Chapter Text
- 0 -
"Just leave him alone!" Rocinante shouts. Everything hurts like hell, his lungs are on fire, but he shouts anyway. "He's already free !"
Doffy doesn't care. Or cares too much, being offended by those simple words. He pulls the trigger, and Rocinante falls. One, two, three, too many shots. He falls right into the snow and closes his eyes. Everything hurts like hell, but it's still not time for him to die.
He waits. He wants to close his eyes and die now; he's a goner, nevertheless. But he needs to protect Law. Help him escape Doffy and that bunch of cursed idiots. Help him find a path to a new, free life.
He wants to help Law to become happy. Rocinante smiles and falls into the dark void.
- 1 -
Rocinante smiles and falls from the hammock. It hurts; it almost feels like he broke his nose, and Rocinante grumbles through gritted teeth.
"For heaven's sake!" the room is dark, and Rocinante sees nothing, but the angry whisper certainly belongs to a very annoyed Gladius. "It's the last time we allowed you to sleep here, Corazon. Can't you go without that clumsy shit, at least in the middle of the night?"
Rocinante lies on the wooden floor and blinks. He knows the smell of this floor; he tripped on it too many times to remember such detail. He also knows that Gladius won't stop whining until he says something. Rocinante has no idea what to say. He is dead; he should be dead. But at the same time, he is lying on the floor of Doffy's ship and listens to Gladius' stupid complaints and Buffalo's loud snore.
Rocinante has no idea what's going on, so he does the most rational action. He clumsily gets back into his hammock and closes his eyes. With the angry blessing from Gladius, he is ready to die.
***
He doesn't die. He still has no idea what is happening, but Rocinante knows one thing for sure - he is not dead. Which is strange and abnormal; all those bullets he received from Doffy as his parting present had to kill him. Not move him back in time.
Rocinante knows that time travel exists; he read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia from cover to cover. Still, it doesn't make any sense. Rocinante's fruit has nothing to do with time travel, and the same applies to his brother's one. Unless Doffy managed to find that particular fruit and feed it to his gun. Rocinante thinks about it, and nothing makes sense. The fruit he knows about can travel into the future. He, however, woke up in the past, and it doesn't make sense.
Rocinante isn't dead, but he wishes he was. His head hurts, and it has nothing to do with the blasted hammock.
***
Everything gets worse when Rocinante realises what day the cruel joke of fate sent him. Or the god of death, if there is one. It is the day when he heard Law's full name for the first time in his past life. It is the day his whole world shattered, and Rocinante entered a dangerous path of going against everyone in the world. Just to save Law. He spends the entire morning thinking about it and realises that it is his chance to correct all his past mistakes. When he woke up in the middle of the night, he thought of it as a punishment. He thinks of it as a blessing when he drags Law away from the other stupid kids and reveals his real identity to an angry boy he loves so much.
Everything gets better when Rocinante realises there is a chance for him to help Law and stay alive.
***
He skips the whole part with those dumb hospitals and travels with Law around the same route instead. He tries to encourage the ill boy and promises to help him. He talks to him a lot, even when Law pretends to be busy with nothing. There are so many things Rocinante wants to tell him before they come across the right Devil Fruit, and he uses this possibility to its full extent.
Of course, Law doesn't believe him at first. He thinks that stupid Corazon hit his head too hard that night and became an utter weirdo. But he slowly starts to warm towards his unexpected companion, and Rocinante rejoices.
He cries when Law calls him Cora-san for the first time. Law winces and says he is a dimwit.
Everything gets better.
***
Rocinante decides to go after the Devil Fruit on his own. He doesn't discuss it with Doffy or Sengoku; he tracks the movement of Barrels' crew and decides to deal with them before his brother or the Marines can make their moves.
"We can do it, right, Law?" he asks the boy with a hammed-up enthusiasm. Law is too ill to call him names; he simply nods and gets back to sleep.
Everything goes perfectly. Everything goes too perfectly, and when Rocinante finally steals the fruit and runs away from the stunned pirates, he feels on top of the world.
