Title: Cambrian Explosion

Pairing: Many, nakamaship, all het, no yaoi.

Rating: Varies. From K to NC-17. The rating/pairing will be placed at the top of the chapter.

Summary: This used to be called Delphinium and I got a lot of favorites for it (40+) so I might as well go where the wind blows. However, this fic is a series of unrelated fics and drabbles. Some will be quite long, other's short. Some steamy, others sweet. Most humorous. Will vary from nakamaship to relationships and from IU to AU to strange galaxies. It's labeled as complete because I will never finish it, and will be updated sporadically. I also placed all other het fics I had written here so sorry about the hassle but I hope you guys like this streamlined version better! Enjoy!

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Pairing: Luffy x Robin, NC-17, IU

Dedication: This story is for Vivacious Ringo, for her birthday, September 26, 2010. Thank you Apple, for being there for me and for always supporting me; for leaving such awesome reviews and for being one of those people that you wish you'd met sooner. xD Ringo's always been there for me, she's been an understanding and absolutely lovely person, and she deserves a lot more than this, xD

Delphinium

When I see your smile, tears run down my face, I'll find deep inside me, I can be the one

I will never let you fall, I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there through it all, even if saving you sends me to heaven

-"Your Guardian Angel", The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

~0~

She had always been one to claim what she wanted, when she wanted. Life had given her a quiet arrogance and a pride almost too immodest for words. But it had been life which had thrust her into an early adulthood and a fate almost too terrible to bear.

Nico Robin had never needed anyone since she had realized early in life the system of power which governed the world entire. Those who were weak were eaten by the strong, and those that were strong set the rules for the weak. And power was not necessarily measured in physical strength.

She had been a parasite all her life, creeping into her host's body and devouring them from the inside until they could no longer serve her occult purposes, at which time she would abandon the broken and bleeding body and seek afar for a fresh one.

The same could be said for her affairs, all of which had been sordid and sorrowful things which never ended well. All the men would be useless oafs, reduced to nothing more than an erection and gripping hands in bed. Yet there had been many who had tried to claim her for themselves, by a plethora of ways. But no one had ever done the deed.

Some would attempt to impress her with their own learning, inviting her out for a drink and then trying to converse about the ancient civilizations of Jaya and the possible theories of their knock-up stream's strange occurrence. But often she found their knowledge tiring and artificial; they should have wasted their breath for she could have told them that if she had wanted to speak of history, she would have married a professor.

No, it was not that she did not mind a learned man sharing her bed, but he did not necessarily mean she wanted one. And the ones who attempted to impress her by showing off hastily memorized facts and figures, simply amused her.

But, in accordance with her aggressive and insidious nature, Robin would bed them all. The ones she thought most handsome, the ones she thought would amuse her the most, the ones who looked like they could provide a challenge. It was not hard to pick these flies up, they stuck to her like bees to honey. All it took was a long bronzed leg, flashing out from beneath a long skirt, or the sight of her perky nipples, pushing taut triangles beneath a tight, white cotton shirt. And they would come buzzing, tongues out, and cocks hot and throbbing.

She ruled them with an iron fist, these men, for they were not worthy of herself. And though it was the men who spread her legs and penetrated with their arousals, it was also them who were taken. They did what she wanted, came when she wanted, and left, also, when she wanted. She was a jealous tyrant in the kingdom of the bed and of her body. The men who came there were mere subjects.

This did not necessarily mean that they lay like corpses while she rode their cocks, for that would be slightly disturbing. But when Robin wanted it rough, she had it rough. And when she wanted to dominate, it was a truly stupid man who disagreed.

That had been her life up until she met the Strawhats. Those crazy, insane, pirates whom had entered into her life. A motley crew so laughingly strange that Robin had become interested in spite of herself. Such a small number of pirates whom had tried to take on the mighty Shichibukai Crocodile.

And before her very eyes, they had succeeded. Perhaps she had known all along that they would? Why else would she have saved the Captain from a certain death in the quicksand?

And then, lying on the ground, there in that subterranean chamber, with the roar of the walls crashing all around her paralleling the death of her dreams, Robin had been ready to give up. The sight of the ancient Poneglyph, engraved not with history, but with the disgusting information of another ancient weapon, had wounded her more than the deathly blow Crocodile had inflicted upon her body.

"I am tired of walking the road that led me here. And if this place is to be my tomb, then I am fine with that."

The king of Arabasta had stared at her, incredulous, his simplistic and loving soul unable to understand the resting peace that suicide could bring. But what else had been left here, there in the dark? She had lost everything. The Captain of the Strawhats, that man with the mysterious name, had destroyed her host and the one last hope had been a failure, only driving home the fact that she was never going to be as great a historian as the Ohara scholars.

