#strawhatking

@strawhatking

"Like you would listen in the first place." The Warlord hissed through his teeth as he turned to look over his shoulder, eyes devoid of feeling and anything resembling emotion for who this child was to him. For the briefest hint of an emotion, the scowling face full of vigor and grit teeth that faced him full on was replaced with a younger one. One that was a full smile, laughter, and excitement. The face he had seen when Luffy had seen him on the dock.

But it was brief, and Crocodile did not allow himself to feel anything resembling pity for what they had become. He had always hoped that Luffy would never come here. That Luffy would avoid Alabasta at all costs, but here they were, standing across from each other in the dunes as opposing forces.

A pity, but so be it. No one could get in his way, not even the young man who reminded Crocodile so much of himself.

Crocodile brushed aside the cloak that hung over his shoulders with his hook, the gold sending a reflection of the sun across the sands. His other hand gripped into a fist, which he flashed upwards as another barrier to place between himself and Luffy. Another wall. Another barrier. Anything that might create even more of a rift. Seperate the boy from the man. Separate the child from the upstart that was staring him directly in the face.

Obsessed carnivore that he was, Luffy was one of the sole people that’s always accepted Ace for who he was, instead of whom his father was. An audible exhale as he refused to recall the other noble brat who once perished and was now forever immortalized on his silly arm tattoo. Sabo.

...Except for today. Today, Luffy cheerfully declared that he could easily defeat Ace now that he’s grown stronger and assembled his own crew. Figuring that an arm wrestling was inevitable, Ace merely smirked at the challenge.

The moment rubbery arms had landed on his shoulders, Zoro braced himself for the body to follow shortly. And sure enough, Luffy comes rocketing over; Zoro grunts at the impact but otherwise doesn't move except to shift his stance to accommodate for his new living backpack.

"Did you bother telling anyone we were going this way?"

He doubts it, but he isn't going to stop Luffy either. He knows better than to try – he uses the tip of a sword to draw an arrow in the dirt in the direction they're going before setting off, instead. Nami, at the very least, is smart enough to figure it out if they're needed and this has happened often enough that there's a snail sleeping in his pocket for emergencies.

This kid.

This fucking punkass kid.

Eyes narrow down at his face, as though really getting a look at him. He can see it now, in small traces. He can see Dragon in the determination behind Luffy's eyes. He can even see it in his grin. But, there was something else in there. The way the edges of his eyes crinkled, or the fact that grin seemed to hold something a little more feral behind it. Traces of himself, looking back at him.

What the most telling of mirrors.

There's a blank expression on his face at first, an absent stare that does not seem to register what is being said as Luffy raises his head, tipping the brim of his straw hat upwards to look directly at the former warlord, the officer pulling the strings behind Cross Guild. Then lips curl upwards slowly, grin forming on his face as laughter slips from his mouth in a relentless chuckle, eyes glittering with mirth.

"Don't go underestimating me! I'm not a kid any more!" Oh he remembers those days, the glint of the sun on the golden hook in Foosha Village and the scant visits where he learnt cards and shared meals. Remembers too, that hook piercing through his chest in the desert of Alabasta, and clawing back victory. Breaking out of Impel Down and standing side by side for Marineford once understanding was found. It might not be a perfect history, but it was theirs and it made sense.

"I'm going to kick your ass and I will be King of the Pirates and you can't stop me!" The grin says it all. Even if you call me naive. Even if you stand against me. Even if you become an obstacle. He rolls his shoulders, and tilts his head side to side, gaze focused on the other. It wasn't going to be the same as last time, but there was a thrill in that too. Seeing how far one's come, having that witnessed by another, that was exciting too.

----------------------------

This kid.

This damned kid.

This infuriating fucking kid.

At first, Crocodile could feel his lips pulling away from sharp teeth into a sneer, but that inevitably made way for an amused smirk, followed by a rumbling chuckle that bubbled up from his gut like a boiler. The former Warlord shook his head slowly, as though he could not believe a word that Luffy was saying. But, how could he not? How could he not just believe every last word that Luffy was saying now? Had he not proven himself tenfold by now?

They were always bound to butt heads. Even after they had torn apart the might of the Marines at Marineford, there was no hesitation on what they were. Who they were. Even in that first moment, where Crocodile had decided to push that child away, it would seem that they were bound to keep finding each other. Crocodile wouldn't let that stop him. He couldn't let that stop him.

"No. You're right. You're not a kid anymore, are ya?"

He finally opened his eyes, golden slits locked onto Luffy's face.

Crocodile didn't hide the way his mouth twisted into almost disgust as he saw the half-chewed pieces of cards fall out of Luffy's mouth. The massive man looked down at the kid, though it wasn't as disproportionate as it could be as he was seated at the table. Luffy had insisted upon practically clambering over the table from the other end and sitting at the edges like an adult. Always wanting to be at the big kids table. Always wanting to be where the pirates were. Seemed the kid was practically made for that life.

The Warlord sighed as he ran his forefinger against his brow, as though trying to ease out the headache that was forming.

"You know, there are other ways to become a pirate than anything that Red-Haired is doing." He sighed as he laid out whatever manner of cards he had.

Hm. Four of a Kind. Not bad. Better than the mass of wet cardboard that Luffy had just shot out of his mouth.

Chopper had been sitting on the Going Merry's head, watching the horizon. At first, he'd not realised it was Luffy's special seat - but after some scrambled attempts to get down and apologise; his new Captain had opted to share the space. Chopper had scooted a little bit against Luffy, mostly to prevent falling. At his words, Chopper turned to him, eyes lighting up even more.