Kind of an in between chapter, but I'm a fan.

Chapter 13

Delta was bored. The Red Line, or at least the part that lead directly to the New World, was very far away. Since it was the East Blue, with calm waters and little to no violent opposition, they were moving right along at a pretty fast speed, but even still, it would be another few weeks before they ever reached that enormous piece of land.

And life was so monotonous on board their little vessel. Wake up, eat, sleep, day in and day out, only ever stopping when running short on supplies or the money was starting to run out.

He grinned at the thought. Those were the times when life was most exciting- when he, Terry, and Robin all had to work together to find and incapacitate some petty criminal with a bounty to their liking.

The way Delta ate, the periods between money searching were never long. But what was finally starting to catch up to them, something Delta hadn't even considered, was the simple fact that in East Blue, there really weren't all that many notorious criminals with (relatively) high bounties.

Or at least, they were getting harder to find on the drop of a hat.

It was a tedious life, not one particularly suited for the likes of Delta. He needed more adventure, more intrigue than this. He needed something to do.

He was lying on the ground behind the helm, staring blankly at a vague, bland map of the Blue Seas- nothing that even came close to Nami's version, when it hit him.

Delta's eyes widened, and he sat up suddenly. Adventure was so close, how hadn't he seen it before? They were practically right next to it.

-o0O0o-

"Robin, I have a question." Delta's voice sounded out behind her.

She turned around. He was sitting up, intently looking at her map of the Seas. He seemed almost excited. It was odd. The last time she'd seen her captain anything like this was when they'd first met. Since then, his spark of joy had felt more like a fizzle than the fireworks display on Mango Island. It made her strangely happy for him.

"Yes, Captain?" she asked. "What is it?"

"Do you know where the nearest large military base is?"

She had not been expecting that. They didn't have bounties to turn in on board, did they? No, she would have noticed. Robin regularly inspected the place, top to bottom, unbeknownst to Delta or Terry. Not that she didn't trust them, she did to a point, but old habits and old paranoia die hard.

"Not off the top of my head," Robin said, smiling. "If I may ask, why?"

"We're going on an adventure."

"Ah. But are we not already sailing for the Sea Sea Fruit? Has there been a change of plans?"

Delta shook his head. "No, no, that's still what I've decided to do, but adventures need more than just a destination and getting there. They need sidetracks and things to happen; interesting, unusual things."

Robin couldn't deny that though peaceful, these past few weeks had been… dull, to say the least. The most interesting part of it all so far was Delta himself, enigma that he was. The enigma she still couldn't crack.

"I see," Robin said. "And you plan to make our trip more… adventurous."

Delta nodded emphatically. "So we gotta' find an island and see what they know. We gotta' go information hunting."

"Alright."

"But what should our information hunting team name be called?" Delta asked aloud, holding a hand to his chin.

Robin didn't ask. He had a habit of saying things she didn't understand. Some were interesting and deserved more looking into, and some were… well, things like that.

"Info Hunters? No, that's way too obvious. There have to be like a billion of those in the world. The Searchers? But then how would anyone know what we were searching? Lowdown hoedown? Um, ignore that. Coop the Scoop? Knowledge Thirst? Uh.."

For whatever reason, Delta kept on like that, forming increasingly obscure and irrelevant titles for an imaginary organization, all while she sailed onward, hoping to find an island soon. Maybe that would get him interested enough to stop…

Where was Terry to deal with this? Normally, the mustache man was enough to keep Delta's attention, but he was nowhere to be found.

She sighed. Right. He was forced below deck by Delta, a temporary punishment brought on when at the last island they stopped, he ordered a drink at some bar.

That drink turned into two, into three, and well, Robin wa there. The results were not pretty, night ending with Delta pulling Terry by his collar onto the ship while the drunkard shouted obscenities. Not even good obscenities, just whatever came to his mind. Needless to say, Delta was justifiably upset.

But at this moment, Robin really wished the timeout would end already. How such a stupid person could get so powerful was beyond her.

At the same time, the stupidity was at times slightly adorable, not that she would admit it. Ever. And even though Delta was older than her, he at times felt like a stupid kid brother with an alarmingly chiseled face. She didn't know how to feel about the Caption, and that was hard to deal with.

"...Information Gathering Council? Too long. Needs to role off the tongue. Organization for the Search of Finding? Wait, that's even longer…"

And other times, his stupidity really was just stupid.

