A/N: Thanks for the encouragement on the first handful of chapters, yall are kind :)
Zoro briefly woke when Chopper began treating his swollen face.
He was still on the deck of the Sunny, still lying next to the unconscious, bloodied ninja. Someone had stood a deck umbrella nearby to shade them.
The sting of the doctor's antiseptic faded to a numb tingle across his skin, and he remained quiet, letting the heat of mid-day lull him into another relaxing siesta as Chopper patched him up.
A while later, Zoro stirred, scratching at the itchy medical tape across the skin of his nose. He dug at its edges to peel it off.
"Don't even think about it, Zoro!" Chopper scolded him from his seat across the deck, on the shaded bench encircling the center mast.
Zoro sat up and shot the doctor a dirty look. Bossy kid.
He turned his eyes down to the female sprawled next to him, who seemed to frown at him even now. Pale, with dark circles under her eyes, she still looked entirely capable of becoming a hellion.
"Why does she still look so pissed off?"
"Because you're hopeless." Sanji lazed on the bottom steps of a nearby staircase, cigarette in hand as usual. "You're like willfully stupid at this point. Who starts a fist fight with a ninja?"
"Oi." Zoro objected. "Says the man knowingly inhaling cancer. And I didn't start it."
"Well, you definitely deserved it." The cook turned an eye to Fi. "She may be quite a bit to handle."
Sanji's observation reminded Zoro of both Ace's and Sabo's remarks about Luffy. Hopefully that's where any captain-ninja similarities ended.
"Great. Another wild one."
Chopper chimed in unhelpfully. "I can't believe she kicked your ass!"
Zoro was unimpressed. "It wasn't a proper fight, doesn't count."
Sanji chuckled, then started laughing. "She—hahahaha…" He started gauffing into his hand so hard he was almost crying. "She kicked your ass ahaha so hard!"
"Pull yourself together, you overgrown chimp." Zoro muttered.
He glared at the cackling pervert for a moment, but his mind went back to the fight.
He involuntarily recollected the fervent energy she let loose on him, and his attraction hit him in the gut again. Well, shit. No use denying that shit to himself anymore.
He would absolutely deny it to everyone else, obviously.
Distracting himself from that troublesome sentiment, he reflected on the mechanics of their bout.
Given her injury and sapped energy, she couldn't go all out, so neither did Zoro. Even so, he didn't keep up with her very well. Fortunately, he still learned about her fighting style—Fi was aggressive and used her speed to force him into defense for the entire bout.
Next time, Zoro would keep up and stay out of her dangerous reach.
He looked forward to watching her spar with Luffy—she'd use captain rubber-brain as her punching bag 'til he got his ass into second gear.
Thinking of his captain, he noted it was suspiciously quiet around the Sunny.
"Where is everyone?"
"Robin, Brook, Franky, and Usopp are cleaning Fiore's new room and making furniture, so she can have her own stuff!" Chopper supplied happily. "Nami and Luffy are in town getting Fi some clothes and other supplies... Sanji went too, but Nami got really mad at him for some reason and made him come home!"
"Shut it, mutton." Sanji bellyached as he stood and stretched his arms over. "I'm going to prepare a special meal for tonight, when Fiore is awake."
"She'll hate the attention."
Zoro honestly meant it as a warning, but the words sounded too satisfied. The thought of her squirming helped mend his cracked rib.
"That's why it's a secret celebration." The blond conspired as he made for the galley. "We're not all as cruel as you, marimo, so don't make it unduly obvious."
Zoro felt a peculiar ache as he realized things with Fi would be different this time. She was really going to sail with them.
He wondered what her habits were, when she wasn't a total recluse.
How did the ninja train? Would she start sitting with them for meals? Was Fi a morning or night ninja? Zoro considered which chore she'd hate the most… Cleaning the bathroom, he bet with himself. The girl shied from many strong smells, and this crew was foul—both Luffy and Usopp still considered baths optional.
"Are you okay, Zoro?" Chopper worried. "You look weird… Are you dizzy at all?"
