#shadow-vergo

[onepiecebdays]

july 5th - vergo

debut chapter: 671

recent chapter: 782

epithet: demon bamboo vergo

age at death: 41

affiliation: donquixote pirates

bounty: none

[innerfare]

Lawbin Headcanons 

Summary: Early stages of Lawbin. This whole thing is basically Law being a dork who’s constantly trying to play it cool while falling for the weird girl (Robin, I love you, never change). 

Characters: Trafalgar Law x Nico Robin

Genre: Fluff

CW: None // SFW

——— 

When Robin met the Captain of the Heart Pirates, the Surgeon of Death and a Warlord of the Sea, Dr. Trafalgar Law, she didn’t trust him, not even for a second. Recall, she has extensive experience with Warlords and would have died at the hands of one if Luffy hadn’t saved her despite her own insistence he leave her to die. As soon as she meets Law, she swears to herself that if things go sour, Luffy won’t be saving her and, in fact, she’ll be saving Luffy. She won’t let the Warlord take a shot at her Captain, and she takes Luffy’s proposition that if the alliance goes bad, the crew will have his back, to heart.  

For the longest time, that’s how Robin thinks of Law: the Warlord. She never talks about it, but she has PTSD from her time with Crocodile. She had never known peace or solace in her life; the safest position she’d had before joining the Straw Hats was as the right hand of a man who ultimately viewed her as expendable. And Sir Crocodile wasn’t just any man, he was a pirate brimming with power and eerily intelligent, with a mind for strategy. Just like Traffy, whose insistence on planning out every little detail and having a backup plan for every backup plan takes Robin right back to Alabasta. 

Robin becomes a little obsessed with comparing him to Crocodile. She zeroes in on his willingness to make small sacrifices for the greater cause, his analytical nature and reserved emotions, his apparent lack of friends. Only, Traffy went to great lengths to help the Straw Hats rescue the children on Punk Hazard, and he didn’t take the opportunity to be too cruel to Smoker and Tashigi despite having them chained in front of him. But that doesn’t stop her from trying to make him into Crocodile 2.0.  

And then there’s Law, who’s such a dork. Strategic alliance this, strategic alliance that, but from the second he met the Straw Hats, he wasn’t thinking about betraying them, he was wondering how he was supposed to remain impartial with such an affable group. He thought Nico, at least, would be an ally against the general Straw Hat insanity, but she turned out to be the crew’s worst enabler rather than the mother hen he had originally pegged her for. Which begs the question, what else was he wrong about? 

Annoyed to have been so wrong, Law begins paying more attention to Nico. He notices that she doesn’t fall into the insular trap that a lot of academics do. She’s not just an expert on her one field but in fact is incredibly well read and is a wealth of knowledge on a menagerie of different topics, and each topic he learns she is well-versed in is weirder than the last. 

Why is Nico an expert on Panda Shark socialization? How did Nico come to find out that there is a mythical, lost library full of love poems on an unnamed sky island? Why does Nico have so many books on a random king from the South Blue who died eight hundred years ago? How did Nico learn that there’s an island in the West Blue where white pumpkins grow on bone trees? And why, oh why, is she versed in Germa 66 lore? Finding out the last one makes his heart drop, the realization that he would risk it all for the Straw Hat archaeologist making Law’s stomach churn. 

And how is she so calm all the time? He had pegged the academic as similar to him, but her crew’s shenanigans seem to just roll right off her. She sat in that cell with him and the others in Punk Hazard reminiscing about old times with Luffy and Smoker instead of cowering in the shadow of Vergo, and she more than held her own on Green Bit, lending herself to him as an asset time and again, always being there to lend a helping hand (or twelve) when the plan fails. 

All that is to say, Law falls first. But it’s Robin who makes the first move. 

It’s only when she sees Traffy interact with his crew that Robin sees him for who he is, and she can’t get that man out of her head- that man who isn't domineering but tries to make people follow his orders to protect them, that man who is so adored by his crew (the members of which he protects rather than uses for his own gain), that man who, despite being called Warlord, is kind of adorable. 

Robin starts teasing him a bit; she just can’t help herself. Now that her Crocodile glasses are off, she can see that he doesn’t have the sort of temper that leads him to kill people but rather the sort that just leaves him spluttering and speechless. And, well, she thinks it’s cute. She starts feeling dumb, too, for not having seen it sooner. After all, Luffy saw he was a good and trustworthy person, and that should have been enough for her, but she had been blinded. 

No longer blinded, she starts enjoying her time with Traffy, though he doesn’t notice the shift, doesn't realize she's soft on him. He thinks she’s needling him for some other reason. It never occurs to him that Nico (or anyone, for that matter) finds him cute. And he almost goes into cardiac arrest when she tells him. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He demands one night, fed up with that little smile that always seems to be on Nico’s face while she’s staring at him. “Nothing,” she says, swallowing her giggle, “I just think you’re cute when you’re annoyed.” And with that, she leaves him to process what she’d just said. 

Their relationship is built on info dumping. Robin can talk about her weird interests, such as the mating habits of Sea Kings and the fact that the antidote made from Conine in the bark of Kona Trees can actually be used as a poison if mixed with the correct substances. And Law can talk about his childish interests, such as various comic books and ninjas. These two geek out on a level not previously known to humankind. 

They bring each other odd tokens, typically the weirdest possible thing they could find on their respective travels. 

Law buying Robin books and leaving notes inside that get progressively more personal, Robin asking Sanji to show her how to make onigiri because it’s Law’s favorite. 

And then there’s the trauma. Both were nearby when their parents were murdered. Both were alone in the world at a very young age, Robin hunted by the World Government and Law by the Donquixote family. Both know what it’s like to be completely alone with nothing to their name but a bizarre devil fruit ability and a target on their back. Both managed to find their way in the world despite feeling for years that they never would. They didn’t save each other because they didn’t have to. They’re traumatized, but they’re not broken, and together, they can be even stronger. They saved themselves, and now that they did, they’re free to bask in each others’ presence. And that’s exactly what they do. 

———

Hope you enjoyed it! If you want more, you can check out my masterlist here!

[base0h]

Hello,

Heard you’re looking for ideas so…

Here’s a crack one: The Straw hats working in a department store

Would they become employee of the month? Would they be fired immediately?

a/n - IM WHEEZING AT THIS— you are GENIUS bro holy crap 😭🫶 dude luffy would get fired so fast it’s insane— and imma just add everyone bc why not 😂

Warnings ⚠️ - MAJOR crack, multiple characters, I’m kinda dumb and might’ve forgotten people

they didn’t even make it past the interview 💀

.✩ kidd (tried killing the interviewer for asking him why he wanted to work there “I really am passionate about restocking— MF IM BROKE.”), buggy, bonney, paulie (did the same thing as kidd plus he parked in the manager’s parking spot)

literally within the first few seconds of the interview they’re hired | “My name is—“ “Can you start within the next few seconds?”

.✩ jimbei, koby, sabo, koala, izou, kaku, vivi

got fired the same day they started

.✩ luffy (ate the entire produce section and then asked the manager “is there more stuff in the back?”), corazon (he accidentally burnt the place down 😀), sanji (confessed his love and asked several female customers to marry him at his cash register), brook (asked for some poor random woman’s underwear 💀)

employee of the month every single month

.✩ jimbei, koby (old people always say how sweet he is to the manager bc he always helps them get the things they can’t reach 😭🫶), tashigi (kids hate her bc she catches them and scolds them if they take an extra candy/sticker from the cashier jar), vivi (accidentally gave herself this title when she’s the manager 💀)

the manager of the store

.✩ nami (steals money from the safe sometimes), aokiji (he literally never shows up to work on time and doesn’t give a shit what the employees do), akainu, fujitora, shanks (bro also does not care and comes to work hungover), dragon (has not shown up once since the interview), sengoku, garp, dadan, vivi, magellan

the sale sign flipper guy

.✩ zoro (if he manages to actually find his way to the store), bepo, ace, shachi, penguin, queen (you legit can’t miss him as you’re driving by 💀), yamato, oden, cat viper, bon clay, ivankov

they work solely in the back to avoid human interaction as much as possible

.✩ mihawk, law, smoker (he’s the guy that mans the big crane machine that moves huge boxes), hawkins, king, katakuri, smoker, lucci

they’re the CEOs of companies that are partners with the store and provide goods for the store to sell

.✩ crocodile (provides gut/immune supporting, healthy, all organic animal/pet food), doflamingo, kaido, big mom, whitebeard, moria (sells and produces copious amounts of Halloween costumes and other decorations)

actually decent employees

.✩ usopp, benn, x drake, robin, nojiko, baby 5, monet, vergo, franky, icebarg, bellamy (SHADOW FROM SK8 PLS TELL ME YALL SEE IT), hachi, killer

they start tweaking because they asked a customer how they were and they ignored them

