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There was little that Zoro and Perona agreed on. Their debate could range from a subject as serious as the usefulness of the other to something as trivial as the most beautiful color. Zoro naturally insisted on green while the ghost girl just as naturally preferred pink. Hawkeyes, their reluctant host, always cut short their debates either by leaving as far away as possible, by telling them to be quiet, or by choosing a third option like black which represented, by definition, an absence of color.
Thus, the cohabitation between the three on Kuraigana was forced and not wanted by each of the parties concerned. But that didn't mean the atmosphere was necessarily tense. No, the perpetual bickering was more about teasing than real mutual hatred.
Perona wasn't so bad when she was quiet or asleep.
And Hawkeyes... well, Hawkeyes was a grumpy, lonely old man by nature. So the unexpected cohabitation with two noisy and tumultuous teenagers made him even more grumpy and irritable. But he was a man of his word, like any self-respecting swordsman, and he sacrificed most of his days training Zoro.
The only time Zoro and Perona saw Hawkeyes being less grumpy than usual was during an impromptu visit from an Emperor. That day was certainly etched in Zoro's memory forever.
He remembered being arguing with Perona during breakfast when a mysterious force appeared on the island. Hawkeyes hadn't seemed worried, although he had sighed and muttered something under his breath before continuing to read his newspaper while the two younger ones were on guard. Zoro had been ready to unsheathe Wado, but the closer the mysterious force approached the island, the stronger it became, and the weaker Zoro and Perona became in return. They had tried to fight against this invisible grip that surrounded their minds and to be ready to welcome the threat as they should. But Perona had passed out first and Zoro had followed when the castle doors had opened and the force had entered.
Then, the young green-haired swordsman remembered a pesky hand shaking his shoulder to force him to wake up. He had opened his eyes in small slits, a strange fatigue weighing on both his mind and his body, to see who dared to wake him from his nap. Through his blurry vision, Zoro had first noticed the bright red hair.
Zoro had forced himself to concentrate. He had taken a deep breath before his vision became less blurry. There, the young man had noticed the three scars, the worried gray eyes accompanying a tense smile, and the single right hand that helped him to get up.
"Come on, kid, it's time to get up," Red-Haired Shanks had said before helping Zoro on his feet, "Hawkeyes will cut me in half if you continue sleeping on his kitchen floor."
"Don't tempt me," Hawkeyes had warned, himself busy waking up Perona, without success. The swordsman then took the young woman in his arms, "this isn't the first time I've told you to control your haki, Red. You know I hate having to repeat myself."
Shanks had grimaced, but he hadn't flinched in fear when Hawkeyes had glared at him. On the contrary, the emperor laughed before following the swordsman towards the living room, a plate of breakfast stolen in his hand.
In Shanks' presence, Hawkeyes wasn't as irritable as he could or should have been. Both Perona and Zoro had been surprised that a Warlord was not on high alert in the presence of his natural enemy, but the signs had been too obvious to miss. Hawkeyes had welcomed Shanks with a glass of Rum rather than with Yoru who had remained quietly in his case all day. Granted, Hawkeyes had been as cold and distant as usual around his guest, but he didn't interact with Shanks as he did with them.
Seemingly, everything had a soft side, even a sharp-edged swordsman like Hawkeyes. One day, Perona had compared their protector to a cactus, and since then, Zoro could no longer see Hawkeyes any differently.
Above all, even if the two teenagers agreed on the fact that Hawkeyes was strangely non-Hawkeyes in the presence of Shanks, their opinions on the relationship between the two elders differed. To Zoro, Shanks and Hawkeyes shared a virile friendship born from years of rivalry and fighting that had transcended into something more when Shanks lost his arm. But Perona disagreed. For her, Shanks and Hawkeyes were not friends, but something much more domestic and disgusting: they would be lovers, worse even, husbands.
