Archive of Our Own

The nights in Foosha Village have been more bustling and heated since Shanks and his crew arrived. Makino's bar stays open until almost dawn, full of laughter, shouts and songs coming from the parched throats of completely drunk pirates. Those who live near there know that it is a noise that is impossible to stop and they've no choice but to ignore it or join the uncontrollable hubbub.

Luffy's bedtime has long passed, but as he sits in one of the armchairs, watching the comings and goings of translucent bottles and the swaying movements of men, Makino decides to pretend she hasn't seen him and doesn't scold him for being in an environment that, in her words, isn't suitable for children. Luffy thanks her with a gigantic smile. After all, he's a pirate and should be prepared for the future parties he'll have when he finishes some adventure.

He also knows, although he hates to admit it, that Shanks' stay on the island is limited and he wants to live with him as long as possible. Shanks is an incredible captain, a strong guy with scars that show the dangers he has had to face while sailing and who has hundreds of epic and amazing stories stored in his straw hat, which he sometimes shares with him if he's feeling too generous or too drunk. When he hears it and sees the blurred line of the coast in the distance, Luffy feels that the sea is calling him and no matter how much Shanks tells him that things aren't that easy or that he isn't ready to set sail, not even such a powerful man as he will get in the way of what Luffy has decided will be his dream.

Luffy understands that sailing alone to the end of the road is impossible and, above all, boring. Like Shanks, he needs a crew of strong and funny men to be his companions during his adventure. They aren't as greedy as Lucky Roo because otherwise they'd finish all their food, but just as great as Yasopp and his good aim. Luffy smiles just imagining it, mates who can surpass Shanks's. He scans the bar and finds them lying on the floor or leaning against the railings, and he can't help but smile because they just look like a bunch of idiots. That is until he notices Benn Beckman, who is sitting a few meters away from Shanks, and seems the most sober and calm of all.

Luffy doesn't usually pay attention to things he doesn't find interesting, but there's something about the gunslinger that catches his attention. It's strange, maybe even a little strange, that he always seems to be watching Shanks. Luffy knows that all the crewmates love and respect the red-haired man, because he's their captain and because he's a cool guy (and everyone admires cool guys), but Benn Beckman is different. It's on Benn's shoulder that Shanks lets himself fall when his body can no longer take it, it's Benn who drags him to his bed, he's the one who immediately obeys Shanks' orders and he is the one who seems to trust the most in captain's determination and power.

Usually, Luffy wouldn't mind something like this, but Shanks returns Benn with the same amount of attention he gives him, and Luffy feels an uncomfortable tug in his stomach when he thinks that Benn is, irremediably, Shanks's favorite.

Determined to find out if this is true or not, Luffy approaches the bar. Shanks is sitting there, with reddened cheeks, red mane in a mess, and following Makino's walk all over the place with his eyes. Luffy makes his presence known by giving him a light blow on the arm and when Shanks sees him, the first thing he does is look at him mockingly.

"Hey, Anchor, shouldn't you be in bed already?"

"Pirates sleep late!" He exclaims loudly so that his voice stands out among all the noise. For some reason, he feels an intense anger toward Shanks and wants to almost shout at him the question of whether he likes the old fool Beckman more than him.

Shanks just laughs and does that annoying thing about ruffling his hair. Luffy tries to fight Shanks, but the only thing he achieves is that his laughter increases more. Finally, he gets tired of screwing him over and takes another drink of alcohol.

Luffy takes a deep breath and Shanks looks at him again. He knows this is the time to speak his mind.

"He is always near you."

While he directly accuses Shanks, he has no shame in pointing his index finger at Beckman, who remains motionless in the same place where he saw him the first time.

At first, Shanks seems genuinely surprised by his comment. He stands still and blinks slowly, but seconds later, he smiles knowingly at him.

"It's because he's my first mate." Shanks doesn't continue right away, and Luffy thinks that's the only explanation he'll get. But then Shanks moves his hands a little, as if searching for the right words to give a meaning to the term. "I'm strong. But Benn watches my back and protects the crew if I'm not around. He's a valuable member of the crew, but he doesn't need you to tell him that." Shanks's smile softens fondly and he takes a long swig from the bottle.

Luffy doesn't answer him. Shanks' response is unexpected and he doesn't know how to react to that information. Luffy doesn't like to think because he feels like his head is getting hot and that whatever is in there might explode, but he makes a little effort to try to understand the older man's words. They're direct, they're simple, and despite how much liquor is in Shanks' body, Luffy knows they're sincere. And seeing Shanks talk that way is something completely new and that's why he wants to know if there's something hidden behind that confession.

