#swordgust

Nami tapped her fingers against the marble countertop for the umpteenth time that night, her nails making a rhythmic clicking sound that reverberated across the silent kitchen.

She pouted as she let her head loll slight to the side, chin balanced against the palm of her propped hand, her eyes shifting languorously to glance at the window.  

The sky outside is filled with heavy clouds—dark yet somehow luminous at the same time. The weather had taken a turn earlier that evening, the temperature lowering drastically as if readying itself for the forecasted first fall of snow of the season.

Which seems just about right. Nami already knew that of course. She knows all there is to know about the weather and everything that comes with it. It was her job after all. Haredas, her mentor, would always say she could put every meteorological device to shame when it comes to her weather readings and predictions.

But somehow, even the prospect of it snowing tonight (which usually makes her excited because she loves watching it), wasn’t able to lift her sulky mood up.

She should have taken up the shift at the weather station tonight. She’d rather watch over the changes in the climate patterns instead of spending the night alone and watching the kitchen tiles.

With a dramatic sigh, she slid off the barstool and decided to head towards her home office to open her laptop and check some e-mails. That should keep her busy for a while.

She gave a cursory glance at the delectably packed dinner, Sanji-kun had thoughtfully sent especially made for her (so says the note that came with it), knowing that she won’t even bother cooking when she’s the only one in the house.

Thank heavens for him. She won’t starve for tonight. But she wasn’t in the mood to eat. She’ll heat it up later once the need for nourishment arises.

For now she’ll just settle for some good old coffee.

A few minutes later, she was sitting in front of her desk with the steaming cup in one hand as she scrolled her e-mails, utterly bored out of her wits. There was nothing significant in there, nothing that needs her expertise. Her team that was working tonight was handling everything superbly.

It made her purse her lips as she settled back on her chair. Not that she was complaining or anything... she does love it when everything was going on smoothly. Her job rarely gives her such consideration.

But she was really, really getting bored.

The house was too quiet. And she’s all alone.

Nami huffed. Home alone. On the first night of snow fall.

She made a mistake of taking a leave today, giving in to her mentor’s demand that she should take a break every once in a while. Had she known that she was going be all by herself tonight then she would have...

Oh! She can probably still head to the weather station tonight. It’s not late after all!  

She stood up and headed towards the bedroom to change clothes. But the moment she passed by doors leading to the balcony, she changed her mind.  

It will definitely snow. Heading out will be a bad idea.

Nami pinched the bridge of her nose, frustration rising out of her. Why was she so restless tonight?

Usually she had her whole day planned ahead. There was a certain task or thing to do in every hour of her day.

Maybe that’s what’s throwing her off. She was so used to her day being busy, so used to moving ceaselessly, that doing nothing was something new to her.

And her body and mind seems to be rejecting the idea of respite that it was making her fidgety. 

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her hyperactive nerves and brain. She should just learn how to enjoy this moment. This rest. This calm in between weather storms and responsibilities.

Her eyes flicked open immediately. Gosh, she sucks at meditating. She cannot even focus her mind to stop thinking.

Maybe she should not have spent the whole morning and the afternoon napping. That was definitely a wrong move. Because now, she was awake, active and on edge as the night deepens. Her brain filled with energy and looking for an outlet... something worthwhile to do.

She sat on the bed and made a grab for her phone. It was silent all day. No calls, no messages... something that rarely happens. She dialled a number, waiting for the familiar ring. The monotonous busy tone greeted her and she frowned. She pressed the option for voice message knowing it will be a futile effort.

“I’m bored you know.”

That was all she said before she sent it. She placed her phone back on the bedside table, before walking out of the bedroom again.

Some minutes later she was back in her office, curled up in her reading chair, her coffee still warm on the table beside her, absorbed in a book just had forgotten she had recently bought. It was all about a magical coffee shop and talking cats. It was a charming read and did a good job of holding her interest for a while.

Until she finished it in one sitting. Nami had always been a fast reader.

And now she’s back to moseying around the house, scouring every nook and cranny for everything and nothing, with a cup of a now cold coffee in her hand.

