Despite Luffy's best attempts to pummel the hell out of Doflamingo, the blond haired former warlord seemed more intent on getting to Law and Kidd, regardless of the barrier of metal that the red haired captain had thrown together. Every time Luffy launched an attack, Doflamingo either diverted it or sent back an attack of his own. Immediately after, Doflamingo would lash out at the metal, putting a dent in it, and getting a little closer to where Kidd and Law were hunkered down behind it.
Law didn't like being cornered like this. He did not like it one bit. There were too many variables, and if Kidd let his concentration down for a moment, Doflamingo would shred through the metal like it was paper. Targeting Kidd or himself afterwards would be far too easy, and Law didn't fancy being cut to ribbons, nor did he want to see a similar fate land on Kidd. Not when the other captain was obviously in too much pain to do much more than hold the last slivers of his energy on protecting the both of them. Law tried not to dwell on the fact that Kidd would be using up a lot less energy if he were only protecting himself.
"...Trafalgar?"
Despite the quiet denials Law offered himself, there really was no use denying that there had begun to be something between himself and Kidd, and it was certainly more than a convenient fuck or two. Because of that unspoken admission, Law was not at all comfortable thinking about the fact that he'd allowed himself to actually care about Kidd. There was no other reason why he was still on that battlefield and in control of his own body. If it wasn't for Kidd, and Killer, intervening, Law figured Doflamingo would have already beaten him down into submission. The Heart Pirate knew that he wouldn't have fought so damn hard to resist had Kidd not been there.
"You're frowning. S'not a good look on you." Kidd commented breathlessly from where he'd propped himself against piece of the mansion that had fallen onto the ground. Kidd vaguely waved a hand in the air, but before he could speak, the metal he'd pulled up was struck again. With a glare, Kidd resettled the metal bits, before he turned his amber gaze on Law once more, finding words this time, "Need to smile. Looks better on you."
"Hold still. I need to get a look at your collarbone." Law said, grabbing Kidd firmly by his right shoulder. He was not going to think about how he found Kidd's insistence that he smile...cute. No. Law was not going there but still...the sincerity with which Kidd had said it bordered on absurd. Their very lives were in danger and Kidd thought that he ought to be smiling after everything that had happened.
"Hmm, that annoyed look is okay too." Kidd assured Law, one hand reaching up to slow the Heart Pirate captain's inspection. "M'fine."
"No, you are not fine. Not at all. I ought to check you for a concussion as well." Law said crossly, shooing Kidd's hand away from his own and gingerly moving his right hand along, well aware that e probably shouldn't be moving it. But Kidd's other hand ensured that his left wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, what with Kidd grasping it with his own. "Hold still, I said." Law insisted, when Kidd moved again. "I have to know how deeply I cut you."
"Fucking shit." Kidd cursed, his right arm tensing beneath Law's grip. "Don't fucking touch that, asshole. Hurts." Kidd's head snapped up suddenly, startling Law, but there wasn't much the dark haired pirate could do when both of Kidd's arms suddenly wrapped around him, and the red haired captain threw them both to one side.
Law tried his best not to touch Kidd's wounds, but with how tightly Kidd held him, there wasn't a way to avoid it altogether.
"That...was close." Kidd wheezed, letting go of Law as he irritably yet weakly waved a hand at the metal again.
"What was?" Law asked, automatically assisting Kidd upright.
"That." Kidd said vaguely as he leaned against Law heavily in an attempt to remain upright.
A chill went through Law at the sight of a hole in the building Kidd had been propped against. A more distressing thought was that he was now covered with Kidd's blood from the way the other captain had held him, and it let Law know that Kidd was losing blood. It was a wonder the man was even conscious, let alone able to move and speak.
"Bastard found a weak spot." Kidd mumbled as he allowed Law to maneuver him a short distance so that he was rested against the farthest edge of the piece of the mansion. Kidd let out a faint huff of irritation as Law crowded in on him, gaze fixed on the red head's wounds. "Don't poke me again. Told you...hurts."
