Nico Robin appeared through a fog that had made visibility difficult. She did it by riding an enormous turtle that pulled up alongside the Black Pearl.
At first, everyone thought she would be an enemy, as Hina's reaction and Mikita's confirmation had given the woman two dangerous identities.
One of Robin's identities was that of a dangerous criminal pursued by the World Government, with a bounty of 79 million berries on her head; the other was Miss All Sunday, Crocodile's right-hand woman.
All the girls assumed she had to be someone extremely dangerous, and her ability to instantly disarm Nami, Nojiko, and Tashigi only confirmed it.
However, the outcome was completely different.
...
After the initial shock, the conversation moved to the ship's kitchen, though only with the actual members of the crew, Allen, and of course Robin.
Nami sat with both arms resting on the dining table while interlocking her fingers in front of her mouth, leaving only her serious eyes visible.
"So, you're Allen's older sister," Nami said.
Allen didn't explain much. He only told them that Robin was indeed his sister. Due to the presence of Mikita, Vivi, Hina, and Tashigi, who were not officially part of the crew yet, he avoided giving further details.
Robin took a sip of the tea Nojiko had offered her, then set the cup down and looked at Nami with a gentle smile.
"That's right, Miss Navigator~" Robin replied with a smile.
"I see." Nami nodded, though her fingers tightened slightly. "It's not that I doubt it, it's just that the fact that your last names are different is curious. Still, I need to ask something important..."
"Go ahead," Robin said.
She blinked while tilting her head slightly, somewhat curious, as if she couldn't imagine what Nami was about to ask.
"Robin-san..." Nami smiled stiffly.
"You can just call me Robin," Robin smiled.
"I can't take it anymore!" Kaya suddenly raised her voice, surprising everyone. She pointed a finger at Robin. "Big sister, why are you sitting on his lap?!"
Robin blinked.
Indeed, she was sitting on Allen's lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hm? It's just a little physical contact," Robin said with a calm expression.
Despite her words, she even shifted her hips slightly as if getting more comfortable on his lap, making the girls feel a subtle provocation from her.
Was she marking her territory?!
"Allen, why aren't you saying anything?!" Nami shouted as she stood up and slammed both hands on the table.
"Isn't it normal?" Allen replied in confusion.
When they had arrived in the kitchen, he had sat down first at Robin's insistence. Right afterward, she sat on his lap. When Allen asked why, she told him it was normal between siblings, so he didn't question it.
He had never had a family, much less a sister.
How was he supposed to know what was normal?
"There's no way that's normal!" Nami exclaimed in disbelief.
Nojiko, Uta, and Kaya were speechless.
"Alright, alright, let's drop that topic for now. Isn't there something more important we should be asking?" Uta said as she stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Robin.
Robin observed the girl.
She seemed to think more practically and rationally than Nami and Kaya.
"What is it, Uta-san?" Robin asked seriously.
"If Allen says you're his sister and trusts you, I'll accept it. But there are a few things I'd like to know," Uta said.
It was natural for them to have doubts. Even Allen understood that, so he didn't stop Uta from questioning Robin.
Robin looked toward Allen as though seeking his approval before sharing personal details with the girls.
Allen smiled broadly.
"The four outside are still under evaluation, but I'd trust my life to Nami, Kaya, Uta, and Nojiko. Don't worry, tell them whatever you want."
The girls were caught off guard by those words and couldn't help blushing. Even Uta scratched her cheek, slightly embarrassed.
Robin observed their reactions with a faint smile, understanding that her little brother's charm was strong enough to inspire so much affection, concern, admiration, respect, and perhaps something more.
"Ask whatever you'd like," Robin said gently.
She was usually very cautious around people. She always assumed others had bad intentions toward her, which was why she never allowed anyone to get too close to her emotionally or physically. She also rarely revealed much about herself, her intentions, or her secrets.
However, these girls were her little brother's crew. If he trusted them, then Robin would trust them too.
Uta cleared her throat.
"How did you find us?" she asked.
They were in the Grand Line, a place impossible to navigate through ordinary means, and yet Robin had appeared on their ship even in the middle of a fog bank.
Robin chuckled.
"After leaving Whisky Peak and taking Miss Valentine and Miss Wednesday with you, you attacked a cargo ship that was very important to Baroque Works. However, something didn't add up. If you were following the route, you should have headed toward Little Garden through Cactus Island, but the galleon was taking a different route."
"From there, I assumed you were using an Eternal Pose to head to Alabasta. So I simply traced the route from the galleon to Alabasta. There was a storm in between." Robin looked at Allen with amusement. "A normal ship would've been blown off course, but not my little brother. Right, Allen?"
"Of course." Allen smiled confidently. "A hurricane or tornado is no obstacle for my Black Pearl!"
Robin laughed.
The girls exchanged glances. This woman knew Allen very well. Then again, that made sense if they were siblings.
"I understand." Uta nodded before hesitating. "Don't take this the wrong way, but... are all those rumors true?"
"Uta-san?!" Kaya covered her mouth.
How could she ask whether Robin was really a heartless demon who destroyed every organization she'd ever joined?
Robin didn't answer immediately.
