Law had been kidnapped on his way to the grocery store, and the fifteen year old hadn't expected anything of the sort to ever happen to him. So Law hadn't seen it coming, and he had let his guard down so much that someone had managed to sneak up on him. Law had only been aware of someone coming up from behind him at the last moment, before there was a sharp strike to his head that had taken him down.
He'd been taken somewhere while he had been unconscious, and really, Law had no idea why someone would even bother with him. It wasn't like he had a sign over his head that announced to the world that he lived with Doflamingo and Corazon. Though the dark haired teen supposed that someone could have seen him leave the mansion that was the two brothers' home, but Law had never seen anything suspicious like that. But apparently, there was some reason that he had been abducted, and quite honestly, Law could not remember if there had even been a reason stated to him when he finally came to.
The people that had been with him weren't very good hosts, as they had wasted no time in being violent o the dark haired teen when he had barely even woken up after being struck over the head to be dragged off who the hell knew where. Law felt as if he had blocked the majority of it from his mind, but he had remembered being beaten up to the point that he had trouble moving. Though that could have been a result from giving his captors some sass and how that likely would not have been well received by those there. It probably hadn't been the best idea to cheek them either, but Law didn't like that he had been kidnapped and couldn't really think of anything else to do, ther than not to take things lying down.
That was where he'd remembered the laughs and the jeers. It normally happened after he had said something offensive and had been beaten in return for the statement. Law vaguely remembered that he had been left alone for long stretches of time in that dark, cold place, and sometimes without anything to eat. He definitely remembered not getting enough food, because he would get sick sometimes when someone decided to use him as a beating bag.
What bothered the fifteen year old the most about the whole thing was that no one said a word, or if they did, it was curt and rude, and there was no reason given for why he was being treated in such a manner.
Law couldn't remember how long he had been in that dark place, because the time seemed to stretch on forever before his tormentors would come back and beat him around some more. Sometimes Law had been able to block out some of the visits, when it became to much to handle...
-x
Something...something had happened. Law was sure of it, but he couldn't remember it. It was something that he should have been able to remember, but the dark haired teen had shut his mind down against whatever had happened to him in that place where he was being held against his will.
The memory….it just wasn't there. Law thought it should have bothered him more than it did.
-x
All Law could remember clearly when he had been gone for who knew how long, was coming out of that odd haze that his mind had grown accustomed to. It was because something or someone had caused him to become aware again. Law recalled the sensation of being held by someone, and a voice that talked to him with increasing volume. Law really came to then, and tilted his head up to look at the person who was holding him, though the frantic voice had already given him a good idea of who it was.
Corazon.
It didn't seem right to Law that Corazon would be so worried, nor should he have looked like he had lost some weight. It wasn't like Law had been gone for that long. Or had he? Being in that dark place without any sunlight had certainly thrown off the time of day.
Law looked at Corazon's face closely, and realized that there was an almost haunted look in the blond haired man's eyes. It was as if he had seen something terrible. The dark haired teen didn't like the expression, so he'd lifted his hand up shakily to pat Corazon's chin. It had caused the blond to stiffen, before one large hand that wasn't cradling Law engulfed his hand with his much bigger one.
"Law?"
Law blinked up at Corazon. Why did he sound so distraught? Had something happened to him? Law was tired and sore from being beaten around by the idiots that had kidnapped him, but he was otherwise fine, so why?
Why did Corazon sound like that?
"Law?"
Law noticed the worried tone grow in its intensity, so the teen tilted his head up again at Corazon. After a moment of deliberation, Law spoke, even if his voice felt rough from not having enough water, "Cora-san? Are you all right?"
Maybe it was relief. Maybe it was something else, but Corazon had begun to cry at Law's words. Or perhaps because he had spoken. That made Law stare, confused by the other's actions. Really, he was fine. He was just bruised up from his captors using him as a punching bag. The dark haired teen was even more confused at Corazon's response when he finally spoke.
"…I'm fine, Law. You will be too."
Law rested heavily against Corazon as the other man stood up. The blue haired teen felt tired all of a sudden, as if being found by someone that he knew had allowed all the tension to leave him that he didn't known that he had had. "I'm tired, Cora-san."