"I need to know how bad it is, Eustass-ya." Law said, turning his attention back to Kidd's injuries as a way to distract himself from the close call. Law tightened his hand on Kidd's shoulder as he moved from the right collar bone and then diagonally along the long injury, until he reached Kidd's waist. By then, Kidd was breathing raggedly, but apart from a curse here and there, Kidd didn't mention anything hurting again. Law figured it was something that the other captain would usually never admit aloud, so for Kidd to be comfortable enough to admit something like that to him…
"Shit, you done yet? Gonna pass out...if you keep touching it." Kidd said, his voice rough and pain-laced.
"Don't do that. Without that metal there, Doflamingo will slice us to pieces." Law warned, hand immediately moving away from Kidd's wound. "You're lucky, by the way. I managed to pull back when I attacked you. I will have to look even closer, but I don't believe I cut all the way through your collarbone."
"Doesn't mean it isn't still throbbing like a bitch...since it is cut to the bone. " Kidd grumbled, his breathing a little more uneven then before. "I can't believe you let him...mess with you like that."
"If by 'that' you mean Joker's Devil Fruit powers, I seem to recall you being in a similar position not too long before me." Law pointed out, stiffening when Kidd struggled away from the piece of building he'd been against to grip him roughly. Law held still, waiting to see what the other captain was doing. He doubted he had insulted the other man, and with a heavy, exasperated sigh, Law allowed Kidd to lean in up against him. After all, Law already had Kidd's blood on him. "What is it with you and your desire to smother me?"
"Must be 'cause I think you're...gonna run away all the time." Kidd managed with a short wheeze of laughter. The red haired captain's chin rested on Law's shoulder, his weight sagging against his fellow captain "What now? Besides kicking Doflamingo's ass...for this."
"Apart from getting you out of here before you bleed out, you mean?" Law shifted Kidd back as carefully as he could to contemplate the stab wound, as that was more worrying than the slash, despite how it may have looked. Law couldn't bring himself to look away from the hole the blade had made, because he knew if he looked at the other injury, he would see blood dripping down that pale skin. Hell, Law had already likely smeared it around after being pressed to the man's chest, and Law couldn't bring himself look up, as he knew he would see Kidd's expression drawn with barely concealed agony. Kidd could talk as big as he wanted, but Law knew that if he weren't around, Kidd may have done something foolish, and gotten himself killed. There was no way Kidd was moving anywhere on his own right now, and any further fighting was out of the question.
"Trafalgar?"
Law huffed something under his breath, before he tugged Kidd's sash free from beneath the belts, and used it to wrap around the stab wound. It needed pressure, and the cloth that had been pressed to it before had been lost at some point. Probably when Kidd had thrown them both out of harm's way. The wound continued to bleed, and Law's jaw set at that.
"Hey…liked that one." Kidd slurred, leaning against Law again. "Better get me another." The red haired captain's right hand curled around and down Law's back. "Or we could settle things once we get a room at an inn."
"You are incorrigible." Law groused, lighlty slapping the red head's upper back. "How can you think about sex right now when you're wounded?" Law cringed involuntarily at the shriek of metal from where another of Doflamingo's attacks connected.
"'Cause that beaten up look on you is sexy." Kidd's words were slurring together more often now, before he added with a childish scowl. "And you ruined my favorite sash."
"Ready to leave yet?" Law sighed when Kidd merely stayed put against him. "I'm sure your crewmate would be more than happy to get your sorry ass out of here before you get yourself killed. You are in no shape to fight right now." Law felt Kidd's right arm slip around the back of his waist. "You know I'm right."
"Fuck you and your fucking diagnosis." Kidd grumbled against Law's neck. "I told you I'm not missing out on a fight. Not gonna... let you and Straw Hat have all the fun."
