Eleven years ago…
The city, as a whole, did not usually have much criminal activity, or hardly any trouble at all, due to the presence of the police and the high success rate of the law firms in putting caught criminals behind bars. However, that didn't mean that petty crimes wouldn't still take place, because many of the lower rung criminals figured that they would be able to fly under the radar if they stuck to something simple.
And didn't get caught in the act.
There were even those in the city who did not see stealing as a crime, due to the poor pay that some of them received for the jobs they did, despite being overworked on occasion and getting nothing more to show for it than what they normally would make. It wasn't out of the ordinary for someone to be got caught stealing for their family, but because the police were trying to cut down on the crimes in the area, even the petty ones, they had to treat everyone they caught in the act the same, regardless of each individual's circumstances.
Trafalgar Law was no different in the eyes of the cops from a common criminal as they pursued him down the sidewalk, away from a supermarket the young teenager had just rushed out of.
The thirteen year old said a few creative curses that he'd heard adults say on the streets, and tried to run faster, despite being loaded down with groceries he had snatched. Law was hoping that the theft would go unnoticed, but he really couldn't resist stealing a roast chicken, and that was probably what tipped the employees off that Law wasn't bringing the groceries to the register. That, and the fact that he had made a beeline straight for the entrance of the store.
"Hey! You there! Stop!"
Law ignored the police officer's attempt to stop him, and cursed again when he dropped a few of the groceries. It was just his luck that some officers had been in the grocery store parking lot when he'd made a run for it. It was hard not to spot a skinny teenager laden with food and being pursued by some of the employees of store. Though they had stopped as soon as they'd seen the police give chase.
So there Law was, running from law enforcement and losing more of the food he had stolen with each step he took, though he was far more concerned about keeping a tight hold of the chicken. Most unfortunately, he lost that too when he tripped, so now all he had on his person was what he had been able to stuff into his pockets, and it wasn't anywhere near as tasty as that roast chicken would have been. If there could be a positive side to this, Law could now run more quickly, and he wasted no time in trying to put distance between himself and the police officers in pursuit.
Law whipped around a corner, thinking that he would disappear into the alleys, and lie low until the cops had given up chasing him. Though from the sound coming from behind the thirteen year old, Law was very doubtful about being able to slip between the law enforcement's grasp this time. The dark haired teen's stomach grumbled and the Law squeezed his eyes shut as he ran blindly along the alley, tears threatening to fall.
It just wasn't fair. He was hungry, and there was no one around to help him. He'd lost track of the other boys that he had been hanging out with on the street, and there was nowhere for him to go that he knew of to get a free meal. Hell, nowhere to go to get him out of the rut he'd gotten himself stuck into. And now, with the cops so close behind, there was little doubt that he'd be taken off the streets and shoved into some institute that, while he may be able to get food and a place to stay, had heard terrible things from the boys who had been on the streets with him. About how it was almost worse than being out on the street, fending for yourself.
Law was so wrapped up in his thoughts and general misery that he was not looking where he was going. It was quite understandable that he wouldn't, but since he was not paying attention, the blue haired teen ended up running into something solid that made him let out a startled yelp. The force that he had run into the object with caused Law to fall backward onto the ground on his backside, shocking him out of his thoughts as he was forced to pay attention to the present. The young teen adjusted the hat on his head and glared up at what he had run into. It hadn't been a wall, that was for damn sure, and he hated to think he'd run into some punk ass bastards that would be happy to make his already bad day worse…
Law froze in place, holding perfectly still as he tilted his head up slightly as he realized that yes, he had run into somebody, but it wasn't who he would have expected it to be.
The object in question was a very tall, blond haired individual, who was wearing rather eccentric clothing, his head covered by a hood of some kind. He was also smoking and staring down at Law with what appeared to be a quizzical l look, as if he hadn't expected someone to run into him out of the blue.
Law scooted backward discreetly even as the man turned to regard him. The dark haired teen tensed up under the gaze, and decided that the man before him must be some kind of a lunatic. Or at the very least, half crazed. The odd array of clothing seemed out of place with the pattered white button up, even if the pants looked normal enough. The face of the man was what put Law off the most. He either had tattoos or makeup covering his lips in an extended smile past his lips, and a mark beneath his right eye. Law was half distracted by the sound of the police approaching, and in the split second that he turned to take a look of how close, the blond haired man before him decided to make a move.
