Chapter Text
Zoro and Dean are in a in an ambulance. Both of them in the front, Dean is driving and behind them are the hostages from the hospital. Some of them have blankets around them, kids are staying close to their parents and some are helping others patch up their injuries.
Zoro still has some dried blood in his hair from being headbutted so much. In his hand is a bottle of rubbing alcohol. He’s not using it for a wound, but he’s drinking it.
He takes a swing of it while Dean looks at him with bafflement.
“Moss head have you ever thought about signing up for A.A meetings?”
“The hell is that?” Zoro mumbles before taking another swing from the bottle. “It’s a lovely little group where you can talk about your feelings, give hugs and hear the emotional trauma of others.”
“That sounds like a form of torture..one that’s way worse than anything hell can up with it.”
“It is..but it does help. Also there’s only 50 percent of alcohol in that.”
“I’ll take what I can get.” Zoro huffs before finishing off the bottle and dropping it to the floor. Dean clicks a his tongue a little while keeping his eyes on the road. “Is there another reason why you have a bad rap with your demon buddies?”
“They’re not my fucking buddies.” Zoro growls, showing his sharp, fang like teeth.
“Sorry, sorry.” Dean says “figure of speech.”
Zoro looks out the window, avoiding any eye contact with the other man. “Besides me being a drunk..I still have my humanity. I tried to get rid of it so many times when I became a demon and I was close..but then I met Luffy.”
“Do you regret it? Meeting him that is.”
“No. I never will. When I said I would rather die than be loyal to Kiado and not Luffy, I meant it.” He says and Dean may have only know Zoro for a day, but he can tell he’s not lying.
“Also..why does law seem a little sore at you? He waited a good while to save you from being head butted to death.”
Zoro sighs while starting to pick some of the blood out of his hair. “Yeah. He’s still a little pissed at me.”
“You mind explaining? If you want to that is?”
Zoro gives a nod before starts to talk. “I met him when I was starting out as soul collecting demon.”
——-
Many years ago.
Sitting under a tree behind a cottage house is a boy who is about 16 years old. He's reading a book about plants that are used for medicine.
He's in some black trousers and a baggy tunic. On his face is some pale spots that are fading. His spots are from the lead disease that plagued his town.
It's been two years. Two years since his town perished, his family and other carriers of the illness was shot by army men to prevent infection. Everyone from florence either succumb to the symptoms of the sickness or was put to the death.
He still has nightmares from seeing his parents among the dead bodies, the memories of families dying in hospital beds are still fresh in his mind.
He's the only survivor of the town and a lot of the time he hates it. Why did he survive? Why did he get a chance instead of his sister or parents?
His dad was a doctor and so was his mother. Law thinks the world needs them more. And his sister, she was barely 9 when she died. Her life had so much promise to it, she wanted to be a teacher when she got older and law had no doubt she would have been a great one. Law always thinks his life being spared was a waste.
A voice calls out to him.
"Law, I'm back! In an hour I can start making dinner." Law looks from up his book to see a man in a light pink tunic with puffy sleeves, black trousers and pink beret with a fluffy black feather.
In his hand is a basket is some vegetables and a some kind of plucked bird. "I was thinking a roasted quail with a potage stew!" He says with a grin and the teen starts to get annoyed from looking at the basket of food.
"Hey, don't you have any common sense!?” Law shouts while closing his book and he starts to run to the man. The blonde looks at law with confusion. "Something wrong?" He ask law and the boy glares.
"Yes there's something wrong. You have vegetables and a raw bird together. That's cross contamination."
Corazon scratches his head a little and says "huh, I forgot you told me about that." He then smiles. "I'm sure it's fine."
Law huffs. "No it's not fine, harmful bacteria probably got on the vegetables already." Corazon takes an onion from the basket and smells and examine it with a hum before smiling again. "Well we can always clean them." He says cheerfully before he starts to walk again and before law can explain that simply cleaning the vegetables won't be enough, the man just trips.
He trips on nothing except maybe air.
The vegetable scattered to the ground and law rushes over to him. "Corazon!" He says and kneels in front of the older man. The blonde clutches his arm and makes a hurt noise.
"Ah, oh gods, my arm. L-Law, I think I just sprained my arm or something." Law starts to panic a little. "Oh shit, O-Okay, let me see." The blonde man weakly lifts up his arm and law carefully takes it, but then suddenly Corazon grabs him with both of his arms to bring him into a bear hug.
