One Piece University Chapter 5: One Halcyon Afternoon, an one piece fanfic

CH5: One Halcyon Afternoon

Sick. He was sick. Mentally, physically… shit. Both.

With nervous sweat gathering on his brows MiHawk anxiously eyed the snail-paced clock on the wall. Thirty more minutes.

Good Lord, there was no way he would last that long. The past hour had been pure, excruciating hell for MiHawk. He grimaced and quickly risked another glance down his waist. And as sure as the skies were blue--there it was, unbearably hard and growing even more prominent by the second. It fought against the strangling barrier of his jeans, demanding to be freed. Right now, the only thing protecting his dignity from three hundred pairs of staring eyes was the two by five mahogany podium he was hiding behind.

With superhuman willpower, he kept his eyes from seeking out the student sitting directly on eyelevel from his position. Just her mere presence demanded this reaction from his body. Robin. She'd shown up for class today. And although that made him happy as hell, this dilemma of his was quickly chiseling away at his nerves.

Well, the dilemma…and the pen.

That damn pen. That damn lucky pen was what triggered all this.

It was a standard black ballpoint pen, optimal for lecture notes, rounded at the end by it's circular cap. It all started innocently enough, just nestled tightly in her grip while the lecture wore on. Then, it suddenly became the world's most luckiest object when Robin started rolling it's end across her lips. The capped bottom moved slowly over the soft curve of her lips while she followed the debate being volleyed between the students in class.

MiHawk had absolutely no idea what the heck the debate was about. Something about the legend of One Piece. Hell, he was just grateful that the students were distracted while he battled to return the blood that had vacated his brain to flood his cock. The transfer was not going well. On top of it all, the strawberry blonde sitting next to Robin wasn't helping with her insistent staring. She'd been glaring at him since the start of lecture. Her light brown eyebrow was arched in a questioning stance like she was trying to figure out something.

He quickly scanned the lecture hall, desperate to seek out anything to help kill the rising party in his pants. Another look at the clock told him he had now twenty more minutes to endure. With a silent wince he turned his head. Big mistake. When their eyes met Robin smiled sincerely, and the pen that'd been flirting in and out of the boundary of her lips slipped into her mouth. He almost lost it then.

"Class dismissed!" MiHawk shouted hoarsely. The mini mic boomed his strangled command.

The class stilled their loud debate and glanced at the clock. "But professor… we have, like, twenty--"

"Cutting the lecture short today. I have a meeting to attend--right now." With a sharp turn he retrieved his coat, mindful to kept his frontal out of view. The students rose lazily, filing out in loose groups. Keeping his back towards the class MiHawk buttoned his coat in a desperate attempt to hide his problem. It didn't help. Not even in the least bit. The heavy wool actually gave the damn thing an even more prominent shape!

"Professor MiHawk?" Robin's soft greeting sounded just beyond his shoulder. He could tell from her voice that she was wearing that innocent smile of hers, waiting for him to turn around. God, if she had any idea what was going on in his head--or in his pants for that matter-- he was sure she'd run out of here screaming.

"Are you looking for something?"

"Yes, ah, just a second please." MiHawk aimlessly shuffled the mess on his desk in a vain attempt to buy time. While his hands increased the chaos on his desk, he frantically thought of all the horrible things in the world: dead puppies, starving children, genocide, fuck--the Ebola virus! That did it. His hard-on ebbed away. Releasing a quivering sigh, he grabbed whatever his hands were on and turned to face her.

Robin held her books in one arm and a large paper bag in the other. She smiled at him, "Did you find--oh…" Her lips set into a tight line and her eyes dropped to her shoes.

MiHawk almost shouted a curse. He was holding out the blonde's stolen Gucci wallet and Robin's once abandoned syllabus. The lecture hall had cleared out and the silence rang over the two like an ominous bell.

"I'm going to return it." she said in a small voice.

