And weeeel here is the next chapter, taking me forever to write, but hey, at least I am done.

And to be fare, I don't know what to think about it. I have some parts that I am very happy about, others that didn't turn out as I wanted, especially not Aokiji's and Robin's. But writing more happy things aren't my thing, I am so bad at it. I hope you can get through at it at least. And not hate me to much because Aokiji is way, way, waaaay out of character. I had a hard time writing him, I hope I will find my way with him later on.

Anyway, this chapter, who is mostly flashbacks, takes part over years. Sabo and Robin's part starts 5 years ago, until now. Aokiji and Robin's part starts 12 years ago, when Robin is 18, and has been with Crocodile for a year. It takes part over 2 years, before Aokiji disappears.

Sabo is in the beginning of his career, that's why he is a bit different.

And if someone likes Kizaru, I apologise. I have nothing against him per se, not that I am a big fan either, but well yeah. Hope you forgives me.

Is there anything else you need to know? Hm I don't think there is, at least nothing about the chapter.

But I can tell you, that you will get two chapter in a row, for awhile. It may take longer time for you to get them, but at least you get two at a time.

I also want to thank anyone who reads, likes and reviews, thank you so much!

So enjoy the chapter :)

Luffy's eyes was darker then Sabo ever had seen them, but despite that he smiled towards his little brother. He knew that it wasn't a logical action, he knew that his brother could be a dangerous man, something people often underestimated because of his childish looks. But Sabo still knew that it was his brother, under all that anger, and Sabo also knew that Luffy would never win a fight against him, Luffy would most likely be able to hurt him badly, but not win. So he only smiled at Luffy, as he was holding him down, demanding an answer.

Sabo had known this day would come one day, it was near impossible that Luffy wouldn't figure out what Robin was doing, and when he did, he would notice their connection. Sabo hadn't counted on the level of anger Luffy exuded, but do to circumstances, could Sabo hardly blame him. Luffy had never liked betrayal, which was what he saw this like, and Luffy had a more direct form of justice, hating all the games Sabo was playing.

"Can you let go off me?" Sabo asked politely, and his voice seemed to have triggered something in Luffy, and he stood up, letting go off Sabo. Sabo slowly stood up, as he brushed off the dirt who had covered most parts of his coat.
"Start talking Sabo" Luffy still had a lot of anger in his voice, and Sabo lifted his eyes to meet his brothers gaze.
"I will tell you the parts I can…" Sabo didn't get a chance to finish the sentence, before Luffy interrupted him.
"You will tell me everything!"
"I am afraid that I can't do that. I will tell you the parts I feel fit. You may be my brother, but that does not mean that I will share all my information with you, not knowing what you may do with it" It sounded coldly, Sabo was aware of that, but he wasn't willing to share information that could destroy his plans, especially not for something like this. "And I will not share to much of Robin's history either. To get that information you need to speak to her, and see what she is willing to reveal, and to be fair, I know far from everything"

"Start talking" Sabo could feel Luffy's eyes, still on him, as he looked up, towards the sky.

Sabo was well hidden as he studied the woman who left the Rain Dinners. Sabo had tried to get information about the casino, the staff and their leader for months, but he had gotten nowhere. No one working on the casino was willing to talk, not at least to him. He had tried to bribe them, make them drunk, threaten them, the only thing he hadn't done was using physical violence, something he didn't ever planned to do. But as he got nowhere, he was almost starting to give up. He wished to get information about why Crocodile arrived in town, what he wanted and why he wanted to overthrow the royal family. It was a huge piece of the puzzle, to why the city ended up as it did, and it was also information that may help him make the city right again. But Sabo started to feel that he ran into a wall. That was until he started to spot the woman.

He had first seen her a few weeks ago, but he hadn't thought much of her back then. Not until he noticed that she kept coming back to the casino, almost every day. And he could tell that she wasn't a gambler, so she spiked his interest, and he had started to ask around about her. The information he got wasn't much, but he knew that her name was Nico Robin, she worked at the casino, but no in the building. After following her around, he learned that she was a prostitute, and he admitted that he was impressed by some of the clients she had. Most of them was men with some sort of power, and he understood that she was most likely gathering information that way. And soon she had spiked his interest, the men she met could give her grate information, and she was handing it back to Crocodile, or someone in the casino. He wasn't sure, the people he talked to, was only guests at the casino, since he wanted to avoid asking the personal about other staff members, raising suspicious.

Sabo was wondering why she was willing to work with or at least for Crocodile, what her goal was. He was also wondering why Crocodile had her in his service, because from what he could tell, she was the only prostitute that he had. Knowing that, Sabo felt like she was his best shoot, if he played his cards right. And he knew that was the challenges, the lack of information about her made it difficult for him to know which angle to work on her. Not even now, after spying on her a longer time, could he tell. And he had started to realise that he needed to do something drastic as talk to her, pretending to be a client, hoping that he could get in that way.

Sabo was leaning against a wall, waiting for Robin. Booking some time with her hadn't been too difficult, no it was rather the money that had been the problem. It had taken him awhile to save, especially since he wanted to see her more than once. Because if he was to establish something that made Robin talk more openly with him, he needed to see her more than once. Sabo had left his blue coat and hat at home, not wanting anyone to see him and giving them a chance to figure out who he was. He has just started to make a name for himself, and he had no plan on revealing who he was. Instead he dressed in somewhat common, if not a bit fancier clothes, similar to what he would have wearing if he stayed with his parents, but he stopped those thoughts before they had a chance to start. Instead he concentrated on spotting the black haired woman, from where he was standing, almost completely covered by shadows. Some habits were hard to break, for better or worse.

