Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story) : Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine,
"Sleepless."

After the celebrations end the crew fell about in slumber upon the thick blanket which had become a rug upon the wooden floor. Even in sleep Luffy was loud and they piled together in an uncomfortable heap. I pulled myself up and stretched carefully, so not to tear my stitches.

I was quiet, and snuck from the room before I woke anyone and met with the frigid night air outside. The trees and grass shook in the sharp cold that blew across the deck. I shivered and made my way toward the helm.

Behind it sat a small white bench, it was ornate and padded with a cream coloured cushion. I still found it hard to imagine the huge Franky made all this with his talented hands. I seated myself and laid back, propping an elbow on the armrest to my left and leaning back so that I might stargaze.

It had been a long time since I'd seen a night sky so beautiful. I was used to the low stormy clouds that pressed down upon me and now the open air made me feel so small and insignificant. The world was vast again.

"Can't sleep?" Asked a warm husky voice.

I peered backwards and saw the inverted Zoro as he traipsed toward me, he yawned and sat beside me, even though there was little room.

"I don't sleep." I answered him, "Not often, anyway."

He gave me a look, I could tell he didn't believe me but he just slouched forward and looked oceanward.

"What do you think? About joining us?" He asked, "We each have our dreams and our reasons, what about you?"

I guessed he was trying to decide weather or not I was a problem, he seemed like the backbone to this crew more than anyone else, if I wasn't right I'm sure he'd elbow me out first chance he got. I wouldn't mind. I don't want to burden anyone.

"I have a war to fight. If possible I'd like to see it end. Other than that, well," I let my sentence trail off and I looked at him, his dark eyes held mine for a long time.

"There's a place I'd like to go." I said softly now, still transfixed by his gaze, "My mother was not born on Sin Acre, she used to tell me about her home island, I don't know where it is, or its name, I forgot a long time ago."

I didn't know why I told him this, it fell from my lips before I had time to think it over, I suppose I gave him what he was after though; honesty. He folded his arms across his chest as he thought about that and I asked him about his reasons.

He told me about the crew, how it began with a crazy, strong and relentless Luffy. How things fell into place for him as if destined for greatness, how he joined, albeit with reluctance and how he recruited the best people, and how he holds them dear, like family.

We spoke for a long time. Mostly I just listened and asked a question now and again. Their adventures were wild and terrible, spiralling out of control but they seemed to pull through somehow. I wondered if it was luck.

Eventually he grew more and more tired until his eyes fell shut and he stopped speaking entirely. The sun painted the sky pink and soft purple. I was about to stand when I felt him press his weight against me. I turned and edged away, but that just meant he laid in my lap.

He was pretty heavy, but I didn't want to wake him. I noted how the frown on is brow, which was pretty much standard amongst his expressions was still present, even when unconscious. I chuckled when I noticed, they were all such strange people. Perhaps it was my narrow mindedness that brought me up short.

I sighed and pulled him into me so his head rested more comfortably in my lap and his legs sprawled over the opposite armrest. I couldn't believe he didn't wake when I grabbed him. Or that he could fall asleep so easily in the first place. I let my hands touch the pale green of his hair and found it soft and warm. My heart beat against my ribs in a painful way when I looked at him.

I hadn't thought of my mother's island in a long time. I hadn't intended to tell anyone of it either, and having spoken it sparked my interest once again. I shuffled my arms free and withdrew a small leather book from my inner jacket pocket. The binding was worn and cracked from constant use and inside I wrote what little memories I kept of my childhood days and that of my mother.

A picture stuck to the first page. Every day I seemed to grow more to her likeness, I suppose it was only natural. A few hours passed before the man in my arms began to stir. He yawned and raised his arms to cover his moth. I put away my journal, tucking it back into my pocket as the sunrise turned to morning.

I heard voices below deck and guessed Sanji was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Zoro blinked and looked up at me, he didn't move at first and a deep red flushed over his cheeks. I watched as it spread all the way to his ears and he shot upright in the same instant, his forehead smacked my chin.

"Fuck!" I swore, rubbing the side of my face with the back of my hand, it felt like I'd taken a punch to the jaw. Zoro's mouth fell open wordlessly and he was rigid by my side. He looked at me and my cheeks flushed in response to his alarm. It was hard to make eye contact, he made my heart beat so rapidly it brought a dull ache.

"Ah, I fell asleep," he said, and his lips pressed into a thin line, "Gomen (sorry)."

I waved him off, "No it's fine."

"Good thing that stupid cook didn't notice," he grumbled and the blush was back again over his nose mostly.

I laughed then, it wasn't my usual laugh, it was light and trilling, even though my face hurt and my heart felt like it might burst from my breast. His face deepened in redness and he smiled an awkward smile.

"Oi." Said Sanji, he suddenly appeared behind me his expression unamused as he stared at Zoro, "She's too good for you, lay off, Marimo."

"Oi!" Zoro growled in a deep gruff voice, his face turning redder, with embarrassment or anger, I couldn't tell.

I ducked my head as he shot over the bench at Sanji and the two exchanged fists, or feet, in Sanji's case. It didn't seem like they were holding back either, they really would hurt each other if given the opportunity. They were both idiots. My jaw stung. And my heart pounded unevenly.