Author's Note: This is a story that popped up into my brain awhile ago. I will attempt to post a chapter at least once a week, most likely during weekends, but one should not be surprised if I post more chapters up randomly during the week. I am not one to spurn muse whenever I should happen upon it. I will be worming an OC into the story, and I hope you will come to understand and enjoy her presence as I have. I have rated this story overall as 'Mature' but not all chapters will be so. As always, reviews are encouraged, as are suggestions and ideas!

Chapter rating: T- mild language

Disclaimer: I have no claim to this beautiful world of pirates... only guilty of stirring up a little intrigue.

The Female Enigma

The cry wasn't as loud as they thought. More frightened keen than shrill scream, her pale face was instantly hidden behind a layer of blanket and she pushed her way back towards the rear of the room. Sanji and Zoro froze, quite unsure as how to react to her terror. Brook spoke up first. "Are you alright, stranger-san?" Zoro snorted.

"Told you she didn't want to see your ugly mug." Sanji's face turned into a scowl.

"Shut up, you damn marimo. It was obviously you who scared our poor lady-guest."

"What in the hell is going on in there?" Nami's voice –and elbows- cut into the crowd of men at the door, Sanji not the only one reacting to the higher pitched voice. The bundled form of the injured woman twitched, a cautious slit opening up on her face as the female navigator appeared in all her glory. Trading her wet jeans for a pair of dry cotton capris, she was out in full, Sanji-melting force. With Zoro, for lack of a better word, 'muscled' out of the way, and the cook incapacitated by her mere presence, she made it to the forefront with the practiced ease of manipulating men to do as she wanted.

"Hey there… are you okay? These guys can be jerks but they aren't going to hurt you."

"What a ringing endorsement, witch."

"Shut up, Zoro."

The stranger girl moved, sliding her body to a more upright position, the blanket relaxing around her face. She then lunged forward with alarming speed. Zoro reached for his swords, but the idiot cook was in his way, the small room not an ideal place to draw his blades.

"H-help me."

The voice was quiet and pleading, words rasping against tired vocal chords. One bandaged hand kept her chosen covering around her, while the left, untouched one reached for Nami's shoulder, trying to pull herself closer. After the shock of her approach wore off, the orange-haired woman instinctively placed her hands on either side of the frightened girl's arms, as if to hold the poor thing upright. It was then Nami realized just how hard the girl was trembling. Her entire body quaked with fear, shifting as if to hide against Nami's front. After seeing the quick look she shot at Zoro and Sanji, the men still edging closer, the navigator sighed softly, pulling the girl a little closer.

"Come on guys. Get out. Robin, would you join me?"

"Yes Nami-swaaan! Of course! You heard her, you piece of shit. Get out!"

A vein in Zoro's forehead throbbed. "What did you say?"

As Sanji shoved the swordsman outside, Chopper's worried head peaked in. "But… Nami…"

"Don't worry, Chopper," Robin spoke in breezy tones, slipping into the infirmary. "We'll make sure to tend to the girl."

"But…"

An arm sprung from the ground in front of him, all but one finger curling into a fist, as Robin's Devil Fruit fuelled appendage poked the doctor in the direct centre of his chest, pushing him back from the doorframe. "You heard the navigator," she smiled. "Everyone out." And then she closed the door.

Chopper blinked, and then pouted looking up at the very tall Brook. "But… it's my room. The doctor's room."

Brook merely tapped a skeletal finger to his chin, thinking. "Where did you pick the young miss up, Chopper-san?" The reindeer was more grateful for the musician not using the word 'kidnapped' than he should have been.

"On Sugar Town, in the forest. She was hit by the bullet Luffy deflected." He shuffled on his hooves again, looking back at the closed door and ignoring the sounds of Zoro and Sanji fighting on the deck. "I couldn't just leave her there.

"No, certainly not." Brook nodded in agreement, round head tilting to the side as he contemplated the creature behind the door. "I wonder if she would le-"

Chopper smacked his leg. "Now's not the time to be thinking that!"

lllllllllllllll-lllllllllllllll

The girl jumped at the sound of crashing outside, but Nami was quick to wave it off.

"Don't worry, it's just those two idiots fighting each other again. Nothing to fret over, believe me."

