Chapter Text
Robin had been quite content standing by herself on the outskirts of the island, gazing out to the sea, after her friend’s vessel set sail. Still remained there, not even planning to leave soon even though her friend was already out of sight minutes ago.
Not that she was sad that she wanted to be alone, neither did she have a lot on her mind so that she needed time to contemplate all by herself. It's just, somehow, her feet didn't want to step out of the place. Stiff, but too lazy to make a move.
Sounds of footsteps collided with the rustle wet grass reached her hears, slowly drawing closer, before stopping right next to her. No need to turn to know who it is. Hence, she kept her gaze forward, as they stood in silence for a moment.
“That witch is gone?”
She smiled. “You’re 20 minutes late to say goodbye.”
Nami, their former navigator on the ship who is contemporarily staying in her hometown in East Blue, visited them last week. Of course, her sudden arrival at their bar a week ago was happily greeted by them. Not in the direct way for Zoro, though. But enough to keep him at home days long.
Zoro shrugged, utterly nonchalant. “Didn’t even plan to escort her either.”
He took a position to sit down, making himself comfortable on the ground. Robin neglected, was being awfully careless at his reaction. Not in the mood to tease though. Indolent to express any derision.
“Hm-mmh.” She murmured relented, as she joined him afterwards, taking the same view as him.
A pink flush of the dawn sky started to peep out over the horizon, proclaiming the rising day. The sea was slightly turbulent, wrinkling the water, as the waves slowly rolled towards the shoreline. Fragrance of the freshness ocean captivated in the air, as the music of numerous native birds humming.
–All so pleasant, yet so relaxing, so peaceful.
She shut her eyes as she felt a cool, soft breeze washed over her cheeks, swept away strands of her hair across her features. Casually, she rested her head on his shoulder, making those muscle pile of his as a pillow. Allowing all the circumstances led her to the dreamland.
Strange, indeed. Remembering previously she wasn’t even sleepy at all. Yet, now she was literally asleep with her even and shallow breath occasionally wafted against his neck. Practically instantaneous and profound.
A gentle flick on her forehead made her eyes twisted slowly open, revealing the endearing blue lenses within. Upon waking up her brain, trying to remember where and how she fell asleep.
“Zoro?” Robin sat up straight. “What time is it?”
Zoro led out a massive yawn and shook his head briefly. “Just woke up as well.”
He got up lazily thereupon, still in half-awake state. Rubbing his face, and stretching a bit, subdued the drowsiness that still persist. He squinted instantly as soon as he fully opened his eye, as the scorching sun rays shone brightly obstructed his vision, indicating it was already sometime around noon. “No doubt we late opening NiRo.” He supposed.
Robin nodded, agree. Immediately picked herself up in the urge to return to their dwelling. “We better hurry.”
Hissed of disgust escaped her lips as she noticed some part of her dress wet. Not by water, neither not by the dew on the grass, but by a somewhat nasty liquid like muscus. She hurled a curse inwardly. Had known since forever all the entire island was covered by an odd, unique species grass that produce sticky substance. Why did she just sit there anyway.
Zoro raised a brow at that. His own trouser actually was also covered with that sticky thing. Yet, he didn’t bother and just tossed it away. Asking if she wanted to wait till her dress dry first, a faint head shake he got in response. Better rush home and change clothes, she said.
“Let’s go then.”
He said, yet he stood still, silently prompting her to go first. Which was clearly caught by her, as she started moving.
However, barely took a step, she stumbled forward by chance, tripping over her own feet helplessly. Good for her luck, Zoro’s quick shifting saved her, caught her by the arm, stopping her from the fall.
She gave him innocent smile and muttered thanks afterwards. To which he returned with a sharp, probing look.
Aware of Zoro’s uneasiness, she stepped back shortly after, tried to stand upright by her own. Yet, she still hadn't regained her balance and about to fall again.
Instinctively her hands reached out to Zoro’s shoulder and use it as support, avoiding the fall. To which Zoro requited with quickly slipped his arm to her sides, to steady her. They found themselves staring into each other’s in that position. His dark, grey eye met hers incisively.
“You said your feet already fine.” He blurted, exasperated.
She let go of her hold as she realized. Wishing he didn't notice the red hue that adorned her face for seconds. Took a caution stand tall by her own later on, not wanting to bother him any longer.
“It is.” She stated, stomping her feet lightly several times, reassuring it really was okay. “I think it just got a little cramp after hours of sitting.”
“Ck”
He snorted, as he knelt down, with his back facing her, motioning her to his back.
Robin blushed awkwardly at his gesture. Little doubt at first, but shook her head afterward, trying to dismiss the thought, convincing herself that it was nothing.
She leaned herself on his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, while Zoro took her around the legs, holding it tightly, didn’t let it come off. He started walking after he felt Robin was safe in a steady position on his back.
