#crocodile x reader

[tralawre]

🧸ྀི sir crocodile x f!reader, part two.

⋆𐙚 ̊ this has been proofread but mistakes may be present so I apologise in advance! read part one here. warning: reader is sad, mentions of reader injuring herself by her own hand, vampire bite, this was supposed to be the final part but I want to write an additional scene for the end bit of this post so I guess this is second to last?? see pinned post for banner and fan art information.

The atmosphere of The Cross Guild headquarters was tense and it was occasionally broken by whatever nonsense Buggy the Clown was up to. You were uncomfortable with it at first, yearning for the sea, but as you spoke to the workers there and made friends, you were alright.

However, the one man you wanted, was never near you. Crocodile avoided you like you were the plague, and when you did make contact with him, he'd stare you down, cigar and all, until you left him alone, and went about his own tasks. You had given up on him completely, and spent your time with Mihawk and Buggy - something that Crocodile noticed.

With your arms wrapped around Mihawk's neck, observing the piece of fiction he was reading, you asked him questions about it, and he would respond.

"You're like a Vampire!" You say in awe as he gave you the summary of the book. "You look like one too."

Unbeknownst to you, Crocodile had entered with Buggy's head on his hook.

"Careful," Mihawk drawls, flipping to the next page. "I bite like one too."

Crocodile's eyes narrow instantly.

You didn't get the innuendo. Your eyes lit up.

"Really?" You gasp, leaning into him. "Can you bite me?"

"What are you saying?" Crocodile snapped, ignoring Buggy's scream when the tip of his hook made him bleed.

"What? I love Vampires!"

"If she wants to be bitten, let her be bitten."

"Oi, Mihawk," Buggy hissed. "Are you trying to have Croco-chan kill you?"

"Who said you could call me Croco-chan?"

He was ignored.

Because of that, Crocodile tossed Buggy's head to the side, smirking in satisfaction when his head hit the wall.

Out of concern you pull away from Mihawk and make your way towards Buggy and cradle his head in your hands.

"Are you okay?"

Buggy screamed in horror when, in warning, Crocodile caressed his hook, glaring at Buggy to try something with you. Buggy's head jumped out of your hands and hopped onto the floor, connecting to your body that Alvida had outside.

"I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm very okay!"

Your frown deepens.

"Go stay in the library, Alvida will bring you your dinner."

"You're so rude, Croco-chan," You mock Buggy's nickname for him, and he didn't complain. "I wish to stay and find out what being bitten by a Vampire's like!"

Alvida cracks a grin. "You're such a darling."

"Thank you!" You beam at her and everyone sighs. "What?"

"You're too kind." Buggy huffed.

"And that's an issue because...?"

"Leave her be," Crocodile says. "Daz, take her to her room."

He complies.

You were silent which was unusual. You were outgoing, asking questions, making friends with everyone. But as you near your door, the question that weighed heavy on your heart was finally asked, and Daz did not pause in his steps to answer you.

"Crocodile has a problem with me doesn't he?"

"Boss has a problem with everyone."

Your frown deepens. "I know but... he seems more hostile with me."

You weren't about to cry in front of him, and you were glad your eyes didn't burn.

"Look, I'll admit, this is a precarious situation but I don't speak on behalf of the Boss, the Boss can speak for himself. If you have a problem-"

"It's my tail isn't it?"

Silence.

You were at the door to your bedroom. It was the library. You begged Crocodile to let the library be your room and he agreed. Everything you owned undersea was here alongside the stories Crocodile had to offer.

"Thanks, Daz." You say kindly. He didn't like the look in your eyes, or on your face, but it wasn't his place to pry.

He nods in response and left once you were inside.

You stare at the knowledge before you.

"Hi, my lovelies." You say to the gator and the crocodile.

They stare at you in response. Then, they look away.

Your fingers dance across the spines of the books, a hollow feeling settling inside of you.

Your soulmate didn't want you.

Your finger stops at one book, and you pull the title from the shelf.

You knew exactly what this book was.

"A curse." You say to the crocodile. "It frees you from your burdens. Including tails."

Crocodile didn't want you so this wouldn't be an issue, right? You read the text, your eyes blurring with tears. The sea could no longer shelter your tears and they freely fall.

You love how you are now, how you look, how you are shaped - why should you be ashamed of yourself? Were you not the greatest gift the sea has ever seen?

But your soulmate doesn't like your tail, Name. You need to have legs. How can he love you if you don't have legs?

"All I need is this," You take the knife from behind the book, and lower your dress to reveal your tattoo. "And this."

You stare at the book and close it.

"I love my tail, I will never get rid of it," You say. "But this bond?"

The gator and crocodile watch with their quizzical eyes. Instead of slicing open your belly like the book instructed, you stab yourself in the back.

A terrifying feeling crawled into your soul, and clawed at your throat.

Your eyes roll into the back of your head as you choke on your own blood, just as the door slams open.

"What are you doing?"

Crocodile.

This had to be a joke. One big dying joke, right?

The bond was not severed. It could never be severed.

You were Crocodile's just as much as he was yours.

Before you could collapse, Crocodile caught you, and cursed at you but you didn't hear it.

Your vision blurred, and the world faded to black.

Cigar smoke was the scent you woke up to.

"She'll be in my room until further notice." Crocodile says into the Den Den Mushi, cigar discarded, but a paper was in his hands.

"Smokey?" You groan, hand to your head.

His eyes were on you.

You were wearing one of his robes, wrapped in his green silk sheets.

You sit up and look around.

"Where am I?"

"Talk later." Crocodile says, and the eyes of the Den Den Mushi close. "Would you like to explain yourself?"

You don't answer him.

"Talk. Now."

"Why should I?" You snap, frustrated. "It's not like you care anyway!"

"Oh please," Crocodile scoffed. "You put yourself at risk over some silly little soulmate bond?"

"I'll have you know I've been waiting for this moment my entire life."

"And you didn't get what you wanted so you put yourself in harms way."

You were embarrassed.

"I want to go home." You say.

"Well you can't."

You already knew that.

"Then let me get out of here."

"No."

You pull the covers off your body but Crocodile was quicker. His good hand slides across your waist; he pushes you back down on the bed, his eyes narrowed as he took in your flushed features.

Then, to your surprise, his hook rests on your tail.

"What are you doing?"

"For the record," He was openly eyeing you, and smirked in satisfaction at your reaction. "I don't hate your tail." Crocodile says, straightening, and sitting back down. "It is simply inconvenient."

"No it's not."

"You have to swim in a tank to regenerate."

"Well-" You cut yourself off with a huff. "I like it and that's all that matters."

He hummed. Flexed the papers in his hand.

"You'll be staying with me until further notice."

"I'm already staying with you?"

He dragged out a sigh. "In my room where I sleep so I can keep an eye on you."

"Isn't that a bit intimate?"

He ignored your question.

In the time Crocodile has gotten to know you, Crocodile did his own research on your kind. He went around, asking questions, and even sent Daz on a mission to secure the item he needed to make life on land a tad easier for you.

"I've figured out how to get you some legs but also keep your tail."

"Really?" You ask, surprised. "How?"

He pocketed a beautiful necklace shaped like a swan with pearls as its neckline. Then, he took it out, and showed it to you.

You gasp at its beauty.

"There's no catch, you put it on whenever you feel like it."

It was beautiful. But what was his intentions for it? He says there's no catch, that he doesn't have a problem with your tail, but what if that's all a lie?

"I won't change myself for you."

"Good to know."

You place the necklace to the side. "Have you gone soft for me, Smokey?"

He scoffed. "I'm putting up with you. There's a difference."

"That makes me happy!"

He hummed. Closed the paper and put it to the side.

"There won't be a next time for what you did. Understand?"

You slowly nod.

