So much for saving up food, they've demolished it. You were glad you didn't bring the whole lot because you would have ended up with nothing.
Carefully, you gathered seeds from the metal and scattered objects beneath the hut, then hunted some fruit scraps for compost.
At first, this place was just where the current would take anything that washed up, though soon enough it became a metal heap. It's sad to see so much waste; someone with the right talents would probably love all this, but it's just left here to rot.
Little did you know there were two beady eyes following your every move behind his lenses. "Why are you picking them up?"
The voice jolted you from your thoughts, causing your eyebrows to rise. "I had a small garden to plant them in but some animals got to it and now I have to replant most of them."
Odette directed a look of awe in your direction. "You're quite a resourceful human, especially for your age. How did you pick up on that?" It sounded like it was meant to be genuine but ended up becoming off as slightly condescending.
Your nose twitched, but you suppressed it to continue the conversation. "I learned it from my mum."
Homing, who was just finishing up his food, perked up, seemingly in a much better mood. "She sounds like she was a smart woman, and thank you so very much for the food."
That was the first nice thing you had heard someone say about her in ages, which made your eyes light up, but you tried to play it off. "She was, and don't worry about it."
Rosy, who had been listening in, meekly asked an accidental gut punch. "Where is she now, eh?"
The parents looked at each other, silently watching the scene unfold.
That stopped you; you sensed your jaw naturally tensing, then you forced something out that was supposed to sound like a laugh. "You haven't done that in a while."
He started playing with his hands; he gently tapped the brother, who already seemed furious. "Huh?" Doffy replied for him.
"You know how you two used to add an -eh to the end of all your sentences? Now you both hardly do it, especially you."
Slowly, he tilted his head to the side while raising his voice. "What's that got to do with the question?"
"Nothing, I don't feel like answering, so I'll just not answer it." You smiled shortly before returning your face to a neutral expression and turning tail.
A hellish little screech released from his throat. "HEY-" the forehead vein making another appearance.
Before he could say anything, his father put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "It sounds like it's a bit of a touchy subject, so if she doesn't want to talk about it, you can't make her son."
Through a bitten lip, he attempted a calm response. "But she was making fun of the way the fellow gods and, most importantly us, so why are you defending her?!?"
"But we're not gods anymore."
Pushing off his father's hand, the evil glare redirected to the dad. "And whose fault was that! It's so bad that tiny, frail, nasty HUMAN had to rescue us that doesn't respect us."
Part of you is very glad he got jumped, even if you feel slight sympathy for him.
"They've left us to fend for ourselves because of your choices!"
The father stopped. It was awfully silent; the tension could be cut with a knife. Then water started to drip down his face. "I'm so sorry, what have I done?" the mother attempted to speak up but just coughed instead and held him as they both gasped for air.
Doffy's face dropped behind the anger; there looked like there was a sliver of guilt.
This is incredibly awkward; you've managed to start a family argument and you've only been here for five minutes. How long are you going to sit like this for?
Sighing, you push your ego to the side for just a moment. You thought that since you started it, you were going to finish it. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said that you're all going through enough as it is, and I bet the people round here are probably the reason why you've changed your accent. It was insensitive, and to answer your question, she was kidnapped."
Saying it out loud filled you with a deep sense of dread. You've basically told one of the most insensitive people you have ever met the thing that upsets you the most. Your one small salvation was that he still had his sunglasses on, so you couldn't make eye contact even if you wanted to.
Awkwardly, you walked over with four bracelets. "I made them out of seashells and seaweed. Think of them as an apology gift."
It wasn't made for them, but you are technically the reason that there was an argument. Plus, you had made so many, so sharing some isn't too much trouble.
However, there was a chance that Doffy would throw it on the ground. You clenched your eyes, dredging the reaction.
Gently, something graced your hand, taking one of the handmade objects.
You opened your eyes to see that Doffy was the one who took one. He wiped his hands and the bracelet on his clothes, but he still took it.
"I'll wear it on the condition that you let me call you Dulcinea."
Bastard, how are you supposed to protest now you've only just cleared the air?
With a satisfied smirk, he tied it round his wrist, then proceeded to take the other bracelets, wipe them, and hand them out to the rest of his family.
"This is the first time that I have seen such humble jewellery-eh" putting an extra emphasis on -eh "I appreciate it very much Dulcinea"
You had already started regretting this decision, but you didn't want to start any needless arguments, so you were just going to let it go.
Finally getting back out of his shell, Rosinante speaks, "How did you make them?"
