As with their journey through the South Blue, they took their time on each island they visited in Paradise. Had frozen their asses off on an ice-age-locked winter island where Daz almost got mauled by a smilodon, the large sabrecat quickly taken down by a single shot from Walter's rifle.
Or the beautiful autumn island, all the foliage shades of yellow, red and orange, where they had a nasty encounter with a squad of marines led by a Captain who wanted to make his name by bringing the newly bountied Lady Crocodile in.
They'd gotten away, but not without some injuries. Sin had taken three bullets, Matthias had barely escaped being gutted by a particularly large sword, and Gem had been left bloody, bruised and beaten by the marine Captain. Crocodile had given no mercy to him after that. Taking no small amount of pleasure by slitting the bastard's throat and leaving him to bleed out in the dirt.
That had earned her a hefty bounty increase of an additional fifty million.
Eventually, they arrived in Alabasta. The desert kingdom was in the heart of its rainy season, buffeted by constant thunderstorms and threats of flooding. They were careful to blend in with the locals, conscious of the looming danger now that Crocodile had a bounty. Besides the Marines, they'd had a handful of encounters with bounty hunters in the months since her poster was first released.
So far, most that had come after her hadn't been a challenge; berry chasers that had been incapable of looking at her like she was a threat. All they had been able to see was a beautiful young woman with a head worth several million berries, whether alive or dead.
Regardless of the risk, Crocodile insisted on exploring. Alabasta had a long, rich history, dating all the way back to the hundred-year void and likely even earlier. Crocodile wanted to learn everything she could about it.
And so, the Sandstorm Pirates were investigating a ruined city north of the tourist city Rainbase under the guidance of a man they'd met in Nanohana shortly after docking. Cobra was tall and regal, with long, neat, dark hair and a goatee, with shrewd, dark eyes and a quick, fierce temper.
Cobra had happily offered to show Crocodile and her crew some of the more out-of-the-way ruins that doted Alabasta's expansive landscape. He had jokingly told them that the more known sites were little more than tourist traps.
Crocodile found she didn't grate at his company. Rather, she decided he reminded her of more than one of her siblings. He had Marco's easy, lackadaisical attitude, Thatch's mama bear-like protectiveness, Izo's quick temper, and Vista's quiet class. It had her feeling equal parts fond of him, exasperated and a little bit homesick.
She could easily see why Bon was so convinced that Cobra was one of Alabasta's Nobles.
Throwing her wet braid over her shoulder, Crocodile leaned forward to examine a carving in a half-crumbled wall. Gem shouted excitedly nearby, and she knew Oliver was keeping the thirteen-year-old out of trouble. Bon and Sin were arguing about something even further off, Daz's quiet voice mediating between them. Behind her, Walter was propped up against a wall, asleep, snoring softly beneath his hat.
Standing next to Crocodile, Cobra seemed to be on edge. She tilted her head and squinted up at him, "What is it?"
He grunted, looking down at her and shrugging slightly, "I don't know. Something feels off."
Crocodile blinked and tried to spread out her senses to see if she could pick up what he was talking about, attempting to use her admittedly poor Observation Haki. Oyaji had tried to teach her to hone it for years, but it had never been her strong suit. In spite of her lack of mastery of the skill, she was able to feel it. On the edge of her mind was an ominous black/red drawing closer to their positions from the south of the ruins. She stands up from her crouch, her eyes narrowed, "I feel it too. Someone's following us."
If it were just someone looking for the ruins or perhaps even Cobra, Crocodile doubted they would be giving off such threatening vibes. She walked over to Walter and kicked the bottom of his left boot lightly. He became alert immediately, always a light sleeper when not on the ship. He pushed the brim of his hat up and peered up at her curiously. No words passed between them, and after a few seconds of his eyes being open, Walter's cheerful, carefree disposition evaporated into the cold, calculating sniper he was at heart.
Hopping to his feet, he pulled himself up onto the wall. Taking the high ground and glaring expectantly to the south. His rifle is out of the holster on his back and gripped in his hands in one smooth, practiced motion.
The seconds ticked by. The ominous aura was coming closer and closer.
Three rough-looking men came into view. They stopped about fifty feet from where Crocodile, Cobra and Walter were staring at them, just outside the ruins. All three men looked similar, obviously related to one another, and brimming with various weapons.
Bounty Hunters, if Crocodile were to make a guess.
Older than most of the wannabes that had come after her so far and Crocodile recognized just how dangerous this made them. Clearly experienced. Not rushing into battle and assessing her threat. Hanging back until they knew what they would be facing.
