Crocus sighed as he settled onto the chair that overlooked the capes, eyes flicking down to Laboon slumbering off to the side, his heart aching. Laboon was slowly losing hope, getting sadder and sadder by the year and soon Crocus would wonder what the whale would do when the years grew on… What would he do when Crocus was finally gone? Laboon still had decades left and Crocus was only getting older, he didn't know who would be able to take care of the whale then.
He had left once with Roger, and joined them as their doctor in exchange that the crew would help him search for the Rumbar Pirates. The man had agreed with ease and kept to his word, but there was no word of them and Crocus checked, he had asked every island they had come across, Roger asked every crew they faced and the others had searched every base they had raided but it was to no avail.
It seemed the Rumbar Pirates had fallen off the face of the earth and as Crocus continued to sail with the Roger Pirates in the New World, facing great dangers, wild seas, beasts of all shapes, devil fruits and monsters of a different kind… Crocus began to think that the poor crew didn't make it.
He still didn't have the heart to tell Laboon, even more so when he came back broken himself. His heart was hollow and weeping for a crew he began to call family breaking, for the man he came to respect dying and one of the nephews he loved vanishing. He and Laboon were a fated pair, broken hearts yearning for a family that could no longer be.
Loguetown was a disaster, a thing he refused to witness, he couldn't … but the aftereffects were worse than the actual act Crocus always thought. He still had nightmares of Rayleigh screaming and breaking, remembered him crying out for Roger that Crocus knows the man doesn't even remember.
MINHA ALEGRIA NO! PLEASE! MINHA ALEGRIA! COME BACK PLEASE! NO! NO! ROGER! DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T LEAVE US! PLEASE, PLEASE MINHA ALEGRIA! Você me prometeu uma vida inteira, marido!
The words haunted Crocus, much like the haki that tore from Rayleigh, the blood and the tears… Every time it stormed that's all Crocus ever saw now, sometimes it was the Edd War, sometimes it was other things but Rayleigh, the strongest First Mate that Crocus ever knew, breaking was always the constant. There were nights that Crocus woke from a nightmare, shaking and calling for Red… a few cruel times when he dreamt of Gaban appearing at his door with a broken visage and a shredded straw hat in his hands.
He's dead… he died… some bastard took him from us Crocus… Red is gone, gone, gone…
It always woke him with a scream and tears pooling down his face, those nights were the nights that caused him to flee down to Laboon, to build the small boat that would last in the whale's stomach acid. It caused him to become even more isolated and harsh to those that tried to enter, he couldn't connect with the ones that survived the rapids of the mountain. It made him anxious.
He failed much like they all did when it came to Red and Blue, to their Cabin Boys, their nephews. Crocus made sure to check every crew that came tearing over the capes and swallowed by Laboon… disheartened every time that no sign of Red was on their ship.
So many crews had passed his lighthouse, so many he knew would never make it in Paradise let alone the New World. Only a handful he had seen in the years that followed Roger ever made it and even then they were taken in by either Big Mom or Whitebeard or destroyed by Kaido or Shiki.
There had been so many times where Crocus wished to leave and find those who he had claimed as a family, just to see how they were because without him who was looking after them? But he couldn't leave, not when Laboon was getting even more restless, sadder.
It had been when the news of Baterilla and the loss of Rouge and the baby, of Rayleigh abandoning Blue reached him did Crocus ever leave and that was to find his nephew, to see if he needed aid of some kind only to find that the kid had already found a crew in cousins Mohji and Kabaji, several others. He had taken in misfits who didn't belong much like he, had begun to form his own reputation on the low. Had even planned a base on an island in the East notorious for being attacked for their rich resources.
Crocus was so proud of his nephew and had rung Scopper right after assuring Blue was okay and informed the third mate exactly what happened, to say that the man was pissed would be an understatement and Crocus was worried that he would be getting a call from someone that Rayleigh was dead or that he was needed to fix the idiot up. Thankfully, it was neither of them, he had received a call from Shakuyaku, one of their friends, that Scopper had dropped the drunk off with her to dry him out.
