-Sense-
Zoro walked into the apartment, making note that the door had been left unlocked and slightly ajar again. The day Luffy made sure the two of them were safe and secure in a neighborhood where crime was a serious issue would be the day hell froze over. He huffed, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he took several steps in, listening to the sound of the television blasting noises. He turned and stared at the group huddled on the furniture, talking to one another and not paying attention to whatever was on. Sanji was there. Zoro looked away and wondered whether he could pass the group without catching too much attention.
"Hey Zoro!" Luffy said, looking over and giving a wave.
Zoro stopped and silently sighed, turning to Luffy and forcing a smile. Both Usopp and Sanji were now staring at him, he was sure of it.
"You left the door open."
Luffy looked over at the door and laughed. "You've been gone for a while," he said, smiling at his roommate. The young man looked up at the small clock that hung on the wall, producing a huge smile on his face once he saw the time. "Six hours," he said gleefully.
"That long?" Zoro asked. He frowned and walked into the living room.
"It's twelve-twenty," Luffy said.
"What are you two talking about?" Sanji asked.
"Zoro likes to run," Usopp said, still staring at the television. "It keeps him in shape." Usopp crossed his arms and smirked rather proudly. "Unlike me, Zoro needs to work to keep his figure!"
Sanji's visible eye went wide. He looked up and Zoro, his face containing a look of modest surprise.
"You ran for six hours?" he asked. A small smirk appeared on his face.
Zoro felt his chest tighten. It didn't help he already felt hot from all the running he had done, and now he could feel his face warm up from the sudden eye contact. It had been a week so far, and even after all this time Zoro found it difficult to talk straight with the blond in front of others without getting nervous.
"Well, you see…" Zoro said shakily, slowly moving his gaze away from the blonde. "I was…"
"Zoro got lost," Luffy laughed. "That's why he was gone for so long!"
Sanji looked bewildered. "What?" he asked. That impressive smirk disappeared. Zoro could feel his chest lighten with a bit of ease.
"Zoro's has a lousy sense of direction," Usopp said, shrugging casually at Sanji's confusion. "He's never been able to just go somewhere. He has to get lost first." Usopp grinned at Sanji, "it takes him about an average of two extra hours to get to "point B"."
"but, he lives here..." Sanji said, more confused after hearing Usopp's explanation.
"Whatever," Zoro muttered, walking past the group.
"Where are you going?" he heard Sanji asked. Zoro rolled his eyes.
"Shower," he answered quickly.
He hurried into his and Luffy's room and grabbed himself some clean clothes. Zoro pouted, feeling confused and angry for nor apparent reason, other than the fact that Sanji was in his apartment. But Luffy liked him, and Nami was busy doing her own thing with other friends, and Vivi and Kohza were couple. Zoro knew the mature thing to do was to ignore Sanji and act as though nothing was going on. After all: it was Zoro who said that "nothing had happened".
But Sanji! Damn it if the blond wasn't just a little persistent. During the past week Sanji had tried to start conversations with Zoro. It wasn't too suspicious, at first; but then the topic would usually end up with Sanji asking Zoro about his relationship with Mihawk. Zoro was always sure to end the conversations then, but Sanji would eventually bring it up later. And the way Sanji went about it: always being polite, also made it difficult for Zoro to find reason to hate him for it. Sanji would ask, but wouldn't try to force an answer out. There were other small things as well. He'd give looks, would try to be overtly friendly, or would purposely find something to argue over with Zoro. The worst was when Sanji tried to make physical contact. Although he didn't understand it, and though he certainly didn't seem to care about trying to understand it, Sanji knew Zoro's senses were sensitive, and his reaction to touch was stronger than anyone else's, and he would use that against him. Sanji knew Zoro liked the color, and that the color brought back those memories. And what could Zoro do? He couldn't get angry at someone for bumping into him, or "accidentally" brushing against him…
Zoro wasn't going to lie though: a part of him did enjoy the attention. With Mihawk gone, it was nice to know someone was doting over him. And unlike Mihawk, Sanji wasn't afraid to show that he enjoyed it. And there was the energy. Sanji had so much of it. He was young, quick, and so eager to get in his way to show it. His fingers would glide down his bare skin and tease him. His mind would instantaneously go back to that night, where he first discovered Sanji's particular shade. His body would grow hot, and his mind would desperately remind him that Mihawk hadn't made too much of a big deal over Sanji.
