Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or anything related to it, it is all the creation of the incomparable Oda San. This work is simply for fun and creative expression.

Warning: Strong Sexual Content, Polyamory, and Adult Themes

Author's Note: Apologies in advance if anyone seems OOC.

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Late Night Liaisons, Lifetime Commitments

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The seas were calm around Karai Bari Island, the late night moon was shining bright and silvery against a clear blueish-black sky surrounded by countless twinkling stars. The waters lapped lazily at the beach shore while the many ships that were docked at the piers jutting out into the surf swayed sedately with the soft waves. All was quiet over the massive conglomerate of brightly colored circus tents and structures that made up the aptly named Buggy Town, headquarters of the Cross-Guild Organization.

Most had long turned in for the night leaving only those on guard duty and those for whom sleep proved elusive. One such soul who remained awake was the town's namesake himself.

Buggy the Star Clown and President of Cross Guild sat back on the work stool he was sitting on and let out a small groan as he back gave a satisfying crack at the movement. He was in his personal workshop/laboratory attached to the giant garish blue tent he called home. He had just finished his latest batch of Muggy Balls and had fresh chemicals brewing softly on the bunsen burners for a new explosive device he was working on. On one of his work counters he also had a small piece of raw meat floating in a jar of chemicals. Buggy was testing a suspicion of his with this particular experiment, but he wouldn't know the result for a couple of days. Buggy sighed before looking up at the wall clock he has over his main work desk and winced as he say how substantially late the hour was. It has been a regular day, meetings with traders, overseeing the many performers' practice and rehearsals for the upcoming night show, getting glared at by Dracule Mihawk and threatened to within an inch of his life by Sir Crocodile, and then ducking away to his workshop to get things done and also decompress. Now it was the dead of night.

At that moment Buggy's stomach let out an almighty rumble. Buggy immediately deflated and let out a small huff. He had worked straight through dinner without a thought and now that he was done with his incendiary endeavors for the night his stomach had made it's displeasure known. With a grunt Buggy rose from his seat and adjusted the red and white striped bandana he had around his head, his long, striking blue hair twisted up into a messy bun underneath it. His face paint was a little smeared at the edges after a full day but otherwise just as striking. As he trudged out of his workshop and down the tunnel that would lead out to his main living quarters, Buggy grabbed up his fur-lined tan coat. He would come back and check on the chemicals still simmering in the center of the room after he'd satisfied his hunger.

Buggy made it into his personal quarters and shuffled up the metal spiral staircase to the second level. It was there that he hung up his coat and shed the red and white striped t-shirt and pale green slops he had on. He stretched and let his limbs actually pop off completely for a moment using his chop chop ability before he smoothly pulled himself together and then went about donning some pajamas. For all of the flashiness Buggy was known for, his choice of sleepwear for this late night was surprisingly sedate. Just a standard white long sleeve button-up shirt and loose, wide leg pants. He stayed true to form with the slippers he donned though, garishly bright blue and white striped with red pom-poms on the tips. After he had dressed, Buggy ducked into the bathroom where he went about washing his face paint off. As he wiped the last of the red from his lips, he looked at himself in the massive gaudy mirror with gold filigree that hung over his washing basin.

No genius jester or star clown, just big-nosed Buggy staring back at him with sea-foam green eyes and a billion thoughts both good and bad. With a sigh, Buggy turned away from his reflection and headed down to the ground level and then out of his living quarters. Buggy made his way down the tented corridor that led to the main tent, his eyes taking in the massive, cavernous hall from the balcony of which he would often make announcements and rousing speeches to the masses and members of Cross Guild. The blue haired man felt a thrill travel up his spine as he was reminded that there were always two menacing presences behind him.

The two former Warlords of the Sea who held his fate in their hands. The ever enigmatic Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk and the forever imposing Sir Crocodile. Through a blunder by his followers, Buggy somehow found himself the "Boss" of these two formidable pirates. They of course were quick to show him exactly what his place was and yet somehow they were managing to make things work, turning in a huge profit, gathering new recruits from all over, and actually becoming a force to be reckoned with against the Marines.

That in no way gave Buggy any sense of ease. Those two were the power behind his proverbial thrown, and while Mihawk hadn't actually been able to cut him to ribbons at Marineford, the man who wasn't even a Devil Fruit user, could do plenty of damage without that gigantic black sword of his. The same went for Crocodile with his terrifying golden hook for a hand and sand abilities. If the beatings Buggy had gone through in the past were anything to go by, Crocodile didn't need to cut him to crush him too.

Mihawk and Crocodile seemed to have come to tolerate him better now, and it was hard earned at that, with each successful raid or Marine Bounty filled, but just the thought of pissing off either of his "Lieutenants" left Buggy breaking out in a cold sweat. Another low rumble from his stomach shook Buggy out of his musings as he focused on his original goal of getting some much needed sustenance.

Buggy ducked into another corridor and was soon stepping into the deserted mess hall. He walked past the many eclectic long tables and smaller dining tables to finally get to the main kitchen. Only a couple of night lanterns were on, shrouding the space in shadows and dim glows. Buggy made his way to one of the giant refrigerators and pulled the door open with a small grunt. His tired eyes squinted against the fridge's inner light that turned on when he got the door open. He blinked and let his eyes adjust before he took in the contents of the fridge.

There were several pots and wrapped platters laden with all sorts of items from dinner earlier. He found a small platter of cheese and sliced tomato and pulled it out before his eyes settled on a pot of what looked like beef and vegetable stew. Deciding on that, Buggy stepped away from the fridge to set the cheese and tomato platter down on the counter and get a bowl and ladle. Buggy heaped a couple of ladle fulls of the stew into the bowl before shutting the fridge door and making his way over to one of the food heaters they had recently salvaged and refitted from one of the Marine ships they had successfully sunk. As he waited for the stew to heat up, Buggy pulled back a bit of the wrapping on the cheese and tomato platter and munched on a few slices to tide him over. His whole body seemed to sigh as he finally ate something.

He'd made a good dent in the cheese and tomatoes when the food heater finally chimed softly, signalling that his stew was ready. Buggy eager retrieved the bowl from the heater, hissing as his fingers danced at the heat and still held on to the bowl. He blew on the steaming stew, setting it down on the counter to cool while he put the cheese platter back in the fridge and then grabbed up a dinner roll from said fridge. On his way back to his food he picked up a spoon and a napkin. Buggy pulled up one of the kitchen stools and sat down, eager to finally enjoy his super late dinner.

Buggy stirred the steaming hot stew a couple of times to cool it down some more before taking a spoonful. He blew on it a couple of times for good measure before finally bringing it to his mouth. Buggy let out an unashamed moan at this first bite that nearly echoed through the whole kitchen. He immediately piped down and snorted lightly at himself in embarrassment before he set about basically inhaling the rest of his stew with bites and dips of bread in between. Within a few minutes his bowl was empty, his stomach was full, and he was getting up and heading over to the sink. Normally he'd just leave everything for the staff to clean for him, he was the boss after all, but tonight he simply gave in to the old habit from his youthful days on Gol D. Roger's ship, when he and a certain red haired shipmate were tasked with dish duty. Once Buggy was done with the washing, he grabbed up a clean wine glass and headed towards the darkened corner of the kitchen where the open wine and other liquors were kept. A little bit of vino was in order to cap off his late night dinner.

Buggy made his way further into the kitchen, everything growing darker here due to their being no lantern on. Buggy muttered under his breath and he looked around for a lantern of light switch so that he could have a proper look at the wine racks that adorned the far wall. Buggy was still looking for a damn switch when a light suddenly came on and the sound of a glass being set down caught his ears and had him whirling around with a startled gasp. The very breath left his lungs entirely as a pair of familiar, otherworldly yellow eyes stared back at him.

" M-Mihawk." Buggy squeaked out before his voice failed him completely.

Indeed it was none other than Dracule Mihawk, The World's Greatest Swordsman, a former Warlord of the Sea, and one of Buggy's "Lieutenants" at Cross Guild bathed in the soft golden light of the lantern hanging above his head.

The older man was without his signature feathered had and billowing black and red coat, instead he was dressed in a simple white linen shirt with baggy sleeves and a great number of buttons left undone to display the insanely built chest underneath, black pants and high black boots. Around his neck hung his signature gold cross that sheathed his Kogatana dagger. Mihawk was immaculate as ever, even in causal wear in the dead of night. Dark hair spiked, signature beard, mustache, and sharp sideburns pristine, his expression as enigmatic and unreadable as always as he casually sat with his legs cross in his signature way and radiated nothing but quiet, deadly power. Beside him on the small circular dining table was a half full crystal glass of rich, dark red wine and the black bottle it had come from. He didn't have his legendary black blade Yoru strapped to his back at least, so Buggy wouldn't have to face her icy kiss again. Buggy felt another chill travel up his spine as he remembered how Luffy had simply thrown him at this man during the war at Marineford, and only by the grace of his chop chop fruit had be been able to survive Mihawk basically reducing him to ribbons. He would gladly take a dozen of his own Muggy Balls straight to his face than ever have to go through that ordeal again.

Buggy quickly shook himself from his terror induced thoughts and plastered a shaky smile onto his face as he spoke.

" H-Hey there Hawk-Eye, sorry if I disturbed you are anything I just... hunkered down in my workshop and missed dinner is all. I'll just uh, be on my way then." He said lightly as he turned to make a hasty exit.

" What's the rush clown? You clearly wanted to have a drink." Mihawk drawled lightly, effectively halting Buggy in his tracks.

" Umm..." Buggy trailed off eloquently, squeezing the empty wine glass he was still holding.

" I've got a good year open, why don't you have a seat?" Mihawk suggested, sounding almost cordial as he gestured to the empty chair across from him.

Buggy felt the bottom of his stomach drop out as fresh terror seized his heart. He knew full well that there was no refusing the former Warlord. With his whole body cold with dread, Buggy nodded mutely and forced himself to move, his feet taking one step forward and then another until he was closing the distance between himself and incomparable swordsman. With his blood roaring in his ears, Buggy slowly lowered himself into the chair across from the man with the yellow eyes.

There was this eon spanning beat of silence, an unbearable impasse where neither man moved. It was Mihawk who finally broke the stalemate as he wordlessly reached out to Buggy.

Buggy blinked slowly, uncomprehending.

" Give me your glass." Mihawk ordered with that signature drawl.

Buggy could only gape as he obeyed, handing Mihawk his wine glass. He continued to unabashedly stare as Mihawk picked up the black bottle of wine and pour some of its rich, dark red contents into the glass. Buggy could only lick at his suddenly dry lips and retake his now full glass when Mihawk offered it back to him. Their fingers happened to brush during the exchange, send fresh bolts of lightening through Buggy's whole body.

" T-Thank you Mihawk." Buggy croaked out.

" Hmm." Was Mihawk's only reply as he turned his attention to topping off his own half-full glass.

Buggy turned his wide eyes to the drink in his hand, still too stunned to do anything else.

" Are you going to spend the rest of the night committing your wine glass to memory or are you actually going to drink it clown?" Mihawk asked flatly.

Buggy started lightly and looked back up sharply to see Mihawk staring at him with annoyed yellow eyes.

" S-Sorry, just, just wasn't expecting to share a drink with y-you of all people." Buggy said before he could stop himself.

Kicking himself internally, Buggy rapidly shook his head and sent Mihawk an apologetic look.

" N-Not that I mind or that there's anything wrong with you or anything I just, y'know, wasn't expecting anyone else to be here this late is all. A-Are you okay?" Buggy rambled, wanting to separate both fists and sock himself multiple times for running his mouth.

Mihawk simply tilted his head and stared at him with those otherworldly eyes, his gaze seeming to see right into Buggy's soul while his expression remained indecipherable once the earlier annoyance had faded.

" I am right as rain, I should be asking after your health instead, you're the one who missed dinner entirely after all." Mihawk replied with his gaze somehow intensifying further.

" Oh m'fine, I got my latest batch of Muggy Balls done and got started on some other things. I just had some stew... which you probably saw since you've probably been sitting here the whole time. I am right as rain too heh heh." Buggy said nervously feeling his bare cheeks heat up.

Mihawk gave a wordless nod and if Buggy was imagining things, he thought he saw some of the frigidness actually leave those yellow eyes for just a moment before Mihawk finally looked away and focused on the drink he was still holding. Buggy remembered that he had a drink too, one that the swordsman himself had poured him. Buggy looked down at the glass in his hand, taking a moment to appreciate the opulent dark red hue of the liquid before he brought the glass under his nose and inhaled deeply. He was hit with an intense earthy, floral aroma with the barest hint of maybe cinnamon or cherry. It was like the spark that spread fire through his whole body and hadn't actually taken a single sip yet. It was intoxicating and alluring, almost like a siren's call that Buggy had no problem surrendering to as he brought the glass to his lips and finally tasted Mihawk's wine.

If the aroma of the wine alone could set fire to his every nerve ending, the taste of it burned all other wines that Buggy had ever drank in his entire life to ash and cinders as he swallowed it down.

" Holy shit this is so fucking good!" Buggy blurted out before he could stop himself.

" Indeed." Mihawk said simply as he leaned back in his chair and languidly sipped at his own glass.

Buggy ducked his head, wondering if his face now matched his nose, swallowing back his embarrassment and focusing on just enjoying the rest of his wine. The odd pair said nothing further after that, simply sipping at their wine. Even with every single instinct on edge and urging him to flee in the face of such a dangerous companion, Buggy found himself talking subtle glances at Mihawk. The man was as striking as he was terrifying, from those otherworldly eyes, to the sharp jawline and constantly severe expression, there was still a regal quality to the man that none other on Earth possessed. It also didn't help that the man was simply drop dead gorgeous and built like a god. As his eyes took in Mihawk's exposed collarbones and chest and a bit of his upper abs, Buggy felt a heat pool in his gut that had nothing to do with the robust wine he was sipping. Buggy quickly turned his gaze away before Mihawk caught him staring. God help him if the man called "Hawk-Eyes" actually caught on.

Inevitably, Buggy's glass was empty.

" Alrighty then, I uh... I guess I'll just be turning in then. Thanks for the drink Hawk-Eyes." Buggy said as he slowly rose to his feet.

Mihawk said nothing, but his yellow eyes once again bore holes into the Star Clown. Buggy gave the swordsman a final nod before forcing himself to walk away at a sedate pace and not run away as fast as his legs could carry him, hell he'd break up into the smallest parts he was capable of and evaporate if he could. Buggy made his way back into the kitchen area. He had just all but tossed his wineglass into of the sinks when all the hairs at the back of his neck suddenly stood on end, his entire body going numb and alerting him of imminent danger, a foreboding presence materializing behind him.

Then Buggy was letting out an loud, undignified yelp as the back of his neck was seized in an iron but not bruising grip and he was yanked backwards almost clean off his feet.

