It seemed to take all of Crocodile's strength to stand up straight, turn away from the Bilkan, and face the tall man walking bow-legged into his office. His voice was hard, but businesslike. "What do you want, Doflamingo?"

Doflamingo? Before Enel could think straight, he ducked behind Crocodile. The huge man made excellent cover for the shorter, lithe blonde. Yet a moment later he felt like smacking himself on the forehead. Was he REALLY hiding behind a man who had been sexually harassing him only a few seconds ago?

Doflamingo stopped when he saw something duck behind Crocodile. Oh...? He tried to lean over and peek around, but the person was well hid.

"Just thought I'd pop in to say 'hello'," he said, a spine-chilling grin cheeping onto his face. He straightened up, then edged closer to Crocodile.

"Really?" Crocodile's voice dripped with venom. "Are you sure it's not about the deal with using part of Baroque Works as a tool for your slave market?"

The tall blond snickered. He folded his hands behind his back. "What? Is it so hard to believe that one Shichibukai wants to exchange pleasantries with another? Honestly-"

"Does it need to be said?" Crocodile answered anyways: "No, and no to that deal-my organization is not yours to toy with."

"Whaaat?" Donquixote Doflamingo feigned disappointment-he could not help the twitching ends of his mouth as he spoke. "Oh come on, Crocie. How difficult would it be to let me borrow a few of your Billions and some ships-"

"I said 'no'."

Silence enveloped the room. Enel shivered. That deep growl of finality had been enough to almost make his knees knock together. He wondered why the other man managed to snicker, sounding thoroughly unaffected.

"Really, Crocie. What's the big deal? It's almost like you're trying hide secrets from me..."

From behind his feathered back, a flick of Doflamingo's fingers escaped Crocodile's view.

Suddenly, Enel's body straightened-against his will. Wha...What? His eyes widened as he mechanically stepped out from behind Crocodile, totally exposed.

Sweat beaded down the Bilkan's neck as Doflamingo guffawed.

The man was bent over, laughing at him. "Heh heh heh heh! Well well! What a surprise-my missing angel boy. I would have never expected! Heh heh heh!"

Crocodile looked between Enel and Doflamingo. He seemed...annoyed. Enel didn't pay him much attention-he was too busy trying to figure out why his body had responded without him. And why he now couldn't move.

After what felt like a never-ending couple of minutes, Doflamingo's laugh died down. "My apologies. Heh, I just never thought I would see what's been giving me a run for my money all day today to, heh heh-appear right in the middle of your office, Crocie."

Sir Crocodile's eyes narrowed. "It's one of yours."

The Bilkan didn't let it escape him that he was now an 'it'. Even under Doflamingo's control, he still managed an arrogant scowl.

Doflamingo smiled. "Yes, the angel boy's mine. I'm shipping him straight to Saobody right as soon as I barter a ship-he should get me a good price, don't ya think? I mean-he's got freakin wings on his back. You don't see that everyday! Much pricier than any mermaid-perhaps a hundred, a thousand times more valuable.

His hands were suddenly on Enel. His thin fingers stroked the skin of his neck and bare chest as he whipped the Bilkan around to be in front of him. "See how white his skin is, Crocie? Obviously from lofty living-it's like ivory, and so soft. And he's got an excellent face to go with his baby soft flesh and lithe body-and wierd ears, but I'm sure there has to be some high payer with an ear fetish out there. If you haven't noticed, his body's erotically sensitive to the touch-"

He had a point. No matter how hard Enel tried, he couldn't fight the angry red blush encroaching his body as the other man breathed on his neck while he talked and used both of his hands to massage his nipples and sides. It was taking all his strength to keep quiet. Damn it-what the hell was wrong with him? And this man...he sounded like he was trying to barter him off right now!

A fevered moan suddenly suddenly flew from his mouth-he arched his back as his manhood was suddenly grabbed from a hand jutting into his pants. He bent over as it was stroked, the slit of his tip being payed special attention. He shivered in unwanted ecstasy and rage. Ahh...damnit. Damn him!

Doflamingo flashed a ruefless grin at the high-pitched sound that came from the Sky Islander's mouth. "He seems to make cute sounds as well..."

Enel couldn't take it anymore. He snarled up at the slavetrader, his messy blond hair partly covering his narrowed eyes. "B...Bastard."

An unamused frown appeared on the man's face.

Before Enel could tell what was happening, he found himself bent over on his knees, forcing his forehead to grind on the cold floor with all his strength while his hand held themselves behind his back. He stayed frozen like that against his will, though he shivered slightly from the internal battle he was having within himself. Come on, he screamed at his body. Move! Damnit, move! Move!

The sole of Doflamingo's shoe suddenly sat on the back of his head. He stifled a cry of pain as its heel dug into his skull. The man's voice never lost its humor. "Seems he still needs to be broken. Luckily, all that is provided for at Saobody. Anyways, I guess I should get going with him. Day's a wastin', and I got a boat to catch."

While Enel inwardly struggled, he nearly lost what Crocodile said next. The sound of him exhaling the smoke from his cigar was heard, and there was a long pause after that. Finally, he snarled, "Alright. Let him up, give it here. I'm sick of you wasting my time with your little games."

