Calm sea, clear sky, the boys too distracted to bother her, everything went perfectly so that Nami could have her tanning session. Reclining on a chaise longue on the Going Merry, the navigator gazed up at the sun, a confident smile and sunglasses on her eyes.
They had recently passed through an island, restocked, bought what they needed, and since they had a run-in with the navy, they took what they could. A set of sunbathing chairs from a local resort was what was rescued by Luffy's literally long hands during the riot.
The captain also received a set of pool floats, or well, actually, everything. Now he was taking advantage of them to play in the water with Chopper, who, ignoring Ussop's complaints about what a bad idea it was, couldn't resist the idea of floating in the water.
"Come on Nami help me, the Akuma no Mi users sink like rocks, they can't be like this" the long-nosed man said as he approached.
"They sink but they don't get heavier, you and Zoro can pull them out" replied the orange haired woman.
"But Zoro is sleeping!" the sniper complained, a low snore sounding from the other side of the deck.
"Well, there you have Sanji" she said pointing to the kitchen.
"Did you call me Nami-Swan?" the blonde came out with heart eyes and a cigarette in his mouth.
"If Luffy and Chopper go down, would you rescue them? please" asked the navigator with puppy dog eyes.
"Of course my beloved angel!" he affirmed almost dancing on the spot, then he regained his composure and went to Ussop. "Hey morron, you better warn me if they drown" with that he went back to the kitchen.
"But keep watch!" shouted the long-nosed one.
"Okay, all settled" Nami said.
"B-but what if a Sea King appears?" the man was shaking.
"Luffy can handle it"
"But he can't even move in the water!" the sniper replied.
"HEY! Sure I can! Come on Chopper, let's play a race to that rock over there" rang from outside the ship on the other side of the deck.
"With these floats I'll be there in no time!" the doctor said happily.
"Hey, stay close to the ship!" and so Ussop ran off to watch the boys.
Nami leaned back on the lounge chair, wearing a vertical striped two-piece bikini, tanning as the light breeze balanced the heat. The weather was stable with no storms in sight and his forecasts were optimistic, so she gave the boys the green light to bring floats and life jackets for the first time.
With them in the water, having fun in their childish ways, she had a better environment to relax. Merry was not a particularly large ship after all. Even so, from time to time she raised her head a little to confirm that everything was fine. It was at one of those moments that she noticed his brown-skinned nakama, Nico Robin, looking at they're with a certain nostalgia from her chair.
She had a book in her hands, but she seemed more focused on her companions in the water, the three boys made noise but not even for the navigator said scandal was annoying, so there was no sense in bothering her. A deeper look through her sunglasses made him notice that the archaeologist had a wistful look on her face.
With her curiosity aroused, the navigator got up from her place and navigated the deck until she reached the brunette, taking a seat on the other side of the table.
"Are you okay Robin? You seem distracted" Nami asked.
"Oh, Miss Navigator, don't worry, I'm fine," Robin said, quickly changing her countenance and forcing a practiced smile onto her face.
A mask to hide your emotions, defenses to protect you and not show your weaknesses. The orange haired woman could tell that this came from a dark and complicated life, she guessed that her "Miss Always Sunday" would be like "Arlong's Nakama" for herself. And that idea bothered Nami.
"If it's because they're users, don't worry, we'll check that they're quality floats and by the way, you have Ussop and Sanji looking at them" she said, trying to return to the topic without pressing her, testing the ground without trying to force things.
"I'm glad to hear it" not a crack in his mask. "Still fascinating though"
"What's fascinating?"
"The way they are so happy, in the water we lack all power or control, and yet they are very happy to be able to float and be in the sea," said the archaeologist.
"I suppose it will be partly nostalgia" the navigate suggested as a hypothesis. "They may miss what it was like to swim"
"I don't think so, they probably don't even remember what it was like. In the case of our captain, such a mastery must come from years of practice, being so young it's likely that he ate his Akuma no Mi when he was a child" then she looked at the little doctor, a crack appeared in his barriers. "Chopper probably never learned to swim, he gained consciousness by eating his fruit" the brunette dropped her fachade for a moment, seeming to identify with the reindeer.
"Robin... do you know how to swim?" asked the younger one.
"Swim? No, not really" she said again putting on his fake smile. "Like them, I ate my fruit at an early age, so I never had a chance to get familiar with the ocean."
"That's... Very sad" in such a big world, where all there was to map were islands, where everything was sea around you, the concept of never having entered the water was bleak. At least that's how the navigator of the straw hats saw it.