"You mean... He's kind of your shield?"

"Nah, Benn is not just an object that I use to avoid getting hurt from danger. It's more like my right hand that is by my side at all times, but I don't think you understand that" Shanks adds maliciously when he sees the look of confusion in Luffy.

"Yes I get it! Yes I get it! Benn is your favorite and that's why he's your first mate." When Luffy says that to Shanks, he feels the feeling in his gut stop and that's a huge relief.

"Favorite, huh? Well, maybe Benn isn't my favorite, but... I'm sure that if my crew were to betray or abandon me, which they'll never do, of course; Benn wouldn't hesitate to stay with me and follow me to the day I die. That's why he's my first mate." Shanks decides that the conversation is getting too deep for his liking, so he gets up from his seat and straightens his hat a little. "Maybe one day you can find a first mate as good as him, but I doubt it, there's no one like Benn."

"I'll find a better first officer than yours, Shanks!" Luffy declares to the captain's disbelief. "He'll be very strong, and cool, and play with me, and never leave me alone."

Shanks just smiles at him. When he passes by Benn, he gives him another bottle of liquor without Shanks asking. The gray-haired man also dedicates him a smile that Luffy doesn't know what it means.

"We'll see, Anchor."

***

Unfortunately for Luffy, his first days sailing at sea are absurdly boring. His heart, which beats to the rhythm of adventure and adrenaline, cries out for him to feed it with a legendary fight or a visit to a city full of wild beasts. But, since he left, his only company has been his boat, the sky and the foam that dissolves when it hits the wood. He knows he needs to resupply soon, because the most fun he's found so far is eating, and he's terrified of running out of meat.

That is until there is a glitch and he realize he's sinking.

Luffy doesn't panic. He's prepared for what to do in case of a situation like this. He empties the entire contents of a barrel and goes inside. As long as he's inside it, he won't be in danger of drowning. Sooner or later he'll reach an island or another ship. Whichever happens first.

Alvida is the kind of pirate Luffy never wants to be. She's just a woman who thinks that because she's the captain of the ship she has the right to treat her crew members like despicable slaves and not like people, people with their own dreams, aspirations and reasons for going out into the ocean. When he ends up stuck in the hold of his ship and runs into Coby, Luffy thinks about how Alvida could capture such a pleasant boy like him.

Coby is skittish and shares a concept of pirates that is different from Luffy's, but he feeds him anyway. And that obviously means they're friends. And Luffy'd never let a friend continue to endure the rule of someone as terrible as Alvida. While they are trying to escape, the other men become aware of their presence and seem unwilling to resolve things peacefully.

When Alvida sees him, the first thing she does is confuse him with another person and mentions a name to him.

And although Luffy usually forgets about that kind of thing, he memorizes some letters because of how unusual and melodic it sounds.

"You're too skinny to be Roronoa Zoro."

Luffy doesn't really know who this guy is, but he has fun making Alvida angry with simple provocations and decides that he's going to defeat her. As he imagined, although the woman has an imposing body, a terrifying expression and a spiked bat, her spirit is broken and rotten; and that makes her weak. With the help of his rubber powers, Luffy easily defeats her and is proud to see how his years of training left good results.

Coby gets them a new boat and they leave at the first opportunity. They leave behind Alvida's ship burning in flames and his other men trying to save their asses from disaster. Luffy is very happy that his first confrontation with another captain went so well and he can't help but smile at having satisfied his need to get out of boredom. And Coby, well, he's rowing as fast as his arms will allow him.

They take the opportunity to talk a little more about what to do now. Luffy tells him about his plans to reach the Grand Line, find the One Piece and become the pirate king. Three very simple steps to fulfill his greatest purpose. Coby looks at him a little dubiously, but doesn't make the slightest attempt at mockery. As much as he likes Coby, he quickly ditches the idea of him being the first member of her crew when he tells her he wants to be a Marine. Luffy smiles. He knows that Coby will be a different guy, one who doesn't trample on people's hopes and truly honors the concept of justice.

So, they put together a plan and decide to visit the nearest navy base. Coby will enroll in the cadet corps and Luffy will take the opportunity to find a map that will take him to the Grand Line.

And for the carefree Luffy, for the moment, that's fine with him.

