Last Time:
At Enies Lobby, teenage Chopper remembers his first meeting with Luffy as he struggles to handle the darkness in being outside of the law.
At Impel Down, Marco awakens after losing to Blackbeard and soon enough, Luffy delivers him a cellmate, former Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo. The outlaws a strike an information bargain, surrounding the mystery that is Monkey D. Luffy.
Straw Hat Luffy is an impertinent little shit. Storming into Dressrosa's palace with all his righteousness and stupidity, fuck him.
Doflamingo overlooks his kingdom carelessly; it's much earlier than he's ever enjoyed waking up but some days the early morning calls. The silence outside his rooms shows that not even the servants have reached this wing of the palace yet. (They know better.) Usually, the mere sight of the cheery, colorful roofs, the expanses of tiled streets that snake around Dressrosa are enough to make him giddy.
He made it.
Doflamingo had everything in life until his no-good of a father decided to throw it all away. Now? Doflamingo doesn't need his bloodline or those weak, old geezers. His city is clean and stunningly beautiful. Most importantly, it's his and his alone.
The newspaper is intriguing where it lays discarded on the floor, little Law's confident facade smirking up at Doflamingo. The Warlord hasn't seen his former protege in more than a decade, not since that stupid little brother of his decided to grow some balls at the worst possible chance. (As if Doflamingo hadn't known Rocinante worked for the navy, please.) Now, Doflamingo's immortality depends on that little rebellious shit. Though it could undoubtedly be worst. For all that Law is a smart child, and a relatively successful pirate, Doflamingo knows him.
Knows his strength, but coincidentally, knows his weaknesses. It was him, and not Rocinante, who had scavenged Law from the edges of starvation and despair first. He has no doubt that Law regrets ever confiding in Doflamingo, no matter how briefly, but he did so all the same. the former Celestial Dragon knows exactly where to push. Last he hears, Law has an interesting crew with him, and the surgeon can pretend disinterest all he wants, Doflamingo has no doubt that they are Law's biggest weakness.
(A too soft-hearted child that one.)
So, Law's rise in status is thrilling but hardly surprising, Doflamingo has been a Warlord for almost a decade, it's entirely like Law to follow in and trying to meet his former boss where he stands. And that, right there, is the reason Law's never going to win this little charade of revenge he's working towards.
Doflamingo closes his eyes, feeling the sea breeze blow past him, salt burning inside him in anticipation.
Law has always been predictable, and as long as Doflamingo expects his next move, he will counter. As soon as he locates Law's crew, it's game over.
Disaster arrives at Dressrosa, and he comes in right through the front door.
Doflamingo doesn't tend to hate people on sight, not really. The average human is so beneath his esteem they're not worth forming an opinion on, much less an all-consuming emotion like hatred. It occasionally happens, a unique sense for particularly obnoxious people, which all shared that cursed initial. He's heard about Monkey D. Luffy before, Garp the Fist's grandson. Most people seemed to bank on that the Rear-Admiral, riding his familial connections to the top of the navy. If Doflamingo was so easily fooled, he would've never amounted to anything.
Besides, acquainted with rumors that the wind carries to his shores to seduce his fickle interest are banging at the door.
Enies Lobby, a mystery the Warlord has been insistently trying to decipher. Since then, Monkey D. Luffy has never been the same, the sea breeze whispers.
In just one day, the Island of Justice, one of the most significant buildings of the World Government, had burned to the ground. A massacre, more than half of the marines on sight dead, the other half missing amongst them Admiral Akainu. Finding someone who had gotten away intact has been deemed impossible, and it's been putting Doflamingo on edge.
Here's what Doflamingo knows:
1. World-hunted archeologist Nico Robin, a survivor of Ohara, is finally captured and taken into custody.
2. On the day she is being processed, Enies Lobby is attacked by an unknown group. Their intentions cannot be confirmed, but Nico Robin (who is presumed dead as of the incident) seemed to be at least among them.
3. During the conflict between marines and invaders, all communications of the island fails, the only SOS that goes through is the request for a Buster Call from Admiral Akainu's den-den mushi.
(Here is where it gets particularly convoluted. According to stolen reports, Admiral Akainu is the one who answered the request for a Buster Call, but then, who had his den-den mushi to call it in the first place? Some believe the Admiral was already on the island, but all official registry proves that Akainu was at HQ when the Buster Call request came through.)
4. Whoever attacked the island wanted to remain anonymous and took silencing their presence very seriously, not a single soul retains memories of the day. Everyone who isn't dead goes missing for months. There are 28 survivors, all returning with memory blanks, rejoining the world with a complete void regarding the last 2 years.
Now, Monkey D. Luffy walks through his door into the throne room, and Doflamingo has the intention of using him to figure out what the hell happened on that island.
Doflamingo hates him on sight.
