Renegade Hearts
by Kaline Reine

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story. I claim nothing.

WARNINGS: This story contains (or may contain) graphic adult content and language, explicit sex scenes which may or may not be consensual, violence, cursing, dark and/or adult themes, suicide, death, triggery topics, etc. I do not censor my writing, but I do warn people about the subject matter and potential subject matter. Not all of my stories contain such things, but many of them will. So if you don't like that kind of thing or can't handle it, then I suggest not reading this story. You have been warned.

In other words, children please avert your eyes. Thank you.

Chapter 1:

His eyes followed her, as she made her way toward the door. He hated to watch her leave. And yet, he had to, time and again. Every day she'd come in to report to him, follow his orders, obediently following his every command. He was the brains and the brawn behind the operation. She was the silent puller of strings, the one he sent so that no one would ever know his identity... That was their agreement.

It's not like she didn't get anything in return. In exchange for her unquestioning loyalty, Crocodile would provide her with a place to stay, a warm roof over her head and enough money to provide herself with ample hot meals. As long as she would stay with him... He would have done almost anything to keep her there. Of course, he'd never tell her that. He couldn't afford to let his secret out, especially when he didn't know what her reaction would be. She would most likely never speak to him again, if she ever knew the true depths of his affections.

And so he doted on the girl, blaming it on no other reason than her undying, unfathomable loyalty to him... Nevermind that he could have easily accomplished all of this without her. Well, maybe not. Nico Robin had proven herself to be very useful to him, time and time again. She was also the only person capable of reviving a certain lost something... Something lost long ago, swallowed up by time itself... Something that he felt should be his.

She herself was no idiot. Robin knew perfectly well what a criminal the man she worked for was. Why else would he go to such lengths to remain anonymous, as the leader of the criminal organization she had so willingly joined? No one else knew who he was. They saw him as a hero, the savior of Alabasta. They all cheered for him and welcomed him as a blessing. If only the people knew the truth... But she was well paid for her silence.

The 'Devil Woman', as she'd often been called by others, was also well aware that he had some kind of hidden agenda... There was something he wasn't telling her. And she couldn't trust him until she knew what it was. She could be very patient, also knowing that the truth would reveal itself, in time. But she swore to herself in silence that he would sorely regret the day he chose to hand her over to the World Government, if such a day should ever come.

Many people she'd trusted had betrayed her in the past. As a result, Nico Robin was the type of woman who was only out for self-interest. She trusted no one. She didn't seem capable of such a thing, and had never seen the point in it. What she wanted to help everyone, to do what she could for the common good, through any means necessary. Even if the way she chose to go about things was by taking a criminal path. She'd never done a thing wrong in her life, and yet she'd lived the majority of her life on the run from people who condemned her just for existing.

Crocodile took a deep drag off of his cigar, watching the smoke dance over her familiar form. He noticed she was turning in early for the night. Robin was always so business-like, and despite her calm demeanor, nothing got past her keen perceptions. She was very useful to him, as a spy, and her devil fruit abilities added an even more valuable flair. There were also two other reasons he'd chosen to keep her around, but he didn't have to answer to anyone. There was little chance of anyone finding out, and even if they did, there was no one left who would be able to oppose him. Not the King, not the rebels, not the general populace... No one.

The common citizens of Alabasta posed zero threat to him. He was revered as a hero here. They had already teamed up and used his control over Baroque Works and other tactics to make the King of Alabasta look very very bad. His people would only put up with that for so long. And as he'd always wanted, there was a rebellion brewing on the outskirts of their little country.

"All of the pieces are almost in place," He growled, talking with the cigar still stuffed in his grinning mouth.

If Robin hadn't had so much self-control, she would have rolled her eyes. He'd certainly been aptly-named... Instead, she turned to him with a small smile. "Won't be long now. Is there anything else I can do for you for tonight, or are we done here?"

"Now, now... That's no way to address someone of my social standing. Where are your manners?"