"Use your words."

"There won't be a next time for what I did."

"Good," He brings his good hand to your face, his thumb caressing the tender flesh. "Mihawk's not a vampire, by the way."

"He says he bites like one!"

Crocodile chuckled. "That's him teasing you."

You huff. "Well I like Vampire's, and I like Mihawk."

"Yeah?" Crocodile says, voice suddenly low. "Well I don't."

Crocodile leaned forward, and when his teeth brush against your neck, you reel in shock but he held you in place.

"Uh, C-Crocodile?"

"Would you like to know what it feels like, being bitten by a vampire?" He asked, and when your fingers making a home in his hair, he fought back the urge to rest his forehead to your shoulder.

What are you doing, Crocodile?

Crocodile silenced his thoughts.

Giving in.

"Okay," You whisper. "I want to know."

That's all he needed.

His tongue made circles on your neck, his teeth latching on to the tender flesh, and when you angle your neck for him, he grins in delight. It was painful at first, and when you made a sound close to discomfort, he eased the feeling by pressing a kiss, and continued on.

Soon the pain was gone, and ecstasy was in its wake.

Your body arched into Crocodile's, and when you say his name, his teeth dig deeper into your neck.

When he pulled back, your blood was smeared over his mouth.

Then, the feel of him was gone.

"Don't ask Mihawk for anything stupid again."

He walks out of the door, leaving you alone, and breathless.

"Rude." You grumble to yourself, bringing your fingers to your neck.

If you asked him to do that again, would he?

Shut up brain!

[dragonstarlightwrites]

Air Jail

Characters: Crocodile, Doflamingo, Katakuri, & Kid

Summary: When it comes to a solution to a problem, you partner comes up with an entertaining one.

A/N: I totally forgot that I had started this request. The idea was so much fun, but writers block was winning out, and I had given up. Luckly, I found my draft and was able to finish it.

Masterlist

🖤🐊Crocodile:  

You should have known you were pushing your luck, working for the Cross Guild could be a lot sometimes. You were technically working for Crocodile but since your captain was Buggy, he had running all kinds of errands and completing tasks to prove your loyalty after he found out you and Crocodile were together. Which led to the current conversation with your boss/boyfriend. 

"You’ve missed three meetings." Crocodile continued reading the stack of reports on his desk as you stood beside him.  

"I was busy." You shifted back and forth slightly; you could just blame Buggy, since it was his fault. You missed one because an errand ran long and the other two you had fallen asleep and missing them. But he was your captain and friend, so you didn’t want to throw him to the hypothetical crocodiles. 

"You were asleep." He turned a page of the report that you were supposed to be doing and wrote something down, before turning his attention to you completely.  

You looked into his eyes, “It won’t happen again, I just have been a bit exhausted that is all.” 

There was a long silence as Crocodile’s eyes went from yours and roamed all over your body, he let out a slight hum. Then his golden hook nudged your side before wrapping it around you, drawing you closer to him. "What?" His hand settled on your waist. "Crocodile?" Before you could process what he was doing, sand coiled around your legs and back and with no effort on his part, you were lifted clean off the floor. "Did you?" Your feet kicked uselessly above the ground. "Did you just put me in air jail?" 

"I did." 

"You cannot be serious." 

"I've never been more serious." 

You folded your arms, glaring at him. "Put me down." 

"No." He said while turning back to the report, writing something else down. 

"I have rights." 

"Debatable." 

"Crocodile." 

Without looking up, he replied, "Darling, hush. I'm working on the report you're supposed to have finished." 

You let out an exaggerated gasp. "I can't believe this." He calmly turned the next page, as though holding you captive several feet off the ground was the most ordinary part of his afternoon. "You are unbelievable." You could see the corner of his mouth twitch upwards. “Are you smiling?" 

"No." 

"You are." You said pointing to him, trying fight the smile forming on your own face. Seeing him smile was rare, but it was always worth it... well maybe less worth it when you were being dangled up in the air by his sand.  

"You're imagining things." Before you could argue, the sand holding you shifted and instead of lowering you, it carried you a little higher. 

"Crocodile." You then drifted to the left spinning slightly, "Crocodile I swear..." You then moved back to the right. The sand was gently rocking you back and forth like you were dancing while he continued reading as if he had absolutely nothing to do with it.  "Are you making the sand dance with me?" 

"Perhaps." 

"You're impossible." 

"Mm." Then at last he finally set the report aside. "There." With a flick of his fingers, the sand lowered you, not to the floor, but directly into his lap. You barely had time to make a sound before his arm settled securely around your waist, pinning you against his chest. "Much better," he murmured. 

You twisted enough to glare up at him. "You could've just put me down on the floor." 

"Could have." 

"Then why didn't you?" 

“I enjoy having you close.” His eyes met yours, loving and knowing. "also this has very little to do with missed meetings." Your expression faltered, oh shit, why did you think you could keep anything from this man, "Buggy has been finding increasingly creative ways to monopolize your time." His thumb idly brushed your cheek. "I've allowed it because I wanted to see how long it would take before you mentioned it." 

"You knew?" You asked with some hesitance, of course he would have noticed.  

"From the beginning." 

You sighed, shoulders slumping. "I didn't want to get him in trouble; he is my captain." 

"How considerate you are my love, but" He leaned back in his chair, his grip on your waist remaining firm enough that escaping wasn't really an option, not that you really wanted to. "I'll handle the clown." 

🖤🦩Doflamingo: 

"You are not listening to me."  

Doflamingo didn't even glance up from the newspaper in his hands as he sat down on the couch. "I heard every word, little bird." 

"Then why are you ignoring me?" 

A low chuckle escaped from him as he peered at you from behind his pink sunglasses, "You've become awfully bold." 

"I've always been bold." You snapped back uncrossing your arms and trying to glare at him, but he already had gone back to the newspaper.  

"No." He turned a page. "You've become comfortable." 

You hesitate for a second, "Is that a bad thing?" 

"Not necessarily." 

You rounded the table in front of the couch until you were standing directly in front of him and pulled down the paper carefully but forcefully. "There. Now you have to acknowledge me."  

That action caused his attention to snap directly to you. His eyes now piercing you over the top of his sunglasses. "Move." 

"No." You had to stand your ground regardless of the outcome; he wouldn’t actually hurt you, would he? 

"Little bird, you'll regret that." 

You started to call, what you hopped would be his bluff, "You wouldn’t actually...” then the words died in your throat as you felt stopped when something brushed lightly around your wrist. You looked down at your wrist and then back at him as a grin made its way across his face as another thread curled around your other wrist. "Doffy?" Then around felt around your waist and then your ankles. The feeling was almost soft and gentle as the string was hanging loosely. "Doflamingo." 

"Hm?" He responded, cocking his head to the side while his fingers made up and down movements.  

"What are your strings doing?" 

"They're solving a problem." 

"What problem?" 

"You."  

Before you could react, the strings pulled tight and your contact with the floor vanished as you were shot up it the air, "What....HEY!" You were pulled effortlessly upward until you were hanging several feet above the marble floor, rotating in the air as you twisted around. Your eyes dropped to the ground and then to the nearly invisible strings keeping you suspended and then back to him. "Did you just string me into air jail?" 

He finally set down the newspaper completely, much more entertained by the scene in front of him and that grin on his face was absolutely unbearable. "Fufufufu..." 

"That's not an answer." 

"Isn't it?" 

"No!" 

"Then yes." He leaned back comfortably against the couch. "Consider this your punishment for not listening, most people would be dead right now for not listening to me. All you get is a bit hung up." 

You stared at him. "You cannot be serious." 

"Look at you." He gestured lazily with one finger, making you slowly rotate in place. "You're much quieter already." 

"I'm not quieter!" You shouted back, trying to fight against the stings.  

