Title:
Better Than This.
Chapter One:
Feelings
…
She is utterly annoying and bossy. Things had to be her way or she'll attack anyone with her newest acquisition. That damn cloud was a danger to their health. When she wasn't ordering it to hurt you, she was charging them insane sums of money for imaginary favors. No, she wasn't kind. She was the devil in disguise!
And yet... He couldn't help to feel attracted to this terrifying woman.
Yes, Roronoa Zoro, the one destined to be the greatest swordsman, was absolutely crazy about a devil woman.
"I expect you to pay part of the sum by the end of the month, Zoro." He heard the devil woman say as she walked away from him swinging her hips from side to side.
Was she trying to tempt him? He didn't doubt it. Nami was known to charm men and use them later or steal their money. But he wasn't the kind of men, and her charms would never work on him. Yes, he was crazy about the woman, but he had excellent self-control.
"Yeah yeah" He muttered under his breath.
He watched her as she continued toward the kitchen, no doubt to flirt with the damn cook. Of course, everyone knew she only used him... including himself.
"Tch... Moron"
He wasn't sure how it started or when it started. Perhaps it was when they first met, or in Arlong Park when she jumped to the water to save him from drowning; maybe it started in Alabasta when they fought Daz Bones and Mrs. Doublefinger. In truth, that didn't matter. The timing or place was irrelevant. What matter was that somewhere and somehow it had happened, and at some moment in their journey together Zoro had fallen for the red-haired navigator.
But his feelings for her didn't matter. They couldn't be together.
A relationship between them was an impossibility. They were members of the same pirate crew, both Luffy's oldest crew members. If things went south and their relationship became sour, the crew would be losing one or perhaps two of their best crew members. Besides, that ero-cook would die of a love-stroke if his 'Nami-swan' were to be in a relationship with his sworn rival. Not to mention, the dynamic in the group would change completely.
No, they couldn't have a relationship while they were members of the same pirate crew.
"If only"
"If only what, Zoro?" Robin asked all of a sudden causing Zoro to startle.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Daydreaming again?" She asked with a smile.
"That's none of your business."
"Was it a something or… a someone?"
"Tch..." He said closing his eyes and choosing to ignore her.
There was no way he would have this conversation with Robin.
"Alright." She said taking a seat on the empty chair next to him.
He tried to ignore the uneasiness sensation he felt at the knowledge that the archaeologist knew about his feelings for the red-haired woman. But of course, she'd know, nothing ever escaped that woman. However, he was grateful Robin had never said a word about his feelings for Nami to anyone. Instead, she had kept it a secret from the crew, and on occasions, she came to his defense.
Robin was a good friend. He had always liked the woman. She was quiet and smart, but he wished she didn't have such a keen eye.
Deciding not to worry anymore, Zoro yawned and closed his eyes.
Once again he had chosen to ignore her. She couldn't stand him sometimes, and today was one of them.
In fact, it seemed that lately, she couldn't stand him. Not ever since she happened.
He was rude and uncaring. Never paid her any mind, and her tricks didn't work on him as it worked on other men. There was a point in their journey together that she thought Zoro could be gay. The man seemed oblivious to women charms. He ignored every woman that tried to approach him and treated them rudely.
And then, she happened.
Nami often wondered when did she start caring about Zoro this way. She couldn't remember ever feeling this way about the swordsman.
Everything had started in Wano when she had appeared in his life. It was then that the navigator realized her feelings for Zoro had changed, or perhaps they had always been there and she never noticed.
She liked him, and she couldn't deny it anymore.
"Ugh!" She said standing up abruptly from her desk. "What does he see in her!?"
Perhaps it was her beauty. Nami had to admit that Hiyori was a beautiful woman. She was also kind and weak, someone he could protect. Nami was no longer a weakling. She didn't need his protection. That had been more than clear in Wano where he had preferred to protect Hiyori instead.
Hiyori was also the daughter of a Samurai, and Nami was only the navigator. Wgat did she know about swordsmen or samurais? Of course, he was going to choose her.
"Yes, let that savage play hero to the little damsel in distress." She said more to herself. "Like I care!"
"Who are you talking to, Nami?" Chopper asked making her scream.
When did he get here? And how did he get so close to her? Has she been so distracted by her own thoughts that she hadn't heard him?
"Chopper! Why- how- w-when did you get in here!?"
"About two minutes ago, I've been calling you nonstop, but you were absorbed in your thoughts." He studied. "Are you feeling ill? Do we need a doctor!? DOCTOR! Oh, wait… I'm a doctor."
"I'm fine Chopper." She dismissed his concern. "Just thinking. What do you want?"
"Sanji is asking for your presence in the kitchen."
"I'll be right there, thank you Chopper."
She said going back to her map. The one she had been drawing before thoughts about Zoro and Hiyori assaulted her.
"Sure…" He said pausing by the door. "Say Nami, who is the savage hero and the damsel in distress?"
"W-what? You h-heard t-that?" She panicked.
Chopper nodded.
"It's n-no one i-important!." She said abandoning her maps in a hurry and walking toward the door where Chopper stood. "Let's forget about it and not make Sanji wait."
"Right!"
As they walked to the kitchen to meet the rest of the crew, she took note not to voice her thoughts in the Sunny.
Author's Note: Thank you for those of you reading this fic. Your reviews mean lots to me!
If you think the characters are OOC, please do let me know. I want to make this fic as realistic as possible. Also, if there are errors or mistakes in grammar, I intend to edit this fic later once it's complete.
Important: This fic is sort of an AU. The straw hats already defeated Orochi and Kaido and left Wano. So it's set after the Wano Arc.
First theme chapter will be up tomorrow!
