Ah, here's another chapter owo It's becoming distasteful slowly... Crocodile being a total asshole again.


Wednesday night. Today was the day. Zoro was extremely unsettled, as today his younger friend would be exposed to the many lecherous heathens that crazed only one thing. He sat back stage, glaring at the long, dark red curtains that separated them from the crowd. He kept looking around, seeing if Usopp was coming in from the dressing rooms. He'd seen the kid's costume; he cringed at how skimpy it looked. Of course, all the courtesans had some stupid costume that represented the name. Usopp's costume was something he hated from the first day he has saw it. All he wore was a pair of dark brown boxer briefs, with a tail connected to the back. He had a see through brown shall that resembled the armadillo's back. On the top of his head, there was what looked like two cat ears to Zoro. The outfit in general was just horrendous by description alone. He felt an internal rage when remembering that Crocodile would most likely humiliate the poor thing while on stage. He scratched at his head, scratching against his scalp much harder than he should. He growled, suddenly plagued with the horrid memories of his stage performances. Performances, how the hell could they even be called that? With him taking up all the stage time at all, announcing all kinds of shit this person or that person can do to one of the employees.

You can fuck him in the mouth if you wanted to. Go as deep as you'd like.

Use as many toys as you see fit. This one here loves to be tied up.

Don't bother cleaning this one. It's one of his kinks to remain absolutely messy after nice fuck.

Disgusting, Zoro thought to himself. This whole situation worried him. What was going to happen to Usopp if Sanji ended up failing the bid? Who knows how many men would have their way with the kid. He couldn't do shit to stop it, no matter if he fought off any of the customers or even tried to run off with him before the show even started. Usopp was being watched after by Daz, escorted from the baths, then his room, then backstage. Zoro already knew he couldn't get past Daz of all people. The man was extremely loyal to Crocodile, even if he disagreed with most of his methods. More than likely, Zoro would fail in trying to save Usopp from all this shit.

The door that lead to the dressing rooms had opened. Zoro instantly turned to see who it was, only find that he was right in his assumptions. Crocodile came from the door first, pulling Usopp along behind him with a collar and leash. Daz walked from behind Usopp, looking just as blanked-faced as usual. A goddamn leash? This bastard… The three had come to stand in front of Zoro, in which Zoro saw this as a taunt.

"Well, Armadillo, looks like you'll be finally putting on a show for these wonderful people! Just let's make sure everything is in order. Daz, did you give him the aphrodisiac?"

"Yes."

"Wonderful, more than likely he'll need a little push in the right direction. Don't want a lame whore now do we?" The Croc laughed, tugging on the leash to get some reaction out of the younger one. Zoro gritted his teeth, glaring at the hooked man with more malice than he could control. He was ready to attack at any given moment, but he would be putting Usopp's life in danger. He held back on any form of action. The urges racing in his mind only drove him into a deeper sense of rage. Crocodile ended up sitting Usopp down on a nearby chair, letting go of the leash. He grinned, pulling out the cigar and batting the burned remains on the kid's lap. "You'll be on in about 5 minutes, can you hear the crowd screeching for you? Very nice sound you just might hear more often if you make big money tonight."

No response was given, not even the shake of the head. Armadillo seemed to be lost within his mind already, or the drug had completely taken over. Crocodile frowned; he seemed to hate not getting the proper reply when it came down to degrading others. He lifted his foot, lightly pressing it right in between Usopp's legs. The poor kid let out a very hurt noise, now beginning to shiver.

"Answer me when I speak to you. It shouldn't be that hard now, should it?" He pressed his foot harder, Usopp's voice getting louder.

"Hey!" Zoro stood up, unable to listen to this anymore. The Croc turned his head to the green-haired man, chewing on the end of his cigar. "Would you quit it already? He's going to be on stage… and if you're fucking around with him like that, he'll be useless!" Crocodile removed his foot from Usopp, placing it back on the floor to turn fully to the bushido.

