This chapter ended up being 8002 words long without author's notes. Sorry for the long wait school has been crazy and I am going through some pretty major health issues.
I hope everyone enjoys this new chapter! I have some pretty exciting news coming up.
Start Chapter 9
"Buffalo, you're still living, eh? Ugly little thing, like a damn cockroach!... Can't seem ta' get the hint." A man, nearly the size of Diamante, growled, swaying a little with a half-empty wash bucket-sized bottle between his meaty palms. "Can't believe that's my spawn!" He spat.
Standing before the crew was a well proportioned and very handsome man with thick glossy wiry black curls to his shoulders, pecan colored skin, and cheekbones like razor edges. He was a man that definitely stood out as exotic even in a place like Blackjack Coastal. The man had the types of looks one expected from a guy that could charm his way into getting anything he wanted. Too bad, he came off as feeling like such a slimeball. Just standing near him would have a lot of people feeling a bit sick to their stomach.
Other than the boy's dark hair and his skin being a bit darker than the usual in all but on a few isolated islands in the far southern part of the North Blue, (The North Blue being known for far colder weather than the other blues and the majority of the population being lighter-skinned blonds and lighter haired brunets with blue eyes) the two couldn't have come off as any more different. But that wasn't what had caught Doflamingo's attention. No. It was the two strange little antennae-like balls that the man clearly had tried hiding with his hair and cloak that was lumpy and tightly wound around the man's whole body. It may have fooled others, but it hadn't fooled him. The blond had thought Buffalo had smelled a bit strange, the man's sense of smell better than most, the fact the boy was absolutely obsessed with flying things made more sense to. The man was a Sky Person. Buffalo wasn't full-blooded like this man. He had no wings.
The more the man talked, the more Doflamingo's bloodthirst itched and scratch and knawed at him to the point he had trouble even thinking. Especially when the man began blatantly belittling and demanding that the absolutely destroyed looking, clearly terrified boy to leave them alone. Telling Buffalo to get his ass away from them, as apparently, he was the one that would decide if they wanted anything to do with the pup! How dare the worm insult his family and, in turn, Doflamingo himself? If he hadn't wanted the boy around, then he would have been long dead or left to the Hell he had been suffering through already! Especially after taking his Treasure.
"Excuse me? Who the Hell do you think you are, you slimy bastard? Talking to a goddamn scared kid like that, especially one you abandoned! If we didn't want the brat around, he sure as Hell wouldn't be! Now, If you don't get a' move on in the next 5 seconds, I'm going to shove my hook so far up your ass you'll be tasting shit and ass till your dying breath. Got it?" Crocodile snarled, recovering before everyone else had the chance to and stalking forward before the others could snatch up the opportunity themselves. There wasn't a shortage of takers either.
The man snorted, a disgusted grimace twisting up his face and rage tore jagged lines down his chin. "Boy, you been telling these people lies about me?! I kept you alive out of the goodness of my heart, I fed you, clothed you, had to look at…. That," The man-made an up and down gesture at the boy, "for 8 whole years all on my own because you were the last piece of my beautiful Chickina. Then you had to just keep getting uglier and uglier and now I've raised such an ungrateful bastard that he lies about his own father?!" The cruel smirk that had been twisting up the man's face, growing larger and larger with each sniffle and trembling suppressed sob the boy made quickly screwed up into terror and agony as that promised hook was suddenly in his mouth. It threatened to pierce him through like a caught fish and the taste of blood had him sitting perfectly still even while his body screamed with pain as he was forced to the ground, Crocodile grinding his heel into his groin, gleefully.
"What did I just tell you, you slimy little puke? If I say something, you better listen, got it? I tell you to leave, you leave, I tell you to bark, you bark, if I tell you to jump you say yes sir and thank you so much because your god damned happy to do it even if I tell you to do it till the day you die or to jump in a fucking pit full of hungry gators, got it? You arrogant prick, I'm your fucking god and savior and anything else a sleazy little worm like you can come up with. I'm not some simpering little bastard that rolls belly up for you just because you've got a pretty face and a bad attitude cuz' a wimp like you doesn't have what it takes to breathe the same air as me, let alone do you have any right to ignore me." Crocodile hissed.
The man squeaked, snot and tears freely flowing from his face as Crocodile gave the man another sharp jab of his heels.
"Don't you be looking at that boy with those poison eyes!" The brunet sniped, snapping his fingers in front of the man's face to get his attention. "Not the smartest, is he brat?" Crocodile snorted, flashing Buffalo a snarky grin. The boy gave him a look between bewildered and starstruck as he hunched, being cuddled by a crooning Bentham, who was over 2 feet shorter.
Like the other adults in the group, Bentham was watching his captain with bulging eyes. His fingers paused their soothing circling motion on the alpha pup's back before he remembers to start up again. The only one not eyeing the surly man in shock was, of course, well, Doflamingo, who was grinning ear to ear and looking like he was ready to jump his Croco's bones. Positively stinking of want and blood lust. Then just murder, once Buffalo's father let out a particularly pathetic squeal that had Luffy bursting out into tears and had the infant merping out demands of reassurance, burying his face into Doflamingo's favorite suit.
