Chapter Text
Loud barking could be heard from a nearby house, along with a faint dull clinking. Potentially a dog fighting ring, Doflamingo mused. He wondered if there happened to be a connection with its proxiamity to the apartment. The building they found themselves staring up at was dingy and run-down, appearing more like a motel but without the parking. The kind where people overdosed or got stabbed. Or if you were very unfortunate, both. He walked in with what should be alarming ease but he was thankful he didn't need to break in. Vergo followed behind observing everything with a blatant distaste.
Inside wasn't much better.The walls were piss yellow, painted with what he assumed to be the the real deal, and so filthy that an accidental bump would surely warrant an STD test. Mismatched, sample squares of carpet covered patches in the previous moth-eaten one. The door clattered sharply behind them, 'trapping' them in the bleak reception. A single buzzing LED bulb lit the room with a bluish glow, refracting harshly off of the desk. The scrawny worker behind it hadn't looked up from his phone since they entered but they knew where to go anyway so they just walked past his hunched form and up the stairs.
Once they reached the door, 8B, Vergo knocked, assuming that he'd be in. They stood for a couple of moments before trying again with no success. "Vergo, how sure are you that this is the right one?"
"Fairly certain. He's the only one who's been seen going into this apartment for the past six months. Unless he moved in two days..."
"Then why are we knocking?", without hesitation, Vergo moved in front of the door and kicked just above the handle just twice, letting out a small grunt of exertion. Swinging open as its frame splintered, the door welcomed them in. Doflamingo's gaze flicked around the room, observing each object as he languidly walked further into the room. The room they entered was a small living room with a sofa, a large brick for a television and a small table and chairs. The sofa was currently functioning as a bed, judging by the thick blankets strewn across it. Despite the lack of possessions the place was still a mess, clothes dumped sporadically, cigarette stubs filled not only the ashtray on the table but also a few of mugs scattered about the room. The smoke had tainted the walls a similar piss yellow as the reception. From the corner of his eye he noticed Vergo wrinkling his nose in disgust. Following his stare, he noticed a variety pills on the coffee table next to the sofa. He snickered thinking of how Rosi look in that state. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't surprised, his brother had always been the goody-two-toes. The kind of kid that was terrified of the naughty step. So completely parallel to himself who, despite never being very keen on them himself, was involved in drugs as soon as he found a way to saunter his way into the market.
In all honesty though, he couldn't really blame Rosi for turning to drugs when he lived in this shithole and, if Vergo was correct, was affiliated with a local gang to make some quick cash. It was going to be a bitch to get him off them though, he had always been such a cry-baby as a kid so he could only imagine how he would be in withdrawal...Maybe he'd let him continue for a bit, to see the effect on him.
"Do you know what time he'll get back?", Doflamingo said, now leaning done to inspect his product.
Ket, benzos, oxys...that was going to be a pain. Could take days or months depending on his dosage.
"He usually got back around this time but it varied occasionally. Sometimes gone the whole night"
"Could of fucking told me that, then I would've at least brought some wine", Doflamingo usually loved it when Vergo made a mistake. It made him even more eager to please and there was no better Vergo than a needy one. This time though he could help but be a little annoyed because there was nothing fun about sitting in a mangy apartment for hours with nothing to do. They could have sex but if Rosi was anything like before, he'd never let it go if that was how they were reunited. Still was very tempting. Vergo apologised and offered to buy some but he just waved him off.
He checked the fridge in the kitchen area, only to find it practically empty. The only things in there seemed to have been left to be mummified by the last tenants. He felt the vein in his forehead pulse to the surface. He hadn't even seen him yet and his brother was already irritating him.
"I'm going to go take a piss. Put some of his stuff a bag will ya", he stalked off. The bathroom itself wasn't much better than the rest of the apartment. Vergo jokingly told him to be careful in case he gets gangrene but at this point it came across as a legitimate warning.