There was a waver in Corazon's response, "I know. But you will get better." The blond haired man choked back tears as he added quietly. "I promise. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Law didn't remember being hurt too badly, but the beatings he'd been given could have been worse than he initially thought. He might even have a few cracked ribs, but he figured it was useless to say aloud, because he knew the younger Donquixote brother was likely to take him to a hospital anyway. Law rested his head against Corazon's shoulder and let out a sigh, "I'm sleepy."
"…Just rest…Law. I'll get you home." There was a pause. "After the hospital."
Law remembered being content by that response, but before he drifted off, he noticed two things.
The first was that there was something going on behind them, from where Corazon had found him, like there was some kind of a fight going on. The second was that his hands had some blood on them, and Law hadn't any notion why that was, as he didn't remember bleeding, or being anyone near someone that was bleeding. Law felt Corazon pat his head gently, and take a moment to ruffle his hair reassuringly.
"Rest, Law."
Law shook the troubling thoughts from his mind and did as he was told.
He fell asleep.
Later, Law would wonder why, as he drifted off, that Corazon held him closer and continued to silently cry, as if something were wrong. Had it been because he had blood on his hands that he didn't know where it had come from? It wasn't like he had killed anyone. There wouldn't have been any weapons around. But nothing else really made sense, though it wasn't like Law thought about it to much.
Most frustratingly, neither Corazon, or Doflamingo, would say anything on the subject when Law brought it up when around either of them.
Not even years later.
-x
When they had gotten back home after a trip to the hospital and an overnight stay there, Corazon had sent people running to get some food prepared, and went to the teen's room himself to look for where Law's warmer clothes were to be found. It was winter, after all. Law wanted to not wear the hospital clothes he'd been lent any more. They were too thin a fabric, and he had shivered the entire way home. The place he had been in was freezing, and the prospect of wearing warm clothes was a very welcome thought. Law had been left to his own devices in the bathroom to get ready for bed, though he could hear Corazon outside in the room rummaging around through doors for clothing. The dark haired teen would leave Corazon to his own devices.
If Law had been disappointed that he didn't get to eat a lot of food, he didn't let it show. He wouldn't have been able to eat much, anyway, as even a little food made him full. It again made Law wonder how long he had been away, though it being winter was a fairly good indication on its own. Law almost smiled at the sight of Doflamingo all but trying to shove food Corazon's way, obviously upset about something, and appeared greatly aggravated when his brother quietly ate without protest. It made Law wonder if Corazon looked as if he had not been eating well while he had been missing.
Again Law was left to wonder how the hell long he had been gone. But no one would tell him.
Not even Corazon.
The newspaper the next day did, and with shaky hands, Law settled the paper down where he had found it, and went straight up to Corazon's room.
Without preamble, Law shoved the door open and stormed in, thinking to scold the blond, when he realized that Doflamingo was in the room as well, and the two brothers looked as if they had been in some kind of argument due to their close proximity and irritated features. At the sight of Law, however, they dropped whatever had been going on between them, though Doflamingo shot Corazon a look before striding past Law and closing the door.
"Law?"
The dark haired teen turned back to Corazon, and frowned at him. "I looked at the newspaper." Law was surprised at the reaction. Corazon blanched, before he was suddenly there and kneeling in front of Law, hands on his shoulders.
"Did you read the article?"
It was an odd question, and the way the blond had said t so seriously gave him pause, before Law shook his head. "I only looked at the date."
Corazon seemed relieved by this, and he let go of Law's shoulders as he sat down on the ground before the teen.
Law was still rather unnerved that Corazon was still taller than him, though only just, while seated.
"Is that why you came here?"
Law frowned at the blond, "I just wanted to know….why no one would tell me that I'd been gone for eight months."
Corazon looked reluctant to say anything, but finally he just sighed and shook his head, "I won't give you all the details, but when you went missing…Doflamingo and I weren't exactly content to let the police try to find you. We hope that things will die down but the less you know, the better. I'd rather not have you get into any trouble after everything you went through. That's why Doflamingo and I wouldn't let the police speak to you."
Law tilted his head, still frowning. "Why?"
"Do you remember anything? About the people that kidnapped you?"
Law shook his head. He really didn't, and just the thought of trying to remember made him sick to his stomach for some reason.
