I do not own anything besides these words and the cover art.

Nami and Zoro looked before them as the lights glittered and the air filled with laughter and shouts. Nami had walked them to the fairgrounds since it was nearby, and Zoro strolled behind her. Now, they stood side by side, tickets in their pockets as they took in the sights.

"Alright, what's first?" Zoro directed his question to her. His hands were in his shorts, and his shoulders relaxed. His chin was up, and his grin lit up his face. For a moment, Nami did not know what to say, as if she forgot her words or his question. She did not understand how he made her uneasy on the inside, something grew and turned and she did not like the lack of control she had over herself. Nami blamed it on the adventure of it all and put on her best face. With tongue out and a wink, Nami tilted her head up towards Zoro's face. "Let's do a roller-coaster."

Zoro watched her blankly and snickered, "No way. You're already shivering in your tiny shorts."

Nami blushed but shouted as to distract him, "What? What are you talking about? I suggested it!"

Zoro scratched his head and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, cause you want me to think you're not scared."

"I'm not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are-"

Before Zoro could continue their bickering, she grabbed his hand by the wrist and pulled them towards the line for the roller coaster. Nami heard the screams above her head as the bullet like machine soared. She dared not look back, but Zoro felt her tremble through her fingertips around his hand. He quickly switched it, so he gripped her hand in his own. Nami felt his thumb brush slowly over the back of her hand. She turned to look at him, but he was too busy gauging how far they were from the front. He did not look at her as he spoke, "You don't need to do this if you don't want to."

She paused and mumbled, "Do you want to?"

Zoro shrugged his shoulders and tossed her a glance, "I guess. Never been on one before so it should be fun."

Nami nodded and looked into the distance as she calculated her fears over her desires. Sure, she was terrified of, if nothing else, peeing her pants while on the ride. Suddenly, Zoro's thumb brushed the back of her hand again and she let a smile come on her face. "Fine, let's do it. I mean, it's the last day and I guess we should be open. Living for the night like it is golden. Besides...this looks like a smaller one than the ones I've seen before anyway."

Nami grinned broadly and closed her eyes before him. Zoro felt like his hand was on fire, her soft skin against his own. He wanted to reach out and press her hand to his lips or his lips to her own. It suddenly dawned on him that he was staring at her for quite some time, as the people behind him yelled about the lack of movement. Zoro pushed Nami forward, taking his hand out of her hold, which apparently shocked her. He grunted roughly, as they made their way forward and found themselves at the front of the line. The line had moved on as they shared whatever it was that made Zoro stare and Nami smile, and rest of the patrons were upset they did not realize it. Nami saw the gate before her and her eyes grew wide. "Wait-"

"Nope, we're up next and people are behind us."

She felt Zoro push her forward and as she stumbled into the rickety cart, she attempted to get out of it. Zoro, however, sat beside her and the bar held her in place. She looked at it and then to him, "Do we not get seatbelts?"

The ride operator directed the rest of the people in and chuckled, "That's what the bar is for." Nami looked around worried, while it seemed everyone else thought it was perfectly natural to rocket around at high speed with nothing but a tiny metal bar to hold onto. The man came back to the front and pressed the bar down to double check it. He looked at Nami's face of fear and spoke softly, "Don't worry. No one has ever flown out of these things." Nami felt a momentary reassurance but the conductor continued as he turned his key and waved them off, "Just hold onto something else too…just to be safe."

"What?" Nami screamed as the cart moved forward. She watched their little machine eat the tracks underneath them, and she imagined the wooden planks breaking under all the pressure and movement.

"Hey," Zoro whispered into her ear, "stop freaking out. I'm right here." She turned to yell about how none of that mattered. He would not be able to stop a roller coaster or catch her from falling. However, as he looked into her eyes, he said with finality, "I've got you."

Nami opened her mouth to speak, but all she let out was a scream as they plummeted downward. Apparently, as Nami focused on the microscopic intricacies of the ride, the entire car made its way to the peak. Now all anyone could hear was Nami screaming prayers and Zoro's bellowing shouts.

