After playing Casanova once again for Corazon's sake, you go to one of Bartolomeo's concerts on the weekend. The night becomes a little accidental when you meet there another member of Donquixote family.
During that afternoon and the next day afternoon you work in Doflamingo's company. Because of the division that Doflamingo had been forced to do in order to avoid 'certain legal problems' with the authorities of Dressrosa, the database of clients had been also modified. Consequently, you spent two afternoons of rather boring work that basically consisted of verifying that the data of clients stored in the database were correctly updated.
Fortunately, Buffalo helped you with that tedious task. At first, when you were introduced to the man you initially doubted that he was going to be much of a help, since when entering the office he was having snacks while watching anime. However, the moment you explained him how he could help you (basically to cross out the clients that you were verifying) he helped you without protesting and didn't laze around at all. Theoretically, Baby 5 was going to work with you two but the girl was depressed because her last boyfriend had left her and she refused to leave home to cry her sorrows.
You also met more members of the Donquixote family: Machvise and Gladius, Doflamingo's bodyguards, and Senor Pink, the PR assistant. You saw the first two men just once and through the office's window, when Doflamingo left the company because of a reunion accompanied by them. And about the Senor Pink, even if it got a little on your nerves his weird way of catcalling, he was rather polite and helped you a couple of times that you had doubts about the way the database worked. Of course it would be better if he wasn't wearing that ridiculous pacifier and pink bonnet that didn't match the rest of his normal black suit at all, but well, that seemed to be part of his hidden charm because otherwise you couldn't explain why he had so many female coworkers around clinging to him and hopelessly in love.
So, in conclusion, against all odds your first two afternoons in the company were rather relaxed. Well, if things kept going that way maybe it wasn't so bad to work for Doflamingo, although the less you saw the man the best. You didn't want to give the impression that you were flirting with him ever again. God, you still blushed when remembering your awkward ride in the elevator with Jora laughing and justifying that 'it was normal to want to flirt with the young Master because he was attractive and interesting'.
But well, even if for now you weren't too disgusted with working for Doflamingo, you obviously preferred to work for Corazon without any doubt. Indeed, when you arrive on Thursday at the shop you are so happy to be able to see the man again that you have even forgotten what happened that Thursday, and you don't remember it until entering the tent and seeing Trafalgar Law in the shop.
Against your will, you tense when seeing the doctor, and you reaction doesn't go unnoticed by Trafalgar because he immediately tenses as well. Crap, if you wanted to keep being Corazon's friend you better get along with his crush!
"O-Oh, good afternoon", you force a smile that comes out just a little fake, "I didn't remember that you were going to try on the costume"
"Yes, Corazon-san has gone to the measurement room to finish the last details"
"Oh, great"
Trafalgar doesn't do any attempt of continuing the conversation, so an extremely awkward silence falls next. Crap, crap, crap, you better say something. That silence was just too much, but you honestly don't know about what to talk with that person! The only thing that you knew you had in common was probably to be in love with Corazon and that wasn't a proper topic of conversation!
"Hey, (y/n), help me with this, please. Cabbage doesn't want to do it not to break his delicate nails"
"It's not that, idiot. I've already explained to you that I can't risk myself to sweat too much because I have a modeling session after working here"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Barbie"
At that moment Bartolomeo and Cavendish appear from the backshop, the first one carrying a couple of heavy-looking bags and the second one a ridiculous small box, and you feel like kissing your coworkers right then for having interrupted that uncomfortable situation.
"I'm going", you left Trafalgar with a brief inclination and help your friends to carry everything to the measurement room.
You were expecting to see Corazon there finishing the last details as Trafalgar has said, but instead of doing that Corazon was just sitting on the floor with his knees flexed, arms surrounding them and a panic expression on his face.
"Corazon?", Bartolomeo huffs when you stop helping him carry the bag and all the weight comes back to him, "sorry, Barto", you apologize while rapidly crouching in front of Corazon, "are you alright? What happens?"
"I can't do it", Corazon says nervously, "I've thought it better and I can't…"
Corazon seems to realize then that Bartolomeo and Cavendish are still there because he stops talking suddenly. You sigh.
"Bartolomeo and Cavendish know that you like the doctor"
Corazon's eyes become fully opened before looking at the two young men, who look at him a little apologetically.
"Sorry, Cora-senpai, you weren't being so subtle"
"You neither when you let the secret slip…"
"Cabbage!"
"Corazon, listen to me", you place your hands over Corazon's knees making him focus on you again and not get distracted by Bartolomeo and Cavendish's discussion, "there is no reason to panic. You have just to go out there, give the doctor his costume and confess. That's all!"
Corazon laughs nervously.
"Hearing you say that makes it look easy but I don't know if I can. Look at my hands…", Corazon raises his hands and you see that they are shaking, "…I can't even make them stay still. If I try to talk to him now I'm sure that I'm going to babble like an idiot, say something incredibly stupid and ruin everything"
You smile. When you first accepted your feelings for Corazon the first days you were also pretty nervous, but as the time passed you managed to hide those nervous symptoms more or less acceptably. Or at least that's what you thought until Doflamingo appeared and read you as if you were a damn open book.
"Look, the other day you didn't notice it because you were too focused on your doing your work, but when Trafalgar came he was also nervous while you measured him"
Corazon showed a surprised expression.
"Really?"
You nod.
"Yep. So don't worry for being nervous because probably he is as well, so you just go out there and follow the plan. I'll be there to intervene if you chicken out and try to run away"
Corazon chuckles with embarrassment before exhaling a deep breath.
