Wow after the longest time I have finally made some time to write the next chapter. I apologise for the time it has taken, and I will try to write the next chapter a bit faster, but I can't really promise anything.
Anyway, I am happy with this chapter, for the most part. And I admit I am unsure of how much healing Marco can do with his fruit and how much healing the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi can do, but hey I just made it up.
I must say that I loved Sanji and Marco's part in the chapter, it was very fun to write.
And you will get to know what Smoker will do, but it will take some time.
Furthermore I know that Law is waaaay colder as a kid in his flashback, but I wanted him to struggle a bit with it. And I also felt like I didn't want to write the whole story of how Cora-San manage to steal his Devil Fruit, so imagine that it goes down somewhat as in the original, it's just the marines he steals it from, and he doesn't die. Or imagine it in an other way if you like, because it isn't important.
I also look forward to write as Doffy more, it's so much fun.
Anyway, I think that was all I had to say.
So I hope you enjoy the chapter!
"Are you alright?" Whitebeard asked as he entered Marco's room.
"We are, are everyone else alright?" Marco wondered and the man gave him a relaxed smile.
"They are, there is nothing to worry about."
"Let me know if I can be of any help."
"I will, but until Ace and the others returns, we will not be sure of what happened."
"Hopefully they will return unhurt."
"They will, no need to worry. You really are a mother hen sometimes," Whitebeard teased just as Thatch rushed through the door, followed by Vista.
"There you are" Thatch sounded like he had been searching for Marco, who gave him a puzzled look before he saw the hurt woman in his arms, reminding him off Rost at once. "We need to save her!"
Marco blinked a few times, trying to grasp what his friend wanted him to do. Tashigi was badly wounded and the logical thing to do would be to take her to a doctor, not to him.
"We are in a bit of a hurry, she is badly wounded," Vista said looking at Marco who yet had to move or answer.
"I think what they are asking are if you are willing to give her the Devil Fruit you found?" Whitebeard cut in and Marco turned towards the man slowly nodded. He had forgotten about the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi, since he couldn't use it himself, but the fruit may save the young girl's life.
"Of course, but why not take her to a doctor? I mean there is no guarantee that she will be able to use the fruit," Marco said, still trying to grasp his friends' decision, and not to think of Rost to much.
"Because the only one that may be able to cure her is Law, but we don't know if he would be able or even willing. She said it was okay," Thatch met Marco's eyes and gave his best friend a calm and encouraging look.
"Alright," he finally said as he went over to his safe to collect the fruit before he turned towards where Sanji had been sitting. He saw that the younger man had taken a stepped back, not too comfortable with all the people around. "Are you alright? Do you want to go somewhere else?"
"I am fine," Sanji whispered. "Are you alright?"
Marco gave him a smile before he nodded. He was unsure if he was alright, but he pushed his feelings away for now, thinking about Rost and remembering it all wouldn't help any of them at the moment. Furthermore he saw no reason to worry Sanji.
"Let me know if you need anything," he told the younger one as he walked over to Tashigi who gave him a weak smile.
"Thank you."
"It's going to taste awful," he warned her, not wishing to lie to her. "It doesn't matter how slow or fast you eat it, but you have to finish all of it, otherwise you are going to die, okay?"
Tashigi nodded, showing that she had understood and Marco handed her the fruit, and watched as she slowly ate it. It was clear that the taste was to her disliking and that it was painful for her to eat, but she kept going, while Marco hoped she would be alright.
"Is she going to live?" Coby asked as he watched how the black haired woman tried to heal her wounds with the help and instruction of Marco, who seemed to struggle with it.
"Hopefully," was all Whitebeard answer, unwilling to promise something. Smoker respected him in a way for it, but his words made Coby and the others more unsure.
"Is he going to be alright?" Smoker asked instead, watching Marco who seemed to be pale and more anxious than Smoker had ever seen him. He wasn't directly worried about Marco, knowing that the man knew what he was doing, but he seemed affected by it. White Beard gave him an appreciated smile but didn't answer, making Smoker unsure of what to think.
He knew that whatever they were doing wouldn't be risking Marco's life, because Edward would never allow that. Yet Smoker kept his eyes on Marco who seemed to be on edge making Smoker wonder if whatever he did with his power was painful for Marco. Ace was standing next to Smoker, still holding his hand, squeezing it and he was unsure if it was to calm himself down or Smoker, both of them worried about the people in front of them.
When Marco took a step back from Tashigi, all her wounds was healed, and if it hadn't been for how pale she looked, it would have appeared as nothing had happened. Smoker was about to step forward when Whitebeard stopped him, having her eyes on Marco. The man seemed to be on edge, he was breathing heavily and his eyes were darker than Smoker had ever seen them.
"Mar…" Thatch started only to be stopped by Edward as well, to his surprise. It seemed like Marco hadn't heard them, or rather not his friend trying to speak, but he looked at them and for a second it seemed like he was about to fall apart, making Smoker a bit worried.
And even if Newgate hadn't moved Smoker could tell that he was worried as well, prepared for the worst, telling him how serious the situation was. Ace tried to walk towards the first commander, only to have Whitebeard stop him, something the younger man was to complain about when the tall man gave him a look, stopping him.
Whitebeard's motion had made Marco's breathing more uneven as he couldn't breath and Newgate became even more unsure, trying to make the other take a step back and for a second Smoker wondered if the man was afraid that Marco would attack them. Smoker almost cursed when the gang leader let Sanji walk past him, and he wondered why on fucking earth he would let him past?
Why had Newgate stopped all of Marco's friends from approaching, even taking a step back and then letting Sanji walk past them. If the taller man now was worried about Marco's reaction and what he may do, then why send in the one with the least fighting experience?
And he didn't seem to be the only one to think that, soon hearing how Thatch tried to point it out, only to be silenced again. Smoker couldn't understand what the old man was doing, clearly not wishing to see Sanji dead, but he must have known something that none of them did.
Sanji seemed a bit hesitated before he sank down in front of Marco, and slowly taking his hands, only to have Marco squeezes them hard, making Sanji flinch. The action seemed to trigger something in Marco who loosened his grip a bit as Sanji started to breath load and clear, while making small circles on the back of Marco's hands. Smoker glanced at Ace wondering if he knew what was going on, but the younger man shrugged his shoulder, clearly being as puzzled as he was.
Slowly Marco's breathing turned back to normal and his gaze became more steady, and Whitebeard relaxed, no longer preventing any of them from moving, yet no one did. After a few minutes Marco blinked and looked up at Sanji, blinking a few times before letting go of him, as he had burned himself.
"Did I hurt you?" He asked at once, making the blonde smile.
"No," Marco was unsure if he believed that or not but didn't questioned him. "Are you feeling better?"
"I am, thank you" He was honest, he did felt better, still a bit out of it, and surprised over how he had felt as he was drowning in a deep sea with no way out.
"That was very kind of you Sanji" Whitebeard said in a gentle grateful voice, yet it made the blond look down, refusing to meet his eyes.
"I am sorry if I scared you pops."
"You worried me more than anything else, I was unsure of what was the best way of action with everyone here. It has been a long time since you had a panic attack, and even if you are rarely aggressive, it happens, and I didn't wish for you to hurt yourself or any of us," Whitebeard kissed Marco's forehead before smiling at his oldest.
"Can someone please explain what just happened?" Thatch asked and their leader turned towards the chef when the others hummed as well.