"I know." he followed immediately, mad at himself for making her uncomfortable. Robin awkwardly took the items from his hand and tucked it into her bag.

"Did you have a question?" he spoke to fill the void.

"I… wasn't sure if you already had lunch or not." her voice had become more fragile after the exchange. "It's just a sandwich, maybe you could eat it after your meeting… or just throw it away. It's nothing special. Just a little payback for dinner." He accepted the brown bag she held out for him.

"Thank you." he said, deeply touched. Robin looked up from her shoes. "I'm starved, actually. If you not too busy will you stay? I don't like eating alone." He never minded eating alone, preferred it even, but he wasn't about to pass up the chance to spend time with Robin.

"But your meeting--didn't you say you needed to see someone--"

He thought fast, "The meeting is with you." When Robin frowned, he added, "Remember Professor Saulo's recommendation? I wanted to talk to you about the teacher's aid position."

Her mouth formed a soft O and she nodded.

They picked a nice shady spot under a tree for the picnic. He was starving. MiHawk had gotten home at six in the morning. When he dropped Robin off last night, a loud crash followed by a man shouting in Robin's apartment riled him up so badly he couldn't bring himself to leave, thinking she may be in danger. He had guarded her from outside, leaving only when the streets came alive with the sound of morning. Once home, he took a quick shower, shoveled away two unsatisfying frozen dinners before running out the door to catch his morning lecture.

When he opened the bag the heavenly aroma of roast beef made his mouth water. He spread his coat over the dry grass and motioned for Robin to sit. MiHawk sat on the floor beside her. Laying out the food on the free space between them, MiHawk looked like a little boy splaying out his Christmas presents. Three hearty roast beef sandwiches, a Ziploc bag of crunchy pickle spears, a Tupperware filled with fresh cut cantaloupe and strawberries, a roll of Ritz crackers, two pears and a large bottle of water.

He rubbed his hand eagerly and grinned at her. "This is great. Really, thanks." He picked up a sandwich held it up to Robin. When she insisted that she wasn't hungry, her stomache disagreed loudly. He shoved a large sandwich into her hand and took another for himself.

He paid careful attention to make sure Robin had plenty to eat. She looked down at the neat stack of crackers and pickles he'd piled on her napkin. When MiHawk finished arranging her food, he dug into his own. Robin worked through the roast beef while watching MiHawk eat. He ate with gusto, like he'd been starving for days. A large bite of sandwich, a bite of pickle, a cracker or two, chew, swallow, followed by a swing of water. She stared, mesmerized by the work of his strong jaw as they moved rhythmically to break down the bites; the smooth motion of his throat when he swallowed, and the bob of his Adam's apple when he drank from the bottle. His long finger caught a drop of juice that had escaped from the side of sandwich, as he licked it off he finally noticed he was being watched. Robin could've sworn he blushed but it was too light to tell.

"Sorry, I'm making a pig out of myself." he apologized, looking embarrassed. It was completely unnecessary. He wasn't sloppy at all. Even when he ate heartily there was a subtle grace in the manner in which he did so. She didn't mean to stare but it had been all too tempting to look away from. She was embarrassed he'd caught her gawking.

"No, you're not. I'm glad the food's okay."

His face lit up with a smile. "Are you kidding? This stuff is great." he laughed, reaching for the second sandwich. "Did you make it?"

She nodded while he unwrapped the last roll. "Half?" he offered, ready to cut the sandwich. Robin had only taken two bites out of her roast beef. She shook her head and forced her eyes to find something else while he resumed eating.

When the last bit of beef was chewed and gone they relaxed against the tree. MiHawk reached for the container of fruit, and it dawned to Robin that she had forgotten to pack forks.

"Shoot… sorry."

"No problem." MiHawk leaned to the side and used the last bit of water to rinse his fingers. Taking the reddest, plumpest strawberry from the array, he held it for her lips.

It was a sweet gesture. It was romantic… perfect.

