Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"A cage is a cage, no matter how gilded." 

― Raven Kennedy

Law stared out of the carriage window; despite the beauty of the passing scenery, Law could only muster a sense of detachment. Every turn of the carriage wheel brought them closer to Goa—and to the fate Law was dreading.

His brooding was interrupted by the deep voice of the carriage’s other occupant. “Law.”

Law resignedly tore his eyes away from the window to meet his companion’s gaze. “What?”

Doflamingo’s brow furrowed. “Watch your tone, boy.” As ever, Law’s “uncle” treated him as though Law, at 26, was still a child. And Law had little choice but to take it; he’d learned from experience that the consequences were too much to bear otherwise.

“Apologies, Uncle,” Law said through gritted teeth.

“Better,” Doflamingo said. “We should be arriving in Goa in a few hours, which should be plenty of time to clean up your attitude. The king regent will be there to meet us, along with the crown prince.” He fixed Law with a stare; despite being hidden behind darkened glasses, it still weighed heavily on Law. “You will be on your best behavior when you meet your intended.”

Law clenched his jaw and looked away. “Right.”

He flinched as a large hand grabbed his face, turning it to meet Doflamingo’s gaze once more. Instinctively, Law tried to jerk free, but Doflamingo’s grip strengthened, forcing Law to look him in the eye. Law swallowed and forced his tense body to relax. The more he fought, the more Doflamingo would enforce his will. The less Law fought, the faster it would be over.

“You will not ruin this for me, Law,” Doflamingo growled. “I’ve put your marriage off long enough for my brother’s sake, but it’s long past time for you to do your duty for the Family. You will meet the prince of Goa; you will charm him by any means necessary and marry him. You will use your new husband to open up the Family business to the Eastern peninsula. This is the only spot on the continent where Joker does not have a foothold, and you will change that. Do you understand, nephew?”

Law jerked his head in a nod, but Doflamingo’s grip tightened even more. “Do you understand what will happen if you don’t do what is expected of you?”

Law swallowed, his mind going back to Cora, who had waved at the departing carriage from his balcony a week earlier. He’d waved with one hand as the other held firmly onto his cane. Law thought of Vergo standing in the doorway, just over Cora’s shoulder, his ever-present shadow in the Royal Palace of Dressrosa.

He thought of the last time he'd seen Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin, each member of the trio taking turns wrapping him in a hug before Law stepped into the carriage.

“I understand,” Law ground out. “I will do my duty as the heir of the Donquixote Family.”

Doflamingo held Law’s face for another beat then nodded and released it. He leaned back into his seat, crossing one leg on top of the other. “That’s a good little bird”

Law rubbed absently at his aching chin as he turned back to the carriage window, though his mind was a week back in Dressrosa and the adoptive family he’d left behind.

Whatever it takes to protect Cora and the others, he thought. I’ll do it. Even marry the pirate prince of Goa.

“Luffy, are you ready yet?”

Luffy stood in front of the mirror in his chambers, every inch of his body itching to flee as servants straightened the restrictive clothing, with all kinds of buttons and zippers, they’d put him in. Luffy hated having to wear this stupid stuff; he was much more comfortable in loose breeches and a tunic, shoes optional. It was what he stuck to at sea and made exploring the palace grounds and its surroundings much easier. All these fancy royal clothes—with layers and shoes—made Luffy want to claw his skin off. He stuck his tongue out at the mirror, as though Nami, on the other side of the door, could see him.

“Luffy!” Nami called again. “The entourage from Dressrosa will be arriving any moment. Garp is waiting for you!” A pause. “Zoro, you’re his guard. Go check on him. If he’s run away again, the king regent is going to lose his mind.”

The bedchamber doors opened, and Zoro stepped through, muttering, “Fine, fine.” When he looked up, he met Luffy’s eyes in the mirror, and his lips quirked up.

“Shut up, Zoro,” Luffy muttered.

“Well? Is he ready?”

“See for yourself,” Zoro said, and a moment later, Nami stepped inside, coming to a halt next to Zoro. Her frown softened when she saw Luffy.

“All right, I think that’s enough,” she said, clapping her hands. “We’ll take His Highness from here.”

The servants immediately stopped working and bowed to Luffy. They filed out of the room, offering shallower bows to Nami. The stewardess nodded to them in return but waited until they had all left before making her way to Luffy’s side.

“You look handsome, Luffy,” she said, straightening his collar.

“I don’t care about that,” Luffy complained. “I don’t care about any of this! I don’t want to get married. I want to go back to sea!”

“Perhaps you can convince your new husband to take your honeymoon at sea,” a new voice suggested.

“Robin!” Luffy said when he caught the woman’s reflection in the mirror. He spun around to look at Goa’s master of spies.

She smiled at him. “The delegation from Dressrosa is pulling up now. It seems only the king, the crown prince, and a small handful of retainers have made the journey.”

“That means we need to get moving,” Nami said, tightening her grip on Luffy’s shoulders. “The king of Dressrosa is not said to be a patient man, and you’ll want to make a good impression.”

Luffy tried to shrug her hands off, but she refused to be budged. “I don’t care about what some king from across the continent thinks of me.”

Nami’s eyes narrowed and Luffy tensed, recognizing that look; it usually meant he was going to be smacked upside the head—but before Nami could wind all the way up, Usopp and Chopper burst through the doors in a panic.

“Nami, quick!” Usopp panted before leaning forward to rest his hands on his knees and catch his breath.

Nami let go of Luffy and spun around, eyes going wide. “What is it?” she demanded.

“P-problem!” Chopper squeaked out. “In the k-kitchen!”

“Oh my,” Robin said mildly, putting a hand to her mouth.

“Better not be the booze,” Zoro said.

“The cake,” Usopp said, head still down as he breathed heavily. “Someone knocked the cake over. Sanji is—”

Luffy’s eyes widened. “Cake?” He might be dreading the engagement, but at least he had been able to look forward to Sanji’s delicious cooking.

“No!” Nami cried out, already starting toward the door. “The cake is the center of the banquet tonight. Everything has to be perfect!” She was almost out of the door when she seemed to remember what she’d been doing and skidded to a halt. She whirled around and pointed at Luffy. “You. Front entrance. Now.” She looked at Robin. “You’re the only one here I can trust, Robin. Can you make sure—”

“I’ll take care of it, Madam Steward,” Robin assured her. “Go, see to the disaster in the kitchens.”

Nami made a frustrated sound as she took off running out the door and down the hallway. The moment she was out of earshot, Usopp straightened, his breathing returning to normal. He grinned. “Okay. That should buy you about five minutes before Nami realizes nothing is wrong.”