Enel blanched. H...huh?

Doflamingo seemed just as surprised-or perhaps it was all an act. "Heh heh heh-are you serious? You're interested in something of mine? Crocie, you dog-how hilarious!"

Crocodile's snarl grew more terrifying. "Just shut up ad stand him up. I want a second with it."

The feather-coated man shrugged. "Take as long as you like." A perverse smirk suddenly bloomed onto his face. "But not too long, you know..."

Enel was suddenly on his feet by a crook of Doflamingo's fingers. He shouted in surprise when he suddenly threw himself right at Crocodile, who grabbed him by his shoulder and balanced him once more. He felt his control returning to his body once more-sadly though, he was now in the vice grip of Sir Crocodile. Seems things weren't going to get any better any time soon.

Crocodile glared at Doflamingo, who grinned and gave them some space. Even then, the huge man half-dragged the stunned Enel all the way across the room, until he was between the huge wall of glass and Crocodile's hulking body. The Bilkan stared up at him.

His deep growl was barely intelligible to hear. "The ruins..."

Enel nearly said, "What ruins?" Luckily he stopped himself.

"...if you saw the markings on them again, could you interpret them?"

The Bilkan felt his brain stall as he felt the tip of the hook digging into his skin. "Yes," was his automatic answer.

An incredible lie, he realized too late.

Crocodile gave him a scalding glare, to under which Enel tried his hardest to seem to be telling the truth. He couldn't back out of it now-he had just sealed his death warrant, and now he was going to deal with it.

After what felt like an eternity, Crocodile leaned down and whispered in his ear. "For your sake...you'd better be telling the truth."

Enel felt his hammering heart just burst. Somehow, he managed to mutter after the lingering threat, "I-I am. I swear."

There was a throaty laugh. A grin grew across the older man's face as he pulled away. "Excellent..."

"Oi!" Both of them turned to look at Doflamingo. "Are you done with your little chat yet? Just wondering."

Crocodile turned and pulled out his cigar. "...Seems we have a business transaction to undertake."

Doflamingo's eyebrow cocked up. "Oh? Do we now? What-for the kid or the ships?" The way he said 'ships', it was obvious which one he was more hopeful for.

"The kid." Crocodile said flatly.

The other man poked out his lip and crossed his arms. "No fun-here's a better idea. How bout the kid for the ships?"

"No."

"Pweez...?"

"Doflamingo..."

Doflamingo quickly held up his hands and grinned. "Alright! Alright...just a question. Jeez, Crocie-get the stick outta your ass."

Crocodile snarled. Yet he bettered his temper by lighting his cigar and puffing on it for a second. Finally, he growled, "How much do you want?"

Donquixote Doflamingo grinned gleefully. "How much do you think I want...?"

Instead of getting pissed, as Enel had expected, Crocodile just waved his hand in the air. "Fine, fine," he said, as if tired. "Take as much as you want. Money's no option, as usual. Just get the hell out of here."

The huge man felt under the brin of his desk and pushed some sort of hidden switch, while Doflamingo clapped his hands together and cried, "Ah! This is why I love doing business with you, Crocodile. You never disappoint!"

The elevator doors suddenly flung open, and a gaggle of Crocodile's cronies barged in. "Sir Crocodile-you rang?"

Thier boss hooked a thumb at Doflamingo. "Get this trash out of my office. And give him as much from my account as he wants-just kick him out in the end."

"Sir!"

They edged towards Doflamingo, but it wasn't necessary. He was already heading to the exit. He was laughing, as usual. They moved for him to leave and follow behind him, but before he did, Doflamingo called behind his back, "Have fun with one of my wares, Crocie! Don't break it on the first run..."

Crocodile snapped, "If you drain my entire account, you can kiss those ships of yours goodbye."

Doflamingo waved his hand. "I know, I know. Ciao, Crocodile."

/

When he left, and the elevator door was once more closed to leave Enel alone again with Crocodile, the Bilkan found himself instantly wishing he was somewhere else. The air in the room was so heavy he could hardly breathe. He couldn't think straight. What was going to happen to him now?

Crocodile looked from the door to him-he seemed almost predatory. He turned to face him; he took the cigar from his mouth and mashed it into the soil of a nearby potted plant. Enel wasted no time. He tried to scamper away from the older man. He didn't get very far. Crocodile shot out his arm and took a grab at his hair. With the blond locks curled in his fist, he dragged the snarling Bilkan back and slammed him against the glass. Once again, Enel's face ached from the impact. He moaned and almost slid to his knees, to face the glass and the eyeing bananadiles; Crocodile kept him on his feet by siezing his middle with his hand and keeping his hook at his throat. Enel stiffened at the sharp point knicking his flesh. His artery pulsated in his neck with apprensive fear.

"Now," the older man growled softly, his lips on Enel's shoulder as he spoke. "Where were we...?"