"Oh, it's okay, Sweetness! No, no, It's just mommy being his gorgeous, wonderful self protecting our family—nothing to get worked up about Treasure.~" Doflamingo crooned, cupping Luffy to his face just like he knew the pup loved and nuzzled his chin against him. "Yes, Mamma's going to kill that filthy piece of dog shit, yes he is!~" The man cooed, letting out a chuff for good measure. "He'll rip him into itty bitty pieces!"
"Don't you be stinking of wanting dick while holding the brat, creepy Flamingo bastard!" Crocodile hissed, glaring threateningly at the blond. They'd need to have a conversation about what was appropriate to say around and to children once he had finished up as well. No way was that man going to warp that angel of a baby anymore that the poor thing already would be just by being raised by the crazy bastard!
Seeing the positively depraved grin Doflamingo flashed Crocodile, Senior Pink cleared his throat and spoke up, realizing no one else, but, maybe the new Bentham fellow would end up saying anything. And he had stepped up to settle Buffalo down. "There are children present. Maybe we should get them fed before dealing with the trash and…. Not involving my nephew in bedroom talk, sirs?"
That immediately had Crocodile growling under his breath and shooting daggered looks at Doflamingo. Bedroom talk? What kind of shit was that? He just didn't want the bird's disgusting lust stink all over his cute-urg-the cute little brat is all! Cuddl-holding him and the pup smelling like that. He'd have to knock some teeth out of the smiling fool! Stinking poor Luffy up in such a gross way, Probably completely covering up Crocodile's, clearly, much better smell…. Not that he cared about stupid things like that or that he would ever scent the needy little squirt. That's something parents did and he definitely wasn't in the market to be anyone's mother…. He-he really wasn't and wouldn't ever be! He was an independent man that didn't need any baby or some overly affectionate mate! He was totally happy by himself!
Now more focused on Doflamingo's pouting face and Luffy's affronted realization that he was still very hungry, Crocodile realized that they had a whole crowd of people watching while trying to act like they weren't. Dozens of people walking on by for the sake of seeing what was going on and that irritated him to no end. That and he, to, had just realized that he was equally as hungry as the sniffling pup who was clearly ready to throw a fit of epic proportions if they didn't feed him quickly.
Starting to look irritated himself, all Doflamingo had to do was flick his wrist and a pair of muscly men were standing very proper like at his side. Wearing crisp canary yellow suits and ridiculous looking bowler hats far too small for their heads. Crocodile couldn't believe he hadn't noticed them before. Where had they even been hiding?
The men immediately gathered up the bastard at Crocodile's feet and politely explained that he would be waiting for them whenever they were ready in Doflamingo's exclusive suite for unwanted guests. Whatever that was… Not that it wasn't easy to infer… How many people pissed the guy off enough to have his own torture room at a casino weeks from home? The brunet felt that maybe he should be feeling more concerned than he was, but Luffy's old man pout and hungry merps and the pink idiot's sweet-talking was hard not to focus on. The guy making such a dumbass of himself snuggling and crooning to that brat so lovingly. Someone that wasn't Crocodile, maybe would have even called it cute.
After that, some weird hooded people nearly had to be threatened to scram after they lingered longer than Crocodile was willing to tolerate. He didn't say anything, but made sure to stare them down so they knew that he knew they were there and very much unappreciated. Especially when one of them was clearly staring at Luffy. Well, that just ruffled him all wrong and it wasn't because he was feeling anything short of normal adult protectiveness over a helpless familiar pup or anything. Luffy wasn't his baby! Besides, what kind of creep stared at an infant like that anyway?
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The family practically dove into the plush maroon seating once they finally managed to get to the private eating area. Eagerly piling plates full of food from the smorgasbord of food that sat in the middle of the incredibly long table that they had been presented with. Luffy was in a full outfit at that point. Something that had everyone on edge. The infant seldom got to that level of upset. Wailing angrily about being genuinely very hungry. Something he wasn't used to.
"Lu, oh, Sweetness, Daddy's so so sorry!" Doflamingo crooned, his face no longer lit up in the shit-eating grin he was so well known for. He positively stunk of irritation and anxiety as he frowned at his pup. "Where is the water I ordered?" Doflamingo snarled, tone edging on dangerous as he eyed the trembling man bringing in a tray with a bucket of wines, some Scotch, and Whiskey.
Why were they bringing that crap? He hadn't ordered any alcohol!…. He hadn't ordered any alcohol?… When was the last time he had ever done that? Had he ever? Ugh, that didn't matter. What mattered was his poor sweet boy was upset and hungry and sad and emotions Doflamingo rather not feel were getting quite the grip on him.
