Chapter Twenty
Annoyance
"Tch! I will drown that stupid rubber-man once I get the chance." Zoro cursed under his breath as he got out of the pool. His body was still aching from the painful splash in the water after his captain threw him from the second floor down the manmade pond. He quickly turned his head to the side with a fierce look as soon as he felt a hand tapping his shoulder.
"What?!" He yelled mistaking it for Luffy or someone else. But his face softened slightly as he realized it was one of Robin's extra appendages handing him a towel. His sight shifted from the towel to the raven-haired beauty who was reading a book on a sunbathing chair with a smile painted upon her lips. The green-headed swordsman smiled as he took the towel and rubbed his torso and hair with it, watching the extra arms disappeared from his sight with a cloud of petals. He didn't know, but a pair of eyes, rather, a pair of hallowed eye sockets was watching him from a far.
"Yohohoho~ What a rare sight… I have never seen Zoro-San smile like that." Brook commented before sipping on his cup of tea as he and Chopper sat by the edge of the kiddie pool.
"Eh? Did you say something, Brook?" The blue-nosed reindeer asked as he tried to inflate a beach ball with his breath.
"Don't mind me, Chopper-San. Yohohoho~" He laughed and took another sip of his tea.
Around noon…
"Oi, take your seats! We're about to eat!" Sanji announced as he held plates full of delicious delicacies and set it down on the long table one-by-one.
Everyone ceased what they were doing and quickly ran to the table before their captain was released from Sanji's grip. Luffy quickly grabbed and shoved every edible thing his hands found into his mouth even if some haven't taken their seat yet.
"Wait for the others, you shitty rubber-glutton." The blond cook plunged his foot on his captain's head.
"They're too slow!" The rubber captain whined as he continued to grab food from various plates placed on the table.
"Sit here Robin!" Chopper giggled as he tapped on the reserved seat for his raven-haired friend.
"I would love to." She smiled and sat next to the furry little doctor.
"Oh wait! I need to do something! Robin, please protect my chair and save me some food!" He requested as he rushed to the men's comfort room.
"Alright." She giggled as she watched him ran away.
"Is this seat taken?" Alex asked the female archaeologist as he tapped the other chair next to her.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think so." She responded as she waited for the little doctor's return.
"Tch!" Zoro grumbled as he sat on the other seat next to Robin, not knowing that it was already taken. He was annoyed because Alex beat him on getting a seat next to her. In the first place, the green-headed swordsman was supposed to be the one sitting next to her because she was his.
"Wait, did I just claim her as mine?" Zoro questioned himself. Robin couldn't be his, especially because they were not even dating. They didn't have a label on their relationship. They weren't like those typical lovey-dovey teens who called each other girlfriend and boyfriend. They only had mutual feelings for each other that they expressed through kissing and hugging because they wanted to. He only liked her because she made him feel comfortable and warm inside and also because, well, he just liked her. Did he need a reason for that?
But what was that burning sensation he kept on feeling in his chest whenever he saw her interacting with that ex of hers? Like he just wanted to rip his heart out from his ribcage, hoping it would ease the pain. He never felt it whenever Sanji was endlessly flirting with her, nor when she fed Luffy back at Punk Hazard. He only felt it whenever she was with Alex. Was it because the green-headed swordsman didn't like him for being with her in the past? Furthermore, why would he dislike Alex for that? He didn't even know if he hurt her or what. He only knew Alex was her past lover. Was that enough reason to dislike someone?
"Uhm… Zoro." Robin interrupted his train of thought.
"Yeah?" He asked as he forked a piece of meat from one of the plates.
"That seat is actu—
"Zoro! That's my spot! I want to sit next to Robin! Please!" Chopper cried as he just got out of the men's room.
"That's what I was about to say. I'm sorry." Robin apologized as she patted the green-headed swordsman's leg.
"Zoro, sit here with us!" Usopp called and held the chair between him and Luffy across the swordsman.
"It's fine." Zoro gazed at her for a few seconds before standing up and going beside the boys.
"Yay! Thank you, Zoro!" Chopper jumped on his chair and started eating.
"Yeah, yeah." The green-headed swordsman mumbled as he sat between Usopp and Luffy, secretly eyeing Robin from his peripheral view. He still couldn't discard his annoyance over that ex of hers for sitting next to her. His eyebrows twitched as he started forking down the steak on his plate, realizing Robin was smiling and giggling with Chopper and Alex.
