Disclaimer: I own nothing of One Piece.
A/N: Hello! Okay, this is a VERY long one-shot. It's divided into two parts, to make things somewhat bearable. I'm still editing 'part 2' and am only putting this part up because this story has become one big editing nightmare lol. So you have plenty of time to read this. I'll probably publish 'part 2' along with an epilogue involving only Luffy. Hopefully that will happen in a week's time. I really have to say goodbye to this story. I started writing this a week before Valentine's and only outlined it two days before Valentine's. There's no kissing or romantic touching unfortunately. It's mostly about secret thought's, feelings and desires. So here goes. Zoro and Nami are a little cold (mean?) in here. Well, mostly Nami. And it's with my OC. Hope you like. :)
Scorching Flame
"Beautiful Lady."
Reaching out a large, robotic hand, Franky helped Robin step over clutter strewn out on the lawn. Items he and Usopp were working on.
A few decks above, Nami watched them intently, seated by a table. Franky seemed to notice Robin whenever she was around. No matter what he was doing, he made sure it didn't cause her discomfort. Whether it be noise that would disturb her reading or clutter that could cause her to fall. Nami had not so nicely reprimanded him for having disturbed her own map-work and reading quite a few times, and he now watched out. But only because she had made him aware of it. The navigator had suspicions that needed confirming.
Holding out a tray, Sanji bowed at her side. "Nami-san, in honour of that special day that's almost upon us, I bought some special umbrellas!" Cute red umbrellas stood inside her and Robin's drinks on the tray, red and white hearts on them. "Aren't they lovely, my sweet?" asked Sanji.
"Yes, Sanji-kun." Nami smiled, picking up a glass.
"How are drawings on umbrellas gonna improve the drinks, cook?" asked Zoro from the floor nearby, where he sat, hands behind his head.
"Hey, marimo, don't insult gifts from the heart." The cook calmly walked off to serve Robin, and Nami put the drink down, dropping her chin into her palm.
"Franky and Robin," she said, sounding mildly frustrated.
"Talking to yourself, woman?" asked the swordsman.
Nami spared him a fleeting glance where he sat against the railing. "And you're still awake to notice," she said blandly.
"What about Franky and Robin?" he asked, eye closed.
Nami looked down as Robin remained on the lawn, chatting with Franky while he worked. "There's something about the two of them."
"What do you mean?"
"Franky admires her and is always saying sweet things. Robin likes chatting with him and watching the sun set together. Did you notice that way Franky smiles sometimes when she's not looking?" Nami said with a hint of a smile, honestly believing Zoro would know exactly what smile she was talking about.
"No," he said.
And Nami sighed. "Of course not."
Zoro sighed himself. "And you think that means there's something going on between them. Did you ask Robin about it?"
Nami pulled a face. "You know Robin has a good poker face. It's impossible to read her."
"Whatever. You're just seeing things."
"I'm not," said Nami quietly.
=V=
"Zoro."
"Huh?" It was that peaceful time of day when the sun was setting. Wisps of delicious aroma trailed out of the galley, tickling the noses of a snoozing sniper and a snoring captain, awaking them from their peaceful naps. The duo ran across the lawn and into the galley as the swordsman unscrewed his one good eye, turning his head fully to see Nami, because she was on his left side. Instead of her jeans covered legs, she would usually be towering over him with, he saw Nami crouched beside him. "What do you want?" he asked, instantly suspicious.
"I have a plan for Valentine's day," she said, actually whispering conspiratorially as she glanced over the decks of the Sunny.
"So?" Strange topic for her to be whispering to him about. Wasn't the cook the go-to guy for those sorts of things? Movement in the distance caught Zoro's eye. It seemed to be Brook's afro disappearing around the side of the galley.
"For Franky and Robin," said Nami, making things clearer.
And Zoro closed his eye again. "You forcing things where there's nothing, woman?"
"There is something," she said insistently.
"And you're gonna make them admit it." Zoro snorted at that idea.
"Not really but close. Considering that we're docked at an island, and close to a patch of woods, for that matter, I'm going to arrange a romantic dinner for them. Away from the ship. Away from the crew."
"And maybe they'll fall into each others arms," said Zoro, wanting to roll his eye.
"Maybe that will get them to admit things." Or give something away. Nami really wanted them to give something away. She was very proud of her idea, imagining Franky and Robin so overwhelmed by their strong feelings for each other, and Franky maybe sweeping Robin off her feet by taking her into his arms and... Well, that was as far as she chose to imagine. But the important thing was that she would be right.
When Nami said nothing further, Zoro took a peek. She had caught sight of Franky and Robin watching the sun set together, side-by-side, way up on the upper-deck, and was smiling sweetly. A child-like wonder spread over her face. "What's ero-cook gonna say?" he asked. "Won't he wanna do Valentine's with you two?"
Nami picked up a hint of sarcasm in his tone and associated that with Zoro's usual rivalry with Sanji. Her sweet smile turned into a wicked smirk. "I'm getting a date for Sanji-kun as well."
"Huh?" Zoro had to make sure he'd heard right.
"What?" said Nami.
"The cook on a real date with a woman?" Zoro wanted to laugh. "He'll spend it unconscious."
Nami gnawed on her lip. "Well, that's one way to keep him busy," she said seriously. Zoro did laugh and got slapped on the arm. "Quiet. Don't draw attention to us." Nami glimpsed up to make sure her very observant friend, Robin, with her back turned to her, hadn't noticed. Zoro obeyed and listened further, but with a sarcastic smirk on his face as Nami continued. "I'm getting Sanji-kun this date to keep him busy while I give Robin and Franky a nice romantic dinner date. It's a win-win situation. I get Franky and Robin together and Sanji-kun gets a girl all to himself for once. We all know that neverhappens for him."
"Now you care about love-idiot's love life as well?" Zoro asked. "Why not just give him a date with you? Isn't that enough?"
This time there was a definite edge to his voice that was more than just sarcasm, and his smirk had been replaced with a look of annoyance that Nami matched as she glared at him. His rivalry with Sanji was one thing, but now he seemed to be insulting the idea of her as someone's date."I don't care about his love life," she said clearly. Nami frowned as she pondered over something.
Zoro didn't know whether to believe her or not. Not that he had ever thought she was into the cook, but saying she didn't care didn't exactly prove that she wasn't. "What now?" he asked.
"Just thinking how I'll keep an eye on things."
"You mean spy?" said Zoro.
Nami shrugged, smiling cheekily. "Anyway, with his looks, Sanji-kun can easily attract a girl." Zoro had to scoff at that. "It's keeping one that's tricky. But it's just one dinner date. It should be easy."
"How would you make sure she saw the date through?" he bothered to ask. "Love-idiot's gonna lose control."
Zoro was asking questions about her plans? Nami first made sure to take a glimpse up at Robin. She had moved out of view, so Nami sat herself down on the grass, next to him, her back to the railing as well, and her legs pulled up, eager to discuss her plans further. Zoro watched her as she made herself comfortable. Apparently he was now her confidant where the matchmaking was concerned. "I thought giving Sanji-kun to her in small doses would do the trick."
"Small doses?"
"Yeah. So that whatever Sanji-kun does during the date won't put her off."
"How would you do that?" asked Zoro, his face completely turned to the side as he watched the soft mixture of colour caress her delicate features.
Nami shrugged. "I have my ways. But first things first. I have to find the right girl."
=V=
The next day, the two crew mates walked to town together. She was on a mission and he wanted a drink. They'd happened to be heading the same way at the same time, so Zoro, still her only confidant, listened as Nami rattled on about her plan. They trudged through the woods – the venue mentioned for the dates during their sunset talk the previous evening – and Nami found a few suitable clearings she could use. "I'm having tents set up," she said loudly, standing in one, "with caterers serving the food!" Nami looked over her shoulder to see if Zoro was still there. He still stood on the path they'd been walking. Well, at least he was waiting for her.
"Sounds good," was all he said in the quiet woods, his words barely audible. Nami plucked a white flower from a bush nearby and sniffed it as she returned to him.
"Yes, it will be great," she said with a smirk.
