Mr 1 has to do with this, i think crocodil and mr 1 go way way back even before the baroque works but crocodile doesnt understand why mr 1 still following him.
After luffy shows how friendship is important to him to crocodile he end up thinking about mr 1 on how through thick and thin he still there.
Perhaps during his lock down on impel down he keeps thinkgs and understands luffy more and more.
Crocodile knew that he didnt want to conquer anything but to be free.
And after the 2 years time skip their bond is much stronger perhaps at the par of the straw hats to luffy.
After luffy shows how friendship is important to him to crocodile he end up thinking about mr 1 on how through thick and thin he still there.
Perhaps during his lock down on impel down he keeps thinkgs and understands luffy more and more.
Crocodile knew that he didnt want to conquer anything but to be free.
And after the 2 years time skip their bond is much stronger perhaps at the par of the straw hats to luffy.