He pushed to his feet with a grunt. "I'm good. Can I move her?"
"Sure! We left her here so she wouldn't get sea-sick below deck." Chopper explained. "I gave her a mild sedative to help her rest and fixed her stitches. If she's careful this time, she'll bounce back faster."
"She doesn't actually get sea sick, you know." He revealed to the doctor.
Chopper shrugged, and Zoro realized the doc had already figured that out yet didn't call her on it. Such a kind kid.
He squatted down next to the little ninja and scooped her up gingerly, one arm behind her knees and another under her narrow shoulders. He half expected her to suddenly revive and punch him again.
Zoro's own injuries smarted as he carried her to the Sunny's interior, but he considered himself lucky since his head continued facing the proper direction. Eesh.
In the men's quarters—just like the first time—he laid her down, made her comfortable, and retreated to the adjacent wall for another snooze.
This time, he was cognizant of the embarrassing decision to let her sleep it off in his bunk, but the gesture was symbolic dammit.
Zoro perked up at the quiet curses of an irritated ninja. He cracked open an eye to watch her wrestle with the blanket in which she had cocooned herself.
"You really like ruining stitches, don't you?"
Apparently not surprised at Zoro's presence this time around, she merely sighed and resigned herself to a horizontal position.
"You really are an ass, aren't you?"
"Obviously."
He stood stiffly and went to her, holding his hand out to her, hoping she resented the assistance even if she needed it. The girl didn't disappoint.
"Thanks." She muttered sarcastically, wrinkling her nose at him in displeasure as she took his hand.
Zoro helped her hop down from his bunk, aiding her movement with a hand on her waist. She steadied herself with one hand in his and the other on his shoulder.
He studiously ignored the shitty warmth from the simple contact and the stupid way she seemed to glow in the golden evening light.
Standing by her somewhat awkwardly, he observed her as she adjusted her disheveled clothes and hair. He turned his words over in his head, trying to form the sudden question he had for her.
She looked up and pinned him with her heliotrope eyes.
"What?"
He chickened out, not actually able to ask for what he wanted to know. Instead, he shrugged and motioned for her to follow him out of the room.
"Just that Chopper said that you better not move around a lot, or else."
"Or else… what?" She wondered dryly, skepticism clear.
Zoro narrowed his eyes and looked over at her as they moved through the ship.
"Or else he'll lock you up in the infirmary and throw away the key, on the count of being more obstinate than Nami."
She challenged him with a side-eye as they walked. "So, no kicking your ass for a while?"
"Not now, not ever." He warned firmly. "I won't go all easy again."
She was unconcerned. "I'll still put you on the ground."
They rounded on the galley, where the other Straw Hats listened to the colorful duo bicker as they approached, the previous week's somber tension exchanged for physical threats.
"Go ahead and gloat now." He warned. "I'll put you in your place next time."
"Sure, sure." She waved him off. "Feel free to try."
"Don't misjudge me, you tacky idiot!" He could sense the breath of all things, dammit!
The two sat at the end of the table closest to the door, taking places across from one another.
"You're being ironic, right?" She tilted her head as she observed him a few extra beats, a real smile threatening her lips. "Wait... Tacky?"
"I'm callin' you tacky, you smug, purple shit."
Fi pressed her lips together, clearly trying to hide her haughty amusement, much to Zoro's chagrin.
Suddenly, she glanced around to the other Straw Hats, probably feeling their stares. She cleared her throat and turned a degree more serious.
"Ah, eh-hem. Chopper, thank you for your care. I'll do better this time. Promise. Everyone… Thank you for another ride on the Sunny. It's nice to see you all again." Fi looked to each Straw Haw in turn as she addressed them, but when her eyes fell on Zoro again, she didn't seem to be able to help herself.
"Excuse me—purple?"
Several people responded to her at once.
"Oh, of course!" Chopper blushed with a yell. "And you better be careful!"
"Yeah." Zoro sneered pointedly. "Purple."
Luffy chanted, pumping his fists into the air with each syllable. "Nin-ja! Nin-ja! Nin-ja!"
