Work Text:
Zoro sat on the corner pavement waiting for his father to come pick him up, the rain was pouring above him. His umbrella barely shielding his body as the rain water poured into small holes he forgot to patch. He let out a grunt feeling his clothes getting more soaked as time pasted.
Zoro looked down at his watch seeing the time being 7:50pm, knowing Mihawk he should just start walking home. Zoro gritted his teeth from frustration and his father sense of time. He started tapping his foot but felt water build up beneath him, seeing a thick puddle underneath his foot. He looked down and stared at himself for a minute, his black jacket was soaked throughout his body, feeling the cold water turn hot against his skin which made him extremely uncomfortable. He shivered slightly against the breeze before pulling his zipper over his nose wanting to feel warmth. He sat back against a trash can wanting to feet a bit comfortable.
Zoro waiting for 30 for minutes, not seeing a single car in sight and the sky not getting any clearer, the light blue sky now turned dark navy blue, making his tanned skin look almost copper like whilst his hair look more slightly more mint, a softer color.
He let out a sigh of annoyance before rubbing his face, trying to dry himself off. He peaked an eye open as he rubbed his eye, noticing a very high contrast color against the more dull colors around him, orange. The leaned in closer squinted his eyes a bit trying to make out who it was with the rain blocking him slightly. He saw the figure turn there head his way, seeming not to notice him. Zoro eyes widen slightly noticing who it was. The recognizable orange hair belonged too one girl he knew. Nami.
Zoro quickly hid himself behind the dark blue trash can and peaked over it, seeing her stopped under a tree with nothing but a long sleeved shirt and dark denim jeans. She was completely drenched with rain. He saw her shake her head trying to dry off her hair and face before continuing to walk. Zoro saw her face slightly, her hair covering her eyes as her mouth looked like it was quivering.
he leaned out further from the trash can with his expression softening. Is she—trying? Why…what the hell happened to make her cry?? Zoro continued to stare towards her, noticing Nami move her hair back slightly now revealing her eyes that were swollen from crying, she looked tired, like he was crying the entire day. His eyes narrowed upon seeing her, his jaw tightening slightly with his teeth pushed against each other. He felt his chest felt heavy against his heart. His muscles tensing.
They hadn’t talked since they both fought over the stupidest thing in the world, 2 weeks since that argument and not one of them had the guts to say anything, or they just were both too stubborn to say anything at all…Zoro stood up from the trash can and continued to stare towards her, Nami not noticing him at all. Zoro felt his body get hot, even though it was freezing cold. He felt sweat forming on his body. The burning sensation on his chest made his face turn slightly red.
before he could register his own doings, he saw that he was feet away from Nami making him jump a bit realizing how fast he would over towards her. She still hadn’t noticed him, how? He doesn’t even know. Either from the loud slashing of the rain hitting the pavement, or she had noticed him and was just ignoring him completely. Either way he wanted her to notice him. so he walked over behind her, pushed his umbrella over her head shielding her from the harsh rain.
Nami looked surprised, looking up at the umbrella before behind her. She saw zoro standing a foot way from her his arm stretched towards her with the umbrella now over her instead of himself. Zoro was correct. She was crying, but—why? Had something happen? He felt himself wanting to know even if he thought to himself he didn’t care at all.
his entire top half was now getting soaked in water staring right at Nami, not caring if he got wet or not. he saw her finally fully turn her body towards him, her shoulders were tensed as her arms were pressed against her body for warmth
His eyes widen suddenly seeing bruises and small but noticeable cuts on her face, the cuts had a slightly red color surrounding it whilst the bruises were a deep dark purple from the lighting, she had on a steri-strip on her nose. The wounds on her weren’t too bad, but they still looked like they would sting if they were just slightly touched—it struck a nerve in Zoro seeing them. The hard deep color bruises, the small cuts above her eyebrow and the bridge of her nose.
With instinct he reach his hand over to her face with a fast motion before he could touch her he felt a sting on the side of his hand, Nami swatted his hand from her, not even grazing her face with a finger. He pushed his hand back to his side, his eyes continuing to lingering on Nami’s face.
”What the hell are you doing, why are you here” Nami voice was stern but low, trying to keep quiet as the sky turned more black than blue. The street lights were far from both of them, her usual bright colored hair turn into a dull brown.
Zoro leaned back slight his arm still stretched over to Nami covering her from the heavy rain.”Waiting for Mihawk—“
He felt a push against his fist, seeing a Nami shove his hand back towards him leaving the rain water to rush down on her, his eyebrow’s twitched.