It was also the most awkward moment in the world.

The gravity of his action struck him only too late. MiHawk held the fruit tensely, trying to get his brain to work, to formulate a way to pull this off gracefully. He was getting no where, fast. His good senses were already off on vacation and he found himself helplessly fixated on Robin's lips. Silently, he willed them to part for him.

Robin stared at the strawberry MiHawk held in his fingers. The silence had stretched too long for the moment to be passed off with a polite "no thank you." Just when MiHawk thought he would die from the anticipation, Robin leaned slowly and took the fruit. Her full, pink lips closed around the morsel, brushing briefly against his fingertips as they took from him. Unconsciously, a soft moan escaped his throat.

Horrified by the sound that eluded him, MiHawk coughed roughly and fumbled for a piece of cantaloupe. He shoved the thing into his mouth, and said, as nonchalantly as possible, "About the teacher's aid position--I'd be really grateful if you could help me out. There isn't much to do now, but once the first research paper is due, I'll have three hundred essays on my plate. Saulo said you're already a university certified TA so if I push it by the Dean I'm sure he'll approve." he paused, "What do you say?" MiHawk had talked too fast in his nervousness, Robin was only just swallowing her bite. She agreed, nodding sagely.

The truth of the matter was, she didn't even need to take this course. When Professor Saulo taught the subject last year she'd passed the subject with flying colors. As much as Robin loved archaeology, the lesson itself was redundant, the only reason she signed up was to meet her all-time hero and for the chance to hear of his world famous excavations.

"Of course I'll have to grade your essay first to make sure things are up to par--and for fairness sake." he winked, settling the matter. A peaceful silence came over them as the two relaxed. Robin pulled her knees to her chest and nibbled on a pear, watching a distant game of catch and throw between several guys. Crossing his boots MiHawk leaned against the trunk and folded his hands over his waist. Now that his stomach was full and comfortable, the weariness that had hovered over him since last night took over. And with good reason. He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep in the past thirty hours or so. Subconsciously, the true reason for his uncharacteristic lax in the open was because Robin was close to him. The unconscious knowledge that she was fed, well, and nearby for him to protect, set his mind at ease.

In a matter of seconds, Robin looked up to the deep, rhythmic sound of sleep. Her lips shifted to soft smile and she moved carefully to settle beside MiHawk.

She mentally traced the fine structure of MiHawk's slumbering face. His eyelashes are so thick, she wondered, scooting closer to study him at a better detail. They were closed now, but beneath those long black lashes, she knew of the yellow-gold irises of his eyes. Perfectly centered beneath them was the prominent rise of his nose, sharp and dignified. On either side laid strong cheekbones that set his face in a smooth masculine line. Well-defined lines of facial hair framed the contours of his full mouth. He's so handsome, she thought, suppressing an enormous urge to trace his goatee with her fingertips.

Unable to stop herself, she took a good, long look down his sleeping form. He was huge. Six-five, six-six, at least. His arms were corded with lean muscles; his chest, wide and strong; his long thighs were heavy and thick. Chest, waist, hips: 99, 80, 97. Give or take if she'd missed her guess.

Oh.. dear… God. Did I really just do his measurements? Robin admonished herself with a rough shake. Frowning still, Robin forced herself to continue eating her pear instead of eating up her professor with her eyes. A soft, disgruntle grunt stole her attention to that unwelcome direction again. A leaf had fallen on his cheek. Suppressing a giggle, she took the orange leaf off his face. When she did so, MiHawk sighed and twitched his nose, giving her a wicked idea.

It was rare, but her inner devil rear it's head. Maybe in the back of her mind, she was just a little annoyed that he had given her such a hard time during their first couple meetings. Robin lifted the leaf to his left ear, tickling him just below his earlobe. With a slight shift of his head, he chased away the feeling. A smile bubbled inside her prankster. Next up were his cheeks. Then, it was his chin. Forehead. Mustache.

