Crying on the inside (Zoro x oc)

Helmeppo's a hassle

I glanced at Zoro as he began to speak again, his attention seemingly focused on the little girl. 

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Zoro's voice was rough, carrying an edge of irritation. It was clear he was talking to the girl, but I couldn't shake the feeling he was speaking to me as well, given the intensity of his gaze.

"Luffy, go stop them! They're going to get hurt!" Koby's voice was urgent, his concern palpable."Do it yourself," Luffy replied lazily, his usual carefree attitude in full force.

"What do you mean do it yourself? Akane's going to be killed!" Koby's voice raised a notch in panic.

Luffy finally took action, shouting to Zoro with a dramatic flair. "Hey, hurt the future Pirate King's first mate and you'll pay!" I turned my attention back to Zoro, noticing the way his dirty skin seemed to have an unexpected, almost captivating beauty. "What do you want? To die or something? Get lost!" 

Zoro's voice was harsh, and his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made me flinch. Our gazes locked, and even as he shouted at me, I felt an odd connection, as though he was reaching out beyond his anger.

I pointed to myself, my confusion clear. "YEAH, YOU!" I squeezed my hand into a fist, trying to keep my composure. Zoro's reaction was a dismissive 'tch' as he turned away.

"Uhm, I made some rice balls for you! You haven't eaten in a long time, right?" The little girl's voice was hopeful as she spoke. "This is the first time I made rice balls!"

"I'm not hungry!" Zoro snapped, surprising me with his rudeness. "Go away!" His demand was harsh, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. As Zoro continued to ignore the girl, I found myself distracted by the clouds, letting my imagination wander. "Hmm, that one will be Kazuhani!" I muttered to myself, lost in daydreams.

My reverie was abruptly interrupted by the sight of a man with a prominent chin—what I could only describe as a 'butt chin'—grabbing my wrist with a force that made me flinch. "I've decided you'll be my wife!" he declared with a smirk.

Confused, I looked around, searching for the little girl who had been so kind. "Hey, where's the girl?" I asked, trying to ignore the unsettling situation. Zoro's expression shifted from annoyance to anger. "How could you go to dream land with all that yelling?!" He shouted, clearly frustrated. I scratched the back of my neck and replied, "Heh, I'm sorry..."

Zoro's gaze fell upon the man with the butt chin as he seized my wrist. "Don't touch her!" Zoro's voice was filled with an intensity that surprised me. Even though we hadn't formally met, his defense of me was striking. It was a clear sign that his reputation might not be as sinister as the rumors suggested.

The man with the butt chin waved dismissively. "Don't yell at me, Zoro. It's my father you should be afraid of. I'll be back for my fiancée!" He left, leaving me tied to a throne-like chair next to Zoro. His treatment of me was a stark contrast to Zoro's, and I found his annoyance at the difference rather amusing.

Luffy soon returned, looking serious and determined. He stood on the wall, his hand on his hat and his other fist clenched. "I'm going to go grab Zoro's sword and our map. Sit tight for a second, okay?" Luffy instructed me, his tone almost protective.

"Okay," I replied, my voice more confident than it had been before, surprising even myself. Luffy flicked my forehead playfully before sprinting off towards the base, yelling "Good job" as he went. I could see Koby's bewildered expression in the background."What's with the 'good job'?" Zoro asked, puzzled.

I began to explain, "I had a pretty hard time talking before I met Luffy. I didn't really talk to anyone much." Zoro nodded as if he understood. "So, what about your map? Was it taken?" he asked hesitantly.

I nodded. "Luffy wants to sail to the Grand Line, so I'm going to go with him." I found myself explaining things again, but it didn't bother me as much as it used to. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if it was a bit awkward. As the minutes passed, I began to feel drowsy. The chair was surprisingly comfortable, and I let myself drift off, murmuring unintelligible words to Koby. Midway through my doze, I heard Zoro mutter, "Don't go to sleep, dumbass."

I granted him a small, sleepy "Sorry" before slipping into a full sleep. The exhaustion from the day's events took over, and as I succumbed to the comforting embrace of slumber, I couldn't help but dream of what the future might hold—of adventures, new beginnings, and perhaps even the possibility of discovering more about the enigmatic swordsman who had so unexpectedly captured my attention.