Luffy blinked. “What? The cake—”

“It’s fine, Luffy,” Chopper assured him.

“The booze?” Zoro asked.

Chopper smacked him lightly on the arm. “It’s fine, Zoro.”

Robin chuckled behind her hand. “Nami is not going to be happy.”

“I, the brave knight Usopp, am not afraid of any dangers,” Usopp declared, puffing out his chest before deflating and telling Luffy conspiratorially, “But if you’re going to run, you should probably get going.”

Luffy felt a surge of affection for his friend, and he grinned. “Yeah!”

Robin cleared her throat, and Luffy’s stomach dropped. He turned to her, ready to plead his case, but she was holding out Luffy’s trademark straw hat. “Don’t forget this, Your Highness.”

“You’re the best, Robin!” Luffy cheered as he grabbed his hat from her and set it on top of his head. He was about to follow Nami’s path out of the room when Zoro cleared his throat.

“Don’t go out the door,” he said. “They’ll see you sooner.”

“Shishishi, Zoro’s right,” Luffy said. “Window it is!” He turned to Usopp and Chopper. “You guys coming?”

“As if you could stop Lord Usopp the brave!” Usopp declared, striking a pose.

“And his squire, Chopper!” the apprentice healer added with his own pose.

Luffy beamed and, after kicking off his seriously uncomfortable shoes, was halfway out the second-story window when he glanced back at Robin and Zoro. Robin offered him a wink, and Zoro inclined his head. With a hand on the top of his hat to steady it, Luffy was out the window.

As the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the Goan Royal Palace, Doflamingo fixed Law with a final warning look.

“Time to put on a show, little bird. Sing pretty now. The Family is depending on you.” Cora and the others are depending on you went unspoken, but Law heard it anyway.

Law clenched his jaw but nodded. “I know.”

Doflamingo looked like he wanted to say something else, but the footman opened the door before he could. With sunlight illuminating the carriage, Law watched as Doflamingo’s expression morphed from warning to false pleasantness, the smile only fake to those who knew what they were looking for. Doflamingo was truly a master showman.

“His Royal Majesty, the King of Dressrosa, Donquixote Doflamingo,” the footman announced.

Doflamingo exited the carriage, eschewing the aid of the footman, his gaudy pink coat trailing in his wake. Law waited in his seat to be summoned.

“Garp!” Doflamingo exclaimed. “It’s good to see you!”

“Doflamingo!” the King Regent of Goa replied. “I wish I could say the same.”

Doflamingo laughed. “You wound me, old friend. And on such an auspicious day.”

“Bwahaha! You know I’m only joking.”

“Of course. May I present my ward and heir, the Crown Prince Trafalgar Law of Dressrosa.”

Law recognized his cue and stepped out of the carriage, his own blue cloak trailing behind him. He squinted against the bright sunshine, putting a hand to his eyes to shade them. Doflamingo and an older man that must be Garp, the King Regent of Goa, stood next to one another, watching Law alight from the carriage. Law took a breath and let the mask of the Crown Prince of Dressrosa slip on. He rose to his full height and strode over to the other two men. He offered Garp a bow at the exact depth suited to his station.

“King Regent,” he greeted. “It is a pleasure to meet you at long last. The king has told me much of you.”

“All of it bad, I’m sure,” Garp guffawed. Law felt hands on his shoulders as Garp encouraged him to rise. Law straightened but still found himself dwarfed by the King Regent—who was further overshadowed by Doflamingo. “Let’s get a look at you.” As Garp looked him up and down, his large hands enveloping Law’s shoulders, Law truly felt like a child.

“Doflamingo, are you even feeding this boy?” Garp demanded. “He’s skin and bones!”

“Fufufu, trust me, getting him to eat has been the work of many years,” Doflamingo said. “He’ll put his all into studying to heal others but neglect taking care of himself.” There was a sharpness to Doflamingo’s smile as he added, “But there’s more strength in that body than you’d expect.”

Law’s stomach turned, but he made sure to keep his expression schooled. Garp didn’t seem to notice anything amiss as he said, “That’s good. It’ll take a lot to keep up with Luffy.”

“Speaking of, Garp, where is the Crown Prince?” Doflamingo asked, his tone convincingly casual.

Garp scowled as he dropped his hands from Law and stepped back. “He was supposed to be here,” he said. “But knowing him, he could be anywhere, the brat.” He sighed. “There’s a reason I’m still acting as regent despite Luffy coming of age a year ago.” He raised an eyebrow at Law. “Hopefully, Prince Law here will be a good influence on him.”

Law nearly snorted, considering Doflamingo’s ulterior motives for the marriage, but managed to hold it in.

Doflamingo opened his mouth to reply, but his words were lost as a loud cackling echoed through the air followed by shouts of, “Luffy, get back here!”

The trio at the entrance turned to see a young man with a straw hat on his head jump down from a nearby tree and take off running right toward them. He was looking over his shoulder as more figures followed in his wake.

“Run, Luffy!” a long-nosed one called. “She’s catching up!”

“Go, Luffy!” a young teen at the long-nosed one’s side added. "Be free!"

Behind them, a red-headed woman was running while simultaneously berating a more deliberately moving green-haired man with a sword at his hip. Household guard? “You let him get away!” she snarled. “The least you could do is catch him now!”

The green-haired guard yawned and didn’t so much as pick up his pace, much to the woman’s fury. “You’re useless!”

“Yeah, yeah,” the guard muttered. The woman made an angry sound before giving up on the guard and hurrying after the other running figures.

“Luffy!” Garp bellowed as the strange procession neared. “What the hell are you doing?”

The young man with the straw hat turned to look forward, and his eyes widened. “Crap, Gramps!”

So, this was Crown Prince Monkey D. Luffy, the infamous pirate prince of Goa. Law’s intended.

Instead of slowing as he approached the group, though, Luffy leaped onto the carriage, and the driver yelped and rolled off to the side to avoid being crashed into. The driver’s exclamation spooked the horses, and they whinnied and reared in panic.

Luffy’s eyes widened, and he windmilled his arms a couple of times in a vain attempt to catch his balance before going flying from the carriage as the horses took off running. Law barely had time to register what was happening before a heavy weight slammed into him and knocked him onto his back. Hard. His ribs protested, and his head banged against the ground, causing his vision to blur.

“Luffy!” multiple voices yelled furiously from somewhere above Law.

“Shishishi, oops!”

Law blinked his vision clear only to find the Crown Prince of Goa practically straddling him. Law flushed in embarrassment and tried to move, but the other prince was surprisingly heavy. Luffy looked down at Law in confusion, as though he wasn’t the one who’d just come flying at Law.