Fi narrowed her eyes at Zoro for his slight, but her attention was diverted to Nami sitting at her immediate left, who squealed in delight and affectionately leaned into the ninja. Fi tensed a bit but didn't pull away from the navigator as she expressed her relief.
"I'm so glad you're baaaaack! Another woman and another monster to protect us. Perfect all around!"
"Just for now, Nami. I'll stay on the next island big island we find." She warned gently.
Further down the table, Robin smiled sweetly at Fi. "A monster with abstract reasoning skills, too. Exciting. Poor Sanji has been carrying the trio in that regard, but that's not saying much."
Fi actually laughed, a quiet sound that struck Zoro like a lightning bolt.
At least he still managed a scowl when her mirthful amethyst gaze found his again.
Sanji started serving food, and the typical meal-time misconduct overtook everyone's attention as things at Luffy's end of the table got frenetic.
Working his way down the table, the shit-cook rounded on Fi with a dumb, squinty-eyed smile and put an extra-large plate with heaps of food in front of her.
"Eat up, love!"
"Thank you, but I don't need this much, Sanji…" She protested.
"My dearest, deadliest swan. It is in your best interest to leave your nutrition to me." His sing-song tone was sweet but stern. "Okay?"
"Sure. What~ever you say." Fi seemed to enjoy the cook's attempt at a command.
Zoro did not appreciate the discernable fondness in her expression as she regarded the blonde dirt-bag. All the same, Zoro scoffed at her superiority-complex, which was becoming clearer by the minute.
"Another cheeky fucking ego. Great."
"Says the shit-ape with the worst attitude of all." Sanji quipped in Fi's defense as he rudely slammed a plate full of food in front of Zoro then moved down the table to distribute more plates.
"Dumbass cook…" Zoro complained distractedly, becoming occupied with his own food.
Sanji dropped it too, rounding on Luffy and preemptively smashing the captain's face with his heel—the only sure method for serving the crew closer to the rubber garbage disposal.
"Ah. So, Fi." Robin began with her typical cool enthusiasm. "We prepared your room while you rested after Zoro's ass-kicking."
Zoro inhaled to tell off the smart-aleck and set the record straight, but he also inhaled a chunk of steak and ended up hacking instead.
An arm sprouted from his shoulder and patted him on the back in a distinctly patronizing manner. He glared at Robin's all-too-innocent smile as he coughed.
"Room?" Fi looked uncomfortable. "I, ah, don't need... Can't I sleep on a couch… or… something…"
Franky, Usopp, and Brook stridently drowned out Fi's modesty as they simultaneously described the furniture they constructed—a bedframe, wardrobe, desk, and shelves. At the exact same time, Nami, Luffy, and Sanji collectively told Fi about the supplies they picked up for her in town.
Fi tried to protest again, but Usopp and Franky together explained how they have several unoccupied rooms aboard the Sunny and plenty of scrap material to build stuff—it was "suuuuper no sweat," Franky insisted.
The ninja's dissent waned as she listened to the others excitedly jabber about their arrangements for her.
She quit attempting to thank them or remind them that she was not staying permanently.
Eventually, her congenial hums sounded less agreeable and more disillusioned, as if she was finally seeing the con or something.
Much to Zoro's delight, her cheeks were pink, her eyes were a little too bright, and she was perceptibly twitchy by the end of the meal. It was a good expression for her—she wasn't acting suspicious or uncaring, and Zoro liked her sour grapes attitude all the more for it.
He remembered the overwhelming realization that an entire crew actually wanted you around. It was a feeling best shoved out of mind and off a cliff, but sometimes the others insisted on dragging it into the light and making you feel some kinda way about it all.
Still, it was highly entertaining to see the fierce little ninja's feathers ruffled by the sheer friendliness of the crew, now that they could go all out.
Things were not as funny after Curly dramatically presented Fi with a large supply of soft towels and scented soaps, among other frivolous shit—fucking bubble-bath, really? The pervert openly suggested Fi should think of Sanji when she 'soaped up.'
No wonder Nami had banished him to the Sunny.
