Chapter Sixteen

Coffee

A few hours ago…

Zoro and Robin had been walking for almost half an hour since they left the bar and kept on looking for a coffee shop. Actually, there was never a café across the bar; instead, it was a fancy restaurant. Something was wrong. It was like they were being set up. She assumed that if Nami didn't suggest for Zoro to come with her, the bartender would not have said that a café was nearby. Because when Alex suggested on accompanying her, the bartender was silent. Aside from that, Zoro repeatedly kept going the wrong way. She noticed a café nearby after passing a few blocks but then he would head to a different direction. She did not know if the green-headed swordsman was doing it on purpose or if he was completely clueless about his directional issues. But whatever the reason was, she didn't mind at all. In fact, she was completely fine with the situation. It was a matter of time for the awkwardness between them to subside.

Zoro was feeling uneasy with his situation. He didn't even notice they passed many cafés already. Ever since what happened last night, he could not stop thinking about Robin. Her presence made it even worse. He was even thinking that maybe she was getting bored with him. "Should I start a conversation or something? Wait… why do I even care if she's bored or not?" He argued with himself. He stole a quick glance at Robin; she looked calm. "I'm overthinking this! She might not even remember last night so I should just calm down." He said to himself.

Robin broke the silence. "Is something bothering you?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Zoro, about last night…" She uttered softly and stopped walking.

"Shit. She brought that up." Zoro started to feel anxious as he responded with, "Hmm?"

"I can't stop thinking about it." She said while she held her chin while resting her elbow on her other arm.

"It?" He specified as he raise a brow.

"Do you need a re-enactment?" She stared at his functioning orb with one of her brows raised.

"Tch! What are you trying to imply, Woman?" He gawked, turning away from her with a blush on his face.

"I just realized something."

"What?"

"Never mind."

"Tch!"

"I know you feel uncomfortable with me, so let us just forget what happened and move on, okay?" Robin smiled at him and started walking again. She wanted to throw her arms around the swordsman and kiss him with all her heart the moment she told him she can't stop thinking about what happened last night. She even wanted to say that he was the only one running in her mind. But then she lost her self-confidence.

In the first place, why would she even think that there was a chance between them? From the very start, she would just tease him because he was the last to trust her. Falling for him was the last thing that she could have imagined. She was not the type to confess her feelings since she knew Zoro would ignore her. It would only make everything awkward. It was foolish of her to even bring up what happened last night when it was supposed to be forgotten. She was drunk. Zoro was just nice enough not to retaliate from her actions because of her drunken stupor. She should have kept her mouth shut. Instead, she caused the awkward pause in their conversation.

Zoro did not know what to say. He likes Robin but he never thought of telling her. She doesn't deserve someone like him. He was having doubts of what would happen if their friends were to find out his current dilemma.

He's embarrassed that someone like him actually ended up liking someone, especially since she's one of his friends. His reputation would be ruined. On top of that, his feelings for her might get in the way of reaching his goal- to become the best swordsman in the world. If this were to continue, she would definitely become his weakness. And he didn't want that to happen. Plus the color of the heart on his watch was pink which meant that Nami likes him. Although he believed that stupid contraption was just a joke, he didn't want anyone from his friends getting hurt because of him. But he could not think about that now. He needed to think.

Robin was starting to walk away from him and he only had two options: whether to catch her or let her be. He didn't want to forget anything that happened between him and her at the bar and he definitely didn't want to lose her. At the same time, he wanted to reach his goal and his relationship with his friends. "Shit!" He needed more time to think.

"Robin, wait!" Zoro got a hold of Robin's wrist to stop her.

Robin stopped and looked back as he grasped her wrist. "Hm?" She was quite surprised. She didn't expect him to stop her. She thought he would just shrug everything off and walk behind her but he didn't. It was strange. She felt happy inside.

Zoro didn't say a word, instead his hand brushed softly down her palm. His fingers spread and made its way in between her fingers, intertwining them together. The friction of their skins sent sparks all over his body and her soft hand felt like a pillow he fluffed after a very tiring day; as if it would burst if he squeezed it too hard. He never knew Robin's hand would be so small and cold. It was delicate. He liked it.

"What are you doing?" For once, Robin didn't know what was going on. She watched as their fingers found their way to interlock with each other. It felt like they were meant to be together, like it was the missing piece of her hand. His fingers were like feathers tickling her as they brushed over her palm and fingers. The warmth and roughness from the scars of his training made her feel calm and secured. It felt good.

"I don't know…" Zoro moved closer next to her and smiled as he stared at their hands together.

"Pervert." Robin said with a poker face.

"Shut up." He blushed, earning a chuckle from her.

"Oi! Zoro! Robin!"

Just then, a familiar call came from behind them startled the couple, causing them to break their connection. It was Luffy along with Usopp, Brook, and Chopper. Luffy called on Zoro and Robin as soon as he saw them and ran towards them as he laughed. They were carrying different kinds of stuffed animals and foods, including cotton candy and meat. They just got from the amusement park and won a lot of prizes from playing various games there.

"Yohohoho~! Robin-san! Perfect timing! May I see your pa—

—Oi, Luffy! What the hell are you carrying?" Zoro raised a brow as he looked at the meat stuffed toy his captain was holding. It had a bite mark causing some cotton fibers to fall out.

"A meat plushy. Shishishi!" Luffy laughed.

"It's so cool, Zoro! They make you any stuffed toy you want!" Chopper's eyes sparkled as he hugged his Chopper-Man plushy.

