I Still Miss Someone [2/2]
Title: I Still Miss Someone [Part Two]
Fandom: One Piece
Characters: Zoro/Nami, Perona, Mihawk
Word Count: 7,910
Rating: PG
Summary: While on Kuraigana Island, Zoro reflects on the person he misses the most.
[--]
Part One
They hadn’t celebrated his twentieth birthday because he hadn’t told them it was his birthday. He hated celebrating anyways. They did however celebrate his twenty-first birthday.
He hadn’t really told Perona, she just bugged him until he snapped and told her the date when she realized that they had never known when his birthday was. One thing about Perona was that she loved celebrating. It meant she could decorate the ugly and un-cute castle, (her words) and bake cute cakes, (her words) and share presents. (Also her words.)
Mihawk mostly went along like any man trying to have peace in his own home and to get rid of her pestering him until he caved and let her defile his castle as he so put it. Perona liked throwing parties, even if it was only for three and she did a good job of it mostly. They had celebrated hers and Mihawk every year, and every birthday she made a ridiculous monstrosity of a cake, three tiers high, all pink frosting and pink everything, whatever else it was that went on cakes. Zoro didn’t really know, or care since he hated sweets to begin with.
Sitting with the blind over his eyes he pretty much knew what to expect, so when she took off his black bandana he wasn’t really surprised to see pink balloons decorating the castle, two presents on the table, gift wrapped in pink, everything in sight was fucking pink. He scowled at the stupid pink cake. It was a thing form his nightmares, something the cook would bake-maybe less pink, but still- twenty-one pink candles sitting on top of the preposterous looking cake.
Still, Mihawk threw him an expecting look when Perona smiled at him, so he pretended to act surprised and grateful for all her hard work. He might have overdone because Mihawk made a face but otherwise ignored him, turning his attention to Perona as she sang the birthday song loudly and off tune.
Zoro was forced to blow out the hot pink candles after making a wish, which he didn’t because that was stupid. If he wanted something, he would get it, not wish for it.
Despite being forced to eat a gigantic slice of the sugary cake, he did have a good time. After he finished eating the cake Mihawk was chosen to give Zoro his present first.
“I know I’m doing you more harm than good by supporting your alcoholic ways,” Mihawk began, “but here’s your present.”
He jerked his head to the side of the room. Mihawk bought him gallons of booze; kegs of beer and bottles of sake littered the long dining table. It was enough for an entire castle full of men; truth was he was the only drinking. Zoro would have been fine with just the booze but Mihawk had also given him a black overcoat.
He handed it over like he was happy to dispose of it. “Happy birthday boy.”
Something new to wear he supposed. He shrugged and put it on, finding it fit nicely. Perona’s gifts consisted of a teddy bear -which was absurd- and a cute red stash. (Her words.)
“To go with your unforgivably ugly coat,” she said.
Apparently her and Mihawk went shopping together. He thanked her nonetheless, even for the stupid teddy bear and humoured the girl by wearing the sash around his waist.
By then he was used to thanking people for presents he didn’t want. On his nineteenth birthday Franky had gotten him a green Speedo and the cook had given him a dirty magazine, (to educate himself) with and Nami had elbowed his ribs until he caved in and thanked them both for the wonderful and truly thoughtful presents.
Rude and bossy as the girl might be from time to time, she always made sure he was polite to others.
[--]
When the light shone for the brief moment of all of two seconds, he saw the skinny trees being pushed by the wind as the storm continued. Zoro sat in front of the large window, watching as the rain came pouring down and hearing the thunder roar. Mihawk sat a few feet behind him in his lush red trimmed chair, reading his newspaper, never batting an eye whenever the thunder rolled. Perona was in the room with them for the pure and simple reason of not wanting to be in her room alone because the storm scared her.
If it were up to Zoro he would go out and train. Mihawk told him not to be a suicidal idiot. Deciding to humour the old man, he obeyed. Not that he ever listened to anyone other than himself. Thunder rolled again and Perona shrieked, annoying both the men. The light from the thunder revealed millions of leaves flying and whirling through the night sky. The island looked darker and gloomier than ever. The sound of the wind roared and filled the house. It was chilly inside the castle stonewalls and only the fireplace kept them warm.