Fi, for her part, seemed to find only humor in the cook's depraved antics.
Why didn't the shitty cook get a rude side-eye or kunai to the gut?
Zoro itched to cut something, preferably the blonde, so he started fight with the fucker by repeatedly elbowing him when they washed dishes together after the meal.
It helped a little.
After dinner, Fiore let herself be led by Robin and Nami to the small room they furnished for her. She took it all in with probably poorly disguised astonishment.
She nodded along as Nami showed her the clothes she stocked in the wardrobe. Her selection seemed disproportionately composed of swimwear, but they were, after all, on a pirate ship. She tilted her head as she noticed a pattern among the bikinis.
A smirk tugged at Fi's lips as her fingers pulled at one swimsuit in particular. "You're mischievous, Nami, but thank you."
The redhead's wide grin and words confirmed her playful intentions. "Oh, let me have some fun!"
"Fufufu—poor Zoro." Robin laughed softly before she gestured to the books and journals on her shelf. "In case you're interested, those describe our past adventures and the places we visited or intend to find."
Fi should have realized the knowledgeable woman kept her own records. She felt decidedly privileged to be privy to her documents. "Thank you, Robin."
The women helped Fi organize all her new supplies but then excused themselves, thoughtfully giving Fi some space. She definitely appreciated it, because their generosity was more than overwhelming.
After years of living on the fringe, she felt confused about her time with the Straw Hats, to say the least.
Fiore sat her the bed provided by the Straw Hats. Her eyes fell on the furniture built by their hands. She looked around at the clothes and toiletries they acquired for her, Even Luffy got something for her—a small animal carving that now sat at the head of her new desk. It was useless junk, but she was fond of it nonetheless.
Not only did the crew go out of their way to provide everything necessary for living comfortably at sea, they carved out a unique space for her in their home.
Why the hell would they go to this extent?
Despite that she had grown accustomed to both the warmth and disorderly conduct of the Straw Hats over last few weeks, Fi felt the atmosphere shift after she and Zoro finally confronted one another, like the crew had been merely waiting out Zoro's animosity.
Why did the moss-headed swordsman change his attitude?
Just an hour ago at dinner, Zoro's gaze communicated something more akin to when they first met.
Her first impression of Zoro—all that time ago, on that first dammed island—fulfilled exactly what she expected from the reputed "demon pirate hunter." He carried the effortless air and awareness of an apex predator.
Fiore liked the man's forceful impact, but she walked away, too injured to risk fighting or fucking him.
Then, the damn swordsman had to go and get her tangled up with the marines. She definitely didn't trust a pirate on a whim and an attraction—life wasn't that simple for ninja—but Zoro did whatever the hell Zoro wanted, something she now recognized as simply his nature.
She knew he felt obligated to bring her to the Sunny; the marine debacle was his fault. Yet, he scorned her. If she kept her demons on a short leash, who was Zoro to call her out for having them? She resented his astuteness and shored up her own derision.
He didn't need to treat her like a pariah, but he did, and it forced her hand. Fi left the Sunny.
At least she had previously owned up to Luffy, so she could meet him eye-to-eye in the end. The kid was a goofball and too gullible, but he wasn't totally clueless. Luffy tactfully pretended not to see her uncharacteristic upset and didn't make a scene when she departed.
After the cathartic release of kicking Zoro around, she was admittedly happy to be back among the Straw Hats. Still, she remained apprehensive for a different reason…
Word that Fiore was travelling with the infamous Straw Hats would reach other ninja—Zoro ensured it with his stunt on the last island.
She felt an anomalous pang of fear for the kind crew.
Her heart sank a little, because staying with them wasn't an option, even after they went to all this trouble for her.
Fi's personal pity-party was interrupted when her ears picked up the heavy thudding of distinct boots across the deck of the Sunny. His lead footsteps grew louder as he stomped down the hall toward her room.
She tilted an ear towards the door to catch any sound indicating why the swordsman hovered just outside her bedroom.
Fi pondered the fact that her heart-rate picked up the longer he waited. He rapped at her door before she got too wrapped up.
