AN: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda!
Sorry about this being so late! I got my laptop back late on Thursday night – they'd had to order the piece in so it wasn't ready until Wednesday, and then my friend was ill so he couldn't pick it up, and of course he was working on Thursday until 9...so anyway, this is finally getting a chapter update! ^_^
megaME, you were close ^_^ The Disney film was Cinderella! The song was 'So This Is Love', which I guess is a little obscure, but you did put Cinderella as one of the possibilities ^_^ Cinderella was spotted across the dance floor by the prince, and neither knew who the other was, but they fell in love as they danced ^_^ That was the scene that the song brought to mind 0:)
Hopefully, these are a little less obscure...? Yes, 'these' ;D The last one has a nice little key phrase for you ;D
Chapter Two – The Intelligence Agent, the Babysitter and the Passage of Time
Robin watched as people moved through the crowded streets, waiting for her contact to arrive. It wasn't long before a man sat opposite her, his sunglasses alone making him look shifty as he sat in a suit. Robin couldn't help but think the man lacked intelligence. She had arrived in normal clothes, ready to start on her task as soon as she'd been contacted. She accepted the envelope he passed her, very clearly, across the table, making Robin wonder if this man had any idea what her job was. He thanked her before getting up again, making their meeting look even more suspicious. Robin slipped the envelope into her bag and finished her coffee, leaving the money on the table before walking away.
She sat on a bench, far from the cafe she'd just been sitting at. She'd had to make sure there was no-one following her after the man's idiocy. She pulled the envelope out of her bag, opening it and pulling the paper out. She glanced around her, hoping none of the children mentioned in the information she'd been giving had seen the interaction. According to the information she had in her hand, the children ran freely around the city, while the 'mother' ran some sort of laundry. The job Robin had been given was to watch the woman to see what she spent her money on, since the woman apparently owed her client a substantial amount of money.
Robin carefully followed the woman, only letting her out of sight while she was inside her own home. It had been several days with the woman showing no unnecessary spending when Robin's client had clearly had enough, deciding to step in himself, allowing Robin a morning of freedom – they'd contact her again if she was needed again in the afternoon. Robin had not been surprised when she'd been contacted again, but had been very surprised about the circumstances. A green haired man had been there, meaning there was a 'new family member'. Robin caught up with the woman in the main streets as the woman did her usual shopping, no man in sight.
Robin walked quietly along the street, blending in perfectly, or at least she had thought she did. Her eyes made contact with a very familiar set, staring back at her in horror. She smiled at the green haired man, three babies strapped to his chest – who could help but smile? The wind brushed passed them, causing something to stir in Robin as she smiled, either yet to say anything. They stood staring for another moment before he looked passed her and pulled her into the alleyway, much to Robin's amusement. She glanced behind her as he pulled her into the alleyway, catching a glimpse of orange hair and quickly realising who it was they were hiding from.
"Hello, Zoro-san," she greeted him, glad that they were at least out of sight of her target, while she knew he'd be glad that 'Nami' wouldn't see them, "I do believe these children don't belong to you?"
"Robin! What are you doing here?!" He asked, clearly embarrassed as he loudly whispered to her.
"Working." She smiled, "Had you planned to take on a babysitting job?"
"NO! I got tricked into it! Damn brats!" Zoro whisper-yelled, glancing around him.
"Don't worry, Zoro-san, I won't tell anyone," she smiled, turning away from him before glancing back over her shoulder and giggling, "besides, it suits you."
She'd never forget the impressive blush that took over his face at that moment. She'd failed to forget his eyes, and now she realised it had been his scent that she'd remembered as the wind had brushed passed them. She remembered the night at Crocodile's ball as they'd slow danced – his masculine scent, his heartbeat, and his voice. She remembered his voice as he'd whispered into her ear. She remembered the comforting feel of his heartbeat and the warmth of his cheek as she'd rested her head against his. His eyes suddenly flashed behind her closed eyelids as she remembered the first night they'd met. Zoro truly had caused her misfortune – she didn't need to keep bumping into him. He'd almost cost her her life and had eventually cost her her job. He was her bad luck charm, and she wasn't ready to get hurt again.
...
Robin walked out of a shop, wondering what all the whispering was about. There had been a nervous atmosphere all day, and she still hadn't worked out what was going on. Even when she'd tried to eavesdrop, all she'd found out was that it was 'something dangerous', and they didn't want it 'on their islands'. It had been a long time since she had been this baffled by a large crowd of people, all muttering about the same thing. She was almost tempted to ask what they were talking about.
