Chapter 7.
Thank you reviewers! I love you so much for reviewing! ^^3
The updates aren't going to be as fast anymore, sorry guys, but I'm back to school so I've actually got to do stuff. xD But I'll upload when I can. Ok?
Rest assured that I will NOT abandon this fic. I love it too much. xD
Now, on with the chapter.
Which I KNOW you're gonna like. ;D
Stood in Mihawk's office, Coby and Zoro stood side by side. Straight backs and their hands clasped behind them. Mihawk had read the report that Garp had given him, and although he didn't show it he was a little impressed. "It says here that you both acted accordingly in the circumstances of the situation." Mihawk stated, turning his hawk-like yellow eyes on the pair of them who remained silent.
Standing up, Mihawk then signed two pieces of paper which had been lying next to the report before handing them one each. "Due to this, you have succeeded in your first mission and I am therefore obliged to promote you both to the job of guarding the royal princesses." He continued.
"Coby." The boy in question stood to attention as much as he could without bursting with pride. "You are to guard Princess Kaya with Agent Garp and Agent Aokiji."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir." Coby inclined his head in acknowledgement having to bite down on his tongue straight after and keep his hands firmly clasped behind his back so that he didn't yell out in happiness of fist-pump.
Mihawk turned to Zoro. "Zoro. You are to guard Princess Robin with Agent Rayleigh and myself." He said, searching Zoro's face for a reaction as he relayed the information.
Zoro felt two emotions at once. Relief at guarding Princess Robin, but the feeling of dread mixed with hatred that he would have to work with or switch shifts with his father. The only comfort was that we would also be working with Rayleigh, whom he liked a lot more than any of the other agents.
"Sir." He intoned.
Quickly assessing them both whilst they were stood there, Mihawk cleared his throat and nodded. "Coby, you are dismissed." He said, watching as the young agent turned and walked out of the office, the both of them hearing the delighted 'YES' from the other side of the door once it had closed, and the unmistakable sound of Coby then proceeding to skip down the corridor.
There was a brief silence. "Congratulations on your first mission." Mihawk addressed Zoro.
"Thank you." Zoro replied shortly.
"I am pleased with your progress." Mihawk continued. "And so I have decided to pay you wages like the rest of the agents that work here. You have been assigned a bank account, and so when you are paid at the end of each month, the money will go into there."
Zoro raised an eyebrow in interest as Mihawk handed him a small banking card. "And I can use this whenever I need to?" He asked.
"Yes. But for god's sake be sensible with it." The head agent ordered as he sat down at his desk once more. "Dismissed Zoro."
With a shrug, Zoro turned and headed out of the door.
Late that afternoon Zoro grabbed an apple from the kitchens and meandered his way over to the stables in his black work suit. He had ditched the tie because he didn't like the thought of someone being able to strangle him with it.
As he walked down the stable aisle, he took the time to find the horses of the two agents he was to be working with from now on. The first one he found was Rayleigh's, whose stall was at around about the middle of the stable. The beautiful pure white horse was a Welsh Cob breed, and Zoro quietly reached a hand out, waiting until the horse pricked it's ears forward and nuzzled his hand, allowing him to pat the horse's strong arched neck.
Reading the name off of the plaque at the side of the stall, he wasn't surprised to find that Rayleigh had named the horse after a part of the old London gang that he and Roger used to be a part of. "Jackson. After the Oro Jackson gang." He smiled, admiring the name. "I'll be seeing you again later boy." He called as he left Jackson and moved on, looking for the other name.
He found it right at the end of the stable, directly opposite his own. The dark grey Australian Stock horse seemed to almost glare at him, much like his owner did. The breed was a well rounded horse, known for its great endurance and stamina. Glancing at the name plaque under that of his father's, he read the name out. "Salvatore." Zoro said. "I can tell that he named you."
Salvatore slowly moved forwards so that his head was hanging out of the stall and was mere inches away from Zoro's face. They stared each other down for a moment until the horse suddenly moved and nipped Zoro's ear, barely managing to catch it as Zoro tried to dodge it and yelled out in pain.
"Son of a bitch!" He yelled angrily, massaging his ear with a groan, resisting the urge to draw his katanas and cut the horse into ribbons. "Now I know who my father bitches about me to." He growled.
The horse merely glared at him for a moment before turning back into its stall, much more interested in the hay rather than its master's teenage son.
On the opposite side of the stable aisle, a familiar neigh sounded out. With a grin, Zoro tossed the apple over his shoulder and turned to watch as the black stallion swiftly raised his head and caught the apple in mid-air, crunching his way happily through it. Shaking his head in amusement, he stroked the horse's cheek. "Afternoon to you too Balthazar." Zoro chuckled, opening the stall and leaving it open as he set about putting the saddle and bridle on. "I wonder if you'd be able to help me." He said, speaking quietly.
