Smarter than he lets on – chapter 2
A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Finally had a bout of inspiration. The story continues after the time skip. Enjoy!
It had been two years since the members of the Straw Hat crew had seen each other. The reunion had predictably been a boisterous and joyful occasion. Everyone was genuinely glad to be reunited and seeing each other again; even Zoro and Sanji (though the pair would sooner die than admit that they missed each other).
For the first few nights after had they set off for Merman/Mermaid Island, the unlikely bunch of Nakama had opted to hold a series of parties and gatherings on deck in an effort to catch up. Sanji was undoubtedly the funniest guy at the party with his stories of the hell he had experienced and the rantings he had against Luffy and Zoro when he found out they had been in the company of some beautiful women for their two years. However, Sanji also almost single-handedly killed the parties every time he started to nearly bleed to death from the nose; Robin secretly wondered how many heart attacks Sanji's condition had given Chopper.
After the parties died down, the crew slowly stumbled back into old routines, and that also meant that the captain and his archaeologists would soon resume their secret meetings in the crow's nest.
One night, Robin and Luffy were as usual sitting together in crow's nest and discussing various issues. Sprawled out in front of them was the latest copy of the newpapers. Luffy had taken to reading it but had gotten Robin to procure them in his stead lest he draw unwanted attention from the crew.
"So captain," Nico Robin began in that tone that was equal parts inquisitive and as Luffy had learnt, mischievous. "when did you start reading the newspaper? Was this something you learnt on Amazon Lily?"
Luffy looked up from the papers and turned to his friend.
"Yeah. I never used to read newspapers because I wanted people to think I couldn't read and also because I wasn't willing to allow the rest of the crew to find out about the dangers that awaited them."
Luffy paused as his eyes took on a hint of sorrow.
"On Amazon Lily, there was an old woman who always got newspapers and read them. She said it was her job to stay updated since her leader was a Shichibukai. It was through her newspapers that I learnt of Ace's capture and scheduled execution. Had they not had the papers, I would never have known and my brother would probably have died with me being none the wiser."
Luffy held back tears as Robin gave him a warm smile and sprouted a hand to pass him a hankie.
"I regret that we weren't able to save him; but I do not regret at least being there to try and being able to let him see how strong I've become."
Taking off his straw hat and holding it symbolically, Luffy continued.
"Since that day, I resolved never to lose anyone I cared about again; And that meant that I had to do everything I could to get better equipped for the New World, including reading Newspapers to keep updated."
Luffy looked down at the full page spread that showed posters of what the Marines had dubbed 'The Eleven Supernovas' - a group of super rookies that included himself, Zoro, Trafalgar Law, Eustace Kidd and Jewellery Bonney among others.
"With Akainu as the fleet commander, it's all the more imperative to stay abreast of what operations he's doing and what he thinks of us. This was something Raleigh taught me."
Robin smiled at her captain's colourful use of language and the poise and intelligence he was showing in front of her. If only the others could see, she mused.
"Luffy, are you ever going to tell the crew? I think we're a lot stronger now and it would be a huge boost for them to know that you're only playing dumb."
"Sorry Robin. I still don't think it's the right time. Besides, it's not the crew I'm worried about finding out now; it's the rest of the world. Going into the New World, we need every advantage we can get, and if our foes are going to underestimate us because they think I'm an idiot, then so much the better for us."
Robin smiled in agreement with her captain's strategy. It was true, the more one could catch others off-guard, the better. She had learnt that the hard way when trying to survive on her own for so many years.
"Robin, what do you think about alliances?"
"Oh! If you're talking about alliances between different crews, I would say it's a calculated risk. I have been on crews before that allied with others only for both members of the alliance to turn on each other. It's a gamble but the upside is that two crews can cover more ground and get more done."
Luffy put his hat back on and stared at the pictures of Law and Kidd.
"We may have to enter an alliance soon. I don't fancy it but I think we'll need to grow the crew into more than one boat can handle. We will also need to ally with other crews if we are to take on the threats in the New World, including that stupid hot-head Akainu."
Robin let out a small laugh at the way Luffy has said that last few words regarding their mutually hated foe. Robin herself had sworn vengeance after learning what Akainu had done to her old friend Aokoji.
"Let me guess, captain. You'd prefer the alliance to be with one of these two captains?"
"It's like the old saying you taught me. Better the devil you know that the devil you…"
"…don't know." Finished the archaeologist with a smile.
As they continued chatting away, in the women's quarters, the navigator began to stir and walk out onto the deck. The fact that they were on the way to the island of Merman/Mermaids had left her unable to sleep properly the past few days. Nightmares of Arlong and his crew had forced Nami awake and she had walked out on deck to clear her head.
Seeing the crow's nest light on, she assumed Robin (who was on duty) was probably reading and decided to get some sisterly advice from her. She was surprised to hear Luffy's soft laughter coming from the crow's nest as she climbed up.
For their part, Robin and Luffy had both known she was climbing up as Robin had seen her with a sprouted eye and Luffy has sensed her with his Haki. Luffy has wanted to get away and play dumb again but Robin had tied him down and started to tickle him so that he would be incapacitated until Nami climbed up. Robin had decided that if she wanted to push the Navigator and Captain together, this was the first step – for Nami to discover Luffy's true intelligence.
As Nami opened the trap door, she was greeted by a flurry of petals in the air and the strange sight of Luffy and Robin sitting together in front of a newspaper.
The orange-haired cat thief looked expectantly at the duo.
"Robin? Luffy? What the HELL IS GOING ON?"
