16 Railroad Syndrome Part 2

Dante had to admit, he had absolutely no idea what the coming chat held in store. Truth be told, he didn't know much of Nico Robin other than the fact that she was hunted down for most of her life, and that she held a martyr complex given her willingness to sacrifice her own safety to guarantee her crews wellbeing.

Unfortunately, that was not exactly enough to make a proper judgement of character. Sure, he could assume that she was hardened through experience and sadistic as a result of the scorn she endured, but he could also assume she was nothing more than an optimistic fool who actually trusted the tyrannical ruling government, even if it was only temporary.

Hopefully though, this would present a chance for him to at least learn about her. 'She's certainly easy on the eyes, but that doesn't mean much. Nami is too, and that woman is more of a demon than me when cash is brought up. Get the shivers just thinking about her'. He suppressed a shudder and returned to the actual subject of conversation, focusing his gaze on Robin, just in time for her to continue their discussion.

"Thank you. I apologise if this feels sudden, however I believed it would be better to do this now rather than later."

"Yeah don't worry about it, I'd rather be having this talk than just napping alone. So, what did you actually want from me anyway?"

She leans forward, tilting her head slightly and crossing a leg over the other. The tight black leather she's wearing leaves several images in Dante's mind, the kind which he is most certainly a fan of.

"You intrigue me. I find myself desperate to learn more about you. You simply appeared one day, spat in the face of the World Nobles, dismantled the Marines sent after you in response and continued living a carefree life. A life that just so happened to intersect with my own."

"Well, in my defence he pointed a gun at me. Ain't my fault he couldn't handle the consequences."

"While I appreciate your account, I must point out that you ignored the message. You had no reason to intervene. No reason to involve yourself with my mistakes... but you did. Even now, you endeavour to destroy Enies Lobby, simply on a whim and for what reason? Pity? Why do you even care? Surely a man of your notoriety and power has better things to do."

Dante spends a few moments running her words through his head, formulating a proper response. He wasn't exactly the best in these situations, tense one on one conversation. The last time he tried, he got a sword through the chest.

"Well... I guess it was mostly pity, yeah. I mean you gotta see this from my shoes. I heard rumours about you, that you're a devil beyond comprehension, a creature of malice, but when I saw you that first time, all I could see was a woman that was trapped and afraid. I can't call myself a man if I don't help a lady in need, yeah?"

She smiles, but it isn't fully borne of happiness at his answer. It seems more of sorrow than anything.

"So you simply saw a damsel and decided to be the hero? Go this far, just to make her smile? And for what, appreciation?"

"While I'm definitely more than happy to help a pretty lady when she needs it, I didn't just do it out of pity. You and I both know, this world is unfair. Hell, I'd wager you know it better than me. I can't imagine what you've gone through growing up, but it doesn't take a genius to see that the government and anyone associated with it don't often have high morals. I figured you'd want some help getting back at them."

She laughs. A small chuckle, but its yet again out of anger and hysteria than anything akin to joy, at least that's what Dante believes.

"I spent 20 years hoping, no, dreaming of someone like you to come along. To whisk me away from all my problems, to make the bad men leave me alone, to give me a modicum of safety for just a brief moment. All those nights spent afraid of the next day, afraid to be alone and afraid of what others would do if they found me. Every second I spent living like vermin, becoming a dreg of society just to survive..."

She looks down briefly, and her eyes briefly glaze over, as if thinking back on memories she had long repressed. Her voice is laced with an emotion Dante can't quite place but he is absolutely sure that she's dumping some heavy trauma on him. After a few moments of silence, she finally meets his gaze again.

"Why couldn't you have come sooner?"

It's a selfish thought, but given his seeming philanthropy when it comes to getting her away from danger and essentially securing her freedom, she can't help but be angry that she hadn't met him sooner, that she only just now had found someone with the will and the strength to keep her safe.

Dante once again doesn't quite know how to respond. He's stunned, truth be told, because he could have sworn that a few hours ago she was trying to kill him. In the end, he felt sorry for her. Given her crews description and accounts of her, it seemed obvious the Devil Child fiasco was a framing, for what reason he didn't know. In the end, she was a good person forced into a bad position, and he felt a lot more sympathy than he expected for her.

"I'm sorry you had to live like that. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, to be afraid of the world. While I couldn't ensure your safety before, at least I can do it fully now, eh? Long as I'm here, you won't have to worry about anything, I promise. You can rest easy."

She sniffles, the corners of her lips finally shifting into a genuine smile that makes Dante feel like he'd at least done something correctly, though no tears are present.

"Of course. The more you talk, the more I feel I've found the most kindhearted man." Dante chuckles, briefly confusing Robin.

"Trust me, I ain't the most kindhearted man. I probably don't come close, considering I ain't exactly what you'd call a noble fella. I just got a soft spot for folks who grew up alone."

"Oh? Would you be willing to elaborate?"

She finally regains composure fully and returns to her confident posture, relaxing into the seat as she feels safe in the room with Dante.

"I mean, you seem to know quite a lot about me. Yet, I know absolutely nothing about you."

"Well, I must say you're in for a treat."

The conversation would continue for multiple hours until they eventually reached Enies Lobby, the two of them being heavily engrossed in their chat with one another.

