A/N: Heyyo! Sorry the last chapter was so short. I was having a case of writer's block, then this story slid to the back of my mind, and thankfully, I am up and running again. I have the plot down to a tee, no more second-guessing lel. HOWEVER, this story is just as much yours as it is mine. Give me some suggestions guys! Also, thanks for staying on this ship! ;_; AND I have to say guys your reviews pump me the hell up. I'm in clutch mode, got this chapter done in literally two days.

CHAPTER 9

Trafalgar Law panted as his orgasm died down and left him with a giddy feeling. The older male had collapsed and all of his weight currently rested on Law. Much to his surprise, Crocodile was lighter than he looked, Law did not mind the extra weight on top of him. "Crocodile." He called out to the taller male. He tried to move his legs into a more comfortable position but stopped squirming when he felt his cum squelch against their skin, disgusting. He needed another shower.

"Hm?" The older man answered quietly.

"You're leaving in a couple of days." Law pointed out. He did not want to bring up the elephant in the room; however, they had to face it. Crocodile was leaving in a few days, unmistakably ending their brief affair.

"I know." Crocodile nuzzled his face against the teen. "You should come with me. I could use a doctor."

Law laughed quietly to himself. The idea itself intrigued him. Nevertheless, the tanned male was not an everyday idiot. He knew exactly what the consequences for this would be. "It'd be nice to be useful for once in my career."

"You'd be very useful. I promise that much. Are you planning to be Doflamingo's wife for the rest of your life? Moreover, when he gets tired of you and tosses you to the side? Then what? You need to think of the future. You are a smart kid. Figure it out."

Law studied his partner carefully. He knew he could not stay at Donquixote Doflamingo's side for much longer. No one had to remind him. He saw how the fickle man tossed lovers aside, including his mother's sister. Eventually, Doflamingo would get tired of him and then he would be another inconsequential crewmate. Then what? Crocodile asks. Before that, he needed a backup plan such as his doctor on a small island one. What if the Warlord was seriously offering him a place by his side? Would it be wise for him to take the chance? "What are your plans for the next few years?"

Crocodile smirked conspiratorially. "I call it Utopia. It will take a while to reach my goal. I'm having a certain problem."

The perfect paradise, huh? "That's vague. What kind of problem?"

"I need to find a certain woman, however she isn't easily found. If you joined hands with me, I'm sure this problem would be solved fairly quickly." Crocodile propped himself up on an elbow and probed Law with his eyes. He was persuasive and alluring. He could see the calculations conducted in the teen's head. He had just promised him a challenge and purpose; something Doflamingo could not.

"And how do you propose I throw this idea at Donquixote-ya?"

"You don't."

"I…I don't know if I can do it." Law hesitated. He had always been a rebellious, disobedient, insolent thorn at Doflamingo's side. However, this plan, this train of thought... pushed adolescent revolution. He knew Crocodile was right. But to trust someone who he briefly got to know within a few measly weeks, it wasn't his style.

He would be breaking something entirely leaving his blonde lover's side and while Doflamingo was ill tempered and cruel towards his raven-haired lover, it was Vergo's catastrophic lessons and never ending torture sessions that brought Law back down to reality and allowed him to realize what his worth really was to the blond warlord. Doflamingo did not value him. For Doflamingo to keep him around for so long… even Law could not wrap his mind around that.

As if Crocodile could read his mind. "He usually gets bored easily and I assume you have no conclusions that make sense. The answer is simple. You are breathtaking. I lost myself to your charms as well. Even then, that will not satisfy him, not your endless quips, undying love, ageless looks, nothing will. You cannot satisfy a madman."

"And that'll do for you?" Law smirked, trying to keep the hurt at bay. Doflamingo was all he knew and to hear the words out loud, to know that no matter what he did, he could never be the only thing his blue-eyed captain needed… just hit him a little too hard. Someone else had warned him once. Rosinante was a strange fellow, stranger than anyone else he would ever meet. Doflamingo's own brothers warned him away and look what happened. A couple years ago, the two brothers had gotten into an argument, which ended with Rosinante's lifeless body hitting the floor. Until this day, no one knew why.

