Chapter 9
Ace woke up alone in bed, curled up in blankets and breathing in a familiar scent, though he could also smell bacon cooking in with that which made him sit up, mumbling as he rubbed his eyes and slipped out of bed. He was never a good early riser but he could smell food and his lover was missing from bed. That meant Smoker was making food. He might get some too if he was quick enough downstairs.
He managed to make his way to the table, hearing Smoker chuckling about something while he slumped down, resting his head on his replacement pillow. He heard something getting placed down on to table and reached out for it, relieved when his hand closed around a familiar mug. He greedily drank down the coffee, relieved when he felt some life return to him.
"You always seem better after that sugar abomination." Smoker said gruffly as Ace stretched out, his body didn't feel as heavy and his head felt clearer.
Huh, guess he did need a good sleep then, that or coffee, sugary, sweet coffee.
"I still can't believe you drink yours black." Ace wrinkled his nose in distaste, earning a smirk.
"Much better than several mountains of sugar and cream." Smoker teased as he sat down a plate. "Now eat your damn breakfast."
"Thank you babe." Ace chirped, grinning at Smoker's scowl as he dug in.
Smoker let out a hum. "You look much better than you did last night."
"I still don't appreciate all of you drugging me to sleep."
"Then look after yourself instead of letting the narcolepsy knock you out."
Ace sighed. "I have been trying to sleep but I can't. I'm just restless..."
"You should be going out and doing something fun Ace. Not sulking." Smoker admonished.
"Thatch is dead though! I should be trying to avenge him, not sitting about with you lot guarding me like mother-hens!"
"And it's stressing you out, leaving you restless at night." Smoker pointed out bluntly, making Ace groan and slouch against the table.
He just wanted to take his sugary, heavenly coffee and go hide back up under the covers in Smoker's room. It was comfy and nice in there and wasn't full of lectures like everyone else was. Smoker looked as if he was going to speak up again but the door bell ringing interrupted him, making the older man frown.
"Who the hell is at the door at this time?" Smoker grumbled as he went to answer it, leaving Ace to finish his plate before grabbing an apple to munch on too. "Oh fuck, what are you two brats doing here?"
Ace paused at that, confused as he jumped out of his chair to go see what the cursing was about, blinking when he registered a certain blonde and a dark haired kid at the door. The blonde bowing to Smoker while the dark haired one laughed and grinned brightly.
"Luffy? Sabo? What are you doing here?" Ace asked, confused.
"We're taking you for the day." Sabo announced. "Marco said it was fine as long as we kept you with us at all times."
"Yey." Ace cheered sarcastically.
"And you decide to show up at my door now? Long before I go to work?" Smoker asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I wanted to see Ace!" Luffy beamed, about to run inside only for Smoker to shut the door on him, locking it.
"Pretending they aren't there?" Ace asked smugly, already knowing it would never work.
Smoker grumbled. "I'm going to enjoy my damn breakfast. It will be peaceful and quiet and your little brothers better both shut up and stay out there."
Ace snorted and followed after him. "Yeah like that's ever going to happen."
The small, rubber form crashing through the window not even ten minutes later proved exactly that. After that Smoker decided he was going to work early, got him to go get changed and kicked them all out the house. Ace smiled though when his lover kissed his lips, earning a protest from Luffy while Ace happily deepened it until his lover pulled away, telling him they'd meet again later before getting in his car and driving off.
"So Ace." Sabo spoke up, sounding peeved. "What did the Whitebeard's give Smoker?"
"What do you mean?" He asked wearily, remembering just how protective Sabo actually was.
"What did they drug you with?" Sabo asked bluntly, eyes cold as one of his eerie smiles curled on to his lips.
"Ah crap Sabo that's a scary smile!" Ace yelled in alarm. "I'm fine! Holy shit! Quit with the whole protective thing already! And stop having me watched too while you're at it!"
"Wah! Sabo's scary!" Luffy cried out.
.::.
"Lami, I heard someone come down here." Rebecca mumbled out, looking a bit surprised.
Lami frowned at that, knowing that currently no one apart from themselves and her father were meant to be down in the underground laboratory right now. It made her grimace as she grabbed her beloved sword and walked out the room.
"Those elven ears of yours so are useful, Rebecca, be a dear and go tell Doffy would you? I'll go greet whoever is here."
"Are you sure you want to go by yourself?" Rebecca asked, concerned.
"I'm good." Lami smiled sweetly, waving the young girl off as she walked away.
It didn't take her long to track down their guests, finding the pair still near the entrance thankfully which made Lami smiled as she approached, glancing over them and pausing, surprised.
"My, I wonder what the famous Captain Smoker would want here." She chuckled. "Or perhaps I should say Vice Admiral? It's funny to think that you haven't even bothered telling your boyfriend about that pretty hefty rank to your name."
Smoker stiffened at that before glaring while Tashigi, the young Vampire beside him, shifted, looking uncomfortable. "How does she know-"
"About Portgas D. Ace? He is a very special boy that one." Lami chirped, giggling as she jumped back just as smoke landed right where she had been. "Oooh, you really don't like me talking about him."