Sabo watched as the tall, pale woman walked towards the spot they had agreed on. Sabo was somewhat happy that she had dressed classy, not wanting to announce that he had paid for her time, especially since he had no intention on spending time with her, that way. The thought of it almost made him sick, as he stepped out from the shadows to meet her.
"Sabo?" her look was as calm as her voice.
"That's my name" Sabo offered her his hand and she took it.
"Robin"
"Pleasure" Sabo felt a bit nervous, knowing that this may be his only chance to get close to Crocodile, and if he messed it up, it was over.
"No reason to be nervous" Those words made Sabo smile towards her, being able to guess that she used those words often to her clients. "Do you have a room booked?"
"Actually no" Sabo started as he put his hand in his pocket and reached for two tickets to an art gallery, that he showed her. "I got two tickets, to this exhibition I want to attend to. Problem is that they only allow couples"

His words seemed to make Robin surprised for a second, something he could far from blame her for. Most people did not book a prostituted for anything like that. But despite him being interested in men, and not woman, he would never buy sex from a prostituted, male or female. Buying sex, felt like you owned that person for the time, and could ask them to do things they never would agree to otherwise, and he was against that. Sabo thought Robin seemed to appreciate that, she seemed to relax, not much but a bit, and she gave him another smile, then she first had.
"Then show the way monsieur" Sabo offered his arm, and Robin took it as he started to walk them to the art gallery.

Sabo had to admit that he had a more pleasant time, than he thought he would. Robin was a smart and cultivated woman, and she appreciated art, at least that was the impression she gave Sabo. He knew that prostituted become what the client wanted them to be, but Sabo was almost sure that you couldn't fake the interest and remember all the fact she knew about art, if you hadn't some sort of interest.
"You find this one to your liking?" Sabo asked, as Robin had stopped in front of a painting. Sabo studied the drawing, it was far from the most famous in here, or the largest one. No it was a small one, showing a woman, sitting with her back at them, placed on a swing, dressed in white, looking over the ocean at night.
"I do, it speaks to me, in a way I can't explain"
"That's one of the most wonderful things with art, the emotions it gives you, don't need to have an explanation"
Robin met his eyes with a smile, and a small nod.
"Do you mind if I look for it awhile longer?"
"Not at all, my Lady. I will keep walking, come and find me when you are ready" Sabo gave her some privacy, as he started to think of a way he could steal the painting. Art wasn't something he usually would steal, since he felt like it was something that belonged to everyone. But he hoped that the gift may make Robin more open towards him, and that was worth more to him, then that everyone could view the painting.

"I had a lovely afternoon" they were standing outside the gallery, they hadn't had time to see it all, but he only got as much time as he paid for.
"So did I. I am very pleased that I had the chance to see the exhibition, and that you enjoyed it too" Sabo gave Robin a smile, and he got a small back.
"That I did, and I hope to see you again" When she said those words, Sabo heard a change in her voice, she had gone from somewhat relaxed, back to what he only could guess was her business voice.
"I am sure our paths will cross again" Sabo took her hand, gave it a light kiss, before he vanished into the shadows, seeing how Robin started her walk back to the casino. Sabo looked towards the roof, and started to make his way up.

Stealing the painting was easier then he thought it would. The gallery had almost no existing security, and the one it did, he avoided. The owner had put bars on the doors and windows, on the ground floor, but not the windows on the roof. He had hired two guards, but neither of them seemed to take the job to seriously, and was entertaining themselves in the breakroom, by playing cards. Sabo could more or less walk in, and take the painting with him. And since he stole one of the smaller paintings, it got if any, very small interest to anyone. Which worked perfect for him, if he had taken a more famous painting the chase after the thief would have been more intense. Now it would most likely be written in a rapport that will collect dust as the marines has more important things to do. But despite that the fact that it was a small chance of the trace leading back to him, he hid the painting until he could present it to Robin.

It had taken a few weeks before he had the chance to meet Robin again, due to her schedule, but he had no intention to stress, it had to take the time it did. And it wasn't like Robin was his only mission, he had started to try to figure out more about who Joker, Mr 0 and Surgeon of Death was. They Surgeon being the easier one of them, since he didn't operate in the shadows, but getting any information on him was harder, especially before he became the surgeon, but still much easier than the other two. But as for now he would forget about the others and concentrate on Robin. He had decided to take her to see some ruins outside town. When the royal family was still sitting on the throne, they had started the excavation, of the old palace. It was unsure when it had been deserted, or what had happened to it. However, Sabo founded it beautiful, and for him it served as a reminder that even palaces can be destroyed and forgotten. And it was a possible for the whole town to follow its path if it couldn't be saved. Sabo hoped that Robin could find some interest in visiting a place like that.

"Good morning" Robin walked up to him, dressed in a white summer dress and a hat, giving him a smile.
"Good morning" Sabo smiled back at her, and offered her his arm again, and she took it. "I wanted to visit the old palace ruins today, and I am hoping you won't found it utterly boring"
"It sounds like a lovely morning" once again Sabo heard something in Robin's voice, something that didn't sound rehearsed, and Sabo hoped she found some real interest in it.
"Glad to hear it" Sabo started walking towards the ruins, with Robin at his side. He felt less nervous then the first time, but still on his edge, being careful not to screw it up.

"I have something for you" Sabo handed over a small present, as they were walking towards the ruins.
"That's far from necessary" Robin answered, almost before he had handed it over. Sabo felt like it was what she was expected to answer when she got a present. Guessing most men founded it adorable, he felt sorrow. Hearing her act in a certain way, because people expected that, he preferred when she didn't do that around him.
"I wouldn't say that. Presents exist to spread joy, something everyone in this town could need a bit more" Robin only answered him with a small smile, as she started to open the ribbon, very graceful. Sabo choose not to look at her, giving her some privacy.
"Is this?" he only nodded, not looking at her until she stopped.
"Is it not to your liking?" he asked her, and Robin blinked a few times before she started to giggle.
"It is, I just have a hard time seeing you as an art thief" her voice was honest and Sabo smiled towards her.
"Normally I am not, but somethings make you do an exception" Robin nodded, and took his arm again, as they kept walking towards the ruins.

