Hello, everyone! Thank you for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! They are greatly appreciated! Here is chapter three, hope you all enjoy! :3
"Zoro! Hurry the hell up!" Zoro heard Saga yell from the from the front door. "We're going to be late!"
"Just a sec, i'm coming!" He answered.
Zoro was in the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror. Staring back at him, was a scared, frightened, and hurt boy. Focusing on his black eye, Zoro reached up to touch it, but hissed, and pulled away the second his finger made contact. There was another bruise on the side of his mouth. But, his face wasn't the worst of it: Scattered across his chest and sides were dozens of fairly bad scrapes, and severe bruising.
His black eye was going to be rather difficult to hide. Of course, he could just say that it happened during Kendo, or that he got into a fight, or something like that. He even considered buying makeup concealer, but he had absolutely no idea which one to buy, or how to use it properly.
A boisterous banging on the door caused Zoro to jump a little.
"ZORO! Get your ass OUT of here and into the car before I kick this door down you worthless piece of CRAP!"
Zoro exhaled, and unlocked the door. Saga stared down at him, looking very angry and agitated.
Zoro gulped nervously. "S-sorry." He muttered.
Saga rolled his eyes. "Tch, whatever."
Zoro sat at his desk in first period, and tried his best to keep his head down.
After a while, the professor had finished his lecture, and allowed them time to once again, complete their assignment. As usual, Luffy. Nami, Robin and Vivi gathered around Ace and Zoro's desk.
"Zoro? Zooro, ZORO!"
"Gah! Huh? What?." Zoro looked jumped looking from side to side. "Oh, Nami. What do you want?"
"Shishishi! Zoro got scared of Nami!" Luffy laughed.
"Shut up, Luffy." Zoro huffed.
"You were spacing out, and- Gah! What happened to your face!?" Nami shouted.
Vivi gasped. "Zoro! What happened?!"
Robin and Ace's attention perked up, and Luffy stopped laughing.
"Relax, I got it during kendo." Zoro said, lying. Again.
"Geez, Zoro. Whatever happened to armor?" Ace sighed.
"Psh, armor is overrated!" Zoro joked.
Robin didn't buy it. She always knew something about Zoro was off. Of course, she didn't say anything. She wasn't completely sure what was going on, but she had a feeling she knew. She had to investigate more, and be careful how she would approach Zoro about it. These types of situations could be quite delicate.
Robin caught Ace narrowing his eyes at Zoro's answer; like he noticed that something was wrong. She smiled. She had an investigation buddy. It reminded her of one of her favourite book series; Sherlock Holmes. She would be the Sherlock, and Ace would be Watson, of course.
The bell for second period rang, and everyone gathered their things and left the room as the professor reminded them to work on their essays.
It was now lunch time, and Robin made her way to the Crew's usual place. Spotting Ace, she walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Ace stopped talking to look up at her.
"Ace-san, could you come with me for a moment? I am in need of your assistance." She asked politely.
"Sure." He answered.
She smiled and lead the way to a more private area.
After they left, everyone remained silent, smiling to themselves.
"So, you guys think they are like...you know!" Nami giggled.
"I always thought he was gay." Usopp put in.
"Nah, Ace-Bro is straight!" Franky stated.
"I dunno, he seems bi to me." Zoro said.
"No way! He's one hundred percent gay!" Sanji yelled. "You should know."
"You trying to pick a fight?" Zoro growled.
"Sorry, I don't hit wimps." Sanji sneered.
"Bring it dart brow!" Zoro shouted, standing and lifting up a fist.
"Come on moss-head! I'll make your left eye match the right!" Sanji shouted back as he stood threateningly.
"Someone please shut them up before I knock them both out!" Nami growled.
"Okay, Zoro, that's enough." Saga laughed, pulling him down.
"Yeah Sanji, you too." Vivi scolded, crossing her arms.
Sanji's eye's seemed to have morphed into hearts, as his body melted into jelly at the sound of her lovely voice.
"Hai Vivi-chwaannn!" Sanji sang, as he sat himself back down.
"Now, why don't we just ask Luffy? He is Ace's brother."
Everyone looked to Luffy, expecting an answer. Luffy looked confused. "What?" He asked
Nami sighed. "What is Ace's sexuality?
Luffy cocked his head to the side. "Sexu-what?"