"I don't know what you're talking about. He's a criminal-"
"He's more than that. Vault Keepers are very rare after all, Smoker." Lami laughed, amused at the pure horror and anger in his eyes. "Did you really think the Donquixote family would not find out?"
"A Vault Keeper?! Ace-san?!" Tashigi gasped while Smoker gritted his teeth, growling.
Lami huffed. "You both really should have just stayed out of here but no. You had to go and be noisy, though I guess that does suit you, doesn't it Smoker? Heh, you really are just like a dog aren't you?"
"Fufufufu, winding people up are we Lami?"
She didn't even bother glancing back, knowing who exactly was stepping into the hallway behind her, Doflamingo ruffling her hair which made her instantly relax at the warm feeling. Doflamingo flexed his fingers and string instantly flew at Tashigi but Smoker blocked the blow, glaring at them both.
"Tashigi we need to leave. Garp needs to know."
"Fufufu, you should worry less about your Vault Keeper. Even I would rather not get on Whitebeard's bad side just yet. The little brat is safe from me for now, his brother on the other hand is on my bad side." Doflamingo smiled darkly. "No, I would more worry about your predicament."
Lami watched as Doflamingo lunged at Smoker before turning to the Captain who looked alarmed at Smoker's and her father's fight. Lami stepped up though, swinging her sword and causing the swordswoman to instantly block.
"I would pay less attention to them and more to me Tashigi-chan." Lami smiled sweetly but frowned when Tashigi managed to twist their blades and force her back with a close swing.
The girl's swordplay was far better than her own and Lami found herself quickly disarmed. It hadn't mattered though, she wasn't aiming to beat the Vampire with that, her other hand, her dagger wielding hand, had been faster and shoved into Tashigi's chest. Exactly where the heart was.
"TASHIGI!" She heard Smoker howl just as the girl gasped and dropped her sword, shuddering.
Lami chuckled though as she grabbed Tashigi's hand, intertwining their fingers and squeezing them reassuringly. "It's alright, I'm healing her heart continuously while my knife is still shoved in there."
"How the hell-" Smoker snarled, looking ready to storm over but his eyes were wide when she twisted the dagger a little, making Tashigi cry out in pain and cough up blood.
"Ah, don't be a hero Vice Admiral. Behave." Lami smirked darkly.
"Fufufufu, Lami's a Spirit Healer, she can heal your dear Captain even with a dagger plunged into her heart." Doflamingo laughed mockingly. "If she stops however, the girl dies."
"It would be a shame. Tashigi is a pretty girl too." Lami mused. "I would love to keep her as one of my dolls, she could join Rebecca."
She heard Rebecca huff from the other side of the hall where she had stood all this time. "Is that all you really see me as Lami? How mean."
"Sorry Rebecca darling! You're just too cute!"
Smoker cut in though, eyes dark and full of rage. "Leave her alone."
"Doffy?" Lami asked, curious if he wanted something specific done.
Her father chuckled, looking completely amused now. "It's time to obey then dog. If you don't want my darling Lami to keep your Captain as a plaything you will do exactly as I say."
"I'd treat her better than most of my playthings. She would even be a doll." Lami chimed.
"What do you want?" Smoker growled.
"Sm-Smoker-san don't-" Tashigi tried to speak but Lami hushed her.
"Don't speak, the adults are talking darling." Lami murmured into her ear, smiling.
"You're going to bring me both the Boggart Lord's and Human Lord's heads. I trust you know who they are by now? Monkey D. Luffy and Eustass Kid?" Doflamingo said gleefully.
Smoker tensed up even further and Lami found herself wondering if he would obey. It would certainly be interesting either way.
.::.
Penguin sipped at his coffee as he, Robin and Chopper all walked down the street, enjoying a shopping trip together. He didn't usually hang out with the Straw Hat's, or at least not with some of the older, serious ones, it was usually Usopp, Chopper and Luffy he liked to have a laugh with mostly but he wanted to help cheer Chopper up and he hadn't been busy.
He also wanted to see if there was anything nice he could get Killer while he was in town. Killer didn't usually wander out of their base too often which was a shame but he could understand it.
Currently Penguin was holding the few bags they had filled with books from the book store Robin and Chopper had immediately floundered towards once they laid eyes upon it. The book store did not escape them, they bought as many books as they liked and tried their best to empty the shelves.
The book store might have won, still having some stuff to sell left, but the other two seemed happy enough with the deal.
"Shadow-san, I believe that van might be trailing us." Robin murmured to him, much to his bewilderment as he glanced at the shop windows, looking at the reflections.
He only raised an eyebrow as the van pulled up beside them but he continued walking, guessing that it was just parking. Chopper was grinning brightly, pointing out some medical terms in the book and explaining them to Robin who smiled and listened to the child though she looked weary, as if she could feel that something was going wrong.
The van door opening up is when it went all wrong, along with the clicking they heard. All three turned their attention to the van and freezing in horror at the sight of Gladius and Pica, weapons aimed straight at them with Diamante grinning at them.
