A/N: only eight chapters left of this fic! And as of last chapter (or was it two chapters ago?) we hit 300k words. Good lord.


52. The Heli Ride


4:08 PM

En route to Warehouse Seven - Law's Car

"Where's Luffy's roommate?"

"Barty?" Sanji asks, blowing smoke out of the window of the fast vehicle. "He's somewhere else. Said he'd meet us at the warehouse later."

Law glances at the blonde out the corner or his eye. "How is that going to work? Only I know where the place is."

"It's the twenty-first century," Zoro drawls from the backseat, "he's tracking our location and following that."

Law sighs. "As long as he's coming. Why did he stay behind in the first place?"

Sanji and Zoro share equally confused looks, shrugging. "We have no idea. But it seemed important."

The eldest of the three clutches the wheel and purses his lips. "There's nothing more important than getting Luffy back. When we meet Barty at the warehouse, he better have a good ass reason."

They drive in silence for a long stretch of time. Law puts the pedal to the metal, flooring it out of the city and onto the vast highway, passing cars on his right and left with increasing speed.

"Law."

The man grunts in response. "What? If you're gonna complain about my speed you can kiss my ass."

"No thank you," Zoro recoils. "I just wanted to know what the fuck was wrong with your family."

Law snorts. "I don't consider those fools my family anymore. Haven't for quite some time. They're psychopaths."

Zoro gives him a slow once over. "Then you would've fit right in."

"Zoro!" Sanji hisses. "Unnecessary!"

"Well at one point I did," Law chuckles, "Regardless, they know better than to fuck around with those I care for. Why go this far to anger me? It doesn't make any sense."

"Hopefully we get some answers from whoever the hell we're meeting," Sanji murmurs.

"Yeah, hope so," Zoro adds in.

"I hope Luffy is there," Law muses to himself. "I want to at least see his face, make sure he's okay..."

"He'll be okay," Sanji assures, but without the confidence to make it a reality.

Law hums noncommittally, then focuses his attention on the road. There was no promise nor hope of that. Not until Law saw him for himself. But knowing the Family, his hope was worth nothing. Silently wishing it was, Law continues to drive, much too riled up for his own good.


4:23 PM

En route to Warehouse Seven - Another Car

"...And that's the gist of it all."

Kidd remains quiet for several minutes. He's quiet for so long that it actually makes Barty nervous. He jumps when Kidd speaks, and when he does, it's in a voice low enough to make shudders go down his back.

"So Luffy is kidnapped by the Don Quixote Family."

"Yes."

"And Law-" He makes a face as though the name was bitter on the tongue, "used to be a part of that fucking Family."

"...Yes."

Kidd slams his fists on the car, teeth grit and bared. "What the fuck is that man doing to Luffy? How could he let Luffy go like that?"

"Law didn't ask for this," Barty defends hotly, distraught. "He's upset too. No one wanted this, Kidd. We just want to get him back."

"Well no shit we're getting him back!" the red head roars, turning on Barty. "But who's fault in the first place is it that we're even in this mess?"

Barty bites his bottom lip. "Well, it's not Law's-"

"He shares some of the blame!" Kid exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. "That bitch is connected to them! Look me in the eye and tell me that this has nothing to do with him. Tell me!"

Barty averts his gaze. He couldn't.

Kidd huffs pompously, crossing his arms. "That's what I thought. Law isn't the angel you think he is."

"I don't think he's an angel, of course," Barty grumbles, slowing to a stop at a red light. "My point is, I'm just not putting all the guilt on him like you're doing."

"He deserves it," Kidd explains simply. "If I ever see him again, I'm punching the shit out of him. If Luffy is hurt, I'll never forgive him. And if anything happens to Luffy again, I'm taking my chances winning him back."

Barty is silent. He couldn't even attempt to sway Kidd away from his choices, because for once, he has a point. Luffy was in danger. It was only natural of someone who has feelings for the guy to feel so strongly about the situation.

Kidd curses under his breath and leans back in his seat, looking out the window, placing his chin on his palm.

"Luffy deserves better than him," he says more to himself than to Barty. But he hears it. "Better than the both of us."

Barty is smart enough to know who Kidd refers to.

Their car ride is awkward and tense. Barty puts on music and it helps, just a little. They were only fifteen minutes behind Law's group, but it felt as though they were eons behind. So he couldn't get bogged down by Kidd's murderous aura. He has to focus if they were ever going to even attempt to catch up to them.

"I'm speeding up," Barty warns.

Kidd snorts. "You shoulda been doing that."

Rolling his eyes, Barty pushes ninety to a hundred as he soars down the highway, swerving to avoid cars, honking at those who were too slow. Catching up was priority. Obeying laws, as ironic as it was, could wait for another day.

