Hello ^^ Im out with a new chapter, whoo!
This one is a little short - but longer than the other one! - but I promise that the next is gonna be filled with more dialouge and plot reaveling!
And a big thanks to colenewb, you where a guest so I cant pm but thank you sooo much for the heartwarming review you gave and you really spurred me into action and made me really sit down and write this chap, so thank you!
«Nami? » the baritone voice echoed through the alley and bounced of the stone walls. And it was painfully recognizable. Zoro.
Nami tilted her head upwards to see a tall silhouette standing just outside her eyesight. She was positive it was Zoro but felt the need to squint and get her fears entirely confirmed. And they were not only that, they were worsened by what she saw. The far-away shadow moved quite a bit before it lifted its right foot. Then slammed it down unto the ground, and then lifted the left foot; slammed it down, then the right, then the left. She stared in horror as Zoro walked into the alley and towards her. His boots made the most horrible noise and the rustling of his clothes made her horribly uneasy. No, no, no. This was probably the first coherent thought Nami had been able to produce in the last hours. This fact did not ease the situation the slightest.
She looked around frantically in search of an escape route; there was none. I don't want him to see me this way. Why him, of all people? I have to move – I can't move! These thoughts flew through her mind faster that lightning, and, before Zoro had managed to take his third step, she had made a full evaluation on her situation, she had also made a conclusion: there is no way to escape… She felt fear grip her tightly and she also felt an anxiety she had preserved purely for enemies, not friends. It scared her now how scared she was of Zoro; or, rather, this inevitable situation.
She wanted to stand up and run, or at least cover herself up a bit more. But she couldn't do any of it, and Zoro was getting closer. She let her head fall and closed her eyes. She would leave the outcome of this situation in Zoro's hands and let him decide the first move to be made.
Zoro moved with quite the difficulty. The ground was rocky and he felt just slightly nervous. He was sure of what he had heard and that had been Nami whimper. Of course he hadn't just determined that fact by the faint noise; he had smelled her, too. Being with his crew for so long, he had categorized all their individual smells. But having been in battle with them all, he had also registered their smells when exhilarated, tense and…fearful. He was certain she was in this alley.
The alley was hazed by fog and it took some time for Zoro to distinguish the small crouched figure sitting in the corner. He could faintly see a glimpse of orange hair and pale skin; he gulped before he moved forth. He was uncertain about this situation somehow. Nami and him wasn't exactly the bestest of friends and she had sounded uncharacteristically sad to him. Now, Zoro knew, by experience, that Nami in any kind of mood could find a reason to throw you – violently – off the ship… Happy – thrown off for her amusement, agitated – thrown off to went her anger, and sad – thrown off for speaking to her… Let's just say that all those onboard their ship would agree with Zoro's apprehension when approaching Nami now.
"Nami" He said her name once again and this time with true conviction and a little louder. He stopped short when he heard her whimper for a second time. He could see only her shadow; she was too far away still. He walked closer and despite his reputation as a courageous warrior, he gasped as he looked her over.
Her clothes were in tatters, this was the first thing he noticed. Her skirt was ripped at one side and it was cut in a line from hem to hem, and only a band of stronger fabric was holding it all together just above her hipbone. Her top was just a cloth now and one spaghetti strop was hanging on for dear life, the back of the garment was ripped so bad that it was no longer attached at her spinal. Her shoes were nowhere to be found, and he couldn't make himself look away to search for them. Her hair was rustled and dirty. He wanted to see her face, but it was buried deep into her hands. He realized she was shaking.
He walked so close he could've touched her with a slight pull of a hand, then crouched down to her level. "Nami?" he said it softer than he had intended. Zoro caught himself wishing for her to turn to him, punch him hard over the head and laugh at him and walk away; she did no such thing. Oh, how he wanted her to be angry.
He saw her exhale and realized she had been holding her breath; she waited some before she inhaled. He had heard the pain-laced groan.
His actions were quick as he pulled her up by the shoulders.
He had acted on instinct and a need to check on his nakama. His intention had been to see her face. His intention had been to make her go with him to the ship. His intention had not been to rip her out of the emotional shell she had built, so hard that it would make her writhe and scream out in his arms. He got to see her face alright, just as it contorted in pain and she collapsed into his embrace. He stumbled onto his knees by the extra weight and surprise.
Her mouth was right by his ear because her scream seemed to bore into his brain and dwell as a scornful echo. Her nails clawed right through his shirt and into his skin; she drew blood. Her legs spasm as blood ran through them and they were freed from their forced confinement.
Zoro held on to her exposed back until the sudden flash of erratic movement stopped; and then all seemed to stop.
She fell limp against his arms. He quickly changed their positions so he could see her face again; what he saw was not what he wanted to see. Yes, her face was no longer pulled in a painful expression, but she looked far from peaceful. Her eyelids were puffy and even though only a few drops of tears, spurred by the sudden outburst, was running down her cheeks, he could see she had been crying a long while before he came here. Her mouth hung open and it was bloody and torn; probably by her teeth. But what was worst was her face as a whole, it looked almost disproportionate the way it was now. She didn't look sad, but she was a sad sight to behold. With puffy eyes and hollow cheeks, radiant blood and fatigued hair she looked so wrong to him.
He checked her breathing and was satisfied with finding a rather steady rhythm. I need to get her out of here. He picked her up and walked out of the foggy alley and into the cold night.
So that was chapter two! ^^
Thank you to those who reviewed! There were no hate comments and was reliefed to say the least! Hehe
Hope you liked it and let me know what you thought!