This feeling doesn't last long. Rocinante gives Law the fruit and checks the surroundings before they can finally sleep peacefully.
Then he dies again.
- 2 -
"Fucking Corazon," Gladius hisses sleepily. Rocinante scowls and shows him two fingers in the gesture he learnt from vice admiral Garp. It's dark in the cabin, and Gladius sees nothing, so he continues with his quiet complaints. Rocinante gets back into his hammock and tries to figure out what had just happened.
Apparently, he was too reckless. He thought that the loss of the Devil Fruit would demoralise Barrels pirates, making them fight each other in disarray. That was his mistake since one of them still managed to follow Rocinante and take vengeance for his captain's broken nose.
Rocinante makes himself comfortable in the too-small hammock and tries to sleep. Not as peacefully as he hoped, though.
***
He's back in time on the same day as before. Rocinante picks at his breakfast plate with a gloomy expression that makes Baby 5 wonder if he is feeling well. Rocinante waves his hand in annoyance and thinks about the mess he keeps finding himself in.
He keeps trying to save Law. He keeps dying while doing so, and he must do something wrong. Rocinante still has no idea about the whole time-travelling thing, but a small voice in his head hints that he failed again. Perhaps he needs to change his behaviour or do something completely different. But Rocinante has no idea what he is doing wrong, which drives him mad.
He breaks his plate in annoyance, and Gladius whispers that their captain's brother is a lost cause. After all, he had suffered a fatal injury the last night. Rocinante glances at him annoyingly, but at the same time, he finds it hard to disagree with his temporary crewmate.
He is a lost cause. Good thing that Rocinante is not ready to give up. Not for now, at least.
***
Rocinante overhears Law's conversation with Baby 5 and Buffalo.
Rocinante does nothing and stays with his brother. He still looks after Law, this time in a discreet way. He tries to spend more time with him, communicating through notes, and Law says he's creepy. He calls him Corazon, but Rocinante doesn't mind. He tries to save Law again but wants to do it differently this time. He is ready to make some sacrifices.
Rocinante keeps tripping and raising laughter from the children and spends some nights beside Law's hammock, trying to ease his pain as much as possible. He remembers certain things the boy taught him regarding his condition, and Law is very surprised that stupid Corazon knows how to treat fever and other nasty symptoms. Rocinante chuckles and writes on the crumbled piece of paper that Law knows nothing about him.
***
Doffy calls for him and says they need to have a private conversation.
"No eavesdropping," he frowns at curious Baby 5 and Dellinger, and Rocinante knows what his brother wants to talk about.
Doffy explains that he found the rare Devil Fruit. Doffy confesses that he wants to find it.
"And then you will eat it, Corazon," he says with a smirk. Rocinante sighs and lightens the cigarette. He didn't leave the crew; he didn't act recklessly, yet Doffy still looks forward to killing him. How marvellous.
It's a fruit for the doctor, he writes on the nearest piece of paper. Wouldn't it be better for someone else to eat it?
"Do you have someone in mind?" Doffy scowls, and the veins on his forehead pop out instantly. He doesn't look pleased with Rocinante's answer.
I don't know, someone with actual medical knowledge?
"You're funny," Doffy laughs. "This is a very rare fruit, dear brother. I cannot allow someone to have its powers."
Rocinante shrugs and leaves the cabin.
***
It takes him more than two months to persuade Doffy to give the fruit to Law. Doffy still looks displeased, but he agrees. Or at least he pretends to agree, but it is everything Rocinante needs.
He hopes he won't fuck up everything else.
***
Law eats the Devil Fruit and gets captured by the navy. It is just as Rocinante planned, and he feels surreal satisfaction that everything went as he wanted.
If only his fellow navy soldiers were as bright as Rocinante. Who the hell told them that killing a random member of Doflamingo's crew is the right thing to do?
- 3 -
Rocinante manages to fall with a pillow in his hands. He stands up and throws it in the direction of Gladius' hammock. Now he finally gets a chance to sleep peacefully. Rocinante closes his eyes and hopes he won't die because of neck pain.
