we all have secrets ❤❤

          Normally, it would have.

     Zoro wasn’t careless with his attention. He didn’t let it linger where it didn’t belong. But lately- it kept settling on you. “You’re acting weird,” you added after a moment, stepping a little closer. It wasn’t hesitant. Not cautious. Just… like you always did. Like it was normal. Zoro tracked the movement without meaning to. “Not weird.” You huffed in response, “You are.” You stopped in front of him, close enough that he’d have to tilt his head back slightly to look at you properly. There was a faint crease between your brows, like you were trying to figure him out.

     Zoro didn’t move away. Didn’t tell you to. He didn’t even think about it. “...You always this close?” He muttered. You blinked in response, “What?” Zoro gestured vaguely between the two of you, like he didn’t have the patience to explain it properly. “This.” Realization flickered across your face- then softened into something lighter. “Oh.” Yet you didn’t step back. If anything, you leaned slightly, resting your weight more comfortably where you stood. “Yeah,” you said lightly, like it was obvious. “I always am.”

     Zoro went still. He wasn’t tense or rigid- he was just…aware. Too aware of the space between you, and the way it didn’t feel like enough distance. The feeling was subtle, it wasn’t disorienting or overwhelming. It was just off. Like the edge of something he couldn’t quite name, balance shifting a fraction too far to one side. “You gonna say something,” you continued, “or just keep looking at me like that?” Zoro exhaled slowly through his nose, dragging a hand up to the back of his neck.

     “...You talk too much.” You snorted, “Haven’t heard you complain about it before.” Zoro didn’t deny it, he didn’t say much of anything, actually. Because if he kept talking, he’d have to figure out what this was. And he didn’t want to.

          Not yet.

     It didn’t stop, which was a problem. Zoro noticed it more over the next few days- couldn’t really avoid it, not when you kept ending up in the same space as him. Not by accident, yet not entirely on purpose either. Just…naturally. You’d sit beside him while you ate, close enough that your shoulder brushed his every now and then. You’d lean over him to grab something, not thinking twice about the proximity. Talking to him was easy, like it was second nature.

     Zoro let it happen. He never moved, never stopped you. He never told you to back off like he would with anyone else. That should’ve been the first sign. Instead, he ignored it. Told himself it wasn’t anything. It was just a habit. Just you being- you. Until one afternoon, when you laughed. It wasn’t loud or over the top. It was soft, close. Right next to him. And something in his chest- shifted. He paused at the feeling, mentally shrugging it off.

     Zoro frowned slightly, gaze dropping to the deck for a second before flicking back up to you. You hadn’t noticed, still talking and smiling. You were still…close. “...Tch.” You paused, looking over at Zoro. “What?” He kept his gaze forward. “Nothing.” Except it wasn’t. It hadn’t been for a while. Zoro leaned back slightly, resting his head against the wood behind him, eyes half-lidded as he watched you. Tracked you. Not because he meant to, but because he couldn’t seem to stop. And that- that was new.

     Zoro didn’t get distracted or pulled off course. He didn’t lose focus over something as simple as…this. Because it didn’t feel simple. It felt dangerous. Not in a way he needed to fight or cut down, just…something that made him hesitate. Something that made him linger. Zoro exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a brief moment. “This is stupid.”

     “Wow,” you deadpanned, “and here I thought you were about to say something deep.” He cracked an eye open, unimpressed. “Don’t push it.” You grinned, and there it was again. That shift, a subtle, off-balance feeling. Not enough to knock him over, just enough to make him realize-

          He wasn’t standing as steady as he used to.

     It didn’t go away. Zoro had half-expected it to. Whatever this was- this…shift, this constant awareness- he figured it’d burn out if he ignored it long enough. It didn’t. If anything- it got worse. Not louder. Not overwhelming. Just…constant. Like something was settling under his skin.

          “You’re doing it again.” 

     Zoro didn’t look up from where he sat, sharpening one of his swords. “Doing what?” “That thing,” you said, dropping down beside him with a soft thud. “Where you pretend you’re not paying attention.” Zoro paused for a second, the blade in his hand stilling against the whetstone. “...Not pretending.” You snorted, “Right.” You leaned slightly into his space- close enough that your shoulder brushed his arm without hesitation. He didn’t move. Didn’t shift away. Didn’t even acknowledge it. But his grip tightened- just a fraction. You didn’t notice. Or maybe you did. You didn’t pull back either way.