"Sad? Oh no, actually it's not, it sounds worse than it seems" the black haired woman soothed her. "I was never interested in it... And for my guardians it was better that I stay away from the water..."
He didn't know if it was an accident or if his partner was opening up willingly, but he could feel that mask had fallen off with that last sentence. Her defenses dropped for a moment and Nami felt that she had dazzled some of the truth that the mysterious woman at her side was hiding. She wanted to do something, something to help Robin, and after thinking her words through she spoke.
"Do you want to give it a try?"
"Sorry?" It had taken her by surprise.
"I mean, you were never interested in the ocean, so I guess trying it would be the only way to know why those two look so happy is try it" the orange haired girl explained.
The brunette thought about it for a moment, and when Nami felt that she had ruined it, she answered her.
"Well... You're right..." she said, putting his hand to his chin. "And the worst that could happen is that my life preserver bursts and I sink to the stomach of a sea monster" she declared with a smile.
The navigator could tell that this time she was not part of any mask, that she was genuine, she liked seeing her like this. In the same way she could tell that this terrifying comment was not a complaint or an objection, but rather a matter of the woman's peculiar black humor. Confident in her act the orange haired girl stood up, a smile on her own lips.
"Floats can break but your pretty mate Nakama can't" she said pointing to herself with her thumb.
"Are you going into the water too?"
"I would feel a bit lonely on deck, and after all, I was the one who told you to try it, it's my responsibility that it turns out well," said the navigator.
"Wouldn't the same apply to our captain and doctor?" Robin chuckled.
"Are you going to keep questioning me or are you going to put on a bathing suit?" asked the one with brown eyes.
"We could do both"
Nami wasn't sure if she was sounding flirty on purpose or to annoy, or why she was turning a little red at the idea, but the archaeologist's genuine smile along with her laugh made her feel good.
She was a little disappointed when Robin went off alone to change in the girls' cabin, but it was over quickly when she saw her come out of it. She wore a two-piece bikini like the redhead, one with a blue military camouflage pattern. From how tight it was, she had no doubt borrowed it from the Navigator's wardrobe.
Ideally, they would each have their own outfits, although neither of them minded sharing. Nami especially, she had found her clothes to look sexy on the mature brunette, though it was a thought she always quickly dismissed and hid in the back of his mind. "Topic for another time" she said to herself.
"So... will this be okay?" Robin asked looking at her own outfit.
"Yep, wet clothes are uncomfortable and heavy, we want to avoid both" she stated taking off his glasses.
"Okay, what do you recommend I start with? Any particular floaties I should have?"
The navigator thought about it for a moment, looking to the side where most of the lifeguards and various pool floats they found on the previous island. Luffy and Chopper used quite a few, per Usopp's requirement, so the options were limited. She went and got a life preserver with a sheep's head on it.
"This one, it's like an inflatable Merry"
"Sounds appropriate." She reached out to take it, but the navigator stepped back.
"No, it will be uncomfortable going down with this on, and jumping into the water would be risky," said as she tossed it overboard. "So go down carefully, I'll hold your float," she declared before jumping into the ocean.
Robin gave a resigned, detailed but controlling chuckle, typical of Nami. She walked to the edge of the boat and saw the orange-haired man holding the inflatable Merry, a wide smile with his eyes closed. The archaeologist crossed her arms and, pronouncing "Doce Floru", she made a dozen hands emerge on the rail and on the side of the ship.
Those extra arms helped her get down comfortably until her feet touched the rubber of the inflatable, in the middle of the donut was the sea water, the biggest weakness of an Akuma no Mi user. It was like a mouth, wanting to catch her to take away her powers and devour her easily. But next to her was Nami, with a bright and gentle smile, holding the float in place so it wouldn't move and extending a hand to help the brunette.
The blue-eyed woman accepted the gesture and smiled back, taking the navigator's hand as support as she settled in, slowly letting go as she put one foot in. The seawater was cold, the chill that ran through her body increased by the sudden fatigue from her curse.
Still she kept strong enough to keep her balance, and as she sank her extra hands vanished into petals. Now Robin felt how all her strength was absorbed, she was incapacitated while the sea covered her from the stomach down, but thanks to the float and her Nakama she did not sink.
"Are you alright? If it feels strange, we'll leave immediately" the orange-haired declared.
"No no, I'm fine...so this is how it feels not to sink"
"You like it?" Concern on Nami's face, still holding tightly to the other woman's hand.
