Deep discussions under the night sky, the churning waters underneath them and twinkling stars above.

Someone usually joined Elly when she walked along the main deck and stood by the railing to think over the day's events. Today it was Nami. The navigator was talking very urgently, waving a hand in the air.

"I love myself," Nami scoffed. "That's all that really matters."

"Does it?"

"Yes," she said firmly, turning around to stare at the pale woman beside her. "I'm trying to help you. Men shouldn't be the only thing we like about ourselves. Give it up. No one's worth it."

"No one? I have to disagree there." Elly shook her head and stared out at the ocean in front of them. The water shimmered, all sprinkled with the moon and night stars, waves crashing against the Sunny's hull. "He's worth it."

"Not if it makes you unhappy." Nami placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Keeping to yourself is safer." A faint breeze ruffled Elly's purple hair. She grinned shyly and jerked a thumb behind them.

"No one understands this. I don't have a choice; it's done. I was shot the moment I saw him. I'm in love with him and he doesn't love me." Her voice was matter-of-fact as she shrugged and continued, "End of story really. It sounds all sappy-sweet and romantic but it's ridiculous."

"Stupid," Nami snorted. She raised an eyebrow at Elly's sudden burst of ironic laughter. "So, does he love anyone else..?"

"Yeah," she laughed softly, wiping her eyes with a finger, "he's got three loves of his life."

"Three..." The orange-haired young lady turned to stare at her, eyes narrowing shrewdly. "Him!"

"It's not a secret - from you, anyway."

"Him?!"

"Please stop saying that." She ducked her head in semi-embarrassment.

"I don't think he even cares about girls enough."

"Eh. I don't want to be his number one. He already has one of those. I just want to be someone he wants at his side." Nami drew back quickly, eyes widening as she saw a shadow fall across them both. She tapped the woman's shoulder and Elly sighed and looked back.

"Um."

"What? Oh, shit." In the light of the moon her face seemed to glow, especially when she paled even further. Elly's face glinted in the shimmering light like new milk as she beheld the big swordsman standing behind them. Nami melted off into the shadows to let them talk things out. She certainly didn't want to be around to witness anyone's heart being broken. Still, she couldn't help but think she'd brought it on herself. She slipped into the cabins below as Zoro stepped up to the railing and glanced out over the water.

"So, did you hear..?"

"Voices carry far at night." He nodded at the expanse of silky black waves below them. "Especially at sea."

"Hmm." She rolled her shoulders back. "Well! If you can ignore tonight I can. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

Zoro said nothing.

He didn't move from where he stood, earrings tinkling faintly as the breeze flicked them against his thick neck. Just as the silence began to become uncomfortable he reached out - still not looking -- and placed an arm around her shoulders. Elly blinked and froze in place, not knowing what to do. She'd covered every possibility except acceptance. They were both quiet for some time until he finally broke the silence.

"You don't want to be first?" He sounded uncertain and she understood why. It seemed so strange; especially after he'd lived with Nami for so long. He probably thought a woman had a need to control the man she was with.

"You're you," she said firmly. "I won't lie, it would be so fucking romantic to be the sole reason a man lives and breathes." She snorted and he grinned, thinking of a certain cook he always made fun of.

"You don't want that?"

"No woman alive could ever be your reason. Nothing could be important enough." It was spoken so simply he frowned, an unfamiliar lump catching in his throat. "...that's just story-book nonsense anyway. Does that ever happen?"

"Hnn." His arm tightened around her.

"I don't think it does," Elly shrugged. She stepped closer to his side and rested her head cautiously on his chest. "Anyway,  I can have this one night and be happy. I don't need anything else." Her voice was low and he realized it was because she was struggling not to cry.

"Stupid cat," he muttered.

"Yep." She buried her face in his simple white shirt, eyes burning. He smelled clean, of fresh rough soap mixed with steel from the swords he always carried. The smell made her heart ache. It was undeniably Zoro, something she'd never gotten this close to and doubted she would again.

"Quit that," he said sharply and she flinched away from him, lavender eyes paling with hurt. The big man ran a hand through his green hair and scowled. "No. I mean, stop crying. You got my attention because you were serious. Don't fuck that up." His hand slid from her shoulders and he touched her cheek with one finger that gently wiped some of the tears away.

"I'm still serious," she said softly, the shadow of that terrible pain he'd witnessed still lingering in her eyes. He wanted to move her past that and tried to think of something to say.

"So'm I." He thrust his lower lip out in a thoughtful pout. "You're all the shit I want to say." As she tried to decipher this he leaned over and placed his forehead on hers, his dark eyes boring into her own.

"Me, what?" His other hand came up slowly and then her cheeks were framed by his fingers, the rough skin holding her firmly in place. Zoro shook his head in frustration.

"Here," he said, slipping the smallest of his three swords from the loop at his haramaki. He offered the sword to her hilt-first as she stared incredulously. "Take it."

"Wh - why?"

"Just hold it, all right?" He watched, startled at the professional way she handled the katana. He was even more shocked when she raised it to her mouth but didn't touch it; she just closed her eyes and smiled a little.

"Thanks."

"Yeah." He took it back from her and replaced it at his side. "Do you get it?"

"I think so."

"All right." Elly looked up and saw he was facing her with his arms held slightly apart. Trembling with gladness she embraced him as tightly as she'd always wanted to and he smiled. "Nice and strong," he approved.

"I've been holding so much in for so long you're lucky I don't break your ribs."

"Not a chance," he snickered as he picked her up and began walking back towards the cabin door.

"Maybe so," she said quietly as she picked at the buttons on his shirt. "Hey, that's not where I -" She faltered and a slow blush crept up from the collar of her shirt to her face. He'd begun walking up the steps that led to the crow's nest room above, his room.

"Come back home," he told her seriously.

"You really want me there?" Elly looked down, a shy smile playing about her lips. She thought he'd hated having her around when she was in cat form. "I thought you didn't like cats."

"I didn't mean it that way," he growled, still climbing the stairway up.

"Well. You said you didn't like me. That's what made me sure you didn't, you know."

"I didn't lie." His chin was thrust pugnaciously out again.

"Then what - why are you..." She started to squirm indignantly, upset and confused again.

"I don't like you." He stopped and braced his back against the wall, leaned down, and pressed his mouth to hers so fiercely that she would have fallen if he hadn't been holding her already. Zoro's hands dropped lower to grasp her rear tightly as he kissed her, growling deep in his throat all the while. He was not gentle but he was very thorough and by the time they parted she knew his secret.

"Oh," she gasped faintly.

"Now all right?" He began walking again, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I think. Take me home."

"Aa."