Chapter five: Wanda's secrets
She walked out on the deck and stretched yawning loudly. It was still early in the morning and she didn't expect anyone to be out yet, so she didn't have to watch her manners. Wanda touched the eye patch chopper gave her and smiled. *I must look really tough with it.* she thought suddenly striking body builder's pose.
"What the hell are you doing?" the rough voice made her trip over and fall. Wanda blinked and looked up realising that a certain marimo was watching her the whole time. She let out a sigh and sat up running her fingers through her hair.
"I didn't think anyone was up yet." She said as she looked away from him. Zoro didn't move an inch, nor did he look away from her. From where he was sitting he had a full view of her posture. He looked at her, studying her every feature, trying to grasp even a single change in her movements.
"I've slept here." He replied just as roughly as before. Wanda smiled lightly and looked down at the wooden deck. His rough voice reminded her of someone. Sad memories flooded her mind as she continued to stare at the deck.
*What did you do at Chopper's at night?* Zoro wanted to ask but he resisted. The sun was setting quickly and the first rays of light fell on her pale face. She looked porcelain, when she didn't move and just looked ahead of her, somewhere into the distance of the horizon. Zoro yawned. She was a pretty girl, but she was strange. Her actions didn't make sense and her being seemed to be wrapped with way too much unknown. Zoro didn't like not knowing; especially if it involved danger to people he cared for.
"Why are you here?" he asked getting straight to the point. Wanda wasn't surprised, that question was meant to pop up sooner or later.
"Because I want to travel." She replied with a smile.
"Fake." The man said.
She sent him a questioning look.
"Your smile is fake." He explained closing his eyes. Wanda chuckled and looked at him with another smile on her face. Zoro opened one eye feeling his breath stuck in his throat. There was something very different in her face. That smile she showed him...he could tell it was real. Full of sadness, full of pain and wish for happiness, it was full of mixed emotion some of which he could not read. His heartbeat sped up making his eye twitch. *What the...?* he thought clenching his fists. *What the hell is going on with me?*
"Is this the smile you wanted to see?" she asked and continued not waiting for his reply. "I doubt that's what people want to see, besides, even if something is wrong it's better now to show it to others. Most of the people just don't care and some are even happy that there's something wrong with you." she said; her eyes finally left the man and travelled to the ocean. She stood up and walked to the side of the ship and leaned over.
"No one on this ship would be happy that there is something wrong with anyone. The least they would do is help." Zoro stated lazily, making her smile.
"I know that." she looked at him. "I've realised since I've met the straw hat pirates. You guys are nothing like what people say about you."
"People like to talk."
"Indeed."
Silence fell between them. The door into the quarters opened and a yawning Sanji walked out. He stretched and looked at the two people on the deck.
"Wanda-chan!" he floated towards her eradiating admiration. "You look so beautiful today."
"Oi, damn cook, make something to eat already!" Zoro barked staring at Sanji who sent him a glare. The blonde flipped his hair and turned away, choosing to ignore the swordsman. "Hey, are you ignoring me?" Zoro yelled jumping up from his place.
"Shut it marimo. The morning started so beautifully but you just had to ruin it with your always grumpy mug!"
Wanda watched them wide eyed, as always she couldn't help but laugh. She laughed loudly and heartedly causing the two men to stop fighting and look at her.
"You two..." she wiped her tears away. "Are you by any chance together?" she questioned with serious look on her face. The two men froze. Sanji's cigarette fell out of his mouth and onto Zoro's chest. The green haired man didn't seem to notice. He was in such a shock he couldn't move. The entire colour left Zoro's face. He wanted to yell at the stupid woman but he couldn't seem to find his voice. A scent of burning cloth reached his nose which made his look down.
"You are on fire!" Sanji yelled as he started smacking Zoro's chest quickly putting it out; Zoro collapsed on the deck causing the blonde to land on top of him in the most inappropriate position. Wanda watched them in amusement. She held her hand to her nose, feeling that any minute it was about to bleed.
"I just want you to know," she started, "That I support you all the way." With that she turned around and ran inside the quarters leaving the two men alone. Sanji's eyebrow twitched.
"Get off me already." Zoro pushed the blonde off roughly and sat up rubbing his temples.
"Wanda-chan..." Sanji held out his arm as if trying to get her back. "It's not what you think..."
"Who cares what she thinks?" Zoro exclaimed in annoyance, when a loud crash reached their ears.
"What the...that noise came from the kitchen!" both men quickly ran into the direction of the noise. When the door into the kitchen opened they stopped in their tracks. Their jaws dropped at the sight of two people. Luffy was leaning on the kitchen table where Sanji already put out ingredients for breakfast; the look of confusion on his face as he looked at the ones who entered was obvious. The other person was kneeling down holding onto Luffy's shirt with head in the area of his zipper. Wanda slowly looked up then around at Sanji and Zoro whose expressions were priceless. "Are you okay?" Luffy asked as he quickly helped her up and smiled widely. Wanda nodded.
"Thank you." she smiled back turning her gaze back at the two men, who didn't move an inch since they've entered.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Luffy asked furrowing his eyebrows.
"YOU ARE ASKING US?" the two yelled in union.
Wanda held her hand on her cheek and smiled looking at Zoro and Sanji. "HEY YOU!" Zoro yelled pointing his finger at her. "STOP GETTING WEIRD IDEAS!" he marched to the girl and grabbed her arm. He walked to the door dragging her along. He held her arm toughly causing it to bruise, but Wanda didn't mind.
