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

The bar bustled with noise, but Nami managed to find a booth that accommodated them. That was until Zoro questioned her drinking ability and too quickly did she find herself staring him down as the gin flowed between them.

"So, once again, I have beaten your low expectations of me."

She grinned as she put another shot glass down with a fierce and empty thud. Zoro raised his eyebrows with a smirk.

"Shots? You barely have enough for a pint and you don't even savor it."

Nami pinched his cheek. "Still so arrogant. What do I need to do to make you let loose?"

Zoro took a long sip of his frothy beer, "I am loose."

"Yeah…like a noose."

Zoro frowned. "So I need put on skimpy lace outfits for you to consider me loose?"

Nami smiled. "It wouldn't hurt. Don't like it? You can kiss my ass!"

Zoro passed her another drink. "Right. And who would you even wear that outfit for?"

Nami eyed him sideways. "Why, Zoro? You jealous?"

He frowned and Nami rolled her eyes, "Living, work out, gym. Can't even fuck with you, huh, Zoro?"

He put his head in his hand and propped himself up on his elbow on the messy bar, "Not at all. Let me make it clear, I don't want you here to tease me. I want to know something about you."

Nami scoffed, "We gonna exchange friendship bracelets next?"

Zoro spun on his barstool, "Come on, Nami! Who you sleep with or are friends with…ain't my business. I'm sure he- or she- is something all on their own if they are your partner."

"She? How progressive of you. And frankly, I consider us partners."

"Do you?" He spun back to look directly at her.

"Yeah, I mean we're in this together, right? You're the brawn and I'm the dazzling brain."

"Hmph. I disagree. I know nothing about you that would put us on equal footing."

"And I know nothing about you. I think that's equal."

Zoro stopped drinking and looked at her, and Nami could have blamed the alcohol but her face grew warm at his gaze.

"Okay, Nami. For every shot I take, you tell me one thing about yourself. For every shot you take, I'll do the same."

"You won't take a hint, so maybe I should get you a clue. I don't want to talk about stuff."

"I should be more blunt then. What are you afraid of, Nami?"

Nami bit her lip and tried to focus on her empty shot glass, but Zoro's stare would not waver. Finally, Nami sighed.

"You're behind then."

Zoro grinned broadly. "I'll be fair. How many?"

"5."

"That's a bold-faced lie, but fine. Okay, I'm an only child. I actually grew up in a gym. I don't have many friends. My favorite type of food is seafood, particularly flame grilled shark over white rice. Oh, and I grew up learning how to fight."

Nami found herself listening to him intently, as if what he had to say held all the secrets in the world but as she reached over the bar and poured him a shot, she knew her goal was to make him spill like the vile under her palm.

"Okay, hotshot, drink up."

Zoro obliged and Nami watched the liquid go down his throat, her eyes rested on his open buttoned shirt that gave a peek past his collarbone to his pectorals.

"Your turn!" he coughed.

"Can't handle one shot?"

Zoro cleared his throat, "No. It just tasted weird is all."

"Alright, I'm an only child."

Zoro reached past her, and his eyes looked heavy. He brought the bottle to his face and poured himself another shot. As he tossed it back, he looked at her and she continued.

"I grew up pretty poor. In a co-op actually."

Zoro leaned in, "A what?"

"You know…like an apartment complex but you don't own it…a big corporation does. So, it was kinda…bad. Actually, it had this pretty garden. Orange trees. My mother-"

She stopped short and blinked. Nami was surprised she kept going, to have mentioned her mother made her fearful that Perona's potion somehow got in her own drink or through her hands. She traced her fingertips across her palms until Zoro snapped his fingers in her face.

"Oi, oi. I've had at least 4 more drinks while you've been daydreaming. Pay up."

Nami glared at him, "Are you lying to me?"

"What reason would I have to do that?"

He leaned back and almost tumbled out of his seat. Nami gripped his shirt and pulled him close, his lips only inches away from her own.

"Are you drunk?"

"What? No! I don't get drunk. Must be these shots. I hate shots."

His eyes seemed to glaze over and Nami tested his theory.

"Zoro, what do you know about me?"

He looked at her inquisitively, and Nami wondered how in his almost out of mind state he still had a look that gave her chills.

"I know there is more to you than what you let people see. I know you have a dead mother. I know you like lies because they are easier to tell than truths. I know you need me…but I…I…"

He leaned in and Nami caught her breath because she did not plan on Perona's promise of loose lips to push forward persuasive nature.

"Don't you worry about my heart. Knew you would break it from the start. I thought that we could make it last. Now I'd rather you kiss my ass…"

Nami furrowed her brow at his strange chant, and his face felt warm, like fire. He brushed her lips with his own before he fell forward completely, fast asleep against her body.

"Ah! Zoro. Zoro!"

Zoro snorted into her neck and Nami knew he was out by the way his entire body seemed at peace within her hold.

With her focus away from Zoro's words, she listened to the music playing overhead and frowned. "Are you kidding me? He was just repeating lyrics to a song?"

"Uh, ma'am, do you need help?"

The weary bartender had kept away from the couple when he recognized that they were playing some game he did not want to be a part of, but now he looked at the sleeping giant in the girl's arms and held in a chuckle.

Nami promptly stuck her hand out to him and dangled a set of keys. Her other hand held onto Zoro as his face rested against her breasts.

"Yeah, bring my car around. I need to take this plagiarizing asshole home."

Music Inspiration/Theme: "Kiss It" (Dev)