Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. I am merely a fan borrowing the characters to write stories and improve myself.
Author's note: I have to greatly apologize to you all for the super delay this time. I can't believe it has been over 6 months since I last posted. I guess I owe some kind of explanation, especially as I promised to not make the gaps between chapters so long in future…
The short story – life got in the way of my ability to process my thoughts and have time to write.
The long story - In January I explained that my new year had started pretty rubbish…well my mum was diagnosed with cancer in October 2016. We were taking her for treatment regularly so most of my free time went to her care. Unfortunately, bit by bit, our hopes of her getting through it were pulled from under us due to its rare and aggressive nature. My mother lost her battle to cancer last month. I was incredibly close to her so I am sure you will understand that these past 7 months have been the hardest for me. For those of you who have read my other works, you will also be aware of my dad passing away a few years ago to the same disease.
I have to say, I never thought for a second that I would lose both of my parents at this stage in my life. It has left a huge void that will never fully heal and I know I will be grieving for the rest of my life. To top it off I now discover my gran has also been diagnosed with cancer…It sucks…So, you can see why I feel this year has been pretty shit and why I have put off writing for some time. I am trying my best to try to get back some normalcy in my life and distract myself with my imagination, hence why I am trying to write again.
I do not tell any of you this for sympathy. I also don't want people feeling guilty for messaging me to continue writing whilst this was happening, as no one was to know. If anything, it has been nice to know people have not given up on me yet and I thank you for it. So many people have offered support and help during this past month and yet there is nothing anyone can do.
All I can say to you is if you have someone close to you in your life that means the world to you, let them know and hold them close, because you never know when they will be taken from you. Make every moment count. Make every word meaningful. Cherish every memory and most importantly…let the anger go.
Now, on that depressing note…I choose to dedicate this chapter to my mother. The woman who taught me to follow my heart, care for others and never give up on my hopes and dreams.
Broken
Chapter 21
Franky watched as Robin exited the library and the cook approached her, possibly asking how things were going. Due to the situation between Nami and Zoro his own mind had been working in overdrive lately and sometimes he saw things that weren't there or noticed the smaller actions that he would miss before. He couldn't figure out why but he continued to try to find something and failed. What he was looking for he wasn't sure, but he wasn't able to stop himself. As Sanji offered Robin a drink and she took it with a radiant smile and small bow of her head, Franky knew that it was meant as a thank you and yet he saw it as more than that and it bothered him. He was starting to feel jealous of the cook.
As the couple continued to talk a little more, now walking in his direction, he realized he was staring at them and instantly tried to look elsewhere, at anything else. He tried to look busy as Sanji pulled a chair up for Robin, an action he always did, yet the sound sent shivers down Franky's spine. The grating of metal long the wooden deck…it was too familiar. He paused in his actions briefly as he grimaced and hoped they did not notice. When the cook eventually left to tend to Nami's mikan trees, an awkward silence fell. Robin was reading a book and was only a meter or so away from him. He looked down at what he was doing and tried to focus on hammering the nails into the frame he was making but his mind kept drifting. He thought about their narrow escape, about Sanji's feedback on what the old man said, about his experiences with Haru and his envy of his friends. He shook his head and coughed, trying to blank out all thought.
"Are you okay Franky?" Robin's voice cut through him and he felt his back straighten in response.
"Um, yes" he lied, blurting something out just to keep peace. The silence again felt awkward and so he tried to make conversation. "How did she take it?" he asked. Not looking her way but catching her movement in his peripheral vision.
Robin lifted her head from her book to look at him, surprised he was aware she had been having that conversation with Nami, he was more perceptive of her movements than she thought. "I am not so sure" she stated honestly. "Zoro is with her now" she remarked, leaving the comment open for interpretation.
The silence that followed felt even more unnatural for him and yet he didn't know what else to say. He pretended to continue with what he was doing and kicked himself for being a coward. His lack of attention cost him though as a hammer landed heavily on his thumb. "Damn it!" he exclaimed, dropping his tools and shaking his hand, trying to blow on the affected area as if it would help. He was taken by surprise when a pair of gentle, soft hands reached out and took hold of his large one, rubbing the wound and relieving him of the discomfort a little. Robin had moved quietly over to him and knelt in front of him.
"You should be more careful" she offered, in her motherly tone.
Franky retracted his hand and looked at the ground, "thank you" he muttered, picking up his hammer and another nail.
"What are you making?" Robin asked, trying to seem interested and engage in conversation. She could tell it is what he wanted but was unable to achieve on his own so made the effort for him. Since returning to the ship Franky had changed a little. He wasn't as funny, outgoing or chatty as he used to be. He even started to put on more than just pants and it had caught her attention. Particularly around her, he seemed to be more on guard.
