His face is quite still, the near portrait of innocence if not for the presence of a slight frown.
Out of what feels like instinct, Robin reaches down and smooths his forehead in a gentle motion.
It elicits a murmur that she doesn't quite catch, but still brings a small smile to her face as she repeats the action. The other two sleeping children snuggled into his left and right side, all of them together lying against her lap, don't stir from her ministrations.
Observing him carefully, Robin wonders if it is alright for her to pity Caesar Clown.
She is having a hard time imagining that this boy, this small form she gazes upon, would one day grow into the malicious individual that they encountered only two weeks prior at Punk Hazard. It's almost surreal to think that he is the very same who displayed such sadism and cruelness, and brought about the ire of her crew members.
And yet she cannot see a hint of either of those traits as she looks upon him. So perhaps it's not alright after all, but Robin decides she'll pity him anyway.
What could have led this innocent looking boy who now slept with his head on her legs to become such a monster?
It's not a question she's afraid to ask or dismiss as impossible to answer. Her past is not one of entirely good, often marred with actions that could be condemned. Yet she has changed and often she does think of her own journey up to this point.
In turn, she wonders if Caesar's personality is a byproduct of some manner of rough existence.
At their appropriate physical ages, he's younger than her but appeared to be more bitter, more gone to the cruel vices and evils of the world than she ever was. When did it all start though? When did he decide that good virtues were useless or not worth following?
Caesar murmurs again, Nami and Chopper still oblivious as they seem to press more into him in their own slumber.
Robin can't help but smile at the display as she continues to observe them all. Her heart feels something unfamiliar, but it is full of warmth and fondness for the "children" she currently watches over.
A good emotion even if she cannot place it.
She herself is eighteen again, twelve years younger thanks to the abilities of that female Neo Marine, a follower of the individual known as "Z". Currently they sought him with the hope of being able to reverse their ages to normal, and perhaps stop any nefarious plan that he might be engaged in. It was the reason they found themselves in the current port, the task of looking after those returned to a state associated with prepubescence having fallen to Robin while the others were out there at the moment.
Not that she minds the responsibility.
The previously tall scientist, their "charge" until they reach the island of Dressrosa, garners her attention once more.
It was a more polite term than "prisoner" because the idea of capturing him on Punk Hazard had been put forward by Trafalgar Law, who had separated from the Strawhats for a later rendezvous. Thus he had not been with them during their initial encounter with Z and his followers.
But Caesar had, and as a result he had been de-aged.
Nami, Brook, Chopper, and herself were right alongside him in this category of being affected. Brook, being in his state of undeath, was fortunately not subject to any physical ramifications. Robin's own status as the third oldest crew member of the Straw Hats had spared her the fate of a child's body.
Yet Caesar apparently had been within the appropriate age range for this to occur to him.
This fact wasn't really surprising, given that the Straw Hats, or at the very least Robin, had guessed his general age. It was unlikely he would have admitted to her or her crew mates otherwise, but now they more or less had a confirmation.
She recalls his expression after he had been hit by the ball of energy that resulted in the change.
His lab coat had hung off him more like a blanket rather than an item of clothing, pooling around his new small stature. The sea-stone manacles they had been using to keep him docile had fallen away in the shrinking process. Something was in his eyes then, an emotion looking like a mix of frustration and fear, and even though he was free of the restraints they had placed on him, he hadn't chosen to flee.
Instead, he had chosen to glare at them all and spoke:
"You! You all are responsible for me being like this! Fix it or else!"
Though it was intended as a threat, most of the Straw Hats had burst out laughing, only further causing Caesar to grow irritated.
"I mean it!"
All this had taken place right after the Thousand Sunny had escaped destruction at the hands of the Neo Marines, and Zoro, not having laughed at the pitiful attempt of intimidation by Caesar, had stepped forward.
His usual seriousness in play, the swordsman had told the now miniature scientist that they would return those affected, including him, back to normal. Further, he had stated that they would not use the sea-stone restraints on Caesar while he was a child… so long as he behaved.
It was then that the ward of the Straw Hats had realized he was in no position to bargain, and had begrudgingly accepted the terms.
Looking at him now though, Robin can't help but feel a twinge of guilt.
Maybe it's just her personal nature, but she knows that he is their responsibility, and while they might not be too fond of him – he in turn not fond of all of them – they still wanted to treat him well and keep him in good health.
In the end they had failed to protect him from that woman's ability, and though the results were mostly harmless, it still shouldn't have happened.
Robin thinks that maybe if she had paid a little bit more attention during the chaos of the Neo Marine attack… maybe if she had forced them to get out of there a little faster…
"Caesar…" she speaks softly, "I'm sorry…"
Perhaps it's a useless gesture; she's pretty sure he can't hear her anyway and even if he could, he'd probably reject the apology. Yet, she still feels like she needs say it and hopes that he'd find some manner of peace.
But there are questions still on her mind as she idly watches him.
What was his past?
Did it play into how he went about in this world?
Maybe he was an orphan; someone who grew up on the streets and learned to ultimately think about only themselves. One might easily take such a mindset into adulthood.
Then there was the possibility he did have people who he had called mother and father, but instead of showing love they had subjected him to numerous abuses day in and day out.
It wouldn't be difficult to understand his lack of empathy and cruelness if this was so, his apparent disdain for people and lack of consideration for others.
And it would then make sense for someone of either of those backgrounds to join the Marine Science Core as a means to escape, to get away from a terrible situation and maybe have a chance at a better life.
But maybe it was neither of those possibilities, and the only thing that had been needed to prevent Caesar from going down his path was someone telling him that they cared.
Something as simple as two words to make it known that he wasn't alone, and he didn't need to hate people or be an awful person in order to get what he wanted. That there was more to the world than he currently perceived it to be.
I care.
Briefly, Robin opens her mouth as she considers uttering such a meaningful phrase.
A moment passes and she instead closes it, realizing that it's a statement that does not mean much to someone who is sleeping and further there's too much weight behind it to be wasted in such a manner.
She's pretty sure he wouldn't believe her if he was awake, but if there was a chance…
With a sigh, Robin looks away.
It's getting late, and she suspects that the rest of the Straw Hats will return from their attempts to gather information soon. If there's no lead to pursue then they'll probably decide to rest in their rented accommodations for the night.
Together in a rather cozy environment, together much like a family would be.
With some amusement, Robin then images Sanji walking into the room and seeing her and the children all together like this.
It's possible he'd find it cute… or get jealous at the fact that Caesar has his head in Robin's lap despite the circumstances.
Her smile grows wider as she pictures the cook's mouth dropping open, the cigarette between his teeth threatening to fall as he sputters in disbelief at what he sees. Perhaps Nami and Chopper, more specifically the former, cuddling against Caesar would make Sanji suffer a heart attack on the spot and fall backwards.
Almost on cue, as if fate itself was aware of the crew mate she currently thought of, the blonde cook then enters the room.
"Robin-chan, Luffy may have found something. We're going to-"
"Please allow me to introduce myself..."
Though he/she is on hiatus from this site, I'd like to thank Vilkas and his/her story "The Devil May Care". It's also an inspiration for exploring the character of Gangster Gas-... Caesar Clown. Oda! Where is the mad scientist?
6/5/2018: Story's title has been changed to "In the Water" after consideration. Chapter 1 has become "Sympathy for the Devil", and chapter two is designated as "Volition". Sorry for any confusion.
