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The night air was muggy and warm enough that Tsuru had decided a small camisole and shorts were going to be enough for the late ‘meeting’ with Doflamingo. Curious as to why he had set the meeting during this time, and in Crocodile’s animal sanctuary no less. Tsuru found herself waiting at the gate, adorned with small wanis as Doflamingo's gaudy bubble gum pink convertible pulled up.
Stepping out of his car, long unshaven legs on display, the man's smile lit up as he gazed behind mirrored lenses at her state of unusual dressed down attire. Wearing an open pink shirt, framing his washboard abs, with the Numanica logo clearly on display and white shorts that were far too tight, Tsuru suddenly felt well dressed. His shoes were no better, a tacky mix of crocs and his normal pointed wear, did he not wear them for that poster with Crocodile?
“Tsuru! Looking as radiant as ever~” letting his tongue lul out as he hunched over closer to her letting the greeting drop from his lips with purpose.
“I'm glad you showered, boy. Is that the new cologne?”
“Fufufu, yes it is. Do you like it? Honesty caesar is outdoing himself as of late, selling out so quickly~”
Tsuru couldn't help but admit the woody, spicy but fresh scent was rather nice and seemed to cover up the smell from the gym. Doffy had been spending more and more time at the newly opened Numancia fitness and to his credit, the business had been thriving. Was yoga Doflamingo’s true calling? Or was it just as any business, an empire to grow and subjects to lead. She had tried to ignore some of the reports that had arrived at her desk, speaking of certain ‘treatments’ people had been receiving once inside the building. But the memberships had appeared steady and consistent in spite of some of the bad press.
“Hm, its fine. What are we doing here?”
Doflamingo straightens himself up
“Well, my dear Crocy had his little worker Daz install a rather beautiful stargazing dome. He says its to monitor the Platymingos, but its a little more romantic then he cares to admit~”
“The Platy- what?” questioning eyebrow shooting up
“Don't worry about that~ I want your opinion on the building, make sure it passess muster. It is your land after all” a large cheshire cat-like grin spreads across Doflamingo's face as he opens the gate and gestures up the path.
Sighing Tsuru walks ahead, ignoring the outstretched hand. The sunlight was gradually fading as they walked together down the dirt path.
Crocodile had purchased the land and created a space for him to breed and grow his bask of bananawani, but with the odd name Doflamingo had slipped, it sounded like there was more to this animal sanctuary then Sir Crocodile was telling the public. But was that not his MO. The space was large and well maintained but as the pair passed yet another large lake, there it was. A large glass dome like structure surrounded by some smaller pools of water and a river running close by that connected to the vast expanse of the bananawani pools.
*tsk* “This is all? You would have taken a picture of this and i would have approved it boy.”
“Fufufu o please~ you need to be able to check the quality of the wood and glass used. Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
Doflamingo picked up his pace now the structure was in sight. He knew it wouldn't be long until the grand show began.
Walking into the structure it was extravagantly well made. Each wooden join slotted together with care and precision, clearly done by expert hands. The glass custom for the dome, crystal clear and framing the night sky beautifully within its curved expanse making it look more like a painting than the real thing. At the centre of the room was a curved sofa neatly furnished with plenty of pillows and blankets, a table with a wicker basket and bottle of wine sat waiting for the pair. Dofmingo smiled widely as Trusu entered and took in her surroundings.
“On high alert my crane~”
“Always around you boy. What is all of this?”
Picking up a pair of wine glasses and the bottle, Doflamingo gestured around the room and twirled before dropping himself onto the sofa, legs and arms spread wide taking up as much space as possible.
“Just a little moment together, to thank my favourite landlady for all her hard work and funding~ Its a nice bottle of wine and charcuterie”
Before Tsuru can ask-
“No, it's not the Numancia wine, its a bottle donated by a certain hawk eyed friend who has been attending as of late, i assure you, it is the finest.”
Doflamingo was unaware that Mihawk had been informing her about how well wine yoga had been going, in fact she was contemplating joining the classes herself with the glowing review the swordsman gave. She could have even sworn she had seen him smile regaling her with the classes and how Doflamingo had strung someone from the ceiling when they couldn't get into a pose.