Considering he's a quick distraction from the deal you had made with the undersized demon, "I made them with things by the beach, had to fight a couple of crabs for some of them. To get there, you just follow the sea for a bit before you come to the rocks."
The child's eyes widened. "Are there other animals there?"
"Yes, there are some small fish, the occasional jellyfish, and some creatures that live in shells. You can find them all between the rocks where the water gets trapped. There's probably some round here too, but it's too dangerous to be rummaging through metal by the sea. You're not going to miss the chance to go to the beach with someone."
Jumping up, you grab Rosy's hands. "Do you want to go animal hunting with me? If you feel a bit better, that is. " Eagerly, you await his answer.
Once he gets over the initial shock of you leaping over, he nods after seeing the faces of his parents' approval.
Oh. Him. You forgot he was there.
For a wonderful, beautiful, sweet second, you didn't consider that you might have to take both.
".....Would you like to come too?" This time, you weren't exactly leaping at the opportunity for him to come.
By the expression on his face, he seems to take great pleasure in tormenting you. "Yes Dulcinea, yes I would."
Tilting your chin to the heavens, you shut your eyes as any hope of you having a peaceful time went out the window.
Composing yourself, you start walking, "Follow me if you want to come see the sea animals."
Both the boys followed after, carefully trying to suss out what parts of the pile are the most stable.
A strange sight to see from such posh people or sorry 'gods', you knew your way round it since you would occasionally come here to make things, sell things, or find something useful.
Once you got down, you observed as the boys as they traversed the mad-made mountain, ready to catch them at a moment's notice, which was just as well because you had to catch the younger one; otherwise, he would have landed on his head.
He had somehow managed to undo his bandages only to trip over it. You were looking at him, and you still couldn't figure out how he did it. He just looked half mummified by the time you caught him.
It was a miracle he had survived this long. It's as if fate had it out for him.
Once you all hit the earth, you followed the sea sure, the three of you playing eye spy after five minutes of Doffy saying it was a childish game.
Slowly, the patches of rubble descended in numbers, making the sand underneath it becoming more prominent.
It was a relaxing walk until you felt Rosinante latch onto you, as he dinged his fingers into your clothes he pointed forward "there's another human here"
Even Doffy was shaken at the thought of another person which was an odd flip of the usual dynamic celestials had with humans.
What made things worse is you knew him, he was far away but he always did have a distinct look.
The kid had a stupid looking bowl cut, borline sun glasses, an insane amount of strength and a chunk of food attached to his face because you gave him a static shock on his face, he's never been able to get rid of it since.
He trained at the beach a lot, that's where you saw him training and learned Armament Haki. Maybe if you got the boys to see his training they might be able to look after themselves it could make your life a lot easier.
Dragging them into the bushes, you crawled closer keeping a safe distance, signalling the other two to follow "if you wanna see something cool follow me but keep quiet"
Having achieved a position where you could remain concealed while observing, you sat down. Although you weren't watching the person training you, your gaze was fixed on your new companions. They watched in wonder as someone their age effortlessly broke a stone larger than himself.
He may have ditched you but you had to admit that he was talented, shame the he had wasted it all to be hang out with a group of thugs.
Rapidly tapping your side, Doffy produced the loudest whisper possible "How did he do that-eh? I never thought a human being was capable of such power, I've only seen a feat like that from the holy knight-eh."
The holy knights were something you would learn about later but at this moment in time you had no clue what he was on about.
Unsurprisingly, Mr. saving a bit for later stopped, staring into the bushes only to raise an eyebrow. "(Y/n), are you still stalking me?"
Both boys snapped their heads to you; you had the face of someone who had stepped in a hornet's nest.
If you stayed perfectly still and quiet, hopefully he would have to go away eventually, though that plan wasn't working because plate-face was making his way through the bushes.
It didn't take him too long to find you, especially since you had brought people with you. He hovered over the three of you, his eyes wandering from one person to the next.
"I don't know what's weirder: you bringing your friends to watch me or you having any friends to watch me with. Who are these anyway? They seem familiar"
That hurt because he's never said a joke in his life, he wasn't making fun of you; it was a genuine observation. Continuing to ignore him, you studded up and pulled your 'friends' with you.
Sitting directly opposite you he continued "You can watch me train if you stop doing from behind a bush. We were friends, your the one who has a problem not me"
The worst part about your anger was that it was entirely unreciprocated. He backstabbed you but you're not experiencing the pain if you're holding the handle.