"I am trying to see if I can make something that will fly" he reported.
Robin raised an eyebrow and looked at him, then looked at the heap of mess on the floor. The nails were out of line and there were cracks in the wood. It was clear he hadn't been paying attention and detail to what he was doing, "You don't know what it is do you?" she asked, getting straight to the point. The question hit him hard and he went rigid. He stopped mid action and she noticed the horror on his face. Robin sighed softly and placed a hand on his arm, "I have been watching you for a while now and I know you have been trying to keep busy, desperately making yourself useful…but all you are doing is holding back".
The moment the last few words came out of her mouth Franky glanced at her, horrified at how accurate she had been. He knew he had cried in her arms that one night but he had never truly opened up to her or to the others, just the odd snippets of information they needed to hear on occasion. In fact, he spent more time talking about what happened with Nami and Usopp than he did with himself. Though he figured from the state of his body it was pretty obvious what happened to him without having to ask. It didn't help that due to his change and weakness he felt emasculated and vulnerable so he tried to compensate his emotions with his actions, striving to do better and be stronger.
"You can talk to me" Robin offered. Franky snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her.
He placed one of his large hands onto the small hand that rested on his arm and sighed, "There are some things a woman should never have to hear or see" he remarked, trying to protect her from it all. Trying to protect himself.
Robin appeared dejected and hurt by his words and pulled away from him. Her reaction made his heart sink and he instantly felt bad. He knew how much Nami's rejection had hurt her and she only wanted to help them all. He sighed heavily and lowered his tools, running a hand over his face and pulling down on his jaw. "Look, it isn't that I don't want to talk to you" he stated, gaining her attention, "it's more like I don't know what to say or where to begin" he confirmed. Robin remained silent, purposely as he was now talking and that meant interruption might stop him. "I don't know what you want to hear…you know all the facts, you have seen it for yourself" he gestured to his body.
Robin repositioned herself, "it isn't about the details" she replied calmly, "it's more about your feelings" she identified.
"My feelings?" he echoed. "Where do I start?"
"Well, you could start with how are you feeling right now?" Robin asked him, her deep eyes focused on him. It was a question he knew he instantly couldn't answer honestly. He never realized he had been watched so closely. He didn't know if he should be happy by the prospect or creeped out by it.
"Unsure" he replied. He saw Sanji heading back their way and was reminded of the image of the two of them outside on the deck that night, sharing a drink and a laugh in the moon light. They looked like a good match. Sanji was always able to protect the women and treated them with respect. A perfect gentleman.
"Hey you guys okay?" Sanji asked as he approached, noticing tools on the floor and watching Robin pick something up of the ground and place it back in the tool box.
"Franky just missed the nail, that's all" she reassured, as if there was nothing to worry about. It was only in that moment Franky realized she was no longer sitting with him or touching him and the loss of contact hit him harder than he thought it would. Shaking his head, Franky pushed down on his knee and stood up, as if to stretch.
"I think I will have a break" he identified, knowing he would get nowhere quickly if he stayed near those two. As he walked away he didn't really know where to head to, he just wanted to increase his space and only stopped when he caught sight of their captain leaning against the railing up ahead, looking out into the ocean as if lost in thought.
He hesitated for a second, wondering if he should just keep walking or not but decided in the end to approach the young man. Luffy barely noticed he had arrived and so as not to startle him he rested his own arms on the side and looked out to the ocean. "Incredible, isn't it?" Franky stated, "how something so beautiful can be so dangerous" he remarked, talking about the depths of the blue mass before them and what lay on its surface.
Luffy wasn't wearing his hat and instead it lay on his shoulders by the string. He seemed to be looking down at some kind of vial in his hand that he rolled back and forth. The wind was whipping his black hair and making a knotted mess but he didn't seem to be phased by it. On hearing Franky's voice, Luffy pocketed the item in his hand and pushed himself back to stand upright and turned to face the older man. It was clear he had been having it rough lately himself from the puffy red eyes and dark circles around them.
"Franky…will you train with me?" he asked suddenly and out of the blue. The older man turned to face him, a little surprised at being the chosen sparring partner. He wasn't sure if his body could keep up with it or was even ready, yet he didn't let that stop his answer from shooting out of his mouth.
"When do we start?" he asked, keen to test himself, make himself stronger and take his mind off a certain crew member.
….
Chopper removed the bandages from Usopp's body for what seemed like the hundredth time and proceeded to help to lower him into the bath with Brook's support. It was the first time the sharpshooter was able to get in as his wounds had started to heal properly and the stiches were now removed.