"Is this the fastest you can go?"

"Do you have a death wish, Kidd?!"

The red head runs a hand through his hair. "What I wish is for Luffy to be safe and sound."

"We all do," Barty reminds him. "But I'm not gonna risk crashing. That won't get us anywhere. Now shut up and let me drive."

And for once, the red head complies.


5:00 PM

Warehouse Seven

Law exits his car and looks up at the building with stony features. They were finally here.

"It's bigger than I imagined," Zoro comments as he slams the car door behind him.

The building is several stories tall, with wide double doors serving as its entrance. Rugged dark metal paneling crafted each side of the wide, rectangular structure, worn down from weather. There were no windows.

Sanji sighs out a cloud of white. "I wonder where inside they're at."

Law locks the car and makes for the front doors. "Only one way to find out."

When he approaches the entrance, he discovers with a start that it's unlocked. Frowning, Law pushes through into the building, coughing lightly at the dust the movement picks up. It opens up into a large room with a tall ceiling, lit only by a single light hanging from the ceiling.

"You finally made it."

"I know that voice," Law growls, pulling his gun and aiming. "Show yourself."

"Who the hell is that?" Zoro asks in a whisper, huddling closer to Law in the darkness.

"And was that a woman?" Sanji follows up just as fervently, curly eyebrow lifting ever so slightly.

"Her name is Baby 5," Law introduces as a woman steps into the circle of light on the floor. "She's part of the Family."

Sanji's jaw drops. "She's gorgeous."

"Can it, shit cook," Zoro grumbles. "Not the time."

Buffalo comes up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder and leaning down to whisper something into her ear. She nods, and her face turns cold.

"Put the gun down, Law," she drones. "We're not here to cause a fight."

"You fuckers already picked one," Law growls, undoing the safety. "You should've prepared for this much at least."

"Law, you've got to calm down or-"

Frowning deeply, Law unleashes a bullet into the floor right between Baby 5's feet. The woman doesn't so much as flinch, but Sanji grabs Law by the shoulders and shakes him violently.

"Law, you bastard!" he spits, pointing over to the unaffected woman. "What if that had hit her?"

"It wouldn't have," Law responds lifelessly. "But the next one will if I don't see Luffy soon."

Buffalo's eyes widen, and he looks down to his partner worriedly. Baby 5 blinks lazily, as though the threat was of no concern. As though it was normal to have her life threatened. "Luffy isn't here."

Law returns to Baby 5, aiming the barrel to her head. "Where is he?"

"In your old room, Doflamingo's castle. In Dressrosa."

"Dressrosa?" Zoro pipes up, jaw dropping. "That's way south of here!"

The tattooed man tilts his head curiously. "You told me that pretty easily. Why?"

"Well, anyone would with a gun pointed to their head," Sanji seethes.

"She's not just anyone though," Law responds softly, eyes never leaving Baby 5's. He studies her with a careful sweep of gold flecked irises, and after careful dissection, he's able to pick up certain signs in her body language. Worrying signs.

Baby 5 nods at him as if to confirm. So it's true.

Luffy was hurt.

Swallowing down his worry, he lets the prevalent emotion consume him. Anger. "What the hell happened to him?"

Baby 5 shakes her head slowly, as if battling tears. "Come with me, Law. We'll tell you in the heli ride there to save time."

"Hey, what about us?" Sanji gestures to himself and Zoro. "What're we going to do?"

Law replaces the gun back in his holster and turns around to his comrades. Baby 5 and Buffalo come up behind him, staring down the two men. Sanji and Zoro look between the three of them with growing concern.

"Law...?" Zoro trails off, only to jolt when Law's fist comes crashing down on his temple. Sanji gasps aloud, only for the sound to be cut off by Baby 5's strategic hit to his throat. Law finishes the attack with another strike to his temple, and then Sanji goes down like a domino. Law drags their unconscious bodies off to the side and situates them in a way where they would be comfortable when they woke up.

"Was that really necessary?" Buffalo asks as Law wipes his sweaty hands on his dark pants.

"Yes," Law intones, giving the two men apologetic glances. "I'm sorry, Zoro. Sanji."

He turns and nods to his new comrades— or old, depending on how he looked at it— Baby 5 and Buffalo.

"But the situation's different now. Luffy is hurt. That changes things." Law practically shakes with rage; it fuels his body, lights every cell of his aflame. "And because of it, you're gonna see a side of me you're not gonna like. I'd rather you not witness that."

Law starts walking after the two Family members, who were making their way to the roof where the heli was. His hands ball into fists.

"I need to face this alone."

