Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot. PWP (not the M one).

Rating: T (Suggestive. Slightly.)

Note: This was supposed to be an entry for a challenge but RL got in the way as usual. I'm trying to get writing back in my system, so bear with me.

Summary: The swordsman and the navigator and their first night as a couple.


Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven

8: This First Night


"Hey,"

Nami glanced up from the map she was currently working on. Her move was so sudden that her eye glasses slipped down to perch precariously at the tip of her nose.

Peering over their rim, she turned and stared at the tall figure of their swordsman as he stepped away from the ladder of the Sunny's bathhouse.

How he was able to get inside the library and the bathhouse without her knowledge is way beyond her. But then again he IS Roronoa Zoro. He can be stealthy when he wants to… despite being a large man standing almost six feet tall.

That or she was just too engrossed with her maps and measurements to the point of being oblivious.

"Staying up late?" He asked as he casually strode towards her mapping desk where she spent the last three hours hunched over, drawing.

Nami nodded, watching him approach while lazily running a hand through his still wet hair.

She felt her hand twitched slightly as the urge to replace it with her own coursed through her.

The corner of her lips quirked up at the familiar sensation she felt. Oh, she was used to this sudden compulsion of wanting to touch him at random moments. He had that effect on her for quite some time.

She replaced her quill on the ink bottle before lifting a hand, beckoning to him to come closer.

He responded by reaching out to clasp it on his own before planting a kiss on it.

"I've got maps to finish," she murmured. The smile never left her face as she looked up to him. He was now standing beside her with one hand resting behind the chair while the other remained holding her own.

"So I've been told," Zoro mumbled against her hand, his breath tickling her skin.

"By who?"

"Usopp," he answered, nonchalantly leaving another kiss on her palm before releasing her hand.

"Oh?" Nami chuckled, resting her elbow on the desk and cradling her cheek on her hand. "I take it you were looking for me then?" She asked in an amused tone.

Zoro nodded his head in assent. "Yes," he answered, moving his face closer to hers. "But he said you've holed yourself up here and no one was to disturb you. Or interests will sky rocket."

She leaned back on her chair with a laugh; mindful of the bare skin of her back touching his hand lightly and sending pleasant warmth all over her body. "Yes, no one," she lifted her head a bit to plant a kiss on his chin, the one place she can easily reach.

"Not even the boyfriend?"

This time her laugh was full of delight as her eyes twinkled with mirth at the word she never, ever in her wildest dreams thought would come out from the mouth of one Roronoa Zoro.

"Well it seems to me that the boyfriend was just as busy," she countered. "You were holed up in the Crows' nest yourself, I've been told."

A corner of his mouth lifted slightly at that. "And who told you? Usopp?"

"The one and only."

"Looking for me too?" He straightened up to lean against the mapping table, folding his arms across his ever delectable chest.

"Yes," she admitted. She reached out to play with the knotted string of his pants, touching the bare skin above it absentmindedly. He was only wearing his favored dark green sleeping pants and to Nami, nothing was more enthralling to look at than her half-naked swordsman.

He looked—undoubtedly—amused, both in what she said and what she was doing. "I was training woman," he explained. "You were busy with your maps."

"And you busied yourself with your weights."

He chuckled at her come back. "Well we both have things to do."

She nodded in agreement. They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Zoro scratched the back of his head. "So..." he began, looking a bit uneasy. "This feels a bit weird…"

Nami swore she could see a red tinge on his cheeks as he looked away. She removed her glasses and set it down the table carefully, frowning. "How so?"

Zoro opened his mouth to speak only to clamped it shut again. He can't seem to put his thoughts into words.

It was so much easier when they were both still unsure of what they were feeling for each other; even when they finally realized it and were both trying to figure out what to do with it. They could just easily hide behind their constant fights and disagreements or the endless bickering and shouting matches.

Well that was until that unexpected kiss in front of Nami's mikan trees after a long and loud argument. About what, he can't remember. But it was worse enough to drive some of their crewmates away from the Sunny for a few good hours just to escape them (though the cook had to be dragged away forcefully to prevent him from adding fuel to the fire); and almost prompted their captain to intervene when he got back with the doctor and the sniper and saw that they were still going at it.

