Chapter Text
"Tell the others that my rut is this week, and not to disturb me for anything. Make sure of it." Crocodile told Daz in the privacy of his own tent. He had never asked this of his most loyal companion before, but if Daz was suspicious about Crocodile never having a rut during their time together, he never showed it. Crocodile sensed that Daz knew more about his situation than he ever let on. He was grateful the man never asked detailed questions.
Crocodile knew this day was coming. The hormone blockers can't stop his heat, but unlike most omegas, his only happens about once every two years. It's not like it is in the media where the heat numbs your brain completely and you're nothing more than a sex crazed zombie. He had much more control than that. His omegan scent would not be that strong after years of doing his best to dull it. He would go through this inconvenience, try his best to think of anything else, and it will be as if nothing ever happened. If anything, he was expecting it to simply be uncomfortable.
He just never expected to be stuck in a big tent on an island with a bunch of circus idiots. The location made it more difficult to keep his particular predicament unknown.
"Of course, Sir." Daz answered, and paused in the doorway before adding, "Is there anything I should be concerned about?"
If Crocodile wasn't so frustrated, it may have made him a bit sentimental. Daz was an alpha, and no matter how much Crocodile reminded himself they had a strictly coworker relationship, now with it being so close to his heat, he felt something akin to a true friendship. When he thought of it too deeply it would nearly burn him inside, and make his chest ache. The idea of trusting someone to be so close as to be labeled a friend scared him. Though he would never admit this outloud.
"No, nothing. I just want some privacy. I don't want that shit clown poking his nose where it doesnt belong." He grunted, puffing a cigar from a box that would no doubt be his closest ally for the next week.
Daz nodded and left without another word.
---
"Does he really think he needs to stay the whole week in his room?"
Daz was surprised that Mihawk looked so irritated. He thought out of all the people he had to worry about disturbing the Boss it was not going to be Dracule Mihawk. The man just lazed around most days, always wanting peace and quiet and relaxation. Now all of the sudden he was acting as if there was work to be done.
"Give the guy a break," Buggy yawned from the side of the couch, laid out on his side with his head in his attached hand, "Ruts are probably rough on pent up guys like him. This might be good for him." And he might actually stop beating me! He thought, hopelessly.
Buggy didn't look phased at all by the news. He was a beta. He didnt have to deal with all the intense hormones of alphas and omegas. Shanks was an alpha, and they grew up side by side, inseparable, so he knew a thing or two about why someone like Crocodile would want some privacy. It was pretty common for alphas in a rut to walk around without a care, but Crocodile wasn't so trusting to let that happen.
"He should have enough strength to ignore it. God knows he's confident enough in everything else." Mihawk droned on with his usual bored tone.
Daz furrowed his eyebrows. He was not a fan of the swordsman's mocking words.
"The Boss would find it in bad taste. I'm sure someone as refined as yourself can understand." Daz stated sternly.
"Refined?" Buggy scoffed to himself. This man is a bloodthirsty maniac who kills for sport! Don't let the fancy getup and wine glass fool ya, pal! Mihawk is a monster! A shiver ran down his spine.
Mihawk said nothing. Instead, he rose from the couch and walked away, as Daz watched him with a sharp glare.
"I didn't think he'd care so much."
"Probably doesnt want to be left carrying the load," Buggy waved one of his detatched hands around as if the brush off the matter, "Croco-chan~ does most of the paperwork and all that. Mihawk is a little clueless on what he's supposed to be doing now. I think he should just continue playing guard dog."
---
When Crocodile heard the footsteps outside his tent door his entire body tensed. Maybe he should have asked Daz to guard the outside, he thought, but no, that would be too much. Too suspicious, too reliant, too weak.
Any alpha who couldn't control themselves was seen as lacking resolve. Having another alpha posted outside of his door would be reputation ruining if they thought he was an alpha that needed to be held back.
"Are you going to ignore your fellow alpha?"
Mihawk?! Out of all the people who could have come to his room this might be the worst outcome. Even worse than the blubbering clown.
"Weren't you told to leave me alone Hawk-Eyes?" Crocodile attempted to keep his voice as steady as possible. His voice was already dry, and the heat just made it worse.
"We have things to discuss. Don't stay held up in a room all week."
Crocodile prepared for this. None of the work for the guild was anything that couldn't be handled the following week. There was nothing they needed to discuss, and it irritated Crocodile that Mihawk would think he wouldn't have thought of such a thing already. The man should know he received his bounty based on thorough planning and high intelligence. He does not mention this, however, and instead tries to appeal to Mihawk's own desires in order to run him off.
"I thought you would enjoy the break. You always crave your alone time. Now is your chance." He felt so hot standing at the doorway, only a thick tarp between them. He should have been resting off the fever. It was like his blood was boiling, even with a heat resistant devil fruit! It wasn't fair that he must endure this. "Don't tell me you miss me already." He teased lightly, but it was devoid of any playfulness. He just sounded exhausted.
Mihawk did not want to admit it, but having company was starting to become something he was getting used to recently. He didn't even realize it was something he was gradually learning to crave. Is that why he came here? Certainly the island was never a lonley place, but he wanted no time spent on hundreds of Buggy's bothersome followers. Crocodile, on the other hand, was company that was growing on Mihawk like a mold.
