route_1065 | Train Station Reunion (baaaackdated)

Entry tags:

Train Station Reunion (baaaackdated)

Who: Nico Robin (

justicereigns)
Where: The Magnet Train Station in Goldenrod
When: Sunday, May 13
Summary: Robin meets her captain as a child for the first time. Also, Smoker's there. For adult supervision.
Rating: G
Log:

The magnet train ran surprisingly smooth- smoother than Puffing Tom had, anyway. Admittedly, Robin had only ridden that one time, on a train designed to move with the ocean, and a storm had been brewing dangerously close to full force. But still, this was more like gliding, and Robin felt inclined to appreciate what small luxuries she could. It was only a matter of time before she was missed, and if Team Rocket was anything like the criminal organizations she'd dealt with before, it wouldn't take long for them to send someone to silence her.

As the train hissed into the station, Robin slung her pack over her shoulder, straightened the surprisingly well fitting shirt she'd acquired in the women's shower at the Pokemon Center, and stood up to wait for the doors to open on Goldenrod City.

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Smoker had never been on a train. Nor the bullet train. After the incident with Team Rocket attacking the train some months ago he hadn't wanted to bother just for curiosity's sake. And neither he nor the brat had collected all of Johto's badges... they were kind of unenthusiastic about it. Especially since collecting all 8 just led to another 8. Which no doubt would lead to another 8 Smoker was sure. And if it was just ranking, neither Smoker nor Luffy cared about the status of it.

Speaking of the brat...

Letting him run around in public was just a disaster sequence waiting to happen. Even as an adult, Luffy was a walking Buster Call waiting to happen... as he'd been known to cause. To several islands even.

And so it was that Smoker kept him on his shoulders for now. He knew the added height and reminders to keep looking for Robin weren't going to hold his attention for long though. Maybe he should take a leaf from Sanji's page and start slipping the kid sleeping pills mixed with candy. Oh well. For now, he was just going to have to deal with the candy winding up in his hair. Or whatever else.

Chibi pirates are surprisingly hard to entertain and Smoker's currently out of story ideas. He doubts they'd even help much at this point. Maybe a thumb war?

Edited 2012-05-22 01:37 (UTC)

Well, when you're armed with another bag of candy, sticky fingers, and a head of silver hair in front of you, you can't get more entertained than that! Luffy just thought it was funny how his fingers would change his hair color, so he occupied his time trying to dye his fingers certain colors so he could pass that same amount of time dying Smoker's hair.

They just had to wait for Robin, after all. To say that Luffy was excited was an understatement - his nakama was back, and thus brought pure elation to the young boy. But he was in for a bit of a surprise. He knew Robin was bigger, but not by how much. No longer his little eight-year-old playmate, but that was okay! Nakama was nakama.

So, while he sucked on his index finger to make it purple, he looked around at the train, staring closely at the passengers. She was one of them, wasn't she?

...That one right there, probably. With really, really long hair, and it was all pushed back... He removed his fingers, placing both hands on Smoker's head to brace himself while he leaned further. "Hey, Smokey! Is that her?" he asked.

Robin had to give the man credit, he'd made himself extremely easy to find without being obtuse. The bright yellow straw hat raised high above the crowd couldn't be missed. She scanned the crowd again anyway, searching for faces that seemed familiar- so they could be avoided.

She wished she had her Devil's Fruit Ability. She wouldn't have to worry about the faces she couldn't see, if it were working properly. But instead, there was nothing, and nothing she could do about it. So she swept her eyes over the crowd a third time, then lifted her sunglasses as she approached the Vice-Admiral and her captain.

Robin considered the Marine before her for a moment, meeting his eyes directly, jaw set. It was awkward, having asked for help and so easily receiving it from her enemy. If he thought she'd remain weak and in his debt, he was mistaken. She'd trained for two years on Luffy's behalf. Even if she had to start over completely, she'd find a way to get stronger again.

