Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Shared Scars
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the island, Robin and William sat by a small fire, the gentle crackling of the flames the only sound filling the air. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, but now, with the world quieting down around them, Robin turned to William, her eyes filled with both curiosity and concern.
"What happened to you, William?" Robin asked softly, breaking the silence. Her voice was gentle, but the weight of her question hung in the air. "After Ohara, where did you go? How did you survive?"
William leaned back slightly, staring into the fire as if it could help him find the right words. He had never spoken in full detail about his experiences as a slave, but Robin deserved to know.
"I guess it's time I told you everything," William began, his voice low. "After the Buster Call, I managed to escape Ohara. But it didn't take long before I was caught by slave traders. I was still recovering from my injury when they found me, just a broken kid. They sold me to a Celestial Dragon in Mary Geoise."
Robin's heart clenched at the thought. She knew what it meant to be hunted, but the horrors of being enslaved by the Celestial Dragons were something even worse. "What did they do to you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"They turned me into a beast, Robin," William continued, his tone darkening. "A killing machine. They beat the humanity out of me, over and over, until I didn't feel anything anymore. I became a weapon for their entertainment, forced to fight other slaves, sometimes to the death. I didn't care about anything—no fear, no sadness, no hope. I had nothing left."
Robin clenched her fists, feeling a surge of anger at the thought of what William had been through. She had experienced her own share of pain, but she couldn't imagine being forced to become someone's weapon, to lose your very sense of self.
"But then," William said, his voice softening as he glanced at her, "everything changed when the Boa sisters arrived at Mary Geoise."
Robin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hancock and her sisters?"
William nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "They reminded me of you. I don't know why, but something about them—their spirit, their will to survive—it made me remember the days when you and I were kids on Ohara. For the first time in years, I felt something. I felt… human again."
Robin's chest tightened as she listened. She could see the pain etched in William's face, but there was also a glimmer of hope. The Boa sisters had done more than just help him escape—they had helped him rediscover his humanity.
"They saved me, Robin," William continued. "In more ways than one. Together, we fought our way out of Mary Geoise. We killed the Celestial Dragon who owned us, and we escaped. After that, the three of us—Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold—we were free."
Robin smiled softly, relief washing over her. "I'm glad they helped you, William."
William returned her smile, his eyes warm. "Yeah. I owe them everything. But more than anything, I owe you. You were the one person who kept me going all those years, even if you didn't know it. I thought of you every day, wondering if you were safe, if you were alive."
Robin's eyes filled with tears, and she reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "I never stopped thinking about you either," she whispered. "You were always in my heart, even when I was running."
William smiled at her, his heart lighter now that he knew Robin was safe. "I'm more than fine now that I know you're okay," he said softly.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before William's expression shifted, a sly grin forming on his lips.
"I haven't told you the best part yet," he said, his tone lighter.
Robin tilted her head, curious. "What do you mean?"
"Well," William began, "I had a little… encounter with Akainu."
Robin's eyes widened. "Akainu? The Admiral?"
William nodded, a sly grin forming on his face. "Yeah. You heard about it in the news, right? But what they didn't tell you is that I severely injured him."
Robin stared at him in disbelief. "You… injured Akainu?"
William chuckled. "Yeah. I'm not saying it was easy, but I gave him a real taste of what I've become. But that's not even the best part."
"What happened?" Robin asked, her curiosity piqued.
William's grin widened, and he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping as he recalled the moment. "I killed Onigumo. And after I did, I ripped out his heart."
Robin gasped, her eyes widening in shock.
William held up his hand as if he were holding something in front of him, mimicking the moment. His voice took on a dark, mocking tone as he said, "I held the heart up, examining it with a twisted smile. My head tilted, just like you do when you're curious. 'I thought it would be black,' I said, just to mess with him."
Robin's hand flew to her mouth, both horrified and intrigued as she listened.
William let out a cold laugh, his eyes gleaming. "Then I held the heart out toward Onigumo's trembling hand and said, 'Here, it's still beating. Maybe you can put it back.'"
For a moment, Robin stared at him in disbelief. Then, she burst out laughing. It was a dark and twisted joke, much to her liking.
William laughed with her, the sound of their shared laughter echoing across the quiet island. It was the first time Robin had laughed like that in what felt like years, and it felt good. It felt like healing.
As their laughter subsided, the weight of everything they had shared seemed to lift. The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow over them as the night deepened.
Robin leaned against William's side, resting her head on his shoulder. "You've changed, William," she said softly. "But… I think it's for the better."
William glanced down at her, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe," he replied. "I've been through a lot, but I like to think I've grown stronger because of it. And now, with you back in my life, I feel like I can face whatever's coming."
Robin smiled, feeling a sense of peace settle over her.
The fire began to die down, and the stars glittered brightly above them. The world felt peaceful, even if only for this moment.
As the night grew colder, William shifted, pulling Robin closer. "Come on," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her. "Let's get some sleep."
Robin nodded, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She nestled into his embrace, feeling safe and warm.
Together, they lay down on the soft ground, with William's arms wrapped around her. The sound of the waves crashing gently against the shore lulled them into a peaceful slumber.
Just before she drifted off, Robin whispered, "Thanks again for coming for me."
William pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'll always come for you," he whispered back.
And with that, they both drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, their hearts finally at rest.
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