You prepare yourself for Valentine's Day while helping your friends and Family with it.
After Christmas holidays were over you came back to routine, and were forced to spend practically the entire January locked up in the library of the University with your companions of the master, preparing the multiple works that you had to present by the end of the semester.
"Jeez, I'm tired of all this"
"We know, Koala: you haven't stopped protesting during the whole morning", Kalifa says without raising her head from the notes she was taking, causing Koala, who was sitting next to you, to lean her head over the table with a whine.
"Don't despair, we just need to survive to one more infernal week", Vivi cheers her, leaning a little over the table to pat the whining girl's head amicably.
"I don't know if I can"
"Of course you can", you snort while continuing choosing the design of the power point for the next work that you had to present, "besides, think that when this is over you will have aaall the time you want to decide the Valentine's present for Sabo"
As you were expecting, that last sentence makes Koala straighten up again with bright eyes.
"(y/n), what have you done?", Kalifa exclaims in horror, "now she will begin to ramble about her boyfriend"
"Well, but at least she has stopped mopping", you elbow Koala playfully and the girl sticks outher tongue at you cutely.
"Do you know what you're going to give him for Valentine's Day?"
"Vivi!"
"Come on, Kalifa, we've been working for three hours non-stop: we deserve a little rest"
Kalifa clicks her tongue and after adjusting her glasses she continues working, pretending not to be paying attention to the conversation.
"Well, since I have some savings thanks to my part-time job at the clothing shop I think I will plan a romantic escapade for that weekend", Koala fixes her eyes in Vivi and smiles mischievously, "and what about you, Viv? Will you be brave enough to give Kohza some chocolates this year?"
"Sssssh, Koala, don't speak so loud!", Vivi looks around her in fear, red as a tomato, and you can't help to see some similarities in the way Koala teases Vivi with the way Rebecca usually teases you.
"Come on, Vivi, you're childhood friends, you chose the same career and he hasn't been with anyone in all this time: surely he likes you too"
Vivi gulps when hearing your arguments before biting her bottom lip.
"W-Well, I can always show him the chocolates and if he puts a too weird face I'll lie and say that I just wanted his opinion but that they are for someone else"
"You can give them to me in that case", you immediately say, "in my code it is written never reject chocolates"
Vivi chuckles, recovering her usual pale color while Koala turns to Kalifa.
"And what about you? Will you finally declare your love to your boss?"
Kalifa glares at Koala, but she is even redder than Vuvi when answering in a little stuttering offended tone.
"I-I never said that I love Iceburg! That's sexual harassment!"
"No, it isn't", you three say at unison before Koala speaks again.
"Okay, then if you don't love him why do you have your mobile full of photos of him?"
"What?! How do you know that?!"
"It's your fault for telling me to look after your things when you're going to the restroom!"
"THAT'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT!"
Vivi and you start laughing but at that moment the librarian clears her throat loudly, subtly reproaching you four for being so loud.
"By the way, (y/n), you told us that your boyfriend was Donquixote Doflamingo, right? The Boss of the Donquixote Family"
You turn towards Vivi surprised.
"Yes, what's with that?"
"Nothing, just that my father will probably contact him soon", Vivi explains, "the thing is that my father hired the services of Baroque Works for his business but apparently something happened that caused the company to lose some of his reputation, so he was thinking about changing the provider"
"Oh", you simply say, not knowing if Vivi knew about the illegal component of Baroque Works and the Donquixote company, "well, that's nice. I'm sure your father will be satisfied with the services than the Donquixote Company offers as long as your father reads the contract that he signs from cover to cover"
Vivi exhales a surprised laugh.
"That has totally sounded like a warning"
When Vivi says it as a joke you are about to say that you were serious, but then you think that if Vivi's father was in the business word he had to be used to read tricky contracts for sure, so at the end you decide not to insist in the matter and come back to tease her and Kalifa about their respective crushes.
After having lunch at the University you spend another hour studying in the library before going to Corazon's shop. When you enter there isn't anyone on the counter but you can hear Corazon and Bartolomeo's voices coming from the measurement room, so you go there and knock a couple of times.
"Who is it?"
You are surprised when practically feeling the tension at the other side of the door after Corazon asks that.
"It's (y/n)", you say hesitantly, causing the two men inside to let out a relieved sigh.
"Okay, you can come in then"
You do as Corazon says and your mouth falls slack when seeing Bartolomeo dressing in a suit. He wasn't wearing neither a jacket nor a cravat and the sleeves of his shirt were a little rolled up, but still, compared with his usual style, he looked really formal.
"What the HELL?"
Corazon, who is in front of Bartolomeo fixing the neck of his shirt, begins to laugh while the punk clicks his tongue in annoyance.
"Come on, (y/n), you have three opportunities to guess why the hell I am dressing like this"
"O-Okay, uhm…", you think for a moment before exhaling a gasp in illumination, "you have found a new job that requires you to dress in a suit"
"Cold"
"Mmm you have lost a bet"
"I wish"
"Oh my god, don't tell me you are going to a funeral!"
"What the fuck? No!", Bartolomeo exclaims while Corazon bursts out laughing.
"Hint: it has something to do with Valentine's Day"
After hearing Corazon's words it doesn't take you much to throw another guess.
"Are you going to bring Cavendish to some elegant place to eat or something?"
"Bingo", Corazon says while Bartolomeo nods languidly.
"Yeah. He has mentioned more than once how great the 'Golden Rose' restaurant is since his manager invited him and other models to a meal there, and obviously you have to dress to the nine to enter there. However after seeing the fucking price of the menu like hell if I'm going to pay for a suit, so I've asked Cora-senpai help to use a more or less credible costume"
"And can't you just invite him to a still good but cheaper place?", you suggest, causing Bartolomeo to shrug.
