InsaneJournal

Who:Robin Nico (Nico Robin) and Law Trafalgar (Trafalgar Law)
When: August 17, 2015; mid to late afternoon
Where: A coffee shop near UC:Irvine
What: A chance meeting and People Watching
Warnings/Rating: None
Status: Complete when posted



Summer courses at the university had come to an end and Robin was a little disappointed. The fall semester courses had already been posted to UC:Irvine’s web pages, but none of the truly interesting ones would start until September. The lecture on ancient myth and its effects on today’s society was one she was particularly looking forward to. Plus she had every intention on visiting the art classes that Klaus would be teaching. She didn’t have enough time to attend all of them, she wasn’t a student anymore and she had a business to run, but wouldn’t he get a chuckle if he found a term paper with her name on it on his desk?

Robin was giggling softly to herself at the thought of the look on his face. Would he grade her fairly, she wondered. He had better.

In the mean time her afternoons were free, or as free as she could make them. Not having an interesting class to crash had, for some reason, made her restless this particular afternoon. New students were arriving. It would be a good time to sit and watch them as they stepped on to the university for the first time. There was a little independent coffee shop just across the street from campus that was perfect for that.

Her latte in hand, it was just a matter of finding an open table, preferably near the open front windows.

Finally. Law pushed open the side door to the hospital and blinked into the bright afternoon sun. He did not dare try to leave through the front doors, lest one of the supervising doctors spot him and drag him back into an OR. There had been a pile up on the 405 early that morning and he was unlucky enough to have been on call. It had been a never-ending line of red blankets. The moment the last bed was clear and a break had been called, he had scrubbed, changed, and darted for the nearest exit.

If they really needed him, they could page him. For the moment, Law was looking forward to a few hours’ reprieve.

Hands tucked in his pockets, he wandered in the direction of the little shops that surrounded the University. As stressful as the day had been, he was glad he was not a coffee drinker. Not that he would mind being a coffee drinker. Law felt a twinge of phantom pain in his chest and he willed the thought away. No, his mind had nothing to do with it.

He had thought he had heard one of the nurses say that there was a coffee house around the University that also sold loose-leaf tea. Some nice gunpowder or tie guan yin tea sounded fantastic right about now. It took a little bit of wandering, but he finally found a coffee shop that looked like it would fit the bill. Even better, the clerk did not even bat an eye when he asked for his tea and moments later he was carrying a small tray with a steaming teapot away from the counter.

He spotted an open table by the windows and Law made his way toward it. He wanted to take in as much fresh air and sunlight as he could before heading back into the crypt-like operating rooms.

Robin stopped short as a man about her age quickly took the table she had been aiming for. Hadn’t even bothered to look around before he sat. She frowned slightly and looked around to see if another table was open. There were a few around the shop, but all on the interior and away from the windows. The closest to a window she could get was by the door and she didn’t feel like dealing with people coming in and going out. It was impossible to effectively People Watch there. And if she did feel like reading her book, she’d be constantly distracted every time the door opened.

Pursing her lips together Robin’s eyes settled on the table that had been usurped out from under her. He was a curious sort, she decided and resumed her way towards the table.

“Excuse me,” she said just loud enough to draw his attention towards her, “do you mind if I sit here?”

Law looked up from his tea at the woman standing in front of the table he had just claimed. One glance at the rest of the cafe showed that there were indeed plenty of other tables that did not have occupants. Yet this woman was coming up to him with a request to share? Granted, it did look like all the other tables by the window were occupied. He frowned, eyeing her book and coffee. Considering the lack of a flirtatious smile, perhaps her motives were indeed just to get a bit of fresh air.

Finally, the man shrugged, indicating the seat across from him. “Suit yourself.” Law figured that if she did end up adding to his headache, he would just ask her to leave.

“Thank you,” Robin nodded back with a small smile that was polite, if not friendly. She slid into the seat across from the man and set both her coffee and book down on the table before sliding her purse under her seat.

She took the lid off her coffee and blew on it softly to cool it before taking the first tentative sip. As she did, she gazed outside to watch the various people milling about on a beautiful sunny afternoon. None of them struck her as particularly interesting and soon her attention was going back to her tablemate. Slowly and without turning her head (a skill she had perfected after years of covert “People Watching”), Robin’s eyes slid back towards him.

