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It’s a nice day as Zoro sits on the deck, leaning against the guardrail and watching over everyone on the Going Merry. Luffy’s sitting on top of the figurehead, and he can see Usopp fixing where the guardrail had broken the day before. And way in the back, Nami is tending to her mikan trees. He can’t see the shitty cook, but maybe that’s for the best. Zoro wouldn't want the taste of his sake to go bad— especially since it’s good sake, although maybe that's just the good atmosphere. It’s been pretty quiet, no storms or large waves and sunny all day, the sky now just starting to turn purple.
Luffy moving catches Zoro’s eye, and he watches as Luffy almost slithers off the sheep head and runs to the kitchen door, poking his head in. Before long Luffy leaves, dragging himself over to Zoro and dropping down beside him.
“Zoro, I’m starving…” Luffy drawls, stretching over Zoro’s lap. He watches as Luffy twists and turns, looking for the little plate of snacks Zoro’s been picking at while he drinks. His eyes light up when he finds it, but his face falls immediately when he sees it empty.
“Go ask the shitty cook for something to eat instead of going after my drinking snacks,” Zoro mumbles before taking another swig. He smiles just a bit as he watches Luffy grumble and shuffle around before rolling onto the deck. Luffy lies on his side quietly for a moment before letting out a huge sigh.
“Sanji said dinner will be ready soon and I need to wait.”
Zoro can’t help but chuckle when Luffy says that. After all, he’d just finished demolishing a pile of meat less than an hour ago. The comical frown Luffy makes causes Zoro to laugh even harder.
“Agh! I’m seriously starving over here!” Luffy whines, crawling over and wrapping himself around Zoro’s shoulders, the weight forcing Zoro forwards.
“Luffy, quit it!” Zoro snaps, catching the bottle that slipped from his hand, using his other hand to push Luffy’s cheek away from his face. Luffy slides down, leaning his head against Zoro’s knee.
“But I’m so hungry!” He groans, finally settling down properly. “Are you sure you don’t have anything to eat, Zoro?”
Zoro rests his free hand on Luffy’s forehead, ruffling his bangs.
“I’m sure. I just finished my snacks off.” Zoro takes another swig, leaning his head back against the railing again. His thumb runs through Luffy’s hair, who’s quieted down. Looking down, it seems like Luffy’s dozed off. Zoro smiles. He knew Luffy was rather quick to change moods, but it still manages to surprise him every time.
Although her steps are quiet, Zoro can still hear as Nami tiptoes closer, a small basket of mikans in hand. She sits down next to him, peeling a fruit and splitting it in half before offering it to Zoro. He takes it without a word, popping a segment into his mouth. They keep eating mikans in silence, Nami occasionally peeling a new one.
“Why'd you wait until Luffy fell asleep?” Zoro finally asks.
Nami’s brow furrows. “He’d eat every fruit off the trees if I gave him the chance,” she grumbles. “Probably would eat the leaves and branches too.”
Zoro watches as Nami carefully peels the last mikan, leaving the peel in the shape of a flower. She admires her handiwork for a minute before dropping the peel on Luffy’s nose. The two chuckle as he continues to snore quietly, totally undisturbed. She splits the last mikan, but doesnt hand any to Zoro. Looking up, Zoro spots Usopp approaching, his toolkit in hand. Nami tosses one half to Usopp, who squawks, his tools clattering against the deck as he dives to catch it.
“A little warning, next time!” Usopp huffs, long nose pressed into the ground, mikan held in his hands above his head.
“But you caught it.” Nami grins.
“You would have killed me if I dropped it!” Usopp rubs his sore nose as he stands.
“So it’s a good thing you caught it!”
“You…!”
Just as Usopp was about to make a snappy comeback, Zoro felt Luffy stir.
“Morning, Luffy.” Zoro ruffles Luffy’s hair, knocking off the mikan peel on his nose.
“Eh? Did I sleep through dinner?” Luffy frowns, visibly disappointed by the thought, and Zoro can’t help but laugh. As Luffy rolls off Zoro’s lap, he spots the basket full of mikan peels.
“Ah! You had snacks without me!” Luffy whines, but before he can continue Nami shoves the last half a mikan she’s been holding into his face.
“Of course I saved some for you,” Nami huffs, looking away while Zoro and Usopp grin at her. “We can’t have our stupid captain getting scurvy.”
“Eh, are you sure you didn’t just wanna give him a snack? You don’t have keep putting up a front with us!” Usopp says while grinning, crouching down beside Nami.
“Keep talking like that and I’ll dock your pay!” Nami snaps, hitting her palm against Usopp’s forehead with a rather satisfying smack.
“Hehe, thanks Nami!” Luffy says, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. The furrow in Nami’s brow lessens and she lets her shoulders relax.
“Alright, alright.” Nami sighs as she unwraps Luffy’s stretched arms from around her. “But stop sneaking mikans without my permission.”
Her words have a biting chill to them, and Luffy quiets down, meekly picking the segments of his mikan apart. Zoro watches as Luffy sits beside him, opposite of Nami, peeking around to look at her.
“Sorry for stealing mikans yesterday…”
Nami groans, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“I knew it!” She frowns, giving Luffy a nasty look. Zoro can feel Luffy moving him to block Nami’s line of sight, shifting Zoro back and forth as Luffy avoids her gaze.
“Ack, quit it, Luffy!” Zoro shouts at a particularly sharp twist. “I’m not made of rubber like you!”
“Haah? How dare you raise your voice in front of Nami-san, mosshead!” Zoro grimaces when he hears Sanji’s grating voice. “What if you hurt her delicate ears!” Sanji emerges from the galley, several plates in hand.
“Shut up, shitty cook! This is all because you took so long to cook!”
“Nami-san only deserves the best!” Sanji snaps back, before bending before Nami, presenting the most ornately arranged dish he brought out.
Before Zoro can respond, he’s thrown backwards by Luffy as he rushes to Sanji.
“Sanji! I’m starving!”
“Oi, you just ate a little while ago!”
Zoro sighs, resting his chin on his hand, watching his crewmates and captain as they continue bickering, talking, and laughing. It’s definitely not a scene he thought he’d ever see, but it is nice.
“Zoro, hurry up or I’ll eat your share!” Luffy calls in between mouthfuls of food. Zoro chuckles as he stands, brushing his hands on his pants as he walks towards them.
“Don’t you dare touch my food!”