“You should keep taking the medicine Chopper gave.”
“Huh?” Robin uttered, inquiring.
“He said the meds must be consumed till runs out.” Zoro exhorted. “I know you stop taking it as you feel your feet fine.”
A faint flush stained her cheeks as she heard that, but she quickly held it back. “Didn’t know you were actually care about me.” She said, meant to tease.
Zoro furrowed his brows and halted. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He scowled. “I care for you all the time.”
A scant rosy hue reappeared on her cheeks. Making her hand twitched a bit and shifted uncomfortably on his back.
“What?” He asked, innocently.
Robin diverted her thoughts. “Nothing.”
She knew his words practically right. He had been taking care of her –and also their other nakama for years decently. Even since they were still sailing together. There was no more behind his words, yet she found her heart fluttered involuntarily.
“Just keep walking. We have to open Niro.”
Silence floated between them after that. Zoro remained quite as he walked in steady pace, while Robin became clamped up as well, drifted into her own reverie.
It took a while for her to realized the surroundings were unusually quiet. There were too many people living and working, but it was almost completely silent now. Not silence without a sound, but tend to be filled with whispers.
Her cheeks flushed slightly when she realized they were the object of everyone's conversation. Found it a little bit awkward that some of them could even reach her hearing. Which means, Zoro did hear as well.
Though he seemed to be completely indifferent by that.
“Perhaps, it’s time for you to put me down.”
Either really didn't hear or pretended not to, Zoro remained silent. Kept walking, maintaining his tranquil pace. She bit her tongue over the nerves.
“People watching us. You should put me down now.” She persisted.
Still no answer from Zoro.
“Zoro, they’re gossiping us.”
“They babbling about how suit we are. Nothings bad.”
She blushed –again. “Still, put me down.”
He ignored.
“We’re a bit old for that sort of thing, y’know. We ain’t teenagers.”
“Then stop blushing.”
“I didn’t.” She denied.
He rolled his eye. “Yeah, yeah”
Robin bit his shoulder for it, pissed off.
“Oow!” He stopped and glanced back. “The hell, woman?!”
“We’ll arrive soon, put me down.” She insisted. “I can walk well now.”
Zoro didn’t buy it. “We’ll arrive soon, stay still and relaxed.” He deflected. Turned back to the front, started to continue the pace, could care less about the surroundings. “Since when you become this timid though.”
His murmurs were barely audible, but still heard by her. It could also be her question, actually. In any other circumstance, she wouldn’t give a damn about the surroundings. Much less, she would take advantage of it to tease him, making him flustered, and turned him into as red as tomato.
Totally different from what’s happening now. She was the one who flustered, blushed, and turning red.
What got into her this day, really.
Robin sighed, give up. Didn't intend to ask him to let her down any further. Starting to relax on his back and enjoy the ride. She rested her chin on his left shoulder as she stared blankly ahead, minds drifted into somewhere else.
“They would think we are together.”
She said, very softly, that she wasn't even sure if he could hear.
It was frustrating her, actually. The tought of she was the reason why the swordsman hadn’t been with anyone at that age. While she was sure Zoro could care less about any creature called woman, her insecurity said he might be unconsciously interested in someone, yet too dense to notice. Meanwhile that person could also likes him, but restrained themselve as they thought he was already attached with a boring old lady.
Poor little boy couldn’t experience love because stuck with her.
“Indeed, we are.” Zoro claimed.
Robin unhesitatingly bit his shoulder again. This time much harder.
“Aargh!” He stopped his steps and returned to face her angrily. “What now”
“Don't say something you didn't know the meaning.”
“Again, what’s that suppose to mean?” He offended. “I never mess with my words.”
She pinched him on the butt hard, causing him flinched and glared at her infuriatedly.
She dared to return his gaze sharply. “If I don’t know you any better I’d mistook everything.”
“Mistook what.” He frowned. “I know what I said and I really meant it.”
“Oh, God, just stop talking, Zoro.” She turned Zoro’s head back to the front forcibly. “Stop talking and keep walking. We should quickly open NiRo.” She patted his shoulder repeatedly, motioning to start walking.
Zoro grunted in response. Grumbling, as he accelerated the pace.
Robin’s hold tightened as his speed grew. She couldn't bear to hear any more words come out of his mouth. The more she heard it, the more she couldn’t help but drift her minds to somewhere else. To the rather other potential possibilities why he hasn’t seeing anyone for years. That he is in love with her.
Oh, fuck Nami gave her such an idea.
What a ridiculous thing to deduce. Too absurd to consider. Yet, she found her brain thought about it all the time involuntary. And his words before would make it even worse.
“You are man of action, Zoro.” She buried her face closer to him, hiding it behind the crook of his neck. “Just let it stay that way.”
He rolled his eye.
In a bar, somewhere around the center of archipelago, had been quite crowded with customers even though it only opened half an hour ago.