Zoro noticed the lingering smile in her eyes as she joined him and they continued on their way. Their surroundings and the idea of the dates seemed to have a real emotional affect on her. The thought crossed his mind that Nami could perhaps want something like that for herself. What she was planning for others. As they reached the end of the woods though, Nami easily dumped the flower and straightened her shoulders for the mission ahead, breaking Zoro's illusion.
In the town, Zoro lazily gazed around with her for possible candidates on his way to his bar. Nami hadn't asked him to help with the search but was liking Zoro being awake and figuring out with her what girl would sit through a date with Sanji. He was quite attentive, for once, even though she knew he didn't really give a damn about her plan, one way or the other. For Zoro, it was just fun walking with her, discussing something so trivial that wouldn't lead to fighting between them. Such moments, they got along quite well.
Together they agreed that the girl would have to be a complete girlie-girl. A girl who carried her heart on her sleeve as Sanji. A few times, Nami pulled aside a possible candidate, but each time the girl would think that Zoro was the date, losing interest the moment he was revealed not to be. Nami would give him a look and Zoro would only shrug.
That went on until, watching the fifth girl walk off, Zoro found himself to be in close range of his bar. Time had come to leave Nami to her own devices."Well, good luck with –" He turned to her, but she wasn't there. "Where did she run off to?" he asked and sighed. "Oh well." Zoro went to the bar, suspecting that he had just been ditched by Nami. He didn't mind. To him, Nami's plan seemed rather pointless. Sure Franky and Robin would often be found in each other's company. But in no way did that mean there was anything more to it. For all they knew, the two might find a blind-date on Valentine's too uncomfortable to bare.
The talking and walking with Nami from the ship to the bar had been pleasant, though. Particularly pleasant was a look Zoro had noticed Nami get when the girl would think he was the date. A look of resentment? No. A look of annoyance? A look of... possession? Maybe. Zoro pondered over that look as he ordered his first drink. Nami possessive over him? Had she always been possessive of him, that he had just failed to notice? Well, she was known to treat him like she owned him, something greatly encouraged by that damned debt she had put over his head. If there was one person he couldn't escape, it was Nami. She always managed to get her claws into him, somehow.
After an hour of no further enlightenment, "Why is it so hard to get a girl to just accept an offer from another girl, who is offering a date with her male friend?" she asked as she plopped herself on the empty stool next to him.
"It's weird, that's why," said her tracked down confidant. How had she even found him?
Nami dropped her arms on the counter. "I need a drink," she said.
"Wanna try something new?" asked Zoro.
"Sure."
"I'll take care of it."
Nami stared at Zoro and looked around herself to make sure she wasn't having some weird dream as Zoro signalled to the bartender. The man brought drinks over and placed one complete with straw, umbrella and ice in front of Nami. A jug of beer was served to Zoro.
"You're buying me a drink?" she said, sitting stiffly in her seat. It had to be some weird dream. When would Zoro give so freely to her, that's not even taking into consideration that the drink was red and it was happening on the most romantic day of the year.
"You're paying for that," he said and her shoulders slumped. Of course she was. "It's a Valentine's special."
"Why is that making you so happy?" she asked, sneering at that tiny smirk on his lips.
"One of those ordered with one of these," he said, indicating to her drink and his beer, "and I get a discount off my beer."
Nami huffed at him and Zoro grinned. "If anyone, you should get how great that is, woman," he said.
His arrogant confession bothered her a little too much. Nami went ahead and sniffed the drink with a judgemental air. It smelt pleasant enough. "It better be good," she said, and mumbled the rest. "Don't know what I was thinking imagining you would buy me a drink."
Zoro grunted in complete agreement.
"If I paid a girl to go on the date, she'd do it."
"Doesn't mean she'd stick it out," he said.
"Franky and Robin seem happy enough to just be friends. But I want them to have just one romantic dinner together."
Zoro knew what that was all about. "To prove you're right," he said, not asking.
"That also." Nami shrugged, making it seem not so important.
Zoro looked at her. "Oi, Nami, cut the crap. Isn't that the most important reason?"
"I think they deserve a chance." Nami's teeth clenched together with that last word. Zoro was pushing her buttons. Did he have to see through her that way?"
"Chance?"
"To see where things could go. If they're too stubborn to admit anything, then I'll just have to give them a little push in the right direction."
"Why do they deserve a chance?"
"Because they have feelings for each other, obviously." Nami gave him a frustrated look.
Zoro sighed. "You don't have any real proof of that, Nami."
"Well, I'll show you. I'll get it. I'll prove it." Nami raised her special Valentine drink into the air. "HERE'S TO LOVE!" she said with cheerful laughter. Silence followed in which every person in the bar, including those with special drinks, stared at the orange head holding her drink up in the air. And then sighs followed and conversations continued.
"Drink your drink, woman," said Zoro. Clearly her desperation was going to her head. Since when was she such an advocator for romance.
"You'd think there were more romantics in here," said Nami, going by the amount of 'special drinks she saw in the place. They were all probably opportunists just like Zoro.
"Now you're a romantic?" he asked.
"What makes you think I'm not?" she said wryly and took a sip.
"Cause you never go on about that kind of stuff. Even when ero-cook comes to you with heart-covered umbrellas."
She put the drink down. "I can appreciate romance, even though I don't look for it myself."
Why not, thought Zoro. And he had to ask. "Why don't you?"
Nami's unreadable gaze met his questioning one. Because it's too risky, was what she was thinking. "I don't need it," was what she said, her back straightening.
"But you'll force it on other people," he said. "What's with that?"
Nami didn't bother to respond to that comment. If he was going to continue questioning and being judgemental about her intentions, then she'd rather leave. "I'm going to continue my search," she said, turning on the stool to get off. But she stopped when facing his side.
"What?" asked Zoro, finding her eyes focused on him, and wheels seemingly busy turning in her head, going by the look in those brown pools.
"See what you can find – " she started to say, and Zoro's defences went up immediately. Just because he listened to her plans and sort of helped her a bit, didn't mean she could go putting him to work.
"Why would I -?"
" – and there might be some fine sake in it for you."
Nami's proposal had him thinking. "Sake?"
Nami nodded. The woman knew how to get him. She grabbed her unfinished drink, gulped down the remainder, stood up in the small space between their seats and dropped money on the counter. "I'm only paying because I liked the drink," she said, and Zoro thought he would feel warm breath on his cheek. He turned his head as she moved away, tracing the path where her lips had just been, and watched her leave.
Walking out of the bar, later, Zoro noticed as loads of merchandise were being wheeled in front of a store across the road. Red and white Valentine's day banners hung inside the windows, advertising the day set aside just for love. He could just imagine what those stack of crates contained. Zoro intended on giving the search a try while returning to the ship. Nami badly wanted that date of Franky and Robin to happen. He didn't know which of her reasons were the truth, but Zoro found himself being her only confidant. It wouldn't really hurt to help her out just a little bit. Sake had been promised.
And then he saw her. A blonde girl twirling a flower between her fingers, heading his way, conjuring up similar images of Nami walking in the woods before.
She smiled sweetly as she walked down the street, gazing dreamily at couples she passed by. Her dreamy gaze held a hint of sadness as she walked all by her lonesome. With that dreamy look in her eyes, the girl failed to notice the unstable stack of crates that had just been untied. And so didn't see the danger coming.
Suddenly the blade of a sword and the colour green flashed before her eyes, and a loud crack was heard as a falling crate was cut in half above her head, it's contents raining all around her. Little fluffy toys brushed against her hair and skin and lightly bounced off her head and shoulders. The two halves of the crate dropped to the ground on either side of her with heavy thuds. The girl looked up at the man standing before her. He sheathed his sword, and her eyes were positively glowing.
"Oi, want a Valentine date?" asked Zoro.
The girl's mouth dropped open.
=V=
It was almost lunch time and Nami hadn't had any more luck on her way back to the ship. Another trip into town would have to be made because, frankly, what luck would Zoro have if every girl wanted a date with him instead. The thought of those picky girls turning their backs on her threatened to sour her mood, but a smile pulled at her lips as she imagined Zoro offering the date in his own caveman way. That would probably put girls off him really quickly. That pleased Nami greatly. But the smile slipped again because they might see him as rude as well, and would turn him down. Which wouldn't help her cause at all.
"I saw you and Zoro having an intimate conversation, yesterday."