"When I met Marco in the past, he had panic attacks from time to time, past trauma can cause that, and my guess is that seeing Tashigi in such a state brought out old memories. We have dealt with them throughout the years when they have accord, but as I said with all of you here I was uncertain of how to handle the situation. So stopping you was all I could do, but when Sanji walked forward in such a determent way, my guess was that he had dealt with panic attacks before, and I trusted him to be able to handle the situation," Whitebeard said, praising the blonde who blushed, yet refusing to look at the tall man.
"Wow sorry, if I had known I would never have brought her to you," Thatch stated earning himself a smile from the older man.
"I could have refused," Marco didn't wish for the other one to feel guilty, it had all been his choice.
"Why don't you go for a walk Marco; we can talk more later" Whitebeard gave Marco an encouraging smile and he nodded, standing up almost a bit unstable.
"Let me know if you need any help with anything."
"Always will," he answered as Marco left the room in company of Sanji.
"Tashigi?" Smoker asked when the younger woman started moving.
"Take it easy and stay down! Your body is still adjusting," Newgate instructed her, seeing that she tried to sit up. The black haired nodded laying still as the other walked closer.
"So was that it? Is she a devil user now?" Helmeppo asked seeing that she looked the same, besides the paleness.
"She is," Whitebeard simply said, doubting that what the younger ones knew about Devil Fruits was anything besides what they may have overheard on the streets.
"How do you feel?" Coby wondered.
"Tired, but the pain is no more, yet everything feels strange."
"It will do so for a time, but take it slow and you will soon feel better and adjust," Whitebeard informed her, having the black haired nodding. "Ask if you need anything or have any questions."
"Thank you," Tashigi's voice was still a bit sore but Edward heard her.
"Smoker can I speak with you?" The leader and he nodded, and Ace gave him a worried look.
"I need my hand brat, and I will be alright. If you wish to do something, look after Tashigi," he told Ace who muttered something, but placed himself in a chair, determent to wait for his return.
"I will have a doctor look over you and your men" Whitebeard informed him when they sat down at a table, in what was clearly a meeting room. Smoker only nodded in thanks. "Are you aware of how many that survived?"
"No. I disbanded the army and told everyone I met to get out, and do whatever they liked. Saved fifteen before I left the base, a few followed me here others chose to go on their own way. Can't say how many fled before I told them, and how many fled because they were part of a gang, but not more than half survived."
"What happened?"
"Caesar happened," his voice was still full of anger. "He belongs to the Joker's gang, and when he heard that I had saved Vegapunk he ordered Caesar to search for information on where I kept him, tortured Tashigi to see if she knew anything, and when he couldn't find any information, I guess they decided to destroy the base."
Whitebeard felt silent, thinking over what he had said, and from looking at him it was impossible for Smoker to determent what he thought.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"Unsure, I wanted to make sure that Tashigi would survive before anything else," he admitted, he hadn't thought much further than that, even unsure if he had understood that the army was no more. "I also need to speak with Rosinante."
"Sengoku's son?"
"Yes, it seems like he was a part of the Joker's gang, possible undercover," Smoker wasn't too keen on revealing too much seeing that Whitebeard was a part of a gang, and even if he had disbanded the army, didn't mean he would help a gang.
"And then where are you and your men going?"
"Not my men anymore, they are free to go wherever they want. Are you asking me if we will stay here?" Edward gave him a look he couldn't read and stayed silent. "I don't know what they want to do, if they wish to join you, that's a discussion between you and them, me personally will never join a gang."
"No you resemble Garp too much for that," he said with a smile. "However, feel free to stay here until you are coming to a conclusion, you will be kept under surveillance, but no harm will come to you and the others, unless we are provoked," Smoker only nodded, he hadn't expected anything else from man, and seeing that their discussion were over he stood up and left the room.
"Is everything alright?" Ace asked at once and he raised an eyebrow.
"You distrust your leader that much kid?" He almost teased him.
"No," he answered where fast and Smoker shook his head.
"Will you give me some time with them?" Ace looked at the former soldiers, almost as he expected them to kill Smoker if he left the room. "Go and find us a doctor if you want to be of any help."
"Are you wounded?"
"I have been worse off, but they may need medical attention, and maybe you should also see if Marco are alright."
"He has Sanji with him."
"Go and see him, but do it without hurting Sanji!" Smoker ordered him and Ace glared at him.
"I hate old people," he muttered as he left the room and Smoker smiled before lighting a cigar and sitting down in front of his men. "Ask the questions, and I will answer if I can."
"How long have you known him?" Coby asked at once, sounding more distrusting than he attempted.
"I met him for the first time fifteen years ago, saved him from some of Akainu's men, after we had captured Roger."
"He was a part of his gang?"
"He is his son," all of them seemed taken by it, and unsure how to process it.
"And you have known him since then?" Helmeppo wondered making Smoker chuckle.
"No. I met him six months ago, when he fled from Black Beard's men, we battled them together, I got hurt, he saved me."
"I remembered you getting back hurt," Tashigi who now was sitting up looked at him and he nodded.
"Thought I would never see the brat again; I was clearly wrong. I ran into him after the storm, he and the others were the once who repaired the tower. He took me on a date after that and we kept in touch. I helped him and his brother take down the Vinsmoke's, for Sanji's sake, and after that well not sure what we become but something."
"I am not following" Coby admitted, not surprising.
"Sanji is a Vinsmoke, he is friend with The Surgeon of Death so I would avoid him if I was you, or she will kill you. Ace brother Luffy, befriended Sanji and when he got to know the truth about Sanji and what his family had done to him, he decided to bring down the Vinsmoke's. Luffy rallied people, and we set out to kill the Vinsmoke's."
"Why didn't you say anything; we could have helped you!" Coby protested making Smoker smile.
"And do what? Help the gangs? Bad enough that I did, couldn't drag all of you into it."
"And are you saying that Ace's brother is Luffy, who is friend with the surgeon, are they allied?" One of the men asked making Smoker laugh.
"No, Law doesn't have alliances."
"Hawkins fled there," Coby pointed out and Smoker nodded, understanding that he needed to lain out the story better.
"I will tell you what I know, and you can ask the questions afterwards."
"So Aokiji and Vegapunk are alive?" It was the first thing Tashigi asked when he was done, sounding revealed.
"They are," he hadn't said much about their story, only mentioning them. "They will not join us, not even before the army got destroyed"
He made it clear to them, before anyone asked him.
"And Sengoku's son, Rosinante is the father of Law and Sanji, being a gang member?" Coby sounded once again disappointed. "And you think he knows something about the Joker?"
"He should know something about the Joker, unsure how, I need to ask him."
"Why didn't you tell us, didn't you trust us?" Tashigi gave him a hurt look.
"It had nothing to do with trust, more that none if it was information you could use at the moment, and I preferred not to reveal how I know it, seeing that I associated more with gangs than I wished to ever do"
"And now? What's the plan, are you going to join Whitebeard?" Helmeppo asked resulting in Smoker laughing once more.
"No I will not join a gang, if you want to do it, I leave it up to you. And I don't have a plan at the moment, besides speaking with Rosinante."
"Are you telling us to join a gang?" One man asked.
"No I am telling you to do whatever you want to do. However, if you were to join a gang I would recommend Whitebeard or Luffy," he simply stated the truth, if any of them wished to join another gang, they could.
"Did you figure out who The Blue Gentleman was as well?" Tashigi wondered, almost jokingly.
"No, I did not," they all turned towards the door when it knocked, before Ace entered in the company of a person Smoker only guessed was their doctor. The man walked over to him and sat down, almost glaring at the others.
