Chapter Text
“Yow! What a SUPER party!” Franky crowed, plopping down on the fallen log Robin had chosen as a seat.
The archaeologist struggled to tear her eyes away from where Chopper and Usopp spun around in circles, hooves in hands, the flickering light from the massive bonfire on the beach casting dancing shadows across giddy faces. They moved in time with Brook’s guitar, their laughter the perfect harmony to the upbeat jangle of steel strings.
Robin’s heart swelled as she turned to smile at her new companion. “Indeed, it is quite lovely,” She hummed.
Franky laughed, the sound booming over the chatter of the Heart Pirates mingling with the Straw Hats, “I’m shocked you agree, considering no one has fallen into the fire!”
“Yet,” She teased, turning her attention to Ikkaku, Shachi and Zoro, passing a bottle around in a circle, shoes shucked to the side and feet dug into warm summer sand. She lifted her own mug of wine to her lips.
“You’re a monster,” Franky chuckled, taking a swig of his cola.
“No,” Robin giggled, “I’m a devil.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re so scary,” His eyes creased with a bright smile as he waved to Jinbei and Jean Bart, approaching with a mountain of food, courtesy of Sanji and Penguin, the two cooks humming happily as they turned kebabs over an open grill. Franky made to shuffle further down the log, intending to make more room for their friends.
“Oh, no need,” Robin excused herself, brushing bits of bark from her skirt as she stood, glancing over her shoulder, “I was just about to welcome back our captains, anyway. Enjoy your meal.”
The muffled murmurs of gratitude through mouths stuffed with food were lost on Robin, her sharp eyes fixed to the two silhouettes approaching from the path leading to the closest village. Stepping lightly over soft sand, the heat of the recently set sun still toasting the shore, she made her way over to the party’s late attendees.
“Fashionably late, I see,” She squinted her eyes in one of her signature, knowing smiles. It was not lost on her how fingers hung intertwined between frames hovering close together, how Law ducked his head as a sheepish blush bloomed across his cheeks, how Luffy practically trembled with excitement as he beamed up at Robin.
“Better late than never, Nico-ya,” Law’s frown was shaky, half-hearted at best. There was a telling glimmer in his silver eyes, “You should know that better than anyone.”
Robin hummed, turning her head to survey her Nakama with a gaze steeped in affection. Then, she eyed Luffy, smirking, “Sanji put all the best meat aside for you, Luffy.”
And with that, her captain was gone, arm stretching comically to keep himself tethered to Law as he raced towards the cook, hollering for food. Robin and Law watched in awe as Luffy’s arm stretched thinner and thinner, like a strand of chewing gum pulled beyond recognition, until, eventually, Law let go. Luffy’s fingers snapped back to their origin at the speed of light, a loud twang echoing over Brook’s soundtrack.
“Is this when you threaten to castrate me if I ever hurt your captain?” Law raised an eyebrow, his dry tone barely concealing the mirth beneath.
Robin took a sip of her wine, the lip obscuring her soft smile, an attempt to intimidate Law with the mischief dancing in her eyes, “Perhaps.”
“You are a truly terrifying woman, Nico-ya.”
“How kind of you to notice. Thank you, Torao,” She giggled. Then, her eyes fell on a ring of fabric dangling from Law’s wrist, catching the light of the moon as he reached out to accept a mug of ale from Penguin. “I see you spoke to Nami.”
Law nearly dropped his beer in his haste to shove his hand, and wrist, into the pocket of his jeans. He scowled, though there was no heat to it.
“What do you owe her, exactly?” Robin pondered, “Your life savings? Your first born? She does like children.”
Law sighed, “I placed a deposit on the bracelets. They rack up interest monthly. I’m renting them.”
Robin’s heart exploded with adoration for the crafty red-head. She looked over to where Nami had joined Ikkaku and her sake battle by the bonfire. Robin raised her wine in a silent cheer . Nami beamed the moment she saw the look on Law’s face.
“I’m sure you'll find it’s worth it,” Robin held out her hand, “May I?”
Despite the dramatic resignation upon Law’s face, he did not dilly dally. He placed his wrist in Robin’s outstretched palm.
The bracelet was made out of the leftover scraps of Luffy’s shirt from Dressrosa, three long strands braided together, curled into a bangle with a golden clasp. The result was a delicate navy rope, bursting with splashes of orange and yellow, like fireworks in the night sky.
“And Luffy?” Robin did not need to articulate her question further.
Law nodded, “I let Nami-ya have her way with my Corazon jacket.”
“She is certainly talented,” Robin smiled, “What an eye for fashion.”
“More like an eye for profit,” Law grumbled, snatching his hand away. Robin watched his gaze wander, the light of the bonfire illuminating the calm joy in the depths of his eyes, a spark lancing through the steely irises as they landed on Luffy, shoving food in his face. He was seated next to Sanji’s barbeque, snagging meat right off the grill, cheeks stuffed with an absurd amount, a choking hazard if there ever was one.
“And Nika?”
“Luffy-ya said the god is pleased,” Law nodded, “If he’s anything like Glaukos, I believe they are content to simply co-exist again.”
Robin hummed her comprehension, admiring the way the Hearts blended effortlessly with the Straw Hats. Everyone upon the beach, bathed in the golden light of the bonfire, seemed so carefree, so relaxed, so happy. Everywhere she glanced, there were wide smiles and booming laughter, full mugs of booze and plates long emptied from scrumptious food.
What a lovely community they had built together, all thanks to an alliance upon a snowy hilltop.
It really was a SUPER party.
Speaking of...
“Shall Franky fix an extending chain to the Polar Tang?”
Law choked on his beer, “You’re not leashing my submarine!”