You were shocked at what the young swordsman just said. You blushed intensly and looked away, trying to hide your red face. "Tsk.." Zoro turned his head also and looked away from you. It was silent for five minutes until you spoke. "Why do you want to protect me? I mean.. I want to become stronger so I can protect myself if my devil fruit powers won't work out.." Zoro looked at you with concern in his eyes. "Just because. No reason." He looked away but you tried to catch a glimpse of his face at least. You saw a little blush creeping on his cheeks. Zoro is blushing? "Are you blushing Zoro?" You asked in surprise. "LIKE HELL NOT!! WHY WOULD I BLUSH?! IT'S NOT LIKE I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU OR ANYTHING!!" Zoro's face became totally red and you could tell that he was lying because of the huge blush. Zoro himself was shocked with what he just said. He turned his face away and you could hear him mumbling something. "Too soon... Baka.. Baka.. Baka.." You gulped and put your arms around Zoro's neck to pull him into a hug. "(y--- (y/n)???" You didn't react to him saying your name, you just tightened the hug and held him close. Then you finally felt what you always wanted to feel. His strong, muscled arms around you. Embracing you. You felt safe. You felt like the world could end right now and you wouldn't even notice because you were in the arms of the one you love. Roronoa Zoro. Zor and you hugged each other for a minute or 5. You just didn't want this to end. But he let go. When he did, you stood up and went to the ladies dorm that you and Nami share. "Oi (y/n)-chan! How did it go with Zoro today?" Your face was just blank and emotionless but inside you were screaming of joy.. And frustration. "It went fine." Nami noticed that something was wrong so she wouldn't stop figuring out what happemed until she knew every little detail. You told her the whole story and you also told her about the hug. "Wow ehh... Zoro really said that?" "Yup.. I couldn't believe it too.." You pulled up your knees to your face while sitting in your bed and you hugged them as firmly as you hugged Zoro. That moment kept playing in your head as you slowly drifted off to sleep.
