Small warning:
I decided to tackle a topic that seems to be just constantly ignored or excused in media such as Anime/Manga of the Shonen genre. In particular if the so called 'hero' is the one expressing all the things that clearly wear the label of discrimination but is saved by fans because they are meant to be 'good' and it is just a 'joke'. It is not a joke for the young kids that watch this and don't know better but believe it is okay to look at woman only as their physical part, as if their personality does not matter. It is not a joke if somebody fear and disgust you because of who you are. If you keep preferring to pretend none of those issues are actually present in OP, please skip this.
This is just my 12 year old self expressing my own struggles when I have watched One Piece and always felt wrong for finding discomfort in characters that kept being described as 'gentlemans' or 'it is just a joke', while my heart just felt it was wrong. Even more that none of the characters suffering from those actions ever did anything against it. And I only understood that yes, something I like can still contain things that my heart considers harmful if the creator is not sharing my belief. Thus, the idea of indifference of characters hurtful emotional harassment is not a true representation of how people react to those distasteful discriminative statements but just ignorant descriptions and here is my trial to do some justice on it. A very light way to scratch a rather important matter.
Like This.
As they sailed over the grand line closer to their goal, the news of the world literally exploding crawls over them more and more. It is amazing that they have been so far pretty unfetched about it.
Granted to their captain's nature of seemingly holding no worry about any of the events and thus, forcing the navigator to guide them once again to one island located above them. Not as high as sky island as it turns out but floating above the ocean in a clouded manner, being accessed over long ropes hanging down and granting the impression of hanging cables brushing over the ocean surface. Thereby, offering anchoring options for ships. Further, along those straps metal podium were able to flip out and act as elevating platforms, transporting the visitors up to the floating island.
The strawhats invested one day on the island to fill up their storage, while the other half coordinated their next goal as well as assuring the sunny's general state. As the night looms over the ship, almost the entire crew decided to go back up for dwelling for some nightlife events. Chopper willingly accepted the sole position of protection on their ship, after forcing a transponder snail into the swordsman band with pleading eyes to safe him if he calls, just to be grinned at.
And when Zoro told him that he is strong enough to probably manage all by himself, but he would be willing to come by and watch, the little reindeer blushed in delight and felt overly motivated to stay behind.
Whilst the rest of them decided to look for a restaurant and more importantly for the navigator and swordsman a proper bar.
"This mechanism is really intriguing.", Usopp muffles while inspecting the elevator's string with Franky. Nami smiles at their fascination, but her ear catches the words of the archaeologist, who is standing over the railing with Zoro watching the distance grow and waving down to Chopper.
"They are pretty famous for their sake.", Robin says in a smile and Zoro grins bright at her. "That's what I wanted to hear."
It has been just a couple of days since they embarked from the floating market. Days in which Nami has finally grew more attentive to the dynamics of the two ahead. She found them laughing together in the early hours over a coffee - just as Usopp mentioned it.
She encounters them more often in the library reading or playing chess. Just dwelling in their own tranquil atmosphere, that Nami was exposed to whenever she entered this so tangible flavour in the air they created, which seemed to burst any time she invades it. Her presence shifted the scent of the air, taking away the chance for her to just join and reside herself in this so comforting space. However, Nami's perception grasps the true nature of their connection, platonic love. Deep, loyal but fully non-romantic. Barely, she has ever witnessed a more caring display of love that looked like their gender really holds no value in the way their hearts have intertwined for each other.
An internal calmness washes over Nami's heart, granting her to adore this bond any time her eyes catch it. If it is the small laughs on ther dinner or lunch table, the little motions of care they presented to each other in form of Robin assuring a full water bottle to be at the swordsman's side at any given time, while he never ones fails to collect and restore her books wherever she leaves them, assuring to remember the page she has left the little treasure of hers.
Withal Nami could not deny the growing awareness of the discrepancy of Zoro's physical responses towards her and Robin.
Whilst Robin's action seem to be allowed to any extend she desired, including random hugs or leaning over his back when he is involved in a game of chess on the lawn with Jinbei.
On the other hand, whenever Nami lays a similar approach, she is met with instant retrieval upon tensing of even the smallest of her touches. As if she is causing him a discomfort.
How dare he?
They have been the longest together and she deserves to have all the freedom Robin has over him. At least.
Well, that was her primary thought, which altered along her comphrension of what those difference might incline. That their mighty swordsman might actually not hold the same platonic love towards his long-term nakama but something else... something that might resemble what her own body feels, whenever she does touch him, does succeed and holding with him.
A burning thunder. That is what he needs.
She steps forward closer to the two and in quick motion leaned also over the railing right in front of Zoro, her arm resting in a slight brush sidewise against his chest.
