#let me cuddle!

[trygamer45]

Smash Or Pass with Brawl Stars characters! (Except Smash is replaced with hug because I prefer hugs)

[sandpumpkin]

And because I need some comfort and that self indulgent crocodile stuff isn’t going to write itself. I need Croco-chan snuggles.

Late night reading.

Crocodile sat at his desk, a solitary lamp lighting his large cabin. The cold wind battered at the ship, the sea they were currently sailing through had a bitter winter climate. Like always he toiled away into the late night working or simply reading. He reached for the lukewarm coffee on his right.

“Are you going to linger outside my door all night?” He called loudly, bringing the cup to his lips. The door clicked and was quietly pushed open and gently closed again.

“S-sorry to bother you.” Setting his cup down as he turned to glance over his shoulder, he felt a strange tightness in his chest when he looked at her. Hana stood there clearly shivering and shuffling nervously. “I wasn’t sure if you were still awake,” she said quietly. His eyes hadn’t quite left the royal blue silk shirt she was wearing, one he definitely remembers throwing out because of a tear in it but the tear seemed to have vanished and covered with an embroidered pumpkin. Then he vaguely recalled her saying something,

“It would be a shame to throw such a nice silk shirt. Can I use it?”

It was obviously too big for her, almost a dress on her, even buttoned up to the collar it hung loosely off one shoulder, the sleeves unbuttoned at the cuffs and rolled up but still fell over her small hands.

“Crocodile- boss?” He snapped out of his thoughts and turned back to his work

“What do you want?” He asked turned a page,

“-Can I read in here for a little while?” She replied with a question,

“You didn’t walk all the way across the deck in this wind to read.” He retorted sternly casting another look over his shoulder, she fumbled with her book frantically.

“I had a nightmare,” she said, hanging her head in shame. “-you- I...I find you comforting...your smell. I mean your aftershave…” she hid behind her book and grumbled to herself. A smile threatened to tug at his lips, most people found him intimidating and avoided him at all costs and yet here she was dressed in one of his old shirts seeking him out for comfort. “-I’ll go if-“

“Sit.” He half ordered returning to his work again. Hearing a happily uttered ‘thank you’ and the patter of feet head over to his bed rather than the sofa he had on the far side of the room. Glancing out of the corner of his eye he saw her staring in awe at the large golden hook resting on the red velvet cushion beside his bed. As if caught in a trance she reached out to touch it, trailing her fingers slowly over the ridges of the hook and down to the curved hook itself. He coughed and made her jump.

“I’m sorry! I couldn’t help it! It’s so shiny and smoother than I expected..” she rambled retracting her hand quickly. “Doesn’t it hurt your back and shoulder? It looks heavy.” Crocodile ignored her question and gestured to her to sit with his good hand. “S-sorry.”

And still she sat on his bed, perched on the edge swinging her feet merrily that didn’t quite reach the floor now.

He shook his head and smirked: she had more guts than he thought.

He lost track of time after that, carrying on with his work uninterrupted. Leaning back in his chair he cast his gaze towards his bed expecting to see her reading but instead found her still sitting up but leant against the pillows fast asleep with her book still in hand.

Finally moving from his desk, Crocodile crossed the room and lifted her up with his good arm chucking back the covers to lay her down properly “Warning me about my back when you fall asleep like that.” He muttered to himself, shirking off his shirt, tossing it onto his chair before climbing into bed. In moments of laying down he felt something by his side. As if feeling the sudden warmth, Hana had scurried close to him snuggling against his arm. A sleepy yawn and a content sigh. “Croco-chan…” she murmured, still very much asleep. Running his good hand through his dark locks, he laughed. This girl truly had no fear. Getting comfortable himself he glanced down at the orange haired woman in his bed, sleeping peacefully curled up to him like a kitten. Come morning she would no doubt be an apologetic mess but he couldn’t be bothered to walk across the deck to take her back to her room and truthfully he didn’t wholly dislike the situation.

He planted a kiss to the top of her hair taking in the delicate autumnal spice shampoo she used. Now if only she had the guts to tell him how she truly felt.

@one-piece-dumpster-fire