.✩ shirahoshi (sobbing), bepo, sanji (asked a girl who had her headphones on), Uta (will get so pressed that they ignored her when in reality they just had headphones on)

they’re the reason why the store’s still in business | they’re basically the mascot

.✩ chopper, bepo, carrot, cat viper, dog storm

the dude everyone goes to for questions/help | “Idk go ask ___”

.✩ franky (has beef with cash register 4 bc it stops working for no reason only during his lunch break and never when he’s not doing anything), icebarg, kaku, usopp, lucci, jack, king, robin, jimbei

they’re the reason why no one likes to shop there | they have several weird allegations or felonies of some sort

.✩ trebol, caesar, diamante, dellinger, pica (he drives this mini car and always somehow fits inside it and takes up two spots in the parking lot), absalom, hogback (people have gone missing in the parking lot it’s scary), moria (would you wanna shop if you saw bro? Ik I wouldn’t 😭)

jobless for life ✌️

.✩ rayleigh (he slays idc), roger, yasopp

a/n - I think i forgot people but eh 💀 the one piece brainrot is so back 🙏

[sanjiyue]

law; misguided loyalty 1

next

doflamingo family!reader x law, angst

As a member of the Doflamingo family, you embark on a perilous mission to secure a supposed cure for disease, fervently believing in your dedication to Doflamingo.

Little do you know that Law, is also out seeking control of the cure.

When your paths cross in the New World, tensions arise as Law, aware of the dangers involved with the underground boss, tries to convey the truth about the misleading mission.

Will the ties to the Doflamingo family shatter, allowing both Law and you to find a new understanding, or will the echoes of the past prove too powerful to overcome? Explores the complexities of allegiance, trust, and the consequences of leaving behind a life bound by shadows.

[1.3k wc]

[10 years ago]

You peeked out from behind the feathered drapings of a bright pink coat, curiously stretching your neck to try and get a glance at the little boy before you.

When you opened your mouth to introduce yourself, he glaringly stared in your direction, defiantly.

You could only shake from how the bloodlust rolled off of him, erupting in waves before your eyes.

"Now, children, we can all learn to get along, can't we? We're all family after all!" The man before you laughed as he bent down to bring you before him.

You struggled a little, digging your heels into the floor as he brought you out, unwilling to meet whoever this was before you.

"This is Law! He'll begin training with you soon, so let's all get along."

Reaching for the man's hand that you knew as Doffy, "fine!"

You glared back at the small boy, asserting your possessiveness over the young master.

His golden eyes gave you a condescending look as if you were five years younger than him. "Whatever. Don't get in my way."

Your spare hand turned into a fist and you held it up to his face. "I didn't even say anything to you yet!"

The distinctiveness of his face turned fuzzy, and the world softened its outlines.

And it faded.

"Hey."

A voice draws you back to the current. You lift your dipped head, still a little drowsy, eyes flinching against the bright sunlight that always flooded the upstairs throne room in peaceful Dressrosa.

You set your heavy-lidded eyes on your young master, who was lazily stretched in his chair, comfortable and seemingly at-ease.

"You seem quite comfortable now after I fed you that mirage fruit, don't tell me you're going to start slacking now that you're my right hand."

He stood up before the sun rays, stretching a hand your way, languid.

There was a hint of a smile as you took his hand, soaking in his every word, "no way! We're a family right? I'm going to try ten times as hard to protect us."

Doffy's face stretched a chesire smile as he fixated upon you, "good. With mirage and String-String fruit--"

His luringly sweet voice was interrupted by a loud and sudden slam through the door.

"It's Law! He's--"

"Vergo, my old friend." Doffy took a step sideways, revealing you in his shadow, "let's be a little more considerate."

Vergo let out a cough, "Law is in the foyer."

Doffy sensed you tense up behind him. "Now now," he had a wry smile, "we don't want to rile up the little one."

"This is beneath you, young master, I will go." You ran out the door Vergo pushed through, their conversation fading in the background as you were out of earshot.

"Don't you ever run out of string doing that? 'Doffy'.".

The man in question barks out a laugh in reponse.

As you hurried down the steps, you thought back to all the times Doffy unheaved dreadful news of Law Trafalgar.

First the purging of a hospital, and now this. He dares to show his ungrateful face here to the family that raised and loved him.

If Doffy deemed him the source of the hatred of man, then you hated him with your whole being.

For as the young master breathed, you lived.

The door to the foyer swung open, sunlight greedily filling the unsettling and tense room. The sight before you left you breathless.

There, standing in the center of the room, was Law-- or at least, what appeared to be him. His silhouette was unmistakable, the familiar hat casting a shadow over his face.

But as your eyes adjusted to the low light, the details became clearer, and a knot tightened in your stomach.

Baby Five struggled in his grasp, even more so as she came upon the sight of you. "Get out of here!"

"Law," you were caught off-guard, uneasy at the sight of your beloved family member at his mercy.

His gaze slowly lifted, golden eyes lifeless and cruel with a hint of malevolence. He raised a sword above Baby Five.

Before you could even move, he spared no hesitation for relationship ties and struck down, steel slicing flesh. Baby Five groaned, her whole being filthy with dark blood.

You shook with what felt like a stab in the back. Even Baby Five, one of the closest members to Law while he was here, cut into like it was nothing.

Disillusion gripped your heart, and all possible fond memories of Law extinguished to the flames of the burning fury.

Then, like nothing happened, he released his grip and disappeared, leaving his message of threat.

You rushed to Baby Five's side, hands shaking. "Doff--" Before you could finish your cry, he appeared at your side.

As the shattered remnants of your sentimentality lay scattered around you, you found a source of solace in your young master's presence.

"My dear, to think that Law would cast you aside without another doubt in his mind," he purred, gathering Baby Five in his arms, "how thoughtless."

"Doffy, I need to go after him, just--"

The young master looked at you with unnerving complexity, "no. I could never lose you the way he wants to get rid of you. I need you for my future, our family's future. A future where your true potential will flourish, right alongside me."

His words pulled you in like a venomous secret he was dying to spill. "I will take care of Baby Five. Go back upstairs and wait with Vergo, there's something I need to talk to you about."

In the fascade of comfort meticulously crafted, you found yourself willingly ensnared by his allure and the intricate web of manipulation woven deep in your fragile emotions.

Your fury dulled, you forced yourself to stand up. You took one more look at Baby Five, her fingers grazing yours as you stood.

"That damn Law," she stuttered, "he has no sentimentality-- a monster."

Your hands balled into fists. "The next time I see him, I swear I won't go easy on him." You promised her.

Doffy's Machiavellian smile crept onto his face. "Good. Now go up."

As you climbed the stairs, you could barely hold it together. You entered the room to Vergo's waiting figure.

"Ah," he glanced up at you. "Do you know how Joker's plan to cure the Chrono Crystal Fever is coming?"

You stirred.

The Chrono Crystal Fever was a rare condition where individuals developed a crystalline sheen. Victims were said to have been unable to distinguish between past and current events, progressing into madness.

"I didn't know the young master was planning on finding a cure."

Vergo paused meticulously, "yes, I suppose it would procure a new line of income. I heard the young master is in a hurry to obtain the ingredient before others discover it."

"I guess it would be beneficial for the family to have a monopoly on the cure." Guess? It was the means of an end. There's no way Doffy could let up such an important opportunity.

"I would go myself if I could."

You drew your attention to the voice, the young master in his eminence against the doorway, "it's a real shame. But as my right hand, you'll go in my stead right?"

If he ordered death, you would die. If he craves blood, you spill. This was the man that was going to be the King of the Pirates.

The source of your comfort and familiarity and warmth. One of the only people in this world that seemed to treat you with preciousness.

"Of course," you tilted your head as if it was ever an option to say no. "Whatever you will, it is done."

He tilted his head at your devotion.

"For you, young master, this family would lay down kingdoms."

[k8epot8e]

Train in Vain: Chapter 9 Another Time

Summary:

Doflamingo has you cornered and that's never a good place to be.

Notes:

The boys are back. (Y/N) continues making bad decisions. Will we see Dofy again?

TWs: Panic attack, acute anxiety, intimidation, drinking, cursing.

You considered your options and quickly realized that you had few. The colossal man had you quite literally cornered.

“Hah. Was just heading out. Like Vergo.” You managed to exhale while staring at the floor, avoiding his shielded eye contact.

“Now, that’s no fun. You’ve never been here before and you’re leaving after thirty minutes?” He tsked. “Don’t hurt the host’s feelings. Join me for a drink. I insist.” He retracted his long arm from its aggressive position in front of your face and turned, walking back towards the bar.

