What was it about attraction that left his powers absolutely useless?

Doflamingo understood he was just a man (for now), and with that came desires and needs. While his strings could attach to just about anything and create a simplistic image of his surroundings, human bodies included, ultimately there was something missing. He didn't mind using his strings on another person, especially if he wanted to get an idea of what he was up against, but when it came to any form of intimacy, there was an instinctual urge to get up and close.

With the sound of soft laughter shared between two girls was a need to reach out and feel their lips from which the pleasant sound originated. He needed to run his hands through their hair, feel their shoulders and hips, how soft the skin was, and warm, and press his fingers deeper into the flesh, until he knew he was getting himself tangled in a girl.

According to Vergo and Pica the feelings were mutual, but with their casual admittance came bitterness that they were able to ease their desires with hidden stares. They could look potential partners in the eyes and know right away what was up. With a stare a simple connection could be made. Desires could also be expressed with playful mannerisms that Doflamingo could not read, not unless he had his powers active and already aimed at the target. Something as subtle as a small smile, nervous blinking or hair playing wasn't something he could witness with sound or smell.

It was bad enough he was a boy who didn't know why girls did these things, he had to figure out how to approach them without letting them in on his little secret, at least not while he was trying to be taken seriously. Because he needed them to take him seriously. Diamante mentioned exploiting his blindness to "get some" from an overly sensitive girl would work just fine, but Doflamingo refused to cast his pride aside for a quickie, and continued to fantasize in private.

Men were another matter. While coming into contact with one might not result in immediate rejection, trying to figure out whether they shared the similar tastes regarding the same sex was impossible without being upfront. He could rest a hand on a man's shoulder and not risk nasty remarks, but most interactions ended with one of the executives chasing them away. That was all they could do, neither Diamante nor Trebol had any advice on how to approach a guy, let along how to deal with their disgust once Doflamingo confessed his intentions.

Years later Doflamingo would learn that his struggles weren't too different from the average man, though by then he'd have gathered enough taste from both sexes for him to nearly repress all cringe-worthy memories associated with adolescence. Despite this, the urge to connect on a physical level never ceased to bother him. Exploiting men and women with his strings could not garner the pleasure he received from being allowed to touch and discover their appearance with his hands.

"Really, it's one of the few things I find less than satisfactory about myself," Doflamingo said aloud. But not too loud, as Crocodile's slow breathing suggested anything beyond hushed talk might result in getting kicked out of the bedroom.

Crocodile probably knew better than anybody else the extent of his obsession to touch, grab, and rub. Most of their rendezvous, even those that ended without any sex, carried complaints from Crocodile as he was molested with curious hands. Doflamingo joked that Crocodile had asked for it, what with him undergoing so many changes in the years they've known one another, but Doflamingo surmised that his fixation to assault and prod his companion wouldn't decrease if his hand remained.

"What do you think it means?" he asked aloud while nudging Crocodile to stay awake with his elbow.

The man grunted, and Doflamingo chuckled when he heard the sheets being pulled over, followed by Crocodile growling in annoyance.

"We're animals," Crocodile answered tiredly, and with a thick layer of cynicism added to his voice. "You more than anyone else I've met."

Doflamingo turned on his side and faced Crocodile. "I'll be taking that as a compliment."

"You would."

He didn't need to free his hands from the covers to know Crocodile was making some kind of face directed at him. The tone was more than enough to almost set him into a fit of laughter. "I know deep down all the cruel things you say to me are just your way of saying you care," he remarked, pushing himself closer to Crocodile.

"Hmmph."

Doflamingo blinked, catching warm air settling across his face when Crocodile scoffed at his remark. He waited for Crocodile to move, to maybe turn his back to him and go about ignoring him. Doflamingo waited, and he heard Crocodile yawn.

"But you know," he listened to Crocodile mutter, "we're all just competing for the best. You're obsession with grabbing and touching without permission is just the animal trying to select a decent mate." The covers were lifted up, and now Doflamingo was sure Crocodile was attempting to fall asleep.

"A shame I never developed another tactic," Doflamingo remarked, turning on his back.

With touching there was a level of intimacy that he wished he could avoid. It felt almost juvenile to rely on such personal means in order to satisfy a curiosity. But he couldn't look Crocodile in the eye. Couldn't see the smile, the dirty grin, lips slight parted combined with that desperate look that he was lucky enough to hear in Crocodile's voice, if the weather permitted it. He couldn't see Crocodile eyeing him like prey, or the look of annoyance when he attempted to the same, just the laughter that accompanied Crocodile when he failed. Doflamingo was stuck rubbing his face against Crocodile's, earning pushes and groans and head turning away in order to avoid a level of intimacy he was never accustomed to. Crocodile backing away from too much hair playing, from lips constantly trying to get a feel or taste, or hands wrapping around, desperate to know if the body it held had undergone any change in the last five minutes.

"Oh well," he heard Crocodile sigh lightly into his sheets.

Doflamingo guessed taking over a country left Crocodile exhausted. He knew his last comment left him open for half a dozen sarcastic remarks.

He stretched his legs; accidentally rubbing against Crocodile's and feeling them retract away from his. A few seconds passed and the legs returned, this time situating closer to Doflamingo's.

As he made himself comfortable, now ready to turn in for the night, he felt Crocodile mutter something into the bedcovers. It was hardly audible, which was saying a lot considering Doflamingo had an excellent sense of sound.

"What?" he asked.

"It's not the worst," Crocodile calmly admitted.

Doflamingo smirked, but forbade himself from letting out another chuckle. The backhanded compliment flattered him so much that he wanted nothing more than for Crocodile to rest without too much disturbance from him.

Just then, he felt Crocodile move a bit, not quite distancing himself, but creating some space in order to properly cocoon himself and collect enough warmth to combat the cold desert nights. But the movement was too sluggish to be natural, and Doflamingo took the hint and dove in, latching himself around the relaxed form, getting reacquainted without dealing with any sort of struggle from the owner.

"How lucky of me," Doflamingo whispered into Crocodile's ear, "I've been bestowed a decent mate." He purposely let his lips rub against Crocodile's earlobe, testing the limits of his kindness, and earned a warning in the form of another sigh.

"Keep talking and I'll bestow you another handicap."

"Oh dear." Doflamingo pressed his face into the nook of Crocodile's shoulder, letting a smirk form slow enough for Crocodile to detect. His hand slid up Crocodile's chest. He felt a stump swat it and try to keep it away from its intended goal. Doflamingo's other hand dominated it, and he continued on with his other, not stopping until it reached the bottom of Crocodile's lip. "Why on earth would you say such a cruel thing?"

Just as his hand was about to rest on top of Crocodile's mouth, Doflamingo felt him make a move by pulling his lips in and taking away any chance of receiving an answer without relying on the use of his strings.