Ch. 5: Making new friends
Chuckling, Robin locked the room and trailed behind a fuming Law, his muttered threats echoing through the hallway as he stomped towards the bar.
"I'll kill him... I'll kill him... I'll kill him! This can't be true! I'll kill him!"
"This can't be happening," he moaned again, practically slamming himself onto a barstool when Robin found them a spot. He buried his face in his hands, a muffled groan escaping his lips.
"Come on," she said with a touch of amusement, after ordering each of them a whisky. "Doesn't every new expression of love brighten the world a little more?"
Law lifted his head out of his hands.
"Hilarious," he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I'm the one stuck dealing with a potential miniatur-Killer running amok on my submarine."
A laugh bubbled up in Robin's chest. The thought of Law, usually so composed, chasing a miniature Killer around his submarine was undeniably funny. She quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, both at the absurdity of the image and out of respect for Law's obvious frustration.
"Did you know?" Law asked after the whiskies had been brought.
"No. But I have to admit that I'm not particularly surprised. It certainly explains why they were willing to take the room with the double bed," said Robin. Law sank his head into his hands again and groaned.
"Whishing we had the double bed, now?" Robin asked, still very amused. Law moaned even louder.
"Stop it!" he begged her, "I don't want to think about it anymore!"
"Shall I distract you?" Robin offered after a short silence.
"How do you plan to manage that?" Law asked sceptically, his face still buried in his hands.
Robin took a sip from her whisky.
"How about providing information about the research that was carried out on Ohara?"
Law's head shot up and he stared at her with wide eyes.
"Do you think that might be enough to distract you?" she asked innocently. Law continued to look at her, perplexed.
"Do you remember how you told me your full name because you trust me?" she added, and then took another sip while Law continued to stare at her dumbfounded. Then she continued. "I trust you too. And if it can help you put events into perspective in the current situation, then I'm willing to tell you the research history of Ohara."
Law's only reaction was that he eventually managed to close his mouth and finally sat up a little straighter. Robin took that as a sign to start the story.
"I think you'll be fine if I use a few shortcuts. They've tried to erase Ohara from history, using that name too often here might make attentive ears prick up."
And then Robin launched into her tale. She meticulously wove together details of the archaeologists' painstaking research, the enigmatic poneglyphs that stood as silent testaments to a vanished era, and the translation efforts with which they unlocked the secrets of the ancient language. She spoke about the mysteries of the Void Century and the forgotten wonders of the ancient kingdom which she had witnessed as a child through pieces of information. For now, the stories of her mother and Saul and the end of the island remained locked away within her heart. The weight of those memories had a gravity that was inappropriate for this particular situation, and a part of her was not yet ready to express them fully. Maybe another time, in a more intimate space.
Law proved himself an exceptional listener. Every detail, every revelation, held his unwavering attention. The initial irritation with Killer and Ikkaku had long since faded from his mind.
As Robin's voice finally trailed off, the clock chimed two. Empty glasses surrounded her – the remnants of her whisky and later glasses of wine.
"Thank you," Law murmured. Words seemed to elude him at that moment, as he recognized it wasn't his place to ask for specifics, the weight of disclosure solely hers to bear.
Despite her obvious exhaustion, Robin radiated a peaceful satisfaction. Her gaze, somewhat detached, appeared to roam beyond the bounds of the bar, lost in the echoes of her own past.
She suddenly turned her gaze to the small dance floor, which was further back in the bar.
"I suppose your longing for peace and quiet is greater than your desire for the frenzy of the dance floor?" she asked him.
"That's absolutely right," he replied with a grin.
She slid down from her high chair and moved towards the dance floor.
"See you later," she simply said.
His gaze flickered towards Robin for a fleeting moment, then retreated back to his glass.
He knew she could dance. Back in Wano, while delivering a message, he'd stumbled upon her captivating geisha performance. Cloaked in anonymity, he'd allowed himself to be mesmerised, her grace on the dance floor a feast for the eyes. 'Not only on the dance floor,' a traitorous thought whispered in his mind before he shook himself. Inappropriate moment, really, he grumbled.
Still, an irresistible pull drew his eyes back again and he only turned away when a cheerful male voice addressed him.
"Stuck to the bar for a better view, are we?", A loud laugh erupted near Law.
The voice belonged to a cheerful-looking man with a shock of white hair, likely in his sixties. He grinned at Law, who quirked an eyebrow in response.
Just then, the barkeeper appeared, and the man settled his bill. "Right charming, wouldn't you say?" he chuckled, turning back to Law.
Law, remembering his undercover role, attempted a friendly smile. It wasn't quite convincing.
