Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

"-yawn- ...mmm... Nami, why the hell did we have to go so early?" said a sleepy Zoro.

"Because Zoro, it's better to map out this island nice and early so we don't have to do this later," Nami replied.

Nami was currently dragging Zoro along at the coast of the island. Mihawk had already left before they awoke and left a note saying, "make whatever you want as long as you clean up after, will be back soon," and as soon as Nami read it, she got the impression of a fatherleaving a note for their kids. Thinking about Mihawk as Zoro's dad made her chuckle.

"...So what exactly is your relationship with Mihawk?" Nami found herself asking.

"Why do you ask," he replied. Sometimes she hated that shut-out attitude of his.

"Just curious, seriously I'm your crewmate for god's sake! I won't make fun of you I promise," Nami said with a wink.

'Yeah right,' Zoro thought.

"Well if you're that curious, he's just training me. Nothing more, nothing less." Zoro said as he looked away from her.

"Training? Why would he do that? Aren't you trying to surpass him?" Nami asked.

"Beats me, but I'm the one who asked him to anyway," Zoro said as he suddenly put his hand on the hilt of his blade.

"What is it? More monkeys?" Nami asked in an almost bored tone.

"No...we just have some company is all," Zoro said as he resheathed his blade.

"Perona why the hell are you following us?" Zoro said aloud.

"Eep!"

"Perona? She's following us?" Nami questioned.

As if on cue, Perona had peeked her head around the tree and glared at Zoro.

"Because you two left me alone and I was bored out of my mind with nothing to do!" Perona exclaimed.

"Well if you wanted to hang with us why were you hiding in the first place?" Zoro asked.

"..."

"That's beside the point Zoro. Personally, I don't care about why she was following us. But I want to hurry up and finish charting this island as much as I can, now quit slacking and keep up," Nami ordered as she continued walking ahead.

"Damn Witch," Zoro grumbled as he followed her.

...He stopped.

"Don't continue hiding back Perona, just walk with us," Zoro said before continuing.

Alrhough Perona was hesitant, she did.

"Hmmm...ok I think it's time we call for a lunch break," Nami said suddenly. Upon the mention of lunch, they had all realized just how long it had been since they ate. Nami had whipped up some eggs for her and Zoro, charging him of course, and left a bit for Perona. Nami even prepared the lunches for their trip, her and Zoro. What Nami didn't plan for, however, was for Perona to accompany them, meaning Perona had no bento lunch.

Zoro as observant as always, noticed this and didn't hesitate in the slightest to offer his bento lunch to Perona.

So with an outstretched hand, he handed her his bento.

"Here, you can have my lunch Perona, I'm not that hungry anyway," Zoro said as he handed her his bento box.

"..."

"Don't just stand there looking like an idiot, you're hungry, aren't you? I'll just take a nap while you two eat your lunch," Zoro said.

Perona gawked and was about to retort if Zoro hadn't just given her his lunch. She accepted the bento box from his hands.

"Wake me up you two are finished, zzzz..." And with that, he was out like a light.

He left both Nami and Perona alone with their lunches. Considering they both hadn't really ended things on good terms, it was no surprise that things were awkward.

"So...do you still dislike me?" Perona asked as she tried to make the situation less awkward. Though she instantly realized that asking someone if they still hated you was probably one of the worst topics to bring up.

"Hmmm well, considering that fact that Zoro isn't dead yet, and lost, I suppose you aren't that terrible of a person" Nami stated.

"Buuuuut, you still fought against us in Thriller Bark," Nami brought up skeptically. Perona gulped, and Nami chuckled

"Hahaha! I'm just kidding! That was two years ago and keeping grudges for that long isn't healthy. Now that you're stuck with us, we might as well be friends right?" Nami offered.

Perona wasn't expecting such a formal answer coming from her. When Nami had first arrived at Thriller Bark, she took her as the childish and immature type. Yet she was completely different before her eyes! She was mature and far more collected than she was a couple of months ago.

Perona smiled and nodded in agreement, having another girl on the island wouldn't be bad! Perona thought happily as she munched on her orange omelet.

?!?!

"Wh-what is this?" She asked out loud.

"What. The omelet? It's a little homemade recipe I learned during my childhood is all," Nami replied as she continued to eat.

