My dear Denia! I'm sorry if I pressured you to pipe up! I didn't mean to do that. It's just a little awkward to say Guest when there are so many of those. It's perfectly fine if you are mainly just a reader! It's good to know you read my stories!
This story is an AceXRobin story requested by Denia! I hope I did okay on it! And I hope you like it! Thank you for requesting not just one but two stories! You are magnificent! Oh and just one thing, I've been rewatching Miraculous LadyBug, so sorry for the similarities in part because it gave me so much inspiration.
The next story is a CavendishXRobin story requested by Klipp! Wow, this one I'm really gonna have to work on because I have never read or thought of a story on Cavendish, but it'll definitely be fun to write because he's a funny character!
Only 13 stories left until this is done! If you read my chapter before this you know I might do a special to reach 100. Don't know quite yet what I'm going to do, but I'll figure that out sooner or later. I definitely want to reach 100 though before I take my hiatus for a bit! So be waiting for that!
"Princess Robin!" A tall blond man shouted as he ran into the throne room, catching the attention of the princess who was staring out of the window towards her kingdom.
Her long black hair rustled as she turned her head and faced her bright blue eyes towards the man who had knelt to one knee and bowed his head. She lifted the front of her elegant dress and walked back over to her seat, inwardly sighing at the never ending work she has to do.
"What is it Sanji-kun?" She said gently, putting her hands gently in her lap and looking directly at the man who was a secretary in a sense. He handled most of the mediocre stuff to help her and was her personal attendant, but there were some things he couldn't do and had to pass onto her.
"The knights have caught one of the thieves that have been causing trouble all of the kingdom!" Sanji said, quickly standing and putting a hand to his chest while standing at attention.
Robin sat up straighter and looked at Sanji with a dumbfounded expression. "Bring him in."
Sanji bowed his body slightly. "Right away your majesty." He walked out of the door and shut it behind him, but only a minute or two passed before the door was opening once more and Sanji was escorting in Zoro, her lead guard.
He had his hand clamped tightly on the arm of a tall man who had shaggy black hair and deep brown eyes; his body was muscular, and was easy to see since his upper body was bare. But compared to his manly looks, freckles were speckled along his nose and cheeks, giving him a slightly childish look. His tried jerking his arm away from Zoro's hold, but it didn't faze the guard one bit. Finally the man gave up and turned his beady eyes upon the princess.
"So this is the thief?" Robin asked, correcting herself, but her hands were clenched tightly in her lap, hiding them from the sights of Zoro and Sanji.
Zoro nodded, his eyes serious. "We got him at the crime." His hand tightened around the thief's arm, making their glares face towards one another as the hate electrified between them.
"Because I was walking by!" He shouted back, arguing against Zoro.
Robin turned her attention back over to Zoro, whose glare got even worse. "You had a jewel in your hand!"
"It was on the ground and I picked it up!" He argued again, his own eyes serious and angry.
Robin sighed and held up her hand, stopping Zoro as he was about to yell at the man again. "It seems we have misunderstood what has happened." Robin turned her own glare on Zoro who was about to turn his arguments against her, but her glare stopped him in his tracks. "We do not have any evidence against him, is that not right?" Zoro nodded, keeping his mouth clamped shut. "Then we are sorry Mr…"
"Ace," The man simply said, holding his chin out in pride over winning against the guard who was accusing him.
"Mr. Ace," Robin said with a nod. "We are sorry to have accused you of such a crime. But! If you are caught at another crime again, whether it coincidence or not, you will be persecuted as the thief."
Ace's pride dropped, but a small pasted smile staid on his face, trying to act cool in front of the princess who could easily change her mind and determine his fate. "Thank you." He said quietly, bowing his head down.
"Let him go you stupid Marimo!" Sanji shouted towards Zoro their rivalry coming out as Sanji kicks at him and hits the guard in the shoulder with his foot.
"Why you idiot curly brows!" Zoro shouted back, letting go of Ace and going after Sanji, causing the two of them to fight and bicker with one another. Ace and Robin watched with disbelief at the two grown men who were fighting like children. All over a simple man who was accused of thieving.
The night was lit up tonight with a full moon and bright stars; the air was crisp but cool…..a perfect night to steal…
Robin checked to make sure that the door to her room was locked and shut firmly. As quietly as she could she slipped on the black one piece that covered her body completely up to her neck, she slipped on a black mask, and finally pulled her hair up into a high ponytail, getting it out of her face for when she moved around.
She opened the doors to her balcony, looking out at the night sky again and taking in a deep breath. She had to make sure the coast was clear and that Zoro wasn't nearby to accidentally see her. One slip up and her whole secret would be unraveled. She grabbed the tight metal rope that was on her hip and tossed it, letting the hooked in circle around a tree branch and then latch on. A quick tug on the rope tightened it around the branch firmly and a small drop in her weight tested the branch for it's hold. Once she determined it was okay, she hopped onto the balcony railing and then off, letting the rope swing her towards the ground and over. Robin landed safely on the ground, and she checked one final time that she wasn't spotted before taking off away from the castle.
