Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
AN: AU, pardon OOC tendencies, longer note at the bottom.
The cafeteria was decorated with the same cheesy sentiment as the hallways, a vomit of hearts and glitter. Even the lunch ladies took part in the celebration by cutting almost everything into a heart shape.
Zoro grimaced as he was handed a heart shaped pizza with heart shaped pepperoni, while the lunch ladies giggled like school girls. They even went as far as giving out a piece of chocolate to every male student. Zoro sat down on the edge of the table, tossing the chocolate into Luffy's mouth.
"Thanks!" He said with a wide grin.
Zoro smirked. He could see Chopper's hand twitching. It wasn't too long before the sugar rush kicks in.
"Oh by the way" he placed the boxes of chocolates he got on the table "Anyone want these?"
"Tsk tsk Zoro" Nami said, eyeing the pile "Did you even try them before giving them away?"
"I don't like sweets" he said, taking a bite out of his pizza.
"Don't fret, my mellorine" Sanji cooed, twirling around her "That uncultured marimo doesn't even know the value of Valentine's chocolates!"
"Neither do you ero-cook" he spat out.
They glared at each other.
"You know Zoro" Franky said, with a shrug "You really should have one before you decide to give them away."
Zoro frowned at him. Franky had also received his fare share of chocolate.
"That's what I do" he quickly added.
Luffy looked at Zoro eagerly "Try one, then I'll go eat the rest."
Zoro punched him lightly "Share with Chopper." And so he took one from each box, before handing it off to his friends. They were all too sweet. But he was content to see that Tashigi and Conis had seen him sampling their boxes before they left the cafeteria. At least that made them happy, in a way.
There was still some time left for lunch when she came.
"I'm glad I caught you guys" she said, panting a bit.
"Don't worry, we understand Ms Student Council Vice President" Nami said with a grin.
"Oh don't remind me" Robin said her brows furrowed as she searched through her bag "So many things to do for the upcoming dance. Aha!" she took out several bags of chocolate "Happy Valentine's day" she said with a wide smile.
When Sanji gave every girl he saw a box of chocolate, it was because he loved all women. The same reason that Robin was handing out neat bags filled with homemade chocolates for her friends, because she loved them all.
Zoro watched her hand them out to Luffy (who ate it in one bite, with much appreciation), Sanji (who proceeded to shower her with glorious praise), to Chopper (who's bag was bigger than the rest, while the young boy stammered a bashful thanks and called her a jerk), to Franky (who refused to admit that he was crying in appreciation), to Brook (who asked her to show him her panties, a request she successfully ignored) and to Usopp (who merely smiled back, an amicable friendship and understanding between them). Nami had hit Brook in the head, scolding him for his indecency, while Luffy was trying to convince Chopper to give him more of his chocolate.
Finally, she reached Zoro, smiling her quiet smile.
"Here you go Kenshi-san" She said, handing him a bag of chocolates similar to the others.
"Thanks" he said, accepting them, letting his hand brush her delicate fingers.
Suddenly, she took his hand, with the palm facing up. She felt at the calluses, her face unreadable except for the downward quirk of her lips. "You've been working yourself too much, Kenshi-san" she said quietly.
He gave himself the pleasure of felling her fingers drag along his palm, tracing lines over his fingers. Her hands were soft, delicate, and he love the feel of them.
"You know I work with swords, woman" he said, looking up at her. Her eyes were transfixed on his palm, as if trying to slough off the calluses "I need the friction for the grip."
She shook her head, her black hair bouncing slightly "Doesn't mean that you should go around with such rough hands. It might chafe and bleed and make it harder for you to handle your swords." She smiled at him, a bright one that reached her eyes, a genuine smile.
He closed his hand on hers, giving it a tiny squeeze. She squeezed back, cocking her head to the side, smiling wider. He smiled back. He wanted to tell her, then and there, like all the times they've been in a position that made his heart swell. It wouldn't be hard, because even with the noise and ruckus around them, it still felt like they were alone. The sounds muffled and distant.
She patted his hand gently, keeping that smile on her face.
"Robin-" He started.
"Nico-ya" But he never finished. She let go of his hand, and turned, and there was Law. He was flanked by his friends, who were roughhousing and sharing a box of chocolate that was undoubtedly given to Law by another of his misguided fan girls.