She stood in the center of the living room, looking blankly at the hanging lights with its warm glow and its weird shape. Usopp was the one who created it (as he dabbled in one of the many art hobbies he seemed to find time for) and gave it to her as a homecoming gift.

A thought suddenly occurred to Nami.  Even though all lights were all on inside the house, giving it a warm, comforting glow... it still felt a bit gloomy somehow.

She exhaled loudly. Maybe she should just sleep this whole day off. Maybe tomorrow would be different.

She disposed the remaining coffee in the sink, leaving the cup as part of tomorrow’s dishwashing duties. She deposited Sanji’s food inside the fridge. That’ll be for tomorrow as well. Nami decided.

The orange-haired woman switched off some lights, leaving the whole living room area and kitchen darkened. She left one floor lamp on for illumination. She didn’t like it when the whole place is dark and she’s all alone.

Then she trudged upstairs, footsteps heavy even in her fluffy house slippers.

Outside the weather continued to shift much colder, more somnolent. Despite the superb heating system Franky has generously installed in the house, Nami felt a slight chill, caressing her skin.

It’s going to snow soon.

With a dejected sigh, she decided to wait for it to fall, watching it in one of the room’s windows while tucked and wrapped under the cosy covers of her bed.

But she hesitated when she reached the bedroom’s doorway. It was sinking deeply into her that she was alone. Tonight. During the first fall of snow.

And it was making her sad.

Leaning against the doorframe, she regarded the darkened room. There was a bit of light coming in from the outside caused by the city lights twinkling from afar.

Nami gazed at the bed the other half dishevelled, with the thick blanket crumpled to one side, the sheet beneath it looked like someone had tossed and turned in them. A mere indication that it was occupied some hours ago.

The other half...

Was neat. Tidy even. The sheets were straight, unwrinkled and totally undisturbed. The blanket tucked snugged on the other side of the bed. The pillow was smooth, fluffed to perfection as if no head bothered to lay down on it for the past hours... or the past days even.

This time Nami pouted. Because now... now she understood all the restlessness in her.

She approached the bed, switching the lamp on—the one on her side—as she crawled into the bed and lying down so she can stare at the empty space beside her.

Nami was... absolutely missing her bed mate.

She groaned loudly at that. As if the admission pained her in more ways than possible. She was a tad upset to be feeling this way. She wasn’t the clingy kind. She’s independent and can move and live on her own.

But...

Sometimes tides shift and the weather changes.

Her hand reached out toward the empty space, smoothing the undisturbed surface of the bed.

The fabric felt soft against her hand.

She shifted forward slightly, moving towards the part that she doesn’t really occupy.

It was his space after all. Even the bedside table near it spoke of the ownership of a totally different person.

Hers has two of her to-read-books neatly stacked up, a small money tree with orange gemstones from Robin, a scented candle from Vivi, a hand lotion that smelled like her favourite tangerines, a bracelet given by her sister Nojiko and a small slim vase alongside the lamp with a now dried flower because the person who likes leaving a fresh one for her was not there to change it.

His has a bedside clock, a lamp that was the exact match of hers, an empty water flask, some coins, his car keys and a picture frame with her in it, taken during a trip on the beach before she left for the city years ago. She remembered how she actually forced him to have it, teased him that he should be so lucky to have it, a remembrance lest he forgot who he owes the most money from.

When she came back and randomly found it hidden in one of his apartment drawers, her heart skipped a beat. Framed and kept like a treasure, believing she would never, ever lay her eyes on it.

But she did. And that was it for her. She never let him stray away from her from that moment on.

Well... except now. Now that he wasn’t here and she can’t see him or feel him.

And it was driving her absolutely crazy.

She rolled out of the bed. The restless energy back again. She shoved her feet on her fluffy slippers and swiped the pajama top he carelessly left on top of the armchair. She realized how much it smelled of him as she put it on top of her own pajamas. His scent calmed her a bit, bringing a certain warmth that soothed her frayed nerves. 

This should do for now.

