Work Text:
The room fell silent when the water glass toppled over.
Zoro had reached for it with his left. But he had missed it, by a good bit, overshooting and tipping it over.
He cursed.
This wasn't the first time, not even the third.
Usually Zoro had been pretty drunk by then. Laughing and joking with the crew, but now it was the early hours of their evening and no alcohol had flown yet.
A certain level of clumsiness has afflicted their swordsman, a new one. One he hadn’t displayed before they all split up for two years.
Glances were exchanged between the crew that were stoically ignored by Zoro.
They’ve started doing this a while ago, those silent exchanges that probably weren’t silent anymore once he was out of earshot.
Zoro wasn’t stupid, he just liked to ignore those things. After all, what was the point?
His crew probably wouldn’t dwell on this once the novelty of being back in each others lives wore off.
In another life, maybe this would’ve happened. None of the crew bothering about it, just accepting the new reality as is, no questions asked and uncaring of something stupid like this.
But Zoro’s usual impeccable luck must’ve wandered off for a while because Usopp of all people had the courage to speak up.
After so much tiptoeing, the curiosity must’ve won over. Curiosity killed even the scaredy cat. "I- I have been wondering, Zoro…are you, like, okay? With having one eye i mean? Not like your not terrifyingly strong or anything. Just, as a sniper, you know-"
The rambling was less courageous, but the crew nodded along anyways.
"I'm fine." Zoro grunted as he crossed his arms, obviously not willing to talk about it and he did his best to show that he would not entertain their poking. The problem though, the crew, or at least most of them, didn't have much sense of privacy and personal space and an unhealthy and frankly abundant willingness to poke the bear.
"Of course you're fine, but you can't tell us this doesn't affect you." Nami cut in with some bite.
"It's nothing I can't handle." the grumpiness in his words sadly didn’t deter them now that the ice was broken thanks to Usopp sticking his long nose into other people’s business.
"No one said that, you idiot, but even if you can handle it, it probably means something for you. And if it means something to you, it will mean something to us. So be a big boy and share with the group." Nami huffed out in irritation. The rest of the crew fell in with nods and shouts of agreements.
Of course Robin just looked sagely at the scene only occasionally taking a sip of her tea..
Luffy was back to inhaling food, because he was sensible enough to just trust Zoro to have his shit together.
“I said, it’s nothing, so drop it, sea witch” he growled out with a bit more emphasis.
Sanji immediately sprang up to yap about how he shouldn’t talk to the redhead like that, but Zoro obviously wasn’t willing to entertain the cook and simply stood up to leave.
“I’m going to train. don’t bother me.”
The ruckus behind him became muted as the door swung shut behind him and he made his way to the railing to stare out at the dark sea. He would go up to the crow nest in a minute, when he wasn’t as tempted to throw his weights at a wall.
a few moments passed before he heard the opening and closing of the galley’s door.
“Kenshin-san,” Zoro inclined his head as a show he was listening. “do you know what makes the difference between a good and a bad historian?”
She stepped next to him, leaning on the railing as well and joined him in looking out at the darkening sea.
Zoro shook his head slightly.
“You see, a good Historian respects the silence. We don’t like it. and we will work hard to find those missing pieces. But if we don’t have records, we accept the gap in our knowledge as such.
But a bad historian?” she huffs a laugh under her breath, “they do the opposite. If they lack pieces, they will make their own, because they can’t respect silence.”
They stood silent for a moment, letting the cool night breeze whisp through their hair.
“I don’t think our crewmates would make good historians.” She stretched once and wished Zoro a pleasant night before leaving him to think over her words.
No, the crew wouldnt make very good historians at all. But just because they couldn’t respect silence, didn't mean he needed to do the same. Luffy got it… and Luffy was incapable of silence. So why wouldn’t the others get over it.
Even while he was thinking it, He knew that it was unwise to compare any regular person to Luffy. Still Zoro hoped that they would just drop it already. Then things would be fine-
___________
Things, after all, were not fine.
The crew, minus nonchalant Luffy and minus Robin, just wouldn’t fucking let it go.
They didn’t bring it up like Usopp had, but they were being immensely annoying.
Talk behind his back, glances when they thought he couldn’t see, moments of silence and held breaths when he bumped into anything.
But worst of all, they treated him like he was made of glass. The shitty cook, even if he was more short tempered than ever, hadn’t gotten into a brawl with him even once.
So much for trust and respect.
It all came to a boil when they got into a ridiculously small skirmish. The enemies that had approached the Sunny under the guise of needing help before storming their deck, were so weak, even his younger self wouldn't have put on his bandana for the “fight”. Zoro wondered how they had survived on the Grand Line, not even to mention the New World.