"If they wanted me dead, they would have killed me already," Smoker stated making the younger one turn towards him.
"You are way to trusty for a person who just got their base destroyed by a former soldier."
"We both know that isn't true," he said while the smoke left his lips, making Ace take his hand but not saying anything, as the doctor observed them all before he decided who he wished to start with.
"How are you feeling?" Sanji carefully asked where he was walking next to the other man, who had been very silent.
"I should be used to it, but this time was much worse than it had been in a long time, and it really is an awful feeling."
"I am aware," that made Marco turn towards him. "My father liked to do whatever he could to cause me to panic, enjoying seeing me in agony."
"I am so sorry that you had to see me like that Sanji," Marco apologised, thinking it must have awoken painfully memories within the others, but to his surprise, Sanji smiled.
"It's alright, it didn't frighten me as much as it pained me seeing you like that, knowing all too well how it felt."
"I am really grateful that you helped me."
"At least I had some usage of what I learned as a kid," he muttered.
"I am sorry that you had to go through what you had to go through."
"Nothing I can do about it, besides take my life, but with my birth family gone I don't wish to. It would break my families heart."
"I am sure that Law would do anything he could to bring you back," Marco said and Sanji nodded, aware that he would.
"Let's not put the city through that," Sanji joked, making Marco laughed. "I made you laugh."
"You did, thank you."
"Glad I could do something, I am not all that great in comforting people," he simply admitted sounding ashamed again, but Marco didn't say anything. He felt that Sanji had done a tremendous job on making him feel better. He had calmed him down, even taking his hand, even if he said it didn't frighten him, Marco remembered how the other once flinched, and he scowled himself for that. He hadn't been in his right mind, but still he didn't wish to cause the other one pain.
And after that he had talked to him, open up and being honest, all of it made Marco feel better and warm inside, a feeling he tried to ignore, knowing that whatever he felt he couldn't tell Sanji. Even if the other one had opened up more and could be near him, Sanji had a long way to go before he was ready for even a deeper friendship on the level he and Law has, and Marco didn't wish to ruin everything. Instead he continued walking next to the blond, with a small smile on his lips.
"So will you stay here?" Ace asked, when they were alone in his room.
"I remember you stating I was drunk the last time I asked if I should join a gang."
"You don't need to join, you can still live here."
"I don't think I can kid, I would never feel comfortable here."
"Then where will you go? Will you leave town?" Ace almost sounded worried and Smoker gave him a calming look.
"And do what? Live as a farmer or something else on the country side? Or in another hell whole to city? My life is here, in this hell whole," Ace smiled at him before sitting down next to him.
"It wouldn't be the same without you, I mean who would I call to annoy?"
"Maybe I should leave so I don't have to live through that."
"You would just miss me."
"Always so cocky."
"One of has to," Ace joked. "But where will you go? You can't go living on the streets."
"I am not sure Ace, my base just got destroyed, one of my almost died. I am sorry but I haven't had time to find a new living quarter," he said in a tired voice and Ace took his hand.
"Sorry, I am only worried, but we will find something. Sabo lives in one of the neutral zones, maybe you can move there."
"Maybe," was all Smoker answered, he hadn't really thought about where to move. Aokiji said he was welcome to live with him, but it had to be without any of the others and he wasn't sure if he was willing to do that. Of course it all depended on what they decided to do, none of them had made a decision, and he wouldn't make his until they had.
"Let's go to sleep, you need your energy if you are going to speak to Rosinante tomorrow."
"Are you unhurt?" Sanji asked as soon as they entered the hospital hugging him, and Law hugged him back but he kept his eyes on all the people now standing in front of him.
"I am, and you?" Sanji only nodded, he hadn't expected him to be hurt, knowing that Marco would have protected him if someone attacked, yet Sanji had never spent time outside their home for more than a few hours, it had now been over twenty-four hours, but he seemed alright. "So why are all of you here?"
His voice was bitter as he looked at parts of the marine, or what had been the marine, together with some of Whitebeard's men, Aokiji and to his surprise Vegapunk. None of them seemed hurt, and there was no reason for any of them to accompany Marco when he followed Sanji home, especially not Ace and the Marine.
"We wish to speak with Rosinante," Smoker said sounding colder than last time he visited and he raised an eyebrow.
"Why? Because I am more than sure that he doesn't want to speak with you, besides he is not here," to be honest he didn't know where he was. He had left early in the morning, being anxious all night.
"It doesn't concern you why we wish to speak with him," Ace answered making her glare at him.
"Oh no of course not, why would it, seeing I have eleven enemies in front of me. So of course I am going to let all of you speak to him, without knowing why," he answered sarcastic resulting in an angry look from Ace.
"We want to speak with him about the Joker," Smoker cut in before Ace could say something else. For a second he expected Law to ask why Rosinante would know anything about the Joker, but instead he became pale and seemed to be stun for a few seconds.
"Was he the one attacking the base?" He bluntly asked and Smoker nodded. "Of course it fucking was. Why do you want to speak with Rosinante about it? He is no longer a marine."
Even if Law tried to hide it, Smoker could hear something in his voice, something that told him that he already knew the answer.
"He was a part of their gang," Sanji expected Law to deny that, instead he sighed and the blonde tried to grasp the situation.
"So because he was you think you can just waltz in here and demand answers?"
"The Joker destroyed my base, Caesar almost killed Tashigi…"
"You let fucking Caesar enter your base?" Law spouted sounding disappointed and Smoker glared at him.
"Where is Rosinante, he need to tell me what he know, why he was a part of the Joker's gang?"
"You will not speak to him! You have no idea what that would do to him," he said ending their discussion.
"Then will you tell us about him?" Aokiji asked making him glare at the man.
"What could she possible tell you, besides what Rosinante may have said?" Ace wondered.
"When Rosinante returned to the base eighteen years ago, he had him with him."
"So?"
"Rosinante didn't find him on the streets, he took him with him when he left the gang." Ace turned towards him, glaring angrily.
"That explains why you are so crazy, being a part of that maniac's gang."
"Should I be offended that you insulted me, or my uncle?" He looked at Ace.
"Your uncle? Rosinante and the Joker are brother?" Smoker asked, clearly surprised.
"That would be the indication, seeing I called him uncle. So what's you plan? Hearing what I know and then? Go after him? Kill him?" Law looked at Smoker who didn't answer. "I can tell you where he is, and then send you off, knowing you will die, it doesn't matter to me."
Hearing that made Ace growl and Law sighed.
"Can you shut up before I kick you out of here?" Marco placed a hand on Ace shoulder and the man feel silent. "So what's your plan Smoker?"
"I don't have a plan."
"So you are going after the Joker without a plan, wow I can't understand how any of you have survived all these years," Law muttered.
"Can you please tell me what you know?" Smoker asked and Law thought about it.
"If I do, we are even for you helping killing Sanji's family, that includes all of you!" Law waited until all of them nodded, at least none of them could use that against him anymore, not that it made him happier about telling them anything.
Sanji took his hand and he smiled towards him when he gave him an apologising look. Law never blamed him that he had been in debt towards the others, and he would do it all over again.
"So was the Joker the other thing you warned me about?" Hawkins asked, walking next to him.
"Told you to leave while you could."
"Nah, I like it here."
"You are an idiot," he only said well aware that he wouldn't throw Hawkins out, only warn him to leave. He could tell that both Sanji and Bepo were watching hi but she ignored it for now, walking towards his office, telling himself that this was for the best.
