11946 - Nameless Island
Grand Line
Daytime
"Miss Olivia! Miss Olivia!"
The blonde turned around as she was called, a bunch of kids, both machines and humans ran after her. They were smiling and dirty, probably from playing a lot.
And she loved to see that more than she could say.
One little boy with brown curls came up to her first, holding something in his little hands.
"We wanted to give you this." he cheerfully extended his hands to her, with it the item he was holding.
It was a dagger.
And equally dirty, meaning they probably dug it out from somewhere.
Still, for the safety of the children, though he'd been holding it properly by the handle, Olivia took it from him.
It was still a blade after all.
And a pretty one that was, she could tell at first glance.
"Where did you find this?"
"Uncle Pascal had us play treasure hunters, because we wanted to find treasures like Miss Robin." one machine with a blue bow said, Robin was an archaeologist, but a treasure hunter was close enough for them to understand.
That explained the state of dirtiness they were in as well.
"But it looks like we found a real treasure!" another one with a pink bow added.
And it looked true.
If they truly had found this by digging in the ground.
It doubted Pascal would have given them a blade to play with too, he was very careful with this stuff, especially around the human children.
He was still plagued by the incident in his former village too, though he didn't say it.
His actions were enough to tell.
He hated weapons and violence even more than he already used to.
But still…
"Does he know?" the blonde asked, knowing well Pascal wouldn't have handed them such a thing.
She watched as the group of kids shuffled around, confirming her suspicions.
Pascal wasn't made aware of this.
"Well?" she gave them a pointed look. Right at this moment, she felt like a mother scolding their own children, but she knew that for their own sake they had to be careful.
"We wanted you to give this to Miss Sunny." one raven haired girl admitted.
Why Sunny of all people?
"Yeah, but she's so busy these days." a machine added.
Right, it hadn't exactly been her choice though.
There had been a shipwreck, so she was stuck doing her job with the other H types and the twins, and taking care of the injured.
She'd actually been one of the first people to act on it.
And Olivia was so proud to watch her feel useful.
It was something they both had trouble with, once they changed from being Operators, but she liked to think they had adapted well enough.
And to think that they interfaced even better with the humans.
Sunny had grown into one of the best Healers, thanks to Devola and Popola.
The sight of watching her smile so brightly whenever she had helped someone feel better was something she had grown fond of seeing.
Perhaps she just wanted her to be happy.
Because she loved her.
The metaphorical sun of their squadron.
"We would like her to have it, Uncle Pascal says she isn't very good at fighting, and that she also likes flowers." the little machine shuffled his feet, admitting the truth.
"And Miss Olivia likes Miss Sunny." another boy pressed his fingers together.
They were clearly embarrassed for being found out.
But also so very cute.
"You want me to give this to her as a gift." but were too shy to say it out loud.
They were so adorably caring.
Sunny often let them go to her little garden of flowers, and let them help her so they could have fun with it, and also they could learn something good, and because she also enjoyed it.
She was always up to cheer them up if they got hurt, and patch them up if needed.
With cute band aids and little kisses to the scratches.
Olivia could think that she may have rubbed off her girlfriend with her affection for the young ones, or with her motherly attitude she should say, but the other blonde had always been just as kind and caring.
It may have just increased over the fact that they now lived elsewhere.
It was just… different being here, rather than on Earth.
An improvement for sure.
All the kids nodded as soon as she mentioned the word "gift".
But still…
"On one condition." they all looked at her as she crouched down. "Next time let Pascal know."
"But he would have freaked out." he probably would have, given how terrified he'd become of the kids being hurt, and it being his fault even more.
Again, remains of his memories on Earth.
"I know, but you disobeyed him. And Sunny wouldn't like to know you got hurt because of her." she decided to play it on guilt, for as bad as it made her feel.
But she knew the Healer would have felt exactly the way she said.
"Even if it's for a good thing." such as a gift.
Still, Olivia reached out, gently petting the boy who gave her the dagger. "Weapons, for as small or big as they can be, are dangerous, and we don't want you to get hurt, okay?"
"Okay…" he sighed a little, but he understood.
"Now go back to Pascal, don't make him worry."
Olivia watched them scurry away from the way they came from, no doubt the machine must have been worried to no end if he couldn't find them.
Kids could be mischievous.
But also affectionate, she thought as she looked back at the dagger she'd been given.
So far, Sunny only had her newly built gun, the one Jackass had made for her, based on the old projects of Scanner weapons that they never received, and apparently also projects for different guns for G types, that were suspended and deleted not too long after.