"That doesn't make any sense. Why risk your life in a battle you can't win?" Law flinched when something struck the crude metal barrier Kidd had set up, and frowned when the red haired captain cursed under his breath. "Problem?"
"Problem? My problem is that that asshole made you injure me." Kidd wheezed, his breath uneven. "Ruining all…my fun."
"You're repeating yourself." Law eyed the metal, and found Doflamingo was making increasing breaks in it. Kidd wasn't going to be able to hold on for much longer. His concentration and strength were clearly waning. "You need to rest."
"Told you not to…shit-" Kidd spat out a series of curses before he collapsed against Law. "Dammit."
Law saw Doflamingo fending off another attack from Luffy through the breaks in the metal, and knew that he didn't have much time. Didn't have enough time to explain to Kidd why he needed him to leave. Didn't have time to think about the consequences of what he was about to say. All Law knew was that he needed Kidd out of harm's way, so that he could think more clearly, and not worry about Kidd getting himself killed or worry about why that would bother the Heart Pirate captain in the first place.
"Room." Law grit out, making it as large as he could manage without losing the concentration and stamina required to keep it up. It was now or never, and Law knew that he was unlikely to get another opportunity.
"What're…you doing?" Kidd demanded, his right arm tightening around Law's waist as if sensing the other captain's intentions. "Don't you do anything stupid, Trafalgar."
"You're not thinking clearly, Eustass-ya, and your wounds will only slow you down the longer you push your body. It'll make you an easy target." Law said firmly, drawing back from Kidd and freeing himself from the other's hold. "I'm getting you out of here."
"I'll fucking kill you." Kidd growled lowly, bristling visibly when Law reached out and slid his hands into Kidd's hair on either side of his face.
"You won't." Law said in return, because he knew, as Kidd probably did, that neither of them was likely ever to try to do the other lasting harm. Not anymore. Law didn't know when that had changed, but it had happened, and there was no turning back once this was all over with.
"Will." Kidd said sullenly, not able to think of anything else with the way Law was absently caressing his fingertips through his hair.
"I won't lose someone I love again. It happened too many times in the past. I won't allow it to happen. Not when I can do something about it. I couldn't protect anyone years ago, but things have changed." Then, not really tracking why Kidd was gaping at him in surprise, Law leaned in close and pressed his lips firmly against the other captain's. Law felt Kidd's arm shakily go around his waist before the red haired captain was squeezing him up against his wounded torso again. It was a desperate kiss. Not slow and unhurried like some of their kisses on Fiesta Island had been. No, Law was kissing Kidd right now like his life depended on it, and mainly because Law didn't know what was going to happen once he sent Kidd away.
"Asshole." Kidd breathed out hoarsely when Law drew away from him. "Why'd you say you-"
"Don't die, Eustass-ya." Law cut in, before he made a motion with his fingers. Despite Kidd cursing him out, Law swapped the red head with a rock that was as close to shore as the dark haired captain could get him. Law dropped the room almost immediately, and threw himself to one side as several strings tore through the remainder of the metal now that Kidd wasn't holding it with his power. The swap from one place to another must have broken the red haired captain's concentration. As Law righted himself, he knew that Kidd would be pissed for what he had done, but Law really didn't need to present Doflamingo with another opportunity to manipulate the red head, and especially not when Kidd was injured as badly as he had been.
"Trafalgar! What did you do to Kidd?" Killer demanded from across the clearing, where he had been fending off the string clone of Doflamingo's.
"Sent him near the shoreline where Straw Hat's ship is." Law said, nodachi back in hand as he warily watched Doflamingo send the string clone his way instead. The real thing was currently dealing with Luffy's continued attempts to punch his lights out. Straw Hat was certainly persistent.
Killer immediately left the area now that he wasn't being attacked; the man wasn't under any obligation to help Law anyhow. The Surgeon of Death didn't care that he had been left behind. Law felt that it was more important that the man see to Kidd, and make sure that his captain didn't do anything stupid. Like try to come back to join in on the fight.
