In The World of One Piece (VariousxReader)

Crocodile x Reader

A/N~Sorry I haven't had as much time for writing. Hopefully the fact this chapter is twice as long previous ones will make up for that. Also I tried really really hard not to so if Crocodile comes off a OOC in any way I am so sorry. The song used for this chapter is Dust to Dust by The Civil Wars.~

Heat. The first thing you noticed upon waking up was the intense heat on your back. Lifting yourself up on your hands and knees you found your body was partially buried in a fine sand which stuck in some uncomfortable places. The scenery around you was both bland and bright as there was nothing but sand dunes which reflected sunlight almost as well as glass. You took off the hoodie you were wearing and tied the sleeves around your waist in an attempt to help cool yourself off. Then after picking a direction you started to walk.

Hours passed as you continued to trek through the blinding sea of sand. Eventually though whether it was because of exhaustion or thirst you found yourself collapsing in the shade near a large rock. Your skin hurt and was blazing red from sunburn, which made even lying in the cool sand agonizing. Heat stroke was your first guess when you couldn't move from the spot that you now lay. Is this how I'm gonna die?

   As that thought repeated in your mind like an unpleasant echo you noticed what appeared to be figures approaching in the light of the setting sun. Great. Now I'm probably hallucinating. But instead of disappearing like you expected, the figures grew closer and more solid in appearance. Unfortunately before you could get a clear look at their faces your vision began to blur and darken at the edges. By the time they reached you, you had almost completely lost consciousness. The last sensation you were able to cling onto your memory being the complex scent of the person who picked you up. A musky moonflower cologne and a smoky mix of what smelt like almond, vanilla and cedar.

~Sometime later~

You awoke in a bed with soft cotton sheets and were covered in bandages. A cool gel could be felt under the bandages which you presumed was probably aloe vera or something similar. To your left was a large window that overlooked a garden in the middle of the desert. The scene reminded you of the one from Aladdin where Jasmine was first seen with her pet tiger. On your right was a wardrobe and vanity set with a large mirror.

"I look like a freaking mummy." You remarked to yourself. Other than the bandages you were wearing a simple white dress shirt that was large enough that it reached your knees. Although it stung to move, you willed yourself out of the bed to the wardrobe.

Opening it up you found that the clothes inside mainly contained silky dresses and sandals for footwear. The dresses were in vibrant shades of colors of all kinds, which made picking one out a slightly more difficult task. Eventually you found one in your favorite color and a pair of sandals that fit comfortably. And after changing into your new attire went out the door into a long hallway.

Exploring your new surroundings with a bit of awe and wonder you ended up running face first into a broad chest and landed on your butt. As you held your head and repeated ows the shadow of the person in front of you passed over you, signaling to you that they were kneeling. Looking up into their eyes you would never forget the sight that greeted you as Crocodile offered his hand to help you to your feet.

And over the next decade you lived with him and the other members of Baroque Works in Alabasta acting as a sort of confirmation of Crocodile's good intentions toward the royal family. Your heart feeling more and more guilt at the passage of time since you knew what his plans were but did nothing to stop them. This was because over that same time frame you had grown feelings toward the warlord. But though he indulged in spending time with you on occasions such as conversational walks or dancing with you at the few formal events you both attended, he seemed to show little romantic interest.