( zoro tries not to tense up as nami approaches him, but his jaw still tightens a little regardless β it's aggravating for someone so used to schooling his expression into something neutral, uncaring, to have his emotions fully on display whether he likes it or not, ears turning outwards, pressing back towards his hair.
he breathes out slowly as she touches him, practically pets him through his jacket, unzipping it and hugging him tightly beneath. ) I'm fine.
( but zoro obviously isn't, which makes him sigh, tension slipping off of him as he hugs her closer, cheek pressed against her hair and nuzzling gently. apologetically, maybe, for the initial prickliness. ) Just β pissed off.
( to be fair, neither nami or zoro are especially well versed in physical affection. belatedly, she realizes he didn't tell her just to get a good snuggle out of it, and she distantly feels a little embarrassed for acting. well, like his girlfriend, or something. )
You like him. ( she says it so zoro doesn't have to, affectionately smacking his side as if to say i've been there. peeling back from him, her hands rest on his hips, giving him a reassuring squeeze. ) I'm pissed off for you, if it helps. It's not like β
( she gives a flagrant sort of handwave. annoyed at sanji, annoyed at herself for not being able to put it all into perfect words. nami huffs a small breath, staring at the center of zoro's chest. )
I mean, it's not a hardship to be attracted to you. Sanji is full of shit for comparing that to all the other stuff. ( her jaw flexes. ) I'd yell at him, but he gave me the cold shoulder, too.
zoro's mouth opens immediately to protest, but β he doesn't, frowning as nami pulls back, his arms still draped loosely over her shoulders. does he like him? if he does, why? why bother? it stings, the knowledge that he'd said more to sanji than he's probably ever said to anybody, only to get that door slammed in his face. maybe it's just his ego that's bruised, even if the conversation had gone exactly the way zoro had expected it to, deep down.
β but he's ignoring nami, too? that's more surprising than anything. his brow furrows. )
No point yelling at him, because it'll just give him another reason to hate me. ( a newly sharp canine worries at his plush lower lip as he thinks and thinks and β shakes his head. ) If he doesn't want me, then β
( in hindsight, zoro probably shouldn't have showed nami their conversation, still doesn't really know why he did outside of heat-of-the-moment anger, but he doesn't feel guilty about it β at least not when it comes to sanji. if anything, it's just as uncomfortable to let nami see how ... vulnerable he'd been, too. )
( then. nami isn't sure what then there is β torn between what she's pretty sure she knows about sanji's feelings because she's lived in them, and not wanting to force him into something uncomfortable. in fact, she'd understand if sanji couldn't get the words out, if it was perilous and impossible for him, for reasons he seems intent to keep close to his chest. what she can't forgive is him taking it out on zoro, and making her cute kitty cat frown.
the ears are new, but they're an obvious tell when zoro is otherwise physically unbothered by something. rising up on her tiptoes, nami presses her hands on the tensed back flicker of his ears, soothing her thumbs against the inner shell, the soft fuzz on the outside. she focuses on that instead of his eyes, which she's pretty sure are a little too all seeing occasionally β nami has a bleeding heart for her two guys, anyway. she's not sure what her expression would show. pining? arousal? )
You're a good kitty. ( extremely fond. she ruffles up his hair, debating if she might get a good scratch on his tail before he gets embarrassed and pulls away. she offers him a smile. ) I know it's hard, but you did good. My good guy.
( even before the change, before the connection ritual, nami's always been able find a way to soften his steely exterior β even if sometimes, like on the merry, when she all but begged him not to duel mihawk, he doubles down and says some bullshit and removes himself because she knows how to get to him. it's different here, now, especially after everything β when it's just the two of them in the privacy of their little home, zoro feels safe to let her in.
she stands on her tiptoes, thumbs rubbing slow circles at the insides of his new ears, and zoro might even tip his head down, canting it just so, so she can give him a little scratch behind his ear that's begging for it all of a sudden. his eyes close contentedly, warmth washing over him, and β
maybe it's the physical affection, or, possibly worse, her praise for him, that makes his vocal cords rumble quietly, the low sound carrying with each inhale and exhale he takes. the pet names β good kitty, my good guy β should maybe bother him, probably would've made him prickly when he'd first changed and became wildly insecure about how non-threatening he looks afterwards, despite the claws, the teeth. instead, they bring forth an odd sense of ... pride.
he is hers β a fiercely devoted witch's familiar, their lives, their magic, their abilities intertwined. even as zoro purrs, he reaches up to slip his hand beneath hers and guides hers towards his mouth so he can press a slow, lingering kiss to her knuckles. ) I like the way that sounds. ( a pause. ) Yours.
You are. ( nami voices, kind of dumbly, brain making a temporary offline sound to see zoro's mouth pressed against her fingers in a kiss. not their first kiss. with any luck, not their last, but she's pretty sure the temperamental beating of her heart is not normal in the face of something so innocent, something well explored. then again, maybe its the way yours fits in zoro's mouth β rightly, like a key slotting into a lock. ) That's always been true. It goes the other way too, you know.