"Yeah, I could, but Cavendish has been helping me and the band a lot these weeks. He was always protesting for how untidy and dirty our garage was, but he gave us some good ideas for our new songs, and he even helped me pay for a new guitar since mine was rather old so…", Bartolomeo clears his throat a little uncomfortably and scratches the back of his head brusquely, "…I-I think I owe him this, so I'll invite him to that fucking expensive fancy place even if that means that I'm going to look ridiculous on this damn suit"
"Actually I think that you look rather good right now", you say sincerely, "a bad boy that changes his style to dress elegantly is always hot, and I'm sure that Cavendish will think the same when seeing you"
Bartlomeo snorts but he was blushing lightly when taking next.
"Thanks, (y/n). Although he better not expect that I change my style for now own"
"I don't think so", you say patting Bartolomeo's arm amicably before turning towards Corazon, "and do you have something in mind for your doctor?"
Corazon smiles while gesturing Bartolomeo to turn around to help him put on a vest.
"Well, Law told me that he will be seeing patients at the hospital all day, but I will go to visit him during his rest time to eat together"
"Oh, then you should bring him something too!", you exclaim, "I can perfectly imagine his dumb face when seeing you appear at the hospital with flowers, or even better: with a hand-made lunch, because I'm pretty sure that the food of the hospital isn't the best"
Corazon's face illuminates when hearing your suggestions.
"Those are excellent ideas! Besides, he probably suspects that I'm going to visit him, but I'm sure he won't expect all that. Thanks a lot, (y/n)!"
You smile happily, thinking to yourself that it was a great change that you could keep helping Corazon from time to time with Law without feeling that disagreeable knot in your stomach that always settled when you were in love with the man and helped him with his romantic affairs.
"And to close the circle what about you, (y/n)?", Bartolomeo inquires, "do you know what you are going to give to your scary boyfriend?"
"Actually I don't have the least idea", you say nervously, "I mean, what can you give to a man that has the money to buy absolutely everything he wants?"
"Yeah, that's problematic", Corazon offers you an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, in his birthday the only thing I could come up with were a new pair of glasses"
"It's okay", you say with a dismissive gesture, "I'll keep thinking for a couple of days and if I still don't manage to have a good idea I'll ask some members of the Family"
At that moment the bell of the shop sounds and Bartolomeo gets pale when hearing Cavendish saying a surprised 'Uhm, is anybody here?', so you rapidly stomp out the measurement room and gain some time talking to Cavendish until Corazon and Bartolomeo join you as well, the last one wearing his usual punk clothes.
The rest of the afternoon was rather calm and you return home a little earlier than usual. The Family was still working at the company and Rebecca was out in an excursion with his students, so the only people you find in the manor are Dellinger, Sugar and, surprisingly, Viola.
"Welcome home", Viola greets you from the living room, where she was half-lying in the sofa with a laptop over her legs while Dellinger and Sugar watched TV, "you've come early"
"Yes, today there wasn't much work on the shop", you leave your bag next to one of the armchairs before sitting on it, next to Viola, "are you still working?"
Viola nods, without averting her eyes from the laptop not to lose concentration.
"Yes. It turns out that Smoker has just ordered me to retrieve old information form a closed case, obviously to prevent me from taking part in his new investigation about Doffy. He told me that he expected to have the report in his table in a week, so I'm making sure to finish today and present my report tomorrow first time in the morning. That way he won't be able not to let me join his investigation"
"Poor Smoker", you can't help to say sincerely, causing Viola to chuckle.
"Don't let Doffy hear you say that"
"Don't worry I won't", at that moment, an idea suddenly crosses your mind, "hey, Viola"
"Yes?"
"Since you went out with Doffy, do you have any ideas about what I could give him for Valentine's Day?", you are surprised when Viola immediately stops typing and looks at you with her eyes open wide, "what?"
"N-Nothing", she says with a surprised laugh, "it's just that I wasn't expecting the question. I mean, I thought that you preferred not to talk about my previous relationship with him"
"Oh", it's your time to let out an embarrassed chuckle, "well, I confess that the first time I heard about it I was a little jealous, but I don't feel that way anymore. Or at least I think so"
Viola laughs briefly.
"I love your sincerity, (y/n)", Viola leaves her laptop over the table and adopts a Buda position over the sofa, "so you are looking for a present for Doffy"
"Yes, and I'm really lost", you admit, "I mean, I guess that glasses and a flashy t-shirt are always an option, but I don't know, what do you think?"
Viola hums to herself before speaking.
"If my memory doesn't fail me when we were together I gave him chocolates and a rather colored cravat, but if you ask me I think that you should try to give him something more personal"
"More personal?", you repeat, "like what?"
"Well, Doffy doesn't wear any jewels except his earrings, so you could give him a personalized one, for example"
"Oh, it would have never occurred to me", you smile happily, "thanks a lot, Viola. I think I'll do that"
"You're welcome. And also…", Viola leans towards you so hat Dellinger and Sugar don't hear her, "…don't forget that men are really easy to content, so giving them a surprise in the bedroom is always guaranteed success"
The moment Viola says that an idea pops in your mind. An idea that causes you to blush and grin at the same time.
"I see that you know already what to do"
You chuckle when seeing Viola's knowing smile.
"Yes, more or less"
A comfortable silence falls between you two and Viola is about to take his laptop again when you speak again.
"Uhm…", when Viola looks at you with curiosity you hesitate, not knowing very well how Viola was going to react when hearing your question, "…okay, what I'm going to ask you is none of my business, and I'll understand if you don't want to answer me, but I can't help to wonder why Doffy and you broke up. I mean, you get along really well now, so what did it go wrong?"
You immediately feel guilty when Viola gulps and averts her eyes, tucking her hair behind her ear in an obvious uncomfortable gesture.
"Shit, sorry, forget I have asked. You don't need to tell me if you don't want to-"
"No no no, it's okay", Viola says rapidly with a nervous smile, "and it's perfectly understandable that you want to know"
There is a little pause and after taking a breath, Viola speaks.
