I'd say that I'm heading into the last 1/4 of the fic in the next chapter because of some of the outline I got rid of due to the changes I made.