But it was still wrong.
So why did Sanji think this was alright? Sanji knew nothing about his relationship, so why did he think it was ok to try to flirt with him? Was there something Sanji knew that Zoro didn't? Or was the blond just being an ass? Zoro went ahead and chose the later.
Zoro walked into the bathroom, closed the door and promptly turned on the water. Just as Zoro was about to remove his sweaty clothes, there was a loud knock on the door.
"What?" Zoro yelled at the door.
"Zoro." It was Luffy.
Zoro walked over to the door and opened it, peeking through the crack. "What is it?" he asked.
"Your phone went off while you were gone," Luffy said with a straight face. His dark eyes stared longingly at Zoro. "I think it may have been Mihawk."
Zoro's eyes widened with surprise. He hadn't thought to look at his phone when he had returned. Zoro had been too preoccupied with other things that he'd forgotten to check.
"Really?" he asked.
"Do you want me to get it for you?" Luffy asked in a somewhat concerned voice.
Zoro shook his head. He didn't want Luffy to think that he was worrying over Mihawk too much. Luffy already knew that Mihawk had left. Zoro hadn't gone into full detail as to why, only specifying that it would be a while till he saw the man again, and that he had everything under control. Zoro knew Luffy was worried. He knew Luffy wanted to know the whole story, and that he already had some suspicions as well.
"I'll look at it later," Zoro said, trying to sound as uninterested as he could.
Luffy gave a single nod and walked back o the living room. Zoro could make out Sanji and Usopp's voice, though just barely. He thought about the blonde for a brief second, but then reminded himself that he just may have a message from Mihawk. Perhaps he'd finally get some clue as to when he'd come back. If not, then at least he knew he was alright. Zoro hated waiting. He hated not knowing what was going on, or what was going to happen.
Why did Mihawk have to be so secretive? Why?
Zoro jumped into the shower, only letting the hot water run over his tried body for a few moments before quickly moving on to clean himself up. He scrubbed himself raw, and gave no time for air drying and relaxing, and was finished within fifteen minutes. Zoro was eager to see what message he had, if he had any at all. But he knew it had to have been Mihawk. Who else would have called him? No one.
He wrapped himself up in his towel and hurried into his room, reaching for his phone to see who had in fact called him. A grin appeared on his face when the name appeared on his missed called list. It was Mihawk.
He normally wouldn't have been so giddy, but he was just so eager to hear from the man. Though at the very same time he was upset, a bit nervous that he had missed out on his call.
"He left a message," Zoro noticed the top corner of his phone indicated that there was a voicemail waiting for him. He let both of his hands over the device as he stared at the screen for several long seconds.
What was so important that Mihawk decided to leave a message?
Zoro brought the phone to his ear and took a deep breath, unsure and uneasy about the news he was strangely eager to receive.
"Roronoa?"
Zoro felt a tug from his lip.
"You're obviously busy at the moment. Shanks will be over on Friday at three in the afternoon. Call him if you cannot make it."
What?
"I know this message is anything but reassuring, but try to make the most of it. Don't get upset."
Zoro couldn't help but give a bitter smirk. He even produced a small chuckle. It was hilarious. Mihawk knew exactly how upset he would be. But how could he not be upset? This was bull. Nothing. Again. After how many days now?
"I'll try calling again. Keep your phone with you when you leave."
The message ended. Zoro felt his arms fall to his sides. It was getting hot; it had to be close to eighty degrees. He was getting sweaty again. Tired again.
"Zoro?"
"What?" His voice sounded like gravel.
He felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
"What is it, Luffy?"
"Do you want to go out today?"
He frowned at the phone and then tossed it, landing safely on his bed.
"I'm really not in the mood."
"…I'm sorry," Luffy said.
"It's not your fault," Zoro said. He pulled himself away from his friend and sat down on the bunk. "I'm just really frustrated."
Luffy stared at him with an all too serious expression. He hated it.
"I know what you want to tell me," Zoro said.
"Right."
"Not today," he said. He grabbed a pair of pants lying on the floor and proceeded to put them on. "I really am not in the mood…really not in the mood."
"You're too good-"
"No," Zoro said. He pulled himself up and looked around for a shirt to wear.
"Are you sure you don't want to come along? Just to think of something else?"
