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Law never thought he’d see those eyes again.
Cora had died, his eyes forever shut. The only family the man had left would be distant relatives in Mary Geoise, far from where he could reach, or Doflamingo, cozy in Impel Down, who he hoped and prayed to never see again. The older man’s eyes had been hidden behind a pair of sunglasses for as long as he had known him but the two had been very similar in appearance so it wouldn’t be shocking if they had the same eye color.
But, again, Doflamingo was locked up. Cora was dead. Any family the two had were in similar situations or would never deign to descend from their Kingdom in the clouds to grace him with their presence. They didn’t even help their own flesh in blood.
So… who are they?
The two boys in front of him were small, malnourished if their sunken cheeks and the moldy food in hand meant anything. Their clothes were dirty and torn but it was obvious they had been of good quality at one time. One had cracked sunglasses to keep his eyes from view and the other had gently curling bangs. The one in front was slightly taller and had his arm in front of the boy behind him seemingly to protect him from Law.
Law stopped himself from smiling at the display, something that was so familiar to him. They weren’t the first children he had seen scavenging, and he doubted they’d be the last, but there was something going on.
The smaller boy peeked around the older one, who had to be his big brother or cousin or something, and held the food they had found close to his chest. Almost protectively. He tilted his head to the side. That small movement was enough to cause his bangs to shift to the side and expose his eyes again.
The same color as Cora’s, Law couldn’t stop the thought from running through his mind again and again. They were too young to belong to his deceased guardian and there was no way Doflamingo would have let his children stay on the street. Whether he cared for them or not. Something strange is happening.
“Leave us alone!” The one wearing sunglasses glared. His whole body was tense like he was just waiting for Law to make a move.
Does he expect me to attack them?
“You steal that?”
“No!” the small one piped up. “I-it was in the garbage!”
“Don’t say that!” Sunglasses hissed, turning his glare on the other. The smaller one flinched back and his bottom lip wobbled.
“But Doffy-“
And Law’s world shattered.
Sunglasses - Doffy Doffy Doffy no no why - was berating the smaller boy - Cora Cora Cora is right there!! - while he seemed to fight back tears. They were both so young. This shouldn’t be possible. This shouldn’t be possible!
That’s right. This isn’t possible. I must be dreaming.
That’s the only explanation he can make that would make any logical sense. But this is not a dream he’s ever had. Usually his dreams involved him being young and happy with the man he would’ve called father or with Cora interacting with his crew. Once, he had dreamed of his parents and sister meeting Cora and how that was all he wanted. All his family together as one. But-
Cora looked up at him. He no longer looked close to tears, this expression was worse. It was one he was familiar with but hadn't seen in a long time. Cora had died so long ago but the look was one he easily remembered. He had seen it every time Cora thought he wasn’t looking. Concern.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
Law fought the urge to pick the boy up and run far, far away. To take him away from all this, to keep him safe. To make sure he wouldn't have to die for him, that he would never know more strife.
Doflamingo turned to glare at him, almost like he could hear Law’s thoughts. His expression was also familiar but it made him want to laugh. It would be fearsome in a few years but right now it was a child giving him that look. He knew Doflamingo was frightening. He had been on the receiving end of that look enough times to know that. Before that, he had seen what happened to others in the same position. As much as he hated Doflamingo for what he had done… this wasn’t him. Despite the boy’s glares and harsh words, this was a child. An older brother. He hadn’t done anything yet.
They don’t even reach my waist…
“I think you should worry about yourselves,” Law raised an eyebrow. He was fine, physically at least. Mentally? Not so much. He was confused and had no idea how this was happening.
“Are you threatening us?” Doflamingo growled. Growled!
“No,” Law couldn’t help but scoff at that. He ignored that his response made the boy angrier and took a few steps to be closer to the two of them. Both boys began to shake: one in fear and the other in anger. “Just saying that you two are sick and that food isn’t going to help.”
“It’s not for us!” Cora spoke up. “This is for Mother!”
“Shut up!” Doflamingo snapped. The next words were whispered but it didn’t stop Law from hearing what the boy said. “We can’t let him know that she’s sick. What if he’s with them?”
“Your mother is sick?” Law asked. He was a little surprised. The two brothers had never mentioned their mother before. In fact, neither parent had been mentioned except for those brief moments before Doflamingo had…
“What does it matter to you?”
“I’m a doctor,” Law stated, a smirk forming on his face. He was sure it wasn’t kind in the eyes of the boys but what could he do about that. “Knowing when people are sick matters to me.”