Luffy. Robin raised her eyes to the wiggling child astride Smoker's shoulders. He hadn't changed much, she noted with surprise. Shorter, certainly, his face a bit rounder. But the eyes, and that impish smile were unmistakably Luffy's. Robin grinned, and raised her hands to take the boy into her arms if he'd come.

"Luffy!"

The marine certainly didn't think she was subservient. Oh no, the woman even Aokiji knew to be wary of? Someone who had allied with dozens of criminal organizations only to betray them? Someone who almost helped Crocodile destroy the world? Smoker didn't know her well enough to any of the real stories behind her situations, but to say he was suspicious was an understatement. If anything, he didn't feel like she was truly asking his help as much as making sure her captain would be secure in her (usually multiple) hands instead. And then back to Team Rocket perhaps. He just wouldn't let that happen.

Smoker picked up Luffy to pass him over to Robin, and instantly had to lean his head with it. Just how sticky had those hands gotten already?! And Smoker's hair... joy. That was always fun to wash out. "Tch," he grunted and carefully separated the sticky fingers from his hair trying to make sure it didn't remove chunks from his scalp. "Here." He set Luffy down to go meet up with his nakama.

The last time they'd seen Robin in Johto she was only eight years old. Now it seemed she was certainly after Marineford. Smoker idly wondered if since she knew about the white den den mushi in their world, why she hadn't stopped Straw Hat from leaking information about Punk Hazard. Was she even caught up to that point? Then again, if the past two years surrounded by Pokemon taught Smoker anything it was that stopping Luffy from being impulsive was damn near impossible.

He felt he probably should have said more, or asked questions, but then, Smoker wasn't known for being talkative. If anything, he just waited for the other two to decide that being out in the open was risky or in Luffy's case; boring.

Yep, there she was, heading right over. Luffy's grin could only grow, and he pulled his sticky hands away from Smoker's hair - or tried, because this was a little harder than he thought! - but he was on his feet soon enough.

Or, had been, because the moment he was let down, he bolted for Robin, sticky fingers outstretched for her. (He'd be careful with her hair, though.)

"ROBIN! You got big fast!"

Robin wasn't entirely sure what to make of that comment. Honestly, thirty years isn't quick, unless one wishes to speak in terms of history or evolution. But evolution needs a new definition, Robin thought, because in this world, it happens in an instant.

When Luffy was close enough for her to grab, she took him up under his armpits and threw him into the air, catching him in a quick hug before setting him down on the ground.

"It's good to see you, Luffy."

Don't mind the marine in the background here. He's already training marine eyes on the crowd looking for anything suspicious they might have to deal with.

However, this isn't exactly something out of the ordinary for him. Smoker's always this suspicious, and if anything, he still thinks Robin is the real threat.

Anyway, carry on the reunion, he's not speaking up yet.

As he was tossed into the air, Luffy laughed, wrapping his arms around her in the biggest hug he could manage before she set him down. His nakama was really awesome, even especially being that big. The little captain couldn't help but grin.

"I'm glad you're back!" He reached for her hands. Sticky fingers be damned! "Are you gonna travel with us?"

"That is my intention, yes. We should probably get to it. The sooner the better."

Eugh, sticky fingers are kind of nasty, Luffy. Almost as bad as the goopy grass at Sabaody. She'll still take hold of them without flinching, though.

"Is there somewhere we can get a drink, first?"

The marine's ears practically flick forward at that. "Several, in Goldenrod or elsewhere," he rumbled in his usual rough tone, "What kind would you like?" The bars would usually object to a child being brought in, but between Smoker's glares and Nico Robin's... whatever, Smoker doubted they'd have too many problems.

Still, it might be best to go somewhere with meat, as that was more likely to keep the brat distracted.

Yay, handholding! Luffy grinned, idly swinging their hands together in the middle. Food places had good drinks! And where there was food, there was Luffy's appetite.

"Let's get lunch!" he suggested.

