Timeframe: AU, sequel to chapter 28
Rating: T to be safe for some language
Spoilers: No
The final bell rang. Twenty-three students stuffed textbooks, pens, and paper into their bags and rushed out the door. The noise rose to a dull roar as everyone talked about their plans for spring break. Perona's family was taking her on a haunted castle tour. Vivi was going to the capital with her father for a government function. Urouge was helping out at a local temple. Repeat, ad nauseam.
Only one student held back. Robin put her things away slowly, avoiding the rush and trying to convince herself she wasn't stalling. For the first time in her life she had plans for spring break, just like everyone else. She had no idea what to expect and was sure it would turn into a disaster.
Spending the weekend at a friend's house should not be this nerve wracking.
"There you are!" Robin looked up to the doorway to see Nami grinning at her mischievously. "Hurry up. We're going to miss the bus."
Robin slung her bag over her shoulder. It was too late to back out. Her aunt wasn't expecting her till Monday, and she hadn't signed up to stay at school for the break. It was now or never. Pushing her worry down, she forced a weak smile of her own.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
Nami lived in a small town Robin had never heard of before the start of the school year. Cocoyashi only had a population of a few thousand people, and most of the economy centered around outlying farms. Apparently Nami's mother tended to an orange grove, and her older sister helped in addition to attending a local community college part time. The family didn't have much money, and Nami had drilled into Robin's head again and again that they would probably be bored out of their skulls because there was nothing to do.
The two girls chatted as the bus took them out of the city and into the countryside. It was hard to imagine how much her life had changed in the few short months she had been friends with Monkey D. Luffy and his gang. There was a still a faction at school set on making her life a misery, and more still that would attack their group as a whole, but Robin knew that whatever happened things would turn out okay. She wasn't alone anymore.
They had almost reached their destination when Nami fell silent. She was obviously uneasy, impatiently tapping one foot as she looked out the window.
"Are you all right?" Robin asked.
"To be honest, I don't know. I've never had anyone come over before," she admitted.
The thought had never crossed Robin's mind. Nami was reasonably popular and friendly with most everyone in the girl's dorm. It had never occurred to Robin that this might be an equally uncomfortable situation for her friend. It was nice to know that the outgoing, confident Nami was experiencing some of the same nervousness she was, and it was an honor to be the first one to come to her home.
"That's okay," Robin reassured her. "I've never spent the night at anyone's house, either."
"Yeah, well, I'm sorry if my mom goes a little crazy." At the sight of Robin's confused look, the twinkle returned to Nami's eyes. "Oh, don't worry. You'll see what I mean in a little bit."
Nami's mother met them at the bus stop in a town about thirty minutes away from Cocoyashi. At once Robin understood what Nami meant. Everything about Miss Bellemere—from the orange paint job on her old, beat up car to the strange hairdo that no one in Robin's neighborhood would be caught dead wearing—exuded personality. Miss Bellemere greeted the two girls with her hands in her pockets and a cigarette hanging from her lips. It didn't take long for Robin to figure out where Nami got her temperament.
"Hey, kiddo," she said with a smile as she scuffed Nami's head.
"Bellemere!" Nami protested, batting the hand away.
"Ah, my bad," Miss Bellemere said, a wicked glint in her eye. "My baby girl is too grown up to give her mother a proper greeting after being gone for months."
"Mom!"
Robin watched the exchange in fascinated silence. As they walked away from the bus stop, it was almost like she was a spectator at a tennis match. Volleys of playful barbs and backdoor insults were batted back and forth with no signs of stopping until they finally they reached the car and stood at a sort of impasse. Miss Bellemere doused her cigarette before pulling her daughter into a bone crushing hug.
"Welcome home. I've missed you."
"Don't get used to it. I'm only here for a week."
"I love you too."
A loud honk brought the exchange to an abrupt stop. A blue-haired girl that had to be Nami's sister stuck her head out of the car window. "The sappy reunion can wait; there's food in the oven. Besides, I think you're scaring off Nami's friend."
"As if a friend of Nami's could be scared so easily!" Miss Bellemere declared as she pulled out of the hug. She gave Robin a big wink. "Besides, I think after all the grey hairs she's given me over the years I've more than earned the right to embarrass her in front of her friends."
"Mom!"
Robin hid a smile as she got into the little car. She had very little to go on, but she thought she rather liked Nami's family.
Nami did indeed live out in the middle of nowhere. There was open space and lots of green and the smell of fresh air. Ohara wasn't the biggest of cities—it couldn't hold a candle to Lougetown or Marineford—but it was a bustling metropolis compared to Cocoyashi.
Then, on top of it all, Nami's house was in the countryside, miles away from town. Robin knew that Nami's rural background chaffed the orange-haired girl, who often lamented how Cocoyashi lacked everything necessary for survival in the modern world.
That wasn't to say that Nami hated where she came from. As she gave Robin a quick tour of the house and surrounding groves it was obvious that she had plenty of fond memories of home, despite the hardship she had grown up in. But the "hick" stereotype was a hard stigma to shake, and no matter how well Nami kept up with the latest fashions or how well she did in her classes there were a few would never give her a second look despite her talents. For someone who liked being liked, it was a hard reality to accept.
"And that's everything," Nami said, plopping herself underneath a tree. "There isn't much too it, but it's home."
"It's wonderful," Robin said. "You can see for miles."
"Not that there's much to see," Nami said ruefully. "I will admit, there's nothing quite like watching a storm build on the horizon. You haven't lived till you've chased a tornado."
"I think I'll pass."
"And miss out on the adventure?"
Robin tried to picture driving through a storm with Miss Bellemere at the wheel. She shook her head and chuckled. "I think that's too much adventure for me."
The sound of the door to the house opening and closing cut off Nami's response. She turned her head, and grinned as her sister ran towards them. "Hey, Nojiko."
"Hello, midgets. Whaddya say we go for a drive to kill some time?"