Law had a feeling that Kidd would try to make it back and could only hope that Killer would make it in time to intercept him.
"It doesn't matter how far away you send anyone, Law." The clone Doflamingo taunted, "I'll just go find them and deal with them once I'm through with Straw Hat and yourself."
Law lifted Kikoku up in time to block a five color string attack, and dug in a foot to keep his nodachi up and blocking the attack. His wounded right arm shook at the pressure being used to counter the attack, and Law bit his lip, vainly trying to ignore the fact that he could tell that he was weakening. But his favoring of his arm didn't go unnoticed, and when the string clone backed away, it slashed down, and Law couldn't help but let out a pained cry as he couldn't fully block the attack with his blade, and the string cut deeply into his shoulder. The brief dropping of his guard allowed another attack in, and Law choked as he was seized around neck by a large hand. The lack of air, coupled with the shock of being caught so suddenly caused Law to lose his grip on his nodachi. Dimly, the dark haired captain heard it hit the ground, but then he was flying through the air, and it took a moment for him to realize what had happened.
"You're a fool, Law." Doflamingo taunted, his voice sounding further away.
The agony flared up the moment Law hit the side of the ruined mansion, the hard knock taking him to the ground. A partially stunned Law lay where he had fallen, struggling to piece together what had just happened.
Had Doflamingo's string clone really just thrown him?
"I think I'll have you kill Penguin, as well as anyone else who happens to be around, Law." The veins on the sting clone Doflamingo's forehead increased as the grin sharpened. "You pushed things too far, brat. Death is going to be the least of your worries. I'll keep you around until you lose your usefulness, and then I'll be able to give the op op fruit to someone who'll obey me."
"Leave Tra-guy alone!"
Law raised his head the moment he heard Straw Hat's voice, and watched, with some satisfaction, as Luffy's attack tore through the string clone like it was nothing.
"He's coming back with me." Luffy stated as he turned to face the real Doflamingo, who stood across the clearing.
"Law isn't going to go anywhere but with me, and perhaps even an early grave if this continues." Doflamingo looked even more pissed off than usual, what with the nasty grin stretched as far as it could go.
"You'll have to go through me first." Luffy retorted, looking ready for another round.
Still gasping in quick breaths, Law painfully dragged himself over to where his nodachi had fallen, and closed a hand around its hilt. With his free hand, Law gingerly massaged his throat, even as he watched, surprised, as Luffy slammed into Doflamingo across the clearing. It wasn't a particularly hard hit, but it was enough to throw Doflamingo briefly off balance, and further enrage the larger man. Law settled on his ass and shakily held his blade up, wondering if he even had enough stamina to be useful and not a hindrance to Straw Hat. Law wouldn't put it past Doflamingo to try and manipulate him again with his powers.
As Law watched the fight begin to unfold, the dark haired captain couldn't help but feel that this was going to be difficult. If they had any chance of leaving this island all in one piece, then the fight was going to have to go better than it had on Dressrosa. Law knew that he perhaps should have made himself scarce, but his body was slow to move and respond after hitting the wall moments before. So when Law felt his body begin to move of its own accord, he made a futile attempt to resist the feeling. Because Law was uncertain at this point if Doflamingo was going to force him to fight Luffy, or if the man was through with him and wanted Law to harm himself.
Law closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. Either way, it was going to hurt.
-x-x-x-
"Fuck." Kidd cursed vehemently as he suddenly found himself on the ground with the sound of the sea very close by. He didn't particularly care that he was close to safety because he was more concerned with the fact that fucking Trafalgar had actually sent him away from a damn fight. What the hell was the man thinking, making decisions for him like that? Kidd might have lost a hold of his powers briefly, but that hadn't meant he couldn't hold out in a battle for a while longer. And when Law said he wasn't going to lose someone he loved…had the other captain really mean him?
