[A/N] This was a really fun chapter to write so I hope you all enjoy it! It shows the 'softer' side of Nicole. Enjoy the slight fluff! :)
BTW
you can skip reading my authors note at the end of this if you want to... but DON'T skip that important question down there! It's IMPORTANT! I NEED TO KNOW!
"Luffy, will you stop eating all of our food? We need to save that for the rest of our trip!" Nicole scolded, slapping his hand away from the food chest beside her.
"But Nicki, I'm starving!" He replied with puppy dog eyes. Nicole shook her head as she squeezed the padlock shut, locking the chest, and hung the key on her belt loop. This would be there third night together as a crew, and in that short period of time their captain had already eaten most of the food supplies that Rika's mother had provided them. After the first day, Nicole and Zoro both agreed on sealing away the food so they wouldn't be starved so soon after leaving the dreadful marine base in Shell Town.
"That face may have worked on me when I was nine but I am immune to it now, Luffy." Nicole said, plopping down next to the snoozing swordsman.
"Awww fine." Luffy said defeated as he splayed his body out on the small deck. Nicole just watched him and smiled as her messy haired nakama drifted off to sleep.
Nicole rested her head on the side of the railing trying to follow the two guy's lead, but soon gave up and stared intently at the dim sky above her, counting the stars. Why she always found herself looking up towards the sky was a mystery. It was a habit that followed her through life and even if she wanted to she couldn't get stop herself from doing it. Whether it was night or day it always made her feel somewhat in-tune with the rest of the world, Though the stars at night intrigued her.
Zoro let out a snort and began to fidget, snapping Nicole out of her daze. He readjusted his hands behind his head before his body relaxed back into its previous state. Nicole couldn't help but to let out a small giggle as she watched the way he scrunched up his nose in annoyance before his face smoothed out and his breathing steadied.
She had never in her life met a man exactly like him. Of course most men had his cocky and stubborn attitude, but whether he'd admit it or not he was a caring person. Yes, she barely had seen it, but it was there. He began to move again and let out an annoyed growl as he cracked open his left eye.
"You awake?" She whispered getting only a grunt in reply. She stared at the groggy man for a few more seconds before sighing and looking back up at the sky. She never knew a man could sleep that much.
"Why are you always doing that." Zoro asked a few minutes later in a low tone before sitting himself up straight against the railing behind them.
"Always doing what?" Nicole said as he face contorted into confusion. She scooted herself up beside him and locked her gaze with his as she tilted her head questionably.
"Your always staring up at the sky." He sighed and faced forward to the subject at hand. "What are you trying to find up there? The only thing I see is a bunch of stars and a couple of clouds. It's not very interesting." He stated before she let out a sigh of her own.
"When I'm looking up at the sky I'm not really looking for anything. and it's true that all you see is stars and clouds at first glance, but they could be so much more if you think about it." She smiled while Zoro snickered at the thought.
"What are you talking about? How could they be anything else? They are what they are, you can't change them." He stated, looking at her like she was an idiot. When she saw his expression, her palm met her face and she growled in frustration.
"That's not what I meant." She said before glaring at the confused man. "Oh, for gods sake, Zoro! You would know there are more things up there if you would stop being such a block-head for once! You know, like the other planets and the constellations. You ever even heard of those things?"
"Of course I have. It's just that I don't find those kinds of things important. Why do you care about it? How is it going to help you accomplish anything?" He questioned as she blinked a few times and began to giggle, making him growl in irritation.
"You're such an idiot. I don't really care about those things! I just think they are really cool to look at" She grinned as sweat fell at the side of his forehead. "Oh, look right there. I'll show you" She said as she leaned against his shoulder and pointed up at the sky. He looked down at the girl questionably before looking at the sky himself.
"Do you see it?" She asked as he narrowed his eyes at the figure. He couldn't make out what it was exactly was, but to him all it looked like was a couple of stars connecting together to make a box with lines coming from the side of it.
"Well yeah I see it alright, but what the hell is it suppose to be?" He said as she re-adjusted her head so she was looking up at him.
"That is Pegasus! Most people can't spot it out, but I have acquired an eye for these kinds of things along the years." She answered before turning her head back to the constellations and pointing to another one to the right. "Oh, there's a cool one! It's named after Queen Cassiopeia from Greek Mythology."
"Why would they name that after a queen? It just looks like a line of stars to me." Zoro questioned as he narrowed his eyes at the scene above him. The constellation was made up of five stars that, if connected, came together to make a stretched out 'w' shape in the sky.
