Rating: K+

Timeframe: Early time skip

Spoilers: Time skip shenanigans, Marineford, Luffy's backstory

AN: This was written before the Dressrosa arc, and has been partially jossed. Although I was kind of suprised that I was at least somewhat correct in my speculation.

Robin was very glad to see the white sands of Baltigo.

It wasn't that the crew weren't pleasant to interact with (she found them to be charming, for the most part), or that they were unhelpful in any way (quite the opposite, in fact), or even because she was back on the Grand Line (although if she were honest, she was very glad to be away from Tequila Wolf).

No, Robin reflected as a man in a squirrel mask waited on her, on the surface there was nothing wrong with being on a ship filled with overeager, awestruck, zealous Revolutionaries. Still, land was a welcome sight, even if it wasn't the striped roots of the Yarukiman mangrove and she wasn't going to reunite with her crew. For another two years. Not that she was upset about that, or anything.

Not at all.

"Can I get you something else, Miss Nico? Hot cocoa, a pillow? Coffee, anything at all?"

Robin smiled. It was like being on a ship full of Sanjis, although even Sanji at his worst found time in his day to do other things besides fawn. "No, thank you."

"O-okay! If you change your mind, I'll be right here. Don't hesitate to ask!"

Part of the problem was that Robin was unused to receiving so much attention. Well, so much positive attention. She found it disconcerting to be treated as if she were royalty. A small part of her understood, but for the most part Robin wished they would just stop. It was getting to the point where it wasn't even fun to tease them anymore. She wasn't some goddess to be worshiped or some holy relic waiting to be found.

And she certainly wasn't anybody's Light. That thought was laughably absurd.

Robin was pulled from her thoughts as the captain of the ship stepped by her side. Of all of them, he was the least grating. He turned to Robin and said with a smile, "Welcome to Baltigo, Miss Nico, home of the Revolution."

Once they docked, Robin was quickly hurried off of the ship and rushed to the Revolution's hideout. Even on their home base, it was unwise to spend much time out in the open. It was only when they reached the relative safety of the white cliffs that the crew relaxed. One even went so far as to laugh triumphantly, only to be playfully punched in the arm by one of his friends.

Feeling a pang of longing, Robin looked away. It was so irrational to miss her own crew so badly, especially since she knew they were safe. As safe as highly-wanted pirates could be, anyway. They would see each other again, worry was unproductive. One would think that after twenty years of drifting she would be able to handle the forced separation easily, but that simply wasn't the case. In the two months it took to go from the East Blue to the Grand Line she found herself thinking about them more, her anxieties nagging and grating. She felt like a mother hen.

Maybe that was another reason she was ready to reach her destination. Once she spoke to Dragon, Robin was sure to be able to keep herself busy, which was infinitely preferable to the idleness of her journey.

"This way, Miss Nico," the captain said, leading her through the intricately crafted tunnels of the cliffs. "The boss is already expecting you."

Robin followed, letting the stares their group gathered slide off her easily. She sprouted eyes and ears ahead, listening as word of her arrival spread through the base. People paused their work to watch her pass, and Robin heard the words Ohara, Light of the Revolution, and Last Archeologist swirl through the compound.

"Here we are, Miss Nico. And may I say it has been an honor traveling with you," the captain said, stopping at a large set of double doors.

"And you, Captain," Robin replied. "May your future endeavors be equally successful." She raised a hand to knock, only for the doors to swing open on their own. Suppressing an amused chuckle, she entered. It was finally time to meet Luffy's mysterious father.

Robin immediately grew wary as she stepped into the chambers. She could feel power circulating in the room, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It was a feeling she had only experienced a few times before: when Crocodile was devising his most devious schemes, Aokiji when he attacked Saul, Luffy in the tombs of Alabasta…

It was the sort of feeling that made Robin want to run away and hide.

"Nico Robin. We meet at last." Robin forced herself to look at the Revolutionary. He was a striking figure, his wild mane of black hair and tribal tattoo on his face contrasting starkly with his well-dressed and stoic appearance.

"I don't believe we've been formally introduced," Robin said evenly.

