Chapter Twenty Six

Cold Shivering Night

"Robin?" The orange-haired navigator called out her friend's name with confusion as she saw her standing in the corridor, alone, as if she was waiting for someone.

"Shit!" Zoro cursed to himself as he kept his composure, trying to make it look like he wasn't tensed with the fact that Nami might find out about their secret.

"Good evening, Nami, Zoro." Robin greeted the navigator and swordsman with a smile.

"Good evening. Uh… What's going on here?" Nami asked as she looked at her two nakama.

"What do you mean?" The archaeologist raised a brow.

"Why are you out here alone? Were you waiting for Zoro or something?" Nami suspiciously asked.

"Hah?" Zoro reacted as he tilted his head to the side, his heart beating like crazy from the thought of being caught.

"No, I wasn't. I couldn't sleep, so I thought it would be nice to go out for a while but Alex is already sleeping. I was supposed to invite Chopper to go with me, but then I realized he might be asleep by now as well."

"Really? Hm… Well that's just perfect."

"I think that convinced her. I need to act as well." The green-headed swordsman thought in relief as he quietly exited the scene, pretending to head out on his own, but Nami got a hold of the back collar of his shirt.

"Oi! Let go of me!" He complained.

"Why?" Robin asked as she gazed at the navigator pulling back the swordsman.

"You see, Zoro here wanted to wander around, same as you, and I was dragged to go with him—

"Oi, I did not drag you to go with me. You forced yourself to join me." The swordsman corrected.

"Shut up." The navigator ordered. "Anyways, since you were thinking of going out as well, maybe you don't mind taking him with you? Just so the both of you have a partner."

"I don't mind, but what about you?"

"I'll be fine. I didn't want to go anyway."

"I see. But is it okay with him?" Robin gazed at him.

"Oi, Zoro." Nami hit his arm with her elbow.

"Yeah, yeah." Zoro just agreed.

"Then it's settled. Have fun you two, I'm going back to sleep." The navigator stretched and went back to their room.

"Alright. Good night, Nami." The raven-haired archaeologist smiled as she and the swordsman headed their way to the elevator.

"Good night." The navigator closed the door behind her and held her chin as she tried to comprehend what had just transpired. She didn't know whether it was only a coincident that Zoro was sneaking out at the same time Robin wanted to go out, or they had planned to meet up while everyone slept. There was a small chance that the two actually intended to go out without anyone knowing about it since they could have just seen each other even with everyone's consent. It's not like they were trying to hide something.

"Unless…" Nami contemplated and slowly realized that her thoughts were on to something. That maybe the two were having a secret affair and they would meet every night as soon as everyone went to sleep. It was possible. In fact, they could have been doing that for a long time and none of them could have known about it. She also realized that she had been noticing the swordsman and the archaeologist becoming quite closer with each other ever since their reunion but she just ignored it because she thought it was only normal.

"But wait… this is Robin we're talking about. It's not like she'll just let me see it out in the open." She whispered to herself as she thought that her friend wouldn't allow her to catch them red-handed. If she were to be the archaeologist who had all the ability and intellect to hide everything her heart pleases, she wouldn't let a scene, like earlier, to slip and ruin everything she put her effort in concealing. Robin wasn't the type of woman whom you would take too lightly. Nami shook her head as she accepted that it could have been just a coincident. Her assumptions weren't strong enough to support her argument. But then again, she wouldn't let her guard down. She'll find out everything eventually.

Outside…

The moment the door of Nami's room closed, Zoro let out a sigh of relief, causing Robin to giggle softly. "That was close." He muttered as he unconsciously took the archaeologist's hand and walked with her to the elevator. The thought of their secret being exposed made him a little anxious and embarrassed, especially since Nami would have been the first one to know. There was a big chance that it would spread like wildfire unless he would bribe her with money. Aside from that, he didn't know how would he handle it or how would the rest handle it if they were to find out. Luckily, Robin was able to think of a quick excuse.

"She actually caught you." The raven-haired female giggled as she intertwined their fingers together.

"She caught you too." He countered as he gently squeezed her hand.

"I let her catch me."

"Why?" He asked as he raised a brow.

"You wouldn't be able to get away from her and would end up spending time with her instead of me."

"You're right. I thought she'd find out about us."

"Don't worry; if she were to figure it out, I think she'll be okay and happy with it."

"You think so?"

"Most likely… after scolding me as to why I chose you." She added.

"Heh. I bet she'll beat the hell out of me for forcing you to be with me." He continued with the thought of him being beaten by their navigator.

"She would lecture me that I deserve someone better because you're just a useless mossball who has muscles and four swords." She got carried away with her insult but didn't mean it.

"Oi…" He squeezed her hand and gazed at her with half-lidded eyes as if he was annoyed.

"Sorry, I was only kidding." She smiled and pecked on his lips.

"I only use three swords." He corrected.

"I've seen four though." Robin teased.

"Hah? I don't get it." Zoro raised a brow as he couldn't remember having a fourth sword.

"You don't need to." She smirked.

