Doflamingo and Trebol stood in the middle of the musty cement basement. The smell of mildew and dust stifled the air they breathed and clogged their noses. The two large men stood staring at a huddled teenager. There, in a small corner a tall teen sat huddled and crouched over shaking. His shaggy black hair clung to sweat stained skin and frightened grey eyes hid behind the dark circles under them. The boy shook and rocked in place transfixed on some dark corner far away from the three of them.
"What happened?" Doflamingo asked again in utter confusion. His brow twisted up as he tried to look the teen over. "He didn't try to overdose on something again, did he?"
"I doubt it." Trebol answered. He took a few steps over to the petrified boy and crouched down. Terrified eyes dared not look away from the deep black shadows swirling in the basement corner. "I haven't let him off the chain for a few days. He didn't have a chance to swipe anything."
"You fed him?" Doffy mused as he too ventured to step closer. This time the teen reacted and let his eyes flick over to the looming figure for just an instant. The fear displayed on his face sharpened.
"Of course I did. Same shit he eats every day." Trebol remarked. He reached out and grabbed the boy by his shoulders, trying to pry his attention away from what ever kept it. Doflamingo, on the other hand, let his land on the indecipherable darkness. He craned his neck and strained his eyes trying to see what Law did. Nothing stuck out and there was no movement.
"Did he actually eat it?" Doffy tried again still focused on the dark corner.
"Well, not really. He hasn't eaten much lately." The large slimy man let his fingers slide down Law's exposed forearm as he assessed the shaken teen.
"You didn't think that was important enough to tell me?" The mob boss hissed through a forced smile. "He's still important to the operation you know."
"He's been slowly eating less and less over the last few months. Figured it was cause of puberty or something." The man gave a slight shrug despite his boss not looking. Trebol's fingers clenched Law's jaw and forcefully turned his head back and forth looking him over. Dull grey eyes moved to keep staring down the same spot.
"Don't touch me." A soft whisper came from the shaggy boy. His chapped lips barely parted as he said this but it was loud enough to garner attention. Both men looked him over unsure if they had truly heard the words.
"Huh?" Doffy hummed out as he walked back over to Trafalgar.
"The blood." His mouth opened and he swallowed dryly before continuing. "You'll get the blood on you."
Trebol snatched his hand away and looked it over in the yellow florescent lights. The long wrinkled fingers twitched and twisted as he examined himself. There was no blood to speak of. Doflamingo and Trebol looked back at the teen giving his face a good once over. There were old scars and dry scratches but nothing that bled. "What blood?" Trebol questioned.
"The blood. It's everywhere." Law finally tore his eyes away from the darkness and let them fall full force on the giant mob boss in front of him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The teen whispered like a practiced chant.
"Law, what blood?" Doflamingo tried as he crouched over and looked him in the eyes. Something angry tinted his words after he interpreted the words as malicious.
"The blood from your chest." Law stated. His eyes traveled down, taking in every detail of the blond as he did so. The cropped hair gelled back into spikes, the gaudy pink sunglasses that hid the devil's eyes behind them, even the way his Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke. A slight confusion crossed the teens face as the moment set in. His eyes brushed over saturated pink feathers under the poor lighting. He roamed further down as his body stopped rocking. Muscles clenched in anger and annoyance around the collar bones that protruded from muscular tan skin. An ugly white shirt framed toned pectoral muscles that raised and fell as Doflamingo breathed in the stench of the basement. "The blood...?" Law face conveyed his confusion. He dared to lean forward and reach out a shaking hand. Long fingers stretched towards Doflamingo's chest.
A large hand grasped tightly at the advancing wrist and held the boy tightly. Fingers froze just centimeters away from the moving mass. "Cut it out, Law." Doflamingo commanded.
"You're warm?" Law's eyes started to well up, tears dancing precariously on the edges. His eyes fuzzed in and out as if unsure where to focus, or even how to. He dipped his head down and leaned towards the hulking mass in front of him. Unwashed charcoal black hair scratched at Doflamingo's frame as the teen put his full weight on him. Law's free hand grasped at the pink feathers, holding them tightly as if they'd disappear once he let go.
