Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.
I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.
To those wonderful people who reviewed, followed and added this story to their fav list… thank you very much!
Warning: OOC possible.
Summary: Despite that rough and tough exterior, she knows that even a guy like him has a soft spot.
Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven
Chapter 3: What's Underneath
He wore a scowl on his face.
A very familiar scowl that she was quite acquainted with after seeing it every day, every time while they are on board the Thousand Sunny in their pursuit of making their dreams come true.
She knew (precisely by experience), that the scowl plastered on his face would deepen as seconds passed by. Knew that his eyebrows will meet together in a sort-of-grimace that will scrunched up his face and eventually make him look meaner.
And that deep scar on his left eye is not really helping in softening his features. It made him look more dangerous.
He always had… the most intimidating face in the crew. And the expressions he had on it most of the time just strengthened that opinion of hers.
Not that he intimidates her. Hell will froze over first before that shit happens.
Besides, she KNOWS him well enough and she KNOWS how to push his buttons and make him do most of her demands or orders despite initial protests, shouts, insults and name-calling.
She likes to think that it was HER that can intimidate HIM, not the other way around.
A smirk appeared on her lips as she rested her back against the cold, red brick wall of the building behind her. Folding her arms in front of her, she observed the scene before her with unbridled amusement.
The Strawhats' navigator watched the green-haired swordsman turn around to glare and scowl at a little girl. The girl, who is no more than 6 or 7, is following the tall lad with a look of admiration in her face and eyes.
Nami let a chuckle escape her lips. She knows that the scowling swordsman had save that girl earlier. Some intoxicated and rather stupid street thugs were bullying her and were forcing her to give them her hard-earned money.
She recognized the little girl. She remembered seeing her selling home-made jams and jelly on the street when she was shopping earlier.
Well, little girl or not, those pathetic excuse-of-human-beings were going to beat her up since she was so adamant in not giving up her belis.
Nami would have intervened. She maybe a coward at times but heck, she will not stand aside and watch that girl be abused by those hooligans (besides a nice dose of thunderbolts might help clear their heads, ne?); but then she saw that Zoro had already stepped into the scene and idiots turned their attention to him.
Tough luck. It'll be fortunate of them if they got away with a few bruises and scratches. But since they're up against Zoro, she doubted it.
You never piss anyone from the monster trio and expect to come out in one piece.
Those bakas got what they deserved. Kami save their soul.
After kicking the asses of those thugs, Zoro nonchalantly sheathed his swords and walked away leaving the little girl staring at him with wide eyes and mouth hanging open in surprise.
Then the girl snapped out of her trance and moved to follow Zoro to thank him. But she only got a shrug from the swordsman.
Any normal person would stop in their tracks with that kind of cold response. But Nami can see how persistent the girl is. She just kept following the former pirate hunter; eyes filled with admiration and cheeks slightly flushed.
Nami's grin widened. Would you look at that? Someone has a crush on Zoro. Of all people!
Well that was expected. Any normal, young girl would fall for that a-prince-saved-my-ass shit.
Zoro continued glowering at the girl. He said something Nami didn't quite catch. He was probably trying to get the girl off his back. She only shook her head as Zoro's scowl deepened, his face darkening to deep shade of red.
Obviously, whatever it is that the little girl is saying to him is enough to make the marimo's head explode in embarrassment.
Suddenly there was a change in Zoro's expression. She saw him sighed in defeat and in a move that surprised her, he took the girl by the hand and started walking again.
Nami's eyebrow arched up but then a small smile graced her lips. Zoro never fails to surprise her sometimes.
The navigator pushed herself off the brick wall and decided to follow them.
A few minutes, turns and houses away… the two stopped in front of a small house. Nami was sure that if Zoro is alone he would definitely, surely get lost. Maybe holding that kid's hand had an advantage after all.
The girl said something to Zoro and he crouched down. Nami had to bit her lip hard to keep herself from laughing out loud. The little girl kissed Zoro on the cheek and the expression on the swordsman's face was just priceless!
Nami gazed at the scene before her with absolute mirth. The little girl happily took a step back, opening the door of the house. She waved goodbye to Zoro, saying her thanks again with so much enthusiasm. Zoro returned the wave awkwardly, red hue tinting his cheeks before walking away.
Kami! Zoro can really be a sweetheart when he wants to. She always knew that he had a soft spot despite that tough and rough exterior. That's the reason why he saved that little girl earlier; in a rather princely way that would even make Sanji proud.
Regardless of what most people say about Roronoa Zoro being a scary, intimidating man or a demon pirate hunter who enjoys slicing people up… she knows the truth.
He has a big heart and a kind soul. Just like everyone in their crew.
Nami smiled fondly as her eyes followed the green-haired lad as he disappeared around the corner. A few seconds later he appeared again and ended up right where he came from.
The second time it happened... she decided to interfere before the madness starts.
He may save damsel-in-distresses but surely he cannot save himself from this insanity.
His sense of direction just might be the death of him… strongest swordsman or not.
"Tch." Nami sounded out as she approached him. "A little lost aren't we?"
Zoro immediately scowled when he saw her. "I am not lost woman! The road is—"
Nami cut off his retort with a wave of her hand. "Yeah, yeah. The road is moving and changing as well as the houses. They are playing tricks on you again. I get it." She rolled her eyes at him, earning a growl from the swordsman. She just grinned cheekily as a reply. "Let me help you out. But do expect additional belis in your never-ending debt." She winked at him as he stared scathingly at her.
"Never doubted that for a moment, gracious one." Zoro muttered sarcastically. "What the hell are you doing here, you witch? This is far from the shopping district. Are you lost?"
A vein popped out on Nami's head and she bonked his head.
"Damn it!"
She stared at him as he rubbed the side of his head where a lump was starting to form. He seriously had the nerve to ask her that?!
"I'm going to personally drag your sorry ass to hell you evil witch!" Zoro growled at her and she just scoffed at his threat, ignoring it completely.
Nami's eyes darted towards the house where Zoro had left the little girl a while ago and then back to the still frowning swordsman. "Seems like some drops of chivalry rubbed at you from all that fighting with Sanji-kun." Nami teased him as he continued rubbing his abused head. She saw his face turned red instantly. She doesn't need to explain what she know and saw.
"Saved another damsel-in-distress huh?" She snickered, playfully jabbing his cheek.
He lightly slapped her hand away. "Tch." He grumbled. "Don't compare me to that shitty love cook idiot. I don't run around calling myself prince while spewing out stupid praises about your beauty."
The orange-haired girl chortled at his statement. "Of course you don't! You prefer to keep that opinion all to yourself." This time she poked him on the chest.
"Hmph," Zoro muttered.
The navigator laughed at his response. Of course he's not going to admit that one out loud. He was still Roronoa Zoro after all, the rough and tough swordsman with no weaknesses or soft spots.
But she knows better…
"Come on," she coaxed, grabbing his hand. "Before you get lost again you stupid swordsman."
"Stupid witch."
Nami stood on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. She will not admit in outright to him but it warms her heart to see him help someone out. To see him protect someone outside his nakama. It made him more appealing to her.
She knows despite that perpetual mean looking exterior… he's really a sweetheart inside.
Maybe that is just one of the reasons why she had fallen for him.
"Your stupid witch, stupid swordsman." She said with a smirk, interlocking her fingers with his.
"I agree with that."
- The End -
This was loosely inspired by episode 57 (where Zoro helped Apis with the rope).
So you know the drill here, READ and REVIEW please.