"As you already know, I met Doffy eight years ago during a party that was held in his previous company. At that moment I was just a 21 years-old police officer and my mission was to try to infiltrate in his Family to gather information about him", Viola smiles to herself, "However, despite all my training, Doffy read my true intentions the moment I approached him. His intelligence, physique and charisma caught my attention from the start, and although at first I tried to deny my attraction for him, at the end I was unable to resist, so we initiated a relationship and I became a double agent for the Family. We were together for almost a year, and then after that we decided to remain as friends"
Your eyes open wide.
"Just like that?"
Viola nods.
"Yes, just like that. I don't have to tell you how perceptive Doffy is, so he always knew the truth when we began to go out together"
You frown with confusion.
"What truth?"
Viola smiles with a hint of sadness.
"That I was secretly in love with another man. A man with whom I would never be able to be, and who I'd never be able to stop loving no matter what"
Your mouth falls opened when hearing Viola's confession, but before you can even process her words the woman keeps talking.
"Actually, he discovered this even before we initiated our relationship, but he nevertheless accepted to be with me. After all, we liked each other and the attraction was mutual, so even if we never fell in love we spent pretty good and funny moments together. At some point though, I couldn't help to begin to feel bad for being with Doffy when my heart belonged to someone else. I felt as if I was betraying both of them, so eventually we decided to remain just as friends"
A heavy silence falls next, just broken for the now distant sound of the TV that Sugar and Dellinger kept watching, until you decide to break it completely.
"I'm sorry", you say sincerely, "I didn't want to make you remember bad things"
Viola shakes her head reassuringly.
"It's okay. I've already got used to keep my feeling for myself, and at least I have a pretty good relation with this man that I've mentioned"
You bite your tongue not to ask anything else, but your curiosity must show on your face because Viola chuckles.
"I'll tell you who this man is if you promise not to tell anyone, since this is something that just Doffy knows"
You almost break your neck while you nod, and after exhaling a soft sigh Viola mutters a name.
"Kyros"
It takes you a moment to remember that name, and when you do your eyes snap opened.
"WHAT?!", you cover your mouth with your hands when Dellinger and Sugar look at you with curious eyes, and make sure to lower your voice when taking next, "you mean Rebecca's father?"
Viola blushes and nods.
"Yes, I know that there has to be something wrong with me for falling for my sister's husband. In fact, at first I only saw him as an older brother. After all there was a 13 years difference between my sister and me, and I was just 5 years old when Scarlett married Kyros, who was 20 at the time, and when Rebecca was born that same year. However, ten years later my sister died in a robbery and I began to live with Kyros and Rebecca, and during that time everything changed"
"The way Kyros was able to endure the death of my sister to keep taking care of Rebecca, who at that moment was just 10 years old, putting her happiness above everything else; the way he always had a smile for her, for me, when we couldn't help to cry because we missed Scarlett; the way he just waited until the night, when he thought nobody could hear him, to let out his pain and sob in silence for having lost his most important one; and the way he let me stay in his home, helping me with my studies since the degree I wanted to study was in another city different from my parent's one", a loving smile appears in Viola's face, "All those things made me fall completely in love with Kyros when I was just a 15 years-old teenager, even if I knew I could never confess my feelings, even if I knew that he would also see me as the little sister of the woman he had loved so deeply"
You find yourself gulping to remove the lump that had formed in your throat, and without thinking you stand up from the armchair to lean over Viola and hug her tightly. You would like to say something to cheer her up but you were really afraid of beginning to cry if you tried to speak, and it seems that Viola notices it because she returns the hugs while laughing softly.
"I'm okay, really", Viola assures, still hugging you, "it's just a little hard at times when I see him, but I can handle it pretty well, and as the years have passed I have learnt to be happy with just being part of his family"
You are about to snap that just having to 'handle it' was not fair at all, but at that moment the door of the manor snap opened and a hysterical Baby 5 stomps in the living room, causing Viola and you to separate to look at her with worry.
"Baby 5?", Viola asks, staring at the almost hyperventilating girl, "what's wrong? Has something happened?"
"I-I just finally discovered where Sai lives!", the girl says almost shouting, "I tried to sneak inside his house but it's pretty damn well guarded, and stupid Doffy doesn't let me grab the bazooka to try to open the door, so I've come here to grab some grenades from Gladius!"
Just when Baby 5 is going to disappear towards the stairs, Viola and you stand up from the sofa and run towards the girl. With some difficulty you both manage to convince her that instead of breaking into Sai's house, she could pay him a visit at work instead, and ask him directly for a date.
When after some minutes Baby 5 is still hesitating you offer to accompany her at that same moment to the gym where Sai worked together with his brother and grandfather. Since Lao G was still at the company you and Baby 5 take a taxi while Viola remains in the manor with the kids.
During all the trip Baby 5 doesn't stop biting her nails with nervousness, so you make sure to speak a lot to keep her distracted as possible. When you finally arrive the gym is about to close and Baby 5 exhales a little shout when seeing Sai in front of it, wearing a bag on his shoulder while closing the building.
"It's him!"
"Baby 5, wait!", you exclaim when Baby opens the door of the car and steps out without waiting for the driver to stop.
After apologizing to the man and paying him what you owe him you step out as well just in time to see Baby 5 just in front of Sai, who had just frozen and was looking at the girl with a little terrified expression.
You remain at a prudent distance, not wanting to interfere, but when you see that Baby 5 just stays in front of Sai with an awed expression without saying anything and the man is about to walk past her, you eventually decide to approach them both.
"H-Hey, good night", Sai gives a short jump when you practically appear in front of him, "I don't know if you remember me: I'm (y/n), we met at the inauguration of the Donquixote Company"
"Oh, yes, I remember", the man says after a moment of confusion with a rude voice that contrasted with his polite tone.