Zoro raises a brow and looks over to Robin, who chuckles. This has been happening over and over again. This navigator kept invading his personal space. Not just space but also time. She would show up at the crow nest and asking for training advice. Recently, she even stayed and performed the tasks he would advice her. Including meditations to bide their sense of the external with their internal perception of the world. At first, he doubted her presence will conflict his own abilities to calm his nerves, but the more common her being became, the less it took him to remove his consciousness of her company. In the morning coffee session with Robin, he even admitted to her how Nami's omnipresence has grown from a sting to a warm coat, he even commence to look forward to.
One confession, he only spoke out in the safety of Robin's empathetic heart.
He didn't even mind, when she kept to persistently to command him helping her with the most random tasks, most relating to her mikans by basically replacing the ladder – which was fully functionally lying in their storage room -, she would sit at every meal on his side, even though he believes that had been already the case before hand, but now he did notice her presence even more.
Zoro knows why. He always had been aware of how his blood flew with more velocity when her touches crossed his skin. But before, those instances were rare enough, for him to keep himself in check.
Then. Now things were different. Her slender fingers would always find his skin. Every change, their overly growing proximity offered, he would find her fingers on his arm, on his chest, his ear and – worst of all – his neck. As if that was not enough, also the way she would talk with him changed. The teasing felt less like something that meant to invite him into a fight but actually… flirting.
Yeah, that was the only word he could come up with, which Robin just approved once he had shared all the ways Nami has been talking with him. Even with Robin present.
It was nerve wrecking. Was it a game to her?
His eye watches Nami catching the heights they have reached, her body shrieking in fear, he puts his hand over her elbow, that slightly quivers against his chest.
"Quite a view, right?", he mocks – totally intending to enjoy her visible distress. At some point she has to endure the consequences of her actions.
"Hm.", she tries to regain her bravery or at least the reason she has exposed herself to this danger and his hand on her elbow helped. Her head maneuvering back to him, finding the grin he just held disappearing. The joy of her uneasiness perishes when his eye falls on her face and how his simple act has radiated complete safety into her. His own power over her fully presented to him. She wants to say something, counter it but she feels the elevation stop.
Zoro releases his grip and they walk onto the island behind the others, even Robin has walked off from him. Nami's fingers slither onto his band.
"Oi!", he directs his exclamation to her just to be confronted to her grinning face.
"Don't want you to get lost."
"I am walking with all of you!", he tries to defend himself, yet her hand not losing its grip.
"True, but you have incredible skills when it comes to finding ways where there are none."
He grunts. "It is always more aimable to create your own path than walking the ones of other."
"And yet, you want to become the strongest swordsman."
She said it before she realises it implications. Her hand flying over her mouth and her eyes catch his. Stoically lying on her. He doesn't say anything, it just lingers on her.
The intensity burns right into her stomach. She wants to apologise for basically de-evaluating his entire life goal, but the moment her hand slips down, he smiles.
His lips lift and his entire face radiates warmth. "You are right.", his voice barely reaches her over her own racing heartbeat.
"But that's why I have you."
Thud.
And he turns.
He just turns away from her.
Moves back, pulls her.
"You…", she tightens her hand around the band and with one harsh drag, she aims for him to just curve back at her. Not calculating that this might have been too much power for his moving body to handle.
Hence, his body did turn but at the same time falls right onto her. Her eyes widen as the realisaiton of her actions hit her and her mind already awaiting the hit on the floor just to be once more surprised by the swordsman, who actually just in time finds his stand, his hand on her waist, saving her from falling back, while their chests are pressed on each other in a leaning state.
"You okay?", he whispers.
Her thoughts running back to what got her right into his arms. "You!", she punches his chest, that slowly brings them back to a standing position.
"What is that for?", he is clearly irritated as he believed that they just shared a very soft moment.
"You can't say something like that and then just leave me!", she hammers again onto his chest, that now starts to move.
He chuckles. "Sorry?"
What is this man?
Idiot. She wants to shout that so often used complain on him but…
"Do you mean it.", she says instead.
Do you mean…
Her mind fears to open that box. That hope.
"Of course.", he says and smiles yet again right at her with ease and warmth, that plays a melody on her heart, she desires to listen to for longer.
He must know what he is doing to her! Playing with her heart like this.
"You…", she notices him waiting for her response, proving yet again how he just always wants to please her. "Let get us some proper sake.", she grumbles and takes the lead again.
It was down to a miracle that none of the others have noticed any of their exchange. Or it could have been Robin who apparently took the lead and occupied them with the most random stories about this place. Nami was grateful for that, her head was too full of emotions that just seem to overflow.
Don't think about it.
Don't go down that row. He didn't mean it that way.
