The First, The Last And Therefore The Only One
Tranquility, the greatest happiness and a sick visit
The flicker of a candle, the hot vapors of a teacup, the turning pages of a book. Silence. Soft passing-whistling of the wind at the window, the only really longer audible sound that only fulfill made the room of this woman. She took a long sip from her cup, how good did it to her. Outside it was snowing, so long ago as the Strawhats anchored to a winter island. How pleasant it was to warm up by a cup of hot tea, while reading a book and looking every now and again out the window and then observing the slowly falling snow flakes. Some in slow motion, others playing in turn, almost dancing. Relaxing, tranquility, her personal happiness. She had far too often the privilege to find some peace on this ship. Unwind, listen to other sounds, perhaps even think about the things you had nearly forgotten or better repressed. Unobserved by the other members to finally doing again what you would not dare to be seen without it.
Here she sat in her own little kingdom but the danger was too great that threatened to disturb anyone at any moment her well-being. To lock the door would give the impression that she would want to isolate herself but that was not the reason. In the past her friends made enough to worry about. This should be a deadline for all times. It would arise other times, better times, that it would be worth to remember it later. She would be willing to, she has changed and she has one and only thanks to this band of pirates.
She liked being alone, she knew no other feeling. She had been alone ever since her childhood, she was always left alone. Loneliness was her constant companion, her shadow. She could not help it, she had often tried to change her life so that this state would disappear but then she was disappointed later than when she almost swayed into security. So she had eventually come to terms with being alone. She had accepted it. It was no different when she came to the Baroque company. It had never changed a bit, ever.
She just took another sip of her beloved hot tea, when suddenly there was a knock on her door.
'Strange, who is still awake? It is finally in the middle of the night,' she thought to herself when she looked at the clock. She rose from her bed, went to the door and slowly opened it a crack. The first thing that fell into her eyes was a small half-burned candle, following the hand, the long arm up to his face. It was Sanji.
"Is everything all right? Did I wake you, Sanji-kun? " she looked astonished into his blue eyes.
"No, no. I have only seen a light when I came over here. I was just going to bed. That you're still amazes me on something. You can not sleep, Robin-chan?"
"I was not just tired, I've even made a quick tea and wanted to read until I have enough," she justified and showed as usual one of her friendly smile, which Sanji's heart always brought to beating faster.
"Okay, but do not as long. Good night, Robin-chan."
"Good night, Sanji-kun." She immediately closed the door behind her and went back to her bed. She still managed a couple of chapters till the moment where her eyelids were too heavy.
All night it snowed throughout, on the next morning it was nearly to see no snow but temperatures remained constant. Again the weather on the Grand Line had proved that it leads its own life and remains a mystery. You have to be just ready for anything.
This time Zoro had night watch and had to prepare himself with an emerging influenza. Apparently this man was once believed that would be enough to just throw on his shirt. Chopper had previously warned him and he made it clear to no risk the health. So, the result of Zoro's behaviour was finally catching a cold, a scratchy throat and excruciating headaches which were even more painful cause of the constant shouting from his captain for more and more eating. Now Zoro was in his cabin, lying in bed and was just re-examined by Chopper.
"If you would take care of yourself and will be stay in bed, we can assume that it will improve. I think your headaches are soon over, Zoro."
"Oh yes, but only if our rubber Strawhat would let me finally sleep! How could I find otherwise my peace, if this idiot has no regard to my head and has only his damn food in the brain?" He made straight back institutions to rise from his sick bed as chopper waved a huge syringe in front of the nose of him.
"Do that and you'll get acquainted with the syringe! Also, I advise you to save your voice or you would not be able to speak a few days." Chopper was already challenging him in the eyes. With a grim face and uplifted hands Zoro surrendered. He knew in such matters it was not to be trifled with him. Reluctantly, he lay back in bed.
"I'll get a hearty soup thus you do not starve and then I let you sleep. I warn you, if you leave the bed then I'll seriously." A moment later the small steps from Chopper were heard toward the kitchen.
'Finally, peace. What a nice feeling. Take a deep breath. Relaxing and lean back. Nothing, nothing to hear at all. I have to enjoy, maybe I've never such an opportunity. Oh wait ... I've actually still every day and that's cause of only one person. ... She and me. Both of us. Alone. Only a silence around us. The only thing I hear is the gentle turning of the pages of her book and sometimes the slightest of her breath. If I'm honest, it bothers me not at all to be around her. I think she respects me, just as she respected the silence around us. Or I see that wrong? Otherwise she would have told long ago, if I would bother her, right?'
After a while it knocked hesitantly at his door, he had just fallen asleep when he thought Chopper would have forgotten his soup.
"Come in, Chopper," he cried finally now but it was a completely different person who came in his room. Zoro looked puzzled at her face.
"Oh Robin, I thought you were Chopper."
"Well, he was unfortunately delayed because Usopp injured himself again with the hammer. He is just doctoring it to him. I thought to myself before your soup is cold, I'll take it to you. May I come in, Kenshi-san?" She politely asked. She would never go into the room without permission, she knew how to behave towards a man.
'Although it is only Zoro, however dignity must be. I am not feeling well there, maybe I disturb him too. Luckily, I've asked for permission.'
"Yes, come here or I will starve." even he asked her immediately to take a chair. "Sit down. I need some company while eating. Eating alone it is somehow unusual because we are constantly all sit together at the table."
"Should not you better protect your voice? Chopper just meant ... "
"Yes, yes our furball is worried about me, I'll play the nice lovely and honest patient so I can get out here as quickly as possible."
Robin laughed inwardly but showed only a slight grin. She could understand him well, to be locked up is really hard.
After he had emptied his plate Zoro stretched himself with a loud yawn and crossed his arms behind his head. He was about to close his eyes when Robin stood beside him, took the plate and went to the door.
"I'll let you sleep in peace. Make yourself strong. Then I'll tell Chopper, Kenshi-san."
"Mmm, okay. Thank you for the nice company, Robin." Thus he sank in his pillow and she left the room silently.
'So I just really don't understood this situation. Zoro. Swordsman. Loner. Taciturn. I mean this man let me into his room, talked to me, let me watched him at the food and thanked me. I'm the one he most despised, the last one he would be familiar with and whom he never endure several minutes alone in a room. I'm totally confused. Has he changed his mind? Has he finally accepted me as a crew member? Or is he just playing with me? So when I think about it, it has something already changed towards me in his attitude and after the properly in Enies Lobby. Very strange, really strange.'
Still pondering she went to the kitchen, brought back the plate to Sanji and reported Chopper that Zoro would go to sleep first. Further into thoughts Robin made to her room and tried depth in in one of her beloved books. At first it turned out to be difficult, however increasingly more easy.