Disclaimer: *blinks*
Author's note: This chapter will have a "jump" scene, that is, it's Law and Doflamingo's meeting(as portrayed in the manga)! Yay! Okay, that's all. This might mean that it'll be the final chapter, but I'm not really sure myself. I'm thinking of a nice closing for this fanfic(I'm thinking?! *gasps*), because I'll start with Flos Ferri(my new Heart Pirates/tiny OC-centric fic *shameless advertisement again*). Okay, that's really it. I'll stop yapping now.
Author's note 2: One Piece Chapter 749. I knew it. Oda-sensei totally killed my head canon Corazon. You're so damn unpredictable, Oda-sensei. That's what I love about you. *salutes*
Guest pharoah999: Yes, I'm continuing this, and... *points at my Author's note without looking at it* Ah, yes, I can't wait for the real story about Law and Kora/Cora-san's relationship, too. *pulls hair, frustrated* Oh, my own take at a romance fic featuring Law...? Hmm, I'll try, but I won't make it a Law x OC one. Just doesn't feel right for me, and I might feature myself as the OC. I don't want that to happen, because I'll be risking not just my heart, but also my sanity as well. *grins sheepishly* I know I've already said that Law's as asexual in my own view/s(he'll be like that in Flos Ferri *another shameless advertisement for my future fanfic! -slaps self-*, but I'll try making a romance fic of him just for you! *smiles brightly*
And so, here we are at the end... of all things. *bows solemnly*
Many have perished in Doflamingo's hands. It gave him the satisfaction to know that those who opposed him suffered and begged to just be killed to end the torment they were going through. It granted him the feeling that he was utterly above others, that anyone who dared oppose him will get nothing but an agonizing death in the end. The feeling of rendering his enemies hopeless satisfies him so much.
With a swipe of one hand, Doflamingo used his devil fruit power to cut his enemy to pieces. But his opponent was alert, lifting the long sword up to block it. The blond Warlord watched as his enemy lifted a hand up, said appendage emitting a low hum of energy. Doflamingo's grin never faltered, however.
"Mes!"
The tip of his enemy's fingers bit the skin on his cheek but he dodged just in time, taking that little wound as a reminder to lessen the thought of playing with this arrogant brat. His pink coat swished about as he moved and gave the enemy a kick, his foot making contact with the man's jaw. Doflamingo quickly faced his enemy and extended his index finger at the man's direction, grinning all the while as he did so.
"Bullet String!"
His grin widened as his attack hit home, drawing blood as his enemy crashed in a heap on the concrete. Doflamingo's grin turned into a sinister smile as he slowly walked towards his downed opponent who was now trying to get up.
"So, what are you gonna do?"asked Doflamingo, dark amusement painted on his face. He watched as his opponent panted and gazed up at him hatefully. The cut on the blond Warlord's cheek throbbed with pain, but he paid no heed. He just stared down at his adversary.
The man he once called 'brother'.
To hell with it all.
"Law. Dressrosa is over there."
Said man looked at him with contempt, carefully cradling his injured shoulder. Like a predator, Doflamingo kept crossing the distance between them. The ringing of his den den mushi interrupted him from speaking to Law. The call revealed that it was Diamante, the owner of the Diamond Seat informing the blond Warlord of Violet's betrayal. If truth be told Doflamingo wasn't surprised. He figured out that the appearance of "Black Leg" Sanji would lead to something that will surely encourage the woman to become the traitorous bitch she was now. The Warlord ordered Diamante to deploy Lao G's, another of his underlings, team to protect the SMILE Factory. With a bit of "convincing" words, Diamante agreed on following his superior's orders and entering the final round of the tournament on his own. The Warlord knew just what words to say when it comes to Diamante; with a bit of persuasively flattering words, the owner of the Diamond Seat would willingly do whatever the blond asks him of.
Doflamingo grinned malevolently upon seeing the look of anger and disbelief on Law's face. Honestly, did this boy not expect for his allies to face trouble before proceeding and finally fulfilling their plan of destroying the Factory?
Doflamingo stopped on his tracks and gazed at his downed enemy when Diamante ended the call. He fought the urge to just rip Law's head off, the need to educate his "brother" on why no one should stand up against him surging all throughout his very being.