"Yes…" the archaeologist said after a moment, leaning her back against the back of the inflatable. "I think I could get used to it"
"Good!" She formed a smile that showed his teeth. "Relax and don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I'll keep you on the surface and next to the Going Merry" with those words the brunette looked up at the sky while breathing calmly.
The ocean, which for as long as she can remember has been trying to devour her every time she fell into it, now is showed her its best side. The salty air, the rise and fall of the sea, his body relaxed and partly numb. She no longer had to balance on a boat because of the waves, now she moved along with them, it was like being rescued on a balloon.
She was impassive, receiving the slight splash of water while holding her Nakama's hand. Said was happy like she's never seen her before, constantly making sure Robin was okay and pushing the float to make him feel what it's like to "swim" in quotes.
I take advantage of the new perspective to tour the Merry from the outside, the archaeologist could say that the ship was much more imposing, it seemed significantly larger. She also had a new perspective on the ocean and on movement, even if she did nothing, she could feel the resistance of the water, no doubt an ideal environment for exercise.
His contemplation was interrupted by a splash of water in his face.
"HEY!" Nami yelled as Luffy laughed.
"They joined in on the fun!" The captain said as he raised his right arm high and hit it against the water again.
Apparently, as long as he had a means to support himself, he could cope well with the weakness and fatigue of having eaten a devil fruit. For his part, Chopper received a little help from Usopp to move, he moved to the sound of a "wehh~" thanks to a push from the sniper.
"Robin!" He said as he collided with the woman's float, reaching to catch hold of a hoof on his arm. With Nami's help they were both still. "Isn't this really fun? Floating is great!" The little doctor's happiness was contagious, as the archaeologist responded with the same joy on her face.
"It's certainly a wonderful experience," she said before being splashed again.
"Stop with that!" Said the orange haired woman splashing back at Luffy, she was a little annoyed but his games were also contagious.
The five of them went on like this for a while, playing with the water, the users enjoying being able to float and play in the ocean, while the non-users for their part made sure the group was safe during their fun. Then, in the middle of their laughter, a small pop followed by a hiss made itself present.
"Huh? What was that?" asked the long-nosed one.
"Wahhh! My float got punctured!" right next to Chopper's inflatable donut was a hissing hole, the deer panicked as the rubber object lost its shape and began to leave him to his own devices. "Help! I can't swim!"
"We already know, we know, that's why we're here" declared the boy with the dark skin "here, I have you" he said as he reached the doctor.
In his hybrid form Chopper was about the height of a child, which gave the sniper an idea. He swam below the broken float, surfacing to have the little reindeer on his back, the reindeer holding on carefully to his nose curls.
"I used to do this many times with my gang, as their amazing captain i would always save them if they fell into the river or got swept away by a wave"
"You are my hero Usopp" said Chopper
"Wow, you finally came up with a lie that sounds believable" Nami commented with a laugh.
"This time it's true!" Usopp yelled. "It's what it takes to be the big one of them"
"Not that you were so strong" replied the Miss Navigator.
"Of course I am! I carried the three members of Usopp's pirates on my back and gave them a complete tour of the coast of my home island about twelve times before breaking into a sweat!" lie the one with the long nose.
"How wonderful!" The blue nose was amazed.
"Then we can still make a run to that rock!" Luffy declared excitedly.
"What?" Usopp quickly regretted his incredible ability to lie and exaggerate things.
It was a show to see, and Nami could tell from Robin's face that it was an especially adorable one. She never expected the former right-hand of the evil Baroque Works leader Crocodile to have a soft spot for cuteness. It was a side that the orange-haired woman immediately liked, who only smiled as the boys raced away.
Their nakamas had moved away quite a bit when the navigator felt the brunette squeeze her hand, she immediately turned her gaze when she noticed a certain moist shine in her light blue eyes. Cautiously she placed his free hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine, I think the guys splashed me in the eye" Robin lied rubbing her eyes. "No need to worry"
There was something in all this matter that affected the archaeologist, Nami was following the path of cracks that formed in the facade of Miss Always Sunday. She was good at mapping the terrain, nostalgia, joy, genuine smiles and spontaneous reactions were the highlights of a beautiful new island on his radar. Nico Robin's Island of Life.
She was interested in knowing the complete panorama, in meeting such an extraordinary person, now not only out of curiosity, but also out of concern. Nami knew from her own experience that working for such a bad guy, being involved in such a dark world, usually came with a very complicated past.
