Doflamingo's 'charitable' intervention had abruptly chilled the formerly bustling street. But as he walked away, leading Baby 5 behind him, pedestrians gradually emerged from doorways and alleys, and the familiar rhythm of street life began to resume. Unceremoniously, the bodies of the nobleman and his daughter lay sprawled where they had fallen, utterly ignored. People pointed and whispered as they passed, the crowd of onlookers slowly growing again, but no one dared to touch the corpses or arrange for their removal, fearing to invite trouble upon themselves.
Doflamingo brought Baby 5 back to the Ark Maxim. Currently, only Enel remained aboard; Doflamingo had generously granted the rest of the crew shore leave to relax and enjoy themselves.
Enel sat cross-legged on the deck, quietly meditating, ostensibly guarding the Ark Maxim. It wasn't just a ship to him; it was a symbol of the Family, intertwined with his own dreams and convictions.
Tap... tap... tap... The sound of footsteps approached.
Enel, deep in his practice, sensed their arrival. He opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon Doflamingo and the small, bedraggled figure trailing behind him – the little stray.
"Doffy," Enel inquired curiously, "what's this?"
"Nothing much," Doflamingo replied dismissively. "Just a child with a past somewhat similar to yours."
"Similar to mine?" Enel chuckled. "Doffy, at this rate, our Family is going to turn into an orphanage."
"And what's wrong with that?" Doflamingo countered, his tone serious. "It simply means taking on the role of a parent to a rather large group of children! Besides, once someone joins the Family, they are my family." He paused, adding pointedly, "Though, not just anyone gets the opportunity to become my family."
"Family...!" Baby 5 murmured softly behind Doflamingo, her head still bowed low.
"Yahahaha!" Enel laughed heartily. "You're right, Doffy! The Family certainly needs fresh blood injected to grow stronger!" He hadn't actually been objecting, merely teasing. The bond between him and Doflamingo transcended the need for explicit agreement; Enel would unconditionally support Doflamingo's decisions.
His amusement fading, Enel turned a stern gaze upon Baby 5. "Listen here, little girl," he warned, his voice dropping low. "If you ever dare to betray this Family, Doffy won't even need to lift a finger. I will personally dispose of you. Getting into this Family isn't easy, and staying requires absolute loyalty."
"I..." Baby 5 visibly shrank back, intimidated by his sharp words, stammering unable to form a response.
"Alright, Enel," Doflamingo intervened smoothly, though inwardly pleased by Enel's fiercely protective stance. It reaffirmed his trust. The Family will undoubtedly grow larger, he thought, but those I consider true family will always be few. Managing the rest will fall to capable executives like Enel. "Baby 5 understands."
Enel shrugged, saying no more, but the weight of his warning lingered in the air. The Family, their shared creation, was sacrosanct and absolutely could not be threatened from within.
Doflamingo led Baby 5 towards the galley. He instructed her to sit at the large dining table while he fetched her something to eat.
He returned shortly carrying a basin piled high with food, placing it directly in front of her.
"Is... is this for me?" Baby 5 stared at the mountain of food, her throat working as she swallowed repeatedly. The desperate pangs of hunger gnawed at her, yet mindful of Doflamingo's earlier intensity, she hesitated. Instead of lunging forward, she looked up at him, seeking permission.
Doflamingo simply nodded, confirming it was hers.
Still uncertain, Baby 5 asked again cautiously, "May... may I eat it?"
"Go ahead," Doflamingo said patiently, recognizing the deep-seated insecurity behind her hesitation. "It's all yours."
Finally hearing the words she longed for, Baby 5 could restrain herself no longer. Oblivious to the grime covering her small hands, she reached out, grabbing handfuls of food and stuffing them into her mouth with desperate urgency. Only someone who has truly experienced starvation can comprehend its terrifying grip.
Doflamingo pulled out a chair and sat down beside her, watching her wolf down the meal with a complex expression, a mixture of pity and detached contemplation.
"Eat slowly," he advised gently. "No one is going to take it from you. It's all yours. If you're still hungry after this, there's more."
"Mmph..." Baby 5 could only make muffled sounds in response, her head bowed low over the food, her mouth completely full.
After a considerable amount of time, she finally finished every last scrap in the basin, leaving it wiped clean.
"Full now?" Doflamingo asked softly, observing her visibly distended belly.
Baby 5 suddenly became aware of her state – the frantic eating, her rounded stomach – and flushed with embarrassment, nodding shyly.
Just then, Robin's cheerful voice drifted in from the galley entrance.
"Onii-chan! Enel mentioned you brought a little girl back with you?" Robin inquired, stepping into the room.
"Robin," Doflamingo acknowledged her, "this is Baby 5. Come and meet her."
"My name is Nico Robin," the older girl said brightly, approaching the table with a friendly smile. "It's nice to meet you, Baby 5."
Baby 5 flickered a glance at Robin, then immediately looked back towards Doflamingo, her eyes seeking his silent instruction on how to respond.
Doflamingo gave another almost imperceptible nod.
"My name... is Baby 5," she replied softly, obeying his cue.