"It's a shame that they stopped the excavation" Robin touched the walls of the room they were in, and Sabo nodded.
"That it is. It makes the history lost to us, maybe forever. Unless the ones who take over the city restart the digging, but I fear they won't do that" Sabo looked at Robin who went silent for a while.
"I fear you are right. At I must admit it saddens me, too know that we are losing history, all over the city"
"Do you like history?" Sabo asked as he walked closer to her, and the wall she seemed to examine.
"I do, it's one of my grate interests" Sabo would never have guessed that Robin was a person who liked history, but it made him happy that they walked to the ruins.
"Too few people does this days, but hopefully that will change one day. And we, the ones who does like history, needs to keep it alive, while we can" Sabo told her with a bright voice, and Robin nodded in agreement.
"Shall we investigate some other rooms?" Robin asked and Sabo nodded, and they went further into the ruins.

After that Sabo choose to meet Robin on different place around town, that had some sort of interesting history, the ones they could get too. Far too many of them were destroyed or placed in districts he didn't want to go to, not with her at least. Sabo had no knowledge on how well Robin could defend herself, or if she even could, and he had no intention on finding out. And Robin didn't seem to have anything against it, instead she enjoyed the places he took her too, and now on what must have been their fifteen meeting, they were having tea in an old revelation base. Sabo knew about a few of them, and this one was placed in Shank's district, a man that had no problem on letting strangers walk into his district, unless they started trouble. So accessing the base, was easy, especially since it was empty. And Robin seemed very excited to see one of the famous bases for the first time.

"Sabo?" the blond man lifted his head, and met Robin's gaze. "May I ask, why you take me to this places? I have nothing against it, far from it, but paying me for this, instead of sex, isn't the norm"
"Don't take this the wrong way" Sabo placed his teacup on the table. "I have no intension on having sex with you, especially since I am gay"
Those words made Robin lift an eyebrow, before she smiled, and Sabo did the same.
"No I rather enjoy visiting places, such as the base, but I do not enjoy doing it on my own, and the people I know, are far from interested in it. And since I pay for this meetings, I could spend the time as I pleased. It was merely a coincidence that it became you, you were the first one I tried, and since you seemed to enjoy visiting this places, I kept coming back to you" It wasn't a completely lie, he was happy that Robin enjoyed visiting the same places as he did, it made it easier, but it wasn't his main goal. But telling her was no option, since he didn't know how loyal she was to Crocodile. "I apologise if it offended you"
"Far from it, I admit I am surprised, since you are the first client I am having, that want nothing sexual from me"
"Paying for sex takes the fun away, and personally it would feel wrong to possible force someone to do something sexual the wouldn't do, unless I paid them. Taking someone to an art gallery, it's a shame if the person doesn't like it, but it's far from degrading" Sabo picked up his teacup again, and took a sip.
"You almost sound like the old revolutionary's" Robin flashed him a smile, and Sabo bowed.
"I take that as an compliment" Sabo looked up to the old revolutionary's, they wanted to make the city a better place, by freeing the people.
"That you should. More tea?" Robin lifted the tea can.
"Yes please"

"Are you alright?" As soon as Robin entered his view, he saw that something was wrong.
"Far from it" Robin answered him and Sabo thought about his alternative, and he decided that his plan on walking along the harbour had to wait. He felt like Robin needed a moment to relax, and collect herself. He could see that she was distressed, and he thought of places to visit, he couldn't bring her to his home, not wanting anyone except his brothers to know where it was. But he knew of a few other abounded home he could take her too.
"Come on" he looked at her, as he picked her up bridal style, and worked his way up to the roofs, to get access to one of the homes. Robin did nothing to protest, she only held on to him, and he was pleased by that, especially since it wasn't his intention to scare her, or violate her personal space. He went as fast as he could, so he could let go of her, not needing to hold her longer than necessary. And it didn't take long before he climbed through the window.
"Rest, while I get you something to eat" Sabo placed her on the bed, and Robin nodded as she closed her eyes. Sabo looked at her before he left the apartment again.

Sabo landed on his feet, silently inside the room, to find Robin sitting in bed, reading. She still looked shaken, but better then she had done when he left her.
"I hope this is acceptable" Sabo walked over to her, holding a basket with food he had taken from one of the restaurants in town.
"I apologise for the trouble" Robin gave him a weak smile, as she accepted the basket.
"No trouble at all" Sabo assured her truly. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A bit" Robin closed the book, and opened one of the boxes with food.
"May I ask what happened?" Sabo accepted the box Robin handed him, and he started to eat, as he waited for the black haired woman to say something.
"Crocodile got angry, one of his plans didn't work out as he had hoped" Sabo nodded understandingly, hoping it would make Robin to tell him more. "I am far from the worse looking, I actually got more scared for his sudden change in temper. Miss Valentine took the worse hit, I am not sure if she will live or not"
"If you ever feel that you are in trouble, run to the south neutral district, and try to find Luffy" Sabo informed her.
"Who is that?"
"He's my brother, he will protect you" Robin slowly nodded at his words, and Sabo couldn't tell if she believed him or not, but at least she had gotten the information. And Sabo knew that Luffy would take care of her, no questions asked.
"Thank you" Sabo smiled towards her, and they kept eating in silence.

