A Taste of Summer
SPLISH, SPLASH
One-shot #: 4
Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei. Goldiggers are solely mine as well as Franky’s camp-in-a-bag.
Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.
Warning: OOC possible. One shot.
Rating: M (Over the top flirting and touching)
Note: Entry for the #ZoNaSummerFestival event in Tumblr. Theme: Skinny Dipping & Mermaid.
Summary: And the treasure hunting adventure continues…
Three… two… one…
Nami hummed the countdown under her breath and as if on cue, a head broke the surface of the water, creating ripples that spread throughout the whole pool languorously. She stared, fascinated, as the figure swam towards the low boulder where she was currently sitting; the sound of arm strokes cutting through the water filling the somehow quiet night.
The figure stood up to its full height when it reached the shallower part of the swimming hole. The silvery light of the moon shone down on familiar green hair and made the three golden earrings on his left ear gleam.
The navigator’s lips curled into smile. Droplets of water rained down his muscled form, trailing lower to the rock hard abs she’s been dying to touch again, before disappearing right back into the water obscuring the lower part of his body. When he ran both of his hands through his hair to brush the excess liquid, her breath hitched and a familiar, warm sensation coiled inside her.
Apparently, Zoro had no idea how hot he can be.
She continued observing him with legs dangling over the edge of the rock, the tip of her toes lightly touching the cool water while relishing in the rare sight of their resident swordsman swimming buck-naked in a pool on a still-to-be-explored territory.
She initially climbed the boulder to get a good view of the area’s topography. She’d been mapping the place right from the moment they discovered that their theory (her and Robin’s) about the island was true.
An uncharted and unexplored place was a total bliss for both the mapmaker and archeologist.
Not to mention the possibility that there are treasures waiting to be found.
And they were not disappointed. All around the area were scattered ruins of unknown structures and buildings, hinting that a civilization once existed in this place before disappearing rather mysteriously.
Robin was beyond exhilarated while Nami was in euphoria when she ascertained that the glinting object she saw earlier from the top of the rock wall was indeed, treasure.
The orange-haired girl would’ve scoured all the other ruins if not for the approaching dusk and if not for Zoro putting a stop on her treasure rampage, by literally hauling her away and throwing her over his shoulder.
The Straw Hats decided to just set up camp for the night much to the excitement of the younger members of the crew. They will continue exploring the place tomorrow when they have more time and more light. A bonfire was started, bento boxes were distributed, and tents were put up by Franky’s new and handy camp-in-a-bag device much to the amazement of everyone.
Zoro’s deep voice suddenly cut through her thoughts, as sharp as his cursed sword. “What do you want Nami?” He tilted his head towards her and his grey eye met hers, already aware that she was watching him for some time now.
“Oh I’m just here to enjoy the view,” Nami joshed, winking at him. “Found some interesting...” she let her eyes roam up and down his body, deliberately biting her lower lip. “… terrains that I’d like to map.”
He merely scoffed at her response while a Cheshire cat-like grin appeared on her face.
“Did you finally sleep off your earlier craziness?” Zoro suddenly asked.
Nami pouted and playfully kicked some water towards him. She had sulked and ranted when he had stopped her from searching for more treasures. Zoro pointed out—in his usual straightforward manner—that the treasures will not go anywhere and that she should get some rest since they’ve been trekking since morning and she still haven’t had a proper shut eye ever since she'd woken up beside him at the inn.
He had barely finished what he was saying when he realized that Nami had stopped flailing and a soft snore reached his ears. The navigator had fallen asleep, draped over his shoulder like a rag doll while he was in the middle of knocking some sense into her thick skull.
The former pirate hunter managed to miraculously bring her to where their nakama are gathered without getting lost. After butting heads with the cook and ignoring his demands to hand Nami over so HE can take care of her, he left the mapmaker sleeping in one of the already pitched tents.
“Say, what happened to Nami, Zoro?” Luffy asked with a finger shoved up his nose, though concern was evident on his face.
