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It grew from every interaction they had, ever since Luffy came to get him in Shells Town and asked him to become his nakama. He never expected to develop feelings for his childish captain, who when it mattered was a force to be reckoned on. A true captain as the word suggested. More than able to stand up to foes that he should have fallen against.
Zoro never gave much thought about love, or relationships, he didn’t need them before. Johnny and Yosuke were allies when he needed them (not that he needed them a lot), and all the rest were temporary bonds that dissipated as time passed.
But the Strawhats, and especially their captain, were not. They wormed their way into Zoro’s heart until he would give everything to keep them safe. Until even his own dream came secondary to the health and safety of his Nakama.
He realized something was different when he did what he did in Thriller Bark, when he willingly took Luffy’s pain as his own despite knowing it could kill him. When he denied anything to have happened to the cook, and to Luffy himself. He didn’t need them to worry, he would be fine.
It did make him look up the cook once he had a night shift, settling next to their chef with a sigh as he just started talking. Trying to explain his feelings and not knowing what to do with them.
When he looked up, Sanji was staring at him, his mouth hanging open and his cigarette unlit.
“You’re crushing on Luffy?”
Blinking he guessed that made sense, he was fond of Luffy, and had been ever since they had the Going Merry.
“I guess I am…”
Sanji had taken out another cigarette and lit it, “Damn, shitty moss, I don’t know how to tell you this. But I don’t think Luffy knows.”
Zoro hums, “I know, I haven’t told him yet.”
This had Sanju looking at him with pity, “Are you telling him at one point?”
Zoro shrugs, “Dunno yet, I want to be sure of my own feelings before I tell Luffy. You know as well as I do that he does everything with his all. I don’t want to be the one starting this, and the one ending this.”
Sanji takes a drag of his cigarette before nodding, “I guess you need to figure that out first before telling the captain, shitty moss.”
Sneering at that cook, Zoro leaves him to it. He had what he needs, all he needs now is time.
Time, it would appear, he has plenty. As the crew is split up when they run into Kuma again. He gets sent to Mihawk’s home base, and decides to train to make sure that when he and the crew get together again, he can be there for his captain in every way that matters. He can be there for everything Luffy might need.
He can be there to help him grieve, after everything that happens in Marineford, when he isn’t there to be next to Luffy and console him.
Hating that he can’t be there when Luffy needs him most, can’t be there to tell him there are others out there that love him. He’ll never replace Ace, and he doesn’t want to, but he does want Luffy to know that he isn’t alone here.
He gets his chance once they depart Fishman island, when once looking at Sanji has everyone kept busy as he pulls Luffy to the boy’s sleeping quarters. Pulling Luffy inside as he looks on as Zoro locks his one eye on Luffy’s.
“I had been wondering when you were going to say something.”
Freezing for just a moment, Zoro chuckled, “Figures you noticed something going on already.”
Luffy grins, “I know Zoro, and I know when something is bothering you. Are you ready to tell me?”
Zoro nods, but instead of saying anything, he cups Luffy’s face in his hands and pulls his captain close so he can press his lips to Luffy’s.
Pulling back slightly to open his eye, to see the wonder and affection in Luffy’s.
“Again?”
He doesn’t let that be said a second time, pulling Luffy closer again to press their lips together more firmly this time. Walking those few steps to crowd Luffy against the door as their kiss turned heated. Sighing into it as lips he had been caressing with his tongue part to allow how to deepen the kiss.
Pulling back, he goes to starre in Luffy’s eyes again, cupping his face once more as he rests their foreheads together, “I’m in love with you, Luffy.”
Luffy’s eyes sparkle, before he hums, “Good, because I love you too, Zoro.”
Blinking his one eye, he pulls back, “Just like that?”
Luffy shrugs, “No? This has been building for a while now, but I didn’t know how Zoro was feeling about this. Didn’t know how to tell you either.”
A chuckle escapes him, before a laugh follows, making Zoro lean his head on Luffy’s. Just enjoying their closeness as well as the notion that they both feel the same way. All this worry, and doubt had been for nothing.
“We’re idiots.”
Luffy shrugs again, “What else is new? At least we can be idiots together from now on.”
Humming as he nods, Zoro looks at Luffy grinning as he looks into those brown eyes before they’re both moving to press their lips together again. Feeling like everything falls into place now that he knows this is how they both feel.
They stay away for a while, so when they do appear on deck again all eyes are on them before zeroing in on their linked hands. Making most of their crewmembers snort and comment something along the lines of ‘took you long enough’.
Blushing at how oblivious they had been, everything went back to normal soon after. It just became a thing to see Luffy and Zoro standing even closer together and sharing a kiss than it had been before everything.