Chapter 25: Peace and Quiet
Rating: K
Basically, Luffy gets left behind when the others go into town. But someone stayed behind. What will happen? Luffy x Robin fluff, because I wanted to write some. Came out way different than I was expecting at first, but I guess things like that happen, eh? Anyway, enjoy, and let me know how it came out.
"Ara?" Luffy semi-asked, looking out at the empty deck, noticing no signs of life. "Where is everyone?" he wondered, taking a few steps out onto the open space on the ship. Darting his eyes from side to side, he scoured the entire surface of the ship, hoping to find at least one member of the crew. After he had searched the entire deck, he stopped in the center, shoulders slumping forward as he let out a deep sigh.
"I wonder where everyone is." he asked himself aloud, trudging his way towards the lounge, still hoping that someone was aboard. As the door swung open, his spirits picked up a bit, as he caught sight of one of the crew. "Oh, Robin, what's up?" he asked, bounding over to the tall black haired beauty.
"Ah, Luffy, you are awake?" she asked, taking a small sip of her coffee.
"Yeah, just a minute ago. Where is everyone, Robin?" the boy inquired, eyes darting to the side as he sat cross legged on the table in front of the older woman.
"Well, since you were asleep, navigator-san said that it would be a good opportunity to get the shopping done without you making a big scene." Robin replied, an oddly amused tone to her voice as she spoke. Somehow Luffy felt his anger begin to rise from her taking joy in his being left behind.
"So, why did you stay behind?" Luffy asked, his anger dissipating a bit as he wondered how she could have been stuck here. Normally, Nami and Robin would go off together, doing whatever it is that women did on their own.
"Well, I volunteered to make sure you didn't cause any trouble on the ship. Besides, I felt like having a bit of relaxation myself, as well." As she spoke, Luffy felt his brow raise in confusion, since Robin was always so relaxed as it was. He watched as the young woman took another sip of her warm drink, before setting the empty cup upon the table.
"Aww, that's no fair. How could they just leave me?" the young pirate pouted, eliciting an amused giggle from the older woman.
"Now, now. It's not so bad having to watch the ship once in a while, neh?" she asked, smiling sweetly at her younger friend, calming him down nearly instantly.
"I guess it's my duty to watch the ship once in a while. But still, it's so boo~ring." he complained, jumping onto the couch near where Robin was sitting. With a sigh, he crossed his arms over his chest, looking impatiently towards the small door, hoping that the others would not be gone long.
The pair sat in near silence, only a short distance separating the two, as Luffy waited for the rest of the crew to return from their errands. He tried to imagine what it might be that each of them was up to in the small town, their patterns easily memorable even to him.
Sanji was no doubt either accompanying Nami, acting as her personal pack mule, or off flirting with whatever women he could find, making a complete fool of himself for the trouble. Zoro, he figured, would probably get lost, and either be the first one back to the ship by accident, or the last, depending on how lucky he was today. The thought of the green haired young man in some ridiculous predicament made Luffy chuckle, a sense of gratitude that he was not cursed with Zoro's sense of direction.
As his thoughts drifted from one crew mate to another, he felt an odd sense of loss, bored out of his mind and hurt that they would purposely exclude him from doing anything fun. Whatever trouble he got them in, it was always solved with no major problems, so what was the problem? Sighing, he slumped forward lightly, drawing his older friend's attention.
"Luffy, is something the matter?" Robin asked, bringing the boy back to reality.
"Huh?" the boy responded, his straw hat slipping from his head as he turned towards the raven haired young woman.
"You looked rather glum. Is my company that unpalatable to you?" she asked, a mixture of hurt and sarcasm to her voice.
"Unpalatable?" he asked, confused by the unfamiliar word.
"It means that you do not enjoy something." she responded, a light giggle escaping her soft lips at his innocent confusion.
"Oh. It's nothing like that. I just feel so bored, not being able to find an adventure here." As Luffy spoke, he tilted his head back, staring idly at the wooden ceiling, admiring Franky's handiwork.