"Come in." She called out lightly albeit quickly.
The door knob fumbled then turned, and he opened the door to face her.
"Hey."
Zoro's bronzed skin tinged red across the bridge of his nose and high on his cheeks, highlighting the sparse smattering of freckles he'd probably gotten from the sun.
He sounded out of breath, too. Smelled a touch like fresh perspiration…
"Are you okay?"
Zoro's jaw clenched tightly as hesitated by the door with a grumbled answer. "M'fine."
She motioned him over with a nod of her head and patted the bed next to her.
He entered into the room fully, depositing a small box on her desk. She watched curiously as he moved to sit next to her like directed. His posture was stiff, but his words were friendly enough and eye-contact was solid.
"Better than my bunk?"
She suppressed a smile. "Yes and no."
"I, uh, have some extra stuff." He gestured to the box he'd brought, directing her attention to it. "Steel wool, oil, rags…"
She was genuinely speechless as she slowly looked from the box back to the man, assessing him.
"For you weapons." He explained gruffly, ending the pregnant pause. "Salt ruins steel."
"I know." She stood, needing to get her eyes off his pink fucking face.
Ohhoho... Fi was not prepared for flustered Zoro.
She turned and examined the contents of the damn box, which was everything needed to care for her tools. Realizing the heat on her own cheeks wasn't fading anytime soon, she turned quickly, eyes a little wide as she faced him again.
Zoro's jaw audibly snapped shut with a small frown.
"Thank you."
His bright eyes gave away his brusqueness. "Uh… yeah."
He swiftly stood and stomped back from whence he came, slamming her door behind him.
Her eyes went back to the box in front of her.
A peace offering.
From Zoro.
Oh... Ohhoho.
Shit.
Fiore's weapons laid across the protective cloth covering her new desk. Zoro obviously thought of everything she needed for this task, and now her freshly cleaned tools gleamed perfectly next to the dull, grimy ones.
She was still polishing when she heard the tell-tale noises of a fight outside on the deck along with the shrill complaints of Usopp and Chopper. Curious and anticipating entertainment, she stood and made her way topside.
Luffy laughed and wrestled with the reindeer and sharpshooter over what appeared to be a game of cards gone wrong, the latter two not at all impressed with their captain's antics.
Nami and Sanji both turned and offered her their biggest smiles, calling for her to join them where they sat at a small table on the deck.
Fi wondered why they looked so damn excited, but she simply made her way towards them. She hopped up and walked along the starboard railing of the ship as the young boys' antics came a little too close to her—it was damn near earsplitting.
She dropped to a seat on the rail as she returned Sanji and Nami's greetings with her own small smile. Nami chatted easily at Fi about the next leg of their voyage, while Sanji fetched a big tray of drinks before rejoining the conversation.
Nami discussed how they would said for about a week to reach a medium-sized island. There, while the log pose reset, they would restock and prepare for a longer voyage of four weeks at sea.
Within a few minutes, Robin joined them at the table, greeting her amicably. She wrote in a leather-bound journal and sipped her drink, chiming in occasionally as Nami and Sanji continued chatting.
Fi remained seated on the starboard railing, staying among them for once, but she eventually fell quiet as she relaxed.
She turned to stretch the length of her legs along the railing and leaned to her uninjured side, supporting herself on her right hand. She sipped the drink Sanji had prepared, a pleasantly biting concoction of rum and a creamy fruit.
The breeze was calm, and the crew had furled the sails and dropped anchor for the evening. The island where she and Zoro fought was visible not so far away—they'd sailed out just to the edge of a treacherous coral reef for a modicum of protection from potential threats.
It wasn't long before the rest of the crew had filtered out to lounge and watch the night fall.
Brook sat on the bench around the center mast while he played soft tunes. Franky, Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy sprawled out on the middle of the deck with where they battled in a card game with indiscernible rules and goals.
Everyone had a drink in their hands or nearby, all sipping the same concoction that Sanji had been steadily supplying her. Except Chopper, whose drink was as blue as his nose—she couldn't imagine a reindeer liked alcohol, and she knew the kid had a sweet-tooth.
