Log #3498 or something

[history_pirate]

Who: Robin and Calgara, with some use of Nami by permission. [Thanks, Michelle!]
What: A very long overdue civil conversation.
When: The middle of the freakin' night. After they'd been fighting long enough.
Where: The Thousand Sunny.



Night had fallen over the Thousand Sunny hours before, but Robin found she could not sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about him, and the things they had- or hadn't- said. She felt increasingly frustrated, and thus attempted to turn her mind to other things.

Her desk was a brilliant mess, open books stacked on top of each other and piles of notes she'd taken over the course of a week. The papers were scrunched, some were smeared. Robin read a few lines from one of the topmost books, scribbled something on her most current page, but with a sigh realized she'd made a mistake in the transcription again. She hurriedly tried to scrub the ink, and ended up making a gray hole through the paper.

"Damn," she cursed. Paper wasn't cheap on the Grand Line, and it was difficult to find. She crinkled it up into a ball, added it to the growing pile in her wastebasket.

Nami stirred at the noise, rubbing her eyes and turning over to face her roommate. "Robin-nee?" she said, her voice low and drawn out like a yawn.

Robin grimaced. Add another strike to the list, she thought. "Yes, Nami-chan, what is it?"

"You need to go to sleep," Nami muttered, almost returning to it herself. "You'll work better in the morning."

Robin knew she was right, that obstinately staring at this book and her smudged, poorly written notes would only end in future frustration. "Very well," she said. "I'll take these up to the library and be right back. Don't wait up," she smiled.

Nami stretched her arms over her head, then curled up underneath her blanket once more. "I won't," she said, allowing herself to nod off once again.

Robin smiled tenderly at her young nakama. Nami was definitely a very patient roommate, and Robin appreciated that fact more than the navigator would ever know. She turned down the lantern so that it would be less aggravating, picked up the tomes she needed to put away, and quietly slipped out the door.

Outside, the moon had risen almost to it's peak. Waves rocked the ship steadily, but the night was peaceful. Robin looked around the main deck, hoping to locate Calgara in order to not disturb him, but saw no one. Well, it was none of her business where he might be. She hurried across, and up to the library. To her surprise, lantern light spilled out into the night when she opened the door. She blinked, blinded for a moment as she came in, wondering who would be up at this hour, reading.

Speak of the devil, she thought. Calgara was seated at a small reading table with a lamp and what she could only assume was Norland's log book. She regarded him for a moment, her expression flat, then continued into the maze of bookshelves, opening her secret door in the ceiling and disappearing into the darkness without saying a word.

Comments

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Frustrated with the present, Calgara had opted for an escape to a past that he'd long left behind. He'd watched to make sure that Robin had not entered the library before he stepped in and found a place to sit. Norland's logbook was held gingerly in his hand, but he laid it out carefully after he'd lit a lamp.

The past few hours had been uneventful and silent, and he had forced himself to focus on the neatly scrawled words on the pages, trying to forget the entire past week. His brow was furrowed; he was so intent upon the book that he did not hear the sounds of footsteps coming toward the door.

"Hm?"

Calgara looked up as the door opened with a vaguely inquisitive expression, but it faded quickly as Robin entered the room. He gave her a careful expression, but did not hide he fact that his eyes trailed her before he ascended her ladder into her secret library.

Once she had vanished, Calgara watched the opening for a moment before he growled quietly to himself in frustration and looked back down at Norland's words. He wanted to pound his fist on the table, but knew better than to cause more problems.

Norland had just began to talk about the need for seeking out and felling all trees infected with Tree Fever on Jaya in his log. There were brief mentions here and there of the work being done in the forests, but most of the log was attributed to the experiences he had among the villagers; Calgara himself made regular appearances in his entries.

But suddenly, the jovial tone of Norland's rhetoric changed drastically to confusion. He asked many questions, most imposing of all of them the question as to why Calgara had turned so suddenly hostile. Norland could not fathom what he had done to incur his friend's wrath, and had even asked him about it to only receive a spear grazing his cheek.

Calgara gritted his teeth as he read this. In retrospect, his ire had been his undoing. Never again did he see his best friend after that, their last words shouted over an expanse of sea. It had turned into the one thing above all others that he regretted.

The warrior read over the words several times, his brow knitted.

Pride. He only had his own damned pride to blame.

