Chapter 37

A Calm Day

The crew enjoyed sunny days and good winds as they sailed onwards.

Hawke had lots of fun watching Usopp and Franky work on their projects, continuing her studies with Chopper, and resuming her training with Zoro.

The swordsman quickly made the training room his preferred place on the ship, and Hawke would often join him in his training. She knew that the fight at Enies Lobby had pushed her up to a new level and she had to work hard to keep her body and reflexes sharp. Plus she found herself wanting to spend more time with the swordsman.

Zoro seemed to enjoy having a regular sparing partner. Before now, their training sessions had been random, whenever either of them had felt like it. But now that there was a room dedicated to training, they could focus better.

After a particularily strenuous sparing session, Hawke sat back against the wall, panting.

"You've got some new moves," she smiled across at the swordsman, who was leaning against the wall opposite her.

"Yeah," he grinned, "I found a new style while I was fighting that square giraffe guy."

Hawke gave him a smile.

"We're getting stronger!" she sighed happily, taking a large drink of water.

She poured some out her hand and wiped her forehead and neck, some drops falling down onto her tank top.

It feels good, working so hard, she thought as she felt the cool water on her skin.

Then she frowned.

"I want to work on aerial combat," she said, "But I won't be able to actually use my wings if it comes down to it… its a little annoying, having to keep them hidden."

Zoro stood up and stretched his arms.

"It's true that that could give you an advantage in a fight," he grunted, "Even if you can't use them, you should still train some techniques in case of an emergency."

Hawke nodded.

"Then that's what I'll focus on next," she stood up and stretched.

Then she went over and looked out one of the windows, surveying the sea around them. There was no island or ship in sight.

She smiled and turned, glancing over at Zoro. He was wiping the sweat off his forehead with a towel.

Hawke felt her eyes tracing over his abdomen.

Geez, she forced her gaze away, blushing, you need to stop being so obvious! Either that or you need to see if he likes you back and make it official… or just stay as friends.

She hunched her shoulders, feeling her stomach knot up. She couldn't bring herself to outright ask Zoro about his feelings. She would just have to settle for enjoying their training sessions.

But what was he going to tell me? she recalled, he was going to say something right after we left Water 7…

She turned back to Zoro, but he had already begun lifting his weights again.

Hawke closed her mouth and sighed.

"I'm going out," she said and opened the hatch, "I need to stretch my wings."

She heard a grunt as she prepared to descend.

"Don't go too far."

Hawke smiled.

"I won't," she called over her shoulder.

Then she lowered herself onto the rungs of the mast and looked down to the deck.

Chopper and Usopp were sitting on the grass, playing with one of Usopp's inventions. Robin was sitting in a lawn chair, reading. Nami was sunbathing and being waited on by Sanji. Hawke raised her head and saw Luffy sitting on the lion's head.

She spread her wings and jumped off the mast, letting herself freefall for a second before catching the breeze and soaring upwards.

Hawke felt the sun warm her face and the wind whip through her hair.

She extended her wings out as far as they could reach, taking long, slow wing beats, and speeding out over the water. Flying lower, she skimmed over the waves, reaching her hand down to trail it along the surface.

Then she sensed an approaching air current and caught it, riding it up to the clouds. She let the wind push over her and did a graceful backflip.

Her heart soared as she showed off her aerial skills, doing loop-the-loops and twirls, diving and flipping through the air.

After she'd gotten the stiffness out of her wings, she flew back towards the Sunny. She smiled as she saw Luffy bouncing up and down on his spot, waving his fists in the air.

"Oi, Hawke!" she could hear his voice yelling out to her, "Take me for a ride! Don't keep all the fun to yourself!"

She swooped down and grabbed one of her brother's outstretched hands and yanked him up with her.

"Woohoo!" shouted the captain as he wrapped his limbs around her.

Hawke smirked and suddenly shot upwards, feeling Luffy's body stretch back, dangling below her from the force of her speed.

"Woah, Hawke!" Luffy laughed, his head bouncing back to its proper place, "That was fast! Let's go higher!"

Hawke followed his suggestion and she flew up and into the clouds.