"Probably wherever yours crawled off to when you started ogling me."

No one else would ever have dared to speak to the man that way. Robin knew his boundaries well. After all, she'd been working with him for many years now. She'd been his personal assistant for a long time, catering to his every whim and doing practically whatever he asked of her.

"Alright, fair enough. Get out of here..." He grumbled, once again resigning to the fact that she couldn't be more disinterested in him.

"Gladly."

And with that, she resumed her stride, headed straight for the door... Tonight she was going out for dinner, alone as per the usual. It wasn't that different from any other night. After hours, she was free to do whatever she wanted, unless summoned.

Robin never got close to anyone. She couldn't let anyone near her for fear they'd turn her in to the Marines. Or they could find out about Crocodile and their criminal partnership, and that wouldn't be good for either of them. The woman had a huge bounty, far higher than most. For eighty million beri, even the most trustworthy of people were highly likely to turn her in. The World Government was already on the lookout for her. That was why she'd chosen to join Baroque Works in the first place. The top secret agency promised her complete anonymity and a safe place to hide. That was all she needed.

He almost took pity on the poor girl... Almost.

"Goodnight sweetcheeks." He smiled, taking another drag from his cigar, and staring at her feminine form as she sauntered toward the big doors that led into his office. "Report in first thing tomorrow."

"Understood. 'Night boss." Robin left, with the same air of confidence that she'd always had. Nothing had ever stood in her way. She refused to let it.

She let the thick doors slam closed behind her.

No heads turned when the Devil Woman slipped into the bar. She was virtually unnoticed. If only they knew... Nico Robin was actually far more dangerous than any of them realized. It was obvious just by her body language that she wasn't scared at all. Unafraid to dine with merchants, renegades, or pirates, she strode right in and lazily slumped down onto one of the empty bar stools.

It was classic. A seedy little wooden bar out in the middle of nowhere, in some nowhere town... From looking at the outside of it, one would think no one came here very much. But the bar seemed to be bustling with patrons on this evening, and most evenings when she came here. She'd only been a few times, and wasn't sure what to expect yet. A man in the corner was belting out a mean piano solo. It was intended to sound lively, but to Robin it sounded eerie, almost haunting somehow.

Everything was old and dusty inside, the bar having been built on a creaky old boardwalk near the ocean. She'd always admired the ocean... But right now, the Baroque Works agent had bigger things to worry about. With this upcoming job she was supposed to be helping her boss with, she would certainly have her hands full. It may not even be safe for her to just go out and drink like this, whenever she wants, in the coming weeks. No... She'd have to lay low for a while.

'It pisses me off...' She hated not being able to do what she wanted. She was in this whole thing for the freedom, but somehow she never quite got what she desired most. It was highly irritating. That, along with the fact that she hadn't been able to continue her research lately, was especially grating on her nerves.

Her hand hit the bar with a loud thump. "Hit me!" The strange woman said, drawing the Bartender's attention.

"What'll it be, miss?"

"Don't call me miss," She smirked to herself. "Please. And I'll have a scotch on the rocks."

It was obvious that this establishment had been around for quite a while, yet she hadn't made it a habit to frequent just one place every time she went out. It wasn't easy to find nice places to get a drink in Alabasta. She was running out of options. For now, Robin had to make do with what she had. She couldn't really afford to be seen in the same place too many times in a row. She didn't like for people to be able to read her habits.

She'd already enjoyed her dinner alone at a little restaurant she knew of, as always. No one ever joined her. She seemed to enjoy her solitude and never thought much about it. Tonight she was wearing a low cut purple dress, the one with black lace along the bottom. Her black boots completed the Gothic inspired look quite well. She was in a somewhat dark mood tonight, so it suited her. She just wished she'd had a black rose or something for her hair...

"Oh, opting to appear classy are we?" The bartender retorted, remarking about her choice of drink. He didn't seem very full of life and vigor, himself. He appeared to be making a vague attempt at conversation.

