A Quiet Crush

CHAPTER 7

The Thousand Sunny was quiet, the crew fast asleep after a long day of adventures. The soft creak of the ship and the gentle lapping of waves against the hull were the only sounds in the stillness of the night.

Zoro lay in his bunk, staring at the ceiling. Sleep refused to come, his mind racing with thoughts of Robin. The kiss they shared earlier had replayed in his head all evening, igniting feelings he had tried to ignore for so long.

He sat up, running a hand through his hair. The idea of staying put felt unbearable. Without making a sound, he swung his legs over the edge of the bunk and headed toward the women's quarters.

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Robin, too, was wide awake. She lay on her bed, gazing at the moonlight streaming through the small window. Her mind was a mix of calm and quiet excitement, her thoughts circling back to Zoro's kiss and the way it had left her heart fluttering-a rare sensation for her.

A soft knock at her door broke the stillness. She sat up, immediately sensing who it was.

"Come in," she said softly.

The door creaked open, and Zoro stepped inside, his broad frame casting a shadow in the dim light. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his usual stoic demeanor tinged with uncertainty.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, her voice carrying a gentle warmth.

"No," he admitted, his eyes locking with hers. "I... I needed to see you."

Robin smiled faintly, standing and stepping closer. "I'm glad you did."

Zoro crossed the small space between them, his nerves fading as he focused on the calm presence she always exuded. Without overthinking, he reached out, his calloused hand brushing against her cheek.

"Robin," he murmured, his voice low, "I can't stop thinking about you."

She tilted her head, her gaze softening as she placed a hand over his. "Then don't."

That was all the encouragement Zoro needed. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was far from the tentative one they had shared before. This kiss was deeper, more intense-a raw expression of everything they'd been holding back.

Robin responded with equal fervor, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him closer. The calm, composed mask she usually wore gave way to something more vulnerable, more real.

Zoro's hands rested on her waist, anchoring her against him as the kiss grew hungrier, their breaths mingling in the quiet room. Every touch, every movement felt electric, the tension between them finally breaking in a rush of emotion neither could suppress.

Robin broke the kiss first, her lips barely parting from his as she whispered, "Stay."

Zoro didn't hesitate. "Always," he replied, his voice rough but sincere.

Robin led him to her bed, the two of them settling into the small space together. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, while his arms wrapped securely around her.

For the first time in years, both of them felt at peace, their guarded walls crumbling in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

As the ship drifted through the night, Robin and Zoro held onto each other, finding solace in the closeness they had always quietly craved.