He was whirled around and then pushed back in one single, fluid motion.

" Oof!" Buggy grunted lightly as his back impacted the cold metal door of the refrigerator he had only a little while earlier gotten his dinner out of.

Buggy didn't have time to reorient himself before he found himself once again staring up into otherworldly yellow eyes as Mihawk stood to full height and towered well over him.

" M-Mihawk wha-" Buggy began to ask only to fall utterly silent at a single look from Mihawk.

Buggy could only stand there paralyzed and scarcely breathing as Mihawk stepped closer, leaving only centimeters between them. Mihawk leaned down until he and Buggy were nearly eye to eye. Buggy felt like his very soul was arrested by this yellow eyed man, helpless to do anything more than stand still and watch as Mihawk slowly reached out toward him. Buggy clenched his fists and forced himself to stay in one piece and stay still as he felt Mihawk reach around to the back of his head and deftly undo both the knot of the red and white bandana he was wearing and the bun he had pulled his long hair into. The knot loosened and the cloth fell away, Mihawk pulling it off and stuffing it into his back pocket as Buggy's distinct blue hair unraveled completely and fell about his shoulders and down his back all the way to the base of his spine in a cascade of cerulean waves and soft curls.

Buggy then gasped as Mihawk hooked his hand around his neck and yanked him away from the fridge, pulling the blue haired flush against his own chest, his other arm coiling around the clown's trim waist and effectively barring escape as he spoke.

" Those were some rather interesting noises you made while you ate your stew." Mihawk said, his voice a low growl that had Buggy shivering. Then he was sputtering in utter mortification at the swordsman's words. He averted his gaze and wanted the ground to just swallow him up.

" Don't fret Buggy, I had some of that stew for dinner myself, it really was quite delicious." Mihawk said lightly before a truly devilish smirk slowly spread across his face, his eyes almost glowing in their intensity as he continued.

" If a simple stew could have you making the noises you did, I should very much like to see what noises I could wring out of you myself." Mihawk growled.

Before Buggy could even gasp or try to make sense of what Mihawk was saying, a pair of hot, unyielding lips were covering his own. Buggy's brain fully short-circuited in that moment, the last coherent thought registering to him was that Dracule Mihawk was kissing him.

Dracule fucking Mihawk was kissing him.

Buggy parted his lips fully and gave in to Mihawk's ministrations without thought, his hands coming up to press against the taller man's chest. This man, to whom countless men had lost their lives, and the whole world revered to the highest degree was seemingly seeking to devour him, and all Buggy could do was hang on and give in to the sensations.

Mihawk's lips were like velvet against his own, his beard tickled at Buggy's chin, and his whole aura seemed to enshroud him. There was no space or time, there was only Mihawk. With his whole body seeming to sigh, Buggy sank into Mihawk's arms and groaned softly as his eyes fluttered shut and he began to respond in kind, tentatively kissing Mihawk back as he felt the swordsman's steely fingers card through his hair before cupping the back of his head.

Countless centuries past before they were finally breaking apart with a soft gasp from Buggy. Buggy gaped up at Mihawk, who's own pupils were blown wide. The swordsman leaned in and pressed their foreheads together, Buggy feeling a stab of mortification go through him as his larger nose mushed against Mihawk's awkwardly. Mihawk didn't care at all though as he gazed hungrily back at Buggy. Then in one swift motion Mihawk was letting go of Buggy, the clown's knees almost buckling at the sudden loss. By the time Buggy reoriented himself and looked up, Mihawk was standing in the doorway out of the kitchen, silhouetted in the dim light and looking back at him intensely. Buggy immediately forced his legs to move fast, hurrying to Mihawk as the other man strode out of the kitchen. Buggy did his best not to stumble as Mihawk's stride was quick and purposeful. Buggy followed Mihawk out into the deserted main tent and then they ducked down another corridor that led to a darkened and ominous area.

They walked through the darkness together and then turned a corner. Buggy nearly stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the many tall, black candelabras that lined either side of the corridor, bearing crowns of black and red candles that all burned with an eerie green flame. With a fresh thrill Buggy realized Mihawk was taking him into his personal wing. No one ever came down this way except perhaps Crocodile himself, or the brave island doctor who insisted on monthly checkups for all at Cross Guild, everyone else either too afraid or wisely choosing not to invade Mihawk's space. Buggy had to process this revelation fast as he and Mihawk reached the end of the green lit corridor where an imposing black arched door stood. The door seemed to stretch to the very heavens, and had intricate, swirling carvings around the border.

Mihawk stepped forward and gripped the doorknob, turning it with a soft click before pushing it open. The black door swung away to reveal the dimly lit chambers of the world's greatest swordsman. Mihawk stepped aside wordlessly, Buggy immediately stepping forward and over the threshold into the cavernous room. The room was filled with rich red and black hues with a bit of gold here or there. The furniture was all in the distinct Gothic style with black wood in cathedral tracery and striking blood red velvet flocked damask upholstery. The floor was an assortment of earthy hues carpets and rugs in rich hues of deep red, black, and brown. There was a quietness to the whole decor despite it's overall intricacy, no doubt a reflection of the man the chamber belonged to. As Buggy continued to take in the room his eyes zeroed in on the truly magnificent black four poster Tudor canopy bed that stood to the center and back of the space. For all of it's grandness with it's lush looking wine red velvet curtains, it was actually smaller than a full-sized king bed, no doubt in accordance with Mihawk's solitary nature. There beside the bed hanging from a specially designed black steel rack was the legendary black blade Yoru, Mihawk's one true companion throughout. The blade was resplendent even in the darkened chamber, her jeweled pommel and gilder guard almost glowing while the gigantically long black black shone lustrously. Along with his sword, the rack held Mihawk's signature white feathered hat and long black and red sleeved coat.

Buggy took a moment to look up at the ceiling, a smile coming to his face when he saw the many Gothic style lanterns that hung about the rafters.

" Gotta say, it's all very you." Buggy said as he looked away from the ceiling to finally set eyes on the master of these chambers once more.

" No doubt dour and austere." Mihawk replied with the barest hint of a sigh.

" Absolutely gorgeous." Buggy blurted out without thought.

He immediately froze, mortified again at his own boldness this time. Mihawk tilted his head and said nothing, just gave Buggy this assessing look. Buggy did his best not to squirm under those ever arresting eyes. The next moment the air grew charged and heady between them yet again. Mihawk slowly stalked forward, as a panther would towards its prey.

Once again Mihawk loomed over Buggy, captivating the blue haired man fully. They stared at each other a few moments longer, Buggy's heart pounding furiously against his sternum and his entire body feeling like a live-wire was running through it as Mihawk finally broke the silence between them.

" You let me kiss you, you followed me all the way here were bolder men have not dared to tread, consider this your final warning clown, the door's right behind me so you can leave and we never speak of everything that transpired thus far for as long as we live, but if you stay then there will be no turning back, not for me and especially not for you." Mihawk said with a steely tone.

Buggy let out a shaky breath as Mihawk's foreboding words washed over him. If he didn't leave now then it would mean the end of all that came before and be the beginning of what was probably the biggest seismic shift of any relationship Buggy had ever had in his life since his loss of Gol D. Roger and his gut-wrenching fall out with Shanks. As he forced himself to meet Mihawk's steely gaze, Buggy felt something within himself relax in surrender.

Who was he to deny a man like Dracule Mihawk, who might not have been able to slice and dice him but was more than capable of crushing him with his bare ands? Who was he to not take up the chance to be a little less lonely?

" I-I am staying." Buggy croaked out shakily.

Mihawk stared at him unblinking before he tilted his head and his expression grew thoughtful for a moment. Then that dangerous glint in his sharp eyes returned ten-fold. Then Buggy was letting out a loud yelp as he was suddenly yanked forward by the front of his pajama shirt. That same velvety hot pair of lips were sealing themselves over his own once more. Buggy could only wrap his arms around Mihawk and hold on, bunching his fists into the back of the older man's loose linen shirt as the swordsman went about seemingly trying to devour him. Buggy was dimly aware of one of Mihawk's hands going to the back of his head, his steely fingers winding into the wavy blue strand. Then they were breaking apart with a gasp from Buggy as he head was firmly pulled back and his neck was left taught and exposed.

Buggy let out a loud, unashamed moan as Mihawk's started kissing, licking, and biting at his neck and throat, sending wave after wave of fresh fire through his entire body and leaving him weak at the knees as he made some truly wanton noises just like Mihawk aimed to hear from him. Mihawk did not let up as he started shuffling Buggy backwards across the room towards his waiting bed. By the time they reached the foot of Mihawk's bed, Buggy was nearly incoherent with want and already looked so debauched, Mihawk actually smirked at his handy work. When they were just a few feet away from Mihawk's bed, the swordsman simply demonstrated some of that formidable strength he possessed as he simply picked Buggy up and tossed him across the rest of the way.

Buggy yelled as he was pulled up off his feet, his slippers flying off entirely, then suddenly airborne, and then landing on a thankfully cushioned surface in the form of Mihawk's rather plush mattress with his long blue hair fanned out about him. Buggy had enough time to push himself up onto his elbows before Mihawk was right there situated between his legs, looming over him in a striking display of some of that insane speed he possessed as well. The man had somehow taken his long boots and socks off as well.

There was another beat of charged silence between them before Buggy spoke.

" C-Can I take your shirt off?" He asked softly, immediately blushing at his own forwardness.

" By all means." Mihawk said breezily, the ghost of genuine amusement on his face.

Swallowing thickly, Buggy tried to keep his hands from trembling as he reached up and lightly gripped the sides of Mihawk's loose linen shirt. He slowly pulled the thin fabric out of where Mihawk had tucked the hem into his pants and then continued to take the garment off of the former Warlord. Buggy got the shirt off Mihawk's back and over his shoulders, and then finally over his head and down his arms, leaving the yellow eyed man shirtless.

" Where should I put this?" Buggy asked tentatively as his hands bunched up Mihawk's shirt nervously.

" Just toss it to the floor, no big deal." Mihawk replied smoothly.

Buggy nodded and tossed the garment over the side of the bed. No sooner had he turned back to Mihawk, the swordsman was seeking out the buttons of the red-nosed man's white pajama shirt. Mihawk would have had no trouble simply ripping everything off Buggy, but since the clown had asked nicely to divest him of his shirt, Mihawk had no qualms with extending the same courtesy to his "Chairman". It wasn't lost on him just how nervous the man underneath him was, his heart may as well have been part of the percussion section on the orchestra. Despite all of his fearsome reputation, when it came to the rare occasions where he's partaken in carnal pleasures, he always preferred his partners to be fully consenting and at ease with him at the very least.

With each button Mihawk undid, Buggy felt the pooling heat in his lower stomach rise higher and higher. With the last button undone, Buggy slowly sat up to make it easier for Mihawk to finally take the shirt off of him and toss it away to join his own shirt on the floor.

No sooner had Buggy's shirt fluttered to the floor, Mihawk was pouncing on the blue haired Yonko. Buggy could only gasp and then let out muffled groans as Mihawk effectively plundered his mouth. Those warm, calloused hands touched him all over, leaving trails of fire all over his skin. Buggy wrenched his head away from Mihawk's lips with a harsh gasp, his whole body arching magnificently when the swordsman's hand dipped under the waistband of the pajama bottoms Buggy was still wearing, finally touching one of the most intimate parts of him.

" Hmm, magnificent." Mihawk said calmly, though there was a light rasp to his voice as he watched Buggy writhe and groan underneath him at his ministrations. Buggy looked up sharply at Mihawk's words, utterly stunned by the unexpected complement. Things quickly devolved further after that, a pair of thin white pajama bottoms and a pair of black paints and matching boxers were joining the pile of clothes on the floor.

" O-Oh my..." Buggy trailed off in a shaky sigh as there were no more physical barriers between him and Mihawk, just skin of skin and the overwhelming sensations that came with it. Buggy's eyes hungrily took in Mihawk in his full, nude glory. The man was nothing short of exquisite in every sense of the word, and as Buggy could finally see with his own two eyes, Yoru was not the only great sword Mihawk possessed. It had a fresh wave of delicious shivers wracking through the Star Clown's whole body.

They were so different physically. Buggy was slim and wiry with well-built arms thanks to his preference for knife fighting, but an overall softness to his form, while Mihawk was all muscle and completely flawless skin, not a single mark or scar on him, seemingly carved from marble. It was a testament to his skills as a swordsman, the best swordsman there ever was. Mihawk drew away from Buggy, sitting back and then leaning over to the side, seeking out the matching nightstand by his bed. Buggy felt his heart start pounding anew as he watched the yellow eyed man pull open the top drawer and reach in. Mihawk pulled out a small vial of clear liquid and smoothly returned to Buggy, staring down at him with his yellow eyes darkened and his intentions clear. Buggy licked his suddenly dry lips, his whole body thrumming with anticipation as he slowly nodded in acceptance.

Mihawk allowed himself a satisfied smirk before he leaned down and languidly kissed the blue haired man, a little reward before he would set about absolutely undoing the "Chairman" of Cross Guild. Buggy could only swallow thickly and lay back as Mihawk loomed over him and finally popped the little black stopper on the vial in his hand. Mihawk poured the entire contents of the vial onto his hand and then tossed it carelessly to the floor.

" Oh my God, it's actually happening. We're actually gonna do this!" Buggy thought as he forced himself to relax and watched Mihawk reach down towards the other most intimate part of his body.

Buggy let out a sharp cry as Mihawk slowly breached him, his spine arching of its own accord as he twisted his hands tightly into the black bed sheets underneath him. A tell-tale burn started behind his eyes and Buggy shut them tightly and lost himself in the sensations of Mihawk preparing him. It felt like hours passed as Mihawk steadily went deeper and deeper, adding a second finger and scissoring his way towards that special spot, that bundle of nerves. Buggy's harsh cry echoed through the entire chamber when Mihawk finally found the sweet spot and had the blue haired man nearly breaking apart as he arched almost clear off the bed. Buggy nearly fell over the edge entirely, just barely managing not to as he collapsed back onto the mattress, a quivering and gasping wreck.

Buggy was still in a daze when he felt calloused hands on his hips, slowly lifting them up. With a soft gasp Buggy looked up to see Mihawk lining himself up. This was it, the final moment before everything would change.

" Last chance." Mihawk whispered, his yellow eyes nearly black at this point, his tone dangerous and warning.

Instead of fear, Buggy felt a fresh fire ignite within him. He slowly pushed himself up and climbed right into Mihawk's lap, meeting those yellow eyes head on as he wrapped his arms around Mihawk's powerful shoulders and spoke.

" Do it." He croaked out.

