#1x20-1x30 ✍︎︎
It's starting to feel like the past is set on joining him in the present. This is the sense Zoro has of today. First, the dream about Kuina, and now the arrival of his old pirate-hunting allies. The swordsman doesn't know how he should interpret these signs. He feels relief, anticipation, and this shallow barb of uncertainty. Concern quickly intermingles with the rest inside his gut. Yosaku doesn't look good, and with the memory of Kuina's death still fresh in his subconscious, there's a tangible trickle of fear flushing through his veins. The broken way Johnny asks him if their friend is going to die is emotionally strenuous. Zoro doesn't know what to tell him.
The familiar sound of a distinct pair of footsteps brushing against the Going Merry's deck tugs on the corners of his attention. He ignores it. Nami isn't his focus right now.
"So dumb..." Her comment lights a spark of fury in his chest.
"Watch it." His snarl is abrasive and far harsher than it needs to be, but Zoro doesn't care if her feelings have gotten hurt. She's the one acting out of line when his friend is likely only meters from death's door.
Annoyed brown eyes click in his direction before returning to survey his friend. The navigator kneels, and with intrusive diligence, she begins examining one of Yosaku's eyes and tongue. Her lack of urgency is a good thing, Zoro decides. She's the only one amongst their crew with medical knowledge, so his friend will live if she's not outwardly panicking. Her request for limes initially sounds strange, but her explanation resolves the oddness quickly. Admittedly, while he's heard of "scurvy" before, Zoro's never had a reason or opportunity to know what the illness entails. He supposes this tidbit of medical knowledge would be a good thing to remember.
Yosaku's miraculous recovery stuns them all momentarily. Zoro's glad to see his friend so lively again and back on his feet, although rationally, it seems a little too good to be true after how pale and lifeless the pirate hunter had been moments ago. After ignoring her initial warning, Nami doesn't look even remotely surprised when Yosaku collapses again.
"They never listen," she sniffs in disdain. The swordsman finally settles the entirety of his focus on her, and Nami stabs him with an unimpressed look.
"Don't just stand there. Pick him up and move him to storage. There are some crates inside we can turn into a bed. Bring the limes, too. NOW."
All four men jump into action simultaneously. It's an embarrassingly uncoordinated display of teamwork.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
This opportunity that Zoro has been waiting his entire life for has finally come to fruition. The world's "Greatest Swordsman" is practically on the horizon. The singular challenge that motivated him towards a life at sea could happen anytime as they get closer to the Grand Line. Zoro can't remember the last time he's felt such intense excitement. The adrenaline surging through his veins will make it difficult to sleep tonight.
Zoro glances around the empty lounge. His eyes paused over the vacant spot against the wall where Nami had previously been sitting. In recent weeks, fucking the navigator had been an excellent way to settle the restless energy in his body. That calm and boneless, relaxed state he falls into after a couple of rounds is a sensation his meditation could never achieve. Bedding the thief is a solid guarantee for ebbing away the sleeplessness, so visiting her quarters is on his to-do list for the night.
Shifting his focus to the tired pirate hunter drinking across from him, Zoro notes that Johnny desperately needs a good night's rest. Finishing his pint, he gets up and rounds the table corner.
"Johnny," he claps his old friend on the back of the shoulder. "Take my hammock. I'll watch over Yosaku tonight." His reasoning isn't entirely selfless, but Johnny doesn't need to know this.
Pleasantly surprised, Johnny peers up at him through dark lenses. "Really, big bro?"
"Yeah," he confirms.
Tears slide down Johnny's cheeks beneath his sunglasses. "Thanks, big bro," the pirate hunter sniffles. "It means a lot."
Zoro waits for Johnny to finish his pint before guiding him out of the lounge and down to the hatch door beside the mast. Once his tattooed friend has disappeared out of sight, Zoro hollers up to Usopp to let the sharpshooter know he's calling it a night until his shift. Then, he moves to storage.
Closing the storage door, Zoro checks on Yosaku. His friend is fairing much better with more lime juice in his system. Color has returned to his skin, and he doesn't look like a lingering corpse. Satisfied, the swordsman moves to the door leading down to Nami's room. Predictably, the hatch door remains unlatched; a faint trickle of lamplight beaming through the door's edges tells him the navigator's still wide awake.
As he descends the stairs, Zoro finds Nami charting at her desk.
"How's your friend?" Concentrated eyes remain glued to the book pages she's scribbling in.
He closes the hatch door, "better." Her quill's shadow sways across the ceiling with a fierce confidence that momentarily captures his gaze.