"Well, not everyone is as enthusiastic about it as Captain-san. Everyone needs a break once in a while, neh?" Luffy sighed again. There was nothing he could say against her flawless logic, as much as he didn't want to admit it.
"Ugh. I guess so. But still…" he whined, exhaling deeply as he rolled his head to the side, taking in the sight of the young woman to his right. Compared to his hyperactive self, she looked quite comfortable in such a quiet environment. Sitting as still as he could manage, the young boy found his eyes resting loosely on the older woman, somehow captivated by her calm demeanor.
He watched as she picked up her coffee cup, slowly walking over to the sink to place the fine looking porcelain dish among the others. Luffy watched, noticing a sway to her hips as she walked, a motion that was almost hypnotic to him. He soon found himself spacing out again, eyes drifting out of focus as he gazed at his friend.
"Luffy?" he was brought back once again by her soft, flowery voice. "Is something wrong? You have been staring at me for quite some time, is there something you would like to say?" she asked, teasing him playfully as she sat next to him once again, pulling her legs underneath her as she looked in his direction.
"Huh?" he asked, shaking himself back to reality. "Ah, it's nothing. Guess I just spaced out for a second there." he replied, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Looking back over towards the door of the lounge, he watched as the sunlight beamed through the small round piece of glass, glinting onto the wooden floor.
"Sorry to bug you, Robin." he said, abruptly excusing himself from the sofa, making his way outside. With a curious expression, the young woman looked towards the door as Luffy disappeared outside, wondering what had come over the young boy. Allowing her curiosity to get the better of her, Robin made her way to the door, peering out through the clear glass in an attempt to locate the pirate captain.
Surveying the scene, she finally located him, resting her soft blue eyes on his oddly solemn form. He was near the front of the ship, not on his spot as he might usually be, but leaning against a nearby railing, forearms resting upon the hard surface as he looked out towards the open sea. Somehow, seeing Luffy in such a state sent a small ping of sadness through the young woman.
Thinking on all of the times he had been there for her, it seemed that this was a small instance that she could be of help to her savior. Resolving herself, the ship's archaeologist slowly made her way out onto the deck, trying to be as confident as possible as she approached the young boy. Standing to his right, she too leaned upon the railing, watching the rise and fall of waves in the distance.
"Is something on your mind, Luffy?" she asked, drawing his coal black eyes towards her lithe form. Turning her own head to face him, she gave him a reassuring smile, a simple gesture to let him know that he could tell her anything.
"It's nothing really…" he lied, not enjoying having someone else worrying about him. Feeling the odd silence weighing on him, the young boy scuffed his feet against the solid boards beneath him, hoping that somehow the matter would disappear on its own.
"It is alright. Even the captain of a ship has worries from time to time," she began, pausing just long enough to bring his attention to her fully, "and it is good to have someone to share those thoughts with, neh?" The look upon her face said all that needed to be said, and the young boy felt a surge of warmth from deep within his chest. Before he knew what was happening, Luffy felt an odd, wet sensation against his cheeks. Reaching up, he brushed his right hand against the warm flesh, looking at the moisture that accumulated on the finger tips.
"Ara? That's weird. Why am I crying?" he asked, looking pleadingly into Robin's sea blue orbs. Moving from the railing, Robin grabbed Luffy's hand, gently tugging on it for him to follow her. Keeping a hold of her captain's hand, the young woman made her way over to the patch of grass nearby, settling near the foremast of the pirate ship. Tucking her legs beneath her, the young woman tugged on his hand, bringing him down onto the grass along with her.
Patting her palm against her thighs, she smiled at the boy, motioning for him to lay his head in her lap, like a pillow. With some hesitation, he relented, resting his head against her soft warmth. Placing the straw hat for which he was so well known upon his chest, he nestled his head against her thighs, looking up at the sky as the Sun began to slowly move onto the horizon.
"Now, why don't you tell me all your worries?" Robin asked, gently running her slender fingers through his thick yet surprisingly soft black locks, watching as his lips slowly curled into a contented smile. With a sigh, he focused his charcoal eyes on the sky blues above him, telling the small worries of his heart to the older woman.