"And you remember Baby 5?", you say then, signaling Baby 5, "she was also at the party"
"Yes, you told me to marry you after I helped you clean the wine of the table !"
"I didn't! I'm sure that I just thanked you!", Sai immediately says with certain exasperation, so you deduce that it was not the first time that Baby 5 told him something like that.
"A-Anyway", you decide to speak again before the man decided to begin to run away from you two, "we are here because Baby 5 wanted to ask you something"
You look at Baby 5 pointedly, indicating her that it was her chance to speak. Baby 5 biting her bottom lip, blushing like crazy, and then, finally, opens her mouth.
"T-Then, if you thanked me, does that mean that you need me?!"
You can't certainly blame Sai when this one blinks his eyes in confusion, because you are about to face palm and give up in trying to pair those two.
However, just at that moment providence makes you look towards the glassed window of the gym, where a paper with information has been stuck, and then you know what to do.
"W-What Baby 5 says is that it seems that you seems to need people for the fighting exhibition that takes place in April, right?"
Sai's confused expression turns into one of expectation while looking to Baby 5.
"Wait, do you mean that you want to join our team?"
You decide to speak again to prevent the girl to misinterpret the sentence and say something related to marriage again.
"Yes, she wants to", you say effusively, "and she is a really good fighter: her kicks are deadly and her physical condition is top, so I'm sure she is exactly what you're looking for"
Sai bursts out laughing and suddenly settles his hands over Baby 5's shoulders, causing the girl to let out a high-pitched cry while blushing even more.
"Thank you very much! I appreciate your help a lot. Could you come tomorrow to the gym so that I can explain you how the fighting competition is going to be?"
"To come tomorrow? With you?", Baby 5 places her hands on her own cheeks, her eyes illuminating, "it's a date then!"
This time you can barely suppress the laughter when seeing Sai trying to convince the girl during the following five minutes that it wasn't a date, because there were going to be more people at the gym. Well, you had done everything you could to try to draw those two closer, and unless your feminine intuition failed you, the way Sai was blushing when Baby 5 blew him a kiss as a goodbye clearly indicated that the possibilities of those two ending together weren't zero.
"Rebecca, I beg you, it's fine already: if I don't go with Doffy we are going to be super late"
"Shhh! Stop talking or this will take longer"
Since Rebecca is now applying a new lipstick on you, you can't do anything but obeying the girl. After another five minute Rebecca looks at you and smiles satisfied, urging you to look at your reflection in the mirror of her gigantic changing room.
"See?! Come on, I dare you to tell me that I haven't done a great job"
"Of course you have, Becca, and thanks, but I'm still late!"
Rebecca laughs while you hurriedly put on your heels and check that you have everything in your mini-purse, especially Doflamingo's present.
"Are you meeting with the girls tonight at the end?", you ask after finally managing to close your purse not without certain effort.
"Yep: Robin, Nami, Boa, and I. The single ladies are going all out tonight. I've tried to convince my aunt to join me but she hasn't wanted to come"
You bite your tongue, remembering the promise you made Viola about not saying anything about her feeling for Kyros. You were pretty sure that in case of telling Rebecca she would gladly want to pair her aunt and her father together, but no, you couldn't break that promise.
"Okay, I'm ready", you give Rebecca a big kiss on her cheek, leaving a carmine lips mark on it, "have fun tonight"
"You too, (y/n). During and after dinner"
You laugh when hearing the innuendo in your friend's words and with a last goodbye you abandon the changing room in the direction of the stairs. You climb them down carefully not to trip down and see that Doflamingo is there already, waiting for you. He is wearing a black suit, a vibrant red shirt that combined with his glasses, and a black cravat. He is also carrying in one of his hands the coat that you were going to wear tonight.
"I'm sorry, we are going to be late for sure because of me"
It seems though that you were the only one that was worried for that fact, since Doflamingo takes his time to ogle you while smirking hungrily, causing you to end as red as his shirt.
"The truth is, (y/n), that right now I'm really considering skipping dinner"
You chuckle, still blushing.
"Sorry, Doffy, but after all the time it has taken me to dress like this we are going to that restaurant"
"Fu fu fu~. I had the feeling that you would say something like that"
After helping you put your coat you two leave the manor, where Lao G is waiting for you in the limousine.
It takes you around twenty minutes to arrive to the Rich district, as you named it, and another five until Lao G stops in front of a restaurant with the words 'Celestial Dragons' hanging over the entrance of the building.
"Oh, we have been here before, right?", you accept Lao G's hand to step outside the car before taking the arm that Doflamingo is offering you.
"Yes, but just for lunch", Doflamingo explains, "and since the last time we visited it they have included a VIP menu that seems to be the best of the town"
'Yep, and probably the most expensive', you think to yourself.
The moment you both enter a female employee approaches Doflamingo and you to take your coats. You had brought a glitter red scarf, just in case the air conditioner was too high and you were cold, but the temperature of the place was perfect, so you decide to leave it as well with the rest of the clothes.
Also, the man that you suspected was the owner of the restaurant personally welcomes Doflamingo and you before leading the way inside the restaurant. There is easily a hundredth of tables where rich-looking people are having dinner, and you can't help to notice the way that most part of them stop their conversation or their eating to stare at Doflamingo, and also at you.
You try to keep walking with calm, pretending that attracting so much attention was an everyday thing even if you were feeling pretty nervous. You really admired the way Doflamingo was able to walk as if he owned the damn whole place without feeling the least sign of discomfort. You guess that after so many years of being one of the most powerful men of the town, and probably of the world, for him it was normal to be treated as if he was superior to the rest of the mortals, but you had been living such a stylish life for just two months so all this was new for you.
For that reason, when you finally reach the VIP zone situated in the top floor of the restaurant and see that you are practically alone, you can't help to exhale a relieved sigh.
"Fu fu fu~. Feeling a little overwhelmed, (y/n)?"