He complained, whining softly, trying to shift and bat away the invisible pest. When she got to his nose, he wriggled and sneezed. The hand she kept pressed over her mouth was to no avail. She was shaking so bad already it just burst from her. Uncontrollable laughter bubbled from her throat as MiHawk's eyes fluttered open.

Caught red handed with the leaf in her hand just inches from his nose, and still, she couldn't stop herself. MiHawk looked at Robin's laughing face.

"Hey--" he complained half-heartedly, rubbing the side of his nose.

"Sorry, I was just trying to get the leaf." she made excuse, fighting to diminish her giggles.

"Uh-huh." he grinned groggily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Oh, damn, is that the time already?" He startled and checked his watch again. It was half pass five. Almost three hours had gone since they ate. His next lecture was in ten minutes.

"Shoot, I've got to get to Franky's." she mumbled, picking herself up. Robin handed MiHawk the last pear, shook clean his coat and held it out for him. The chilly fall breeze hit her sharply, tossing her hair and making her shiver.

MiHawk eyed Robin's thin turtleneck and nodded to his coat. Rising easily, he dusted his jeans and said, "Tell you what--I gotta stop by and see Franky later anyway. Why don't you just take my jacket and I'll pick it up later tonight?"

"Ah, no, I'm fine." But even as she protested, MiHawk was already stuffing her into his coat. Robin was instantly engulfed in the pleasant scent of warm wool, hint of spicy aftershave, mixed with the delicious smell of pure male. She shivered deliciously.

"Still cold?" MiHawk asked, taking care to button her all the way to the collar.

She shook her head mutely, enjoying their closeness as he flipped up the lapels to shield her neck. Lastly--without a second thought--he smoothed his thumb over her mouth, freeing the bit of hair that'd stuck to her moist lips. Time and the entire world seemed to still at that moment. Completely powerless to do otherwise, MiHawk slowly ran his thumb over her lips a second time. Now, the perfect thing to do was kiss her.

So of course it didn't happen.

MiHawk dropped his hand and snapped back to attention. "So yeah--just leave the coat at the bar." he said, dusting his pants where there was no dust. Robin got out a soft, "Okay." before walking away.

It wasn't until she started feeling dizzy when she realized she'd been holding her breath.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

"You're awfully quiet today." Ussop said, struggling to adjusted the length of his backpack while balancing his books.

Nami ignored him briefly. Finally she asked, "You know, Professor MiHawk? Don't you feel like you've seen him from somewhere?"

"No, not really. Why?" Ussop stopped to pick up the text he ended up dropping anyway.

"I swear, he looks familiar." she mumbled as they walked up to the dining cart.

"Is Robin meeting us for lunch?" Ussop ordered a coke and a tuna melt.

Nami shrugged a shoulder and eyed the different variety of pizza's on the menu board. "Dunno… said she had stuff to do. I'll have--"

Her sentence was cut short by a roar of panic, followed by students shouting and jumping apart to clear road for an out of control skateboarder.

"GET OUTTA THE WAAAAAY!!" the boy shouted. His arms were swinging about wildly, maintaining his miraculous balance on the runaway board. He was being chased down by another student built like a linebacker. The green haired one was swearing black and blue as he sprinted after the runaway.

"Luffy, you idiot! I told you that slope was too steep!"

"WOOooaaaAHHH!!"

The linebacker with the outrageous hair flew into a flying tackle, taking down the skater and landing them both flat on the grass field. Less than a second later the skateboard crashed against the diner cart like a bullet. The big guys backpack and the skaters straw trucker hat that'd been knocked high into the air tumbled down with a thud.

The boy moaned from under his friend. "I think… it would've hu…hurt… less to hit the cart." he wheezed out.

"You dumbass! Why'd you pull a stunt like that! Next time I'll let you cream into the wall so hard you'll stick on like paint! I should kick your boney ass--" By the time his friends tirade ended Luffy was already laughing like a idiot and readjusting the hat on his head.