( that is β he's her swordsman, and she's his cat burglar. if those things are less true here, they'll always be each other's something. nami's confident about that the way she's confident in little else, possibly just because zoro's felt like a permanent fixture in her life ever since he entered it, no matter how hard nami used to deny it. witch and familiar now, she feels his kittenish purring as if it's coming from her own chest β she wonders if somewhere on the hunt sanji can feel it too, like nami serves as a proxy between her two familiars. she wonders if it warms him up like it does to her, a kettle lit under a flame.
her free hand lays flat on his chest, mapping out the vibration. )
Are you purring because you're happy?
( she doesn't say i bet i could make you purr louder, but she does step around him, pining herself to the door he just entered through. cunningly, she catches his tail, letting the fluffy tip of it tickle her opposing palm. )
( it is kind of embarrassing that nami can hear him purring, something that's happened only a few times since he's changed (honestly, it probably happens when he's asleep, snoring, more than anything β and he's none the wiser). is it because he's happy? it could be, a bandaid over the sting of sanji's harsh words. tipping his head down to look at nami's hand on his chest, fingers drifting over the place where her own tattoo marks his body, hearing her affirmations that yes, she's his, too β
he thinks that maybe it's just because nami has a way of comforting him. )
I dunno, ( zoro answers with a sheepish little smile. ) It just kinda hapβ Hey!
( so much for his catlike reflexes. nami slips out of his grasp before he has a chance to stop her (she is a very prolific thief, after all), and the feeling of her fingers wrapped around his tail makes his face heat up, luckily hidden beneath his already-flushed cheeks from the cold outside. zoro spins around, the length of his tail slipping silky-smooth between her fingers, curling around his thigh, smile spreading. ) I see why they call you the cat burglar.
( because she's burgling this cat, or something. it's all a little silly, a welcome relief from all of the angst of his day. it emboldens him to take a step forward, a breath away from pinning her to the door himself, hands cupping her cheeks to guide her mouth up towards his, kissing her softly β sweetly, even. )
( it's not a complaint βΒ in fact, it's near to the opposite of one, given that nami actually likes the feeling, the kitten sound of his contentment rumbling in his big chest. as if zoro could get cuter. the little known facts about zoro are thus: when he smiles, it's like the sun is beaming down on you, bright and warm. when he isn't slinging three swords around, he's actually very cute, like a kitty with its claws put away. and, a secret nami will happily take with her to the grave, when he's happy, he's just a little bit of a cheeseball. again, not a complaint. nami grins at him, feeling her heart batter against her ribs like a lovesick idiot. the fever is temporary. eventually she won't feel completely weak in the knees because zoro is against her. until then βΒ she holds herself against the door, careful to keep her balance.
probably the first great love of her life was candied tangerine peels, but zoro makes the list, somewhere in the running. sanji does too. distantly, in the second between zoro's mouth and hers, she thinks about how sad it is sanji isn't here to be connected to this βΒ all the fun parts of being with zoro. when he smiles. when he's silly. )
Dork.
( it's more of a grin than a kiss at first, but nami opens her mouth and kisses him back quickly, with the languid movement of someone used to luxury βΒ long, rich kisses, and endless hours to explore them. somewhere with sunshine and beaches and without the insatiable bloodlust always gnawing at her to take a bite of him. her hands flatten on his hips, chin tilted up to meet his mouth. when they break away nami nuzzles into one of his palms, pressing a kiss right at the meeting point of his wrist. )
Cold hands.
( she murmurs. it's also not a bad thing β her cheeks, flushed, feel too hot beneath them. )
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he breathes out slowly as she touches him, practically pets him through his jacket, unzipping it and hugging him tightly beneath. ) I'm fine.
( but zoro obviously isn't, which makes him sigh, tension slipping off of him as he hugs her closer, cheek pressed against her hair and nuzzling gently. apologetically, maybe, for the initial prickliness. ) Just β pissed off.
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You like him. ( she says it so zoro doesn't have to, affectionately smacking his side as if to say i've been there. peeling back from him, her hands rest on his hips, giving him a reassuring squeeze. ) I'm pissed off for you, if it helps. It's not like β
( she gives a flagrant sort of handwave. annoyed at sanji, annoyed at herself for not being able to put it all into perfect words. nami huffs a small breath, staring at the center of zoro's chest. )
I mean, it's not a hardship to be attracted to you. Sanji is full of shit for comparing that to all the other stuff. ( her jaw flexes. ) I'd yell at him, but he gave me the cold shoulder, too.