"Son of a bitch." Kidd was going to kick Law's ass when he saw him next. Who the fuck confessed something like that on a battlefield and then sent the other person on their way before they could ever get a word in edgewise? And since when had Law ever shown that he cared about the red haired captain in that way…
Kidd sucked in a harsh breath as he thought things over, right hand absently pressing the sash tied about the stab wound. Law had been going on about protecting Penguin, but when they'd been on the island to let Law cool his heels…Law had drugged him. He had done so to try and protect Kidd from Doflamingo. Kidd frowned, slowing to a limp as he missed over Fiesta Island next. Had Law really swapped everyone's bodies just to protect Kidd and Penguin? Law sure as hell had weird ways to show his affections…including muffling his voice to prevent Doflamingo from hearing him that one time when the bastard had called Law.
What the hell?
Kidd reconsidered kicking Law's ass, and resolved right there that he would fuck that ass into oblivion instead. Then he could get around to the embarrassing as hell questions about Law's sudden declaration that he didn't want to lose someone he loved. Because Kidd was the only person around at the time, so Law sure as hell hadn't meant Penguin. Kidd didn't even think that Law had the capacity to love someone, what with all the sarcasm and the occasional cold shoulder, but then again, Kidd didn't think he would ever actually give a shit about someone, and perhaps that was his own form of love.
Fuck.
Kidd was in love with Law, wasn't he?
Shit.
Kidd was not going there right now. He needed to focus. Battle. He needed to go beat the shit out of Doflamingo. Yeah. That was what he was going to do. All he had to do was focus on that and he would be perfectly fine.
But that fucking kiss Law had given him…
Kidd scowled. That kiss had smacked of desperation and Kidd didn't particularly want to think of it as a good-bye kiss because fuck that. He was going to corner Law and demand what in the hell was going on in that head of his. Kidd briefly halted his walk, hissing as pain shot up from his abdomen and his collarbone. Damn. His body hurt like hell, being all banged up, not to mentioned slashed and stabbed. But Kidd wasn't going to let Law make decisions for him. No, Kidd would make his own damn decisions about what he could and couldn't do. He was a captain too, dammit.
"Shit." Kidd uttered as he forced himself to move in the direction of the broken down mansion on Fang Island. With every step came a wince, but Kidd stubbornly ignored the discomfort of his injuries, bound and determined to throw himself back into the fight regardless of the outcome.
"Kidd. Stop."
Kidd heard Killer speak, but chose to ignore him. He wasn't about to let his crewmate stop him now. He needed to get to Law and make sure that the Surgeon of Death was still alive and kicking so that he could tear into him with a shit ton of questions that may or may not require a round in bed to answer.
"Kidd, I know you can hear me."
"Don't get in my way, Killer. I ain't stittin' out of this fight." Kidd wheezed, right hand going to where Law had stabbed him. Damn. The wound hadn't stopped bleeding.
"You aren't in any shape to fight, and you know it." Killer was standing in front of him now.
Kidd hadn't realized that he had stopped walking in the first place, nor that Killer had moved so quickly to catch up with him.
"Luffy is in better shape than either you or Law. So let him try and slow Doflamingo down."
"Where's the fun in letting someone else do the work for you?" Kidd demanded, even as he swayed in place. Suddenly, his crewmate being right alongside him to steady him wasn't the worst thing that could happen. Kidd really didn't want to fall flat on his face or something equally embarrassing like that. "Let go of me, Killer."
"No, Kidd. I know you want to go back and fight but Law did you a favor by sending you away from that fight."
Kidd snarled wordlessly at that and made the attempt to walk past his crewmate, only to have Killer's hand ride harder around his upper right arm. The moment Kidd turned to lash out at his crewmate with the metal of his left hand, Kidd suddenly found his legs swept from beneath him and with a rush of air, Kidd found himself flat on his back. Kidd didn't acknowledge that his crewmate had been careful not aggravate his wounds as much as possible when restraining him.