He was very attractive. Hot, even, if Robin were to use such a term. However, it wasn’t just his looks that intrigued her (although she would be loathed to admit that was what had first caught her attention). Like her, he was facing the window. Watching people as she had been? Or simply enjoying the sun? It was hard to tell. His expression was completely unreadable. Robin wondered what it was he was thinking about. His tea? The weather? Work? Home? The strange woman who had chosen to sit with him instead of at any of the other vacant seats in the shop? It was impossible to tell with such passive features.

Robin smiled and lowered her eyes to her coffee. She had stumbled upon a puzzle. Perhaps this afternoon would be more entertaining than she had originally thought.

The woman in front of him was blissfully quiet as law sipped his tea. It looked like his guess at her intentions had been more or less correct. Pity. Law frowned as the thought came unbidden and he quickly whisked it away. He barely had time to sneak away to have tea, and definitely not enough time to entertain thoughts of taking away the little time he had to himself. He studied his silent companion in the glass’ reflection.

Dark hair. Pale skin - but not too pale. She looked to be used to being out in the sun, even though her genetics would likely deny her much of a tan. Symmetrical features, long fingers, and exceptionally curious eyes; she was an educated beauty. Rare, but not as much around the University. A coffee drinker, although the time of day suggested that it was more a pleasure drink than a caffeine requirement in order to make it through the rest of the day. The lack of a bookbag and paperwork indicated she was likely not a student nor a teacher. The lack of small talk likely meant she was not lonely and in need of company. Interesting and puzzling at the same time. He rarely met people with truly innocent intentions.

The next sip, Law’s attention was drawn to a pair that was strolling down the street. The man looked exceptionally oblivious to his partner’s discomfort. It looked as if the boyfriend (husband?) was trying to convince the girl to stop at the bar across the street instead of head to the cafe. He could not quite hear exactly what was being said, but he could imagine. He studied the woman a bit closer before snorting softly. The man was an idiot. If the woman actually let him win, she was an even bigger one.

Robin’s attention was drawn away from her coffee when she heard her otherwise silent afternoon companion give a snort. She looked towards him, this time a little more obviously than before. His eyes seemed focused on something specific. Robin followed his gaze and caught sight of the couple on the sidewalk a few feet away from them. The man was making quite a big deal about going to the bar across the street. The more noise he made, the more the woman looked as though she’d rather go anywhere then there. She kept taking his hand and trying to walk away with him, gesturing the same direction they had been walking as if to indicate they were supposed to be going somewhere else.

Robin lowered her coffee a little and tilted her head just slightly as she watched the exchange. Other people were pausing to cast glances in the couple’s direction as well and Robin didn’t feel the need to hide her interest if other people were being far more obvious about it than she was.

The woman was patient. She wasn’t raising her voice or making wild gestures. Obviously this was not new behavior from her companion. Robin wondered if this was a source of constant friction or if it was only on occasion the man had a drinking itch to scratch. Where they on their way to an appointment or simply out for a stroll? Robin wished she could hear what was being said.

Finally it appeared the woman won the debate and the two of them continued on their way. Robin noted that even though she had been successful in keeping her partner from venturing into the bar, the woman looked very displeased. This likely was an argument that was more common than she was willing to let on to those around her.

“Hm,” Robin mused thoughtfully as she brought her coffee up to her lips once more. “Interesting.”

“Foolish.” Law replied, even though he doubted she was expecting a corresponding comment from him. He returned his attention back to the tea, refilling the small cup. The moment that had almost become a scene had passed and the pedestrians were once again filing obliviously down the sidewalk. It had been a while since he had sat and people watched and he had forgotten just how entertaining it could be. The doctor leaned back in his chair, taking his tea cup with him as he began to study those that passed.

Robin glanced in the man’s direction, a brow raised. She hadn’t expected him to react to the scene, much less comment on it. Now her interest was less on what had happened and more on the reasons for his simple comment. She turned in her chair to face him. She placed her coffee cup down on the table and reached for her book. “Do you mean the woman, the man, or the scene in general?” She asked casually.

