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

18 - THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM (3)

As they walked through the grand hall towards their meeting place, Robin glanced back briefly in the direction of Crocodile's quarters. She had only seen a flash of blue hair, but it was enough for her sharp instincts to kick in.

"Isn't that the princess of Alabasta?" Robin asked with her usual calm tone, though her words were laden with a subtle curiosity.

Crocodile, as always, remained composed, exhaling a thin line of smoke from his cigar before responding, "Sharp eyes as usual." His voice carried a trace of amusement but gave little away.

Robin's lips curved into a small smile. "Not many women around here have blue hair," she said, gently probing for more information, as if she were merely making an observation. But her real intent was to gather as much intel as she could, knowing it could prove valuable in the future.

Crocodile chuckled under his breath, a low, gravelly sound. "I suppose you're right," he replied, his tone cool and detached as he took another deep drag of his cigar. He didn't offer anything further, but his relaxed demeanor showed he was well aware of what Robin was trying to do.

Robin, of course, was careful. She wasn't one to pry too directly, especially with Crocodile. Instead, she approached things like she always did—cautiously, with a smile and subtle prodding, hoping to extract something useful. She could sense something unusual between him and the princess, Robin certainly remembered the moment when the Princess of Alabasta managed to escape from Crocodile's captivity, but seeing her in Crocodile's bed today — with an atmosphere about Vivi that was different from when she was here as a Crocodile's captive, now appearing more relaxed — sparked curiosity in Robin's mind and she wanted to understand more, even if it was just to keep it in her back pocket for later.

But Crocodile, always a step ahead, let her continue for a while, watching her with those sharp, calculating eyes. He knew exactly what she was doing. And while he didn't mind allowing her curiosity for a moment, there was a limit to his patience.

Finally, after a brief pause, he cut through the silent tension with a teasing, yet commanding tone, "Jealous, Miss All Sunday? That's unexpected."

His words hung in the air, a playful jab, but laced with his usual dominant edge. He knew very well that jealousy was far from what Robin felt, but the tease was his way of telling her to stop asking—his polite, yet firm warning.

Robin's smile didn't waver, but the message was clear. She knew when to back off, and this was one of those moments. "Hardly," she replied smoothly, allowing the subject to drop as they continued walking. But her mind was already working, filing away the little pieces of information she'd gathered for future use.

Crocodile, satisfied with the exchange, continued on without another word, the cool smirk never leaving his face. His mind, however, briefly wandered back to Vivi—her flushed cheeks, her breathless protests, and the way she had willingly surrendered to him in a way no one else had. He inhaled deeply on his cigar, the taste of victory on his lips, knowing he had both the alliance and the princess exactly where he wanted them.

As they reached the doors to the meeting room, the tension between them dissolved, replaced by the businesslike atmosphere they both excelled in.

***

Inside the dimly lit grand meeting room, Crocodile sat at the head of the table, his signature cigar trailing thin streams of smoke through the air. Across from him, Robin stood with a calm yet focused expression, laying out the details of their plan.

"The intel suggests a delay in shipment," Robin explained, pointing to a map spread across the table. "We may need to adjust the timeline if we want to avoid drawing attention."