"The Sunny sure is amazing," she sighed as the ship disappeared below them, "Franky really outdid himself."

"Yeah," laughed Luffy.

Then there was a pause.

"Hey, Hawke?" he asked, sounding suddenly serious.

She turned her head to look back to him.

"Yeah, Luffy," she smiled.

"Who's Salem?" the captain asked.

Hawke's eyes widened.

"What?" she started, "Where did you hear his name?"

Luffy tried to look innocent.

"I was just making sure you were doing okay last night…" he said, looking over his shoulder and pursing his lips.

"Luffy!?" Hawke exclaimed, skirting the edge of a cloud, "Were you up while I was keeping watch?! I'm sorry that I fell asleep…but what were you doing up at that hour?"

"I thought you'd be lonely up there so I went to see you," the rubberman explained hurriedly, "You were talking in your sleep about some guy named Salem."

Hawke sighed.

"Salem is someone I was told about in Water 7," she explained, "He was on Gold Roger's crew, but then left it and went to research something."

"Oh?" Luffy looked interested, "He was on the Pirate King's crew!? That's so cool! What was he looking for?"

"Well that's what I want to find out," Hawke said, swooping back down towards the waves, "Whatever it was, I think it's important."

She smiled at her brother as he held onto her tightly.

"But were you lonely up there?" Luffy asked her.

Did he even listen to me? Hawke rolled her eyes.

She caught another wind current and flew in a large loop, backflipping through the air.

But as she did so, she caught a fleeting look in her brother's eyes.

She realized he was actually scared she had been lonely.

Why is he worrying all of a sudden? she thought.

"I'm fine, Luffy," she smiled reassuringly, "I won't take the watch every night. But you can come visit for a bit once and a while, if you're up. Would that make you feel better?"

The captain nodded.

"That way you won't fall asleep!" he laughed.

Hawke blushed.

"Well that doesn't usually happen," she stuck her lip out in a pout, "I can usually stay awake."

But she smiled and soared back towards the Sunny.

She flew down and landed back on the lion's head.

"Here you are, Captain!" she smiled, giving him a wink, "Back in your spot."

Luffy gave her a wide smile.

"Thanks, Sissy," he laughed and sat back down, pulling his hat down over his eyes.

Hawke stood over her brother for a moment.

"Hey, Luffy," she said quietly, bending down, "Being with you and the crew makes me really happy."

She wasn't sure why she was saying this, but she didn't want Luffy to worry so much.

The captain looked up and gave her a wide smile.

"That's good!" he laughed, "I want you to be happy."

Hawke smiled and beat her wings again, lowering herself down onto the grass of the main deck.

"Hawke!" Chopper sprang up and ran over to her, "I want a ride too!"

She laughed as she looked down at the excited reindeer. His eyes were shining and he was jumping around her feet.

"Okay," she agreed, "But only a short one, it's getting late."

"Hurray!" the doctor jumped up and down before Hawke took him up in her arms.

She made sure not to fly too high with Chopper, but she did a few loops and dives. The reindeer squealed in delight and had the time of his life.

Days like these make everything we have to go through worth it, Hawke thought warmly as she landed and let doctor down.

"Oi, Chopper! Come check this out!" Usopp called over, holding up an invention of his and waving it in the air.

Franky had joined the sniper in their absence.

"That was some suuuper cool flying there, Hawke!" the cyborg gave her a thumbs up.

Hawke waved and smiled.

Usopp was still waving whatever contraption he had in the air.

"That looks really cool!" Chopper squeaked and sped across the grass, passing Robin as she got up and made her way over to where Hawke was standing.

"May I see your wings?" the archeologist asked.

The scout blinked in surprise, but she nodded and extended her wings towards the archeologist.

Robin reached out and stroked her feathers.

"They are very beautiful," the taller woman smiled, "Are the feathers organized in a specific manner?"

Hawke nodded, but gave her a questioning look.

Robin smiled at her.

"I was wondering if it would be possible for me to use wings as well," she explained calmly, "I wanted to see if the pattern of the feathers was important in the structure."

The scout was immediately interested.

