Chapter Twenty Three

Ego

Robin's POV…

As soon as I entered the washroom, I quickly locked the door shut and leaned my back against it as I stared down at naught. I released a sigh to calm myself down because of my irritation towards Zoro's words. After all the time we had spent together, I could not believe he still hadn't completely trusted me. He was saying things so irrationally to the point that he didn't care whether I was getting hurt or not. It pained me every time I had to answer his baseless accusations due to his jealousy of my ex. I even had to watch the words I was exclaiming because I didn't want him to get hurt. But I could not tolerate it anymore. It tortured me so much that I had to slap him just so he would shut up and listen to me. I didn't want to do it, but I had to. He was no longer listening to me and was being clouded by his jealousy.

"Idiot…" I whispered as I tilted my head up and stared at the ceiling. I didn't know whether I should be angry with him or not. I knew he was only worried about me. At the same time, he wanted to sleep next to me instead of Nami. But did he really have to say those things? Why could he not just relinquish his jealousy over Alex? My ex wasn't doing anything wrong. Or was it what Alex wanted me to think? Maybe Zoro had a point. If I remembered correctly, I once saw Alex looking at me maliciously while I was pretending to be asleep, then he covered himself and ran to the restroom. I had forgotten all about it after my unforgettable night with Zoro. However, I knew that Alex wouldn't go as far as to the point he would use my weakness just because he couldn't get me. But Zoro was right, maybe I was being too nice to Alex. Even so, it still didn't give him the permission to say those things to me.

"Fuck it, Robin! He's your fucking ex! You've kissed him! You've hugged him! Hell, I don't even know if you already had sex with him!" Zoro's rage still rang in my head. I didn't realize that tears were already running down my cheeks. Why was I even crying? Shedding tears over that argument was completely shallow of me. Maybe because it was my first time having a quarrel with him? No, I never felt bad about having a disagreement with someone, even if it was my first time. I always had the upper hand. It was I who always dominating arguments. I always ended up manipulating people with my wits. But earlier, why did it feel like I was the one who lost? I was the one who was crying in the end. Why was I so affected by him?

"You never fail to amuse me, Zoro…" I mumbled as I brushed my hair away from my face with my fingertips. Maybe I was starting to develop deeper feelings for him. The fact that I was having an argument with him meant that I was slowly falling for him. I wouldn't waste my time arguing and defending myself like that if he and his opinion didn't mean that much to me. My heart felt like it was being pierced by multiple arrows from all the things he had said to me. It was the first time my chest felt like it was being constrained, that my lungs were having a hard time supplying air. It was painful, physically and emotionally.

I knew I was at fault as well and I was willing to apologize for what I did. I couldn't let the night pass without clarifying things with him. I wouldn't be able to sleep. I only needed some time to calm down. But how will I do that? My ego was stopping me from apologizing first because I was the one who got hurt the most. But Zoro got hurt as well. It was frustrating, I didn't know what to do.

Zoro's POV after Robin went to the bathroom…

"Damn it." I cursed as I rubbed my cheek, still feeling Robin's hand on it. I had to admit, her slap was far worse than Nami's punches and all the injuries I had received during my battles. Not only because it was physically painful, but also because it hurt somewhere deep down inside me that I can't point out. It was like a switch that flipped everything against me. All the blame was put on me; it made me look like I was the bad guy.

Why did she slap me anyway? I was already on fire from telling her everything I had in mind over her and that Alex guy. I was like a ticking time bomb that exploded and everything that I was keeping inside was going all out non-stop. I was so mad over that bastard, I wanted to bust out of this room and slice him into shreds. It was driving me insane! Why couldn't she realize that I hate that fucking guy?!

On top of that, did she just tell me I'm a pervert? Was I becoming like that Love-Cook? No, she's wrong. I can't be, right? She was only making excuses to cover up her act. I can't be a pervert. She was seducing me all along. She was always teasing me. She was the perverted one, not me.

But fuck… what was the guilt that was starting to overwhelm me? It was frustrating, I couldn't think straight. I didn't know what was happening to me.

"Why am I feeling like this?" I silently asked myself as I stood up and went in front of the bathroom door. I only realized everything I've said after she slapped me. I saw the pain in her eyes while she was arguing with me. She was so mad at me. My mind was clouded with anger; I didn't know she was already getting hurt during our argument. Have I really said too much? Aside from that, I felt the sadness enveloping my whole being as I saw Robin walking away from me. I couldn't stop her; I was glued in my position. Like even if I stopped her, she wouldn't listen to me and carry on. I didn't mean to hurt her. I only wanted her to realize I really don't like her seeing that guy. That I hated her ex. That he was only taking advantage of her. Was it really that hard to understand?

"Damn it…" I cursed as I gestured my hand to knock on the door. I wanted to see her. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to apologize to her, but I didn't know how. I can't even remember when it was the last time I apologized to someone. I didn't even know why should I apologize to her. Maybe because I said too many hurtful things? But I was mad with what had happened, of course I would say hurtful things.

"This is harder than I thought… Should I really approach her?" I mumbled as I withdrew my hand from the door and started walking around the room, trying to think how should I talk to her.

"Maybe she is still mad at me since she still hasn't come out? Or maybe she already fell asleep in there? Maybe she's only waiting for me to fetch her? But what if she sends me away?" I mumbled as I walked back and forth, trying to contemplate whether should I apologize to her or not. It was hard deciding especially because I was not used to this kind of thing. Usually if I upset someone, I would just let that person's anger subside and talk to that him the next day like nothing happened. It wasn't a big deal for me, whether you're mad at me or not. Aside from that, I rarely have people upset over me because I don't interact with people that much; less interaction, less drama. But damn… why was I so fucking worried just because Robin's mad at me?!

