A/N: Warning for torture and blood in this chapter via Doflamingo. And potential ooc though I believe it is ic for the fanfic itself.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"No..." Law didn't even realize that he had spoken, so focused was he on Doflamingo's cruel words. It hurt to have the image of Corazon, covered in blood and his body riddled with bullets, both from other pirates, and then from Doflamingo himself. The sound of a gun being cocked in present time sent a shiver through Law's body, from both memories of that terrible day, and of the not so recent past of being shot on Dressrosa. It didn't matter that the bullets weren't going to be used on him this time. It was enough to know Doflamingo's intentions, and the fact that Law could do nothing but lie there with that knowledge.
Doflamingo said he would kill Kidd.
Law didn't have any doubt in his mind that the former warlord would do it. That Doflamingo would shoot Kidd, knowing that it would be emotionally destroying for the Heart Pirate and a hurt that wouldn't fade. Just like the hurt of losing Corazon had never really faded from Law's mind.
"It really is such a shame that you couldn't be bothered to take me seriously."
Law had no strength to move his body. The Heart Pirate wanted to, badly, to do something, anything, really, to prevent Doflamingo from shooting Kidd. But Law couldn't get up from where he lie, so he couldn't get himself over to Kikoku lying some distance away from him. His body wouldn't listen to him anymore, no matter how hard the Surgeon of Death struggled to do otherwise. Law froze when he heard the gun go off several times and found it ominous that Kidd made no sound while being shot.
"Don't go anywhere, Law." Doflamingo said casually, as if he hadn't just shot a man. "Not that you can, as you are. But still…can't be too careful…"
Law couldn't hold back an agonized scream as his body was pierced by string, presumably to keep him pinned face down on the ground. It was eerily reminiscent of when Doflamingo had pinioned him to the cabin wall of the former warlord's ship. It appeared that Doflamingo was thinking along similar lines.
"Remember the last time I did this?" One of Doflamingo's fingers tugged sharply on the string that went through Law's shoulder, ignoring the breathless gasp. "How I told you that a physical reminder goes well with a verbal reprimand to make it that more effective?" Doflamingo flicked a few more strings that pierced Law's body, drawing out soft whimpers as the string dug further into flesh. "It's too bad you don't take my lessons to heart, Law. We wouldn't be here, if you had." As an added insult, Doflamingo pierced Law's right hand through the bone.
The Heart Pirate opened his mouth, but no sound came out the pain was so great. By now, the feeling in his right arm had all but fled, leaving behind nothing but a throbbing, burning pain.
"Do not think that I won't torture you to death as soon as I am finished with those other fools. I'll make you scream and curse my name, but I won't kill you until you beg me to, and even then your death won't be easy." Doflamingo pulled on the string that had gone through Law's right hand. Doflamingo chuckled at the agonized writhing that followed, which only caused the other strings to cut into Law's flesh until the Heart Pirate went still with a sob of utter agony. "That's a bit better. It seems I might be getting through to you now. Not that you will find any mercy from me. All your chances have been used up, and my patience is at an end."
Law closed his eyes, the pain making him dizzy. He knew there were tears in his eyes from the amount of pain and humiliation Doflamingo was visiting on his limbs, and there was nothing he could do to make it stop.
"It really is too bad, Law. Had you stayed with me, instead of throwing in your lot with my brother, I could have had someone with the will of D working for me." Doflamingo laughed lowly. "And now, your time is running out. Enjoy being alive awhile longer. Fufufu." Heavy footsteps receded, indicating that the former warlord had gone off in search of Killer and Luffy.
Silence reigned, and all that Law could hear was his own labored breathing. Every small movement was painful, but another hurt crept in, one that Law couldn't deny no matter how much he wished otherwise. Tears began to fall, mainly from the shock of his pinioned limbs but also from the way that his right hand was all but losing feeling. There was a very good chance that Doflamingo had caused irreparable damage to the hand. Law breathed in and out, trying not to dwell on his hand, and instead ended up promptly remembered the gun shots fired moments before.
Kidd.
Was Kidd…?
Law briefly opened his eyes before he closed them again, after accidently making a minute movement that sent a shockwave of pain throughout his whole body via the strings that had pierced his limbs. Had Doflamingo…shot Kidd in the head? His chest? Was that why the red haired captain had made no sound? Had Doflamingo ended the other pirate's life with just those few shots? Or had he-
"Fuck."
