Thrice Prophesized - Zoro x Reader

Chapter 7: Cold Call

It took a couple days for you to shake the heavy feelings of failure completely, but you did your best to keep the crew from worrying. You ate regularly and focused on working your Haki and keeping yourself busy. You let Chopper monitor your wounds as much as he wanted, assuring him that you were fine, just a little tired from all the excitement.

Fortunately for you the wounds of your encounter with the Marines had been mostly superficial, at least physically. You had effectively pulled your Haki "muscle", but Jinbei helped you make up for it with his knowledge, effectively helping you rehabilitate yourself, so you didn't lose progress.

After a couple of days, you were healed enough that Chopper stopped fussing over you randomly and let you train with your sword. He also managed to nervously - and at the same time sternly - request you not attempt to use winter magic again. The internal damage had been minimal this time, but the Sunny lacked the facilities for deep internal wounds.

"I shall," you interrupt yourself and bow stiffly. "I'll keep that in mind." You say, trying to be a little more informal.

"I'll do my best if it happens, but please stay safe." Chopper's expression was one of concern, and you found yourself feeling retroactively guilty for what had happened.

The ship had stayed at the island for the last couple days, though you had moved anchor to a new location and watches had been set to keep an eye out for Smoker and the marines. Luffy, Usopp and Robin were out exploring in connection with their shared goal, and you found you wanted to get back on land, at least for a couple hours.

Straight from your room you had gone to see Chopper, and were still effectively in your night clothes, and on your way back to your room to change you came across the animated skeleton. Brook bothered you the most out of anyone else - his appearance was unsettling, but he was not a mindless undead, and after you had adjusted a little you realized he was not a bad... creature. Nami had explained his situation and the fruit he had consumed, so you understood he was essentially a spry old man with no aching joints or muscles to slow him down.

But he still looked like an animated skeleton, and it was hard to get past that.

"Ma-is-ter Brook," you catch yourself mid word and smile sheepishly as you approach him. "Is it possible to disembark without swimming ashore?"

"Luffy and the others took the mini Merry, but there is still the shark submarine, which can be used to go ashore. There are also a couple rowboats." He lets out a gasp. "Ah, but you shouldn't go ashore alone, I can operate the shark, would you mind if I accompanied you?"

"If it's not too much to ask. I just need a moment to change, and I'll be ready." You reply, smiling the best you could.

"It will be my pleasure - ah, it seems you have begun to be more comfortable around me, so if I could, I would like to ask a question."

"I - er, sure. Ask away."

"May I see your panties?"

Your mind stutters, of all possible questions that was the most unexpected you could have considered. But you had spent years around knights, and before that knights in training, and both groups could be unexpected in this way.

You tug at the band on your pants, looking down before letting the band return to your waist. "My apologies Master Brook, I seem to have no panties to show."

"Oh." The single syllable escapes Brook as you walk away and head to your room. You're almost to the door when you hear him laugh, and you glance up to see Sanji with his hand over his nose and mouth again. His face is red, and he's not looking at you.