Chapter Text
He wasn’t classy like Sanji, didn’t have Usopp’s sense of humor, he didn’t have this adorable–yet annoying - innocent stupidity like your Captain; he didn’t have the knowledge of Chopper or the ability of Franky; he wasn’t a musician like Brook. In fact, he was rather kind of unsociable, grumpy, always sleepy and his mind was only full of swords, fighting, and exercising but yet he was the man on whom you had a crush on Roronoa Zoro.
It was dinnertime and all the crew was happily eating Sanji’s food in the kitchen. Well, “happily”, dinner was especially a dangerous battle where you had to save your food from rubber and skeletal’s hands. You were frowning at the person in front of you, that was none other than the green-haired boy. What was so good about him anyway? YES, he was incredibly good looking and maybe that this “unsociable” side of him was part of his charm, but still... The swordsman suddenly stopped eating and stared at you.
"What?!" He asked annoyed with his mouth full.
"What, what ?!"
"Stop staring at me! It’s pissing me off!"
"Who’d stare at you? You’re eating like a pig it’s disgusting, stupid!"
"If you don’t like it, then don’t watch, dumb-ass!"
Something else to add to your list: he had -most of the time- a bad mouth and had this incredible ability to make you angry. At the end of the dinner, you went straight to the crow’s nest - since it was your turn to be on night guard. You sat next to a window and stare at the starry sky as you tried to remember why you fell in love with him in the first place.
There was that time when you were exploring a new island you found him wandering in the forest, since you knew that he didn’t have any sense of orientation you decided to help him :
"Let me guess: you’re lost?" You asked sarcastically.
"I’m not lost, I know where I am!"
"And where are we?"
"In the forest, can’t you see the trees? Idiot."
"Tch. As far as I’d like to let you wander in the forest until you starve, the other won’t agree with this idea, so just go back to the Thousand Sunny with me, ok?"
"I don’t need your help."
"You don’t think you need my help but trust me you do. So, we’ll both bear with this for a few minutes until we reach the ship."
This time he didn’t say anything and started following you without saying a word. After a few minutes; you decided to break the silence.
"So...Did you find something interesting on the island?"
No response.
" Oi! I’m talking to you, stupid!" You yelled, slightly annoyed.
No response.
" Seriously, what is wrong with y-... Gosh! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, SHITTY SWORDSMAN?"
You couldn’t believe your eyes. He wasn’t behind you anymore; you turned back and looked for him. You finally saw him further away in the wood.
"Oi! The idiot over here! What are you doing?!" You yelled at him.
"Who’s the idiot?! You’re the one who suddenly disappears!" He yelled back.
"What?! I was WALKING in front of YOU! How could I just disappear like that? It’s not my fault if you’re just too stupid to follow someone!"
Zoro was about to respond something but he restrained himself and let out a brief sigh of relief.
"Well, at least you’re ok, that’s good." He mumbled while scratching his neck with his hand.
So he was worried about you? You weren’t feeling angry anymore and decided to let it pass. You stretched out your hand for him to take it but he just stared at it, then at you with a confused face.
"You want to slap me?"
"No, I don’t want to slap you! Just take my hand and let go back to the ship before it’s too late."
Your sentence seemed to puzzle him even more, and you just took his rough hand in yours and started walking. After a few minutes you checked on him and for the first time in your life, you saw the swordsman embarrassed; he was staring at your hands as a light shade of pink was covering his cheeks.
You thought that was when you fell in love with him.
Then, there was this time when you were exploring a supposed unoccupied island - which was in fact occupied by some cannibals - and like the idiot you were, you fell into a trap. While you were waiting in your prison to be eaten you suddenly started hearing some battle sound and a few minutes later a sweaty and bloody Zoro appeared in front of you and freed you.
"Thanks for saving me," you shyly said.
"No problem. It was kind of fun, actually. More importantly, are you hurt somewhere?"
"My ankle hurt a little but otherwise, I’m perfectly fine," you reassured him.
Without saying anything, he lifted you and carried you till the ship. (In fact, he got lost in the wood (again) and you had to wait for the other, but still...)
As you tried to remember all the details of why you had fallen in love with him, you unconsciously fell asleep. You woke up a few hours later. You had now a blanket covering you and someone was gently stroking your hair and your head was resting in this person’s lap. You slowly turned your head to face the person who was taking care of you. Your eyes met Zoro’s, and you stared at him, not sure if you were still dreaming or not.
"If you can’t stay awake during your night watch, then don’t do it, dumb-ass!" He welcomed you.
You tried to protest and stand up, but Zoro didn’t let you.
"Just go back to sleep, I’ll take your turn. I’ll wake you up tomorrow morning." He said while looking outside to avoid your gaze and probably to try to hide the light blush which was covering his cheeks.
You simply smiled and closed your eyes. “That’s why I love him,” you thought.