Immediately, you felt propelled to follow; you were a celestial body pulled into his overwhelming orbit.

You trailed behind him as he maneuvered through the long room. The fancily-dressed guests chatted with him as he passed. You found it difficult to keep up with him, despite his laidback pace and his hunched, somewhat peculiar way of walking. You guessed that each movement of his long legs equaled about three of your pokey strides.

After a couple of minutes of acting like his shadow, you and Dofy finally reached the bar.

Great, you thought, right back where I started. The long man turned around to face the room, resting his elbows on the bar’s wooden lip. You stood awkwardly at his side, attempting to convey confidence through leaning nonchalantly like Dofy.

Without any conversation or knowing glances, the bartender promptly delivered a bright green drink in a coupe glass to Doflamingo’s right hand.

“She’ll have one as well,” Dofy said without turning around. He sipped his drink.

You watched the green liquid travel past his lips. It had to be absinthe, you thought, as you couldn’t imagine Doflamingo drinking grasshoppers.

The bartender returned and handed you an identical drink. You’d only had absinthe once before. You felt Dofy’s eyes studying you despite his head remaining still. There was no alternative, you decided, and you took a big swig.

The man’s evil grin grew.

“Nice isn’t it? I have it imported from France.” Dofy said.

Surprisingly, you quite liked the cocktail. It was herbaceous and smooth. You offered the intimidating kingpin the most genuine smile you could muster.

“You’ll have to come by our little meeting space more often. I have others you can try as well. I stock nothing but the best.” He said.

There was a brief silence that you did not feel compelled to fill. The two of you watched the people at the party milling about, playing cards, and talking in groups.

“You are different than I’d thought.” He said breaking the comforting silence. His serpentine tongue danced between the corners of his mouth.

You held your breath.

“But if you haven’t noticed, fufu, everyone in the family is very different.” He chuckled. “You’ve been doing good work for me in the south, Monet. How has your position in the lab been treating you?” He asked.

Shit. This was what Smoker had warned you about.

“It’s going as smoothly as it can be. Ha.” You replied. You could hear your heartbeat ringing in your ears again.

“Caesar isn’t giving you too much trouble?” Doflamingo asked cheekily, finishing his drink. He positioned the coupe glass above his right shoulder; the vigilant bartender appeared out of thin air to replace the empty glass promptly with another.

“Well, you know Caesar.” You said and took another sip of your drink, looking away.

You felt the air thin around you. Doflamingo didn’t move, his trademark smirk still adorning his face. Nothing in your exchange was noticeably different, but you felt something fall out of place. An unspoken and intangible faultline appeared in your discourse. Normally, you wouldn’t have paid this any mind but with Doflamingo, you knew it meant danger.

Dofy stood up out of his lounged position and he turned, pointing his body towards you. You were caught in the crosshairs of his full attention. Your pulse drummed like incoming enemy fire in your ears.

“Tell me about the development of our new drug. I’d love to hear your perspective.” Dofy said, licking the left corner of his mouth.

You couldn’t tell if he knew or what he knew. All you knew was that you were absolutely fucked. Even if somehow he hadn’t caught on yet, he would soon. You were trapped.

Your body flipped an internal switch, all the blood rushed to your head as your gut sank and your heartbeat threatened to break through your ribs. Your brain yanked you unceremoniously into a panic attack.

You stared into Dofy’s sunglasses, mouth agape, body short-circuiting.

“W—well—” You stammered.

Suddenly, a large body slipped quickly towards you. The mass bobbed and weaved between the groups of guests. It was Trebol. He slid into Dofy’s side, placing a damp hand on the man’s right shoulder.

Doflamingo snapped to attention. “Trebol, what is it?”

“Law…is in the warehouse! He’s…destroying the new shipments! We need…you to help us handle him!” Trebol attempted to whisper while panting.

Doflamingo’s smile faltered for the first time all night. He furrowed his brow, hesitating.

He considered you and sneered, “We’ll finish this another time.”

Dofy huffed, promptly turning on his heel, and swept down one of the hallways at the other end of the bar with Trebol close behind.

--

At first, you didn’t move. Tears welled in your eyes and your jaw still hung slack. Your body trembled. Your brain finally locked in.

You propelled yourself, stumbling through the crowds of buzzing, happy people in a daze. Colors bled into one another and noises sounded tinny and sharp; your poor overstimulated brain attempting to keep up with your surroundings.

On reaching the parlor, you broke into a run as you fled down the steep staircase. You opened the door to the dive bar. Not seeing any sign of Disco, you kept running, throwing open the front door of the dive as the bell clanged loudly.

The cold, outside air stung your cheeks and lungs as you gasped for breath. You broke into a sprint, running down the sidewalk as fast as you could. You couldn’t remember if this was the right way back to the police cruiser, but it didn’t matter. As long as it was away.

You saw the cruiser coming up on your left as well as some shadowed figures you couldn’t make out. You grabbed at the wire and ripped it off your stomach, dropping it on the sidewalk next to the cruiser. You didn’t stop.

Your muscles and lungs ached with exertion as you tried to speed up even more, never looking anywhere but forward. You wanted to keep running, keep going, for as long as you could.

You managed to make it another block before you felt a large hand grasp your right arm. You screamed and started to flail. Two arms wrapped themselves around you and pulled you into the chest of a person behind you. You continued to yell and writhe, digging your fingers into the person’s skin. It wasn’t until you were locked into a full embrace did you realize that the person holding you was Kid.

On recognizing your friend you stopped screaming but your body continued to shake. He used a large hand, gently but firmly, to tilt your chin so that your eyes met. His amber gaze was stern and unwavering. Hot tears flooded your eyes blurring your vision of him. You began to sob.

--

The two of you stayed like that. You sobbing and vibrating with Kid silently holding you firm against him. After a couple of minutes, your shaking slowed and the gaps between your sobs lengthened. You felt your heartbeat recede back to your chest.

You suddenly realized that, in your panic, you’d dug your fingernails into Kid’s chest. You’d clawed deep enough to draw blood. You gasped and withdrew your fingers, watching his blood trickle down from the marks you scratched into his skin.

“Eustass I—” You stammered.

“It’s fine.” He said, “Wouldn’t be the first time a woman has left some marks on me.”

You were still preoccupied enough with your own emotions to not have the brain space to react to his little brag.

From behind Kid’s large shoulders, you saw Kil tentatively approach the two of you. Kid released his wrought-iron grip on you as Kil came over and pulled you into an embrace. His enormous arms coiled you tightly into his body, the side of your face resting against one of his large pecs.

You knew that you were finally coming down from the panic attack by your body’s reaction to your proximity to his boobs. Your ear against his chest, you could hear him inhale, gathering air to say something to you but he changed his mind and stayed silent.

He released you slowly and you took a step back. Both men were now eyeing you with concern.

“Where’s Franky?” You asked, breaking the silence.

“Smoker sent him home,” Kil said. “They said they’d give you a ride. We’ll be fine since we’re not too far from the venue.”

There was a pause.

“What do you mean?” You asked.

Kil hesitated. “Smoker and Tashigi said they’d give you a ride home.”

“You—you're sending me home?” You asked.

“Well…no. But—” Kil began.

“I risk my ass for you two and you try to pawn me off on the cops the minute I turn around?” You raised your voice, surprised at the hurt you felt.

“You know it’s not like that. We just assumed you wouldn’t want to keep going.” Kil said. He sighed. “(Y/N) you heard Smoker. We’re criminals. We didn’t tell you earlier because we were having a good time but being with us put you in danger. Doflamingo had you cornered! We were this close to—” He trailed off. It was the first time you’d seen him somewhat flustered.

“You didn’t put me in danger, Smoker did.” You said.

There was a brief silence.

“Also, frankly, I’d already assumed you were criminals when I met you, no offense. What kind of crimes are we talking anyway?” You asked.

Taken aback, Kil responded, “Um, black market stuff, mostly.”

It took you a minute to think. You knew you were being reckless…again, but it felt right to say.

“You two saved me earlier tonight. Now I’ve saved you. We’re even. I could walk away, I know that I probably should and that this would be the chance to do so but I’ve never had friends that cared enough to save each other like that before. I know it’s stupid and it goes against everything I’ve been taught to do in my life, especially after what happened in there, but I don’t care. I felt afraid because I was by myself but you two criminals make me feel safe. I want to keep going. I’m not going to let you send me home. I went in there in the first place to save you because I wanted to keep hanging out with you so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Neither man spoke. After a minute, Kid turned and began walking in the opposite direction.

“Alright, let’s go then.” He said

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

Side to Side

Chapter 252: The Side Effects Of Being Missing

Notes:

Characters: Law Rating: Teen Warnings: Language Notes: Another short chapter >:). Are you ready for this? Things start to get bonkers next chapter.