Shells Town is a place with more houses and people than Foosha Village. Luffy and Coby manage to blend well into the crowd of passers-by impatiently walking through the market, and they don't even attract the attention of the navy squadron that raises the dust from the streets with their march. They spend time wandering around, finding out where the base is that they will decide to assault and looking at the Wanted sheets that are stuck on most of the walls and pillars. Including Alvida's. If she can have her own rewards sign, why can't I?

Luffy's stomach tells him that it's time to pause his walk and to look for a good place to eat. Coby seems to agree with his idea and they enter a place that, curiously, is full of marines. But there are many rich smells that delight Luffy's eager nose, so it's a detail he doesn't really care about. He and Coby sit at a table not so visible but not so far away either, and wait for the waitress to bring them the dishes they ordered.

When Luffy is explaining his idea to infiltrate by flying to get the map, Coby asks him to lower his voice, because apparently the maritime officers nearby suddenly seem more interested in their conversation. Luffy doesn't care if they listen to him, nothing they say or do can stop him in his mission to get the map. He's about to continue his speech, but then he sees a commotion breaking out near the bar.

A girl spilled food in front of a lanky blonde guy. Apparently he's a marine, even though he's not wearing a uniform. All he does is make fun of the little girl's mistake and something in Luffy's belly, maybe it's rage, bubbles up when he sees the man crush the rice balls that the girl prepared with his shoe. Food should not be wasted. Luffy is about to step in and beat up that jerk who doesn't know how to appreciate the importance or deliciousness of a meal, especially one that was prepared by such gentle and innocent hands, until someone beats him to it.

The man who gets up from his seat and bends down to eat the deformed grains of rice on the ground has green hair, tan skin, three swords strapped to his hips, and is, in Luffy's eyes, a really cool guy. Why has anyone ever been seen with that striking hair color and that straight, imposing posture? Only Shanks managed to give him a first impression of being someone strong, but he, this swordsman, don't need to know him to say that he's a warrior.

"Delicious". His deep, gravelly voice echoes throughout the bar.

Luffy and the girl smile at the same time.

Their assumptions about the man are confirmed when a fight breaks out between him and several sailors in the bar. Luffy can't stop looking at him. Although he would like to see him use his swords,  he admits that the accurate and precise blows he delivers with his fists are something to be admired. The guy seems to flow in what has now become his battlefield, dancing agilely between the bodies of the sailors who try to immobilize him but none can, none is at his level.

Luffy looks around to see if the others can also notice the fantastic action sequence happening right under their noses, but the marines only seem concerned as they watch the guy knock down his comrades; while Coby is sheltered under the table, watching with fearful eyes the disaster that began from one moment to the next. Luffy is distressed that no one can recognize the epicness of the moment, but he does not consider the possibility that perhaps he alone is the only one capable of seeing that special thing about the swordsman.

The fight rewinds over and over again in Luffy's brain, even when it's all over (the strong guy of course turned out to be the winner), even when they've left the bar, even when hours and hours have passed and he's just lying down  in a boat that floats gently on the night waters of the port. The memory of the swordsman invades Luffy's mind and there is something, like a strange force that wants to push him towards where the man is and touch his swords, his shoulders, his face; make sure that he and his genius really exist. And Luffy's mind wanders and wanders, and suddenly he thinks about the possibility of what it would be like to sail with that man on his crew...

Luffy smiles looking up at the stars. Maybe after finding the map look for the swordsman and ask him what his name is.

***

Luffy isn't a big believer in destiny, perhaps it is because it's a supernatural force that is too complicated for him to understand. Luffy thinks that if things happen... It's 'cause they must happen that way, he just submerges himself in the slopes of the river of time and lets everything settle and adjust while he is just another drop of water in that immense ocean.

When Luffy opens the manhole cover and the first thing he sees is a desolate and dusty courtyard, he thinks he made a mistake on the way to the captain's room at the navy base. However, he decides to explore to confirm if this isn't the place where the foolish marines are hiding the map of the Grand Line. He jumps to his feet and when he turns around, Luffy sees him.

Tied to a cross is the swordsman. Only now he no longer looks powerful and invincible than before. Beads of sweat slowly fall on the sides of his face and the reflection of the hot midday sun hits his forehead. Although he's unarmed and technically vulnerable, Luffy can see that he still has that look of steel and fire in his dark eyes, that his motionless arms remain firm and that his aura of security is completely intact. Luffy doesn't know how someone as strong as him ended up that way, but there is no doubt that despite finding himself in a situation like this, the man does not doubt his determination. And maybe that's why Luffy doesn't hesitate to smile at him and approach him.