“Eh? Who are you?”

“Trafalgar Law,” Law gritted out.

Luffy blinked owlishly at Law. “Trafal— Tragal— Tafla— Torao!” There was a flash of recognition in his eyes. “Wait, you’re—”

“Your intended,” Law said. “Now get off.”

Luffy laughed and rolled off Law. “Sorry about that, Torao!” he said, pushing himself to his feet, ignoring the furious looks of his entourage. He held out a hand. Law eyed it skeptically for a moment before finally taking it. Luffy pulled Law to his feet, his strength belied by his small stature. His hands were rough and callused, more the hands of a laborer than a prince.

He’s the pirate prince, Law reminded himself as he straightened and brushed himself off. He’s spent years at sea.

As Law brushed himself off, he glanced around, noticing the arrival of the other running figures as well as some others from the entrance to the palace. Great. More people to see what is already turning into an absolute farce. Law had had low expectations for this arrangement, but this was already worse than he could have imagined. But Law had spent the last sixteen years with the Donquixote Family; he’d had plenty of experience with farces.

“Ow!” Luffy suddenly cried out, stumbling several steps away from Law, a hand raised to his head. “Gramps!”

“Those Fists of Love were for your irresponsibility, Luffy,” Garp thundered. His balled fist was still raised from where he’d struck the prince. “I should give you another for what you did to the Crown Prince!”

“The Crown Prince?”

“Wait, that’s—”

“Luffy, what did you do?”

“Oh dear,” a warm voice said near Law’s ear. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to see a tall, dark-haired woman. She was smiling at him, though there was something knowing in her eyes that immediately set Law’s teeth on edge. There was more to this woman than met the eye; Law would have to keep an eye out for her. When Law turned to her, she bowed. “Nico Robin, Your Highness. I hope our dear prince didn’t hurt you in his carelessness.”

Law could feel Doflamingo’s gaze, so he forced himself to offer a small smile. “Only my pride, my Lady.”

“See, Gramps? I’m here now, and Torao is fine! Don’t hit me again!”

Law turned from Nico Robin to see Luffy with his arms up defensively in front of him while Garp threatened him with a fist.

“Perhaps the Crown Prince is right,” Doflamingo broke in diplomatically, causing everyone to turn to him. Law wasn’t surprised; Doflamingo had a presence that immediately owned every space he was in. Even on royal grounds that did not belong to him and among other royals, he still commanded authority. “All the relevant parties are present. Why not move forward with the arrangements.”

“Bwahaha, yes, yes. You’re right, of course, Doflamingo,” Garp agreed, dropping his fist and once more taking on the cheerful disposition he’d started with. “Come, come. We’ll have refreshments and give the princes some time to get to know each other. As for the rest of you,” Garp added, turning to the others who had gathered, “don’t you have anything better to be doing?”

There was a collective, “Yes, Your Majesty” before the group, except for the red-headed woman and green-haired guard, scattered back toward the palace.

Garp then grabbed a protesting Luffy by his ear and dragged him toward the palace. Doflamingo turned to follow, and as Law fell into step with him, the king’s large hand came to a rest on his nape. Law shivered. Doflamingo didn’t have to say anything for the warning to take root in Law’s chest.

Behave, the grip seemed to say. Play your part, and Cora will be fine. Your little friends will be fine.

As Law made his way up the palace steps, he couldn’t help but think he was simply exchanging one gilded cage for another.

Chapter Text

Four Months Earlier

Law and Cora sat across from one another at the dining table, the air heavy with anticipation, when the door to the dining room opened, and Doflamingo swept inside. The pleased smirk on his lips already had Law’s teeth on edge. The king dropped into his seat at the head of the table and immediately clapped his hands. Servants filed into the room, placing a large array of food trays in front of the trio before departing. As their goblets were filled with wine, Law and Cora exchanged wary glances; there was significantly more food on the table than usual.

Once the servants had departed, Cora cleared his throat. “This is quite the spread, Doffy. What’s the occasion?”

“We’re celebrating,” Doflamingo said, his smirk widening.

Law immediately sensed the danger in those two words, and judging from Cora’s frown, he did as well. Still, Cora ventured, “Celebrating what?”

“Law’s betrothal, of course.” Doflamingo lifted his goblet in Law’s direction. “Congratulations, nephew.”

Law froze, the thoughts in his mind fizzling out into static. Betrothal. When he and Cora had been summoned to a “family dinner,” they’d known that something was going on, but Law hadn’t even considered the possibility that he was to be married off. Doflamingo had tried over the years to create a match for Law that would best benefit the Donquixote Family, but between Law’s disagreeable temperament and Cora’s persuasions, none had ever gone past the most preliminary stages. At six and twenty, Law supposed he’d assumed he’d aged out of that specific machination.

How wrong he was.

“Doffy—” Cora started to protest, but Doflamingo interrupted him.

“Law is my heir,” the king said coolly. “As the Crown Prince, he has a duty to Dressrosa.” Doflamingo turned from his brother to Law as he spoke. Despite his dark glasses, his gaze was heavy, pressing Law into his seat with a reminder of the deal they’d made thirteen years ago. “To this Family. And I’ve made a match for him that will be most beneficial to us.”

Cora shook his head. “But—”

“Cora,” Law broke in, not looking away from Doflamingo. “It’s all right.”

In fact, it was the opposite of all right, but Law couldn’t say that in front of Doflamingo. The other failed courting attempts had never been serious, so their dissolution had only been minor inconveniences to Doflamingo. In fact, Law might have thought him pleased that they’d fallen apart. But now, Doflamingo seemed determined for whatever match he’d arranged to work, and if Law didn’t go along with this, Doflamingo would take it out on Cora and on Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin.

Law couldn’t let that happen—not again.

Never again.

Cora looked pained. “Law.”

“Who?” Law asked Doflamingo, ignoring Cora’s obvious plea.

Somehow, Doflamingo’s smirk widened yet again, as he bared his teeth like the predator he was, and his words sent a cold chill down Law’s spine.

“You are to be wed to the Crown Prince of Goa, Monkey D. Luffy.”

“The Pirate Prince?” Shachi exclaimed. “He wants to marry you to the Pirate Prince?”

“That’s right,” Law said tiredly from the chair he’d fallen into once he’d returned to his chambers after dinner. His oldest friends and attendants, Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin, had been waiting for him.

“But he’s supposed to be a devil,” Penguin said. “He and his crew have overthrown multiple governments.”

Law’s eye twitched. “I’m aware.”