Law tried not to show his shaking hand.

He seemed to have the advantage and he had a good poker face, but Ruby’s absence was not in the cards. 

There was always something in the back of his mind saying that there was a slight chance of something not great happening to his gardener, but his plan was practically flawless. Or so he thought. There was something off about this island.

Didn’t Doflamingo give up his titles? Why in the hell are the natives acting as if nothing happened? Something wasn’t right and the fact that Ruby was missing wasn’t helping . 

No, not missing. She had to be on Green Bit. That’s where they agreed to meet if they hadn’t met on the shore. Ruby was smart and skilled, she was very good at what she did and had spent years avoiding marines, pirates, and the World Government. She was just late once again. He was going to lecture the shit out of her when they were alone.

The bridge was exactly as Ruby described, aside from the mysterious small voice that drug the fish away. Ruby had mentioned the ridiculous notion of fairies in the town. She even said that something of hers went missing more than once but Law just assumed that she was being an airhead and misplaced it. 

God, he would love to see that airhead on Green Bit in her heels and short skirt.

But, as fate would have it, she wasn’t on Green Bit either. 

Where was she?

His heart sped up in anxiety. He winced when it squeezed in pain. The damn thing was being a hassle. He had repaired the tear! He had gotten three days of rest. He should be fine!

Fucking Vergo.

Law hadn’t planned on that bastard showing up and his heart ended up the loser in that scuffle. He gritted his teeth, trying to mask the pain as he stood on the shore with Ceasar, waiting for Doflamingo.

Ruby was going to murder him when she found out about his heart. Not that he minded. Them giving back each other’s hearts was the best decision he’s made in a while. He remembered her hurt but understanding face when he told her that they’d have to switch them out again. At least on his list of fuck ups, that wasn’t one of them. 

Of course to make matters even worse, this was a trap. Doflamingo never resigned from the Warlords. So what was he supposed to do now? His plan had failed and Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

Law’s eyes widened and his stomach dropped. Sweat rolled down his cheek and he ignored Nico-ya as she popped up from the ground.

Shit.

Doflamingo had to have done something to Ruby. There was no doubt in his mind now. It was all starting to come together. Ruby wasn’t at either meeting point and hadn’t called him to explain anything. She may be someone who was the opposite of punctual, but she always, always tried to keep him in the loop. She was a woman who loved talking and sometimes it took him taking her face in her hands and squeezing her cheeks to get her to just be quiet for five minutes. 

Only now he wished she was talking his ear off. Makeup, chocolate, raunchy novels, anything . He just wanted to hear her voice again. He needed to see the light in her eyes as she spoke about things that he didn’t care about but was willing to entertain because it was her .

 Dammit. Dammit. Dammit !

He knew he should have never agreed to her stupid fucking plan. He should have overruled her, he should have tied her up and kept her on the Tang as she bitched and moaned, he should have done absolutely anything to keep her away from this island and Doflamingo. How could someone as clever as Ruby be caught? How could Doflamingo find her? She knew how to stick to the shadows in any situation. How was this possible?!

Law let out a breath that was close enough to an almost sob. He clenched Ceasar’s clothes in his fist and jerked him in anger. The idiot complained but Law didn’t care. 

Just to make sure, just to be safe. He stared down at the den den mushi . He needed to rule out Ruby being kidnapped. If she had been kidnapped then she would be used as bait, as a weakness, as a hostage situation. She was a valuable asset and Doflamingo probably understood that. He would use her to get to him and Law needed that not to happen.

He knew Ruby could take care of herself, surely if she was captured she would find a way out. Surely this was just a minor setback. There’s no way she would do anything that would harm this plan. Law took a deep breath and started to call her when Nico-ya interrupted him.

Law snapped back to reality. He needed to focus on himself rather than endless ideas and possibilities of their situation. He saw Doflamingo and realized he was out of time. Nico-ya disappeared and Law took a deep breath. 

Focus on this meeting. Focus on the plan. Focus on making sure that he could correct any mistake that had already happened.

Doflamingo was going to die, Law would make sure of it.

[sonicasura]

In your Corazon in TFP AU, while what if other people from the OP world were brought in.

Not the main cast per say, but those involved with Corazon at one point or Doflamingo, who died and some how ended up in the TFP world.

Specifically potentially enemies being Monet and Vergo.

Monet, who died in pain and grief, might cause trouble in her madness. Creating unexpected and powerful snow storms. Then, mistaking a certain Donquixote brother for her "Young Master".

Then Vergo, who played a hand in Corazon downfall. Shocked at where he was and how Corazon demise he be determined to finish the job as revenge for what Law did to him and the SMILE Factory. Basically being an almost instoppleble hunting Terminator 😥

Halfway through Season 2, there was an incident where both groundbridges synched up and temporarily crashed. This is the beginning to a original arc known as Shadow Siege. It begins when a familiar face shows up in Jasper while Corazón is walking Raf to school.

An unexpected reunion with the one and only Trafalgar D. Water Law. Somewhere in Canada, an amnesiac Monet awakens in a snowy forest. Tony Tony Chopper finds himself lost at the ruins of Greece.

Strange occurrences begin to crop, every one mentioning a mysterious shadowy figures that come in various shapes and forms. Foes neither factions can fight without help from our One Piece cast.

[pushovermediacritic]

One Piece Tier List

Not sure how well this will go over on Tumblr, but just in case anyone is interested, I've made a powerscaling tier list including basically every character in the series.

I don't even think powerscaling is in my top 5 favorite things about One Piece, it just really helped my autism to keep it straight which characters are stronger than other characters and by how much, and I kinda got carried away.

Warning, it's big, so I'm putting it under a Read More:

Characters in the same tier are not ordered by strength, just by when they were last relevant. First are the Straw Hats bolded, then other characters. Past characters are italicized.

S+ (Pirate King): Bajrang Gun Luffy, Flame Dragon Torch Kaido, Roger, Prime Whitebeard, Prime Garp, Prime Sengoku

S (Emperor): Gear 5 Luffy, Sakazuki, Garp, Blackbeard, Shanks, Mihawk, Drunken Dragon Bagua Kaido, Bigger Mom, Prime Rayleigh, Sengoku, Whitebeard

S- (Admiral): Gear 4 Luffy, King of Hell Zoro, Ifrit Jambe Sanji, Emet, Future Where I’m The Most Free Bonney, Saturn, Ju Peter, V. Nusjuro, Warcury, Mars, Kizaru, Kuzan, Sabo, Awakened Law, Awakened Kid, Ryokugyu, Kaido, Big Mom, Oden, Gaban, Zunesha, Fujitora, King Punch Elizabello, Sea Kings, Rayleigh, Pre-TS Akainu

A+ (High Commander): Gear 2+3 Luffy, Asura Zoro, Germa+Diable Jambe Sanji, Guard Point Chopper, Jimbei underwater, Yamato, Ryuo Gear 4 Luffy, Giant-Like Future Bonney, Awakened Lucci, Shiryu, Burgess, Weevil, Marco, Hancock, King, Hybrid Queen, Unstoppable Donuts Katakuri, Giant Smoothie, Colosseum Sabo, Pre-TS Blackbeard, Jozu

A (Low Commander): Gear 2/3 Luffy, Enma Zoro, Germa Sanji, Jimbei on land, Dragon Momonosuke, Ryuo Gear 2+3 Luffy, Post-TS Gear 4 Luffy, Post-TS Guard Point Chopper, Prime Don Chinjao, Dorry, Broggy, Kuma, Nika-Like Future Bonney, Ivankov, Lucci, Vegaforce 1, Awakened Kaku, Law, Kid, Guernica, Queen, Sulong Dogstorm, Sulong Catviper, Jack, Katakuri, Smoothie, Cracker, Tsuru, Dressrosa Burgess, Awakened Doflamingo, Vista, Warlord Blackbeard, Ace

A- (Near Commander): Luffy, Zoro, Diable Jambe Sanji, Demonio Fleur Robin, Ryuo Gear 2/3 Luffy, Raid Suit Sanji, Post-TS Gear 2+3 Luffy, Van Auger, Distorted Future Bonney, Sentomaru, Avalo Pizarro, Vasco Shot, Lindbergh, Karasu, Morley, Belo Betty, Stussy, Kaku, S-Bear, S-Hawk, S-Shark, S-Snake, Denjiro, Izo, Maha, Killer, Dogstorm, Catviper, Perospero, Who's Who, Ashura Doji, Snack, Big Father Bege, Biscuit Soldier Cracker, Doflamingo, Fisher Tiger, Rakuyo, Little Oars Jr, Venom Demon Magellan, Shadows Asgard Moria, Raigo Enel, Island Eater