Zoro was very annoyed. He couldn't enjoy his food with that kind of sight and sound, even though he wasn't directly looking at them and the noise of his friends was enveloping the whole area. According to Zoro, Robin said Alex was her ex and she only went out with him because he reminds her of the green-haired man.
"Shouldn't she be annoyed or feeling awkward because of that bastard's presence? Shouldn't she be avoiding him, especially because there is already something going on between us? Or is there something going on between her and that bastard again? Is she seeing him behind my back? Did she fall for him again during those times they were alone together? If not, why the hell is she enjoying that bastard's presence? It makes no fucking sense, Robin. I thought I'm supposed to be special to you… Tch! Why do I even bother thinking about these shitty feelings?" Zoro thought angrily in his head as he was getting overwhelmed by his possessiveness.
"Damn it." Zoro cursed in his head as he felt his chest tightened up again. It was painful enough to make it hard for him to breathe. Aside from that, he was overthinking over the relationship between Alex and Robin. He decided to calm himself down, since there was really no reason to get mad about. But that was what he thought. His rage suddenly rose again as soon as he saw Chopper and Robin started tickling each other, along with Alex.
"What the hell are they doing?! Am I invisible or something?!" His frustration surged as he felt veins started to pop from his temple. He continued to try and keep his calm demeanour for the others might notice he was already livid. Alex was pushing all the right buttons to piss him off and everything he did was completely working. His rival should have been grateful Zoro's swords were nowhere near him or he would have already sliced him into shreds. The others didn't even realize Alex was taking advantage of touching Robin's body. It was really tipping him off the edge. "What am I so fucking mad about?!"
"Z-Zoro, are you okay?" Usopp asked as he eyed the green-headed swordsman's plate.
"Yeah." He spoke gruffly.
"You just minced your steak… with a freaking fork… covered with haki… Is the meat really that hard?!" The sniper blinked as the fork turned back to normal. His words caught the attention of the female archaeologist.
"Blame the cook." He shrugged and shoved the food in his mouth as he realized Robin was staring at him.
"Oi, do you have a problem with my cooking?" Sanji asked as he went behind Zoro with a shadow cast upon his uncovered eye.
"Yeah, I d—
Zoro wasn't able to finish his sentence as Sanji already kicked his face, he wasn't able to dodge or deflect due to the lack of concentration and his mood, causing him to be knocked over his seat. It didn't only astonish the cook, but also their friends because they rarely saw Sanji to land a blow on Zoro or vice-versa. Luffy didn't mind though, he just took advantage of eating more since no one was hindering his hands from taking away their food. Chopper quickly ran to tend the swordsman's wound as blood started to ooze from the side of his lips but he just ended up running back to Robin, scared from the deadly gaze in Zoro's eye.
"Tch!" The green-headed man spat and wiped the blood off his mouth, quickly standing up to fight back. He used his fists to punch him because his swords were nowhere near him, but it was easily deflected by the cook.
"Wait, it was a real kick?! Shouldn't you be worried that they might hurt each other?" Lassy asked as he saw the green-headed swordsman's wound on his lips.
"Of course, it was. They always have a real fight but since their strengths are almost equal, they couldn't hit each other. Well… except today." The long-nosed sniper explained as he ate his food and protected them as well from the hands of his captain.
The swordsman and chef continued with their feud and before they knew it, both of their heads were punched by Nami, causing them to be knocked on the floor with lumps on their noggin.
"Stop it you two!" Nami demanded as she banged her fists on Zoro and Sanji's heads again.
"Oi, what's up with that, Marimo?" The blond cook asked as he stood up and lit a new cigarette. Sanji was a little suspicious that the swordsman just simply allowed his foot to hit his face because he knew Zoro would never allow him to do that. There might be something bothering the swordsman because Sanji knew, even in Zoro's sleep, he could easily deflect his kick.
"I don't know what are you talking about." He snorted as he sat up, eyeing the slender figure walking towards him with a serious face.
"Zoro, Chopper wants to treat your wound." Robin worriedly crouched down in front of him, placing the scared little reindeer between them.
"You can treat my aching heart too, Robin-Chwan~!" Sanji did his noodle dance as his exposed eye turned into a heart.
