The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 94: The Strange Ship

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The crew all started to get up late into the night, having slept through the day. Sanji cooked up a proper dinner, much to Luffy's delight. Usopp conscripted Chopper to help patch up the hole in the Going Merry's hull before it returned to sea level. The girls were all hanging out under Nami's tangerine trees, relaxing.

It was late enough that the sky was starting to grow brighter from the approaching sunrise, so I did not feel like heading below deck to sleep in my hammock. I decided to take a nap against the railing on the deck instead. My fingers laced behind my head as I leaned back and stretched my legs out in front of me.

I noticed as Sanji came out of the galley with a tray carrying three mugs of coffee. He rounded the corner of the cabin to bring the girls the drinks. When he came back into view a moment later, he had a dark look in his eye. I thought nothing of it until he trained his livid glare on me and started down the stairs with measured steps, as if trying to appear calm.

My brow raised as I watched him approach me, stopping with the empty tray tucked against his side. One of his hands was in his pocket while the other was holding his cigarette up to his lips. His head was tilted back, looking up as if he was collecting his thoughts. He took a drag and blew the smoke out of his pursed lips before he spoke quietly and with a venomous tone, "You mind explaining to me... What exactly I just saw on Kaori's neck?"

I did not lift my head as I glared up at him from under my brow. The way he spoke down to me did not feel like his usual indignant nonsense. This felt like an accusation. I kept my voice level as I responded just as coldly, "Never seen a bite mark before, Lovecook?"

He looked down at me sharply, pinching the cigarette between his fingers, "You've got no shame, you savage."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Like you know anything, Curlybrow."

He scoffed, "I know the difference between a hickey given in the heat of the moment and a cruel bite leaving such a painful-looking bruise on a lady."

My scowl deepened, "Kaori is not a lady. She's a woman. She wanted it, and I was careful," I sat a bit more upright, "And watch who you're calling a cruel savage for leaving bite marks," I dropped my hands from behind my head, hooking my left finger into the collar of my shirt to pull it aside and show him the deep bruise on my shoulder, "'Cause you'd be calling her one, too."

The color drained from his face. His jaw clenched, his expression a mix of anger and baffled shock. He seemed to wrestle with his words for a moment before he clicked his tongue and turned on his heel, "Have some class, would ya? Damn neanderthal."

I did not say anything as he stormed away, still seething. Had the situation been any more light-hearted, I probably would have been smirking in victory. However, the damn cook's barely contained rage left me feeling a bit pissed off, too. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the railing, my scowl not leaving my face.