One Piece: The Princess and the Villain (Vivi x Crocodile) - Fanfiction

09 - THE REUNION OF THE PRINCESS AND THE VILLAIN (1)

Crocodile sat in his dimly lit private workspace, the air thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the faintest hint of cigar smoke. Documents sprawled across the dark mahogany desk, detailing shipments, profits, and contacts within the underworld. Yet, despite the meticulous organization of his empire, his mind drifted—a traitorous thought that lingered like a shadow.

He poured another glass, the amber liquid sloshing against the sides, a momentary distraction. The burn in his throat provided a fleeting solace, but it wasn't enough to drown out the echoes of his memories. Months had passed since Vivi slipped through his fingers, and the weight of her absence hung in the air like an unshakeable fog. He swirled the drink, watching the way the light danced off the glass, and wished he could dismiss the thoughts of her.

Frustration clawed at him. It was a feeling he despised, one he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. Crocodile prided himself on his control, yet here he was—drinking more than usual, his thoughts slipping into chaos. The chaos he loathed.

She was back in the Alubarna Palace, likely playing the role of the dutiful princess, and yet, he couldn't escape the feeling that she had taken a piece of him with her. She had been a puzzle he had barely begun to understand, and now that puzzle was scattered, pieces lost in the desert.

Crocodile slammed the glass down, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent room. He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath, trying to push the frustration aside. He was a man of power, a figure who commanded respect and fear. Emotions had no place in his world. But even as he tried to convince himself, the ache remained—a stark reminder that the deeper connections he had formed were not easily severed.

With a heavy sigh, he reached for the bottle again, pouring himself another drink, hoping it would numb the lingering thoughts of the princess who had slipped away from him.

Suddenly, there's a shift in the air. The door creaks open, and like almost impossible, there she is—Vivi, standing in the doorway, her expression calm but her eyes flickering with determination.

Crocodile's cigar falls from his lips, hitting the floor with a soft thud as he freezes, disbelief flashing across his usually composed face.

For a moment, neither of them speaks. The tension is palpable, a silent storm building between them. Vivi is no longer the frightened princess he once dominated; she stands tall, her posture poised, a quiet strength radiating from her. Crocodile's piercing gaze locks onto her, trying to decipher her intentions.

"Vivi," he mutters, his voice low and gravelly, as if testing the reality of the situation.

Her name feels foreign on his tongue after so long, but the sound of it carries more weight than before. She steps further into the room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click, her eyes never leaving his. There's a flicker of something in Crocodile's expression—surprise, perhaps, but also a dark hunger that stirs as he sees her standing before him in the flesh.

"I didn't expect to see you here again," Crocodile finally says, his voice smooth but laced with tension. "I thought you'd run as far as possible after everything."

Vivi's lips part, her voice soft yet firm. "I came because... I needed to face you. Not as a captive, not as your possession, but as someone who hopes for something better."

Crocodile's eyes narrow, skepticism flashing across his features. "Better?" His tone drips with incredulity. "You think you can fix me, princess?"

She takes a step closer, her expression unwavering. "I'm not here to fix you, Crocodile. But I believe there's more to you than the man I fought against... than the man who did all those things to me."