While washing his hands at the sink, his eyes caught a small tube of ruby red stick. He turned between his spindly fingers, a vein in his head pulsing to life. Hadn't Vergo said he'd been the only one entering the apartment? Apparently not. He clenched the cylinder in is palm tightly.
Suddenly he was yanked out of his thoughts by a loud, dull thud, followed by Vergo's booming yell in protest, "Get off me, you little shit!" Now that inspired intrigue. He slipped the tube into his pocket, pulling out his pistol and opened the bathroom door. What he saw took him a little off guard for a second. Vergo had been swiftly seized with his arms firmly secured behind his back by the tall man who was now sitting on him. He'd certainly learned to handle himself then. He was lanky, akin to a baby giraffe in the way his legs seemed overly disproportionate. This was emphasised by his lean figure, which caused his winter sweater to hang a little oddly. Despite the lost softness in his frame, his hair remained as those familiar wavy tresses, still as frustratingly long as ever. His revolver that had previously been pointed at Vergo's head was now aimed directly at him. The room settled him a tense silence.
This was cut only by Doffy's laughter, "So Rosi, I see you've met Vergo?", the grin on his face stretched ten miles wide as he saw some sort of realisation seep into Rosi's face. That had changed too, the round jaw had matured into a much sharper edge, cheekbones cast shadows down the side of his face, his lips had an unnatural darkness to them which, as well as the dark bags beneath his eyes, accentuated his pale pallor. His eyes...they hadn't aged a day, there was still blue skies and sunshine swimming in their depths, even if they were a bit dimmer. At least they seemed to brighten at the sight of him...or was that tears? They gathered like bunches of flowers before dropping in thick rivets down his face. The gun dropped as he covered his mouth to stifle the sobs.
Doflamingo hadn't had many expectations of what would happen, expectations usually only fruited disappointment. After all, it had been many years without contact of any kind, but this...his brother silently sobbing in centre of the living room while pressing Vergo into the floor? Oddly enough, he hadn't considered it, not even in the fun way. He chuckled once more at the whole situation, making his way toward his brother, kneeling down with him. He had intended to help Rosi off of Vergo whose typical phlegmatic demeanour had morphed into one of bewilderment. Instead the sobbing mass stumbled off himself, collapsing into his arms in a lethargic heap. As he felt the narrow arms, snake beneath his feather coat, he cautiously wrapped his arms around him as well, carding his fingers through his hair. He hadn't allowed someone to hug him like this since...it was must have been when they lived in that dreaded shack. Huddled for warmth. Not that he was the one that was ever cold. Only Law had come closest to a full embrace. The other's frigid hands grasped the back of his shirt tightly, his face buried into the damp feathers of his coat. That hadn't changed either, "Still a cry baby, I see." The other just clutched him harder, as though afraid he'd disappear entirely. Doflamingo did the same in return, in some sort of an attempt at reassurance (for Rosi, he'd think), feeling the protruding notches of his spine and a dull ache in the back of his mind of things he'd long suppressed.
Rosi was clearly underweight and exhausted, most likely from drug use and the tolerance build up he assumed. He expected to feel some sort of guilt that he hadn't come to help him sooner but he didn't. It wasn't like he hadn't been looking. He still remembered the manic rages he'd be consumed by whenever a lead would go nowhere. He hadn't made Rosi take the drugs either, technically it was his fault. No that it mattered anymore. All he knew was he had Rosi again and that was all that was important. "Nice to see you too..."
-=-
Vergo rose to stand, viewing the brothers before him. Rosinante hadn't let go of his brother and seemed to just pass out, despite having not said a single word to either of them. Doflamingo seemed entirely unfazed by this, simply hooking his arms around his neck and hitching his thighs up to rest more comfortably in his hands as he lifted him. Despite his stature which rivalled Doffy's own, he looked incredibly small. Weak and pathetic if you asked him. Which made his sudden arrival all the more strange. He had been taken completely by surprise, hadn't even heard him coming.
