Room For Two?

Room for Two?

Summary: It's your night to keep watch up in the crows nest, and you're missing a certain swordsman. Luckily, Zoro misses you too.

Pairing: OPLA!Zoro Roronoa x F!Reader

Word Count: 870

A/N: Another fluff piece for my 'This is the Beginning' series! I had a dream about this scenario so I knew I had to write it, lol. Hope you enjoy!

You don't have to read the series, but if you'd like to, you can find it here!

It's a strangely quiet night on the Going Merry.

It seemed the rest of your crew was tired from the adventures of the day and had gone to bed earlier than normal. Though it was well past sun down when everyone had fallen asleep, it was still earlier than normal.

You, however, were still wide awake. It was your night to keep watch, so sat up in the crows nest, you were bundled up in a warm blanket to fight the night chill and staring up at the stars dancing across the nights sky. You'd ask Sanji to prepare you some coffee and food for the night, knowing it'd be the only thing that would keep you awake and the cook hadn't hesitated to oblidge.

There was something serene about being up at the crows nest, in the middle of the night, when everyone else was asleep. You were forever grateful for the day Luffy, Zoro and Nami had rescued you from Buggy's crew but the crew, now with two more people, were definitely a rowdy bunch.

There wasn't often a moment of quiet or calm on the Going Merry. You wouldn't trade that for anything. You relished in the constant that was the Strawhat Crew and it held the loneliness you've felt your entire life at bay.

But, nights like these, when you knew that come morning everything would return to normal, the peace was nice. Nice in the way that you got to experience it rather then be asleep. Watch nights were long, often spent trying to fight sleep and boredom, but there was something serene about them all the same.

Though, you guessed, if there was one complaint, it would be you wished there was a certain green-haired swordsman to keep you company.

You kept that wish to yourself, knowing it would be incredibly selfish of you to tear his sleep away from him because you wanted more alone time with him. He hadn't ever asked that of you on his nights--truthfully, you didn't know if he even returned the same wish.

And honestly, most nights, you got by on your own fine.

It was harder some nights, though.

Inhaling sharply, you pull your blanket tighter around yourself, trying to get as comfortable as you could in the cramped space that was the crows nest. You're in the midst of fluffling the pillow you were using as a seat when you hear a noise.

It gives you pause, body stilling, as you stop to listen for more.

Sure enough, a second later, another thud follows. And then another. It continues, until the noise gets close enough you can discern it as footsteps.

Frowning, you sit up, poking your head over the edge of the crows nest and glance down, only to see Zoro staring up at you. Relief that it was an attack of any sorts, your face twists in confusion at the sight of him.

"Zoro?" You call in a hushed yell, trying to be careful not to wake up at the others. "What're you doing up?"

Zoro, in typical Zoro fashion, chooses not to answer you. Instead, he calls up; "make room. I'm heading up." And doesn't leave any room for argument as he begins to climb up the ladder.

Baffled, you shuffle away from the entrance, moving to make what little room there is for him. It takes Zoro no more than a minute to make it to the top of the crows nest, his head popping up first before he slides into the spot next to you.

Letting the door fall shut, Zoro settles back against the crows nest.

You continue to stare at him.

"What?" He asks.

You huff, "what're you doing here? More importantly, why are you awake?"

Zoro shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest. "I couldn't sleep."

"I highly doubt that," you snort. Zoro? Not able to sleep? The day that happened, you'd think you were dreaming.

Letting out a small chuckle, Zoro shakes his head. "Didn't like you being up here alone." He admits, voice low as he meets your gaze. "So I came to keep you company."

Heart fluttering at his words, your face softens. "This isn't my first time keeping watch, Zoro."

"I know," he nods. "Still, we stopped for the night earlier than we normally do. And you looked disappointed when everyone went off."

A smile curls onto your lips at his concern. Even if he won't outright say it, the meaning behind Zoro's words is obvious enough. You hadn't even known he'd seen you make that face.

So, heart warm at his care for you, you choose to not argue anymore. Zoro didn't do anything he didn't want to do, and you'd just been thinking about how much you missed your swordsman.

You were going to take advantage of the fact he was here.

Shifting, you move so you're next to him, slipping your hands into his as he watches you with curiosity. He lets you move his arm, settling it around your shoulders and, having caught on to what you wanted, he tucks you into his side. You drape the blanket around the both of you, letting your head fall against his chest.

"You can still sleep, Zoro," you mumble, staring up at the sky. "I'm happy just having you here."

"Nah," he breathes, squeezing your shoulder. "I wanna spend this time with you awake."