"Well, well… enter, the heroes." Nami drawled.

"Oh, hey! Nami! Hi!" Luffy shouted in his always-too-loud voice. He jumped up from the floor, grabbed his board and marched toward Nami and Ussop.

"You know those weirdoes?" Ussop whispered, panic-like. Nami hesitated, recalling the horrific near-rape incident. She only nodded as the boy ran up to her.

"Hey Zoro! It's Nami! Hi!"

"Stop shouting you idiot, I'm not deaf and neither is she." Zoro gave Nami a nod and mumbled a "Hey."

Still grinning, Luffy jerked a thumb towards Ussop. "Who's he?" he asked cheerfully.

"He's Ussop, my friend." Nami introduced.

"Hi…" Ussop said slowly, eyeing Luffy's outstretched hand warily before taking to shake it. After greeting the huge linebacker, Zoro, the four were faced with the seething wrath of the diner owner. Luffy's board had left a sizable dent on the car.

When Nami batted her lashes and turned her doe eye charm on the gruffy owner, he melted immediately, coaxing her, saying none of this was her fault. Unfortunately the guys had no such luck. The owner demanded damage cost and the boys turned out their pockets.

Zoro extracted a twenty from his back pocket and scavenged his gym bag for another ten.

Ussop grumbled and complained but donated all of his thirty-five dollars.

Luffy turned out all his pockets and pulled out a button, a large lint, and, a stick of gum. He laughed. They all jumped him.

After more of Nami's sweet talk the owner let them go, taking just the sixty-five.

"Not even a dollar left for a bag of chips." Ussop lamented, peering into his sad, empty wallet. Zoro's stomache grumbled loudly, seeming to join Ussop's pity party.

"I'm hungry, too." Luffy announced officiously, followed closely by an "Eeep!" when his three friends glared at him with the look of murder in their eyes.

Ussop shoved his empty wallet into his pack and checked his watch. "Nami, doesn't Robin have work at Franky's at six today? Maybe she'll hook us up."

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

For the third time, Robin unfolded, straightened, then refolded the coat again. As she unfolded it for the fourth time Franky walked through the kitchen door.

"Woah, nice coat." he grinned teasingly. "For me?"

"You wish, boss," Kiwi laughed, coming out with two pitchers of beer. "It's obviously from her man, so his little baby Robin won't get cold." she cooed and winked, stopping by the bar to hip bump Robin before arching over the coat. "Ummm…he smells yummy. Details later, girl, details." Kiwi left to deliver the beer.

"A man, huh," Franky arched a brow, his expression turned serious as he shifted into his I'm-looking-out-for-you-whether-you-like-it-or-not mode. In her panic, Robin balled up the sports coat and shoved it under the counter.

"It's not like that. It's nothing." Robin grabbed a towel and started wiping down the bar fiercely. She gave her best at nonchalance, praying that Franky wouldn't press on.

"I don't care if it's nothing." he said, too casually. "Just bring him by the bar, I just want to be introduced."

Yeah, right. She knew Franky meant he wanted his knuckles to be introduced. Although Moz was his girlfriend he thought of Robin, Nami and Kiwi as his little sisters. And Franky made it his job to threaten any guys that came too close to his girls without their consent.

When he heard of the near-rape that almost happened to Robin and Nami, they had to rope him down to keep him from charging into the ER and beating the already critically injured criminals into a pulp.

Thankfully, just then, the bell over the double doors rang and a group of four walked into the bar.

"Nami, Ussop." Robin waved. Upon recognized the additional two her lips broke into a wide grin. "Hey you two."

"Robin, I'm reeeeally hungry." Luffy wailed, straddling a stool.

Zoro nodded his greeting and knocked Luffy on the head. "Say hello first, fool."

"Zoro and Luffy, right?" Robin smiled, "Hungry, huh. It's almost seven, you guys didn't eat yet?"