When Zoro emerged from the men's quarters, he immediately shot Fiore a dirty look.
"You're not at all careful, are you?" He complained as he grabbed a drink from the tray on the table.
She raised a single eyebrow at him. "I'm stationary."
He crossed the deck to sit on his ass and recline back against the port railing of the ship, directly opposite her.
"Don't expect me to rescue you if fall over-board."
She mocked him, of course. "Aw, Zoro, you do care."
He scowled, unmoved. "Go drown already." Putting his hands behind in head, he closed his eyes and fell into a nap, no care in the world.
"That's my line." Fi muttered, unmoved.
She grew a little warm, realizing how damn… pleasant these causal interactions felt. Also, rum helped.
The Straw Hats made her feel like she'd been doing this with them all along. In reality, it was the first night she truly joined the others in such a friendly, familiar way.
Fi eventually stood and tread silently along the railing, slowly making her way up to the bow. She hopped up to the Lion figurehead where Luffy was normally stationed and sat down.
The lights of the nearby island danced like stars along the slight arc of the horizon. However unexpected, here she was, still within the glowing radius of the warm Sunny. Watching the dark horizon as usual, she considered the possibility of tomorrow.
Not much time passed before Fi's ears picked up the tiring tones of the crew.
Nami yawned.
Chopper's voice grew lethargic, and soon, he and Luffy were snoring.
Usopp yawned as he and Franky both called out good-nights to everyone, including her. She stood up and stretched, calling out a goodnight as she watched the two half carry and half drag Chopper and Luffy towards the men's quarters.
Fi opted to stand and lean back against the figurehead's mane rather than sit, knowing the others would go to bed soon, too. She crossed her feet at the ankles and her arms over her chest, calmly watching the water for another spell.
In time, Brook noisily finished his drink and announced his departure for the crow's nest, since he had watch duty that night.
Robin stopped writing and shut her journal, then both she and Nami decided to turn in, too. Fi waved at them as they bid her goodnight.
After a few minutes, Fi heard steel hitting flint, shortly followed by the smell of tobacco.
She tilted her chin up slightly to inhale the spicy smell on the air, not stopping the slight upturn of her lips. She was indeed very fond of Sanji's tell-tale scent. Since he used quality tobacco and papers to roll his own smokes, it one of the very few pungent odors she appreciated.
Fi stood and followed her impulse, having made up her mind not to take for granted her time with the welcoming Straw Hats.
She detoured and silently tracked along the port side railing, wantonly flicking Zoro right on the tip of his nose. She promptly dropped to the deck and soundlessly moved away to avoid his leg as he kicked out at her irritably.
"Awful ninja."
She glanced over her shoulder at him to see tips of his ears were red as hell. Hah—so cute.
Fi took a seat by Sanji, who looked at her a little curiously but seemed pleased nonetheless.
"How are you, my swan?"
"Glad to have a full belly." She gave him a small smile. "You?"
He gave her that bright smile of his, and her heart thawed further. "I'm simply happy you're here."
"Thank you again, for everything."
His cheeks tinged pink a bit as be brushed off her praise. "You shouldn't thank me—I will always take care of you."
She unconsciously tilted her head a fraction. Such a sincere man. She pressed her lips together and nodded.
"One more favor? Can I bum a smoke?"
He sat up with a widening grin as pulled his pack form his shirt pocket and handed it to her. "Finally! Someone who won't judge me for the habit."
She gave him a side-eye as she plucked a cigarette out of his pack and placed it against her dry lower lip. "Oh no, smoking is horrible. You'll ruin your lungs, you know."
Zoro gave a snort. "Don't even bother. Let him kill himself if he's that dumb."
Both she and Sanji looked to Zoro, but he still reclined back, eyes closed.
"Shut it, bicep." Sanji muttered as he sat up and fished out his lighter from his pocket. "I appreciate your concern, Fiore, but I have the best lungs of everyone. I can hold my breath the longest. I bet I out-swim even you, miss ninja."