"Law... So basically, you're a decoy and actually the Straw Hat crew is going to destroy the Factory in the meantime. Even if you die, Kaidou will corner me. Is that your scenario?"Doflamingo stated, his grin transforming into an evil smile. "Even if you say you're 'using' them, however, you couldn't gain as much time as you wanted and the others are still confused. For this strategy to become successful, you must have complete faith in them. Why do you trust them so much?"
The smile on Doflamingo's lips almost faltered when Law looked up at him, smiling audaciously with a glint of certainty in his storm cloud-like eyes. It was the kind of a look in someone's eyes that shows a sense of mounting faith and belief, something that Doflamingo sees in his very own allies. For someone like Law who had been robbed of the most important person in his life to cast another that look...
" 'D will definitely create another commotion...!' "Law said confidently. The way he spoke was full of conviction; he looked so damn sure that his words spoke of nothing but the truth.
If it weren't for the smile on his lips, one would dare think that those words fazed Doflamingo. He could not help but think why Law trusted and put his faith on people bearing the D in their names(with the exception of one Marshall D. Teach, Doflamingo was more than inclined to believe; it was as if Blackbeard was out there doing noble stuff, anyway.). Was it because that person bore it, too? Was it because somehow, in some twisted form of fate, Law saw that person in Straw Hat Luffy? Now that he was thinking about it, Doflamingo could not help but compare the previous owner of the Heart Seat to the teenage King of the Pirates wannabe. Both can be very impulsive and hellbent when set on accomplishing a thing(a daring Korazon who wanted to kill Doflamingo thirteen years ago and a bold Straw Hat Luffy who wanted to save Portgas D. Ace two years ago). Both were somewhat childish but can be capable of taking things seriously when the situation calls for it. And their most striking resemblance was that both were more than willing to protect the persons most important to them. Maybe those resemblances were the reason why Law chose Straw Hat to be his ally in the first place.
Doflamingo knew that Law could have chosen someone stronger and smarter. But the fact still stood that it was the Straw Hat Pirates the youngest Warlord chose. When said group vanished two years ago, Doflamingo almost thought that it was the end of yet another pirate crew who dared to brave the perilous seas of the Grand Line. But they reappeared, stronger than they were before. The recent incident on Fishman Island and Punk Hazard roused the blond Warlord's interest once more on personally meeting the straw hatted boy who openly challenged the entirety of the World Government two years ago. However, it still did not change the fact that the Straw Hats were merely normal pirates to him compared to Law, who was entirely different from them.
How could someone Doflamingo treated as his younger brother stood up against him? How could Law throw everything away just to exact vengeance for someone he shared limited amounts of time with? Did Korazon give Law something that he, Doflamingo, could not offer? Because if that was the cause, he would call bullshit on it. Doflamingo raised Law. He was the one who made sure that Law would stay alive and safe as the latter grew up. During his late teens, the blond did not usually take to raising snotty brats but Trafalgar Law was different. As the kid grew up, Doflamingo saw a great potential in him. Law was too smart and ambitious at such a young age. Raising the kid was a gamble Doflamingo took, a gamble that he thought would be well worth it. But for all the things he did for Law, the man only reciprocated it with hate and betrayal.
His thoughts flew back to his final conversation with his most trusted right-hand man. Aside from him, he knew that the other person Law can never defeat was Vergo. Doflamingo knew that even the raven-haired youth's incomparable sword play and devil fruit abilities would never manage to put a minor scratch on the "Demon Bamboo". He remembered the last time Law angered Vergo, and it did not end pleasantly for the youth. Doflamingo had never seen Vergo as angry as he was then, when Law first displayed his act of vengeance after Korazon's death. The teen's attempt at ending Doflamingo's life greatly incensed Vergo, leading to a fight between the two wherein Law was brutally defeated. It had been very traumatic for Law, and Doflamingo honestly thought that the youth saw his blunder in attempting to slay the man who raised him and would never do it again. The blond also thought that the incident would never make Law think of standing up against him anymore since it will only end up in futility. But Doflamingo have never been so wrong his entire life. Somehow, back in Punk Hazard, Law managed to defeat Vergo that led to the latter's death. Doflamingo could not help but think how strong Law have become after all those years of silently doing favors for him in exchange of whatever kind of information the young man needed. If only Law did not betray him, he would've put that strength and intelligence to good use.