"If that's your idea of a classy drink, I'd hate to see what you typically serve around this dive. Don't bother trying to impress little old me though. I won't be in town much longer."

He wandered off, muttering some nonsense under his breath, in annoyance. Robin had come here to try to unwind, but it didn't look like that would be happening any time soon. She'd been in a foul mood ever since she'd been informed of her Boss's latest plans. The bartender was in a foul mood as well, it seemed.

"It wouldn't be too wise to upset him too much, you know." A masculine voice came from her right.

A man wearing a bright orange cowboy hat tilted the brim up, just to get a better look at her. It was rather tacky and gaudy, in her opinion, and she didn't hesitate to wrinkle her nose at him. He wasn't her type, and probably just about the last person here she wanted anything to do with. She wasn't a talker anyway.

"Don't tell me what to do." Robin snapped.

"Now, now... No need to get all riled up," He offered her a kind smile, that somehow came off as a little cocky. "It's not exactly smart to upset the man who pours your drinks. You get me?"

She noticed he had freckles, and they made him look rather handsome, in an odd way... He had a sort of boyish charm about him. Not her type at all, but she was sure with all those bulging muscles, he probably didn't have too hard of a time with the ladies. He seemed sociable enough for most women too. Just not for her. She preferred being alone and would push anyone away who tried to get near her. It had become her way of life.

It was obvious that he was warning her the guy might try to poison her or something. But she had ways of dealing with that too... A quick flick of her wrist and his neck would be snapped in an instant. Not that she'd trust anyone enough to just tell them that. One wrong move was all it would take, though she didn't really want to have to resort to that. If she did, she would most likely have waited around until after close, and then done away with him once no one else was around. Only if he tried to poison her though.

"I understand what you're trying to say," Robin nodded slightly, sitting back as the man behind the counter set her glass down. She'd watched his every move as he'd poured it. "Believe me, I get your drift. But I can take care of myself."

"Something troubling you then?" The man in the cowboy hat asked her. He took a slow swig from a pint of ale he was holding. The frost forming on the steel mug was a testament to how cold and refreshing it must have been. He punctuated his question with a breathy "Ahhh..." as he downed the beverage, followed by a toothy grin.

"I guess I've just had a really trying day, and I came here to unwind. Not to be lectured or yelled at. You might say that I enjoy my solitude."

The barkeep slid her glass to her along the polished wooden bar. A bit of the amber liquid spilled out when it hit her hand. She tossed her head back and drank down the whole glass in one shot, wiping her face with her sleeve when she was done. The woman then sat there with a deliberate scowl.

"Wow..." She heard him mutter under his breath, before his dark eyes came to meet her pale ones. "I haven't seen a lady drink like that in quite a while!"

He flashed her a great big grin. It reminded her of someone she'd rather not think about... Too many depressing memories. That was her worst problem of all. Robin shivered, but tried to play it off by stretching and leaning against the bar. She swiveled around on the barstool and surveyed her surroundings briefly, taking in the scenery.

Two men were giving each other rabid glares, as they sat with a group of men at a table. They were all holding cards. Robin could only assume they were playing a game of poker. A mediocre pile of money sat in the center of the table, but no one reached for it. They hadn't finished playing their hands yet...

"You really shouldn't have such a sour look on your face," The man in the orange hat continued to heckle her. "It's unbecoming of a woman like you."

"Look," She turned to him, growling through gritted teeth. "You don't know the slightest thing about me! And I'm not interested in anything you have to offer. So leave me alone."

Before he could bother with a reply, a fight broke out. The two men that she'd noticed glaring at each other had started a brawl that expanded quickly outward from their little corner, their anger spreading through the bar like wildfire.