"Shut up, Love-Cook. You make me sick." He spat, wiping the oozing blood off his lips again. Of all the people, why would it be Robin the one in front of him worriedly asking him to be treated by their doctor? She should've just stayed with her ex and out of his business. His chest felt worse than his face because of what had happened earlier, but as soon as he saw her concerned face, his anger slowly softened down. He was still a little mad at her because she was letting Alex to take advantage of her. But what can he do? He had no right to complain. He was only that someone she had mutual feelings with.
"Hah? You want me to kick the other side of your face?" The blond male threatened as he lifted his right leg.
"Don't you two start it again." Nami threatened sharply as she chewed her food, throwing one of her flip-flops at Sanji's head.
"I'm sorry, Nami-Swan~" He gave her back the thrown sandal.
"R-Robin, I'm scared… W-Will you help me out?" Chopper stammered as he remembered the look on Zoro's face earlier.
"Alright, I'll go with you." The raven-haired female patted the little doctor's head.
"Thank goodness! Let's head back to our room, I left my stuff there." Chopper sighed in relief as he started to head to the stairs.
"I don't need any treatment." The green-headed swordsman stubbornly stood up and grabbed his seat.
"Let's go, Zoro." Robin calmly said as she followed Chopper.
"Forget the Marimo, and take me with you instead, Robin-Chwaaan~!" Sanji did his noodle dance over her but Nami got a hold of his ear and pulled him away.
"Tch! Shut up, stupid Love-Cook." The green-headed man snorted and was about to sit down, if only the raven-haired woman didn't speak again.
"Zoro." Robin called out his name.
"Tch! Fine." He grudgingly followed her.
"Yohohoho~ Another rare sight…" Brook commented quietly as he took a bite on his food.
"Did you say something, Brook?" Luffy asked, his body like a balloon.
"I like this medium rare steak, Luffy-San. Yohohoho~" The skeleton laughed gently.
"Me too! Shishishi~!" The rubber captain stretched out his arm to grab their musician's steak and shoved it in his mouth.
"Luffy-San, I wasn't done eating that!" The living skeleton protested as he cried.
At the men's room…
After arriving at the said room, Chopper quickly ran to his blue bag to get the medicine he needed for Zoro's wound. Robin sat on the bed and tapped the space next to her for the green-headed swordsman to sit on which he obeyed without hesitation.
"Robin, help me clean his wound while I prepare the medicine." The blue-nosed doctor tossed a bag of cotton balls to the raven-haired archaeologist and pulled out different bottles of herbs and powder, placing them on the floor.
"Aren't you overacting a little with this mere wound?" The swordsman asked as he gazed at Robin who was taking out a piece of cotton ball from the container.
"Mhm-mhm." The little fur ball shook his head as he rolled his apparatus against the medicine, mixing and grinding them together. "Robin asked me to treat your wound. I don't want her worrying." He said with a smile.
Zoro just stared at the female archaeologist as she quietly cleaned the blood off his chin with the ball of cotton. She was as gentle as the cotton. If only she was always the one who treats his wounds, he wouldn't mind getting a treatment every after fight he had. It might be hard for him to obey her orders not to remove the bandages, but he might have second thoughts of keeping it on since it was Robin who attached it around him. The swordsman's thoughts were cut-off as he noticed a smile cracked on her lips for a quick moment as Chopper uttered his words about her worrying about him. "Was she really worried?" He thought to himself as he slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
"I thought you were the one who wanted to treat him, Chopper." Robin avoided the swordsman's gaze by fixating her sight on the wound beside his lips.
"Eh? But you asked me ea—
"Ow! What's wrong with you?!" Zoro wailed as the female archaeologist applied pressure to his wound, cutting off Chopper's words.
"I thought it was a mere wound?" She teased and bit her lip, trying to stop herself from smiling.
"Tch! Shut up." He glared at her.
"I'm done!" Chopper jumped in between Zoro and Robin and applied the paste he made on his wound with a cotton ball as she held him.
The green-headed swordsman ignored the sting of the medicine on his wound and stared at the female archaeologist as he noticed she opened her mouth a while ago. He was about to turn his gaze away for their eyes met but she opened her mouth again, but this time, it was like she was speaking inaudibly. He raised a brow, deciphering her words. "'I'm sorry'? Why is she apologizing?" He thought in his head.
"Yosh! You're a good patient today, Zoro." The little doctor giggled as he covered the swordsman's wound with plaster. Suddenly, Chopper's eyes were covered by Zoro and Robin's hands, causing him to panic. "H-Hey! What's going on?!" He placed his hooves over their hands, trying to remove them from his eyes.