He was having a hard time holding back,but he didn’t want to get drenched in blood, he only just took a bath, he didn’t want to wash himself again for nothing. This fight seriously was annoying.
The fight was almost over as soon as it had begun, now he just let the rest of the leftovers come at him, so he could swipe them all off deck in one swing. He was acutely aware of the position of the several bandits (because using the name “pirates” for them would be a disgrace) only two more steps for them and they were in his reach without him having to even so much as move one step. They tried to take advantage of his left side, but they would come to regret this in a moment.
He was about to strike when suddenly Nami loudly yelled his name before Franky who had been fighting behind him, grabbed him by his sleeve and pulled.
Zoro, now roughly yanked away from the “fight” just stared in disbelief as the Cyborg finished off his prey.
He stood there rather dumbfounded, trying to process what just happened when his Nakama gathered around him with the fight now over.
“thank god you’re okay.” someone said.
“you need to be more careful.” someone chided.
“thank god Franky was there on time” someone almost sobbed.
“they almost got you from your left.” someone warned.
Word after word, insult after insult, Zoro felt his blood pressure rise as his anger rose.
His fists clenched and his jaw clicked as he ground his teeth. He was seconds away from snapping, only held back by the disbelief of what the fuck just happened.
_______________
“Zoro, let’s fight.”
And with that a fist flew at the left side of the swordsman who caught it in his own hand on reflex..
He glanced at Luffy, expression still stormy, but then his eyes met his captain’s and he must have seen something in them, because his features morphed into something else.
The crew fell silent at that even though some of them sucked in a breath as if they were about to object.
Luffy didn’t even look at them, his face jovial as ever, only a slight furrow between his brows betraying his current displeasure. “Standard sparring rules.” their captain elaborated. “No Gears for me, wooden swords for you. No damage to Sunny.”
“W-wait a second, Luffy! this isn’t the time-” Nami began to interject while Luffy started to warm up and Zoro dashed away to get some bokken with a sinister smirk that betrayed his anticipation.
“Navigator-san, I believe this is exactly the time.” Robin’s gentle voice cut through the building worry of the rest of the crew. She had a hand on Nami’s shoulder and squeezed lightly.
Zoro came back, now with three bamboo bokken instead of his swords. He radiated something between glee and fury.
The crew made room on deck and gathered around with unease on some of their faces evident. Robin just looked impassive now, while Sanji scrowled as he lit his cigarette.
“please be careful with him, Luffy-” Chopper said from behind Brooks knees.
Then the first hit came. So fast Usopp and Chopper jumped at the loud crack that echoed from the impact of rubber fist on bamboo. Zoro had barely moved to block the stretched right hook of their captain with his sword, the previous punch had been nothing. No, this was their captain going full strength.. A different sound followed. Something between a growl and a laugh that slipped from Zoro's throat.
And with that the fight began in earnest.
Zoro didn’t hold back, and neither did Luffy. Even more so, Luffy was fighting exceptionally dirty. Using his stretchiness to keep distance and attack the half blind man from his dead angles.
But not once did it catch Zoro unawares. No, the swordsman blocked, deflected and plainly used Luffy’s momentum against him. He got hit, but not because he didn’t see something coming but because this was a fight between beasts . The bokken wasn’t equipped to work against rubber, but it gave leverage and more than once, swiped Luffy’s feet.
Each time they engaged, the ground shook. They were like two boulders crashing.
Once more, Zoro dodged a pistol punch to his left side of his face. He ducked under, and before Luffy’s arm could retract, Zoro had stepped into his space and with a grab and a twist, Luffy lay on the ground, pinned down by Zoro and with a sword against his throat. He grinned wildly. Both the captain and the swordsman were breathing heavily and had a manic gleam in their eyes. It was a good fight.
“Zoro wins” Robin announced into the silence.
Zoro reached out a hand to Luffy who accepted and let himself be pulled up.
“Zoro is strong.” Luffy grinned at his first mate before turning towards his other nakama that stared wide eyed at the pair. “Zoro. Is. Strong.” He emphasized one more time, but this time it wasn’t a statement like “the sky is blue”, but a reprimand.
“Fuck.” Nami enunciated. Chopper, Usopp and Franky looked shaken as realization dawned.
“seriously, fuck. I’m sorry. I- “ the Navigator seemed lost for words.
Chopper began to tear up and hugged Brooks legs who hung his head in shame.
Sanji leaned back and huffed out a cloud of smoke. Irritation now mixed with some discomfort.