"Oh, that's her, alright." With dark eyes and long blonde hair, Aron snickered, "No mistaking that pretty face." He smiled brightly at Crocodile, nudging his elbow into his older brother Rune's side.
Rune nodded, pulling a folded paper from his pants pocket. He unfolds it, examining the flattering picture that graced Crocodile's bounty poster, "You're right." He smiled, a charming little grin, "Hello, Lady Crocodile."
Crocodile tensed, put on edge by his tone, if not his words.
Joakim scoffed. Rune and Aron's cousin. He was as blonde as Aron and as blue-eyed as Rune. He unsheathed his daggers, ready to fight, "She's a logia-type devil fruit user. Risky fight."
Rune looked at him, "Yes." He focused on Crocodile from the corner of his eye, eyes dragging over what he could see of her body, "But she's currently at a severe disadvantage. Sand hardens when it's wet, and it's still raining."
"Ah, she's vulnerable." Aron's tone has Crocodile wrinkling her nose, disgusted.
Cobra stepped forward, ready to interfere, but Crocodile stopped him with a hand on his arm, saying quietly, "I can still fight without my powers." Cobra stared at her, and she was even more reminded of Thatch. "The rain doesn't stop my sand attacks. It just makes it possible to hit me."
She still had her daggers in their sheaths, crisscrossed over her lower back. It had been many years since she'd truly been vulnerable.
For several heartbeats, nothing happens.
Ba-bump. Crocodile grasps the handle of one of her daggers.
Ba-bump. Walter lifts his rifle to his shoulder, cocking it.
Ba-bump. Cobra shifts his stance and grabs the grip of his sword.
Ba-Bump.
They burst into action. The three hunters darted forward, fast and agile. Splitting up and weaving through the ruins. Walter took several potshots at Aron, keeping him on his toes, refusing to let him get too close to his Captain. Crocodile caught Joakim's blades with her own. She strained under his power before she gritted her teeth and tossed him backwards away from herself. She danced out of range of his attacks, and her eyes narrowed with concentration. Cobra kept Rune busy, proving to be a skilled swordsman.
Crocodile had figured that these men were skilled, and they were intent on proving it. Their fight was nasty and quick, and it took every inch of her skill to defend against Joakim.
He advanced, forcing her back, and she stumbled, cursing, on the remains of a wall. With a cruel look in his eyes, he muttered, "Gotcha," ready to go for the kill. His razor-sharp blades slashed. Crocodile lifted her blade too late.
A sharp sting.
A throbbing pain.
She bit her lip to stop herself from yelping, and she felt the blood dripping down her face. Joakim's blade had cut across both cheeks and the bridge of her nose. He sneered, standing over her, "Even prettier, all covered in blood."
Crocodile growled, kicking him away.
"Boss, you good?" Walter shouted, firing off another shot.
She touched her face gingerly, cringing at the pain.
Distracted by it and the crimson coating her fingers, she doesn't see Rune has dashed away from Cobra, incapacitating him with a hard kick to his abdomen, switching his sword for an axe as he runs. He tackled Crocodile down, pinning her down, sitting on her hips. Crocodile hissed, bucking wildly to throw him off. When she couldn't move him, she brought up the one dagger she still held.
Cobra gasped for air, twisting to see where the slippery bastard had run off to. He watched in horror as Crocodile got taken down. Heard her fury and panic when she tried to get him off her. Cobra started moving, trying to get to her.
Crocodile couldn't hear anything besides the rushing in her ears. She fought as hard as she could to get out from under him. But he was so much bigger than her. His thighs were like steel beams on either side of her waist, holding her tightly in place, unaffected by her thrashing.
Rune raised his axe and brought it down in quick succession. Crocodile brought up her dagger, but instead, he went for her wrist. His axe sliced through skin, bone and tendon easily, like she was still sand, and more blood fell onto her face. Her dagger landed with a dull thud on the ground by her head. And her hand, no longer attached to her arm, fell onto her chest with a slap.
Crocodile started screaming.
The agony of her hand being gone blinded her, and she didn't even realize that Rune had been pulled off her just before his axe was buried in her face. Sin, in his hybrid form, had one massive clawed hand around the bounty hunter's snapped neck.
Daz was next to Crocodile, wrapping a scarf around her wrist, shouting for Nikita. Cobra had Joakim at sword point, and he didn't argue when Bon wrapped an arm around the bounty hunter's throat, using one of Joakim's own daggers to slit his throat.