Zoro stares at her rumbling head. After this outburst he had expected a different response. Something that would do justice to him opening up to her.
Had he been to straight forward?
Was she aiming for something different than him?
Was all this flirting just… physical?
She had been pretty fiercely about that last time. Maybe he did misunderstand her intentions.
Nami had been rather focused on the whole 'him not wanting Robin thing' and since then, her physical presence had just grown in his life.
Was she testing what his response to her is?
If so, she should by now clearly know that she puts him on edge. She holds a power over his physical being that he still struggles to not be overly annoyed by. He hated to be this out of control over something that should just be nothing. Just be... a nakama.
At the end, he does not really succeed much in pretending all of her approaches do nothing – because they just don't.
The more he tries to think their shifted dynamic through, the more her hand still lingering on his band became a pain. He needs distance.
Luckily, the floating island guided them quickly to one of the biggest local bars and restaurants. Allowing him to finally rip himself off from her, storming off to the direction of Robin, as a safety heaven he needs right now. He pushes himself onto her side. "Don't leave tonight.", he says in a weak plead and she looks at him stunned, her eyes flicker behind him to locate the navigator who is being dragged by Luffy and Usopp to one of the tables.
"I thought you two…"
"I am not sure, if she and I are on the same page.", he sighs and ruffles his hair.
"And you don't want to talk about it because…", she stretches and watches her friend in slight worry.
"It might hurt.", he whispers and already takes the first glass of their order, emptying it in one go. In a faint attempt to killing off all the racing thoughts his mind has been occupied with.
Robin's eyes soften. If the mighty swordman fears hurt, it holds a lot of meaning. "I shall stay with you.", she will not force him to confront himself with that, at least not for now. Her hand pats his back and is relieved to see his lips lift again.
"Let's get those glasses to our crew.", she already adds additional hands to take the immense amount of glasses over to the table.
She slides on the table right next to the navigator who throws a side-eye. As she hopefully had wished for to find the swordsman on her open side instead.
As the first few drink flow, they all just enjoy themselves, even find cards to play, Luffy not even grabbing the rules, forcing his right hand man to explain it to him over and over again, just to loose again and frustrating Zoro more and more.
"I told you to play the Jack!", he grumbles. Luffy pulls his lip out. "But I like that card. I don't want to give it away.", he had seated himself half over the swordsman, as he tried to hide his cards from the others while obviously neither of them needed to see them to win over their captain.
Zoro puts his hand on his forehead. "Why are you even playing?"
"Because it is fun!", Luffy grins.
"I don't mind winning.", Franky laughs on the other side of the table and mixing their cards again.
"Nami-swan, would you lend me your hand for a dance?", Sanji shouts over the table as he just came back from the restroom.
"Sorry, but I already agreed to Usopp.", she grins at her friend who till this point had been still sipping on his beer and waited for the next round of games to begin.
"Have I?", he wonders in his already tipsy state, throwing an intense frown on his forehead in the attempt to recall an event that never occurred.
"You did.", and at this Nami pulls the sniper out from the table to the little dance floor. Usopp obviously did not, but Nami needed to move. She had hoped to have been sitting next to Zoro, to find a moment with him again, maybe even pick up the conversation she had not the capacity to digest and continue before.
"Nami.", Usopp looks at her with big eyes. "How do we dance?"
"Well…", Nami realises the lack of her consideration, she kind of assumed that he might know. But now they both stand lost at the centre of the dance room, people moving around them. "Maybe we just copy them?", she says lost and moves her hand into his and on his shoulder. If him and her are good at anything, it was adapting to situations and find a solution.
"Robin-chan, would you be up for a dance?", Sanji offers his hand again. But the archaeologist smiles sweetly in rejection. "I am, but I already have my partner.", she pulls the hand of the swordsman after her, who stumbles just for a second since Luffy had still occupied half of his lap.
"Oi.", he looks at her in surprise but as soon as her hands find the place on his upper arm and hand, as well as the moving figures around him, he grabs her intention.
He grins at her and places his hand below the back of her shoulder. "I should have expected that."
"Of course, I told you that I miss it.", she smiles and let him guide them around the crowd in the rhythm.
"Mosshead can dance."
"Yeah, he actually tried to teach me.", Franky says nonchalant and collects another round of gummy bears, which was the treasure Luffy and him had been playing about.
Sanji's head turns to them with wide eyes. "The idiot is good."
"Yeah, how are you surprised? He has incredible balance and his legs move always in smooth motion.", Jinbei laughs and let's himself being pulled to the dance floor by a random stranger that had just reached out to him.
"But it is mosshead.", as if that explains anything.