-o0O0o-

Delta unbolted the door to Terry's quote on quote "prison cell."

It was for his own good. The only drunkard pirate captains Delta had ever met were complete and utter garbage, the crew of Rock Lee the pirate, or Blackbeard.

So in the case of the latter, even less than utter garbage. Hm, maybe that was why Delta hated Terry's drinking so much. But he hadn't thought even a smidge about Teach for… had to be years, at least. Maybe it was subconscious?

Oh god, Blackbeard was alive again. Now that was a hard pill to swallow. He hadn't thought about it, but… damn it.

He shook his head a little. No time to think about that at the moment. He rapped the door a couple times before opening it.

"Terry, your punishment is over. Come on out, we're on an island."

"We need money again?" Terry asked from somewhere. No sign of movement. "Our last stop was when I, you know, right? And it hasn't been…" Silence descended upon the lower deck. "How long has it been? Is this a relativity thing? Has it been years for you and days for me? Shit, shit, shit, what year is it?" He yelled that last part, and the sound of scrambling and bumping boxes echoed through.

Terry burst out of the shade, head and facial hair worn and disheveled, looking like he was about to have a heart attack. His eyes took in Delta's form. His breathing evened out. "Okay, you look not old. That's- that's good. Phew." A exhaled a harsh laugh. "Don't scare me like that again, Delty. Please."

Delty?

"We're at an island. Come on." Delta turned on his heel, disliking the thought of stepping into whatever rabbit hole Terry had found himself in.

"Right, right, yeah. Island. Love those."

Delta jumped off the side of the ship with a woop, handily sticking the landing. Robin and Terry walked off the boarding ramp like normal, boring, people.

Delta looked around at the dock. Town looked quiet enough- marine presence was small enough that they could dock right in front without a care in the world.

And besides them and a few other fishing and merchant ships, the dock was mostly empty, except for…

"I've seen that ship," Delta muttered. "Don'know where or how, but I have." That was happening more and more often- vague familiarities that were barely there on the tip of his tongue, but similarly so far away. With time progressing as it was, he figured it was going to get more common.

"Hm, Delty? What'd you say?" Terry asked, sidling up beside him.

"Oh, nothing really. Just thinking."

"About what, Captain?" Robin asked, coming up on the other side.

"What is this, an interrogation?" Delta said, suddenly annoyed.

"Hey, calm down. No need to be testy." Terry pointed at the ship. "Looked like you were staring at that boat over there. Mean something to you?"

"No, nothing."

Terry's eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned to get a better view of the vessel. "Thing looks a little dumpy to me. Hasn't been cleaned for ages." He looked over at Robin. "You'd think that the ocean would do the cleaning for you, being water and all, but no. Without proper care, a ship could easily turn into… well, that." He pointed back at the ship.

Robin smiled. "Thank you for the information, Terry-san."

"Yeah, no problem."

"Pot calling the kettle black, I think," Delta interjected.

Terry frowned. "What, no. No." He took in the sight of their ship. His lips pursed. "No. No." His head hung. "We're terrible pirates."

"Correction," Delta said. "You're a terrible pirate."

"What! Why only me?" He pointed an accusing finger. "You and Nico Robin are on the ship as often!"

Delta shook his head. "Not the same. Robin and I already have responsibilities. I, being captain, need to do my captain duties, and Robin, being navigator, needs to navigate."

Terry's mouth dropped. "But- but- but you barely do anything! We don't need a captain when there's only three people!"

"Every ship needs a captain. And I'm always captain of my ships."

Terry's outrage was not quelled. "Are you seriously saying I do nothing? I can't believe this! I cook!"

He had a point. Terry did cook. Delta pursed his lips. "Huh."

"He got you, Captain," Robin said, smiling. And it was real. He loved the real ones.

"Yeah, I know." Delta sighed. "Gotta' admit, I did put up a good fight."

"That you did."

Terry's eyes were wide. His arm lifted to his head, fingers curling into his locks. "Where am I? What is happening? When did you all go to Crazy Town? Gah!" He started walking away, towards the point of contention, the ship.

"Should we go get him, apologize maybe?"

"I have nothing to apologize for," Robin said.

"Silence is compliance, Robin. You know that. Which makes you an accomplice."