Doflamingo looked disbelieving but Cora took a step towards Law before his brother grabbed him. It was strange to see them so close but Law thought maybe it had always been like that. He could remember Doflamingo being protective of the Family, those he considered his.
Possessive might be a better word.
“Can you help her?” Cora asked. Doflamingo’s grip tightened on his brother’s arm but Cora didn’t seem to notice. Both boys were looking up at him with different emotions coloring their expressions. Hope and suspicion all mixed into one. “Can you save Mother?”
“Maybe. It depends on what’s wrong with her,” Law answered honestly. He had no idea what was wrong with their mother or if it was something he could fix. As powerful as his devil fruit was, even it had its limits.
“No one does anything for free. What do you want from us?” Doflamingo sounded as suspicious as he looked.
“From you two? Nothing,” Law could see the boys didn’t believe him. Hell, he wouldn’t have believed him either at their age. “I’d have to discuss it with your parents.”
“We don’t have anything,” Cora sounded sad. The boy practically wilted.
“Let me examine your mother,” Law held his hand up when the boys rushed to speak. Doflamingo looked angry at having been interrupted and Cora covered his mouth with his free hand. “Doctors take an oath to help their patients. I’ll do everything to help her.”
And he would. Whether this was a dream or something else entirely, he would do what he could to help Cora. If he ended up helping Doflamingo and maybe the boy wouldn’t grow up to be the type of person he was before? That would be a bonus. If he woke up tomorrow and nothing had changed because it was just a dream? He could handle reality. He had before.
“The other doctors wouldn’t,” Doflamingo spoke up when he realized Law was done. He was still glaring but the expression he wore was different. He looked more upset than Law had ever seen. Even when his plans had fallen apart and he’d lost the Family and Dressrosa. Doflamingo had never trembled.
Law was finding it difficult to keep connecting the child in front of him to the man in his memories.
“Well, they aren’t very good doctors then,” Law stated, simply. He knew there were few who could rival his abilities but also knew his bedside manners left much to be desired. Chopper had always been better than him in that regard. But that was a matter for another time. “I’ll tell them that if we see them.”
Cora giggled - Giggled! - before he turned to his brother and tugged on his sleeve. “Please, Doffy,” he pleaded. This interaction was so different from the last time he had seen the brothers together! “I’ll do anything if Mother will get better!”
Doflamingo stared at his brother, jaw clenched. After a moment of silence, he relaxed and nodded. There was even a small, barely noticeable smile directed towards the younger boy. “We’ll take him back.”
Cora seemed like he wanted to jump for joy but was too weak to do so. He did, however, dash towards Law and grabbed his hand before he started pulling with all the strength he had. Doflamingo didn’t follow his brother but started walking so he was in the lead. He stayed silent as Cora babbled and asked about everything he could think of.
“Oh!” Cora suddenly cried out. He stopped pulling on Law’s arm and looked up at him. “You don’t know our names!”
“I know his name is Doffy,” Law said and motioned towards the boy waiting for them about 7 feet away. “You’ve said it a few times.”
“Doffy is my big brother,” Cora-san said, smiling. “My name is Rosi!”
“Rosi, huh?” Law hummed. He tried to remember if he had ever heard anyone call his mentor ‘Rosi’ in the past but couldn’t think of a single time. If Doflamingo had called him that, he had only done it when the two were alone. The other Family members had always called him Corazon or Cora. Law hadn’t even learned his real name until much later.
“Yep!” Cor- no, Rosi nodded quickly.
“You can call me Law.”
“Okay, Dr. Law!”
The rest of the walk was peaceful, Rosi continued to talk about anything and everything he could think of. Doflamingo hissed for him to be quiet a few times when the younger would mention anything to do with being a Celestial Dragon and Rosi always apologized. When they entered a junkyard, Law wondered if Doflamingo had actually decided to try and attack him. He kept his guard up but Rosi didn’t act any different.
Then a ramshackle hut came into view. Rosi took off towards the door and started yelling excitedly. Law couldn’t make out what the boy was saying and wondered if he was speaking a different language. Before he could think more on it the sound of coughing and heavy breathing suddenly came from the hut.
Doflamingo took off, yelling as well.
They live here?
The second Law walked through the door, Doflamingo was at his side. The boy grabbed his hand and pulled. “Help her!” He demanded. Law could feel the shaking of Doflamingo’s hands as they pulled him towards the singular bed in the one-room hut.
The woman in the bed was obviously their mother. She had the same blonde curls as Rosi even if it was a few shades lighter than her children’s. Her eyes were a few shades darker than Rosi’s and Law wondered if they matched Doflamingo’s. She was a sickly shade of white and her skin looked clammy with sweat dotting her forehead.
