"I don't deserve to live."
The words slipped out before she could help it… angry—no, furious, that Luffy had gone through so much, would die, because of her… but also somehow warm—and scared that this kind, selfless boy would die because she was a demon.
Luffy looked confused. "Why?" He asked childishly. "Didn't you say that you wanted to live?"
"I…" Robin shook her head, a wave of regret washing over her as she quickly explained, "That was a mistake."
"No, it wasn't." Luffy replied, the same hard stubbornness that had been in his voice when he first declared war on the World Government beginning to creep back into his voice. "You're making the mistake now. You deserve to live just as much as me."
"I can't… I don't…" Robin shook her head. "I was stupid. You can't handle…"
"Why can't I handle it?" Luffy's voice turned cold and harsh as he spun her around and scowled at her.
This is it. Robin thought, closing her eyes. He hates me because I lied to him…
"You said that you wanted to live!" Luffy seethed. "Don't turn around and tell me that you don't want to just because you care about us! We already went over this, you're nakama, and nakama are always there for each other!"
"That's why I have to leave!" Robin replied, jerking away as her eyes flew open. "You can't care this much for me! It's not safe for you! I get it… I know how far you'll go for me, but I can't be selfish and stay, I can't make you risk your lives and…"
"You don't get it." Robin froze as the air turned cold, and a weak, pale feeling washed over her. The air itself seemed to be heating up and moving in heat waves as Luffy spoke, "I'd rather die for my nakama than live without them. If you really understood, you wouldn't leave! You'd get how important you are!"
"I'm not as important as you." Robin replied, shaking her head. "I can't take your happiness…"
"If you can't take away my happiness, then stay!" The pressure in the air turned stronger, and Robin's eyes widened as Luffy demanded, "Am I stopping you from staying? Am I kicking you out? Do I look unhappy because of you?"
Robin mutely shook her head, too stunned to do anything else.
"Then why would you leave me?" Luffy's voice broke as the tension receded, and Robin felt the strange pressure fade away. "Why can't you be with me? Why can't you stay? Why don't you get it?"
Selfish.
…Yes, I am.
Selfish for making him sad.
If you leave, you'll be even more selfish.
But his life…
Wouldn't you rather he be happy? You're just selfish because you can't stand to live without him.
If you wanted his happiness, you'd stay.
If someone this amazing cared about her…
Robin smiled slightly as she nodded, taking Luffy's hand. "I guess that I'm something pretty special, aren't I?" She laughed timidly.
Luffy grinned widely. "Yes, you are." He agreed. "Because you're my nakama!"
And nakama is forever.
A/N: I didn't really think while writing this, so I'm not quite sure what just happened… and I'm not sure if I did Robin justice, but I hope that it was halfway to decency, at least. As always, thanks for reading!
