Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

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

Chapter Twenty,
"Tropical Snow."

The crew pressed over me at the table, my wanted poster changing hands between them after it was pried from Sanji's reluctant fingers. I was assaulted by surprised and shocked expressions, a torrent of questions fell from their lips. Luffy cleared the table of any scraps whilst everyone was otherwise occupied. I sighed and crossed my arms across my chest in thought.

"This was me, a few years ago. On 'Sin Acre' as a front line fighter. I commanded the 'Glass Army', men who followed my command," I was getting a headache just thinking about it.

"A few years ago?" Echoed Nami, her voice was high with alarm, "You're not a cute little sister?" I felt my face go red by her response. Is that what she thought of me?

"Little sister?" My voice cracked in the middle, I felt my mouth twitch as I spoke. I couldn't deny my small figure, my round pinched face made me look childish, but still I felt a pang of irritation ride the length of my spine.

"Eh? Then how old are you? Yuki?" My blush only deepened as Zoro said my name. He was holding my poster, confused, awkward.

"Twenty one." I replied, unnerved.

Zoro went a vivid pink, his elbow slipped off the table and his forehead smacked the edge, the sound was muffled by the disbelieving gasps around me. They looked down at me and my arms became rigid at my sides, humiliated.

"You're three years older than me?!" Zoro said aloud, clearly flustered, he sat back down almost in a daze, a rye and crazy smile upon his face. He suddenly looked a little, pleased?

I felt that familiar rush through my veins, heightened only by my onlookers as I tried to calculate his reaction. I didn't want the others to notice, but they seemed so caught up in their own shock that they had not seen us both cringe and flounder. Or at least, I hoped they had not. My body was hot and uncomfortable under my sweater, I pulled at the loose fabric around my neck. I met with his steely gaze and found it intense, almost frightening, and although there were six feet between us it felt as though he might devour me on the spot. I might let him.

"How interesting," Robin had been least affected, she inclined her head toward me, forever polite in my presence and pushed the paper forwards as she stood, "The marines have quite the grudge against you."

That made me think of Smoker and how he'd promised to pursue me, I wondered if he'd be angry, no doubt I would see him again. I shoved my hands into my jean pockets and tried to force the blood from my face.

"Ah! It's the next island! We're here!" This time it was Usopp who spoke up and we parted from the room and into the early morning light.

I was caught off guard, my mind became a blank as I gazed upon the frozen wasteland that should not exist. This was supposed to be of tropical climate, there were palm trees still lining the shore but they had been petrified by the cold, now they were icy sculptures that cut into the sky. Around them the dense jungle had withered and warped, painted white with snow. I drew my hand up to cover my aghast expression, my mouth was popped open, eyes wide with surprise.

"This island looks so strange~!" Luffy exaggerated the word as he observed the nearing Isle, the air was suddenly colder and he shivered in his sleeveless vest.

"We better get some warmer clothes." Nami told us, she looked worried and I expect my expression mirrored hers. There was something not right about this place.

I returned to my room and recovered my boots, I could hear the crew running around below deck excitedly. For them this would be another grand adventure. I stood up from my seat upon the bed and readied to leave, a dark shadow waited at the doorframe, tall and alluring.

"You never said you were older." Zoro raised his eyebrows at me, his voice was deep and teasing. I smiled ruefully.

"Does it matter?" I tried to mimic his tone, it made my voice purr and became smooth as liquid steel.

That shook him from his stance and he stared down at me, the humour had left his face and that sudden wanting glazed his eyes. He swallowed hard and kicked away from his leaning place, stalking toward me as if I'd beckoned him forward. He reached out for my shoulders and took them in his hands, holding me in place as he leaned down to rest his forehead against mine.

My breaths came short and shallow, my face was a scarlet red, I could smell the sweet cider from his lips and my stomach twisted sharply at the thought of it's taste. Of his taste. It made my legs feel weak beneath me.

"It doesn't matter." He finally spoke, and his expression looked almost pained, "You make me feel so jealous all the time. When the shitty cook talks to you, or when you smile at someone else."

His face was suddenly a little alarmed, as if he hadn't meant for the words to be spoken aloud, he blushed and straightened up, his mouth pressed into a line. I blushed too when he jumped away. He was dazed, under the trance of my soft spoken calling.

"That is... I. Ur. Huh." He struggled.

It was too much for me to take. If it was my beauty, my 'so called' seductress-like demeanour, then that was fine, I am just that selfish. I stunned him into silence with my deep serious eyes and threaded my hair back behind my ear as I stepped forward to close the gap between us. My heart felt murderous in my chest, the sharp burn in my stomach was a need. Before he could catch up to my mood I had him by the collar and pulled him down so that our lips met.

I stood on my toes and felt the soft curve of his mouth. He groaned inwardly and his eyes fell shut, I inhaled his scent of cider, his metallic scent of steel. Our kiss lingered, we parted once and he pressed against me a second time, his lips were gentle and it made the feeling sweet, I fell away from him before the addictive taste consumed me. He stared down, cheeks coloured scarlet.

"So your the jealous type then?" I teased, my voice was patronising, "Don't get so cocky, Kid~"

I adopted Luffy's exaggeration and it made Zoro stiffen on the spot, his blush deepened and his teeth clenched suddenly.

"Teme (you)!" He chased me from the room, embarrassed, delighted. Our thundering footsteps on the floorboards echoed in the halls and joined the scrambling below deck. Our tropical-snow awaited us.