"Haha, wouldn't want the missus catching me admiring other women, now would I?" the man continued, throwing his head back in laughter.
Before Law could even try to think of a respond, a small, grey-haired woman materialized beside him, mirroring the man's cheer.
"Everyone ought to admire her! Such stunning grace," she exclaimed, eyes twinkling. "A feast for the eyes, indeed." Her gaze then flicked to Law. "You two make a very handsome couple," she added with a warm smile.
Law felt increasingly out of place. He forced a strained smile and mumbled a curt "thanks" for the compliment. The man, sensing his discomfort, laughed again.
"Haha, Monika, I think we're scaring the young fella. No offence intended, of course."
"Perhaps a bit too much rum for us oldies, eh?" Monika chimed in, and they both erupted in laughter, their eyes sparkled with the innocent mischief of an old couple still content in their shared company. Realising this, Law's shoulders relaxed, and his smile became genuine.
He then surprised himself with a burst of chatter.
"Her grace on the dance floor is something to behold. My two left feet would only trip her up, not help her float across it. I'm content just watching and seeing the happiness in her eyes when she returns." He said and then drained a good portion of his drink in one go.
"That's the spirit!" Rudolf boomed, clearly amused. "Happy wife, happy life, that's what I always say!"
Law managed a grin, relieved his comment had landed well.
"Goodness, where are my manners!" the man exclaimed, suddenly flustered. "I'm Rudolf," he said, extending his hand. "And this lovely lady is my wife, Monika."
Law shook their hands, offering a simple, "Laurent."
"Ah, French?" Rudolf chirped, his eyes wide with delight.
Caught off guard, Law hat to improvise quickly.
"Not quite," he mumbled. "French heritage on my grandfather's side, but I've never even been to France. Don't speak a word of French either, unfortunately. Just the name, I'm afraid."
Monika chimed in with a warm smile, "A lovely name nonetheless, Laurent. And you must be here for your honeymoon then, sailing together on this ship?"
Law cleared his throat, trying to navigate the unexpected turn the conversation had taken. "No, no, nothing like that. We're not... married. Just taking a break before the work begins."
"A new job? Sounds like quite the undertaking," Rudolf remarked with interest.
"We just relocated to Kuruzu," Law replied, hoping to keep the conversation brief.
Monika's eyes gleamed. "Really! Where did you live before?"
"Dressrosa," Law answered, bracing himself for the inevitable questions about the nation recently embroiled in chaos.
Rudolf's eyes widened with excitement, earning him a nudge from Monika.
"Hold back, Rudolf!" she warned him and Law looked at the two of them in astonishment.
"As much as eyewitness accounts excite you, I doubt Laurent is keen on reliving the whole mess again tonight," she said, giving him a knowing look.
Rudolf, catching the hint, cleared his throat sheepishly. "Right you are, my dear. Forgive my enthusiasm, Laurent. Historian's disease, you see. Eyewitness accounts are like gold to us."
Law let out a relieved sigh.
Just then, Robin returned from the dance floor, a radiant smile lighting up her face. Relief washed over Law, the weight of forced small talk lifting from his shoulders. This social stuff definitely wasn't his forte.
"Robin," he announced with a hint of gratitude in his voice, "allow me to introduce Monika and Rudolf."
He gestured towards them, happy to hand over the reins of conversation.
Robin blinked in surprise for a moment, then a warm smile returned on her face. She reached out, friendly shaking Monika and Rudolf's outstretched hands. They, in turn, showered her with compliments, Rudolf even bowing slightly, a touch theatrical. "Robin, you truly possess the grace of a dancer! It was a privilege to witness your performance."
Monika chuckled, "Rudolf, you charmer. But he's absolutely right, dear. You were captivating! You're truly a phenomenal dancer."
She then directed a warm smile towards both of them. "Unfortunately, unlike yourselves, these old bones require a bit more rest these days. It was a genuine pleasure meeting you both. Perhaps we could join you for dinner sometime soon? I'd love to hear more about your travels."
Robin, though a little surprised by the invitation, maintained her friendly smile. Law, however, surprised her further. "Absolutely," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Robin here is a history teacher, I'm sure she has plenty to share with you."
Robin's gaze darted towards Law, eyebrows raised. Was this really happening? Trafalgar Law, the man who generally avoided social interaction like the plague, was suggesting a dinner with complete strangers? Could he have had a bit too much whisky?
"Really? That's fantastic!" Rudolf's enthusiastic reply filled the air. "We'll definitely keep an eye out for you tomorrow then. A proper conversation, that would be lovely!" His face split into a wide grin.