The money on the table was soon strewn across the floor hastily. Fists flew through the air, pistols were drawn, pints of ale and mugs of beer were splashed on men's faces, broken pool cues littered the bar, tables were knocked askew, and half of the patrons now sported black eyes, broken teeth, or both. All the while, the gentleman that was now to her left sat there with a smile on his face. Nothing seemed to phase him at all, as he continued to sit his ale. It was classic enough to cause her to chuckle a little... Until one of the other men set his sights on her.

"Why don't we two get outta here, whatta ya say?" A drunkard sporting a big golden mustache forcefully put his arm around her. She could smell the beer on his breath. It was vile.

She turned away. If she used her abilities here, she'd likely expose everything about herself. It wouldn't be too hard to figure out who she was. Lots of people had heard rumors about devil fruits and the abilities they gave to the people that ate them. They had a long reputation for being associated with Pirates, as well. Robin wasn't stupid enough to do anything that might risk blowing her cover. For tonight, she had to try to blend in as a civilian. That didn't mean she had to accept whatever happened though.

"Leave me be. I've got no interest in people like you."

He was not relenting any. The man held her tighter, refusing to let go. He had her by her hair and shoulders now, tugging and urging her off the bar stool. She stood there for a moment, struggling to get free. The others were all busy trying to avoid being pummeled during the fight. His plan was probably to try to get her outside during all the confusion of the ongoing fight.

The best she could manage was simply elbowing the guy until he doubled over in pain. "Get off of me!" She shoved him away with all her might. He barely stumbled, but seemed to get the message.

"Your loss..." He hiccupped and promptly walked away. "Slut."

Robin smirked, placing down a few bills and coins onto the counter. The empty glass from her scotch joined them. She hadn't even gotten a decent buzz yet, but she was more than tired of this place already. At least she'd managed to get one drink in before things went sour. And she'd also had a glass of wine with dinner, so the evening wasn't a total loss.

"You know... I think I'll take my business elsewhere. Keep the change."

"Suits me just fine!" The snarky bartender replied, scraping up the money she'd left.

Obviously, he had bigger problems. Cleaning up after this big of a fight wasn't going to be fun. It seemed like this kind of thing probably happened here regularly. That probably explained his foul mood.

No sooner than Robin had stepped outside, she noticed that three other men had followed her out of the bar. Including the one who'd had his arm around her only minutes before. She walked away, in a hurry to get out of this neighborhood as quickly as possible. They seemed to be closing in on her, intent on cornering her in an alley.

She tried to run away, but one of them had already cut her off in front. When she took a step backward, she felt herself hit something solid, but soft. It was the mustache'd man's sweaty torso. Robin recoiled in disgust.

"Awww, calm down girl, we ain't gonna hurt ya none..." The one to his left said to her.

"Get the hell away from me!" She screeched.

"Hold still."

"Come on, get into the alley. We'd like ta have a word with ya!"

"Yeah, it's alright. Come on..."

"No! Leave me alone!" Robin wailed.

She knew she could use her powers on them at any time. She was holding out until the last possible moment, trying other methods first. She'd tried running away, and also tried overpowering them with leverage alone. But there were too many men, it was three against one, and the odds were not in her favor.

Robin knew she'd be in big trouble if she did use her devil fruit powers in a setting like this... The Boss would be furious, but he wasn't in her shoes. He didn't know how awful some men could be. None had ever managed to take advantage of her just yet... Not since the Marines that time. Luckily, she'd gotten away from them with her life, but just barely. This wasn't even like that. These were just some lowlifes that had picked the wrong woman to mess with. She didn't want these creeps to do this to some other girl though, to someone lesser than her who couldn't really do anything about it. She vaguely wondered how many times they'd done this to already. The mere thought of it made her sick.

She wrapped herself in her arms, crossing them both over her chest. Her eyes narrowed, her resolve to remain undercover steadily weakening. It didn't matter anymore. She readied herself, opening her mouth to utter the words that would earn her freedom back from these bullies...

"Shhh!" One of them said, quickly clamping his hand over her mouth...