The horse pricked his ears up and pressed against the door of his stall, seeming to be listening. "I've been given a bank card so that I can get paid at the end of each month. But I'm not going to need it because they cater for us here. So I'm not really seeing the fucking point to it. This is where you come in."
Balthazar flicked one of his ears back to show he was confused and stepped back a little, swallowing the remains of his apple. "I'm not going to make you eat it or anything. Bloody hell, and I thought you were intelligent." Zoro laughed as Balthazar tried to violently head-butt him. "I need you to give me a ride into London. I have friends there who could do with the money. And with the amount they'll receive, they'll be able to get more food and other supplies that they need."
The horse's ears went back a little and his eyes flicked to the stall behind Zoro. He swallowed nervously and nodded as he finished buckling up the bridle. "Yeah I know, but it'll be quick. I'll just say that I wanted to ride out along the streets to get used to being on horseback."
There was a momentary silence. Balthazar then swung his neck round and gave Zoro a hard nudge in the back as he tried to jump into the saddle, making him yell and fall across the saddle on his stomach in a most undignified fashion as the horse broke straight into a canter by bolting out of his stall and across the training field. Zoro managed to swing up into the saddle the right way and put his feet in the stirrups.
"We're going the wrong way!" He shouted. Balthazar didn't listen, and when Zoro tried to use the reins to steer him back the other way, Balthazar ripped the reins out of his hands and headed for the edge of the field. Staring at the edge, Zoro saw the high fence that separated the training field from the streets of London beyond. "You are not thinking of that...are you?" Zoro asked with a resigned feeling of dread.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." He chanted, his voice getting louder as Balthazar picked up a little bit more speed, feeling the horse's muscles start to tense beneath him. "Oh hell." He muttered, gripping the reins tightly and leaning forward as much as he could as Balthazar all but leaped upwards, easily clearing the fence. Leaning backwards as they descended into the street, Zoro gave a slight 'oof' as they landed, Balthazar finally letting Zoro lead him with the reins down the streets, people scattering as they heard the thunder of hooves.
"You never showed that you could jump that high during the training session you little git." Zoro snorted, jokingly slapping the horse's powerful shoulder as they rode.
After approximately two minutes, Zoro spotted a flash of orange that suddenly started running. He stared for a minute as he watched, but then realisation kicked in. "Nami!" He called out. In response, Nami kept running as though her life depended on it. "Damn it all. Balthazar, we need to catch up to that girl." He ordered, digging his heels in firmly so that the horse sprung forwards into a gallop.
Nami was fast, Zoro would give her that, but there was no way she could out-run a thoroughbred. Within less than a minute, Zoro was almost upon her. As Balthazar drew up alongside her, Zoro quickly reached down and grabbed the back of Nami's shirt, pulling her up with a shriek and sitting her safely behind him. "Stop running away from me damn it! I'm trying to help you!" He shouted as she screamed and clung to his waist in terror.
Turning down into a deserted alleyway, Zoro slowed Balthazar to a halt before turning around in the saddle to face her. "Hey, hey!" He calmed her, stopping her from jumping to the floor. "It's me." He reassured her.
Her eyes grew to the size of saucers as she took in his attire. "Z-Zoro?" She questioned in shock. "You're wearing agent uniform...and you are riding a horse."
"Yeah, I got promoted. I'm guarding Princess Robin tonight." He shrugged nonchalantly. "But that's not what I'm here for. I've been given a bank account, but I want you guys to have it." He said, reaching into his jacket pocket and handing the card to her. "I get paid at the end of each month, and from what I've heard, it'll be a pretty big sum. I know you know how to use one of these, so keep it safe at all costs. You'll all need it more than I will."
"Zoro.." Nami breathed, staring at the bank card in her hand as he helped her to the ground.
"I have to go. Stay safe all of you." He concluded, twisting back into the right way on the saddle and taking up the reins.
"Wait! When are you coming back?" She asked quickly, her orange hair flicking out slightly.
He looked away. "I don't know." He answered truthfully. "It's a difficult place to get out of. If I leave, they'll come looking for me. And that puts you guys in danger."
Downcast, Nami nodded. "I understand. I'll tell the others too. Thank you...Try and see us again when you can."
Zoro smiled reassuringly and gently dug his heels in. "Balthazar, we're gonna need to high-tail it back. We're gonna be a bit late." Leaving Nami to head back down the street once out of the alleyway, Balthazar followed Zoro's orders to the letter and galloped down the cobbles, twisting and turning his way back towards the MI5 headquarters.