Usopp held in his breath as he was lowered down onto the seat that was in the water. They purposely didn't have the bath too full so as not to cause a huge problem, but just enough to have an effect. They had to consider that there were two devil fruit users in there with them after all. Once in Usopp felt like his body was lighter than it had been in a long time and the warm liquid was soothing on his muscles. It was the first time he started to feel clean.
"This feels good!" he remarked.
"Doesn't it?" Brook agreed, fixing his cap on his afro so as not to get it wet.
"Usopp!" Chopper shouted as he watched the dark-haired man sink into the water and his head go underneath. The reindeer's cry caught Brook's attention and he managed to push Usopp back onto the seat properly and hold him in place as Chopper shoved a floating ring over the man to prevent that from happening again. Chopper had contemplated one of the other guys being in there with him to help but as he went through each of them in his mind he realized Brook was really Usopp's best option. Luffy would most likely want to play and be too rough, Sanji never liked bathing with the men anyway, Franky was still healing and Zoro was…well, he was busy with other things. Besides, he didn't think the sharpshooter would want his friends to see the state he was in, even if it was a vast improvement on what it once was.
They sat there quietly for some time as they let the water soak away their aches and pains. It was a tranquil feeling and the first time Usopp had felt alive for a while. Brook played his new piece of music for them to gain their opinion and they felt at peace for a moment. When the music stopped Chopper's mind started to race a little.
"Do you think Nami will get her voice back?" the doctor asked. Usopp opened his eyes and blinked as the steam helped to keep his vision hazy. Chopper had told them about the discussion he had with Sanji, Luffy and Zoro in the kitchen that morning and how Nami was acting odd and was unable to speak. It had caused the doctor concern as there were no visible physical problems and everyone feared that Haru had somehow managed to get into her head again.
"I don't know" Usopp replied honestly, lifting his head up so he was in a sitting position. His body was not as strong as it used to be but many of his bones had started to heal and he could at least manage some movements. It wasn't without pain but moving in water proved easier than moving outside of it so he tried to exercise his muscles a little and make the most of his experience.
Chopper looked to the eldest of the three and Brook remained silent for a moment, "Strange things have happened in this world" he stated, "so it is possible she will recover" he remarked, focusing on the positive.
Chopper was laying on his own ring and waved a hoof in the water to create some ripples. As he watched the ripples form into a small wave he couldn't help but think at how a small action could cause such a large reaction and how their enemies movements were proving more dangerous than he could ever imagine. "Why her?" Chopper thought out loud. Nami could be foul mouthed at times, would keep them in check and complain but she was also kind, funny, caring and risked herself for others. He thought back to the time he first met her and how he tried to hide from her or when she helped him when saving the children from Caesar's poisons and drugs.
"Because he likes his prey weak" Usopp offered.
Chopper immediately jerked and swung to look at the man, "Sorry I didn't mean…" he started, sliding down his ring and into the water, gasping for a minute before Brook managed to grab him by the tail and lift him up. "Thanks" Chopper stated, he was unable to swim afterall.
"No problem" Brook replied.
Chopper looked to the sharpshooter and Usopp knew he was worried he had said something to offend him, "It's fine" Usopp reassured him, "I know you didn't mean it". Usopp knew Chopper meant well but also knew he wasn't the strongest in the crew either and he and Nami were always at risk of being in a position which meant the others had to save them. It was the reason they fought to get stronger in the first place. As to why Haru chose to control Nami over him or Franky? Well, the only thing he could think was either it was because she was a woman or because of what happened to her that made her susceptible to him gaining entry.
"Haru appears to be the type of man who likes to stick to the shadows and watch the ripple effects of his actions" Brook acknowledged. "A dangerous man indeed" he remarked.
"How do you defeat someone like that?" Chopper asked, breaking their thoughts. "I am worried we won't be able to defeat him" he remarked honestly. They had never come across someone that was able to control other people in the way he did. Except perhaps that scary girl who managed to make people into puppets and their loved ones forget they even existed!
"He isn't invisible" Usopp blurted out. Although he could understand why Chopper felt this way he knew he was the only one in the room that had met Haru and been subject to his torture. Thanks to his friends he knew you can escape the mans grasps and he couldn't completely control you, that meant he had a weakness and as such he was human. Chopper turned to look at the man as he appeared to stare into the water and lose himself to his memories, "he is real, like you or me" he continued. It had taken him a long time to come to the conclusion and he knew he would still be scared if he saw the man again, but he had to remind himself he was human otherwise he would be swallowed completely by his own negativity.