B+ (Tobi Roppo): Zeus Nami, Sanji, Monster Point Chopper, Gigante Fleur Robin, General Franky, Don Sai, Ryuo Luffy, Colosseum Don Chinjao, Post-TS Gear 2/3 Luffy, Post-TS Zoro, Post-TS Diable Jambe Sanji, Young Jimbei, Pre-TS Gear 2+3 Luffy, Nightmare Luffy, Bonney, Atlas, Doll, Mark 3 Pacifista, Pre-TS Nika-Like Future Bonney, Koby, Giant Sulong Bepo, Doc Q and Stronger, Apoo, Drake, Hawkins, Black Maria, Sasaki, Ulti, Page One, Prime Crocus, Oven, Daifuku, Combined Newshi, Judge, Ichiji. Niji, Yonji, Reiju, Urouge, Kyros, Trebol, Pica, Diamante, Shinokuni Caesar, Vergo, Smoker, Post-TS Law, Atmos, Blamenco, Pre-TS Sentomaru, Pre-TS Shiryu, Magellan, Amaru Enel, Noland, Kalgara, Laboon

B: Robin, Franky, Brook, Kin'emon, Hakuba, Post-TS Luffy, Post-TS Sanji, Post-TS Monster Point Chopper, Pre-TS Gear 2/3 Luffy, Pre-TS Asura Zoro, Road, Pre-TS Distorted Future Bonney, Pomsky, Tosa, Prince Grus, Kujaku, Kiku, Raizo, Kawamatsu, Rokki, Kanjuro, Fukurokuju, Inbi, Fuga, Zanki, Kunyun, Prime Hyogoro, Hatcha, Sulong Shishilian, Sulong Concelot, Sulong Giovanni, Sulong Blackback, Sulong Roddy, Nangi, Goki, Juki, Jaki, Young Denjiro, Young Ashura Doji, Young Catviper, Young Dogstorm, Young Izo, Karma, Aladdin, Bege, Sulong Pekoms, Amande, Streusen, Count Niwatori, Opera, Battle Insurance Fist Lao G, Corazon, Bastille, Caesar Clown, Monet, Overdose 2 Hody, Pre-TS Law, Curiel, Momonga, Marineford Shadows Moria, Pacifista, Pre-TS Apoo, Pre-TS Drake, Pre-TS Hawkins, Pre-TS Karmic Retribution Urouge, Pre-TS Kid, Oars, Pre-TS Lucci, Enel

B-: Usopp, Chopper, Cavendish, Bartolomeo, Chinjao, Baby 5, Hajrudin, Ideo, Post-TS Robin, Post-TS Franky, Post-TS Brook, Colosseum Sai, Pre-TS Luffy, Pre-TS Zoro, Pre-TS Diable Jambe Sanji, Pre-TS Monster Point Chopper, Road, Red King, Helmeppo, Hibari, Hack, Bepo, Jean Bart, Ushimaru, Omusubi, Tempura, Sulong Carrot, Sulong Wanda, Shishilian, Concelot, Giovanni, Blackback, Roddy, Onimaru, Babanuki, Holdem, Brulee, Pekoms, Pedro, Montd'Or, Kingbaum, Nusstorte, Viscount Hiyoko, Counter, Cadenza, Galette, Sheepshead, Bellamy, Senor Pink, Gladius, Dellinger, Lao G, Machvise, Buffalo, Tashigi, Small Dragon, Rock, Scotch, Big Dragon, Overdose Hody, Overdose Hyouzou, Steroid Wadatsumi, Surume, Pre-TS Smoker, Inazuma, Hannyabal, Sadie, Sandersonia, Marigold, Pre-TS Urouge, Pre-TS Killer, Pre-TS Bege, Pre-TS Bonney, Moria, Ryuma, Pre-TS Kaku, Jabra, Flashback Saul, Tom, Nola, Kashigami, Crocodile

C+: Leo, Orlumbus, Blue Gilly, Post-TS Nami, Post-TS Usopp, Post-TS Chopper, Pre-TS Sanji, Pre-TS Robin, Pre-TS Franky, Pre-TS Brook, Skypiea Zoro, Drum Island Luffy, Iscat, Sea Beast Weapons, Caribou, Koala, Penguin, Shachi, Heat, Wire, Mink Carrot, Shinobu, Daifugo, Briscola, Poker, Hotei, Wanda, Solitaire, Urashima, Vito, Gotti, Basskarte, Kato, Bobbin, Baron Tamago, Aristocroc, Ginrummy, Viola, Giolla, Sugar, Toy Kyros, Jean Ango, Bobby Funk, Maynard, Brownbeard, Mocha, Steroid Dosun, Steroid Ikaros, Hody, Vander Decken, Hyouzou, Wadatsumi, Heracles-un, Minorhinoceros, Minokoala, Minozebra, Minotaurus, Pre-TS Bepo, Pre-TS Jean Bart, Blueno, Foxy, Wyper, Hina, Mr 1, Crocus, Loguetown Smoker

C: Adult Momonosuke, Suleiman, Gambia, Boo, Abdullah, Jeet, Cub, Bian, Pre-TS Nami, Pre-TS Usopp, Pre-TS Chopper, Living Brook, Pre-TS Low Cola Franky, Alabasta Sanji, Whiskey Peak Zoro, Romance Dawn Luffy, Morgans, Speed, Hamlet, Komachiyo, Mizerka, Fourtricks, Hihimaru, Dobon, Newshi, Diesel, Randolph, Queen/King Soldier, Rebecca, Riku, Elizabello, Tank Lepanto, Kuween, Moocy, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, Mamboshi, Steroid Zeo, Steroid Daruma, Dosun, Ikaros, Coribou, Pre-TS Koby, Army Wolf, Sphinx, Basilisk, Bacura, Duval, Motobaro, Zombie Lola, Cindry, Jigoro, Inuppe, Perona, Kumacy, Absalom, Taralan, Kalifa, Kumadori, Fukuro, Oimo, Kashi, Big Pan, Ganfor, Ohm, Yama, Kamakiri, Shura, Satori, Pre-TS Bellamy, Ms Doublefinger, Mr 2 Bon Clay, Mutation Wapol, Candle Champion Mr 3, Arlong, Krieg

C-: Kid Yamato, Wicka, Water Seven Usopp, Alabasta Nami, Drum Island Chopper, Baratie Sanji, Shells Town Zoro, Alpha, Bao Huang, Hyogoro, Madilloman, Alpacaman, Gazelleman, Batman, Peachbeard, Rook/Bishop/Knight Soldier, Mansherry, Kelly Funk, Dagama, Neptune, Zeo, Daruma, Sea Beasts, Ankoro, Pre-TS Helmeppo, Pre-TS Tashigi, Blugori, Marguerite, Lola, Hippo Gentleman, Rug Bear, Cerberus, Baskerville, Nero, Ramen's Formal Suit Wanze, Paulie, Zambai, Karakiri Destroyers, Hamburg, Pickles, Capote, Holy, Gedatsu, Braham, Sarquiss, Cricket, Pell, Chaka, Mr 4, Ms Merry Christmas, Bananagator, Wapol, Dalton, Chessmarimo, Mr 3, Momoo, Zeff, Kuro, Buggy

D+: Vivi, Alabasta Usopp, Kid Chopper, Orochi, Pudding, Pound, Pawn Soldier, Kid Reiju, Hammond, Bluejam, Fullbody, Django, Saldeath, Domino, Jurors, Wanze, T-Bone, Yokozuna, Kiwi, Mozu, Lulu, Tilestone, Porche, Raki, Genbo, Hotori, Kotori, Masira, Shoujou, Kuromarimo, Chess, Mr 5, Ms Valentine, Loguetown Tashigi, Alvida, Hatchi, Kuroobi, Gin, Hypnotized Butchie, Lord of the Coast

D: Karoo, Little Garden Usopp, Whiskey Peak Vivi, Kid Ichiji, Kid Niji, Kid Yonji, Shirahoshi, Demaro Black, Dadan, Kid Ace, Kid Sabo, Porchemy, Macro, Gyaro, Tansui, Jerry, McKinley, Mr 7, Ms Father's Day, Igaram, Kung-Fu Dugong, Kureha, Hiriluk, Lapin, Mr 13, Ms Friday, Ms Monday, Mr 9, Choo, Bellemere, Pearl, Baratie Fullbody, Syrup Village Django, Butchie, Sham, Cabaji, Mohji, Richie, Kuina, Morgan, Pre-DF Alvida, Higuma

D- (Average Fishman): Kid Luffy, Kid Zoro, Young Franky, Syrup Village Usopp, Orange Town Nami, York, Lilith, Vegapunk, Edison, Pythagoras, Shaka, Mjosgard, Hiyori, Kid Law, Kokoro, Heavenly Warriors, Shandian Guerrillas, Ms Goldenweek, Johnny, Yosaku, Patty, Carne

E+: Kid Momonosuke, Hogback, Iceberg, White Berets, Pre-TS Cobra, Koza, Genzo, Nezuko, Mayor Boodle, Chou-Chou

E (Average Human): Kid Sanji, Kid Robin, Kid Franky,Tama, O-Tsuru, Camie, Charlos, Chimney, Spandam, Spandine, Tonjit, Pagaya, Conis, Nojiko, Merry, Shells Town Helmeppo, Romance Dawn Koby, Makino, Humans

E-: Kid Vivi, Kid Nami, Kid Usopp, Cobra, Toko, Otohime, Aisa, Kid Koza, Kid Nojiko, Kaya, Banchina, Syrup Village Carrot, Onion, Pepper, Woop Slap

[emptystove]

The Long Con - Ch 16

One Piece Fanfic (Romance/Drama/Suspense)

Pairing: Nami x Law

Rating: EXPLICIT, 18+ ONLY

CW: GRAPHIC Violence

Chapter Summary: Law learns many things, including the price of betrayal.