Law grunts and starts to kick a little while the blonde man laughs and starts to roll on the grass while hugging the boy. "Y-You jerk!" Law shouts and soon just gives up trying to get out of the hug.
"You're annoying." Law grumbles with a sour look on his face.
"You're always so grumpy, this why you need hugs." The man says and Law just huffs before finally wiggling out of Corazon's grip. He then notices something near the blonde. A golden little tube. It must have fallen out of his pocket.
"What's this?" He mumbles while picking it up. Corazon perks up from seeing it before grinning. "It's a cosmetic I pick pocketed from some noble women." Law immediately panics a little from him saying that. "Are you crazy? Why the hell would you do that? Are you trying to get beheaded?"
Corazon rolls his eyes. "Oh I'm sure she has plenty more since she's rich."
"That's not the point." Law hisses. "Those cunts would have someone skinned alive for even looking at them wrong."
"I think I'll be safe since, I am royal blood and my brother would put in a good word for me."
"Your brother tried to hang you for treason." Law says flatly and Corazon shrugs. "Doffy has his bad days, he doesn't really mean at least half his threats he made to me." The man then starts to open the little tube. "I always liked wearing this. My mom would scold me for wasting hers on my face." He says with a chuckle. He stares at the red wax make up with fondness before he starts to apply it on his lips.
Law watches, he soon has to cover his mouth to keep in a giggle.
"There, how do I look. Gorgeous I assume?" The lipstick is messily applied around his lips and it looks like a crooked smile. "You..You're so damn ridiculous." Law says while he starts to giggle more.
"How rude." Corazon says then reaches over to law. He starts to draw on Law’s face with the lipstick making the younger man laugh from how it tickles.
"S-Stop, you moron." He says between giggles making Corazon grin. He draws a heart on Law’s cheek. "Now we both look better." He says before Law playfully pushes him.
"You know..why did you leave what you had?" Law ask.
Corazon sighs before laying down on the grass. "Like you said, they're cunts. Sure I had money..but I couldn't go outside by myself, be friends with who I wanted, no freedom. I was ignorant of the outside world. Plus I couldn't take the barbaric traditions. Do you know what a whipping boy is?"
Law shakes his head, but just by the name of it he knows it must be awful.
"It's a boy who basically took my punishments. He be whipped instead of me when I did something bad as child." After he explains that , Law looks horrified. "What would be the point of that?"
"It was supposed to make me feel guilty and not make me get in trouble again. It worked for the most part..but it was completely idiotic and my brother took advantage of that system. His whipping boy nearly died."
"Oh my god." Law mumbles.
"I can't go back. Never. I can't live in a place with no empathy or kindness."
Law nods. It's been two years since Corazon found him. After escaping from his town and hiding for weeks, Corazon saved him. Law was on the brink of death, he was skin and bones from traveling and not eating. Severely dehydrated and his illness was getting worse.
Law was in an alley, lying a puddle of his own puke and expecting to die, but he saw a concerned and worried face that went blurry from him passing out.
Corazon got him out of that alley and got him to his cottage.
At first Law didn't say one word to the blonde man. He only scowled, soon told the man to just let him die instead of wasting his time trying to help him. Law wanted to die. He wanted to die because to him there was no point of living if he lost everything.
But the blonde man is just as stubborn as he is and kept on taking care of the boy. Law's protest soon become grudging acceptance.
In 4 months law actually started to feel better. He doesn't know how, but his symptoms of his illness slowly stopped. It should be impossible because it's fetal, no one in his town recovered from it.
It makes law wonder if him getting better is some sort of miracle. Corazon doesn't have any medical education, so how was he able to get law better?
"I have to ask him." He thinks. "I need to know. Maybe after I can ask after dinner.”
"Hey um, let's get started on dinner." He says and stands up. He goes to the basket of fallen ingredients and picks them up. "We can't use the vegetables but I can still cooked the quail and make a meat pie." He says.
"Sounds good to me." Corazon says and stands up too, but he stops right in his tracks once he hears a voice.
"I guess I should maybe comeback later."
The voice is deep and makes both law and Corazon turn around. A few feet away from them is a man in a green kimono. He has green hair, three earrings in one ear and scarred eye. At his hip are 3 swords.
Law stares at him with confusion. Who is this guy? Is he from a different country? Because his clothes are so different.