She carefully squeezed the brunette's hand, reminding her that she was there, and then, very calmly and delicately, she approached. The movements were smooth, calm, he didn't want to disturb Robin's train of thought and get him to put up his walls again. But still, she didn't want to push her either.
It was close enough for them to have privacy, even if the boys weren't distracted by their things they couldn't hear them. Separated only by the float, the orange haired one asked carefully.
"Are you okay, Robin? You don't have to do this if you don't want to, I thought I'd still help you, but if you don't there's no commitment, I can help you get back to the ship"
"You are very sweet, and I appreciate the gesture..." The archaeologist faced him squarely, placing her free hand over the pale hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine, really"
"I'm not stupid, it may not seem like it but in this crew we can be very intelligent, some in different ways..." Nami declared without a hint of reproach in her voice, keeping it soft and compassionate. "And for that very reason I'll stop trying. I'm not going to pressure you to share it, your life is your life and I myself refused to let them get into mine" she said looking at the boys, the memory of the 4 boys beating Arlong and his gang made him smile.
"But I want you to know that, even if you don't want to talk about it, you can always count on me... With everyone... if there's something we can do to make you feel better, don't hesitate to say so" Nami had done something few could, she had reached a point abandoned years ago on the beautiful island that was Nico Robin, and not even the archaeologist herself knew if she should let her be there.
But at that moment, numb by the ocean's curse, floating with a simple pool float in the middle of the sea, seeing the most tender smile that had been given to her in years, she decided to let herself go. She put an equally sincere smile on his lips and fought for his eyes not to betray him now, she wanted to loosen up a bit but she didn't want to show himself so vulnerable either.
"I really appreciate your words, and yes, today I was a bit absorbed... More than usual... But I'm enjoying being in the water..." Then she dropped his hand on her shoulder and left his own on the float , squeezing it a few times before continuing. "And actually, since you're offering yourself, I think there's something I'd like to do in the water."
"Whatever you want! I'll help you."
"It is silly"
"I can be silly!" Nami didn't know why she said that, quickly turning red.
"I-I mean, I'm not stupid, I've been the smartest on the ship, and that's why I can understand fools... I mean, it's not like you're stupid, of course not! I mean... I've seen and heard very silly things, too much, no matter how silly you think it is, it won't be nearly as silly as anything Luffy and Zoro do" when he realized that he repeated the word silly too many times she fell, questioning why she was acting like that with the beautiful archaeologist.
Robin's giggle relaxed her, at least she wasn't offended for having accidentally called her a fool.
"See, the float will do, but I'd like to know how it feels without the…"
"Do you want… me to hold you?"
"Yes..." Despite her tanned skin, you could see the brunette's cheeks turn red. The navigator knew that it was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.Swim, float, have fun in the water with friends, feel how the sea embraces you with its fresh and relaxing love. Living beings gave up these pleasures when they consumed an Akuma no Mi, the sea now trying to suffocate them by taking away their powers and strength.
Robin gave up those pleasures at a very young age. This reality saddened Nami, so she decided to help her Nakama enjoy herself in the water.
=======================================
Calm sea, clear sky, the boys too distracted to bother her, everything went perfectly so that Nami could have her tanning session. Reclining on a chaise longue on the Going Merry, the navigator gazed up at the sun, a confident smile and sunglasses on her eyes.
They had recently passed through an island, restocked, bought what they needed, and since they had a run-in with the navy, they took what they could. A set of sunbathing chairs from a local resort was what was rescued by Luffy's literally long hands during the riot.
The captain also received a set of pool floats, or well, actually, everything. Now he was taking advantage of them to play in the water with Chopper, who, ignoring Ussop's complaints about what a bad idea it was, couldn't resist the idea of floating in the water.
"Come on Nami help me, the Akuma no Mi users sink like rocks, they can't be like this" the long-nosed man said as he approached.
"They sink but they don't get heavier, you and Zoro can pull them out" replied the orange haired woman.
"But Zoro is sleeping!" the sniper complained, a low snore sounding from the other side of the deck.
"Well, there you have Sanji" she said pointing to the kitchen.
"Did you call me Nami-Swan?" the blonde came out with heart eyes and a cigarette in his mouth.
"If Luffy and Chopper go down, would you rescue them? please" asked the navigator with puppy dog eyes.
"Of course my beloved angel!" he affirmed almost dancing on the spot, then he regained his composure and went to Ussop. "Hey morron, you better warn me if they drown" with that he went back to the kitchen.