"Mm." His finger twitched again, and the strings carried you in a slow circle in front of him. 

"Stop spinning me!" 

"Why?" He asked sarcastically while he continued to mess with you. 

You tried to glare at him as more strings began to wrap around you, "Because it's humiliating!" 

"Exactly." He let out another laugh, “You are rather amusing like this, I should sting you up more often, little bird.” 

You huffed out. "You're enjoying this." 

"Immensely." He said with his grin wider than before if that was possible. He guided you closer with another subtle twitch of his fingers. The strings obeyed instantly, drawing you through the air until your nose was nearly touching his, but they held you there, just out of reach. "Better." 

You frowned. "Better for who?" 

"Me." 

"You're insufferable." 

"So, I've been told by you, repeatedly."  

Just as you leaned forward to close the tiny gap yourself, the strings eased you back an inch, and you looked at him incredulously, "Did you just move me away?" 

His grin stretched wider. "Patience, little bird." 

"You're doing this on purpose." 

"Obviously." With another lazy motion of his fingers, the strings drew you close again, close enough that you could feel the warmth of his breath. 

"You really enjoy hearing yourself talk, don't you?" 

"Fufufu... I enjoy watching you react, my little bird." Before you could come up with another retort, he caught your chin between his fingers and closed the remaining distance himself. The kiss was slow and unhurried, lingering just long enough to leave you momentarily forgetting the strings still holding you aloft. When he finally pulled away, he didn't let you drift far. The strings kept you hovering comfortably in front of him, as though you belonged there. His thumb brushed over your cheek. "See?" He murmured with a satisfied smile. "Much more pleasant than arguing, little bird." 

💜🍩Katakuri: 

Katakuri had asked for your help with inventory checks on several of the Big Mom Pirates' ships. It was a task you'd helped with countless times since your arranged marriage. In the beginning, the jobs were quiet, almost awkward. Your wedding had been your introduction to each other and trying to make conversation with him had been hard, but doing the inventory checks with him gave you both a chance to get more comfortable with each other in a setting away from everyone else. 

As time went on, you’d grown used to walking beside him through the streets of Whole Cake Island, talking about whatever happened to cross your mind while he quietly listened. You two slowly grew closer together and your arranged marriage became a real one.  

Normally the inventory check went well but today was just going to one of those days.  

"I can carry that." You said, reaching down to pick up a crate to move it.

"You don't need to." Katakuri said gently placing his hand on shoulder.  

But you reached for the crate anyway. "I've got it." 

"It's okay, I can handle it." Before your fingers could touch the wooden box, Katakuri's large hand gently caught your wrist, pulling you to his other side with the crate in his other hand.  

You blinked up at him. "It's not a big deal; I can handle it. " 

He didn't answer and instead, he looked past you toward the hallway and not a even a second later, one of the cooks hurried around the corner carrying a tower of crates that completely blocked his view. He nearly barreled through the exact spot where you'd been standing. "Oh! Sorry!" The cook called before continuing without another thought. 

A few minutes later, you wandered toward a shelf stacked with jars. "I think these should..." Your hand reached out, Katakuri gently caught your wrist again, pulling you back into him. "Katakuri?" You looked up at him and a heartbeat later one of the jars tipped from the on the top shelf as a wave crashed into the side of the ship before tumbling down. It shattered across the floor exactly where you had been standing.  

After a bit, you bent down to pick up a blanket that someone had dropped, when ou felt Katakuri's hand rest against your shoulder. "Don't move. " You froze glancing up as a crew member rushed past carrying a long metal pipe balanced across his shoulders. It swept through the space your head had occupied less than a second earlier. 

You slowly straightened. "How are you doing that?" 

Katakuri glanced at you. "I saw it." 

"Oh right."  You took another few steps down the corridor and something soft and familiar wrapped around your waist. The white mochi had curled securely around you. "Katakuri?" Before you could ask another question, your feet left the floor. “What?" The mochi lifted you smoothly into the air until you were at eye level with him, "Did you just put me in air jail?" 

"Just for a bit, sweetie." He said, “It is for your own good.”  

"Katakuri." You folded your arms with an exaggerated huff. "I cannot believe you're air-jailing me." Just as the words came out of your mouth, a loud metallic groan echoed through the corridor. You looked over just in time to see one of the overhead pulleys snap and a heavy pallet swung violently across the hallway, crashing into the wall with enough force to splinter the wood. Right through the space where you would have been standing. 

Your eyes widened. "I rescinded my previous statement darling, air-jailing me was the correct thing to do." Even with the threat gone, the mochi didn't lower you, so you turned your attention back to him, "Can I come down now?" 

He shook his head "Not yet." 

"There's more?" He just gave a nod, and you sighed dramatically, but not really that upset by the current situation. The mochi was soft and comfortable; you took naps on it regularly, so being wrapped up, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.  

Less than a minute later, two Big Mom Pirates came sprinting around the corner. One tripped and the pair stumbled together, sending a stack of supply barrels rolling wildly down the hallway. The barrels thundered past beneath you before crashing into another pile of crates. You looked at Katakuri. "Seriously what is going on today?"  

Katakuri just gave you a shrug, and his gaze drifted somewhere beyond the corridor. "All clear." The mochi slowly lowered you until your boots touched the floor and the moment you were standing again, the mochi melted away from your waist. 

You dusted yourself off before looking up at him. "Thank you, are we clear from anyone showing up for a bit?" Katakuri gave you another nod, already knowing exactly what you were about to ask. "So," You smiled up at him. "Could you pick me back up for a second? I think my protector deserves a reward." 

There was the briefest pause. “If that's what you want." His mochi curled gently around your waist once more, lifting you effortlessly until you were eye level with him. "This is much better," you murmured. 

His eyes softened. "Is it?" 

"Mm-hm." You rested your hands against his scarf pulling it down before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. He returned it without hesitation, slow and unhurried, one gloved hand coming to rest lightly at the small of your back while the mochi kept you comfortably suspended. When the kiss finally ended, you lingered close enough that your foreheads touched. "Thank you," you whispered. 

Katakuri looked at you for a long moment before speaking. “Always love." 

You smiled. "You know," you teased, "air jail isn't so bad when it ends like this." 

The corner of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly as he covered his smiling face back up with his scarf, "Don't get used to it." Then, without another word, the two of you continued down the corridor, this time with you making a point to stay just a little closer to his side.

♥️⚙️Eustass Kid: 

It wasn’t very often you argued with Kid, fighting with him was never worth it. But this time was different. A new crate of supplies was now destroyed, and your boyfriend decided somehow it was your fault. It wasn’t for the record, and you weren’t going to be taking the blame on this one.  

"It wasn't my fault." You snapped at him huffing as you both, along with several other crew members, walked through the market.  

"It was." Kid bit back glaring at you lightly. Even if you two were fighting, he couldn't bring himself to be that mean to you. Especially over a crate of supplies they could easily just take from anyone. At this point he was having fun riling you up.  

"I literally watched Heat start the fire." You said gesturing wildly to Heat who just shrugged but didn’t say anything to confirm or deny. He wasn’t getting in the middle of you two. 

"He started it because you distracted him."  

"I asked him what he wanted for lunch, since you know its my job!" 

"Well, you shouldn't have when he was carrying the crate."  

You threw your hands into the air. "That's not even..." And then without warning, a metal hand wrapped around your waist and the ground disappeared from beneath you. "Kid." You looked down and you were now dangling a good couple of feet above the ground. "Did you just put me in air jail?" 

Kid kept walking as if nothing unusual had happened, carrying you one-handed like you weighed absolutely nothing. "Temporary air suspension." 

"KID!" 

The crew that was with you was trying to not laugh all while Heat walked past with a crate balanced on one shoulder. "About time." 