Nami's shocked gaze darted across the table she was seated at. In the background, Sanji continued to chop away in the kitchen, not having heard one word. Nami put on her best poker face, armouring up against that mischievous smile her friend was directing at her from across the dining table. "We were just talking," she said just as quietly as Robin had and calmly sipped on her own drink. With this and Zoro's oh so generous offering earlier, the navigator needed to powder her nose soon.
"And then you left the ship, together, today. Where did you go, I wonder."
Nami knew to be cautious whenever approaching Zoro out in the open. She couldn't even laugh at the same joke he was laughing at for Robin to read something into it. And heaven forbid if they had been next to each other when laughing. Suddenly they'd be sitting 'together' or standing 'together' and laughing. There was that comment Robin had made just days after joining their crew, when she had caught Nami staring at Zoro cleaning his swords. According to Robin, Zoro was a 'special something' Nami longed to claim. And no denying on Nami's part would change her mind. With one word, Robin had confirmed that she hadn't really bought anything Nami had said. "We went into town at the same time," said Nami. "It was nothing more than a coincidence."
"Alright," said Robin.
And there it was; the one word. Nami hated it when Robin said 'alright' at such moments. Because she never meant it. "What about you and Franky? Have a nice time watching the sun set together, again?" The shipwright was Nami's only ace in the hole. Memorable footage still rolled around in her head of how easily Robin had gripped hold of him and tortured him that day in Water 7. Did they ever reminisce over that happening during their sunsets spent together? Nami pulled her mind out of the gutter and watched as Robin chuckled, not rattled at all by her words. She growled under her breath, thinking she really had to learn how Robin felt no pressure. But maybe Robin felt no pressure because she had no concerns about her feelings for Franky.
=V=
When Zoro approached the ship, Nami was coming down the stairs to the galley, nose all powdered, ready to continue her search. But the display before her had her stopping in her tracks. A blonde girl was pressed to his side with a flower in her hands and staring up at him. "Oi, show some dignity and back off, will you?" Zoro was annoyed but was not physically pushing her away. She only giggled at the fact that he was actually speaking to her.
"Oh, my hero, you didn't ask my name. It's Missy!" she said.
Zoro lead her onto the ship and met Nami at the foot of the stairs. "Got one," he said with a smirk.
"Yes, he did, and I can't wait for our date!" said Missy, sticking close to her hero and grinning from ear to ear.
Nami rubbed fingers over her forehead. "Zoro, can I speak with you for a moment?"
"Wow! Zoro! That's your name?! We're going on a date and I didn't even know your name!"
Zoro gladly left the clingy girl behind and followed Nami into the men's-quarters. The door slammed shut behind them, startling Missy. And then yelling could be heard.
"ZORO, WHY DOES THAT GIRL THINK SHE'S GOING ON A DATE WITH YOU?!"
"I DIDN'T TELL HER IT WAS WITH ME!"
"SHE'S SMITTEN WITH YOU!"
"THE HELL CAN I HELP THAT?!"
"DID YOU TELL HER THE DATE WAS WITH SOMEONE ELSE?!"
"I OFFERED A DATE AND GOT HER HERE. THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!"
"NO IT ISN'T, YOU IDIOT!"
Missy failed to pay attention to the exact 'conversation' Nami and Zoro were having as she watched a man flying overhead. "Wow!" She ran to meet him where he landed on a railing above her. "Who are you?" she asked.
Luffy looked around and then down at the stranger standing on his ship. "Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Missy. I'm going to have a date with Zoro!"
Luffy started snickering. "A date? Zoro's... going... on a... a date?"
"Yeah," said Missy happily, and Luffy fell off the railing and onto his back, laughing. Missy tried to see him where he lay on the balcony. "What's so funny?"
Zoro watched Nami in the now quiet room as she stood thinking with arms folded. "So what are you gonna do?" he asked. Their yelling had come to an end and now action would be taken.
"The girl already being here on the ship could work in my favour. The problem is, how crazy is she about you?"
A slip of a familiar glance shot his way, and Zoro met it. Possession? "Her name's Missy, I think," he said as she rushed passed him, and Nami stumbled in her step. Zoro couldn't help the way his face briefly lit up. He followed her out of the room.
But on the grass, she stopped and turned to him. "Stay!" Zoro growled lowly at her ordering. But she was right. He had to stay away. So he went to have a nap.
Nami walked to Missy, smiling at the girl and looking her up and down. Between her fingers, she still twirled that flower as she stared dreamily at Zoro. Nami could quite understand why he had chosen her. She seemed to fit the profile to a tee. She was perfect, and Nami decided that come what may, that girl would be Sanji's date. "Hi, Missy, I'm Nami," she said. "Zoro says you're here for a date for Valentine's."
Missy nodded. "Uh-huh."
"And Zoro said he would be your date?"
Missy stopped smiling as she thought it over. "Well, he didn't exactly say that. He asked if I wanted a date."
"Yeah, that's because he meant someone else," said Nami. Zoro bringing Missy all the way to the ship was something she could work with. Once the girl found out Zoro wasn't the date, Sanji could be put on display, and hopefully, she could be swayed into giving him a chance.
"What?" Missy's smile dropped from her sparkling blue eyes.
"Who did he mean?" asked Luffy from above.
Nami looked up to the captain and put a hand on Missy's back, leading her away. "Come with me, Missy." They passed Zoro who had sunk down at the railing, preparing for a nap. Missy waved at him and Nami glared at him. He glared right back and looked away.
"He's like a big green teddy-bear," said Missy, grinning.
Nami grimaced. "Zoro's not a teddy-bear," she said. They climbed the stairs to the front of the ship. "A tree, maybe. An impossible-to-uproot green tree."
"What?" said Missy.
"Nothing." Nami tossed her hair back. "He's just not like a teddy-bear."
"But he is! I can just picture myself cuddling up with him while he sleeps. And I'd put a piece of chocolate in his mouth!"
Nami stammered out a defensive response. "How... do you... know if he even likes chocolate? You don't know him."
"Well, I'd find out, now wouldn't I?" said Missy.
Nami frowned at the girl, before she spotted Sanji stepping out onto the upper-deck. Having a smoke while lunch simmered on the stove, he looked out at the view. The next day would be Valentine's day and Sanji couldn't wait to spend it with Nami and Robin. The two special ladies in his life that he alone would treat. Right there on the upper deck was where he would give them the most romantic dinner beneath the stars.
"Missy, I know you like Zoro," said Nami. "And I understand. Zoro is a warrior. He's very brave and a very good fighter. You'd be safe with him." Her heart secretly skipped a beat as she easily mentioned some of his assets; even so, the next words flowed just as freely and without any sugarcoating whatsoever. Not just for the sake of putting Missy off him. Nami would never pretend Zoro was anything other than what he was. "But he's a bit of a jerk. He's rude and just really... absentminded."
"That's okay," said Missy. "He's so handsome and strong and brave! He's perfect!"
"Yeeaah." Nami had trouble holding back the sarcasm, a little impatient with the girl ever since an unpleasant sensation had passed through her chest when catching sight of Missy pushed up against Zoro's side. She very well knew what that feeling was. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I know of someone else who isn't at all like Zoro, he's strong in his own way."
Missy didn't sound too interested but asked anyway. "Who?
"Sanji-kun." Nami looked at him so that Missy could follow her gaze. And she did.
"Is that him?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes." Nami smiled as Sanji happened to lean on his elbows in just the right way, lost in his own fantasies as a breeze rustled his blonde hair.
"He has nice hair," said Missy. "What's he like?"
"Sanji-kun? Sanji... Oh, I can't say it." Nami turned away from Missy and waited.
"What can't you say?" asked Missy, truly intrigued.
"Sanji loves with all his heart, Missy, and because of that, he's alone." Nami tone positively dripped with regret. "I really want him to have a date for Valentine's, but... I'm afraid he might not survive it."
Missy gasped. "Why not?" she asked.
"Well, you're very beautiful. Poor Sanji-kun wouldn't be able to breath in your company." Nami placed her hands on Missy's shoulders. "You could be the death of him."
"Death?! But I'd make him happy too, wouldn't I?"
"Yes. Very happy. And that's just the problem. He'd die happy. But he could still die." Nami released her.
