"Never open the door to a lesser evil,

for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it."

- Old warning between nobles.

The day was dark and grey. The fog rose from the big black river and filled the street of Inverness with an unsettling ambience and a cold and intense wind which curled between the chimneys and muddy paths leaving everything frozen. It wasn't raining, not anymore, but the day was far from being warm and cozy, it didn't invite people to go out and met relatives. It invited less to do business or go to work.

To Doflamingo however, it was a day as perfect as any other day.

Doflamingo, lord and owner of the city, walked through his small castle with a mix of satisfaction and anger inside him. At least, after two damn weeks of asking, the elders had decided to hold a meeting with him. As if he wasn't the damn duke and lord of the place, as if he wasn't over them in position and power.

It was so ashaming.

Doflamingo still didn't understand why he had to meet and talk with this men as if he was a child needing his parents. He understood even less why he had to share his power. He hadn't heard of any other king or noble man needing to do this.

Inverness had never been a normal city, so high up north, it was the last human city of the world before the unknown territories began. The dangerous and innavigable waters of the black ocean at the south and east, the paramo of Ireland on the west, and the swamps at north. They were surrounded by dangers. The human world was already small enough for the kingdom of Scotland, Wales and England to share it. The kingdom of Ireland had once existed too, but it had disappeared so long ago, the legends and stories of it were so old only the priest remembered them.

Doflamingo should be happy of being duke of one of the biggest cities, of one of the strongest kingdoms, but Inverness was still too wild for him. Some people said it was because of the cursed swamp he had sent Law into. That place held secrets, creatures, legends so old that no one dared to enter it. It was considered dangerous. Sacred. Deadly. It had always been one of the mysteries of the world, expeditions had been sent, as ships into the south and east seas, as knights into the old Ireland, but no one ever returned.

However, you could ignore the sea, you could ignore a land you couldn't see, but the swamp… Doflamingo could still see the blackness from his chambers, he could feel the toxicity in his skin, the shadows that crawled next to it at night.

Therefore, the people on this land had turned superstitious, believing in those old legends and traditions no other kingdom believed. Women left plates full of milk at night to please the faeries, people never consoled a weeping woman let it be a banshee, never approached a lone horse let it be a demon, if a black cat crossed paths with you, you needed to take seven steps back and pray. All men carried a horseshoe or a four leaves clover on them for protection, even the more studious ones. No one crossed the northern hill on a full moon. You couldn't start a business on a thirteenth day. You had to sacrifice the first grains of your harvest to the god of…

So many stupid rules. In Doflamingo's case he had to share his power with the elders, a group of people that in old times had controlled the kingdom alone, before the kings, even before the civilization, some say even before the blackness at the beginning of their history.

It was so stupid. Times changed, but instead of being abolished, as any other old and unfashioned tradition, in Scotland, it was still vigent.

Doflamingo entered the meeting room of the palace, Vergo stopping just outside and closing the doors. The room was huge, full of carpets over stone floors, paintings over tall walls and candles. So many candles. It was always so dark in the castle. Yet this was one of the most luxurious rooms, created to impress any visitor and show them their power and wealth.

A huge desk made of luxurious cherry tree wood had been settled between it all, right under the painting of the ceiling describing "The Beginning". Five chairs and a golden throne had been placed around it. There was food on the table, tea, whiskey and rum from the kingdom of England, scones, sandwiches and some desserts had been also placed along it.

Doflamingo ignored it all and, taking his place on the throne made of pure gold, he observed the people around him, the elders, although they weren't elders anymore.

Blackbeard, one of the richest men of the country thanks to his commerce's contacts sat next to him. He was fat, ugly and utterly disgusting. Crocodile, a dark man from a dark place sat on his other side. He, on the other hand, was handsome, strong, and he played with economy and money as if he had been born just for it. There was also Akainu, the general of Inverness' army, Aokiji, the law of the city, and lastly and in front of him, the newest and Doflamingo's most detested member: Shanks.