"Okay", Corazon stands up and smiles at you, "thanks"
You keep your blushing under control. Damn, you were super weak to that soft smile of his.
"Don't mention it", you say cheerily, and after making your two idiot friends to stop fighting (again…) you follow Corazon out of the room.
The moment Trafalgar sees Corazon appear his face automatically illuminates, although his tension keeps being there. After an extremely brief casual chat, Doflamingo asks Trafalgar to enter the changing room to try on the costume.
Five minutes later Trafalgar Law reappears dressed as a really attractive vampire: black trousers with red motives at the bottom of them, tailored vest, a white shirt with discreet but beautiful ruffles on its front, and a red imposing cape that had the shape of bat wings when Trafalgar extended his arms.
"Do you feel comfortable with all the clothes? Is there something that I should adjust more or let looser?"
You suppress a tiny smile. When entering his working mode on, Corazon immediately forgot his nervousness and turned into the professional he was.
"No, it's perfect this way", Trafalgar says, circling around himself so that Corazon could admire his own work, "I think the client is going to be really satisfied"
Corazon's face indicates that for a moment he had forgotten the lie that you have made up about asking Law for help to create a costume for a client.
"Y-Yes, he will be very happy for sure", Corazon clears his throat, "so thank you so much for your help. If you hadn't acted as a model I would have been unable to do it"
Trafalgar blushes lightly when hearing Corazon's thanks.
"It's nothing. I'm glad to have helped you"
You look alternatively at the two idiots keep quiet without continuing. You suppress a resigned sigh, realizing that nor Corazon nor Trafalgar were to confess. 'Okay, (y/n), time to play Casanova once again'.
"Boss, you should do something to compensate him. After all he has come here two days just to help you"
You are about to laugh when seeing Trafalgar get even redder.
"O-Oh, that's not necessary…"
"Yes, it is", you turn to look at Corazon reproachfully, "boss, when you asked Bartolomeo and Cavendish do extra hours during last year Carnival you invited them to dinner, right?"
"Did he?", Bartolomeo whines when Cavendish subtly hits him in the ribs with his elbow, "o-oh, yeah, he totally did! And what a good dinner we had, right Cavendish?!"
"Yes, he invited us to that simple but rather nice restaurant which is ideal to have not necessarily romantic conversations"
"Oh, yes, I went there as well with Rebecca and it was awesome. He has a lot of meals that doesn't have bread. So boss, since you invited Bartolomeo and Cavendish for that reason you should invite Trafalgar as well. Don't you think?"
You see Corazon suppressing a smile after you finish your reasoning before finally turning to Trafalgar, and the man was so red that that helps Corazon to calm down a little.
"Well, (y/n) has a point there so what do you say, doctor? Would you accept an invitation for all your help?"
Trafalgar looks momentarily at you, a little confused, before looking at Corazon again and nodding a little hastily.
"Yes, of course", Trafalgar clears his voice when his tone sounds unexpectedly animated, thing that makes him look younger for a moment, "could you tell me your phone number? That way we can arrange how and when we are going to meet"
Corazon doesn't bother to hide his wide smile while extracting his mobile so fast from the pocket of his trousers that the device almost goes flying in the air. You suppress a sad smile. It hurts a little to see Corazon so enthusiastic to date someone else but, as always, you manage to hide it.
After interchanging numbers Trafalgar announces that he has to go back to the clinic and leaves the shop. This time, when saying goodbye to you he inclines his head and looks at you with a soft thankful smile, and you deduce that the man was clever enough to have realized that you had something to do in the whole date thing.
"Oh god", Corazon exhales when the door closes behind Trafalgar. He looks at you with his eyes bright before hugging you with such force that all the air of your lungs disappears, "(y/n), this month I'm going to pay you double, I swear"
You blush intensely, returning the hug while Bartolomeo and Cavendish burst out laughing when realizing that Corazon wasn't joking, and despite you try to convince Corazon that it's not necessary, you end giving up because if there was something that you thought Donquixote Brothers definitely had in common was their stubbornness.
"Are you sure that you don't want to come to the concert?"
Rebecca shakes her head negatively. She is comfortably lying in your bed while you finish getting dressed.
"No, thank you. You know that punk-rock this is not my style of music"
You laugh when hearing Rebecca's answer. It is Saturday night and you are about to go to the local where Bartolomeo worked as well, the 'Sharp Fang', to see one of his concerts. As you promised Bartolomeo the previous weekend when he helped you find the fabric for Trafalgar's costume, during that whole week you had been distributing flyers of his concerts in the University. Thanks to that, a bunch of people was going to go that Saturday to see 'the Barto Club' perfomance, and since Bartolomeo had insisted in inviting you, you had eventually accepted.
"Okay, I'm ready", at that moment your mobile sounds, indicating that you have received a message.
"Who is it?"
You are tempted to lie because you know what Rebecca's reaction is going to be when hearing your answer.
"Corazon. He is meeting with Trafalgar in half-an-hour and is a little hysterical"
"…Oh"
You begin to laugh when Rebecca manages to let you know what she thinks with just that monosyllable.
"What? Now I haven't said anything", Rebecca replies with an innocent tone while you keep laughing, "I've accepted that my friend is an idiot who digs her own romantic life grave"
"I'm not digging anything", you reply after wishing Corazon luck, "I'm just doing the correct thing"
Rebecca sighs in defeat while you put your coat on.