There was no love in her life, no hope, no nakama, and now, no more dreams. Death had beckoned alluringly. As she lay there dying, Robin had realized that she finally had tired of life. She no longer wanted to hide, to run eternally. To ache inside every time she remembered Ohara.

But even then, fate had refused her. Not wanting to die, life had been impossible. Now, wanting to die, death had been snatched from her fingers. And the Strawhats had become her next host.

From the moment she has stepped foot on the Merry Go, Robin knew that life had changed. Though whether it was for the better or worse, she did not know. The Strawhats were a funky group, preoccupied more with games and fun then of money and conquering other pirate groups. She won them over with small tricks and jokes, amazingly surprising of a crew so powerful.

There was no pact sealed with blood, as in other pirate crews. No suspicious questions, spat out with saliva and a gold tooth twinkling all the while. There was no lecherous eying of her barely clad body, with the clear indictment that coming into the pirate ship would be synonymous with coming into the captain's bed.

In fact, she didn't believe there was a lecherous bone in the Captain's body.

"Allow me to join your crew."

"I see. Okay, then."

Outrageous scandal from the crew.

"Don't worry guys…she's a good guy."

And then, life had been good. Robin had learned to love the quirky members of the Strawhat crew more and more. And it had been so long since she had loved, that she had forgotten how to. So when she had heard that her beloved crew had been targeted from the enemy she had outrun long ago, but whom she had known still followed her from a distance, she had run away from fear, but because of love.

Not Luffy, the man who had given her back everything she had ever wanted, and yet who asked nothing in return.

Not Zoro, the swordsman who had disliked her from the beginning, but who had accepted her in the end.

Not Nami, money-hungry navigator with a penchant for dressing fashionably; Nami, who had a heart of gold, the kind of gold which was the best of all.

Not Usopp, cowardly sharpshooter who was no more a coward than she was a seaking. He who had interviewed her when she first joined, and who couldn't resist laughing at her hands imitating Chopper's horns on Luffy's head.

Not Chopper, cute little reindeer doctor who tried his best and who worried too much. Her bookworm buddy.

Not Sanji. Loving, chivalric chef who loved any pretty woman, but who loved most, those who were hungry.

No, not this time. She had learned to love. She would not do that to them, she would kill them because she had cursed blood. The world had labeled her a demon, but even demons can love. Even the damned can love. Even they.

Robin could bear their hate, bear their curses-she had borne them before. Let them hate her, but let them live. That is what she truly thought.

But she should have known that they would no more let her go then they would give up chasing their dreams. They were that foolish, that idiotic, that brave.

"I never asked you to save me! I never wanted you to save me! The only thing I want to do is die!"

The words of a woman driven relentlessly by fear; the words of a woman hounded by a fiercely cruel world. But they had all been lies. She had no more wanted to die then she had wanted to leave the Strawhats. But it had been what she had thought was necessary.

"For my enemy is the world, and the darkness inside it."

Robin had believed that they would be frightened by what they should have been frightened of. The World Government could crush them like ants.

But they had declared war on the world, god help them. They had stood as pirates and had burned the white flag, only to hoist the black one. They had held the crossbones up, these insane pirates. And they had snatched her from the very jaws of hell. Oh, it had been the most beautiful moment of her life. When the captain, Monkey D. Luffy, had called her his own.

Was that the moment when Robin knew that she had pledged her life and love to that Captain that had stormed the very gate of the World Government to bring her back? It might have been. Or perhaps the seeds had been planted long since, planted when the same man had lifted her off from the ground and brought her back into a life she had given up.

But Luffy. What did he feel? Did he know what she thought of him? Did he know how much she longed to give him herself, the greatest thing she had in her possession? Not her body, but the trust of the act. The Captain could very well know not. He was a bumbling, happy-go-lucky fool who only grew serious when the moment called for it. Luffy was very nearly existentialist in his philosophies, reluctant to use force, and mindlessly intelligent.

Handsome, in an enthusiastic way. Black haired and black eyed; lanky, muscular body. The kind of man who would make a passionate, yet amusing, lover and the perfect husband. Luffy was handsome from the beauty that welled from deep in his spirit. A truly inspired man is never an ugly sight. It is a tangible charisma which drew her inexorably. Luffy was the kind of man who could draw more girls than a much sexier male, simply because of the vitality which he exuded.

He was the light which complemented her darkness. He was the positive which drew her magnetically forward. Luffy was fun and exuberant, loud and rather simplistic. She was quiet and serious, complicated and mysterious. They said opposites attract, yet she had never felt so in tune with another human being.

And all the years in which Robin had mounted men and taken them, sucked them dry and thrown them onto the garbage heap of rejected suitors; rose in her soul, ready to do battle.

