♪ Hello bathtub, my old friend. ♫

"________, come out." Zoro growled on the other side of the door, jiggling the handle to the bathroom while you slumped in the tub.

"No! I can't ever show my face again!"

Zoro scowled, at least it felt like he was scowling at you. "I didn't feel it all the time-"

"But you knew it was happening!! I'm the most obvious pervert in the world!!" You knew you were acting like a child, but damn it, this was probably the most embarrassing thing to ever happen in your life!

"Open the door."

"I don't wanna!" What you really wanted was a nice katana to commit seppuku. It's where you drive a sword through your stomach, something about honorable suicide or whatever, you just wanted it!

You were interrupted from your musings when you heard something crack. Looking up, you saw the handle to the bathroom door being pulled out, the wood splitting and breaking as the metal knob was ripped right out of it's socket. Your eyes widened when Zoro swung open the door and strode in with a glare, looking around until his eye landed on you in the tub.

"You broke my door!"

The wolf didn't answer, just stomped towards you.

"Zoro! I have to pay for that-" He pushed his hands under your arms and lifted you up with ease, your feet barely dangling off the porcelain tub as he glared up at you. You weren't really sure what he was planning to do, but you didn't want to stick around to deal with it. You tried to flail yourself free but he kept you from escaping; clearly stronger, taller, and over all too sexy to let you go. Damn it, he probably felt that perverted thought...

Suddenly you were hit with a wave of arousal.

Yes, a wave of arousal.

At first it was just heat, spreading from your abdomen and crawling up to your chest and down your legs. It felt like fingers brushing down between your thighs and to your calves before sliding back up and outwards until it practically engulfed your whole body. Then it tingled and you had to tense up or else you were sure you would turn into a puddle of goop. Your face turned red with pleasure while your hands quickly latched onto Zoro's forearms, not realizing that he was pulling you close to his chest and clutching you tightly while his face burrowed itself into your hair.

Your toes curled and your hands flew up to wrap around his neck, body rocking gently into him as another wave quickly hit you. This time it'd become clear that this was not your own lust, but Zoro's. It just made the whole thing more perverted and naughty and holy shit this was too much. Good bye, cruel world.

Zoro's hand was now resting on your lower back, rubbing it gently while his other one kept itself wrapped tightly around you. He inhaled your scent, growled, then did it again.

"It's not shameful to feel this way."

Damn it, his voice was husky now and it only added to the experience. You felt like a cat, just wanting to rub against him and whine for attention.

His hand moved to curl itself into your hair and tugged lightly, making you look him in the eye. "Now stop being a baby."

You pouted, resting your chin on his chest and hugging him tighter. "That was a dirty trick."

The wolf smirked, fangs glinting deviously. "Playing fair doesn't win the war."

You were now determined to figure out this pack bond thing so you could get back at him. But first, you were going to kiss this sexy jerk.

~~~

"So, what do we do now?" You laid across Zoro's lap on the couch, laptop resting on the cushion as you surfed the web while the wolf just laid back with his eyes closed; both of you just enjoying each other.

He was quiet a moment, face scrunching up a little in thought. "I can probably do a little digging...maybe the next town over can give us some information about this place."

You looked over your shoulder at him. "You think they'd know?"

Zoro nodded, "They probably have an idea on why this place is supernatural free."

You made a face and went back to scrolling through pictures of dogs, mainly Pomeranians (the internet was boring today). "We could always ask Jinbei. If he knew you were a werewolf, then maybe he knows what's going on around here."

"We don't need his help," Zoro sneered, glaring at the ceiling now.

You had meant to type in 'great Pomeranians' but accidentally put in 'green' and was greeted with pictures of people dumb enough to spray paint or dye their dogs fur. "Why don't you like Jinbei? He saved your life."

Zoro shifted, crossing his arms. "We just don't need him."

You rolled your eyes, "That's stupid. He's been nothing but helpful."

"He should mind his own business," Zoro scowled, sounding more like a child.

You clicked on a picture of a green moss ball looking thing that was littered in the pictures of green animals, curious as to what the hell it was. "If you think he's hitting on me, you don't have to worry. I'm pretty sure Jinbei plays for the other team."

Zoro looked down at you, confusion clear on his face.

"He's gay." You said bluntly, visiting some Japanese page.

The wolf scowled, "I wasn't worried about that."

He knew you would never leave him for another guy, mainly because your feelings for him were obvious and also because he was confident that he could keep you interested in only him.

"Then what are you worried about?" You frowned, reading up on the green algae.

Zoro didn't really answer, just sighed and went back to looking at the ceiling. Just when you thought he was done with the conversation he muttered something under his breath, so low that you couldn't hear him.

"What?" You turned over on your side to look up at him, noticing his face slightly flushed pink in embarrassment.

"...help....apart....myself...."

"Zoro, I can't hear you." You poked his stomach and wondered what the hell was up with him.

The wolf turned to glare down at you, face completely flushed now. "I said I don't want him to help or you'll let him into our pack!"

You gazed up at him with a look of disbelief.

He huffed, "I just want it to be the two of us." Zoro then looked away, eye closed again as frustration spread over his face. "...I don't want to share."

There was a small moment of silence before you laughed, immediately making him feel like a giant dork. You could tell too because it practically bled through the bond; you may not be good at feeling his subtle emotions, but the strong ones were always loud and clear. It was like that near death experience finally opened up a pathway for you to feel these things from him and it definitely made your life more interesting.

"You're such a brat~!"

Zoro snarled at you, more embarrassed that you called him out on his attitude. Maybe you didn't need the pack bond to get back at him after all.

"What are you looking at anyways?!" He snapped at you, quick to change the subject.

You turned back to look at the website to answer, but stopped when you looked at the picture of the moss ball. Then you turned to look at Zoro, then back to the page. Your mouth formed into an 'O' before you moved your gaze back to the wolf and pointed at the picture.

"You're a marimo!!!"

Zoro twitched and quickly stood up, the action making you roll off his lap and onto the floor with a loud thud. The wolf stepped over you and stomped to the bedroom to brood or whatever while you just laid on the floor and giggled like an idiot.

Even though you two were in deep paranormal shit, you knew the little moments like this made everything seem just fine.