"By the way, I know that you are going to kill me for what I'm going to say but I googled Corazon's brother's name"
You look at Rebecca with a 'really?' expression.
"What? I was just curious about him after hearing him on the phone"
"Oh, yeah?", you ask with irony, "and what's your verdict?"
"Well, if you ignore the fact that he is a bastard who is trying to ruin your chances with Corazon, according to what I've read the man seems to be clever, rich and hot as hell"
You roll your eyes.
"It's a pity that that first part is what counts the most, not to mention that his business are not entirely legal"
"Oh, really? If I found I guy like him I don't think I'd care about the legality of his work that much"
"Becca…"
"Come on, (y/n), google 'Donquixote Doflamingo': there are some pictures of him in a swimsuit when he was in Dressrosa beach on holidays and god. I can't believe that he is 41: his body is way too perfect for that age…"
"Okaaaay, I think I'm leaving. I've had enough with you fangirling over the man who is blackmailing me"
"(y/n), you are red as a tomato. Are you maybe imagining Doflamingo in a swimsuit right now?"
"Becca, I've said I'm leaving!"
Obviously, your sulking comment just causes Rebecca to keep teasing you until you leave the apartment.
When you arrive at the 'Sharp Fang' Bartolomeo and his group are already on the stage about to start. After waving his hand towards him you go ask Iva for your favorite drink. The man doesn't let you pay it because according to him: 'there are so many people here thanks to vyou', so after giving up on paying it you choose a discreet seat next to one of the columns of the local and get yourself comfortable to watch the concert.
After half a dozen of songs, you come back to the bar counter to ask for another drink. Iva has just served it to you when you notice a man with turtleneck, hood and sunglasses hiding behind one of the columns. You raise an eyebrow, confused at first, but at that moment the man changes his weight from one foot to another and his delicate movement that you immediately recognize.
You take a sip of your drink and smile with amusement before finally approaching the suspicious man.
"Excuse me", the blonde man jumps in his seat when you softly tap his shoulder to catch his attention, "do I know you?"
The man clears his throat awkwardly.
"S-Sorry, miss, but I haven't seen you in all my lif…o-oi!"
You rapidly remove the man's hood and exhale a triumphant laugh.
"AHA! I knew it was you!"
"Ssssh! Don't speak so loud!"
"Nobody is going to hear me even if I shout, Cavendish, we are in a concert", you smile at him teasingly, "what's wrong? Don't you want that Bartolomeo knows that you like his music?"
Despite the darkness of the place you see Cavendish's pale skin turn red in a moment.
"I-I don't like it! I was just passing by and…", Cavendish seems to realize that it's useless to make up excuses at that point because he exhales a resigned sigh, "okay, fine: I may kind of like just a little bit that idiot's music, but please don't you dare to tell him"
"Why not?", you ask, "I'm sure that he would be really happy to know that you have come. After all he invited you as well"
Cavendish huffed.
"No, he didn't. He just said: 'Well, Cabbage, I would invite you but I'm sure that a pompous prince like you doesn't appreciate this vulgar music'"
You laugh when Cavendish imitates quite accurately Bartolomeo's voice.
"Come on, you know how rude Bartolomeo is. That was his way to invite you"
Cavendish seems a little relieved but still he shakes his head.
"Even if it's as you say don't tell him anything. I don't want to pump that idiot's ego too muc- oh crap, it's the recess and that idiot is coming to talk to you. Don't say that you have seen me!"
Before you can say anything Cavendish disappears from your view just a couple of seconds before Bartolomeo approaches you.
"Hey, (y/n)!", the guy greets you with a wide smile, "are you liking the concert?"
"Yeah, your new themes are awesome", your tone becomes teasing, "and I didn't know you had so much success. I think I've seen a girl throwing a bra towards the stage"
"Yeah, I have it here", you burst out laughing when Bartolomeo extracts the pink bra from the pocket of his baggy trousers, "by the way, who was the guy you were talking to? He kind of reminded me to the idiot Cabbage but I know that's impossible"
You hesitate. Well, technically you haven't promised Cavendish anything, and something in the way Cavendish was blushing when you caught him and the way Bartolomeo seems a little disappointed right now makes you suddenly think that maybe those two fought so much for a reason quite different from pure hate.
"It was Cavendish"
Bartolomeo's eyes open wide.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Nope. He has gone to watch your concert but he didn't want you to discover that he likes your music"
Bartolomeo snort but it was obvious that he was happy for the news. Oh god, could it really be that those two liked each other?
"That idiot. I mock him for a lot of things but not for this. I even invited him to come"
"Weeell, maybe insulting him while inviting him wasn't the best idea", you joke, causing Bartolomeo to laugh with certain embarrassment.
"Yeah, maybe you are right. I have to go back to the stage but after the concert I'll go to talk with that idiot"
"Okay, but please don't tell him that I've told you", you say, "just pretend that you have found him by chance. He will be hiding behind that column"
Bartolomeo nods effusively.
"Don't worry, (y/n), it will be piece of cake! Bartolomeo 'the Pretender' is my second name!"
You smile while seeing Bartolomeo disappear into the crowd towards the stage. Knowing how easy to read Bartolomeo was you knew that he wouldn't be able to keep your secret but well, you have told him just in case.
After half-of-dozen of more songs the concert finishes. You make sure to pay attention to Cavendish. You observe with amusement how he tries to leave subtly the local when Bartolomeo suddenly stomps onto him. Obviously they fight for a little while at first but to your surprise at some point they begin to talk, and they even take a seat in of the high tables that are spread on the local and keep talking instead of quarreling. Well, it seemed that your suspicions about those two liking each other more than they were able to show weren't completely wrong.
