Chapitre 44: Chapter 44: "Ashes of the Past"
William's bright green eyes locked onto the Cipher Pol agents as anger surged through him. These agents had dared to threaten Robin, to try and use her as a pawn against him. He had no tolerance for their arrogance. As they stood frozen, attempting to intimidate him by invoking the name of the World Government, William's patience snapped.
"Do you think the World Government scares me?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing. The fire of his dragon power burned within him, and without a second thought, he extended his hand. A bright flame flickered into existence, swirling and growing in intensity.
The CP agents took a step back, eyes widening in fear, but it was too late. The fireball in William's hand morphed into several fiery arrows, each glowing with lethal heat. Before the agents could react or even attempt to flee, the arrows shot toward them with terrifying speed. The air hummed with the crackling fire, and in seconds, the agents were reduced to ash. Nothing remained of the threat that had once cornered Robin.
William exhaled slowly, his anger dissipating with the fading embers of the destroyed agents. He turned to Robin, his expression softening as he approached her.
"Come on," he said gently, scooping her up. "Let's get out of here."
Robin didn't protest. She felt safe, wrapped in the warmth of William's embrace and the undeniable strength he wielded. She clung to him, the sensation of flight familiar yet comforting as his massive wings unfurled from his back and lifted them into the sky. The cold night air rushed past them, but Robin felt none of it. In William's arms, she felt shielded from the world and its cruelties.
They flew for a while in silence, the vast sky stretching out before them as the stars began to fade into the early morning light. Eventually, they reached an uninhabited island, a quiet place where they could rest. William landed softly, setting Robin down before wrapping his arms around her once more. His embrace was warm and strong, filled with the silent reassurance that he was here for her, and always would be.
"I missed you," he whispered, his voice low and sincere.
Robin didn't reply at first, simply leaning into him, allowing herself a moment of peace that had been denied to her for so long. After a while, they found a small spot near the shore where they could rest, and William prepared some food for them. As they ate, the sun slowly rose over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the island.
William glanced over at Robin, his expression soft yet concerned. "How have you been, Robin?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Robin looked down at her plate for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She leaned her head on William's shoulder, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence. "You know the usual," she said with a sad smile. "Running away from place to place. Getting betrayed because people are greedy for my bounty."
William's jaw tightened, guilt flickering across his face. He put his arm around her, pulling her closer. "I'm sorry, Robin. I should have found you sooner."
Robin shook her head, her voice gentle. "It's not your fault. I've been running for so long, I barely know what it's like to stop."
They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the gentle crash of the waves against the shore. Robin's thoughts drifted back to the last time she felt this kind of safety.
Taking a deep breath, she decided it was time.
"After we separated," Robin began, her voice soft and trembling slightly, "Mother and Saul took me to the beach. Mother… she asked Saul to keep me safe." Robin's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke, her memories of that fateful day flooding back. "She said she needed to go back to the island… to help the others."
William listened quietly, his arm still wrapped around her in a comforting hold.
"Saul," Robin continued, her voice breaking, "he did everything he could to protect me. He knew the Marines were coming, and when Aokiji appeared, Saul… he sacrificed himself to save me. He gave his life so I could escape."
Tears fell freely down Robin's cheeks now, the pain of her loss still raw, still fresh. She had never truly let herself grieve, never allowed herself the space to mourn everything she had lost.
William's heart ached for her. He gently wiped the tears from her face with his thumb, his touch tender and careful.
Robin managed a small, bittersweet smile through her tears, then she reached over and pinched William's arm.
"Ouch, ouch!" William winced, rubbing his arm in mock pain. "What was that for?"
Robin's watery smile turned into a light chuckle, her sadness momentarily lifted by the silly exchange. "That's for making me cry, idiot," she said, though there was no malice in her voice.
William laughed, rubbing the spot where she pinched him. "Okay, okay, I deserved that."
The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the waves together. Despite the heaviness of the conversation, Robin felt lighter. Sharing her pain with William had eased some of the burden she had carried for so long. His presence, his warmth, and his willingness to listen made her feel less alone.
After a while, Robin broke the silence once more, her voice quieter now. "I've been running for so long…"
William's expression grew serious as he turned to her. "You don't have to run anymore, Robin," he said firmly. "Not while I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Robin looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. She could see the determination in his eyes, the fierce protectiveness that radiated from him. And in that moment, she believed him. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that maybe—just maybe—she could stop running.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
William smiled softly, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You're my family, Robin. I'm always going to protect you."
Robin felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. The feeling of being part of something again, of having someone who cared about her deeply, was almost overwhelming. She rested her head on his shoulder once more, letting the moment wash over her.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, they sat together, side by side, watching the new day unfold before them. The horizon stretched out endlessly, a vast and uncertain future awaiting them. But for now, they were together, and that was all that mattered.
Robin sighed contentedly, leaning into William's warmth. "I missed you too," she whispered.
William smiled, pulling her a little closer as the waves lapped at the shore. "We'll figure it all out, Robin." he said softly. "Together."
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