But what was done is done.
Law hated him.
Law betrayed him.
Law chose her.
Doflamingo's lips curled in contempt as he gazed at the traitorous man he now regretted to have raised. He would educate Law, punish him so severely until he begs for death as release. To think that he actually came to care and love this man like a true younger brother... Doflamingo felt utterly disgusted with himself. To think that he once loved the woman who eventually made his younger 'brother' betray him...
It's a complete shame Doflamingo once loved the two of them.
It seems that I can never bring Law back to the family, Doflamingo thought as he continued to stare at Law who was still smiling ever so audaciously at him. The blond Warlord's contemptuous smile widened. Korazon... First, my trust. Now, my little brother?
One of Doflamingo's hands reached for the pistol strapped on his side. His gaze remained fixed on the smiling Law but instead of seeing the injured young man before him, he saw the familiar face of a woman smiling triumphantly at him despite being on the verge of death.
- X -
An explosion instantly tore through the central town of Dressrosa, called Acacia, like a warm knife on a slab of butter. The effect was instantaneous: The citizens were in an uproar in an instant. Passersby and bystanders, living toys and humans alike, were trying to see through the cloud of smoke that was covering the cause of the blast, exchanging terrified looks and rumors of what it could be. Mothers were shouting for their children to not approach the scene and those of the faint of heart chose to watch from a safe distance. The bolder citizens, however, inched their way cautiously to satisfy their curiosity.
The cacophony of terrified voices of the citizens, however, barely reached Law. He was lying flat on his back, his whole body in pain almost past endurance that he simply cared not of the world around him. What happened back in the iron bridge that leads to Green Bit was simply inevitable. The Surgeon of Death knew that he cannot easily defeat Doflamingo, but facing the blond Warlord would buy enough time for his allies to find where the SMILE Factory was located. Law only hoped against hope that the Straw Hats managed to do so or else being beaten by Doflamingo would be useless.
It was as if the Factory's destruction really was Law's true aim, though.
"Torao!"
The familiar voice shouting Law's butchered name caught his ears. The sound was too distant yet somewhat clear for him despite the discordant shouts of the citizens. Law tried to open his eyes and was instantly met by distorted figures, adding up to his dizziness caused by losing too much blood and still counting. He slowly blinked to clear his vision but did not attempt to move his head. Every little movement seemed to intensify the pain of his injuries, and, being a doctor, Law knew it better to not push himself lest he wished to further harm himself.
Mugiwara-ya, Law tried to say, but he was far too tired and weary to do so. He cannot even tilt his head to search where the teen might be.
The sound of a pistol being loaded reached Law's ears, surprisingly drowning the rest of the noises around him. Dread consumed his whole being at the sound; it was far too familiar for him to mistake it for another firearm. Law took a sharp intake of breath at the sudden memory that flashed in his head. No, it cannot be. It cannot possibly be...
"Hey! Torao, why did you fight Mingo?!"
Straw Hat Luffy's voice was still distant to Law, as well as everyone else's. But when the voice he loathed for thirteen years spoke, the youngest Warlord could not help but get surprised at how that voice sounded so clear to him.
"This boy pushed his luck!"said Doflamingo angrily. Law's eyes moved towards the man in front of him. He watched as the blond raised a hand clutching a pistol more tightly than what was needed.
Fear, hurt, and recognition flashed in Law's eyes upon seeing the intricately designed pistol. He could vividly remember the night Kora-san was killed with that very same pistol, as well as the shock in her crimson eyes upon seeing it. To think that Doflamingo kept that pistol for thirteen long years...
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Doflamingo pulled the trigger. Law's mind was reeling; for thirteen years he looked forward to beating and making Doflamingo pay, but the youngest Warlord did not foresee this coming. He cannot do a thing, let alone defend himself, as the blond fired three shots at him. The multiple impacts caused Law's immobile body to skid a foot off the broken pavement, his face painted with disbelief. The last images he saw before he closed his eyes as the blinding pain ripped through him are the smoking barrel of the pistol and Doflamingo's evil smile as the blond licked some of the blood flowing out of the cut on his cheek Law previously made.