"Sabo?" Robin called for him, and he stepped out from the shadows, he looked at her, and he saw that she seemed worse than the last times they saw each other.
"He's still angry?" If Crocodile continued like this, Sabo feared that Robin would be in danger, that he would need to get her out, without getting any information.
"He is. His plan on starting an alliance with the Surgeon of Death has not gone according to plan" Robin informed Sabo as he started to walk them down the street to another house.
"He should have foreseen that. From what information I have on the surgeon, he work's alone, has done for almost two years, and he has no plan on starting an alliance" Sabo told Robin, hoping that if he shared some information, that she may do the same.
"What information you have?" Robin lowered her voice, and Sabo didn't answer her, but he could understand that she was take off by that fact. Sabo has far from presented himself as a man with knowledge and information, unless it covers art or some part of history. "You are more than an art thief and a culture enthusiast?"
"Aren't we all more then we look?" Sabo only replayed as he opened a door, and let Robin walk inside.

"What information do you have on the surgeon?" Robin looked at him, almost a bit desperate, and he understood that this wasn't how she normally gathered information, but Crocodiles behaviour must force her to change her ways.
"You want me to give it away for free, you almost hurt my feelings Robin" Sabo closed the door behind him, and when he said those words she looked hurt, as she realised that he had been playing her all along. Sabo couldn't deny that he felt a bit guilty about it, however it didn't change the fact that it was what he had been doing.
"Are you blackmailing me?" Robin gave him a cold look, to who Sabo only shook his head.
"Far from it. I am offering your information, in change for some back. If you don't want to give me anything, I am not going to force you"
"For some reason I thought you was different" Robin's word was nothing more than whispers.
"I am. I can still offer you a way out, and if you need something else, then information, I can most likely get it for you" Sabo had offered more than once to help her get to Luffy, or provide for her, if it was something she needed. He was able to steal most things, or get one of his contacts to get it. "The only thing I am not willing to give you, without getting anything back, is information, since that's what's most precious in this town. It keeps you alive, something I very much appreciate to be"
"Can I take some time to think about it?"
"As much as you need" Sabo had no intentions to rush her, and hearing those words seemed to calm Robin, and make her less cold.

"What kind of information can you give me?"
"Depends on what you are giving me" Sabo was willing to give her a different information, depending on what he received, but also depending on how crucial it was. He wasn't willing to give any information to Crocodile, not wanting him to get in the way of his plans.
"Can you give me any information about the Joker?" Robin looked at him and Sabo thought about it. Joker had been a hard man to track down, hiding deep inside the underworld, almost running it. What had surprised him was that Joker was Doflamingo, a man belonging to the nobles, a man well known through the city, until the revelations against the nobles. But Doflamingo had vanished before the rebellion, and no one known to where.
"For that I would need information about Crocodile, his plans, and his involvement in the royal families disappearing"
"I will think about it" Sabo nodded, knowing that what he asked her was far more dangerous, then what he asked her for, at least when it came to their own life's. But his information would, at least in this moment be more dangerous in Crocodile's hands, then his own.
"Shall we eat?" Sabo asked as he dropped the bag he had been carrying.

Sabo looked at the files, Robin had placed on the table. He was still holding his own file, wanting to see if he needed to remove some information, depending on what information she was handing him. Sabo read through the papers, especially the ones with Crocodile's plan, for the city, and his Baroque works. Crocodile had spies all over the town, and some even in different gangs. He also saw that Crocodile had tried or had plans on forming an alliance with almost everyone in town. From what he could see most people had declined, some smaller gangs, the ones without their own district, had accepted his offer. That meant that he could form a smaller army, if so was needed, and he was, even if it didn't seem like it, a force to recon with, when the war started. Sabo frowned when he realised that, Crocodile was a bigger problem than he first had thought.
"You seem troubled" Sabo looked over at Robin, and gave her a small smile.
"That I am, but as for now, it's not something I can do anything about" Sabo looked at the paper he had on Doflamingo, opened the folder and removed the location, and Doflamingo's name. Sabo didn't want to give Crocodile the chance of finding him, and form an alliance with him. "This is for you"
"I thank you, this may make him happier" Robin opened the folder and started to reading.
"If you give it to him" Robin looked up for a second, before she only smiled as an answer. "Keep it close"
"I do that with all my information" Robin answered when she putted down the folder. "I think we can make this work"
"Nothing would make me happier" Sabo said as he ordered them something to drink.

Sabo looked at some of the folders with information, Robin had handed him, this past years. They had exchanged information for almost two years, and he had most likely benefited more from it, then her. But the information he gave to her, had seemed to make Crocodile happy, and more relaxed, however had some of the information helped Crocodile more than Sabo would have preferred. He had given him as little as possible, but sometimes it seemed like the little information he gave him, was the piece of the puzzle that he missed. And it worried him, especially how much closer he had gotten to Doflamingo, he had far from found him, or made any contact, but it was still more then Sabo preferred. It was something he needed to keep a close eye on.

But what worried him now, was that Crocodile had figured out that someone gave away his information, and Sabo was worried for Robin. He had asked her to run while she could, but she had refused. She had since awhile back, figured out that Crocodile had lied to her, and that he couldn't help her with what she was after. She had refused to tell Sabo what she was searching for. Angry for it, Robin had started to dig deeper in Crocodile's secrets, but Sabo feared that she had started to become more reckless, and he hoped that she wouldn't give her life for this. He soon had a meeting with her, and he would ones more beg her to leave while she could. Especially since Crocodile had already killed a few off his men, thinking them were the traitor. And Sabo wouldn't want to know what he would do to Robin, if he figured it out. Sabo shook his head, as he headed out to meet her.

