[2000 Words]
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Ren and Robin walked quietly through the palace's luxurious corridors. Ren's mood was as usual, like a calm, still pond, without any disturbances or pressure. Although he had momentarily lost control over his destructive impulses in his room earlier, he had calmed himself down—or rather, Robin's presence seemed to have a soothing effect on him.
Ren had always liked Robin; she was one of his favorite characters from his previous life.
She was intelligent, beautiful, and calm—the type he preferred. Yet, she had joined a childish and foolish crew, at least in his opinion, and he believed she deserved a better crew.
Yes, the Straw Hats had saved her and all, but that didn't change his selfish view.
He knew he was selfish and wasn't ashamed to admit it.
"Yes, I'm selfish. So what?" That would be Ren's response if someone pointed out this "flaw."
Returning to Robin, the quiet woman looked at Ren calmly. He was a few steps ahead of her, his usual unreadable expression on his face.
Robin always considered herself skilled at interpreting people's thoughts or emotions just from their body language and expressions, but she couldn't apply this to Ren.
Then, suddenly, she stepped forward and walked beside him. Ren glanced at her and smiled gently—a genuine smile, unlike the smiles he showed strangers or important figures.
She knew he only displayed this side of himself to those he was close to, to those he loved, so Robin wondered, 'Does he love me?'
She wasn't naive; although she had no practical experience in relationships between men and women, she had a theoretical understanding from the vast number of books she'd read. She knew Ren was getting close to her; he loved her, and he didn't even bother to hide it.
But... he has many women. He's a flirt, Robin frowned, and Ren's watchful eyes didn't miss this reaction.
He chuckled quietly, as if he had guessed what Robin was thinking, but remained silent.
Everything would come in due time; when it happened, it would be natural and unexpected. That was how the world worked, what was called "destiny."
Returning to the woman whose frown had disappeared once more, she was still lost in her thoughts.:'But a man like him… is it really fair for him to have a harem...', Her thoughts continued to revolve around one man: Ren. Robin, who usually thought only of finding the Poneglyphs and escaping the pursuit of the World Government's agents, had found something else to occupy her thoughts all the time—Ren.
In truth, this had begun the day Ren invited her to join his crew. He had somehow discovered her identity, and after a series of events, he defeated Crocodile and kept his part of the deal by not handing her over to the Marines and hiding her. He even risked his position as a Warlord to include her in his pirate crew, and so far, the World Government didn't know about it.
Not to mention the most important part—he found her many Poneglyph stones that once seemed unattainable, one on Skypiea and two in Alabasta. And now, here he was, leading her to another Poneglyph…
'I've also gained strength I never dreamed of…' Robin felt more powerful than ever. Since Ren had enhanced her Haki on their way to Fish-Man Island just a day ago, she saw the world differently. 'Perhaps this is the effect of advanced Observation Haki?'she thought, but her thoughts quickly returned to Ren.
'A man like this… mysterious, strong, handsome—how could I not love him? Even if he's a flirt…'Despite her usual calm demeanor, a noticeable blush appeared on her fair, beautiful face.
She quickly realized that she had let her emotions and thoughts show on her face, feeling a jolt of panic as she realized she was close to Ren. 'Did he notice?!' she thought, her heart pounding—whether out of embarrassment or fear, or maybe both.
"!!!!"
Her heart skipped a beat when she felt a strong hand on her waist. It was Ren who had grabbed her. He looked at her and said, "What's on your mind, Robin? You seem completely lost in thought..."
Robin swore she saw an amused smile on his face, even if it was only for a brief moment, but it didn't escape her notice.
But she had bigger things to worry about now. "Captain… y-your hand…" she stammered, her shyness returning and washing over her face.
"Do you want me to let go of your waist?" He looked at her with a sad expression. No one knew if he was acting or genuinely saddened, but Robin quickly gave the fastest response she'd ever given anyone in her life: "No! I-I mean…"
She mumbled awkwardly, a deep blush covering her. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't the first time she had physical contact with Ren; he had touched her under the pretense of helping her travel faster, as he had done on Skypiea. But she didn't know why she was feeling so shy now. Was it because her feelings for Ren had grown stronger recently?
Since Ren killed that Celestial Dragon—representing the highest authority in the World Government that burned her island and killed her mother in cold blood—something changed in the way she looked at him. No, rather, it seemed like a barrier had broken…
"Why are you so flustered? That's not like you, Robin." Ren looked at her with his piercing blue eyes, a gaze that seemed to reach her soul. Robin could almost swear he was doing it on purpose. He knew what was causing her reaction, yet he acted oblivious.