She was quiet. "Now it seems you've gotten me."

Terry continued storming down the dock, not slowing down his stomping in the slightest.

And then five people in brightly colored outfits stormed out from behind some building, grabbed him, and threw him onto the beat up ship that was still seated at the top of his tonsils.

The five people then climbed on board and ducked down below the ships risking, out of sight. A few seconds later, Terry was thrown back off the ship and onto the dock, tied up in a neat little bow. Like an old timey woman on the train tracks.

The five people jumped back off the ship and surrounded Terry, then looked at Delta and Robin. Even far away, he could make out that they had all grinned maniacally.

Bright outfits, the ship, even worn, looked to have remnants of a bright purple and orange… so familiar.

"That was unexpected," Delta said.

"Completely."

"Should we go beat them up?"

"Obviously, but…" Robin trailed off.

Delta snickered, hiding his smile with a hand. "It's pretty funny, right?"

Robin couldn't hold off a faint grin at Terry's state. They had to have bound his mouth- it was the only way he would stay so quiet about this.

"And besides the tying up, it doesn't look like they're really hurting him," Delta reasoned. "If we went to search out some info, he'd forgive us, right?"

"So cruel, Captain."

He put his hands on his side. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go get him. Hey, these guys are probably known criminals, maybe they know where the nearest military base is!"

"Genius."

Delta and Robin started walking toward the men and Terry. "It looks like they have a theme," he said under further inspection."It seems almost like… no way."

Out from the spot where the five men had first popped, came that unforgettable mug. The captain. Light teal pants, red striped shirt, orange hat, orange cloak, and last but not least, a big… red… nose… it could only be-

He stopped in between them and Terry, arms hidden within the draping cape. "It is too late to run, weaklings. All you can do now is tremble before me, the feared… Buggy the Clown!"

No way. So familiar. But bright had been the wrong word. He meant to say flashy.

Buggy grinned, ruby red lips shining in the sunlight. "I see you've heard of me, little one," he boasted. "I can tell by that look in your eye. That look of fear!"

And that was enough to break Delta from his reverie. "Little one? I think we're like, very similar ages."

"Bah!" Buggy waved his hand dismissively. "Keep quiet, little runt, or we'll kill your friend!"

Delta paused. Threatening crew mates, even if it was Terry, was never okay. Buggy was on thin ice. Again.

The perpetual clown completely misinterpreted Delta's action. "Yes, you don't want him to be hurt, do you?" Buggy laughed. It sounded awful. "Maybe I can propose a trade…"

"Why trade?" Robin asked. "None of your goons are very close to our crew member. With how out of shape you all look, I believe that I could get to him before any of you."

The guys behind Buggy glared daggers at her, mean scowls plastered on their faces. Buggy's face looked even worse. He seemed just about ready to blow a gasket.

"You dare insult the feared Buggy Pirates? We are feared throughout the seas, woman! I have a five million beri bounty!"

What was with weak pirates and flaunting their bounties to the world? It was a little sad.

He growled, shaking in rage. Robin watched on passively.

And suddenly, Buggy's entire countenance changed. His grin was malicious, eyes gleaming with superiority once more. "Boys, go back to the ship. You're not needed."

Robin raised an eyebrow. Right, she didn't know Buggy. This was a first time meet and greet for those two.

Still glaring, the five followed orders and got back on board. From there, they continued to watch how it would go down.

"You are mistaken, woman. You believe that I've kept my distance, that death does is not mere centimeters away from your friend. Ha! Wrong!"

He leaned to the side and gripped the orange cope, wildly throwing it to the side. "Flashy reveal!" His arms were pointed forward. One hand was there, and the other was not. Instead of a hand was a flat piece of skin on his wrist.

Robin raised an eyebrow.

Buggy's grin stayed strong. "You do not yet understand the danger you've fallen into, I see. Well beware, for I, Buggy the Clown, have eaten the Chop Chop Fruit! With it, I can remove and reposition any and every part of me with ease!"

His crew was cheering. "You may believe I'm missing a hand, but that is wrong! So, so, wrong, you fools! No, my hand, holding a knife, has been simply detached from my arm and now resides right by your friends neck! He is moments from death!"

Delta rolled his eyes. Robin looked vaguely confused by Buggy's actions. He still hadn't even revealed why he'd done this in the first place. And frankly, the answer was probably to exchange him for beri but Delta didn't really care at the moment. Buggy was becoming obnoxious.

