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His own brother.
Doflamingo had hoped it wasn't true. Even as all the evidence pointed to it, he hoped that Roci would have an excuse for him in the end. That it wouldn't be what it seemed, that Roci hadn't been betraying him for years. That he was loyal, like he was supposed to be.
Like he had always been supposed to be. Roci had belonged to him from the moment he was born. Was supposed to stand at Doflamingo's right side. He was born for Doflamingo.
But he's not even trying to deny it, his treachery. After Doflamingo had welcomed him back and given him everything, this was hhowo his brother decided to repay him. Not with the love and fealty that he's owed, that he's earned after all the effort he put into him.
No, instead he's pointing a gun at him.
It's all Homing's fault. He must have corrupted Roci when Doflamingo wasn't paying attention, too busy doing what he had to to keep him alive. He stole Roci, just like he stole everything else from Doflamingo.
That man was poison, and once again almost caused Doflamingo's doom. Has doomed poor Roci.
Because Doflamingo knows what he has to do.
Even if a part of him rages at just the thought. Recoils from it, looking for any other choice. He's already bleeding, defeated. A spy is only a threat when you don't know they're a spy. Doflamingo could keep his brother. Stitch his wounds closed, take him with. Build a cage of silken threads, chain Roci to his side and keep him in his proper place. It wouldn't be hard.
And isn't it what Doflamingo deserves? What he's due? Roci is already his, if he wants to keep him he can. Really, it would be an improvement. No more worrying every time he went out, that this would be the mission his brother didn't return from. He could be kept safe, chained to a bed where he couldn't hurt himself.
It would be so easy. The thought is so tempting.
Doflamingo is supposed to get anything he wants. It's his right. And Trebol might bitch about it, but in the end he'd agree. Doflamingo is sure of that.
But it's the thought of Trebol that brings Doflamingo back to reality. Because yes, Doflamingo deserves to get whatever he wants. Every single member of his family would agree with that fact. He's their leader, their master, their reason for existing.
Doflamingo is responsible for them.
His actual family, the one he built for himself and that Homing never got to touch. That is just Doflamingo's, built with blood and sweat and the absolute loyalty that he demands of them.
Any member of Doflamingo's family would die for him. He wouldn't return that, of course. Gods don't die for their followers, for the little humans that need them. And none of them would expect Doflamingo to. That's never been the bargain, the golden rule that kept hus family together.
No, every member of Doflamingo's Family, from little Dellinger up to Lao G would die for him and never expect that returned. But they do expect Doflamingo to kill for them. To do what's best for the Family.
That's the job of the patriarch, after all. To make the hard calls and keep his family safe and provided for.
Doflamingo isn't Homing, won't put the weak desires of his heart over keeping his Family safe and alive.
So he raises the gun, finger on the trigger. Stares down at Roci, already bleeding. Already hurt, would probably die if Doflamingo just left him here. He wouldn't even have to pull the trigger.
Unacceptable.
Roci is his. The only one that's allowed to kill him is Doflamingo. He's not going to give up that claim now, just because Roci has been disloyal. Being Doflamingo's has never been his choice, anyway.
He doesn't look away, doesn't let his hand waver. Not even as Roci meets his eyes. And Doflamingo can read them, can tell that his brother knows exactly what's going to happen next. Has probably always known how this was going to end.
Because he was never going to win. Not coming to Doflamingo with lies and pretending. Giving falsely what should have always been Doflamingo's to begin with. Denying his rightful place, all in service of the marines.
It's pathetic.
Then again, Roci never was supposed to be the strong one. That was Doflamingo's job. All of this is the hollow shell of what he managed to scrape together without Doflamingo to take care of him.
That's over now. Roci doesn't have to pretend to be strong anymore, because Doflamingo is strong enough for the both of them.
At least Roci is honest now, gifting his last moments to Doflamingo.
And Doflamingo will be the last thing he sees, as it right. Roci should die thinking about nothing but him, how this was all for him. Because even when resisting him, Roci knew that he couldn't leave him. It's why he came back.
But if his brother, his dear weak Roci, doesn't have the stomach for being a pirate, Doflamingo won't make him.
One last gift. He can die here, clean and quick, and Doflamingo will continue to do what needs to be done.
He squeezes the trigger. The sound is loud, echoing. Different than it has ever sounded before, as he watches Roci's body jolt with each impact. But he keeps his eyes open.
Good boy.
The pain in Roci's eyes is his. The last thing he'll ever have of him and Doflamingo will take it. Fixes this image of him in his mind.
Because he will never forget this. Will remember it, every time he remembers him. He saw him when he was born and he will see him die, because those moments and every second in between is his.
Then, that done, he turns away. Snaps out orders to his real Family, the ones that won't betray him. That he just protected.
There are things to do. Later, he can think more about Roci.
Later, he can mourn for how he killed his heart.