Allen even touched her arm, wondering if he should speak for her, but Robin gently shook her head and thanked him before turning back to Uta.
"It's not something I enjoy talking about, but if my little brother is willing to trust you all with his life, then I'll tell you everything..."
Robin began speaking about her past.
The truth behind Ohara's destruction.
The World Government branded her a demon.
Twenty years spent surviving alone.
The girls, especially Uta, felt terrible.
Far from being a demon, Robin was one of the most tragic people in the world. The amount of injustice she had endured was simply too much.
Kaya broke into tears.
Nojiko remained silent with a saddened expression.
Nami looked away bitterly, regretting having treated Robin with suspicion.
As for Uta, she lowered her head until it touched the table while biting her lip in remorse.
"I'm sorry, Robin-san... I didn't know."
Robin extended her hand and gently patted Uta's head.
"You don't need to apologize. You were worried about your companions, about Allen, weren't you?"
It wasn't that Robin was cursed. It was the Government that destroyed everyone who associated with her. That had made Robin believe she could run forever but would never have a place where she truly belonged.
"I could never hate you for taking care of my little brother~" Robin smiled.
That wasn't the smile of a woman who had been hunted for twenty years, but of a proud older sister who had found such wonderful girls looking after her younger brother.
"I couldn't do it," Robin said with a smile tinged with sadness. "I couldn't stay by his side, so I'm very grateful to all of you for not leaving him alone."
The girls were deeply moved. It took them a while before they could continue the conversation, but by then it was no longer an interrogation, just a casual chat.
"Haha, so Allen kidnapped you?" Robin laughed.
Kaya blushed and shrank into herself in embarrassment.
"I wanted to come... but I knew Merry wouldn't let me, so technically he did kidnap me."
Seeing her adorable reaction, Robin nudged Allen with her elbow while scolding him without any real anger.
"Hey, stop kidnapping cute girls. I didn't teach you that."
"Well, I'm a Pirate Lord, you know," Allen replied shamelessly.
"Hehe." Robin laughed.
Watching Robin and Allen interact made the girls feel strange. Weren't they a little too close for siblings?
*Cough*
Nojiko interrupted with a cough. If she let them continue, Allen and Robin would disappear into their own world and completely ignore everyone else.
"Still, it was unexpected that Allen came from Ohara. We expected he might have been born somewhere unusual, but it's hard to believe someone like him came from an island of scholars."
"What are you trying to say?" Allen snorted. "Besides, I wasn't born in Ohara."
The girls were confused but quickly understood. Ohara had been destroyed when Robin was eight years old. Since she was ten years older than Allen, it was impossible for him to have been born there.
But wait, hadn't Robin said she was the only survivor?
Noticing their confusion, Allen chuckled.
"Wait, I think there's a misunderstanding. Robin isn't my blood-related sister."
"Huh?"
HUHHHHHH?!
Immediately, everyone's surprise turned into a strange sense of danger, especially for Nami and Kaya.
Robin was beautiful, incredibly beautiful. She had a much deeper relationship with Allen, and on top of that, she had the privilege of intimate physical contact with him. However, she wasn't actually his sister, which completely changed the context.
Robin rested her head against Allen's chest while raising a hand to caress his cheek.
"Darling, I'm tired. Would you mind if I take a bath, get some rest, and we continue the complicated conversations tomorrow?" Robin asked with a playful smile.
"Of course. Sorry, it must've been uncomfortable traveling on that turtle."
Allen had no reason to refuse. However, he failed to notice the looks the other girls were giving him, while Robin simply winked at them teasingly.
That made them blush as they realized Robin had done it on purpose just to tease them. She had been playing with them the entire time.
The conversation ended there. When Allen left the kitchen, he noticed the intense looks the other girls were giving him. He knew they wanted to ask many questions, but unlike his crew, he wasn't going to tell them everything.
He simply explained that Robin was his adoptive sister, that they had reunited after several years, and that she was now on his side, meaning she no longer had any ties to Crocodile.
Beyond that, he made it clear that he trusted Robin just as much as any member of his crew, making hostility toward her unnecessary.
It was a subtle message directed at the four women. They weren't part of his crew, so they didn't have the privilege of that trust.
Tashigi felt a bitter sting in her chest, but she blamed herself because she had rejected Allen before.
Hina said nothing, though there was also a trace of disappointment. Allen treated her so well that she sometimes forgot she wasn't part of his "family." It was strange. She should've been happy, but she wasn't.
Vivi, on the other hand, felt pressured, but it only strengthened her determination. If she wanted Allen's help, she had to enter that inner circle!
As for Mikita, she silently watched Allen. Honestly, she was surprised. The Allen she had known was a selfish, arrogant bastard who did whatever he wanted. That didn't bother her—it was normal. However, seeing him with Robin made her realize he wasn't like other pirates. At the very least, he had a heart.
Maybe staying with him wouldn't be so bad, she thought.
The Grand Line was cruel. You never knew when even your boss might stab you in the back. She knew that while working for Baroque Works, if she failed a mission, she wouldn't get a second chance. They might even send the Unluckies to kill her. Life on this sea was that harsh.
