Chapter 23
Lami closed the door behind her, frowning softly to herself. She wasn't sure what affect it would have now that she had told the redhead everything. Lami wanted to test him, see how strong he would be for her brother, Law had been through enough with his relationship with the Young Master and adding an assassin, a dangerous assassin, was nothing but trouble.
More trouble.
Lami had a mixture of thoughts when she decided to tell the redhead about them. Win the assassin's trust, that would help get close to him like the Young Master and Mistress Monet wished for her to do, to test him, if he would now run since he now knew what had actually happened to Law and herself and to see if how strong he was.
If he would push past it all and still love her brother. Treat him better than their King does, the King who manipulates and keeps him chained to his side like a dog on a leash.
She was angry, angry at them all.
Especially at the Master.
Kid followed Penguin to the library, scowling darkly as he swiftly entered, finding Law seated at the table, books surrounding him as he was sitting back, looking rather relaxed. Kid immediately approached him though, earning a startled look from his lover.
"Eustass-ya? Is something wrong?" Law blinked, looking confused while Kid leaned down and tugged him into an embrace.
He felt the need just to hold him.
Just to hold his lover.
"What's wrong?" Law murmured softly, sounding alarmed and puzzled. "We can't do this, not in such a public area."
"I know what happened to you." Kid tightened his grasp on Law when he felt his tense. "Your sister told me everything."
"Lami did what?" Law sounded startled.
"I am so fucking sorry Law." Kid shook his head. "Fucking hell I am sorry."
"I'll start with the reason why we both work for the Master." Kid blinked at the woman before him, her eyes now cold and seemingly calculating.
Was this what she was always like?
Then who the fuck was she trying to be when she was hugging her brother? Smiling so sweetly at him and acting innocent?
"We were both bought by him during the slave auction as children-"
"WHAT?!" Kid snarled, BOTH?!
LAW WAS A SLAVE?!
"I'll kill that son of a bitch! Where's Doflamingo?!" Kid seethed, throwing his sandwich back on to the plate, ready to beat the shit out of the giant.
"Law is no longer a slave! He wasn't forced into loving Master as a slave! That love came later!" Lami's voice managed to bring him back from the overwhelming red clouding his vision.
Somewhat.
"We had been captured by slavers and while I was trained to clean, sing and entertain Law was personally bought by Master." Lami frowned though, crossing her arms. "However there shouldn't have been a chance too, at least not so early. They put me on auction as quickly as possible because I was 'pretty' but Law was by Master's side before even that."
"So what, Doflamingo happened to see Law... Before he was even out for sale?" Kid hesitated saying the end of that, Law...
Nobody can just buy Trafalgar, he was fucking Law!
"I... I shouldn't say any of this, Master has another name, a code name." Lami murmured quietly, looking around suspiciously. "In the Underworld he goes by the name of 'Joker'-"
"No fucking way." Kid felt himself pale at that. "Joker is one of the head's of the Underworld! Slave trading, arms trading, drug trading. Fucking hell he was one of the main reasons the war lasted so long!"
"He kept selling more weapons and secrets to each side of the war. Many countries were affected by it." Lami offered, looking distressed.
"What happened exactly? How did you end up here and Law as an elite?"
"As soon as I was put on stage Master bought me. I was surprised, even more so when I discovered Law was with him, wearing the same collar as me but not chained like I was. I- You have no idea how badly I wanted to tear off that collar on him but I couldn't, I couldn't, I- It would have hurt him."
"Good, those things explode." Kid had been forced to start pacing, Law in one of those collars.
He was seeing red all over again, his breath coming out laboured but still the girl continued.
"Law never really explained how he ended up with Master but Master was interested in him. Not in the love relationship they developed but he... I don't know what he saw in Law... Law kept leaving the slave quarters to the high end of the house to interact with the family until one day they simply packed up all his stuff and moved him up with them. Taking off his collar and making him apart of their family instead."
Lami paused, frowning softly. "He had asked them to move me up with him but it seems Master said he and I had to both earn it for him to even consider it."
"I thought he would have had more interest considering he bought you."
Lami shook her head. "He told me he only bought me to please Law. Otherwise I'd be who knows where at the moment."
"He bought you to please Law?"
