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Ever since he was born you'd been there. You'd been there with him through everything.

Everything

He may not have noticed you at first, but he certainly did now.

His little guardian sitting beside him as he conducted his business.

You sat on the edge of his desk, listening to the scratching of the pen on the documents.

"Croc.."

No answer, you sighed.

The pen whisked from point A to B, papers being shuffled to the side of the desk as another was grabbed from the large stack.

"Crocodile."

He glances up, his eyes scanning over the room before he caught a small flicker to the left of his desk.

"What."

His tone was sharp per usual, eyes trained on where he thought your eyes would be.

"You've been working for the past four hours nonstop, don't you think you should take a small break?"

"How small, I don't have time enough."

"...just ten minutes...please.."

He closed his eyes, resting back in his chair a moment before pushing up out of the seat, walking to the door.

You followed after him diligently, slipping to his large shadow that cast across the hall floor.

"Why do you insist upon interrupting me when I am working? I know what I'm doing."

"You may think you know what you're doing, but I know what's best for you; that's why I was chosen to guard over you."

"I don't need anyone guarding over me, I'm perfectly capable myself.."

A small pang of hurt hit your chest, a sigh ringing out from your lips.

"Mhm.."

His gaze cast behind him, cigar stuck on his lips.

"Y/n, don't take it as an insult..."

"I don't take it as an insult...I just take it as a form of you growing out of me...and that scares me a bit.."

"Why? You suppose I'll forget about you? I won't and can't; you're around me so much.."

"Yes I know I am.."

"What else do you do besides baby me? Do you sit in the bathroom and wait for me by the side to make sure I don't drown while I bathe?"

"No Crocodile.."

He felt a small tugging behind him as you lifted from the floor, a outline the only thing exposing you as you followed beside him.

A glance was passed over your short physique, a grunt replacing unspoken words.

"Where are you going?"

His gray eyes steadied in front of him, his head tilting up.

"Since you said to take a small break, I may as well go check on some things in my casino."

He walked to the elevator, you gliding by his side.

"Alright.. This doesn't have anything to do with that straw hat boy does it?"

His shoulders tensed slightly at your words, teeth gritting over the tobacco.

"Of course not."

You could hint at something as the elevator slid to the casino floor.

He took large strides, walking through the crowd of people easily as they swarmed out of the way.

His head was held high, eyes casting a frenzied glance across the packed hall.

"Come on...come on...I don't have time for this.."

He growled lowly, you slowly wading your way after him.

You caught wind of someone speaking under their breath, but turned to see no one there.

You turned back to Crocodile, settling yourself on his shoulder.

"It took you long enough to catch up, Y/n."

You nodded, immersed in the decor around you as the bustling machines worked around the clock.

You glanced around at the people, a small smile apparent on your face; not that anyone could see it.

Maybe Crocodile, he never made any effort to show emotion. Maybe perhaps he could see you all along?

You doubted it, but you did have a small sliver of hope.

"Have you gotten heavier Y/n? I don't remember the last time you were on my shoulder to be so straining."

You tensed up and sigh as you slid from his grasp, falling to the floor and swiftly gliding up ahead of him.

He frowned, shaking his head slightly as he came to a stop in front of a door.

He opened it, slipping into the doorway.

You followed after him, standing near his towering frame.

A large window was along the wall of the room, looking down into the streets.

"Beautiful don't you think so y/n? I could be running all of this in the course of a few days..."

A small smile played at his lips, urging you to smile.

"Of course..."

"You don't seem very enthusiastic about this, what can you see that I don't?"

You sigh and shake your head.

His eyes wandered to his side, your body shielded by its invisible cloak.

"I'm getting bad signals from this Crocodile, its best if you just cut the operation off before you and up somewhere you don't want to be.."

A grunt left his throat, his body passing through yours.

"You want me to just give up four years of my life to nothing?"

"I didn't say that, I just mean to go for something that will be plausible-"

"So you're telling me that you don't believe in me enough to be able to take over a dust bowl kingdom?"

He turned and faced where your body was supposed to be, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Its not that I don't, its just that I know things that you don't.."

"Well what I don't know won't hurt me, now if you'll excuse me, I have a little 'meeting' to attend to before that mugiwara boy shows up."

With that he left the room, closing the door behind him.

You shake your head, making your way over to the glass and looking out onto the streets of bustling people.

You look down at yourself, eyeing your s/c skin that was invisible to everyone but yourself.

"I wish I could help you Crocodile.."

°°

The operation backfired in the most painful way you could've imagined.