His friends exchanged a long look before turning back to Law. Bepo wrang his paws as he ventured, “Then why…”

“Why am I not angry?” When his friends nodded, Law let out a humorless laugh. “Cora asked the same thing.” Ever-perceptive Cora had intercepted him after dinner and out of Doflamingo’s hearing. And Law had told him the same thing he would tell his friends. “I am angry. I’m fucking furious.” He was also terrified, but they didn’t need to know that. They worried about him enough as it was, especially considering he didn’t deserve their concern.

“So, why aren’t you fighting back?” Shachi pushed.

“It’s not like you,” Penguin agreed.

“There’s no point,” Law said, feeling every one of his twenty-six years thrice over.

“You stopped the other betrothals,” Bepo pointed out hesitantly.

But Law shook his head. “Those were never serious. Doffy means this one. Goa is Joker’s gateway into the East; if he can get a handhold there, he’ll have influence in every kingdom. He’ll be the most powerful man on the continent.” And Doflamingo wouldn’t be satisfied with pulling the strings of the entire continent’s economy; the natural next step was uniting all the disparate kingdoms under one banner—his.

As Doflamingo’s heir, Law had been privy to—and even part of—many of the machinations that had helped maneuver Joker into the position of the most powerful underworld broker on the continent, and he knew his uncle would not be satisfied in the shadows forever.

“But—” his friends tried to argue.

“If I fight him on this, he’ll take it out on you!” Law yelled, his temper cracking before he could get it back under control. His friends didn’t deserve his ire; he wasn’t angry with them, after all.

“And on Cora,” Bepo added quietly, and Shachi and Penguin fell quiet.

“That’s right,” Law said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’ve all suffered too much because of me already. I won’t put you—any of you—through that again.”

Law had been a rebellious teenager and had, with Cora’s blessing, tried to run from the Family shortly before his fourteenth birthday. That was when he’d met Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin. Law had come across the latter two assailing Bepo and drove them off, earning Bepo’s undying loyalty. They’d stayed together, hiding out for a week before they again came across Shachi and Penguin, this time after they’d been seriously injured in a hunting accident. Law had jumped into action without thinking, saving both their lives with his medical knowledge, earning their fidelity in turn.

But then Doflamingo had found him.

Law stood in front of Doflamingo, hands clenched into fists at his side as Pica, Diamante, and Buffalo held Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin prone in the snow. Law’s new friends struggled, but the knees in their backs and swords at their throats did not allow them much room to move. Doflamingo’s pink coat fluttered in the cold winter breeze and the man loomed over Law, casting a shadow over him. Law shivered, but he tried to tell himself that it was the cold.

“It’s time to come home,” Doflamingo said. “That’s enough time spreading your wings, little bird.”

“My home is not with you,” Law spat. His home had burned to the ground when Law was ten. He’d once thought he’d found a new home with the Donquixote clan, but he knew better now.

“Corazon will be so disappointed to hear you say that.”

Law stiffened. “Cora has nothing to do with this.”

“Of course he does,” Doflamingo said, spreading his arms wide. “After all, you swore your loyalty to me in exchange for his worthless life, did you not? I did not take you for an oath breaker, Law.”

“Don’t hurt him.”

Doflamingo tilted his head. “What was that?”

Despite the terror in his veins, Law lifted his chin. “I said, don’t hurt him.”

“Why, that is entirely up to you, little bird. It always has been.” Doflamingo’s lips curled into a smile so sharp it could draw blood as he nodded over at Law’s captive friends. “As is the fate of these three.”

Law glanced over at his friends, noting their terrified expressions. His insides twisted guiltily; this was his fault. The only reason they were in danger now was because they’d crossed paths with Law.

“Don’t worry abou—” Penguin started to say before Buffalo pressed his blade into Penguin’s throat, drawing blood. Penguin snapped his mouth shut as his eyes widened, and he swallowed heavily as the blood dripped into the snow beneath him.

And Law knew then that Doflamingo had won. He wasn’t sure why he had even bothered; Doflamingo would always win. He bowed his head and dropped to a knee, the shocked cries of his friends daggers to his heart. “I’ll come back. I was wrong to leave.” He shut his eyes against the frustrated tears forming in the corners of his eyes. “Please don’t hurt them.”

Doflamingo made no reply, though Law opened his eyes at the sound of crunching snow. He saw Doflamingo’s boots come to a stop in front of him. Law blinked in surprise as Doflamingo knelt in front of him; he’d never seen the man kneel in front of anyone before. Using a long finger, Doflamingo tipped Law’s chin up so he was looking into those hateful shades. Law’s expression in their reflection looked small and weak, and he felt a sudden surge of self-hatred. Pathetic.

“Not all birds are meant to fly free, little one,” Doflamingo murmured. Law couldn’t help the strangled sound of frustration that escaped his lips. Rather than look offended, though, Doflamingo simply leaned forward to whisper in Law’s ear, “Oh, and Law? Happy birthday.”

Doflamingo had not harmed Bepo, Shachi, or Penguin that day, but he had conscripted them into the clan, assigning them to Law’s service and using them as leverage, along with Cora, for Law’s good behavior. Law had never forgiven himself, no matter how many times his friends assured him they did not blame him for anything.

“You shouldn’t have to marry a monster just to protect us,” Penguin argued, pulling Law from his thoughts.

“Maybe not,” Law said, “but I will anyway. And that’s final.”

Present Day

“Moving forward with the arrangements” turned out to involve the palace steward—the red-headed woman, Nami—showing Doflamingo and Law to their rooms to allow them to freshen up before dinner while the King Regent hauled his grandson off with some threatening words on his tongue; the green-haired guard followed, an amused tilt to his lips as he sauntered after the pair. Law hadn’t known what to make of that as he’d followed Nami and Doflamingo up the stairs to the palace’s guest wing. Their luggage was brought up shortly after, as the grooms had to settle the spooked horses pulling the carriage before they could safely retrieve Doflamingo’s and Law’s trunks.

Law’s room was next to Doflamingo’s. It featured a large four-poster bed; a wardrobe; a sitting area that included a couch, two chairs, and a coffee table; an attached washroom; and a set of double doors that led onto a balcony. With nothing else to occupy his mind until dinner, Law opened the doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The view was quite stunning as it overlooked the capital city and surrounding towns; it stretched all the way to the sea, which sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. There were numerous vessels docked in the harbor, though none appeared to be Luffy’s infamous lion-headed ship, The Thousand Sunny.

After the announcement of the betrothal, Law had tried to read up on Goa; while he was familiar with the basics—it was the largest kingdom on the eastern coast and made much of its money from agricultural exports—he’d known little else. He’d learned about the hierarchy of the capital, from the nobles living in High Town to the poor living in Gray Terminal, from the bandits in the mountains to the farmers in the plains.

