Author's note: It's finally here everyone!Thanks for being patient with us!
After some thinking, Misa and I decided to split the third chapter in half. The story was getting long and we figured that it would be best to post in two parts. The second half will highlight all the action.
Now with that said, on to Part 1!
CP9 period, 1513 A.O.P
Midnight Star hotel, Talin island
*note: in this chapter, Robin is acting as a character she created for this mission: Deetje (pronounced "Day-tcha"). "Deetje" and "Robin" will be interchangeable but they are the same person. Robin is less experienced in this kind of mission, and is thus struggling to stay within her "Deetje" persona.
If ever you happened upon someone who visited Talin Island, he or she would most likely tell you that the island was at its best underneath the stars. However, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who left the city of their own volition or even see any stars from within the city's walls. You'd also most likely brush off their tales of Talin Island as the extrapolations of a half-sober drunkard. So impressive are the surroundings that you'd have to see it in person to believe it yourself. The city once had a name but, whatever it was, it has been long since forgotten. There are plenty of nicknames for it though, many of them lengthy, questionable, and absurd.
The City of Happiness, the Sun of the Night Sky. Interestingly enough, most of its inhabitants were not its citizens. It was a playground for the rich and powerful, the wealthy from other islands of less grandeur. The city was overflowing with drunkards, gamblers, dancers, prostitutes, and snobs and, suspiciously enough, no street rats. The largest hotel, the Midnight Star, was built on a man-made promontory in the center of the hubbub and excitement. It had the brightest lights, the grandest parties, the biggest games, the largest purse, and the darkest secrets. It was also the destination for a certain beauty with her own tinge of shadow. Tonight was a night for espionage.
A gilded contraption driven by a local driver pulled up in front of the Midnight Star. The feather perched atop the ride's hat bobbed up and down gracelessly as he opened the stage door with a flourish. Satin as illuminous as Talin's night sky spilled out the door and a woman daintily slipped out. She easily dwarfed her ride, especially with her heels and slim body, and he gazed up at her in awe before accepting the gold coin and scurrying back into his seat.
"Thank you much! Enjoy your evening, Ma'am! Hya!"
For all that his clothes speak of a decent amount of wealth, he's surely not getting enough to eat, Robin reflected. Her fingers smoothed her low-cut cocktail gown and airy shawl for show before she glided into the building. Ignoring the heated stares of the men and curious glares of the women around her, she pressed her fingertips around her small clutch, politely accepted a glass from a servant and scanned the room as she sipped the liquid gold. Hmm...not bad. Staircases, balconies, she noted her environment even as she admired the glamorous interior, plenty of rooms to hide secrets in... Unfortunate that most of this is here at the price of human life.
She took her time moving in on the main hall and was intercepted by a handful and a half of overly eager men before she finally singled out her target. Tuning out the latest dandy who was bragging about this or that, she covered her hand as if to stifle a polite giggle and murmured to the *Micro Mushi in her ear, "Target found."
xXx Flashback to a week ago xXx
Robin slipped into the briefing room and bowed to her superiors. She stood in a proper stance as they related the details of her newest assignment, "We have received new information about the target, Dablec Manrow. Evidence leads us to believe strongly that he is the one behind the smuggling ring and that he is in cahoots with one of the Yonkou. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, we cannot unleash an all-out assault on his organization. He will, however, be holding a party on Talin Island at the Midnight Star Hotel where we believe his base is located. This is where you come in, Agent Shadow Blossom."
"Yes, Sir." Robin whipped up a hand and caught the rolled-up paper one of the men tossed her. She enrolled it. It was a map with a list of suspects jotted down on a separate paper.
"You are to arrive at the party as an upcoming crime boss in need of connections. Get on his good side," tinted glasses glinted at Robin as the speaker paused. "Make him reveal the location of the base. Eliminate him and head inside it, wherever it is, and permanently sabotage their operations. When you are done, report back to us."
Robin nodded and quietly exited the room. As the door clicked softly behind her, a scornful voice echoed through the hall.
"Don't make me laugh. There's no way you could actually act like the woman you look like."
