Chapter Text
Sir Crocodile glanced upwards to the sky, noting the heavy gray clouds. All Devil Fruit users share an inability to swim and a weakness to seastone. However, Crocodile was much more susceptible to water. Even a few droplets of water would be dangerous if he was in a high stake battle.
Even with clouds threatening to cause rainfall and no umbrella, the man was not worried in the slightest. However, he did despise the feeling of getting wet.
“The nearest hotel should be…” Crocodile tries to remember the map of the island that was posted on a board back in town. The island itself was nothing special, so plain that he couldn’t bother to remember the name of it. It serves as a resting place and a vacation island for tourists, marines, and pirates such as himself.
“Hey.” A deep voice behind him broke his train of thought. “I was looking all over for you, fufufufu.”
Crocodile’s brows furrowed at the voice. He had heard the townspeople talk of another dangerous pirate coming onto the island. But why does it have to be that flamingo of all people? Donquixote Doflamingo is likely the most obnoxious man he’ll ever meet. He was irritating and an eyesore to look at.
Not wanting to deal with the pink feathered man, Crocodile began walking without a clue as to where the hotel could be.
“I heard the townsfolk gossip but I’d never thought it'd be you.” Doflamingo’s voice followed closely behind him. “What a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Crocodile scoffed. There was no way it was a coincidence. The chances of the two together on a random island purely by chance is one in a million. He must have been followed and he doesn’t want to stick around to find out why.
“Come on, don’t be so cold,” the younger man continued. “Aren’t we friends?”
Crocodile wanted to laugh at him. Friends? Was he joking? The only reason they conversed before was because of how persistent the blonde man was.
“As if! I have no business talking to someone like you.”
“That is precisely why I’m talking with you right now.” Doflamingo grinned. “I have a piece of information that you’d want.”
The older man just scoffed again and picked up the pace. The first time that blonde wanted to trade ‘information’, it was rubbish. He could feel his fist clenched as he recalled how long Doflamingo dragged on. Oh, how much time he had wasted, thinking something useful would come out of that man for once!
“I’m not interested,” he responded, not attempting to hide the annoyance in his tone. “If you don’t want to become a mummy, I’d advise you to stop following me.”
Much to his surprise, the footsteps behind him slowed to a stop. He had expected the pink man to laugh and keep following him. Perhaps the man gained some common sense, after all, it had been a while since he last saw him. Either way, Crocodile continued on. He can’t be sure that Doflamingo would give up that easily.
“Pluton.”
Crocodile immediately stops in his tracks, breath caught and his eyes widened. He whirled around to face Doflamingo with a shocked expression.
The tall blonde was wearing his trademark smile. “Do I have your attention now?”
His eyes darted around the area, scanning for anyone that could have heard him. Crocodile realized that he was in the alleyways, places that people in the town do not wander into. Once he confirmed that no one was there, he focused his attention back on Doflamingo.
His eyes narrowed as he studied the feathered man intensely. Crocodile just couldn’t believe it. How could that flamingo have any information on Pluton when he had been searching for years?
It was ridiculous. He wanted to laugh in his face and walk away. It can’t be true, it’s probably something to keep him here just so the man can just ramble on with his nonsense. Crocodile agreed with himself that Doflamingo was just doing one of his antics.
Yet at the same time, his mind ran. What if, by some miracle, the man was telling the truth? Even if it was the smallest chance that he was, could he give up this opportunity?
No. Not when he had been searching for so long.
Crocodile grabbed his cigar and blew the smoke out in an attempt to calm his nerves. One deep inhale later and he gained back his composure. He quickly assessed what to do. First, he has to get this information no matter what. If it turns out to be one of his nonsense, he’ll kill him. And if it was misleading information… he will make sure the man suffers so much that he would be begging to die.
It didn’t matter where and how Doflamingo received the information. The only thing that matters is what the information is.
He put the cigar back and then folded his arms. “How much do you want?”
“How much?” Doflamingo chuckled as he gestured at himself. “Do you really think someone like me needs money?”
“I thought as much.” Of course, someone like Doflamingo would have no use for large sums of money. He can easily pillage island after island, taking all the money he would ever need. Crocodile couldn’t think of anything else. “What do you want then?”
“What I want is…” Doflamingo sauntered towards Crocodile. He stood his ground as the taller man approached him with a wide grin. Soon he was in front of Crocodile who had to tilt his head to look up at him. Doflamingo leans forward, his grin spreading wider. His hand reaches out to caress Crocodile’s cheek and at the same time, he slips his other hand on his waist. “Your body,” came a low purr.
Crocodile immediately lashes out, his hook flying towards Doflamingo’s face. The man jumps back, avoiding the large golden hook of the reptile.
