You pressed your forehead into his chest engulfed in a mixture of relief and embarrassment.

"Sorry I misunderstood." You muttered.

"Don't worry about it. Anyone would have thought the same." He gave your shoulders a quick rub, "Can we go back in now? It's hot."

"Everything OK?" Perona's melodic voice called as she rounded the corner from your living room.

"Yep." Zoro replied playfully, "F/N misread the situation. I told you we're too old for you to be tackling me."

Perona glanced at you her perfect doll lips morphing into a pout, "He deserved it."

"I believe it." You offered a small nod.

Zoro thumped the back of your head.

"Anyway...F/N this is Perona, Perona F/N." He gestured between you.

She extended a pale hand, "Nice to meet you. Thanks for taking care of this idiot."

"It's a tough job." You both giggled at Zoro's expense.

He crossed his arms over his chest, "I didn't bring you here to insult me."

"Awe, sorry Mossy it was just a joke." You gave his shoulder a pat.

The three of you sat at the dining table to chat.

"Basically we were both adopted by the same man so I guess you could say we're siblings? Although I was very young when I was taken in, we were like 13 when Zoro joined us." Perona explained.

"I was 12 you were 13." Zoro corrected.

"It's rude to remind a lady she's older than you." She grumbled adorably.

"Pft. Lady?" He scoffed.

You nudged him with your elbow.

"Where were you before you were adopted?" You asked trying to stay on topic.

"I bounced around in foster care. I guess wasn't the easiest kid to deal with." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"You were a brute!" Perona added, "He was always starting fights and scoffing at everyone. He refused to talk for a long time"

Now he seemed to make more sense to you. Guilt wrenched your stomach as you were reminded of how you disliked him for some of the very traits Perona was describing.

"He always frightened the girls away. Not that a few didn't try though. Poor things." She pouted for the poor brave souls who dared confess to the broody teen.

You glanced at Zoro who's cheeks had just the slightest hint of pink.

"He's so grumpy he'd be a terrible boyfriend." She continued in a teasing tone.

"I thought he did a good job." You blurted absentmindedly.

Perona turned quickly to meet your gaze.

"Oh - uh I had him pretend to be my boyfriend to appease my mother recently." You sputtered.

She raised her perfect brows and turned slowly back to Zoro who had averted his attention to Madara on the floor.

"He didn't do it willingly. I sort of forced him." You admitted running a hand through your hair.

Her eyes remained on her brother who had turned away completely at this point the tips of his ears matching her hair. The air in the room felt a bit heavy and you couldn't help but feel some sort of telepathic sibling conversation was happening. Perona's phone dinged pulling her concentration away from the shying mossball.

"Oh..we better go Bonney is hungry and we were supposed to get food on our way back." She stood, "It was so nice meeting you F/N. Sorry for the intrusion."

"It's fine. Please visit anytime." You hugged her.

Zoro stood seeming to have gained control over his blushing.

"See ya Sunday." He muttered softly.

You nodded as he and Perona turned to leave. Madara let out a whimper turning back from the door upset that Zoro had left him behind.

"Oh hush you big baby." You muttered stalking toward your room.

You stripped down and slipped into just a tee shirt. The whole apartment was yours for the weekend and you were going to lounge with no pants damnit. You sighed for the umpteenth time flopping down on the sofa. You weren't fully over your embarrassment. Though you were sure he'd chalked it up to being upset about possible sex stains on the living room rug and not the heart clenching dread of seeing your crush with someone prettier than you.

"Uugghh!" You groaned into a throw pillow as Madara came to inspect you.

"It's fine Bub." You ruffled the wild white patch of "troll hair" on top of his head.

You were going to have to distract yourself from these feelings until they go away.

The evening passed slowly and uneventfully. A few movies and some Chinese takeout later you stretched out on your bed liking random posts on Instagram.

_______________

"Maaaddaaaaarraaaaaa!" Luffy shrieked bounding toward you.

"You just saw him last week. Calm down yoi." You heard Marco call from the back door of their rental home.

Despite being ex's you got along quite well; perhaps better than when you were actually dating. The blond stepped out to greet you rubbing his half lidded eyes. Luffy had already taken the leash and dragged Madara off to play with him.

"How ya been F/N?" Marco slouched into the porch swing.

"Can't complain I guess. It's been a while you weren't in when I picked Madara up." You took a seat next to him as he swayed you both using the tip of his flip flop.

