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"I've always loved the stars," Robin says for no particular reason during her and Nami's watch.
The evening is quiet and uneventful but Robin doesn't hate it. An uneventful night watch is always preferable when on the sea. Eventful mornings, however, are again becoming more commonplace in her daily life.
Not that Robin hates that either.
No, Robin's shoulders are light and her heart even lighter. I missed that very much.
When Robin was a little girl, she always dreamed that one day she would wake up on Ohara. The island covered in flames and the sacrifice of her loved ones too fresh. The only difference is that Aokiji isn't as kind as to spare her life.
Years later, her only worry presently is that she'll wake up in Baltigo and realize that her journey back to Sabaody hadn't taken place yet.
But it has.
It has and she is home on the Sunny again. She's home on the Sunny sitting in the combination crow's nest and training room with Nami, the smell of the shorter woman's tropical shampoo pleasantly fragrant. Below them, the boys are resting peacefully, snoring away in their chambers.
Everything is perfect. Maybe it's more than perfect, Robin has to wonder.
"It's not my specialty," Robin chuckles lightly, knowing that statement is more than a little obvious. But maybe there is an astronomer Nico Robin that is part of the Straw Hat Crew, she wonders. It's a thought disregarded as quickly as it comes. Perhaps the life she lives now has always been inevitable. Nico Olvia will always leave Ohara and Nico Robin will always learn to read Poneglyphs. But the stars will always be nice. "But it's a pastime I gained interest in during my early years as a Baroques agent. The night sky was so beautiful."
A Robin from two years ago would have found it against her better intersts to mention anything regarding her time working for Crocodile. Seeing how Nami listens, face unmarred with dislike, brings a warm comfort to her heart. "Certain stars are only visible in certain areas and at certain times of year, so none of these stars are familiar."
The tangerine-haired woman beside her smiles warmly, "we'll have to get some new books on the local constellations, then." Brown eyes glance out of the window for a few moments, determine there are still no threats to worry about before looking in Robin's direction again. Her now long and wavy hair is pulled back into a loose braid, swung over her shoulder. It's a lovely look on her. "We can never have too many books."
Robin's lips quirk upwards, "will I have to join the ranks of people with a Nami Debt?"
The corners of Nami's crinkle playfully as she grins, "I'll make an exception this time. A Straw Hat reunion special!" They share a laugh before Nami returns her gaze to the celestial bodies above. "Back in the old days, wayfinders from certain islands would use the stars to navigate. I know I'm the greatest navigator in the world but even my skills are rudimentary at best in that area." Despite her words, Nami's voice burns with the flame of determination. "We're in the New World now though. I'm not letting myself fall behind."
Robin rests a hand on Nami's shoulder, reassuring in her touch. "You've never done that to begin with."
Nami beams brightly, cheeks a hue darker than they had been previously.