Before he was a Warlord, Crocodile was a man.

A man who was flawed from the start, doomed to seek power above his means until it became obtainable. He refused to even think otherwise. What he wanted would be his, and what he didn't would disappear. He believed it inevitable.

Once, he'd courted you. He desired you, finding you beautiful enough to stand by his side. You'd allowed him, finding his dedication to be flattering. After a while, he'd wormed his way into your heart, and you'd stood by his side as a partner for all of 3 years before you'd realized something;

You were his partner, but not his equal. No matter how long you dated, how many gifts he got you, or nights spent with him, you were never truly by his side. You always felt a few steps behind, shadowed by his strong focus on his goals, and his desire for power. You'd grown to accept his life as a pirate and then, a Warlord. After that, the change between the two of you became even more evident. His coldness grew, and your empathy for his goals did, too. You'd always known his motives were selfish and downright villainous, but you'd ignored it for the sake of love. A love that's spark died down, and slowly, went out. He'd broken up with you, stating when he became king of Alabasta, he'd need someone worthy to stand by his side.

Someone who wasn't you.

So, you accepted it with all the grace you could and left. Sailed from Alabasta, took ships further and further onto the grand line until you'd found an island to settle on. A place far from him, far from the life you'd had as his.

Now, 3 years after your breakup, you'd heard of his goings in the newspaper. The fall of his status, the imprisonment, the subsequent prison break, and now, the Cross Guild. You never expected to see him again. After all, he'd achieved what he wanted. Power- power you weren't worthy to stand by.

When you saw him in the street, you didn't believe it. There was no reason for him to be here, now. When he caught your eye, you turned sharply and speed walked away.