Robin took in Baby 5's disheveled and dirty appearance. "Baby 5," she offered kindly, "why don't you come with me? I'll help you take a nice bath! Plus, I bought lots of cute new clothes in town today! You can try some on."
"Am I... needed for that?" Baby 5 asked, sounding a fraction bolder this time, her ingrained phrase reflexively surfacing.
"Of course!" Robin answered easily, still unaware of the deeper pathology behind the question, simply responding with practical kindness. "Look how dirty you are right now. You want to be nice and clean, don't you?" She affirmed the 'need' based on the obvious situation.
Hearing Robin's confirmation triggered another fleeting wave of happiness in Baby 5, the warm feeling of being needed washing over her. But almost immediately, the memory of Doflamingo's cold, sharp voice from the street echoed in her mind, shattering the pleasant sensation. Her promise... Her internal conflict was palpable; she hesitated, frozen with indecision, afraid to make the wrong move.
Doflamingo observed this silent struggle from his chair, saying nothing. Robin's spontaneous offer served as a perfect, natural test, saving him the effort of contriving one. He waited patiently, curious to see what choice Baby 5 would make.
"What's wrong? Aren't you coming, Baby 5?" Robin asked, turning back when the younger girl didn't follow, her tone laced with gentle confusion.
Baby 5 visibly clenched her small fists, gritting her teeth. "I... I can't listen to you!" she blurted out, forcing herself to reject Robin's kind invitation.
"Why not?" Robin asked, completely bewildered. "I just want to help you take a bath."
"No! I only listen to him!" Baby 5 insisted, her gaze fixed firmly on Doflamingo.
Understanding now that Doflamingo was somehow central to this strange refusal, Robin turned her own puzzled gaze towards him, seeking an explanation.
Seeing the situation had reached the intended point, Doflamingo finally spoke. "Baby 5," he said, his voice calm but authoritative, "from this moment on, you will address me as 'Young Master'. Furthermore, in situations like this one, you need to learn to exercise your own judgment. If you are ever unsure how to decide, you may ask me for guidance."
"Yes... Young Master," Baby 5 replied respectfully, absorbing his instruction.
"So," Doflamingo prompted, pointedly placing the responsibility back on her, "what is your decision now?"
Baby 5 looked directly into Doflamingo's eyes behind the sunglasses, then said with newfound firmness, "I... I want to go with her."
Robin watched the exchange silently, wisely choosing not to interfere. She could sense that Baby 5 had some deep-seated psychological issues and felt a pang of sympathy for the small girl. More importantly, however, her trust in Doflamingo was absolute. Whatever his methods, whatever his reasons, she believed he acted for the ultimate good of their Family. Her place was simply to stand unwaveringly by his side.
Doflamingo nodded, internally satisfied with Baby 5's response. He didn't desire a mindless automaton merely executing commands. He wanted – needed – his subordinates to be individuals of flesh and blood, capable of thought and feeling, albeit guided by his will. His earlier harshness hadn't been arbitrary; it was calculated to shock Baby 5 into awareness, to force her to question her compulsion instead of blindly obeying anyone who claimed to need her. With careful, consistent guidance – or 'education' – he believed he could mold her into a functional, loyal member of his Family, unlike the ungrateful traitor she became in the original timeline, discarding years of affiliation the moment someone else offered her validation.
"Go, then," Doflamingo permitted. "And remember: when you cannot decide for yourself, I will provide the answer."
Robin waited respectfully until Doflamingo finished speaking, then gently took Baby 5's small hand and led her out of the galley.
As they walked away, Baby 5 felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had braced herself for a harsh reprimand from the Young Master, but his reaction had been unexpectedly... reasonable?
Robin led Baby 5 towards the ship's bathing facilities. She helped the smaller girl remove her ragged clothes, quickly shed her own, and soon they were both soaking in the warm, steamy water.
"Baby 5," Robin asked kindly after a few moments of silence, noticing the younger girl staring blankly into the water, "what are you thinking about?"
Baby 5 hesitated, then asked nervously, her voice small, "What kind of person... is the Young Master?"
"Onii-chan?" Robin replied instantly, her voice filled with unwavering conviction. "He's the best!"
"Is that so?" Baby 5 murmured, unable to make out Robin's expression clearly through the rising steam, but the absolute certainty in her tone was unmistakable. "I think so too," she whispered, almost too softly to hear.
"What did you say, Baby 5?" Robin asked, leaning closer.
"Nothing!"
Children, ultimately, are children. The one who rescues them from the depths of despair inevitably leaves an indelible, unforgettable mark upon their souls.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo had settled back into his customary place – likely the throne on the Ark's deck – closing his eyes, contemplating... life, plans, the future. He gave no thought to the conversation potentially happening between Robin and Baby 5 in the bath. As long as Baby 5 developed along the lines he intended, that was sufficient. If, despite his efforts, his 'education' failed to correct her inherent flaw... well, then no one could blame him for being ruthless. Doflamingo made no pretensions about being a good person. Still, he mused, a child this young was at the most malleable stage. He had already imprinted his brand upon her psyche, established his absolute authority. He felt reasonably confident that Baby 5 absolutely wouldn't turn out like that this time around.