Brook nodded his head, "Usopp is right, he is a devil fruit user and so he must have a weakness" he reassured. After all they had to believe in that. They had to believe there was hope in this situation and not let the fear eat away at them or else that would make them weak to his will. "To fight a strong enemy, you have to be stronger than them…" Brook stated, as if quoting the swordsman. Chopper perked up and looked at him, together they finished the sentence, "so we just have to get stronger." They laughed and then sighed laying back in the water to soak. Usopp looked at the ceiling again, get stronger huh? How am I going to be able to do that when I can barely move? The overwhelming reality of his situation choked him and was glad his friends were unable to see his face in that moment. Some things were easier said than done.
….
As the door to the library closed, a heavy silence filled the room. The only sound that seemed to echo loudly in their ears was the beating of their own hearts. Zoro half expected Nami to try to pull away from him or to turn to glare at him and slap him across the face, but she didn't. For what was probably seconds, seemed like minutes and the words he had been formulating in his mind seemed to dissipate as they reached his mouth. Suddenly it was difficult to think. Nami stood in front of him, half turned, her face looking away so her back faced him. She allowed him to keep her arm outstretched, but the tension in her body clearly indicated her wish for him to let her go. Zoro grimaced and kicked himself inside. He knew he should respect her wishes but he wasn't able to let her go. Doing so would likely create more distance between them and he knew with the mood she was in she would probably storm out of the room and not look back. If that happened he didn't know when he would get another chance to speak with her. He knew her too well by now to detect that even if she remained calm on the outside there was most likely a storm occurring on the inside. If he didn't help to build defenses against the turmoil then the small pieces of her that were left would shatter and no longer be repairable.
Nami felt as though her body and mind were being pulled in two different directions. Part of her wanted to run, run as fast as she could and never look back. The other part of her froze. It forced her to remain rigid and stay put. Off course a large part of her was angry. Angry with him, angry with herself, angry with Haru. The rest of her though…felt a mixture of emotion. Numbness, fear, guilt…any negative feeling that would come to mind was probably how she felt at this point in time. Her mind was racing as it tried to desperately process the information she had just received, her nightmares, the fact she could not speak and the feeling of Zoro's warm and firm grip around her wrist. She found herself not knowing how to respond to his action and worried he would try to pull her into him. She prayed he would not, as she knew that if he did, she would most likely push him away. She couldn't bring herself to look at him and that factor made her feel weak and powerless.
"I'm sorry" Zoro's voice was sincere and clear. It took a moment for Nami to process his apology and soon after she felt a hesitating hand release her arm, forcing it to drop by her side. She lifted her arm up to hold it against her body. For some reason, she found herself thinking that an apology wouldn't change anything. It was the words she didn't want to hear and yet the only words that could calm her. She heard rustling from behind and her ears pricked up in response.
"Please forgive me" Zoro practically pleaded. Upon hearing his pained voice Nami felt a pang of upset in her chest which helped her to slowly turn to face him. She tried to get ready to scold him as best as she could but her anger dissipated quickly as a burning sensation attacked her throat, causing her to wince and rub it gently. As she did so she lowered her gaze and her eyes opened wider in surprise. The swordsman was knelt on the ground, his hands resting on the floor and his head bowed over them in a prayer like position. He was practically begging her for forgiveness and Nami felt her remorse be replaced once again by anger. She did not know what to do. She wanted to yell, she wanted to hit him, she wanted to walk away and leave him there, but she didn't. Instead she let the numbness replace anger and remained motionless. After a few minutes though it soon became clear that Zoro was not going to change his position until he had some kind of response. She had to admit she was a little impressed with his discipline despite her frustrations. He remained in the same position for a while and did not look at her once. For a moment, he was so still she half expected a snore to come from him if not for the telltale twinges in his muscular form. Nami sighed and rubbed her arms up and down, before turning to look away from him. She needed a change of perspective.
Zoro heard footsteps and instantly grew concerned, praying to himself that she was not about to head towards the door. Yet as much as his anxiety grew he forced himself to remain still and in his current position, a symbol of respect. He had no idea how much time passed as his body started to ache, but he pushed through it. The footsteps stopped for a moment and he felt like the silence would destroy him. When the steps picked up again his heart skipped a beat and he let out a sharp breath of relief. She was still in the room, but clearly pacing back and forth. He couldn't tell whether or not she was by the door and could only hope he didn't hear the sound of the fixture moving as it opened. He could hear small scraping sounds and the tapping of something on glass but could not tell what she was doing.
