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

"Listen, Zoro. I don't want you to fight with her. It's been two days, so just let go of whatever happened on Friday."

Zoro scoffed, "I am, Sanji. You're the one who keeps bringing it back up."

"I do it because I love you. And because you have some unresolved-"

Zoro did not want Sanji to elaborate on whatever truth he held, so he groaned out, "Everything is and was fine. I didn't need you to drop me off at her place anyway. She was supposed to come get me."

Sanji tapped his cigarette out the window and Zoro waved his hand to let the smoke out of the car. Sanji continued with an exhale of nicotine, "Well, I have that out of town competition Zeff put me in. I could at least drive you to her place so you can check on her. She's usually very punctual."

"No, she's usually very bitchy and-"

However, Sanji did not miss a beat, "Zoro, say one more foul thing about Nami and I'll slice out your tongue."

He grumbled and asked, "How did you even get her address?"

Sanji flustered his words, "She, uh, texted me. Remember?"

Zoro noticed how shifty Sanji became with all his wild and unnecessary checking of mirrors. "No, I-" Zoro stared but Sanji stopped the car, unlocked the doors, and pushed Zoro out.

"Remember- be nice! Tell her I say hi! And that I love her and that she is amazing and wonderful and beautiful and-"

Zoro turned before he was hit with the more sensual commentary Sanji had for Nami. He threw his gym bag over his shoulder as began his strut to her apartment.

"You idiot! Her building is in the other direction!" Sanji called out, confused on how he still managed to go in the wrong direction when he was between a car and a building. Zoro swiftly corrected himself and did not pay Sanji any mind. Sanji just exhaled and looked at his clock on the dashboard. He knew the trip was going to be long and with the detour Zoro made him take, he would be inevitably late. He cursed and peeled off with Zoro's green hair in his rearview mirror.

As Zoro reached for the door, two boys rammed into him and knocked him down. Zoro rubbed his head and groaned as the boys grunted on top of him. "Ugh, watch where you're going! Yeah, Green Giant!" However, as the boys opened their eyes, they gulped and wished they took it all back. Hoichael and Michael stuttered, "Oh, big bro. Wh-what are you doing here?"

Zoro swiftly grabbed them by their ears as he picked himself up. The boys kicked and screamed for him to let go, but Zoro took a sinister pride in having them shift underneath his fingers. "You little asshats. You pushed into me and then have the strength to tell me to get out of the way? I should-"

Suddenly a woman's voice cried from inside, "Hoichael! Michael! I swear when I find you two-"

As she opened the door, she stopped and stared at the strange man holding her children by their ears. Zoro thought she would yell at him, but she crossed her large arms over her wide chest and snickered. "Ha, and you thought you'd get out of chores today." The boys clamored for her attention and begged her to tell Zoro to release them, but she would not comply. Instead, she looked Zoro up and down and smiled. "I should have you babysit some time. These kids drive me up the wall some of these days, but you seem fairly capable of handling them."

Zoro dropped the boys and frowned. "No, thanks."

He picked up his bag and continued into the building as the woman grabbed her boys and pushed them up the stairs. She stretched out her hand and Zoro paused at it. "What? You've never seen a handshake?" Zoro grunted and shook her hand, unsure why the woman wanted to keep talking to him. "So, I've never seen you here before. Just moved in?"

"No, Mama. He lives with that hot girl in 3M," Michael chimed in.

Zoro threw him a glare and Mama laughed. "Oh, really? Well, welcome to the building, tough guy. Name's Mama."

Zoro blinked as he reached the second floor. "Wait…is that your given name?"

Mama smacked the back of his head and Zoro stared confused at the familiarity her and her children had with him. "No, silly. But you can call me that. Anyway, what's your name, smart mouth?"

"Zoro," he moaned.

Mama patted him on the back but suddenly pulled him by the collar, which stopped him in his tracks. "Hey, you're about to pass her floor. Geez, you get turned around easily, don't ya?" Zoro deepened his frowned, but Mama only laughed as her boys snickered. Zoro opened the door and walked into the hallway, while Mama called out before the door shut, "Thanks for stopping the boys!"