It would be a few years later down the line that they all would be told that Rayleigh and Shakuyaku - Shakky - had married, out of convenience more than anything.
All knew that Rayleigh could love no other, not like he had loved Rouge and Roger. No one but the Roger Pirates would understand the action because only they knew how much Shakky hated being a Kuja Pirate and their Empress. She craved freedom, adventure and the choices that being out on the sea gave her… she also confessed that the Love Sickness would only stay away if she stayed away from the place that caused it. The only way that would happen and that Gloriosa wouldn't drag her back is if she married a man, a taboo on the isle of women.
After that, Crocus spent his blessed days on repeat, wake, read the paper and save the fools who entered the Grand Line, sing with Laboon, tell Laboon the stories over and over. He would call Blue every few days for a check-up, refusing to let his nephew believe he was unwanted and unthought of.
Then, the blessed call from Scopper came… Shanks was alive, their precious Red. A little beaten, a little broken but thriving on his own with a First Mate who genuinely loved him but was too chicken to do anything about it. To some of them, that was a familiar scene, Crocus knew all about how Rayleigh pined for years before Roger quit waiting and threw him overboard telling him to wake up.
He always said I was the dense one, but it was really him… Roger would always reply with a laugh, pulling Rayleigh under his arm.
But Crocus knew, like they all knew, those two idiots would end up together in time. Gol-Silvers Shanks would be no more, Benn Shanks would be his name soon. Time had come for them to prepare, to be ready for the day that Benn D. Luffy would be found and they did all they could to make sure what happened on Laugh Tale never happened again, to free him from the loop that he had been stuck in.
The day that Shanks' wanted poster graced the Coo's, Crocus couldn't help but laugh long and loud, the bounty hung in pride with the rest. He had all of them now, from Roger to Blue, they sat around the ring of the lighthouse wall in a neat line with those of the Rumbar Pirates he could find. Laboon had danced and sung loud in celebration with him, bringing tears to Crocus' eyes.
"Named his crew after his hair colour, that kid." Crocus chuckled as he made his way outside and took a seat, eyes casting out over the ocean and to Laboon who for once was in a joyous mood.
The rest of the day was spent watching the calm ocean, mind at ease for a brief moment and only one ship sailing over Reverse Mountain that he continued to ignore as he soaked up the sun. There was a storm on the horizon, he could smell it, he would need to close the shutters of the lighthouse and check to see if any of the panelling had come loose before it came, and he would need to make sure that Laboon would be safe and secure in his cave at the bottom till it passed.
"Uncle!" Blue's voice had his eyes snapping open, the paper that lay on his chest fluttering to the ground as he snapped his head around quickly.
"Blue!? That was you riding over Reverse Mountain!?" Crocus asked excitedly, hopping to his feet and pulling the kid into his arms. Last he heard Buggy had sworn to never return to the Grand Line, even if it was just Paradise.
"Have you seen the Coo? He's okay!" Blue cheered happily and danced out of Crocus' arms to hold up two bounty posters excitedly. "He found his Benn, that means he'll find his son soon! I may get to see my brother again!"
Crocus blinked and shuffled to the paper, rifling through the bounties to see the poster Blue was speaking about. Crocus knew he found his Benn, Gaban had told him but Crocus didn't think that he would have a bounty too. His eyes widened when he finally found it, Benn Beckman, First Mate… He was sombre faced, silver eyes glinting as he held a rifle over his left shoulder, the same fire that was in Shanks' bounty reflected behind him.
He looks like Rayleigh… Crocus's mind supplied with a blink. Not in the physical sense but the way that the man held himself was the same way Rayleigh did when with Roger. He wondered if Gaban saw that and if he did, what did he think about it? If he didn't then Crocus needed to get his eyes tested the next time the man stopped by. Fate surely had a funny way of working, because when Crocus held the two posters side by side, Crocus knew that the First Mate's eyes were on his captain when the images were captured.
