Disclaimer: I still don't own One Piece. And yes, still ain't tired of putting this every. Damn. Chapter. *sobs*
Author's Note: Okay, so I was supposed to update last Wednesday, but FFNet's down for whatever reason. And sorry for the quality of this chapter. I'd been under the weather (repeatedly, might I reveal) when I was, bit by bit, writing this chapter. Again, I apologize.
As requested by Guest: "Corazon lying about Law's adoption but he (Law) probably knew either way."
Timeline: Set a month after the events from chapter 12.
Lies
When Law was five, he asked Corazon where his mama was. The question took the twenty five year old off guard and the only response he had given the little boy was that she was watching Law from heaven and making sure to always keep him safe.
Corazon wanted to say that the woman might be watching from afar, but after five years of waiting (definitely NOT dreading) for someone that might come looking for the child the blond could only assume – and most definitely not hope – that Law's parents were content not to bother the child anymore or that they were most probably dead.
"Were you sad because Mama left us alone early?" Law had asked him again that day, voice soft and sad.
Looking back at that particular moment a few years ago, Corazon understood what his son were feeling and going through. He had seen the raven-haired kid looked at their neighbors Roger and Rouge and how they doted and played with their little son Ace. He listened – with jealousy – at the new kid, Nojiko, when she had bragged about her mother Bellemere's tangerine trees and how the latter made excellent desserts out of the fruits. He had even experienced being watched for and taken care of by Shachi and Penguin's mums. And every time Law witnessed a mother taking care or her child or children, he would watch at the display with a tinge of jealousy overpowered by unadulterated longing to be able to experience the same love only a mother could give.
Corazon would be a hypocrite if he said that he could shower Law with the love he had been craving for so long. The blond knew better, of course: he could never match a mother's love no matter how hard he tried.
It could not be said that Donquixote Rocinante did not try, however, to fill the ever-present hole in Law's heart that was yearning for a mother's love.
"Papa, were you sad that Mama left us too early?"
He had been taken aback by that repeated question, given the kind of nature he had come to call Law his son. Corazon could only nod mutely and let the raven-haired boy think that they were both feeling the same sadness for the absence of a mother Law never knew and a woman Corazon did not and would never knew about.
When Law was eight, he surprised Corazon with a question that totally threw the young father off.
Law had asked why he did not resemble any of the Donquixotes nor did he carry even the smallest trait that would say that he was related to them. Not even a hint of a temperament that was a trademark of the family could be found. Fortunately, Corazon had managed to distract Law with a book on the human physiology. Preoccupied with the book, the child had forgotten about his question.
The blond knew, however, that he could never keep the truth hidden from the child. Corazon knew that he would have to tell Law. He perfectly knew that it would possibly hurt Law, and that fact alone tore Corazon's heart in two. He swore to himself that no harm – physically, mentally, or emotionally – would come to the precious little boy that he had found and come to love as his own as long as he lived.
He knew that it was selfish of him and unfair for Law, but Corazon decided to hide the truth against his better judgment. It was a cowardly thing do, Corazon perfectly knew, but if it meant keeping Law by his side then he would do it.
It was awfully wrong and terribly selfish, but Corazon never wanted to be parted with the child he had instantly fallen in love with and stirred every bit of protectiveness in him at first sight.
Law was his beloved, precious son, and Corazon could not care less if he wasn't even his flesh and blood child.
+.+
"Papa Cora?"
The blond looked up from the financial reports he was perusing and smiled at his nine year-old son. Law's approach was a welcome distraction – Corazon had been sifting through the copies of the corporate documents Doflamingo had sent him for at least an hour and a half. The older Donquixote brother liked to keep Corazon informed about the goings on in the family business, much to the latter's appreciation. As much as he liked to focus on raising his son, the young father also wanted to help with running the many businesses his and Doflamingo's parents set up as much as possible. While Doffy wanted to keep track of the businesses hands on, Corazon remained at home most of the times and showed his aid by means of checking and making documents and taking part in annual meetings, sometimes through video calls.
The corners of his lips tugged upwards in a smile as he watched Law look at the files rather thoughtfully, small hands gingerly lifting one paper and another in careful inspection. Corazon's smile morphed into a grin when his son scanned the financial report he was previously reading.
"You seem interested in accounting," the blond teased Law good-naturedly. "I thought you wanted to be a doctor when you grow up?"
Little Law peered up at Corazon and stuck his tongue out at the latter. "I still wanna be a doctor. And I don't like Math too much, so…"
(The young father fought the urge to squeal when Law ended up pouting in an utterly adorable way when he elongated the word 'so'. Corazon was one hell of a champion, so it is an understatement to say that he succeeded.)
"You don't? Really now… what's thirty-seven multiplied by, let's say, seven?"
Law's brows furrowed in thought and started to worry his bottom lip. After a few seconds of mental calculation, he glared half-heartedly up at his father and carelessly blurted out his answer.
"Two hundred and fifty-nine."
Corazon blinked in amazement. It took his son less than ten seconds to calculate mentally, and he would be lying if he denied that it did not astound him. Drawing his brows together, he rested his elbows on the desk and leaned forward towards his son.