Sabo was leaning against the building, covered by the shadows, as he all too often was, when he waited for Robin. He was as always this days, waiting next to one of the pubs they use to meet at. They rotated, in uneven patterns, to make it harder to spot them. But as time went on, Sabo was starting to get worried. Robin was never late, and Sabo couldn't stop himself from imagine the worst, which always was the safest way to go in this town. Imagine anything else, was giving yourself false hope, something Sabo wanted to avoid. But as he imagined what could have happened to Robin, he started to think of ways he could aide her, if she was alive, however, since he didn't know what could have happened to her, thinking of a plan was almost impossible. And he knew that making something drastic may get himself killed, or even Robin, but doing nothing could get her killed as well. Sabo knew that the best thing to do, was to take no action, not risking his own life, to be able to fulfil his own goal. But he had no intention to sacrificing his friends, if he could help it.

So when he first saw Robin, he felt reviled, a feeling that soon got replaced by worry, as she got closer. Her clothes were torn, and he could see that she had been sexual abused, and tortured. Before she had time to reach him, Sabo noticed the men chasing her, Mr. 1, Mr. 3, Mr. 4 and Mr. 5. Sabo stepped out of the shadows, grabbing what he could find as a weapon. Sabo felt the metal pipe in his hand, it was better than nothing.
"Robin run, I will do what I can to aide you" Robin met his eyes, he saw how she was about to protest when the men got closer and she kept running towards the south, and Luffy, just as Sabo had told her to do, many times. Sabo turned his attentions to the men, hoping he would be able to hinder them to some amount.

"I was unsure that she had made it, until you told me about your newest member" Sabo had placed himself on top of some boxes, looking at Luffy as he had told the story.
"You sent her to me?" Sabo heard the ton of surprise in Luffy's voice.
"I did. I knew that you could keep her safe. She would be far from safe with me, and she would not have been happy with Ace and White Beard's gang"
Luffy had calmed down as Sabo had told the story, all the anger hadn't washed off, but in this state, Luffy was more rational.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought of doing it, more than once, but I wanted you to take her in, without doing it as a favour for me. And it wasn't my place to tell you about her past, and if I reviled that we had some sort of connection, I had to tell you." Sabo followed Luffy with his eyes, as his younger brother started to pace back and forth.
"So she hasn't given you any information about the crew, and you haven't interfered with any of my decisions? And she isn't there to spy on me?" Once again Sabo smiled towards his little brother.
"She has only given me stories about the crew, such as you do. It's more lovely stories, about the games you play, the adventures you go on, how she feels at home with you, and the others." Sabo informed Luffy, and Sabo saw the shadow of a smile on Luffy's face. "And I haven't asked her to interfere in any of your decisions, I only gives her information I feel she needs, just as I do with you and Ace. If she chooses to give it to you, I can't tell. And no need to fear, she has no intention to spy on you. I would not do that to you"
Luffy kept walking on the narrow street, passing Sabo a few times before he stopped, and looked at him.

"Thank you." Luffy was back to his childish, happy self. "I am sorry if I overreacted"
"Far from it. I apologise for hiding this from you"
"That's what you do" Sabo could her a bitter ton, only for a second, before Luffy flashed him a smile. "So shall we find Robin and Usopp?"
"I feel like that's a family meeting I shall not be a part off" Sabo stood up, giving Luffy a smile, before he made his way to the roof, he saw how Luffy looked after him, before he started running the other direction, and Sabo continued home.

Aokiji had gently removed Robin's change, before he covered her with his coat, which she didn't hesitated to pull closer. Careful, she leaned against him, he wasn't sure if she hesitated because of the pain, because of the other man in the room, or if it was because of himself. But as she did, it reminded him of the first time he met her. So many years ago.

The sky was holding back, hindering the snow from falling, but not the cold. Around him people was shivering, trying to keep the could out, with what little close they had. Ever since the Royal family had disappeared, eight months ago, everything got lost. Before that there still was some hope, despite Roger being killed, soon after Garp had died. Aokiji could only curse Akainu for letting it go this far. And he couldn't stop himself from blaming himself, for letting it go this far. He should have seen it coming, he had been warned before Garp was murdered, and Akainu took over. But he had chosen not to listen to the rumours, feeling that his friend, or rather former friend couldn't do anything like that. Aokiji hated to admit it, but Akainu had changed, or maybe he had just shown his real colours. And it had left him, with trying to find a way to get rid of Akainu, and save the city. But it went slower then he wanted, he tried to find the revolutionaries, but he had no luck so far. And finding allied within the marines, was not only difficult, since no one wanted to oppose Akainu openly, but also risky, if the words reached the wrong person. Aokiji had thought of seeking aide with White Beard, but his guess was that he would have less luck with the gangs, especially since Akainu executed Roger. And getting help outside the city, was impossible, no one wanted to travel to a city where everything was this far gone. All Aokiji could hope for was that they hadn't passed the point of no return.

As he walked down the street, deep in thought, he didn't notice the younger woman, until they collide. Aokiji looked down at the black haired woman, and to his surprise he saw fear in her eyes.
"Help me" she begged and Aokiji followed her gaze when she looked behind her, on some men who were chasing her. Aokiji nodded in response, as he walked towards the men, but when they got a look of him, and most likely recognised him as a marine, they turned around. Despite everything Akainu, or maybe because of everything Akainu did and does, people respect and fear the marines.
"Are you unharmed miss?" Aokiji turns towards the woman, who were looking at him, as she tried to catch her breath, she gave him a nod in response. "Shall I take you somewhere?"
"I am fine. I was on my way home from work, when they started to follow me, but I will manage now, thank you" Aokiji understood the woman's distrust to a stranger. If you trusted someone in this town, you signed your own death card, even if that someone was a marine. If you trusted the wrong marine, there was no tell what could happen, since Akainu rarely punished anyone for stepping out of line.
"Are you sure? It wouldn't feel right, leaving you to yourself, if you are distressed, or still feeling in danger" Aokiji tried to keep it polite without threating the woman, to his surprise the woman didn't give him another polite answer and walked off, instead she felt silent for a short moment.
"If it would be alright with you, can I buy you a drink while I calm down, before I walk home?" the woman barely looked at him, and Aokiji could feel that she was ashamed for asking. And normally Aokiji wouldn't accept such an offer, but seeing the woman shaken like that he did.