"Stop being so dense, Zoro! Use your imagination. You have to have some somewhere in that head of yours." She snickered before tracing the pattern with her index finger. "It's supposed to make the shape of the queen sitting in a chair. Look, that's where her head is supposed to be, then if you follow the rest of the path it goes down to her feet. " She explained before lowering her hand to lay in her lap.
"I...see" He nodded as traced the pattern himself with his hand before folding it behind his neck.
"I knew you would sooner or later. Good job, Swordsman," She teased, gaining only a grunt from the man.
There was a few more minutes of silence before Zoro glanced down and finally noticed the warmth on his shoulder that came from the brown-haired head leaning against it, or more so on top of it. He caught the smell of her vanilla cinnamon shampoo that she had go a hold of before departure. He breathed it in and found it oddly...appeasing and pleasant. To him it fit her perfectly. She wasn't the flowery girly type, yet she could be sweet and reassuring. Well, when she wasn't joking or yelling about something.
"Oi, Nicole" Zoro said getting no reply. "Nicole? Are you asleep?" He tried again knowing the answer to his question. She had fallen asleep, and when she was asleep there was no waking her up. If they were ever under attack while she was sleeping, he was pretty sure that she would be screwed. This thought made him smirk. True he did have a knack for sleeping very often at different times of the day, but he was sharp and nothing would even come close to getting him, Not even in his sleep.
Nicole may have looked comfortable in the position they were in, but Zoro was not. Her body was lying on top of his right arm and even though she was a good amount lighter than he was, his arm had began to go numb. He shifted under her weight as he struggled to find a comfortable spot and let out a frustrated growl before feeling Nicole move herself. This made him freeze. How could he have possibly woken this women up? He barely even moved! She may have normally been a morning person, but still if someone woke you up just after you had fallen asleep you'd be pissed.
She let out a grunt and inaudibly said, "not comfy" before sliding off of his shoulder/chest so her head was lying on top of his stretched out legs and in his lap. "better." She groaned out before falling silent and continuing her slumber. Zoro stayed frozen a few more seconds before relaxing his muscles and letting out his own breath that he had been holding in.
He kept his eyes on the dozing girl as she gripped the leg of his pants and nuzzled into the dark fabric. He was facing her back, but he could still feel the calm rise and fall of her chest resting on top of his lap. He couldn't help but form a smile as he found a similar one adorning her own while she let out an inaudible giggle. She looked...content. and he had decided a while ago that he liked her that way.
"Must be a good dream" He thought out loud before crossing his arms behind his head and closing his eyes to sleep as well.
"Oi, Nicole! Shanks! You're back!" a 7 year old Luffy called out as he ran towards the docks.
"Luffy!" The nine year old girl in shorts and a tank top exclaimed as she met the boy half way and slammed into an embrace.
"Ah, Luffy what have you been up to while we were gone?" The red-haired man said as he rustled the messy black hair on the kid's head and began to laugh. "I think you have gotten taller over the past few days I've been gone."
"You really think so? That is so awesome!" Luffy said excitedly, pumping his fists in the air.
"It is! You're going to have to be taller than that though if you're going to marry my daughter someday!" He teased the two as they looked at eachother, then back at the man in disgust.
"Ew, No way!" The kids said in unison making Shanks and the rest of his crew burst out in laughter.
"That is not funny daddy! Me and Luffy have a nakama and business relationship only!" Nicole assured and nodded her head as Luffy stepped forward with one of his fists in front of him.
"That's right! Nicole is going to help me become a famous pirate!" He said determined before Shanks walked in between the two and turned back around behind them with his arms spread out.
"Whatever you say, Luffy. Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for some booze!" The red-haired captain exclaimed, earning very loud cheers from the crew still on the docks.
"Oh, I'll have some too!" Luffy said and began walking to the bar before being picked up from the collar by Lucky Roo.
"I don't think so, kid. Pirates only!" He said as Luffy struggled to get out of his grasp.
"Then why don't I get to drink?" Nicole yelled with her fist in the air.
"No bean sprouts allowed." Benn chuckled as he patted the girl's head. "It might stunt you two's growth. I bet neither of you are even five feet"
"Plus, what kind of father would I be if I let my little girl drink? Just stick to juice, Luffy!" Shanks joked from in front of them as him and the rest of the crew began to walk to the tavern.
"Don't get into to much trouble kiddos. If you two are anything like my son Usopp you will be perfect angels!" Yasopp called out with a grin before Luffy was dropped and the rest of the crew faded inside of the bar.