The abrupt curse drew Law's attention, and the Surgeon of Death could hardly believe he had heard the sound at all. Hadn't Doflamingo shot Kidd?
"Motherfucker. I'll kill that bastard."
It was Kidd's voice all right, but as proof to how poor of shape Law was in, he could barely react when a shaky hand began to carefully run through his hair.
"Eustass-ya?" Law's voice was a pained whisper, not daring to try and move his head, lest he accidently dig the string into his flesh even further. "But…he shot you…"
"Bastard doesn't remember my powers." Kidd grumbled as he absently ruffled Law's hair. As if Kidd was reassuring himself that Law was still breathing. "I used some metal to deflect the bullets." The red haired captain bit out a few grumbling curses before sighing, "The bullets still went in a bit, but it was better than nothing, I guess."
Law wanted to say more, but was in too much agony to do so. Kidd was alive, and he supposed that was enough for now. He could barely form any thoughts at all, due the string and the way each strand pierced his flesh.
"That damn asshole." Kidd apparently noticed Law's predicament.
"Don't touch them. Hurts." Law breathed out, and heard Kidd curse as he accidently did so, "Don't do it…again. Joker-ya will…notice."
"Well, don't just lie there and take it, Trafalgar. Use your power and get away from it."
"I can't focus." Law let out a soft sigh. "And there's nothing to use to…change positions. Doubt you'd…want to take my place." Law quieted when he felt Kidd's hand move away from where it had gone back to his hair. "Eustass-ya?" No response. Law painfully turned his head to the side, gingerly resting it right back on the ground. He saw Kidd sit near him, and hold up a rock in his hand. Law realized that the only thing that remained of Kidd's left arm was a stump, the metal limb nowhere to be seen. Law's vision wavered as he attempted to take in Kidd's words.
"Will this work?" Kidd asked, brandishing the rock.
"It should." Law closed his eyes. "Set it on the ground near me."
Kidd settled on his ass instead and helpfully placed the rock on his right thigh.
"That isn't the ground…Eustass-ya."
"I bet you can't get over here." Kidd said with a weary grin. "And if you can…well, being on top of me and being held up would be better than bein' on the ground again, right?"
"It would aggravate my wounds and your own." Law said softly.
"So you can't do it, is what you're saying." Kidd teased, pleased with himself for some reason or another. "So, once this shit is over with, you're gonna come to my ship so we can…settle things between us."
"What?" Law gained some life to him as he half-scowled at the grinning red head. "I haven't even tried anything yet."
"You're going to do it then?" Kidd feigned surprise. "I thought you saying that it would bother our wounds meant you couldn't do it."
"That wasn't…what I meant." Law issued a sigh. The red haired captain could be very trying, and attempting to deal with him while wounded wasn't precisely fun.
"Then do it. Use your powers. I'm not going anywhere." Kidd watched Law with a careful eye. "Just actually land upright, yeah?"
"I'll see what I can do." Law closed his eyes as he let out a breath before he made an attempt to concentrate through the pain he was in. "R…Room." Law uttered in a near-whisper. The sphere surrounded Law, but fell short of Kidd.
"I'll make sure to boot my crew off the ship while we settle things." Kidd commented, wearing a tired yet smug expression. "It'll get pretty noisy when we get down to the negotiations and all that shit. Hell, figuring stuff out might even take a couple of days, so I hope you don't have plans to be anywhere."
"Thought you had a rendezvous to make?" Law ground his teeth and pushed himself, the room wavering down to his hand.
"Apoo and Hawkins are already waitin', so a bit more time ain't gonna make a difference." Kidd responded, before he tapped the rock, watching Law's room remain around his hand. Kidd snorted, and, despite the fact that he actually sounded worried, spoke gruffly. "That the best you can do, Trafalgar?"
"Fuck you." Law hissed out. "You don't have your body impaled."
