The corridor stretched ahead as Crocodile led Sineka to her room, with only one more door opposite hers. His smirk didn't escape her notice as he caught her glancing towards the door.
"That one's mine," he teased, "You could always join me there if you find my company so irresistible."
Sineka, unexpectedly, blushed at his comment, a reaction that earned a raised eyebrow from Crocodile. Not one to let an opportunity slip, he continued to tease her as they walked.
He smirked. "Surprising reaction, Miss Duskblade. Didn't think you had it in you." Her blush deepened, and she looked away, choosing not to dignify his comment with a response. Crocodile, enjoying the rare display of vulnerability, pushed the boundaries a little more.
He decided to lean in a bit, "You know, you look rather adorable when you blush." Sineka's discomfort was palpable, and just when it seemed like Crocodile might cross a line, he stopped abruptly and gestured towards the door of her room. "Well, here we are. Your sanctuary for the night."
Sineka, relieved by the change of topic, entered the room, and Crocodile followed suit. The room welcomed them with warm and muted tones, a surprising contrast to the exterior demeanour of the man who led her there. The walls were a nude brown, the furniture in dark espresso, with accents of Prussian Blue and Russet Reds. Sineka couldn't help but compliment him on his taste.
"This is unexpectedly pleasant. I wouldn't have pegged you for someone with an eye for interior design."
" You underestimate me, Miss Duskblade. This was made with you in mind, from that time in Alabasta." Sineka's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Crocodile continued. "You made a lasting impact on my mind. I find you not only alluring but also someone who can match my intelligence."
Sineka blushed again, caught off guard by his candid admission. Crocodile, a rare hint of sincerity in his tone, asked about her time in Alabasta. "How did you end up there?"
Sineka, regaining her composure, explained that she was supposed to be in East Blue, but through a long and well-thought-out plan, she managed to get separated from her guards and boarded ships after ships to reach Alabasta.
The man raised a brow, "East Blue? That's quite a distance from Alabasta. What compelled you to take such a journey?"
"A strategic move, Mr. 0," Sienka smirked, "I had my reasons."
Crocodile leaned against the door frame, "Reasons, huh? Care to share?"
"Let's just say, the allure of adventure and the promise of... opportunities led me there."
"Opportunities? You have a knack for cryptic answers, Miss Duskblade."
"Keeps things interesting, don't you think?"
"Indeed."
A subtle tension lingered in the air as Crocodile continued to study Sineka, each word exchanged adding another layer to the enigma that surrounded her. The corridors of the villa held the echoes of their conversation, a dance of words that seemed to invite more questions than answers. He wanted to ask more, much more than he knew she would answer.
"Well, it seems I've monopolized the conversation. What about you, Mr. 0? What brought you to Alabasta?"
He stood straight again, now in the spotlight. "Business, as always. Alabasta presented an opportunity, and I seized it."
Sineka raised a brow, "Business in a desert kingdom?"
"You'd be surprised at the desert's lucrative opportunities, Miss Duskblade."
She leaned in playfully, her voice just above a whisper, "But you're not one to be easily surprised, are you, Mr. 0?"
Crocodile smirked, enjoying the conversation, "I like to keep my surprises to myself, Miss Duskblade. It maintains an element of mystery."
She raised a brow, "Mystery or a desire to control every aspect of your life?"
Crocodile leaned closer to her, towering over the five-foot-some woman. Sineka wasn't intimidated. "Control is the key to survival, Miss Duskblade. You should know that."
"Survival or a quest for dominance? The lines blur sometimes, don't they?"
"You have a way with words, Miss Duskblade. Almost as dangerous as a well-played move on the chessboard."
"You think everything is a game, Mr. 0?" Her eyes twinkled playfully as she spoke, conveying that she wasn't here to offend.
Crocodile leaned back, smirking at her, "Life is the most intricate game of all. It's just a matter of playing your pieces right."
As they bantered, the subtle dance of words wrapped them in an invisible web, each statement a thread weaving into the fabric of understanding or deception. The corridor, witness to their verbal sparring, seemed to hold its breath as the banter reached its zenith.
"Well, Mr. 0, it seems the night has bestowed upon us a unique encounter."
The man had to agree. "Unique indeed, Miss Duskblade. I didn't expect the evening to unfold this way."
"You never know what the night might bring, especially in the company of an enigma." She teased and he enjoyed it.
"Enigma or not, I find it intriguing."
A silence settled between them, the unspoken words hanging in the air like a delicate balance waiting to be disrupted. Before Crocodile could delve deeper into the mysteries that surrounded Sineka, she changed the tone of the conversation. She spoke casually but it warned him to not step further. "Well, Mr. 0, I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you have your own secrets to attend to."
Crocodile smirked. "Secrets that keep life interesting, Miss Duskblade."
She chuckled and offered him a playful smile, her head leaning to the side as her eyes glinted. She looked so tempting. "Good Night, Mr 0."
"Good night, Miss Duskblade."
As the door closed behind him, Crocodile found himself alone in the corridor, the banter lingering in the air like an ephemeral waltz. His thoughts, usually as composed as the desert sun, were now a swirl of unexpected emotions. The night had taken unforeseen turns, and the enigma that was Sineka Duskblade seemed to deepen with each passing moment. The corridor, a silent witness to their verbal duel, resumed its quiet ambience, leaving Crocodile to navigate the maze of thoughts the night had unravelled.
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A Bride for the Desert King | Crocodile
Fanfiction"Marry me," she commanded, almost. Crocodile narrowed his eyes at the impertinence of the woman who stood in front of him. "Ara," he heard Ms All Sunday mutter amusedly. "Who are you?" "Sineka Duskblade," she replied.
