Hello! I am back once again. I am quite determined to have one finished fic on the list before the end of the year. I thought it would be a good idea to show how Crocodile interacts with the Strawhats. I might be repeating what I said before, but I didn't look at the previous chapters. However, enough rambling it's fic time!
I don't own One Piece, Oda-sensei does.
One Piece
A Strawhat Christmas: Chapter 11
While Luffy, Robin, Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper looked for gift boxes and wrapping paper Crocodile shopped with Nami and Sanji. Crocodile knew that Nami trusted him enough to kiss him under the mistletoe. That trust extended to their special nights, but he didn't know Nami's true feelings. Crocodile was aware of her protection over the crew, especially Luffy. He knew Nami remembered his treatment of the crew in Alabasta, even if she didn't mention it.
Crocodile wasn't going to hurt Luffy anymore. He didn't like thinking back to that time in Alabasta. He tried to apology to Luffy everyday. He didn't know if Nami realized that like Robin. Robin's perception caught many things, much to Crocodile's annoyance. The other Strawhats told Crocodile their versions of the dating speech. However, he knew their observation wasn't finished.
Nami's curious look took Crocodile out of his thoughts.
Nami smiled. "Hey, are you ok? We didn't scare you the other night did we?"
Crocodile shook his head. "No, I didn't expect an invitation for the fun."
"We didn't want to leave you out. Besides, we had to make sure you were right for Luffy. We couldn't have our captain be with someone who didn't know what they were doing." Nami smirked.
Crocodile returned it. "Did I pass the test?"
Nami laughed. "Maybe, we'll have to check again to be sure. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Of course not and I'll be sure not to disappoint."
"Good. I had to admit, I did like seeing you and Luffy. It was better than I expected, but I do need some more information to make my final decision." Nami smiled mischievously.
Crocodile recognized that smile. It was Nami's berry smile something he learned the first day after joining the ship. "Are you coming up with something?"
Nami didn't break her mischievous smile. "Crocodile, my mind never takes a break. Now it's time for us to pick some cranberries for the sauce. Sanji doesn't like canned cranberry sauce. He makes that hand by too." She walked over to the fruit aisle leaving a speechless Crocodile behind. He didn't know what to say it seemed that the Strawhats had even more surprises than before. While Crocodile gathered his thoughts, someone tapped his shoulder.
Crocodile turned around to Sanji. Sanji held up a bottle of wine giving Crocodile a serious look. "I can't decide between this bottle and another one I found that is equally as good. Which one do you want?"
Crocodile studied it closely going between the bottles of Merlot in Sanji's hands. After a few seconds, he touched the Merlot in Sanji's right hand. "I like this one. I've had the company before and it didn't disappoint."
Sanji placed the bottle in the basket. "Good choice. I like this type of wine as well. I thought you would be shopping with Luffy and the others."
"I did a bit of my shopping already, but I wanted to see how much food goes into the dinner."
Sanji grinned. "A lot is involved, but this is nothing. You should have seen the feast I made for our first night back together. I thought Luffy would never stop drooling." He chuckled, turning to picking up a tomato from the stand behind him. Sanji held the tomato up studying it for a bit before placing it in the basket. "Do you have an eye for cranberries?"
Crocodile nodded. "I do. It shouldn't be hard to find a good one, right?"
"It depends on where you look. You have to test and check every one before you find the one you need, but that can be said about any ingredient."
"It can,"
"Think you can find one."
Crocodile chuckled at the spark of challenge in Sanji's eye. "I know I can."
"Let's find it then." Sanji walked over to the stand as Crocodile followed behind him. Crocodile could see why Luffy chose his crew.
They were unpredictable, as well.
I love the friendship between the crew mates and Nakamaship so I couldn't help including Crocodile in it. Hope everyone is having a happy holidays!
Until next time!