Nami finally stumbled out of the ride and bypassed Zoro's outstretch hands as she moved like a newborn giraffe to a trashcan. She did not feel like throwing up, but her body was readjusting to solid ground again. Zoro was about to ask her if she needed a break, but she straightened herself and pumped her fist in the air. "I did it", she said reassuringly as if not a second ago she had her nails into Zoro's face and chest in an attempt to grip something more solid than the shaky safety bar.

Zoro scoffed at her prideful nature. She practically cried on the ride and yet stood before him now with a self-satisfied look. He shook his head and joked, "So, I guess you want to go again-"

Nami quickly charged at him and pulled his shirt down so his face was against hers. "Say one more word, Roronoa, and I will strap you to that death machine and never let you get off."

"Okay, okay", Zoro said with his hands up defensively, "I just thought you seemed so ready for another round."

"I'll show you another round!"

Zoro smiled and spoke confidently, "It's because you didn't do a call."

"A call?" Nami asked in confusion.

"Yeah," Zoro said nonchalantly," You should have put your hands up, let go, and just shouted from your gut."

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Nami pinched his ear as his face twisted in pain. He wriggled beneath her grip as Nami twitched an eyebrow. She glanced around her to find something equally stupid that would shut him up for good. A sly smile came to her lips as she tugged him forward. "Let's see how you handle getting out of your comfort zone."

Zoro jeered, "Ha! I don't care how fast we go."

"I'm sure", is all Nami said as she stopped by an attendant who led them to a boat shaped like a swan.

Zoro never got a chance to see what the ride was, so he did not question it as the woman threw red and pink confetti over them as they disembarked. Zoro looked around confused, but Nami seemed so satisfied to watch him try to figure out where they were. Then the music began as they floated through what looked like fake greenery into a dark tunnel. Pink and red lights lit up everywhere as hearts and flying paper-mache babies with arrows soared past Zoro's head. He was about to knock one out when he looked over at Nami who clutched herself in laughter. "Oh, Zoro! What are you so afraid of, huh? The Tunnel of Love not up to your speed?"

"Tunnel of Love? What the hell kind of ride is this?" He watched in shock as animatronic couples pecked each other up and down the ride, while rubber fish swamp past and squirted water in high arches around the boat.

Nami leaned in and tickled his ear. She played with his earrings as she spoke, "It's a ride for couples, Zoro. Do you want to be a couple?"

There was but a moment between Nami's question and Zoro's hold of her. His hands were around her waist and Nami felt the passion in his eyes. "Yes," Zoro said as he pulled Nami towards him. Nami, on the other hand, was not ready for his direct answer or his hand suddenly at her thigh and rising. Her hands that were by his neck suddenly seemed to find his hair as he moved in and she did not stop it. Her heart was beating in her chest wildly as his lustful gaze penetrated her, and then she thought about whatever else might penetrate her and so...she pushed.

Zoro did not fathom it as he hit the water and the boat bobbed away from him. He finally sat up in the thigh high water to see Nami at the end of the tunnel, get out of the boat and run off. He was about to call after her when a boat collided with the back of his head and an angry couple shouted at him to get out of the water. Zoro looked around like he got knocked into a parallel universe. One second, Nami was giving him the go ahead and the next, he was pulling fake lily pads out of his shirt. The attendant helped him out and giggled, "Wow, usually at the end of these things, people get wet...in another way."

Zoro gave her a glare as he shook his body of the excess water, but it was like he was wearing a wet diaper. In the uncomfortable state, he stalked away and tried to process where exactly he went wrong.