"First off, I'm pretty sure Robin's taller than you are. Secondly, I thought you said it was almost time to eat."
"I exaggerated," Nojiko said with a smirk. "Anything to stop you and mom from embarrassing yourselves in public."
"Aw, shut up," Nami said as she stood. "I'm game if Robin wants to go."
"I'd enjoy that," Robin said politely.
"Good deal. Bellemere says as long as I pay for gas money and we're back in forty-five minutes she doesn't care where we go. You know what that means, sis?"
"Awesome!" Nami exclaimed, taking off in a sprint towards Bellemere's car. "Let's go right now!"
"Er, what does that mean?" Robin asked.
"It means we're going on the back roads for a little driving practice."
In the ten minutes it took to get to the gravel road that was truly isolated, even in the middle of nowhere, Robin went from being mildly apprehensive to anxious enough that her inner thoughts began to sound uncomfortably like Usopp.
She had never driven before in her life, and knew for a fact that Nami wasn't old enough to have a student's permit, let alone a license. What they were planning on doing was illegal and more serious than the pranks the group played at school. If they were caught they would get Nojiko in trouble, maybe Miss Bellemere as well. Worse, Robin's school scholarship was very conditional in nature, with a rider that basically stated if she were to be caught doing anything that looked even remotely suspicious then it wouldn't be renewed for the next year.
Without that scholarship Robin would have no way to pay for the Academy's astronomical tuition, and without the diploma from such a prestigious institution her dreams would only become more impossible. It was bad enough at school, where Robin rarely participated in Luffy's shenanigans preferring to help orchestrate them instead, but this was almost criminal…
Nami had no such inhibitions. Nojiko hadn't even come to a complete stop before she opened the door and ran over to the driver's side. "Come on, come on, come on! We're on a time limit here!"
"Relax. You'd think you've never done this before."
"I've been stuck at school for months, thank you very much! You can't imagine how…cramped is there." Nami put the car into drive and shot down the road, kicking up a plume of white dust behind them. She grinned at her sister, one hand sitting lazily on top of the steering wheel and the other hanging out of the open window. She looked at Robin through the rearview mirror. "Just ask Robin. She had to share a dorm with a bunch of rich assholes all year."
"That's the city for you," Nojiko said, adjusting her headband to keep her hair from whipping in front of her eyes.
"Yeah, well just wait until this summer. Bellemere promised to sign me up for driver's ed, and then I won't have to go out with losers like you," Nami said playfully as she expertly navigated the loose gravel.
"And have the joy of paying for gas."
"I'll get my own car…"
"Add on payments…"
"And go wherever I wanna go…"
"Probably insurance too…"
Nami laughed. "You are such a party pooper."
"That's my job, sis. Hey, how about you give your friend a chance behind the wheel? Talk about being a good host."
"Oh, no, I couldn't…" Robin stammered, eyes widening.
"Aw, come on, Robin!"
"I don't even know how—" The thought wasn't even out of Robin's mouth before Nami came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. She turned in her seat, looking at Robin in shock.
"You've never driven?" she asked incredulously.
Robin raised an eyebrow a fraction of an inch. "Why would I need to? I take the bus everywhere."
"Poor city slicker," Nojiko said sadly, although she was still smiling. "Okay Nami, now you're obligated to initiate Robin in the ways of true adulthood. Get your butt in the back and let Robin drive."
"But, Nojiko…" Nami whined.
"I can't…" Robin said at the same time.
"Nope, no excuses. Robin's going to drive us back home, hopefully before we all starve to death."
Driving wasn't so bad, once she got used to it. Luckily Bellemere's old junker wasn't a stick shift, so there were fewer things Robin had to concentrate on as she went down the gravel road at a much slower pace than Nami had.
Nami had been born to drive, Nojiko kindly explained as they went along. Before she had been big enough to reach the pedals, Bellemere had allowed her girls to sit on her lap and steer—which seemed highly irresponsible, in Robin's opinion—and Nami had taken it like a duck to water. Four wheelers, dirt bikes, even motorcycles, there was nothing she couldn't handle.
The knowledge that Nami was so mechanically minded certainly brought her friendship with Franky into a new light, but Robin quickly realized she wasn't so talented. She gripped the wheel with both hands, her knuckles white, and focused only on the road ahead. Fresh gravel hadn't been laid in quite some time, and a track had been beaten into the ground. From the back seat Nami complained about how slow they were going, but Robin ignored her.
"You just missed a stop sign," Nojiko said calmly. Robin flinched and tried to look behind her, even though it was too late. The car swerved, bringing her attention back to the road. Her heart nearly jumped into her throat as she corrected, praying that her first time behind the wheel wouldn't end with her in the ditch.
"Easy does it, kid," Nojiko said as Nami swore loudly from the back seat. "And loosen up. It's no good driving tense."
"And this is why we go slow," Robin muttered under her breath, forcing herself to relax as she settled back in the middle of the road. After several miles that came to another stop sign at a T intersection, which Robin noticed and observed.
"Which way?" she asked, noticing the street changed to pavement. This must be a highway.
"Left. That'll take us home the back way," Nojiko said.
Taking a deep breath, Robin looked both ways (twice) and turned. She accelerated gently to five miles beneath the speed limit—which was still faster than what she had been going on the gravel—and concentrated solely on staying on her half of the road.
She was doing well, eventually trusting herself to ease into her seat a little and enjoy the ride. Then another car came up behind them, riding their bumper even though they were in a passing zone. Robin's eyes flickered to her rearview mirror, and she broke out into a cold sweat.
"Crap, that's a cop," Nami said, leaning back to look. "And not Gen."
"Keep going. His lights aren't on, and you're not doing anything wrong." Nojiko said serenely as Robin choked out a laugh. "He's probably just trying to scare a new driver."
"Asshole," Nami said.