There was a clear resemblance between the brothers other than the obvious (height and hair) ; The sloped forehead, long slim nose, slender limbs and sharp jaw. It was plain to see they were related. If they swapped clothes, they could probably pass as the other. Only for a while though, as the differences were stark. The younger had longer, unruly hair, a shorter stature and his complexion was significantly paler despite being in a hotter climate. The drug use showed in his exhaustion and malnourished frame. Looked a couple days away from death's door. Doffy, on the other hand, was radiant; his very skin seemed to glow and buzz with opulent seduction. His brother paled in comparison.
But Doflamingo didn't seem to think so, as a small smile played upon his lips as he viewed the person in his arms. Vergo clenched his teeth, crossing his arms.
"I'll carry him, Doffy", he said stiffly, breaking Doflamingo's fixated gaze.
"No, that's fine just get his clothes."
"Which ones?", his voice held a sardonic edge to it as he gestured to the clothing strewn across the room haphazardly. Doflamingo didn't bat an eye at his tone, looking contemplatively at the piles. "Can't we just wake him to get what he wants?"
"We could but that would make it harder to get him back and, more importantly, that would ruin the fun in seeing you digging through dirty clothes. I'd love to see your fashion choices", the blond sniggered at the deadpan look on the other's face, "Or he can just borrow your clothes? Sharing is caring, eh."
The glare that followed was scalding, or would be if he didn't find it so funny. Vergo didn't indulge in the fantasy, instead placing one of the more decently sized piles into the bag. As he was closing it up, Doffy stopped him, gesturing to the side table, "You forgot his 'medication'."
Those repulsed creases returned once more as a look of subtle incredulity grazed his otherwise stoic features but otherwise didn't argue, bagging the 'medication'. The blond didn't seem to mind though as they were soon exiting the apartment, through the reception. This time the receptionist seemed a little more suspicious as they carried the sleeping resident through the entrance, but was still fairly apathetic to their activities. Although judging by the glazed bloodshot eyes he probably was on something as well.
Chapter Text
His brother had been crying for the past half hour and it was getting on his nerves. The ragged breaths seemed to seep through every nook and cranny the wall, as if it wasn't even there. He'd been trying to ignore it, thinking he'd quickly stop but as the sobs grew in volume, it was becoming increasingly difficult to read his book. By now one of their parents should have come to check on him as per usual but their hurried footsteps hadn't came. He found himself gritting his teeth as he marked his page and stormed toward his brother's room, throwing open the door without knocking. The nightlight lit the room with a soft orange glow illuminated the room scattering small projections of moon and stars. He wrinkled his nose at the sight, being reminded of the younger's fear of the dark.
"Will you be quiet Rosi? I'm trying to read", he huffed, his tone flinty. Rosi apologised, hiccupping as he rubbed his red, puffy eyes. Doflamingo however was unfazed by the sight, instead taking his answer as the affirmative and being to exit. Just as the door began to squeak closed, a small voice stopped, "Wait! Don't leave..."
Doflamingo fought the small urge to snipe at how pathetic it sounded in favour of answering with a sighed, "I'm not staying."
"Please", Rosi sobbed, curling in on himself.
"No."
"Can I stay with you?"
"Why?", he found himself frustrated for even coming. He should have just continued to ignore him, or maybe found one of their parents to deal with him.
"I...don't want to be alone", The response made him pause for a second, hating how he saw himself reflected in the words, that it made him reconsider. Rosi was infuriating especially at times like these.
"Fine...Just be quiet." At this, Rosinante scrambled out of his bed to follow, as if he assumed the offer would be retracted. It was slightly tempting, just to see the way he reacted but Doffy decided against it.
"Thank you", he murmured with a small smile. Doffy turned, leaving the other to trail behind him.
After reaching his room, he returned to his place on the bed and begun to read once more. Rosi stood fumbling with his hands at the door, looking around anxiously as if scared to come in. Unsurprising as he wasn't often let in. Eventually he'd crept his way toward the centre of the carpeted floor, obtaining a scoff from Doffy at the sorry display, "Sit down will you?"