Robin wandered into a pub, just in time to watch a woman with long orange hair and a man with an abnormally long nose deal with a strange looking group of people, much to the horror of the people in the bar. One group must be to do with the whispers, but maybe it was both? Maybe there was supposed to be a large fight? She certainly didn't plan to get involved; she was just here on her way to another job.
She sat down at the bar next to the woman and the man, neither group really all that aware of each other. It wasn't long before she focused on their conversation though. She'd absently listened to them tell each other about the last two years, but then they'd said four little letters that always caught her attention – Zoro. They were wondering what Zoro would look like now, and how strong he'd be after training for two years. Robin looked at the two sitting next to her, quickly deciding she'd never seen the man before, but after a second look at the woman, Robin recognised her. She'd only seen her briefly five years before and caught a glimpse of her short orange hair two years earlier, but it was definitely her.
"Nami-san?"
"Robin!" Robin stared in disbelief at the man she'd never seen before, for it had been him that had said her name.
"Robin?" Nami turned to face her, a sly grin appearing on her face after recognising her, "still following Zoro, are we?"
"No, I was never following him, however I am starting to wonder if you are following me?" Robin asked, a small smile playing on her lips.
"No, just following the path forward," Nami laughed, before gesturing towards the man, "and this is Usoppe by the way! He's our sharpshooter, but he never makes an appearance – he's a chicken!"
"Says you!" Usoppe exclaimed before offering Robin his hand, "Usoppe, nice to finally meet you!"
"Usoppe...Robin, nice to finally meet you...too," she greeted him, shaking his hand, "so you're the sharpshooter Zoro mentioned – thank you."
"Don't worry about it – I just passed on what I saw, Luffy was the one to decide to get you out of the way!" Usoppe smiled cheesily, finishing his drink.
"Yeah, he's an idiot, but when he found out how Crocodile treated you, he decided to get you out too," Nami explained, "Zoro didn't have any problem with passing on the message to you, so he got the task. Getting Vivi out and taking care of Crocodile's subordinates was pretty simple after you left – wasn't easy though!"
"Yeah, Zoro took care of Crocodile's bodyguard, and Luffy took out Crocodile!" Usoppe boasted loudly, "the rest of us had to deal with everyone else!"
"Very impressive, Usoppe-san!" Robin smiled, happy that she had interpreted the lies of the article correctly.
"Wanna come meet everyone?! You can see Zoro again!?" Nami teased, leaning into Robin.
"I would very much like to meet everyone – I have only really spoken to the two of you and Zoro-san, and I have only briefly met Luffy-san." Robin smiled, ignoring Nami's tone.
"Great!" Usoppe replied for Nami before she could make another attempt at teasing Robin.
It wasn't long before Robin found herself standing outside a small building, strangely labelled 'Shakky's Rip-Off Bar'. Something told Robin that she'd heard of this place before, but she couldn't think why she would have. She did once she walked in. Silvers Rayleigh sat at the bar, the infamous right hand man of the late Gol D. Rodger. Robin had grown up in the dark world full of dark whispers of dark soulless men. She was even considered one herself, although it was obvious she was no man. She nodded to him, Rayleigh nodding back, before turning to follow Nami and Usoppe, her eyes quickly recognising the three men she'd seen that first night.
Robin giggled as she took in the scene in front of her, six men sitting around a table shouting between each other. Luffy sat in the middle on the opposite side of the table, two of the men arguing over the top of him as he laughed. Robin couldn't help but smile as she watched them, their laughter seeping into her as she stood. Usoppe sat down next to a tall giant-shouldered, light blue haired man who'd had to sit diagonally at the near-side corner of the table, his shoulders not fitting into the suggested space.
Robin smiled in amusement as the two happily fell into conversation, while a much older gentleman with an giant black afro turned his attention from the blue haired man to the blonde sitting on his left – Sanji. Robin failed to hold back her giggle as she noticed the change in the blonde man. She could still remember him standing in the ballroom doorway, telling Luffy and Zoro it was time to leave, and it was that memory that caused her to laugh – his hair now fell over the other half of his face...showing a spiral on the end of his eyebrow, the same side as it had been on above his other eye.
Robin was not surprised Sanji kept one eyebrow covered.
Robin followed Nami to the two remaining seats, Nami taking the one next to Usoppe, directly across from Zoro, leaving one seat for Robin. Robin pulled the chair out and sat down, introducing herself as she did so, the two arguing men falling silent as she spoke. Robin sat patiently, listening to the introductions of each of the men and their particular occupations within the group, the young man next to her surprising her the most. It turned out that she found herself sitting next to a young, very tall and muscular doctor with short sandy brown hair that went by the name of Chopper. The two easily fell into conversation, only allowing her the occasional curious glance at the green haired man on his right who was yet to say anything to her. What had happened to the man she had danced with?