"How do you still not know Zoro?", Luffy laughs and he was about to start another round, when also Franky gets himself on the dancefloor.
Sanji just stares. At the way Robin laughs in his arms, that just guide them smoothly around and then with the switch of music also their posture adapted. The moved in fluid motion with each other.
How…
Yet, his attention is drawn away by another pair of…
As the music keeps changing, Nami does find a rhythm with Usopp, both of them not caring too much about fitting properly into the mass anymore when they meet the other members in their own version of movement. Along them, she catches the greenhead. Zoro.
He and Robin were still properly dancing.
Their faces bright and the sound of laughers as they skillfully turn and move in ease. She knew he can dance, not a surprise by his incredible footing skills, but she has never seen it.
His entire body just seems to fit the music.
"Usopp, let's take a break.", she weakly states as she pulls him out.
"You just want to stare.", Usopp grins while he himself has not denied to watch the pair in awe.
"Of course, as if you are not.", she grumbles, catching the sniper just as fascinated.
When they sit down though, they watch a young man having stopped the pair. And for a minute, Usopp and Nami believe that Zoro probably leaves the spot and passed Robin to the young man, just to be surprised once again.
Robin walking to them, while the man is now being guided by Zoro in a similar soft smile.
"He did not ask you?", Usopp says surprised.
Robin chuckles and sits down. "I only look good because he knows what to do. Also, I feel like he had a small crush on our swordsman.", she winks.
"A man?", Sanji slides down too, he has obviously been denied by other 'beauties'. "Tch. That actually makes sense."
At this Robin raises a brow. But as per usual she leaves silence take over those inappropriate words, while no one else pays it any further attention.
And probably it would died down into nothing if there wouldn't have approached another person the table. "Pardon me.", the voice is sweet, the face soft and the shouldered hair parted in two short tails.
"Have you approached my dear friend over on the other table?", the words turn to the cook. Luffy, Franky, Brook, Usopp, Nami and Robin all look to the table in question. A young person hunched over their knees, clearly tears running down their cheek.
"Excuse me, what happened?", Nami interrogates before Sanji probably only can approve the prior statement.
"My friend had been approached by someone who firstly coated her with intense 'sweet' words..."
Yes, Sanji.
"While their eyes have been glued on the exterior of my friends appeal..."
Yes, Sanji.
"And when my friend's partner kindly asked you about the matter, you roughly just said that this is none of their business, since – I quote – the lady is not interested in a brute…"
Yes, Sanji.
"And once my friend tried to explain the situation as well as decline your efforts again, you just fully ignored all the matters but just declared you would be willing to wait until they realise how much of a better fit you would be."
Yes, Sanji.
"So, now my friend is hurt for being called not-fit for the love of their lives and the one you harassed feels like their body have been misused by your stare and thereby, your visual exploitation of their body."
Yes, Sanji.
"And then you fellow here had the audacity to ask to see the panties."
Yes, Brook.
Nami sighs and wants to calm down the situation, excuse her nakamas and explain that this is the way Sanji is build and expressed 'respect', just to feel the hand of the archaeologist hold her down.
Robin watches the cook.
"I am sorry, I did not want to hurt the lady.", Sanji actually says but his tone clearly only holds sorrow towards the awareness that he caused harm but lacking clearly the understanding where the pain comes from.
"The lady does not identify as one.", the person explains rather kindly. As if this slip is one, they can overlook.
"I mean, that beautiful being just deserves all the attention-", Sanji tries again but his body twitches of arising memories of the past. A dark shiver running down his spine, visible in his already judgy face.
"They have not asked for it. They did not dress to please your eyes, but because they feel comfortable. Besides, it probably is less the clothing and their body by nature, which is exactly why I am here."
The person leans over the table to Sanji a burning glare in their eyes.
"May your mind actually think of beings in a way that calls for man and woman to be treated differently?"
"Of course-", Sanji starts but Robin's hand covers his mouth instantly.
"Cook, from this point on you better don't say anything. This island is one that lives on equality. And removing the boxes and concepts of old times. Your 'gentleman' cover is not welcomed and obviously has caused hurt. Nami and I have been not the best to put your behaviour away from those very disturbing marks.", Robin sighs and turns to the person, eyeing her in keen interest.
"I want to apologise for his behaviour. It is partially on us that he does not understand how disgusting and discriminating his demeanour is. As sad as it sounds, I assure you that his words and actions come from a place that he deeply believes represent respect and care."
The person considers the words, their eyes resting long on Robin.
"Yuka.", pulls on the tension that has been build. The young man that has danced till now with their swordsman, walks right to them, his hand still holding the arm of Zoro, who follows though with a raising eyebrow when catching the air around them.
"Everis.", their eyes wander over the linked arms to the one holding onto their friend.