Mihawk met Buggy's gaze as a slow, truly terrifying smirk spread across his face, his very teeth glinting in the dim light before he lashed out, seizing Buggy's hips in a bruising grip. The next moment Buggy was letting out an unashamed scream as Mihawk impaled him, drowning out the swordsman's own groan of pleasure as their bodies were irrevocably joined together. Buggy shuddered, never having felt so exquisitly full with anyone before. His jaw worked but no sound came forth as he stared down at Mihawk with wide sea foam green eyes. There was another beat where they just gazed at each other and breathed, then Mihawk's eyes were hardening as he surged up and captured Buggy's mouth in another searing kiss and then pushed them backwards, sending Buggy onto the bed while Mihawk's larger body covered him. Buggy could only let out a muffled groan as Mihawk's full weight settled over him. When they finally broke apart with a gasp, Mihawk immediately started biting and kissing his way down Buggy's throat, then over his collarbones, and then finally seeking out one of the little buds that graces his pecs. Buggy cried out and his entire body jolted as Mihawk sank his teeth into the little bud, sending fresh lightening bolts of pleasure through the blue haired man. Buggy had barely caught he breath before Mihawk was finally drawing his hips back and then surging forward, rending another cry from Buggy as he set a slow, unwavering, maddening pace that had Buggy's vision constantly whiting out as he clung to Mihawk with all his strength. He all but sobbed as Mihawk kissed him again and canted his own hips to meet each of the older man's thrusts.

Mihawk's hands caressed Buggy everywhere, from his pecs, down his clenching stomach, over his quivering thighs and then back up his shaking body to tangle in his long blue locks. Mihawk drew back so that he could watch Buggy's face as he changed the angle of his hips and surged forward again, watching with savage amusement as Buggy's eyes rolled up into the back of his head for a second and a harsh gasp was punched out of his lungs. Mihawk did not relent, eliciting all manner of sounds from Buggy and reveling in doing so. Mihawk hadn't really known what to expect when he decided to bed the blue haired Yonko, just a means of blowing off some steam on a sleepless night really. Instead Mihawk found himself actually enjoying the way Buggy felt, the way he made him feel in return. Buggy's mouth and hands on him, his whole body surrounding his length, all of it sending bolts of white hot pleasure though Mihawk in a way he had not felt in a really long while. Mihawk felt excited, he wanted to take Buggy to the very highest peaks of pleasure he was capable of, but above all else... he actually felt alive, he felt connected to another human being for once.

It's just that it happened to be Buggy the Star Clown he was experience all of this with, who was equal parts an absolute idiot and an accidental genius. A man who literally flew to pieces on many occasions when the going got tough.

Mihawk quickly snapped out of his amused thoughts and focused his attention back to the task at hand. He reached down and harshly kneaded at Buggy's chest, teasing the little buds til they were stiff and red against Buggy's pale complexion, he kissed and bit at the clown's lips, wanting them to be reddened and bruised too, and then he finally adjusted the angle of his hips and surged forward once more, this time aiming for that sweet spot.

The way Buggy's eyes nearly bugged out of his own skull and his whole body arched up and want rigid was confirmation enough for Mihawk that his aim had been true. Buggy made a soft, unintelligible sound before Mihawk sealed him lips over his. Buggy's muffled groans filled the air as Mihawk set a faster, harder pace, pounding into the blue haired man, hitting that sweet spot over and over again. Buggy's hands helplessly traveled all over Mihawk's powerfully built back and shoulders, reaching up into his dark spiky hair, his nails wracking over the sides of his rib cage and his fingertips digging into Mihawk's pistoning hips before reach back up to splay across his back again. Buggy could only let the Mihawk plunder his mouth further. They could both feel something hot building between them, slowly creeping up both of their spines, radiating throughout their entire beings as they slow scaled up the summit. Mihawk had been steady, in control throughout, but as Buggy wrapped his legs around his waist and forced him deeper in, the swordsman finally felt his control starting to fray, like a rubber band that was slowly being pulled beyond its limits.

Mihawk's movements became more erratic, his arms going around Buggy and holding him in a crushing, vice-like embrace and never breaking the kiss they were sharing as his own soft grunts mingled with Buggy's muffled cries. Buggy's eyes fluttered shut, tears leaking free past the seams of his eyelids as he felt his very heart stutter in his chest, pressure building steadily inside him. His cries, muffled against Mihawk's lips grew sharper and sharper with each thrust.

The noises that filled the room from both men steadily grew louder and louder as Mihawk's pace quickened further while everything else remained still. They rose together, higher and higher and then with a final surge forward, Mihawk was groaning loudly into Buggy's mouth, Buggy keening in response as he arched up against a rigid Mihawk for the last time and they fell off the precipice together into white hot ecstasy. They broke apart with a gasp and stared at each other, wide, tearful sea foam green eyes meeting those of otherworldly yellow that seemed to be glowing even more intensely in the dimly lit chamber as wave after wave of pleasure washed over them.

A low buzzing filled Buggy's head, his whole body growing heavy like lead. It was too much, it was all just too fucking much. Mihawk could only watch as Buggy's eyes grew glassy and unfocused. He didn't need his Haki to know what was about to happen as he pulled Buggy closer. With a full body shudder, Buggy managed to breath out a final word as he stared vacantly up at Mihawk before everything went black.

" D-Dracule." He breathed softly before he eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he went utterly limp with a soft sigh as consciousness abandoned him entirely.

Mihawk stared down at Buggy with an untold warmth in his yellow eyes, a begrudging fondness filling him as he leaned in and pressed his lips to the unconscious man's in a surprisingly chase kiss. No one ever really called him by his first name, he was always Mihawk or "Hawk-Eyes". He rather liked the way his actual first name sounded from Buggy's lips. Said lips were warm but slack against his own as Mihawk pulled away with a small sigh.

" Buggy." He said quietly as if in reply as he reached out and ran his fingertips alone the length of the blue haired man's jawline. A few moments passed this way in thoughtfulness until Mihawk's face slowly morphed into a smirk.

" Enjoy the show?" Mihawk said, seemingly to no one as he carefully pulled away from Buggy and looked lazily over his shoulder.

A light shuffle sounded and suddenly a hulking figure was materializing in the dark corner closest to Mihawk's bed, seemingly out of thin air. The figure stood well over eight feet and let out a giant puff of smoke as he stepped forward into the light. With his signature gleaming golden hook adorning his left wrist, Sir Crocodile revealed himself, with a burning cigar clenched in his grinning teeth. The giant stood with his deep purple hair slicked back as usual, his singly golden earring glinting along side his hook. He was dressed casually in dark grey dress pants and a deep black button up shirt over his broad chest, forgoing his bright green cravat, orange vest, and heavy fur-lined coat. The dim light made the signature scar across the bridge of his nose stand out starkly as the hulking man chuckled.

" I did indeed Hawk-Eyes." He drawled with his deep voice as he drew nearer to Mihawk's bed and let his dark, deep-set eyes take in the scene before him.

" Didn't expect you to render him senseless. Was thrilling to see none the less. Our dear chairman's a noisy one that's for sure." Crocodile continued as he actually reached out as took a bit of Buggy's long blue hair between his fingers, caressing them.

Mihawk watched the action with a glint in his eye.

" Noisy but beautiful no?" He challenged.

" Noisy, beautiful, and willing." Crocodile countered as he let the blue strands fall through his bejeweled fingers, his many rings glinting even in the dim light before he turned his full attention to Mihawk.

The two former Warlords of the Sea stared at each other intensely, not saying a word. Then Crocodile reached out with his large hooked hand, gently but firmly looping it around the back of Mihawk's neck before pulling the swordsman to him, taking the thick cigar out of his mouth with his other hand. Mihawk went willingly and accepted Crocodile's deep, languid kiss. Crocodile reached out with his remaining hand, splaying it across Mihawk's powerful back as best he could while still holding his smoldering cigar. They went no further as they drew back and shared a warm look between them before turning their attention back to Buggy.

The Star Clown was till very much out cold, his chest steadily rising and falling. He looked almost angelic with his blue hair fanned out about his head and his pale skin luminous against Mihawk's deep black bed sheets in the dim light despite. They couldn't really admire for much longer as the lingering evidence of Buggy and Mihawk's coupling started to get unpleasant.

" Let's clean up our clown." Crocodile said lightly before he took another drag of his cigar.

" Hmm." Was all Mihawk said as he rose from the bed, feeling oddly reluctant to actually leave Buggy despite there not being any danger and knowing Crocodile would be there watching over their "leader".

Mihawk grabbed all the clothes off the floor save for his boots, those he left neatly by the foot of his bed. He set Buggy's pajamas down over the side of the bed for later, sharing a look with Crocodile over just how utterly mundane they were compared to their owner before he strode away to the private bathing area. If there was one thing Buggy did right in his life, it was ensuring that there was running hot and cold water throughout all of Buggy Town as Mihawk grabbed up a black towel, using it to clean himself up quickly before he donned his boxers and linen shirt. He grabbed up a couple more, wetting them lightly with hot water before striding back out to rejoin Crocodile. The taller man was still standing watch over Buggy, his expression thoughtful as he smoked.

Mihawk wordlessly handed one of the towels to Crocodile before he climbed onto his bed and carefully rolled a boneless Buggy over onto his side. Together the two former Warlords went about cleansing Buggy. Buggy groaned softly and stirred at their touch but did not awaken. Once they had wiped Buggy down from head to toe, Crocodile looped his normal hand under the clown's shoulders, lifting him up so that Mihawk could threat his loose arms through the sleeves of his white pajama shirt. Once Mihawk got Buggy's pajama pants on him, Crocodile fully lifted the sleeping clown into his arms to allow the swordsman to swiftly change the soiled bed sheets and get rid of the damp towels they had used.

Once he and Mihawk got Buggy tucked in, they stood facing each other.

" Would've loved to have seen our little red-nose's reaction to him waking up to the both of us, but hey, that's sure to come later." Crocodile said with a chuckle.

" Indeed, at least this much of our shared curiosity has been satisfied. He was willing to go all the way with me, so now we'll just have to see how well you fair." Mihawk said with the ghost of a smile on his own lips.

" Yup, for now though Imma head to bed, it's fuckin' late and we got shit to do at sun-up." Crocodile rumbled before he took his cigar out of his mouth when he say Mihawk lean up towards him.

The two Warlords shared another deep, sensuous kiss before Crocodile bid Mihawk farewell. As he made his way out of Mihawk's quarters, Crocodile paused to look over his shoulder in time to see Mihawk climb into his bed beside Buggy and take the slumbering blue haired man into his arms. Mihawk tucked Buggy's head under his chin and stared back at Crocodile with his striking yellow eyes shining bright. Crocodile committed the sight to memory, both men looking beautiful and pale in the dim light. With another puff of whitish grey smoke, Crocodile turned and was gone, heading off to his own quarters with a small grin to his lips.

He couldn't wait for the next time Buggy decided to work late and would come to the kitchens for a late night snack, because then it would be his turn to make a move on the famed Genius Jester. He'd get to touch pale skin, rend sinful noises from Buggy's very soul, and maybe he would get to hear what his name sounded like from Buggy's spent lips.

Oh the thrill of untold possibilities.

A week later just after midnight over Karai Bari...

Buggy sat back in his chair with a soft groan. He was currently inside one of the larger Cross Guild meeting rooms, literally burning the midnight oil. Dressed in a red and white striped shirt, high waisted light green pants, with a darker green sash around his waist, his signature pointed boots, and over the whole thing he had his orange and white fur trimmed captain's coat over the whole thing. On his head he had his orange captain's hat with clown-nosed skull and crossbones. He had his long blue hair threaded through the two holes on either side, leaving the two sections hanging like pigtails against his shoulders. His face was painted up with his signature blood red mouth and crossbones and deep red spikes over his eyes and forehead. For hours on end he had been pouring over maps and trade documents. Today had been a rather harrowing day what with his basically suicidal decision to cancel the contract with the supplier who provided all the meat that fed Crocodile's prized bananawani, including the gargantuan Anna... without actually informing Sir Crocodile himself. Buggy hadn't actually been able to explain anything to Crocodile due to the latter being pulled into a meeting with Mihawk and some of the fleet commanders regarding updating the security measures around the island.

Buggy had immediately busied himself throughout the rest of Buggy Town, culminating in him holing himself up in this meeting room to look over documents. He hadn't gone hungry though, Alvida and Cabaji had come by hours ago with a half a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and buttered vegetables. His two crew mates had flanked him on either side with a critical eye, making sure he finished everything before they took the plates and their leave.

Now the hour was late and Buggy was finally throwing in the towel for the night. With a grumble, Buggy got up and stretched his limbs. His stomach chose that moment to let out an almighty rumble. With a sigh, Buggy haphazardly reorganized the papers strewn about the large table and then headed out of the meeting room, shutting the lights off as he went. As he made his way down the tented corridor towards the central tent, Buggy's mind immediately turned to a certain yellow eyes individual.

It had been a week since he and Mihawk had slept together. He had woken up that morning, groggy and disoriented in the arms of the World's Greatest Swordsman. He had expected to be immediately kicked out of the yellow eyed man's bed with all harshness. Instead Mihawk had simply held him tighter and told him he could go back to sleep since it was still pretty early. Buggy has flushed deeply, thankful to somehow be both clean and dressed, no doubt Mihawk's handiwork. He'd stuttered out a soft "Ok" before promptly burying his flushed face into Mihawk's chest, his hand reaching up to grip the swordsman's signature cross necklace as he had drifted back off to sleep feeling warm and protected.

They had had to truly part a couple of hours later, Buggy sneaking out through a back door to Mihawk's quarters with his lips still tingling from the deep kiss Mihawk had given him in goodbye. Buggy had gone back to his quarters and gotten dressed, putting on one of his signature garish outfits before he'd hurried off to his lab to check on the chemicals he had left bubbling overnight. All had been well and when he had joined the rest of the crew for breakfast in the mess hall, everything was normal, Mihawk had sat beside Crocodile off in a corner. Buggy had felt his eyes on him, and Crocodile had been looking at him too.

In the days that had followed everything at Cross Guild went normally. There were meetings, new recruits, new tents being set up, new bounties on Marines being fulfilled and sent out. Cross Guild was bustling and in the midst of it all, Mihawk was just there, always in the corner of Buggy's eye. Despite having been together so intimately, the swordsman was being nothing short of... a gentleman. Mihawk made no demands, didn't seek him out for anything lascivious, didn't even speak to him rudely or raise his voice, the yellow eyed man was simply a constant, reassuring presence throughout the week that had passed. Buggy knew he and the swordsman needed to talk about what had happened between them and how much it had changed things, but between the constant work of running an enterprise like Cross Guild and his own deep hesitance, there simply hadn't been a moment for them to meet up to have that much needed conversation.