"Language, Nami," Nojiko chided. "Mom's car isn't exactly inconspicuous. He probably thinks it's you."
"As if I'd ever drive like an old lady."
"And yet Robin isn't getting pulled over for speeding."
"Please be quiet," Robin said tersely, her stomach doing flip-flops as she waited for the horrible moment when the blue and red lights would go off. "I'm really trying to concentrate here."
The two girls respected her request, and after a tense half-mile the police officer finally decided to pass, giving a little half-wave as he did so. Robin waited until he was a little father ahead before pulling over on the shoulder of the road.
"I think I'm done."
"You sure?" Nojiko asked. "We're almost back."
Robin had already unbuckled her seatbelt and reaching for the door handle. "I'm done."
Nami leaned forward, smiling. "That actually wasn't terrible. Good job keeping your cool with that cop."
If only she knew, Robin thought, although she nodded her appreciation. "Thanks."
From there, Nojiko drove them back without incident. By the time they were going up Miss Bellemere's driveway the two sisters were laughing about the whole thing, as if it were some big joke. Robin stayed silent, trying to keep her hands from shaking. That had been close, much too close for comfort. Plenty of other kids drove before getting their license, Robin knew, but those kids generally had much less to lose if they got caught. As they walked in the door to wash up for supper, Robin swore to herself she wouldn't do anything so reckless again.
Dinner could be described in a word: loud. Robin couldn't help but be enthralled with the interaction between Nami in her family. By all outward signs they were completely dysfunctional, interrupting one another, bickering, and haphazardly grabbing for food regardless of etiquette.
But there was something more to this family that Robin couldn't quite grasp. There was no meanness behind their jokes, and they laughed more than any other family she had seen. Not that she had much experience watching other families, but the point remained. Robin imagined this was what explorers felt like when interacting with a new culture for the first time.
"…And then he just makes this pose—just wearing a speedo—and yells 'SUPER!'" Nami said. Bellemere snorted in her orange juice, and Nojiko looked like she was about ready to fall off her chair she was laughing so hard. Robin, who had been present the day Franky decided to take off his pants in the cafeteria, only smiled.
"Oh, Lord," Bellemere guffawed. "Did he get in trouble?
"Of course. Suspended for three days, which is pretty light considering the rest of us wanted to scrub our eyeballs with lye once he was finished."
"I'll bet." Bellemere turned to Robin and asked, "And what about you?"
"What about me?" replied Robin, confused.
"Anything! You're too quiet by half. Nami's informed me of the basics, but tell me about yourself."
Shrugging uncomfortably, Robin looked down at her plate. "There's not a whole lot to tell."
"That's not what I hear," Bellemere said. "The way I understand it, you kept Nami from flunking Western Civ."
"She was never in any danger of failing…"
Nami interrupted, pointing her fork at Robin. "A C- might as well be a fail. Mom, Robin's frikking brilliant. She edited my extra credit assignment and helped me study for my final. She can make history not boring!"
"History's never boring," Robin said defensively.
"Sure, if by never boring you mean the most boring subject in the world!" Nami exclaimed. "The dates, all the dead people with weird names, the dry as dust textbooks…I could go on, but I think I've made my point."
"Those who never learn history are doomed to repeat it," Bellemere interjected smoothly when she saw Robin's look of indignation.
"You just don't like it because it's hard," Nojiko added.
Nami sat back in her chair with a huff. "Whatever. It's still boring."
Robin's smirk—it was nice to see someone else back up everything she had been saying for months—disappeared when Bellemere turned the attention back on her. "Nice to see someone's keeping her on track. What classes did you say you were taking again?"
"Nothing too exciting. Biology I, Appreciation of Music, Algebra I, Cross Cultural Communications, Ancient Religions—"
"Whoa." A faint flicker of surprise went across Bellemere's face. "I didn't know the school offered courses like that."
Robin fiddled with her food, feeling the other three stare at her even though she refused to look at them. She hadn't even told Nami about the full nature of her class load. "They don't. I'm taking all of my social studies credits through the University of Mariejois."
"You're taking university level classes as a freshman?"
There it was: the incredulous, disbelieving tone that would soon be followed by jealousy and hatred. It took considerable effort for Robin not to shrink back in her chair. "I've always enjoyed studying history. I tested out of the classes the Academy offered," she said evenly, looking Miss Bellemere in the eyes and daring her to say something about it. Having been bullied for one reason or another her whole life, Robin knew the necessity of looking confident, even if she wasn't. Especially if she wasn't.
Robin liked Nami and her family, and hoped there would be no animosity between them, but she had hoped before in the past and had been wrong. People didn't like people who were smarter than themselves. Robin could say with confidence that she was smarter than most.
There was a beat of silence. Then Nami cracked a large grin that Robin neither expected nor understood. "Like I said. Brilliant."
Bellemere laughed in agreement, and after that dinner continued on as normal, leaving Robin more confused than ever.
After eating, the three girls were banished to the living room while Bellemere cleaned up. Nojiko produced a deck of cards, and the sisters quickly began explaining how to play poker. They kept interrupting one another and adding things, leaving Robin with only a fractured and disjointed understanding of the rules as Nojiko dealt the first hand.
They began to play, and Bellemere joined them. Robin lost nearly every hand as she slowly figured out what in the world she was supposed to be doing, but she was nothing if not a quick student. They didn't bet any real money, of course, but that didn't stop Nami and her family from playing as if they did.
For a while, Robin thought she was making a comeback, but a streak of bad luck finished what her poor start had begun. With no chips left to bet, she sat on the sideline and watched. Nami was very good, managing to knock Nojiko out next with a tremendous bluff, but Bellemere was better. Mother and daughter dueled ferociously, but in the end Nami was forced to concede defeat.
"You should enter a tourney or something," Nami said sourly. "I bet you'd win."
Bellemere tapped ash off of the end of her cigarette. "I bet I wouldn't. The guy who taught me dabbled with professional gambling before going into the army, and he made bank on anyone stupid enough to play with him, and apparently he wasn't all that great."
