Chapter 12

Zoro slouched against the wall of the sealed room, his arms chained to the wall and his swords missing, which left him in a bit of a pissed off mood already. What made it worse was that the idiot Love Cook also was missing, him, Luffy, Nami, Usopp and Smoker in the cell instead. Nami was shouting about wanting a shower, how she was all dirty and that it was horrible.

He couldn't even smell his partner's scent nor Law's. He had caught Chopper's scent earlier but he hadn't been able to follow it, the hospital's layout too complex for such an attempt. He paused when he heard Luffy stir, instantly jerking himself against the chains with a snarl.

"Where's that clown guy?! And where's Sanji?!" Luffy cried out. "I'm hungry! And Smokey you're here too?! Ah and Nami! Urgh... I'm still hungry... Zoro feed me..."

"What the hell can I even feed you with?" Zoro asked.

"...Food..." Luffy whined before perking up, his eyes on the glass window in front of them gaining Zoro's attention too to check out the threat. "Rebecca! Hey Rebecca it's been a long time! You okay?! You're dad's still looking for you, isn't that great?!"

Rebecca only frowned at him. "You shouldn't have came here Luffy-san. You're going to die."

Luffy only grinned at that. "I'll be fine!"

They paused at the sound of the door banging open, the sealed door before them unlocking and a familiar figure being thrown to the floor, letting out a pained noise. Zoro tensed while Nami let out a cry, alarmed.

"Robin!" Nami called out, struggling against the shackles keeping her hands tethered to the wall.

"She was rather frustrating." Lami remarked, or he assumed this was Lami, she smelt like Law after all, leaning against the doorway and examining her nails as if she was disinterested. "Banshees never seem to learn how to shut up so I had to cut out her tongue."

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Nami screamed while Luffy howled, thrashing again.

"You people irritate me. I don't like any of you." Lami offered, as if that was the best excuse in the world. "I don't know how Law put up with you fools."

"What did you do with Law and Sanji?!" Luffy demanded, his eyes alight with anger.

"I don't know where your vampire friend is. Dr. Caesar seems interested in him though, something to do with his 'bloodline' but Law, he's being taken back home by Vergo-san."

Nami frowned. "Law doesn't want to go back."

"He doesn't get a choice. It's for his own good." Lami stated coldly. "I can't even begin to understand why he would degrade himself like this, our father has freely given us the best lives possible. We can get anything we want. Instead Law decides to run to you people? I can't even begin to understand."

Luffy bristled as Lami turned and walked out, the door bolting shut behind her. "You sound like Sabo's family."

"What will Caesar do with them?" He heard Rebecca ask through the glass as Lami stood at her side.

"He wanted to use them all for an experiment. Doffy already agreed so they're as good as dead now." Lami said smugly. "Do you wish to watch?"

"Would you?"

"Yes, I think I would." The Spirit Healer nodded, her lips curling into a smirk which irritated Zoro.

She was completely underestimating them.

.::.

"Now that is interesting. I didn't have any idea that there was a runaway Vinsmoke." Law heard Caesar say, sounding confused. "One of the rare 'purebloods', he's no half-breed like Lord Diamante is-"

"Show some respect Caesar." He heard Vergo chid as Law fiddled with the cuffs pinning his arms behind his back.

It was uncomfortable lying down on the couch like this. The seastone chains were wrapped tightly around him, keeping his arms pinned to his sides while his wrists were clamped behind his back.

"So Straw Hat's Vampire a runaway child like Law-san is then?" He heard Monet tease.

Monet. He hadn't seen her coming. That was the worst part. He had no idea that the new secretary had been one of Doflamingo's pawns, the girl who he had let tag along to his local coffee shops and chatted with whenever she was around. No wonder Doflamingo knew where his favourite coffee shop was.

"Law-kun won't be a runaway for much longer." Vergo said as he appeared in his sight, glaring down at him. "I hope you will apologise to your father as soon as we get back home Law-kun. You have put him through a lot of trouble after all."

"I didn't ask him to try kidnap me." Law couldn't help but snark, trying not to show worry as Vergo pulled his heart out of his pocket.

"Watch your tongue Law. You let it carry on too much." Vergo warned. "You best listen. You're only a child Law, how you ever thought that you would outsmart us adults is beyond me. When you next see your father I want you to apologise to him, he will forgive you faster because of how much he loves you."