Nami snorts wryly at that. "So dumb," is exhaled out in a muted tone. Her quill's shadow stops dancing, and Zoro pauses two steps from the bottom to observe her. Nami runs her fingers through her hair subconsciously, and while not intentional, he finds the action alluring. She gathers all her hair off her neck and pins it with a sculpted claw clip she had found one morning in a drawer in the armoire. The smooth column of her neck glows under the lamplight, and he can feel the stirrings of lust in his belly. As her arms lower, his attention snares on her right forearm. Pale hand marks press into her skin, and the flutterings of desire are suddenly gone. He's at her side instantly, concern and alarm seeping through his skin. She jerks in surprise when he lifts her arm.
Sometimes, their sex gets rough; it's a dynamic they enjoy, but he's always been careful with controlling his strength. He didn't do these marks. The moment she started examining Yosaku now comes to mind. Johnny's reactive response at the time immediately follows.
He feels like shit.
Nami shifts around in her chair to study him. A moment later, understanding settles onto her face.
"I'm fine," she tells him matter-of-factly. "This isn't my first time being grabbed by force." Hearing this doesn't soothe his discomfort, and her way of shrugging off such a loaded admission compresses the air in his chest. Images of faceless men hurting her to the point of bruising stampede through his head. He's starting to feel a little sick to his stomach now. The graphicness of these images jumps into darker territory, and he has to force them out with scathing determination.
FUCK. This isn't what he wants to be thinking about right now.
Zoro looks down at her in helpless frustration. "I'm sorry," his jaw flexes stiffly.
"Why are you apologizing?" She asks. "It's not a big deal."
But it is. She is his crew mate—his friend—and he is supposed to protect her. Being concerned for Yosaku's well-being was graspable but not an excuse. Johnny hurt her, and Zoro had let him. The swordsman isn't okay with that. He needs to do better.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Nami pushes back her chair and stands up. She gathers her papers and books wordlessly before putting them neatly to the side. Her quill and ink pot are tucked away next. Then, she turns around and sits on the edge of her desk. The feeling of her hands gingerly holding onto his helps him reorient. She guides his palms to her hips and prompts him to come closer. Eventually, he does.
"I'm fine, Zoro," Nami repeats, softer this time. She rests her forearms over his shoulders and weaves her fingers together behind his head. Her thumbs rub soothing lines into the tense muscles stretched tightly throughout his neck. Gradually, Nami's ministrations ease the uncomfortable web of knots in his stomach. The navigator tilts her head back to look up at him, and her eyes focus on the strained emotions still inscribed on his face.
"If anything," she adds with a dash of humor. "I was more bothered by the shower of saliva."
He finally cracks a smile.
"I got hit twice."
"Johnny tends to do that," he acknowledges.
"That's what the sunglasses must be for." Her quip succeeds in pushing a surprised chuckle out of his chest.
"Must be," he plays along. A beat later, "I should have said it earlier, but thanks."
Nami smiles. Zoro has nothing else to say; dipping his head, he kisses her. She hums her approval, and he takes her to bed.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
"We only made our flag the day before yesterday," Luffy declares to the Marines.
Internally, Zoro winces. You don't need to announce that, you idiot. It just makes us look bad.
"That's right, Marine. AND I DREW IT!" At this point, their reputation has perished. Zoro doesn't think they can save it.
A few steps ahead, Nami cradles her face weakly in her hands. She shakes her head from side to side in mortified disbelief. At least he wasn't alone.
Iron-fist Fullbody doesn't waste any time expressing his mockery. His comments do little more than irritate the swordsman. Truthfully, the green-haired tri-sword wielder finds more offense in the man's outfit than in his subpar insults. What kind of suit needs that many folds in its lapel? A stupid one, the swordsman concludes.
Zoro remains a bystander as Fullbody trades snide remarks with Johnny and Yosaku. Even when bounties litter the deck, he stays relatively impassive, content to watch everything unfold. The marines' attempt to sink their ship fails, just as Luffy's best efforts to return fire fail. However, the swordsman decides his captain does deserve a little bit of credit. Luffy's 'slingshot' maneuver does deliver damage to a ship…just not the correct one. He also nearly kills Baratie's head chef in the process.
As his captain gets hauled away for questioning, Zoro is surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. Luffy has an uncanny ability to get into sticky situations: birds, cages, and quack hypnotism. Terrible cannon firing and detainment seem to fit right in on the list.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
While waiting for Luffy to return, Zoro rests on the forward cannon deck. The steady hammering of a mallet hitting wood and the ginger rock of the waves up against the boat create a fantastic background track for napping. From one side of the lamb figurehead, Usopp lets out a bored sigh.