Law had his eyes on the palace as he was sitting in his chair, drink in her hand, not looking at any of the people.
"I met Cora-San twenty one ago, I was about to turn five."
"Why do you call him Cora-San?" Coby wondered and Law smiled down into the glass.
"All the officers had a name in form of a play card, Rosinante was the Corazon, but I started to call him Cora-san ironically at first, but it stuck and it became our think in that hellhole," he answered. "Anyway, the other officers has code names as well, just as the Joker, his name is Doflamingo Donquixote."
"The former World Noble?" Smoker asked and he nodded, not that any of them could see it.
"Yes, both Rosinante and Doflamingo are born noblemen. When Doffy killed their father, Cora-San ran and he met Senguko who took him in."
"So Sengoku isn't his father?" Helmeppo stated.
"Are you saying that adoptive parents can't be seen as your parents?" He asked almost coldly and the former soldier started to mumble something. "But no, Senguko was never his biological father. Anyway, Cora-san grew up safe and well having a loving father, while Doflamingo, well, all I know is that he had an awful childhood, who left him scared. He later on met people with similar fates and they created their gang, a gang that wants to see the world burn."
"Why did Rosinante join them?" Coby asked.
"Cora-San met Doffy accidently, Doflamingo was thrilled, Cora-San was not, but seeing what his brother had become and the damage he wanted to cause he decided to go undercover, hoping that he could destroy the gang."
"And Sengoku was alright with it, sending his son into one of the worst gangs?" Aokiji asked, understanding that it couldn't have been easy for the man.
"Never said Senguko was alright with it, and to be fair he didn't knew half of the things that happened to Cora-san."
"Why not?"
"Do you tell your parents everything?" He asked sarcastically "When I joined, Cora-San had already been with the gang for two years."
"Why did you join?" Tashigi wondered.
"I wanted to see the world burn as well, and I found that joining Doffy was my best option to make it happen."
"How did you find him?" No one had been able to find him over all this years, making Smoker wondered how Law had managed.
"I had the right information so I knew where to look, simple as that."
"Simple as that?" Smoker doubted that but Law didn't comment on it.
"But to be honest I was a naïve kid, having no clue to what I walked into, I was lucky to have met Cora-San."
"You liked him from the beginning?" Marco asked, almost sounding joyful.
"No I hated him, and I got the feeling that he hated me too, like every child, but he only tried to protect us, make us leave. None of us did, all it did make the others fear him, and me hate him."
Law kept her eyes on the two men in front of her, who stared back.
"So you wish to have kill everyone?" Doflamingo asked and he nodded without breaking the eye contact. "Why?"
"Does the reason matter?"
"Oh you are a cocky one, did someone steal your teddy bear?" Doflamingo taunted him.
"Of course, there is no other reason for a kid to want someone dead," that made the blonde man laugh.
"I think I am going to like you, or hate you" he leaned closer when the man wearing makeup acted and smacked him, making him fall to the floor. The pain wasn't overwhelming, but he had been unprepared and he was a bit baffled, but he didn't cry, which Doflamingo seemed to have expected. "He is a though one it seems, but please try not to break him or hurt him to much Rosi, Baby 5 is still trying to recover."
Law glared at the tall dark haired man, covered in makeup and a dark coat. He was a contrast to Doflamingo who looked brighter, maybe because his hair was blonde and his clothes had bright colours.
"As you wish," Rosi answered without taking his eyes of him and he could tell that the man had just lied.
"Well welcome then, let's get started right away."
He hadn't known that it meant that Doflamingo would throw him into a cell and leave him there, clearly he tried to break him and maybe it had worked if he hadn't gone through everything that happened to him in Flevance. Compared to that the cell was heaven, and he didn't mind to much, not even the solitude, almost preferring it.
He wasn't completely alone here, people came by from time to time, Doflamingo often did to taunt him in different ways, but he barely reacted to it, not even when he hit him, which was less often than he had thought it would be. The times Rosi, or Rosinante as his full name was, stopped by was actually worse and he wondered what was his problem? Why he hated him so, he didn't really care it just made him pissed that he decided to dislike him right away.
Baby 5 and Buffalo, two other children stopped by from time to time, mostly because they were curious about him. Both were older than him, Baby 5 often asked him different questions wanting to know things about him, while Buffalo wanted to be his friends. He didn't care for anything they said, and as he ignored them they often got bored and walked away, only to come back a few days later. There talking almost broke him, being worse than whatever the brothers did and he wished he could make them shut up, luckily Doflamingo let him out before that happened.
"Still kicking," the Joker stated as he patted his head, sounding proud "Look at him he is still alive."
Doflamingo tried to lift him, to show Rosi when he smacked his hand, making Doflamingo laugh again. Law looked at Rosinante who seemed a bit tired and he had bandaged wrists, but as soon as he saw him, he smacked him.
"Such an useless little kid," Doflamingo laughed again, especially when Law almost growled and when Rosinante tried to smack him again he bit him, to both of their surprise.
"No, he is perfect," Doflamingo patted him on top of his before they went to meet the others.
"So this is our newest recruit, he is such a cutie," Monet said on her way to pat his check when Law smacked her hand.
"I am not a pet," he growled and Doffy laughed again.
"I don't think he likes you," he spoke in a softer voice, looking at the woman who raised an eyebrow.
"We have to change that," Monet looked back at him but didn't say anything else.
"So what weapon do you wish to learn?" Doflamingo asked.
"What are my options?"
"Oh not wishing blindly, smart move," Doflamingo smirked towards him. "Gun, Sword, bombs or if you are skilled enough you can find your own."
"And learn how, through magic?" He asked sarcastically as a man who had a spoon glued to his face smack him.
"Rude, show some respect when you speak to him," Law glared at the man, why would he show respect just because someone ordered it. Respect was something you earned.
"When he deserves it, he will have my respect," the man just smacked him again, making him fall to the floor and he sighed, at this rate he would get head injuries. Maybe he should take it as an indicator to think of what he was saying, but then he smiled to himself, knowing he would never do that. He had been thought how to behave properly and he had done so, until the Marine killed everyone in his hometown, then he started to ignore everything he had been thought, knowing it wouldn't be of any use. "I would prefer a sword, and it this the part where I say sir, or My Lord?"
Doflamingo laughed once more especially when the other man tried to smack him and he just rolled away, avoiding him.
"I think a sword will fit you perfectly, or what do you think, Diamante?" Doflamingo turned towards a man who had been sitting lazily in a chair, staring at the roof, ignoring them until he was spoken to.
"If he survives he will do fine" was all he said.
"Perfect, then you start tomorrow, but for now, let's get you something to eat, you haven't eaten in a few days," Doflamingo stated while he just shrugged his shoulders, not caring too much.
Law looked down at his bleeding hands, he had started to understand what Diamante meant with if he survives. He didn't hold back, not caring that he had never held a sword before, trying to kill him, leaving him to defend himself in any way he could. Most of the time he tried to fend him off with the sword, resulting in injuries, but at least he was alive, but in need of medical attention.
He remembered some of the things his father had thought him, but he still felt like he needed to know more, leading him to the library and the medical books there. Most of them were to no use, going through the autonomy of the body, when all he needed was information about which bandage was best to use how or stitch together wounds.
It took him awhile but he soon found one and he walked back to his room, reading the instructions when he walked into someone. He looked up and met Rosi's dark eyes and he waited for him to hit him, not really having time for it and fearing he would be wounded further, but instead he just walked over him, as he was a parasite he couldn't be bothered with. It almost insulted him, but he was grateful, saving him from worse injuries and he continued walking.
