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.
Rating: M (Suggestive and sexy?)
Note: Entry for the#ZoNaSummerFestival event in Tumblr. Theme: Ice Cubes.
Summary: The swordsman and the navigator find a way to cool down amidst the heat.
Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven
11: Beat the Heat
"You gonna drink that?"
Nami blearily opened one eye to stare at the speaker.
She frowned when she realized Zoro was standing beside her, pointing at the pitcher of water Sanji had thoughtfully placed near her orange smoothie before heading out with the others to explore the island where they just anchored.
Lifting her sunglasses to glower at the swordsman for disturbing her, she muttered a 'no', before lowering it and settling back to continue her interrupted nap.
She was about to doze off again but was distracted by the sound of glass clinking. She opened an eye again and watched Zoro downed a glass of water without a pause. From the sweat glistening on his muscular body, she surmised he must've finished working out and had just come down from the crow's nest.
She continued to gaze at him as he wiped the sweat off his brow, filling the glass again.
"Why is it so hot?" He complained, brusquely dropping down the lawn to sit beside her deckchair. The ice cubes that the cook graciously filled the pitcher chinked against each other as Zoro set it down in front of him.
"Because," Nami responded in a lazy manner. "We are in a summer island, moron."
"Tch," Zoro sounded out. "You just had to place an insult there witch."
"Can't help it," Nami shrugged, crossing one leg languidly over the other.
"Where are the others?"
"Out exploring."
"In this heat?"
Nami turned her face towards him. "Well we need to know what's in that island don't we?"
"Why aren't you with them?"
"Not up to it."
Zoro had the gall to look a little surprised. "You are passing out on mapping the island and treasure hunting? Wow."
The navigator lifted her head slightly to glare at him. "Of course not! I will go later. When it's not this hot!"
"For a moment you got me thinking that we swapped you with another person in the last island."
She moved her leg to kick him on the shoulder. Her feet slid across his sweaty skin much to her consternation. Zoro caught her ankle before she can do any more damage.
"Eww Zoro!"
"What?"
She wrinkled her nose in disgust, pulling her leg out of his grasp. "You are sweating like a pig."
Zoro merely raised an eyebrow at her. "And you're not?"
"I am. But not like you!"
"We are in a summer island, idiot." Zoro threw her words back at her. "What do you expect?"
"Why you…"
"Stop it Nami. It's bad enough that it's sweltering in this place. Let's not try to get on each other's throats."
"Hmph!" As much as she hates to admit it, he was right. It was too hot to engage in their usual petty squabble.
Zoro rolled his eye at her as she settled back on the chair. As much as he'd want to spar with her verbally, the summer heat is taking too much strength to even do anything but breathe.
Silence reigned between them. He would leave her to her nap if she would just leave him alone to sit silently under the shade of her striped beach umbrella. Though he really cannot understand why the heck she's sunbathing in this kind of heat.
He flicked a glance at her. Nami was quiet now, her breathing even. She must've fallen asleep.
That was rather quick. He had to admire her tolerance for weather. Even he had trouble resting since it feels like he was being cooked alive.
A soft breeze blew from the port side. Not enough to actually cool him down but it is appreciated.
The soft tinkling of the ice cubes melting in the pitcher caught his ears. Shrugging, he grabbed one and started rubbing it on the back of his neck.
Holy shit. That felt good! Really good. The coldness of the ice and the soft breeze served to cool him off a bit and it felt wonderful that he couldn't hold back a groan.
Nami stirred a little. She had dozed off for a few seconds and was on her way to a much deeper slumber when she heard him groan. It was sounded so… sensual that she can't help but pried an eye open to see what's causing it.
She drowsily watched the swordsman as he leisurely ran an ice cube just beneath his nape. The melting water skidded down his muscled back and Nami held her breath as she continued observing what was supposedly a simple act of cooling himself.
Something suddenly stirred inside her. Something she was quite familiar with.
Something she more often than not feels whenever she was alone with the swordsman.
That certain carnal craving for the ex-pirate hunter decided to rear its unwanted head—that one damned thing she kept carefully hidden under wraps.
The navigator—now wide awake—continued watching as if in a trance. She yearned to grab the ice herself and stroke it on broad expanse of his back and his chest. She longed to trace the water gliding down his body with her lips and tongue.