Posted to AO3, FanFiction, and Wattpad under HortyCord.

Chapter 16 - Betrayal

Law's eyes fluttered open with a groan. The taste of metallic prompted him to reach for his face, flinching as he quickly confirmed his nose was most definitely broken. Diamante must have been holding back if that was the worst of his injuries.

The light tapping on the window that woke him earlier that day was now replaced with the harsh pounding of a downpour. As his senses returned, he realized that the sound of rain along with the soft velvet pillow under his head indicated that he hadn't been thrown in a cell like he half-expected. It seemed Vergo was telling the truth when he said Doflamingo wanted to speak to him in private.

Law slowly pushed himself into a seated position on the couch. A quick glance around the room let him know it was only the two of them there, although the shadows under the door to the hallway proved he had guards at the ready. He wasn't restrained, and his nodachi was leaned casually against the end of the couch. Both unexpected. Either Doflamingo was actually interesting in believing Law had not betrayed him, or he didn't see him as a threat even with his weapon. The second option being the most likely.

Doflamingo kept his back to Law as he stared into the flames burning within the elegant fireplace.

"What is it you care for most in this life?"

It may have been partly due to just waking up from a head injury, but Law was too taken aback by his question to respond.

"We all have dreams that we want, sure. But at the end of the day, what is the one thing you would put everything else on hold for?" Doflamingo finally turned to face Law, taking a few slow, deliberate steps closer. He tilted his head at the man on the couch and frowned deeply, letting out a disappointed hum.

"No need to be so shy, kiddo. We both know your answer to that question. You've known me long enough to know mine as well." Doflamingo raised his head upright before tilting it toward the opposite side. "Tell me Law, what do I value most?"

Law opened his mouth to speak but stopped short when the pain in his nose caused him to wince.

"How rude of me," Doflamingo flashed a saccharine smile before heading to the bar. He placed a few ice cubes in a cloth napkin and handed it gingerly to Law.

Law skeptically accepted and lifted the cold item to his face, feeling almost instant relief.

Doflamingo returned to stand next to the fireplace but stayed facing Law, casually draping one hand along the mantle as the other rested in his suit pants pocket. His smile was smaller than usual as he waited patiently for Law to answer his question.

"Loyalty," Law eventually grunted out.

Doflamingo hummed in agreement. "I was going to say family, but I suppose you really can't have one without the other." The king paused to give Law a scrutinizing look. "It's almost funny, you know. Your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness."

Law set the ice he was holding to his face aside so he could properly glare at the king.

"You're intelligent. More so than most around you, but you're not nearly as clever as you think you are." Doflamingo moved to pour himself a drink as he spoke. "Did you know that Judge wasn't the first person to attempt scientific enhancements on humans?"

Law remained silent. There had been rumors of others attempting it in the past, but the Vinsmokes were the only ones he could find who actually succeeded.

"I assume an intelligent boy like you did enough research to know that fact. I wonder though, if you were clever enough to realize why they were the only ones you could find who had anything to show for it? Come on, Law, if a simple doctor like yourself was able to crack the code to these enhancements, why do think no one else has had the same success?"

Law thought about Doflamingo's words, and his realization was disturbing to say the least. It was true. It hadn't taken nearly as long as Law expected to determine exactly how the Vinsmokes' abilities worked. He had never met Vinsmoke Judge, and although the complexity of the whole process was far from simple, he was starting to wonder how it could be that he was the first or even the only person to reach this scientific discovery.

Doflamingo's devious grin spread wider as he watched Law put it together in his head.

"Why?" Law knew he was feeding right into wherever Doflamingo was steering the conversation, but he needed to know. "Why hasn't anyone else succeeded?"

"You're so close that I almost feel sorry for you. Understanding so much but still unable to ask the right questions." The blond gave him an almost pitying look before answering his question with a mocking laugh. "Because they weren't allowed to! Really, Law, growing up where you did, you should have caught on a lot quicker."

Law looked back to Doflamingo with wide eyes as the truth of the situation began to sink in. Others tried, but their research never got far. And they didn't fail because the solution was too complex, they failed because they weren't allowed to succeed. They failed because those in power didn't want them to succeed.

"My people were slaughtered because their deaths were less of a financial burden than having companies find another way to dump their waste. I don't see how creating enhancements couldn't be profitable. What could be more important to the government than money?"

"Power," he stated simply. "Physical enhancements are a powerful resource. But in the end, it doesn't matter how much money they can make from it, if it ends up used against them. Revolutionaries, pirates, organized crime, truly, there is an endless list of people who would want to use it as a tool to overthrow those on top."

"Why let Judge succeed then? What's different about him?"

"You're finally starting to ask the right questions," he praised sarcastically before finishing his drink. "Judge is a king. His throne rests on the backs of the poor and oppressed just like the rest of us. Though, that doesn't necessarily mean they would give him free reign to do whatever he pleases, it did give him the opportunity to make a deal with top brass. They agreed to let Judge conduct his research, even allowing him to use it on his heirs, in exchange for two things. First, that he wouldn't sell it or use it on anyone outside his family. And second, and truly the most important if you ask me-"

"The control chip," Law filled in before he could continue. Law felt sick. What the government really wanted in exchange for letting Judge enhance his heirs, it was the technology to control people with a simple command. "The government already knew how to physically enhance humans. They wanted Judge to invent the control chip for them."

Doflamingo sat on the couch opposite him, while he made a show of giving Law a sarcastic round of applause.

Law shook his head slightly. "It still doesn't make sense. There are plenty of countries that aren't loyal to the government, powerful organizations like the Revolutionaries that fight to undermine them. If Judge gave the government his control chip technology, why aren't they using it to shut down those threats?"

"Because it doesn't work!" Doflamingo chuckled with a flourish of his hand. "At least that's what everyone in the government believes. I almost believed it too, until our little vixen got the truth out of that brat in the dungeon." Doflamingo continued laughing excitedly, as if he was finally getting to the punchline of a longwinded joke. "It's so poetic, don't you think? You worked so hard at keeping that information from me, but it was your own words that scared the little mouse into finally giving it up! Without that extra push from you, who knows how much longer my little Kitten would have had to work him before he cracked!"

Law's jaw tensed at both the truth of his words and the overly affectionate nickname Doflamingo was using for Nami.

The king took a few minutes before he finally calmed down from his laughing fit. He sighed heavily, finding Law's glare and returning it with a smug grin.

"I'm curious. Was there information on the control chips in the Vinsmoke files or did you figure it out in Germa?"

"It was in the files." Law kept eye contact as he answered honestly. There was no reason in trying to lie now, not that he wanted to anyway.

Doflamingo hummed. "Where is it now?"

"Destroyed."

"Of course." Doflamingo's grin faltered, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. They both knew it was pointless for him to try to barter with Law for the information. Law would never agree to disclose what he found in those files, and he would never believe whatever Doflamingo would promise him in return.

Law watched carefully as Doflamingo's smug satisfaction slowly morphed into serious displeasure. As painful as this conversation was on Law's heart and mind, he was oddly grateful for it. It had given his body the time it needed to prepare, to push past the pain of what was at best a broken nose and at worst a minor concussion. He needed to be ready. He knew what Doflamingo was going to ask him next, and he knew his answer would only further seal his death sentence in the king's eyes.

"Tell me why," Doflamingo demanded through clenched teeth.

"You know why," Law stated coldly.

"Say it."

"Cora."

Doflamingo huffed and moved to the fireplace again. "Unbelievable," he muttered as he began pacing. Law's eyes flicked to his sword, returning to Doflamingo before he stopped to point a finger at Law. "He kidnapped you."

"He saved me," Law countered.

"He betrayed us."

"He brought me to healers. He found a cure for my sickness. You would have watched me slowly die in your service."