Law's days was mostly the same, training all day, tending to injuries during the night, trying to sleep if he could, repeat. At this rate he felt that he got better at redoing his bandages than at using his sword, and he came to the conclusion that he needed to work harder, without Diamante hitting him.
He didn't learn how to use the sword properly, he only learnt how to swing it around him, hoping to hit something, which was useless in his opinion, which made him train during the evening as well, after tending to his wounds.
"You are working hard?" He turned towards Doflamingo when he walked into the room, but only for a second before continuing practising.
"If the teacher can't teach you, you have to do it on your own," he bluntly stated making Doffy raise an eyebrow.
"Are the little one displeased with his lessons," he taunted her.
"I am, all he does is attack me, he doesn't even teach me how to held the sword properly, or where to hit someone to hurt them the most," he threw an eye at Doflamingo who looked down at him. "Besides the obvious points like head and heart, the books told me that there are other places you can hit someone to kill them, or hurt them."
"What books"
"The medical books," Law returned to his practise while the Joker walked over, looking at them.
"You are reading these?"
"I had to learn how to tend to my wounds or I would die," he simply answered and he walked over again, this time smirking.
"I think I can teach you a few things about how to hurt someone."
"Are you better than the books?" He tried to raise his own eyebrow, just as Doffy had done and it had the man smirking.
"Why don't we find out."
Law stared at the celling, the screams still echoing through his mind, the smell of blood, vomit and urine lingering in his nose, and feeling of blood on his hands kept him awake. It was different from Flevance, because this time he hadn't just been hiding or fleeing, this time he had observed it close up, and he had been lying there for hours, unsure of what to do.
Doffy had meant it; he knew how to hurt someone. He had never heard someone scream in horror as the man had done, never seen such a pleading look or how the life was drained from someone, because even if the Marine's had been monsters killing everyone, they hadn't tortured the people.
He thought he knew how it would present itself, how it would feel, but he had been wrong, it all frightened him, especially Doflamingo's laugh and cold look, unaffected by what he did. Law didn't know what the prisoner had done, he hadn't questioned it, only tried not to cry or scream himself when he saw the things Doflamingo did.
He can remember his parents telling him that hurting people was wrong, he knew it was wrong, and it scared him, yet he wished that the people chained to the floor could have been one of the men who killed his family. That thought scared him more than anything else, seeing that he wished for that. It was true that he wanted them dead, but doing that brutally wasn't a thought that had crossed his mind.
He felt like screaming, not understanding anything of what he felt. He closed his eyes, trying to fall back to sleep but he couldn't and he forced himself to get up to do something, keeping his thoughts under control.
He had gone from staring into the celling, to stare the medical books, and now to stare at his food. Baby 5 and Buffalo was talking next to him about something he didn't listen to, not even trying to. Suddenly the other two felt silent and he looked at them, seeing that their gaze was on Rosi and filled with fear.
"Why are you glaring at him?"
"Shuch you will make him come over," Baby 5 said and Law tried to raise an eyebrow once more.
"So what?"
"He is awful, and so scary, you never know what he will do!" Buffalo informed him and he rolled his eyes.
"He will smack you and that's it, what is it to be afraid of?"
"He is worse than the others, they never hits us, at least not like Rosi do, and he looks scary!"
Law threw an eye at the tall man, sure his makeup was a bit creepy with that smile, and his clothes were dark, but he didn't thought he looked scary, Doflamingo had looked more fighting yesterday.
"He is just a clumsy, foolish person," he commented as Rosi fell to the ground. "He is an idio.t"
"Hush don't say it out loud," Baby 5 said, trying to cover his mouth, resulting in Law biting the girl.
"He really scares you."
"He does!"
"Why? He isn't scary at all," he turned when the two others looked behind him, to find Rosi standing there. "Well hello Cora-San."
Hearing him say that in a sarcastic way seemed to trigger something in him, before Cora-San smacked him off his chair, making the other two scream and run away and he sighed, stood up and went back to staring into his food. Cora-San glanced at him for a few seconds before he walked off and he rolled his eyes at the strange man's behaviour.
"Did I frighten you the other day?" Doflamingo approached him again as he was training, taunting him and he glanced over.
"You did," he simply admitted, seeing no reason to lie about it.
"Do you want to run home to your parents?"
"Pfft," he snorted, it was clear that the man didn't knew where he was from, and what had happened to him. The white dots covering his body hadn't started to spread to bad, at least not enough to make people ask about them. Even if he knew they soon would. Not that it made any difference, he would do what he could to make the world burn before he died." No, I will stay here. Fear is something you have to overcome to become stronger."
"Such a wise little guy," he ruffled his short hair and he smacked Doflamingo's hand with his sword, not hard enough to do damage, but enough to make a cut. He hated when people ruffled his hair, reminding him of his mother, and he didn't want to remember her, being to painful.
"Careful with that," his voice became darker looking at his sword.
"Then don't treat me like a pet and ruffle my hair," he smacked him when he said that and he was a bit taken, Doffy rarely hit him, the others did but not him. Yet he only stood up, collected his sword and went back to training.
"I am sorry for that," he turned towards him, once again surprised hearing how his voice was more gentle as he stopped in front of him and stat down, looking at his cheek.
"Nothing to be sorry for, it won't kill me," he simply answered and he smiled.
"That's a good boy," he was about to ruffle his hair again when he gave him a cold look and he laughed again. "Let me know when you are ready for another lesson."
"I am ready now," Doflamingo gave him a look before laughing and they headed off once more.
He wanted to pretend that he got better at handling it, but he really didn't, all the images mixed with each other and the ones from Flevance, giving him more nightmares, if he slept at all.
At least he got better with his sword, and at the medical treatment, he didn't need to book anymore to know how to do simple remedies to help with his healing, or to know how to do some stitching. But that was the only thing that worked out for him.
The lack of sleep often lead to him being awake for longer periods only to result in him almost fainting. He had understood that it was called insomnia and that there was no cure against it, you could do things that helped with it, like removing the amount of stress you felt, but he refused to change anything in his life, he simply had to get used to the torture and he would be able to sleep again.
What he did notice though was that Cora-san always hit him extra hard or more often after he spent a night with Doflamingo, torturing someone. He doesn't really understand why, but he also learned that he hit him more often than the other two, always making them say that he really must hate him. Law's feeling towards him was nothing then hate to so he didn't really care.
"Hey kids," Doflamingo called out for them and she saw that Baby 5 and Buffalo run over and hugged him, and the Joker ruffled their hair walking over to him.
"I will cut you again, if you ruffle my hair," he glared at him making Doffy smack him before laughing, he simply sighed as he looked at the tall man, wondering what he wanted.
"We have a mission and since you all have been good, I will let you join us," the other two chaired and Law just rolled his eyes.
"What is the mission?" He simply asked, feeling no reason for joy without knowing what it was.
"We are going after a group of marines, and if you are a good boy, I will let you play with one of them later," Law raised an eyebrow, something he had learnt to do by now. He smiled at Doffy's words, knowing what the man insinuated. "That's my boy. You will all go with different people. Law you will go with Diamante, Baby 5 you will go with Pica and Buffalo you will go with Vergo."
"And you?" Baby 5 asked worryingly and Doflamingo ruffled his hair once more.
"I will go with Rosi," The Joker looked over at his brother who just had set himself on fire, making Pica throw water on him.
"Good luck," Law muttered making Doflamingo give him a cold look, a warning one. He couldn't really understand it but he decided to stay silent for once, continuing eating.