You snort when hearing Doflamingo's teasing tone, taking a seat just in front of him.
"Overwhelmed? Me? Nah: I don't mind at all that a hundred people stares at me as if I was from another planet-oh my god"
Your eyes fly open when staring at the exorbitant prices of the menu.
"What? Is there something wrong with the menu?"
You look at Doflamingo with stupor.
"Doffy, the price of this menu is what I'm currently earning for working in the costume shop"
Doflamingo exhales a patient sigh before leaning his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers together to lean his chin over them.
"(y/n), we have already talked about this"
"Yes, I know, and I understand that one of the advantages of having a bunch money is to spend it, but still I can't help to feel kind of…bad for investing so much in just a dinner"
Doflamingo snickers while pouring a little of wine on his glass, after checking that, as always, you didn't want any.
"You just have to get used to your new lifestyle. Believe me: in less than a year you will be stopping worry about wasting money, as the rest of the Family does"
You can't help to laugh, remembering how crazy day it was when you went shopping with the Family during Christmas, and how they were about to leave some shops of the mall completely empty.
"Okay, I promise that when I'm with you I'll try not to pay too much attention to the prices, so let's see…"
After both of you make your choices a waiter immediately approach your table to take note of them, and not even five minutes have passed until the first dish is served. Although one of your main topic of conversations with Doflamingo was usually work, either about how your Master or your work at the shop were going, this time you mainly talk about how the others were spending Valentine's Day, since when you are about to finish your first dish this you receive a message from Bartolomeo saying that Cavendish had loved his suit even more than the restaurant.
"Oh god, he had sent a picture", you download it and your eyes open wide while laughing when seeing that Bartolomeo seemed to have taken a selfie in the bathroom of the restaurant after making out with Cavendish, because his hair was even more disheveled than usual, there were some clear hickeys on his neck, and his idiotic smile was hard to misinterpret, "weeell, I think that tomorrow I'm going to have all the details of what happened in that bathroom"
"Fu fu fu~. I see that you have not abandoned yet your Casanova role. Corazon also told me that you helped him to prepare his date with Trafalgar"
"He exaggerates as always: he had already the plan and I just gave him a couple of suggestions", you answer Bartolmeo with several 'thumbs up' emojis and activate the 'silence mode' of your mobile not to be distracted again with it.
"Sure, and Baby 5 also exaggerates when saying that thanks to you she can spend all her afternoons training with the grandson of Chinjao, right?"
You exhale a nervous laugh.
"Okay, that was my fault", you take another bite of your dish and look at Doflamingo with curiosity, "by the way, I think Senor Pink doesn't have any plans for Valentine's Day, and considering how much he flirts at the office I thought that he would have a date for sure"
Apparently, Doflamingo's expression doesn't change one bit, but you knew him well enough already to detect a light tension surrendering him for just a tiny moment.
"Wait, is it for something that happened in his past?", you ask with a frown, causing Doflamingo to look at you momentarily surprised.
"Impressive, (y/n). I'll have to be careful if I don't want to be read too easily", Doflamingo's joking tone turns serious, "yes, you have guessed right"
Your intrinsic curiosity makes you want to know more about the topic, but you decide to refrain yourself. First, because Doflamingo's reaction told you that Senor's Pink story wasn't going to be a happy one, and second, because you have noticed that the Family never mentioned what had happened in their lives before they joined Doflamingo, as if the only thing that mattered was what they become after becoming part of the Family, and definitely you weren't going to be the one in inquiring about things that they preferred not to mention.
"Well, he is not the only one that doesn't have a date: Rebecca is having an only-ladies-allowed night out right now"
Doflamingo chuckles and takes a sip of his glass before speaking again.
"However, I think that Trebol and Diamante have gone to have dinner as well"
Your eyes snap opened.
"Really?", Doflamingo nods, causing you to chuckle in surprise, "okay, I wasn't expecting that. With whom?"
"Sorry?"
"I mean, who are their partners?"
Doflamingo looks at you, momentarily confused, and then an amused smirk appears on his face.
"Young lady, I meant that they have gone to have dinner together"
You blink once.
Then twice.
And then your eyes snap opened while your mouth falls opened.
"WHAT?!"
Your shout causes the waiter, who had just approached to serve the main course, to almost throw the dishes to the ground because of the surprise. You hurriedly apologize to the man while Doflamingo laughs at your reaction.
"H-Hey, stop laughing already and speak!", you exclaim, "what do you mean with together? Are you saying that Diamante and Trebol…that Trebol and Diamante…that they are…"
"…together?", Doflamingo completes, still snickering, "yes, young lady. That's what I'm saying. In fact, I thought that you knew about this"
"How the hell I'm going to know something like this?!", you snap, still assimilating the news, "I mean, they are always fighting, they never agree on anything, and I never seen them…do any stuff that couples do"
"Don't worry, neither do most part of the Family. In fact, we discovered about this because Pica accidentally saw them do 'couples stuff' as you call them one day they thought they were alone. Oh, and if you ask Trebol and Diamante about it they will deny it even if they have been together for almost thirty years. However, it's easy to know when they will be acting as a couple, since the excuse they always give when going together to is that they have to do something related to the Company"
You stare at Doflamingo still in disbelief.
"So when they didn't join us in the afternoon shopping to attend a reunion during Christmas…"
Doflamingo chuckles again.
"Exactly. And if you think back, I'm sure you will remember other times with similar excuses"
You exhale a laugh. The funny part was that now that you thought about these two, they actually made a good couple. An extremely weird, bizarre couple, but also a funny one. You smile to yourself. Definitely, the next time they used that excuse you will innocently ask to join them as well. Just to see what face they would make.
After eating the main course, the waiter approaches the table a third time to take note of the dessert, and by when you finish eating it you regret a little not having chosen a looser dress because now it felt way too tight in certain parts.
"So? Verdict of the dinner?"
You smile because Doflamingo's obviously knew your answer to that question.
