Hi there everyone! Quite a rapid update this time, I had alot of fun writing this chapter!
Thanks to all of those who've reviewed, you've really helped me frow as a writer and made me happy! I would love it if anyone reviewed my story, constructive critisim also welcomed!
Review Replies
The wandering swordsman: You didn't have to wait long! Nami is drawn to people who think the same way as her I think, which is kinda why I needed to write her so mean originally. Because I knew I wanted Robin to exploit those repressed feelings in a very Robin like way.
Blu: Le joy! I love the use of Le in excitement! I honestly believe Zoro could not kill Robin, she'd just use her DF abilities to keep him away. She's a tough one!
Sue: Hey sue! Always such a polite reviewer! Thank you for you comments on my re-edit of chapter 11, I was so much happier with that result. The first one was kinda panic writing, I was just desperate to try and finish it cause I had no idea of where to go with it. Robin does seem quickly introduced, but she works he way in so comfortably. I'll pretend I did it because that's how it is in the manga and not because it just came out my head that way!
YusukesLover: Luffy and Zoro are always friendly, I think Luffy just didn't quite know how to handle Zoro when he's being like that. But they weren't properly hating eachother. Thanks for the Robin comment, I'm starting to fear I'm not being that great with her but there really aren't that many ways to describe her!
So thanks for the reviews, story alerts and favourite story adds (I've even been made a favourite author like twice! Mental)
Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I do not and never have owned One Piece
Chapter 13 – Secrets and Lies
The world seemed to numb around Zoro as he heard the dark haired woman's words.
Crocodile. The name made him see red. His mind flashed at the eyes of his two old friends, and he wondered how Johnny and Yosaku were coping at the hands of that bastard.
And now his new 'friend' is talking to him. Zoro needed to know more. He opened the door as quietly as his stealth allowed and listened, and was pleased to be able to make out a muffled voice down the line.
"I want you to do your job, Nico Robin. What else?" The man's voice was as cold as Zoro remembered.
"I am aware of that, Sir, but I am also aware that you normally want me to do more than my job entails." Crocodile's raspy laugh echoed down in the quiet hallway.
"Ha! You know everything don't you? So, what do you think I want, Miss Nico?"
"Well you want me to round up the runaway that has made you appear a fool." The smirk was almost hidden from Robin's voice. Zoro tensed. Runaway…that only meant one thing.
Crocodile wanted him.
"Bastard, half of Alabasta are talking about how I let him get away. Say I can't even control my own property." Crocodile's voice was scathing. "I want suffering Nico Robin."
"Pain would be nothing to him, I assure you. I will make sure Roronoa is suitably humiliated before he is sent back to you."
"Perfect. I am eager to see if the Southerner can withstand my punishment for what he's done."
Zoro's heart skipped a beat. He knew it, knew she was trouble, he just didn't know how much.
The swordsman was so busy thinking about ways to tear Robin limb from limb he almost missed his 'owners' next comment,
"I've some additional work for you, Nico Robin. I have been in conversation with the good Doctor Vegapunk." Robin's voice was dark as she replied.
"Vegapunk? What does he want?"
"My friend mentioned his unfinished research with the Devil Fruit. You know what I'm talking about, of course." The man's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"…"
"Anyway…he told me his is eager to learn of the effects on the next generation of Devil Fruit users."
"The children of the original tested?"
"That's right; he's looking for some lab rats. I told him you were out catching vermin, so you could get him another one." Silence was prolonged in the hall, and when Robin replied she seemed almost sad.
"I know of just the person…"
The voice seemed to get louder and Zoro panicked when he realised she was nearing his hiding spot. He dived behind the door and prayed she wouldn't enter the room.
When she passed and quietly shut the door to the bathroom behind her, he tried listening again. The voices were too muffled to make out, so the green haired man headed back to his friends with a renewed purpose.
He would expose her. No way was he going back to the way things were.
--
The room downstairs was subdued. Sanji felt guilty for what he said to Zoro, but at the same time enraged that the man was like that anyway. Nami sat quietly, lost in her swirls of thoughts and emotions.
Now that she saw a similar soul in Robin, her hidden opinions of the former slave were coming to surface.
Chopper was sniffing as he played with Ussop and Luffy. He was always so upset when people fought. Ussop was torn also, not knowing whether to berate Zoro for being rude to Robin, or Sanji for insulting Zoro. It was all too mixed up.