Nami tapped the quill into the ink pot a couple of times and examined the piece of paper in her hands, double checking what she had written. She couldn't help but feel anxious at the thought of giving him the paper. She never realized before how reliant she was on her voice. After all, the tone, pitch and volume of a voice could help people understand the words being presented better. The written word on the other hand could be miss interpreted depending on the reader. Writing also had the ability to sway you to be more open with your thoughts than you ever would be through words. She paused as she watched the man on the floor and slowly edged towards him. She hesitated, unsure as to whether she should give it to him or not. Deciding that if needed she would have time to run and escape, she ended up dropping the paper on the floor beside him. When he did not move she used her foot to kick it under his face so it touched his hand. She jumped back when he flinched slightly. The document was about a page long, summarizing her dream and her feelings. She had been looking at him constantly whilst writing and he never moved an inch so when he moved now she couldn't help but react to it and her heart started to pound again.
As a large hand reached for the paper and his head started to rise to examine the parchment, Nami suddenly found herself no longer wanting him to read it. Panic and embarrassment kicked in and forced her to act. She stepped forward in haste and reached down to try to snatch it back off him but Zoro's instincts kicked in and he swerved to avoid her. He had already made it up on one knee and had unfolded the item in his hands and her action made him frown at her, wondering why she was suddenly so desperate. She reached out a hand and gestured for him to give it back but he could tell from her expression she was embarrassed and for some reason decided not to. He turned away from her and as his back faced her Nami tried to reach over his shoulders to get a hold off it but he moved swiftly and stood up, forcing her to drop down.
Nami tried to move around him but stopped the moment she saw Zoro's hand clench the paper tightly and crumple it in his fist. His features looked dark and he slowly turned to look at her with a pained expression on his face. Nami felt like her chest was going to explode and the discomfort instantly sent tears to her eyes that she struggled to hold back. "Is this what you honestly think?" he asked her, deadly serious.
Nami didn't know what to do, she opened her mouth and reached out a hand as if to protest but stopped in her tracks, accepting defeat. She didn't even know where to begin in helping him to understand why she wrote what she did.
Zoro was hurt and confused, he wasn't sure what to make of her note. The final words read, "I think it would be safer if I wasn't here…" They played over and over again in his mind and he was tearing himself up about them. What the hell did she mean by this? Was she giving up? Did she want to leave? Was she just trying to protect them, protect herself? Was this her way of ending things? And the scariest of all, was he still watching her? …So many questions and yet he couldn't pick a single one because of his own feelings of guilt at failing to protect her for the second time. The fact she even dreamt that they were all defeated made him anxious.
Watching his torment Nami bit her lower lip. Feeling like she should probably explain a little better she edged towards the table and started to write on another piece of paper. Zoro turned to watch her and this time when she turned to face him she didn't hesitate, forcing the paper into his chest for him to take. The lack of eye contact didn't go unnoticed. Zoro lifted a hand hesitantly and took the paper from her. Their hands touched momentarily before she snatched hers away and he noticed how cold she felt. He lowered his gaze and took in a deep breath through his nose before letting it out again, trying to mentally prepare himself.
"If I stay you are all in danger…he won't stop…he will use you against me or me against you…"
Instantly angered Zoro stepped forward, flailing the paper near her face, "Do you think we are so weak that we would lose to a coward that does nothing but lurk in the shadows?!" he snapped, furious that she would consider leaving them over this. If she did that, she would have no protection and be more vulnerable than she already was. It didn't make any sense. He watched as she went to open her mouth to retaliate but no words came out and instead she bit her bottom lip defiantly and in frustration. When she avoided his gaze again it hit him hard and he struggled with it. His own feelings of failure were getting to him and he worried that it was back handed tricks like this that made Haru so successful. Breaking down someone's spirit, their beliefs and faith until there was nothing left.
He lowered his hand slowly and looked at the paper again, before turning her way. She was looking at the floor and he desperately wanted her to look at him instead. She kept looking at things he couldn't see and he hated it. "You still don't think we can defeat him do you?" he asked, his tone almost bitter. Nami's shoulders lifted and her eyes closed for a second as she grimaced, a hint of regret on her face as he hit the nail on the head. It was not the first time Nami protested about an enemy and claimed they were too strong for them, yet this time it seemed to hurt more. Her belief and trust in her friends was shaking…especially towards him, and he didn't like it one bit. He threw the crumpled sheets of paper on the floor and ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. Could he really blame her? He grimaced, angry with his own weakness. He paced a little and tried to think more about their situation. Anger would only allow their enemy the upper hand and he needed to try to tackle this problem another way. He looked at Nami and noticed she had snuck a glance his way and then looked towards the door, clearly thinking about leaving.