"YOU!" Sanji yelled. "ANIMAL!" he quickly ran after the marimo head, just to be stopped by Luffy.
"Sanji!"
"What?" he barked back, all his attention glued to the couple.
"MEAT!"
***
Zoro dragged her across the deck, to the furthest corner from the kitchen. He stopped and released her arm, noticing a large bruise quickly forming on her flesh. He rubbed the back of his head feeling guilty, but he wasn't about to apologize. He looked at the girl trying to find the right words. He sighed heavily, deciding to just go with the flow.
"Stop getting weird ideas about me and that damn cook." He said. His voice seemed rougher than usual, even though he didn't mean it to be. Wanda kept quiet wondering if he had anything else to else. "There's nothing between us and for your information I'm "normal"." He added. Wanda nodded understandingly.
"It's okay." She placed her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head. "You don't have to admit it. Just know that I support you all the way."
"Damn woman!" Zoro hissed under his breath. "How can I get it through to you?" he grabbed both of her arms and pulled her closer bringing his face closer to her. Zoro crashed his lips onto her own parted ones, pulling her into a rough kiss. His lips were slightly dry and tasted salty with hints of sake from previous night. He traced her lips with his tongue demanding for an opening. Wanda didn't move an inch; she stood frozen and dumbstruck with her eye wide open when she felt his tongue forcefully parting her lips. His grip tightened on her shoulders as he brought her even closer, allowing their chests to touch. Wanda blinked in realisation. Zoro's tongue quickly roamed her mouth, savouring the taste; she tasted surprisingly sweet. He wasn't a fan of sweets things but somehow he liked it on her. She clenched her hands digging her nails into the skin. Her eye twitched when his hand travelled down her back and lower.
*What the hell?* she yelled in her head breaking the kiss and punching the man square in the face. "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" she yelled at the green haired man. Zoro sat up holding onto his cheek. *Damn, her punch is good.* he thought as he rubbed the traumatized area. His eyes travelled back to the girl. Her eyes were narrowed as she waited for an answer. Zoro shrugged and crossed his arms on his chest. "It's rather low cheating on your lover." She said shaking her head in disappointment. Zoro's eyes widened in shock; was she still at it? He sighed heavily, smacking his forehead.
"Whatever." He said in defeat. Wanda turned away from him and took a couple of steps in opposite direction. Zoro could see her back shivering slightly; Wanda raised her arm brought it closer to her face. She traced her fingertips over lips still feeling the lingering sensation from the kiss. Her eye, full of emptiness, stared at the deck as she closed her eyes. She tilted her head to a side.
*What is she thinking?* Zoro thought still feeling the sensation of holding her close to him. He raised his eyebrow at his own stupidity. He understood the reason he kissed her, yet the reason he wanted her closer to him – he couldn't get through his head. *It must be because I haven't been with a woman for a while...* he thought his eyes never leaving the girl. Wanda sighed quietly running her fingers through her hair; it was a habit, every time she felt confused or stressed or even emotional, she wouldn't let it show, instead she'd run her fingers through her hair, wrapping it around them in process, pulling on it from time to time.
Zoro scanned her posture once again. He lost count of how many times he did it already; it seemed as if she got more fragile every time, but it must have been his imagination. Her thin arms, slim and flexible back, small waist, even though it wasn't visible under the baggy t-shirt she wore, long legs...everything about her made his hear tingle with desire to have it. It was wrong. *Shit. I need to find a woman.* he thought as he leaned back on wall. Wanda took a deep breath pulling on another smile of hers and turned around.
"So!" she exclaimed. "Shall we train or are you not up to it?" she questioned.
Zoro raised his eyebrows. "I'm always up to it. The question is; are you prepared to be beaten?" he retorted pushing himself away from the wall and placing a hand on his katanas. Wanda chuckled.
"Confident." She stated as she quickly tied her hair up. "Bring it on then."
***
Zoro lay on the deck in the darkness of the night; his eyes were closed but he wasn't asleep. He enjoyed the breeze that couldn't only be there during hot summer nights. Even thought the wind was caressing his skin, his t-shirt was drenched in sweat. His hands rested behind his head as he slowly recalled the events that happened during the day. Fighting with Wanda was more challenging than he expected. Even when she didn't use her devil fruit power, she was ridiculously strong, even when she couldn't hit him; she managed to dodge all his attacks. To Zoro men and women were equal when it came to duels; he learnt his lessons a long time ago during his childhood and he would never forget it. He let out a low whistle when he heard familiar footsteps quickly making their way in his direction. He didn't need to look; he knew it was her. Her pace slowed down as she slowly approached him. Just like the previous night, she stopped beside him and waited for a couple of minutes. She turned around and made her way into the infirmary. Zoro opened one eye; he could see Chopper quickly closing the door; the sound of the door locking reached his ears. Zoro sat up; the feeling of annoyance was quickly spreading throughout him. *Why the hell did she go there again?* he questioned in his mind, to which he also quickly replied *what do I care?*. Nevertheless, he stood up, leaving his katanas lying on the floor. He quickly but quietly approached the door which separated him from the girl with a bandaged eye and a reindeer with a blue nose. *I feel like damn woman.* he thought feeling more annoyed with himself as he leaned closer to the door trying to hear what was happening inside. He could hear quiet whimpers and the sounds of someone quickly walking around the room. He furrowed his eyebrows. There was a quiet whisper, yet he couldn't hear it, and in an instant a painful cry reached his ears.