Slamming the book shut, he stood, feelings of shame rising within him. He strode over to stand beneath the opening, and raised his eyes to regard the darkness.

"...Robin?"

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

She'd just wiggled the final book into it's spot on the low shelf when she heard him slam his book shut. She shot a questioning glance towards the opening where light was shining in- she hadn't bothered with her own lantern- and cringed a bit when he said her name. Really, it was far too late at night to get into this. She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply, steeling her nerves against whatever barrage he might try to throw at her. After letting it out slowly, she finally responded.

"I'm here," she said. "What do you want?"

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Calgara took a deep breath.

"Your forgiveness."

He gritted his teeth, and soldiered on, tension leaving his shoulders in an uncharacteristic expression of defeat. His voice was gruff but quiet.

"I have only my pride to blame. I wanted to be angry, wanted to find something to blame for my inability to protect you from Crocodile. I wanted to be angry at you for keeping your past a secret from me. It never occurred to me that you may have been doing so because it could be painful." He breathed in, frowning deeply. "Fujiko said that if I was unable to accept your past, then I do not deserve you. But I disagree. I have proven myself unworthy by my actions against you. Both as a friend and anything deeper that rises from that friendship."

Calgara looked back up into the darkness, frowning.

It's not that I want your forgiveness...It's that I need it.

"I do not want my own past to repeat itself. I have lived with enough regrets."

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

When she heard him ask for her forgiveness, her expression changed. She hadn't been expecting to hear those words from him for a long time- if at all. Curious, she moved to the very edge of the trap door, folding her legs up beneath her and settling down where she could see him.

Robin listened quietly, her heart racing slightly. Seconds went by, turning to a full minute after he had said his piece. She didn't know what to say. Finally, she created a ladder for him to come up. If- when- she finally found her words, she'd much rather speak with him person to person, rather than looming over him in the darkness.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Her silence was disarming. Calgara was unused to feeling uneasy; he stood there as the seconds ticked by, tension rising in his muscles once again.

After a few, he sighed and looked away, frowning. What had he been expecting? That she would simply accept his apology after he had acted the fool? Turning, he went to collect his book and leave when the sound of Robin's Devil fruit filled the small room. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the ladder that she had created for him, and he breathed in sharply. Somehow, the simple action did more than any words she could have said.

He ascended the ladder quickly until his head and shoulders were enveloped in the relative darkness of the secret room. There, just barely visible, he saw Robin seated there. He regarded her in silence.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin scooted away from the opening, creating enough room for Calgara to sit next to her. When she felt him start climbing the stairs, she realized that she probably should have taken the time to change into something a bit more appropriate to wear among the crew. A faint blush began working at her cheeks as she slid her knees together, tugged at the hem of her nightgown, and tried to put it out of her mind. After all, she had some important things to say. It really wouldn't do for her to start acting like a silly girl.

She noticed he paused, fixing her with that fervent gaze she found so thrilling. She swallowed softly, needing to break the silence.

"Have a seat," she said, indicating the spot she'd vacated. Behind her, a set of arms located and lit the lantern. She looked at him a long time in the soft light.

"Calgara-san, I'm sorry things got out of hand with Crocodile, but I'm glad you were there for me. It means a lot to me, knowing I can count on you. However, I do not appreciate being accused of something I've made a great effort to avoid doing. Yes, there is much about me, and about my past, that you don't know. But that doesn't mean you never will. Yes, there are certain subjects I tend to avoid in daily conversation, as they would lead to a discussion about things I'd rather forget. Yes, at times I choose my words carefully in order to steer the thought processes of others away from those things. I don't do this out of ill will, but rather for my own protection. I do not wish to have all aspects of my life dissected, stripped down to the bare bones and put on display for the world to see. I have enemies who would love to see just that. You've met one of them. And, while there is much he can say that is incriminating against me, even he does not know all that I keep to myself. I'm sorry our situation turned out this way, and I'm sorry that you felt betrayed. That was not my intention, nor did the idea occur to me. But that does not pardon me. I suppose, in the end, that we both need to do a bit of forgiving."

[ooc: sketchy sketch of Robin in the secret library is sketchy, but here (http://s649.photobucket.com/albums/uu211/m4gh4r4b1/?action=view&current=attic.png).]

