A Quiet Crush

CHAPTER 5

The crew reunited near the ancient ruins, battered but victorious. Luffy was already talking about their next feast, while Chopper rushed to check everyone's injuries. Amid the chaos, Zoro and Robin stayed close, their usual quietness a stark contrast to the lively chatter around them. 

Inside the ruins, Robin was in her element. She marveled at the ancient carvings on the stone walls, her fingers tracing the worn symbols. Zoro stayed nearby, leaning against a crumbling pillar, his eyes instinctively scanning the area for threats. 

“Zoro, look at this,” Robin called softly, pointing to a particularly intricate carving. 

He stepped closer, curious despite himself. The symbols were meaningless to him, but the way Robin’s eyes lit up made him pause. 

“What does it say?” he asked. 

“It’s a warning,” she said, her voice tinged with excitement. “Something about traps meant to protect the secrets of this place.” 

“Traps?” Zoro echoed, his hand instinctively resting on his swords. “Great. Just what we need.” 

Robin chuckled. “Don’t worry. As long as we’re careful, we’ll be fine.” 

But as if on cue, the ground beneath them gave a low rumble. Before either of them could react, the stone floor crumbled beneath their feet. 

“Robin!” Zoro shouted, instinctively grabbing her arm as they fell. 

The world spun as they tumbled down a narrow chute, their descent ending abruptly when they landed in a heap at the bottom. Dust filled the air, and for a moment, everything was silent except for their ragged breathing. 

Zoro groaned, pushing himself up. “You okay?” 

“I’m fine,” Robin replied, her voice steady despite the fall. 

Zoro turned to check on her, but before he could say another word, he realized how close they were. Robin had landed beneath him, her face mere inches from his. 

For a moment, neither of them moved. Zoro’s heart pounded in his chest, louder than any battle. Robin’s dark eyes met his, wide with surprise but not alarmed. 

And then it happened—a small, accidental shift, and their lips brushed. 

It wasn’t intentional, just a fleeting touch, but it was enough to make Zoro freeze completely. Robin’s breath hitched, her calm demeanor faltering for the first time. 

“S-sorry,” Zoro stammered, quickly moving back. His face burned, and he looked anywhere but at her. 

Robin sat up slowly, brushing dust from her clothes. She didn’t speak right away, her fingers lightly touching her lips as if still processing what had happened. 

Finally, she smiled—a soft, almost amused expression that made Zoro’s stomach flip. 

“Well,” she said gently, her voice carrying a hint of teasing, “that was unexpected.” 

Zoro groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “It wasn’t— I didn’t mean to—” 

Robin placed a hand on his arm, silencing his awkward rambling. “It’s alright, Zoro. Accidents happen.” 

He glanced at her, searching for any sign of annoyance or discomfort, but found none. Instead, she looked... amused. Calm, as always, but with a warmth in her gaze that made him feel strangely at ease. 

“Let’s focus on getting out of here,” Robin said, standing and brushing off the last of the dust. “We can talk about... other things later.” 

Zoro nodded stiffly, grateful for the out. But as they worked together to find a way back to the surface, he couldn’t help but steal glances at her, his mind replaying the moment over and over. 

Robin, walking slightly ahead, allowed herself a small, knowing smile. Though the kiss had been unintentional, it had been enough to confirm something she’d suspected for a while—there was something between them, quiet but undeniable. 

And for now, she was content to let Zoro figure that out on his own.