"I said cut this shit out." Anger barbed the words Doffy spoke. He put pressure on the wrist that was clutched in his hand. Pain shot through the teen and he could feel him writhe in agony under him. "I'll break your hand if you keep this up." That sadistic smile of his swept across his face as he spoke.
"I'm sorry!" Trafalgar screeched out as his whole body recoiled. His free hand tried to pry the mob boss's off his wrist. "I'm so sorry, Cora!" The teen screamed again as his whole body fought against the grip. Tears stained his crimson cheeks as pure fright consumed him. He continued to yell out incomprehensible babble as he struggled.
"You think I'm my brother?" Doflamingo spat out before letting go of Law's arm. He drew himself up to his full, menacing height and stared down at the shaking teen. Anger consumed him, forcing him to lash out and kick the kid in his stomach. Law's lithe body flew across the cement floor and slammed into the wall behind him. The chain around his ankle rattled and groaned as it was stretched to it's limit.
"I'm sorry." Law's words came out strained and harsh from where he lay clutching his stomach. "I'm sorry, Cora." He said rhythmically.
Doflamingo fumed as he marched up to the curled teen. He wound up to kick him again before he felt a strain against his arm. Trebol held him back, long disgusting fingers entwined around his arm. "I don't think that will help." He muttered as his eyes were transfixed by the boy. "He's not all there, boss." The large man turned his head to face the slightly smaller man, venomous words on his lips, but he reconsidered.
"You might be right." The giant man took two steps back and stared down at the cowering boy. Law shook in pain and fear as he continued to mutter the same sentence over and over. A large hand thread through short blond tresses as he thought. "Let's leave him be for now. We'll figure out what to do with him later."
Trebol shook his head and hummed affirmatively. As the two of them walked up the stairs away from the trembling teen, they heard more words escape him.
"N-No, no please! Don't leave me. NO!" His voice strained as he shrieked in horror. It was nothing short of a death scream as the chain rattled against cement punctuating the request. "HELP PLEASE, NO!" The door slammed behind the two executives muffling the cries. Law found himself left alone once again in the dark cellar, adrift in a sea of blood and haunting whispers.
"It smells awful in here!" Jora huffed as she pushed open the door and led the charge down the stairs. Behind her were the rest of the executives save for the heart seat.
"Bleak as ever." A gruff voice seconded.
"Weak? I'm not weak. I could run laps around you young'ns!" A shaky voice proclaimed as the group finally reached the solid concrete floor. Doflamingo took the lead and led them all to the teenager who was still clutching his legs to his chest. It had been a few hours since he and Trebol were last down there but the boy hadn't moved an inch. Dry tears stained his terracotta skin and his body convulsed violently with fearful tremors. Once again his dull grey eyes were fixed on some distant dark corner.
"Law, get up." The mob boss commanded. The teen stayed curled in the corner as if never hearing the command. "You need to stop this fucking temper-tantrum you're having and get back to work. I've been patient this far." Doflamingo snatched the kid by his arm and forced him to stand up. Shaky legs couldn't support the teen's weight so Doffy was left holding him up. Trafalgar's T-shirt bunched up in the older man's hand and lifted just high enough to expose his thin frame. He was barely more than bone and stretched skin.
Quiet murmurs from the group caught the boss's attention. He turned his full attention to the boy. Every exposed patch of skin was taunt and discoloured. Bruises, cuts, scars, and more adorned the kid's body like a hoarder's room. His eyes were dark and sunken, hiding under rings from sleepless nights. His jaw was slack and hair was long but wiry. Stubble lined his chin and patches of a beard grew in on the teen. He had grown considerably since just a few short years ago before he was put into the cellar, but even with that extra length Doflamingo found himself holding the boy completely off the ground by his arm. He was so light that the pink mobster hadn't even noticed.
Shaky grey eyes stared up at the blond's face, scanning, waiting. Pleas danced on the kid's chapped lips as he started up his mantra. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He whispered.
"Doflamingo, he doesn't look so good." Diamante muttered. The room was so quiet that the comment was clear to everyone there.
"Look good!?" Jora's shrill voice boomed. "Christ, that boy looks like he's on death's doorstep. What the hell have you been doing to him, Trebol?"
"Me? I haven't done anything." Trebol defended.