"HE BETRAYED ME!" Doflamingo bellowed. "He was fucking snitching on me! Spilling my secrets to the government elite - the same people who you claimed to hate! My own brother. My own blood. He would have had all of us rotting in chains under the laws of the people who slaughtered your family."

Law was seething. Doflamingo was beyond delusional if he thought he didn't deserve that fate. How many innocent lives were ruined or snuffed out entirely at Doflamingo's whim? He deserved it even without the genocide he committed to usurp Dressrosa's throne. Corazon was ready to give up everything to make sure he found justice. He knew it was likely he would die for betraying his brother, but he did it anyway. He knew he couldn't take him down himself, so he agreed to help the government do it for him. He put himself at further risk when he took Law with him to find a cure for his sickness. Because he knew it was the right thing to do.

Law wasn't like Corazon, though. He wasn't a hero. He would have left the Donquixote family behind after being cured, forgotten as nothing more than another unpleasant memory, if Doflamingo had just let them go.

"You didn't have to follow him. He was exiled. He was already gone. There was nothing more he could do to you, but you killed him anyway."

"He dug his own grave the moment he betrayed me." Doflamingo's voice was surprisingly even now, despite the hate burning behind his eyes. "I treated you like a son."

Law scoffed openly.

"I gave you a second chance. I never allow second chances."

"You let me back in because you needed a doctor. You've never cared for anyone besides yourself."

"And in spite of my kindness, you betrayed me."

Law barely had enough time to unsheathe his sword before Doflamingo's attack. He deflected the king's first strike and hurdled himself over the back of the couch. His eyes were locked onto Doflamingo, but something wasn't right. The sound of steel on steel was unmistakable, but there was no sign of a weapon.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask."

Doflamingo paused only briefly before moving behind Law with almost inhuman speed. Law was too late to defend and was struck with Doflamingo's fist to the chest, sending him crashing toward the glass balcony doors. He gasped to catch his breath as the hit seemed to rob him of whatever air was in his lungs. He shouldn't be able to move like that. But his speed, it almost reminded him of-

"I know your grand plan for revenge wasn't just to hide information from me. Let me guess..."

Law sensed his approach this time and managed to parry, which he followed by attempting a low strike with his blade. The king laughed as he dodged easily. Something was very wrong.

"You were going to offer to preform the procedure on me, and then try to control me with that pesky little chip?" he taunted.

Law swung upwards from below with as much force as he could muster. Doflamingo flicked his wrists out to his side, a move that should have left him completely open for Law's strike. Instead, the blade of his nodachi was frozen mid-air.

"You seem confused, so let me remind you again. The Vinsmokes weren't the only ones who cracked the code to human enhancements..."

Another flick of his wrists pulled the sword from Law's grip, sending it flying through the glass doors behind him and onto the storm-battered balcony.

"...and the Vinsmokes aren't the only ones who have been enhanced."

Fuck.

Law had no time to think through the absolute nightmare of a situation. He darted onto the balcony. The pounding rain made it difficult to see more than a few paces away, but he was able to retrieve his nodachi. The harsh winds from the storm forced the tops of the trees in the forest below to bang against the railing. Even if Doflamingo gave him the chance to escape by climbing down, he would have nowhere to go. It wasn't visible through the storm, but the coast wasn't far beyond the tree line. Swimming wasn't an option, especially in this storm, and he doubted anyone would have left a boat docked on this side of the island, far from the safety of the main port.

Doflamingo's laugh was still easily audible through the harsh wind and rain as he sauntered onto the balcony.

Law countered as best he could with each attack. Doflamingo was toying with him. Still, the king's overconfidence paired with the slick balcony floor allowed Law enough of an opening to clip the edge of Doflamingo's signature red sunglasses.

All playfulness left the king's face as he glared from his cracked spectacles to the man who broke them, clearly more infuriated by that than the faint cut Law left across his cheek.

He was done playing games. Without a second to relish in his only successful strike, Law caught the reflection of something almost metallic moving through the air toward him, visible only by the brief illumination coming from a nearby lightning strike. It was moving fast, and it was on target with his neck.

He moved to dodge, but it was already too late. He avoided the strike on his neck, but the steel grip of the wire still found purchase, wrapping itself tightly around his right arm just above his bicep. Law was frozen. His grip tightened on his nodachi in his left hand, but he couldn't do a thing to raise either arm. The razor-like edges of the wire were already cutting through the sleeve of his coat, any movement causing it to tighten further.

His arm still bound, Doflamingo forced Law's back against the railing. He grabbed the back of Law's neck roughly and leaned beside his ear to whisper his final taunt.

"You broke my heart, Law, but luckily I've got the perfect replacement in mind for your spot in my family." He leaned back slightly, making eye contact as he moved his large foot against Law's chest. "Don't worry, I'll tell her goodbye for you."

A shocking pain ripped through his shoulder as Law was kicked over the edge of the railing. His fall was slowed only by the several branches he hit on the way down, adding new trauma and lacerations to his body with each impact until he found himself lying face up in the sandy soil.

Two loud thuds a moment later caused him to tilt his eyes to the right. His nodachi had landed only inches from his head, but there was something else. He blinked a few times, desperate to hold onto consciousness. His eyes adjusted enough for him to recognize long, tattooed fingers peeking out from the edges of his coat sleeve. His severed arm lay motionless only a few feet away.

He was losing too much blood. He could feel his breaths becoming weaker as the blinding pain threatened to engulf him completely. Just a little longer. He fought with everything he had to fill his final thoughts with one thing. He knew he would be gone soon, but that was alright. He would find him in the afterlife. The pain in his heart was starting to eclipse that of his body. He knew this was a possibility from the beginning, and he set out on this mission knowing that if the worst happened, he would at least be reunited with Cora. But, so much had changed since then.

What is it you care for most in this life?

He was slipping fast.

While he still had his wits, he had one more thing to do.

Even if only for himself.

Even if only in his mind.

He made one last promise.

That even in death, he would watch over her.

His vision was fading as two cloaked figures emerged from the trees.

Ancestral spirits to guide him to the afterlife?

The wet sloshing of their steps sounded real enough.

Hallucinations?

Given his injuries, it was a serious possibility.

Yet, something in the back of Law's mind made him certain these figures were real.

There was something familiar about the hollow laughter following them that Law recognized but his weary mind just couldn't place.

The taller one leaned over him, scrutinizing his dying form.

"Hey there, doc. It's been a while."

The other figure picked up the abandoned limb on the ground and waved it in front of his body.

"Need a hand?"

Their sickening laughter was the last thing he heard before everything went black.

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[runby2]

Welcome back Juice! Your drawings give me serotonin

I’VE GOT AN ART MASTER POST FOR SOME OCS I’M PLANNING ON POSTING THANK YOU FOR THE KIND ASK ft @cyboogs

[startistdoodles]

My wholesome pokemon story is that when I was 5 I had a gameboy. The 1st pokemon game ever played was leaf green and me being a dumb 5 year old I couldn't play it very well. So I did when any 5 year old did I went to my mom and I asked her to help me play the game. I would ask her every day how she was doing in it and I helped her name the pokemon that she had on the team and and it really helped us bond. To this day I wish that I have a working gameboy and could find a copy of leave green just to give to the gift to her so that we could spend that time playing again.

Gosh that is so wholesome,,, nothing makes me happier than a family that games together ;;v;;

[cynthi-universe-archive]

Obsidian?

So I’m definitely gonna have to do a full blown art of Obsidian. They’re a bad bitch.

[10yrsyart]

Oh my goodness! I hope someone will look at me the way Az looks at Crow in your new comic. So soft. (I love your work by the way. Always makes my day better.)

thankyou guys so much :’) it makes me so happy that i’m able to make your days a little more enjoyable. that’s an important part of why i do what i do

[every-trafalgarlaw]

someone lurking in the shadows !

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: A line not to be crossed

( Don’t forget to come see my on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord ) Deep in the Vergo cluster was the world of Hypress. A serene world of forests, exotic wildlife, and most importantly the central headquarters of the Zoomboian Trade Organization.

Unlike other trade conglomerates who have their headquarters on busy trade worlds filled with never ending streams of shuttles and ships transporting untold billions worth of cargo, the ZTO had placed their headquarters on one of the most remote locations in the galaxy. In fact it was well known that despite owning Hypress outright the only standing structure on the entire planet was the headquarters building itself and a nearby landing pad.