You spend a couple more of minutes observing your two friends on the distance, not wanting to interrupt them, but when a yawn escapes from your mouth you decide that maybe it's time to go home.
You put your coat on again and are about to approach Bartolomeo and Cavendish to say them goodbye when suddenly something catches your attention: a really beautiful girl with long black hair and with a figure that had nothing to envy to Rebecca's one was clinging to a man who could easily be her father. She had obviously drunk a lot and the disagreeable expression that was on her companion's face indicated that he planned to make the most of the intoxicated state of the girl.
You frown with disgust and after leaving your drink in the nearest table you approach the pair, ready to delicately tell the man to fuck off and leave the girl alone. However, just when you are about to shout at the man you hear the girl speak with a sticky voice.
"Alright, I'll go to your apartment. After all you need me, don't you?! "
Your eyes snap open. That sentence immediately makes something click in your head.
"Baby 5?"
Though a little off of balance the girl immediately turns towards you.
"Yes?"
The disgusting man glares at you for having interrupted them but you completely ignore him and talk to Baby 5 again. You would have intervened no matter what but now that you knew who the girl was even more so, since Corazon had told you how easily influenced Baby 5 could be.
"I'm (y/n). Doflamingo has hired me to work in the company"
"Ohhh, so you're (y/n)! Doffy mentioned you the other day!"
You note down yourself a win when the girl stops embracing the man, whose irritation obviously grows. It was time to get out of there before things turn tense.
"Look, what if we go to a calmer place to talk? Doing it here is a little difficult"
"O-Oh, but…", as you were fearing Baby 5 turns to look at the man with hesitation, "he says he needs me so I should go with him first"
"Yes, sweetie", you make a grimace when the man encloses an arm around Baby 5's shoulders, "I really need you right now, and you see how much fun we have"
You see horrified how Baby 5 blushes and looks at the man with almost adoration. Okay, you would prefer not having to use Baby 5's weakness against her but it was for a good cause.
"B-But I need your help too, Baby 5!", you would swear having heard Baby 5's neck crack when she rapidly looks at you with her eyes open wide. Yes!, "I really need you right now, it would be great that you could help me, so you aren't going to leave a member of the family in the lurch, right?"
Baby 5 blink several times. For a moment you fear that at the end she decided to go with the man but at that moments Baby 5's eyes illuminate and she grabs you by your arms with way more force that she seemed to have.
"Oooh so you need me that much?! Of course I'll help you !"
"Hey, wait a moment!", the man settles a hand over Baby 5's naked shoulder and looks at you , visibly pissed off, "sorry, but I saw this cutie first and I'm not leaving without he-"
"Who do you think you're touching, hah?!"
Your mouth falls opened when hearing Baby 5 say that with a rude tone that doesn't suit her previous innocent one, and your stupor increases even more when the girl snaps the man hand's away and gives him a kick just in his crotch, causing the poor bastard to double over in the floor while exhaling an extremely pained whine.
"(y/n) has just said that she needs me so don't interfere", Baby 5 snarls before turning to you with her angelical expression, "sooo what do you need me to do ?!"
You let out a laugh that is nervous and impressed at the same time before grabbing her wrist.
"I need you to let me accompany you home, so let's get out of here"
"Ooh, just that? But it's still too early…", Baby 5 protests but she follows you clumsily through the crowd.
"I know but I really need you to do that for me", you put your best puppy expression and looks at her, "will you do it for me?"
Baby 5 blushes intensely and nods effusively.
"Y-Yes, of course! If you need me to let you do that so much I'll totally let you !"
You smile softly and sustain Baby 5 by her arm when the girl is about to lose balance. You feel a little of pity for her. Why a girl who was so strong could be manipulated so easily with the excuse of needing her? Definitely, something had happened to that girl but you couldn't imagine what.
At some point of your walking you feel someone enclose an arm around your waist. You tense immediately, ready to push away the audacious idiot that has dared to touch you with such familiarity without asking for permission, but then you recognize the sharp smile and punk style of the man in question.
"Didn't know you swing that way, (y/n)"
You snort with a smile when hearing Bartolomeo's teasing comment.
"I don't. I'm just taking her home", you lean towards Bartolomeo to whisper the next sentence in his ear so that Baby 5 couldn't hear you, although you were pretty sure that the girl was too affected to hear anything, "She works for Corazon's brother and apparently she is a disaster with her romantic life, so I'm going to get her out of here before anyone else tries something with her"
Bartolomeo hums to himself.
"Do you want me to accompany you both?"
"No, it's okay. I'm going to take a taxi. Besides…", it's your turn to smirk with amusement, "…you seem really animated talking with Cavendish and I'm sure he will be disappointed if you leave him alone"
Bartolomeo immediately catches your not-subtle-at-all innuendo about Cavendish and looks at you with a 'really?' expression.
"(y/n), are you really suggesting what I think you are suggesting?"
You shrug exaggeratedly.
"Who knows?"
Bartolomeo rolls his eyes and ruffles your hair as a punishment for the teasing.
"Come on, stop making up things and leave before this girl falls asleep standing", Bartolomeo says signaling at Baby 5, that indeed seemed about to fall asleep at any moment.
"Okay", you smile at Bartolomeo, "thanks for the invitation. You already know that it's not my favorite music but the concert has been great as always"
Bartolomeo smiles widely and winks at you.