After some time the storm settled and quieted some. Soon only the pouring rain was heard and the occasional turn of the page from Mihawk’s newspaper. By that time Perona had fallen asleep, her head resting in Zoro’s lap. He let out a sigh.
“The storm will pass boy,” Mihawk said offhandedly. “You can train again when there’s no chance of thunder striking you down.”
“I would have been ok.”
“Don’t be stupid boy. Think for once.” He turned the page, no emotion in his tone when he spoke.
Though he didn’t quite appreciate the implications of Mihawk saying think for once, he choose to ignore it. Instead, Zoro looked down at his hands, making a tight fist then slowly uncoiling his fingers, looking at his thickened hands. They had gotten more calloused over the year and his fingers were thicker. His body had overall gotten bulkier.
“I need to train.”
His swords were away from him, leaning against the wall. Not used in two days now because of the storm. Mihawk had forbid him from training inside because he feared him wrecking his things and the possibility of him breaking something.
“I told you to mediate.”
“For two days straight?” Zoro asked.
Mihawk turned another page. “Better than looking out the window.”
Zoro thought about it. He could do that but he yearned to go outside and train.
He had weights, and he could meditate. But he wanted to wield his sword more than anything. Sandai Kitetsu seemed to want to be used as well, because of that; he was itching for the blade to be in his hands. Mihawk must have sensed it, taking his attention away from his newspaper to look at him for a while. The unnerving stare he did with those piecing yellow eyes, a weaker man would be scared of that look but it just pissed Zoro off.
“Learn to relax boy,” he said finally, his yellow eyes going back to his paper.
“I want to train.” He looked at his hands again. “I need to use my hands.”
“A swordsman fights with his brains, not his hands Roronoa.”
He sighed. It was the same shit his sensei used to tell him.
“Brute strength isn’t everything,” Mihawk said. “You can’t chuck houses every time you’re in a sticky situation.”
Zoro regretted telling Mihawk about his fight with Daz Bones.
“Learn to strategize Zoro. A good fighter knows strength isn’t everything.” He heard him turning another page. “It’s how you apply it.”
“Got it.”
“Good.”
They fell silent again.
“Oh, and Roronoa?”
“What?”
“The girl is drooling on your lap.”
“Fuck!”
[--]
For dinner, Mihawk outdid himself. He was always a pretty good cook but he had made a little extra effort for dinner. The three of them knew he would be leaving tomorrow in order to meet Luffy again. It was strange for Zoro to think that tonight was the last dinner he would have with the two of them. He had gotten used to their company, even enjoyed it, having been with just them for the past two years.
Funny enough, even thought they all knew he would leave the next day, they had avoided that subject like most people avoided talking about whether to put grandpa in the home. Dinner went on like it normally would, carefully avoiding the subject of Zoro’s departure.
Despite their efforts, it was made clear that they were aware of that fact, Mihawk had gone and broke out one of his fancy wines, the one’s he thought he hid well from Zoro. Truth was he respected him enough to pretend he never found them.
Tomorrow, Zoro would be on his way to reunite with his crew again. He would get to see his crazy captain, the long nose, the little otter, the Speedo wearing cyborg, the dark girl, and the singing skeleton. Yes, he had even missed the shit cook. He had missed them all and wanted to see them again but he was the most excited about seeing Nami again.
[--]
It was early in the morning when he rose from sleep. He wasted no time in getting ready, part excitement and part wanting to get the hell out of there after two years. He dressed in the coat Mihawk had given him, adding the red slash and retrieving his swords, placing them on his hip.
He spared looking at his room a last time before exiting, shutting the down behind him. The place where his room was located was in the back so he had to walk past Mihawk and Perona’s bedroom to make it out of the castle. He was careful not to make a sound as he walked past their rooms.
Zoro wasn’t exactly good with goodbyes and didn’t need to make anything dramatic before he left. He would most likely run into them again anyways. He turned back just once, looking at their closed bedroom doors and headed to the front. They would understand anyways, it wasn’t exactly like they would make a big deal, not Mihawk at least. Perona would probably nag that he didn’t say goodbye but there wasn’t time for that. He needed to be with his captain again, to be with the crew that he missed.