Corazon apparently noticed because he leaned over and tugged Law gently into a hug, though one that would allow the teen to shake himself free from at any time. "Don't force yourself to try and remember. If you can't…it's probably for the best."
"I guess." Law said, thinking with a jolt that eight months meant he was almost sixteen. Law's thoughts were broken from darker things as Corazon drew back from the hug and smiled at him.
"Don't think so hard about it. Everything will be fine. Just focus on getting better. Doffy and I will make sure the cops don't harass you for details. Especially ones that you can't remember." Corazon rested his hands on Law's shoulders again and looked him over, his smile still in place. "Hm. Still short. I'd have thought you'd hit your growth spurt by now." Corazon said after a moment.
Law cracked a small smile at that, and shooed Corazon's hands away from him. "You're such an idiot. I'm not short. You're just too tall. Normal people aren't so big." Law let out a gasp as Corazon reached out a hand to ruffle his hair in retaliation. "Dammit Cora-san! Don't!" But Law couldn't help but let out a laugh when Corazon overbalanced and fell over, and the two of them cracked up at the absurdity of it all.
"What did you even fall over?" Law asked, as he skittered out of Corazon's grasp.
"There was a whoopie cushion. Who left that here?" Corazon's tone left little room to argue.
Law's face was perfect innocence. "I don't know where it came from. You sure Doflamingo didn't leave it in here for you to accuse me of leaving it lying around?" The teen couldn't believe Corazon hadn't seen him inconspicuously toss it beneath him. Law made for the door at Corazon's expression, though he knew that the other man was more amused than angry.
Doflamingo, still waiting in the hall, had to step backward to avoid the door being slammed in his face as Law raced out with a smile plastered on his face, followed by Corazon who was trying and failing to not laugh at the thought of Law sneakily slipping the whoopie cushion beneath him in the split second it took for him to start to stand.
Doflamingo watched the two go around the corner, before there was a loud crash. Law lett out a laugh, and someone cursed at Corazon for breaking something.
Again.
The older Donquixote brother shook his head, but went in the direction of the voices anyway. At the very least, the depression Law had been in didn't appear to be permanent. Doflamingo stopped short at the scene that greeted him as he went around the corner of the hall, before he crossed his arms and tried to look as serious as he could.
Corazon was tangled up in some cords and was flat on his back, and Law was nearby and leaning against the wall, still smiling at the sight but doing absolutely nothing about it. The only people not amused were Dillinger and Baby 5, who had been carrying the cords to one of the family rooms, presumably to hook up some electronics.
Doflamingo's shoulders shook, and he couldn't help but start to laugh, loud and long, as Law commented with barely contained glee.
"Looks like you're tied up, Cora-san."
-x
As the days turned into weeks, Law had all but put behind his kidnapping, as it was hard to dwell on and did nothing but shut him down whenever his thoughts strayed in that direction. What Law was still curious about, however, was the whispers around the mansion that Doflamingo had gone on a rampage where the police were in involved, around the same time that Corazon had come and saved him.
Though Law focused on his studies, and the memories of what had happened grew distant as the teen put it from his mind, Law knew, as the years passed, that what had happened had not faded at all from the Donquixote brothers' minds.
Corazon, if possible, grew more protective of Law, and nearly refused to let Law go anywhere on his own, for fear that something might happen to him again.
Doflamingo had grown more hostile toward anyone who happened to come anywhere near Law, and as a result, it made it very hard for Law to connect with anyone when there was a very tall, intimidating blond wearing shaded glasses and all but radiating hostility if they so much as looked at Law wrong.
Law knew that he couldn't let the past hold him back, so he did his best to put it behind him. But the blue haired man had had no idea that he would be kidnapped again in the future.
If he had thought it possible, Law never would have agreed, or insisted, on staying in that run down apartment all on his own.
-x-
Present time...
Midnight, at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirt of the city...
-x
There were a few people gathered in a dark room, and all of them had fallen silent after watching the news report about Law and his abduction.
At length, one of them spoke. "What shall we do about Kid?"
"He did not kill Trafalgar Law as directed." Another added.
"The police are involved now, and it seems as if Doflamingo and his firm will be involved as well. This is turning into quite a mess." The first added.
