Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.
Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.
Warning: OOC possible. One shot. AU
Rating: T
Note: AU setting. College zeitgeist. Prompt#86: "I'll walk you home."
Summary: So does this mean I need your approval before I can date someone?
Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven
10: Dating… It's the Pits
The door of his apartment banged open followed by loud, stomping footsteps.
"Get up! Get dressed! You are coming with me!"
Nami issued the command the moment she entered his bedroom. Her warm brown orbs scanned the area, showing mild confusion when it didn't see the green-haired man lounging on his bed, snoring himself to oblivion.
"I'm up. Not dressed. And definitely not coming with you." Zoro responded unenthusiastically, watching her from the bathroom mirror. He returned to shaving his face (which he momentarily halted when he nearly nicked himself due to the sudden loud intrusion).
There was a movement in the mirror's corner and he saw Nami's reflection was closer now. She was standing just behind him with hands on her hips, an unamused expression plastered on her pretty face.
"You are coming with me," she ordered.
He rolled his eye at her. "No."
"Do not make me drag your ass out that door."
"Try and die witch!"
She swiftly kicked him on the leg.
"Hey!" Zoro turned and glared at her. He motioned at razor on his hand. "Are you trying to make me completely blind?"
"Makes no difference to me," Nami said with a shrug looking pointedly at the scar on his left eye.
"Warms my heart to know that you care."
She ignored his comment and folded her arms across her luscious chest. "You're already shaving your face Zoro! That means you are considering going out today."
Zoro huffed as he returned to his task. "How about the stubbles are irritating me?"
"Don't play that shit on me. If you are not planning to go out and drink later then you'd still be sprawled on your bed, dead to the world."
"Tch!"
"Come on! I haven't even said where we are going!"
"I'm not interested to know because I'm not coming with you."
"ZORO!"
"Take Luffy."
"He's with his brothers!"
"Right. Then take swirly brows."
"No!" She said defiantly before turning her back on him. She approached his closet, throwing its doors open. "Sheesh Zoro! Did you forget laundry day again? Everything here stinks! Ugh!" Despite her comment, she started rummaging inside for something decent for him to wear.
"Oi! Don't go around poking your head in somebody else's closet! You don't know what you might see in there!"
Nami swiveled towards him with a raised eyebrow. "What will I see huh? Porn mags? Used condoms? Skimpy women's underwear?" She smirked cockily when he did not answer.
Like it's possible. There's a bigger chance of finding dead rat bodies stuffed by Luffy inside his closet as prank than any of those items she just enumerated.
He stepped out of the bathroom glaring at her while drying his face with a towel. "Maybe," he answered with a shrug.
"Oh gosh! Zoro keeps women's underwear in his closet. What a pervert!" Nami drawled sarcastically. "When did you turn to old man Brook?"
"Shut up!"
"Like hell you would have one here," the orange-haired girl snorted. "And if you possibly do, it's more likely because you are gay instead of hooking up with someone."
Zoro growled an obscenity at her which she dismissed with a wave of her hand.
"Anyway," she faced him, throwing a clean shirt in his direction. "Get dressed!"
He caught it with one hand. "Oi, who said I'm coming with you?" He sneered at her before throwing the shirt back, hitting her straight on the face.
"You don't have a choice!" Nami snarled, throwing the shirt back at him. "You still owe me in case you are forgetting!"
Zoro quirked an eyebrow at that. "Owe you? But I did not borrow any money from you!"
Nami pouted at him. "But I saved you from Chiaki yesterday. And the day before yesterday. And the day before that."
Chiaki (who-cares-what-her-last-name-is) was a tall, curvy and slutty (in Nami's opinion) senior, who's in Zoro's lit class. She constantly follows him around the campus, throwing herself at the ever-oblivious green-haired guy and much to Nami's consternation… she sometimes shows up at Zoro's apartment randomly under the guise of bringing him lecture notes.
The tall lad snorted at that. "What are you saying? I don't need any saving from Chiaki. How delusional can you get?"
