The First Christmas

The First Christmas - SanUso - Varii Que

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"Are these yours?" If it weren't for the warmth of her hands, I wouldn't have known she was talking to me. "These antlers," she said, holding up a pair of fake reindeer antlers. In that moment, nothing else seemed to matter. My eyes dilated, brain rushing to think of what to say to such a beautiful woman. "Sanji, do you remember me? I'm Robin, it's been a while."

"Y-Yes. I do." Had my heart been racing any faster, I would've woken up next to Usopp in a hospital bed. In that moment, I finally came back to Earth. I stood before Robin, who I hadn't seen in over two years. The iced coffees in my hands came to life, sending a cold sensation to my palms. Two chocolate cream cold brews for me and Usopp. My way of apologizing for another night spent arguing.

Robin smiled and lead us to a table. It felt good to sit down, as if I'd been standing forever. "So, how was your flight." With a deep breath, I remembered everything. Everything.

"It's too long a story, it'll bore you," I said, waving off the question. The thought of all those transexuals left a bad taste in my mouth. "Coffee?" I held out what would've been Usopp's cold brew.

"Isn't that for Usopp?" She hadn't stop smiling.

"No, it's for a woman as beautiful as you!" I began to smile, too.

I thought Robin would humor me. "Then why is Usopp's name on the side of the cup?" I was wrong.

"He doesn't need coffee, anyway," I said, holding out the cup towards her. Robin sighed, taking the cold cup from my hand as she unwrapped a green straw to take a sip. I let out another long held breath. It really had been awhile, huh? If I was nervous around Robin before, I damn sure was nervous now.

We sat in silence for a while. I couldn't stop looking at Robin, so I timed my glances in between watching a man argue with his boyfriend through an apartment window, and looking into the blue eyes of an angel. "How was life in Europe?" I nearly choked on my coffee.

"It was," I hesitated. "Life." My head fell flat on the table. I had dreams of seeing Nami and Robin again. This wasn't one of them. "How about you, Robin-chan?" She smiled again.

"It's been fine, but we've all missed you." I noticed a change in her voice.

"Robin and Nami have been thinking of me?" My face was a lit fire. Probably a bright shade of pink by now. If I was unlucky, the blushing happened in ugly patches again, slowly spreading across my face.

"Yes, everyone has." Robin stopped for a moment to sip her coffee. I noticed her looking at my hands. Specifically, my nails painted black. Thanks a lot, Usopp. What an icebreaker. "I guess in your world, me and Nami count as everyone." The change in her voice was back. I assumed it was the cold weather. It got to my voice, too. "By the way, the antlers," she said, handing them back to me. I took them, feeling the soft, brown fuzzy material in my cold hands. With a swift motion, they were back on my head. I thought I'd feel happy again, but I felt nothing.

Not like when Usopp held me and told me how good I looked in them.

"So, have you found a place to stay yet?" I jumped back a little in my seat. "Your guard is awfully low today," Robin chuckled.

"Is it?" I laughed a little. "No, me and Usopp are living in a hotel right now," I trailed off. "But it's a nice one!" I forced a laugh, feeling my face burn like an electric heater.