"Oh, hey, you're the the bar guy."

"Get lost." He growls at her. But his bitterness won't make him walk away so easily.

"I'm lost."

Luffy asks the man how he ended up being captured by the navy and is surprised when he tells him that he turned himself in. You must have had your reasons.

He smiles then, but Luffy knows it's a dangerous and threatening smile. And surprisingly, he is not afraid. He doesn't know why, or how, but there is something very, very deep inside his rubbery interior that tells him that he is more than edge, blood, and terror. And Luffy is a very curious boy and the swordsman definitely aroused his interest since he saw him fight in such a skilled way and protect the life of a girl with his own. And Luffy definitely won't be left wondering if there's anything he can do to find out.

The words come naturally from his mouth, as if they were always meant for him to say.

"You're a good guy".

The man clicks his tongue.

"I'm Roronoa Zoro, a pirate hunter." And oh, his name sounds even more majestic than when it was uttered by Alvida's dirty mouth.

"And I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become in the king of the pirates." This time, his statement sounds more alive than ever and Luffy can no longer resist the sentence that is stuck in his throat. "Join my crew."

Zoro's smile stretches a little further to the left, with a small hint that Luffy thinks is sarcasm. "I'm not a pirate, I hunt pirates."

"Is that all you are?" Luffy asks because he really wants to know. Zoro seems so intent on clarifying his work and Luffy is eager to see if he can dig up something from that chest that looks closed. Luffy watches as Zoro's eyes slowly close, sighs, and takes a long moment to answer his question. For this time, Luffy decides not to push and just waits for it.

"A long time ago, I promised someone that I'd become the best swordsman in the world."

A dream. Of course. Luffy knew that a fighter like him must have something like drive and of course, it's a dream and not just any dream. The best swordsman in the world. When he stares at the serious expression and confidence in Zoro's irises, he understands that it is a title that could only belong to someone like him. And although Zoro refuses to be his partner, Luffy knows he'll waste his time tied to a damn stick if he has a big ambition like that to achieve.

"I won't join you." Zoro reminds him as Luffy approaches and begins to untie the simple knots keeping him prisoner.

"I just think you shouldn't waste your time here when there's something bigger waiting for you."

And when Luffy finally lets him completely free, the two look at each other. It is a moment that seems to Luffy to pass with a strange slowness, he can see it reflected in Zoro's eyes, he can see how he touches the marks left by the pressure of the rope on his knuckles, he can see how his chapped lips are slightly cracked. And Luffy does what anyone would do by having the future greatest swordsman in the world in front of him.

He smiles at him.

He doesn't bother to continue insisting Zoro join his crew. And before continuing to search for the map, he asks him to put the manhole cover in place. He's not afraid to leave him momentarily, after all, he knows Zoro will be back.

Nami, he listen to how she presents herself in front of the navy captain who has an ax hand, turns out to be not only someone who wants his map, but also a skilled woman who knows what to say to convince even the most incredulous guy. Luffy is amazed by Nami's arrival and asks her if she is interested in getting on his ship and Luffy, disappointed, receives the second no of the day.

However, he decides to follow Nami to Morgan's rooms and after prying into all of her belongings, they finally find the secret hideout where Morgan appears to keep a strongbox. The map of the Grand Line is probably hidden there, and while the two are doing their best to get it out, they hear the annoying sound of an alarm and minutes later, someone is trying to break down the door.

Nami ends up holding on to his hips to help rip off the strongbox and when Morgan and his ax almost break the wood, the three of them (Luffy, Nami and the strongbox) go flying behind the window and they end up falling in the same courtyard where were tied up Zoro. Luffy complains a little from the impact he fell, but his rubber properties make the pain almost non-existent and he is glad that Nami was unharmed.

It doesn't take long for the marines to arrive. Luckily, Nami also knows how to use a kind of iron staff to fight and helps reduce the uniformed men who seem to be a plague that doesn't seem to end. Luffy doesn't mind keeping them out of it, but things start to get complicated when they arrive en masse and sadly, their stretching limbs are insufficient to fight them all at the same time.

Until he sees a row of Marines next to him fall to the ground screaming and with their chests bleeding. Luffy stops, and when he turns his head, he can see Zoro flaunting his talent as a swordsman. With one more person on the ground, the tide of marines is slowly turning into a tiny puddle. Luffy thinks they are about to win and escape, but Morgan appears again and makes a mocking comment about the unusual trio that has formed.

