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In hindsight, Dragon mused, perhaps a lone sail around the territories had been an awful idea. Looking back, he had obviously been more than a little careless, ignoring Kuma and Iva’s warnings about straying too far, and maybe he should have been paying more attention to his surroundings ... .but how could he have seen this coming. Caught off guard and captured by pirates.
He was never going to hear the end of this.
At least they’d been foolish enough to only bind him with rope. If they’d truly known who he was, or if they’d been hunting him, they surely would have slapped him with sea prism cuffs. Now, all he had to do was wait for a moment where he could slip away, before anyone else realized he was technically missing and decided to send a search party.
The pirates growled at him to keep moving, and he obeyed a moment later, allowing them to yank him up the stairs towards the stern of the ship. A sharp elbow digging into his sides forced a grunt from his lips, forcing him to stumble as he crested the stairs. His shoulder hit the deck painfully, but he managed to catch the grunt in his throat, refusing to let their petty aggravations get to him or show in any way.
“I thought I told you two to be careful with him.” A cool voice crowed from above him, causing Dragon to look up…..at what must have been one of the most attractive people he had ever laid eyes on. Dark, ink black hair that was obviously fighting to curl against the copious amount of gel smoothing it down, pale skin framing the most entrancing pale lavender eyes. Eyes that were currently looking at him as if he were an ant under heel ( and if maybe he thought it wouldn’t be too bad to end up under this mystery captain’s heel, Dragon decided he'd rather choke on his own words than admit it) . He realized a second too late that the pirate, most likely the captain going off the heavy jewelry and refinement of the clothes, had said something to him. He felt himself flush as they smirked at him, an eager, damn near lecherous look in their eyes as they leaned forwards, resting their chin on a fist.
Hell, maybe if he played his cards right, this beauty could end up an ally or trade partner (or more). If he could just maneuver the conversation down a nice and easy path…..
“Do you know where you are, revolutionary?” The captain asked teasingly, sending both a bolt of heat and a chill down Dragon’s spine with their tone alone.
Ah, so the hard way then….
‘Might as well play dumb, gather intel, wait for a chance to slip outta these ropes...' He thought, as he forced his face into as neutral an expression as he could manage. He didn’t want to have to sink the ship or hurt this crew, but if they knew who he was it was probably better safe than sorry, no matter how attractive their Captain.
Dragon gave a noncommittal shrug as he righted himself, rising to his knees. “Apologies, but I can’t say I do, Captain…” Perhaps that line was a bit too obvious a prod at the person sitting before him, whose grin only widened mockingly. “Crocodile.” They offered, looking like the cat that got the canary. “Sir Crocodile, Captain of the Neverland Pirates.”
Dragon nodded, using the motion to quickly glance across the rail, out over the surface of the water. No land in sight……damn…
“Well, Sir Crocodile,” He began, slowly flexing his hands against the rope. “What am I doing here?” Crocodile’s grin took on a more sinister edge, looking more and more like their namesake.
“I am looking for someone amongst your ranks.” Crocodile said casually. “Someone of higher rank than some poor little scout like yourself.”
Dragon wasn’t sure if he should be insulted or relieved that this crew apparently didn’t know who he was. Crocodile stood abruptly, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he approached Dragon, cocking a hip as he came to a stop in front of him. “I am looking for the location of the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom, Emporio Ivankov.”
Ah........
Of all the people Dragon thought this crew would have been after, Iva wasn’t even in the top ten on that list….
“Ivankov?" He questioned softly. "What could you possibly want with-”
Dragon was cut off forcefully as a hand grasped his chin, oversized rings biting into his skin as he was forced to look Crocodile in the eye. The captain snarled, their face twisted into a grimace of disgust and loathing. “What I want with them is of no concern to you, old man .” Dragon honestly felt a little hurt by that. He was pretty sure that Crocodile couldn’t be more than just a few years younger than him. “Just tell me what I want to know and I won’t toss you back into that dingy of a ship we pulled you from and use you as target practice.”
He opened his mouth to counter, but felt his voice catch in his throat as Crocodile’s shirt shifted, the wide neckline falling open at just the right angle to reveal the edges of what looked like bandages. Everything clicked into place all at once, and Dragon tried to catch the soft ‘oh’ that leapt from his lips unwarranted.
However, not quickly enough, as the soft noise was heard by the Captain, whose eye twitched as he gazed down at Dragon. “Got something to say, old man?” He hissed, throwing Dragon’s head to the side. Dragon stayed quiet for a moment, before staring playfully into lavender eyes. “No, nothing at all.” Dragon said calmly, rising to his feet despite the yells and shrieks of the surrounding crew.
Dragon had always been taller than average, so the fact that Crocodile only seemed to be a few inches shorter than him wasn’t really helping with the intimidating presence Dragon had been trying to project, no matter how the rest of the crew began to freak out.
Crocodile silenced them with a bark, not taking his eyes off of Dragon, obviously curious. “But I’m sorry to say that I can’t give you their location.” Crocodile frowned, creasing his brow threateningly as he placed his hands on his hips, drawing Dragon’s eyes down his torso with the movement. “And why the hell not?”
Dragon smirked, feeling the ropes finally start to strain behind him.