"What's taking Luffy so long?"
Opening his eyes, Zoro peers over the white railing and stares at the turquoise water. He is starting to wonder the same thing. The idea of loitering outside this restaurant for an entire month doesn't sound appealing.
"That's it," Nami decides with a burdened huff. "Let's go. If we leave him alone, he might be forced to stay a whole year at this rate."
Swiveling his attention over to her, Zoro catches her line of sight as she turns to regard him. Her silent, 'Are you coming?' washes over him, and he torpidly rises to his feet in response.
"I can't wait to try this food," Usopp's stomach lets out a well-timed growl. The sharpshooter's cheekbones dust pink. Clearing his throat, Usopp quickly marches forward, "Do not fear the ferocious lion in my stomach, dear comrades, and follow me!"
"A lion?" Nami teasingly laughs as the sniper disappears down the stairs. "That sounded more like a cub."
Snorting at the imagery that pops into his head, Zoro waits for Nami by the stairs.
"Should we tell them we're leaving?" Nami nods towards the pirate-hunting duo still working on the railing in front of the lounge. Tilting his focus towards the mast, Zoro dedicates little time to finding his answer.
"Nah," he elects. "They'll figure it out."
Zoro descends to the deck with the navigator at his heels.
Usopp's waiting for them impatiently inside the dinghy. "Can you guys be any slower?!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Nami retorts smoothly. "I forgot the lion cub was so hungry." Usopp flounders for a comeback as Nami gracefully boards the smaller boat. Leaping down to join them, Zoro laughs at how red the sniper's face has gotten. Her comedic timing could be as sharp as a blade sometimes; it's an aspect of her intelligence that he often enjoys. When they're all settled, the trio departs.
The swordsman doubts they'll get lost on the short way over, but Nami still navigates them. You would have to be a complete idiot to lose sight of a giant floating fish in the middle of the sea. When he comments this offhand, the orange-haired navigator throws back a look that reads: 'You would be the idiot.' He counters with a silent rebuttal: 'Then I guess idiots turn you on after all.' Her face crinkles in mild offense, and his lips turn smugly in victory.
As they near the dock, Usopp's galant voice drifts across the waves, "Have I told you guys about that time I battled a giant goldfish?"
"Yes," the pair deadpans in unison. "Usopp, tie the rope."
Disappointed at being shot down, the sharpshooter lets go of his paddle, grabs the rope, and hops up on the dock while grumbling out complaints.
Waiting for Usopp to finish securing the line, Zoro admires the view before him. Nami is giving him a glorious close-up of her derriere while she watches Usopp tie down the boat. The swordsman finds it disappointing that the commotion inside the restaurant suddenly draws his attention away.
Sounds of glass and china breaking hasten their disembarking. Zoro can sense how nervous Usopp is behind his back as they near the door. The swordsman isn't all that concerned, and he strongly doubts there is anything inside Baratie that he can't handle. Opening the door rather unceremoniously, Zoro takes his first step inside.
"Hm," he notes with a dash of interest. "A fight."
𖣘𖣘𖣘
The atmosphere inside of Baratie currently has the climate of a tavern rather than that of a high-end culinary establishment. Zoro finds it humorous. From his spot against the door jam, he's got a good vantage point to watch the ongoing chaos unfold. He's not wary of their safety, but out of habit, he keeps his crew on one side of himself and the fight on the other. His attention meanders briefly from person to person. When it settles back on the skirmish at hand, he catches a few bits and pieces of dialogue frantically uttered into the blond waiter's ears. It seems like this type of conflict happens routinely. Perhaps Baratie is just one glorified tavern, after all.
Fight should be wrapping up soon, is what Zoro was starting to think a second before his captain came crashing down through the fucking ceiling.
The patrons gasp. Usopp releases a heavy sigh. Nami shakes her head, and Zoro mentally adds 'ceiling crashing' to his ever-growing Luffy list.
Baratie's head chef appears to have also taken a tumble through the ceiling.
At least he's not dead, Zoro considers that an optimistic sign. The old guy is also pretty adept at kicking ass with a peg leg. The swordsman is microscopically amazed. Violence also seems to be in abundance here, he determines, after witnessing yet another cook tussle around with an escaped marine prisoner.
Baratie is an exciting place.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
"Good grief," Nami sighs in disbelief. "He can't go anywhere without causing trouble."
"You're telling me," Zoro hangs an arm over the back of his dining chair.
Nami sits across from him, behind a table with finely pressed white linen. Dishes exuding heavenly aromas decorate the top. On his right, Usopp glances hungrily from plate to plate, nearly drooling.