"Two hundred and fifty-nine multiplied by eight?' Corazon asked in a challenging voice, knowing full well how the raven-haired child loved a challenge or two when it came to using one's brains.
Another few seconds of silence. Then, "Two thousand and seventy-two…?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Corazon asked, grinning in a teasing manner. He suppressed a chuckle when Law huffed and crossed his short arms over his chest with as much force a child his age could muster.
"Telling you, of course!" the child replied, hiding his embarrassment. "Silly Papa Cora."
"Oi!" the blond huffed indignantly. His grin returned when Law snickered. With a fond sigh, he leaned back on his chair and beckoned the little boy to come to him. Corazon lifted Law up and, feigning someone who was lifting a very heavy object, placed the child on his lap with a loud grunt. The nine year-old giggled at the blond's complaint of how heavy the former was.
"Anyway, little accountant," the young father started, dodging the small fist that suddenly flew towards his face at the unwanted nickname, "what brought you here? I know you didn't wander in here just to be subjected in a multiplication fest."
Law giggled at the blond's claim but then became serious when he regarded the question. Corazon watched as his little son gazed up at him anxiously.
"I just wanna ask if…"
The blond raised an eyebrow when Law left his words hanging like a terrible cliffhanger. Corazon lightly poked his son on the forehead, prompting him to continue. "If…?"
"I'm adopted," Law finished, anxiety suddenly replaced by childlike curiosity. The little boy looked up at his father with wide grey eyes. "I just wanna ask if I'm adopted. Am I?"
Corazon felt his heart stopped at his little boy's question. His mind frantically searched for any ideas that might have triggered Law to ask that but nothing came to him. Law's adoption had always been a well-guarded secret, the family and Doflamingo's close friends – as well as Corazon's long-time neighbors and friends – had sworn not to speak of it and let the youngest Donquixote to reveal everything to Law when the right time came. How, then, did the little kid come up with the idea that he was–?
The young father tried to keep his expression schooled with much effort so as not to betray his current thoughts. Corazon let out a breath and cupped Law's cheeks with a smile on his face.
"Of course not."
The lie left a bitter taste in his mouth but he ignored it in favor of keeping his son safe from the painful truth. Law loved him as much as he did, and telling him that he was not Corazon's flesh and blood child would surely break his little heart.
(And looking back to when he first laid eyes on the little child, the blond swore that no harm would come to Law as long as he's alive.)
He looked at his son and watched as the boy processed the information. Corazon waited with bated breath, heart stopping once more when Law gazed up at him. The raven-haired boy smiled up at him and wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Okay!"
+.+
"Am I adopted, Papa Cora?"
Corazon lifted his batter-stained face off the cook book he was reading to look at Law who was gazing up at him anxiously. He shook his head in an attempt to appear exasperated and shot his son a fond smile.
"No, you aren't. What gave you the idea?" he asked the little boy, going back to mixing the batter he had been busying himself with. He knew Law hated bread, but his adorable son always had a sweet tooth so Corazon let the little one scrape the icing off the cake and leave the bread for the adult to eat.
Law shrugged and gave the blond a curious stare.
"Why is my name Trafalgar Law, then?"
Caught off guard, Corazon almost dropped the bowl he was holding and carelessly placed it back on the counter in favor of walking towards his son and placing his flour-stained hands on the boy's cheeks.
"Donquixote Trafalgar Law. That's your name," the blond pressed, hiding his agitation. Corazon smiled rather forcefully at the child. "Trafalgar is a part of your name and it came from your mum. So, your name being Trafalgar Law is natural, no?"
(Corazon – no, Rocinante was lying to Law again and he hated it, hated himself for it–)
But Law only frowned in confusion. "Why are you telling me that just now? Shouldn't you be explaining that when I was younger?"
Corazon almost visibly panicked. Almost. He had no answer for that aside from revealing the truth to Law. So, with a weak sigh, he did what he thought was right in a situation like this.
"You're not adopted, Law. Remember that. I love you."
+.+
On the eve of Law's birthday, Corazon slipped inside the child's room without a sound. Despite his clumsiness, the blond was capable of moving around silently like a shadow if he so wanted, a skill he had perfected during the time he's spent with Sengoku in the Marine Corps.
The young father grinned lightly at the memory as he crossed the distance to his son's bed. Corazon carefully sat down beside Law, mindful of how the mattress dipped at his added weight and how his movement might wake the little one. His son slept on, however, unaware of his presence. Soft brown eyes filled with tears at the sight of Law's face, the little boy's expression peaceful and content, and not for the first time Corazon felt utterly guilty for lying to him. He reached out a hand and gently touched the child's cheek.
"I'm so, so sorry for lying to you, Law," he muttered miserably as he tried his hardest not to cry. "I just don't want you to feel anything bad about yourself for being adopted. I don't want to see you distance yourself from me once you find out and…"
Tears fell unbidden down the blond's cheeks and he halfheartedly wiped them away along with the snot that was surely dripping down his nose. Corazon covered his mouth with his free hand when Law shifted in his sleep, the hand on the child's cheek moving upwards to run through downy, raven locks.