Buggy was shaken from his musings when he reached the entrance to the deserted main tent. He made his way across the dimly lit, cavernous space towards the corridor that led to the kitchen. His eyes immediately went to the shadowy entrance on the other side that led to Mihawk's personal wing, a deep yearning filling his heart. Buggy forced himself to move forward though, his doubts winning out over his desire. With a sigh Buggy strode into the corridor that led to the kitchen. As he came to the entrance, Buggy's mind flashed back to a week ago, when he'd come here for a late dinner and wound up in the bed of the World's Greatest Swordsman. Though a small part of him hoped against all hope that said swordsman would actually be here sipping some wine in the corner like he had been that fateful night.

Buggy has just stepped across the threshold when the lights suddenly came on, freezing him where he stood. Buggy's heart stopped entire the next moment when his eyes zeroed in on who actually turned the lights on. There sitting at the large metal island in the center of the space was a hulking, dark haired figure with a scar across the bridge of his nose.

Sir Crocodile.

The former Warlord stared back at a wide-eyed Buggy impassively, taking the cigar out of his mouth and setting it down on a little dish by his side, exhaling an final cloud of this smoke before he spoke.

" Heard from Alvida that you were working late tonight, just happened to get a little peckish myself. Made some pesto, cheese, and tomato finger sandwiches. Why don't you come have one?" Crocodile said cordially as he gestured with his hooked hand towards the plate stacked with a neat pyramid of uniform, delicate looking sandwiches that looked restaurant quality.

Buggy felt the bottom of his stomach fall out when Crocodile's words actually registered. Though he'd worded it as a question, Buggy knew his meaning was clear.

Have a seat clown, or else.

Clenching his gloved hands into tight fists, Buggy gave Crocodile a jerky nod before he forced his feet to move. His whole body had gone numb with terror as he made his way across the room and around the island, Crocodile's cold, dark eyes never leaving him. The hulking man was seated on a kitchen stool that somehow withstood his weight, an empty one waiting just a couple of feet away from him for Buggy. Pursing his lips and feeling the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, Buggy made his way to the stool land slowly sank down onto it. Crocodile said nothing, just stared at the blue haired clown beside him with an almost bored look. Buggy did his best not to squirm under that steely gaze as they were enveloped in a truly awkward silence.

Crocodile's eyes then flicked to the side and then back at Buggy.

Buggy looked in the direction Crocodile had and saw the plate of sandwiches that were still untouched between them.

" O-Oh yeah, sorry. Th-Thank you." Buggy sputtered out quickly before he reached out and took one of the offered sandwiches.

Even before he brought it to his painted mouth, Buggy caught the fragrant sent of basil and tomato. He finally bit into the bread and filling and let out a truly obscene moan before he could stop himself. Buggy immediately let out a small squeak of embarrassment and looked to Crocodile when the bigger man let out a deep chuckle.

" Not the reaction I was expecting to my cooking but I'll take it." Crocodile drawled as he reached out with his regular hand and picked up a sandwich for himself.

Buggy just ducked his head, feeling his entire body burn with bright embarrassment as he shoved the rest of the sandwich into his mouth in an effort to keep himself from saying anything to humiliate himself further. The delicious sandwich was great though.

Several minutes passed with just Crocodile and Buggy sharing plate of mini sandwiches. Buggy had just polished of his third one when Crocodile finally spoke.

" Mind tellin' me why you saw fit to cancel my contract with Doji Meat Industries without even consulting me clown?" Crocodile asked flatly, turning dangerous eyes on Buggy.

Buggy felt a jolt go through him but then he remembered why he had actually taken such action in the first place. Buggy slowly turned to face Crocodile, meeting his dark eyes gaze with a steely resolve shining in his own sea foam green eyes as he spoke.

" Those fuckers were poisoning Anna and the other bananawani." Buggy said firmly.

There was a beat of charged silence, Crocodile looking like he was made of stone before he leaned forward as spoke in a tone that garnered no room for argument.

" What do you mean by that Buggy?" He asked slowly.

" Everything's been fine with Doji up until now but a couple of weeks ago I was on the docks when Mohji and some of the guys were giving Anna some lunch and we all noticed that the meat she was getting had this sweet smell to it. It didn't really seem like a big thing but then a few days later they were throwing some of that had spoiled out with the compost for Mihawk's cabbage patches and I saw that that meat had these weird bright green streaks in them for some fucking reason." Buggy explained, watching as Crocodile's face slowly morphed into a confused frown.

" What'd you do then?" Crocodile demanded.

" Decided to conduct a little experiment." Buggy said before he began to explain in full detail how he took a piece of meat and then left it to soak in a solution of chemicals designed to change color if there was any kind of poisonous agent present. The experiment took a few days but by the end of it the solution was left a putrid bright puce color. Buggy had then researched the exact type of poison and discovered it to be a concoction of berries and plants that were native to the island Doji Meat Industries called home. The poison was designed to build up in the bananawanis bodies over time and then basically make the innocent animals hearts liquefy inside their chests within a few months, thus dealing Crocodile's business and one of Cross Guild's best defenses and also beloved pets a crushing blow.

Crocodile could only sit there and openly gape at the blue haired Yonko.

" Now rest assured, when Doji Meat's representatives arrived here today for their annual meeting I was sure to let them down gently, saying that I had already secured our meat supply for your bananawanis elsewhere at a far better rate and excellent quality with Jorain Meat Farms Inc. on Inaro Island just West of here and that they were to take back all the meat that we didn't use, at no cost to us." Buggy explained with a gleeful little smile on his face.

" How'd you manage that?" Crocodile rumbled as a hungry look filled his dark eyes and he slowly inched his way closer to an unsuspecting Buggy.

" Simple really, I showed them my experiment and got them to confess that they were paid off by an anonymous source, no doubt the Marines. I told them we were done with them and then had Cabaji and some of the men load the tainted meat back onto their boat. I may or may not have implied that they had enjoyed some of their own poison mixed into the wine I served them hehehe." Buggy chuckled, not noticing the warmth that filled Crocodile's dark eyes as he drew ever closer.

" And Croco, you'll be happy to know that these scumbags aren't gonna get off with just a warning." Buggy grinned.

" Oh?" Crocodile asked in interest.

" You know all that nasty meat we piled onto their ship? Well, I tucked in some of my best Muggy Balls into that stinking poison pile. These idiots would do well to dumb the whole lot into the seas, otherwise... boom." Buggy chuckled and he flared his hand to simulate an explosion.

The next thing Buggy knew, something hard and curved was coming around his neck and lightly pulling him sideways while a deep, low chuckle filled his ears. He had enough time to yelp before a pair of slightly chapped lips were sealing themselves over his own.

" Mmph?!" Buggy asked eloquently, his brain taking a moment to actually process what was happening.

He was being kissed deeply, and not only that, he was being kissed by none other than Sir Crocodile himself.

Buggy's entire body seemed to sigh as he let himself be pulled the rest of the way across and fully into the sand Devil fruit user's powerfully built arms. Crocodile let out a low rumble at the feel of Buggy's lips, reality being a thousand times better than all his imagination after witnessing Buggy's sensuous night with Mihawk.

Buggy's arms wound around Crocodile's broad shoulders, disconnecting his arms into sections under his coat sleeves so that he could wrap them fully around Crocodile's massive shoulders. The blue haired man fervently kissed Crocodile back, loosing himself in the feel of the other man who could crush him with his bare hands with no trouble at all.

The unlikely pair lost themselves in each other, finally breaking apart with a shared gasp before Crocodile proceeded to kiss and bite his way along the elegant line of Buggy's throat and neck. Buggy groaned and shuddered under Crocodile's ministrations but as the other man was happily sucking a bruise into the junction where his neck met his shoulder, Buggy suddenly remembers a different set of hands, ones that were just as warm, calloused and strong from years of handling the most legendary black blade, a pair of softer lips with whiskers that tickled at his skin, and a pair of golden yellow eyes unlike any other on this earth.

It was like Buggy had fallen into the sea after he had accidentally swallowed the Chop Chop fruit. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move, he was being pulled under into the sea's cold and unforgiving embrace. Crocodile frowned as he felt a previously responsive Buggy suddenly go rigid in his arms. He drew back to see the absolutely devastated look on the clown's face. Before he could even ask Buggy what was wrong, Crocodile felt himself being released and lightly pushed to arm's length as Buggy let out a shuddering exhale and vehemently shook his head.

" I love Mihawk too!" Buggy breathed out through a tight throat.

His whole body was suddenly coming alight in flames, his gut seeming to boil most unpleasantly as he remembered the night he had shared with the yellow eyed swordsman, and also felt his heart screaming for the dark eyed man currently in front of him.

" I love you Croco but I love him too." Buggy whispered as he looked up at Crocodile desperately.

Crocodile felt the bottom of his own stomach fall out, something it rarely ever did. What he was witnessing before him now had every instinct in him telling him that something had gone horrifically wrong, something big had just happened.

The clown loved both him and Mihawk, who was already his lover of nearly a full year now. Buggy loved them both and yet he looked like he wanted to just shrivel up and die.

" I-I can't do this, I can't do this to him, I can't do this to you. You both mean too much to me!" Buggy all but shrieked.

Much to Crocodile's alarm, he watched as Buggy's normally pale skin started to grow a worryingly bright shade of red that nearly matched his signature nose, the very air around him buzzing as if joining the blue haired man in his unadulterated panic. He was pulling in desperate lungfuls of air, as though his lungs weren't working as they should.

" Buggy I-" Crocodile began to say when he abruptly fell silent as Buggy surged forward, taking his face firmly into his hands, looking up at him with sea foam green eyes that were now swimming in hot, burning tears and a torrent of love and regrets.

Then a pair of lips were pressed against his own as Buggy kissed him soundly. Crocodile grunted lightly in protest because this kiss was not the one they had shared just a few moments earlier. Buggy's lips were too hot and steadily growing hotter, even his mouth seemed to almost have steam coming out of it. The worst part though was that this didn't just feel like any other kiss, it didn't feel like just an apology.

It felt like goodbye and it was all fucked up and wrong, just wrong, wrong, wrong, so very fucking wrong in ever sense of the word.

Before Crocodile could properly articulate a response, Buggy was wrenching himself away with a sob. The tears he had been holding back finally spilled free as he gazed up at the stunned purple haired, his face flushing further and his breathing hard.

" Croco." He all but whispered before he was turning and running out of the kitchen on clearly unsteady legs, leaving a truly shaken Crocodile in his wake.

" What the fuck?" Crocodile whispered as his eyes turned to the mouth of the kitchen where Buggy had all but hurtled through in his escape.

Crocodile sat there, his mind replaying everything that had just transpire. Then in an instant he was dissolving into sand and hurtling out of the kitchen himself with his own quarters as his destination. There was another person involved in this matter, and Crocodile needed to get to him immediately.

A few minutes later, in a tent that was the epitome of brass, gold, and opulence, a casually dressed Mihawk looked up from the book on business etiquette he had been skimming through while reclined leisurely on one of Crocodile's lavish sofa when the door to said chamber flew open and its master materialized before him in a whirl of air and sand.

Mihawk sat up, immediately alert as the sand quickly formed into the hulking 8 foot plus figure of a man with dark purple hair. Crocodile was tellingly alone and just from the look on his scarred face, Mihawk could tell that things had not gone according to plan.

" What's happened?" Mihawk asked firmly as he gracefully rose to his feet and met Crocodile halfway.

Crocodile then proceeded to tell Mihawk everything that happened after they had parted ways earlier in the evening, Crocodile going to make the sandwiches and wait for Buggy, while Mihawk had been meant to wait in Crocodile's quarters and then make himself scarce once Crocodile got back with Buggy in tow for some fun times. He told Mihawk that Buggy had come shuffling into the kitchen looking for a late night snack like they had hoped and had actually enjoyed a few of Crocodile's finger sandwiches with some more of his delightful moaning until Crocodile had pressed him about the cancelled meat contract.

" You should've seen him as he explained to me how he figured out what Doji Meat was trying to do to Anna and my other bananawani and put them in their place Mihawk. He was... fucking exquisite so I pulled him in and I kissed him, and he kissed me back but then he..." Crocodile trailed off as he looked at Mihawk.

" He what Crocodile?" Mihawk asked neutrally.

" He pushed me away and said that he loves you Hawk, he said that he loves you and he loves me, that we mean too much to him." Crocodile said before he shook his head and went on to recount how Buggy had given him a final kiss, called him 'Croco' as he had started crying and then fled.

Mihawk felt his eyes widen, both at Crocodile's grave words and there implications. This display of loyalty from Buggy for him and the love he clearly had for Crocodile both warring with each other in that moment when the Star Clown didn't even know that there was no need for any conflict, that Mihawk and Crocodile were a package deal for him, silently floored the swordsman.

" Buggy loves me? Buggy loves Crocodile? Buggy loves us both?" Rapidly fired through Mihawk's mind but he couldn't linger on it very long as Crocodile spoke.

" He didn't look right Hawk-Eyes." Crocodile said in all seriousness.

At Mihawk's silent head tilt, Crocodile explained how Buggy had panicked so severely, how his skin had slowly started turning red and it had even felt like steam was coming out his mouth when he had kissed Crocodile goodbye. He added in how glassy Buggy's eyes had gotten behind the tears and how unsteady he had been on his feet as he had run off. All of this had Mihawk's hackles rising swiftly.

" We need to go find him, now." He said firmly.

With a nod from Crocodile the pair rushed out of the hook-handed former Warlord's quarters and down the nearest corridor that would take them to Buggy's personal tent.

They made quick work of getting to Buggy's private wing, already disheartened when they found the rounded blue door with fireworks pained all over it fully ajar. Mihawk made his way in first with Crocodile right on his ears.

" Buggy?!" Mihawk called out into the dim, two story space that was part concrete and wood structure on the bottom and tent on top. He received no reply, the place was silent as a grave and had both men feeling prickly all over in unease.

" Mihawk look." Crocodile said as he pointed his golden hook further ahead.

When Mihawk's eyes turned in said direction, he was alarmed to see a familiar orange captain's hat and coat with white fur trip laying on the blue and gold carpeted floor. The swordsman and the sand master strode forward, their eyes lingering on the discarded garments as they sought out the stairs that led up to Buggy's private living area. They had just gotten halfway up the stairs when they both stopped dead in there tracks at the ghastly sight that greeted them. There laying limp and lifeless and flushed an alarming shade of red was Buggy's disembodied left arm. It lay with his gloved hand palm up and his fingers twitching lightly, causing relief to course through Mihawk and Crocodile because it signaled that Buggy was alive, if unable to keep himself intact. Mihawk reached out and carefully picked the fevered appendage up before he and Crocodile continued to the rest of the way up the stairs. Thankfully they encountered no more body parts along their ascent but when they finally reach the apex another horrific sight greeted them.