"Fuck. Get off of me, you son of a bitch," Kidd snarled up at his crewmate. "I can fight just fine."
"And yet I was able to take you down without you getting a hit in." Killer replied, sounding immensely patient as he tried to reason with his hot headed captain. "Do you really want to be used against Luffy or Law again? I can almost guarantee that Doflamingo will find a way to use you against the others. You aren't in any shape to have your body moved around like Law's had been."
Kidd shoved his crewmate's hand off his shoulder, and shakily sat up, scowling when he saw a dust plume rise in the distance. Kidd briefly glanced up at his crewmate, before looking away as he mumbled in the direction of the ground.
"…Any chance you can make sure Trafalgar doesn't get his ass kicked?" Kidd didn't dare look at his crewmate. "Got unfinished business with him. Can't have him dying on me."
Killer tactfully didn't ask what kind of unfinished business, before he half turned, as something had clearly caught his attention.
"Over there, Kidd." Killer said after a moment, as he indicated something in the distance.
Kidd spotted what his crewmate was pointing at.
A few of Law's crewmates were making their way toward the center of the island.
"It looks like they have a similar idea."
Kidd wasn't so sure; even they could be subject to Doflamingo's Devil Fruit powers. And that still didn't solve the problem that Kidd wanted to go back and kick that grinning bastard's ass, but with Killer keeping a close eye on him, and dropping hints that they should get of the island, Kidd doubted he was going to get to have any fun now.
Dammit.
Kidd hated that his crewmate ruined all of his fun, even if Killer was just trying to keep his stupid ass alive. But this time around, Kidd wasn't concerned about whether he would make it out alive or not. No, what horrified Kidd was that he was actually worried about Law making it out alive. As Kidd turned his head in the direction of the ongoing fight, Kidd couldn't help but mutter under his breath, echoing a statement near-identical to the one Law had used earlier.
"Don't you die either, Trafalgar."
And with that whisper, Kidd knew that he was fucked and that there was no use denying that he actually was invested in Law not dying. Kidd had not set out that one evening, whci seemed like such a long time ago, to get into a relationship. And yet that appeared to be exactly what he was getting out of his continued interactions with Law.
Fuck.
-x-x-x-
Luffy wasn't letting up on his singular goal of trying to attack Doflamingo with repeated swings of his fists. Only now, things had begun to get even trickier, because Doflamingo was resorting to underhanded tactics. Those tactics involved the use of his Devil Fruit powers on Law to force the Surgeon of Death to intercept Straw Hat's attacks, and prevent any injury to Doflamingo. Every time that Luffy seemed to get close to landing a solid hit, Law was suddenly there, blocking the strike with Kikoku, whether it be a kick or a punch.
It hurt, blocking those forceful attacks, and Law was beginning to get concerned that he was losing feeling in his right arm. Law ground his teeth together as Doflamingo forced him to continue to prevent another few swings Luffy took at the former warlord, before Law let out a pained gasp.
"Fufufu. Something the matter, Law?" Doflamingo chuckled, flexing his fingers in the Heart Pirate captain's. "I guess you're still useful after all."
"Shut up, mingo!" Luffy yelled, coming in from the other direction and swinging his foot.
"Jet Stamp."
Pain flooded Law's mind, temporarily disorienting him as his nodachi was knocked from his grasp as Luffy's attack hit his right arm dead on.
"Ah! Sorry, Tra-guy!" Luffy apologized as he landed and immediately launched another strike. "Jet punch."
Law couldn't even make a sound as Doflamingo didn't bother moving him in the way of the attack with his powers; no, the blond haired pirate just seized him and brought Law up to block the strike with the Heart Pirate captain's own body. The force of the punch caused Law to choke out an agonized cry, but apart from that, hung limp from Doflamingo's grasp. It hurt too much to try to struggle free, and Law's abdomen was in complete agony from where Luffy had struck him.