"TORAO!"
He faintly heard Straw Hat Luffy's anguished call. Instead, he heard the all too familiar voice of a woman replacing that of the young captain's. Law's grip to consciousness was waning as a myriad images of him, Doflamingo, Vergo, Bepo, the Heart Pirates, and lastly, Kora-san's smile flashed before him. He heard from people that whenever you saw everyone you used to and still cared about while facing mortal peril, death was near to claim you. Law vaguely wondered if Kora-san saw him last, too.
The deadly bullets pierced through him. The bullets from the very same weapon, fired by the very same man who took the most important person in his life. Law barely wondered if this was the end as he fought to remain awake, though unsuccessfully. His body felt as if it was filled with lead, every pain was being reduced into a dull, throbbing ache. Was death near to claim him now? Funny how "Surgeon of Death" was the epithet the world tagged him. But he cannot allow for it to claim him, not yet and certainly not now. He still haven't witnessed Doflamingo's downfall. He couldn't let Kora-san down...
His body gave up yet his mind refused to. With his defeat came the fact that he let the person he swore vengeance for down. He failed her. Miserably. For him, there was no room for forgiveness. But knowing her...
"Kora-san...!"
The world around Law collapsed, engulfing him in the darkness filled with nothing but the fleeting thoughts of love, hate, and a man who raised him and he once called 'brother'.
+.+
"Check the docks, the ships! He can't have gone yet!"
His breath created small puffs of mist as he peered through the spaces between the crates for his pursuers. It was raining heavily now as opposed to the light drizzle that morning as him and his trusted first mate wandered around the port in search of their (annoying) young charge. Unsurprisingly, he did not expect the appearance of a vice admiral and - him, being the smartass of a captain he was for not suspecting them - the fleet admiral in the island to come looking for an infamous rookie like him. Quietly, he adjusted his hold on the bundle in his arms and made a run for it, only to be spotted by that accursed monster of a vice admiral.
"Stop right there, Donquixote Doflamingo!"shouted Monkey D. Garp authoritatively. Nineteen year-old Doflamingo gritted his teeth and risked a glance at the Marines now chasing him yet again as he used his devil fruit powers to propel himself up towards one of the nearby establishment's roof. Gunshots followed him, the bullets he easily sliced which exploded in midair with the use of the invisible high-tension strings protruding from his long fingers. The bundle in his arms slightly trembled as tiny hands grabbed fistfuls of his coat. Doflamingo gave it a reassuring pat as he jumped from roof to roof to escape.
The Marines still followed suit, led by Garp. Fleet Admiral Sengoku was nowhere in sight but Doflamingo knew that the former was just somewhere near, ready to catch him unawares. The young pirate captain abandoned the temporary safety the roofs offered and dashed as fast as he could to gain what he would be able to judge as a safe distance from his pursuers. He made a blind turn in every alley, silently thanking his lucky stars as the paths he chose remained clear of unwanted hindrances.
"We'll just have to find Vergo and we're off this damned island for good,"he muttered under his breath, clutching the bundle protectively in his chest. Wide grey eyes peered from under the folds of the stolen waterproof item, making Doflamingo grin at the worry visibly reflected in them. "Yeah, that's right, you should be worried for yourself. I can just toss you out there and let those shitheads deal with you. Stupid brat, prancing off on your own..."
This dolt wouldn't have gone missing if only you kept an eye on him, dumbass, the blond told himself when he reached a dead end. Doflamingo clicked his tongue in disappointment and turned back. He slipped quietly behind a building when Garp's group came running from the last alley he passed through. The blond was about to slip away when someone shouted at him.
"Captain!"
The Marines stopped on their tracks and turned to look where the voice came from. Doflamingo saw Vergo running towards him with pursuers of his own. Leading the chase for his first mate was none other than Sengoku himself.
"Holy shit!"