He’d also read up on the Monkey family, shocked at its unorthodoxy. Garp had been the king for many years and fathered a son, Dragon. His son, however, had abdicated his birthright, disappearing one night and leaving his infant son, Luffy, in the palace. Little was written about Luffy’s mother, and Law found himself wondering if a scandal had been involved. Eventually, Dragon had resurfaced as the leader of the Revolutionary Army, a militant resistance group that fought against corrupt regimes around the continent. Law was vaguely aware of the group and had, at times, wondered whether they would ever set their righteous sights on Dressrosa.

Law had felt it important to know what he was getting into; after all, once the marriage went through, Law would become prince consort of Goa until Luffy ascended the throne; at that point, he would become king consort. Meanwhile, Luffy would become prince consort of Dressrosa until Law succeeded Doflamingo, at which time he would become king consort. It was highly unusual to wed two royal heirs, as both were expected to take their respective thrones.

As far as Law knew, the specifics of how their duties would be split between their two nations had yet to be determined, which is why Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin had remained behind in Dressrosa; they would either be sent for or remain in Dressrosa depending on what was decided at this meeting between Doflamingo and Garp. Law, being little more than a pawn in the entire scheme, had not been kept abreast of correspondence between Doflamingo and the King Regent.

Shaking his head, Law turned and made his way back into his room. He opened his trunk and picked through his belongings until he found an ensemble appropriate for the first dinner as a guest of his future husband. He pulled out a pale yellow undershirt and a midnight blue doublet embroidered with a small golden feathered pattern and laid them out on the bed. Next came the matching trousers and polished black boots. A belt with golden accents and feather-shaped cufflinks to match the golden hoops in his ears would complete the outfit.

Law assessed the clothing, lips pulling up into the ghost of a smile as he recognized Cora’s hand in picking out the outfit. “You are the Crown Prince,” Cora had told him when he was fifteen and trying to get out of meeting with Doflamingo’s tailor yet again; he’d finally reached his growth spurt and was regularly outgrowing his old clothing, which meant more meetings with the damnable man to be measured and stuck like a pincushion. “You must present yourself as such in public.”

When Law had tried to argue, Cora had offered a rueful smile. “You have been thrown headfirst into the game of politics, and for that I am truly sorry. But there is no getting out of it now, and appearances are an essential part of the role thrust upon you.” He shook his head. “I know you have no taste for politics, but Doffy does, and you cannot win the game if you do not play.”

Law had blinked in surprise while Cora looked back at him, a knowing glint in his eye. Was he implying what Law thought he was? “How did you—”

“Oh, Law,” Cora had said with a sad laugh, “I know you. You are a fighter. That you would fight this—fight him—was never in question.”

Law was quiet for a moment before asking, “Will you help me?”

“Always,” Cora had promised before ruffling Law’s hair. Law had grumbled and swatted his hand away, though warmth had spread in his chest, leaving him feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

One of the many ways Cora had helped Law over the years was in crafting his image as Crown Prince of Dressrosa. Most of the outfits in Law’s wardrobe had Cora’s fingerprints on them, taking Donquixote imagery like the feathers of Doflamingo’s (and, once upon a time, Cora’s) coat and reimagining it into something uniquely Law.

Law ran a hand over the stitching on the doublet now and couldn’t help but feel like he had a bit of Cora with him. It gave him the strength to make his way to the washroom and clean the travel from his skin. After bathing, he wrapped a towel around his waist and cleaned up his goatee and sideburns with a razor. He then returned to his room and started dressing.

He’d pulled on his breeches and undershirt and was sitting on the edge of his bed, tucking the former into his boots, when his door opened. He looked up as Doflamingo entered the room and shut the door behind him.

The king had also changed clothes, looking particularly regal—and deadly—in breeches and a leather jerkin in such a deep shade of red they were nearly black. It should have clashed with the pink feathered coat, but Doflamingo’s sheer presence made it work somehow. No crown was necessary for anyone to know he was royalty.

“Uncle,” Law greeted warily.

“I don’t think I need to remind you how important this dinner is, nephew,” Doflamingo said, his shaded gaze fixed on Law.

“You’ve made that abundantly clear,” Law replied, returning to tucking his breeches into his boots. He didn’t need to rehash the conversation they’d had only hours earlier in the carriage, after all. When he was done, he pushed himself upright and picked up his doublet. He started when Doflamingo reached out and plucked the jacket from his hands.

“Allow me.”

“I… of course,” Law said surprised, sensing a trap but unable to deny the king.

Doflamingo held the doublet open, and Law turned around. He reached back to slide his arms into the sleeves. As Doflamingo pulled the jacket up Law’s body, he leaned forward so his chest was pressed against Law’s back. Law screwed his eyes shut as a wave of claustrophobia washed over him. Not here, Law thought helplessly. Not now.

He tensed as he felt Doflamingo’s hands settle the doublet over his shoulders before sliding down Law’s chest. Law’s breath hitched as Doflamingo’s hands paused suggestively at his waist before slowly—agonizingly—doing the buttons to close the jacket. When he finished the top buttons, his hands came to a rest on Law’s clavicles, dangerously close to his throat.

Law shivered as he felt the warmth of Doflamingo’s breath against his neck as he whispered, “It is essential this marriage go off without a hitch, little bird.”

“I understand,” Law replied, his words little more than an exhale.

“I don’t think you do.” At Law’s confused glance, Doflamingo grinned into Law’s neck, nipping lightly. Law’s eyes rolled back; his traitorous body responded to the king’s touch as it had been trained to, starting when he’d come of age at sixteen. “Once the marriage is official, you won’t have to worry about the Monkey for long.”

“Why?” he asked, breathless as he forced himself to remain present for the moment, no matter how much he wanted to let his mind go blank as he usually did in these moments. “He will be my husband.”

“Only until death do you part.”

Law’s eyes widened, and he tried to turn to look at Doflamingo. “You mean—” But Doflamingo took advantage of the movement, capturing Law’s lips with his own and swallowing Law’s shocked exhalation. All thought flew from Law’s mind as Doflamingo bit down hard on Law’s bottom lip, drawing blood that left a metallic taste on Law’s tongue; Law winced, but he could not move from Doflamingo’s tight grip around him. He knew better than to try anyway. Instead, he went limp in Doflamingo’s embrace, allowing the king to take what he wanted—to claim him just as he, ironically, prepared to give Law to another.

Except he’d never planned to give Law away at all.

Eventually, Doflamingo ended the kiss, pulling back just far enough to whisper, “Once your husband is dead, the kingdom will fall to you, as his widower. Your grief, of course, will be so overwhelming that no one will blame you for returning home to be with your family in such a trying time.”