Luffy was confused. He just wanted everyone to be friends, and could not understand what Zoro's problem was. But, he trusted Zoro, and knew he was truthful. Luffy knew his green haired housemate better than anyone, and he could tell that something was up with him. But what?
Thoughts were broken as the man in question re-entered the room. He looked fierce and imposing, and filled with a desperate purpose.
"Luffy, we need to talk." Zoro's voice was almost rushed in the hurry to tell of what happened.
"Na, what is it Zoro?"
"Robin. She works for Crocodile." Luffy laughed
"I know that silly! At Bananadile Corp!" The boy rocked back and forth in glee as Zoro growled.
"No! She works for him, exclusively. She…Luffy I think she is a slave keeper or something." The room was now all focused on the man as he spoke. Such an accusation was dangerous, a slave keeper was not an honourable occupation. Everyone knew they were the ones who treated slaves poorly.
Luffy frowned in confusion, but Sanji was there to pick up the slack.
"What do you mean, Marimo? What makes you think Robin-chwan is like that?" He lit a cigarette as he leaned against the wall in a vaguely threatening manner.
"Upstairs. I heard her talking to him on the phone, about catching a runaway."
"Runaway? Someone escaped from Crocodile?" Ussop's voice was a whisper as he questioned the scary man, and Zoro's response was scathing.
"Me, you idiot. She was looking for me."
Sanji almost choked on his cigarette when he barked out a laugh.
"You?! I never knew you were so egocentric Marimo."
"Shut it. I hear her, talking on the den den to Crocodile himself."
That made the room quiet. It was Ussop who eventually spoke, quietly,
"Ummm, Zoro, are you sure? Cause it's a well known fact hardly anyone at Bananadile talks to Crocodile directly." The long nose was trembling as he spoke; terrified the larger man may go insane and attack him in anger. He was relieved when Zoro didn't.
"I told you, she doesn't work for Bananawhatever, she works for Crocodile!" Luffy and Chopper both looked suitably confused, trying to piece together the differences with what Zoro had said.
"But, if she works for Crocodile then she works for Bananadile, right?" Chopper expressed his logic timidly, and Luffy nodded along eagerly (though he didn't really know what was said).
"What are you talking about Zoro? We can trust Robin!" The growl that reverberated through Zoro's throat silenced his friends.
"You can trust me dammit!" Luffy, Ussop and Chopper at least had the manners to look appropriately shocked and guilty.
They could trust the swordsman, they did know that. But Robin had manners and grace, and her behaviour left nothing to be questioned in their eyes. While Zoro…well, unfortunately Zoro's past spoke for itself. The three boys knew that most people would see this way about their friend, but they just had to trust him no matter what. So they were torn between the words of their friends.
Unfortunately, Nami and Sanji were not like the three.
Sanji had paid close attention to Zoro's behaviour ever since his first meeting with the beautiful Robin-chwan. Always the gallant man, Sanji believed the word of the woman, for she was perfect and would never lie. But Zoro had been suspicious and rude towards her, and this new behaviour was the final string in the bow.
He wouldn't stand for it.
"How do we know that? All we can see is that you've been hating Robin-chwan since she first got here, and she's been nothing but nice. " Zoro paused
"But, can't you see it? That smile she's just faking! I heard her talk to him cook."
"Did you really? All we know is you were both gone."
"Yes!" Zoro was gesturing wildly in anger with one hand, and gripping a sword with another. "She told Crocodile she had found what he needed, and he wanted it back, then he said something about Vegapunk and a rat or something!"
Sanji let the words process. Sure, he hated the way the green bastard was treating Robin-chwan, but he liked to get the whole story if he could.
Chopper shook as he quietly muttered.
"V…Vegapunk? He said that?" Zoro spun angrily to face the reindeer, but softened as he saw his (and Ussop's) scared faces.
"Yea. Crocodile said he had been talking to him, and Robin had to get him something." Chopper's hooves trembled. He lived in fear of the man that turned him, albeit indirectly, into a monster.
Nami had been watching things unfold while she processed her own thoughts. But she had come to a resolution, and she stood to face Zoro.
"Had to get something? You don't know for sure?"
"No...Well, I couldn't hear all that well…." Zoro's voice trailed into a murmur, and Nami straightened, looking down her nose at him.
"And why is that?"
"Well, I was in one of Ussop's rooms and she was in the hallway."
"So you were eavesdropping? Spying on her?" Zoro seemed to deflate under Nami's gaze as she utilized her birthright superiority. "That doesn't seem like a trustworthy thing to do." Behind her, Zoro could see Luffy edge towards her argument, as much as he didn't want to.