Buggy lay face down and unmoving save for the shallow rise and fall of his back to signal that he was still breathing. His long blue hair flared out around him, his other arm that was still attached was just as angrily flushed with fever, matching the striking red stripes of the t-shirt he had on. His legs were bent at the knees where they were sprawled, thankfully stay attached to the rest of him as he had fallen unconscious.

" Oi Buggy!" Crocodile called as he and Mihawk rushed over to the prone, blue haired figure.

Buggy didn't respond at all as Crocodile and Mihawk came to kneel on either side of his.

" Let's turn him over." Mihawk said quietly, his sharp eyes taking in the dire state Buggy was in and frowning deeply.

Crocodile nodded mutely and then together they grasped at Buggy's limp form. Mihawk remained stoic but Crocodile didn't hide his wince when they both felt the dangerous amount of heat that was radiating off the blue haired man as they rolled him onto his back.

" Holy fuck." Crocodile whispered as he and Mihawk finally beheld Buggy's face.

Said face was covered in a sheen of sweat that left the face paint around his eyes and forhead smeared and was as red as his nose, which itself was actually glowing, the fever was that high. Mihawk pursed his lips to keep his own colorful array of curses from coming out, forcing himself to stay calm as he first pressed Buggy's disembodied arm that he was still holding back into place, hearing the soft click as it reattached to its rightful owner. Mihawk then looked around the room while Crocodile cleared Buggy's hair out of his face and called out to the clown to no avail. The sharp yellow eyes surveyed the room and immediately took note of the doorway Buggy was facing when he had gone down and that there was a red-nosed den den mushi resting on the sky blue and gold nightstand Buggy kept by is moderately well sized bed that was neatly made and sporting pillows and a comforter all emblazoned in circus colors and patterns.

" Crocodile." Mihawk said sternly as he looked to his lover and fellow former Warlord.

Dark eyes met those of striking yellow as the swordsman continued.

" I think he was trying to get to his bathroom to cool himself down. I am gonna take him in there and try to get his temperature down fast, you get to that den den over there and call Dr. Zaza, tell her to get here as fast as she can." He said firmly as he reached down and pulled Buggy up halfway.

Mihawk and Crocodile both watched as Buggy's mouth fell open slightly and an actual cloud of steam came wafting out.

" Go!" Mihawk ordered sternly before he set about literally ripping Buggy's clothes off of him, the noise of the tearing fabric seeming echo through the entire tent.

Crocodile swiftly rose to his feet and trotted over to the den den mushi, picking up the mouth piece and dialing in the number for the town doctor quickly. While the den den mushi rang with it's signature "pereh pereh" dial tone, Crocodile looked back in time to see Mihawk rip Buggy's boots and socks off, leaving the unconscious clown in nothing but his dark blue and star covered boxers as the swordsman properly took him into his arms and stood up without any trouble. Buggy hung completely boneless in the swordsman's arms, somehow looking even redder and flushed than when they had initially found him. Mihawk and Crocodile's eyes met as the former hurried past, an untold number of things passing between them before Mihawk disappeared with Buggy through the bathroom doorway.

Crocodile forced himself to stay where he was, especially when the den den mushi gave it's signature "clank" to signal that there was an answer from Dr. Zaza's den den on the other side and he had to explain the emergency situation to her.

In the bathroom, Mihawk spotted the large white clawfoot tub Buggy kept by the far wall and wasted no time placing Buggy into it. The stark white of the tub made the redness of Buggy's fevered skin stand out even more as his head half hung over the brim of the tub with his long blue hair cascading from his head and actually touching the floor. Mihawk went about turning the knobs of the faucet, making sure the water was cold but not frigid before he put the stopper into the bottom of the tub so that the water could start accumulating. Buggy was so out of it he didn't even react as the water started gathering around his bare feet and slowly began to climb upwards. Mihawk strode over to the shelves that had neat stacks of folded red and blue striped towels to quickly grab one up and then return to Buggy's side. The World's Greatest Swordsman went to his knees beside Buggy's head and leaned over to dip a portion of the towel into the cool water that was gathering before he set about wiping at Buggy's face, both to get rid of the ruined face paint and further his efforts to cool the very sick man down.

Buggy didn't even twitch when Mihawk wiped the cold towel across his flushed face, he lay there limp with his lips parted and the only movement being the shallow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Mihawk wiped Buggy's face clean and waited for the cold water to rise till it had reached Buggy's lower chest. Crocodile strode in just then.

" Dr. Zaza's on her way, she should be here in ten minutes." The tall man said as he took in the scene before him, of Mihawk kneeling by the tub, tending to Buggy.

" How's he doing?" Crocodile asked as he stepped closer.

Mihawk looked up and shook his head grimly without saying a word. He didn't need to, Buggy's state said it clearly. As Mihawk turned back to wiping the completely soaked towel over Buggy's flushed chest, he was suddenly struck with a thought. He turned back sharply to Crocodile and spoke.

" Crocodile, I'll keep trying to cool him down, you go and wake up Alvida and Cabaji, bring them here. They've known him longer than we have, especially Cabaji. Dr. Zaza needs to know as many details as we can provide when she gets here." Mihawk explained.

" On it." Crocodile said with a nod before he was rushing out of the bathroom with a lingering look at Mihawk and Buggy.

Mihawk watched his lover go before he turned his attention back to the other man who had just declared his love for him. He felt his heart give a painful lurch but he quickly shook himself, he needed to focus right now. Steely his resolve, Mihawk set about gathering all of Buggy's long blue hair into his hands and then twisted his hands around until he had all of those long tresses into a messy but secure bun near the top of the unconscious man's head before he carefully tucked one arm under Buggy's wet shoulders and then reached with his free hand to get Buggy's knees bent so that Mihawk hand more room to maneuver the blue haired man further into the water. Mihawk cradled Buggy's upper body in his arms and then carefully lowered him into the cold water, dipping the back of Buggy's head in before unwinding one of his arms so he could cup some water and gently douse the crown of Buggy's head to further cool him. Mihawk could feel the linen shirt he was wearing get soak along with the legs of the grey pants he had on, but he paid it no mind, his sole focus on tending to the unconscious man in his arms.

The sound of the water dripping and Buggy's shallow gasps for air echoed through the bathroom and Mihawk's ears as he gazed down at the blue-haired man. His face was still so worryingly red, but the angry glow to his nose had dimmed slightly... or maybe that was just Mihawk's rare flight into wishful thinking. Mihawk continued to pour water over Buggy's head until his sharp ears caught the sound of rapidly approaching feet and urgent voices.

" You three stay right where you are outside!" A stern female voice sounded from outside the door before Mihawk looked over his shoulder to see a middle-aged woman of average height with deep indigo hair puffed up around her head stride into the room with purpose, carrying a large black gladstone bag and a fierceness to her bright gray eyes behind the large, hexagon shaped wire-rim spectacles she was wearing.

" Well, you've already taken the first step I would've, good work Hawk-Eye Mihawk." The woman said with an approving look as she quickly made her way over to the tub.

" Dr. Zaza I presume." Mihawk greeted, keeping his voice steady and neutral while he felt a wave of pure relief crash through his gut as he pulled a lax Buggy up and settled him against the tub so that he was sitting up against the wall of it. The swordsman drew back to make way for the doctor but remained close.

" You presume correctly." Dr. Zaza replied before she looked over Buggy with a frown.

" How long has he been this way?" The good doctor asked as she reached out and gently held Buggy head in her hands, using her thumbs to carefully push his eye-lids back to get a better look at what she was dealing with.

" It's been maybe half an hour or so." Mihawk answered dutifully before he seemed to deflate a little.

" Sir Crocodile can give you more details since he was there when it happened. According to him, as he and Buggy were discussing a... private matter, Buggy grew upset and then it was like the fever just materialized out of thin air. Buggy ran off, Crocodile sought me out and explained how Buggy basically turned into a furnace right before his eyes and then we both came here to his quarters to see if he was alright only find his coat and hat on the ground floor, one of his arms laying detached and fevered halfway up the stairs and then the rest of him was laying face down in a heap in his bedroom area facing the bathroom. His nose was glowing even brighter than it is now and he was scarcely breathing so my first step was to try and cool him down as fast as possible." Mihawk calmly explained, all the while gripping the rim of the tub hard enough to almost grind it to dust under his palms.

" Hmm." Dr. Zaza said with a nod as she drew back from Buggy and looked to Mihawk.

" Let's get him out of the tub, the water's done all it can."

Mihawk nodded, reaching for the thin chain that was connected to the black rubber stopper, pulling lightly on it to release the stopper and drain the tub while he reached for Buggy, hooking his arms under the blue haired man's knees and shoulders. Buggy's head rested listlessly against Mihawk's shoulder as the swordsman carefully lifted him out of the tub. Water dripped everywhere but no one paid it any mind.

" Lemme just get us some towels so we can dry him up." Dr. Zaza said as she stepped towards the shelves Buggy kept all his towels when a familiar deep, baritone sounded.

" No need for all that, allow me." Crocodile said as he stepped into the room, his dark eyes never leaving Mihawk and Buggy as he extended his large hand and called forth the powers bestowed on him by the Sand Sand Fruit.

Mihawk and Dr. Zaza watched as Crocodile's hand melted into golden sand that floated across the room towards them in slowly swirling tendril, half of Crocodile's massive arm melting into more grains of golden sand. Mihawk stood still and Dr. Zaza watched on it interest as the sand slowly covered both the swordsman and the unconscious clown in his arms, staying clear of the mouths and noses. The sand darkened as it soaked up all the water that was clinging to Buggy's bare skin and Mihawk's clothes. Mihawk felt warm and reassured as he felt Crocodile's power surround him and Buggy. A few moments later the sand was retreating from the pair and reforming into Crocodile's arm and hand, leaving them both completely dry from head to toe.

" Hmm, nifty trick you've got there, but let's not dawdle and get him into bed quickly." Dr. Zaza said as she gestured for Mihawk to haul ass.

Mihawk did just that as Crocodile wisely stepped aside and cleared the doorway for Mihawk to step through with Buggy while Dr. Zaza followed close behind with her bag.

A frazzled looking Alvida and Cabaji rushed forward, both of them in their sleepwear looking horrified as they finally saw the state Buggy was in for themselves.

Mihawk strode past them, focused solely on getting Buggy tucked into bed so that Dr. Zaza could evaluate him further. Once he had Buggy under the covers, Mihawk quickly stood back and out of Dr. Zaza's way, his yellow eyes immediately going to Buggy's two subordinates who had come to stand across from him and Crocodile on the other side of Buggy's bed.

" Alvida, Cabaji." He called.

Alvida and Cabaji both looked away from Buggy, instinctively stand up straighter and looking nervously back at the World's Greatest Swordsman as he spoke.

" You've both been by Buggy's side for a long time, has anything like this ever happened to him before?" He asked them firmly, Dr. Zaza looking up from checking Buggy's vitals to listen in on the much needed information.

" Y-Yes, he has in the past but... it's just never been this bad." Cabaji said, stricken as he looked to Alvida who nodded grimly.

Cabaji and Alvida then proceeded to explain the other times Buggy went from fine to furnace in the span of a breath, each time having to do with the clown being stressed to the max about running a pirate enterprise, other times it had to do with matters of the heart, mainly Buggy getting his heart broken from things like Gol D. Rogers' execution, or his falling out with Shanks, or even this one time one of their circus lions had these absolutely precious litter of cubs only to unfortunately lose all of them within a few days. The fever would last for two or three days before Buggy would be fine again.

Crocodile and Mihawk shared a subtle look between them, guilt gnawing at them both. They shouldn't have played any games in seduction, they should have just been straight forward about their shared romantic interest in him.

Crocodile left out the full details about what had transpired in the kitchen between him and Buggy, sticking to sharing his grilling of Buggy regarding the contract he had canceled but keeping out how he had been absolutely awestruck by Buggy's intelligence, grateful to him for keeping his precious bananawani safe, and had just taken him into his arms and kissed him soundly.

" I didn't know my demands for answers would cause all this." Crocodile said quietly.

Alvida and Cabaji both sent him torn looks, equal parts angered at Crocodile for causing their captain to end up in such a state but also understanding that the hulking former Warlord of the Sea hadn't done so maliciously. They knew full well there was no love lost between Buggy and his two powerful lieutenants, but Alvida and Cabaji could both agree that this was the closest they had ever seen a man like Crocodile look remorseful. Hawk-Eye Mihawk also surprised them with the level of care he had displayed since the normally unapproachable swordsman had been the one tending to Buggy before Dr. Zaza had arrived.

Said doctor listened intently to everything that was said before she turned to her bag and unzipped it. Inside was a miniature apothecary of vials and powders, medicinal herbs and tonics, and physician's instruments all neatly organized and strapped in place.

Dr. Zaza set to work, pulling out a large empty vial and then several smaller vials filled with various medicinal ingredients. With expert ease she started to pour and shake different amounts of all the ingredients into the large vial with the four other occupants in the room watching on silently in anticipation.

Dr. Zaza kept adding ingredients until the large vial was full before she pushed a stopper to the top and picked it up to shake and swirl it thoroughly for a few minutes before she deemed the concoction ready and then turned to the rest of the room.

" Someone sit him up please." Dr. Zaza ordered sternly as she pulled out a large metal table soon from her bag.

To Alvida and Cabaji's quiet shock it was Crocodile who wordlessly stepped forward to Buggy's side, leaned down and tucked his unmarred right arm under Buggy's shoulders and slowly lifted the blue haired man up into a sitting position, tucking his hooked hand under Buggy's chin with unheard of care, tilting the fevered man's head back a little. Dr. Zaza poured some of the medicine onto the spoon and then handed the bottle to Mihawk before she pried Buggy's mouth open further with her free hand. Mihawk's sharp sense of smell immediately caught the sense of the concoction and he couldn't hold back a small grimace. With some further practiced ease, Dr. Zaza poured the spoonful down Buggy's gullet, massaging his throat a little to make sure it went all the way down. They all watched as Buggy finally twitched slightly, the first sign of life beside his breathing. Then with a choked off sputter he let out a soft groan, no doubt at the taste of the medicine. His brow knotted in a pained frown as his whole body shuddered in unconscious disgust.

" Good, that's good, he was able to perceive the Jomi Jomi root." Dr. Zaza said calmly. At the many looks of askance directed towards her, the good doctor explained.

" Jomi Jomi root is the strongest fever reducer we've got in all of Karai Bari, and it's extremely bitter. If he hadn't reacted to it just now it would have meant that he was probably well beyond help." She said gravely.

A distinct chill ran through everyone in the room, though Crocodile and Mihawk were better at hiding it. Alvida and Cabaji had no such luck as they looked openly terrified.

" Please doctor, is our captain gonna be okay?" Cabaji asked with a croak to his voice while Alvida had a definite sheen to her eyes.