“Too much treasure hunt, captain.” He answered and the young man laughed.
“Alright! Let’s just let her sleep,” Usopp whispered. “She’ll be working our asses off tomorrow looking for treasures.”
Zoro nodded and moved away from them to find someplace where he can nap peacefully.
A few hours later, Robin and Chopper found him in one of the nearest ruins. The two exchanged glances and the reindeer prodded him awake, asking him to transfer in one of the tents to get a much better rest.
He declined and instead inquired about Nami.
Robin looked amused. “She’s still sleeping. Must be a really tiring day.”
Zoro chose to ignore her rather suggestive tone. “You know how she is with money and treasures.”
The raven-haired woman nodded. “True. And it seems like she’d gotten you rather exhausted too.”
He managed to catch the subtle implication in her comment. He paid no attention to it. She can make any assumptions she wants and he couldn’t care less. “You try catering to her whims for one whole day and I’ll bet you’ll feel the same.”
Robin chuckled. “Care to join us?” She invited, changing the subject just like that. “Chopper and I wanted to see what’s around the area.”
Said doctor jumped on his shoulder suddenly. “Yeah join us Zoro!”
“Hnn…”
His two crewmates took that as a yes and they roamed the vicinity until they reached the swimming hole where Nami found him much, much later.
“Why are you skinny dipping at this time of the night Zoro?” Nami asked in hushed tone, moving her feet a little to play with the water.
“How do you even know I’m skinny dipping?” He questioned back, making his way towards her.
Nami gazed pointedly at the swords and clothes resting near where she was sitting. Then her eyes returned to him. “The water’s awfully clear. I’ve been enjoying the sight of your ass for some time now.”
Zoro smirked. “Pervert.”
She met his smirk with a devious smile of her own. “You have no idea.”
“Aren’t you going to join me?”
“Tempting, but no.”
“No?”
“You went here and swam alone without telling me.”
“Call it meditation woman besides you were sleeping.”
“Uh-huh, why don’t you continue meditating and let me just enjoy the view Zoro?” “
“And let you have all the fun?”
He was standing in front of her now, nearly eye level with her knees as the rock were she’s perched at gave her height advantage over the tall swordsman.
Zoro brought his head down and planted a kiss on her right knee. She shivered at the feeling of his warm lips against her skin.
“Heads up Nami,” he suddenly flicked something at her. She managed to catch it with both hands despite her surprise. It glinted under the moonlight and curious, she held it between her thumb and forefinger, lifting it high enough to scrutinize it.
There was no mistaking it. It was…
“GOLD?!” She gasped in disbelief. She stared at Zoro then at the item in her hand and back again. “A gold coin? Where did you get this Zoro?”
The green-haired lad’s mouth twitched at that. “Come here and I will show you.” He beckoned to her to join him for a midnight dip.
She raised an eyebrow at him.
Zoro pointed a finger downwards. “There’s gold at the bottom of this pool Nami,” he grinned playfully. “Still not up for skinny dipping?”
“Zoro you ass!” She hissed at him. “I can’t believe you! That’s just manipulative!” He’s now using her one weakness to get her to swim naked with him?
“I learned from the best,” he said with a shrug, smiling wickedly.
She pursed her lips. It’s not like she hadn’t thought of taking a dip in this crystal clear pool when she first laid eyes upon it. It was her plan all along.
But Zoro had beaten her to it.
Her brown eyes narrowed at him as she stood up. She stepped down on a much lower rock than where she’s situated and started unbuttoning her shorts. Zoro was watching her attentively, the corner of his mouth turned up.
She pulled at her tank top; throwing it carelessly near his clothes, observing the change in his expression when it dawned onto him that she was not wearing anything underneath.
Nami stood stark naked in front of him… just like when she teasingly disrobed before him at the inn.
But unlike the previous night, Zoro did not bother looking away this time. He drew his lower lip between his teeth; staring at her unabashedly, his lone, gray eye trailing over her bare form.