He already has begun to fall for our Red, huh?
"Are you okay?" Crocus asked once Buggy came to a stop, his gaze settling into something soft and sombre as he stared at Red's bounty. He quickly patted his nephew down for any sign of injury while he was distracted and stepped back. "You were very adamant that you would never return to the Grand Line, not till you had done all of what was expected of you, Blue."
Blue eyes snapped up to him in an instant. "It hurts being on the Grand Line without my family, sailing its waters makes me hear Captain's laugh on the wind, the sound of the Oro creaking as it cuts through the waves. I miss it, miss you all but you were the closest and this news needed to be celebrated…"
"Then celebrate it we shall! But there's a storm coming, help me secure the lighthouse and we can get your boat settled with Laboon till it passes." Crocus informed his nephew, pulling him close once more. "After we can figure out how to get you back to your crew without crossing the Calm Belt."
"Ah, I didn't think that far through with my excitement," Buggy exclaimed sheepishly.
Crocus chuckled at the obviousness of that statement as they made their way back inside. It didn't take them long to check and fix everything on the lighthouse, the other one hadn't been used in years so Crocus didn't bother with that one, may his brother rot in the depths of Davy Jones' locker. The only time it had ever been used was when Crews were adamant that they could repair their ship and move on and to add more storage.
The storm raged on on the outside, large thuds of the heavy drops a soothing sound to both men who sat before the fire, it reminded them so much of life of the Oro. Food had been cooked and consumed, Buggy lounging peacefully while Crocus read one of his books. The silence only lasted a beat more until it was shattered by the ringing of the special snail, one that Roger had convinced Vegapunk to make in return for information on Raftel.
Crocus was up and on his feet in an instant, Buggy at his side as he answered the call. Little screens popped up showing several faces, Gaban, Momora, Yui, Spencer and Rayleigh though all their attention was on the bigger screens, on Jackson.
"JB what's happened for you to call us like this?" Crocus asked before anyone else could, seeing the soot and streak of red that clung to the man's face, along with the rifle on his back. It must have been bad for JB to call them on the emergency line. "Are you alright? Have you been discovered?"
'A lot has happened.' Jb sighed, bringing his blood-soaked hands up to run through his curls with a grimace. 'Red's been hurt.'
'What do you mean Red's been hurt?' Gaban asked with wide eyes, leaning forward hands crushing the arms of his chair.
Momora squawked, his devil fruit falling away, feathers turning into skin and bird-like eyes blazing behind wild pale pink curls. 'Hurt how!?'
'Who!?' Rayleigh's haki-coated tremor ran through all of them even if they couldn't feel it.
Buggy remained silent, his eyes wide and face pale as he gripped the back of Crocus' shirt tight in his fist. Crocus inhaled sharply at the news, his hand coming around to clutch onto his nephew's leg. "Do you need me to come to Jaya? I can if…"
JB shook his head. 'No, Red's doctor has dealt with it and being from where he's from it's the best, no offence Doc, kid got himself a White City doctor. Momora, you'll be getting a coo shortly, can you send it along to Newgate, fast as possible, the moment he finds out his fucking son is dead there'll be war.'
Silence, dead silence. Every single pair of eyes snapped to JB once more as they took in what he had said, what he had given away without saying who. But they all knew who he meant the moment that JB mentioned Newgate.
'What did that bastard do to my son!?' Rayleigh snarled furious, leaning forward, glasses glinting in the light. Crocus could hear someone chiding him from the background as heavy thumps filled the air along with shattering glass.
"He… He didn't touch Red right!?" Buggy choked out, desperately wanting to know what happened even if he really didn't want details. He couldn't stomach the thought that, that bastard touched his brother… if Red went through what he… and if Buggy wasn't there… Buggy should have been there!
