You finally meet Trafalgar Law and someone else who doesn't leave a very good impression on you.
When noticing the irritated glances that the people of the hospital waiting room are throwing towards your direction, you settle a hand over Corazon's knee to make him stop the bouncing movement of his legs up and down. The unexpected contact causes Corazon to jump in his seat, thing that just worsens the glares that you are already receiving.
"Corazon, you are moving the whole bench with your legs", you whisper.
"O-Oh, sorry"
Corazon takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. You look at him with sympathy.
"Are you okay?", you ask, even if you already know the answer because he looks as nervous as you were the previous day when going to the shop.
Corazon exhales a nervous laugh.
"I'm beginning to think that this is not such a good idea. I mean, thinking about it we have just met half-a-dozen of times and we don't know much about each other yet, so probably when I confess he'll surely think that I'm a perverted old man that goes after youngsters and then he will kick me out"
You can't help to laugh when hearing Corazon's disconsolate speech.
"Well, yeah, maybe you are a little older than him…"
"He is 26, (y/n), I'm thirteen years older than him"
'Yeah, and I am 24 and I fell for you anyway', you think but obviously don't say.
"But you look much younger", Corazon raises a skeptic eyebrow but you ignore it and continue with a joking tone, "besides, now that you have forced me to spend my Saturday morning playing the matchmaker you are going to confess one way or the other"
Just when you are going to remove your hand from his knee (yep, it kept being there and you hadn't realized it) Corazon suddenly grabs it, making your heart stop for a moment.
"Thank you, (y/n)", you feel your stomach tighten when he offers you a fond smile, "I'm really glad that you are here. If you weren't, right now I would be locked in the bathroom grabbing my head between my hands while hyperventilating"
You laugh again because of the image that Corazon's sentence makes appear in your head.
"Don't worry about it", you say while waving your free hand because Corazon is still sustaining your other hand, "I'll just ask you for a pay rise and we'll be even"
"Hey, that's indeed a good idea!"
"Jeez, it was a joke! Don't you dare to pay me more. Besides, the image of you lamely hyperventilating in the hospital bathroom is enough payment"
Corazon chuckles when hearing your irony but just at that moment the nurse announces his name and the man becomes pale.
"Breathe deeply", you indicate while standing up, "just act natural and everything will be fine. And…umh…"
"Yeah?", Corazon asks immediately, in alert.
You can't help to blush just a little when talking next.
"Maybe it's better if you release my hand before entering"
"Oh, sorry!", Corazon immediately releases you, thing that you equally regret and thank, "yes, maybe if we enter while holding hands the doctor thinks that we are together and I ruin everything"
You know that Corazon hasn't done it in purpose, but damn his words right now have hurt. However, you're not going to let that stupid pain win, so you speak with an innocent tone.
"Or maybe since you are so old he thinks that I am your daughter"
The way Corazon's mouth opens wide when hearing your teasing comment is definitely worth it.
"I'll remember this, you know", he ends saying, his eyes glinting playfully in a way that makes your heart miss another beat, but you recover enough to smile charmingly at him.
"Yes, but for now you owe me for having accompanied you, so you can't do me anything"
Corazon smiles resignedly.
"Touché"
You finally accompany the already impatient nurse towards one of the empty rooms and sit down in the two chairs in front of the desk.
"Wait here. The doctor will come right away"
When the door closes behind the woman, Corazon gulps and looks at you with apprehension. You simply make the gesture of inhaling exaggeratedly before exhaling the air. With a smile Corazon takes a deep breath. You are giving him an approving short nod just when door opens again and a slim tall man with dark hair and slight bags under his eyes enters the room, and for the way Corazon automatically tenses you deduce that the doctor is indeed Trafalgar Law, your crush's crush.
"Oh", Trafalgar looks at you with surprise, "so you have come accompanied this time"
"Y-Yes", Corazon says after clearing his throat while Trafalgar sits down behind his desk, "she is (y/n), the employee that I have mentioned a couple of times"
You are so surprised (and happy against your will) that Corazon had spoken about you that you simply incline your head a little towards Trafalgar as a salute to discover that the man is offering you a rather cold look.