"Fuck it, I'm knocking." I groaned as I went back to stand in front of the door, thinking of what should I say to her. Should I apologize first? Or should I just hug her as soon as I saw her? I didn't know what to do. I clenched my teeth as I felt the sweat trickling down my temple. My heart was beating fast as hell as I raised my hand. I had to do this. I curled my hand into a fist and just when I was about to knock, the motherfucking door opened.

"Shit! I'm not yet ready!" I screamed in my head as Robin's eyes gazed upon me. I didn't know what to do. I was stuck in my position, with my hand in mid-air. She was staring at me blankly, like she wasn't even surprised I was there. "Come on, woman! I've worked up my ass here just so I could apologize to you! Don't give me that look!" I complained in my head as I stared at her with who-knows-what face I was making. It was awkward. Everything I had decided earlier was gone. I couldn't move nor speak. It was like I was turned into a stone.

Robin's POV…

I wasn't expecting that as soon as I opened the door, Zoro will be there, standing, with his hand gestured as if he was about to knock. Was he supposed to fetch me here in the bathroom? Was he about to apologize for earlier? No, I didn't want to assume. Maybe he only wanted to use the bathroom and he didn't know how will he tell me about it. It took quite a while for me to clear my throat but I was finally able to speak and ask, "May I help you?"

Zoro's POV…

Her words woke me up from my trance as I quickly retrieved my hand and scratched the back of my head. "Are you done using the bathroom?" I unconsciously asked as I avoided eye-contact with her. "What the bloody hell did I just say?!" I almost punched myself as the words I wanted to say won't come out of my mouth. It was freaking frustrating! Even if I wanted to apologize, I couldn't speak the right words I wanted to say.

Robin's POV…

"I knew it…" I thought sadly in my head as I kept up with my façade. It was disappointing. I've already told myself not to assume, but I still unconsciously hoped that he would apologize. Maybe our argument wasn't even something for him. Maybe I was the only one getting worked up with it. I let my walls down and now I'm hurting. "Yes, you can use it now." I answered with a smile and went back to the bed.

Zoro's POV…

"Damn it…" I cursed in my head as Robin smiled at me before walking away. I could no longer take it anymore. I didn't want us to be treating each other like we never argued, without resolving anything at all. I wanted to apologize, or at least comfort her because I hurt her. I didn't care anymore if she won't accept my apology or whether it was my fault or not. I wanted us to be okay again.

Robin's POV…

Before I could even go near the bed, my eyes widened as I felt Zoro's strong yet gentle arms wrapped around my waist tightly, pulling my body into his weakening embrace from behind. The sudden attack from the back had caused my heart to skip a beat and the sleeping butterflies in me to flutter around as they tried to escape the pit of my stomach. The heat that was previously lacking from my body went rushing through my cheeks and ears as his lips pressed against the nape of my neck. My body felt like it was melting in his arms as it stopped functioning at my will. It was immobilizing and unexpected. I wanted to stay in his warm embrace longer but at the same time, I wanted to break free because I could not tolerate that a single hug could make me forgive everything that had happened. I mustered up all my strength to calm down and keep up my façade. "What are you doing?" I asked him in a low and calm tone, just for him to hear it.

Narrator's POV…

"I am not a pervert…" Zoro mumbled as he rested his eyes on her right shoulder.

"What?" Robin asked as she raised a brow slightly and gazed at him with her peripheral view.

"I am not jealous of him…" He continued to mutter as his embrace became tighter.

"What are you trying to say, Zoro?" She asked once more as she furrowed her brow.

"I just… I don't want him taking advantage of you, okay? You know I only care about you… And I'm so freaking mad at him because he used to do things with you. Damn… This is so fucking hard for me to do because I'm not used to this kind of thing. I didn't mean to hurt you, okay? Don't get mad at me anymore… I didn't know what came over me… I-I… I'm… I'm so-s-so… I-I'm so-s-so… Fuck." The green-headed swordsman cursed as he stuttered with his last sentence and lifted his head up.

"You are so… fucked?" The raven-haired female asked with sarcasm as she no longer felt upset with him.

"That's not what I'm trying to say! Stop pressuring me, dammit! Tch! I-I… I'm sorry. There, happy?" He uttered as he gazed annoyingly at her from the side.

Robin couldn't help but to smile as she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck before brushing the tip of her nose against his. "It means a lot." She uttered in a low tone as she gazed from his lips to his eyes. "I have no idea how you do it… but you're the only person who could stir up my feelings like this. I couldn't stay mad at you. And I hope… you're not mad at me anymore. I'm sorry if I let Alex sleep on the same bed as me… but I cannot take back my words after I told him it is alright, I hope you understand. But it doesn't mean that I like sleeping next to him. So… the only way I could think of that might satisfy you, is that for me to lessen my interactions with him and more time with you. All you have to do… is to trust me." She apologized as she looked deeply into his able eye, causing him to slightly blush.

"I understand. Don't worry, I trust you." He smiled before giving him a sweet kiss on the forehead.

"By the way…" She added as her naughty smile was painted upon her lips.

"Hm?" He raised a brow as he gazed back at her.

"I don't mind if you're being a pervert, as long as it's only between you and me." She giggled mischievously.

"Tch! I'm not a perv!" He gazed away as his cheeks reddened.

"Don't worry, it's our little secret." She continued to giggle.

"You're the perv." He smirked as he wrapped his arms around her bottom and lifted her up, causing her to slightly squeal and wrap her legs around his hips.

"Maybe I am." She chuckled and hugged him tightly.

"Let's just go get some sleep." He snickered as he walked towards the bed.


Yooooo! :D So, how was this chapter? It was so hard to wriite! Seriously! Especially Zoro! He was freaking hard to write. Anyways, tell me what do you think about it! Review please! :D