The man is young, or at least, he looks younger than Doflamingo expected him to be, with a messy mop of black hair and dark eyes. He doesn't smile, instead looking around the place in disinterest. When he finally acknowledges the Warlord, there's a pinky up his nose, looking even further like the scum of the earth in his slouched posture and sandals of all things.
"You must be Mingo. I'm Luffy, I'm here to kick your butt," the Rear-Admiral informs him, and Doflamingo feels his blood pressure rise.
Doflamingo is a King.
"Huh?!" He leans forward in his chair, pressing a hand to his crossed ankle to tower over the young marine. Further behind him, a woman groans, and Trafalgar Law sighs. Momentarily, the presence of the other Warlord of the Sea deviates his attention.
"For the inspections!" The woman - a willowy thing with dreadfully bright orange hair - waves her hands in a panic as she tries to smooth over her superior's complete lack of... everything . "For the physical prowess examination! That's the reason you guys would fight, haha!" Doflamingo dismisses her entire existence, eyes falling on Law, who stiffens immediately. (It's good to know that not much has changed.)
"Well, hello there, Law."
A small part of Doflamingo acknowledges the Straw Hat, but the memory is old and long-forgotten.
"Doflamingo," the surgeon acknowledges, hands wrapped firmly around his blade, casually slung over his shoulder. His coat is long and black, and he makes quite a pair with Monkey. These youngsters, and their stupid hats. Dressrosa's King wonders what the move is going to be, why would Law put himself knowingly in Doflamingo's cross-hairs? Coming to Dressrosa, to Doflamingo's very own turf is a gutsy move. Then again, he'd known Law's plan would be suicidal.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" he doesn't miss Monkey's aimless wandering around the room. Like a child he kicks every tile, marvels at every window and pokes anything and everything within reach, seemingly without rhyme or reason. With his powers, his range is extensive. Doflamingo doesn't let his guard down nor allows his attention to deviate from his primary goal. (Though what a ridiculous Devil Fruit).
He's not naive enough to believe that Law's here without a plan, but from where the blonde man is standing, it doesn't seem to be a good plan. Law seems nervous, wary of both Doflamingo and the Navy officer. Doflamingo doesn't dismiss the possibility of an alliance between them, but it would be no real threat to him. As far as allies go, Monkey D. Luffy is hardly concerning.
Doflamingo researched his handler thoroughly.
Gossip is overwhelming in its certainty. Monkey had been a promising officer before. Doflamingo doesn't know the exact details, but there is a reason that the once marine prodigy is delegated to baby-sitting pirates that the World Government considers to be chained. None of Doflamingo's handlers have ever been anything special if the navy is willing to risk hostile contact with the Warlords... well, disposable is undoubtedly heard and yet unspoken.
What then, is Law planning?
"Just passing through," Law tells him, stubbornly meeting his gaze. There's something building in between them before a yellow Straw Hat invades in their sights.
"It's because Traffy and I are friends!" The Rear-Admiral declares loudly, smiling all the way and seemingly sneaking his way to capture Law in... is that a hug? Traffy?
"I told you that we're not friends," the words in Law's mouth seem to burst with familiarity, showing that this is a topic that has been argued more than once, but it doesn't seem like Law's ire at the statement is any less fierce because of it. "We very loosely work for the same organization. I'm still a career criminal, and you're a marine. Ergo, we are not friends. We're... allies." The words choke on his throat as if they're painful to utter. Oblivious to Law's apparent dislike, Monkey raises both hands in the air and yells:
"So... friends!" Law's fingers twitch, annoyance a physical shroud around him that does nothing to dissuade Monkey's enthusiasm, but it does seem to somewhat keep rubbery limbs off him.
"Straw Hat-ya and I are heading to my official sworn-in into the Warlords of the Sea, I'm traveling with him until then," he bits out, "nothing more."
"Really, now? Congratulations are in order, then." Doflamingo's smile is venomous, and the words are laid-on thick, but the Warlord knows that it sounds almost genuine in its own way. "I'm sure your crew must be relieved to leave behind a life of crime, I have yet to meet any of them." The way Law's knuckles tighten around his swords is its own reward.
"Namiiiiiii!" the whines distracts him from Law. Monkey is draped over his subordinate, a woman that seemed meek as she came in but is looking decidedly more annoyed by the second.
"Luffy! I said, no! Not yet." Not yet? Doflamingo frowns, and the woman turns to meet him, paling considerably as his frown meets her. "Mister Donquixote, please let us begin your review. I'm sure you know that it's a long, tedious process."
"What is the Rear Admiral so... excited about?" he questions, voice chilly. He eyes Trebol in the corner, his subordinate may not be the brightest, but he catches on to Doflamingo's suspicions quickly enough.
"Kicking your-!" The woman slaps him upside the head, glaring at the puddle of complaint that her superior melts into at her feet.
