Confusing Realizations and Denied Feelings

Days went by seemingly seamlessly and as per usual there wasn't a dull day aboard the Thousand Sunny. There was the occasional marine attack and some rapidly changing weather that tested the ship's strength and the navigator's skill but the Stawhats pulled through without too much damage. Before he realized it a week had passed since Nami had demanded that he trim her precious trees.

Throughout the week Zoro had been careful to observe Nami's behaviours and moods. He was determined to get to the bottom of the problem. It startled him how much he wanted to figure it out but he eased his mind my telling himself it was simply his competitive nature and love of challenges. If it had been anyone else on the ship he would be doing the same thing.

He had determined that it wasn't an illness at least not as far as he could tell since there were times when she seemed fine and she never seemed weak. It was as if there was something distracting her most of the time, her mind was too busy focusing on something to properly categorize everything going on around her. To Zoro's mind Nami seemed distant and as a result slightly more soft around the edges.

That wasn't to say that she didn't make him or the others do any chores, as usual they all had cleaning and general upkeep jobs to keep them busy during the slow hours. The difference that Zoro noticed was the manner in which she asked them to be done. As far back as she had been a part of the crew Nami had more or less ordered the haphazard pirate crew to do certain chores, within the last week however her commands were coming out more as suggestions to Zoro's ear. Normally he would have taken them as just that, a suggestion but his concern for her was so great that he wouldn't argue so he didn't have to watch the painful void of her presence in the argument.



Zoro never would have dreamed it possible but he actually found himself missing her regular bossy attitude. The ship wasn't the same without Nami barking out orders left and right. While he missed the orders he was equally surprised to discover he didn't miss watching her twist Sanji around her finger with pretty words lacking in sincerity.

It had always been a secret amusement of his watching the ero-cook get used so thoroughly in such an innocent way. He might not get along with the cook but he was his nakama so the fact that Nami's control over him came to no harm was a relief but he couldn't deny he enjoyed seeing it. So why was he all of a sudden relieved when she stopped batting those big chocolate eyes at the pervert?

His gaze drifted to Nami as if she might miraculously present him with the solution to all of his dilemmas and instead all of the confusion simply intensified. She was currently stretched out on a deck chair asleep in the sun. While most days she would look peaceful while she slept today her brow was furrowed ever so slightly and her body was rigid despite the slumber. His eyes took in her slender frame and he felt a slight stirring from within, he hadn't felt a stirring like this in a long time. Shaking his head he cursed himself for his unwanted attraction while Nami was so obviously vulnerable.

"Zoro no! Wait!"

Zoro jerked his attention back to Nami as her voice cut across the deck. She suddenly jerked upright her eyes wide and she frantically glanced around the deck. When her eyes landed on him her face flushed bright red and he realized that she had woken from a dream in which he had clearly been featuring. She looked around nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

"It's not what you think."

"And what is it that I think?" Zoro replied curious.

"It was simply a nightmare. You refused to pay me back for any of the money you owe me and I couldn't do anything." Nami said quickly stammering only slightly.

Zoro nodded his head and tossed her a glare so she'd think he believed her before turning his head away being sure to keep her in his peripherals. Nami let out a deep breath her hand fluttering to her chest and Zoro saw a sadness to her features that pained him. He didn't believe her story about a nightmare. If it had to do with not getting her money Nami would be angry and instead her voice rang out full of pain and despair. Zoro couldn't help but feel guilty since it was probably something her dream version of him had done that had caused the pain. He knew it made no sense and he couldn't be held responsible for things that someone else dreamed and yet the guilt remained.

Zoro couldn't nap for the rest of the day his mind too busy whirling around pointless guilt, staggering concern and other unprecedented emotions he wasn't ready to categorize quite yet. It was almost a relief when Sanji called for dinner and he could let his mind go amidst the usual chaos any meal time caused with Monkey D. Luffy. Zoro pushed all of his thoughts and worries out of his tired mind and simply focused on eating his food quickly and guarding his plate from his impossibly hungry captain. He forced himself not to monitor Nami which was going well up until the stupid ero-cook had to open his mouth and ruin it all.

"Nami-swan why aren't you eating? Is something wrong?"

Zoro's attention was then 100 on the navigator as simple as that. He noticed that she had given up any pretence of eating and hadn't even touched her food save for perhaps a bite or two. She looked weary and once again semi-dazed. Slowly she lifted her eyes to meet Sanji's a tired grin forced upon her face.

"Sorry Sanji-kun I'm just not feeling that great today."

"Can I have your food then?" Luffy asked only to be kicked in the head by the cook.

"You look kind of beat why don't you go lie down." Zoro suggested calmly.

Nami looked startled to hear from him but recovered quickly nodding her head at his suggestion.

"I have watch tonight so I'll just lie down for a few hours."

"Maybe someone else could take your shift Navigator-san."

"No I can do it. I just need to lie down for a bit."

Nami seemed determined to not give away her shift so finally the others agreed knowing there was no point in arguing with her. Zoro watched her get up from the table and walk out of the galley presumably heading to her room for a short nap.

Several hours later Nami hadn't re-emerged from her room and the rest of the crew came to the decision that they would let her sleep and Zoro volunteered to take over her shift. He grabbed a thermos of coffee that Sanji had made for the night and was about to head up to the crow's nest when said cook stopped him.

"Oi marimo."

"What do you want ero-cook?"

"I made a soup for Nami-swan if she gets up in the night at all. It is in the fridge and only needs to go on the stove for a few minutes to heat up."

"Why are you telling me this? Why don't you just write her some stupid love note or something telling her so."

"Watch your mouth kelpy. I'm telling you so that you can get it for her in case she still isn't feeling well. Do you think you can manage that or do you need step by step directions?"

"Do you wanna go?"

Zoro reached for his katana at the same time as Sanji raised his leg both poised to either attack or defend depending on the other. Zoro would have unleashed the first blow, any excuse to blow off some steam at this point was good but they were interrupted by Robin strolling into the galley. Sanji immediately lowered his leg to better swoon after her.

"Cook-san perhaps you and Swordsman-san could continue this another time. It is probably best not to wake Navigator-san."

Zoro scowled because he knew she was right and collecting his thermos off the ground left the galley muttering about crazy women messing up his schedule.