Crying on the inside (Zoro x oc)

Quit with the naps

**Akane's POV** 

I've been tied to this throne for quite a while now. The discomfort is mounting, and the incessant bickering between Luffy and Koby is starting to grate on me. Through the narrow windows of the room, I catch glimpses of Luffy and a group of marines, and my heart skips a beat. I hope he hasn't been caught or is in trouble. I find myself anxiously waiting, trying to keep my focus on anything but the soreness in my limbs.

I often attempt to engage the swordsman in conversation, despite his persistent refusal to acknowledge me. Each time I call out to him, he responds with a gruff dismissal. "Buzz off, princess," he says, his voice rough but not unkind. The nickname, however, is starting to grow on me. It's a strange feeling, one that makes me both flattered and uncomfortable. "Hey, Kiwi?" I pester him again, my voice carrying an edge of frustration.

"Really, Kiwi, princess?" he grumbles back, his voice carrying an almost playful tone. The nickname he's given me makes my cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink. I notice his smirk growing wider, and it only serves to make my face turn a deeper shade of red. "I think I get it now, princess," he says, drawing out the 's' in 'princess' in a teasing manner.

"Why won't you talk, princess? You had plenty to say a second ago." His teasing is relentless, and it's making me more self-conscious than ever. I look away, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Your face is almost as pink as your hair, princess," he adds with a smirk.---

**Zoro's POV**

The princess, as I've come to call her, fell asleep earlier, granting me a brief respite from her incessant chatter. It was a rare moment of peace, though not particularly loud. However, now that she's awake, her boundless energy is making it nearly impossible for me to relax.

"Hey, Kiwi?" The pink princess starts in again, using the nickname I've given her. I was just getting comfortable, but her persistence has me turning to look at her. I finally realize why she's been bothering me with that nickname—it's because it's making her blush. I can't help but smirk at the sight. She really does embody the princess image: delicate, with pale glass skin, nearly emotionless pink eyes, and pink hair. She's tied to a throne, and her humble demeanor adds to the effect.

As I'm about to continue my teasing, I hear footsteps approaching from behind. I glance down and spot Luffy, his nonchalant demeanor contrasting sharply with the urgency of our situation. I decide to give the princess a break and focus on what's happening. "I didn't know which sword was yours, so I grabbed them all," Luffy announces calmly, making me think he's oblivious to the soldiers closing in from behind. Should I warn him? Of course not. Being the rotten 'demon' that I am, I let him figure it out on his own.---

**Akane's POV**

"Hey, Luffy, there are soldiers behind you!" I call out, my voice still tinged with the timidity that his teasing has left me with. My confidence has definitely improved since being with Luffy, but the teasing has made me quieter. Luffy, ever the optimist, continues to untie us at a frustratingly slow pace. Koby's impatience is evident, and he finally tells Luffy to give him his swords. With a quick cut, Koby frees himself.

Next, Koby approaches me with Zoro's blades, and I flinch slightly when he raises them to cut me loose. "I'm not going to hurt you," Zoro says, his voice soothing despite the rough edges. He puts his swords away and begins untying me, his touch surprisingly gentle. The warmth of his skin against mine is oddly comforting, making me question why. I drift into my thoughts, only snapping back to reality when Koby snaps his fingers in front of my face.

"Stay in your throne, princess. We'll handle the dirty work." Koby's nickname for me is almost too much to bear, but I decide to follow his advice. I settle back into the throne and try to finish my nap from earlier, finding solace in the comfort it provides.---

**Zoro's POV**

Luffy has just delivered the final blow to Axe Hand Morgan, and I look over to check on the princess. She's still asleep, and I find myself debating whether to wake her or not. "We should wake her up and leave," the idiot orange one says, his tone a mixture of urgency and nonchalance.

"No one's waking her up," I retort, "and who says you're coming with us?" During our brief conversations, the princess convinced me to join Luffy's journey to the Grand Line. I'm looking forward to a fresh start, and my first nickname on the Grand Line will be the greatest swordsman to ever exist. As for waking the princess, that's a big no.

"If you're not gonna wake her, carry her," the orange idiot says, tossing Nami's bag at my face. "I'm bringing the throne," I respond, though Luffy's reaction is a cheerful "Awesome!" Ignoring the orange one's scoffs and his comment about being a lovesick extra, I walk over to where the princess sleeps. I carefully place Nami's bag on her lap and begin to push the throne, making sure to avoid any rocks or obstacles. The orange one doesn't know the half of it—I saved her from a terrible monster, but I'll let her figure that out on her own.

We eventually reach a small boat, and I set the throne at the front, making sure it's positioned comfortably. As I enter the only tiny room for a nap, I can't help but think that this strange journey has just begun, and there's much more ahead. The princess sleeps soundly in her throne, and I find myself oddly content with the way things have turned out. For now, the boat drifts away, carrying us toward whatever adventures await.

---The boat rocks gently as we make our way forward, and I can't help but glance at the sleeping princess. There's something about her that's different, something that makes me curious despite my rough exterior. Maybe this journey will be more interesting than I thought.