"I've just never eaten anything like this, it has a different taste too..."

"That's the tangerine sauce I mixed in there, it's good right?" Nami asked warily.

"It's...delicious! And I don't even like tangerines that much!" Perona said as she ate more. Hearing someone compliment her food for once was a nice change instead of being the one giving out compliments. When was the last time she had received a compliment for her food?

Back when they didn't have Sanji on their ship... just her Luffy and Zoro since they picked up Sanji immediately after Usopp. She began to feel nostalgic when she remembered the first time Zoro complimented her food. For some reason, it felt more meaningful coming from him than Luffy since Luffy would compliment her and Sanji's every day.

"Ummm did you hear me? I asked how you and your family were able to create something like this," Perona asked sweetly, though remembering her past brought back some haunting nightmares.

"...Just, learned from my mom," Nami said.

"Hmmm, well she's a great cook to be able to make such a great dish with tangerines. She has my respect," Perona said. Nami nodded and before she even knew it, they had both finished their bento lunches.

"Well, time to get going I guess," Nami said.

"Your right, do you want me to wake him?" Perona asked.

"No it's okay, this idiot here sleeps deader than the zombies at Thriller Bark," Nami joked.

"Please I insist," Perona offered. Nami looked at her but nodded, curious to know why she was eager to wake up Zoro.

Perona floated over to Zoro and crouched down, right in next to his face. She then grabbed his face by his jaw and lifted it higher to her face. Nami blushed and wondered just what Perona was about to do.

Perona slightly opened her mouth and her lips formed an "O," was she going to kiss Zoro?! Perona remained staring at Zoro through half-lidded eyes and looked like she was about to lean in further. Nami wanted to turn away to see such a display, but something told her to keep watching, as unpleasant as it may seem. Perona leaned in closer and closer until...

She suddenly turned Zoro's head to the side and blew in his ear.

"Ahhh!! What the hell Perona?! I hate when you do that shit..." Zoro grumbled, wide awake. For one, Nami was impressed that Perona had woken him up without using force and secondly, wondered why she was so relieved at the fact that Perona hadn't kissed him.

"We're done eating and we're going to continue exploring the island, that's why I woke you up."

"Yeah well, you didn't have to blow in my fucking ear."

"Language! And would rather have I punched rather than her blow in your ear?" Nami joined.

"...maybe?"

"Hm, good to know. I hope you've realized what you just agreed to Zoro because that's how I'll be waking you up from now on, got it?"

"But-"

"Ok good, off we go!" Nami said as she adjusted her backpack and began to walk forward.

"Damn Witch...whatever!" Zoro said as he followed her. Perona had stayed a bit before following them.

"Man those two argue like a married couple..." she muttered.

"Hmmm...we should probably head back, the sun's just about to start setting," Nami announced.

"Oh good, so you're done then?" Zoro asked hopefully.

"Of course not, we'll continue this again tomorrow, and the day after!" Nami said mischievously, trying to get the reaction she wanted from Zoro in 3, 2, 1...

"What the hell!?! As if I'm gonna go on another one of these stupid trips with you! You're lucky I even decided to come at all!!" Zoro seethed, and hearing a normally composed Zoro lose his cool once more after 8 months was both refreshing and a blessing to know he was still the same.

"Hahaha!! I'm just kidding Zoro! You should see the look on your face right now, you're redder than a tomato!" Nami said as she threw her head back and laughed even harder.

"Screw you!! I'm done! I'm leaving!" Zoro said as he turned around sharply.

"Wait, Zoro!"

"What?!"

"Carry me?" Nami asked sweetly.

"You can walk back yourself damnit!!" He yelled back.

"Hmph, brute," Nami smirked when he showed the back of his middle finger at her.

"Hmmm, he's just so easy," Nami said as she followed him. Perona remained quiet during the scene and continued to stay quiet even as she followed them. Zoro was sulking, sulking because of her.

"Of all the people to land on this island, it had to be her of all people. Hell, I'd even take Robin over her," Zoro thought with distaste. He was just about to start ignoring Nami completely until he heard her scream.

Scream in pain that is.

He swiveled around in the blink of an eye and instantly found what had caused her to shriek like that. Next to her foot was a scorpion with a huge nasty stinger connected to Nami's shin.