"Wow, that would be really cool!" she said and adjusted her wings so Robin could get a better view of her feathers, "And yes, the position is really important. The primary feathers are the longer ones there and they supply the thrust. And these are the secondary feathers, that's how I can get lift."

"Fascinating," Robin examined her wing, "They really are as black as a raven's…"

Hawke shot the archeologist another look as she trailed off.

"Yeah," the scout said, "I think they got that colour from the ink in the formula."

Robin met her gaze.

"I wonder if it was just chance…" the archeologist said quietly, "What would have happened if you had white wings?..."

Hawke blinked and ruffled her feathers.

"Well then I guess my life would be a little less complicated," she smiled to Robin, who had lowered her hand from Hawke's wings.

The archeologist gave her a small smile.

"Would you not be the Dark Angel?" she asked, "Or would the prophecy say "white wings"?"

Hawke gave her a confused look.

"Who knows," she mumbled, bringing her wings back into their tattoo form.

She went and leaned out over the rail, looking down into the water.

"What would have happened if I'd stayed and waited for Luffy, instead of setting out on my own… if I hadn't met that scientist…?"

Hawke felt a hand on her arm.

"Well as it is, you did and things are the way they are," Robin handed her a cup of tea, "And it seems that there are many traces of the long awaited Dark Angel."

Hawke took a sip of her tea and felt the cup warming her fingers.

What happened in the past made me who I am today, she reminded herself.

"By the way," Robin went on, "Did I tell you what the Skypieans thought about you?"

Hawke blinked and looked over at the archeologist.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Robin smiled.

"So many things happened, I forgot to tell you," she said, "But the Shandians had their own version of the prophecy, it seems."

Hawke's eyes widened as Robin continued.

"When I was shown the poneglyph held in the golden belfry, the Shandian chief asked me about you," the archeologist was looking out at the waves, "He asked if you had devil fruit powers like our captain, and when I told him that those wings were your own he was elated and said that the legends had held true and that their long war was finally over."

Hawke took another sip and stood quietly as the sun began to set and the sky turned bright orange.

"The legend was that the end of the warrior Calgara's vigil would be heralded by the ringing of the bell, but that the tolling of that bell could only come on the wings of a raven. Of course, the Shandians had no way of knowing what a raven looked like and relied on the descriptions of the bird given to them by sailors from the Blue Sea. It seems that when Wiper saw your black wings, he declared that the raven had come. After that, Luffy rang the bell."

Hawke felt Robin's eyes fall on her as they both stood in silence.

"Another prophecy that I'm supposed to be a part of…" the scout muttered and finished her tea, "At least now I know why Wiper kept staring and calling me Raven."

"Well if it refers to you or not," Robin said, seeing the younger woman's confusion, "It doesn't matter because it's over."

Hawke looked up, giving the archeologist a half smile.

"Yeah," she sighed.

Then she reached into her jacket and took out the letter.

"I have something I forgot to tell you too," she said, handing Robin the piece of parchment.

She told the archeologist what she had learned in Water 7.

Robin raised her eyebrow as she began to read.

"And I assume that the bird we met was Salem's companion?" she asked.

Hawke nodded, then she noticed that Robin had a shocked look on her face.

"What's wrong?" the scout asked worriedly.

The archeologist raised her eyes from the letter, the look of shock disappearing.

"You don't know what he was searching for?" she asked, quite serious.

Hawke blinked and shook her head.

"But he says that there was someone on Fishman Island who could see into the future and he was going to see her," she stuttered, "So I was hoping to find that person and ask her."

Robin gave Hawke a serious stare for a few moments, then she lowered her eyes again.

"Yes," the arcgeologist stated, giving back the letter "I think that would be best."

Hawke smiled and nodded.

Suddenly the kitchen door burst open and Sanji came spinning out.

"Nami-san! Robin-chan! Hawke-san!" he swooned, "Supper is ready for you!"

Robin took Hawke's empty cup from her hand.

"Shall we go in?" she asked.

"Sure," Hawke nodded.

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After dinner the crew retired to their rooms for the night. But Hawke was having trouble sleeping.

