Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

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

Chapter Twelve,
"Luck."

My observers gathered as my four thousand berries quickly turned to fifty thousand, I propped my elbows on the table, my chin resting upon interlaced fingers as I drove out the competition. Wrists still bound tightly in white cotton bandages. My cards were turned face down upon the table, my money stacked around me and a pot of twenty thousand before me on the table. The tension was thick and I breathed easy as my opponents folded one by one.

Zoro was a sentinel behind my seat, his broad figure hovered protectively over me and his frightening smile, paired with mine was enough to guarantee victory when the cards were favourable. He pushed back when my crowd of onlookers stepped too close and leaned in menacingly when I was about to win a hand. I was not a skilled gambler, but a lucky one.

"I believe that's everyone." I turned my steely eyes on Zoro as I spoke and he grinned down at me, his dark gaze searing. No one dared fill the three empty seats surrounding me and they cast an eerie shadow upon the floor.

My wooden chair squealed over the tiles as I stood up and I pulled my winnings toward me, coins toppled from their towers and clinked together in a silvery harmony. Around me I saw the bloodthirsty faces of men and I stared back with my stoney grey eyes, eager for a fight.

"Yuki-san," called the bar tender. He threw me an empty beige-coloured duffle bag from under the desk. Zoro caught it and zipped it open.

With cash in hand we made a quick exit, I made sure to leave the barman a healthy fee for his troubles and he folded the notes into his breast pocket without a word.

"Remind me to never bet against you." Zoro joked as we left, he swung the bag over his shoulders and pulled me close to whisper in my ear. The busy noise of the crowds would have drowned him out otherwise.

His hand pulled my waist and I felt his thumb trace the thin silk as he spoke, it made my heart thunder and I walked close beside him, a bright smile lit my face.

"It's just luck." I shrugged, regretting the motion when I felt my stitches throb, "I just need money for some clothes. I only have what I brought with me."

He pondered that for a moment and in his daze turned down an alley. I caught him by the sash and his swords clacked together. He stopped mid stride and I stood upon my toes to talk over passerby shoppers.

"Where're you going?" I asked, confused.

He looked around and rubbed the back of his head before pushing back out into the street. I suddenly recalled Nami staring daggers as she spoke of getting lost and wondered if this was another of his quirky habits. I sighed and took his arm in mine, it made him blush deeply.

"I'm not a child, y'know?" He grumbled, his cheeks were a glowing pink.

"If you get lost I'll never find you," I reasoned, "Is this better?"

I folded his arm around me and rested his hand on my right hip, he turned his face away from me, embarrassed I guessed, but didn't move his hand as we walked. Eventually I found a few clothes stores and bought some boots to cover my usually naked feet and a few plain tops and dresses. I spared Zoro the boredom of shopping by not trying anything on. Sometimes I'd hold the clothes up to my figure.

The clerk was over friendly, he was handsome, I had to admit, his dark hair and icy blue eyes flattered me but his pushy attitude was not to be desired. I held a low cut white sun dress to my chest and the clerk purred his compliments, it was like Sanji. I ignored him, and instead looked over to Zoro for some comfort.

Zoro was sitting in the corner upon a pink futon, his arms were crossed over his torso and by his expression, somewhat irritated. I hoped it wasn't because I was taking too long. Our eyes met then and he stood up and crossed the room to stand behind me.

My adrenaline kicked in as he touched behind my ear, his fingers played with the curls of my hair and he looked with me into the mirror that held our reflection, my dress still in hand. It looked good. I'd probably buy this one. But I could help but notice, that we too, looked good. It didn't matter that he was a full head taller than me and that I looked small and petite in comparison. His tanned skin was flush to my creamy pallor and my dark curls against the white background of his shirt. I blushed and my cheeks felt hot, I looked away so not to notice the colour brighten my face.

He was going to say something, I wasn't sure if to me or the clerk but instead we heard a familiar voice from outside call:

"Wow look at the books Robin! Some of these look brand new!" It was Chopper.

I jumped and Zoro pulled his hand back to look out the shop window. Opposite us were Chopper and Robin facing away and at a bookstore. They seemed to have their arms full of books already. Zoro shot a dirty look at the clerk. I scrambled then, to buy my things and fold them into the duffle bag along with the remainder of berry. I had just over eighty thousand in notes and the huge wads made an even base to rest my clothes against. Zoro blushed as I tucked several pairs of bras and white lace underwear under a new pair of black jeans.

I looked back and saw they were gone. And we left the heartbroken clerk to the crowded street to meet with our crew-mates. Nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe they went in the store?" I suggested. I looked up at him since I was too short to see over the tide of people.

He shrugged and we entered into the low building, the assistant there was just putting a few things away.

"Excuse me, did you see a woman and a deer?" Zoro asked. Now that sounded stupid.

The woman smiled and looked over her broad rimmed glasses at us before answering, "They just left. It seemed like they'd bought all they could already. I would have gifted this book to the little one, but the shop owner wouldn't have allowed it."

It was a medical book, very thick and by the title appeared to the the latest addition to a set. I thought I recognised the cover from coppies his office, they lined a shelf above his desk. If he was interested it probably meant he didn't already own it. The price tag was not to be laughed at either, I wasn't aware of the going prices of medical editions but I felt I owed some debt to the doctor and his kindness. She went to put the book away and I stopped her.

"I'll get it," I said, and reached into the duffle bag that sat around Zoro's waist.