A/N: Hello. This is a modern AU about Law and Robin. I only recently started shipping them. At first, I didn't want to upload this story until i was done with one of my other ones, but i just couldn't help myself.

Warning: Beware of OOC-ness.

Disclaimer: I don't own one piece. Just my OC's

Chapter 1:

Law's POV

Law found himself glancing across the hall as he unlocked the door to his apartment each day when he arrived home. Today was no different. Upon returning, his eyes grazed over the lavender door frame across the hall and his heart sank. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to his door and after twisting the cold metal knob, he disappeared into the apartment, wanting nothing more than to bury himself in his work.

He had woken up particularly early this morning to go downstairs and walk across the street to the corner coffee shop. He hadn't stepped foot into that cafe in ages. When Law walked in, the tinges of freshly brewed espresso and the clanging sound of the cappuccino machine pulled him into a bittersweet nostalgia. The memories of his time there with a certain someone resurfaced after months of tiresome mental repression and he instantly regretted entering the small establishment. But, his brain required the caffeine shock to finish typing his research journal.

Law stood in line, and it was almost his turn to order when he caught sight of a young lady reading in the corner by the large glass window. She reminded him of her the day of their first meeting, and instantly he was brought back to two years ago.

It had been a normal weekday and Law had just come from the hospital and was looking for a nice place to read a few surgical case studies. He came into the shop and ordered a regular coffee. Holding the cup in one hand and books in the other, he realized there were no empty seats anywhere. Except, in that same corner, at a small round table where a girl with long dark hair sat reading. Normally, he'd preferred having a table all to himself. One, because he needed space for his many books, and two, because he was a person of solitude. But, that day, he didn't have much of a choice.

When Law asked her if it was okay for him to sit down, she only looked up and gave a faint nod with a soft smile without saying a word. That was when he first noticed her blue eyes. Like two droplets of water, their placidity drew him in and the edges of his lips pulled upward, something that didn't happen often. As quickly as she had looked up, her eyes went back down to her book. Law set his stuff down and began reading the stack of cases. One of the attending doctors was doing research on an experimental technique used in heart surgeries and have asked him to be the resident to aid him. Since Law was looking to specialize as a heart surgeon, he was more than interested in the position. So, sitting there, he began highlighting information for the research. But, as focused as he was, Law couldn't help but want to look up, being all too aware of the dark haired girl's presence. His ears perked up each time she turned the page, listening to the swift flap of the flimsy paper between her slender fingers.

Finishing the last sentence of the paragraph, he took a sip of coffee and used the opportunity to glance at her. He could tell she was completely absorbed in what she was reading by the crease on her forehead and the attentiveness in her eyes. It was a little amusing seeing how immersed she was in the book, like she was in another world, instead of sitting in this quaint little coffee shop. His heart stopped at a halt and for a moment he thought he might need an AED machine, like the ones used on patients to shock their heart into animation again. He didn't know how long he had sat there looking at her with the cup held against his lips, but she hadn't noticed his gaze the entire time. Law went back to reading and after a long while, the girl got up from her seat. He looked up as if to say, 'leaving already?' She gave him a sweet smile and small nod goodbye before heading off.

As Law began to pack up his stuff an hour after she had left, he noticed a small rectangular card on the floor next to the table. Picking it up, a smile crept onto his face. He slipped the card into his back pocket and left. That was how he learned her name.

Nico Robin. He really liked the sound of it. It was like saying the name of some exotic bird. He said it over a few times in his head before going to sleep that night.

Having been so distracted with the memory he hadn't realized it was his turn to order until the barista started waving her hand in front of his face. Apologizing for his lack of attentiveness Law gave her his order. Then he paid and went to the side where a few others waited for their drinks. Leaning against the wall he stared at the front door and frowned as he recalled what he had seen through the glass a few months earlier, just outside that very door.