"Zoro, this is my sibling. They are the owner of this bar.", Everis explains and leaning into the arm. "He is an incredible dancer! Moran would probably enjoy a dance too.", Everis turns instantly to Zoro. "Only, if you would be up for it. They are very gracefully, but normally they prefer to lead…"
Zoro smiles softly. "Would be a pleasure, I might be a bit rusty on the counter steps, but I am sure your friend would help me out.", then his face turns more serious and faces Robin, his protection mode activated. "Everything okay here?", he asks then.
"You belong to them?", Yuka steps to him.
He nods and scans the figure in front of him, they both are the same height, their eyes locked. "You danced with Everis…. Why?"
"Because they asked.", Zoro replies again raising his eyebrow and he definitely looks like that was unnecessary question.
What is this tension captivating the air between them?
They. Yuka smiles a tad. "And this man is part of your group?", her fingers pointing at the still mouth covered cook.
Zoro sighs defeated. "Unfortunately, yes."
"And none of you have ever tried to teach him respect?"
Oh no. What did the cook do?
"Well…", Zoro scratches his head. "I believe he is convinced that his actions are coming from that notion."
"But you know they are harmful."
"Yes.", he just says, finding guilt crawling up.
"He is the only one speaking up.", Robin stands and steps next to Zoro. "He is the only one of our crew pointing out his wrong words and actions. But they meet numb ears, because our dear swordsman only serves as his sibling trauma output.", at this Sanji shrinks.
"He is the only one that definitely does not deserve the call out. Despite him not feeling like that.", Robin assures and looks softly at him.
Yuka's interest spikes. "How come?"
"I apparently have failed in sharing awareness on the matter of respect and equality.", he puts simply. He does need not to dive deeper with those strangers on it. But also, he does notice that he should assure not to cause a bigger issue. This was not about a physical fight, but a moral matter caused by their own members.
"Hm, yeah, that you did.", Yuka comments and turns to the two females of their group. "What is your excuse?", the spice just at the back of her tone. It almost sounds like she really tries to understand how this group has never explained how hurtful this discriminating behaviour is.
"We both chose to just ignore and pretend it was fine… well, most of the time. Sometimes, I did try to teach them.", with her fist. Nami explains and finds her own words just disappointing and an shame crawls over her. But yeah, over the last few years, she has never expressed to neither Sanji nor Brook properly how uncomfortable their female body focused discrimination has been. Let alone their 'beauty' selection on when a women deserves to be considered one and thus, treated with their disgraceful way of 'respect'.
"I guess, luckily you are pretty.", Yuka sighs, inclining that they probably would have not just ignored all of it when being on the other side of the table, aside from the sexual discrimination. Yuka watches Everis still clinging on Zoro. "I would recommend you to either keep him shut or get him out of here. We are not very patient with those mindsets.", Yuka nods shortly to Everis before leaving the table again.
Their eyes fall on Sanji, who finally is released. He looks over to Robin, who just stares down at him, maybe he finally did listen.
He moves to stand. "I meet you at the ship.", he whispers, and his footsteps drag him out of the bar.
"Franky, Brook. You might follow Sanji.", Nami says then and throws them a quick glare over. They instantly jump out and are on the cook's feet.
Luffy watches the entire situation, his eyes fall on Zoro in question of clarifying what had happened, though not slipping one syllable for his lips.
"Something that should have happened way earlier." Zoro says shortly and as per usual Luffy just nods to his first mates word, as if it did not require more. As if Zoro did not just transfer a simple airy statement but a full empathetic conduct of the given situation.
But maybe Sanji finally – hopefully – listened with his heart and not his empty head.
"Thank you for dancing with me.", he smiles at Everis on his arm.
Zoro mirrors it. "It was my pleasure, you are pretty damn good.", he had intended to have another round with them but after all this and maybe even danced with their friend, his mood had died down. His worry lays on Robin who already sat down. Everis smiles and turns, then they turn back again and finds Zoro's eye, asking for silent permission. The swordsman already leaning down and gifting them a small kiss on the cheek. "Take care.", Everis nods in delight and turns around back to the dance floor which is slowly filling again with the music returning again too.
"Have I ever told you how he learned to skywalk?", Robin whispers and she leans on Zoro.
"I assume you did not because you know it would just anger me.", he replies already on edge.
She smiles. "Yeah…"
"I thought it was because he was chased.", Luffy munches.
"Yes, chased by trans females."
Nami snaps and so does Zoro, his hand tightens again. He better did not know that. The little respect he held for the cook inside the battlefield seemed to lose more and more value against all the other parts of his personality.