You attention snaped from Kid to man who was the cause of this in the first place, "What do you mean 'about time'?" Heat said nothing and instead just laughed.  

Wire glanced over, "Causing problems, huh?" 

"I'M NOT THE PROBLEM!" You shouted exasperated trying to wriggle out of Kid’s grip, but it was useless. 

Kid snorted. "You definitely are." 

You crossed your arms dramatically looking back at Kid.  "This is humiliating." 

"You'll live.” Kid said patting your head with his other hand like you were some kind of animal.  

"Put me down!" 

"No." 

"Why?" 

"You'll keep arguing." 

"I can argue from up here!" 

"You sound farther away." 

You gasped. "That is unbelievably rude." Kid ignored you completely as the people on the island openly stared at the sight of a feared pirate captain holding their partner up in the air with one hand all because you were arguing with him.  

One little kid pointed. "Mom! That man is carrying them!" 

"I'm aware, sweetheart." The mom said, gently guiding the child away from the scene. 

You buried your face in your hands. "I'm never recovering from this." Kid's shoulders shook from laughing and you could feel your body shake along with his. “Are you laughing at me? It isn't that funny." 

"It is very funny babe." Kid said bring you closer to his grinning face. “How about this, give me a kiss and I’ll put you down?”  

You narrowed your eyes at him. "Absolutely not." 

Kid raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess you're staying up there." 

"You're literally holding me hostage for affection."  

"I'm your boyfriend. It's different." 

You looked back at Kid with a dramatic huff. "Fine. You don't get a kiss." 

"Guess you don't get put down." 

Killer sighed from somewhere behind you. "This is the dumbest argument we've seen all week and it only Tuesday." 

Heat wandered over again, taking one look before grinning. "You know, Captain, you could just throw 'em over your shoulder." 

Kid looked thoughtful at you for a second, "That's an option." 

"NO IT ISN'T." Before you could protest further, Kid shifted you with alarming ease and suddenly you were upside down over his shoulder. The world tilted and any dignity you had left evaporated. "KID!" You smacked his back repeatedly and he didn't even react. It was like hitting reinforced steel. "You are the worst." 

"So, I've been told." You couldn’t see his face, but you knew he had that smug smile on his face. 

"You have exactly five seconds to put me down." 

"No." 

"Four." 

"Nah." 

"Three." 

"Pass." 

“Two." 

"I’m good." 

"One." 

“I’m so scared.” 

"I'm out of numbers." 

"Tough." Before you could think of another threat, Kid gave your backside a light, playful smack. 

You yelped, twisting as much as you could from your upside-down position. "Did you just slap my ass?" 

"Couldn't resist." 

Heat barked out a laugh. "Captain, I think you made 'em even madder." 

"Good," Kid said, sounding entirely too pleased with himself. 

You huffed, "I'm going to make your life miserable when you put me down." 

Kid just chuckled. "Should have just given me that kiss." 

[loverrin]

| SILENCE IS LOVE | SIR CROCODILE

summary: you and sir crocodile have gotten used to speaking in silence, as it seems to be the safest option in a room full of nosy businessmen. unfortunately for you, the cross guild has a master of silence that seems to know your secret language inside and out. pairing: assassin! reader / sir crocodile wc: 1.6k tags: established relationship (married), f! reader, fluff, crocodile down bad, cross guild dynamics, buggy is nosy but mihawk is nosier, you like to pretend you don't like crocodile but he knows otherwise

Prior to the Cross Guild's creation, you'd had a pretty carefree life as an assassin, taking on jobs here and there for various organizations that needed extra hands. You'd worked with Sir Crocodile before when he founded Baroque Works, taking up jobs that were simply too difficult for the Millions or Billions when all the Number Agents and their partners were occupied.

Crocodile admired your work. You delivered quickly, flawlessly, and silently. You never pried, as long as the price was right - yet you also held to your morals, unwilling to harm children or have a hand in his starvation of Alabasta.

A few years passed, and his mission to entirely usurp Alabasta was nearing fruition. Taking on difficult jobs, your bounty slowly climbed upwards, subtly nudging the one hundred million mark. He finally made up his mind to ask you for the pleasure of an evening meal with you once it was all over - and was pleasantly surprised when you calmly accepted.

Though, we all know how that went. You, Daz, and Crocodile were all imprisoned in Impel Down, with Daz being stuck on Level 4 for boiling manual labor, Crocodile on Level 6, and you stuck in between, freezing away on Level 5. Months withered away as the three of you bided your time.

Then, Straw Hat Luffy showed up again and upheaved everything.

"How'd it go?" A familiar, deep voice spoke behind you, a heavy warmth draping across your back smelling of cigar smoke, expensive cologne, and seawater. A few ashes fell on your lap, and you brushed them away calmly.

"Fine, as always." You replied, attempting to look upwards, only to be foiled by Crocodile's chin resting on your head. You sighed, pointing to the papers sitting just out of arm's reach on your desk. He picked them up with his hand, metal hook resting territorially on your lap as he sifted through them.

"Perfect." He hummed, pressing a light kiss to your hairline. "Excellent work. I would never expect anything less."

"HELLOOOOO!" A voice screeched, before busting into your office. Crocodile groaned, separating himself from you, but standing behind you nonetheless as Buggy grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at the two of you. "Well, well, lookie here. Lovebird one and two, congregated in one spot!"

"Where else would they be?" Mihawk murmured, trailing in behind Buggy with a few papers in hand, forking them over for you to look at. "Hello. There's more recent news on the Red Force, if you were interested-"

Buggy quickly snatched them out of Mihawk's hand, pretending not to see your outstretched hand waiting for the papers. Your eyes slid to Crocodile's, who was standing beside you now, as if to say -

Are we serious?

Crocodile's eyes glinted in amusement as he released another puff of smoke and shrugged.

What did you expect?

Mihawk observed the two of you, eyebrow raised upwards. It was never a secret that you two were romantically involved - but your thoughts were always more obvious than the two of you believed.

There is no hiding from Hawk-Eye Mihawk.

As Buggy scoured his papers, Mihawk reached into his inner coat pocket and passed you another copy of the same newspaper. You huffed, glancing at Crocodile again.

He couldn't have just handed the first one to Buggy per usual?

Crocodile scoffed.

"He would've lunged for it anyways." Mihawk said, blinking at you. You blinked back, clearly unsettled as you tentatively reached for the paper.

"Right..."

"Goodbye. I will see you all at the meeting later." The greatest swordsman turned on his heel and walked out without a care in the world.

You and Crocodile watched him walk out, aggravated and thoroughly fed up as Buggy continued to scan over the newspaper, grumbling random words and slinging expletives as if both Straw Hat and Red-Haired Shanks were in the room with all of you.

"Buggy." You and Crocodile began, glancing at each other when your voices overlapped.

Go ahead. He gestured, eyes droopy as he waved at you, walking out the door.

"Buggy, do this somewhere else." You finished, staring at your (technically) boss. "I don't want to be part of the weird rivalry you have with people that wear hats made of straw."

Buggy walked out of your office, eyes glued to the paper he was holding the whole time, blindly fumbling for the door handle and slamming his shoulder into the wall on his way out.

You sighed heavily, leaning back in your chair and setting your feet on top of your desk, opening the newspaper Mihawk had handed you as Crocodile made his way back to you, a familiar weight landing atop your head as his hand continued to flip through your completed bounties.

The two of you soaked in each others' presence as you worked, Crocodile occasionally grabbing the pen you were using to mark the newspaper for himself, jotting down notes in the sidelines of his documents.

"You have an office too, you know?" You huffed in amusement, burying your face into his coat, which was surrounding you. The warm fur shifted as he pulled you closer, small specks of sand gently blowing past your face to prevent the ashes from collecting on you.