"Run!"shouted Vergo. Doflamingo need not reminding, however, and ran headlong into the Marines. He gritted his teeth and made a swiping motion with his hand, destroying their weapons and dismembering his enemies. Some tried to jump at the blond in an attempt to both surprise and attack him but Doflamingo only kept running, mindful of the rain, blood, and body parts lying on the pavement.
"Out of my way, dicksneezes!"the blond cackled, using his devil fruit powers to bisect his attackers. If only he wasn't being chased by a fleet admiral and a vice admiral, Doflamingo would have paused to appreciate the feel of blood raining down on him. But Vergo's voice urging him to keep moving prevented the blond from doing so. When his first mate appeared beside him, Doflamingo gave Vergo a slight nod and ran towards another alley. He glanced back and saw Vergo took the opposite direction. Dividing the Marines would give the two pirates a better chance of confusing their pursuers; they would only have to contact each other once they made sure that they've lost the Marines.
"You won't get away!"
A hand grabbed Doflamingo's shoulder and gave an awesome yank, throwing him back out of the alley and into the street. From within a bundle, a terrified yell alerted the blond. Doflamingo secured it carefully in his arms as he crashed so hard on the pavement. A strong surge of Haki then pinned him on the ground and a shadow loomed overhead.
"Garp is right. Surrender now, Doflamingo,"said Sengoku imperiously as the young pirate captain attempted to get up. The bundle squirmed weakly, and Doflamingo found himself shouting and cursing savagely at the fleet admiral.
"You fucking bastard, quit it!"shouted Doflamingo as he tried to pull himself off the pavement. He could still feel the tiny hands on his coat, but their hold was far too weak for his liking. "Fuck, keep going at it and kill this child I'm burdened with!"
At once, the Haki pinning him was lifted. Doflamingo panted heavily as he supported himself with one hand, the other still clutching the bundle protectively against his chest. He adjusted into a sitting position and looked back at those startlingly grey eyes gazing up at him. A hand pulled away from his coat and reached for his bloody face, short fingers moving as if in search for open seemed to be quiet all of a sudden, save for the continuous pitter patter of the heavy rain.
"Y-You okay, Doffy?"asked the child in a small, worried voice.
Doflamingo grinned darkly and glared up at the look of surprise on the fleet admiral's face. Well, it's not everyday Sengoku gets to encounter a dangerous pirate carrying an innocent child. The blond slowly got up on his feet and slapped the hand reaching for the bundle as Garp moved to take it from him. The child held on to him tightly at the thought of being taken.
"It's not right for a murderous pirate like you to be carrying around a child so small,"stated Garp matter-of-factly, eyes moving from the bundle to the blond's face. The vice admiral gave what seemed to be a patronizing look and grinned at Doflamingo. "Are you the father of that kid, brat?"
Doflamingo's grin widened, eyes darting from side to side in search for an opening to escape. "Me, a freaking dad? Nope, not gonna happen."
The vice admiral stretched out a hand, looking stern all of a sudden. "Then, hand the child over. Men, cuff this pirate and we'll head off to Impel Down as soon as possible,"Garp commanded after receiving an approving nod from Sengoku. Doflamingo cackled and regarded the child in his arms.
"What do you think?"the blond asked, slowly backing off as the vice admiral's underlings approached cautiously. "Wanna come with Garp and join the Marines, Law?"
Four year-old Trafalgar Law looked up at Doflamingo and shook his head, giving the latter a mixture of "Are you kidding me?" and "Just get Of the fuck out of here!" look.
"Well, tough luck. The kid's staying,"said the young pirate captain, eviscerated the nearest Marine underling, and made use of his long legs as the officers gave horrified reactions at his sudden attack.
As expected, Sengoku, Garp, and their cronies followed suit though dwindling in number as the blond kept on killing those who attacked and who got too close for comfort. Doflamingo could not help but cackle boisterously at the two older males' incensed looks every time he made a spectacularly messy and disturbing kill.
"What now? It's down to ten to one, you dipshits need to clean this island off your literal mess now! The citizens won't like it when they see 'em, you know!"Doflamingo yelled gleefully at his pursuers who halted now. But he knew better so he kept running. Sengoku would just call for back up and who knew, the fleet admiral might even initiate a Buster Call just to make sure that him and Vergo dies.