Law’s stomach turned as he registered what Doflamingo was suggesting. But the king wasn’t done.

“In your absence, a regent will be installed—one loyal to us, of course—and Joker’s operations will expand into Goa and beyond to the eastern coast.”

That completed, he would, no doubt, consolidate his power until he was the most powerful man on the continent.

“Meanwhile, you, my little bird, will be back where he belongs.”

In a cage with my wings clipped, Law thought.

Doflamingo suddenly pulled back, and Law felt a pair of hands shove at his back. Law stumbled forward, his legs slamming into the side of the bed. Off-balance, he could only drop into a heap onto the floor as his feet tangled beneath him.

“Clean yourself up. It’s almost time for dinner,” Doflamingo said haughtily before striding from the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Law had no idea how long he sat on the floor. After his initial surprise at Doflamingo’s true plans for this marriage, Law found himself wondering why Doflamingo hadn’t filled him in at any point in the last four months. But, he supposed, Doflamingo tended to operate on a need-to-know basis, and pawns did not need to know the big picture strategy for winning the game; they were simply meant to play their parts.

“Torao, are you—Eh? Why are you on the floor?” Law’s head snapped up to see the pirate prince himself standing in his open doorway, frowning at him. Luffy’s eyes narrowed as his gaze met Law’s. “Are you bleeding?”

Law lifted a hand to his bottom lip, which was sticky with drying blood. Shame flooded through him; he ducked his head to mask his burning face and wiped vainly at his lip, wincing at the sting. Doflamingo didn’t want Law to forget who he really belonged to in the home of his intended.

“Torao?”

Law heard Luffy take a step forward over the threshold into Law’s room, and Law felt a brief flare of anger at the breach of his space burst through the shame. He picked himself up off the floor and straightened his doublet and breeches. Allowing the anger to drive him, he raised his chin and stalked over to the door, where Luffy stood, watching him. Law towered over the other prince, though there was something in the other man’s gaze that made Law feel small, which only stoked the anger in his chest.

“It’s none of your business, Straw Hat,” he said coldly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must finish preparing for dinner.”

And he slammed the door in Luffy’s face.

Chapter Text

“Stop fidgeting,” Nami hissed under her breath.

“I can’t help it,” Luffy whined, pulling at the uncomfortably high collar on the tunic Gramps had made him change into after he’d dirtied his last one running around the grounds and colliding with Torao. He didn’t even have food to distract him from how itchy the fabric was since they were between courses.

Speaking of Torao… Luffy looked down the table on the other side of Gramps and Mingo to the man he was supposed to marry. Torao sat to Mingo’s left, his back straight and his gaze distant as he looked out over the Great Hall where it seemed like every person who lived or worked in the palace and in the surrounding villages had gathered for the welcome banquet. Zoro stood guard alongside Jinbei at the entrance, and Sanji was in charge in the kitchens, but the rest of Luffy’s friends were scattered around the hall, including Nami sitting at Luffy’s right. Torao had a goblet of wine in his hand, and he absently swirled it but never took a sip. Luffy thought he looked sad.

After finally managing to get away from Gramps and his lecture about Luffy’s irresponsibility (same old, same old), Luffy had been wandering around the castle when he’d seen Mingo leave a room and walk away. Luffy continued down the hall, pausing outside the door Mingo had just left. Mingo hadn’t bothered to close the door; inside, Torao was on the floor like he’d tripped, and there was blood on his lip. Immediately, Luffy knew something was wrong, but when he tried to ask Torao about it, the other man slammed the door in his face.

Luffy didn’t know Torao very well, but he’d been nice when Luffy had run into him earlier that day, not trying to get him in trouble with Gramps, which was a major point in his favor, even if Luffy hadn’t gotten out of trouble entirely. Luffy always trusted his instincts when it came to other people, and while Luffy still didn’t want to marry Torao—or anybody—he could see himself being friends with him.

To Luffy’s left, Gramps said something, and Mingo glanced past him to Luffy with a tilt of his head before turning back to Torao and whispering something to him. Torao blinked and peered down the table at Luffy. Seeing that he had the other man’s attention, Luffy raised a hand to wave. Torao’s jaw clenched and he looked away, his shoulders stiffening at whatever Mingo was saying to him.

If Luffy’s instincts were telling him that Torao was a good guy, then they were screaming that Mingo wasn’t. When Gramps had told Luffy that he was supposed to marry the prince of Dressroba, Nami had tried to tell him a bit about the kingdom and its royal family, but Luffy hadn’t been paying attention, more interested in playing with Chopper and Usopp than learning about some king on the other side of the continent. Eventually, Robin had convinced Nami to stop the lessons since they weren’t sinking in, which had been great. Still, thinking back to Torao’s expression when he’d realized Luffy had seen him on the floor had Luffy wondering if he should have listened after all.

Those thoughts were quickly forgotten, though, as the next course of dinner came out, servants setting giant plates of meat and potatoes down in front of Luffy and the other members of the High Table.

One course ran into the next until it was time for dessert. But before signing for the food to come out, Gramps banged on the table with a fist, causing the crockery to jolt. The noise in the hall quickly quieted as the King Regent rose to his feet.

“Thank you for coming tonight to help welcome our guests from Dressrosa,” Gramps bellowed. “King Donquixote Doflamingo and Prince Trafalgar Law have come across the continent for the purpose of uniting our two kingdoms together in an alliance sealed by the marriage of Prince Law—” He gestured to Torao with one hand. “—to Prince Monkey D. Luffy.” He gestured to Luffy with his other hand.

“Good luck!” someone called from the crowd, earning laughter from the other gathered guests.

“Indeed,” Gramps laughed. “Prince Law has his work cut out for him, bwahaha!”

“Hey!” Luffy protested, which only earned more laughter. Down the High Table, Mingo chuckled at Gramps’ teasing with a polite fufufu while Torao wore a neutral expression.

“Over the course of the next week,” Gramps continued, “Prince Law and Prince Luffy will get to know one another while I, as King Regent, and King Donquixote will determine the terms of joining our houses. At the end of the week, all of Goa will gather to celebrate the official betrothal ceremony.”

Luffy leaned over to Nami as Gramps continued speaking. “What’s a brothel ceremony?” he whispered.

“Betrothal ceremony,” Nami corrected through clenched teeth. “Do you even listen to yourself sometimes?” At Luffy’s confused look, Nami rolled her eyes. “Never mind. I told you about the ceremony weeks ago. But you weren’t listening, were you?”

“Shishishi, nope!”

