Author's note: Back at it this weekend! No weekly question this week. Just going to try to finish off what I intended to include last chapter so we can get to the fighting in hopefully one or two chapters (approximate guess right now is somewhere in January). May have to cut a few scenes of dialogue out though just because I don't have much time to finish this off this week due to Christmas and all. Peace out 😀

Chapter 14: Russian Roulette part 2

Buggy's body remained unmoving on the cold floor of the room. Mihawk could only turn around enough to see his chest but it was obvious that Buggy was surely dead. Crocodile stared down at the surface of the table and sighed to herself.

"Well shit. Almost thought we had a chance there.", she said in a low voice. Mihawk turned to her and gave her a 'Really? You're still concerned about that?' Look. Crocodile focused her attention on the silver bullet that was stuck to the cement wall straight ahead of her. Seems the bullet went straight through the poor bastard. She noticed something else, there was no blood anywhere near the bullet or the visible parts of Buggy's body. At that moment, two hands that were invisible to her grabbed her shoulders from behind. She jumped in her seat suddenly and shrieked in surprise. She grabbed frantically for her katana and attempted to swing at her shoulder. She heard a hysterical laugh coming from in front of her and immediately knew what was going on so he turned to Buggy. She looked pissed. In front of her was Buggy, he was perfectly fine and laughing his ass off at her. He pointed at her with a hand-less arm as if to publicly outing someone who slipped on a patch of ice on the sidewalk. Mihawk was right next to him; He was smirking slightly at her with a hint of mock on his eyes. That swordsman is spending way too much time with the clown-boy as one of the thoughts that rang subconsciously through Crocodile's mind before she snapped at them.

"What was that! I thought you were dead, you stupid clown!", she snapped. Buggy attempted to calm himself enough from his laughing to respond but failed to so instead he quickly glanced at Mihawk as if signaling him to explain. Mihawk sighed and spoke up.

Flashback

The clown was too relaxed not to be planning something. Mihawk knew this so he payed close attention to him as Crocodile began to squeeze the trigger. The bullet left the barrel of the gun with a bright miniature explosion. It flew across the table and with each inch it grew closer, he could see Buggy's expression slightly change. He was clearly beginning to doubt himself and his plan but at the last moment he did something only someone with as keen a pair of eyes as Mihawk could notice. As if in slow motion, Mihawk witnessed as the bullet crept closer to the base of Buggy's skull. When it was just inches away, he suddenly saw a bullet-size passage begin to open in Buggy's forehead. The passage was gone as soon as it had appeared and so was the bullet. Buggy placed a look of both shock and horror on his face and tilted his head back as quick as possible right before the bullet hit the wall behind him. His chair tilted back and fell on the ground, all the while Mihawk couldn't help but think he was a pretty damn good actor. He figured he might as well play along just because he didn't like Crocodile much after she pulled the trigger before he could spill his final words.

Currently

Mihawk finished his story. Crocodile, still ashamed of her reaction, had her head held down.

"I see.", she said in a low voice.

"I'll murder the both of you before the executioners have a chance!", she yelled as she stood up and prepared to throw herself on top of both of them and beat the crap out of both men.

"Wait hold on! But I passed", yelled Buggy with his hands held up to his head and his palms pointing out.

"Like hell you did! The bullet fired! You failed!", she exclaimed.

"You only said you wouldn't team up if any one of us was shot.", he blurted out.

Mihawk's eyes burst open. Could it be this was his plan all along?

"And you did get shot", snapped Crocodile. Buggy shook his head.

"No, I ALMOST got shot. I dodged at the right moment. You never said anything about dodging.", he said with a smirk. Crocodile faltered.

"But. But that's different! You took my conditions too seriously. You're just getting technical now.", she blurted out.

"So? I still survived. Pirates break the rules, if Gunson fancies himself as one he'll break rules too.", he said. Crocodile took a moment to think this over and then sighed greatly before responding.

"Alright fine you win.", she said with a quick roll of her eyes. Buggy pumped his fist in triumph.

"I assume you have a plan", said Crocodile. All eyes were on Buggy.

"Of course. Just make sure to show up here tomorrow an hour before our execution and all will be revealed then", he said. Crocodile gave him a questioning look but just then there was a knock on the door. She opened it and it was the Sentinels, they were back. She gave a quick glanch back at both Mihawk and Buggy before leaving without saying anymore words. The Sentinels took their usual posts at the doorway and relaxed. Mihawk leaned a bit sideways and whispered into Buggy's ear.

"So, what is your plan?", he inquired.

Buggy gave him a quick sidelong glance and smirked a little. He leaned in just as Mihawk had and whispered back.

"Um. Does improvise and hope for the best count as a plan?", he asked.

Mihawk gave him a shocked look and then looked straight forward at the Sentinels.

"We are so screwed", he murmured to himself.