A gentle reminder from Usopp was the reason why Luffy chose not to be involved. Zoro might relent but surely Nami won't. Not when they started fighting from the Crow's Nest and miraculously managed to locate themselves at the upper deck of the ship while still shouting at each other. Nami is in for the kill and surely Luffy has this goal to achieve, ne?

So their captain and the others left them alone in hope that they will eventually tire out. After ten minutes, the yelling suddenly stopped and silence reigned in the Sunny. Usopp and Chopper glanced at each other in dread. If a fight like that suddenly went into a standstill someone probably—NO—definitely got maimed! Even Luffy had an unreadable expression on his normally goofy face.

There was loud bang that almost made them jump out of their skins. A few seconds later, a totally pissed off and red-faced Nami emerged from the kitchen, stomped down the stairs and marched across the lawn deck towards the girls' room as the others held their breaths, trying not to make any sound. When Nami slammed the door close, the three youths exchanged concerned glances but no one moved to approach the navigator's room to inquire what happened. They like their heads attached to their necks after all.

Zoro was still on the upper deck, rubbing a hand on his face exasperatedly. Well that ended it.

Honestly he wasn't sure what possessed him to kiss her. All he could remember is how radiant she looked with the setting sun glinting against her hair and her cheeks flushed red from anger and shouting. He barely registered what she was yapping about. At that moment it did not matter.

She looked irresistible—angry and exasperated—while chewing his head off. And then he realized a normal person should not find enraged people who are in the middle of their tirade endearing in anyway.

And that was when he immediately knew.

He had taken a step towards her and in one sudden move he had both of his hands on each side of her face, his lips pressed against hers in a light kiss.

That shut her up. Shut her up for a good number of days because she absolutely refused to talk to him. It took almost three weeks, a crazy adventure in a random island and a bit of man-handling before they were able to find a common ground. All because she stubbornly refused to acknowledge what happened and what she was actually feeling for him.

And now here they are. Together. Officially.

And… truth be told, he doesn't have any idea what to do from here on.

Nami suddenly flicked his nose to get his attention. She had stood up from her desk and was right in front of him.

"Oi. What was that for?" He complained, rubbing his nose and glaring at her.

She had the gall to smile cheekily. "You were spacing out. Getting lost in your own thoughts?"

"I was just thinking you witch."

"What are you thinking about Zoro?"

He made a gesture between them. "This," he replied.

"This?" She repeated, pointing at herself, then at him and back again. "Us?"

"Yeah."

Nami's brows furrowed at that. "What about it?" She stared at him as he gazed back at her so seriously. The mapmaker drew back a little with a look of apprehension on her face. "Don't tell me you are having second thoughts?!" She almost shrieked.

"Huh?" Zoro dumbly reacted to her outburst.

"Do not give me a damn good reason to electrocute your ass right now," she snarled at him.

"What?!" The ex-pirate hunter looked at her incredulously. "The hell Nami!" He let out an exasperated sigh. "I was just thinking—"

"Are you thinking you don't want this?" She cut him off, glowering at him with hands on her hips.

"Oi!" Zoro retorted immediately. Talk about jumping to conclusions. "That's not what I was thinking." The navigator glared daggers at him. He reached for her hands so he can pull her closer to him.

"I want this Nami," he stated firmly. His hands rubbed up and down her arms in an attempt to pacify her simmering temper. "Don't get me wrong. This is new for me alright? I just... don't know how to..." he seemed to be searching for the right word to use. "How to... be a boyfriend." He finally admitted albeit glumly.

The clenching feeling in Nami's stomach loosened and her hand flew to her mouth when she realized what he meant. Oh Kami! It was not easy for a man with an immense pride as Roronoa Zoro to admit his faults or insecurities. Heck, he would rather be dead than outright confess on how pathetic his sense of direction is.

But here he is... willingly voicing out how clueless he is when it comes to relationships.

He wrapped both of his arms around her waist. "But I do want this. I would not have dealt with all that trouble if I didn't."