Nami stood alone, hidden behind a food stand to see a very wet and angry Zoro storm off. When she asked him about being a couple, she expected him to joke back, but he did not. He gave an answer, and the answer terrified Nami. It was an answer she had not calculated and more importantly, had not planned. And then, as typical as Zoro was, he acted upon his answer and her stark silence...and Nami, for a moment, did not think anything was wrong. She forgot about her sister. She forgot about Arlong. She wanted to imagine a life with him. However, it dawned on her again, as her rational brain shook her dream state out, where did her sister fit into a life with Zoro? Would he run away with her and help her catatonic sister while they lived in some country with no extradition? She did not believe he would. There was too much around him, too many people who cared…and were still alive. Nami did not have that luxury. Besides Nojiko and Usopp, there was no one she cared for in this world that still had breath. Well, Nojiko, Usopp…and Zoro. However, Nami told herself, he would not take control. To put so much on a scale, avenging her mother and saving her sister and herself, and then to look at a man she barely knew as equal to it all…Nami could not have that on her conscience.

Zoro found himself lost in the crowd. His glare and angry stomping put people off and they separated around him as if he was the hand of God and they were the Red Sea. He was still damp, and with the sun on his back, the sweat and tunnel water made him reek. However, the smell did not annoy him as much as the frustration of the events prior did. He needed to release everything that rose in his heart and head. Zoro had been waiting for the moment she let her guard down, to tell him to move forward. She did, then she did not. In his defense, he did not take her silence as a maybe. He took her very face, her eyes, the way her mouth perked up into a smile as a yes. Sure, he could have waited for an audible yes, but damn it, was that really his fault too? Zoro was about to answer his own question when he saw the perfect stress reliever. He put his ticket down and picked up the rifle. He imagined the little ducks were Nami, but he missed every single one. Even when he metaphorically wanted to cause her pain, his body just would not let him.

"You need to raise your arm a bit", the quiet voice said beside him.

He did not turn around and instead focused on trying to knock one of the metal targets. He missed terribly, so he responded, "How did you find me?"

There was a pause and then she answered, "You walked in a circle. A couple of times. This is just a few feet from the ride."

Zoro finally looked up to see she was telling the truth. Just past her head was the exit for the tunnel, a wet spot still there from his dripping body, and he cursed himself. "How do you know I walked in circles?"

Nami shrugged and held onto her arm. "You literally walked past me like four times…"

He ground his teeth and went back to shooting. "Lucky chance."

"Yeah," she said as she leaned against the stand, "I am pretty lucky."

Zoro raised an eyebrow and gave her a quick look, and she gave him a soft smile. "Why is that?" he asked, half out of curiosity.

"Well, you." She looked directly at him as she said it, "I'm lucky to have you, Zoro." Zoro looked back at her, unsure of what to say. Therefore, he trained his eyes on the task. Nami sighed, "I told you that you need to raise your-"

"No," he said adamantly as he put the toy gun down, "You don't get to do that."

"Do what?" Nami was honestly confused.

"You don't get to act like nothing is wrong with us."

"I didn't think you were so sensitive."

"I'm not. What I am is-"

"Sexually frustrated?"

"Don't put words in my mouth, witch."

"I'm guessing you'd prefer something else of mine in your mouth."

Zoro just glared at her and knew she only said it to get a rise out of him. "You know what, Nami? I think you're sexually frustrated."

"Ha, I think not."

"Oh, really? Then what was that giant scene in the tunnel? Why pick that ride anyway?"

"Because I knew it would annoy you."

"And why do you care if I'm annoyed?"

"Because it's funny."

"Why is teasing me funny to you?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"You said we're just business partners. I told you I considered us friends. You know things about me and I know things about you. So tell me exactly how much of your plan involved these feelings?"

"Ha! Feelings? Like what?"

"Oh, right. Cause you just ask every guy if you want to be a couple?"

Nami felt her cheeks get hot and in fear of blushing, she had to lie. "Who says you are the only guy in my life?"

Zoro looked at her intently and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever. We'll drop it."

There he went again. Nami could not stand that. He would get within an inch of her true self and suddenly back off as if her reactions and expressions did more to tell him all he needed to know than her actual words. Nevertheless, Zoro did not need to hear Nami lie to know she was lying. He went back to shooting, another pellet missed his intended target and he pursed his lips in frustration. Nami watched him and leaned in. She pressed her hand against his shoulder and the other went under his straight arm. She stood on the tips of her toes to angle the gun and his body. "Keep your back straight and the target at eye-level. Now, pull the trigger," she said softly into his ear. He did and electronic cheering sounded from the stand.