"It's because we are a crew." Luffy exclaims proudly.

"Not a crew". And Luffy doesn't bother to contradict his companions' answers. He's sure that they are and that is what matters.

Nami takes care of the rest of the marines while he and Zoro launch themselves against the marine captain. Luffy's excited, throwing punches against the man's hard, somewhat metallic skin. Zoro looks at his powers with a raised eyebrow, but doesn't mention more about it. About to move forward and throw yet another punch, Zoro stops him, and Luffy is careful to note that the edge of the sword at his throat is facing downwards and that Zoro's action is a gesture of concern and not a threat.

"His whole body is made of weapons."

Luffy understands it, or at least, he thinks he understands it. You down and me up! And Zoro decides to put the third sword between his row of teeth, puts the black garment on his head and follows, to the letter, Luffy's orders. With a mix of fists and slashes, they end up defeating the stupid pirate captain. Nami has taken care of most of the marines and before another squad appears, they decide to retreat.

"We're going to need something to carry the box and..."

Before Nami can finish her sentence, Zoro without even complaining lifts the object onto his shoulders. And Luffy can't help but smile in astonishment and speechlessness when he sees how the muscles in his arms flex with each step he takes. Nami has the same expression as him. It's very strong, right?

Luffy feels almost complete when he already has a sailboat, two new crewmates, and the map of the Grand Line. And when they're ready to set sail on their next adventure, the blonde guy shows up with a gun, only this time he has a new haircut that makes him look even dumber.

"It suits him, doesn't it?" Luffy looks at Zoro, who is laughing in amusement at his creation. And Luffy likes the view. It's a different smile than the one Zoro gave him when he was tied to the cross, it's the first time he sees Zoro smiling with real joy and fun and he definitely doesn't want it to be the last.

Before they can attack the blonde, it's Coby who appears out of nowhere and knocks him out with a dull blow. When he approaches Luffy, he reaffirms that his decision has already been made and that he will do everything in his power to follow the true path of justice. Luffy lightly punches him in the chest, a silent symbol of good luck on his journey, and doesn't believe a single word when he says that the next time they meet they will be enemies.

It's completely night and Luffy is sitting on the bow of the ship. He enjoys the wind blowing his hair, the presence of his two companions, and the sway of the waves that move the boat at a slow pace. The beginning of his adventure as a pirate. Nami finally figures out how to open the safe and has, in her hands, the real map to the Grand Line. And they are all shouts, assumptions and expectations about what awaits them ahead.

The sky and the sea are magnificent until the ship is sprayed with stinking, dense red smoke, and the night is no longer the only dark thing.

***

He must admit that although Binki's circus is full of bright lights, a smell of expired drinks that mixes with buttered popcorn, and that his clown acrobats know how to handle that great one-wheeled bicycle well, it is not fun that in his first night as a real crew has locked them in a damn box.

Baggy is also looking for the map of the Grand Line. If only he knew that I swallowed it. Luffy isn't willing to give him the map and although the pirate clown threatens to attack and torture them, his fight in the navy base that has strong companions, so he's not afraid. Until Nami mentions something about a fabulous femoneno who will be the new sensation at her show and before he can complain to Nami why she didn't show him sooner, she stretches one of her cheeks and takes advantage of the distraction to run and escape.

Luffy blinks, a little surprised by Nami's actions, but doesn't say anything. She may think they need reinforcements to take on someone like Bingo, but she's wrong. You shouldn't doubt our strength, Nami. Then, look at Zoro. He remains at his side, prepared for the attack, completely still and glaring at the clown's mocking smile. It looks like a beast that is ready to attack at any moment and fight alongside Luffy without him having to ask it...

I'm sure that if my crew betrayed or abandoned me... Benn wouldn't hesitate to stay with me...

Is Zoro...?

But he doesn't have time to think anymore, because Nami was quickly captured by the clown henchmen and exposes in front of everyone that the town and its people were destroyed and taken over by Binki. Luffy can't resist the urge to hit him and beat him, but the man is hiding more than one secret and it turns out that he's also a devil fruit user. And again, Luffy's vision goes dark again.

"Are you in pain, child?"

"We can spend the whole day if you want." Luffy tells him with complete honesty. Perhaps the only thing that causes his arms and legs to be stretched too much is the slightest tickling sensation, but thanks to his rubber skin he does not feel pain.