Zoro looked at them all and their expressions. Now that he had had a satisfying fight, his irritation melted away.
He held his gaze with Robin the longest. Something passed between them then that the rest of the crew weren’t privy to.
The swordsman sighed and let the rest of the tension bleed out of his shoulder.
"Okay, fucking fine," Zoro relented finally.
“Luffy you can stop glaring daggers at everyone, i think they got the message…. And,” he nodded at Robin minutely, “some of it is on me. Someone warned me you'd be shitty historians and i didnt listen.”
“historians?” Usopp mumbled but got elbowed by Franky lightly. Robin smiled conspicuously.
“So I’ll do a fucking interrogation round. But.” and he paused here to really look at every one of his Nakama except the two exceptions. “this is me being nice. Even if we are Nakama, I don’t owe you this story time. None of you are entitled to this, especially after how you did owe me respect and failed massively.”
He felt some of the anger come back so he took another deep breath.
"So, like I said. I can handle it. I'm strong, I’m capable, and I need none of you to ever doubt that again. Got that?"
Only after he had his crew’s nods and affirmations he continued.
"Alright. Now story time. I was at Mihawk’s for a few months. Sharp swords and training always carry risks every swordsman knows and is prepared for injuries, so when it happened, I accepted it. Of course it sucked. A lot. My field of vision shrunk by almost a third and my depth perception was in shambles.” he decided to leave out the part where it was fucking agony and his face was swollen for weeks or how he almost died of sepsis because Perona’s first aid wasn’t on that level.
“The first few weeks of returning to training weren’t easy. I had to work like mad to adjust. But I spent over one and a half years training with and around this handicap.
In combat I will not ever mess up. There's more to perception than sight.
I might actually be able to say that my perception has become stronger than ever even."
There were some sounds of wonder from the more excitable parts of the crew. Chopper’s still slightly teary eyes now also looked at him with something like awe again.
"You said in combat?" Robin said over the clamor and all eyes turned back to Zoro with interest, who nodded. Of course Robin would now join the questions, she said it herself, she respected the silence, but she would hunt the truth.
"Yea okay fine. Combat is… you know. Adrenaline and bracing yourself and feeling bloodlust and excitement from all around you. The thrill keeps you centered and on your toes. It's easy to focus and to expand your senses. Even before, I would know when someone was about to sneak up on me. it’s the same, just from another direction.
But that’s combat. while you’ll still feel somoene’s bloodlust in your sleep, it’s still different outside of combat.. So when I'm relaxed my depth perception is back to nothing and my field of vision is two thirds normal."
He was starting to feel exhausted. How do people do this.. this talking.
"So is there anything we can do to make this easier-" Nami had probably meant it well but stopped when Zoro immediately bristled. She sighed. "Yes yes, big strong swordsman needs no help. But that aside, things we should do for when we aren't in the middle of life threatening scenarios so you can enjoy your down time?"
"I don’t-” he stopped himself. he wouldn’t make a habit out of all this talk, but just this once. … “fine. dont throw things at me when you can just hand it to me normally. And if you stand next to me or approach me from one side it's more comfortable if you stood on my right side.
other than that, this isn’t something you can make easier because it’s already part of my life. it’s not hard. And if you can give me a pass for occasionally breaking a glass, we’ll be golden.
Happy now, witch?"
"Very!" Nami smiled sweetly. Soon after the crew got back into their bickering and laughing as usual.
That night they drunk and ate and talked and Zoro was exhausted… but also glad.
______
On a calm day they hung out on deck, some of them sparring with each other while others watched and enjoyed the weather.
"Hey Zoro, you said your perception was better than before you lost an eye, right?" Luffy said cheerfully.
Zoro grunted in agreement.
"What did you mean? Can you show?"
"Hmm. I guess it would be a good time to get some practice in….Who wants to have a go and try to get a hit in?”
“whats that? A chance to beat the mosshead up for fun?” the stupid cook perked up immediately.
Zoro grinned and Luffy looked excited, already making himself comfortable at a good vantage point.
“Hand to hand. standard sparring. Try to get in a clean hit or kick, i don’t care” the swordsman told the cook who agreed easily.
The Cook was ready to launch, but Zoro held up his hand to signal the cook to wait. He quickly discarded his shoes and untied his bandana from his arm.
Everyone was now gathering around to watch. Slightly surprised, he would put on his bandana for a simple spar, when usually it was the prelude to carnage.
But then he put it on as a blindfold and they were starting to get what he was doing.
Zoro fell into an unusual fighting stance and beckoned sanji to come at him.