***
This time, he takes Law away. The boy kicks and screams and promises to have his revenge on Corazon, but it's completely fine. Rocinante knows Law will understand his actions in the future.
He plans their route and decides that they will visit some of the hospitals this time. Their attendance may be one of the keys to ending the whole time-travelling cycle. Rocinante knows it will be difficult for Law and promises to treat him with some onigiri.
***
"Who was it?" Law demands after Rocinante finishes his conversation with Sengoku. "What were you talking about? Are you connected to the navy?"
Rocinante lights a cigarette and takes a good pull. "Commander Donquixote Rocinante at your service," he says and distracts himself with one of the books he brought on the boat. Law huffs and puffs angrily but says nothing.
***
Rocinante wakes up because there is water all around him. He has never been a good swimmer, and the Devil Fruit drags him to the bottom of the sea at an unprecedented pace.
Law, this brat decided it was a perfect opportunity to have his revenge on anyone connected to the government. It is so absurd that Rocinante laughs and coughs from the salty water in his lungs.
But he can't blame Law, so he dies.
- 4 -
Rocinante tries another approach and dies again. It is starting to get exhausting.
- 5 -
Rocinante falls from the hammock and dies. Bloody hell.
- 6 -
Rocinante feels so angry with himself and decides he won't do anything this time. He still wants to help Law, of course, but he needs to have some rest. He will die anyway; maybe the next attempt will be more successful.
He has no idea why he is so sure there will be another attempt waiting for him; he doesn't want to become an arrogant and cocksure bastard like Doffy. Still, he needs time for a short repose.
***
It doesn't end well for him, but Rocinante is not surprised. When he dies during the gunfight with some idiots who crossed Doffy's path, Rocinante welcomes the sudden resolution of this loop.
At least he managed to get some rest.
- 7 -
Rocinante falls from the hammock and feels that this attempt will be successful. He ignores Gladius and his musing and goes to sleep.
***
"I will tell Doflamingo that you are keeping secrets from the family, I promise !" Law shouts and runs away. Rocinante sighs and doesn't attempt to stop the boy. He knows that Law will stay quiet about everything Rocinante has told him in the quiet alley. After all, Law is a good boy, even though he pretends to act just like Doffy used in his childhood.
Rocinante remembers the awful feeling of drowning and decides he needs to make sure Law will stay quiet once again.
***
He returns to the ship before Law and the other children are back.
"Where have you been?" Doffy asks him nonchalantly, checking the back page of the newspaper.
"Just wandered around," Rocinante shrugs.
Doffy nods approvingly and continues reading. Rocinante goes to the kitchen, makes himself a cup of tea and waits. It takes his brother half an hour before the realisation finally strikes him. Rocinante hears the loud steps in the hallway and makes himself comfortable on the wooden chair.
Doffy is angry. Doffy looks worse than Rocinante had ever seen him. His face is red, and the vein on his forehead looks like it is about to explode. Rocinante snorts and takes a sip of tea.
"What the fuck was it ?" Doffy hisses and closes the door behind him. Rocinante tries to guess which crewmember will have to clean the kitchen after this conversation ends and sips his tea again.
"Nothing," he shrugs, and the expression on Doffy's face looks almost comical. "Just came back from the walk and am drinking my tea."
Doffy clenches his fists in annoyance and opens his mouth to say something. He stops as if he can't decide what to start with, and Rocinante snorts again, finishing his tea. At least it won't be wasted.
"Do you want to hear a joke?" he asks before Doffy manages to respond. "I am an undercover navy agent. Funny, right?"
Doffy's red face turns white in a blink of an eye. He's furious, but Rocinante doesn't care. "And this pink shit of yours is hideous. Just for your knowledge."
The expression of anger and confusion on Doffy's face is worth another screwed loop. Absolutely.
- 8? -
Rocinante dies again and realises he doesn't remember what loop it was. He needs to find the way out as soon as possible.
- 11? -
Rocinante curses himself for accidentally setting his bed on fire the day before the one he keeps returning to. That was why he was sleeping in the shared cabin in the hammock he hates so much now. Gladius whines, and Rocinante really wants to smack him. Preferably not with the pillow, as he did during one of the previous loops.