"You have a very good point. Just this once I'll stop. He'll make me a lot of money. Ha, thank you for reminding me." The man's smirk was more sinister than before, his eyes clouded with a sudden shroud of darkness. Zoro stepped back, choking back on the intimidation of this man, hating every second of looking back at the abuser's face. "I guess I can let you have a few moments with him, but he's completely gone now. Daz, I need you in my office for a moment." Crocodile then walked back towards the door he came from, Daz following right after.

Once the two left, Zoro hurried over to his friend, kneeling before him.

"Usopp!" He huffed, seeming to have lost all his breath from yelling at the Croc. He didn't expect much of a reply, "Hey… come on. We're gonna get you out of here tonight. When they start that whole bidding… you'll be getting out of here soon as that stupid blond pays up." He took the boy's hand, squeezing it. "Don't give up just yet." Usopp only whimpered, leaning down towards the older one and wrapping his arms around Zoro's shoulders. "Don't cry. Men don't cry like this, you hear?" Awkwardly patting the other's back, Zoro tried to think of how he could help Sanji get to Usopp even if he lost. I can take him away now if I wanted. What was stopping him? He couldn't help but become lost in his own thoughts, forgetting that time was on their hands. On the opposite side of the already nearby door that lead to the dressing rooms, was the door that lead to the outside. The only problem was that it was much farther than the other door, or that was just Zoro's vision toying with him. He wanted so much to do something as soon as possible. He didn't want to just wait, having to depend on someone he or Usopp barely knew to actually succeed in freeing his friend.

What if this didn't work out? Usopp would be stuck for the night in a room with a line numerous customers having their way with him. Zoro could never risk such a thing; he couldn't just allow this show to happen when he had every chance to take the younger one away from it all. All he had to do was get him to the door on the other side. By this time, Usopp had already let go of Zoro, still leaning over, holding his stomach.

"Usopp, get on my back." Zoro turned kneeling with his back facing the other. "Come on, I'll get you out of here."

"N-No! I can't… I don't want to!" Usopp whimpered louder, moving himself away from Zoro, even though it was difficult to move his legs already.

"Idiot, it's the only way to get your ass out of here! Let's go now!"

"Z-Zoro, please! I can't, I won't! They'll kill us! They'll kill us…!"

"They'll kill you if you don't get on my back!" Zoro snapped. The door that lead to the dressing rooms swung open. Crocodile and Daz walked in, followed by a few of the other courtesans; Marco being one of them.

"What's all this?" Crocodile asked sarcastically. He waved his hand careless before him. "I hope you're not planning to leave already." Zoro stood up and frowned.

"Not doing anything that concerns you." He growled. The Croc shrugged, making what seemed like a fake, hurt face.

"How distasteful," He replied. "A dog like you really thinks there's such a thing as privacy in this place. No matter, step aside, the show's about to begin." He stood before Zoro, looking down at him with his same, horrible grin. His face was overshadowed with only his eyes gleaming through the smoke that lifted from the burning end of the cigar. The young man tried to steady his ground; he wanted to remain fearless in the eyes of the abuser. Zoro's body began to tremble; he couldn't control these emotions that began to resurface. The memories, the horrible flashbacks forced their way from the back of his mind. Ignore them! Ignore them! Zoro stepped back; it was much harder to keep himself in place. He looked down, his breathing began to quicken. JUST IGNORE IT! "Step aside, slut."

It was almost as if he had no choice. His body obeyed the command of the older man. Zoro wanted so much to scream in protest, so much to just attack this bastard and kill him with his bare hands. He's going to get to Usopp! Stop him! Crocodile picked up the end of the leash, pulling it roughly to make Usopp stand. The boy ended up sliding off the chair, struggling to support himself with legs made of jelly.

"Get up. You're about to get on stage." Crocodile pulled Usopp to his feet, supporting him enough so that he could somewhat stand on his own. "Cue the curtains! The show's about to begin!"