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

As Calgara laid his eyes upon her in the light, his mouth went slightly dry. He should have expected that she would have been prepared for bed this late in the night, but seeing her in such a state of undress caught him offguard.

Swallowing, he made a valiant effort to regard her eyes completely as he took a seat in the spot indicated, trying to ignore the way the dim lighting accentuated her curves most enticingly.

His eyebrows raised when she in turn asked for his forgiveness. It had never occurred to him that she would have any shred of guilt in this. But her words held weight, and her explaining her standpoint such as this made a great deal more sense than any argument that had had in the past.

"I did not know that your past caused you such pain," he said finally, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze was intense but regretful. "Had I known, I would not have pushed the subject. But know that I would not have dove into the ocean to save just anyone. To be honest..."

Calgara took a resigned breath, turning a bit red with shame.

"I forgave you several days ago, but I refused to admit it to myself."

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

A tender smile crossed Robin's lips as she lifted a hand to touch his cheek.

"And I you. I can be just as prideful and stubborn as any lout on the Grand Line, and add a woman's spite to it. Thank you, for coming to me."

She allowed herself a few moments to take him in, rubbing her thumb along the blood red line that crossed his cheek.

"Besides," she said with a soft chuckle, "it was getting to be quite aggravating trying to avoid you."

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Calgara tensed in surprise as Robin reached up and touched his face, but it left his shoulders after a second. He took a breath and closed his eyes, enjoying the slight touch. He was, by nature, a loner, and simple physical contact was not something he indulged in often. He had been known in his village for not being a social man, even when among his family.

He smiled at her somewhat self-deprecating statement, and raised a hand to rest against hers, opening his eyes to finally regard her once more.

"I have missed you," he admitted gruffly. In more ways than just our discussions.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

"Is that so?" Robin responded, trying to keep from looking pleased by feigning skepticism. After a moment she gave up, though. Her expression, her body language, they all gave her away, and she knew it. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him softly.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

"Yes."

Calgara smiled a little more, noting the way her expression changed gently.

He returned her kiss just as carefully, really, it was only the third that they had ever indulged in, and all three had been in the confines of this little library. Calgara slid his hand from hers and along her arm until he reached her shoulder. Then, in a bold move, he pulled her close, raising another hand to slide into her hair.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

The sudden movement pulling Robin in knocked her off balance, and she fell forward. Her hands moved instinctively in front of her in order to absorb the impact, winding up on his shoulders. As he slipped his hand into her hair, she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew herself in closer. She rocked her head gently sideways, deepening the kiss. She really did want this, she had to admit. Come days in the sun or squalls of battle, she wanted him by her side, and not just as nakama. She was glad he seemed to share the same sentiment. Satisfied with her reasoning, she allowed herself to concentrate completely on the moment, running her fingers up the back of his neck and across his wings.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

The way her hands shifted beneath the weight of his headdress, fingers gracing up and down his neck, sent a chill down his spine. Breathing in, Calgara accepted her deepened kiss just as easily, pressing his palm against the back of her neck and pulling her in tightly. He parted his lips without hesitation and ran his tongue along her lower lip; she was perfectly capable of stopping him should she wish to.

Though...he hoped she wouldn't.

He tensed when her hands moved over his wings; for all the strength he possessed they were one point of weakness, whether to injury or to something as simple as touch. It wasn't a bad feeling though, and after a moment, he relaxed.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin sighed a bit as Calgara traced her lip with his tongue, completely lost in his warmth. She returned his advances with a few of her own, feeling butterflies in her stomach and heated shivers which coursed through her body. Sometimes, it was enough to take her breath away.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

They continued like this for what seemed a very long time; how long Calgara did not know. His hands had been somewhat adventurous, though never to the point of indecency. Rather, he had enjoyed moving them just to the brink of what may have been considered inappropriate, just to have her reactions. Sure, it might have been devious, but he always was up for a little bit of a chase, so to speak.

Eventually, though, he leaned back, resting his hand against the floor and looked at her with an intense gaze. He was slightly breathless, his face somewhat flushed in the dim light.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin gave as good as she got- moving her hips in just the right way at just the right moment, or skimming her hand ever so slowly up his thigh or down his stomach. Still, she was impressed by his control. Most men in his position would not have hesitated to slip the short nightdress even higher, or off completely, but Calgara hadn't. He'd been playful, but respectful, and Robin couldn't help but admire him even more for it.