Nah,I don't think he would. The guy's basically too soft for it. The look on his face when he found out about Law's a proof, he reasoned with himself, highly amused.
"Doffy, don't per-voke them!"Law admonished him, trying to cover his mouth with small hands. Doflamingo crossed his eyebrows and regarded the kid darkly, though amused. Blood from his coat stained the child's face but the latter seemed to pay no heed or was just ignorant of it.
"Shut up, I do what I want. And use proper words, will you?"he told Law as he slowed to a stop at the sight of what looked like an abandoned house. It seemed that they reached the edge of town, judging by the forest in front of them. Doflamingo surveyed the area and the distance of the place from the main town, nodding to himself when he felt that the two of them would be quite safe here even just for a few hours. It was all the time he needed to contact Vergo, plan for their escape, leave the island, and sail back to their own ship.
The blond reached for the rusty doorknob and slowly opened the door. He entered the house quietly, trying to feel any presence just to make sure that the place was really abandoned. Doflamingo adjusted his hold on Law and checked around in search of any dry fabric that he could use to cover the child with and keep the latter warm. From the house's receiving area, he found the living room and saw furniture covered with dusty yet undeniably dry fabric. The blond grinned triumphantly at the sight and pulled the nearest cloth to him after settling Law down. The four year-old watched as Doflamingo dusted it off before ripping a small portion, squatting down so that his face was on level with the child's, and using it to mop his face. Law winced at the older male's rough ministrations and pulled away, pouting slightly.
"Stay put, brat. I'm wiping the blood off your face,"Doflamingo told the child impatiently, frowning a little when his left shoulder stung. He prodded it gingerly with his fingers as he properly settled himself on the floor and hissed when pain shot through his muscles again. Damn Garp and his stupid manhandling...!
"Does it hurt, Doffy?"Doflamingo heard Law asked him. The blond looked at the kid and frowned.
"Not too much,"he replied as he tried to move his shoulder. Contrary to his response, it hurt. Much. He just did not want to give the child something to worry about.
Law looked at him skeptically for a moment before his grey eyes darted around to study the place. "Are you sure we're safe here?"he asked as he removed the waterproof item the blond stole and dumped it on the floor.
Doflamingo's nostrils flared in irritation and went back to cleaning the child's face. "Pretty much. Can't you see that the place is abandoned already?"
"Abandoned?"
The young pirate captain can almost feel a tick mark popping on his temple. He took Law's wet furry hat off and squeezed it to get rid of the rainwater that soaked it. Doflamingo then proceeded to dry the child's hair using yet another portion from the fabric. "It means deserted,"he explained in a forced calm. How did he end up raising a snotty brat again?
A jolt of disbelief sprang in Doflamingo's chest when Law gave him a wide-eyed look. "'Dessert-ed'? There's ice cream and stuff here?"
The blond captain fought the urge to face-palm. "I mean, no one lives here anymore,"he hissed through gritted teeth. Law ooh-ed at his explanation and grinned. Snotty, dimwitted kids!
"Ah, so you're trying to say that this place is desolated..."
Fuck that.
Doflamingo threw his hands up in the air exasperatedly and let his body fall down the wooden floor. He then covered his bloodstained face with equally bloodstained hands and moaned against his palms. "If there's a god listening to me right now, then kill me..."
He groaned loudly when he felt Law threw himself on his chest, the child grabbing his coat and giving him a hard shake. "No, Doffy, you can't die! I won't let you!"the kid wailed weakly, looking as if prepared to bawl in case the blond started to shake violently as if having a fit and stop dead afterwards.
"It's a joke, you moron! And don't shout like that, someone might hear you!"he snapped loudly, hitting Law on the head with his fist. The child yelped with pain and clutched his raven head, eyes stinging with tears.
"Sorry..."
