{zoro x oc} stick 'em with the pointy end

3. when girl met boy, part II

Loguetown.

It was glorious to be around people again. Sanji linked his arm through hers, his heart fluttered with her by his side. She was no taller than 5'2" and her long silver hair draped around her face romantically.

"Let's get you dressed like the goddess you are," Sanji started towards the shops.

She looked to him, "I'm not."

"Hm?"

"I'm not a goddess. I'm a nymph."

Sanji's jaw dropped and he looked around, "Lower your voice! This town is crawling with pirates. If they heard you..."

Her cheeks flushed red, she didn't know why she said it. Sanji made her feel safe and loved. Yes he treated every woman sweetly, but she could just feel that he would genuinely protect her.

He fixed her hair, covering the tips of her ears with no luck. The points stuck through her hair no matter what. Their first purchase would be a hat he decided.

When they emerged from the boutique, she wore fitted pants, the loose tunic he had given her, and a belt pinching her waist. Around her hips were her daggers that she never went without, and strapped around her thigh, were her throwing knives. For extra precaution, her ears were tied under a bandana, its ribbons nestled in her tousled hair. The cherry on top was her new tricorn hat. Sanji had picked out an elaborate feather and pinned it to the side.

"There," Sanji smiled, "You look like a trillion berries."

She smiled, feeling a little over done but, once again, safe.

"So, if it's true," Sanji and her walked through the cobblestone streets, his voice was hushed, "What kinds of things can you do?"

"Well, that's the thing," her eyes watered, "I... I can't do anything."

"Neso, please don't cry!" Sanji wiped the single tear that fell from her eye.

"I'm sorry! Please don't tell the others! Don't hate me," she shook her head, terrified this would be the end of the journey that just began.

Sanji pulled her aside, into an alley and away from anyone who would notice her crying. It was a gentle sob, one of exhaustion. Sanji pulled out a handkerchief, patting her cheeks softly, "I won't say anything. I could never hate someone so kind and beautiful."

"But, I'm useless," she was shaking now and the memory of Crocodile selling her off came rushing to the front of her mind.

"Those daggers say otherwise," Sanji smiled, "Look, I know we don't each other well but, I do know Luffy knows what he's doing. If he wanted you to join us, then it's because he saw something in you."

"I don't have any magical abilities and I don't bring sailors luck like the legends say."

Sanji leaned in, "Good thing we don't need siren's luck when we have a crew this good then, huh?"

She met his eyes, he smiled at her. Without another word they continued through Loguetown.

☽ ◯ ☾

Sanji was still at her side when the approached the execution tower where Luffy was shackled, trapped by Buggy the Clown. Neso's jaw dropped.

"That's Buggy," she took a step towards the execution platform before Sanji pulled her back, "I know him."

"How do you know Buggy?" Sanji asked, his voice serious, a tone she hadn't heard from him yet.

Zoro approached the two, ignoring the tension between them, "Sanji, we need to get up there. We need to kill that clown bastard."