Work Text:
You were, of course, grateful for your job. Crocodile wasn’t the worst boss you’d had, somehow, and it paid relatively well. If you wanted for something, you were usually able to get it, even if you had to save for a paycheck or two. It was a pleasant life to lead. Especially since not only was Crocodile vaguely fond of you, you were sleeping with him, and he was damn good in bed. So, generally, you’d say your life was almost cushy.
But this week, oh this week had been nothing short of infuriating.
You were no stranger to hard work, and you didn’t begrudge it usually. Crocodile was building something important, and if you were asked to help shoulder that burden for him, well consider you honoured. But this week he has been pushing you just a little too far.
Every time you got back from an errand, there was another to run, he could never just give you a full list in the first place. After the end of your work you’d finally get home, only to get another call on the den den with a new task. You were at the point of not getting enough sleep, because you’d started startling yourself awake, expecting a call with a new demand. It was driving you insane.
Today, it ended.
Today, you were going to go into his office and demand a day of rest, because your standard of work was actively suffering because of your frustration and tiredness. While he hated being short-staffed, he hated low quality work more, and you’d use that to leverage yourself a day off.
Last night he hadn’t called at all after the end of your shift, he’d needed nothing, just worked you to the bone during the day itself, which was still awful but better than it had been. You bathed and dressed for the day in peace, steeling yourself for a small confrontation. Sleeping with him or not, the man was damn intimidating, and you didn’t doubt that he would still kill you if ever the mood struck him. You were pleased, but not complacent.
When you arrived at his office, you didn’t knock, you just walked in. There, in his chair, you found him looking just as exhausted as you felt.
“Sir?” You asked, and for the first time in your working relationship you watched him jump. That startled you in turn, though that didn’t show externally.
“You didn’t knock.” He observed, sounding displeased. You took a deep breath to prepare for your demand.
“I didn’t. I wanted to ask you something, and I wanted to do it immediately.”
“I’m afraid it’ll have to wait. There’s something I need to show you.” And just like that, all your fight fled your body, and you crumbled in the face of his demand. You’d ask after, it might be important after all.
You trailed behind Crocodile as he strode through halls and doors, until he led you into a small, slightly dusty room. He lit a candle to light the space, and you finally squeezed in to take a look. The room was small, and in the centre of it was a desk with not a speck of dust on it, and on top of that was three boxes.
“Choose which to open.” Came Crocodile’s low voice behind you, a rumble you recognised from nights of ecstasy. Yeah. This was fine by you. You stepped forward and ran your fingers over each box, all different sizes and wrapped in different paper. You chose the smallest box first, and unwrapped it slowly, wanting to preserve the paper. Inside, was a bracelet. You’d admired it once in passing, while sitting with Crocodile at an event, and apparently he’d remembered. But this was slightly different, with the centre charm replaced with one of a Crocodile. Your stomach flip flopped emotionally, and it took a few moments for you to be able to speak without the emotions you were feeling leaking out.
“Thank you, sir. This is beautiful.” You said, and then held your wrist and the bracelet out to him, so that he could put it on you. He did so carefully, and with predatory eyes on your body and large hands touching you, a fire lit inside you.
“Choose a second.” He then said, which surprised you, but you knew better than to question him. You chose the second largest box next, and inside found a pair of shoes. They were lovely, exactly the sort of thing that you’d expect Crocodile to buy for you. The sort of thing he liked to see you in. But, there was one issue.
“I don’t have anything that matches these.” You said softly, glancing up at Crocodile. While outright criticism was ill advised, he did appreciate carefully worded feedback.
“Open the final box.” He replied, and inside you found the perfect outfit to match the shoes. It was elegant and green, matching the sort of shade he’d usually wear.
“Thank you, sir. These are lovely. Can I ask why you’ve bought them for me?” You asked, head slightly tilted with confusion.
“There is an event tonight, a celebration, and I want you to accompany me.” An event was kind of the last thing you wanted to do, but you weren’t sure you had the heart to deny him when he’d gone to the trouble of presenting you with gifts.
“Might I get the day today to rest then, sir? I’ve been working hard lately and I admit I’m behind on my sleep.” You figured no time like the present.
“How about you let me ravish you first, and then we both know you’ll rest well before tonight?” He suggested, face breaking out into a smirk that you knew meant trouble, and had you dripping already.
“Happily, sir.”
As he often was, Crocodile was quite right. Rather than going all the way home, he ravished you in his bed, then let you rest there, and you slept like the dead. You felt more rested than you could remember feeling in a very long time. Bless his million thread count sheets and perfect mattress. Which meant, when you woke, you were much less opposed to the idea of accompanying your boss to the event that evening. You showered again in his luxurious en-suite, then dressed in the outfit he’d bought for you, and found that it fit perfectly. Of course it did.