"Why don't you have a seat? We wouldn't want our all our doctor's hard work to go to waste now, do we?" Robin languidly gestured her arm towards the mussed bed, a gentle smile on her face. Though she didn't quite act on them in a regular way, her maternal instincts wrapped around her supple form like a comforting cloak of serenity. Though Nami had been more than ready to escort the girl to the cot, the stranger released her almost immediately, staggering over to the offered seat and sinking heavily into the mattress. A soft intake of air caught in her throat, free hand clutching low on her abdomen, palm pressed against her bandages.

"Easy now. Can you tell us what your name is? Or how you got that wound?" Nami pulled Chopper's swivel chair out, dragging it closer to the bed and perching on it backwards. Robin took a seat at the girl's right. Relaxing, but still quivering from time to time, the third woman offered a timely, if timid, answer.

"My name is Vivian. I was shot. While running away." Her bandaged fingers flexed against her blanket. "Ran into a tree." She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, forcing it to cover her knees, now raised to tuck in against her chest. The action tugged the sheet away from her face, teary amber eyes sheepish.

Vivian had an extremely pale complexion, dark rings visible under the dust below her eyes. An adhesive bandage could be seen stuck to her forehead under her bangs, sable hair disappearing under the blanket. Under the grime, Nami thought she spotted the evidence of light coloured freckles dusting the bridge of her nose. The navigator almost groaned. Something told her the girl would clean up well. And then it would be impossible to keep her safe from Sanji. She knew the cook was harmless, and he meant well, but if Vivian's reaction was any sort of indicator, the cook would only be compounding the situation.

"-ry."

Nami blinked. "What was that?"

"I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here. I don't know why I…" Her eyes widened a touch before she squeezed them closed. "No one will come looking for me. I won't be worth much."

Nami furrowed her brows in confusion, but Robin seemed to understand.

"As much as Chopper believes he kidnapped you, his only motivation in bringing you onboard was to heal your wounds. We aren't going to sell you."

Vivian's shoulders sagged a touch, relief lining her features. Her face had similar characteristics to Robin, implying age, though with none of the strength. The delicacy of her bone structure made her seem younger, even if the bags on her eyes said the contrary. Robin's eyes caught Nami looking contemplatively at the girl's face, as if wondering how much they could make if they did sell her. She smiled, shaking her head. Only Nami could claim innocence while postulating such an idea, even if it was only in her mind.

Aforementioned woman spun idly in her seat. "What were you even doing on that island? You're obviously not a marine." She narrowed her eyes, giving the woman a side-long glance. "Are you a Celestial Dragon?" A shudder than down Vivian's body, head sharply shaking, revulsion ghosting over her face. "No!"

Nami relaxed, pity settling over her. "Then maybe… a slave?"

The other woman's shoulders tensed again, eyes focusing exclusively on the floor. "Y-yes."

It was amazing, really. They hadn't seen such a skill since Luffy. Nami and Robin shared a glance. What an abysmal liar their new acquaintance was. In a way, it was a comforting thought. Not having to worry about lies was something they could scratch off their list. That way they could focus on more important threats. Like freak thunderstorms. And starving to death because their captain was a food-inhaling moron.

"I see," supplied Robin neutrally, neither woman calling Vivian's bluff. They didn't know why she would lie about such a thing, but they had no need to pry into such affairs. Still… the archaeologist couldn't help but be curious. While most of her mind was occupied with the grand mystery of the Void Century, it didn't mean this lesser enigma could escape her ever-watchful eyes. Vivian seemed like a relatively sweet girl, if a little jumpy… but what she was, exactly, and her reasons for being on that island eluded the raven-haired beauty. Just what was that honest face hiding?

It was then a curiously low, rumbling growl echoed through the room. It started off strong, rolling sounds eventually tapering off into odd-sounding gurgles. Two sets of eyes focused on Vivian –not for the first time- whose cheek bones reddened slightly, eyes averted and knees hugged closer to her chest. Nami raised her eyebrow.

"Um… are you hungry, Vivian?"

"…yes."

Words Count: 1497
Muse Source: So Cold- Breaking Benjamin

"You're so cold, keep your hand in mine.
Wise men wonder while strong men die."