Doflamingo observed them all. These five men controlled the city, the most important one of the country. The King at Stirling would of course disagree, but what did he know? The boy wasn't even Scottish, his detractors when crowned had been many. The power was now on them, the nobles, the rich people, the powerful ones. The elders. If Doflamingo played well his cards he would one day be king, the thing he had aspired to from the beginning.

That's why this meeting was so important. What he was about to ask these men could be considered treason for many, but he had no other choice. There was only one person who could stop him from being king, for accomplishing his dreams: Trafalgar Law.

"I have called you here to talk about an important issue" he said as the men looked at him bored.

He had already bribed Crocodile, and Blackbeard, they would be on his side, but he needed a majority of votes for his ask to be approved. It was the stupid tradition. He needed to convince Aokiji or Akainu. Shanks was, as always, out of question, his morals and principles had always been the opposite of Doflamingo's. It was a thing he had never understood, how had this man reached this position without blooding his hands?

He returned to the present.

"It's in regards of Trafalgar Law" he finally said, setting the topic with a blank bored expression, the one fitted to a king.

Shanks in front of him grunted disgusted. He had opposed from the start in sending the boy to the deadly swamp to do the impossible. He had even threatened Doflamingo for the boy's sake. Plain stupid, if they asked him. Doflamingo was a Duke, Shanks could be powerful, but he was still in an inferior league. Doflamingo had settled a small attack on his pregnant wife then, but the man, instead of stopping protesting on Law's favour and be intimidated, had started an investigation and a campaign against him Doflamingo was having difficulty to cover.

He was just a pain in the ass. They just couldn't stand one another.

"What now? Law had stopped the rain as you wanted!" Shanks complained.

"That is exactly the problem" Doflamingo continued, a ringed hand filling his golden cup with strong amber whiskey "He had stopped the rain. What do you think will happen when he comes back?" he asked drinking from the cup and not looking at the redhead, as if he was the most worthless thing on earth.

"He would be a hero, the people would adore him" Crocodile provided, adding fuel to the duke's accusations, while looking bored and regal as he spread butter on a little scone.

The man had always wanted the throne like Doflamingo. He had managed to gain his help today but he should watch him closer.

"Law had always been a pariah, he had always detested the monarchy and us all, if he decides to raise arms against us when he returns, people could follow him" Blackbeard said with a faked hateful and scared tone.

"We could lose our power, our influence and maybe our lives" Crocodile continued, still spreading butter, his tone calm, even, controlled.

"We have to kill him!" Blackbeard shouted standing up.

Doflamingo drank from his goblet of whiskey hiding a smile. He looked at his prey. Akainu had a frown on his face, he was considering the words. Aokiji just considered his tea as if he wasn't paying attention to the conversation.

"Is this for real?" Shanks asked with a non-profit, believing face, making Doflamingo grimace again "Are you going to kill a hero? The first person who had survived the swamps in the history of the world?"

"He could be dangerous" Doflamingo commented.

"He is a hero!" Shanks shouted, "This is treason!"

"…It's true that he would held a lot of power when he comes back" Akainu commented "And he comes from such a low and dirty place, a pariah nonetheless" he said with disgust "We can't give such an animal so much power, he would end up behaving like a rabid dog, biting friend and foes and spreading his filth"

This time Doflamingo couldn't hide his smile. Akainu was so predictable, he hated the lower classes so much. For him, having a pariah, the lowest class of them all, waving a power bigger than his in his face would be unthinkable. It had been a good idea to use that trick. Doflamingo looked at Blackbeard who was also smiling.

Maybe he should watch him too. He wasn't as stupid as he looked.

"This is treason!" Shanks repeated with disbelieving eyes.

"It's for the best" Doflamingo corrected again with his calm controlled attitude "Such a man could even put his majesty at risk. We all know it's better to kill any threats"

Crocodile, Akainu and Blackbeard nodded. Shanks paled. Aokiji kept observing his tea.

"Votes in favour?" the blond and regal man asked casually, the whiskey leaving a cold and pleasant taste on his mouth.

Three hands raised deciding the fate of a man as if he was nothing. He wondered at the irony of what he was doing. But he had won. Law would finally die. The threat would be eradicated and Doflamingo would be king.

