Chapter 13
Author's Note: It's been such a long time, I'm sorry. I don't own One Piece and with that, please enjoy the story.
Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX
Carried away once more, Eustass found himself on his ship. "This is strange…" he murmured. "Captain, we are nearing Dressrosa now. Your orders?"
Eustass looked at Killer and frowned. What was he doing again? Then again, is he really back to the original world? Was Law alive? "Prepare to dock."
The red haired man patrolled his ship to help him search for clues as to what they were doing. Then as he passed the row of cannonballs, Killer approached Eustass with caution.
"What is it?" Eustass growled. Killer flinched beneath his mask. "Uh captain? May I suggest you change into something more… appropriate?"
"What for?" genuine puzzlement etched on Eustass's face. Killer gulped. "You are going to be meeting the Shichibukai Doflamingo remember? It's about Big Mom…"
Eustass pretended to understand. At least he was getting somewhere now. "What's wrong with how I look?"
Killer shifted nervously. "I'm not insinuating anything captain… but I think it's better to be prepared because we don't know anything about Doflamingo. He may be trying to use this as a trap to get rid of us. From what I know, the straw hats and Trafalgar are already somewhere there. Rumors are that they are on Green Bit in the middle of a transaction. I don't know the details."
Eustass heart raced. "So that cocky doctor is still alive… what about his crew?"
Killer frowned. "From the private lines hacked, I understand they are not on Dressrosa. My best guess would be at Zo. Bonny has sighted a suspicious yellow submarine. I can only think of them."
Eustass snorted. Killer was so in love with that gluttonous woman. He briefly wondered what the handsome first mate saw in that temperamental bitch. Law may be an ass but Bonney was an asshole in a whole new league. She was the kind of asshole Eustass wants to just walk away from. Yet she came to visit her 'darling' ever so often. Eustass never thought Killer was the kind to devote his whole life to a single woman. He thought he was suited to more of a player kind. After all, they were pirates on high seas. Women generally meant nothing but trouble to sea dogs like them.
Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX
"So why have you sought me out?"
The three meters tall Shichibukai grinned maniacally. "I heard that you sunk alliance ships of Big Mom. Your generation surely has the bravest souls around."
Eustass snorted. "Cut the crap Doflamingo. We both know that's not it."
Doflamingo chuckled. "So hasty. Haste makes waste and in this case, maybe your death."
Eustass glared at the flamboyant man. "Is that an advice or a threat?"
"A little bit of both," the man shrugged. Eustass had half the mind now to crush that man before him. However what Doflamingo said next made him reconsider. "Big Mom is heading for Dressrosa as we speak. I called you here because I needed you to buy some time for me. Of course you won't go unrewarded. I know how that little wussy has been hampering on your first mate and you want her of your tail for a while. If you buy time for me with Big Mom, I will lure her away."
Eustass laughed. "What can you do to lure her away? No amount of food will pull that girl far enough."
Doflamingo giggled madly. "Of course. Only Straw Hat would be tricked by that. The girl is smart… far too smart for my liking. I have my means so don't you worry. After all, I am a Shichibukai. Now, how about a deal? You don't need to defeat Big Mom but at least by me half a day's time."
Eustass felt something nagging at the back of his mind. He should have gotten Killer to come along. If only Bonney had not kidnapped the first mate right beneath his nose. Eustass sighed in annoyance. It was a hard choice. On one hand, this may do him good to kill two birds with one stone. Doflamingo can fall with whatever the Straw Hats and Law are doing and he can take down Big Mom, supposedly the easiest Yonko to get to. After which he can switch sides from the alliance with the creepy card reader and obnoxious monkey like musician to the Straw Hats and Trafalgar. This team seems to be more promising. After all, they are aiming for Kaido.
On the other hand, Doflamingo is a cunning old fox. He has not been knocked off his throne from his kingdom since ten years ago. Eustass knew whatever runs behind this country is the fox's doing. There was no other way to explain how Doflamingo knew Punk Hazard or Vegapunk. There was no way he could have direct connections with Kaido. There was no way he would have become Joker, the underworld trader. Eustass may not have participated in the trade but his information sources were all dealt from the Joker. Doflamingo… no, Joker had to have another motive asking a favor of him. They both knew the hefty prices of trades like these. Yet there was nothing Eustass could put his finger on. Everything seemed so perfect… in fact it is because of the flawless proposal that made Eustass hesitate.
Eustass stared at the man behind the glasses. He could not read behind the grin and shades.
As the natural born gambler he was, Eustass went ahead with a decision he would most likely regret. "You're on."
Doflamingo's grin grew wider if possible. "I knew this was too tempting a chance for you to pass up. Who knows when would be the next chance you get to fall two huge figures?"
Eustass growled. The man saw through his thoughts so easily and it made Eustass mad. How this man did it had nothing got to do with his Devil Fruit Powers or Intel at his disposal. Eustass can only estimate the number of prey that fell to this hunter. He was a born killer without a shred of humanity.