"I'm not exactly looking for 'forgiveness'." Law said but gritted his teeth when Vergo squeezed his heart.

"Come, you little brat." Vergo ordered, grabbing his arm and yanking him up to his feet. "It's time to go."

He didn't want to go. He didn't want to go back to Doflamingo.

He needed to get away. He needed to fight.

.::.

Smoker restrained a sigh, Straw Hat was still struggling against the shackles, snarls and hisses escaping him. The brat wasn't calming down and trying to look for a way out, he was just rushing in, not focusing at all. It wasn't unexpected. Straw Hat was never known for being the 'brains' of his clan.

He eyed the redhead thief, knowing that she was the brains, but her hands were pinned above her head, just like them all. He wasn't too sure how she could get out, not unless there was a distraction.

"Hey ladies. What's tonight's show then?" A very familiar voice greeted, much to his astonishment as a certain Portgas D. Ace strolled right in, as if he owned the place.

What was he doing?! Why was he even here?!

"You're-" Rebecca paled while Lami tensed, smirking as she drew her sword.

"Oh my, Fire Fist. This isn't so good." Lami chuckled wearily. "What's such a special person doing here?"

"ACE! HANG ON! LET ME KICK HER ASS FIRST!" Luffy screamed, while Nami instantly moved, a pin in her hand that was instantly pick locking the shackles.

"Wow, you've got everyone chained up then." Ace frowned though. "Except Sanji, Law and Tashigi. Mind telling me where they are exactly?"

"Shouldn't you be more worried about where you are?" Lami drawled.

"Nah, I'm good." Ace shrugged. "Besides, I'm just wasting time anyway. I have other stuff to sort out first."

Smoker frowned at that, confused when suddenly a giant furry creature dived into the room, it's hooves aimed straight for Lami's chest who dodged but when she went to move again she jerked, as if stopped. Smoker glanced down at that, noticing her feet were covered in ice.

"Yohohoho, so this is where everyone is then." Brook, a Soul Keeper, laughed softly, sounding relieved.

"We're missing Sanji and Law." Ace told him. "Think you can find them?"

"Ace! Brook! You found Chopper?!" Luffy beamed, looking relieved.

"Hi guys!" The odd, furry creature waved as it turned back into it's usual form. "Is everyone okay?"

"That bitch cut off Robin's tongue!" Nami snapped, glaring at Lami as the last shackle slipped off her wrist, freeing her.

"WE NEED A DOCTOR!" Chopper screamed, even though wasn't he the doctor of the Straw Hat clan?

"That's you Chopper!" Nami snapped before paling. "LOOK OUT!"

Smoker turned to see the pink haired girl, Rebecca, about to slash Chopper's back but Ace smacked the back of her head just as he grabbed the sword. He knocked the girl out completely, Rebecca collapsing on to the floor while Lami struggled against the ice.

"Doffy won't let you get away with this." Lami sneered.

"Running to daddy now are we?" Ace teased.

"He's stronger than any of you." The brunette stated coldly as Ace walked past, heading for the large door sealing them within the room.

Smoker waited as the door began to melt, slowly revealing his boyfriend who glanced over the shackles before heading back out. He watched Ace go over to a key panel, looking over it curiously before pressing a button which instantly released all the shackles tethering them to the wall. Smoker grunted at that, rubbing his wrists as he headed straight for his stupid lover.

"I thought I told you not to come here." Smoker growled.

"I sensed something bad happening. Remember that blood trait I have that helps me heal people I really care about? It connects me to you and Luffy. I felt something going wrong, I guess it must have been a warning about you and Luffy getting captured." Ace explained. "And then Kid felt something going wrong on Law's end. So I came and investigated."

"That was risky."

"I didn't come alone. I brought Brook." Ace pointed out.

"Ace. Don't play dumb with me." Smoker warned.

"Look, I know, you guys are all worried about me. I'm not a weakling though, so I'd appreciate it if you guys all stopped treating me like I am."

"We're trying to protect you."

"Oi!" They paused when Zoro cut them off. "Now ain't the time for a lover spat! Don't you have Tashigi to save?"

"Hey Ace, I'm going after that gas guy!" Luffy called out as he ran past. "Nami look after Robin!"

