This is my first fic, please go easy on me ^^

Zoro x Reader fanfic with Slice of Life genre. This is pre-time skip version but as you're all working you're all... a bit older ^^" You imagine yourself how old are the Mugiwaras and yourself. Anything's okay since I won't mention age (I guess... ^^")

So, this fic will have it all - laughs, tears, jealousy, love and even lemons!

Enjoy~


It was just another day at work and another late night. It was already passed midnight as I unlocked the door of my apartment. I was living alone and walking into the pinch black room was scary, of course, so I hit the light switch fast. I took off my shoes and, as a lazy person I am, dropped them in the middle of the hallway, along with my jacket and briefcase. Today's paperwork slid out from the briefcase but I just frowned at that and continued my way to the living room. As soon as I sat on the sofa, my stomach growled, asking for food. I looked at the kitchen, which was several steps away, and whined, too lazy to get up. No matter how lazy I was at that moment, the pain in my stomach was unbearable so I had to go to find some food. Living just on the convenient store food every working day wasn't easy, it was hard and annoying, eating just snacks all day. I somehow dragged myself to the fridge to open it. Inside was nothing more than some bottled water, beer, ramen, soggy salad, opened package of ice-cream and some tomatoes. I took that bowl of ramen to taste it. It was horrible, alright! Summing it all, there was nothing to eat. I threw away that dead ramen and gave a call to the nearby "Pizza House".

"Ah, [y/n]-san it's you. The usual order?", said Johnny, the delivery guy, after recognizing my voice.

"Yeah, the usual stuff. Please make it quick and this time add some more ketchup, will ya?", I replied and went back to the living room.

"Okay! I'll make it in 20… no, 15 minutes, just for you.", he said all so happily over the phone.

"Thanks, you're a sweetie.", he giggled at my words. Johnny ended the conversation with a few more sentences and small laughs.

I turned on the TV and put the phone on a small table in front of me. I switched the channels fast, not paying much attention to what's on them. In the end, I gave up on TV and threw the remote in the pillows on the other side of the sofa. I let out a heavy sigh and relaxed my head on the back of the sofa. My legs and shoulders were killing me! Nami, the chief of the financial department that was also "patrolling" my department once in a while, gave me extra work today. That woman is a witch!

'I need a massage…', I thought. I unbuttoned a few buttons on my shirt and just relaxed. I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes few moments later. I was thinking about him. He didn't came to work today, he went on a business trip 2 days ago and was supposed to be back today, but I never saw him.

'Do I … miss him?', I thought but quickly shook my head to throw those thoughts out. But, sadly, I couldn't.

I was still thinking about the green moss-head. I didn't want to admit to myself, but I actually liked the guy. Ever since I got employed to the company, ever since I first saw him, I knew he will be stuck in my mind forever. These past 3 days were quiet at the company because he wasn't there to constantly fight with his co-worker, Sanji. Those two were in the same department so it was always noisy there. I was one floor above them, but the yelling and harsh words could be heard very clear. I drifted away in my thoughts but snapped out as the doorbell rang.

'Oh, pizza's here! I almost forgot about it...', I buttoned back my shirt and rushed to the door. As expected, Johnny was in front of my apartment door, delivering me pizza personally.

"Here's your order, [y/n]-san.", he said lifting up the box a little, trying to sound manly even with a blush on his face.

"Thanks, Johnny. You really are a sweetheart.", I said with a smile but he then blushed more and started to laugh nervously. Johnny never confessed to me but I knew he liked me and I understand his feelings so very much. One-sided love is the worst! I'm living through it right now. I hate it! I gave the money for the pizza but Johnny continued to chat more and more. I had to cut him, my stomach alarmed.

"Um, I'm sorry Johnny. You know... I would like to stay and chat more but I'm super hungry and tired so… If you don't mind…", he was disappointed, I could see that on his face.