"Alright, time for bed," Monika announced, taking Rudolf's arm. They exchanged farewells with Law and Robin, their goodbyes tinged with a touch of theatricality. As they shuffled away, a comfortable silence descended, punctuated only by the distant strains of music.
Law exhaled a long breath, releasing tension he hadn't realized he was holding. When he finally met Robin's gaze, a mixture of amusement and curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Dinner with perfect strangers? That's a new one, Law, are you feeling alright?" she asked, laughter dancing in her eyes. "Trying to avoid Kilian and Ikkaku a little too much?"
"Perhaps I'm not quite the social hermit you believe me to be." Law countered with a hint of amusement.
"Careful now. You might turn into a party animal by the time we reach our destination," Robin teased, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes.
Law felt a surprising flutter in his chest, a spark ignited by the sound of her gaiety. A wave of warmth washed over him, momentarily attenuating the bar's clamour as he drowned in the beautiful melody of her laughter.
"Looks like the alcohol finally hit you," Robin remarked with a knowing smile, noticing his somewhat dazed expression.
His cheeks flushed slightly as he tore his gaze away. He glanced down at his drink, a sudden urge to drain it in one swift gulp.
"Perhaps you're right," he admitted. "Do you think we can go back?"
Robin glanced at the clock hovering above the bar. It was now almost three o'clock. "Yes," she answered, a yawn escaping her lips, "we can probably risk it."
"So, anything interesting I should know about Monika and Rudolf?" Robin inquired as they navigated the hallway towards their cabin.
"They were both quite impressed with you," Law answered. "Your dancing was... captivating."
"Really? Did they say that, or are you just being charming?" Robin teased, a playful smile on her lips.
A brief silence stretched between them before Law, perhaps emboldened by the lingering effects of the alcohol, conceded, "Both." He quickly averted his gaze, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
"They did mention something about me being a lucky man," he mumbled, trailing off.
Robin's response was a soft laugh, and as she laughed, she reached out and lightly linked her arm through his. Law's head snapped up in surprise, searching her face for any hint of her reason. But Robin continued walking, her gaze fixed on the corridor ahead. Now it was for Law to wonder if the alcohol was affecting her judgment.
"They asked if we were on a honeymoon," he continued, trying to sound casual.
"And?" Robin simply replied.
"We're not," he clarified quickly. "Not married, that is. We just relocated to Kuruzu, like Ikkaku blurted out earlier. Apparently, Rudolf is a historian. He seemed particularly interested in Dressrosa. I figured you two might have things to talk about."
He felt a slight nod against his arm, sending a jolt through him and his own steps faltered slightly. He elaborated further, hoping to dispel any awkwardness.
"Also, my French heritage comes from my grandfather. Hence the name, though my French language skills are nonexistent." he continued.
"Right," Robin mumbled, her voice muffled against his arm. A yawn escaped her lips a moment later.
Law reached out and opened the cabin door, a wave of relief washing over him as Robin's hand slipped from his arm.
"Everything's peaceful. You can come in," Robin said from the inside, before adding "I'm simply worn out, Law. Bathroom first, then straight to sleep." With that, she slipped into the bathroom, the door closing softly behind her.
"Alright," Law murmured to the closed door. He settled onto his own bed, intending to lose himself in a book. Focusing on the open page proved more challenging than expected. Perhaps the drinks had hit him harder than he realised. As fatigue tugged at him too, Law conceded defeat. His eyelids fluttered shut before he could finish the first sentence.
The sight that greeted Robin when she exited the bathroom was endearing.
Law lay sprawled on the bed, his mouth slightly open, eyes closed, shoes still on, his book lying on his chest like a forgotten shield and his regular breathing showing that he was already lost in dreams.
A soft smile tugged at Robin's lips as she approached him. Gently, she removed his shoes and retrieved the book that had tumbled from his grasp. Pulling the covers up over his chest, a wave of warmth washed over her. Following an impulse, she ran her fingers through his blonde hair, lingering for a moment.
The moonlight cast a soft glow on his relaxed face, his steady breaths creating a gentle rise and fall of the blankets. Robin found herself captivated, a surprising fondness blooming in her chest - a feeling that might have sent jolt of fear through her if fatigue and the lingering effects of the alcohol hadn't dulled her usual guardedness.
Withdrawing her hand from his hair, her fingers brushed his cheek, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. A moment of uncertainty flickered across her face before she leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.
Blush crept up her neck as she lingered for a moment, the weight of her actions finally settling in. Turning away, she slipped into her own bed, back facing him, and pulled the covers up high. Despite the lingering unease, a sense of security settled over her, and sleep soon claimed her, washing away the day's events.