"Oh you do you oaf!" Nami glared at him. "It's not like you can push her off when she latches herself onto you." Suddenly she was in front of him, clinging tightly on his arm. He can feel her soft breasts against him, sending tingling sensations all over his body.
"OI!"
"Oh Zoro-kun," she purred, batting her eyelashes at him. "Let's walk to our class together," her voice hitting an irritating pitch as she imitated the way his classmate speaks. "I'll make sure you don't get lost. Then maybe we can grab some coffee later after class? Or hit the bar? Whichever you prefer?"
Zoro pulled his arm free from her grasp. "Nice Nami. Really nice."
Nami made a face at him. "If you think I'm just gonna stand and watch her blatantly throw herself at you, you are mistaken mister. Kami knows how you and Luffy needs someone to take care of this kind of people!"
"I didn't ask you to," Zoro grumbled at her. "I can handle it just fine."
"Ooooh right," Nami nodded with a wry smile. "Because you can handle tact just fine. How are going to tell her you are not interested without breaking her heart, huh? Not that I care or anything."
Zoro looked at her intently. "Who said I wasn't?"
That stilled Nami. "What do you mean?" She managed to ask and prevent herself from sputtering the words out due to sheer astonishment.
"You heard me."
"Is that so?" Nami questioned lowly, cocking a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him.
Zoro let out a 'tch' before speaking. "You're always complaining about how you always have to look out for me. Well, Chiaki seems eager to take me off your hands. Let's just let her."
The temperature seemed to drop suddenly. Sure it was cheerily sunny outside and all. But inside his room…
It felt like hell just froze over.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to date her?" Her gaze on him was ice cold, her tone even more so.
"Huh?" Zoro was taken aback by her reaction. He noted how her usually warm chocolate eyes suddenly lost the usual fire in them. "I… uh…"
She huffed. "Do what you want." She pushed past him and made her way out of his apartment without another word.
"Congratulations Nami, you made yourself look like a fool," Nami muttered under her breath as she trudged along the crowded avenue on her way to meet Usopp.
She was now regretting the way she acted earlier… losing her composure and storming out of Zoro's apartment. She is usually good in keeping her emotions in check and under wraps.
But this time it got the better of her.
She was so shocked with Zoro's revelation and it actually felt like someone had sucker punched her right in the gut.
In all honesty, she genuinely believed that he was not interested in that slutty classmate of his. He always seemed indifferent with the opposite sex that most of their friends have an ongoing bet as to when he's gonna come out.
That's why she never expected him to say that.
"Oi Namiiiii!"
Nami snapped out of her musings and spotted a figure waving enthusiastically near the entrance of the local bookstore.
She gave a small wave back as Usopp rushed over to meet her.
"Hey! Thank heavens. I thought you were gonna bail on me!" Usopp said, grinning.
Nami mirrored his grin… well tried, to be exact. "The thought actually crossed my mind…"
"Oi!" Usopp frowned at her.
And she laughed at his reaction. "Come on lover boy. Let's go get your date!"
Usopp blushed at that, stuttering a retort. She only rolled her eyes at him, ignoring the gibberish coming out of his mouth. He always gets tongue tied when they teased him about Kaya and their relationship. And that makes it so much fun to do.
They started walking towards Kaya's place.
"Hey are you ok?" Usopp peered inquisitively at her after a few silent minutes. "You're awfully quiet."
Nami turned her head towards him. "Uh yeah. Sorry, I kinda got lost in my thoughts."
Usopp laughed. "Zoro must be rubbing off on you. Spending a lot of time with him is detrimental to your health."
"I do not spend a lot of time with him," she said with a frown.
"Uuuh… actually you kinda do?" Her dark-haired friend said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I've been seeing you two on the campus grounds together… a lot."
Nami scowled at being called out. "Well someone has to make sure our idiot gets himself in and out of his classes without unnecessary detours." She didn't add the fact that she was also walking the green-haired lad to and from his classes to ensure that that harpy Chiaki wouldn't be able to get her claws on him.
