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A doll greeted them at the gates of the castle with a perfect curtsey, elegantly showing the ball joints in her wrists. Beside him, Law tensed.
"The King summons you to the sky dungeons," she said. "Immediately."
Law frowned and turned to Sanji.
"I'll come by the room later," he promised, not letting go of Sanji's hand as they stood between the grand pillars of the open gates. Sanji's bracelet still shone on his wrist.
"The King summons your fiance with you, your Highness."
Law's frown deepened but he met Sanji's gaze and gave a small nod. They followed the doll up through the main palace, and fell back far enough that she wouldn't hear if they whispered.
"Don't show him that you care," Law warned in a whisper. "No matter what happens, don't react."
There was a resigned dread in his voice that Sanji instantly hated. He nodded and gave Law's hand, still entwined with his own, a small squeeze. Their hands stayed linked all the way up to the very roof.
Behind the decorated doors, someone was screaming.
The doll's painted smile turned to them, and then she pushed the doors open.
"His highness the crown prince Law, and fiance," the doll announced and Law's grip of Sanji's hand tightened to bone-crushing.
There was blood. There was a man kneeling atop another with a knife. The man with the knife was sobbing and pleading. The man on the ground did not move.
Sanji recognised them from the small kitchen.
Law's servants.
"Welcome home," King Doflamingo said from where he sat upon a throne, drinking a dark red wine as he looked on nonchalantly. "Did you enjoy your day out?"
"Until I was summoned for this? Yes. I was about to return to my rooms to rest," Law replied. His voice was steady.
"Don't be like that, Law. Come, sit and drink with us. The red is delightful today."
"Law," Shachi said in an exhale, a sob. "Please, Law, I'm—"
Doflamingo tweaked a finger and Shachi's hands brought the knife down and Penguin didn't scream so much as gurgle. Sanji wanted to look away, but Law was still looking on, as if he were bored, so Sanji kept his head still.
"That's our crown prince you're talking to, trash," Doflamingo growled. "Show some respect. Especially after you come so close to treason."
He knew, Sanji realised. He must have caught Shachi and Penguin while they were scouting the caravans, and must at least suspect them of attempting to contact the rebels. This must be a test for Law.
"Is this all?" Law asked aloud, and Doflamingo looked up, and abruptly smiled.
"You're as bad at lying as ever, Law. Shall we let them go? As a gift to you."
"Not if you're going to hold it over me," Law drawled, but behind their backs, his hand gripped Sanji's hard.
"How cruel," Doflamingo said, and there was such praise in his voice that it sent shivers down Sanji's spine. "Is it because you have a new toy now? The number three is the one you liked best, if memory serves. Are you having fun with him?"
This question was clearly unexpected, and Law hesitated a moment too long, and Doflamingo's smile widened to unsettling.
"You give your heart too easily, Law," Doflamingo said, with a slight shake of his head. "But it's not your fault." He drained the rest of his wine and stood with a grand, sweeping gesture that looked just a little bit like he was trying not to fall down drunk or like he was some great, nasty flightless bird. He walked towards them but stopped to loom over them for a long moment.
Law did not look up. He just looked straight ahead, as if he could see right through Doflamingo's body. At length, Doflamingo decided this was funny, and he laughed.
"Go ahead and fix your toys," he said, patting Law on the shoulder as he brushed past to go to the door. "We're done with them anyway."