From building to building she jumped and ran, making her way across town and towards the large mansion that sat on the opposite side. Her target was a man of wealth, but that wasn't the reason she was targeting him; his wealth was made off of slaves and the black market, and Robin was going to put a stop to it.
"I was wondering if you'd come."
Robin tilted her head back and to the side, staring at the man who spoke. Ace stood there with a mischievous smirk, his arms crossed and his body tall with pride. And next to him was a boy only a few years younger with spiky black hair and soft brown eyes, a goofy smile on his face of fun.
"What are you doing here?" She asked them, turning her body around to face the two guys.
"Well, we know you always aim for the big dogs, so we figured we could help you out." Ace said, flicking his wrist to point towards the mansion to prove his point.
"Thank you, but no." She declined, turning back towards the mansion. "I don't steal the same things as you two, and I definitely don't do it for the same reason." Robin had been doing this for at least a year now. Stopping the underground trading systems, giving money back to the poor, and helping those in need; that is why she steals, not just to become rich.
"Ah, so you're here for the slave trade?" Ace asked, causing Robin to turn back around to face them with wide eyes. "We can help you with that."
Robin quirked an eyebrow up at him, her gaze turning into disbelief. "Why?"
"We're not all bad y'know." Ace shrugged, wondering if she needed a better reason than that…..obviously she did. "I don't think it's right to sell people. They have lives of their own and deserve to live it."
Robin felt herself relax a bit, seeing that maybe they weren't such bad thieves. This wasn't the first time she ran into them after all. The first few times she did they were stealing the money, but that money, she found out in her paperwork at the castle, had somehow been spread out to the people in a way no one would notice…..well, unless they were specifically looking for an amount that is. Though she knew that this was probably their doing, she was still wary on if she could trust them for this job. After all it wasn't money they were going after today.
"Alright," Robin finally agreed, giving a small jerk of her head to show that they needed to go now.
For a mansion that was supposed to be working for an underground trade, there were hardly any guards around. It made Robin's paranoia all the worse. This was suspicious and she knew by the looks on the guys' faces that they were feeling the same. Even when they crept through the window into the mansion, it was deathly quiet. No light was on, no person around, there wasn't even a single mouse running by. No place was this quiet.
"Something's not right." Ace said, putting a hand on Robin's arm and holding her back from walking ahead. The serious look on Ace's face showed that he felt something and Robin wasn't going to argue against him on this matter.
A small vibration went across Robin's foot, her black suit giving her a better chance at feeling it than Ace and his partner who were wearing thick shoes. She held her hands up, silently signally to the guys that she felt something. She knelt down slowly, putting her hand where her foot was and waiting. There! Another vibration hit her hand, it was soft and quick, but she felt it. She put her ear against the floor, trying to figure out what was making this vibration and there ever so softly she heard the soft thrum of a telecasted voice. A deep voice that was making the speaker rumble and vibrate…..
"Sound proofed basement." She whispered, more to herself, but still explaining it to the other two.
"That must be where they're doing it." Luffy said, nodding his head slightly at Ace to show they were thinking the same thing.
"We found a few tunnels under the town. That must be how they are carrying the people around to the buyers and out of town." Ace explained, knowing that he had the missing clue to her suspicions. "We didn't know where they began…I guess we have our answer now."
"It won't last long. We have to be fast." She told them. It was enough to make them all move forward again, looking for the doorway that would lead them downward to the secret basement.
"Here!" Luffy shouted, his hand pushing into a brick. The bookcase to his left moved, revealing an elevator.
"Good job." Ace said, patting him on the back.
"Keep on guard. We don't know who will be outside the elevator when we make it." Robin said, getting her metallic rope and stretching it between her two hands.
And just like she said, the moment they hid the underground floor and the doors opened, two guards stood on either side. But just as the two turned their heads to look as to who made the elevator doors open, Robin and Ace acted quickly with knocking the guards out and dragging them into the elevator, hiding them from view.
"Nice," Ace admitted, looking at Robin's handy job of using the rope to put him in a headlock of sorts.
"Come on," She said, giving a smile towards Ace.
He couldn't take his eyes away from her. It was as if her smile was shining, and it captivated him. Her long black hair glistened under the lights above and flowed behind her like a curtain in the wind. Her blue eyes that shined through her mask made his breath become lost. Why did he feel like he knew her? Who was she behind the mask?