Rosy, on the other hand, grinned at the thought of being able to sit and watch him punch a rock, blissfully unaware of your anger.
Amidst the chaos, you forgot that you're the tour guide for an entitled former wealthy child who's slipped away from your hold. "I want to watch, Dulcinea can't you put it behind you?"
"NO! You don't have a say in how I'm feeling and I'm not talking to a traitor!" Stomping your foot you walk away and turn your back on them.
Tutting, he watched your tantrum unfold "When are you gonna to let that go? It wasn't personal" he made a mental note of 'Dulcinea' but didn't think it was the right time to mention it.
Patiently he waited for an answer.
Tightly, you pushed both your lips together while shaking your head and crossing your arms as if you were putting some sort of emotional armour on.
Turning his head to the other two, he hoped to at least get a reply out of someone "So are you the celestial dragons?"asked with the same calmness as you would for the time.
Snapping your head, you observed the interaction with one eye. Little Rosinante and Doffy looked terrified as a man-made reflex kicked in to be on their guard when their heritage was brought up.
Gulping Doffy worked up the courage to reply "You come near me or my brother,one day you'll pay."
If push came to shove he could defeat us three effortlessly. However, his one redeeming quality was his restraint; he never acted on his feelings, you weren't sure he had any.
Standing up he spun you round to renter your field of vision "Ill take that as a yes, I heard rumours about them but I never would have guessed that you would be hanging round with them, witch."
It's an attempt to gouge a reaction out of you, you knew that, didn't stop you from falling for it though.
Finally, you opened your mouth, screaming as you throw a handful of dirt "I HATE YOU!" Furiously, making another fist full of dirt to launch more against your better judgement.
Calmly he retrieved his bamboo stick, his weapon of choice, lightly wacking you on the head "I thought you weren't going to talk "
When he retracted it, you rubbed your head while pouting "OW" didn't hurt much but it stopped you in your tracks.
"I'm not gonna beat up you or your new celestial dragon friends, I just don't want you skulking around it's weird, it doesn't help that you're already creepy enough as it is."
Both the brothers released a breath that they didn't know they were holding in, however they still held onto each other on the off chance.
Mildly frustrated at the somewhat hypocrisy you speak up "Who’s to say you won't? You've already attacked me." He's technically already gone against the rule he's just made.
"Whinge bag, you went for me first it was self defence but seriously stop lurking"
You're willing to compromise but you're not going to forget how he screwed you over "Fine! I'll stay in your line of vision but don't expect me to speak!"
He stared for a moment, processing information before grimacing "You're just gonna sit there and glare at me instead?" He sighs exasperated with the antics "At least it's one step in the right direction."
Uncharacteristically, Doffy had been quietly watching the conversation play out, he learned that he and his family had to make sure their surroundings were safe before speaking, a lesson he planned on making the people of this island pay for teaching him "How come you haven't brought this up with her before?"
"She runs way too quickly, there's no chance that I would catch up, she's almost as fast as I am strong." Little did he know that you hadn't said a word about it and wasn't planning on saying anything till later.
The boys jaws both hit the ground.
"And why haven't you told us this sooner-eh?" Doffy's face scrunched up so much that from far away you could mistake him for a bull dog "Well? Go on I want to see this now"
With starry eyes Rosy looks up at you "Really?" In spite of everything he was having a wonderful day minus the beating he got earlier "Show us! Come on (y/n) please?"
All eyes were now on you, a situation that you've never been too fond of because of times like this. Giving in to pear pressure, you run around the beach from the rocks, to the sea, to the trees, the back where you were in the first place with a whoosh.
By the surprise on the twos face they weren't expecting that, though there's not much you could have said to brace them for it if they haven't seen anything like it.
Clapping like his life depends on it, Rosy lets out a squeak of joy "bravo!"
What kinda six year old says 'bravo'? You can tell he was rich but it’s not like you can hold it against him since he’s so darn cute.
Still recovering from the whiplash, Doffy just stares “……How? I never thought humans could do these things-eh”
Ready to flex his knowledge on one of his favourite subjects, the mini gangster responded “It’s called Haki and anyone can use it, the right training can help but some people can lean it naturally.”
The cogs turned, “So I could learn it too?” His expression resembled a smile but lacked the kindness and warmth usually associated with one.
Introducing Doflamingo to Vergo would be one of the worst decisions you would make in your life.
I’m soooo sorry for the late update my life has been so chaotic lately, but I swear no matter what happens this will eventually get an ending. Hope you enjoyed this chapter
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