"Will do!"

"I'll go after Law then!" Ace replied, already running ahead before Smoker could even think to grab him.

"Come back here Portgas!" Smoker snapped, instantly following after his lover.

With any luck he'd find Tashigi on the way. For now he had to make sure his reckless boyfriend remained safe and out of Doflamingo's hands.

.::.

Law coughed and spluttered as Vergo gave another violent kick to his stomach, winding him further and leaving him gasping for breath as the Cultist leaned down, scooping him back up and leaving him dangling from Vergo's shoulder. Doflamingo's 'right-hand' began to continue his way down the hall again, seemingly satisfied that Law could no longer put up a struggle.

"There's no point trying to fight me anymore." Vergo stated coldly, his grip tight on his legs. "There's no chance for you to escape. Straw Hat will be dead once Caesar begins his experiment and so will many of his clan. The Human Lord's clan is already gone as well, he's probably close to death now that you've left him alone."

Law smirked at that. "You underestimate me... Y-You really think I le-left him unhealed?"

Vergo paused at that. "You used your healing abilities on him."

"Th-That and my D-Devil Fruit... I-I won't let him d-die..." Law breathed out, slumping against Vergo's back when his shoulder dug into his stomach.

"You should have just let him bleed out. Doffy will just have to finish him off himself once he hears of this."

"Excuse me?" Law froze at the familiar voice, struggling to raise his head to meet the person's eyes. "But are you able to put down Traffy-san? My Captain would be most displeased if he was taken away."

Or lack of eyes. It was certainly a peculiar Devil Fruit that Brook-ya had eaten.

"Brook-ya? You're here?" Law couldn't help but ask, startled.

"Ah yes, it's a bit of a story though." Brook offered.

Law grunted as Vergo dropped him, leaving him to bang his head off the floor much to Law's irritation. Vergo was instantly in front of Brook, swinging his bamboo stick out only for Brook to block it, his head tilted.

"You're fast." Brook noted, the pair's strikes getting faster and harder to watch.

Brook was faster, he was getting in more hits in but Vergo's were heavier. Ice was flying and Law shivered when it coiled around his chains, freezing them over, weakening them much to Law's relief. He struggled against them, trying to break free but tensed when he saw Vergo get a good hit in, sending Brook's head flying off his neck and rolling on the floor.

"Ah! My body! How could you do that?! I needed that!" Brook cried out, his head bouncing off the floor somehow while his body just collapsed. "No body don't just collapse! Come pick me up-"

He heard Brook scream louder as Vergo approached, raising his foot with the intent to crush Brook's skull, who made another one of his terrible skull jokes and laughed. Law gave one last good struggle, managing to break the chains and set himself free. He lunged, managing to yank out the knife in his boot and stab it right into Vergo's back.

He gasped in surprise though when Vergo disappeared, cursing when he finally noticed the glowing orbs, a Cultist's spores, inside the hallway before crying out when his chest protested, his heart being squeezed again. Law collapsed to his knees while Brook gaped, looking horrified.

"Law-san! Oh no he has your heart doesn't he?! This is terrible!" Brook-ya yelled, obviously panicked.

"How troublesome." He heard Vergo say, Law gasping as his heart was squeezed even more, leaving him to clutch at the ground to try shake off the pain. "Wait there Law while I deal with the Soul Keeper, then we'll leave."

"VERGO!" A sudden cloud of white invaded his vision, attacking Vergo instantly while a familiar dark haired male leapt out the smoke, at Law's side instantly.

"Hey Law." Ace greeted cheerfully. "You're really not having a good day are you?"

"That's an understatement." Law groaned. "Is it over yet?"

"Today? Not yet unfortunately." Ace said honestly, much to his despair. "So the stern looking guy is back huh? Trying to drag you back to Doflamingo?"

"Unfortunately he is very persistent. He also has my heart, which gives him a good advantage."

Ace tutted. "I can't leave you guys alone can I?"

They both tensed though, Smoker's grunts of pain and gasps making Ace glower as he gathered Brook's body and skull and dragged them to the side, Law struggling to follow.

"Think you two could stay put here? We'll take care of this bastard." Ace seethed, passing him the skull who nodded.

"We'll be fine Ace-san. Please be careful, he's surprisingly stronger than he looks."

