Was I bad enough G? You inspire me.

pairing: ZoRo, mentions of others
rating: T

Subconscious Thrills

When she woke up Robin would blame Nami and their conversation earlier in the afternoon for the odd turn her subconscious took while she slumbered peacefully in the sun on the deck. While she was sleeping she was simply content to let her imagination be bad

In her dream she was in a bath house, it was large and magnificently decorated with both outdoor and indoor baths. She lounged in the heated water resting her head on a smooth rock behind her, content to let all of her stress soak away. She wasn't the only one in the indoor bath and every now and then soft giggles would make their way to her ears. She didn't question the strange assortment of women surrounding her, it seemed natural. Cracking one eye open lazily she saw the twins from Franky's crew splashing water at each other playfully their laughter light and relaxed.

"There room for one more?" The sultry voice of Miss Doublefinger called out.

"Of course, there's a 100 beli fee though." The spunky navigator quipped, holding her hand out for the money.

Robin watched as Miss Doublefinger pulled some bills out of her towel, since that was all she was wearing and handed it over to Nami. After accepting the money Nami turned to Robin with a triumphant grin.

"I told you this was a good idea."

Robin could only chuckle as Nami stored the money somewhere and Miss Doublefinger stepped into the warm water, her hips moving in an exaggerated sway. She continued to soak there for another minute or so before the air seemed to chill around her and she glanced accusingly at Perona. The ghost princess simply shrugged her shoulders in an "it isn't me" gesture. Robin took that as her cue to leave the baths. Slowly she stood up water rushing down her now rosy skin.

"Where are you going?" an achingly familiar voice called out.

"To the outdoor bath, I'm getting a chill."

"Be careful."

Robin nodded and smiled at the face that so resembled her own. If it hadn't been for the striking white hair she would have sworn she was looking into a mirror. Stepping out of the bath she wrapped a fluffy white blanket around her figure, turning around to say goodbye she stared confused as the other women disappeared into mist and steam leaving her alone.

She didn't think much of it however and left on her trek to find the outdoor baths. She seemed to walk through countless rooms each one promising to lead her to the outside only to end up in a new room. She passed through rooms filled with swords and katana, shivering slightly as memories of sex-filled evenings echoed in her mind. Eventually she ducked through a short entranceway and found herself in the glaring light of day. The sun shone brightly and she felt her body heat up almost unbearably. Looking down she was surprised to see she had on a long coat that looked reassuringly familiar.

The familiarity of the coat niggled at her subconscious and she couldn't quite figure out why. It was right there on the edge of her consciousness but just as she thought she could latch on to it the niggling sensation disappeared and she looked down to see herself wrapped in the towel once again.

She was pulled out of her musings by the sound of laughter, deep and rich coming from some mysterious area somewhere nearby. She closed her eyes and focused on the sound, trying to determine where it was coming from. The more she focused on it the more distinct it became and suddenly it was as if it was right beside her. Whipping her eyes open she realized that she was now beside one of the outdoors baths, this one for the males as indicated by the occupants.

Robin stared slack-jawed, something she almost never did, at the scene in front of her. It wasn't that unusual really. There were a handful of males relaxing in the baths much like she had been earlier. They were more animated however and as she watched the green-haired man let out another bellow of laughter. She followed the swordsman's gaze to the lanky captain who was perched on the edge of the baths his feet dangling in. She wasn't sure why he wasn't in the water, if she had been in surely so could he. Either way he was currently doing his impression of the cook which had everyone but the cook amused.

The actions themselves weren't that odd but it occurred to Robin that the people that were present and getting along was a bit unusual. There was of course the swordsman whose impressive figure was being displayed partially out of water partially under the surprisingly clear liquid. It wasn't something Robin hadn't seen before and she knew this was an image from memory and not imagination. She allowed her eyes to wander over his toned body, feasting on the tanned skin that she knew had a slightly salty taste to it. As she admired her lover's body someone sidled closer to him, the other man draped a muscled arm across Zoro's broad shoulders and Robin watched as his mess of raven locks moved closer to the spiky green head. She didn't need to see the tattoo running down his arm, nor the one on his decidedly sexy back to know this man was none other than Portgas D. Ace.

She had heard rumours about the logia user especially concerning a certain marine captain turned commodore. Whether they were true or not it wasn't the marine on his mind now as his tongue slipped out to lick a hot trail up the corded muscles of Zoro's neck. Robin briefly wondered if she should be jealous but the sight was too intoxicating for her to care. Zoro tilted his head back to allow for better access and Robin recognized the moan of pleasure that escaped his lips. The growl that reached her ears next was new and unfamiliar and she immediately placed it as belonging to the marine. She hadn't noticed his presence earlier which was both shocking and understandable. The man had a definite aura around him that spoke of power and determination.