“Of course not,” Nami sighed. “It’s a Goan tradition when a member of the royal family prepares to marry. You and the prince—”

“Torao?”

Nami’s lips twitched up. “Yes, you and Torao will swear to wed in front of the High Priest of the Sun God. If the High Priest believes the match is well-founded, he will give Nika’s blessing on the marriage.”

“Sounds boring.”

“Probably,” Nami agreed, “but the ceremony is meant to be at dawn to represent the start of the marriage, and a full day and night of festivals and parties follow.”

Luffy’s eyes lit up. “Festivals? Like with food and games?”

“That’s right,” Nami laughed quietly. “But you’ll have to attend with Torao.”

“Oh.” Luffy considered that. “I guess that’s okay.”

“Really?” Nami asked, surprised. “What happened to the Luffy from this morning who didn’t want to get married?”

“I still don’t want to get married,” Luffy replied with a sigh, “but Gramps seems really determined. He even had Sunny moved from the harbor and won’t tell me where she’s docked until the week is over!”

When Nami didn’t say anything, Luffy narrowed his eyes. “Wait, does Nami know where Sunny is? Tell me! C’mon, tell me!”

“I’ll tell you,” Nami said, raising an eyebrow. “But it’ll cost you. And do you know how much you already owe me?”

“Aw, no fair, Nami! Sunny’s your home, too!”

“She is,” Nami agreed. “And that’s why I made sure she’s safe for the week.”

“Traitor,” Luffy muttered, sticking his bottom lip out in a pout. “Torao seems okay,” he finally admitted, “but I don’t like that Mingo.”

“You really weren’t listening to anything Robin or I told you, were you?” Nami said, shaking her head.

Luffy scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry, sorry.”

Nami shook her head. “I’ve long stopped being surprised by your complete lack of attention to anything related to your station,” she said.

“Oy!”

“Robin would know better than me, but there are a lot of rumors out there about Donquixote Doflamingo,” Nami said, lowering her voice further; it was low enough that Luffy had to lean in to hear her.

“What kinds of rumors?” Luffy asked, thinking back to seeing Torao on the floor of his room.

“That he’s heavily involved in the criminal underground on the continent, for one,” Nami said. “And that his ascension to the throne wasn’t…” She hesitated before deciding on, “traditional.”

“So?” Luffy asked, losing interest. “Tradition is boring.” He didn’t care what dead people thought he should be doing.

“Just… be careful around him, Luffy. With the betrothal tying your houses together, you can’t punch your way out of this like you did in Alabasta. Or Skypeia. Or Thriller Bark. Or—”

“Fine, I get it. I get it,” Luffy whined. “Stop lecturing. You sound like Gramps.”

Nami’s eyes flashed in irritation and Luffy braced himself for a blow, but it never came. Instead, Nami raised an eyebrow. “Leaving already?”

Luffy turned to follow Nami’s gaze and was surprised to see Torao walking toward the entrance, ignoring the curious looks being thrown his way by the crowd. Gramps had apparently finished his speech while Luffy and Nami had been talking and had called for the dessert to come out. As a plate of éclairs was placed in front of him, Luffy found himself torn between the food and seeing where the other man was going. Torao said something to Zoro before passing through the entrance, and Luffy made a decision. He grabbed a handful of éclairs from the plate, stuffing one in his mouth and the rest in his pockets as he jumped up from the table and followed Torao.

“Luffy, where are you going?” Gramps yelled. “Get back here!”

Luffy ignored him, instead making his way over to Zoro. “Where did Torao go?” he asked as he swallowed his éclair.

Zoro frowned and exchanged a glance with Jinbei. “Torao?”

“You mean Prince Law?” Jinbei asked.

“Yeah, that’s what I said,” Luffy said, looking impatiently between his two friends. “Where did he go?”

“Said he had a headache,” Zoro replied. “Probably went back to his room.”

Ah, that made sense. “Thanks, Zoro!”

“Go easy on him, Luffy,” Zoro called with a laugh as Luffy headed out of the Great Hall. “He doesn’t know you yet!”

Luffy pulled an éclair from his pocket and popped it into his mouth as he headed toward the guest wing of the palace, savoring the sweet creaminess on his tongue. He was approaching the foot of the stairs when he heard a pair of voices.

“—d to stay off your feet for a few days,” a deep male voice said.

“Oh, but I can’t do that,” a female voice replied tearfully. “My job!”

Curious, Luffy made his way to the stairwell and looked up to see Torao and one of the servants sitting about halfway up the spiral staircase. There was a basket of laundry spilled out onto the steps beneath them. Torao had the young woman’s bare foot resting on his thigh as he did something to her ankle.

“If you walk on this ankle before it’s healed, you’ll damage it permanently,” Torao said sternly. “Your mobility is more important than laundry for a few days.” He hesitated. “The Royal Family doesn’t seem the type to be… punitive about an accident.”

Luffy wasn’t sure what that meant, but it didn’t sound good. The servant shook her head immediately. “No, Your Highness. They’re good people. But—”

“I’ll speak on your behalf. It was my fault, after all.”

“Oh, no! I was the one who wasn’t looking where I was going,” the servant hurried to say. “I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s fine,” Torao interrupted her. “There,” he added, setting her foot down from his leg. “Done.” It looked like he’d wrapped her ankle in a bandage. Luffy’s eyes widened. Was Torao a physician? That was amazing! “I’ll take you back to your room.”

The servant’s face turned bright red. “You don’t need to do that, Your Highness. You’re a guest! If anything, I should—” She shook her head. “I can get back myself.”

“What did I say about walking on that before it’s healed?” Torao said, his tone brooking no argument. “Don’t put my work to waste.”

“O-of course not, Your Highness,” the servant squeaked in reply, her blush deepening.

Torao rose to his feet, and Luffy decided he’d watched long enough. He started up the steps.

“What’s going on?”

Both Torao and the servant turned in surprise to look at Luffy. Torao’s eyes narrowed as Luffy climbed up the stairs to his side. Meanwhile, the servant’s eyes went wide.

“P-prince L-luffy!”

“Did you hurt yourself?” Luffy asked, looking down at the spilled laundry and the young woman’s wrapped ankle. She wouldn’t be the first person to fall down these stairs—Luffy included.

“I—”

“It was my fault,” Torao said. “I was heading back to my room and wasn’t looking where I was going. We ran into each other, and she fell. She sprained her ankle and needs to stay off it. I bandaged it, but if you would rather your physician look at it…”

Luffy looked at the servant. “Should I get Chopper?”

“N-no, Your Highness. Prince Law was already kind enough to—”

“Okay,” Luffy said. “Then let’s get you back to your room!” Torao opened his mouth but shut it again when Luffy declared, “I’ll help.”