You thought he'd be able to get over the fact, but he couldn't.

There he lay on the ground, rain now pouring from the sky as his breathing hitched with every breath he took in.

It brought you to tears at the sight of his condition as ships were being taken into marine custody; his title now revoked as he lay there completely helpless.

You sat beside him, seastone cuffs secured around his wrists as he was lead to the ship.

"Crocodile."

There was no response, his eyes averted from yours and cemented to the floor in front of him.

He was sat in a cell as he was transported.

You sat away from him in a far corner, gazing at the wooden floorboards.

"I should've listened to you, Y/n.."

His eyes stared down into his lap.

"Crocodile.."

"Don't 'Crocodile' me, I didn't want to believe that I couldn't do it. I should've listened to you when you told me, but I didn't because I wanted to get my reward of constructing such a plan..."

You smile slightly.

That's a first for your Crocodile, owning up to something.

"Y/n..I was wondering how you looked like."

You look over at him and chew on your lip.

"Why?"

"Because its rather knowing a voice but not a voice, and I get sick of imagining what color your eyes and hair are.."

You sigh and roll your eyes slightly, a smile stretching across your face.

"Well I'm terribly worry for being such a nuisance."

"Mhm.."

You stood up, brushing off the front of your clothing as you made your way over, stopping in front of him.

"Are you sure that you want to see me..."

"I'm fairly certain that I'd like to see the person who's been around since I was a mere child."

You nod and sigh, the protective invisible layer that surrounded you slowly melting away until all that was left was you.

You looked at him and waited, your eyes full of worry as you adjusted yourself self-consciously.

"You're.."

"I'm what.."

You feel your cheeks blossom red, his gaze flittering up and down your physique.

"A lot more than what I expected...much more beautiful as well..."

You hide your face and shake your head.

No no no. No.

"Crocodile please, no need for you to lie to me."

"I'm not lying Y/n, have you ever lied to me? I didn't think so, so why would I lie to the person that has done nothing but warn me and steer me in a direction I didn't know was a path?"

You slid down the wall beside him, hugging your knees to your chest.

"Well I mean.... Never mind.."

He was right, you'd never lie to him. You were to close to him and you knew better.

"Hmm."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing Y,n nothing don't worry...I'm thinking is all.."

"Your mind is pretty blank right now Crocodile, I don't think you're thinking about anything."

He glances over and shakes his head slightly.

"You have to poke your nose into everything?"

"Basically my job."

You saw a faint smile flash on his lips, a faint chuckle rumbling from his chest.

"Right....tell me something.."

"Anything you'd like me too."

"You say that you're around all the time, right? Does that include when I'm alone.."

"Yes, but some instances I know better than to intervene with so I let you take care of those yourself.."

You blush slightly and chuckle, scratching behind your head.

"Yes yes I know that, thank you, but..."

You look over at him.

"Yes I know Crocodile, I do see everything you do and know everything you do. I don't do anything unless you look like you specifically need it."

He nodded silently and looked down at the cuffs that were tightened around his wrists.

"All of those dreams you had, I thought I was looking in on a child's mind..it was rather cute.."

You heard him mumble something, a small tint of oink apparent on his usually light cheeks.

"Yes I know...its a silly child fantasy of mine.."

You place a hand on his shoulder, he flinched slightly, setting back against the cold wall.

"A silly dream is still better than no dream Crocodile."

"Its not like it'd be something I'd be able to do anyway...there are many others after the title..."

"That's why its such a fantastic dream to have, if you want it then you'll have to fight others for it. Crocodile, if there's a will there's a way."

"That's what I thought about utopia, I don't know what to believe anymore."

You stand up, a hand resting on top of his head.

"You listen to me Sir Crocodile, you can believe me that I believe in you when no one else does, when you're lonely I'm around, when you're hurting I'm here to heal you, When you feel your voice is not heard I am there to listen to you, you just need to learn that failure is a part of life few understand and many feel."
You run a hand through his hair, his eyes staring up at you.

You smile.

"You look just as you did thirty years ago..just memories are what make you different..I will always love you when you are unloved. You are my pirate king."

Your body started to drift back into the invisibility it was used to, a small clank sounding behind you as the marine officers lead him out into the underwater prison of impel down.

You followed after him, a smile still apparent on your features as you stood beside him.

You looked up at him, his eyes trained on the cold stone floor.

You tilt his chin up a bit, snatching a small kiss from his cheek before he was taken in to search.

"I love you even if you don't love me back, I will always watch over you."