"We all have demons sweetheart, I just chose to feed mine."

Nothing in your life had built you up for a moment like this, the ringing from his cackling breaking through your skull, leaving you to the damnation of his voice. Smooth velvety words falling from the chaste lips of a tyrant, a man set on his goal...

°°°

Bound in chains. It seemed nearly impossible to even attempt to escape the damned place.

The metal dug into your stomach, the ropes scratching and itching against your wrists as you shuffled against the wall.

You leaned back, hoping to get any kind of pressure off of your abdomen. But it all transferred to your back, digging into your spine and skin.

You grit your teeth and clenched your eyes, your chest shakily rising and falling as your breath hitched in your throat.

You let out a sigh, falling into the cold metal grasp of the chains as your eyes softened and remained closed, the feeling of your heart slowly fading.

Your memories flickered through your mind, a comforting feeling of warmth and relief washing over your strained body.

You heard the clicking of the door open and shutting, another click indicating the person had locked it back.

Faint footsteps made their way across the room, eerily moving closer and closer to your vulnerable form.

"Well...well..who do we have here?"

You stayed as you were, only rising your eyes to his as a metal touch slid over your exposed neck.

"So you're the little devil that tried to steal my government documents and files? Hard to believe.."

His voice melded into the darkness, leaving you to aimlessly search around with frantic eyes.

You could see nothing.

Nothing at all, only catching the faintest glimpse of a golden glint in the room.

"Do you know who I am? Hmm?"
"I'd like to, but seeing as though you're hiding your own obviousness from me in darkness I do not..."

A chuckle rang throughout the room, causing a shudder to crawl up your spine.

"Smart girl you are hmm? Using big words to coax me out of anonymous?"

You frowned and sighed, rolling your head back.

"I didn't mean to sound so, but I suppose you take a lot of things out of context?"

Another small chuckle and lights blinded your vision before you could refocus.

"What I lack in common sense, I make up for in sarcasm dear."
You look up at the tall man in front of you, your eyes widening a bit.

"Crocodile?"
"The one and only my little paper snatcher."

He grinned, leaning down.

"Why...what.."

His gray eyes dulled, a sigh falling from between his lips.
"Don't tell me, I know."

He stood up, slowly pacing around the perimeter of the large room.

"You were sent by the government weren't you? They caught wind of what I was doing to this corrupt, droughty kingdom?"

You said nothing, your eyes only focusing on the menacing figure slowly making his way around the room.

"You did a very good job getting past my defenses, very good."

He smiles, the hair on the back of your neck prickling up.

"But, not good enough I'm afraid..for here you are at the length of my disposal.."

He walked in front of you, tilting your chin up with the tip of his hook.

"I could kill you right now with all that information in your measly mind.."

He presses you against the wall, eyes slowly traveling to yours.

"But, I don't think that I could bring myself to do that to such a nice asset to my community."

He stood up and straightened out, looking down at you.

"You seem to have a good pair of eyes and ears, not to mention a level headed mind. Most individuals would crumble under this pressure, but here you are completely level..."

He smirked, eyes glued to yours as your breath hitched.

"Here's the deal, you'll work under me in Baroque Works as a little information stealer. You'll be put under specialized supervision by the unluckies, and if you try anything...they'll kill you."

His voice was sweet comfort, since you knew that if you went back to the government and told, you'd be dead either way, may as well stay here where its at least a bit safer.

"Fine..now untie me..."
"Fine?"
"Okay yes! Now untie me!"
"Oh, that's no way for a lady to talk to her boss now is it?"

You raised an eyebrow and frowned.

'Seriously. Seriously..'

"Oh please, untie me sir."
"That's better, but you'll have to work on that attitude of yours."

He grabbed the chains, picking you up from the floor as he made his way out of the room and down the hall to where you were being lead.

"Your little office will be right here."

He opens up a door, untangling you from your chains before setting you on the floor.

"We'll get your necessities in a day or two, right now I just need to get to know what you're like."

The rope was shredded from your wrists, a burning sensation slowly rising to your skin afterwards.

You rubbed your wrists as you rose from the floor, turning around to look up at him.

"What do you need to know.."
"Everything I don't already."

He grinned and shut the door behind him.

"Well.."
"How about your opinions on me taking over this rain forbidden territory?"

You blinked, backing up into a chair and clearing your throat awkwardly.

"Well to be fair, I don't really care. Its just another kingdom on a map that has problems, I don't understand why it took you so long to get up and do it."

A surprised look came across his features, his eyes widening.

"..right...anyway, I have been going over a plan the past four years of my life living here, and I'm just about at the peak of finally getting it all to myself."

You nodded and hummed, looking around the spacious area.

"What's your name?"
"Y/n, its Y/n L/N."

He nodded and raised an eyebrow.

"I've heard of you before, they call people like you the mutts of the navy."
"Correct there sir."
"Well, you're a mutt no longer, now you're one of my criminals."

You nodded and smiled a bit.

'A criminal..as bad as it sounds I like it..'

"What's the first thing you need me to do boss man?"

A chuckle rumbled from his chest as he turned back to the door.

"I need you to get the position of a troublesome pirate crew, the strawhats.."