"Well… we had to donate our funds to a certain cause today. So we're broke, but can you hook us up? Robin? Franky?" Nami nodded hopefully.

"You know you're welcome to anything here Nami, but who're the boys?" Franky inquired.

"Well, you know Ussop--" Nami pointed. "And this is Luffy and Zoro... They're friends of ours too." she finished awkwardly. Franky didn't say anything, only his frown deepened as he watched Ussop and Luffy blow straw wads at Zoro's back.

While Zoro chased after them with a raised fist, Robin stepped up to whisper in his ear. "You know… the guys who saved us… that night."

"Oh, shit. Why didn't you say so!" Franky's face lit up. "You boys okay with burgers, fries and some chicken wings?" he shouted to the rowdy trio.

"Please." Ussop gasped out from the bottom of the pile.

"YESSS!" Luffy shouted, struggling against a headlock.

"Thanks, man." Zoro said calmly, parked heavily over the two.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

MiHawk was as edgy as a kid with ants in his pants. He cursed himself for going against his better judgment and attending the faculty meeting. He kept checking the wall clock, then shifted to check his watch, he clicked and un-clicked his pen, and tapped his boots impatiently all the while. A perfect waste of time on who-the-fuck-cares topics flying over his head for two hours. Two hours he could have spent at Franky's, near Ro--

"Are we keeping you from something more important, Professor MiHawk?" the Dean's stern voice boomed across the boardroom.

Yes. "No, Dean Rogers. By all means--continue." MiHawk said while checking his watch for the billionth time.

Rogers chuckled, "After all these years… still with the attitude."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about." MiHawk returned, with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Gold D. Rogers had been a professor at OPU when MiHawk was just a student. He had been very strict but he was an excellent professor, and now, he made one hell of a dean.

"So you agree to be one of the volunteers for tomorrow's event?" he challenged.

"Of…course…" he nodded slowly, thinking it was best bet to mirror the enthusiastic head nods prompted his way by the smiling female faculty members. A strange grin shadowed over Roger's lips and the male professors looked at MiHawk with a mixture of envy and pity.

Weird, he thought.

"Excellent, the details will be sent via e-mail. Please note, all participants: attendance is mandatory so please check your inboxes for the time and location. Well, we've just about covered all the issues and activities for this month. I wish you all a goodnight." Rogers rolled back his chair and marched out the door with his leathercase.

MiHawk stuff the mountain of paperwork messily into his briefcase. He muttered a hasty "goodnight" to the room and dashed out the door.

Professor Alvida eyed the door that was still swinging full-force from the intensity of MiHawk's exit. "Do you think he even knows what he signed up for?" she asked the women.

"Does it matter?"

The room bursted aloud in a peel of giggles and laughs.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

By the time he got to Franky's it was already nine-thirty. Just before the door MiHawk spent a minute to himself, straightening his shirt and smoothing his wind blown hair. He stopped and grimaced when it dawned to him that he was preening himself for Robin.

What the hell am I doing? he scolded himself. I'm here to see Franky…if Robin's there…no big deal--she's just my student. My new TA, nothing more.

But deep inside, no matter how much he tried to trick himself, he knew it was much more than that. MiHawk just didn't want to examine his feelings too closely because frankly… his reaction--mind and body--regarding Robin, terrified him. He took a seat on the patio bench and reflected on his pitiful actions throughout the day.

He'd stayed up the entire night guarding a window till sunup; in his hurry, he'd almost died choking down the half defrosted TV dinners he had for breakfast; was thirty minutes late to his morning lecture; zoned out completely during the faculty meeting…

Hmmm… miss anything? Oh, right, almost came in his pants right in the middle of class!