This difference of opinion inevitably led to multiple arguments until Perona made a shocking argument: "I'm sure they fucked during one of their many duels"
This argument had strongly put off Zoro who then replied: "Hawkeyes is too respectful of the art of fencing and duels to have fucked with his rival during one of them. It would have been defamation. "
"You met Shanks as I did, I'm not sure this act qualifies as defamation for him."
Zoro had a retort on his tongue ready to be said, but he bit his tongue as he saw Hawkeyes walking towards them. Their mentor's hearing was as sharp as his vision, the two teenagers quickly changed the subject.
Since the debate on the relationship between the Warlord and the Emperor was taboo. Zoro didn't want to imagine his mentor having a more than platonic relationship with his Captain's idol. For her part, Perona imagined them living a forbidden relationship under the nose of the Navy whenever she was bored.
Except that the days passed on the cold and dreary island that was Kuraigana without Red-Haired Shanks being mentioned again by Hawkeyes, either implicitly or explicitly. It was as if the impromptu visit from the emperor had never happened. So much so that Zoro ended up forgetting the potential relationship Hawkeyes had with his former rival.
Until Christmas anyway.
This day had started like every other day since Hawkeyes had agreed to train Zoro. The two men got up at dawn for a first training session, Hawkeyes prepared breakfast which Perona deigned to participate in, and then Zoro returned to practice his strengthening haki under the keen gaze of his mentor.
As always, the morning was reserved for physical training supposed to strengthen Zoro's muscles and endurance. If the young man thought he had a good training method before Kuraigana then he was wrong. The training that Hawkeyes had planned for Zoro was... drastic and grueling, but never went beyond the young man's capabilities.
For afternoon practice, Hawkeyes sat on a red velvet chair, a book open on his crossed legs, while Zoro tried to blacken a balloon.
At first, Zoro didn't suspect anything since Hawkeyes was his usual self: bossy, laconic, and bored. Above all, he was occupied by this damn balloon which refused to be covered in Haki. Hawkeyes had presented the exercise as child's play, easily achievable, he had shown Zoro an example on several occasions, but it was not at all despite the fun side of using a ball to exercise. However, Zoro had attempted to pierce a ball hardened by Hawkeyes' Haki with his strongest attack and had failed miserably.
And then, without a warning, Hawkeyes joined Zoro with a pin in his hand. The defenseless ball exploded, effectively ending practice, an hour before their session usually ended.
"I was almost there," Zoro grunted, wiping the sweat that had rolled down his forehead.
"Of course," Hawkeyes replied in a flat voice filled with irony. The old man was already starting to walk away from the gym when he ordered: "Go wash and change your clothes, you stink."
Zoro mentally anticipated a long and painful death for Hawkeyes when he saw him walk away, but he obeyed anyway. There weren't many activities on Kuraigana and at least washing would stave off boredom. Although Zoro would already have to find the bathroom in this labyrinth that was the castle.
Why a castle needed so much useless room and doors, Zoro wouldn't know, but it was certainly indecent.
Nothing unusual awaited Zoro either when he joined Perona and Hawkeyes in the large living room of the castle. The fireplace had been cleaned and working, a gentle warmth emanated from the hearth, berry candles had been lit, and cookies in the shape of a tree or Santa Claus were placed on two plates. The cookies had pink icing, proof that Perona had made them that afternoon. Speaking of the young woman, she was sewing yet another teddy bear while Hawkeyes was finishing his book.
Zoro settled next to Perona on the sofa and let the soothing silence lull him into the beginning of a good, long nap.
Unfortunately, more than forty minutes later, an irritating voice pulled him out of his well-deserved nap.
"What?" Zoro growled, slapping the hand that was pushing his shoulder.
"It’s back," whispered Perona who persisted in waking the sleeping young man. She cried out in pain as Zoro slapped her hand away and gently slapped her cheek in retaliation, "come on, you big lazy ass, wake up. I told you he was back."
Zoro frowned, but he straightened up anyway, "what's back?" He asked, yawning without putting his hand over his mouth.