Robin looked into haughty, green eyes heavily outlined in kohl, "Did you need something, Khiara?"
The voluptuous woman leaned in closer than Robin was uncomfortable with. She must have seen the guarded look in Robin's eyes because Khiara giggled low in her throat before pecking Robin on the lips and sauntering away. "See, you're too stiff. Learn to live a little."
"I do not consider lying with my various superiors an admirable lifestyle."
Khiara shrugged and began fading into the gloomy hallway, "To each their own. I'll be watching your pitiful performance. Dablec Manrow likes any woman as long as they're feisty about getting into his pants. However, he especially likes the young ones. You may have matured early but you haven't yet learned how to use yourself properly."
"You wish this was your mission, then."
At this, Khiara paused and the air dropped several degrees. The air quivered when she threw her head back and laughed in the reverberating darkness. "I'll be watching, little bitch."
xXx
"Deetje!"
Robin snapped out of her reverie and saw that the man who'd been elaborating on his political standing earlier had turned his attentions to...Khiara?
"Deetje~" Khiara gathered Robin into a tight hug, to the delight of many onlookers. "I've been looking for you for hours. Ellie-chan missed you so-so~ much!"
"Ellie…" Robin thought quickly, "I was looking for you too, but I was distracted by the marketplace. It was incredibly fascinating and I–"
"Oh, be quiet!" Ellie huffed. "You—who is this?" she turned curious eyes onto the ogling dandy.
Robin supposed anyone would stare. Though most of the women at this party had rather large assets, they were no competition for Khiara. "Ah, this is–"
"Banks Todd," he bowed elegantly.
Robin—or Deetje—raised an eyebrow. He had recovered rather quickly though she did not care for the increasingly lustful aura he was emitting. As the two made small chat, Robin allowed her eyes to roam. She found her target heating up the dance floor and frowned inwardly. Unfortunately, Khiara was not completely inaccurate when she had degraded Robin before. Robin was truly not one for much dancing and she was unfamiliar with the one displayed now, though she would bet no small amount that this sequence was unfamiliar to Khiara as well. Nevertheless, she slipped away from the ditz and the dandy. It wasn't like she'd actually lose Khiara in this crowd, not as long as she kept that brilliant red string of a dress on. Robin had separate bets on how long it would stay on.
She mingled with the crowd of onlookers and gossips. Once or twice she caught wind of the underground scheme, but lost those persons as they wove through the crowd. Her Devil Fruit powers were too risky to use at the moment after all.
The trail wasn't so cold that she'd lost them completely though. She could just follow the tails of those grunts as long as she could. However, a light tap on the shoulder made her dismiss that option, "Would this young lady—woefully alone at that—be willing to dance?"
Robin eyed the man through her lashes, instantly wary. Tall, strong build, piercing green eyes. Trouble? She didn't know yet, but if he knew that she was indeed alone he must have been watching her. "I'm sorry, I–" she paused as if reluctant, "I'm not very good at dancing and I confess that I am unfamiliar with this particular tune."
He simply laughed. "Don't be ridiculous! None of the dancing here is difficult. This is a formal ball—you have to dance. And I can teach you..." He clicked his heels together and spun smartly before bowing and extending a hand, "Or do you doubt my teaching ability?"
Robin turned until she faced him head on. She had her bets on troublemaker. "Is that a challenge?" she smiled, mildly amused despite herself.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Now, would you take my hand? My arm is getting tired."
"Hm," Robin sipped from her champagne glass. "You can hold it there as long as you'd like." She had to play this carefully. If the whispers around her were anything to go by, he was a regular here. A heavily sought after one.
"You have dealt a heavy blow to my heart!" he whispered dramatically. Robin playfully ignored him and they stood in some silence, but, when the song changed, he seemed to be invigorated and he exclaimed that he would get her to dance. With that, he plucked the glass out of her hands and gave it to a waiter that was passing by before coaxing her into the center of the floor.
Robin knew this dance at least, but she slipped up on purpose every now and then. He moved with such poise and strength it was practically suspicious. She told him so.
"Oh, please. You're practically a natural!"