”I don’t need that, go away—“
“No” he interrupted her mid sentence.
He saw her eyebrows turn upwards her expression turning more angry than sad. His on the other hand stayed the same. His face relaxed and neutral rather than annoyed. It felt strange…he doesn’t remember a time where he wasn’t annoyed or angry at her…
He saw her shoulders trembling a bit from the cold, he inched closer a bit putting the umbrella now under both of them. He saw Nami get visibly annoyed by his gesture.
“What happened to your face…you weren’t like this the last time I saw you” he spoke in a low pitched, almost a whisper to Nami. He reached his hand over to her shoulder seeing her body turning away from him.
”your acting like someone’s appearance can’t change: Plus why do you care” her manner of speaking changed, the last words she said being more annoyed.
“With bruises that look that were made recently? I don’t think so…” his eyebrows narrowed slightly feeling Nami trying to brush off his hand.
”Why do you care all of a sudden?? After what seemed like you avoiding me why talk to me now?” Huh??? Since when was he avoiding her?? Sure he might’ve walked the other direction when he saw her during break time but he never blatantly ignored her.
“What? I hadn’t been ignoring you?? You’re the one that has been ignoring me this entire time!!” He felt his face getting hot for the slight lie that came from his mouth, feeling his ears turning a burning red
“Zoro I’ve been trying to talk to you for days trying to be the bigger person but you blatantly been ignoring me by running the opposite direction!!! Don’t tell me you haven’t!!”
Zoro felt his body tense from the sudden outing, he straightened his back as he glanced down a straight at Nami, feeling his hand tremble around the handle of the umbrella, he blinked faster than usual as he felt his foot tapping on the wet floor. after a minute he relaxed his back continuing to feel his face turn hot.
“L-look I wasn’t ignoring you!!! I was just—uhm…umm” Zoro couldn’t find the words at all. He felt like disappearing right then and there. Shit he was ignoring her!! Zoro looked around and remembered the bruise on her face.
“O-Okay but don’t change the subject!! What the hell happened here?? You still hadn’t said who it was yet” He pointed at the two cuts on her face, Nami grabbed onto his wrist and pulled it away from her and fully turned towards Zoro.
”Like I told you nothing happened!! Now Leave me alone and go home!” She threw his hand back to his side turning her back at him once more, walking away.
Zoro felt his body heat up from the frustration, he pressed his teeth together before realizing his body was moving once again, before he could do anything. He gripped onto her arm pulling her back towards him realizing he doesn’t have anything to say.
“What the hell is wrong with you! Let go of me” Nami pulled her arm forward causing Zoro’s grip to tighten.
“Look I don’t care about how your face looks I just want to know who did it! Did you tell Luffy about this??”
“God you’re so stubborn!!! Just let me go!”
She yanked her arm away from his and fully stomping off, Zoro felt his hand turn into a fist. He felt his entire upper body start to tense, his shoulder shaking as he felt the ridges of the umbrella dent the skin of his palm shooting pain through his entire hand. He felt his eyebrows furrow as it create a vertical creases on his forehead. He shouted something completely out of his own will.
”It was that piece of shit Arlong wasn’t it!” He shouted loud enough for her to hear and he knows it, the rain now getting louder and coming down much harder than before making loud noises caused by the umbrella above him.
he saw her turn her head around with her shoulders still tensed, this time visibly shaking. Either from the cold or from the amount of angry building up. Nami felt her jaw clench hearing what Zoro said seeing his eyes piercing straight through her skull, she felt a slight shiver on her back. Not knowing if it was the cold or something else.
She scoffed at him, turning right back around once more not wanting to deal with what ever he has to say.
Zoro seeing this felt his jaw lock into place, he noticed his body was moving without hesitation, throwing the umbrella right onto the pavement floor along with his backpack he ran towards Nami and pulling onto her shirt on her shoulder stopping her from going any further. Taking a grip on her shoulder he turned her around while his other hand was in a fist
”god damnit Nami just spit it out already!! It was him wasn’t it?! Or was it one of the other three!!?” Zoro felt her hand wrap around his wrist once more, feeling it tightening every second that past, he pushed her shoulder while still keeping his hand locked on it, as his other hand quickly sped towards the other side making her now face him.
He felt her other hand swing up towards his collar with her entire arm digging right onto his neck making him fall back slightly, with his left he finally let go, going straight for her arm and pushing it back while still pulling onto her shirt from the shoulder.