She felt herself shiver at the intensity of his stare. She was used to men ogling at her, used to them gawking. She had used her happiness punch a lot of times that gawping men did not even faze her.
But it was different with Zoro…
She felt her knees wanting to buckle under his gaze.
And come to think of it, he was looking at her with the one eye he wasn’t able to lose during their two-year separation. She didn’t want to think what two would do to her.
Zoro made a come-hither motion with his finger and she found herself wading through the water to approach him. Her long, orange locks, floated on the water and brushed behind her back, tickling her as she moved closer to him.
The moment she was near, Zoro automatically wrapped his arms around her and captured her mouth in an almost hungry kiss.
And she returned the kiss with equal fervor, arms snaking around his neck. The sensation of his warm body and the cool pool water on her own felt wonderful.
She reluctantly pulled away and watched a triumphant leer appear on the Supernova’s face.
“So where is it?” She demanded suddenly.
Zoro looked offended. “You just can’t wait, can you?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head and gave him a cheeky smile.
“Tch!”
But he relented and pulled her towards the deeper part of the pool.
Zoro brought his lips close to her ear. “See something glinting down below?”
Nami looked down. The pool water was so transparent that even in the dark of the night with only the moon to serve as illumination, she can make out the bottom of it. She grabbed at his shoulder to stop herself from moving, waiting for the water around her to settle into a slower movement so she can peer and see what’s underneath.
Her eyes widened when it caught something shining on the pool bed. Then she saw another, then another.
Gold coins were scattered everywhere. Everywhere.
“Zoro!” Nami cried in exhilaration and he grimaced when her nails dug on his shoulder as her grip on him tightened. The joy on her face was undeniable.
“Go. Swim down there and see for yourself.”
She pushed away from him with a grin and dived down without another word. His eye followed her form. Her long orange hair was luminous underwater and her creamy, white skin seemed luminescent… a stark contrast to the colors surrounding her.
She swam languidly, taking her sweet time exploring. She picked up one gold coin, studying it meticulously. Her hair floated around her in soft waves, gracefully moving on the water, as he watched a smile form on her lips.
If he didn’t know any better, he would think he’s seeing a mermaid.
A mermaid turned human. He thought as he watched her long legs propel her upward to the surface. Just like in the stories Robin likes to narrate to the childish members of the crew.
But Nami… is so much more beautiful than the mermaids in Robin’s stories. More enthralling than the mermaids of Fishman Island combined.
When she resurfaced she was practically breathless but was still able to squeal from too much glee. She threw one arm around him, while the other showed him a handful of gold coins she’d gathered, her smile contagious that he can feel one forming at his lips.
“There are a lot down there. A LOT!” She gushed excitedly. “I can’t believe it. This trip is turning out to better and better and better.” She smacked her lips against his cheek. “Thanks for the tip swordsman!”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, melding their bodies together. “Anytime,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her fully.
Nami returned the kiss fervently but stopped when she recalled there was a handful of gold in her grasp. “Wait Zoro,” she breathed. “You’ll make me drop them.”
“So?”
“So?” She intoned. “If I drop them, it’s you who will be diving back there and getting me twice as much!”
He stifled a groan. “Hey, I was the one who told you about this place. Why do I get to dive for the coins too?”
Nami pulled an innocent face at him. “Didn’t I tell you your debt interest just increased earlier twice?”
“WHAT?!”
“For forcibly cutting off the treasure hunt and for carrying me like a pig.”
Zoro glared at her. Nope he takes it back. She’s not a mermaid. Up here in the surface she’s more of devil, a fiend, a witch.
An evil incarnate.
“By the way,” she began, moving away from him embrace. “You are here longer than I was. Why didn’t you dive down there to get some more gold coins for me?” She frowned at him.
Zoro snorted. “I have limitations with the favors.”
“Some boyfriend you are.” She puffed her cheeks in dismay. “I bet Sanji-kun would gladly dive for all that gold for me.” Nami said with an obviously fake pout, treading back to the boulder where she left her clothes.