"That's so sad... and romantic." Missy held her hands under her chin as she looked at Sanji, sorrow etched in her blue eyes. "He's all alone. And so special." Just as Nami started smiling triumphantly, did Missy's gaze shift to Zoro once more. "But I can't give up Zoro for Sanji. He saved my life."
Nami growled beneath her breath and immediately cut herself off with fingertips covering her mouth. There was that unpleasant sensation again.
=V=
After lunch, three crew members were kept behind and the rest thrown out of the galley, by Nami. Including the captain, who went off to play hide-and-seek with his fellow outcasts. Her confidant - the swordsman - was allowed to flop down on the green couch and listen to her proposal, occasionally rolling his one good eye at her romantic ramblings.
"It will be good, I think you two will enjoy yourselves," said Nami happily to Robin and Franky. They'd taken in every word she had said, but not too enthusiastically, she'd noted. Which made Nami imagine things. Like that Franky and Robin didn't want to have a romantic dinner with any blind dates because they really wanted to have them with each other. Zoro had noticed their discomfort as well but assumed they were only acting that way because Nami setting them up with blind dates was just weird. Sanji was a living breathing statue in the kitchen, who hadn't said anything at all since he'd heard that he'd be having dinner with his very own blind date.
"What's really going on, sis?" asked Franky.
"Nothing," said Nami rather innocently.
But the cyborg wouldn't leave it at that. "What are you doing for Valentine's?" he asked.
"Me? I'll be making sure that everything goes according... that everything goes... smoothly." Before that came out sounding like spying, Nami quickly added more. "I'll make sure everyone gets to their dates and that the caterers are doing their jobs properly." She left out the bit about how she'd be extra vigilant seeing as it was her money being spent, but that didn't need to be mentioned. And yet, that's exactly what Franky thought of.
"So you're actually gonna pay –?"
"Nami-san, blind dates for the three of us?" said Robin, saving her. "If you're thanking us for something, then it's not necessary at all to go this far."
Nami shook her head. "It's not like that. It's Valentine's day. The one day in the year set aside just for romance. What's wrong with spending it with someone. Even someone you don't know? It'll be fun, trust me." Robin and Franky glanced at each other and Nami narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out that look exchanged between them. "So it's settled? she asked.
They nodded.
Zoro sighed.
=V=
"Zoro, you can't just break her heart," said Nami to him later as they waited on the bow for Missy's re-arrival. Missy had agreed to return that afternoon and give Sanji a chance. Of course, Nami wasn't stupid and knew she was mostly returning because of Zoro. Which was good, in a bad way.
"Of course I can," said Zoro, seated on the railing, lazily lifting a dumbbell with one hand to help him stay awake. Rather that than take his afternoon nap and be yelled awake by an impatient orange head. "It's simple. She'd move on to ero-cook."
Nami shook her head. "Missy's infatuatedwith you. She won't just move on to the next guy on the ship." she said, waving her hand at the rest of the ship. "Don't you understand anything? You have to wean her off you."
"Wean?" said Zoro, pumping his biceps.
"Yeah." Nami spotted Missy in the distance and blocked Zoro's lifting with one hand. "Put that down, Zoro. I don't want Missy losing her mind seeing you like that." Zoro rose from the railing. Obviously the cook was the one that needed to be watched. He dropped the dumbbells on the floor. "And," said Nami, making her way past him, "don't pull out any swords."
"Swords?" asked Zoro, startling Nami, who stopped moving.
The natural thought had just passed through her head and somehow flowed out of her mouth. "Yeah. She might like that," she said insistently. Missy could like that. It was possible. Sure it was. Nami fled.
The moment Missy made it back on board, lead by Nami, did she hurry up to Zoro. "Hi, Zoro, did you have a nice lunch?" she asked with glowing eyes and blushing cheeks. Nami stood quietly in the background keeping an eye on things, and Zoro's gaze reached her from over the blonde's head. Her sword comment was still fresh in his mind. All Nami did was blink as she wondered what that look was about.
He answered Missy with a grunt, taking his gaze off Nami and checking that his sash was securely tied around his waist. The next thing Zoro knew, hands were clutching his arm and Missy was lovingly staring into his one eye. "Oi, what are you doing?" he asked.
Before she herself could even think of what she was doing, Nami rushed forward and snatched Missy's hands from Zoro. Soft hair brushed against his chest and nose, blocking his view as Nami was suddenly standing between him and the girl, forcing Missy to back away.
"Missy, remember what I said," she said. "Just watch Sanji-kun from here."
Missy folded her arms. "Why can't I just meet him already?" she asked, tapping her foot on the wooden deck. She didn't even know what Sanji looked like from close up. She didn't even know what his voice sounded like, or if he smelled. As she stood there, nothing about the man named Sanji compared to the handsome hero Nami was keeping her from.
Zoro tried to back out of the tiny space he and Nami were sharing. The weather that day wasn't exactly scorching, but his temperature was slowly starting to rise to uncomfortable levels. Swiftly Nami slipped a hand behind herself and grabbed onto his sash, causing Zoro to bump into her back. She gasped at the feel of him, but very quickly regained her composure. "Missy, I told you, Sanji-kun is too fragile," she said. "You can only meet him when you have your date."
Missy sighed.
Laughter rang out next to the ship; it was Luffy. Flustered Zoro was released as Nami took a peek and then ushered Missy closer to the railing where she could spy on Sanji, who had returned from doing some shopping. Missy watched Sanji as he watched over Luffy and Usopp as they watched where they were treading carrying boxes of supplies.
Zoro sat on the railing, a distance away, inhaling much needed air as he dared to glimpse at Nami, who was very focused on Missy and had probably thought nothing of the contact they had just shared. Looking up, he happened to see Chopper on the upper-deck, peeking through the bars of the railing. No. Wait. He was working on his plants. But hadn't he just been peeking through the bars? "I'm seeing things," said Zoro, touching his forehead, to – for the first time in his life – check his temperature.
Observing Sanji from a distance was sort of working, because Missy started asking questions, like, does he always yell that way. Does he always wear a suit. Does he ever show his other eye. Does he always walk around with a cigarette. The questions kept coming, and it seemed more like she was showing interest only to please Nami. Which had Nami coming after Zoro again.
"Zoro, like I said before, you'll have to let her down slowly. Don't just break her heart or she'll run. Just watch what you do."
"When did this become about me?" he asked, glaring warily at her from the corner of his eye.
Nami folded her arms. "Uh, how about you failing to mention to the girl from the start that the date wasn't with you?"
"So much for helping someone," he said, folding his own arms.
"Helping me?" asked Nami. "Since when do you help me?"
"You've been nagging only to me about this dumb Valentine's stuff. I had no choice but to help you."
"Yeah, right," she said. "You didn't seem to be hating our walk into town this morning. And what about your precious sake?"
Zoro rose to his feet, facing her. He smirked as he brought his face closer to hers, with Nami standing firm and looking him in the eye. "The sake's the ultimate prize for putting up with you, woman," he said. "That, and getting you to shut up."
"My prince," she said sarcastically and Zoro's heartbeat thundered in his chest.
A loud clearing of a throat, nearby, reminded Zoro and Nami of the situation at hand. Suspicious blue eyes darted between them. Zoro pulled his face back, and Nami blinked blankly. "Is there something going on between you two?" asked the blonde.
Nami's startled gaze swiftly met with Zoro's, and then shot back to the clearly upset blonde. "Missy, of course there's nothing going on," she said, having a bit of trouble getting oxygen into her lungs. "Now, where's Sanji-ku –?"
"Zoro?" Missy wasn't letting up.
"Do I look crazy to you?" he said quietly, and really believed she would say 'yes'.
But Missy seemed to accept his answer as her tensed shoulders visibly relaxed. "Oh," she said.
Nami thought bitterly to herself that she couldn't have asked for a better response from him. "What did you think of Sanji-kun, Missy?" she asked.
"He's... short-tempered," said Missy, drifting closer to Zoro.
Nami plastered her palm against her forehead. Of course Missy would have that image of him. She'd only witnessed Sanji's natural impatience with males. The last thing she could show her was Sanji's natural reaction to females
Zoro smirked. "Yeah, the cook's not much to talk about," he said arrogantly, and, standing next to Nami, was immediately elbowed in the abdomen. A startled Missy gasped at her actions, hands covering her mouth.