"Fighting you as part of the testing of course," she explains, sounding irritated, "the Rear-Admiral is" her stare makes clear who she's talking to for the following part "a complete meat-head with no sense of self-preservation."
"Clearly!" Trebol nods along from his corner in the room, "if he thinks he has a chance against Doffy."
"We know," it's a little disquieting, how the sentence is uttered by both the officer and Law in chorus, long-standing permeating the air in between them. They trade a glance, but the moment is over too quickly for Doflamingo to process correctly. He does wonder, though. The redheaded woman clears her throat.
"I'm Captain Nami, Mister Donquixote, and I'll be leading your evaluation. Shall we begin?"
Doflamingo looks her up and down. The woman is unassuming, but she walks with grace. She talks like a paper-pusher, but her body screams fighter. An interesting contradiction, the one that seems to have stolen Law's attention. Doflamingo nods.
"The sooner we begin, the sooner I can ask both you and your superior to dinner... I have some questions for you as well," he smiles, but she will find nothing reassuring in the gesture, Doflamingo knows.
"...We wouldn't want to..." she begins.
"Naturally, as old acquaintances, Law is more than welcome to join us."
"As if I'd ever do something as decrepit as joining you for dinner," Law scoffs. Something old and ugly clings to every word, a rotten thing that might've once been love.
"Don't tell me you're still hung up about Co-"
The moment happens fast, almost too fast. Doflamingo could've sworn that Law did... something, there had been a flash of blue, and now the smell of ozone fills the air. Whatever happened, it seems to have been aborted or at least, failed. Across from him, grinning happily, Monkey is doing an ode to his namesake as he dangles playfully off Law's back. The surgeon looks like loathing, surprise, and misery all rolled into one. He's as still as a statue, and unlike his previous bravado, he does not meet Doflamingo's eyes.
Trebol hasn't moved, but Doflamingo knows something was about to happen. Did Monkey keep Law from attacking him? He stares at the Rear-Admiral, entertaining the possibility that he is more competent than Doflamingo's given him credit for.
"Mr. Donquixote?" That's the cue to begin, but the Warlord keeps an eye on the room, back tense in expectation. That flash of blue...
There's a stunning moment where Doflamingo understands that he's going to have to fight his way out of his own palace. The world pauses, and his life flashes before his eyes because, where did he go wrong? How? The King of Dressrosa figured Law would attempt some suicidal challenge towards him, try to bring him down alone in some heroic revenge for his brother. And the surgeon, who'd been grumbling unhappily, smiles darkly at him across the room. He's working with Straw Hat. They'd set him up.
The newly-arrived curly-haired man holds a document, an arrest warrant because Doflamingo's Warlord privileges do not extend to what he's done. Doflamingo breathes. It's tedious, and unexpected from Law, but not insurmountable.
"Do you really think that these idiots are the first to sniff something off with this kingdom?" He smiles, enjoying the flicker of hesitation that crosses Law's eyes. "You do know what happens when someone gets made into a toy, don't you?" He uses the time to stretch out, slightly lethargic, from hours sitting down and pouring over questions and documents with the Navy Captain. As soon as her colleague arrived, she'd been quick to distance herself. Even now, she prepares to edge out of the room.
"Do you really think that...!" But whatever Law was going to answer is swiftly interrupted. Monkey looks at his subordinate, who's quaking in the face of Doflamingo's presence, even as Captain Nami stands by him.
"Oi Ussop, does it mean that I can beat him up now?" Monkey cracks his knuckles, an irreverent little shit right till the end. The man shivers, flinching at the pirate, but his spine seems to steel itself as he looks at Luffy. He holds on to the warrant tightly, drawing strength from being on the right side of the law. He nods fiercely.
"That's exactly what it means." An instant later, a fist collides solidly against Doflamingo's palm. His hand rose to meet the punch by pure instinct, and Doflamingo grins in his anger and absolute indignation. He'd been right before, the Rear-Admiral's fast . Monkey's eyes shine in challenge. From behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's eyes narrow. Distantly, he notices the long-haired teen and the Captain backing out of the room, looking like every step weights them down. Logically, he can feel the push of Haki against his own.
"Traffy, remember to keep an eye on Luffy!" Captain Nami yells. Doflamingo becomes embroiled in battle before he can hear the response.
"Told you I was gonna beat you up," the raven-haired man says, and it sounds oddly like a promise.
"And now your here?" The Phoenix questions, he's been silent for the entire story, eyes fixed on Doflamingo and feigning disinterest. The former Warlord feels his temper, a thing that's always thrumming beneath his skin, skyrocket but instead of frowning, he grins.
"And now I'm here, indeed."
I've been struggling with time management, and it tends to get a lot worse when I'm writing. It's been hard finding small pockets of space to continue this without letting it take over my life.
I just want to assure all of you that I'm committed to finishing this and I will not leave you hanging.
much love,
dee