"Him," Perona insisted, rolling her eyes at the younger man's behavior. He clearly lacked manners.
Zoro sat up completely feeling the same mysterious force from last time. Once again, it grew larger as it approached the castle. But this time, it was more of an annoyance in the back of Zoro's mind rather than a blow. He imagined that he had become stronger under Hawkeyes' teachings and had developed a resistance against haki. However, the most likely was that the owner of the mysterious force had remembered his rival's warning and was controlling his Haki so as not to disturb the two teenagers.
Red-Haired Shanks had returned to Kuraigana and brought the spirit of Christmas with him.
If there was one holiday that Zoro hadn't expected to celebrate on Kuraigana in the company of the crazy Perona and the grumpy swordsman it was Christmas. The stark, cold, and dark island that was Kuraigana did not seem suited to receive the spirit of Christmas. Yet Red-Haired Shanks, a world-class hedonist, strangely made it work.
The mighty pirate entered the living room following Hawkeyes with a steel tray in his right hand and a heavy bag hanging over his left shoulder. Despite his burden, the emperor wanted to help Hawkeyes who himself held two trays filled with hot and cold appetizers in his hands. They placed them on the small table before Hawkeyes took back his place in his favorite armchair.
"Hey, kids!" Shanks greeted them with a wide smile before sitting down on the ground as if it was an Emperor's place to sit at the foot of a Warlord.
Zoro and Perona were so surprised that they were unable to respond verbally. First, Hawkeyes had let Shanks in despite the Santa hat on his head. Santa hat that matched the ugly Christmas sweater the pirate was wearing. Then, the Warlord didn't seem bothered by the redhead's proximity even when he leaned against his legs.
They made an odd pair Zoro decided as he accepted the glass of Sake handed to him by Perona, she had a cup of hot chocolate in front of her, while Shanks and Hawkeyes had a glass of Rum and wine respectively in their hands. Shanks and his Santa Claus sweater literally shone because of the sequins embedded in the soft fabric while, on the other side, Hawkeyes wore a more sober outfit. This was the first time Zoro had seen his mentor wearing anything other than a half-open white shirt or his "work" outfit, so seeing him in a gray cashmere sweater was strangely unusual.
Zoro didn't like the way the crewneck sweater softened the swordsman's sharp features.
After recounting his journey to Kuraigana in far too much unnecessary detail, Shanks turned to the big clock, "what time is it?"
Although the question was rhetorical, Hawkeyes turned to the clock to read the time, "8:15 p.m., you're late, as always."
"Don’t listen to that grumpy old man, he’ll be bored if I always arrive on time."
"No, I won't," Hawkeyes whispered in retaliation, but Shanks was already not listening anymore.
Instead, the redhead leaned forward a little as he spoke exclusively to the children, a wide smile on his lips, "you know what we're celebrating tonight right?"
"It's Christmas Eve," Perona replied automatically while Zoro was still searching for the answer - he wasn't one to remember dates or events.
"Exactly!" Shanks exclaimed as he shoved an appetizer into his mouth, he swallowed it without chewing just like Luffy would.
Zoro was beginning to understand that this man had had a heavy impact on Luffy's personality between the constant need for attention, the wide smile, the casual behavior, and the bottomless stomach. Mostly everything was there, except Shanks was older and therefore had more experience. There was a depth in the gray eyes that wasn't yet in Luffy's, the weight of responsibilities that weighed down Shanks' shoulders probably.
"Is that why you’re dressed like that?" Perona asked with a grimace of barely concealed disgust.
Shanks nearly choked on the second appetizer in his mouth, "What is wrong with it?"
"Nothing, except you look like an old pervert."
This time, Shanks actually choked, which sparked laughter, more or less discreet, from the three other people in the room.
"That's what we call getting old," the redhead murmured in a hurt tone, "Beck warned me but I didn't want to believe him."
"Why are you here anyway?"