First Nami had to worry about Zoro being too harsh with Missy, now she had to worry about what he said about Sanji to Missy. Her scary glare burned into his good eye. "But?" she said to Zoro.
"But... he's... there if you're hungry," he said, straightening up and rubbing his abdomen.
Nami rolled her eyes.
"Oh." It didn't go unnoticed by Missy that Zoro didn't do much in retaliation against the blow Nami had dealt him. All he did was frown her way, to show his disapproval. They were very close, it seemed. Missy came to stand on Zoro's other side, feeling left out. "So he's a chef?" she asked, eyes running down the swordsman's taller, broader form.
Zoro smirked. "He's a chef and fights also. But I'm the better fighter."
Nami turned to face him, fists on her hips. And Zoro added some more. "But... maybe he'll make a... good date." Zoro just could not and would not say that Sanji was better at anything that he was. Even a date.
Missy was staring and very close to sniffing Zoro's clothes when an idea hit Nami. "Missy, come with me." The girl's wrist was grabbed and, she, swiftly snatched away from Zoro.
He remained behind. What could Nami have hidden up her sleeve now?
In her room, Nami pulled out and held on display a red dress she'd been thinking of throwing out and now wanted Missy to wear. A long satin red dress with a very high slit. A definite show stopper. The last time she'd worn it, she'd tricked quite a nice amount of treasure out of an unsuspecting pirate keeping guard over stolen loot. She also recalled Sanji losing blood at the sight of her and needing rest afterwards. Maybe the same could happen this time. Missy stared at the the dress. Not smiling, not jumping up and down with joy.
"What's wrong?" asked Nami.
"It's so..."
Nami narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"It's so daring. I've never worn anything like this before." Missy tenderly touched the dress as if her fingertips could harm it.
"Oh," said Nami. "Well, go on the date with Sanji-kun and you can wear it."
Missy turned away from her, shaking her head and risking Nami's inevitable wrath. "I can't do that, Nami. I'm sorry, but I can't go on a date with Sanji. I only want Zoro."
Instead of a major blow-up that was expected to follow that announcement, there was only a sigh from Nami. The time had arrived to come clean with the girl. No way had Zoro ever been promised to her. That belief had to be crushed. "Missy, it's either a date with Sanji or no date at all," she said.
Missy spun around. "You can't... You can't say that Zoro won't agree to go on a date with me," she said obstinately, even though she didn't have anything to prove otherwise.
"Yes, I can. "Nami stepped closer. "Zoro has no interest in going on a date. Period. The only reason he brought you here was because I wanted a date for Sanji-kun."
Tears welled up in Missy's eyes and Nami felt for the girl. But the truth had to be told. "I don't want any date with anyone else!" Predictably Missy made to flee.
But Nami stuck an arm out. "Hold it," she said, and Missy actually stopped. As a precaution, Nami had come up with a back up plan just for that situation. Missy was about to flee and the one thing that would keep her around was Nami's only bargaining chip. "How about a date with each of them?"
"Both?" said Missy in a little voice as she turned to Nami.
"Hm." Nami nodded. "You can sit with Zoro for a few minutes." Missy eyes widened with glee and she excitedly began inhaling air. "But only if you agree to have dinner with Sanji-kun after," said Nami clearly.
Missy jumped up and down. "I can sit with both of them?! Zoro first?! YES! YES! EVERYONE WINS!"
"Yeeaah," said Nami.
"I have to go on a date with her?!" Zoro was seated on the lawn under a tree as Nami towered over him with her jeans-covered legs.
"It's only for a few minutes," she said.
"The hell do I have to do that for?" he asked.
"I told her the truth. That you'd never go on a date with her."
"What? I thought you said not to break her heart," said Zoro.
Nami sighed and allowed herself to breath. "It was different, because it came from me. And I could strike a deal with her."
"What's the deal?" asked Zoro with caution.
"She gets to sit with you for a few minutes. But then she has to have dinner with Sanji-kun."
"Oh." His strained features relaxed and he stood up. "That sounds okay."
"Okay?" said Nami, wanting to laugh as she turned and walked to the railing.
"How's it not okay? And why are you upset?" asked Zoro grumpily as he followed. "I'm the one who has to sit with her."
"Because I don't think she'll want to let you go," Nami said, stopping at the railing, bitterness clear in her voice.
Zoro scoffed, resting one elbow on it and facing her. "She'll have no choice," he said.
"Don't underestimate what the heart wants, Zoro. And her heart wants you." Nami made eye-contact with him. "It wants you bad."
"You're really worried about this," he said.
"It pays to be cautious. Always."
"Well, she can't have me," he said with certainty.
Nami raised her chin in his direction. "But that's where you're wrong, Zoro. She will have you," she said defiantly.
Zoro's gaze settled on her lips for a moment, drifting up to her eyes. If any woman could have him, it would be… Zoro blinked, focusing on what she had said. "Hm?"
"You'll be her Valentine," said Nami. She didn't much enjoy wording it that way, but it was true.
Zoro scoffed at that and leant the other elbow onto the railing as well, looking out at the ocean. Nami followed his move, doing the same. "Valentine," he said with disdain.
Nami wasn't surprised. It wasn't just being Missy's Valentine that had him looking down on that word. "Don't worry, it will only last a few minutes. You can do it." Her bland teasing contained no hint of amusement. It was her way of expressing her bitterness over that date. As well as Zoro's utter lack of feeling for any of those kinds of things.
"I don't wanna do it," Zoro said. "Maybe it's okay for you, but it feels like lying to me."
"It'll be over before you know it. You'll give Missy and me what we want. And then it'll be just you and your sake. Everyone will be happy," said Nami.
"You don't sound very happy," he said.
And Nami quickly shrugged, trying to cover up her disappointment. "I don't like it when things go beyond my control," she said. "This was supposed to just be about getting Franky and Robin together to – "
"To prove your right," said Zoro with a firm nod.
Nami rolled her eyes. "Get off my case, Zoro." She shook her head, clenching her teeth. "I somehow feel like Missy's running the show."
"Don't worry so much. She has no control. You'll get what you want. You always do."
"Not always," she said under her breath, scraping a spot of the railing with a fingernail.
And Zoro smiled slightly. She was some force to be reckoned with, but sometimes, even Nami lost. Her admittance reminded him of a more vulnerable side to her that he rarely saw. "Where will you be?" he asked, drawing her out of her miseries and getting her focused back on the plan. "While the dates are going on." At least he knew she wouldn't be with the cook on that night. That was one good thing that had come out of Nami's plans. It had squashed Sanji's plans for that dinner he had been going on about.
"Keeping an eye on the dates, of course," she said.
The thought secretly bugged Zoro that this one time he would be allowing himself to go on a date, Nami had to be the one arranging it. Of course she would be the one to get him to do something like that. But he would never have thought that she'd get him to do it with someone else. You didn't carry around a flicker of something inside of you for one person, without wanting to act on it at least once. That opportunity never came to him. Most days he was too busy caught between not giving a damn about what she wanted, and having to give a damn about what she wanted.
And Nami never showed any real signs of wanting him. Earlier, she had stepped between him and Missy, when the girl had clung to him. But why? Only to protect her plan. He was her bargaining chip; her confidant. Her possession. A means to an end and nothing more. If Missy got clingy during their date, maybe she'd come between them again. Zoro much preferred she did. Even if it was only to save her precious plan.
Nami pictured Zoro sitting there on deck with his reward – sake – not giving a damn what night it was. She'd actually gotten him to do something so out of character as agreeing to be someone's Valentine. And it had to go and be some stranger's. A girl who didn't know anything about him. Who put him up on some pedestal he might easily fall off of if she gave him the time.
Nami knew what a jerk he was, what a hero he was. How flawed and yet just right he was... for herself. But in no way could she ever express what she felt so easily the way Missy could. Stuck somewhere between being his friend, his enemy sometimes. And never daring to be more. Thanks to her plotting and scheming, he was to be someone else's date. It boggled her mind how she had ended up stabbing herself in the back that way when doing something so minuscule as playing matchmaker to Franky and Robin.
Zoro and Nami both groaned and dropped their chins into a palm, unaware of the other's true misery.