"Aww you were such a good boy out there, you listened to Diamante and you even helped him," Doflamingo smiled towards him as they walked into the room "So she is all yours."
Law looked at the chained woman in front of him.
"So I can do whatever I want to her?"
"You can," Doflamingo smiled towards him as he grabbed a knife. His hand was shaking a bit and Doffy kneeled down beside him, taking his hand and Law gave him a small smile, more genuine than normally. "Where do you want to start?"
Law turned towards the woman, knowing that he needed to do this, he needed to learn so he could kill more people, before he died himself, and maybe doing it yourself would be easier than observing.
"Her eye," his voice was trembling a bit.
"Is that a question or a command?" Doflamingo raised an eyebrow.
"Her eye," he said again, sounding more sure and the Joker held his hand as he stabbed the woman in the eye and she soon screamed, almost making Law drop the knife, most likely would if Doflamingo hadn't held his hand.
"Good boy," the Joker kissed his forehead full of pried but Law turned towards him with a deadly glare and he laughed. "I apologise little one."
Law didn't answer as he redraw the knife, having the eye follow as he did and he dropped it on the floor, before trying to decide where to stab the woman next.
It became easier after that, he even had moments when he enjoyed it, but it was mostly when Doflamingo praised him for doing something good, the others praised him as well but it never felt as good, or almost all of them praised him.
Cora-San had actually beaten him badly enough to break his arm after his second victim, and as he screamed for the first time Law thought he had seen remorse in the man's eyes before Law kicked him and left angrily.
One of the doctors who had eaten a devil fruit had healed him, and for a while Cora-San had avoided him, until his fourth victim when he beat him bad enough to make him feel into a coma for a week. Doflamingo had to talk to him in the end and after that Cora-San mostly avoided him, only smacking him, from time to time but nothing severe.
He had been with Doflamingo and the other for eight months when he founded Cora-San in medical room. He wanted to grab some bandage for his, seeing that his sickness was getting worse he wished to hide the white spots and therefore needed some bandages, the tall man was standing in front of the supplies he needed.
He thought of walking away coming back later when he saw that the taller man was bleeding from his hands. He thought that the idiot must have cut himself on something until he reached for a taller book and he saw the marks of cuffs on his wrists, clearly not made by himself.
Law admitted that he was curious about what had happened, but he guessed that Cora-San would smack him if he asked. The blonde was searching through some of the cabinets until he found a cream and Law sighed making him turn.
"That will only cause you pain," he muttered and walked over, climbing a ladder and handed him another cream. "This will kill all bacteria, this will help with the healing, apply a thick layer before putting on bandage."
Cora-San was looking at him with big eyes, trying to understand his actions, to which he gave no explanation to before he grabbed bandage for his own wound. The tall man placed himself on the bed, struggling with opening the jar, soon dropping it, making the cream land on the floor and Law sighed again.
"You are a fucking disaster," he muttered grabbing another jar and walked over. Cora-San was about to take it from him when he glared at him. "No, sit still."
He put on the smallest gloves he could find; they were still too big for him but they would give him some protection before he carefully rolled up Cora-San's sleeves. He observed the wounds, they were deep and Cora-San was missing parts of the skin but it didn't need any stitching, which was good because he wasn't too good at that.
For a second he was wondering why Cora-San didn't go to any of their doctors, seeing that the wounds were bad enough for them to heal them, but he didn't ask. He only cleaned them, holding Cora-San's hands steady when he tried to flinch. The pain wasn't severe just uncomfortable and something the blonde soon realised and Law could continue, cleaning both wounds before applying the healing cream and bandage. The gloves was covered by blood, when he took them off.
"You need help?" Cora-San offered looking at the bandage in his hands and he laughed.
"From you? No thank you," he coldly said before dressing his own wounds and leaving the room.
Law soon realised that whatever happened to Cora-San wasn't a one-time thing. He met him in the infirmary from time to time, resulting in him always dressing the blonde's wounds without a word from neither of them. No one talked about Cora-San's wounds, Law didn't know if it was because they didn't know or if it was for another reason. The man never spoke about it and he never asked, for some reason it became a rule between them, something between only them.
As soon as they left the infirmary it was like nothing happened. Cora-San still hit him and he was still rude towards him, but Law noticed that Cora-San didn't hit him as hard and he wasn't as rude anymore. He couldn't say why, especially since Cora-San was an idiot and he still treated him worse compared to the others.
Yet he helped him when he could, sometimes he was even worried about Cora-San's wounds and he thought about talking to Doflamingo about it, but he doubted that he didn't knew, and if he didn't, well Law didn't wish to betray to break the silent agreement between them.
He was on his way from a late training when he passed a room that was normally closed, even locked, hearing shallow breathing and he looked inside, seeing Cora-San on the floor, bleeding from wounds on his back.
Law stared at them man in horror, wondering what the fuck was happening to him? How did he manage to get all this wounds? Law walked over and when Cora-San heard him he flinched at first, almost making Law jump.
"It's only me," he told him, wondering who he thought it was.
"Go away," he told Law who raised an eyebrow, looking at him like he was stupid.
"You will bleed out."
"Go away," he tried to smack him but he didn't even came near him and Law understood that Cora-San was worse than he had thought. "Just go."
His voice was almost begging and he snorted.
"As I would ever listen to you," he walked closer taking Cora-San's hand, pulling on it until he stood up leaning against the wall as Law dragged him along towards his room, he had some medical supplies there and it was closer than the infirmary.
He opened the door and led him inside, placing Cora-San on the bed. The wounds looked like they had been made by a whip and it made him angry for some reason. He felt like he didn't have the right, seeing his favourite spot to stab people was in the eye or cut between their fingers, yet this made him upset. Cora-San tried to push him away once more but Law ignored it as he started to tend to his wounds.
Cora-San had fallen asleep when Law was done and maybe it was for the best, he didn't know, maybe it meant that his body was giving up and he was dying. Law felt like he should tell someone, but if the man was only sleeping it would waste peoples time and he decided to rush to the library to find some books that could help him instead and he soon returned with as many books as he could carry, to find Doflamingo in his room.
"There you are little one," he looked at him with dark eyes making Law swallow nervously for a second before Doflamingo smiled. "Glad you found him."
"Is he alright?"
"He is only sleeping, so no need to read all those books," he ruffled his hair making Law glare at him. "He is lucky to have you."
That made Law blink in surprise.
"Can't let one of us die," he finally answered and the Joker laughed.
"No we cannot, look after him for me little one," with those words he left the room and Law turned her eyes to Cora-San who was pale, but if Doflamingo said he was sleeping, he trusted him. Not that it would prevent him from reading the books anyway, feeling that he needed to know more, he should be able to tell the difference between a sleeping and dying person.
Law had almost fallen asleep reading when he heard someone moving, and he turned around to meet Cora-San's eyes who gave him a weak smile.
"Thank you," Law only nodded.
"Your brother was hear, he sounded worried."
"He didn't hurt you did he?" The speed and sudden question took Law by surprise.
"No," he slowly answered wondering what made Cora-San even ask, he had never cared before when Doflamingo had smacked him, and even if he had, it wouldn't have been the end of the world. "You should sleep; the books say sleep will make the wounds heal faster."
"You are the one that should be sleeping, you are too young to be op this late!"
"Pfft, doesn't matter you are wounded, go to sleep!" Law tried to order him, soon having the other one laugh a warm laugh. Warmer than he had ever heard him laugh before.