Back then when he accepted the drink, he hadn't known that it was all a set up. That the men chasing Robin was Crocodile's men, and that they had staged it all. He had most likely been unaware of it, if Robin hadn't told him later on. But back then, he kept seeing the young woman, starting to take a liking to her.

"Have you read it?" Aokiji studies the book Robin has in her hands, the title is unfamiliar with him.
"I am afraid I haven't" Aokiji saw that Robin's eyes went from disappointment, to excitement, in merely a second.
"Then I will give it to you as a present, as payment for helping me against the men"
"As I have informed you before, you don't need to do that. And I am sure that you have repaid that debt a few times already, it's after all not the first present you are giving me" Aokiji thought of the paintings, books, collectibles and all the other things had given him, over the past couple of months. It seemed like Robin never missed a chance of giving him something, but Aokiji never thought it was right. He hadn't helped her, or barely helped her, since his assistance only consisted of walking towards the men, but he didn't do it to get gifts. He hoped Robin didn't think it was needed of her, afraid of what he may do, as a marine if she doesn't give him anything. She said she was aware of that, when he pointed it out, and he hoped that was the case.
"I like giving your present, and you most likely saved me from a scenario I prefer not to think off" Robin gave him a smile before she disappeared, most likely to pay for the book. Aokiji could more than willingly see what the men would do to Robin, hoping that was something she never had to experience.

"Here" Aokiji looked at the book, who Robin apparently had wrapped up, with a bow and he smiled.
"Thank you" he carefully took it from her, and she nodded happily.
"I hope it will be to your liking, helping you relax, when work taking its toll" at those words Aokiji gave her a questioning look, wondering what she knew about it. "I can imagine how it is, and not only from hearing what the people say about the marines every day. It's a shame what Akainu is doing"
"Dangerous world to utter to a marine" Aokiji said in a low voice, trying to make it sound like a warning, but Robin only meet his eyes, before she started to giggle.
"Normally I would agree, but you don't seem to be the man that follows Akainu's orders with a light and happy heart" for some reason those words made Aokiji feel warm inside, satisfied that someone saw that he wasn't like his leader.
"You are observant" Aokiji offered her his arm as they left the shop, and as she had done before, when they went on walks, she took it. It seemed to calm Robin, knowing that he was there, and not on his way to leave her to whoever would be lurking around. And in this town, it could be anyone.
"May I ask why you don't overthrow him?" Aokiji gave her once again a questioning look. "Sorry, I have said too much, ignore me, it's just wishful thinking"
"Mostly because I don't have the support to do so. No one openly questions Akainu, the ones who did, are long gone." Robin nodded to his words, as she gave him a smile.
"I am sure you will figure something out, and I am sure you will find people who supports you" she sounded hopeful, most likely one of the few people still left in town. Most people he met cursed the marines, spit at them, started a brawl, and if they could, even killed them. In many people's eyes, the marines weren't better than any of the other gangs, that started to raise. "How about some ice-crème?"

Aokiji had never understood that by playing the naïve, but hopeful woman, she had managed to make him open up, revealing small things every time. He didn't know if she supported him because it was what he wanted to hear, if Crocodile wanted her to try starting a war between him and Akainu or if she actually believed in him back then. He had chosen to believe that she did it to support him, and he had no interest in hearing the truth. Maybe she would lie to him, if he asked now.

Aokiji looked down at the woman, who had half closed her eyes, and he wondered what she was thinking, and feeling. They hadn't seen each other in ten years, when he fled he had left her behind. Did she hate him for it? Did she not care? She had managed to get away from Crocodile, but to what he wasn't sure of. The other man in the room seemed to genuine care about her, and Aokiji couldn't hinder himself to wonder about their relationship. He turned his eyes back to Robin, who hadn't said a word since she said his name, he hadn't done an effort to make her talk, or to speak himself. What words did you utter after leaving the woman you loved behind? Aokiji could remember the day he realised he loved Robin, as it was yesterday.

Rain was pouring down, and they ran through the nearly empty streets. It was a warm spring, almost summer rain, and it had taken them by surprise as they were walking around, lazily. Aokiji covered Robin with his coat, as they ran towards a tree, who would shelter them from the rain.

"That was surprising" Aokiji looked at Robin who was giggling.
"That it was, and I apologise for taking your coat, leaving you to become wet" Aokiji raised his hand to show her that she had no reason to apologise.
"I handed it over to you, so it wasn't as you grabbed it from me, against my will" for a second he saw how the woman in front of him tried to do just that, and it made him smile. He had during the pasts month realised that Robin often brought a smile to his lips, and the memory of her, almost did the same, earning him strange looks by his following marines. Aokiji was far from unused to be smiling, but around Robin it was a more relaxed, easy going smile.
"I am none less thankful" Robin said as she shivered, and Aokiji closed his coat around her, hoping it would make her somewhat warmer, but to his surprise she leaned against him instead, seeking heat from his body. Carefully and slowly, he placed his arms around her, hoping she wouldn't mind, but as he soon felt how she leaned closer even more, he let go of that thought. Standing there, with Robin closer then she had ever been, he felt how his heart started to raise, without him controlling it. He was surprised to the reaction from his body, as it told him something he hadn't been prepared to, or even thought of. Slowly his brain started to catch up, to what his body was telling him. During the months he had spent with Robin he had took a liking to her, more than a friend as he first had thought. Aokiji looked down at the woman in his arm, to find her looking up at him, he blinked a few times at her, trying to read her, but it was nearly impossible. It felt like he was fumbling in the dark, a feeling that wasn't all too familiar for him.

