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Chapter Text

Law meandered down the street, the docked Polar Tang and the setting sun at his back and his hands stuffed in his pockets, to meet Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin for dinner. The island they’d docked at to refuel and restock wasn’t a major port by any means, but it had enough of a commercial district that the four teens had been able to find the food and supplies that they needed.

They had split up into pairs to tackle their supply lists, with Law and Bepo covering food and medical supplies while Shachi and Penguin had stayed in the small port to secure fuel and have a mechanic give the Tang a once-over. Once the necessities had been procured and dropped off at the ship, the four went their separate ways for a few hours of shore leave before planning to meet for dinner.

Law, for his part, had spent most of his time in the local bookstore, browsing for new medical texts to add to his growing collection as he continued his education as ship’s doctor. After making a few purchases, he’d ended up staying on the Tang, reading one of his new books until it was time to meet the other three.

Since leaving Swallow Island a year earlier—officially the Heart Pirates, complete with Jolly Roger and everything—Law had been unable to shake the feeling of eyes between his shoulder blades whenever the Tang surfaced or docked. Though Doflamingo had been named a Warlord and had recently taken over the throne of a kingdom in the New World while Law’s crew remained in the North Blue, he knew his old boss had eyes everywhere. When they weren’t submerged, he couldn’t help looking to the sky or over his shoulder for a telltale flash of pink. The other three knew some of the history there—they’d witnessed enough of his nightmares that he’d eventually filled in some of the gaps—but they could never fully understand Law’s anxiousness at surfacing when sailing underwater provided the safest passage.

Law shook his head, his shoulders slumping further as he walked. The source of his nightmares was four years buried in the snow and halfway across the world. His friends were constantly trying to get him to lighten up and drop his paranoia—and Law supposed they had a point, not that he’d admit that to them. Though those three years on Swallow Island had provided a measure of stability Law hadn’t felt since before Lami had collapsed at the festival, he hadn’t been able to shake the restlessness under his skin, the feeling of unfinished business that haunted him, so had jumped at the chance to set sail.

Once he reached the town, Law headed right for the inn they'd decided to meet at, having noted its location earlier when he’d gone to the bookstore. He opened the door and stepped inside, looking around to see if any of the other three had arrived yet. He froze, immediately sensing that something was off. There were diners at about half the tables, but it took Law a moment to realize that none of them were eating or drinking. In fact, none of them were talking or moving at all. A heavy silence weighed the room down.

Swallowing, Law scanned the room, his gaze coming to rest on Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo at a table in the center of the room—odd, as they usually opted for corner tables to avoid notice. And they were all sitting on the same side of the table, facing the door.

Facing Law.

Alarm bells rang in Law’s head as he noticed Shachi’s and Penguin’s pale features and wide eyes as they met Law’s gaze. Bepo’s hackles were up. None of them had moved as Law entered. Law opened his mouth, but words died ashy on his tongue as the figure sitting across from them rose to his impossibly tall height and turned, pink feather coat swishing with the movement.

No…

Doflamingo grinned. “Law,” he crooned, throwing his arms out wide. “It’s so good to see you, my boy.”

Law was frozen to the spot, terror warring with rage as his heart pounded in his chest. His throat constricted. He couldn’t be here. He was supposed to be in Dressrosa in the New World, not at a small-town inn on a no-name island in the North Blue.

Law wasn’t ready to face him yet.

“What, no greeting for your boss after all this time?” Doflamingo lifted a finger, and strings wrapped around Law’s arms and chest, pulling him forward into the arms of his nightmare. Law stiffened as Doflamingo’s arms surrounded him.

After an agonizingly long moment, Doflamingo let Law go and stepped back, hands still on Law’s shoulders as he looked the teen up and down, drinking him in. Law fought the urge to fidget.

“It does my heart good to see you alive and healthy, Law.” A large hand cupped his chin and turned his face so Doflamingo could examine him. “No spots. You truly cured yourself of the incurable.”

Law swallowed as the hand dropped from his face. “W-why are you here?” he finally managed, hating the shakiness to his voice.

Doflamingo looked surprised at the question. “For you, of course.” He gestured back towards Law’s friends. “I was just getting acquainted with the rest of your crew. Come, sit.”

Law was given no choice in the matter, as the strings around his upper body pulled him to the free chair adjacent to both Doflamingo and the other three. Law awkwardly sat, and the strings fell away once he’d settled himself. Law blinked in surprise. A show of good faith?

He glanced at Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo and saw the naked fear in their eyes. The man in front of them was a Warlord and far more powerful than any of them. It was one thing to hear Law talk about Doflamingo; it was another entirely to face the man in person. He nodded minutely to them before turning his attention back to Doflamingo.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked, pleased that his voice had steadied. He tried not to think about the other people in the room who would overhear the entire conversation since they were being prevented from speaking. He could only concentrate on the danger directly in front of him.

Doflamingo waved a hand toward the bar before leaning back in his chair. “I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground for any news of the Ope Ope no Mi since you disappeared, Law. Imagine my surprise when, about a year ago, rumors started spreading about a young pirate in the North Blue using that very Fruit.”

That was exactly what Law had been worried about. He’d just hoped Doflamingo’s new status as Warlord and king would keep him too busy to come back to the North Blue.

The bartender came forward jerkily, clearly controlled by strings, with a decanter of wine. She poured a glass for Doflamingo and set the bottle down on the table before retreating. The clang of the glass on the wooden table echoed through the eerily quiet dining room.

“I confess, it was difficult getting eyes on that intriguing ship of yours,” Doflamingo went on, unconcerned with—or, more likely, enjoying—the room’s mood, “but I have my ways.”

“And you came personally?”

“Of course.” Doflamingo leaned forward, his large frame encroaching on Law’s space without even trying. He picked up the glass and took a long draught of wine before speaking once more. “After four years, don’t you think it’s time to come home, Law? It’s time to take your rightful place back with the Family.”

Law wanted to snarl that he knew how Doflamingo treated his family, that he knew what the man really wanted him for, that he’d never return to the Family after Minion Island—but the presence of his friends stayed his tongue. Doflamingo didn’t know that Law had heard his exchange with Cora-san that night, and something told Law it should stay that way, so he kept his features neutral.

“Why now?”

Doflamingo’s grin turned sharp. “I need the best at my side to rule. It was no idle promise to train you to become my second-in-command. The Heart seat waits for you, Law.”

Law’s breath hitched at the reference to the seat Cora-san had held. The seat that was empty because Doflamingo had killed Cora-san for saving Law. The seat that Cora-san tried to protect Law from taking, though Law hadn’t realized exactly what Cora-san was protecting him from until it was too late. If Law went back to the Family now, Cora-san’s sacrifice would have been for nothing.

Doflamingo was eyeing Law, and Law realized he’d clenched his hands into fists. He dropped them into his lap, and when he opened his hands, they revealed bloody, crescent-shaped wounds on his palms.

“And,” Law asked slowly, “if I were to say no?”

The atmosphere at the table, already tense, curdled at Law’s words. It was as though the temperature had suddenly dropped as Doflamingo replied, “That would be… unwise.” The man’s grip on his wine glass tightened dangerously.

Law clenched his jaw but said nothing, eyes boring a hole into the table in front of him. He could feel his friends practically vibrating in their anxiety next to him.

“Why,” the low voice continued, “would you refuse to return to your Family, Law?”

“Maybe there’s a reason I never came back,” Law ground out.

Law jumped in spite of himself at the sound of shattering glass. He whipped his gaze over to see wine spilled over Doflamingo’s hand and glass shards scattered across the table and floor.

“My brother,” Doflamingo growled, flicking wine from his fingers. “It seems I was right to worry that he poisoned your mind.”

“Cora-san saved me,” Law hissed, long-held rage uncurling in his chest and refusing to be suppressed when faced with its target. “I am alive today because of him.”

“He was a traitor, and he took you from where you belong,” Doflamingo retorted coldly as the bartender returned with rags and a broom and dustpan. She was shaking as she cleaned up the spilled wine around the tense gathering at the center of the captive room. Once the mess was cleaned up, Doflamingo dismissed her with a wave of his hand, never once looking at her.

“It’s time to come home, Law.”

His frigid tone brooked no argument, but Law had never been particularly good at taking orders. He opened his mouth, but Doflamingo cut him off with a lifted finger and three gasps. Law’s gaze flew to his friends, and his eyes widened. Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo each had a single string looped around his neck.

Fuck. Law knew that string could kill his friends before he could form a Room to protect them. Doflamingo would follow through with his threat, too. Law had seen it happen many times in his time with the Family.

“I told you, defying me would be unwise, Law.”

“They have nothing to do with this.”

“You were the one to bring them into this,” Doflamingo countered. “When you made them part of your crew.”

Law’s mind spun, running through one scenario after another but not coming up with one that didn’t end with his friends dead or him reclaimed by the Family—or both. After several tense moments, Law’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

“If I return with you, they will be unharmed?”

“Law, n—” Penguin’s objection was cut off by the tightening of the string, drawing blood. He grimaced, and Law shook his head. The danger his friends were in now was entirely Law’s fault. If going back to the Family could save them, then he’d do what he had to.

“If you do as you are told, they will be unharmed,” Doflamingo agreed.

Law took a breath, eyes shutting briefly as the fight went out of him. “Fine.”

“What’s that?” Now the bastard was just gloating.

“I’ll come,” Law gritted out. “Now let them go.”

The strings fell away from Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo’s throats, and they let out relieved breaths. The tightness in Law’s chest loosened the tiniest bit at the sight, though mostly he just felt hollow as what he’d agreed to started to sink in.

“Excellent. We leave for Dressrosa in the morning.” Doflamingo’s lips twitched. “I have an eternal pose for Dressrosa you four can use.”

Law jerked his gaze back to Doflamingo. “What? No. That wasn’t the agreement. I agreed to come back to the Family, so let them go.”

“The agreement,” Doflamingo corrected, “was that as long as you do what you’re told, Law, your friends will be unharmed.”

Law’s stomach sank as he realized the trap he’d walked into in his emotional state. He’d just damned Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo along with himself.

“Consider their lives collateral for your good behavior.” He turned to the other three, who were watching the exchange in shock. “Welcome to the Donquixote Pirates.”

Chapter Text

Seven Years Later

Law grumbled to himself as he wound his way through Grove 1 toward Doffy’s auction house. He disliked being sent on errands like this, but he had little choice in the matter. His grip tightened on Kikoku as he glanced behind him to see Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo following a half step behind him. He nodded and kept moving. He was here to do a job, after all.

Sabaody was particularly lively today, with the presence of the so-called Supernovas, ten super rookies with bounties over 100,000,000 berries. Law had never had a bounty of his own, as he’d been the subordinate of a Warlord since he was 17, though he’d often wondered what it might have been had Doflamingo not found him that day in the North Blue.

Though, he supposed, it didn’t really matter. His position had earned him a certain amount of infamy, even without a bounty.

Shachi had the wanted poster for each Supernova, keeping an eye out for any information to be had. Law’s crew had proven itself adept at intel gathering over the years, so they were often sent on such missions. Though today’s job wasn’t reconnaissance, that didn’t mean there weren’t any rumors to dig up while in the lawless zones of Sabaody—especially with such interesting figures on hand. Getting a preview of the next generation of pirates to enter the New World could be valuable.

As they moved in the direction of the auction house, Shachi pointed out some of the Supernova, including X Drake from the North Blue and Mad Monk Urouge. Law took note of each one with passing interest; while they might seem impressive after making their way through Paradise, he doubted most of them would last in the New World. Over the years, many rookies had made their names before arriving at Sabaody only to fall quite spectacularly in the second half of the Grand Line. Law had learned to keep his expectations low and had thus stopped paying so much attention to the rookies until they did something to earn the attention.

Penguin threw Law a confused look as they headed for the front door of the auction house rather than the back entrance, but Law shook the other man off. Penguin shrugged and followed his lead; these three had been dealing with his moods since he was a teenager, so this was hardly anything new. The guards at the auction house gaped as they approached, scrambling to greet them.

“C-corazon!” one stammered as another grabbed the door. “We didn’t know to expect you today!”

“Please, come in! Should we get Disco for you?”

Law waved them off. “No need. And no need to tell Disco-ya I’m here either. I’ll find him after business is done for the day.” Law couldn’t stand the slaver and wanted to spend as little time in his presence as possible.

“Of course.”

The guards bowed Law, Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo into the auction house. Law took a seat toward the back, draping his arms over the back of the bench, the others filling in around him. He handed Kikoku to Bepo, who took the nodachi without a word, and casually surveyed the room. When the Celestial Dragons waltzed in, Law ground his teeth but said nothing. It wasn’t part of his mission today.

“Well, well, well,” a gravelly voice said from behind Law. “It looks like there are some big names here today. First Celestial Dragons and now the second-in-command of the Donquixote Pirates. I’ve heard some nasty rumors about you, Corazon.”

Law turned his head to see a ragtag group of pirates standing at the back of the auction house. The redhead in the garish pants was clearly the leader; he stood out front of the others and exuded arrogance.

“Eustass ‘Captain’ Kid,” Shachi murmured. “He has the highest bounty of all the Supernova. His first mate, Killer, is also on the list.”

Law considered this then proceeded to flip the rookie captain off, smirking, before looking away. He heard Eustass laugh.

“Shit manners though.”

“Politeness won’t get you far in the New World, Eustass-ya,” Law said without looking back. The New World tended to humble people like Eustass Kid, Law knew from experience.

“Yeah?” Eustass had stepped down to stand adjacent to Law’s row of seats. “I suppose you’d know all about the New World, working for a government dog.”

Law glanced his way but turned his attention back to the empty stage. Petty taunts rolled off him; he’d heard far worse over the years, often from his own Family.

“What, nothing to say?”

Law rolled his eyes. “I’m busy.”

Eustass snorted. “You look it.”

Law nodded toward the stage. “You see the Jolly Roger on the wall there? If you know who I am, then you know who owns this place.” He gave Eustass an unimpressed look. “I’m here on business.”

Whatever Eustass was going to say was drowned out as the emcee took to the stage to introduce Disco and begin the auction. Baring a few teeth, Law made a shooing motion at Eustass to dismiss him. The rookie captain growled lowly but headed back to his crew to observe.

“Was that a good idea?” Bepo asked, glancing at the rookie crew and back toward Law.

Law shrugged, unconcerned. “He’ll be missing a heart before he can try anything.” And maybe a few other limbs. Being around the slave trade put Law in a foul mood, and an outlet would be welcome. The sooner the auction ended, the sooner Law could find Disco and finish his job.

Law paid little attention to the auction until Disco brought out a pirate who bit off his own tongue, choosing death over slavery. The scene was bloody and the auction house descended into horror, but Law couldn’t blame the poor son of a bitch; he briefly considered the day Doffy had found him and his own terror at being reclaimed by the Family. What would have happened if he’d tried a stunt like that?

Doffy probably would have stitched his tongue back together with his Fruit and then taken out Law’s disobedience on Bepo, Shachi, or Penguin. He had made it clear over the last seven years that neither would Law be the architect of his own death nor would he get out of the Family again so easily.

The weak do not choose how they die, he thought with distaste before turning his thoughts back to the present.

The auction was briefly back on track when Disco brought out a mermaid, but the room fell into utter chaos once another Supernova (Monkey D. Luffy, Shachi noted amidst the confusion) came blasting through the wall… and then proceeded to punch one of the Celestial Dragons in the face.

Now that might be deserving of attention, Law thought with no little amusement before noticing Disco fleeing from the stage. As the Straw Hats jumped into action against the guards and the occupants of the auction house fled for the front door, Law knew he couldn’t put his task off any longer. He grabbed Kikoku from Bepo, the only warning to his crew that he was on the move.

He opened a Room and switched places with the podium on the stage, moving the moment his feet hit the wood in pursuit of the slaver and auctioneer. The chaos behind him barely registered as he followed the man backstage. He jogged past guards running toward the stage. He knew he got a few open stares, but he ignored them now that he was on the hunt for his prey. His status meant no one would dare stop him here anyway.

Law stopped at the door to what seemed to be Disco’s office. The man stood at his desk and was fumbling with a Den Den Mushi.

“No need to call Joker, Disco-ya,” Law said, leaning against the doorway.

Disco jerked badly, the snail slipping from his fingers and clattering to the desk. He whirled around. “Corazon?” he squeaked. “What are you doing here?” Then he seemed to collect himself. “Shouldn’t you be helping get the situation under control? This is Joker’s operation.”

Law shrugged, uninterested. “I’m here with a message from Doflamingo, not to clean up your messes.”

Disco paled. “W-what kind of message couldn’t he send over Den Den Mushi?”

Law lifted his free hand and opened a Room.

Disco gaped like a fish out of water at the small blue dome encompassing him. “P-please, no! Corazon! I’ve been loyal! I’ve done everything Joker asked of me.”

“And he’s grateful for your cooperation,” Law replied, straightening. He withdrew Kikoku from her sheath, the sword humming in anticipation. “But he’s decided it’s time to move on to newer ventures.”

“N-newer ventures?” The auctioneer couldn’t pull his eyes from the nodachi in Law’s hand.

“Nothing for you to worry about, Disco-ya. It’s just business.”

The man’s scream was drowned out by the rest of the chaos in the auction house.

Returning from his completed errand at a more leisurely pace, Law paused as he felt a wave of Conqueror’s Haki rush through the auction house, causing his skin to prickle, followed a few moments later by an explosion. He frowned. Who was on hand that could use that? Could one of those Supernova…?

He hurried back to the stage to see the auction house guards unconscious. The only people standing were the Straw Hats—more of whom had appeared while Law was taking care of his task—the Kid Pirates, Law’s own crew, and…

“Dark King Rayleigh,” Law said, lips lifting in a smirk. The Family’s spies had put the man on the island, though he was running a ship coating business these days—when he wasn’t gambling. Law wasn’t expecting to run into the living legend, though.

The older man, mermaid on his back, turned back toward the stage. His eyes landed on Law, and he raised an eyebrow. With a quick Room and Shambles, Law switched places with the podium and was once more standing with his crew.

“Whoa!” Straw Hat Luffy gaped. “That was so cool! And what’s up with the bear?”

“What?” Bepo started.

Rayleigh simply turned his gaze to Law’s new position. “Now, now. Don’t use that name when so many Marines are around. Not all of us have immunity from the government.”

“Luffy,” a female voice said. Law glanced to see Nico Robin, the Demon Child, standing near the Straw Hat captain. She was eyeing him warily. “That’s Corazon. He’s the second-in-command of the Donquixote Family. Be careful.”

“Donquixote? The Warlord?” the one with the long nose squawked.

“See the Jolly Roger on the wall?” Nico Robin said. “This auction house is owned by Donquixote Doflamingo.”

The gathered pirates looked between the symbol on the wall and the damage throughout the building before turning to Law, stances turning defensive.

Law raised his hands. “I’m not interested in a fight.” He’d done what he’d come here to do. He was ready to get off this shithole of an island, even if that meant returning to Dressrosa. “But you all might want to get moving. The whole place is surrounded by Marines.”

“Marines?”

“They surrounded the place not long after the auction started,” Law replied. “I don’t know who they were here to catch, but the attack on a family of Celestial Dragons only riled them up more.” He couldn’t help his lips turning upward at that. “I’d recommend leaving before an admiral arrives.”

“What about you?” Straw Hat asked.

Law shrugged and gestured to himself and his crew. “Government dogs, remember?”

Eustass snorted and turned toward the door. “Well, I have no interest in facing an admiral today. I did get to see Straw Hat Luffy pull some crazy shit, though, so I’m satisfied.” He threw a hand up in a wave. “We’ll even lend you guys a hand and clean up outside on our way out.”

Law snickered as it was clear Straw Hat Luffy took that as a personal affront, immediately following the other pirate, voice rising in indignation. He watched as the remaining members sighed long-sufferingly and trailed their captain. Law received a few more suspicious looks as the pirates and their friends passed him, but Law had no intention of getting involved—fighting against the Marines was against the rules for the Warlords and their subordinates, after all.

It wasn’t long before Law could hear gunfire and yelling coming from outside the auction house. He thought he could make out the sound of gleeful laughter as well.

Law’s lips curled upward in spite of himself. “Monkey D. Luffy, huh?”

Another D, Cora-san…

Law turned back to Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo. They were watching him curiously.

Law frowned at them. “What?”

“Nothing,” Penguin said immediately.

Law narrowed his eyes. “Out with it.”

The trio was saved from having to answer when Law’s Den Den Mushi started ringing. Law sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course he would be checking in for an update. Law pulled the snail from his pocket and answered, knowing how the man got when Law took too long to answer.

“Doffy.”

“Corazon. Is the job done?”

Law blinked at the immediate question. Doffy was usually chattier when he called; it was one of Law’s least favorite things about him—among many least favorite things. “Yes. Disco-ya’s no longer a concern.”

“Good. Don’t set sail yet, though. I need you to stay on Sabaody for now.”

Law grimaced. “For what?”

“You may be needed in Marineford soon.”

Law glanced at the other three, bemused. They shrugged in return. “Why?”

A snort. “Haven’t you seen the paper?”

“I’ve been a bit busy with the errand you sent me on,” Law replied irritably.

“The Marines have set Fire Fist’s execution. They’re summoning all the Warlords to be there.”

Law felt his stomach drop as the implications hit him. There were some hissed breaths to his side as the others came to the same conclusion Law had.

“Do they want a war?”

“Seems that way.” Unsurprisingly, Doffy sounded practically giddy at that. He was a warmonger and profiteer, after all. “Which is why I may need you.”

“Right,” he said blandly. A war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates was exactly the last thing he wanted to get pulled into.

“Corazon.” Doflamingo’s voice had a warning edge to it.

Law pursed his lips but knew better than to argue. “We’ll stay on Sabaody and be ready to sail.”

“Better.”

Once the call ended, Law sighed and dropped the snail back into his pocket. “Guess we’re not leaving after all.”

“This is going to be ugly, isn’t it?” Penguin asked.

“No doubt.” Law rubbed a hand over his face before looking toward the auction house entrance. “Sounds like things have quieted down. Let’s head out.”

When the four reached the entrance, Law let out a surprised huff as he surveyed the scene. There was mass chaos, as Marines were littered across the ground as well as rushing around the help the wounded. The Straw Hat and Kid Pirates seemed to have already fled, though.

“Looks like the rookies did some damage,” Law chuckled. “Not bad.”

A few Marines looked up to see them and yelled, scrabbling for their weapons. “More pirates coming from the auction house!”

“Stand down, idiots!” one of the commanders called back. “They’re with Donquixote. Leave them alone.”

Law’s eye twitched at that, but he didn’t argue as he led Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo down the steps. He paused at the sight of a large slave left abandoned outside the house. After a moment, Law blinked; he knew this man.

“Pirate captain Jean Bart,” he greeted.

The large man looked down at him, startled. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s called me that.”

“It would be a shame to leave a man like you in shackles,” Law said, forming a Room and using Kikoku to slice through the collar around Jean Bart’s neck. It fell to the ground with a harmless clank.

Jean Bart put a hand to his neck, eyes wide in disbelief. “How?”

“Devil Fruit,” Law replied simply, making a small Room in his palm before letting it go.

“Why? They,” Jean Bart said, nodding back toward the Marines, “said you work for Donquixote Doflamingo.” Or, Law translated, they said you work for one of the biggest names in the slave trade.

“It’s complicated,” Penguin said.

“That, and I’m happy to fuck over the Celestial Dragons in any way I can,” Law replied with a shrug. He glanced around, noting the Marines gaping at him for daring to free a Celestial Dragon’s slave. He saluted them with a smirk before turning back to Jean Bart. “If I were you, I’d get out of here quickly; shit’s about to get ugly.”

“You don’t want me to serve under you in return for my freedom?” After all, why free him if not to get something in return?

“You wouldn’t be much freer under me than here.”

The former captain frowned at him. “You don’t serve Doflamingo willingly?”

“Like we said, it’s complicated,” Shachi added.

Jean Bart looked between them. “I see no collars on your necks, no man riding on your back. Nothing could be worse than that.” He shook his head. “I have nothing but the rags on my back. My crew is either dead or enslaved. My family is long dead. Where would I go?” He swallowed. “If you’d have me, I’d serve under a man who would free a slave that others ignored and gladly taunt the Celestial Dragons to do it.”

Law glanced back at Shachi, Bepo, and Penguin. They looked back at him steadily, as if to say, Your choice, Captain.

Law’s crew—though they were part of the Donquixote Pirates, their original name of Heart Pirates had stuck as a nickname among the Family considering Law held the Heart seat—had grown from the original four Doflamingo had taken from the North Blue, but Law was always hesitant to bring on anyone new considering Doflamingo’s use of his crew to assure Law’s good behavior. Somehow, he’d still found a loyal group who willingly followed him despite his warnings to the contrary; he had no idea what he’d done to deserve them.

“All right,” Law said finally. “Let’s get back to the ship.”

Chapter Text

Law stared out over the Calm Belt, the forbidden land of Amazon Lily at his back. His crew puttered about around him, regularly complaining about not being able to go further onto the Isle of Women. Law, for his part, had bigger concerns; despite being on the Calm Belt and in the territory of another Warlord, he still half-expected the familiar sails of one of Doflamingo’s ships to appear on the horizon.

The aged straw hat in his grip felt fragile somehow—like its owner currently was—as Law absently turned it over, the crackling of the woven straw grounding him in a way he couldn’t explain. He wasn’t sure why, but he hadn’t let it out of his sight since it had been thrown his way as the Polar Tang prepared to dive in its escape.

It had been two weeks since Law had rescued Straw Hat Luffy from the battlefield of Marineford; the boy was still unconscious, though Law suspected that was more to do with his spirit than his body at this point. Though Straw Hat’s recovery still had a long way to go, Law felt confident he would survive—physically, anyway. Immediately after the surgery, Law would have given his chances at, optimistically, fifty-fifty, but each day his heart continued to beat in his repaired chest improved his odds.

As for when he’d wake up, well… the teen had suffered an immense trauma, his body falling into unconsciousness as a defense mechanism before Law had even arrived. The emotional pain of losing his brother wasn’t something Law could do anything for. (He was hardly the poster boy for healthy coping mechanisms anyway.)

And so, an entire island waited with bated breath.

The more stable Straw Hat’s condition became, the less Law needed to monitor him, which gave him more time to think; according to his crew, that was never a good thing. They were probably right. Law still had no idea how to explain his actions to Doflamingo. He knew neither he nor his crew would escape this unscathed, but Law found himself contemplating how to minimize the inevitable punishment.

On the day of the execution, Law and his crew had waited aboard the Tang at Sabaody in case Doflamingo called for them, watching the broadcast in the meantime. The moment Straw Hat Luffy had burst onto the battlefield, something had startled in Law’s chest. The revelation that he was not only Fire Fist’s brother but also the son of Dragon had sent shockwaves through the entire archipelago, but as Straw Hat fought for his brother’s life, all Law could think of was that middle initial he’d taken note of at the auction house.

Monkey D. Luffy.

“There have often been people who have the name D. who gained public notoriety, and old people would frown and mutter, ‘D. will surely bring us another storm,’” Cora-san had told him. “And in some places, there are people who call the Family of D. sworn enemy of the gods.”

There was one specific “god” that Law very much wanted to take down, though he was in no position to do so himself.

But maybe…

Well, a storm sure seemed to describe a boy who would punch a Celestial Dragon in the face for harming one of his friends, damn the consequences, and would fight every single Marine, if necessary, to rescue his adopted brother from execution.

And when the broadcast of the battle was cut, the feeling in Law’s chest turned into a tug so insistent that he’d ordered his crew to set sail for Marineford.

“Did Doflamingo call for us, Captain?” Penguin asked once they had submerged.

“No.”

Penguin shot him a confused look. “Then why…?”

But Law hadn’t been able to explain the feeling in his chest, the absolute certainty that he was needed there, until the broadcast returned, and the Hearts watched Fire Fist fall and Straw Hat mortally wounded.

Law knew he’d drawn attention once the Polar Tang surfaced, undoubtedly looking like reinforcements for the Marines as the second-in-command of the Donquixote Pirates, but then he’d called for that idiot clown to give Straw Hat to him—and it had taken less convincing than it probably should have for him to throw Jimbei and Straw Hat down to the Tang. (Coward.) Law had no idea how anyone else, particularly Doflamingo, had reacted, as he’d been hyper-focused on getting his patients below deck with that tug in his chest demanding he act. The arrival of Red Hair had given them room to escape.

Other than removing Amber Lead from his body as a dying teenager who’d only had his Devil Fruit for a few days, the surgery to save Straw Hat was the most difficult of Law’s life. Operating for sixteen hours with Room activated nearly the entire time had completely drained Law—two weeks later, and he was still feeling the effects, his Rooms flickering out quickly when he summoned them—but he knew somehow that nothing less would satisfy the pull in his chest, whatever it was.

Though he would have liked nothing more than to sleep for days afterward, the presence of a Marine ship when the Polar Tang surfaced had forced him to stumble onto the deck and meet the wary eye of Boa Hancock. As he approached the door, he could hear her asking his crew about Straw Hat’s condition.

“I’ve done all I can,” Law said, wiping his hands on a towel as he came out on deck, willing himself upright in the face of another Warlord. “He was in bad shape. It’s up to him and his will to survive now.” He suppressed a grimace as he considered the damage he’d repaired in the boy’s chest. It was a miracle he was still alive by the time Law had gotten to him.

Hancock eyed him, her expression suspicious. It probably should have concerned him, having her full attention like that, but he was too tired to care.

“And why did you help him?” Her eyes narrowed. “Is this another one of Doflamingo’s plots? What does he want with Luffy?”

“I acted on my own.”

“Why?” That was Emporio Ivankov, who’d jumped down from the Marine vessel. Law, long past the point of wondering where these people were coming from, idly marveled at Straw Hat Luffy having friends like a current and former Warlord and a high-ranking Revolutionary (in addition to a father leading the Revolutionaries) that they would track Law to check on his condition but pushed it aside for another time. “Are you a friend of Straw Hat Boy?”

“No.” Law frowned. He might not be a believer anymore, but he’d been raised with religion and those teachings had never fully left him. The pull in his chest had felt like a sign—something the sisters at school would have said was important to follow. But these people didn’t need to know that. “It was a whim, nothing more.”

“A whim,” Hancock echoed flatly.

But Ivankov chuckled knowingly in a way that made Law feel transparent somehow. “Sometimes instinct drives us to do unexpected things.”

Despite her—entirely appropriate, Law knew—misgivings at working alongside the second-in-command of another Warlord, Hancock had brought the Hearts to Amazon Lily, leaving Straw Hat’s treatment in Law’s hands. It was likely Jimbei’s presence that gave Hancock any peace of mind at Law’s presence.

Law looked up when he heard a light cough. He shook himself as Jimbei came up next to him; he’d been so caught up in his reverie, he hadn’t noticed the former Warlord’s approach.

“May I sit?”

Law grunted, which Jimbei took as acquiescence. He sat down and allowed silence settle between them before breaking it.

“Will you be in trouble with your boss for helping Luffy?” he asked.

Law’s eye twitched. “I fail to see how that’s any of your concern.”

“I was thrown in Impel Down for refusing to fight alongside the other Warlords at Marineford,” Jimbei said. “The World Government won’t appreciate another Warlord’s second-in-command rescuing two enemies out from under their nose.”

Law found his grip tightening around the straw hat in his hand and loosened his fingers. Jimbei hadn’t said anything Law didn’t already know. “What is your point, Jimbei-ya?”

“Doflamingo won’t be pleased.”

“Unlikely,” Law agreed.

“But you will return to him.” It wasn’t a question.

Law looked out toward the Tang, where the boy still slept. “When Straw Hat-ya is well enough, yes.”

“Is that a good idea?”

Law huffed a humorless laugh, returning his gaze to Jimbei. “Whether it’s a good idea or not is irrelevant. When Straw Hat-ya no longer requires my care, I will return to Dressrosa and my captain.” He knew better than anyone that there would be consequences for his actions—and that he had no choice but to face them.

Though he knew there would be consequences for what he’d done, it was Doffy’s silence over the last two weeks that left Law the most off-balance. He’d expected the man to bombard Law with calls, if not follow Law himself; the Calm Belt would be little more than an inconvenience in the face of what he wanted.

But there had been nothing.

He supposed this was one of Doflamingo’s mind games. He would force Law to reach out to him first, to crawl back to him, draped in repentance. Doflamingo undoubtedly felt secure in Law’s eventual return because he forced Law to leave at least three members of his crew behind whenever he went out on a mission. Currently, Ikkaku, Clione, and Uni were back in Dressrosa. Law had felt comfortable leaving them since he’d expected the trip to Sabaody to be quick, an errand he could handle with minimal backup. That had been nearly a month ago. And Doflamingo was right; Law wouldn’t abandon his nakama, so even if he went dark for weeks, the Warlord could be confident his second would return.

Law just hoped those three hadn’t already been punished for his actions.

Jimbei frowned and opened his mouth to say more, but he was interrupted by a banshee scream coming from the Polar Tang.

“Ace!”

In mere moments, Straw Hat had somehow escaped the infirmary on the Tang (Law tried not to think about what he would find when he boarded his ship again) and made his way to land. As Straw Hat rampaged through the camp, Law caught a look at his face and flinched. The wide-eyed, glassy expression of grief over a pain too great to process was one Law was intimately familiar with; he’d worn it himself, first after Flevance and again after Cora-san.

“Where’s Ace?”

Law’s crew chased after the raging teen, trying to calm him down. Law exchanged looks with Jimbei.

“What’ll happen if we just leave him like that?” Jimbei asked as Straw Hat threw off Law’s crewmates and stormed further inland.

Law sighed, weariness hitting him square in the chest. “It’s simple. If he reopens his wounds, he could die.”

Jimbei grimaced and pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll go.”

“Your wounds could also reopen,” Law pointed out. Not that anyone seemed to care about his professional opinion.

“Better me than him.”

Law blinked at Jimbei’s back as the former Warlord followed Straw Hat’s path. He shook his head, once more wondering at the allies Straw Hat found himself with, and turned away. He continued looking out over the water, clenching his jaw at the sounds of Straw Hat’s rampage in the forest. He suppressed the urge to cover his ears, the pained sounds echoing through him and digging at Law’s own shallowly buried grief.

Eventually, the cacophony faded out, leaving the cliffside eerily quiet. His crew started moving around once more, though they were subdued in the wake of what they’d just witnessed.

“What the hell is that?” Shachi said suddenly, pointing out over the water.

Law frowned. There was some kind of commotion in the bay. What the hell?

“Is that a Sea King?” Penguin asked, joining Shachi.

“Is something fighting it?” Shachi yelped as Bepo and Jean Bart came up behind him.

The commotion came to an end almost as quickly as it started. One moment, the beast was thrashing violently, the next it was still.

“It’s dead,” Jean Bart murmured. “What could do that in the Calm Belt?”

There was a splash just below the cliff. Looked like they were going to find out. Law readied himself to make a Room—it wouldn’t be as big as usual and wouldn’t last long, but it would be something—but dropped his hand as Silvers Rayleigh climbed over the ledge, dripping water. Law watched the man warily as he explained that he’d swum through the Calm Belt. Monster.

Eventually, Rayleigh’s gaze turned back to Law. “You’ve created quite the stir, saving Luffy like that.” He smiled, though there was something in his eyes that made Law straighten. “Luffy is here, right?”

“I doubt you would have come all this way unless you knew the answer to that question already, Rayleigh-ya,” Law replied.

Rayleigh chuckled. “Fair enough. How is he?”

Law studied the older pirate for a moment then made a decision. “He just woke up. He’s still in rough shape; he’ll need to rest for at least two more weeks so his wounds close properly.” The grief, on the other hand, would take much longer to heal, but Law left that unsaid. Someone like Rayleigh would know that well.

Rayleigh nodded thoughtfully. “But his life is out of danger?”

“As long as he lets his wounds close, yes.”

“Good.”

Law’s lips twitched. “I take it we’re being dismissed, Rayleigh-ya?”

Rayleigh outright laughed at that. “Well, that’s not how I would have put it.”

“But you’re here to take over,” Law surmised.

“I’m here to offer Luffy a proposal.”

“And you expect him to accept. I get it.” Law pushed himself to his feet and closed the gap with Rayleigh. He held out the straw hat.

Rayleigh’s expression turned distant for a moment before he came back to himself and took the proffered object with understanding.

“Two weeks,” Law reiterated. “If he pushes it, he could die.” And Law didn’t want the danger he’d selfishly put his crew into to be for nothing.

Once the Polar Tang had set sail, Bepo setting their course based on their eternal pose to Dressrosa, Law grabbed the long-range Den Den Mushi and retreated to his cabin. He placed it on his desk and stared at it as he debated how to approach the call. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, but he started when there was a knock at his door.

“Captain?”

Law’s shoulder’s slumped at Bepo’s voice. “Come in,” he replied.

The door opened, revealing Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin. The trio filed into Law’s room, shutting the door behind them. Law swiveled in his desk chair to face them.

“Calling him?” Shachi asked, gesturing at the snail.

Law nodded. “Can’t put it off any longer.”

“What will you say?” Bepo asked.

Law’s mouth moved but nothing came out. He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “I caused him a lot of trouble, and he’s going to be furious. But he won’t take it out on me.” Not all of it, anyway.

“We’re with you, Law.”

Law blinked at the use of his given name; he was so used to hearing his title, even from his crew, that his name sounded odd even to his own ears. It made the already-tight ball of guilt in his chest clench.

“I made a selfish choice, and now you guys are going to pay for it. I’m sorry.”

“Why did you save him?” Bepo asked. There was no judgment in his oldest friend’s eyes, just curiosity and trust.

“It was…” Law cast about the best way to describe the tug in his chest because if anyone deserved the truth, it was these three. “It was just a feeling,” he finally settled on. It sounded lame to his own ears as he said it. “I don’t know how to explain it. Like something was telling me it was important.”

The other three exchanged looks, and Law felt his stomach drop. It wasn’t good enough, not for the danger he’d put them in…

“Okay,” Bepo said after a moment.

“Okay?” Law echoed, taken aback.

“Okay,” Penguin confirmed.

“If you thought it was important, then we trust you,” Shachi added. “You’re our captain, Doflamingo be damned.”

“The others feel the same,” Penguin added. “We’ll be okay, Captain. Whatever happens.”

Fuck. What had Law done to deserve them?

Once the trio left his cabin, Law turned back to the Den Den Mushi on his desk. He took a breath and dialed the familiar number. It rang longer than Law expected, but he knew this was another of Doffy’s games, making sure Law would stay on the line—as though he didn’t have the ultimate bargaining chip for Law’s loyalty already. Finally, the other man picked up.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the prodigal son. I was starting to worry, Corazon.”

“My apologies, Young Master,” Law replied, deciding deferential was his best tone at the moment. “I called as soon as I was able.”

Doflamingo snorted. “I’m sure you did.” In other words, he knew Law was lying, but he didn’t care enough to challenge the lie. “Where are you?” he asked instead.

“En route to Dressrosa,” Law said, debating how much to reveal of his whereabouts for the last two weeks. Would Hancock reveal Law had been there? Doflamingo would be furious if he heard it from her first. On the other hand… Law decided to err on the side of sharing as little as possible; it made the most sense for Hancock to keep Straw Hat’s presence a secret, as allying—or even appearing to ally—with a rival pirate crew was enough to cost a Warlord their status. “We should be there within the week.”

“And Dragon’s son?”

“Alive. As is Jimbei.” No point in lying about that.

Doflamingo made an impressed sound. “Straw Hat took direct hits from Kizaru and Sakazuki, and you were able to save him? I should really stop being surprised by your abilities after all these years, Corazon.”

Law hummed in response, recognizing the trap in Doflamingo’s words. Nothing he could say here would turn out well for him, whether he accepted the praise or demurred; no response was his best option.

“As impressive as your skills as a doctor are,” Doflamingo went on when he realized Law wasn’t rising to the bait, “they’ve caused me some serious problems.”

And there it was. Law needed to tread very carefully here.

“I had to convince the World Government that my subordinate acted on his own and that I was still a good little Warlord.” His voice had turned into a sneer, and Law could picture the bulging vein in his forehead. “And promise my subordinate would be appropriately disciplined for his indiscretion.”

“Of course,” Law said. “I’m sorry for causing you difficulties, Young Master. I will, of course, accept my punishment.”

Doflamingo chuckled, though there was no warmth to it. “I’m sure you will. You’re ever the loyal one, aren’t you, Law?”

Law’s breath caught in his throat, his body going cold.

“See you in a week.” With that Doflamingo hung up.

Doflamingo had stopped using Law’s name when he became an executive four years ago, even in private, so hearing it now… His tone was such a contrast to the way his friends had used his name less than an hour earlier, theirs so full of warmth and trust while Doflamingo’s was full of implication and threat…

Law ran a tired hand over his face. “Fuck.”

Chapter Text

Law stood on the deck of the Polar Tang, Bepo at his side, as the ship ambled into the East Harbor of Dressrosa. While the ship could have remained underwater until much closer to the dock, Law wanted to show Doffy that he wasn’t hiding, so he’d ordered the Tang to surface early. Dressrosa was a country Law could have seen himself enjoying, had Doflamingo not ruled with a façade of generosity and warmth while hiding a dark, cold underbelly. As it was, the sight of the familiar island made his stomach turn.

There was a lone figure waiting at the dock.

“Be careful,” Bepo said as the ship eased to a stop and dropped anchor.

“You too,” Law replied, hopping down from the ship to the dock. He adjusted his grip on Kikoku and greeted his visitor. “Violet.”

“Corazon,” she replied. “Welcome back.”

Law inclined his head and fell into step with her as they headed toward the city. He chanced one final glance back at the Tang—Bepo was securing the ship to the dock—before shifting his focus to the task at hand.

“Did he send you to meet me?” he asked.

“Yes, but I would have come anyway.”

When Law had first arrived in Dressrosa at 17, it had taken some time to find his footing among the Family again after four years. Not only had the operation grown significantly since Spider Miles, but Law’s own reluctance to return after his disappearance with a traitor to the Family hung like a noose around his neck. The executives and officers had been loath to trust him, though Doffy had overruled their concerns, and weren’t shy about taking out their suspicions on him and his crew. For the longest time, the only member of the Family he could stomach being around was Baby 5; they’d picked up their antagonistic but affectionate dynamic almost immediately upon Law’s return, which provided Law a small measure of comfort in its familiarity.

At first after arriving, Law had lashed out—his frustration exploding out of him when he couldn’t contain it any longer, usually as a result of the goading of the other executives—but when Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo had been punished rather than Law himself, he’d withdrawn into himself to protect them. He’d trained and studied and completed missions, but he’d shown little interest in living beyond the minimum required of him, despite the attempts of his friends to pull him out of it. Even Doflamingo had tried without success to bring some life to his protégé—he’d gifted Law Kikoku in the hope that the challenge of mastering a cursed blade might inspire him; he’d mastered the sword, but it hadn’t done much to liven him up.

Despite her wariness of anyone associated with the Family, Violet had been the only one to reach out to Law during his withdrawn period and actually reach him. After about a year into Law’s return, she’d read him often enough for Doflamingo to recognize a kindred spirit in the future Corazon. Three years apart in age, they’d both been shanghaied into the Family’s service due to their useful abilities with the threat of violence against their loved ones hanging over their heads if they were to rebel.

Her cynicism after the fall of her family’s rule was an equal match for Law’s, and they both had dark senses of humor forged from their circumstances. Violet was also well-read and intellectually curious, so their conversations kept Law on his toes. They found comfort in one another, which made life on Dressrosa bearable enough for Law to slowly emerge from his shell.

Though some of the executives and officers had been concerned with a friendship between the two people with the most reason to betray the Family, Doffy had been amused—even pleased. In the last year, he’d floated the idea of the two marrying to tie Dressrosa more formally to the Family; after all, though Doflamingo was a Warlord with government immunity and his own family name tying him to the kingdom, many other kingdoms still considered him an interloper. Having his second married to the former crown princess would be politically advantageous.

“He wants you to read me. To catch me lying,” Law said, coming to a stop. Violet stopped next to him and nodded. “Go ahead then.” He knew she’d need to be able to give Doffy something useful.

Violet frowned. “Are you sure?”

Law just shrugged. “No need to give him more reason to doubt.”

Violet pursed her lips but put her fingers to her eyes and used her Fruit to read Law’s thoughts and memories. After a few moments, she dropped her hands. “The Isle of Women. Really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Law snorted and started walking again. Violet fell in beside him, her heels clacking on the cobblestones as they made their way toward the distant palace. “All we saw was the coastline. Much to the crew’s disappointment.”

“And you still don’t know why you did it.” Her tone was skeptical.

Law glanced sideways at her. “You read my thoughts, Princess.”

She rolled her eyes, as she always did when he called her that. “You took a serious risk, saving that boy. And for what?”

“That remains to be seen, I suppose.”

“I hope it was worth it,” Violet said, something dark underlying her words.

As they walked, Dressrosans bowed and murmured their names as they passed. Law paid them no mind, though he knew the deference to her alias as an officer of the Family bothered Violet by the tightening of her eyes.

“How’s Doffy been?” Law asked after a few quiet moments.

“Furious,” she replied. “But you already knew that.” She bit her lip briefly, a nervous habit of hers. “His mood has improved since you called a week ago, though.”

“That’s not good.” It meant he’d made a decision about how to deal with Law, and that didn’t bode well for him.

“Doubtful,” she agreed. “But I don’t know what he’s up to.”

Law had once asked her if she’d ever tried using her abilities on Doflamingo, but the look she’d given him in response had been withering. “What kind of fool do you take me for?” she’d demanded.

“And the crew I left behind?” Law asked, dread pooling in his gut. “How are they?”

“Fine, as far as I know.”

The relief that washed over him was short-lived as Law realized it simply meant they would be punished alongside the rest of the crew now that everyone was back.

He nodded stiffly, and they fell into silence once more as they walked. Unlike other silences with the Family, though, it was comfortable. He didn’t have anything to prove to Violet. Once they arrived at the palace, they headed into the courtyard.

“Oh, look who’s back,” Baby 5 said, hand going to her hip as the pair walked in. “It’s about time, Corazon!”

Law rolled his eyes at her. “Did I miss any more ill-fated romances while I was gone, Baby?”

“Shut up!” she snapped around her cigarette. “He needed me!”

Law opened his mouth to retort—the banter familiar and comforting—but he was cut off by his least favorite executive. “Ne, ne, Corazon. Doffy is in the Suit Room. I wouldn’t keep him waiting. Behehe,” he chuckled, clearly pleased that Law was going to face consequences for what he’d done.

Law flipped him off, which only made the slime bucket laugh harder. Taking a steadying breath, Law turned—briefly meeting Violet’s gaze—and headed into the palace toward the Suit Room. Doffy would know of his arrival by now, so Trebol, as annoying as he was, was right about not keeping the king of Dressrosa waiting.

Once he reached the door, Law raised his free hand and rapped on the shut door twice. A moment later, it opened. Law schooled his features and stepped inside. Doflamingo sat by the window, across from the four seats of his top executives.

“I’ve returned, Young Master,” Law said, trying to assess the other man’s mood with little luck.

“Corazon. Come.”

Law made his way to the Heart seat and sat down, resting Kikoku against the chair. When he looked back up, Doflamingo was watching him, expression inscrutable behind those glasses. Law let the part of him that was Corazon take over, pushing the other parts of him aside. This part of him didn’t concern himself with the two men who’d claimed this seat before him or cower in the face of the man who had dominated his nightmares for more than a decade. His back straightened and he raised his chin as the mask slid into place. He also knew better than to speak before the king.

“I trust there were no more… detours on your return home,” Doflamingo said after a pregnant pause.

“No, we made good time,” Law replied evenly.

Doflamingo nodded and pushed himself to his feet. He towered over Law even when Law was standing; when Law was sitting, he was downright dwarfed by the other man. But Corazon, the captain’s second in command, was not bothered by that.

“You’ve caused me quite a bit of trouble with the World Government.” He’d said as much during the call a week earlier. “I’ve smoothed everything over, with no little effort.”

“My apologies, Young Master. It was not my intention to cause you problems.”

Doflamingo stepped into Law’s space, leaning over him. “And what was your intention?” The tension bleeding from that last work was palpable.

Corazon knew the importance of telling the truth in this interaction; still, Law hesitated, knowing Doflamingo wouldn’t like the answer. “I don’t know why I did it. I just acted.”

Doflamingo leaned over, placing his massive hands on the arms of the Heart seat, enclosing Law in his presence. “You don’t know,” he repeated, as if testing the words to see how they tasted. “You just acted.” His features tightened. “That doesn’t sound like you, Corazon.”

“I know.” Law preferred to plan for every contingency, plans on top of plans and every possibility considered before he made a move—all the years of evening games of chess with Doflamingo had drilled into him the importance of tactics—but he’d thrown all of that out for a feeling.

“You know I don’t like questioning the loyalty of my subordinates—especially my righthand man.”

“I know.”

“And yet,” he went on, as if Law hadn’t spoken, “how I can do anything but when my second comes out of the sea to save not one but two enemies of the World Government from the battlefield?”

“I will accept the consequences of my actions,” Law said, doing his best to keep his voice even. “My loyalty has not changed.”

Doflamingo stepped back, huffing a wry laugh. “Now that I believe.” He shook his head to himself. “Get yourself cleaned up. We’re taking a trip this evening.”

Law blinked in surprise at the sudden dismissal but nodded. “Yes, Young Master.” He grabbed Kikoku and rose. He was halfway to the door when his haki flared and he felt the air shift. But he was too slow in reacting.

A massive hand pressed suddenly against the back of his neck, shoving him forward into the closed door. Law let out a startled gasp as the air left his chest. Doflamingo draped himself over Law’s back, his lips by Law’s ear. Law did his best to suppress his instinct to fight back.

Doflamingo’s breath was warm and moist on Law’s skin as he murmured, “It wouldn’t be appropriate for the rabble to see an executive punished. But I can’t let insubordination stand either.”

Law’s breath hitched as Doflamingo spun him around so his back was pressed against the door. The hand that had been holding him immobile wrapped around his throat. It squeezed, cutting off Law’s breath. Law’s eyes widened and his free hand clawed at Doflamingo’s wrist on instinct, but the Warlord continued to squeeze. Black encroached on Law’s vision as his lungs screamed for air. His head spun and Kikoku slipped from his weaking grip.

Finally, when Law thought he would pass out, Doflamingo released him.

Law gasped greedily for air as his legs gave out from under him and he brought both hands to his neck, wincing at the tenderness. Once his breath had returned to semi-normal, he looked up at Doflamingo.

“Never forget who holds your life and the lives of your crew, Law.” Again, he’d purposefully used Law’s name. “Now go clean yourself up.”

Law took a steadying breath and nodded. He grabbed Kikoku and used her to push himself unsteadily to his feet. “By your leave, Young Master,” he croaked, throat feeling like he’d swallowed broken glass, as he opened the door and stumbled into the hallway toward his room.

Viola entered the Suit Room when Doflamingo summoned her; his meeting with Law must have ended already, as he was alone. She kept her eyes on the usurper as she approached, knowing why she had been summoned. She stopped a respectable distance in front of the Warlord.

“Doffy,” she greeted, bowing her head.

“Violet. You read Corazon upon his arrival.” It wasn’t a question.

“I did.” She’d been ordered to do so, and she followed her orders to keep her family safe.

“He says he doesn’t know why he saved Straw Hat.” Again, it wasn’t a question. Still, he was expecting an answer.

“True,” Viola confirmed. In Law’s memories, she’d felt the tug in his chest that had guided him, but he hadn’t understood what it was or what it was telling him. “He acted on instinct.”

Doflamingo frowned, looking out the window. “It’s not like him.”

“He’s been wondering about his actions since that day,” Viola said, hoping she might buy Law even the smallest amount of leniency if she confirmed his story. She kept the truth of Law’s name and its connection to the other boy to herself, though. He’d confided in her about that secret name years earlier and the danger he would be in if Doflamingo found out about it.

“Where was he?”

“Amazon Lily.” She couldn’t say she didn’t know something so prominent in his memories. “Boa Hancock seems to have a soft spot for Straw Hat Luffy.”

Doflamingo barked a surprised laugh at that. “Interesting.” He seemed to file that information away for later. “And his loyalty?”

“Unchanged.”

That much was true; Law, like Viola herself, hadn’t been truly loyal to the Family since she’d known him, but his desire for the safety of his crew and his willingness to do whatever it took to protect them had been a constant since he was 17 and newly arrived in Dressrosa. Saving Straw Hat Luffy hadn’t changed that.