"But keep watch!" shouted the long-nosed one.
"Okay, all settled" Nami said.
"B-but what if a Sea King appears?" the man was shaking.
"Luffy can handle it"
"But he can't even move in the water!" the sniper replied.
"HEY! Sure I can! Come on Chopper, let's play a race to that rock over there" rang from outside the ship on the other side of the deck.
"With these floats I'll be there in no time!" the doctor said happily.
"Hey, stay close to the ship!" and so Ussop ran off to watch the boys.
Nami leaned back on the lounge chair, wearing a vertical striped two-piece bikini, tanning as the light breeze balanced the heat. The weather was stable with no storms in sight and his forecasts were optimistic, so she gave the boys the green light to bring floats and life jackets for the first time.
With them in the water, having fun in their childish ways, she had a better environment to relax. Merry was not a particularly large ship after all. Even so, from time to time she raised her head a little to confirm that everything was fine. It was at one of those moments that she noticed his brown-skinned nakama, Nico Robin, looking at they're with a certain nostalgia from her chair.
She had a book in her hands, but she seemed more focused on her companions in the water, the three boys made noise but not even for the navigator said scandal was annoying, so there was no sense in bothering her. A deeper look through her sunglasses made him notice that the archaeologist had a wistful look on her face.
With her curiosity aroused, the navigator got up from her place and navigated the deck until she reached the brunette, taking a seat on the other side of the table.
"Are you okay Robin? You seem distracted" Nami asked.
"Oh, Miss Navigator, don't worry, I'm fine," Robin said, quickly changing her countenance and forcing a practiced smile onto her face.
A mask to hide your emotions, defenses to protect you and not show your weaknesses. The orange haired woman could tell that this came from a dark and complicated life, she guessed that her "Miss Always Sunday" would be like "Arlong's Nakama" for herself. And that idea bothered Nami.
"If it's because they're users, don't worry, we'll check that they're quality floats and by the way, you have Ussop and Sanji looking at them" she said, trying to return to the topic without pressing her, testing the ground without trying to force things.
"I'm glad to hear it" not a crack in his mask. "Still fascinating though"
"What's fascinating?"
"The way they are so happy, in the water we lack all power or control, and yet they are very happy to be able to float and be in the sea," said the archaeologist.
"I suppose it will be partly nostalgia" the navigate suggested as a hypothesis. "They may miss what it was like to swim"
"I don't think so, they probably don't even remember what it was like. In the case of our captain, such a mastery must come from years of practice, being so young it's likely that he ate his Akuma no Mi when he was a child" then she looked at the little doctor, a crack appeared in his barriers. "Chopper probably never learned to swim, he gained consciousness by eating his fruit" the brunette dropped her fachade for a moment, seeming to identify with the reindeer.
"Robin... do you know how to swim?" asked the younger one.
"Swim? No, not really" she said again putting on his fake smile. "Like them, I ate my fruit at an early age, so I never had a chance to get familiar with the ocean."
"That's... Very sad" in such a big world, where all there was to map were islands, where everything was sea around you, the concept of never having entered the water was bleak. At least that's how the navigator of the straw hats saw it.
"Sad? Oh no, actually it's not, it sounds worse than it seems" the black haired woman soothed her. "I was never interested in it... And for my guardians it was better that I stay away from the water..."
He didn't know if it was an accident or if his partner was opening up willingly, but he could feel that mask had fallen off with that last sentence. Her defenses dropped for a moment and Nami felt that she had dazzled some of the truth that the mysterious woman at her side was hiding. She wanted to do something, something to help Robin, and after thinking her words through she spoke.
"Do you want to give it a try?"
"Sorry?" It had taken her by surprise.
"I mean, you were never interested in the ocean, so I guess trying it would be the only way to know why those two look so happy is try it" the orange haired girl explained.
The brunette thought about it for a moment, and when Nami felt that she had ruined it, she answered her.
"Well... You're right..." she said, putting his hand to his chin. "And the worst that could happen is that my life preserver bursts and I sink to the stomach of a sea monster" she declared with a smile.
The navigator could tell that this time she was not part of any mask, that she was genuine, she liked seeing her like this. In the same way she could tell that this terrifying comment was not a complaint or an objection, but rather a matter of the woman's peculiar black humor. Confident in her act the orange haired girl stood up, a smile on her own lips.
"Floats can break but your pretty mate Nakama can't" she said pointing to herself with her thumb.
