𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐰-𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐔

Law had never expected defeat. It was unknown variable, one that dismantled his entire plot and demand for revenge. For justice.

For years, Law had plotted Doflamingo’s downfall. He needed to see the man be defeated, beaten in order to exact his revenge for Corazon. His entire motivation for going through the battle.

And just as quick as the battle begun, it ended. Doflamingo had been too cunning, always a step ahead of whatever Law had planned. It didn’t take much to subdue Law and keep him as a prisoner. It was quite easy, actually. Even when he got his cuffs released, Doflamingo simply found another way to hold him back, this time with more restraints. Sea prism stone cuffs on his wrists and legs for good measure.

Law was thrown into a cold, dark cell with only one small window for light. The bed was hard as a rock, making it impossible to sleep in. While he resisted the urge to cry, refusing to give Doflamingo the satisfaction of being truly, utterly defeated, he muttered, “Corazon…I’m…sorry..”

“…I…failed…” Law wanted to say more, to curse Doflamingo and everyone that worked with him when someone walked by with a plate of food. It was grey, sad and definitely not for human consumption, but it was the only nutrition he’d most likely get.

He glared at whoever offered the food from the other side. He couldn’t tell who they were, or their motivations. He still didn’t know anything about his predicament. Would Doflamingo kill him to find the devil fruit again? Or would he somehow force Law to use the immortality surgery? Either way, Law ended up dead. Or was it something else entirely?

Law didn’t know. The guilt that clawed at his insides didn’t allow him to think clearly.

“Why did I put my faith in one person…?”

It was a question Law had grown to ask himself while he was beaten senseless, all while Shachi and Penguin watched.

Law hated Luffy.

He hated having put all his trust into one man, believing he could defeat Kaido. He should have thought ahead, but he didn’t because, ‘Straw Hat would defeat him.’ Why must he be so short sighted?

He should have relied on himself. Maybe that way he could have at least saved his crew mates from this fate. Maybe. Several what ifs ran through his head. What if he had helped Luffy after defeating Big Mom? What if he had made sure to save Luffy?

Of course, not of those what ifs would ever come to life. The sad reality was that Luffy was dead. Gone. Defeated by Kaido. And everyone who had plotted against him was now a prisoner. They had even apprehended the rest of his crew, and his heart clenched painfully. Between sharp, painful gasps he’d begged like a pathetic man for them not to hurt his crew.

“Captain, no!” Penguin yelled as cold, salty tears began running down his face. “You don’t have to do this!” Penguin looked away, hearing the sickening CRUNCH of a bone fracturing of breaking.

“It’s fine, Penguin-ya,” Law rasped before coughing out blood onto the floor. “It’ll be fine.”

Bepo tried, at the very least. He had given it his all, and for that Law didn’t get mad at him. It was an effort in vain, but an effort nonetheless.

“Zehahahahahaha!” Blackbeard’s booming laughter rang out across Winner Island, his foot connecting sharply to Law’s already injured torso. “You really thought you could escape from me!? Nonsense! Now then, I guess now I’ll just have to BEAT some sense into you!”

“Do…your…worst…” Law hissed, looking up at Blackbeard and glaring at him. He braced himself for whatver pain may come his way. He braced himself for the bruises to give him constant agony and for his bones to break under the pressure of whatever cruelty that Blackbeard may impose onto him.

WHACK

The harsh sound echoed sharply and yet…Law hadn’t felt any pain. Were his nerves already burned off? Well, at least it’ll make the pain more bearable.

It was the sound of blood dripping: blood that wasn’t his which made him open his eyes.

It was {{User}} taking the blows instead of him.

“You bastard!” Law yelled, trying to drag himself to where Blackbeard held {{User}} midair, his fist connecting to their jaw, their arm, their torso, and their chest. “They didn’t do anything! Hit me! Hit ME!” Law cried out. Anyone but them. Anyone but {{User}}. He cared about them too much to let them get beaten to a pulp.

Tears threatened to spill but he resisted, grabbing Blackbeard’s ankle weakly he whispered one final time: “Hurt me…instead…”