"You are almost falling asleep Law, clearly you need to rest. You have done enough as it is, so please go to bed now."
"Someone need to keep an eye on you, the books…" Cora-San closed the books and kneeled down in front of him.
"I will be fine, you on the other hand do already faint from time to time because you aren't sleeping," Law gave him a suspicious look, he hadn't told anyone about it, so how did he know? Had he been watching him? Why?
"You are my patient, meaning I am the one in charge and I am ordering you to sleep!" He said, trying to sound as much as Doflamingo as she could and it made Cora-San sigh.
"Will you go to sleep if I go to sleep?" He asked and Law thought about it, but he came to the conclusion that he needed to be awake if something happened.
"No!"
"Will you least go to bed if I go to sleep, the bed is more comfortable than the chair," he thought about it again and slowly nodded, and stood up, following Cora-San back to the bed and placed himself next to the tall man. Cora-San tugged him in, before placing an arm around him and he froze.
"Sorry," Cora-San was on his way to remove the arm when he grabbed it without a word, it had felt comfortable and warm, like it had done when his mother had held him. Cora-San didn't say anything as he started to sing a song Law had never heard before, soon having him falling asleep.
Cora-San had almost moved into Law's room after that, none of them normally said anything about it and the times Law did, Cora-San went to his own room, but Law soon came to the conclusion that he slept better when the blonde was there. He felt safe and warm.
The others often joked about it, especially Doflamingo saying he was his little niece, having both him and Cora-San giving him cold looks. Law was still unsure of how Cora-San got injured, but after a few times he stopped trying to push him away, and when Cora-San wasn't too bad off he came looking for him and Law treated him. If he didn't return Law went searching for him until he found him and either treated him there or took him back to his room.
He had stopped hitting him, instead he gave him disapproving looks and Law wasn't sure what he thought of them, they didn't bother him in the beginning but they slowly started to, and he tried to avoid them, but it was hard. Mostly due to the reason that he didn't knew why he gave them to him.
Didn't he wished him to learn from Doflamingo? He had said that Cora-San could teach him instead if he wished, which had led to the coldest look he had ever given him before he hugged him. He didn't understand any of it and he had given up on trying to figure it out, only going on with his life as normally.
"You are from Flevance!" Cora-San sounded chocked when he figured it out and Law just glared at him.
"So what?" He snapped, only to have Cora-San pull him into a hug. Law didn't hug the man back, he just stood there.
"How long do you have left?" Law could hear that Cora-San barely dared to speak those words.
"With a little luck two more years," Law honestly answered, he had already come to turns with the fact that he was going to die and there were no reason to pretend otherwise. However, he wasn't prepared for how upset Cora-San would be about it.
Law saw how the man tried to hold back the tears, and Law couldn't understand why the man was so upset and cared so much. Just as he couldn't understand why it bothered Law seeing him like that. Other's had cried for him too, but he had never been affected by it before.
"We will figure something out," Cora-San promised and Law wanted to tell him that it was hopeless, that there was no cure, but he kept silent, feeling as there was no need for it.
Law admitted he had been wrong, there was a cure for it, and for some fucking reason Cora-San had gone on a stupid reckless mission to get him this fucking Devil Fruit. Law was so furious at him for not even taking backup with him when he went! What if something had happened to him? Doflamingo had been upset to, before he was thrilled to have the fruit, until he got upset once more when Cora-San gave it to Law.
Law didn't understand that part either, why was Doffy mad about that? But what he understood was that Cora-San hadn't told his brother that he already had eaten a Devil Fruit. It was a ridicules and stupid fruit Law thought, but it didn't change the fact that Cora-san couldn't eat two fruits. Yet Law didn't understand why Cora-San lied to Doffy, because he still refused to tell him he had already eaten a fruit, and that he just didn't want to be a Devil user.
There were so many things Law wished to understand, but all Cora-San told him was to ignore it and focus on getting better. Law couldn't ignore it all, especially not when Cora-San came to him wounded, it was even harder when the man tried to hide it knowing that Law was too weak to help him at the moment. So every moment Law spent alone he read his medical books, trying to learn more as he tried to learn how to use his powers, which was very difficult, but he promised himself that he would, so he could help Cora-San whenever he needed it.
"Doflamingo says he's sorry," Law looked up at Monet when she entered his room, where he was bandaging Cora-San's head as well as he could.
"Why?" Law was confused when he looked up at the woman who gave him a smile he couldn't read, Law turned towards Cora-San instead who refused to meet his eyes, making him more baffled.
After that it only continued, almost every time Cora-San got injured, someone came to say that Doffy was sorry, but never the man himself. Law started to hate it, not only because he couldn't understand why, but also because Doflamingo never showed up himself, if he now was sorry for something, he could at least say it himself. It wasn't until a few months later he understood why Doflamingo apologised.
He was walking next to Cora-San, reading a book while keeping an eye on the man so he wouldn't catch on fire. He had started caring a water bottle with him, so he could help Cora-San if needed. They were on their way back from dinner when Cora-San stopped and he lifted his gaze to see that Doflamingo was approaching them, and that was all, Law couldn't understand why Cora-San stopped because of that.
"Law run," he looked at the tall man next to him, still not understanding why, was this one of his stupid ways to try to make him play? "Run!"
He still had to move when Doflamingo reached them, eyes darker than Law had ever seen them and Doflamingo soon hit him without reason and he saw how he grabbed Cora-San and dragged him away. Law was left on the ground, blinking, unsure of what had just happened.
It wasn't until he found Cora-San the next day that he understood that whatever injure he got was from Doflamingo, that was why he always apologised. Law didn't know why Doflamingo would hurt his brother and he didn't dare to ask.
He only approached Cora-San's whose eyes were filled of shame, something he didn't cared about, instead he carefully hugged him, hoping to give the man some sort of comfort. Law had never hugged the taller man before, it was always him who hugged Law, but it felt like Cora-San needed one now so Law hugged him. He felt the large arms around him as Cora-San pulled him closer, soon starting to crying, and Law got worried. He had never seen the other one cry, or even heard him, and all he could do was hold him tighter, hoping to comfort him.
Law tried not to be hostile towards Doflamingo, when he now knew the truth, but it was difficult. He snapped at Doffy and glared at him more than before, and it either had the other one laughing, being glad that he looked after his little brother, or smacking him, especially when he tried to defend Cora-San.
The blonde always told him to run away but he didn't wish to leave Cora-San alone, but he was always forced to, seeing that there was nothing he could do. And when Law founded Cora-San he always seemed to be worse off for. Law wasn't sure if it was because a lot of Doflamingo's plans hadn't gone as planned or if it was another reason.
Law had been searching for Cora-San for hours, and he was really worried, normally it didn't take him that long to find him, but he wasn't in any of the normal locations. Doflamingo had grabbed him yesterday, and Law had waited for Cora-San to return the whole night, but he hadn't, and when Law saw the Joker during lunch he got really worried and started searching.
Sometimes he hated that the base was as big as it was, forcing him to search every room, hoping that Cora-San would be in one of them. He almost screamed wishing he had a better way of finding Cora-San, he almost thought about asking Doflamingo, but if he was in a bad mood he would never tell him. Instead Law continued his search until he got to the cells. He hadn't been down there in the longest time, but it was the only place left and he walked down.
It was dark and cold, forcing him to tread carefully not seeing anything and he cursed before he founds the light switch and turned on the lights, hoping no one would come down and ask what he was doing, but he had to risk it because he couldn't walk around tripping.