Nami felt relief wash over her after his revelation. She cupped both of his cheeks in her hands, looking straight into his unscarred eye. "Oh Zoro," she murmured. "You are such a lost boy. You are getting lost even in this."

The swordsman scowled at her obviously teasing remark and released his hold on her.

The orange-haired in turn, stood on tiptoes to plant a kiss on his scowling lips. "Don't worry I still like you," she smiled at him affectionately.

"Hmph!"

Nami sniggered. Can he be any cuter than this? And Kami, cute is not a word you associate with Zoro. But somehow seeing this formidable man turn to a naïve, 21-year-old who is still on his first brush with romance… it was just too hard to resist.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Though to be honest," Nami whispered. "I'm kind of expecting this is what being with you is gonna be like. Complete with awkwardness, uncertainty and getting lost somewhere."

"Really?" Zoro asked, sarcasm evident in his tome. "I think you don't know what to do either." He callously pointed out.

Nami smirked at his statement. "Well, it's not like I have time for romance, pirate hunter. I was busy surviving and stealing in case you've forgotten."

"I haven't."

"But I, at least, have an inkling somehow," Nami continued, tapping a finger on his chest. "While you are absolutely zilch. Besides what's important is, I do know what I want to do to you," she murmured suggestively, winking at him and making his face heat up at the insinuation.

"Na-MI," he growled with warning in his tone.

"Well, since you are this clueless, why don't we ask Sanji-kun for tips?" She suggested flippantly, looking too mischievous for his liking.

"Hell NO!"

She laughed at his reaction.

"That ero-kappa's not allowed anywhere near you from now on," Zoro snarled. Trust the swordsman to lose his cool at the mention of his rival's name.

That only served to make Nami laugh harder. Kami, so the usually stoic Supernova can get jealous after all. "Sanji-kun's not a threat and you know that." Nami assured him.

Zoro gritted his teeth. That shitty cook may not be as Nami was his now, but he can't help but think that when it comes to wooing, attending and flattering women with flashy gestures and flowery words, that stupid swirly brows takes the cake.

The navigator decided that that is enough teasing seeing how Zoro's jaw was clenched tight. "Relax Zoro," she murmured. She planted a kiss on his chin, making sure to let her lips linger longer. "I chose you. Even if you made me think that you are thinking twice about us."

Zoro leveled his gaze at her. "When did I ever made a decision half-heartedly Nami?" He asked with so much seriousness that it stopped her.

When did he ever? He was always so strong-willed and steady. And she admired and respected those traits of his. She knows that once he makes up his mind, nothing can stop him. And he doesn't make any important decisions out of whim. When he finally decided to pursue her, she realized that he seriously wanted to be with her, if she was willing to take him.

She stared into his lone, grey eye. He was looking at her so intensely that she can feel delicious shivers running up and down her spine.

A smile appeared on her lips and she softly ran a thumb on his lower lip, tracing it before answering. "Never," she murmured looking deep into his unscarred eye. "You were always so decisive Zoro."

The corner of his mouth lifted at her answer—just right where her thumb rested—before he pulled her close for a kiss to which she eagerly responded. His mouth moved gently against hers; taking his time to enjoy the softness of her lips, the taste of her mouth. It was a far cry from the usual brash and dominating way he's been subjecting her to during their previous encounters.

Drawing back a bit, Zoro raised an eyebrow at her. "I hope that ends those weird thoughts you are having," he muttered. He had known Nami long enough to be familiar with her uncertainties and insecurities. And he had realized a few weeks back that sometimes, the navigator needs assertion to put those to rest.

He tucked an orange strand that escaped her ponytail behind her ear and Nami wrapped a hand around his wrist. "I could say the same regarding Sanji-kun," she countered. "Remember who I chose."

"It's not like you really have a choice in that matter," Zoro answered back with his trademark smirk.

She quirked an eyebrow at that.

He stooped down a little to whisper on her ear. "You are already way deep into this," he said smugly.

The navigator bonked him on the head.

"Damn it Nami!"

"You deserve that," she huffed. "You are so full of yourself."

Zoro rubbed his head, saying nothing. But the cocky smirk that reappeared on his lips again says a lot about what he is thinking.