Memories that the blond rather keep long-buried were trying to dig right up through his brain matter and seep into his eyes like a Den Den Mushi projector, flashes of horrible hunger and terrible cold and memories of a disgusting garbage-filled dump prickling at him. The more anxious Luffy became, the worse it got until it had the blond alpha gritting his teeth so hard they hurt and his dangerous scent had the others around the room trembling, looking ready to duck and dive at a seconds notice. Eying the man with large fearful eyes.
Instead of the young beta that had brought in the drinks with trembling hands coming back, an alpha replaced him. One that would usually have peaked Doflamingo's lust at the very least. Around 7 and a half foot tall, shiny wavy black hair, handsome face, and heavily lidded almost charcoal-colored gray eyes, a good bit of muscle and a smooth perfect face except for a small scar across the man's lips. Carrying a whole pitcher of water and pretending that he hadn't even noticed the shrieking of a clearly upset and hungry omegan infant as he smiled in clear flirtation at Doflamingo and ignoring all of the warning signs.
This would usually get the Blond all sorts of worked up and hungry for a good time. Grinning and ready to pull himself out there and then, but a lot had changed in the near year's time since he had been back to Blackjack Coastal and he wasn't the least happy with the display. How dare this bastard even think to try enticing him when his sweet little angel was bawling his perfect little eyes out? When his clearly gorgeous perfect Pretty marked by him, so obviously was right there? What kind of person could do that? Not one he wanted whipping shit off his shoes on, let alone to have looking at him like that, that's for sure! What an asshole!
The blond didn't even give the man a second glance as he darted over to the pitchers of steaming water, quickly pouring a bottle from the book bag that he held Luffy's baby things in, pausing only when he felt a hand on his arm and Croco's scent hit his nose.
"Hey, just…. try to calm down a bit. Take some… uh.. deep breaths…. Alright, Flamingo bastard? Your pheromones are stressing out more than just us." Crocodile said, swallowing, "Remember how Luffy cries if Bentham does, even though….. you know Bentham's happy?" Crocodile said, subconsciously rubbing the blond's trembling arm while looking and sounding painfully awkward. He was so not a comforter. What the Hell was he even doing? Was he doing this, right? Crocodile's scent, although a bit odd, was pumping out calming 'mamma' pheromones like crazy without even realizing it.
Doflamingo found himself not as tense as he took in the other man's smell and saw the concerned look he was flashing the pup….. and him. He felt himself melt a bit at the man's attempt at being comforting. "He's so hungry, but-but I'm a good father!" Doflamingo emphasized. Tone anxious.
"Damn it, you weirdo! Why would you even think that someone was going to accuse you of not being a good dad? You're stressed out because you are a good dad, idiot! I was just going to steal the brat from you so you could make the bottle easier. I'd be pissed if you dropped him while you're so damn worked up. He'd whine even worse!" Crocodile grumbled. That was exactly why he wanted the pup and not because the blond and the pup's combined stress was nearly sending him into an anxiety attack or anything.
Doflamingo's ridged shoulders relaxed ever so slightly and his deadly sneer softened into a somewhat tense affectionate look. His Croco was so so sweet! That's right, Croco was his Lu's new mommy. That meant that he was there to help love and take care of his Sweetness when he was having a hard time. "Being upset when Lu is already so unhappy probably isn't the best." The alpha agreed after a few moments, reluctantly handing the pup over. His ears still ringing from those loud sorrowful cries that seemed never ending.
The pup hungrily rooted as Doflamingo began making his bottle. Getting an embarrassed huff from Crocodile when he nuzzled at the man's chest with a demanding cry. "Shh, it's alright Lu. I know, I know." He brunet signed, rearranging the still bundled infant away from chest level and closer to his scent glands. Trying his best to ignore the painful squeezing in his chest at the hungry cries the pup was making.
"This is too hot!" Doflamingo snarled, barely controlling himself from the urge to throw the bottle at the awkwardly standing attendant.
"I-Sir I was just told that I was supposed to bring water that was heated for drinking. I-I thought it was for tea or something!" The man hurriedly explained, looking completely out of his element.
"I said it needed to be body temperature! Not so hot I'd burn my own mouth on it! Are you trying to kill my Luffy?" Doflamingo snarled.
The man yelped as he felt himself suddenly walking on his own and reaching out for the pitcher of heated water. "What-I-I please stop!"
"Young Master, we can just add some cold water from this pitcher over here," Jora said, grimacing as she held up the crystal clear pitcher.
Seeing everything getting totally out of control, Crocodile made a noise of agreement. Before the brunet alpha could start screaming in terror like he clearly was about to do, he needed to get that shit show under control. He was starving and clearly, Doflamingo wasn't thinking straight. "Yeah, let's just let this one slide….. We're all starving and tired. Let's just make him leave and feed poor Luffy. Good parents focus on their kid's needs right?" Crocodile said, wanting to deescalate things before the whole trip could blow up and a man could end up splattered across everyone or end up screaming on the floor. It wasn't only unnerving and annoying for something like that to happen, but there were kids in the room. He wasn't going to let any more torture and bludgeoning occur in front of those boys if he could help it. They were pirates, yes, but Luffy couldn't even walk yet, so it was more than a bit much. Even as awful as the crew he grew up with could be, they tried keeping stuff at that level to a minimum for at least his first couple of years…. And well, he still wouldn't call himself a shining example of mental health or anything. Crocodile's words immediately got Doflamingo's attention and a delighted, almost love-struck grin stretched its way across the blond's face.