Zoro watched as she went to him, her hair swaying as she went. He could see Law smile, and then place a hand on her head. He was taller than her, and Zoro could see his face, his smile curving higher as she talked to him. Zoro wanted to punch him, and he looked like it too. But Law's eyes were only set on her.
She ran back to their table, and grabbed her bag, giving everyone a quick good-bye, much to their dismay.
"Oi!" Luffy suddenly said "Traffy!"
"Mugiwara-ya" the older teen said, giving him a curt nod, as he approached Luffy.
"Robin gave us chocolates!" He said enthusiastically.
"Yeah!" Chopper enthused, keeping his bag away from Luffy.
"And they're really good" Usopp said, between a mouthful of his share. He was saving some, Zoro noticed, and he knew that their long nose friend wanted to share it with Kaya. The only other girl who had given him chocolates that day. He didn't mind though, it was a huge box.
Robin searched through her bag, producing a red rectangular box. "Here" she said, smiling up at him. He was taller than her, and Zoro hated that he was shorter than her.
He smiled, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, while his other hand accepted her gift. He didn't say anything, just kissed the top of her head, earning a couple of wolf whistles from Franky, Brook, Nami and Usopp. Chopper was hiding behind a blush and starry eyed, as the two people he admired the most coupled up.
A hint of a blush crept up Robin's face, subtle, and almost non-existent.
Sanji felt the world shatter around him, and was not afraid to say it. "Idiot" Zoro muttered under his breath.
Law looked at his watch, and Robin saw him do this. With a silent nod, he left to go to his friends, giving everyone a wave good bye. The excitable Luffy waved back enthusiastically.
"Well time to get going" Robin said, giving Nami and Chopper a quick hug. "Don't want to be late for class, we're dissecting a chicken today. "
Usopp shuddered, "You're really creepy Robin!"
She giggled, patting Usopp in the head "Soon enough" she said "We'll be doing that to unclaimed cadavers from the morgue." It sent the young man into a cold sweat.
"Bye Kenshi-san" she said, smiling at him, giving him a quick hug.
He grunted, taking a swig of his soda.
"Hope you like the chocolate." She said, before giving the rest of the group her good bye. She jogged up to Law, who was still holding the box of chocolate, fending off his friends from grabbing it. They held hands when they walked out. Law was a swordsman too, those hands would be callused too. And he was taller than her.
Zoro returned his attention to his friends. Unlike their group, his group was content in running down the hall as soon as the bell rings. Franky, Brook and Usopp seemed to be conspiring some new invention, while Luffy was still chasing Chopper for his bag of chocolates. Sanji twirled around Nami, praising her and inflating her already huge ego, while she merely let him, sporting a smug grin with each of his compliments.
Before she was accelerated, Robin would be sitting beside him. Quiet, like himself, watching the chaos before them. She would be smiling at him, making comments about everyone's interactions. Sanji would approach them at one point, before focusing his intent on Nami again, after receiving a swift kick from Zoro. Robin would lightly touch his arm, point out the time and that they would soon be late. And he would smile back, lean back on his chair, and assure her that they never would be.
But he sat alone, at the edge of the table with only a bag of chocolates. Never being late. Just standing up as soon as the bell rings, always getting in just before the echoing sound stops. He opened his bag of chocolates, popping one his mouth. He was never fond of sweets, but she always made a special batch for him. Bittersweet, with a hint of sake.
The bell starts ringing, signaling the end of lunch, and they were off.
Done! That is the final chapter for this story!
Wow it is now 1:51 am and I need to do go to bed . That was a long write, and a great exercise for me. I hope it kept you readers entertained! I am sorry about the Zorobin fans who came here expecting Zorobin. I had planned it to be a Lawbin ending every since I conceptualized it. However, I did say I'll post an alternate ending, so I will do that tomorrow.
I'm a big Zorobin and Lawbin fan, but the lack of Lawbin kind of got to me so this ended up being a Lawbin fic.
I hope you guys enjoyed it, and thank you so much for the reads and reviews!
Oh and White Day companion fic! I'll be starting on that after I finish my other fic, so that should come out sometime in February. Now time for sleep! Good night! :)