"That's kinda in the plans for working things out between us." Kidd said with a grin, poking the rock on his thigh absently. A lusty look appeared in those amber eyes as Kidd's sight settled on Law. "And it's too bad I couldn't impale you in a different way earlier before things went to shit. But you really did need to be able to run…"
"You are unbelievable." Law groaned, before he clenched his left fist, and willed his powers to flare to life again, and succeeded in expanding the room to go around Kidd as well. Law weakly twisted his fingers, and swapped places with the rock. Before Law knew it, he was straddling Kidd's thigh, and the red head's right arm was around him back to keep him remain upright. Law shifted with a drawn face, before he gave in and carefully rested against Kidd's wounded chest with a sigh.
"You're an idiot." Law murmured at length. "Do try to keep me from putting any unnecessary pressure against your collarbone."
Kidd was silent, which seemed unusual, as he had just been responding to every little thing the Heart Pirate had been saying before. Law had expected some crack, so he let his head move to rest on Kidd's shoulder in order to look up at the red head's face. Law was startled to find Kidd staring down at him with an unreadable expression. Since Law wasn't sure what to make of it, he chose to address Kidd's earlier words.
"It appears as though I won your bet, which would put you on my ship." Law couldn't help but let his lips twitch into a smile over the thought that Penguin and the rest of his crewmates wouldn't appreciate the red haired captain on the ship.
"If we make it out, I can drive your crew-mates outta the ship by fucking you. Maybe against a wall, 'cause that would make them scatter faster." Kidd offered a hint of a grin, before it slipped away and the red head resumed staring at Law as if trying to read his mind.
"What is it?" Law questioned, unable to stand being stared at in such a way. The unmistakable concern bothered him for some reason, as if Law didn't think the other captain had it in him to feel concern, and especially not for Law. The dark haired pirate sagged against Kidd, and supposed, from all of the red haired captain's actions since Law had run into Kidd again, that Law didn't have a right to say anything about it. If Kidd wanted to worry about him, Law would let him, even if it seemed a completely foreign concept.
Kidd looked away briefly as he muttered something under his breath, a faint tinge of a blush rising on his cheeks as he said it.
"Eustass-ya?" Law blinked, unable to make out the quiet words. Though from the blush that had made its way on the pale skin, Law felt he could hazard a guess. There wasn't really much that could faze the younger captain. "What did you say?"
"I said that you sure picked a strange time to say that…that you loved me." Kidd said gruffly, this time a little louder, though he couldn't look Law in the eyes as he said it.
"I don't know what you mean." Law said softly, guarded even as he turned over his words that he had said to Kidd earlier. Law closed his eyes when Kidd's right arm tightened around his lower back and held him closer, though it was clear the other captain was being heedful of Law's bleeding right arm. Law stilled further when Kidd leaned over and rested his head on Law's left shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh before he spoke in a flat tone.
"Really? 'Cause I know you said it. Something to the effect of you not wanting to lose someone you love again?"
Law realized that he had said that, and to his surprise, doesn't even have to say anything, because Kidd's voice dropped lower, a hint of confusion in his voice, like he wasn't even sure of himself.
"I think I love you."
"I know that." Law said bluntly. "Why else would you do all the things you've done for me?"
"You knew?" Kidd sounded suspicious, but he didn't move his head from Law's shoulder. "You didn't say anything."
"You said it yourself before. Though I don't think you realized it at the time, as distracted as you were." Law held still as Kidd breathed against his nearest ear.
"I did?" Kidd's face scrunched up as he tried and failed to recall ever saying anything remotely sounding like 'love'.
"I believe the phrase 'love you too' were your exact words, when you were kicking around in that cell when I'd swapped you into Penguin's body. I was honestly too stunned at the time to say anything about it, so I decided to ignore it for the time being." Law settled against Kidd heavily. "…I think I was lying to myself for a time…so that I wouldn't have to face the fact that I have grown…fond of you." Law sighed. "Doflamingo forcing me to attack you solidified it."
"I did not say that." Kidd was pretty sure he wouldn't have said such a word so flippantly, before he snorted at Law's other words. "Fond. Sure." Kidd went completely still when Law let out a faint sound. "Arm?" Kidd asked, carefully loosening his hold as he lifted his head off of Law's shoulder to look down at him.
Law merely gave a faint, barely discernable nod.
"Well, at least it is still attached." Kidd said as he tested the limb by poking it lightly here and there, which drew a hiss of pain from Law. "And you still have feeling in it too."