"Wow, man, only took you until your last shot," said the carnival man who ran the game.

Nami asked with a smile, "Does he win anything?"

The man chuckled, "Unfortunately, not, Miss. Your boyfriend didn't make the cut." They were about to pull the "she/he is not my girlfriend/boyfriend" charade when a group snickered behind them. The pair turned to see a bunch of lanky teens aim their guns sideways as if they watched a bunch of action films recently. Their shorts hung bellow their butt cheeks and they wore an unnecessary amount of chains.

The pimple-faced ringleader spoke up first, "Man, you suck more than a chick."

Nami paid them no mind but Zoro engaged, "You think you're better? More than half your shots missed the targets."

The boys brought down their guns and faced the much bigger man before them. "That's the point, dude. It's called holding them under gunfire."

"Them? You mean the metal ducks?"

The ringer leader's crew muffled their laughs behind him, so the boy grew red. "Want to go, old man?"

Zoro looked at the crew, pre-teens with something to prove, and then to the gun at his hand, while Nami rolled her eyes at the male idiocy. "Let's make it interesting. I bet my girl can knock out every single target before your entire team gets one down."

The boys' eyes grew wide. "There's like seven of us!"

"No, there are exactly seven of you and I count a total of 20 targets."

Nami scoffed, "Why don't you ask me if I even want to?" She did not address the way he called her his girl, but Nami was more annoyed at being some pawn in his ego game.

The group looked her up and down, and the leader smirked, "She doesn't look like she even knows where the trigger is. Sure, it's easy money."

Nami's eyes went dark as the teens regrouped and nodded at their leader's call. "Zoro, how dare you put me up to this stupidity."

He handed her the gun and stepped away, "Oh, please. As if sweeping the floor with these idiots won't make you a bit happy."

Nami hid her smile as she took her place in front of the stand. She looked over at the boys that were on either side of her. In her sweetest tone, she proceeded, "Um, let's do $10 per person, huh? That's fun, right?" She squealed and Zoro rolled his eyes at her acting.

The ringleader smiled, "Sure, honey. But that means you would owe us $70."

"Oh man," Nami furrowed her brows and seemed confused, "Why don't we do it like $10 per target? If I get all 20 that means I get $200, but if you get your 7, I'll give you $200."

The boys looked at each other and wondered if Nami knew she was making a worse deal for herself. The leader greedily stuck out his hand and Nami shook it, "You got yourself a deal, babe. And…just for fun, I'll let you hang out with me and the boys since your man threw you into this unfair game."

Nami faked a smile, "Oh, that would be cool! He's no fun anyway."

The boys nodded as the foolish leader continued, "Don't worry. You're a bit old for me, but I'm sure we could have fun."

Zoro snorted and an icy feminine voice said, "Run the damn machine."

Nami glared at the targets as the operator nodded and started the game. Tiny pings sounded, as each bullet hit each mark. Before any of the teens could even aim their guns, the targets before them disappeared as they were hit. 30 seconds later, the man called out, "It's a full house!"

Each boy shook their guns and pulled their triggers to check if they worked. They did and Nami put her gun down with a satisfied smile. "$200."

"What?" the instigator asked.

Nami pulled him by his chains. "I said I want my $200."

"No way, you lying bitch!"

Zoro was about to lend a hand when Nami pulled the boy's face against her own. "Listen, you, with the droopy pants and faux chains. I know a bitch ass poser when I see one. Now, you saw what I could do with a plastic gun and rubber bullets. Do you really want to see how I handle the real thing? I'll. Fuck. You. Up."

The youth shook his head while his friends nodded in agreement, and they went into their pockets for the money. Zoro let out a quiet whistle, completely proud to see Nami hold her own, though he never doubted it. Nami collected it all with a sneer when the attendant asked, "Miss, you do win a prize, too, you know?"