     “...You always sit this close?” Zoro asked after a moment, his voice low. “Yeah,” you said easily. “You’ve only just noticed?” Zoro frowned faintly. Because that- that was the problem. He hadn’t. Not like this. Not until recently.

          And now it was all he could think about.

     Zoro started noticing everything. The way you leaned into him without thinking. The way your voice dropped slightly when you spoke close to him. He noticed the way you reached for him- small things, absentminded things- like it was natural. Like it was nothing. Zoro knew better than that, things like this weren’t nothing. Not to him.

     “You’re gonna dull it like that.” Your voice pulled him out of it. Zoro blinked, glancing down at the blade in his hand. He’d stopped moving it. “...Tch.” You leaned closer, peering at it. “You’ve been staring at the same spot for like- what, a minute now?” Zoro let out a small scoff, “Didn’t ask.” “Didn’t say you did,” you shot back easily. Zoro huffed under his breath, setting the blade aside. Because you weren’t wrong. Again.

          That was happening a lot lately.

     It was getting in the way. Not training. Not fighting. But his focus. You were always there. Not always physically, but enough. Enough that it lingered. Enough that it- “...This is annoying.” “What is?” Zoro didn't answer, didn’t feel like explaining something he didn’t fully understand yet. Instead, he pushed himself to his feet, grabbing one of his swords and slinging it over his shoulder.

     “Oi- where are you going?” You asked, looking up at him. “Training.” You tilted your head. “You just finished.” Zoro didn’t look back at you, moving to his normal training area. “Not enough.” You watched him for a second longer than usual, like you were trying to figure something out again. “You’re weird lately.”

          “Drop it.”

     You held up your hands slightly in mock surrender. “Alright, alright.” But your gaze lingered. Zoro could feel it. Even with his back to you.

     It didn't help. Training didn’t fix it or burn it out. It didn’t clear his head like it usually did. Because even then- he kept thinking about it. About you. About the way you stood too close, talked too easily. Looked at him like- like it didn’t mean anything.

          “...Tch.”

     Zoro lowered his sword, breath steady but slower than usual. Sweat slid down the side of his face, but he barely noticed it. Because the thought had come back again. Uninvited and persistent. It was annoying. And this time, he didn’t push it away fast enough. If it didn’t mean anything- then why the hell did it feel like it did? Zoro’s grip tightened around the hilt.

          Because it did. That was the problem.

          It did.

     He exhaled slowly through his nose, rolling his shoulders back as he stared out across the deck. The answer settled in quietly. Not dramatic. Not suddenly. Just…there. Simple and clear. It was unavoidable. “...Tch.” Of course.

     Zoro had never really thought about it before. Not seriously like this. The future wasn’t something he spent time on. Didn't need to. Didn’t care to. But now- now the thought came easier than it should have. Too easy. And once it was there, he couldn't shake it. Didn’t want to.

His gaze shifted flighty, landing on you without effort. You were across the deck now, talking with Nami- laughing again, easy and unaware like always. Zoro watched for a second. Then another. Something settled heavily. Certain.

          If this is what it felt like- he wasn't letting it go. Simple as that. No overthinking and no second-guessing. Just- fact.

     You turned slightly, catching him looking this time. “Oi,” you called, raising a brow. “You’re staring again.” Zoro didn’t look away, didn’t bother pretending this time. “...Yeah.” You blinked, thrown off just slightly by the lack of denial. “...Okay?” Zoro pushed himself off the railing, closing the distance between you in a few steady steps. Not rushed or hesitant. Just…deliberate.

     You straightened slightly as he stopped in front of you. Close again, like always. But this time felt different. “Zoro?” You asked, a hint of confusion in your voice. He looked down at you, his expression unreadable as ever. But there was something else there now, something steadier. Resolved. “...You always like this with me?” He asked, watching you intently. You frowned faintly. “Like what?” Zoro gestured between you again, like before- but this time, it wasn’t vague.

          It was intentional.

     “This.” You hesitated- just slightly. Then, you shrugged. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” Zoro held your gaze for a second longer before replying. “Good.” The word was simple, flat. But it landed heavier than it should have. You blinked. “Good?” Zoro didn’t elaborate. Because he had already decided.

          And Zoro wasn’t the type to change his mind. 

