Work Text:
She skims the catalogue in the reception. Her friend is taking too long in the building. She's almost late for work. Her boss would scold her again. There's a likely chance he'd even cut her pay. Her nerves thrum anxiously, feeling out of place. All the people that has rushed past her hardly spared her a glance.
She thinks of the coffee she had this morning. Lifting her eyes to search for a source to quench her thirst, she drops the catalogue back into place. Her grey cardigan and drab skirt are no place for people with corporate attire. She usually dresses good but she hadn't expected Kuina to drop by in her brother's building.
"Robin!"
She looks to her side to see her friend exiting the elevator with a tall, older man in a grey suit. It must be her brother. Kuina's always told her that he was older than her by almost 18 years. Robin shuffles in her feet and smiles faintly.
"I'm sorry it took so long. This jerk right here won't let me tell where I put it."
The man frowns, shifting his eyes to his sister and to her. "I told you. I don't know where it was."
"It was in your drawer." Kuina replies impatiently. Robin feels small under the man's scrutiny. "Anyways, this is my friend, Nico Robin. Robin, this is my brother Roronoa Zoro."
Robin meets his eyes. They are pools of molten grey. It clashes with the green shade of his hair, which probably used to be more light but darkened with age. He is fit for a man who sits all day in his office. Usually, older corporate men with high positions in a company are rotund and plump.
"Pleasure." He says, small smile stretching his lips.
Flustered, she returns the smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Roronoa."
Kuina's teasing smile doesn't help. He turns to his sister. "Your visit is nice and all but I was in the middle of arranging a meeting with an executive." His tone is tern. Robin notices he isn't much taller than her. Taller by 3 inches perhaps. It can't be help if she's a walking tree at 22. "Miss Robin, if you'd like, I'd have her tour you around the building."
"No, it's fine." She says hurriedly. "I am already late for work."
"See what you did?" He asks his sister.
"You're no fun." Kuina replies. "Drop by the dojo later, okay? My students want to see you."
Robin almost forgot about the dojo owned by the Shimotsuki's. Their family is renowned for their swordmanship.
"I'll try." He says dryly. "I'll be going. It's nice to meet you, Miss Robin."
"The pleasure's all mine, sir."
Kuina pulls her to the exit. Robin looks back to see her brother walk back to the elevator. He shoots her a glance. She turns away, cheeks flaming.
He's forty one. Why is she so flustered?
"He looks very ... serious." Robin notes.
"He is. He's actually pretty bitter that he doesn't get more time to manage the dojo since he's the eldest. But he's a big teddy bear. Especially with his kids."
"Kids." She echoes dumbly.
"Yep. His ex-wife's kids actually. But he's grown on them."
"I see." She says. "Kuina, I'm really late for work. Do you mind if I?"
"Don't be silly, I'll drive you there."
"No unnecessary stops in ice cream shops?"
The woman laughs, nodding. Kuina looks different from her brother. There's hardly any resemblance apart from the eyes they share. But with their different surnames, it's a wild guess that they are half-siblings. She hasn't told her much about her background really. Robin is fine with that as she's tight-lipped with hers.
When she's arrived to her work in an antique shop, Kuina blows her a kiss goodbye, tossing a bag of hot waffles in her hands. The shop she is working at is famous for the artifacts displayed. It's like a museum and Robin adores everything in it. The pay is small and not really enough to pay for college but she's a scholar. Still, she needs some money to spend for herself every now and then.
"Late again, Miss Nico?"
Robin drops her bag to the table. "I'm sorry. I was caught up with something."
Her boss snorts. "Another late and I'll consider finding another keeper."
She nods solemnly. The older man turns to return inside his office. Robin, relieved to not be lectured about her lateness, starts preparing for her work. There are new boxes in the corner. Most likely old relics. They aren't sellable as her boss often makes it clear that the relics are priceless. Sometimes, some displays are put into auctions. The last piece they auctioned amounted to a whopping 4 million yen. Their artifacts have also been displayed in museum exhibitions. The antique shop is more of an exhibit than a shop really that's why she likes working here very much.
