After the deal was made, Robin quit the gang she was with. They had put up a good fight but she was better; experience would always emerge victorious. She followed Drake where he went, the men that accompanied were more than happy to have a feminine presence in their headquarters. Drake was an intuitive and intelligent man; he knew how the World Government worked and could avoid and prepare for their attacks. He too was a wanted man and understood Robin's current position very well. Eventually, she warmed up to him and started to see him in a different light. She would see him as a caring and sincere man, mature in thoughts and action and a great leader for his men.
She was never sure of this fluttering feeling she had for him, any kind of relationship she had with anyone was bound to fail. It was as if God had destined her to be alone, taking away the people she loved and throwing her back into her lonely life once more. Saul said that there was nobody on this Earth that would be alone and that she would find her nakama. She had tried so hard to find them but had always failed miserably. But perhaps Drake was her nakama? He had protected her and ensured that she was well accommodated. Even though the foundation of their relationship was based on a deal, she was sure he was a great dependable man who could save her from her misery. However, she could never determine if he felt anything for her as he only took her under his wing to 'save the Earth' if what he claimed was true and if Robin truly possessed the ability to do so. She wished she could read him better and find out if he truly considered her more than just a stranger. They did have intimate moments together; she opened up about her hidden suppressed feelings and recounted her experiences with him. He shared about his past and personal tastes. She was falling deeper into the depths of love after each moment and wished he could return her feelings despite the age gap between them. She wanted to confess to him as each day passed by, hoping that God would be kind to her with his man and grant her her deepest wish. She was wrong.
The following day, they were torn apart by the World Government. Apparently, one of his most trusted men ratted him out to the World Government in exchange for his bounty and freedom. Drake held them off from Robin as long as he could; he was a man of his word. However the attackers put up a fierce resistance and overpowered him. Robin tried to hold them off but he told her to go.
"ROBIN! LEAVE! I CAN HANDLE THEM!" He shouted with piercing wounds on his body from the bullets. He stumbled down the stairs of the headquarters from the sharp pain in his legs from the bullets.
"Don't be crazy Drake! You're going to get captured… or… or die." The words she uttered brought tears to her eyes. Why, why must God be so cruel to her and take away another loved one from her life. She just wanted somebody, anybody to be with and live with and he had to mock her once more.
"Robin, listen." He tried her tears and stared into her auburn eyes. Robin stared back at him longingly; his serene expression calming her down.
"I will come back for you. I promised I would protect you right?" Robin collapsed into his chest and started to sob uncontrollably.
"How can you think about the deal when you're in danger? Care about yourself first. We have to get out!"
"I can think about it because I made an important pact with a special person. Nico Robin, I love you and I will do everything in my power to protect you, even if the world forbids it." He managed a weak smile as Robin sobbed even harder. She was relieved that he had loved her, relieved that her love would not go to waste just like before and that he was willing to sacrifice everything for her. Drake held her in his arms before their attackers barged into the room they were in. Drake pushed Robin into a secret compartment in the room and hid her there before confronting the men. Robin wanted to escape from the room, hearing all the gunshots and groans of pain from Drake really tore her apart. She tried to exit the space but collapsed from sheer exhaustion from the damaged she took from the attackers.
The next thing she woke up to was the prominent smell of cigars lingered in a well-furnished room with her wounds tended to.
"Nico Robin, I've finally found you. I need your help in our organisation." A large man swivelled his armchair to face her, a menacing grin on his face and a scar stretching across it.
Robin looked away from Zoro when she recounted her past experience with Drake. She was ashamed to tell him, a man she held feelings for, about a man that she was still in love with. Zoro just stared at her with a hollow expression. He did not utter any comment nor did he give any sign of emotion. Robin just hoped that he would not abandon her after knowing about her past or after knowing she still had feelings for someone else. She knew that there was something about them that was developing and did not want to extinguish this spark or ruin their friendship.
Franky, Nami and Chopper were sobbing quietly while Ussop and Brook gapped at her. Luffy and Sanji just stood silently, their expressions similar to Zoro's. Luffy stood into the room and glared at Robin.
"ROBIN! YOU'RE OUR NAKAMA AND WE WILL PROTECT YOU! Don't run away any more Robin, we'll protect you with all our lives! BELIEVE IN US!" Robin teared up and looked at Luffy. His confidence, his aura gave her a sense of confidence and friendship. Was she willing to trust again? To mend the broken pieces of her heart and let people in once more?
"Luf- Luffy…"
"BELIEVE IN US ROBIN!"
" I… I-" A loud explosion interrupted the exchange. The Strawhats were snapped out of the moment and tried to investigate the problem before a noxious gas surrounded the area. Upon inhaling, they collapsed unconsciously. One by one, they fell.
Zoro could feel consciousness slipping away, being replaced with a swirling dark abyss draggin him down. The last sight he saw was Robin's desperate face accompanied by a faint call.
"ZORO! Zor-…"…
