Scars + Kisses

"Damn it...!"

"Kuso-marimo! Shut your face before I stick a foot in it." Sanji slammed one solid heel down on the wooden planking as if to illustrate his point. "It's bad enough I have to have you in here with me while I heat these damned rags up..."

"Not a party for me either," Zoro grunted sourly. He stared down at his feet and swore again.

"Why'd you try and walk across, anyway?" Sanji opened the fridge door and peered inside. His voice was muffled as he poked around, looking for something to make for the girls after dinner. "Angelsan can take care of herself..." he trailed off, his eye sparkling with glee.

"Not my fault," Zoro muttered.

"Wasn't she wonderful!" Sanji crowed. He shut the door with one long leg as he turned about. "I've never seen anyone move that fast!"

The door to the kitchen opened and a pale little face peeked in.

"Except Zoro," Elly murmured. Then, louder, "Oi, Sanji...are those bandages ready? And the water?" Zoro flushed and looked away. He muttered a few choice oaths under his breath that went unnoticed by both cook and girl. Sanji wibbled and wobbled, hearts fluttering about as he praised her battling ability, but she didn't even notice.

"It's ready, hai!"

"Oh, good. Zoro...?" A lock of purple flicked over her brow. "Where do you want to fix those?"

"Anywhere quiet," the big man growled. He rolled his eyes then. "Ano...Chopa said here."

"I wonder why."

"To piss me off?" He shot an ugly little look at Sanji, who promptly gave him the finger.

"Would you mind waiting outside, Sanji?" She was busily lifting the sterile pan of water to place under Zoro's legs. "Chopa said he'd let me handle this, and he's not close to where you prepare the food at all..."

To make a nose-bleedingly session short, Sanji let her attend to the sliced-up swordsman's feet in his precious kitchen. Truth be told it was the only quiet spot on the ship right now, since most of the others were holed up or asleep. Their latest battle had been furious.

"I can do that," Zoro hissed. He snatched one of the wraps from her, still n ot looking up. Elly 's eyes narrowed. She grabbed his wrist in one hand and took the strip of cloth with the other.

"Not while I'm here, you can't," she growled. "I can be just as abrasive as you, Roronoa Zoro...and you almost sliced your own feet off a second time today!" Zoro grunted and stuck his lower lip out in a grumbly pout.

"Damned cat."

"Shut up."

Amazingly enough, he did just that for awhile. She felt his bulk settle against the wall as he lifted his legs and placed his wounded feet in the water. She didn't look up at him and gently wiped and cleaned the ugly lacerations in silence for a time. It was only when she had rinsed the water out twice that he stopped bleeding and she felt able to relax. Resting her forehead on her arm, she sighed wearily. When she chanced to glance up at him, she saw he was staring down at her and blinked.

Zoro seemed to flinch backwards. His face, which had been flushed across the nose and cheeks already, darkened further. Elly started to slowly come to an explanation behind his violent rush earlier that day. She had placed the pan of water aside and the bandages were all wrapped up. Since it was only the big man's feet that were covered, his ankles were still clearly visible. She traced the scar that ran along one and he jerked the foot almost out of her grasp.

"What..."

"You big idiot." Another sigh, and she bent over. Zoro's hands dug into the armrests of his chair when he felt warm breath on his bare skin.

"Couldn't let that thing at you," he choked. His eyes darted this way and that, looking for some way to escape. He had started to sweat nervously.

"Why not?"

"Shit!" He clenched his teeth. That couldn't be water, but something warm and wet was gently flicking along his ankle. He tried to tell himself it was, but there was no mistaking the soft kiss that followed. He shrugged almost angrily in response to her question. It was all right though, she only nodded and sat up. Her head was down, busy with the tub of water she meant to dump out.

"Sorry."

Zoro frowned. Why was she...? He was still clasping the sides of the chair tightly, nervously flushing and wishing she'd move so he could see her face. But after the quiet apology Elly stood with the pan in both hands. When she moved to walk past him he caught her by the arm.

"Don't be."

"Don't be?"

"Sorry." He scowled. "And put that thing down." He waited until she did, then tugged her arm again, harder this time. She stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn't caught her around the waist. Sniffing lightly, he pulled her down onto his lap so they both sat in the chair. She swallowed past the inevitable lump in her throat. His hands were rough, calloused from gripping those swords so tightly and working out with the giant set of weights he used. But they were so gentle, as if he was afraid he would hurt her. The result was a ticklish grasp and she struggled not to giggle. They sat that way for only a few seconds before their eyes met again and she leaned down to slip her arms around his neck.

He was warm and had a faint metallic scent. It wasn't bad and it wasn't strong...it was oddly right. Elly had imagined it would be like this. As if the smell of his sweat mingled with the few wounds he almost always had and the swords he carried. Zoro rumbled deep in his throat and she twitched a little, thinking to move. His hands gripped her more firmly when she tried.

"No." He still sounded angry, gruff. But his eyes were wide and as she watched, a trickle of sweat ran down his cheek. She took a deep breath and started to say something, to laugh nervously, who knew - but he moved smoothly and his mouth covered hers.

Silence.

He even tasted good. How that could be, she didn't know but it was true. She trembled in Zoro's arms and closed her eyes to better feel his advances. They banged teeth lightly and he murmured an apology.

"S'okay." He was hesitant and clumsy enough for her to be certain it was his first kiss. She didn't know how on earth that could be, but when they broke apart a small trail of saliva connected them for a moment. Further proof. He darted in quickly and kissed her again and again. Elly noticed he got much better at it with practice, his lips and tongue were amazingly deft. She shivered when he swept her purple locks aside and started to mouth her neck. His earrings jingled lightly, sweet music that soon was accompanied by soft panting when they parted again. Zoro hadn't lost his blush but his eyes had gained a burning, determined look she knew too well. It was just like when he had decided he would fight - hard -- and tied his bandanna on.

"Do you purr?" He asked briefly. Elly's eyes widened. In her shock she half reverted to her catbat form - furry ears poked out of her hair. When she realized she shook them away but the bushido had started to grin confidently.

"Zoro!" she gasped.

"Bet I can make you," he chuckled. His hands slipped up and he bent forward again.







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...and yes, there was much purring.