"You should give me his name. Maybe he could teach me a thing or two," Nami said with a dreamy look in her eye.
Robin probably wouldn't have noticed had she not been sitting right across from Bellemere, but her expression closed and something dark flashed in her eyes. She stood suddenly, a forced smile on her face. "Anyone want cookies?"
"Yes, please."
"Sure."
With a sharp nod, Bellemere left the room. Nojiko watched her go, and as soon as she was out of sight smacked her sister upside the head.
"Idiot," she hissed under her breath. "You know she doesn't like talking about that stuff!"
"I didn't mean to," Nami said defensively. Her eyes flickered to the kitchen, and she frowned. "You don't think…"
Nami trailed off as her mother reentered the room, plate of cookies in hand. Robin watched warily from the corner of her eye as she took one, ready for a real argument to break out and trying to figure out where she would hide once it actually started.
But Bellemere's normal, cheerful expression was back in place. "So, Robin, how do you do your university classes?"
Beside her, Robin felt Nami relax. "They're hybrid," she explained. "Most of the work is online and I can take my tests proctored at the Academy. I usually only have to go to the University once a week."
"So that's where you disappear to all the time. I wondered," Nami said.
"Some others do the same, but they're mostly upperclassmen," Robin said. "I try to keep it to myself."
"I wouldn't," Nami said brazenly. "If I were that smart I'd tell the whole world."
No you wouldn't, Robin thought, but she only shrugged. "I'm sure you're good enough to take some upper level science classes, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through. I've always been in advanced classrooms."
"That makes sense," Nojiko said thoughtfully. "If the education system identified you as an above average kid and fast-tracked you, then it would open a lot of doors later."
"Like full ride scholarships to the best private schools in the country," Nami said with a sigh.
Bellemere nodded and looked at Nami. "That's one of the problems of living in a small town. We always knew you were smart, but the schools around here don't have any of those programs for the talented and gifted. That, and you caused too much trouble for them to consider having you jump a grade."
"I was bored, Mom," Nami said with a lazy smile. "Of course I caused trouble."
"Hellion. But I guess it all worked out in the end." Bellemere yawned. "And there's my cue to call it quits. I don't care if you girls stay up later, so long as you keep it quiet. I'm getting up early tomorrow."
Robin put her hands behind her head, just staring into the darkness. Nojiko had gone to bed not long after Miss Bellemere, and the other two girls decided it was probably best if they did the same. Nami's room didn't have any windows, and it was pitch black. Somehow, it seemed, it was a little bit easier to talk in the dark. This way her friend couldn't see the nervousness she tried so hard to hide.
"I don't know why you didn't get a full scholarship," Robin said quietly. "You're smart enough for one."
There was a long pause, and Nami sighed. "I don't think I did it right."
"Do what right?"
"The application." There was a moment of heavy silence. "Bellemere never went to college, and Nojiko is only going to a two year school. The expectation is different, you know? I didn't know until you helped me with my extra credit assignment there were so many rules to writing an essay, or what angle they were looking for. Genzo came over and tried to help, but he only made it more confusing."
"Oh."
It seemed like she should say more, but Robin didn't know how she could help. There was an undercurrent of frustration in Nami's voice that was all too easy to understand. Robin had known nothing but academics from a young age. Cocoyashi didn't even have a public library.
"Anyway, that's enough of that," Nami said with forced cheer. "This summer I'm getting a job, and that should help cover things. And it looks like the orange prices are still good, so there's that."
Robin didn't believe for a second her friend was telling the whole truth. Nami was very good at manipulating words and their meanings, and something didn't quite sound right.
"You could always enter the science fair," Robin said. "They give money to the top three displays, and the grand prize gets entered in the state competition."
"I don't have time for that," Nami said, dejected. "I have to make sure I keep my GPA up. If I don't keep a 3.5 I'll lose what I have. I can't do that, I just can't."
"I could help you," Robin said, heart pounding in her chest. Editing a paper and helping remember dates was one thing, but the science fair was huge. The offer was the most transparent attempt of "friendship" that Robin had ever made. The silence was deafening as seconds passed. Ten…twenty…a minute…Mind racing, Robin scrambled for plausible excuses for when the inevitable rejection came.
"You'd really do that for me?"
"Of course I would." Robin turned over, facing Nami even though they couldn't see one another. "I don't mind so long as it's just helping. Most people assume I'll just do it for them."
Nami let out a low growl, and Robin knew that she was thinking of the Hancock mess earlier in the year.
"Besides," she continued hastily, "you deserve to be at the Academy. It's not fair that you can't learn what you want to just because your family's not rich."
"Says the genius who's tested out of every social studies class the school offers," Nami said dryly.
"You know more about science than I do. So does Usopp. I can't cook, or play sports, or build things. I almost got a B in music appreciation with Mr. Brook." Even now the thought made her cringe a little. "All I know is history and how to do research for papers."
"I notice you left out Luffy."
"On purpose." Robin paused. "But he has his own talents, I suppose. He got our home room together, didn't he?"
Nami laughed quietly. "I guess. He's still an idiot, though."
While Robin privately agreed, saying so would undermine the point she was trying to make. She settled for a respectful silence, which was broken a moment later.
"Thanks, Robin. I guess I have to think about it a little. I mean, what if I put in all this hard work and lose? I don't want to waste my time." She yawned. "G'night."
The conversation was clearly over, even though Robin wanted to argue that she was sure Nami could win. She just had to dedicate herself to it.
"Good night, Nami."
Robin woke up early, rolling off of the air mattress that Miss Bellemere had found for her to sleep on. She slunk out of the room quietly, careful not to wake Nami, and went in search of the bathroom.
The sun was already out, the air carrying the barest reminders of winter. After relieving herself, Robin plodded to the kitchen. There was no point going back to bed. She wasn't alone. Miss Bellemere sat at the table with the morning paper and a cup of coffee, which smelled heavenly.