In relation to Robin's reveal, Zoro recalls the encounter of Sanji with Perona on their return and his disturbing words along his sniffing harassment, 'real woman'. At that time, he barely grabbed the words, let alone the intend of it. Sanji truly considered trans woman as not worthy to deserve his 'woman-exclusive' cursed 'gentleman' treatment. Along with that, he does recollect his bewilderment concerning Sanji's less enchanted behavior towards Kokoro at Water 7. Although, he should have known or predicted that Sanji's very exclusive conduct of 'respect' is not only limited by the presence of boobs but almost more importantly to the appeal the outer shape holds to him. Especially, after his lusting presentation at fishmen Island.
Anger fills his veins. Not just for this abhorrent part of the cooks being, but to himself too. As he summons his own shamful choice of rudely pushing down Kokoro's mermaid existence. He is disgusted by his personal display of discrimination on the basis of appeal in no consideration of how much harm the person of impact might take away.
The silence grows on the table. This has been something they all have been not addressing much. Just overlooking and in the case of the females, who were the constant aim for Sanji's obsessive superficial compulsion, they just maintain silent in a world that ignored their pain or patched it with 'man' needs, instead of the underlying truth which is the result of the male dominance deciding to freely express their needs while forcing the other gender to surpress it and being in charge of control. Because it lies in the genes of their secondary X that holds the ability of actual consideration- not the fact that social structure enforce their dogmas over centuries and declare the present stagnated momentum as a result of nature instead. Humans and their manipulative nature.
"It is difficult in this world to gain respect and acceptance, especially when a lot of things are excused by so-called good intentions while none of them come from an actual empathetic consideration.", Robin whispers more to herself.
"Yeah, sometimes I wonder how the once soft, empathetic and kind little boy has turned into such a body-discriminating person…", Usopp says straight forwards as per usual. Aside from Zoro, the only one that never holds back on honest descriptions.
The other smile weakly in agreement to his statement.
"Guys, I am hungry again. Let's order some stuff.", Luffy announces less light and thus, Zoro detecting the attempt of the captain's words. Thought, seemingly Zoro being the only one who grabs the silent additionally overtone their captain transmitted.
Nonetheless, or maybe especially due to the lack of grabbing it, their comrade's body ease their tension. And they fall back into conversations, Moran does approach their table and a couple of more dances followed. One between Luffy and Zoro, that amused the other crewmembers the most. But slowly, their limits are reached, and they leave the bar with a full asleep and balloon shaped Luffy who is rolled on the floor by Usopp.
Robin turns up to Zoro, who seems still in his thoughts. Nami has been walking next to Usopp. This has been quite a night.
"Hey.", she draws his attention to her. "You know…", her eyes drifts back to the navigator.
"If I had to face this, you my dear friend, can face that.", she says softly with a small pat on his chest, right over his heart. And her eyes wandering back to Nami.
"Usopp, let me help you.", Robin says and runs off to the other group, using her extra arms to secure and navigate their captain better around the town.
Nami looks from Robin back to the now lone swordsman, who just stands there.
"Better get him, before he loses us.", Usopp supplies and nudges her already in his direction, before running after Luffy who rolled off and Robin had apparently decided to watch the dilemma instead of helping.
"Good idea.", she just replies with no proper attention to him and her feet drag herself back.
He watches her approaching him and slowing down with every step she gets in reach. Their eyes linger on each other in a delicate hold.
"That was quite a night.", Nami smiles weakly, and he appreciates her attempt, though he does not manage to grant it the deserving response.
"Yeah.", is all that leaves his lips.
He considers moving up till he sees her coming to stand right in front of her. If he would reach out, he could grab her and pull her right into his chest. And he really wanted her there… in his arms.
"So, you can dance.", she says again in an attempt of tease, while just offering him another topic to talk about, since the other seems something, he rather wants to digest for himself for now.
He smirks lightly. True, she has probably not seen that. "And you, not quite that much.", he follows her mock.
She takes the ball. It was something, and something she normally knows very well how to handle. She steps forward, their chests brush. "Well, I heard you might be quite a teacher too."
His brow raises. "Here?", he just asks and she already places her hand over his arm and offers her palm to him.
"The biggest space we probably ever get.", she says and refers to the indeed completely empty square they are on right now.
Not a second later, his hand finds her shoulder and his hand does take over hers. "Without music this will be…"
"Romantic.", she smiles and sees his cheeks burn again. Before his head moves away and starts to guide them, her first step stumbles but he quickly gets her into rhythm. As he controls his swords, he finds full over her movements.
This is what she wanted the entire night, just him. Close to her. As he does not stop moving them, she decides to adjust their position, guiding his hand to her waist, slipping slowly to her lower back and leaning her head against his chest. Her eyes lying on their hands in each other.