Robin frowned. "Hardly," she quipped lightly. "I'm simply good at imitating movements," she locked eyes with her target for the third time before turning her attentions back to the man in front of her. He didn't seem to notice.
"What is your name?"
"It is only polite to first introduce yourself."
He sighed. "Of course, where are my manners? Kiira Tapper. And yours is?"
"Deetje." It truly doesn't matter what name he knows me by. He'll likely suspect that I'm not telling my real name and, if he's involved, he'll be dead before he knows it.
"Deetje. Beautiful name. What is that?"
"Dutch."
"Do you know this song?"
"Yes, I do."
"Good. I'll be seeing you shortly!"
The two were separated and they danced with other partners. At one point, they passed one another, but the crowd was big enough that, for the rest of the song, they didn't meet again. It was just as well because Robin found herself in the arms of her target.
"Lovely evening, is it not?"
"Certainly. You are Dablec Manrow, host of this extravagant party, are you not?"
"Yes, I am. Have we met before?"
Robin thought he looked a bit worn out from all the dancing. But he was still going and she had her suspicions as to why. "I'm a bit of a wallflower, but does it matter?" Deetje lowered her voice and whispered, her lips barely moving, "If you like what you feel, we can meet more of each other." She was very aware of his hand on her lower back as she subtly pressed herself closer. "I'm new and inexperienced. I need someone to show me the ropes," she twirled, the intense atmosphere suddenly dissipated. "But I'm not one to be indebted. After all, I was raised to give more than I receive."
He blinked, taken aback by her swift personality switch. "I'm not quite sure what–"
"Hiding it won't get you anywhere. I can see a Crimson Hourglass even with my eyes closed." Manrow's eyes widened a fraction and, to his surprise, she effortlessly slipped out of his restrictive hold on her and into the arms of another. "I'll be waiting." Better to keep him curious.
A few partner-exchanges later, the music had changed once more. Robin politely excused herself and exited the dance floor, making sure that Manrow's eyes were on her mostly-exposed back as she disappeared into the ring surrounding the dancing. In the corner of her eye, she caught a snatch of brilliant red disappearing behind a set of doors. Robin certainly didn't have her doubts about who that was.
She set herself up against one of the large pillars and amused herself by keeping her eyes on the target while seemingly observing the people around her. Presently, her original dance partner discovered her location and lamented that she had abandoned him rather cruelly. By and by, Kiira Tapper took his leave to get drinks and Robin took her opportunity to relocate. Not long after, she spotted the target making his way towards her and she slipped into a secluded hallway.
He found her admiring paintings in a gallery devoid of any human chatter. The loud chattering and music was reduced to the barest murmur behind the walls, a testament to the structural integrity of the Midnight Star. "Did you need something of me?"
"My, my, if it isn't Dablec Manrow, the most intriguing dance partner at this ball," Deetje turned and offered him a glass. "Something I picked up before I got here," she explained. He accepted and took a sip. Idiot.
"Could it be that you also appreciate the classics?"
"Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I didn't come here to waste time and I've already given you the code for negotiation—a toast! To our future?" she raised her glass. There was a tinkle that echoed throughout the room and they both downed their glasses.
"Alright, alright. You've caught me," he raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Deetje challenged.
"Are you sure you should be warning me?" Robin saw the first glimpse of the dangerous man he was, "I have plenty of influence over your standing, wherever you–"
"Deetje. Upcoming significant and representative of an organization in North Blue: Trickster. I've traveled long and far to find you tonight."
"How can I be sure that I–…How do I know that I...can trust you?"
"Oh, you can trust me," Robin pulled back slightly, uncomfortable though she did not show it. It appeared that Dablec Manrow was as useful as putty in the hands of a woman. "But don't take my word for it, let me show you why you can trust me." And I'll show Khiara exactly what I'm capable of… But first, "Clothes are rather restrictive, so why don't I...help you out?" The sound of buttons springing from their connections and a heavy jacket hitting the floor joined the dark fabric pooling on the floor. Robin fought to keep her persona in check. As expected, she truly didn't appreciate being looked at. There was, after all, a reason she took to the shadows while Khiara strayed closer to the light. But she needed proof. She needed to work him up and knock him flat in one go. That, and timing was everything.