"You're up early for a kid on vacation."
"Vacation only lasts a week, and I have to get up earlier for school."
"Point taken." Bellemere turned a page. "Maybe you should tell that to Nami."
"I'm not sure she'd listen. She's very…"
"Pigheaded?" Bellemere supplied.
"I was going to say independent," Robin said, hiding a small smile. Nodding towards Bellemere's mug, she asked, "Is there any of that left?"
Bellemere pointed behind her. "Help yourself. There's creamer in the top Lazy Susan."
"Black's fine."
Robin got a cup of coffee and sat at the table across from Miss Bellemere, picking up a section of the paper she had set aside. For a while the world was quiet, save for the sound of turning pages. After a while, Bellemere stood, wincing as if the action pained her.
"Are you all right?"
Miss Bellemere waved a hand and walked stiffly over to the sink to wash out her mug. "I'm okay. My hip just likes to wake up a little later than the rest of me."
"I'm sorry," Robin said.
Miss Bellemere laughed. "You shouldn't apologize for things you can't help."
"I can still be sorry," Robin said quietly. She glanced out the kitchen window, noticing for the first time a non-orange tree. "That's a birch, isn't it?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah."
"For new beginnings, growth, and adaptability," Robin murmured to herself.
Miss Bellemere went very still, her back still to Robin. "What did you say?"
"I did a little bit of reading on tree symbolism once," Robin said. "If I remember correctly, birches are for new beginnings, growth, and adaptability, along with stability and initiation."
Miss Bellemere turned slowly, looking at Robin with a particular expression on her face that the girl couldn't read. "I planted that tree fifteen years ago, and I think you're the only one who's understood what it means."
Suddenly uncomfortable, Robin looked down at the paper, realizing she had accidently touched on a very sensitive subject, most likely the same subject that had upset her so much the night before. Some people had good military experiences, others didn't. Robin was beginning to think that Bellemere fell in the latter category.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. If it weren't for what happened to me back then I wouldn't have my girls now. I wouldn't trade them for anything."
Robin shrugged. "I can still be sorry."
"I suppose." She rinsed her mug out. "You're not at all what I expected."
"How's that?"
"You aren't the type I thought Nami would bring over. You'll do her some good, I think."
"She's a good friend," Robin said.
"And so are you. It's been a tough year for her, you know. There've been a lot of changes in not a lot of time. I'm glad she's settled down a little."
"It's been a tough year for several people," Robin muttered.
"I can imagine." Bellemere paused as Nami entered the room, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Ah, speak of the devil."
Nami glared at her mother, nose wrinkling at the smell of coffee. Then she sat by Robin at the table.
"I've decided to take you up on your offer," she said through a yawn.
"What offer?" Miss Bellemere asked.
"Robin's going to help me with a science fair project. Between the two of us we should blow the competition out of the water."
"That's great. Are you going to start this week?"
"I could do a little preliminary research, I guess, but the Academy has the books I'd need to really get going."
Bellemere leaned against the wall, and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The library at the University of Ohara would have what you need, too."
"Yeah, but I don't see how that helps us."
"You could spend a day or two at Robin's place and do the research you need." Bellemere said.
Robin paled. "I don't think…"
"That's not a bad idea, actually," Nami mused. "What do you think, Robin?"
She thought it was a terrible idea, but didn't know how to say so without raising questions she didn't want to answer. "I-I'd have to get permission from my aunt."
That seemed safe enough. There was no way Aunt Roji would allow Robin to bring a friend over. Without permission, Robin could enjoy the rest of her weekend with Nami in peace and be free to go home and lock herself in her room until school started again, just as planned.
"That sounds reasonable. Just let me know what she says later this afternoon."
Crisis seemingly averted, Robin allowed herself to smile. There was no way Aunt Roji would let Nami come over. It was the mantra she repeated to herself over and over as the morning wore on. There was no reason to worry.
Robin had no way of knowing just how wrong she was.
As Nami and Robin came to the edge of the driveway, Robin pulled to a stop. Like every other building on the block, the house was a white two story affair. Robin's family (even now it was impossible to think of this as her house) was stuck in the center of middle-class suburbia. Robin was suddenly ashamed of the cookie-cutter building with its tiny lawn. By all appearances it was a vast improvement over Nami's modest abode, but it had none of the heart. Robin lived in a house. Her friend lived in a home.
She didn't even want Nami to be here. As expected, when Robin first called her aunt to ask if she could bring a friend over, the answer had been a resounding no. That should have been the end of it, but Robin had severely underestimated the lengths Bellemere would go to once she set her mind on something.
When Robin couldn't come up with an adequate excuse as to why Nami couldn't come, her mother had decided to call Aunt Roji herself. Bellemere had patiently explained the reason for the visit and wondered if there was any way she might reconsider. She hadn't been pushy or mean, but Bellemere had played on the rules of polite society in a way that Roji really hadn't had any choice but to change her mind.
So now Nami was scheduled to stay the next two days in Ohara, and Robin really wished that Bellemere had left well enough alone.
"Look, I'm sorry," Robin mumbled.
"Why?" Nami asked quizzically as she tried to discretely look at the neighborhood around her. "It looks like a nice place."
"My aunt…" Robin struggled with the right words to describe her family. Technically Nami was a guest, and even as an unwanted guest she would be treated with some semblance of respect. But that didn't mean that Roji wouldn't let her feelings known in other ways. "My aunt's not a very nice person. And my cousin, well, she isn't either."
"Okay?"
"I just wanted to apologize in advance." Robin rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "And, uh, I know it's not fair to ask, but please don't lose your temper. I actually have to live here."
"I never lose my temper!" Nami said indignantly. When she saw Robin's flat look of disbelief she grinned sheepishly. "I never lose my temper with people who don't deserve it."