"Thanks for coming. Although next time I won't let you leave so soon"
You laugh because Bartolomeo tells you the same every time that you went to one of his concerts. After waving your hand as a goodbye you keep leading (or better said, dragging) Baby 5 with you until you leave the local.
Since you were in a bars zone it doesn't take you much to stop a taxi. However, by when you manage to put Baby 5 inside the taxi the girl is practically asleep and your attempts to discover where the girl lives are useless. After some minutes you decide that the best option is to ask for help. Your mobile had decided to run out battery some hours ago so you have no other option than to borrow the girl's mobile. Fortunately, it didn't have a lock code so you can rapidly travel through her contact list until stopping in a familiar name.
You hesitate for a moment, but since the taximeter has been activated for almost 5 minutes and you really doubt to have enough money to pay for the taxi if you waste more time, you eventually press the number.
To your surprise, after just two tones a familiar voice that makes you shiver against your will can be heard.
"Dear, I thought I told you to warn me if you were going out at night, where are you now?"
When hearing Doflamingo's calm but obviously angry voice you are about to hang up in fear, but then you remember that you were using Baby 5's number and that consequently Doflamingo was angry at her and fortunately not at you.
"H-Hi, Doflamingo. It's me, (y/n)"
For the silence that follows you can imagine Doflamingo's surprised expression at the other side of the line.
"(y/n), even if it's always a pleasure to hear your faltering voice can you tell me what are you doing with Baby 5's phone?"
You insult yourself internally when, besides surprise, you detect light impatience in Doflamingo's tone. Crap, you should have explained everything the moment you have spoken!
"I-I am with Baby 5 right now. I've met her in a bar and she is…", you look at Baby 5 sleeping in the seat next to you, snoring and with a string of saliva hanging from the corner of her lips, "…a little drunk right now. I was trying to take her home but she doesn't remember where she lives so I've thought that maybe you knew her address"
There is a brief silence after which Doflamingo snickers to himself, surprising you.
"Yes, I think I remember it"
Doflamingo gives you the address immediately so you don't have time to ask what's so funny. You tell the driver the indications that Doflamingo is giving you on the phone and finally the taxi begins to move.
"Are you already on your way?", Doflamingo asks.
"Yes", you exhale a relieved sigh and finally leans your back against the back seat, "thank you"
"A pleasure. Do you plan to accompany Baby 5 home?"
"Yes, I think she is already asleep so I'll go with her just in case"
Doflamingo chuckles again.
"Alright. See you soon then, (y/n)"
You are surprised when hearing Doflamingo because you weren't going to see him until Thursday, but the man hangs up before you are even able to say goodbye. However, at that moment Baby 5 suddenly wakes up announcing that she is feeling sick and all your attention focus on hurrying the driver to stop the taxi and to open the door on Baby 5's side just in time to prevent the girl from ruining the car upholstery.
It seemed that it was going to be a little turbulent trip.
Twenty minutes and three or four forced stops later you finally reach Baby 5's home, which surprisingly was in the most luxurious district of the town.
"Are you sure this is the place?", you ask hesitantly, looking at the expensive looking of the manors that surrounded the place.
"Yes, extremely sure, so now, please, can you pay me and leave my car already?"
Since the poor taxi driver seemed about to suffer a nervous attack at any moment you immediately obey and reaches for your purse with more or less difficulty, since Baby 5 was lying on the backside of the car with her head on your lap, completely asleep.
You smile resignedly. Before when you had been forced to stop because of Baby 5 you were really regretting your decision of helping that problematic girl. However, when Baby 5 finally fell asleep she began to sleep-talking and say things in the lines that: 'See mum?... I'm useful now…people needs me…will you love me then?', and when hearing that you couldn't possibly hate the girl, no matter how disaster she was. As you had suspected, it seemed that she had had gone through quite a terrible past, so you were glad to have intervened with that man at the bar.
"How much is it?", you ask, opening your purse.
"25,75$"
"WHAT?!", your astonished shout makes Baby 5 whine painfully, so you speak lower, "b-but we weren't that far away! How can it be that muc-?"
You stop midsentence, answering to yourself. Shit, you haven't counted all the stops, and you had been so focused on Baby 5 that you hadn't had time to see the taximeter at any moment.
"Oh damn", you rummage in your too small purse under the watchful eye of the driver, "okay, I just have 12,43$, and also a coupon for two free drinks in the 'Sharp Fang', and considering how expensive drinks are in bars could this be enough?"
The poker face that the driver offers you is enough answer. You exhale an exasperated sigh.
"Look, I'm so sorry, really, but I don't have more money!"
"That's not my problem, miss. If you can't pay I'm sorry but I will have to denounce you"
"Okay, okay, let's calm down a moment", you say hurriedly, when seeing that the man was already dialing a number in the car's phone, "look, what if we search for a cash dispenser? That way I can get some more money and…"
At that moment a couple of soft taps sound against your car window. You stop focusing on the more and more annoyed driver to look towards the noise, and when seeing who is outside the car you exhale a surprised shout that causes Baby 5 to whine again.
"What the…", you open your eyes wide in disbelief while lowering down the car window, "…what are you doing here?"
Doflamingo (yes, it was Doflamingo the one who was outside!) begins to laugh while leaning an arm over the taxi. Now instead of a suit he is wearing casual clothes: a pair of flashy orange Bermuda pants and a white shirt with red motives with the first buttons loose, which causes his worked tan pectorals to be partially visibly, a tiny detail that makes even more difficult for you to focus on the man's now smirking face.