Luffy had changed the subject. It was a wise move on his part. For that Zoro decided to think about it, just for a few moments. He didn't want to go out today. He was already tired, and after receiving such a vague, emotionless message from Mihawk he wanted nothing more than to wait for the days to go by, at least until Friday came along. At the very least, he'd wait for everyone to leave. He could call Shanks and figure out what the hell was going on, assuming the man would be kind enough to provide him with the information he so desperately wanted. He knew an outing would not help him. All he could think about was Mihawk. It pissed him off. It really pissed him off.
"Is Sanji going?"
"Damn, the fish here is cheap!" Kohza said with a laugh. He turned to Vivi and pointed at the rows of fish that aligned the stand. "Look, he's staring right at us!"
Zoro gave a quick look down at the rows of dead fish. He never hung around this part of the marina, mostly because he couldn't stand the smell, but also because of the noise and crowds. Only tourists would find dead fish on ice interesting and worth looking at.
"Yeah, but the bigger cities dump more in the oceans," Sanji muttered. "I wouldn't serve this guy at the table." He looked over at the merchant who was glaring up at his and quickly lowered his gaze.
"Sanji…don't ruin the trip to the beach," Nami groaned.
"What?" Sanji pouted.
"Just cause the foods bad doesn't mean the beach is bad," Kohza said.
"And the food isn't bad at all!" Luffy said. He turned to Zoro and smiled. "Me and Zoro love the fish here."
"Sanji's a master chef," Vivi said suddenly. "He probably just being picky." She wrapped her arm around Nami and looked to Sanji, "weren't you?"
"Of course, Vivi!" Sanji answered sweetly. His voice was like syrup to Zoro's ears. Thick and disgusting overpowering with high fructose bullcrap.
"Is that a lighthouse?" Kohza asked.
"Oh, yeah," Luffy answered.
"How do you get to it?" he asked.
"I can show you."
"Really now?" Kohza looked to Vivi. The girl removed herself from Nami and went through her purse. Zoro watched as she continued to search through it, stopping and then telling her boyfriend that she had the phone.
He then turned his attention to the pier. He could see the light house to the left, a good twenty minutes away. The two would be gone for awhile. It would be quiet. How strange for Nami to invite a couple while on vacation. She hardly ever saw the two. Were it not for Sanji, who spent half his time with Luffy, Nami would have to have realized what a waste of money she had spent on gas.
"Zoro, are you alright?"
Zoro looked at Nami, who was now staring uneasily at him.
"You're spacing out."
"I was staring at the lighthouse." It was the truth.
"Come with me," she demanded. Her small hand gripped his and she pulled him away from the market.
"What about Sanji?" he asked. Luffy had taken the two love birds away, and Sanji was still busy criticizing the quality of the fish that was being sold.
He heard her laugh.
"He'll be fine. He's not like you."
"What?"
Nami continued to tug, and Zoro, knowing his place in the relationship, let her pull him until the two reach the docks. As they walked together he let his mind wander, his main focus on her hair and the curls that were forming at the very bottom. He always thought her hair came closest to her color. The curls seemed to add more to it. Curls bounced and were never straight. Nami was sort of like that. She never bent to anyone else.
"You're spacing out again," he heard her say.
He realized the two were now just a few rotting pieces of wood away from the ocean.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Excuse me?" he said.
She frowned at him. He noticed her hands were resting disapprovingly on her hips. Great.
"Something going on," she said. "You're not your usual self."
"What?"
"Did something happen when I was gone?" she shook her head. "You were so much more active. And you would respond quicker…"
Nami didn't know a thing, and he knew damn well he couldn't tell her. But Zoro knew he couldn't leave her completely in the dark.
"I'm busy with stuff," Zoro answered. "Please, do not get worried. I swear things will be normal by the end of the week."
"A week? Zoro, what is going on?"
"It's weird," Zoro said.
"…who is it?"
Zoro went blank. He was at a lost for words.
"Who's messing with you? A guy? A…girl?"
"You're giving me way too much credit," he lied.
"I don't know," she said. "It's hard to tell with you." Her small hands grabbed hold of Zoro's. "What are you seeing that I don't?"
Zoro didn't have to say a thing. He knew what Nami's feelings were about him. He kept secrets, he was always like that. She never cared before, but as soon as she learned that he was different she became more suspicious. A bias, she called it. She exclaimed that he was more prone to keep certain details from others, pick certain friends over others, based upon what colors his mind produced when he came into contact with them. She never cared about the numbers or names…but the colors produced by touch; that bothered her. what about the money, he wondered. Why was it ok for her to be greedy or selfish, but not him?