"No." There seemed to be the barest hint of regret in his voice. "Not for lack of trying. I am Dragon, Head of the Revolution."

"And my captain's father," Robin added.

He tilted his head in acknowledgement. "And Luffy's father, yes. Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

Robin took his invitation, but declined the tea he offered. Now that Dragon had actually spoken, the suffocating aura surrounding him dissipated slightly. Still, Robin didn't let her guard down. This was the most wanted man in the world.

After pausing to take a drink from his cup, Dragon looked at her intently. "Before we go any further, I would like to hear your side of the events that led to your capture at Tequila Wolf. I have received several reports, and the exact order of events seems…muddled."

For a moment Robin was lost in how eerily similar Dragon's gaze was to his son's. Then she blinked. "Of course. While at the Sabaody Archipelago, the Straw Hat Pirates were targeted by Admiral Kizaru. We were…outmatched. The Warlord Kuma appeared, and with the use of his Devil Fruit sent us from the archipelago. As I was the only member of my crew to go to Tequila Wolf, I can only assume we were sent to separate locations. Your people found me there, and I believe you know the rest."

Dragon leaned back in his seat, eyes distant. "I have received word from Emporio Ivankov that a man claiming to be Black Leg Sanji has mysteriously appeared on his Queendom. Luffy was last seen with The Knight of the Sea and the Dark King, so I can only assume he is in safe hands…" he trailed off.

"You don't seem all that surprised at Kuma's involvement," Robin said. "He's attacked the Straw Hats before."

"Hmm. But not killed you, I see."

Remembering Zoro's broken, bloody body, Robin suppressed a shiver. "Not quite, no."

"Allow me to be frank, Nico Robin. You've put me in a difficult position," Dragon said, drumming his fingers on his desk. "What exactly are your goals here?"

"Does it really matter?"

"It matters in that I can only disclose so much to people not part of the Revolution," he replied. "If you've come looking for answers, I'm afraid I might have to disappoint you."

"So I am allowed to leave," Robin said cautiously.

"Of course you're allowed to leave. What sort of man would I be if I interfered with another's freedom?"

There it was again, the barest impression of his son. Or would it be the other way around? "I see," Robin murmured thoughtfully. For a moment she imagined Luffy as stoic and serious as the man in front of her. The visual was unexpectedly humorous, and Robin had to clear her throat to keep from laughing.

One of Dragon's eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch. That did nothing to help her regain control of herself, and Robin laughed softly. "Forgive me, Dragon. It's just…you sounded remarkably like Luffy for a moment."

That seemed to throw him, although he hid it well and recovered quickly. "Good. He knows what's important, then."

"Indeed he does," Robin agreed. "Going back to your first question, I'd like to think that you have me on loan for two years."

"Two years."

"That is the time Luffy set. Captain's orders, you understand."

Dragon laughed. It was a surprisingly pleasant and genuine sound. "I understand. Two years…it's longer than I hoped for. I believe there is much we can learn from one another. To think, I've been searching for a decade only for Luffy to find you first. The strings of fate have an odd way of tangling themselves."

Thinking of the man with the D initial who had started on her journey, Robin nodded. She tried to imagine what it would be like to fight for Dragon and his cause. She probably would have done it, but for some reason the visual always gave way to images of the Straw Hats. They were the ones she belonged with, and Robin wouldn't have it any other way.

The den-den mushi on Dragon's desk rang, and with a murmured apology he answered. Robin did her best not to eavesdrop to the hushed conversation, and the words she did hear didn't make much sense. They were probably using code.

After a few minutes Dragon hung up, a small frown on his face. "I hate to cut our conversation short, but business has come up, and I'm sure you're tired from your journey. If you'd wait a moment, I'll have someone escort you to a guest bedroom until we can find more permanent lodgings."

"Of course, revolutions don't lead themselves."

He sighed. "No, they don't."

Suddenly the double doors opened, and a person entered. It was impossible to tell the sex underneath the heavy traveling cloak and bulky clothes, and the figure's face was covered with a porcelain mask. A top hat sat primly on the top of his head, and he leaned heavily against a wooden staff.

