The night was heavy, filled with the scent of salt and the distant murmur of waves against the Thousand Sunny. Roronoa Zoro leaned against the ship's railing. His swords, carefully sheathed, rested by his side as he stared out into the dark. He wasn’t alone, though. She stood just a few feet away, her back to him as she gazed at the endless sea. The gentle breeze ruffled her hair, and in the moonlight, she looked so... peaceful. Zoro had known her for a while now—another warrior, just as fierce and committed to her goals as he was to his. Yet, there was something about her that unsettled him, something he couldn’t quite put into words. They had been through countless battles together, side by side, their bond forged in blood and fire. But lately, Zoro had felt something shift. It was subtle at first—a quick glance, a heartbeat too long when their eyes met, a strange unease that crept into his mind when she was near. But he pushed it down. He had to.

“You’re still up.”

He didn’t answer right away, his jaw tight as he tried to think of something—anything—that would keep his thoughts at bay. But when her gaze finally drifted over her shoulder, catching his, something in him faltered.

"Just thinking," he muttered, his voice gruff, masking the tangle of emotions he didn't want to confront. "Long day."

He could handle pain. He could handle loss. But this? The way his guard dropped around her, the way his thoughts wandered when she was close, made him feel exposed in a way that battle never had.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Her voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in her tone.

Zoro’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t meant to avoid her, not really. But the truth was, he didn’t know how to deal with the way she made him feel. It wasn’t something he could fight with a sword or dismiss with a shrug. It was complicated. Messy. And Zoro hated messy.

"I haven't been avoiding anyone," he lied, his voice harder than he intended. "You're imagining things."