"Votes against?" he continued with the tradition, also mocking his enemy's lack of power.

Lone and pathetic, Shanks raised his hand. Fury and hate shining in his brown eyes. Doflamingo wanted to smirk in this small victory. One day he would crush this man under his heel, one day he would make him kneel before him, but for now, he would be content with these little games.

Aokiji stood and walked to the door ignoring it all.

"Sentence approved, Trafalgar Law will be killed before he can reach the capital" then he raised his cup and proclaimed, "Long live Scotland"

A chorus answered him.

The sentence was soon signed by him, as the Duke and proposer, and his three votes, the thanks and congratulations were exchanged, and more fake smiles and fake phrases were exchanged. Crocodile and Blackbeard shook his hand with a superior and amused glint in his eyes. Buying them had costed a fortune to the kingdom. Akainu only ignored them and left with his golden and useless armour clinking behind him.

"I won't let you do this to him" Shanks whispered at the end when they were finally alone in the room, the redhead looking at him as if he was a venomous snake.

Doflamingo only smiled as if the other had just praised him. As a king would address a rebellious man.

"How are your wife and your little boy doing?" he just commented casually.

Shanks tensed and another kind of hate filled his eyes. His fist clenched, his eyes shone dangerously, and he looked about to strike. Shanks was dangerous, very dangerous, but Doflamingo had mastered his arts through the years. Shanks was just a lamb learning to walk in a field full of wolves, he would submit to the bigger of them, or die as the others before him.

"You would do nothing, Shanks" he warned with that bored tone, as is Shanks' mere presence tired him.

The redhead slammed a fist on the table making the cups fall to the floor and the whole room tremble. Dangerous, indeed. The man kept staring at him as if he could already see his death.

"One day you will fall from your pedestal, my lord" he said with a newfound calmness in his voice "And that day, I will be there to help you die"

The words sounded strangely prophetical, and as the redhead left the room with long and powerful strides, Doflamingo found himself crushing his cup between his fingers until the precious gems encrusted on it broke.

…oOo…

Groans and moans filled the room as the two bodies collided again and again. Their shared room was big, the two beds, the huge bathtub, the soft carpets on the floor, the black glass of the walls… it also felt private and cosy after so many days living under transparent glass and ice.

It felt as theirs, it felt secret, as what they were doing.

Law lowered his hips again, following a quick rhythm, up and down, deeper, harder, numbing. Kidd grunted under him, his muscles trembling under Law's hands as if Law could destroy him.

They were both so close.

Both were naked in the bathtub, the room had filled with steam and their shared breaths as the minutes kept ticking. Law remembered they had been training at first, in the room covered just with furs, and the ceiling so close to the sea surface. But Kidd had been so silent today, so deep in thought, serious and cold that Law couldn't stand it. He had kissed him, trying to wipe away that expression from the other's face, trying to make him put on another one, a very different one.

They had again ended up in their room.

As the previous day. As the day before that. As they have been doing for a week.

Law didn't understand the situation they were in anymore. He didn't understand himself. There was a part of him that wanted the other leave, out of his life. It was a part that was too afraid of what was happening, of what he was feeling and doing with the god. It was the part that had helped him survive so far, clinical, cold, strong.

But the other part of him, the part that wasn't so strong, the one that had cried when his friends had died, remembered that first time, Kidd's pained expression, his own pain, he remembered the delicate caresses, Kidd's words… and that soft little part wanted to answer back, to make Kidd smile, to understand him and be with him all the time he could.

Both parts were him and he was both parts. They were tearing him apart.

Kidd caressed his back. Soft butterfly fingers along his column, guiding him into going slowly, into tasting the moment, the other deep inside him, as Law rode him again in the hot water. Listening to his smart lover, Law's hips slowed, his whole-body trembling under the pleasure and the control he had to maintain to keep the new maddening rhythm. Law closed his eyes as he went up again, as he felt the other leaving his body, inch by inch, making him feel so open, empty and needy.

He moaned into the silent room and gripped the sides of the tub until his knuckles turned white.