More apologies tumbled out of Luffy's mouth, the Straw Hat Pirate clearly upset for striking his friend, but Law couldn't hear anything. Couldn't see anything but Doflamingo's grinning visage from out of the corner of his eyes.
"What's the matter, Straw Hat? I thought you were going to kick my ass." Doflamingo hefted Law up, but this time, Luffy managed to prevent himself from striking the wounded pirate, and backed off to get a new angle to attack from.
Law was too worn out at this point to protest Doflamingo's treatment of his wounded body. He hurt and his body was screaming its protests of him even twitching his right hand at this point. It was more than likely that Doflamingo was just going to keep using his body as a barrier between himself and Straw Hat.
"Leave him alone!" Luffy shouted from somewhere nearby. "Can't you see that he can't fight anymore?"
Law missed Doflamingo's response, mainly due to the fact that his heart was racing and he was gasping for breath after being forced to endure so much punishment. First by Doflamingo manipulating him with his Devil Fruit powers and then again when Doflamingo just seized him and moved his body about like a rag doll, not bothering with the powers any more. Somewhere in the back of his pained filled mind, Law knew he had to get away. To remove himself from the situation so that Luffy would have a chance to fight Doflamingo without having to divert his attacks, or accidentally hit an ally.
"R…room." Law whispered hoarsely, fighting against his exhaustion as he tried to call on his powers, but he could only manage a room around himself. The concentration was nearly broken when Doflamingo tsked from overhead, and a string clipped Law's already badly wounded right arm with a string. Law's pathetic excuse of a room wavered, before it dropped instantaneously the moment Doflamingo carelessly let him drop to the ground, a large foot pressing Law face down on the ground.
"What was that, Law? I thought I told you not to bother trying to resist."
Law held perfectly still, but he did issue a weak trickle of laughter into the ground, which earned him another painful clip to his already torn to shreds right arm. Law was surprised the limb hadn't lost all feeling yet, but he pushed through the pain momentarily, and smirked faintly. The agony was worth what was headed Doflamingo's way. While Law may not have been able to remove himself from the fight, he had given Luffy what he had needed.
An opening.
"Mingo!"
Law was only disappointed that he didn't get to see Doflamingo being flung away by Luffy with whatever attack he had landed, but he certainly heard Doflamingo taunt Straw Hat from further away.
"It's pointless to continue to throw attacks at me, Straw Hat. You know that this is only going to be a repeat of Dressrosa." Doflamingo taunted. "Whether or not you stop me from using Law as a shield is irrelevant. He isn't leaving this island with anyone but me."
"Shut up! The only one not leaving this island is you!" Apparently, Luffy had had enough of Doflamingo's games. "You're interfering with my adventure, and hurting my friends. I'm taking Law back with me!"
"It isn't any of your business what I do with Law." Doflamingo said dismissively, as he sent a couple Bullet String attacks Luffy's way. "He used to work for me, so I have more of a right to decide what to do with him."
"You don't get to decide what he can do," Luffy said in return, "You injured one of his crew."
"Penguin? He's probably dead by now." Dofamingo said carelessly.
"If he's with Chopper, he won't let him die." Luffy said, confident in his crewmate's skills as a doctor.
"Then I'll jut have to go make sure Penguin isn't breathing any longer. That was my intent from the beginning, once I brought Law on my ship." Dofalmingo said off-handedly.
Anger coursed through Law at the threats being spoken casually about Penguin, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Doflamingo from following through on those threats. The Heart Pirate captain certainly wasn't in any shape to fight, so all Law could do was hope that Luffy was up to the challenge.
"I'm gonna kick your ass, mingo." Luffy declared, sounding completely confident in his ability to do so.
Doflamingo laughed ominously in return.
"I won't let you hurt Law again." Luffy added, without looking away from Doflamingo.
"That isn't for you to decide." Doflamingo said, flexing his fingers. "In fact, I think you'll find that he will do as I say. Not that he has much choice, of course."
