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The first change he ever notices in his swordsman was after getting beaten by Mihawk. Everytime he would look into Zoro's eyes, there was this fire— a fire meant for completing a dream— to getting stronger— a fire there for him.
A spoken declaration to him— a confirmation that he will never break their promise. A confirmation that Zoro will rise to his dream.
That he will never lose again.
There was a switch in Zoro overrall. Suddenly Zoro was more motivated towards his dream— towards their dreams.
He glances at the ugly jaggy scar across Zoro's chest, and smiles— reaching over to his sleeping swordsman— tracing a finger down the scar.
It's mostly healed now.
The corner of Zoro's mouth move a bit— into a half smile.
He giggles. He likes change.
He's never minded it. Especially when it means he can watch Zoro work out for hours, and watch when Zoro stands proudly after every fight.
Change means growth, and growth means strength.
~~~
The second time he notices a change in his swordsman is after Thriller Bark.
It took awhile to notice the change— seeing as Zoro was practically bedridden for a few days. He was awake when Zoro woke up the first time— eyes dazed and panicked.
He mumbled something, barely audible— "I'm alive."
He doesn't know what happened to Zoro after Moria was taken down— he just knows that Zoro was okay before... and then suddenly, he was covered in deep cuts and there was blood everywhere.
His swordsman blood.
He doesn't know what happened, and he feels he'll never know either.
He feels it's a secret among a captain and his crew— a captain and his first mate.
Especially when, after Chopper checked on Zoro's condition, Zoro looked at him with relief.
Gray eyes filled with warmth.
His swordsman changed after that. A change that most likely went unnoticed to everyone else.
The change wasn't just hands and arms littered in scary looking scars, or the amount of bandages littering his body... it was mental too. He'd catch his swordsman starring down at himself a few times too many, a look of confusion on his face.
The look of a man that felt he belonged yet didn't.
Sometimes, late at night, Zoro would jump awake— the same panicked look on his face from when he'd first waken up after Thriller Bark.
He doesn't know what happened.
He doesn't think he wants to know what happened.
He's stupid. Stupid and selfish. Everyone knows, he knows. But he's always been good at reading people, at seeing people for their best and worst attributes.
So he knows whatever happened affected Zoro mentally.
He doesn't think Zoro will tell anyone, not even Chopper. He knows that Zoro will suffer in silence until whatever's happening passes.
Even if it never passes. He knows his swordsman, and he knows that Zoro suffers in silence.
It's who Zoro is.
Sometimes, after nights where Zoro jumps awake with a look of pure panic— he won't even bicker with Sanji over breakfast.
Sanji will toss a remark about stupid mosshead's— mostly unprovoked, and Zoro will only hum and go back to eating.
Usually, Sanji leaves him alone until Zoro goes back to bickering with him.
He thinks that Sanji knows what happened.
Robin too, and maybe Brook somehow.
The rest of them are clueless as to what happened.
So, when Zoro seeks him out one afternoon, a tired, tired look in his gray eyes... he happily sits still while Zoro sleeps on him. It's different than other times. Zoro never looks that tired— even after his common nights filled with insomnia and bad dreams (even prior to Thriller Bark— all the way from the start of their adventure).
He runs his fingers down scars that are already healing. The new ones, the ones that look like little explosions across tanned skin.
Ones that aren't caused by a battle of blades.
He frowns, slightly.
His swordsman changed for the second time, in a way he can't explain.
The devotion and fire is still strong in gray eyes.
The promise still stands strong in Zoro's heart— their promise... and yet something feels different.
A change he'll maybe find the word for as they sail on.
He looks down at a sleeping swordsman, his sleeping swordsman. He smiles softly, and runs his fingers across the ears that jingle in the wind on windy days.
...
During Sabaody, when Pacifista's step up to them, he can describe the change as fear.
Fear of whatever happened to Zoro back at Thriller Bark.
Gray eyes fill with a sudden fear, and everything's going so fast— and suddenly Zoro is gone—
And he's screaming himself hoarse.
He wakes up completely alone for the first time since he's meet his swordsman.
He's alone, and there's no changes to notice.
He's alone, and he won't see his crew for another 2 years. He won't see Zoro for another 2 years.
~~~
The third change he notices in his swordsman is after 2 years— after a prison breakout and a war that haunts him— 2 years.
Because the real Zoro is with him, and he looses his words for a second. His heart skips a beat, because there's so many things that are so different.
His whole crew is different. Nami has long hair and this spark of confidence she didn't have before. Usopp has a 6-pack and his stomach and back are covered in stretch marks. He's confident.
Sanji has a waxed beard and— were his eyelashes always so long? Chopper is the same and yet so different, he feels that Chopper somehow learned more of medicine's that he'll never understand. Robin has long hair, and sharp muscles along her arms.
He can tell she knows something he doesn't. A secret that will haunt her to keep from him— yet it's something she cannot tell him. It’s not her place too.
Brook is a Soul King— with a sort of blinding happiness and eagerness shining through the way he plays. Franky is a fullblown Cyborg— and he's so excited to see everything his shipwright has in store to show.
His crew is stronger, and more experienced— and yet it's nothing compared to how broad muscles and a deep scar make him feel. He stares at his swordsman with a smile.
His swordsman returns him a softer smile.
And that night, deep down in the sea, partying in the Palace on Fish Man island— he traces a gentle finger down the scar across Zoro’s eye.
His swordsman is stronger now.
His swordsman is different, too, somehow.
His swordsman grins softly, looking up at him with those gray eyes that are different from before. They shine with admiration— and yet scream something else.
Love, maybe.
He takes his swordsman cheek, smiling softly.
Grey eyes that sparkle with affection.
He presses a gentle kiss to his swordsman's nose, giggling as his swordsman turns a deep red and stutters out a 'h-huh?!'
He watches his swordsman turn away from him, the tips of his ears red.
He laughs.
He's always liked change, it's a warm, funny thing.