Nami counted the bills and put them in her pocket as she perused his selection. They were all large, plush stuffed animals of varying colors and odd facial expressions. She beamed as her eyes selected one way in the back. "That one!" She pointed excitedly.

"That one? Are you sure?" the man asked her with hesitation, "There are way better ones to pick from."

However, Nami shook her head and pointed at the item hidden behind the newer and nicer toys. Zoro walked up to see what she decided on and he frowned as she squeezed its neck, the smallest part of the giant stuffed creature. It was a tiger of a disgustingly bright green color. One of its eyes had popped off and someone haphazardly attempted to sew it back on. However, they forgot the actual eye so there was only a long mark of black stitches on its left eye. Around its waist was a giant red bow that contrasted its green tone. However, the worst part of it all was its expression. It had a deep frown with its fangs out, like the drawings of old angry samurai Zoro remembered Sensei kept on his walls. "Ugh, that thing looks disgusting."

Nami fumbled with it and turned it around as she patted its head. "Well, I like it. It reminds me of a certain someone."

Zoro cracked his neck out of boredom, "Whatever. Good luck carrying that thing around all night."

Nami grinned and threw the stuffed animal at Zoro who caught it in his arms. It was huge, and Zoro fumbled with it as Nami simply moved on. "Nope, I won it. Doesn't mean I have to care it."

Zoro followed her and stomped his feet with the animal tucked under one arm by its neck. "Oh, yeah? And who says I'll carry it?"

Nami turned around briefly but continued on, "Well, you are." Zoro wanted to shout at her, but he suddenly lost her in the crowd. He looked over the tops of heads for her orange locks. It was as if, in a blink of an eye, she disappeared out of sight but not out of mind. He opened his mouth to shout her name when fingers interlocked with his own and pulled him to the side. He followed the hand to the holder and it was Nami who looked at him with a pout. "I swear I need to put a tracker on you. One second you're behind me, and the next you are across the park."

"What? But I didn't move!"

"Then you floated, you dummy! Point is, I am going to have to hold your damn hand or I'm going to lose my prize."

"Your prize?"

Nami pointed to the furry thing under his arm and Zoro exhaled. However, as he held onto her hand, and their fingers locked into one another's, he thought she meant more than just the stuffed animal.

"Oh, a strong man game! Zoro, go ahead and test your strength," she teased.

Zoro did not need any more prompting as he handed her the tiger and went to play. He took the hammer and swung it. They all watched as the tracker almost hit the bell on top but stopped promptly. Zoro frowned as the owner patted him on the back. "It's okay, son, you just need to work out a bit more."

The man meant it as a joke, but Zoro did not like having his strength questioned. Without warning, he swung the hammer again, and the machine shook as the tracker barreled to the top. A faint ding echoed, and the man grew worried as Zoro huffed. He tried to stop the green-haired monster from swinging again, but Zoro was too quick. The smash of the hammer against the board came with a sharp crack of wood as the bell rang with a loud clash. The manager looked at the grinning brute to his broken machine and shouted for Zoro to get away. Zoro dropped the cracked mallet, and the manager tossed him a couple of items just so he could get the beast out of his sights. Nami mouthed a quick sorry but walked with a bit of pride in her step, as onlookers watched the superhuman leave.

"Whatcha get? Whatcha get?" Nami bounced up and down excitedly as if she was a kid on a sugar high.

"Well, I got this rubber ball and a slingshot. A pack of cigarettes….I'm pretty sure that was garbage he threw at me? Oh, and this Hello Kitty headband, a tiny book of dirty jokes…in Russian? A pack of temporary tattoos shaped like stars. A tiny violin. And oh, this…a raccoon stuffed animal?"

"That's a reindeer! Give it here." Nami said greedily as she reached for it, but Zoro pulled it out of her grasp.

"Uh, no. I like it."

Nami raised an eyebrow and looked at him, "You…Zoro Roronoa, want a kid's toy?"

"Who says it's only for kids?" He said as he looked over the little object in his hand. Nami laughed and grabbed a bag from one of the stands to put the rest of his prizes, or garbage, in. She took his free hand as he held onto the reindeer and the tiger.

