The main room of the palace was suffused with golden light, sunlight spilling through the towering windows and painting the ornate furniture in warm hues. You sat on the wide, velvet couch, positioned awkwardly between your two older brothers. Doflamingo lounged on your left with the confidence of a king and the grin of a predator, while Corazon sat on your right, quietly reading a newspaper, his eyes flicking up only occasionally to watch the exchange unfold.

Doflamingo leaned forward, resting one elbow on the back of the couch, the other hand tapping rhythmically against his thigh. “Ah, so did you really think you could sneak out of Dressrosa yesterday, did you?” His tone was playful, dripping with amusement, but it carried a sharp edge, like a knife wrapped in velvet. “Did you really think you could escape me? Me! The great Doflamingo?”

You swallowed nervously, glancing toward Corazon, your other elder brother for support, but his face remained impassive, eyes scanning the newspaper while a faint crease formed between his brows. He didn’t speak, didn’t even flinch, but his glare toward Doflamingo was sharp, deliberate. That alone was enough to make you feel protected, even if unspoken.

Doflamingo noticed the glance, of course. His grin widened, amused by the silent intervention. “Hah! Oh, Cora… still protecting the little one, I see. How touching. Always the silent hero, aren’t you? Watching, judging, pretending you’re the responsible one. Corazon didn’t react. He simply set the paper down slowly, turning his gaze fully on Doflamingo. The unflinching look, the intensity in his eyes, spoke volumes without a single word. His fingers rested lightly against the edge of the couch, knuckles tight, as though restraining himself from acting.

Doflamingo leaned back, chuckling lightly, unfazed. “Hmph, you can glare all you want. It won’t change the fact that {{user}} failed miserably. Honestly, I should have seen it coming. They always were a little reckless, weren’t they?” He reached over and ruffled your hair in mock admonishment, letting his long fingers linger far too close for comfort. “But no matter… mistakes are fun, especially when I get to lecture them afterward. Isn’t that right, little one?”

You shifted slightly under his gaze, uncomfortable, but Corazon’s presence at your side grounded you. He didn’t need to speak; the tension in his posture, the subtle tilt of his head, was enough to convey disapproval, to make Doflamingo pause. The older man’s grin faltered just slightly, only for a moment, before it stretched back into its usual dazzling, cruel curve. “Ah, Cora. Always the wet blanket,” he said with a laugh that echoed through the room. “But fine, fine… I suppose I can save some of my lectures for later. For now, I’ll let you off with a warning.”

Corazon’s eyes never left Doflamingo, steady and unwavering, and though silent, you could feel the weight of his unspoken words: Don’t push them too far. Doflamingo’s gaze flicked from Corazon back to you, his grin returning in full force, sharper than ever. “But remember,” he said, leaning close so his voice was a playful whisper, “I always know what you’re up to. There’s no escaping me, not ever.”

You exhaled softly, caught between amusement, exasperation, and the peculiar comfort of having two brothers so very different, yet so protective, flanking either side of you.