However, they were met a few streets away from headquarters by the two agents sat astride their own horses. "You're late boy." Mihawk called out as Zoro allowed Balthazar to slow to a walk as they drew up alongside Rayleigh and Jackson.
"Sorry about that. I was out with Balthazar to try and get used to being on horseback. Guess I lost track of time." Zoro replied.
Mihawk narrowed his piercing eyes at him. "I taught you to ride when you were younger. You know how to ride well enough." He accused.
"Yeah, well I've got a troublesome horse and I haven't ridden out on cobbles at speed before. I was getting used to Balthazar so that I can work with him more efficiently." Zoro countered, effectively ending the conversation as they picked up the speed and headed for the palace.
Having arrived, they dismounted and entered the palace. Following Rayleigh and his father, Zoro tried not to feel quite as awed by the décor of the palace as they ascended the stairs and knocked on a small oak wooden door. There was the sound of a chair being moved followed by the sound of footsteps. The three of them straightened as the door started to open.
"Good evening gentlemen." A female voice greeted them.
However, Zoro was numb to the core with astonishment. The woman in front of him was stunning. There was no other way to put it. Her just longer than shoulder-length raven hair looked like it had been woven with silk, and her smooth skin seemed almost unreal. Zoro quickly looked to the side to prevent himself from staring, instead noticing her light purple kimono that had the royal crest woven on the chest in silver.
"Princess Robin." Mihawk nodded to her respectively. "I-"
"Thank you for your concern Mihawk, but I'm feeling quite bored in the drawing room at the moment. Letters are quite boring to write, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a ride." Robin spoke, her voice as charming as possible as she brushed by the three of them.
Pursing his lips, Mihawk opened his mouth to express his opinion that it would be better for her to finish the letters, when Zoro interjected quickly into the conversation. "M'lady, it would not be safe to go alone. I shall go with you." He said formally with a slight bow.
Before Mihawk could say anything, Rayleigh nodded. "I agree, it would be safer if you were to have one of us accompany you." He advised, nudging Mihawk so as to stop him inwardly scowling.
"Indeed." Mihawk managed to say. "Stay close to her Roronoa." He ordered, giving him a slight glare as Robin began to elegantly descend the staircase. He nodded once to show that he'd understood before staying a little behind the princess, inwardly marvelling at her beauty.
They exchanged no words as Robin had her own beautiful white Lipizzaner horse lead out to her by one of the royal stable hands, but as the reins were held out to her by the stable hand, Zoro watched as her face fell the tiniest bit. He frowned, not liking to see her sadness but knowing that he couldn't ask her anything.
"Perhaps half an hour around St. James' park, ok Arwyn?" Robin asked her horse as Zoro helped her to mount side-saddle.
Zoro whistled piercingly, a short note that increased for the half of a second that it lasted. Immediately there was a shout of alarm from within the stable, and the black stallion smugly trotted out of the stable. Smirking, Zoro swung up into the saddle and loosely held the reins in his hands. He was surprised to hear a giggle from Robin's direction, and his smirk grew slightly.
Lightly urging Arwyn on with a click of her tongue, Robin began the walk out from the palace, swaying side to side a little as a result of being on horseback. Zoro followed close behind, but did not relax his guard. The sun was almost set, and the park was peacefully empty and quiet, but that did not mean that it couldn't be dangerous.
"So, you're one of the two new agents." Robin called to him, slowing so that she was riding alongside the swordsman, who was a little stunned at the fact that she was actually trying to make conversation.
"Mm." He answered shortly, keeping his head trained on the path ahead of her.
She smiled slightly. "Roronoa, right?"
"Zoro." He corrected. "Roronoa Zoro."
"Zoro..." She repeated. "I like it. It's a good strong name."
"Thank you ma'am." He replied formally.
At that, Robin pursed her lips slightly in distaste. "Please don't with the ma'am. It's a horrible title. My name is Nico Robin."
Ignoring her reply, he focused on the surroundings. He felt awful, but he knew that he wasn't allowed to make conversation with her. It was not a part of his job. His job was to protect her, not sit around and talk about dresses or the way she looked so naturally beautiful, or how her raven hair shone like starlight under the park lamps-
Zoro mentally shook himself. 'What the hell are you talking about you fucking idiot. She's a princess. Snap out of it.'
"Well, you know Arwyn here. What's your black beauty over there called?" She asked with interest. Once again, he ignored her, feeling horrible for having to. Robin laughed a little as she watched him battle with himself. "You can talk to me you know. There's no-one else around."
"I'm afraid I'm not allowed to." He responded, his tone betraying how much he was sorry to tell her so.
"Bullshit."