"Law was... Depressed I think... He never went into full detail and when I asked anyone else they wouldn't tell me much either..." Lami sighed softly. "I felt useless..."
"What age were you both by this time anyway?"
"Hmm... Law was about thirteen I believe? I was ten I think?"
"And the bastard was interested in Law?"
Lami blinked before shaking her head. "Not in a relationship like they are in now, or used to be at least. No Master treats all his executives like family, and Law became one very quickly, just like Lady Baby-5 and Lord Buffalo-"
"Those fucking assassins who tried to off me." Kid scowled.
"I heard about that from Shachi. I-I heard that they even shot Law..."
The redhead frowned when her shoulders quivered so he tried to speak gently to her. "Hey, Trafalgar was fine, your brother's a tough guy."
"...I just hate the fact is that he could have escaped by now... He could have been long gone and free... But he stays to protect me... I've tried to get this collar off so many times... I've ran away to see where I could get rid of it and he's always defended me every time I've been caught... It's not fair..." The distressed look began to fade though, softening instead. "Then I thought things were better... Law and Master did love each other... They really did... But then Master Corazon died and Law can't..."
"Who is Corazon?"
"Please understand what happened, being a slave and being taught to be one is a... Terrible experience and Law and I already..." Lami sighed softly, as if trying to clear her thoughts. "They had killed off our entire village while I was away at Uncle's but Law had seen everything. He managed to come and get me, our Uncle sent us away however, left us homeless, he couldn't stand seeing us after mother died, not when the wound was so fresh."
"They killed off your village?! Didn't you say you're parents died?!"
"Flevance. We're from Flevance."
"...Shit..."
Flevance was one of the most heavily hit countries, not a village, a country, during the world war. The Government had invaded it, rebels had been hiding in it and many people were slaughtered until the rebels finally retreated but then a plague hit it and so the country was declared too dangerous to be allowed to continue on.
It, and it's people, we're completely annihilated.
"You said you were at your uncle's?"
Lami nodded. "I was staying with my cousins, they were a bit older than me so my father thought it was a good idea while Law was busy studying medicine." She offered a teary smile. "I kept trying to drag Law out during his lessons, and even though Law wanted to go he was conflicted so Mother thought it was a good idea for me to see my cousins and play with them. That way Law wouldn't get distracted."
"Then I heard what happened in Flevance... And it hurt... It hurt so badly... I didn't think I would see anyone again until Law arrived at my Uncle's, exhausted and badly wounded. He didn't look the same... He looked scary..." Lami shuddered lightly, her eyes dulling, Kid guessed she was starting to remember further back now. "He just looked so angry and so dead."
"But Master Corazon taught him to laugh, he made Law smile and love. I tried, I really had but Law... I hadn't seen any of it and Law didn't like being near me for too long-"
"Why?" Kid frowned, Law must have felt terrible but wouldn't that have made him cling to Lami more?
For comfort at the very least?
"He thought he would have been a bad influence. He was so hurt and he didn't know how to deal with it. Master was also encouraging that anger, and developing him into his 'right-hand man' but Master Corazon changed Law, he made him happier and I was so glad for that."
"What happened to Corazon?"
"Law and Master had been engaged, this was about when Law was twenty? He even found our Uncle and brought him into Noble status, making Law a Lord as well so the marriage was well responded to but then for some reason Master executed Master Corazon-"
"Why the hell did he do that?!"
"I don't know." Lami shook her head. "But it hurt Law a lot and they started to argue more and more, Master still loves him, but Law... Law's told you about their deal correct?"
"Yeah, if I win you get to go free."
"It's not only that. If you win the tournament, both Law and I get to go free. The engagement is nulled and Law and I can go and never be followed by Master ever again."
"...And what happens if I don't win?" Kid vaguely remembered that Law had not told him everything.
What was Law hiding? Was it something serious? Dammit, that moron needed to stop hiding everything and chill out.
"Law and Master will marry as soon as possible." Lami frowned at that. "Master knows Law's trying to find a way to break them up, and is even trying to get Master to hate him without directing his anger on me. So the Young Master wants to seal their relationship together as soon as possible so Law can't get away."
Kid frowned softly but saw a hesitant look from Lami before she spoke up, reluctantly. "There was an additional condition added to the deal..."
There, this was what Law was hiding.
"What was that then?"