They went through the rest of the carnival that way, hand in hand, fingers between fingers. He did not question it when instead of letting go, she put two straws into her smoothie and they shared. They did not look at each other the entire time; as one person glanced a peek, the other shifted their eyes. Zoro hated sweet things, but regardless, he hungrily sucked the fruity milky concoction if it meant he had her nearby. As for Nami, the smoothie led to sharing a hotdog then some fried Oreos. They both ignored any childish need to comment about the shape of the hot dog, because of unbeknownst to either of them, each person was too busy looking at the other's lips. She took a lot of joy in tossing the fried cookies his way so he could catch them in his mouth. Her finger gently brushed the powdered sugar off his cheek or nose, and he did not stop her.

Nami did not stop him when he pulled her into a photo booth and they took ridiculous pictures until his still damp body made Nami push and prod him away. Their faces pressed against each other to form silly faces, well, once Zoro forgot his signature frown. She could not help but laugh as he stuck his tongue out, and for a second, he forgot why he frowned so much. His entire face felt light and yet heated as he glanced down to see her glance up and suddenly their pictures were done and they shuffled out of the photo booth in silence. She held on to them and promised she'd made a copy for him. Then, she directed them to another ride as he quietly yet eagerly followed.

Nami spun the teacup they sat in around so wildly that Zoro nearly lost his lunch. He said it was a stupid ride since he only saw young kids and families going on it. Of course, he stopped that nonsense as Nami spun them around and around, and he found himself by her side as he screamed for her to stop. She laughed, and though Zoro felt dizzy, the fluttering in his stomach came from the lightness of her joy. She continued her taunts as he gagged into a trash bin. So, he locked their hands together and pulled her towards the haunted maze with her protest. She stood shakily as her pride told him she was not afraid...that much.

They ended up between stalks of corn and old broken farmhouses for an hour. Nami was too busy hiding from ghosts and jumping from fake spiders to accurately direct them out. Zoro smirked as she held onto his arm, and she did nothing but cursed his callous nature. Regardless, he kept her under his arm and they continued, while Nami's hand found his shirt and clung to it when she needed to steady herself. Which was often. When they were finally free, Nami feigned her might as she proclaimed that she went through the maze fine. Zoro threw a fake spider at her, which earned him a prompt punch.

Then they heard the light patter of rain and paid it no mind as they continued to enjoy their night. Zoro separated from his anger and loss. Nami was free from debt and chains. It only for a night, under the stars and lights, they did not need to talk about having fun or doing anything…they just were. Nami and Zoro were about to get on another ride when the downpour took over. Zoro wanted to keep going but the attendant told him that the rides were not operable with the rain falling so heavily. The man groaned but Nami pulled him away and looked towards the winded whipped trees.

"Do you think we can make it?" She said trying to gauge how wet she would get running through the rain.

Zoro shrugged, "No other way to get home, I guess."

"We can cut through that park. My apartment is just over the hill."

So, they ran. Hands still locked, like two lovesick teenagers through the rain. Zoro called for Nami to run faster, who yelled back that there were puddles. Therefore, Zoro did what any rational person would do. He took her by the hips and threw her over his shoulder.

Nami cried out about the embarrassment, as people looked at them sprint through the carnival and out the exit. Nami held onto her stuffed animal and other goodies, while Zoro had one hand firmly on her hips on his shoulder and the other on his reindeer. At some point, Nami started yelling at him because he was still Zoro and managed to get lost when her apartment was a straight shot through the park. She wiggled around too much so he eventually found a clearing underneath some trees and put her back down. Nami pushed wet strands of hair out her face and tried to pull at the clothes that fused to her skin through the rain. Zoro looked at her and snorted, and he received a swift slap to his chest for it. Yet, as they looked at each other, both soaked to the bone and slightly shivering in the cold, they could not help but smile.

