Chapter Text
Zoro was annoyed. No, not annoyed. Pissed. With a capital “P.” It had begun to rain- hard- and Zoro didn’t bring a jacket with him. He was soaked within seconds. Normally, he would have just forced his way on home, but he had very important paperwork this time and so he dunked into the closest shop along with everyone else who was unlucky enough to be caught out in this downpour.
This particular shop was a small cafe that smelled heavenly, but was automatically docked a few points thanks to the dumbass barista who had glared at him, apparently for dragging his soggy self within the blondes domain.
Whatever. Fuck him.
Getting himself a hot chocolate (because it's awesome; shut up!) Zoro found a corner seat and tried to blend into the woodwork to wait for the rain to let up. Thankfully, the paperwork wasn’t ruined and Zoro figured he might as well start on it while he waited.
That was an hour ago.
Now he had a headache as the small cafe began overflowing with more people than it could probably handle. He had managed a total of four pages (out of twenty) in between exchanging insults with the shit-for-brains blonde whenever he came by to refill Zoro’s drink. On one trip he even left behind a blueberry muffin, claiming it had “fallen on the floor, and I figured a marimo-head like you would still enjoy it.”. Zoro had flipped him off and scoffed, but ate the muffin with gusto to the guys obvious enjoyment.)
With a sigh, Zoro rubbed at his eyes and tried to get the words on the paper to stop moving around. His headache intensified instead.
Of course, the loud conversations that constantly overlapped each other certainly didn’t help him any. That’s not even mentioning the constant tap-tap-tap noise he could just make out over the den of shouts and laughter.
Wait a second…
Zoro’s head snapped up as he glanced around the room. No one really caught his eye among the many groups of teenagers (school must have just let out) and young adults grabbing coffee before heading out to work. He swore he heard...well maybe he was just imagining it. Really, what were the odds anyone would….
No! No, there it was again!
He had to strain his ears a bit, but he could just make out the code.
… .- -. -.-. . .
Sanji
-... . .. . . -. --. -- .
Bring me
.-. . . . . ..
Food!
Zoro frowned. Sanji was the name of the rude, blond, right? He had seen a name tag the last time blondie came around, and he was fairly certain that was his name. Zoro’s green eyes flickered around quickly catching sight of the man standing at the counter and flirting with several of his female customers while expertly ignoring the annoyed glares of the males around him.
Zoro’s lips twitched as the message repeated itself. Curious now, he took a deep breath, picked up his pen and began tapping out his own message. He was rewarded a few seconds later as a dark-haired teen wearing a straw hat jerked his head up to look around wildly. Narrowed eyes and frowning, the boy began a new message.
Who are you?
Just a fellow customer.
The kid huffed.
You are new. Or you never answered before.
This told Zoro the kid was a regular and probably sent that message to swirly-eyebrow every time he was here then.
First time. Rain.
He watched the kid nod slightly and glance out at the pouring rain that didn’t seem to want to let up anytime soon. Zoro lightly ducked his head as he watched the kid look around trying to find him.
Where are you?
Here.
Asshole.
Zoro snickered at the response and watched the kid pout. He seemed determined to ignore Zoro now as he appeared to start on his homework once again (Zoro assumed anyway what with all the textbooks surrounding him).
Only slightly disappointed as that was the most excitement he’d had in months (he didn’t get out much; his sister called him awkward and his dad said “reserved”). Zoro went back to struggling with his own work.
What is two times 108?
Zoro didn’t really give it any thought as he absently answered; too busy trying to understand his own question.
Wow! You must be really smart!
Zoro blink. Huh?
What? No. Not really.
Glancing at the kid, Zoro watched him frown.
Sure. You knew the answer.
It's not hard.
Is too! Math sucks.
Zoro chuckled as he continued watching the kid frown down at his work. At some point fucktard must have finally found time between his flirting to bring the poor guy his order as there was a plate of cookies and a drink beside him now (he wasn’t sure why, but Zoro had the strangest feeling and he dearly hoped it wasn’t coffee in that cup).
School can be rough.
I know! No one listens to me though!
You can do it.
I guess. So does that mean you are out of school?
Yeah.
You’re not some sick old guy who gets off on little kids are you?
Do you see any old guys in here? And you are a teenager. And how do you know I am a guy? I could be female.
Zoro wasn’t really sure what made him say that, but he groaned as he watched the kid laugh. It was a really nice laugh. Weird, but nice.
You do not seem like a girl.
That makes no sense.
Sure, it does! Plus, there are no girls here who seem to be talking to a stranger. But there are a few guys.
Zoro gulped and lightly doodled in a corner on whatever page he should have been trying to finish, but really he was having way too much fun talking to this kid. The kid was trying his best to find Zoro and Zoro wasn’t sure why that made him so nervous. Once the kid found him would he continue talking to Zoro or just leave? Zoro hated the sick feeling in his gut that let him know he really wanted to be able to talk to the kid again. He didn’t even know his name (or his age, but he couldn’t be that much younger, right?)
Did I make you nervous?
What? No! Why would I be nervous?
Why are you hiding? Are you shy? That so cute!
Not cute!
Are you blushing?
He was.
Of course not, dumbass!
You are!
Mind your own business!
Never mind that Zoro was the one to start the entire conversation. Shy? Cute? He wasn’t either of those things. No matter what his family said. He just…..didn’t get along with people. He didn’t know how to act around them; talk to them. That didn’t mean anything was wrong with him!
You are so blushing! You have green hair, right? Its cool.
Zoro tensed, snapping his head up, he glared fiercely into mischievous grey eyes. Giving the kid his meanest scowl simply caused him to laugh and wave, which, okay, that was certainly a new response. Besides his dad (who gave even worse looks) and his sister (who would just hit him) everyone else just tripped over themselves trying to get away.
You are cute!
Zoro proceeded to choke on air and glared at the kid some more.
Not! Cute!
The kid pouted at him.
You are too! Really cute! Do you think I am cute?
Zoro blinked, not really understanding where that question came from. The kid continued to pout at him and he had a feeling the faint heat on his face wasn’t going away any time soon.
Sure?
He thought the kid was beautiful. Perhaps not in the typical way, but Zoro could just see how bright and airy the kid was; could already see how cheerful, how happy he was talking to a complete stranger. He was like the sun forcing its way through a cloudy day to shine down on the miserable inhabitants. Not that he was telling the now frowning kid any of this. Shit. Why was he frowning?
Yes or no. Am I cute?
Yes.
With just the slightest of hesitation, Zoro answered and watched the kid beam with happiness. Zoro sternly told his heart to slow down. They couldn’t keep talking to the kid if it suddenly decided to give him a heart attack.
Great. I am cute. You are cute. It all works out!
What does?
Zoro really had no idea what the kid was on about (and he still wasn’t cute, damnit). However, the kid suddenly pulled a phone out and began frowning as he typed away. With a nod and a pout he hastily tapped a quick message before messily shoving his school work in a bag and rushed out the door with a quick bye to the annoying blonde.
Zoro absently finished off his now cold drink and wondered how much money he was going to end up losing to this place just so he could talk to that kid again. He grabbed his own paperwork and returned a lazy wave to the shit-barista flipping him off as he walked out the door. Ignoring the name above the door, Zoro tried to memorize landmarks so he could find his way back before heading home in the now thankfully clear sky.
Making that place a regular would definitely be worth it.