Shanks, who was apparently as much of an emotional weather vane as Luffy, quickly shed his sadness, replaced with a confident smile, "because no one deserves to be alone at Christmas, not even a grumpy old man."
"How lucky am I?" Hawkeyes wondered quietly before sipping the rest of his glass of wine.
Shanks didn't answer Hawkeyes' question and Zoro began to feel slightly bad for his mentor. The poor man was completely ignored by the redhead who was already focused on something else.
"Anyway, you two better be nice. I'm the one who has your presents after all."
"Gifts?" Asked the two teenagers, one with real stars in her eyes, and the other just as interested despite his detached attitude.
Shanks nodded solemnly, "it wouldn't be Christmas without presents," and he moved his tile bag closer to the table before beginning the distribution.
In total, Perona had three gifts, and Zoro only two. At first, the teenager was legitimately offended by this lack of fairness. Why was this noisy pest entitled to one more gift than him?
Disappointed, Zoro opened his new book on the best swords in the world and a sheet fell into his lap. He picked it up and his eyes widened in surprise because what he had originally mistaken for a bookmark was a list of names and locations.
Zoro reads the first line without understanding: "Luffy - old man - Calm Belt."
The rest of the instructions were just as incomprehensible. The only thing Zoro understood from the cursive writing was the name of each of his teammates.
Zoro coughed subtly to get the attention of the Emperor who was busy bothering Hawkeyes before asking, "Who is the old man?"
Shanks frowned before spotting the list in Zoro's hands and he smiled softly, "It's Rayleigh."
Rayleigh? Wasn't that the name of the old man they met on Sabaody? Why would Luffy be with him?
Zoro's eyes widened: what if Luffy was waiting for them at Sabaody? However, the date planned by the captain of the Straw Hats was still a year and a half away.
"Luffy is training with Ray somewhere near Amazon Lilly from what he told me."
"Did you talk to Luffy?!"
"No," Zoro's enthusiasm made Shanks laugh, "I called Rayleigh. From what I understand of the story, you met him before Kuma separated you so the old bugger must have known something. I heard Luffy screaming for food in the background so he must be okay," the redhead smiled softly at the memory before recounting the end of the story, "I had some of my men look for the rest of your crew and that’s what they did because they’re awesome like that."
Surprised, Zoro only managed to ask, "w-why?"
"You never know, if one of them isn't on time for the meeting then at least you'll know where or who they are with," Shanks replied with a nonchalant shrug. The old man reached into his bag again before Zoro could thank him, proof that he wasn't expecting any, and he handed Zoro one last gift, "you already have three, but a fourth could be useful."
Zoro grabbed the gift, grateful to have a third one like Perona, which he quickly unwrapped. Speaking of the young woman, Perona leaned over the swordsman's shoulder to see what he had received - she was bored now that she had opened her three gifts. Zoro was so satisfied with the dagger inside the package that he didn't even think about pushing her away.
"It's just a dagger," Perona remarked with a sigh as she lay back on the couch.
"It's not just a dagger," Shanks replied, imitating the whining voice of Perona who responded by sticking out her tongue. Shanks laughed before explaining: "Of course, in appearance, a dagger remains a dagger, you just have to stick the pointed side into the enemy, or so I've been told, but this one draws its originality from its twin."
The redhead took out one last gift from the canvas bag which he handed to Hawkeyes. The two adults shared a look as if they were having a silent conversation before their fingers brushed together as Hawkeyes retrieved his gift. Indeed, Hawkeyes' dagger was a carbon copy of the one Zoro had in his hands.
"They work mostly like life Vivre cards, except they're daggers and won't disintegrate. I thought you might find that useful."
"We won't have any use for it," Hawkeyes replied coldly, putting his dagger back into the packaging box.
Yet despite the dim light, Zoro could swear that the swordsman's cheeks were strangely pink as if Hawkeyes was embarrassed. Hawkeyes liked the gift, didn't he? Zoro smiled knowing that his mentor was trying to put on a good face in front of them. He put his dagger away without realizing that his cheeks were pink too.