Lycoris being the only one remaining to this day.
It would do her girlfriend good to have a close quarters weapon, just like the Gunner did.
Behind the brash exterior, she knew that the raven had loved being a mentor to the Healer, along with Dahlia, probably they wouldn't mind doing it again.
Especially now that they were finally a couple themselves.
She couldn't believe it took so long, but the two were rather dense.
But first, looking at the state of the small weapon, and knowing well someone that knew a lot about old things, she decided to find Robin first.
It didn't take too long to find Robin, suffice to say she was easy to predict where she would be by now, the woman found herself perfectly at ease in the building they had made a library of by borrowing books of the nearby islands, and also whatever they had managed to bring along from Earth that she had gathered around the City Ruins, but also the ones of the Forest Castle as well.
She was very much content to be in what could be called her natural ambient.
Matter of fact Olivia found her with her nose stuck in a book, sitting on a bench just outside and under a tree, her Pod leaning against her side, resting.
She gave off such a calm image that the Battler felt bad for ruining.
And for bothering her during her favorite pastime, she herself had spent quite the number of hours reading, mostly children's books.
Olivia knew very well by now she had a total obsession for human families, but actually seeing how they acted in person, sated her curiosity like nothing else.
Also she could sort of blame her older sister for this obsession too.
Cattleya was just the same way, and Olivia could have been surprised that the Scanner's false memories of a caretaker weren't shared to her, given how much she loved kids.
Something must have though, at least to a certain extent.
They still shared the same personality, and perhaps they could be considered the two ones that acted the closest to one another, more than other YoRHas of the same number. As far as they could observe that was.
And as far as they were told.
Calmly she walked over where the human that became her acquired daughter was sitting, deciding to do the same, taking the free spot at her side.
It was only then that Robin noticed her.
"Olivia, are you here to look for more books?" but the blonde shook her head. "Not this time."
"I came here to borrow your archaeologist's expertise."
That got the human's attention.
Other than a shine in her eyes.
"What for?"
The blonde took out the dagger from her inventory, she kept it there so if she were to meet her girlfriend she wouldn't know about it.
It was in the same state the kids had given it to her, just a little cleaner, but honestly she didn't know how to properly do so, and how to restore it to its former beauty.
That was why she looked for Robin.
Unlike her, she did know.
And it seemed she already understood what she wanted from her, as the human gingerly took the item off her hands, inspecting it.
"Where did you find this?" Robin held the knife high, letting the sun allow her to look at it better.
It was caked with dirt but she could make a few details out.
Of course it needed thorough cleaning, and Olivia knew it.
And she knew how fond of these things she was too.
"I didn't, the kids found it." the blonde gave a small chuckle. "They were trying to imitate you, and it seems they found an actual treasure."
Robin smiled. "That they did. I can already tell it's something precious, and most likely old. It must have been under the ground for quite a while." if the state it was in was of any indication.
"Perhaps it has been brought back near the surface with the works we've done to the island."
One of the reasons no one found it yet until now.
"I guess I should go home to clean it up then." but as Robin got up, Olivia grabbed her wrist, she had a really bright red shade on her face and ears. "The kids said I should gift this to Sunny, because it would help her defend herself."
"And because you love her." she teased.
If possible the Battler became so red one could wonder if she'd overheat.
"Is it really that obvious?" but Robin chuckled. "Olivia, by now I think that we are all obvious even to strangers as to who loves who."
"But that's okay." the human had one of those faraway looks they learned to recognize, when she was thinking deeply about something. "There's no longer need to hide."
No, there wasn't.
"Pod, would you please let Devola and Popola know, and ask them to keep Sunny distracted until I'm done?" Robin asked, even though probably with all the workload they had, the Healer would be too tired to do anything but sleep until the next day.
Which would also help.
As she watched him go, she and Olivia headed home.
Home…
She smiled.
What a word…
Olivia sat quietly in Robin's studio, Rose had made sure that when they built their big apartment, there would be enough space for everyone, and also for their interests.
The look her acquired daughter made when she saw it… pure bliss.
Her eyes had shined so brightly.
All for someone so kind, who had never received anything back.
It applied to her as much as it applied to everyone else too, but that included Rose too, such a good Leader and Captain she was that she deserved recognition for it.
The Battler gingerly touched the little design sewn on the cloth that covered her left arm.
They just had to choose that as their mark because of her.