"...There is a man called Lord Ivankov, he can effect the hormones of anyone in the world through a strange craft... As in he can change people's genders-"
"...No fucking away..." Kid had a horrible feeling-
"If Law loses this bet not only does he marry Master he is to carry Master's heir by being turned into a woman by Lord Ivankov, he will be allowed to change back after the pregnancy is over but..."
This is why a King could easily marry a man...
"...He'll have given birth to Doflamingo's child..."
"He's terrified."
"No fucking wonder! The son of a bitch is forcing him to have his child!" Kid snarled but breathed out softly.
No, no he was gonna win.
Law was gonna be free.
Fuck Doflamingo! Fuck that damned bird!
Law frowned softly but settled into the embrace, sighing softly as he ran his hand through the red hair tickling his neck. "Lami told you everything then?"
"You are a survivor of Flevance, Doflamingo bought you before you even seemed to receive 'training', he's supposedly 'Joker'-"
"How do you know about that?!" Law hissed, if Doflamingo found out Kid really would be fucking dead!
"Lami told me."
Lami would be dead to! How the hell did she know?!
"Did she say how?! Eustass-ya this is serious! He'll murder you both to protect that secret!" Law felt panic creep up on him but Kid merely nuzzled into him further.
"No, she didn't. We'll be fine, just let me keep you here for a bit right?" Kid murmured, sounding distressed still. "You fell in love with him, you both did with each other until he killed a guy called 'Corazon'."
"My mentor." Law murmured. "He was apart of the revolutionaries but got caught trying to turn people against Doflamingo. Doflamingo said he would be merciful, we discussed what to do with Cora-san, I-I thought he would listen to me..."
"Law?" Kid called softly, Law felt his hand stroke his cheek soothingly but Law didn't want to stop, he wanted to say this-
Cora-san was a good person.
He felt like Kid should at least know what.
So he mentioned it even as the memory dragged by.
Law watched from his place between Vergo and Diamante as Cora-san was pushed to a kneel on the towering stage, the crowd watching in shock and disgust, their eyes locked on his mentor. They were looking at him like he was a monster, he had barely resisted the urge to scream and attack when they started insulted the blonde when the guards had dragged him through the crowd.
Doflamingo's idea no doubt.
"Yes, my own brother, your Prince has betrayed all of our trust, he tried to convert our loyal citizens into the rebel's war to fuel their power. Your husband, son, wife or daughter, someone close and beloved to you he would have taken away to fight a bloody war with only one end!" Doflamingo was still pissed off, even though Law had managed to convince him to wait a few days before judging Cora-san.
Doflamingo promised to be merciful.
He promised.
"Some of those close to me have asked to show Corazon mercy andtheir pleads have swayed me as well because they are dear to me." Law felt a moment of relief, Doflamingo and he had spoken about confinement, Monet had suggested it as an alternative to an execution by hanging for betrayal.
Cora-san only thought he was helping.
...Sort of...
Then Law saw the veins bulge out of the older blonde's head as he scowled. "So in that mercy I offer a quickdeath. You have all suffered for my brother's deeds! Only by death can he be forgiven!"
He heard Baby-5 gasp from behind him, going pale as Buffalo shook his head, looking grave. Law heard a soft protest and realised he had spoken up, he tried to resist Vergo's grasp and Diamante's but they held him in place as the guards dragged Cora-san back. He thought he could hear Lami's cries but wasn't sure, it had been too long since he heard her scream in agony like that.
"Line up and shoot him down!" Doflamingo barked over the crowd's cheering and screaming of vengeance against the younger blonde.
And Law felt all his protests die off when the gun shots went off, Corazon's body jerking as the bullets began to pierce his body. He had quickly collapsed, the gag had muffled any sound he might have made as he slumped to the ground, quickly bleeding out.
But Law didn't completely see it, instead he recalled a familiar blonde haired person, a woman, a kind, sweet woman, the Sister, lying in a pool of blood as everything grew dark, he vaguely heard Diamante's voice but couldn't make out what he said as everything blacked out.
"I was out for weeks and when I woke up I- I was told I didn't leave my bed, I didn't even eat... I barely remember what happened." Law frowned softly, feeling frustrated. "I vaguely remember Doflamingo being distressed, pleading and shouting at me. Dr Kureha was taking care of me at the time and said I relapsed into my post-traumatic stress, I used to just 'blank out' when I was younger during that time of the year when my home was destroyed."