***
He takes Law away once again.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy asks when Rocinante sets up their night camp after three or four weeks of futile travels.
"I want to save you," Rocinante replies exhaustedly.
Law is quiet for a while, but then he moves closer and pulls at Rocinante's sleeve. "Why?"
"Because you deserve to live," he says and sits next to Law. "Because I know what you feel, and I know you want to live."
The boy looks at him with a severe gaze and nods. Then he reaches out and touches Rocinante's forehead. "You're burning," he says, pointing at the bag where Rocinante stores medications. "Let me take care of you."
Rocinante nods and touches his forehead too. He is burning, and he didn't even notice it. He is exhausted because of their travels and the loops he has already lost count of. Law fusses over him and ensures Rocinante drinks all weirdly tasting syrups before going to sleep. Rocinante smiles, and Law says he is a weirdo. Again.
***
He feels worse and worse with each day. It is still early to relax; they have almost four full months before the first news of the Devil Fruit. Or the possibility of stealing it from Barrels.
"Cora-san, we should do something about your illness," Law is worried about him. Rocinante laughs it off, ruffling the boy's hair. After all, he isn't the one who needs to find the Devil Fruit to cure his illness.
He starts coughing too much, and Law says that Cora-san is dumb. There are tears in the boy's eyes, and Rocinante feels guilt.
***
He calls Sengoku and asks him to take care of Law. The fleet admiral doesn't ask questions; his only concern is Rocinante's coughing. He answers that it's just a cold and says nothing about the constant fever. He's fine, but it may be better for him to look for the fruit himself.
***
Law cries again when they are parting their ways. Rocinante promises to return as soon as possible and asks Sengoku never to offer the boy any bread. Then he leaves and doesn't look back.
***
Losing to a stupid fever is the new low. Rocinante hopes that Sengoku won't break his promise and save Law in his stead.
- ? -
Rocinante sets his hammock on fire. It is a very childish thing to do, but he feels satisfaction when the cursed thing burns.
It creates a mess and turmoil for everyone else in the cabin, but Rocinante doesn't care. He feels revenged.
***
That stupid revenge doesn't help him, however. He dies later on anyway, and this time he drowns once again. It isn't because of Law, and that's why Rocinante feels irritated. He hopes his next death won't be because of fire.
- ?? -
Rocinante finds a crumbled piece of paper on the kitchen table and gropes for a pencil.
Let's get married.
"Stop it, Corazon," Giolla laughs with a hammed-up coyness. Rocinante snorts and throws the piece of paper away. He heads off to the deck and spends the evening sitting in his oversized black coat, thinking of nothing. He doesn't go to the city to overhear the conversation between Law and the others.
He tries to devise a plan, but the only thing he can think about is Law's scared face from the past. When he left the boy in the bloody treasure chest and promised him to see him soon.
What a fucking liar he is.
***
It ends up with his death on Minion island once again. He comes there with the whole Doflamingo family and decides to try the dumbest shit anyone has ever thought of. He tries to steal the fruit right in front of Doffy. Of course, it doesn't make his brother happy.
Well, he tried.
- ??? -
Rocinante promises never to touch the hammocks again if he manages to break the curse this time. He has no idea how to achieve it, but he has no other choice.
***
Rocinante tells Law the truth and takes him away. He tries to repeat their initial journey; he even takes the boy to the same hospitals and apologises after visiting each of them. Law seems hurt, but somehow he manages to warm towards Cora-san faster than before. It makes Rocinante happy, but at the same time, his anxiety grows in leaps and bounds.
He fears he will fail again, so when he calls Sengoku to talk about the Devil Fruit, he decides to take a stupid but, hopefully, the right decision. He asks the fleet admiral to help them. To get the fruit from Barrells and Doffy and give it to Law. Sengoku sounds surprised, but he promises to do everything he can.
"He's from the navy," Law says in a weak voice. He gets weaker and weaker each day, and it scares Rocinante. "I don't trust him."