Zoro's head whipped round to look at her then, looking at her with curious amusement. "I thought royals weren't supposed to swear?" He asked.
Robin smiled victoriously. "Oops."
Unable to help himself, Zoro chuckled. "You bad little princess."
"Pretend I'm not. I never get a decent conversation unless it's with Kaya." Robin persuaded, delicately swinging her legs round in the saddle so that she was facing him as she rode. "So, name of your horse?"
"Balthazar. His name's Balthazar."
"He seems like he knows how to be a rebel from the little display earlier. But you know what they say about horses and their owners, they reflect each other."
"Oh really?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow as he finally made eye-contact with her.
"Mhm." Robin nodded. "Can I ask, do you have someone else put the saddle on him for you?"
Zoro glanced at her quizzically. "No. But from the sadness you showed earlier, you do." He replied.
"You gathered that, then." Robin smiled. "I knew you were looking at me."
He blushed slightly, quickly defending himself. "E-Eh? No I wasn't. I'm a body guard. You're a..a princess! My job is to keep you safe, and that's that."
"Shame." Robin stated, stroking Arwyn's mane. "Does this mean that you're not going to talk to any more unless it's just you and me." Zoro sent her a pointed glare and indicated towards his clothes. "Right. Agent. Of course..." She nodded. "Do you ever have any fun?"
Zoro sighed. 'This woman is insistent.' He thought to himself. "I used to."
"You used to?"
"When I didn't used to be an agent." He explained a little further, his tone flat.
"Tell me about it. Was it a normal life? I want to know what it was like." Robin demanded.
Zoro shook his head. "Maybe another time. I'm not a story teller. You just...be normal and enjoy the ride."
"There might not be another time." Robin pointed out. "And I'm not what I'd call normal."
"Well tough luck then." Zoro shrugged. "And what do you define as not normal about you then? You look normal enough to me."
Without warning, an arm suddenly grew out from his own arm. He let go of the reins as he jerked and yelled out in shock. "What the fuck?!" Just as quickly as it had appeared, it dispersed in an explosion of pointed pink flower petals. Looking back up at the princess, he watched her put her arms down from where they had been crossed upwards against each other with her palms facing themselves. "You're a devil fruit user?" He asked. "I mean, I know you were, it's just...I didn't think it was true."
Robin smiled a little, but it was short lived. "Some people call me the freak princess." She stated calmly.
"What? That's ridiculous. It's just an ability. There's weirder devil fruit users out there for fuck sake." Zoro snapped, annoyed that people would say that about her. In truth, he'd heard it once or twice before on the streets, but he'd never paid much attention to royalty at the time.
"I don't care for it much. It's just a name. Besides, I'm not allowed to use it. It scares my family, and they say that if I were to do it in public it would scare the people." Robin said, resuming stroking Arwyn's silky coat.
As they walked the horses out of St. James' park, Robin smiled at him. "You know, I get the feeling your not like the other agents...and that's why you agreed to accompany me. There's something different about you. I like it. Thank you, Roronoa Zoro."
He raised his eyebrows a little, but he dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Any time m'lady." He answered formally, the both of them falling silent as they entered the royal courtyard.
Mihawk and Rayleigh were stood waiting at the doors, and they watched as both the agent and princess dismounted and walked towards them. "Ma'am, the royal family is awaiting your presence at dinner." Mihawk informed her as the three agents followed the princess inside the palace.
"Thank you Mihawk." Robin responded politely, brushing her hair behind her ear and moving towards the dining hall, to where she could hear the soft music of a string quartet playing to signal that dinner would soon be starting.
"Did you encounter any danger?" Mihawk questioned, addressing to his son.
Zoro turned to him and immediately started talking. "Yes. As we were riding a beast came out from the undergrowth and ran across the path. It could have scared the horses until they bolted, but they didn't. So don't worry about it, it was just a mouse."
Further down the corridor, they heard Robin muffle a giggle into her hand, making both Rayleigh and Zoro fight to contain their smirks. Zoro felt a weight on his shoulder disappear, and it was then that he noticed that she had quite literally had an ear in on their conversation .A vein throbbed slightly in Mihawk's neck. "Silence boy. Your sarcasm is not appreciated, and I will not tolerate it if it heard again." He growled, turning on his heel and heading after the princess.
Rayleigh nudged Zoro's arm as he made to follow Mihawk, and as they caught each other's eye, they grinned at one another and Rayleigh winked. "I thought it was rather good m'self." Rayleigh whispered. "But watch your tongue kid, your dad will have it cut out otherwise."
"That's the fun part." Zoro whispered back with a quiet laugh.