Between the two princes, they managed to get the young woman up off the stairs. They each threw one of her arms over their shoulders and wrapped a bracing arm around her back so she was hobbling between them. Torao’s entire body stiffened when Luffy accidentally brushed his arm as he took his place, and when Luffy shot him a smile over the servant’s head, he looked away.

The whole thing was awkward, and Luffy easily could have carried her himself, but he was worried if he did, Torao would leave. That was no good since Luffy had left the banquet to see him in the first place! They were supposed to be getting to know each other, right?

The trio slowly descended the spiral staircase, crossed the main hall, and went down a back staircase toward the servants’ quarters. The whole time, Luffy kept up a string of chatter about the banquet—mostly about the food, since that was what he’d paid the most attention to—while Torao remained quiet on his other side.

Eventually, the young woman directed them to her door. Luffy opened it with his free hand, and they awkwardly maneuvered into the small room. They settled the young woman on her bed, and Torao propped her ankle up with a pillow. Luffy rested his arms behind his head and absently listened as Torao told her some stuff about her ankle; Luffy didn’t really know what he was talking about, but he thought Torao had a nice voice. He wouldn’t mind listening to him talk more.

Once Torao was done, he nodded at Luffy and started toward the door. Luffy waved at her. “I’ll tell Chopper to come check on you, ‘kay?” He blinked and put a hand in his pocket, pulling out a slightly beaten éclair. He offered it to the young woman. “Here, food always makes me feel better!”

The young woman stuttered her thanks as she took the pastry. Luffy grinned and followed Torao out of the room. Torao shut the door, and Luffy fell into step with him as they started back the way they came. He pulled another éclair from his pocket.

Between bites, he asked, “So, Torao’s a physician?”

“I’ve studied medicine.”

“So, Torao’s a physician.”

“That’s not—” Torao shook his head as they started up the steps. “You know what? Fine. It’s close enough.”

“You should meet Chopper,” Luffy said thoughtfully.

“Chopper?”

“He’s the physician of my crew!” Luffy replied, always happy to talk about his friends. “He’s the best physician in the world.”

Next to him, Torao stiffened. “Your crew.”

“That’s right,” Luffy said as they made their way back into the main hallway and started toward the staircase. “Have you ever been to sea, Torao? It’s amazing.” At the sound of Torao’s breath hitching, Luffy stopped and turned to see Torao a couple of steps behind him; he’d stopped walking, and his features had turned pale. “Torao? Are you sick? Should I get Chopper? He’s just at the banquet—”

“There is no need,” Torao said, shaking himself. “I’ve been to sea once. As a child. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Straw Hat, I believe I will retire for the night.”

With a frown, Luffy watched as Torao walked past him and up the stairs, picking his way around the fallen pieces of laundry, before disappearing down the hallway.

What just happened?

Law slept fitfully that night, his dreams full of sickness, flames, blood, and screams. He woke in the grey predawn with his sister’s name on his lips and knew he wouldn’t be getting back to sleep. He was usually better able to keep those old memories at bay, but something about Luffy’s question the night before had shaken them loose.

It was the ease with which Luffy treated the whole thing, from helping bring the young woman with the sprained ankle back to her room to casually chatting as they returned, Law decided after obsessively turning the encounter over and over in his mind. So readily agreeing to help someone so below one’s station was unusual for a prince, especially a crown prince, yet Luffy hadn’t seemed put out at all. That was already throwing Law off-balance, and then Luffy had mentioned his crew and the sea, and Law had remembered exactly who he was speaking with—the Pirate Prince of Goa, the Scourge of the Grand Line.

Luffy was, if Law was being honest, nothing like he had expected. Between what Law had seen of him stuffing his face during the welcome banquet and his chaotic entrance when Law and Doflamingo had first arrived, Law might have described him as silly—hardly what one would expect from a man whose crew had overthrown multiple governments.

But Law was hardly a stranger to wearing masks to hide one’s true nature. Being a member of the Donquixote court required the ability to switch from one mask to another at the drop of a hat. At first, Law had disdained the political maneuvering and façades, but Cora had convinced him that the only way he could win the game was by playing—and so he had learned.

If the Pirate Prince was who Luffy truly was, then the callow prince Law had encountered the previous day must be little more than an act put on to get Law’s guard down long enough to go through with the betrothal. Once Law was locked into that gilded cage, Luffy’s true nature would undoubtedly make itself known.

If only he knew that he had no need to worry about Law reneging on the betrothal; before the banquet the previous night, Doflamingo had made perfectly clear the price of Law’s failure to go through with the marriage.

Eventually, Law stole from his bed and made his way to the balcony doors. He opened them and stepped out onto the balcony, shivering as his bare feet padded across the cool stone. As he watched fog drift over the sleepy Goan countryside, his mind drifted back to Dressrosa; how was Cora faring in his absence? Bepo? Shachi? Penguin? He didn’t like leaving them with Vergo.

The sun had just begun to crest the horizon when Law heard his door opening inside the bedroom. He didn’t need to turn to know who had entered. The door shut, and footsteps crossed the room. After a few moments, boots clacked against the stone of the balcony. Law shut his eyes as he felt a warm figure press up against his back and large hands come to a rest on his shoulders.

“You’re up early,” Doflamingo said.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Law replied, eyes still closed.

“That’s a shame. For your headache.” His grip on Law’s shoulders tightened.

Law opened his eyes, noting the hint of danger in Doflamingo’s voice. Law had begged out of the welcome banquet early the night before, pleading a headache. Doflamingo hadn’t looked pleased, but Garp had taken it in stride, telling him to get some rest.

“Indeed.”

“It’s a shame that even with all that medical study,” Doflamingo went on, and his tight grip started to dig into Law’s skin, massaging his shoulders, “you seem unable to take care of yourself.” He leaned forward and whispered into Law’s ear, “So tense, nephew.”

“It’s said physicians make the worst patients,” Law replied before letting out a groan as he felt his muscles start to relax.

The king’s hands worked his shoulders for a bit before starting down his back, digging into the knots beneath Law’s skin. Law felt his body becoming pliant under Doflamingo’s ministrations, and his head fell back against Doflamingo’s broad chest of its own accord. His eyes fluttered shut once more as Doflamingo’s lips found his pulse point and began to suck a bruise that Law would have to hide in the light of day.

“Mm, then it’s a good thing you have me, isn’t it, little bird?” Doflamingo murmured into his skin. “No husband will be able to take care of you like I do.”

Law didn’t protest as Doflamingo wrapped his arms around him and carried him back into the dark bedroom.