Velica sat in the tent after returning from being roughed up by Penguin and Sachi. Needless, her body hurt like hell; and what's worse that damn collar was around her neck once more. It was more painful than ever to have to move, her body giving into the pain more in ways more than one. She was biting the inside of her mouth, worried as to just how things were going outside.
Doflamingo had indeed arrived, she knew this when she hear several of the trees fall outside and the worried looks the three people (including Bepo) gave each other as they peeked out of the tent. She listened to them mummer about something, but the wind was too loud for her to hear anything that was said. She sat there and waiting for the moment when Law would call them over the Den Den Mushi to bring her out, but it was just as she feared; that call never came. Instead, the crew screamed in horror as the tent was ripped open and left everyone to drop to their knees in fear. All but Velica moved, not even an inch, as the tent was shredded to pieces by Doflamingo's power.
The wind and rain came in contact with her freshly opened skin and it stung. But she sat there and took it, glancing at Doflamingo and Law both through her bangs that partly stuck to the side of her face thanks to the fresh coats of blood. She watched from a distance still sitting in her spot, she knew things weren't going to go as planned; she had seen it happen before.
Law would be lucky to escape with his life if she didn't do something to help.
Doflamingo's frown deepened when he seen her from a distance; his blood boiled.
"Just what the hell do you think you're playing at here, Law?" His voice was deep and his gaze never left Velica's body. Law already had his sword drawn, it had been drawn since Doflamingo's arrival when Law had to chop away some trees that threatened to cover him as they had been chopped down by the War Lord and his arrival.
"It's just as I told you. I'm willing to make a trade. I'll allow you take back your little pet as long as you allow me free-rage to do as I please. I'll be out of your site and you'll have your little treasure back." Law wasn't all too sure if his plan would work or not. They were on the same level status wise now, Law was a War Lord same as Doflamingo, but power wise Law knew that he wouldn't be able to take him on his own and he wouldn't receive any help from Velica at this point in time. Doflamingo's shaded eyes didn't leave Velica's form as Law spoke, only when he finished did he turn his head and showed Law just how displeased he was with everything that was going on.
Raising his hand he attacked Law, having the man defend himself from the blow that destroyed the trees that stood behind Law and pushed him back at the same time. Law tumbled back, coming to a skidding, muddy halt down on one knee, ready to take another surprise attack. This was when Velica knew that Law wouldn't stand a chance. But, she sat there pondering for a moment if any of this was really worth it all. Why her? What was so damn special about her that everything that was happening right now was because of her?
"You honestly believe that after everything you've put us through that I would allow you this wish, Law?" Doflamingo asked, approaching Law slowly with his fingers curled. Suddenly, Law was unable to move and he knew he was in a bad position. He no longer had the higher ground and his plan that he was so sure would work had failed him. Doflamingo was too pissed off to listen to reason from Law now, he had expected Doflamingo to be pissed; but this was completely new to the both of them.
"You've got a lot of nerve telling me that I'm free to take what original belongs to me in the first place. Acting as if you owned her right now all because she was in your possession. Well, let me tell you something little Law-" Doflamingo towered over the much smaller man, glaring down at him with such rage that Doflamingo himself didn't even know what to do next with the man. But, a pleasing idea of snapping his neck clean off his shoulders sounded pretty good right about now.
"Captain." The soft and unexpected voice stopped everything. It surprised both men as the sound came directly behind Doflamingo. The large man turned around and seen that Velica was standing there behind him. She was just standing there quietly behind him, for how long now he hadn't known, neither of the men knew just how long she had been standing there behind him. She was looking up at him with tired eyes that shown just how much pain she was in right now. The collar not doing much to help her pain as it was once again making it hard for her to breathe.
Law could feel the tingling of the hair that were once standing up on the back of his neck ever since Doflamingo arrived to finally rest. The tense air was finally settling as Velica had spoke those words and appeared in her spot. Law watched, still unable to move, as Velica looked up at Doflamingo with pleading eyes.
"Please, Captain, I'm so tired. Can we just go home?" Any anger that Doflamingo had felt early had vanished once he heard her voice. Without thinking he released Law's body from his grasp as he allowed himself to turn fully toward her. He looked down into her exhausted eyes and knew that this wasn't the time to be hasty with a battle that could easily wait. After all, he had promised he'd kill Law one of these days for doing something like this to his little treasure, so why not allow it to wait just a bit longer and take more pleasure out of the kill.
"Where's the key?" Was all he asked. Law wasn't about ready to go through what had just happened again. Not with Velica standing right there, not after she had saved him from his death. Pulling the key from within his pants pocket he tossed it on the ground next to Doflamingo; who picked it up with haste and unlocked the collar. It dropped into the mud with a heavy splash, covering Doflamingo's pant legs and parts of Velica's clothes. That didn't matter a bit to the War Lord now, now that he had her back. In a flash, he scooped her up into his arms and they both flew up into the air; not a word more spoken to Law as they both took off. Velica knew that she had to hold onto Doflamingo tight so as to not fall off, and looking down was a bad thing to do, but she couldn't help it.
She just had the need to do it, she had to do it.
Glancing over Doflamingo's shoulder she took one final look at Law's face and what she seen she hadn't expected to ever see linger on his face as he watched the both of them leaving. Was that look perhaps the look of what she thought was, regret?