Jesus Christ… what the hell is wrong with me? MiHawk jerked back, repeatedly knocking his head on the wall, messing up his hair in the process. He stopped the self abuse and pondered on the more important things that had happen earlier the day. Like the picnic Robin prepared. The gesture was so sweet and touching he wanted to hug her--which was completely inappropriate. After the excellent meal he was so at peace with the world, he napped by her side for three whole hours. And to wake up to the pure, sweet sound of her laughter was instant heaven.

Robin had looked absolutely adorable in his oversized coat. For as tall as she was, he was taller and thicker. His large coat ate her up, dwarfing her lush body within the warm wool. He had felt a primitive satisfaction in knowing that it was his coat warming her, and his scent surrounding her body.

When it was time to part, it felt right to kiss her. He knew how warm and lush her lips were from soft touch that caressed his fingertips when he fed her the fruit. Ever since then he ached to taste the real thing for himself. He wanted to brush her hair and his thumb aside and replace the void with his mouth. Slant his lips over hers gently and coax her with soft kisses until she opened for him to accept his tongue. But of course he didn't… Couldn't…

How could he betray her like that? Robin obviously looked up to him as a mentor and a teacher. He felt like such a fraud, using and manipulating her love for archeology for his own perverse wants and gains. After more self loathing, he forced himself to accept that the thing with Robin was nothing more than a passing interest. He wasn't as stubborn as to deny that he was attracted to her. The girl had defiantly piqued his interest, but that was it. That was the extent of it. The laws of attraction is a simple thing for the male mind, he told himself. You see a good-looking woman, of course you want her. MiHawk ended the speculation, concluding--it was all because he hadn't had sex in a while.

A problem with a easy remedy for. He slapped his hands onto his thighs and stood with new resolve: Forget Robin. Get laid, and get with the program.

Stepping through the double doors he mentally chanted: I'm here to see Franky. I'm here to see Franky. I'm here to see Franky…. he scanned the bar to find his blue haired friend behind the bar. His face fell. Where's Robin?

Franky lifted his shades and stared. "You look like shit."

He felt like shit. "Nice to see you, too." MiHawk returned, shoving a hand through his wild hair. Settling his large body onto the corner stool, he scanned the bustling bar. No Robin in sight. A tall, curvy woman with a square afro for hair, stopped by with a menu in hand.

"I got this," Franky waved her off, "he's a friend." Kiwi nodded and took back the menu. As she reached over she smiled and… did she just sniff him?

Her eyes lit up mischievously before she turned to walk away.

"Ignore her," Franky said tiredly. "She's been sniffing any decent guys that walked through the door all night." he threw up two sets of fingers, fly-quoting, "She's trying to 'figure out' something."

"Fine." MiHawk said, not caring.

Franky studied his friend thoughtfully, "Dinner?"

"Naw, scotch."

Franky came over with the Jack and poured him a good three inches. "Look man," he stalled, looking like he was searching for the right thing to say. "I'm figuring this weird mood swing you've got going on has to do with some chick. I don't know who she is, but she's obviously got you in a knot--"

No kidding.

"I'm just saying, MiHawk, you gotta keep in mind that this shit coming up with Croc is the real thing. Smoker's worried your head's not in it and shit…you're starting to worry me too. Like this, you're in no shape to--"

"Just hit the point."

"Nail the broad and get it out of your system."

"Watch it, man." MiHawk growled, anger sharpening his tone.

"Come on, MiHawk, don't pretend you've all of a sudden grown a relationship bone--not to me."

He had no comeback for that, so he shut his mouth and continued to seethe in silence.

Franky had been there to witness his outrageous college days. Girl wise, Franky was going strong with his high school sweetheart, Moz, and while Smoker was no celibate he managed to keep his counts within the boundaries of ten fingers. If there was one guy that got more action than MiHawk during those wild careless days, it was his best friend, Shanks. And the only reason Shanks was in the lead was because MiHawk valued some quiet time, whereas Shanks couldn't stand any. The man loved company.