She tried to open her mouth to speak but another round of coughing had her hunching over. Law narrowed his eyes and stepped so he was right next to the bed and her.
“My name is Law. I am a doctor here at the request of your sons,” he spoke as he worked. He was missing most of the tools he would need but he could figure out what was wrong with her before going to get the tools to treat her.
She looked up at him with hazy, watery eyes and Law realized just how ill she was.
“They brought you?” Her voice was soft even with the coughs wracking her body. “My husband-“
“We will discuss payment later. Please take a deep breath,” he leaned down and pressed his ear to her back. She startled but did as instructed. Fluid in her lungs. He stood up, pressing a hand to neck for her pulse. “Rosi, Doffy, one of you count to 60. Slowly, please.”
Rosi did so but started to lose count near 30 - he was crying so hard it was a wonder he made it that far - so Doffy finished for him. Both boys were looking between him and their mother, clearly distressed by the whole situation.
Heart beat is sluggish. She is feverish as well.
“Have you been experiencing any pain?”
“A little. My body has been sore for quite some time,” She glanced at her sons then looked back at Law. She continued in a much quieter voice. “Sometimes, in my chest, it feels… sharp? The pain is sudden and there’s nothing to be done until it passes.”
It’s a miracle she’s made it this long. I can’t imagine the husband is any better. Law turned to glance at the boys. Same for them.
“I can’t be sure but I believe I know what’s wrong,” Law frowned when he looked back at the woman in front of him. “It is treatable but there is no point if you continue to stay here.”
“You said you’d help her!” Doffy shouted, stomping his foot.
“Doffy!” Their mother turned to him, frowning but obviously not mad. She might not even have the strength to be mad.
“He did!” The boy was upset, shoulders shaking and mouth pressed into a firm line. He was refusing to look at Law now.
“I did,” Law spoke before anyone could get more worked up. The last thing they needed was for the poor woman to have another coughing fit. “And I will.”
Doffy whipped his head around to look at him. Rosi clung to his brother’s arm and it seemed to calm the other boy down and keep him grounded.
“Your mother is very sick. I can treat her but,” Law hated the way they all stared at him. They were all so similar it was easy to tell what they were thinking. “Living here is making it worse. The cold and damp will kill her if whatever you are all eating, or not eating, doesn’t do it first.”
She wasn’t surprised but the boys were. Doffy looked shocked for just a moment before an angry expression replaced it. But he didn’t shout, mindful of his mother’s scolding. Rosi looked devastated, tears silently slipping down his cheeks while he tried to wipe them away without anyone noticing.
“We don’t have any money to pay for treatment. My husband is trying to contact,” she paused and looked afraid for a moment. “He’s trying to contact family for help.”
“The Celestial Dragons won’t help,” Law knew that. Everyone knew that. The sky is blue, the Grand Line is crazy, and Celestial Dragons don’t help people. “I’m guessing that’s one of the reasons people won’t help you?”
A silence fell upon the room. Doffy quickly moved to hide Rosi behind him, fists clenched and ready to attack if need be.
“You knew?” Their mother’s voice was a whisper when she managed to speak.
“What does it matter to me?” Law shrugged. That answers some questions. “I’ve treated marines, pirates, and civilians. I’m a criminal myself. Your past doesn’t matter when you’re dying.”
“They burned down our home,” She smiled sadly. “Everything we had burned along with it and whatever was left was scavenged soon after. My husband tries but we can’t afford anywhere to live let alone food.”
“Mother!” Rosi launched himself onto the bed to bury his face in her stomach. He wasn’t even trying to hide that he was crying now. He was muffled when he next spoke. “Please, Dr. Law!”
“What do you want to help her?” Doffy asked. He sounded closer to the Doflamingo of his memories now. He was angry… desperate in a way no child should ever be.
Law didn’t like that.
“Nothing.”
They all turned to stare at him.
“I only accept payment after treatment is done,” the lie came easy to him. What did money matter if this was a dream? If it wasn’t a dream it mattered even less. “After treatment, I will decide what payment is needed.”
“That’s…”
“Darling! Boys! I’ve returned.”
Everyone in the room sat up straighter.
The man who came into the shack was obviously the missing husband and father. He looked just as sick as the rest of his family but still had a large smile on his face. He seemed… kind. Very similar to the Cora-san in Law’s memories.
He’s much shorter than I thought he’d be.
When he saw that someone else was in his home, if it could be called that, the man froze.
