Chapter 3 done! Any critics welcome ofcourse.
Olav was relaxing on the deck when Alexis entered "Has my red vixen slept well?" He asked teasingly "Like a baby," she replied dryly. Alexis scanned the deck but did not see Gustav and Zoro. "They're up there," Olav said, knowing exactly who she was looking for. Next to the door that led to the cabins there was a small stair leading to an upper part of the deck. Gustav leaned against the railing there, and waved at her "Good morning!" He shouted. Alexis waved back at him and turned her attention to Olav again "Breakfast maybe?" Olav saluted in his familiar mocking way "Coming up."
"Oi Gustav! Get your lazy ass down here and help me with breakfast!"
"You're going to join us for breakfast?" Gustav asked Zoro "If that means I have to deal with Miss Moodswing over there, I'd rather not" he replied without even opening his eyes. Climbing the stairs Alexis cleared her throat "I heard that" Gustav roared with laughter after hearing her new nickname "wait till Olav hears about this" Gustav teasingly pulled her braid and climbed the stairs down.
She couldn't help but smile, Olav and Gustav were the only crewmates she actually liked they were like big brothers to her. And with big she really meant big because they both stood seven feet tall. She was actually a little worried because Vladimir was probably just as tall, she already felt like an ant compared to the two brothers.
The morning sun filled the upper part of the deck and she sniffed up the fresh morning air, she loved these moments. She picked a spot to sit far away from Zoro and closed her eyes. When she travels she tries to do this every morning, she called it her anger management, and God knows she needed it. The morning sun was warming her up and she felt the tension leaving her body.
Zoro was pondering about the fact why she was hunting pirates, he knew the Crows also were mercenaries; did someone hire them to collect the bounties?
"Why are you hunting pirates?" he bluntly asked out of the blue. The sound of his voice immediately made the tension in her body return. She bit her lip, thinking about a satisfying answer without letting him know to much "Just a little side project of my own"
Zoro figured that was all she was ever going to tell him about it. Closing her eyes she tried to find the same peaceful feeling again but did not succeed. His voice reminded her of last night, and especially the aftermath of the battle. "I wonder what would've happened if I jumped him back there" the thought alone made a blush creep up her face "What am I thinking?"
Muttering something annoyed under her breath she hastily got up and fled away from Zoro.
She rushed past Olav who came to tell them breakfast was ready. Olav had a confused expression on his face "What wrong with her?" Zoro got up "If I knew I would gladly tell you" he answered just as confused as Olav was.
On entering the kitchen Gustav greeted her with her newly found nickname "Ah Miss Moodswing, care to join us for breakfast?" Alexis suppressed the urge to punch him and dropped down on a chair "Are we there yet?" She drawled kind of childish.
"What's the matter? You're stranger than usual," Gustav sat down opposite of her. "Nothing, everything's peachy," she mumbled.
Olav and Zoro also entered the kitchen; Olav took a seat next to his brother, which only left the spot next to Alexis for Zoro.
There were warm buns on the table and of course sandwich filling, Alexis was surprised to see there was even fresh milk. "Did you guys pick up some supplies while I was on Seaside Island?" Gustav nodded while chewing away his bun.
While eating Zoro noticed that every time his elbow touched Alexis, she jumped a little. A bit amused by this he started doing it on purpose. After a while Alexis couldn't take it any longer; "Would you mind!" Zoro expected the sneer and grinned. Gustav and Olav exchanged a meaningful look. "I'm full," she growled angrily and left the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.
"It seems our red vixen is having one of her moods again," Olav looked at Zoro and smiled "And you're the main reason apparently." Zoro shrugged "I have no idea what's wrong with her."
The rest of the day passed without any notable happenings and the evening fell peacefully.
When the sun was set Alexis decided it was time to practice a new technique. She has been practicing a new finishing move for a while but it was still too sloppy.
The upper deck was her usual practice spot. She pulled out her katanas, the hilts melted into her hands instantly.
She closed her eyes and focused, her heartbeat and breathing slowed down. Alexis was one with her surroundings, in this mode nothing could get past her.
She put her left foot in front of her. "Petal Dance" she whispered. She took off, twirling around her Axis, every slice as deadly as the other.
When she meant to do the most deadly slice of them all she messed up. Her feet were not in the place she expected, she stumbled, tried to regain her balance but still fell.
"Son of a bitch!" She picked herself up and threw her katanas on the floor; "never mind!" Angry about her failure she picked up her katanas and bit her lip; "what am I doing wrong?"