"Oh. Oh! There he is!" Usopp hisses, food entirely forgotten.
Nami pivots in her chair to look up at the curling staircase, and a broad smile dashes across her face. "Chore-boy!" She summons excitedly.
Their captain doesn't enjoy the moniker. He seems to despise it, a fact his crew finds great enjoyment in. Luffy bemoans the unfairness of his situation, envies their expansive course of food, and storms over like an incensed sea beast. Steam is practically shooting out of his ears over their apparent betrayal. "WHAT KIND OF CREW ARE YOU?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
"Hold on, I think that's our business, isn't that right?" Zoro doesn't have many pastimes, but giving Luffy shit is undoubtedly one of them.
Pettily, his captain contaminates his water glass and thinks he won't notice. Which, in any other situation, would be comical. Luffy is the farthest fucking thing from stealthy. Zoro isn't a petty guy; he's got more honor than that. But if you slight him, he will get even.
Case in point.
"You know, I have to say the food here is quite delicious." Zoro convincingly fakes ignorance as he gradually lifts the water glass to his mouth. There's uncontrollable cackling on his right side that he purposefully ignores, "Good stuff. Yes, it is."
"I feel bad for you, but—" Luffy is, understandably, completely blindsided when Zoro starts shoving the water down his throat. "YOU SHOULD BE DRINKING THIS YOURSELF."
Nami and Usopp are on the verge of asphyxiating from how hard they're laughing. None of the remaining guests share their amusement. Zoro stares down at his captain, floundering on the floor, not remorseful.
"Oh dear ocean, thank you for this treasure you have shared from your depths—" The sound of some pathetic sap trying to woo a woman echoes in his ears. Zoro doesn't realize that the voice is coming from their table until he hears Nami's surprised intake of breath. The cigarette-puffing waiter from the earlier fight has suddenly materialized out of thin air and kneels at her side. Instinctively, Zoro reaches for his trio of swords when it looks like the waiter is holding a weapon at first glance. The swordsman halts mid-reach after recognizing that the blond has a rose clutched in his hand and not a knife. Balling his fists, he shoves them into his pants pockets to avoid reaching for his swords anyway.
"—Ah yes, my love, I can't bear this hardship with loving you from afar; it is too difficult. I am now prepared to sail to the ends of the earth as a pirate if it means someone of your rare beauty will be by my side."
He's laying it on a little thick, Zoro scowls in disgust. Everything about this guy is starting to annoy him. The man's got countless other women to fawn over in this fucking restaurant, and he picks her. He's not bothered by the idea of another man giving Nami attention. What bothers him is that he won't be able to stomach all this delicious food while the womanizing cook tries to win Nami over with nauseating flirtations.
Thankfully, the head chef interrupts just in time.
Zoro returns to his seat and leans back to observe this battle of wits unfold between the head chef and the blond waiter. Now this is an interaction he can stomach during a meal. In one of the most incredible displays of crewmanship the world will likely ever see—Zoro, Nami, and Usopp collectively gather all the untouched plates of food seconds before their waiter rockets through the table.
It doesn't take Sanji long to set up a new table for them after the kerfuffle. He bestows Nami with an artfully crafted Fruit Macedonia and a drink made from some edible pink concoction to apologize for the disturbance. The rest of the crew is served tea.
Zoro isn't surprised when Usopp starts arguing with their waiter over the apparent bias. He's even less surprised when the sniper asks him to do the fighting. Zoro's staying out of it; it was a lost fight from the beginning. Nami attempts to defuse the situation with flattery. Poor sucker doesn't even know he's getting played right now. The swordsman takes a pitying sip from his tea as he observes their waiter wrap tighter around the navigator's finger. Sanji nearly melts when Nami throws her arms around his neck, and Zoro's frankly a little revolted.
"You guys still have to pay, though—" It's interesting how Sanji only looks at Zoro when he delivers the news.
"How very 'generous' of you," the swordsman replies with a heavy dose of sarcasm. It's a shame the man doesn't know Nami's paying for them.
Sanji shoots one more pointed look Zoro's way before he drags their captain back to work. Does he think they're rivals for her love or something? The notion is equal parts absurd and amusing. Maybe Zoro should take it as a backhanded compliment since the waiter believes Zoro is the only worthy competitor in their crew.