Zoro gave her a wave, grateful he did not need to deal with them anymore. He turned his attention to Nami's door and knocked. There was no sound beyond it, and he grew even more irritated. Zoro understood he messed up a bit, but he really did not know why she felt the need to treat him so coldly. He surmised that she did not like law enforcement, or at least, did not like to have them in her business. Then he thought about the other thing that brought his hands into tight fists. The person in her house. Was it the same one that made her scared? Then why did she seem so content with it…him? Zoro imagined him being some tall, dark, and mysterious. Someone with money and power, someone that looked attractive to Nami.

Zoro did not think he was ugly himself, but his mind ran in circles wondering what if Nami and he had continued whatever they wanted to do underneath those trees and in that rain. Zoro felt it. He knew she was ready with the way her hands traveled and her lips pursed. It brought heat back into his veins, because whatever he did not get a chance to do…another man did. Suddenly the silence in the hallway woke him up from his pondering and Zoro wondered if she was even home. Unfortunately, Sanji already left and would not be back for 3 days, so Zoro was left to walk home if he needed it. He banged again, "Oi, Nami! Let's go! You were supposed to come get me an hour ago."

Finally, he heard shuffling and assumed she took forever getting ready. Not that she wore much, so he thought she had some elaborate play to make. However, as the door opened slowly, Zoro took back everything he assumed. Nami stood before him with a tissue stuck to her face, which was a ghastly greenish white. Sweat matted her hair to her head and she shivered while her comforter wrapped around her body. "Zoro?" She croaked, "It's Sunday. What are you doing here?"

After Arlong left, Nami crawled into the tub and sat there crying well into the night. The warm water turned cold, but Nami did not move. She let her bruised and beaten body soak it up, even if her head hammered and her chest quacked with coughs. She thought it was nothing more than the sickening reaction to Arlong, however, when she crawled into bed, her nose ran and her chest hurt. Then she tossed and turned all night until the light broke through. She thought the window was open so she closed all the blinds and locked herself in her bedroom while the chills and muscle aches took over. That was until she heard his familiar shouts for her and groaned with fatigue at having to entertain Zoro on a weekend.

As she wheezed and coughed, Zoro stuck his whole body into her home and closed the door behind him. He looked her over and spoke flatly, "No, it's Monday…and you look like shit." Nami raised her hand to smack him but every movement drained her and she felt sore all over. Zoro witnessed her attempt as she swayed, and with a flutter of her eyes, she collapsed. He caught her in his arms, and he felt the cold sweat over her though her actual body seemed to burn up. "Shit," he said as he pulled her body towards him and put an arm under her knees. She barely recognized it as he carried her like a bride to her bed. Zoro laid her down and cursed again. With a quick movement, he took out his phone and dialed. "Sanji. Are you already far?"

Sanji screeched through the phone, "What is it, Zoro? Is Nami okay? I knew I should have stayed. I knew she wouldn't be late. What's happening? Where is she? What have you done, you disgusting human being?"

Zoro flinched and shouted back, "Shut up and I'll tell you." Zoro heard Sanji whimper and then grow silent so he continued, "Nami is not okay. I think she might be sick."

"You think or you know?"

Zoro glanced at the girl who panted heavily in her sheets and looked worse and worse by the minute. "I know. She's super sweaty but burning up. Her face is really pale and it seems like she's unable to move much."

Sanji cried out, "Damn it, Zoro. I should have stayed. It sounds like she has influenza?"

"Influenza? That sounds serious. Should I take her to the hospital?"

"No! I mean…you know Nami is very private and, it would be costlier to get all that involved. Look, the flu is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat, and lungs. However, I'm sure I can coach you through it and she should be fine in a day or two." Sanji did not want to tell Zoro about Nami just yet, and from what he understood through Tashigi's file was that Nami would appreciate anonymity. What if she went to the hospital and the police suddenly bombarded her? Sanji did not want that, so he waited for Zoro to rationalize the decision, in hopes that he would not question the suspicious reasoning.