"Your feet, they're not in the right position." Alexis was so startled, she almost dropped her katanas again. How the hell did she not notice zoro's presence? Zoro stepped onto the upper deck "I can show you," he positioned himself behind her and meant to grab her wrists; Alexis immediately twirled away from his arms.
Zoro rolled his eyes "I'm just trying to help, I feel like a rapist around you." Alexis took a deep breath, she had to learn that move. "Fine, show me." Again, Zoro positioned himself behind her and grabbed her wrists. "At the end of the move you got into trouble with the position of your feet," he muttered behind her, "It's a great move, but it still needs perfection, now close your eyes and focus." Alexis closed her eyes and slipped into concentration again.
He was so close to her that Alexis could smell him. He had a musky manly scent mixed with the smell of the sea. She could feel his muscular chest against her upper back. He put his foot on the floor between her legs and shoved her left foot a little to the side. After that he tapped her right heel; indicating that she should move her other foot to the front.
He took the liberty of repositioning her arms, when his rough hands moved on her skin, she almost jumped away again. "Focus!" he growled "Now… keep your body like this." he let her go and took a few steps back. "Try it again."
"Petal dance," she flew of again, immediately noticing a difference. With folded arms he watched her twirl and slice. He couldn't say that little moment has not fazed him at all. With gritted teeth he managed to suppress his arousal. Although it has been a while, he couldn't even imagine how troublesome it would be, if he tried to hit the sack with her.
Alexis finished her move without trouble. Zoro applauded dryly "Good job."
"Why thank you Mr Zoro." She bowed mockingly, trying to hide the fact she was a little flustered. "I think Olav and Gustav are willing to share some of their rum with you." Zoro thought that was an excellent idea. Needless to say, but he could really use a drink right now. When Zoro left, Alexis sheeted her katanas. She needed a moment to calm down a little. Her hands were slightly shacking. She was relieved that, she survived the invasion of her personal space. Since she had guard duty the upcoming night, she decided to take a two hour nap.
Arrived at the kitchen, Zoro sat down at the table. Gustav poured rum in a mug and shoved it towards him. After thanking Gustav he took a big gulp.
"What are your plans on Caluna Island? You're going to take Vladimir down together with Alexis?" Olav asked. "She wants to make a contest out of it, so I guess not."
Olav and Gustav looked worried. Gustav stood up and grabbed something out of a drawer. He shoved it towards Zoro; it was a Ko Den-den Mushi. Den-den Mushi's were snails that can be used like a communication device. Zoro received a baby; those were used for shorter ranged communication. "Keep this with you. Although Alexis does not want us to go with her, we're going to keep in touch with her. With this thing you are able to hear our conversations and communicate with us."
"And why do you want me to have one?" Gustav sat down again, "because we are worried about her. Vladimir is not someone to be underestimated." Gustav held his mug so tight his knuckles turned white.
"Is there anything special I should know about him?"
Olav shrugged "We haven't seen him in years; I remember he used to be much stronger than the two of us, and euhm… he hates women."
Zoro frowned "Hates them?" he shoved his mug back to Gustav for a refill.
"Yes hates them," Olav continued, "not the 'Women should be in the kitchen' kind of hate. Real, pure hate, we didn't exactly have a loving mother."
"And that fucked him up lovely" Gustav added. "So you've decided to send your female crewmate to take care of your, womenhating, monster of a brother." Zoro was not really fitting the pieces. "We know how this sounds," Olav did not like the fact that Zoro said it out loud "We want to go with her, but she…"
"She told us that; no one should be given the task to kill his own brother," Gustav blurted out.
"And considering her circumstances, well… It's just that; we have to respect this decision of hers." Olav finished.
"So we beg you, please keep an eye on her" Gustav almost pleaded.
Zoro thought about it for a moment "Fine, but we'll split the bounty." Gustav grinned happily "Sure, just don't tell her."
"I wouldn't dare" he stated, thinking about the anger explosion it would cause. Zoro wondered about those circumstances they were talking about.
The two brothers quickly changed the subject to something more entertaining; giving Zoro less time to think about the whole conversation.
After about two hours they heard the sound of a door closing; "that's probably Alexis starting her guard duty." Gustav stood up, "We want to relieve her of guard duty early tomorrow. She needs the rest." After wishing Zoro goodnight they both left the kitchen.
He wanted to have some fresh air, but that also meant dealing with Miss Moodswing.