However, unlike the chaotic atmosphere that enveloped the bar, its owner looked unbothered relax behind the bar table merely focused on her book and let her clones handling all the mess.
Her gaze promptly moved upward when someone approaching her, to be met with a grey eye that were looking at her softly. She curved her lips into a smile.
He smiled back at her as his hand reached out the back of her head, pulling her closer to him. To press his lips against her forehead later on, giving a gentle peck on it.
“I’m off.”
He said, as he left from there, disappeared behind the door.
Robin just gave him a small nod then looked down. Wishing it could hide the slight blush on her cheeks. She just raised her head after she felt that the swordmans's presence had been away from there. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily.
Was Zoro behaved peculiarly sweet today? No. He's been like that for years.
So, was she the one who act so unusual? Yes.
Who knows how many times the red hue perched on her cheeks today because of the certain swordsman. Simply caused by her exaggerated thoughts about something he was used to. She would blame Nami for this. Her and their night talk session inflicted all this.
She let out a slight grimace as she closed her book, intending to leave. Headed to the 2nd floor, where she and Zoro lived for the past ten years. She got a headache because of the thoughts she had in minds. Maybe sunk into hot tub could help her to clear it.
End of Chapter 1
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Prelude
It made Nami felt bad enough that sometimes she suspected her friends actually were together and keeping their relationship a secret. But at this point, if that were true, it would have been going on so long that staying quiet would be more of an inconvenience than anything else. Plus, it wasn’t like either of them were being particularly subtle.
“So…” Nami halted to creep up on the tension. “You and Zoro, huh?”
“What about it?” Robin bit back, somehow that incited her no more surprise.
“Oh come on. This is how ‘girls talk’ goes, talking about their crushes together!” Nami tried. Robin winced, only because the wasabi was too strong.
"I don't have a crush on Zoro,"
"Sure, you don't. It's more than just a crush, right?" Nami already had one eyebrow raised when Robin turned to her, paired with a smirk for good measure. "You guys literally live together under one roof."
"We did live under the same roof in Sunny too." It was a defensive explanation that only raised Nami's quirked eyebrow closer to her hairline.
"I know." Nami leaned forward, fixed Robin with an intensely suggestive gaze. “But it's different now, isn't it?”
Robin angled herself away from Nami without fully intending to. "What do you mean?"
Nami moved back to her takeout and rolled her eyes. "Don't try telling me you don't feel any changes after all the years you stuck together alone. How do you share a room with that muscle piles and not do anything?”
“It’s not easy,” Robin admitted. “But he’s very respectful.”
“So you’d let it happen if he made the move?”
“We’re just friends.”
“Those arms must feel nice wrapped around you,” Nami was pushing it, but the faint blush on Robin’s cheeks confirmed her statement.
“Nami, you're being unhelpfully cryptic.”
“And you’re being unhelpfully stubborn.” Nami jabbed her chopsticks at Robin.
“Since we were on Sunny, I know you two pulled some painfully subtle attempts to be together at Crow's Nest, and I know all the silent glances you exchanged even before. You feel comfortable with each other but neither of you dares to take action,” Robin opened her mouth and Nami thrust the chopsticks toward her in a frighteningly aggressive gesture. “Don’t you dare deny it. You're just afraid of consequences that don't even exist.”
Robin blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“It’s about time, really.”
“For what?”
“Come on, Robin.” Nami retrieved a plate and arranges her sushi in a neat circle, soy sauce at the center. “You think he'd be quitting pirate life to open a bar if he wasn't in love with you, too?”
Robin compromised, stayed where she was. “You sound very confident, you know?”
“As the resident of third wheel, I know so. You two are more hopeless than Usopp and Kaya."
Robin grimaced and went silent for a while. She watched Nami chewing on her sushi peacefully then convinced, “I assure you, if there is anything me and Zoro feel for each other, it is nothing more than familial.”
Nami rolled her eyes again and gave up. She had done what she could, but her friend was just awfully dense.
Later on, Zoro back home. He saw Robin and Nami was chilling at the bar while eating sushi and he joined them. Noticing the new shirt Robin's wearing, Zoro accused the two women of having been shopping all day then immediately scolded and nagged Nami for taking Robin around when her foot had not fully recovered. To which, Robin defended by saying that she was already hale and hearty so that he didn't have to blame Nami for that matter.
Zoro kept commenting on every little thing(s) Robin did or had happened to her, as Robin responded casually.
Nami watched and was indifferent to her friends' friendly banter as she enjoyed devouring her meal.
"Well, that escalated quickly," Nami said after a long silence, letting out a scornful smile at Robin, "family-bond my ass."
Robin rolled eyes and went upstairs.
Zoro frowned.
Nami glared at Zoro knowingly as she muttered, "Coward." to Zoro.