Zoro was too good of a man for a girl like her. She's not gonna watch one of her best friends date a girl like that. No way. Nuh uh.
Usopp merely shrugged. "Well I honestly thought you'll be roping him into coming with us tonight."
"Well he's busy."
"Zoro's never too busy for your whims coupled with your threats." Usopp gazed at her disbelievingly. He's friends with Nami and the others for a long time now that he was well-aware that she has the green-haired senior wrapped around her pinky.
"Well he is."
He immediately sensed that something was up. "Uh, Nami…" he began to ask.
"Usopp," Nami cut him off and gave him a smile that clearly states he's gonna get it if he doesn't shut up. "Let's just go pick Kaya up."
The curly-haired lad acquiesced. "Alright." He glanced at his companion again with doubtful eyes. "Hey," he decided to change the topic hoping to switch Nami's mood. "Thanks for third wheeling," he lightly nudged her with his shoulder. "I would've asked Vivi but she's out of town for the weekend."
This time Nami's face brightened. "I don't mind third wheeling Usopp, since you're gonna owe me for this big time!"
Usopp gulped. He can practically hear the sound of belis falling in the background. Good Kami! Nami's planning to bankrupt him just for this favor!
"Hey maybe we can talk about it," he suggested weakly. He knows from experience that it is not a good thing to owe favors from Nami. "You know how strict Merry-san can be. Give your poor friend a break!"
The girl narrowed her eyes at him. "A favor's a favor Usopp."
"Aaw. Come on. In the name of love!"
Nami choked on that. "Eeww. You should stop hanging out with Sanji-kun!"
"You act like you don't have a romantic bone in your body."
"Damn right I don't!"
"Yeah… but you do cry your eyes out when watching those sappy chick flicks."
He got whacked for that comment. "I do not!" Nami cried out in horror.
"I have a damn credible source!"
"Who?!"
"It's… a secret!"
Nami stopped walking and glared at her friend. "That better be not Luffy or Zoro!"
"Mmm… no."
"What's with the pause Usopp?! You're lying!" She reached out to pinch his ear.
"Hey! Aww! Yeah it's them!" Usopp admitted in the less than 5 seconds. He was never really that good with pain and damn, Nami does know how to inflict one.
"I'm gonna clobber those two," she huffed as she released him.
"Just exclude me. Thank you." Usopp said rubbing his ear. Nami mumbled something under her breath before she started walking again. Whatever it was, Usopp wasn't able to catch it but he did notice the change in her demeanor.
He moved to catch up to her. "What's bothering you?" He asked, noting that Nami seemed to be shifting from one mood to another. He wanted to chalk it up to her time of the month but something tells him that that's not the case.
Nami shook her head. "Nothing. Why?"
Usopp raised an eyebrow; did she actually forget that he knows when she is lying? "There is something wrong. I can tell with your aura!"
"Aura?"
"Yeah! Did Luffy do something? Or did Zoro?"
"Why would you think one of them has something to do with it?"
Usopp rolled his eyes at her. "Uh, because they are our resident troublemakers? And nothing, nothing puts you in a really bad mood than those two getting themselves in a deep shit, well aside from losing money on your betting games."
She sighed exasperatedly. "No deep shits. Luffy's with his brothers so whatever crazy stuff he pulls, Ace and Sabo can handle it."
"Ok. And how about Zoro?"
There was silence. And Usopp frowned, brows furrowing as he watched Nami stare blankly ahead as the two of them continued walking. He opened his mouth to snap her back to reality but she spoke suddenly.
"Zoro wants to date Chiaki."
Usopp blinked. Once. Twice. Did he hear it right?
"Uh… come again?"
"I said," Nami pinned him with totally incensed glare. "Zoro wants to date Chiaki." This time the words were coming out through gritted teeth. "That bitch!"
Usopp's mouth opened and closed unable to form the right words.
"Oh shit." Was the only thing he managed to blurt out after several seconds of trying.
"Uhh… you might wanna tone down with the throwing?" Usopp meekly suggested.