Little did Law know, there were two sets of eyes who were watching the scene unfold with growing horror. One of these sets knew all along Law would pull some underhanded shit like this, while the other was more shocked than ever. The second thought they could trust Law, have faith in him. It shattered the instant he opted for the Family rather than their friends. These sets of eyes waited until Law, Baby 5, and Buffalo were out of sight before letting go of the breath they were holding.

"Fuck," one curses, just as angry as Law. "What the fuck was that fucking bullshit?"

"Maybe he had a reason for doing that?" the other proposes, but it sounds ridiculous even to his own ears. He had just watched Law beat down his own friends. There was no excuse for that. How in the world could he come up for a reason for him when it didn't even make sense in the first place?

"Reason?" the first grunts, obviously disbelieving. "I doubt it. I wouldn't put it past that sly son of a bitch to just betray us like that."

"But we just got here. We don't have any context for what we saw. Who knows what happened leading up to when Law hit them."

"Doesn't matter. It still doesn't change what he did," the first says. "There aren't very many ways to interpret knocking someone unconscious as 'good'."

The second falls quiet. He's right.

They enter the establishment, pushing through the door softly so as to not make any noise. Upon entering the premises, they're greeted by the soft breathing of their partners in crime, Zoro and Sanji. Law had positioned them so that Sanji's head laid on Zoro's shoulder, and Zoro's cheek on the blonde's head.

"Cute," the second remarks as the first gets closer.

"Are you here to gawk and stare or are you here to work?"

"...My bad, man."

The first bends down and gives the two unconscious men a once over, checking for anything broken too badly. "It seems that they're alright. I'm no doctor, but I know for a fact that they...aren't dead."

"Like that helps," the second scoffs sarcastically. "Let me do something that'll actually help us."

The first straightens and levels his associate with a glare. "Oh yeah? And what might that be?"

"Calling Sabo."

The first man's face crumples. "Sabo? Luffy's brother?"

"Yeah, same guy," the second affirms. "I think now that Law's gone and Zoro and Sanji are down for the count, it's time to bring him up to speed."

"But-"

"Look," the second sighs. "Just because he's your ex's brother doesn't mean you get to mope, Kidd."

Kidd scowls and turns away. "Fuck off, Barty. I'm well aware."

Barty dials the appropriate number, and the blonde picks up on the fourth ring.

"Barty!"

"Hey," he begins with a slight urgency. "Look, Sabo, we need your help-"

"I'm sorry kiddo," Sabo cuts off, "but I can't help right now." There's a big whirring sound in the background of the receiver, muffling his voice until it was riddled with static. Barty had to strain to hear.

"Why?"

"We're about to take flight for a really important mission. We finally got the location of Doflamingo's Family!"

Barty exchanges glances with Kidd, who watches him curiously. "You did?"

"Yeah!" He could practically hear the blonde grinning. "You don't have to worry about them anymore, we're flying to Dressrosa."

"Could you make a pit stop where we are and pick us up?"

A pause. "Barty, I'm sorry, but this is too important to be making stops."

"I have important information about Luffy that you need to know," Barty explains quickly. "He got kidnapped."

"He what?"

"By the Don Quixote Family."

Several crashes sound on the other end, mostly caused by Sabo, if the screams are anything to go by. By the time the chaos is over, the blonde returns to the phone, out of breath and more livid then Barty's ever heard him.

"You better explain to me what the hell's going on, Barty, " he says lowly, threateningly.

"I will, I will," Barty reassures, sweat trickling down his brow, "but it's a lot. I'd prefer if you'd just come pick us up and we can talk to you on the flight."

"Who the fuck is 'we'?"

"Me, Kidd— the guy we saved— and a couple others you met from the Kaido and Doflamingo fiasco, Zoro and Sanji. But they're knocked out, so we might need you to help carry them onto the heli."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "What...in the world have you gotten yourself into?" Sabo finally manages.

"I know." Barty nods as though the man could see him. "It's a lot to take in all at once. But I promise I'll explain if you just come over here. You're an hour north of us, Dressrosa is a couple hours south. You'll literally pass over us to get to where you're going, so a quick stop shouldn't be too bad."

More silence. Barty was starting to get nervous. What if Sabo got too angry and just went on without them?

"Send me your location," Sabo says quietly. "Asap. And make sure you're outside or on the roof so we can see you once we've arrived."

Silently thanking his lucky stars, Barty lets out a relieved sigh. "Thank you Sabo."

Sabo blows out a disbelieving puff of air. "You better fucking explain when I get there, Barty."

The blonde hangs up without another word, and Barty flinches instinctively. Sabo was rightfully angry. Not at him of course, but still. It hurt to be talked to so bluntly.

"What did he say?" Kidd asks.

"He's coming over to pick all of us up," Barty relays. His face turns into one of steely determination. "We're going to Dressrosa."

Kidd raises a hairless brow. "Is that where that asshole is headed?"