Robin meant to watch the scene unfold, curious to see Zoro's reaction as well as Ace's but instead her gaze was inexplicably drawn over to the other end of the baths where Luffy was currently sporting several new bumps. Beside him Sanji lounged with a cigarette dangling from his lips. She saw the almost yearning look he shot Ace and the heavy drag on the cigarette that followed it. As interesting as the look was it wasn't the reason she had been drawn over there, scanning the remaining men in the baths she immediately knew why.

There sitting beside the red-haired man who was mocking Luffy and affectionately calling him 'anchor' was the man who had haunted her dreams for years. The man who had been her first lover in the truest sense of the word. This was the man, the enigma who had shown her countless afternoons and nights filled with love, exploration and lots and lots of desire. He wasn't even looking in her direction, it seemed his focus was on the red head, but she could feel his eyes burning through her, peering into her soul.

She had always loved his eyes, not just because they were unusual in both colour and shape but because of the way he saw her. People called him hawk-eyes because of their appearance but Robin knew they were just as astute as a hawk. From the first moment he had laid eyes on her Mihawk had seemed to know what was going on in her heart and in her mind. He had been the perfect lover, knowing when she wanted more and how far to go. She could honestly say she wouldn't be the woman she was now if it hadn't been for Dracule Mihawk.

His appearance was perhaps the strangest of all. It wasn't that Robin was surprised to see him, she would never be surprised to find him wherever she happened to be. He had been her first love and she was always half-expecting him to be around every corner. What struck her as odd was the fact that everything was peaceful, erotic perhaps but peaceful. Zoro was within a few feet of his greatest rival and instead of challenging him to a fight he was participating in a threesome – make that foursome she thought wryly as Sanji made his move.

Robin continued to stare as blonde, green, black and gray mixed together. Flashes of skin would show here and there, sometimes ivory sometimes golden brown. The sounds were equally mixed together and contrasting. The more feral ones made her blood heat up and lit a fire in her belly while she sympathised with the more desperate whimpers. Through it all she could recognize the distinct sounds of the swordsman. She knew this man and that included his moans, so when a low and rumbling groan echoed in the night, when it had become night she didn't know, she knew that someone had discovered the sensitive patch of skin in the dip of his left collarbone.

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

The distinctive low rumble made her look to her side and she nearly gasped as she saw Zoro standing there looking at her calmly. He had a towel slung across his waist but it was hanging dangerously low and Robin almost wished it would fall. She looked back to the bath but as before the others disappeared into the steam becoming nothing more than mist. Robin turned back to Zoro half-expecting him to have also vanished but he still stood there.

"You'll be fine?"

"You can tell me." He replied.

As she stared at the swordsman she suddenly saw him in the outfit he normally wore. His bandana was tied around his head and he was fully clothed. Then there was a gash in his shirt directly over his scar and the shirt slowly soaked with blood. Just as suddenly it was gone and he was back to wearing nothing but a towel.

"I'll still be here." This time his voice was low.

Then his mouth closed over hers and she didn't have time to think about what she had just seen. His mouth was hot and demanding, his tongue slipping in to caress her further. Robin sighed into his mouth and returned the kiss with equal passion.

"Time to wake up, babe."

The words came through her foggy brain and it was definitely Zoro speaking yet he hadn't stopped kissing her. Slowly the fog lifted and the kiss became gentler, his tongue was no longer in her mouth and his hand was cupping her cheek softly. She felt his mouth move off of hers and her eyes slowly fluttered open. Zoro was leaning over her with a smirk and she was back on the deck of the Thousand Sunny. She blinked a couple of times to dispel the last of the fogginess and the realization that it had all been a dream sunk in.

"Dinner's ready." Zoro explained offering her his hand.

Robin smiled up at the swordsman and took the offered hand standing up out of her chair. She stretched lightly letting her arms fall behind Zoro's neck and holding him close. She pressed a chaste kiss against his lips and sighed contentedly. His words from her dream came back to her and she knew he had been referring to Mihawk. She wasn't ashamed of the relationship she had had with the man but she had never been too sure of how Zoro would handle it. Her dream, as odd as it was, had let her know that he would be just fine, that they would be fine.

"Can we talk tonight?" Robin asked quietly.

They often would spend evenings together in the crow's nest talking about whatever was on their mind so her request wasn't quite so out of the blue. Zoro pressed a kiss against her temple and agreed so with a smile Robin walked to the galley, Zoro at her side.