"Ah, sorry, I went too far and got caught up by the conversation. Yosaku is waiting for me in the car, probably pissed off right now. We have more deliveries to finish. Bye now!", he rushed that whole speech like he did on the stairs. Poor guy… But, I couldn't bring myself any more worries and problems. No, thank you, I'm already in a huge mess.

"They air a romantic movie, this late at night? Sure, why not. Let's watch it.", I said to myself, sitting on the sofa, mouth full of the delicious pizza carrying bottles of water in my other hand. I watched the movie fully focused, not missing a thing. I totally forgot about the moss-head problem. I didn't want to think about him, in the first place. Film ended, leaving me in tears with empty pizza box and empty water bottles.

"Ah, I haven't watched something so good in a while. That was perfect.", I said wiping off the rest of the tears, "If only this could happen in real life… Reality sucks!", I said marching to the door, to pick up those things I left on the floor earlier. I then went back to my room, which was connected to the living room with just the door. I was still in my business clothes from work today and all I needed was a nice shower. My bathroom was in the continuation of my bedroom so I just slipped my clothes off and went to a nice and warm shower. Hot water was relaxing my tired and painful muscles and I just let it shower me, leaning on the wall. That shower was a need, after such a hard day.

"Ah, that shower felt so great.", I said leaving the bathroom with just the towel around me, wiping my hair. I was preparing myself for bed, slipping on my short summer night gown. It's so great tomorrow's weekend because I really need a break from all that work. Although I brought some paperwork to finish for Monday, I'll still rest a little. Damn that Nami! She could give something to Vivi, my co-worker and her secretary, but no!

"She already has her stuff to do", Nami said.

'It's like I don't have my stuff, too!', I frowned, thinking about it. As I brushed my teeth, I took the papers from my briefcase that was on the chair and looked through them.

"Fuck it all!", I said and threw those papers all over the desk. I decided to take a break, so it was already enough of paper-work for today. I went back to the bathroom, spit out the rest of the toothpaste now mixed with the saliva, cleaned my mouth and fixed my hair in a messy bun. I was ready to go to sleep but I couldn't, so I was just lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling. On my cell phone, it was already past 2AM and as soon as I threw back the phone under my pillow, someone knocked on the front door.

"Who can this be? It's already this late…", I said to myself putting my fluffy slippers and a bathrobe on. Turning on the light in the hallway, through the peephole I checked who it was and saw a familiar face.

'But, what is he doing here at this hour? When did he…?', I questioned myself and opened the door slightly.

"Hey. I need your help.", he said, as I peeked a little.

'No 'hello' huh? As expected…', I sighed and fully opened the door, letting him come in.

"At this hour?! Are you insane or what?! What do you want, Zoro?", I said coldly as he closed the door.

Yeah, his name was Zoro, Roronoa Zoro to be exact. He worked in a department one floor below mine. That was a guy I couldn't stop thinking of, even now. This was the green moss-head, the handsome man who annoyed me and took over my thoughts.

"I lost those meeting papers Nami gave us. Can you lend me yours? Just to copy them and I'll be giving them back.", he said following me to my room.

"It's this late and you need those freaking papers now?! You're crazy! You could've asked for them tomorrow.", I was really annoyed now. But, Zoro didn't say anything. Not even "Sorry for the trouble" or "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry". No, Zoro doesn't like to apologize, not even for a single simple thing like this. He wants something and that's it! And if he wants it he'll get it.

I turned the desk lamp light on and looked through those shattered papers. I began to feel nervous, I knew he was right there behind me and I just didn't want to see his face, his handsome, manly face that drove me crazy. I was mad at that face. Mad at it for letting other women, like my other co-worker Nico Robin, fall for it. She was the head chief of our department and constantly followed Zoro whenever she had a chance for it. I just wanted to chop her head off every time she spoke to him. But comparing to her, I was losing. I was stupid, not letting my feelings out when there was time. I was stupid not confessing to him already, so I lost to the head chief. Now I'm stuck here, in this stupid one-sided love.