She tsk'ed in her head. Man, no matter how powerful, was still just a simpleminded creature in the end. Robin let his eyes take in the lace and ribbons and netting before pushing him down on the cold marble floor and straddling him. "Now, why don't you tell me where the real Dablec Manrow is?"
His body stiffened and he protested, indignant, "Who do you–"
"You hesitated," Deetje rolled and narrowed her eyes. "Did you really think you could trick me into thinking that you were the infamous crime boss? You have no self control. You're not convincing. You don't exert power like you should and you drank what I gave you without second thought." She looked down her characteristic nose, "I refuse to believe that someone so gullible has millions placed on his head. Otherwise," she tossed her hair and stretched coyly, "I would have second-guessed **North Blue Crucifex's annihilation. A random nobody couldn't pull off something so elaborate."
She watched his struggling underneath her slow and his expression take on a hint of panic. Perfect timing. "The drugs should be taking effect by now if you're wondering what's happening to your body. Now, if you please, I'd like to know where your boss is."
"Present."
Robin leaned her elbows back on the fake Manrow's knees, eyeing the newcomer. A part of her had almost expected Kiira Tapper to emerge from the corner of the room, but this was not him and probably, definitely the real deal. One never knew what to expect from criminals. She'd read up on stories of him, but she needed to choose her words carefully. He might pull a gun on her depending his mood—depending on her attitude with him—and she'd rather not reveal the fact that guns don't work on her from the get-go. She needed to convince him that she was the right amount of overbearing and submissive—or exactly what he wanted—as quickly as possible.
Robin hummed and smiled. "Should I be offended or amused with the circumstance?"
"You can be whatever you like, but don't think for a moment that I'll consent to your proposals just because you tricked a rat," he glared at his imposter who looked like he wanted to flinch.
Robin looked him up and down. Dablec Manrow was not the most attractive crime boss—which really didn't qualify as much of a statement—but he could probably hold his own against her at half power. There were definitely men with less brain and more brawn underneath him. She'd felt them moving underneath the building throughout the evening and had had a time masking her presence from them. Robin definitely hadn't anticipated potentially fighting seven haki and devil fruit users. She briefly questioned why her superiors had sent her, but squashed it down. This was probably another test of theirs, though she wondered why Khiara had followed her and if the elders hadn't told her to keep on eye on things. No matter...
"I don't know how much you heard, but I'll introduce myself once more. Deetje. Upcoming significant and representative of organization Trickster in North Blue. I hope to hash details out with you so our groups can work together in the future. But before that," she unsheathed a thin knife from the ornament in her updo, "is it your custom to kill those who've failed you, or should I do the honors?"
Dablec took his time walking closer. "Do you have a preference?"
Deetje hummed thoughtfully, a mischievous smile blooming on her face.
XXX
"You've given me quite a night," Manrow handed her a glass. "Replacing the host is no easily accomplished feat."
Deetje gazed out the window at the Midnight Star and gave a crooked half-grin, rolling her wrist. It truly was the brightest building on this island, and that was saying something. They had moved from the hotel to a smaller, more private venue hidden among the surrounding myriad of lit buildings. Strategic, but dangerous. At least for her. Maybe. "Oh, I couldn't imagine that too many had even recognized him as the 'host' of such a large party."
She watched the image reflected off of the glass. He stood by an ornate, Victorian-style desk covered in a surprisingly—and perhaps suspiciously—minimal amount of paperwork. A single platter brimming with grapes was set carefully in the center. "We have other fruits if you'd prefer something else," Dablec picked up the plate and brought them over to her.
"You serve yourself?" Robin was genuinely surprised. Usually, crime bosses had lackeys at their beck and call.
"I prefer general solitude or small company to large parties."