"Are you going into the water too?"
"I would feel a bit lonely on deck, and after all, I was the one who told you to try it, it's my responsibility that it turns out well," said the navigator.
"Wouldn't the same apply to our captain and doctor?" Robin chuckled.
"Are you going to keep questioning me or are you going to put on a bathing suit?" asked the one with brown eyes.
"We could do both"
Nami wasn't sure if she was sounding flirty on purpose or to annoy, or why she was turning a little red at the idea, but the archaeologist's genuine smile along with her laugh made her feel good.
She was a little disappointed when Robin went off alone to change in the girls' cabin, but it was over quickly when she saw her come out of it. She wore a two-piece bikini like the redhead, one with a blue military camouflage pattern. From how tight it was, she had no doubt borrowed it from the Navigator's wardrobe.
Ideally, they would each have their own outfits, although neither of them minded sharing. Nami especially, she had found her clothes to look sexy on the mature brunette, though it was a thought she always quickly dismissed and hid in the back of his mind. "Topic for another time" she said to herself.
"So... will this be okay?" Robin asked looking at her own outfit.
"Yep, wet clothes are uncomfortable and heavy, we want to avoid both" she stated taking off his glasses.
"Okay, what do you recommend I start with? Any particular floaties I should have?"
The navigator thought about it for a moment, looking to the side where most of the lifeguards and various pool floats they found on the previous island. Luffy and Chopper used quite a few, per Usopp's requirement, so the options were limited. She went and got a life preserver with a sheep's head on it.
"This one, it's like an inflatable Merry"
"Sounds appropriate." She reached out to take it, but the navigator stepped back.
"No, it will be uncomfortable going down with this on, and jumping into the water would be risky," said as she tossed it overboard. "So go down carefully, I'll hold your float," she declared before jumping into the ocean.
Robin gave a resigned, detailed but controlling chuckle, typical of Nami. She walked to the edge of the boat and saw the orange-haired man holding the inflatable Merry, a wide smile with his eyes closed. The archaeologist crossed her arms and, pronouncing "Doce Floru", she made a dozen hands emerge on the rail and on the side of the ship.
Those extra arms helped her get down comfortably until her feet touched the rubber of the inflatable, in the middle of the donut was the sea water, the biggest weakness of an Akuma no Mi user. It was like a mouth, wanting to catch her to take away her powers and devour her easily. But next to her was Nami, with a bright and gentle smile, holding the float in place so it wouldn't move and extending a hand to help the brunette.
The blue-eyed woman accepted the gesture and smiled back, taking the navigator's hand as support as she settled in, slowly letting go as she put one foot in. The seawater was cold, the chill that ran through her body increased by the sudden fatigue from her curse.
Still she kept strong enough to keep her balance, and as she sank her extra hands vanished into petals. Now Robin felt how all her strength was absorbed, she was incapacitated while the sea covered her from the stomach down, but thanks to the float and her Nakama she did not sink.
"Are you alright? If it feels strange, we'll leave immediately" the orange-haired declared.
"No no, I'm fine...so this is how it feels not to sink"
"You like it?" Concern on Nami's face, still holding tightly to the other woman's hand.
"Yes…" the archaeologist said after a moment, leaning her back against the back of the inflatable. "I think I could get used to it"
"Good!" She formed a smile that showed his teeth. "Relax and don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I'll keep you on the surface and next to the Going Merry" with those words the brunette looked up at the sky while breathing calmly.
The ocean, which for as long as she can remember has been trying to devour her every time she fell into it, now is showed her its best side. The salty air, the rise and fall of the sea, his body relaxed and partly numb. She no longer had to balance on a boat because of the waves, now she moved along with them, it was like being rescued on a balloon.
She was impassive, receiving the slight splash of water while holding her Nakama's hand. Said was happy like she's never seen her before, constantly making sure Robin was okay and pushing the float to make him feel what it's like to "swim" in quotes.
I take advantage of the new perspective to tour the Merry from the outside, the archaeologist could say that the ship was much more imposing, it seemed significantly larger. She also had a new perspective on the ocean and on movement, even if she did nothing, she could feel the resistance of the water, no doubt an ideal environment for exercise.
His contemplation was interrupted by a splash of water in his face.
"HEY!" Nami yelled as Luffy laughed.
"They joined in on the fun!" The captain said as he raised his right arm high and hit it against the water again.