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zoro's mouth opens immediately to protest, but β he doesn't, frowning as nami pulls back, his arms still draped loosely over her shoulders. does he like him? if he does, why? why bother? it stings, the knowledge that he'd said more to sanji than he's probably ever said to anybody, only to get that door slammed in his face. maybe it's just his ego that's bruised, even if the conversation had gone exactly the way zoro had expected it to, deep down.
β but he's ignoring nami, too? that's more surprising than anything. his brow furrows. )
No point yelling at him, because it'll just give him another reason to hate me. ( a newly sharp canine worries at his plush lower lip as he thinks and thinks and β shakes his head. ) If he doesn't want me, then β
( in hindsight, zoro probably shouldn't have showed nami their conversation, still doesn't really know why he did outside of heat-of-the-moment anger, but he doesn't feel guilty about it β at least not when it comes to sanji. if anything, it's just as uncomfortable to let nami see how ... vulnerable he'd been, too. )
I just wanted you to know that I tried, anyway.
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the ears are new, but they're an obvious tell when zoro is otherwise physically unbothered by something. rising up on her tiptoes, nami presses her hands on the tensed back flicker of his ears, soothing her thumbs against the inner shell, the soft fuzz on the outside. she focuses on that instead of his eyes, which she's pretty sure are a little too all seeing occasionally β nami has a bleeding heart for her two guys, anyway. she's not sure what her expression would show. pining? arousal? )
You're a good kitty. ( extremely fond. she ruffles up his hair, debating if she might get a good scratch on his tail before he gets embarrassed and pulls away. she offers him a smile. ) I know it's hard, but you did good. My good guy.
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she stands on her tiptoes, thumbs rubbing slow circles at the insides of his new ears, and zoro might even tip his head down, canting it just so, so she can give him a little scratch behind his ear that's begging for it all of a sudden. his eyes close contentedly, warmth washing over him, and β
maybe it's the physical affection, or, possibly worse, her praise for him, that makes his vocal cords rumble quietly, the low sound carrying with each inhale and exhale he takes. the pet names β good kitty, my good guy β should maybe bother him, probably would've made him prickly when he'd first changed and became wildly insecure about how non-threatening he looks afterwards, despite the claws, the teeth. instead, they bring forth an odd sense of ... pride.
he is hers β a fiercely devoted witch's familiar, their lives, their magic, their abilities intertwined. even as zoro purrs, he reaches up to slip his hand beneath hers and guides hers towards his mouth so he can press a slow, lingering kiss to her knuckles. ) I like the way that sounds. ( a pause. ) Yours.
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( that is β he's her swordsman, and she's his cat burglar. if those things are less true here, they'll always be each other's something. nami's confident about that the way she's confident in little else, possibly just because zoro's felt like a permanent fixture in her life ever since he entered it, no matter how hard nami used to deny it. witch and familiar now, she feels his kittenish purring as if it's coming from her own chest β she wonders if somewhere on the hunt sanji can feel it too, like nami serves as a proxy between her two familiars. she wonders if it warms him up like it does to her, a kettle lit under a flame.
her free hand lays flat on his chest, mapping out the vibration. )
Are you purring because you're happy?
( she doesn't say i bet i could make you purr louder, but she does step around him, pining herself to the door he just entered through. cunningly, she catches his tail, letting the fluffy tip of it tickle her opposing palm. )
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he thinks that maybe it's just because nami has a way of comforting him. )
I dunno, ( zoro answers with a sheepish little smile. ) It just kinda hapβ Hey!
( so much for his catlike reflexes. nami slips out of his grasp before he has a chance to stop her (she is a very prolific thief, after all), and the feeling of her fingers wrapped around his tail makes his face heat up, luckily hidden beneath his already-flushed cheeks from the cold outside. zoro spins around, the length of his tail slipping silky-smooth between her fingers, curling around his thigh, smile spreading. ) I see why they call you the cat burglar.
( because she's burgling this cat, or something. it's all a little silly, a welcome relief from all of the angst of his day. it emboldens him to take a step forward, a breath away from pinning her to the door himself, hands cupping her cheeks to guide her mouth up towards his, kissing her softly β sweetly, even. )
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probably the first great love of her life was candied tangerine peels, but zoro makes the list, somewhere in the running. sanji does too. distantly, in the second between zoro's mouth and hers, she thinks about how sad it is sanji isn't here to be connected to this βΒ all the fun parts of being with zoro. when he smiles. when he's silly. )
Dork.
( it's more of a grin than a kiss at first, but nami opens her mouth and kisses him back quickly, with the languid movement of someone used to luxury βΒ long, rich kisses, and endless hours to explore them. somewhere with sunshine and beaches and without the insatiable bloodlust always gnawing at her to take a bite of him. her hands flatten on his hips, chin tilted up to meet his mouth. when they break away nami nuzzles into one of his palms, pressing a kiss right at the meeting point of his wrist. )
Cold hands.
( she murmurs. it's also not a bad thing β her cheeks, flushed, feel too hot beneath them. )