"Taking care of our baby together!~" Doflamingo purred, his stress and rage quickly getting under control enough that he completely forgot about the man and did just as Jora suggested, mixing some cold water in with the warm that he already had in the bottle. His poor sweet baby's cries getting so loud everyone felt almost dizzy from the horrible noise.
"Here you go, Treasure." Doflamingo crooned. Shoving the tit into the pup's mouth over a frazzled looking Crocodile's shoulder. Everyone signed in relief as the pup settled and the blond acted like a near murder and nervous breakdown hadn't happened at all. No one was willing to bring up the topic, so they went on with eating like nothing had even happened at all. The man was set free after some reminding from Diamante and the food was quickly passed around.
"Is that better little glutton?" Doflamingo cooed sweetly as he took Luffy back, cradling him in one arm as he guzzled his bottle down with hungry sucks and expertly ate with his free hand purring at the much-improved scent of a happy pup wafted from the infant.
"See? He's fine. He was just a bit crabby, is all." Crocodile grumbled and leaned over to watch Luffy smiling a little. His eyes quickly turned to daggers and snapped over to Bentham when he heard an audible Awwwing and caught the man gushing over the three of them. Damn traitor! Acting like he'd gone soft just because he wasn't being a total ass! Him being nicer didn't mean anything! He could be nice! He could! It didn't mean anything special!
"I don't like him unhappy. Lu-Lu's such a sweet thing I just want to kill anything that upsets him even a little! Fufu~" Doflamingo exclaimed, giving the infant a kiss on the cheek before taking another bite of steak. He lit up when the pup lazily pulled away from his nearly empty bottle and beamed up at him, making a chirpy little burble that had the man positively melting. "My Sweetness, happy now that you aren't starving? Fufu, my poor Treasure, so hungry and made to wear clothes and just so manhandled today. So trying wasn't it? Daddy'll make sure to make up for it all.~" The man crooned, wiping at his son's face before he could rub his formula coated mouth on him just like he was sure the pup was planning on doing. He was such a little sneak when messy. "Do you need some help with that, Pretty?" Doflamingo asked, eyeing a frustrated looking Crocodile trying to work open a roll.
The man grimaced, glancing over at the others that he knew were all too interested in watching them. Before giving a quick reluctant nod. Sputtering and growling a 'not here' when the blond chuffed and planted a kiss on his forehead with a sly smirk before plopping Luffy in his lap, being careful to cage him in with his legs, then grabbed the basket of rolls and began buttering them with more zeal then necessary.
Luffy, of course, made an alarmed little squeak at suddenly no longer being able to see his family anymore, surrounded by legs on either side. He didn't like it! Luffy liked being high up in his daddy's arms and being able to see all of his Uncles and Auntie and his new people, especially his super special safe smelling nice one with the rumbly voice! Where was he? He could hear them all and smell them, all of his most favorite people, but all he saw was his daddy and he wasn't cuddling him right! Luffy let out an insistent merp for attention, trying to figure out where everyone was, then a questioning peep when he continued on being ignored, big dark eyes looking around the best they could. Then he heard someone say his name, the loud one that talked to him a lot, grumbled at Daddy who made the nice noises that shook his body and a warm hand patted his head for a moment before leaving him.
Luffy pouted, irritated at that point by the lack of affection. Then daddy began to say things to him, using his name and words he knew like Good-boy and His and Daddy and Love and the new good word he used when talking about his new person that Luffy loved so much, Mommy, but he still didn't pick him up like he wanted and his 'mommy' person didn't either and Luffy still couldn't see his special people.
The dark-haired infant shrunk in on himself a little at all of the unfamiliar smells and the lack of attention quickly began to feel isolating and lonely and the pup couldn't stand either of those feelings. A warbly mewl making it's way out of Luffy and he was suddenly being scooped up by hands smaller than daddy's and was petted and cuddled just right. Now incredibly happy Luffy mewed and enthusiastically nuzzled his head into the man's soothing patting hand. Realizing that he no longer smelled like him, Luffy butted his head against the man's buttoned suit jacket. All of his special people should always smell like him, especially this one! His uncle, that smelled of interesting good things and wore smooth, comfy things. Luffy liked him a lot. Especially when he showed him the pretty swirly blue stuff. He was so happy that the man had picked him up. The pup had begun to feel so sad and lonely when his daddy hadn't paid attention to him. Not even his new special person hadn't listened to him! It had really hurt his feelings!
"Pink, you didn't have to take him away! I just wanted you to hold him for a second, so he wasn't feeling so anxious. You know how he gets if someone isn't holding him." Doflamingo pouted. Eying the infant enthusiastically rubbing his perfect little face on the other man. Luffy was just the sweetest cutest little thing. It wasn't fair that Pink would get to have all of that love focused on him just because he had to stop cuddling Luffy for a few minutes to help his Pretty butter and cut some things up! Though as long as he didn't chirp at the other man, then he could maybe tolerate it.