"Getting girls to do what you wanted was never your problem--"

Robin choose that moment to come out of the billiard room. From a distance she recognized MiHawk, she smiled and gave a short wave. Robin signaled a finger for a moment and moved around to rack up the empty dishes and cups from the back room. A big, fool grin spread over his face.

"What the hell… are you even listening to--" Franky checked over his shoulder, following MiHawk's line of vision. He turned back, he was still for a moment, then quickly did a double take.

"MiHawk!! I swear to God, if you lay one finger on her or hurt her in any way, I'll--"

MiHawk vaguely mused at the speed in which his friend switched sides. He didn't mind at all, in fact, he was glad that Franky was looking out for Robin. "Keep it down. She's just a student of mine. It's not like that."

"You sure about that," the hulky bar owner stood full to his almost seven foot height and glared down at his friend, "because from where I'm standing, that is exactly what it looks like."

Franky packed one hell of a punch, but MiHawk was quicker and stronger. But he wasn't about to let any of that matter between him and his pal. Plus, he liked the idea that Franky was this protective of Robin. It was a sure thing to keep randy guys off sweet, innocent Robin.

Right. Randy guys, like you, his conscious kicked. MiHawk frowned and downed his drink with a throw of his hand. "Look, let's just drop it, yeah? Nothing's going to happen and I'm not gonna try anything."

"Swear it." MiHawk spun the empty cup on the wooden counter, watching it until the spinning died down. "MiHawk--" Franky warned.

"I swear." Franky still looked wary, but he didn't push the subject. Robin piled the last of the dirty plate on her tray and headed toward the bar. When Franky reached to refill his drink MiHawk motion away the bottle. "You know what, I forgot--I needed to be somewhere else right now." he rapped the counter with two knuckles and stood. "Thanks for the drink. See you later, Frank."

At the far end of the bar Robin set down the dishes and turned, her smile faded. "Professor Mi--" before she could finish he was already out the door.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

Three hours, two Coors, and one-third bottle of JD later, MiHawk was sitting at his laptop getting nowhere, fast.

Apparently, the "somewhere he had to be" was getting drunk alone at home. He was too distracted to concentrate on his second request proposal, but not nearly drunk enough to fall into unconscious slumber.

The talk with Franky had really set thing into perspective. Although his friend's approach was less than graceful, he'd cut straight to the point. She was his student for Christ sake! And even if she wasn't, so what? It still didn't change the fact that he had the dangerous not-so-undercover mission to fulfill. And he definitely didn't want Robin snared into that web of shit just because he couldn't keep his flaring libido in check.

Drowning in self-pity, he gave up writing the proposal and clicked to check his e-mail. There was close to two hundred unread, unanswered messages. He growled at the screen, thinking things couldn't get any worse. The newest message was from dean. The title indicated: EVENT FLYER.

Guiding the pointer he clicked the mail and read:

ONE PIECE UNIVERSITY PROUDLY PRESENTS THE 5th ANNUAL

HELP THE CAUSE: CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY

FACULTY AUCTION

Hosted by:

The Square Sisters

Featuring:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

and

MiHawk Jaraquille

Location: Franky Bar and Grill

18 and Over Event. I.D. Required For Entry

Proceeds will be donated to the Children's Aid Society

Please come join the school and community in supporting the CAS.

The last line was an added type-in, written personally by Rogers himself.

P.S. Don't forget to pretty yourself.

MiHawk groggily stared at the glowing monitor. He rubbed his eyes to make sure the lack of sleep, booze and stress wasn't making him hallucinate. Then, from his throat, the one word that so perfectly described his situation shouted out:

"Fuck!!"

Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.

A/N: Greetings! I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. My apologies for taking so long to update. I'll try to edit and up the next chapter as soon as possible but I'm also working on my other story so please expect a little delay. If you want to see the next installment faster don't forget to review! (It's the best motivator. XD)

Secondly, I've just passed my one year mark here on FFdotnet! A huge thank you to those who've stayed with me through the year. It's all for you I write these stories for!