What's Not To Love

Chapter 18

"ro...Zo-"

"I can hear you," Zoro grunted as he opened his eyes. He held back a sigh as he realized his meeting with Kuina had a chance of never happening again, even if it was just a dream. Trying to ignore it, Zoro turned his gaze on the two other occupants in his room.

"How did you two get in here?" Zoro said after closing his eyes for a moment, wondering how his impenetrable room has been allowing guest in more.

When there wasn't an immediate reply, Zoro opened his eyes and turned to the two women. He saw a weird expression on Nami's face and wondered what the look was for. He couldn't see Robin's face since she was facing Nami but she soon turned back towards him with a smile.

"We wanted to show you the things we brought," Robin said as she moved the bags in her hands. "You'll like them, I'm sure."

Zoro sat up a little more to look at the two females. "Uh, Thanks." Zoro's gaze focused on Nami. "Is something wrong?"

Nami jumped a little. She turned to Zoro and smiled wide, though Zoro could tell it was fake. "Everything's fine." Moving closer to the bed, she began taking some of the stuff out. Zoro decided to sit properly and pay attention to the clothing and toys the girls got.

As Robin and Nami continued to show off the clothes and stuff, Zoro began to quiet down. He had participated throughout the entire showcasing but Nami's behavior was getting to him. He looked at her for a moment before turning towards the kids.

"Zoro?" Robin called out as she started folding the clothes.

Zoro turned back towards the girls and watched them for a moment. "Sorry." Zoro looked directly at Nami and spoke. "I just don't appreciate the fake smiles."

Nami's movements froze and Robin's face scrunched up for a moment. Fixing her expression, Robin stopped folding the clothes. "Fake?"

"You think I can't notice simple things like that?" Zoro asked.

Both females flinched at the tone Zoro's voice held. When he saw, he fixed his posture and muttered a curse. "Uh, Sorry. Sanji said something about that earlier."

Nami began moving again as she spoke. "So you're mad then."

"That sounded more like a statement," Robin whispered.

"It was." was the reply the orange haired women gave.

Zoro yawned and got up. He walked towards the crib and starred in it. "Why would I be mad?"

Nami turned and looked at Zoro. "Because of the whole Sanji situation! Why else !?"

Zoro frowned as he looked at the wall for a moment. Turning around, he stared at Nami and Robin. "Of course I'm angry. But what does that have to do with you?"

Robin and Nami both stared at Zoro shocked. Zoro's face grew more confused from the looks on both of the women's faces. He had no idea what it was that made them stare like that.

"Who is it that you're anger is towards Zoro?" Robin asked, seeing as that Nami was having a mental breakdown.

"Sanji. Who else is there to be mad at?" Zoro asked trying to figure out what was going on.

"So you're not mad at us?" Nami asked, breathlessly.

"No." was the answer Zoro gave.

Nami collapsed on the bed with a hand over her eyes. The clothes under her were no longer folded and were scattered now. Zoro slowly walked towards the orange haired female, still unsure what her problem was. A moment before he reached her, however, he froze. A sniffle could be heard from the navigator.

"W-Wwhat's wrong?" Zoro asked, not really used to the situation.

"We're sorry Zoro," Robin said as she looked at him for a moment before looking back at Nami. "We both thought that you would be mad at us. It was foolish of us to even think that way."

Coming closer, Zoro faced the women. "Why would I be mad at you two, though? You didn't do anything."

Robin opened her mouth to say something, but Nami interrupted.

"Yes, we have." Nami quivered. "I feel like I'm betraying you by acting as a middleman between you and Sanji. All I want is for you to be happy and even though you don't want to admit it, Sanji is who makes you happy."

Nami sat up with tears running down her face. "I know you think I'm probably overreacting and maybe being a bit selfish but this is what I've been thinking about. We finally got close and this...whatever you wanna call it is bothering me because we're all nakama."

"And if we feel like this then we can only imagine how you feel," Robin added in, opting not to look at either of the two adults. "I don't know what to do and that makes me feel bad. How are we suppose to help you without hurting anyone? How are we supposed to keep everyone happy?"Looking Zoro in the eyes, Robin spoke for the two females.

"How are the two strategists of the crew suppose to help when we, too, are at a loss?"

Zoro stared, horrified for a moment. It didn't occur to him that it would affect the girls too.

"I'm...I'm so sorry," Zoro said.

He slowly sat on his bed as his mind started racing. If the girls felt like this now, and they were the closest to the situation, then it wouldn't take long before the entire crew got affected. It would probably happen slowly but still. And Robin was right. If these two were like this then he couldn't rely on them.

Zoro looked at the two women, who now stared at him worried. All he ever did until this point was rely on them.

"I'm sorry and I'll no longer need you two as the middlemen. " Zoro said.

The girls went to speak but Zoro cut them off quickly.

"No," Zoro said sternly. "I can handle this. We are all nakama no matter what happens."

The girls looked sad but Zoro stood and looked at them with a smile. "But I still need you two. You're the only ones I can talk to about this, so there's no need to try and shelter me from any pain. Just lend me your ears sometimes."

Nami wiped her tears and stood up with Robin. Both girls hugged Zoro, which caught him by surprise for a moment. When they pulled back both girls smiled and agreed with him. A moment later, though, Robin started to chuckle. Nami and Zoro turned to her confused.

"Sorry," Robin said still chuckling. "But Navigator-san, it looks like my idea was mostly right."

Nami stared for a second before glaring. "That doesn't count. Ths isn't how it was supposed to happen."

"I'm sorry but what?" Zoro asked, once again confused.

"Nothing," Nami said before spinning around and grabbing the other bags. "Now come on. We didn't show you everything yet and the clothes need to be refolded."