Corazon took a shuddering breath and closed his eyes painfully as he withdrew his hand from Law. When he reopened them, he stared intently at his son, brown orbs filled with pain and fear.
"I… Law, I d-don't want you to hate me for lying to you, so please… I hope you'll forgive me."
(Corazon did not know why, but he had a feeling that he'd done this before, in a life long gone with an unrecorded past – lying to someone he loved for fear of being hated because of the truth.)
Shakily, the young adoptive father bent down to kiss his precious son's forehead, tears still streaming from his eyes. Corazon moved away seconds later and stood up, pulling the blankets Law had kicked away sometime in his sleep back up to cover the child.
"Yes, you're adopted. But that's just a word, because you're my son no matter what – flesh and blood connection be damned! You are my child, and I love you so damn much simply because you are! So please don't hate me for lying to you, Law. Because… Because it will break your heart and I don't know if you'll… i-if you'll let m-me fix it…!"
With one last tear-filled look, Corazon promptly left his son's room without bothering to close the door and looking back. Nor had he noticed Law watching his retreating form, grey eyes wide and glinting with mixed emotions.
Corazon should've looked so he would see that not an ounce of hatred or anything particularly horrible was evident in his son's eyes.
I knew it all along. I understand. I can't and will never hate you for it. I love you, too, Papa.
Wow, I didn't really bother explaining how Law found out. The truth is, I actually wrote Law's POV to show how he found out, but everything I've written turned out to be so, so wrong.
How did Law found out that he's adopted?
1) Corazon never showed him a picture of his mum, not even a name. And Corazon couldn't exactly lie any further so he left the topic unattended. Law had his suspicions ever since.
2) Let's just assume that Law was too smart for his own good to see and realize that he doesn't resemble anyone in the family.
3) He kept on asking Corazon if he's adopted. Law, in all his intelligence and keen observation, saw through our beloved dork's lies.
4) Last but not the least: the "Bedside Confession". It's in Cora's POV, so we all thought (or no one at all [who am I kidding]) that's Law's really asleep. It's like the scene in the manga and anime, the difference being Corazon lying about Law's adoption.
Whoah, I just explained the aforementioned question, didn't i? Tell me I didn't. I did? Oh. *jumps off a cliff*
A response to reviews:
Transformers' BABY - Well, he should, considering that he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up. Ah, little Law. Your love for your Papa Cora really makes you overlook things... Thanks for reading and reviewing! *smiles widely*
SEllen23 - Thank you! Aw, yes he is. I can't help but squeal like Papa Corazon at the thought of him. Such an adorable child... *grins goofily* Thanks for reading and reviewing!
StarBlazer124 - Ah, that's nice to know, Blaze! I was actually worried if the interaction would turn out alright, but after reading that it made you tear up a little, I think I did well with that scene. And writing Homing in general made me a bit uncomfortable, since I had to actually tap into old memories and think of several of my uncles (and Dad...?) saying what Homing told Corazon. The result? No memories matched. *chuckles lightly* So, I settled for imagining a scenario showing my dad telling this to my older brother. Argh, I'm rambling again, I'm sorry! *bows head dejectedly like Bepo*
A content? E-Eh... *blushes* T-Thanks! And thanks again for reading and reviewing, buddy! *smiles brightly*
MissFennoSwede - Yes, so cute. Haha, the end's actually one of my favorite parts. *smiles* Whoah, that's a tough question, but I'll answer it nonetheless. Um, no, I don't ship Law with anyone. I don't know why. *scratches non-itchy head* I hope nothing's wrong with me. *backs away slowly* Thanks for reading and reviewing! *grins*
pandoraswish - Wow, I was thinking of the same thing when I was writing that. *sports a creepy smile* That'll be so. Damn. Cute. Ehehehe!
SAME HERE! But then I was sickly as a child so... had no hope of me being like Law. *snickers* Thanks for reading and reviewing!
sarge1130 - That's... so spot on, my dear... *slowly envelopes you in a tight hug* You've basically summarized the chapter. *grins like a creepy murderer* You're awesome, you know that? Oh, you're welcome, and thanks for reading and reviewing! *grins like Doffy this time*
Apple Bloom - Ah, thank you! And thank you for reading and reviewing. Here's an update! *smiles*
Maya5392 - Ehehehe, I'm being mean to Corazon, ain't I? *chuckles* Yes, I can feel the evil aura where I am... *backs away slowly* Just kidding! Oh yes she is. My headcanon!Corazon's born to be sassy. *laughs* She's been sassing Corazon in my head ever since his identity's been finally revealed. What an evil woman... Thanks for reading and reviewing! *smiles widely*
Paulie Mickey J - Yes, yes, YES!! That's Law for you! Thank you! And thanks for reading and reviewing!!! *grins widely*
Mina18 - THANK YOU!!!! SURE I WILL, AS LONG AS YOU GUYS LOVE FAMILY!CORALAW!!!
Zhu-lee - A massive thanks from me to you! Yep, that's all I can say. Oh, Spanish? That's alright, no worries! Same to you, buddy, and here's an update! *smiles brightly*