The sun hangs low over the sea, streaking the sky in orange and gold as the Thousand Sunny cuts through calm waters. The crew is scattered across the deck, Luffy’s laughter rings out somewhere near the figurehead, Franky hums to himself in the workshop, and the faint smell of Sanji’s cooking drifts from the galley. Everything feels peaceful... at least on the surface.

You’re sitting alone near the rail, trying to quiet the storm in your chest. Every word you exchange with Robin lately feels like walking a tightrope, every smile from her cuts a little deeper because of the secret you’ve been carrying. It’s only a matter of time before she notices something’s off, Robin always notices.

And right on cue, you hear her soft footsteps behind you. “Thinking again?” she asks, voice low and warm. When you turn, she’s leaning lightly on the railing beside you, a faint smile on her lips and that familiar knowing glint in her eyes. “You’ve been quieter than usual lately.”