I can't let her leave, he realized. He walked up to the door and locked it, placing a chair under the handle for double security. He knew if she could speak she would ask what he was doing but the only sign she was concerned was the movement of the floorboards. When he turned to look at her flustered features he stated, "I don't want us to be interrupted". It was a lie off course. He didn't want her to be able to escape. He was already feeling guilty over not being the one to rescue her on the island and letting his guard down and knew an apology wasn't enough. What was happening to Nami was beyond that and he knew he had to do something now, leaving things as they were would only make problems worse in the long term.
Somehow, he had to battle their opponent, even if he couldn't see him. He had to make her believe in their strength again…to believe in him. He studied her, and the only way to do that is to show her, he realized. He had to prove to her he could protect her, that he could keep her safe and that he was better than the man she seemed to obsess over in an unnatural way. He needed her to see him and only him and to block out the thoughts in her head. He glanced her way once more and the feeling of sudden helplessness started to consume him. She appeared so vulnerable and weak and yet he knew she was better than this, stronger than this. He wanted to make her see that she wasn't weak, that they could get through this together. Most importantly though he needed to show Haru that Nami was off limits. She was his and belonged to no one but him. He was the alpha male and he would ensure that his territory was marked.
How do you fight something that's invisible? Luffy's voice echoed in his mind. Let me show you…he replied, preparing himself for action. He knew after this she would probably hate him but he no longer cared.
Nami heard the sound of one of Zoro's swords coming out of its sheath and looked back at him. All emotion seemed to have left his face and she watched in horror as he lifted the blade up and came her way, causing her to step back, hitting the table behind her. His aura was dangerous and he looked serious, like he was seeing right through her. She felt something in the back of her mind twinge and her heart beat started to rise. Zoro could see the fear on her face but ignored it. Instead he turned the blade around so it was facing him and the pommel was facing her. Nami's eyes widened in shock and confusion, unsure as to what he was implying through his actions.
Zoro's gaze was intense and dove into her soul, leaving a sickening feeling inside of her that almost overshadowed the fears she had when she first woke that morning. His actions were not making any sense and yet at the back of her mind something showed intrigue with what he was doing. Nami looked at the sword and watched as he stepped closer. "Take it" he ordered her. She shook her head, unsure of what he was going to ask of her if she did and not liking it. Didn't he understand that her mind was likely not hers alone anymore? This was stupid. Sorrow filled Zoro's gaze when he realized she was doubting him but he remained persistent, trying once more. "Nami, please take it" he stated, sounding a little desperate. This time, feeling a pang of guilt for not responding to him and a hint of curiosity, Nami reached out with a shaking hand and took the hilt of the sword in one hand, brushing against his strong grip. As he let go she felt the sudden weight and steadied herself by stepping forward and bringing up her second hand onto the pommel in order to hold the blade securely. She then looked at him as if to say, okay, so what now?
Zoro reached out and placed a hand on the tip of his sword then aimed it for his chest, right where his heart was. He then stepped into the blade and Nami instinctively tried to move back but felt the table move behind her, hitting the wall and nearly causing her to sit on top of it, raising her leg up to brace herself against him and try to prevent him from getting closer. The tip of the metal nicked his skin and she saw a trickle of blood pouring from the affected area. Nami wanted to scream at him, what the hell are you doing?! but couldn't. She tried to move away but her body for some reason wouldn't move as she wanted it to and she felt trapped. She went to let go of the hilt instead, only to find a rough hand pinning her hands down and fixing them in place. He wouldn't let her run and didn't give her a chance as he stepped into her again. Nami wrestled to try to avoid his actions and the sword slid upwards, causing a straight gash up his torso, nicking his cheek and the side of his neck. She stopped immediately, scared of causing more damage. He was lucky it didn't pierce through his jaw! Yet Zoro didn't flinch at all. It was as if he was trying to prove a point.
"Have I got your full attention now?" he asked, staring down at her. She looked up at him, unable to break away from his dark gaze and felt like a rabbit caught in a wolf's grasp. "Good, now I want you to listen closely" he stated, watching her carefully and making sure she was focused on him and nothing else. "This belongs to you" he exclaimed. She watched his free hand touch where his heart was, the place that blood now trickled down his front. "You can torture it, defile it, do whatever you please with it, but even if it is ripped out of my body, it will beat for no one but you" he stated clearly.
Nami was surprised by his bold statement and couldn't stop the shaking of her body. She felt a hint of embarrassment rise to her cheeks and didn't know how to respond. She was suddenly aware of how close he was and she wanted him to stop. It was all too much, she couldn't handle it. Her eyes started to fill again with tears, his words made her happy and yet angry too. He should never have to sacrifice himself for her. She didn't want him to suffer, didn't he get that?! She averted his gaze and looked down but when she saw his blood, the image of Haru standing over Zoro's corpse with his heart in his hand came flying to her mind alongside his laughter.
