Chapter Text
When Robin answered the door, she was surprised to find that it wasn’t Sabo doubling back for something he’d forgotten. Emerging from the darkness was a tall blond man. His pink shirt and soiled beige pants were obscured by a black feather coat that was completely out of place in the warm subtropical night.
“Rosi-san?” Robin stifled a cry with her hand, even though there was no chance of waking up the people inside. “Did Dragon-san send a message—?”
“Ah, no. I took leave of Dragon-san. I’m here to—”
“Let’s talk inside,” Robin said, opening the door to let the tall man in.
The tall man didn’t need to look far. Scattered around Kyros’ small cabin were the Straw Hats, battle-injured and exposed. Zoro and Franky were resting by the fireplace across the room; Usopp was sprawled on the floor beside the bed that Luffy was snoring in. Next to the door, on the battered couch, lay a man who was heavily bandaged.
“Law?” The tall man went straight to the couch, knelt beside it, and gently caressed the sleeping man’s face. “Law…” Even though Law’s eyes remained shut, the tall man could see Law’s handsome features from his frowning brows and delicate nose to his thin lips, all framed in sharp contrast by his manly black sideburns and goatee. A touch of the proud and unruly spirit from childhood lingered, too.
“You’ve done well,” the tall man whispered. He smoothed back Law’s black hair and planted a kiss on Law’s slightly feverish forehead.
“Cora-san…” Law murmured.
“I’m here.” Corazón raised his head in surprise. He seized Law’s left hand excitedly. “Law, I’m right here!”
But Law did not wake up. The hand in Corazón’s palm remained limply curled without any response.
“They all need a good rest,” Robin said quietly. “I don’t think they’ll wake up any time soon…”
“Law…” Corazón choked. His heart ached looking at Law's bloody bandages. He held Law’s hand to his lips for a long time. Law’s steady breathing eventually calmed him. He heaved a deep sigh before opening his eyes.
“I’m sorry to have intruded so suddenly, Robin-san,” Corazón apologized.
“Don’t worry about it,” Robin smiled. “You never know when the Revolutionary Army will show up. They have tendrils everywhere,” she said with a wink. “Want some water? The wine’s gone, but there might still be some food in the kitchen…”
Law would probably never know how shocked his beloved Cora-san was when he announced an alliance with Luffy to challenge Donquixote Doflamingo. Donquixote Rosinante, Donquixote Family’s second elite officer to hold the code name Corazón--“Cora-san” as Law adoringly called him--was, at the time, on a mission for the Revolutionary Army using the alias Rosi. He had long believed that Law had been freed from all past shackles, but at that moment he realized that Law had not forgone anything; the tortured soul had only transported himself from one locked bird cage to another.
Immediately Rosi had asked to be excused from the Revolutionary Army and hastened night and day to Dressrosa, but he was still one step too late. He was blocked outside Doflamingo’s gigantic bird cage and all he could do was follow anxiously by the destructive cage as it shrank toward the central palace.
No matter how desperately he wanted to call out to Law, support Law, help Law, protect Law, his Devil Fruit ability, ironically, was to silence and be unheard. He had never felt his uselessness more keenly. In his utter helplessness, his only comfort was the secret hope that as long as the cage existed, the fight was not over, and thus Law must still be alive.
The moment the cage disappeared, and the country roared in thunderous excitement, Rosinante fell to his knees in the rubble. Tears tumbled out unstoppably. He wasn’t sure whether he was happy or sad, but he knew everything was finally over. His brother’s cruelty, Dressrosa’s sufferings, Law’s fight, and his own endless struggles were all past. His heart longed to fly to Law’s side, but his trembling legs would not move. As soon as he was able to get in touch with the local Revolutionary Army and locate Sabo, he rushed to where Law and the Straw Hats were hiding.
“Cora-san…” Sunk in his coma, Law muttered countless times and it was always the same three syllables. Only once Law mumbled, “Too hot, Bepo! Get off!” and kicked away the feather coat Corazón put on him. Robin almost chuckled audibly.
Of the three most incapacitated heroes, Usopp woke up in one day, but Luffy and Law showed no sign of improvement. During his sleep, Luffy was able to drink water as if he were eating meat; however, not a drop entered Law. By the second day, Law’s fever became worse. Corazón felt himself burning up with anxiousness, too. He thought he hadn't been this clumsy and worried thirteen years ago when he'd had to take care of the sick boy. Back then, even if Law was tortured by the Amber Lead Syndrome and frequent fevers, at least he was conscious most of the time. Now, far from a bundle of joy, under all the bandages Law was lifeless like a dry fish.
“Law, be good. Drink some water please...” Despite Corazón’s constant pleas and patting on the cheeks, Law did not wake up. The water Corazón put into his mouth leaked out uselessly. “Law…” Corazón sighed. He wiped the water away and held Law up in his arms. With one hand prying Law’s lips open, Corazón picked up the water cup, took a mouthful himself, and gently fed the water into Law, forcing him to swallow. At first, Law didn’t have much reaction. Water just trickled down his throat. But by the third mouthful, Law licked his dry lips. After that, Law’s tongue wouldn't let Corazón’s go. He hungrily drank mouthful after mouthful, licking Corazón greedily to give him more. Corazón felt the heat rising to his face. How did taking care of a comatose patient become so embarrassing? When Robin handed him a second cup of water, Corazón dropped it with more than his usual awkwardness. Fortunately, Robin caught the cup with an extra hand that instantly grew from the couch.
“Sorry,” Corazón said, wishing his face didn’t look as pink as his shirt. “Thanks.”
After feeding down two cups of water, Corazón felt as if he had just battled a sea monster. Sweating and panting, he felt so relieved that the exhaustion from days of traveling and worrying soon overcame him. He fell sound asleep with Law in his arms.
Anyone with eyes could see Corazón’s loving care for Law. They could only marvel at how different the treatment was even though they were wounded, too. Zoro scratched his nose, suddenly missing his cook. He wondered where Sanji was and whether he was safe…?
Corazón was awakened by the sweaty little dry fish in his arms. He touched Law’s forehead and was thankful to find it not burning anymore. He got up to wash his face, asked Kyros for some new bandages, and he prepared some hot water to towel Law off. His heart sank as he removed Law’s soaked bandages. Corazón couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the savage scar showing a brutally severed and roughly reattached arm. Yet as if defying all sympathy, a tattoo smirked mockingly on Law’s bruised, sinewy chest. This should have been such a beautiful body… Why is it so broken now? Corazón traced the tattoo as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Why didn’t you forget me…?” Corazón choked. “All I ever wanted was for you to grow up healthy and free. Why did you have to torture yourself like this…? I’m so sorry, Law…”