Finishing his tea, Zoro watches Nami slide over the remaining half of her Fruit Macedonia to quell the sniper's bellyaching. Her gaze finds him, and he quirks an unimpressed brow at her. She playfully rolls her eyes, and his lips tilt to one side. The swordsman supposes he can let Sanji have this fantasized victory. After all, he was the one Nami routinely had sex with.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
The first night docking at Baratie is surprisingly calm. Except for a few smaller boats, the floating restaurant's docks remain relatively empty beside their own. While sharing a drink with Johnny and Yosaku in the lounge, Johnny mentions this is common. According to him, the docks will fill with traveling ships again starting at first light.
Zoro returns to his seat against the wall after getting up for his eighth mugful of ale. Once again, it was just Johnny and him left in the lounge. Yosaku was technically still there but was passed out on the floor beside the table. His figurative absence wasn't that big of a deal. Zoro is just glad he has time to spend with them again. Having this opportunity to catch up about his good old days of pirate hunting was nice.
"I still can't believe it, big bro," Johnny says while filling his mug. "You, a pirate."
Zoro flicks an amused glance over the table, "I know."
"What made you do it?"
The swordsman chuckles, "Better opportunities, I suppose."
Better opportunities. Better ship. Better living conditions. Better se—
"It seems like you have a great life on board, big bro; I'm happy for you." Johnny lifts his mug for a toast.
"Thanks, Johnny," he toasts back.
"Your crew doesn't seem half bad either," his sunglasses-wearing friend continues, and Zoro gets the sense that Johnny's going somewhere with this conversation.
"They have their moments."
Zoro leans against the wall while waiting for his friend to continue.
"Big sis Nami is easy on the eyes. Very pretty."
Ah. There it is.
He hopes this conversation isn't going where he thinks it might be. Zoro cares about his friend but doesn't have the energy to deal with another man hitting on his crew's navigator tonight. The blond bastard was already one too many, and Zoro wasn't in the mood to become Johnny's wingman. He had Yosaku for that. The swordsman takes a long drink. When he lowers his mug, he finally takes notice of the expectant look his friend is not so stealthily giving him.
For fucks sake.
"She's alright." He's bending the truth in hopes of saving himself some embarrassment. Zoro knows that Nami's beautiful. Nami knows that she's beautiful. He doesn't need to tell her or anyone else, for that matter. If someone exists who doesn't know this, then they don't have good eyes. Simple.
The pirate hunter gives him a look between disbelief and concern. The concern throws him off a little.
"Where are you going with this, Johnny?" Zoro is ready for this talk to be over.
Johnny shifts rigidly in his seat, "Look, big bro...I'm no love guru or anything…and I know relationships aren't your thing—"
Zoro's grip around his mug handle tightens infinitesimally.
Okay. So, this conversation isn't going where he thought it was. That's good. What's not good is that this conversation is now going in an even worse direction.
"—fuck, this makes me uncomfortable," the pirate hunter tries again. You and me both, the swordsman silently agrees.
"There's some tension between you and big sis. All I'm tryna' say is that it might be a good idea to, you know, let off some steam before your big fight with Hawkeye. Get a clear head and all. 'Cause I know this is important to you, and you're my big bro. I don't want you to have any regrets on the off chance you kick the bucket after this fight."
Zoro snorts in displeasure, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, there, Johnny. Means a lot."
Johnny backpedals, "N-Not that you're going to; I know you got this big bro. It's just…I know it's probably been a while for you since you've been with anyone—same for my partner and me—and since big sis Nami seems interested in you…physically…I thought it would be a good opportunity for you. I'm just tryna' look out for you as your pal, I guess."
The swordsman doesn't know what to say…he also has this abrupt urge to laugh. He wants to laugh because this situation is so fucking absurd. He can't get over that his friend has stumbled so close to the truth and is still so far away from it. Does he admit that this 'dry spell' hasn't been dry for quite a while?
"J-Just…think on my suggestion, yea?" Johnny tacks on jerkily.
"…Sure."
When Yosaku wakes up dazed and inquires about what he's missed a moment later, awkwardness immediately settles in. Zoro wordlessly takes a heavy sip from his mug as Johnny rubs the back of his head.
"N-Nothing, partner," Johnny replies. "We're just talking 'bout the good old days…"
𖣘𖣘𖣘
On their third night docked at Baratie—while the crew is all gathered together drinking in the Going Merry's lounge—Zoro lowers his mug and settles his gaze transitorily on the door. Nami still wasn't back yet. She had left to use the bathroom, which wasn't a cause for alarm. But this trip's timing was double compared to what it usually was. It's not like he's actively surveilling her…but paying attention to his surroundings is part of his job. Frequently, he notices things that others don't. And one of those noticeable things is that the navigator has been a little off today. Reserved. Less cheerful. Her flawless attempts at conning their waiter for a more significant discount have been subdued, too.