"Okay."

"Okay what? Are you taking notes? She needs food, good food. Be prepared to cook…and make sure she drinks and sleeps."

"Oh. I can do that. I mean that's pretty much a basic day for me. She's even pretty sweaty, so she's practically me right now."

"Don't ever compare yourself to her delicate beauty, you Neanderthal. And if she's sweaty..."

Zoro listened as Sanji paused. "What, Sanji?"

It sounded like Sanji spoke with a napkin between his teeth. "Is it cold?"

"What?"

"Her sweat! Is she drenched in cold sweat?"

Zoro walked back to the bed and placed a hand on her head. She was hot to the touch but the sheen on her was indeed cold and even with the comforter around her, she was wrapped in a frigid damp. "Uh, yeah...I think she left the fan on last night or the air of the apartment cooled down her sweating so now it's all cold. Like she took a cool shower."

Sanji screamed on the other end, "Gad damn it!"

Zoro grew confused, "What? What is it, you stupid cook?"

Another pause but Sanji finally replied, "You're gonna need to help her change. She can't stay in those clothes and those sheets. She won't get any better until she is warm."

"I mean, she's pretty warm but okay. I'll just wake her up."

He stood by the bed and shook Nami who moaned in pain. Her eyes flickered open and as she looked up to see a blurry Zoro, she froze. "Zoro? What are you doing here?" However, it came out all muffled and then she gagged and Zoro quickly jumped out of the way, as Nami vomited beside her bed and then laid back down.

"Crap. She just threw up."

"And you're leaving her there? Zoro! She could choke on her own vomit. Hurry up and take her to the bathroom." Zoro nodded and put the phone on speaker and into his pocket as he picked up the pale girl. Vomit lay in her hair and down the side of the bed, but Zoro did not care about the smell. He just did not like seeing her so feeble. "Be gentle with her, you imbecile", Sanji screeched through the phone.

"I know how to hold someone."

"Do you, Zoro? Do you?"

Zoro fumed but carried her with precision and focus. As he made it to the bathroom, he held her against him as he ran the warm water into the bath. He looked at the fragile girl in his arms and spoke gently, "Um, okay, Nami. I need you to do something."

"Is she awake? Nami-swan! I am so sorry this brute is touching you like this. If it wasn't for my trip, I would be back on my way to you and save you and-"

"Enough. I'll call you if I need anything", Zoro said into the phone before he hung up. He then focused back on Nami who breathed heavily into his chest. Everything about her was warm, but he could tell she was in a great deal of pain from the way her brows furrowed and her face contoured into a look that shook Zoro. "Okay, Nami", he whispered, "don't hate me…but I need to change you."

Nami's eyes fluttered as she looked at him. She seemed to see something else as she frowned and cried out, "Do what you want, you asshole. You won't hear me scream."

Zoro looked at her confused, "No. Nami…I need to change you. You won't get better if you stay in these clothes. Come on-"

"You can't hurt me anymore, Arlong. I'm not afraid of you," she murmured, vomit still on her lips.

Zoro could not believe what he heard. Was this what she meant about broken bones? Was this who was in her room? Zoro hated himself for not flying out of the car when he had a chance and breaking down the door. Maybe he could have stopped this Arlong from hurting Nami.

Zoro whispered once more, "You're…you're killing me, Nami. Just…just let me help you."

Nami moaned as Zoro pulled the shirt up and off her body. He was careful to go slowly and smoothly, but Nami attempted to fight him. Luckily or unlucky, in her weakened state, she could not do much. This was not the girl he used to know, not anymore. It sickened him to think that she thought he was someone else. Zoro kept his eyes on her hallowed face, but his eyes fluttered down to see the bruises on her thighs and chest. They bloomed along her body like small purple and pink flowers, but Zoro gritted his teeth as he took each one in. His eyes landed on the fearsome tattoo on her upper left arm and he turned his head in thought. He swore he saw it before, but as she tilted forward, he caught her and quickly went back to work.