"You'll be watching us, too?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah," she said, just as quietly as they gloomily stared off into nothingness while the sun set. A sharp contrast to the evening before, when Nami had smiled and dreamed, and Zoro had scoffed. The plan now vexed Nami, because of Missy, and Zoro found himself invested in the plan, to help her. Sudden commotion, next to him had them straightening up and looking that way. The sound of covered wood hitting uncovered wood? "Brook?" The lanky skeleton looked up at Nami, having finished taking a hard tumble down the stairs by landing at their feet.
"Did you trip?" asked Zoro.
"Uh, Nami-san, Zoro-san," said the skeleton, looking like a rag doll that had been dropped onto the grass, limbs splayed out in odd positions. "I think... dinner could be ready."
Zoro and Nami nodded and climbed the stairs to the galley. Brook sighed, letting his bony chin sink into the grass.
=V=
Before bedtime, that night, the eager navigator cornered each of her three targets, to check if they were still going on their dates. Sanji was on cloud nine. Franky and Robin were very accepting, which didn't please Nami at all. It wasn't long before she was confiding in Zoro all the way up in the crow's nest. "They're so... comfortable. They're not even protesting anymore."
"Guess you were wrong then," said Zoro, putting away his sets of weights after a workout session, annoying Nami even further. There was no way that comment wasn't deliberate.
"We'll see about that," she said and made to leave.
"Oi. So, tomorrow night, I'm meeting Missy here on the ship, right?" Zoro asked. They hadn't exactly straightened that detail out.
"Here? Yes," said Nami unenthusiastically.
"And then you're taking her to Sanji?"
Nami nodded as Zoro picked up a towel. She forced her gaze off all the sweat-glistened skin and stuck it to the wall. She would be keeping an eye on those few minutes Missy had with him, but Zoro would still be someone else's date. Somebody's date... If she couldn't prevent it, surely there had to be some way she could capitalise on it. It wasn't a complete date. Just a few minutes... and then he'd be free. Free. Could she dare try something? Her eyes narrowed as the plotting began.
"Nami?"
She looked over at him. "Hm?"
Zoro was wiping his chest. "You were just standing there, staring at the wall as if had done something to you. Is something wrong?" he asked.
"On second thought, Zoro," she said and quickly blurted out the rest of her words as she stepped onto the ladder. "Until further notice, your date with Missy has been moved to another location." Nami disappeared through the hole in the floor before he could ask any questions.
Zoro walked forward, towel in hand, brows raised. Up until that point, he had known everything about her plan. But she had just gone and changed things, leaving him in the dark.
=V=
The next evening – Valentine's evening – rolled around and those meeting dates prepared to leave the ship before the sun would set. Sanji had doted over his favourite ladies for most of the day, to make sure they knew that he didn't care any less now that he would be going on a date with another. Nami had disappeared into the nearby woods, a few times, to oversee the setting up of the dinner venues. And, to Zoro's utter humiliation, wouldn't disclose where he would now be meeting Missy. Everyone else had received written instructions on where to meet their dates. All he knew was that he'd be meeting her in the woods as well. Not even being her trusty confidant would have Nami letting Zoro walk off into that woods on his own.
"And... it's done," said Usopp from where he stood on a stool, finished tying the bowtie around Franky's large neck.
Franky turned to the mirror and admired his tuxedo-clad reflection. "This is suuuper classy, hey, bro?"
Usopp nodded, stepping down and putting the stool aside. "You got that right, Franky. You clean up real nice. Captain Usopp declares that you're all ready for your date."
"Well, then I'm on my way." Franky headed for the door but stopped and frowned. "I didn't forget anything, did I, long-nose? I feel like I forgot something."
"Well, you're on your way to meet a woman, and you've got pants on. I think you're covered, Franky."
The shipwright nodded and they laughed.
Against the foremast sat Zoro with arms folded, waiting on Nami, who would escort him to where he would meet Missy. Franky came by in his large tux and nodded his way. "Zoro-bro."
"Robo."
Seconds later Sanji came by, smoking a cigarette, all dressed up in a tuxedo, a bouquet of red roses cradled in one arm. "Oi, marimo, watch over our precious ladies – Nami-san and Robin-chan," he said, still blissfully unaware of Robin's date.
"Whatever, cook. They can take care of themselves," said Zoro lazily.
"Even on Valentine's day are you insensitive to their needs. When are you gonna change for the better, shitty swordsman?"
Zoro had nothing to say, nothing to defend to the cook. He was the one helping Nami, not Sanji. Taking care of her needs just fine. Somewhere in the back of his brain the thought of how comfortable he was with that idea, bothered him just a tiny bit. Who was being possessive now?
Usopp came running out of the men's-quarters with a box of chocolates in hand. "Franky, you forgot the chocolates!"
"He left already," said Zoro.
The sniper ran back into the men's-quarters and then came out with written directions in hand. "Oh, that's not far," he said to himself and left the ship to find the cyborg.
Zoro sighed. "'the hell is that woman? I would have found my way just fine with or without written directions. At least she's not making me wear a monkey suit. Oh right, I'm not supposed to look good tonight." Not that he believed one suddenly looked better when wearing a monkey suit. But women seemed to like it. Zoro stood up straightened his yukata and slipped his three swords onto his waist. His back straightened proudly and his arms folded over his chest. "Who ever needed a monkey suit to look good. I picked up a girl by just asking a question. Hmph." What sounded like a door creaking nearby caught Zoro's attention, and just when he looked over at the door of the aquarium, did it shut closed. Zoro frowned.
"And what will you be doing during our dates, Nami-san?" asked Robin, standing by the dressing table mirror in their room, running her fingers through her long dark hair.
"I'll be having dinner," said Nami absentmindedly, peaking through the porthole. Sanji had left the ship already, so it was safe for Robin to leave.
"Alone?"
"I don't have a date, if that's what you mean. Okay, Robin, the coast is clear. Sanji-kun has left." Nami turned around and smiled at the picture before her, Robin clad in long, dark blue chiffon, ready for her date with Franky. "You look beautiful, Robin," she said and her friend smiled in return. Nami believed beyond belief that they wanted to have that dinner together. And she was happy to make it possible for them. Happy too that she would be proven right. "Well, enjoy your evening!" She slipped out the door and rushed down the stairs where Zoro was waiting. "Let's go, Zoro." She walked right past him, taking the lead as Zoro pulled his gaze from the aquarium door he had been keeping an eye on.
"Oi, everything going to plan?" he asked.
"I don't know. I'll have to see. Oh." Nami stopped and faced him. "Zoro."
"Huh?"
"You. Sake. Me. Win. Understand?"
Zoro grunted out agreement. "I'll get the job done."
Nami only blinked and walked.
=V=
"A tent?" Two waiters, one woman with badly dyed purple hair, and a guy with glasses stood under a marquee beside a white tent. A cooking fire was set up, ready to heat an already prepared meal. Zoro was very puzzled as to why he and Missy's date had been upgraded from a ship's deck to a tent with food and waiters.
"This is my tent," said Nami, and Zoro's booted feet became rooted to one spot.
"Yours?"
She stopped as well. "Yeah."
Zoro knew very well that everyone in tents were having dates. So if that was Nami's tent, then... "Since when are you having a date too? I didn't know you were planning on –?"
"No, I don't have a date, idiot," she said with raised brows, and went inside.
"... Oh." The waiters' unreadable eyes were on him, and Zoro followed Nami inside before his cheeks turned an embarrassing colour.
"I needed a so called 'base of operations' I can work from," she said inside. "This way I can have dinner and be in walking distance of the two tents." To Zoro, the world had suddenly becoming nothing more than a cosy few feet of feathery white cloud surrounding he and Nami. She looked at the way he was staring. Did that mean he liked what he saw? "Zoro."
"Hm?" He eventually met her enquiring gaze and blinked. "Walking distance, yeah."
Nami continued, not knowing what to make of his silence. "Well, once Missy is with Sanji-kun, I'll check on Franky and Robin. Then I can relax."
That sounded pretty lonely to Zoro. But Nami was fiercely independent, and it didn't seem so strange for her to be sitting alone in a tent on Valentine's. Especially when she called it her 'base of operations'. In front of them, everything was set up. One table; two glasses; one bottle of sake. Two chairs, and a slender vase with a single rose. A vague smile just barely pulled at the corners of Zoro's mouth as he liked what he saw, and it spread wider when he saw another five bottles of sake standing on a table nearby. He was loving that tent. Zoro grabbed the single bottle by the vase, dropping himself down in one of the chairs.