She took in his wet person, tan and hard. His muscles rippled against the thin fabric that adhered to him. The rain dripped from his short green hair as it left trails down his face. Nami wiped at a droplet on his cheek and left her hand there. Zoro leaned into her warm palm and went to tuck the wet hair behind her ear. He left his fingers there, where they gently rubbed her earlobe and Nami moved on her own. It was like a slow dance underneath the dark sky and the sound of rain blocked out all of the other noise. They heard nothing but the quiet breathing between them, and Zoro felt a pull as if she was the sun and he was the lonely planet circling her. It was cataclysmic as he took in her large brown orbs and she pushed a hand against his chest that brought him flush against her body. It was late and they were wet, but in the hours when most people were home, they were charged and ready for something more.

Their lips were but an inch away from contact when the ring of a police siren shook them both out of the embrace. The blue and red lights put fear in Nami's body, and Zoro felt her tense up. The door opened and a quiet roar shouted, "Zoro?" The woman walked up in front of her headlights towards the pair, and Tashigi pushed her glasses up as she glared at the two of them. "What are you doing out here?"

Zoro could barely understand how and why. He had not seen Tashigi in years, and yet, now she stood before him, police car and all. "Uh…"

"What? Forgot my name already?" She joked, but her voice was stern and her expression was firm.

Zoro frowned and gave her an equally intense glare, "No, Tashigi. Couldn't…as much as I've tried."

The comment hit Tashigi, but she did not let it show. "Well, want to tell me why you're in this private park?"

"We got lost," Zoro said calmly, the thunder echoed his demeanor.

"We?" Tashigi placed her dark brown eyes on the orange haired woman and did not falter. It unnerved Nami, who found herself shrink behind Zoro's frame suddenly.

Zoro grew defensive, though he did not know why. "Yeah, we. We were on our way-"

"Let me drop you two off then." Tashigi still looked at Nami who stood silently and clutched the tiger to her chest behind Zoro.

"That's not-"

Tashigi stepped aside and motioned them to the car, "Are you really going to say no to me, Zoro? Besides, it's a thunderstorm. I wouldn't be a good cop if I left you out here."

Zoro ground his teeth but nodded. Tashigi pushed her glasses up and walked back to the car. He reached for Nami's hand, but she was not there. He looked behind him as Nami glared at Tashigi's back. Zoro tried to understand her expression, but Nami moved out from behind him and made her way to the car. As she got into the backseat, he recognized the way she held her head low and her eyes squinted in suspicion. Nami had already shut off or shut down, and Zoro scratched his head as he thought his luck had just run out. He walked to the car and got into the backseat as well, but Nami had put the wet tiger in the middle.

"You know I have a passenger seat," Tashigi said as she looked at them in the rearview mirror, the metal grate split the car in two, the criminals from the officers.

Zoro drummed his fingers against his knee, "Yeah, there's only one."

Tashigi nodded and asked, "So, where should I be dropping you off? Together?"

She said the last portion with a quiet that made Zoro suddenly aware of his situation. He sat with Nami in the back of a police car. Nami seemed to be pissed off tremendously, and Zoro was unsure whether it was because she was wet and cold or for something to do with Tashigi. Zoro was surely cold and wet, too, but what really ticked him off was that whatever was almost at the tips of his fingers and against his lips was forever out of the question tonight. More importantly, Tashigi clearly wanted to know if he and Nami were going to the same place, but why she seemed so hostile to Nami was beyond him. Tashigi usually liked girls; she was even his wing woman at one point in time, though Tashigi usually left with a gorgeous woman on her arm more often that Zoro did. However, that was years ago and whatever bitterness they had left between them hung in the air like a fog that suffocated the life out of him.

"No, you can let me off around the corner of this block," Nami finally answered Tashigi, while Zoro seemed to ponder an extensional question.

"This block? There are houses here?" Tashigi asked calmly, but with a certain amount of skepticism.

"No. I can walk from there. I don't want to cause any tr-"

"No, trouble, Miss…" Tashigi let the words hang to get Nami to respond but Nami was not biting.

"It's fine," Nami said, "I could use a walk."

"No, what you could use is a warm shower in your own house. Which I'm happy to drive you to."