'I'll just go like that forever! I'm hopeless…', I sighed sorting the meeting papers.

"Here! You'll thank me later.", I bumped the papers on his chest looking down at my slippers. He checked the papers so slowly it annoyed me. Now, I just wanted Zoro to leave. I didn't want to look at him or be with him, 'cause now I'm just remembering him and Robin together, buzzing all over the company like two busy bees in love.

"Everything's there! Can you, please, hurry it up and leave?! I want to get some rest!", I almost yelled at him, meeting with his eyes and that was the thing I didn't want to. Those black, piercing, cold eyes were staring at mine and it looked like he can read my soul out. I quickly turned my head. Those cold eyes looked like that all the time, like Zoro didn't have any emotions. I couldn't stand them, him and his glare. I moved away from the desk, leaving Zoro alone in the room. I went to the fridge for another bottle of water.

'Why am I so stupid?! I'm acting like I really hate him, yelling like that and all. Stupid!', I thought hitting myself with the sweaty cold bottle.

"Thanks for this.", said Zoro finally, coming out of my room and walking past me to the hallway. He went to the door, putting his shoes back on. I leaned on the hallway wall, standing behind Zoro. I drank the cold water, still looking at him as he was tying up his shoes.

"Geez, you're hopeless. One day, you're gonna lose your head, you know. First the car keys, then the cell-phone and now – meeting papers. Seriously Zoro?", I said. Zoro stood up and turned around with a smirk on his face.

"But then, I would always have you to watch the stuff for me. Remember? It was YOU who found my keys and cell. I can always count on you, [y/n].", he said and winked. I sensed my face turning red so I turned my head away quickly.

'Z-Zoro actually… WINKED! At me! He also called me by my name! What?!'

"Do-Do you need anything else, l-lost boy?", I tried to stay calm as much as possible but he read me like a book so I heard him chuckle a little. That little laugh took my attention so I turned my head back to him. Zoro formed a wonderful and kind of a cute face.

"Yeah… Do you maybe have some beer?", he asked so bluntly and freely.

He knew I had beer. I buy it only for him. He never buys it himself and we are neighbors, we live next to each other. I bought this apartment when I moved to this city, after I got the job. Only then, I found out that Zoro's my co-worker AND a neighbor. Talk about luck and coincidence, huh? As he says: "Beer just tastes so good at your place. That's why I don't buy it.",or something like that. That was the worse excuse I've ever heard but I already got used to it and now, Zoro always comes to drink in my apartment.

We both went to the living room. Zoro helped himself out with a beer and brought me one, too. Although I don't like drinking, it was different and beer actually tasted nice while drinking with Zoro. He sat a little further away from me on the sofa and relaxed with a long sigh. He was already acting like this was his house. He took off his tie and just drank the soul out of that beer. I watched him in amazement, like a little high school girl watching her first crush, but quickly after began to drink my own beer.

"So, you were on a trip. How was it? Robin went with you, right?", I said after a couple of sips. Zoro let out a sigh after huge gulp of beer and just looked at the ceiling.

"Mm, yeah, she did. You know… it was business. It was really nothing special.", Zoro sucked at describing and explaining things but every time I ask him about Robin, he would just say a couple of words and end it. Does that mean I still have a chance with him?

"When did you get back? You didn't come to work.", I asked again with another small sip of beer.

"I came back just this morning. It was all night travel so I could barely wait to sleep on my own bed instead of the car."

"Did you have any rest?"

"Yeah... I woke up around 8PM, went to a gym a little, did some papers and now I'm here. I came to your place after I saw the meeting papers weren't among all the others. I was also prepared to call you if you wouldn't answer the door.", he smirked a little and grabbed the next bottle of beer. I didn't have any more questions for him, I just drank my beer slowly and he was finishing the second bottle already. The silence was taking over. I hate when it comes but having silence in Zoro's presence was ever worse! I played with my fingers around the bottle while he was enjoying his drink.