It had been raining that night. Law kept looking back and forth from his watch to the doorway. Well aware of Robin's punctuality, the fact that she was already 15 minutes late made him anxious, thinking something terrible might have happened. That is, until he saw her crossing the street. To Law's dismay, she was not alone. A gentleman in a suit walked with her holding an umbrella over her head. He noted how close they walked and the way she giggled with her hand over her mouth as he spoke. Before departing, the man took her hand and gave her fingers a light peck. Law was put off by the sight but he forced himself to smile when she came in apologizing for her tardiness. Apparently, she had left her umbrella at home but had been lucky enough to meet a stranger who was headed the same direction and offered to share his umbrella with her. Law told her it was no problem and that he was glad she was able to avoid getting drenched in rain. After ordering a few pastries, they went to their usual spot by the window. And after some reading and talking, Law and Robin headed back to the apartment building. He had tried to sound normal and relaxed the entire time. But inside, he was on edge. He did his best to hide his vexation from her that night. He kept telling himself that he had no reason to be upset. They were only friends, after all.

Law was brought back to reality when the Barista called his name. After grabbing his drink, Law hurriedly left. He thought it was a good thing he didn't run into Robin that morning. Actually, he knew she wouldn't be there because her shoes were lying neatly in front of her door when he had left the apartment earlier, next to a pair of male dress shoes.

He hurried up the steps of the apartment building with coffee in hand and tried not to imagine them behind those closed doors. But his weak willed mind failed him. Raw images of them kept reeling in, playing like a sad silent film. Them laying in bed kissing each other good morning as the sun shined through her curtains, illuminating her delicate form. Them sitting at the table enjoying a lovely breakfast together, which he had prepared. Them on the couch as he laid his head on her lap while she read one of her favorite books and ran her fingers through his blond hair. In each of these scenes, Law was an outcast looking in from the window at their perfect life. A lonely forgotten fellow, soaking in the rain that drizzled down from the singular cloud that hung above his head. His heart sank with each flashing image.

He shook his head violently to rid himself of those stinging thoughts. Sitting down at the dining table, Law flipped opened his laptop. For a long while, he worked diligently on his paper, taking sips of coffee here and there. He didn't know how much time had passed, but his eyes began to strain from staring at the screen. Deciding it was time for a break, he got out of his seat and made his way over to the couch. Plopping down on his back, Law turned his head to the side. His eyes fell on the stuffed polar bear sitting lopsided on the coffee table staring into space with round black eyes.

Law has had Bepo, the stuffed polar bear, for as long as he can remember. Sitting up, he took Bepo in his hands and stared at him. They'd been through everything together, from when Law lost his parents, to those awkward teenage years, to the stresses of medical school. He was the only thing Law took to college, the only thing that still had any ties to his old life. Bepo was a constant source of comfort, and whenever Law was in one of his moods he would have one sided conversations with him until he got over the distress or worked through a problem. This was a fact about Law that he never shared with anyone. He never showed any strong emotional attachment to anything. Nobody knew that side that was just a little bit fragile. Until her…

Law remember how her long black socks slid against wooden floors as she strolled around his living room taking in the minimalist décor. Those blue eyes gazing over the grey colored walls and simple modern furniture. It was her first time in his apartment and Law surveyed her light graceful movements as he made tea.

"I like your place," She said with a sincere smile. "It's very simple."

"I'm a simple person," he responded.

Her soft giggle echoed like a symphony. "I'm not sure simple is the right word to describe you."

"Oh? What word would you use?"

He didn't know if she had purposely avoided the question or if something had caught her eye and distracted her. But, that was when she picked up Bepo with her gentle hands. Then, she turned to him with that questioning smile he can't stop dreaming about.

"He's adorable," she said.

Law laughed nervously, slightly pleased by her compliment and a little embarrassed about still owning a stuff animal as a grown man.

Her next observation caught him off guard.

"It looks like you've had him for quite a while. Is there a story behind it?" she asked.

He found myself grasping for something to say and arrived at "My parents gave him to me just before they died."

He was stunned when the last part came out of his mouth. He didn't know why he told her that. His parents' death was not something he spoke of often, if at all. Suddenly, he was afraid that it was too personal of a subject for new neighbors to discuss. But, somehow his answer didn't tense up the room like he imagined it would. Actually, it was quite the opposite.

They ended up sitting down at the table, sipping tea from their warm mugs as they talked about their lives. She told him about her childhood and how she had lost her mom and never knew her dad. She talked about her love for history and how she had just started working at the museum downtown. He told her a little about his past, his dreams of becoming a great surgeon, and with slight embarrassment, about why he still kept Bepo.

Her melodic voice and soft smile were a calming presence and he found himself sharing more than he ever had before. She had this way of conversing with people, giving them her full attention as she listened to them speak, as if she wasn't just hearing the words, but reading what was under them. He noticed she held Bepo in her arms the entire time and he felt more connected with her than he had with anyone else. As Law sat there staring at Bepo and reminiscing to himself, his cell phone began vibrating. The caller ID read "Nami".