"Yeah, Nami. Just let Tashigi drop you off," Zoro said without recognizing the secret battle of wills the two women had. Nami crossed her arms and sent Zoro daggers.

Tashigi watched the exchange and a small smile graced her lips. "Wow, Zoro. Since when did you become such a good boyfriend?"

Nami's ears perked up at the phrase and her first thought was that Tashigi was a former lover, but her slight jealousy dissipated as she saw Zoro roll his eyes and open his mouth to speak. She got to it before he did.

"He's not my boyfriend. Anyway, thank you, officer-"

"Detective. Detective Tashigi of the Mayor's new Organized Crime Task Force."

Zoro whistled and groaned, "They made you Detective, did they? I'm sure Smoker is happy to see his little recruit get so far."

"Captain Smoker is just fine, thanks for asking", Tashigi replied acidly.

"Oh, look, this is my place. See you, thanks!"

Before Tashigi could think, Nami had already opened her door and took advantage of the red light. Zoro watched her run down a block, bag held over her head, though it was useless considering they did not dry all that much in the car. Tashigi watched her go and turned the car to follow her.

"Where are you going?" Zoro asked with anger.

Tashigi pulled the car to the side, put it on idle, and turned in her seat to look at Zoro through the metal barrier. She pushed up her glasses that fogged up from the rain. "I should make sure she gets inside her house safe."

Zoro crossed his arms and looked out the window, "She'll be fine."

Tashigi sighed and was about to tell him all about what she knew, but she looked down at the floor and said, "She left something." Zoro followed the point of Tashigi's finger to the giant, damp green tiger. It was half stuck underneath the seat, and Zoro pulled it out with a frown. "You should go give it to her. I'll drive you."

Zoro went to open the door and grabbed his reindeer, "No. I'll walk from here."

Tashigi was quicker this time, though she swore she locked the doors last time. As Zoro heard the click, he gave her a stare. "What the hell, Tashigi?"

"I told you, I'll drive. Besides, you'll get a cold in this rain."

Zoro groaned and slumped in his seat, "I never get sick. You know that."

Tashigi put the car back in drive and moved in the direction Nami ran to, "One day you will and I can't have that on my conscience."

"Surprised you even have one," Zoro said with his chin in his hand and his glare out the window.

Tashigi did not take it to heart, but she bit her lip at the clear accusation. Regardless, she was not going to end the night without knowing where a violent criminal lived. It was why she went out tonight and did a patrol like the one she did as a beat cop. It was almost like fate that made her go through the gated park and happen upon them. It brought a bit of sadistic joy to know she stopped Zoro from making a mistake he could not take back, but what hurt her more was that he did not realize how much of mistake he was making with the thief. Sure, Tashigi thought Nami was hot, but no matter Nami's beauty, Tashigi did not care for deviants and liars. Nami happened to be both. Tashigi did not believe in coincidences because she believed in recon and that was the only thing going to go down tonight.

Music Inspiration/Theme: "Afterhours" (TroyBoi)

Man, this might be the largest chapter yet. I did not want to break it up, as there is much to go down in the next chapter. However, this kind of all started with a prompt from the Tumblr, zonamievents, and I wanted to include my take on "fun date". Sorry for the teaser, but like I said, guys, there is much to be done before they get the bedroom. BUT I HOPE YOU KNOW I EDITED THIS SO THIS WAS LESS OF A FIGHT AND MORE OF A ROMCOM SCENE. Think, "The Princess Diaries 2", you know when they both end up in the fountain. Ah, no wonder I look at bickering as a sign of love...my twisted childhood. Hehe. Side note, I am in the works of another story where ZoNa is not so…chaste and all haste. HAHA. Puns. Anyway, forgive me if I rushed through the carnival scene. I kinda wanted to keep things going according to the plot, and though I could sit here and write days of ZoNa hanky-panky and fluff at the fair, they need to get some other ish out of the way!

Stay tuned, loves

XoXo shipfiend

P.S. Tashigi = hella lesbian, lez be honest, yeah? LOL