The blond watched on as the pup made a happy little sound as Pink gave in and swiftly chinned his insistent nephew back. Doflamingo was positively sulking once Pink's lips turning up into the slightest smile at Luffy's delighted little mews and squeaks. Doflamingo was very happy that Luffy loved all of his family so much and he loved that his found family positively adored his Treasure so so much but he wasn't supposed to nuzzling and cuddling them right now and especially not wanting to be scent marked or to be scent marking anyone but his daddy after the drama that had happened earlier!
"He doesn't smell like any of us anymore. Let us love on our only nephew before you hog him again!" Diamante insisted, smirking at the sulky looks he was getting from not only a very openly pouting Doflamingo, but a glaring Crocodile, to. Didn't love their Lu-Lu, his ass! No one with any semblance of emotion could resist such an adorable, precious face, not even Vergo could resist and that guy was as expressive as a tree stump! Crocodile clearly was in denial. Diamante may have been doubtful of having the other man and his crew join their family and to have that man anywhere near their Lu, especially when Doffy began calling him the pup's mother, but he was more than convinced after the display earlier that their captain and the man were soulmates! He made not only Doffy so incredibly happy but Lu to. Crocodile needed to just give up resisting and submit to Doffy's rule.
Surely, seeing the way they lived and how much they enjoy themselves and how happy they all were, Crocodile had to realize he would be so much happier himself if he just gave in! And clearly, Luffy liked him. He even let Crocodile carry him around without Doffy nearby! The man positively reeked of maternal pheromones anytime he even glanced at the pup, not that he would know that, but he did. Clearly, they all needed to do their part in helping their Doffy and Lu chain him down if Doffy wasn't going to do it himself.
Doflamingo was too in love for his own good. If he didn't assert his dominance, then how did he expect to keep Crocodile from heading back to the Grandline? Both Lu and Doffy would be so devastated and they wouldn't have that happen. Not only that, but they had all grown quite attached to Bentham, the man was a perfect addition to the family and was so good with Lu. Which although irritating, Diamante couldn't stand the idea of Lu-Lu calling for his new auntie and getting hurt because he didn't understand why the young man wasn't there. Waiting to scoop the infant up and pepper his face with kisses while smiling that idiotic smile of his. On top of all of that, Daz was so much fun to spar against!
"Yeah, Doffy! You're both hogging him too much now! I want to see my Lu-Lu more!" Trebol exclaimed, wagging his finger at the blond scoldingly before he snatched up a brat with some tongs and practically drown it in spoonfuls of spiced mustard.
Bentham made a noise of agreement, watching Luffy's enthusiastic looking snuggling and reassured, looking around at his family. Giving the boy a melted expression. He felt like he was struck through the heart when the pup focused on him then gave him one of his precious full-faced grins, all full of gums and shiny adoring trusting eyes. Both pups crying earlier had absolutely broken his heart and he was glad that they were both now in such good moods. They were such good babies!
"I want to take Lu with us to see the Zeppelin!" Buffalo insisted between bites, beaming at the thought and rocking in his seat.
"That would be fun, getting to spend time with my wonderful nephews! Maybe we can get a treat to? Perhaps an ice cream? I'm sure a place like this has to have some good ice cream! I heard that this island also has a museum dedicated Flying contraptions and warships and it has a race track that you can drive those car things around on and win money from. I'm not that into gambling but doesn't that sound fun?" Bentham said, grinning just as happily as Luffy as he thought about all of the fun things he could do with the pups in the next few days. Though…. Maybe not the racing thing, at least not with Luffy, but it would be fun to watch with Buffalo, who practically vibrated in his seat eagerly exclaiming that they had to see all of it. He more than felt that Buffalo needed and deserved the extra love and attention after what he had been put through earlier.
"Bringing Luffy on one of those flying bags of air?! Crocodile guffed, smelling incredibly stressed. He huffed as he watched Luffy grab at Vergo's wiggling finger. The pup making that strangely endearing huffing laugh of his that sounded more like a mischievous snicker and he was suddenly feeling irritated. The brunet narrowed his eyes, ugh, Luffy was going to stink like them! "He's too young. What if something happens? Besides, wouldn't it be best if I kept watch of him? I'm a Logia type, in case anything happens, I'm less likely to get injured and he doesn't like the bird or I away from him for long." Crocodile grumbled.
"Oh, well, I'm sure he would be alright for a few hours, captain!" Bentham said, fully knowing he was stirring the pot at that point as he forced himself not to smile at the man's terrible attempt at pretending he wasn't painfully possessive of the pup already….. and didn't already practically love the infant more than life itself. Clearly, Doflamingo didn't have such issues as he nearly swooned next to the man. Though Crocodile was too busy with glaring jealously over the infant not loving on and fawning over him. Bentham suspected his captain didn't even realize he was doing it.