"Yeah, we can see that much." Senior butted in before swirling a small pink pacifier in his mouth. He gave it a small suck to punctuate his sentence.
"Huh?"
"Does the poor kid even know what food is?" Lao asked. He took a small step forward to look the kid over. The whole group quickly realized just how bad the teen was shaking when compared to the unsteady old man. They both trembled and swayed in the cold cellar.
"I feed him! He just had breakfast not long ago." Trebol waved his hands trying to physically defend himself from accusations. "It's not my fault the kid won't eat."
Jora and Senior approached the teen and took him from Doflamingo's grasp. They let him sit on the floor with Senior propping him up. Heavy hands pulled the taunt skin on his cheeks and tilted his head.
"Can you open a window? It's horrible in here." Jora directed the comment to whoever heard her. She looked the boy over as her jewelry adorned hands patted down the teen's face. A harsh warmth burnt her hand as she rested it on his forehead.
"There's no windows to open." Trebol replied. "We boarded them up forever ago."
"No wonder this place smells as bad as you do." She scolded.
"Might be the other way around with how much time he spends down here." Pika laughed. The noise caught on his lips as he noticed a dirty look being shot at him from the small disgusting man. "What about the vents? Can you turn on some fans or something?"
"No fans. The vents down here aren't exactly the best."
"What about the big vent over his work station? Can't you turn that one on?" Senior asked as he re-situated the teen. Law's head rolled and leaned against the man's shoulder as he continued to mutter his practiced chant.
"That doesn't work anymore. It gave us trouble a few months ago and we haven't gotten anyone to fix it yet." Trebol admitted. He lifted the walking cane he carried and gave the large hunk of metal a loud smack to emphasize his words.
"You never fixed that?" Doflamingo chimed in. "I told you to get on that right away." A deep vein popped from his throat as he spoke.
"Not a lot of people know how to and I can't exactly just hire someone in this situation." Trebol's voice jumped a few octaves as he scrambled to cover for his decision.
"He works with chemicals!" The mob boss shouted. Anger grew on his face as he closed the large gap between them. Everyone in the room fell silent as their eyes followed him. It was unusual for him to get so angry towards his family. "Do you know what happens when you mix this shit? You get gas. Poisonous gas!"
"I-I'm sorry-"
"Do you know what happens if the gas doesn't get handled right away?" Doffy continued. "HE-," the mobster threw an outraged finger to point towards the half out-of-it teen "-breaths it in!"
"I didn't think it was that big-"
"No! No you don't think. If he breathes in these god damned fumes he can die." The furious man bent over and grasped Trebol's face in his hand, squeezing far harder than he needed to. He forcibly craned the man's head back to look up into the devil's eyes that pierced into him through pink sunglasses. Even behind the dark tint, Trebol could see the suppressed rage and blood lust. "If he dies, there goes my whole fucking drug market! GONE!"
"Doffy..." He tried to squeeze out more words as his feet started to loose contact with the ground.
"Do you know what will happen to you if I can't sell drugs anymore? I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than his if that happens." His voice was cold and froze the struggling man's soul. The air carried a heavy chill that pinned everyone in place. "You're going to get this fixed and if he kills over... I hope for your sake he doesn't." Doflamingo pried his own hand off of the man's face and let him drop to the hard concrete below.
"Jora, Senior, unchain him and bring him upstairs. We need to get him help." The mob boss marched out of the room leaving nothing but receding footsteps behind him. The rest of the executives shuffled out behind him with Senior carrying the teen out in his arms. Trebol could do nothing but sit on his ass from where he was dropped and watch in quiet fear as the rest abandoned him.
Law's head swam. The world was pitch black and he felt pain and throbbing through his whole body. He flexed his hands and felt his finger tips skim against something soft. A harsh groan escaped him as he rolled his head to the side, not wanting to open his eyes quite yet. There were voices in the distance that he could almost make out.
"Has he been outside at all? Or even just seen the sun in the last three years?" The voice was from a woman, something a bit gruff but full of life. Law guessed it was Jora, the large lady with a bigger personality.
"What about exercise? We all saw him, Doffy." This voice was the unmistakable squeak of Pika. "That's not healthy."