The dark haired teen let out an indignant gasp as a large hand seized him by the scruff of his neck, and hoisted him into the air. Law switched his gaze back to the blond's and eyed him. Was this man a pedophile? Law didn't like the look in his eyes, even if the man's expression seemed to be faintly amused now.
Law scrunched up defensively even as the man's grip tightened, though Law was a bit confused when the man looked away from him and in the direction he had come from, before the blond's eyes were back on him. In a case of bad timing, Law's stomach decided to grumble again, loud and long, and caused the dark haired teen to flush in embarrassment.
There was a change in the blond haired man's expression, but Law didn't have time to do anything, as the cops were getting closer. He had to get away. The blond, however, gave Law no time to react, as he was suddenly pressed against the man's upper chest. Law's hands scrabbled against the sudden action, and the teen began to panic further when the man's black feathered jacket engulfed him and hid him from sight. Law twitched as he felt the man's hand slide down from gripping the back of his collar to resting against his back lightly. Law started when he heard a low voice.
"Stay silent."
Law didn't want the cops to catch him, so he obliged the request when he normally wouldn't have. He could worry about escape after the cops were gone. Law heard the man go back to smoking, and stilled when the cops were suddenly there.
"Hey. Did you see a kid go by?"
Law's heart was beating a little faster than he would have liked at the prospect of being discovered. The man could easily give him away….
"No."
The simple answer made Law sag with relief, and was pleased that the cops seemed to believe him, because after a whispered discussion, they took off, arguing amongst themselves.
"He could have gone down the other way."
"Check that back alley over there."
Law hadn't realized that he had gripped the man's shirt tightly throughout the exchange, and for the moment, couldn't get his hand to let go, because he was so relieved that the police had moved on. Law did let go as soon as the coat was removed that had hidden him from view.
"So you steal often?" The blond haired man asked, still smoking. "Don't think you'll get caught?"
"Maybe." Law muttered reluctantly, before he started to try and free himself, as the taller man had not let go of him. "Dammit! Let go!"
The blond took a long drag of the cigarette and let it out, before glancing down at the thirteen year old, and spoke again after a moment's thought, "…Got a place to go?"
Law didn't like the assumed 'no' in the other man's voice, and futilely wriggled, "Why the hell would you care? Let go of me!"
The blond haired man started to walk, in the opposite direction that the police had taken but he did not do as Law requested.
"I'll beat you up!" Law threatened, even if it was obviously an empty threat. He couldn't even move the other man's hand enough to get him to stop holding him against his chest.
The man appeared to smile, though it was hard to tell with the makeup or whatever the hell it was, and he shook his head.
It didn't deter Law in the slightest as he continued to threaten the blond. It soon became clear, however, that nothing he could say would change the taller man's mind. And that made Law realize that there was no escape.
Law wondered dimly if it would have been better to let the cops get him.
-x
The walk was long one, and Law had eventually stopped protesting. He's actually even began to doze, lulled into an odd state of relaxation from the sound of the other's heartbeat.
"We're here." The man murmured, as he entered a building.
Where 'here' was, Law wasn't entirely certain, but he knew he would have a hell of a time escaping from inside an unfamiliar building. Law froze against the man that was holding him as a voice suddenly spoke with a laugh.
"Fufufufu. What have you got there, Corazon?"
Law turned his head, and found himself staring at another tall blond haired man, though this one's hair was spikier and he wore tinted sunglasses. The wide smile on his face, however, was very disconcerting.
"He ran into me in an alley, running from the police." The man, Corazon, apparently, responded.
"And why did you bring him here?"
"Doflamingo…Doffy…he was hungry. And he's obviously on his own..." Corazon looked like he wanted to say more, but smiled faintly instead, as if struck by a sudden idea, "...And he has threatened me the entire way home."
The other blond, Doflamingo, laughed again at the very idea. "He's got guts, but I still don't see why you would bother. There are a bunch of brats on the street."
"He said that he would prosecute me and put me behind bars if he were a lawyer." Corazon responded, his voice guarded for some reason or another that Law couldn't figure out why.
Doflamingo got closer, and the reason Corazon had sounded guarded fled his mind. The dark haired teen tensed against Corazon as Doflamingo loomed over him, apparently to get a good look at him. Both blond haired men seemed to be far too tall. It made Law feel smaller than he actually was.