"He's a Cultist right?" Ace asked.

"Yes." Law nodded. "Vergo mostly deals in illusions with his spores. Your fire should be able to destroy them though."

"I can handle that." Ace grinned, flames licking his hands as he moved into the smoke, soon being covered himself.

.::.

Ace frowned as the smoke began to fade, just when he finished clearing out the spores. Vergo was now holding up his lover by his neck, which nearly made Ace see red. He breathed through it though, he needed to make sure the bastard didn't try snap Smoker's neck, so for now he needed to remain calm. To try work through this.

"Smoker-kun, you should understand that humans are powerless in these kinds of situations." Vergo drawled out, much to Ace's anger as he crushed the very last spore.

He wasn't going to fall into an illusion. Not if he could help it. Nope, Vergo was dead, he wasn't going to escape by hiding behind any spells. Ace planned to tear him limb from limb and then hang his head on a spike, whenever he found a spike anyway.

"Y-You underestimate h-humans too much..." Smoker choked out, clearly in pain which set Ace off instantly.

He didn't even register himself moving, he just took off and blasted that bastard in the back with a whirl of flames, forcing Vergo to let go of Smoker and actually breath. He crouched in front of Smoker, relieved while Vergo pushed himself out of the wall he ended up in, cracking his neck and making Ace scowl further.

"You're the fucker whose been messing with Law." Ace seethed. "Now you're screwing with my guy? Like fuck I'm letting that continue."

"You're 'Fire Fist Ace'. We have our suspicions on what you are." Vergo said, which nearly made Ace shiver.

This was exactly what Smoker had warned him about earlier. The Donquixoute clan knew who he was, or well, what he was. It made Ace's skin crawl, he hated the idea. He only trusted a very few close people with that secret after all.

"What? You playing some kind of guessing game?" Ace asked, deliberately keeping relaxed.

"You're no game, Vault Keeper." Vergo grunted, Ace nearly freaking out at the name alone.

"A Vault Keeper? You must be kidding me!" Ace laughed, trying to keep confident, to try make the fucker in front of him conflicted.

It didn't work though.

Vergo sneered. "Don't bother. We've known about you for quite some time, you may have been protected by those Lords but right now you have no one to keep you out of our hands. You will led Doffy to One Piece."

Smoker hissed, massaging his throat. "If you really think I'd let you take Ace-"

"You're only human Smoker-kun." Vergo chidded. "Your capabilities are very limited, the only reason you are slightly worth even a bit of effort is due to that Devil Fruit of yours."

"You really think I need protecting from the likes of you?" Ace snapped, flames flickering off his body in warning.

"We both know Vault Keepers have no real power Ace-kun." The Cultist replied. "You may have a special connection to One Piece but without that you are little more than a human. I know how to deal with Devil Fruit users, so do not assume that you will win that way either."

.::.

"I can finally smell the Love Cook." Zoro grunted, relieved but he wouldn't admit it. "I think that copy-cat's with him?"

"Copy-cat?" Chopper asked curiously as they ran down the corridor.

"Tashigi. The Vampire girl. Jeez, she always gets herself into trouble." Zoro grumbled, he hated the bloody soft spot he had for the Vampire.

What the hell was up with him and Vampires? Kuina, Sanji, Tashigi and even bloody Mihawk.

Luffy cracked his knuckles. "I'll kick Caesar's ass while you rescue them then Zoro."

"I need to be careful." Chopper said, looking over his pouch. "I managed to make Law's medication and I left a copy behind in the lab just in case Law's sister got away-"

"You made Traffy's meds?!" Luffy beamed. "That's great news Chopper!"

"Sh-Shut up! I don't care about your praise you idiot!" Chopper blushed, looking absolutely delighted while Zoro shook his head at the sight.

It was good to know that Chopper was okay after everything. That was a relief in fact. Now he just had to go make sure both of those stupid Vampires were okay.

.::.

Law watched as Ace was slammed into a wall by the haki infused bamboo stick, the younger man coughing up blood, looking startled at the sight. Smoker snarled at that, managing to climb to his feet but Vergo was there instantly, kicking him back to the ground.

"None of you children can stand up to me. Now give up." Vergo ordered them just as Law finally finished fixing Brook's skull back on to his head.

