"Hand me the weedier please."

"More soil please."

"The weedier please."

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Zoro did not follow time's path, but for a while now the only social involvement between the two had been Robin's requests.

He was standing by her in the small gardening area with a tool on each hand. He had been standing there observing a small peck of dirt on his right shoe.

I'll get it off later.

The truth was that the swordsman didn't know what to say to her. What had happened the night before was something out of a different world. The only reasoning Zoro could think of regarding his off toned behavior was that it was, in all sense; a different night.

Perhaps it was the fact that Zoro was reminiscing about his past actions toward Kuina. Even if it was an unexpected death, the swordsman never got the chance to let Kuina know that deep down, she was more than a rival or that of any other competitor.

She was…that brat was…always had been…

His friend.

Last night Robin had reminded him of that same dilemma. By all means she was not his rival in any sense, but Zoro had never told her as he had done so with the rest of the crew; that she was also his friend.

It was this concept that made Zoro act that night. And despite the tension had been dismantled by the two…today felt somewhat restrained.

"Zoro?"

"Hmm?" The swordsman looked at Robin who was now looking at him with a confused expression. Although the swordsman seemed attentive, his mind had dosed off deep into thoughts.

Robin silently took the shovel from Zoro's left hand and murmured a 'thank you' before going back to her gardening work.

The green haired swordsman said nothing as she grabbed the shovel nor did he show any hint of embarrassment as he realized she had repeatedly asked for that tool. And yet with a perfect excuse to have a conversation; no such event had occurred.

Then it came.

"If you want to leave you can. I'm almost done with this row, I really don't mind." She didn't look at him as she said this, but the swordsman knew she was being polite.

Still he said nothing as he watched her. A few drips of sweat presented themselves on the raven haired archeologist's forehead. Her eyes were fixed on the violet pedaled flower she was so eagerly working on. Those blue eyes were filled with anticipation. It wasn't until that moment that Zoro realized she really was enjoying this. This made her happy. Surprisingly enough, this made Zoro's lip curl into a semi-smile; still a smile was a smile.

Finally the swordsman spoke as he bent down across from her.

"I don't mind staying around, if that's okay with you."

It was a dare. A challenge to see what the archeologists would do. In the end Zoro got the reaction he wanted.

Robin, the real Robin showed a somewhat impatient and annoyed glance to the swordsman.

"I don't mind, at all."

The green haired man returned the glance to her keeping it steady as he shot back.

"Then why do you act like you want me to leave?"

"Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"I don't care. Just curious is all."

"Your curiosity is somewhat annoying, Zoro-san."

Bingo!

Roronoa Zoro had a grin that any boxer had after just going the whole 12 rounds and finally knocking out his opponent at the last moment of the match.

It was obvious just by the way Robin said his name 'politely' that something was wrong.

Women are strange sometimes.

Robin the woman that was so calm and collective, now slowly rose to her feet as she watched the swordsman do the same.

Another standoff.

"You had forty seven minutes." Is all she spoke softly looking down at her flowers.

Zoro gave her a confused look before realizing that unlike him Robin had followed time's path.

Still, had she really counted the whole time they were together?

"You didn't ask me about my favorite flower."

The ex-bounty hunter raised one of his eyebrows as he realized, that yes…he was about to get a beating.

"You didn't ask why I like gardening so much."

There was a pause.

Still! She refused to look at him. Her long thin hair covering her face.

He was about to intervene. At least that was the plan before she started again.

This time it was a more personal statement that left the swordsman bamboozled.

Nico Robin looked up at him with her eyes glazing into his with a somewhat incredulous leer.

"You can be annoying sometimes."

With that said she bent down again and continued to work, leaving the swordsman standing there…defeated.

How did this happen? What the hell is wrong with her? Yesterday happy as a playful child, today moody as ever? This woman…is so troublesome.

Zoro dropped the weedier that he held and gave her one last look before ending their conversation.

"Idiot, saying stupid things. I never bothered asking you anything personal because I didn't think it would matter. I wanted to actually help anyways, even if your…grateful 'sister' made me.

Robin finally decided to look at him with a less annoyed look; the disturbance was still there though.

Zoro put his hands on his pockets and tipped his right shoe finally getting that peck of dirt of his shoe.

"There is no reason to bombard you with questions. It's implied that I care."

There was a change in the raven haired woman's features. There was a small hint of surprise that surprised both her and Zoro alike.

Robin looked down at her flowers, her face feeling rather mild.

Still she stubbornly picked up her shovel and smoothed out the soil with the flat side.

Zoro looked at her for a moment then shook his head as he got on his knees and copied his friend's action.

"Can you pass me the weedier? Please?"

"Yeah."

There was a few minutes silence as both pirates worked around the flowers before one last comment was made.

"Zoro?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"I don't care."

Zoro had to admit, for some strange reason this chore was fun.

"You're welcomed though."

I had a little fun this time. I challenged myself to have Robin out of sync and then try to bring her back into character with a smooth justification of her sudden grumpy attitude. I felt comfortable about this, but what did you think? Please review! I will graciously acknowledge them all. Thank you for reading my second chapter, I truly hope you enjoyed it!