Ugh, to have a love like that, so cute!~ Annoying his captain was for his own good. Hopefully, he would embrace this family that Doflamingo wanted so badly for them. He may not have been a good guy and not exactly to Bentham's liking, but he treated his captain with so much genuine love, even if it was sort of obsessive. Doflamingo may not have known him long, but he loved and trusted and respected Bentham's captain enough that he wanted to be a real family with him. Insisting that Crocodile was his son's mother and was patient and more than willing to put up with his tendency to lash out and his coldness.
The man treated Bentham's captain as someone beautiful and like a normal person, like a beloved mate, not a freak or sex object like so many people would have. Doflamingo and his crew treated all of them like normal people. He was just Bentham or Bon to them. He was the fun aunt and Bon was proud of who he was and refused to change who he was as a person just because of convention's sake, he didn't give a crap what others said or thought of him even if they hadn't liked him. Life wasn't worth living if you couldn't be yourself is what the man believed with all of his heart and soul. It was still nice to be treated like he wasn't some perverse freak for being himself, though. Like he and the rest of the crew were what they were, normal people with some things that set them apart from the general public simply because they weren't a bunch of cookie-cutter people. Well… Zala could be a little…. Eehh, but he wasn't going to judge as long as he didn't have to see her bedroom habits. It wasn't his place to judge.
"We are going to the room once we're done here. Luffy will probably want a nap and I could use one too. We can start to do stuff tomorrow…. After dealing with our other issue." Crocodile all but ordered the pink mantle wearing man, though he was still eying pink holding Luffy. "If we are going to stay here for more than a couple of days, I'm going to need some warmer clothes. Luffy will need a few more things to. Maybe dressing him in layers will be easier than something like that jacket of his since he hates being constrained so much?" Crocodile pointed out, his lips quirking up as memories of Luffy's indignant caterwauling and his impression of an overcooked noodle flashed through his head. The urge to snatch him up becoming even stronger.
"Fufufu, Whatever you like Croco!~" Doflamingo readily agreed, eager to get to spend time with and show off their new little family unit. Luffy and his lovely Crocodile and himself. It was so so perfect and he was so happy to have both of them all to himself. Belonging to him, loving him just like he loved them! He dreamed about having a family of his very own since he was a boy trapped in this scum filled Hell with the humans. As much as it pained him, it was doubtful that his Croco was quite as in love with Doflamingo as he was with his Pretty, yet. With his cold and conscious nature, though surely he had to be getting there after his sweetness earlier. Even his complaints were starting to feel more like grouchy old man grumbles and less like the man was actually bothered by what he was going on about. Though that was just another thing that was so endearing about the man to the alpha!
Doflamingo couldn't think of anything he didn't find cute or bewitching about him other than maybe his self-image issues. Which just made him angry and hurt for him. If he ever found whoever hurt his Pretty like that, they would long beg for death before he would even consider allowing it.
The satisfied look on Crocodile's face and scent he emitted told Doflamingo that he had said exactly the right thing. Which, of course, made Doflamingo incredibly happy. Giving Crocodile the illusion of total control helped to keep him calm and comfortable and more receptive to him and Luffy. If he got so much in return for letting his Pretty order him around sometimes, something Doflamingo hadn't even really minded in the first place so far, then why wouldn't he? Besides, the blond was very picky about smells and sleeping places. It would take at least a few hours of scenting the place again after so long before he would feel comfortable.
Although The young alpha hadn't acted like he was paying much attention, he had observed Crocodile plenty already to be able to tell that he was just as bad if not worse about it. Even Luffy was starting to develop the trait. Just another thing that Doflamingo found incredibly endearing about the infant. Smelling so much like his daddy even after baths. It was like his scent was soaked into the infant's skin. Knowing that Luffy wasn't his. He was so happy to have Crocodile's scent mixing so perfectly with his own now. To fantasize that their precious boy was birthed by his Pretty. Looking so much like him with those big dark eyes and pretty dark hair and lovely soft features. Even when Luffy got grouchy and annoyed, it reminded Doflamingo of the man.
"You about finished?" Crocodile grouched, wanting Luffy back in his arms instead of passed around like a bowl of good potato salad. He had gone from Senior Pink to Vergo and now was being held by Diamante, who had stolen him away from a very confused looking Vergo. This all going on in a span of only a few minutes.
Doflamingo snickered under his breath before deliberately taking the slowest bite possible of his steak.
"Don't you be messing with me like that! You have two bites left! Eat them like an adult before I steal the brat and banish you to the ships for the whole trip!" Crocodile scolded.
"Fufu, you wouldn't do that!~" Doflamingo said, smirking at the other man his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth.
"You wanna' try me?" Crocodile growled, raising an eyebrow at the other man.
Doflamingo's smirk dimmed quite a bit after that, along with the smug look he was wearing.
"That's what I thought!" Crocodile said almost playfully as he watched the blond plop both bites of meat into his mouth and hardly swipe his mouth with his napkin before standing up. Immediately guffing and going red-faced as Doflamingo took the opportunity to give him a peck on the lips all sweet like. The bastard!