“Fine. But I am not staring at myself for the entire time I am in your company. Take them off.” She said it as a command, not a request as she loosely gestured towards his face.
“Fufufu, you only had to ask my sweet crane~” Smirking wide, Doflamingo removed his glasses revealing the damaged, cloudy left eye with the scar jaggedly framing it and the deep blood red right eye, both with long blond eyelashes.
The slight crows feet at the edges of his eyes age him without the camouflage of his glasses, making her feel more at ease that this wasn't the sweet, scared, crying young boy she had met all those years ago but rather the dangerous man she had come to know.
Sauntering over, Tsuru lowers herself a safe distance away from Doflamingo's spread body, side eyeing him as he uncorks the wine, pouring them a healthy amount each. The basket was, as he stated, filled with some of the finest charcuterie, cheese and crackers. No doubt another expensive gift from one of the clientele.
As they made idol chit chat, Tsuru could hear the small river that ran by the dome seemingly come to life with splashes.
“Fufufu, right on time~”
As Tsuru looked outside the dome, the sky was split with swirling stripes of green and blue as the aurora started.
“Was this what you wanted to show me boy? I have seen this countless times from my ship.”
“Not quite my fair lady~”
Chirping sounds. Faint but growing when Tsuru sees a small webbed animal foot at the edge of the dome. And then a bill. And a pink feather crest?!
“What in the seas is that thing!”
“Fufufu, that is one of many Platymingos Croc helped to cook up~ a cross between a platypus and a flamingo. Cute little things, but you have yet to see their party trick!”
Tsuru gasped as the small shape began to hover in place with unfurled pink wings, the moonlight making them appear otherworldly as they used their wide paddle-like tail to adjust its angle in the air. A click behind her, Doflingo flipping an unseen switch, as a purple light shone outside the dome causing the ‘Platymingos’ to glow, a group of them now emerging from the water.
They shone like lanterns against the dancing sky, floating and chirping, their wings struggling to keep them aloft for longer than a few moments. A large bananawani dragged itself to the edge of the river, seemingly watching over the glowing bundles of fur as they enjoyed the scenery, some landed on the back of the large reptile, nuzzling their beaks against its scales as they played.
“They seem…cute”
“Yea, Wani outdid himself this time. Useful little critters. But nothing holds my attention like you do Tsuru.”
Looking over, she can see Doflamingo’s eyes had not left her even as she had been watching the glowing vista surrounding them. The light from the aurora softening his features, his face relaxed and not pulled into a cheek splitting grin. He just looked like a man, not the heavenly demon.
“Do not lie, it is not befitting of you and I can always tell. What is it you want? All of this grandiose must be for something”
“Just your time.”
It was a genuine, soft smile. It unsettled Tsuru, going down this path of indulging these requests of his were dangerous. But she had to admit, like this, he looked almost harmless and handsome. Or was that the wine speaking.
“One. As a thank you for the food and the pleasant evening. You may request one small thing. But if it crosses the line into lascivious, I will be leaving without another word.”
“Nothing of the sort my crane. I thank you for even being willing to give me such a chance. Your time and company has been more than enough, but if you wish to indulge in this moment, perhaps… a kiss?~”
“I most certainly will n-”
Holding up his large hand Doflamingo pauses her scolding
“Not on the lips. Just. I have worked so hard lately, are you not proud of me…”
Vulnerability was evident in his good eye, Tsuru knew it wouldn't last and he was just manipulating her. Signing, she moved closer to him on the sofa, their unclothed legs now touching as she cups his jaw and encourages him to bring his face down towards her, their large height gap still evident being sat down.
It was like having a dark shadow casting a stormy omen over a warm beach, promising nothing but a ruined day. But it was that little boy who was looking for her approval, not the monster.
“You have been doing very well, Doflamingo.”
Tsuru places a quick and chaste kiss on his forehead. She sees his entire form relax but then loom forward as if wanting more. Blocking his lips with her hand before they could connect.
“You never were happy with what you had. Always wanted more. I am ready to go home now, Doflamingo. Thank you for a lovely evening.”
Returning his mirrored glasses to his face, hiding the hurt in the red eye, the strained smile returns.
“Very well my darling crane, let me ensure you are safely returned home”