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It took you a while to notice, but somewhere along the way, you realized that Doffy was keeping you closer than he did before the ‘events’ (ie. your unfortunate kidnapping). It wasn’t overt, but you kept getting fed reasons why you had to stick by his side.
Though normally you’d preen at all the attention, at this point, you were ready to scream for some release.
You’d never realized how boring being a king was. Though Dressrosa had problems hovering right beneath the surface, Doffy very much played the understanding monarchy. It was no wonder the citizens flocked to him and loved him so much.
It was nothing but meetings all day with various important people coming to harp about what they needed or random complaints that boiled under your skin. Not even seated in the man’s wide lap could help elevate the boredom.
So, during one break while Doffy’s attention was caught by some high-ranking official you hadn’t bothered to catch the name of, you saw your chance. The ceiling-to-floor windowed double doors were open, sending in a pleasant breeze and the smell of the tropical flowers that bloomed heavily in the gardens that the doors led to.
It was entirely too easy to slip out the doors unnoticed by the room at large. You snickered, pleased with the way the afternoon was going. The sun beat down on you pleasantly as large lush green leaves grew overhead, occasionally making you duck beneath them.
This was one of your favorite gardens, a bit unruly compared to the forced organized niceness of the rest, perfectly sectioned into their little squares. Here, everything was allowed to grow a little wild.
It reminded you a little of Green Bit though obviously on a much smaller scale.
For a while you just walked around, enjoying the scenery and not being forced into stuffy meetings with people who kissed Doffy’s ass, hoping for his favor.
Kicking a stone you watched it disappear into a bush, shoving your hands into the giant pocket of your hoodie.
Something rustled behind you, but you paid no mind as you started to walk again, thinking it was some kind of small animal before something skimmed the side of your cheek. It was gone before you could see what it was, but you whirled around, heart in your throat.
Your eyes darted around as you brought up your fingers to your cheek. You weren’t bleeding, but you had clearly felt something. What was it?
Standing still, you waited a few seconds but nothing else happened, only the sound of birdsong in the air and the wind that rustled the greenery around you.
Heaving a sigh, you ran a hand through your hair, thoroughly disgruntled. Must have been nothing.
Continuing on, you kept your eyes peeled but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. But something still felt off . The hairs on the back of your neck were raised and at every sound you quickly turned, trying to catch a glimpse of… what?
That kidnapping has really got me out of sorts, you thought with a scowl. Ever since you had been taken by a gang of nameless nobodies you hadn’t really gotten a moment to yourself; you were just being sensitive.
Though some small part of you pointed out, this was also the first time you’ve been alone since then, and you weren’t able to defend yourself against an attack.
Being weak was never a problem, you were a part of one of the strongest families in the world and people didn’t fuck with the Donquixote’s if they knew what was good for them.
But… at the same time, you knew firsthand that some people just were that stupid. True, you hadn’t been hurt the last time but what if the next time you weren’t so lucky?
A tingle of unease slid down your spine, and it was like you suddenly got chills all over, even while the sun baked down on you from above.
You were still walking but the next time you glanced over your shoulder, you felt your leg snag on something and you fell. With your hands in your pockets, you didn’t have enough time to brace, and you landed on one knee before the rest of your body quickly followed suit.
Hissing with pain, you flipped onto your ass while you inspected the damage. Your knee was skinned, blood already welling up from the scratches and you felt like you’d hit your cheek enough to scratch it too. Then a twig snapped and you went stock still.
Your heart pounded in your chest as you waited. You could hear the eerily silence that had suddenly descended over the garden. What were you waiting for? The birds to start chirping again, proving to you that it was nothing or—
Another twig snapped, this time accompanied by the shaking of a bush, and you took off like a shot. Running down the path, you didn’t know exactly where you were headed, leaves slapping you in the face, but you didn’t spend too much time thinking about it either.
All that was running through your system was fear, fear, fear . Oh, why had you left the meeting and the safety of being by Doffy’s side…
Skidding to a stop, you looked around. The path branched out into three different directions. Pick one or hide?
Without much thought, you dove into a large bush, pushing at the branches that tried to keep you at bay until you were nestled within it, crouched with your knees up to your chin. You held a hand over your mouth and nose, trying to quiet your heaving panting.
After a few minutes of nothing, slowly, you lowered your hand. The fear had slowly been replaced with embarrassment. Had there really been anything there at all? You could see out vaguely and nothing had come down any of the paths. Maybe it was just nothing and you had scared yourself for nothing.
Leaning forward, you were about to peak out when a hand suddenly burst through the top of the bush, reaching for you, and you screamed .
You scrambled frantically, and for a moment you couldn’t get your feet under you fast enough, kicking up dirt in your efforts.
Finally, you were able to crawl-run forward, and you felt a slight resistance as the hand grabbed your hood, but you managed to break free.
Flat-out sprinting now, you ran down a path. At least now you knew someone was actively chasing you, though that knowledge didn’t make you feel particularly better. You looked back when you came up to a bend in the path but didn’t see anyone chasing you. They were probably within the foliage, hiding from you.
Unfortunately, in all your blind panic you’d gotten lost.
