Escape from Impel Down Ch 3

Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters or places, this has been written for no reason other than, to explore this writer's creativity and Imagination. Thank you and I would love if  people who read this, would reviewed and give me feedback and what not on what you think about this

Rachel was overjoyed when he had laid his arm over her, the ever so slight touch, that he gave was enough for her, when they were together so publicly, Crocodile was a private man, so much affection were reserved for when they were truly alone. She had heard Luffy started to speak then suddenly stop, this was not like him at all, he was always going on and  on, she turned her head away from where she had laid it, to see her captain looking shocked, with his jaw almost on the ground at what he was looking at.

She groaned, not wanting to explain this, it would take too long and there wasn't time for this, if they wanted to reach Ace before he was due to be executed. Having little choice, she turned her body around to face the stunned rubber man. "Luffy, I will explain everything later, but there isn't time, if you want to get to Ace in time" the mention of his brother was enough to snap him out his state, he nodded, taking one last glance at the two of them before something caught his attention.

Laying underneath one of the guards ripped hoods, was the keys to the cells, Luffy bent down to pick them up, a large and happy smile spread across his lips, he liked to find things. He looped his fingers around the metal circle, they were attached to, he started to stand back up, as he did the keys brushed against one another, making a sound that reminder him of Franky, one of the newer members of his nakama, his smile faded slightly as he thought of his missing nakama, he hoped they would be alright, for a while longer as he rescued Ace. He turned back to face the others, with his normal happy go lucky smile on his lips, holding the keys up like a trophy.

Whilst Luffy had be preoccupied with what he spotted across the room, her attention was on the man before her, she knew he cared about her, but it was too early for him to love, someone like her. She looked up, trailing her gaze up his muscular body, compared to him, she was tiny barely reaching his chest, she stood at five foot seven inches which was dwarfed by him, he stood at over six foot seven inches, she never could understand, what attracted her in the first place, but as he stood proudly in his clothes, different from the prisoner uniform, she had been forced to wear then alter, here he was in a black vest, a green velvet scarf, dark grey slacks, and a black overcoat with grey fur trim. He looked magnificent, but she could help but think of Alabasta when she noticed his fur trimmed coat.

Her gaze then fell on his face, with his flushed gray skin which was framed by his dark purple and black hair, which even here was combed back but she noticed the odd strand dangled loosely from the back of his head. He was sight to behold, both frightening and powerful. It was his large golden hook, that once she feared, but she was still frightened by it, as it had killed many before and Luffy and Robin both had been on the receiving end of it's sharp end. Her eyes locked on the hook, she couldn't help but gulp as she thought of the pain, that his hook had caused.

"Rachel?" She turned her head upwards, locking eyes with his, when Crocodile spoke her name  in his deep, relaxed tone of voice, she felt calmer as her thoughts of pain and death were replaced with the time, they had spent in the cell together, even though at first, they had been enemies, over time that had changed as they talked and laughed, they got closer and closer. Even though it had taken awhile to get over what he had to Vivi's country. His eyes told her many things, that were not shown on his face. "I'm fine, just thinking too much about the past, that's all" she often him a warm and gentle smile, to show that she was alright now, knowing that she would not get a smile back. He nodded as he continued to smoke his ever present cigar.

The sound of jangling keys, brought her back down to reality, she turned to face the sound, to find Luffy standing there with the head guard's keys to all the prisoner's cell on Level four. "Luffy, I could kiss you for this" she was overjoyed, she could be free of her shackles, and they could released the other prisoners and with reinforcements, move closer to escaping and getting to Ace. Her words, drifted over Luffy's head, he had been paying attention, he knew that they unlocked the prisoners and that was about it, but he couldn't't shake off the feeling that someone didn't't like him. Crocodile had heard every word, she had said, he acted like it didn't't matter to him, he was viewed as to be extremely cynical and cold-hearted. He coldly glared at Luffy, the two of them had formed an uneasy alliance, to escape but he couldn't help and act possessive to want was his, and she was definitely his.

He reached forward with his hand, which he removed from Rachel's shoulder and almost violently snatched the keys from his hands. He turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the cells, he stopped for a moment, before throwing her a follow me look before continuing. Rachel smiled at her captain, before walking after him, she was still in pain and it was taking its toll on her, soon she would not be able to walk at all, it had been the same before after three straight days of torture, it did a number of her before, she was not able to move for days after that. She was continuing to sweat in the humid condition of the level, but wondered how he could cope under all those extra layers.