"Dragon." The voice was hoarse and undeniably male. "I've got those movements you wanted." He held up a yellow manila envelope.

"Set them on the desk, please. Agent, would you please escort Nico Robin to the guestrooms? I'll look over these and get back to you with further orders."

"Sir," the man said curtly, "I also have sensitive information for your ears only."

Dragon grunted. "Robin, could you please wait outside the door for a few moments? This shouldn't take long."

Rising fluidly, Robin took her leave. The agent ignored her entirely. Robin wondered why, not because it bothered her, but it was such a disparity from what she had seen so far out of the Revolutionaries. As soon as she passed through the threshold into the hallway, the double doors swung closed. Leaning against the wall, Robin watched the busy surroundings with sharp interest.

Robin waited for several minutes before her curiosity got the better of her. Discreetly sprouting an ear in a location where it hopefully wouldn't be seen, Robin listened in on Dragon's conversation with his strangely-dressed agent.

Just because the Revolution's leader was seemingly invested in her continued wellbeing didn't mean that Robin trusted him. Dragon was somehow connected with Kuma the Tyrant, and the Warlord had nearly killed Zoro on Thriller Bark. That wasn't an offence she forgave easily, nor was it one she let go simply because Kuma had intervened on their behalf on Sabaody. A million things could have gone wrong in separating the Straw Hat Pirates (in Luffy's case, a million things had gone wrong during the absence of his crew), and there had been no guarantee that a crew separated all around the world would ever be able to reunite.

Thinking of Sanji's predicament alone was enough for Robin to think that, if nothing else, Kuma had a twisted sense of humor.

So yes, Robin might like Dragon. And yes, she might find his cause to be worthy, enough so to ally herself with him for a time. But she didn't trust him. That honor was reserved for eight companions that just happened to be unavailable at the moment.

Settling into a bored expression, Robin concentrated on the conversation in the room behind her. It took a few seconds to adjust, but soon she could hear the hushed whisper of Dragon's agent.

"…No. There's more, isn't it?" The man's raspy voice was harsh. "I thought…I thought you would have done something. Anything! But no, you sat back and watched as the biggest turning point in living memory passed by."

"Ivankov and his men were an integral part of that battle," Dragon said soothingly. "The Revolution was well-represented in the Summit War."

"Because of your son! Not because of any move by its leadership. And now she's here, Dragon! How am I supposed to take this?"

"Just because things didn't turn out the way you wanted doesn't mean we were passive," Dragon said coldly, his tone indicating the subject was closed. "We can continue this conversation later. Right now there's someone waiting for you to take her to the guestrooms."

There was a rustle of cloth and a few muffled words Robin couldn't hear. "Fine. I just would have thought that after all this time my input would have mattered," the agent said angrily.

"Your input has always mattered. You just have to step back at let yourself see the big picture."

"The big picture? Forgive me sir, but when it comes to family that's just something I can't do."

The agent made his way down the corridors of the base as quickly as his prominent limp would allow. He made no effort to engage Robin in conversation and brushed off the companions who tried to approach them.

Finally the man opened the door to a small room. A worn, but comfortable looking, bed was tucked away in one corner. The bag containing the clothes the revolutionaries had provided had already been delivered. The space was quaint and cozy and not at all what she expected.

Robin went and picked up her bag. She didn't know how temporary these lodgings would be, but there were some things she could put away in any case. Feeling more relaxed than she had in days, Robin allowed herself a small smile.

A nervous cough sounded behind her. Dragon's agent was still in the room.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Robin asked politely. Hopefully no one thought that she needed baby sitting here, not in the middle of Revolution Headquarters.

The man scuffed the butt of his staff against the floor awkwardly. "Your captain…what's he like?"

"Fearless. Strong. Tenacious," Robin said airily. The descriptors were what could be found in every newspaper, yet they were the truth.

"Good," the man said quietly, his voice rougher than before. "He's a good man to sail with, then."

It wasn't a question, and Robin felt as if she was only getting half of the conversation. "Forgive me, Mr. Revolutionary, but I tend not to trust people when I can't see their face. It makes it very difficult to tell if you're being lied to. Why the sudden interest in Straw Hat Luffy?"