Doflamingo smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “It seems he was honest with me, then.” He glanced back at Viola. “Keep an eye on him. Shouldn’t be hard since he enjoys your company.”

Viola frowned at the implication but quickly schooled her expression. “Of course.”

When Law reached his room, he found his belongings had already been brought up from the Polar Tang. As he shucked off his clothes and hopped in the shower, he wondered where his crew was. Had they been allowed to return to their rooms? Shaking his head, he washed the travel from his skin and hair. Once clean, he wrapped a towel around his waist, and, on the way back into his room, caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror.

He grimaced, fingers lightly tracing the already-purpling marks on his neck. He knew the marks would be visible for days, and his voice would be rough for about as long. He could use his powers to accelerate the healing, but that would defeat the entire point of the exercise, and Law knew better than that.

Executives had to appear above reproach in the eyes of the public to keep up the illusion of their absolute power, so Doffy couldn’t punish him publicly, but the evidence of punishment would show Law’s actions had been dealt with. But Law also knew some ugly bruises around his neck wouldn’t be the only punishment; at this point, however, he could only worry about what would be done to his crew, as they were Doffy’s primary means of keeping Law in line.

With a scowl, he returned to his room and pulled some clothes nicer than his typical jeans and a hoodie that Doflamingo insisted he have for formal events from his closet. The fabric was light since Dressrosa was a summer island, and Law made sure not to choose anything that would cover his neck; Doflamingo, sadist that he was, would want his handiwork on display.

Grabbing Kikoku, Law gave himself a final once-over; satisfied, he left his room. He’d just turned the corner when he nearly ran headfirst into Baby 5. She opened her mouth, undoubtedly to snarl something unkind at him, but the words died on her lips as her gaze dropped to Law’s neck. Her eyes widened.

“What?” Law demanded, hating the rasp in his voice.

Baby shook herself before looking Law in the eye again. “The Young Master told me to find you. He’s waiting in the courtyard.”

Law frowned at that. He could have sensed Doffy himself with his haki; there was no reason to send Baby as a messenger—except to make sure she saw Doffy’s handiwork up close. Law ground his teeth but nodded at Baby.

“Thanks.”

She gaped at him as he stepped past her. “Seriously?”

Law paused with a tired sigh. “What?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Since when do you thank me, Corazon?”

Law rolled his eyes. “It won’t happen again if that’s the reaction I’m going to get.” He made to start walking again.

“Wait.”

Law stopped and looked at her expectantly. Baby swallowed and reached a tentative hand toward his neck. Law flinched but didn’t stop her gentle touch to the purpling handprints. Her fingers were ghost-light as she touched the marks.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.

Law looked away, unable to deal with the genuine concern in her expression. “I’m fine.”

“Cora— Law.”

Law started and looked back at Baby. What was with people using his name lately? “What?”

“Just. Be careful. I don’t know why you did what you did, but the Young Master…” She trailed off, biting her lip.

Law took Baby’s hand in his grip, gently pulling it away from his neck, and nodded. “I know,” he said, not unkindly. He let go of her hand.

Baby dropped her hand and watched him, uncertain.

“I shouldn’t keep Doffy waiting,” Law said, and Baby jerked.

“Damn right, asshole,” she said, though her voice lacked any heat.

Law’s lips twitched and he headed for the courtyard, feeling Baby’s eyes on his back. When he entered the courtyard, Doflamingo appraised him. When he was satisfied with what he saw, gaze noticeably lingering on Law’s throat, he rose from his seat.

“There you are, Corazon. Come, we’re going out.”

Law nodded, ignoring Trebol’s knowing look. He didn’t speak, not wanting the sentient snot to hear his broken voice, instead simply falling in a half step behind Doflamingo, the appropriate place for his second. A carriage was waiting just outside the palace gates, and the two men entered and took their place across from one another.

Law remained silent as the royal carriage wound its way through the familiar streets of the capital, looking out the window and considering the direction they were taking.

“You haven’t asked where we’re going,” Doflamingo finally commented.

Law turned to the king. “Would you have answered?”

Doflamingo smirked, and Law had a feeling at least part of his amusement was at the sound of his voice. “No,” he allowed. “It’s a surprise.”

Law nodded, having assumed as much. He returned his gaze to the window, though his thoughts were with his crew and not the city they were meandering through. Violet had said Ikkaku, Clione, and Uni were unharmed, but how much longer would that last? What had happened to the rest of his crew once they’d disembarked the Polar Tang?

He was pulled from his thoughts when the carriage came to a halt. Law blinked when he realized where they were.

Law looked back at Doflamingo with a sinking feeling that he couldn’t explain. “The Colosseum?”

Doflamingo simply nodded and gestured toward the carriage door. “Let’s go.”

Law had little choice but to do as he was bidden, so he followed Doflamingo out of the carriage. The king was in his element as he greeted his adoring public. Law fell into place behind the other man and followed him inside to the king’s private box.

His hackles went up when he saw Diamante waiting inside the box. The executive gave Law an appraising look before nodding at Doflamingo. “Doffy,” he greeted. “Everything is ready.”

“Good.”

Doflamingo sat and nodded for Law to take the seat to the king’s right. Law did as he was bidden, and Diamante took his place to Doffy’s left. Law looked out over the amphitheater to see, as usual, a large crowd of raucous citizens. The Corrida Colosseum was the premier entertainment in Dressrosa, after all.

“Welcome to this special event at the Corrida Colosseum!” the commentator, Gatz, announced. “Today, we will see fighters from around Dressrosa get the opportunity to earn their freedom or even join the Donquixote Family by defeating a member of Corazon’s own crew, the Hearts!”

Chapter Text

Law was on his feet before he even realized he’d moved, barely hearing the Colosseum erupting into cheers at Gatz’s announcement over the blood rushing in his ears. So, this was the true punishment Doffy had come up with for Law’s insubordination…

It was always an affair worthy of attention when members of the Family fought in the Colosseum, and every member of an executive’s crew fighting would be the event of the season. Law could feel Doffy’s and Diamante’s eyes on him.

“Is there a problem, Corazon?” Doflamingo’s voice was deceptively calm.

“This is—”

“The consequences of your actions.”

Law shook his head. “It’s too far,” he rasped. They could be killed. This wasn’t their agreement.

“No.” Law stiffened at Doflamingo’s frigid tone and forced himself to look at the other man. “The stunt you pulled at Marineford was too far. If you were anyone else—” The king cut himself off abruptly. He shook his head. “Consider this a mercy, Corazon. After all, this way your crew,” he said, sneering the word, “will be in control of their fates, not me.” His features tightened. “Now. Sit. Down.”

Law hissed as strings pulled him back into his chair, wrapping around his chest and wrists, securing him in place. His hands were pressed tightly into the armrest, preventing him from opening a Room. He clenched his jaw, furious.

“What’s wrong, Corazon?” Diamante mocked. “Afraid they’ll lose? The crew of the Family’s second-in-command shouldn’t be so weak as to lose to some common criminals.”

“Fuck off, Diamante,” Law snarled.

Doflamingo chuckled. “Now, now. Let’s enjoy the show, shall we?”

Law was able to do little more than stew in his impotent fury as Gatz announced the first pairing, much to the crowd’s delight.

Bepo stood next to Shachi and Penguin in the preparation room, eyes on the projection from the video Den Den Mushi. Kurage had just gone out for the first match. The video feed, as it waited for the arrival of the fighters, panned around the Colosseum, pausing on the king’s box.

“Captain,” Bepo exhaled when he saw Law sitting next to Doflamingo and Diamante. Though Law’s features were carefully neutral, Bepo had known Law long enough to recognize the tension in his rigid frame and the murder in his golden eyes as he glared out from the box.

“The way he’s sitting,” Penguin said as the feed moved away. “It looked off. Like…”

“Like strings were holding him?” Shachi replied.

Penguin nodded, and Bepo considered this. They all knew they were being forced to fight in the Colosseum to punish Law for his actions at Marineford; their lives were the collateral Doflamingo kept to ensure Law’s good behavior, so when Law acted out, the Hearts faced the worst of the consequences. But they also knew their captain and trusted him.

Law had saved Bepo all those years ago on Swallow Island (ironically from Shachi and Penguin) even when he had his own problems, and Bepo had loved his friend ever since. He knew Shachi and Penguin felt the same after Law had rescued them not long after Bepo. Law had saved all the Hearts in their own ways—Jean Bart wasn’t the only freed slave on their crew—and had their love and loyalty as a result.

They all knew Law had a good heart and felt things deeply, though he’d prefer others think he had no heart at all. So, if he’d been compelled to save Straw Hat by something he couldn’t explain, well, Bepo wasn’t going to question that. As a mink, Bepo felt connected to the earth and knew better than to ignore messages from her. (It had been a similar type of compulsion, one tugging at his chest in a way that he couldn’t explain, that had pushed Bepo to go looking for Zepo; but once he’d found Law, he realized he’d found where he was supposed to be all along.)

No, Bepo didn’t have a problem fighting for his captain, in the Colosseum or anywhere. None of the Hearts did.

“Doflamingo won’t let him interfere in our matches,” Bepo said.

“He needs to be careful,” Penguin said with a sigh. “He’s on thin ice already. If he pulls anything else…”

“We’ll just have to make sure he has no reason to do anything stupid,” Shachi said determinedly. Bepo and Penguin nodded in return. They’d win their fights and make sure their captain didn’t have to worry.

The first couple of matches ended fairly quickly, with Kurage and Masu taking only a few glancing blows before putting their opponents down for good. Their opponents had clearly been overmatched, though Law wondered whether Diamante was underestimating his crew when he set the matchups or if he had something else up his sleeve. The crowd cheered for Law’s men, though some jeered in the hope of seeing members of the Family brought down.

Ikkaku was next, and Law glared daggers at Diamante when her opponent was revealed as a burly man who’d been charged with domestic violence. Diamante’s smirk in reply told him that had been entirely on purpose—because he was a son of a bitch.

Law’s engineer hadn’t come into the crew as a fighter, so Penguin had been teaching her to fight with a bo staff, which she now twirled expertly in the ring. She used the speed and agility her smaller stature allowed her to elude her opponent, striking him sharply with her staff, driving him toward the edge of the ring. Ikkaku swung her staff again at her opponent, but he grabbed it in midair and yanked, pulling Ikkaku off-balance. She yelped in surprise.

Law inhaled sharply as Ikkaku took a glancing blow to the cheek as she stumbled. She hit the ground but quickly rolled and kicked her opponent in the shins. He stumbled but lashed out, kicking Ikkaku in the gut. Ikkaku doubled over; Law momentarily surged against the strings holding him, feeling their sharp edges digging into his skin, before realizing she was feigning her distress as she grabbed her staff from the ground with sure hands. Once her opponent lumbered within striking distance, she swung her staff at his ankles. He stumbled, and Ikkaku jumped to her feet, smashing him hard in the back so he went over the edge of the ring into the moat full of carnivorous fish. The water turned red moments after the man went in. Law let out a relieved breath, relaxing back into his chair, as Ikkaku left the ring.

The crowd roared at a woman defeating an abuser, amped up by Gatz’s dramatic commentary to that effect. Doffy, for his part, smirked approvingly at the bloodshed. He always considered the bloodiest matches to be the best.

Kani fought next, a sword-fighting duel against a rebel against the Family. Kani was stronger, but his opponent was faster, so Kani took several superficial wounds as well as a deeper cut to his arm that bled freely before he dispatched his opponent with a stab to the gut.

Ashika, whose weapon of choice was a spear, took on an accused thief who fought with two short swords. Theirs was a match of agility, both fighters moving quickly around the ring, stabbing and parrying, parrying and stabbing. Ashika eventually slapped one of the thief’s swords out of his hand, leaving him with one blade. The thief slashed out in a growl, cutting Ashika’s chest and stealing the air from Law’s lungs as he watched.

Ashika dropped to a knee, one hand going to the bleeding wound. The thief took the opportunity to retreat and recover his lost blade from across the ring. That was a fatal mistake, as Ashika hurled the spear, taking the man in the throat and sending him toppling over into the water.

“Your men are doing the Family proud,” Doffy commented to Law as Clione made his way into the ring.

Law contemplated ignoring the comment but decided not to push it. They were fighting well, as Law knew they would. He was proud of his crew. “Thank you,” he gritted out.

Clione fought another thief, his sword against the thief’s. They traded blows as they circled the ring. Clione took a nasty gash to the thigh but dispatched his opponent after a few more frenzied exchanges, ducking a swipe at his head and slashing the thief’s neck. The thief crumpled, gurgling blood.

Iruka came next, quickly defeating his opponent with his short sword. Like Kurage’s and Masu’s opponents, Iruka’s was clearly outmatched. Law knew Diamante wouldn’t make Law’s crew look good on purpose, so it was likely he was underestimating them—which was serving to make them look even better to the gathered Dressrosans. Law, despite his fury and concern, took a small measure of satisfaction at that.

Uni took to the ring with his staff against a man convicted of multiple assaults. The man countered Uni’s staff with a spear, and the two tested each other at first then clashed more seriously. Uni gave better than he got, though when he dodged a jab, the assaulter stuck a foot out and knocked Uni off-balance. Uni stumbled and took the spear to his shoulder. He cried out, and Law’s grip on his armrests tightened.

But the assaulter took too long pulling the spear from Uni’s shoulder, and Uni pushed through the pain to swing his staff and catch the man in his midsection. He gasped and doubled over. Uni rose to his feet and swung his staff overhanded, sending his opponent to the ground with a loud crack. Uni hobbled out of the ring after his victory, trailing blood.

Jean Bart caught the crowd’s attention as the newest addition to the Hearts. Even Doflamingo leaned forward in interest at Law’s latest recruit. Jean Bart entered the ring without a weapon, clearly preferring to use his size and strength to his advantage. Diamante had clearly underestimated Jean Bart, as his opponent was utterly dwarfed by the former pirate captain. He was outclassed too, as Jean Bart easily disarmed his opponent and knocked him out in two blows.

Doflamingo chuckled as Jean Bart left the ring, crowd thundering in approval, and turned to Law. “And you found him on Sabaody?” Law nodded. Doflamingo knew Law had more than one freed slave on his crew, but Law had never made a point of mentioning his tendency to free Celestial Dragon slaves when the opportunity arose, and Doflamingo never asked despite his heavy presence in the slave trade. “Impressive. He certainly lives up to his reputation.”

Shachi followed, and Law felt a sense of foreboding as it was time for his original crewmates to fight—the ones he’d known since he was 13. Diamante would give them the biggest challenges because of that.

Armed with his favorite katana, Shachi eyed his challenger—another rebel against the Family forced to fight in the Colosseum—with some wariness, since he was much larger than Shachi and also wielded a blade. Still, Shachi knew how to handle his sword, and he was clearly confident as the match started.

Shachi and his opponent traded experimental strikes, seeking out one another’s styles and weaknesses. Despite the size difference, Shachi evenly matched his opponent’s strikes without too much effort. They circled each other, and Law tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach as the sword exchanges became more serious, had more lethal intent behind them.

Shachi drew first blood, nicking his opponent’s arm on a passing sweep. His opponent growled and redoubled his efforts. Startled, Shachi was initially pushed several steps backward toward the edge of the ring, but he used his smaller size and greater speed to duck under his opponent’s next strike and move back to the center of the ring. They exchanged additional strikes, swords clanging their challenge over the cheers and jeers of the crowd.

Shachi continued to dance around his challenger, much to the other man’s obvious frustration. After another dodged swing, the challenger snarled. He said something then, and it had an obvious effect on Shachi, who balked. The larger man took advantage and swung his fist, punching Shachi in the face.

Law cursed as Shachi stumbled. The opponent raised his sword as he advanced toward the staggering man. Shachi barely had time to throw up an arm defensively as the sword came down—

And tore through his left arm above the elbow.

Shachi screamed as he fell backward while his severed arm dropped, bloody, to the ring. His sword clattered to the ground next to him. The sound ran Law through as effectively as a blade. The crowd howled its approval, but Law could barely hear them as his wide eyes focused on his fallen friend. No no no.

Diamante was cheering while Doflamingo hummed, clearly entertained by the bloody spectacle in the ring at the expense of one of Law’s oldest friends.

Shachi writhed on the ground, his remaining hand wrapped around the gushing stump. He needed medical attention, and he needed it now. But the match continued as Shachi’s opponent advanced on him. Law pushed against the strings holding him to his chair, helpless. He froze as Shachi stilled, and for a moment, Law thought he had passed out. That would get him killed.

The opponent raised his sword to bring it down on Shachi, but as he lunged forward to take the killing strike, Shachi moved with a ferocious cry, grabbing his sword with his remaining arm and stabbing upward, halting his foe’s downward momentum with the tip of his blade. The other man spasmed and dropped his blade before going limp and falling against Shachi’s side.

Law slumped back into his seat, heart hammering in his chest.

Doflamingo chuckled. “Well, now that was exciting. Your crew definitely has a flair for the dramatics, Corazon.”

Law remained silent, eyes tracking the medics who took both Shachi’s and the challenger’s bodies out of the ring on stretchers. They grabbed Shachi’s amputated arm as well. Law wanted nothing more than to form a Room and meet them in the infirmary; he was his crew’s doctor, after all. And with his Fruit, he could reattach Shachi’s arm. But that wouldn’t be allowed until all the matches were done, Law knew.

Penguin entered the ring, clearly shaken by what had just happened to his best friend. He swallowed and glanced up at the king’s box. Despite the distance, Law knew Penguin was looking at him. Law clenched his jaw, tamping down on his own panic and guilt, and nodded. Just fight. Look after yourself. We’ll take care of him. I’ll take care of him.

That seemed to be enough for Penguin, who nodded in return and twirled his staff expertly, spinning it twice before bringing it to rest alongside him. The rest of his body stilled in preparation for the fight. His opponent was twice his size but lasted about as long as Jean Bart’s opponent had. The moment his opponent hit the ground with a crash, Penguin had marched out of the ring back toward Shachi.

Bepo, as Law’s first mate, was set to fight last. It was clear he was just as disturbed as Penguin by Shachi’s fall. However, he also knew it was time to prove why he was Law’s second. He, like Penguin, looked up at Law and nodded in determination. He needed nothing but his own claws and mink electro to quickly dispatch his own challenger. Like Penguin, he marched out of the ring immediately after felling his foe, ignoring Gatz’s excited commentary about his unique abilities.

“See to your men, Corazon,” Doflamingo said once the commotion had died down, flicking his wrists to retract the strings holding Law to the chair. His message had been sent, so there was no point in extending this, after all.

Shakily, Law pushed himself to his feet. “Young Master,” he said with a small bow, doing his best to keep his tone even and deferential. Message received.

Law raised a hand and opened a Room, sending it down below the Colosseum. Once he found the infirmary, he cast about his Room for an appropriate object until—

He switched places with a roll of gauze, popping into the infirmary. The nearby staff yelped in surprise, but the Hearts just looked up wearily and nodded in greeting at their captain. Law took a moment to assess the situation. His crew—who Law made sure had some working medical knowledge in case he was ever out of commission—was spread around the infirmary, and some of the less injured members like Ikkaku and Iruka were helping others. Nurses were stitching more serious wounds, like the gash on Clione’s thigh and the stab through Uni’s shoulder.

They were hurt, but they were alive.

At the far side of the infirmary, Bepo, Jean Bart, and Penguin stood alongside a doctor and a nurse around a cot that Law could only assume held Shachi.

“Captain!” Bepo all but wailed once he caught sight of Law.

Law marched over to the cot. Shachi was unconscious, likely having passed out from pain and shock. The doctor was wrapping up the stump on Shachi’s arm while the nurse hooked him up to a drip of pain medication. The wound had already been cauterized and stitched up. Shachi had also been hooked up to an IV for a blood transfusion.

Your fault. Your fault. Your fault, Law’s brain accused as he stepped up next to Bepo. Swallowing against his guilt, he summoned a Room. It might have been his fault that this happened, but he could also do something about it.

“I’ll take over here,” Law told the doctor hoarsely. “Look after the others.”

“Yes, Corazon,” the doctor said, bowing away from the cot. The nurse finished setting up the drip then left as well.

Law looked down at the cot, and for a moment he was 13 again on Swallow Island, trying desperately to repair Penguin’s severed arm. He’d been working blindly then, barely recovered from a terminal illness and still learning his Fruit, but he’d done it. Penguin had an impressive scar on his arm but other than some stiffness when they were on winter islands had no issues with mobility.

Law knew far more about both his Fruit and medicine now.

“Where’s his arm?” he asked, already mentally calculating the steps he’d need to take to reattach the limb when it had been so long after amputation. He’d seen the medics take the arm from the ring.

Penguin blinked and exchanged a look with Bepo, who shrugged. He looked back at Law. “I don’t know.”

Narrowing his eyes, Law whirled on the doctors. “Where’s his arm?” he demanded.

The doctor Law had chased away looked up from examining Clione’s wound and took a nervous breath before speaking. “T-the king ordered any severed limbs be disposed of immediately.”

Law’s stomach dropped. Of course he had. There had been two matches after Shachi’s, so there would have been plenty of time to get rid of his arm.

“What did you do with it?”

“B-burned it, sir.”

Law saw red, fury burning hotly in his chest, but he reined himself in with effort; attacking the infirmary staff would be pointless. They were just following Doffy’s orders. He knew Law’s skills were good enough that he could reattach a missing limb—but not if there was no limb to reattach.

Law dropped his Room, realizing there was nothing he could do.

Doffy intended this to be a permanent reminder of Law’s failure—as a subordinate, as a captain, as a friend.

A feeling of helplessness settled over him like an old, familiar cloak; it pulled on his limbs and settled under his skin, curling around his insides. He sank into the chair next to the cot and dropped his face into his hands.

Your fault. Your fault. Your fault.

Bepo kept a careful eye on both Shachi and Law as the afternoon bled into evening. The entire crew had wordlessly agreed to stay until Shachi could be safely brought back to his room, and the doctor wanted him to regain consciousness to assess his state of mind first. The Hearts milled around the infirmary, the wounded members resting while the others read or played cards quietly.

Shachi was completely senseless from the pain medication, but Law…

The moment Law had realized Shachi’s arm was gone with no way to repair it, Bepo had watched something behind his eyes shutter. Law had dropped, boneless, into a chair by Shachi’s cot, face in hands. The next time he looked up, Bepo’s hackles went up; Law’s expression was just… empty.

Just like it had been when he’d shut down after they’d first gotten to Dressrosa seven years earlier.

“C-captain?” Bepo hazarded. And that was when he noticed the bruises around Law’s neck. Oh no.

“What?” Law croaked.

“Are you okay?” Bepo asked, gesturing to his own neck in lieu of explaining.

Law’s face was blank as he replied, “Fine.” Then he closed his eyes and slumped in his chair.

Bepo and Penguin exchanged worried looks. Law wasn’t fine, and they all knew it.

Chapter Text

In the early dawn hours, Bepo’s ear twitched when he heard a faint groan coming from Shachi’s cot. Penguin frowned at him over the hand of cards he was holding. Bepo turned to look at Shachi’s cot and heard the sound again, this time a bit louder.

“I think he’s waking up!” Bepo said as Law jolted to his feet, eyes focused on Shachi. Bepo and Penguin dropped their cards and headed over to Shachi’s cot, taking the opposite side of their captain. The other Hearts immediately looked up hopefully but kept their distance, knowing better than to get in Law’s way when he was treating one of them.

Law opened a Room and performed a Scan. He seemed satisfied with what he found, as he wordlessly dropped his Room once more.

“Shachi?” Penguin asked as his friend blinked a few times blearily. “You with us?”

“Mrgh,” Shachi replied, eyes settling into a narrow squint as he tried to focus on the figures around him.

“Hey, Shachi!” Bepo greeted, relieved to see his friend awake.

“How do you feel?” Penguin asked.

Shachi opened his mouth to reply, but his voice cracked; Penguin hurried over to the sink and filled a cup of water before returning with it.

“Slowly,” Penguin warned as he helped Shachi take sips from the cup.

As Shachi drank, Bepo snuck a glance at Law. He was watching Shachi carefully, his lips pressed into a thin line and his posture tense.

“Thanks,” Shachi said once he’d had enough.

“So?” Penguin prompted. Shachi looked at him blankly. “How do you feel?”

Shachi blinked. “Oh, ah… Still a bit out of it.”

“To be expected,” Law rasped. Bepo winced in sympathy. “Morphine,” he elaborated when Shachi and Penguin looked at him.

“What do you remember?” Bepo asked, turning back to Shachi.

Shachi frowned. “Fighting in the Colosseum. That asshole said—” He cut himself off but glanced at Law, so they all had a general idea of what had distracted him during the fight. The Hearts didn’t take kindly to insults to their captain. “Anyway. I was an idiot and got distracted. Fell down and…”

His eyes widened and he looked down at his arm—or what had once been his arm. His eyes locked on the gauze-wrapped stump and stiffened. After a long, silent moment, Shachi made a pained, keening sound in the back of his throat, and he shut his eyes, flopping back into his pillow.

“It wasn’t a dream.”

“No,” Penguin agreed, putting a hand on Shachi’s shoulder, an anchor in a moment his best friend was clearly adrift.

“I—”

Bepo looked up at Law, who’d gone rigid at Shachi’s reaction. He could see Law’s expression closing off as he turned away.

“I’ll make arrangements to move you back to your room,” Law said, voice monotone.

And in a flash of blue, he was gone, a small rock clattering to the ground in his place.

Bepo exchanged a worried look with Penguin, but they both turned their attention back to their friend on the cot. The other Hearts slowly started drifting over, wanting to offer comfort.

“I can still feel it. Kinda,” Shachi mumbled, eyes still screwed shut.

“Phantom limb,” Penguin supplied. And Penguin would know, Bepo realized; he’d lost an arm back on Swallow Island, though Law had managed to reattach it back then. Shachi wouldn’t have that luck.

“I know his arm is gone, but couldn’t the captain give him another arm?” Clione murmured to Bepo. Iruka and Masu nodded from behind him.

“No way,” Ikkaku replied from Bepo’s other side, voice low. “What do you think Doflamingo would do to the captain—to Shachi—if he did?”

“Ikkaku’s right,” Bepo said. Doflamingo was a real son of a bitch like that; he saw others’ lives as pawns and their pain as entertainment.  

Doflamingo also didn’t appreciate being challenged, and Law, it seemed based on the bruises around his neck, had crossed a line at Marineford. There was no telling how the Warlord would react to yet another challenge, like Law daring to give Shachi another arm when the entire Colosseum had seen him lose it.

“Where’d the captain go, anyway?” Uni asked.

“Arranging to move Shachi back to the palace,” Bepo said with a worried sigh.

Law had spent the night repeatedly Scanning Shachi, keeping an eye on the wound and making sure no infection would set in. He’d changed Shachi’s IVs and checked the wound with practiced doctor’s hands, but he hadn’t said a word as he’d worked. Bepo could practically taste the guilt radiating off him.

Light conversation continued around Shachi’s cot, and eventually Shachi opened his eyes and even started participating, if half-heartedly. Still, it did the others good to seem him engage, and the mood in the infirmary improved drastically.

Half an hour later, Law returned—this time through the infirmary doors. Everyone looked up at him.

“Let’s go,” he said, crossing his arms. “There are carriages out front.”

The Hearts around Shachi’s cot slowly dispersed, grabbing their belongings and heading for the door. Bepo and Penguin frowned and looked down at Shachi. He was still under a heavy dose of morphine so wouldn’t be able to walk. That also wouldn’t be a good combination with Law’s powers.

“I can get—” Penguin started, but Bepo simply reached down and pulled Shachi into his arms. Shachi yelped and struggled weakly before sighing and relaxing into Bepo’s grip. “Or not,” Penguin finished lamely. Instead, he shrugged and grabbed the IV bags connected to his friend, following Bepo and Shachi toward the doors.

“Captain?” Bepo asked as they approached, hoping to get some kind of reaction, but Law just waved them ahead, his expression blank. Bepo frowned but kept walking, Penguin in step with him and Shachi quiet in his arms; it seemed just talking with the others had tired him out. Law’s footsteps clacked on the floor from somewhere behind them. Usually, Bepo found the sound of Law’s boots familiar and comforting, but there was an ominous feeling on the air he couldn’t shake.

Outside the Colosseum, they found four carriages. The other Hearts, who’d gone ahead, were already filing into the back three vehicles. Even Jean Bart fit into a carriage, as they’d been built to easily accommodate large figures like Doflamingo and Pica. Bepo and Penguin headed for the first carriage. Bepo stepped inside and placed Shachi on the bench then took a seat next to him. Penguin came in next, sitting across from Shachi, IV bags still in hand.

Law had one foot in the carriage when he paused to give an order to the driver before ducking in and sitting down next to Penguin. He pulled the door shut, and the carriage took off a few moments later. The remaining carriages followed to the palace.

It was still early, just after sunrise, when the carriages pulled up to the entrance of the palace. Law exited the carriage and kept half an eye on the others as they filed from the carriages and half an eye on the trail into the palace grounds. The last thing he wanted was to run into any executives while bringing Shachi back to his room; he just hoped the early morning meant the most obnoxious ones would still be asleep.

Once his crew had disembarked, Law took the lead as they headed for the palace. Bepo, Shachi in arm, and Penguin followed as the others flanked them. Law led them through a side entrance closer to the wing where the Hearts had their rooms—on the opposite end of the palace from where the executives had their rooms.

It was a small mercy that they only ran into a few servants in the halls of the palace. Law went directly to Shachi’s room, where he’d already directed servants to move several pieces of medical equipment and boxes of medical supplies to from the infirmary. Bepo followed and deposited Shachi in his bed. Penguin came up to the side of the bed and put the IV bags on the waiting stand.

“Get some rest,” Bepo said, putting a gentle hand on Shachi’s shoulder and squeezing. Shachi murmured something unintelligible in response, which Bepo seemed to appreciate.

Law ignored the probing look Bepo gave him before leaving the room and ushering the others to their own rooms, threatening to tend to their respective wounds himself if they didn’t rest. He then pulled Jean Bart aside to show him to his room, which had been set up before the Hearts had returned to Dressrosa.

Penguin lingered for a moment before Shachi sighed and reached across his body with his sole arm to flick him in the leg. “Didn’t you hear Bepo? Get some rest, Peng.”

Penguin bit his lip but finally nodded. “I’ll check on you in a while.”

“Thanks.”

Penguin turned and headed out of the room, glancing one final time behind him. Once he’d shut the door behind him, Law and Shachi were alone.

“How’s the pain?” Law asked. Medical questions were safe. Law was a doctor and Shachi his patient. He could do that much, at least. “I don’t imagine carting you around the city helped.”

“No,” Shachi admitted, shutting his eyes in a grimace. “Bepo’s soft, but—”

“Doesn’t help nerve pain.” Or bone pain. Or tissue pain. Or… “I’ll give you another dose of morphine,” Law said, cutting off his own dark thoughts. He grabbed a vial from one of the boxes he’d had brought to Shachi’s room. “This’ll probably knock you out,” he warned as he administered the dose.

“Good,” Shachi muttered, opening his eyes again. They were glassy. “Being awake kinda sucks right now.”

Law’s chest tightened again, but he pushed it aside. As Shachi’s doctor, he had no time for guilt.

“I’ll check on your bandages as often as I can.” Who knew how much time Doffy would give him, though. “Penguin and Bepo will too.”

Shachi nodded, his eyes drooping shut once more as the morphine took effect. “Thanks, Captain,” he murmured as he fell asleep.

Law stood watching him for a long moment after that. What did Shachi have to thank him for? This was all Law’s fault, after all.

A few days later, Law startled when a hand slapped a newspaper on top of the book he was reading at a table in the library. He tamped down on a flare of annoyance; he’d spent the last several days in the library to get away from other people. Instead of snapping, though, he simply raised an eyebrow at the hand’s owner.

“What?”

Violet looked down at him. “Thought you might want to see what the boy you saved has been up to.” She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms.

Law picked up the newspaper and frowned at the cover page, which featured a somber image of Straw Hat Luffy, namesake in hand and body still wrapped in the bandages Law had put there, paying his respects at Marineford.

“He rang the Ox Bell sixteen times,” Violet supplied as Law looked at the picture. “The Marines are taking it as a declaration of war.”

Law barely heard her, his attention focused on the picture. Something he couldn’t name stirred in his chest as he studied the newspaper, reminiscent of the tug he’d felt that day. But he couldn’t afford to listen to that again, not after what had happened. He shoved it as far down as he could.

“And why would I care?” he asked, putting the newspaper down.

Violet’s eyes narrowed. When Law didn’t elaborate, she sighed and sat down across from him. “You saved him for a reason, Corazon,” she said, emphasizing his title, knowing it rankled him.

“It was a whim,” Law replied, not rising to the bait. “He’s not my patient anymore, so what concern is he of mine?” If Law said it enough, he might even start to believe it. Maybe that something in his chest would go away. And his nakama wouldn’t have to pay for any more of his selfish decisions.

“Try again,” Violet said. “I read you after you got back, in case you forgot.”

“So you know I didn’t have a reason,” Law replied coolly.

“I know what you’re doing,” Violet said. Law inclined his head at her. “You’re protecting your men after what happened in the Colosseum. But you don’t have to do that with me.” She reached a hand out to grab Law’s, but Law jerked back and Violet frowned, hurt flashing across her face before her expression tightened. “You can’t just shut yourself off from everyone.”

Law pushed himself to his feet and turned away from the table. “Watch me.”

As he left the library, Violet picked up the book he’d been reading from the table and started. She looked up after him, but his retreating back had already vanished through the door. He’d been reading about prosthetics.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Law oversaw Shachi’s recovery, making sure everything—medically, anyway—was on track. Shachi’s arm healed as well as could be expected, and though he hadn’t lost his dominant arm, he still had to relearn many tasks to compensate for his new center of balance. He spent a lot of time on the training grounds with the others, relearning the sword with one hand so, in his own words, he wouldn’t be a liability to the rest of the crew.

It was not lost on the Hearts, however, that Law had withdrawn from them, becoming more of a specter than their captain. He threw himself into his role as Corazon, second in command of the Donquixote Family and right hand of the King of Dressrosa. He trained his blade and his Fruit, pushing the capabilities of his Rooms and the creativity of his techniques. He even fought in the Colosseum on occasion.

No one came close to besting him.

He was also sent regularly on missions for Doflamingo, but he took fewer of the Hearts with him, at times even going solo or with other executives instead. The more he went out, the more his reputation for cruelty grew, much to Doflamingo’s delight. The influence of the Family continued to spread through the New World, with SMILE only being the tip of the iceberg.

Doflamingo was also not shy about flaunting that he had started taking his second to his bed, and if Law had become even more shut off in the aftermath, no one dared comment for fear of body parts ending up in unpleasant places.

In that way, two years passed after Marineford.

One sunny day, Law was absently turning the pages of a medical journal as he sat in the library when Violet came in. They often met like this in the library—or, more accurately, Violet regularly tracked him down in the library and wouldn’t let Law chase her away; in addition to his other duties as Doflamingo’s second in command, he was also the Family’s head doctor, so he regularly took time to stay current in his field. It was one of the few reasons Doffy accepted—even encouraged—for him to be away from the Warlord’s side for any length of time other than missions.

Law knew what she was doing; Violet had spent the last two years doing her best to reach out to him, though her efforts had born little fruit. He’d allowed the mask of Corazon to become his second skin—a skin that kept him and, more importantly, his crew safe. The distance he kept was for the best.

Today, Law had retreated to the library as soon as breakfast was over; he avoided as many Family affairs as he could when Vergo was at the palace. Despite even Doflamingo’s best efforts, the first and third Corazons were rarely civil. Law despised his predecessor after Minion Island. Vergo, for his part, made it clear he considered Law an extension of Doflamingo’s traitor brother and unworthy of sitting at the Warlord’s right hand. To Vergo, Law was an upstart who had risen above his station and deserved to be put in his place. To Law, Vergo was a feral beast—a monster who delighted in beating a terminally-ill teenager nearly to death—who deserved to be put down.

“Avoiding Vergo?” Violet asked by way of greeting, slipping into a chair across from Law.

Law didn’t bother responding, keeping his eyes on the pages in front of him.

Violet huffed but wasn’t deterred. Though he did nothing to encourage her efforts—in fact, he actively discouraged her—part of Law distantly appreciated that she hadn’t given up on him after everything that had happened in the last two years. Law, more often than not, felt like a stranger in his own skin; keeping his distance from, well, everything (even—especially—himself) was the only thing that made it tolerable.

But Violet, for whatever reason, seemed to think there was something in him worth fighting for. Maybe she saw herself in Law, so she saw fighting for him akin to fighting for herself and her own humanity. Law didn’t particularly agree that he was worth it, but her efforts warmed something in his chest anyway.

“I spoke to Bepo yesterday,” Violet said after a moment.

Law’s lips pressed into a thin line at the mention of his best friend.

“He said he hasn’t seen you in a while. None of your crew has.”

“I’ve been busy.” He turned a page. It was safer this way. For all of them.

“He wasn’t mad.”

Of course he wasn’t. Bepo was never mad at Law, no matter how much he might deserve it.

“He was just worried.”

Law finally glanced up from his journal, giving Violet an unimpressed look. “Is there a reason you’re playing go-between with my crew, Princess?”

“Because you won’t,” she snapped before collecting herself again. She took a quick look around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking, her voice low. “I know you feel like nothing more than Doflamingo’s creature. Like he owns every part of you, down to your soul.” Law flinched, the feel of Doflamingo’s fingers as he sought to claim every part of Law, inside and out, a ghostly memory on his skin. “I know because I feel the same way. But I rely on the people I love, like my father and my niece, to remind me that I’m not his. I do what I do to protect them and survive.” She shook her head. “And your crew does that for you. If you’d let them.”

Law opened his mouth, but his reply was cut short by the muted sound of approaching footsteps on the library carpet. He looked up to see one of Doffy’s personal servants hurrying in his direction.

“Corazon,” she said, slightly breathless. “The Young Master requests your presence in his office.”

Law raised an eyebrow at Violet—am I not Doflamingo’s creature?—before rising to his feet. He nodded at the servant and followed her out of the library, the feeling of Violet’s gaze burning his back.

When they reached Doffy’s office, the servant knocked and waited for the king’s call to enter. “Corazon is here, Young Master,” she said, bowing Law into the room. The door shut behind her as Law stepped in.

Doflamingo sat behind his ornate office desk, reclining in his large chair, fingers steepled in front of him. Law’s jaw clenched at the sight of the other man in the room. Vergo sat in a chair across the desk from Doflamingo, one leg crossed over the other. He did not bother to mask his disdain for Law's presence.

“Doffy,” Law greeted, pointedly ignoring Vergo.

“Corazon,” Doflamingo said. “I have a mission for you.”

“Of course.”

“Are you sure, Doffy? I could—” Vergo started, but Doflamingo cut him off.

“And risk blowing your cover?” He shook his head. “Your successor is more than capable of handling this little errand.”

Law allowed a smirk to play at his lips, knowing it would irk Vergo. “And where am I going?”

Doflamingo turned his attention back to Law. “Punk Hazard. We’ve had reports of some unwanted pests on the island. I need you to take care of them.”

Chapter Text

“And where am I going?”

“Punk Hazard. We’ve had reports of some unwanted pests on the island. I need you to take care of them.”

Law frowned. Punk Hazard was meant to be off-limits to pirates and Marines alike since Caesar Clown’s poison gas bomb had turned the island into a wasteland. The fight between Aokiji and Akainu had only further cemented Punk Hazard as a place to avoid, as their abilities had completely altered the landscape. It shouldn’t even be accessible by log pose. Which, of course, made it the perfect location for Doflamingo’s purposes. Who would be there now?

“What kind of pests?” he asked.

Doflamingo waved a hand. “Vice Admiral Smoker is sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong again.”

Law’s lips curled upward once more, and he inclined his head as he looked at Vergo. “Shouldn’t you be keeping your men under better control, Vergo?” He tsked. “No wonder you can’t handle this yourself.”

Vergo’s expression tightened. “You insolent—” He cut himself off as Doflamingo cleared his throat. “Smoker has been a concern since he transferred to G-5,” Vergo admitted as he turned back to Doffy. “I’ve been waiting for the best time for him to have an accident.” He glanced at Law. “And that’s Vergo-san, to you, boy.”

“It’s Corazon to you, Vice Admiral,” Law retorted, still smirking, “not ‘boy.’”

“As I am unfortunately reminded,” Vergo sneered. “Truly, my successors have left much to be desired.”

Law’s grip around Kikoku tightened at the reference to Cora-san. He knew Vergo was trying to get a rise out of him and that Doflamingo was watching his reaction, so he forced his fingers to relax and left the smirk playing at his lips.

“And yet,” he drawled, “only one of us can go on this mission.”

Vergo opened his mouth to retort, but Doffy interrupted. “Enough bickering.” He turned to Law. “Smoker and his men aren’t the only pests Monet has reported.” He gave Law a long, searching look, which set Law’s teeth on edge, before elaborating. “The Straw Hat Pirates are also on the island.”

Law’s breath left him in a rush, the name so unexpected on Doffy’s lips that it struck him like a blow. There had been no news of the Straw Hats in two years; what were the odds they would reappear in Doflamingo’s territory?

He thought again of the pull in his chest he’d done his best to bury over the last two years and the urgings of the Sisters back in Flevance to always look and listen for signs of something bigger than ourselves in the world. Even Bepo, when they were younger, had talked about Minks’ connection to the Earth and how they looked to her for signs.

Law swallowed.

“That won’t be a problem, will it, Corazon?”

Law, with no little effort, schooled his features into something he hoped was apathetic. “No problem. I will take care of it.”

Doffy nodded. “I know you will.” Though Law couldn’t see his eyes behind those glasses, he could still feel the intensity in the Warlord’s gaze. “You know how important it is that the SAD production not be interrupted.”

“Of course,” he said, bowing slightly. “I’ll make arrangements to leave immediately.”

“There’s an SAD tanker heading for Punk Hazard in an hour. You can take that.”

Law nodded his understanding and turned to exit the office.

“Corazon.”

Law paused and looked back at Doflamingo, wary.

“I’m counting on you.”

Law stiffened at the implication in the tone, and memories of Doflamingo’s fingers around his throat sprang unbidden to mind. Over the last two years, Doffy had taken an… interest in Law’s neck, as though seeing the marks he’d left behind that day in the Suit Room had awoken some primal urge. Sometimes he touched gently, almost reverently, while others he squeezed hard enough to leave bruises blooming across the abused skin. Once, Law had been forced to sign to communicate for several days as his throat had healed from Doffy’s attentions.

And sometimes it wasn’t bruises left behind but bites. Law regularly sported some type of mark from Doffy’s affections, but the neck markings in particular were nearly impossible to hide the next day, making them Doffy’s favorite way of reminding Law who he belonged to.

As though Law needed any further reminder.

He nodded at Doflamingo. “Young Master,” he said in acknowledgment then left the room.

“You allow him too much,” Vergo said once the door had closed behind Law.

Doflamingo raised an eyebrow at Vergo. “Oh?”

Vergo’s lips curled in disdain. Those two just could not play nicely. “He’s insolent.”

Doflamingo snorted. “That he is. He has been since he was a child.” Once a boy with bombs strapped to his chest looking to destroy the world, Law had risen to second in command of a Warlord and king. Doffy had to admit that he was rather fond of Law’s insolence.

In moderation.

It had taken time and numerous lessons since his return to the Family to break down the boy’s more rebellious instincts, but the Corazon he had become was exactly the second he’d always thought Law could become.

It was too bad that one day his reign as second would have to end in sacrifice to Doflamingo’s immortality, but Law wasn’t ready yet. Doflamingo was patient and more than happy to make use of his Corazon until Law learned it was his fate to die for Doflamingo.

Vergo eyed him for a moment, clearly weighing what he wanted to say to his liege.

“Speak freely, Vergo,” Doflamingo said, leaning back in his chair. Vergo was one of the few people he truly allowed such liberties, as he had been with him since they were children.

“He will betray you. Just like my successor did.”

Doflamingo scowled at the mention of his brother, but Vergo had earned that familiarity. It was an old argument they’d had since Law had returned to the Family nearly a decade earlier. Vergo remembered the boy in the snow helping Rosinante in trying to bring down the Family. And Vergo’s loyalty lay entirely with Doflamingo, so he did not forgive treason.

“I’m well aware of the influence Rosinante had on him,” Doflamingo replied, thinking back to a teenage Law’s snarled defense of Rosinante the day they’d reunited in the North Blue: Cora-san saved me. I am alive today because of him. Little did he know, his precious Cora-san had condemned him by feeding him that Fruit; Doflamingo had never intended for Law to eat the Ope Ope no Mi because Law was more valuable to him as his future second than as a sacrificial pawn. But now there was no choice.

“That’s why I’ve taken precautions to ensure his continued loyalty.”

“He betrayed you at Marineford,” Vergo pointed out, “even with those precautions.” They had argued for days after Law had saved Straw Hat and Jimbei. Despite Vergo’s protestations, Doflamingo hadn’t been willing to rid himself of the potential he saw in Law.

And he’d been right, of course.

“I made sure he learned his lesson,” Doflamingo replied. “His loyalty has been impeccable since.”

Doflamingo could not have planned a better lesson in loyalty than one of Law’s closest friends losing an arm in the Colosseum. Something, it seemed, had broken in Law then, all ideas of rebellion washed away in his friend’s blood on the Colosseum’s stone ring. He’d been the ideal subordinate since. He’d withdrawn from his crew, devoting himself entirely to the Family—to Doflamingo—and Doflamingo took every opportunity to assert his complete ownership of his Corazon, his Heart.

Perhaps Doflamingo liked Law’s insolence because it was a reminder that, even as Law submitted to Doflamingo, he was still in there, the boy who wanted to destroy the world after it had destroyed his.

Still, Doflamingo saw the presence of the Straw Hats on Punk Hazard as the perfect test to make sure the loyalty he now displayed was real.

Vergo was clearly not persuaded by Doflamingo’s assertions, so the Warlord shrugged.

“You know I’d like you to stay,” he said. They never had enough time together with Vergo’s duties to the Marines keeping him away. “But if you’re so concerned about Corazon’s loyalty, go to Punk Hazard to keep an eye on him.” Vergo straightened, surprised but pleased. He’d wanted to be the one to take care of the mess in the first place. “But don’t blow your cover. You are too valuable to me.”

Vergo nodded and rose to his feet. “By your leave, Young Master.”

When Law returned to his room, he found a folder on his desk with a copy of Monet’s reports about Smoker, G-5, and the Straw Hats. He flipped through the pages then closed the folder; he’d look at them more thoroughly during the ship ride. Caesar’s lab was on the snowy side of the island, so he changed into warmer clothing and grabbed his heavy coat from his wardrobe.

Punk Hazard was only a few hours from Dressrosa by ship, and Law did not expect this errand to take long so he didn’t pack anything else. After putting his Den Den Mushi in his pocket, he hefted Kikoku to his shoulder and took the folder and his coat. He thought about stopping by his crew’s wing to tell them where he was going but decided against it. He didn’t have much time before the tanker left.

As he approached the front gate of the palace, he slowed at the sight of three figures. He grimaced as Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin came into focus. They looked up when they heard him approach.

“Captain,” Bepo greeted hesitantly.

“What are you three doing here?” Law asked, looking between them. He had his suspicions about who might have ratted him out.

“Going somewhere?” Penguin asked, nodding at the folder and coat in Law’s arms.

“Mission.”

“By yourself?” Shachi asked, frowning.

“This shouldn’t take long. Just a quick clean up,” Law evaded.

“We could help make it go even faster,” Penguin said.

Bepo nodded. “We want to help.”

Law frowned. “It’s not necessary. I should be back by tomorrow.”

“But—” Bepo started.

“Captain’s orders,” Law interrupted, voice harsher than he intended.

Bepo shrank in on himself and murmured an apology. Law knew Bepo didn’t deserve that—none of them did—but it was the only way he could keep them safe.

“You want to pull that,” Penguin said, crossing his arms defiantly, “maybe you should start acting like a captain again.”

Law recoiled as if Penguin had struck him.

“We haven’t seen you in weeks. And when you do stop by, you barely speak. You don’t take us on missions, even though we’re way more useful than that idiot Buffalo,” Penguin went on.

“I know you spooked when I lost my arm,” Shachi added, voice more neutral than Penguin’s. “But it’s not your fault.”

“Of course it is,” Law snapped, feeling suddenly fragile as his best friends confronted him. Two years’ worth of guilt and frustration had left his emotions jagged and broken, and it was inevitable those sharp edges would hurt them—and here they were. “I made the choice to go to Marineford and save Straw Hat-ya. I made the choice to stay on Amazon Lily for weeks, knowing you all would pay the price. I was selfish and look what happened.”

“No, Law,” Bepo said quietly. Law startled. “That wasn’t being selfish. You saved Straw Hat Luffy and Jimbei when no one else could have.” Bepo swallowed. “And I’m sorry, but you’re being selfish now.”

Law sucked in a breath.

“Locking yourself up in your guilt and pain—”

“And not letting us help!” Penguin interjected.

“—that’s self-centered,” Bepo finished. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re not this person you’ve let yourself become,” Shachi added fiercely. “They might think of you as Corazon,” he said, nodding toward the palace, “but to us, you’re Captain.”

Law’s chest tightened as his friends spoke, his face heating. “I…” He swallowed, unsure of what to do with the twisting in his chest. “I have to go.”

And like the coward that he was, Law fled.

It was mid-afternoon when the SAD tanker anchored at Punk Hazard. Law eyed the island curiously. While he knew about the production going on in the lab, he’d never been to the island. He didn’t bother waiting for the gangplank, switching places with a pile of rope on the dock. According to the map of the lab in his folder, there should be a back entrance Law could use to gain entry. From there, he would need to find Monet and Caesar Clown for any updates before completing his task.

There was gas on the air, so Law opened a small Room around himself to keep the poison out as he walked toward the back door. He Shambled himself inside and made his way down the hallway. The sound of approaching footsteps alerted him to Monet’s presence before he saw her.

“Corazon, you’re here,” she greeted.

Law nodded and she turned to lead him back to the lab. Law fell in step with her.

“Well?” he asked. “What’s happening?”

She gave him a level look, one that belied the apparent chaos happening elsewhere on the island. “Half the Straw Hats are inside the building, trying to remove the children. We have soldiers confronting them, but G-5 is also in the building.”

Law didn’t think she sounded particularly bothered by this, but that could also just be Monet’s overall flat affect. He’d always had a hard time getting a good read on her.

“And the others?” he prompted.

“They’re somewhere on the island. Caesar sent the Yeti Cool Brothers after them.”

Law didn’t know much about them, other than that Caesar employed them as assassins. He rarely needed their services, considering the isolated nature of the island.

“But you don’t think they’ll be successful.” Otherwise, why was Law here?

Monet shrugged. “Hard to know, considering the Straw Hats have been inactive for two years. We have no way of knowing how strong they might have become.”

And as far as Law knew, Straw Hat had been training with Silvers Rayleigh—though he’d done his best not to think about that—for the last two years. There was no telling what he might have learned from the Dark King in that time.

They stopped in front of a large door, which slid open to admit them into the control room. Inside, Caesar stood watching monitors. The clown turned as Monet and Law entered. He brightened when he saw Law.

“Corazon!” he greeted. “You’re here! Finally.”

“Joker sent me to clean up your mess, Caesar-ya,” Law replied, disinterested.

Caesar prickled at that but knew better than to argue with an executive. He nodded at the monitors. “Half the Straw Hats and G-5 have overwhelmed my men in the Biscuit Room.” On the screen, numerous figures in gas suits were scattered across the floor. “They just went running toward the front entrance.”

“Together?” Law asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied the monitors, getting a sense of the scene.

“It seems they both want to retrieve the children,” Monet said, also looking at the monitors. “They must be working together temporarily.”

Caesar waved a dismissive hand. “No matter. The children will be begging to return in no time. But the pirates and Marines are a problem.”

“And the others?” Law asked. He didn’t see Straw Hat on any of the monitors. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed.

“In the mountains somewhere, probably dead,” Caesar said. “We don’t have a feed out there.” He shrugged and chuckled. “Shurororo. The Yeti Cool Brothers have never been defeated.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” Law murmured as he studied the monitors. Caesar made an irritated noise, but Law ignored him, having made his decision. “I’ll cut the Straw Hats and Marines off at the front gate and take care of them there. I’ll find the rest after.”

