#ipromisedhim

I hope you had that bigass sweatband laundered, first.

 ⊰❁⊱ —

      A sigh was exhaled as Robin conceded, lowering her hand from his face down to play with a seam on his shirt absentmindedly as she spoke, expression seeming thoughtful yet slightly frustrated. “I’m curious as to what they themselves are hiding. Coming from a place like that is bound to wrap one up in things wanting to be kept secret beyond imagine.” 

 Dusky eyes found his own slate gaze then. “Important or not we need to keep an eye on them, and don’t let your guard down. No matter how polite or kind they seem-” Certain new passengers came to mind. “We must remember that anyone can be an enemy at any time.” 

 Robin found herself sharing with him knowledge that had kept her alive for years, which in itself was a trusting gesture. Then, she paused as if debating on what to say before speaking once more.  

              “-Have you sensed something off about the tall and bulky ones as well?” 

 Her Haki had picked up on it after they had boarded, and the Devil Child had yet to mention it to anyone until now. “I didn’t want to worry the others, but Its as though they’ve a greater force inside them, like steam fighting to rise from a pressured container. . . I don’t know what it is, but I we need to watch them especially carefully, and I know I can count on you as well as my Captain to watch my back with this, Law.” Fingers tightened around the cloth unsettledly in it’s grip as though scared to let go for fear of it disappearing. 

                                         (‘No matter what I must do, I will protect what is dearest to me.’)

     For all her experience, and all of her caution towards any new stranger that found themselves among the most precious treasures that were her nakama, Nico Robin could tell a good person when she saw one. And what a rarity they were. 

 Thus, quiet steps are purposefully tattooed on the deck as she comes up beside their newest passenger so as not to startle him, deep tones spilling forth from her lips. “I know that things can be a little hectic here on the Sunny. . . and distrust will find its way to you from all directions for some time. . . but I wanted to make sure that you were settling in well enough.” 

 A pause in velvet tones leaves the air quiet a moment as the Devil Child ponders the thought of the land she had just seen, and soon enough she’s turning amber irises on the man beside her.

                 (  They were somewhat softer than when they had first met- A world of difference. ) 

 “I can’t imagine the life you’ve lived up until now-” Empathy is soft on a silver tongue as she wonders if he would take it as an insult, yet finds herself continuing anyway.

 “Hell is no stranger to me, and Paradis certainly seemed very much it. But. . . for what it’s worth despite our resident Surgeon’s hesitation, I want you to know that you are welcome here. Please let me know if you need anything, and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have to the best of my ability.” 

The thing about it was...Jean knew better. He knew better than this. Thinking about personal matters in the heat of battle was stupid, it was compromising, and it got people killed.

And yet here he was, with his head in the fucking clouds because something had suddenly reminded him of Marco --

And next thing he knew, he was flying out of the air and smashing against the ground.

Winded, it took him a moment to even process what had just happened, let alone understand the fact that he was in grave danger. In a split second, adrenaline kicked in and he really did try to pick himself up from the ground.

But when he tried to move, searing hot pain ripped through him. He saw nothing but white as he let out a pained scream, knowing full and well that this was going to be the end.

His heartbeat roared in his ears, lungs struggling to take in breath (were his breaths gurgling? It sounded that way. Did he puncture a lung?). It had just been one mistake. One tiny, costly little mistake and he was going to lose his life because he slipped up and let Marco cross his mind.