Zoro lunged forward and cut the scorpion and removed the stinger from Nami.

"Zoro, what-"

"Don't worry they aren't poisonous, but they do leave a nasty swelling," Perona informed as she stared at the raised bump on Nami's shin.

"Will she be okay?" Zoro asked, almost panicked

"She'll live, but I doubt she can walk since it usually hurts to make any movement, " Perona added.

"Don't be...riDICulous!!" Nami winced as she tried to stand. She couldn't stand for more than a second before she fell to the ground.

Or, Zoro's back.

"What are-"

"You asked me to carry you right? I'm doing just that," Zoro said as he hoisted her up to a more comfortable position. Nami wrapped her arms around his neck and was about to wrap her legs as well until Zoro stopped her.

"Don't move your legs, it'll hurt if you try move them right Perona?"

"R-right. I'll lead the way back to castle then," Perona said as she took lead. Zoro began to follow her and said nothing afterward.

"...Hey Zoro?"

"Mm?"

"...Thanks," Nami said she nudged her head in his shoulder. Zoro assumed she was tired.

"...It's no problem," Zoro answered back.

When Perona led them back to the castle, the sun had just set and all it took was Zoro to glare at the monkeys to stop them from attacking them. Perona opened the door and they went inside.

"Mind telling me what you rascals were up to outside?" Came Mihawk's chilling voice.

"Oh, you're back," Zoro said unfazed.

"We were out because Nami here wanted to write down this island for her soon-to-be world map," Zoro explained.

"A world map hm? My...that might take longer than your dream, boy," Mihawk said, getting under Zoro's skin.

"Yeah well...ah to hell with it I'm too tired for this," Zoro growled as he stomped up the stairs. He bid goodnight to them and headed inside his room.

"...So why is he carrying her?"

"She got stung by one of the non-poisonous scorpions on this island in her foot," Perona explained.

"Ah I see, but the swellings don't last that long."

"She was asleep so I assume he just didn't want to wake her.

"Sleeping? The girl was awake before he even stepped inside. If you ask me, seems as though she wanted to stay on his back," Mihawk said as he took a sip from his wine.

"Hmm, she seemed asleep to me."

"Well it doesn't matter, now go get some rest ghost girl, you and Zoro have work to do tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know...sighs."

"...Did you have fun today?" Mihawk asked.

"...Yeah, I did," Perona answered with a smile.

Mihawk smiled right back.

Zoro stepped in and locked the door, trying to remain as quiet as possible so he did not wake Nami. The last thing he needed was a grumpy Nami at this time of night.

"Right..." Zoro whispered as he placed Nami on the bed. She moaned weakly at the loss of warmth so Zoro pulled up the sheets to keep her warm. Assessing his work, he was just about to head to his spot before a small hand reached out for his wrist. He looked back to see Nami's hand, wrapped around his wrist and not letting go.

"You can...sleep in bed for tonight..." Nami mumbled quietly. Zoro's eyes widened, he must've heard her wrong. Either that or she was too tired to process anything she was saying. Or maybe it was the scorpion making her think differently? He was about to ignore her when Nami deliberately turned on her side and opened space for him.

She was serious, and he felt compelled to lay next to her.

He got in bed and made sure to lie on his side and face away from her. This wasn't weird, just two friends sleeping in the same bed who were coincidentally opposite genders. Nothing weird at all.

Zoro continued to have these thoughts for a while until he felt his eyelids grow heavy. Guess it was time to sleep then. He slowly began to forget about the fact that he was sleeping next to Nami, and sleeping in his bed again was a nice change than sleeping on the floor. He closed his eyes and fell into his familiar breathing pattern when he went to sleep.

Some things never change, even when he usually slept in his room alone, Nami being here almost felt natural. Though for some reason, when he went to sleep this time, he was embraced with a new warmness that made him sleep more peacefully than normal. It seemed as though things were going to change, but it was a welcome change.

A/N: Well, the third chapter, and it only went through one revision! With a spelling check of course. I hope you guys are noticing the slow build romance I've got going on, hopefully, it's not too slow for your tasting, however. I don't have much else to say other than thanks for reviewing, and have a good day. All grammar mistakes belong to me and goodbye.