The Long Con [[ Nami x Law ]]

Ch 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?"