Nami scowled at him before flinging the ball in her hand. It landed inside the slanted bucket and bounced out, nearly hitting Usopp in the forehead.
They were in the street fair adjacent to the outdoor movie theater where him, his date Kaya and Nami spent the early part of the evening watching a good but old comedy flick (thank Kami, they decided not show anything romantic that might make Nami's nerves explode).
Usopp and Nami were currently playing ball and bucket toss for the cute doughnut pillows while Kaya went to the ice cream stall to get them desserts.
"I can't believe it," Nami growled. "Why her of all people?!" She threw another ball, aiming at the bucket to her left. The ball bounced back towards them nearly hitting Usopp again.
"Hey watch it!"
"I wanna beat that idiot into a pulp!" Nami announced, gripping the ball tightly as if she was strangling someone's neck. She threw the ball hastily and nearly hit the one managing the stall. They both apologized sheepishly as the man threatened to ban them from playing.
"Calm down Nami! Calm down!" Usopp grabbed her on the shoulders to stop her from rampaging. "Tch. I know this is going to happen."
"YOU KNOW?!"
"Well… kind of…" Usopp swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared in his throat.
Nami's gaze on him was so intense that he felt like he would melt on the spot from too much fear. "Why didn't you tell me?!" She growled at him.
He stared at her as if she had grown two heads. "Tell you what? That you like him?"
"Eh?"
They stared at each other for a really, really long time. Both trying to comprehend what the other were saying.
Usopp scratched his head. "I thought this was the kind of thing you need to figure out yourself."
Nami just continued to stare at him, seemingly frozen. "I thought you mean about Zoro and Chiaki." She finally stated.
"Oh…" Clearly they were not on the same page as Usopp initially thought.
But the bomb has already been dropped. And there is no taking it back.
He watched as Nami swallowed and fiddled with the ball in her hand, looking lost.
Usopp patted her shoulder lightly. He'll just let the realization of it all sink into his orange-haired friend for now. As much as Nami is smart, she's also kind of dense when it comes to the romantic department and a bit slow when it comes to what she's really feeling.
Even if it's too damn obvious to practically everyone. Not to mention that almost half of their campus already believes that she and Zoro are dating.
Nami continued fiddling with the ball, taking in what Usopp had just said and what he made her realize.
She half-heartedly threw the ball she was holding. She likes Zoro?
And the ball miraculously went inside the bucket without bouncing out.
"Oh hey!" Usopp yelled, pumping a fist into the air.
"It went in!" Nami gasped in amazement.
How odd. It was like the universe just answered her question.
"Just one more and you get the doughnut." The man behind the stall said, handing her another ball.
But luck wasn't on her side and the ball bounced out of the bucket again.
"Seems like today is not a good day after all." She murmured watching Usopp win the doughnut pillow for Kaya.
"What are you saying?" Usopp frowned at her.
Nami sighed. "It feels like I got sucker punched by unwanted revelations twice. And," she poked at the pillow in Usopp's arm. "I can't fucking win this doughnut! I want one!" She complained poking it again.
"Want me to win one for you?" Usopp sincerely offered. "It's the least I can do since you did accompany me and Kaya today."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't think for a second you are off the hook Usopp. You still owe me for this favor. Winning me a doughnut is just barely scratching the surface."
Usopp squeaked a protest weakly. You really can't get away from Nami when it comes to favors and debts.
"Tch! Forget about winning this," Nami threw her hands up in defeat. "I should just head back and mull over the fact that the guy I like, wants to date another girl."
That didn't escape Usopp's sharp ears. "Sooo…" he intoned, letting the vowel drag for a few seconds. "You do admit that you like Zoro?"
Nami looked horrified. Oh Kami, she had said that out loud! Unconsciously and out loud!
Usopp was looking at her expectantly.
There was no way she can lie her way out of this. Not when Usopp is the better liar and knows how to call her bluff.
"Shut your trap nose-kun," Nami warned. "This is only between the two of us. If word comes out, I'll have your hide."
"Understood," Usopp mock-saluted.