"You want to be a lawyer, hm?"
Law puffed up indignantly at the mock tone in the other blond's voice. "Yes, I do. And when I am I will send you to jail too. Pedophiles." Law freed himself slightly and aimed a kick Doflamingo's way. "And get away. You're too close."
Doflamingo cracked up at that as he easily backed out of the way of Law's kick. "Oh, little brother. You found something quite amusing." Doflamingo seemed far more interested in the blue haired thirteen year old than he had moments before, as he eyed Law for a moment. After some internal deliberation from the looks of it, Doflamingo spoke, "I'll let him stay. Let's see if we can make a lawyer out of him. If nothing else, it should be amusing. And then we'll see if he still wants to put us in jail. Fufufufu."
Law was perplexed about the way the conversation was going, though he flinched against Corazon again as Doflamingo reached out a hand and patted him on the head, the motion jostling him. Law reached up to keep his hat in place and shot a glare at Doflamingo for daring to touch him, even if it had just been his hat.
Doflamingo laughed a little at the reaction before he turned his attention to Corazon, his voice becoming serious again, "While he's here, he's your responsibility." The older Donquixote brother gave his brother a look, to prevent arguing, "Don't forget, I have to run things at work. You can do your share of the work from home, if you have to, so keep an eye on him." Doflamingo jabbed a finger at Law, before he turned away, "I don't have much time for brats like him, unless he turns out to be useful." Doflamingo glanced over his shoulder, "Got it?"
Corazon dipped his head in a nod.
Law could tell that Corazon wasn't happy about something, before it sunk in that he was going to basically be held against his will in someone else's house. Law began to struggle in earnest. "Hey! I never agreed to anything! Let go of me!"
Doflamingo laughed as he left the room, leaving Corazon to deal with a very displeased Law, who obviously didn't like having things decided for him.
Not that Corazon had any difficulty keeping Law in line for the time being. He just carried Law around tucked under an arm or trapped over one shoulder, despite the colorful abuse the teen spat out at being treated in such a manner.
-x
And with that sudden decision on Doflamingo's part, against his will, Law's odd induction into the Donquixote brothers life began. If the teen had stopped to really think about it, he would have realized that he had been given an opportunity to do what he had wanted to do for the first time in quite awhile. Unfortunately, the idea of being kidnapped and taken somewhere and then being pushed into studies was something Law did not take to.
Nor did he appreciate Corazon being somewhere in the vicinity to keep an eye on him, as Doflamingo had asked.
And despite the opportunity, Law did everything in his power to try and escape the mansion, and the Donquixote brothers.
-x
For the first half of the year, Law tried every possible way he could think of to escape, but each time he was foiled.
The first attempt had been stupid, and Law didn't even know why he had bothered to try to go straight out the front door He's been caught before he could take a step outside the doors.
The second attempt was no better. In hindsight, trying to go out the window had been a very foolish. He's been very lucky that one of the people living in the mansion, Diamante, had caught him before he'd had the chance to fall from far higher up than Law had thought it had been. Being brought to Corazon that time had been rather embarrassing, because Diamante hadn't bothered to right Law, but instead carried him upside down and dropped him on Corazon's bed. The only silver lining of that was Corazon had gotten angry at the other man and the resulting shouting match had allowed Law to try for an escape attempt number three, only to be snagged by Doflamingo, who was grinning in amusement.
Doflamingo had all but chucked Law at Corazon, who immediately abandoned his argument with Diamante in favor of catching Law. "Keep better track of him." Was all Doflamingo had said before having Diamante come with him to discuss a case he'd just received.
Law hadn't been able to look Corazon in the eyes after that, because he felt slightly guilty for some reason. What he hadn't noticed was Corazon giving him a thoughtful look.
The next day, however, the guilt vanished, when Doflamingo, still wearing a grin, waved a paper in front of him. "Corazon asked me to get this done. I don't know why he's taken a shine to you, but..." Law had snatched the paper irritably, looked it over, before he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Doflamingo. "What is it?"
Doflamingo's grin stretched, "A request to become your guardian."
Law made an incensed sound.
Doflamingo, his grin so wide that it looked like it might have hurt, turned away with a mischievous laugh, "No, you're right. That's be silly." Doflamingo made an undignified run across the room to the window and perched on the sill, laughing, "They're adoption papers."
