Crossing Lines (ZoRobin Fanfic)

Encounter

"I told you to not go anywhere near me." Zoro said, a little irritated when a certain raven-haired crew-mate stepped in the room he was currently occupying. He was pretty sure he made everyone know that he'd be in the crow's nest after lunch, and that he'd really appreciate it if no one comes bother him. He shut his eyes tightly.

Did he?

After a few seconds of nothing but silence from the intruder, Zoro opened his eyes in annoyance, ready to let out a string of very colorful words that he was sure would put his visitor out the door before they can even let out any argument. What he did not anticipate though, were the pair of bright chestnut eyes, just a few inches staring at his own russet ones. Closer inspection revealed the person's perfectly trimmed brows, thin nose and glossed lips, also only mere inches from his own face.

Zoro felt his cheeks heat up and his throat run dry from the distance that was just too uncomfortable for his liking. He found his body seemingly frozen, as if some force was keeping him from making any move.

Damn.

He had no idea what was going on. Maybe he overworked himself, thus, his muscles refusing to move even an inch. Maybe it was from the shock of seeing someone so close right after opening his eyes. Maybe because that someone was the same person he was just thinking of.

Maybe because all of the above.

It would've been something out of a romantic movie; the guy stuttering and the girl blinking back with innocent eyes, and the stupid pink flowers falling in the background; had the guy not been Roronoa Zoro and the girl, Nico Robin.

It is considered global knowledge that Zoro never stutters, Robin's eyes are nowhere near innocent, and the only flowers that the Thousand Sunny boards, are the ones on the observation deck, still firmly rooted to the ground. But in that short moment of silence between the two Strawhat pirates, it would seem to any outsider like the very air itself sparked.

It was the raven haired beauty that broke the silence as she answered her crew-mate's earlier remarks, albeit a little late. "That was a few years ago Zoro." Robin said in a low jesting voice, completely unaware of the awkward position she's put the swordsman in.

"And it still stands." Zoro answered back through gritted teeth. He was completely stunned as the girl's breath swept his skin, sending slight shivers running up and down his spine. "What do you need Robin?" he added with jaws clenched tightly, willing himself to control the volume of his voice.

It was not that he was specifically bad with women. He was aware of them in a general manner. Too busy to stay alive in the seas, and too preoccupied with exploring when given the chance to land occasionally , he's never really gotten involved with any of them. He was more partial to look for a place where he can hone his skill rather than frolic in the towns, chasing after skirts like their blonde chef, Sanji, likes to do. The only women he had interacted with on a regular basis are his crew-mates so the feeling of liking someone had always been an alien concept to him.

Zoro gulped loudly. So why is it exactly that he was suffering from a rapidly beating heart?

Realizing the shameful sound that his throat probably had let out, he turned his face to the side in a snap; making it as If he was suddenly interested at the line of ants that were marching next to his discarded dumbbells. Right. The ants.

Right.

The sudden movement did not went unnoticed by the still staring Robin, who by then, was already standing back up to give the swordsman his space.