"For god sakes, Luffy! Does Ace like boys or girls better?!"
Luffy smiled. "Oh, he likes both!"
"Told ya so~" Zoro sang.
"Oh, shut up." Sanji sneered, as Zoro smiled in victory.
Luffy laughed. "I remember one time, I came home and I went to Ace's room, and there was a boy AND a girl in Ace's bed with him, and the-"
"Woah, woah! Hold your horses there Luffy!" Usopp shrieked, covering his ears as everyone burst into laughter.
"Um, so what did you need help with?" Ace asked when Robin stopped and turned to him.
"Oh, that was just a cover up; we need to talk." Robin said.
"Talk? About what?" Ace asked.
"About Zoro." She answered.
Ace suddenly turned serious. "You noticed too?"
She nodded, her facial expression becoming stern. "He keeps showing up with more and more injuries-"
"And he always blames them on kendo." Ace finished her sentence.
"Yes." Robin agreed. "But, they don't offer kendo as a course here."
"What?" Ace crossed his arms. "So he doesn't take kendo at all?"
"No, he has classes on weekends." Robin answered.
"Still, the first time he showed up with bruises on his face was during school, and i'm sure they weren't there in the morning, or the beginning lunch, when I saw him."
"So it had to of happened later during lunch?" Robin asked to make sure.
"Or seventh period, I don't see him then, so I don't know if he had them during that time." Ace corrected.
"Right." Robin said, rubbing her chin. "So through lunch, or seventh period."
Ace nodded. "Could he be getting into fights with someone, or like a gang?" He asked, a little worried.
"Maybe. But it would be highly unlikely he would hide that." Robin answered
"Unless he thinks it would get someone involved if he tells." Ace put in.
"Yes, if he thinks it will worry someone, or put them in any form of danger, he would keep it to himself." Robin said, as she leaned on the brick wall of the building.
Pretty soon, the bell rang again, signaling the end of the current period.
"Damn." Ace cursed.
Robin seemed to be pulled out of her thoughts, as her mysterious smile returned to her face.
"I'll see you tomorrow Ace-san."
Ace nodded, and they both headed their separate ways to their next class.
Ace's mind felt like it was going to explode all throughout seventh period. He couldn't get Zoro out of his mind.
Who would want to hurt Zoro?
Another thing is Zoro always wore a jacket; It didn't make any sense, they were in the middle of spring: far too hot for a jacket like that! So what exactly was he hiding underneath it?
Before long, the bell rang, and everyone made their way to their eighth, and final class of the day.
Ace walked in the classroom, and took his seat. A few minutes after the late bell had rung, Ace noticed that Zoro wasn't in his seat. Looking around the classroom, he saw that the greenete was nowhere to be seen!
He raised his hand.
The professor noticed and answered. "Yes, Portgas-san?"
"Ah, may I go to the restroom?" He asked politely.
"Yes, you may." She replied, smiling at his good manners.
Ace stood, bowed slightly, then walked out the doors, into the hallways.
"Damn it, what class did Robin have?" Ace said to himself, gritting his teeth. "Think think think!" He chanted, rubbing his temples. "Oh, yeah! Japanese Literature!" He grinned at his good memory, as he ran down to the Robin's class. He stopped directly outside the doors. He peeked in through the door window, and sure enough, there was Robin, jotting down notes or something-or-other.
Getting an idea, he quickly rummaged through his pockets. He smiled when he pulled out a pen, and a white gum wrapper; good thing he didn't litter.
He scribbled something down on the wrapper, then walked into the classroom. Robin looked up at him, a little surprised to see him. He made eye contact with her, and inconspicuously dropped the wrapper on her desk, as he walked up to the professor's desk.
"Miss? Professor Yamada needs to know the username to access the University's online grading book."
"Again?" The professor laughed. "This is the second time this week!"
Ace smiled. He remembered when the professor sent someone to ask about the username. It's a good thing he wasn't doing his work, so he could overhear that conversation!
He watched as the lady wrote down some letters and numbers on a sticky note, then handed it to him. He took it, then bowed, as he made his way to the door, taking a quick glance at Robin.
He then made his way to the restrooms, and waited near the doorway.
Robin watched as Ace left, then carefully unfolded the wrapper. Scribbled on it was one simple word: "Restroom."
She smiled. Maybe Ace figured something out, something important, something that couldn't wait till tomorrow. This was all too exciting! She loved solving mysteries!