Well, that wasn't quite what she had in mind. But a restaurant would have a place to wash Luffy up, so that wouldn't be too bad. As long as they didn't dawdle.

Robin looked to Smoker with a raised eyebrow. After all, it was his coin they'd be spending.

"Yeah, that's fine," Smoker shrugged. He's gotten too used to looking after Luffy at this point. There's a reason he hasn't gotten all the badges, and Robin can probably already guess it.

"What do you feel like today?"

He will make another menu fort. It's pretty much routine now.

"MEAT!"

Also typical. The type of meat really didn't matter much. With Robin and Smoker, Luffy was just happy they were adding food to the mix that he didn't care much on what type they ate.

Robin couldn't help but grin. It was surreal, and amusing, to get to know Luffy before he set out to find One Piece and become the Pirate King. Mostly, it was interesting to see just how little he'd changed since the age of 9.

She checked the station again, found a likely food joint, and began ushering Luffy in that direction.

"You really had to ask?" Robin shot in Smoker's direction. She wanted to get a feel for his temperament, since she really didn't know much about him other than he seemed oddly obsessed with catching Luffy.

And he was dead, the last time she saw him.

But that was a conversation for another day.

"That's what you want every day, bratling. Try being more specific. No hot dog ice cream." Once was too many times for that.

"Che," Smoker scowled irritably as he started heading out, still keeping his eyes and ears alert for problems... or in case Robin decided to try to run for it. "Besides, I meant you too woman."

"Then, um... STEAK! Can I get steak? Can I? Can I?" Or so he hoped.

Really, he didn't care as long as it was meat. And as Robin led him in a general direction, Luffy just bounced where she led him. After all, she'd know where to go, wouldn't she?

She knows there's a place over there that looks like it serves food, and that seems to be enough for now. It bothers her to be so blind, bothers her more that there's nothing she can do to restore her ability. Adaptation takes time, and she may not have very much of it. Thankfully, there's safety in numbers. Her ability to get lost in a crowd wasn't dependent on her Devil's Fruit Abilities, and denizens of the underworld tend to take after cockroaches- skittering away from the light, hiding away from public view.

Smoker's tone is getting to her, just a little. Or maybe it's the hunger. The smells coming from that restaurant are making her stomach churn with anticipation.

"I've had little more than vegetable flavored water in the last four days. I honestly have no preference, other than the food be solid."

And there's a drinking fountain. Robin derails Luffy towards it, asking him to kindly rinse his fingers in the water.

Another grunt. "Steak's fine." That's his favorite anyway, even if he won't say as much.

Still, getting Luffy to rinse his hands off in the fountain bubbler gives Smoker pause. That's a thing that can even be done? He's just going to feel a bit stupid for little while. And then secretly appreciative that Straw-Hat finally has his ~~idiot~~ nakama to look after him. He's still going to be forever on edge, especially around Nico Robin, but huh. Maybe he won't have to work as much on the little things at least.

Although his hair is going to remain candied until he can get a shower. Oh well, small things first.

Solid food and it would be steak; Luffy was a happiest of happy campers. It was enough that he actually listened to Robin as she aimed him at the water fountain, and he stuck his fingers under the stream, laughing as it splashed. He wasn't doing much in terms of scrubbing, but he sure was trying.

Robin helped Luffy scrub off his fingers, cleaning hers off at the same time. Even though the water is bitter cold, she flicks the extra drops from her fingertips in Luffy's direction with a sly grin, then heads toward the restaurant, hoping Smoker was clever enough to go in first and check the place out.

He is indeed clever enough. Or at least impatient enough. Combine that with his usual marine suspiciousness and he's good to go. Besides, he wanted to make his menu fort early, seeing as Robin might be able to get Luffy cleaned up, but Smoker doubts she can make him stay that way.