Eustass walked out of the door as he heard Doflamingo laugh about not seeing him out. Eustass felt insulted but held in his rage. Halfway down the castle, he felt a crushing pressure build up. He wanted to turn but was not fast enough. A sword made contact with his metal arm and sliced it cleanly into two. Eustass cursed as his legs started sprinting even before his mind could react to it.
A sharp turn to the corner, Eustass caught a glimpse of Shiliew behind him. Just in time, the blade sliced through air, demolishing the stone wall behind him. Eustass tried to activate his powers to render that darn sword useless but the swordsman was just too fast.
Eustass attracted a metal suit of amour and hurled it at Shiliew's direction. A split second later, Shiliew's precious sword lay useless on the ground as a huge ball of metal. Eustass smirked.
He did not pay attention to the shadow behind him and before he knew it, his windpipe was crushed along with a few ribs. Eustass cried out in pain as the bone pierced through skin. He was bleeding profusely. Jesus Burgess had caught Eustass in a lock hold from behind. The superhuman strength had shattered several ribs. Jostling was bad but smashing Eustass into a nearby stone wall was worse. Now with the gruesome bone jutting out from his sides, Eustass was fighting unconsciousness. The pain was on a whole new level than the kinds Eustass was used to. Fight or flight instinct kicked in at the most convenient time and Eustass found his body pumped with adrenaline. The pain seemed to be forgotten as Eustass kneed Burgess's groin. No man, regardless of how strong he is, can go unscathed from a direct attack to the family jewels.
Using the distraction, Eustass scrambled away in a haphazard manner. His logical department refused to cooperate when his body was running purely on adrenaline. He had no idea where he was going or what was happening. Why Blackbeard's crew was here had to be the reason why Doflamingo had called him here. Also, if it were the case, Bonney and Killer might be in trouble. "Shit…" he cursed.
A hand reached out and snagged him from the hallway he was running from. Eustass cried out in pain when he hit the ground on his side. The cry however, was muffled. Hot breath against Eustass's ear mad him twitch in the strong yet gentle grasp. Those hands felt familiar to Eustass but his pain hazed mind could not make head or tail of it.
Darkness took over the red haired captain as he fell into oblivion in the hands of his unknown captor.
Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX
Unknown to Eustass, Law had gone through the entire episode and sought his revenge on Doflamingo with Luffy's help. Eustass had been given emergency treatment and teleported back to the Sunny with the aid of Room. Big Mom had been dealt with by Sanji and the remaining crew on board. Caesar had been given his dues and handed to the Marines. CP0 was defeated with the help of the revolutionary army. Sabo was reunited with Luffy at last. Many things happened. Blackbeard escaped the Marines at Dressrosa and was still missing. Law had then brought Eustass with him to Zo with Kinemon to meet up with his crew. Bepo had to be Law-sick by now.
On board the submarine, Bepo nearly crushed Law to death in a literal bear hug. Law had pried the polar bear off and went into 'doctor' mode. The surgery took thirty six hours to complete with many major complications. Law was exhausted but he could not find sleep coming easily with his mind preoccupied about Eustass. Sure, he knew the man was out of danger but something in him still worried when the man did not open his eyes.
"Captain you should get some sleep," Bepo brought over a blanket to Law who was seated on a chair by Eustass's side.
Law smiled thankful for the blanket. "I will as soon as Eustass-ya is awake. I owe him much for distracting Doflamingo and Blackbeard enough for my plan to take place and for me to escape with my life. Even if it was unintentional, he saved me back there."
Bepo looked at the pale form lying on the bed. "I guess so." Silence lingered in the air and Law found his eyelids getting heavier.
"Captain, do you love this man?" Bepo asked out of the blue causing Law to nearly fall off his chair.
"Why do you ask such a thing?"
Bepo shrugged. "Instincts I guess? Captain you have this strange aura whenever Eustass is present or when you hear his name. Animals can see it."
Law blushed slightly, giving color to his pale cheeks. "I'm not too sure. Even if I did love him he would never return my love. I could always steal his heart but it's not what I want."
Bepo looked at Law and then to Eustass then back to Law. "If you say so captain… I just think he might be good for you."
With that, Bepo left Law to his thoughts. Law shook his head and watched the rising and falling of Eustass's stitched chest. The monotonous beeping of the machine soon lulled Law into a dreamless slumber.
Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX
The yellow submarine dived beneath the surface and was headed to another part of the New World while the two men slept on soundly. While Eustass slept… he had a dream. A dream of a past he thought he had forgotten. Perhaps it was the stress of losing his arm that triggered it, perhaps it was the power of love he shared with Law that allowed it. Whichever it was, Des had the pleasure to viewing something so sweet.
Author's Note: Dream in the next chapter special coming up. Wait for chapter 13.5 then~ I know I made this whole Blackbeard, Big Mom and Doflamingo thing up but hey, this IS a fan fiction. I'm sorry I don't have a beta reader for this… I apologize for the mistakes made here if there are any.
Do review. They make me write faster than I think possible.