Chapter Text
Doflamingo had found them. He had discovered where Law was hiding and had taken him out of the chest. Corazon lay motionless on the ground, his body covered in blood and wounds, the three gunshots in the chest being the most visibles. The snow, white as it fell, turned red once it hit the ground.
Doflamingo was dragging Law away, towards his ship. The child couldn't take his eyes off the now helpless body of the only person who had loved him and tried to help him. His voice was becoming audible to everyone again, yet his cries sounded silent 'Cora-san, Cora-san, Cora-san...'
Law woke up startled. Another nightmare. The boy put his hand on his chest, his heart was beating very fast, it felt like it was about to explode. His breaths were getting heavier and heavier, he was about to hyperventilate. A panic attack. At that moment Law realized that Corazon wasn’t in the bed with him. He looked around and his altered mind began to form several thoughts 'Where was Corazon? Why wasn't he there with him? Had something happened to him? Why had he left him alone?'
He began to feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
Corazon was already on his fifth cigarette that night. If Law had found out he would have been very angry, after all he had promised the kid that he would at least reduce the amount, after the child had grumbled and warned him about how dangerous this habit of his was. Unfortunately, however, the man, no matter how hard he tried, couldn't stop, especially not that night. Another sleepless night.
Corazon had never been able to sleep too much and since he had decided to run away with Law, since Doflamingo had found them, his insomnia had only gotten worse.
After carrying Law into the bed they shared and making sure the boy was asleep he headed to the kitchen table, taking some maps with him and lighting a candle as he sat down. He and Law had managed to escape from the Marines. Doflamingo was convinced that Corazon was dead and had failed to track down Law.
Somehow Corazon had managed to survive and meet up with Law again to escape Minion Island together. Thanks to his new powers, the child was able to treat the man's most serious injuries before escaping both on Swallow Island, without being noticed.
After managing to save Corazon, Law began dealing with the Amber Lead Disease, managing to eradicate the disease only a few days ago. Law was still too weak to travel too far. For this reason Corazon was studying the maps with the different islands of all the 4 seas.
For now he and Law were safe in Swallow, but Corazon feared that this wouldn't last as long as he would have liked, especially now that Law had found some friends and was starting to act more like a child his age. Corazon was looking for an island not too far away and sheltered from both the Marines and Doflamingo.
As he was starting to check the most suitable islands for a possible escape, he heard the sound of the door opening. He turned quickly and saw the dim light of the corridor casting the shadow of the other guest of the house inside the kitchen
“Law” Corazon called, a hint of concern in his voice.
The child was standing in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket that made him appear even smaller and weaker. The house they were in was very cold and Law was not at his full strength yet. Corazon noticed that the bags under the child's eyes had darkened and Law's eyes looked red, maybe he had been crying, but it was hard to tell. As much as Law trusted him, the child almost never cried in front of the man. It was a sight that made Corazon feel sad.
Corazon placed the cigarette in the ashtray, being careful not to burn himself “Mi Pequeño”
That was one of the many nicknames Corazon had given Law using his family's language. Law had learned that language first with Doflamingo and then with Corazon. He knew what those nicknames meant and, even though he would never admit it, even though he pretended to hate them, Law loved the nicknames Corazon had given him.
Law began to walk towards the man who was sitting near the table, waiting for him. The child was trembling and trying to hide it from the other one, his steps becoming more and more indecisive. He had finally reached the chair. He climbed up and sat on Corazon's legs, burying his face in the man's chest, hiding his face from the gaze of the other "Vater"
Corazon immediately realized that Law had had a nightmare. Yet another. What Law had just said was a further confirmation. Law rarely used his native language, even though Corazon had learned it to make him feel less alone, and he never called Corazon 'Dad' Only when he needed to feel protected.
Corazon didn't know if the nightmare Law had had was about him or his biological family, but he didn't care. At that moment his son was suffering and needed him, nothing else mattered. Corazon hugged Law.
He knew that the child didn't like this type of physical contact, but he had learned to read all his behaviors, he knew that when Law tried to hide even from his gaze he could hug him, giving him protection and comfort.
He noticed that the child was shaking more and more. He looked at the time from the old clock hanging on the wall. 3 in the morning.
He took Law in his arms, stood up and blew out the candle with which he had studied the maps until a few minutes before, that are now laying on the table. He would continue the next day, now he had to take care of the kid in his arms.
Corazon arrived in the bedroom and lay down on the bed, being careful not to fall. He put a hand on Law's head to calm him down “Silence”
With a snap of his fingers he created a dome of silence around him and Law “Hijo del corazòn”
Hearing this name, Law pulled away from Corazon a little and looked into his eyes.
Of all the nicknames this was the most special of all, the only one no one knew about, a nickname just for him and Cora-san.
Corazon was looking at him with his kind eyes and his smile that never failed to make Law feel good.
Corazon had started caressing Law's head “I'm here. I'm alive. You are good, you have defeated the disease, you are alive. The Marines aren't looking for us. Doffy isn't looking for us. We are safe"
Law knew this was only partially true. Sure, he and Cora-san were alive and together, but the Marines were looking for them. If Doflamingo found out that Corazon was alive and hiding with Law he would look for them. They weren't safe, but for Corazon, he would believe all these lies.
Law hugged Corazon, scared that at any moment he might disappear "Cora-san"
His voice was broken, as if he were about to cry.
Corazon wrapped the blanket Law had brought over both of them and hugged the child back. Corazon began to sing a lullaby in an attempt to calm Law down, an old song that his mother always sang to him and Doffy when they couldn't sleep, one of the few fond memories of his childhood.
Corazon felt Law's embrace give way and looked down, seeing that the child had fallen asleep. Corazon smiled, happy to see Law resting and decided to remove the dome of silence he had created.
After a while Corazon closed his eyes and managed to fall asleep as well.
Maybe they weren't truly safe, but they were alive, they were together and at least for that night, those were the only things that mattered, the only things that would make them sleep peacefully.