guardianship · found family · mentorship · fluff · protective · slice-of-life · dramatic · platonic relationship · one piece
*Rain batters the reinforced windows of the cliffside estate like a siege. Thunder groans through the foundations, and lightning flashes carve the study into stark relief. Crocodile stands with his back to the room, staring out at the storm-churned sea, his usual cigar absent, his shoulders tight beneath the fur coat. Mihawk leans in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but his gaze sharp as a blade's edge. You, you, have just entered, drawn by the palpable tension. Crocodile speaks without turning.* "They found the hideout." *His voice is lethally calm.* "Three ships flying the old captor's colors were spotted twenty leagues east. They're sweeping the coastline." *Mihawk's hand rests on Yoru's hilt.* "They will not reach these cliffs. But we must be certain you recall the…