"So you did that because you freaked out?" Kid asked softly, his arms were firmly around him but strangely enough Law didn't feel restrained, it was comforting.
"Yeah, there was a woman, a Sister, like Cora-san, blonde as well. He was shot to death and... And so was she when she was trying to evacuate the children... They both reassured me and helped me become confident but after seeing both of them like that..." Law shook his head, burying it in Kid's shoulder. "Well as soon as I saw Cora-san collapse, bleeding out I just saw her again... Dead on the ground..."
"Shhh." Kid hushed him, Law felt a flicker of frustration get to him but instead of giving into it he allowed himself to seek some comfort from the redhead's embrace.
Just one time... One time was fine...
"But yeah... It took me a while but I came back... Lami brought me back..." Law offered, settling against Kid's shoulder, twisting his finger's through the red strands. "Then it seemed once I wasn't going to revert back to that state Doflamingo came back to my room for a serious conversation."
"I thought he'd just be happy you were back." Law snorted at that.
"He's selfish and greedy, of course he wanted more."
"Alright, alright." Kid chuckled at that. "I see your point."
Law smiled at that but decided to continue, before he lost his nerves to. "He ended up 'laying down the rules'. I was to become obedient again and to remain by his side for Lami's sake, otherwise he would make her life a living hell, he would make sure she never smiled again or felt happy in her life if I betrayed him or tried to leave."
"And so now you've made a deal?"
"Yes, he is usually a man of his word, as long as you word things correctly so that he can't use it to his own advantage." Law smirked softly. "So I offered more of my willingness so he could keep the promise he made me for Lami's freedom."
"The pregnancy." Law stiffened at that before sighing.
"You know then?"
"If I somehow lose and Doflamingo's Champion wins, which ain't gonna happen, you're to be turned into a woman by this hormone guy and will have to carry the son of a bitch's child?"
"He promised me when we first started our relationship that he would never force me into having his child, that he wouldn't use me for something that serious." Law murmured.
"Think he will keep it?"
"I believe so, he's a bastard but Doflamingo wouldn't break my trust like that." Law nodded. "He knows there is a delicate balance right now between us, I don't think he would jeopardise that promise from years ago."
"I don't trust him."
"Heh, I don't either."
They sat in silence for a while, Law was surprised to feel like he had a burden lifted off his shoulders, feeling more relaxed than he had in years. This warmth, he hadn't felt it since after Cora-san died.
He knew his and Doflamingo's relationship was over. There was nothing that could be done to fix it. The bird was the only one still clinging to it for some odd reason.
He wanted it to stop.
He tilted his head back before leaning forward again, earning a confused murmur as he captured Kid's mouth with his own. The heat and warmth growing as they fought with their tongues.
"Seriously? Can't they keep a lid on it?" Shachi twitched, looking ill.
Penguin merely rolled his eyes. "Apparently they are incapable of doing so. We will need to remind Captain that anyone could be walking around, despite us looking out for him."
"Are they really going to do it in there? The library?" Shachi whined, the pair were trying to ignore the panting and the soft moans from behind the door. "While they are so close to the door?"
"I believe so." Penguin tensed when he heard footsteps though, not his or Shachi's so urgently he knocked on the door, hearing the noises stopping instantly. "We may have some company Shachi, it really does get boring standing about while Captain's reading doesn't it?"
"I know right! Why can't we go find some cute girls instead while he buries his head in a book?" He saw Shachi pale at the sight of Vergo approaching them, heading straight for them!
"Penguin-kun, Shachi-kun." Vergo nodded, looking as stern as ever. "I will be entering the library, will you move from the door?"
"Ah Vergo-san! What a lovely day it is right?" Shachi grinned brightly, putting on a charming look as they continued to block his way, hoping to make up some time for whatever those morons had done. "I'm surprised you're here in this dusty old place and not enjoying the sunshine, catching babes at the swimming pool!"
"I bet you're very popular since you are in the games right now." Penguin offered, grinning as well.
"Yeah, would work brilliantly with the girls!" Penguin and Shachi both blinked as they were pushed firmly aside, leaving them standing apart, bewildered. "That was rude wasn't it Vergo-san?"