"What have you been talking about…", he whispers then into the silence as if all of this was too much.
Which it was. Nami's heart dances with every move just as his, though unbeknown to her.
"Just talking about Kaya.", she replies just as lightly. "A cute love story but sad that they have to be apart for so long.", Nami whispers into his chest and her fingers itch to move.
"Yeah, each one their own…", he replies and he feels her moving their hands closer to her face, placing her hand still holding his on the other side of his chest.
"Nami…"
"I want a different love story.", she mumbles leaning her lips over their hands. Their heart beat for a moment between them. Zoro's eye lingering on their small touch, that resembles a miniscule piece of the way their hearts seem to entangle slowly with each other.
"Which one do you want?", his voice replies in a deep tone and his fingers finally move, his thumb placing into her palm, placing her hand right over his heart.
Nami focuses their hands. She feels it. The beat.
"Like this.", she replies and her fingers stretch slightly as they turn to have her fingertips laying over his.
Zoro's eye follows hers and he watches their fingertips brush, their palms slowly lean on each other.
Like this
"What about you?", her voice reaches him just as calm as his mind has turned. She considers that he might not even have one mind, that his love is his devotion, his ambition…
"I guess… just like this.", he smiles at her and moves his fingers slowly between hers.
He sees her smile grow.
She is grateful to be wrong, that there is the desire of love in him and that he seems to have some his heart strings falling into the same rhythm as hers. Or it is just the alcohol.
Sure.
It is the alcohol that leans his head over hers, that keeps their fingers move on each other in soft small motions without ever fully holding onto the other, just tasting each other.
It is the alcohol that let's time slip them in this moment, just the two of them, creating their own little heart.
"Any chance of me not needing to walk?", she pouts up, her chin against his chest, that moves at his small laugh.
"Even though you need it the least?", his eye wandering over her face, the pouted lips, the warm eyes. Their fingers still moving in their hold and their bodies slowly stop in their already slacking dancing motions.
"You know me, I am selfish, I want what I want.", she adds in a grin.
His face falls into a soft smile. "Hm… and what is it that you want.", he dares. His heart racing so hard.
"You…", she starts and frees one finger from their grip to point into his chest. "…carrying me to the sunny."
How could he deny her? He never did. He doesn't really want to.
Even though his heart had craved for something else, something heavier.
"Okay.", he breathes and slides his hands off from hers. She regrets her request instantly; she did not want to part from him. Quite the opposite.
She is about to take her words back, when she looks at the broad back right in front of her.
"Get on.", he says and she jumps delighted on it. "Worth paying all your clothes the other day.", she grins and puts her arms around his neck. It has been a while since he has held like this.
Nami puts her head on his shoulder and watches his face or as much as she can see from her angle. His muscles really have grown. A perfect pillow but also so much bigger that they got in the way, she tries to push herself a bit higher for better position or rather access of view on his face. And she sees his smile, his eye sliding to his side when he notices her intention behind her moves.
His hands grab her tighter for her not so slip out of the position. She smiles at this softer gesture; how did she never notice before about is constant desire to please her? To make sure that she gets what she wants, even or especially when he first complains...
"Has anyone ever told you that you are pretty damn, attentive?", she mumbles against his skin, her fingers slowly wandering over his neck. She feels his goosebumps, filling her with satisfaction.
"Hm. Robin and Jinbei did.", he says and keeps his focus on the front, to not lose track of the others because he is pretty sure Nami is not even trying to guide him right now.
"And Luffy.", he remembers.
"Really? Him out of all people…", she sounds perplex. "That the two of you actually talk is even more impressive."
She sees his eyebrow rise and she giggles slightly, guiding her fingers in his hair. So much softer than she expected and fuller…
"Don't be surprised. You and him never really verbally communicate. It seems at times that you guys have literally a secret shared brain cell that you access and convey all the information."
At this she feels his shoulders move in the light chuckle that she has evoked in him. "Funny thought. I mean, he and I have a lot of common thoughts when it comes to morals, as well as when and how to take action or what to discard but we do also talk… that is how I know. Otherwise, I probably would just guess, and guessing is a dangerous game."
"Why so" , she whispers mesmerised by his words, the alcohol obviously not having impacted either of their brains to the extent the others are struggling.
"Because one is only thinking their own shaped and created mind. It may overlap but since everyone has experienced life in their own way. Hence, our perception will always interfere with the idea one might actually have or desires to share.", he states and she is in awe of the extend his words were holding.
How has she never met this part of him before?
"How much more do you hide from me…", her voice barely a whisper but still heard by him.
All of me is yours...
His body stops moving. The intensity of his thought runs through him. He has not really grabbed how deep his emotions were.
