"I told you to not go anywhere near me." Zoro said, a little irritated when a certain raven-haired crew-mate stepped in the room he was currently occupying. He was pretty sure he made everyone know that he'd be in the crow's nest after lunch, and that he'd really appreciate it if no one comes bother him. He shut his eyes tightly.

Did he?

After a few seconds of nothing but silence from the intruder, Zoro opened his eyes in annoyance, ready to let out a string of very colorful words that he was sure would put his visitor out the door before they can even let out any argument. What he did not anticipate though, were the pair of bright chestnut eyes, just a few inches staring at his own russet ones. Closer inspection revealed the person's perfectly trimmed brows, thin nose and glossed lips, also only mere inches from his own face.

Zoro felt his cheeks heat up and his throat run dry from the distance that was just too uncomfortable for his liking. He found his body seemingly frozen, as if some force was keeping him from making any move.

Damn.

He had no idea what was going on. Maybe he overworked himself, thus, his muscles refusing to move even an inch. Maybe it was from the shock of seeing someone so close right after opening his eyes. Maybe because that someone was the same person he was just thinking of.
Maybe because all of the above.

It would've been something out of a romantic movie; the guy stuttering and the girl blinking back with innocent eyes, and the stupid pink flowers falling in the background; had the guy not been Roronoa Zoro and the girl, Nico Robin.

It is considered global knowledge that Zoro never stutters, Robin's eyes are nowhere near innocent, and the only flowers that the Thousand Sunny boards, are the ones on the observation deck, still firmly rooted to the ground. But in that short moment of silence between the two Strawhat pirates, it would seem to any outsider like the very air itself sparked.

It was the raven haired beauty that broke the silence as she answered her crew-mate's earlier remarks, albeit a little late. "That was a few years ago Zoro." Robin said in a low jesting voice, completely unaware of the awkward position she's put the swordsman in.

"And it still stands." Zoro answered back through gritted teeth. He was completely stunned as the girl's breath swept his skin, sending slight shivers running up and down his spine.

"What do you need Robin?" he added with jaws clenched tightly, willing himself to control the volume of his voice.

It was not that he was specifically bad with women. He was aware of them in a general manner. Too busy to stay alive in the seas, and too preoccupied with exploring when given the chance to land occasionally, he's never really gotten involved with any of them. He was more partial to look for a place where he can hone his skill rather than frolic in the towns, chasing after skirts like their blonde chef, Sanji, likes to do. The only women he had interacted with on a regular basis are his crew-mates so the feeling of liking someone had always been an alien concept to him.

Zoro gulped loudly. So why is it exactly that he was suffering from a rapidly beating heart?

Realizing the shameful sound that his throat probably had let out, he turned his face to the side in a snap; making it as If he was suddenly interested at the line of ants that were marching next to his discarded dumbbells. Right. The ants.

Right.

The sudden movement did not went unnoticed by the still staring Robin, who by then, was already standing back up to give the swordsman his space.

She was sent by Luffy to fetch Zoro after announcing that they're making a stop on the nearest island. The captain wanted her to ask the swordsman if he was interested on exploring the town, as everybody else, besides her, had already turned in big yeses. Because she happened to overhear Zoro muttering about working out again, it was with no effort that Robin found their rather aloof crew-mate in the crow's nest.

She is well aware of the fact that Zoro is still uncomfortable around her. It might not be the trust issues that he had with her when she first joined the crew, but he was still definitely indifferent with her.

She knew of this and yet it still hurt her, if only a little, when Zoro brought up his usual reminder years past.
'Don't go anywhere near me.'

Robin thought that Zoro could grow to accept her and treat her like he did anybody else, but as she heard him respond to her in a yet again cold tone, she figured it might not be so.

"We are landing soon." Robin said after she turned away from her crew-mate. "Luffy wishes to know if you're going to partake on a short excursion."

Only a low grunt was heard from Zoro, who was not really sure how to respond. Sure, he would like to have a little more of his alone time, but it still all depends on what kind of island they're going to land on.

After a few silence when he failed to give a follow up on his vague response, he saw Robin slowly make her way out. "Wait!" He was not sure what compelled him to stop the raven haired woman on her tracks, "Mind telling me what you know?" he probed, a little too suddenly.

"There will be a town, Nami said. Pretty much everyone is already decided to go."

"Uh-huh." Zoro nodded to himself. He actually liked the possibility of being left alone for a while, but a little tugging at his heart was prompting him to say yes to the excursion that their captain has planned. "Are you going then?"

It was an out of the blue question, something that the green haired lad never even planned on asking. He doesn't like prying and it was not like he has any use of knowing whether Robin will be staying or not.

'It's not like you want to be with her, eh?'

Shit.

Zoro flinched at the thought. His brows scrunched in a thoughtful line as he glanced at the retreating form of his crew-mate. While it is true that it might seem like he still has ill feelings for Robin, he actually enjoys her company more than anyone else. Her quiet nature and the way she handles things in a calm pace had proven to be an escape from the rest of the Strawhat's usual raucous quality. He would prefer being with her than with the rest of the crew most of the time, but somehow, his preference doesn't always seem to translate in his words.

But was it just because he finds her more comfortable to be around with? That's been the question in his mind since they returned to the sea from Ennies Lobby, and it hasn't been bothering that much before. As time pass by though, Zoro could not help but find himself always in a state of figuring out what he feels for the brown-eyed woman. It was not helping him in the least either that now his subconscious is blurting out ludicrous thoughts.

He was about to retract his question when Robin halted and answered, "I suppose."
Zoro expected her to make her exit after she gave him a response. He was glad that she didn't make anything out of it. Now that he knows she's going, he thought to himself that maybe it's better to stay in the ship after all, denying whatever the hell his subconscious previously implied.

"Tell Luffy I'm not going then." He exclaimed in a pretty loud voice, thinking that Robin was still waiting for his answer before leaving.

It was with yet another shock to the Strawhat swordsman when Robin turned sharply on her heels and started stomping towards him, eyes blazing with evident fury. Heels clacking against the crow's nest wooden floor grew louder and louder with every second, stopping only when they reached the spot directly in front of him. Zoro shot up from his seat, not knowing what just happened.

The hell did he do know?

"What's your prob-" he started to bellow but was cut short at the sight that met him.

Monsters could suddenly shot up from nowhere; the Thousand Sunny could suddenly hit an iceberg; hell, the whole Shichibukai, Marines and the Yonkous can come knocking at the crow's nest that very moment and none of it would have mattered, because at that moment, Zoro was sure that he had seen the weirdest thing life could ever offer.

In front of him was a crying Nico Robin.