"Yeah, how mean." Penguin complained.
"Bother someone else with your tomfoolery." Vergo growled as he opened the doors-
Much to Penguin's relief Law was sitting across from Kid, nursing a book in his hands while Kid was tapping the table impatiently, scowling.
Law's hat was sitting beside him, his hair dishevelled, thankfully though it was always messy so Vergo couldn't really comment on anything, now could he?
"Have you behaving Law-kun?" Vergo asked as he entered, approaching the romance serial books much to Penguin's astonishment.
Shachi was wide-eyed and gaping along with him as Vergo picked up several while Law seemingly looked bored, turning another page of his book.
"I always behave Vergo-ya."
"That's 'Vergo-san' to you Law-kun. Don't be disrespectful."
Law scowled at his back while the assassin rolled his eyes, flipping up his middle finger at Vergo, thankfully Law must have kicked him because he saw Eustass's face flash with a hint of pain as he lowered his finger, glaring daggers at Captain instead just as Vergo turned back to face them.
"Heed my advice Law-kun, abandon your assassin before you anger Doffy any further. At this rate you will receive a severe punishment." Vergo's gaze them landed on Eustass. "And I would advise giving up before you get hurt Kid-kun, you have always been reckless."
"And spoil the fun? Nah, I want to see you squirm." The redhead grinned but thankfully Vergo ignored that comment and marched swiftly out, the doors slamming shut behind them.
They waited, the footsteps receding down the hall before Shachi collapsed against the wall and Law relaxed against his chair, the pair sighing in relief.
"That was too close Eustass-ya, that's why I told you we can't show our relationship outside our rooms, it's too dangerous."
"Our relationship huh?" The redhead smirked while Law scowled.
"I would appreciate it if you would give me back my trousers now."
"We can't continue where we left off?"
"Of course not you moron!"
"At least not here? C'mon Trafalgar, you got me so fucking aroused when you sliced that guy's arm off, I really want your ass."
"I. Will. Kill. You." Law seethed, closing the book with a loud snap.
"Careful Captain, you're going bright pink." Shachi teased while Penguin shook his head.
"Will it be hard and fast or slow?" The assassin's grin grew larger at Law's growl.
"I will make it slow, with a knife."
"Sounds interesting." Penguin blinked at Law's trousers suddenly flew over the table, their Captain catching them and slipped them back on, thankfully still in his boxers. "Let's go back to my room, no one will disturb us there."
"Really?" Law raised an eyebrow, looking bemused.
"Of course not, trust me."
That grin didn't look trustworthy.
"He looks like a creepy stalker Captain, don't trust him." Shachi deadpanned, looking unfazed at the redhead's glare.
.:End of Chapter:.
SEllen, I'm glad you liked the chapter :3 Shachi is great fun to write, he just loves getting in the way of KidLaw because he's protective of Law (and doesn't really like Kid) And I'm glad you liked Ace hypnotised, it was fun to write and hoped it seemed like a good fit for him against Marco, and Marco is our badass phoenix, I mean it's Marco! :D xD And yep, seems like it, though hopefully Lami doesn't stab Kid, we'll have to wait and see what happens with that :3 And I know right, poor Kid is really getting tormented by everyone ._. He's not even shown mercy on 'The Everlasing Turn' xD Hope you enjoyed this chapter, a bit more background detail for Law this time :3
xXMinShadowXx, Thanks! It felt great :D I'm still over joyed by it :3 I know, I loved that part, Luffy doesn't care much about his dad, it's his brother he's worried about :3 Shame there was no chapter this week to get us through :/ Oh well :P And it doesn't seem like Doflamingo has figured out that it's Kid that Law is with, he just seems to know Law is with someone (I'm adding a lot of 'seems' here because I like to twist things :P ) And I know! I think Doflamingo doesn't believe that things are his fault, it's everyone else making things go wrong xD And I know right?! Poor Kid isn't shown any mercy anywhere, not my stories and not in One Piece xD It would be cool to see him in the alliance, or betraying them and them having to fight, would be epic either way :)
Guest, Well we will need to wait and see how that works out, don't worry though there will be more Doflaw moments coming up soon :3 Just hold on for maybe a few more chapters where a big things happens ;) (Spoilers are spoiling ._.)