"This is the part where you kiss me" Robin whispered, as she had a small smile on her lips, once again he blinked a few times, before he obeyed. He leaned down a bit, and soon felt her lips up on his, tasting off flowers. It wasn't his longest kiss, or the most heated he had experienced, but it had something else, a softness and it gave him a feeling of safety he hadn't felt before. It was like nothing he had felt before, as all the other kisses had missed something, or maybe he had thought the same about previous first kisses, he couldn't recall, and in this moment it didn't matter. When they parted Robin gave him a happy smile.
"You took your sweet time" Aokiji gave her a questioning look, wondering how often she had thought of kissing him.
"You should know that I prefer to do everything in a relaxed, calming way" he teased her, surprising himself.
"That I should have known. But if you don't mind, I would prefer to go somewhere warmer" Robin shivered once more, and Aokiji obeyed once more, not reflecting over the cold, but preferring not to let Robin stay cold.

After that day, summer had been perfect, and Robin had been a common present around the Marine headquarters, with his fellow marines taking a liking to her. Aokiji kept an eye on them, especially since he has seen how people have looked at Robin before, and tried. He had read reports about marines, raping people, showing that they were no better than the men they tried to fight these days. Aokiji wondered what Robin had to endure after he disappeared. He had learned what she did for a living during their relationship, the same night she told him that she was sent there by Crocodile, but he had offered her a way out. At the time it had seemed as she was on her way to take it, but then he disappeared and she seemed to have continued down the same path, even now when she was free from Crocodile. Was the man in the room the one who ordered her to keep doing this things? Aokiji remembered the man's look when he saw Robin, and the man had tried to save her from him, so that was most unlikely.

"Get away from her!" Aokiji heard the words, seconds before the door opened with full force, and a new man entered the room. The man's shout woke Robin, from her half slumber and Aokiji felt how she sat up, seconds before the young man tackled Aokiji, who unprepared felt backwords, onto the bed. "Gomu Gomu no…"
"Luffy, stop" Robin's words was mixed up with laughter, and the men in the room looked at her.
"Usopp told me there was men hurting you" Luffy explained to Robin, who nodded.
"It was, before Aokiji showed up and killed them" Robin pointed at the celling, walls and the floor, who were covered with blood.
"So he helped you?" Luffy waited for an answer, and Robin nodded once more, before he turned his eyes towards the man on the bed, giving him a childish smile, before the man named Usopp dragged Luffy away.
"Be careful, he was a marine, one of the most powerful ones, before he disappeared" Usopp explained to Luffy who shrugged his shoulders.
"Doesn't matter who he is if he hurt her, I would have killed him" Luffy said, meaning every word. Hearing those words made a smile appear on Aokiji's lips, glad that Robin had someone who looked after her. Aokiji looked at Robin who was looking away from Luffy.

"Are you the one who helped her get away from Crocodile?" Aokiji asked, curious about who the over protecting young man was.
"Not really. I saved her from some men who were chasing her. It was my brother, Sabo who sent her my way, after she escaped from Crocodile" Luffy explained as he sat down at the table.
"I would very much like to thank him, if possible"
"One day it may be, if I ask him. He never visits us, having a life of his own" Luffy simply said, without revealing anything.
"I thought he would be around, near Robin, to make sure she is unharmed" Aokiji were surprised to hear that the man saving Robin wasn't around much.
"They see each other from time to time" Luffy explained shortly, showing that he didn't want to talk more about his brother.

"So how do you know Robin?" Luffy asked, looking at both Aokiji and Robin.
"We were engaged, before I was forced to disappear" Aokiji's looked over at Robin, to see sorrow reflecting in her eyes.
"I thought you had died" hearing her utter those words, he slowly pulled her into his embrace, giving her a chance to hinder him, but she did no attempt to do so.
"Not far from it, however I apologise for not letting you know that wasn't the case" Aokiji told her, Robin only nodded against his chest.
"You were engaged to a marine?" Usopp's voice got a few tones higher than normal, and Robin giggled for a few seconds, hearing that.
"They can tell us more about that later on" Luffy stood up, as Usopp did no attempt to hide his disappointment, but followed his leader. "Come back to the base when you are ready. You can come too Aokiji"
Aokiji looked at the hand the younger man was holding out for him, and he took it, shaking it politely.
"That's up to Robin to decide" Aokiji looked at Robin who didn't answered them.
"Bring her home safe!" Luffy warned him as he walked out through the door, followed by Usopp.
"Let's not tell any of the others about this, giving Robin the choice of what she want to do" was the last thing Aokiji heard coming from the young man with a straw hat, before the door closed.

"You need to rest, we can talk afterwards" Aokiji gave Robin no room to argue, not that she seemed to be willing to do so. With the other two gone she seemed to relax more, and show more emotions, sorrow, happiness, anger, tiredness, fear.
"Stay with me" Robin took his hand as he was about to leave her alone in the bed, not wanting to interfere after being out of her life for such a long time. But hearing her begging him to stay, he obeyed and laid down next to her. Soon she placed herself in his arms, and soon fell asleep. Aokiji was pulling her a bit closer, as he let her sent wash over him, feeling her heat against his chest, and listening to her breaths. Having her in his arms reminded him of the day he proposed, not long before he had to flee.