If Caesar or Monet had any objections, Law didn’t stick around to hear them; he opened a Room all the way out of the building and switched places with a snowflake. Without dropping his Room, he stood outside then, waiting for his targets to come through the open front gate.

He didn’t have to wait long.

“There’s the door!” a female voice echoed through the hall.

“Hurry!” another yelled. “We’ll get on the ship and take you home!”

Law shoved any concern for the children’s wellbeing down with all his other inconvenient emotions, locking it down in the box he’d created after Marineford. He had a job to do. And it wasn’t like his childhood had been spared either. His had ended the moment Lami had collapsed at the festival. The world was a cold, unforgiving place.

The mixed group of pirates, Marines, and children poured out of the gate moments later but slowed to a halt on the steps when they saw Law blocking their path. At the front of the group, Smoker and several Straw Hats were eyeing him. He briefly noted the presence of the samurai, Kin’emon, who had been mentioned in Monet’s reports as well; unlike the others, he was meant to be kept alive, though Law didn’t know why.

“What the—” Black Leg growled.

“I recognize him from Sabaody!” the cat burglar said, eyes wide.

“Corazon,” Smoker said. “That explains a lot.”

“What does it explain?” the tanuki asked.

“Corazon is the second in command of the Donquixote Pirates,” the swordswoman said. “If he’s here, that means this place must be one of Donquixote Doflamingo’s operations.”

“So, you’re behind this?” the cat burglar sneered. “You can’t have the children back, you monster!”

“When did you get here?” Smoker demanded.

“Just now,” Law replied. “Word was there were some pests on the island that needed exterminating.” He unsheathed Kikoku, the blade humming in anticipation. “And I’m afraid you know too much, White Chase-ya, so I can’t let you leave.”

Smoker drew his jitte, and the swordswoman unsheathed her blade. The soldiers of G-5 drew their rifles. Black Leg and the cyborg stepped forward. Law might have laughed at the futility of their actions; they were in his Room and at his mercy. Despite the reputation he’d earned for himself, though, he wasn’t interested in pointless violence. He’d take care of this quickly.

The soldiers fired a hail of bullets first, but with a twitch of his fingers, he switched the bullets with snowflakes; they fell harmlessly to the ground.

“What the hell happened?” the soldiers yelped.

“How about some bigger ammo?” the cyborg declared, firing a large blast.

Law Shambled out of the way, allowing the blast to destroy a boulder in the distance.

The swordswoman jumped into action, charging at him. “Corazon!”

Smoker yelled a warning at his second, but she ignored him.

Law let her get close before swinging Kikoku. She gasped as her upper and lower halves split in two, falling to the snowy ground. The top of her sliced sword clattered away, useless.

“Captain-chan!”

“Tashigi-chan! Are you alive?”

Black Leg growled and jumped into action. “How dare you do that to a beautiful lady?!”

Law rolled his eyes and threw up Kikoku to block Black Leg’s kick. Black Leg jumped back, and Law sliced his blade. Black Leg and Smoker jumped out of the path of the cut, but the remaining G-5 soldiers suddenly found themselves in pieces. They yelled in surprise at still being alive. Law ignored them, turning back to his remaining opponents.

“What kind of power is that?” the cat burglar asked from where she and the tanuki stood protectively in front of the children.

“The Ope Ope no Mi,” Smoker said. “It gives the user the ability to create an operating room and operate on the world around them. As long as we’re in his circle, we’re at his mercy.”

“Where’s the edge of the circle?” the cyborg asked, looking around for the edge of the blue dome.

Law’s lips twitched. He’d pushed himself over the last two years to drastically increase the size of the Room he could create and the length of time he could hold it. His Room now extended into the water.

“If we take him out, it won’t matter!” Black Leg declared, racing at Law once more.

Law dodged his kicks, deflecting them with Kikoku. He realized too late that he was being driven, though; his haki flared, and he barely dodged Smoker’s strike, the jitte grazing his cheek.

“That nasty energy,” Law hissed. “There’s Seastone on the end of your jitte.” Dangerous. Law had gotten cocky, and it had almost cost him. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Smoker swung his jitte again, and Law deflected it. His haki flared again, and he jumped to avoid another blast from the cyborg then Shambled away to put some distance between himself and his opponents.

“Corazon,” a growl came from his side.

Law looked down, surprised to see he’d Shambled himself near the halved swordswoman. There was fire in her eyes, despite her defeat.

“At least kill me if you’re going to cut me down,” she snapped. “You’ve shamed me.”

Law gave her an unimpressed look. He couldn’t look at a Marine without seeing the carnage of Flevance in his mind’s eye. “Your shame isn’t my problem,” he retorted coldly. “Remember this well: the weak don’t get to choose how they die.”

Doflamingo had beaten that lesson into him more times than Law could count; Law himself wasn’t given that choice. He knew Doflamingo had plans for his death, though the Warlord didn’t know Law had overheard his words on Minion Island.

She snarled her rage and tried to jump at him with just her upper body and her broken sword. Law raised Kikoku, ready to cut her down further, but his blade was kicked aside by Black Leg. Kikoku flew from his grip, and Law cursed under his breath.

“Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” Black Leg barked.

Law threw up his hands, feeling the charge grow in his hands. As Black Leg’s momentum brought him close to Law, Law pushed his thumbs into Black Leg’s chest and let the burst go. Counter shock.

“She’s no lady,” Law hissed as Black Leg flew backward and hit the ground, rolling. “She’s a Marine.”

“Sanji!” the Straw Hats yelled in alarm.

Black Leg tried to push himself up but dropped back down to the ground. Law turned away and walked over to his sword. He picked up Kikoku and surveyed the scene. The swordswoman, Black Leg, and the G-5 soldiers were out of commission for the time being. That left Smoker, the cyborg, Kin’emon, the cat burglar, the tanuki, and the children. The children simply needed to be returned to the lab. Smoker, the cyborg, and the samurai were the most dangerous men left standing.

“Corazon!” Smoker roared and charged Law once more.

Law braced himself for Smoker’s frontal attack then started when Smoker turned partially to smoke. The jitte came at him from behind; Law dodged but the end of the jitte still slammed into his shoulder. Law immediately felt his strength disappear and his Room drop from the effects of the Seastone tip.

Law hit the ground and rolled away, his strength returning. He pushed back to his feet and immediately threw a Room back up. He cursed himself; he’d shown a weakness his enemies could exploit.

Smoker followed Law, stabbing his jitte again and again. Law dodged as Smoker chased him. Law Shambled a bit farther ahead then whirled around, throwing up a hand. He lifted a finger and a rock pillar erupted from the ground. Smoker’s eyes widened but he dodged. Law lifted one pillar after another until Smoker was right in front of him. Smoker raised his jitte to strike, but Law lifted one more pillar, pulling Smoker up short. With Smoker off-balance, Law used Mes to cut straight through the rock and into Smoker’s chest.

Smoker wheezed as his heart was ejected from his body, and he collapsed against the pillar.

“Smoker-san!” the swordswoman cried.

Law straightened and Shambled the heart into his hand. The heart of a vice admiral could be a good bargaining chip. He pocketed it.

“Is that…” the cat burglar gasped.

“His heart!” the tanuki confirmed, eyes wide.

Law turned back toward the steps, where the remaining figures stood. The samurai put a hand to his sword while the cyborg stepped in front of the group. Law hefted Kikoku but froze at the sound of a familiar voice, that pull in his chest jerking hard enough to steal his breath.

“Oi!” Straw Hat called. “What’s going on?”

Chapter Text

“Oi!” Straw Hat called. “What’s going on?”

“Luffy!” the cat burglar and tanuki cried in relief.

“Straw Hat,” the mangled parts of the G-5 soldiers groaned.

“Luffy, look,” the long-nosed one said. “It’s the guy from Sabaody.”

“Corazon,” Nico Robin said, immediately taking a defensive posture. “This must be one of Donquixote Doflamingo’s operations if his second is here.”

Straw Hat blinked at Law then smiled widely. “It’s you.”

Law inclined his head. “Straw Hat-ya. I see you made it.”

“He saved me at Marineford,” Straw Hat, still smiling, said to his crew, who exchanged glances.

“Things change, Luffy,” Pirate Hunter Zoro said, hand going to the blades at his hip. “I don’t think he’s here to help us now. He already got the love cook.”

Straw Hat’s gaze went to where Black Leg had fallen, and his expression darkened. “Sanji!”

“He’s alive,” Law said. “For now. I’m afraid I can’t let any of you leave.” This would be more complicated with all of his targets in one place; part of him thought that he should have brought backup after all, but he quickly dismissed it.

“Chopper,” Straw Hat called. “Come look at Sanji.”

The tanuki started to move, and Law lifted Kikoku but suddenly had three swords to parry as Zoro charged him. A distraction. No matter.

Law and Zoro traded blows with their blades until Law lifted a hand and switched Zoro with a snowflake among the amputated parts of the G-5 soldiers. The pirate hunter yelped in surprise before gaping at the moving and talking body parts.

“What the hell kind of power is this?!” he demanded.

“Super freaky, right?” the cyborg asked. “As long as we’re in this circle, he can do what he wants.”

Law’s lips twitched, but his haki flared and he dodged a shot from the sniper’s slingshot. Law swung Kikoku in his direction, but arms sprouted around the sniper and pulled him out of the slice’s path. Boulders in the distance split in two, and Long Nose gaped like a fish.

Law Shambled out of the way of another blast from the cyborg and had just enough time when he saw the skeleton approaching to swap him with a rock on the other side of his Room. The skeleton sputtered in surprise, but Law ignored him, turning his attention back to the people in front of him. He tried to raise Kikoku again but couldn’t move her. He frowned and looked down to see hands sprouting from the blade. When he looked back up, he met Nico Robin’s gaze. He smirked and Shambled away once more. She was startled enough by the motion to drop her powers.

With a bit of distance between them now, Law surveyed the scene. He was on the defensive and couldn’t keep Shambling around to just avoid the Straw Hats’ attacks; it was taking a toll on his stamina. He was already starting to feel the effects of prolonged and consistent use of his abilities. He needed to get on the offensive and end this.

But the Straw Hats weren’t going to make that easy for him.

He was casting around for something he could use to his advantage when his haki prickled once more. He side-stepped just in time to see a fist fly by his head then return to its owner. When Law looked backed, Straw Hat was eyeing him with a frown.

“I don’t want to fight someone who saved my life,” he said.

“I have orders to get rid of all trespassers,” Law replied. “You and your crew are trespassing, Straw Hat-ya.”

“Shishishi, that’s what pirates do,” Straw Hat replied with a laugh.

“I’m a pirate, too,” Law reminded him. “And pirates also protect what’s theirs.” Or their boss’s, who controlled the fate of their crew. Whichever.

“So, this is Doflamingo’s operation,” Nico Robin mused. “What is he doing here in a place that is supposed to be off-limits to everyone?”

“None of your concern.”

“Luffy,” the cat burglar called. Straw Hat glanced over at her. “They’ve taken kids,” she said, gesturing toward the group behind her and Kin’emon. “We have to help them!”

Straw Hat’s expression darkened, and Nico Robin’s lips quirked. “I think we just made it our concern, Corazon.”

Law shrugged. “So be it.”

He turned toward the G-5 ship that had anchored just in front of the lab—and inside Law’s Room—and lifted a finger. With Takt, the ground began to shake as the ship rose out of the water.

The cat burglar looked around, alarmed. “What’s that noise?”

“Why is everything shaking? Earthquake?” cried the G-5 soldiers.

“T-the ship!” Long Nose yelped.

“Woah, cool!” Straw Hat declared, delighted.

Once the ship was high enough, Law sliced Kikoku through the air, and the ship split into quarters, debris raining down from the sky. Law flicked his fingers, and the debris started flying toward the others. Zoro and Kin’emon jumped in front of the children to cut down boxes and boulders while the cyborg bolted to the tanuki and Black Leg, using his huge body to cover them as the tanuki treated a woozy Black Leg. Straw Hat blew himself up like a bubble—Law raised an eyebrow at that—and bounced the threats off to protect Nico Robin and Long Nose. The skeleton dodged as he made his way back toward his crew, and the G-5 soldiers tried to use one another to shield themselves.

As the debris fell, Law slammed the pieces of the ship against the various rock formations in the area, fusing them together. There would be no escape via ship for the Marines now.

With the ship out of commission, Law turned his attention back to his targets. He planned to use the chaos of the debris to disguise his attack, but when he made to jump into motion, he couldn’t move. He looked down to see hands sprouting of the ground, wrapped around his ankles. When he glanced back up, Nico Robin had her arms crossed in front of her and a knowing smile on her lips.

Then she said something to Straw Hat, and he looked over at the immobile Law. Before Law could think about switching with a piece of debris, Straw Hat had deflated and thrown his arms out directly at Law. He hissed as Straw Hat’s rubber arms wrapped around his chest multiple times, and Kikoku fell from his grip as his own arms were restrained.

“Gotcha!”

His hands were still free, though, so he prepared to Shamble out of Straw Hat’s and Nico Robin’s grips—

His eyes widened and he grunted in pain and surprise as something slammed into his back. The strength leeched from his body and his Room fell around him. The pieces of ship and ocean debris that were still swirling in the air were no longer being directed so crashed into the ground, forcing people to dodge. He glanced behind him and saw Smoker, Seastone-tipped jitte driven into his back above Straw Hat’s rubbery limbs. The vice admiral’s gaze was sharp.

“I want my heart back, pirate,” he growled.

“Zoro!”

Law’s gaze flew back in front of him to see Zoro rushing toward him, and Law was completely helpless. Shit.

“Don’t kill him!” Straw Hat called as the pirate hunter neared.

Law tensed as Zoro raised his sword and swung down. There was blinding pain in his temple and then nothing.

Vergo watched from his hidden perch as the pirate hunter swung his sword and Corazon—no, he would always be little Trafalgar Law, traitor to the Donquixote Family—crumpled. Straw Hat Luffy released his hold on Law, easing him surprisingly gently to the ground. Smoker reached down and searched through Law’s pockets until he found his heart. He straightened and slid it back into his chest. Too bad; that would have been a good way to get rid of Smoker for good. Oh well. There were plenty of hazards on this island Vergo could take advantage of.

With Law’s Room down, the G-5 soldiers started piecing themselves back together with varying degrees of anatomical correctness (they truly were the Marines’ most inept). Captain Tashigi collected herself and joined Vice Admiral Smoker as they looked at the gathering Straw Hats. The tanuki had gotten Black Leg back to his feet, though he was moving with some deliberation. An argument between Smoker and Luffy ensued, seemingly over Law as they both gestured at his unconscious form.

The cat burglar then spoke up, gesturing toward the children behind her. This caught Captain Tashigi’s attention, and she turned an impassioned plea to Smoker, undoubtedly to help the brats. Vergo frowned; he’d gone to a lot of trouble to get Caesar those subjects, so it wouldn’t do for them to be taken away now. Caesar was doing important work for Joker, and those test subjects were necessary.

After some further arguments and discussion, the pirates and Marines split into two groups, with Smoker, Tashigi, and G-5 following the cat burglar, samurai, cyborg, pirate hunter, tanuki, and skeleton inside—likely because Law had taken out the Marine ship so there was no way to get them out without calling for backup. That was something Vergo could work with as the base commander for G-5.

Before she started walking off, Tashigi offered something to Straw Hat Luffy, though the long-nosed sniper ended up taking it. He then bent over and—ah, they were Seastone cuffs. He fastened them around Law’s wrists. So, they weren’t as dumb as they looked after all.

Straw Hat then picked up Law and threw him over his shoulder. The pirate hunter handed Law’s blade over to his captain before joining the group going inside the lab. Nico Robin, Black Leg, and the sniper followed Straw Hat in the opposite direction, likely to their ship.

Vergo found his lips curling upward as he watched Straw Hat Luffy carry an unconscious and powerless Law back toward his ship. Perhaps it was finally time to put the brat in his place.

The first thing Law felt as consciousness returned was the throbbing in his head. The second was the telltale weakness in his body that came from Seastone. Memories flooded back in, and his eyes flew open. He was staring up at a wooden ceiling rather than a gray, snowy sky. Confused, he glanced down to see he was on a bed, and his wrists were shackled in Seastone cuffs.

That… was not good.

“You’re awake.”

Law started at the voice and looked over to see Nico Robin sitting on a stool across the room. She had a book in hand, but she marked her page and set it on the desk. Law’s gaze slid past her and took in the rest of the room—an infirmary, not a brig.

Nico Robin let him take in his surroundings and waited until his gaze turned back to her.

“Welcome to the Thousand Sunny,” she said.

Law frowned, but when she made no other move, he sat up slowly, careful of his aching head, and scooted back to lean against the wall. They both knew he was a minimal threat to her in these cuffs.

“Your ship?” Law finally asked when his companion (no, guard) remained silent. He wasn’t sure if this was better or worse than a Marine brig—though he supposed with no little satisfaction the Marine brig was fused to a rock somewhere outside. Either way, his capture was a complication in his mission, which meant it was a danger to his nakama back in Dressrosa. The sooner he took back control of the situation, the sooner he could finish his mission and assure their safety.

She hummed in agreement. “Smoker wanted to arrest you, but Luffy wouldn’t let him.”

Law blinked at that. “Why?”

Not that Law was worried about being arrested; Doffy would never let Smoker take Law in. But it would have been yet another complication in his operation, and Doffy hated complications.

Nico Robin studied him for a long moment, her gaze unsettling—as though she could see through Law. “Isn’t that the question going around today?”

Law narrowed his eyes. What was that supposed to mean?

He opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the infirmary door slamming open. Straw Hat stood in the doorway, and Law’s breath caught, that tug in his chest returning stronger than ever, as if it refused to be ignored. Straw Hat’s eyes traveled around the room, brightening when they landed on Law.

“You’re awake!”

“And apparently a prisoner,” Law replied dryly, gesturing with the cuffs.

Straw Hat’s expression fell. “That’s not—” He stuck his lips out in a pout. “I just wanted to talk. Would you stay if we took them off?”

“Long enough to kill you, then I’d be gone.” Law was here on a mission, after all. He briefly wondered where Kikoku was but decided it didn’t matter; once he got these cuffs off, he’d open a Room and find her.

“Why would you want to kill me?” Straw Hat asked. He didn’t sound worried about Law’s threat, just confused. Nico Robin had risen to her feet during the exchange. Nothing in her posture said she was poised to attack, but Law had a feeling she’d act in an instant if Law showed any sign of threat to her captain. “You saved me two years ago.”

“You know who I work for,” Law replied with a shrug, aiming for casual and in control despite his predicament. “I’m here on his orders.”

“And you’re a loyal soldier, aren’t you, Corazon?” Nico Robin said. “You follow your captain’s orders without question.”

There was enough give in the shackles for Law to cross his arms. He said nothing in reply, though. His actions at Marineford sat heavily on the air among them.

“I heard about your exploits over the last two years,” she continued. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself, Surgeon of Death.”

Law remained silent. He didn’t care about the Demon Child’s judgment or her use of the epithet he had earned. He did what he had to do. Besides, he was a pirate, and he acted like one.

Nico Robin walked over to the door and put a gentle hand on her captain’s shoulder, a softness to her tone that had not been there moments before. “Be careful.”

Straw Hat nodded, and she smiled at him before leaving. She closed the door behind her, leaving Law and Straw Hat alone. Law would have been annoyed at being underestimated like that, but the Seastone rendered him essentially useless.

This boy, Law thought as they regarded one another, was the reason he had made a selfish choice that resulted in Shachi losing his arm. Why had he done that?

What was it about him that tugged on Law’s chest, drawing him into the boy’s orbit?

It couldn’t just be that initial that they shared, a mysterious legacy Cora-san had sacrificed everything to protect Law over. But what was it?

Straw Hat crossed his arms. “I don’t think you want to kill me. Or my crew.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” he said. “You might want to ask Black Leg his opinion on that.”

Straw Hat frowned. “Sanji’s okay, though. You didn’t kill him.”

“Only because you interrupted me,” Law drawled.

Straw Hat made a frustrated sound. “No.”

Law blinked. “No?”

“No,” Straw Hat confirmed. “I don’t believe you.” He started pacing, and Law followed his back-and-forth movements with his eyes. “I wanted to thank you. For saving me that time,” Straw Hat said.

“You don’t need to thank me,” Law replied, the same lie falling from his lips that he’d repeated over the last two years: “I acted on a whim, nothing more.”

Straw Hat shook his head. “Jimbei said that you’d be in trouble with that Mingo guy for helping us, and I was worried.” He paused and looked at Law. “Were you? In trouble?”

Law suppressed the urge to touch his throat. “I fail to see how that matters.”

Straw Hat stared at him, seeming to read something in Law’s non-response. “But you helped me anyway. And I’m grateful!” He nodded, as if confirming something to himself. “So, you’re a good guy. No matter what anyone says.”

Law flinched. “No, I’m really not. You should listen to Nico-ya.” His hands were soaked with blood, including that of his own nakama. And if he didn’t complete this cleanup mission, there would be more blood on his hands.

“Nope,” Straw Hat stubbornly decided, as though he knew Law. But if he actually knew him, he wouldn’t want anything to do with Law. He shouldn’t want anything to do with Law. “I can feel it. Right here,” he said, touching his chest.

Law’s breath caught, his protest dying on his tongue. He was touching the same place Law felt the tug in his own chest when Straw Hat came up. Did he…? Did he feel it too? Whatever it was?

Straw Hat suddenly flopped down onto the end of the mattress, bouncing Law slightly. Law grimaced as his head protested.

Straw Hat looked over at Law curiously. “What kind of name is Coradone anyway?”

“Corazon,” Law snapped, still feeling a bit off kilter. “And it’s not my name. It’s a title.”

Straw Hat perked up. “Really? Then what’s your real name?”

Law looked away. “It doesn’t matter. I haven’t gone by my name in years. No one uses it.”

Though Law wasn’t looking at him, he could hear the frown in Straw Hat’s voice. “That sounds lonely.”

Law blinked in surprise. There was something to what Straw Hat was saying. Though the Family treated becoming an executive and earning the title as the highest honor one could achieve, Law had learned over the last six years that it also acted to dehumanize the wearer of the title. Law was no longer Law; he was Corazon, the second in command of the Donquixote Pirates. He was defined entirely by his station in the Family. Though Law had been with the Family for over a decade, he didn’t know the real names of the other three executives—their identities were their titles.

(The irony of Law continuing to remember Rosinante as Cora-san, a diminutive of his title when he’d been undercover, was not lost on him.)

“Anyway!” Straw Hat said cheerfully, letting Law’s silence be response enough, “Smokey wanted to arrest you, but I wouldn’t let him. But while the Marines are here, you should probably stay out of sight, especially after what you did to their ship. That was so cool, by the way! Sanji’ll get you food,” he added, as if that was the most important detail.

Law looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. “So, I’m your prisoner, Straw Hat-ya?”

Straw Hat shrugged apologetically. “I mean, I’d take the cuffs off, but—”

Law smirked. “You don’t want me to kill your crew.”

“Not that I’d let you,” he said, smile turning cheeky.

Law couldn’t help a small laugh. “You think you’re stronger than me?”

“I did beat you,” Straw Hat pointed out.

“That was four-on-one,” Law reminded him. And Law had only gone down when Smoker had surprised him with the Seastone.

Straw Hat’s smile widened. “Let’s find out sometime.” He jumped up off the mattress. “I need to check on my nakama, but I’ll be back.” He crossed the small room and opened the infirmary door.

“Trafalgar.” Straw Hat paused and looked back at him curiously. Law hadn’t realized he’d spoken until Straw Hat had frozen. “Trafalgar Law,” he said again, unsure of why he was telling Straw Hat. “That’s my name.”

Straw Hat’s face lit up into a blinding grin, and Law’s chest tightened. “I like it. Trafal— Tragal— Torao! I like it, Torao!” he beamed before heading out and shutting the door behind him.

Law was in so much trouble.

Chapter Text

Robin watched as Luffy came out of the infirmary, a smile on his face as he shut the door behind him. She’d left an ear on the desk, disguised by her book, and she had to admit she was surprised by the conversation—especially that Luffy had gotten their guest (prisoner, despite what Luffy wanted) to volunteer his name. During her time with the Revolutionary Army, she’d known of many attempts by the Revolutionaries and others to learn Corazon’s real name. She filed the name Trafalgar Law away to look into later while once more marveling at her captain’s ability to read—and reach—people.

She rose from her seat and walked over to Luffy, who’d been intercepted by Usopp just outside the door.

“So, what happened?” Usopp was asking, glancing between Luffy and the closed door.

“We talked,” Luffy said, entwining his fingers behind his head. “Torao’s a good guy!”

Usopp frowned. “Torao?”

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled. “His name!”

Bemused, Usopp glanced at Robin, who smiled. “I believe our captain convinced Corazon to reveal his real name.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because I asked,” Luffy replied as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. Perhaps it was to him. Usopp sputtered, and Robin patted his shoulder.

“Usopp’s right, though.” They looked up to see Sanji emerge from the kitchen. He was still moving carefully, but he looked much better than when they’d first arrived outside the lab. “Names have power, and that guy’s been going by an alias for years. Why share something so dangerous with his enemies?”

There were a number of potential answers to that question, but Robin had a feeling it was the Luffy Effect in action.

“We’re not enemies,” Luffy said, crossing his arms and frowning.

“He tried to kill us!” Usopp protested.

“He electrocuted me,” Sanji added, lighting a cigarette.

“And we have him locked up in Seastone,” Robin felt obliged to point out.

But Luffy shook his head. “Jimbei made it sound like he took a big risk helping us at Marineford. He said that Mingo guy would be angry, but he did it anyway.”

Robin knew the rumors about Doflamingo’s abilities, his crew, and his underground operations. His cruelty and brutality. Doflamingo saw his crew as a family, with his executives being his most trusted. And he did not stand for disloyalty in his Family. She could only imagine how he might have reacted to his second-in-command helping rival pirates.

“Luffy,” she said gently, waiting for her captain’s eyes to find her, “Corazon was already infamous when we met him on Sabaody. But over the last two years, his reputation has only gotten darker. They call him the Surgeon of Death.”

She had a feeling this wouldn’t dissuade him—little tended to once Luffy had made his mind up about something or someone—but she wanted to make sure he knew anyway.

As expected, Luffy shook his head again while Usopp spluttered in the background. “He saved me.”

There had been endless speculation over the last two years about why Corazon had saved Luffy and Jimbei, ranging from an attempted coup within the Family to a secret love affair (Robin had laughed aloud when this had been floated).

As she’d sat in the infirmary waiting for Corazon to regain consciousness, she found herself watching him. From what she could work out about him, he was a few years younger than her yet had risen to the rank of second in command of the Donquixote Pirates more than half a decade earlier; how young had he been when he had joined such an infamous pirate group to rise so high at such a young age? She knew a thing or two about joining criminal organizations and the way they took advantage of children.

Corazon’s defensiveness upon waking up had been unsurprising, and she again found herself wondering why he had saved Luffy—but then she’d seen the way he’d frozen when Luffy had entered the room, the breath catching in his throat and something in his expression. And he’d given Luffy his real name.

“Luffy,” Usopp said, pulling Robin from her thoughts, “the guy he works for owns this lab where they are experimenting on kids. He’s trying to protect that.”

Luffy huffed. “I don’t know how to explain it. I can just feel it,” he said, a hand going to his chest where the scar—from Corazon’s life-saving operation—was hidden under his winter coat. “I can feel that he’s a good person. He helped me, and I think maybe I’m supposed to help him.”

Robin exchanged glances with Sanji and Usopp. They all knew Luffy’s senses when it came to people were beyond rational explanation but somehow right. Robin in particular knew the power of Luffy’s intuition, having been saved from her own darkness because he wouldn’t let her go. If that intuition was telling him that Corazon—Trafalgar Law—was similarly important and worth helping, then there wasn’t much more to argue.

That was the Luffy Effect.

“Okay,” Robin said.

Sanji and Usopp took a moment longer but also nodded grudgingly. They might not understand it, but they’d trust their captain. (But, if need be, they’d protect him, too.)

Once the door shut behind Straw Hat, Law dropped his head back against the wall and shut his eyes, suddenly exhausted. His head throbbed from the hit from Zoro’s blade, and he considered getting up to look for some painkillers in the infirmary supplies but decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. Outside the door, he could hear the Straw Hats talking, though he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

As he sat there, he couldn’t stop Straw Hat’s words from playing over and over in his mind.

“Jimbei said that you’d be in trouble with that Mingo guy for helping us, and I was worried. Were you? In trouble?”

“I fail to see how that matters.”

“But you helped me anyway. And I’m grateful! So, you’re a good guy. No matter what anyone says.”

“No, I’m really not. You should listen to Nico-ya.”

“Nope, I can feel it. Right here.”

Law had no illusions about what kind of person he was. He’d joined the Donquixote Pirates as a terminally ill ten-year-old, determined to do as much damage as he could before he died, and in many ways, he’d never outgrown that broken boy with bombs on his chest. He was the second in command to one of the biggest names in the slave trade, among other morally reprehensible operations. And though he was a doctor, he’d killed more than he’d saved, the letters tattooed on his fingers a promise as much as a warning.

Perhaps worst of all, though, he’d stopped feeling anything when he killed.

He shuddered to think what Cora-san would think of the man he’d become.

And yet, Straw Hat looked at him and—impossibly—saw something worthwhile. Felt that Law was something worthwhile. Felt it in the same place Law had felt the tug that pulled him to Marineford two years earlier.

What did it mean?

What did Law do with that?

The Seastone cuffs weighed heavily on his wrists, clanking as he opened his eyes and rubbed his face through his hands. He stared up at the ceiling, the words of his nakama from before his departure ringing through his head in the wake of Straw Hat’s declaration:

“I know you spooked when I lost my arm. But it’s not your fault.”

“You’re not this person you’ve let yourself become. They might think of you as Corazon, but to us, you’re Captain.”

Two years of pushing his crew away to protect them, of doing nothing to earn their trust or affection, yet they refused to give up on him. Like Straw Hat, they looked at him and saw something worthwhile. But how could Law accept that from them after what he’d cost them?

Despite what Violet said, Law knew he was, inside and out, Doflamingo’s creature. He knew what he saw when he looked in the mirror, the marks of claiming left on his skin and the emptiness in his eyes. After what he’d lost, Law was too tired to fight it any longer.

So why did people keep looking at him like he was anything but Doflamingo’s broken doll?

Law was startled from his reverie by a loud thud from the deck of the ship. He straightened as he heard the tone of the Straw Hats’ voices change in response to whatever had happened. Punk Hazard was unfriendly territory for them and full of more hazards than they could have known about when they anchored on the island. And most things unfriendly to the Straw Hats should be friendly to Law as Joker’s second.

Law rose and made his way to the door in an attempt to hear more clearly. He was wondering at the odds of using this distraction to search for the key to his cuffs when a familiar voice responded to the Straw Hats’ demands of who he was. Law’s stomach dropped.

“—ase commander of G-5,” Vergo was saying as Law pulled open the infirmary door.

The Straw Hats looked back at him, surprised, but Law ignored them, his eyes focused on Vergo. Vergo inclined his head when Law appeared, which was not a good sign.

“Torao, you should—”

“What are you doing here, Vergo?” Law demanded over Straw Hat.

“You two know each other?” Long Nose asked, glancing between them nervously.

“Your ally?” Black Leg asked, stance turning defensive. “But he’s a Marine.”

There was no way Vergo was here to help Law. But why had he come? Doffy hadn’t wanted him to blow his cover; that was the entire reason for sending Law to Punk Hazard in the first place.

“It seems Joker was right to send me to check on your allegiance, Corazon,” Vergo said, lips twisting mockingly around the title he’d once worn himself. “I’ve been warning him for years that you were disloyal, and now I find you defecting.”

Law’s eyes narrowed, and he raised his shackled wrists. “Does this look like defecting, Vergo?” he hissed. Not that it would make a difference; Law was certain Vergo didn’t actually think he had defected. “I’m a prisoner.”

Vergo smirked. “No matter. All Joker needs to know is that I found his favorite plaything standing with the very crew whose captain he betrayed Joker to save two years ago.” His expression darkened. “And don’t forget the -san, boy.”

Law flinched at being called a plaything.

“What’s going on?” Straw Hat asked, frowning between the two. Law ignored him.

“What do you think Joker will do to your crew when he hears you betrayed him again?” Vergo went on.

Law felt the color drain from his face. “You son of a bitch.”

Straw Hat turned to look directly at Law, his expression turning concerned when he saw that Law had gone pale. “Torao—”

Turning his back on Vergo was a mistake. Law’s eyes widened as Vergo drew his bamboo stick, and, as he surged forward, coated it with haki. He swung at Straw Hat’s exposed back. Straw Hat sensed him coming, but Vergo’s speed took him off-guard; Vergo swung his bamboo, and Straw Hat tried to dodge but took enough of a blow to his side that it knocked him off-balance. He yelped in surprise as Vergo swung again, sending him over the ship’s railing into the water below.

Law inhaled sharply as Long Nose and Black Leg both cursed. Long Nose turned to Black Leg.

“Stay with Robin,” he said before taking a running leap and jumping overboard after his sinking captain.

Without missing a beat, Black Leg and Nico Robin took defensive postures in front of Law. Law looked at their backs in disbelief. Why? Why would they help him?

“I have no quarrel with you,” Vergo said to them. “Step aside. This is Family business.”

Black Leg snorted in disbelief, and Nico Robin smiled in that knowing way of hers. “Donquixote Doflamingo wouldn’t want it known he has a spy so high up in the Marines. You won’t let us go.”

Vergo straightened his glasses. “You caught me. But if you step aside, I’ll make your deaths quick.”

“I don’t think so,” Black Leg replied.

Vergo frowned, clearly as confused as Law himself. “Why would you protect him? He tried to kill you.”

So Vergo saw the fight. He must have followed Law from Dressrosa, leaving right behind him. That bastard was just looking for an excuse to cut Law down and finish what he’d started on Minion Island. Had Doffy told him to come, or was Vergo acting on his own?

“Our idiot captain seems to like him,” Black Leg replied with a shrug.

Law started as Nico Robin gave him a small smile before turning back to Vergo. “And Luffy is a very good judge of character. Even if we don’t understand his reasons at first.”

Law’s breath caught in his throat.

Vergo hefted his bamboo. “So be it.”

He charged once more, swinging his bamboo at Nico Robin. Black Leg intercepted the blow with his leg. Vergo fell back and Black Leg charged in a flurry of kicks. Vergo met him blow for blow until the two stopped in the middle of the deck, legs locked. Law winced at the sound of cracking bone. Black Leg slumped, and Law momentarily regretted hitting him with Counter Shock earlier.

“Sanji-kun!” Nico Robin called, worried.

“Where’s the key to these cuffs?” Law demanded urgently as Vergo turned back toward them. He did not want to be defenseless again with Vergo bearing down on him. And he was not going to let Vergo kill Nico Robin for protecting him. Too many people had been hurt or killed protecting Law, and he didn’t deserve any of it.

“Usopp has it,” she said, glancing toward the railing.

“Great,” Law muttered.

As Vergo approached, Nico Robin summoned giant hands, creating a wall between them and Vergo. Law knew it wouldn’t hold against Vergo’s Demon Bamboo. She winced as Vergo slammed against it, the structure shaking under his strength.

“Take Black Leg-ya and get out of here,” Law told her. Hopefully, Long Nose had rescued Straw Hat by now, and they could recover on shore. Vergo would let her go, at least temporarily; he was here because of Law, after all.

She looked at him, startled. “And leave you? You’re powerless.”

“You have no reason to protect me, Nico-ya. I tried to kill your friends. I wouldn’t have stopped, either.” She winced again as the wall trembled against Vergo’s onslaught. “We may both work for Doflamingo, but Vergo wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if given the chance. And now he has the chance.” He shook his head. “Get out of here and regroup with your crew. This is Family business.”

Nico Robin opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by bamboo tearing through her wall. She cried out as the wall collapsed. Vergo met Law’s eye and smirked. Law gasped in pain and surprise as, in a flash, bamboo met his side and sent him flying into the ship’s railing. Slowly, he pushed himself upright and blinked against his spinning vision in time to see Vergo grab Nico Robin by the neck.

“Demon Child Nico Robin,” he said. “I should kill you, but I have a feeling Joker could make good use of you.”

“No thanks,” she choked out between gasps. “I have a crew.”

Vergo simply laughed—a sound that made Law’s skin crawl—and flung her across the deck. She slammed into Black Leg, who was struggling to balance with a fractured leg, and the pair were knocked into the far wall.

Law pushed himself to his feet. Vergo turned to look at him, the malice radiating from him palpable on the winter air. If Law had access to his powers, he would have no problem taking Vergo on. But with the Seastone shackles blocking him from his Fruit and draining his strength, he was as helpless in the face of Vergo’s rage now as he had been as a sick child—and they both knew it.

Vergo moved and suddenly Law’s back slammed into the wall, a haki-clad hand around his throat. Law’s feet dangled off the ground as he struggled to breathe. He grasped at Vergo’s wrist, struggling vainly to loosen the grip stealing his air.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, Law.”

“Beating a terminally-ill child nearly to death wasn’t enough for you?” Law wheezed. It somehow seemed fitting that Vergo would finish the job he’d started on a winter island on the winter side of Punk Hazard. There was a feeling of things coming full circle as the snow fell around them.

“Once a traitor, always a traitor,” Vergo growled. “You’ve never been good enough for Doffy. Yet he brings you back and elevates you to his right hand.”

As darkness encroached on the edges of Law’s vision, it hit him that Vergo wasn’t simply holding a grudge about Cora-san’s betrayal. Since Law’s return to the Family nearly a decade earlier, Doffy had kept Law close, giving him no opportunities for betrayal. Holding Law’s crew hostage, he’d groomed Law—teaching him, training him, even fucking him. He did everything to make sure his ownership of Law was complete. Law had hated every moment of it—the only freedom he’d found was leaving Dressrosa on the Polar Tang with his crew on missions—but Vergo was jealous.

Law croaked out a disbelieving laugh at the realization.

Vergo frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“I didn’t take you for the jealous type, Vergo.”

Vergo snarled wordlessly and tightened his grip. Law gasped, feeling what little strength he had leaving him. His lungs screamed, he was light-headed, and his eyes started to close.

Would it really be so bad if Vergo killed him now? It would end nearly a decade of hell, the daily physical and emotional torture that had beaten him down to the point of pushing his nakama away…

Law’s eyes flew open at the thought of his nakama. He couldn’t die and leave them alone to face Doffy’s retribution. He couldn’t die without them knowing how much they meant to him, that even if he’d been a poor excuse for a captain, there was no greater honor than leading them.

A sudden fire burning in his chest, Law’s gaze sharpened, and he dropped his hands from Vergo’s wrist. Vergo looked at him in confusion—clearly, he’d thought Law had been about to succumb—and Law took his moment of distraction to loop the Seastone shackles over Vergo’s neck and cross his arms to tighten them with his waning strength. Vergo didn’t have a Devil Fruit so the Seastone wouldn’t affect him, but he would feel the bite of metal into his skin.

In his current position, Law didn’t have enough strength to truly strangle Vergo, but the move was enough to startle Vergo and cause pain. Reflexively, he loosened his grip, and Law gulped in the delicious, frigid air. Letting go of Law’s neck, Vergo grabbed Law’s arms.

“Let go,” he growled.

“You can’t kill me, Vergo,” Law rasped.

Vergo regarded him through those sunglasses. “Why not?” He only had to strain a bit to speak against Law’s attempted strangulation.

“Doffy has plans for my death, and we both know it.”

The surprise was evident on Vergo’s features. “How did you know—”

Law scoffed. “You think I don't know why they call the Ope Ope no Mi the ultimate Devil Fruit? Kill me now and Doffy will have to look for the Fruit all over again if he wants that operation.”

Law never intended to go through with the operation, but it was leverage Vergo couldn’t ignore.

“Doffy always says you’re too clever for your own good,” Vergo said, lips curling in distaste. But Law knew he had the other man; Vergo was completely devoted to Doffy, and he wouldn’t do anything to risk his master’s chance of receiving immortality.

In one sudden motion, Vergo let go of Law’s arms and grabbed the chain wrapped around his neck. He pulled it free and held the chain above his head, leaving Law dangling in midair by the wrists. Law hissed in surprise.

“Now what, Vergo-san?” Law asked, sneering the oft-demanded honorific.

“I take you back to Dressrosa, a fallen traitor,” Vergo taunted. “Doffy will finally see you for what you are—nothing better than his miserable excuse for a brother. You can watch Doffy slowly destroy your crew one by one. Maybe he’ll even make you kill some of them.” He sounded amused at the prospect. “And then he’ll make you beg to perform the Perennial Youth operation—and only then will you die, doing one useful thing in your miserable life.”

Chest clenching, Law thought of his crew. Of kind Bepo. Of goofy Shachi. Of brave Penguin. Penguin’s words came back then, sharp and pointed.

“You want to pull that, maybe you should start acting like a captain again.”

No. I won’t let that happen. He was done failing them as their captain.

His eyes widened as Vergo’s haki-coated fist connected with his stomach. The breath left his lungs—again—and he would have curled in on himself if he wasn’t hanging in midair. Vergo let go of the chain and Law dropped to the grass of the Thousand Sunny’s deck. He looked up in time to see Vergo’s bamboo coming right for his head.

“Torao!” he heard in the distance.

Then nothing.

Chapter Text

Law’s head throbbed at the return of consciousness. He screwed his eyes further shut in protest before remembering what had caused that pain. He opened his eyes and found himself staring up at a familiar wooden ceiling. He frowned. The last thing he remembered was Vergo attacking him on the deck of the Thousand Sunny…

“Oy, about time you woke up.”

Law turned his head, wincing at the spike in pain, to see Black Leg sitting at the desk, his leg propped up on a stool. Right. Vergo had broken his leg with his haki-enhanced blows.

“Where’s Vergo?” Law asked, grimacing as his voice croaked. He was really getting tired of being choked.

“Fled.”

Law jolted upright. Vergo was gone? “I need to—” He cut off with a groan as his head spun, and he flopped back onto the infirmary bed, shutting his eyes as he waited for equilibrium to return. Probable concussion after two blows to the head, he absently diagnosed. When he could think again, he opened his eyes.

Black Leg was watching him, but rather than comment, he simply took another drag on his cigarette. With a sigh, Law made a second attempt to sit up but froze once more when he realized his wrists were no longer shackled. He stared at his bare wrists in surprise. The revelation that Vergo was gone and the pain in his head had distracted him from noticing that his strength had returned.

“Seemed pointless to keep those things on when you tried to protect Robin-chan,” Black Leg said, watching Law.

Law blinked and turned back to Black Leg.

“She told us what you said when I was down.” Black Leg studied him.

Doing his best to ignore the other man’s consideration, Law busied himself by slowly pushing himself upright and leaning back against the wall.

“You could have used us as a distraction to get away,” Black Leg said once Law had settled himself, “but you were willing to distract that guy for us.”

“I wouldn’t have gotten very far without the key to the cuffs,” Law deflected.

“Guy like you? You’d figure something out.” Black Leg snuffed out the cigarette in an ash tray.

Law distractedly thought the ship’s doctor wouldn’t appreciate that—or smoking in the infirmary in general.

“Look, I’m from the North Blue too, so I remember hearing about the Donquixote Pirates back then. Even my old man,” Black Leg went on, lips twisting in disgust at some memory, “was grudgingly impressed with them. And he was a warmongering son of a bitch.” Law filed that away for further consideration before Black Leg continued. “But I also know a thing or two about being forced to be part of something you don’t want to be.”

“What’s your point?” Law demanded when the cook fell silent. He didn’t like feeling so blatantly transparent; he worked hard not to be as a matter of survival. 

Black Leg’s lips twitched upward. “Just that I’m starting to see what Luffy was talking about.”

Law frowned in confusion, but any response was interrupted by the infirmary door swinging open to reveal Straw Hat, Long Nose, and Nico Robin.

“Torao, you’re awake!” Straw Hat said with a smile.

“Straw Hat-ya. Black Leg-ya said Vergo fled?” Law asked, swallowing against the brightness of the look directed his way; he forced his mind back to the most urgent business.

Straw Hat nodded. “Usopp rescued me from the water, and when we got back on the Sunny, that guy was attacking you. But then he saw us and ran.” Straw Hat tilted his head. “He was fast, like Sanji.”

Law considered this. Vergo likely wouldn’t want to fight Straw Hat when the latter had backup, even if it was only part of the crew; the bigger the fight got, the more likely he was to blow his cover with the Marines on the island. But if Vergo had gotten away, then he had probably called Doffy by now with news of Law’s “betrayal.” If that was the case, his nakama were in mortal danger with no way—

Straw Hat had continued talking, but he stopped as Law started urgently digging through his pockets. Did he still have it after all the chaos?

“What—”

Law pulled his Den Den Mushi from his jeans pocket with no small relief. He could still warn them.

“W-who’re you planning to call with that?” Long Nose asked nervously.

“My crew,” Law said. “They’re in danger and have no idea.”

“The vice admiral was saying something about your crew,” Nico Robin said, eyeing him. “Is this about that?”

Law nodded, throat tight. “If Vergo tells Doflamingo I’ve betrayed him, he’ll kill them.”

“But—”

Law raised a hand. “I’ll explain. But I need to warn my nakama first.”

Straw Hat looked at him a long moment before nodding in agreement. “Call them.”

Law wasn’t surprised he was given no privacy to make the call; though the shackles had been removed, he was still a wildcard to the Straw Hats. With the Seastone removed, he could have Shambled from the room—or even the ship—but to what end? Vergo and G-5 were still on the island, and the Straw Hats at least weren’t hostile toward him at the moment. He’d take unhostile for now.

Law dialed the familiar number and waited, insides clenching with each unanswered ring. Finally, the snail connected.

“Hello?” Law breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar voice.

“Bepo, it’s me.”

“Oh, Captain!” Bepo’s surprised delight quickly turned worried. “Is everything all right?”

Law licked his lips, doing his best to ignore his audience. “I don’t have time to explain, but the mission is blown. Vergo followed me from Dressrosa.”

Bepo squeaked, “What? Why?”

“He’s finally taking his chance to finish the job.” Bepo would know what that meant.

“Are you okay?” Law’s chest tightened at the concern in his best friend’s voice. After everything Law had put him through, he was still so loyal and kind.

“For now. But I worry Vergo will tell Doffy I’ve failed. Or defected.” Bepo inhaled sharply, recognizing what that would mean. “I need you all to be very careful until I get back. You hear me?”

“You’re coming back?” Law shut his eyes against the ache that sprang up at Bepo’s surprise. But Bepo knew Law was a strategist, and it would be terrible strategy to return to Dressrosa with a potential death sentence on his head.

“Of course,” he said, opening his eyes. He kept his gaze on the Den Den Mushi, which mimicked Bepo’s large bear eyes. “What’s a captain without his crew?”

The snail’s eyes watered, and Bepo hiccupped. “I knew it, Captain,” he murmured. “I knew you were still in there.”

“You’ve always known me best, Bepo.”

“I’ll tell the others. We’ll be careful, and we’ll be ready when you return.”

“I knew I could count on you.” Law swallowed. “I need to go.”

“Okay,” Bepo agreed. “Be careful, Law.”

Law couldn’t help a small smile at Bepo’s use of his name as he ended the call. Then he turned back to the Straw Hats, who were watching him curiously.

“Law?” Long Nose finally asked, breaking the silence.

“My name.”

“Luffy called you Torao.”

Law pinched the bridge of his nose. And to think he thought the Family was ridiculous. “My name is Trafalgar Law.”

“And who was on the line?” Black Leg asked.

“Bepo. He’s my first mate.” Law glanced at Straw Hat. “You saw him on Sabaody.”

Straw Hat thought for a moment then perked up. “The bear?”

“Yes, the bear.”

“Cool!”

“You were going to tell us about Vice Admiral Vergo,” Nico Robin cut in—wisely, as Straw Hat looked ready to go off on a tangent.

Law inhaled and nodded. He was considering what these people needed to know when he noticed Black Leg wincing in pain as he shifted positions. Law turned to him; Black Leg eyed him with some suspicion—despite his declaration not long before, it was wise to be wary of someone like Law—but Law just nodded at his leg.

“I’m a doctor. I can help.”

Black Leg frowned, but Straw Hat piped up. “Torao’s a good doctor, Sanji! And Chopper’s not here.”

Black Leg continued to look suspicious, so Law shrugged, expression one of indifference. “It doesn’t matter to me if you want to hobble around with a broken leg while two vice admirals are on the island.” He made to turn away, but Black Leg broke in.

“Okay, fine.”

Law pushed himself to his feet, his vision spinning momentarily. He probably shouldn’t be using his powers with a concussion, but it wouldn’t be the first time. He approached the chair and opened a small Room, encompassing him and Black Leg. The other man watched warily while Straw Hat grinned. Law reached for Black Leg’s injured leg and touched it lightly; Black Leg hissed in pain but didn’t pull back. Law Scanned the leg and found the fracture. With practiced ease, Law used his Fruit to knit the bone back together. The fracture wasn’t large, so it was a relatively simple procedure, concussion or not.

This… this was something Law didn’t get to do enough of. Yes, he was the doctor of the Donquixote Pirates, but his surgical abilities were far more likely to be used to kill. It felt good to remember that his hands, like those of his parents, could still heal.

Once the fracture finished knitting together, Law released the Room.

“It’s fixed.”

Black Leg looked at him in shock while Straw Hat whooped in the background. Black Leg slowly pushed himself to his feet and tentatively put weight on the leg. When there was no pain, he allowed more weight. His eyes widened as he was able to balance normally.

“I— Thanks.”

“It’s only logical that your crew’s best fighters be at full strength in the current situation,” Law said, glancing away.

He tensed when rubbery arms wrapped around his shoulders, the casual touch a jolt to Law’s system, running through him like an electric shock. Very few people actually touched Law—and Law appreciated the touch of even fewer people.

“I told you Torao was a good doctor!” Straw Hat gloated.

Law shoved at Straw Hat, but the younger captain’s rubbery limbs simply stretched a short distance before snapping back. He grinned in Law’s face. “I knew you were a good guy!”

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law complained, his face warming.

“Shall we move this conversation from the infirmary now that Sanji-kun is healed?” Nico Robin spoke up. “Perhaps to the galley?”

Law breathed a sigh of relief as Straw Hat let go of him at the prospect of a snack. As the group started to file out, Law lingered behind to root around the drawers until he found some painkillers before joining the others. Once they settled on chairs and stools, the four Straw Hats turned to Law.

“Torao-kun,” Nico Robin prompted, and Law grimaced; he wasn’t losing the nickname, was he? He never should have told Straw Hat his name.

With the eyes of these people, practically strangers yet now inescapably entwined with him, Law felt a crawling sensation under his skin. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were the only ones who knew his full background. Violet knew much of it, but Law hadn’t been able to bring himself to share everything with her; the more often he told the story, the more real it became rather than remaining in the realm of Law’s nightmares.

The Straw Hats didn’t need to know everything, but they should have some sense of how dangerous Vergo was.

“Vergo is Doflamingo’s most trusted subordinate,” he said. “He was the first Corazon of the Donquixote Family. He joined the Marines fifteen years ago and worked his way up the ranks, playing informant the entire time. He’s now a vice admiral and base commander of G-5.”

“First Corazon?” Long Nose asked. “So, you’re the second?”

“Third.”                                                                                             

“He seems to have a personal vendetta against you,” Nico Robin said.

“What did he mean about your nakama?” Straw Hat added with a frown.

“It’s a long story,” Law said, clenching his teeth. They weren’t owed his life story.

But they had heard what Vergo had said to him—about him—as well as his call to Bepo. Law thought of Straw Hat’s wide grin and Black Leg’s and Nico Robin’s backs as they stood in front of a defenseless Law even after Law had tried to kill them. He could tell them some of it, anyway, to make it clear what kind of men they were going up against.

Law exhaled slowly to steady himself. “I joined the Donquixote Pirates for the first time sixteen years ago.” They didn’t need to know about the Amber Lead Disease; that was a part of his history that he kept locked up as tightly as possible. “Doflamingo took in kids because he saw his crew as a family. I was ten.” He stared at the floor in front of him to avoid the expressions on their faces. “Doflamingo promised to train me to be his second in ten years.” He swallowed. “But thirteen years ago, the second Corazon tried to get me out.” Law frowned at the floor. “I still don’t really understand why, but he risked everything to do it.”