"Last time, you promised you'll buy some beer and here you are again, drinking at my place.", I said calmly. Zoro took the last gulp and laid down the bottle.

"Okay, okay, I'll buy it. Jeez… You always nag about that."

"I wouldn't nag if you actually do what you say you would. Next time buy the stinking beer and then come to drink.", I almost yelled. Zoro often keeps his promises but he just drives me nuts with this. He always says "I'll buy it" and then asks if I have the beer.

'Such a simple minded thing and he still can't remember to do it! Idiot!'

I finished my bottle and looked at him. Zoro was relaxed, sitting with his head tilted backwards, his arms resting on the back of the sofa. He looked so handsome, so attractive, so… PERFECT! But I didn't have the guts to lay my feelings in front of him, it was just impossible!

"Zoro?", I called for him, making sure he's not asleep already. He lifted his head with an "Hmm?" and looked at me, "You know, you're free to come next time for a drink, too. Anytime, okay?", I said, finally looking at him. Now, Zoro had a warm and nice smile on. Mixture of hallway's light and the moonlight that came through the window was on his face, making the smile warmer and more beautiful.

"Heh, sure, don't worry. I'll surely bring the beer next time.", he said with a nice, calm tone in his voice. Zoro stood up and I followed. He again went to the door, put his shoes back on, took those papers and turned to me again. I stood in there like I was expecting him to shoot some silly or even insulting words at me, as he often did that.

"Let me get this straight… First you scold me about the beer and now you're calling me over again. That's odd. But it doesn't matter… I'll come for a drink whenever you want me to.", he winked again. I was slowly starting to feel the beautiful warmth inside my stomach. Zoro turned away, grabbed a doorknob but turned back to me again. "Oh, yeah, so you know… that little night gown looks good on ya. 'Night!", he said and shut the door behind him.

After realizing what happened I looked at myself in the hallway mirror. The bathrobe was open, revealing my short baby blue night gown. I quickly wrapped the bathrobe around me in embarrassment. But then I stopped.

'I can't believe my ears! Zoro… praised me…? What?', I thought and after a few moments in silent I began to fangirl like mad. I ran over to the sofa and hugged the pillow so hard that I think it would die if it was alive, 'I never heard him praising Robin… or anybody. So… me? He even winked… twice!', I did it again – I screamed into the pillow and hit the mattress with my legs. I was acting like a little crazy girl but I was truly so happy right now.

"Umm… Are you okay?", that froze me. There, on the entrance of the apartment stood Zoro, having a weird look on his face. I sat on quickly, blushing red like a rose. I couldn't say a thing, "I knocked... I-I forgot my tie on the sofa…", he said pointing to me. I turned my head and the tie was right there, on the armrest. I was red, I'm sure of that. I couldn't look at him and just buried my mouth into that poor little pillow. Temperature in me was rising as Zoro was taking that tie. He was so close so I dig my nails into the pillow harder. Zoro took back his tie and stood in the hallway for a few moments more, "I'll be going now. I'm leaving you with your... girly stuff and behavior. 'night now.", he said and rushed out. I fell back on the pillow.

"Nooooooooo! What have I done! Idiot! Moron! Stupid! I'm a huge idiot!", I screamed into the pillow, my inner self dying at that point. After I got praised I did such a stupid thing! He saw me go crazy. He saw me acting like a crazy kid. Always-so-busy, handsome workaholic Zoro won't like me now even more. Tears were leaving my eyes. I was regretting it all. The pain in my chest was building. All my chances to be with Zoro and make him like me just dropped dead. He will hang out with Robin even more now. He might not even look at me.

After I calmed down, I went to the door and locked it. I turned all the lights off and went to sleep, both sad and tired, wiping off the last of my tears.


To be continued...