Across the Ocean (Zoro x OC)

1 - Akiko

"Oh, I can really see why this is supposed to be the most beautiful bookshop in the whole kingdom of Oykot! Mei, mei, mei!" the man with his short permed curls laughed. A hairband with a zigzag pattern and bows at either end kept his quirky hairstyle in place and straight. He tilted his head to the left and right. The shop's high shelves were crammed with books. A small staircase led to a room in the back, where a bunch of literature was also waiting for its buyers. Even a few seats and small tables had been provided for the customers so that they could choose a book in peace or be inspired by one. Pretty paraffin lamps and a few decorative elements made the shop even cosier. 

He had never seen such an impressive shop before, and he had really discovered a lot of them on his expeditions. However, most of them were not even worth his attention. Small shops with stuffy air and a poor selection of books—it was different here. But unfortunately, it was such a shame that this shop also had a shortcoming. "Yet, you do everything you can to fall out of our favour!" the blond continued. There was an unexpected harshness in his voice, and the corners of his mouth tugged upwards. "Tell me, what is it you're trying to achieve?" He turned around on the heel of his flat, knee-high black boots and scrutinised the shop owners.

The man was middle-aged, had an angular face with a high forehead and narrow eyes, which were fixed neutrally on his guests. His short, dark brown hair was accompanied by a three-day beard. The only striking thing about him was his scar, which crossed the outer arch of his right eyebrow. He stood in front of his wife, who was also middle-aged. She had her long red hair tied in a low braid around her neck. Her green eyes showed determination and resistance. She seemed to be less able to cover her emotions than her husband, although she endeavoured to maintain a neutral posture like him. Daky and Zerah Vansing. Those were their names, and they were known for their eloquence, their extensive knowledge of literature, and also for their empathy and open mind towards people in Evida. The last point was nowhere to be seen at the moment, though, and the current customer did not expect this anyway; After all, he was not here to buy a book.

"I wouldn't say we go out of our way," Daky corrected. "We just have our own principles and values that we live by. Unfortunately, they don't match yours."
"Oh, is that so?" The opposite man's smile grew, and his arms, which had previously been spread out in joy, rested calmly by his side. Sticking out his chest, which was visible under his half-open dark red martial arts jacket, he tucked his chin. "So we can't keep up with your values?"
"We are in a free city. The fact that we are one is not only due to political and economic decisions but also due to our spirit," Daky continued, not at all provoked by the other's words.
"Well, that's a shame, of course," the blond man shrugged and put his hands on his hips. "However, I don't understand why you started a rebellion."
"I don't evaluate social evenings as a rebellion."
"Don't play dumb!" the man shouted angrily, so his protruding eyes only widened even more. Somehow he looked like a teenage girl complaining to her friends, but perhaps this was also due to his unnaturally long eyelashes, the jewellery on his forearms and fingers and the wide golden belt around his waist - representations of his prosperity. "Your secret meetings are no longer as secret as you wanted them to be. In the end, there are always traitors who blab under certain circumstances."

And now Zerah stepped forward, not at all afraid of the three people present here. Of course, the guy had not come alone and had brought two henchmen with him. His own personal escorts. They already knew them from his previous appearances in the town. Might be, he had made himself the leader. Might be, he was the reason, people died. But the initial fear, when the pirates first had invaded Evida, had been gone a long time ago. "If these conditions mean your usual way of torturing someone, I doubt it's a traitor."
"Does it make a difference?" the leader said, cocking his head to one side. "He blabbed when we threatened him to hurt his wife and child. We didn't even have to chop off a finger, he agreed so quickly! You still put your own life above the importance of community, don't you think? We're quite the same! Everyone is!"