He carefully took off the rest of her clothes and placed her in the tub, but she kept sliding down. Zoro did not want to make contact with her any more than he had to, but he knew there was no way to do this without touching her. Therefore, he took off his shoes and got into the tub with her. With Nami's back against his chest, he took some soap and the sponge and washed her body. He trained his eyes on the faucet before him and only looked down so he could wipe her face properly. Her busted lips made her suck in air sharply as the soap and water cleaned the wound that was filled with stomach acid from when she spit up. He reached for her toothbrush and brushed what he could, so she did not have to sleep with the taste of vomit on her tongue. Luckily, Nami had everything nearby and from the lavender body wash to her fruity shampoo, he made sure to wash away the filth of whoever or whatever hurt Nami days before.

He wanted to chuckle. He wanted to hear her say something flirtatious or annoying about what they were doing. Zoro imagined that Nami would play games and tell him something that would make him stop and think, and then she would inevitably have her way…but he did not want to think of that now. Not when Nami lay in his arms defensively and obviously abused. He cursed himself for even thinking the situation was comical in the least.

Finally, Nami was clean and her breathing evened. Zoro could still hear the heavy rattling in her chest as he dried her. He had her pressed against the outside of the tub in her bathrobe. Zoro looked down his own wet body and knew it would be stupid to hold her now dry body with his wet one, so he peeled off his shirt and shorts to stand before her in his bare nakedness. Zoro picked her up and carried her to the bedroom when he noticed the dirty sheets. He swung her around and Nami unconsciously pressed her hand against his chest, and he realized that he was naked, holding her naked. He controlled his blush, though there was no one to see it.

Zoro placed her delicately on the couch and moved to the bedroom, but felt some paper stuck to his foot. He stopped as he saw the pieces all over the living room floor. He picked them up and turned them over to see the remnants of their photo booth images. He grew angry as he fisted the pieces and threw them in the trash. Whoever did this, Zoro was going to make him pay. He did not even know who to blame, but Zoro saw red and just wanted to hurt them. Regardless, he needed Nami to get better first so she could tell him.

He made quick work of changing the sheets and cleaning the vomit from the side of the bed. He went back to the living room and put Nami on the bed. He opened her drawers and found some clean pajamas to put her in. Zoro smiled at the little cats printed all over them as he tucked Nami into the clean sheets. Zoro suddenly heard his phone ring from the bathroom and went to it. He picked it off the wet floor and saw Sanji had sent him recipes for simple soups, along with further instructions. They seemed easy enough, but before Zoro could move to the kitchen, he slipped on the wet clothing on the floor. He cursed as he landed on the hard tiles. Zoro took into account that he was still bare and went to raid Nami's drawers for something loose fitting enough that he could put on. He squirmed as he found the pink velvet tracksuit. Zoro put it on reluctantly and collected all the dirty clothes and sheets to throw into the laundry basket.

However, it was overflowing and Zoro cracked his neck at the knowledge that he would have to clean them. He piled them in and went for the door. He double-checked the lock to make sure he could get back in when a voice called for him. "Ah, the gentleman caller!" The extremely tall and skinny man came over to look at Zoro more closely but chuckled as he saw Zoro's outfit. "Is this some sort of game you have with Miss Nami?"

Zoro fumed, "No, you pervert. I just didn't have a change of clothes. At least not clean ones."

Brook nodded and pointed to the basket, "Well, let me show you to the laundry room so you can get out of that ridiculous get-up."

Zoro joked, "I think I look pretty good."

Brook stopped and smiled, "Yohoho! I'm sure you think you do." Zoro followed the musician to the basement where the machines were. Brook helped loaded the laundry in, but when Zoro understood Brook was just searching for panties, Zoro quickly knocked him away and did the work himself. "Ah, sorry! It's an old habit."

Zoro scoffed, "Yeah, you're old. I'll give you that. But that's not a habit. That's a perverted fetish."

Brook pushed his frames up and grinned, "Nothing wrong with a fetish."