"Despite cracked bone." Law fell silent momentarily, before he spoke again, albeit a bit shakily, "We need to get out of here." Law reached up with his left hand to halt Kidd's own. "We need to go, before Doflamingo realizes that I'm no longer restrained."
"You know, Law, you seem to have a very bad habit of freeing yourself when I am trying to punish you." Doflamingo's voice sounded directly behind the two captains, the fury in his voice clear.
Law shoved his weight against Kidd at Doflamingo's words, causing the wounded red head to fall over with a curse. But it saved the both of them from being hit by Doflamingo, who tore apart the trees behind them.
Law didn't think that much time had passed, and the older blond, when Law glanced over his shoulder, looked highly irate. Doflamingo had obviously not found Killer or Straw Hat. And since Doflamingo knew that Law had presumably been unable to go anywhere, likely came back to finish him off. Law's thoughts were brushed aside in favor of a burning agony as Doflamingo reached over and seized him by his wounded arm, drawing out a tortured cry.
"Trafalgar!" Kidd was halfway to getting to his feet when Doflamingo kicked him, sending Kidd backward into another tree. Before Kidd could recover, Doflamingo kicked him again, the force enough to break the tree. Kidd fell limply to the ground, where he curled on his left side, gasping for breath.
"I told you not to interfere, brat."
Satisfied that Kidd would not rise any time soon, Doflamingo dangled Law in front of him, and gave him a shake when it seemed that the Surgeon of Death had passed out from the pain. Doflamingo wore a savage grin of pleasure at the moans issuing from Law.
"Stop." Law's voice was all but gone, thick from agony. "Stop."
"Why stop? I'm going to kill you anyway, so causing you as much pain as possible should suffice as a lesson before you die. A lesson of why you should have never gotten on my bad side." Doflamingo squeezed the wrist tightly, which drew out a sob from Law. The Heart Pirate was clearly in too much pain to control himself and keep as silent as possible. Doflamingo struck the limb point blank with a few Bullet Strings, before he was content to wait until all the fight drained out of Law.
Law tried to free his did. He really did try. Desperately, but it didn't seem to matter. Doflamingo's grip was punishing, and any manner of resistance merely added to the unending pain that continued to flare throughout his abused limb. Law made a few frantic motions born of pure desperation in a last ditch effort to free his hand from Doflamingo's hold, but the Heart Pirate was losing too much blood, and being briefly pinioned earlier had left his left arm weak as well. The moment Law's left hand lost its frantic scrabbling against Doflamingo's hand, the dark haired pirate let all motion cease. Law went limp, his body too worn out to do much more than let Doflamingo do as he would. Another rough shake drew out hoarse sobs and whimpers from Law, the continued pull on his arm too much. Law was too far gone to hold back the tears, so as to not allow Doflamingo any satisfaction to know that he was hurting him.
"I wanted you to be my right-hand man, Law, before you left with Corazon. You would have done so well, but you betrayed me." Doflamingo held Law aloft, so that the other pirate's right arm was in line with his eyes behind the shades. "All those lessons from my family. Lessons that would have served you well had you taken the heart seat." Doflamingo's smile stretched, obviously noting the tears. "Does it hurt, Law? I can change that." Doflamingo grinned. "Fufufu. I can make it worse." With one savage sweep of his hand, Law's arm was severed, leaving behind a short, bloody stump.
Law hit the ground with a soundless scream.
"That should keep any ideas of moving from that spot at bay." Doflamingo ignored Law writhing around on the ground as he turned in the direction of where Kidd lie on his side, still gasping and struggling to regain his breath. Doflamingo briefly looked over his shoulder at Law. "I'm surprised those bullets didn't kill him." Movement brought Doflamingo's attention back to the red haired captain, as he spotted Kidd propping himself up with his right arm, an angry glare fixed on the former blond haired warlord. "What? He was going to lose the arm anyway, so I merely did him a favor. Besides, he's going to die soon anyway, as will you." Doflamingo raised his hand. "I'll just have to cut you to ribbons, since the gun didn't seem to do the trick."