If she thought Zoro will take her bait by mentioning the stupid cook, she was wrong. Instead he laughed as he followed her and said, “Good. You can order ero-cook to get it all for you tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll gladly drown himself for his Nami-san.”
“Hey don’t be mean!” Nami chastised him, trying to hold back her laughter. He had a point there though. She reached for her shorts and shoved the coins inside the pocket before turning around to face him. “And you? What will you be doing?”
“I’m coming with you to scour the ruins for treasures of course. I just had to make sure you had something to keep stupid swirly busy.”
Nami looked at him dumbfounded. She gotta hand it to him. That wasn’t such a bad idea.
Another whole day alone with him.
She felt his arms encircled her waist from behind and kissed one bare shoulder, letting his lips linger there. “Guess I have to rig the draw lots tomorrow.” She murmured, tilting her head a little.
Zoro chuckled. He pushed her long locks aside and started nipping at the part of her neck that she was offering to him. His hands freely roamed on her still wet body, igniting her want, stirring her need for him.
Nami moaned as his lips and hands sent delicious jolts of electricity running up and down her spine. And when his hand delved deeper, down towards that sweet spot between her legs, she closed her eyes…
“GOMU GOMU NO… CANNONBALL!!!”
The happy yell of their captain cut through the air, and jolted them out of their torrid embrace.
SPLASH!!!
“Luffy you idiot!” A voice obviously belonging to Usopp shouted. “You can’t SWIM!!!”
“YOU SHITTY GOMU!” Sanji bellowed. “Can you not sling-shot yourself everywhere?!”
Zoro and Nami stared at each other horrified. They simultaneously shifted their gazes towards where Luffy hit the water.
Good Kami! They are going to get caught. And their captain’s going to drown!
“Shit!” Zoro cursed, eye shifting back and forth to his captain and his navigator.
“Go! Go! Get Luffy!” Nami urged pushing him towards where their captain disappeared. She took the opportunity to escape undetected, thankful that she had half the mind to bring her Clima-tact with her.
She would get dressed later. Right now, she had to get away before someone sees her or worse, the other haki users of their crew sense her presence and realize she’s with the swordsman.
Using her Mirage Tempo to hide herself, she darted to where the tents are just as shouts of ‘I got the aho sencho’ and ‘Oh good, throw him back there and let’s leave him’ reverberated from the swimming hole. She was near the tents when she released the illusion, once she was sure no one was in sight.
That was close.
“Out for a night swim Nami?”
Robin was standing in front of the tent they’re sharing with a smile on her beautiful face. She had walked outside to check the commotion when Nami nearly ran into her.
Nami cringed and forced a smile. “Yeah kinda.”
The raven-haired beauty giggled, stepping aside the let her into the tent. She made no mention of the fact that Nami is outside, wearing next to nothing, with clothes bundled in her arms. “Did you ran into the boys? I heard them heading towards the swimming hole.”
“No, no.” Nami shook her head and entered the tent. “I high-tailed it out of there before they can see me.”
Robin chuckled. “Glad you didn’t run into trouble. I also saw Zoro heading there earlier. Did you see him?”
“Uh no. I didn’t see anyone there. Moron probably got himself lost.”
“Fufufufu… chances of that happening are quite high, oh dear. I was the one who told him there are gold coins in that pool. And he said he might go and check.”
“Really?”
Robin nodded. “Thought he would swim out there and get it for you.”
Nami laughed, poking her head out of the tent to look at Robin. “Now why would he do that? That guy won’t move unless you blackmail him to.”
A smile appeared on the archeologist’s lips at her statement. “True. But who knows? He might fancy doing a favor for you.” She tapped a finger on her cheek looking a bit too mischievous for Nami’s liking.
“Yeah, when pigs fly.”
Then suddenly Robin bent down a little to level her cool blue gaze with her brown ones.
“Why don’t you check his pants that you’re holding Nami? He might’ve placed some in the pockets.”