"What are we waiting for Pretty? I thought that if I didn't start acting like an adult and hurry up that I'd have to sleep on the ship? Kissing my Pretty is very adult-like, isn't it? Fufu, Or did I need to add some more tongue?" Doflamingo asked, tone sweet almost innocent-sounding, but the grin on his face and swiping tongue were wicked as they came and grin sharper than any razor.
Crocodile growled under his breath. Growing redder when Bentham scolded them about children being present. "Alright, alright, Luffy'll be up all night if we don't get him settled now. Especially with his weird scenting thing he does. I mean, what pup that can't even walk yet, has to scent mark all the time? I mean, the needing to always be marked was odd enough on it's own, but the kid marks everything in sight!" Crocodile pointed out, trying to ignore the disgustingly endeared fluttery feeling he got even thinking about it. Someone else may have thought the quirky trait was adorable, but he wasn't that person.
"Not anything! Our Lu has reasonable standards! He just marks things and people that he adores and loves most.~" Doflamingo scuffed, sounding almost offended that the brunet would imply that his little Treasure would show that much possessiveness and affection to just anyone or anything. He didn't need to cheapen the wonderful bond that Luffy had with either of them. Especially him. The pup was his pride and joy and life! Destined to be his perfect little son before he was even born!
Luffy let out an affronted squeak when Jora tried to take him from Bentham, happily snuggling with the enthusiastic man who had managed to snatch him from Diamante before anyone else when the man got up to go to the restroom. The woman then went on about how the man had stolen the love of her nephew from her in an overly dramatic fashion that no one was particularly impressed with. Thankfully, they didn't have to listen to it for long as Crocodile demandingly held his hand out for the pup, ignoring the pouts of the other crewmates. He swore; even Daz looked a bit disappointed! Ugh, grown men getting all pathetic and gooey-eyed over an infant, how embarrassing!
Once Luffy realized his new special person was there and wanting to hold him, he made eager grabby hands, chirping and trilling excitedly, urging the man to pick him up and to show him affection. The table instantly went quiet as everyone eyed the grinning pup with bulging eyes.
"Did little master just?-" Jora sputtered, eying the pup then a shocked looking Crocodile. "For Master Crocodile?"
Luffy looked around, confusion clear as day in those wide eyes as he looked around at his suddenly quiet family, all looking at him with expressions he didn't recognize. He let out an amused huffing giggle at the silly looks, then focus back on 'mommy' as 'daddy' called him. Letting out an affectionate trilling chirp, eager to get his, nice, safe smelling person to cuddle him.
Crocodile's face went about 5 shades of red even as at least a dozen delighted raspy chirps and half chuffs rattled his chest, his scent possessive and adoring and incredibly maternal in all the most dangerous ways. "I-I think it's time for a nap Lu." The man managed to choke out. Not even irritated with himself for stuttering. He scooped the pup up and, ignoring Doflamingo's half-surprised half swooning, storming past him to the hallway where their escort was waiting and barked orders to take him to Doflamingo's suite, absently nuzzling at the ecstatic smelling pup.
Once he got to the suite, he commanded the man to head back to wait for the rest of the family and to leave him be. He laid Luffy on the massive plush bed in the middle of the bedroom, ignoring the annoyed grunt the pup made at being set down so quickly and worked on removing his hook. An instinct he hadn't given into for years was too strong to ignore and as much as he tried to calm down, Crocodile couldn't help but feel like he was floating on cloud 9. His Sweet little brat making him feel all of those sickening pathetic things. Making those wonderfully horrible, 'I love you, I'm your baby, don't you love me to?,' Sounds. His smell reflecting that sentiment. Smelling like he was his and claimed and of trusting adoration. The man felt half emotionally wrecked.
Crocodile knew he was such a bastard and a freak and completely unsuited to be a parent, but the thought of never seeing the Luffy again, to having the pup want nothing to do with him. He forced those thoughts away and carefully sat his Mace and hook aside. It hadn't even two months since he met the pup and it had only been about 3 since meeting Doflamingo and it already felt like a lifetime. Before Crocodile's thoughts could devolve, Luffy caught his attention again, rolling onto his belly and letting out an irritated squeak that his person wasn't being loving like he had wanted. Why were his favorite people being so negligent today? Couldn't they hear him? He wanted to love on them and everyone paid attention to everything but him! Did he do something wrong?
Crocodile let out an amused huff, "Give me a second kid." He chided. Slipping off his nice shoes and carefully draping his new fur coat over the back of a nearby chair. Undoing his ascot and doing the same, then his vest. Talking about random things to the pup. He had noticed over the time he had traveled with Doflamingo that the other man did so, especially when Luffy was being particularly needy. The noisy bird was such a nonstop talker that Crocodile suspected that the other man had actually caused the issue with Luffy constantly needing to be talked to if he wasn't being fawned over. The pup had settled right down and was making much calmer attentive little burbles and mews in response to being talked to. It definitely wasn't something that melted a guy like Crocodile's heart.