Law was barely conscious at this point, but he'd been able to use his powers to tie a scrap of cloth around his stump of a right arm. It was sloppy, and Law knew that he was losing even more blood than before. The Surgeon of Death saw the danger, saw that Kidd would not be able to get out of range, and made one last effort with his powers. It was the only thing left that he could think to do, and he did it without a second thought. Law blindly swapped places with Kidd as Doflamingo's strings fell. The Heart Pirate felt only the initial bite of the strings digging into his flesh before he knew no more.
-x-x-x-
Kidd realized what Law had done when the anticipated fall of the strings did not strike him. Instead, there was a snarl of frustration. Kidd lifted his head in time to see Law's body go limp on the ground, where Kidd's had been moments before. Doflamingo was beside himself with fury, flexing his hand before he dropped it to his side and his lips stretched into a terrifying smile.
"If you're so eager to die, Law, then I will oblige you this one time." Doflamingo lifted a foot. "Even you can't recover from a smashed skull!"
Kidd felt himself go cold at that, unable to get his body to cooperate. The most he could do was keep himself propped up and watch as Doflamingo made to stomp down on Law's unmoving form. Things Kidd realized he wanted to say to Law sprang unbidden in his mind, but Kidd couldn't move. It wasn't fear that kept him in place, but pure exhaustion.
He couldn't move. Couldn't concentrate enough to draw on his powers, to try and distract Doflamingo. The red haired captain could barely make a piece of metal twitch on the ground, let along rise and strike the former warlord. Kidd wasn't able to move, which meant he could only watch helplessly as Doflamingo's foot neared Law's head.
A blurred shape came out of the surrounding trees and landed next to Law, a smaller sandaled foot shooting out to block Doflamingo's larger one from making contact with Law's head.
Kidd didn't realize he'd slumped in relief. Straw Hat had recovered his haki just in time.
"Law's fate is sealed." Doflamingo said coldly, not at all surprised by Luffy's appearance.
"I told you before that you can't hurt him anymore." Luffy told Doflamingo.
Kidd could see that Straw Hat was glaring at the warlord and the look reminded Kidd of when he'd first caught sight of Luffy, and the way he'd walloped that Celestial Dragon. If that look was any indication, Luffy was ready to beat the shit out of Doflamingo and put him down into the ground if need be. Kidd grinned. That he had to see, so he wasn't going to pass out any time soon. Not until the battle was over with. As much as Kidd hated to admit it, he wouldn't be able to be the one to deliver the final blow. But at the very least he'd gotten some hits in, and that would have to be good enough.
"Ah, Tra-guy! What happened to your arm?" Apparently Luffy was so focused on the idea of kicking Doflamingo's ass and defending Law from further injury that he hadn't noticed the Heart Pirate's newest wound.
"He won't need that arm anymore." Doflamingo smiled sharply at Luffy as he lifted his foot away. "Besides, I'm not going to hurt him."
"You already did." Luffy made a face. "Are you an idiot?"
Kidd smothered a laugh at the peculiar look that crossed Doflamingo's face, before he torn up the ground with some string.
"I did already hurt him." Doflamingo agreed a nasty grin, calming almost immediately. "I'm just going to be killing him now." With that, Doflamingo's foot flashed down toward Law's head once more.
"I won't let you!" Luffy bowled into the older pirate, armament haki in effect as it clashed with Doflamingo's as the black haired teen struck Doflamingo's foot with his own.
"Out of my way, brat!" Doflamingo spat, as he sent several Bullet String Law's way. "Law isn't leaving this island alive!" The former warlord snarled when Luffy was suddenly right in front of him again, and blocked the strings that had been aimed at Law. Doflamingo found himself driven backward by Luffy, further and further away from the unmoving Heart Pirate.
Luffy perked up at something before he unexpectedly threw himself at Doflamingo and wrapped his rubbery arms around the older pirate's arms, drawing them behind his back. Doflamingo tried to throw Luffy off, not too sure what to make of Straw Hat exposing his chest, but Luffy clung to him determinedly, and despite taking Bullet Strings, yelled as loudly as he could.
"Now Tra-guy!"