By the end of it, Robin could say with certainty that Dante was a lot softer than he let on, and that he was slowly becoming someone quite important to her, despite them being acquainted for such a short time.

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When the train finally stopped off at the gates of justice, the agents and Marines stationed there had been expecting to serenade their successful heroes for a job well done in their mission, to see the fruits of CP9 and revel in their accomplishments.

What they had not expected was for Dante to step out of the carriage and look around briefly before realising he was surrounded by men who's entire job was to either kill or capture him. He grinned, thankful that he had told the Straw Hats to step back for a moment so he could scope the place out.

"Say, I don't suppose you'd be willing to look the other way? I can make it worth your while."

He was met with a resounding chorus of 'No!' in the form of extensive gunfire in his direction. He wagered there were at least a few hundred troops stationed at Enies Lobby, so this would be more tedious than exhausting to deal with them all. Luckily, he had an idea.

"Hey, Luffy, get your crew out here! Its time for some good old fashioned comeuppance!"

The floodgates open, and a storm is unleashed on the unsuspecting troops at the station of Enies Lobby. Each Straw Hat leaves the train and immediately launches into combat against the tens of Marines surrounding them.

During this time, Dante slips back into the train to answer the Den Den Mushi he had taken from Lucci, most likely receiving a call after his superior heard the gunshots.

"Yello. Mhm. Yep. I gotcha. Ah, I see. Alright. I'll call you if I see the devilishly handsome Dante. Adios."

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Spandam hangs up the Mushi afterwards, a smile gracing his features, extremely visible despite the leather bindings on his face. He turns to the gathering of CP9 operatives he took with him for protection in Enies Lobby.

"See? That's what you call a good subordinate. Why can't the rest of you be like Lucci? At least he answers my calls."

He was met with unimpressed looks and what seems to be disappointment, though he chalked that up to envy that they didn't hold his position in the World Government hierarchy. To be the leader of CP9 was a powerful job, after all, and was a badge he wore with extreme pride. He would accept no such insubordination from his subjects.

"The hell are you looking at, Zip-Lips!? Get back to work!"

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Dante returns the Mushi to his breast pocket with a smile, proud of his skills in subterfuge and espionage, entirely unaware that the man he was 'deceiving' was utterly asinine at his job anyway.

Stepping out of the train a second time, he begins formulating several plots to demolish the Gates of Justice, and ensure that it would hurt the World Government as well. He was beginning to enjoy this chapter in his life, clashing with a tyrannical dictatorship was surprisingly fun.

The area was clear of any Marines and enforcers from the government, the Straw Hats having continued along their way directly to the main 'Lobby' of Enies Lobby without him, seemingly much more eager to clash heads with CP9 than he gave credit. He was fine with doing some catchup anyway.

'Time to see how much I can piss the World Government off before they start pulling out the Big Big Guns.'

He giggles at the thought.

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"Fleet Admiral, Sir! We have received word that the Red Devil Dante has been spotted with the Straw Hats. It could be a form of coalition, or even an alliance between them."

Sengoku rubs his forehead in dismay at finally hearing news of the Red Devil reappearing. He truthfully didn't have any knowledge whatsoever about the man, and his threat was elevated extremely high after Akainu confessed that the man had no Haki to be seen yet still demolished his Logia abilities.

"Unfortunate, but we can handle it. Where were they headed, what were they doing? Do you know any of that, Aurelto?"

The man fumbles slightly, not expecting the Fleet Admiral to know his name given his lowly position in the Tracking and Observation department.

"Well, cameras have caught them travelling towards the gates of Enies Lobby. This comes after a direct conflict between the forces of the Straw Hats and the Red Devil, and the World Governments assassination and subterfuge squad sent to Water 7."

The Fleet Admiral stills for a moment, pondering over the information he had been given momentarily.

"So, after a direct engagement with World Government forces, one which he survived most likely resulting in the death of those forces, we now have one of the most dangerous pirates we have on record travelling towards a World Government base?"

A tense moment of silence passes. Sengoku could almost feel the verbal lashings he was going to receive from the Gorosei, and the World Government as a whole because of this. Just the thought of it made his anger bubble more and more.

"Well when you put it like that Sir it makes it seem like he plans to destroy Enies Lobby, or damage it in some way. He surely wouldn't though, that would bring the full force of the World Government on him."

"Aurelt, remind me what exactly makes the Red Devil Dante such a wanted man."

"Well, Sir, he has bested Akainu in direct combat, is able to penetrate Logia defences. He is also directly responsible for the murder of a Celestial Dragon, something which resulted in... the full force of the World Government being pressed onto him - oh God he's going to destroy it isn't he?"

"Aurelt, you have exactly 5 seconds to leave my office before I begin destroying every piece of furniture in here. I cannot guarantee your safety."

"But Sir! We still have time, we can send an Admiral to subdue both the Red Devil and the Straw Hats, and-"

A single glare from Sengoku sends Aurelt into a panic, fleeing the room hurriedly to avoid the Buddhas Wrath. A moment passes once more, until chaos ensues.

"THAT DAMN BASTARD! PIECE OF SHIT PIRATE SCUM!"

Each insult towards Dante was accompanied by a fist being embedded in desks, couches, walls, and even windows. Nothing was spared from Sengoku's fury.

If Dante were made aware of these happenings, he most certainly would be laughing his ass off.