A/N: I hope you like the last chapter of this story :)
It was getting harder for Nami to deny that she was falling in love with Zoro. If she was honest with herself, she had known for a while now that she loved the swordsman, but she was afraid that he would reject her feelings. Sure, they had agreed to have a relationship and she could see that he cared deeply for her, but love meant so much more and she didn't know if his feelings for her were that strong.
Sighing she looked at that man who was now constantly on her mind. He was training on deck, in the sun like every day, fully focused on his exercises. Since she had met him all those years ago his goal to become the world's greatest swordsman had never changed and when they had seen each other again after their two years apart, he seemed even more determined. Was a man who had worked his whole life towards one goal willing to let himself feel this much for a person?
The swordsman in question was completely unaware of Nami's thoughts and was focusing on his training. However today something felt off. Zoro had always been someone with good instincts and they had never lead him astray. He couldn't put his finger on what was going to happen or when, but he was sure the quiet ocean and peaceful silence was deceiving. Looking around he tried to pinpoint where this uneasy feeling was coming from, but he only saw Nami and Robin on deck sunbathing like usual. At the sight of the navigator he had to smirk slightly. When he had first met her, he had never thought that he would feel so much for this woman.
Just when he was ready to tear his eyes away from Nami, a cannonball hit the water close to their ship. Cursing himself for not paying attention to his surrounding, Zoro immediately faced the upcoming battle.
They had faced more intense battles before, but he still got a worthy and strong opponent. Normally he focused solely on the fight, but in the moment when he saw an enemy approach Nami from the side that she wasn't even looking at, he got a tunnel vision. Nothing else but saving her was on his mind, so without thinking much about it, he left his own opponent unobserved and made short shrift of the one that had been about to harm his navigator.
Zoro got to her just in time and struck the attacker down without hesitation. Nami turned around so fast that she lost her balance and fell into Zoro's arms. Now she had never been one for over romantic gestures, but the young woman had to admit that this felt romantic, at least for them. He had come to her and saved her. That he was smirking charmingly at her, pulled her even more into a romantic spell that had no place on the battlefield. As if to remind her of that, their enemy spoke up.
"You should have payed better attention." Was the only warning Zoro got before he felt a searing pain in his right shoulder. His opponent had used the time, that he had been focused on Nami, to strike. The swordsman had to admit that he had been careless, which was unusual for him, especially during a fight.
Nami was pulled out of the romantic spell that she had been putting herself under and could only gasp when she saw the sword in Zoro's right shoulder. This was her fault. If she hadn't gotten herself into trouble, Zoro wouldn't have needed to save her. The navigator put a hand in front of her mouth to keep herself from crying out loud. Sure, this wasn't the first time that he got hurt, but this time it wasn't because he had fought for the whole crew or to achieve his dream, but only because he wanted to save her.
"I thought that you were better than that Roronoa Zoro. Being so careless isn't fitting for a swordsman and all that for a woman."
Zoro didn't even bother with a reply to his opponent's taunting and instead removed the sword from his right shoulder with his bare hand. It hurt, but it wasn't like pain was uncommon for him, so he just turned around to face the man in front of him. Two swords were still enough to beat someone like this and Zoro didn't hesitant before striking the man down. This opponent hadn't really been worth his time after all.
"We have to get you to Chopper." The woman next to him finally found her voice again.
"No, that's only a scratch." Zoro shrugged. This was nothing a few bandages and a nap couldn't fix. There was no need to worry their doctor about it.
"You big idiot. That's more than a scratch, just look at it." Nami screamed at him. In her mind she repeated over and over again that this was all her fault. "Why did you come here? I could have handled that guy alone."
"You didn't even see him." Zoro was slowly getting angry. He had come to save her and all she was doing was shout at him and insult him. "If it weren't for me, you would be hurt right now."
"I don't need you to save me. I don't want you to come for me." Nami didn't know why she was saying this, but if he got hurt when he came for her, she didn't want him to. He meant so much to her and she could now admit to herself that she loved him, so the last thing she wanted was for him to get hurt for her sake. Little did Nami know that her words hurt Zoro more than the wound on his shoulder was.
For a moment the swordsman could only stare at the woman in front of him. She didn't want to be saved by him. After everything they had experienced together, after starting a relationship, after being so close, she said something like this. What had just happened had made him realize that he indeed loved her. When he had seen that she was in danger nothing else but her safety had mattered to him. The will to protect her was the best indication for him to know how deep his feelings for her really ran. His sensei had once told him that a man would get even stronger if he had someone who he wanted to protect with all his heart. Back then Zoro hadn't understood what the old man meant, but now it made sense. However it didn't matter now after her words. She refused his protection which meant to him that she refused his love for her. How could he have been so stupid to let himself fall for her?
Without giving her even one last look, Zoro turned around. The rest of the crew had already fought off the other enemies, so he had nothing to worry about. Chopper immediately ran over to him when he saw his wounded shoulder and called out for a doctor, only to have Usopp remind him that he was the doctor. Zoro didn't really care and didn't even protest when the little reindeer pulled him into the infirmary. His shoulder hurt, but it wasn't this pain that he felt the most right now. The pain in his heart was stronger and he knew that no matter how much the little reindeer would try, he wouldn't be able to get rid of that pain. The only one who could was the woman who didn't want to be protected by him.
"Your wound is bandaged now and it isn't that deep, but you shouldn't train for the next few days." Knowing him, Chopper added sighing. "Or at last only with one arm."
The swordsman nodded in understanding, but the smirk that he gave the little reindeer wasn't bright like it normally was, his thoughts were still on Nami.
"You should talk to her." Chopper's voice made him look up. "I might not be as observant as Robin, but I recognize a broken heart when it's right in front of me."
"A doctor through and through." Zoro's smirk was more honest now, but it still hold a sad edge to it.
"Seriously, Zoro. Talk to her. She already lost someone she loved while their were protecting her, so you can't blame her for worrying that it'll happen again. You both lost people you loved, don't lose that love you have for each other as well."
Feelings had never been a comfortable topic for Zoro. He was neither good in talking about them nor expressing them, but with Chopper it was easier to understand Nami's feelings. He had only wanted to let her go because he had thought that she didn't want to be with him anymore. Now hearing Chopper's explanation for her behavior, he knew the real reason and he would fight for her. What a swordsman would he be without fighting for who he loved?
"Thanks, Chopper."
Nami sat under one of her mikans trees. Why did her heart hurt so much? She was doing the right thing in ending her relationship with Zoro. He was getting hurt because of her, just like Bellemere had. She didn't want him to give his life for her. However if what she was doing was the right decision, why did it feel so wrong? Her heart hurt when she thought back to the look in Zoro's eye before he had turned away from her. It was nearly impossible to hurt Zoro emotionally, but she had done it with no other weapon than her words.
"I knew that you would be here." The deep voice of the man who had stolen her heart and wouldn't leave her thoughts, was heard. "I'll protect you no matter if we're together or not. We're pirates and we live a dangerous life."
Nami let his words sink in. Was she willing to give up loving him at the risk of losing him? Looking at the man in front of her, she made her decision.
"At least be more careful." She smiled almost shyly at him and stood up to face him. He smirked at her and pulled her into his arms.
"I'll protect you forever." That was Zoro's unique love confession and Nami could only return it.
"I'll always be by your side, so you won't get lost."
With their promises made they could finally have a future together. Pirates didn't get to experience love often, so they would make it count.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)