"We're going to play a game, Chopper. Just stay like that for a moment." The female archaeologist uttered as her face inched closer to Zoro's, mumbling "I'm sorry" again, her sight tearing from his eye to the floor.
"O-Okay! Tell me the rules!" The blue-nosed reindeer tried to calm down.
"What for?" The green-headed swordsman whispered, only to be heard by her, and tilted his head to the side to plant a quick kiss on her lips.
"What was that sound?" Chopper asked a he heard a faint sound, not knowing it was a sound of a kiss.
"Just keep quiet for a while." Zoro said, slightly annoyed with the little fur ball.
"Give me a moment." Robin mumbled before uncovering the reindeer's eyes. "Chopper, will you look for the red lipstick I brought in my bag? So you can start playing as well." She requested as she poked his blue nose.
"Alright! I'm excited!" The blue-nosed reindeer rubbed his eyes first before jumping off the bed and headed out the room, shutting the door close.
"You know he'll be back as soon as he finds it." Zoro said as he stared at the door, blinking.
"He won't find it." She smiled as she stared at the door as well.
"Why not?" He shifted his gaze at her.
"I didn't bring any lipstick." She giggled as she covered her mouth.
"Heh, that's a good one. So, what were you apologizing for?" He asked as he raised a brow.
"For earlier." She uttered as she gazed at him sadly.
"You mean this? This is nothing. The Cook just got lucky on kicking my face. No need to apologize." He smiled as he rubbed the plaster on his face, trying to remove it.
"I didn't mean that." The raven-haired female asked as she held his hand to stop him from peeling the cover off, staring into his functioning eye.
"Then what?" He asked, gazing back at her azure eyes.
"Were you jealous of Alex?" She bluntly asked.
"What?! Me?! Jealous?! No way! Why should I be?!" He unconsciously exaggerated with a tint of scarlet spreading across his cheeks. He strongly disagreed with the thought of him getting jealous over Alex. He was just irritated and annoyed that Robin was enjoying Alex's presence and overthinking a little bit. And the way her ex looked at her, made Zoro want to rip his eyeballs out. He was really just pissed of Alex. Was it already considered as jealousy? "No, I'm not jealous. I was just annoyed." He thought to himself as he still denied his greed for her.
Robin just stared at him, blinking. After a few seconds, a smirk crept upon her lips, smiling like she never did before. Zoro was obviously jealous. It was a rare sight. She was speechless. All she could do was to smile. She didn't even know whether she should get worried because it was hurting him or should she be happy because he was jealous. She felt special which she rarely experienced.
"Stop smiling like that, Woman. I wasn't jealous." He avoided her stare with still a blush on his cheeks.
"Really? Then, you don't mind if I go back and eat with Alex?" She said as she stood up.
"Do what you want, I don't care." He said seriously and laid down the bed.
"Alright, I'll be heading off then. Just tell Chopper I went back." She turned around and started to walk away.
"Don't you dare, Nico Robin. Don't you fucking dare." He said with a harsh tone, his eyes covered with shadow.
"Is that a threat?" She smiled as she crossed her arms against her chest and summoned extra appendages to hold Zoro on the bed.
"O-Oi! Let go of me!" He demanded as he struggled from her grip.
"No." She climbed on top of him and straddled on his bare stomach, causing him to blush.
"G-Get off of me, Woman!" He exclaimed as his heart started to beat fast, trying his best to escape from her grip but arms kept on sprouting to hold him down.
"Calm down." Robin spoke softly as she placed her hands on his cheeks, rubbing them gently with her thumbs.
"How can someone calm down when they're being pinned down like this, with a woman like you on top?!" He exclaimed, but the feeling her soft hands against his skin was starting to calm him. With that said, all of her phantom hands disappeared giving him the choice to push her, but he chose to place his hands on her waist. He was starting to feel anxious again as he felt her face inching closer, causing him to close his functioning eye to calm himself down, only to feel her forehead pressing against his. He opened his eye once again and saw her azure eyes staring down at him.
"I sincerely apologize for what negativity you might have felt against Alex during lunch earlier, but you don't have to worry about a single thing, Zoro… I can assure you… I am only yours." Robin planted a quick yet meaningful kiss against his lips and smiled as his face flushed.