Nami turned her attention back to the game in front of her. Just one more and she'll call it quits even if she hates giving up. She was desperately wishing to at least get something good before the day ends.
She threw the ball distractedly and with a bit more force than necessary.
It bounced out of the bucket again and flew past her. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"What a lame throw."
Her head swiveled towards the voice. Zoro was standing a few feet behind her with the ball in his hand which he obviously caught.
A frown automatically appeared on her face as Usopp greeted the green-haired man.
"Zoro! Nice to see you here!" Usopp let out a rather fake laugh. How long has he been standing there? Kami, sometimes he hates how stealthy he can be. Hopefully he wasn't able to hear what he and Nami were talking about.
Zoro nodded in response to his greeting.
"Why are you here?" Usopp mentally noted how Nami edged away from Zoro and from the look on the tall man's face, he noticed it too.
"I thought you were busy?"
Zoro cocked his head towards Usopp in confusion and his lone grey eye shifted towards Nami with a frown. "Just looking for someone," he finally answered flicking the ball at Usopp. His attention moved back to the orange-haired girl.
The ball bounced on Usopp's hand thrice before he caught it. "Oh. Looking for your date?"
He could swear Nami's stare burned through him like lasers.
"Huh?" Was Zoro's lax reply.
Usopp inched away from Nami's reach. "You said you were looking for someone? I thought…"
"Don't be stupid," Zoro scoffed at him. "I was looking for her." He pointed at Nami who still has her back turned towards him. "Oi Nami!"
Nami did not even glance at his direction.
"The hell is her problem?" Zoro grumbled and Usopp shrugged.
"Dunno…"
Zoro's gaze on him was piercing. And Usopp avoided looking in his eye lest he finds out that he's covering Nami. The tall lad was perceptive than most give him credit for.
"Tch."
Usopp placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's probably best if you stay clear from her today. She's in one of her moods."
Zoro grunted something under his breath.
"Zoro?"
"It's nothing Usopp," he waved off Usopp's concern with a hand. "Best to face the damn storm head on."
Usopp sighed wearily. The man was asking for it. Maybe he does like getting beaten up by Nami. He should've known Zoro has a masochistic tendency.
"You know what, I better go and get Kaya. It's getting late and you know how Merry-san is." He then tapped Nami on shoulder wordlessly thanking her for accompanying him and high tailed it out of there in the blink of an eye.
"Hnn..." Zoro barely acknowledge his friend's unusual haste.
Nami groaned inwardly. So much for loyalty. Usopp just left her to fend for herself. Alone. Against Zoro.
She signaled to the man in the stall to give her another ball and she hurled it towards the bucket along with all the frustrations of the day.
"Stop trying to throw like you want to kill it!" Zoro criticized, stepping up beside her.
"Shut up!" Nami snapped at him. "No one's asking you! Leave me alone!"
"The hell is your problem Nami?"
"Nothing that concerns you Zoro."
Zoro paused to keep his temper in check. She's acting all sulky and childish and damn if her bratty way did not piss him off. "Nami," he said, lowering his tone. "What is going on?"
He could see her stiffening. Nami knows that when he starts using that certain tone, she better straighten herself right away before he loses his temper.
There was a long silence that nearly drove his teetering patience over the edge.
"You never told me you wanted to date her," Nami finally admitted, chucking another ball towards the bucket.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Chiaki?"
Nami nodded. "Yeah if I had known then I would've—"
"You would've what?" Zoro asked, his tone sharp.
"I would've stopped hanging out with you!" Nami snarled at him.
Zoro was looking at her disbelievingly. "What are you talking about you stupid witch?"
Nami groaned. This is how romantically inept Zoro are. He can't grasp the point of what she's saying.
"I—"
"Hear me out first Nami," Zoro cut her off, raising his voice a bit so that it can penetrate her rather thick skull. "I didn't say I wanna date her. I just said if I'm too much of a burden for you then just hand the responsibility to Chiaki since she's more than willing. I was only kidding. Then you suddenly went and cold shouldered me."
