Robin's eyes were locked with Zoro's, his face inches from hers, his breath warm on her cheek. He cradled her head in one hand as his other massaged her breast. She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist as she felt the urgency building deep in her core. She closed her eyes as she arched against him; he buried his face in her neck, groaning as they came together, shuddering with the release. Zoro pressed into her, sending shivers up her spine, meeting the waves of ecstasy. She gripped his back, fingers exploring the firm muscles, the sheen of sweat. At last, as the intense pleasure subsided, and the calmer pleasure of the here and now descended on them, Robin loosened her grip on him. Zoro kissed her, at the delicate spot where her neck and shoulder met. Robin smiled in satisfaction; Zoro cupped her face in his hand. "I love you, Nico Robin," he whispered as his body parted with hers. Robin felt the loss and snuggled close to him to make up for it.
"And I love you, swordsman."
Zoro moaned and threw himself onto his back in the bed, tired from lovemaking with a woman who had a thousand hands at her disposal…a thousand anything. He pulled Robin to him, his arm around her, and as she looked up at him with loving eyes, he thought he could kiss her a hundred thousand times and not grow tired of it.
The events of the past two months had changed all of them. They had been to the brink of hell, had escaped and come back together stronger for it. Nami rarely dwelt on her experience, but there were times that her eyes took on a frightened look, and Sanji was more than happy to lead her away from the others, to a quiet place where they could talk, she could cry, and he could hold her until her tears quelled. If they did anything else behind closed doors, Zoro didn't know of it, and Robin didn't tell.
Tsulle had grown from a terrified, objectified creature into a carefree and playful girl again; Franky felt her loss keenly and had sobbed openly when they'd brought her back to the farming villages of Ellenze Island, returning her to her relieved family. Her parents had tried to thank the Straw Hats for rescuing their beloved daughter, but the pirates would have none of it. They had enjoyed their time with Tsulle, would miss her dearly, and promised her again and again that there would always be a place for her on board the ship if she got a wanderfoot once more and wanted time away from quiet farm life. Tsulle laughed, hugging her parents. "I don't think I'll ever leave again," she grinned through her happy tears. "Thank you all, for everything."
Zoro and Robin had changed too. Knowing that Zoro was there for her, always, had softened Robin's heart in a way that had not existed since she had been a child. Likewise, knowing that she was strong enough and fully recovered, yet still needed him, had reassured Zoro that he was more than a caregiver, nursemaid, or guardian. She loved him. Tenderly, Zoro looked down at Robin, meeting her sleepy gaze. "Nakama," he whispered.
She nuzzled him warmly, fitting her head just beneath his chin, body folded against his. "Always," she whispered back.