Crap, had he noticed that you have been staring for more time than necessary at his…umh…totally-not-impressive-physique for more time than necessary…? Probably yes.
"Well, since this is my manor I think my presence here is quite justified"
His ironic answer makes your (e/c) eyes open even more.
"Wait, so instead of Baby 5's address you have given me yours?"
"Fufufu~ Easy, (y/n), don't frown like that: yes, this is my address but it's also Baby 5's because the family and I live all together"
You stop frowning, your previous irritation turning into surprise. However before you can ask more questions the driver suddenly clears his throat. Crap, you have forgotten that the man was there!
"Umh…about the money…"
Doflamingo seems to remember at that moment the driver's presence as well and turns his attention to him, making the man gulp. Well, it was a relief to see that you weren't the only one feeling intimidated in Doflamingo's presence.
"I'll pay", Doflamingo extracts from his pocket a 50$ bill and offers it to the taxi driver, "keep the change"
"Are you sure?", you ask Doflamingo while the driver lowers a little his own window to take the bill, "I have money to pay half of it so it's enough if you pay the other half"
"It's not necessary", while the driver keeps staring at the bill as if he wasn't believing his luck Doflamingo circles the taxi and opens the door that is on Baby 5's side, "the travel has been because of Baby 5 so you don't have to pay anything"
Doflamingo manages to enter half of his body inside the taxi to take Baby 5 out, grabbing her princess style. After grabbing Baby 5's jacket, handbag and heels (she had taken them out to sleep more comfortably in the taxi) you exit the taxi with the intention of giving Doflamingo the girl's belongings before finally coming back home.
However, the moment you step out the car you make the mistake of closing the door, and the driver takes opportunity of that to start the car and disappear down the street at almost high speed.
"Hey!", you shout uselessly towards the place where the taxi has disappeared and exhale a frustrated sigh, "damn"
"Well, it seems that he didn't want me to reconsider giving him such a good tip", Doflamingo chuckles while beginning to walk towards the entrance of the manor, "get inside. I'll tell Lao G to take you home"
"O-Oh, it's not necessary", you say immediately without moving, "I'll just call another taxi"
"Oh?", Doflamingo looks at you with amusement, "with what phone?"
You blink twice. Shit, you had forgotten that your phone was dead. And wait a minute, how did Doflamingo know that?
The man seems to read your unasked question at that moment because he talks again with a rather triumphant tone.
"Since you've called with Baby 5's phone I've deduced that yours is unavailable at this moment, so I am afraid that the only option is to do as I say. I'll tell Lao G to accompany you but he will probably have to get ready first, so until that time I insist that you enter home", Doflamingo smirks, "don't worry: I'm satisfied enough with having you in the company so I won't force you to stay in my manor as well. At least for now"
Without letting you even time to assimilate his last words Doflamingo finally enters the manor. You consider for a moment the possibility of stubbornly reject his 'invitation' but at the end you decide to follow the man: first, because during all the time you've been there not even one taxi has passed the street; and second, the alternative of walking home so late at night was really unappealing.
You have just entered the manor when suddenly you hear a loud 'WATCH OUT!' and suddenly several violet projectiles that you aren't able to identify comes flying towards your face. You don't know how but you manage to jump to the side just in time to avoid them, causing them to impact on the wall.
"What the…?", you say confused. You see the projectiles stuck on the wall and a violet liquid coming from them. You realize at that moment that they are grapes.
"Sugar, Dellinger: what have I said about fighting in the entrance?"
When hearing Doflamingo you stop looking at the now stained wall. You don't have time to notice the details of the impressive entrance because of the two people that are in the room: a slim blonde teenager who was wearing shorts and heels with a style that you honestly envy for a moment, and a little girl with a red hooded cape that was carrying a basket full of grapes who, you deduced, was the culprit of the previous projectile launch.
"It's been Sugar's fault!", the boy you deduce is Dellinger says, "she has taken my heels without permission and has stained them while playing with her dolls"
"You have a lot of heels!", the girl you deduce is Sugar protests back, "I've just borrowed you three or four, it's not much!"
You look in awe at the two kids fight between them while completely ignoring Doflamingo. You look at the man cautiously, expecting to see him angry or at least irritated, but to his surprise he only looked resigned.
At that moment Baby 5 whines in her sleep and half-open her eyes a little. She is just able to say a sleepy questioning 'Doffy?' before falling asleep again.
"Hey, what's wrong with her?", Dellinger approaches the sleeping girl with curiosity, "is she dying?"
"Not yet, but tomorrow she will probably be", Doflamingo answers simply, "can you please tell Jora to prepare her room?"
"Okay", suddenly Sugar cups her hands around her mouth and takes air, "JOOOO…!"
"You idiot!", Dellinger hits Sugar in the head, cutting her shout at once, "if Doffy wanted you to shout he had done it himself!"
"You've hit me! That's domestic violence!"
Out of the corner of your eye you see Doflamingo sigh and you find yourself having to suppress a chuckle. To see the fearsome man be a little manhandled by those two kids was a little funny.
Luckily for Doflamingo, the ruckus makes Jora appear from the door that you presume was the living room.
"Oh, young Master, (y/n), you're already here", Jora approaches you all, "how is this stupid girl doing?"
"All the fine she can do considering how much she seems to have drunk", Doflamingo replies while Jora places a jeweled hand over Baby 5's forehead with a care that clearly contrasts with her previous insult, "Lao G is still awake?"