"Why is it torn?" Robin asked as she looked at the meat toy.

"Luffy bit it, as usual." Usopp answered.

"I thought it was real!" Luffy defended as he drooled.

"Don't try biting it again!" The long-nosed sniper yelled, slapping his captain's head.

"Oi Robin, why didn't I see you earlier during breakfast? They had a buffet table! I was so full! Shishishishi~!" Luffy asked.

"Sorry, I wasn't feeling well earlier but I'm okay now." She said, not telling them the whole truth.

"Good!" The raven-headed captain gave her a thumbs up.

"Excuse me, where is Nami-San and Alex-San?" Brook asked as he looked around.

"They are back at the bar, drinking." Zoro answered.

"There's a bar here!? Yosh! Next stop, the bar!" Luffy decided quickly.

"No! We're going to the candy house, remember?!" Chopper testified.

"Oh yeah! Sorry! Hahaha!"

"What about you guys? Do you want to go? It's just near the park." Usopp asked.

"We would like to but we're heading to a coffee shop." Robin answered.

"Hm…" Luffy held his chin as he looked at Zoro and Robin, thinking deeply. "Why are you two together? Hm… Are you lovers now!?" He asked, shocked, causing the others to gape as well.

"Don't conclude that quickly!" Usopp yelled as he smacked his captain's head, again.

"Is that true!?" Chopper asked with his hoof in front of his mouth and his eyes widened.

Zoro didn't know how to answer; he didn't want to offend Robin by denying their accurate claim, but she just giggled as she crouched down and patted the little reindeer's head. "Zoro is just accompanying me to the café. Alex did not get the chance to try anything at the bar before we left, so I wanted him to enjoy."

"Oh, you're so nice, Robin. You really can't come with us to see the candy house?" Chopper frowned as his eyes turned into sweets.

"We can join you all later once I inform Nami and Alex about it." She smiled and poked his nose.

The reindeer squealed in delight from her response. "Yay! We'll see you there then!"

"We'll be going now! Let's just meet later, okay?" Usopp bid his farewell as they walked to a different direction.

"Alright, see you later." Zoro smiled and sighed. For a minute there, he thought they were going to get exposed, although there was nothing to expose except for their hands being entwined together. He didn't even know what their status was. All he knew was that he liked what was happening. Zoro observed as soon as Luffy and the others were out of sight, he moved his hand closer to Robin's and slowly, their hands were reunited. Both smiled, as the feelings of butterflies tried to escape the pits of their stomachs when they avoided each other's gaze.

"Pervert." Robin teased as she looked away.

"Stop saying that! Y-You know you like it too!" Zoro blushed as he complained. "Damn it. I'm acting like that Ero-Cook." He thought to himself.

"Too? That means you like it." She raised a brow, smirking.

"Damn it, Woman!"

"You're getting flustered, Zoro." She giggled and stroked her thumb on the back of his hand.

"Tch! By the way, are we still far away from that café the bartender told us about?" His face turned back to normal as he recalled their agenda.

"We actually passed five cafés on our way."

Zoro's jaw dropped and gazed upon her. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"You were busy thinking about last night." Robin giggled softly.

"No, I wasn't!" Zoro blushed and unconsciously squeezed her hand.

"I know a coffee shop that sells great coffee." She smiled and rubbed her thumb on his hand, again.

"Let's go then, lead the way." He said, only to start walking to the right.

"It's this way." She pointed to the left and giggled.

"Tch!" Zoro followed her.

It only took them a few minutes to get to the coffee shop Robin mentioned. It was actually a few blocks away from the bar they were previously in. They were able to save time because Robin had to lead the way and Zoro didn't get lost because they were holding hands the whole time. She let go of his hand so she could order while he searched for a seat. Robin went to their table with a tray of two mugs of coffee along with a claim stab for her take out to be served hot later on. She sat down across Zoro and gave him his mug of coffee.

"I thought you will take out your coffee and we'll head back to the bar?" Zoro asked as he looked at the heart shaped creamer the barista made for his coffee. "The fuck is with the heart?" He raised an eyebrow as he thought to himself.

"Well you got us some seats so I thought it would be nice to relax for a while." Robin closed her eyes as she took a sip of her coffee. "And besides, I don't want to go back yet. If you want to go somewhere, we can leave if you want."

"Then ten pm, tonight." He sipped his coffee. "This coffee is good." He thought to himself.

"What do you mean?" She blinked.

"Meet me at the corridors back at the hotel."

"Alright." She smiled. "Did he just ask me out?" She thought to herself as she sipped her coffee again.


Back at the present…

"Robin!"

Robin blinked as she heard Nami calling her. "Pardon, I did not hear you?" She said as the four of them were walking down the street. Nami and Robin were side-by-side with their partners beside them.

"I was asking if you're okay. You've been spacing out since you came back." Nami worriedly asked.

"I'm fine. I just forgot to tell you we saw Luffy and the others earlier. They said they'll meet us at the candy house. It's just near the park." Robin smiled and looked at Nami as she secretly gazed upon Zoro. "I wonder why he wanted to meet me tonight." She asked herself.


YOOOOOOOO! How's it going guys?! I'm sorry for the very late update! I know, it's been more than a year but hey, at least I updated, right? :D I'll be continuing the story again so don't cha worry! And by the way, happy new year to all! There is your chapter 16! Whatcha think about it? Good? Good? Just tell me that on your review! I'll see you guys again on my next update! I don't know when, but I'm still trying to squeeze this story writing with my busy college life. XD Anyways, as always, review please! ^_^