     It didn’t leave his mind. Even when things went back to normal- meals, training, the usual rhythm of the ship. It stayed. It wasn’t distracting or disruptive. It was just…there. Settled.

     You didn't seem to notice the shift. You acted the same as always. Still close, easy, like nothing had changed. Zoro watched it happen in real time, the way you dropped down beside him without asking. The way your shoulder brushed against his like it belonged there. You spoke to him like it was nothing. “...Tch.”

     “You say that a lot lately.” Zoro didn’t respond. Didn’t need to. You leaned slightly into him anyway, like you always did, completely unbothered by the silence. “Something on your mind?” You asked. He could’ve brushed it off, would have a week ago. But now- now it felt pointless.

     Zoro tilted his head slightly, glancing down at you. “...Yeah.” You blinked, caught off guard slightly. “Yeah?” You repeated. He didn’t elaborate or rush to explain. He just watched you for a second longer than usual. Like he was measuring something- weighing it, not whether to say it- but how little he needed to.

      “You’re always like this with me.” He finally said. It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. “We’ve been over this.” You frowned faintly. “Answer it.” Your brows pulled together slightly at his tone- but you didn’t pull away, didn’t create distance. “...Yeah,” you said again, slower this time. “I am.” Zoro held your gaze steadily, like he was looking for something. Or confirming it. Then-

     He reached out. Not rushed or hesitant. His hand caught your wrist gently, just enough to stop you from moving away. Your breath caught slightly at the contact. “Zoro-?” He didn’t let go- didn’t look away. “...Good.” The same word as before, but this time it was closer. Heavier. You blinked again, confusion slipping in more clearly now. “You already said that.”

          “Yeah.” 

     A beat passed. Then another. The air shifted- subtle but noticeable. Because he still hadn’t let go. “...Zoro,” you started again, slower now, “what are you-” “I’m keeping you.” The words cut through clean, there was no hesitation, no buildup. Just- there. You froze, not pulling away, but also not moving closer. Just…still. “...What?” Zoro’s grip didn’t change- didn’t loosen or tighten. He just looked at you- steady as ever, like this wasn’t anything complicated. Like it was the simplest thing in the world.

     “I’m keeping you,” he repeated. Your heart skipped- once, sharply. “That’s not-” you started, brows furrowing as you tried to catch up. “That’s not how that works.” “Is for me.” His tone was flat, certain and unmoving. You stared at him, trying to read him. You tried to figure out if this was a joke- if there was something you were missing. But there wasn’t. Zoro didn’t joke like this- didn’t say things he didn’t mean. “...You’re serious,” you said slowly. “Yeah.” There was no hesitation, none at all.

     Your breath hitched slightly, something warmer creeping in under the confusion now. “And you just- decided that?” Zoro shrugged faintly, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah.” There was a brief pause, and then, quieter- “But I’m not wrong.” That landed differently, because he wasn’t asking or hoping. He was stating it like a fact he’d already accepted. Your fingers shifted slightly in his grip, not pulling away- just…adjusting.

     “Zoro,” your voice was soft, “you can’t just decide something like that on your own.” “Didn’t.” You blinked. “What?” His gaze flicked briefly to where your wrist rested in his hand, then back to your eyes. “You’re still here.” Your breath caught again because- he wasn’t wrong. You hadn’t pulled away. Hadn’t told him to let go, never created distance. And he noticed.

     Silence settled between you. Not awkward or tense, it was just…full. Zoro finally loosened his grip slightly- not letting go completely, just enough to shift his hand. His thumb brushed once against your wrist- absentminded, but deliberate enough to notice. Like he wasn’t thinking about it. Or maybe he was, it was hard to tell. “...I don’t care about anything else,” he said after a moment, his voice lower now. It wasn’t softer- just closer. “Not what this is supposed to be. Not what anyone else calls it.” Another pause hung in the air for a brief moment. Then-

          “You’re staying with me.”

     It wasn’t a demand. Not quite. But it wasn’t something he was willing to argue about either.

Your chest tightened slightly, because there it was. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was solid, unshakable. Zoro finally let go of your wrist, slowly and deliberately. But he didn’t step back or create any distance. Zoro stayed right where he was; close, like always, like it had always been. Except now- it meant something.

          “...You’re unbelievable,” you muttered under your breath. Zoro huffed faintly, “Yeah.” A beat passed. Then, quieter-