Zoro watched her pupils dilate and knew she was reliving her nightmare. She tried to push forward to move Zoro out of the way because she hated him for putting that picture there. Her actions though made her only succeed in cutting him deeper due to his unwillingness to move. Zoro didn't flinch, the pain barely touched him as his attention was more on Nami's expressions than anything else. He could see the pain on her face but knew he couldn't stop, he had to see this through to the end. He needed her to see him, him and nothing else. She had to face reality. He pushed into her more and the blade cut even deeper, now puncturing his flesh and causing blood to gush from him. He reached out a hand and took her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
"Nami" he spoke her name to snap her back and as her eyes opened in surprise at their situation he leant into her, "My life is yours" he vowed. "And if he is watching let him, let him know he has to go through me first and I won't let him take you from me" he claimed.
Her eyes looked at him, tears streaming down them, I don't know how to make him stop! She pleaded to him, desperate for him to understand. Zoro's blood now trickled down the blade and onto her hands, the warmth of the fluid and metallic scent nearly sent her into overdrive. Please stop! She pleaded, trying to struggle again. She forced her eyes closed and was surrounded once more by a pool of blood. She heard the sound of Zoro's metallic earrings and turned to look for the body on the ground that was there that morning but it wasn't there anymore. Suddenly she realized she was alone. "Nami, do as I say" Zoro's voice ordered. Nami's eyes widened in surprise.
"Where are you?!" she shouted out in her mind, desperately trying to find him.
"I want you to envisage me rising from the sea of blood" Zoro's voice spoke, echoing into her mind. Nami felt her head shake, no, she couldn't. A warm touch forced her body to jerk, followed by a small groan of the swordsman and she felt the sword penetrate deeper. "You want to save me right?" he asked, "then do it". Fearful for what had happened Nami's mind desperately clung to the need to stop Zoro from doing what he was doing and making her his slave. She spun around in her mind, the fluid by her legs slowing her down and thought it was useless, due to the dark surroundings. It was when she heard the sound of his earrings tingling again though that made her turn around. Suddenly she was met with the image of the swordsman standing there, covered in his own blood, a sparkle of light bouncing off his earring and a stunning smile watching her. The environment was no longer so dark and the shadows started to take a little shape.
"Even the devil can't hold me back" he commented, but his mouth did not move. She spun around to see another version of him standing behind her, the one which spoke.
"I will rise from the dead if I have to" he verified, again his mouth not moving but she saw a third Zoro standing beside her. The three of them approached her slowly and she could see that each of their eyes were a different colour, almost as if they represented some kind of triad. They radiated strength and were intimidating. Having them present though made her feel a little more secure. "See, dreams can be manipulated to whatever you want" Zoro confirmed. Something felt like it was about to break from the back of her mind and it snapped her into reality, forcing the vision to stop.
Nami's eyes remained shut but she suddenly became aware that Zoro had let her go and stepped away from her. "Open your eyes" he ordered. Nami had stopped shaking and he could only hope he did something right by her. As he pulled away from his sword though he coughed up some blood and raised a hand to his mouth to wipe the residue away, glad she didn't witness that. He realized he had allowed his blade to penetrate deeper than he had planned. Shit he muttered to himself, feeling dizzy. This better have worked.
The sudden loss of his contact caused Nami's body to have to take the full weight of his sword and her arms automatically dropped in response as she did not expect it. She opened her eyes in surprise and blinked at the brightness of the room. The sight of blood caught her attention and she looked up at the man before her who stood smiling at her just like the image in her mind. The relief hit her hard, but was also followed by anger for making her do something so reckless, especially when she assessed the blood that now soaked through his clothing. His brashness could have cost him and she didn't like to be forced into doing things against her will.
"I'm curious to know what the me is like in your mind?" he asked, with a hint of a cheeky grin. His comment made Nami switch as she disliked him taking a jovial stance on things. She lifted up his sword and watched him raise an eyebrow in surprise. "Still need proof huh?" he commented, amazed by her level of fighting spirit and yet disappointed that she still hadn't come around. Nami made a swing for him in anger but he managed to reach up and stop the blade with his hand as it aimed for his torso. It barely nicked him. "Come on Nami, if you want to hurt me you have to do better than that" he goaded. Nami retracted the sword and changed her position, a position he had taught her that was fast becoming natural to her, making him a little impressed. She charged forward and swung for him again, then again, and again, but each time he avoided it, easily dismissing her. When she went for him a final time he tried to hit the blade out of her hands and swiped at her feet, but proceeded to cause them to both slip on a pool of his own blood. He fell backwards, hitting his head on the floor and at the same time Nami managed to reach for the sword. They tussled and he ended up with an angry Nami above him, straddling him.