"I saw fit to keep him in the basement like that. Since when do you question me." This voice sent fear into Law. He could pick it out even if he was dead asleep. He'd been conditioned by that horrible noise.
"We're not." The two chimed in at the same time.
"It's just. He needs a better environment if you want him to be creative." Jora continued. "Sun, fresh air, a little bit of freedom, that's what makes an artist create."
"He's not an artist like you. He doesn't need to create anything beside more of that drug."
"He's still producing and experimenting. You said it yourself, the drug has gotten better. Even science needs freedom." Her voice rose in a sing-song like mood at the last word.
"You need him alive." Pika offered. "If he stays healthy you're investing in him long term."
"Unusual for you to say something so logically." Doffy muttered so low that Law wasn't sure if that's truly what he said.
"A husk like that can't pick anything up. He won't be helpful at all if this continues." Pika offered.
"We'll discus this in tonight's meeting. I don't want to hear you lecture me anymore. I'm not in such a great mood right now." With that, the sound of loafers clacking against tile announced his exit.
"Well." Huffed Jora. "I don't exactly like the brat either but this got a bit out of hand." Pika hummed in agreement as the sound of a door knob turning alerted Law. A door swung open and he heard the two of them step inside. He fought to open his heavy eyelids and look at them, uncomfortable with being in the same room as the two.
"He looks pathetic like that." Jora bemoaned. "I bet his mother is rolling in her grave. I know I'd kick someone's ass if they did that to my kid."
"I think Dillinger would do that part for you." Pika laughed.
"Damn straight! I raised him right." The rattling cackle that came from her finally gave Law enough adrenaline to open his eyes. He stared in confusion up at the white ceiling. His eyes lulled to the side as he took in more of the room. It was bright, with vibrant white lights and a warm orange glow. He blinked and refocused his eyes. The room was still bathed in soft orange light. He craned his head and saw a window behind him. It was huge, covering about half the wall and let in the evening sunlight filtered through city buildings. Another pained groan escaped him as a pounding sensation assaulted his head.
"You're up?" Pika exclaimed. "I'll let the young master know." Law flicked his eyes towards the foot of where he lay just in time to see the large, muscular man stomp out a door. Trafalgar squeezed his eyes shut and reopened them, willing them to focus on the room. It was blurry but he had a faint feeling that the place was familiar.
"Don't try to move too much." Jora said. She walked up to Law's side and sat down in a chair that he hadn't noticed. "Do you know where you are?"
Law tried to answer but his lips were dry and his throat was in pain. He shook his head slightly, amazed that she had even noticed it.
"You're in your old room, up in the kid's suite." Jora answered. "You're on a ventilator." Law blinked again and tried to sit up and examine himself. His strength failed him and left him struggling fruitlessly against soft sheets wrapped around him. "You were hallucinating in the basement from breathing in the chemicals. We had to flush your airways and put you on the machine due to some minor complications. Right now we have you on some steroids. Caesar said we'll have to keep you like this for a few days to see if your lungs improve after that ordeal."
Trafalgar shut his eyes, tired and too out of it to fully follow. Sleep clung to the corners of his consciousness lulling him back in.
"Monet was here. She helped Caesar treat you. She missed you." Jora seemed to be talking more to entertain herself at this point. What a loud cow. "Well, at least her aim is getting better!" She laughed at the horrible joke. "But seriously, a lot of us haven't really seen you much lately. Trebol and Doflamingo were the only ones let down into that basement this past year. We didn't realize how bad you'd gotten." She rubbed at her neck. "I can't say I really care for you much since you've always been an annoying child, but now that Dillinger is almost the same age you were back then..." Her thoughts trailed off and the room was quiet save for the machine whirling.
A soft hand rested on top of Law's. He could barely feel it behind all the pain that tainted his body. Mostly, he could feel the motion of what he assumed was her thumb passing over his hand. "I sorry. It's just a lot easier to hate someone and think they deserve it when you don't see them as human. I guess I've gotten softer." Trafalgar was teetering on the edge of sleep, not able to hear most of what she whispered in the lonely room. The phrase "deserve it" rang in his mind like echos in a cavern. It was the last thing he could cling to as he passed out.