You frown with confusion. Okay, what the hell was that guy problem? You haven't even said a word so why is he looking at you with condescendence?! Although well, maybe you are exaggerating things because you are in front of the man who has beaten you in conquering Corazon's heart (no pun intended again), so probably you were just extra sensitive and the man was just serious and wasn't looking at you coldly or anythi…
"So you are here to check on your boss? It wasn't necessary. His ankle is almost cured by now"
Okay, you weren't exaggerating anything, right now the man has just clearly hinted that he didn't like your presence there! Well, maybe Rebecca hadn't been mistaken when suggesting that the man was a cretin and…
…and wait. …maybe you were understanding all wrong and maybe the reason for the doctor's sudden rejection towards you was way simpler. Well, there was just one way to prove it.
"Oh, I know", you say, adopting your most animated tone, "Corazon has also told me about you and about what an awesome doctor you are, so I asked him to come here as well to ask you a couple of things"
Trafalgar's serious mask cracks a little when he opens his eyes more in surprise, and maybe it's your imagination but his tanned skin darkens a little in the cheeks, as if he was blushing, so at the end your feminine intuition was going to be right and Corazon could have more chances with the doctor than he had initially thought. Those were good news for them at least, you think in self-mockery.
"Well, I suppose that I can treat you after Corazon since this is going to be fast", Trafalgar says, "although next time remember that you have to arrange a proper appointment"
Despite his words, Trafalgar's previous coldness has completely vanished, so you guess that your nonchalant comment has convinced the good doctor that you don't have any kind of feelings towards Corazon. Definitely, Hollywood has missed a really good actress.
While Trafalgar examines Corazon's ankle you make sure to take a good look at the doctor's desk but you soon get bored because there aren't many personal things on it, with the exception of a photo of a man and a woman who probably were his parents. It seemed that Trafalgar Law was a secretive man. Corazon was going to work hard to go through that man's shell, although you weren't one to talk considering how prone you are to keep everything to yourself.
"Alright, your ankle completely cured", Trafalgar announces just five minutes later.
When Corazon sits on the chair again he is extremely pale again and you honestly feel that the man was going to faint.
"S-so that means that I don't have to come back", Corazon comments, and you honestly don't know how the doctor doesn't react when Corazon begins the sentence with such an unnatural high-pitched tone.
"No, it is not necessary", Trafalgar is so focused on writing something in a paper that fortunately he doesn't notice the way Corazon gulps loudly, "I'm going to give you an ointment so that you apply it to your ankle for the next three days but for my part there is nothing else to check"
A tense silence that can be cut with a knife falls at that moment. You offer Corazon a pointed look before signaling subtly with your head towards Trafalgar, silently indicating Corazon that it was the perfect moment to confess.
However, just when Corazon is opening his mouth to speak Trafalgar finishes writing and offers the piece of paper to Corazon.
"Here you have", Trafalgar says, "please, be careful the next time that you lift cages"
Corazon grabs the piece of paper and for a couple of seconds Trafalgar keeps sustaining it as well, grey eyes locking with brown ones.
Now it's you the one who gulps. Come on, for goodness sake, it was evident that Trafalgar was giving Corazon a chance to speak, but Corazon was so busy trying to calm down that wasn't seeing it!
"O-Okay, I'll have. Thanks for everything"
When Corazon grabs the paper rudely and almost stomps in his attempt to abandon the chair hurriedly you have to suppress the urge to snap a hand against your forehead.
Jeez, your crush was surely an idiot. A really cute and adorable idiot, but an idiot after all, and for that reason your masochist part decides to act in his behalf because otherwise you fear that those two would never end together. And yes, that was exactly what you should desire but you were such an idiot that you preferred to put Corazon's desires first.
"Actually…", your voice makes Trafalgar look at you and Corazon stop in his tracks, "…can I ask you for a little favor?"
"Oh, right", Trafalgar manages to hide his disappointed expression and comes back to his professional attitude again, "you wanted to consult me something, so since we have still time…"
"Oh, that's not urgent, I'll come back in any other moment for that: what I want to ask you now is if you could come to the shop this afternoon"
Another silence falls in the room, and when both men exclaim respective shocked and surprised 'What?' you certainly can't blame them.
Jeez, you really hope to know what you are doing.
