Robin often remembered the conversation with admiral Aokiji when he confessed he had wished to see her dead. She still couldn't understand him: being a stickler of "lazy justice", he was barely ready to hunt Robin or the Straw Hat Pirates – it took too much effort and time, and this admiral didn't like straining himself. But the promise he had given her there at ablazing Ohara during their first meeting still gave her no rest: although he gave her the opportunity to run away from the belly of the island, he was frank when telling she would never be so lucky again.
She was. Neither once nor twice she managed to elude death; she had to betray and lie, run round in small circles and stay up night, knowing if she didn't cheat – she herself would be cheated. Working with Sir Crocodile had also taught her a lesson: cunning, tactical Mr. 0 had always known what to do – and although his further actions towards her were not a mystery to Robin, she preferred to finish it all.
And had found friends.
And now the man, once threatened to kill her, stands opposite her, seriously saying that he seems to be happy to know she's finally happy.
"I will never understand you", - the woman sighed, rubbing her hands in cold. "It seems I'd better change my views of life."
"At times I myself don't understand why I feel so much responsibility. You know, if you had been kill there in Enies Lobby, everything would be straightened out."
Robin grinned: it was not the first time she heard those words, so they didn't touch her on the raw.
"Why can't you do it yourself?"
"Beats me."
Aokiji put his hands into the pockets of his white uniform trousers and looked at her. There was nothing left as a reminder of that naïve little girl with large blue eyes: Nico Robin knew the price of life as perfect as nobody else, and it was still surprising for him to see her smiling: how could she do it after all the trials she had gone through? Apparently, she had been tempered – like steel – by her past – and cured by the present.
"Be careful, Nico Robin," he suddenly said, turning around on his heels. "Do you know that you can't defy luck too long?"
"Of course, admiral," the woman meekly smiled in response, shrugging. "But you don't seem to moralize this time?"
"Frankly speaking, I'd better not talk to you in that manner," he smirked. "But I'm not on duty though," he adjusted the sleeping cover on his forehead. "And, I have to repeat, next time I'm unlikely to…"
"To be so merciful," Robin finished for himself and rubbed her hands again. "By the way… Take care. I myself can't fight my fear and childish gratitude."
With those words, the pirate, a bit flummoxed, took a step back. Aokiji, casting a last glance at her, sauntered towards his bicycle, speculating that the salvation of the little girl from hell appeared to be the most worthy thing for all his life.