Nami was a skinny red-head and one of Robin's best friends. When Robin first introduced them, he thought Nami was too bossy and opinionated. But, after meeting the rest of their group, he concluded that Nami wasn't that bad, seeing that she was actually one of Robin's more normal friends. She seemed to be the one that kept the rest of the too loud and wild crew under control.

"Is Robin with you?!" Nami said before Law even had the chance to finish a 'hello'. Her voice was as loud and demanding as ever.

"No," he replied with slight irritation.

"She's not replying to my texts or answering my calls."

The anxiousness in Nami's voice caught his attention. "Did something happen?" Law asked. The question was followed by a pause.

"Hello?" he said again.

There was a sigh on the other end. "Yeah...last night." Nami said. Her voice sounded soft and hesitant, unlike her usual self. Law listened intently as Nami related the events of the previous night.

By the end of the phone call, he was fuming. So much that he banged his fist on the table. It didn't make him feel any better because what he really wanted to do was punch somebody. A very specific somebody. How could he do that to her?!

A sudden sound of a slam jolted Law out of his anger. It came from the hallway. Getting up, he went to the peephole of the front door and looked just in time to see a blur of blond hair pass by. His eyes zoned in on the door across the hall and noticed that a certain pair of men's shoes were missing.

It wasn't often you heard loud sounds coming from Robin's apartment and it made Law anxious. The tapping sound of shoes hitting against the marble echoed in the hallway. By the forceful slam of the door and the promptness of those retreating footsteps, Law gathered that this parting was not on any good terms. His anger was replaced with concern.

Despite his secret wish for their relationship to fall apart, he wanted Robin to be happy. That was why, when he couldn't take the idea of them together, he shut myself away, freeing up all her time to spend with the other man.

He made the decision a little while back, on one of their regular movie night rituals that happened once a month. They'd alternate on who picks the movie. Usually, there wouldn't be any squabble or complaints about whatever the other person had chosen since they had pretty much the same taste. They both liked horror.

This surprised Law at first because most girls hated the idea of spending an hour and a half watching blood and guts spill and listening to high pitch screams when they can cry over some sappy Hollywood love story. But, it was different with Robin. She never scrunched her face in disgust when someone got sawed in half nor did she scream and cover her eyes when a monster popped up. She watched each film with rousing curiosity, as if studying the complexity of each killing or marveling at the creative demise the screenwriters planned for their characters. The mechanisms of her mind were a unique operation, much like his own.

Law's interest with horror films lied in the way the filmmakers portrayed the human anatomy, like individual pieces rather than a whole being. He dissected body parts for a living: cutting, removing, replacing, and re-stitching. He felt most at home when confronted with a scalpel and a challenge, like putting together a thousand-piece puzzle. Law cherished this commonality they had between them, and these movie nights became one of his favorite pastimes.

That night had been enjoyable as usual and by the end of the film they had finished all their popcorn. Robin got up and went to the restroom after the movie ended. During her absence, her phone vibrated on the coffee table and a text lit up. Law's eyes caught the message just before the light went black. His chest tightened.

'Hey beautiful! I had a great time last night. Would you like to grab dinner again?'

A man's name flashed in bolded letters above the text. He didn't know what was more upsetting. The fact that she had gone on a date with someone or that she didn't tell him about it even though he was her closest friend. She checked her phone after she returned from the restroom. Law noticed she didn't reply to message right away. Instead, she asked Law what they should do next. Still, he was hurt. So, he told her he had to leave early to get some sleep, having picked up an early shift at the hospital the next day. For a second he thought he saw a flicker of disappointment flash across her face, but then she said she understood and walked him to the door with a smile. That night, Law lied in bed and stared at the ceiling, fully awake. The text still flashing in his mind.

By now, the sound of footsteps had faded. He lifted his eye from the peephole and turned around. Back leaning against the door, he slid to the floor. He looked down at his hand that still held Bepo and wondered what he should do. He wanted to comfort her and make sure she was okay, but they haven't spoken in so long he wasn't sure how to approach her now. Closing his eyes, Law sighed.

A/N: Thanks for reading! What do you all think? Stay tuned for Robin's POV next chapter