"At least we'll have an easier time finding Zoro when he gets lost," Perona scoffed to prevent the moment from becoming awkward.
Zoro glared at her, "I don't get lost...," facing the doubtful looks of Perona and Hawkeyes, the young man frowned into the sofa, "... not that often."
After opening the presents, Hawkeyes put them to work by ordering them to clean up the living room. This was forced labor, Zoro decided as he shoved the corpses of wrapping paper into a plastic bag, Perona collected the empty plates to take to the kitchen, and Shanks refilled their glasses. Hawkeyes returned a few minutes later from the kitchen with the main course cleverly presented in bowls. Granted, Hawkeyes allowed them to eat in the living room for the first time, but he would kill them if any of them messed up his couches. Shanks must have been aware of the consequences as he remained seated on the ground at the swordsman's feet, his bowl on the coffee table.
They had barely started eating when Shanks took the initiative to liven up the evening with stories. The redhead knew quite a bit, especially about Luffy or stories of adventures and discoveries. At the teens' request and with Hawkeyes' agreement, Shanks recounted their first meeting, quickly followed by their first duel.
Shanks was a very good storyteller, he spoke with passion, recounted unusual details with large gestures, and had this easy way of hypnotizing his audience with his words. These stories were so vivid that Zoro found himself immersed in Shanks' world without realizing it. The Pirate Captain only stopped talking to let the suspense build or to let the teens ask him questions while he drank or ate.
Once he was finished eating, Shanks moved between Hawkeyes' legs to lean against the couch. The swordsman didn't seem to mind, he listened to Shanks' stories as if it was the first time he heard them. Hawkeyes rarely intervened to contradict Shank and even let him embellish their first meeting to make it more epic than it had been. No, Hawkeyes was just as immersed in Shanks' stories as the teens were. The only difference was that he pretended to be bored, although he couldn't hide his small smile.
And then, towards the middle of a story about the discovery of an island on the Grande Line, an unimaginable scene occurs.
Zoro turned to Perona to make sure he wasn't dreaming after falling asleep. The young woman was just as surprised as him, so no, the young swordsman could not be dreaming. Zoro returned his attention to the domestic scene before him and yes, Hawkeyes was still playing with the redhead's hair. The elderly swordsman had thrown the stupid Santa hat onto the coffee table before dividing the flaming mop of hair into two sides.
Hawkeyes had started braiding one of the two sections before the end of the story. It was one of those intricate braids that were pressed against the head before coming loose.
The worst?
Shanks leaned into his rival's touch. He even instinctively reached for a small elastic band from his pocket when Hawkeyes had finished braiding the first braid.
Hawkeyes paid them no attention as he continued his work with great concentration. His expert fingers moved quickly and unfailingly until all of the emperor's face was clear. With the only exception of those little red hairs that could not be integrated into the braids because of their small size.
The worst of the worst?
Shanks didn't even look ridiculous with his braid and a half. He looked more like a powerful Viking warrior ready to conquer the world. Unfortunately, the Christmas sweater ruined everything.
"To think he doesn't even want to braid my hair," Perona grumbled alongside Zoro, she was sulking at not being entitled to the same preferential treatment from their mentor.
For his part, Zoro looked at the long, thick pink hair and he could understand why Mihawk wouldn't want to waste his time braiding it for her.
"...he was a tall green man whose skin was covered in hair," Shanks continued his story unfazed by his new haircut or the teenagers' reaction. He had barely paid attention to what Hawkeyes was doing, his instincts warning him when to provide rubber bands. He still held one of them in his hand knowing that Hawkeyes would help himself when the time came. "He was known to like to play naughty tricks during the Christmas period. He's the one who... ouch! Hawky! That hurts..."
Hawkeyes had pulled harshly on a strand of hair between his fingers to interrupt Shanks, "stop telling everyone that the Grinch stole my heart."