"Okay, the thing is that we have a client that has a complexion incredibly similar to yours", you are honestly impressed with yourself for how easily you are able to make up a lie, "and he has requested us a costume that we have to finish by the end of the week. However, the client is super busy and can't find the time to come to the shop to be measured, so could you come in his place? I know that it is a super weird request so we'll do something to compensate you…or better said", your smile innocently and point with your thumb at Corazon who was looking at you unable to hide his astonishment, "...he will compensate you, since it's the boss"
By when you finish speaking Trafalgar's eyes are completely opened, although the one who wins for sure is Corazon, whose jaw was about to hit the floor.
You make sure to keep your polite smile but the truth was that you were beginning to sweat because of the nervousness. Shit, maybe you had gone too far. What if you have misinterpreted Trafalgar's reaction, he didn't want to do anything with Corazon and you have just created an extremely uncomfortable situation? Jeez, maybe you shouldn't have said anything after al…
"Very well, I'll go"
This time Corazon and you are the ones who shout a surprised loud 'REALLY?!' that causes the nurse that was about to enter the room to gasp funnily while closing the door again without entering.
"This afternoon I have just consultations until 4 p.m.", Trafalgar explains, but even if he is trying to adopt a purely professional tone his eyes were shining a little more than before when looking at Corazon, "so if it's okay with you I can be in your shop at that hour. Could you give me the exact address?"
"Y-Yes, of course!"
Corazon almost stomps again against the desk when he enthusiastically takes the pen that Trafalgar is offering him and writes the shop address on a paper that results to be the receipt that Trafalgar has just made him.
You suppress a slight sad smile when Corazon apologizes for his clumsiness bright red while Trafalgar writes the receipt again with an incredible serious expression. Definitely, those two made a rather funny couple. If you weren't in love with Corazon, they would be your OTP for sure.
"W-Well, thanks for everything", Corazon says with a happy smile that he is unable to hide, "see you at 4 p.m. then?"
Trafalgar allows himself to show the hint of a smile.
"Yes, see you then"
The doctor offers you a brief inclination as a goodbye that you return and after that Corazon and you abandon the room.
During the brief time that it takes you leave the hospital you fear that Corazon reproaches you for having acted without consulting him. However, that fear immediately disappears once you are outside when Corazon suddenly hugs you, making all the air abandon your lungs and all the red travel to your cheeks because of the impression.
"I owe you big time, (y/n)"
You let out a nervous laugh when hearing his completely serious tone.
"C-Come on, it's not such a big deal!", you say while patting Corazon's broad back (god, what a damn perfect back the man has…) a little awkwardly, "I've just made him visit the shop but you still have to confess"
Corazon chuckles and releases you. Damn, why does he have to smile at you like that? That was just making you fall harder for him and that wasn't wise at all.
"You're right", Corazon scratches the back of his head embarrassingly, "and sorry, after ruining your Saturday morning I've been about to run away"
"It's okay", you say waving your hand, "it's been funny seeing you so flushed when speaking with your doctor"
Corazon chuckles again before looking at you with curiosity.
"And what do you think about him?"
'That I would like him more if you weren't after him'.
"He is a little too serious but he seems to be a nice guy. And he's rather attractive too", you frown with confusion when Corazon raises an amused eyebrow, "what?"
"Just 'rather attractive'?"
You blush. Maybe it would have been better to say that you thought that it was super handsome because certainly to say 'rather attractive' was a little poor to describe the objectively sexy doctor.
"I-I mean, he is handsome, but it's not exactly my type"
"Oh", Corazon looked at you with honest curiosity, "and what's your type?"
'Tall, blonde and muscular', but you definitely couldn't say that! Fortunately, at that moment Corazon's mobile begins to sound and you don't need to answer the compromising question.
The one who had called was Cavendish, who wanted to know if it was going to take you and Corazon much to come back to the shop because he had a photo session (the guy had another job as a model) and he had to leave soon.
You and Corazon arrive at the costume shop in barely fifteen minutes. As always, Bartolomeo and Cavendish were quarrelling when you arrive.
"I dare you to repeat that again"
"What, that you should model for a dog's magazine?"
"You have said it again!"
"Oh, come on, you've looked at your hair? You look like a damn poodle"
"A poodle?! Well, at least I am not like a punky rooster"
"WHAT?! Who are you calling a rooster?!"
Corazon sighs with resignation but just when he is going to intervene you settle a hand on his arm.
"Let me handle it", you say softly before walking towards the two shouting men, "GUYS, ENOUGH!"