Law rushed over to the window, but Doflamingo was already gone, laughing like a maniac as he landed on the ground and headed down the sidewalk. "What the hell! No he isn't going to adopt me! What the hell? Come back here!" The yelling did no good, as Doflamingo was long gone from his sight.
By the next morning, Law had been 'officially' adopted by Corazon, and the only one who seemed to be happy about it was Corazon himself, though Doflamingo was begrudgingly amused when Law fought with Corazon over the adoption.
"I am not calling you dad. Ever! I barely even know you!" Law didn't seem to notice that Corazon seemed to deflate at that, but nonetheless the younger Donquixote brother seemed to be more determined than ever to make sure that Law would focus in his studies instead of trying to run away to a life back on the street.
The last escape attempt, several months later, was prevented due to Law's own body, because he come down with a nasty virus that had been striking teens and young adults around the city, and could at times become fatal.
Law barely remember the time he was sick, as he had more or less drifted in and out of a fevered haze, and in and out of consciousness when the medicine he was being given would do no good. He felt miserable all the time, and no one in the mansion wanted to be around him, out of fear of catching the virus as well.
Except for Corazon.
All the dark haired teen knew was that it was Corazon that had been by his side for nearly the entire time that he was sick. On occasion Law could have sworn that he had heard Doflamingo in the vicinity, but his mind was so scrambled because of the fever that he couldn't be sure. All he was sure of was that it had to be Corazon that was taking care of him, and making sure that he took the medicine, and to make him eat and drink a little, even if Law had wanted nothing more than to just sleep. Whether it was because Doflamingo had told Corazon it was his responsibility to look after him, or because Corazon was actually concerned, Law didn't care. He was oddly touched because he was sure most people wouldn't have cared if some street urchin had bit the dust. Though Corazon adopting him seemed like less of a joke on Doflamingo's part now, and more genuine in Corazon's case, though Law was still uncertain about how he felt about the whole idea.
When Law was well again, and the virus had left him, the blue haired teen had thrown himself into his studies with more passion than before. Though it was mainly because it would prevent Corazon from fussing over him, which Law, while appreciating the concern, was not used to it. There were only so many times that he could wake up in the middle of the night and be confronted by Corazon looming over him with a worried look. Like he was concerned that Law would catch another virus or something. Law had locked the doors once he'd harped at Corazon about feeling perfectly fine, but the blond haired man would have none of it, and had accidentally crashed through the window to Law's room one night when he'd heard a sneeze. That had resulted in stitches, and Corazon being bitched at by Law about being an idiot.
At the very least, Corazon had seemed convinced by then that Law was perfectly healthy again.
The desire to run was no longer there, as the prospect of becoming a lawyer finally sunk in. If he stayed with the Donquixote brothers, Law knew that he would be able to accomplish that.
-x
The days passed, and Law, even though he had been adverse to Corazon's presence at first, found himself growing more relaxed in the younger Donquixote brother's presence. It helped a lot that the older man's clumsiness made him less threatening, though Law was horrified that he eventually found it amusing, as well as endearing.
Unless Doflamingo happened to be in the same room. He seemed to take offense to Corazon's dorkiness around the teenager, though he did nothing but clean up the aftermath should Corazon end up hurting himself. That trip down the stairs with an armful of books had forced Doflamingo to move the room Law studied in to the same floor of the house that the library was on, so it wouldn't happen again.
When Law turned fifteen, the protectiveness Corazon had around him had lessened for the moment, as Corazon had come down with a slight cold. Law felt bad about it, but he was also excited at the prospect of running an errand without Corazon coming along with him, shadowing him every step of the way. The only other time that had happened was when Corazon had somehow managed to set half the kitchen on fire and was subsequently chewed out by the chef and Doflamingo.
Law knew that he was perfectly capable of getting groceries on his own. People wouldn't even recognize him as the kid who had used to steal food.
But going out alone that day had turned out to be the worst idea Law could have had. As soon as he had gone out of the house and was on his way to the store in the early morning...
That was when everything went wrong.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
A/N: Since I'm ahead of my word count for nanowrimo, here's another chapter. It got longer, so I split it into two chapters, so the second half of the next chapter will be back to the present timeline of the fanfic (I was having too much fun doing Law/Cora fluff in this chapter).