They carefully watched for the guards, avoiding them in the hallways. Soon they found the entrance to the tunnels, knowing this was the best way to intervene when they began to move the slaves. They didn't have to wait long until the sound of footsteps echoed down the tunnels.
"Hey! Who are you!?"
"Shit!" Ace cursed, spotting the guard behind them at the entrance of the tunnel. "Change of plans!"
Ace grabbed Robin's hand and took off, racing away from the guard who pulled out his walkie talkie and alerted the others. Shots rang around the tunnel and sparks flew, showing the where the bullets ricocheted.
"Keep your head down!" Ace told them, ducking his own head and pushing Robin slightly in front of him to keep her at least somewhat protected.
"There they are!" Robin breathed heavily, pointing her finger towards the large group of shadows that were being lead by two lights.
"There they are!"
The guards that were escorting the large group spotted them running towards them, pulling their guns out and aiming. Bullets flew around blindly, barely spotting the three that were in black and hiding within the darkness. Robin had a few close calls, nearly getting hit by the bullets that bounced off the rock around them. There was no way she stood a chance against those guns with just her rope.
"GAH!"
Robin looked up from diving to the floor from a bullet and saw the two guards ahead on the ground with Ace and Luffy towered over them with pipes. They must have gotten the pipes from the wall. They light from the flashlights hit the walls, showing the cracks that were starting to show from the bullets hitting them. It made it even worse with Ace and Luffy tearing off the pipes, irritating the rocks even more.
"We need to get them out of here NOW!" Ace shouted, grabbing the keys off the guard and working his way along the chains and cuffs that were around their ankles, tying them together.
Robin stood up quickly and looked up to the ceiling, spotting the pipes up above that creaked and groaned. Small bits of rubble trickled from the rock above, hitting the floor with clinks. The shouts of the guards that caught them earlier came closer and closer until she could finally see their flashlights aiming at them. She jerked her arm outward, throwing her rope and letting it wrap around the pipe.
"NGH!" She grunted, tugging on the rope as hard as she could. "Ace!" She shouted desperately trying to get him to help her with the rope.
Suddenly he was behind her, his arms moving around hers and grabbing the rope. Together they pulled the rope as hard as they could. Ace used his body to help her keep from slipping on the damp rock below them, and soon with their combined strength the pipes began to creak. A little more and soon the pipe was bending and breaking from the ceiling. The cracks spread along the rocks, and soon began to drop rubble faster and faster.
"Move!" Robin shouted, flicking her wrist to jerk the rope away from the pipe. She turned and jumped into Ace, tackling him to the floor a little bit away.
The ceiling caved in quickly, stopping the guards from getting any closer and blocking them completely. Shouts from the guards making new plans were heard from the other side, and Robin knew there couldn't just be one way into the tunnels. They had to move fast if they were going to get all these people out safely.
"This way!" Ace said, lifting Robin up with him and tugging her into a run while corralling the large group of slaves.
Ace and Luffy lead them around corners and down side tunnels as if they knew where they were going. "We know which tunnels lead to the guards station."
Robin didn't argue and continued to follow them, helping the slaves that were lagging behind. Luffy suddenly started climbing a ladder, moving a man hole cover out of the way. He waved his arm up above, signaling the group to start following him. One by one they climbed their way up to the top, with Luffy helping them clear it completely.
"Oi," Ace said, stopping Robin while she ushered the last slave walk towards the ladder. "How did you know my name?" His eyes were suspicious and persecuting while looking at her.
"You….told me…." She said, realizing her mistake from earlier.
"No, I didn't. "He was certain he didn't tell her his name or his brothers, yet somehow she knew it. It made him all the more suspicious that he's met her somewhere.
"Oi! Hurry up!" Luffy shouted from above.
Robin jerked her arm away from Ace and ran towards the ladder, quickly climbing up with Ace following after her. Luffy was already showing the slaves into the building where the guards were quickly helping, their eyes wide in surprise to see the two they suspected as bad thieves somehow uncovered a black market slave trade.
"No!"
Robin heard the faint muffled cry of a child and jerked her head towards the sound. She spotted the child being dragged away by two of the guards who were hiding within an alleyway. Her anger grew quickly and before she realized her feet were carrying her towards the child. No way was she letting the guards take that child away.
"Oi!" Ace shouted, watching Robin run away and quickly followed after her. He spotted the child, realizing she was willing to risk her life for that child.
"Let her go!" She shouted, startling the guards.
She jerked her rope out, hitting one of the guns in their hands and making it fly through the air. Ace knocked the other one away as he dove into the nearest guard, struggling with him to get the upper hand. Robin moved forward herself jumped as the guard kicked a box towards her. She flipped over the box, pushing her hands on the box as it rolled and using it as leverage to flip herself into the air. She landed her heels on the guards face, breaking his nose and knocking him backward. The force of the impact made him let the child go while he crashed to the floor.