"It's been delicious", you admit, "although I still think that paying 100$ for a [2] must mean that it has been made by God himself"
You laugh when your words cause Doflamingo to exhale an extremely patient sigh, and extend your arm over the table to playfully caress Doflamingo's arm.
"At least you can be sure that I'm not with you because of your money"
Doflamingo snickers, grabbing your hand with a mischievous smile.
"Really? Then why?"
You snort when hearing Doflamingo's overcasual tone.
"Seems like someone wants to be flattered"
"Oh, come on, (y/n), it's Valentine's Day. We are supposed to say cheesy stuff to each other, fu fu fu~"
You roll your eyes, but after exhaling a sigh you nod.
"Okay, you want cheesy stuff? Then brace yourself"
You feel your cheeks burning a little for what you're going to say but you manage to adopt a firm, confident tone.
"I'm with you because there's nothing you would not do for your Family, and therefore for me; I'm with you because when I'm having a hard day you're are able to improve it with just a: 'Young lady, who do I need to kill?'; I'm with you because you let me have my way, like when I wanted to do that mission, even if you would severely punish anyone who dared to disobey a direct order; I'm with you because since the day you blackmailed me to work for you, my life has turned even more funnier than before. And for that reason", without stopping looking at Doflamingo, whose face hadn't changed since you had begun to talk, you extract a small wrapped package from your purse and place it on the table just in front of him, "the date that appears in this present is from that day, and not from the day in which we officially began to go out"
When seeing that Doflamingo doesn't even move for a second, you realize that the man wasn't expecting at all that you to take his petition seriously. In fact, a part of you was prepared for Doflamingo to laugh at your words or something, but he just grabs the box instead and opens it, revealing a red and small hoop earring.
You bite your bottom lip with nervousness when Doflamingo extracts it from the box and rotates it in order to see the date that has been engraved on the inside of the earring. Damn, what if Viola had been mistaken and this present was way too much? In fact it seemed as if you had given Doflamingo a fucking wedding ring, what if it was too soon to give him a present with the date that you met? That was just four months ago after all!
"I-If you don't like the design it can be changed", you say after clearing your throat, "o-or if you simply want another thing I can try to speak with the jewelry to-"
At that moment Doflamingo surprises you by grabbing the back of your neck suddenly and leaning over the table to initiate a passionate that knocks the air out of your lungs. Okay, definitely Doflamingo had liked the present, and probably also your words.
You moan softly before parting your mouth, welcoming Doflamingo's long, appendix inside your cavity. Doflamingo tilts then his head, adopting a better angle to kiss you senseless, but just when you are about to exhale another moan, a soft gasp that doesn't come from either of you causes you to stop.
"E-Excuse me, sir", the young waiter that had been attending you is standing there, red as a tomato and looking at Doflamingo in clear fear for having interrupted, "I-I just wanted to remind you that coffee is included in the menu s-so would you like to take it here or-"
Without letting the waiter finish speaking, Doflamingo extracts his wallet from the pocket of his trousers and rapidly extracts three 500 dollar bills from it.
"Keep the change", he simply orders, leaving the money on the table and standing up from the seat to help you do the same.
After grabbing your respective coats Doflamingo and you abandon the restaurant. You can physically feel the desire that emanates from Doflamingo's body just for being close to him, and a knot of anticipation settles in your stomach while you approach the limousine with fast steps.
You have barely accommodated in the back seat of the limousine before Doflamingo looms over you to devour you in a mind-blowing kiss that sets your body on fire. Without stopping the kiss you push Doflamingo's back against his seat to be able to straddle his lap, settling your hands over his shoulders to have more leverage to sensually rock against him.
Doflamingo growls in a low tone heatedly, his hands hooking on your hips to grind up against you. You stop kissing him to gasp when feeling his rock, hard member against your most intimate zone, and he makes the most of your weakness to settle his lips on your exposed neck to suck at it mercilessly.
"Lao G, home. Now"
The embarrassment that you feel when realizing that Lao G had been just there all the time is soon erased with the next suck Doflamingo gives to your skin, making you soon forget that you weren't alone on the car.
Lao G diligently fulfills Doflamingo's order and you are at the manor in half of the time that it took you to arrive at the restaurant.
You abandon the car feeling dizzy already, several marks adorning already your neck, so Doflammingo is the one who practically drags you to your shared bedroom. The door has barely closed behind you too when Doflamingo raises you in the air to press your against the door of the room to keep kissing your senseless.
You whine in need when Doflamingo's hands slip under your dress with the clear intention of removing your panties to fuck you just then and there, but just then you remember that you had planned something else for the night.
"W-Wait", you exhale, stopping Doflamingo's action, "there is still another present that I have to give you for Valentine's Day"
"And can't it wait until I finish with you?"
Doflamingo purring those promising words in your ear cause you to almost give in, but you manage to resist the temptation.
"No, it can't"
When hearing your second negative Doflamingo growls in clear annoyance. You chuckle and grab his face in your hands to make him look at you.
"I promise you'll like it, so can you please lower me down while I get ready in the bathroom? I'll come back here in ten minutes at least"
Doflamingo's previous annoyance has been replaced for curiosity, so he eventually settles you on the floor again, although still with certain reluctance.
"If you haven't come out in ten minutes, I will go to drag you back here"
You shiver when hearing his sexy threat and after kissing him one last time you rush towards the bathroom, hoping to be able to get everything ready in so little time.
"Well, hope the wait has been worth it"
You are proud to yourself for being able to say those words with an acceptable seductive voice, because definitely seeing a fully naked Doflamingo half-lying on the bed while posing like a damn model was incredibly distracting, and in fact causes you to end even wetter.
However, you know that the idea of dressing with the outfit (1) that Doflamingo sent you long ago had been really good for the way Doflamingo's breath hitches lightly, and for how his member hardens even more against his sinful abs.