”when are you gonna stop being so goddamn difficult and tell me!! I just wanna h—“ a painful sting spread throughout the left side of his face, he finally lets go of Nami’s shirt bringing his hand right up towards his face. He pulls back his hand looking straight at his hand before glancing back at her seeing the expression of realization hit her all at once.
Nami’s stomach dropped, the middle of her palm stung from the open handed slap. He looked down at her palm now slightly red from the impact then at Zoro who had a shock look on his face, his expression relaxing from his usual angry one. She felt the rain turn heavier feeling the droplets of rain hit the top of her skull and shoulders with a far amount of force. She relaxed her shoulders letting her fall forward just enough for her to see the lower half of Zoro’s body, his body language was calm and quiet. Uncomfortably quiet—but when she glanced back up at him through her wet bangs. His eyes were narrowed his eyebrows furrowed slightly. The cold wind of the night hit her back causing her to shiver once again, her hair moving forward with the wind.
“leave me alone Zoro…it’s not your problem,”
Zoro saw her turn around once again; this time in a much faster pace she started to walk away from him. Zoro felt his jaw squeeze tight, he felt his muscle tense up. He gritted his teeth showing his bottom row as his eyes narrowed.
“When are you going to let anyone help you!! Jesus Nami you’re so fucking helpless you know that, you can never let yourself have a single good thing happen in your life huh. Even when it comes to you first hand you still push them away”
He saw her turn her head slightly, stopping near 14 feet away from him, Zoro smirked leaned his head forward before continuing.
“You let him do anything to you if it meant he doesn’t bring in anyone else you care about into your problems. You have to do everything yourself because you can’t fathom the fact that someone actually wants to help you instead of trying to exploit you in every living way imaginable”
“God Nami be your own person for once in her life, let another person be your friend, let somebody help you and maybe you wouldn’t be like this. Someone who shoves people away that try and help you whenever they actually try too.”
Zoro had walked closer towards her, he glanced over at her hands, seeing them clenched into a fist, the knuckles of her hands whitening slightly. His eyes narrowed upon the look, noticing the tension on her jaw.
“He doesn’t care about you, You know he never did. All he does is make you do all the work for his own benefit and pleasure for hi—“
Zoro saw with a swift motion of her fist coming straight at him hitting his cheek bone, the same exact spot where she first hit him. This time with a closed hand. He fell onto the floor feeling the puddle under him splash from his weight.
Zoro shifted slightly before feeling weight added to his body, he looked through his fingers seeing Nami now laying ontop her hands gripping tight around his collar jacket making him move his arms back holding half his weight whilst Nami held the other half. With the un-hit side he opened his eyes looking straight up at Nami with a narrowed expression.
His eyes widen seeing the face of her, it was hard to make out from how dark it was, Her looking straight down at him shielded him from the rain but he still felt water drop to the middle of his face. The sudden realization hit him. She was crying. He stared at her with tears running down her face straight onto him his now bruised face stinging from the hit.
“Shut up for once!! You don’t know anything that I’ve been through, before you 4 showed up everything was fine before Luffy and you started poking around in my business. I never asked for any of you to help, nor have I asked for it!!”
She held onto his collar jacket, she leaned forward a bit pulling him up, Zoro layer underneath him unmoving, his arms still holding his weight. He looked around her face, seeing the noticeable changes of it. Her facial expressions turning from and angry irritated teenager to a sad and pathetic little girl. He saw her face transform right infront of him.
Nami slammed his collar back down into the floor hitting his head as he went down hard, he let out a grunt sensing a shift in weight above him, he reopened his eyes seeing her head now laying right ontop of his chest, resting her cheek right on him. He saw her shoulder quivering as her hands moved down closer to her head taking a grip on his jacket. He lifted his head carefully up, enough to see she was fully on-top of him, he tiled his head slightly wanting to see her face. But was unable too, her bangs blocking her face. But he heard it. He heard the low whimpering of her cried. The terrible cover up of trying to sniffle. He heard everything.
His breathing was carful and slow, not wanting to bother her. He heard low words coming from her, a raspy and tired tone.
“you don’t know anything—you don’t know a thing that’s happened—“
He saw her head shift slightly, smearing her face into his chest as her hands held tighter onto his jacket. Zoro didnt move, he laid there waiting for her. Waiting for her to finally let go.