A knock at the door told you that someone had come to collect you, and on the other side you found one of your co-workers.
“Sir Crocodile has sent me to retrieve you for this evening’s event. He’s micromanaging some final touches, so he’ll meet you there.” You were told, and you nodded. Fine by you. It’s not like the two of you were dating, anyway.
When you arrived, Crocodile was waiting at the door for you, looking uncharacteristically unsettled.
“Is everything okay, sir?” You asked, and when his gaze turned on you, you weren’t sure he wasn’t about to take you back up to bed for another round.
“Yes, everything is ready, we’re just waiting for our guest of honour.” He said, offering you his arm. You nodded without thought and took his arm, allowing him to lead you into the room.
It was well decorated, classy, very much a Crocodile managed event. You took a second to take it all in, admiring the decor, and then turned to him.
“Who’s the guest of honour?” You asked. There was a long pause following that where he just stared at you.
“You’re kidding.” He said flatly. You shook your head, confused and growing concerned. Had you forgotten something important. You stepped away from Crocodile to look around the room again, and slowly started piecing together a puzzle. One of the decor colours was your favourite colour, the food looked to be your favourites, and your outfit was brand new, purchased by your boss special for the event.
“It’s my birthday.” You whispered after a moment, and Crocodile’s loud laughter startled you more than any gunshot or explosion ever had. You whipped around to look at him, just so you could take in and hopefully preserve the moment in your memory.
“Did you forget?” He asked, reaching out to take your arm again.
“Yeah. I’ve been so busy I didn’t even think about it.”
“I did it on purpose to keep you distracted, I didn’t realise I’d done such a good job.” He commented, smug but still amused. You rolled your eyes, and pulled him deeper into the room to enjoy the event.
You parted shortly after arriving, with Crocodile going to talk to some guests, while you attacked the buffet. When music began to play, space cleared for a dance floor, and Crocodile took up residence as your dance partner, a mild smile on his face for the entire time. You’d never seen him look quite like that, certainly not at you, and it made your heart do strange things in your chest. You took a break to retreat to the bathroom and calm down. It’s not like that. He’s Crocodile, it will never be like that.
You danced with some other guests when you returned, surprised when you were eventually pulled away, and out of the room to a small balcony.
“Are you trying to drive me insane?” He asked. His voice was husky, dangerous, and one of his large hands gripped your hip just shy of tight enough to bruise.
“What do you mean?” You asked, hardly able to make yourself squeeze out more than a whisper.
“Dancing with strangers, entirely ignoring me, like I haven’t made it abundantly clear to everyone tonight just who you belong to.” A vicious kiss followed, and while it was usually very easy to get lost in his passion, especially when he was so eager, his words kept you firmly grounded in current events.
“I don’t- sir I don’t understand.” You managed to say between kisses, which made Crocodile lean back and out of your space, staring at you intently. You were fairly sure you saw one of his eyes twitch.
“You. You’re wearing my colours, wearing a bracelet with a symbol of me, I’ve worked myself past exhaustion organising you a party for a birthday you’d forgotten.” You listed, and you had no response. You looked away briefly, then back at him.
“Yes?” You said, prompting him to continue.
“I’m in love with a fool.” Crocodile muttered, dragging a large hand over his face. You felt heat travel up your body, even in the cool evening air, up into your face, slowly processing what he’d said.
“I don’t-”
“You’re an idiot.”
“You never said anything!” You yelled in protest, displeased with an insult of your intelligence when he had done nothing before that very day to attempt to make his affections clear. “Those are all things I only found out about today. We then had sex and you didn’t actually clarify anything. You’ve bought me clothes before, we’ve literally been having a workplace fling for months-”
“Fling?” Crocodile asked then, voice incredulous and strangled like you’d never heard it. Today seemed to be a day of firsts.
“Yes! The sleeping together we’ve been doing!”
“I-” He sighed deeply, turning away from you to seemingly calm down.
“I have been courting you. I was not aware you believed this was an arrangement void of feeling, but it does explain some things.” He said after a moment, voice softer, understanding settling in his bones. “Of course, I would understand if you now wanted that arrangement to end, this-”
“What?” You asked quickly, cutting him off entirely. You stepped back into his space and wormed your way into his arms, face thunderous. You took both of his hands in yours, to ensure his attention was on you when you spoke next.
“How about, this time, you let me make this choice rather than assuming what I want? Yeah?” You asked, and a soft chuckle left him.
“Of course dear. What would you like?” The pet name made your stomach twist up in knots, mouth suddenly dry.
“You. I want you.”
That kiss felt like your first all over again. You supposed it was a first, of sorts, a first kiss to share with true, full understanding.