"Get in the van." He jerked his head to encourage them. "Don't be stupid, you can't outrun the guns."
Penguin and Robin looked helplessly at each other. "Please, let the child leave-"
"He's a pawn of Straw Hat's, he's coming too." Gladius grunted. "Obey, now."
"He's just a child." Penguin tried to back Robin up but they were silenced as a warning shot fired into Robin's shoulder, making her cry out.
They didn't hear the bullet ring out though...
No way... Not now...
"Penguin, get in the van." Penguin stiffened at that familiar voice, Rocinante's, as his body obeyed making him sharply intake some air to try and sooth his panic.
They weren't originally Kid's pawns, it was too compelling to listen to your former Lord.
"I-I don't-" Penguin hissed, trying to resist the call as his foot automatically stepped forward, taking some heed to the Lord's wishes.
"Get in, all of you."
He heard Robin gasp just as Penguin felt all of his resistance die off, he immediately obeyed, stepping into the van as Robin struggled, wide eyed and horrified and Chopper trembled. They couldn't resist for long however as Gladius moved out and shoved the pair both inside the van, locking the door behind them. Penguin sat next to his former Lord and watched blankly as the other pair were tied up.
"Always handy when they don't have their own Lord about." Diamante laughed mockingly. "Must make using your will over them much easier."
"What do you want from us?" Robin asked coldly while Penguin tried to stand but his body continued to rebel against him and listened to Cora-san instead, leaving him wanting to curse.
"Your doctor is going to our hospital to work on a cure for the Trafalgar siblings." Diamante said gleefully. "If he doesn't make it in time, we're going to kill you, Nico Robin. Slowly and painfully for some incentive."
"But I don't know how to make it!" Chopper cried out, horrified.
Diamante shrugged at that. "Well you better figure it out. Doffy wants his kids to live long, happy lives. It won't work out well if they run out of medication though, now will it?"
Chopper cried softly. "I've already been trying, I want to save Law!"
"Then you better try harder." Diamante warned. "Nico Robin is going to remain a guest of Lami's, and I'm sure Law has told you about her hasn't he?"
No, Law never did. Law had told them that he had a sister suffering the same illness but he hadn't revealed much else to the Straw Hat's. Diamante quickly caught on too because he laughed again.
"Oh man! Law never warned you about her did he? Well let me let you two in on a little secret. Lami is the most nastiest little girl in the entire world, she lives off of spite. The only people she likes are Doffy, Law and her dolls."
"Dolls?" Robin frowned while Penguin tensed.
"She treats them all like little sisters, dresses them up, plays with their hair, keeps them happy." Diamante shrugged. "I think it's about the only nice thing she does. Lami's the most spoilt brat in the whole wide world, you would think Doffy would have learned better by now but he just can't resist giving her whatever she wants."
"S-So she would make Robin a 'doll'?" Chopper asked but Diamante's bark of laughter cut him off.
"Hell no! She'll dissect her for fun! She really doesn't like you Straw Hat's, considering you guys keep helping Law runaway from us like the little brat he is!"
"She can't hurt Robin!"
"Then you better be quick and make that cure for those two."
.::.
"Fufufu, so you have our little helper then? Good job Diamante." Lami heard Doffy praise but Lami was too busy styling her new doll's hair.
Lami took a peek at her toes, smiling at the bright blue paint on her nails while Rebecca drew little white swirls on each of them. "They look so pretty Rebecca. Thank you."
"Thanks Lami." Rebecca smiled up at her. "Still a bit messy though."
"Eh, you'll get the hang of it." She shrugged back but paused just as Doffy ended the call and approached them with a big grin on his face. "Goods news Doffy?"
"Diamante managed to grab our late Dr. Kureha's pupil who is now being delivered to the hospital. Diamante also got one of the boy's little friends and Rocinante claimed one of our family members back."
"He did?! Who?!" Lami demanded, stunned.
"Fufufu, don't get too excited, it wasn't Law. Penguin's returning to us."
"Our Shadow is returning home?" Lami smiled but paused when Rebecca spoke up.
"I don't understand, what are Shadows anyway?"
"They are creatures born and bred in darkness." Her father explained. "They are fast and deadly and act as assassins in the game for most parts. They are rather rare, most don't tend to leave the darkness. Penguin has always been strangely outgoing compared to the rest of his kind."
"And that's him coming back home." Lami said. "That's good news. So he's back under Uncle Rocinante's control then?"
"I'll add my own willpower just to make sure Penguin submits. He and the others have been away for too long after all." Doffy shrugged. "But once I do, we can ask him plenty of questions about where little Law has run off too."
Lami chuckled at that. "And with Smoker going after the Boggart and Human Lord, Law should be rather distracted."
"He's still recovering anyway." Doffy told her. "Back at the restaurant his hands were trembling and still had signs of corruption on them."
Lami frowned at that, worried. "He's okay though right?"
"He'll be fine. Law's a strong thing."
He better be.
.:End of Chapter:.