Cavendish and Bartolomeo jump when hearing your command and stop talking immediately.
"Much better", you look at Cavendish, "you are going to leave soon, right?", when Cavendish nods a little too hurriedly you turn to look at Bartolomeo, who flinches a little, "then Barto follow me to the back shop. We have work to do"
Since you practically drag the confused punk towards the back shop, you miss the way Corazon is suppressing a laugh for your straightforwardness.
"Okay, we have to hurry", you say when you are in the back shop, a room completely full with cages that were, as well, full with several costumes, accessories and a long etcetera, "this afternoon a client is going to arrive and we need to find a costume for him"
"What kind of costume?", Bartolomeo asks.
"I don't know, whatever it fits", Bartolomeo doesn't say anything but for the way he looks at you it was evident that he was expecting a more detailed explanation, "look, it's a little complicated to explain. I promise that I'll tell you later but now, please, can you help me without asking questions?"
Despite his a little scary appearance and that he was loud as hell and usually got a little on your nerves, Bartolomeo was a really nice guy so almost immediately he nods with a smile.
"Kay, I won't ask, but as a compensation you will have to come to my next concert and not to leave until the end like the last time"
You sigh but eventually nod. Certainly, the punk-rock that Bartolomeo and his band ("The Barto Club") played wasn't exactly your favorite music but since the guy was going to help you, you owed him that much.
"Okay, I promise I go but now let's focus on this"
"Roger", Bartolomeo says happily, "so you have said that the costume doesn't matter but at least we have to know that man's measurements so how is he?"
"Umh…", you scratch the back of your head. Shit, you haven't thought about that, "Tall…thin…I think it's shorter than you…"
"That's too vague, how tall is he? 1,80? 1,75? 1,70?"
"Jeez, I don't know exactly. 1,75 I guess?"
"You guess? (y/n), we need to know his measures if we want to find a costume than suits him more or less"
"Okay, I've had a better idea: instead of finding a costume, we will just use some fabric to take his measurements when he comes"
"Umh…(y/n)…"
"What?"
"We don't have any fabric left"
"…What?"
"It's weekend, remember? We never receive new materials until Monday"
Your mouth falls opened.
Shit, you had forgotten about that!
At that moment Corazon knocks softly and enters.
"Is everything okay?", he asks in general, but he is looking directly at you when asking, so you know that he is referring to your secret plan.
"Y-Yeah, it's everything under control. You can remain in the counter at ease"
"You sure?", Corazon insists, but you nod without hesitation. After all, it has been your idea the whole let's-dress-up-the-doctor plan so you were going to solve it alone…or well, with Barto's little help.
"Yep, don't worry", you insist, and it seems that you look confident enough because Corazon smiles at you gratefully before closing the door behind him.
"So…", Bartolomeo begins, "about that fabric…"
You exhale a long sigh and offer an apologetic smile to Bartolomeo, who immediately catches what you are going to say.
"We are going to visit the basement, right?"
You nod and Bartolomeo exhales a frustrated growl. If the back shop was a disaster, the basement was so disorganized that it probably could hide a portal to another dimension and you'd never know.
"I know that it's not the funniest way to spend the time but if you help me with this, I'll deliver flyers of your concerts in the University during the next week"
Bartolomeo's eyes illuminate.
"If I find the fabric first, it will be two weeks!"
You laugh when seeing the guy climb down the stair towards the basement in a run. You follow him with a smile while thinking for hundredth time that Rebecca would kill you if he knew what you were doing.
Three hours later you finally manage to find a decent amount of red fabric in relatively good state. During that time Corazon visits you several times to insist to help you but since he was also busy with paperwork stuff you reject his help all the times.
"At last", Bartolomeo says removing the sweat from his forehead. During the searching process his t-shirt had flown somewhere and his upper-half was exposed, leaving his tattooed chest on full display, thing that you didn't regretted in the least because even if you had just eyes for Corazon, you certainly were free to appreciate a nice body and definitely Bartolomeo had it.
"Yes, we did it", you say, drinking one of the water bottles that Corazon has brought you in one of his visits together with several snacks, "thanks, Barto. As I've promised, the next two weeks I'll make sure to gather a bunch of people to your concert"
"But you have found the fabric at the end, so it should be one week", Bartolomeo protests.