Everyone has an off day. Zoro isn't concerned; he doesn't care much about what's soured her mood either. Truthfully, he's had far more critical things to focus on these last three days. His fight with Hawkeye, for example. But Zoro starts to remember the bruises Johnny left on Nami's right arm and how he had felt when he finally noticed them. A part of him is nervous now that he might miss something detrimental like that again. So, as attentive as he is toward preparing for his future clash with Hawkeye, he also can't ignore this subtle shift in her behavior.
The swordsman waits a few more minutes before throwing back the rest of his ale and getting up from his customary spot on the floor.
"Where're you going, Zoro?" Usopp swivels inebriated, blurry eyes in Zoro's general direction.
"To take a piss," is his crass answer. As he sets his empty mug on the table, his line of sight tangles with Johnny's. The pirate hunter seems to think this action is deliberate. It isn't. Awkwardly, his friend clears his throat: "We'll take the next watch after you, big bro. Right partner?" Johnny brutally elbows his partner in the ribs. Choking on his mouthful, Yosaku nods. Zoro sincerely hopes Johnny isn't trying to wink at him from behind his sunglasses. That would be too much.
Deciding to go along with the convenient and opportunistic alibi Johnny has graciously provided, Zoro exits the lounge and pursues Nami.
He finds the navigator looking up at the stars with her elbows resting on the rear cannon deck's railing. With muted steps, he comes to join her. Leaning his left hip against a post, Zoro pivots just enough to study her more clearly in the moonlight. Johnny's awkwardly spoken "Big sis Nami is easy on the eyes" floats through his ears. She is…pretty. Especially like this. With pale moonlight draping over every one of her features. It's haunting how much she glows inside and out while standing beneath the stars.
Reminiscent of those first few days at sea together, Nami looks over at him after a prolonged while. He arches a brow at her, and instead of rolling her eyes, she offers him a bijou smile. It throws him off guard. This wasn't a part of their script. Gradually, her smile fades, and the sight doesn't sit well with him. Nami's gaze returns to the sky, her brown eyes heavily contemplative.
"What does true strength mean to you?" She inquires suddenly.
Zoro thinks of Kuina. Shifting his hips, he settles his palms on the railing and looks out at the calm, dark expanse of water. It takes him a moment to formulate an answer.
"Having the guts to get back up and fight no matter how many times you're knocked down," he finally decides. Feeling her gaze brushing across his face, the swordsman looks right. Nami's eyes twinkle mirthfully in his peripherals.
"What?"
"Nothing," the corners of her lips edge up into the beginnings of another smile. "It's just…a very you answer, that's all."
Exhaling a muted snort of amusement, Zoro returns her query.
"You're smart; what's true strength to you?"
Zoro witnesses a few strands of lustrous orange hair slipping out from behind her ear as he waits. Something about this sight coerces him to move closer; instinctively, he does.
Nami's eyes flutter across the sea, seemingly in search of something.
"Someone once told me that the greatest strength is living through every moment and smiling in the face of it all."
"They sound clever."
A despondent half-smile ghosts over her lips, "She was."
The navigator starts nictitating rapidly, almost trying to free her eyes from unwelcome tears. A moment later, any sign of despondency and phantom teardrops he might have seen suddenly vanish like a mirage. She's Nami again.
Tucking her hair back in place, Zoro traces the shell of her ear with torpid, calloused fingers. What compels him to cradle her cheek with his hand next, he can't entirely fathom. Nami's face tilts further into his hand, almost as if she's seeking out this small dose of warmth and comfort he unknowingly provides. Her lashes dance against the tops of her cheeks, and he's stunned when her eyelids finally open.
There are constellations in her eyes.
"You're…" Gorgeous.
Zoro stops himself abruptly. Something about this moment is bewitching him, and he feels unsettled by it. Exposed. Alarms are blaring in his head to step away; he's encroaching on intimate, emotional territory that he wants to stay wildly fucking far away from.
"…face is cold." What he eventually settles on makes him wince internally. His ears redden in mortification.
The navigator blinks owlishly at him for a moment. A beat later, she descends into full-blown laughter. "Was…was that a pick-up line?"
Scowling, he refutes: "Hell no."
Fuck he was never going to live this one down.
Despite the embarrassing blunder, Zoro still takes Nami's hand, which she extends to him after collecting herself. Weaving their fingers together, she leads him across the cannon deck. The hand-holding is an intimate display he's not accustomed to, and while the action puts him on edge, the weight of her hand in his doesn't feel too bad. Hanging his free arm over the trio of hilts at his side, the swordsman lets her pull him down the steps and into the store room without complaint.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
Their fourth day at Baratie gifts them with fog. Beside him, Usopp complains, yet again, about how boring everything is right now. Being stuck here for an entire year would be disastrous; Zoro doesn't know if he can go another day listening to Usopp's whining.