Day after day, Zoro was called out to the royal palace or royal events in which Robin took part. Sometimes he would be working by himself, which was incredibly rare, and other times it would be just him and Rayleigh or Mihawk, or at others it would be all three of them.
And a day did not go by in which Robin did not try to talk to him. At every opportunity she would try to talk to him or include him.
One day Zoro and Mihawk waited outside her bedroom as she changed for an important dinner on the other side of London, and Robin popped her head out of the door in nothing but her dressing gown and showed them both two dresses.
"Zoro, which dress do you think I should wear?" She asked, an innocent smile playing on her lips. Trying hard not to blush, he ignored her, knowing that his father was staring at him from the other side of the hallway. After a moment's silence, she arched an eyebrow. "I need an answer, else I'll have to go to the dinner naked."
At this Mihawk coughed pointedly. Turning to him, Robin held the dresses out a bit more. "Mihawk, what do you think?" She asked him.
Zoro's mouth twitched in amusement, and he cast his eyes to the floor in an attempt to escape the laughter that bubbled up inside of him. Mihawk was a little surprised, but he hid it quickly by sighing and closing his eyes. "Ma'am. You know that your mother the queen specifically asked that you wear the green one." He replied at length.
"So she did. Well that clears that dilemma." Robin responded, her playfulness gone in an instant as she closed the door once more.
During one of the royal dinners in which Robin was sat next to her sister, princess Kaya, she started a small conversation that went unnoticed as their parents talked about more grown up matters such as the government. "Kaya...Did you have a new agent assigned to you recently?"
Kaya nodded and finished her mouthful before answering, turning her doe-like eyes upon her sister. "Yes, the one with the pink hair over there. I learnt that his name's Coby. He's very sweet. I'm guessing you also have a new agent."
"Yes, the one next to Coby." Robin confirmed.
"The one with green hair?" Kaya asked. "He's very tall..and he looks like he has some of Mihawk's features.." She commented.
At this, Robin raised an eyebrow. "You think they're related?"
"I'm not sure..I'll ask Coby later." Kaya said, delicately shrugging her shoulders. "Why are you so interested in him anyway?"
"I'm not sure." Robin said, sipping at a glass of wine. "I feel drawn to him, like I want to learn more about him." She confessed. She was quiet for a moment. "Maybe I'm attracted to him." She mused bluntly.
"B-But Robin! You can't!" Kaya exclaimed in an undertone.
"Why ever not?"
"We're royal, and we must marry of other royal blood! He's an agent. A com-"
Robin glared at her sister, abruptly silencing her. "Don't say it. I don't want to hear of our people referred to as commoners or peasants." She hissed.
"Dearest sister," Smoker's voice drawled mockingly from the other side of the table, "that is what they are. Peasants, the lot of them."
"Be quiet Smoker." Robin replied, her voice firm and cold.
Smoker lifted the corner of his lips and grinned as he put a cigar in his mouth. "You're quite the commoner lover aren't you? Sometimes I get the feeling that you don't want to be a royal. Not falling for the peasants are you? Falling in love with them? I wouldn't be surprised if you went off one day and married one of the filthy creatures." He scoffed nastily.
Throwing down her dinner handkerchief Robin stood up in her seat in anger, causing all conversations to cease as they stared at her. "And what if I did?" She cried. "I'd have you know that I'd get along with him more than I would any man of royal blood." Silence met this outburst, and Robin clenched her jaw as she left the dinner hall, fleeing to her chambers with angry tears biting at the corners of her eyes.
Coby glanced at Kaya, momentarily catching her eye as she bit her lip. Nudging Zoro with his arm, he subtly nodded towards the doors of the dining hall. Wordlessly, Zoro's jaw lowered into an 'are-you-serious' face.
In response, Zoro's eyes flickered over to Mihawk.
"Just go. Before either he or Rayleigh does. Do you want to protect her or not?" Coby said in a voice less than a whisper.
Zoro glared at him for a second before sighing irritably and swiftly walking out of the royal dining room and out into the corridor. Ascending the staircases with his katanas clinking at his side, he did not stop walking until he arrived at her bedroom door.
Rubbing his face tiredly, he cleared his throat. "My lady?" He called out. "My lady are you ok?"
There was no answer.
Sighing impatiently, he wet his lips and made sure there was no one else listening. "Robin?" He asked, deciding to be a little more informal. "Robin it's me, Zoro."
There was a rustle from within, and the door opened a crack seconds later to reveal her. "What is it?" She asked, her voice level but strained.
"May I come in?"
Nodding, Robin stepped back and opened the door further so as to allow him in. Taking hesitant steps inside, he tried not to notice the purple grandeur of her bedroom. "You left the table rather urgently." He remarked, glancing at her as she closed her eyes momentarily.