...
Robin felt someone touch her arm and turned to face Nami, wondering what the young woman wished to tell her. Nami nodded her head in the direction of the door, standing up from her chair as she did so. Robin nodded back, making to follow Nami, pausing as she saw a movement out the corner of her eye. Robin turned, smiling as she realised the movement had been Zoro standing up from his seat. Robin felt slightly disappointed as he failed to smile back, walking in the direction of a door clearly labelled as the men's toilets instead. Robin turned back to Nami, quickly following her out of the door.
"What's wrong with Zoro-san? He hasn't spoken to me yet – I'd have thought he'd lost his tongue while falling out of bed onto some poorly placed fork, but I cannot see any scars that would match that, and of course he was arguing with Sanji-san when we arrived." Robin asked as she shut the door, joining Nami as she leaned against the bar's outer wall, staring up at the stars.
"That's what Zoro's always like – he doesn't say anything unless he has to, or he's arguing with Sanji, but I guess you've already seen that...I'll hit them for it later if they start up again," Nami sighed, glancing at Robin, "but you haven't said anything to him either, Robin? I thought you liked him?"
"He has always been the one to approach me, Nami-san. I do not put myself in the way of men, I learned the hard way that you can't trust them." She answered, staring up at the stars through the clouds, "I've had too many bad experiences."
"And yet I'm sure we all saw the way you smiled at him when he stood up just now." Nami replied, glancing at her again as she spoke.
"I can't understand why my smile would be any different for him – he's no different to any other man," Robin stated, her gaze falling down to the clover pushing up through the cracks in the stones that formed the path around the outside of the building.
"You're not fooling me, Robin – just admit it, you like him." Nami said plainly, turning to look at Robin, "and it wouldn't surprise me if he likes you too. Zoro's not a dancing man, yet he danced with you at the ball. The first time it had been my suggestion when he'd pointed out that you were watching him, but no-one had told him to the second time. He'd been asked if he'd pass on the message – Sanji-kun was all too happy too – but Zoro didn't even complain, and I'm guessing from that smile you just gave him, you had no complaints either."
"Don't push me, Nami-san, please. I don't believe in the subject you're trying to persuade me of, I'm not even sure there is such a thing as a true friend, never mind finding a man I could love. I admit, there are things that I liked about Zoro-san, but I will not say something so unnatural as to say I am in love with him – he is a perfect stranger, Nami-san," Robin lectured, turning to make for the door.
"So what does that make us?"
Robin turned back to the other woman, feeling very confused. What could she mean? Was she suggesting they were friends? Nami had introduced her to everyone, and even tried to persuade her of Zoro's feelings – wasn't that what female friends did? Talk to each other, hang out with friends and make each other feel better? Robin smiled softly as she thought about what she owed Nami and her friends, and her smile even grew as she thought about the last few hours, none of them even caring that she owed them anything, even though they had saved her life. Maybe these people were friends, even if she'd only really just met them? They certainly made her feel as if she was one of them, everyone except Zoro that is, but she could get him to warm to her again, she was sure.
"You're right, Nami-san," she smiled at Nami, "I believe we are friends."
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^_^ Good luck guessing ^_^
'Guest', I'm so sorry this was so late! ;_; Next update will be Tuesday! Hope you found this chapter as interesting as the last one! Love surprising people 3;D
grandprincessanastasiaromanov5, hehe, that makes me very happy to hear that! XD I'm glad you loved it! XD
'Guest', hope you liked this one! Sorry it's late! ;_;
megaME, so did I! XD Well, what else would we expect of Zoro?! XD Hope you enjoyed these encounters! ;D Hope you're keeping those Disney films in mind, or you might have a little trouble with these ;D Next Chapter will be up Tuesday! Sorry I'm late with this...I was in two minds whether to message you...but then I decided it would probably be weird to message...sorry... *hangs head in shame* There was a lot of shouting when my laptop broke...it's been going since before Christmas, but no-one listens until it's too late...*sigh*
Today:
'Ma Forte Peu Mellorine' – One Piece (Sanami)
'The Twisting String that is Fate' Ch2 – One Piece (Zorobin)
Tuesday:
'The Twisting String that is Fate' Ch3 – One Piece (Zorobin)
'His Sixth Year Crush' Ch1 – One Piece (Zorobin)
Friday:
'Conceit and Crudity' Ch3 – Fairy Tail (GaLe/Gajevy + others)
Sunday:
'Dishes' – One Piece (Zosan)
