Hello @theverybestpencilsoftuscaloosaā !
Iām your secret santa for the occasion š
I hope youāll enjoy this little gift from me ā¤ļø I picked your Robin and Usopp wish for this gift š
Title: You Have A Home Now
Prompt: After the events of Enis Lobbies, Robin accepts to have her hair cut by Usopp for the first time.
She sat on the stool right on the deck of the Sunny, her blue eyes focused on the calm ocean in front of her. She had always been a calm person in the first place, using that faƧade to be seen as someone mature, composed, facing the events without any fear nor any pain. She was born to be a cursed child after all. She had known love, a long time ago, but she had lost everything and her life had been nothing but an everlasting run. It was a part of her nature; to never have somewhere to call a home, and yet, now she was truly unsettled. After she had taken the decision to leave the Straw Hats, and despite the logic she had found in this very arrangement, she had been rescued by all of them. She had been so sure that her choice was the best; she was a demon, she would bring bad luck upon their destiny and she wasnāt ready to see their smiles fade because of her actions. There were too many people hunting for her life, her name like a red flag for the World Government, because she had been touching those forbidden secrets with the palm of her hands. She was no good, and yet, once again, Luffy had proven that despite his carefree nature and his usual detached attitude, he was the strongest captain she had ever met in her entire life. She could be happy for the very first time, despite the raging world screaming for her nameā¦ She was there, safe and sound, with a family ready to love her no matter what. That was a privilege and a gift she had a hard time to accept for now.Ā
āDammitā¦ Why is Luffy always insisting on using the regular scissors for Chopperās furr!ā Usopp arrived on the deck, fully set to cut her hair. He had offered to take care of it when they had been back on the Sunny, right after he had had a word with Luffy regarding their argument. Robin had felt relieved that they had found a way to reconcile, and after the loss of the Merry, it was more than time for all of them to have a quiet moment to rest.Ā
āAre you sure Iām not bothering you?ā Robin asked with her usual polite smile, while she slowly picked up her book from the basket in front of her feet, and opened the page she was reading before. She didnāt mean to take more of Usoppās free time, but her companion had insisted a lot to share this moment together.Ā
āNon sens, Robin. Your bang is about to go right into your eyes, so itās more than time we do something about it!ā He chirped with his usual warm attitude, his lips stretched into a solar smile that Robin adored deeply. āAnd I insist I do the jobā¦ Remember what Luffy did last time he tried to cut Zoroās hairā¦āĀ
She let loose an amused chuckle, while she could perfectly remember the giant hole Luffy had created upon the green locks of the swordsman, bringing a lot of fuss on the deck of the Sunny. Back then, she had laughed with them, but her whole heart had always been carved with those worries regarding her place among the Straw Hat. It seemed that this everlasting sadness was always lingering over her features, as she could sense Usoppās hand patting her shoulder.Ā
āWhat are you reading today?ā The young man asked, obviously to bring her back to reality, while he threw a holed blanket over her shoulders, and gently positioned her hair behind her nape. He was already clicking his scissors together while he was channeling his usual artist nature to perform his haircuts. Usopp was really not bad at it, after all.Ā
āOh, itās actually interesting.ā She said while he moved the book aside for Usopp to have a glimpse over the illustrations. āItās a very old documentary relating to these former tribes who were eating pirates to gain their strength and power.āĀ
Usopp grimaced, while he looked back at her with disgusted eyes.Ā
āWhy are you always reading creepy stuff like this?ā He snapped, before he noticed her mischievous features and understood she was potentially using her usual dark humor to prank him. āUgh, well done, you almost got me there.āĀ
āMaybe that was not a joke at all, dear Usopp.ā She smiled again, amused, and gently settled her back against the backrest of the chair.Ā
Usopp hummed while he analyzed her hair, and eventually, he peered down at her, bending over her skull.Ā
āDo you want it short-short, or do you prefer to keep your length?ā
The question was genuine, barely something strange, but for Robin, it meant the whole world. She had no use to feel ashamed of her nature, she was safe, rescued by her family of heart and it was such an overwhelming sensation that she sensed her fingers quivering against the edges of her book.Ā
āA bit shorter, but not too muchā¦ I plan to keep it long.āĀ
Her voice was shy, soft, barely audible despite the calm sea surrounding them. Perhaps Usopp had noticed that she was now staring at her book with a certain nostalgia she couldnāt hide anymore. It was such a different sensation than what she had been used to sensing for the past few years. She had never felt home anywhere else but right here, and while Usopp casually began to cut her hair, just the tips so it could grow just as she had required, she couldnāt muffle those tears anymore. It was rare of her to expose her emotions, to abandon herself to these dangerous and overwhelming sensations. She was entirely exposed like this, like a flower shivering in the cold wind of winter, and yet, she had never experienced such a gentle warmness.Ā
āRobinā¦ Are you okay?ā Usopp stopped his motions, worried about her crewmate. He couldnāt understand all of her sorrows, but he was pretty well aware she had been through a lot. He was too aware of the sensation someone could experience if they ever believed to be a fraud. Robin was probably slowly understanding that none of the Straw Hat would leave her behind. It was overwhelming for anyone who never had the chance to call friends their family after all.Ā
āIām alright, sorry Usopp. I didnāt mean to look so down.ā She tried to ease the tensions, but she was still crying.Ā
Usopp smiled, and gently brushed the top of her hair with the back of his hand.Ā
āI know, I know. I didnāt even try to cut your bang yet, but please bear with me, Iām pretty sure I can do a good job!āĀ
He was joking around for sure, but that was the only way he knew to comfort her damaged heart. He could sense her fragility but also her strength, and somehow, he was admiring her. She was a part of the family after all, a beautiful and broken soul who needed to be protected and loved. Such a gentle but hurt soul could only cry when kindness would be replacing their everlasting world of loneliness. Robin was crying, but these were happy tears for once. She was relieved, finally abandoning herself to these emotions she had been so afraid to experiment. She tried to control her shaking shoulders, and while she was listening to Usopp's jokes, she eventually found a way to calm herself down. She didnāt need to run away anymore, and that was such a relief. No more looks behind her shoulders, no more impostor syndrome. She was a part of their world as much as they were all a part of her heart.Ā
āWant to take a look?āĀ
Usopp slid a mirror between her hands, his smile still plastered over his features. Robin gripped it and brought it to her eyes level, so she could admire his work. Once again, Usopp did a fantastic job, her blue eyes swollen by her prior tears, but brighter than ever. She turned around, and for once, she offered him the same solar smile, all of her features enlightened with that feeling of joy and bliss.Ā
āThank you Usoppā¦ I feel fantastic.ā She said, the double meaning of her words comforting Usopp deep down within.Ā
She would never be alone anymore.