She wondered how truthful he was being. In a few minutes she'd know for sure, but that was not the problem currently on her hands. If she asked for something other than grapes, she could be perceived as too comfortable or pushy. If she said that the grapes were fine, he could misunderstand and think she could be taken advantage of. And then there was the question of whether or not she should even eat the grapes and if she should or shouldn't get straight into business. Robin hadn't taken a sip of the wine yet, but she had her suspicions. Even more questionable than all the above was the discrepancy between the intel and the man sitting in front of her. Of course, it would have been one thing if the bounty poster had been a drawing, but she had been given an actual photo. And while she had thought that the doppelganger was a lookalike, so was this man. There were plenty of rumors, but most rumors will be rumors. If this was the real criminal, then why did the man in the picture look different enough to be no more than a look-alike?
Instead of answering, Deetje picked up a grape and brought it to her lips...and flicked it back onto the plate. "I don't mind if you test me, but don't you think deadly poison is going a little too far?"
Manrow stared before hiding a smirk in his cup and setting the platter down, "You're quite bold."
"I'm not here to do just business, but I'm not here just for fun either. I don't suppose I could do what I came here for if I were–" she spat the wine back into her glass. Robin trembled, I knew he put something in there. Stupid. She hissed as her exposed back hit the cool window pane and she struggled to stay up on her feet.
A cool hand retrieved the glass that was slipping from her fingers before it could shatter on the pitch black marble. "That was almost too easy…" Manrow glanced sidelong at Robin. "What is it that you said? 'You drank what I gave you without second thought?'"
Too close…cold...losing control–
He chuckled, "I ought to punish such stupidity and kill you like you did my double," and laughed when Robin stiffened slightly. "Oh, don't look at me like that. You are much, much too interesting of a specimen to terminate," his hands pushed her hips against the window to stop her from crumbling into a heap on the floor. "I'll punish you in a different sort of way…"
No! This is Deetje. Just a character…just– She managed to bring up a hand and shove slightly on his chest, an indignant fire burning in her eyes even as her eyelids and shoulders began to droop.
"How surprising. Why don't you stop me if you have the energy to?" he teased. He frowned when she continued to try and resist, "It would seem as if you didn't have quite enough of this. Well then, I'll help you out," he lifted her half-empty goblet. When he saw the tiniest flicker of alarm in her eyes, Dablec smiled, "Don't worry. I won't let you fall. I am immune to this drug. As for you...we can talk business after I get paid my dues," he tipped back the glass and crashed his lips into hers, forcing the liquid down Robin's throat.
xXx Flashback to her training years xXx
***We've already toned it down, but the following flashback may be too much for some of you. Skipping over this part should not impact your understanding of the rest of the story, but a brief summary of this flashback will be posted in the notes at the conclusion of the chapter.
"As an agent for the World Government, you must learn to utilize your assets and charm to sway the outcome to your benefit, and thus the World Government's benefit. You will engage in activity that you would not willingly participate in otherwise, that may be against your views or perceived as immoral, but this is the price of serving and saving the world..."
Robin kept her face studiously blank as the instructor lectured them again. Khiara, on the other hand, yawned openly—and loudly—clearly displaying boredom. The man dressed in black sighed, "Do you understand what you're being asked to do?"
Khiara huffed, "Duh. We're not babies. Come on, Robin. Let's go."
"Hold it." The two flinched. "Did you finish those videos?" When they didn't answer, he continued, "You do realize that you will eventually be required to train in this. 'Practice makes perf–'"
"Oh, would you shut it?" Khiara growled, trying to distract herself from Robin's trembling fingers in her hand. "We'll finish watching those dirty tapes by tonight." She spat by the instructor's shoe and pulled her best and only friend down the hall. "We'll show them. We'll show them good," she muttered. "Neh, Robin?" Robin could only bite her lip and give the tiniest of nods as she followed Khiara away.
…
Robin sat at the edge of the cliff, her legs pulled up underneath her chin. There should be a contract for this, she shivered. This wasn't right. And yet she'd promised to save the world...which ultimately meant that she was sacrificing her everything, even her virginity. She wasn't religious. She didn't have any sense of an other morality to cling to, and yet Robin felt distinctly uncomfortable and aware of the guilt and disgust she felt. Some of them she had known, others she hadn't and wished she never had. Over and over again she felt the cold, metal door against her back—another chill crawled up and down her spine. She wished she could cry, but she couldn't. She would be booted out and all her hard work and years of training would be for naught. She–
"There you are! I thought it was weird that you weren't working yourself out into a fury in the weight… Why are you out here?"