That would have earned him another knuckle on the head but Nami decided that that would enough for tonight. She can always whoop his ass some other time. For now…

"Say, it's quiet tonight don't ya think?" Zoro suddenly pointed out.

Nami blinked, processing his observation. "Now that you mention it, yeah it is."

"Probably why it feels a little bit weird for me… no noisy nakama around." He muttered while looking at her a bit suggestively.

"Come to think of it, this IS the first time that we're alone together. Our very first night alone together." Nami sing-songed winking at him.

Zoro's grin was huge. "Then maybe we should drink to that?"

Nami snorted at his answer. "Good to know that some things don't change and that we'll keep on doing the same things as before."

"And some more," Zoro whispered nudging her towards him. He planted a quick kiss on her lips.

"So what do we do now," Nami murmured against his lips. "No nakama around?"

"Whatever you want."

"I don't think it's a good idea to just randomly jump you."

"Why not? Feel free to do it. I'm not gonna stop you."

This time her amused laughter echoed around the Sunny's library. She didn't know he had it in him. Heck, from now on, she's gonna see a different side of the swordsman and the thought exhilarates her.

She hooked a finger on the waistband of his pants and pulled him closer to her as possible.

"What a greedy witch," Zoro said with a sneer.

"Why yes I am."

She squealed in surprise when he suddenly lifted her up in his arms effortlessly and guided her legs to wrap around his waist.

"Zoro!" She yelped out his name in a chastising tone, though her arms automatically wrapped themselves around his neck.

"What?"

She opened her mouth but no words to rebuke him came out. He was looking at her with one eyebrow raised, waiting. She merely settled into sticking her tongue out at him childishly.

He laughed, albeit lowly, his chest rumbling against hers. It was always amusing to get under the navigator's skin. Old habits die hard after all. Just because they're together now doesn't mean they'd stop grating at each other's nerves. "So what do you want to do now Nami?" He asked his breath tickling her ear.

Nami bit her lower lip to keep herself from answering you. A chuckle escaped Zoro. He must've realized what she was thinking. She grinned and kissed the tip of his nose. "Well we can do something that we enjoy best."

"You mean, drinking?" Zoro answered with a shark-like grin. "Or fighting each other?"

"Ha-ha," Nami responded sarcastically. "I can't believe you! Is that why you always get on my nerves?!"

"That and you are actually a bitch sometimes."

Nami turned her nose up at him. "I beg to differ we do have moments when we are not on each other's throats. Like tonight."

Zoro stared fondly at her. "Heh," he replied. "Tonight's different." He said capturing her lips with his.

And she closed her eyes, delighting at the sensation of his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck as his hands lifted her up a bit to deepen their kiss.

When they pulled apart for air, he pressed his forehead against hers, while she hummed a bit in contentment.

"Just stay here with me Zoro," Nami murmured. "I just want to be with you."

He smiled at her. An unspoken understanding passed between them as they gazed at each other's eyes. For now they will just bask in this rare, quiet moment where they can finally be spend time together and revel at their newly found connection.

Zoro brushed a kiss on her temple. "How about you go finish your maps?" He suggested. "I can clean my swords while I keep you company."

Nami's smile is unrivaled. They are still first and foremost the swordsman and the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. She's got her maps, he's got his swords. And the thought of doing what they both take pride in while so near to each other is somehow just as intimate as any other physical interaction they can share with each other.

"Then maybe after that we can…"

There was a sudden, impatient knock outside the library door.

"Uh Zoro? Nami?" The unmistakably shrill voice of their sniper called out. "Can I use the bath now? I've been waiting for my turn for like an hour!"

Nami and Zoro stared at each other with wide eyes. So much for no nakama around. It seems like they would have to kiss their first night alone together goodbye.

"I hope you two are done with whatever you're doing in there." Usopp's voice was a bit loud for their liking. "I don't want to see anything that will defile my eyes!"


- The End –


I just had to put Usopp there. He insists. And I firmly believe that these two, when they're alone with each other, acts a bit differently and actually have their walls down. After all they've known each other for a long time. What's there to hide?

Anyway, R and R please.