Chapter Text
With the plan in motion, the “Usopp retrieval” team disembarked the Thousand Sunny, and Zoro settled down against the main mast. The weather was perfect for the nap, but he apparently had to play the role of damage control. As if those small rascals listened to him.
Speaking of, Chopper and Luffy emerged from aquarium.
‘Zoro! Come see the fish we caught!’ The reindeer pranced cheerfully around him.
‘Where is everyone?’
Swordsman tilted his head to look at Luffy. He knew as soon he would’ve heard they’ve gone for Usopp he would insist on coming as well. ‘Errands.’
‘Boring’ Well, mission accomplished. But then something mischievous danced on Luffy’s face. ‘What if we go search for Sogeking?’ Chopper’s ears perked up.
Oh no. He had to get the doctor on his side before he’ll find himself gum-gum rocketing half across the sky.
And he had just the thing that would work.
‘No way. Besides, you promised Chopper a check up.’ A groan, look into puppy/reindeer’s eyes, a even louder groan. There- he ignored the eyes accusing him of being a traitor.
‘Fine, but later we’re going on that island and we’re having fun.’ Luffy sticked out his tongue and reluctantly followed excited Chopper to the infirmary. Zoro, in response, just shrugged. He will deal with that ruling later. It was time to doze off.
The backdoor to sickbay opened with quiet creak of yet unused hinges and two pair of characteristic footsteps came through it. Zoro stretched from his nap and prepared himself for an assault of “hugs”, that were more like body slams with only an afterthought of embrace, but- non of it came. The sounds of flip-flops and hooves that were usually accompanied with loud voices and bubbling laughs were soft and muted and stopped few steps before him. Zoro finally opened his eyes, unnerved by the stillness.
‘They’re not back yet?’ Luffy sounded disappointed, as he clearly was looking forward to some kind of distraction.
‘No. But they will be any moment so stay put. ’ Swordman cut him off before he could force them to disembark. ‘How are things?’
‘Sleepy.’
Chopper, on the other hand, looked like he was on the brink of tears. ‘Doctor-patient confidentiality.’
Fuck. He needed more than that. ‘Luffy?’
The captain yawned conspicuously and suddenly found something incredibly interesting just beyond the horizon.
There was no way of getting him to talk when he didn’t want to- which meant either it was big deal or Chopper worried over nothing. But the doctor was known to overreact over smaller things like scrapes and cuts (Zoro never did bleed out to death did he?) so maybe it wasn’t that bad. He looked expectantly at the reindeer, to which he answered with little sob.
‘And an order.’
‘Ok, c’mere.’ Zoro lifted his arms and both boys slumped against him on opposite sides. There was no point in interrogating. Well, if there was something truly bad they would’ve shared with crew, with him, right? Or maybe he should’ve eavesdropped. Would that go against the order? Even so, he had a duty to protect his captain. It’s not like it was something to cut -but he could do other stuff like…uh- Besides, he wouldn’t think anything less of Luffy if he needed help, so why not tell him? Is he not trustwor-SMACK.
Something hit him. Something rubbery. Straight into jaw. ‘Wha-’
‘Zoro’s too tense! I want my pillow soft!’
‘OI YOU FUCKING BRAT-’ A single finger on his lips muffled the rest of his enraged speech and only a mix of “shhhhh” and giggling could be heard across the deck. Zoro was about to give him piece of his mind, but the playful eyes directed him towards already asleep Chopper. So silent war it was- there were other ways for revenge and Zoro knew exactly where Luffy was ticklish. He gently removed the little doctor and leaned in to commence the attack. He was ruthless. The rubber man struggled with a brave face and yet, in under just a few seconds, he was a rolling and whimpering mess, begging for swordsman to stop. So Zoro dutifully obliged, more on account of the reindeer than his child captain, and reassumed his previous position against the mast.
‘Now lie down with us or I’ll throw you off the rails.’
Still laughing and trying to catch his breath, Luffy squeezed under his left arm, in a small space designed just for him, and -he was so warm and wriggly and smelled funny- he finally settled his head against swordsman’s heart, and everything seemed so simple. Like they were back on their dinghy. The cold breeze brought new air, making Zoro’s earrings softly chime and his chest lighter, taking away previous worries. It’s gonna be alright. The “Usopp retrieval team” should be back any minute, and while they will burst this precious bubble of calmness, the new challenges awaited around the corner- they were the crew of the future King of the Pirates, after all.
But for now the waves gently rocked against still docked ship, lulling him back into slumber, and Zoro duly noted that staying like this forever wouldn’t be so bad either.
Some time has passed and swordsman was still fighting back the temptations of good afternoon nap- a valiant attempt, really- because someone had to keep the watch while the younger boys slept. Well, only one of them rested, as the other constantly stirred. With straw hat laid on his lap (Luffy’s or Zoro’s? the line blurred, if there ever was one) Luffy, never quite still, mindlessly played with it’s loose ends and seemed lost in his thoughts. Zoro decided to let him be, and turned his mind off- third best thing after a nap and a drink.
‘Who’s gonna be next?’
‘Huh?’
‘Nami, Usopp, Robin. Who do you think will leave next?’
Oh. Zoro, without hesitation, pulled him closer.
‘No one if I can help it.’
Luffy leaned back and turned his head toward him and he looked so damn small in his arms Zoro for a second couldn’t believe it was the same man who singlehandedly brings tyrants to their knees. But, he reminded himself, he also was just 17. And so was Usopp.
Swordsman briefly wondered if he was too tough on both them, with the whole “situation” at Water 7. After all it was just miscommunication and hurt feelings.
He inwardly shook his head. He might’ve said it more lightly, but it had to be that way. The truth was that the Grand Line was no place to play pirates and either they would accept it and grow up or die. Thankfully it was the former.
And then he saw those eyes, big and dark, filled with something too gut-wrenching to even translate- “What if it’s you” they asked the unspoken question, the one that was to painful for both of them to hear.
‘Hey, look at me’ and he had to pause because suddenly there was not enough air in his lungs. ‘I’ll never let that happen.’
Zoro could tell him how there was nothing that could pry him away, that he would fight his way back from hell itself, that there was no other place for him than his captain side and nothing else mattered.
But he didn’t. The silence would have to suffice.
‘I know.’ Luffy smiled, somewhat sadly, and returned to picking at his hat.
The voices of the rest of the crew filled the air, shouting something about getting ready to sail and hastily boarding the Sunny. Luffy, suddenly brimming with new energy from bottomless pit, jumped in to welcome them, especially a very confused-looking Usopp.
Swordsman sparred them a glance and softly squeezed Chopper at his side. With everyone back, he could finally take his nap.