"Have you seen the katana they brought in? Freaking crazy, right?" Her co-worker emerges from the storage room.
Robin shakes her head. "I'm afraid I haven't. Did you have it displayed?"
"Not really. I think it's getting auctioned. It'll probably be worth millions since it used to be wielded by a samurai. You know the stories about dragonslayer Ryuma?"
She looks at the man dryly and nods.
"Oh, so is the dragon figurative? Perhaps a fearsome general or are we talking about a fire breathing creature?"
"Even so, it's still a historical relic. Forged about 400 years ago or so." Her co-worker continues. "Are those waffles? Can I have one?"
She nods her head, gesturing him to go get one. She's skeptical of the sword. She's not even sure if they're permitted to be in possession of an old relic. But again, her employer is a well-known archeologist and he's been collecting historical paraphernalia for 2 decades.
"Anyway, I've already done much of your work today. Just unpack the boxes, I suppose?"
"Thank you, Sabo." She says kindly. The blond man waves at her gratitude dismissively, grinning.
"I'll be going out for lunch. I'll get your favorite sandwich in the bakery for you. See ya, Nico-nee."
Sabo throws his jacket on and exits. Robin looks down at the unopened boxes and places her hands on her hips. It's just you and me for now.
She supposes she's more than a curator than an archeologist student at this point. But it's still a good practice to handle prized objects that had been a part of history. She opens the first wooden parcel and the smell of beeswax pervaded her senses. The object inside is a cylinder with intricate carvings. She isn't an expert on anything but she is very good at identifying Roman antiquities.
When she's done unpacking, she catalogues the objects and puts away the small mess she has accumulated. It's her employer's job to finalize her work after she's done. Sabo returns with a bright smile in his face.
"Here ya go. My treat for the free waffles."
She chuckles. "I hope you had a good lunch."
"Of course, I had!" Says the blond man brightly. "I see you're done with the packages."
She shrugs. "Fairly easy."
"You're having too much fun working here, Nico Robin." Sabo groans. "I'm only in it for the money."
"Why don't you try another job?" She tilts her head.
"And what have you work alone?" He jokes. "Kidding, I can't with my juvenile record." He makes a face. "Have fun with the sandwich. I'll be in the back."
She glances at the clock. She still has an hour before she can go home. They still haven't gotten a single customer aside from window shoppers who merely want to take pictures. They're most people who only find archeology an aesthetic.A
Archeology is beautiful. There's something about the study that is timeless and haunting. Her own mother had been too obsessed with archeology that it cost her life, leaving her nine year old daughter all alone.
No one needed to know of her mother and poneglpyhs.
"Robinnn, excuse mee." Sabo whines, trying to heave an elongated parcel. It must be the katana he was rambling about.
"What are you doing?" She asks, bemused.
"I've been assigned in short notice that I was the one to receive this badass." The blond man says, grunting. He lays down the parcel on the work table. "It's not marked as fragile. Maybe I could try swinging it around."
"Sabo, that's dangerous."
"It's not everyday I get to be in-charge of a sword and a powerful one at that."
She rolls her eyes. "and you wonder why you're on juvenile record."
"Oi, that's a touchy subject." Sabo feigns offense at her statement.
Sighing, she helps him make space for the parcel. "As long as you don't cut me in half and spill my guts, we're fine."
Sabo, with great care, produces the sword from the wooden box it is encased in. She stops to stare, impressed by the sheer length and blade of the sword. Her co-worker makes a sound of excitement. It's more than a gurgle than a squeak.
"... it's a beautiful sword." She mutters. "Never seen such an old sword with pristine condition."
"Right? It's cool, I think I'm going to cry."
She giggles.
"... hmm let's see, sixty-seven point three centimeters." Sabo writes down. Robin hands him a caliper to measure the hilt. "This feels illegal. I honestly think the Museum of Japan would go ballistic over this."
"I've read that Ryuma had his sword buried with him."
"Oh no, our boss isn't a grave robber, is he?" He jokes.
"I dear hope not. If he was, he'd be a horrible one to not bring Ryuma's remains with him."