The room went deathly silent. Then the agent chuckled. He plucked off his top hat with one his gloved hands, exposing an inch of curly blond hair. Hesitantly he reached for his mask, and with one swift motion revealed his face.

"My name is Sabo. I suppose I have been a bit standoffish, haven't I?"

Robin stared at Sabo's face. A burn scar covered a good portion of the left cheek, disappearing down his neck and beneath his bulky clothing. It licked across the bridge of his nose and pulled his mouth into a permanent scowl. Luckily his eye seemed to be unaffected, but the red, inflamed tissue looked painful, even though the wound was obviously years old. A surge of pity tore through her. The wound might be old, but the man wearing it was not. Underneath the mask Sabo was a young adult, most likely in his early twenties.

"A bit," Robin finally said, "But even though you've shown me your face, Mr. Revolutionary, you haven't answered my question."

"Is it not enough for a member of the Revolution to be interested in the man who leads the famous Light?" he asked.

Lips quirking upward, Robin shook her head. "Not in this case."

Sabo sighed and replaced his mask and hat. "I suppose you plan on making things difficult for a cripple. Very well, Miss Nico. Would you allow me to make up for my previous rudeness? I could show you around a little before your next meeting with the boss."

"That would be pleasant," Robin agreed. Setting her bag back on the floor, she allowed herself to be led out of the room by the mysterious revolutionary.

Sabo guided Robin through the maze-like corridors of the base. He took her through a communications room full of den-den mushis of every variety imaginable, armories filled to the brim with the latest weaponry, war-rooms covered in maps, and every place in between. Between his limp and her recognizability it was slow going, and after being stopped a third time by a man wanting to know if she was the Nico Robin, Sabo seemed to be very annoyed.

"Come with me," he rasped, grabbing her by the elbow. Ducking around another group of people, Robin allowed herself to be led away from the busy interior of the hideout.

Slowly the twisting hallways narrowed, and they passed fewer and fewer people as they moved away from the heart of the cliffs. After a moment Robin realized they were on a gentle incline, and not long after that she could feel the fresh breeze on her face.

"We're going outside? Isn't that dangerous, Mr. Revolutionary?" Robin asked.

"Not quite. Just wait a moment, Miss Nico. You'll see soon."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, until a door came into view. Sabo increased his pace, beating her to the door. He pulled out a set of keys from somewhere on his person, picked one, and inserted it into the lock.

"It's no pirate ship, Miss Nico, but I do find the view to be nice nonetheless."

The revolutionary held open the door, leading to a small outcropping. Robin cautiously walked through the door, and found herself immediately impressed. The rocks overshadowed the ledge in a way where it would be nearly invisible from the outside, while giving a perfect spot to observe for incoming enemies.

And, as Sabo said, the view was nothing to sneeze at. There was not a cloud in the sky. White-rock cliffs gave way to natural white beaches, and the ocean was a beautiful crystal-blue.

"Very nice, if you're not scared of falling to your death," Robin agreed quietly.

"We try to discourage that here," Sabo said, and Robin could hear the smile on his voice. "So, am I forgiven yet, or am I to grovel for a while longer?"

"You haven't done any groveling," Robin said through a laugh. "And I don't think Dragon would like it if he knew you were showing off all the Revolution's secrets. Information can be a powerful thing."

"Well, the boss can get stuffed, because I don't really care. We're all free men here. I can do what I want."

Robin glanced at him sidelong. "That's a very dangerous thing to say about the most wanted man in the world. Besides, you're just trying to butter me up so I will tell you more information about my captain."

"Is it that obvious?" Sabo asked, sliding to the floor. He stretched his bad leg, letting out a small grunt as he did so. "I take it you're still not telling?"

"I've always been told not to talk to strangers, Mr. Revolutionary. It's nothing personal, but I see no benefit in divulging possibly sensitive information."

"We're all friends here. Hell, my boss is your captain's dad!"

"You could be a double agent," Robin countered.

That elicited a bark of a laugh. "Okay, if that's how you think, how about we take turns? I'll go first. I've been under Dragon's wing for ten years, and I'm not a mole."