Walter had already dealt with Aron, one bullet between the man's eyes.
Nikita and Remy came running.
The doctor moved quickly to Crocodile, whose scream had tapered off into a low whine, accepting her medical bag from her husband. "I'm here," She told Crocodile, trying to comfort the younger woman, even though she suspected Crocodile couldn't hear her. She worried that Crocodile was in shock and told Daz to sit at her feet and elevate them, instructing him to use his cloak to cover her up and keep her warm.
Oliver and Matthias kept Gem far away, trying to shield the young boy from seeing their captain in her current state. Sin shifted into his human form, tossing Rune's body away, not caring where the body landed. Bon disposed of Joakim's body in the same direction.
When Nikita had done everything she could and proclaimed it safe to move a bandaged Crocodile, Cobra suggested they bring her to Rainbase, "There's a small hospital there."
Daz, as Crocodile's first mate, was the one who had to make the call, "Let's hurry."
They hurried back to the city, Cobra leading the way through the confusing streets to the hospital. A flurry of activity occurred when the Sandstorm Pirates burst into the waiting room. Nikita argued fervently that she would be the one to operate, but the head doctor was hesitant to let give the pirate permission to use his operating room, so Cobra stepped in.
"Consider it a favour to me, doctor." Cobra told him, and the Sandstorms all gaped when the doctor bowed low and murmured, "Yes, your Highness."
Breaking the silence, Bon yelled, "I knew it!" The crew burst into surprised laughter, still feeling tense. Nikita and Daz, still carrying Crocodile, ignored the laughter, following the doctor into a room where Nikita could treat their captain's wounds properly.
Matthias went out to book a few rooms at a nearby inn at Sin's suggestion, pointing out that they'd be there for a few days at least. Bon sidled next to Cobra, patting the Prince on the shoulder. Cobra was pulled out of his irritated funk.
"So, what's the Prince of Alabasta doing wandering around with a group of pirates?" Bon asked, his anxiety demanding some way to pass the time that wasn't him just fretting over their Captain.
–
It was several hours before Crocodile woke up. Daz sat at her bedside the entire time, and he didn't doubt he looked rough.
She shifted, and Daz jerked to attention where he'd been half dozing. Black lashes fluttered and opened. Normally bright and intelligent emerald eyes were hazy and dull. He knew Nikita had injected her with some pretty heavy pain medication, worried about how much pain Crocodile would feel when she woke.
"Daz?" She looked at him blearily, her voice husky.
"Yeah, Croc. I'm here." He shifted closer, moving his chair. He put his hand over where her remaining hand rested on the sheets, squeezing her fingers gently. His eyes were drawn, as they had been a lot over the past few hours, to where the remains of her wrist were wrapped in clean white bandages. He met her eyes again, focusing on the dressing that crossed her cheeks and nose for a second.
"How bad is it?" She whispered, voice thick.
"Your face will scar," He took a deep breath, "and your hand's gone."
She lifted her left arm, grimacing when she saw the bandages, "That'll be a bitch to get used to." Daz was alarmed to see she was shaking and was getting ready to run for Nikita when she started crying.
Daz's chest ached to see it; Crocodile was one of the strongest, fiercest, most stubborn people he knew, and to see her so upset hurt him. Daz stayed with her, holding her hand, trying to comfort her with his presence. Words failing him.
–
It took Crocodile a lot longer than she'd like to admit to get used to having only one hand. Lots of fumbling and having to rely on her crew more often. She had to learn how to do many things one-handed, but she'd managed. Her long hair proved impossible, so she asked Oliver, a man of many talents, to cut it for her. From her hips all the way up to her shoulders. An easy-to-maintain, no-frills style that she grew to love.
They'd stayed on Alabasta for a time while she got accustomed to her one-handed state, venturing out from the desert kingdom but always returning. Cobra had gifted Crocodile with an Eternal Pose for the country so that they'd always be able to find their way back. Crocodile grew attached to the island and grew to think of Cobra as family.
When she finally decided she was competent once more, which also included months of harsh training with her devil fruit abilities, they shoved off from Alabasta.
Cobra had been sad to see them go, informing Crocodile gruffly, "You'll always have a place here. Don't ever forget that."
It would only be a few years before she came back, but she would miss him in the meantime.