"Alright, now to find that Flamingo weirdo's stash." Crocodile announced. Looking through each drawer and cabinet in the room until he found a whole cubby full of various kinds of bright colored blankets and pillows. He rolled his eyes at his find. Crocodile had been nearly positive that the other man would have some kind of nesting collection somewhere. Crocodile grimaced at the neon monstrosities that most of them were, but honestly, it was better than literally everything being various shades of blinding pinks. At least there were some nice orange pieces and some white and reds too.
He gathered up as much as he could and tossed it all on the side of the bed Luffy wasn't wiggling around on, like the squirmy little thing he was. Crocodile was unable to help himself when he snickered at the wide-eyed startled 'oof' Luffy made. It was easier to let his guard down when it was just him and Lu. He wondered if that was how Doflamingo felt? Once he grabbed every last thing in the closet the man carefully set to work, carefully layering things and building up the sides to his nest and making sure the softest and most attractive of the neon monstrosities were on full view, carefully rubbing his throat and chin and wrists against the fabric. He made sure to lay Luffy near himself as he moved him around as needed while building until he was finally done.
By the time he was nearly done Crocodile was feeling incredibly calm, calmer than he had without Doflamingo in a long time, not that he would ever admit that the man could ever settle him. He couldn't help but purr near the end of his nest-building and he felt strangely affectionate. Luffy, of course, on hands and knees, had very happily and enthusiastically did all he could to help scent and build the nest. Rubbing his face into the fluffy fabrics and kneading his little hands into the various pieces while letting out delighted chirps while his whole body vibrated with the power of his squeaky purring.
Once that was done Crocodile scooped the pup up and began to thoroughly scent the squirt. Getting rid of the nasty stink of anyone but him on the infant… Well, and Doflamingo, but that stink just wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried removing it. It was so firmly ingrained into the kid's pores that it wouldn't even go away with a bath, it was honestly kind of weird, but he could… tolerate the bastard's smell at least.
Luffy, of course, eagerly chinned him back, always happy to mark all of his favorite people as his. It wasn't long though, before Doflamingo had to show up. That disgusting heart melted look on his face. Then the horrible bastard had to start fawning over the nest he built, praising him and coming inside without being invited once he stripped down. Draping that damn ugly mantle over his new coat, like Crocodile wouldn't realize that he was trying to scent his coat with that ugly thing, and cuddling up to Crocodile and Luffy like they were a mated pair or something! Stinking up his hard made nest with that, 'I'm so happy and I worship you/your mine and mine alone/Protective loving paternal' stink he wouldn't stop letting off. Trying to butter him up like that, the nerve!
It may have only taken Crocodile a few minutes to fall asleep with the brat snuggled into his neck and those annoying octopi limbs all over the place from Doflamingo, but that didn't mean he loved it or was going to gain comfort from them. Not that he even like it, not at all! He hated it, all of it! He was a cold-hearted bastard after all…. Right?
End Chapter 9
So sorry, this chapter didn't go more in-depth, but I plan to really get into Blackjack Coastal next chapter. Also, Croco floundering over his instincts regarding Luffy just gives me life. They're both such precious beans! Who are the mystery hooded people? Also, can't wait for people to get to see the name I have for Buffalo's dad.
Also, did anyone pick up on my little hidden hints for something a bit strange?
Alright, now what would everyone like to see happen? I love suggestions and use them a lot.
By the way I apologize for not updating lately. I have had a crazy amount of homework and on top of that I have been having some major health problems recently and I haven't really been talking about much. They are neurological and cause me to have very shaky hands, dizziness, eye issues, weakness, exhaustion and quite a few other issues and it comes and goes and was pretty bad the last few weeks though eased up a bit the last few days. I am getting tests done.
I will try to update as much as possible but I just kind of have to go with what my body and schedule allows. I am excited for December though, because in December, I will definitely have at least one chapter out, I won't promise two because I am starting on a Webcomic and want to at least have 2-3 chapters of it drawn if possible by the end of December(My break starts I think the 14th of December this year and it ends the 11th of January I believe). Still, I am hoping for at least 2 chapters for, 'His Sunflower Smiles' done and suspect without a bunch of homework that I can probably write that much pretty easily.
The Webcomic will be about Pirates/the high seas, of course, as One Piece was a big inspiration for the webcomic. I have noticed that there hasn't been nearly enough stuff about pirates. I am thinking about having it be O/B/A with the same kind of dynamics and treatment of the dynamics that I have in this story.
If anyone wants to help me come up with some ideas for it or want to help me with deciding on some of the designs for some of my characters, please visit my Instagram, facebook or even comment ideas on here. If enough people want to vote or comment on them I would be willing to do a poll on who gets in as final designs and who doesn't. As I have said before, ideas are more than welcome on all of my works. Right now, I am trying to figure out how my beans will survive being on a deserted island all alone after being taught pretty much nothing.
Please review and see you all next time!