“Who the hell are you?”
The man doesn’t answer. His eye just goes to Corazon and starts to walk over to him. Law then starts to notice a faint look of dread on the blonde.
“I-I thought..I had more time.”
More time? What does he mean by that.
The man shakes his head then smirks. “Two years go by fast, don’t they?” The man then suddenly pulls out a sword. Law’s eyes get wide and he immediately runs over to them. He gets in front of his friend and grabs the man by the fabric he’s wearing, not caring at all that this stranger has a weapon.
“Who the fuck are you?” Law growls. The man just gives a roll of his eyes before grabbing law’s wrist in a tight grip. The teen yelps from the stranger’s strength. “I suggest you don’t get in my way.” The man says with a cold tone and his eye flashes completely green.
He then shoves Law to the side, almost making him fall.
The man looks back at Corazon. “Let’s go. I won’t do it in front of the kid.”
Corazon could only nod and before he could follow the man, law runs over to him and grabs his wrist. “C-Corazon, what’s going on? Who is that?”
“You didn’t tell him?” The green hair man ask and law is just so baffled now. “Tell me what?”
The blonde man looks down to the ground and sighs. “I..I meant to tell you sooner. I..I was able to cure your illness. I made deal with him. I give him something and in return you get cured.”
“W-What did you give him and again who is he?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you-“
“Tell me now.” Law says with clear frustration and suddenly the man scoffs. “I’m a demon. Your friend made a contract with me. He requested I take away your sickness and in return he gives his soul to me.”
Law’s eyes nearly go out of his head from how wide they get. “N-No. You’re lying, this isn’t true.” Law says with a shaky voice. “There’s a more logical explanation for why am I’m better, d-demons are fictional creatures.”
“Law, he’s telling the truth. I know it’s hard to believe, but I sold my soul to-“
“No! I-Is this some sort of joke? Because it’s not funny! Tell me what’s really going on.”
The green hair man gives a look of annoyance before going over to law. The boy gulps and starts to back up from fear. The green hair man towers over him. “Maybe this will convince you.” He then raises his sword, law gasp in fear and Corazon springs into action. “Don’t hurt him!”
The man swings is sword.
Law is expecting to be cut, but he feels nothing. He then hears something heavy fall to the ground. He looks behind him and stares in disbelief when he sees a tree on the ground next to its stump. It doesn’t look like it broke and fell on it’s own because it has a clean cut.
“N-No.” He says. He looks at Corazon with tears in his eyes. “Don’t go, p-please. I’ll be alone.” They start to slide down his cheeks and he gives a shaky gasp. “You fucking moron! Why would you do that? W-Why?”
The blonde man feel his heart start to break from seeing his friend cry. Law looks to the demon while his crying continues.
“You want a soul right? Take me, I’ll take his place, Please!”
The demon sighs and shakes his head. “I’m sorry but it has to be his.”
Law immediately starts to cry more making Corazon run over to him. He pulls the boy in his arms and lets him cry into his shirt. “Don’t go, don’t go, don’t go!” Law screams and clutches tightly onto the blonde.
He gives a cry of despair when he fully realizes that Corazon will not only die, but his soul will be in hell. He can’t imagine what he’ll experience.
“You idiot!” He screams and cries more.
The demon watches them and he can feel something he was hoping he wouldn’t feel. Guilt.
“You two..may have a few more hours together. Have a dinner, say your goodbyes and I will come back at mid night.”
Both of them look at him with surprise on their faces. Law sniffs while he trembles and he gives a glare. “D-Don’t try and trick us, you fucking-“
“I’m not tricking you. I will be back by mid night. Now you either take my offer or I’ll take his soul now.”
Law can only give another sob and he burries his face in Corazon’s shirt again. The man does his best to comfort him by kissing his head and rubbing his back.
“It’s okay, shh. Law I know you’re upset, but I-I couldn’t let you continue to suffer. You were in so much pain.” Corazon says and he feel tears leak out of his eyes. “When I’m gone everything I have will be yours so won’t face anymore hardships. My home, my money I took from my palace and every book so you can keep yourself educated.”
“You can’t go!” Law yells while he starts to hit the man’s chest with weak punches and Corazon lets him do so. He then looks to Zoro.
“Thank you.”
The demon only nods before he starts to walk away.
“Hopefully I can find my way back here again.” He mumbles to himself and before he could get further, law speaks.