Zoro laid his head down back onto the floor, his hair touching the puddle that formed underneath them both. He looked up into the sky, the rain falling right into his face and clouds covering the black night sky. The bright full moon poked through the clouds, making the rain have a bright shadow on them as they fell down the sky. His hands were by his side feeling the water hit his palms.
Zoro hesitated for a moment, but made a quick decision to take his arms above Nami, holding her close to his chest. Hugging her tightly not wanting her to slip off somehow. Nami felt his arms wrap around her upper body, his hands wrapping around her shoulders with a surprising soft and gentle touch. her shoulders shook from the cold, she felt them reach to her ears, turning her head to the side. She saw the rain fall with a rapid pace, the lights shining from the street lights making it easier to see them fall. It looked calming to watch. The sound made of the water hitting the concrete floor they were both now laying on was…. comforting.
“I hate you so much Zoro…so—so much”
“Yea well that feeling goes the same with you,”
Zoro let a small smirk leave his face. He glanced down, her bright hair now dull from the night sky, the light barely doing it any justice. He saw her face turn back into his chest her hands now reaching further up close to her ears. The water under him started getting warm, over 9 minutes of laying in the puddle now.
he let out a loud sigh carefully sitting up sis holding Nami with one hand as the other helped him up. Zoro felt Nami push off him continuing to sit, now between his leg's.
He scooted back from her, still keeping her between him but enough space for herself. He sat for a couple minutes with her. Zoro noticed how long it’s been, last he checked the sky was a deep blue color. Now it was a dark back blue. More black.
Struggling to keep his eyes open from the rain he let out another sigh quickly lifting himself up. He stretched his arms above his head then leaned back cracking his back. He glanced back down seeing Nami tilted her head up at him, her hair stuck to her face with what seemed tears falling down her flushed face.
He smirked a bit, he crouched down hearing a slight crack of his knees, taking Nami’s cold hand and lifting her up back to her feet.
“We should leave now, it’s getting late and we’d probably get sick from the cold, especially you.” Zoro pulled her in closer towards him, his hand resting against her forearm, gently rubbing his thumb against the muscle of her arm. Zoro let go of her arm wrapping his other arm around her shoulder, making her walk with him.
“Let me go, I can walk on my own,” Nami rubbed her eyes with her arm, trying to pull away from Zoro with not much strength into it. She could’ve easily gotten away from him. But her body didn’t let herself. It wanted to say right beside him with the warmth of his clothes now pressed against her body made an oddly comforting sensation.
“I should’ve gotten my umbrella, Shit—whatever….Uhm. Where is your sisters house again?”
”How many times have you’ve been at my house again?”
”Shut up and tell me, I’m just started to realize how cold it is, and how dark it’s gotten”
“Mhm, yea I’ll just lean the way we’re supposed to go—or just let me go so we can go over there faster”
“What if you run off? Can’t let that happen, your sister might not let me come in whenever Luffy decide to visit you”
Nami let out a small laugh, her arm behind Zoro’s back holding her hand onto his jacket pulling it down against her arm weight.
They stopped in front of a small house, the grass surrounding it was tall, the bushes against the house covered the window’s slightly, flowers growing. Small tiny white flowers also grew on the grass making it look the house almost abandoned. The only thing that made it actually look like someone was living inside was the side of the house, massive bushes of tangerine trees were spread on the side. Almost over a dozen of them were full of tangerines, the light on the side of the house lit up as they both walked up. The tangerines shined against the light, the water making it more pleasant to look at.
The rain got lighter as they arrived to her neighborhood.
The lights inside of the house were bright yellow with a hint of orange. The metal bars on the windows made the house look more cozy somehow. The tiny design adding onto it.
they reached the front door Zoro finally letting go of Nami, pressing on the doorbell. It made a harsh buzzing sound as he pressed for about couple seconds before letting go. He felt the weight of Nami’s hand behind his lower back gripping his jacket. Made is spin shiver.
The swung open, the thin metal door protecting the main one shook as it opened. Appeared in front of was a tall figure, just under the hinges of the door.
Zoro looked up seeing the figure making out slight features of the figure.
The figure opens the screen door towards the two teens before stepping out. Zoro noticed it was Law, hands inside his pocket as he got his upper body wet. He looked down to see Zoro and Nami beside each other, Zoro having his arms pressed against his body glancing up while Nami had an arm hehind Zoro, not remotely looking his way.
“what?—what the hell happened??! Why are you two all soaked??” Laws usual deep cunning voice was now high, a hint of worried as he spoke.