"I had to find a logical explanation somewhere," Shanks countered with a laugh.
"First of all, you're the least logical man I know. Second, I wouldn't have let anyone steal it from me because, third, you can't live without it."
"I don't know," Shanks said thoughtfully, "you stole mine and yet I'm still alive."
Shanks grimaced even harder when Hawkeyes pulled his hair again. This time, instead, Shanks raised his head until his gray eyes met Hawkeyes' golden ones. The smile Shanks gave the swordsman was even brighter than the sun.
It was practically the same smile that Luffy reserved for Zoro, but it was also different. Luffy's smile was always innocent and huge, while Shanks's had that sweetness that seemed to be only reserved for Hawkeyes.
The older swordsman must have been used to Shanks' smile as he sighed before forcing the redhead to stand properly.
Perona nudged Zoro before raising an eyebrow. He shook his head, still not convinced that Shanks and Hawkeyes were a couple. The emperor was teasing his friend so what?
Shanks told them one last story before noticing the children's sleeping faces. For good reason, it was almost one o'clock in the morning. Zoro would have liked to hear one last story if only he wasn't so tired. He obeyed without fuss when Mihawk ordered them to go to sleep.
Unfortunately, Perona chased away the young swordsman's fatigue by entering his room without knocking when Zoro had just taken off his shirt. He quickly put it back, his cheeks red, "you could knock! Go away, you nasty bitch."
"Speak to me in a different tone, you brainless swordsman!"
"I talk to you however I want in my room!" Zoro growled, easily irritated by Perona's princess-like behavior.
The young woman stomped her foot on the ground before responding, "I wanted us to spy on the two old men together, but I would have fun alone if you decided to be naughty!"
"No, wait," said Zoro whose anger had quickly vanished at the idea of spying on Shanks and Mihawk, "can you do that?"
"I left one of my bears in the kitchen, we will be able to observe what they say in our absence. That way, we will know which of us is right."
It was a strangely good idea, not that Zoro would ever admit it to Perona or that he was curious about Mihawk's relationship with Shanks. But... Zoro had to know his mentor if he wanted to hope to beat him one day.
So, they settled on Zoro's bed without even noticing their proximity as an image lit up on the stomach of one of Perona's ghosts.
It wasn't unusual for Mihawk to clean the dishes even if it was late at night. Zoro and Perona suspected him of having a slight hygienic problem since their mentor could not go to rest if a glass was still in the sink. No, what was unusual in the kitchen was that Hawkeyes hadn't rolled up the sleeves of his sweater to avoid getting dirty and that Shanks supported him in his anti-dirt mission. The two older men had a well-rehearsed plan: Hawkeyes cleaned the plates that he handed to Shanks so that the younger man could place them on the drainer.
Even though he had led most of the conversation that night, Shanks' throat wasn't tired as the redhead was still talking. Hawkeyes just nodded and hummed here and there to show that he was interested in Yassop and Lucky's more recent bet.
Zoro yawned in annoyance, they hadn't learned anything new so far and he was quite tired.
The young man was planning to order Perona to leave the two men alone and come out of his room when the atmosphere in the kitchen changed drastically.
Having finished his mission, Shanks leaned against one of the kitchen units, his hand resting on his hip, "so what did you get me this year?"
"I never gave you anything for Christmas, why should I start now?" Mihawk asked as he wiped his hands with a towel. His golden eyes met the redhead's amused ones and he raised a doubtful eyebrow, "it's you who insists on keeping me company on Christmas Eve year after year. I didn't ask you anything. You could celebrate it with your companions."
"And yet, you never ordered me to leave. So my presence is at best desired and at worst tolerated. I would be stupid to not take advantage of it. But," Shanks approached Mihawk until there was only a thin space between them, "I deserve a reward after playing Rudolph all over the Grand Line and the Shin Sekai for you. I did find all the gifts on your list after all."