JB shook his head, relieving them of that fear but the scowl on his face was still large. 'No, the bastard asked him for a friendly fight and nearly took his sight with claws. Red's going to be sporting a scar for the rest of his life, but his sight was saved. Teach is dead, I made sure it was painful though that First Mate of Red's threw him through several walls before I got to him.'
'He should have been dealt with years ago. If Newgate tries to come after you, we'll come, you know we will.' Yui stated softly, though all could hear the hard edge in his voice as he stress ate through several apples.
'I take it Red is well? Have you spoken with him?' Spencer asked loftily, hand reaching back to grab something from Doringo who was cursing Teach's black soul to the depths of the sea. His face was a mixture of apathy they all knew hid his rage and fear.
'Red is fine as he can be, he's well looked after but I will be instructing Hongo to call you Doc, he needs to be filled in on Red's entire medical history and we all know how Red feels about looking after himself.' JB stated with a sigh. 'I'm making them stay docked on Jaya for a while longer, enough till his face heals.'
"Good, he should stay till the stitches come out at least but if you say his doctor is good then it could be sooner. I'd come personally but Laboon refuses to leave the capes even more now than he did before and there has been more and more pirates crossing over." Crocus explained with a guilty wince, his stomach churned at the fact that he couldn't leave.
Not with the poachers, the new crews swarming in and either being swallowed by the Island Whale or destroyed on impact. But if he could speak with Red's doctor then that would ease his worries a little.
"Can… can you tell him I'm thinking of him?" Buggy asked softly.
'Of course I will, kid, I need to go, I'll keep you all updated.' JB said before signing off leaving the others to finally curse up a storm. Yui was the first to disconnect after he made a promise to call Blue soon, followed by Spencer who swore to fill in the rest of the Roger Pirates personally.
Momora's face was twisted in fury and disgust, turning more birdlike as his fruit took over once more. 'I'll make sure that Newgate doesn't retaliate, Teach's actions will be spread to every blue if it is bad as JB's voice said it was. He wouldn't send me information at all unless it was bad. Be seeing you soon Blue, your brother is a fighter, worry not.'
Then it was only Rayleigh who was silent, his face set into a snarl as he breathed harshly. The screen shook with tiny tremors, the snail reflecting the fury on the First Mate's face. Buggy took one look at his father, turned and walked out without a backwards glance or a word. Crocus sighed as it took the wind out of Rayleigh's sails, his eyes now sad as he stared past Crocus' shoulder.
"He'll come around." Crocus tried to reassure but he wasn't sure. As far as he knew, Buggy hadn't spoken to Rayleigh at all since that day the news of Baterilla broke out.
'No, he wont, not yet… but thank you for trying Crocus, look after him.' Rayleigh sighed and closed off, leaving Crocus in darkness.
With a sigh he got to his feet and went to find Blue, maybe he should break out the hot chocolate. That always cheered up the boys when they were little. He gathered everything he needed and made his way towards the fire where Blue was sat before, legs curled to his chest and forehead digging into his knees.
"Red'll be fine Blue." Crocus hummed softly as he took a seat on the floor with a wince, his knees and joints won't thank him for it later but right now he didn't care. "You know he's a fighter."
"But he's never faced Teach without me." Blue choked out with a hiccup. "I should have been by his side… I never should have chased him away at Loguetown. I should have taken his offer to join him…"
Crocus sighed as he set the milk to warm over the fire, dumping the last of his chocolate stash in with it before pulling his nephew in close. Even now nearing his twenties Crocus knew his nephew needed affection and he wasn't ashamed to show his nephew he was loved. He pulled out his comb from its resting place in the petal behind his ear and began to comb out the tangles in Blue's hair.
"You cannot linger on the 'what could have beens' Blue, it'll drive you mad," Crocus murmured softly, leaning over to stir the hot chocolate before returning to his task. "In time you'll see Shanks again and you can apologise, you can ease your worries but for now, just take comfort that he's okay… that he has JB there with him."