“Law, I love you!”

“Doflamingo killed him for it.” He looked up at the Straw Hats. “That man was Doflamingo’s younger brother.”

“He killed his own brother?” Black Leg growled.

Law nodded. “Vergo was there that night. Before Cora-san got me out, Vergo attacked us and nearly killed us before leaving us for Doflamingo. Cora-san used the last of his strength to defy his brother and save me.”

“If you got out,” Long Nose said slowly, “then why are you with them now?”

Law dropped his head back to stare up at the galley ceiling. “Doflamingo found me a few years later. I was seventeen and had started sailing around the North Blue with Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin. They were the ones with me at Sabaody,” he clarified, turning back to the Straw Hats. “Doflamingo had just become a Warlord and taken over the throne of Dressrosa. He wanted me back to serve as his second. I didn’t want to return, but he gave me no choice.”

“He threatened your nakama,” Straw Hat spoke up, voice serious.

Law looked at him, startled. He’d been quiet as Law had been speaking. But he’d reached the correct conclusion.

“Yes. As long as I did as I was told, my friends would be fine. But if I acted out in any way, they paid the price.” He grimaced. “I learned quickly to do as I was told. I became the third Corazon when I was twenty, just like he’d promised.”

“What happened after Marineford?” Straw Hat asked.

Law thought of Shachi. “I made a choice, and my nakama paid for it.”

Straw Hat looked stricken.

“Anyway,” Law said, needing to look away from Straw Hat’s expression. “Vergo has considered me a traitor since that night thirteen years ago. He hates that Doflamingo brought me back and keeps me close after what happened. He’s been looking for any chance to finish what he started. I assume,” Law elaborated, “he thinks he can convince Doflamingo I defected because of what I did at Marineford.”

“And if he tells Doflamingo that you betrayed him again,” Nico Robin deduced, “your crew will be in danger.”

Law nodded. “They are the collateral for my good behavior. My betrayal would forfeit their lives.”

“That Mingo,” Luffy snarled.

Law blinked in surprise at the tone. “Straw Hat-ya?”

“He’s a bad guy,” Straw Hat declared, eyes shining. “We gotta take him down. And help your nakama.”

Law was stunned. “What?” he asked dumbly, certain he hadn’t heard correctly. Pirates didn’t just help each other for no reason.

You did, a voice reminded him. At Marineford.

Law shoved that voice down as far as he could.

Straw Hat crossed his arms across his chest. “After we finish here, we’re going to Dressroba—”

“Dressrosa,” Law corrected automatically.

“—and taking Mingo down. Then your nakama will be safe, right?”

“It’s not…” Law shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”

“Why not? We’ve done it before.”

And Law supposed that was true; over the last two years, he’d looked into the Straw Hats’ exploits. But there was a big difference between a kingdom like Alabasta and Dressrosa; Crocodile was no Joker.

“Doflamingo is one of the biggest players in the underground,” Law said, unable to believe he was having this conversation. “He has business dealings all over the Grand Line and the Blues. His hand is in just about every war currently being fought, big and small. His biggest business partner is one of the Emperors.”

“Emperors?!” Long Nose squawked.

“The Revolutionary Army was working to trace Doflamingo’s operations while I was with them,” Nico Robin said thoughtfully. “The web they uncovered was immense.”

Law rubbed his face through his hands. “More than you know. He’s supplying Kaido with a product that is enhancing his fighting force. If Doflamingo were to be taken down, Kaido’s attention would turn to whoever had robbed him of his military strength.”

Law had been to Wano once with Doflamingo, and Kaido’s sheer presence had been… a lot. And he’d been friendly. Law wasn’t particularly interested in courting his disfavor.

Straw Hat shrugged, unbothered. “If I’m going to be Pirate King, I’ll have to fight the Emperors at some point.”

“Don’t say that so casually,” Long Nose snapped at his captain.

“That’s not…” Law sighed heavily then laid it all out there. They needed to understand the sheer futility of what they were suggesting. “Doflamingo’s also a former Celestial Dragon.”

Black Leg choked on the drag he was taking on his cigarette. Long Nose gaped wordlessly.

“Former?” Nico Robin asked, though even she looked mildly startled.

Law had only learned about Doffy’s history when he’d become Corazon, and, while it had explained much, it had also left him shaken. To know that Cora-san, in addition to being a Marine, was also a Celestial Dragon…

The Celestial Dragons, who pulled the strings of the World Government, which wiped out Flevance… Law’s throat tightened as it always did when he started going down that path. He forced himself back to the present.

“The Donquixote family is one of the nineteen families that rules in Mariejois,” he said. “Many members are still there, though Doflamingo’s family left when he was a child. He still has connections there. You can’t underestimate him.”

“I punched a Celestial Dragon,” Straw Hat said with a shrug.

Law snorted despite himself. That was a good memory. “I remember.”

“So, I’ll punch another one!”

“Straw Hat-ya, you can’t just…” Law trailed off as he noticed the accepting expressions of the others in the galley. He looked between them, disbelief rising in his throat. “You have no problem with this?”

“He’s the captain,” Black Leg said simply.

“And the other members of your crew?” Law asked, thinking of those who had gone into the lab. Surely someone on this crew must have at least one iota of sense.

“Eh, they’re used to it,” Long Nose replied with a shrug.

Or not.

Law startled when he felt hands on his shoulders. He looked up from his seat to see Straw Hat looking down at him, gaze steady and determined. Law tried to shrug him off, but Straw Hat just tightened his grip.

“Torao,” Straw Hat said.

“Not my name,” Law muttered.

Straw Hat ignored him. “Do you want to save your nakama?”

“Of course,” Law snapped. No matter what it looked like, he’d been doing his best to protect them for nearly a decade.

“Then we’ll help.”

“You can’t,” Law hissed. People who helped Law always paid the price, often with their lives. Law had so much blood on his hands…

“Bad move,” Long Nose said. Black Leg nodded sagely.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Straw Hat said fiercely.

Law glowered. The best thing Law could do for Straw Hat and his crew would be to push them away, to keep them away from the mess that was Law’s life. But the fiery look in Straw Hat’s eye dared him to try it. After several long moments, Law finally slumped, fight leaving his spine. Straw Hat let go of his shoulders, seeming to sense the change.

“Why?” he asked helplessly. “Why would you help me?”

Straw Hat grinned, and, for the briefest of moments, Law was reminded of another wide grin that had turned his world upside down.

“Because I want to,” Straw Hat replied easily. “Because Torao is a good person and Mingo isn’t. Because Torao helped me!” His grin turned mischievous. “Because I want to fight an Emperor.”

Law huffed a surprised laugh, recognizing his defeat. “Okay,” he said. “Okay.”

Straw Hat stuck out a hand, and, as Law pushed himself to his feet and shook it, he realized the tug in his chest had gone quiet.

Chapter Text

When Law ended the call, Bepo felt his heart rate pick up as he considered what his friend had said. Bepo didn’t know where Law was—he kept so much to himself anymore and had practically fled when he, Shachi, and Penguin had confronted him on his way out of Dressrosa—but Vergo following him from Dressrosa was bad news. Everyone in the Family knew there was bad blood between the first and current Corazons, though not everyone knew why.

Bepo did, having seen the aftermath of the wounds Vergo had caused when he and Law had first met. Shachi and Penguin were the only others—except Violet, Bepo supposed—in whom Law had confided that history.

What Bepo couldn’t figure out was why Doflamingo would believe Law had defected, considering his entire crew was still on Dressrosa; Law would never risk them like that. Doflamingo saw to it that Law would not (could not) betray him. But if Law was worried enough to warn them, Vergo must have some trump card.

Not for the first time, Bepo wished Law had brought backup on his mission, whether it was him, Shachi, and Penguin or any of the other Hearts. Bepo’s captain was too willing to go at it alone when he didn’t have to—and now he was in trouble because of it. All the Hearts could do was be his backup in Dressrosa, waiting for his return and whatever that might bring.

Still, as Bepo scoured the Hearts’ rooms and the most likely hang out spots around the palace for his nakama, a part of him was lighter in relief. The Law on the other end of the Den Den Mushi had sounded familiar; he’d sounded like Bepo’s captain and best friend, who Bepo hadn’t heard in two years. Law had locked himself away since Shachi lost his arm, drowning in guilt and refusing all attempts to bring him out of his self-made prison. It had pained them all to watch helplessly as he pulled away, becoming a shadow of himself in a misguided effort to protect them.

But Bepo had known that his best friend—strong, brave, and loyal—was still in there, under all the guilt and pain.

And he’d been right.

Bepo’s best friend had been the one to call his nakama in the middle of a mission to warn them of potential danger while promising to return for them despite the obvious danger doing so presented.

Bepo had missed Law, and now he’d do whatever he could as first mate to support his captain and look after their nakama.

It took about half an hour, but Bepo finally managed to gather his crewmates in Bepo’s room. He knew they wouldn’t be overheard here, as Law regularly checked the Hearts’ rooms for surveillance Den Den Mushi. The small bedroom was not designed to house twelve people, but the Hearts were used to confined spaces.

“What’s going on, Bepo?” Shachi asked once everyone had arrived and the door had been shut firmly behind them.

“Law called,” Bepo replied. He refused to use the title the Family used for Law when speaking only among the Hearts. He was also not surprised by the concern that his pronouncement elicited.

“Is he okay?”

“Where is he?”

“What’s going on?”

Bepo held up a paw, and once his nakama had quieted, he relayed what Law had told him. Bepo knew frustratingly little about his captain’s situation, so when his nakama burst into questions, Bepo had no answers for them. No, he didn’t know where Law was, though he must be close because he’d only left that morning. No, he didn’t know what Law’s mission was or why Vergo was there. No, no, no, he didn’t know.

“He said he worried Vergo would tell Doflamingo he’d failed or defected,” Bepo reminded his nakama. “He didn’t know that Vergo did for sure. But he wants us to be careful in case he did.”

“Would Doflamingo believe Vergo about this?” Jean Bart asked, looking at the crew who’d been around the Family longest.

Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo exchanged glances and shrugged. Doflamingo’s moods were impossible to predict.

“Vergo is Doflamingo’s most trusted agent,” Penguin said. The intimacy of that relationship was common knowledge within the Family. “But Doflamingo also knows about the bad blood between him and Law.”

“He must also know Law left all of us here,” Shachi added. “He knows Law wouldn’t risk us.”

“Then what are we missing?” Ikkaku asked, glancing at Bepo. “What had Law so worried about Vergo lying?”

There was no answer to that. But Bepo had heard the worry in Law’s voice and the seriousness in his warning. Whatever Law was keeping to himself must be quite persuasive.

“What do we do now?” Uni asked.

“Head for the Tang,” Clione muttered.

“We can’t act like we know anything is wrong,” Penguin said, ignoring him. “We’d raise suspicions and make Law look guilty otherwise.”

“But we need to keep an eye on each other,” Shachi added.

Bepo nodded. This is what he had promised Law; they would take care of themselves, so Law didn’t have to worry about them in addition to Vergo and whatever his mission was.

“Stay close,” Bepo said. The Hearts had their own wing of the palace, complete with common area, kitchen, and training rooms, so they didn’t often need to leave; the isolation suited them just fine since they, being loyal to Law rather than Doflamingo, felt out of place from the rest of the Family. “And if you need to leave, take a buddy.”

Normally, someone would have cracked a joke about the buddy system, but the concern on the air was heavy enough to stay even Shachi’s tongue. Instead, everyone nodded in response. They would take no chances; they’d seen what happened to traitors to the Donquixote Family. There was nothing to be done other than stay on their toes and wait to hear from their captain.

Law entered the lab the same way he had when he’d first arrived, Shambling through the back entrance into the darkened hallway. He headed for the control room, unsure of what he would find. He thought his bootsteps echoed more loudly than he remembered from a few hours earlier, but he knew he was just imagining it. He tightened his grip on Kikoku and kept walking until he saw light.

Once he and Straw Hat had shaken on their agreement to team up, Nico Robin had returned Kikoku, the nodachi suddenly appearing in Law’s vision as a disembodied hand offered her to him. Law managed to suppress a surprised flinch and took the blade with a nod to the woman, who smiled at him in that unsettling way of hers. Still, a feeling of calm had settled over him with the return of Kikoku’s familiar presence; she was an old friend, after all.

Between Law and the Straw Hats, they had two separate goals on Punk Hazard: stop Vergo and save the children. Law wasn’t particularly concerned with the second goal, but the Straw Hats were set on it and Law would do what he needed to in order to help his nakama.

That put Vergo, Caesar, Monet, and Caesar’s men in their way. G-5 was a wildcard. Though the Marines had entered the lab with the other half of the Straw Hats, there was no telling how long that tenuous alliance would last, especially with Vergo on the island.

Law had no way of knowing if Vergo had called Doffy yet, though he had to operate on the assumption that he had; anything else would only get him—and his crew—killed faster. As for whether Vergo had shown his face in the lab, that was another story. While Caesar and Monet would be friendly to Vergo, Law also knew that the vice admiral would go out of his way to avoid blowing his cover with the Marines. The other man was of most use to Doffy in his elevated position among the Marines and wouldn’t blow fifteen years of undercover work just for his grudge against Law. With that in mind, it was entirely possible Vergo was remaining hidden and waiting for his chance to capture Law and bring him back in shackles to Dressrosa without being seen.

Knowing the importance of doing recon before setting any plan in motion, Law had convinced the Straw Hats to let him go back to the lab alone and see where he stood and what he could find out about Vergo and the rest of the Straw Hats. They’d been hesitant, but Law had held firm that it made the most sense for him to go on his own.

“What if Vergo did out you?” Black Leg asked. “You’d be a sitting duck by yourself.”

“I can handle Vergo,” Law replied. Now that he wasn’t hindered by Seastone anyway.

“But what about all the other guys?” Straw Hat asked. “You shouldn’t go alone.”

“It’ll raise more suspicion if we’re together,” Law countered.

“But if you need help—”

“What about a Den Den Mushi?” Long Nose interrupted. Everyone turned to look at him, and he shrugged uncomfortably but kept speaking. “If he,” he said, jerking his head at Law, “calls our ship’s Den Den Mushi and leaves the line open, we can hear what’s going on.”

“And we can come if Torao needs us!” Straw Hat concluded, satisfied. “Let’s do it,” he said, pumping his fist.

Law had rolled his eyes, but that was how he’d ended up with his Den Den Mushi’s line open to the Straw Hats’ as it sat in his coat pocket. He’d warned Straw Hat not to be noisy on the other end of the line or he’d blow Law’s cover, and the others had promised to keep him quiet. (Law hadn’t been particularly reassured but didn’t have much choice but to continue anyway.) The Straw Hats were stationed outside the lab out of surveillance range, listening as Law entered the control room.

Law blinked as he stepped inside, taking a moment to let his eyes adjust to the bright light before glancing around. The room appeared empty. Where were Caesar and Monet? It looked like he’d need to head further into the lab.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Den Den Mushi. He opened his mouth to update the Straw Hats on what he’d found, but a familiar voice cut him off.

“Corazon? What the hell are you doing here?”

Law’s gaze followed the voice to the far wall, and he blinked in surprise at a large cage partially hidden in the shadows. He didn’t remember that being there before, but he hadn’t studied the room carefully upon his arrival either. He pocketed the snail and meandered over to the cage, raising an eyebrow when he saw what was inside.

Or, rather, who was inside.

Smoker was the one who had spoken. His eyes were narrowed as he eyed Law from his prone position, chained with what was undoubtedly Seastone chain.

“How’d you get here?” the swordswoman growled at Law from next to her boss.

“Where’s Luffy?” the cat burglar demanded.

Law simply watched the group, considering. Smoker, his second, the cat burglar, Zoro, and the cyborg had apparently all been captured by Caesar and were left chained in this cage. That left the tanuki and skeleton as well as the remaining G-5 soldiers somewhere in the base. He was considering what Caesar might want with them and what this meant for Vergo’s position when the cat burglar interrupted his thoughts.

“Say something, would you?” she sneered when Law remained quiet. “What did you do to Luffy?”

“Nothing,” Law replied, turning toward her. Though he could see why she would assume he had. “We…” he began, considering how to describe what had happened, “came to an agreement.”

“What kind of agreement?” Zoro asked, his one-eyed gazing piercing. He didn’t sound as disbelieving as the cat burglar did, though his attention was focused fully on Law now.

“Was that Nami and Zoro?”

Everyone started at the sound of Straw Hat’s muffled voice coming from Law’s pocket.

“Luffy?” the cat burglar called.

Law sighed and pulled the Den Den Mushi from his pocket. “Your crew seems to have gotten themselves captured, Straw Hat-ya,” Law informed him.

“What?” Straw Hat yelped. “Are you guys okay? We’re coming!”

“Wait, Luffy!” Long Nose interrupted. “What’s going on there, Torao? Is that guy there?”

“Torao?” the swordswoman asked, confused.

Law ignored her. “There was no one in the lab except your captured friends,” he said toward the snail. He looked back to the prisoners. “What happened?”

“Caesar,” Smoker growled.

“Is that Smokey?” Straw Hat asked.

“He did something to air when we confronted him about the children,” the vice admiral explained. “Woke up here after that.”

“What about Monet?” Law asked. “The woman,” he clarified when the others looked at him blankly.

“Brook and I were fighting her before I blacked out,” Zoro said.

“Whatever the clown did to the air probably didn’t affect him since he’s a skeleton,” the cat burglar said thoughtfully. “No lungs.”

Law knew Monet was dangerous, having gone on numerous missions with her before she’d been sent to Punk Hazard, so if the skeleton could keep her occupied while they took care of Vergo, that would be helpful.

“Where’s the tanuki?” Law asked.

“He’s a reindeer,” Zoro and the cat burglar replied, along with some garbled voices from the Den Den Mushi.

Law rolled his eyes. “Whatever. He’s not here with you.”

“He was looking for the lab to find out what the clown had done to the children,” the swordswoman said. “They must not have found him yet.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you know what they’re doing to the children?”

Law shrugged, uninterested. “No.”

“You’re Donquixote’s second, you must know everything that’s going on,” Smoker countered.

“You may be surprised to know that I don’t have intimate knowledge of every project Doflamingo has going on,” Law countered coolly. The fact was, Doffy simply had too many ongoing schemes for any one executive to know all about. They all had specific projects they oversaw for Doffy, and Punk Hazard was Vergo’s. Law knew the general outline of the SAD manufacturing on the island, but that was about it.

“You still haven’t answered what kind of agreement you and Luffy came to,” Zoro interrupted.

Law turned back to him, but it was Straw Hat who answered over the open line. “We’re going to help Torao save his nakama from Mingo!”

“What?” the cat burglar sputtered.

Zoro narrowed his eye. “What are you talking about, Luffy?”

There was some shuffling on the other end of the line before Nico Robin spoke up. “One of Doflamingo’s agents is on the island and is threatening Corazon and his crew. Luffy has decided he wants to help.”

“Why?” the cat burglar demanded, glaring at Law. “He tried to kill us. He works for a man experimenting on kids.”

Looks like that had stopped bothering Law a long time ago, so he simply returned her look evenly.

“But he doesn’t want to,” Straw Hat said. “Torao’s a good guy!”

“Luffy—” Zoro started, but his captain cut him off.

“He saved me, Zoro.”

There was some meaning in those words that Law didn’t fully comprehend, but Zoro apparently did, his mouth snapping shut. He closed his eye, leaned back against the cell wall, and nodded grudgingly. “Fine,” he grumbled.

The cat burglar looked at him in disbelief. “You’re just going to go along with this?” she demanded. She looked like she could have smacked him if she hadn’t been bound.

It seemed the cat burglar was the member of the crew with the ounce of common sense Law had been wondering about.

“He’s the captain, witch,” Zoro commented without opening his eye.

She huffed. “Luffy, he’ll betray you.”

“Nope,” Straw Hat replied. “He won’t.”

The cat burglar eyed Law suspiciously. “How can you be so sure?”

“As of now,” Law said before Straw Hat could speak, “our goals align. It’s in the best interest of me and my nakama not to betray you all.”

“How reassuring,” she sneered.

“Nami.”

She looked back at the Den Den Mushi. “Luffy—”

“Do you trust me, Nami?”

She startled at that. “Of course.”

“Then trust me. Please.”

After a long moment, she sighed and nodded, the tension in her frame deflating. “Fine.”

Even the cat burglar, it seemed, could be swayed by the will of her captain.

The Will of D., Law couldn’t help but think.

“Now what, Torao?” Straw Hat asked.

Rather than answer, Law dropped the snail back into his pocket then held his hand up and opened a Room large enough to encompass the cage. He unsheathed Kikoku and sliced the bars open. The sound was finally enough to wake the cyborg, who startled into consciousness. He yelped at the sight of Law above them, sword in hand, but the cat burglar murmured something to him, and he quieted down.

Law stepped inside, and, with three quick slices, three sets of chains fell to the ground as Law freed the Straw Hats. They pushed themselves to their feet and, stretching their cramped muscles, filed out past Law. For his part, Law eyed Smoker and the captain.

“Now, what to do with the two of you?”

Smoker glowered at Law while the swordswoman watched him warily. As far as Law was concerned, they could sit here and rot, but as a fellow vice admiral, Smoker could be good leverage against Vergo, if the bastard showed his face. Anything that made things more complicated for Vergo was a good move in Law’s book. That didn’t mean he couldn’t make them sweat a bit first, though.

“Go ahead and kill us, pirate,” Smoker sneered. “Finish what you started earlier. See what happens to your boss when it gets out that his second killed a vice admiral.”

Law decided not to mention he’d been sent to Punk Hazard to kill Smoker in the first place.

“No!” the swordswoman said. “Please, let us go.”

“Tashigi,” Smoker hissed. “Don’t beg for your life from a pirate! Where’s your pride?”

But rather than be cowed, she glared right back at him. “There are innocent children on this island that need help. It’s our duty to rescue them, so if begging for my life will help me save those children, then I’ll gladly do it!”

Law was grudgingly impressed with her resolve. “It seems she’s smarter than you, White Chase-ya.” Smoker growled wordlessly at Law, but Law pressed on. “Your presence on the island is, ironically, useful to me now, so I’m willing to let you go. On one condition.”

“What’s that?” Smoker demanded.

“Not a word of this alliance between myself and the Straw Hats to anyone. If it gets out, I will come find you.”

“Fine,” the swordswoman agreed in her boss’s place. “Now let us go.”

“Alliance?” a new voice said.

Law stiffened. Shit. He turned to see Vergo standing in the doorway to the front entrance of the room.

“Doffy didn’t believe me before that you’re a traitor, but now he’ll have it in your own words, Law.”

Chapter Text

Smoker’s eyes widened. “Vergo? What is the head of G-5 doing here?”

“I’m here on business, Vice Admiral,” Vergo replied, inclining his head at Smoker.

“We called for backup but were told you were on leave,” the swordswoman said, frowning.

He never said whose business he’s here on, Law thought wryly as he sliced through the chains holding the two Marines captive. He stepped back out of the cage, eyeing Vergo. Law didn’t like the sense of satisfaction radiating off the older man. He’d heard what Law had said—but had anyone else?

“Doffy didn’t believe me before that you’re a traitor, but now he’ll have it in your own words, Law.”

Could Vergo have a line open to Dressrosa? Or perhaps he’d recorded what Law had said.

It also confirmed that Vergo had called Doffy with his report on Law’s defection, but apparently Doffy wasn’t buying it; the Warlord knew full well the safeguards he’d put into place to prevent Law from betraying him, after all. If Vergo had proof, though…

Law needed to make sure those words never left this room.

“I didn’t think you’d be so foolish as to blow your cover over a grudge,” Law commented, raising an eyebrow. He kept his tone purposefully light, but he expanded his Room and kept Kikoku hefted in front of him.

With a quick scan of his Room, he found Zoro’s swords and Shambled them into the man’s hands. Zoro let out a surprised yelp (one Law knew he would deny making until his dying day), and Law’s lip twitched as he glanced back and met the pirate hunter’s eye. The other man’s startled expression quickly shifted into a nod of appreciation as he replaced the blades at his side.

“Cover?” the swordswoman asked, following Smoker out of the cell.

Smoker jerked. “A traitor?” he growled, glancing between Law and Vergo. His gaze finally settled on the base commander. He shook his head, and Law could practically hear the pieces clicking into place in his brain. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it. You’re the one who’s been covering up the abductions of the children, aren’t you?”

“Don’t feel too bad, White Chase-ya,” Law said, and Smoker looked back at him suspiciously. “It’s not like Vergo was a traitor to the Marines. Vergo was a pirate from the start.”

“What?”

Law couldn’t help his lip curling into a sneer. “He’s Doflamingo’s most trusted subordinate. He joined the Marines on his orders fifteen years ago and climbed the ranks.”

“A pirate posing as a Marine,” Smoker hissed. “Shameful.” He shook his head, disgusted.

“How dare you,” the captain yelled at Vergo, betrayal tinging the anger in her voice. “Those children are innocent!”

“They’re sacrifices for the greater good, Captain Tashigi,” Vergo said simply. He’d been watching the exchange with a bored affect in place, though Law knew better than to take him at face value; Vergo was always poised to attack.

“The greater good?” the cat burglar snapped. “What greater good could possibly come from experimenting on children?”

“That is super messed up,” the cyborg agreed.

“A world ruled by Donquixote Doflamingo, of course,” Vergo said, as though the answer were obvious. And, Law supposed, for Vergo, it was. “Give me some credit for keeping up my cover, Smoker-kun. I’ve been on my guard ever since you transferred to G-5. It will be good to finally be rid of that concern.”

Vergo turned back to Law. “And who says I’m blowing my cover, Law?” Vergo had completely dispensed with Law’s title, apparently. He’d never respected Law as a successor, no matter how many times Doffy pushed him on it, and now he had the excuse to back it up. “None of them are leaving this island. I’ll file it away as a tragic accident at sea, as always.”

Law narrowed his eyes, reminded once more of the World Government’s coverup of Flevance’s destruction. Vergo, as far as Law was concerned, was proof pirates and soldiers weren’t so different, no matter what people like Smoker professed. Law knew he was no better, but he also never claimed to be.

“I won’t let that happen,” Smoker snarled. He didn’t have his jitte since he’d been captured—and Law wasn’t feeling particularly inclined to return the weapon that had taken him down with Seastone—but he didn’t let that stop him.

Smoker shifted into smoke form and charged Vergo with an outraged yell. He had to know about Vergo’s talent with haki and the effect it would have on his Fruit’s abilities, but he attacked anyway, his fury at his base commander’s betrayal driving him on.

“Smoker-san!” the captain called, worried.

“What is he doing?” Zoro muttered.

Smoker punched at Vergo with a smoky tendril, but Vergo blackened his arm and grabbed the smoke. Smoker cursed as Vergo spun and whipped him into the far wall. Smoker coughed and sagged to the floor. His second and the Straw Hats gasped, but Law took the moment of distraction to Scan Vergo; there was a Den Den Mushi in his pocket.

With a twitch of his fingers, the Den Den Mushi flew from Vergo’s coat toward Law. Vergo’s eyes snapped toward him.

“No!”

Law grabbed the snail from midair, and he pocketed it just as Vergo’s haki-coated stick slammed into his chest, tossing him like a rag doll into the wall behind him. The back of Law’s head hit the metal; his vision briefly went dark, and his stomach threatened to empty itself—another blow to his head was not what Law needed when he already had a concussion—but Law, taking a stabilizing breath, was able to collect his wits and keep his Room from falling. He Shambled himself across the room before Vergo could recover the Den Den Mushi.

“Brat!” Vergo snapped as he turned to find Law slumped over on one of the couches, having swapped places with a pillow. “But I suppose running away is always what you’ve done best.”

Law could vaguely hear the Straw Hats making some kind of commotion, though their words wouldn’t form in his ears; his blurry vision, however, was directed entirely toward the man striding toward him, a murderous intent barely contained beneath his haki-clad skin; Vergo knew he couldn’t kill Law before bringing him back to Dressrosa, but that wouldn’t stop him from beating the shit out of him—again.

Law just needed a moment to bring his vision back into focus…

Suddenly, Vergo was flying across the room. He crashed into the far wall and crumpled. Law blinked, his battered brain trying to comprehend what he was seeing. Belatedly, he turned to see Straw Hat, flanked by his crewmates, standing in the doorway, his rubbery arm returning to him with a loud snap.

Before dealing with that, Law pulled Vergo’s Den Den Mushi from his pocket and noted in relief that there wasn’t a live line open. That meant Doffy hadn’t been listening in. Vergo still could have recorded his words, but Law would worry about that later. If Doffy hadn’t heard Law, then all Law had to do was prevent Vergo from bringing his words back to Dressrosa.

He pushed himself to his feet and headed toward the new arrivals. His vision was clearing, but his balance was still slightly off. The doctor in him was concerned, but the pirate in him knew he didn’t have the luxury of taking a break.

The two factions of Straw Hats were greeting each other happily. Straw Hat’s expression lit up as Law approached.

“Torao!”

“What are you doing here, Straw Hat-ya?” Law demanded. “We agreed you would wait.”

Straw Hat frowned. “We were talking, but then there was all this chaos on Torao’s end of the line. No one was responding. It sounded dangerous, so we decided to help.”

Ah. Law supposed he had gotten distracted by Vergo’s appearance and hadn’t considered how that would have sounded to the Straw Hats listening in.

“So, what exactly happened to cause this?” the cat burglar asked, gesturing between Straw Hat and Law. Though she’d agreed to trust Straw Hat, she was still suspicious of Law—and she was right to be.

Still, Law ignored her. They didn’t have time for this; Vergo wouldn’t stay down long, even after taking a hit like that.

“If you want to rescue the children, this would be the time to do it,” he said.

“What about him?” Straw Hat asked, nodding back toward Vergo.

Law grimaced as he noticed Vergo stirring. “I can handle it.”

“Because that went so well before,” Black Leg muttered.

Law ignored him as well. He didn’t have Seastone draining his abilities now. “I’ll handle it,” he repeated, looking directly at Straw Hat. Vergo might be taking an excuse to finish what he’d started thirteen years earlier, but Law wasn’t a terminally ill child anymore. It was unfinished business for them both.

“Luffy, what—” the cat burglar started.

But Straw Hat studied Law’s face for a long moment and seemed to find whatever he was looking for because he nodded. “Okay.”

Law felt a measure of relief at the response; it wasn’t that he needed Straw Hat’s permission to take on Vergo—alliance or not, he wouldn’t let anyone take this fight from him—but having his agreement was a lot easier. His crew would follow his lead, and they’d be able to accomplish both their tasks and move on to rescuing Law’s nakama.

“What?” several Straw Hats gasped.

“Okay,” Straw Hat repeated. “Torao will handle the Verto guy, and we’ll go after the kids.”

“You think I’m going to let that happen?” Vergo said. He’d risen to his feet and stood, arms crossed, in front of the doorway the Straw Hats would need to go through to find the children.

Straw Hat made to draw his arm back again, but before he could strike, Law held out a hand. Straw Hat stopped, eyeing Law curiously.

“Go. Caesar and Monet are still with the children. They’re both Fruit users, so don’t take them lightly.”

“But—”

Law Shambled Vergo into the cage, and, with a few twists of his fingers, retwined the wires holding the front of the cage together. The doorway was now open, and Vergo cursed. The cage wouldn’t hold him long, but it didn’t need to—just long enough for the others to leave.

Straw Hat whooped. “Thanks, Torao!” he called as he charged forward, the promise of a fight clearly drawing him like a magnet.

“Wait, Luffy!” the cat burglar called, running after her captain. “You don’t know where you’re going!”

Straw Hat’s laughter echoed against the metal walls as the Straw Hats and, Law noticed, Smoker’s second filed out of the open doorway. Smoker, however, remained where he was; he’d gotten to his feet while Law was talking to the Straw Hats. Law narrowed his eyes at the other man.

“This is my fight, White Chase-ya. Stay out of my way.”

“That man is a traitor to the Marines, and I plan to see justice done,” Smoker said, voice tight, as he strode up next to Law. “Don’t get in my way, pirate.”

Law and Smoker both turned at the sound of a metallic slam; Vergo had kicked the cage’s front out, the metal wiring sliding several feet across the floor before coming to rest. Though Vergo’s eyes were still hidden behind his glasses, Law could feel the anger radiating off the man.

“Enough,” he snapped, stepping back into the room.

“My thoughts exactly,” Smoker roared, charging at Vergo. “Traitor!”

Law sighed but didn’t intervene. Though he thought the man was being foolish considering how his previous attack had failed, Law could understand his rage at realizing Vergo, the base commander of his own unit, was a traitor.

However, Smoker wouldn’t get an advantage on Vergo this way; Vergo’s haki was superior to the other vice admiral’s. The first Corazon didn’t have a Devil Fruit to enhance his attacks, so he’d trained and honed his haki over the years until his masterful control and overwhelming power became what he was known for. For a Logia like Smoker, Vergo was a bad matchup.

Still, if he wanted to wear Vergo down while Law took a few moments to rest, Law wasn’t going to object. At full strength, Law wasn’t particularly concerned about taking Vergo on, but he didn’t want to take any chances when he was unsteady with a head injury. As the two vice admirals clashed, Law scanned the room until he found Smoker’s jitte. He could still feel the ghost of the Seastone tip slamming into his back, causing his Room to fall around him as weakness spread through his entire body. Law grimaced, but, grudgingly, he summoned the weapon into his hand.

“White Chase-ya,” he called as Smoker fell back from a swipe of Vergo’s bamboo stick.

“What?” Smoker demanded, not looking toward Law.

“Catch.” He tossed the jitte in the man’s direction.

Smoker’s eyes flicked in his direction then widened as he saw his weapon flying in his direction. He sent a smoky arm toward it, grabbing the hilt before Vergo could interfere. He grunted a nod in Law’s direction, clearly unhappy to owe Law anything else.

Even with his jitte, Smoker was clearly outmatched. Vergo’s haki-coated arms were able to strike Smoker’s smoke form, forcing him to revert to his base form. They traded blows, Vergo’s bamboo stick with Smoker’s jitte. Vergo’s haki-enhanced hits pushed Smoker into retreat.

“It’s no use, Smoker-kun,” Vergo taunted. “You’re no match for me.”

“You’ve betrayed G-5. The men trusted you. I’ll see you pay for that, pirate,” Smoker snarled back.

Vergo side-stepped Smoker’s blow and looked at him curiously. “You seem to care for those morons. Why?”

Smoker leapt at Vergo, only to be pushed aside by his bamboo. “Because they’re my men!”

Vergo tsked. “And that is your problem, Smoker-kun. Placing loyalty in trash. You will only end up discarded along with them.”

Smoker roared in response, but Vergo kicked out and tripped Smoker. Smoker fell backwards, hissing as his back hit the floor. His eyes widened as Vergo suddenly appeared above him, ready to strike a killing blow with his bamboo.

Deciding he’d seen enough, Law twitched his fingers, sending Vergo to the far side of the room.

“Law,” Vergo growled when he realized what had happened. “Don’t interfere. I’ll have time for you, too.”

Law rolled his eyes and turned back to Smoker. “Enough, White Chase-ya.”

“Dammit, Corazon! I can still—” He broke off, wincing at what Law would guess were broken ribs from Vergo’s many haki-enhanced blows.

“I can see that,” Law replied wryly. “Don’t make me move you, too.”

Smoker glowered but didn’t argue.

As Vergo started charging back toward Law and Smoker, Law Shambled himself across the room, directly into Vergo’s path. He swung Kikoku, but Vergo dodged just in time. A large chunk of the wall behind Vergo came down with a loud clatter. Law swung his blade several more times to create smaller pieces of metal from the fallen wall.

Law turned on his heel and immediately jumped back toward Vergo, using Kikoku to block a flurry of blows. His arms shook under the strain of countering the strikes, but he gritted his teeth then powered forward, driving Vergo back.

Lifting a finger, Law used Takt to lift the metal pieces he’d created and hurled them toward Vergo. The vice admiral cursed and dodged the large sheets of metal, knocking those he couldn’t dodge away with his stick.

“What’s wrong, Vergo?” Law taunted as he ducked under the flying pieces of metal to approach his target. “Not so easy when your target isn’t shackled in Seastone?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Law.”

Law sent a large piece of metal Vergo had already knocked away back toward Vergo and ducked behind it; Law followed its path, so when Vergo knocked it out of his way again, he jolted in surprise as Law suddenly appeared. He swung his bamboo to push Law back, but Law ducked under Vergo’s outstretched arm, catching the man off-guard.

Law shoved his free hand forward into Vergo’s chest. Mes.

Vergo gasped as his heart was expelled backward. He slumped forward as Law summoned the heart into his hand.

“Bastard,” Vergo hissed.

To his credit, Vergo’s heartrate remained steady as he kneeled in front of Law. Even now, he wouldn’t let his successor rattle him.

“I have your life literally in my hand, Vergo,” Law said, eyeing the heart. “I’d watch my tongue if I were you.”

“And what will you do with it, boy?” Vergo sneered, looking up. “Kill me?”

As Law felt the heart pulse steady in his hand, memories of Minion Island flashed in front of his mind’s eye.

Finding Vergo as he looked for help for the fallen Cora-san.

Vergo and Cora-san recognizing each other.

Vergo beating the wounded Cora-san, taunting him all the while.

Vergo beating Law, no sympathy for a dying child.

Vergo leaving them both, battered and bloody, in the snow to report to Doflamingo.

Law squeezed the heart, and Vergo writhed on the ground, pained groans coming through his clenched teeth.

Cora-san. Law released his grip on the heart. Vergo let out relieved gasps and slowly stilled.

“Corazon,” Smoker said slowly, as if afraid to spook Law. “He needs to face justice.”

Cora-san had always believed in justice. He hadn’t wanted to kill Doflamingo but bring him in. He wouldn’t want to kill Vergo either but instead, like Smoker, to bring him to justice.

Law wasn’t like them.

“Justice,” he scoffed bitterly, eyes never leaving the heart in his hand. “Where was justice when my little sister collapsed from Amber Lead Disease at seven years old and died as my parents’ clinic burned to the ground? Where was justice when soldiers destroyed my country then covered it up?” Law could hear his voice rising in his ears as he spoke, but he didn’t care. Years of pent-up rage flowed through his veins. “Where was justice when the man who saved me was murdered for it? Where was justice—”

He cut himself off at the sound of Vergo’s choking laughter, throat tightening as he realized what he’d just said.

“There’s no such thing as justice, Smoker-kun,” Vergo said between pained gasps. “There is only strength and weakness.” He turned his head to stare at Law. “And your precious Cora-san was weak, Law. Just like you.”

Fury rising in his chest, Law squeezed the heart again, Vergo’s screams a melody to his ears.

When Law let go of the heart once more, Vergo collapsed to the floor and panted. For years, Law had waited for the chance to avenge what Vergo had done to him and Cora-san that night; Vergo had haunted his nightmares, a looming figure of cruelty. But now, laid out on the ground and trying to hold onto his pride in his defeat, Law thought he looked pathetic.

And just like that, the fury drained out of him, leaving him feeling oddly hollow.

“So now what, Law?” Vergo asked between gasps for air. “You can’t kill me.”

Law raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“What do you think Doffy would do to you if you did? To your crew?”

Law barked a humorless laugh. “If he thinks I’m a traitor, we’re all dead anyway.” He narrowed his eyes. “Might as well take you with me.”

Vergo frowned. “You know how the Family deals with traitors.”

“I do,” Law agreed.

“He’ll never let you go,” Vergo said. “Not until he’s done with you. Wherever you go, he’ll find you.”

“I know.” That was why he’d return to Dressrosa once his business here was done. “Don’t worry, Vergo-san. I’ll file it away as a tragic accident at sea.”

He tightened his grip around Vergo’s heart, watching as the man writhed. He felt… nothing. Vergo coughed blood, but the satisfaction Law had expected to feel at the sight of Vergo dying at his hands was missing, sucked into the hollowness in his chest.

“Corazon, you don’t have to do this,” Smoker spoke up. “I can take him in.”

Law tightened his grip further. “You really think Doflamingo would let his favorite subordinate be locked up in Impel Down?”

“Even Warlords don’t have the power to stop something like that,” Smoker replied with a frown.

Law shook his head. “He has more connections than that, White Chase-ya.” If Vergo left Punk Hazard alive, Law and his crew were assured slow, agonizing deaths. If Law killed Vergo now, there was still a chance this could be salvaged.

Vergo huffed a strained laugh around his cries. “He’s. Right. Smoker-kun. You. Have. No idea. Who. You’re. Dealing with.”

Smoker looked between the two pirates and shook his head but said nothing. Law continued squeezing the heart, waiting to feel something after all this time.

“What’s wrong, Law?” Vergo panted. “Don’t have. The stones. To finish it?”

“Hardly.”

Law closed his fist completely, crushing the heart until Vergo let out a final bloody gasp then went limp.

Still feeling that odd emptiness, he opened his hand dropped the still heart next to the corpse.

“That was for Cora-san.”

Chapter Text

After leaving the control room, Law followed the echoing cacophony of the fully collected Straw Hat crew through the halls of the lab. Smoker trailed behind him, tension on the acrid air surrounding him. The moment Law had realized what he’d let the vice admiral hear about his past, he’d debated whether to let Smoker return to the Marines with that information. But the feeling of Vergo’s heartbeat stopping in his hand was still fresh in his mind, and he didn’t particularly feel like ending yet another life today after everything that had happened.

If the other man tried to talk to him about it, though… Well, Law couldn’t make any promises then.

As he walked, Law considered his situation. With Vergo dead, the main source of the rumor of Law’s disloyalty was gone. Law had the dead man’s Den Den Mushi in his pocket, and even if he had recorded Law’s words, Law would simply destroy the recording. For a brief moment, Law considered ending his partnership with the Straw Hats since he’d taken care of his main target, but he dismissed the idea almost as soon as it crossed his mind. Law could pretend he’d never seen Vergo on Punk Hazard, but Doflamingo would hear of Vergo’s death eventually, and, considering the cause of death, there would be no mistaking who had killed him.

Not to mention, Law had obviously failed in the mission he’d been sent to complete—and he couldn’t imagine finishing it now. Not when he couldn’t shake the startled recognition that had struck him as he and Straw Hat had shaken hands that the pull in his chest had gone still, as though Law were where he was meant to be.

No, even with Vergo dead, Law was still just as stuck as he had been the moment Vergo had arrived on the island. He had no choice—either for himself or his nakama—but to continue on the path he was on.

Laughs and shouts bounced off the lab’s metal walls, and, as Law and his stewing shadow approached the source, Law recalled the blueprints he’d been provided; this must be the Biscuit Room, he thought as he stepped into the large, colorful space. He’d wondered at the name as he’d pored over the schematics on his way over, but now he understood. Smoker stepped up next to him and made a disapproving sound at the sight of what was clearly a space for children—children who had become science experiments for a mad clown.

Law narrowed his eyes, assessing the scene in front of him. It seemed the Straw Hats had taken care of their enemies with alacrity. Both Caesar and Monet were wrapped in what Law hoped were Seastone chains (he had warned them) and slumped against the wall. The cat burglar stood not far from them, hands on her hips and a small smile curving her lips as she watched the antics of her crewmates. Smoker’s second stood on the other side of the captives, clearly having taken it upon herself to guard them. G-5 soldiers milled about close to the swordswoman, refusing to fully engage with the pirates.

“Oh, Torao! You’re here!”

Law looked up to see Straw Hat across the room. He was perched atop the back of a couch next to Zoro, who appeared to be dozing. Long Nose sat across from them, his slingshot in hand. It looked like they’d been in the middle of a lively conversation before Law had caught the other captain’s attention. Nico Robin sat next to Long Nose, one leg crossed primly over the other and her hands clasped in her lap. She was smiling, as though enjoying whatever her nakama were discussing. The cyborg sat on the floor next to her. The skeleton, for his part, was wandering around the room, playing a jaunty tune on a violin. (At this point, Law didn’t have it in him to question where that had come from.)

That left the tanuki, Black Leg, and the samurai. Considering none of the children were present, Law had a feeling he knew what the little doctor was up to, anyway. Law idly wondered if he was having any luck treating the children before shoving the thought aside; he didn’t like thinking about his own history with looking to other doctors for help.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law replied, stepping further into the room.

“What happened to that Verto guy?”

Law tightened his grip on Kikoku briefly. “Dead.”

Straw Hat simply nodded, but outraged noises erupted from the other side of the room. Law turned to look at the prisoners.

“What?” Caesar gasped loudly. “But he’s—”

“So, he was right,” Monet said, the quiet betrayal in her voice more painful than Law had expected it to be. “You were a traitor after all. I didn’t believe him when he told us.”

Though he hated the Family as a whole for what they had taken from him—and continued to take as they held his crew’s lives over his head—Law had spent years with people like Monet once he’d been brought to Dressrosa. And he didn’t hate them all as individuals. Monet was a lot like Law himself, having been rescued by the Family after an unspeakable trauma along with her sister. But, unlike Law, she hadn’t been freed from the corrosive influence of the Donquixote Pirates. She’d been fully indoctrinated and would never believe the truth of who Doflamingo truly was that Law had witnessed on Minion Island. Doffy had her undying loyalty.

Law’s jaw tightened. “He didn’t give me much choice.”

“I can’t believe you teamed up with these… idiots,” Caesar said, lips curling in disgust as he looked at the Straw Hats.

“Idiots?” the cyborg called. “That’s super rude.”                     

“These idiots kicked your butt,” Long Nose reminded him, aiming an empty sling shot in his direction. “So, what does that say about you?”

Caesar made some incomprehensible frustrated noises in response, but Monet simply looked at Law, her usually placid expression tinged with hurt. “Why, Corazon? After everything the Young Master’s given you?”

Law snorted, an ugly sound that caused Monet to recoil. He knew exactly where he stood with Doflamingo—the Warlord’s tool and plaything and the means to an end—and none of it was for Law’s sake.

It was never for anyone’s sake but his own.

Doflamingo liked to act like he was generous with his Family, but all he really knew how to do was take. He gave but took twofold in return—his gifts came with strings, literally and figuratively. The cost was unflinching allegiance to a madman, pieces of one’s soul irreparably damaged by every act of loyalty, every drop of blood spilled in the name of a man who believed himself a god. And the Family was happy to pay the price; Law once had felt the same before he’d been saved.

Doflamingo was also unflinching in taking from those who refused to pay fealty. He’d taken Cora-san all those years ago for saving Law. He’d taken Law’s and his friends’ freedom on a no-name island in the North Blue. He took the very existences of his enemies in Dressrosa, using Sugar’s abilities to erase them from memory and enslave them as toys.

It was fitting, Law had thought when he’d first learned of the scope of the operation in the kingdom; Doflamingo was a puppet master, literally pulling strings. He saw others as his toys to play with as he wished. Law was nothing more than another one of those toys, though a supposedly privileged one, sitting on the Heart Throne. But it was nothing more than a gilded cage. Law’s eventual purpose was still to die for Doflamingo’s immortality. After everything else he’d taken from Law, he also intended to take Law’s life. And he expected Law to give it willingly; anything else would break the illusion of Doflamingo’s complete control.

“He’s given me nothing,” Law replied coldly. Nothing that he hadn’t taken back countless times over as he whittled Law down into the shape he wanted as his Corazon, anyway.

Monet opened her mouth to reply, but she was cut off by a loud wail as the Straw Hats’ little doctor came out of a side room.

“Chopper, what’s wrong?” the cat burglar asked, hurrying to his side.

“I’ve tried everything I can think of,” he said, “but the drugs in their system are just too strong, and I don’t fully understand their interactions.”

“Of course, they’re strong,” Caesar sniffed. “I made them, and I’m a genius.”

“Shut up, clown,” Nami hissed before turning back to her crewmate. “So, what does that mean?”

“If I can’t get the drugs out of their system, they won’t get better,” the tanuki sniffed. “I can treat the symptoms, but I can’t cure them.”

“Let Torao take a look!”

Law jerked in surprise as rubbery limbs wound tightly around his shoulders and the too-loud voice rang in his ears. (His concussion complained with a painful pang in response, and Law winced.) He hadn’t even noticed Straw Hat moving from the couch. Law prodded at him with Kikoku’s hilt in a futile attempt to dislodge him, but Straw Hat just grinned at him.

The Straw Hats’ doctor eyed Law uncertainly. “I don’t know, Luffy…”

“He’s a good doctor,” Luffy said with a decisive nod. “He saved me.”

After several failed attempts to detach the other captain—the freaking limpet—Law sighed and satisfied himself with the biggest eyeroll he could manage.

“Do you think that’s a good idea, Luffy?” the cat burglar asked. Her suspicions remained, and Law could respect that. Someone on this crew needed to exercise some common sense.

“Torao can look at them,” Straw Hat said, unswayed.

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Law demanded. Being talked about like he wasn’t present was one of his (admittedly many) pet peeves.

“Shishishi,” Straw Hat chuckled. “You’ll look at them, won’t you?”

In hindsight, as Law followed the tanuki to the room he’d been seeing the children in, he’d like to say he agreed because disagreeing with Straw Hat over it would be too much trouble, and, with his head injury, he didn’t have it in him to argue. But the truth was that there was something in the wide, trusting grin Straw Hat effortlessly threw in his direction and the responding warmth in his chest that made the agreement roll off his tongue before he could stop it.

He listened with half an ear as the tanuki explained what he’d already tried with the children and what he’d found. Though Law wasn’t privy to the exact goings-on in the lab, he had a sense of how ugly some of the projects Doflamingo had his fingers in were, so nothing he heard surprised him.

“L-look, Corazon,” the little doctor said once he finished his recitation, voice trembling slightly as he turned to face Law, hooves on his hips. “These kids have been through a lot. They’re scared and in pain and want to go home. D-don’t make it worse, okay? O-or I’ll kick your ass myself!”

Law had never seen anything less intimidating—and his best friend was a polar bear mink, which said something—but he still respected the sentiment. That protective instinct toward a patient was the attitude a true healer should have, one Law had seen in his parents as they fought for the people of Flevance while it was ravaged by plague. And, despite all the blood he’d spilled over the years, it was a feeling he could feel stirring deep, deep within himself, too.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Law replied. “You probably shouldn’t be here while I work, though.”

“What? Why?”

“My methods are… unorthodox,” Law settled on. Though the Ope Ope no Mi’s effects were bloodless and painless, that didn’t make them any less disturbing to most people who saw them.

The tanuki hemmed and hawed for several moments, and Law felt his impatience growing until he just opened a Room and approached the kids. The little doctor yelped and followed him.

“You’re that man from outside,” one of the kids said as Law approached, frowning at him.

“I am,” Law agreed.

“What are you going to do to us?” another child asked, arms crossed defensively.

Law felt his eye twitch at the assumption he was there to hurt them, but Law had attacked the people who were trying to help them escape. He wasn’t entirely sure what to say—he knew a thing or two about being a traumatized child, but that didn’t make him an expert on dealing with others.

“Corazon here is a doctor,” the tanuki said, coming up next to Law.

That piqued the interest of some of the children.

“A doctor?”

“Like you?

“What kind of name is Corazon, anyway?”

“Law.” Everyone turned to look at him in surprise. “That’s my name,” he clarified, startling even himself. “Corazon is a title, but…” But he didn’t work for the Donquixote Family anymore now that he’d sided with the Straw Hats, did he?

He glanced down to see the Straw Hat doctor looking at him curiously. “What?” he demanded, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, like he was being looked through rather than at. He couldn’t help but be reminded of Bepo when looking at the small creature, and Bepo had always known Law better than anyone—often better than Law himself.

“Nothing,” the little doctor squeaked before looking back at the kids. “Doctor Law here is going to look at you. I’ll be just outside if you need me!”

With that, he glanced back at Law once more then left the room, closing the door behind him. Law, curious at the tanuki’s sudden agreement to leave Law and the kids alone, turned back to the children. He took a breath and unsheathed Kikoku to perform a Scan.

Once Law was finished his work, he left the delighted children chattering to each other about what it was like having their body parts removed and opened the door. The Straw Hat’s doctor was sitting just outside, and he perked up at Law’s appearance.

“Well?”

“I was able to remove all traces of the drugs from their system,” Law said. “But most of them will be dealing with the effects of long-term exposure. With rehab, they should all be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Law said, slightly annoyed at having his professional opinion questioned. Though he didn’t truly blame the tanuki; whatever Caesar had been experimenting on with these children, he’d given them some incredibly potent drug combinations that Law had never seen. Anyone without the power of Law’s fruit would have had a hard, if not impossible, time treating these children.