Brook only sounded amused though. "Yohoho, that wasn't your best idea. That really was rather terrible actually."

Vergo frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"You forgot didn't you? Vault Keeper bloodlines are very special indeed, especially for one born instead of created like most are." The Soul Keeper mused.

Vergo suddenly gave a choked cry of pain, collapsing to his knees, startling Law into straightening up. Smoker sat up too, staring wide eyed just as Ace snickered.

"You're not meant to spill a Vault Keeper's blood remember?" Ace teased as he stood back up, wiping the blood off his chin. "It always awakens our blood trait and my mother gave me a very special one."

"Ace?" Smoker called out gently, Law startled at the sight of all the smoke man's wounds disappearing.

"The old fart gave me that one." Ace nodded. "When my blood spills I heal people, and I also set people's blood on fire. My mother could do that, set blood aflame..."

Law blinked, startled when Ace shifted, his cheeks burning a little. He barely saw this side of Ace, it was a funny sight.

"You... Aren't mad are you? I know I didn't tell you but..."

"You're fine Ace." Smoker grunted, moving to stand over at his boyfriend's side and run a hand over his back reassuringly. "I understand."

Smoke filled the room again, sending Vergo flying into a wall from the sounds of it. Law did pause though when he heard the sound of a heart thumping gently, his heart soon hovering in front of him, much to his relief. Law quickly took it and opened up a Room, sliding it back in, even as his vision blurred in protest. He shook his head though, trying to focus as he allowed his fruit to collapse again.

"Vergo. I'm not going to let you go back. You will only harm my men." Smoker growled as the smoke began to fade, revealing Vergo lying on his side in cuffs, looking extremely pissed.

"You're killing him?" Law asked as he shakily climbed to his feet, a bit surprised.

"My men have complete faith and trust in him. I won't let him ruin them." Smoker hissed, his eyes dark as he pulled out a pistol. "Once you're gone I'll have a raid down here and in the Donquixote mansion. They won't get away with it." Smoker growled.

"You're underestimating Joker." Vergo said calmly.

"We'll see." Smoker hissed back.

Law shook his head but glanced over at Ace who was stretching, a relaxed look on his face now while Smoker looked as grumpy as ever. He couldn't help but smirk at the contrast between the pair but managed to resist the urge to chuckle.

"Ace-ya, how's my patient doing?" Law asked.

"He's awake. He wanted to go off charging to find you but Killer held him back." Ace grinned. "It was cute, he was getting all protective over you."

Law snorted. "And you surely know how that feels."

"There's something called 'protective' and then there's 'overprotective'." Ace groaned. "I'm currently getting 'overprotected'."

"You're reckless that's why." Smoker scowled as Brook grabbed his sword, sheathing it. "I need to find Tashigi. Trafalgar, any idea where she might be? I doubt Vergo will bother giving me any answers now."

"You didn't find her?" Law frowned, surprised.

"I did but your sister did something to her. She called it 'playing with her soul'."

Law stiffened at that, stunned. "I've heard of some Spirit Healers who could do that, I never realised Lami could though. It's a rare talent."

"We have been training her to become the best Law-kun. Of course she has developed further than you have in her race's abilities." Vergo said, making Law scowl. "You've only been focusing on your Devil Fruit abilities after all."

"My Devil Fruit's better." Law shrugged as he began to walk away, ignoring the bang that went off, silencing Vergo for another game. "And I assume we'll find Tashigi once we find Luffy-ya, he always gets into trouble after all. He's probably ran into her by now."

"That or Zoro got lost and ran into her." Ace teased.

"Yohohoho, that would be something Zoro-san would do after all." Brook commented. "Oh yes, and Traffy-san, your sister cut out Robin-san's tongue earlier. I was wondering if you could do anything to fix that?"

Law grimaced. "I'll have to take a look. Depending on how much Lami took off I might be able to regrow it or we may have to find her a new one I can cut out and put in."

It didn't take them long to reunite with the others. Luffy was dumping Caesar down next to Lami who sneered at the Boggart Lord, her arms tied firmly to her sides by chains, just like Law's had been earlier. Nami was sitting beside Robin, looking horrified as she examined her wounds while Zoro strode in, Sanji and Tashigi both over his shoulders and Chopper following behind.

