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Sanji isn't supposed to turn around, but he can hear the tall double doors of the cathedral open and close. He can hear Law's steps approach, slow and strangely stomping on the aisle carpeting. The white and black robed rabbit toy acting as officiant for the ceremony quails for some reason, squishing itself down on the raised pulpit, and shaking nervously there.
Sanji isn't supposed to turn, but he looks from the corner of his eye and through the translucent lace veil as Law steps into place beside him. He can only see Law in parts, his black feather coat dragging on the floor like the train of a dress, melding with the black of his clothing. He can't see Law's face like this.
Something calls the attention of the toy bunny, something more fearsome than whatever it saw before, and it straightens up immediately, though it still shakes.
"We will now commence the ceremony," it cries in a solemn herald's call. "Thank you all for coming to witness this blessed exchange of future consent and intention. The two people who intend to vow their troth to join hands."
Sanji offers his hand, and a moment later, jerkily, Law's hand comes up and it shakes ever so slightly as it joins Sanji's and squeezes tightly. Sanji smiles ever so slightly behind the safety of the semi-obscuring veil.
The band of toys set up on the sides start playing music and the dolls start singing, a beautiful song in Dressrosan, the syllables distorted by the music phrasing so Sanji could only pick up a word here and there — city, day, dark, blessing, youth.
Upon the rabbit's prompting, he held out the ring he was going to give to Law to signify the betrothal— white-silver metal and a yellow stone. By right, Sanji should have created the stone himself, mage-wrought it and the ring both so that it sang with his power and Law would be able to use it to find him, wherever he was. This was just a very expensive, nice-looking piece of jewellery, rather than the priceless artefact it should have been.
But Law already knew that, Sanji reminded himself, and he took a breath.
Law's hand stretches out as well, and in his palm is a white-gold ring with a pale blue stone, so pale it was almost white, the colour of his magic.
Law's hand abruptly turns, dropping the ring into Sanji's palm and coming down palm to palm over the rings, interlacing his fingers with Sanji's.
The rabbit reaches out and places his small, velvety paws on their joined hands concealing the rings.
"A blessing on these rings, to— to—" the toy rabbit's velvety paws on their clasped hands lift hesitantly before withdrawing completely.
"I can't!" it cries wretchedly. "It isn't right, it isn't right, it isn't right !"
The band of toys stop their music with a harsh, dissonant noise. Whispering rises from them, and from the witnesses behind Sanji and Law.
Sanji looks at the wailing rabbit and then turns to look at Law. Law's arm offering the ring is twisted at a sickening angle. Law's face is pale and he's sweating, brow furrowed in pain and jaw clenched so hard it showed in his neck. Law's eyes are defiant and furious .
Pale strings of power, dusted with deep pink sparks, were tied round Law's limbs, at strategic points to force his joints, to force his movement. For the entire ceremony he'd been straining against the cutting, pulling force, and the resistance had been overcome by breaking him.
A drop of blood falls from his arm to the red carpet before it is lost there.
Sanji flinches and he drops the rings. They clink together, but otherwise make no sound as they hit the carpet. Horror runs cold along Sanji's shoulders as he looks at Law, unsure what he should do. The veil irritates, he can't see properly so he tears it off, to stupid, scandalised gasps from the audience.
Sanji wishes desperately to speak, but the uncomfortably charged weight of the bands on his wrist kill that idea before more than a few seconds go by. He looks at Law, all bewildered confusion and asking for answers silently.
Law's jaw clenches harder, and now Sanji can see it's strung shut.
He takes hold of Law's shoulders and Law flinches and Sanji lets go, eyeing the unnatural angles obscured by the coat.
"Get that useless toy out of here." King Donquixote's raised voice commands over the susurrus of the crowd and the distress of the rabbit. "Someone else run the ceremony. Fetch the understudy."
Toy soldiers come up and drag the screaming rabbit away. Sanji looks at Law's pale face, and the blood dripping from behind his sleeve and he turns.
He meets King Donquixote's gaze, or at least where he thinks the king's gaze is— it is impossible to know for certain behind the tinted eyeglasses— and he shakes his head. He steps back and the toy duck that held his gift quacks in alarm and shuffle back as well.
A prominent vein appears in the king's forehead. He gestures with one large hand.
"Music," he snaps, and he came storming up the aisle, his pink feather coat swishing dramatically. His hand comes down on Sanji's shoulder and Sanji tries very hard not to glare up at him. He tries for aloof. He isn't sure that succeeds, because the king pulls him close.
"Let me put this simply, little prince," King Donquixote says lowly as he bends to whisper in Sanji's ear. "I will see this ceremony completed. Whatever it takes."
He speaks like a man used to being obeyed, and who has never taken no for an answer. A pale string of power caresses Sanji's wrist, right over the bracelet, before dissipating.
"Things can be much worse for you," King Donquixote croons. "Just look at little Law. He was being stubborn. Childish. Set a good example for him before things get worse for both of you."
Sanji looks to Law, who is so strung up he can't even move his head. Only his eyes look at Sanji, glance to King Donquixote, then, slowly close. Some of the strain against the strings weaken and King Donquixote makes a satisfied noise and stands tall again.
"Here," he says, flicking his fingers. The rings fly up from the floor to Sanji's hand, with more force than strictly necessary. He turns with a regal swish of his feather coat and returns to his throne. He raises a hand and waves for the ceremony to continue.
Another toy rabbit in robes is shoved up on the pulpit. It rushes through the rest of the process, and Sanji can't pay attention. He exchanges gifts with Law, a jewelled box of Germa sygaldry texts in exchange for the black feather coat off Law's back. He can't take his eyes off Law, all concern. The stupid ceremony can't go fast enough— the sooner it is over, the sooner Law can be cut down to rest and have his injuries seen to.
"I declare thee betrothed," the new rabbit finally squeaks, and they proceed out, side by side, with Sanji in growing anger and Law's blood dripping to land unseen on the red of the aisle carpet.