As Law had initially Scanned the children and seen the degenerative effects of the drugs they’d been exposed to, he’d been reminded of the charts he’d seen in his parents’ clinic of patients with Amber Lead Disease and the devastating effects on the body; he’d had to forcibly shake himself from the memory to continue working.

He started as the tanuki hurled himself at Law and wrapped his little arms around Law’s legs. The Straw Hats were far too affectionate for Law’s comfort.

“Thank you!” he said, looking up at Law with teary eyes. “I didn’t know what I was going to do for them!”

“It’s nothing,” Law said, lightly shaking his leg in an attempt to remove the other doctor. He was finding himself saying that a lot around the Straw Hats, he realized. He wasn’t sure he wanted to examine that any more closely.

The tanuki finally released Law’s leg and wiped his eyes with a hoof. “Luffy was right.” He gave Law a weak smile. “So, thank you for this. And for saving Luffy when I couldn’t. Law.”

Law opened his mouth to wave off the thanks again, but he shut it when he heard his name. Looking at the little creature, he felt his chest clench as he was reminded of Bepo when he’d called earlier. “I knew it, Captain. I knew you were still in there.”

He thought of the small feeling of satisfaction he got from healing Black Leg’s fracture, from knowing his hands could still heal after everything else they’d done.

Maybe Bepo was right, and the boy he’d sworn to follow no matter what thirteen years earlier was still in Law somewhere. Law had long thought that boy dead in the North Blue, but Bepo had always been the wisest of the Hearts.

“They’re your patients, Tony-ya,” Law said, recalling the doctor’s name from his—frankly ludicrous—wanted poster. “I was just helping out.”

Chopper’s face lit up at Law’s use of his name, but he tried to hide his pleasure. “That doesn’t make me happy, you bastard.”

Law’s lips twitched as he left Chopper to deal with the children now that they were no longer poisoned and headed back to the Biscuit Room.

When he entered, Straw Hat perked up immediately, as though he had a radar for Law’s presence. “Oi, Torao!”

“How are the children?” Nico Robin asked, eyes following her captain’s gaze.

“I removed the drugs from their systems,” Law said. “They should be fine with some long-term treatment.”

“What?” Caesar squeaked. “You shouldn’t be able to—”

Before Law could open a Room to shut the clown up, the cat burglar smacked him on the head. “Shut up, you slimy bastard. You’re lucky Torao here was able to help the kids. If he hadn’t been able to…” She trailed off, but the implication remained.

“Still not my name,” Law muttered.

“Still doesn’t matter,” the cat burglar replied in a singsong.

Law sighed and rubbed a hand over his face then looked back up at the other Straw Hats. “Now what?” He had no idea how long he’d been working on the children, but if his waning stamina was any indication, it had been a while. It must be getting late.

“The Marines called for backup,” Nico Robin said, “but the closest ship won’t arrive until tomorrow.”

“Captain Tashigi will be taking charge of the children,” the cat burglar added, a softness in her expression. “She’ll take good care of them.”

“And our next stop is Dressroba!” Straw Hat said.

“Dressrosa,” Law corrected automatically, stomach tightening at the thought.

“From the maps, Dressrosa seems to be fairly close,” Long Nose said, pointing to some maps spread out on a table between the sofas.

“It is,” Law agreed. “Maybe half a day.”

Half a day to figure out how to extricate Law and his nakama from Doflamingo’s strings.

It wasn’t enough time.

The cat burglar nodded thoughtfully as she came up next to the table and looked at the maps. She was their navigator, if Law remembered correctly. “It’s too late to set sail tonight,” she said. “We thought we’d leave in the morning.”

Law nodded curtly. “Fine.”

“So, you want to tell us what we’re walking into when we get there?” Zoro asked, arms crossed and eye narrowed.

Law opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted by the muted sound of ringing. Law reached into his coat pocket and found his Den Den Mushi waiting to be answered.

There was only one person that could be.

“Shit,” Law cursed.

He had no interest in letting the Straw Hats or Marines overhear this call, so he quickly formed a Room and Shambled into the first space that came to mind: the control room. He landed on the couch in place of a pillow he’d switched with.

He set Kikoku to his side and stared at the snail for a moment before answering.

“Doffy.”

“Corazon,” Doflamingo replied. Law tried to listen for anything off in his voice, any sense he knew Law had really betrayed him after all. “How is the mission going?”

Law hesitated only a moment as he calculated the best response to give. “It’s done.”

“And there were no… complications?”

Law knew he was imagining it, but he couldn’t help but feel like Vergo’s corpse was staring at him from across the room.

“No. The intruders were taken care of.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been trying to call Monet but haven’t received a response.”

“She was injured during the fight,” Law said, the lie falling from his lips without a second thought. “I treated her wounds, and she’s currently sleeping.”

Doffy hummed in response. “I see. And Caesar?”

“The clown is locked away in his lab,” Law replied, allowing his disdain for the scientist creep into his voice. Doffy wouldn’t be surprised by it. “I don’t know how Monet puts up with him.”

Doffy chuckled. “She does it for me.”

“Of course.”

“And when do you plan to return home?”

“I’ll set sail in the morning.”

“Excellent. I knew you were the right man for this mission. Until tomorrow, little bird.”

Law grimaced at the nickname as he hung up the call. The Birdcage haunted Law’s nightmares to this day, and he felt like nothing so much as a caged bird in Doflamingo’s service—and the man knew it. The nickname had become more regular since he’d started bringing Law into his bed, an act that had truly felt like clipping his wings.

And now the little broken bird was going to try to fly again.

It would never work.

Law could feel his heartrate picking up as his thoughts started to whirl.

Like he’d told Violet that morning—had that only been this morning? It felt like a lifetime ago—he was Doflamingo’s creature, possessed by the man inside and out.

He lifted a hand to his chest, only to find his entire arm shaking.

Doflamingo was a Warlord and a former Celestial Dragon.

Heat rose in his face.

Who was Law?

Bile rose in his throat.

Doflamingo was a dragon to Law’s bird.

He was going to throw up.

What was Law doing?

Law pushed himself to his feet and took a few unsteady steps forward and managed to round the couch, but his vision spun in front of him.

What was he thinking?

His feet tangled under him with his next step, and he crashed to the floor behind the couch.

He was going to get his nakama killed with this futile venture.

His breaths came in jagged pants, his tight chest struggling to inhale and exhale, and all he could hear was rushing in his ears.

Everything Law had done for the last nine years had been to keep his nakama safe, and now he was going to fail them completely.

Law’s entire body shook, and he curled in on himself.

And now he was going to get Luffy’s crew killed, too.

He screwed his eyes shut and put his hands over his ears as he struggled to breathe. The walls were closing in on him. He could feel the wood of the treasure chest beneath him and the treasure they’d shifted to fit Law into the chest at his back. The lid of the chest wouldn’t move since Cora-san had placed another chest atop it to disguise Law’s hiding place.

Law tried to summon a Room to escape, but his powers refused to cooperate, slipping through his fingers like sand.

Cora-san was going to die because he’d helped Law…

A cold sweat clung to his body.

The deafening cracks of gunshots, one after another, rang through Law’s ears and tears streamed down his face.

Law couldn’t make a sound because of Cora-san’s powers. He opened his mouth to scream but nothing came out except for ragged breaths.

He flinched hard as he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder.

Wait, a hand? Law was alone in the treasure chest.

The hand withdrew, and Law slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, all he could see was a blur in front of him—then red came into focus.

Doflamingo had worn red that night.

Law jolted backward until his back ran into something solid. He hissed through clenched teeth.

“—orao? Can you hear me?”

Law blinked slowly as a voice started to form words amidst the rushing in his ears. He felt the hand return to his shoulder, but he didn’t fight it off this time. Who—?

“Hey, Torao. It’s me. Can you hear me?”

It was Luffy.

Luffy hadn’t been on Minion Island.

Right.

Law wasn’t on Minion Island. He was on Punk Hazard.

Law wasn’t a sickly thirteen-year-old boy anymore. He was twenty-six and one of the most feared pirates in the New World.

Luffy squeezed Law’s shoulder when it was clear Law wasn’t going to freak out again.

Gradually, Law felt his heartrate slow, and his chest loosened, allowing him to take deeper breaths.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law finally managed, voice rasping from his struggle to breathe. He pushed himself up off the floor, but his limbs felt like jelly, so he simply leaned against the back of the couch and pulled his knees up to his chest. He wrapped his arms around his knees.

Shame started to creep up the back of his neck as he realized he’d let Luffy see him having a panic attack—he hadn’t had one in years—only hours after making an alliance. He’d shown his allied captain how weak he truly was on the eve of taking on one of the most powerful men in the New World.

But Luffy simply smiled when Law acknowledged him and sat down next to Law, mirroring his position with his knees up to his chest. He rested his head on his knees and turned to look at Law.

Law resigned himself to questions about what had happened and was already considering how to reply, but Luffy surprised him.

“I used to get them after Ace died,” he said quietly. “Out in the forest alone when I trained with Rayleigh. I’d remember what happened and then I couldn’t breathe. I’d feel Ace dying in my arms and the fire in my chest all over again.” A soft smile returned. “But it got better when I saw my nakama again. They got easier to deal with when I wasn’t alone anymore.”

Looking at the other captain, Law realized that despite the grin that seemed permanently etched into Luffy’s face, he’d been through a lot in his short years. They had that in common. But where Law had retreated into himself to cope, Luffy turned outward. After coming to Dressrosa, Law had been too afraid to show any sign of weakness around the Donquixote Family, so he bottled everything up until it exploded. And the explosions tended to be violent.

“Doflamingo called,” Law said after a few silent moments by way of explanation.

“That Mingo’s a bad guy, huh?”                     

Law’s lips twitched tiredly at how simple Luffy made the situation. He rested his chin on the top of his knees. “Yes, he is.”

His eyes were getting heavy. Between the extended use of his fruit today and now the panic attack, Law supposed it was amazing he was even still awake. It was nothing new, though; working himself into unconsciousness was his preferred method of sleeping, despite the frequent protestations of his crew.

Law swallowed at the thought of his nakama back in Dressrosa.

“We’ll get him,” Luffy said confidently. “We’ll get Mingo, and we’ll save your nakama, Torao.”

Law grunted a response, and that seemed to be enough for Luffy.

They sat like that for a time, Luffy quieter than Law would have expected he could be. Despite the way Law’s thoughts had been a whirlwind before, they were quiet now. Gradually, Law’s eyes drifted closed, and he thought he might have felt an arm wrap around his shoulders before he went under completely.

Chapter Text

Law slowly came awake, having slept the dreamless sleep he only ever had after draining himself to the point of unconsciousness. He grimaced before slitting his eyes open; his body ached, his mouth was cottony, and his head throbbed. As the fuzzy world came into focus around him, he realized he was on the couch. He frowned. When had that happened? The last thing he remembered was sitting with Luffy on the floor…

He threw a hand over his face and groaned as he remembered that Luffy was the one who’d found him during his panic attack. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were the only ones he allowed to see him like that; they’d seen him at his worst when Cora-san’s death was still a gaping wound, and his body was still marred with Amber Lead. They’d been there for the screaming nightmares and suffocating panic attacks. For anyone else to see him that way…

Well, Law hadn’t been able to afford such shows of weakness around the Family.

But Luffy had simply smiled and offered that he had his own demons as well.

Law swallowed, unsure of what to do with that bit of kindness. It settled uncomfortably somewhere behind his breastbone.

Taking a breath, he pushed himself upright and glanced around. Luffy was nowhere to be seen. Vergo’s body was also gone. That meant someone—likely Marines—had come in while Law was sleeping to remove it. The idea of being defenseless while Marines were in the room made his stomach turn. Yet they’d left him alone, undoubtedly on Smoker’s orders.

Shaking his head, Law grabbed Kikoku from where she’d been placed on the table and pocketed his Den Den Mushi. He had no idea what time it was—and there were no windows in this metal monstrosity of a lab to give him any hints—but if the Marines had removed Vergo’s body, there was a good chance the back-up ship had arrived, meaning it was morning.

Rather than aimlessly wander around the lab, Law reached out with his haki to look for the Straw Hats… and was immediately struck by the overwhelming presence of Luffy. After a moment, he was able to discern the chaotic energies of the other Straw Hats as well; they were gathered a few halls over. The Marines, including Smoker and his second, were on the other side of the lab, near the entrance. He could sense more Marines than he thought had been there previously, which seemed to confirm his suspicion.

Law left the control room and followed his haki. The closer he got to the gathered group, the stronger the smell of cooking food became—which made perfect sense when he found the crew in the dining hall.

“Torao, good morning!” Luffy called, waving his hand as though Law wouldn’t be able to pick him out from the small group. They were all seated at one long table that they seemed to have pieced together from several smaller tables.

“Straw Hat-ya,” Law greeted with a sigh, head already aching from the enthusiasm. Whatever time it was, it was too early for this.

“Sanji’s cooking breakfast. I hope there’s lots of meat!” Luffy said, eyes glazing over.

“Of course, you do,” the cat burglar said, rolling her eyes. She then turned and looked Law up and down without any hint of subtlety. “There’s coffee in the kitchen,” she said, lips twitching.

Law considered flipping her off, but coffee sounded amazing, so he simply nodded and headed back to the kitchen, where Black Leg was working. He raised an eyebrow at Law’s presence.

“Coffee?” Law grunted.

Black Leg nodded and broke off from the task he was doing—scrambling eggs, from the looks of it—and poured a cup of coffee.

“Take anything with it?”

Law shook his head, accepting the undoctored mug of precious caffeine.

Black Leg snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

Law shrugged and took a sip. The bitter liquid burned at his scratchy throat, and it was heavenly.

“Any dietary restrictions?” Black Leg asked as he went back to the meal.

“No bread.”

Black Leg hummed. “Gluten allergy or just not a fan?”

“Gluten,” Law acknowledged around sips.

Black Leg nodded. “I can work with that.” He turned to another task but looked over his shoulder at Law. “Tell those idiots it’s almost ready, will you?”

Law took that as being kicked out of the kitchen, so he jerked his head in a nod and grudgingly returned to the rowdy collection of remaining Straw Hats.

“It’s almost ready,” Law relayed as he sat down at the end of the table, as far from Luffy as he could place himself. He could still feel a crawling sensation under his skin as he thought about the night before, and sitting as far away from its source while he worked through his thoughts seemed like his best bet.

“Was there meat?” Luffy asked, mouth practically watering.

“There’s always meat, you shitty piece of rubber,” Black Leg said as he brought several platters of food out from the kitchen.

After dropping off the platters, Black Leg went back to the kitchen several more times and returned with an impressive array of breakfast foods for the crew to share. The remaining Straw Hats, particularly those seated close to Luffy, seemed to have a well-practiced system in place to eat their meals while avoiding Luffy stealing from their plates, including knocking their captain upside the head when he got too close. Luffy merely grinned and laughed before returning to his own heaping plate.

Law managed to grab some eggs and fruit amidst the melee, and, as he ate, he considered how different the dynamic was from his own crew’s. Though, Law supposed with no little regret, he hadn’t eaten with them with any regularity in the last few years. Ever since Shachi’s injury, Law’s guilt had pushed him away from his nakama, and, when he did eat, he usually ended up eating alone or with the Family—Sunday dinners, for instance, were required for every executive who was not away on a mission. Though the Family was hectic in its own way, manners were still expected—and not just because their captain was also a king. Table manners had been preached even when Law had been with the Family at Spider Miles; just because they were pirates did not mean they were savages, Doffy had said, and they were expected to act like it.

That had made a lot more sense when Law had learned that Doffy was a former Celestial Dragon—many of his quirks had come into focus with that information, in fact.

It had also been revealing about Cora-san, though Law hadn’t been entirely ready to open that Pandora’s Box, despite knowing about it for six years.

“How did you sleep last night, Torao-kun?”

Law started, pulled from his thoughts by Nico Robin’s smiling face across the table from him.

“Luffy went looking for you last night after dinner, but then he didn’t come back until this morning,” she elaborated, still smiling.

The expression set Law’s teeth on edge. He narrowed his eyes, certain that she was screwing with him. “Fine,” he said curtly then deliberately took a sip of coffee, hoping to discourage the conversation. Still. Did that mean Luffy had stayed? He was obviously the one who had moved Law to the couch, and that was humiliating enough, but the thought that the other captain had stayed with him…

Law’s eye twitched.

But Nico Robin just kept smiling. “That’s good to hear. After all, we’re heading to Dressrosa today.”

Law put his cup down slowly. “Yes,” he agreed, not sure what she was getting at.

“We’ll need everyone to be at their best to face Doflamingo,” she said, expression never changing. “I’ve heard the rumors about him.”

“Until tomorrow, little bird.”

“He’s worse than any rumor,” Law ground out before pushing himself up and away from the table. He grabbed Kikoku, knuckles going white from his grip. He needed air.

“Torao?” Luffy called after him, but he ignored the other captain, practically fleeing the room.

Recalling the blueprints of the lab, he navigated the hallways to the front entrance and practically exploded out the door, stumbling onto the front stoop as he shoved the door open with more force than needed. He put a hand against the wall and sagged, sucking in lungfuls of icy air, the cold tamping down on the heat that had risen in his face and helping him to collect himself.

After a few more deep breaths, he felt his head clear, and he looked out over the island. He’d been so caught up in his own mind that he hadn’t noticed the Marine vessel being loaded in the port a few hundred yards away. He shook his head; he needed to get his shit together if he was going to deal with Doflamingo today.

Law leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms against his chest, watching various Marines scurry about like little insects whose nest had been disturbed while others barked orders.

After a few minutes of Law watching his men, Smoker climbed the steps and took a seat on the top step, leaving distance between himself and Law.

As the two watched in silence, several soldiers marched the chained Caesar and Monet toward the ship. Caesar continued making high-pitched protests—“Do you know who I am?”, “Do you know who you’re messing with?” and the like—while Monet remained silent. As if drawn to Law, she turned and their eyes met briefly, that look of betrayal still in her gaze. Then she was pushed along toward the ship and the connection broke.

Law exhaled, only then realizing he’d been holding his breath.

Once Doflamingo learned of their arrests as well as of Vergo’s death—he had more spies in the Marines than just Vergo, though even Law didn’t know all their identities—he would undoubtedly retrieve his subordinates and Vergo’s body. He would leverage his connections, and even the Fleet Commander couldn’t refuse the Gorosei.

Law could only hope he’d receive that news once Law and his nakama had escaped Dressrosa.

“What will you do now?” Smoker asked as they watched a string of Caesar’s men, buoyed by strange balloon devices, escorted to the ship by another group of soldiers. “Doflamingo will kill you if you return to Dressrosa.”

That… was not actually true; Law might wish he were dead if Doffy got wind of his betrayal before he and his crew could flee, but he would live until he performed the Perennial Youth Operation. Only then would he be allowed to die—for the sake of Doffy’s immortality. No, it would be his nakama (and Luffy’s crew, now that the crazy captain had decided to involve himself in Law’s affairs) who would pay the ultimate price. But Smoker didn’t need to know that.

Law raised an eyebrow at Smoker’s back. “Why do you care, White Chase-ya? I’m just a no-good pirate.”

“Maybe I don’t like being in debt to pirates,” Smoker retorted. “And if you die, I can’t pay it back.”

Law snorted. “Apologies if my impending death is inconvenient for your conscience.”

Smoker grumbled in response.

They sat in silence for several more minutes, and, surprisingly, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Smoker seemed to have come to some kind of conclusion about Law, and Law simply had too much on his mind to bother with antagonizing the vice admiral. And, if Law were being honest with himself, while he hated the Marines on principle for their part in Flevance’s fall, Smoker was one of the few who had ever shown even an inkling of honor; it was a very grudging sense of respect he found budding toward the vice admiral.

They watched the ship’s continued loading until the lab’s door opened once more, and the Straw Hats spilled out onto the stoop. Law noticed two more figures had joined the group: Kin’emon the samurai and a boy dressed in similar garb. A son? They had shied off to the side of the group on the other side of the doorway from Law.

“Oh, there you are, Torao!” Luffy said, spying Law off to the side. “And Smokey!”

“Straw Hat,” Smoker grumbled, pushing himself to his feet.

“Where are the children?” the cat burglar asked, putting her hands on her hips.

“Tashigi is with them,” Smoker said.

“Well, we’re not leaving until we see them off,” Chopper added, coming up next to his crewmate at the front of the group, doing his best to sound authoritative.

Smoker lip curled in annoyance, but he was saved from having to reply by the emergence of the captain and the children from a side entrance of the lab. The swordswoman, with a bright voice and wide smile, directed the children toward the ship. The children laughed and jumped around as they boarded the ship.

“Tashigi!” Smoker called.

The swordswoman looked up from her charges and took in the group standing next to the vice admiral. After murmuring something to the remaining children waiting to board, she headed over to the lab steps.

“Smoker-san,” she greeted.

“These idiots won’t leave until they know the children are taken care of. Tell them where we’re taking them.”

Long Nose and the cyborg protested at being called idiots, but the cat burglar and Chopper ignored them. Their eyes were focused on the swordswoman.

“We’re taking them to be treated by Vegapunk himself,” the captain replied, adjusting her glasses. “He’s agreed to look at the long-term effects of the drugs and work on a treatment. Once they’ve received the care they need, we’ll take them all home. We’re also in the process of contacting their families.”

“That’s a relief,” Chopper said, smiling.

The swordswoman looked at the cat burglar. “I meant what I said earlier; I will protect the children with my life!”

The cat burglar nodded, her expression softening. “I know. Thank you.”

The two women shook hands, and the captain glanced at her superior before heading back to the ship. The children were making their way onto the deck of the ship, calling at the Straw Hats with their thanks. Law was startled to hear even a few thanks hollered in his direction. Considering he hadn’t wanted to get caught up with the children in the first place, he didn’t think he deserved any.

Smoker shook his head and glanced back at the gathered group, eyes meeting Law’s one final time, before he headed back to the ship, corralling the remaining soldiers who had yet to board. The Straw Hats waved as the ship eventually pushed off from the dock and set sail.

“All right!” Luffy called out, grabbing the attention of his crew. “Let’s go! On to Dressroba!”

“Dressrosa,” Law grumbled.

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled. “Whatever. Let’s go take down that Mingo!”

He headed off in the direction of the Thousand Sunny, and the rest of the group followed—including Kin’emon and the boy, Law noted. He’d have to account for their presence in his plan. Luffy continued chattering on, mostly to Zoro and Long Nose, though he’d turn back every now and then to meet Law’s eye with a grin.

As they walked, the cat burglar came up next to Law. “I can navigate using the maps we found in the lab, but if you have a better way…”

Law reached into a pocket on the inside of his coat and pulled out an Eternal Pose for Dressrosa. It was the same one Doffy had given Law nearly a decade earlier in the North Blue. He carried it on every mission away from the island. For a moment, Law’s grip tightened on the wooden frame as he considered that there was a good chance neither he nor his nakama would ever leave that island again. Swallowing, he forcibly loosened his fingers and offered it to her. Her eyes lit up.

“That will make things easier!” She looked at the pose for a moment then glanced back at Law. “You said it should take half a day?”

“Yes.”

The cat burglar—Nami—peered up at the sky and narrowed her eyes consideringly before shaking her head. “We’ll have to get further away from the conditions on this weird island before I can get a sense of the weather.”

“Dressrosa is a summer island,” Law supplied. “The weather is rarely poor around it.”

Nami hummed thoughtfully. “That’s promising.”

Law hesitated before adding, “Avoid skies with clouds as much as possible.”

“Why?” Black Leg asked from Law’s other side. He took a drag on his cigarette and raised a curious eyebrow.

Law glanced at him before turning back to Nami. “Doflamingo can use his Devil Fruit to travel in the skies. He uses clouds to do it. If he has any suspicion that I’ve betrayed him, he’ll be out looking for me.”

“Will he have any suspicion?” Black Leg asked as Nami’s eyes widened.

“I… don’t know.” Law had played the call over in his mind repeatedly and still did not know if Doffy had been bluffing. Even if he hadn’t been, there was no telling how quickly he’d hear from his Marine spies about what had happened on Punk Hazard. “Best to assume he does.”

Black Leg pursed his lips but didn’t say anything.

Once they boarded the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hats spread out to complete their respective jobs for setting sail. Law leaned back against the wall and was joined by Kin’emon and the boy as they stayed out their hosts’ way. Law and the samurai eyed one another. Law didn’t know anything about Kin’emon, other than, as a samurai, he was likely from Wano and that Doffy wanted him kept alive. If Kin’emon was from Wano, Law idly wondered if Doffy’s orders about the man came from Kaido but put the thought out of his mind; it didn’t matter to the task at hand.

Once the Thousand Sunny had pulled away from Punk Hazard and started toward Dressrosa, Law’s Eternal Pose pointing the way, the Straw Hats reconvened on the lawn in the center of the ship. They turned to Law.

“Tell us, Torao-kun,” Nico Robin said, speaking for her crew. “What awaits us in Dressrosa?”

Law took a steadying breath and started to speak.

Two Days Later

Smoker found the Inspector General in his favorite spot, a perch overlooking New Marineford, absently sharing snacks with his beloved goat. He hadn’t been entirely surprised to receive a summons from Marine HQ after the prisoners he’d brought in and the damning report he’d filed about another vice admiral, but he thought this might be a bit more personal, considering the source.

“Inspector General,” Smoker greeted as he came to a stop next to the seated man.

“Smoker,” Sengoku replied, nodding at him.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Ah, yes,” Sengoku said, adjusting his glasses briefly. “I read your report about the events on Punk Hazard.”

Smoker’s original report had been heavily edited so that the official report had, much like the Alabasta report, given him far more credit than he deserved for what had transpired. It also whitewashed some of the uglier truths Smoker had learned about the base commander of G-5 and the experiments being conducted on the island. But Smoker had a feeling Sengoku was referring to the unedited version. Semi-retired or not, a man like Sengoku would have his ways of getting his hands on that document.

“Sir,” Smoker said neutrally.

Sengoku offered his goat a cracker before glancing at Smoker. “You don’t seem pleased at the accolades being thrown your way for uncovering a traitor so high in the ranks.”

Smoker snorted. “If you read my report, you know I didn’t uncover shit. Sir.”

Sengoku nodded, absently scratching behind the goat’s ears. “Corazon revealed Vergo’s true nature.”

So, he had read the unedited version. “Yes.”

“Tell me, Smoker,” Sengoku said, something careful about his tone that Smoker couldn’t quite place. “What were your impressions of Vice Admiral Vergo? Before this? You worked alongside him at G-5.”

“I thought he was a good leader and a good soldier,” Smoker admitted. “I respected him.” He’d had no reason to suspect the man; his reputation was spotless, and the men of G-5 admired him. It grated on him that he hadn’t noticed the rat. Surely there had been something amiss that Smoker had missed…

But, no. Vergo’s act had been flawless.

Sengoku nodded thoughtfully. “And Corazon killed him.”

“Yes.”

“And what did you make of that, Vice Admiral?”

Smoker frowned. “What do you mean?”

“The second in command of the Donquixote Pirates killing a particularly important spy for his own crew among Marine ranks. Surely that was surprising to you.”

Smoker, even in his unedited report, had skirted around what he’d heard about Corazon’s history. He wasn’t sure why he was keeping the man’s secrets other than the debt he owed him, but something hadn’t sat right in his chest when he’d attempted to make note of all he’d heard. He’d learned to trust his instincts over the years, and they’d told him he’d be better served holding onto that information. Even—maybe especially—the Marines were prone to politics, and Smoker knew that information could be leveraged. He found the fact distasteful, but it was true nonetheless.

But those same instincts were also telling him now that Sengoku was the right person to tell, considering his personal connection to the Donquixote Pirates. It was known amongst the longest-serving Marines that Sengoku’s adopted son had been killed by the Donquixote Pirates while on an undercover mission infiltrating them. Smoker had never met Rosinante, but he’d seen the plaque on the wall of fallen soldiers.

“There seemed to be bad blood between them,” Smoker said after coming to his decision. He didn’t have a full sense of what he’d witnessed between the two men, but he knew enough about long-standing grudges to recognize one when he saw it. “Going back a long way.”

Corazon couldn’t be older than his mid-twenties but had held the title of Corazon for half a decade. Only someone who’d been with the Family for a long time could have risen to second in command—Doflamingo only surrounded himself with the best, which was part of what made his crew so dangerous—so for Corazon to have risen so high so at such a young age likely meant he’d been with them as a child. It was common knowledge that the Family recruited children and raised them to be loyal soldiers, so that would not have been surprising.

The slightest twitch in Sengoku’s eyebrow told Smoker that he was on the right track. Considering the timeline, then, there was a good chance Corazon knew Sengoku’s son and might have answers about the circumstances surrounding his death, which had remained under high level security clearance in the years since. Most Marine lifers felt Sengoku had never truly moved past Rosinante’s death (though they’d never say it in the man’s earshot), but now perhaps he could get some answers—especially if Corazon was attempting to leave the Family and had no reason to keep their secrets any longer.

“I see,” Sengoku finally said, offering the goat another cracker. He offered the bag to Smoker wordlessly, but Smoker shook his head.

Smoker hesitated only a moment before adding, “Corazon let something slip during the fight.”

Sengoku simply nodded at him to continue, obviously recognizing Smoker had left whatever it was out of his report.

“I think he’s a survivor of the White City.”

Sengoku paled, though Smoker had a feeling it wasn’t for the reason most did when Flevance was mentioned. He’d been Fleet Admiral when commands had come from above even him to wipe out the country and everyone in it due to the highly contagious Amber Lead Disease that was killing entire generations.

It was genocide and a shame on any Marine with a sense of honor.

“There were no survivors,” Sengoku said finally, voice curiously choked off.

And even if anyone had managed to escape the slaughter, they should have died years earlier due to Amber Lead Disease. But somehow, Corazon hadn’t.

The more he thought about it, the more Smoker had a feeling it had to do with that Devil Fruit of his. The Ope-Ope no Mi was a miracle surgery fruit, after all.

“There seems to be at least one,” Smoker replied, remembering the fury in Corazon’s voice as he’d railed against what had happened to his family and his home, sheer rage taking over the normally composed man. It was clearly a slip he regretted making, considering the way his expression had soured once he’d realized what he’d said. “It sounded like his parents were doctors, but they were killed with everyone else when Flevance fell. Including a sister.”

Sengoku ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking his age. “I see,” he said after a long moment. He turned to Smoker and gave him a wan smile. “Thank you for telling me.”

The dismissal was clear, but Smoker had one more thing to add. “The traitor, Vergo, didn’t call Corazon by his title. He used a name.”

Sengoku raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“He didn’t use a surname. But he called Corazon Law.”

“Law,” Sengoku murmured, as though trying out the name.

Smoker left Sengoku with the name on his tongue, wondering what the former Fleet Admiral would do with the information but deciding it was above his paygrade.

Chapter Text

Two Days Ago

Law stood at the helm of the Thousand Sunny, one hand light on the wheel as he watched Dressrosa come into focus. Though Law’s own ship was a submarine, he’d learned how to sail other vessels well enough and directed the Sunny toward the port. The sea, as expected, was calm, so there was little maneuvering he needed to do. With the weather warming up as the ship approached Dressrosa, Law had discarded his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his hoodie, though he was still warm beneath his hat. The ship was eerily quiet, considering whose home she was.

Law glanced down at the hat in his other hand; he could have put it down on the deck alongside his coat and Kikoku, but he hadn’t been able to when the feeling of the worn straw under his fingers was such a stark reminder of those weeks on Amazon Lily two years earlier—where the whole mess Law now found himself had begun.

As Law steered the Sunny into the familiar docks and dropped anchor, the only people greeting him were dock workers, already unwinding ropes in preparation for securing the ship to the dock. Curious. And fortuitous. The last person Law wanted to run into before seeing Doffy was Violet; the less she knew about what Law had gotten into on Punk Hazard, the better for them both. Though she’d obfuscated for him more than once in the past, she’d never outright lied to Doffy for him—and he wouldn’t ask her to, knowing what she was risking. He’d take the small victories where he could find them.

Straw hat still in hand, though with his heavy coat now draped over it, and Kikoku resting in her usual place against his shoulder, Law pocketed his log pose and hopped down from the ship. He peered down the docks to see the Polar Tang shining brightly in the late-afternoon sun. His chest gave a twinge at the thought of the ship that had been home for the last decade. Would she be able to take the Hearts to freedom? Or would she be stuck docked in the Dressrosan harbor without a crew to sail her after today?

He shook his head and glanced back at the Thousand Sunny once more, looking for anything out of place. When he saw nothing, he took a breath and turned back toward the city. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed the harbor master hurrying toward him.

“Corazon, sir!” he huffed once he reached Law. “My apologies for not greeting you immediately.”

“It’s fine,” Law said, waving him off.

He really wasn’t in the mood for this, but the harbor master’s mood could be a good indicator of how he would be received in the city; if news from Punk Hazard had reached Dressrosa and Law was walking headfirst into a trap, Doffy likely would have had the harbor master and his workers watching for Law’s arrival and trying to detain him until Doffy himself could arrive. The harbor master, however, like most Dressrosans, was too terrified of the executives to lie to their faces—even on order of the king. That he didn’t seem to be hiding any ulterior motives was a positive sign.

“Shall I call a carriage to bring you back to the palace?”

“I’ll walk,” Law said, talking a few steps up the dock.

“Are you sure?” the harbor master asked, falling in step with him. “It’s no trouble and would be faster.”

Law leveled a stare at the man, and he quavered. “O-of course, I didn’t mean to challenge you, sir.” He swallowed before nodding at the Sunny. “And this ship?”

Law forced his lips into a smirk. “A trophy from a defeated pirate crew. Keep it in good shape until the king can inspect it.”

Doffy loved keeping trophies, from plundered goods and hijacked ships to defeated crews themselves—many of whom turned into merchandise—from his many victories, so the harbor master didn’t so much as blink at the explanation.

“Of course, Corazon.”

They’d reached the end of the docks, and the harbor master bowed Law out into the city before turning back to the dock workers and yelling orders at them.

Law strode the familiar streets of the city toward the palace, ignoring the eyes and murmured whispers of his title by the Dressrosan citizens and the toys as he passed; Law always drew a fair amount of attention when he was out, considering his status as second to the king. Being watched didn’t mean Doffy knew what had happened. He forced his tense shoulders down as he walked. He was returning from a straight-forward mission, as he had hundreds of times before. There was nothing different about today.

Pushing aside his paranoia, Law trekked the familiar streets until he reached the palace. The grounds were quiet as he stepped through the gates, and he licked his lips. He was used to the palace being busy, members of the Family and servants alike scurrying around the grounds at all hours of the day. In the late afternoon, he’d expect to see preparations being made for dinner, but, as he walked toward the courtyard, he only saw a few figures moving about in the distance.

“Ah, Corazon!”

Law started as Rosalie, Doffy’s personal aide, came hurrying out of a side hallway. Forcing his expression neutral, he nodded at her.

“The Young Master asked me to find you once you arrived. He’s waiting in his office.”

Law nodded for Rosalie to lead the way, and she turned on her heel to head back into the palace. As they walked, Law considered whether he was more or less likely to be ambushed in Doffy’s office. On the one hand, it held fewer people, which meant fewer enemies for Law to fend off in the case of an attack. On the other hand, it was more isolated from the rest of the palace, meaning fewer people would know what was happening—not that Law would find himself with many allies in the palace if he was outed as a traitor to the Family.

He shook his head; there was no point in catastrophizing until he assessed what information Doffy had. Instead, he addressed Rosalie. As Doffy’s personal aide, she was aware of more goings on in the palace than most, as she was regularly required to track down Family members on short notice for the king.

“The grounds are quiet. Where is everyone?”

She looked back at him to acknowledge that he’d spoken before returning her gaze forward as she strode with purpose. “I believe Trebol is with Sugar. Diamante is at the Colosseum, making preparations for the upcoming tournament. I believe Machvise is with him. Pica is at the training grounds, drilling soldiers,” she said, ticking off executives with her fingers. “Dellinger is at the beach with Jora and Lao G. Señor Pink and Gladius left for a mission this morning. Buffalo and Baby 5 went to the market an hour ago. Violet retired to the library after lunch.”

Law nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing a bit. None of that seemed unusual and explained why the grounds were as quiet as they were.

Once they reached Doffy’s office, Rosalie knocked on the door and waited for the king’s call to enter. She ducked inside to inform him of Law’s arrival. A few moments later, she stepped back into the hallway and gestured Law inside.

Law took a steadying breath then strode past Rosalie into the office, suppressing a flinch as the door shut behind him. Doffy sat at his desk, papers spread out in front of him and a pen in hand. Law stepped forward but remained just outside of Doffy’s wingspan—not that it really mattered with his strings. He could have Law trapped with no more than a thought. Law’s fingers itched to activate a Room, but he knew that would only give him away. Instead, he did his best to wrap himself in the cloak that was Corazon, second in command to a Warlord and a king.

Even Corazon, however, knew to wait until Doffy was ready (having learned that lesson the hard way), so he waited. Once Doffy finished signing a document, he put his pen down and looked up at Law. He crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“Welcome back, Corazon.”

Law was unable to read anything in his expression or vocal tone so pressed forward. “Thank you, Young Master.”

“I trust you ran into no further complications?”

Law quirked his lips into one of his trademark smirks. “Of course not. I even brought presents. One is in the harbor.”

Doffy chuckled, a deep, pleased sound that rumbled lightly throughout the small room. “I heard.” Of course he had. “Very impressive. What else?”

Law pulled the straw hat out from under his coat and tossed it onto Doffy’s desk. Doffy froze as he realized what had landed in front of him.

“A trophy,” Law said. “From the head of one of the Worst Generation.”

“Take it, Torao. If it’ll make Mingo believe I’m dead, then take it.”

“Straw Hat-ya, I can’t take this.”

“Shishishi, I know you’ll give it back. I trust you!”

 “This hat—” Doffy murmured, turning the worn thing over in his hands, the straw crinkling in the quiet between the two pirates. Doffy looked up sharply at Law. “Do you know who this hat belonged to?” At Law’s frown, Doffy shook his head. “Never mind,” he said, voice gentling. “This is quite the prize.”

Law blinked and caught the hat on instinct when Doffy tossed it back to him.

“You defeated its wearer, my Corazon. It is your trophy.” His lips twitched. “Though I think your own hat suits you better.”

Law snorted. “Not a lot of use for a straw hat in the North.” And Law was, at his core, a child of the North Blue—of winter islands and warfare.

“Indeed.”

“Was there anything else?” Law asked, raising an eyebrow. Impertinence was one of his defining traits, after all.

Doffy waved him off, already looking back toward the paperwork in front of him. “Dinner’s in an hour. Get yourself cleaned up.”

Law gave a shallow bow then turned to leave. Presenting his back to Doffy was one of the hardest things he’d done in a long time, but he forced himself to offer that vulnerability, since, if nothing were wrong, Doffy at his back would be no threat. Breath caught in his throat, Law headed out of Doffy’s office, part of him waiting to be impaled with an onslaught of strings…

But it never came.

He let out the breath he’d been holding when the door shut behind him and very nearly slumped against the wall. But the walls had eyes in the palace, so Law instead straightened his spine and headed to his chambers. He wanted nothing more than to make a direct line to the Hearts’ wing of the palace to check in with his crew, but with the distance he’d kept from them in the previous years, doing so would look out of character.

He encountered only a few servants as he headed for his room. Once he shut the door behind him, he leaned back against it tiredly and ran a hand over his face. He hadn’t been locked up in Seastone and thrown in the dungeon yet, so that was a good sign. Maybe, just maybe, he could get his crew out after all. They’d be on the run, but that would be better than the prison they found themselves in now—and they had allies.

Law dropped his coat on his bed and rested Kikoku on top of it. He placed the straw hat on his desk and pulled his Den Den Mushi from his coat pocket. He put the snail on the desk next to the hat then went into the bathroom, as if to wash up; instead, he activated a Room. He Scanned for the surveillance snail in the vents that kept an eye on his room and, with a quick Shambles, switched it with a snail he’d set up years earlier to broadcast a recorded feed of his empty room. Now it would simply appear that Law was in the shower. He’d found the surveillance snail immediately after he’d moved into the palace at seventeen, though he had no idea how often Doffy checked the feed nearly a decade later. The snail had never been removed, though, so Law worked under the assumption that the Warlord regularly monitored it to be safe.

Law then stepped back into the bedroom and went over to his desk. He pulled out a scrap of paper and scribbled a note: After dinner. Crew meeting. He folded it and pushed his Room in the direction of the Hearts’ quarters until he found Bepo’s room. The bear wasn’t in the room at the moment, but that was not unusual at this time of day. Law switched his note with a pen on Bepo’s desk then retracted his Room once more.

That done, he turned to his Den Den Mushi and dialed. He only had to wait two rings before the other side picked up.

“Torao, it’s about time!”

“I told you to give me until nightfall to check in, Straw Hat-ya,” Law snapped, glancing out the window at the late afternoon sun. “I’m early.”

“But it’s boooooring on your ship,” Luffy whined.

Law rolled his eyes. Before arriving in Dressrosa, he’d come up with a plan to sneak the Straw Hats in without them being noticed. Because Doffy had eyes on all the ships coming into and going out of the harbor, it was imperative the Straw Hats stay out of sight as the ship approached. They would stay below deck as Law steered the Thousand Sunny into the harbor.

Then, while Law then checked in with Doflamingo at the palace, pretending the Sunny was a conquest of their fight, the Straw Hats would use their submersible to make their way to the Polar Tang; Doffy would undoubtedly have his men examining the Sunny to see what Law had brought him, so it would be a poor hiding place. The Tang, however, was generally left alone except for some basic maintenance, meaning she would be safe for the Straw Hats to hide out in until Law could contact them with an update and to decide their next move. He’d left them with a hand-drawn map of the palace as well as a rough map of the city itself for them to study while they waited.

Luffy had protested, wanting to see the city and, naturally, try the local cuisine, but his crew had reminded him that they were all supposed to be dead; being recognized would put Law and his nakama in danger, and—after his suggestion that they go into the city in disguises was thoroughly shot down—that had quieted his complaints.

Mostly.

“Boring?” Franky called, affronted, from somewhere in the background. “This ship is super! I want to know everything about her, Tra-bro!”

Law sighed. “Please tell Robo-ya to refrain from destroying my ship before we leave Dressrosa.”

“We’ll rein him in, Torao-kun,” Robin promised, though there was humor in her voice. “What happened with Doflamingo?”

“Mm, yeah. What happened with Mingo?” Luffy echoed. It sounded like he was moving around the Den Den Mushi, likely bursting with pent up energy. Law only hoped his ship would survive the Straw Hats’ cyborg and its bored captain.

“He seemed to take my report at face value,” Law said. “But there’s no telling when he’ll hear from his sources in the Marines about what happened. We’ll still need to move quickly.”

“When do I get to kick his ass?” Luffy asked. Several of the Straw Hats groaned in the background.

“That’s not the point of this, Luffy,” Robin reminded him, not unkindly. “The goal is to get Torao-kun and his nakama out of Dressrosa unnoticed.”

“We’re trying to avoid a fight with a Warlord, Luffy!” Usopp added, a tinge of panic in his voice.

“Fine,” Luffy grumbled.

“I’m expected at dinner with the Family this evening,” Law said, breaking in. “If I skip it, it’ll raise suspicions.”

Luffy whooped in excitement at the thought of food, and Sanji snapped that he’d brought food from the Sunny, which only made the younger captain more excited.

Law grimaced, wondering not for the first time why the mysterious pull in his chest had brought him to these people. He knew the Family was its own type of ridiculous, but the Straw Hats took that to a whole other level. Why did he think he could entrust something as important as his nakama’s lives to them?

“I’ll see my nakama after dinner and contact you then,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Good luck,” Robin said over her chaotic crewmates.

“Same to you,” Law replied then hung up.

For a moment, he stared at the snail then at the hat on the desk next to it. This was a terrible idea, but Law was already in too deep to turn back now.

After a quick shower to wash off the travel and battle from the last two days, Law changed into a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt then switched the surveillance snail back to the one with live feed and dropped his Room. Pulling his hat on, he glanced at Kikoku but decided not to bring her to dinner; he didn’t usually walk around the palace grounds with the nodachi in hand. His head was starting to ache—the concussion symptoms, while improving, were still bothering him—so he took some painkillers before heading to the dining room.

Though Law was on edge, dinner was a standard Family affair. The only executives not present were Señor Pink and Gladius, who were off the island. Law easily fell into his typical standoffish self, meandering into the dining room a couple of minutes late and sliding into his seat with an insincere smirk. Doffy, who was in the middle of a discussion with Trebol, merely raised an eyebrow at him, and Law shrugged. Doffy huffed once before turning back to Trebol.

Law rarely invited conversation at meals, though Baby 5 wanted to tell anyone who would listen—and for some reason, she thought Law was listening—about the wares she’d found at the market. Law ignored her, picking at his plate without much enthusiasm. The food, as always, was excellent—Doffy had high expectations of those who worked for him; Law’s stomach was simply tied in knots. It was a good thing Law rarely finished his meals, so his lack of appetite tonight didn’t appear unusual.

More than once, Law looked up to see Violet trying to catch his eye from several seats down the table. Law shook his head minutely and looked back down at his plate. He didn’t need to get her involved in this.

Law started when he felt a smack on his arm. He rubbed it with a frown at Baby 5. “What was that for?”

“Are you even listening to me, Corazon?”

Law snorted. “Of course not.”

Baby narrowed her eyes. “You’re such a jerk,” she muttered.

“Don’t act so surprised, Baby,” Law replied, lips twitching. It was easy enough to fall into this familiar pattern of banter with her.

She sighed dramatically. “You have been a jerk since you were ten.”

Law rested his chin on his hand, angling himself toward her slightly. “You want me to hear about your day, but you didn’t even ask me how my mission went.”

She scrunched up her nose then sighed resignedly. “How did your mission go, Corazon?”

Law shrugged, turning back to the table. “Fine.”

“You asshole!” she squawked, whacking him in the arm again. “Did you get rid of all your manners with your spots?”

Law gaped at her a moment before laughing in surprise. He would miss this; Baby was one of the only members of the Family he cared about. She’d been one of the few things that made his return to the Family tolerable.

“Just my people skills.” He picked up a piece of silverware from the table. “I still know a salad fork from a dessert fork.”

The rest of their conversation was cut short as Doffy pushed back from the table and rose. He nodded at the members of the Family gathered around the table.

“The rest of the night is yours. I have work to attend to.” He glanced to the side. “Pica, Machvise, a word in my office.”

As the summoned executives stood to follow Doffy from the dining room, Law pushed himself away from the table and headed for the hallway. He had a few things he needed from his room before meeting with his crew so headed that way; he could have just opened a Room and summoned them, but something told him to reserve his stamina for now.

He was about halfway to his chambers when he stopped. “What do you want, Violet?” He turned to see her turning a corner to face him.

She crossed her arms. “Why were you ignoring me at dinner?”

Law suppressed a sigh. “Because I’m an asshole.”

“True, but that’s not it. Try again.”

“I have a lot on my mind. Now, if you’ll excuse me—” Law started to turn back toward his room. He knew he was being unfair to her, but he didn’t want her reading him. Not today.

“Corazon, stop. Something is going on with you.”

Law turned back to her, jaw clenched. “Violet, don’t.”

“I can just read you to find out,” she threatened, lifting her hands.

Law grabbed her wrists before her hands could reach her face. “Don’t.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Let go.”

“Don’t try to read me, Violet,” Law practically growled. “I mean it. Not this time.”

She let out a huff then nodded. “Fine. Now let go.”

He released her wrists, and she rubbed her left wrist absently. “Something happened on your mission.”

Law chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment before agreeing, “Yes.”

“What can I do?”

He blinked at her in surprise. “What?”

“If you’re in trouble, let me help.”

Law shook his head. She’d been trying to help him almost since he arrived in Dressrosa, and now the only way he could repay her was to keep her out of this mess. She had her father and niece to think about.

“Not for this one.”

“But—”

“Let it go, Violet.” Then he did open a Room and Shamble himself into his chambers, leaving a pen in his place in the hallway.

Years of practice with his powers allowed him to avoid landing awkwardly on his desk, and he dropped to the floor. He opened a drawer in his desk and pushed aside the items inside. He pressed on the right spot, and the false bottom opened. He reached in and grabbed the papers inside then replaced the false bottom and shut the drawer. He spread the papers out on his desk: blueprints of the castle. Violet had once mentioned that there was a secret passageway in the castle that only the Riku family knew about. She hadn’t revealed its location, though, and Law hadn’t asked.

If he could find that on the blueprints now, perhaps he could use it to get his crew out without being detected. He leaned over the paper with a frown, looking for anything that looked out of place or that he didn’t recognize. He could have asked her in the hallway just now, but he didn’t want what he was looking for getting back to Doflamingo—not before he and his nakama were gone, anyway.

He was so focused on the blueprints that he was taken by surprise when his door slammed open, rattling on its hinges. Law jerked upright but didn’t have a chance to react before a wave of mucus slammed him into the far wall. Law’s head slammed back against the wall. His vision darkened, and his body went slack, air leaving his lungs in a sharp exhale.

Goddamn concussion, he thought blearily as the world slowly started coming back into focus in front of him. His doctor side was distantly outraged at the battering his brain was taking, but the rest of him—the part in the here and now—was just trying to breathe.

As he came back to his senses, the first thing he recognized was that he was being held upright against the wall by Trebol’s mucus. Gross.

The shapes in front of him slowly materialized into Trebol and Diamante standing in his doorway.

“What the fuck, Trebol?” Law growled, though his voice lacked the power he wanted to put behind it.

“That’s what we should be asking you, Corazon.”

Law’s stomach dropped as Doffy entered the room behind his two executives. Law could feel the anger radiating off him.

He knows, Law realized. I wasn’t fast enough, and he knows. Fuck.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Law said, glancing around to assess his options. Though the mucus was holding him to the wall, his lower arms were free, so he could still form a Room. Kikoku was on the bed, but he could summon her with a Room.

He just had to do it at the right moment.

Doffy paused at Law’s desk and looked down at the papers. “Blueprints of the castle?” He turned back to Law. “And how did you get your hands on these?” Then he shook his head. “Never mind. I know how resourceful you are. And why would you need blueprints of the castle? Looking for an escape route?”

“Escape? Because that’s gone so well for me in the past,” Law scoffed, though he knew it wasn’t lost on Doffy that he’d side-stepped the question.

“I just heard from some sources in the Marines,” Doffy said, resuming his approach into Law’s space. “You’ll never believe who they have in custody.”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

Law winced as a string sliced through his cheek. It was a shallow cut, but blood dripped down the side of his face. A warning.

“Monet and Caesar,” Doffy said, tilting his head as he looked down at Law. “And I can’t imagine how that could be when you told me you saw them this morning, Corazon.”

Law licked his lips, hating the way he had to look up at the Warlord. “I did see them this morning.” That wasn’t a lie. He’d just… withheld the condition he’d seen them in. “If they were careless enough to get arrested after I left, that’s not on me.”

Another string sliced through Law’s cheek, this one a bit deeper, just below the first cut.

Doffy leaned over to whisper in Law’s ear, “I’d be very careful of what you say next.” The temperature dropped with Doffy’s icy words.

Law swallowed but remained silent. Doffy could probably feel the racing of his heart at this proximity.

“I’m only going to ask once. Did you see Vergo on Punk Hazard?”

“I thought Vergo was here.” Which was true—he had thought that, until Vergo had shown his face on the Straw Hats’ ship the day before.

Doffy straightened and, eyes never leaving Law’s, pulled a Den Den Mushi from his coat. He dialed a number from memory.

The discarded coat on Law’s bed started to ring.

Law cursed silently. He’d completely forgotten to get rid of Vergo’s Den Den Mushi. He’d planned to look it over on the trip from Punk Hazard, but he’d gotten distracted by making plans to get the Straw Hats into Dressrosa, and the snail had remained untouched in his pocket.

Doffy finally tore his gaze from Law and went over to the bed. He grabbed Law’s coat and dug around until he found the buzzing snail. Law’s own Den Den Mushi was on his desk and silent, cutting off that potential excuse.

“This is Vergo’s Den Den Mushi.”

“I…”

“Vergo’s dead,” Doffy said, the snail still ringing in his hand. Doffy’s voice remained low, and Law had, from his childhood, found Doffy’s restrained fury far more terrifying than when the man lost his cool. “His heart had been removed from his chest and squeezed.”