Apparently, as long as he had a means to support himself, he could cope well with the weakness and fatigue of having eaten a devil fruit. For his part, Chopper received a little help from Usopp to move, he moved to the sound of a "wehh~" thanks to a push from the sniper.
"Robin!" He said as he collided with the woman's float, reaching to catch hold of a hoof on his arm. With Nami's help they were both still. "Isn't this really fun? Floating is great!" The little doctor's happiness was contagious, as the archaeologist responded with the same joy on her face.
"It's certainly a wonderful experience," she said before being splashed again.
"Stop with that!" Said the orange haired woman splashing back at Luffy, she was a little annoyed but his games were also contagious.
The five of them went on like this for a while, playing with the water, the users enjoying being able to float and play in the ocean, while the non-users for their part made sure the group was safe during their fun. Then, in the middle of their laughter, a small pop followed by a hiss made itself present.
"Huh? What was that?" asked the long-nosed one.
"Wahhh! My float got punctured!" right next to Chopper's inflatable donut was a hissing hole, the deer panicked as the rubber object lost its shape and began to leave him to his own devices. "Help! I can't swim!"
"We already know, we know, that's why we're here" declared the boy with the dark skin "here, I have you" he said as he reached the doctor.
In his hybrid form Chopper was about the height of a child, which gave the sniper an idea. He swam below the broken float, surfacing to have the little reindeer on his back, the reindeer holding on carefully to his nose curls.
"I used to do this many times with my gang, as their amazing captain i would always save them if they fell into the river or got swept away by a wave"
"You are my hero Usopp" said Chopper
"Wow, you finally came up with a lie that sounds believable" Nami commented with a laugh.
"This time it's true!" Usopp yelled. "It's what it takes to be the big one of them"
"Not that you were so strong" replied the Miss Navigator.
"Of course I am! I carried the three members of Usopp's pirates on my back and gave them a complete tour of the coast of my home island about twelve times before breaking into a sweat!" lie the one with the long nose.
"How wonderful!" The blue nose was amazed.
"Then we can still make a run to that rock!" Luffy declared excitedly.
"What?" Usopp quickly regretted his incredible ability to lie and exaggerate things.
It was a show to see, and Nami could tell from Robin's face that it was an especially adorable one. She never expected the former right-hand of the evil Baroque Works leader Crocodile to have a soft spot for cuteness. It was a side that the orange-haired woman immediately liked, who only smiled as the boys raced away.
Their nakamas had moved away quite a bit when the navigator felt the brunette squeeze her hand, she immediately turned her gaze when she noticed a certain moist shine in her light blue eyes. Cautiously she placed his free hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine, I think the guys splashed me in the eye" Robin lied rubbing her eyes. "No need to worry"
There was something in all this matter that affected the archaeologist, Nami was following the path of cracks that formed in the facade of Miss Always Sunday. She was good at mapping the terrain, nostalgia, joy, genuine smiles and spontaneous reactions were the highlights of a beautiful new island on his radar. Nico Robin's Island of Life.
She was interested in knowing the complete panorama, in meeting such an extraordinary person, now not only out of curiosity, but also out of concern. Nami knew from her own experience that working for such a bad guy, being involved in such a dark world, usually came with a very complicated past.
She carefully squeezed the brunette's hand, reminding her that she was there, and then, very calmly and delicately, she approached. The movements were smooth, calm, he didn't want to disturb Robin's train of thought and get him to put up his walls again. But still, she didn't want to push her either.
It was close enough for them to have privacy, even if the boys weren't distracted by their things they couldn't hear them. Separated only by the float, the orange haired one asked carefully.
"Are you okay, Robin? You don't have to do this if you don't want to, I thought I'd still help you, but if you don't there's no commitment, I can help you get back to the ship"
"You are very sweet, and I appreciate the gesture..." The archaeologist faced him squarely, placing her free hand over the pale hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine, really"
"I'm not stupid, it may not seem like it but in this crew we can be very intelligent, some in different ways..." Nami declared without a hint of reproach in her voice, keeping it soft and compassionate. "And for that very reason I'll stop trying. I'm not going to pressure you to share it, your life is your life and I myself refused to let them get into mine" she said looking at the boys, the memory of the 4 boys beating Arlong and his gang made him smile.
"But I want you to know that, even if you don't want to talk about it, you can always count on me... With everyone... if there's something we can do to make you feel better, don't hesitate to say so" Nami had done something few could, she had reached a point abandoned years ago on the beautiful island that was Nico Robin, and not even the archaeologist herself knew if she should let her be there.