“What’s your name?”
The man turns around to see the kid glaring at him with so much anger. His fist are clenched tight and with no fear at all he stares the demon in the eye.
“Zoro.” The demon answers.
Law gives an angry growl and points at Zoro. “I’m going to get back at you for this Zoro. I don’t know when, but I fucking will.”
Zoro wasn’t expecting to be threatened by this kid, but he gives a smirk and says
“I’m sure you will, kid.”
——-
Present day
Somewhere in Kansa Gabriel is sitting on a on empty parking lot building and eating a box of poptarts. Behind him are a pair of hazel colored wings. He doesn’t really fly that much, but he agreed to meet someone here.
“I have to remember to get a box for Luffy. He’s going to love these.” He says while he finishes the poptart. He then chuckles. “Also stuffed crust pizza, he’ll get a kick out of that.” He reaches into the box to take out another poptart, but he feels the buliding shake and hear the sound of the roof cracking.
He turns his head around to see a familiar face. Gabriel grins before standing up. “Ah Alber, my man how you doing?”
Alber only gives a stoic look, his eyes scanning Gabriel.
“So I see your wings are still..on fire. And that you’re going through a leather biker phase.” Gabe jokes.
The other angel only gives a look of annoyance before saying “What is it that you want, brother?” His voice holds no patience at all.
“Right, you see-“
“Wait. My apologies, but there is something I want to say to you first.” Alber goes over to him and puts his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. He gives a brief look of sympathy before saying “I’m glad that you are well. I’ve been hiding until Kiado came back and while I was hidden I heard the news of what happened to you.”
“Uh..what news?”
“The news that asmodeus took you prisoner. I was worried that you were actually dead. I’m sorry that you had to go through that.”
Gabriel snorts. “I’m surprise you have sympathy for any of us since you’re working with Kaido. Dude, seriously? Fucking Kaido?”
“I know what I’m doing seems like a mistake to you, when he wins only the strong will rule and angels like you and me are strong. We deserve to be in charge of this realm. Not these..fragile humans.”
Gabriel rolls his eyes. “Heaven is ours now that dad is gone, that should be enough and you can come back-“
“Heaven is nothing but an office that switches managers every month. It’s only special for mortals because when they get there they get whatever they want. Us. We just get a blank wall to stare at until we get a task to follow. Father never once asked what would make us happy in heaven since we were only his tools.”
“Hey dumbass, I’m pretty Kiado only sees you as a tool also.” Gabriel says and king’s eyes flashes a bright light from anger. “He has trusted me for hundreds of years. He’s saved me” Alber gives a sad chuckle.
“You know I was captured by demon worshipers in the 1600s. I was tortured, humiliated, my wings nearly pulled out and I begged father for help. I got no response from him.” Alber says with hurt in his eyes. “They summoned Kaido to give me as an offering. Kaido saw me on that torture table, sensed how strong I was and freed me. All he asked in return is that I rule by his side.”
Alber grins. “He killed his worshippers for me.” He then scowls. “You think father would kill his worshippers for us?”
“Listen we all have our problems with pops, not exactly dad of the year, but if Kaido gets up and wins, earth is going be nothing but a wasteland. The humans who survive will resist you, the Winchesters will survive because they always do and you will be on they’re shit list. They defeated Dad, they will find a way to take you down too. So stop fucking your emo phase shit and come to your senses. Last warning.”
Alber raises a brow. “Last warning? What will you do if I don’t. I sense you don’t have that much grace in you. You’re not as powerful as before.”
“No, but I am bored. A war is basically about to be begin. Luffy is going to have a round two with Kaido, that asshole Kizaru is playing defense for heaven and Luffy’s plucky green swordsman is going to be fighting you and Jack. Why should you guys get all the fun?”
“Fun?” Alber says
Suddenly he feels a powerful kick to his gut. His eyes get huge from the pain and he can barely breath. deep in his gut is Gabriel’s foot.
King sees the other angel give a mad grin while his eyes flash bright from his grace.
“Yeah. Fun.” Gabriel finishes his kick and sends the other angel soaring. He hits a nearby parking building and a good amount of it shatters from the impact.
Gabriel gives an amused smirk and pauses once he hears the faint sound of drums. He chuckles and his wings rise high a little.
“This is gonna be a pain in the ass, but it will be exciting.” He then uses his wings to take off fast, following the sound of drums.