"Works been a bit crazy. How was the trip?"

You let out annoyed sigh.

"That bad yoi?" He continued to look forward.

"Well you know Mel." You added.

"Still trying to marry you off?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Mhm." You hummed.

He clicked his tongue, obviously still having a strong opinion about your mother.

You quietly swayed back and forth for a few minutes before the blond startled you.

"So, what brought you over? You only come here when you're lonely." He quirked a brow giving you a once over.

"Ah- my roommate is out for the weekend and Madara could stand a good workout - Luffy is always willing to play." You fidgeted with your hands resting in your lap.

"What roommate?"

"Zoro~" Ace chimed letting the screen door slam behind him, "He went to her parents with her."

The fuck?

"How did you know that?" You asked narrowing your gaze as the freckled raven took a seat on the concrete.

"People tell me things." He wiggled his brows a big dumb grin plastered on his adorable face.

You glared sternly into his garnet eyes.

"He piggybacks on my gym membership. He only told me he was going out of town with you. We haven't talked much since you got back." His expression went from innocent to menacing in less than a second, "Unless something happened while you were gone~"

You kicked him.

"Stop stirring the pot yoi." The older brother chided.

Thank you Marco.

Surely he just didn't want to hear about your crush on another guy.

"So what happened on this trip?" The blond jabbed his index finger into your shoulder.

Fuck you Marco.

"Nooothiiing." You groaned, "Why are you guys like this?"

"Because they're idiots." Thatch chuckled passing through the screen door, "So, you and the mosshead huh?"

"I hate all of you." You pouted.

"We're just teasing yoi." Marco palmed your shoulder.

"You get flustered too easily F/N. It makes you an excellent target." The brunette slinked down the porch steps waving before stepping into his pickup.

Suddenly Luffy ran screaming through the yard disappearing around the side of the house Madara not far behind.

"He isn't short on energy." You chuckled.

"Either dead asleep or bouncing off the walls. There is no in between." Ace shook his head.

"Oh you're one to talk yoi." Marco scoffed.

"We've had to save you from drowning in your meal more times than I can count." You laughed.

"I don't have to take this from you bullies." The freckled male pouted rising to his feet.

Luffy and Madara screeched by again, this time Ace taking off behind them.

"Jokes aside, if you like Zoro why not go for it? Especially if he met Mel and still talks to you." He started swinging you again.

"Yeah yeah." You muttered.

You and Marco continued to swing and chat until the sun began to dip passed the horizon.

"Thanks for playing with me shishishi." Luffy smooshed Madara's face just before you loaded him into the backseat.

"Thanks for wearing him out Luffy. I'll see you guys later." You kissed Marco's cheek, "Thanks for the chat."

"Anytime yoi." He smiled.

Back home you found yourself lying on the couch flipping channels. It was too quiet with the exception of Madara's light snores. You found yourself wishing the grumpy greenette was home.

The dog's rhythmic breaths eventually lulled you to sleep.

_______________

So warm.

You whimpered while Madara nuzzled into your neck.

"Get down fuzzball." You muttered blindly reaching to push the mutt away alarmed when you realized there was no fuzzball on top of you.

The smell of alcohol fanned across your face as your eyes snapped open. Zoro blinked down at you a small smile graced his lips his cheeks flushed.

"Uh – h-hi?" You sputtered.

"Hey." He husked leaning in to nuzzle your hair.

A strange mix of excitement and terror erupted in your chest.

What the hell is happening? I'm awake right?

"I-I thought you were staying with Perona until tomorrow." Your voice faltered as he nipped at your neck.

"They ... kicked me out." He pouted into your skin making you shiver.

You certainly didn't want to end this attention. But seriously what?

He shifted sliding over you and standing before hoisting you over his shoulder. Before you knew it you were being flung into his mattress. He shut the door removing his shirt.

I'm not ready for this.

You tensed as he crawled over you, arms and legs blocking any quick exit you may have had. Not that you were actively trying to get away. He dipped down pressing his forehead to yours, breathing heavily. Your heart was slamming against your ribcage. He kissed you deep and rough. Your head spun as you broke away to catch your breath. He nipped and kissed down your neck, his hands beginning to roam over your shirt. As quickly as the impromptu make out session had begun it ended. He slumped on top of you snoring heavily; leaving you in the wake of far too many confusing emotions.

And I'm trapped.