"Yes, she is showing Machvise and Gladius his last techniques in the living room"
"Alright then", Doflamingo turns to Dellinger and Sugar, "kids, if you don't want go to bed yet tell Lao G to prepare the car"
After saying a little reluctant 'Hai' both kids leave the living room. At that moment Jora approaches you.
"Let me carry that", she grabs Baby 5's belongings, "do you want something to eat or to drink?"
You shake your head negatively, suddenly feeling a little awkward. Jeez, this situation was surrealistic. Why the hell weren't you feeling uncomfortable in Doflamingo's home? Because definitely you should, considering how much you hated the man.
Because, of course, you obviously hated Doflamingo. The fact that you thought that it was kind of funny to see him act in such a paternalistic way with his family didn't change that. Not even one bit.
At that moment Doflamingo speaks and you are about to jump in your seat when being waken up from your thoughts.
"It won't take us much to put Baby 5 into bed so put yourself comfortable here or in the living room"
When Jora and Doflamingo begin to climb up the stairs that lead to the rooms you decide to take a pick inside the noisy living room without actually entering. You see Trebol, Pica, Diamante and Senor Pink sitting in a table playing poker, Buffalo watching something in a TV whose size probably tripled the one you and Rebecca had in your apartment , Sugar and Dellinger chasing each other around the room while keeping with their previous loud discussion, and Machvise and Gladius doing some strange poses in the middle of the room that you deduce were the ones Lao G had been showed them until that moment. You don't see the old man so it seems that he has gone already to get the car ready.
While observing at the strange members of the Donquixote family you lose track of the time a little and consequently don't notice when Doflamingo climbs down rather noiselessly the stairs again.
"Too shy to join them?"
You exhale a ridiculous little cry when suddenly hearing that sentence just in your ear. You turn around frowning and see Doflamingo standing there, smirking at you teasingly as always.
"I'm not shy, but since it wasn't going to take you much to come back I didn't want to bother them"
Doflamingo exhales a patient sigh while indicating you to follow him towards a window in the entrance through which the street can be seen.
"(y/n), I already told you that you are part of the family now, so you are not a bother"
"Well, I have never said that I want to be part of the family"
You immediately regret your impulsive words. You fear that Doflamingo gets mad at you but the man simply chuckles while sitting casually on the edge of the window, one of his legs flexed so that he could lean his elbow on it.
"If that's true, young lady, you are doing terribly, because helping Baby 5 the way you've done it tonight just makes me want you in the family even more"
You don't know why but Doflamingo's words make you blush intensely.
"I-I didn't do anything in particular! I simply saw that she was a little too drunk and decided to accompany her home…"
"(y/n), I perfectly know how annoying Baby 5 becomes when being drunk, and the only reason that we stand her when she gets in that state is because she is part of the family and we all care about her. But you, young lady", Doflamingo grins, "you didn't need to go that far for her, but you still did. So I am afraid that, you want it or not, nor I nor the rest of the family are going to allow you not to join us after this"
You exhale a resigned sigh.
"So now to be in the family is also part of the contract so that you don't tell Corazon how I feel?"
Doflamingo hums to himself.
"It hadn't occurred to me to convince you that way but yes, now it is"
Certainly, this time you can't blame Doflamingo for bursting out laughing after seeing your dumbfounded expression. Shit, you and your big mouth. Now you had to be in the family for having spoken too much. And again, you have the feeling that you should be way more annoyed than you were for it.
"Oh, Lao G is here already"
When Doflamingo says that you look outside the window and your eyes open wide when seeing a limousine stopped outside the manor.
"Umh…don't you have a more discreet car?"
"Fufufu~", between laughs Doflamingo abandons his seat on the window and opens the door of the manor, allowing you to exit first, "this is the more discreet car that I have"
'Damn rich people' you think to yourself while staring at the car. You see that Lao G is already inside in the driver seat, wearing a chauffeur suit.
"Lao G will take you where you tell him. Although, of course, you are welcome to spend the night here if you want"
You shake your head.
"It's okay. I prefer to sleep alone…I-I mean at home"
You blush intensely when Doflamingo arches an eyebrow in utter amusement. Oh godammit, why the hell your tongue had slipped like that?!
"(y/n), what's wrong? I was just suggesting to sleep in the manor, not doing in my bed"
"I-I know that!", you exclaim, feeling extremely nervous after Doflamingo said that last sentence, "fortunately you are devil, but not a pervert"
"Oh, so am I a pervert for offering you sharing a bed?", Doflamingo's innocent tone warns you that his next sentence isn't going to be precisely innocent, "(y/n), in my room there is a king size bed so I can assure you that we could share it without even touching each other. Although seeing you so flushed makes me think that you were assigning the bed a more intimate purpose, and in that case…", Doflamingo settles his index finger under your chin and makes you raise your head towards him, "the only pervert around here is you, young lady"
The blush reaches your ears when Doflamingo's grin increases, but nevertheless you rapidly answer back.
"No, I am not: you have said 'doing it in my bed' on purpose to make me think that, and for that reason…", you point an accusatory finger at Doflamingo, "…the only pervert around here is you, old man"
Shit, maybe calling him 'old man' had been too much of a risk. However, Doflamingo simply looks at your with surprise before beginning to laugh.
"So you dare to use my own words against me", Doflamingo chuckles and separates from you, "I knew that you were going to fit well in the family"
You roll your eyes with patience before finally approaching the limousine. Lao G immediately gets out and opens the passenger door to you. You say him a surprised 'Thank you' that he accepts with an inclination of his head and returns to the driver seat while you finally enter in the car.