"Tch!" The swordsman fell silent as he carefully thought of which sword she was pertaining to. Aside from his current blades, he was able to wield Yubashiri, but that sword was long gone and she knew how he lost it. It couldn't be the sword the shopkeeper from the weapon's shop gave to them because he was sure he entitled it to her. It bothered him so much, he couldn't stop thinking about it even after they had left the hotel and went on with their date.

After several minutes of walking, they already had arrived at the park and Zoro still couldn't figure out what weapon she was referring to. It frustrated him a lot because it was his sword and he had no idea about it. He was so absorbed by it, he didn't even realize he hadn't spoken to her ever since they left the hotel. Understandingly, Robin just let him be and waited for his train of thought to end.

"Tch! I only use Wado Ichimonji, Shusui, and Sandai Kitetsu. I don't have a fourth katana, Robin." He couldn't take it anymore. It was pissing him off. He had to know what sword it was.

"I can't believe you're still onto that." The archaeologist laughed.

"What's the fourth sword?" He asked in a serious manner.

"Hm…" The raven-haired beauty stared deeply into his able eye before glancing down at his lower-half, back to his dark orb again with a teasing smile upon her lips.

"What the hell, Robin?!" Zoro's cheeks reddened as he realized what she meant and impulsively covered his crotch with his hands, unaware that he was still holding her hand.

Robin's cheeks slightly flushed as the back of her hand pressed against his cloth-restricted-manhood. "Zoro… Even if we are in a place where public display of affection is well-accepted, there are still certain acts that aren't appropriate in public."

"What do you mean? Stop messing with me!" He complained as he was still clueless.

"Are you quite sure you are fully aware of where are you pressing my hand right now?" She uttered slowly and carefully.

His eyes widened as he understood what she meant and quickly moved her hand away from his body. "I-I didn't mean to do that!" He exclaimed with embarrassment painted all over his face and quickly looked away from her. "What the hell is wrong with me?! Why am I so embarrassed?! Get a grip, Zoro! She's taking advantage of you! You should be the one who's dominating with this kind of stuff!" He scolded himself.

"Don't worry, once we get a room of our own, you can do whatever you want." She teased.

"Tch! Yeah, I'm sure you'll beg for more." He countered with a smirk.

Robin paused for a while with a slightly stunned look before giggling with what he just said. "Are you sure it's worth begging for?" She ridiculed with a smile.

"You want to bet?" He confidently proposed.

"I might lose." The raven-haired beauty admitted as she winked at her man.

Zoro just smirked with his victory and took her hand before walking around the park again.

The stars were out and bright that night and Robin could not help but to become mesmerized by the enchanting glitter it shone right before their very eyes. She asked the swordsman for them to rest for a while and sit on a nearby bench to appreciate the scenery above them. For her, the moment was like a romantic scene in a fairy-tale book with her one true love. And like fairy-tales, the couple would always get separated before they reached their happy ending, so she hoped the nights with him would never end, even if they already left the island.

The swordsman was getting agitated. He didn't know why, but he wanted to put his arm around her shoulders as they sat on the bench. It felt like she needed a hug from the cold shivering night, especially with only a T-shirt and a pair of shorts as her choice of clothing. Her arms were folded beneath her chest and legs were crossed like how she usually sits, only showed that she might have been getting cold.

Zoro was thinking deeply if he should do it. He wondered if he should pretend to be doing something and unconsciously place his arm over her shoulders or do it directly with no explanation whatsoever. He was unsure, but he wanted to do it. To be safe, the swordsman stretched his arms above his head and slowly let his arm fall around her while he gazed in the opposite direction.

The archaeologist quickly looked at his hand holding her before gazing at him and smiled as she moved closer to him. She lightly pressed her lips against his cheek before staring back at the sky, causing the swordsman to smile and kissed her head. "Look at that… They look so beautiful." She smiled as millions of stars twinkled magically above them.

"Yeah…" Instead of gazing up the sky, Zoro's able eye was captivated by the archaeologist whose dark orbs were like stardust shimmering through the night sky. Her exquisite beauty was far more than enough to keep him from staring at the breath-taking view above them. He didn't even notice he was already blushing just by looking at her. She was perfect. If Robin was an ice and his stare had a heating capacity, he would have already melted her. For him, everything about her was attractive; not only her physical figure but in all ways, from her personality to her intelligence.

Zoro hadn't realized it yet, because of his inexperience with the topic, but he was already falling in love with her. The way her lips curled whenever she smiled, her laughs that were like feathers tickling his ears, the way her voice soothed his mind, her annoying teases he secretly liked, her flowery fragrance that always take him to different dimensions, the way she deciphered codes carved in a poneglyph, her morbid thoughts that always scared their friends, the way her soft and flawless hands crossed before her whenever they fight, everything, was making him fall hard for her.

If only he knew that what he was feeling for her was love, he wouldn't have been so confused by it. He wouldn't think it might just be a side-effect of liking someone so much, that he was going crazy just by thinking about her. He wouldn't be wondering if he truly liked her or was he just obsessed with her. Because everything she did, effortlessly fulfilled him. He admitted it. He liked her, a lot. But now, he was falling in love with her - with every bit of her.

