Disclaimer: One Piece was created by Eichiro Oda, and Shonen Jump owns it, I don't. This is part of a 100 themes challenge at Orange and Green- a Nami and Zoro fan community.

Theme: Expectation

Swallowing hard, Nami followed the swordsman into the ships lounge. From the way in which that lump on Zoro's jaws swelled up she felt he needed a ice pack. On the way there he passed the bar, and reached into the wine rack to grab a bottle. She hunted for ice in the small fridge, and grabbed a plastic bag. He stopped with his back turned till she filled it.

"Here..." She offered and held the cold pack to him. He didn't reach to take it. Terrific, he was pissed. She had royally screwed up, but he had been unclear too. Since when did he say that he wanted more than a roll on the sofa?

Gruffly Zoro turned to her and muttered, "I don't suppose you have a good reason for what you said when you left? The hell Nami!"

This time the navigator was speechless unable to find her way through the morass of her uncomfortable emotions. For a few minutes her eyes wandered toward the huge aquarium overlooking the lounge. "I... I made a mistake."

"You sure as hell did, woman! Was it funny to see the look on my face? I don't figure you as a person to play with people's emotions..." The swordsman growled out, face hidden in shadow. Dark eyes hardened with anger.

"You're the one taking things seriously, jumping to conclusions when I thought you just wanted to collect on an agreement!" Nami countered, fists grabbing handfuls of material.

"Oh, so I don't have emotions? What we did was just sex?" Zoro demanded.

"I said 2,000,000 for a ride and you said yes," the navigator protested. Long tangerine hair fluttered over her face.

"Then it was just sex..." He trailed off, spinning around. "My mistake..."

"You getting all possessive when I get up... And if you wanted more you should have said so..." The navigator pointed out. She gulped down her pounding heart and it sank to the pit of her soul.

"Excuse me?" Zoro asked, turning around again.

"You were acting like I was a thing that belonged to you, and that just..." She began, before wrapping arms around herself. Still she wore his emerald green kimono, but he hadn't given her a chance to change.

"Wait a minute... You're seriously thinking I was screwing you for money? I thought you were using it as an excuse to come onto me," he realized, pressing his hand to his head. He didn't know if he should feel hurt or relieved. Nami slowly nodded, causing his anger to abate.

"Yes... I thought you were exchanging it for part of your debt. You were the one who put a price on kisses," Nami indicated, holding out the ice pack again.

"You shouldn't have taken it seriously. Don't you think I'd want more?" Zoro asked, his voice finally lowered in pitch.

Was she hearing him right? He had jumped to conclusions with unsaid expectations that did not match hers. "Well you didn't say so! I haven't eaten some psychic-psychic fruit, idiot!"

Seeing the irritated glare he sighed at her. With his right hand he combed his green hair, tugging on it. "I thought you felt how good it was. That it was something more... But I guess I'm the fool."

"Then you like me? Is that it?" Nami dared to ask. Now her heart rose back into her throat.

"If you don't feel the same, let me know now. I'll leave you alone," the swordsman murmured. His hand rested on his sword hilts.

Storming over she shoved the plastic bag at him. "Are you going to take this ice pack or not?"

"Yes or no?" Zoro persisted. Exasperated Nami shoved the pack on his injury. Her hand felt almost numb from the cold.

"I... Like you! You happy now you stubborn moss for brains?" She snapped. Her other hand grabbed his shirt front and tugged him down. Angrily she pecked his lips.

"So is that a yes?" Zoro asked, arching an eyebrow. His arms dropped to his sides, as if he waited for her answer.

"I'm sorry," she began.

Zoro nodded slowly, head bowed as he stepped back. "So am I..."

Oh no, he didn't seriously think that was her whole answer did he? Extra energy propelled her leap forward so her arms caught him around the neck. The ice pack fell to the floor. "Wait! Come back here! I wasn't finished!" She cried.

Zoro caught her around the waist with both his strong hands. Her breasts pressed between them. Something gleamed in his dark black eyes that she saw last night. "Oh?"

"I like you too, you thick headed stubborn..." Nami answered, kissing him on the chin. "I was just apologizing for being a jerk and not..."

"Apology accepted," the swordsman murmured as he wrapped his muscular arms around her. To have her apologize was a rarity like when she shared tangerines. Instead of kissing her he buried his face in her hair and inhaled her scent.

Nami pressed her face into his chest to listen to his steady heartbeat. Accepting the reality of what was just said instead of crashing into the throws of passion. Now that the expectations were clarified, they paused in the quiet warm moment of calm and togetherness.