However, after witnessing that scene, she understood that, at least for Allen, his crew was more than just a group of companions.
Mikita smiled as her opinion of Allen changed, becoming a little more respectful and a little more curious.
...
Late that night, Allen returned to his cabin and lay down on his bed. The matter with Robin had been complicated, unexpected, and rewarding.
"Lenalee, are you there?"
[I'm always here. What's wrong?]
Allen smiled faintly before speaking while staring at the ceiling.
"I didn't think I'd see her again so soon. No... for a while, I even thought that goodbye would be forever..."
[...]
"Thank you. Not only for giving me the strength to help Kaya, Nami, Nojiko, and Uta, and for helping me reunite with my sister, but for changing my life."
[A...]
Lenalee didn't know how to respond. It was the first time she had heard Allen speak with such sincerity. She didn't even feel the urge to tease him. If anything, she felt embarrassed.
[Don't worry. I'm grateful I found you too, Allen.]
"I knew it," Allen said smugly.
[Don't ruin it...]
"Sorry."
Five minutes passed as Allen talked with Lenalee until the door opened and Robin entered.
She was wearing pajamas borrowed from Nojiko. As for why she was there, she was going to spend the night with Allen—not in any inappropriate sense.
Robin had simply asked to do so because she missed him greatly, and Allen, who still felt guilty for failing her in the past, couldn't bring himself to refuse.
She walked to the bed and climbed onto it beside him.
"Hi..." Robin said.
"Hi." Allen smiled, though internally his thoughts were a complete mess.
Robin hesitated for a moment before moving closer and resting against his chest.
"Does it bother you?" Robin asked, her cheeks slightly red.
"Don't worry about it," Allen replied awkwardly.
Robin was just like Allen. She had never had siblings either, so she didn't know what the proper boundaries were. Was it okay for her to sleep in his bed? Was this physical contact too much? Would it be alright if she hugged him while sleeping?
They weren't blood-related siblings, and they hadn't seen each other in five years. Objectively speaking, they were simply a handsome man and a beautiful woman lying in bed together.
Robin's breathing was audible to Allen.
Robin had a soft, voluptuous body that was impossible to ignore, and that, combined with the sweet scent that women have, made him feel the urge to kiss her.
Robin wasn't in a much better situation.
Her body had reacted in a way she didn't understand. It craved physical contact with Allen—every time she felt his warmth, touched his body, and smelled his irresistible, masculine scent, a sense of comfort and security enveloped her, so much so that she was becoming addicted and wanted more!
A woman who had spent twenty years distrusting even her own shadow.
A man who had never shared such a close bond with anyone.
Their hearts began beating faster.
This was definitely very bad.
"How about I tell you how I became so strong?!" Allen said quickly before doing something he might regret.
"Then let me tell you what Crocodile is planning in Alabasta!" Robin replied just as quickly.
After that, they spent nearly an hour talking, and when Allen finally finished telling Robin how he escaped from Garp, he noticed she had fallen asleep.
Allen smiled and used his hand to brush through Robin's hair. Somehow, he had avoided a crisis.
[Coward...]
"Hey, I'm not some degenerate who's going to cross the line with Robin right after we reunited!"
[Fine, but you didn't deny that you'd want to. You're obviously a natural-born womanizer!]
"How many times do I have to tell you my intentions are pure?" Allen snorted.
[Whatever you say... By the way, I'm surprised to hear about those Poneglyphs. Does something as mysterious as the Void Century really exist?]
Allen wanted to say that the greatest mystery in this world was sitting on his desk in the form of a magical chest, but he didn't.
"For now, I'm more interested in Pluton..."
He frowned. He had hoped Crocodile was planning something more serious than a civil war in Alabasta, but according to Robin, that was merely a façade.
Crocodile's true objective was a Poneglyph hidden somewhere in Alabasta. Upon learning that, Allen finally understood why Robin had worked with him.
She had been searching for the mystery of the Void Century despite knowing that the same pursuit had led to Ohara's destruction—or perhaps because of it.
If she succeeded, she would not only fulfill the dreams of her mother and her people, but she would also be the equivalent of giving the World Government the middle finger.
Of course, Crocodile had no interest in uncovering the secrets of the Void Century. However, that Poneglyph might contain information about the Ancient Weapon known as Pluton.
Robin explained that the Ancient Weapons were legendary relics so powerful that they could erase entire countries or threaten the entire world. Of course, they were considered legends, but Crocodile was convinced Pluton existed and wanted to obtain it.
Robin reassured Allen that she had no intention of giving Crocodile that power. The moment she found the Poneglyph, she would break their agreement and lie to him.
That did little to calm Allen. It was a dangerous game. If Crocodile discovered the truth, he would kill Robin. Fortunately, that wouldn't happen, because Allen was here.
Allen began to feel sleepy and closed his eyes.
[Perhaps a conflict with Crocodile is inevitable. The only question is who will be unlucky.]
Lenalee smiled as she let Allen fall asleep with Robin in his arms.
Or at least that was the plan, but before Allen could fall asleep, time began to slow down.
====
A/N: Surviving a night with Robin without anything happening must be just as hard as surviving a confrontation with Garp 🍷🗿
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