"Yes. It seems my brother is a royal pain in the neck." She told him, watching as he snorted a little.
"I think we already knew that, and I would have used worse words to describe your brother."
"Mmm...he is too arrogant, and so set in the lifestyle of royalty that he thinks that anyone beneath us are the scum of the earth."
Zoro laughed softly. "If it wasn't for the 'scum' and 'peasants' he wouldn't be eating so finely. Or off of golden platters." He pointed out.
Robin smiled lightly. "True."
"Is that why you left? Or was there anything else upsetting you?" He asked, his eyes searching her face in slight concern.
She hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "I'm fine kenshi-san." She reassured, offering him a smile that looked a little more real. Robin then stepped forwards and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, showing that he was just that little bit taller than her. Swallowing nervously, Zoro awkwardly returned the hug. "Thank you for caring enough to come and find me." She added.
"Uhh...You're welcome." He replied, trying not to make it sound like a question.
They sprang apart as there was a knock at the door. "My lady?" Mihawk's voice sounded out firmly from the other side of the door.
Zoro calmly bowed to her before turning and walking over to the window as Robin replied with a call of 'One moment'. Opening the window quietly, he glanced down to see the long way to the bottom. Wasting no time, he manoeuvred himself onto the window ledge before dropping himself over it. "Be careful." Robin whispered, shutting the window as Zoro nodded and began his descent, reaching the ground in under a minute thanks to his harsh training.
As he swiftly walked back into the palace, smoothing himself down as he did so, he walked straight into Rayleigh who had just exited the dining hall. "There y'are kid..Wondered where you'd gone."
"Yes Zoro." Mihawk's voice joined the conversation as he walked up to them. "Where did you go?"
Zoro shrugged. "Went to check on the princess who wouldn't answer me, and I needed to use the royal privy."
Rayleigh smirked and looked away as Mihawk tested the edge of his teeth. "Indeed."
In the days which followed, Robin felt more and more compelled to talk to her agent, and tried to drop a few hints.
As she was sat reading her book in the library one evening, she finished it and sighed as she replaced it on the shelf, turning to the swordsman.
"Hey, I'm bored." She stated. "Let's have dinner."
Or at the end of the day after having given a speech to the people because her mother had been called away on urgent business, she entered the palace with Zoro and Rayleigh following behind her and she called over her shoulder to him.
"Successful day today. Come on, let's have dinner."
But there was one day in which Zoro was told by both Shanks and Mihawk to dress as smartly as he could. And he did, but he still refused the tie. It was that night that he learnt that the palace was holding a royal ball, in which the royal families from many other countries would come to partake in the dances, music and dinner that was to be arranged.
Not only that, but so that the royal princes from afar could get a look at the princesses so that they could present themselves to her in the hope that one day when they came to marry, they would be asked for their hand in marriage.
Coby and Zoro stood alongside Rayleigh and Shanks, sometimes walking through the room like a wall as they combed through the crowd of royals, checking for signs of trouble. However, there was a slight pause in the room, and people stopped talking and turned to look as the British Royal family made their way into the ballroom.
Queen Boa Hancock was clad in a beautiful cherry red dress with patterned gold, and she was lead in on her husband's arm. King Lucci was dressed in an incredibly smart black suit, with medals pinned to the front much like the kings of other countries who had assembled to the gathering.
Princess Kaya was lead in on Smoker's arm, the both of them aptly dressed for the occasion Smoker matching his father but with a few less medals, and Kaya in a kimono of the palest pink which made her seem as delicate as a daisy in the spring.
But the last to enter, made Zoro's breath catch in his throat.
He was now able to see the rings of purple in her eyes, brought out by the flowing, full-length deep indigo ball gown that she wore. The two straps on the dress allowed a small amount of her cleavage, but they pulled up into a halter-neck Her beautiful raven hair had been lightly curled, and two small bits of her fringe had been plaited at either side and brought round to join with a mother of pearl clip in the shape of a butterfly at the back.
"She's stunning..." Zoro breathed quietly to his fellow agents, all of whom grinned at one another without him noticing.
The ball resumed, with the royal families greeting one another. Nico Robin, wandered gracefully through the crowd, graciously smiling at those who introduced themselves, murmuring a reply of 'nice to meet you' or other such phrases.
Finally reaching Zoro, she smiled at him almost seductively. "Good evening." She said, her smile growing slightly. "So I'm a princess and you're a normal guy...Let's have dinner."
Shanks raised his eyebrows, whereas Coby's mouth nearly dropped in shock.
Zoro allowed the corner of his lips to quirk up in amusement. "That has to be at least the fourty-second time that you've asked me this." He told her, giving her a pointed stare.
