The ocean waves danced, reflecting a large, radiant moonlit darkness.
Zoro sighed and leaned relaxed onto the ship's siderail. The stillness was silent, if you discounted the waves softly licking the ship's hull with a splat now and then.
His hand instinctively flew to his sword handle as he picked up a different noise.
False alarm… It's just the kitchen door.
"Robin…"
She walked his way.
"Good evening."
She bathed him in softness again. He was getting more and more at ease with such behavior since the crew had confirmed her loyalty.
Although he still wasn't used to it.
"It's very late, shouldn't you be in bed?" She questioned him.
He frowned slightly. He couldn't think of a good response. He didn't much enjoy people acting like authorities, but Robin sounded more like she was concerned for him than exercising a desire for control. He supposed it was ok.
The tall figure wearing a comfortable sweater approached him through the cool air.
"I assume daytime is the time you sleep best?"
She leaned onto the railing.
"Why do you care?"
"It wasn't judgement, just an observation."
She wrapped her arms around herself and continued:
"Maybe you got held up by the beautiful view. I know it's the reason I came back out at least."
She knew she wasn't talking solely about the scenic nature.
"It's a bit unusually good tonight, yeah."
He didn't mean the scenery either. Not entirely.
"Can I ask you something?" She said.
"That depends on what…"
"Whatever happened to your eye?"
"Ah…"
"…Well."
"I messed it up, dueling my mentor."
"Is it difficult? Losing half your vision?"
He took a breath, his body vividly recalling the searing pain in the place his scar now existed.
"Honestly?
Not as difficult as the knowledge that I ever let it happen."
She fixed her gaze on the disgraced man. The moonlight lighting up the planes of his body flatteringly.
"I was careless." He frowned.
Robin looked back at the dancing waves beneath them.
"You know, if it's any comfort… Your injuries are an occupational risk."
She looked back at him delivering her gentle smile subtly.
"I'm somewhat impressed you've managed to keep your face so intact for so long. Especially considering the fact that you've been a swordfighter since childhood."
"Yeah. Guess that sort of helps."
He looked at his scratched up hands.
"Wait a second…" Turned his head to her.
His face contorted into a half-smile sneer. "…How'd you even know I've been at this since I was a kid? Are you keeping tabs on me?" He teased.
"Yes." She spoke monotonously...
"I have to know these things if I'm to betray you all and kill you in an instant." She stood there completely poker-faced.
The poker-face was ruined by Zoro a few seconds after he burst out laughing hysterically.
"Fucking hell Robi-"
Her will broke and she found herself also clutching her sides.
If only you could see me now, Saul.
Seeing him so merry felt somewhat exclusive, a sort of thankfulness washed over her as she etched the memory of his laugh instinctively and vividly into the back of her mind.
As Zoro calmed down and re-learned to breathe, he decided to turn around and lean onto the ship's side via his back and elbows instead.
"Well. What about you Robin? You been a bookworm since childhood?"
"If I tell you, you have to promise not to blackmail me and cause my death."
He snorted loudly.
Since when was she this damn witty? Maybe he'd been paying poor attention… What with how much happened in such a short time when you were with the Straw Hat Pirates. Not bad to slow down now and then, after all.
"Out with it woman."
"Haha, alright." She mimicked his lean onto the rail, a subtly and elegantly snarky grin painted on her as she did so.
"I started back in Ohara." She chuckled.
"Yeah?"
"As a matter of fact, there was a humongous library there. A literal tree of knowledge…" He noticed how her face lit up with nostalgia.
"… It was humongous. I owe it a lot. Knowledge is a powerful tool, especially if you learn to effectively take it in and employ it."
"I don't doubt it. Come to think of it, there's a lot of respect for knowledge circulating in dōjōs too."
He corrected himself: "Well-the good ones at least."
Robin noted what he'd said with a slight nod of the head, she inched closer to him without noticing it, then continued. "When I was on the run, it wasn't just the things I'd learned as a child that helped me find work and shelter… Literature filled in for all the authority figures I was missing. Books were reliable, you take care of them, and they always take care of you in kind."
She paused, and felt a slight pang of sadness as she stared at the horizon.
"People aren't as reliable."
Zoro noted her change in tone as he snuck a look at her groomed eyebrows.
"You're right. They're not…"
He admired the pristine skin on her hand, the way her nails were perfectly kempt.
"…I'm glad the people on this crew have been, though. That includes you."
Robin looked at him in surprise and gratitude.
"Zoro…" She said, almost whispering.
There it was again, that intense, focused and unforgiving glare of his.
"I could say the same of you, to say the least." She added, very gently. They were only a few inches apart.
Without giving it much more thought, his arm wrapped itself around her waist, the other pushed her upper back up against him gradually. She leaned onto his mouth with her own, resting her hands around his neck carefully, framing his jaw with her fingers. After a few seconds of their lips pushing against each other firmly, she lifted her blushing face off him briefly to press another kiss onto his warm cheek. She then returned to kiss his mouth once more. This time it was a soft brushing of his lips. She felt his hand land softly and caress her neck, as they leaned their cheeks, then foreheads against each other, basking in the heat of the other for a bit with eyes still closed, holding one another tightly.
As they slowly opened their eyes to have a look at each other, they also backed away slowly to stand at a more socially respectable distance.
…
Before Robin could say anything, he spoke out.
"Uh…" Zoro's mouth was agape, he was dumbfounded and remained pink all over. Lifted one arm and scratched the back of his head as he looked away from her.
"…I… I. Should probably be off to bed." He walked off before getting any kind of answer.
As he made his way to his bedroom he got very angry with himself, but had no clue what else he would have done.
She stayed to enjoy the stars for a moment. Although it proved impossible on account of her body demanding more physical contact. She didn't particularly like feeling so vulnerable.