“All of the above.” Law turned his attention back to his companion. “The man for wanting to take a pregnant woman to a bar for drinks, the woman for not realizing such would be the case, and the scene… I doubt the scene itself was meant to entertain others.” He took another sip of tea, watching her over the rim of the cup. “Although, it did a good job at attracting people’s attention.”

“Likely not,” Robin agreed, sparing another look out the window. “However, entertaining people was likely not the purpose.” She slid her book in front of her, but did not open it. “It seemed to me, though, that the woman handled it very well. In the end she was neither forced to accompany her companion into the bar, nor did he leave her on the sidewalk, which would have been a terrible thing for him to do.” She placed her hands on the cover of her book. “I got the impression that she was quite practised in not letting him do whatever he wants.”

“I would agree that she handled the situation well.” Law considered the interaction again. Perhaps he was not giving the woman enough credit. He had taken it as a given that the man would not suggest a bar if he had known that the woman was pregnant. He had been the one to inform far too many husbands and boyfriends that their partner’s nausea was not the flu and did not need to waste the time of the ER staff. He may or may not have left that last part out when speaking to the women. Still, he had already taken his position on the matter in this particular conversation; he might as well follow through with the argument. “However, if she was aware of the man’s tendency to want to visit the bar, she could have preempted the entire scene by either leading him down a different street or explaining the situation beforehand.”

Robin’s lips quirked into a slight smile. “You’re being a little presumptuous, aren’t you?” She asked. “Its very possible that their destination, whatever that may be, is down this very street. There are a number of shops and restaurants around. Perhaps, I’m incorrect and the man’s desire to enter a bar he passes at -” she checked her watch “-three o’clock in the afternoon is a recent development. If I were to say, then the man would be more at fault for not being able to control himself.”

She sat back in her chair, still smiling at the man across from her, “but we don’t really know, do we? That’s what makes this sort of thing fun.”

“Fair enough. Although, that would make us a pair of presumers.” Law couldn’t help but quirk a smile in return. “You are also presuming that the man knows that the woman is pregnant. Perhaps he would not even make the suggestion if she has already told him. Men can be quite oblivious.” He would not entirely discount himself in that comment, but the majority of the things he was oblivious to were things he did not particularly care to pay attention to in the first place.

“Fun? Yes… I suppose it is that.” The doctor mused. He used to watch the passerby more for diagnosing practice than entertainment, but there was nothing that said this could not be both. His eyes looked down at his companion’s book and then back at her. Ah. This was the real reason she had wanted to sit by the window; ll the other tables with a view were taken. “I take it you do ‘this sort of thing’ often?”

“Pregnant,” Robin repeated. She glanced towards the window as if the couple were still out there. The corners of her mouth quirked a bit. “Hm, that changes things a little, I agree. Perhaps if he had known…” she shook her head and looked back to her companion, her friendly smile back. “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you know she was pregnant?” She picked up her coffee cup again. “Or are we doing more presuming?”

“Not at all.” Law set down his cup. He was not sure why he felt like explaining to this woman beyond ‘Trust me, I’m a doctor’, but something told him she would actually be interested in the particulars. Besides, he never really liked telling strangers his profession directly. “The lack of a bra, although she has a full figure, is an indication of sensitive breasts. The sandals she was wearing seemed both worn and too tight, so her feet and ankles have started to swell. She was too far away to see if there were any tan lines on her fingers to indicate her fingers had swollen as well, but I would presume that they have given the other factors.”

The man refilled the cup with more steaming liquid. “Finally, her skin was slightly flushed and shined with oil, not glittered as it would with sweat. I believe most people would call this a ‘pregnancy glow’. I would guess she is around eleven or twelve weeks, but an obstetrician would likely be able to give a more accurate date.” Dark eyes studied the woman as he brought the cup up to his lips once again. “Usually a woman’s female friends will notice long before her partner.”

