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Nami couldn’t remember the last time she felt at peace. And even now, miles and miles away from Arlong, she wasn’t sure she could feel it either.
The crew had the cast-off ceremony, and they stayed together until the stars appeared in the sky. Usopp told them about his grand gestures to defeat the fishmen while Luffy bounced around the deck, Sanji gave not-so-subtle looks at Nami, and Zoro took a nap on the floor.
It was more than she could ever have asked for. However, she knew that sleep would not come easy after the events of the day. And so, the guys started to fall asleep just like Zoro on the deck.
They decided to call it a day, they were all worn out and needed some sleep to recover their energy. Even Luffy was barely moving.
Nami decided to stay and pay attention to their route, it was foolish trying to sleep anyway. She was sure all she would gain from it would be nightmares. But she wasn’t alone.
Zoro had awakened, but he had not moved an inch from his initial position. He followed Nami’s every move with his gaze.
She was used to having people stare at her, especially in Arlong Park, where everything she was and did was judged. She had always felt uneasy there, with their gazes on her.
But not now.
Not with him.
She might have felt it when she just met him, but she knew him now. She trusted him now.
He had saved her.
They had saved her.
But it was weird though. Zoro wasn’t acting as he usually did.
There were no words utter, no witty remarks.
She knew something was up with him, but he wouldn’t just say it. She knew he wouldn’t.
Luckily for him, Nami was looking for any distraction to not fall asleep.
She moved from her place with the intention to go inside, but a hand stopped her midway. “Where are you going?” He asked her, overwhelmed.
She gave him a look of surprise. “The kitchen, if we’re going to stay here we could use a drink.”
With that, he let her go, somewhat calmed.
Nami came back with a bottle of Rum in her hands, and she sat next to the swordsman, who still looked at her every move.
She took a long sip, passing it then to him.
“Long day today, huh?” Added Zoro, passing her the bottle again.
“Yeah, I’m tired as hell.”
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” He asked again.
“I…” She considered lying, but he was there for a reason and that's why she had to be honest, at least once. “Nightmares.”
Zoro closed his hands in fists to his sides. “We were so stupid to not see what was going on with you.”
“You got me out, it doesn’t ma…”
“Luffy got you out, Nami. I was blinded by rage at you betraying us that I was dead set on just leaving you behind.”
So, that had hurt. But she could see in his face how mad he was at himself.
“If I had convinced him to leave, I can’t even imagine…” Luffy had told the rest of them about the map room and the chains, and with every little thing he learned about Nami’s life, he wanted nothing more than to scream at his own stupidity.
“I mean, you were doing the most selfless thing for your community and I…” He felt her own hand undoing his fist. At that, he made visual contact for the first time since they started speaking.
Her eyes were as blue as the ocean, and she looked as if she were about to cry.
He was making her suffer again.
Involuntarily, Zoro touched her new tattoo. And Nami winced at the contact, but still let him touch.
“You have no idea how many times I tortured myself with the scenarios of what could’ve happened, but it doesn’t matter anymore.” She added, still holding his visual contact.
“It matters to me. You could’ve died, Nami!”
“But I didn’t. And you know what’s the difference between today and yesterday?” A beat of silence passed, and he just motioned for her to continue. “Yesterday I was still in the map room trying to find my way out…"
"…today I’m free, Zoro.” She gave him the brightest smile he had ever seen in her, and he couldn’t avoid mirroring it.
“I’m free because of Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji.” She put her free hand on his cheek to make him look at her. “I’m free because of you.”
He went back to look at the floor again, but he had a small smile on his face this time. However, Nami could still see he wasn’t fully convinced.
She stood up from her seat and placed herself in front of him. “And for what is worth, I forgive you.”
With those words, it was as if he could breathe again. He had wanted to apologize, but he had no idea how to. He couldn’t avoid feeling a tad overprotective of her now, thinking that leaving her side would mean losing her again.
It was the first time ever that Zoro actually hugged her, or anyone for that matter.
Not that she was complaining though.
He buried his face in her neck when she hugged him back seconds later, and that sent shivers down her spine.
She had thought of him as a stranger at first, then a friend, and then a stranger again. Oh, how hurt she had been by his words prior to his duel with Mihawk.
But now… now she wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Does this mean we’re like official friends now?” She whispered in his ear, and she could feel the smirk growing on his face.
“Is that what you want?”
Oh great, he was playing with her now.
She had no answer.
She wanted him to be a part of her life for sure, but maybe “friends” wasn’t the official term in her mind.
Then again, she would prefer to die than to admit that to him. His ego was big enough as it was.
“I think so.” She added, and he smirked.
Zoro was pretty sure she was lying. Their noses were touching now, that was not a friend's thing and she knew it.
He let it slide though. It was a long way to the Grand Line and he could use the distraction.
Then, Zoro made Nami sleep with the promise of waking her up if there was a sign of any nightmare. But being who he was, he ended up falling asleep too.
When the guys found them together in the morning, they blamed it all on the alcohol. Just as the good liars they were.
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