" These next few hours are critical but like I said, he reacted to the Jomi Jomi root and you've mentioned that this isn't the first time he's gone through this sort of stress induced fever before, just not to this severity. I have every confidence that he'll get through this." Dr. Zaza explained gently as Crocodile carefully lowered .

Crocodile, Mihawk, Alvida, and Cabaji hung on every word Dr. Zaza uttered as she explained what they were to do next. Buggy needed someone to watch him for any distress, give him a spoonful of medicine was to be administered every hour and then spaced down to one spoonful every three hours once the fever had hopefully come down. If Buggy's fever didn't come down by after twenty-four hours, they were to send for her immediately.

" I will stay with him." Mihawk said before anyone else could voice the desire.

Mihawk paid no mind to the three sets of eyes leveled his way, Alvida and Cabaji gaping at him in astonishment while Crocodile just looked at him in understanding. He put the stopper on the vial he was still holding and then turned to confer with Dr. Zaza further, Crocodile coming to his side. Alvida and Cabaji migrated closer to Buggy's bedside, taking in his still fevered state, but also looking at Mihawk and Crocodile and wondering whether reality itself had shifted entirely.

In what reality would Hawk-Eye Mihawk willingly keep vigil over Buggy The Star Clown? This one apparently as Alvida and Cabaji shared a silent look and then focused their attention on Buggy. Alvida carded her long nailed fingers through her captain's hair while Cabaji rubbed at his lax wrist to silently let the Yonko know they were there for him.

About ten minutes later Dr. Zaza took her leave, Crocodile ordering Alvida and Cabaji to see her out and then go to bed themselves. The two looked ready to vehemently protest but a single look from Crocodile cowed them both.

" We'll guard him all night and the both of you can come see him after breakfast." Mihawk said.

" You're to not breathe a word of this to anyone, understand?" Crocodile added in warning as he loomed over everyone else.

Alvida and Cabaji both nodded mutely, not wanting to anger the dangerous sand wielder. They did send Mihawk twin looks of fleeting gratitude before they led Dr. Zaza away down the stairs, finally leaving Mihawk and Crocodile alone in the quietness.

Crocodile turned to collapse in the nearest chair, but found himself being pulled down into a deep, charged kiss by Mihawk mid-turn. Crocodile was stunned for a moment before he was wrapping his arms around Mihawk and kissing him back just as fiercely. When they drew back several moments later, their foreheads stayed pressed together as Mihawk spoke.

" Apologies if it looked like I went ahead and declared rights over the clown, but you know as well as I that no one would think anything was out of the ordinary if I made myself scarce, but you unfortunately don't have that luxury, you have to be the one to keep Cross Guild running smoothly while Buggy recovers." Mihawk said seriously.

Crocodile took a deep breath and nodded against Mihawk's forehead as he spoke.

" We wouldn't even be in this mess if it weren't for me." He said tiredly.

" This is on the both of us for not just telling Buggy about our shared interest in him. I never should have taken him to my bed last week, I should have understood that he not only had feelings for us both, but that they ran deep enough to leave him in the state that he's in now at the thought of wronging either of us." Mihawk countered quietly before he and Crocodile both looked to the sleeping man laying a few feet away from them.

" Hmm." Said man groaned softly, sweat beading on his flushed brow.

" I will make him a cold compress like Dr. Zaza said, you stay with him." Mihawk said with missing a beat before he finally let go of Crocodile and ducked away to the bathroom.

Crocodile watched him go before turned and pulling up one of the plush blue upholstered chairs Buggy kept about his sleeping area up to the clown's bedside and wearily sank down into it. After all the chaos and terror, this was now the quiet aftermath, the time to ruminate and regret, and yes, to hope for the best outcome. Crocodile's eyes immediately went to Buggy where the blue haired man lay. The alarming red flush to Buggy's skin had dissipated slightly but nowhere near enough for anyone's liking, signaling that the powerful medicine Dr. Zaza had given him was starting to work at least. His nose still glowed an angry red but he seemed more alive now, groaning softly every now and then instead of being silent like a grave as he had been earlier. Crocodile was pulled from his observations when Mihawk returned carrying a washing basin filled with cold water and a couple of small towels floating in it. Mihawk gave Crocodile a small nod of acknowledgement before he set the bowl down on Buggy's beside table and then fished out one of the little towels. He wrung out the excess water and then folded the towel in half before placing it on Buggy's fevered brow.

" Mmm." Buggy moaned softly, stirring for a moment before he stilled beneath the covers.

" This is a marked improvement indeed." Mihawk said as he turned to Crocodile.

" When I had him almost completely submerged in the tub earlier he didn't react to the cold at all. Like Dr. Zaza said, if he's perceiving bitterness and now cold, he's coming back." He finished with a tired but reassuring look to his lover.

Crocodile deflated further and allowed a small modicum of relief to wash over him before he reached out with his hooked hand and wrapped it around Mihawk's trim waist, pulling the yellow eyed man in close, pressing his head into the swordsman's side. Mihawk in turn wrapped an arm around Crocodile's wider shoulders. Their eyes never left their sleeping charge.

They were in for a long twenty-four hours, but they were in for it entirely.

A few hours later after the sun had come up...

Alvida and Cabaji quickly made their way down the corridor that led to Buggy's personal quarters. It was just after breakfast and as Mihawk had said, they would be able to see their captain after last night's harrowing ordeal.

Crocodile had been the one to stand at Buggy's balcony and give the morning address, assuring everyone that Buggy was very busy with a private matter and would return soon. There was a grumble among those gathered but one look from Crocodile had them settling down fast before the former warlord had made a swift exit. Alvida and Cabaji knew the truth, they just hoped that Buggy had improved with Dr. Zaza's medicine and both Mihawk and Crocodile guarding him.

No sooner had Buggy's two friends reached the door to Buggy's personal quarters, it was pulled open to reveal none other than Sir Crocodile himself. The man towered in the doorway sans his signature thick cigar. Alvida and Cabaji both froze on principal at facing the fierce and hulking man, who stared at them with a knowing look before he let out a small huff and stepped aside.

" His fever's down." Crocodile said simply.

Alvida and Cabaji both blinked at him as his words registered, and then they looked to each other and shared grins of relief before they were scrambling through the door into the room.

A few moments later found the two of them at Buggy's bedside along with Mihawk and Crocodile. Alvida and Cabaji saw for themselves that Buggy had improved greatly. He was no longer as inflamed and literally steaming as he had been a few hours ago. The red flush to his skin had lightened to a pale dusky rose but at least his nose had stopped glowing. Alvida and Cabaji could also see that Buggy now had a plain white linen sleeping shirt and so they turned slightly stunned eyes to Mihawk and Crocodile.

Mihawk replaced the cold compress on Buggy's forehead before turning to his two crew mates.

" Dr. Zaza's medicine brought his fever down, but he hasn't opened his eyes yet. He still needs some time." Mihawk explained quietly.

" You both didn't sleep at all last night?" Cabaji asked as he looked between Mihawk and Crocodile.

" What sort of lieutenants would we be?" Crocodile said simply.

Neither Cabaji nor Alvida could find the words to counter that as they looked to the two former Warlords of the Sea with their opinions on them forever changed. It wasn't like Hawk Eye Mihawk and Sir Crocodile actually gave a flying fuck what anyone thought of them, but they had earned the respect of two of Buggy the Star Clown's closest confidants. Should the need ever arise, no matter how unlikely, they would guard and serve these two men alongside their captain without fail.

Sea foam green eyes suddenly burst open, Alvida and Cabaji both crying out while Mihawk and Crocodile both startled as Buggy sat bolt upright with such speed the cold compress on his forehead went flying clear over the railing of the upper level onto the carpeted lower level of Buggy's quarters.

Everyone stared at Buggy, who himself sat ramrod straight, but his sea foam eyes were staring straight ahead, unseeing and vacant. Before anyone could say anything, there was a soft click sound and suddenly Buggy's upper body was disconnecting and floating upward. Crocodile immediately reached out and grabbed hold of the blue haired man's wrist to halt his ascent towards the tent's ceiling. Everyone held their breath for a second in case Buggy's arm popped off completely thanks to his chop chop abilities, but thankfully the vacantly staring clown stayed intact.

" He's not awake. His eyes are open but he's not there. That's never happened before." Cabaji said shakily.

" I am going to call Dr. Zaza." Mihawk said simply as he swiftly stepped over to Buggy's Den Den Mushi while Alvida reached for Buggy's other arm.

Together with Crocodile they slowly pulled Buggy down and gently reconnected him to his lower half before Alvida basically swaddled him in the sheets to keep him from going to pieces while Crocodile kept his good hand splayed wide across Buggy's chest to keep him from floating away again. All through out this, Buggy's eyes stayed open and staring up at the ceiling, a truly unnerving sight.

Everyone waited with bated breath as the Den Den rang a couple of times before there was an answer.

" Good day Dr. Zaza, this is Mihawk." Mihawk greeted.

" Good morning Hawk-Eye Mihawk, how is my patient?" Dr. Zaza's voice sounded through the mouthpiece.

" His fever had gone down considerably thanks to the medicine you provided. He's still flushed and too warm but we've been using the cold compresses like you instructed. There had been a someone confounding development though." Mihawk explain.

" Oh, what's happened?" Dr. Zaza asked in concern.

" Buggy's eyes opened but he's clearly not conscious still. He literally sat bolt upright in bed and then his upper half separated from his lower half due to his chop chop abilities and he nearly floated away. Crocodile and Alvida managed to grab hold of him and reconnect him back to his lower half. We currently have him wrapped in the sheets and Crocodile is holding him down." Mihawk explained, as calm and collected as ever.

" Hmm, that must have been an alarming sight to say the least. Nevertheless, you all can breathe easy. Sleepwalking is a rather rare and unusual side-effect of the Gambachi berries that are a part of the medicine I made. It rarely ever happens but I suppose our Yonko is a special one. This might be the only occurrence or he may sleepwalk again before the fever is through with him, so keep an extra close eye on him. Other than that you just have to keep giving him the medicine until the fever finally breaks entirely, alright?" Dr. Zaza asked.

Mihawk, Crocodile, Alvida, and Cabaji all visibly relaxed in their own way at Dr. Zaza's reassurance.

" Thank you for explaining Dr. Zaza." Mihawk said quietly.

" You're welcome, I will stop by some time in the afternoon to assess my patient. Once his fever goes down just a little bit more he should fully wake up. I'll see you later then. Good day to you Hawk-Eye." Dr. Zaza said.

" Good day doctor, we shall see you later." Mihawk replied before the line clicked to signal the end of the call.

" Well that's a relief at least." Alvida sighed as she shook her head and looked down at a still open-eyed Buggy with exasperated fondness.

" It's freaky as fuck though." Cabaji said with a wince at the vacant expression on his captain's face.

Mihawk and Crocodile said nothing, but they wordlessly agreed wholeheartedly with Cabaji's assessment.

Buggy just stared and breathed.

Mihawk leaned over him and reached out, gently pushing his eyelids down with the tips of his fingers and holding them in place til he was sure they'd stay shut. Alvida and Cabaji stayed for another half-hour before Crocodile sent them away to get some work done. This left him and Mihawk alone with Buggy once more.

" Take a nap Hawk." Crocodile said sternly.

Mihawk huffed but said nothing further as he sat down in a nearby chair to pull his boots off before he rose again and made his way to Buggy's bed. He paused to lean down and press a chase kiss to Crocodile's lips before he climbed onto the bed, going over Buggy's legs to his other side before reaching for the clown. The swordsman then settled himself against Buggy's side, wrapping one arm around the blue haired man's waist and tucking the other under his head. The World's Greatest Swordsman was fast asleep within a few minutes after he shut his eyes.

" The other thing you're the greatest at, power napping." Crocodile said with a shake of his head before he settled in to watch over Mihawk and Buggy.

They did make a striking pair as they lay together. Crocodile felt a quiet yearning churn in his gut. He already had Mihawk, he just hoped they could have Buggy once he was recovered.

A day later, just after sunset over Karai Bari...

Sea foam green eyes slowly fluttered open as awareness returned. Buggy pulled in a deep breath and immediately felt how leaden and warm his whole body was.

" Oh." He sighed as his licked his dry lips with his tongue and shut his eyes again.

" Buggy?" A deep baritone voice asked from somewhere above.

" Yes?" Buggy answered as he opened his eyes, a small gasp escaping him when he saw who it was hovering above him.

" C-Croco?" Buggy asked shakily as he looked up at the scarred up face of the hulking former warlord.

" I must say, you had a rather bizarre reaction to someone showing their romantic interest in you." A new voice said, Buggy's eyes widenly as Mihawk with his yellow eyes came into view beside Crocodile.

" Wha Mihawk?" Buggy asked eloquently as he became more aware that he was laying in his bed, Mihawk was sitting in a chair by his bed, and most astonishing of all, Crocodile was sitting over the edge of the bed beside him. It stunning to see that his bed had not broken under the weight of the former warlord, and said warlord was even sitting by him at all. Buggy let out a shaky breath of incomprehension.

" Hey, settle down clown, we don't need you working yourself up into a fever all over again." Crocodile ordered sternly.

Buggy blinked in confusion so Crocodile stepped in.

" After you declared your eternal love for both me and Mihawk here and then refused to hurt either of us, I thought you looked rather unsteady in your retreat from the kitchen so I went to Mihawk to explain. We both sought you out and came to your room where we found your coat and hat on the ground floor, one of your arms detached and laying on the staircase, and the rest of you unconscious on floor by your bed, flushed red with a fever so high that nose of yours was fucking glowing." He explained bluntly.

" Oh my. It happened again? How long was I out?" Buggy asked as he looked between Mihawk and Crocodile.

" By my calculations, about twenty-nine hours give or take." Mihawk replied before he reached out to pull a strand of luminous blue hair away from Buggy's forehead.

Buggy blinked up at the swordman, and then at Crocodile before he spoke.

" You guys have been here the whole time?" He asked quietly as he remembered what had transpired between him and Crocodile, his desperate declarations of love for both of these extraordinary men.

" Yes." Mihawk and Crocodile said in perfect synch before both men set about explaining everything that had happened after Buggy had collapsed. From getting Dr. Zaza for him, to Mihawk putting him in the cold bath to cool him down, to Alvida and Cabaji explaining that Buggy had gone through fevers like this in the past, to the side effects of Dr. Zaza's medicine that had left Buggy "sleep-floating".

" Never done that before." Buggy said lightly.

" First time for everything." Mihawk commented before he got up from the chair and reached for Buggy.

Buggy was pliant as Mihawk tucked his arm under his shoulders and helped him sit up in bed. Buggy sighed at the movement, his body utterly exhausted from the fever as Mihawk drew away, the clown immediately missing him. Buggy looked up in surprise as Crocodile wordlessly reached out with his undamaged right arm and gently gripped his upper arm to keep him steady. Crocodile looked back at him unflinching with an almost fond look. Buggy couldn't dwell on it before Mihawk was back and pressing a glass to his lips.

