Nico Robin had never been one to focus on frivolous things like "relationships" or "dating". It all seemed trivial and unimportant. When she destroyed those navy ships all those years ago as a little girl, she decided to set her path on a road of pure historical research.

She had decided to remain pure and only focus on her love of archaeology, while keeping away from the marines.

That was, of course, until she met Monkey D. Luffy; Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.

After he got stabbed by crocodile, after she was, he beat him after a long battle. She gave him the cure after drinking half of it herself. She didn't deserve to be let into the crew after that. But somehow... he let her.

And here she was, two years later on the Thousand Sunny, reading and basking in the sun while her captain was off playing with chopper.

He was an odd one. But he was fun and energetic to be around. Though her captain was Ten years her junior, him being 19 and herself being 30 years old... she still seemed to be able to tell him everything and he would be able to somehow understand.

She told him everything from her past. He didn't interrupt loudly or blow it off, or didn't understand... instead he acted as an adult. He would listen to any word she ever had to say and understand and comfort her.

She often wondered why she thought of all these qualities and the past she had with her captain. The answer was simple... she thought she might be in love with him.

The reason she wasn't sure was because she always refuted to ever be with anyone out of fear of losing them or of rejection.

But... there was a chance Luffy felt the same way, and he was so strong... she wouldn't lose him... what was holding her back?

That was simple too:

1: the crew could react badly and it could all have been for nothing.

2: she could rush, or do something rash and mess everything up.

3: she was too old for the far younger man.

She had confidence in herself and the crew for the other two not to be a problem... except for maybe Sanji... but it was the age gap. It was something that could even make the crew frown upon. Not to mention it was taboo for such a large gap.

She was more than TEN years older than him, how would that ever not turn heads in disgust?

And why was she even thinking about it this much? Because it was eating away at her everyday for the past 6 months since they got back together after 2 years. Because she was lonely... she yearned for a feeling that was love, and it seemed that only Luffy was capable of giving her the feeling. She sought out.

All of these thoughts were swirling around all at once. She decided to take a walk around the ship before returning to her book.

'That's odd.' She thought

'Luffy is gone... so is Nami-San." She thought again. It didn't clue in the possibility that might hold. She simply kept walking.

When she went to turn down a hall, she saw Luffy and Nami halfway, about halfway down, so Robin quickly decided to hide half her body behind a wall and listen in.

"Oi, you've been sitting there silent for a minute now Nami-San, what's wrong?" Luffy asked, both sounding bored and concerned for his Nakama.

"Well... Luffy... see... I think... I mean..." the Navigator attempted to stutter out. She took a sudden, sharp breath.

"Luffy! I think I love you!" She blurted out before clapping her hand over her mouth.

Robin felt both reassured... and absolutely devastated. She yearned for a feeling of passion, a craving even... but only mildly reassured that the problem must have solved itself.

Or so she thought.

"Nami... I'm sorry... but I don't... feel that way about you... I love you Nami, but as my Nakama, nothing more." Luffy said, sounding heartbroken but firm. He must hated have given heartbreaking response such as that, but it was both the truth and it was necessary.

"Then tell me Luffy... what can I do to make you love me?" Nami responded, sobs clearly heard in her voice.

"Nothing... just, nothing Nami... and that's because... I... well... kind of L-Love someone else." He said, looking down. Clearly upset he makes her cry, but with obvious disdain for the situation he was placed in.

This is what caught Robin's attention... could it... could it be... could it be Robin? No... there was no way he would ever love an older woman like Robin... would he?

"Tell me! Who is it! Tell me what they have that I don't!" Nami yelled at him angrily.

Robin was about to leave, she didn't need to hear what he was going to say.

"I love... I love Robin." Luffy says.

Robin stopped dead in her tracks, her head whipping around to listen.

He... loved her? For how long? How much? Why didn't he tell her?

"Oh! So what? She has a bigger chest and is prettier than me? Is that it!? You pervert!" She screamed at him while hitting his chest with her fists. Luffy didn't even flinch.

"It's not that, you're beautiful Nami... it's just... I don't know. I just can't help but feel the way I do about her. She's special." Luffy said.

Nami sobbed again, and Luffy held her as she cried. She cried into his shoulder for around 20 minutes... then she wordlessly left.

Luffy sighed. He wasn't experienced with girls, he didn't know how they worked. He just knew what he knew that was it. He might have to face Sanji later, but he was fully prepared for that.

Luffy began to walk down the hall, but when he turned a corner, he spotted Robin. She had small tears building in the corners of her eyes. Her lip trembling slightly.

He didn't know that she heard everything he said. He immediately went to comfort her.

"Robin! What's wrong!?" He asked while placing his hands on her shoulders. In that split second of contact... something inside Robin's emotions snapped.

She gripped Luffy's vest collar and kissed him passionately. She had never kissed before, but she had seen it. She tried to mimic the moves. She felt every emotion explode all at once, making her almost swoon.

But before Robin could pull away from the younger boy... he wrapped his arms around her, pulled him into him, and kissed her back, hard.

She moaned into the deep exotic kiss. If it was a competition, Luffy was easily dominating her. The two went against a wall, with Luffy's back against the wall and him slowly sliding down that wall while holding Robin in his arms as they sat and deeply kissed.

They just couldn't stop.

Robin still couldn't get the age gap about of her head. He was over ten years her junior, how could she?

She pulled away after a small tug.

"Luffy... aren't I a bit too old for you?" She asked him, with a downcast voice.

He stroked her cheek.

"I love you Robin. I don't care." He says.

"I love you Luffy, now kiss me." She said.

And he did.

Oh, he did.

Why did it have to end?

"Luffy, usopp is looking for you, he needs-" zoro said, coming around a corner.

Robin retracted immediately to see the swordsman standing there, absolutely dumbstruck.

Luffy sat there, not caring at all.

"I didn't see anything, don't worry." The swordsman says, gaining his composure and walking away.

Luffy guided her lips back to his, and she could only happily oblige.

...

Dinner that night was... different. The reason being that she sat across from the man she madeout with only an hour ago. He didn't act as if anything was wrong, he reached around the table, nabbing food as people laughed and scolded him.

Zoro didn't mention what he saw, nor did he act like he had seen anything at all.

But Nami... Nami looked like she was ready to slit Robin's throat. She wasn't afraid of Nami, as nothing violent verbally, mentally, or physically would happen between them. But it was unsettling to see her so angry.

"Nami swan, what's wrong?" Sanji asked with his lovey dovey eyes.

"Luffy is in love with Robin! That's what!" She shouted. A hush fell over the table.

'Damn it Nami.' Robin and Luffy thought in unison.

"Luffy... is that true?" Usopp asked. Luffy hesitated before letting out a sigh of annoyance and irritation for the situation.

"Yes, it is." He said.

Robin felt the eyes slowly drift over to her. Looks like it was her turn.

"And yes... I feel the same towards Luffy. I wouldn't say we have a relationship yet. But... we only confessed to each other this afternoon. But we make each other happy and we both intend to figure out what's going on so that there won't be a single issue." Robin says.

Everyone nods their head in agreement, and no arguements were made. Not even Sanji disagreed.

"Better question, why does that bother you Nami?" Sanji asked.

She looked flustered.

"Because...! It bugs me because... ARGHHH!" She shouts angrily before storming out of the galley into her room on the far starboard side of the ship.

Everyone teased the two a bit. She simply blew them off. Luffy laughed with a huge grin.

She smiled, it was that smile that brightened her day. He made her feel special, after such a long wait.

And now she knew that she couldn't run from her emotions... she was in love with Monkey D. Luffy.