Robin listened intently as her companion spoke, her head tilting ever so slightly to the side to mark her keen interest. Truth be told, Robin had never known any pregnant women. Not well enough to have actually noticed any of the things the man across from her was now describing. She wondered if what he said was true, if a woman’s female friends would be able to tell she was pregnant before her own partner did. Did women pay such close attention to each other to pick up on those kinds of details? She brought her thumbnail up to her mouth and nibbled slightly on it as she thought.

Robin had always thought she was good at picking up signs from the people she observed, but this man was a true master at the art. One or two of the things he described could easily been explained away by other means. The lack of a bra for example could be because the other woman simply did not like wearing one. But all things together seemed to point to the man being correct. Robin was quite impressed.

She lowered her thumb from her lips and wrapped her hands around her cup again. “That’s very impressive,” she said and did not attempt to hide the admiration in her voice. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone who can pick up on those kinds of details in such a small amount of time.”

“Their argument did last a bit, and admittedly I paid more attention to their physical states than what they might be arguing over.” Law pointed out. He shrugged off the complement. If he could not do that much, he would not be very good at his job. “You also pointed out that I was presuming a great deal regarding the woman’s side of the situation. Regardless of whether the man knew about the woman’s pregnancy, he could be held accountable for causing a scene simply to visit a bar at three in the afternoon.

“Having missed the woman’s motivations as well as her successes, it seems I am still lacking when it comes to the proper way to play this game.” The man studied his companion’s expressions. As opposed to the couple they were discussing, she seemed to keep her cards quite close to her chest. Perhaps she had studied literature or sociology. His eyes flickered down to the book still sitting on the table. What was the title again? He had not paid any attention to the tome earlier. “You, however, seem to have grasped both sides equally well.”

Robin saw the man’s eyes flicker down to her book and she fought the urge to cover the title with her hands. It wasn’t as though it was a trashy romance novel, but it wasn’t exactly a groundbreaking piece of literature either. Romance novels were something of a guilty pleasure Robin allowed herself at the end of the day.

She chastised herself. It wasn’t any of this man’s business what she chose for reading material. She did not allow her eyes to travel down to her book or let her hands cover anymore of the cover than they already were. She was certain if this man was going to pass judgment on her (as people tended to do whether they meant to or not), than he’d likely already done so. She kept her eyes on him, a brow arching up slightly.

“Human behavior is a fascinating subject,” she told him simply. “Seeing it in action has always interested me.”

Human behaviour, huh? Heh. Well, romance would definitely fall into that category. Law could not help the small smirk at the title. It was not that he had anything against romance novels per say; he simply found the idea that a people-watcher was also an avid romance fan rather amusing. It definitely said something about the woman’s character that she did not attempt to explain or cover up the fact that she was reading a romance novel. He liked that. Life was too short to care about all the societal nitpicks on things people enjoyed.

“Humans are-” Whatever Law was about to say was cut off by a soft buzz against his hip. He bit back a sigh as he pulled out the cursed piece of technology. 8723-4. Apparently his number had come up again. “Humans are unfortunately busy creatures. It seems my afternoon reprieve has come to an end.” He finished, placing the pager back in place on his belt. He quickly finished the rest of the tea in his cup. He decided against apologizing for leaving her alone the table; she could take that as she wished.

Standing, he picked up the small tray that carried his teapot and cup. He paused for a moment, looking back at her. It was rare for him to actually spend an afternoon in pleasant company. His previous arguments returned to him and the words turned into a simple smile. “Thanks for the interesting conversation.”

Robin tilted her head at the sound of the soft buzz and her brows furrowed together when her companion produced a pager from his pocket. She wasn’t aware anyone still carried those. How interesting. She watched him as he finished his tea and got up. When he picked up his tray and turned to go it became apparent that he was not going to wish her a good afternoon or part with a goodbye. He was an odd man to be sure, but Robin liked odd things.

She smiled to herself and was just about to open her book when she heard him speak to her. She looked up and turned her head to offer him an easy smile. “You are very welcome,” she answered. “Thank you as well. This afternoon has been quite insightful. Have a good rest of your day.”

She turned back to her book, but raised her eyes to watch the man deposit his tray and leave the shop. Her eyes continued to follow him until he had walked out of sight.

“Very interesting, indeed,” she mused to herself as she returned to her book.