Law was well and truly fucked.

Deciding he had nothing to lose, he flexed his fingers ever-so-slightly in preparation to open a Room—

Then cried out as a blade impaled itself through the palm of his right hand.

It took a moment for his abused brain to register why, other than the pain, this was such a problem.

It was his dominant hand.

The one he used to wield Kikoku.

The one he used to control his Fruit.

The one he led with in surgery.

Oh.

Oh.

“Nuh uh,” Diamante said from the other end of his waving blade. “No tricks, boy.”

“Nene, Corazon. Don’t surgeons need their hands?” Trebol chuckled.

Law made a choked sound as Diamante pulled the blade out. His thoughts spun as his hand dripped blood to the carpet beneath him. He’d felt worse pain than this—nothing he’d experienced had been worse than the final stages of Amber Lead Disease—but this was his hand.

“I can do the other one, Doffy. Make sure he can’t pull anything,” Diamante offered.

“No,” Doffy said, eyeing Law. “He’s no good to me if he can’t use his Fruit.”

Trebol’s mucus retreated, and Law fell forward. Without thinking, he reached out with his hands to catch himself then crumpled into a heap with a cry, hand coming to his chest as an electric shock jolted from his hand through his entire arm. The breath caught in his throat and the room around him fuzzed.

He’d failed.

He’d failed as an executive.

He’d failed as an ally.

He’d failed as a surgeon.

He’d failed as a captain.

He’d failed as a friend.

He’d failed Cora-san.

He barely registered the snapping of Seastone restraints around his wrists, the little strength he had left draining from his body as he went limp on the floor.

From somewhere above him, Doffy spoke, though Law couldn’t make out the words. He winced but didn’t struggle as Trebol and Diamante each grabbed one of his arms. The two executives dragged him bodily down the hallways of the palace, his feet trailing behind him. In his peripheral vision, he caught Violet’s shocked expression as the procession passed.

Law grimaced as they reached the stairs to the dungeon but didn’t have the strength to try to get his feet under him, so his legs thumped against each stone step as he was taken down. At the bottom, Trebol and Diamante exchanged a few words with the guard then followed him to what Law assumed was one of the Seastone cells. The guard opened the door, and Law was pulled into the cell and shoved against the wall, forcing the breath from his lungs. The chain between his wrist shackles was hooked above Law’s head before all the figures retreated.

Law slumped forward in defeat.

But he jerked upright at a familiar voice.

“Captain?”

Chapter Text

Bepo started when the door at the top of the dungeon stairs banged open and was followed by an ugly thumping sound that made his ears twitch. After a moment, he placed the sound as that of a body being dragged down the stairs. His eyes widened in alarm. Had one of the others been caught?

Or—

“What—” Penguin started from the cell next to Bepo, but he fell silent just as Bepo’s stomach dropped.

A familiar pair of spotted jeans was dragged past Bepo’s cell door and into the cell across from his and next to Shachi’s. The dungeon was dimly lit by torches, and even Bepo’s mink vision couldn’t make out much as Trebol and Diamante dragged a limp form into the cell. There was a rattling of shackles before the two executives exited the cell with some choice words for the prisoner before slamming the door shut. They thumped up the stairs, and, a few moments later, the door banged shut. The dungeon was quiet once again.

Bepo could hear a light rustling coming from the newly occupied cell, so he called hesitantly, “Captain?”

“Bepo,” Law’s familiar voice rasped out after a painfully long moment.

Bepo swallowed, relief at war with worry in his chest. The last he’d heard from Law was two days earlier when he’d called in from his mission with a warning that Vergo had followed him. The crew had gone into high alert, but there had been no further news from their captain. They’d all heard he’d returned to Dressrosa earlier today—and Bepo had been admittedly disappointed Law hadn’t immediately come to see them, though he had been relieved to find the note Law had left on his desk—but all the Hearts had known was that Law was in some kind of trouble, which, by extension, put them in danger. They’d expected to find out what was going on when Law came to see them after dinner, but that was before…

Bepo swallowed, cutting off his own thought and turning his attention back to Law.

“Are you okay, Captain?” he asked. If Law was being forcibly dragged into the dungeon, he must have been overcome by Trebol and Diamante—and was now undoubtedly shackled with Seastone, considering the danger his Fruit posed.

“I’m…” Law started but trailed off as though he didn’t quite know how to respond. After a moment, Bepo heard him clear his throat before asking, “What happened?”

“Shouldn’t we be asking you that, Captain?”

“Penguin,” Law breathed worriedly. “Who else is in here?”

“Me.”

“Shachi. Anyone else?”

“We were the only ones captured,” Bepo said.

A brief hesitation then, “Where is everyone else?”

“Escaped,” Shachi said.

Law let out a relieved breath as Bepo belatedly realized Law had probably taken his words to mean the others had been killed. He tamped down on the urge to apologize, instead rubbing his face through his paws in embarrassment, glad none of his lesser mink friends could see him in the dimness.

“What’s going on, Law?” Penguin pressed. “We haven’t heard from you since you called Bepo, and then we’re being thrown in the dungeon.”

Law’s cell was silent for several moments, and Bepo wished he could make out more than the outline of Law’s shape across from him. Finally, Law said, “I’ll tell you everything. Just… First, I need to know. What happened here?”

He sounded more tired than Bepo had heard him in a long time, and it was that, more than anything, that caused Bepo to take pity on his best friend. “After reading your note, I got word to the others to meet up after dinner,” he explained. “We were gathering in the common area when…” Bepo swallowed.

“Pica and Machvise showed up,” Penguin picked up as Bepo faltered. Law cursed quietly. “They said Doflamingo wanted to see us.”

“After your call, we knew something was up,” Shachi added. “Other executives don’t just come to our wing of the palace.”

“So, we told them his royal featherness could come to us,” Penguin said, the smirk evident in his voice.

“They didn’t like that,” Shachi added.

“Idiots,” Law said, fond despite himself.

“They attacked then,” Bepo said, remembering the uncanny feeling of the world shaking as Pica had merged with the walls. It had reminded him of Zunesha’s daily showers for the briefest of moments before it had turned into a horror show. “Penguin, Shachi, and I tried to hold them off while the others got away.”

“Jean Bart wanted to stay behind,” Shachi said. “But we told him to take the others and get out.”

“We fought them off as long as we could,” Bepo said quietly, grimacing as he shifted. Even with his fortified mink body, he was still sporting bruises and probably some cracked ribs. Shachi and Penguin weren’t any better, fragile humans that they were.

They’d fought with everything they had—which was quite a bit, since, as the crew of Doflamingo’s second, there were high expectations of their capabilities—but none of them were Devil Fruit users, so they’d been taken down eventually. Neither Pica nor Machvise had been particularly gentle with their capture and imprisonment.

Bepo still hoped they’d done their captain proud.

“They must have all gotten out because we haven’t seen anyone but you,” Penguin said. “Hopefully, they’ve gone to ground.”

Doflamingo had eyes all over the city, but the Hearts had been in Dressrosa long enough to know it like the back of their own hands—or paws—in their own right; they’d made connections and were owed favors they could now call in.

“Good.”

“So, are you going to tell us what happened out there?” Shachi asked when it was clear Law wasn’t going to say anything else.

“Okay,” Law said at length. His shackles clanked as he shifted, and he let out a breath. “Doflamingo sent me to Punk Hazard to take out some intruders. It should have been a quick in and out.”

Bepo remembered meeting Law at the palace gates before he’d left, Law deflecting their attempts at joining him by claiming the mission was easy—the type he’d done countless times before with no complication. Briefly, Bepo felt a wave of frustration flow under his skin; if Law had taken them with him on this mission, maybe whatever had happened with Vergo wouldn’t have. They could have helped.

But that surge was as gone as quickly as it had arrived. What good did it do to worry about the past now? Plus, Law was opening up to them again, something he hadn’t done in two years.

“What went wrong?” Shachi asked quietly.

Law snorted, a hollow sound that made Bepo’s hackles raise. “Everything.”

“Captain?” Bepo prompted when Law fell silent once more. Law got like this sometimes, stuck in his own head as he turned his thoughts over endlessly, creating a spiral it sometimes took days to pull him from.

“There were two groups of intruders,” Law finally said. “Smoker was leading a group of hapless Marines from G-5.”

“And the other group?” Penguin asked. They all knew a group of Marines, even led by a vice admiral like Smoker, shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Law.

“Straw Hat-ya and his merry band of misfits.”

Bepo’s eyes widened. The Straw Hats were active again? And Law had been sent to kill the very person he’d risked everything to save two years earlier?

Of course he had. That was absolutely something Doflamingo would revel in. Law had taken a major risk by defying Doflamingo when he’d saved Straw Hat Luffy, and Shachi had lost his arm in the aftermath, causing Law to shut down completely in his guilt. Doflamingo would love pushing Law to see how he’d react to such an order after everything he and the Hearts had sacrificed in the wake of Marineford. The idea of rendering those sacrifices moot would amuse the bastard to no end. And to erase the living reminder of Law’s rebellion would only further cement his hold over his second.

If Law had gone through with it, Bepo could only wonder at what version of his friend would have returned from Punk Hazard.

“Captain,” Bepo said, nearly whining in a show of sympathy. He wished he could see his friend’s face, could offer more than just words of comfort.

With a heavy exhale, Law told them about fighting but losing when Smoker and the Straw Hats joined forces and being taken captive by the Straw Hats. Something warmed in Bepo’s chest as Law haltingly, disbelievingly, described Luffy’s unwavering determination that Law was a good person for no other reason than he felt it.

Something Law hadn’t understood had pushed him to save the boy that day—something Bepo, as a mink, considered a sign from the Earth herself, though he knew Law, man of science that he was, didn’t agree—and perhaps Luffy was similarly driven toward their captain. Bepo knew what it felt like to be drawn to Law, so nothing about the situation surprised him.

There were things even science couldn’t explain, after all.

That warmth in Bepo’s chest turned cold as Law described Vergo’s arrival on the Straw Hats’ ship with a fake accusation of Law’s treachery. So, that was what Law had meant by Vergo turning on him.

“What?!” Penguin demanded as Law continued speaking about the Straw Hats, clearly unable to believe what he’d just heard.

Law sighed and repeated himself. “We agreed to work together.”

“Like an alliance?” Shachi asked, tone rising slightly in disbelief. Bepo couldn’t blame him; Law didn’t typically play well with others, especially in his position as Corazon.

“I suppose,” Law allowed. Bepo knew by the tone of his voice that, had his hands been free, Law would have scrubbed a hand over his face—a frustrated gesture Bepo had seen countless times over the years. “I didn’t have much choice in the moment but to accept the help.”

“But Captain,” Bepo interrupted, “that’s great!”

After Law had saved Straw Hat Luffy for no other reason than a feeling, Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had done some digging into the Straw Hat pirates and been astonished by the string of miracles they’d left in their wake, from Alabasta to Enies Lobby. If there was anyone the Hearts could want on their side in a confrontation with Doflamingo, it was a crew like that.

“Great?” Penguin echoed.

“It means we aren’t alone,” Bepo said, hope rising in his chest.

After Law had called with his warning about Vergo, Bepo couldn’t help but run the worst-case scenarios over and over in his mind, with Law not returning from his mission at the forefront. But when his captain had returned, those scenarios had turned into the crew facing Doflamingo’s wrath alone, perhaps even being forced to hurt and kill one another. Those scenarios had not seemed far-fetched once Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had been locked in irons and thrown into separate cells in the dungeon. And when Law himself had arrived as a captive…

Well, having allies seemed a lot better than the alternative.

“What happened with Vergo?” Shachi asked, interrupting Bepo’s reverie.

“He’s dead,” Law said flatly.

“Good,” Bepo said without thinking.

“Bepo?”

Bepo pulled at his snout, a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

Penguin snorted. “No, you’re not.”

Bepo blushed. “No, I’m not. It’s good that he’s dead,” he said firmly.

“He was a bastard,” Shachi agreed.

“Fuck that guy,” Penguin added.

Law huffed tiredly. It was small, but Bepo had heard enough of Law’s laughs over the years to know it was genuine. “Right. But he was always Doffy’s favorite.”

“Ah hell,” Shachi muttered.

“Exactly. And Doffy has more spies than just Vergo in the Marines, so at some point today he heard that Vergo was dead and Caesar-ya and Monet were arrested.”

“And that’s when…” Penguin said, trailing off as if he lacked an adequate way to refer to everything happening now.

Law grunted in response.

“Where are the Straw Hats now?” Bepo asked after a moment. Would it be possible for their free crewmates to find their allies and get their help?

“They should be on the Tang,” Law said, his tone implying that where the Straw Hats should be was not necessarily the same as where they actually were. “Waiting for me to check in.” (The irony, of course, was that Law currently wasn’t where he was supposed to be, though Bepo doubted his friend would appreciate him mentioning it, so he just suppressed a laugh.)

“Which you obviously can’t do from the dungeon,” Shachi noted.

“Indeed.”

Ikkaku glanced at Jean Bart and raised a questioning eyebrow.

Jean Bart peered out of the window into the quiet night, clearly looking for any sign of pursuit, before turning back to Ikkaku and Clione. He nodded but put a finger to his lips. The streets might appear quiet, but that did not mean Doflamingo’s spies weren’t still looking for them. Ikkaku and Clione nodded.

Ikkaku turned back toward the storage room, where their hosts were watching them. Mateo, the shopkeeper, and his wife, Isabella, stood in the doorway. She approached them.

“We’ll be leaving now,” Ikkaku whispered, voice only loud enough to carry to them. “Thank you for hiding us.”

“Gladly, Miss Ikkaku. We are forever in your debt,” Mateo replied, voice equally quiet. The citizens of Dressrosa knew full well some walls had ears, after all.

After they’d fled the palace—Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin stupidly (bravely) staying behind to give them a chance—the Hearts had split into smaller groups before going to ground. When considering where to take cover, Ikkaku had decided to call in a favor owed to her by Mateo and Isabella, the owners of a textile shop.

Three years earlier, Ikkaku, who had been on a routine patrol around the city with Iruka, had found their toddler son, Alexander, wandering around the streets, lost and crying. Apparently, there had been a break-in at their shop, and his parents had been seriously injured. The boy had run off during the attack in fear. Ikkaku and Iruka had managed to make enough sense of the boy’s sob-stricken words to wind their way back to the shop, where they found his parents. Using medical care they’d learned from Law, they were able to stabilize them before summoning proper medics, who took them to the hospital.

Meanwhile, they’d gathered the Hearts to investigate, asking questions around the city until they found out who had attacked the shop and bringing them to justice—or Dressrosa’s version of justice, anyway; all three attackers would face the colosseum. Ikkaku had visited Mateo and Isabella in the hospital to tell them the news, and they had claimed they were in Ikkaku and her crew’s debt. Though Ikkaku had waved the debt off then, she took advantage of it now.

She, Jean Bart, and Clione had hid in their storeroom until night had fallen. Once the store closed, they gladly accepted food from Isabella and waited, plotting their next move. They’d decided that in the early hours of the morning, they would head for the Polar Tang when the watch was likely to be paying the least amount of attention. On the Tang, they could wait for the others and figure out what to do now that they were apparently wanted by the king.

That was something else they needed to figure out—what had happened with Law’s mission to cause this? Why were the Hearts—and presumably their captain—public enemy number one?

One problem at a time, Ikkaku reminded herself.

“Stay safe,” she told the shopkeepers.

“We have no worries,” Isabella replied. “After all, we haven’t seen any criminals tonight.” She turned back to the storeroom and grabbed some dark cloth. “Cloaks,” she said, offering them to Ikkaku.

Ikkaku gratefully accepted the proffered items—they’d been wearing light-colored clothing when they’d fled—and saluted before turning back to her crewmates. “Let’s go.”

The trio donned the cloaks then carefully exited the shop and, staying in the shadows, made for the harbor. Jean Bart took point, leaving Ikkaku and Clione in his shadow. As they moved through the quiet streets, the city’s clock rang out two o’clock. The bars would be closing, so they would need to keep an eye out for late-night patrons who might recognize them. There would also be parties going on for hours more in some areas of the city, but they avoided the more populous parts of the city.

As they approached the harbor entrance, Jean Bart paused, raising a hand in warning. Ikkaku and Clione came to a halt just behind him. The larger man nodded toward the watchtower. There was a single light in the small room at the top, meaning there was at least one guard watching over the harbor, as expected.

Ikkaku pointed to herself. She was the smallest so would be the quietest. Clione raised an eyebrow—Are you sure?—and Ikkaku nodded. Jean Bart and Clione stepped aside, and Ikkaku slid past them. She hadn’t been a fighter when she joined Law’s crew, but she was a quick study, and in the intervening years, she liked to think she’d picked up enough to hold her own against any of the others—except her captain, not that she’d admit it to his face. They hadn’t had a chance to grab any weapons when they’d fled from Pica and Machvise back at the palace, but Ikkaku didn’t need her staff to take on some low-level harbor guards.

Light on her feet, she soundlessly climbed the stairs that rounded the watchtower before coming to a stop just outside the door. It was cracked open, and inside, she could see two figures sitting at a table. They seemed to be playing cards. Assessing the situation quickly, Ikkaku knocked on the door then pressed her back against the wall and melted back into the shadows. A moment later, the door opened all the way and a head stuck out of the doorway.

“Hello?” the guard asked, looking around in confusion.

Ikkaku inched further back into the darkness, and the guard stepped out into the night. Ikkaku knocked lightly against the wall behind her, drawing the guard’s attention in her direction, though he couldn’t see her.

“Who’s there?”

The guard stepped toward the noise, and once he was out of sight of the doorway, Ikkaku struck—an elbow to the solar plexus had the man doubled over before he knew what hit him. She swept a foot at his ankles, knocking him off balance, then struck him in the back of the head twice more, once with her elbow and once with her balled hands. He went down in a heap, never making a sound other than a surprised gasp at the first strike.

Ikkaku then turned and rounded the tower, coming to a stop on the other side of the doorway, fading back into the darkness as she waited for the other guard to appear.

“Jax?” the other guard called, stepping out of the doorway after several moments. “What the hell?” he yelped when he saw his fallen friend. He hurried over to the other guard’s side and knelt next to him.

Ikkaku crept up behind him and took him out with two quick blows as he checked his companion’s vitals. She then pulled the limp forms into the watchtower (fine, she could have used Jean Bart or Clione for this part) and shoved them in the small closet, blocking the door handle with a chair.

Satisfied, Ikkaku headed back down the stairs to her crewmates.

“Well?” Clione asked quietly as she sauntered up.

Ikkaku put a hand to her breast. “I’m wounded you’d even ask me that.”

Clione snorted, and Jean Bart shook his head fondly before leading them toward the Polar Tang. Jean Bart kept an eye out as Ikkaku and Clione boarded the Tang before following them up the ladder and across the deck.

“Wait,” Jean Bart said as Clione reached for the door handle.

“What?” Clione asked.

“It sounds like someone is inside.”

“Doflamingo’s?” Clione asked, tensing.

“Or nakama?” Ikkaku suggested. Though there hadn’t been time to set a rendezvous point when they’d run, it would make sense for the crew to meet at the ship.

But the Family would know that as well.

“Only one way to find out,” Jean Bart said, sliding past Clione to take point once more. He opened the door lightly and moved inside with a quietness that belied his size. Clione nodded for Ikkaku to go next, and he followed her inside, lightly shutting the door behind them.

Now that they were inside, Ikkaku could hear the unfamiliar sounds—footsteps, metal clanking, voices she didn’t recognize. Definitely not nakama then. Ikkaku swallowed. Dressrosans, even criminals, would know better than to mess with Corazon’s ship, so it had to be the Family.

“Should we get out?” Clione asked quietly, clearly thinking the same thing.

Ikkaku shook her head. “The Tang is ours,” she said fiercely, a rush of anger flooding through her at the thought. The Tang had brought her from her old, shitty life to the Hearts. It wasn’t a perfect life, but it was hers—the people in it were hers—and that was what mattered. “We can’t let them have her too.”

Jean Bart and Clione nodded in response; they understood exactly how she felt.

“So, what do we do?” Clione whispered.

“The noises seem to be coming from the mess,” Jean Bart replied, considering.

The mess had two doors, plus access to the kitchen, and the kitchen had a separate door of its own. That was three doors for three pirates.

“Split up?” she asked. “One of us for each door?”

“Is that a good idea?” Clione replied, looking between her and Jean Bart. Depending on which Family members were in there, spreading their fighting power out might be a big mistake. But at the same time…

“If we leave any doors uncovered, someone could get out and report our location back to the palace,” Jean Bart said. “Ikkaku’s right. We need to block all the exits.”

Clione chewed on his lip for a moment before nodding. “We can’t go in unarmed, though.”

Ikkaku nodded. Taking out two harbor guards barehanded one thing; fighting Donquixote Pirates was another. “Training room?”

Clione nodded. “I’ll go.”’

He disappeared back into the hallways toward the small training room that should have some weapons in storage. The Hearts usually took their favored weapons with them when they returned from missions, but they had additional arms on the ship. Ikkaku and Jean Bart waited, keeping an ear on the voices they didn’t recognize coming from the heart of their ship. The longer she waited, the angrier Ikkaku got at the invasion of her home—of her namaka’s home.

Clione eventually returned, a blade in hand. He handed a set of brass knuckles to Jean Bart and a bo staff to Ikkaku. Ikkaku immediately felt better, more able to defend the Tang, with the familiar weight of the staff in her hands.

“I’ll take the kitchen,” Clione murmured.

“I’ll take the back mess door,” Ikkaku said.

Jean Bart nodded. That left the front mess door for him. “I’ll give you five minutes to get into place. Then we go in together.”

Clione and Ikkaku nodded and turned in opposite directions, heading for their respective doors. Ikkaku found her place by the back door within three minutes, leaving two minutes to wait for Jean Bart’s signal. She could feel her heart rate speeding up as she thought about the impending fight. She took a few calming breaths. This was her home. This was her nakama’s home. She would fight for her home and her nakama.

She was in the middle of a steady exhale when the door in front of her slammed open. She yelped in surprise.

“Sanji, more mea— Huh?”

Ikkaku gaped as she came face to face with Straw Hat Luffy.

Chapter Text

For a moment, Ikkaku’s brain struggled to process exactly what she was seeing. Why was Straw Hat Luffy on the Polar Tang? No one had heard from him or his crew in two years—since her own captain had saved his life. Was she hallucinating? Had she hit her head? Had she fallen asleep? Her brain couldn’t find a logical reason for what she was seeing.

 “Eh?” Luffy said, tilting his head at Ikkaku. “You’re not Sanji. Who are you?”

“Who am I?” Ikkaku echoed in disbelief. “Why are you on my ship?” she demanded, hands going to her hips.

Luffy frowned at her for a long moment before his expression lit up. “Your ship? You must be one of Torao’s nakama!”

“Torao?” Ikkaku repeated in confusion.

Luffy nodded. “Mhm. Your captain!”

Ikkaku’s eyes narrowed. “My captain is Corazon.”

“That’s what I said. Torao.”

Irritation washing over her, Ikkaku pinched the bridge of her nose. “No, it’s not. I work for Corazon, second in command of the Donquixote Family, not whatever you just said,” she said. (Though whether Law still held that title seemed to be a question up in the air, considering the crew had been attacked, but that wasn’t Straw Hat Luffy’s business.)

“Torao is Corazon,” Luffy said. “He’s Law.”

Ikkaku stiffened. “How do you know that name?”  

“Eh? He told me!” Luffy replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

That she did not believe. Law wouldn’t just tell anyone his name—especially a rival captain. But Luffy didn’t seem inclined to expand on his explanation.

“You still haven’t answered why you’re on our ship,” Ikkaku ground out, deciding to change approaches since she wasn’t getting anywhere.

“Oh, it was Torao’s idea,” Luffy said, scratching his nose absently. “He was supposed to call hours ago, though, so I’m getting worried about him.” His vision narrowed in on her, and Ikkaku had to fight the urge to step back with the sudden intensity of his gaze. “Do you know where Torao is?”

Ikkaku frowned at that. Not only did she have a hard time believing Law had invited a rival pirate crew onto the Tang—never mind the pirate in question was one he’d gone out of his way to save for a reason he hadn’t been able to explain—but she was also struck by the statement that Law seemed to be missing. That wasn’t good.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly.

The atmosphere around them lightened as Luffy crossed his arms and made a thoughtful noise. Ikkaku watched him, unsure of what to do, but she was pulled from her thoughts at the sound of doors busting open behind Luffy in the mess and yelling. Oh boy. She’d completely forgotten about Jean Bart and Clione. Luffy spun around, eyes going wide, and dashed back into the room he’d just come from.

With a sigh, Ikkaku followed a moment later and entered a chaotic scene. Pirate Hunter Zoro had his blades drawn as he stared down Jean Bart, who had… were those hands spouting out of his shoulders? He’d frozen as he eyed the limbs perilously close to his thick neck. Demon Child Nico Robin had her arms crossed in front of her as she stood to the side of Zoro. The long-nosed sniper had a slingshot drawn and pointed in his direction as well.

Meanwhile, Clione was facing off against Black Leg Sanji and a skeleton? Wielding a sword? And a cyborg? What the—?

Ikkaku rubbed her eyes. She’d seen a lot of strange things in the New World, but this was definitely near the top of the list. There was just something about seeing the crazy happening on her own ship, which was supposed to be a safe haven, that caused her brain to short circuit.

“Stop!” Luffy yelled as he barreled into the center of the mess hall.

“Luffy?” Zoro asked, glancing at his captain.

“These guys just burst in and attacked us!” the sniper added.

“Because you’re on our ship,” Jean Bart growled.

“Your ship?” Cat Burglar Nami asked, loosening her grip on the strange baton in her grasp. “Are you—”

“Torao’s nakama!” Luffy interrupted. He turned and pointed at Ikkaku. “Her too.”

The other Straw Hats turned to look at her, and her face warmed at the attention. She awkwardly raised a hand in greeting. After a moment, the Straw Hats stood down. Once the weapons had been lowered, Ikkaku wound her way through the mess to stand next to Jean Bart and Clione.

“Who’s Torao?” Clione asked, confused.

“Not this again,” Luffy grumbled.

“Our captain is referring to Corazon,” Nico Robin jumped in immediately, a spare hand appearing to pat Luffy on the shoulder comfortingly before disappearing in a flurry of petals.

“Straw Hat knew his real name,” Ikkaku murmured to her friends. They gaped back at her, just as surprised as she had been. The only ones to still refer to Law by his given name were the Hearts, and they were careful only to do it when they were safely outside the hearing of any outsiders.

“How do you know our captain?” Jean Bart demanded.

“We… ran into him on Punk Hazard,” Nami said, sliding her baton into a holster at her hip.

“Punk Hazard?” Clione asked, glancing at Jean Bart and Ikkaku. “Was that where he went on his mission?”

“Must be,” Ikkaku agreed. It made sense since Law’s mission had to have been nearby, and Punk Hazard housed a sensitive project, though they didn’t know the details of it.

“Some jerk named Verto showed up and attacked all of us,” Luffy said. Well, that seemed to confirm the story; the only thing the Hearts knew about the trouble Law was in was that it involved Vergo in some way. “He called Torao a traitor and threatened Torao’s nakama.”

Ikkaku traded glances with Jean Bart and Clione.

“What happened?” Clione finally asked.

“We said we’d help,” Luffy said. “Torao saved me two years ago. He’s a good guy. And if you’re his nakama, you must’ve helped me too, so you’re good, too!”

Ikkaku gaped at Luffy. Was he serious? This was not how a pirate was supposed to act.

“Vergo’s dead,” Robin added. “Corazon killed him.”

“Good,” Ikkaku said without thinking. The thought that Law had gotten revenge on that bastard was a good one. They’d all seen how Vergo and Law interacted when Vergo came to the palace, and the malice that existed on both sides had been blistering.

“Good riddance,” Clione added.

“Not a popular guy, I take it,” Nami said, eyebrow raised.

“He hurt our captain,” Clione said. “What’s there to like?”

Zoro hummed in approval as he dropped into a chair and threw his hands behind his head in a more relaxed posture.

“That still doesn’t answer why you’re on the Tang. Our ship,” Jean Bart clarified at some confused glances.

“Torao told us to wait here until he called,” Luffy said. “But it’s boring when you can’t explore a new place.”

“So, you’re here to help us?” Ikkaku asked skeptically. Even if Luffy thought of himself as repaying his debt to Law for Marineford, it was crazy to take on a Warlord in the country he ruled as king. There was no way he had any idea what he was getting himself and his crew into.

“That’s what I said,” Luffy huffed. “Why does no one ever listen to me? That Mingo is a bad guy, so we’re going to help Torao take him down and save his nakama.”

“You didn’t know about this?” the sniper asked, absently fiddling with the handle on the slingshot he’d rested on the table.

“We haven’t seen the captain since he returned,” Jean Bart said. “We were supposed to meet after dinner—”

“But we were attacked by two executives and had to flee the palace before we could see the captain,” Ikkaku said. “We came to the ship, hoping some of the others made it here as well.”

The Straw Hats exchanged concerned looks. “Corazon called us not long after he reached the palace this afternoon,” Robin said. “He’d met with Doflamingo and intended to check in again when he met with you all, but we never got that call.”

“Do you think he’s been captured?” the little tanuki in the corner, Chopper, piped up, concerned.

“Or killed,” Sanji said with a frown.

The Hearts exchanged a look. Years ago, Law had revealed to them the ultimate ability of his Devil Fruit—the true reason Doflamingo had kept him at his side all these years. The true reason he held the Hearts as collateral for Law’s continued cooperation. (“You deserve to know why you’re being held hostage,” he’d told them when they’d asked why he was telling them this.) Doflamingo would not kill Law before he had the chance to perform that operation, but Doflamingo could make even the strongest men beg for death. And he would have no qualms killing some of the collateral if he believed Law was a traitor.

“If Doflamingo found out about Vergo,” Ikkaku began slowly, “he’d be furious.” Furious might be an understatement.

 “And if he knew the captain did it…” Clione added, trailing off.

“That would explain why we were attacked,” Jean Bart said, crossing his arms.

“We need to find out what happened to L-er, Corazon,” Ikkaku said, cutting herself off. Luffy might have used Law’s name, but she didn’t know what the others knew. And she would never go behind Law’s back to reveal something like that.

Robin smiled. “Trafalgar Law, right?”

Ikkaku tensed. It was strange hearing her captain’s name out of the mouths of those who were not her nakama. Something about it felt wrong, like they were taking liberties they had not earned. And yet—

It was also a reminder that her captain was his own man, one whose identity did not revolve solely around the man he was forced to serve. Sometimes even he seemed to forget that, and maybe it was time his crew—and, apparently, their allies—helped him remember.

“Torao,” Luffy added with a nod.

So Luffy’s nickname was a butchering of Law’s surname. That made more sense than Ikkaku thought it would when she’d first heard the name.

“So, how do we find out what happened to Law?” Clione asked, looking between his nakama and the Straw Hats.

Ikkaku glanced around the mess. “I have a really bad idea.”

This was definitely a bad idea, Ikkaku thought as the small group approached the palace. If anyone saw them… She shook her head; there was no real way to avoid this if they wanted information.

She and Clione had taken point, Robin and Luffy behind them. Ikkaku thought even four people was too large a group for this task, but she’d been outvoted. Ikkaku was small, stealthy, and knew the city and palace layouts so was a natural choice. Robin had operated as a spy for many years, plus had a handy—no pun intended—Devil Fruit ability. Luffy, while hardly a sneaky presence, had been adamant that he be part of the group that entered the city in search of news of the missing Heart captain. Neither Clione nor Jean Bart wanted Ikkaku to be outnumbered by the Straw Hats, even if they were apparently allied for the moment, and Clione, as the smaller of the two, had won out. Ikkaku led the small group through darkened back streets and alleyways to reach the palace.

Ikkaku turned back to the others. “We have to be very careful from here,” she whispered. “The executives have their rooms in the same wing; they’re not particularly close to each other, but if we make too much noise, any of the other three could still hear us.”

“We know,” Luffy grumbled, and Ikkaku found herself suppressing the urge to stick her tongue out at the other pirate—how childish. They’d gone over this when they’d made their hasty plan on the ship, but Ikkaku wasn’t taking any chances.

Robin nodded for Ikkaku to lead on, and she headed for the mostly darkened grounds. There should be guards patrolling, though by this late (or early) hour, they were likely to be tired and less attentive. However, with the Hearts loose, it was entirely possible that the guard numbers had been increased.

At one point, Ikkaku looked back to see Robin lagging slightly behind, her arms crossed in front of her and her eyes closed. A moment later, her eyes opened, and she dropped her arms. She met Ikkaku’s gaze.

“There was a guard approaching,” she explained as she caught up. “He’s no longer a problem.”

Ikkaku nodded and continued toward the wing that housed Law’s chambers. The group hid behind bushes or ducked behind retaining walls to avoid a few guard patrols, but eventually Ikkaku came to a halt. She pointed up to the second story to a dimly lit window overlooking a small balcony.

“That’s Law’s room.”

There was no telling what they’d find in there, if anything. But it was the best place to start.

“It’s empty,” Robin said, eyes shut. She opened them again and nodded to her captain.

Luffy nodded back and wrapped an arm around Ikkaku’s waist. Her demand of what the fuck he thought he was doing died in her throat as she was pulled upwards alongside the Straw Hat captain. She stumbled as her feet hit the tile of the balcony and threw a hand to her mouth as her stomach protested violently.

“Shishishi,” Luffy chuckled as he turned around and shot his arms over the railing and, moments later, pulled Clione over. He dropped to his knees, face green, as he sought to catch his breath.

“What the fuck,” he hissed. Ikkaku agreed whole-heartedly.

Robin appeared then, calmly pulling herself over the balcony. Ikkaku peered over the railing again, and her eyes widened at the sight of arms sprouting out of the side of the building to make stairs. Creepy as it was, Ikkaku would have preferred Robin’s method of reaching the balcony. She shook her head before turning back to the room.

Clione stepped forward, slid the balcony door open, and stepped inside the room. Ikkaku followed him, peering around for anything out of place. She inhaled sharply as something immediately caught her attention. Clione followed her gaze and cursed quietly.

“What?” Luffy asked, coming up behind her.

“Kikoku,” Ikkaku said, pointing to the sword partially obscured by the coat on Law’s made bed. “If there was trouble, Law wouldn’t be without his sword.”

“Luffy,” Robin called quietly, standing next to the desk.

Luffy looked up, and Robin nodded to the straw hat sitting on the desk next to Law’s Den Den Mushi. Luffy frowned as he made his way over to the desk and picked the hat up. Ikkaku couldn’t read the expression on his face as he looked at the hat for a long moment before putting it back on his head.

“There are blueprints of the castle here,” Robin added, fingers running over a sheet of paper on the desk. “Was he looking for a way out?”

“Shit. There’s blood over here.”

Ikkaku, Luffy, and Robin turned at Clione’s words.  He stood by the far wall, and his gaze was on the carpet. The first thing Ikkaku noticed was Law’s hat, haphazardly discarded on the floor. Law might not be so attached to his hat as to earn an epithet named after it, but he would never just throw it on the floor. Near it, there was a small, dark stain. Ikkaku’s stomach sank.

“Look at the wall,” Robin said, tracing a cut in the brick. There was blood smeared across the gash.

Violence had been done here.

“Ew, what’s this?” Luffy said, nudging a snot-colored streak next to the blood.

“Trebol,” Ikkaku realized, recognizing the executive’s mucus. The scene she was starting to piece together that had happened in this room was not a pretty one. “He’s an executive.”

“And his Devil Fruit controls mucus,” Clione added.

Luffy pulled a face at the thought. “Gross.”

Ikkaku nodded in full agreement. “It’s really sticky and strong.”

“Strong enough to hold an adult male to a wall?” Robin asked, still eyeing the bricks.

“Yes,” Ikkaku breathed, realizing what she was implying.

“What are you saying, Robin?” Luffy asked. “What happened to Torao?”

Robin pursed her lips for a moment before speaking. “It seems likely Torao-kun was planning to meet with his crew but first was looking for a way to get you all out,” she added, glancing at Ikkaku and Clione, “and was ambushed.”

“Trebol’s mucus must have trapped him against the wall,” Ikkaku said, eyeing the blood-streaked gash in the brick. “Trebol doesn’t use a blade, though. If Law was stabbed…”

“Diamante,” Clione supplied.

“Another executive,” Ikkaku told Luffy and Robin. “Uses a sword.” She shook her head. “Could have been Doflamingo’s strings, too.” The Warlord was, after all, infinitely creative and cruel with his Devil Fruit abilities.

“But then where is he now?” Luffy asked, looking between the other three.

“Dungeon, probably,” Ikkaku said after exchanging a grim look with Clione. The palace dungeon was rarely used for prisoners, as criminals were typically sentenced to either jail or the colosseum. Prisoners who had earned Doflamingo’s special attention were the ones to be placed in the dungeon.

Law would definitely fit that criteria.

“So, we go to the dungeon,” Luffy said, pounding a fist into his palm decisively. “Get him out.”

“No way,” Ikkaku said, shaking her head.

“Why not?”

“First, we don’t even know if he’s there,” she said, issue after issue running through her mind. “And even if he were, we’d have to sneak through the entire palace to get there without being seen.”

“There are no external doors to the dungeon,” Clione added. “Or windows.”

“To prevent escape attempts,” Robin mused.

“And even if we got to the dungeon and got Law out without being seen—which is unlikely—he’s wounded,” Ikkaku added, gesturing at the blood on the floor. “He won’t be moving well, and we’d need speed to get out.”

“Plus, the rest of our nakama are spread out over the city,” Clione said. “If we got the captain out and back to the Tang, we’d still need to find the others.”

“The sun will be coming up soon,” Robin added, nodding toward the window. Outside, the dark of night was beginning to turn gray in the pre-dawn hours. “We’ll no longer have the cover of darkness.”

Luffy stuck his bottom lip out in a pout but nodded his understanding. “Fine. But we have to do something.”

“What are you doing in here?” a new voice demanded from the doorway.

Ikkaku’s breath caught in her throat—they’d been here too long, they’d been too loud, fuck—as she slowly turned to the door. She hadn’t heard it open.

“Who’re you?” Luffy demanded.

Ikkaku’s eyes widened as she recognized the figure in the doorway. “Violet?”

The sound of multiple sets of footsteps approaching pulled Law into full wakefulness. He’d only managed a light doze since Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had run out of questions for him, considering the uncomfortable position he found himself in. Not only was his strength being leeched from his body by the Seastone shackles, but his shoulders were also starting to ache from the strain of being chained above his head, his head throbbed, and his hand…

Law swallowed and shoved that thought aside. He couldn’t think about that right now.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since there were no windows to let light in. It felt like ages and no time at all at the same time.

“Captain?” Bepo murmured worriedly. With his mink ears, he’d probably heard their guests approaching long before Law had.

Law grunted in acknowledgement of his first mate but didn’t have time to reply. His eyes narrowed as his cell door opened. The guard stepped aside with a bowed head to reveal Doflamingo.

Fear from his vulnerable position warred with rage in Law’s chest as he looked at the taller man. The man who had killed Cora-san, had stolen his freedom, and held his nakama’s lives in the palm of his hand out of a selfish, egomaniacal desire for power. Law clenched his jaw but said nothing, not trusting his voice, as the Warlord regarded him from behind his sunglasses, expression unreadable in the dim light.

Finally, he spoke. “Get him cleaned up then bring him to my office.”

Chapter Text

The doctor on duty gasped as two guards dragged Law through the doors of the infirmary. Law had managed to get his feet under him once he’d been pulled from his cell, but he was unsteady from the Seastone so stumbled as he was manhandled through the halls of the palace. He ignored the gaping looks of those they passed; what pride did he have left to protect anyway?

“Corazon?” The doctor’s wide eyes dropped to the shackles around Law’s wrists before returning to his face, caked with dry blood from the slices of Doflamingo’s strings the night before. He swallowed, clearly unsure what to make of the situation. Mornings tended to be slow in the infirmary, so he had undoubtedly expected a slow shift today and was instead faced with the Family’s second-in-command and his direct superior, wounded and shackled.

Though Law was the chief doctor for the Donquixote Family, numerous other doctors and nurses worked under him in the infirmary, as there were constantly patients to be seen and Law had numerous duties to attend to in addition to medical. Law checked in with them regularly, though, consulting on patients the doctors requested advice on and working on the most difficult—and sensitive—cases himself.  

“The Young Master wants him cleaned up,” the first guard said. “So, get to it.”

“I—” He trailed off, looking at Law with a lost expression. Law couldn’t blame him. Doctors weren’t usually caught up in palace politics; their job was to heal those who needed healing.

“It’s fine, August,” Law rasped out, addressing the doctor by his name.

“Shut it, traitor,” the second guard said, shoving at Law’s shoulder.

Law lurched forward with a curse, but the movement was enough to spur the doctor into action. August stepped forward and caught Law under an arm. In one smooth motion, he guided Law to the closest bed and sat him down, his hands much gentler than the guards’.

“Are you—?” he started.

Law waved him off, chains clanking with the movement. No need to bring trouble down on anyone else’s head. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Seastone?” he asked, nodding at the shackles.

Law nodded.

August frowned but completed a quick examination anyway. His eyes narrowed at Law’s bloody, limp hand. Law winced as August cleaned the blood from his hand and arm, and he had to swallow a groan as August manipulated it to get a sense of the damage. He had Law try to move his fingers, which he was able to do… with some effort. If he ever got these shackles off, forming a Room was going to be difficult with this hand. Wielding a blade, especially one of Kikoku’s size, would be nigh on impossible.

Which is why Diamante had done it, the son of a bitch.

August looked up from Law’s hand to the guards, who’d stationed themselves on either side of the entrance. He shot them an irritated look. “You know, he could heal this himself if you’d take these shackles off.”

The first guard shook his head. “Young Master’s orders. The shackles stay on.”

“It’ll need a cast, in that case.”

“The Young Master just wants him cleaned up,” the second guard said. “No cast.”

“But—”

“Make do,” the first guard added. “The traitor’s lucky he’s even alive.”

August grumbled but didn’t argue further, knowing it would get him nowhere. He headed for the back room, leaving Law alone with his guards. Exhausted, Law felt his eyes drifting shut, though they opened again when August returned with a nurse in tow.

“I can at least stitch up the wounds on your hands,” August said, glancing at Law before threading his needle.

Law gave a nod. Considering what Doffy likely had in store for him, Law doubted a cast would have lasted very long anyway. Hell, he still didn’t understand what Doffy was up to, getting him medical treatment before whatever punishment he planned to inflict, in the first place.

As August got to work stitching the wounds on Law’s hand—Law was so tired he barely felt the sting of the needle in his unanesthetized hand—the nurse, Emelia, pursed her lips as she glanced between Law and the guards before she moistened a cloth and started cleaning the blood from Law’s face. Once the blood was gone, she examined the string wounds.

“These are not very deep,” she commented, fingers light on Law’s bruised skin. “I can stitch them…”

“They don’t need it,” Law replied, wincing as August turned his hand over to start stitching the other side. “It’s fine.”

Emelia briefly looked like she wanted to argue, but she swallowed her disagreement and nodded instead. “Any other wounds?”

“Head,” Law grunted.

August looked up from his stitching. “Concussion?”

Law nodded then winced as his head gave a throb in protest. August tsked before returning to finishing the stiches. Law itched to rub a hand over his face—it had been a long time since he’d been comfortable receiving treatment from another doctor—but shackled as he was, he kept his hands lowered so August could work. Emelia rounded Law, moving behind him to examine the back of his head. Law forced his tense shoulders to loosen; he’d known her for three years. She wasn’t a threat. She was a medical provider, one whose hiring Law had overseen.

“There’s blood,” she said, oblivious to Law’s anxiety about exposing his back while restrained.

Law wasn’t surprised to hear that. Though he’d washed off the blood from Punk Hazard before dinner the previous day, he’d slammed his head pretty hard against the wall when Trebol had ambushed him. He shivered as a cool cloth gently wiped at the blood in his matted hair. Emelia then headed for the back room, returning a few moments later with an ice pack.

Law’s lips twitched as she frowned between the pack and his shackled wrists, clearly realizing he couldn’t interrupt August’s work to hold the ice pack to his head. She let out a sigh then returned to Law’s back, placing the ice pack on the wound herself. Meanwhile, August had finished stitching the wounds on Law’s hand and started covering them with a cloth bandage.  

Everyone started as the infirmary door slammed open. The guards turned to face the intruder, weapons drawn, but they hesitated when they saw who stood in the doorway.

“L-lady Violet?”

Violet scanned the room, eyes narrowing when they landed on Law. Law thought she nodded imperceptibly, but she had turned back to the guards so quickly he couldn’t be sure—especially when he was nursing repeated head wounds.

“The Young Master asked me to read the traitor before escorting him to his office,” Violet said.

“T-those aren’t the orders we were given.”

“Do you doubt me?” Violet seemed to stand even taller as she demanded the respect her position as an executive deserved.

“I—”

“How do you think Doflamingo will react when I report to him that two idiots wouldn’t listen to the direct orders of one of his executives—direct orders that came from him, lest you forget?”

“We don’t doubt you, Lady Violet,” the first guard said, cowering under Violet’s fierce expression. “B-but we cannot just abandon our duty.”

Violet rolled her eyes, looking every bit the entitled executive Law knew her not to be; she’d been doing this dance even longer than Law had, and she was very good at it. “I am not asking you to, you fool.”

“You’re not?”

“You should continue to escort the traitor to the king,” Violet said. “I am simply joining your group. And I will read him before you bring him to the king.”

The tension in the guards’ shoulders released as they realized Violet wasn’t asking them to leave their post. “Yes, of course.”

The guards stepped back, allowing Violet to approach Law. Very aware of the other people in the room, Law simply raised an eyebrow at her, falling into his own role.

“Corazon,” she said, voice cool.

“Violet,” Law replied. “Here to learn all my traitorous secrets?”

“Quiet,” she ordered. “I’m here to serve my king. And the King of Dessrosa does not take kindly to traitors.”

Law clenched his jaw but didn’t reply. Violet raised her hands, but instead of putting them to her eyes as she usually did when she read someone, she put them up to Law’s eyes and leaned forward.

“What—” Law started before cutting himself off as images played in front of his mind’s eye.

Violet opened the door to Law’s room, coming face to face with four figures. She immediately recognized Ikkaku and Clione.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed at them. No member of the Heart Pirates should be showing their face right now, especially not here. What were they thinking?

Ikkaku stiffened and turned to look at the doorway, eyes widening when she recognized Violet.

“Who’re you?” another figure demanded. Violet ignored them for the moment.

“Violet?” Ikkaku said, half relieved and half worried.

Violet shut the door behind her before rounding on the intruders once more. “You idiots, you shouldn’t be anywhere near the palace right now.”

Ikkaku put her hands on her hips. “We needed to find out what happened to the captain.”

Violet pursed her lips, remembering Trebol and Diamante gleefully dragging Law’s bloodied and limp form through the hallways of the palace, before replying. “He was captured. Around nightfall.” She shook her head. “He’s being held in the dungeon along with Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo.”

“But they’re alive,” Clione said as Ikkaku cursed.

“As far as I know,” Violet said. Doffy would have made it known if they weren’t. “Now, you need to get out of here. The last thing Corazon would want is for you to be caught.”

“We can’t do that.”

Violet turned to that voice and studied the speaker. He was short and wearing a dark cloak, though there was no mistaking the straw hat on his head. “Straw Hat Luffy,” Violet recognized, eyes going wide. She glanced at his companion, immediately knowing who the woman must be. “Nico Robin.” The taller woman, a half-smile on her lips, nodded. “What are you doing here?”

“I asked first,” Luffy pouted.

“This is Violet,” Ikkaku said, pulling Luffy’s attention to her. “Another executive. She’s… a friend.”

“A friend?” Robin said, raising an eyebrow. “Despite working for the Family?”

“It’s a long story,” Violet said, not particularly interested in telling strangers her sob story. What she could sense here, however, was an opportunity. It was said that the Straw Hat Pirates left miracles in their wake. What if… She shook her head. “Now, why are you here?”

“We were looking for Torao,” Luffy said. “Like Ikky said.”

“Not my name,” Ikkaku muttered.

“Torao?” Violet echoed in confusion.

“He means Law,” Clione said, rolling his eyes.

Violet’s eyes widened at Clione’s use of his captain’s name. Straw Hat Luffy knew Law’s real name? Had Law told him? That seemed hard to believe, considering how close Law kept his secrets to his chest, jealously guarding them; it was one of the few forms of power still available to him—a tendency Violet recognized in herself as well.

“We ran into each other on Punk Hazard,” Robin added, stepping up next to her captain. “Our captain struck up an alliance of sorts with Torao-kun.”

“Torao saved me two years ago,” Luffy said. “Now we’re going to save him and his nakama from Mingo.”

Violet remembered confronting Law in the library a few days after his return from saving this boy, slapping a newspaper on the table in front of him that featured a somber image of Monkey D. Luffy. Since Shachi had lost his arm, Law had done his best to reject the notion that he’d had a reason for acting that day, that saving Straw Hat meant anything, but she’d seen the struggle cross his face as he’d looked at the picture. It had meant something, even if Law hadn’t known what at the time.

Still. Violet couldn’t afford to get too attached to the feeling of hope threatening to take root in her breast; many had come to challenge Doffy before, after all, and none had succeeded. Violet had too much at stake to get careless with her hope, no matter the reputation of the pirates in front of her.

“You’re here to help,” Violet repeated, voice dripping with every ounce of skepticism she could muster.

“That’s what I just said,” Luffy said, frowning at her.

“Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?” Violet responded. “Doflamingo is no mere pirate.”

“So Torao-kun informed us,” Robin said.

“But he’s a bad buy,” Luffy said. “So, he needs to go down.”

Violet snorted inelegantly. “You’re hardly the first to want to try, Straw Hat.” She shook her head. “Doflamingo took over my country a decade ago. My father was a beloved king, yet Doflamingo deposed him, and the populace cheered. Cheered!”

That night and its aftermath would live in her nightmares for the rest of her life.

“Your father?” Robin asked.

Violet’s eyes widened as she realized she’d said too much. She was usually more careful with her words. Was this how Law had been lulled into revealing his name?

“Violet is the former Crown Princess of Dressrosa,” Ikkaku said quietly.

“But you serve the Donquixote Family.”

“I have a useful Devil Fruit,” Violet said curtly. “My service ensures the safety of my surviving family.”

“Just as Torao-kun’s service ensures his crew’s safety,” Robin mused, while Ikkaku and Clione shifted uncomfortably.

“You must want Mingo taken down, too,” Luffy said, eyeing Violet curiously. “He hurts a lot of people, doesn’t he?”

Violet felt her face heating at the boy’s attention, though she wasn’t sure why. “Yes, he does,” she agreed. “Though not all of them know it, my people are suffering every day under his rule.”

Luffy tilted his head at her. “You care about them. The people of this country.”

Violet huffed. “Of course I do.”

Luffy’s expression lightened, and he grinned so widely Violet was taken aback. “Then it’s decided!”

“What’s decided?” Violet asked, slightly dazed. How exactly had this conversation gotten to this point? Violet prided herself on keeping tight control, yet she couldn’t help but feel swept along.

“We’re definitely taking Mingo down.” His expression softened. “And he won’t be able to hurt anyone else again. Not you, not Torao, not Torao’s nakama, not your people, not anyone.”

Law inhaled sharply as the memory finished playing out. He opened his mouth to say something—when had this happened? Where were the Straw Hats now? What about his nakama?—but Violet’s sharp look caused him to shut it wordlessly as he remembered where he was. He glanced over Violet’s shoulder to see the guards watching them curiously. Their audience couldn’t know that Violet wasn’t actually reading him. Violet followed his gaze, turning to look behind her. She nodded at the guards.

“I’m almost done,” she told them before turning back to Law and returning her hand to his eye.

Violet opened her bedroom door and looked up and down the hall before nodding to the pirates behind her. She led them down the hall but paused when she heard footsteps coming from an adjacent hallway—from the direction of the dungeon. Moments later, three figures emerged from the morning shadows blanketing the palace hallways.

“Captain,” Ikkaku gasped as Law came into view, escorted by two guards. He was stumbling slightly, but at least he had his feet under him this time. His posture was hunched as he limped along, and his eyes looked glassy. But he was alive.

“Torao!” Luffy said, perking up. “Let’s get him!”