She tossed and turned for a while before quietly sitting up and putting on her slippers. She looked over her shoulder at the other two women sleeping soundly in the bed next to her. Nami had her arm stretched over onto Hawke's pillow and her other lay on top of her forehead. Robin was lying quietly on her back, one hand on her chest, the other gracefully on the blanket by her side.

Hawke sighed and stood up, quietly leaving the room.

She came out onto the deck and took off her slippers, feeling the grass between her toes, and looked up to the crow's nest. Usopp was supposed to be on watch tonight, but Hawke heard his faint snores floating down from the basket.

She smiled and went over to the rail.

So there was another prophecy about me… she sighed as she looked down into the dark water.

Hawke appreciated the fact that Robin had told her about the Skypiean legend. But now that she knew about it, she felt a little… lost.

She had accepted that she was mostly likely the Dark Angel and therefore had some huge destiny ahead of her whether she liked it or not. And she was pretty close to truly believing that her father had been a human form of the Spirit of the Sky…

But she felt like she was just an object that was being led through life by someone else's hand. Just a puppet that had to show up in a certain place at a certain time and then leave and show up at another. If she was meant to do all these things, then how could she have a choice in her actions?

"Is this who I am?" she whispered, "An idol that gets paraded around in front of people to give them hope? What can I do? How am I supposed to bring peace and find the True History? Do I even want to?"

A tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away.

Thinking like this won't help you with anything, she told herself, what did Zoro say?...just go with it…

Suddenly, she heared a soft click behind her and stiffened. She turned to see who had come out on deck.

"Oh, Zoro," she said, suddenly nervous, "You can't sleep either?"

Speak of the devil, she thought.

The swordsman joined her at the rail.

"Nah," he grunted, "I thought I heard someone out here, so I came out to see who it was."

He glanced at her and frowned.

Hawke shifted from foot to foot.

"What?" she asked.

Zoro's frown depend.

"You've been crying," he muttered.

Hawke quickly averted her eyes and turned her back to him.

"I just got something in my eye," she stammered.

There was a few moments of silence.

Hawke felt her resovle dissipating.

"I just feel like I have no control over my life…" she confessed, "It seems like what I'm supposed to do was layed out before I was even born…"

She heard Zoro move around behind her, but she stayed facing away, not wanting him to see her eyes, and blinked away her tears.

"I told you before," he grunted, "Don't think about stuff like that… just roll with the punches. If there is such a thing as fate, then everything'll work out in the end."

Hawke felt herself calm down as she listened to the swordsman's advice.

His voice had a soothing affect on her, wiping her confusion away and replacing it with a content feeling.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" the swordsman snapped quietly.

Hawke felt a smile flit across her face.

Zoro still wants me to go see him when I feel sad, she thought, blushing.

"I-I…" she whispered, "I didn't want to bother the others."

Zoro grunted in response.

They stood in silence for a few moments.

"Hey, Zoro," Hawke said quietly, "What were you going ask me back when we were leaving Water 7?"

There was a tense silence.

She could hear his feet shuffling on the grass.

She suddenly stiffened as she felt hands on her waist and warm breath on the top of her head.

Hawke's heart thumped hard against her ribs as Zoro's chest pressed against her back.

"I was going to ask if I could so this…" he stammered nervously.

Hawke wasn't sure what to say. Her throat was constricting and her mind was blank.

"O-oh," she stuttered.

She could feel the heat coming off her face and hear the blood rushing in her ears.

"I-is this okay?" Zoro asked nervously.

Hawke's chest tingled as she felt his breath on her ear.

"Yes," she whispered, leaning back slightly, further into the swordsman's chest.

She heard, and felt, him let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

He wants to hold me… she thought, her heart racing.

"Z- Zoro?" Hawke asked hesitantly, feeling a knot forming in her stomach.

"Mmm?" he grunted.

Hawke took a breath.

"Are we friends?" she asked, her words tumbling out of her mouth as fast as they could.

She felt the warmth and hands retract quickly and she turned around to face the swordsman.

"What?" Zoro was looking at her with a confused expression.

"I mean-," Hawke stuttered, fidgeting with the hem of her tank top, "I mean… are we just friends?"

Her eyes widened and she looked down at the grass.