Biting the inside of her bottom lip momentarily, Robin laughed quietly. "Obviously I'm not trying hard enough." She concluded. Zoro didn't reply, merely watched her as she was the first to take to the ballroom's dancefloor in the center of the gigantic room.
Signalling to the orchestra by holding up three of her fingers, they nodded to her and started to flip the pages on their music stands. All around her, prince's began to cry out as they asked for her hand in the dance. Politely, she refused them all until there was a silence.
"What is she doing? Why hasn't the music started yet?" Coby questioned.
Shanks glanced at him. "The orchestra is not allowed to start until Robin has taken a partner." He explained.
Suddenly, Robin turned towards them and directly looked at Zoro, holding her hand out towards him. Zoro's eyes widened at her boldness and stayed rooted to the spot, trying to think of how to get out of the situation.
"Get out there boy." Rayleigh laughed quietly as he watched Coby silently remove Zoro's katanas. Grinning a sly grin, Rayleigh abruptly pushed Zoro forwards so that the swordsman stopped just in front of the princess, having nearly walked straight into her.
Looking straight into her face, he watched as Robin's lips twitched into a mischievous smirk.
Zoro stared at her warningly, but she took no heed as she curtseyed to him, making him have no choice but to bow to her in return as he heard the first lilting notes of the beginning of the Tarantella, complicated dance that he had been taught a long, long time ago.
The dance began.
Like the rolling waves of the sea the two of them were carried by the pulsing, sweeping melody of the opening of the song. Round and back, falling into each other's arms, and allowing themselves to be tossed away again, like leaves in the strong autumn wind.
Mihawk stood transfixed, watching in complete stillness. His body straining, mouth open and frozen in curiosity, anger and anticipation of the dancers moves, and he watched them in each unfolding beat as the song progressed.
As for the dancers themselves, they were possessed. Zoro no longer thought of the secrets of the steps that he had been taught long ago, or of guiding and leading his partner. Neither of them led, they flew together in the only way possible, the way the music commanded and they let their bodies decide. Away and round, reaching but not yet touching, and away and back, spinning into each others arms.
So lightly, barely brushing as they met before passing and leaping, down on one foot and then the spin, the turn, the clasp.
Robin danced as if after this dance her life would end, as if nothing, and no one existed but this man, this music. He was her dance partner, her guardian...and her in her own mind, her lover. For as the dance lasted, they were two bodies become one.
She felt his strong arms around her as she fell back, confident that he would not let her fall, and felt his beating heart as she rose again and felt her breast pressed against his chest. She spread her arms wide and he lifted her, and she was dropped again to the ground, feeling almost weightless.
And together within the same heartbeat, they exploded into free flight. One mind, one song, two bodies in motion. Pushing through into total abandon, together in a dance that was one, folding embrace.
In this state of grace, Robin knew there were no rules. No limits. Her body could do anything because everything it did was beautiful in its own right. So smiling, glowing and beautiful, she headed towards the climax with him.
Without conscious thought, they both slipped into the rise, parting, hands rose, meeting to the merest fingertip touch, parting again in an accelerating rhythm. With each re-touch they came closer together, but by no more than an inch, and their touching hands rose higher. With each parting they spun farther away from each other, so that as they built up to the climax they were hurtling away and throwing themselves back into an almost embrace, closer and closer, arms higher, higher. Arms high above them, face to face, chest to chest, and barely touching with the everyone around them hardly daring to breathe as they waited for the final move.
Robin twisted around as they came back together and fell into the last embrace, feeling like she weighed nothing as Zoro's strong and muscled arms wrapped around her and held her steady mere inches from the floor.
The whole ballroom was silent for a few seconds, taking it all in as they watched Zoro helped Robin upright, both of them panting slightly from the quick movements of the exhilarating dance. Taking Robin's hand, he bowed and kissed it to end the dance.
The room burst into applause, and moments later the orchestra struck up a new tune, allowing more couples to start the famous Tchaikovsky's Waltz. Meanwhile, Zoro lightly took Robin's hand and lead her off of the ballroom dance floor.
"What the hell was that?" He asked in an undertone as they rejoined Rayleigh and Coby.
"I do believe it's defined as 'fun'." Robin replied. "Thank you very much for the dance kind sir. Will you be joining us for dinner?"
Zoro sighed impatiently. "My lady, you know I can't."
Robin let her eyes roam his face for a moment. "And here I thought you were the adventurous type. The one that didn't care about the rules."
"I don't. But I don't want to get you into trouble, which will most certainly happen if this continues."
"Me in trouble? What about you?"
"I'm already in trouble. It's you I'm worrying about."
"How kind of you."
"You're welcome."
"Indeed."