Zoro yelled, "Yes! There is! You're a creepy old man and she's a young girl."

"Woman."

Zoro rolled his eyes, "You're just like a friend I know."

"Oh?" Brook leaned back and listened to Zoro.

"Yeah. Idiot love cook, I call him. Falls for anything in a skirt."

"Well, that doesn't sound so bad," Brook mused.

Zoro put in the detergent and turned the machine on, "It is when he gets cheated out of money and stuff because he's too gullible."

"Really? Well, love makes us do silly things. Like…wear pink sweatpants that say 'Juicy' on them."

Zoro turned around and frowned, "I told you, I didn't have anything else."

"Well, I'd assume Nami's boyfriend-"

"Zoro. Not her boyfriend."

"Right…well, whatever you are, Zoro, I'd figure you'd have some of your clothes at her place. I mean, I know you and the other man come here often so-"

Zoro quickly pulled Brook close by his shirt, "Other man?"

Brook fidgeted, unsure of what he should or should not say, but he knew that he preferred Zoro to the other option. "Yes, another man. He comes here often, but…I don't think he's as good as you are."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Zoro spat.

Brook pulled away and straightened his glasses. "Miss Nami…she hates to admit it, or for me to admit it, but she cries a lot. And that other man, I believe he's the reason. I think he hurts her."

"And why don't you stop him?" Zoro shouted.

Brook let out a sigh, "Well, you know Nami better than I do, Zoro. She's not one to ask for help. And she's not one to appreciate it. I try…I try my best to do what I can to help her…I play music so she can go to sleep. But…there is only so much I can do from my place next door. I'm not her watchdog, just a neighbor."

Zoro hung his head and clenched his hands again, "I don't think I know her all that well either."

Brook saw the man drift away in thought, so he put his hand on his shoulder and offered a small smile. "No, I think you are much more important to her than you think. I mean, you're here now, right? Just talk to her."

Zoro shook his head, "She's sick. I think she got it over the weekend."

Brook gasped, "Oh, I'm sorry, Zoro. It was pretty quiet all weekend, so I did not think anything of it. I'm sorry. Is she okay?"

Zoro scratched his head, "Yeah, I think she'll be. I just need to feed her some food and make sure she gets some rest."

Brook nodded and led them to the stairs, "Well, I better let you get to it."

Zoro nodded and walked out the door, but before he could take a step, Brook gripped his shoulder. "Ah, Zoro, the apartment is that way. Or are you planning to leave the building?"

Zoro fumed, but Brook took it as an invitation to lead the young man back to the apartment. Zoro grunted a thank you as he opened the door and went inside. Brook yawned but smiled with the hope that whatever ailed Nami's heart would also be taken care of by Zoro.

Music Inspiration/Theme: "TKO" (Justin Timberlake)

I had originally planned this song for another part, but this fits so well here...and well, #truth:)

Now, I am trying to keep it pretty vague as to exactly what Arlong did to her. I only recognize the reaction Luffy had in Sabaody Archipelago when the mermaids were being bought and sold and Luffy did not want to hear any more about the abuses they faced. I think Zoro would have a similar mindset, but not necessarily such a visceral reaction...unless it was someone he knew. For example, when Usopp was left beaten up and the Monster Trio (Luffy, Zoro, Sanji) went to go enact "justice". Anyways, I think Zoro, in this world, has a lot of anger towards whoever hurt Nami...but his reasoning behind it is not exactly fleshed out because well, he just doesn't know who it is and how they are connected to Nami.

P.S. Green Giant. Google it. Americans are so funny. Lol...though Zoro is not that tall...well comparatively. I mean, Arlong is almost 8 feet. Like Franky...actually they are the same height! WOWOWOW.

And another thing- thank you to the dedicated readers! The ones who leave reviews and comments and come back. Man, I am #blessed because it makes me, a new time writer (at least published in this way) feel so loved and valued. I think about all the ships I have, and frankly, ZoNa needed some loving...and if I had to say I had one OTP, it would be them. So thanks for being part of this journey with me:)

XoXo shipfiend