"I see you more in the office than I do at home, nowadays." He murmured, setting the papers down on the desk again to wrap his hand around your waist.

You pushed him off of you gently, glancing at him - not with any ill intent, but with just a bit of scorn.

You and Mihawk should assign me less work, then.

His eyes closed in slight apology, creasing warmly. A sigh escaped his mouth as he pressed a kiss to his forehead, ignoring how you squirmed in pretend contempt for him.

I'm sorry. But really, it's Buggy's fault for not carrying his own weight, so can you blame him instead?

"It really is Buggy's fault, you know?" Mihawk cleared his throat from the entrance to your office, more papers in hand. Bounties for you, most likely.

Your eyes shut, already exhausted halfway through the workday. Crocodile watched you, clearly worried.

You're overworked.

You opened one eye, squinting at him.

And whose fault is that?

"Buggy's." Mihawk chimed in, setting the papers in front of you and pointing at one specific face of a vide admiral. "This one needs to be taken care of by the end of the week, please."

"Mihawk, you're nosier than you let off." Crocodile commented, still holding you tightly. There was never a point in hiding anything from Mihawk, who watched everything with a careful eye.

"Try harder to hide, then." He retorted, pouring himself tea from your drink station.

"When everyone already knows we're together?" You scoffed. "You, of all people, should know that both me and him have better things to worry about than how obvious we appear. It's just weird that you know what our glances mean."

"Context clues and inference." He hummed, sipping the piping cup. Again - your tea. For someone that appeared so cold, he was awfully open to using all of your things. He caught your stare on his hand, and waved you off. "Oh, please. I'll be washing it once I'm done."

"Like that." You pointed at him accusingly. "You shouldn't know what every glance I give means."

"It's not as difficult as you make it seem." He shot back, watching Crocodile gaze at you adoringly. "Really, it isn't."

"Can you leave?" Crocodile sighed, burying his face in your neck. He was still hunched over you awkwardly, like he couldn't just sit down beside you. His spine was practically snapping in half.

"I'd like to finish my tea."

"My tea." You grumbled. "Just take it with you. Bring the cup back when you've washed it."

Mihawk's eyes slid over the two of you. "I'll leave you to it." And shut the door behind him.

"Nosy bastard." Crocodile breathed in your ear, cigar in the ashtray and long forgotten. "Won't you come home tonight?"

You looked at him pointedly, pointer finger tapping your desk where the paper Mihawk had left you just minutes ago sat.

Needs to be done by the end of the week, remember?

Crocodile groaned, hugging you ever tighter. "Please, just leave it for tomorrow. It's been so long since we had a proper meal together, without Buggy wailing away in our ears. In the comfort of our own homes."

"As my boss, you really shouldn't be encouraging me to slack off, you know?" You laughed, standing up and forcing him to get off of you. He looked positively miserable - scar creasing as he wrinkled his nose at you, unamused. You beckoned for him to lean down, pressing a swift kiss to his mouth and ignoring how he leaned in heavily, drinking you in and enticing you not to pull away.

"As your husband," he began, leaning in once more and kissing your fingers as you held your hand across your mouth, preventing him from kissing you again, "I encourage you to spend time with me rather than allowing your job to encapsulate you."

"Tempting." You replied, pushing his face back gently. "But I have two other bosses that would like me to do my job, you know?"

Crocodile's ringed finger jutted out, pointing at a little note Mihawk had left you. "I beg to differ."

You can get this done in two days. Crocodile seems to miss you.

"Bastard." You grumbled.

"Careful." Crocodile sneered. "You're starting to make it seem like you want to work instead of see me."

"Now you're acting petty." You huffed, kissing him again. His hand found your waist, tightening, and you laughed into his mouth, but you pulled away nonetheless. "Fine, then. Will you cook for me?"

"Of course." He peppered kisses across your face, making you groan (though of course, you were amused and he knew that). "As long as you don't go around bragging about it."

[amostimprobabledream]

I've written like...1/3 of my Crocodile x Reader fic but now I'm worried it's Bad and Cringe.

[fragmentedgrimoire]

Hi! I beg of you, please elaborate on that crocodile soulmate au snippet you did 🫣 had me falling in love with a villain all over again 😅 your writing is absolutely wonderful, I hope you have a great day! 💙

Hello! Thank you so much you are so sweet!! Here is what I will share and elaborate on some world building-- the rest will come in later works ;D

In my soulmate's verse, marks only appear on their left ring finger once the bearer has broken any and all karmic ties from their past lies within this life. They have to be ready to receive as a soulmate bond is seen and revered as the Ultimate Gift that Life brings. Sometimes it never happens and leaves one bearer with their mark destined to never find their match.

In Crocodile's case, it's all he has ever wanted. But time has a funny way of making one grow old and bitter. He certainly does not believe in a fairy tale called love. Even without his hand, the Fates have funny ways of reminding him that his destiny is not up to him.

Essentially, once someone is ready to accept the love that has always been destined for him, it appears as a soul mark.

For the sake of easier explanation, one's soul mark will match their true love. (Nami having the 8-pointed star like a compass, her soulmate will also have it) It is divined by the gods and only appears once a person is truly ready.

He has had his soul mark since he was a young boy. It appeared on him from the age of ten. He was so elated when he first got it! Elation turned to uncertainty the more the years passed. That uncertainty turned to pained hopelessness. Hopelessness fades into bitterness. His soul mark had all but faded right before he lost his hand.

Years grow, and Crocodile has mostly chosen to ignore the faint tugging sensation that feels from his phantom limb. He considers it too good to be true. All of these years have passed; Crocodile starts to believe that you truly didn't exist. His childhood dreams were now dashed against harsh stones and something he considered foolish.

Going through countless business relationships and relationships that are nothing but mutual monetary gain without intimacy-- that was all he had known for so many years. It's his commonplace and he doesn't really know how to be anything else. As prideful as confident as he is, there is still a small part, no matter how tiny that piece may be, of his younger self asking if he is truly deserving of love.

It was laughable and cruelly poetic that in all of his miserable years, only now in his twilight years should he find the one fates had designed for him.

--

Stay tuned and happy reading!

[matsookawa]

Title: Human Error

Pairing: Crocodile x fem!reader

Word Count: 635

Summary: At the end of it all, he's simply a man who must face the consequences of his actions.

Note: I really enjoyed writing this! I like humanizing Crocodile a little.

Crocodile must have been standing behind the old wooden door for at least twenty minutes. The hallway was dark and he was happy to be swallowed in it. It’s much easier to hide in the shadows than face your fears, but it is also the philosophy of a coward. The right thing to do was enter, that he knew, yet his feet refused to move. He wasn’t ready. And he wasn’t sure if he ever would be.

He had lied to you.

You had spent the last two years under the impression that your husband was fatally wounded at Marineford. And he allowed this belief. He had his reasons, of course. He did not want you so at risk while he himself was exceptionally vulnerable.

Until this point, it all seemed like a decent idea. You were safe, he worked on establishing the Cross Guild, he’d return to you, and all would be well. Of course, he expected lividity, maybe you would speak of divorce at first, but he would talk you down from that ledge until you both resume where you left off.

What he did not expect were the stories he heard from several former Baroque Work employees who stayed behind with you. They spoke of how gaunt you became, how you only spoke lowly and never a decibel higher. They could hear you some mornings, cursing your husband’s name for leaving you alone while furniture slammed into walls. You even refused to move away from a safe house on the outskirts of Alabasta, desiring to remain close to your husband’s body, wherever that may have been.

Crocodile’s heart ached when the employees spoke of nightly wailing. Lasted for three months, they’d said, and mixed with your refusal to eat, they had broken into your room one night when your crying stopped because they feared the worst. It was then Crocodile realized his error in judgement.