–
-Months Later-
Crocodile was drinking in a small, smoky bar in a lively city called Magnolia, on a sizeable unnamed winter island. Dressed in her most recent style. Spiked heels, sheer black tights, a black mini pencil skirt, a black button-up blouse, and a heavy coat with a fur-lined collar on her shoulders. She mostly liked the jacket because it let her hide her golden hook without looking conspicuous. She was still self-conscious of the damn thing and hated how recognizable it made her.
Her crew was out enjoying the city and hopefully staying out of trouble. They had been wary of stopping on the island since it had a marine base, but there was no arguing with the log pose. Three days to reset, and they'd be gone. She sighed, propping her elbow on the booth table, her head in her hand, looking out the window she sat next to. She admired the spectacular view of the cloudless night sky, the moon and stars shining brightly.
Her mind wandered, and she only just heard the bar door open, the little chime hanging above it tinkling softly. Curious despite herself, Crocodile had to look. She blinked and was glad she was sitting in the shadows when she saw that familiar tall, broad form.
Sakazuki.
He was dressed for the first time in his marine jacket, over a finely tailored black suit, with a red shirt and black tie underneath. His snapback had the word marine embroidered on it. Crocodile frowned. It was as though his jacket wasn't enough, and she needed her nose rubbed further in the fact that, oh, yeah, the guy she'd had the hots for was a Marine.
A Vice-Admiral, too, if she remembered her bars correctly.
Crocodile had suspected; that little voice in her mind had whispered it when she'd last seen him on Marigold Island in the South Blue, but she hadn't wanted it to be true.
He didn't see her and ordered a drink at the bar.
How did they always end up in the same place at the best times? She wanted to call out to him. But her voice of reason was barking at her. Bad idea! Don't do it! You've got a bounty! He'll be like all the other Marines now. And there was no way he didn't know she was a pirate. She was one of, what? A dozen Logias? The Navy kept as close an eye on her as they could.
She panicked silently in that shadowy booth.
He sat at the farthest end of the bar from the door, wishing it would take less than five bottles of whiskey to get him hammered.
Damn Buster Calls.
Damn Ohara.
Damn orders.
Damn Fleet Admiral Kong.
But mostly, damn Gorosei.
No one is to leave that island, Vice-Admiral Sakazuki. Do I make myself clear? Not the archeologists, not Former Vice-Admiral Saul D. Jaguar, not the civilians. The Gorosei have decreed.
Was Killing innocent researchers and civilians what the Navy was coming to?
Or was it always what it had done?
And, of course, it fell to him to be the bad guy. Couldn't let Sengoku's golden boy, Kuzan, tarnish his reputation.
The buster call had been half a year ago, yet still, it haunted him. And he did not doubt it would haunt him for years to come.
The bartender placed his drink in front of him, and he downed the glass.
He still felt sick and disgusted with himself.
Disgusted with his superiors.
The bartender poured him another. That one disappeared just as fast.
The third glass lingered.
As much as he wanted to, he couldn't get drunk, not when he had to be back on duty first thing in the morning. His men may think him the monster the higher-ups wanted to paint him as, but his officers knew the truth. And he may as well still try to maintain what little reputation he had left.
Even if there were days, more often than not lately, where he just wanted to say 'fuck it' and resign.
Sakazuki frowned, eyebrows drawn low, dark eyes sorrowful.
Behind him, he heard the sound of high heels getting closer, and for a moment, he thought it was Salina, but then he remembered she was on duty in the New World.
"Another glass of wine, lady?" The bartender asked quietly. Sakazuki was frustrated that he hadn't even realized anyone else was in the bar.
"Yes, please," The woman's voice was low and throaty, practically a purr and Sakazuki closed his eyes. He knew that voice. Had spent years dreaming of that voice.
She slid onto the stool next to him and accepted the glass from the bartender. The door chimed, and the man moved down the bar to greet the newcomers, leaving them in silence. Sakazuki couldn't help but peek at her, his hat covering his eyes.
"You know, I'd seen your most recent bounty poster, but that scar's still a surprise," His voice was low, almost inaudible. Adding, begrudgingly, "The short hair suits you, though." In fact, she looked sexy as fuck with short hair.
Crocodile blinked at him, her long legs crossing at the knee as she tilted her head back to take a drink. "The hook's more of a shock, I think," Crocodile mumbled, a little disconcerted by the unexpected compliment. She lifted her left hand, or rather what should've been her left hand.
He eyed the delicate-looking golden hook, the metal engraved with an intricate pattern. "You'll never be mistaken for anything but a pirate." There's no heat behind the words, but he's pissed underneath all the weariness. She grinned at him like she knew he was pissed off.