"Law! You're okay!" Chopper-ya beamed.

"It's good to see you're okay too Chopper-ya." Law nodded back before glancing over Tashigi and Sanji. "What happened to Cook-ya?"

"I don't know. He isn't waking up." Zoro said through gritted teeth as he sat the pair down, Tashigi unconscious. "He didn't even react when I knocked her out."

"I knocked this jerk out too." Luffy grunted, kicking Caesar's side, looking disgruntled.

"Hopefully we can free Rebecca and Tashigi from their control." Nami said while Lami scowled.

"You have no right to. They're mine!" Lami snapped, looking frustrated making Law snort.

"Someone certainly has been spoilt."

"And someone has been a fool, running away from us." His sister sneered back. "How could you? Our Uncle kidnapped you, you should want to return home! He did after all!"

"I'm still trying to figure out exactly what you did to him." Law mused. "Because I'll never believe that he willingly returned to Doflamingo's side after being kidnapped by him."

"Things change." Lami huffed.

"So what are we gonna do with all of them? We don't have a base anymore." Zoro grunted.

Nami scowled. "We can't just let them go either!"

"I'll arrest them." Smoker stated.

"On what charges? I doubt you can even prove Vergo's involvement unless you somehow manage to get a raid on this place!" Nami snapped.

"You have to though!" Chopper cried out. "These guys are experimenting on children and are infecting adults humans with the SMILE drug, it is an addictant that slowly ruins the immune system and forces them to go into hospital-"

"Ironically Doflamingo's hospital." Law pointed out. "I take it that it's completely deliberate Chopper-ya?"

"It is. If I overheard correctly he's putting them into hospital as Joker then saving their lives as Doflamingo. Not to mention the experimentations on children! He's trying to turn them into a giant army for his own disposal!"

"Our father has always been creative." Lami chimed.

"He's a madman!" Chopper shouted back, glaring at Lami who only smirked back, looking so proud of herself.

"I'm guessing whatever the addictive is in SMILE is whatever poisons the supernatural." Law murmured as he approached Robin, kneeling down in front of her. "I'll try fix what my sister did to you Nico-ya. I...I am also sorry-"

Robin shook her head at him, her hand resting over his own much to his surprise. He nodded gratefully at her though, understanding that she was telling him not to blame himself. She opened her mouth, allowing him to look.

"Well, apart of it is still there so she didn't cut the whole muscle out." Law murmured. "I can regrow it but it will take some time."

"You can fix it Traffy?!" Luffy-ya beamed at him, looking so relieved. "You're awesome! Thank you so much!"

Ace spoke up next. "Well, to answer Zoro's question... How about we take them back to our apartment while Smoker makes a case up?"

"I don't want them anywhere near you, besides, that's just showing them where you live Ace." Smoker grunted out, looking peeved.

"Look, we have to get out of here soon. Once we're at the apartment we can call Pops and he can give us a few ideas. The Whitebeards have places all over the city." Ace pointed out.

"A flat?" Lami wrinkled her nose. "Is that where you're really living Law? How disgusting."

"He really did spoil you." Law couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hey! Our apartment is awesome!" Luffy snapped.

"And you live with the Boggart Lord?!" Lami hissed. "Law how could you?!"

"We're friends!"

"Allies are still not the same as friends Luffy-ya." Law groaned.

"Give it up Law. You became our friend years ago." Ace snickered.

"Law, is there anything you can do for Tashigi?" Smoker asked, looking very reluctant.

"And Love Cook? He still ain't waking up." Zoro grunted, looking uneased as he stared down at his mate who was seemingly asleep.

Law internally sighed, he had figured it was going to be a long day but not this long. "Let's get out of here first and then I'll fix all of this. Chopper-ya should be able to help with Cook-ya but I'll need to handle Nico-ya and Tashigi-ya's situations."

"I'm not happy that you said I could handle Sanji!" Chopper flushed, looking so bashful much to his amusement. "Don't compliment me asshole! You jerk!"

"Well I'm taking Monet and Caesar and getting a raid on the hospital authorised." Smoker said. "I...I'll leave Tashigi with you Ace."

"I'll keep her safe." Ace nodded.

"Let's go then. I have plenty to do today and don't want to waste anymore time." Law grunted out.

.:End of Chapter:.