All of this is what brought him to your bedroom door. Forced to confront what might have been his gravest sin.

Despite knowing it was what must be done, he could not bring himself to knock on your door. Maybe if he stood there forever, he could relish in the closeness of you without having to face the anguish that comes alongside it. The potential of you not forgiving him, of leaving him wholly and entirely.

“Who’s there?”

Your voice startled him.

So much so, he let out a sharp inhale through the nose that he attempted to quiet, but you heard anyway.

He did not answer.

It had been so long since hearing you speak that he chose to savor the sound instead.

“I said, who’s there?”

Your voice was firmer this time. Crocodile heard a lamp being flicked on and suddenly, yellow light was spilling from the crack at the bottom of the door.

He knew if he responded, you may not open the door. There was a chance you would conclude the whole thing a hallucination and go back to bed.

His heart rammed against his ribcage as he heard shuffling followed by footsteps inching toward the door.

There were shadows impeding the light below the door. Legs, Crocodile realized, as his throat went dry.

He could leave, a small part of him thought. Your forgiveness would still be possible, but so would your anger. If the door remained closed, he would never have to find out which one awaited him on the other side.

The doorknob began to turn.

It was in that moment, the universe presented Crocodile a choice. He could face the wife he had broken, or he could run before she told him exactly what he deserved to hear.

The decision was made then.

The door creaked open,

 and there you were.

A grieving widow peering into an empty hallway.

[tralawre]

🧸ྀི sir crocodile x f!reader, request here.

⋆𐙚 ̊ this is proofread but mistakes may be present. apologies in advance. thanks anon for this request! I love this idea so much that, like my silent!reader x sakata gintoki fic, I’ll be writing drabbles for this plot after writing out a part two! this has to be one of my top three favourite pieces I’ve written. “I can see your eyes” is at number one and “a letter to the deceased” is at number two. see pinned post for banner and fan art information! warning: inspired by the little mermaid but nothing like the little mermaid and has its own twists and such, crocodile is a jerk, soulmate rejection, reader goes through phases of sadness, reader gets slapped by father.

“Do not lie where the beasts roam with their covered forms and never feast on their beastly ways. Never lock hands, and connect your souls, and never dance and fall for those. Merely speaking to the beast is a curse itself, so what of love? Do not fall into the trap, lest you crave the kiss of the reaper.”

An engraving on every wall in town and your heart would sigh at the sight of it. Why could you not go above water? Why could you only connect with the Kingdoms underwater? All you have is the crocodile that swims your way, warms up your waist by wrapping its tail around it and sinking its body into your lap; then abandoning you for the beasts above water.

Your tears would mix with the salty water.

Your soulmate was somewhere but he wasn’t here. He was up there where the beasts roam. Are his eyes golden and shaped like the cities you roam? Does he sit at a throne like your father and rules the kingdom of beasts? Does he have connections to other homelands like the Fish-man Island? Is he full of life, handsome and charming? Or is he dull, dark and grey?

All you had was an ink of his emblem on your back that would stop at your flamboyant tail, and your heart sighed again.

The moon reflected off the river, the tip of your tongue clicking to the roof of your mouth as your tears mix with the water again.

“Oh crocodile,” You pat the green creature on his head and all it did was stare at you quizzically. “Why does life have to be this way?”

You were a failure and a prodigy but your talents were wasted.

Your father, the King, cheated on the Queen, your step mother, and your biological mother was sentenced to death. She was a siren, they say, but in the end, she was a simple mermaid, seeking a better life outside of her abusive home. Your father never mentioned your mother. When little you asked about her, he gave you the cold shoulder, but to make up for it after seeing your tears, he told you a story and tucked you into bed.

“Do you know why they say not to lie where the beasts roam?” Your father asks, his crown glinting under the sea.

You shake your head. Curious.

“Beasts of all kinds can attack you, not just with their hands, but with their hearts too.”

“They have hearts?” You whisper, eyes shining with joy at this new information.

“Oh yes. Souls too,” Your father says. “That’s what makes them dangerous, Name. A heart and a soul can only lead to a path of destruction.”

“Don’t we have a heart, papa? Don’t we have a soul?”

His eyes soften. “Yes, but not like theirs.”

You tilt your head to the side.

“Their hearts are sullied, their souls are tinted black. You are a mermaid with a pure white soul.”

“My soul is green.”

“Green?” Your father asked, amused.

“Yes. Like the crocodile!”

You didn’t notice at the time but his expression had faltered. Why did your interest in creatures such as a crocodile and a gator stricken your father?

“The King’s daughter will not suffer the same fate her mother did!"

“She’ll be alright as long as she doesn’t venture out to land.”

With the quizzical crocodile staring at you, you felt a flutter on your back.

“Do you think my soulmate is alright?” You ask, brushing the head of the crocodile. “I no longer feel the burning sensation.”

And when the crocodile closed its eyes, you look up.

It’s time.

Sir Crocodile did not partake in the fuss regarding the phenomenon that was the supernatural. Devil Fruits can be seen as such, but he saw them merely as a historical pain. How they came about intrigued him but not enough to make a conspiracy out of them. His interest for the supernatural resides in the creatures, and he believed he'd find one in Impel Down - the erasure of history and all - however, it was for naught; he only found power-driven demons that possessed the walls of Impel Down. He was caged by their fury and would sigh at their wails.

Did an angel exist amongst those four walls?

“Tsk,” He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth. “He’s as careless as ever.”

“Who?” Daz Bones asked, the two of them taking cover in a town to avoid contact with the marines.

His interests belonged to The Cross Guild. But right now, Buggy was aggravating him. So Crocodile took it upon himself to go on a vacation before returning to his duties.

“Mugiwara.”

The sun was blazing but the heat wasn’t adequate for Crocodile to change out of his expensive attire. For about a month he dealt with the stench of Impel Down with no suitable fashion-wear, and would have to strip naked to enter certain torture chambers. Why the hell would he change over a bit of sun? He yearned for the sun like an old lover.

“We should set sail soon,” Daz Bones says, eyes on the horizon.

Crocodile hummed in agreement.

Daz was silent.

Unusually so.

“What is it?”

Daz frowned. He was silent a second longer.

The waves whispered to him, pulling him in, and he could've sworn he saw a gator with the entrancing beauty.

“I thought I saw a mermaid.”

Crocodile chuckles, flexing the paper in his hands. “Fish-man Island is too far for mermaids to be roaming around these ends.”

His frown deepened.

“No,” Daz Bones whispers, narrowing his eyes at the sea.

Crocodile looked up, one eyebrow raised, then looked out to sea. He couldn't see what Daz saw, he was a second too late.

He dragged out a sigh. Stood up. “Let’s go.”

Daz Bones snapped out of it. Nods. “Yes sir.”

“Your majesty, it’s a disaster!” One merman cried, getting on his knees before the King.

“What is it that distresses you so?”

“Your highnesses blessing!” He wailed. “She has escaped!”

The King’s face darkened. Fear struck him. His daughter?

“Name escaped?” He bellowed. “Where?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, and the Queen looked before the mermen in horror.

“To the land where the beasts roam,” The mermen whispered, sinking his head in shame. “The human world.”

A bubbly laugh escaped you as your head peeked out from the water and your arms rise up to the heavens above, a big smile on your face. You have never felt the air before and like the sea, it was salty. It cried upon your arrival, and you bow at its existence.

“Thank you for existing!” You cry to the wind, and the clouds part at your thanks. “Oh, gator, is that the wind? Where is my good friend the crocodile? It’s been a while since I’ve last seen him.”

Your plan to escape was a week ago.

A happy laugh escaped you once more. “The sky is such a pretty pink! Oh, and is that blue? Oh my… orange and purple? What is this called, gator?"