" Hmm." Buggy hummed in gratitude as he drank the water down, not realizing just how thirsty he was.

Buggy polished off the whole glass, his cheeks heating up as he looked up at Mihawk, who looked quietly approving.

" Th-Thank you." Buggy said shyly.

Mihawk wordlessly nodded before he and Crocodile shared a look. Before Buggy knew what was going on, his jaw was falling open as Mihawk and Crocodile gravitated towards each other, seemingly pulled in like magnets as they came together in a deep kiss. Buggy's mouth worked but no sound came out as he watched the two men he had torn himself apart over kissed each other like it was the most natural thing. When Mihawk and Crocodile finally drew back from each other, they shared a look of such deep feeling between them that it had Buggy's own heart fluttering. He froze though when they both turned to look at him with a share, piercing stare as Crocodile spoke.

" Me and Hawk-Eyes here have been together nearly a year, we're a package deal clown." He said firmly.

Buggy just blinked, utterly flabberghasted.

" A package deal that is yours for the taking, you wouldn't have to choose between us Buggy." Mihawk said more quietly.

" Wha?... I... Oh my..." Buggy breathed out shakily.

" You don't have to do anything about it right now numbnuts." Crocodile said in annoyance.

" Indeed, you just woke up. " Mihawk added.

Things then became a bit of a flurry of activity. Crocodile got up and piled some more pillows behind Buggy before gently pushing him down so that the clown was reclining upright, while Mihawk got on the Den Den to call Dr. Zaza and give her the good news that Buggy was finally awake and alert. The good doctor was beyond thrilled at the news and assured them that she would be on her way to assess Buggy herself. After the call with Dr. Zaza ended, Mihawk immediately called Alvida to let her know as well.

Alvida and Cabaji may as well have broken time itself they got to Buggy's quarters so fast. Tired though he was, Buggy immediately lit up as he reunited with two of his closest friends, Crocodile and Mihawk quietly standing off to the side keeping watch.

When Dr. Zaza arrived she was happy to see that Buggy's fever had dissipated completely and plied him with a restorative tonic to restore some of the electorlytes and minerals Buggy had lost from sweating out the fever. Buggy immediately felt a bit better after drinking the tonic and even had the engery to ask after the state of Cross-Guild in his absense.

Crocodile, Alvida, and Cabaji were happy to report that everything was running smoothly, not even Doji Meat causing any rukus because Buggy's little Muggy Ball surprise had been a super effective parting warning. Despite looking like hell, Buggy grinned even brighter at that.

If Mihawk and Crocodile both felt a tug in the center of their chests at the sight of Buggy's glee, they said nothing. There was plenty they needed to talk about, but they would wait until the blue haired star clown had recovered a bit more.

A few nights later...

It was just past 11PM, most everyone had turned in for the evening after another successful but otherwise uneventful day at Cross-Guild. While most were either already fast asleep or getting ready for bed, a certain blue hair, red-nosed individual was carefully making his way down a separate corridor that led to a large, dark green tent that was connected to the main giant tent that bore his name on the front of it.

Buggy forced himself to both stay in one piece and walk forward down the corridor and then make a left turn. Buggy was still dressed in his garb for the day, going purple all over with a purple and green striped t-shirt, a pair of indigo colored pants and a matching bandana over his hair that he had tied in a ponytail with wavy blue curls cascading down his back, an eggplant shaded sash around his waist and a purple velvet long coat over his shoulder with white fur trim and white braided epaullets on the shoulders. Even his signature pointed boots were a nice shade of dark grape with gold buckles. He'd even done his eye makeup in purple, leaving his cross bones white and his mouth his signature red.

Hanging lanterns lined eithers side of the corridor now, giving off a golden light as Buggy proceeded to the very end where a large wooden door with austere brass accents in the shape of snarling crocodiles stood. Gathering his nerve, Buggy reached up and grasped the crocodile head shaped knocker at the center of the door, lifting it up and then letting it fall. The knock to announce his presence seemed to echo through Buggy and the corridor as the star clown waited for the door to be answered. He didn't have to stand there long before the door was swinging away to reveal the towering figure of Crocodile. The man with the golden hook stared down at Buggy with his expression neutral and one of his thick cigars clenched lightly between his large white teeth.

In the days that had followed after Buggy's fever had broken and he had returned to his duties, Crocodile and Mihawk had both made themselves scarce. Buggy had only seen them at the few meetings they had held with potential contractors and traders and from the opposite side of the dining hall at meals. They never approached him and he would always back down whenever he had wanted to reach out to them. Buggy caught on quickly that they were keeping their distance, giving him some space to breathe. It was a level of consideration Buggy had not expected from his two "lieutenants", but as Alvida and Cabaji both relayed, Mihawk and Crocodile had been the ones to take all care of him throughout his illness, never leaving his side. Buggy was shaken from his musings when Crocodile spoke.

" You just going to stand there and stare clown?" The former warlord rumbled as his eyes bore into his guest intensely.

Buggy felt his cheeks heat up before he wordlessly nodded and stepped over the threshold into Crocodile's tent. Crocodile's living quarters were the biggest out of the three of them despite Buggy being the "Chairman" of Cross Guild. Crocodile might have been one of Buggy's "Lieutenants" but seeing as to how the man himself was over eight feet tall and built like a tower, it made total sense his tent needed to be big enough to accommodate him.

The furniture was large and ornate all over, with gold and brass accents. There were more crocodile motifs and bananawani emblems all over. The entire floor was one huge emerald green and gold carpet in the baroque style. Unlike his own tent that had two levels, Crocodile's abode was all one floor with plenty of space for the tall man. The tent was cavernous and green with large hanging bulblights to provide illumination. They had been dimmed, no doubt for the late hour. As he walked into the center of the tent, Buggy could see an area further ahead that was cordoned off by a giant curtain partition with thin, transparent black fabric. From what Buggy could make out through the fabric, that area was definitely Crocodile's bedroom area. Buggy felt a small tendril of heat curl about his stomach despite his nerves.

Buggy turned around to face Crocodile as the towering man wordlessly approaching him with plumes of smoke wafting about him. Crocodile had ditched his signature orange waistcoat, navy crevat, and his gold-buckled dress shoes, leaving him in just the white button-up shirt, black dress pants, and charcoal grey socks he had had on for the day. Of course he still had his iconic golden hook on his left arm that gleamed even in the dimmed light.

" S-Sorry for dropping in so late I just... I figured it was time we talked." Buggy said, doing all he could to keep his voice steady as Crocodile came to tower over him.

Sea foam green eyes met those of rich dark coffee as the pair stared at each other. Then with an exhale of smoke, Crocodile spoke.

" Yes, we got much to discuss. Why don't you have a seat?" He said as he gestured with his hooked hand to the large green velvet upholstered sofa Crocodile kept in the lounge area he had set up by cordoned off area.

Buggy nodded mutely and together the pair made their way over to the sofa and sat down. The sofa was plush and soft beneath Buggy as he sat with his gloved hands clasped in his lap in an effort to keep from fidgeting. Crocodile sank down beside him, the sofa dipping further due to his heftier weight. They sat together in silence before Buggy spoke.

" Thanks for giving me some space these last couple of days." He said as he looked up at Crocodile.

" Figured you'd want some time to think things over about... us." Crocodile said as he met Buggy's gaze.

Buggy nodded in understanding before he gave a slight shake of his head.

" I'm done thinking." He said simply before he used all the force in his body to catapult himself as hard as he could towards the bigger man sitting beside him with a distinct, loud click.

" What the-Mmph!" Crocodile managed to say before the rest of his question was swallowed up by a red painted mouth smashing onto his own is a fiery, desperate kiss that sent his thick cigar flying as he suddenly found his arms filled with trembling blue haired Yonko. Crocodile had the presence of mind to reach out and catch his cigar before it landed on anything with a tendril of sand, snub it out, and then letting it fall harmlessly to the floor before he focused solely on processing what was happening.

Buggy had pounced on him with surprising force, sending them backwards til Crocodile had his the back of his sofa, his hefty arms instinctively going around the slighter man. Said man was lighter than he expected until Crocodile took a glance to the side and saw that Buggy's lower half was sitting beside him, and realized that the Clown had simply separated his body at the waist so that he could go flying at Crocodile faster, and perhaps deny the taller man the satisfaction of having that body he craved fully in his lap.

Cheeky little brat.

Said Clown was hanging onto his shoulders, kissing him like a man starved, and in a way Buggy had been with him and Mihawk keeping their distance the last few days. Crocodile parted his lips and returned Buggy's affections, feeling heat pool in his gut as he held Buggy tighter. When they finally broke apart, Buggy's lip paint was smeared and his pupils blow wide, while Crocodile was sure his lips were stained red as he gazed up at Buggy with fire in his own dark eyes.

" You were there, and then you both just left, and then you were so close but so far away I couldn't be with you. Don't ever do that to me again, please Croco." Buggy said softly with such sadness Crocodile was silently kicking himself.

Knowing what they knew about Buggy's history with losing Captain Rogers, then Shanks, and having to fend for himself before he found his crew, Crocodile realized how shitty it must have been for him and Mihawk to just withdraw from Buggy after being practically glued to his side for days while he was recovering. Of course Crocodile said no apologies, gave no assurances, he was who he was afterall and he always preferred action over mushy sentiment. Instead he brought his golden hook around the back of Buggy's neck and pulled him down for another bruising kiss that had the star clown groaning softly. When they broke apart with a harsh gasp, Crocodile leaned over and reattached Buggy to his lower half before disentangling himself from the clown. He rose to his feet swiftly and yanked Buggy up with him.

" Where's Mihawk?" Buggy asked without missing a beat.

" Oh our dear Hawk-Eyes is here, he's just made himself scarce like I did when he took you to bed that night." Crocodile said with a self-satisfied smirk, watching as Buggy's whole body seemed to flush at Crocodile's words and their implications.

" Y-You were there that night, you w-watched us?" Buggy croaked out, feeling his mouth go dry as he remembered all that had transpired between him and Mihawk, now revealed to have been with an active audience.

" I sure did and I must say it was quite a spectacular exhibition. Now it's Mihawk's turn, so you want to put on a good show for him don't you star clown?" Crocodile teased.

Buggy's mouth worked but no sound came out as his body grew hot all over, and it was nothing like the stress induced fever that had claimed him days earlier. Forcing his leadened tongue to work, Buggy finally answered.

" Does he have to stay out of sight? He doesn't... I mean he doesn't have to and um... You didn't have to... that night me and him... you didn't have to hide, I wouldn't have minded." He stuttered out quietly, trying not to fidget under Crocodile's deep dark eyes.

Crocodile tilted his head, a genuine smile coming to his lips as he gazed down at the blushing blue haired man before him. He reached out with his golden hook and tucked it under Buggy's chin, slowly tilting his head up so that their eyes met.

" Well aren't you just full of surprises." Crocodile rumbled lightly, feeling a wave of possesiveness crash over him before he looked past Buggy towards the curtained off area.

" Hey Hawk-Eyes, you heard our Clown, he wants to see you, and so do I." He called with a grin.

Buggy turned to look towards the cordoned off part of Crocodile's tent, a thrill going through him both when Crocodile called him "Our Clown" and when he caught sight of a tall figure clad in black moving behind the transparent black fabric.

The next thing, Buggy felt a large calloused hand wrapping around the back of his neck firmly, sending a fresh jolt through him as Crocodile leaned down and pressed his lips against his ear as he spoke.

" Go through the curtain to my bedroom. You can go ahead and show Mihawk how happy you are to see him, but no more than kissing for now, understand?" He rumbled deeply, causing Buggy's whole body to shudder.

" Yes Crocodile." Buggy said softly.

Crocodile gave Buggy's neck a final squeeze before releasing him, standing to full height and watching as the blue haired man started making his way towards the smokey curtains.

Buggy's heart pounded hard against his chest as he crossed the tent towards the curtains. Part of him wanted to run towards Crocodile's bedroom area, while another part of him wanted to run off in the opposite direction, while yet another part of him was still trying to process that this was actually happening, he was finally reuniting with the two men he loved.

Before he knew it, Buggy was passing through the seam at the center of the curtains into Crocodile's bedroom. His eyes immediately went to the center of the space where a gigantic-sized dark wooden bedframe with green and brass colored leather tuft accents on the towering headboard and regal foot board slat. The sheets were the finest greet silk, while the massive amount of pillows at the head of the bed were all in shiny gold and jewel tone hues. Buggy's heart leapt when he caught sight of the figure sitting reclined off to one side of the bed against the mountain of pillows. Hanging from above was a massive trio of sphere-shaped lanturns that gave the space a rich golden glow. The floor was covered in plush, velvety emerald carpeting that was different, more luxurious than the rest of Crocodile's tent.

Yellow eyes looked up and locked onto those of sea foam green. Buggy just got one step before Mihawk, dressed in his signature black long coat with crimson sleeves with well build chest and torse bare beneath it, was getting up from the bed and making his way to him in one swift motion with his coat billowing out about him. His iconic hat was resting on top of of of the ornate, gold accented bedside table Crocodile kept on either side of his bed, while Yoru herself was propped up against it, looking just as regal and deadly as ever with the jewels in her hilt glinting. Buggy was in Mihawk's arms, being kissed breathless before his mind could even register the sight of the swordsman fully. Buggy could only melt into Mihawk's arms and kiss him back fervently. They said nothing, the kiss conveyed what they meant clearly enough.

I missed you

They broke apart with a soft gasp before Mihawk tucked his hands under the shoulders of Buggy's coat and pushed it off him, his own lips lightly strained red because of the smeared paint on Buggy's lips, tossing it onto a nearby green upholstered chair before he was on Buggy again. They shared another deep kiss before Buggy pulled Mihawk into a tight hug. Mihawk stiffened for a moment before he relaxed and wrapped his arms around Buggy's waist to reciprocate. They could have stayed like that for the rest of the night but when Mihawk saw the lights in the rest of the tent go out on the other side of the curtain, he immediately grew alert and withdrew himself from Buggy, reaching out to cup the side of his neck and give it a squeeze of reassurance before he stepped away completely and made his way back to Crocodile's expansive bed. Mihawk pulled off his boots and socks before he shrugged off his coat, draping it over the back of a nearby green upholstered chair before he retook his earlier position on Crocodile's bed, his yellow eyes all but glowing in the dimmed space. With a lingering look at the now gloriously shirtless swordsman with his iconic gold cross necklace hanging over his heart, Buggy slowly turned around to face the seam of the curtains and waited.