“Oh,” his smile changed, looking slightly more strained than it had been just a moment ago. “Can I help you?”
“Welcome back, Homing,” his wife smiled. A real one. It was a kinder version of Doflamingo’s. It was strange to see. “This is Law.”
Law stood up to his full height. He was a few inches shorter than the other man but had years of practice to make himself seem larger than life. His time as a captain had taught him to command the room when needed. “I am a doctor that your sons brought here to treat your wife.”
“He said he won’t accept payment until the treatment is done!” Doffy spoke, turning to look at Law like he was daring him to say otherwise.
“Yes, as Doffy said,” Law couldn’t help but smile at the boys and their mother. “I was getting ready to say what I planned to do for treatment.”
“Really?” Homing looked overjoyed. Law could see tears forming in the corner of the man’s eyes. He came forward and took Law’s hand in his, shaking it up and down almost frantically. “Thank you! Thank you, sir!”
“No need for that,” Law pulled his hand back. He didn’t grimace at the clammy feeling of the man’s skin but noted that he may have to double the treatment for his sake. He could tell that both parent’s weren’t eating nearly enough and knew they were probably giving Rosi and Doffy their shares. “First off, we will need to move you all somewhere else.”
When Homing started to speak, Law cut him off.
“I will find a house to rent for the duration of treatment. I’m new to town and also need a place to stay and work,” If Law used his Captain voice, who was there to notice. “I will return here once I have found a place. I would say one of you could accompany me but I feel like the citizens here would react better if I was alone.”
Homing and his wife shared a look before nodding. They were desperate. They needed help and they had no other option. They could put their trust in this man. For their sons.
“The people of this island care little for us,” Homing said, softly. “You’d be correct in assuming that being seen with us might get you hurt.”
“Hurt me?” Law couldn’t help but laugh. There were few people he would lose to in a fight and none of them were in the room currently. Some might not even exist yet and wasn’t that a thought. “They can’t hurt me.”
Without another word, Law walked from the shack and headed back towards the center of the city.
—
Half a day and multiple massive headaches later, Law was standing outside of his new home with sleeping Rosi in his arms. The Donquixotes had next to no belongings to bring with them so it was no trouble for him to carry a bag and the boy. Rosi had been so excited but crashed before they had even left the junkyard.
The trip had been made in silence and had taken the better part of an hour. Homing and his wife, who Law had learned was named Lucinda, had apologized quietly for their frequent breaks. Between that and the fact that Law had taken the side streets to avoid people, the trip was slow going but Law had reassured them it was fine. The fact that night had been falling also helped.
They were sick and shouldn’t even be moving in the first place, he thought. But they have to or they won’t make it.
Moving slowly as to not jostle the child sleeping in his arms, Law opened the door and led the Donquixotes into the home they’d share with him. It was a modest home, two stories with a large cellar, but it was more than enough for the group of five to live comfortably. Law knew he had lucked out to find it mostly furnished and for such a cheap price. The lady who had rented it to him seemed kind and had been willing to give him a discount after he helped her grandson’s broken leg. He would only need to focus on medical supplies and other small necessities for now. Business would pick up eventually then there would be no troubles.
If this isn’t a dream...
Without another word, Law climbed the stairs. He could hear the others following, Lucinda and Homing’s careful steps and Doffy dragging his feet.
“This is the private floor, no one except us will be allowed up here. Lucinda, Homing, this will be your room,” he motioned towards the smaller of the two open rooms. It had a large bed and a simple dresser. Then he pointed at the other room which had a bunk bed visible. “That will be the boys’ room.”
There were two rooms left, one at either end of the hall, and he opened the door closest to their rooms. “This is the bathroom. I’ll be going out soon to get a few things so do what you want. The landlady said there should be a few items left by the previous tenants.”
Law turned and walked into the room he had assigned to Rosi and Doffy. “Doffy,” he called out as softly as he could. The boy poked his head into the room, still moving at a snail’s pace. “Top or bottom bunk? Which would you prefer?”
The boy seemed confused before he realized what Law was asking. A small grin appeared on his face before he stopped what he was doing to frown again. “Bottom bunk. I’m heavier than Rosi.”
Law hummed and placed the sleeping Rosi on the top bunk. The boy sighed happily before burrowing into the mattress as much as he could. Law huffed out a laugh before leaving the room. From the corner of his eye, he could see Lucinda and Homing sitting on their bed with their heads close together. It was easy to see that one or both of them were crying.
Law looked away.
Dream or not, he could do this. He needed this.