"All okay?", her worry swings along the words.
"Yeah, just…", he moves his feet again. "There is nothing I hide from you… on purpose at least."
He feels her lips again react to his words.
Nami lifts her fingers again and cradles his neck. And there she sees, his neck spiking at her touch. He is resistant to Robin. But clearly not to her. She smiles in delight and moves her lips to his covered shoulder.
Adorable.
"Nami… how are you handling tonight events?", he decides to direct their conversation to the other matter of the night.
"There are times, it is too much, and it hurts. Always being reminded and looked at as a pretty bird in a cage. I doubt any of the three who left earlier, would know or understand any of those thoughts… or generally who I am. They have a pretentious idea of me that lives like an empty canvas in their minds."
Her eyes linger on his face. "But luckily there are people who fight for freeing us."
Zoro grumbles, as he feels her gaze on him and the passive implications of her words. "Don't praise me. I am not that much better."
And now Nami raises a brow, lifting her hand and bumps it into his head. "Dare you to say that again. You are so much better. You have not looked at us as flesh or piece of meat once.", she announces almost angry and louder than she intended. "And just because people have thrown to you their own insecurity of gender, does not mean you feel this way. Because you don't! You judge and fight one on the basis of their strength. Don't you put yourself into the same pot." And she was about to go on, but then she feels him chuckle again, his lips high. "Yeah, maybe I am not that bad on that part. But I do struggle with the expectations put on me having a different equipment down there."
Nami feels her blush and she is beyond grateful to be out of his vision, or so she thought, when she watches his head move to his side, and his eye meeting hers. He grins. "You know, my toxic male masculinity.", he adds in the most innocent way that she has ever seen, while her mind was definitely clouded by the complete opposite of thoughts.
Gosh, why was not just her heart completely out of her control but also her entire body?
This man, no, Zoro, has too much power over her. And he probably does not even know. She stares at his bright innocent smile.
He definitely does not know.
"Why have you recently spoken up less?", she has noticed the shift also directing his outbursts towards the cook, despite the still visible discomfort most his antics evoke in him.
"Well, I just got tired. And decided it is not worth my energy. He does not listen to one word I say or take anything of me in an actual consideration but he just awaits it to turn into a reason for him to fight me. So, I decided to not gift him that anymore."
"That must cost quite the restraint."
"Oh yeah, but all my training for my swordsmanship should also present its value on my life in other ways."
Nami senses her thoughts already diving into a direction that felt so inappropriate considering the depth of the conversation.
She sighs in his back.
"Did I say something wrong?", he seems to misunderstand her reaction.
"No, you said all the right things.", she smiles and keeps her mind to herself. She really needs to get laid. Well, not that per se. But… her eyes linger on Zoro's profile.
She wants him. His heart and body. So desperately.
"How does one get you…", she whispers silently into the night, she is not even sure if she actually said or thought it.
But his head turns to her, his eyes in question.
She just smiles and leans forward, placing a kiss on his exposed neck. "All good.", she feels his skin shiver under her touch. Maybe…
"Just tell me, how come you did not spend the night with the cute man?", they have never really talked about sexuality, and she had never quite much of an opinion about it. And considering how he had cared so warmly about the young man today, and his apparently lack of feeling attracted by any body particular by default, she could imagine him swinging both ways.
"Told you, not quite my type of thing.", he says plainly.
"Wait, you want to tell me, you never had a one-night stand or fling?"
He breathes out heavily. "No, quite the opposite. I had a couple of either and none really did it. And thus, I lost interest."
"What do you mean, they didn't do it?", Nami asks intrigued but does notices amused that his pace increased, he wants to end this.
"I did not feel satisfied. It tasted empty and bodies seemed to just… I don't know, it just bored me.", his face is now completely red and Nami enjoys all of it, her hands still cradling his hair.
"You are really unique."
"Oi!", he stops again and turns to her, his head fully flushed. "You want to tell me that you enjoy those things?", he instantly regrets his actions, when he watches the navigator raise herself up, pushing her chest right in his vision and then she winks with a devious smile on her lips. "I do enjoy a good body but I have to admit that it does take more than that to make it… enjoyable.", her tongue brushes over her lips and her eyes keep track of his one following all of it.
He takes a deep breath and then. He removes his arms from her thighs, gliding her unprepared body down his back. "You can walk from here.", he just states and moves already ahead of them.
She giggles and stands quickly, just to run up to him and grab without any hesitation his hand.
"Don't get lost."
"Pretty impossible with that.", he lifts their hands and Nami squeezes his, his head slowly escaping this suffocating moment prior.
This night has surprisingly drifted from the crestfallen caprice into a captivating pith that for the both will always linger as one of their significant ones.