"It's too cold in the dark."
Khiara's blank stare quickly morphed into one of anger. "Would you stop moping around! Isn't this what we signed up for, what our destiny is? Since we don't have a choice, we should just enjoy it instead of wallowing in a pool of self-pity, boo-hoo!"
"I'm not moping."
"You are too. It's written all over your face and I'm tired of being around such a gloomy person! And today we're even having our last test before we don't have to do this stuff anymore and–"
"Couldn't you try to understand how I feel? You expect me to be like you but I ca–"
"You know what? I'm done. I'm done with you. From now on, don't talk to me unless I talk to you first. I've tried to cheer you up and you refuse. Consider me your rival, your nemesis. Maybe then you'll regain your senses." She turned her head away, huffed, and they didn't see each other again until that evening, alone behind the locked, metal doors.
Both passed the "final exam." Afterwards, they went in their own directions of general solitude. Khiara moved on and seemingly wasn't affected, but Robin couldn't forget the all too familiar feeling of being shoved against a cold, flat panel.
xXx
Deetje was gone. Robin was the one in charge and she was on the brink of panic. She'd had missions entailing sexual activity, but this was too close to home. Stupid! Not moving away from the window—stupid, stupid— It was bringing up memories and emotions she'd spent years pushing down, deep into the darkest parts of her mind. Of course, no one except Khiara would notice how vulnerable Robin was in this moment because she'd trained her body to react on instinct, but, all the same, she had to think. Think damn-it, think!
She gasped for air when Manrow finally let her loose. His breath tickled her ear, "Does this scenario seem familiar at all?"
"You're...mocking me…"
"I didn't expect someone so cunning to turn up from the middle of nowhere. Who are you really, Deetje?"
She was surprised by the sudden change in topic and she laughed under her breath, "You're undoing, sick bastard." Robin stood clear as she watched Dablec Manrow sink to the floor around her discarded dress.
"What the hell did you do to me?"
"Oops. I let you fall," Robin smiled, her facade of calm and omniscience slowly returning. Now that she was in control of the situation, she could actually begin getting somewhere in this mission. "I am immune to the drug you gave me, but I think it would be a safe guess to say that you haven't yet tried the drug that I tricked you into swallowing. Of course not. Not even those manipulating the black market can get their hands on this. Was my acting alright?" Deetje laughed as his face went through a range of different colors. "'As for you...we can talk business after I get paid my dues.' Now, who does that sound like?"
He growled at her, his jaw beginning to numb, "Who are you?"
Deejte smiled. "I already told you who I was– not that that meant anything." She rolled her eyes. "Oh, relax already. You'll get your fun. We're just going at my pace," she rummaged through his pockets and found a small remote.
She enjoyed the surprise on his face when she began manipulating the room to her liking. "How did you..."
"Reflective windows. Very nice. That way, no one can just look in and witness a murder. We wouldn't want that, now would we? Soundproofing in check—good. Ah, let me help you with these," she took the various weaponry away from his person. He gave a shout when eighteen arms restrained and pulled his limbs in various directions as if he were held up by and chained to a torture device. "Precaution," she winked. "I have no need for the chains you have, ready to drop from the ceiling." Manrow looked a bit uneasy even as he wriggled against her steel hold. "The drug doesn't last that long, but I'll be giving you something else shortly—to make you talk," Deetje explained. "I wouldn't want your pain to be numbed; it would be too forgiving of me!"
"Like I would tell you anything, foolish tramp! Do you honestly think I would crack that easily?"
"Last chance~ We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Answer my questions or I'll make you," she lowered her voice, "and I suggest you choose the easy way because...well," she smiled, "you'll find out soon enough. So, which shall it be?"
He glared at her and Deetje dodged a wad of spit.
She pouted at him, "That wasn't very kind." Her fingers snapped and an arm reached out. Dablec yelled as a bone in his finger was broken and Deetje tsked. "The human body supports an average of 206 bones and 108 vital points. Well—if you had 206, you now have—hmm. Regardless, a hit pressure point feels the same as fracturing a bone. Like this." Dablec struggled against his bonds and flinched when she hit a pressure point in his abdomen.