You smirk, feeling incredibly glad that your attire was causing Doflamingo to look about to pounce into you at any moment. In fact, Doflamingo attempts to stand up to go towards you, but you stop him by moving negatively your finger.
"Sorry, Doffy, but I need you not to move too much because…", you show the hand that you have been hiding behind your back while approaching the bed, "…we'll be using this tonight"
Doflamingo's brown eyes open more in surprise when seeing the leather straps that you sustain playfully in your hand, but almost immediately a hungry smirk spreads in his handsome face, his eyes glinting now with lust.
"Well, well, young lady", he purrs with a sex voice that causes the heat in your core get worse, "don't tell me you are planning to dominate me tonight"
You smirk back, in part aroused and in part relieved that Doflamingo was up to play this game, because you had seriously feared that the man could laugh at your attempt of being the one in control.
"Yes, Doffy", you finally climb onto the bed, guiding Doflamingo to lie fully against the bed to straddle his lap once again, "that's exactly what I'll do"
You realize that while you were in the bathroom Doflamingo has changed one of his earrings for the one you have given him. You smile happily and touch the jewel briefly before leaning down to kiss Doflamingo hardly. You rock down against him and the action causes Doflamingo to groan again in excitation.
"No underwear, huh?", he says with satisfaction, raising his flexed arms over his head and towards the headboard to allow you to tie his wrists against it with both straps. Fuck, seeing the powerful Doflamingo, the man that so many people feared, allowing you to tie him up so docilely was a bigger turn on that you had expected.
"Just for today", you admit, stepping momentarily of your seductive attitude before adopting it again for your next sentence, "and now…", you softly lick Doflamingo's ear, causing the man to grunt softly under his breath, "…let me take control"
You finish your sentence kissing Doflamingo's again, slipping his tongue in his mouth to play with his long one. You only stop when feeling that the air is lacking and then proceed with your ministrations even lower.
Your hands shamelessly roam over Doflamingo's pectorals and abs, the bright red lipsticks that you are now wearing leaving its signature with every open mouthed kiss that you deposit against Doflamingo's muscled body. You occasionally look up, feeling nervous and excited every time that your (e/c) eyes meet Doflamingo's brown ones, which were shining with unmistakable lust.
Finally, your mouth reaches Doflamingo's perfect V shape. You trace it with your tongue, purposely ignoring his thick member in the middle at first, but just when Doflamingo was about to protest you surprise him by darting your tongue from base to tip, causing Doflamingo to let out the louder grunt that you had ever heard him exhale.
"(y/n)…"
Doflamingo's voice sounded aroused but also carried a hint of threat, as if warning you not to keep teasing him much longer. A part of you is tempted to disobey and keeping with a slow pace, but the truth was that that you couldn't wait to have Doflamingo inside you, so you continue licking Doflamingo's member, making sure to coat it well with your saliva.
After almost a minute you let it go with a pop and proceed to straddle Doflamingo's waist again. You grab his member to have better leverage and raise your knees to position it against your entrance. A frown appears in Doflamingo's face and you immediately read what he is thinking.
"I've prepared myself in the bathroom", you answer his unasked question with a playful smile, and then without wasting any other second you begin to lower down over Doflamingo's girth.
Despite the preparation, you hiss in a little of pain when Doflamingo's member slowly pierces you until it's all the way to the hilt, your (s/l) nails scratching lightly Doflamingo's tensed abs in the process. You remain with your eyes closed for a moment, getting used to the sensation, and when you open them again you feel a wave of arousal when seeing the way Doflamingo's is looking at you, with half-lidded eyes that showed undeniable hunger and desire.
You smirk widely, enjoying the sensation of power of having Doflamingo's under you and at your mercy.
With deliberated slowness you initiate an unhurried movement, flexing slightly your legs up and down. This new position allowed Doflamingo's shaft to reach even deeper inside you than the other times you had sex, and soon you find yourself moaning even if your rhythm was far from being fast.
"Fuck"
Your heart skips a beat that single word escapes from Doflamingo's lips. It's the first time that you have heard him sound so desperate, as if he was just slowly coming undone, and damn if you weren't going to make the most of this opportunity.
Locking your (e/c) eyes with Doflamingo's you slowly open your shirt while keeping with the calm rides. Doflamingo's member grows deliciously harder inside you when your shirt opens revealing your breasts, since you had made sure not to wear a bra this time.
You feel your heart beating hard in your chest, embarrassment invading you for a moment for what you were about to do now, but seeing Doflamingo in alert and holding his breath is all the encouragement you need to begin to grope your own breasts delicately with your hands. Doflamingo's tongue and fingers felt better but you actually moan when using your fingers to caress your nipples, sensing them harden when you pinch them.
You see Doflamingo lick his lips, clearly waiting to use his long tongue on your chest. You feel his hips spasm once in a while with the effort of keeping his promise of not moving at all, but by then you have had enough of that steady pace and decide to go for it, increasing the speed of your movements to the point that the bed begins to creak.
This time Doflamingo actually fights against the straps that restrained him on the bed, his biceps flexing and his broad, taut chest raising and falling in stuttered low pants. He hisses your name in a raspy sexy tone that makes your core itself to twitch, and then you are unable to resist any longer.
You reach down with your dominant hand and sneak it inside your mini-skirt to begin masturbating, keeping your other hand hooked around your breast. Your rhythm begins to fail when your fingers brush against your clit but you make sure to keep a straightened position, not stopping looking at Doflamingo even one second even if your eyes threaten to close at any moment because of the mix of stimulations.
However, you make the mistake of accompanying your rides with moans of Doflamingo's name without noticing. That seems to be the point of no return for him because at that moment Doflamingo growls your name, turns his hands into fists and with a single powerful movement he tears the straps that were supposedly restraining him on the bed.
You have just time to stare at his liberated arms in disbelief for a brief second before Doflamingo rolls you over without getting out from you, his bulky body hovering over you predatorily.