"You better take it easy with that," said Nami.
He poured happily. "I don't get drunk."
"That's not what I mean. That's your sake," she said.
"Huh?" Zoro looked up, horrified.
Nami sat down in the other chair and placed her elbows on the table. "Okay. Listen up, Zoro. This girl is meant to be Sanji-kun's date. Remember that. Don't make her laugh or anything, she's already got a thing for you. I want you to make it easy for her to walk away."
He grunted impatiently. There were more important matters at hand. "This is all the sake I'm getting?" he asked.
Nami nodded. "Remember, don't insult Sanji-kun. Not once."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm supposed to share my sake with her?"
"GET HER TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU, ZORO. I'M SERIOUS."
"Alright, woman!"
Zoro downed a glass, with Nami taking the time to watch and throw a mocking grimace his way from across the small table. He pictured her hearing beli falling from his pockets with that single glass. If he didn't get the job done, would Nami charge him for what he had drunk? Well, he would just have to succeed. Besides, how hard would it be? Missy would get her few minutes with him. So, of course, she'd be happy and go have the date with Sanji, and he would get his sake.
Seconds passed, and it did not go unnoticed by Zoro that he and Nami were sitting in silence, with a red rose between them. He looked into her eyes as he sipped slowly. Only because of some elaborate scheming and plotting would something like that ever happen. The moment came to an abrupt end as Nami seemed to suddenly realise the picture they made. "I have to go." He watched her jump up and leave without another word, the curtain draping closed behind her, leaving him in the now very quiet tent. Zoro poured another drink.
Walking away, Nami chided herself for having sat down at that table with Zoro. Peeking at him over that red rose had made her forget herself. She'd only sat down to brief him on the date, but it had turned into much more. It had felt so natural to be there with him, like that. She couldn't afford to give anything away. It would ruin her plans. With Zoro now safely in place, she hurried to Franky and Robin's tent, to see how things were going.
Meanwhile, Missy arrived at the 'base of operations' and used a small tent set up behind, to change into the red dress. Zoro was waiting, ready to take her on and get the farce of a date over with. When the curtain was pushed aside and Missy entered the tent, Zoro stopped drinking and sat staring.
=V=
"Thanks, bro. I knew I'd forgotten something, hadn't I?" asked Franky as he patted the box of chocolates on the table, that Usopp had brought him. "Almost I would have had nothing to give the lovely lady."
Usopp smirked, standing behind the other chair across the table from Franky that he wouldn't dare sit in. Franky's date would arrive at any second. "How do you know she's lovely?" he asked,
"Doesn't matter. I'll give her a suuuper evening, bro. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun together."
With his long nose, the sniper sniffed the air appreciatively. "Mmmm, that food outside smells great." It paid to have long nostrils.
"I wonder what it is. Nami-sis really took care of things."
"I wondered about that, Franky. Why is Nami doing all of this?" Usopp asked with narrowed eyes. "It's not like her to arrange dates and spend money on you."
The shipwright shook his head. "I don't know, bro. She wouldn't tell us the real reason. And I rather said yes than no. But, hey, maybe she just wants to see me happy."
Usopp and Franky looked at each other and then broke out laughing. When their cheerful laughter subsided, they heard what sounded like a wolf whistle coming from outside. And then the yelling of a very familiar voice.
"KNOW YOUR PLACE!"
The sudden exclamation from a male followed. "OW!"
Usopp gasped. "Nami." Immediately he threw himself under the table.
"What are you doing, long-nose?" asked Franky with raised brows.
The sniper stuck his head out from beneath the table cloth. "If Nami finds me here in that mood, Franky, she'll kill me. Chopper and Brook and Luffy and I were warned to stay far away from the woods tonight!"
Franky grinned.
Outside, Nami towered over one of his waiters, where he sat on the ground, a lump of pain showing clearly through his perfectly groomed raven hair. "Whistle at me like that again and you're fired," she said and stepped over his long legs to get to the tent
"Scary boss lady," said the waiter, mouthing the words silently to his stocky partner standing beside him.
Nami pushed aside the curtain and frowned as she surveyed the inside of the tent with her gaze.
"Hey, Nami-sis," said Franky from the table. "What brings you here?" Under the table, Usopp cringed when Nami took a while to answer. Did she know he was there? Was she sniffing him out?
"Just checking if... Are you still waiting for Ro…. for your date to show up?" she asked
"Yeah," said Franky with a nod.
What was keeping Robin? Nami sighed. "She'll probably be here soon," she said. "Have a nice dinner, Franky." With that, Nami left, passing the shocked waiter without a second glance. He sat, nursing his lump as he dared not open his mouth again. But he did dare to stare. He couldn't help it.
"You can come out now, bro," said Franky.
Usopp crawled out and sat on the floor. "Phew," he said.
=V=
In Nami's 'base of operations':
Zoro hadn't said anything since she'd walked in, so Missy was the first to speak. "Do you like it?" she asked and took a step forward, blushing as the material slipped away so eagerly, revealing much of her left thigh to the quiet swordsman. "This is Nami's dress. She was kind enough to lend it to me." Missy wasn't pretending anymore. Nami openly resented her for not just going along with her plans, so there was no love lost between the two of them. It was a wonder she had even let her wear her dress. There had to be a reason for that. But Missy didn't care. Not in Zoro's presence. Quickly, she sat down at the table, feeling more comfortable with the table cloth covering her leg, and glowed with happiness as Zoro gazed at her so... hungrily.
Since Missy's arrival, Zoro hadn't been able to think of anything but what she was wearing. And now he understood why that dress had made his mind freeze for a moment. It was Nami's. That red dress she had worn not so long ago. He couldn't remember when exactly, but he remembered the dress clearly. Nami's wardrobe usually left nothing but a blur in his memory. The less material, the bigger the blur. But not with that dress.
Outside the tent, Nami returned from her visit to Franky and ignored the two waiters staring at her as she openly began spying on Zoro and Missy through a space in the curtain. Breathing heavily after her little sprint. The date was very much in progress and Nami began counting the minutes to when she could go in there and break it up. It seemed Missy was quite fine with doing all the talking while Zoro stared at her, not doing his part at all. Actually stared. And the truth hit Nami like a sudden kick to the gut. Missy in that dress was having an effect on him.
Sunset was when he had seen her in it...
Nami had come up the stairs to the galley where he'd been standing with most of the crew. She had started dishing out orders before the crew were to go somewhere, and then had checked if blood had spilled on the dress after the cook had suffered a bleeding nose at the sight of her. There'd been a breeze that evening that had stirred Nami's orange locks. To Zoro, she had not only looked like a true force to be reckoned with. She was a scorching flame that no one could deny. Maybe not even him.
"Well? Aren't you going to pour me some sake?"
Zoro's confused gaze settled on Missy's face and then on the unused glass she was turning upright. Time had come to share. Zoro gripped onto the bottle, more to hold it close than preparing to fill her glass. "Do you even like sake?" he asked.
Missy blushed. "Actually, I've never drunk alcohol before. Is it nice?"
Zoro shrugged. "I like it," he said.
"Sooo?" She held out the glass.
But Zoro kept the bottle plastered to the table, focused on the mission again. The wrong girl sat before him, dressed in a dress he pictured someone else in. A girl he had to wean off him. "Missy, you are gonna have dinner with the ero... with the cook, right?" he asked.
"What?" Missy's voice started quivering, the sake forgotten. "Why would you want that? Don't you like me, Zoro?" There she sat all dressed up in a daring red dress, she had truly believed had won Zoro over.
Zoro grimaced as her eyes began to water. "Don't cry, woman, I was just saying –"
" – that you don't want to have dinner with me. Just like Nami doesn't want me to have dinner with you. Why is that such a bad thing?"
"I didn't say it was bad. It's just... I'm not used to this kinda stuff and –" Zoro sighed heavily, about to admit that Sanji was good at that sort of thing. But before he could finish, Missy interrupted.