"That's more than enough." Crocodile placed a hand on Law's neck and slid his fingers underneath, securing his grip; he used his thumb to graze over the sinful lips. "I don't own you Trafalgar. If you decide that we aren't heading in the same direction, you can choose your own path and if we aren't as compatible like I initially thought, we can end it. I won't force your hand."

The raven-haired male's lips mashed together in a thin line. The older man's sincerity caught him off guard. There were so many things that could go wrong and while Law was a whimsical person, he believed in assured victories leaving a majority of his whims untouched. His body screamed for him to follow Crocodile; screamed loudly. "Your idea of pillow talk is unusual."

Crocodile leaned over and kissed the uncertain lips. "Our situation is unusual." The warlord knew he couldn't change the teen's mind in one day but he had a few more to do so. It would be a shame if he left the teen here to waste away with his imprudent friend.

Law sighed quietly. He swears he is going to ask just one more question, one more. He was only curious. He was not considering Crocodile as a way out from his own misery. He would do that on his own one day. "How would I leave this fortress?"

"You should have a better idea than I do." Crocodile murmured thoughtfully. "I can assist you afterwards. I have a vivre card with me. I was going to give it to Doflamingo, but I seem to have a better use for it."

"I'll think about it." Law said with finality, ending their current conversation. He would consider it and think it over, and over, and over again.

Crocodile yawned and flipped their positions. "You can think about it later." He said as he casually wrapped his arms around the teen's waist. "Let's sleep."

"Wait—It's sticky." Law protested.

"No."

Trafalgar made a face at the older man's childish refusal. "Mister Crocodile, I am appalled by your desensitized hygienic standards."

"So am I." he chuckled quietly as his eyes closed.

With Crocodile's help, the two hatched a firm plan that would guarantee the teen's escape.

It had taken Law two long days to make up his mind. Two long days for him to decide that he couldn't live the way he wanted to while being on this ship. It'd been so long that he'd overlook the fact that he was as much of a slave to Doflamingo as those poor souls were to the Tenryuubito. He wasn't sure if his mind could be desensitized. The key to his newfound decision was Doflamingo's lack of caring. If he had meant something to the blonde, he wouldn't be able to go through with it. Law was sure that Doflamingo didn't love him. He'd never been so sure about something in his life and if you asked him what did he think, he'd deny his feelings as well. But how could you not love someone who saved you from being utter trash? How could you not love the one who means the most to you? The raven-haired male still held his head up high. While he barely knew Crocodile, he knew they would have a smashing time together. He almost made Law forget how much he hated pirates.

"According to you, Doflamingo goes off for business every two months. The time he spends away varies from one week to two months. We also have to factor in the fact that Vergo is sent to deal with some business and another idiot might be placed in charge."

"I think that would be Mister Gladius or the old man. They're both sharp and good at leading."

"Mm. Gladius is short tempered and young." Crocodile placed his elbows on his desk and rested his chin upon them. He stared into stormy gray eyes, awaiting the next theory.

Law picked at his lip with his teeth nervously. He did not know if he could get past all of the commanding officers. Who knows if Doflamingo even trusted him? What if the members were given specific orders to watch over him? "It would be better if we did this now, don't you think?"

"That wouldn't be wise. I believe a few shrewd ones are catching on to our relation. That would only ignite their suspicions. Doflamingo wouldn't ask me to watch his ship so soon after begging me for this favor and I can't suggest it. That would only create doubt."

"I should wait for Vergo to be stationed." Law blurted out after a few moments.

"Hah?" An eyebrow rose on its own accord.

"He's the only chance." Law muttered. As much as Law despised the older man, he would be his only ally. He sunk back into the leather chair, no longer thrilled by their conversation.

The teen's attitude of pure hopelessness did not deter the Warlord's focus. It would be odd for Law to suggest something that he thought would be useless, there had to be some connection there. "Why do you say that? I didn't know the two of you are friends."

"We're not." The tanned male fought hard to suppress his distress. His fingernails dug into handle of the comfortable chair he is seated in across from Crocodile. If he did ask Vergo for help and he refused, Law didn't think he would survive. Vergo wouldn't bother telling Doflamingo about his little plan, he would just use him over and over again; Doflamingo wouldn't ask a thing. It was the worst scenario possible. If he told his blonde lover why Vergo had something over him, he'd still be in the wrong.