"He still hasn't contacted me…" Blue hiccuped and Crocus shushed him.
"He hasn't contacted me or any of the others either Blue." He explained firmly, cutting that train of thought off. "Gaban and now JB stumbling into him was just the will of the ocean, you know how Calypso is. In time she'll lead him back to his brother once more."
Buggy sniffled and nodded, hands detaching to braid his hair up and away into a bun that his mama taught him as Crocus leant over to pour the hot chocolate into the mugs at his knee. He thanked the old man with a nod, huddling around the cup for warmth, flinching as the storm outside made itself known once more.
"Drink your chocolate, Blue, and then try and get some sleep, I set up the spare room for you. In the morning, call your crew and let them know you're alright, I'll make a call to see how we can get you back to the East." Crocus hummed as he watched his nephew fight off sleep as he sipped at his drink.
"Mmm thank you, Uncle," Blue murmured as he drained the last of his drink and stood. "For everything."
"It's what family is for Blue, goodnight," Crocus stated, giving his nephew a smile and a pat as he staggered past, draining his own drink before getting to his feet once more.
He waited for the sound of the door to the room closing as he cleaned up before making his way back over to the Den Den once more. A sigh escaped him as he dialled the number and waited, he knew that though they were just on a call an hour or so before, it was late.
'Crocus, what's happened?' Momora's voice roughened with sleep uttered concerned, it had guilt gnawing at Crocus.
"Sorry to wake you Momora, but how far away are you from the Capes?" He asked with a tired sigh.
There was some shifting and a few curses muffled on the other side of the line as Momora got to his feet. 'I could be there within three days, what's happened? Is it urgent because then I can fly, it'll take me a day and a half then.'
"No, nothing urgent. I don't think anyone caught it during the call with the news about Red but Blue is here." Crocus explained, watching as the Snail's eyes widened to reflect Momora's shock. "Came roaring over the mountain on a sloop in excitement of the bounties, he can't get back."
'Blue swore to never… right the bounties… I know he's a captain, is his crew able to wait that long without him? They must be near Loguetown if Blue came over Reverse Mountain.' Momora hummed slightly and Crocus could hear a few more ruffling papers. It wouldn't even surprise the Doctor if their information specialist already knew the exact location of Blue's crew.
"He's going to reach them on the Den Den tomorrow," Crocus stated as he leaned back in the chair, back aching, his age was catching up to him.
'Alright, tell Blue to call me once he's spoken to his crew. I've already given orders for my ship to be pointed towards the Capes. It'll take me three days, so make sure that our nephew is good to go, right Doc?' Momora stated, causing Crocus to feel extremely offended.
"I'm taking good care of our nephew, birdbrain!" He snapped, eyes widening and snapping to the door in fear that his outburst had woken his nephew before scowling back down at the DenDen as his brother's laugh filled the room. "Go get some sleep, doctor's orders, see you in three days Birdbrain."
'See you soon, Flower,' Momora teased back with his squeaky laughs. 'Thank you for calling me though, it's been too long since I've seen Blue. Goodnight.'
Crocus groaned as his brother disconnected and buried his face into his hands, with a deep sigh he got to his feet and headed to bed. There was no use worrying over everything, family was family, even if they annoyed you to death, that was just the way of little brothers. He'll deal with everything tomorrow and hopefully, that doctor of Red's would call him soon.
All he had to do was wait and he was good at that.
Wooo boy, so Trial by Fire (On AO3) has consumed me. I also got stuck with this that Wolfy had to help be get unstuck. I have also been, very, very sick... But here is a chapter! Crocus was hard to write.
Also this originally was going to be East Blue but uh, Gabby wants a wedding and I didn't want to post a monster of a chapter for a single ch lmao..
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
P.s don't forget to join the server! You get sneak peeks!