"Dumb adults. Thinking I can't handle it." Luffy pouted as he stood and dusted off his pants. Nicole blinked and stared in front of her thoughtfully before a grin grew on her face and she started pulling Luffy towards the docks.
"Nicki~, Where are you pulling me to?" He whined behind her as she began pulling him faster.
"You want to drink like a real pirate, right Luffy?" Nicole said as her feet clunked against the wooden ramp that lead to the deck of Shank's ship.
"Of course I do!" He replied as the both plopped on the deck and made their way below deck. There were two more turns before they found themselves in front of a beat up chest the was placed far back into a corner.
Just as she finally released Luffy from her grasp Nicole made her way to a crowbar that was placed at the other side of the room and came back to stand beside Luffy. She nudged the bar in between the lock and chest and she pulled and tugged at it before the lock hit the floor and the chest was released from the rusty chains. She wist them away as fast as she could and when they where all in a pile on the floor she opened it to reveal three bottles of rum.
"This is dad's 'emergency booze'. No one is supposed to know about it but him, Yasopp, Becky, and Roo, But I overheard them talking one night a few years back and here we are!" Nicole giggled excitedly as Luffy's eyes began to sparkle.
"This is so cool! How much can we have?" He stared at her expectantly before she took a bottle from the chest and shut it. She dug her hand into her left pocket and pulled out a long, flip-out fishing knife. She stabbed the end of it into the cork and pulled back, leaving the bottle open and the contents free to their disposal.
"Since this is your first time drinking you can't have too much, but don't worry. The rest of the bottle will be saved for some other time." She said before taking a swig of the alcohol, wincing from the burning in her throat.
"You've drank this stuff before? I thought they said you weren't allowed?" Luffy said, now confused as Nicole began to giggle.
"I'm a pirate, Silly! Just because I am told not to do something doesn't mean that I am gonna listen!" She said mischievously before taking another swig and handing it out to the grinning boy. "Here, Luffy. Just take a little and drink it really fast. It's going to taste a little gross at first, but it will get better as you go. Go ahead." She instructed before he took it hesitantly.
"Okay, here I go!" Luffy said before placing the bottle to his lips and tipping it back. A look of distaste immediately grew on his face as he quickly gulped the rest of the remnants down. His eyes grew wide as he grabbed at his throat and began coughing. "I-it's burning!" He squeaked out as Nicole fell on the floor laughing.
"It's supposed to, Luffy! I told you not to drink too much!" Nicole finally spoke as her laughing fit died down. She picked herself and dusted off her knees as Luffy's mouth turned into an 'o' shape. "Well, are you okay now?"
"Of course!" He grinned before taking a more conservative gulp of the drink, this time only wincing and coughing twice. "You see! Men like me can drink no problem!"
"That's right! And now you can be like a real pirate! Just don't tell Daddy though, I still don't wanna get in trouble." Nicole lectured as a goofy grin grew on her 7 year old friends face.
"Okay, Nicole! I promise!"
"Good! Now lets go find a hiding place for this so we can go say hi to Makino. She promised me that she would braid my hair when we got back!" Nicole said before running out of the room, Luffy following behind.
"Maybe we can find a place in the woods!" He suggested as they climbed back on deck and found a dark green cover to wrap around the bottle.
"Good idea, Lets go then!" She said before the two jumped off the boat and began racing to the edge of town to hide their treasure.
[A/N] Did I really just do that? Yes, I think I did! You have no clue what I am talking about, do you?
Well, I pretty much just wrote this chapter ONE- HANDED! Holy shit! I really wasn't planning on doing this, but I was bored out of my mind and really didn't want to do Spanish homework. I have just been reading all week but leaving this chapter unfinished was irking me. It was really fun to write that flashback! It was kind of an extra add on so i hope you all liked it.:)
Thank you Piacine, Karasu-archer, SkittlesKat, and RaucousDragon for your reviews! My arm is getting better and I appreciate your concerns and good wishes:) And I thank the others who favorited and subscribed to my story as well:) R&R people!
Now here is a IMPORTANT question for all readers:
For the future chapters should I go into all of the parts? like buggy for instance and how they met Sanji, Usopp, and Nami before they go to the grand line? Because I was thinking I could just skip to them going into the grand line instead of going through everything in know what I mean, right? I really can't make up my mind so I thought I would ask you readers! Please review or PM me and let me know!:) Oh, and if i do go through the entire thing, I will probanly make up a few things and be creative so it's not entirely like the anime and it's funner for you to read! Okay, I'm done ranting:)