Chapter Text
Anya trills softly as she sits on her perch by the big windows, her wings fluttering behind her. She waited for Crocodile to get her, waiting for his soft call from the hall. She was a show bird, a songbird. She was always prepared to give a top-notch performance to everyone who came to the casino.
“Anya~ Darling, come down for me.”
Anya trills softly, flipping upside down, dropping from her perch, and landing gracefully on her feet. She turns to look at Crocodile, a soft smile spreading across her lips. Crocodile grins, puffing on his cigar like usual. He beckons her over, earning a soft trill and a small pitter-patter of footsteps as she walks over.
His fingers grasp her chin, making her look up at him. His eyes gazed into those pretty pink ones, raising an eyebrow. She was a helpless little bird to Crocodile, something for him to use for business. Though he did have a soft spot for her, “I’ve set your outfit for tonight out, darling. Go get changed for me.”
She nods, walking to her bathroom with happy steps. Anya loved the outfits Croc picked out for her; they were always so sparkly and bright. She looks at the outfit: a bright pink, sparkly bodysuit with white thigh highs and her favorite pink and white heels. Oh, how she loved it.
She knew what this outfit meant, however: Doflamingo was paying a special visit tonight. Ah, Donquixote Doflamingo. A man of such questionable yet stylish taste. He was her favorite visitor; he always gave her such good compliments.
Anya quickly got changed, slipping into the outfit with ease. Crocodile had one of his many maids do her hair, braiding pretty pink ribbons into it. Her ends were curled, just the way Doflamingo liked it. She always tried to impress Doffy, and she loved the attention he gave her afterward.
“Alright, C'mon, Anya. We’ve got to go now if you want to see Doffy before your show.” And how quickly she moved to the car, so excited to see Doflamingo.
They got to the casino, her wings fluttering as she made her way with Croc, her eyes scanning the crowd for Doffy. He wasn’t hard to miss; how could one miss a 10-foot-tall man with a bright pink feathered coat? Anya smiled brightly as Crocodile gave her permission to see Doflamingo. She made her way quickly through the crowds, trilling and chirping happily.
Doflamingo could recognize those happy chirps from miles away, turning on his heels to look at the 7-foot songbird rushing to him. He chuckles, raising his brows as Anya stops in front of him, smiling like a child. "Why, hello, little bird. How’s my favorite bird doing?” She was so happy; she loved being called Little Bird. Even with all the noise going on in the background, she managed to keep herself focused on Doffy.
The crowds mixed and mingled around them, creating a big ruckus. It was a casino, after all. Crocodile soon joined them, giving Doflamingo a nod while setting his hand on Anya’s shoulder. He and Doffy talked for a bit before he sent Anya backstage to get ready for her performance.
She’d try her best to impress Doffy; she always did. She had her makeup touched up before she went to the stage. Her wings were fully extended as she got her microphone pack put on, taking a breath. Once she was given the cue, she strutted onto the stage. Her eyes focused on one man: Doflamingo. She sang and fluttered her wings, giving the best show she could. Her sweet voice filled the casino, ringing against the ivory and glass walls.
Anya gave it her all, twirling and dropping it low. The star of Silver Falls is Crocodile’s pretty songbird. Everyone gawked at Anya as she worked her body the way she knew would keep attention. The lights from above made her skin look ethereal, and her pink eyes shone brighter than diamonds.
She was everything a man could dream of and more—something only men like Crocodile and Doflamingo could handle. Every bit of sass and attitude that girl had went into her dancing, showing everyone that she was irreplaceable. one-of-a-kind.
After her show, the girls in the back take care of her, cleaning up her makeup and touching up her hair. “Oh, songbird ~” Anya smiled, looking over at Doffy. He was a peculiar man, 10 feet tall and dressed in pink and white. She loved it, though, loving his flamboyant taste and arrogant attitude. Doflamingo walked over to her, brushing a few stray hairs out of her face. She trilled and chirped softly, leaning into his touch.
The air backstage was thick with the girl’s tense and desireful gazes toward Doffy. Crocodile joined the two, grimacing at Doflamingo. He stroked Anya’s cheek, softly praising her for her performance. It was lovely to receive praise from Crocodile, though it could never compare to Doflamingo’s praise. Once the girls were done touching everything up, she took to her usual spot on top of Crocodile’s shoulder. Crocodile always showed her off, his most prized possession.
Anya knew it too, always smiling sweetly and batting her eyelashes as all the girls glared with jealousy. As they walked out to the main floor, the air got thinner. There is no longer a whole room full of women lusting for Doflamingo. She trilled, her fingers dancing across Crocodile’s slicked-back hair. She loved the feeling of it, giving her a sense of calm about something so controlled.