Doflamingo raises his hand briefly as a goodbye and you do the same a little awkwardly before the car finally starts. You know that Doflamingo keeps observing your departure until the car abandons the residential area because somehow you still feel his gaze on you. Damn, if it affects you that much to be observed by him through his lenses, you couldn't imagine how it would be to feel his real gaze on you.
In fifteen minutes you are at home. You suggest Lao G to pay something for the ride but when saying that the man begins to adopt a little ridiculous martial art posture while accentuating all the G's of his sentences and you immediately decide not to keep insisting and simply thank him once again. Also, you say to transmit your thanks to Doflamingo, because even if you already had Doflamingo's phone number you definitely didn't want him to send him a message. Doing that would be crossing the line of I-work-just-for-you-because-I-am-being forced and you definitely didn't want to do that.
When entering the apartment everything is silent. Rebecca has gone already to sleep so you are careful not to make any noise until reaching your room. You rapidly put your pajama on and you are about to enter the bed when you remember your dead mobile. You win over your laziness and decide to let it charging.
The mobile comes back to life at that moment. You have several unread messages. A couple of them were from Bartolomeo, thanking you again for the flyers sale and for having come to the concert; others were from Rebecca, saying that tomorrow she will need your help (again) with her computer because it didn't work; and the last ones were from Corazon.
You gulp, feeling your heartbeat accelerate inside your chest. Somehow, you knew that trading them was going to hurt, but ignoring them now would be useless. You wouldn't be able to sleep wondering what they were saying. Besides, who knew? Maybe Corazon was saying that he had spent a horrible dinner with Trafalgar and that he had suddenly discovered that he loved you…
No no no, you couldn't desire that. If you wanted to be a good friend, you should desire Corazon the best with Trafalgar, not the opposite, so after exhaling a deep breath you open the message, knowing that you were prepared for everything you were going to read.
[(y/n), I would like to tell you this in person but honestly I can't wait anymore :DDD]
Your optimism disappears when you feel a tight knot in your stomach after reading just the first message. Shit, maybe you weren't as prepared as you thought you'd be.
[The dinner has been a success! Well, I made some embarrassing mistakes during it that I will tell you in more detail but overall it was perfect! :DDD]
You gulp. Corazon had never used so many happy emoticons in the two years you knew him. He had to be in a really good mood.
[After dinner we went for a walk and talked for almost two hours. I think I never talked with someone that wasn't my brother so much in all my life xDD]
He hadn't. At least, not with you.
[After that I accompanied him home]
You feel your heart become crazy. Oh, crap.
[I planned to say him goodbye then and arrange another date as you suggested me to do]
The disagreeable knot in your stomach appears as well in your chest.
[But at the end, it seems that it's not going to be necessary ;)]
The next message has a photo attached. By then, you are already feeling your throat extremely close and dry. The photo is still blurred because you haven't downloaded it yet, but you can perfectly distinguish Corazon figure and Law one on the picture.
You gulp again. You perfectly know what how photo is going to be. The last sentence that Corazon has sent was just confirming what you already know. But still, you decide to press the download button.
You have thought that knowing beforehand what you were going to see would make it be less painful. But you were wrong. You were not prepared for the sharp pain that you experience when a selfie of Corazon and Trafalgar fills your mobile screen. They were looking at the camera, looking undeniably happy. Corazon was the one in doing the selfie while surrounding Trafalgar's shoulders with the arm that wasn't sustaining the mobile. Trafalgar had an arm around Corazon's waist. He was also smiling while showing three of his fingers to the camera, in what seemed to be his characteristic pose, and his lips tinted in a light red together with the fact that Corazon's makeup looked a little messed gave you an idea about what the two of them had been doing before sending you that picture.
[We are going out ! :DDD At the end he confessed to me first (how weird, right? ^^U), but all this has happened thanks to you. If you hadn't helped me, we wouldn't be together now. I love you really much, (y/n). You are the best friend someone could ever have and I have that luck :)]
You don't manage to read the entire message because after reading that purely innocent 'I love you' your vision turns incredibly blurry. You realize that you are about to cry so you rudely dry your eyes, pushing back the tears. Shit, what was your problem? You had decided that you would help Corazon to be with Trafalgar, and that's what you've done.
As you have told Rebecca several times, you had decided to keep being his friend no matter what, and if you really wanted that, you should be feeling happy for him, even if that meant that he would never love you the way you loved him. That had been the plan from the start.
However, now that it was definitive that you were never going to be with Corazon, it was more difficult to assimilate than you had initially assumed. You have thought that it was going to take Corazon and Trafalgar more time to get together, that you were going to have more time to get used to the idea, but everything had gone incredibly fast, and ironically, you were the culprit of it.
You spend a couple of minutes breathing deeply, slowly calming down, and when you think you are fine enough you grab you mobile and do the only thing you can do in that situation. The only thing that a real good friend would do.
[CONGRATULATIONS! I'm really happy that everything worked at the end! ^^ You both look really cute in the photo. Even the serious doctor is smiling! :D you better tell me the details of your date on Monday! Now I'm dying of tiredness so I'll go to sleep but congratulations again! :P]
You press send, turn off the mobile and after exhaling a self-mocking laugh you finally enter the bed, biting your again trembling lip and knowing that despite the tiredness you were feeling it was going to be a long night.
Well, Corazon and Law are together. Poor reader -.-
But don't worry: in the next chapter something will happen that maaaaybe will make you begin to see Doflamingo through a little different eyes :D