She bit at her inner cheek. To be honest, it was not the first time she thought of trailing her lips and tongue all over his finely-toned built.
Her face heat up as she remembered all the erotic fantasies she had involving her green-haired crewmate.
Zoro chose to tilt his head towards her at the exact moment. Their eyes met and she felt like she would abruptly combust under his piercing stare.
"That looks nice," she managed to say.
"Yeah…"
She removed her sunglasses.
"Here," Zoro offered, grabbing another ice cube from the pitcher and nonchalantly placing it on her leg.
"Aah! Zoro!" She yelped at sudden cold sensation.
"Relax Nami," he laughed at her reaction. He traced a path upwards, past her knee and stopping midway on her thigh before gazing amusedly at her. Her leg involuntarily flinched trying to get him to move it up, wanting to feel the coolness higher.
She frowned when he withdrew his hand to snatch another cube. Her body instinctively edge closer to him, waiting for his ministration.
But she was disappointed when he rubbed the ice on his neck instead of her leg.
Her chocolate brown orbs followed the melted water trailing down from his neck, his chest, his well-defined abs…
She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. The ice cubes were supposed to help cool them down.
But why was it heating her up inside instead?
She cringed when a cold sensation suddenly grazed her collarbone. Her eyes flew open and was surprised to see that Zoro had moved closer to her.
"You looked like you need to cool off," Zoro muttered, though with a hint of amusement in his tone, rubbing the ice he was holding on her skin. "Your face is all flushed."
She couldn't very well tell him that it was not the weather but him that was reason. Instead, she opted to close her eyes and just revel in the sensation of Zoro rubbing an ice cube over her. It's not every day you get this kind of treatment from the ever stoic swordsman.
"Mmm… that feels good." She murmured.
Zoro's lips quirked at that. Nami looked so pleased, the expression on her face making her lovelier to look at. She had tied her hair in messy bun, with a few stray tendrils escaping it, curling at her neck. He brushed away a lock with his finger before grazing her neck with the ice.
Her lips curled contentedly at that. "Zoro…" she all but moaned. "That feels fantastic."
"It does, doesn't it?"
"Mmm… way to beat this heat."
She looks so blissfully satisfied with what he was doing. Boldly, he moved his hand from her neck, to her collarbone and down the swell of her breasts where he stopped, the ice in his hand had melted completely.
She breathlessly called his name again and was looking at him with eyes half-lidded.
"Liked it?"
Nami grinned brazenly. "A lot."
"You are not charging me for all these touching, are you?"
She pouted. "I'm gonna if you don't continue."
Zoro chuckled and placed another ice cube—this time just on top of her navel—tracing a line upward, watching the water mark left by its melting form on her smooth skin.
She bit her lip as shivers ran down her spine. That felt absolutely good.
"Nice?" Zoro asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.
She nodded. "Really nice."
When he moved his hand this time, it was towards the opposite direction. He began to trace the ice downwards, past her navel, stopping just right on top edge of her bikini.
She shuddered involuntarily and bit at her lower lip.
Their eyes met. They held each other's gazes for a moment, each realizing that they both want to cross the imaginary boundaries they had set up for the other.
She continued holding his gaze as the ice and his finger inched lower, deliberately pushing the skimpy cloth down as he leaned his head towards her…
"Oi Nami! Zoro!"
And Zoro pulled back immediately just as she suddenly sat up from her seat. In just a few seconds, the swordsman was already standing near the railing, calling out 'Oi Luffy'; the ice cube and her completely forgotten.
Or so she thinks.
Zoro suddenly tilted his head back at her and she caught his eye. They stared at each other for a few seconds before his gaze riveted on the pitcher near her.
A smirk suddenly appeared on his lips. One that promises nothing good for her.
She responded with a mischievous smile of her own. If this is how he wants to play it, then Kami, she's all for it.
There wouldn't be enough ice cubes in the world to quench off this heat after all.
- The End –
I always like it when I have fun writing a one-shot. So have fun reading it too.
Will probably upload this again as part of a collection. Keyword: probably. Hope RL gives me a break so that I can push it.
R and R please.