"Sengoku-san is a good man," Rocinante caresses Law's wet hair and tries to calm down. He knows he can trust Sengoku. He hopes there is a chance for Law.
The boy laughs drowsily. "You are a very kindhearted man, Cora-san. You don't suit the navy at all."
Rocinante chuckles and wipes the sweat on Law's face. Maybe the boy is not wrong.
***
They don't go to Minion island and wait for the news from Sengoku. Rocinante tells Law some stupid-ass stories from his childhood in the navy and prays that this loop would be his last one.
***
He is wrong. Sengoku calls him the next day, and there is remorse in his voice.
"I tried my best," he says, and Rocinante knows he fucked everything up. "But you know how valuable this fruit is - the government took it for themselves. I’m sorry, Rocinante.”
Law is sleeping, and Rocinante tells his mentor it is fine. That they will find another way. When the call is over, he walks away from the small sleeping figure and puts the soundproof barrier around himself.
Then he weeps.
***
He is so used to dying by now that the actual death doesn't scare him anymore.
It is the first time he sees Law die, and Rocinante feels something inside him shatter into a million pieces.
He wants to die too, and this time he grants this wish to himself.
- ??? -
Rocinante is tired.
"Fuck off, Gladius," he says when the fellow crewmate starts his whinings. He goes to sleep and sees nothing in his dreams.
***
Gladius tries to hide his confusion, but it is written all over his face when he approaches Rocinante in the morning.
"The last night," he starts with mere suspicion in his voice. "When you fell from your hammock. Were you talking to me, Corazon?"
Rocinante cocks an eyebrow and reaches for the paper.
Must be your imagination, he writes and looks Gladius up and down with irritation.
"You're lying," Gladius squints. "I'm sure I heard you telling me to fuck off after I started to scold you."
Imagination. I don't use such words.
"Do you want me to prove that you're lying?"
Try me, Rocinante writes and walks away to have a smoke. He is tired and pissed off. He hears Gladius grumble something in return but pays no attention to him. After all, he and Law will be leaving soon.
***
Law doesn't take their escape lightheartedly, but his behaviour is nothing new.
"Stop it," Rocinante says with an unhidden irritation, and Law shuts up instantly. He looks at Rocinante with curiosity and scratches his hat.
"When was the last time you had a proper sleep, Corazon?" he asks carefully.
"A hundred lives ago," Rocinante replies with a shrug. He understands that he needs to take it easy on Law, but he is tired.
***
Somehow it helps Law to accept his fate and get used to Rocinante and their unfortunate travels. They visit island after island, and, at some point, he realises that Law is already calling him Cora-san. He feels shame for not registering it earlier and tries his best not to act harshly towards the boy. It is hard, but it isn't Law's fault.
Rocinante tries and tries again.
Somehow their relationship turns in the right direction once again.
***
Rocinante tells Sengoku about Vergo.
"One less problem," he snorts and shows Law a thumb up. "You'll see, this time everything will go as planned."
Law eyes him from head to toe with doubt but says nothing. Rocinante thinks if the boy takes him for a dimwit and chuckles.
***
They are on Minion island again; this time, Vergo is nowhere to be seen. Rocinante takes it as a good sign and tells Law to hide in the treasure chest before he can face Doffy and the rest of the family.
"I love you, Law," he says, knowing his hopes will be futile again. He had already been caught by the Barrells pirates and beaten up. And he is tired.
The reunion with his brother's family doesn't go well. It never does, but Rocinante doesn't care. He does whatever he needs to protect Law, and when Doffy tells everyone to leave, Rocinante feels like he is at the finish line before falling down and never standing up anymore.
Doffy spits curses and talks about their real family. Doffy says that Rocinante is weak. Doffy wants the fruit and Law back. His voice makes Rocinante wince in irritation.
"Leave him alone," he says, pointing his gun at Doffy like he did many times before. "He is free!"
The vein on Doffy's face is about to explode once again.
Rocinante knows very well what will happen next and sighs. "Fuck off, Doffy."
His finger slips off the trigger.