The seconds passed by like ages but soon a hulking shadow appeared through the darkness, and then Crocodile was stepped through the thin curtains into his bedroom. He and Buggy faced each other once more, Crocodile looking from the blue haired Yonko to the yellow eyes swordsman and back, his shoulders relaxing minutely as if in satisfaction that they had abided by his wishes.

His dark eyes then bore into Buggy before he spoke.

" Good you got your coat off, now don't flail about too much and stay in one piece." Crocodile ordered sternly as he raised his hand towards Buggy.

" Wha?" Buggy had enough time to asked before he was subsequently surrounded by golden sand and lifted clean off his.

" Woah!" Buggy exclaimed as he floated through the air, tendrils of warm sand burrowing under his clothes and pulled them clean off his body, everything from his boots and socks all the way to the bandana around his head and the white gloves on his hands.

By the time he was landing on his back atop Crocodile's silken sheets with a soft grunt he was completely bare before Crocodile and Mihawk. Buggy pushed himself up onto his elbows and watched as Crocodile towered over him from the foot of the bed before he smirked and promptly disintegrated entirely into a swirling mass of golden sand with all of the clothes he was wearing falling to the floor since there was no solid for for them to hold their shape over. The swirling mass of sand then promptly swarmed Buggy, sending him onto his back with a yelp. The mass of sand settled over Buggy like a heavy, warm blanket that has him groaning before all the sand grew darker and solidified back into a hulking eight-foot tall man with dark purple hair.

A smirking and very naked Crocodile loomed over Buggy. He reached out with his imposing hook hand, lightly grazing the tip over the arch of Buggy's cheek, then along his jawline and over his chin. Buggy shuddered as he turned his head to the side and exposed his throat to Crocodile, his eyes going to Mihawk who watched on with his expression neutral as ever but his eyes glowing in interest. He felt the deadly tip of Crocodile's hook slowly travel down the collumn of his throat, then down the side of his neck and over his collarbone before slowly zig-zagging over his pec. The tip of the deadly weapon then circled the little bud on his pec, before Crocodile finally pressed it right over the bud, smooshing it down. Buggy writhed and moaned unashamedly, Crocodile's teasing sending bolts of lightening through his whole body. He glanced up at Mihawk, who's eyes were flashing dangerous. Buggy felt a thrill go through him as he remembered how much Mihawk appreciated the noises he made that fateful night in the kitchen that changed everything between them.

With a shudder, Buggy turned his head back to face Crocodile, his pupils blown wide as he reached up towards the hulking former warlord. Crocodile stayed rigid for a moment, wordlessly staring down at Buggy who's cheeks were already flushed with want before he shared a quick look with Mihawk and then finally closed the distance, smashing their mouths together in a deep, plundering kiss while his greater weight settled on top of the blue haired man.

He didn't blanket Buggy completely both because he was much taller than the clown and also had a couple hundred more pounds on him too. After all, he wanted to pound the delectible body beneath him into the mattress, not crush it to dust. He knew Buggy was a resiliant one, even without the Chop Chop fruit, but he'd rather shoot himself headlong into the sun itself before he ever told the clown to his face as Crocodile instead kissed Buggy even deeper, elliciting fresh, wonderful noises from the blue haired Yonko while his hooked hand continued to tease Buggy's nipple. With his undamaged hand, Crocodile started to roam around the rest of Buggy's body. Crocodile's massive hand was like fire against his skin as Buggy felt it travel down his chest, his ribs, then across his stomach, then down further to finally touch him intimately.

Mihawk watched on with the barest hint of a smirk on his lips as he watched Buggy's pale body arch up hard against Crocodile's massive chest, the two of them breaking their kiss with a harsh gasp from the clown before Crocodile set to work biting and kissing at his neck and throat, wanting to leave marks all over much like Mihawk himself had done.

In a move of consideration for his lovers, Mihawk leaned over to Crocodile's bedside table that Yoru was resting against to pull open the drawer. He fished inside until he found a little vial of clear oil. Mihawk turned back around just as Buggy cried out loudly, Crocodile now sucking and biting bruises all over his pecs, leaving the clown trembling and breathless.

Mihawk lightly cleared his throat to get their attention, Crocodile and Buggy both looking up at him. Whatever annoyance they felt at being interrupted soon turned to gratitude as the swordsman wordlessly held up the vial.

" Yer the best Hawk-Eyes." Crocodile rumbled, Buggy nodding in enthusiastic agreement as the former reached out and took the vial from the yellow eyed man.

" I am aware, now show our clown what he's signed up for." Mihawk said with a full smirk as their fingers brushed and lingered on each other before Crocodile withdrew, giving the swordsman a feral grin. He then turned hungry eyes back to Buggy.

Buggy yelped as he was flipped over onto his front with a flick of Crocodile's wrist, as if he weight nothing at all. He looked up to see Mihawk gazing down at him with mild amusement, and then he was gasping harshing as he felt Crocodile's fingers as the former warlord set about preparing him.

Buggy harsh cries and breathy moans mingled with Crocodile's deep, raspy chuckle for several long minutes before the purple haired man withdrew his fingers. Buggy was then flipped around onto his back again, his thighs falling open as a large hand gripped his hip hard and lifted his lower half up. Then Crocodile finally surged forward, breaking the final barrier between him and Buggy.

Buggy's strangled scream echoed through the entire tent, ending in a breathy moan as he felt Crocodile for the first time.

He was magnificent. Where Mihawk had been elegance and quiet strength, Crocodile was raw power and lust.

Buggy cried out again as Crocodile drew his hips all the way back and surged forward. Buggy blinding reached out and found Crocodile's broad shoulder, clinging desperately to them as the sand weilder set a brutal pace.

Mihawk watched as his lovers became one, feeling his own blood rising at the sight of Crocodile with Buggy beneath him, the latters beautiful blue hair fanned out about him almost like a halo. They made a superb sight, and Mihawk felt truly honored to be allowed to see it for himself. He wondered if this was how Crocodile had felt when he had been the one in audience all those weeks ago. Mihawk quickly quashed down on his baser urges, using that legendary self-control of his to calm his own body and sit back to enjoy the show that was unfolding for his pleasure as much as it was intimacy between Crocodile and Buggy.

Buggy cupped Crocodile's face, pulling him down for an urgent kiss as he canted his own hips to meet the older man with each surge forward. Buggy's hands slowly traveled from Crocodile face, down the sides of his neck, over his collarbones, and then across his scarred up pecs before Buggy trailed his fingernails down the sides of Crocodile's massive, heaving ribcage before wrapping his arms around as much of the sand wielder's broad back as he could. Crocodile rumbled deeply, the only indication he allowed himself to give Buggy to show how much he enjoyed Buggy's touch.

Then with a growl Crocodile was taking hold of Buggy and rolling and shift to the side until he was resting on his back again the mountain of pillowed he kept by the head of his bed, laying astride a reclining Mihawk, who he smirked at like the cat that caught the canary while Buggy cried out as he sank further onto Crocodile.

Mihawk lightly rolled his eyes and sent Crocodile a silent, challenging look that lit a fresh fire in Crocodile's gut as he turned his attention back to Buggy.

Buggy's cries grew harsher as Crocodile wrapped his hooked hand around his neck and pulled him down hard, just as he canted his hips upward. Soon they were both headed towards the apex, the waves of pleasure pulsing through them relentlessly. From where he was using his hands to keep himself upright against Crocodile's onslaught, Buggy turned his tearful gaze to the side at Mihawk.

The swordsman reclined, composed and seemingly impassive, but Buggy could see the slight but telling flush to his cheeks. Without thought, Buggy raised one of his hands and reached for Mihawk, said hand detaching completely from his wrist and flying across the air. Mihawk could have easily swatted the disembodied hand away, instead he chose to see what Buggy intended to do. Then he was chuckling as the hand reached him and bolding tucked under the waistband of the grey pants he was wearing and then further under the waistband of his boxers underneath to touch one of the most intimate parts of him. He looked up at Buggy and gave him a wordless nod of approval, making the clown beam.

" Such a considerate little clown." Crocodile rasped with a deep chuckle before he pulled Buggy down to lavish him in kisses.

Soon the air shifted, the movements growing faster and more urgent, the sounds from Buggy louder and desperate. Crocodile's growls grew more bestial. Even Mihawk's breath hitched at Buggy's intimate ministrations.

Then Buggy felt electricity all up and down his spine as his vision went white.

" Croco!" Buggy sobbed as he went rigid above Crocodile and toppled over the edge. A few moments later Crocodile's loud grunt and Mihawk's sigh sounded through the air as they too finally joined Buggy in the zeneith of white hot pleasure.

Buggy toppled over onto Crocodile's broad chest in a boneless heap.

" Hmm, I do so love the way you say my name like that clown." Crocodile rumbled as he wrapped his arms tight around the quivering blue haired man laying on top of him, his undamaged hand going to stroke through those soft, wavy locks.

Mihawk huffed as he pulled Buggy's limp hand from out of his pants and then shifted closer so that he could reattach it to Buggy's enervated wrist before he pressed a kiss to the back of it in silent gratitude, earning a tired, shy smile from the red-nosed man. Mihawk then leaned up and took Crocodile's mouth in a deep kiss, the taller man's deep chuckle rumbling through him pleasantly before he drew back and laid down on the pillows next to his two lovers.

The three of them laid there together for a bit, not saying a word, just with each other, comppletely unguarded. When the euphoria finally faded, and it grew unpleasant for them to lay as they were, Crocodile gently but firmly pushed a clingy Buggy off of him and onto his feet before he climbed up himself, grumbling all the way. Mihawk followed after them, shedding his soiled pants and boxers as he went. The three of them shuffled off towards Crocodile's extra large bathing area. He had a large oval shaped pool inlaid into the floor that was deep enough for his towering height with a shallower end that came up to his waist and steps to make it easier to climb out of. The water was always warm thanks to the heating system he had running underneath the entire thing.

The three of them climbed in and stayed in the shallow end of the pool, where Crocodile was promptly treated to a little mini show of his own as Mihawk yanked Buggy to him and proceeded to try and devour him whole.

A little while later back in Crocodile's bedroom...

The large bed that was the centerpeice of the space was well occupied by a tangle of three different bodies under crisp, silken sheets as Crocodile, Buggy, and Mihawk, freshly bathed and dried quickly thanks to Crocodile's sand powers all settled in. Buggy was sandwiched snuggly with Mihawk at his front and Crocodile at his back. The star clown was barely awake, well and truly spent, but utterly content.

" Hmm, Dracule." He murmered sleepily.

" I am here." Mihawk said quietly as he leaned in and pressed his lips to Buggy's in a chaste, final kiss. When they drew back they shared a smile before Buggy turned his head to look up dreamily at Crocodile.

" Croco." He breathed.

" Hmm." Crocodile hummed in acknowledgement before he leaned in and kissed Buggy too.

Buggy's whole body seemed to sigh as they parted, before he settled himself in the arms of his lovers. He was fast asleep within the next breath.

Mihawk and Crocodile both gazed down at the blue haired man in his repose before they looked up at each other. They gravitated towards each other, their lips meeting in a kiss as well before they drew back from each other and settled down. They too drifted off within a few minutes.

Outside, the waves lapped lazily against the island shores while the moon smiled down from the heavens.

A couple of months later...

It was a brand new day over Karai Bari island as everyone gathered in the main tent at Cross-Guild for the morning address from Chairman Buggy.

The blue haired Yonko stood at the rail of his balcony, dressed from head to two in white with his hair flowing loose with two braids framing his face amidst the soft waves and curls. If one looked closely, they would see that there were golden beads woven down the length of each braid. At the very end of each braid was a larger bead from which hung a golden charm. On the end of one bead hung a charm shaped like a little golden bananawani with it's jaws open. On the end of the other hung a charm shaped like a fierce hawk in flight. The two men these charms were meant to represent had been quite pleased with Buggy's quietly loving gesture when he presented his new look to them, so pleased that they hadn't allowed him out of bed for a full day and done all manner of deliciously sinful things to him.

From where they sat dutifully behind their "Chairman" and watched him address their many acolytes, Dracule Mihawk and Sir Crocodile both sat on the rich puprle upholstered sofa behind Buggy. Crocodile was smoking one of his signature cigars with his fur trimmed coat resting over his shoulders and immaculately dressed in his favorite white shirt and orange vest combo with purple crevat, while Mihawk sat dressed in his usual black coat with crimson sleeves and black hat with plumming white feather. He sat with his leg crossed and Yoru resting over his lap.

If one were brave enough to look closer at Hawk-Eye Mihawk, more specifically the inside of his coat they would be astounded to discover that there was a square peice of red and white striped fabric sewn into the inner left breast. It was a peice of the bandana Buggy had been wearing that fateful night he had worked late and come to the kitchen for a late night dinner. A matching square of fabric, this one orange with purple cross stripes was sewn securely into the inner left breast of the World's Greatest Swordsman's iconic coat, this was a peice of Crocodile's vest he had kept after he had basically shredded the garment clean off of his fellow former warlord the very first time they had decided to be intimate. Buggy and Crocodile had nearly shredded Mihawk's coat themselves in their rush to take the iconic garment and every other piece of clothing off of him once he had showed them these two addages to his coat.

Who knew the World's Greatest Swordsman was even capable of such sweet sentiment?

Sir Crocodile rounded out the trio with his own subtle tributes to his lovers. Around the wrist of his right hand, Crocodile wore a bracelet that was made of deep red Muggy Ball shells. He had snuck into Buggy workshop and found the empty shells, snatching up enough to string together around his large wrist. Buggy had been furious at the "theft" of his shells, until the three of them were in a meeting to discuss a possible new traderoute and Buggy had glanced at Crocodile's wrist to finally see the finished bracelet for himself. If Buggy's eyes had grown overbright and he had needed to excuse himself for a few minutes, Crocodile had not minded or even rolled his eyes, he understood that his red-nosed lover was a bit of a crier after all. For Mihawk, Crocodile had added a little gold cross on a delicate chain that now hung from the one golden hoop he wore on his right ear. Mihawk did not go off and cry about it, but he did kiss the breath out of Crocodile once he noticed the new addition to the sand user's earring to show how much he appreciated it.

As Buggy announced the latest batch of Marine bounties and got the entire crowd fired up as only he could, Crocodile and Mihawk caught each others' eye and shared a subtle look before they both turned their gazes towards their clown all dressed up in white.

They couldn't wait to get him out of it once the day was through and show their clown just how much they liked him in that particular color and with his hair down. If they went at it long enough, they would be sure to grab a late night snack together in the kitchens if they got peckish.

Outside the seas were calm around Karai Bari Island, the early morning sun was shining bright and golden against a clear blue sky without a cloud in sight. The clear blue waters lapped lazily at the beach shore while the many ships that were docked at the piers jutting out into the surf swayed sedately with the soft waves.

The End