"Yeah baby, just like that" Kidd whispered against his lips, his hands now on his ass guiding him down, too slowly, making him focus on their connected bodies, on every little friction they shared, until Law felt so full and yet so desperate for more, he wanted to cry.

Kidd kissed his lips softly as a praise. He caressed one of his nipples with cold fingers as a reward. He gripped his ass with the other hand making him keep the position and wait as if he also needed to taste the moment.

What was happening? This was so far from the sex he had known all his life. He didn't know how to call it. Law wanted to grab at the other, kiss him, obey every one of his little orders, let him do to him what he wanted and never let go. Fear gripped him. He couldn't be feeling this. It was dangerous. He would get hurt again.

Kidd finally kissed him lovingly, slowly, when the new pace he was setting, taking Law into his mouth, and caressing his whole body with his hands before setting them back again on his naked ass. Gripping him hard he made Law raise his hips again, slow, maddening, the friction so small and little Law wanted to scream at him. He needed more, he needed to feel Kidd fucking him again, he wanted to hear him...

Suddenly Kidd pressed and slammed him down onto his cock. Law whimpered against the redhead's mouth, his strength left him and he collapsed over the other.

Kidd hold him easily in place. Law felt as if about to break.

Kidd repeated the movement, getting out of him slowly, so slow it was almost a tease, anticipation cursing through his veins, silence filling the room, and then, suddenly, without warning a quick lowering move, filling him till the base. Water splashed around him, Law whimpered again feeling his nerves on edge with the mix of painful need and the sudden overload of pleasure. Law could just arch on the other's arms as Kidd repeated the movement a few times.

Kidd raised him slowly, Law cried. Kidd kissed his neck. In that point they had discovered made Law weak. He caressed his taut nipples again, just below the curve of one of his tattoos, making him remember the day the redhead had spent kissing all of them, slowly and tenderly, with a wild look in his eyes, as if he knew where they came from and what they hid.

He had never felt so exposed.

Law shivered as the other kept him suspended over his cock once again. Teasing him as he loved to do. Holding him on the verge of an orgasm, loving him so sweetly, so beautifully, Law felt himself breaking. Why did the other always focused on Law's pleasure instead of his own? Why was he like this? Didn't Kidd understand they couldn't be together? That this was all impossible?

Why? Why he kissed him like he was the most marvellous thing in the world? Why he cared so much for him?

Kidd slammed him down on his cock again.

Law shouted reaching his end. Kidd grunting under him suddenly hugging him and hiding his face in his neck. The pressure, the emotions, the situation destroyed Law's mind. He climaxed and broke apart. He couldn't do this. Not anymore. It was breaking him. It was breaking Kidd. They were both going to break.

But when after a moment of spasming, of slowly rutting together, Kidd raised him to his level, and curled around him caressing every part of his anatomy, Law could only return the caress.

He stroked his fingers over the red hair of the other as they both tried to control their breathing, he kissed him back slowly, patiently, as if they had all the time in the world. As if they could do this forever. As a reflexive movement.

When Kidd smiled at him one last time before sinking again in the warm water next to him, with that happy and satisfied smile Law had only seen a few times, he had to blink rapidly to contain the tears.

Deep down he knew it was too late. He was going to get hurt. He already felt so much for this man. As he had never felt for anyone. In a self-destroying kind of way that again pleased and scared him. But what hurt him the most was knowing that Kidd was going to suffer too. Because of him. Because of his lack of control, because of his selfishness.

They were both going to break.

…oOo…

Kidd was again in the library full of books and useless-Zoro-things, pretending to read. Law was next to him, curled against his side, reading one of the thick books that his friend had given him. Not a sound could be heard in the place beside the fire. It had been like that for a while, for a week to be exact, since that day when they had…

Kidd closed his eyes feeling the stupid pain again.

They didn't talk about it, they didn't comment it, they just trained, eat or fuck, sometimes in a different order but always the same. No more, no less.

Kidd didn't know if he should be happy.