“Goddamn it, Hurry up inside before you both get a cold”
Law took the shoulder of Nami pushing her gently inside, while he pulled Zoro in with a harsh grip making Zoro grit his teeth.
while inside Zoro felt the warm breeze hit his face, he saw Nojiko in the kitchen leaning over the counter glancing straight at both of them. Law pulled Nami to the seats were the counter stood, getting a small rag from the towel throwing it at Zoro.
“Hurry up and get dry, I don’t want the carpet to get wet because of you” Law pointed a figure at him, Zoro rolling his eyes before pulling the towel from his chest to his head.
“What happened to you two, and how’d you get those wounds are your face, Nami. Don’t tell me it was Arlong again” the calm low tone of Nojiko’s voice was unsettling, Nojiko came back from the bathroom grabbing a larger towel for Nami, throwing it on her head, rubbing it against her hair.
Zoro stared at Nami, unzipping his jacket, it felt almost sticky against his shirt and body. He dropped it on the floor pushing his foot against it moving it slowly to the corner.
he wondered what she would say, would she tell them what really happened? What happened between the two of them?…what happened with Arlong.
He wanted to say something, about Arlong, how they’ve been treating her. But he stopped himself, wanting Nami to be the one to say it. Wanting her to feel comfortable with saying it around the two people she cared
…
Zoro rubbed his neck with the towel, he felt a small whole been inside his stomach, he knew she wasn’t say anything. She didn’t want them to get into the mess she’s been. And Zoro knew that.
“That’s including you, what happened to your cheek, it’s all red” Zoro felt his face heat up, he felt his throat lock up. Should he say she did him?? Was his face all red???! Ah crap.
“Whatever, Zoro hurry up and call Perona, and get yourself dry. I’ll lend you my clothes for the time—after that you better give them back to me” Law stood up from the chair, stepping aside Nami heading straight to his room, leaving Zoro pouted at him. Zoro furrowed his eyebrows slightly looking at Law.
It didn’t take long to get dry, Laws clothing were lose fitting against him, the pants slightly sagging having to lift them up with his hands before Law gave him his damp belt. Perona didn’t take long after hearing Zoro was at Nami’s house. Since She liked Law a little too much. He never understood her taste.
Finally once Perona decided to finally leave she shouted at Zoro about how much trouble he was in with Mihawk, he rolled his eyes at her seeing Perona wait by the front door waiting for him to head out first having the umbrella in hand. Zoro showed his teeth at her, noticing something from his peripheral vision, a bright orange color. He turned to see Nami standing near the hallway.
she noticed Zoro staring, she held the towel near her ear smiling towards him. She saw Zoro smirked towards her before heading back outside Perona following behind. Law closed the door as she heard them starting to argue against each other the engine starting from the car. Nami felt a push on her shoulder seeing Nojiko beside her, Nojiko wrapped her arms around her neck pulling her towards herself.
”You just had to be the only one who’s not dating a girl with pink hair, completely opposite actually which made it funny” she pressed her lips and nose on the top of her head, rubbing her shoulder.
“what??? I’m not dating him?! What made you have that impression??” She tried lifted her up towards her sister but felt Nojiko push her towards the kitchen.
“Thank fuck, he’s so fucking annoying, everytime I see him he’s always mean mugging the shit out of me” Nami glanced at Law, seeing him get small bandage from the drawer, a tiny container of alcohol in hand. He took a clean towel showering it with alcohol, pressing it against her two wounds she had.
“Would it be so bad?, I think he’s a good kid”
”Good kid my ass, he’s always doing something he’s not, especially with Luffy, god the both of them are so annoying together”
Nami felt the sting of the alcohol spread through her face, a short wince escaping her mouth.
Nami escaped from the grasp of her sister as Law finally finished. She thought of what Nojiko said. Her dating Zoro. What made her think that?? They never really hung out together like that. She doesn’t think. It made her confused about it.
Zoro should’ve shoved her off when she attacked him, but he didn’t. Zoro let her attack him not doing a thing to stop her. And when she did stop he didn’t say anything or hit back, he hugged her, smiling at her. Made her confused. She didn’t want to think about it anymore, made her feel something inside her chest, the slight feeling of her heart beating faster as she thought about it more. She felt her body heat up, her cold hands moving up to her face, two different temperature. She didn’t want to think about it, all she wanted to do was sleep everything off and forget the feeling she hated.