She would be Luffy's lover. Even if she had to move mountains and open herself entirely to his eyes. Robin wanted to thank him for everything, to love him forever, to fight for him until death. To be the person he cried for and on, to be the woman who would hold his hand and place the sword in it. The woman who would stand behind and in front.

Never had she given this gift to anyone, and now she would give it to Luffy.

He would fall for her, only to find that she lay beneath him.

She had drawn him to her once, with the hundred arms of her Delphinium; she would do so again. That was all and that was enough.

~0~

Secret plates of food, direct from Sanji's talented hands. Robin delivered them to Luffy with a smile and kind, murmured word. Lingering her hands on his tanned skin with a little more intent than was truly necessary. She was an impatient, lustful creature.

"Thanks Robin! You sure are nice all the time!", Luffy smiled happily as he took the plate from her hands and ripped off the foil wrapper, immediately digging into the sixteen-meat lasagna with a gusto worthy of an emperor. The fishing role lay abandoned by his side.

The way to a man's heart, is through his stomach. The old proverbs were wise.

"I can be much more nicer.", she said, smiling back, her hand running restlessly up and down his back¸ rubbing , lingering, the red material warming with the contact. "Whatever you want-just ask me Luffy. I'd give you anything you'd ever want."

"Okay! It'd be great if I got some takoyaki balls later on.", the captain said through a meaty mouthful, "Maybe some sushi?"

I'd let you eat them right off my body Luffy, if that is what you so desire.

"I'll see what Sanji-san can make me.", Robin smiled, and traced the back of her hand across his cheek, bulging with food. How she wanted this man to consider her his favorite food.

"You're so nice. Robin!", Luffy said and reached up and patted her shoulder affectionately, eyes twinkling. "I should buy you a book or something!"

She drifted off after a while, a pleasant tingle in her stomach.

Robin would make sure to be there often, wearing as little as she could get away with. Always positioned just so, so that it seemed she was posing only for the captain. She would strut and stroke herself unashamedly, getting up and following Luffy blatantly if he moved. Her glances and hands lingered.

And then it happened. Weeks and weeks after she had declared total war.

She caught the black eyes watching her. Serious for once, observant, as if Luffy was analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of his next opponent. It sent delightful shivers running through her body. Those weren't fluttering butterflies in her stomach, but rampaging cheetahs. Her whole soul yearned for everything that a man and a woman together offered.

Luffy, who had been fishing while she read a book in the shade, wearing nothing but a bikini; suddenly got up, and headed off into the Sunny's interior, a strange look on his face.

Robin shut the book gently, got up, and followed.

~0~

Luffy grinned at her when she entered the room. He was lying casually on one of the sofa's in the men's room. His sandaled feet crossed over one of the armrests, and his long, lanky arms were propped behind his head, his strawhat fell over everything except his smile.

"Robin…you didn't want to read anymore?", Luffy asked casually, amusement in his voice.

She approached warily, the tingle in her sex beginning to ache seriously, but the least Robin wanted was to ruin a relationship so close in consummation. She was so close to tasting Luffy, in having him, and in turn, of being had. She needed to approach carefully. Luffy didn't want to make her feel like it was an obligation, he was scared of misunderstanding and thus, hurting his dear nakama. It was a sweet thought.

"I was surprised that you didn't want to fish anymore, Luffy.", she answered softly, "You left so suddenly."

"I'm good, Robin. Don't worry." There is true tenderness in his voice, and Robin nears him with more courage, right until she stands, almost naked, by his side. Hands loosely on her hips. "You should go read again." Luffy's eyes are hidden, covered by the strawhat, and that fact alone makes his thoughts clear.

"You lovely fool.", she murmured back, and bent down, one hand pressed roughly on the strawhat, making sure that it didn't slip off, and her mouth burned hungrily against Luffy's.

The moment he kissed back, with his lips moving greedily back against her own, she climbed on top of him, scrambling onto his crotch with a need born out of a love which had gone unrequited for so long.

Luffy grunted, thick with arousal, when Robin grinded herself desperately against the lax bulge in his shorts, hard enough so he could feel both side of her lips, and the sweet concavity of her sex. His hands are running all over her, worshipping her body in a way Robin absolutely loved; cupping and squeezing her breasts, pressing them back up against her chest in defiance of gravity, fingers scrambling in between her extensive cleavage and struggling beneath the thin cloth of her bikini.

And when she bent halfway down, Luffy's mouth found its way towards one plump breast, barely covered with a thin black cloth, the nipple poking obviously through arousal

Clean, unashamed, enthusiastic lust. Fit for a pirate king.

Robin thrust and moaned Luffy to raging erection, refusing to take the blindfold off his eyes, and letting him explore her body sightlessly. She refused to let her body do anything but grind helplessly against the body beneath her.