He wasn't sure quite why, but he felt he could share anything with Robin. It was not as though he did not trust the others, for he did to a great extent. But something about Robin made her different to him. He knew she would listen, and keep his secrets regardless. And so, he continued to spout his seemingly minor concerns to the older woman, watching as her smile stayed etched across her elegant face.
"It is surprising that you would have such worries upon your heart, Luffy." she responded as he finally finished spilling his essence to her. With a short sigh, the young woman leaned down, planting a soft kiss upon his forehead as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. "It is easier to carry the burden when it is not all your own, eh?" she whispered, noticing the short, soft breathing that indicated that one had fallen asleep. Watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest, she giggled a bit, watching his innocent face as he slept.
The smile that crossed his features as he slept was more captivating than the one he usually displayed, one that Robin would treasure as belonging solely to her. Tilting her head back, the young woman looked up at the gradually darkening sky, the sun dropping into the distance. She barely noticed when the others finally began to return.
"Well, the ship looks like it's in one piece." Nami stated sarcastically, casting an evaluating gaze over the entirety of the deck.
"Even that idiot knows better than to mess up his own ship." Sanji added, nearly obscured from sight by the abundance of bags he was carrying.
"I still feel bad, leaving Luffy behind like that." Usopp moaned, Chopper mimicking the gesture.
"Speaking of Luffy, where is he? I would have expected him to come rushing to greet us." Nami said, the others joining her in scouring the deck.
"Oh, Robin-chwan!" Sanji shouted, bringing everyone's focus on the raven haired beauty, her back facing the crew. "Did you miss me?" he asked, his sing song voice matching the throbbing heart in his eye.
"Ara? Welcome back everyone." Robin responded simply, smiling before turning her gaze back to something in front of her.
"Robin? What are you doing out here?" Nami asked, quickly making her way over to the older girl. She stopped suddenly, mouth hanging open at the sight that greeted her. "What happened?" the red head asked, pointing accusingly at the young boy who had his head in her lap.
"What is it Nam- WHAT THE HELL!?" Sanji shouted, his voice greeted with a hand clapping over his mouth, eye wide open in anger as he gazed at the boy's sleeping form.
"Please, be quiet everyone. Luffy is sleeping." Robin spoke, an odd sort of coolness to her voice, that sent a shiver up the backs of the gathered crew. They simply nodded, watching as the older woman brought her focus back to the boy in her lap, palms resting loosely upon his strong chest.
As they wondered what had happened to lead to this situation, their eyes all riveted to the face of the sleeping boy, his body turned to the left, his face pointed towards the young woman. On his face was an expression that none of them had seen before. One of complete contentment and comfort. Something had happened between the two of them, but that would have to wait until the next morning. They certainly didn't want to cross Robin, and so went off to their cabins, Sanji in particular perturbed by the development.
"Dammit, lucky bastard getting to bury his face in Robin's lap…" he muttered, fuming as he made his way into the kitchen to begin preparing dinner.
Watching the others disappear, Robin smiled, stroking the boy's cheeks with her soft palms. "It would seem that cook-san is quite upset with you, Luffy." she whispered, watching his innocent face.
"Oh well, his loss." Luffy spoke, a confident grin across his lips to match her own amused grin.
"I didn't realize you were awake, Luffy-san." the woman replied, causing him to chuckle a bit in return.
"Well, I was enjoying it so much, I didn't want it to stop." he said, nuzzling a bit closer to the woman, her scent of flowers filling his senses as he closed his eyes once more.
"Ara, ara. What will I do with you?" she asked rhetorically, the two sharing a small laugh as Luffy let her presence fill his senses. Things could be complicated later, but he didn't want to worry about that now. Robin's comforting presence was near to him, and that was enough for now.
Well, Robin is such a sweetie when it comes to Luffy, eh? Planning some more fluff, because I just like it. Let me know how it came out, because mid-writing I sort of had mental changes like 3 times, and I think that comes out in the writing, but let me know. Thoughts always welcome.