"That's where Sabo said the Family was based in, so it has to be," Barty says. "So Luffy is most likely there as well."

"Shit," Kidd curses, clutching his fists. "Okay. So what do we do in the meantime?"

Barty looks at Zoro and Sanji's unmoving forms, worrying on his bottom lip. "We wait."


A Little After 5 PM

In the Helicopter - En Route to Dressrosa

Law runs a hand through his hair. "God, they're gonna kill me when they wake up."

"It was for the best," Baby 5 says softly. "They were going to follow if you didn't do that."

Law glares at her and she shuts up, whimpering behind Buffalo's arm. The tattooed man sighs and relaxes into the passenger's seat of the heli, looking out the large window to his right.

"You think so?"

"Yes, I know so," Buffalo says assuringly. "Those two seemed like the type to put up a fight."

"God," Law groans, hands coming to cover his face. "I just want Luffy back. I don't want to go through all this roundabout bullshit."

"We're going there, just be patient," Baby 5 says with a slight sniffle.

"Speaking of which. I'm here now, so spill," Law starts lifelessly, narrowed eyes sliding over to Baby 5 and Buffalo. "How is Luffy?"

"Not good," Buffalo answers from behind the steering. "He's...they..."

"They've hurt him bad," Baby 5 finishes for him. Law doesn't like the darkness that comes over her face then, the fear in her eyes. It sets every nerve of his on edge. "I tried to stop them Law, I really did, but they-"

"Again," Law cuts with barely contained fury. "What did they do?"

Baby 5 and Buffalo exchange concerned glances before returning back to Law. "They've branded him with a hot iron...on his chest," Baby 5 explains as calmly as she can. "They wanted to mark him in the worst way possible, a way that couldn't be undone. But please Law, don't overreact just yet."

"Overreact?" the words don't stop the wild anger swirling in Law's eyes, nor the rampant roar that comes out of Law's mouth. "Overreact? How could I not overreact?"

The Family members clasp their hands over their ears as Law unleashes a roar more becoming of a savage beast than a human. More of a wounded animal than man.

"How can I not when my baby is hurting?" he practically wails, voice cracking on the last word.

His throat tightens as sadness washes over him. He could only imagine the pain Luffy must be going through at the moment. His heart ached for him. He wanted nothing more than to rush to his side right now and hold him to his chest, rocking him back and forth until the tears dried and the wounds healed. He wanted him by his side, where he'd be safe from all the evils in the world, where Law would protect him properly this time. He felt crushing sadness for all of thirty seconds.

But then came the white hot anger.

It billowed within him in a rush, tainting his vision red and blacking out his mind. It makes him move without thinking, thrashing about, punching and kicking and hitting anything to come into reach. Someone hurt his Luffy. His Luffy. Unforgivable. They were going to pay dearly, no, they would have to die for their actions. That was the only repentance Law would accept.

It's not until thin arms are wrapped around him that he notices he's even being touched.

A bloody Baby 5 was holding him down to the seat, panting heavily. Law glowers at her. "What the hell are you-"

"You were going to capsize the damn heli if I left you be!" she grunts, tightening her hold on the man. "Did you not realize you were going crazy like a madman?"

"I knew he'd pull some shit like this once you told him," Buffalo grumbles.

Law's eyes find a wound on her temple. "What happened?"

"You hit me with the butt of your gun in your rampage," Baby 5 lilts without hesitation. "It's okay. I understand."

"...Sorry."

"Don't mention it. As long as you're better now." Baby 5 lets go of him cautiously, backing away slow and steady.

Law feels a headache coming on quick and fast. "I'm no better, not in the least." He cocks his gun, and Buffalo's mouth falls open. "Not until I put holes in whoever did that to Luffy."

"Hey hey hey, you better not be pointing that thing at us," he grits.

"No," Law responds, shaking his head. "I'm just readying it for when we land."

He glares out the front window, to the reddening skies and to the darkness that follows after. "I need to take this anger out on someone, or I think I'm gonna lose it."

Within Law's mind, the fiery figure has broken free from behind its cage. It reigns supreme over the land, long since escaped from its confines. It lights everything in its surroundings on fire, and it relishes in the destruction. The keys to the cage that one housed the entity were burned to a crisp, and the bars that once held it back were gone as well. All that remained was flame, ash, and the fiery figure that closely resembled a fanatic Law, dancing in the aftermath of its confinement.

"I knew you'd call on me again," it says with a wide grin. "You can't live without me, can you?"

It laughs, big and boisterous, clutching its sides from glee. "There's no way to recover from this one, Law. You can't undo the damage I'm about to cause."

The entity smirks. "Let's go out with a bang, shall we?"


A/N: thanks for reading!

P.S: things are picking up again!