The main floor of the casino bustled with patrons and burlesque girls, a buzz of people talking and screaming as they hit jackpots. The smells mixed in the air, cigar smoke and sweat—were the most prominent. People of varying backgrounds walked around: men of power and money with women hanging off their arms or men who had little to nothing trying their luck to hit big.
Doflamingo and Crocodile talked business as they walked, while Anya sat there and looked pretty. People stared, men and women alike staring with jealousy etched into their expressions. Everyone was jealous of her and Croc—jealous of her being Croc’s special bird and jealous of Croc for having someone like her on his arm.
Doflamingo was one of the latter, jealous of Croc’s hold over Anya. He wanted the pretty bird all to himself, but he’d never have her. She wore a necklace—a diamond-studded silver chain with a pendant of Croc’s hook hanging from it. Croc’s way of claiming her without marking her pretty, pale skin.
“Anya, me and Doffy are going up to the conference rooms; do you want to go with me?"
Anya chirps softly, looking at them. Her eyes mostly focused on Croc, but they flickered to Doflamingo sometimes. She nodded slowly, sensing the tension between the two. Knowing them, they’d be arguing more than talking business like usual.
And she was right; she sat on one of the many plush couches in the conference room, listening to Doffy and Croc argue. Anya flipped through a magazine, rolling her eyes at today’s topic of argument. Doflamingo and Crocodile are yelling in each other’s faces, with Croc thumping his hook against Doffy’s chest.
It was obvious to anyone who could see from downstairs that it was heated. Lucky bastards didn’t have to listen to it like Anya did, though. She sighs, setting her magazine down and watching the two argue. For the first time all day, she finally mumbled, “Am I watching two grown men in their 40s arguing over what shade of pink Doffy’s coat is?”
The two stopped shouting, looking over at her. Croc’s brows furrowed, and his jaw hung slack. Doflamingo crossed his arms, frowning slightly. She trilled, going back to her magazine and flipping through the pages.
It was no secret she had the power to shut the two men up, despite being 20 years their junior. Anya rarely spoke as is, only using her voice for singing most days. So, when she did speak, it normally came out as a mumble and shut most people up.
Doffy grumbles under his breath, flopping down in a seat. Croc sighs, sitting by her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against Croc, still flipping through her magazine. Anya had zero interest in their business, so she drowned out whatever they were talking about now.
The room was thick with the still very palpable tension between Croc and Doflamingo, staring each other down while they talked. While speaking, the two men seemed to have finally given up on their dispute, but the tension still hung in the air. Doffy’s eyes wandered over to Anya, and even those sunglasses couldn’t hide that longing gaze of his.
Croc grunted to get Doffy’s attention, which didn’t work. Sadly, for Doflamingo, unlike most of his possessions, Anya wasn’t something that could be bought. Croc wouldn’t let her go, even if Doffy were to offer him 100 million berries or even his entire business. Even though Crocodile was a man of money, he treasured his pretty songbird more than anything. He kept her as close as he could, always keeping a watchful eye on her.
Anya was a free bird, as long as she followed the set rules Croc had for her. They weren’t strict or outrageous; they were only meant to keep her healthy and safe. She knew that Croc cared for her, even when he struggled to show it.
Doflamingo and Croc talked for a while, and by the end of it, Anya had passed out, lying against Croc. Doffy chuckled as he looked at her sleeping form, admiring how cute she looked with her wings wrapped around herself. Croc gently picked her up, sighing softly. She fell asleep so easily, as long as she was warm and comfortable, Anya could sleep anywhere.
Croc carries her to the elevators, still talking to Doffy, but the conversation has taken a turn. “I wish you’d let me have her for just a day or so, Croc. I’d be so gentle.” Doffy muttered, looking at him with a grin. Croc grunted, looking at Doffy with a frown.
Crocodile didn’t trust Doflamingo with her as far as he could throw him, which isn’t very far at all. Sighing as he steps into the elevator, he pulls Anya closer, making sure her small body is kept tight against his. Croc pushed the button to head down to the first floor, keeping his gaze forward.
“You are not going to take her home, Doflamingo. She is my songbird. No one else.” Doflamingo frowned slightly, he hated being told no. Alas, he couldn’t do anything about Croc’s decision. So, he kept his mouth shut, leaning against the wall in the elevator.
Croc bids Doflamingo a farewell, a sleeping Anya still in his arms as he walks to the car. Anya stirred slightly, her small fingers grasping Croc’s suit and tugging at it gently. He smiled softly, a rare sight, and kissed her forehead. “Shh. We’ll see Doffy next week.”