"Law isn't going anywhere, Straw Hat Luffy." Doflamingo began, only to take a step back when Kidd launched a metal piece into the air with a frustrated, pained shout, the metal rising above Doflamingo. The reason soon became apparent when Law's room suddenly activated. Doflamingo furrowed his brow. He could have sworn Law had been immobilized and-
Law appeared in place of the metal, his eyes clear yet pained, brow furrowed, and holding a blade of blue light in his left hand. Law swung the blade of light and struck it deep into Doflamingo's chest, gasping out, "Gamma Knife."
Doflamingo coughed out blood and Law, after holding the blade of light in Doflamingo's chest a few moments longer, dropped away and collapsed to the ground with a wheeze of "Straw Hat."
Luffy promptly let go of Doflamingo's arms and kicked him in the back, sending the former warlord backward and onto the ground, where he rolled along until he came to a rest. Luffy glanced down at Law, as if wondering if his fellow captain wanted to land the finishing blow. It was also clear that Luffy was concerned for his friend.
"I can't…do anymore." Law offered a faint smirk as he closed his eyes and gave a jerk of his head. "But that attack…should slow him down…" Law went quiet, his breathing becoming labored.
"I'll kick his ass." Luffy promised from somewhere overhead. "And then we'll all leave this island."
"I hadn't any idea you had such a nasty surprise up your sleeve, Law." Doflamingo laughed from where he was on the ground, and, after a few moments, coughed. Doflamingo was silent for a few moments longer, before he rose, hand to his chest. "I've repaired my organs, but I can't heal them, exactly." The older pirate's shaded gaze fixed on Luffy, and began to move with purpose toward him.
Luffy, in the meantime, looked ready to continue their brawl, as he suddenly activated Gear Four once more. Luffy launched himself into the air, which drew Doflamingo after him.
"Kidd!" Killer emerged from the surrounding trees, but before he could reach his captain, Kidd called out to him in return.
"How's Law?"
Killer paused mid-step, and appeared to consider ignoring his captain's words, before he merely shook his head and went over to check on Law.
Kidd didn't have to wait long, as Killer actually brought Law over, and laid the wounded Heart Pirate captain on his side.
"I figured you needed to see him for yourself." Killer commented.
Law's stump of a right arm twitched, and he groaned, before going still and quiet.
Kidd dragged himself close, and cautiously prodded the other captain in the head.
"Don't…do that…" Law said hoarsely, "…idiot."
"Who's the real idiot?" Kidd muttered, as he ran a hand through Law's hair instead. "Doing something so reckless."
"Didn't want your crewmate…to kill me if…I got you killed." Law slurred, before he coughed, winced and then went still with a sigh.
"Oy, Killer, help me up. I wanna see Doflamingo get his ass handed to him."
"You really ought to rest." Killer shook his head again, even as he helped Kidd up and helped the red haired pirate lean against a broad tree.
"I am resting." Kidd sagged back against the tree and grinned up at his crew-mate. "See? I'm resting against the tree and not movin'."
"…You should be in a hospital, Kidd."
"I'd just get arrested, so let's stick to you and the rest of the crew tryin' to figure out how to piece me back together." Kidd's grin faded as he glanced in Law's direction. "Guess he needs to be pieced together more than me." Kidd was silent a moment, before he motioned to the Heart Pirate with his right hand. "Hey, Killer, bring Trafalgar over here. He needs to see the fight too."
Killer, with obvious reluctance, went over to Law and stooped down. His hand stopped short when Law issued a low sigh and soft words.
"Leave me be. I will not be able to keep myself upright." Law winced and let out a pitiful moan when Killer lifted him off of the ground anyway, and Law went limp, doing his best not to move. "Eustass-ya can do without my company for a time. I need to rest."
"You can rest with me, Trafalgar." Kidd was starting to feel a bit loopy from the pain. "Tree's not going anywhere."
"You're both idiots." Killer said with a sigh as he settled Law against Kidd's right side.
"Shut up, Killer, and help get my arm over his shoulders." Kidd grumbled. "I can hold him up if he starts to fall over."
"What about your wounds?" Killer asked, indicating Kidd's collarbone.
"I can deal with a bit more pain."
Killer hesitated, before he did as asked, and this time, Law didn't make a whisper of protest, and merely seemed to lean against Kidd heavily, as if resigned, once the red haired captain's arm was over his shoulders.
