Pride: This story is a tribute to Cardboard Pixie, an amazing friend, confidante and sister-figure who passed away on October the 9th. She dedicated her last moments to writing fanfiction, which she truly loved. I hope her hardwork and dedication is recognized, because she truly deserves it. Thanks for the great memories and times we had, and no matter what, we won't forget you.

Updated: 11/1/2015

They all knew that it was not a match made in heaven. But it was a match made in hell, and that was just fine too.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters.

Narrator's Perspective

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

"Attacks/Raised Voices"

Settings- Place and Time

Dreams

A Match Made In Hell

An One Piece original fanfiction

Recollection 7: So Close, Yet So Far

The crew watched in stunned silence as Zoro slammed the doors to the kitchen open and stared at them. Then, as though he was fighting an internal battle, his facial expressions contorted.

Finally calming himself down, the swordsman stuttered out a meek "sorry" and timorously walked to his seat. He then dug into his garlic bread with indifference, while studiously maintaining a poker face.

Throughout the breakfast, he determinedly ignored the other crew members and didn't say a single word. The sound of chewing and the clinks of cutlery filled the kitchen as the crew experienced one of their most awkward meals ever.

Once he was finished, Zoro quietly cleaned his own plate and walked out of the kitchen without another word.

"What's wrong with Zoro today? He seemed out of sorts, as though constantly in thought," voice out Chopper, worried for his brother-figure.

"I don't know, Chopper," said Nami, also unusually worried for the swordsman. It wasn't everyday that she saw him in such a state. Zoro wasn't one who would let so much of his emotions show.

Sanji merely frowned. He could never get into that head of Zoro's. Sometimes, Zoro was more complicated than even Robin and Nami.

Luffy remained silent throughout the discussion.

"Zoro had a nightmare," he finally said, looking around at them all.

"Do you want me to go and talk to him?" asked Usopp.

Luffy considered it for a moment, but decided against it.

"No. Robin, you talk to Zoro. It'll clear his mind to see you there. If he's still depressed, go for a walk with him."

Robin cocked an eyebrow in question, but thought better than to question Luffy. He may be dense and oblivious, but there was probably no one else alive who knew Zoro better than him.

Rising up from her seat, she followed Zoro's footsteps out of the kitchen.

'Kuina…if you're going to haunt me so often through my dreams, then why did you even die in the first place?!'

'You died before me, even though you were the stronger one. I, the weaker one, was chosen to live. It sickens me, how this world works. Sometimes, I think I can save everyone if I got stronger. I wish I were stronger so I could've stopped our crew from being separated at Sabaody. But then again, what's the use if it's possible for the strong to die young and the weak to survive?'

'After meeting this crew, the pains went away a little…But now…She's just like you, Kuina. Reminds me of you. Both of you became stronger to stand up to this world's prejudice and discrimination. I'm grateful for the fact that she doesn't use swords…otherwise I don't know what I might've done.'

Zoro stood staring at the sand on the shore as it rippled in the wind, but his eyes barely registered any of it.

He'd sharpened his blade so it could cut the enemies who tried to hurt his comrades – and at this he saw in his mind's eye, Robin falling to the ground after Enel zapped her.

But now he was beginning to have his doubts…if being strong would even help him save them all from whatever was in store for them.

Besides, he was getting weaker too; not physically, but mentally. They say love dulls the blade…Zoro feared it really would.

"Kenshi-san? Do you mind if I stand here?"

He hummed in response, which she took to be a yes.

"You…May I ask…what was your nightmare about?" she prompted, and immediately knew that she had hit the nail right on the head.

Zoro's head turned to face her so fast, Robin feared it might snap and fall off his neck.

Somehow…she knew. He didn't know if it was Luffy who told her, or she'd guessed it by herself – she always seemed to know so much about him just by looking at him, and read him in a way no one but Luffy and Kuina could.

It could've been both, for all he knew.

'How can I talk about it to the very person who might've caused it? Robin…you…you're rekindling memories I've tried so hard to bury…and I don't know if it's good or bad.'

"I…I'd rather not," he replied with an apologetic look and turned away.

Robin was disappointed at his answer. Did he really not trust her enough to confide in her?

"Very well, I shall not push you. But you need something to clear your mind– "

"A good drink, maybe."

"If that's what you need right now. Will you accompany me ashore? We can go and get something to drink – sake for you, probably and coffee for me."

"Hn. Fine, let's go," Zoro consented. Maybe all he needed right now were some fresh air and company.

"Damn idiots. Can't they watch where they're throwing their beer? Such a waste of good drinks and a nuisance to me!" Zoro gritted out while glaring at the mocking stain the spilled beer had made on his clothes. This was the down side of going to bars instead of drinking aboard the ship – the people there got rowdy and bothered him.

Robin smiled sympathetically. She regretted that his clothes were now ruined thanks to the brawl the drunken bargoers had had, but then again, one good thing had arisen from it. In the act of beating them up, Zoro had seemed to have forgotten about his nightmare and his earlier moodiness was almost all gone.

"It's alright Zoro-san, let's get you new clothes," she said, dragging him gently into a clothes shop for men.

In no time, Zoro found himself having to try on a plain white t-shirt and a maroon-coloured hoodie. The white t-shirt was similar to his attire two years ago, but the hoodie…he had his reservations about that.

"Seriously, onna? Is the hoodie really necessary?"

"It might come useful in future, when we need to hide our identities ashore. Besides, you need a change in your wardrobe anyways, it's too old-fashioned."

Zoro was surprised, he'd never thought he would hear such a…girly thing from Robin.

"Nami has been teaching you bad things."

"Doesn't change the fact that you need to stop dressing in such old fashion."

Zoro cocked an eyebrow at her, as though to mock her reasoning, but all she did was stare back.

"Go on," she urged, pushing the clothes into his arms and pushing him into the changing room.

"Okay, okay fine. Wait, hold on to my swords for me until I'm done," he said, unbuckling his swords from his waist.

Robin was shocked, to say the least.

The swordsman treasured his swords the most, obviously. He had never let them leave his side, not even for a moment. Except when Luffy was there to guard them. But even then, he had never let the white-sheathed sword out of his sight even once.

She was overwhelmed with gratitude at his show of trust.

She had been disappointed with how little trust he seemed to have in her earlier, but now…

They may have been far from close friends at first glance, but only Robin and Zoro knew how deep their friendship ran.

Maybe he didn't trust her completely to tell her about his past and his worries yet…but he trusted her more than he did nearly everyone else in the world, and that was good enough for her.

They were not the closest of friends, but they were closer than ever before, and Robin was happy with that. Maybe someday, they would grow to be something else, but for now, Robin was content.

A smile blossomed on her face as she clutched the three swords closer to her chest, and the white-sheathed one seemed to give off a reassuring glint in the bright lighting of the store.

End

Pride: I was quite happy with how this turned out, for once. It kinda flowed well in my head (with minimal mess-ups). This was kinda inspired by one of DangoCorn's works (forgot which, it's in one of the reviews hehe) so credit goes to you, sis!

Also, thank you to all the reviewers for being so supportive, namely Majin no Tamashi, Air Jackfruit, Muffinypowers, DangoCorn, R.N. Zuzu, Miranda, Someone YukiHannah87, Chikage Zorobin, megaME and poodlecake85 (in no particular order).

I hope you all liked this chapter! Oh yeah, please do check out my other One Piece story, "fEaR", as well as DangoCorn's "A New Mellorine".

May good fortune rule over you
Peace live in your heart, and
May the stars watch over you

- Yours truly, Pride