Robin snorted and began walking up the driveway and opened the door for her friend. "We'll put that to the test today. Welcome to Ohara."
Luckily, Robin's aunt and uncle were still at work, leaving only Mizuira to avoid. Robin's cousin had just gotten back from track practice and was rummaging around the refrigerator when Robin and Nami came inside. Mizuira had inherited some of the Nico height, but otherwise had the looks and build taken from Aunt Roji's side of the family. Robin was tall, but her cousin was broad. In addition to being skilled at shot put and discus, Mizuira looked fairly intimidating.
"Hey, cuz. Is this the loser that's staying the night?"
"You have a wonderful economy of words, Mizuira. There aren't many who can sound so ignorant in a single sentence. I'm almost impressed," Robin said coolly.
Mizuira narrowed her eyes in an eerie imitation of her mother. "Mom's not very happy, you know. This isn't a pound. One stray bitch is more than enough."
Nami opened her mouth, but Robin pulled her away before she could say something stupid.
"Come on, I'll show you my room. No one will bother us there."
Robin practically had to drag Nami out of the kitchen and up the stairs. She had expected some antagonism from Mizuira, but hadn't thought things would be so hostile right off the bat. Then again, Mizuira had always been bolder with her bullying when no one else was around to see it.
"What the hell was that?!" Nami exclaimed as Robin slammed her bedroom door shut. "Was that your cousin?"
"Yes," Robin mumbled as she locked her door.
"Seriously, what the hell? Is she always like that?"
"Only when her parents aren't home. You can put your stuff over there," Robin said, gesturing to a clear space by her bed.
"Why don't you make her stop?"
"I can't," Robin said. "Look, let's talk about something else. If Mizuira hears you yelling she'll know she upset you, and that'll just encourage her to do it again."
"But…"
"You promised not to lose your temper," Robin reminded her. "We shouldn't see very much of her anyway, so it doesn't matter." Nami took a deep breath to argue with her. "Please, I'm asking as your friend."
Nami let go of that breath in a resigned sigh. "Fine. But it does matter, and I'm not going to let it go if she pulls a stunt like that again."
Robin sincerely hoped it wouldn't come to that. "She'll probably spend the afternoon with her friends. Like I said, we probably won't see a lot of her."
Nami looked unhappy, but didn't say anything else. She set her bag down and looked around Robin's room. "Wow. That's a lot of books."
"Well, yes," Robin said, not even embarrassed at the stacks of books stacked precariously around her room. She did have one small bookshelf in the corner, but it was only able to hold a small amount of her collection. "How else do you think I learn my useless bits of trivia?"
"Is this Pride and Prejudice? You read romance novels?"
"Hey!" Robin said, snatching the book Nami held and putting it on a stack on the other side of her room. "It's a classic. Not to mention it satirizes the typical books of the time period and the main leads undergo considerable character development. It's much better than most of the tripe that comes out today."
"Whatever you say. I never would have thought you were the Jane Austen type," Nami said as she examined the other stacks around her bed.
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." Robin quoted.
Nami snickered, and the tension dissipated. Robin smiled and sat crosslegged on her bed as Nami went through her book collection. About three-quarters of it were history or archeology texts, but Robin would be the first to admit she had diverse—not to mention eccentric—tastes in literature. She was flipping through a National Geographic when Robin heard the door open and close downstairs. Probably Aunt Roji getting back from work.
"Well, better go make introductions." Robin said reluctantly.
"Robin, are you okay?"
"We can talk about what you want to do for the science fair after supper," Robin said, ignoring the question. "That would leave us tomorrow to go to the library."
Robin strode purposefully out of the door, Nami trailing behind her with a worried expression on her face. Aunt Roji was indeed home and had brought home take out. Robin went to set the table and cleared her throat. "Aunt, this is Nami. She's my friend from school. Nami, this is my Aunt Roji."
"Pleased to meet you," Nami said politely.
"Is your mother the one I talked to on the phone?" Aunt Roji asked, looking Nami up and down with a disapproving expression.
"Yes, ma'am, she was."
Ma'am? Robin shot Nami a sharp look, which she returned with a wink when Aunt Roji had turned her back. Robin had to fight back a laugh, and ended up making an awkward cough when she was unable to do so. Aunt Roji gave her a dark look. "Go find Mizuira and tell her it's time to eat. Oran's working late tonight."
Robin went to do as she was told, leaving Nami in her aunt's unpleasant company. Her cousin wasn't to be found in the living room or the den. Once again Robin went upstairs and knocked on Mizuira's bedroom door. There was no answer.
"Mizuira?" Robin called, opening the door a crack. There, sprawled on her bed with a magazine and her headphones in, was her cousin. Exasperated, Robin opened the door the rest of the way. "Mizuira, it's time to eat."
"Okay, cuz. I'll be down in a second."
Robin rolled her eyes and was about to go back to the kitchen when she caught the cover of the Mizuira's magazine.
Which, to be accurate, was actually one of Robin'scopies of Perspectives of History.
"What are you doing with that?" Robin demanded.
"You left it lying out, and it looked interesting," Mizuira said as she turned a page.
"Liar," Robin said. "I had all of my stuff put away before I left for school. You took that from my room."
"So what if I did? It's not as if you were reading it."
Anger tore through Robin, white-hot and furious. She had left this particular issue of her favorite historical journal home so that nothing would happen to it at school. Mizuira had no interest in history, let alone a six year old anthology on subjects she had never heard of. Blood pulsed in her ears. Robin barely noticed when Nami had come up the stairs.
"Robin, you're aunt's wondering what's taking so long."
"Give that back, now," Robin hissed. "You had no right to go into my room, and you had no right to take something that didn't belong to you."
"Or what, you'll tattle to your mommy?" Mizuira said, smirking. She tossed the journal at Robin's feet. "Oh, that's right. You don't have one."