~~~

After much consideration, you decided not to skip out on work the next day. You really needed the money to pay off your next round of bills and Zoro breaking your door certainly didn't help. Even if you had almost died the day before, responsibility was waiting to kick your ass.

"Don't give me that look," You hissed, picking up your backpack to take with you. Zoro glared right back, having changed into a dog as a form of protest at your leaving.

His tail merely thumped against the couch as he watched you go to the door and pull out your keys. "I'll be back in a few hours. Try not to attack the mailman."

The dog scoffed, offended that you thought he couldn't behave.

You gave him one last look before leaving, hoping Jinbei would call you if Zoro was found maiming the poor guy's arm. Everything should be fine. Just fine.

Stepping down the stairs, you sighed when you looked at the sky, the sun not high enough to fully light up the morning sky. You made your way to your car and slipped inside then stared at your steering wheel.

The temptation to get right back out and go back to your apartment quickly took over, feeling like you should just skip today and hang out with your boyfriend instead. You thought about this for a moment then started your car. You turned up the heat and adjusted your rearview mirror before smirking at your reflection.

"Nice try, Zoro."

Of course the dork would try to persuade you to stay through the bond. He didn't like playing fair.

~~~

Even though Zoro said there were no other supernatural creatures in the city, you couldn't help but look at every person who walked through your store with a critical eye. Every time you heard the ding of the door opening you would quickly turn to look at the person and wonder if they were human or not.

That teenager could be some fairy coming to buy a gaming system. That mother of two might be a mermaid or whatever, picking up fabric softener while her children ran around her cart. That old man over by the TVs might be hiding his true form which could very well be a handsome elf prince.

Anyone could be anything. It definitely made your world feel even bigger then it had been before Zoro.

"Oi, _______."

You turned, seeing your friend glaring at you while she tapped her foot.

"Quit staring at the customers already, you're supposed to help them find what they need, not be a creep."

"Ah, sorry. Guess I kind of zoned out," You laughed weakly. She glared at you, still miffed that you left her to deal with the holiday rush alone.

"So, are you going to take me to dinner or what?"

Oh yeah, dinner. You'd promised her when you had returned home. "Yeah, if you still want to. Did you want to go after work?"

"No, I got a hot date." Just mentioning it seemed to make her brighten up, no longer looking angry with you. She eagerly pulled out her phone to show you pictures of her new boo.

You defeatedly looked at her boyfriend of the month, knowing it would make her happy to gush about it. You probably would have done the same thing if you were in her shoes, but Zoro...well, you didn't want to share him yet.

He was different; ironically and literally.

"He's taking me to that fancy restaurant uptown~!" She giggled and continued to go back through her photo album, sighing over the pictures of the handsome man.

"Oh?" You said on cue, not really paying attention. Some old woman was trying to reach for an item on the top shelf, almost getting it but accidentally pushing it further back instead.

"It's called Baratie! I hear all the chefs there are amazing and the food is to die for~."

The old woman was definitely needing some help. "I'll be right back."

"We're going to eat by candle light and look out at the starry sky, just like in the movies~!"

She ignored you but you just walked off, knowing she would still be talking about her date when you came back. You made your way into the aisle and smiled at the older woman. She had been trying to grab the roll of toilet paper and still failing, but she stopped when you finally made it to her side.

"Do you need help, ma'am?"

"Oh, yes, please." She gave you a creaky smile, much like a grandmother would her grandchild. Sometimes this job was bearable.

Grinning back just as widely, you stood on the tips of your toes and reached for the product, able to snatch it by the plastic thanks to your semi long nails. You had pulled it off the shelf just as the hanging light above you flickered. You looked up curiously to see the light fixture swinging leisurely before suddenly snapping.

Before you knew what was happening, you were tackling the old woman to the floor just as the lamp fell and smashed into the ground; the bulbs shattering into a thousand pieces and spreading over the floor while the wires in the ceiling sparked before completely dying.

You stared wide eyed at the broken fixture, a crowd quickly forming to see what had happened. No one seemed to know what to do, some of the employees were running around and trying to find a manager while your friend pushed her way through the crowd to check on you.

Despite the growing excitement and loud group, you couldn't hear a thing; merely stare at the broken fixture with an increasing sense of dread. Then you felt movement under you and realized that you were sitting on top of the poor old woman who looked to be in severe pain.

"My back....."

Fuck.