"Cora-San?" He whispered as he walked through the corridor. "Rosinante?"
Law stopped when he thought he heard a sound of chains rattling and Law walked over with caution, knowing it could be another prisoner and he didn't wish to get grabbed. He got to the door that was wide open and he rushed forward when he saw Cora-San chained to the wall, bleeding heavily.
"Cora-San?" Law said when he kneeled down in front of him and he slowly opened his eyes, trying to give him a smile. "You look ridicules trying to smile, so stop it."
Law snapped at him, out of worry, making Cora-San chuckle before stopping when the pain got too much.
"You need treatment," Law lifted the pink shirt watching the wound, it needed to be stitched and treated most likely internally and he couldn't do that, he hadn't mastered his powers enough to do that yet. However, he could prevent the bleeding, at least to some extent.
Law grabbed his bag and soon found the bandage, which he tried to create a compress out of and twine around the man, he knew that would never be enough but it was all he could do down here.
"We need to get out of here," Cora-San told him and he nodded.
"I know, let me see what I can do with the cuffs," he stood up trying to summon his powers, it was a struggle, he was unsure of how to make it work as he wanted, how to create the sphere and how to control everything within it, but he really needed his power to work with him now, Cora-San's life depended on it. He tried to break the cuffs, tried to find a way to do it, they broke free when he screamed in frustration, clearly working well with his anger. "Let me take you to one of the doctors."
"No," Cora-San coughed as he stood up, almost falling down and Law helped him lean against the wall. "We need to leave the base."
"And go where? You will die out there!" He snapped again and Cora-San stroke his hair, trying to calm him.
"Do you trust me?" He asked and Law thought about it, they had known each other for almost one and a half year, and since than Cora-San had never done anything to hurt him, caring more about him than the others, even making him happy from time to time.
"Yes," Law slowly answered.
"Then we need to leave, now! Before Doflamingo returns," that made Law look around in fear. "Do you have anything in the base that you need?"
"Not that I don't have on me, you?" Cora-San only shook his head as he started to leave the cell with him by his side.
"Follow me."
"We fled to Senguko," Law informed them when Sanji suddenly hugged him, to his surprise and Bepo soon joined in, and he hugged them back.
"I am so sorry you had to endure that, and all alone," Sanji gave him a sorrowful look.
"And I am so sorry that I ever tried to force you to create a gang," Bepo cried and Law hugged him again.
"How is my situation worse than any of yours, and I walked into it of my own will, and I wasn't alone, I had Cora-San," he gave them a smile. "And well yeah that wasn't the best thing you tried to do Bepo, but it turned-out well in the end."
"So Doflamingo treated Rosinante the worst?" Aokiji actually sounded surprised by that and Law turned his chair around, raising an eyebrow.
"Never be surprised by anything he does, and yes he did."
"Why?"
"Who knows? I never asked him. It may be because he blamed Cora-San for something, or because Cora-San has that stupid idea that it's better if it's him than anyone else."
"I know someone else like that," Sanji teased and he glared at him for a second, but he didn't answered him.
"Maybe he hoped to be able to control Doflamingo in some way."
"Did it work?" Ace wondered and Law laughed a cold one.
"Well depend on what the goal is. Doflamingo never hurt anyone else in the same way he hurt Cora-San, but I would say that he had to sacrifice and endure too much."
"Like?" Coby wondered and Law took a sip of his drink.
"You want me to talk about the torture, the abuse both mentally, physically and sexually?" The last one made Sanji freeze and Law took his hand without looking at him.
"He raped him?"
"Both yes and no. I guess Cora-San gave himself to Doflamingo for some reason."
"Why do you think that?" Coby couldn't make any sense of it.
"I have my speculations," was all he answered, not too keen on telling them about Cora-San's way throughout the years.
"What did Sengoku do?" Smoker asked.
"What could he do? First he was worried about Cora-San, but before he recovered there wasn't much he could do, after that he tried to take the base but every time it led to people dying or the base being evacuated. Cora-San told Senguko that Doflamingo had people inside the marines, but he didn't know who they were. Senguko did his best find them, but never managed, so instead he concentrated on protecting us, so when he died we knew we couldn't stay there. Cora-San warned Garp who declared Cora-San dead, before we left and went into hiding."
"And now, why aren't you hiding anymore?" Aokiji wondered.
"Why aren't you?" Law asked before shrugging his shoulders "You can't hide your whole life, not in this town, so I decide to stop hiding and not let Doflamingo control my life."
"And if he comes here?" Smoker asked.
"He has sent a few people here, all of them are dead, and well if he came here, who knows, someone will die that's all I can say."
"So are you saying that there is no way to bring him down?" Smoker almost sighed.
"Never said that, no one is impossible to bring down, but people will die, are you prepared to do that, because he is. He would sacrifice his best friend if needed."
"Where is he? And who is with him?" Smoker asked instead.
"His base is located in Kaido's district and he has three divisions, who all has people under them, as well as two close men who operate freely. The highest up are Monet, who also is his partner. Trebol, who holds the Club seat, Diamante who has the Diamond seat and Pica who has the Spade seat. Then we have Caesar who just as Monet operates freely without a division. Vergo and Cora-San has both had the Heart seat, but since them, no one has had it."
"Did Rosinante know that Vergo and Caesar was a part of the marine and simply chose not to say anything?" Smoker asked and Law glared at him, with a hateful look.
"You may see him as a bad soldier, someone that abounded you, maybe even a traitor, but he is none of those things. And if you indicate such a thing again and I will kill you," that made Ace growl and the other marines to reach for the weapon, something that didn't scared Law, who finished her drink before answering. "Vergo wasn't a part of the army yet when we lived there, and if Caesar worked with Doflamingo at that time, none of us knew. He was never mentioned by name, so possible. Cora-San never knew who was a part of the marines, because Doffy never tells anyone everything."
"Anything else you can tell us?" Aokiji asked a bit friendlier and Law snapped his fingers making a file land in the hand of the ice user. If they wished to go up against Doflamingo, he wouldn't stop them.
Law turned towards the door when he heard a soft knock, to his surprise, wondering who was knocking, and he got even more baffled when Hawkins opened to reveal Sabo. The other man seemed to be taken by all the people in the room, but he didn't thought too much about it before turning towards Law.
Law was wondering what he wanted, and if he came to ask a favour of him, he may throw Sabo out the window. Law observed the other man who seemed to be a bit unsure, something that he had never seen from him earlier.
"I was gambling at Crocodile's casino," he started and that statement was something Law doubted but he didn't point it out. "I saw Rosinante enter the casino and Crocodile's room, a while later two other people entered the room, only to leave with an unconscious Rosinante between them."
At those words Law's world stopped, everything felt silent around him, his blood frizzed and his heart stopped. He could tell that Sanji was touching him, but he couldn't feel it, or respond to it. It felt like years passed by before his brain caught up with him and he stood up, almost making the chair fall to the floor before he left the room.
Law threw the men aside when they tried to stop him from entering Crocodile's room. His attack made some of the guest's scream, running for protection as another man come rushing towards him.
Law made cut him in half, leaving them separated body being as he pushed the door open. He knew that the others had followed him, and that this may be viewed as an attack, but he didn't care about it, as he pushed open another set of door, only to have Crocodile point a gun at him.
He summoned his powers faster than Crocodile could fire and he swapped the gun for an empty paper, before he pushed the casino owner back up against the walk, holding him there. His eyes were colder than ever before, and his voice dangerously low.
"Where is he?"