Doflamingo rolled his eyes and sat back up. He removed his sunglasses and ran his fingers through his yellow hair quite dejectedly before he pulled the white cloth and wrapped it around Law with uncharacteristic gentleness. The blond then resumed drying the child's hair with the spare cloth from earlier. "Fucking Marines,"he cursed under his breath as he wiped the blood off the child's hands, only to be stained again by his own. Doflamingo cleaned his hands with frustration and dumped the dirty rag beside him, ripping off another portion from the fabric and resuming his job he cleaning Law's hands carefully. The child watched him quietly as he cursed Sengoku, Garp, and the Marines to damnation while checking if Law still needed cleaning. Surprisingly, the blood on the child's face did not give Doflamingo the amusement his usual violent self sought. It just felt wrong for him to see an innocent child like Law to be stained with the blood of those who upheld justice too much. It was really surprising for him to suddenly decide that Law growing up witnessing too much violence would not give Doflamingo any sort of peace of mind. He laughed at himself at the thought and shook his head.
"What the hell am I thinking, peace of mind and shit..."the blond muttered as he pulled away, finally done tending to Law. He reached out a hand and ruffled the child's hair quite affectionately then plopped himself on the floor, feeling tired all of a sudden. Who wouldn't, when him and his first mate searched for Law all morning then being spotted and chased by the Marines at noon til mid-afternoon?
Oh, and let's not forget being beaten up by Garp like a punching bag, Doflamingo added bitterly as he patted the child's head. Law let him, trying to hide the surprise on his face as he stared at the blond quietly. Doflamingo stared back in the corner of his eyes and smirked with amusement at the kid's reaction.
For the last time, Doflamingo adjusted the makeshift blanket around Law to make sure that it was wrapped around the child securely. When he saw that Law looked comfortable, the young pirate captain sighed with something akin to relief then closed his eyes. Maybe half an hour's rest would be enough for him then the two of them will be off to leave and call Vergo for a rendezvous.
"Hey, Law, I'll just sleep for a bit. If I wake up and find you doing something stupid, I'll throw you out in the rain and let you die, or worse, get sick because of the cold. You hear me?"he warned as he narrowed his eyes. Tending to a sick kid was troublesome, he did not want Law getting ill ever again.
Law nodded and decided to draw stick figured on the dusty floor to pass the time. Doflamingo nodded to himself and tried to rest. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling, wondering how Vergo was faring. Well, it would be pointless worrying for his first mate. Vergo was more than capable of escaping from those miserably worthless Marines. Come to think of it, Vergo must be hiding somewhere, too, resting and biding his time. The blond chuckled at the thought.
Silence reigned. Doflamingo watched from the corner of his eye as Law scooted closer to him and gave him the makeshift blanket he wrapped on the latter for warmth. Law then gingerly mopped the blond's face with the spare cloth from earlier and treated the cuts on his face. Doflamingo let him, too tired to argue since it would be just a waste of energy. He knew that it would also preoccupy the child.
"Law... why are you doing this?"
The four year-old regarded him, looking quite confused. Despite all the manhandling, rough treatments, and threats, the child never failed to stick with him through thick and thin. Was it because Law was thankful to be raised by him? Was it because no matter how annoyed he could get since raising a child wasn't in his bucket list as well as it sure as hell wasn't his forte, Law was thankful that he was taken in and wasn't rejected?
Law smiled childishly at Doflamingo as he pulled assorted and colored band aids from his pockets. "Why did you protect me from the Marines and didn't give me to them?"the child asked back as he covered a particular cut on Doflamingo's left cheek.
The blond looked taken aback at the kid's question and muttered, "I don't honestly know."
Come to think of it, if Doflamingo handed Law over to Garp, then he would finally get rid of the child and be free from the responsibilities of raising the brat. When him and one of his would-be and soon to be crew, a loud-mouthed, overly energetic strawberry blonde woman found Law as an infant(his mother was yet another of the blond's crew who got herself pregnant by some wandering doctor), Doflamingo was mortified when she hinted then passed and persuaded him to raise the baby. As a teenager, Doflamingo's mind was brimming with plans on gathering strong members, defeating his present and future enemies, and being the King of the Pirates. Raising a baby would be a waste of time for him, but one smile and a promise from her of finally joining the Donquixote Pirates made Doflamingo agree on accepting the woman's "request"(it wasn't really a request, but Doflamingo could not help but feel and assume that it was meant to be that way). Since then, he was stuck with the baby. He was secretly thankful of Vergo and his crew for helping him rear the baby and if ever they had not, Doflamingo knew that he would've hurled the crying infant overboard.