The younger grimaced at harsh bitterness of his tone, searching the room for a seat. He started toward the desk chair, but decided against it for whatever reason. He was going to sit on the floor but Doffy motioned for him to sit on the end of the bed, more for the comfort of knowing he wouldn't touch his stuff rather than Rosi's own. He hesitantly approached, sitting on the far edge.
Doflamingo gradually receded into the depths of his book once more. He figured he'd kick him out once he'd finished a chapter or two.
With the way Rosi kept fidgeting however he doubted he'd ever make it to the end of his page.
"What are you reading?"
He glowered at the younger from over his book, "Nothing with all the noise you are making." Rosi seemed to flinch away as though he'd been physically hurt.
"Sorry...", he said lowly, tucking his knees under his chin and staying very still.
By the time he had finished his chapter he had completely forgotten Rosi was there. His gaze flickered upward to the other's face but the look wasn't met as the he turned away. Only the round of his cheek in sight. Then he saw what he was hiding. A shimmer, flowing down, running over the curvature of his skin to leap from his chin. The trail that remained was cleared with a hasty swipe but another soon replaced it.
Something tugged as him from the depths, a wrongness. Blaming Rosi made it worse but he didn't want to believe he caused it. He shouldn't have been crying in the first place. The feeling hardened. He looked down to his book, knowing it was his own fault and hating it. Hating that he knew he had to do something to make it stop.
"Do you want me to read something to you? Anything you want."
Rosi sniffed, rubbing his eyes a little before looking at him confused, like he didn't believe him. "Anything?", the dubious scepticism was so uncommon in his voice, he was momentary taken off guard. He wouldn't trust himself either though if he was Rosi. The admission didn't make him feel better.
"Anything on the shelf."
That wrongness was soothed at the upturn of the corner of his smile. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing. He put his book aside as Rosi went to choose a book, watching the amusing way he jumped to see the higher shelves despite the sliding ladder next to him. For once that sadistic urge to mock him wasn't present, only warm amusement. He definitely wasn't the brightest bulb though. The younger ran his hand across the spines, occasionally lingering on a few only to trail off again. Eventually he plucked one off the lowest shelf, one that hadn't been looked at in years, and hopped onto the bed beside him.
"About time, I was beginning to think you wouldn't pick", he said with a more light-hearted tone.
There was a bit of hesitance as Rosi past over the book which Doffy didn't really understand until he turned it over. He recognised the classical illustration of the knight and squire on horseback, the dog-eared, fraying edges caused by frequent handling and their mother's infuriating refusal of using a bookmark. El Don Quijote. He probably knew the thing from cover to cover. "Didn't she read this to you countless times already?", Rosi just nodded, waiting in anticipation for him to start. He cleared his throat lightly, flipping open the aged pages as he began, "In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that..."
Notes:
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
Chapter 3: An Ordeal
Notes:
Found this in my old drafts, tried to clean up some things and I hope you guys like it <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Upon arriving at the house, he placed Rosinante onto his bed, his messy, golden strands spilling over the pillow; The halo formation elicited a snort from the elder. Concerned that the other had barely stirred since he fell asleep, he brought Law to look him over. Law wasn't a professional by any stretch but he had some experience from working with Caesar on weekends and treating some of the kids at Giolla's. He watched warily during the examination, keeping close until Law accused him of 'hoovering'. After having finished with his examination and myriad of questions, the general conclusion was that he seemed to be going into withdrawal and had finally collapsed from exhaustion.
After a snide 'no shit' from Doflamingo and a glare from Law, he continued. "It is likely he built up tolerance after long term usage", he commented, examining the blond's inner forearm, examining old tracks, scars tinged purple. "The tracks aren't recent, either stopped or was trying to limit his tolerance."
He hummed in understanding, looking down at his brother's pained face, forehead covered in a cold sweat, "So what can be done?"
"Well, you could let him go cold turkey. I don't personally suggest it as that he is already malnourished and exhausted, it could result in him having hallucinations, delusions, relapse, dying of dehydration, starvation-"
"Don't milk it brat", he gritted with unveiled irritation, "Any other options?"
