Velica's body was aching now as she gasped for air. She had herself sprawled out on Law's bed, she'd been waiting for him to return for nearly three hours. Her energy was slowly slipping away, her devil fruit powers finally becoming her downfall. She didn't even have the strength to move. She was dying. Slowly but surly she was dying. Law needed to come soon with the damn keys to the sea stone that was locked around her neck. It was sucking the life from her body and she was rendered useless. She felt the ship moving now, it had been for the last hour.

She knew Law was somewhere on board now, but he neglected to come find her and release her. She gasped in pain, her whole body turning numb. It hurt far worse than anything else she'd ever experienced before now; not even Doflamingo had ever caused her this much pain. She knew the moment she agreed to come with Law, he would cause her pain and discomfort, but she never expected such torture from the Dark Doctor as he was titled. Her eyes slowly closed, she felt herself drifting from her body and into a whole other world. Was she preparing to finally kick the bucket?

"Well, well, I wasn't expecting to find this when I returned." No, of course not, because Law would never allow her to die so damn easily. She didn't even have the strength left to raise her head and give him the proper glare that he so rightfully deserved. She listened as he closed the door and made his way to the bedside, taking a seat on the edge next to her head.

Her eyes moved over to his face, noticing the slight smirk that lingered there as he watched the struggling woman laying on his bed. Her frown was deep and her eyes held a tiredly painful gaze. This didn't seem to falter Law's mood what so ever however, actually doing quite the opposite. He lifted his hand, showing her the keys to the sea stone necklace that rested to heavily around her neck. She merely watched him. He didn't make any move to release her from her torture at the moment.

"Is this what you're waiting for?" His smirk grew slightly. He'd never admit it in all his life, but finally being able to see Velica being brought down to her knees by him seemed to trigger something within him. It wasn't lust, but it wasn't anguish either. It was almost as if he was slightly proud that he was finally able to see Doflamingo's little "Treasure" broken before him. The only thing that would make it better was to see Doflamingo himself see just how weakened she was right now. But, he knew better than to go flaunting her around Doflamingo, because the man wasn't one to cross while before him.

He heard her painful gasp and slowly the smirk that he once held started to fade. She was actually struggling for oxygen? His eyes narrowed as he finally realized that she wasn't just gasping for air, but also that he lips had turned a dark purplish-blue, which showed him that she wasn't just putting up an act of trying to get air; she really couldn't. Leaning over her, he placed his hand on her shoulder and rolling her over enough to expose the key hole. Inserting the key he gave it a turn and off came the sea stone. He picked it up and quickly tossed it, not having the proper equipment to be able to hold it for very long this time or else it would drain his own powers. He watched as she rolled her way back over onto her back once again.

She coughed and gasped for the welcoming air that flooded her lungs. He watched as she practically took large bites out of the air, trying to get all it inside her. Her lips slowly changed back to their original color and no longer the dangerous one they once were. Law sat there and watched as the woman slowly started to move each of her body parts, regaining the ability to do so once again. When she was done and finally had the air restored back to her lacking lungs, she turned a harden gaze over toward Law. She sat herself up on her arms, her glare was harsh as she looked up at the man whose brilliant plan nearly caused her her own life.

"Don't you ever fucking do that to me again!" she shouted. Law continued to stare at her with the frown still present on his lips. Her fingers came up and traced around her neck where the necklace once rested on her body for nearly four hours. She couldn't believe that Law actually left her like that for so damn long.

"I nearly fucking died!" Velica took her fingers from around her neck and balled them into a fist. She thought about making Law's face come in contact with her said fist, but she decided against it. She just continued to glare at him, hoping that maybe that would do some type of damage to him. She didn't have the strength to straight out fight him to the death, but she had enough to do something for payback against the bastard.

"I hadn't planned on being gone for that long." he explained himself to her. "Had I known, I would have left the keys with Bepo or Shachi. But our plan worked." She raised a brow at this news. Their plan had worked? What plan besides making the marines believe that she was Law's prisoner? Her eyes widened, suddenly fearing about what the only answer could have been. And it was almost as if Law knew what she was thinking and it made his smirk reappear on his lips. Oh God, please don't tell her she was indeed right.

"It's been confirmed that Joker was pissed when he found out that I had taken you captive. He's headed for us now." Fear, panic, pain, anguish, every emotion but those of happiness flooded her body all at once. Without thinking her hands shot up and gave a death drip to Law's hoodie. She pulled his face closer to hers, he watched every emotion pan out right in her eyes.

"Do you have a death wish!? Why the hell would this be part of the plan! Doflamingo isn't someone to be happy when he comes for you, idiot!" Law leaned even closer to the point where the rim of his hat rested against her hair and their noses nearly touched one another. He looked deeply into her eyes, his grey ones showing a hint of excitement. He knew she didn't know that this was all part of his plan all along. He wanted to crush Doflamingo and what better way to start than to show the Navy that the one person that Doflamingo held so highly in his eyes was brought down to nothing but a common prisoner of the sea?

"H-He'll kill you! He'll kill you and you're entire crew!" His eyes snapped open wide, not expecting this to be the reply she would have given him. There was deep concern in her voice which confused Law. Velica had always acted since day one, since the day he was brought into the crew by Doflamingo that she wanted nothing to do with him and that she was better than anyone else among her.

The only person she wanted attention from was Vergo, but that was all because she really craved the attention from Doflamingo and so she used the man to get to the one she really wanted... so why was she so damn concerned about Law now all of a sudden? He would have thought she would have been pleased that he was coming after her and that Doflamingo expected to beat the shit out of him. So, why did her eyes, voice, and actions betray everything that he thought she would be happy about.

"I thought you'd be happy to return to him?" Those seemed to be the wrong words to say. Velica's eyes changed to rage, he felt as if she was going to rip him in half right then and there.

"I already told you! I don't want to be with him! H-He's not someone who you want to be around constantly when he's obsessed with you!" Her eyes started to glaze over. "He's my captain, yes, and therefore I am forever loyal to him. But, he makes my life a living hell, Law! He makes passes at me every second of every day that I'm alive! He's even went so far as to try to take me for his self! That's not the type of life I want to continue living with someone who I admire so much! He expects the world from me! He wants me and won't allow me to be with anyone else! I want to be free from him, but I'm too damn loyal to leave!" Her eyes were glazed to the brim, but she dared not cry. She wouldn't cry and promised that she'd never cry in front of anyone else ever again, at least not after that day nearly ten years ago. Law watched her for a moment longer before a sigh merged from his lips. He actually leaned forward and rested his head against hers, causing her to blink and look up at him.

"Don't worry, it's all part of the plan. I don't tend to leave you in his hands for very long. But, I do need for you to return with him for the time being, Velica." His eyes seemed so calm and so at ease though they looked so cold from the color and his expression. She swallowed hard, not really knowing at this point in time what was going on. He left her in the dark, she knew he had his reasons to not trust her, but he could at least let her in on something that involved her.

She felt even more like a puppet in the hands of Law, more than when she was with Doflamingo. She didn't expect Law to treat her the same after all from what she could gather he hated her guts and had hated her since the moment the two were introduced to one another. She shut her eyes, they burned form wanting to let the tears roll down her cheeks. She gave a sharp intake, trying to calm and prepare herself for what was to come within the next couple of hours; at the shortest.

"I have no other way but to trust you on this, Law. Please, don't be lying to me now." She opened her eyes only to come face to face with that cocky grin that he often gave her.

"Don't worry. You'll only be with Joker long enough to catch up on missed events. You'll be returned to me soon, his little treasure."