Some would consider this level of distance from major trading hubs and routes to be a hinderance but it was in fact a power move by the ZTO showing that they were so assured of their success that they did not need to be in the center of trade networks to know their investments were sound. This level of assurance and confidence was often enough to saw potential clients to go through the ZTO rather than other organizations, but for those requiring more they were often flown to the world itself to conduct their negotiations in person in the shadow of the ZTO's grandeur. Thus Hiplin found himself sitting across from his latest and possibly most important client. Markus Flint was the founder and current president of the outer rings mining guild. He was well built for a human which was unsurprising considering  having started out as a lowly miner himself. Markus had risen through the ranks and come to manage entire asteroid belt mining operations before breaking away to form the mining guild. His popularity among the laborers drew many miners to him until the guild was the only source of professional miners in the outer systems forcing mining companies to pay the guild to lease their members.

The ZTO had been trying for decades now to enter into the lucrative mineral trade but had been stone walled so to say by the mining companies seeking to keep their competitors at a minimum. It was only the creation of the mining guild that the ZTO decided to approach the matter from a different perspective.

If they could strike a deal with Mr. Flint then they would be partners with the sole source of skilled labor miners in the outer systems allowing them the leverage needed to pry the death grip the established mining companies had on the industry.

They had invited Mr. Flint to Hypress to negotiate just that and had sent their top negotiators Hiplin and Glom to facilitate the deal.

"Does the meal to your liking?" asked Hiplin.

"Aye," Markus began before cutting off a large piece of meat and biting into it, "if this were any fresher than I would think me self back on terra itself."

From the corner of his blackened eye Hiplin could see glom nodding. It had been his idea to procure the favored meat of humans called "steak". He had originally purchase an entire cargo hauler of the food for their chefs to practice on until they could cook it perfectly. A seemingly needless expenditure that now was bearing fruit.

"That is most satisfactory to hear."

Hiplin returned to his meal as well which was equally as carefully planned out as had been the accusation of the meat. Research had shown that humans are somewhat uncomfortable with alien features, such as his vertical mouth and oddly shaped teeth. Therefore his meal consisted of foods that would require him to chew longer before swallowing leading to fewer bites and fewer visual displays of his mouth opening to put the human at ease. Even the table itself had been hand picked for its circular nature giving all those present a feeling of equality.

Inwardly Hiplin had been frustrated with the level of subtext human culture had established over their few thousand years of existence that surpassed even the oldest species of the universe. Humans, though outwardly simple in nature, had developed a seemingly sixth sense to detect underlining messages that made them shrewd traders.

"I must say I was quite surprised to hear the all mighty Zoomboian's wanted to talk with me."

Hiplin looked from his meal to see Markus carefully examining his cup. "With all this wealth and power you have it's hard to believe what you would need me for."

As Hiplin was still chewing his food it was glom's que to speak. "We are not all money grubbers here you know, Mr. Flint." Glom put down his fork and pointed to himself. "I started out as nothing more than an accountant when I first joined the ZTO and I have never forgotten my origins in the back rows of my accounting hall."

Markus grunted and set the cup down and regarded Glom, his clear blue eyes sizing up the negotiator. "I can respect that as a made man myself, but even I don't own an entire planet."

"Yet." Hiplin finished chewing and chimed in while pointing his own fork at Markus. Not capable of producing a facial expression of a smile, it was deemed the motion would be the equivalent of the friendly expression.

Markus let out a loud deep laugh and slapped the table before raising his cup again. "I will drink to that!" He downed the contents in a single gulp before resting the cup down and swatting his stomach.

"I best step away before I make myself as big as a planet; lord knows I can't help myself when I'm around good food."

"Surely you jest." Hiplin said, putting down his own fork. "You appear no larger than any other of your species."

Markus raised and eyebrow and stood up from the table. "Are you joking? If I was any bigger  I would be hauled off to the slaughter house and sold as discount Sunday diner."

Hiplin did not reply as his mind raced. He was unsure if he should continue to compliment Mr. Flint or acknowledge his statement. His training dictated that he should never insult a clients appearance, but with humans the rules were never set in stone. If he continued complimenting him after such a statement he may suspect that his statements are needless flattery and think negatively; but if he confirmed Flint's statement he risked taking what was meant as humor and turning it into fact risking the possibility of anger.

While Hiplin continued debating internally it was Glom who spoke.

"If you were any bigger you would not be able to fit through the door rather than get all the way to the slaughter house."

Hiplin's eyes went wide at glom's remark and he shot a deathly stare at him which Glom met in turn and with a slight nod gestured for patience.

"This one gets it!"   Markus slapped the table again and laughed. "If me wife ever learned I couldn't fit through a door she'd starve me for weeks to make sure I could fit through grate!"

Markus continued laughing as Hiplin let out a deep sigh of relief. Glom was smirking as he had correctly guessed which tactic would most prevail against a human like Flint. After careful study Glom had determined that Mr. Flint was the human type to despise flattery and favored the simple direct approach in speech patterns.

 Hiplin stood himself now and gestured to the adjoining room. "Perhaps we can continue our negotiations now in more formal settings."

Markus nodded as Glom stood as well and the three made their way to the next room over. As they reached the doorway Glom turned to the still smiling flint and said "If your wife is as plum as you are than I am sure we can send you some larger doors when you return home."

The first sign something was wrong was when Hiplin noticed had stopped walking. Markus turned slowly and to Hiplin's surprise the previous smiling face was gone, now replaced with one of underlining hatred and anger.

"What did you just say about me wife?"

The words came slowly but were as sharp as diamonds.

Glom's own expression appeared surprised and worried so hiplin spoke to try and defuse the situation.

"What I believe my cohort meant to say was-"

"Was I talking to you!?" Markus rounded on Hiplin as a few droplets of spit sprayed from his mouth at the outburst.

Markus turned around again and walked towards glom. "I asked you, what did you just say about me wife?" He stabbed his finger into glom's chest with each syllable.

"I..I..What I meant to say was.." Glom was stammering now as his mind raced.

Markus was now standing in front of Glom and though he was only a few inches taller than Glom it felt as if he was towering over him now. Markus leaned down slightly so he was face to face.

"Did you just call me wife fat?"

Glom's mouth opened and closed several times while he looked toward Hiplin for help but nothing came.

Markus fixed Glom with his coldest stare yet and spoke slowly. "You don't eve'a talk about me wife."

Before Glom could respond Markus turned to Hiplin with disgust written all over his face. "We're done here." he said and then strode off to the exit with his boots beating heavily against the fine wood.

Glom and Hiplin panicked and quickly followed after Mr. flint.

"Mr flint, please accept my humblest apologies for my cohorts behavior." Hiplin spoke huffingly while trying to keep pace with Markus. "He is terrible with human customs of humor."

"Terribly so!" Glom chipped in now moving to the opposite side of Markus.

"You don't call a man's wife fat to 'is face and expect him to act like everything is fine an dandy!" Markus huffed loudly and pushed open the thick doors to the hallway leading to the landing pad. "You're lucky I don't have me mining hammer right now or else they'd be washing you out of the carpet for months!"

glom was about to say something when Hiplin grabbed him by the shoulder and motioned him to be quiet.

Before they knew it the group was on the landing pad with Markus making his way back to the mining guild's shuttle with the two negotiators in toe.

"Please!" Hiplin begged as Markus began ascending the boarding ramp, "Let us forget these last few minutes and resume our negotiations; it will greatly benefit us both in the end."

Markus turned and looked down at Hiplin with nothing but disgust across his face.

"I've seen ye true colors now and there ain't no way I or me guild would ever do business with the likes of you!"

With that he went up the boarding ramp and the shuttle ascending back into the stars leaving the two negotiators dumbstruck on where things had gone so wrong.

[sarcasticmercy]

Did Law ever blame himself for what happened to Corazon? Did he ever think that if he hadn't been so sick and needed treatment or the Ope Ope no Mi, the man might still be alive today.

Boop

       Denial would be easy. It was nearly what came out in response to the question.

       But denial would be wrong.

       It was a thought that crept up when things were quiet, when there was snow blanketing the landscape around him. The two combined tended to be the worst. The times when he couldn’t pinpoint what reminded him of it until much later were also bad.        Any time he got so caught up in his own damn head for whatever reason, it was inevitable. Replaying events like he could fucking do something about it, even so far since it happened; like he could go back and change the series of events. It came and went like a tide, and sometimes he wasn’t sure if it made the insomnia worse or the other way around.

       Most days, it was the furthest thing from his mind. He could look back on the memories with fondness.        (And maybe a tad bitter that Cora was no longer around. Just a tad.)

       Sometimes, he thought if he could’ve figured out how the Fruit worked sooner; if he hadn’t run into fucking Vergo- then maybe-

       Sometimes, he wondered if he should’ve even survived Flevance at all.

       Sometimes he might as well have pulled the trigger himself.

       A breath was taken, let out slowly. “Yeah. I know.” Flat, paired with him reaching to adjust his hat- a bid to hide more of his face in the shadow. He wasn’t going to elaborate.