Welp. Here it is. Chapter 4 in all its glory. I've been a bit lazy with updating, but I really have absolutely NO IDEA of where to go with this fic. I have ideas, but I wanted one more chapter to get into it before I actually add some variation and events to the story. I also changed the fic summary because I read it over and it convinced me that I have almost no command over the English language. Anyway. Here it is!


When Nami opened the door to their apartment, she wasn't surprised to see that Zoro was absent. She had gotten used to him leaving and returning at random, sometimes very late at night. Nevertheless, she made her way to the kitchen and began concocting some rice and curry for dinner. She absentmindedly worked, reenacting the motions that her mother Bellemare had taught her years ago. As she cooked, she thought about her new life. In just a month or two, she had made Zoro's humble abode hers as well. Looking back to when she proposed living with him, she was a bit embarrassed about how rude she had been. On the other hand, Zoro was a pretty straight-forward guy, and he made it clear that there was no need to be formal with him.

She was loathe to admit it, she was very grateful for his presence. When he was gone, Nami was a little lonely, but she kept those thoughts of admiration for him locked deep within her mind. They were even, as far as she was concerned. He gave her a place to stay and to call home, and she helped him with his rent. She had gotten a job at the Sweetheart bakery, and she made enough money to finish off the rent Zoro couldn't afford. He worked the register at a local fast-food joint. The pay would've satisfied a fifteen year-old, but it was only about 80% of what Zoro needed to pay his monthly rent.

Nami was snapped out of her thoughts by the hot smell of burning curry. She grabbed a hand towel and started waving it in front of her to blow the steam away, and she turned down the dial on the stove. She set a number on the stove's built-in timer. Now she just had to wait while the flavors in the curry mixed and mingled with each other in the stainless-steel pot.

Speaking of mixing and mingling, it occurred to Nami that she wasn't introduced to any of Zoro's friends. Then again, he wasn't the kind of guy to "waste" his time being social. She had asked him several times to go shopping with her, but he'd only gone a few times when Nami begged him to. He preferred to stay at the apartment and lift giant weights or to go to the gym instead. She was still new to this life, but she wanted to make friends if her stay with Zoro was going to last long (and she intended it to). So later that night, when Zoro inevitably came home, she would ask him about his social life (or the lack there of).

Just then, the timer went of. Time for dinner. Nami filled the left side of her plate with rice, and the other side with curry, taking a moderate portion, and yet still leaving enough for Zoro. Then (speak of the devil), Zoro walked in the door.

"Hey, Zoro. Where were you this time?" the orange-haired beauty inquired.

"At Mihawk's. Practicing as per usual." he replied.

"There's some curry and rice on the stove for you" she changed the subject, content with his answer.

"Thanks" Zoro said nonchalantly, and made his way to the kitchen.

"Now's my chance" Nami thought. Just as she was about to ask him about his friends, he called to her from the kitchen.

"Oi! Nami! We've been invited to my friend's house for dinner next Saturday night. You up for it?" he asked. Nami couldn't believe it. He had just answered her question without her even having to ask.

"Y-Yeah, the bakery closes early on Saturdays!" Nami proclaimed excitedly. "Where does he or she live?"

"He lives a couple doors down with his girlfriend. Another friend of mine is also going with his girlfriend. They live together in the next apartment complex over." the green-haired man explained. Suddenly, Nami felt a pang of uneasy excitement. It was basically a triple date, except for the fact that she and Zoro weren't an item. Then a thought came to her. She just considered the gathering a triple date. Was that the answer to her question? Nami...Nami...Why did she feel safe and happy when around him, despite how he was a bit of a moron sometimes, and despite how he wasn't even in the apartment with her half the time, she felt warm and fuzzy when he was there, and when he was gone, it was like a part of her was missing. Nami...Nami...Nami, oi, Nami...Had this whole idea of a "triple date thingy" really confirmed it? Did she have feelings for a man she didn't even really know much about? Nami! Her train of thought was broken by Zoro, who had joined her on the living room couch. He was calling her name. "Huh...?" Nami asked, still dazed.

"I said," Zoro began, "it isn't anything big and fancy, so don't worry about buying something nice. And thank you for the meal. It was delicious as usual. I'm going to bed." he said, then sauntered off towards the bathroom. Nami smiled as he paid her his usual compliment about her cooking. She could tell he didn't pay people compliments often, and he only did so if he meant it. She glanced at the clock on the TV. 10:52. She leaned back and smiled to herself. Then Nami got up and headed off to bed. What would next Saturday bring?


There it is. I hope it wasn't too full of fluff. I tried my best to make it good, considering I had no ideas for this chapter. Chapter 5 will be the "triple date" ;) As usual, leave constructive criticisms in a review, and tell me how I did, and what I can maybe improve on. Zoro is the main character of the fic, and I've been doing a lot of Nami's PoV. Next chapter will be all Zoro's PoV in the effort of making the fic summary semi-relevant. Hope you enjoyed! Ciao!