“Ridiculous!” Veins threatened to burst on his forehead as he bit his cigar clean in half. “Who do you take me for?! Do you really think I’ll sell my own body to someone like you?”
It was outrageous. Something like this—there was nothing in the world that Crocodile want so bad to—
“So much for all the trouble that I went through just to get some intel.” Doflamingo shook his head in exaggerated disappointment. “It seems like you’re not interested.”
Crocodile’s anger faded out as he remembered that there was something he wanted so badly. Something that he would be willing to do anything just to get his hands on it.
Pluton.
An Ancient Weapon, capable of mass destruction. If he can get his hands on that, he’ll have the greatest military power, surpassing everyone including the World Government.
Crocodile swallowed hard.
It was true he’ll do anything for information regarding Pluton. Any treasure, any territory… He’ll make sure to retrieve it in order for the exchange. But his own body?
“I’ll leave you alone then.” Doflamingo turned and started walking off.
Crocodile bit his lower lip. Was he really going to let this opportunity slip by?
“Doflamingo!”
The blonde stops and glances at Crocodile, expectantly.
“… You’re not lying, are you?” he asked. “How can I be sure your information is reliable?”
Doflamingo chuckled. He knew Crocodile was a meticulous man but he couldn’t blame him for not trusting him. “I have connections to the underground,” he explained. “With that in mind, the information I have is based on someone else’s words.”
Crocodile stared at him as he pondered. It’s logical that Doflamingo himself doesn't know if the information he received is true. But this was Pluton—any crumbs of information are worth investigating. “Okay,” he finally spoke. “I want the information.”
The blonde’s face brightened. “I have a reserved spot in the best hotel, just for us tw—“ Before he could finish his sentence, Crocodile lunged at him. His soles connected with the hook, stopping it in place. He wore an amused expression despite the fact that he was attacked. “What’s going on, Crocodile? I thought you wanted the information?”
“I do want the information.” Crocodile snarled. “I don’t recall accepting your deal.”
The two opposing forces threw them both back away from each other.
“I’ll make you spill everything after you’re half dead!” Crocodile’s hand transformed into the sand and he quickly whipped it to the ground. A blade of sand rushes towards Doflamingo. He leaped high in the air, avoiding the attack. He threw his arms out and strings cut through Crocodile’s head and body, sending sand flying all over the place.
He reformed only to be attacked again with Doflamingo kicking through him. “Give it up, flamingo.” Crocodile’s body reformed itself once more. “Give me the clues for Pluton and I’ll let you off easy.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Croc-bastard! I can easily defeat you if I wanted to.” He raises his hand.
Crocodile felt a tug on his left arm. That man had tied a string on his arm. “Like I said—“ His eyes widened when he couldn’t get out of the string. He was solid. Before he could speak another word, he felt something wet fall on his face. Alarmed, he looked upwards to see that it was raining. He was so focused on Doflamingo that he didn't notice.
In a desperate attempt to finish Doflamingo, he threw his right hand at him. Strings suddenly wrapped around his hand, his arms, and his neck. It digs into his flesh, something that he hasn't felt for a very long time.
Crocodile cursed at him, his fingers inches away from the man’s throat.
“Fufufu, rain makes you unable to use your sand abilities.” Doflamingo flicks a finger down and Crocodile’s right arm pulls away. “What should I do… hmm?”
His fingers contorted and Crocodile found himself stepping forward towards Doflamingo. He tried resisting but in doing so, he felt pain. The strings threatened to tear his skin, he wouldn’t care if he gained more scars—but he can’t break free no matter what.
A hand slips behind Crocodile’s overhanging coat and slowly slides down to his rear. “You feathered brat…!” he hissed at the touch. “Get your hands off of me!”
“If I'd known how easily you would have been overpowered, I wouldn’t have come to you with a deal at all.” The blonde chuckled darkly as he gave a squeeze. “I can do whatever I want with you right now~”
Crocodile trembles in silent rage, glaring daggers at him. “Keep talking and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
“How scary, fufufu,” Doflamingo pulls his hand away with a sly smile. “No need to worry, I’m not that type of person. I’m a generous man, you see. The deal is still up in the air.”
Crocodile felt the strings let go, freeing him. He shot a glare at Doflamingo, weighing his options. Being tangible would make fighting Doflamingo very difficult, if not impossible. There’s no way he could avoid getting controlled like some puppet on strings. He would have to do it.
He wouldn’t have minded that much if he was the one taking charge. But with Doflamingo, it’s quite obvious the blonde wants to be on top. Crocodile tried to not let the stress show on his face, wearing a frown. But it was for Pluton, he had to do this.
“Alright,” Crocodile sighed. “I accept your deal.”
At least he’ll be out of the rain too.