Nami fought the urge to pull at her hair in frustration. "It's because I don't like her for you! She throws herself on you too much."
Zoro seemed to be pondering about something as he watched her lamely throw the ball again.
"Will it help if I admit that I don't like her?" He suddenly asked.
Nami's eyes swiveled towards him to gaze at his face. Was he pulling her leg again?
But all she saw was a serious expression across his handsome face. His brows were furrowed as he stared at her… gauging her, studying her reaction.
His hands were shoved in the pockets of his jacket. She could make out the hard muscles of his chest and realized he wasn't wearing any shirt underneath and most likely just haphazardly thrown it around him, zipped it up, and then went looking for her.
The thought made her face heat up and her heart flutter.
Usopp was damn right. She likes him. A lot. She always has.
She turned away from him before answering. "Yeah," she said quietly. "It does." She tried to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. It was nice to know that. Really nice. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Zoro's lips quirked at her answer. "Are you jealous Nami?"
She blanched and turned red in a matter of seconds. "What!? Why are you asking me that?!"
He smiled and shrugged. "It would be nice…"
And just when she thought she can't get any redder, she was surprised to find out that she actually CAN.
Nami punched his arm to cover her embarrassment. She didn't want to ask what he meant by that… even if it made her heart skip a beat.
He rubbed the abused part, even if she can't really hurt him that much. Well… physically anyway.
"So are we good now?" He asked, trying to act nonchalant.
"No."
"Why!?"
Nami glared at him and placed her hands on her hips. "You think you can get away with pissing me off easily Zoro?!"
He inwardly groaned. Look where he got his stupid self into. Again. Right back into Nami's slave driver clutches. And he knows she will make him wait on her hand and foot until she's satisfied.
And Nami never gets satisfied.
But frankly… he really did not mind.
"What do you want me to do witch?"
The moment he asked her that question, the smile on her face rivaled the gleaming lights of the fair. "I want a doughnut pillow Zoro."
"Huh?" Zoro raised an eyebrow at her.
"Win me a doughnut pillow," she demanded, pointing at the game she was sorely losing earlier.
"I can't believe you sometimes," Zoro complained as he took a step towards the stall.
It took almost no effort for him to win her the pillow. Make that three pillows.
"Now are we good? Or do you want me to win all the doughnuts?" Zoro asked exasperatedly. He made a mental note never to piss Nami again. Making amends take too much out of him and his pockets.
Nami was beaming at him, while holding all the pillows in her arms. "We're good," she said chirpily. She glanced at the man managing the stall with pity. He looked really nervous upon realizing that Zoro can wipe his stall clean effortlessly.
Zoro stared at her before heaving a sigh. "Anything else you want me to do your highness?"
"Nothing so far slave."
"Now let's go. I'll walk you home."
"Don't. You'll only get lost," Nami said snootily, shoving two of the pillows in his arms. "Walk me to your apartment."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because I said so Zoro!" Nami pulled him towards the direction of his place.
"What? You wanna hang out or something?"
"Yeah."
They were walking in a rather pleasant silence and pace, when Zoro suddenly laughed. "I can't believe you got mad all because you thought I like and wanted to date Chiaki."
Nami scowled at him. "Shut up marimo-head. Like I said, I don't like her for you."
He was still laughing, just realizing the absurdity of their 'fight'. But unexpectedly, he was able to confirm something because of it.
"So does this mean I need your approval before I can date someone?" Zoro asked contemplatively.
Nami pursed her lips. It felt like a trick question and that she should consider her answer carefully. Because from the expression on Zoro's face, it looks like he's up to something and it looks like he knows something.
"Not really. You can date anyone except Chiaki."
Zoro stopped in his tracks. "Is that so?"
Nami mirrored his movement. "Yeah."
His countenance remained amused as his gaze never left her face.
"Then date me Nami."
- The End –
Imagine them in that conversation while holding doughnut pillows. Lol.
First fic with AU setting done! Thought I should try something different than usual. It's nice to see them in a normal school setting. No thanks to the Hungry Days commercial!
R and R please.