Golden eyes zeroed in on stiff long fingers, the teen's knuckles visible against his skin. Crocodile's sighed. "He's not the only one. As you said, Gladius or G might be chosen, Vergo still has his marine duties to attend to. You could always convince one of the two."

"No—they're too loyal." Law shook his head. They would not budge at all. Law snorted. Those two would kill him on the spot.

Crocodile waved Law's suggestion dismissively. "Vergo's loyalty is tenfold to both Gladius and G-san's loyalty."

"Which is why Vergo will let me go. He thinks I'm poisonous to Donquixote-ya and he's a bitch filled with jealousy. He can't kill me, therefore he can't remove me from his side. However, he can help me leave on my own. It's a win for us both." Law suddenly leaned forward. He is such a genius; it isn't funny. Now if only he could get Crocodile onboard with his plan. Then, a sly smirk played on his lips. "Why the –san at the end of gramp's name."

Crocodile's eyebrows rose in amusement. "I can't respect someone?"

Law shrugged. "I didn't expect it, that's all."

The older man chuckled quietly. "I see... You don't want to share the details, huh? I guess we're even. I thought you would agree. I made plans ahead of time and chose your ally."

Law eyes abruptly met the sharp golden ones. "What does that mean?"

"It means Penguin has the vivre card."

"…No way" The tanned male was livid. "You involved him for no reason. You could have chosen Bellamy or even my aunt." Law ran his fingers through his hair. He felt so guilty dragging the younger male into his own mess.

Crocodile rolled his eyes at the teen's sudden outburst. "Calm down. It's not as if I told him to follow you to the end of the world. I simply asked him to give it to you when asked for it."

"And he agreed so easily? No questions asked?" Law sunk back into his chair, digesting the news slowly. He knew Penguin was on his side but to that extent?

"He's a smart kid and more aware of his surroundings than you think."

"I guess."

Law trudged back into his study room with the plate of food he had acquired. Today was just not the day to be surrounded by loud, foul-mouthed pirates. Even they could not erase the teen's sullen mood.

He did not bother talking to Crocodile since yesterday morning and now well in to the evening of this day and he hadn't bothered to so much as greet his partner.

Sigh. Why did his room have to be at the other side of the ship? Why did dinner look so unappetizing? He stared down at his plate. It looked like Monet was still on strike. "—OMPH"

"Watch where you're going." A gruff voice reached his ears.

He looked up at the taller male that almost sent him and his food flying. "Oh Mister Gladius! When did you get back?"

"Some time ago." He muttered and removed his hands from the teen's shoulders.

"I'm guessing you made dinner?" The raven-haired male smirked. He actually got along quite well with Gladius despite his barbarian temper. The spiky haired male was a few of the many officers that didn't judge him.

"Yeah."

"I thought so."

"That's more than you usually eat. Is it because I cooked it?" He commented.

"Something like that." Law scratched at the back of his neck. If he had known Gladius was doing the cooking, he would have skipped dinner.

"Well… I'll see you later." The taller male sidestepped out of Law's way.

"Wait!" Law called out as the other male started walking away. "I think this might be too much for me. Maybe you should join me, Mister Gladius."

OHEMGEE. I HAVE THE WORST IDEA EVER. SOMEBODY STOP ME. SOB. (srsly tho. The plot just got way interesting. UGHUHU writing Chapter 10 now)

P.S

Silent Visitors HI GUYS. I LOVE YOU TOO. 3

Other Guests Thanks for joining this bandwagon and I'm glad you like the character's composition because I've been struggling, man.

KawaiiDoge Awww shit you're making me blush. I hope you like this chapter!

insaneAi YOU SHAMELESS CREATURE! Omg I would have died with you if anyone caught you reading during class. I am sad to say this chapter won't cause you any trouble. /wipes tear away. You were probably my strongest motivation this chapter. Cheers to you cutie-chan.

Guest I'm glad you enjoyed your dose of OTP! (You're going to have to explain how they became your otp because I am raging with curiosity)

nighttempes It's good to be back 8D