So when the two pirates follow him in, he'll be leaning against the wall waiting for their table for three, and scoping out all directions and still making sure his "prisoners" don't run for it. Which also means he's figured out the escape routes. For completely different reasons, but still, they are analyzed and filed into his brain.

He laughed as the water splashed onto his face, trying to use both of his hands to splash her back before he hurried after her. Once inside, he ran forward, trying to find where Smoker had gone to sit. Once found, he stuck his tongue out at the man.

"Smokeeey, you left us!"

And with that, he crawled onto the bench and plopped down, tugging open a menu. He wanted to look at the pictures!

"It ought to be alright for a little bit," Robin said to Smoker, her voice low so only he could hear. "Relax. You'll draw attention if you're too uptight."

She turned and sat next to Luffy, talking over menu options and subtly steering him to the slightly less expensive, slightly healthier dishes, until they were seated by the hostess and their orders taken.

"Not fast enough to ditch you," Smoker quipped, as if he'd actually let his quarry go so freely.

Nico Robin's advice froze him into a glare, however. If it wouldn't cause a scene and get himself arrested, he'd probably have kicked her. Who the hell did she think she is, giving him an order? And he's plenty relaxed (not really) and even if he isn't, it's definitely not her place to be reassuring him. He settles for a death glare however and a low growling voice quiet, but completely serious right back. "Do not tell me what to do, pirate."

And with that, he set about remaking a food shield out of menus. If she thought Luffy's hands being sticky were a problem, she was in for a real treat with his table manners.

And through all of their tension over there, Luffy was completely distracted with the delicious pictures on the page. At one point, he was tempted to lick the menu--but, after the first or second time he had done that, he knew the pictures didn't taste good.

Sadly enough, even as Robin tried pointing out cheaper and healthier foods, all Luffy did was find all the meat. In the end, he settled for chicken fingers and porkchops and french fries, and then decided to play with the salt and pepper shaker while waiting.

Robin met the death glare with a grin, and threw up her shoulders when Luffy ordered. She'd tried, at least. That was all anyone could do with Luffy. Once it seemed they'd have some time to themselves, Robin said: "You mentioned I was here once before. What happened?"

He snorts at her grin and decides to ignore her for a bit, playing back with Luffy and Sheriff Salt Shaker and Sgt. Pepper.

Once Luffy digs into his insane meat pile and Smoker made sure his menu fort's shields were at full operating power, his ears flicked at Nico Robin's question. "You were only eight. Not much happened." He remembered trying to get the kid to open up more with books. His eyes narrow momentarily in thought as he twirled the spaghetti around on his fork. It always amused him how most people think Luffy's order was Smoker's and vice versa.

"You wanted to crack the mystery of the Unown then I guess they went crazy and spread all over." Had that been Team Rocket? Or was Nico Robin's interest in the Unown after they went crazy? Honestly he couldn't remember the specifics. It had been over a year in Johto, but it was on top of an extra two years that he was in the New World. Even for his pretty good memory, those details were fuzzy at best. And the things that stuck out; giant blue eyes that made him very briefly debate decking one of his closest friends for letting an eight-year-old kid wander the world alone (even though he was certain Aokiji had saved her life), and her small bits of hesitant joy when she thought no one was looking... well, those didn't help at all. Really, he'd just as soon forget them. And he silently cursed his memory for holding onto such weird tidbits when it came to pirates.

"I think I would have noticed if you were in Tea-- league with that organization." Still, if Aokiji was right about this woman, and Straw-Hat hadn't already somehow broken the curse, then Team Rocket was due to split up now, wasn't it? Or did that only count if Robin stayed with them to the end, to cause their downfall. "You tell me. Do they even take anyone under fifteen?" Hina mentioned having an informant with them when she'd been in Johto, but that was a long time ago. And while he liked to think she would have told him if there were kids forced into the group, knowing Black-Cage as he did, the White Hunter suspected she probably would have been more likely to shield that information from him, convinced that he'd do something reckless with it.

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Train Station Reunion (baaaackdated)

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