Recklessly.
He lifted his head, no longer hiding his eyes, and he glared, but there was no heat behind it.
She returned the glare, red lips pursed, "You're probably right. I am what I appear."
After a moment, her harsh expression softened, "What's got you downing whiskey like it's going out of style?" Her voice is somewhere between curious and worried, and Sakazuki frowns at the warmth that blossoms in his chest.
He didn't want to say, but something in her eyes made him tell her.
"Goddamn Ohara."
Her eyes grew melancholy, and Sakazuki realized she knew everything about it. He isn't surprised. For months it had been in every major newspaper and every magazine. That bastard Morgans hadn't been willing to let it die like the World Government had been trying to get him to do.
"The articles were all very cut and dry; about the 'Demons of Ohara,' but I have the feeling there's a hell of a lot more to it." Crocodile watched him closely, and her heart ached. He looked soul sick like he was being consumed by guilt. Like he wanted nothing more than to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
It hurt her to see Sakazuki so miserable, and she decided she needed to do something about it.
His jaw clenched. Crocodile glanced down, concerned he'd shatter the glass he held between his massive hands.
"They weren't doing any harm. The archeologists." He murmured, staring into his glass like the amber liquid held the answer to life. "Their only crime was researching the Hundred Year Void." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
She let go of a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, frowning, "The World Government never does like it when somebody tries to do that, do they?"
"Never." He tossed back the rest of his drink. The bartender noticed and moved to come back and fill Sakazuki's glass once more.
Crocodile shook her head at him firmly and looked back at her marine. "Hey." He glanced at her, reminding her of a dog who'd just been kicked. Pure misery. "Let's go." She stood up, dropping enough berries on the bar to cover both their drinks and waited for Sakazuki to follow her lead.
He sighed, "Go where?" But he did stand from his stool and let her lead him out of the bar.
"Anywhere that's not here." She threaded her right arm through his left, resting her hand on his forearm. She led the way but with no destination in mind. The night was cold, but both of them were warm. Crocodile realized with some surprise that Sakazuki was giving off heat, much more than is considered normal.
He saw her mystification and snorted, "The Magu Magu no Mi."
Crocodile nodded. He was a logia-type user. So like her, his body had changed to accommodate his element.
She pulled closer to him, his heat inviting as light snow began to fall, hugging his arm.
Whatever her reasoning, Sakazuki didn't mind.
Maybe it was the brisk evening air or having her close to him, but his dark thoughts were starting to ease, retreating into the box in his mind where they don't stab at him so profoundly. He was able to look at her, clearly seeing her. Her hair was cut just above her shoulders, looking so much like a film noir femme fatale with her style of clothes. But it still looked silky soft. He wondered if it felt as soft as it looked.
He pushed down the thought and just enjoyed feeling at peace for the first time in a while.
They weren't walking in any particular direction but found their way to a park anyway. Crocodile makes a pleased noise when she sees it, admiring the snow-covered area. Sakazuki stopped her from walking forward, his hand covering hers where it lay on his arm. She looked up at him, and her head tilted in question.
"Thanks."
A smile flashed across her mouth, "For you…anytime." Crocodile stepped in front of him. Sakazuki touched her cheek, his thumb tracing along her scar, admiring the way her eyes fell closed. He waited for her to look back at him before he leaned down and kissed her.
She hummed appreciatively, her arms lifting and wrapping around his neck, going up onto her toes. Sakazuki straightened up, arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. She opened her lips to him with a soft moan, her breasts crushed against his chest.
They part, breathless, and he took in how ravished she looked. He kissed her again chastely, and Crocodile blushed. It spread down her neck and onto her chest when his mouth moves to her throat. Her hand slipped down to hold the lapel of his suit jacket. She turned her head and kissed the spot of skin just behind his ear, sucking lightly. She felt the low groan he bites back, felt the vibration through her breasts.
He stopped, pulling his mouth away, and she was irritated by the hesitant look in his eyes. "We shouldn't–"
She hushed him, "And why shouldn't we? Because I'm a pirate, and you're a marine?" She smirked up at him, seemingly more confident than she felt. "I want you, and you want me. There's no shame in that."
Sakazuki choked, his brain scrambling to find the words to explain why that wasn't a good idea, no matter how much he wanted to see what she looked like after being thoroughly loved.
But then she says something that has a determined calm settling over him. "Want to be bad with me? Just for tonight?"