"I was getting there. The best option would probably be finding out his general dosage, switching him to a substitute, like methadone, then slowly tapering him off that. He should really be taken to some kind of rehab."
"How long would that take?"
"Not sure...Could be three months or more."
"I'm sure Caesar will have something", he said with a laugh. Law rubbed his brow, pained.
"Of course you are going to detox him yourself. You know the risk of relapse is-"
"He's not exactly here legally is he?"
"You kidnapped your own brother", Law deadpanned, unsurprised and exasperated. It was stated rather than asked, as he pinched the bridge of his nose , "Can you do anything without breaking a law?"
"Well if I did that I wouldn't be able to break my favourite Law", he ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. Law just groaned at the joke's stupidity, batting the hand away. Doflamingo just chuckled, "Is there something I should do until I can get the substitute?"
Law paused to contemplate, "Treat the symptoms, I suppose. He'll likely be quite nauseous, have aching pains and cold flashes. So bucket, keep him hydrated, electrolytes and don't let him get too cold. Also the sweating can cause rashes so don't let that happen." Doflamingo gave a bitter 'gee thanks' at that the weak answer.
"Basically I've been demoted to a fucking babysitter. He better be grateful for this", he grumbled.
"You are forgetting that you brought him here against his will."
He waved the other off saying ,"Eh, he wouldn't have dropped the gun if he didn't want to come", Law just rolled his eyes and got up to get back to his homework.
He lingered at the door for a moment, hand resting on the knob and turned back. Doffy was perched on a stool by the bed with his back turned to him, staring at his brother. Law had only just met this man but felt he knew some of his pain, seeing his dark circles, weathered frame and hollowed cheeks. He looked ill even in sleep. "If you aren't going to take him to the hospital, at least make sure Caesar checks him over. You know I'm not a doctor."
"Yet." Doflamingo turned with a snarky grin, which had none of its usual weight. He wasn't used to seeing him so still, it was almost unnerving. He did not know much about Doffy's past or his brother. He never knew Rosinante existed until he was told they'd found him. Doffy turned his head back to his brother, taking a swig of something Law knew was alcoholic but had long given up on discouraging the habit. "I plan to. Caesar is just taking his time getting here."
There was a tension in his posture and the way he rolled the glass in his hands, a crack in his everlasting caricature. Doflamingo was terrifying in many ways but this was something else.
-===-
Law left him to watch over Rosi and by now he was feeling a bit at his wits' end. He'd never really had to take care of someone in this state. Finding him had been a pain enough, nevermind getting him here. When he'd woken up that was when the difficulties really started. He was a deer in headlights, clearly not remembering their lovely reunion not two hour earlier. It didn't seem like Rosi recognised him at all... and much to his chagrin, he was having withdrawals already. After what Doflamingo could only describe as an 'ordeal', Rosi was sedated, slung over Vergo's shoulder and Doffy was left with a bruised face (and ego). For such a skinny man, he could really throw a punch.
He knew this was going to be harder than he'd imagined.
Doflamingo really wasn't overly bothered, he told himself. Maybe a little inconvenienced…some plans would have to be postponed but it was worth it. He had him back. He was here. With him. In his home. His brother, his heart, his Rosinante...
That cavernous hole in chest grew a bit smaller.
Notes:
An ordeal - a very difficult or unpleasant experience that typcially tests one's character or endurance.
Crooked_pictures on Chapter 1 Fri 24 Dec 2021 09:48PM UTC
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morbidly_at_peace on Chapter 1 Fri 24 Dec 2021 10:15PM UTC
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lapizAzure on Chapter 2 Wed 07 Sep 2022 02:53PM UTC
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Bloody_psycho on Chapter 2 Mon 19 Jun 2023 09:42PM UTC
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Koolady on Chapter 2 Sun 07 Apr 2024 10:10PM UTC
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lostsometime on Chapter 2 Tue 10 Jun 2025 04:16AM UTC
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