I actually said it! she thought, horrified, this could ruin everything!

Zoro was standing in front of her in silence, but Hawke couldn't bring herself to meet the swordsman's gaze. She kept her eyes facing the deck. Her blood pounding in her ears.

But he likes me too right? she thought frantically, he just had his arms around me didn't he?!

The silence seemed to drag on for enternity.

I've ruined everything… Hawke felt her shoulders start shaking.

…

…

…

"Aren't we more?" Zoro's gruff voice broke the silence.

Hawke's eyes widened and she looked up.

He was staring at her nervously, his fists clenched at his sides and his eyes clouded with confusion.

He's just as scared as I am, she realized, could that mean…?

A smile spread across her face and she could feel the warm sensation in her chest again, the knot was beginning to disappear.

She took a nervous step forward, gaining a little more courage.

"You are to me…" she whispered, "More, I mean…"

The look of fear left Zoro's face as she said those words and was replaced with relief.

He lifted his arms up and held them out to her.

Hawke let out a little laugh and stepped forward.

She sighed as she felt his arms close around her waist, securing her in a tight grip.

"You're more to me too," Zoro said quietly, his chin resting on her shoulder, "You have been from the beginning."

Hawke smiled and closed her eyes.

"I'm so happy… Zoro…" she sighed.

She had known that Zoro was the one who always made her feel better, even if he didn't know that he did. He was the one she always told how she was really feeling, the stuff she couldn't tell Luffy or Robin. But she hadn't known just how much she'd wanted to be held in his arms until now.

Happiness filled her chest and she let out a giggle.

"I feel better now," she smiled into Zoro's neck.

The swordsman held her for a long time.

"It feels strange," he muttered, his chin back on her shoulder.

"What does?" Hawke asked quietly.

"Knowing that you feel the same way," Zoro mumbled, "But it doesn't feel different at all…"

Hawke smiled and gently pushed herself off his chest.

"Why would it feel different?" she asked, "If we've felt this way the whole time, then why would anything change?"

She saw the hint of turmoil in Zoro's eyes disappear.

He smiled, and then a yawn escaped his lips.

Hawke laughed.

"I guess we should both get to bed," she said, stepping out of Zoro's embrace.

"Yeah," the swordsman smiled warmly at her.

Her heart fluttered and she blushed.

"Well," she stammered, "I'll see you in the morning then."

Zoro nodded and turned to leave. Then he spun around and pulled her close again.

Hawke let out a little gasp as he held his face inches from hers, she could see some indecision and fear in Zoro's eyes.

Is he going to kiss me?! she thought, half eagerly, half nervously.

She stayed frozen and Zoro's face came closer to hers. Her heartbeat resounding loudly in her ears.

Zoro seemed to be deliberating with himself. He had stopped just centimeters from her face, their noses were almost touching. But then he turned his head slightly, pressing his lips gently against her cheek.

Hawke felt a warm rush pass through her cheek and down her body as Zoro stepped back.

"Goodnight," he muttered, his cheeks bright red.

Then he turned quickly and entered the ship.

Hawke stood there, frozen in place.

But her heart soared and she did a happy little dance.

Before returning to her own bed, Hawke went into a store room and took out a blanket. Then she went back out and flew up to the crow's nest and draped it over Usopp. The sniper had been snoring away the whole time.

Hawke smiled as she flew back down to the deck. Her heart was full of happiness and she felt like she was walking on clouds.

Zoro likes me back!

Hawke fell back onto the bed beside Nami with a happy sigh. Then she curled up onto her side.

She let out a happy giggle and drifted off to sleep.

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Robin opened her eyes as she heard Hawke's breath slow to a steady rate.

So they've finally acknowledged each others feelings, the archeologist smiled as she shifted onto her side.

It would be interesting to see how those two handled their newly admitted love in the near future. Robin looked forward to watching how things would unfold.

Then a serious look passed over her face.

But that Salem could be a dangerous man, she thought, her mind recalling her previous boss, we don't know what his intentions were. He could be a man like Crocodile…I'm glad Hawke hasn't figured out what he was researching yet, although I'm surprised she hasn't.