"Robin…" Zoro murmured her name as he didn't know what to respond. "You're embarrassing." He chuckled softly to hide his embarrassment as he got a hold of her face and pressed his lips on her forehead. Even though they weren't in a labelled relationship and just had a mutual understanding, he felt glad and relieved that it came down to it, she was only his. It applied to him as well. He's only hers, but he didn't have the courage to even try and tell her. Everything was new to him; he wasn't used to expressing his feeling. It was difficult as hell for him. Whenever he tried, if ever he did, he would just stammer like an idiot.
"I'll take that as an accepted apology." She giggled as she closed her eyes, feeling his soft lips against her forehead.
"Yeah." He smirked and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
"Perhaps I can do something to make it up to you?" The female archaeologist smiled as she lifted her head up to gaze at him and tapped her finger on his nose, poking it gently. She wanted to make up to Zoro because she knew she was at fault for his jealousy, but she didn't know how. It was foolish of her to allow Alex sit next to her, knowing Zoro might have wanted to sit beside her. Aside from that, her ex joined her and Chopper when she got the mood of tickling the little reindeer. She was actually surprised as well. Maybe if she didn't permit her ex from doing so and stopped as soon as she felt him tickling her as well, Zoro wouldn't have gotten jealous. But then, she wouldn't be able see one of Zoro's soft and cute side. But it didn't mean she allowed Alex because she wanted Zoro to get jealous or anything. It was only because being with her ex wasn't much a big deal for her. She no longer had feelings for Alex. She just didn't expect Zoro to be jealous of him.
"Nah, you don't need to, don't worry." He stated as he embraced her tightly, burying his face against the crook of her neck.
"Alright. But you need to let go now, Chopper might come back and find us like this." The female archaeologist warned as she tried to get off of him but his hands were holding down her waist.
"You're not going anywhere." He chuckled softly, feeling her body slowly parting from his as he still tried to hold her.
"You do know I could just simply disappear, right?" She giggled as she lifted herself and crawled upward but his arms were still keeping her down.
"You wouldn't do that…" He suddenly blushed as Robin's chest was already eye level above his face.
"I give up." Suddenly, the raven-haired beauty ceased struggling and let herself fall on Zoro, gently causing her soft chest to land on his face.
Zoro's face went bright red as heat rose up to his head, causing steam to come out of his ears.
"O-Oi! G-Get off of me!" He demanded and quickly let go of her waist. Since she was only wearing a laced bra as her bikini, the green-headed swordsman was able to feel her breasts pressing upon his face. Her sweet flowery fragrance mixed with the softness of her flesh felt so good, it was urging him to stay in his current position, even if he was really embarrassed. He didn't know what to do. His arousal was pushing him to let her stay in her position but his respect for her was overwhelming. He wanted her off-of him.
"Oh my… What is this? I thought you said I won't be going anywhere?" Robin teased with a blush spread upon her cheeks as she stayed in her current position. She actually did it on purpose just to tease Zoro so that he would let go of her. But it seemed that she was enjoying the feeling of his face on her chest as well. It was extremely embarrassing and unusual but it actually felt good. Even if he decided to touch her breasts, she wouldn't mind as long as it was him. But it seemed it will have to wait because the green-headed man wanted her off him.
"I-I can't breathe! Robin!" He exclaimed as he found it hard to breathe from the embarrassment and got a hold of her shoulders, lifting her body away from him.
"I'm sorry." She giggled as she got off of him and sat down next to him.
"Y-You did that on purpose!" He stuttered as he sat up with his finger pointing at her, his face was still bright red with his hair a little messed up.
"Maybe I did, maybe I did not." She covered her mouth, still chuckling.
"Tch!" He gazed away and tried to calm down.
"Next time I'll inform you first, so you'll know." She teased as her giggles subsided.
"Shut u—
"Robin! I can't find it!" Chopper cried as he busted through the door and ran towards the pair.
"It's alright. We'll just think of something else and play with the others downstairs." The raven-haired archaeologist smiled and patted his head.
"Okay!" He squealed.
OMG! I have managed to construct yet another long chapter! I can't believe I did this. Hahaha! Tell me what do you think about it! Zoro is freaking hard to write! So let me know what you think whether he's out of character or not! I really put great effort in this! I was actually having a hard time at first constructing this chapter. I have rewrite everything I planned for this chapter not only twice, but thrice! It was frustrating! I didn't imagine it will end up like this. Hahaha And I think it went well! Soooooo Review please! :D