"You do have strong lungs." She conceded, having witnessed it whenever one or several devil-fruit eaters needed rescued. But he definitely couldn't out-swim her. "Let's have a contest when my shoulder is better."
"Deal."
The blonde flicked the mechanism on the lighter, and she leaned forward to catch the tip of her cigarette in the flame as he cupped his free hand around it to block the breeze. She inhaled deeply, a cherry forming on the tip as the tobacco saturated her senses.
Fiore considered the humanity in Sanji's sapphire eyes. It was her favorite thing about the cook, hands down, even if it made her feel nostalgic. She exhaled smoke as she spoke.
"Don't feel bad—it's a necessary vice for many ninja, too."
Sanji eyed her as he puffed on his own cigarette and considered her words. "So… are all ninja fast like you?"
She grinned a little around her smoke as she slid down in her seat to get more comfortable, crossing one leg over the other. "Not a chance. Most ninja are faster than pirates though, that's for sure."
"Of course." The blond chuckled and reclined back casually, too. "I could have guessed you'd say that."
"Are they all so damn mouthy?" Zoro piped up from where he lazed, still not bothering to move, but his normal eye was open to meet hers when she looked to him.
She took a deep drag of her cigarette as she held his gaze and then exhaled at length, in no hurry to respond. She didn't hedge.
"Playing coy doesn't suit you. Admit it—you like my mouth."
Sanji snickered, and Zoro's frown deepened as he closed his eyes again to resume his nap, grumbling something about 'pompous' and 'purple.'
Fiore realized she very much liked eliciting that reaction from the green-haired grump, a feeling of satisfaction settling in her abdomen.
Quiet after that, she actually relaxed. She only smoked occasionally, when high-quality tobacco was available, so she felt heady for a few minutes. She maybe felt a little extra fuzzy given how easy it was to mess with Zoro, smoke with Sanji, or drink good rum around the entire crew. Despite the noise, she was genuinely comfortable around them.
She and Sanji puffed in companionable quiet for a few more minutes before he stood and bid her a peaceful sleep. She gave him a small, affectionate smile as she said goodnight in turn.
As the blonde left, he growled a low command at Zoro, warning him not to be an ass. Zoro didn't acknowledge him. Fi enjoyed that the two men, fire and ice, needled one another like siblings.
Ah, damn. When did she become so fond of these pirates?
Fiore reclined back again and let her head fall to the backrest of the chair. She gazed upwards, thoughts swirling back around to her earlier internal debate.
Could she really allow herself to sail with the Straw Hats for a while longer?
It would take a week or two for news of her activities to reach important ninja ears, so she had at least that long. Fi needed to find a populated island that suited her for a longer stint, maybe a few months, so she could plan her next step carefully and restock on ninja tools. And free passage was free passage. If the next island didn't suit her needs, it may be possible to sail with them for the longer, four-week tour Nami mentioned.
In the meantime, the relative stability and companionship the crew offered was appealing in a novel way, but therein laid a problem.
Fi already felt an attachment to this ship and its inhabitants. She knew it had a lot to do with the kindness they showed her, but it was more than that, too. It went back to the damned loudest captain in the New World.
Luffy's magnetism affected her immediately despite that he was hardly a kid, and Fi didn't doubt he would boil the oceans to reach his goal. At the same rate, his reassurance that 'it didn't matter' what kind of trouble surrounded her 'because friendship' was disconnected from reality. But dammit if she didn't find herself wanting to nod along anyway, almost believing his blasé, dreamer logic. In that ability laid the kid's real threat.
Also compelling was the fact that this diverse crew—whether they had it to begin with or were infected by Luffy—shared the captain's idealism. The Sunny itself, every wood grain and sail, was saturated with their devotions.
In truth, the Straw Hat's dynamic showed her that all pirates were not equal.
This was her first decent experience on a pirate ship, even taking into account Zoro's initially shitty attitude.
Despite that he was incorrigible out the surface, she favored the cranky swordsman. For all his gravitas, he was indeed the big, bad daddy-wolf of this pack.