The gator blinked.

“I am in awe by this beauty, how can the soul of this world be tainted?”

Your question was soon answered when a net was thrown over you. You let out a quiet yelp, clinging onto the gator for its safety, and hear the voices of mermen. Mermen? You look up. A brown, beaten up beauty with a curvature different than the sunken ships below. This wasn’t a wreckage, this ship was full of life!

You were pulled up and when you look up, you lock eyes with a man with dark skin and the deepest black eyes. The gator bares its teeth at him and he frowned.

“What did I tell you? A mermaid.”

You weren’t curious about his eyes, you were curious about the manner of his body.

“What are those?” You ask, and you could’ve sworn the man who had yet to reveal himself choked on something as you point to his legs.

“Seriously?” He frowned. Then he noticed your tail. “Have you ever been above sea?”

You shake your head.

He dragged out a sigh. “They’re legs.”

“Legs!” You beam, somewhat forgetting you were in a net. “Do you have a name?”

He narrowed his eyes at you. “Call me Daz.”

“Daz. How are you Daz? My name is Name, and I appreciate it if you’ll get rid of this trap! I’m simply curious and not here to harm you and your…” You frown. “Grey companion?”

You couldn’t see his face, or his body, only a white mist.

“Oh, is that smoke? My father smokes too. But it’s an unusual thing he smokes. It’s out of a shell!”

“What do we do boss?” Daz asks, ignoring you. “Take off the net or leave it on?”

Crocodile was silent throughout the ordeal; he was remembering his time sheltered in Impel Down, questioning the presence of an angel if it was shrouding him from the darkness, or if the ink tatted down his back, stopping over his heart, was sedating him. He was stolid thanks to the tattoo, and your voice was a mighty power, even greater than that.

It was your voice that was his peace.

“Leave it on.”

A shiver ran down your spine at his voice and you yearned to take a peek of his face. Daz Bones saw your curiosity, and the defence of the gator, and to not anger the reptile further, he looked to his boss. He could easily take the two of you out but the curious look on his employer's face made him think otherwise.

And when Daz Bones took a step back, all hell broke loose.

Even as Crocodile was sat, he was monstrous. Were these the beasts your father warned you of? Do they all have a villainous scar crossing their faces like the bridges that determine your path to heaven or hell? Where did the scar lead? Where did it end? You wanted to trace his scar with the tip of your finger and watch as he tensed and grumbled at the feel of you.

He was rough and mean looking but to you, he was the prettiest man to exist on land, in heaven, and the seven seas.

"Woah," You whisper, and when his eyes met yours, you were in awe. They were golden! "You're beautiful."

Crocodile's brows furrowed, the cigar clenched around his teeth, glaring daggers into your soul.

He was deathly pale, but the cigar brought life to him. You were jealous of the thing.

Then, you noticed something. A familiar pet.

Your eyes lit up. "Crocodile!"

The crocodile tilts it head to the side at your voice then, betraying his owner, makes his way towards you, bares its teeth at the gator, then snaps the cage that bound you.

"Oi." Crocodile snapped at the animal, but it ignored him. His eyes went to you when you laugh and caressed the top of the crocodile's head.

He wasn't going to admit anything, he wasn't that type of man, but for a second he wanted to snap the crocodile in two.

You rise.

You were beautiful. So was your smile. Your tail had Crocodile staring a second too long.

"And you are?" Crocodile asked, no longer looking at you. He was looking at the paper.

As though you've been sailing the seas with the two men for years, you comfortably stand and look out to sea.

"Woah, it's all so pretty! I'm name. You?"

Crocodile doesn't answer.

"How do you know him?" He points to the crocodile in your arms, and the gator wrapped around your tail.

"Oh, they've been with me ever since I was a little girl! Though they do run off here and there."

Crocodile hummed.

You look back and forth between the two. "Are you beasts?"

"We're humans."

"Oh! I've read about your kind!"

"You're a mermaid, I take it?" Daz asked.

You nod.

"Fish-man Island is too far for you to be all the way out here."

"There's all types of worlds underwater. I'm not allowed to tell your kind about it though." You grin and for a second, you reminded Daz Bones of Monkey D. Luffy. He narrows his eyes. "I shouldn't even be here, my father will execute me."

"Oh?" Crocodile drawled. "Why's that?"

The sea opening up answered for you.

Your father's booming voice rang out and the weather raged with him. You let out a tiny yelp and Crocodile got to his feet, ready to defend his ship, his angry eyes glaring at whoever was out there, and when multiple tridents rise, and the mermen jump out, he hissed.

"Sables!"

"Wait!" You scream over the battle cries tearing from their throats and yell again. "Wait!"

All eyes were on you and when the mermen confirmed your safety, they parted to make way for your father.

You turn to the cigar-man. "I'll handle this."

Crocodile simply glared at you.

"Name!" Your father spat. "You insolent child!"

Fury burned through your veins. You turn towards him, only to be met with his palm striking your cheek. In shock, your head turned. Never once has your father hit you - ever! Your face burned red, your hair concealing you from him like a curtain, and your eyes burned.

Then, sand.

You look up at the feeling.

"Smokey!" You say, stunned.

You didn't know his name. What else were you supposed to call him?

Crocodile pulled you away from your father using his sand, and when he tsks, your head tilts to the side.

"Sir Crocodile," Your father says, eyes narrowing. "You'll do your best to-"

"Shut up."

Your father, alongside the other mermen, were shocked by his audacity.

"Oi, Smokey. He's-"

"I could care less." Crocodile deadpanned. "Father or not, no man has the right to smack around a woman."

"I won't be lectured by your kind, let alone a man of your nature. Unhand my daughter at once!"

"Not happening." Crocodile says.

Your father narrows his eyes.

You finally speak.

"I made the decision myself to come here."

"And you'll pay the price. Don't think that because you're my daughter, I'll let you off." Your father says. "No one outside of the royal court is allowed to place their heads above water, let alone find refuge on a pirate ship."

"Am I not apart of the royal court? I'm your daughter!"

"Yet you have your mother's blood inside of you. So by law you are not apart of the royal court."

"Why do I have to be blamed for your actions? You, a married man, could not control himself at my mother's beauty!"

You overheard someone say that at the underwater bar.

"What did you say to me?" Your father yelled, and his adviser had to restrain him.

You were terrified. Still, you had to get the words out. He did hit you after all. Your anger blinded you more than your fear did.

"I defined you as a whore!"

You let out a yelp when your father managed to free himself and hid behind Crocodile.

He rolled his eyes and Daz Bones forced back a chuckle.

They were both slightly amused.

Then, as if sensing something, everything clicked in place for your father. Your fits of pain, the tattoo you were born with, the obsession you had with your two pets that were acting like a protective shield, and suddenly the world tinted grey for him, and he was transported back to a time where he once wished he didn't exist, and his suffering became your suffering.

Marrying a woman for the sake of diplomacy, loving a woman that was truly his, but in the eyes of the law, was never meant to be his, and having to lose her not just by rejection, but through the hands she soiled with her own blood, that once caressed him, and called him home.

Your mother was your father's greatest gift, and power took that away from him.

Call it cheating, call him a whore, but nothing will ever take away the pain he felt marrying his wife for the sake of a nation that rejected his family both on land and underwater. Protecting you was his duty and he failed at that the minute you were born, and the second his hand hit your face.

He could see the bruise forming already.

Sir Crocodile was your soulmate, and by the look on his face, he had already rejected you.

You didn't know it yet.

You were his daughter. His little girl, standing before him as a woman.

His eyes soften a fraction.

He no longer looked like a man defending his nation, speaking on the rules of his nation; he looked like a father.

"You have a duty to uphold," Your father says to Crocodile. "But I can already guess what your answer is."

