Zoro stepped on-deck, and there she was. Just as he'd known she would be. Not that he was stalking her, or anything. It was just that she spent most nights up here, staring out at the ocean. His bare feet whispered over the wooden deck as he slipped forward until he stood beside her, leaning against the railing. He wasn't trying to sneak, but a decade of training made some things as automatic as breathing.

She didn't say a word of greeting, but she did make room for him to join her at the stern, and that was enough for him.

"Hey." The word broke the silence of the night the way Luffy broke records for speed-eating. Zoro soldiered on bravely. "Couldn't sleep?" He was sure he caught her watching him out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't answer, just kept staring at the choppy waves. He knew she was a woman of few words, but this was ridiculous: there might as well have been a beautiful, serene statue leaning there. He probably would have gotten better conversation out of the statue.

Not giving himself time to talk himself out of it, he wrapped an arm around her pseudo-casually. Despite his best efforts, the lightest of blushes darkened his face. And though she wasn't "swooning into his arms like a delicate blossom," like the Love Cook had assured him, she wasn't drawing away, either. And Zoro would take what he could get.

Though he'd rather die a thousand deaths and see the world explode in an enormous fireball than see a hint of it pass his lips, maybe Sanji knew what he was talking about, after all. "Well." Zoro gathered his wandering thoughts to him. "If you don't feel like talking... just listen, and I'll talk."

"So... look. I like you a lot. I have for a while. Might be love... I don't know. You listen to me, you're intelligent... trustworthy. Courageous. Solid. And I mean that as a compliment. You don't give up." He gave her a light squeeze. "I have a dream that I won't give up on. I'll follow that dream until I succeed, or I break under the weight of it. Just like all of us. Just like you."

"So I need to concentrate on that, for now. Anything else will distract me from that dream." He gave her a careful pat, before withdrawing the arm. "After that's over... if you still want... one day..." He straightened self-consciously and added, "then let me know."

The Demon Roronoa, also called Pirate Hunter, walked - not run - below decks.

The Going Merry figurehead continued to gaze into the night.

---

Yes, this pairing is Zoro/Figurehead. So what?

Don't judge me.

I might actually make a series out of this, if I feel like it. Zoro fights Luffy for Figurehead's honor. Usopp tries to stand between them when they declared their love. Love and intrigue on the high seas, and of course, lots of hot Zoro-on-Figurehead action. Coming soon! ... Or maybe not.