"I thought we were taking things slowly?" he asked, pushing her buttons some more. Nami's face flushed and she brought down the sword so fast he barely had time to defend himself.
The sword lodged into the floor boards beside his head and he let out a sigh of relief. He immediately felt guilty though when tears streamed from her face. But as guilty as he felt he also knew this was a good sign, she was finally giving into him. "Had enough yet?" he asked, prodding her some more. She glared at him then slapped him across his face, catching the gash she had already made on his cheek, making it sting. Zoro knew he deserved that, he knew he deserved more than that. He wanted to apologise to her for putting her through this but he had an objective and he wouldn't stop until he had achieved his goal. "I told you Nami, you have to try harder" he stated firmly. Instant upset and anger forced Nami back into motion as she hit him again, this time on the other cheek, then punched him in the gut, causing him to cough up blood and groan. She kept hitting down on him but each time started to get lighter and slower. Nami couldn't control her emotions anymore, everything that had been bottled up inside now came out in a wave of anger, grief and embarrassment. The thin thread that had been at the back of her mind since waking suddenly snapped.
"YOU ASSHOLE!" she screamed, stopping suddenly and staring down at him in shock, her face wet with tears.
Zoro lay on the floor looking up at the figure that had him pinned. He had let her hit him and she knew it, and suddenly she realized why.
"You can speak again" Zoro pointed out, slightly surprised but also pleased with himself.
Nami's grip on him loosened and a shaking hand lifted to her throat. It was harsh and painful, like a throat infection, but the words had definitely come from her. She glared at him, "..how..?" her voice was croaky and almost a whisper but it came out a second time and the surprise and relief on her face was evident.
Zoro tried to sit himself up half way as she still remained on his legs and shrugged, "He uses people's fears against them, capturing you into his spell by making you think of nothing but him and be consumed with hate for him…" he paused to let her take his words in, "so I figured all I had to do was get you to think of nothing but me and that might give us a chance." Nami's face went red as she recalled his words to her. Zoro caught her uncertainty and the way her gaze followed his chest. "For the record, I meant every word I said" he reassured her.
Nami stared at him, the feeling of shock was taken over by relief, hope and frustration. She didn't know whether to be pleased or hurt, but she knew one thing for sure, he had definitely succeeded in her seeing nothing but him for a moment. It was not a pleasant experience, but for a second she was more scared of Zoro than she had ever been of Haru and that seemed to snap her back. She was so scared of losing him, the way she was hurting him, everything, and it had consumed her.
"You…" she started to speak as she reached out to him and pulled on his clothes, forcing him in closer to her, "idiot" she finished, resting her head on his shoulder. Zoro was thrilled that she was back to her usual self and as much as he wanted nothing more than to hold her in that moment he was forced to push her away. Nami looked at him dejectedly but when she noticed the pain in his face it snapped her to her senses. "Are you okay?" she asked, looking down at him as he lay back on the ground. She could tell instantly he was trying to put on a brave face but only just took in the seriousness of his injury. Scared for him she jumped off him and started to rip his clothes open to get a better look. It was deeper than she expected.
"Easy!" Zoro gasped as her actions caused him more pain, he coughed and tried to reassure her, "I will be fine, just need some sleep" he stated. Nami however, wasn't convinced. Trying to think on her feet she took off her top and scrunched it up into a heap then placed it on his chest and pushed down on the material. She then got Zoro to place his hand on it to hold it in place.
"Why are you always so reckless?!" she stated, panicking a little.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures" he replied with a grin before coughing more blood.
"If you die from this I won't forgive you!" she snapped.
"I've had worse" he replied, closing his eyes to try to rest.
"Don't sleep on me!" she shouted at him, trying to shake him back awake. "Don't you dare put me through that then leave me!" Nami yelled at him. Zoro though was too exhausted to respond and let himself drift into the darkness. He was barely aware of her running to the door and screaming for their doctor.
….
A/N: A shorter chapter than usual but I like to leave on cliff hangers so I shall end there for now. This story is meant to be dark and aims to constantly draw you in so I hope it worked this chapter. It has taken me a week to write and I have now changed it three times whilst reading it again so I hope it is okay.
Given the trauma experienced it takes some pretty bold actions to cut through and reach out to people and so I hope, as drastic as Zoro's actions have been, Nami is able to see nothing but him now. This raises a question though…her consumption is shifting from the demon to the devil, is it really a good thing?
As always thank you for your time and let me know what you think.