It was like a punch in the gut. Robin felt the blood drain from her face, heard Nami gasp behind her. With trembling fingers she picked up the journal, which held the last published article by Professor Clover, and walked away from Mizuira before she did something she would later regret. She brushed past Nami and strode across the hall. She placed the journal back where it belonged and with singular focus went downstairs. Cutting through the kitchen, Robin didn't spare a glance at her aunt before going out the door.
"Start without me. I'm not eating tonight."
"Robin, where are we going?"
It was nearly impossible to hear Nami over the roar in her ears. Never had she been so embarrassed. So mortified. Robin stalked down the street with her hands shoved in her pockets and her head bent low so no one could see how close she was to crying. She wasn't quite running, but it was difficult for Nami to keep up with her long strides.
"Robin, wait!"
How dare Mizuira? What gave her the right to ruin everything? Robin had known ahead of time that her family wouldn't approve of Nami or her presence in their home, but to be so openly inhospitable was beyond rude. It made her want to scream in frustration and anger.
A hand clasped on her shoulder, and Robin whirled around, very nearly saying a cutting remark that would have driven Nami away for sure. The words died on her tongue when she saw the concern on her friend's face.
"Robin, what in the world is going on? What was your cousin talking about?"
Feeling her shoulders droop, Robin looked away. She had wanted to avoid this conversation, hopefully forever. One of the unexpected perks of being a part of Luffy's group was that hardly any of them lived with their biological parents. When she had started opening up (just a little) not one of them batted an eye at the mention of living with her aunt and uncle. And no one asked why. It just wasn't important.
"It's nothing," Robin mumbled.
"Uh huh," Nami said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "And I'm a billionaire."
"Can we just drop it, please?"
"I don't think I can. Not when your cousin can get you running out of the house at the mention of your mom. Do I need to beat her up? Because I could totally do that. Maybe I should—"
"Stop it!" Robin snapped. Nami blinked in shock, and Robin pulled away. "Just…stop. I don't want to talk about it. Please."
Maybe it was her tone, or how unhappy she looked, but Nami didn't press the issue. She came up beside her and wrapped an arm around Robin in a one armed hug. Letting out a sigh of relief, Robin looked at the ground.
"Thank you."
"Hey, I get having personal issues. But just so you know, I'm always free if you change your mind. Or if you need someone to beat in your cousin's face, because, let's be honest, she's a total bitch."
"She gets it from her mother."
Nami frowned. "Yeah, you weren't kidding earlier, were you? Do I need to call my mom? I know we're supposed to do all this research stuff, but if it's going to be a problem…"
She let the statement hang, and Robin nodded her understanding. "If you want to go, I understand. If I knew it was going to be like this I never would have let you come."
"Hell no!" Nami exclaimed. "I doubt I'm ever going to be invited back, so I'm going to be a pain in the ass for as long as I can."
For the first time since Nami had stepped foot on Ohara, Robin smiled. "Thanks."
"That's what friends are for," she said with a shrug. "But that's beside the point. What I really want to know is were in the world you're leading me."
"I…I don't really know," Robin admitted. "I was just so mad I had to leave. I didn't exactly have a destination in mind."
"Okay…seriously, are you all right? I didn't think you could get mad."
If possible, Robin's shoulders slumped a little bit further. She was torn. She wanted to tell so badly, to let go of the secret that weighed down on her every day, but there was so much risk involved. Nami was her best friend, and Robin didn't want to lose that. But if she lied Nami would be able to tell, and Robin would break the trust that had built up between them. And if she told the truth…
Robin remembered the angry eyes that had followed her since she was eight years old. She remembered being called names and the merciless torment of bullies. People hated her for something she couldn't help.
It seemed like a lose-lose situation, but maybe it didn't have to be. Blinking back tears, Robin steeled herself. If Nami was really her friend then she would accept her for who she was. All of it, even the bad. That's what Professor Clover had said, once upon a time.
"Can you keep a secret?" Robin asked, hating the weakness in her voice.
"Of course I can."
"No, I mean really keep one. From everyone, even the guys. Even your mom and sister."
Nami hesitated. "I…of course, but Robin, what are you talking about?"
Ignoring the question, Robin turned and started down the street. The old library wasn't far from here. Maybe she had been heading there all along, without even realizing it. Maybe there was a part of her deep down inside that knew she would tell Nami.
Robin could only hope she wasn't making a terrible mistake.
"Where are we?"
"325 South Oak Street," Robin answered, knowing that wasn't what her friend was asking. Her fingers curled around the chain link fence she looked at the abandoned lot. No one had built anything on the property in the years since the fire. Overgrown grass and weeds replaced what had once been a well-tended lawn. The remains of the library had been completely demolished, of course, and its foundation filled in. There was no evidence that this place once held the greatest library of the modern world.
"You know about the University of Ohara, right?" Robin asked softly.
"Of course. It's one of the top rated schools in the country," Nami said.
"Well, the University got its start thanks to what used to be here. The library. They called it the Tree of Knowledge, and it existed in one form or another for eight hundred years, attracting intellectuals from all over the world. The University's known for a lot of things, but its true strength is its history department. Many of the best archeologists in the world have graduated from the program here."
"What happened?"
Closing her eyes, Robin sighed heavily. "Six years ago there was a fire. Thousands of books, lost forever."
Nami's eyes widened in horror, and she looked again at the empty, desolate space in front of her. "That's terrible."
"It was arson. The sprinkler system never activated, and the smoke detectors that would have alerted the fire department had been disarmed. Police eventually discovered an accelerant had been used, and a lot of it. Someone set the fire on purpose."
Tears began to streak down Robin's face, and there was nothing she could do to stop them. Nami looked at a loss, and after a brief moment of hesitation pulled her into another awkward, one-sided hug. The hustle and bustle of the street seemed to fade, leaving an audience of one as Robin told her story to another person for the first time.