You ran, sweat pouring down your back, making the fabric stick to you uncomfortably but you couldn’t stop. Didn’t dare to stop now.
Though in the distance, hope. You could see the only tree that wasn’t a palm that marked the center of the garden. It was a large tree, but it grew out, rather than up. So its branches were low enough to grab onto.
Not that you were planning on climbing it, you weren’t that stupid. It just showed you which way you had to go, you were so close just needed to turn left here and—
A knife buried itself into the wood of the trunk, cutting you off from the turn you needed to go down, and unbidden, a whine of pure terror arose from your throat.
You pivoted the other way, still running, though gasping for air now.
This is such a bad idea, you moaned to yourself, but you had no other choice. They were probably corralling you to a specific area but what were you supposed to do!? You weren’t a fighter, didn’t have a devil fruit. Where is Doffy!? you screamed, missing him more than anything.
Something glimmered up ahead, but the sweat that was dripping into your eyes made your vision swim and it wasn’t until you got tangled into something, stopping you completely, that you finally realized that the trap that had been set out for you had been sprung. The trap lifted you into the air, your feet coming off the ground as you became hopelessly stuck.
You screamed, balling up your eyes in anger and fear, fighting for your life as you tried to break away, pulling on your arms and legs, terrified beyond all belief by now.
That was until you heard a familiar laugh. “Fufufufufu” and your eyes shot open.
“Doffy!” you cried out with relief, trying to lean towards him, though you were still firmly caught. Finally, you were saved.
He looked calm as ever, a wide smile splitting his face. Shouldn’t he be more upset? Where were your attackers? His hands were in his pockets as he came closer.
“My, my, my, what a cute little pet I’ve caught in my web, hm?” he said with a snicker, and you furrowed your brow before you looked up.
Your arms had somehow gotten wrapped above your head, but you could see the strings that held them tight, and your jaw dropped. You gave an enraged wiggle, though it barely did anything. “You!!” you screamed. “It was you the whole time!!”
Doffy laughed and you snarled at him. Luckily your legs were trapped or else you would have tried to kick him.
Quicker than you could see his hand shot out and grabbed you by the throat and your eyes widened as he squeezed.
“It was,” he agreed. “But what if it wasn’t? You’re so useless, as defenseless as a bird. You know, that’s why I keep you caged. So you’re safe.” Doffy paused, his sunglasses flashing in the light. When he didn’t speak again, you hesitantly nodded.
“Then why,” Doffy continued as if you had spoken, “would you run off?” He was frowning now, forehead wrinkled with the force of it.
“I didn’t—” His fingers tightened, cutting you off with a choking sound. After a few seconds, he loosened them again just enough for you to suck in a breath. You panted, adrenaline and fear still mixing throughout your system. “I…” You licked your lips. Doffy was properly mad, you could see that now. Upset enough at you to try to teach you a lesson.
“I should have thought about it, I’m sorry,” you said at last.
Doffy tilted his head at you, seemingly trying to decide if you were being sincere or not. His strings loosened and you fell into his waiting arms. He pulled you into a hug and you wrapped your arms and legs around him.
“I just want you to be safe,” he muttered into your ear, and you nodded again, gripping him tightly. One of his hands was under a thigh, keeping you lifted while another wrapped around your back, holding you close. For a few minutes, the two of you stayed like that, as the panic that had been screaming at you finally died down, leaving you exhausted in its wake. “Did you learn your lesson, little prince?” Doffy asked, and you leaned back enough to look at him, wiping at your eyes from where they had teared up.
“Y-yeah.”
He cooed at you, smiling again. “So cute. Did I scare you?” Doffy asked as he moved you into the crook of his arm and started walking back towards the castle. You pouted.
“Uh, yeah!! I was terrified!”
He looked down at you from the corner of his eye. His sunglasses had slid down his straight nose enough for you to see the blue as it peered at you, and you bit your lip. Seeing his bare eyes never failed to make you shiver, no matter the circumstances.
“Good,” he said with a grin, tongue rolling out and you smacked him lightly. “Don’t do it again.” It was a command, not a warning, and you crossed your arms with a huff, comfortable enough now to play up your discontent.
“But your meetings are so boring!” you complained.
“Fufufufu, is that so? You can’t fight, can’t do anything else. Learning how to run the kingdom is all you're good for, you should try harder.”
You pursed your lips, unsure if he was joking or not. Doffy must have caught onto your uncertainty because he bounced you slightly.
“I mean it. If you want to be king one day, you’ll have to know how to do all this shit. Learn to charm them and you can do anything.”
Butterflies erupted in your stomach because king ? More than anything, that sounded like a marriage proposal.
Swallowing, you wrapped your arms around his neck. You weren’t brave enough to ask him if that’s what he actually meant but…
“Okay,” you said in a small voice. “I’ll do better then.”
Doffy giggled again. “That’s my good boy. Now, gimme a kiss, I need one good thing before we get back and I’m bored to tears too.”
You smiled now, pleased. He turned towards you and you leaned up for him, a hand burying into his soft blonde locks. When his lips captured yours, you couldn’t resist a happy sigh as you melted into it.
Safe and loved, in Doffy’s arms.
The only place you wanted to be.