Robin was standing with her back against him, looking out over the city. Aokiji was spread lazy on the bed, reading a book, or at least trying. He was more studying Robin then the words in the book, as he tried to decide if he would act or not. He had the ring in his pocket, have had for a few days now. Although he felt like the right moment never represented itself, and he started to think it never would, and it was his way of delaying it since he was scared. Fear on this level was new to him, fighting someone wasn't as scary as willingly handling over yourself to someone this way. Aokiji took a deep breath, feeling now was as good as ever, they were alone, both in a good mood and the starts who were shining over the city, created a perfect atmosphere.

"Robin?" Aokiji slowly stood up, making his way over to the woman, who now have turned towards him, and just as the days before, he felt how his heart started to raise again, how he become nervous and how he wanted to back down. He closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath before he met Robin's gaze.
"I have never been good with speeches, so I will save you from one. Nonetheless I want to show you how much I love you" Aokiji reached inside his pocket, revealing the ring. "I admit I am no good at this part either, but nonetheless, will you marry me?"
For a second he saw a smile at Robin's face, and he felt how his own smile was formed, until she spoke.

"I can't do this to you anymore" she turned away from him, and Aokiji blinked a few times, not completely sure to what she meant.
"Robin…" he started but she interrupted him.
"It was a set up. I got the assignment to get information from you, so we staged it, the men who chased me was ordered to do so. I am far from the person you think I am, it's all an act. But I can't do it anymore. I should have ended it a long time ago, the same moment I fell in love with you. But I have been selfish, and lived in the dream longer then I should have. However, I can't let you do this, proposing to me, knowing nothing is real" Aokiji saw her tears falling down her cheeks, in the window reflections, however he did no attempt to move. Hearing her say those words made him cold, speechless and sorrowed. He didn't know how to react or what to think of it. Hearing that she had played him from the start, he couldn't describe how he felt.

"Who are you working for?" Aokiji needed to know, he needed to understand.
"Crocodile" he should have known, Crocodile was the only one who would have planned something like that.
"Why me?"
"Akainu would never let anyone close enough. Kizaru, let's just say that I am too old for his taste, and the wrong gender" Aokiji stared at here, he knew she was right about Akainu, the man getting more paranoid this days, but hearing that Kizaru was a paedophile surprised him. And if it was in another situation he would have had time to react to it.
"Why did you agree to it?" Aokiji wanted to know her motives.
"I am searching for some people, and Crocodile is my best option to find them. I give him information and I am free to use his resources as I feel fit." Aokiji heard a tone of sorrow in her voice, understanding that whoever she was looking for meant a lot to her.
"Why not come to the marines, instead of a criminal?" at those words Robin laughed a cold laugh, a laugh he had never heard before.
"The marines was where I started as a child, when they disappeared. That was when I met Akainu, and he sent me to an orphanage" Aokiji didn't answer her, knowing which orphanage she had most likely been sent to, the one Akainu sent every child he found. It was run by a man named Wapol, and he did as he pleased with the children. He mostly used them as slave, forcing them to make toys, and eating them when he felt like it. Hearing that, Aokiji had somewhat understanding to why Robin didn't come to the marines for help.

"And now you are going to run back to Crocodile, and handing over which information?" Aokiji despised the thought of Crocodile having information, not only on the marines, but most likely on him.
"Nothing. I have given him almost none, since I fell in love with you. I preferred him not having any personal information about you. And when it comes to the marines, I wouldn't tell him too much, afraid that he would use it to start a war with you, and killing you in the process"
"How awfully kind of you" Aokiji uttered the sarcastic words before he could hinder himself, to which Robin didn't response. Aokiji was unsure how to react to the women he loved, or he thought he loved? He still felt like he loved her, even if he knew that he shouldn't.
"Was it all a lie?"
"Not my feelings for you, but besides that, yes" she answered honestly. Aokiji didn't know if he should be happy to hear that her feelings were real, not when he knew that she had betrayed him like she did. But hearing her reasons, made it somewhat more understandable. However, it didn't help him knowing if he could ever trust her. Thinking those words surprised him, he shouldn't be thinking of trusting her again, he should kill her on the spot, but something hindered him. Slowly he walked back to the bed, and sank down, sighing. He heard how Robin was moving towards the door.
"Where are you going?" He didn't look at her.
"I am leaving, knowing all too well that you don't want to see me, unless you want to kill me, then I will not stop you" hearing her say those words made him cold, even if he should kill her, he knew that he couldn't, and he didn't want her to think that.
"I will not kill you" he almost whispered as Robin took another step. "Will you marry me?"

"Have you lost your mind?" he turned to face Robin, as she asked the question, and he was wondering the same thing, he must have had. "After what I just told you, you asked me to marry you anyway"
"I may have lost my mind, but I don't intend to lose you too" he sat up, looking at her, as she said nothing. "I am offering you a way out from Crocodile's gang, and a way to find the people you are looking for"
"Why?" Aokiji saw how she cried once more, but this time he walked over to her, and embraced her.
"Because I love you, and hearing that your feelings were real, means that I am not willing to threw this away. It's a risk I am willing to take"
"You are an idiot" Robin whispered into his chest, but he heard a tone of teasing in her voice, and he smiled.
"That I am" he admitted and Robin looked at him.
"I am an bigger idiot for letting you do this" she looked him in the eyes as she kissed him. "I will marry you"

Hearing her say those words made Aokiji think it would be alright, that he would be able to save her from Crocodile, and that he would be able to marry her. He didn't know if he got punished for believing happiness existed in this town, trusting Robin or thinking nothing worse would happen, but soon after that evening, everything went to hell, and fast. He didn't have time to say goodbye to Robin, all he had time to do was run, especially to keep Robin safe from Akainu and his men. But leaving her to believe he was dead, was something that he regretted every day, and if she let him, he would try to earn up for that mistake, every day he spent with her. He hugged her, where she was sleeping in his arms, and made a promise to protect her, and make the city a better place for her.