"People were in the library that night," Robin whispered. "The board members of the archeology department were having a meeting. They…they didn't make it out."
"Robin, I'm so sorry…"
"They didn't make it out, but my mother did," Robin said. The words were coming out faster now, jumbled and confused. "Somehow she wasn't hurt. They said she started the fire. They said she killed her friends and teachers and coworkers. They said she destroyed the greatest library that ever was."
"Oh my God."
"She didn't do it! There was no motive or proof, but she was arrested anyway. My mom's in Impel Down for something she didn't do. Everyone says she went crazy because she started spouting some conspiracy theory at her trail, but they don't know."
"Robin…"
"They don't know," Robin repeated miserably, voice cracking.
Leaning her forehead against the fence, Robin cried. She had not allowed herself to cry in a very long time, and especially not in front of someone else. But today, after everything that had happened, she didn't really care.
Nami didn't seem to mind. She wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and shot angry glares at anyone who looked at them funny. She didn't pull away or ask any of the unanswerable questions that had to be on her mind. She just let Robin cry.
After a while Robin wiped the tears away and took a shuddering breath. She was exhausted. It felt like her heart had been put through a shredder, and now there was nothing left. The anger towards Mizuira was gone, as was the unresolved grief and shame. Robin was empty.
"Are you sure you don't want me to call my mom?" Nami asked. "She really wouldn't care if you stayed for the whole break."
Robin shook her head, strangely touched by the offer. "I'd have to come back eventually. I still…I still have to live here."
"That's not fair. Families aren't supposed to act this way."
"Be thankful yours doesn't," Robin said quietly. With one final sniff she turned away from what had been the library. "Come on. We should probably go back. That is, if you're still saying?"
"Of course I'm staying," Nami said hotly, crossing her arms over her chest. "And if your cousin tries any more funny business she's going to find out farm girls don't take crap from anyone."
Shaking her head, Robin rubbed her eyes and started down the street. She couldn't bring herself to laugh, but managed a ghost of a smile at the thought of Nami "dealing" with her cousin.
"Try not to leave any lasting damage. Mizuira's not nearly as durable as Luffy."
To say that the next two days went well would have been a gross exaggeration. Aunt Roji continued to give Nami the nasty looks while maintaining a veneer of polite hospitality, and Uncle Oran's attempts at conversation were awkward and forced. A fight nearly broke out between Mizuira and Nami when a muttered insult at the dinner table was met with an "accidental" kick in the shins. Robin knew with complete and utter certainty that she would never be allowed to have guests over again, not that she would have willingly had her friends endure the presence of her family.
At the same time, Robin somehow managed to enjoy herself. She and Nami made good headway on their project for the science fair. They talked about everything and nothing until late into the night, and even went to the mall together like normal people.
Robin had…fun. Her secret was out, and Nami didn't think any less of her for it. Sure, Robin caught her friend looking at her oddly when she thought she couldn't see, but it wasn't a bad sort of odd. It was a pensive, thoughtful look, with perhaps a tinge of concern, but it wasn't bad. It just showed that Nami cared. It had been a long time since Robin had someone who cared.
When Wednesday rolled around and it was time for Nami to leave, Robin took the time to help her pack and walked with her to the bus stop. They sat on the bench in a comfortable silence, soaking in a little sun.
"You're coming over to my house this summer," Nami said after a moment. She was sprawled out with her head tilted to the sky, not even looking at Robin. "For, like, a month. Maybe two."
"I know what you're trying to do, but I can't just run away."
"Why not? They have no right to treat you the way they do," Nami growled.
"Life's not fair," Robin said simply. "They might not like me, but since they took me in they get a stipend from the government for my care. Granted, very little of it gets spent on me, but for them to receive the check they're accountable for me. If I run away they would get the police involved, and I would probably lose my scholarship or get expelled. Then I would be the delinquent daughter of a criminally insane arsonist. Nothing good would come of that."
"But that's even worse!" Nami exclaimed. "You're not…you're not a source of income! What is wrong with your family?!"
"You've got to understand, your mom wanted you. She picked you and your sister out of all the children in the world because she wanted you." Robin tried not to sound bitter."My aunt never wanted another kid of her own, let alone me. I don't think my uncle…He's always…He's never had the spine to stand up to my aunt. And my cousin has never been smart enough to think for herself."
Ignoring Nami's sound of protest, she continued. "I'm planning to take some summer modules, and with my university classes I'll have enough credits next year to graduate. I've already had scholarship offers. I can emancipate myself, get a job, and go to school. I'll be free."
Nami leaned back and let out a low whistle. "I knew you were taking a lot a heavy load, but…wow. You're playing the long game."
"Just one more year," Robin said softly. "I can make it one more year."
"Damn straight. And I'll help you. We'll all help you, whatever way we can."
Robin turned and looked at her best friend. Best friend. It felt good to even think those words when she never thought she would. They had already transformed her school life from a miserable drudgery to a place she felt welcome and accepted. They didn't even do it on purpose because they felt sorry for her; their friendship just flowed out. They gave Robin strength she never would have had on her own and showed her there was hope.
Robin's smile widened, remembering all the hours spent in homeroom doing work and goofing off, innumerable pranks played after lights out, and battles fought and won. There were sleep overs and driving lessons and shopping trips to look forward to, and fond memories to look back on when the world looked bleak. Robin could say with genuine certainty that she wasn't alone anymore, and that was the biggest gift she could have ever been given.
"Don't worry. You already have."
AN: Wow, this ended up a little longer than expected, but there was a lot of stuff I wanted to fit in.
In other news, I am going through the painful process of editing my earlier chapters. I'm getting rid of some of the more egregious errors (can you believe I misspelled Ohara? More than once? o.O) and the more cringe-inducing phrasing. I'm trying not to mess with things too much though, because though I believe I'm a much improved from when I started, the badness is a testament to how far I've come. I've gotten through the first five chapters so far, with the rest coming in the following weeks.