She headed out of the bedroom with no particular destination in mind. She just walked around, spending some time at the room that served as his training area, staring at the neat stack of weights, the unused bench, and the rolled training mat on the side before gliding out and probing the other areas of the house that had remnants of him.

Then she settled in front of the balcony door, watching the world outside. Waiting. For the snow to fall, for the ennui to disappear, for the slight clench in her heart caused by his absence to vanish, for tomorrow...

...for HIM.

She pressed her forehead against the glass pane. Cold underneath her skin.

Damn it all, she was missing him so bad right now.

Nami made a mental note to herself. The next time he flies out for one of his kendo competitions. She’s definitely coming with him.

Her eyes fluttered as she watched the night continue on ahead and lights flicker in the distance.

And when her eyes finally drifted close and sleep overtook her senses. The first snow of the season started falling down.

------------------------

Zoro sighed in relief as he stepped inside the inviting warmth and away from the outside cold. He brushed off some snowflakes that dusted his coat before shrugging it off and hanging it on one of the wall hooks near the door.

The traffic jam tonight caused by the snow was one for the books.

Good thing though his flight had touchdown before it actually started snowing. And it was even better that he was already halfway heading home before it began to fall.

Still that didn’t exempt him from getting caught in traffic.

He wasn’t due to be back today. He still had two days to spend at the competition, with all those formalities of meeting the sponsors and some of the other dojo masters. But he convinced Koushiro that it would be better if he be the one to accommodate them instead, knowing how Zoro usually lacks the patience to deal with all that shenanigans.

His sensei just gave him an understanding nod and a chuckle before saying, “Ah.” Like that simple word just summarized everything.

So he was in the first flight back home. Back to her. And it didn’t really help when he had gotten a signal at the airport and heard her voice in the message she sent.

He didn’t tell her he was coming back now. Sometimes it is much better to surprise her, so he can bask in the way her brown eyes light up, how that warm, almost glowing smile appear on her lips. Nami rarely gets surprise. And it is actually a treat to see when she does.

The entire house was silent. Zoro left his luggage near the front door and headed straight upstairs. He surmised Nami would be sleeping already. After spending so much time trying to kill her boredom and flitting about the entire house.

The moment he climbed the last step of the stairs, he froze.

Nami was slouched right in front of the balcony doors, head leaning on the glass, her hair covering her face.

He felt his heart jumped on his throat. What in the fucking hell happened here?

He ran up to her, bending down so he could check her.

Good fucking grief! This woman is really going to be the death of him.

Why in the world was she sleeping on floor while leaning against the balcony doors in a position that clearly says this could be a crime scene?!

He’s going to throttle her when she wakes up.

Zoro nudged her slightly. “Oi, witch.”

He was only answered by a soft snore as Nami drooped down some more, almost settling on the floor, still deep in her slumber.

“Nami,” he tried again and shook his head in disbelief when he didn’t receive any answer.

Freaking woman nearly gave him a heart attack.

He rubbed a hand against his face before running it against his hair, chuckling.

Zoro brushed the strands of her hair away from her face. Nami didn’t even stir. She just continued sleeping, snugged and seemingly cozy inside his oversized pajama top.

Whatever the hell she’s doing here, he’s just gonna chuck it in one of her weird antics that he can’t say he wasn’t fond of.

He carefully adjusted her position so he can lift her up in his arms.

He barely made three steps when she suddenly spoke.

“Zoro?”

“Hnn...” he grunted as he continued walking.

“You’re back!” She whispered almost excitedly, an almost glowing smile appearing on her face even as she looked at him sleepily.

“Yeah.”

She shifted slightly; arms reaching up to wrapped them around his neck, pressing her face against the crook of his neck to nuzzle it. Welcoming him home.

She seemed to take in his scent and his presence for a moment. Before tilting her head so she can look up at him. 

“Where are we going?”

Zoro smirked. “Taking my wife to bed.”

“Oh,” she breathed out. Then she giggled, seemingly re-energized. This time she nimbly, shifted her body so she can wrap both of her legs around him.