You make a dismissive gesture with your hand.
"It doesn't matter. Since I've exploited you I'll do it two weeks"
Bartolomeo barks a laugh before pointing at you.
"And remember that you have to tell me what this whole thing is about"
You chuckle and nod.
"Don't worry, if everything goes as planned you'll know this same afternoon. I'm going upstairs to tell Corazon that we have found it"
When you are in the back shop again, you lose a little of time fixing your (h/c) hair, that it is a little sticky because of the sweat. Jeez, you are really going to take a shower when arriving home. You had to stink for sure.
You approach the door that leads to the main shop and when you are about to open it you hear voices. It seemed that while you and Bartolomeo were busy searching that damn fabric some clients had arrived and Corazon was attending them.
You exit the back shop and take a look at the two men that are in the shop besides Corazon. One of them was looking around the shop with curiosity. He was a little hunched, had black hair and beard, and you really hoped that what was hanging down his nose was a piercing and not a snot.
The other man was leaning over the counter with his back turned to you but he looked as if he was rather tall, and from where you were you couldn't hear what he was asking Corazon but this one had a rather surprised expression on his face, thing that you certainly couldn't reproach him because the newcomers were obviously disguised as gangsters and the truth was that the costumes they were wearing looked incredibly real.
You deduce that those men had come to ask Corazon for a modification of their costumes. It wasn't the first time that something like that happened although this time you seriously didn't think that they needed any modification because they were perfect as they were.
For that reason, when realizing that the hunched man has already noticed you, you approach them and with an honest impressed tone you decided to show your admiration for their disguise.
"Good afternoon! Have you come to fix your gangsters costumes? I think that they are pretty awesome already but if you want to improve them even more, the boss is the man you're looking for"
When you see Corazon's dumbfounded expression you realize a little too late your mistake, that apparently was that the two men that have just arrived weren't dressed up. Those 'gangsters costumes', as you've just called them, were their normal clothes and for the heavy silence that falls then, it seemed that your totally innocent but completely inopportune comment hadn't been well received.
You gulp, feeling your cheeks heat up because of the embarrassment. However, before you can apologize, a laugh invades the room.
"Fu fu fu~"
The blonde man that is leaning on the counter facing Corazon and with his back turned to you draws himself up to his full height (more than 2,00 meters, you notice) and turns to look towards your direction through a pair of flashy lenses that don't let you see his eyes.
However, you do see the vein popping out in the side of his forehead that confirms you that the man is upset, and the devilish smile that he is showing while continuing his slow approach makes you to gulp again while unconsciously beginning to go backwards.
"Well, well, Corazon, what a funny employee you have here", your back suddenly hits the recently closed back shop door and you find yourself staring up in a rather uncomfortable angle at that ridiculously tall man, whose arm is now leaning on the wall next to your head allowing him to loom over you in a way that is clearly menacing, "I had never met someone who dared to insult the family so casually. You surely are brave, young lady"
You make your best not to feel intimidated but it is being extremely difficult. Until now there hadn't been any person, man or woman, who had managed to scare you but shiiit that man had an aura around him that you hadn't seen in anyone before, and right now you were desiring to come back in time not to have said that stupid comment…
"Leave her alone, Doffy", Corazon intervenes suddenly with a reproachful though not angry tone, "you perfectly know that she wasn't insulting you, so don't be a bully and stop scaring her"
Doffy? You think, your confusion overcoming your fear. Wait, you had heard that name before.
At that moment, the giant blonde man finally stops leaning over you and separates with a soft snicker.
"You're not funny at all, little brother. It was just a little joke"
Your eyes snap opened.
"Brother?", you repeat.
You look at Corazon in disbelief and Corazon seems to deduce what you are thinking because with a light apologetic smile he speaks.
"(y/n), do you remember that sometimes I've mentioned that I have a brother? Well…", Corazon signals at the menacing man with his hand, "this is Donquixote Doflamingo: my older brother"
Now, it's your mouth what falls opened while staring at the man who has frightened you like no one has been able to do in all your life just for his diversion.
You frown when Doflamingo's smile widens even more in clear amusement.
Definitely, you weren't going to get along with Corazon's brother.
Weeell, that's what love at first sight doesn't mean xDD
From now on Doffy will be a regular of the story and you will be interacting with him much more, so be mentally prepared for it :P