"You know, only an elder brother would risk his life for his little brother, Doffy,"Law told Doflamingo, bringing the blond back to the present. Still, he could not help but think of all the things he's done to keep Law safe and alive, all the headaches and sacrifices he had to suffer and experience just to make sure that the kid will stay and would never want to leave. Doflamingo looked at Law and somehow, he could strongly feel that the child might be thinking the same. The cheeky smile on Law's lips clearly told him so.
"I asked you first, so why are you asking me back?"Doflamingo said, looking a bit annoyed. "Trying to be a smartass, aren't we?"
Law ignored him and continued plastering band aids on the pirate captain's face, neck, and hands. Doflamingo watched as the child happily wound a striped band aid on his uninjured pinky finger and grinned.
"Are you quite done playing doctor?"
Law nodded cheerfully and lightly patted the blond's cheeks. "Yep! I hope you'll feel better now!"
"Honestly... all I'm asking is why you're doing-"
"Because we're brothers now, Doffy!"Law declared loudly, looking happy about it. "You do things for me even if you don't want to, and you're the best big brother for it! I'm very thankful and happy because we met, Doffy. Thank you so much... Doffy, I will follow you forever!"he added, eyes glinting happily as he stared at the blond with adoration.
Doflamingo was positively stumped at the child's mini speech. He gave in and agreed just to shut Law up who was still going on about every small, pointless(to Doflamingo, anyway) things he did to make the child happy. Law was mentioning the small things that seemed too unimportant to Doflamingo, but memorable for the kid nonetheless, making the blond realize just how appreciative the four year-old was even at a young age.
"And do you remember when you stole my very first anatomy book then I told you that you should pay for it because that was what the cook told me and then you got mad and told me that you're a pirate so you just steal whatever you like and..."
Doflamingo stuffed his fingers in his ears to muffle the kid's babbling. It was one of those rare times when Law decides to be talkative and Doflamingo admits that it really gets on his nerves. He sat up and poked the child on the head, annoyed. But deep inside, Doflamingo never felt as happy as he was right now after hearing what Law declared earlier. The child sees him as an elder brother. Doflamingo would never openly admit, however, that he already saw Law as a younger brother when the child first mistook the blond as his 'Papa'.
At that very moment, Doflamingo realized what the true meaning of family is.
"We're brothers now! I will follow you forever!"
Doflamingo smiled a genuine smile.
'Please do, Law. It's all I'll ever ask of you.'
+.+
Donquixote Doflamingo gazed quietly at the person chained on the previously empty Heart Seat. He clenched his fists, his eyes painted with the smallest glint of pain that was thankfully hidden by his purple-tinted sunglasses. A bitter and now hateful smile appeared on his lips as the person stirred and slowly opened their eyes.
Trafalgar Law found himself chained to the Seat he came to despise. Being seated there meant that he was a part of the family of the man who killed the most important person in his life. He slowly lifted his gaze up to look at the person he came to hate the most, gritting his teeth at the sight of the smile on the man's face. Grey eyes gleamed with nothing but hate when the man's smile widened.
"Law..."said Doflamingo, contempt clearly evident in his voice.
"Doflamingo..."said Law hatefully.
The two stared at each other quietly for a few moments, their eyes filled with nothing but hate for what one did to the other.
Recollecting the past that connected them was one thing.
One act that severed the bond they once shared was another.
But a single fact remained the same.
Law and Doflamingo both knew what it was.
To go against your brother is one of the most horrible things, ever.
END
And thus ended the story entitled "Recollections", written by Elenath the Brave.
*whoops* Yeah, Cora/Kora-san's real identity shocked me. Why the hell did Doflamingo kill his very own younger brother? We'll find out on the next chapter. Hopefully. *grins*
Shout-outs to all readers who stuck with this story 'til the end, as well as those who reviewed! *cough* Youknowwhoyouaredearreviewers *cough*
Again, thank you for the time you allotted to read and review this story. I appreciated it so damn much. *smiles happily*
See you guys on my next story!
Currently listening to: Witchcraft by Pendulum