As an outsider looking in, one pattern that emerged with life aboard the Sunny was that Zoro didn't miss much in spite of his aloof attitude.
If you peeled away his scathing tone and insults, the man provided downright paternal guidance to Luffy and Usopp. He volunteered to be a punching bag for the fiery Nami to work out her anxieties and subtly went out of his way to make Chopper feel secure. Zoro picked up on Sanji's triggers and grounded him with some commotion or rudeness. Brook seemed to find solace in Zoro's proximity whenever the skeleton looked exceptionally pensive. The burly swordsman actively listened when Franky reminisced about a past life. He even made attempts to defeat Robin in some chess-checkers mash-up, challenging her regularly even if it always ended the same—she used Zoro's own capricious rules against him to win.
What would it feel like to be within his protective radius rather than be a threat to it?
Ugh, ew—what an irrational, idiotic thought! These damn pirates were making her soft as hell.
She considered the ill-mannered man and his ability to pull strong reactions from everyone, including herself, with just a few words and a scowl. Even now, she felt his eyes picking her apart, still evaluative but no longer distrustful like last week.
"Like what you see, Zo~ro?"
"You finally look more comfortable." He observed.
She lifted her head to meet his stare, and he continued to watch her in that way of his. "I feel more comfortable."
"Then why're you makin' that face?"
Fiore wanted to be eye-to-eye with him for her next words. She stood and walked over, squatting down in front of him to balance on the balls of her feet, shifting her weight to the right, elbows on her knees. He didn't bother to move or sit up, but he watched her steadily.
"You have to know by now that I'm not going to hurt any of them. I promise."
"I know that."
She felt too bare in front of him like this, and he only demonstrated his keen sight when he questioned her again.
"S'not the only thing. Come on—out with it."
She searched his dark, tireless eye as she ventured a question she was afraid to have answered. "Why in the world did they send you after me?"
A moment of guilt crossed his expression as he paused to consider her words for far too long. "Why does that matter?"
Her eyes found her toes, uneasy about his response. "I haven't done anything to earn their good graces like this. What do they want with me? I'm not for hire—I'm no mercenary."
"Meh, don't be so self-important." He dismissed trivially.
She looked up with a surprised scoff, annoyed that he'd be flippant when she actually opened up. His eye followed her as she stood up from her crouch. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"
His expression darkened, too. "Che. What's your problem now?"
"My problem is that you asked, so I walked my ass over and told you I don't know why I've been invited to stay on this ship. And you take it for pride?"
"You're overthinking it." He argued, standing up all at once to glower down at her. "At what point did you get the impression anyone 'earns a right' to be here? There's no motive to uncover. Stop doubting us."
"That's not how it works in my world."
"You're not in your world—you're in ours."
She grit her teeth together. There had to be a reason they brought her back again. Captain's childish whim? Because she was ninja and could fight? The bitterness on her tongue was probably audible. "Nothing is given."
Gaze unbreakable, tone tough, he cut straight to the heart of her reservations like he read her mind.
"Why isn't it reason enough that we want you here? You tell me, Fi—after that, what else really matters?"
She glared back, unable to voice her misgivings as she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat.
"If we say you're with us, then you're with us. Get used to it." He scowled sternly, then took a few steps forward and opened his arms, sweeping them forward in a gesture meant to cow her backwards. "Now, stop trying to feed your ego and go to sleep."
"Wha—excuse me?!" She protested as he attempted to herd her.
He raised an eyebrow, still trying to shoo her along. "You tellin' me you're not beat, after everything today?"
"No!"
He nodded condescendingly, raising one stupid green eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure."
"You're the fucking worst!" She roughly shoved back at his wide, ridiculously hard shoulders, then she turned on her heel, striding towards her own room of her own volition.
His sing-song tone was wholly mocking "Good~night, shitty little ninja."
"Drop dead, asshole pirate." She grouched, pushing through the door to the ship's interior, his dark chuckling following after her.
The shittiest part was how drained she felt—mentally, emotionally, physically.
Ugh.
He truly read her too easily.
Maybe she would drown the bastard after all.