"—Quit whining; this place is great. Plus, all the food here is free!" Zoro's left eye flicks open at Nami's interjection. He sends her a dry, unamused glance. "Yeah, for you it is."
The navigator twists her torso in his direction. There's this playful smile lifting her lips that he's all too familiar with. "Don't forget who's still paying for everything," she sings humorously. The swordsman fully opens his eyes and scrutinizes her. By all accounts, her mood and behavior have returned to normal. Still, he can't shake this feeling that she's putting more force behind her cheeriness today. Closing his eyes, Zoro returns to his nap. He is probably just making something out of nothing.
His nap is short-lived. There's this sudden shift in the air that hints at danger. Battle-honed instincts flare to life with zeal, and Zoro awakens to discover a floating graveyard peeling its way through low-hanging layers of fog. Swiftly rising to his feet, Zoro slides his three katanas into place. He approaches the Going Merry's figurehead and throws a panoramic stare outward.
"Hey, see that?" Usopp voices timorously. "It looks bad…What do you think is going on in there?"
Untroubled by the commotion, he tenders, "Don't know. Let's go inside and see."
"Are you serious?!" The sniper shrieks.
"Sure am," Zoro bumps a taunting gaze left. "You sound scared."
"I am NOT scared!" The swordsman grins, hearing this remark.
The looming vestige of Don Krieg's ship hooks his attention once more. The colossal-sized boat looks like it's being barely held together. Frankly, Zoro's impressed it even made it this far.
A blast akin to cannon firing disgorges loudly through the Baratie's front door. Watching smoke unfurl, Zoro was relieved he didn't leave the forward cannon deck immediately.
Deciding they've waited long enough, Zoro grabs a fistful of Usopp's overalls just in case the sniper decides to flee. He wheels his attention to Nami.
"You coming?"
Widened brown eyes move to him briefly. She manages to extend him a weak, trembling smile. "I'll keep watching from here."
She's putting on a brave front despite how scared she is. Her mettle is shining through her fear, and he silently applauds her. This sudden and inexplicable nanoscopic compulsion inside his head tells him to kiss her. Zoro squashes it.
"Suit yourself," he shrugs. Then he practically hauls Usopp down the stairs before the sharpshooter can change his mind.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
The landscape inside of Baratie is arguably less disastrous than the swordsman initially thought. It's a good sign. While Zoro's delivery of the dialogue that follows his and Ussop's entrance is slick, the sniper ruins their cohesiveness with unconfident boasting and violently shaking knees.
Fuck, he laments. I should've just gone in alone.
Zoro's focus glides momentarily from Don Krieg to his captain. Luffy's gotten it in his head that the womanizing waiter will be their ship's cook. The swordsman can't say he finds the same appeal in that choice. But despite Luffy's questionable handling of situations, Zoro trusts his captain's judgement of people. The rubber man hasn't led them astray yet.
With Don Krieg's departure, Zoro's expectations over the severity of the situation slip considerably for the time being. Until Hawkeye Mihawk is brought up, that is.
The revelation that Hawkeye single-handedly destroyed a fifty-ship fleet physically unsettles him. The heightened anticipation of facing Hawkeye sometime in the near future calcifies uncomfortably in his stomach. He's waited his entire life for such a chance. He's even prepared to wait a whole lifetime more if he must.
A force of air strong enough to tear through what remains of Don Krieg's ship pushes tsunami-sized waves into the side of the floating restaurant. Zoro's grip on the spiral railing tightens as the boat rocks violently from one side to the other. It isn't until he catches Luffy racing towards the closest door that the horrifying realization of what's happening outside finally hits him. Nami, Johnny, and Yosaku are still trapped on the Going Merry. He knows that Nami's a damn good navigator, but even she couldn't have predicted something like this and been able to get the ship away in time.
That cold fear, which consumed him when she nearly got decapitated before his eyes, bleeds into his skin with icy intensity. Zoro can't get out of Baratie fast enough.
Johnny and Yosaku's desperate cries tear through the loud sounds of Don Krieg's ship falling apart. Zoro's feet carry him to the railing on autopilot. As he's rushing, he spots Johnny and Yosaku treading water below. Anxious eyes frantically scour the water for a familiar orange head. Not finding one amongst the debris instills panic.
His pulse is slamming inside of his ears.