Violet turned to shush him, but an arm sprouted from the wall next to him to stop him from charging into the hallway.

“Robin,” Luffy whined, “why are you stopping me? He’s right there!”

“Take a moment and think, Straw Hat,” Violet hissed. “Even if you grabbed him now, then what? You don’t have keys for his cuffs, for one thing. They’re Seastone, so you can’t just cut them off. And even if you take out those guards, more will come.”

“We’d bring him back to his ship,” Luffy said, still struggling in Robin’s arm as Law was led in the opposite direction.

“We don’t know where the rest of our crew is,” Clione pointed out. “We can’t leave without them.”

“And the guards would find us in the Tang,” Ikkaku added. “We’d be sitting ducks. I want to get him, too, but we have to be smart.”

Luffy made a frustrated sound and struggled a bit more, but Violet’s attention returned to the hallway as another figure—this one towering—emerged into the sunlight.

Violet stiffened, breath catching in her throat, as Doflamingo paused, glancing down the hallway in the direction Law had been taken. Despite his glasses, Violet could tell his expression was distant.

“Mingo,” Luffy growled. “I’m gonna—”

“Do nothing,” Violet snarled as she turned back to see a second hand covering Luffy’s mouth. She looked back over her shoulder to see Doflamingo shake himself and head down a different hallway toward his office.

Once Doflamingo’s footsteps had stopped echoing against the high ceilings, Robin let her captain go with a murmured apology, though she didn’t look particularly sorry as her hands disappeared in a flurry of petals.

“He was right there,” Luffy growled. “I could’ve—”

“What, gotten into a fight with a Warlord—with a king—in the middle of his own palace?” Violet demanded. “You’d have been taken down in seconds.”

“I’m strong,” Luffy argued.

“And he has men all over this palace,” Violet retorted. “They don’t take kindly to their king being attacked.”

“Luffy,” Robin said quietly. The young captain turned to look at the older woman. “We don’t want to make this harder on Torao-kun, do we?”

“No,” he sighed. “You’re right. I just hate waiting. I’m not good at that!” He shook his head and turned back to Violet. “But I want to help Torao and Violet. So, now what?”

“You wait for me in my room. No one will search there,” she said. It was probably the only safe place in the palace for them to hide. “I’ll go see Law.”

“Can you do that without raising suspicions?” Robin asked.

Violet nodded. “Doffy told me last night he wants me to use my powers on Law today—to read his mind,” she clarified at the confused looks of the two Straw Hats. “He’ll be expecting me. But that will only work if you,” she said, looking directly at Luffy, who had the decency to look abashed, “stay hidden.”

“What if you need help?” Ikkaku asked.

Violet started as a hand appeared in front of her. “Take our Den Den Mushi,” Robin said. “Call Ikkaku’s and leave the line open. We’ll listen in, and we can come if needed.”

Law blinked as the infirmary came back into focus around him. Violet stepped back, brushing a hand, seemingly absently to anyone else watching, by her pocket. Law nodded his understanding; that’s where her Den Den Mushi—the link to his crew and his allies—was hidden. He still had questions, but this wasn’t the time to ask them.

“I’m done,” August said, stepping back from Law.

Law looked down to see his right hand neatly wrapped, disguising the worst of the damage Diamante’s blade had inflicted. Law doubted it would stay pristine for long, but he nodded his thanks to the doctor anyway.

“Then time to go,” the first guard said, coming up to the bed and roughly pulling Law to his feet. “The king is waiting.”

Law glanced back to see August and Emelia watching him, concerned. He wasn’t sure he deserved their regard, but he took it anyway, selfish man that he was. Violet fell into step behind the procession as they exited the infirmary and headed down the familiar halls toward Doflamingo’s office. The guards pushed Law to walk faster than his feet wanted to, so he had to turn all his attention not to falling on his face.

When they reached the ornate doors to Doffy’s office, the first guard knocked. After a moment, Rosalie opened the door and took in the group in front of her. She nodded at them then stepped back inside to announce their presence. Doffy said something in response, and Rosalie returned to the doorway.

“Enter,” she said, stepping aside to allow the guards to push Law inside.

Doffy sat at his desk, and he looked up as Law was shoved inside. Law did his best to hold his head up, though the tension on the air was thick enough he could have cut it with Kikoku.

“Sit,” Doffy said, gesturing to a chair.

Law let out an ooph as the guards shoved him into the chair then stood back. He forced himself to straighten his spine before looking up to meet Doffy’s gaze.

“Leave,” Doffy told the guards without looking at them. They obeyed without hesitating; Law didn’t blame them. Rosalie followed them out and shut the door behind her.

Doffy’s gaze never wavered—or at least, Law didn’t think it did; it was impossible to tell with those damn glasses—and Law suppressed the urge to fidget. He let his anger at the man flood into his veins, itching just beneath his skin. He thought about Cora-san, about the day Doffy had found him in the North Blue, about Shachi’s arm, about the way his hands wrapped around Law’s throat in both punishment and passion.

Anger was good.

Anger was clarifying.

Anger was freeing.

Anger was better than fear.

Law had been crippled by his fear for far too long.

After a long moment of Doffy’s inscrutable study of his prisoner, he looked over Law’s shoulder. “Ah, Violet. Excellent.” He looked back to Law, lips curving into a smirk. “Shall we begin?”

Chapter Text

Law watched as Doflamingo pushed himself to his feet and slowly rounded his desk, his posture predatory like that of a wild cat. Once he’d sufficiently imposed himself into Law’s space, he leaned back against the desk, crossing one ankle over the other and resting his palms on either side of him against the carved wood. Law hated the way he was forced to look up at Doffy like this—and that, he knew, was the entire point.

“For all your anger,” Doffy said, voice softer than Law had been expecting, “know that it brings me no pleasure to see you this way, Corazon.”

Law clenched his jaw. “I have a hard time believing that.”

Doffy tsked. “Why would I want this? You’ve always been special. I knew it from the day we met.”

He leaned forward, and Law couldn’t help but lean back, but the chair’s backrest prevented his escape from Doffy’s attentions. The Warlord cupped Law’s chin between a giant thumb and forefinger, and Law could see his haggard reflection on Doffy’s glasses. He looked, in his own professional opinion, like shit, even with the brief stop at the infirmary. He tried to pull his face free, but Doffy’s grip was iron-tight.

“The sole survivor of a government-sanctioned genocide, terminally ill, and ready to destroy the world.” Doflamingo’s lips quirked upward, clearly amused by the memory. Law had no such fond feelings toward that day—not since he’d fully understood what he’d gotten himself into. “Do you know what I saw in you that day, Corazon? Do you know why I brought you into the Family and promised to make you my second in command?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” Law drawled. The grip on his chin tightened.

“I saw myself,” Doffy said. “And that’s when I knew you belonged at my side.” The Warlord shook his head. “Corazon. My Heart.” Doffy’s index finger slowly traced up the side of Law’s jaw, and Law couldn’t help the shiver it elicited.

Rather than look at the other man’s expression in response, Law fixed his gaze on the wall over Doffy’s shoulder—a trick he’d used in the Warlord’s bed many a night—and tried not to think about what it said about him that Doffy saw them as being so similar.

“I know you feel like nothing more than Doflamingo’s creature. Like he owns every part of you, down to your soul,” Violet had said to him. And though she wanted to convince Law that he wasn’t the Warlord’s creature, how could anyone looking at him now see anything else?

“Your Heart,” Law repeated, trying to ignore Doffy’s ministrations. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

Doffy’s finger paused before moving back down Law’s jawline. “You wound me. Truly.”

Law snorted. “I wound you. Right.”

Doffy stared at Law for a long moment. Finally, he released Law’s face and sighed. “How did we get here, Corazon?”

“Do you just mean the last few days?” Law snarled, anger surging in his chest. As if the son of a bitch didn’t know what he had done. What he had taken. The pain he had caused. He pulled his gaze back to the other man’s face. “Or should we go back thirteen years?”

Law felt a jolt of satisfaction as Doffy recoiled, the blow striking with the intended effect. He stilled, though, as he felt a string settle around his throat. Law swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing against it, and lifted his chin slightly. Intellectually, Law knew Doffy wouldn’t kill him—not yet—but that didn’t stop his heart rate from increasing at the very real threat at his throat.

“Choose your next words carefully,” Doffy said coolly.

Law forced his lips into a smirk. “Why? We both know you won’t kill me.”

Doffy’s eyes narrowed. “Oh?”

“You think I don’t know about my own fruit’s ultimate technique?” Law sneered. He’d never forgotten Doflamingo’s words on Minion Island: “If he’s already eaten the Ope Ope no Mi, I’ll need to raise him so that he knows to die for my sake.”

Doffy was silent for several beats before asking, “How long have you known?”

“Thirteen years.” More than a decade of knowing why the Warlord had stopped at nothing to recover Law and keep him at his side, loyal whether by choice or force.

“My brother—” Doffy muttered.

“Saved me,” Law growled, cutting the other man off. Once, Law had loved Doflamingo enough that he would have died gladly to complete the Perennial Youth Operation. But Cora-san had opened his eyes to the ways he was being groomed. Just by showing Law genuine affection and concern back then, he’d helped Law break free of the nihilistic anger and desire for destruction he’d descended into after Flevance’s fall—the darkness Doflamingo had stoked like a fire and twisted to his own advantage.

Doflamingo’s lip curled up into a sneer of his own. “Right, right. My heroic little brother.” He shook his head. “I suppose it was optimistic on my part to think you’d come around.”

“Come around?” Law echoed in disbelief. His hands clenched into fists, the shackles around his wrists rattling. “After everything over the last nine years… Shachi lost his arm.”

“And he could lose a lot more,” Doffy retorted icily. “In case you’ve forgotten, Corazon, I hold your crew’s lives in my hand.”

“They’re in the wind.”

“Except the three in the dungeon.” Doffy inclined his head at Law thoughtfully. “Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin. The three I found you with in the North Blue. The original members of your little crew. The Heart Pirates,” he added with a hint of disdain.

Law’s stomach dropped. Doffy knew full well he could use Law’s oldest friends against him with surgical precision. He’d always been a master at finding the pressure points of those he sought to manipulate.

Doffy’s lip twitched, and Law realized he must not have masked his reaction particularly well. He let his expression fall back into the disinterested mask Corazon so often wore, but the damage had been done; Doffy knew he’d recovered the upper hand.

“Like I said, Corazon. Choose your words carefully.”

The string fell away from Law’s throat, and Law swallowed reflexively. “What do you want?” he asked wearily.

“What happened with Vergo?”

There was no point in lying—not when Doffy already knew that Law had killed the man. There were, however, some parts of the story he could not afford for Doffy to know. He’d have to be very careful about this—especially with Violet in the room. She might be a friend, even a potential ally against Doflamingo, but she had the lives of her own loved ones to account for.

“When I arrived on Punk Hazard, I came across the G-5 soldiers and some of the Straw Hats,” Law said. “I had the upper hand on the fight until the remaining Straw Hats arrived. They teamed up with Smoker, and I was overwhelmed. I was captured by the Straw Hats. That’s when Vergo showed his face.”

Doffy looked over Law’s shoulder to Violet. “Well?”

Law didn’t need to turn around to know Violet was putting her hands to her face to read him. At this point, he’d had no reason to lie.

“True,” Violet confirmed after a moment.

Doffy nodded and gestured for Law to continue.

“He attacked the Straw Hats to get to me.” Law grimaced at the memory of Vergo’s hand around his throat, his murderous intent palpable. “He claimed finding me with the Straw Hats meant I’d defected, though I was a prisoner. He intended to bring me back to Dressrosa as a defeated traitor.”

“Why?” Doffy asked. He seemed genuinely confused at the first Corazon’s actions.

Law scoffed, an ugly sound deep in his throat. Besides the grudge he’d held against Law for the last thirteen years? Besides him being a fucking sadist? “Because he didn’t like sharing.”

Doffy’s jaw worked for several moments then he shook his head. “I suppose I should have seen this coming. That is my fault for not intervening sooner between you two.”

Law didn’t disagree that this was the Warlord’s fault, though not for the reasons Doffy blamed himself.

“Then what?” Doffy finally prompted. “You clearly escaped.”

“The Straw Hats eventually forced Vergo to retreat,” Law said, editing the story as he spoke. The best lies were those with a measure of truth to them. “I convinced the Straw Hats to join forces to take down Vergo, and they freed me. I used them to get to Vergo, and I put the son of a bitch down like the feral beast that he was,” he snarled, not bothering to hide the years’ worth of resentment he held toward the man. That, at least, was genuine. Doffy, curiously, didn’t react. “Then I finished my mission and returned to Dressrosa.”

Doflamingo looked back at Violet, and Law held himself still. Violet knew he hadn’t finished his mission. But she’d also helped Straw Hat when he’d come looking for Law. If Doffy knew that…

“He hasn’t lied,” Violet said finally, and Law felt a small bit of relief, “but…”

“But he’s left out some important parts of the story,” Doffy finished, turning back to Law. “Lying by omission, Corazon?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Doffy.”

It was Doflamingo’s turn to snort in a decidedly un-regal manner, and he reached behind him to grab something from his desk. When he turned back to face Law, he was holding Vergo’s Den Den Mushi.

Without a word, he pressed on the snail, and Law’s blood went cold as he heard his own voice echo throughout the office.

“Your presence on the island is, ironically, useful to me now, so I’m willing to let you go. On one condition.”

“What’s that?” Smoker’s voice demanded.

“Not a word of this alliance between myself and the Straw Hats to anyone. If it gets out, I will come find you.”

“Fine,” Smoker’s second said. “Now let us go.”

“Alliance?” Vergo interjected. “Doffy didn’t believe me before that you’re a traitor, but now he’ll have it in your own words, Law.”

Fuck. Vergo had been recording after all. He was still fucking Law over from beyond the grave, the vengeful bastard.

Law schooled his features into a disinterested expression and raised an eyebrow. “What?” he asked. “I said I tricked the Straw Hats into an alliance to get to Vergo. This means nothing.”

Doffy didn’t need Violet’s abilities to know Law was bullshitting. Law had learned how to lie from Doflamingo, and the Warlord would always be the master. He’d been able to read untruths on Law’s face since Law was a child, and now was no different. He’d always been able to read Law like a goddamn book.

“I find it curious,” Doffy said airily, “that you were speaking to Vice Admiral Smoker about letting him go, despite your orders to kill him. And,” he added before Law could add any further bullshit, “Caesar and Monet were arrested by the very same vice admiral.”

Well shit.

“Whatever Caesar-ya and Monet got up to that might have led to their arrest after I left is hardly my fault,” Law drawled.

“It is when your mission was to take care of the man who arrested them. And recovered Vergo’s body,” Doffy added, as if in an afterthought, though Law knew it was no idle statement. Vergo had been with him since they were both young, and he wanted to recover Vergo’s body from the Marines.

“Smoker’s alive,” Doffy went on. “And I’m guessing the Straw Hats are too. You used their ship as a diversion when you arrived in Dressrosa, but they were on board all along, weren’t they?” This question, however, he addressed to Violet.

“You’re right, Doffy. The Straw Hats are alive,” she confirmed.

“Where are they?” he demanded, turning back to Law.

Law pressed his lips together and remained silent. Doflamingo’s eyes narrowed, and he pushed himself upright then leaned into Law’s space. Law tensed as the other man closed the distance between them. He could feel the warmth of Doffy’s breath as the other man brought his lips close to Law’s ear. Law kept his gaze on the wall directly in front of him.

“How much pain do you think a mink can withstand, Corazon?” he whispered. “I’ve always wondered about their… unique physiologies.”

Law went rigid, red flashing in front of his eyes. “You son of a—” Law cut himself off as Doffy gripped the hair at the back of his head and pulled, baring Law’s throat. Law’s eyes slipped shut in resignation as Doffy started to nip at the skin with his teeth, an animalistic reminder of who was in charge.

“He doesn’t know,” Violet cut in.

Doffy pulled away from Law’s neck to look at the woman, and Law opened his eyes at the brief reprieve.

“What?” the Warlord demanded.

“Corazon doesn’t know where the Straw Hats are,” she repeated, voice strained. “He made sure not to know where they were hiding out so he couldn’t give them up, even to me.”

Though he couldn’t see her from his position, Law still sent Violet a silent thanks for her quick thinking.

Doflamingo hummed thoughtfully at this information, grip still tight in Law’s hair. “But there was a plan to meet.”

“It was supposed to be last night,” Violet said. “Corazon missed it because he was captured. There’s no telling where the Straw Hats might be now.”

“Or his own crew,” Doffy considered before turning back to Law.

Law had always hated when Doflamingo spoke about him like he wasn’t present, but he wasn’t sure having the man’s full attention was much better. Even with the sunglasses, his gaze was piercing, and Law felt ten years old all over again.

“What is it about that boy, Corazon? You know what kind of Family we are, that loyalty is prized above all else, yet you crossed me to save him after the Paramount War. And after everything, you cross me again by allying with him. Why?”

Law forced his lips into a smirk. “Because I have to believe D. will cause another storm.”

The vein in Doffy’s forehead bulged, and the surge of satisfaction Law felt at the response was short-lived as the Warlord growled then wrapped his free hand around Law’s bandaged one and squeezed. Law cried out as he felt the bones in his already-damaged hand cracking under the pressure. His legs spasmed and his vision swam in front of him until Doffy let go. He was left slumped and panting in the chair as Doflamingo released his other hand from Law’s hair.

“You’ve created quite the mess for me to clean up, little bird,” Doffy said, straightening to his full height. Law’s stomach turned, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or the use of the nickname. “But clean it up I will. And you, Corazon, will remain where all little birds should: in their birdcage.”

Law’s head jerked up, eyes wide, memories from Minion Island flashing in front of his mind’s eye. Would Doffy use the Birdcage on Dressrosa to keep the Straw Hats and the Hearts from leaving?

To teach Law a lesson? To put him in his place?

Of course he would.

Doffy leaned forward again, clearly enjoying the horror in Law’s expression, and murmured against Law’s ear, “I don’t like sharing either.”

Law jolted as three shots rang through the air, sharp pain erupting in his abdomen as the bullets tore through his body. The fire in his chest dwarfed the pain in his hand, stealing the breath from his lungs and all thought from his mind. As the force of the shots knocked him backward and out of the chair, vision going dark in front of him, he could just make out Doffy, pistol in hand.

That same fucking gun.

Cora-san, Law thought as everything went dark.

Violet gasped as Doffy whipped out the pistol from his waistband and pulled the trigger three times in quick succession. The deafening bang of the shots left her ears ringing as she watched in horror as Law toppled out of his chair, three holes in his shirt immediately turning red.

Without thinking, she rushed to his side, kneeling in the blood that was already beginning to pool beneath him. His eyes were closed, and she clumsily felt for a pulse in his neck. She was so shaken that it took several tries before she found the weak, thready beat of Law’s heart. His breaths were slow and shallow. In the background, she vaguely heard Doffy call for Rosalie, who he ordered to bring healers from the infirmary.

As the door closed behind Rosalie, Violet looked back at Doflamingo, who had put the pistol down on his desk. She’d seen the man carry out countless cruel acts in her time with the Family, starting with the overthrow of her father, but Doflamingo was also a man who acted with intention. He was cruel and monstrous, but he was not careless. The interaction she’d watched between the two men confirmed that Doflamingo needed Law alive for something his fruit could do, so why shoot him—especially if he was just going to treat the wounds?

“Why?” she asked.

Even with Doflamingo’s sunglasses, Violet could feel the iciness of the man’s gaze. It made a shiver run down her spine even though it wasn’t directed at her.

“A bird with an injured wing cannot leave its cage.”

Violet’s stomach twisted in understanding; Law had become a flight risk, so Doflamingo had clipped his wings so he couldn’t escape.

But it felt like more than that. Though Violet hadn’t been able to fully see his face from her position, she had noted Law’s visceral reaction to the mention of a birdcage. There was something in their history that she was not privy to that had shaken the younger man more than usual. That could not be good for him—or for Dressrosa.

And as much as she cared for Law, Violet also had to think about the people of her country. She might not be the crown princess in name any longer, but she’d never stopped trying to protect her people. Her service to the Doflamingo Family was not just to protect her father and niece but also to save as many of her own people as she could. She had hoped the presence of the Straw Hat Pirates in Dressrosa might finally mean a chance to challenge Doflamingo’s reign, but with Doflamingo suddenly taking Law out of the equation with three quick pulls of a trigger… the chances of success seemed slim.

The slamming open of the office door had Violet stumbling to her feet in surprise, a figure rushing into the room.

“Torao!”

Violet’s eyes widened as Straw Hat Luffy was suddenly kneeling next to Law, one hand hovering over the grouping of bleeding bullet holes in Law’s abdomen. She belatedly remembered the Den Den Mushi in her pocket. He’d heard the entire exchange and must have come running when he heard the shots.

He turned to Doflamingo, whose expression had shifted quickly from shock to amusement.

“Mingo!” Luffy growled, anger radiating off his small form. His demeanor was a far cry from the young man with whom Violet had spent the early morning hours, all nervous energy and open affection with even those he’d just met. “How dare you shoot Torao!”

“Straw Hat Luffy,” Doflamingo said, lips curved in a smirk. “Corazon here is my subordinate to deal with as I wish. And you and your little crew are not welcome here.”

Luffy’s eyes narrowed. “Torao is my friend, and no one hurts my friends.”

“Is that so?” Doffy asked, still amused.

Strings suddenly exploded from him, deadly with intent as they headed for Luffy. The younger pirate, having been warned about the Warlord’s abilities, dodged the strings easily through quick movements and rubbery contortions of his body.

“Sir, the doctor is he—” Rosalie said, peering into the office but cutting herself off with a yelp as she saw the chaos.

Luffy glanced in her direction then back at Doflamingo with a frown. Another round of strings shot toward him, and he only paused in his dodging long enough to pull Law’s unconscious form into his arms. He glanced at Violet questioningly, but she shook her head minutely. She couldn’t give herself up quite yet. Luffy nodded and, without another backwards glance, slammed through the office window and down into the courtyard, glass shattering around his leaping form.

Doflamingo cursed and went to the window. Violet followed him and watched as the rubbery pirate fled the grounds, Law in arm.

Chapter Text

Once Straw Hat Luffy and Law had vanished beyond the palace walls, Doflamingo whirled on Violet. “They cannot be allowed to escape,” he growled. “I want every executive that’s on the island in the Suite Room in half an hour.”

“Of course, Young Master,” Violet agreed, deciding deferential was probably the best tone to take when the Warlord was this furious. Doffy was a possessive man who would go to any length to get back what was his. And a rival pirate captain taking what Doffy saw as his might as well be a declaration of war. “I’ll summon Rosalie and help her track down the others.”

Doffy nodded absently, muttering under his breath as he looked back at the broken window. Violet had nearly made it to the door when Doffy’s voice pulled her up short.

“Violet.”

She turned to look at him. “Yes?”

“Did you see…” Doffy trailed off, much to Violet’s surprise. There was, she thought, genuine hurt in his voice. That was… strange.

“Young Master?”

“Why?” he finally continued. “Why does he continue to fight me?”

Violet schooled her features to cover her surprise at the question. The answer, she thought, should be obvious. Doffy was a sadist who relished the pain he caused others, particularly those he forced to serve him.

“He feels you’ve taken everything from him.”

Doffy’s expression darkened into an expression far more recognizable on his face. “I’ve given him everything. For nine years, he’s been favored above all the others.”

“How did we get here, Corazon?” Doffy had asked only minutes earlier.

“Do you just mean the last few days? Or should we go back thirteen years?” Law had snarled in return.

Violet crossed her arms. “You killed a man he loved, and he cannot move past it.”

“A man he loved,” Doffy scoffed, starting to pace. “What did he really know about my brother? He was weak just like our father. He was a traitor,” he growled before spinning on Violet. She was suddenly pushed back against the wall, Doffy’s large arms bracketing her in as he stared at her with a surge of intensity. “And you, Princess?” he sneered in her face. 

Violet swallowed. Though she was used to Doffy getting into her space like this—Law, though Doffy’s recent favorite, was not the only one the Warlord brought to his bed—it was the whiplash of his emotions that caught her off guard. He was unpredictable, and that was dangerous for someone like Violet, whose loyalties were split.

“What about me, Young Master?” she asked carefully.

“Will you be the next to betray me?” Doffy demanded. “Should I cut my losses now, finishing off the remnants of the Riku family?”

Violet’s heart raced as Doffy casually suggested killing her and her surviving family. She had to be cautious here. She could play coy—he often liked when she did that—but she didn’t think he’d appreciate that right now. Instead, she straightened her spine and stepped forward into Doffy’s space, staring him directly in the eye.

“I know why I’m here and whose lives depend on me,” she told him coldly. “Do not mistake me for a careless fool who lets her emotions get the better of her. I will continue to perform the duties required of me.”

Doffy stared at her for a long moment—long enough that Violet thought she might have miscalculated—but then he stepped back and chuckled. “Fufufu, of course you will. You’re pragmatic as always, Violet.”

She lifted her chin, playing the role expected of her. “Are you done being a child, or may I take care of the task you gave me?”

He waved her off, already turning back to his desk. As Violet passed through the door, she glanced back to see Doffy running a hand over his pistol, an unreadable look on his face. Rather than linger on what that might mean, however, Violet strode down the hall. Rosalie was peering nervously around the corner at the end of the hall.

“Is it safe?” she asked as Violet approached.

“Yes,” Violet told her. “The enemy is gone. Doffy wants the executives to meet in the Suite Room in thirty minutes.”

Rosalie nodded, recognizing it would be her job to track down the required individuals. “What about you?”

“I have another task,” Violet replied vaguely.

As expected, Rosalie merely nodded, more focused on the job she’d been given than Violet’s answer, and went off to retrieve the other executives. Violet went in the opposite direction, back toward her room.

Violet knocked three times in quick succession before opening her door. Ikkaku and Clione had fallen into defensive stances while Nico Robin had her arms crossed in front of her, but they all relaxed when they recognized Violet.

“What the hell happened? It just sounded like chaos over the Den Den Mushi,” Clione demanded, pointing at the Heart Pirates’ snail on Violet’s nightstand. “Where’s the captain?”

“With Luffy,” Violet said wearily, the adrenaline from the last few minutes wearing off. But no, she didn’t have time to be tired. There was still much to do. “He’s alive but unconscious.”

“And where is Luffy?” Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.

“In the wind.” At the confused looks of the others, Violet elaborated: “He barged into Doflamingo’s office, and Doflamingo attacked him, so he grabbed Law and fled. I have no idea where he’s going.”

“I very much doubt he does either,” Robin commented, expression fond.

“So now what?” Ikkaku asked. “Doflamingo knows about the Straw Hats, the rest of our crew is still in hiding, and Law’s been shot.”

Violet pulled the Den Den Mushi from her pocket and hung up the open line before handing it back to Robin. “You need to contact your crew on Law’s ship and tell them to get out. The first place Doflamingo will look for them is the Polar Tang.”

“And go where?” Robin asked. “We’re strangers in this country.”

Violet pursed her lips thoughtfully for a moment, but Clione spoke up first.

“This might be a terrible idea,” he started, “but no one will look on Green Bit.”

“What’s Green Bit?” Robin asked, glancing between Violet and Clione.

“It’s an uninhabited island to the north,” Ikkaku said, frowning. “It’s true no one would look there—”

“Because it’s impossible to get to,” Violet finished. “The bridge to Green Bit has been closed for two hundred years.”

“Why?” Robin asked. “Is there something dangerous on the island?”

“It’s what’s in the water beneath the bridge that’s dangerous,” Ikkaku explained. “Fighting Fish,” she clarified at Robin’s perplexed expression. “But the island itself should be safe.”

“I have another idea,” Violet said after a moment. Everyone turned to look at her. “There is an abandoned cabin outside the city. My sister and niece used to live there before…” she trailed off, chest tightening as she thought about Scarlett’s death. Another reason she could never forgive—

She shook herself. “I don’t think Doffy knows about it. Or if he does, he doesn’t care. He’d never think of it. It’s small, but it would hide several people.”

“You don’t sound like you’re coming,” Ikkaku said with a frown.

Violet shook her head. “I have something else to do.”

“You’re not staying here, are you?” Clione asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“No,” Violet said. “I’m going to take a side.”

After leaving her room, Violet split off from the pirates and made her way through the palace halls. She steeled her expression and took confident strides, hoping she looked like she was on an errand for the king and should not be interrupted. She passed numerous palace staff, each hurrying about on their own errands, but none gave her a second glance.

Once she reached the door to the dungeon, she took a breath then opened it and descended the steps. The air cooled the further she went down, and for a moment she wished she’d brought a shawl. At the bottom of the dimly lit space, she found the dungeon master sitting in his office.

“Lady Violet?” he greeted in surprise, looking up from some paperwork. “May I help you?”

“I’m here for the Young Master,” she said. “He wants the prisoners brought to his office. For interrogation.”

“Of course,” the dungeon master said, reaching for a set of keys hanging from the wall. For once, Violet was thankful for her position as an executive, as no one thought to question her intentions. Who would be foolish enough to betray Doflamingo, after all? “Follow me.”

Violet trailed after the man, her heels clacking against the stone floor, the sound echoing against the walls. She focused on the sound to drown out the thudding of her racing heart. It had been a decade since she’d traded her soul to protect her family, and now she was quite possibly throwing it all away. But something told her that the Straw Hats were different—that change was coming. Law had risked it all trusting them, and now she was doing the same.

Once they reached the cells, she could see the three Heart Pirates look up in confusion and surprise.

“The prisoners, my lady.”

“Good,” Violet said with a nod. “Open the doors. We mustn’t keep the Young Master waiting.”

The dungeon master stepped up to Bepo’s cell door and started sorting through his keys to pick the appropriate one. Bepo looked between the man and Violet with a frown, and she gave him a small smile before shoving the dungeon master’s head into the metal bars of the door with all the force she could muster. He slumped to the ground, unconscious. Violet knelt down and picked up the keys that had fallen from his limp grasp.

“V-violet?” Bepo asked.

“What’s going on?” Penguin demanded.

Violet glanced between the cells. “Let’s get you three out of here.”

Consciousness was merciless in its return, starting with pain and followed by… motion? Was he being taken back to the dungeon? If that was the case, unconsciousness would be preferrable. Then he felt the arms wrapped protectively under his back and knees—definitely not how Doffy or one of his would have carried him. That realization had him cracking open his eyes, flinching at the sunlight. After a moment, Law’s vision cleared, and he was looking up at

“Straw Hat-ya?” he croaked.

He must be hallucinating because that made no sense. The last thing he remembered was losing consciousness on Doffy’s office floor after being shot.

Luffy started and looked down at Law. His expression lit up. “Torao, you’re awake! Hang on.”

Nope, that definitely seemed real.

What the fuck?

In too much pain to protest anything at the moment, Law shut his eyes with a wince as Luffy dropped out of the air—they’d been running across rooftops, Law realized—and skidded to a halt on whatever roof they’d landed on. Luffy glanced around then walked a few steps before depositing Law gently on the ground against a wall. Law slumped, his shackles clanking, as his abdomen protested the movement. Luffy watched him with concern.

“You should be careful, Torao. You got shot.”

“I noticed,” Law replied dryly, glancing down at his shredded t-shirt. His stomach was a mess of blood, and he couldn’t treat the gunshot wounds with his hands bound in Seastone. As he looked up at Luffy, he realized the other captain’s shirt was also red from Law’s blood; the sight made his stomach turn. He licked his dry lips. “What happened after that?” he forced himself to ask.

“We were listening to you and Mingo talk over the Den Den Mushi,” Luffy said, starting to pace. “I didn’t really understand most of it, but then there were gunshots, and I kinda lost it.” He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. “I followed the sound of your Voice and found you and Violet and Mingo.”

“My Voice?” Law echoed in confusion.

Luffy, however, either didn’t hear him or ignored him. “Mingo wanted to lock you up, I think. Even though you were hurt! He attacked me when I showed up, so I grabbed you and ran.”

“Where—” Law cut himself off as he coughed, tasting blood in his mouth.

“Torao!” Luffy knelt next to Law, jittering like he didn’t know what to do with his hands.

Law shook his head, and Luffy rocked back onto his heels, still vibrating with nervous energy. “Where were you going?”

“Uh, I don’t really know,” Luffy said. “I just knew we had to get out. I guess back to your ship?” He glanced around then looked back at Law with a helpless shrug. “Though I guess I don’t really know where that is either.”

That was the least surprising thing Law had heard today. He would have rolled his eyes, but Luffy had gotten him out of Doffy’s grasp. For now. The Family would be looking for him. For all of them. Good thing Law knew the city like the back of his hand.

“I know where to go.”

“Are you sure about this, Torao?” Luffy asked as he jumped down from a roof into a shadowed alley.

Once Luffy had picked Law, too weak from the gunshot wounds and Seastone to move on his own, up once more, Law had directed him toward the slums of Dressrosa. Despite the vibrant façade that the country put up, it had a seedy underbelly reflective of its ruler. Dressrosa prided itself on being a country of passion, but it was also one of violence and corruption, slavery and death. The slums, though well-hidden from the prying eyes of tourists, were populated with those who’d fallen out of favor with the Family for any number of reasons—many of them petty.

“For the thousandth time, yes,” Law replied irritably, pointing to an unmarked door toward the end of the alley. “That one.”

Luffy gave him a skeptical look but followed Law’s directions. Law made to open the door since Luffy had his hands full, but the pull on his wounds caused him to curse and curl into himself as pain shot through his entire body. His vision whited out and he broke into a heavy sweat; when he regained his senses, he realized they were standing inside the building, the door shutting behind them.

“You need a doctor,” Luffy muttered, looking at him worriedly.

“I am a doctor,” Law retorted sourly. A doctor incapable of helping himself at the moment. Which is why they were here.

“What is this place, anyway?”

“There’s a light switch by the door,” Law said, nodding toward the dim outline a few feet in front of them.

Luffy took a step toward the door but stopped short when it slammed inward and three shadowed figures stormed in.

“Intruders!”

“I told you I heard something back here.”

“Who the hell are y—wait, Captain?”

Someone flipped the light switch, and the room lit up.

Law let out a relieved breath as the figures were illuminated. “Uni. Kani. Iruka.” Of course some of the Hearts had come here to hide out; it was theirs and not something the Family involved itself in.

“Captain, what happened?” Kani asked, putting down the crowbar he’d picked up to defend himself. They were undoubtedly expecting someone from the Family.

“Torao?” Luffy asked, glancing between Law and the three new arrivals.

“They’re mine, Straw Hat-ya,” Law said, gesturing at the Hearts.

“Is that… Are you Straw Hat Luffy?” Iruka asked in shock.

Luffy perked up. “That’s me. Monkey D. Luffy. I’m going to be King of the Pirates!”

The three Hearts shared glances before looking back at Law. Law didn’t blame them; the last few days had been weird. “Straw Hat-ya is…” he trailed off, struggling to find the right words; his mind was foggy from pain and blood loss.

“We’re allies!” Luffy said brightly. “We’re here to help take down Mingo!”

“Take down… Are you crazy?” Kani demanded, throwing his arms up.

“Yes,” Law muttered.

“Hey!”

“Is… is this why Pica and Machvise attacked us yesterday?” Uni asked.

Law nodded wearily. “It’s a long story. Short version: I killed Vergo on Punk Hazard, and the Straw Hats came to help us get away from Doflamingo in secret, but he found out. We’re traitors to the Family.”

“That explains a lot,” Iruka said.

“Captain, you’re bleeding!” Uni rushed forward, seemingly just noticing the severity of Law’s wounds.

Luffy frowned. “Mingo shot him.”

“That’s why we came to the clinic,” Law said. Were his words slurring? He could feel his body growing heavier. The Seastone was leeching the little strength he’d recovered, and the trip across Dressrosa had jostled his wounds painfully, further sapping his stamina.

“Clinic?” Luffy asked, looking around curiously.

It didn’t look like one here since this was the back office where the employees locked their goods up in lockers and doctors did paperwork at the desk. Patients were also sometimes brought back here for privacy when sensitive diagnoses had to be delivered.

“Bring him up here,” Iruka said, beckoning Luffy to follow him out the door.

Law was too tired to be annoyed at being talked about like he wasn’t right there. He just listened absently, eyes drooping, as his nakama explained the clinic to their ally.

“Captain sponsors this clinic to help people the Family doesn’t care about,” Kani explained, walking alongside Luffy and Law as they exited the back room into a wider room with medical equipment and several beds separated by curtains. “It’s been running for years.”

“Some of the doctors and nurses who work at the palace come here on their days off,” Uni added. “The ones we trust, anyway. We try to help when we can—”

“But we can’t afford to draw attention to it or Doflamingo would shut it down,” Kani finished.

“There’s no one here now,” Luffy pointed out as he looked around.

“We came in after hours last night and closed for today to hide out. Don’t want to put anyone else in any danger,” Iruka said before nodding to the bed closest to Luffy. “Put him there.”

Luffy set Law gently down on the bed then stepped back as the three Hearts swarmed around Law.

“Seastone?” Uni asked, indicating the cuffs.

It took a moment for Law to register that Uni was talking to him. “Oh, uh. Yeah.” Why else wouldn’t Law have treated his own injuries already? Don’t waste time on foolish questions, he wanted to say, but his mouth wasn’t quite working right.

With the shackles around Law’s wrists, the Hearts couldn’t easily remove his shirt—which was ruined anyway—so they cut it away to reveal the bloodied cluster of bullet holes in Law’s stomach.

“Shit,” someone cursed.

Law definitely agreed with the sentiment.

“Captain, you still with us?” Kani asked as Uni started wiping away blood to get a better look at the damage and Iruka started hooking him up to monitors.

Law hummed in response, eyes losing focus as he looked up at the ceiling. Shouldn’t the lights be brighter? Did he pay all the bills for the clinic this month? He should check that later when he wasn’t so tired.

“He’s lost a lot of blood,” Iruka said, voice weirdly faint for as close as he was.

“His vitals are dropping.”

“Captain?”

“Torao?”

The voices faded as Law slid into darkness once more.

Chapter Text

The three Hearts cursed as Law’s glassy eyes slid shut and his vitals plummeted, the monitors blaring warnings. Uni rushed over to the blood storage and started pulling packs out of the refrigerator, looking for Law’s blood type. They always had a well-stocked supply of blood to treat their patients, so where were the packs of F?

“We’re out of F,” Iruka said from next to Uni. He’d grabbed the clipboard with their blood inventory and was looking it over. “We were supposed to get a delivery this morning—”

“But we shut the clinic down. Fuck,” Kani swore from Law’s bedside where he was taking Law’s blood pressure. They hadn’t let anyone in or out of the clinic since the night before just to be safe.

None of the Hearts present matched Law’s blood type, but their captain was fading quickly, and they needed to do something soon to save him as the monitors shrieked and Law’s blood pressure and pulse continued dropping.

“He can have mine.”

The Hearts looked up in surprise at Luffy, who’d risen to his feet with a determined look. “What?”

“You said Torao is type F, right?” Luffy asked, looking between the three men. They nodded. “I am, too. He can have mine.”

“Straw Hat, he’s lost a lot of blood—” Kani started.

“I don’t care,” Luffy said, cutting him off. “I’ll be fine. Take whatever he needs.”

“Are you sure?” Iruka asked, coming up next to Kani at Law’s bedside.

Luffy stuck out his arm instead of replying, which the Hearts took as a yes. With the monitors continuing to warn them about Law’s falling vitals, they got to work immediately, hurriedly pulling out needles, tubing, disinfectant, and bandages from drawers and cabinets around the clinic.

Uni settled Luffy in a chair right next to Law’s bed and injected an IV into his arm. He snuck a glance at Luffy’s face as he was connecting the tubing to the bags on the IV stand and was startled to see the soft expression on the boy’s face as he looked at Law. Shaking his head, unsure of what to make of the look, Uni went back to his task. With practiced hands that had been trained by the very man they were trying to save, the Hearts began withdrawing Luffy’s blood to a prepped blood bag connected to Law’s own IV.

“Shishishi, this reminds me of Jinbei,” Luffy said as he watched the blood from his own arm flow up the tubing into the bag that was connected to Law. “He’s type F, too.”

The Hearts exchanged quick looks. Jinbei, the former Warlord? When none of the others seemed to know what the man was talking about, they just shrugged and went back to work.

After several tense minutes, Law’s vitals began stabilizing as his body accepted the transfusion. Relief settled over the room; the captain was out of mortal danger at the moment. However, he was still pretty beaten up.

“How long is this going to take?” Luffy asked, glancing up from Law to study the Hearts. He didn’t seem impatient, just curious.

“A few hours,” Iruka said, shrugging. There was no way to know, considering Law’s precarious condition. “Captain’s lost a lot of blood, and we still need to remove the bullets from his chest.”

“Plus look at his hand,” Uni added, noting the red-stained bandage on Law’s right hand. Something nasty had obviously happened there.

Luffy hummed in acknowledgment and settled back in his chair to keep an eye on Law.

Law was floating, but he felt a tug toward consciousness and grudgingly opened his eyes. The lights in the clinic were low, and his entire body felt heavy—so heavy. He doubted he’d be conscious for very long as he could feel his eyes drooping once more. He could hear the steady beat of a heart monitor from somewhere behind him and smell the familiar tang of antiseptic. The sounds and smells of healing.

He could also just make out the familiar low voices of his crewmates from somewhere on the other side of the room. The sound settled something in his chest.

Just before slipping back under, he turned his head to the side and was startled to see Luffy dozing in a chair next to his bed, an IV stuck to his arm connected, Law realized as his eyes traced the tube’s path, to Law’s.

What?

His mind was too hazy to deal with what that might mean, and Law found himself dropping back off to sleep.

The next time Law woke up, his head was clearer though his body still felt heavy. He blinked a few times, letting the room come into focus.

“Torao, are you awake?”

Law turned his head to see Luffy on the edge of his chair, eyes wide with concern.

“I—” Law started before coughing. His head throbbed with each cough.

“Captain!” Uni called, hurrying in from the backroom. He grabbed a glass from a cabinet and filled it with water then brought it over. He helped Law ease into an upright position so he could take small sips of the liquid. It was heavenly on Law’s throat.

“What happened?” Law asked once his throat no longer felt like sandpaper.

“You lost a lot of blood,” Uni said as Iruka and Kani came up to the other side of the bed. “You passed out.” His jaw tightened for a moment. “We thought we’d lost you for a second there.”

“How do you feel?” Kani asked, glancing up at his vitals.

“Like I got hit by the Tang,” Law said, slumping back into the bed.

“Not surprising,” Iruka said. “We got the bullets out of your chest,” he added, nodding to a small pan on the table next to Law’s bed.

“We also operated on your hand,” Uni said. “There were… numerous fractures.”

Law nodded wearily and glanced down to see his abdomen wrapped in gauze and his hand in a splint up to the shackles circling his wrist. Right, the Seastone restraints. No wonder his body felt so heavy. Not only did the Seastone suppress his Devil Fruit ability, but due to the nature of Law’s fruit, the exposure to Seastone also interfered with his body’s natural healing abilities; the longer he had the shackles on, the longer it would take his wounds to heal. And Law didn’t exactly have the luxury of time.

The only way to remove the shackles would be to get the key, which Doflamingo held.

And it was unlikely he would just hand that over.

“How long was I out?” Law asked, pulling his gaze back to his nakama.

“Half a day,” Kani replied.

Law’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You were pretty messed up, Captain,” Iruka said with a shrug that belied the stress in his posture. It was clear they’d been worried about him.

Law tried to push himself upright, panic welling in his chest. He struggled against several sets of hands pressing him back into bed, frustrated that he was too weak to do more than make a token sound of protest as his body gave out from under him.

“Torao needs to rest,” Luffy said, and Law realized his had been one of the sets of hands. In fact, Luffy still had a hand on Law’s shoulder, and Law was suddenly very aware of the other captain’s touch.

Law swallowed. “What about Doflamingo?”

“He’s been strangely quiet,” Uni said, wrapping Law’s arm in a cuff and taking his blood pressure.

“No announcements about wanted criminals, no posters going up, no door knocking or anything like that as far as we can tell,” Iruka added with a frown.

“Have you heard from the others?” Law asked, not liking the sound of Doffy being quiet after what had happened. That meant he was scheming.

The others shook their heads. If Doflamgino was keeping Law’s betrayal under wraps for now, that meant that no news might not be good news.

Law shut his eyes for a moment before opening them again. “I need to go back to the palace.”

“What?!” Law winced at the volume of his crewmates, though he didn’t blame them for their reaction. Law had just escaped the palace—filled with bullets and bone fragments, no less. That was, logically, the last place he should go. However…

“I need to get these,” Law said, gesturing with the Seastone shackles, “off. The only way to do that is with the key.”

“And Doflamingo has the key,” Uni finished unhappily.

Law nodded. “I don’t like it either.” In fact, he wasn’t sure how his battered body would even make it across Dressrosa again or how he’d manage to stand in front of Doflamingo, but sitting in hiding without a way to get his restraints off wasn’t a much better option. Doffy would find him eventually, and his nakama would pay the price.

“Torao, Mingo shot you,” Luffy protested.

“I know. But he won’t kill me.” Law’s lips twisted in a grim smile. “He needs me alive and able to use my fruit.”

Law might very well wish he were dead if he fell back into Doflamingo’s hands, but he would live until he did the Eternal Youth Operation. And with his crew hopefully still in hiding and out of the king’s grasp, that was leverage he was willing to use.

“No.”

Law blinked. “What?”

“No,” Luffy repeated. “I refuse.”

“You can’t refuse, Straw Hat-ya,” Law said, narrowing his eyes. “It’s not your decision.”

“We’re allies, aren’t we?” Luffy retorted, crossing his arms stubbornly. “Allies tell each other when their ideas are bad, and this is a bad idea.”

Law had a sudden urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, but the effort it would take to move his shackled hands was too much; he settled for the best glower he could muster in the circumstance. Luffy wasn’t moved.

“I came here to help Torao, not get you hurt,” Luffy said.

“A little late for that,” Iruka muttered under his breath.

Law shot him a glare—Iruka had the decency to look abashed—before turning back to Luffy. “Then what, Straw Hat-ya?” He gestured with his wrists, letting the chains jangle. “I have to get these off.” Until he got them off, he was completely useless—yet again, he was putting the people he cared about in danger from Doflamingo.

“I’ll go to the palace,” Luffy decided. “Torao can stay here and rest. I’ll find Mingo and punch him until he gives me the key.”

Law groaned, melting back into his pillows. “You’re an idiot.”

Luffy frowned. “What? I’m really strong!”

“So is Doflamingo,” Kani said. “He’s a Warlord and a king.”

“I’ve beaten Warlords before,” Luffy retorted.

“You’d never reach the palace before someone spotted you,” Law said. “They’ll be on alert for both of our crews by now.”

Luffy perked up. “Then they would just take me to Mingo. Problem solved!”

Law scowled at the way Luffy looked like he thought he’d brilliantly solved the problem. “They’d put you in Seastone before bringing you to Doflamingo.”

“Oh,” Luffy said, deflating.

“But,” Law started, an idea starting to form in his mind, “you might not be a complete idiot, Straw Hat-ya.”

“Thanks!”

“Captain’s got scheming face again,” Uni said.

“Definitely scheming face,” Iruka agreed.

“Scheming face?” Luffy asked, glancing between the Hearts.

Kani nodded. “When Captain’s coming up with a plan, he gets scheming face.”

Luffy looked back at Law. “Is Torao scheming?”

Law looked up at them, lips twitching up. “I just might be.”

Law agreed to at least rest overnight, considering it was already late evening when he’d woken up. In the gray of predawn, Uni and Iruka helped Law sit up out of his bed and pull on a clean shirt from the back room before Luffy carefully scooped Law up into his arms. Law hated feeling like an invalid, but there was no way he’d make the trek his plan called for in his current condition.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to come with you, Captain?” Uni asked. “I don’t like you going in there without backup.”

“I have backup,” Law said, and Luffy beamed. “Besides, I need you all to find the others while we draw Doflamingo’s attention. You know where they’re most likely to be hiding. This plan only works if we can all get out at the end.”

“I know,” Uni said with a sigh. “I just wish we could do more.”

“You have already done more than enough,” Law told them. They’d saved his life the previous day after he’d lost too much blood; he was so damn proud of them. Law was the one who wished he could do more to deserve the loyalty of these amazing people who’d sworn themselves to him—and stayed with him, even after he pushed them away for two years. “And now I’m asking for more.”

“We won’t let you down, Captain,” Iruka said. “We’ll find the others. We’ll be ready.”

Law nodded then turned to Luffy. “Ready?”

“Shishishi, this is exciting, Torao!”

Law snorted. “Right. Let’s go.”

Once they exited the clinic’s back door, Luffy took to the rooftops once more, and Law directed him toward their destination. Law winced each time Luffy landed before taking off once more; Luffy kept apologizing until Law snapped at him to stop; there was no avoiding jostling his injuries.

They reached the Colosseum just as the sun had started peeking over the horizon. Dressrosans would be starting their daily routines any time now. Luffy landed in front of the building but didn’t let Law go.

“This is it?” Luffy asked, looking at the building curiously.

“Yes. Be careful of the bars; they’re Seastone.”

Luffy leaned back with a shudder, though he wasn’t anywhere close to the barred windows. Law bit back a smile.

“We need to go inside. Don’t be afraid to be seen, Straw Hat-ya.” That was the entire point of this.

“Right,” Luffy said, following Law’s directions to the entrance.

Law guided Luffy through the maze-like corridors of the Colosseum until they reached the hallway that led to the main stage. Luffy brought them center stage to the Colosseum that Law had spent countless hours fighting and spectating in as the Donquixote Family second.

Law wriggled until Luffy set him down, though stayed close so Law could rest most of his weight on him;  Luffy was more than a head shorter than Law, so Law felt foolish leaning on him so heavily, but between his injuries and the Seastone, he needed the aid. Luffy, for his part, took Law’s weight easily. Law reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the clinic’s Den Den Mushis. He looked at it for a long moment, gathering strength.

“You don’t have to do this, Torao,” Luffy said quietly.

Law shook his head. “It was my idea.”

“What are you thinking, Captain?”

“What if, instead of going to Doflamingo, we make Doflamingo come to us?”

“So? We can come up with another one,” Luffy argued.

“No, this is our best bet. He wants me, so he’ll come.”

“Then I can punch him until he gives us the key!”

“Then you can punch him,” Law agreed, lips twitching up before taking a breath and dialing a number he knew by heart.

As the sun began to rise, Doflamingo sat in the Suite Room on his own, looking at the four empty chairs in front of him. The owners of three of them were in the palace, likely still asleep. The owner of the fourth, however, was the one on his mind.

Doffy had wanted nothing more than tear down the city looking for Law after Straw Hat Luffy had taken him, to bring him back by force if necessary, but the other executives had convinced him to take a more patient approach—he had important operations in Dressrosa that couldn’t be jeopardized by acting with abandon. He could afford to be patient, though, as Law couldn’t leave the island; both his submarine and the Straw Hats’ ship were heavily guarded, and Law wouldn’t leave without his entire crew, which was scattered across the city.

Patience would bring Law back to him.

Law had been his since he was ten years old when he’d come to the Family with nothing left but hatred and a desire to destroy a world that had destroyed his. Doffy knew that feeling, had recognized the look in the boy’s eyes from his own childhood so had brought him into the fold. The longer Law was with the Family, the more apparent Law’s potential became—assuming he survived. Doflamingo had shaped and molded Law in his image, preparing him to become the third Corazon.

Law was his, and Doffy would destroy anyone who tried to take him away.

“You killed a man he loved, and he cannot move past it.”

Rosinante had tried to take Law, to turn him away from Doffy and the Family, and Doflamingo had killed even him for his betrayal. In the end, Rosi had had too much of their father in him.

Law had run after Rosi’s death, and for a time, Doffy had thought him lost. But three years later, he’d begun to receive reports about someone using the Ope Ope no Mi in the North Blue, and he’d known it was Law. He’d returned to the North Blue and brought the wayward boy home.

There had been ups and downs over the years—Law wouldn’t be Law otherwise—but Law had eventually become the ideal second Doffy always knew he could be. He was perfect.

He was Doffy’s.

And then Straw Hat Luffy had caught his eye for some reason. Law had betrayed him not once but twice for that boy. But why? What was it about the boy that so captured Law?

It made Doffy furious.