The entire group agreed without any kind of hesitation, she recalled as she looked at the same one that was located on Robin's back as she worked on the dagger she gave her, hunched over on her desk.
At the moment she was thoroughly cleaning it with a cotton swab, after she had dipped it in a liquid Olivia didn't know.
"Watching her work can be quite hypnotizing, doesn't it?" Freesia walked in the room, taking long strides directly towards where Robin was sitting, the human knew just that as she briefly turned back to meet the albino with a soft kiss.
"It's one of the first things you've watched me do, shortly after we met." she replied, recalling that first time the rogue had stayed over to where their hiding spot was, and she had brought new relics to work on.
Quite the memory.
To think it had happened over a year ago, and it allowed them to bond over one's interest and the other's curiosity,
"I've never really had occasion to see her restore a relic, she only had ever shown me after." Olivia replied.
So yes, this was quite special too.
"Hopefully you will see this again in the future." and Robin said it and she meant it. She loved sharing anything about her passion.
But she wouldn't share how to read Poneglyphs.
She would not burden them with such dangerous knowledge.
Didn't matter how many times the Scanners asked her to allow them to help, not even if it was Clover and Cattleya.
Or rather…
Most importantly if it was them.
Knowledge can get people killed, and Clover was the primary example, and he knew it, that was why she refused to pin this duty on anyone's shoulders but her own.
After all, Ohara was her home.
Her home, her dream, her obligation to carry it.
At least this part.
The house gradually filled with voices of the others coming back from another day of work, and whatever they have been up to through these hours, all but the Healer, the twins and also the two resident Scanners.
Anemone said that at some point Sunny and the rest of the medics had needed a few extra hands, so they had called the Scanners to help.
Much to her disappointment, because she probably was spending time with Cattleya, Robin assumed, and she knew that she wouldn't be the only one to do so.
Same discourse applying for Luna too.
But duties were duties.
They'd come back later in the night they had said, at least to rest for the day after.
Which would be ideal for the current situation, Olivia thought.
So Sunny wouldn't find out too soon about her gift.
Daisy said she'd be keeping part of the dinner for them, so they wouldn't be left out. It wasn't necessary to eat for them of course, but the woman loved spending time not only doing that, but also learning how to cook, and she truly enjoyed it.
Besides, they had started acting a bit more like humans since they started mingling with them, which itself was a good thing.
It was something they had wanted, no?
To be able to do and experience mundane things like normal people. It was refreshing from spending so much time battling and surviving, just plain different.
So at least dinner time had to be spent like humans did, sitting at the table eating.
Daisy was often at the tavern learning new recipes too, and reading cooking books, doing what she liked with a smile on her face.
And who were they to tell her not to do that?
Once dinner was ready, Robin brought along the now clean dagger to the table, so Olivia could finally take a proper look at it.
She had gone to dress in some casual clothing, and then help the others prepare the table, trusting the item to the human, though she didn't expect her to finish restoring it so fast.
"It wasn't in such a terrible condition." it had been her reply.
And if she said so then the blonde would believe it.
Now it sat on the table, between them and their steaming plates of soup.
"Looks pretty." Dahlia commented as she leaned over to look from the other side of the table.
"It is." Robin nodded, the white handle shone as she held it against the light. "The handle seems made of glass, and covered in some kind of natural resin, probably the same one used to paint the two roses on it."
Matter of fact, there were two roses, one red, and one white.
"I think it allowed it to stay in such good condition, despite having been buried for a long time." but most she found on it was dirt, no signs of anything broken as far as she could tell.
"The blade is a little worn, but nothing that can't be fixed."
Their new expert fixed their own blades, and brought them back to their usual sharpness whenever they came back from their missions.
Nothing he couldn't handle.
Gerbera herself could help, but her generation of androids was much more knowledgeable on guns and machinery, rather than bladed weapons.
"I'll make sure to take this to our new friend first thing in the morning." Olivia took the dagger and quietly made it disappear in her inventory.
Best if her girlfriend didn't see anything.
"Where does it come from though?" Lycoris asked, taking a spoonful of soup, broth dribbling down her chin, with an attached comment about making a mess from her girlfriend, as she proceeded to just do the same, much to the general hilarity.
When it passed, Olivia explained the whole exchange with the kids.
"How cute…" Amaryllis cooed, much to the blonde's embarrassment, as a blush formed on her cheeks.
"Yeah…"
And she was very much positive that Sunny would love it, once she will be able to give the dagger to her.