Another flipped a blade up and down. "We will wait for now. Eustass wanted more time. We will see what he has to say at the end of the extra week we gave him to take care of things."
The second figure laughed. "I wonder if he already killed him then."
The first spoke. "We will know this weekend. We should be ready for either failure or success."
-x
Corazon woke up late in the morning, according to the dastardly sunbeam that had dared to come through the curtain to glare directly on his face, and subsequently his eyes, when he opened them. The blond haired man turned his head away from the window and let out a slow sigh. Corazon remembered his conversation with his brother the night before, and inwardly wondered just how much trouble it would be to leave the hospital early, against the doctor's orders. Corazon let out a yawn as he propped himself up slightly. He immediately noticed that the IVs that had been in his arm the previous night were gone. In fact, the other tubes and medical equipment all were, leaving him on the bed dressed in hospital pants and nothing else but the bandages wrapped around his upper torso. Corazon carefully sat up the rest of the way, and looked around the immediate area. His eyes fell on the table beside the bed, and saw a small paper bag on the table, along with a pile of clothes and a note that sat perched on top of the clothes.
Corazon reached out with a hand and picked the note up, reading over it silently. Snorting at what was written, Corazon lifted the bag and heard rattling. Medication, no doubt. Corazon left the bag where it was, dropped the note onto the bed, and started the painfully slow process of changing into the clothes that Doflamingo had left for him. After a moments consideration, Corazon merely draped the shirt over his shoulders. He didn't want it brushing the front of his chest. Even with the pain pill he was still on, he could feel the uncomfortable ache in his chest.
Corazon gave a light shake of his head as he carefully stood and toed on his shoes. He was surprised that Doflamingo could get the hospital to do his bidding and let his younger brother leave. The younger blond wondered what that said about him if he was just going along with Doflamingo's bidding of going to speak to Ace. Corazon pocketed the note from Doflamingo, as well as the note that was by the paper bag for dosages of the medication to take. Keeping a hold of the paper bag, Corazon stooped in front of a mirror on his way out of the room to touch up his makeup. It amused the younger Donquixote brother greatly that Doflamingo had remembered to bring it along. Corazon had grown to enjoy the reactions it brought, for some reason. There was going to be a time that he didn't wear it, however, just to spite Doflamingo.
Preferably soon because of what Doflamingo was making him do now.
Corazon exited the hospital room and made his way to the entrance of the hospital, but he could tell, from the looks that he received on the way, that he shouldn't be out of bed in his condition. But he knew that none of them were about to argue with Doflamingo, and neither was Corazon about to, for that matter. Not if he wanted to stay on his brother's good side.
Outside of the hospital, the tall blond leaned against the nearest wall to catch his breath. The other reason he had not to argue with his brother was that he wanted Law to remain safe, and a major part of that was keeping Doflamingo's attention off of him, and on Corazon instead. Corazon was quite appalled that Doflamingo had more or less dismissed what had happened to Law in the past, and it made Corazon more determined to keep Doflamingo at a distance from the dark haired lawyer. Corazon set that unpleasant thought aside, as he did not want to think about the past. Instead, Corazon took out the note that Doflamingo had left, and glanced at the back of it to find an address.
At the very least, it didn't take Corazon long to reach the address provided, but when Corazon finally reached it, he just stared. Standing just outside the building, the younger Donquixote brother decided that Doflamingo was still an asshole, because the building he was in front of was the smaller jail in the city that held those awaiting upcoming trials. Which meant that some cops might be around, and that would lead to some awkward questions.
Like why Corazon happened to be out of the hospital in less than half a day after being shot.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
A/N: And I'm sort of back, now that nanowrimo is almost done with. There is likely to be a longer delay between updates though, because yet again, I can't stand to stare at my computer screen for too long. So I am trying to avoid using the computer when I can. And this chapter seemed kind of disjointed, but as it is a memory, I figured that could work out, for now, unless I decide to go back and change it if it is too vague (it makes sense in my mind, but that could be because I know what will happen later on in the fanfic that links up with the past).
I expect, though, to be able to get at least one or two more chapters up before the end of the year, and hopefully update the other two fanfics I have ongoing as well.