Sabo laughs at her morbidity. When they're done taking the sword's measurement and details, he tries to lift the sword. It appears a bit heavy as her co-worker struggles to lift it.
"They must have been monsters to swing these kind of swords. I can't even lift it."
Robin takes a step back to watch him attempt to swing the sword. She hears a clearing of throat behind her. Startled, she turns to see Kuina's older brother standing by the door.
"Mr. Roronoa!"
"Wha—"
The man swoops to catch the sword in the air. Robin's heart beat stops. Sabo flinches and falls on his butt.
"One wrong swing and you'll cut others in half, boy." The man says sternly, grey eyes grim. His eyes cut to her. Robin's eyes widen. "Miss Nico Robin, pleasure to see you again."
"Sir." She begins, not knowing what to say. Why is Kuina's brother here?
"I'm sorry!" Sabo says quickly. "You scared me! That's why I panicked. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that." Ignoring the man's admonishing look, be continues, "but that was fucking cool. You know how to use them?"
The older man nods. Robin stares at him curiously. "Yes. I was raised in a dojo. My father made sure that I was a swordsman before anything else." He pauses and observes the sword in his hands. "Enough of that, I was told to inspect a sword in your possession by Dr. Busshiri. You can ask the doctor himself about a Roronoa Zoro."
It's not ridiculous to witness a man holding a sword in a suit. It is, in fact, ridiculously sexy. Robin shakes her head. The green-haired man notices her gesture and raises a brow. "Is this not the sword I was told to inspect?"
She calmly speaks. "I'm sorry. We thought kitetsu was going to be auctioned. The sword you're holding is likely the one Dr. Busshiri wants you to inspect."
His lips quirk. "May I?"
"Please." She pauses. Oh gods, her tone is breathless. "... go ahead. We'll provide you with details if you're done."
Sabo is making a face behind him. He mutters a 'who is he?' to her. She shrugs. The older man motions them to step back. With a firm hand, he swings the sword twice. There is that unmistakable sound of a whip as the blade pierces the air. His eyes squint appreciatively and places back the sword in its encasing. He observes the sheath beside it under the bright lamp. Her blond co-worker hands him a pair of gloves. Once gloved, he lifts the sheath with a large gentle hand. Like the sword, it looks a bit heavy too.
He looks more like a swordmaster than a corporate man at the moment. He addresses the dark-haired young woman once again, ignoring her co-worker who is supposed to be in-charge of the sword. Exasperated, Sabo leaves the room.
Robin keeps her face blank as she waits for the older man to finish his perusal.
"I don't suppose you'll report us for having Kitetsu in possession."
He smiles thinly. "It would be hypocritical of me to do so, Miss Robin. I own swords like Muramasa and and Wado Ichimonji and procured them through any means. Reporting you will do me nothing."
She nods in agreement. "I understand."
"It's a good coincidence to see you so soon after meeting you earlier." He says, putting down the sheath. Her amber eyes blinks at him. He doesn't tower over her, per se. But she feels like he does. Robin listens to the rumble of his voice. He removes his gloves and looks around their work shop. "I'll be speaking to Dr. Busshiri for negotiations. I'll try to talk him off auctioning it."
"That'll be a hard bargain." She replies.
He chuckles, showing small wrinkles around his eyes. "I suppose. Kuina would be ecstatic to have Kitetsu."
Ah, a gift for his sister. She is glad that kitetsu, for all its history, will be used by a good master, at least. She had thought it'd be more like a collector's item.
"How lovely." She mutters. "It's a shame I haven't gotten her a gift yet."
"There's still a week left." He assures her. Clearing his throat, he looks at her in the eye. "If you want, perhaps I could assist you in finding a good gift. Kuina wouldn't use something unless it's something she really wants."
She laughs. "I figured." Robin brushes the front of her apron nervously, suddenly feeling underdressed in front of the older, attractive man. "I am not opposed to the idea."
"I'll text you later about the time." He says. She opens her mouth; is about to ask how he'll text her when Dr. Busshiri opens the door to his office holding paperwork. "I'll be seeing you very soon, Miss Robin." It sounds like a promise. Robin nods as he walks away to greet her employer.
Goodness, what was that?