The following fight was interesting. Zoro wasn’t a hand to hand combatant, that much was a given. Even when without a blade, he’d go as far as to use the No-sword-style. What he showed wasn’t really a style though.
Zoro stood rather still in his wide and low stance. When Sanji threw a punch or kicked, he moved, almost before Sanji moved.
There was no wildness to it though, as with their usual brawls. The movements were measured, calculated. It reminded everyone how he fought against strong opponents. The moment of concentration before, almost like meditation, then the attack that wasted no energy on anything unnecessary. Just that this was reactive rather than proactive.
Sanji Seemed intrigued as well, and while his attacks were strong as ever, some spars profited from fighting with each other, rather than against. Winning was secondary for either of them right now.
The Cook walked slowly in a circle around the Swordsman, who seemed to track him even if his stance didn’t change.
Finding a blindspot on a blindfolded person was a contradictory concept. Or rather, the lack of success was contradictory. It shouldn’t matter how he attacked, the blindfolded one shouldn't know a fist was coming until it clocked them in the face.
Sanji went back to more straight forward attacks, but tried to eliminate noise as much as possible, also something he wasn’t usually working towards but might have some merit.
But even then, Zoro would react so quickly that everyone wondered if he could see into the future.
The reactions were either dodges or parries, sometimes he would grab a limb with uncanny precision and use momentum against his opponent. It probably felt uncanny, because he would grab behind him, or above him without “looking”. It made sense, since all directions were the same.. but it still felt wrong.
“Alright shitty cook, time’s up.” Zoro finally broke his stance and pulled off his blindfold and retied it on his arm. “I win” he grinned.
It took a bit longer for their resulting fight to calm down again (“you didn’t hit me a single time, idiot moss, how could that be winning”, “you didn’t either, and you were actually trying, shitty cook.)
in the mean time Luffy was beaming with excitement over Zoro’s new superpower, and the other, more intellectually driven members of the crew started discussing how exactly the trick worked.
Only after Nami broke up their fight with some well placed fists, did they get some answers.
“so, how does this work? how did you see Sanji’s attacks” Usopp asked with intrigue.
“I didn't see. Vision is overrated, Usopp” came Zoro’s half laughing reply.
“Big boy words, zoro.” Nami chided and zoro relented. he was planning on sharing the skill with his nakama anyways. it would make them stronger, so he would teach them.
he laughed good heartedly again “alright alright. but i’m serious. sight is overrated. We tend to rely on it so much, it actually makes us miss a lot of what’s happening around us. But who said that vision was a stronger or more valuable sense than any other?”
“okay mr philosopher, but how does it work?” Nami pressed. “this was… weird. I could understand hearing Sanji’s steps or feel bloodlust, but you reacted before he would attack. how is that possible? did you learn to see the future?”
“you’re too hung up on the Seeing, Nami. that’s my whole point. You think I reacted before Curly made his move, but in reality, you only saw his move after he’s already started it. Also its not hearing or feeling… it’s all of it.”
Robin hummed in understanding.
Meanwhile Usopp raised his hand like a schoolkid. “I don’t get it.”
Zoro scratched his head for a moment.. damn words.
“an attack starts long before you actually move. You breathe in to saturate your muscles with oxygen, you shift your weight, tense your muscles, crouch…. there’s a lot going on in your body, mind and energy. When you fire a shot from a canon, you have to load it and light the fuse first. On the receiving end we tend to only focus on the loud boom when it fires, or worse fighters, only realize after they’ve been hit.
Every attack has this moment when it gets loaded and lit, you just need to learn how to read the signs and connect them to the right kind of attack. Then you can react, before the fuse even burns down.
you can use that alongside vision of course, and it will make you stronger… but learning it, means unlearning to wait for the boom. Which means not relying on your vision.”
Chopper was starry eyed and Zoro smiled.
“actually I think Chopper here would be amazing at it, since he can already smell and hear a lot better than any of us. His instincts are probably only topped by our monster of a captain.”
He laughed when Luffy grinned brightly.
“actually.. I think you can already do a lot of it, captain. Dodging bullets works like that, doesn’t it. You dodge because the finger is tightening around the trigger, and not because there’s a bang.”
Luffy tilted his head “do i?”
Zoro shook his head good naturedly. Leave it to their captain to not even realize he's been using a skill that took Zoro painstakingly long to learn.
After all was said and done he held up his bandana "alright. Enough talk. Who wants to try?"
The rest of the day was spent training and laughing.
He had to give it to Robin and the sea witch, he thought as he felt relaxed and content in the knowledge that his crew finally understood him fully again, maybe sometimes there was value in talking after all.