Hopefully sooner than not.
True to their word, Sunny and the others returned late into the night, when already half asleep they all went straight to their beds to rest.
They had mumbled something about being done with work though.
In the early morning, Olivia left the room with a still snoring Healer, quickly finding out that the others weren't in any other state but that too, but they deserved to sleep for long, given the hard work they did.
Now all those people were safe, and recovering.
White had already foreseen this, already calling ahead telling them that they were off duty for today, and for more days if needed.
After all, now one of the new duties of Commander, was to know all that happened on the island.
And to take care of the residents.
That meant her own soldiers.
Even Freesia's group eventually mellowed out, seeing there was no longer ill intent behind what she did now.
As she thought about this, Olivia's feet had carried her to the weaponsmith's shop, the very same one that had given her own swords to her, she was sure he'd do a good job.
Paid, of course.
After all, androids didn't have too much use of money, and with all the primary resources they all managed to take here, humans and not, the economy of the island was going well.
They were pretty much self-sufficient.
"Miss Olivia, what brings you here? Do you need more maintenance on the swords?" she knew he loved to work on those two weapons the most, probably because he was so attached to them.
But she shook her head. "Not this time."
Gently, she placed the dagger on the counter.
The man took it, and looked at the blade. "I see…" he probably already knew what was wrong with it. "Is this for your girlfriend?"
Once again the blonde's cheeks became red for too many times in just two mere days.
"Don't be ashamed young lady, love is a beautiful thing."
That it was, or so it looked like.
But honestly Olivia didn't know how a world without love could be, any kind of it she meant.
Probably some kind of desolate land like Earth turned out to be, after being dominated by beings that used puppets to fight each other for their amusement.
Yeah that checked out.
And yet, they turned out different.
"Such a genuine love and friendship, like the one your group has, is rare to come by, almost unique I'd say. You should treasure it."
And she knew he was speaking for experience.
He too must have seen many things, and many people during his life, so she believed him.
But not knowing how to reply, she just nodded with a smile.
After all, how could one even begin to describe what they had lived through and how deep the bonds that formed ran between them?
Olivia didn't find the words to.
When she returned home, to her surprise Sunny was still nowhere to be seen, she only found Anemone and Cattleya, the former seemed in the process to prepare some kind of breakfast for the latter, even if usually it was the opposite way around.
Quite the sweet sight.
As soon as she crossed eyes with her sister, the redhead motioned towards their room.
"She's still sleeping." of course she'd already know who she was looking for.
Probably already knew about the dagger too.
With a nod she headed for their room, finding the Healer still asleep face down into the pillow.
Poor thing had barely managed to take off her shoes, with her help, before collapsing entirely, her tresses were still messy and half done, she still wore her full uniform, while her headband had fallen somewhere in the bed.
She'd been so exhausted.
Olivia placed the dagger on the nightstand for the moment, sitting on the bed next to the slumbering woman, gently stroking her back and hair.
That seemed to have an effect, as she stirred.
"Good morning." even though it was almost midday by now. Sunny just mumbled something that sounded similar, before lazily turning around to face her.
Even if still half asleep, she did notice the oddity sitting on the nightstand.
"What's that?" the Healer extended her arm to take the dagger, observing it with a shine in her eyes. "That's for you."
"For me?"
Olivia nodded. "Yes, for you." she repeated.
"Where did you find this? It's beautiful!" and she truly meant it. The flowers on the handle were so pretty, and the color, how it reflected light.
"The kids were playing treasure hunters, and they found an actual treasure." the Battler chuckled. "They wanted you to have it, so I had Robin and our weaponsmith fix it for you."
But then Sunny frowned, she answered her before she could ask.
"I don't know how to use this type of weapon though." even if she understood they had wanted her to be able to defend herself from close range too, she was positive it was what this meant.
"Lycoris, Dahlia and the others will teach you, just like they did with your gun." it was one of the many things discussed during dinner the previous day.
"Really?"
"I believe they might just be waiting on you to join them." Olivia smiled at her, before being pretty much taken into one of those bear hugs of her girlfriend.
With an attached kiss on the lips of course.
That could never be missing.
"Thank you, thank you." the Battler watched as the Healer shot up from the bed in a flash to make herself look decent with a chuckle.
Oh her energy was contagious.
"You're coming with me though." Sunny took her hand, and there was no room to argue, as she tugged her along, and Olivia let her do just that without a single complaint, but only an amused smile.
She couldn't ask for a better way to spend this day.