“Because,” He began, feeling the wind respond to his will. “I’m afraid we’ll be moving on after this.”
With one final roll of his shoulders, Dragon heard and felt the rope keeping his hands behind his back finally snap completely. He immediately threw his arms out, using the wind to knock pretty much every single crew member off of their feet, even sending one of two over the side of the ship in the process. Right in front of him, Crocodile had attempted to reach for his waist, no doubt having some sort of weapon there, but his close proximity to Dragon resulted in him being thrown back, nearly rolling ass over teakettle in the process.
During the confusion, Dragon used the opportunity to flee to higher ground, calling upon the wind to lift him up the ship, until his feet made contact with the mast’s crossbeam, leaving him standing far above the crew, ship, sail, everything.
“I’m sorry Captain, I just realized I never gave you my name.” Dragon smiled, looking down at the bewildered crew from atop his perch. “Allow me to rectify that, I am Dragon, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Crocodile .” Dragon watched with no small hint of satisfaction as realization dawned across Crocodile’s pale face.
" DRAGON?!?!?" Crocodile’s scandalized voice called out over the whipping wind. “As in Dragon the Revolutionary, their LEADER ?!?!?" Dragon felt a calm sense of accomplishment wash over him at the reassurance that he was known even amongst a seemingly small pirate crew. “I see you’ve heard of me, then.” He nodded. “Yes, and since you’ve obviously figured it out, I’m afraid I’ll have to-”
" ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??!?!?! "
Okay…..so maybe Dragon wasn’t expecting that. “Pardon?” He asked, cocking his head quizzically. Crocodile had his hands buried in his hair, fingers straining against the black strands as his face reddened in anger. “We’ve been looking for you lot for MONTHS, and the ONE TIME we manage to find someone of importance, it’s just some geezer who fell asleep in his boat?” Okay, that was probably uncalled for. “What happened Grandpa, was nap time calling?”
Dragon watched as a building sense of horror dawned across the faces of the rest of the crew, a few of them even attempting to approach their Captain and beg him to stop insulting the man who was literally above them.
Instead, Dragon began to chuckle, which devolved into a full on laughing fit as Crocodile continued to throw insults at him. Wiping his eyes, Dragon looked down on the flustered Captain, and smiled. “Sorry, this is just the best time I’ve had in a while.” Crocodile flushed again, looking equal parts upset and confused. “You’re very creative.”
Crocodile growled, shaking his fists at Dragon. “SHUT UP, OLD MAN!!! EITHER SINK US OR TELL US WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW!!!” (Dragon could barely pick up the sound of one of the crew beginning a small prayer, while another lamented that they didn’t think that this was how they’d go down).
Dragon smiled down at Crocodile, leaning against the mast casually with his forearm above his head. “How about this,” He began, rethinking his original plan. “I won’t sink your ship, and you won’t follow me,” Dragon watched as a flash of panic crossed Crocodile’s face. “And if you can actually find me again, under…… better circumstances , let’s say, then maybe I’ll consider introducing you.”
A glimmer of hope shone in Crocodile’s eyes, before being stamped out, literally, as the Captain stomped his heel into the deck in indignation. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?” He snarled, and Dragon couldn’t help the way his heart fluttered in his chest. Crocodile was sinfully attractive, and absolutely just his type. Maybe if their next encounter was on better, more even terms, he could introduce him to the others as something more . “I guess you’ll just have to trust me, Croccy.”
Dragon snickered at Crocodile’s flushed face, as the Captain began barking orders for his crew to shoot him down, anything!
But it was already too late. The storm that Dragon had been stalling for had finally come to fruition, and the skies themselves opened for him, raining their torrential downpour across the deck of the ship as it bobbed dangerously low against the suddenly rough waves. Dragon watched as Crocodile yelped, shrieking in surprise as a cold wave jumped the railing and nailed him square in the back, drenching the Captain completely.
He laughed lightly, giving a short wave as those angry eyes met his for a final time. “Until our paths cross again, Captain Croc!” A frustrated scream tore through the sky as Dragon laughed, shouting curses at him and his whole bloodline as he fled as fast as the winds could carry him.
‘Sir Crocodile…. ’ He mused, rolling the name around in his head. ‘I’ll have to keep an eye out for him…’
MANY MONTHS LATER
Walking slowly through the back ways and short streets of this small port town was almost therapeutic. They so rarely got down time of this type, Dragon realized. Usually it was just short days with nothing to do, isolated in their current base of operations so as to be within quick reach should something pressing need to be addressed. As the sun began to set, Dragon enjoyed his walk to the best of his ability, trying desperately to not think of that attractive Captain from months ago, who always seemed to slip into his thoughts when he had a moment to himself.
He wondered if he’d ever find him, with how nomadic the group was now…..
“Oi!” Despite the waning hour, Dragon ignored the call. He was certain the person couldn’t have noticed him. This town barely had any Marine presence, and any pirate that recognized him should know well enough by now to leave him alone. Except for maybe….
“Hey, Grandpa, I’m talking to you! I didn’t come all this way for you to go deaf on me” Dragon’s steps stuttered against the cobblestone as recognition finally fell over him. His eyes snapped across the road, catching on a smile bright enough to rival the sun itself.
“Found ya, Old Man!”