Title: Of Dreams and Desires
Pairings: Smoker x Ace, Sanji x Zoro, and other side pairings
Ratings: T - NC-17
Chapter: 22 of ?
Summary: The road to One Piece is a dangerous one and each individual begins at different times and places. Some paths cross for a fleeting moment but the encounter could be so great that it can alter the initial direction. Every meeting is important and is planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other. Follow everyone's story and see what path they take.
Disclaimer: I do not make any profit from this story; all props go to Eiichiro Oda.
Author Note: Hello again! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I'd like to know if there were any artists reading my story. I've love to have my OC's drawn out but I'm no drawer lol. So if you can draw, I would like to speak with you about a little bit of work.
Shout Outs: Thanks to everyone who viewed the last chapter! :3
Beta Reader: descriptionsalive21, thank you so much!
Donna
Paradise.
That's what they called this half of the Grand Line when compared to the New World.
Fucking Paradise.
Home to the dreamers… the rookies…
Donna got out of the bed that she'd been in for a few days now. Things had been different since Crocodile's capture. She was amongst the lucky few to escape the Marines. She had to hide out in alleyways while the Marines tore up and searched her son's home. When they were done, and she was sure they were off the island, she'd return only to lay in bed… pitiful.
She huffed and walked over to her desk, plucking her mushi off of it before she walked down the stairs and out onto the spacious patio. She lay in the lounge chair before dialing a code on the snail. Donna breathed in deeply to steady her nerves before she pressed the call button and waited for it to ring.
His mellow voice passed through the speakers, "Who is this?"
"Doffy… it's me."
The snail's eyebrows raised, "Donna?"
She chuckled, "Weren't you just around, Feathers? Forgot me already?"
He laughed, "You're very hard to forget, Momma. What are you calling for?"
"Have you heard about what happened?"
The silliness of the call dissipated. "I have…"
They shared a moment of silence before she spoke again, "I want to see him, Doflamingo."
"He's probably already in Impel Down."
She clicked her tongue, "All the more reason for me to see him."
The Shichibukai was quiet and Donna could just see his head tilted to the side in thought. She and Doffy had grown close in the years that he was dating Crocodile; and even though she was sometimes disappointed with his actions regarding her son, she knew he'd do what she asked with the right words. When he didn't respond, she spoke, "Look, I understand it might be a little difficult, but if anyone can get me to him, it's you."
He didn't respond to that method of persuasion, so she tried a different one, "Don't you want to see him one last time too?"
He breathed heavily through his nose, "Of course I do."
"Then do this for me."
Doflamingo groaned, "You'll be the death of me, Momma. I'll contact you when I have our ride."
He hung up before she could respond but that was alright with her; she'd gotten what she wanted.
It took three days for Doffy to call her back and another four to sail out to the meeting grounds. Just as agreed upon with the Marines, Donna stood on the deserted beach next to Doflamingo, shifting her weight from foot-to-foot every time she felt herself sinking into the sand. She looked over to the man towering beside her and elbowed him in the hip, "What's taking the damn ship so long?"
The blond scratched his head, "Not sure, but have patience we'll get there."
She snorted, "That's a funny word coming from a man like you."
He laughed as he saw their transport coming into view and with a hand on her back, they walked forward towards the docking Marine ship. Upon seeing his favorite vice admiral, Doflamingo let go of Donna and fully extended his legs to stride quickly towards Cancer. Donna cursed under her breath as she jogged to keep up with the taller man. The pair were halted so they could be searched and cuffed before they continued onto the deck of the ship.
Doflamingo grinned at Vice Admiral Cancer, who stood with his arms crossed, watching their every move, "Afraid of me using my devil, eh, Cancer?"
Said man scratched the scar on his eye, "Just making it easier for me to toss you overboard and drown your ass when the opportunity arises. It'll be good payback for the shit you pulled on Mozambia and Stainless." Cancer signaled for his men to take off before turning to the pirate and elderly woman, "You stay on the deck and in sight at all times. No funny business."
Donna jutted her chin out, "Focus on getting us there, Marine."