His own rut was close too, which was making him irritable to anything not going his way, and forcing him to desire companionship and attention. This was something new and strange for him. He hated not getting his way.
Mihawk was used to spending his ruts entirely alone, and he functioned just fine that way. Only once had he taken a partner, another alpha, in his younger days. It was for convenience and satisfaction. It was not because he needed it.
"Can you not control yourself in rut?"
Crocodile frowned deeply. This little bird was throwing a wrench in his plans. Not only that, but he was insulting him now too?
"I can control myself just fine. What game are you playing here?"
"A stronger alpha would be able to ignore such a small insignificant thing such as a rut and face me." Mihawk stated in that bored monotone voice. He was clearly challenging Crocodile. Mihawk was always looking for worthy challenges, although this one was more inappropriate than the usual endeavor. Against his better judgement, Crocodile was falling for the bait.
All this hiding be damned. Crocodile was going to drain Mihawk's life from his own hands! Does he think I'm not strong enough to ring his neck?!
Crocodile opened the tent flap and quickly grabbed the collar of Mihawk's jacket. The movement was swift, particles of sand flying through the wind.
"Piss off, Hawk Eyes. I'm not in the mood for this!"
Crocodile must have underestimated the effects of his current state, because the smaller man's eyes blew wide open. Wider than Crocodile had ever seen them, and for just a second his body went stiff as if he had seen a ghost. It was a brand new look for a man whose reputation was only possessing a deep frown or a haughty smirk.
Mihawk opened his mouth to speak, and Crocodile was worried someone in the hall might hear them...see them...smell them! He pulled the smaller man into the room with him and closed the thick door flap behind them. He realized then that his words to Mihawk sounded ridiculous and humiliating paired with the reality of pulling an alpha into one's den like some fantasy of a desperate omega. He hated this. He rolled his eyes.
"You're an omega." Mihawk stated calmly. It wasn't a question.
"Speak of this to anyone and you're dead," Crocodile held up the hook to Mihawk's throat. The man was breathing hard and fast. For once in his entire life, Mihawk had looked like prey.
The world's strongest swordsman at his mercy? Now that was an interesting thought. Crocodile almost purred with satisfaction. His humiliation turning to amusement.
Never in his life had the swordsman been around an omega in heat. He was so thrown by the surprise that he was only just now realizing how good the man smelled. It wasn't the heavy rich scent of his colognes that he was used to, which often smelled similar to leather and clove, covering the salty natural taste of dry sand and stone. Instead it was light and inviting like the smell of fresh linen, and vanilla. Unusual for Crocodile.
The larger man's body was so close to his at that moment and seemed much finer in detail than Mihawk had ever paid attention to before. Sure, he always noticed Crocodile was attractive, but Mihawk wasn't the type of man to linger on such things. It had to be the scent making him dwell for the first time in a long time on sexual desire. Making his body heat rise within him. Making him notice Crocodile's slim waist and broad chest and his long legs. His pretty violet eyes. Even how long his hair was as it was no longer held entirely together by gels. He exuded perfect masculine energy and form, towering and confident. Mihawk glaced down briefly and could see the slight wetness against his crotch. He never considered a man made of sand could get wet. The combination of everything made him hard. He felt like a pervert. The sharp tip of Crocodile's hook was cutting into the side of his neck and drawing out a thin line of blood, and he didn't care at all.
Crocodile growled, stepping closer to threaten more menacingly when Mihawk provided no comment. Mihawk looked less like the predatory hawk he was and more like a deer in headlights. Out of his element. How cute.
Crocodile noticed the hard outline in Mihawk's pants as it rubbed against him.
This was dangerous. So very dangerous. Mihawk needs to get out as soon as possible.
"Would you like assistance?" Mihawk asked lightly, snapping out of his thoughts, clearing his throat as if to hide how it had effected him. Crocodile was stunned by the offer. Mihawk never offered assistance to anyone. He takes offers and requests. He doesn't make them.
"I don't need anything, but for you to leave me alone for a week like I asked and to keep your mouth shut about this, alright?"
Mihawk nodded, moving quickly around Crocodile to exit. A few drops of blood making their way to the ground of the room as they slid down his neck. When he left, Crocodile suddenly felt worse than he did when Mihawk was here.
He should feel demeaned to be gazed at like a piece of meat, but he did not. It was not that Crocodile hated being an omega. It was not that he didn't eat up attention either. It was just easier if everyone thought he was an alpha or even a beta. Omegas on the seas hide their status all the time. In many cases it was for survival or societal advantage or to avoid being abused. Crocodile liked staying consistent in this identity masking charade. Never let people know too much. Never let them too close. His alpha identity was good for distancing the public.
Yet, he just had one of the strongest alphas in the world right in front of him, right under his thumb, blatantly offering to fuck him and still Crocodile had turned him away. He felt powerful like he had won a battle with his swift rejection. He was in control.
His brain knew it was better to avoid risks that large, he couldn't afford any unwanted consequences of accepting such an offer, but his body was hating him for sending the alpha away.
He could still smell Mihawk's presence in the tiny drops of blood left behind. He walked over and scooped it up in his finger tips, glistening bright red, the liquid on his skin making him vulnerable, more human.
Giving up control for only a moment, he decided to take his reward. He licked the blood off his fingers and made a small sound of gratification.