"Are you okay?!" The swordsman barely registers that Luffy's spoken. His right-hand grips fiercely around the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji. Feeling the handle's Ito pressing into his palm helps to ground him. He needs to keep a clear head. But even as he's reminding himself of this over and over again, his eyes keep straying to the water. Searching.
"What happened to the ship? Where's Nami?! Is she okay?!"
"I'm sorry, big bro. I don't know how to say this, but she's gone."
It feels as if his heart stops, just for a second.
"Big sis Nami—" "—She took all the treasure and sailed away."
A savage thud collides against his rib cage, and suddenly, his heart starts beating again. The suffocating hold around his lungs slackens, and it feels like he can finally breathe again.
She's…Nami's okay.
Relief washes over him. Disbelief follows shortly after. The final emotion, anger, devours him. He feels anger because she left. He feels anger because she's betrayed them. He feels anger because, for a single, horrific moment, he thought she actually drowned and he would never see her again. Never hold her hand. Hear her laugh. Feel her lips against his own or catch that fondly exasperated rolling of her eyes.
He's fucking livid. Slamming his fist into one of Baratie's exterior walls doesn't lessen the rage cooking at a rolling boil inside his chest. But it does help him reorient just enough to feel slightly more clear-headed.
"—Zoro, Usopp! Don't just stand there; take their ship and go get Nami!"
"Calm down. Let her keep the ship. Trust me, that woman is way more trouble than she's worth." The bitter, scathing words are spoken in fury. He's hurt, and he has questions. So many questions parallel to the sensation of acid burning through his skin every time he comes up with a new one. There's such a large part of his psyche that wants to cut ties with her violently. Forsake her just as she has forsaken them. Him. He doesn't need to know why she did it; he only wants to purge everything about her from his mind. The sooner, the better.
"She's the only person I'll accept as the ship's navigator!" Luffy's blind conviction cuts through the darkness, enveloping his mind. Zoro's surprised. Loathingly, he's also relieved.
Luffy looks straight past Usopp and directly at Zoro. His captain stares him down with pleading, determined, and knowing eyes. The swordsman wonders what exactly his captain seems to know. He doubts the guy has been aware of their entanglement up until now. But there are plenty of other things Luffy might have come to discover. Like the swordsman's deepening friendship with the navigator. Or how he still dedicates some time each day to observing the orange-haired woman out of habit. Maybe what Luffy knows is only related to this moment: putting his anger and hurt aside, deep down, the truth is that Zoro won't accept anyone else as the ship's navigator either. The strengthening behind Luffy's stare hints that this last option is correct.
"Fine," he sighs in helpless frustration. "I'll do it."
Zoro presses his palm against his forehead and closes his eyes to quell the swarm of volatile feelings in his chest. "You're one high-maintenance Captain, you know that?" Lowering his hand, the swordsman spears the sharpshooter with a look that brokers no room for argument. "Alright, Usopp, let's go."
As they wait for Johnny and Yosaku to maneuver their dinghy over, Zoro tosses Usopp an annoyed look. The sniper has been staring at him this entire time with a complex expression, and it's starting to piss the swordsman off. "What?" He snaps.
Meekly, the sniper quickly deflects his attention. "N-Nothing!"
"The ship's ready for action, big bro Zoro!"
Zoro passes his gaze evanescently to Luffy. "Hey, what about you?"
"I should probably stick around here until I get this thing settled with the restaurant. Know what I mean?"
"Well, be careful; the situation here could get really bad really fast."
The universe must be forcing him to take on his own advice. How else would you explain this turn of events?
His heartbeat jumps. Hawkeye is finally here.
𖣘𖣘𖣘
"The greatest swordsman in the world." That's who Zoro wants to be. That's who he promised Kuina he would be. He's not there yet. But he will be…
…just not today, it seems.
His defeat is unequivocally torturous. All those defeats at Kuina's hand will never compare to this. Zoro wonders why. Maybe it's because he had finally come face to face with his lifelong goal…and failed. This gap between Hawkeye's skill and his isn't something he can quickly reduce. It kills him. That all those years of training meant nothing in the face of this foe. Fulfilling his promise seems impossible now.
But Zoro is willing to die for his dream. He refuses to quit. He owes Kuina that. He owes himself that. And he owes the future "King of the Pirates" nothing less than that.
Lowering his Wado Ichimonji, Zoro roughly wipes the tears from his face. As the dinghy sails away from Baratie and Luffy's silhouette fades into a tiny dot in the distance—Zoro thinks of Nami.
Secretly, he's glad that she left. Nami has only ever seen him win. She's only ever seen him with dry eyes. He wants to keep it that way.