The pair turned their backs on the government official and walked towards the front of the ship near a side rail where they watched the bow break through the sea as it sailed ahead. The silence between them was peaceful and Donna leaned into Doflamingo when the chill of the wind swept past them.
She sighed, "I know you aren't too fond of people, Doffy, but I wanted to thank you for doing this for me."
Doflamingo shrugged a shoulder, "Donna, you mean the world to Crocodile. Whatever you need from me, I'll do."
"I know you love him."
"I do… as I you, Momma."
She smiled and for the remaining duration of the journey, they spoke softly of past times and new happenings. It wasn't until Cancer yelled their names did they pause their conversation. "We are almost to the gates. If you don't know the rules then here they are: we will dock and you both will undergo a full body search before you are re-cuffed. Then you will proceed to your destination. As much as I would like to say your stay is a permanent one–when you are done, you'll come back outside where one more body search will happen, then we leave. I will be ready to leave two hours after we dock. Start counting as soon as we do because if you aren't on my ship by then, you're fucking getting left. We clear?"
Doflamingo cocked his head to the side and was about to take a step towards the vice admiral but Donna shot her hand out, placing it on his arm, stopping him. "Let it be, Doffy."
Cancer snorted in amusement as he turned to leave them, shouting commands at his crew to prepare the ship for docking.
Doflamingo looked down at Donna's petite hand, "I'm surprised at you. It was to my understanding you were quiet the killer in your old days."
She threw a grin in his direction, "My son, always know which battles to fight; even if you can win them all."
He huffed a laugh and looped their arms together as he guided her to the gangplank and as soon as it was let down, they descended into Marine territory.
The mountainous man known as Chief Warden Magellan greeted them at the gates with a stern face, "Doflamingo and guest, you have requested to visit one of the inmates. You have been granted permission by the World Government. First order of business is a body search."
The pair separated and the guards patted Donna down before moving to Doflamingo, and even though he was weakened by the seastone around his wrist, the man's presence made the guards skittish. They faltered as they approached him, giving him a quick pat down before backing off.
Seeing the search yielded no results, Magellan pulled his black coat closer around himself, "Doflamingo, who is this guest you have brought with you today?"
Donna stepped forward with her head held high, "I'm the mother of Crocodile and I wish to see my son before he is locked away in this hell hole."
Magellan wove his fingers through his thick beard, "Well, you'll be cuffed like your friend here."
As he spoke another set of guards cuffed Donna's wrists and she sighed deeply out her nose, and her jaw twitched in irritation, "Is there anything else before we are able to move on?"
The horned man eyed his two "guests" before quickly turning on his heels, "Follow me. The prisoner has just arrived and he has yet to go through the initial…" he trailed off and grinned at them over his shoulder, "baptizing. Once that is complete, he will change into his prison clothes and be escorted to his cell. Only then will a room be arranged so that you can share your last words with him."
Donna stopped walking and stomped her foot in protest, "No, that will not work."
Magellan swirled around, towering over Donna's small frame, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. That is not what I came here for; I will watch his every step until he gets into his cell." Donna boldly looked up at the warden, daring him to challenge her.
"For you to think your words actually carry weight here is amusing." He closed the gap between them a little bit but she didn't step down.
Donna glared at the bat winged man and opened her mouth to speak but Doflamingo stepped in between the two, standing at his full ten foot height as he let out a fuffuffuf, "I wouldn't try it; even cuffed we can have a nice tussle."
Magellan glared at them before he proceeded into the prison. Doflamingo shared a look with Donna as they followed the warden through the large door that lead through Impel Down's lobby and to an elevator. The keeper of the under-water prison waited on the lift as everyone loaded on before he turned to Hannyabal—a large pot-bellied man who resembled a cross between a devil and an Egyptian pharaoh—commanding him to take them to the baptism pool.
Their ride on the lift was short and the closer they got to their destination, the hotter it became. The lift shuttered to a halt as they arrived on the baptism floor, and when the gates opened a cloud of steam greeted them. Donna began to sweat as she turned to Doflamingo, who had a frown plastered on his face. He'd heard rumors about Impel Down but had never seen it himself. The group walked on the hard cobblestone floor until Magellan held out an arm, halting their progress, "It's safer to watch from here."