"How adorable. Your agony is quite amusing to me," she smiled. "Well then, since we got that little lecture out of the way—and you've already agreed to take the hard way, of course—" she eyed him for any sort of protest and continued when she received none, "—it's time for a game of three questions. Every wrong answer is deserving of another broken bone. Let us begin, shall we?" She tapped her cheek with a slender finger. "First question: Where is the underground base?"
When he remained silent, she clicked her tongue and an arm reached out and broke his left arm. "Bitc– arghh..."
"Humerus." Robin replied cooly. "It'll be your clavicle next, and—oh, one more thing—" she jabbed her finger deep into his chest. She brought her face close to his as he alternated between screaming and panting heavily. Blood leaked out around her finger and a crimson flower puddled on his white shirt. "A reward for every insult you hurl at me." She twisted her finger and pulled it out slowly as he gasped and red dribbled down his chin. "Just be glad that one didn't hit a vital point."
His eyes were beginning to roll and she put her forehead to his, "Let's try again. Where is the underground base?"
"N...not telling...you…"
Deetje simply grabbed the back of his head and reached for her other hairpiece. A small compartment in the chopstick popped open and she waved it underneath his nose. Satisfied with his reaction to the aroma, she snapped the stick together and rapped it against her thigh. "You were saying?"
XXX
Robin sighed. Blood dripped from her fingers onto the cold, wooden floor, the stuff already pooling and networking through the cracks. She pursed her lips when a storm of flower petals fluttered to join the tangy substance, the surface of the pure, soft pastel quickly marred. Dablec had passed out as soon as his unrecognizable form hit the ground with a sickening thud. He will have expired by the time she was wrecking his underground operation.
The blood dyed the water a lighter shade of crimson, swirling down the drain but seemingly going nowhere. The bathroom reeked of lead and she thought she could taste the tangy liquid in her mouth. After toweling herself off with her shawl, Robin opened her clutch and fished out a small packet, the latest packaging technology from Vegapunk. It expanded and she set aside her CP9 gear: a body suit and high-heel knee boots, both in her trademark midnight-purple color; the white, painted mask; her midnight-black cape. She slipped into her guise and stared at herself in the mirror through the narrow eyeholes. The Micro Mushi in her ear murmured and—suddenly, she was gone, slipping through a secret passageway in and out of the night's slightest and deepest shadows, leading her towards the other darkness hidden underneath the Midnight Star.
And that's the end of Part I! Stay Tuned for Part II where things get REALLY intense! Brace yourselves because we've prepared some awesome stuff and created some badass characters (that Misa is already attached to) for Robin to go up against. We'll include a list of Robin's attacks, as usual, and thorough character descriptions at the conclusion of Part II as well for anyone who's interested.
Btw, many of you asked about the Strawhats and when we would include them in the fanfic. We are planning to reach that point eventually, but (for now) we're going to focus on Robin's earlier life as both a child weapon and CP9 agent since the entirety of this story relies on those twists. We'll get into her relationships with CP9 members you already know before she meets the future pirate king! ;)
NOTES:
*The Micro Mushis are the spy ear pieces created by Vegapunk that are simply artificial mini mushi mushis. The size of these little things are equal to that of a flea.
**The annihilation of North Blue's Crucifix. Reference to the untold story of the defeat of a powerful and well-known criminal organization. The feat was orchestrated and executed by Dablec Manrow's group: Crimson Hourglass.
***The 2nd flashback briefly addresses the training (in seduction) Khiara and Robin—or any CP9 agent—had to go through. They were mid/older teenagers at the time and great friends. They were made to watch porn and then act out scenarios for experience and 'experience.' Khiara perceived the training as a game or something to enjoy while Robin was traumatized and retreated into herself. The difference in their reactions (defense mechanisms) towards the training caused Khiara to lose her already-short temper and distance herself from Robin (also a form of self-preservation). This rift in their relationship caused them to grow apart and their opposite experiences led them to develop into the characters they are now.