"A woman with a tail and a man with legs isn't going to work." Crocodile says, barely phased, but hearing it come from him hurt the most.

Your father scoffs. "You're simpleminded, is all." He looks at you. "If you enter the kingdom, you will be executed. Now tell me this, Name. Was it worth it?"

You could scream, you could cry, but every action has a consequence. You made your decision, and it was your bed to lie in.

"Everything happens for a reason, father," You say.

His eyes soften.

"I can manage."

He nods, says he'll have one of the mermen and mermaids bring you your belongings and when you make a request for certain books, he agrees on some titles, but not all titles. Security and all.

Your eyes were on the sunset. How could such pretty colours move your soul when you had risked everything for the sake of seeing land? Not only land but your soulmate?

"You'll be staying with me for the time being," Crocodile says, eyes on you. "I'll see to it that you're well taken care of."

"Will there be books?"

You had a lot to learn, after all.

"Yes."

You smirk. Turn your back on him.

"Then I'll be set."

[tralawre]

🧸ྀི sir crocodile x f!reader.

⋆𐙚 ̊ part two of this post! conversation about crocodile’s past, his decisions. see pinned post for more information on fan arts and banners!

No one wanted to admit it to Crocodile; the bags under his eyes, the wrinkle in his shirt, or the excessive amount of cigar smoke that filled the air even after he left the room, was enough to kill a person, despite him already killing them off with the fear he struck in them. He was always angry but his anger had a calmness to it that didn’t leave his workers on edge. Now? He’d look at them and they’d trip, he’d pretend to help a person to save his image back when he was the ruler of Alabasta and he’d end up scaring them to the point of hospitalisation.

Not to mention the worst thing: he saw his son for the first time.

And that very son landed him in jail.

All he could think about whilst being in cuffs was you. The trials and tribulations weren’t enough to punish him for his silence. He should’ve told you. If not about his gender then about his child, it was the least you deserved.

What were you doing? How are you feeling? Are you safe? Are you in danger?

So many questions, so little answers, and when that very son that landed him in jail bailed him out to save his brother, did Crocodile make it his mission to find you.

He built his reputation from nothing again, was more feared than before; he had nothing to hide, all his cards were on the table.

Then, by a stroke of luck, he found you.

It was a run down bar but it earned you a decent amount of money. You were behind the bar, cleaning tables, a happy smile on your face as you spoke and greeted customers. You didn’t manage the place, you only worked here when things got tough.

You weren’t financially struggling, only mentally. Your health had declined, your depression meds weren’t working, your husband was in and out of jail, fought alongside his son in the war, and was now a big-feared hot shot again. What more could go wrong for you? His world was your world, his problems was your problems. You knew that Crocodile wasn’t going to let you go.

“If you need something, Joe will help you out.”

You didn’t look up. You knew it was him. The smell of him had unlocked every memory you didn’t want resurfacing, and when smoke blew in your face, his silence confirmed that. You had a professional smile on your face that faltered at the sight of him.

You straighten.

First to confirm something, Crocodile looked at your hand. He forced back a smirk.

You still had your wedding ring on.

The bar was silent.

“It’s either you walk out that door,” You start, pulling out your gun and cock it. “Or I’ll blow your privates to bits.”

You wanted to make a snarky remark but his gender wasn’t the world’s business. Only his. Should’ve been yours too before Crocodile decided to put a ring on your finger, but keeping that truth from you didn’t hurt as much as Luffy being his child did.

A slow, dreary laugh.

“Try it.”

You take the bullet, dip it in water, and his smirk faltered. You cock the gun. Pull the trigger.

Daz Bones deflected it.

You let out a tsk.

“Let’s go.” Crocodile says, barely even phased.

You stare ahead, eyes on the sunset, hands buried deep in your pockets. It’s been awhile since you were last sailing the seas but it felt nice to be back. The birds squawk up high, and the wind was steady.

Daz Bones was in his quarters, Crocodile was sat with a paper in his hand, cigar in his mouth. But you knew that he wasn’t reading it; his eyes would check on you from time to time.

“Did you tell him?”

He let out a tsk. “You’re too far to be talking about things of that nature.”

Code word for: I don’t want anyone to know.

“The audacity you have.” You chuckle, shaking your head. “I’m going to bed. Have a shit night.”

He got up when you walk away and followed you.

“What?” You snap.

“I didn’t tell him.”

Your eyes scan his face. “Thought so. You’re good at that, right?”

“Don’t get smart with me.”

There was no hostility in his tone.

“Did you contact Dragon?”

“Of course not.”

“You were in jail.”

“Yes.” Crocodile looks out to sea. “Place reeks.”

Your lip quirks. “You saw Ivan.”

“I did.”

“You had the chance to ask Ivan to turn you back.”

He was silent.

You continue to stare at him.

“Why didn’t you?”

He knew that question was on its way. Now that it was said, he didn’t know how to respond. He thought for a long while, maybe ten minutes, and found the words.

“Being a woman is gruelling work, but being a man isn’t. That’s not a sexist remark, it’s fact. A woman that wishes to make it in this world has to brave the sexist comments or hiring based on personal interest of the employer. They have to be prepared for the lewd comments: “I’ll let you work for me if you pay with your body” or the infamous “I’ll let you have a night with me for a day off” tactic. It’s taxing being a woman but the suffering is a blessing; gives you tough skin, I guess," Crocodile paused to take a drag of the cigar, inhaled, exhaled, then spoke again. "Women are strong not because they survive, but because they’re cared about less, and the men that claim to be protectors are the ones the women need protecting from which is funny; every man comes from a woman and in the end, they turn their back on them.”

You stare at him as he spoke. He has never spoken so passionately about a topic outside of news-coo and politics.

“I will never disregard my life as a woman, but wanting it back would be betraying who I am now. I’m fine with who I am now,” Crocodile spared you a glance. “I didn’t do it for you, I did it for me. But apart of me did think about you when making the final decision.”

You let out a chuckle. “Stupid.”

He rose one eyebrow.

“If you came back to me as a woman, I'd still love you."

He stared at you.

“You might think I’m saying it for the sake of saying it but I’m not. Man or woman, I would love who you are in every lifetime, and that includes this one. You think a vagina can scare me off? Please, you should know me by now." You then frown. "But what I won’t accept is you omitting truths from me. Keeping this from me is not acceptable. You should’ve told me.”

“I know.” His jaw clenched, finding it hard to say the words, but he says it. He had to. “I just…” He cleared his throat. “I couldn’t lose you.”

“You lost me by keeping this from me, Crocodile.”

“I know.” His voice was quiet.

You uncross your arms, prepared to take your leave.

“Our marriage isn’t on the mend," You turn your back to him. "You have a lot to make up for.”

He was aware of that fact. Still, he had to remind you.

“We’re not divorcing.”

“Oh please, don’t you think I know that?”

He let out a quiet huff.

You smile at the moon.

“Luffy seems kind.”

“Very kind.”

“Although he put you in jail. Rightfully deserved.”

He rolled his eyes.

“I’m more mad about Luffy than anything. He has a right to exist and I’m glad he does, but keeping that from me was bang out of order, shitface. You’ve got anymore children I need to scold you for?”

Crocodile knew better than to argue about the nicknames used.

“Just the one.”

You huff. “Good.” Then you grin. “Sex with Dragon?”

“You’re getting bolder.”

“Of course I am,” You huff. “Sir Crocodile fucked Monkey D. Dragon and you think I’m not going to ask for the details?"

You were still on edge, still protecting yourself, and Crocodile would do everything in his power to get you to trust him again. That doesn’t mean he’s going to give certain details such as that.

Not out in the open anyway.

“My office.”

When you grin, satisfied, he smirked in response.