"They're really ramping things up." Killer commented of the fight going on in the air above them all. "It's going to come down to whether or not Straw Hat can hit Doflamingo hard enough to end things." The blond haired Kidd pirate kept his weapons at the ready nonetheless.
"Apoo and Hawkins are going to give me shit for being late to the rendezvous point." Kidd muttered, falling quiet as he felt Law sag against his side, and heard labored breathing no better than his own. Kidd turned his head so that his breath fell on Law's head, as his mind switched trajectory. "Hey, Trafalgar. Did you mean it? What you said?"
"Wasn't…a lie." Law seemed to know what Kidd was talking about. "Don't need to lose…anyone else." Law's left hand reached up to rest on Kidd's before he grasped it.
"That's not an answer." Kidd could sense Law's hand grow weaker, and gripped it with his own. "Don't you fucking die, Trafalgar. You wanna watch that bastard eat dust, don't you?"
Law made a noncommittal sound, but Kidd would take it as agreement. The red haired captain held tight to Law's hand, and raised his head to watch the fight in the sky unfold.
-x-x-x-
Law could barely take in any breath without his body taking offense. His right stump spasmed now and again, as if not fully realizing that the rest of the arm was no longer there. Everything was on fire, and Law found that he had trouble keeping his eyes open. Kidd's grip on his hand felt like the only thing anchoring him to the land of the living, and if he let go, Law would fall into darkness, and likely never wake up. The way the red haired captain held his hand was bordering on painful, but it let Law know he was alive. Alive, after Doflamingo had abused him for so long, tearing into his flesh with his Devil Fruit powers.
"Stay awake." Kidd muttered from overhead, and Law felt the younger captain rest his chin on top of his head. Law struggled to remain conscious, and weakly twitched his hand within Kidd's grasp to let the other captain know he was awake.
For now.
Because Kidd was right.
Law wanted to see. He wanted to watch. The Heart Pirate captain had gotten Luffy and the other Straw Hats involved in the disaster that was Dressrosa, and then his own crew and Kidd as well, so it was only fitting that he saw the outcome. But Law's vision was becoming blurred, the sounds around him dimming. The slashes across his back from Doflamingo's strings ached terribly, and Law twitched again, unable to prevent his whole body from shuddering as a lance of pain shot through him. It only caused him more pain, and he leaned against Kidd further, drawing a gasp from the younger captain. Law tried to move, but Kidd squeezed his hand again and whispered a single word.
"M'fine."
Law highly doubted he hadn't caused the red haired captain pain by jostling his wounds by moving around, but Law was so exhausted that he would take the younger captain's assurance that it was fine for him to lie limp against him.
"Check it out, Trafalgar. Straw Hat just smashed Doflamingo into the ground again."
Law closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath as he turned and leaned against Kidd further. Unfortunately, the small movement caused Law to utter a soft cry of pain, as the minute movement had caused the slashes across his back to brush against Kidd's arm over his shoulders.
"Shit. Hold still." Kidd adjusted where Law lie against him, but the damage had already been done, leaving Kidd with a barely conscious Law. "You're a pretty…stubborn bastard. Arm cut off, back torn up, and you're still conscious." Kidd sounded proud of his fellow captain for this accomplishment. "Be even better if you stay awake long enough for Doflamingo to eat dirt."
Law knew that Kidd was trying to keep him awake, and it was working, for now. How long Law would last before the pain overwhelmed him and sent him into unconsciousness, he wasn't sure, nor was Law entirely sure he would survive his wounds. His injuries were far greater than they had been back on Dressrosa. But, as the Heart Pirate struggled to focus on the battle overhead, Law knew one thing was certain.
He'd be damned if he died when there was a slim chance that Doflamingo would be defeated. So Law kept his blurring gaze on the battle in the sky, and held as tight as his failing strength allowed to Kidd's hand, and felt the red haired captain hold his hand firmly in return. As Law watched the attacks being traded overhead, the Heart Pirate realized in that moment that allying himself with Straw Hat could be what saved Kidd and himself from a messy death.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
A/N: Woo another chapter is edited and up! Getting close to the end. Glad I was able to finally word after three weeks of not being able to write anything. Kept some ideas from the manga in recent updates, since in this fanfic, Law and Luffy hadn't defeated Doflamingo in Dressrosa.