"Oh! You're not? Oh, that's okay! I'll make it better!" Suddenly that red dress was coming at Zoro, who wondered what it felt like.
And Missy was in his lap.
"Woman!" Zoro was a little late catching up, the dress completely forgotten now. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Missy hugged him really tightly. "Oh Zoro, I only want to be with you!"
Nami's eyes had just about fallen out of her head. Her mouth was open, ready for a scream; fingers were ready to pull out long blonde hair. She had said that Missy could sit with Zoro, not on top of him. Zoro's one good eye was not far from falling out either as he leant back as far as he could, which only gave Missy more room to sit comfortably in the meagre space between the table and his front. Missy brought her face close to Zoro's, bit her bottom lip and then moved in for a kiss.
"MISSY!"
Nami stood in the entrance, angrily pinning the curtain to the side with one hand. Behind her the two waiters were taking a peek inside the tent. "Nami, is something wrong?" asked Missy, not surprised at all that yet again the orange-haired woman was coming between her and Zoro.
Nami nodded. "Time's up," she said and walked inside, dropping the curtain in front of the peeping waiters.
Zoro couldn't keep his eye off her, even as Missy gazed deeply into that eye, his face cupped in her hands. Nami had actually stopped the kiss from happening. But probably for her plan. "Okay, but first I want a kiss from Zoro," said Missy softly.
Nami calmly folded her arms. "That was not mentioned in our deal," she said firmly, feeling physically ill as she saw how close Missy's lips remained to Zoro's.
"But it's valid nonetheless," said Missy, thankfully turning her face to Nami. But her hands were still there, thumbs stroking corners of lips they had no business stroking.
"How so?"
"This is a Valentine date, Nami. A kiss would be quite fitting," said Missy.
Nami had to give her that. She had a point. "Fine," she said with a sigh. And Zoro sucked in a breath. No way was he letting Nami pimp him out that way. But before he could protest, did Nami continue. "If you want to be kissed so badly, then have Sanji-kun kiss you."
And Missy's eyes narrowed instantly. Nami caught the sudden suspicious glare aimed at her. The girl let go of Zoro's face and rested her hands on his shoulders. "What's wrong, Nami?" she asked. "What's the real reason I can't have a kiss with Zoro?"
Nami blinked uncertainly at Missy. Had she given something away? For a brief moment did she hesitate before her steely resolve returned, full-force. "Let's go," she said.
Missy blinked. "Go?" She rose from Zoro's lap and the swordsman swiftly tucked that lap underneath that table. "Wait a minute. I'm supposed to go to Sanji? I thought he was coming here," said Missy.
Nami shook her head.
Missy pointed to the entrance of the tent. "Then why are there – ?" Two waiters stood outside with food. If she and Sanji were not eating there, then who were? Her eyes widened as she put two and two together in her head. "Wait. You're planning on –" Missy turned to Zoro. His questioning gaze clearly showed that he knew of nothing she was getting at. This was the only Valentine, let alone date she would ever have with Zoro, and she couldn't stand the thought of stepping aside so another girl could swoop in and take her place. Missy moved over to her chair. "NO," she said, fists clenched.
Nami plastered her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. No. I was promised a date and you gave me this dress to wear. So I'm going to have my date, dammit!"
"You agreed to a split date. And I gave you the dress so you'd look nice for Sanji-kun, NOT ZORO!"
Missy scoffed. "Sanji, Sanji, Sanji. If Sanji's so great, then why don't you go have dinner with him, huh, Nami? You obviously think the world of him."
A silent Zoro's wary gaze drifted to Nami's face. He wanted answers just as much as Missy did. Missy had no idea about why Sanji needed to have a date, but it had become tiring hearing the cook mentioned so many times, to both of them.
"I don't have to explain myself to you," said the navigator. "If you're not going to do what you were supposed to do, then I want you gone!" Of course she revealed nothing.
The blonde placed a hand on the table. "I think you should back off, Nami. You don't want me to have to..."
Nami narrowed her eyes. "Have to what?"
Suddenly Zoro's bottle of sake was in Missy's hand, and the swordsman's eye widened. He shot out a hand of caution. "Oi! Watch it with that!"
" - spill sake all over this dress," said Missy, daring Nami to do something.
Even Zoro wasn't happy hearing that and he definitely didn't want to lose sake that way. He looked to see what Nami would do about it.
Nami was done playing nice. First the girl dared to abuse her generosity. And now she threatened to ruin something of hers. All she had to do was leave Zoro and go to Sanji. Was that so much to ask? "Okay. That's it!" She inhaled a deep breath. "THROW HER OUT, ZORO!"
Now Zoro was not interested in that date at all. And he was even less interested in getting forceful with a girl he didn't care about one way or the other. So all he did was say, "Huh?"
Zoro's refusal to obey Nami had Missy smiling at him and holding the bottle to her chest as if it was him. "Oh Zoro," she said.
And Nami capitalised on her distraction by quickly grabbing a fistful of the girl's hair. "Let's go, Missy!" she said and the stumbling blonde somehow dumped the bottle onto the table, protesting loudly.
"Ow! Let go!"
The bottle fell on its side, about to spill its contents, but, swiftly, did the green-haired swordsman grab it with one firm hand and set it up straight. He looked at the curtain. What had just happened?
Out back, by the changing tent, Nami stopped and pulled the dress off the blonde, who instantly shrieked. She wasn't going to risk any chance of Missy damaging something of hers out of spite, and pointed at the changing tent. "Get dressed and leave."
Missy had had enough. "Why don't you just say you were jealous?"
Nami raised her brows in denial. "What? Of you?"
"You say you wanted me to have dinner with Sanji, but I think the most important thing was getting me away from Zoro!"
"You were messing up my plans!" said Nami. "You were supposed to go to Sanji." Sure Nami had wanted her away from Zoro for other reasons too, which, she very well knew, were messing with her own judgement if she was letting Missy go so easily, but that aside, Missy had refused to carry on her part of the deal.
"What are your plans really?" asked the blonde. "Why did you get this tent and food and waiters?" Nami moved to say something, but... "I was supposed to meet Sanji somewhere else. If I had gone to Sanji then Zoro would have been left here alone with all of this." She waved her hand at the tent. "Can you say you wouldn't join him?" Missy's sharp intuition impressed Nami and had her quite stunned as her secret plan was suddenly being told back to her. Only the waiters knew who were to have dinner in that tent. When she didn't respond, Missy continued. "I asked you if there was something going on. You said no. Probably just to get me to do want you wanted." She snatched up her clothes from the changing tent and more accusations followed. "All I wanted was a goodbye kiss from Zoro, but you couldn't even let me have it!" Nami stiffened and her teeth clenched as she stood firm on that matter. "If you don't have feelings for him, then why was that so much to ask?" Missy made to leave but turned to Nami one last time. "Get your priorities straight!" She stormed off into the dark woods, dressed in only her underwear.
Barely breathing, Nami remained standing on the same spot, with her dress in her arms. She looked at the tent, a few feet away, painfully aware that Zoro could have heard all that. But that didn't matter. She ran a hand over the dress. Along the way she had lost her focus with being jealous and possessive. So much that she had actually tried to squeeze some romance out of her plan for herself. Romance that she probably wouldn't have gotten.
Nami agreed with Missy, she had to straighten out her priorities. And that meant ensuring Franky and Robin's date went ahead as planned. The rest didn't matter. Making a move to go change, a minor rustling in the bush nearby had her stopping and listening. Only silence followed, so Nami dismissed it, thinking it probably was some small forest animal.
When changed, she stopped by the waiters to hand over last instructions. "I won't be eating here after all," she said. Nami glanced at the curtained entrance of the tent. "If he asks about the food, serve him. But –" Nami looked them directly in the eye, "under no circumstances do you tell him that we would have had dinner together. Are we clear?"
The waiters nodded quickly. "Yes," they said in unison.
With a last glance at the tent, Nami kept her chin up and walked away.
=V=
A/N: OMG was I tempted to include a kiss in that crow's nest scene. Or at least some closer contact. I was tempted! ;D
I've been really bad at responding to reviews these days, having other things going on in my life. So, a quick thank you to my reviewers. I appreciate you! To my guest reviewer of my most recent one-shot: Thanks for pointing that out. I'll see about those feelings. :)
Till next time.
-n3