He had Law, the other had ended up in his bed, not fucking as he had wanted at the beginning, but making sweet deep love that had made Kidd feel as the most powerful man on earth the first few times. Kidd had never had such wonderful sex in all his years of existence, he had delighted in exploring the other's body, in learning what made him mad, what made him beg, or cry in pleasure. He had marked him, he had ridden the other, let the other ride him, they had tried all positions they could imagine, all places, they had…

Yet something was missing, something felt wrong.

The silence. The tense atmosphere.

On the outside they may look like a perfect couple, together, fucking, sharing, but Kidd knew the truth. Law didn't answer to his questions about a future, they didn't talk about the door, about the rain, about Law's feelings, about what had happened. Kidd had the feeling that just a little whisper from the outside world would shatter them both.

So the silence remained.

Kidd could feel Law struggle, he wasn't an idiot. One moment the man was kissing him as if he couldn't live without Kidd's mouth, and the next he was pushing him away. Law wanted this, he could see it in his look, in the little wonder the other sometimes had, in the kisses he sometimes returned, but again, the things that separated them were bigger than the ones that united them.

Even if, for Kidd, this was the only thing in his life that had made him feel alive, with a purpose, real. What would he do without Law? When he returned to the dark grey days of existence?

He needed to try a new thing, find a new solution, prolong Law's stay a bit more. He couldn't lose him now. The thought just terrified Kidd. He had never desire something so much in his life, if Law was taken away from him, he would...

He shuddered. He needed to try one last thing.

"Law, you know that this place is Zoro's palace, don't you?" he started.

His lover raised his head and with tired eyes and nodded. His hair was a beautiful mess and he still had Kidd's dark hickeys on his neck. The collarbone of his shirt looked a bit stretched from the last session just moments ago, when Kidd had managed to make him climax just by massaging his sensitive nipples and biting and sucking at his neck and at that perfect weak spot.

Law had been mad afterwards. Flustered too. Kidd wanted to kiss him again.

"I have a palace too" He commented "It's not far from here, in the sky, over the clouds level, the beds are made of clouds and warm breezes from the south, I have a pool full of rain water, and at night you can see the constellations…"

Law just looked at him as if waiting for him to end, curiosity and wonder in his deep grey eyes. He was so beautiful, so perfect, how couldn't he see this at the beginning? How perfect the other was? How well he fit in his arms? How kissable his lips looked?

"Kidd?"

"Wanna come see it? We could stay for a few days?" he finally whispered against the other's lips. As a secret. As something wicked.

Law froze, tension, and fear suddenly emanating from him. Kidd closed his eyes, paralyzed too. He expected something hurtful, some hard words, something that would shatter the strange thing they had managed to create between them, this truce, this little wonderful moment of time.

It was his fault. He had spoken of a taboo. He had asked about a future.

However, Law said nothing. Slowly, he closed the book with elegant fingers. Slowly he got up with elegant movements, deposited the book on the elegant desk, and walked to the exit, with those tempting long legs of his. In the deep horrible silence.

He did nothing, he said nothing. He just walked away as if this conversation was painful for him too.

Kidd didn't need anything else. It was all the answer he had needed. They weren't talking about it because there was no future for them. Law was a mortal. Kidd was a god. It was impossible. It was better to separate now, to take this little moments and then let him cross the door to never see him again. It was better to break this when they still could, when it won't hurt so much.

There wasn't a future.

Something inside Kidd seemed to break. He contained a scream as the biggest pain he had ever felt, threatened to overtake him.

I want you all to know that there is just England in the world, I don't know if I would explain the why, cos it's not relevant for the fic, old history and all that, maybe would do it at the end as side nothes, but right now it might change your view and I wanna keep this part simple.

About Shanks and the elders, well, he is powerfull, a noble, but he can't compeate against Doffy who is master badass, duke of Inverness, and evil incarnate. Still Shanks would try to help the babies, he is the only "good" guy in the elders if you can say that, I wanna make him neutral, but the others are just so corrupt, greedy and all that evil things that he would probably look like a hero.

About what will happen, well, we are getting closer to the plot-twist, so have fun and remember leaving reviews people. Don't be mean like Doffy.