The weather was particularly cold, even for a winter island. Crocodile chewed on his cigar, bending all of his willpower towards the nigh impossible goal of not shivering in front of his crew. Winter island at this time of the year...

"All ready, Captain!"

Finally, Crocodile thought and was astonished he was able to stop the sigh of relief that wanted to follow. "We head for the next island immediately. I'll be in my cabin if anything comes up." With stiff legs, Crocodile escaped the icy gale below deck as fast as possible without breaking into an undignified sprint.

"Goddamn," he muttered on his way to the cabin, wondering how he was going to unlock the door with fingers that had practically turned into icicles. It was with immense relief that he noticed he didn't have to; Daz was inside, putting away a greater number of shopping bags than Crocodile could remember accumulating on their last trip to the city. "Nice of you to do that for me."

Daz raised the corner of his mouth. "I thought you might be cold."

"Well what can you do, it's January..." Crocodile let out the sigh that had been building up inside him. "But visiting Crossgale is always worth it. Can't believe you didn't want anything."

"I don't need much, boss."

Crocodile nodded, accepting the explanation even though he couldn't quite understand it. Daz took out one of the new coats they had found in the city's many haute couture shops and handed it to Crocodile.

"This should be warmer than the one you're wearing now."

"...thanks." Yes, nice and comfortable. It would take them a while to get to warmer waters, so clearly it had been a sensible purchase rather than one of the completely frivolous ones Crocodile had been making throughout their stay on the island. "So... January."

"It won't be so cold on the next island," Daz said, sounding almost reassuring despite the monotone.

Crocodile shifted, his hand twitching towards his vest pocket. "It's not the weather I'm..." He coughed, reaching inside the pocket. "It's the first day of January, right?"

Daz looked up. "Yes..?"

"Well... obviously I saw it in your files back when I recruited you for Baroque Works..." The little box was ridiculously insufficient when compared to all the things Crocodile had bought for himself, but he presented it anyway. "I got this for you when I told you to stay at that cafe."

"...oh." Fortunately, Daz accepted the box and took out his gift without trying to be humble and refusing it three times first or whatever the norm was in polite circles these days. The diamond was small and tasteful, attached to a simple gold chain. Daz smiled. "You showed a lot of restraint, boss."

"Yeah, well, I was thinking of getting a nice ring first, but that would just get in the way when you fight, wouldn't it? And putting a ring on a chain would just be silly, so I thought maybe just the diamond..." Crocodile fidgeted with his cigar. "Anyway, you don't have to wear even that if it gets in the way. Just... well, it's for you."

"I'll wear it. Thank you." The look in Daz's eyes was so warm Crocodile had to look away.

"...don't mention it."