"Zoro…" Robin uttered in a low tone.

"Shit!" He cursed in his head as he quickly stared at the sky, unaware of how beautiful the stars were because he was still looking at her with his peripheral view. "Hm?"

"Do you believe in shooting stars?" She asked before looking at him.

"Hm… No, not really."

"Why not?"

"I think they're just false hope that elders want children to believe in." He looked at her. "What about you?"

"I used to… well… maybe I still do. Silly, isn't it?" She smiled as she turned her face back to the sky.

"Nah, you believe in what you want to believe, it doesn't matter what everyone thinks."

Robin took a deep breath and exhaled softly. "You know, when I was a child, I used to wish upon shooting stars that someday, I'll meet my mother again." She uttered as she felt his other hand pressing against hers and gazed at him. "I would always do that every night while heading down the Tree of Knowledge back at Ohara… It became like a routine of mine. My hope… even if I already knew it was only a myth." She continued while pressing her thumbs against his palm.

"Were you able to see your mother?" He asked.

"I actually did, but not that long. She passed away along with everyone…" She closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. "After escaping, I never stopped hoping and wishing upon shooting stars, even stars, that someday, I'll meet friends who will never leave me and will always protect me."

"And you did."

"Yes, that's why even if it's a little bit childish, I could never stop myself from believing in them." She smiled before looking back at the stars.

Zoro smiled and gazed at the night sky blanketed with stars. The great wall dividing them before was crumbling down and it felt good for him because he was getting to know her more. He found his comfort zone in her and he was glad that it seemed like she found it in him as well. He didn't know liking Robin would turn out like this. It was one of the best feelings he had ever felt in his whole life. He just hoped his time with her would never end.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a shooting star dashed across the heavens, halting his train of thought. "Oi! There's one! Did you see it?!" He pointed at the sky while gazing at her with widened eye, disturbing the silence they were sharing for quite a while.

"Yes." She giggled.

"That was fast. Were you able to make a wish?" He asked as he felt his racing heartbeat from the excitement of seeing one. He never got so excited just by seeing a shooting star since he had always seen one on the deck of their ship whenever it was his time of watch.

"I did. Did you make a wish?"

"I thought I should give it a try." He confessed while gazing up again, hoping to see another one.

"Hey, Zoro…"

"Hm?" Zoro suddenly felt her luscious lips softly pressing upon his as soon as he shifted his head to look at her, causing his able eye to widen and his cheeks to quickly turn red. His mind went blank and he only came back to his senses when he realized their lips were already apart. "You're getting fond of stealing kisses from me, huh." He complained as he pressed his forehead against hers.

"You were wide open." She giggled and placed her forefinger against his lips as he was about to kiss her as well.

"Hm?" He furrowed his eyebrows as he moved his mouth left and right to shake off her finger.

"Thank you." Robin mumbled as she removed her finger from his lips and gently rubbed her thumb against his cheek.

"For what?" He raised a brow.

"For sharing this night with me and for listening."

"Nah, you don't need to thank me." Zoro whispered before sealing it with a kiss.

Somewhere in the park, far away from Zoro and Robin…

"Don't you think we should go back to the hotel now, Sanji-Kun? It's already late; although the stars look quite mesmerizing." Lassy suggested as she gazed at the stars.

"Yeah, I think we should— The blond chef's eyes suddenly turned into hearts as he saw a certain female archaeologist resting on a bench far away from them. "Ro—huh?" His excited features came crashing down as he realized she wasn't alone or with her usual partner. "Wait…" Instead, she was with the guy he least expected to be spending time with her. "Is that…?" Aside from that, they were sitting quite close to each other with the swordsman's arm wrapped around her and the archaeologist holding his free hand. "What the hell?!" Sanji's hands curled into fists as veins popped from his temple, the jealousy building up inside his chest. He was questioning himself how did it even happen. They weren't partners in the first place. But the cigarette resting in his mouth suddenly dropped as he saw the lips of his beloved Robin-Chan pressing against the unhygienic, stomach-belching, good-for-nothing mouth of the swordsman he liked called Shitty-Marimo, causing his heart to shatter along with it.

"Are you alright? You don't look so good." The blond navigator asked, halting the chef's inner rage, before gazing at the scenery the chef was looking at.

"A-Ah! Yes, yes! I'm fine! We should go now, Lassy-Chan." Sanji suddenly covered the reputation of his Robin-Chan and turned Lassy's curious orbs away from the scandal his nakama were making. He wanted to confront the two and beat the crap out of the swordsman for stealing his girl but then he thought that Lassy might think ill of his friend, especially because Zoro and Robin weren't even a couple to begin with. "What the hell is going on?! Why on earth is she kissing that good-for-nothing Marimo?! Why Robin-Chan?! Why not me instead?!" He thought in his confused mind as he and his partner exited the park.

Yo! Hello everyone! Here's chapter 26! So how was it? Did I satisfy your ZoRobin feels? XD And the ending, how was it? Tell me! Review please! :D