When he leaned back, she had to stop herself from going with him. The situation being what it was, she hoped that once they sealed up the "special collections" library and made their way back to their respective dormitories that they'd also still have a few hours to rest before dawn. Continuing what had been started could prove detrimental to that goal.

Still, she smiled warmly, resting her hands just above his hips. She took a few moments to allow her own breathing to normalize before she said, "I guess this means we forgive each other, then?"

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

"That would be a good guess," Calgara said, his gruff voice slightly thicker. He chuckled, his lips curved into a warm smile. Her hands felt insistently warm against his skin in a manner that he found it quite difficult to ignore. But, for their own sanity, he did his best, and raised a hand to touch her face instead.

"Of course, if forgiving each other means something like this, then perhaps we should find another reason to argue!"

Then, he laughed heartily, his shoulders shaking with the sound.

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

"Mm," Robin laughed with him, "though quite frankly I could do without the argument."

She leaned in close, brushing a few tufts of the headdress out of his eyes and nuzzling her nose against his. "If it's the intimacy that you like, I don't see any reason why we couldn't just be intimate," she said softly, her breath warm against his lips.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Calgara swallowed. A lesser man would have given up by now. But he was not any lesser man, he was the Great Warrior Calgara; he had more control than this!

Nevertheless, he returned the gentle gesture, grinning wryly.

"Heh. That I would not mind in the least.." He was silent for a moment, closing his eyes in thought. "I would have asked you sooner, but more and more I am coming to realize that courting rituals in this day and age are far different from the ones I am used to. The time difference, and the culture...it's all very strange to me...I feel very..." He paused in search of the right word, and looked somewhat ruffled when it finally produced itself.

"Archaeic. But it is more simple for men and women in this time...you simply ask and recieve your answer. No rituals involved..."

Calgara paused, frowning.

"So...I am asking."

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin blinked once, then twice, taken completely by surprise.

"Asking...?"

Then her mind put what he had been saying together. She grinned, looking a little bit shy in spite of the fact that she'd been just as aggressive as him.

"To date you? I-" Robin thought about it for a moment. The concept of distinguishing between friends, kissing, and dating seemed a little juvenile to her mind. Still, she couldn't deny having felt... something... when he had asked. She couldn't deny the smile on her face, or the sudden giddiness which threatened to spill out into silly, juvenile words and actions. She took his hand in hers, turning to kiss his palm gently before looking deep into his eyes.

"I accept."

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Calgara had the grace to look somewhat disgruntled. The last time he had asked a woman to court him...well, he never had. Anela had asked him!

The kissing upon his palm, though. That was new. He looked at their hands briefly before raising his dark eyes and smiled. Then, he laughed quietly.

"I think that this will be quite a learning experience."

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin continued to be unable to return her face to a neutral sort of smile, the wide blushing grin refused to subside.

"Mm, it will be entertaining, to say the least," she said. "Now then, I really should be getting back to my room. I told Nami-chan I'd only be a moment returning the books. I'm sure it's been several by now."

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

"Er, yes. I do not want anyone to...get ideas," Calgara said gruffly, gently releasing her from his hands. He laughed though; it has indeed been many moments; enough to arouse suspicion from their rather sharp navigator.

"I think I will remain down below for a while...I would like to read a bit more." He frowned a little at this. "I feel as though I must."

[maki-tiki.livejournal.com]

Robin nodded in understanding as she summoned a new ladder of pierna fleur. She descended quickly, and waited for Calgara to reach the ground safely before sprouting hands to douse the lantern and push the trap door closed, securing it in the darkness.

Before Calgara could return to the desk where he'd been reading, Robin wrapped her arms around his neck, tiptoeing slightly to reach up and give him one last, gentle kiss.

"Goodnight," she said, then slipped quietly out of the library.

[fireofshandora.livejournal.com]

Calgara watched her go, the memory of her last kiss lingering on his lips. Once the door had clicked shut behind her, the warrior sank into the seat he had vacated moments before, looking thoughtful.

He was a grown man; asking a woman to court him at his age was not common, and he admitted to feeling a little juvenile at the idea. However, there was no denying that things in this time were different than what he was accustomed to, and honestly?

Calgara glanced back up at the closed door, and a smile slowly rose on his lips.

This would be fun. Never before had he met a woman who was strong enough to present him with such a challenge as Nico Robin.