He wished he could tell her it wasn't true. But Zoro himself knew that he wasn't perfect, and if he had to compare Luffy's red with her…
"Relax," he sad reassuringly. He couldn't think of anything more to add.
Nami reclined on the wood fence. One of her hands gripped the thick rope that tied the poles of the fence together.
"Has it always been this boring?"
Zoro shrugged. "I take it things back east were more exciting?"
There was a long silence. The two listened to the sounds of seagulls taunting people to throw bits of leftovers at them. Zoro looked down at the murky water below. The sea water was a filthy, polluted dark green. It was full of garbage and sea debris. Sanji was right about the fish.
"Was the water always this gray?"
"It's green…and I guess blue," Zoro replied.
"Whatever," she said.
"Nami, try to act happy while you're here," Zoro said. "Your friends are having fun."
"Yeah, but Kohza and Vivi will be leaving soon. They have to visit their parents."
"Is Sanji going back too?"
Nami laughed. She looked at him and smirked. "Suddenly you care?"
"Maybe."
She crossed her arms. "I though you were with someone," she said.
"I already told you to not worry," Zoro said. "Besides, it hasn't stopped Sanji from trying to get to know me more." He huffed. "I'm doing him a favor."
Nami stared in disbelief. "That doesn't sound like him."
"Perhaps I've sparked some sort of flame?" he laughed. "Curly-brow wont give up."
"Yeah right!" she answered. She frowned and looked out into the direction she had last seen the blonde.
Zoro thought about Sanji. What kind of guy chased after someone who was already in a relationship? He could ask this over and over but never get a good enough answer, and now with him contemplating over whether or not he should oblige to Sanji's demands only made the possibility of finding an answer more unclear. With this in mind Zoro pulled out his phone and stared intently at the bright screen. He could call Shanks right now and Nami wouldn't now any better. Perhaps he could find out what Mihawk had in mind for the two of them. But then there was that huge, obvious chance that Shanks wouldn't provide him with anything, playing the exact same game as Mihawk, He's be just as ignorant as before, and expected to be fine with it.
He put the phone back in his pocket and began to walk back to the marina.
"Where are you going?" he heard Nami say from behind him.
"Going to find Sanji," he answered.
He was guaranteed Sanji would be gone by the end of summer. Whatever shenanigans he got into the blond would be done and over by then. And since Mihawk was far to busy with keeping secrets, then something like this wouldn't be a problem. He could have a secret of his own. For once.
Zoro didn't have to go far before spotting the blond. He was right next to the beach, with a cigarette in his hand. He leaned against a pole, staring anxiously at the huge crowds of families relaxing and playing in the sea water. He wondered whether the anxiety on Sanji's face was from being lost, or something else.
Blue: they never got nervous.
He walked up right as Sanji took a deep inhale from his stick. Zoro was careful not to rest his hand on any bare skin as he rested himself on his shoulder. He got his attention, and Sanji immediately turned to meet with him.
"Lets go."
"What?" Sanji asked.
Zoro smirked and him.
"Neither or us are dressed for the occasion, might as well find something else to busy ourselves with," he said.
Sanji continued to stare at him, trying to make out what was going on in his mind. Zoro made sure no skin contact was made. No surprises this time. He wanted to be control of what would happen.
"What's your game moss-head?"
"The same as yours."
Sanji chuckled. He dropped his cigarette and snuffed it out with his shoes.
"I don't get you," he answered. "But I'll play along for now." Sanji suddenly grabbed Zoro's hands and pulled it close to him. He playfully swung his arm, brining attention to those around them. They were...holding hands. At that moment Zoro felt his calm demeanor fade. He could feel his chest heat up.
"Understand I make no plans to be the 'other man'," Sanji said.
It was as if he knew. Sanji knew how he worked, knew that his mind would somehow find the very first memory of a particular color. It struck Zoro as odd, almost impossible. How could Sanji even guess how he worked when he didn't even know?
Zoro managed to force a smile on his face. Something like that…how was Sanji not a red?
"Smile all you want. I'm serious," Sanji said.
"We'll see," Zoro answered.
Uploading this was a pain. If you spot anything weird, please inform me.
Critique much appreciated.