"Robin, I can't see!", Luffy laughed, half joking, half serious, "I can't see what I'm doing!" He let out another moan as Robin silenced him with another humping motion of her naked pelvis. Hands caressed the sides of her ass, and then gripped passionately.

"That's the fun in it, Luffy.", she said, but relenting, tore the strawhat off his head, before throwing herself back into anther breath-stealing kiss which seared hotly. Her very nipples tingled, the dark flesh achingly hard by now.

Luffy didn't slip off her bikini and bra, he merely seized them and tore them straight off her body, his fingers tore the black cloth to shreds and Robin purred, delighted, at finding herself fully naked on top of a fully clothed Luffy. It made her feel prized, exhibited, perversely cherished. And the force, the strength was exciting, sweetly exhilarating. She was in the arms of a man who could rip her so shreds if he so desired; but who would never lay a hand on her if it cost him his life.

"I can't believe you don't have a tanline.", Luffy said, eyes narrowing as he observed her breasts, He looked amusingly fascinated. Only such a random and quixotic man like Monkey D. Luffy would note something so utterly off topic. "Nobody on my crew has one, now that I think about it."

She was busily pulling off his blue pants, and Luffy's reddened, blushing erection was barely out of his blue shorts and pointing busily at her, before she was sliding herself down it, watching Luffy's eyes glaze over as he watched his cock steadily disappear inside of her. How she wished that the cock would slide in deeper and deeper until she could feel it hit the back of her mouth; there is nothing in the world quite like being so hotly invaded, of having such a sweet humiliation.

When she was fully seated, Robin busied herself stripping of his red shirt, and only until Luffy was fully naked did she slide back down and lose herself in the violent merging of their mouths.

Luffy thrust his hips up, impaling her sweetly on his gorged length, and Robin, lifting her body, threw back her head at the quivering, electrifying emotion which clinched vibrantly throughout her as Luffy invaded her body. The long, throaty, choked moan was almost pain-filled. Luffy's own panting growl sounded out in response and his hands pulled her viciously down, flipping their positions as dexterously as…well, as if he was made of rubber.

"Squeeze tight.", Luffy gasped out, and Robin obeyed, mystified, but her thighs snapped shut and her abdominal muscles flexed as she enveloped Luffy's cock and held it tightly. Luffy groaned."Robin-watch this.", he panted through a dazed grin, and holding her body down he pulled up. His cock stretched up as Luffy arched his body lithely, and his length, doubled, tripled in size.

She panted out laughter, "Please don't do gear third or second, Luffy." And with a flutter of her eyelids, Robin grew two hands on her thighs and reached out to wrap around the lengthened shaft, sliding up and down it tightly.

Luffy shuddered, his black hair falling in his eyes, and slid slowly down, letting Robin's hands disappear before he thrust all the way, flat belly to flat belly.

Good grinding sex, rough and gentle. Sincere sex. Robin saw stars when Luffy's pumps created a fast, blurring friction, and it seemed that there had never been anything more then what they were doing on the sofa. Luffy had never looked so desirous, so handsome, so achingly tender when the sweat dripped from the sides of his eyes and his eyes found hers every time she reestablished the link to reality when he slid out.

Orgasm was imminent. Robin smiled at her Captain one last time before she was whisked off into oblivion. Somewhere far away yet so near, Luffy stilled on top of her and the cosmos seemed to condense in the sweat drops collecting on their stomachs. There was that rush of fluid, the torrent of love and want.

Then, coming back, the world refocused, and dazed and relaxed, Robin felt Luffy's weight and the graze of his fingers playing through her hair.

"I'm always here for you Robin.", he murmured, softly. His voice lax and distant. Quietly cheerful. "Forever and ever and ever."

"You've done so much for me Luffy, already.", Robin said softly, her voice coming from a secret well deep inside her psyche. "Please don't do anything ever again. Not if you get hurt."

"No, you're my nakama, and I love you.", Luffy answered, yawning. Robin could tell from the quiet decision in his face that he was steadfast. There was nothing she could do.

"But-"

Luffy interrupted her, sliding to lie by her side, and pulling the sofa's throw rug over their nudity, "Shhh...let someone take care of you for once in your life, Robin. It's not weakness to need other people, but it is a weakness to not admit it."

She was speechless, and Robin almost laughed when she felt the tears well up in her eyes. No one had ever told her that, no one had ever been there for her before the Strawhats had come along. She had always been proud of her independence, bitterly proud.

"Luffy…"

"Shanks told me that.", Luffy said, turning to grin at her, "I wouldn't be able to think that up by myself, you know."

In response, Robin snuggled back into his warm comfort. Happy. Quietly so.

~0~