The verbal assault continued with Sanji
"So you are rude and impolite and you spy on her?! And you want us to believe you?" He scoffed "Surely even your tiny brain can see why we may wonder about that huh?"
Zoro opened his mouth to reply, but had no idea how to defend himself against this. He was thankful when Luffy did.
"I'm sure you didn't mean it, ne, Zoro? He must have good reason for thinking this way." Ussop and Chopper nodded in agreement and Zoro almost sighed with relief. Bless that rubber idiot's carefree mind.
"How can we be so sure? I mean what should we expect from him?" Nami's words were cold as she nodded in Zoro's direction.
"What's that supposed to mean, woman?" Zoro ignored the growl from Sanji in favour for glaring at Nami.
"Well look at it. Robin is trustworthy, living in a reputable neighbourhood working for one of the best companies in the world. Where as you…well, where do I start?" Nami paced as she smirked down at Zoro, gloating at him.
Zoro had no idea what to do.
"Just a runaway. We should have expected such underhanded ways. What, were you just jealous that we preferred her over you?"
"Just wanted to keep the attention to yourself, poor Marimo?" Sanji tutted. The green haired man opened his mouth to protest, but Ussop beat him to it!
"Quiet! Stop it now!"
Ussop was standing up, fists curled as he summoned all his bravery to interrupt the painful argument. Luffy sat bewildered next to him, having no idea what to believe. But it was Chopper that the long nose was worried for.
Chopper was hiding under his had, body trembling as he cried silently. The harsh words were too much. Ussop resting a shaking hand on the animal's head and addressed the room.
"Think about what you're saying. We're meant to be friends! And all you're doing is upsetting people." He helped up Chopper and led him to the kitchen. He knew something sweet would cheer him up. The pair's exit was punctuated by the door slamming.
And the soft click of another door signalled the arrival of Robin.
--
The room was hushed at the woman's arrival. Zoro gave her a scathing expression of hate and distrust. Sanji glowered between her and Zoro and the floor, while Nami seemed to look at her almost brightly. Luffy looked at her and spoke up.
"Robin! Where have you been?" She smiled and gestured apologetically.
"Sorry, Luffy-san, I had some things to attend to."
"And you can't elaborate on that?" Zoro's voice was harsh and filled with venom. The tone angered Sanji.
"Marimo, speak nicely to Robin-chwan!" Nami smiled like a cat that had the cream and grinned at the swordsman.
"Yea Zoro, she's not the untrustworthy one here, after all."
The resulting silence was broken with Zoro storming out the door Robin just entered and leaving Ussop's house. Luffy was racing after him in concern.
"Zoro, wait! Uh, um, sorry! Bye guys!"
As Luffy let the door slam shut behind him, Robin reclined on a sofa and smiled at the two remaining pair.
"This is interesting. I didn't realise I was causing so much bother." Nami sighed and sat opposite her
"It's fine Robin, just Zoro being a jerk. He's saying you're dangerous! Like he's one to talk!" Sanji sucked on a cigarette
"He's been more trouble to us than you, that's for sure. I'm so sorry you were treated this way Robin-chwan!" The mysterious woman smiled
"It's okay cook-san, I imagine that someone with Zoro-san's, ahem, unusual background is prone to be somewhat distrusting of new people." Nami gave a light snort
"yea, you can't trust anyone in a slave camp huh?" Robin smiled
"Not even him, Nami-san." The room lapsed into silence, save for Sanji smoking his cigarette. Eventually, Robin spoke quietly.
"Well, I do know of something we can do to make Zoro-san pay for his lewd behaviour. Just a light punishment. Would you be willing to assist me in teaching him a lesson?" Sanji put out his cigarette
"If it'll teach him a lesson. I'll help you Robin-chwan!" Nami let out a heartless laugh
"Just what a lowlife like him deserves. What do you have in mind, Robin?"
Robin smiled in success and described her idea in hushed tones. The other two didn't need to know just how far her 'lesson' would go.
-.-.-
Ohh the mystery continues! The story is reaching the latter stages now, it's all gone so fast! Quite a short chapter this one, but I dind't want to draw any attention away from the conversations going on here, so that's why it's so short.
I've begun to notice the lack of humor in my story these days. It makes me sad, but this is a tale of adventure and a look on the discrimiation between classes in the world I created. So little space for laughter!
Next chapter - the set up commences! But how far will it go?
Thanks for reading! - Pamplemoose