"My turn to dominate you, young lady"
You shiver when Doflamingo's snarls that sentence but your attempt of protest turns into a moan when Doflamingo locks your lips in a hard kiss, pins your arms over your head with just one hand, and begins to pound inside you with fierce passion.
In a matter of seconds you have your eyes shut closed and are crying Doflamingo's name in unabashed ecstasy, opening your legs lewdly to better welcome Doflamingo's thick girth inside you. The frenetic rhythms makes your uncovered breasts bounce, so Doflamingo leaves your ravaged mouth to capture one of them in his mouth to lick it, suck it, and nip at it, causing you to arch against his mouth. Oh god, his mouth was so much better at this than your fingers.
"D-Doffy…aah…", your hands clutch at the mattress on either side of your head when Doflamingo liberates them to begin to rub your clit while keeping mouthing your breasts with hunger, causing tears of pleasure appear on the corner of your closed eyes, "oh god yes…yes…Doffy, YES!"
Groaning in a way that makes your whole body shiver Doflamingo leaves your chest to devour your mouth once again, his now erratic and harder thrusts announcing his imminent orgasm. You enclose an arm around Doflamingo's back and hold onto him, grabbing his firm ass with your other hand to press him more against you, encouraging him to keep fucking you in lost abandon.
Your mouth are still connected in a dirty, French-kiss when Doflamingo throws you towards your climax together with him, your entrance quivering when feeling his hot release exploding inside you.
You are still fighting to recover your breath when Doflamingo gets out from you to lie next to your side.
"One question…", you begin with a breathless voice, "…you were… just pretending… not being able to move, right?"
Doflamingo snickers and gets closer to you, setting his arm over your waist.
"Certainly I could have freed myself since the beginning if I had tried, but I preferred to see what you had in mind while thinking that I was totally defenseless, fu fu fu~."
You snort because not for even one second you had thought that the man was defenseless. It was Doflamingo after all.
"Well, at least I have finally fulfilled your first petition of dressing like this for you", you signal what it remained from your outfit, causing Doflamingo to chuckle.
"Yes, and as I thought, the outfit looked really well on you"
You smile while blushing when seeing that Doflamingo meant what he said and kiss the man briefly.
"The earring looks good on you too", you touch the new jewel that Doflamingo is wearing on his ear, "I will thank Viola tomorrow first time in the morning"
"Oh, now that you have mentioned the present...", Doflamingo incorporates a little and retrieves something from the night-stand drawer, "this is for you"
You take with a confused frown the envelope that Doflamingo is offering you.
"Please, (y/n), don't tell me that you thought that a simple dinner was my only present"
You think to yourself that a 1500$ dinner wasn't 'simple' in the least. Trying not to break the envelope too much you open it, and your eyes open wide when seeing the content.
"These are your plane tickets to spend a whole week in Dressrosa", Doflamingo explains with a grin, "I was wondering what to give you as a present, but when you mentioned the other day that you were missing some holidays at the beach it was decided"
You stare at the tickets and Doflamingo alternatively before exhaling a nervous laugh. Damn, your present was a little shitty compared to this, but you decide not to say that because you had the feeling that Doflamingo would get angry in case of you said so.
"Oh, damn", you look at the tickets again and then you get pale, "according to the dates we are leaving this same Monday"
"Yes"
"Oh, shit, then I can't go", you say with frustration, "the second semester is about to start and I can't miss these first classes no matter what"
"Don't worry, (y/n), you semester won't begin until you come back"
You blink a couple of times before your eyes widen.
"Wait a moment, don't tell me that you…"
"…have gone to speak to the rector of the University and he has been kind enough to attend to reasons and delay the semester starting date. You can check the updated calendar of the master if you don't believe me"
After recovering you still shake your head.
"But wouldn't it be better to wait until summer to go the beach? After all it's just February…"
"Dressrosa has a tropical weather all the year, so it would be as if we were in June when we are there"
"But what about my job at the shop?", you insist, with less and less conviction.
"Well, considering that Corazon and Trafalgar are also coming I don't see any problem here"
"Oh, so the whole Family is coming?!", you exclaim with such enthusiasm that Doflamingo begins to laugh.
"And here I was all afraid that you preferred a romantic trip just for the two of us"
"Nah, the more the better, and I'm sure the Family won't mind if we suddenly decide to spend some time just the two of use"
"Fu fu fu, you're right, (y/n). And besides", Doflamingo surprises you by suddenly crawling over you, accommodating between your legs once again, "there will be plenty of opportunities of getting lost on a solitary beach to enjoy some private time"
Doflamingo slowly darts his tongue down your neck, causing you to whine when he begins to lick one of the multiple marks he had left there.
You are about to let Doflamingo kiss you senseless but at the last moment you stop him by speaking.
"One question: can I ask you to invite someone else to these holidays?"
Doflamingo raises a curious eyebrow.
"It depends. Who do you have in mind?"
Doflamingo's eyes open funnily wide for a moment when hearing your answer, before falling half-closed again in suspicion.
"(y/n), what are you planning to do by inviting him?"
You look at him innocently.
"Nothing. I just thought that he could enjoy spending some time with his family as well"
Doflamingo stares at you for some long seconds before exhaling a resigned sigh.
"Alright, young lady, I'll make sure to arrange it, but you will be in charge of dealing with her when she finds out"
You smile happily at Doflamingo before forcing his head down to resume his previous passionate kiss.
Definitely, holidays at Dressrosa promised to be really interesting.
(1) A/N: Insert the meal you want here :P Once I mentioned 'ham croquettes' and a reader told me that he/she was a pescatarian and just ate fish meat xDD
(2) A/N: This is the outfit Doffy sent to (y/n) in chapter 4
I don't know if anyone was expecting the new future pairs and I hope you have liked them xDD
Spoiler of the next chapter: holidays at Dressrosa beach ;)