Robin closed her eyes again as she rested her head on her pillow.

Nami moved her leg out in her sleep and it touched the back of the archeologist's calf.

Robin smiled as she felt the warmth of the two bodies laying beside her.

She decided not to tell Hawke what Salem had been searching for.

It's too dangerous right now, she thought as she drifted off to sleep, we need to learn more before we take any action.

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Zoro climbed into his hanging bunk and smirked at the ceiling.

Nothing needs to change, he thought contentedly.

This made him very happy.

The reason he had not asked Hawke before was the fear that she would treat him differently, whether she returned his feelings or not.

But she had said that nothing was going to change because they had been treating each other the way they normally would the whole time.

The swordsman let out a soft sigh. He hadn't felt this alive in a long time.

Something had shifted in his world. Something had fallen into place.

His heart was still beating against his ribs.

He felt a little ashamed at not kissing Hawke "properly", but he had lost his nerve at the last second. He wasn't used to all these emotions yet.

The swordsman closed his eyes and let his mind wander where it wanted.

His thoughts drifted back to earlier that day, when they'd been training together. He smiled as he recalled how much stonger she had become.

She's already really good at manouvering through the air, he thought, she should definitely keep up those skills.

He had watched her from the window of the training room as she had flown around the ship, by herself and then with both Luffy and Chopper.

Zoro lips twitched as he remembered Hawke diving and twirling through the air, her body looking so fragile as it spun around.

And he had finally been able to hold that body, to hold her. She had let him closer, she had let him in. And in return, he had opened up to her.

He could still smell the soft coconut scent of her hair.

Zoro smirked as he felt his heart slowing down.

He would work even harder now. He had to become the greatest swordsman in the world as soon as he was able, he had to protect what he loved.

He rolled over and prepared himself to sleep.

"Oi, Zoro!" he heard a sudden whisper below him.

Cracking an eye open, he recognized the voice of his captain.

"Why are you awake?" Zoro grunted in annoyance.

"What were you doing out there?" the captain asked, "I thought I heard Hawke."

Zoro stiffened, but he nodded.

"Yeah," he grunted, "She was already out there. She couldn't sleep."

"Oh," Luffy said thoughtfully.

There was a pause.

The swordsman let his eyes relax again.

"Did she go back to bed?" the captain asked.

Zoro grimaced and stuck his head out over the bed, looking down.

"Yeah, she did," he snapped, "And I would like to also!"

But Luffy couldn't be dettered.

"Something's bothering her," the rubberman whined, stretching his head up to make it level with the swordsman, "She won't tell me."

Zoro raised his eyebrow.

"Eh?" he rolled over, showing Luffy his back, "She probably just doesn't want you to worry."

"But I am…"

Zoro stiffened and slowly rolled back over.

Luffy's face was unusually unhappy.

Zoro sat up with a grunt.

"Listen," he said, "I know she's your sister, so it makes sense that you worry about her. But remember that she's a part of this crew. We're all going to protect each other."

Luffy's head bobbed from side to side.

"Is it about the mystery prophecy?" he asked.

Zoro glared at him.

"Were you even listening to me?!" he snapped, but then he calmed down, "Yes, she doesn't like the idea of not being able to make her own choices because of the prophecy."

The captain's forehead wrinkled as he concentrated.

"When I visited her last night," he frowned, "She was crying in her sleep…I didn't tell her, though."

Zoro started.

Hawke is really upset about this, he thought.

"Hey, Zoro," Luffy said, waving his head in front of the swordsman, "Hawke likes you-"

The swordsman flinched.

"- so can you make sure she doesn't cry as much?"

Luffy can notice those types of things?! Zoro couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"I can make her laugh and smile," the captain just kept on talking, "But I can't get her to stop crying. Maybe you can."

Zoro stared dumbly at Luffy, but he managed to nod his head.

"Alright!" Luffy smiled, "I'm going to bed now."

His head disappeared and Zoro almost instantly heard snores.

The swordsman stared into space, in shock, for a few moments. Then he felt himself relax.

Luffy's alright as an older brother, he smirked as he lay back down, I never knew just how much he worried about her.