"Run!" Robin told the child, shooing her away quickly. But the child didn't move at all, instead she stood there shaking a little bit aways from Robin. "What are you doing? Run!"
"I…..can't…!" She squeaked out before opening the small vest she had on and showing the blinking device that was strapped onto her.
The guard she knocked over began to laugh as he looked at them and held up a controller with one button. "Too bad. This will be a sign for the rest of them that they can't run away from us."
"No!" Robin reacted quickly and pushed off her foot towards the little girl. She grabbed the bomb and ripped the straps from the girl and tossed it down the alleyway. Just as the guard was pressing the button she pushed the girl behind her and held her arms up, trying to protect herself somewhat from the pieces of rock and shrapnel that came flying.
The force blew into her harshly, ripping at her clothes and a rock hit her face right next to her eye. Robin fell to the ground with a thud, a ringing in her ears from the blast. She looked around for the child who was getting up and looking around herself. Then she glanced over at the guard who was now knocked out with Ace standing over him with his bloodied fist raised.
He looked over at Robin, eyes filled with panic and worry for the woman who captivated him more and more. But just as he was about to walk towards her he froze, eyes growing to the size of saucers. Her mask had been torn off halfway, showing her face to him…her identity was now found out…..her secret unraveled before her eyes.
"Over here!"
Robin jerked her head towards the royal guards who came out from the explosion and were quickly running down the alley. A hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her up to stand. "Get out of here now!" Ace shouted at her, pushing her behind him towards the other end of the alley.
Robin ran from them, using the smoke as her cover to hide from the eyes of the guards who came upon Ace and the girl. Why did he help her? Why didn't he just tell them who she was and what she was doing late at night? She didn't know why….but that didn't matter now….she owed him her life.
"Princess Robin!~ What happened to your face!?" Sanji shouted, spotting the scratch next to her eyes that was small, but noticeable on her smooth skin.
"I scratched my face this morning while doing my hair." She came up with a quick excuse, showing her nails and how one had broken. This seemed to be good enough for Sanji as he sighed and placed a small bandaid over it to keep the wound safe from infection. "Do try to be careful."
"I will." She said, nodding her head and giving Sanji a gentle smile that put him at ease.
"I believe that even though I am your personal attendant, you need a guard who will watch over you." Sanji told her, walking back down the small bit of steps. "It seems there was an explosion near the guards station, possibly from people who are out to take your protection out. We can't be for sure, but it's best to be safe."
"I don't need a guard…." Robin sighed, not liking that she was having to be babied now….but at least they didn't know what really happened.
"We'll talk about it later." Sanji ended the argument and pulled out a notepad. "Oh! And that Marimo guard is bringing in the same guy from yesterday. Seems he wasn't a thief but someone who caught the leaders of the slave black market trade."
"Oh?" Robin asked, sitting in her seat straighter, the smile trying to creep onto her face.
Just as Sanji had finished telling her the doors opened up and there stood Zoro with Ace and Luffy. Smiles beamed on their faces, while a frown appeared on Zoro's. They made their way in front of the throne and gave a small, polite bow to the princess.
"Thank you for doing a great service for this kingdom." Robin said, giving a small bow of her head to show her thanks. She composed herself adequately, but her heart was thrumming inside of her like a race car as her eyes came upon Ace. His eyes bore into hers knowingly, but still his mouth staid shut. He wasn't going to tell them. "If there is anything we can do as thanks, please let us know."
"Well," Ace said, stepping forward to gather the attention. He made his way up the stairs until he was standing directly in front of Robin. Sanji threw up a fit behind them, making his way towards Ace to drag him down, but Robin held up her hand slightly to stop him. Ace reached his hand out and cupped her cheek; gently he ran his thumb over the bandage that was next to her eye and looked at her softly. "I see that even the princess can be hurt. If I could use my request….." He stopped and looked at her deeply. "…I would like to promote myself to being the personal guard of the princess."
"What?! No way!" Sanji shouted, but nobody paid attention to him.
Robin stood up gently from her seat, pushing herself against him since he wouldn't move back. The smile she had been trying to hide finally crept out and cracked her face, lightening up her face in a soft glow that reminded Ace of all the times he met her in the moonlight. "Well, are you qualified?"
"I believe I am. Strong? Check. Smart? Check. Good reflexes? Check. The need to protect you….? Check." He said, slowing down to the last one in a soft voice.
"Well then, I guess you have the job." Robin told him, her smile turning even brighter and shutting Sanji up behind them. He'd never seen her that bright before, how could he argue against that.
"Then….shall we seal the contract?" Ace said, cupping her other cheek and bringing her face up to his. Their lips met in the middle and a soft kiss was putting them both into a tranced state. Who said a princess couldn't fall for a theif? He must have stolen her heart.