Law bit back tortured cry as he felt Doflamingo's power start to settle around him and force his exhausted body into movement. When Law's hand closed around Kikoku's hilt, his shoulders slumped.
This needed to end.
'Eustass-ya…' Perhaps Law wouldn't get to see the other captain after all. It seemed like Doflamingo had finally decided that he had lost most of his usefulness, and that letting Law soak up the punishment meant for Doflamingo was about the last thing he was good for. Anger continued to simmer beneath the fatigue, but Law couldn't force himself to care enough to try and stop the humiliation that Doflamingo was visiting on him. Until he heard Luffy yell something, and Doflamingo's hold was suddenly lost. Law's body crumpled to the ground, free of the former blond haired warlord's powers. With the little remaining strength Law had left in him, the Heart Pirate captain propped himself up with his left arm to see what had happened.
Luffy's fist was on fire before it vanished, indicating that Doflamingo had yet again been hit with one of Luffy's Red Hawk attacks. Or, perhaps, Doflamingo had been forced to lose control over Law's body in order to block the attack. From the not very singed appearance, Law was betting the latter. Law couldn't do much more than feel dread when Doflamingo's head turned in his direction, but his vision of the older man was obscured by Luffy standing in front of him, as if to block the other man from doing anything further to harm or humiliate him.
"Stop getting in my way, Straw Hat. Law sealed his fate the moment he agreed to trade himself for the lives of his crew." Doflamingo flexed his fingers. "He has no choices left to make."
"Shut up. We all get to make our own choices." Luffy shifted his stance. "And mine is to kick your ass so that you won't hurt my friends anymore."
Law closed his eyes at the sight of Doflamingo's grin stretching wide as the man slashed his hand down and sent several strings the immobile pirate's way. This was it. There was no mistaking that for what it was. Doflamingo had reached the point where he would rather have Law dead and not of use to anyone at all. When it didn't connect, Law's eyes snapped open in surprise, and found that Luffy had batted the attack away with an armament hardened fist, not moving from his place in front of Law.
"Your opponent is me, mingo." Luffy planted his feet firmly on the ground. "Leave Law alone."
"Make me, brat." Doflamingo grinned nastily. "Law won't be leaving this island of his own volition. And neither will you." Doflamingo raised a hand, palm out. "Over heat."
"I won't let you hurt Law again..." Luffy batted the whip like attack away as the black haired teen's eyes fixed on Doflamingo, "…and I won't let you get in my way anymore." Luffy raised his left arm level with his face.
"Gear Four."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Hey! I'm finally back with an update for this fic that I hope people remember, as I am very happy that I was able to get this chapter up (sorry about leaving it at a kind of cliffhanger). Because damn, it was such a pain in the ass to not be able to be in the right mood to write for this fanfic. I've been driving myself crazy over leaving fics unfinished, but it is really hard to write for something when motivation is low, people's interest in the pairing or characters is low (or when writer's block hits at very inconvenient times).
Sorry about it taking nearly a whole damn year, but I haven't forgotten about this story, as I am weirdly fond of this particular fic. I just wanted to make as good a chapter as I am able to (Using Dressrosa fights against Doflamingo for references for what Luffy's doing at the end of this chapter). I thought he'd be already kicking Doflamingo's ass by now, but apparently Kidd and and Law wanted more time in the chapter so the fight has been moved to the next chapter.
And speaking of the next chapter, I'm happy to say that I do have a more solid outline for it, and a completed summary for the remainder of the fic that I tweaked a month or so ago. It took some time, but my interest in this fic has been rekindled after a slump, so it is my hope that I can get at least one more chapter up for this fic this year (maybe two if I'm lucky) and then it's my goal to finish this fic by early next year.
Thanks for taking the time to read this chapter! I hope it was worth the wait and again, I apologize for it taking so long to update for those of you who enjoy this fic.