So he moved.

"You mean this hand?" Delta asked from behind Buggy, grasping the wildly flapping hand in his fingers. The knife lay abandoned on the ground. Terry looked extremely pissed.

Of course he meant that hand. Delta didn't even wait for Buggy to realize what had happened and turn around- he snapped up beside the clown and kicked him in the gut.

Buggy smashed through a stone wall. Oops. Delta did not mean to kick that hard. He dropped the now limp hand and started to untie Terry.

Whatever. Not like the kick killed him or anything.

It took longer than he wanted to admit to get Terry's bondage undone; whatever their faults, those five goons were quite the talented knotters.

Speaking of the goons, when he turned around, all of them were frozen in place on board the ship, Robin's arms covering each of them, holding them taut.

Each and every one had real fear in their eyes, along with a hint of disbelief. Yes, Delta handed it to himself, they were a bit above any level these people had ever seen in their lives. For all they knew, Buggy's devil fruit may as well have been the strongest one of all.

Delta cracked his knuckles and smirked. The men collectively shuddered. "So, I'm looking for a big military base. Something big enough for a large prison. Got any ideas where I could find a place like this?"

The men were silent, frozen in terror.

Delta slowly straightened his shoulders, eyes darkening. "Well?"

And that was all the interrogation they needed.

-o0O0o-

The island trip had been a glowing success, all things considered. They couldn't have been on the island for more than twenty minutes, they hadn't needed to suspiciously ask random people in the streets, and Robin had learned a little more about her oddball captain.

He could be scary if necessary.

Still, looking at him splayed limply on the deck beside Terry, it was hard to equate him to anything other than silly. In a good way.

The nearest large marine base, or the nearest one those goond could accurately direct to, was closer than she'd expected, a day away, max. As to why she was sailing toward a marine base, disregarding every single one of her survivalist instincts, she didn't know. Delta was playing his cards very close to his chest. Robin just hoped he at least had cards to hold. If they walked into a marine base without any plan whatsoever, she was not going to forgive him. Even if she really enjoyed his presence.

"You could have been faster, y'know," Terry said down below as he stared up at the slowly darkening sky.

"You already told me," Delta responded. "And I already said I was sorry."

"Doesn't automatically make it alright, though. Sorry's can't always fix mistakes."

"Hmph." A lopsided smirk crawled onto Delta's face. "Ain't that the truth."

"Stop trying to sound like an old wise man. It doesn't work."

"I'll hit you."

Terry pulled himself into a sitting position. Twisting around, he called to Robin, "Hey Nick-o Roe-bane, come on down! You can lay on the deck too! It'll be a fucking party!"

That… sounded more tempting than she wanted to admit. Side note: there was something odd about this ship and the number of admissions she wanted hidden away.

Delta yawned. "Down be dumb, Terry. Robin doesn't do stuff like that. She's too cultured and stuff."

"You ever asked?" Terry asked.

Delta was quiet for a moment, as if thinking hard about that question. Robin so desired to know what was happening within his mind. Finally, he answered. "I- I think so. Pretty sure."

Terry was dismissive. "Well I haven't heard it, so. Anyway, Roe-bane, whaddaya say? Feel like busting a groove on the ground?" He twisted his shoulders a bit for emphasis.

"Sure."

She said sure. Why has she done that? It was so unlike her. The wind was calm, though, so it'd be fine. Against any rational thought, Robin felt herself stand up and walk down to the main deck. She awkwardly stopped in front of the two boys. What was she supposed to do now?

Terry recognized her struggle. "You just gotta' lay down. Not hard, really. Doesn't really matter where you go, but I'd suggest keeping your untouchables away from Captain Delty. He's a bit of a perv, you see."

Robin smiled while Delta yelled out in defense. Slowly, she lowered herself onto the ground beside them. The wood was warmer than she was expecting, and coupled with the heat of the setting sun, it really wasn't all that bad.

The sky was beautiful. She couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed it like this. Maybe it never happened.

"I told you she'd participate," Terry said with an air of superiority. "Only have to ask."

"Mm."

Robin didn't know what to do with her arms as they laid limply at her sides. She didn't really care.

-o0O0o-

Be prepared for next chapter. It's gonna' be fun.