He was rarely up this early, and even more rarely would he go out this far, but he wanted the morning to himself, away from the tents. The sun was rising in the horizon, basking the first warmth of the day across the morning dew of Karai Bari. Today was a day where Crocodile often would retreat to be by himself. Not that many noticed, as he was a very private man. He would return to the congregation soon enough, but for right now, he would sit against the roots of a dried out, dead tree and light up a cigar.
Crocodile took a drag from the cigar and let it linger in his mouth, tasting that mix of citrus and cloves that only came from a good brand. He only pulled these out for special occasions. Triumphs. Celebrations. Honors. The times when he could bask in the essence of a job well done. Yet, for right now, it was just a comfort. He took the cigar out and held it between his fingers, looking at the end glow in the still purple-black light of dawn, and let the smoke blow out from his mouth. A moment of contemplation. A moment of remembrance. He absently brought his hand up to his stomach, lightly tracing the spot over the layers of clothing and padding he had now acquired, almost two decades later.
A night where everything had changed for him. A night where he had decided that he couldn't stay where he was. A night where he had figured that he could never go back to the man he had once been. Had it been that long?
He took another inhale of his cigar and dashed the ash down along the roots of the tree. He wouldn't crush it. That would ruin the taste. No, maybe he would just sit here, for a few moments more. Just a time to himself, and a time for the man he had been so long ago.
"Heh," he chuckled through a billow of smoke. "Happy birthday, kid."