There was a moments pause.
"Zoro, when can I dance with you again?"
"You can't."
"Why not?"
"My dance card is full."
"With whom?"
"Rayleigh." Zoro replied straight-faced. "He's been wanting to dance with me for ages, and I promised him a full night in his best ballroom dancing shoes so-" He was cut off as a laughing Rayleigh smacked him upside the head. "My lady...You understand my meaning."
Robin nodded. "Unfortunately so."
The ringing of a bell caught the hall's attention as a man with a tall white hat on stood in the entrance to the ballroom. "Dinner, is served." He called, finally clicking in Zoro's mind as the palace's head chef.
'Not a patch on Thatch.' He thought with a smile as he, Mihawk and Rayleigh followed Robin through to the royal dining hall.
A great long table had been set up, winding like a snake throughout the hall so that it would make room for everyone. As the royal families weaved amongst one another in the attempts to find their assigned places, Zoro's eyes suddenly widened as he saw a blonde, weirdly pale man with piercing blue eyes remove a bone handle knife from his jacket. Zoro cursed as he realised that Coby had his katanas and watched as the knife was aimed at his princess.
"NO." Zoro yelled, diving in front of Robin just as the knife was thrown.
There was a sickening thud as the knife embedded itself in the back of Zoro's right shoulder. Refusing to move, there was a scream from the surrounding royals as they saw the shoulder of Zoro's suit start to deepen with blood. Groaning in pain, Zoro lifted his head and watched as Rayleigh and Garp raced across the room with a speed Zoro had never seen the likes of before and tackled the attacker to the ground, swiftly knocking him out and placing seastone shackles around his wrists.
The dinner was swiftly cancelled and people were asked to head back to their rooms as Mihawk started to order the agents to check for any traps or anything that could endanger anyone.
Meanwhile, Zoro felt the hand of his good arm being grabbed, and moments later he was being raced up the stairs and into a large purple room. It took him a minute to realise that Robin had just pulled him into her room. "Wh-Robin what are you-"
"Hold still." Robin ordered as she crossed her arms in front of her and allowed two arms to grow either side of Zoro's shoulder. "There's a knife in you."
Zoro nearly sweatdropped. "Yeah, thanks for reminding m-OW. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST." He yelled in pain as he felt the knife being ripped out of his shoulder, shredding a little bit of the flesh as he it did so. Then a piece of what felt like a wet flannel was held to his shoulder, pressurising it in an attempt to stop the bleeding. After about two minutes, it was removed.
"There." Robin finalised. "That will keep you until you find some bandages."
"...Thank you." Zoro thanked her, watching as she locked the knife in a drawer for safekeeping.
Robin nodded and disappeared into a separate room for a few minutes, reappearing in her night clothes. Zoro blinked, unsure of what to do. "I would call for the maid, but she's probably freaking out in the kitchens." She explained as slid into her four-poster bed and pulled the covers over her.
Zoro nodded politely, coughing awkwardly to clear his throat. "Sleep well my lady." He said, checking the clock on the wall which told him that his shift was over.
There was no response from the eldest princess, as she was already asleep. Smiling softly to himself, he quietly walked over to her and made sure that she was comfortably tucked in. Wiping a stray strand of hair out of her face, he leant down and kissed her forehead lightly.
"Sleep well. Robin." He whispered, turning and heading out of the door.
Closing it silently behind him, he called two of the palace guards over from where they had been walking down the corridor, ordering for them to guard her door until she woke. Noting that he was an agent, they nodded and stood to attention at either side of her door as Zoro quickly went down the stairs and out of the palace into the night.
Whistling once, he waited until he heard the familiar sound of hooves upon stone. Balthazar nudged Zoro's hand and neighed in greeting. Zoro smiled and put his arm up to pull himself into the saddle, but he shouted in pain and withdrew it to his side as he felt the knife wound open up again. "Shit." He cursed, using his other arm to swing into the saddle. "Go Bal. I've got to get this seen to."
They cantered down the roads, the sound of Balthazar's hooves echoing in the night on the empty streets, the only light being the street lamps that they passed. A second set of echoing hooves joined that of Balthazar's, making Zoro jump slightly as Shanks drew up alongside them on his dark brown Quarterhorse, Castiel.
"Zoro. When we get back to headquarters, I'll patch that shoulder up for you. But you need to rest it, so we're giving you the day off tomorrow. Understood?" He called out, his red hair whipping back in the wind.
"Yes sir." Zoro called back shortly, nodding once.
WE SAW ROBIN. WOO! YEAH!
Phew...xD
Longest chapter I've written so far. 7000+ words people!
I think that deserves a review...Please? =3
Kai XxxXxxX