But at that moment, numb by the ocean's curse, floating with a simple pool float in the middle of the sea, seeing the most tender smile that had been given to her in years, she decided to let herself go. She put an equally sincere smile on his lips and fought for his eyes not to betray him now, she wanted to loosen up a bit but she didn't want to show himself so vulnerable either.
"I really appreciate your words, and yes, today I was a bit absorbed... More than usual... But I'm enjoying being in the water..." Then she dropped his hand on her shoulder and left his own on the float , squeezing it a few times before continuing. "And actually, since you're offering yourself, I think there's something I'd like to do in the water."
"Whatever you want! I'll help you."
"It is silly"
"I can be silly!" Nami didn't know why she said that, quickly turning red.
"I-I mean, I'm not stupid, I've been the smartest on the ship, and that's why I can understand fools... I mean, it's not like you're stupid, of course not! I mean... I've seen and heard very silly things, too much, no matter how silly you think it is, it won't be nearly as silly as anything Luffy and Zoro do" when he realized that he repeated the word silly too many times she fell, questioning why she was acting like that with the beautiful archaeologist.
Robin's giggle relaxed her, at least she wasn't offended for having accidentally called her a fool.
"See, the float will do, but I'd like to know how it feels without the…"
"Do you want… me to hold you?"
"Yes..." Despite her tanned skin, you could see the brunette's cheeks turn red. The navigator knew that it was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
"Of course! There's no problem" emotion in his voice, she didn't realize she had shouted it.
Robin settled in calmly, at first she didn't know how to remove the float, the situation was complicated to say the least, she had to change its point of support, but given his condition it wouldn't be easy to have him close and alone between them two. Fortunately, Nami made things simple.
Mimicking her pointy-nosed Nakama, the orange-haired girl slumped down to be under the brunette. She ignored the vantage point in front of him as best she could and climbed directly next to Robin, grabbing her from behind around the waist and shoving the life preserver onto her back.
With this signal, the archaeologist moved to go through the hole in the gummy donut. She pushed with her arms as she sank slightly, being stopped by the navigator behind her. She had managed to get Merry out of the float and now the water was almost up to her chin, while a mandarin head emerged behind him.
Her body had slipped from the younger girl's grasp, falling into a tighter embrace to stop herself. Now the navigator's arms were well attached to each other under Robin's breasts, she could feel the body behind her trying to act as a kind of bed, how her legs moved following the movement of her partner's. She could feel the other woman's chest rise and fall on her back, while her breath was present on her shoulder.
Despite the apparent effort, Nami didn't complain in the slightest. Once they were in a comfortable position they just stayed there. She wasn't floating on his own, but Rubin certainly felt better than with the float. It was just the two of them, body to body, a warm embrace in the cold water. Nami resting her chin on the archaeologist's shoulder, they were head to head.
The waves rocked them gently, the wind caressing their faces as they looked at the sky, the youngest rubbing circles on the brunette's belly. Salty air filled her lungs and dewdrops nestled on her lashes, Robin's bangs plastered to her forehead.
"Are you comfortable?" The redhead whispered sweetly in his ear, watching over his joy.
The archaeologist was tempted to return the question, Miss Navigator was easily the second smallest person in the group of Pirates, but still she somehow managed to get the two of them in that position.
"Yes"
She left almost with a sigh, she was not going to question how. She didn't want to break the magic right now, she didn't want whatever counteracted her curse to disappear. She didn't know what Nami had done or why she had allowed him to get so close, but at that moment, at that precise moment, Miss Always Sunday had disappeared.
Robin allowed herself to feel, allowed herself to be herself, and in the arms of her Nakama she closed her eyes and surrendered to nostalgia. She let the memory flow, a memory she had retained from her childhood, from the few times Robin had been with her. A baby of about 3 years old, splashing with her little feet in her mother's arms. Tears mixed with the salty water.
Before Nami could clearly notice the moisture running down her cheek, something surged out of the sea. The orange haired girl held back a scream of pure terror, the brunette could feel the air trying to escape from her open mouth, but when she opened her eyelids slightly, all she saw was a Sea King being split in two and kicked in the jaw.
With a small smile, Robin knew that she made a good decision in following the Mugiwaras after Alabasta. Not just for the companions who would protect her, but for that delighted girl who panicked back to the ship, never letting go of her grip for a second. Maybe, when her almost-eaten scare wears off, she'll ask Nami to float back together.