Enel winced as his wings were crushed against the man's chest. The violent blush returned to his skin as he was fondled again. Nibbles made a path up his neck and across his jawbone. He moaned as the tent in his pants was massaged. All this teasing was driving him crazy. He felt so much outrage, shame, and anger. Yet his body had goosebumps, and he was shivering in ecstasy. He took this unwillingly, he told himself. I like women, I like women, I like women-

He suddenly shuddered. Crocodile's hand had trailed off his erection to play with his earlobes-they had heavy earrings pierced into them, gold hoops with a green piece of shell set in that was found in the milky sea. They pulled his lobes down so that they hung nearly to his shoulders. Crocodile fondled them and grumbled in amusement, "They really are strange..."

"No...Please stop."

He instantly cringed when the words had left his lips.

There was a pause.

"Aah!" Enel shouted when Crocodile pulled sharply on his ears. Pain made his eyes water, and he bit his lip.

The man growled dangerously low in his ear: "Do you think you can honestly tell me what I can and cannot do...? Hah? ...You insignificant brat?"

The Bilkan didn't say anything. He just stared up into Crocodile's cold-blooded eyes...the eyes that seemed to be waiting testily for an answer. He forced his head to shake 'no'.

The man sneered. He tugged harder. "Listen well-you're my slave, my property. You don't get an opinion, or a demand, or a right to say 'stop' to me. You don't even have a right to live or breathe without my permission. So before you think of opening that little mouth of yours again, try remembering what you are, and what your purpose for living is from here on out."

Enel made a whimper of understanding. He was let go, and left to crumple on the ground. His ears ached, and he was flushed with outrage. He glared at Crocodile's expensive reptile-skin shoes, and watched as they didn't move to leave. He could feel the man's eyes on his back, watching him shiver in fear. He felt sick from this man's twistedness.

A deep chuckling echoed off the office's glass walls. "Well, if you understand..."

Enel closed his eyes and tried to block out the laughter. He felt dizzy-fatigue was gripping his chest from hours of running and no food. He didn't want to think of what was going to happen next.

When he opened his eyes, Crocodile had already left.

Enel sat there, on his knees in the dark blue light of the office. He was still shivering, but was totally alone. The door across the room was shut-there seemed to be no way for him to return to the surface from here.

The Bilkan wrapped his arms across his chest, and rocked back and forth. He was cold, he was hungry-and he was a slave. A Bilkan lord's son from a noble bloodline...forced into slavery. He felt his reddened ears, a symbol of his nobility, and thought of home. He thought of his abandonment from seemingly the entire universe-perhaps being a slave was befitting an outcast of the gods.

Yet why did he have to be the slave of him?

He tried to not think of the encounter in the garden; of how he was snatched from a giant reptile's jaws and put behind a fearless figure to save his life. It just made things confusing-besides, he was sure that his view of it was not how it really happened. Doubts flooded his mind, and he blocked out the memory of Crocodile holding the glimmer of being more savior than pure evil.

The once arrogant, spoiled, gifted son of Bilka's finest sat in the office, until he finally curled into a ball on the ground and looked out of the glass. He was still filled with the blackest of human emotions, and shaking in fear.

Suddenly, a thought occured to him. Why was he so desperate in living?

Enel lifted his head, his eyes wide at the shores of a possible epiphany. Really-what did he have to live for? No matter how hard he wished for Bilka, for his home, he had to admit that he now had no home. Bilka had deserted him, just as it had deserted his deceased family and everything he once held dear. There was no way to return to Bilka, or his old way of life-he was stranded here in this desert, with nothing.

So what does it matter if I die, or if I live? I have nothing to live for. A sly grin spread across his lips. As his hatred swelled, so did his nostalgia at finding his terror diminished. For some reason, he flet like throwing his head back and laughing.

But for now, he sat up and leaned on the wall. He lifted his eyes upwards, the wide grin still on his face. It turned into a thin sliver, and while he occupied himself in deep thought and planning against his 'master', he closed his eyes.

What he could not see while he lulled himself to sleep was the small sparks of light dancing across his flesh, reacting to his churning hatred. He had no idea what he had eaten that day on top of the altar, that disgusting mauve fruit with its swirling etches across its peel and its disgusting flavor. Not all devil fruits react in an instant to the consumer's will-especially when one is ignorant to the fact that they had eaten such a fruit at all, or what it even is. It seems fate had actually led him to a piece of fortune, though he would think for the rest of the night that he had been delivered into his own personal circle of hell. Tomorrow, with his new found will to rebel against Crocodile and his demands, he would find that heaven had delivered him the means to stand side-by-side with this devil.

And the power to return to Bilka a year later...and destroy it.

This is the fruit of my two week long endeavor. Definitely the longest one-shot of my life. Sorry I made it so long, reader-but I felt if I cut it too short and leave anything out, then I would HAVE to continue it with another chapter. And seriously-I got two other projects on my plate. TOO MUCH STRESS FOR DORMY-CHAN~!

But, when I get those done (or when I get my immeninent blocks), I might return to this. Just to shoot out random one-shots.

Last Word: I DARE SOMEONE TO WRITE CROCxENEL! Go-go forth and do it! Get those quills a-scratchin! *SUPAH POINT*

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