Robin raised her hand and asked for permission to go to the restroom. When the professor allowed it, she stood, bowed, then hurried to rendezvous point.
Robin arrived outside the restrooms, and right away, she saw Ace.
"Hello, Ace-san." She greeted.
Ace smiled, but it quickly faded away. "Zoro was definitely here today, right?"
"Yes, we both saw him." She answered suspiciously.
"He didn't show up to class." Ace said, crossing his arms.
This caught Robin's attention. "You think something could be happening now?"
"I don't know, but we have to find out!" Ace said, determinedly.
"Alright, if this thing was happening now, it would have to be somewhere with no people." Robin inquired.
"Right." Ace agreed. "So which classes are empty right now, that students have access to?"
"Elementary, my dear Watson."
"What?"
"Nothing." She hummed. "I do know a couple."
Ace and Robin were searching each and every empty room they knew of for the green haired teen, and they were running out of time, and breath!
"Ugh, where is he!" Ace growled.
"Shh! Do you hear that?" Robin asked.
"Hm?" Ace furrowed his eyebrows. Someone was shouting. "Where is it coming from?'
"Shall we find out?" The black haired woman asked, as she followed the sound.
Pinpointing the source of the sound, they arrived at an empty class. The two cautiously peeked through the window, curious to find out what was going on.
Their eyes went wide with shock. Sure enough, they had found there green haired target, except they never expected to see him pinned to a wall, blood running down his body, and being struck over and over with kicks, punches, and insults.
Ace watched in horror as none other than Zoro's beloved Saga threw him to the ground like a piece of garbage, shouting, then pulled him back up, gripping his unruly green hair, spouting insults.
Rage overcame Ace. He was two seconds away from barging in there and beating the living hell out of that bastard Saga, when Robin spoke up, her voice shaky.
"No. Don't even think about it." Robin remarked.
"What?! Robin, are you seeing this?!" He cried.
"Keep your voice down." She hissed. "You have no idea what Saga might do to Zoro if he knows that we are aware of what's going on, and to make things worse, they live together."
Ace gritted his teeth. "Damn it!" He cursed.
The two watched with a new found hatred for the purple haired man. Then, they saw him drop Zoro to the ground in disgust, and stomp his way to the door.
They cursed as they ran to the empty class next door. When Saga was out of sight, Robin and Ace made eye contact. Ace's eyes seemed to be asking to go to Zoro. Robin nodded, as they ran to the room he was in.
Zoro gasped when he saw them enter. "R-Robin, A-Ace!" He stammered, as he struggled to stand.
Ace quickly helped the greenete up. "Zoro, are you okay?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" He replied, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes. "I just...um I just fell...erm,down the stairs." He lied.
"Save it Zoro! We saw what that bastard did!" Ace scolded.
The green haired teen stiffened as he looked from Ace, to Robin, and back.
"Y-you, you what?" He choked.
"We saw Zoro." Robin trilled.
"I-It's not what it looks like!" He exclaimed.
Ace looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you protecting him?!"
"I messed up, okay!? I had it coming, but it doesn't matter! He loves me!"
"Zoro..." Robin began "If he loved you... this wouldn't be how you are treated..." She said with sadness in her eyes.
Ace grabbed the greenete by the shoulders, and shook him slightly. "How the HELL can that bastard 'love' you?! Huh?!"
"Let go of me!" Zoro cried
"Then answer!"
"Ace-san, enough." Robin broke in.
"No!" He yelled. "Answer Zoro! How can that shitty bastard love you? How can that bitch ass cunt POSSIBLY love you?!"
Suddenly, Ace felt a burning pain across his cheek: Zoro hit him.
Robin gasped in surprise.
"SHUT UP! You don't know anything! And don't EVER talk about Saga like that!"
Ace didn't speak; He silently stood, and walked off, headed to the door. "A-Ace, wait! I didn't mean t-to."
But Ace didn't listen, he walked away, slamming the door in the process.
Zoro slide down to the floor, and broke into a sob. Robin sighed, and kneeled down next to him, rubbing his back in a comforting manner.
Okay! That's it for chapter three! I've noticed that I make this University sound a lot like a highschool, but whatever! I just needed them to be old enough to live on their own!
Please don't forget to leave a review, and thank you for reading! ^^