Donna looked across the room at the naked men and women lined up waiting for their turn. The fervor they felt was coming from the hellacious fire that was heating a grandiose pot of water. This so called "baptism pool" was a humongous cauldron with different attached structures and machines that allowed for prisoners to be hooked up and dipped into the boiling liquid.
The man at the front of the line went through a series of inspections before his ankles were chained. He began to sob, begging for mercy, as the guards linked the chains from his ankle binds to his wrist cuffs. A guard dressed in all black attire hooked the chains up to the machine before he gave a hand signal. The structure came to life with steam hissing from it and the now hysterical man was swept off his bloody feet, head smacking the ground as he was lifted into the air. He dangled upside-down for a while before he was swung over to the broiling water, the popping of the bubbles splashed scalding drops on the hanging man. His screams bounced off the walls and Donna shifted her weight as she watched him get lowered.
Before he even touched the water he began to shriek; the pitch of it had Magellan putting a finger in his ear to rub away the intense vibrations and sooth the abused ear drum, "I hate it when they keep up all that noise."
Doflamingo said nothing as the shrieks were muffled by the water. They could no longer see or hear the man but the jerking of the chains showed his struggles to try and fight his way out of the shackles holding him in the water. After what seemed like a lifetime, the man was lifted from the hot hell, his skin blistering red. He no longer cried… Donna didn't think he could any longer. When he was set on the other side of the cauldron, he dropped into a fetal position as the guards removed the chains and the machine reset back to its original position.
Magellan chuckled, pulling their attention, "Watch closely now, it's your son's turn."
Donna glared daggers at the warden and Doflamingo's frown deepened.
Crocodile stepped forward with his one hand cupped over his penis, his hook dangling to the side. An ugly, greasy, obese man cackled and leaned in close to him, "Oh, you look like a pretty one."
The ex-Shichibukai raised his head higher in response, staring straight ahead as another guard hooked his ankles. The fat man placed a sweaty hand on Crocodile's shoulder, "Bend over and cough for me, fresh meat. Gotta make sure you not bringin' nothin' in, you know…" he trailed off and gave a once over of the pale man in front of him, "in any other way."
With all the heat of the desert behind his glare, Crocodile bent over and coughed once before straightening.
The pig patted Crocodile's rump. "Good job, Pretty," he traced his hand from Crocodile's ass to his arm with the hook. "This has to come off. We can't have you with a weapon."
Crocodile moved fast as he thrusted the hook upward and stabbed the man under his chin, hook piercing through his tongue. The pointed part hung between his teeth, blood dripping down his chip and off the tip of the weapon. Crocodile leaned in close, "Never touch me."
He tossed the blubbery pig off his hook and resumed his previous position with one hand over his privates, as if he didn't just kill a man. It took a moment but the guards finally reacted and they stepped back from Crocodile in fear. A bold guard stepped forward to grab the prisoner, his whip in hand, ready to strike him for his actions.
Doflamingo spoke without turning to Magellan, "Warden, if you don't want another one of your guards dead I suggest you get your men in order."
The chilled edge on his voice made Magellan raise an eyebrow before he cleared his throat, "Men, get on with it."
The guards looked up at him, having just noticed the small group standing there. With a nod, the newly appointed head guard signaled for the machine to start and Crocodile could feel the floor being taken from under him. He never made eye contact with Donna or Doflamingo, even as he was swinging in the air above the baptism pool.
Hannyabal patted Magellan on the elbow, "One hundred beli that he cries out."
Donna chuckled at the words, "One thousand that he doesn't utter a sound."
"I'll double that." Doflamingo stated.
Magellan looked down at the pair before he nodded his head to the guard working the machine and Crocodile began his decent into the water. It was silent as they watched the chains for any sign of struggle. When none came they lifted the pirate from the water. Like the man before him, Crocodile's skin was blistering red; but just as Donna said, not a single sound was uttered as they swung him to the drop-off side of the cauldron. The guards stared in awe as Crocodile rose to his feet and waited for the chains to be disconnected from the machine.