Stepping outside, he was greeted by the cool morning air. Of course it was still dark outside but even so, he could see there on the steps, Mihawk and Perona. They were dressed up, Perona in one of her long dresses and boots, Mihawk in one of those ruffly shirts he always wore and a large crucifix that would have been the envy of any pope. Funny, he thought vampires hated crosses.
“What the-?”
“Thinking of leaving without saying goodbye Roronoa?” Mihawk asked.
He hadn’t been able to think of anything. Finally, he let out a sigh, grinning at him. He supposed he did owe it to the man to at least say goodbye. Mihawk was the polite sort anyway, even if he was a serious motherfucker. So there was no getting out of it he realized.
Perona was at his side in an instant, looking like she had something to say. “So typical of you Zoro! Can’t even say goodbye to me.”
He looked down at her. “Goodbye. Happy?”
“No.” She looked at him, twirling her umbrella in hand. “Plus, you don’t have to say goodbye yet, I’m taking you there anyways.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“Save it Roronoa,” Mihawk cut in. “With your sense of direction you need all the help you can get.” He looked at Perona, “You should be thankful she offered to take you.”
Zoro sighed. Well, that was that. They saved him a dramatic goodbye. And now he had assurance that he would make it on time.
[--]
The first time he saw her after two years, he hadn’t been able to properly greet her. He had been with Luffy and the shit cook when she spotted them and waved, her arm going over her head as she greeted them.
The only thing that had gone through his mind at the time was that she looked different. Not just the fact that her hair was now longer, or that she was clearly more developed. There was something about her that seemed more confident; she had the air of a woman now.
When things had settled down and they had got the chance to be alone, she had wrapped her arms around his neck in greeting.
“You look buffer,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.
“You look,” he looked down where her chest was pressed against his own, “bigger too.”
She laughed, “Shut up.”
They grinned at each other, holding each other close, Zoro’s hands going to her exposed middle. They stood there for some time, just looking at one another. Nami looked at his one eye, a grey the colour of fog in the mountains, looking at his face and his tan complexion. Zoro looked at her long hair, seeing the way it framed her face and the colour of her eyes.
Finally, Nami asked him, “Where were you for the past two years?”
“In hell,” he said, grinning. “Stuck on Kuraigana Island with the ghost girl and Hawk eyes.”
“Ghost girl? You mean Perona?”
He nodded.
“That explains why she held off the marines.” She smiled at Zoro, the mischievous sort of way that did things to Zoro. He recognized that look; the same playful look in her eyes whenever she was about to tease him. “Play nice with her, did we?”
“Don’t say that,” he said. “Don’t even think it.”
She only laughed. He had missed that playfulness in her and seeing the gleam in her eye whenever she laughed. He held her a little tighter. “And you?”
Her smile was still playing on her lips. One arm around his neck detangled itself and she rested her elbow on his shoulder as she pointed her index finger skyward. He looked up to where she was pointing; the only thing in the sky was puffy white clouds. A knowing grin played on his lips and he looked down at her. “Your favourite.”
“Shut up.” She playfully smacked his head.
He ignored it. “I heard you gave Usopp a boob hug.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Should I be?”
“Maybe. He looks better now. Buffer too. You might have some competition.”
He chuckled, smiling at her. His hand went from her torso to touch her long hair. Running his fingers through her hair, he said, “You grew it.”
She touched his closed eye. “What happened?” she asked, ignoring his statement.
His hand went to her hand, closing his fingers around her hand, bringing it down so it was away form his face. “Nothing really. Dumb accident.”
She gave him a look. “Be careful next time then.” She lifted off her heels, balancing on her toes and kissed his scar, feeling her soft lips on his closed eye. She leaned back and gave him that same playful look. “Dummy.”
He looked into her eyes for a moment, and Nami felt uncomfortable for a few moments under that gaze, thinking she might have done something stupid with that kiss until he bent his head and kissed her on the lips.
When they parted, she giggled.
“What?” he asked.
“Took you long enough.” She said, then added, “dummy.”
[--]
END
I know Zoro was already 19 when he joined the crew, but this is a fanfiction, I can make shit up.
Anyways, thank you for reading you wonderful human being.