Work Text:
You knew the arm wrapped around you wasn’t attached to a body.
You knew it the moment you began to wake up, throat dry and eyes burningly heavy. The arm was soft and comforting as always…but the lack of the body it belonged to had you semi-fully awake.
The girl's quarters were dark, the only light dimly seeping in from the crack under the door, though it was just enough ligh to see the arm holding you. An arm that had bloomed from the soft mattress beneath you. The master of this bloomed arm was missing, just as you had known, but seeing the nearly empty spot next to you confirmed it.
It wasn’t unusual for you to wake up and find a missing Robin. Some nights she struggled to sleep and some mornings she was up even before Sanji. And although it was usual it still didn’t help ease your missing her.
You turned into the arms hold, brushing your hand up her forearm so that you could take hers gently. You raised the hand to your lips and placed a sweet kiss to the inside of her wrist, the bloomed hand giving you a small squeeze before poofing away in a cloud of pink petals and the smell of cherry blossoms.
Nami gave a small, airy mumble in her sleep as you swung your legs over the edge of your bed, shoving your feet into your pair of fluffy slippers. You tried your hardest to muffle the sound of your exit, not wishing to wake Nami up and enact her wrath.
The rest of the ship was warmly quiet, everyone within dreaming soundly. You wound your way to the first floor and heard how the rest of your crew was sleeping.
Deeply sound but oh so loud .
It was sounds you once thought nothing human could make, but no matter how loud and bone-shaking, it was yet another thing you had grown to find comfort in.
A salt-filled breeze greeted you as you made your way outside, the deck of the Sunny awash in the silvery glow of the ever-watchful moon hanging above. It gave you enough light to make your way safely across the Sunny and towards the stern, where the library observation room was located.
It was also where you knew she would be held up.
You carefully opened the door, finding the lamp had been switched on to give the room a near-golden glow. Your eyes scanned the rounded room, taking in all the different books your crew had filled the shelves with. Took in the small table at the center of the room and the ladder leading up to the washroom before they finally landed on Robin sitting curled up on the plush bench that rounded the room.
Her sapphire blue eyes were already watching you, a toothless smile pulling to her lips you were quick to return.
“Couldn’t sleep?” You questioned as you shut the door behind you.
“I’m nearly finished with this book.” She said in that silky smooth voice of hers. “It was all I could think about.”
You knew it was only part of the reason she couldn’t sleep. Knew there definitely was much more on her mind than the story in her hands, but you didn’t push for the truth. You never pushed. You two had come far enough together. She would come to you about that stuff when she was ready to talk, just as you would do the same.
And besides, it was far too late for such discussions.
“I think this is the fastest you’ve read a book yet.” You mused, grabbing a big, fluffy blanket from the basket full of them in the corner.
“Oh? You think so?” Robin’s blue eyes tracked you as you crossed the way over to her.
“Yep. Your fastest record was a week. This book has only taken you--what? Five days?” Robin gave a closed-lipped chuckle, placing her book over her knee to give you her full attention.
“I would say that’s still about a week.” You shook your head.
“Nope,” You gave the ending of the word a nice pop . “There are seven days in a week and you, my dear, have taken two less days than that.” The corner of her eyes crinkled as she smiled up at you.
You remembered a time when her smiles never quite reached her eyes. Remembered a time when those smiles seemed like they were almost an act.
So you made sure to take a few seconds any time she gifted the world such a smile. A whole face smile that you wanted to burn right into your memory and never forget.
“If you insist, flower.” You gave a small chuckle yourself, leaning down to kiss her forehead gently.
“Can I cuddle with you till you finish? I got a bit lonely.” Robin gave you an instant nod, holding one of her arms out in welcome.
You quickly climbed onto the light blue cushioned bench, pressing your side flush to hers and shimming a bit down so that your head could rest on her collarbones. Her arm wrapped around you tightly, keeping you closer as you threw the blanket over you both.
Once settled, Robin bloomed two new arms to hold her book up while she held you close. She nuzzled her nose against your forehead before placing a tender kiss there.
“I’m--sorry for leaving…” She murmured against your skin.
“It’s okay.” You snaked your arms around her waist, letting your fingers lazily move up and down her side. “Next time you can read in bed with me. Nami wouldn’t mind it if you used her book light, I don’t think and the light won’t bother me.” Robin kept her face against your forehead in quiet thought for a moment longer. Just breathing you in and taking in your presence.
“Thank you.” She placed another kiss to your forehead before turning so her cheek rested against your head as she read.
“You’ll have to tell me the rating you give this book after you finish, m’kay?” You snuggled closer into her warmth, eyes growing heavy with sleep all over again. Robin gave a small nod.
“Anything for you, flower.”