He wanted to crush the boy’s face with his bare hands, rip out his eyes and feed them to him to make him stop looking at Law the way he had when he’d burst into Doffy’s office and had hovered over Law’s unconscious form—like he had some idea of Law’s worth.

Straw Hat Luffy would pay for trying to take Law from him.

And Law, well, Doffy would make sure Law couldn’t leave him again. He would be punished for his betrayal, of course, but he would be brought back to where he belonged—Doffy’s side.

That Law knew about Doflamingo’s intentions to have him perform the Eternal Youth Operation was a… complication, but there would be plenty of time to work through that once Law was home.

Doflamingo started when his personal Den Den Mushi started to ring. His lips curved; he knew exactly who was calling him. He picked the snail up and answered it.

“Corazon.”

“Doffy,” Law replied.

“You flew away before we could finish our conversation, little bird.”

Law snorted. “To be fair, you shot me. Really kills the mood.”

Doffy’s fingers curled around the snail. “You know how I feel about sharing my things, Corazon.”

“Torao isn’t a thing!” an irritated voice popped up on the line before Law shushed it.

Doffy’s lips curled, rictus, and he bared his teeth. “Straw Hat Luffy. I look forward to pulling your spine from your body.”

“If you want us, you’ll have to come find us,” Law broke in, clearly trying to take back control of the conversation.

“Oh?” Doffy replied, intrigued. Law knew he enjoyed a chase. “And where did my little bird land?”

The snail’s expression shifted into one of Law’s trademark smirks. “The Colosseum.”

Chapter Text

It felt like only seconds after Law had ended the call that his Observation Haki picked up Doflamingo’s approach. Both Law and Luffy looked up to the sky and watched as Doflamingo, pink coat flowing behind him, descended from the brightening morning sky above the colosseum toward the waiting pirates. Law tensed as Doflamingo landed about ten rows up into the seats. He reclined in the seat like it was a throne, resting a large foot on the seat in front of him.

Law shivered as Doflamingo blatantly raked his gaze over him, most likely assessing his injured state. Law forced his spine to straighten and lifted his chin, defiant. Doflamingo’s lips quirked upward in response.

“Well, Corazon. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped this little rebellion of yours and returned home?”

Law opened his mouth, but Luffy cut in before Law could speak. “Torao isn’t going anywhere with you!”

Doflamingo raised an amused eyebrow behind his sunglasses, which raised Law’s hackles. An amused Doflamingo was one who felt in control of the situation, and that was not good for them. “Is that so?”

“Torao isn’t yours anymore,” Luffy nearly growled. “He’s free!”

Law looked at Luffy, surprise at the venom in the other captain’s voice outweighing his annoyance at being cut off. Where had that come from? Why did he care so much?

Doflamingo reached into his coat and pulled out a small object. “So long as I hold this, I think you’ll find that to be untrue.”

It was the key to Law’s Seastone cuffs.

“Straw Hat-ya…” Law started, but Luffy had already noticed.

“The key!” Luffy exclaimed, stretching his arms toward Doflamingo and causing Law to stumble.

The Warlord easily jumped from his seat and moved a half dozen rows back, settling once more out of Luffy’s range. Luffy hissed in irritation as his arms snapped back to his body. A hand reached under Law’s elbow to steady him; Law clenched his jaw, frustrated at his weakness.

“Now, now,” Doflamingo chided.

“Give us the key!” Luffy demanded.

“And why would I do that?” Doffy asked, amused. “Corazon here is my subordinate to do with as I please, and his betrayal must be punished.”

“Maybe if you weren’t such a jerk, he wouldn’t want to betray you,” Luffy growled in reply. “A crew that doesn’t respect their captain and a captain who doesn’t deserve that respect is destined to fail.”

Law inhaled sharply as Doflamingo’s expression darkened; Law didn’t doubt Luffy’s words made Doffy think of Cora-san. Luffy had unknowingly hit a nerve, and the bulging vein on Doffy’s forehead made that apparent.

“And why do you care so much about what happens to Corazon, Straw Hat?” Doffy gritted out.

“Because he’s my friend!” Luffy replied. “He’s a good person.”

Doffy let out a bark of surprised laughter. “He certainly has you fooled if you think that.”

Law flinched, refusing to look at Luffy. He knew he had blood staining his hands; over the years, it had stopped bothering him as much as it once would have because he’d done it for the sake of his nakama. He did whatever it took to protect them from Doflamingo, including becoming a cold-hearted Donquixote Family executive.

But Luffy’s response had Law looking back at him in surprise. “No! Torao saved me. He’s good, and I won’t let you hurt him and his nakama anymore.”

“Straw Hat-ya…”

Doflamingo held up the key and smirked. “Then come and get it, boy.”

Doffy took off, using strings to run through the air toward the interior corridors behind the stands. Luffy spared Law a grin then stretched his arms in the direction Doflamingo had gone. He catapulted into the corridor and let out a whoop as he set off after Doffy, who had disappeared into the bowels of the colosseum.

Luffy chased after Mingo, up one hallway and down the other. The chase stretched on and on; Luffy threw punches at the fleeing Warlord, but Mingo dodged without losing a step. Luffy sidestepped string attacks Mingo threw back at him, but none of them had much intent behind them. Luffy frowned. What was with the chase? Why did it feel like Mingo was just trying to distract him?

His eyes widened. Torao. He’d left Torao alone and exposed in the middle of the colosseum. Luffy needed to get the key and get back to Torao. He shot his right arm out; Mingo dodged, but Luffy kept stretching his arm until he grabbed onto an open doorway, fingers wrapping around the doorframe. He shot forward toward Mingo, who’d come to a halt when he saw what Luffy was doing.

Luffy slammed into Mingo like a missile, and they both went sprawling. There was a clinking as the key bounced down the hall. Both Luffy and Mingo scrambled to their feet toward the key, Luffy stretching his arm out while Mingo sent a string toward it; Luffy’s arm reached the key first, and he crowed in victory as his fingers wrapped around it.

His arm rebounded into its place, and he grinned at the scowling Mingo. He made to turn back toward the main stage—to the waiting Torao—but Mingo’s voice brought him up short.

“Is the key the only thing you want, Straw Hat?”

Luffy looked back at Mingo, uncertain. “Torao needs the key. What else would I want?”

Mingo’s lips quirked upward. “I have something I think you’ll be very interested in.”

“I don’t want anything else.” What was Mingo up to? Luffy just needed to get back to Torao.

“Not even the Mera Mera no Mi?”

Law was straining with his senses to follow the chase through the corridors of the colosseum when a voice interrupted him.

“And now we can be alone, as it should be, Corazon.”

Law started and turned to see Doffy emerge from the shadows of the south entrance, his looming presence filling the space around Law. What…? His stomach dropped, but his shock gave way to recognition.

“It was a clone.”

“Yes,” Doflamingo agreed, stopping a few feet away from Law. “It will keep the riffraff out of our business. After all, this is between you and me, isn’t it, little bird?”

Law swallowed, the weight of the Seastone shackles heavy on his wrists. Between the Seastone and his injuries—without Luffy there to lean on, it was taking everything Law had just to stand up straight—he was no match for Doffy, and they both knew it. Doffy could have just grabbed Law and taken him back to the palace if he wanted.

So why hadn’t he?

There was a loud crash from somewhere inside the colosseum, and Law glanced toward it before looking back to Doffy, who was watching him with an unreadable expression.

“You trust him, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Straw Hat. Twice now you’ve betrayed me.” Doffy’s lips curled into a sneer. “And twice now you’ve put your nakama at risk. For him. For an initial.”

Law went rigid at the reference to his nakama. Doflamingo, of course, noticed.

“That’s right, Corazon. You know your nakama are the ones who will pay the price for your betrayal.”

“No,” Law said, shaking his head. “They escaped.”

“Did they?” Doffy countered, raising an eyebrow. “The three in the dungeon weren’t so lucky.”

Law’s breath caught. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had still been locked up when Law had last seen them. How had he forgotten? Suddenly, Doflamingo being quiet while Law was treated at the clinic felt more ominous. The other executives could be doing anything to them at this very moment.

“Besides,” Doffy went on. “Do you really think we spent the last day just waiting for you to make your move, Corazon?”

“No,” Law whispered, recognizing what Doffy was implying.

Law had sent Uni, Kani, and Iruka back into the city to find the others, who might not even be out there anymore. How many of his nakama were still safe? For how much longer? Law was such a fool.

“The longer this little rebellion of yours stretches on, the worse it will be for them.” Doffy shook his head. “It’s time to make a choice, little bird: Straw Hat or your nakama.”

Once again, it struck Law that Doflamingo could have ended Law’s little rebellion at any point during the conversation. But he hadn’t; there was something else on his mind, and Law could use that to his advantage. He might be unable to fight at the moment, but he could still protect his nakama.

“No! Torao saved me. He’s good, and I won’t let you hurt him and his nakama anymore.”

He couldn’t let Luffy keep stepping in to fight his battles for him; Luffy was only on Dressrosa facing Doflamingo because of Law, because of a weird tug in Law’s chest that made him act at a pivotal moment two years earlier.

This wasn’t Luffy’s fight; it was Law’s.

Law hadn’t been able to save Cora-san, but he could protect the people who mattered to him now. Because he knew that was one thing above all else that Doflamingo wanted.

“Then I propose a deal,” Law said.

“Oh?” Doffy sounded amused. “What could you possibly have to bargain with, Corazon?”

“My obedience.”

Doffy stiffened, and Law knew he was on the right track. It had become painfully obvious to Law over the last two years that what Doffy wanted most was Law’s loyalty and compliance. He held the lives of Law’s nakama over his head to force his obedience, but what Doffy truly wanted was to have Law at his side of Law’s own free will.

(After all, Law had to willingly sacrifice himself to do the Perennial Youth Operation. There was no guarantee even threats to the lives of his crew would push him to do that operation. But for Law to offer his willingness… Well, that was another story entirely.)

“I will return to the palace and perform my duties as you wish,” Law said, throat tightening as he offered his terms. Yet part of him also felt calm; he was making a choice that could protect the people he cared for and who had sacrificed far too much for him already. “I will remain loyal to you and the Family. No more betrayal, no more escape attempts. I will be yours entirely.”

“Intriguing,” Doflamingo acknowledged. His tongue swiped across his bottom lip in anticipation. “And what is your price for this concession?”

“The freedom of my nakama. You will no longer need them,” Law said. He was offering to give Doflamingo willingly what his nakama had ensured for nearly a decade. They would be furious, but Law didn’t care, as long as they were alive and unharmed. He was the one who put them in danger in the first place. “Let them leave the island unharmed.”

“That’s it?”

“And the Straw Hats.”

Doffy barked a laugh. “Oh, Corazon. Your precious nakama are one thing—they are mine to do with as I please. But the Straw Hats are an enemy pirate crew invading my island. As a king, I cannot simply let that stand.”

Law crossed his arms, shackles clanking with the movement. “The Straw Hats only came to Dressrosa because of me,” he said. “If my nakama are freed and I have made my loyalty to you known, they will have no reason to stay on the island. Our alliance will be over.”

Doffy made a thoughtful noise. “Clever boy,” he said after a long moment then his lips curled upward. Law felt a chill run down his spine as his fate was sealed. “Fine, I accept your deal.”

As Doflamingo gestured for Law to follow him, Law felt a familiar tug in his chest.

“Ace’s fruit?” Luffy whispered, eyes going wide.

Mingo’s smirk widened. “That’s right. I searched high and low after Fire Fist’s execution and was recently able to acquire it. All of my executives are already fruit users, so I planned to hold a tournament in a fortnight with the fruit as the prize for the winner. But perhaps you would like it. It was your late brother’s, after all.”

Luffy’s eyes narrowed. He might not be smart like Robin or Torao, but even he could tell when something was too good to be true. “Why would you just give it to me?”

“Oh, it wouldn’t be for free,” Mingo replied airily. “In exchange, you and your crew would leave Dressrosa immediately and never return.” He tilted his head as though thinking. “That sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”

“What about Torao?”

“What about him?” Mingo sneered. “Corazon is mine. He’s been mine since he was a boy, and he will be mine until he uses his final breath in my service.” Luffy opened his mouth to argue, but Mingo cut him off. “You know nothing about him, Straw Hat. I taught him, molded him. I made him into the man he is today. I’ve seen what he looks like in pleasure, and I’ve seen what he looks like when he takes a life. I know him inside and out, and you? You barely know the boy but would put yourself in danger for him? Why?”

Luffy felt his anger rising with every word Doflamingo spewed, the possessiveness Mingo felt toward Torao making him furious; Torao deserved to be free. Freedom was everything.

He put a hand to his chest where he’d felt a pull toward Torao from the first time they’d met on Sabaody; it had reminded him of the pull he felt when he met his other nakama, a whisper that these people were important and were supposed to be with Luffy, but it was different, too, though Luffy couldn’t explain how.

Luffy’d barely had a chance to notice the pull after Marineford, being as tied up in pain and grief as he was, but looking back, he knew it was there alongside his vague memories of coming into half-consciousness with Torao at his bedside, checking his vitals and whispering comforting words before he went under again.

Luffy had been more than a little disappointed to realize Torao had left Amazon Lily before he’d gotten a chance to thank him, but seeing him again on Punk Hazard had brought that feeling back with such strength that it nearly knocked him over. Torao had stood in the swirling snow, fallen marines and some of Luffy’s own nakama down around him, and Luffy hadn’t been able to look away.

Torao was strong—and his powers were so cool!—but after they’d beaten him and brought him back to the Thousand Sunny, Luffy had been drawn to the way his sharp features had softened in unconsciousness. He looked younger, Luffy thought. And, though he wasn’t sure why, he thought Torao seemed sad.

He wanted to help, and the moment he had Torao had shaken hands after agreeing to work together, the tug in his chest had gone quiet, and he knew that this was the right thing to do.

“Because I can feel that he matters,” Luffy replied. And Luffy always listened to his feelings; he’d learned from a young age to trust his instincts. “And if taking Ace’s fruit means I have to give up on Torao, I refuse. I don’t give up on my nakama. Ace would never forgive me.”

Mingo looked at him for a long moment, and Luffy considered just turning around and going back to Torao, but then Mingo’s expression shifted into a smirk.

“How touching,” he simpered. “It’s too bad that Corazon just gave up on you.”

“What?” Luffy demanded, not understanding. Then he yelped in surprise as the key in his hand started to disintegrate. “Eh?” He looked up as Mingo started laughing, his features contorting as he also unraveled into a pile of string.

Luffy stared at the small pile of string in his hand before dropping it to the ground. The key was a fake. Mingo had been fake, too. So where was the real Mingo? And what had happened to Torao?

“Straw Hat!”

“Luffy!”

Luffy looked up to see several figures standing at the end of the hallway. He frowned and walked toward them before he lit up in recognition. “Violet!” She had another girl with her, this one with pink hair. He glanced at the other three figures, each wearing a set of coveralls with a familiar Jolly Roger on it.

Torao’s Jolly Roger.

“You’re Torao’s nakama!”

“Torao?”

“He means Law,” Violet.

Luffy felt his eyes shining as his eyes landed on the bear. “Torao didn’t tell me he had a bear for a nakama!”

“We’ve met,” the bear said, pulling at his snout.

“Oh,” Luffy said, realizing that must have been when he’d been freaking out after waking up on Torao’s ship. He felt his mood drop at the memory.

“Sorry,” the bear said.

Luffy frowned at him curiously. “For what?” When the bear kind of curled in on himself, Luffy shook his head. Weird. Oh well. “What are you guys doing here?”

“I broke these three out of the dungeon after you took Law from the palace,” Violet said, nodding at Torao’s nakama. “I brought them here to hide since Rebecca, my niece,” she added, nodding at the younger woman, “and the other gladiators here aren’t loyal to Doffy.” She shook her head. “He undoubtedly knows I’ve betrayed him by now, too.”

“Where’s the captain?” Penguin hat said, looking right at Luffy.

Luffy’s eyes widened as he remembered what had just happened. “I left him out on the stage and was chasing around a fake Mingo to get the key to Torao’s cuffs. Then he said Torao gave up on me and, I dunno, melted,” he explained, waving his hands.

“‘Fake Mingo’?” Rebecca repeated.

“Must be a clone,” Violet said, and Torao’s nakama nodded, glancing behind Luffy toward the pile of strings.

“We need to find Law,” the redhead said, exchanging a glance with the other two. “Before he does something stupid.”

That seemed like a strange thing to say, Luffy thought, since Torao was really smart. But then again, Robin was really smart too, and she had tried to give herself up because she thought she didn’t deserve to live, and that had been pretty dumb. Luffy had helped her then, and if he had to, he’d help Torao now. That’s what allies were for.

“If Doflamingo was a clone, they might not be in the colosseum anymore,” Violet said. “We need to get moving.”

The group headed out of the hallway and into the main corridor. The others started opening doors and looking down hallways, but Luffy kept moving ahead. He could hear Torao’s Voice nearby somewhere.

“Straw Hat!”

Luffy glanced back and skidded to a halt as he saw the others looking out a window. Luffy walked up to the closest window and peered out. His eyes widened as he saw Torao, shoulders hunched forward and head down, stepping into a carriage outside the colosseum. What was happening?

“It’s too bad that Corazon just gave up on you.”

“Torao!” Luffy called, instinctively grabbing the bars on the windows. He immediately regretted it as the Seastone leeched his strength, and he let go before he melted into a puddle. When he was able to focus on the outside scene again, Torao was out of sight, but Mingo was peering up toward the windows.

When Luffy met Mingo’s gaze, the Warlord smirked before pulling himself into the carriage and shutting the door behind him. A moment later, the carriage started off into the city.

Chapter Text

The weight of Doflamingo’s gaze was heavy as the carriage took them back to the palace—and away from the allies Law had risked everything to join. Rather than meet Doflamingo’s gaze, Law looked out the window, watching the familiar streets pass and Dressrosans go about their morning routines, unaware of hidden goings on in the city. But hadn’t that always been true here?

The further the carriage moved away from the Colosseum, the stronger the old tug in Law’s chest became once more. He did his best to ignore it, telling himself that he didn’t regret making the deal, not when it meant the safety of his nakama and the Straw Hats. However, he was also fully aware of what it meant for him; fulfilling his side would undoubtedly break something in him irreparably.

Though perhaps he was surprised to find there was still something left in him to be broken at all. Luffy had sparked an ember of hope behind his breast that he hadn’t known still existed until Punk Hazard, but Doflamingo had quickly extinguished it once more. There was no going back after this, but it was a price worth paying after all the pain he had caused the people he loved.

The carriage jolted as it rolled over uneven ground, and the resulting flare of pain that radiated from his abdomen pulled Law from his thoughts with a curse. He slumped back in his seat, eyes sliding shut as he rode out the agony.

“In pain?” Doffy asked. Law opened his eyes to give the Warlord a sour look, and Doffy’s lips twitched in amusement.

“Are these still necessary?” Law asked, gesturing with his shackled wrists. “We made a deal.”

“You’ll have to forgive my hesitance to trust you, little bird.”

Law pressed his lips into a thin line before replying, “I’m not going to risk the freedom of my nakama by going back on our agreement.” That would defeat the entire purpose of the deal.

“No,” Doffy said after a moment. “I suppose you wouldn’t. Sentiment has always been a weakness of yours.”

Law bit down on his retort as Doflamingo reached into his coat and pulled out the key. Law sat up and held his wrists out. Doffy unlocked the cuffs, careful to avoid touching the Seastone himself. Once the restraints clicked open and fell to the carriage floor, Law inhaled sharply as his energy returned and he could feel his fruit again. Being exposed to Seastone always made Law feel like he was looking at the world slightly out of focus, and its removal slotted everything back into its rightful place.

Law sighed in relief before holding a hand to his bandaged abdomen. He opened a small Room and performed a Scan; Doflamingo’s bullets had torn through skin and muscle, but they’d avoided anything vital. Uni, Kani, and Iruka had done an admirable job of removing the bullets and closing up the wounds. Thankfully, though, Law’s fruit allowed him to speed up the healing process; what would take weeks, if not months, for a normal person would only take a few days for Law.

He did the same for his hand, grimacing at the number of breaks his crew had had to set before accelerating the healing of the bone. Even with the excellent work of his crew and the accelerated healing, there was a not insignificant chance his hand wouldn’t function the way it had before. As a surgeon, that terrified Law.

Forcing his concerns aside—all that was left was to wait and watch the healing process—Law dropped his Room and leaned back in his seat. Doflamingo was watching him intently.

“I never grow tired of seeing your mastery with your fruit,” Doffy said at last. “Though I never intended for you to have the Ope Ope no Mi, it seems as if you were destined for each other.”

Law wasn’t sure what to say to that. He knew Doflamingo intended Cora-san to have it, unaware that Cora-san was already a fruit user, so he could manipulate his brother into making him immortal. Now Law was the one with the ability to do so, and Law had just made an agreement to do whatever Doflamingo asked of him. He didn’t doubt that that surgery would be the cornerstone of his to-do list.

Law was saved from having to respond by the carriage pulling to a stop at the palace gates. As the footman opened the door, Law glanced out the window and grimaced when he saw the other executives standing atop the steps, waiting for their arrival. Their gathering like this was never a good sign.

“Come,” Doffy ordered before stepping out of the carriage. Law had no choice but to follow.

“Welcome back, Young Master,” Baby 5 called as Doffy rounded the carriage.

“What happened with Coraz—” Gladius started before cutting himself off as Law came into view. His eyes went wide as he looked between Law and Doflamingo. The other executives burst into indecipherable chatter, though it was clear they were unhappy.

“Ne, ne, Doffy. Is this wise?” Trebol asked, eyes narrowing. “You know how he is.”

“Corazon and I have reached an understanding,” Doflamingo said, placing a hand on Law’s shoulder. His grip was iron, and Law had to fight not to flinch in response. “There will be no further need to question his loyalty.”

Law could feel the stares of the others falling on him, so he did what he did best—allow the mask of Corazon to slip on. It was as natural as breathing after all these years. He straightened his spine, raised his chin, and twisted his lips into a smirk, which only further infuriated the other executives.

“I know you don’t intend to question the Young Master’s judgment, Trebol,” Law sneered.

The sentient slime bucket gaped for several seconds before simpering, “Never, Doffy. I am simply expressing my… concerns.”

“Noted,” Doflamingo replied coolly before using his grip to steer Law toward the palace. The executives moved aside to allow Law and Doffy through before falling in step behind them up the steps and into the palace entryway.

Doflamingo released his grip and looked down at Law. “We will make an island-wide announcement of our deal.”

Law nodded. That would be the best way to make sure the two scattered crews knew they had the chance to leave unharmed. It also meant he could make sure Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were freed. He turned toward the dungeon but froze when Doflamingo’s hand found his shoulder once more.

“And where are you going, little bird?”

Law glanced back at Doflamingo. “To the dungeon. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin are no longer prisoners. Per our deal,” he added with emphasis.

“That can wait until after the announcement. There is much to do first.” Doflamingo looked Law up and down a moment before adding, “Clean yourself up and meet me in the throne room in one hour.”

Law narrowed his eyes, but he knew he couldn’t disobey so soon after their agreement. He spared a glance in the direction of the dungeon before jerking his head in acquiescence. “Yes, Doffy.”

He strode past the gathered executives toward his chambers, raising an amused eyebrow at Trebol and Diamante, who were glowering. Just as he turned the corner toward the executives’ wing, he heard Doflamingo ask, “Any news on Violet?”

“No,” Giolla said. “No one has seen her since yesterday afternoon.”

The conversation faded from Law’s ears as he kept walking. Violet was gone? His stomach twisted. If she’d decided to defect just as Law had turned himself back in to the Family, he could very well have inadvertently signed her death warrant while trying to save everyone else.

Unless she could get out with the Hearts and Straw Hats…

No. Law discarded the thought before it had finished forming; she was much too loyal to her father, to her niece, and to Dressrosa to do that. 

He was pulled from his thoughts when he reached the door to his chambers. He opened the door and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. When he turned back to face the room, he froze. There was a bloody gash on the wall where Diamante had stabbed his hand and another dark stain on the carpet where Law had fallen forward onto his injured hand. His hat still lay on the floor. Law walked over to the spot and picked up the hat, running a hand over the soft fur. He placed it on the bed atop the coat he’d worn to Punk Hazard. Kikoku was still on the bed under his coat as well. Law ran a hand along the sheath and could feel the sword’s pleased hum at the return of her master.

He turned back toward his desk, taking in his Den Den Mushi and the blueprints. He ran a hand over the blueprints, something twisting inside him. He wouldn’t need these anymore, would he? His nakama would be free, and Law would hold up his end of the bargain. He took the papers and folded them then placed them back into the secret compartment at the bottom of the drawer.

When he looked back at the desk, he realized Luffy’s straw hat was gone. Law was sure he’d left it there after using it as a ruse to pretend he’d killed the other captain. Thinking back, though, Luffy had been wearing his signature hat when Law had last seen him. Had Luffy been in his room? Or had Violet or one of the other Hearts retrieved it? He supposed it didn’t matter—as long as…

His eyes flicked up to the vent where the surveillance snail sat recording his room. As long as they hadn’t been caught on film.

There was nothing Law could do about that at the moment, so he pushed the problem to the back of his mind for later. He went into the bathroom and shut the door. He turned the shower on and stripped his clothes. Then he set to carefully pulling the bandages from his chest. Once the bandages were off, a quick Scan showed the accelerated healing was already taking effect, beginning to stitch the damage beneath together. He also pulled the splint from his hand to keep it from getting wet. Unsurprisingly, his hand was swollen and mottled with bruises, though a Scan showed the bones were already starting to heal.

Law stepped into the shower and washed the blood from his skin and hair, careful not to jostle his injured hand. Once he was satisfied he was clean, he stepped out and ran a towel over himself. After wrapping it around his waist, he pulled out his personal medical kit. His first task was to rebandage his chest. The wounds might be healing well, but they still needed to be covered. It was a challenge since he could only use one hand, but he had taught himself to be functionally ambidextrous for times like this, so he was able to finish the task with minimal frustration.

Then Law turned his attention to his hand; his nakama had been limited to a short splint while his wrist was shackled, but how that it was free, he could use a more supportive one, as he was not going to risk to use of his dominant hand. Once the hand was wrapped and splinted, he headed back into the bedroom. He pulled a clean shirt and jeans from his closet and quickly dressed. He pulled his hat on and settled Kikoku against his shoulder, a familiar weight that grounded him, with a loose grip necessitated by the splint.

A glance at the clock told Law he needed to leave to meet Doflamingo’s deadline. After a moment’s deliberation, he grabbed his Den Den Mushi from his desk and pocketed it then headed out the door.

The route to the throne room was one Law knew by heart after so many years in the palace, and it was with equal amounts of relief and dread that Law took those steps. Once he reached the throne room, the guards at the door bowed him in. Law allowed his Corazon mask to fall into place once more and walked through the doors.

Doflamingo sat on his throne while Law stood at his right side and slightly behind him. The video snail turned on, and the broadcast went live.

“Citizens of Dressrosa,” Doflamingo began, his arms resting easily on the throne, the picture of a confident monarch. “I regret that I must interrupt your day with an important announcement.”

Law stifled a snort at that. No one liked hearing themselves speak the way Doflamingo did. He relished any chance to be in front of the people.

“There are pirates on this island that seek to undermine our way of life. But there is no need to fear. You are in no danger, so long as those pirates listen to my words.

“To the Hearts and the Straw Hat Pirates, Corazon and I have reached an agreement,” Doflamingo continued, gesturing back at Law. Law kept his expression carefully neutral. “You have until noon to leave Dressrosa. You will be neither harmed nor impeded in your exit.

“If, however, any of you remain on Dressrosa once noon has passed, you will be treated as enemy combatants, and the full weight of the Donquixote Family will come down upon you.”

Doflamingo’s expression twisted into a rictus grin. “I assure you, that is a choice you will regret. So, make the right decision. For yourself and for Corazon.”

Those final words hit Law like a blow, and he stiffened as the broadcast ended.

Doflamingo turned to look at Law. “I’ve held up my end of the bargain, little bird.” There was something predatory in his expression that set Law’s teeth on edge. “Now, it’s your turn.”

He rose from his throne and held out a hand; Law was suddenly reminded of the first night Doflamingo had taken him to his bed after an evening chess game Law had won for once. Once Law had declared checkmate, Doflamingo had hummed thoughtfully before leaning back in his own chair and steepling his fingers. With the motion, his entire aura had shifted, sharpening in a way that made the hairs on the back of Law’s neck stand on end, much as they did now.

“You deserve a reward.”

“A reward?” Law asked warily.

“Indeed,” Doflamingo said before pushing himself to his feet. He held out a hand to Law. “Stay the night with me.”

Law took a steadying breath and reached out to take Doflamingo’s hand. The larger man pulled Law to his feet, his fingers tracing the inside of Law’s wrist before letting him go. Law shivered despite himself, and Doflamingo’s lips twitched, pleased. The Warlord then turned on his heel and headed out of the study, clearly expecting Law to follow him.

Law did.

“Show me you mean to keep your end as well.”

Law chanced a glance between Doflamingo’s outstretched hand and the glowers of Diamante and Trebol on the other side of the throne room. Knowing what he had to do, Law turned his gaze back to Doffy’s and took the Warlord’s hand.

“As you wish,” Law said, inclining his head.

Doflamingo smirked at Law’s easy agreement then turned back to the room. “Trebol, I’m leaving you in charge. Make sure we are not disturbed.”

“Of course, Young Master,” Trebol said, bowing. However, Law knew the slime bucket was silently cursing his name as Doffy led him down the stairs and out the back exit toward his quarters.

Once they reached the familiar double doors leading to Doflamingo’s chambers, Law allowed himself to be ushered inside. As Doflamingo shut and locked the doors behind them, Law made his way over to the bed and rested Kikoku against the wall.

When he turned back to the room, Doflamingo was shoving into his space. With one hand, he pulled the hat from Law’s head and rested it on the nightstand. Then he cupped Law’s cheek with a hand, his thumb stroking up and down.

“My Corazon,” he murmured. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

Law blinked in surprise at the candid words. “Doffy?”

Doffy chuckled. “Fufufu, you’re always thinking the worst of me, little one. But you are very precious to me. I would let a hundred pirate crews go to keep you by my side. They mean nothing.”

Maybe my fruit is precious to you, Law thought, though kept his expression neutral.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said instead.

“Our deal,” Doflamingo agreed, and his thumb stopped stroking Law’s cheek. “Anything I want, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Show me, Corazon,” Doffy breathed. “On your knees.”

Law’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment as he shuddered at the way Doflamingo’s voice dropped an octave, but then he opened them and nodded. He dropped to the floor as Doflamingo unbuckled his pants. This is the price of their freedom, he thought. And I’d pay it a thousand times over.

The sound of his Den Den Mushi ringing pulled Law from his doze. As he hurriedly rolled out of Doflamingo’s bed, he glanced back at the closed bathroom door, the sound of the shower running thankfully covering the sound of his snail. He scrambled to find his jeans then dug around the pockets until he found the snail.

“Hello?” he answered in a hushed voice.

“Captain,” Bepo wailed, and Law winced at the volume.

“Bepo—” Law started before his brain caught up with the moment. Bepo and the others were supposed to be in the dungeon. How were they calling him on his Den Den Mushi? “Bepo, where are you?”

“In the middle of town,” Penguin broke in. “We had to find a Den Den Mushi after that batshit announcement went out. What the hell, Captain?”

Law blinked dazedly. “You’re not in the dungeon?”

“Violet broke us out yesterday,” Shachi broke in impatiently. “She took us to the Colosseum to hide out, and we met up with Straw Hat this morning.”

“Toraooooo,” Luffy called somewhere in the background. “Why did you leave?” and Law furtively glanced back at the door once more, relieved to hear the shower still running.

“You were at the Colosseum this morning?” Law echoed in shock. Doflamingo had said…

No, Law realized belatedly, Doflamingo had implied Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were still in the dungeon. He’d never said it directly. And he hadn’t wanted Law to go down and free them when they’d gotten back to the palace. Fuck. Law had been played.

“We saw you leave, Captain,” Bepo said quietly, and Law’s chest twisted.

“What kind of agreement did you make?” Penguin asked. “What did he mean by that, Law?”

“We reached an agreement for your freedom,” Law said. “All of you.”

“At what cost?” Shachi demanded.

Law huffed a humorless laugh. “I gave him what he’s always wanted. Me.” He glanced at the clock on Doflamingo’s nightstand. “You have half an hour until noon. Please get out of here. All of you.”

“Dammit, Captain,” Penguin cursed. “Stop trying to do all this by yourself!”

Law’s eyes narrowed, suddenly defensive of his decision. “I had to,” he growled. “The only reason you’re all here is because of me. Doflamingo’s held you hostage and punished you all these years because of me. The Straw Hats are only here because of me. If the choice is between my life and all of yours, it’s an obvious choice.”

Law glanced back toward the bathroom door once more and realized the shower had stopped running. “I have to go. Get the rest of the crew, and get out of Dressrosa,” Law said hurriedly. He could feel something cracking in his chest as he spoke. “Those are my last orders as your captain.”

“But—”

Law hung up the call, cracks spreading within him, just as the bathroom door opened. Doflamingo had a towel wrapped around his waist, and he raised an eyebrow at Law.

“Corazon?”

Law grabbed his jeans and slid the Den Den Mushi back into the pocket in one motion before rising. “I was about to get dressed—unless you intend to go another round.” He raised a questioning eyebrow.

Doflamingo snorted. “Don’t tempt me.” He crossed the room and gripped Law’s chin. He leaned in and pressed his lips against Law’s, nipping his bottom lip before smoothing it over with his tongue. Law’s eyes slid shut, following the other man’s lead, unable to stop a small groan as Doflamingo’s tongue entered his mouth. Doflamingo’s hands trailed up and down Law’s spine, making him shiver.

They broke apart after another moment, Doflamingo pressing his forehead against Law’s. “I could get lost in you all day, Corazon.”

“I’m all yours,” Law replied, quickly glancing at the clock to see how fast noon was approaching. Soon. The longer he could keep Doffy occupied, the longer his people had to get out.

“That’s right,” Doffy growled, reaching down to grab underneath Law’s thighs. Law nearly yelped in surprise as Doffy lifted him up and carried him back to the bed. He dropped Law on his back then climbed into the bed, towering over Law. His towel didn’t leave much to the imagination at this point.

Law was embarrassed to realize he was already half hard at the attention. In the last couple of years, his body had learned Doflamingo’s touch, and the Warlord knew how to take him apart and make him beg. If he could use that to his advantage now…

Doflamingo leaned down, his huge frame covering Law’s slight one, and started sucking a bruise into his neck. Law turned his head to give Doflamingo more access, and he grinned into Law’s neck. Law wrapped his arms around Doflamingo’s neck, and Doflamingo rolled his hips.

“Fuck,” Law cursed, his eyes rolling back at the sensation.

“Planning on it,” Doffy replied in a possessive growl against Law’s neck, and Law’s hips bucked in response. He hated himself for it, but it was keeping Doffy’s attention, and that was what mattered most, Law’s pride be damned.

Doffy’s hands were starting to move down Law’s chest when a banging on the door startled them both. Law pushed up on his uninjured arm while Doffy peered over his shoulder at the locked door.

“Y-young Master!” the poor soul on the other side called.

“What is it?” Doflamingo snarled, furious at being interrupted.

“M-master Trebol said to summon you, sir.”

Doflamingo’s expression narrowed at the mention of Trebol. He rolled off Law and stalked toward the door. With a wave of his hand, the door unlocked, and a terrified soldier cowered on the other side under the gaze of the king; the fact Doflamingo was wearing nothing more than a towel didn’t even seem to register for the poor bastard.

“Summon me for what?”

“H-he said you need to see it for yourself, sir.”

Doflamingo growled but nodded. The soldier scampered off and Doflamingo slammed the door shut once more. His gaze met Law’s. “I guess we’ll have to put this on pause, little bird.”

Law nodded, and both men quickly scrounged for their discarded clothes. Once Law pulled his boots on, he was thankful he could use his hat to hide his hair. He grabbed Kikoku, and nodded at Doflamingo, who was waiting at the door. He followed Doflamingo down the halls toward the entrance hall, where he found the executives gathered.

“What’s going on?” Doflamingo demanded as he pushed through to Trebol’s side.

Trebol simply nodded out to the front gates. Doflamingo stepped outside. Law stepped out beside him after trading a barbed look with Trebol then froze at the sight that greeted him.

Luffy stood in the middle of the palace grounds, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin right behind him. The rest of the Hearts—as well as Violet and Rebecca—and Straw Hats were scattered behind the quartet.

Law’s eyes widened while he felt Doflamingo go tense next to him. The tug in Law’s chest nearly brought him to his knees as Luffy’s gaze met his.

“Torao!” he called. “We’re here to get you back.”

Chapter Text

“You idiots,” Law growled, looking from Luffy to his own nakama. He gave them the best glare he could muster. It was easier to let his anger take hold than to give into the fear that weighed heavily in his chest—fear of what might happen to these people he’d eventually let behind his carefully constructed walls and had done his best to protect. Anger was activating; anger he could do something with. Fear, however, was paralyzing. “I told you to leave. You only have until noon. Go. Now.”

Luffy shook his head, unmoved. “Nuh uh.”

“No offense, Captain,” Penguin said, crossing his arms. “But the only idiot here is you if you think we’d ever leave without you.”

“Like hell we’d ever agree to let you sacrifice yourself,” Shachi added.

“You’ve been protecting us all this time,” Bepo said. “Now it’s our turn to protect you.”

Law opened his mouth—to say what, he didn’t know; to curse at them? To demand they leave him where he belonged and move on with their lives? To tell them that he didn’t think he’d survive losing anyone else he loved?—but the words died on his tongue as the clock tower began to chime.

Dong

Dong

Dong

By the time the twelfth chime echoed out over Dressrosa, its citizens none the wiser as to what was happening on the palace grounds, Law’s anger had leeched from him, leaving nausea in its wake.

It’s too late.

“Fufufu.” Law flinched as Doflamingo started laughing in the quiet that fell over the grounds. “The appointed time has passed, yet these pests are still in Dressrosa.” A heavy hand fell on Law’s shoulder. “A deal is a deal, Corazon.”

No.

“Kill them.”

The Straw Hats and Hearts burst into anxious chatter, but Law was frozen. When Law didn’t move, the grip on his shoulder tightened and twisted, forcing him to turn to face Doflamingo. The king towered over him, as though he could completely swallow Law whole, never to let him see the light of day again.

“Doffy…”

“Your obedience for the chance for your precious nakama to leave,” Doflamingo sneered. A large hand cupped Law’s chin, forcing him to meet the king’s narrowed gaze. “That was our deal. Or did you plan on going back on our agreement?” The grip tightened until Law thought his bone might crack under the strain. “You, of all people, should know how I hate liars, little bird."

Law recoiled, feeling the words as sharply as a physical blow as he thought of Cora-san, of six gunshots, and of silence giving way to sobs on a snowy night on Minion Island.

However, he didn’t have the chance to reply as his haki flared.

“Don’t talk to Torao like that!” Luffy growled, rearing back and throwing a punch.

Doflamingo released his grip, and Law drew Kikoku just in time to step in front of the king, blocking Luffy’s punch with the nodachi. He grit his teeth as the strain of deflecting Luffy’s blow made his healing hand tremble; he’d been forced to use both hands to wield the nodachi since his dominant hand was in a splint. Kikoku’s sheath dropped to the ground with a clatter.

“Torao?” Luffy asked, eyes wide, as he retracted his arm.

Doflamingo, meanwhile, laughed. “Fufufu, he’s mine, Straw Hat,” he said from behind Law, hands coming to rest possessively on Law’s shoulders once more.

Law lowered his arms, feeling the tug in his chest acutely as he met Luffy’s startled expression before dropping his gaze to the ground in front of him. He’d allowed himself to be pulled back into Doflamingo’s gravity, and now he didn’t have the escape velocity necessary to get away.

“A deal is a deal,” Law mumbled, chest aching at the disappointment he knew his nakama must be looking at him with—that he deserved. He’d failed to keep them safe, and now Doflamingo wanted to turn Law on them. It was the worst betrayal a captain could commit against his crew.

“Captain’s orders.”

“You want to pull that, maybe you should start acting like a captain again,” Penguin had said before Law had left for Punk Hazard.

He’d tried to do that—to protect them—first by allying with the Straw Hats and then by making the deal with Doflamingo, but both of those moves had blown up in his face. This was his last chance to act like a captain—like the captain his nakama deserved. He couldn’t afford to outright defy Doflamingo, not after everything that had happened since Punk Hazard, but there had to be something…

“Corazon here knows what happens to those who break their deals with me,” Doflamingo went on. “Don’t you?”

Law gave a tight nod when it was clear Doflamingo was expecting a response, and Doflamingo chuckled, a hand sliding from Law’s shoulder to settle at the base of his throat. Law swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as Doflamingo leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

“I know you want to protect your people,” he said, breath ghosting across Law’s skin and making him shiver. That there was an audience to witness his helpless reaction made his stomach turn. “So, I propose a new deal. The lives of your nakama for the lives of the Straw Hats.”

Law jolted in surprise, and the grip at his throat tightened slightly as Doflamingo continued. Law found his wide eyes rising to Luffy, who was watching him with a look Law couldn’t quite place.

“Your nakama stay in Dressrosa, of course, but they get to live. All it costs is our enemies.”

Our enemies.

As though Luffy hadn’t ignited something in Law he’d been afraid of since the Colosseum incident: hope.

As though Luffy didn’t look at Law like he was a person, not Doflamingo’s creature.

As though Luffy didn’t treat Law like he was whole, not a broken doll for Doflamingo to play with at his whim.

“Bring me Straw Hat’s head, and your nakama will be safe.”

Law screwed his eyes shut, remembering the razor-sharp strings around Bepo’s, Shachi’s, and Penguin’s necks on a no-name island in the North Blue and Shachi’s arm on the Colosseum tiles, Law powerless to do anything to help from the king’s box.

“You want to pull that, maybe you should start acting like a captain again.”

Law felt something within him yield. “Okay.”

Doflamingo hummed against Law’s neck. “What was that?”

Law’s eyes opened, and his heart was heavy as he repeated, “Okay.” He swallowed. “I accept.”

“Fufufu,” Doflamingo snickered as he straightened, letting go of his grip on Law. “Very good. Now get to it.”

Clenching his jaw, Law shifted Kikoku to his left hand and used his splinted right hand to form a Room covering the entire palace grounds. Luffy’s eyes widened as the blue dome spread over everyone and barely had the chance to twist and throw up haki-clad forearms to defend himself as Law Shambled behind the young captain and swung Kikoku.

He barely heard the outraged and shocked sounds of the other gathered pirates as he focused on the Straw Hat captain.

“Torao, what are you doing?” Luffy demanded as he dodged and blocked Law’s continued strikes.

Law was unable to take advantage of his fruit as much as he usually might in a fight with someone of Luffy’s caliber because he had to keep both hands on Kikoku. He also couldn’t get the usual strength behind his attacks due to the healing wounds in his chest. Despite the Ope Ope no Mi’s accelerated healing, his body was still stitching muscle and flesh back together, just as the bone was reknitting together in his hand, and would be for days. Not to mention the concussion he’d gotten on Punk Hazard. He was far from full strength.

Still, Doflamingo had trained him to be creative, so he didn’t need to be at full strength to win a fight.

“Torao, stop!” Luffy said as he dodged a swing of Kikoku that took a chunk of the palace wall down.

“I can’t,” Law replied, shifting Kikoku to one hand and using Takt to lift the portion of the wall that came down and hurl it at Luffy, following in its wake.

In response, Luffy punched the wall, breaking it into dozens of smaller pieces—which is exactly what Law expected him to do. Another Takt sent the pieces of wall whirling in a tornado of masonry around Luffy, who had to cover his head with his arms to protect himself from the debris, the rocks slicing at his skin. It also made him a stationary target.

Law switched places with a piece of debris behind Luffy and immediately hefted Kikoku, both hands on the nodachi’s hilt. He swung his blade, ready to use Amputate…

But Luffy brought him up short as he caught Kikoku with haki-coated hands. Eyes widening, Law watched as blood dripped between Luffy’s fingers as he tightened his grip on the sword. He peered back at Law, eyes narrowed and tension in his forehead.

“I don’t want to fight you, Torao.”

“This isn’t about want, Straw Hat-ya,” Law replied through clenched teeth. “I don’t have a choice.”

Luffy surprised Law once more when he straightened and let go of Kikoku. He released his haki and turned to face Law. Blood dripped from his hands onto the stones at his feet as the debris continued to swirl around them. “Why? Because you made a deal with Mingo? You made a deal with me. We were going to stop Mingo together.”

“We were going to get my crew out of Dressrosa,” Law argued, shaking his head. This was always supposed to be a stealth operation. “And that plan fell apart the moment Doflamingo found out.”

“So, fight for them, Torao!”

“What do you think I’m doing?” Law hissed in response, feeling his anger from earlier flare up again. “Because you idiots wouldn’t leave like you were supposed to, Doflamingo made me another offer: the lives of my nakama for yours.”

Luffy blinked. “Eh?”

“I’m their captain,” Law said, his grip on Kikoku tightening until his healing bones ached. “I haven’t been a very good one lately, but it’s my job to put them above anything else.” Above anything Law might have wanted. Above even whatever this connection between Law and Luffy might be or could turn into. “So, that’s what I’m doing.”

Law raised his splinted hand, pointing a finger to send the whirling debris back at Luffy, but rather than protect himself, Luffy simply stood there and took the blows from the bricks.

Law’s eyes widened as the young captain allowed himself to be buffeted. “What the hell are you doing?”

“You want my life for your nakama, Torao?” Luffy asked, his gaze level as he ignored a piece of rock slicing across his cheek. Blood trickled down the side of his face. “Take it.”

The tug in Law’s chest pulsed hard, and Law gasped, nearly dropping to his knees. “Straw Hat-ya…”

Luffy moved then and was suddenly right in front of Law. He’s fast, Law couldn’t help but think as the young captain stood inches away from Law, his gaze intense. The swirling debris created a wall between them and the other pirates.

“I wanted to help Torao and his nakama be free of Mingo,” Luffy said. “But if the best choice is to kill me to save your nakama, then do it, Torao.”

Law tried to pull back—Seas, I don’t want this—but Luffy reached out and grabbed Law’s left hand and placed it on his chest, right above his heart, leaving a bloody palmprint on Law’s hand. He then placed his other hand on Law’s chest, and Law stilled.

“You can take my heart and give it to Mingo. But only if you really don’t feel the connection between us. The pull in your chest.” Law’s breath caught in his throat. Luffy looked up, and Law was certain the young captain was looking straight through him—an open book for Luffy to page through at his leisure. “Do you feel it, Torao?”

He looked down where Luffy’s hand rested atop his heart, unable to tear his eyes away.

Pulse.

He should use Mes, take Luffy’s heart to protect his nakama.

There was a time when Law wouldn’t have hesitated to take advantage of Luffy’s naïveté, especially if it meant safety for his crew. Law had it beaten into him over and over that the world was cold and cruel, and the only way to survive it was to become colder and crueler. Doflamingo had been instrumental when it came to that lesson.

And so Law had wrapped a cold and prickly disposition around himself like a protective cape, his Corazon mask the perfect accessory. He’d worn them so frequently over the years that they had become a second skin, donning them easier than breathing.

When had that changed?

But Law knew the answer to that—the moment he’d first felt the tug in his chest when he saw Luffy come flying out of the sky at Marineford.

“There have often been people who have the name D. who gained public notoriety, and old people would frown and mutter, ‘D. will surely bring us another storm.’ And in some places, there are people who call the Family of D. sworn enemy of the gods.”

Luffy had definitely brought a storm into Law’s life. And Law… he was feeling swept away.

“Yes,” Law breathed. “I feel it, too.”

“I knew it,” Luffy said, lips spreading into a grin, and Law felt lost as, just for a moment, it was Cora-san standing in front of him. Then Law blinked and it was Luffy again. “I knew it, Torao.”

“I…”

“I promised that we were going to kick Mingo’s ass,” Luffy said, certainty settling over him. “So he can’t hurt Torao or Torao’s nakama anymore.” There was a glint in his eye as he added, “I always keep my promises.”

Law couldn’t help but think of Luffy’s comatose body on his operating table two years earlier and frowned. “Straw Hat-ya…”

“Do you trust me, Torao?” Law nearly recoiled at the question, but Luffy grabbed his wrist so he couldn’t pull back. “Do you trust me?” he asked more insistently.

Law very much wanted to spit back that he didn’t trust anyone, much less a rival pirate he barely knew, but he knew it was a lie the moment the thought crossed his mind. Trust was something Law did not easily give; he’d been burned too many times to let people in easily anymore.

But he also never would have allied with someone he didn’t trust to protect the lives of his nakama; his people were too important for that. Luffy and his crew had had every opportunity to fuck Law and his nakama over since Punk Hazard but hadn’t. He also could have left Law alone, trapped in Doflamingo’s grasp after the announcement that morning, but he’d stayed.

“Torao! We’re here to get you back.”

“Tch.” Law ducked under his hat, and Luffy laughed—laughed, the little shit—with undisguised delight.

Law jerked when Luffy’s hand rose from Law’s chest to his cheek, and his face warmed as he met Luffy’s eye, the younger pirate’s expression so fucking soft that Law wanted to flee.

“What—” Law started, trying to disguise his embarrassment.  

“I’m going to keep my promise, Torao. Mingo won’t be able to hurt you anymore.”

Law opened his mouth to ask what Luffy was talking about but was cut off by Luffy kicking him squarely in the abdomen—right where Law had been shot the day before.

Law’s eyes flew wide as he was thrown backward. His back slammed into a wall, and his head knocked back into the brick. Law’s Room around the palace grounds dropped as his vision greyed out and he dropped limply to the ground. He slumped, his chin falling to his chest, as he coughed blood. He thought he might have heard his crew yelling, but it was hard to tell with the ringing in his ears and the pounding in his skull.

His brain was foggy as he looked at the spreading blood on his chest bandages with a sense of dismayed detachment.

Those were healing, he thought tiredly, eyes slipping shut. Straw Hat should have known that…

Why did Straw Hat… his groggy brain tried to ask as Luffy’s soft expression flashed in front of Law’s mind’s eye, but the rest of the question slipped from his grasp.

Fuck it, Law was just so tired.

That’s the concussion, a voice in the back of his mind helpfully pointed out.

With a groan, Law forced his eyes open again and, despite the agony in his skull, looked up. He blinked black spots out of his vision to see that chaos had broken out. Luffy was yelling something angrily as he threw punches at Doflamingo while the Donquixote executives and Heart Pirates had started fighting with the Straw Hats.

Wait, what?

The sight was so jarring that some of the fog cleared from Law’s mind as he took in the scene in front of him. Why were Law’s people fighting against the Straw Hats? Was it because of what Luffy had done? That couldn’t be right… There was something wrong here.

Law’s abdomen throbbed, and he winced, looking back down at his now bloody bandages. Why had Luffy kicked him?

“I’m going to keep my promise, Torao. Mingo won’t be able to hurt you anymore.”

Law’s eyes widened in realization. He was taking me out of the fight, so I didn’t have to go against Doflamingo. He was giving me an out.

Law would have laughed if doing so wouldn’t have hurt like hell. Kicking someone in their wounds was a funny way to protect them—and very Straw Hat.

“Idiot,” he muttered, spitting blood onto the stones at his side before using his fruit to stop the bleeding in his stomach. The rest would have to wait. He needed to get back to—

Law’s stomach dropped as he realized what was wrong with the scene in front of him. His nakama were moving with the unnatural stiffness that came from being manipulated by Doflamingo’s strings. When Law looked back at Doflamingo, he noticed the fingers on one of the Warlord’s hands moving to control the Heart Pirates like marionettes while he used his other hand to block Luffy’s attacks.

The anger from earlier erupted from under Law’s skin once more as he zeroed in on the helpless looks on his crew’s faces as they were forced to attack the Straw Hats. The Straw Hats, meanwhile, were clearly hesitant to fight back seriously against the Hearts because they were being controlled.

“You want to pull that, maybe you should start acting like a captain again.”

Penguin’s words echoed through Law’s mind as he braced his left hand against the wall behind him to help him up. Every movement sent a burst of pain down Law’s spine, but he grit his teeth and tried to ignore it; his legs were shaky beneath him, but he made it to his feet. Looking out over the chaos on the palace grounds, Law raised his right hand and blue erupted from it.

“Room.”