Chuckling, Donna haughtily turned to Magellan, "I think we can move on from here."
The warden huffed as he turned to his men, "Guards, bring him down to Level 6."
As the group retreated back to the lift, Crocodile finally turned to look at them and locked eyes with Doflamingo. The flamingo and the crocodile shared a look before the taller of the two grinned and walked his bow-legged walk to the lift.
When he entered the caged elevator, Hannyabal closed the door and Magellan questioned, "Doflamingo, would you like a tour of your soon-to-be home?"
Even with the seastone cuffs on he could feel his devil tearing at him, wanting to sever the fat head of the warden. He smiled and scoffed, "I don't think I'll be needing a tour. But you can do your job and take us to Level 6 like a good dog."
Donna chuckled into her hand and Magellan ground his teeth together, "The day I get you in here will be a joyous day indeed. It'll wipe that cocky ass grin off your fucking face."
Doku oozed from between Magellan's fingers, causing purple poison slime to drip from his fist and Hannyabal jumped when some of the venom hit his boot, "Sir, please call in your devil."
Magellan shot one last glare at Doflamingo as the lift started to move and he reeled in his devil. The air in the elevator was tight and when they finally stopped, Donna gave one last laugh before she stepped off the ride. Magellan briskly walked out, escorting them to a medium-sized open cell where they waited for the inmate to arrive.
Donna looked around in confusion until it dawned on her. She'd heard the terrors of Impel Down and the various torture levels but to see the bottom level look like this… empty… silent… she understood the punishment. She turned to Doflamingo when another elevator's doors opened to reveal her son. She sighed when she saw him and upon his approach she chuckled, "You make black and white stripes look good, Sonny."
Magellan gave the signal for the chains to be released and Crocodile walked towards Donna. When he was within arm's reach she pulled him to her tightly and buried her head in his stomach. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned down to whisper in her ear. After a few words were said, she nodded and he released her with a kiss on the crown of her head before he walked to Doflamingo.
The lovers looked at each other and didn't speak. The silence lasted so long that Magellan was about to wrap up their visitation when Doflamingo took a long stride towards Crocodile, tilted his head back, and kissed his chin. Shocked by the display of affection, Magellan turned to Vice Warden Hannyabal who shrugged at his boss. After kissing his chin, Doflamingo placed kisses on his eyelids, forehead, cheeks, and across his scar. He stepped closer so their bodies were pressed together before he placed the final kiss on his lips. It wasn't a goodbye kiss, for he knew that he would see him again.
"Don't you go insane in this shit hole."
"I'll be fine." Crocodile kissed his lips again.
Doflamingo snaked his tongue across his lover's lower lip, "Solitary confinement will drive even the sanest of men mad."
Crocodile patted his ass, "I'll be fine, I promise." He reiterated and they kissed again, tongues dancing with one another.
The surrounding prisoners began to hoot at the display and Magellan threw a purple poison ball at one of the cells, "Shut the hell up!" He eyed the couple, "Hurry up, visitation is almost over."
The pirates ignored the warden, only parting when air became apparent and with a pant they connected their foreheads, "You can have what remains of my Works."
Doflamingo nodded.
"Doffy, look at me."
Said man took off his shades so clear blue could stare into endless black, "Take care of Donna, who knows what she'll do if she's left to her own devices."
The blond laughed, "You're right, she's more ruthless than I am sometimes. I have the perfect thing for her, don't worry."
With one last kiss, the pair parted. Crocodile walked into his cell without looking back and the guards followed him in to secure his chains. Doflamingo re-covered his eyes with his shades as he strutted over to Donna, linking their arms together, "Momma, we have some things to discuss."
She chuckled as they walked to the elevator, prepared to leave, "Of course we do, Feathers."
Crocodile's laughter could be heard as the cage doors closed.
Once again I hope you all enjoyed! I really liked this chapter. It gave a excellent closing for our beloved Crocodile and a little glance into Impel Down. Review if you have any thoughts towards the story. Thanks again and stay tune for next chapter: Portgas D. Ace - Huredhiel