"Unfair..." she muttered quietly, barely a whisper. They were currently in a secluded corner of one of the palace hallways, having stopped walking a while ago, just standing there, gazing at each other.
"What's unfair?" Ren asked, a "genuine" look of innocence on his face.
Robin took a deep breath, steadying herself and clearing her thoughts. Her previous fluster vanished, replaced by her usual calm demeanor. Even Ren was taken aback by how quickly she regained her composure in such a situation.
"Captain Ren, please stop pretending to be clueless..." Though she spoke calmly, Ren's Observation Haki detected a mixture of tension and anticipation in her tone.
"I don't understand what you mean, Robin—"
"No! Y-you know…" Robin cut him off quickly, raising her voice momentarily before it softened again. A hint of fear emerged in her heart; she had interrupted him. Would he be angry? Would his opinion about her diminish?
But Ren showed no signs of anger; in fact, he tightened his arm around her waist, pinning her gently against the hallway wall.
"Ah!" Robin gasped from the sudden movement, but she didn't resist, meeting Ren's gaze with a flushed face, remaining silent.
"You're so beautiful, Robin…" Ren's voice held a rare hint of adoration, a tone Robin had never heard before. She felt her heart flutter as if butterflies were dancing inside her, a sweet warmth spreading through her entire body.
"I've never said this before, but…you're one of my favorites, Robin. I love you." His expression was calm as he said these words, words that nearly made Robin, inexperienced with such matters of the heart, faint from this unfamiliar, overwhelming sensation.
"Ah~ R-Ren…" She didn't call him "Captain" this time. Perhaps this was the first time she addressed him by name alone, and she liked it—she wanted to call him by his name forever.
"As you know…if you say things like that to a woman who craves affection like me…you're treading on dangerous ground." Robin knew herself well. She hadn't grown up in a supportive environment or a loving family, and this emptiness lingered into adulthood. She hadn't found her happiness, hadn't met the man who'd make her feel safe, protected, and cherished.
But Ren had given her thosy feelings, something her soul and heart longed for, beyond the Poneglyphs, power, or anything else.
"Robin…" Ren said her name slowly, each syllable falling from his lips like music to her ears.
"Ren..."
They stood face to face, Ren leaning down slightly due to his height, their faces close enough to feel each other's eyelashes brushing. Robin's lips seemed to yearn for something, a silent longing.
"There's no turning back now, Robin. You'll be mine forever. Even death won't take you from me. Do you understand and accept my selfish desire?" Ren spoke suddenly, pulling Robin back to reality. His words touched her heart like honey trickling over a warm pastry.
Robin didn't answer with words. Her response was an action, simple yet full of meaning.
*kiss~*
It was a gentle kiss, without any hint of lust, or at least it seemed that way at first.
When Ren felt Robin's soft lips on his, he embraced her with both arms, not breaking their kiss.
Robin felt warmth fill her body, and tears began to stream down her face—tears of happiness, the release of decades of suffering. After 29 years, after all this time, she had finally found the person she had always wanted, her hidden desire resurfacing. She could proudly say she had no regrets, even if the love of her life was a rogue with many women.
"Ahhn~ Ren~ I love you~" she murmured breathlessly before being silenced by Ren's lips, which invaded her mouth, turning their tender kiss into one filled with passion and desire.
"I think...I think we should postpone our visit to the Poneglyphs…" Ren spoke, the fire of desire burning in his eyes. When Robin saw that look, her body trembled with excitement and anticipation, responding with a gaze that belonged to a woman eager to surrender: "Yes, my love~!"
A few minutes were enough for them to return to the room, the same room Ren had stayed in since yesterday. They hadn't separated from each other the entire time, kissing and feeling each other's bodies with deep desire and fiery passion along the way to the room.
"Hah… Hah… Ren~ I want you...~" Robin panted, her usual demeanor seemingly gone as if it had never existed. She looked at Ren with a profound desire, one that spoke of years of suppression—suppressing herself in anticipation of the right person, and here he was, kissing her passionately as if she were the most precious thing he owned, making her heart soar to the seventh heaven.
"Believe me, I want you more than you want me, my love." Ren's usually calm voice was filled with excitement and anticipation as he quickly threw Robin onto the bed with a gentle push.
"Ah!~ Please, don't be rough with me…~" A delicate smile formed on her beautiful face as she looked at Ren, who was staring at her and her body, which was hidden beneath wrinkled clothes from their earlier passion.
Robin swallowed, her anticipation at its peak, and she was about to live the best moment of her life with someone she loved deeply, flaws and all, which she had come to accept.
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To be continued...
500PS= Bonus chapter.