Robin cocked an eyebrow. "How very persistent of you, Mr. Revolutionary. Very well, the captain stormed Enies Lobby and declared war on the World Government."

"See, now that's just not fair. Everyone knows that."

"I'm a pirate. We don't play fair."

"Jeez, fine. Hmm…I sometimes get to do undercover work as a hobo," Sabo offered.

"Really?" Robin asked, surprised.

"Yeah. If you want to figure out the condition of a country's heart, go look at how they treat their poor and disabled. It's…enlightening."

They went back and forth for a while, forcing Robin to come up with increasingly creative descriptions for Luffy that didn't actually mean anything at all. She learned a quite a bit about Revolution policy and Sabo. Still, it felt like they were playing a dangerous game, and Robin was doing her utmost to not make the first mistake.

Despite her misgivings, Robin made sure that nothing she said was a true lie. If she was to spend the next two years with these people, she wanted to start off on the right foot.

"…So you see, Ivankov was in Impel Down for quite some time before Luffy broke him out of prison," Sabo finished. "Dragon didn't actually send anyone to Marineford for the battle."

"That must have been very frustrating for you," Robin murmured.

"What do you mean?" he asked sharply.

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "If Whitebeard had been successful it would have been a crushing blow to the marines and devastating for morale around the world. The Revolution could have used that to their advantage. Instead, an Emperor and his trusted lieutenant are dead and the marines look stronger than ever."

A harsh noise tore from Sabo's throat at the mention of Fire Fist Ace. "I should have been there." He looked down at his leg. "I should have known..."

Alarmed at the sudden change in conversation, Robin paused. "I wish I could have been present as well, but sometimes there are circumstances that are beyond our control."

"You understand," Sabo said, his hoarse voice thick with emotion. "You know. I don't think anyone else does, not even Dragon. I didn't want them to get hurt. I didn't want him to die."

It nearly impossible to detect his body language through his heavy clothing and his face was hidden, but Robin knew what pain he was talking about. The horrible helplessness, the sleepless worry, the tearing anguish…Robin was familiar with it all. She didn't know what Sabo's connection was to Fire Fist Ace or Luffy, but it was obvious he was hurting. Ideally he should be finding solace with someone who wasn't a complete stranger, but they were alone and he would have to make due with her.

Robin wished Nami were here, or Luffy, or even Franky. Anyone but her. She had no experience comforting people and had no idea what she was supposed to do.

Maybe Sabo didn't need comfort. Maybe he just needed some understanding.

"It doesn't always hurt so badly," she said quietly. "Fire Fist died protecting what he loved, and while I didn't meet him in person my crew did, and they said he was quite devoted to his brother."

Sabo choked back a sob. He pulled of his mask to rub his eyes and laughed. "Yes he was."

Sitting down in respectful silence, Robin looked out to the sea. Light reflected off the ocean, making her eyes smart. She allowed Sabo time to gather himself again, without pressing for more information. She was sure she could have taken advantage of his emotional state to dig out his exact connection to her captain, and in years past would have done just that. But now Robin could only remember when her crew had respected her desire for privacy, never asking questions about the past even when they had every right to do so.

After several long minutes Sabo sniffed for a final time and put on his mask. He looked up at her and said in a grateful tone, "Thank you."

"Did you have a good rest?" Dragon asked later in the evening, once they had gotten the chance to talk again.

"Not exactly. Your agent took me on a tour, and I enjoyed the view from one of your observation windows," Robin replied.

Dragon paused, the barest crease forming between his eyebrows. "Did everything go alright?"

"Oh yes, Sabo was very helpful. We talked a great deal, and there were some things I think I would like to look into while I'm here."

Leaning forward intently, a smirk spread across Dragon's face.

"I'm listening."

AN: This is for Sterla Etnae, who holds the somewhat dubious honor of pushing this story over 100 reviews (by the way, 100 reviews? You guys are all awesome). The prompt: Robin/Dragon interaction at Baltigo, with some alive!Sabo thrown into the mix. Also, because of pure coincidence, I realize it's basically been one year since I've started this. Looking back, I think I've leveled up my writing skills a few times since then, lol.

I hope you all enjoyed!