–
They found a small, discreet hotel close to the bar. The clerk that checked them in had a knowing look in their eyes. But neither of them cared. They'd both waited years for this chance, and they weren't going to let it slip by.
He kept a hand high on her waist, an arm underneath her jacket, and his large fingers just below her breast. The heat of his hand through her shirt made her squirm as she imagined what his hand would feel like dragging over her naked skin. And Crocodile desperately wanted to have his hands all over her.
They reached the room, and Crocodile unlocked it, laughing when Sakazuki urged her inside, any reluctance he had been feeling gone. The room is clean and somewhat spartan, and Crocodile tossed her jacket on a chair in the corner. Sakazuki followed suit, eyes almost black with lust, when she started undressing him, unbuttoning his suit jacket, loosening his tie just enough to get it off over his head. He was impressed with the speed she could manage the smaller buttons of his shirt with one hand, but he supposed she was equal parts determined and motivated.
His hands weren't idle, and he had her shirt off seconds after he removed her hook with her soft direction. She's naked beneath her shirt, and Sakazuki skimmed his eyes over her heavy breasts, his hands following the same path. She shivered, his thumbs grazing her nipples. It earned him a moan, but she wasn't distracted from undoing his belt.
Before long, they were both naked, and she was straddling his waist, having pushed him down onto the bed. Sakazuki caressed his hands over every inch of silky, bronze skin. Her breasts were swaying, heavy and tempting over his chest. They kissed, their tongues clashing and only separating to take a second to breathe. She gasped when his fingers found her dripping core, his touch featherlight and teasing. She pushed down on his fingers, ass bumping against his jutting erection, her hips seeking pressure.
He had her stretched out underneath him in a heartbeat, positioning his body between beautiful, lush thighs. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he pushed into her, groaning at her wet heat and exquisite tightness. Sakazuki grew even hotter when she moaned, "Fuck, you're huge." She flashed him a grin, clenching even tighter around him, which was positively wicked. "Bigger than any toy in my collection."
The thought and image his brain conjured of her bringing herself pleasure with a series of toys has his mind shutting down for several seconds.
Crocodile purred when he finally started moving, raking her nails down his spine. She rested the stump of her wrist against his hip, her lips waging war on his throat and neck, determined to leave him with some marks.
They take their time, drawing out what was their first and likely only chance to be with each other.
–
Someone was trying to break down the door of their room. Sakazuki growled, his face buried in her neck. Crocodile continued to sleep, but he didn't blame her; he felt exhausted, sticky and sore. She was half underneath him, wrapped in his arms, and Sakazuki had a brief worry that he was crushing her.
But she seemed comfortable, so Sakazuki let the worry go, settling back against her.
But there was still some jackass pounding on the door, "Vice-Admiral! I know you're in there." Sakazuki sighed. Captain Itou Rin, Sakazuki's second-in-command, sounded even crankier than usual. Sakazuki glanced at the bedside table and scoffed when he saw the clock.
5:00 am.
Sakazuki untangled himself from Crocodile, kissing her temple lightly and striding to the door. He was still naked, but Rin had seen him in worse condition before. He pulled open the door enough to stick his head out. Rin blinked, eyes scanning him, his fist still outstretched to keep knocking.
The smaller man then scowled. "See, I knew you were in there." His hand dropped to his side.
"Because you have my vivre card." Sakazuki cocked an eyebrow at his second, "It's five o'clock in the morning. The ship isn't due to leave until nine. What's got you in a fuss?"
Rin's scowl deepened further, "Fuss? Oh well, excuse me if I was worried when my commander never showed up after going out for a 'quiet drink.'" He gestured quotation marks, and Sakazuki rolled his eyes. "Maybe I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead in a ditch after drinking yourself stupid."
Sakazuki gestured at himself, "Well, as you can see, I'm alive."
"Clearly," His annoyance was gone, and a mocking grin replaced his scowl. "Had a good night?"
"Fuck off, Rin," He flipped his second the bird. "Get out of here. I'll be back to the ship in an hour." Rin snorted, spinning on his heels and disappearing down the hall, lifting his hand in acknowledgment. Sakazuki closed the door softly, going back to the bed. Crocodile was awake now, and she was waiting for him, opening her arms for him to cuddle back into her.
"You have to go?" Her voice was rough with sleep and barely a whisper.
"Yeah, soon." He placed a kiss on her neck. He didn't want to leave her but knew he had to.
She nodded, placing her hand on his jaw to lift his face. She kissed him, mouth lingering against his, both of them reluctant to pull apart.