"You even went above and beyond in offering those daggers," Mihawk reminded in a tone full of reproach.
"They were supposed to be for both of us, but we already have our means of communication, the kid could have had this one," Shanks replied with a shrug.
"It wasn't necessary, nor wanted. What will he think? That I..."
Shanks smiled slyly before filling in Mihawk's sentence, "...that you care about him because that's exactly what you do. You care about Zoro and Perona. They're your protégés. It's really cute."
"They're not," Mihawk replied dryly as, on the other side of the screen, Perona and Zoro easily guessed he was lying. The proof was in the blush that colored the swordsman's pale cheeks. "You drank too much alcohol again tonight."
"No, you can't blame the alcohol. I wasn't drunk when you asked me to find all the Straw Hats localization to give the list to Zoro. You know this subject was close to his heart and you wanted to appease him."
Mihawk crossed his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes before admitting, "...maybe, but it was mostly to get him to stop whining. Perona too."
"You admit that I at least appeased your headaches, so I deserve a present!"
"You're twisting my words, but yes, I have a gift planned for you this year," and Hawkeyes' eyes sparkled with mischief.
Shanks smiled as if he had just been crowned the pirate king, "what is it? Where is it? Should I look for it?"
"You kind of already found it since you were leaning on it all night."
"Your couch?" Shanks instantly suggested before frowning when Hawkeyes shook his head. The pirate was plunged into deep thought for several seconds before a literal light bulb went on above his head. Shanks closed the gap between them as his hand settled on Mihawk's hip, "are you my gift, my love? But you're not packed up for me…"
"Are you sure?" Mihawk replied as the glow intensified in his eyes.
"You didn't..." Shanks began before trailing off when he lifted Mihawk's sweater to reveal his flat and muscular stomach. There, beneath the soft layer of clothing, were hidden red satin ribbons that wrapped around the swordsman's toned body, "how did you even do that on your own?"
"I can either waste my time answering you, or you can enjoy your gift by unwrapping it," Mihawk offered before freeing himself from the redhead's grip to leave the kitchen.
Shanks stood frozen for a few seconds as if his brain was slowly digesting the revelation. The redhead smiled evilly before chasing after Mihawk, "oh, I love Christmas..."
Perona's ghost stopped the broadcast just as the young woman exhaled with joy knowing that she had been right: Shanks and Mihawk were definitely more than friends. The evidence was irrefutable.
"I knew it!"
"Oh, shut up!" Zoro replied, throwing his pillow at the girl who was dancing on his bed.
Perona fell into the bed after the pillow hit her, "you're just a sore loser!"
"And you're a pervert! I don't have fun imagining other people's private lives like you."
"Don't act like a saint, you were just as involved as I was. Too bad you lost, they are together," Perona replied before slipping under Zoro's duvet.
"What are you doing? Go sleep in your bed!"
"Out of the question! My room is next to Mihawk's and I don't want to hear him being unpacked by Shanks. I'm staying in this bed, you can just sleep on the floor."
Zoro laughed at the young woman's audacity, "do as you wish," he replied, taking off his t-shirt. He grumbled as he climbed into bed. It was his after all. There's no way he would sleep on the floor of his room. Zoro would make himself comfortable in his bed whether Perona liked it or not. He sat on his side, turning his back on the young woman, and she turned off the light.
"You’re taking up all the space," Perona grumbled after only a few minutes of silence.
"You can go sleep downstairs," Zoro replied before pulling back the duvet, "you take the whole duvet."
"It’s because I’m cold."
"Go freeze to death somewhere else."
Zoro turned to Perona, they were both ready to fight to get to the bed, but the harsh laughter that came from Mihawk's room interrupted their argument. The two teens looked at each other in the dark, not daring to move a muscle in case they heard something else, but the castle remained eerily silent. They slowly relaxed, their argument long forgotten.
"Good night," Zoro said with a yawn as he settled onto his back, his eyes already closing.
Perona was already half asleep when she replied, "Good night."