Luffy's priority is to get his crewmates back. With Alvida it was easier because he only had protect Coby under his wings, but now, he is already a captain and must not overlook the fact that Blinky dared to hurt Zoro and Nami, and he needs to find them as soon as possible.  Luffy has no problem if his body is beaten, cut or skinned, but if anyone dared to do the same thing to the swordsman and the navigator... Things would be completely different. Shanks' teachings were always that he had to give everything for the people who traveled on the same ship and that if he couldn't defend or protect them, he had failed one of his main duties as captain.

And motivated not to be defeated on his first trip, Luffy frees himself from the ropes' grip and is determined to defeat Bongo no matter how many pieces he splits into. But to his bad luck, he is faster and tells him that he will not attack him anymore but that he will be the new attraction of his circus. Luffy doesn't even know how Shanks'd be friends with such a malicious and haughty clown, and when he dares to say that Shanks was a bad dude and a traitor, Luffy can contradict him using as arguments the times he saved his life in different possible ways.

But Baggy doesn't listen to him and puts him in some kind of glass tank. And then he feels his feet wet and just, just— weakness. It's sea water. As he feels the moisture run through his body, Luffy can hear the murmurs of the ocean. He can hardly understand them, because they are like many voices speaking at the same time in the eardrums of his ears, but Luffy is sure that they are taunts, screams and complaints, the curse of the sea gods for having been consumed by the temptation to be more powerful than the waters.

Luffy tries his best not to pay attention to them, but Bongo yells at him from outside —the dry, warm outside— that no one is coming to save him. Luffy feels dying, his chest cold and wet, but he does not lose hope that Nami, Zoro, Zoro, will appear at any moment to help him. The whispers become increasingly clearer and more legible, reminding Luffy of when he was submerged in the sea and all that took over his mind were screams and penitences, but no, NO! Even when the salt water reaches his nose, Luffy doesn't want his last thought to be that he has distrusted his team.

Mater mare te tollet ubi es.

Luffy is no longer breathing.

And before falling into the hole at the bottom of the ocean, Luffy manages to hear the dull sound of breaking glass in the distance. And then, he stops levitating and falls, falls thoughtfully on a surface, the ground, and feels his lungs fill with oxygen again.

The change of environment makes his stomach feel queasy and the first thing he does when he regains control of his body is vomit up the map and crawl, crawl, until he recovers the ocher spot that he identifies as his hat. As his vision clears, he can see a soaked Bingi approaching the map and a Nami standing in the distance with her iron staff. She was the one who freed him.

The two pirates are standing again. And Bongo laughs for having the map again but then groans when he notices the absence of his subordinates. Where had everyone gone? And the figure of Zoro, at the other entrance to the circus, looks almost demonic and hellish, but Luffy smiles proudly when he sees him. Of course, he had finished them all off.

Dismantling Blinki's damn circus is an easy task. When they discover that the boxes are his weakness, they take charge of enclosing each of his parts until he leaves him like a small, defenseless dwarf. Then, Luffy unloads all his frustration and with one kick, sends the clown to the other end of the world.

Luffy thinks he only got his map back, but the villagers who were imprisoned under Blinky's rule also have their home again. Luffy accepts some of his snacks under the gaze of a small, furry white dog. Zoro is waiting for him at the dock and before they return to the ship, Luffy says goodbye to Orange Town one last time.

***

At Nami's suggestion, they have to stop at the nearest island to get a new ship that is appropriate for the challenges they may face on the Grand Line. They arrive at Villa Syrup, a picturesque and quiet island where there's a popular shipyard that offers all types of ships for all tastes and colors.

Nami abandons them immediately after they disembark. Luffy doesn't mind, if Nami wants to take care of the responsibilities, that means there will be a lot more fun for him and that is tripled by the fact that he will have Zoro as his companion. When they are left alone, Luffy tells him to find a place where they can have a good time, and Zoro offers to be the one to lead the way.

Luffy likes to walk alongside Zoro. The presence of a person who is able to match his strength, for some strange reason, calms him. Luffy knows that Zoro is of few words, so he can speak for both of them. Sometimes he nods or shakes his head in response to show that he's listening, and Luffy is happy to tell him the entire collection of anecdotes he has about his not-so-normal childhood in Foosha Village and how sometimes being rubber is a advantage and sometimes just a headache.

It's not until half an hour later that Luffy realizes that they haven't really gotten anywhere. And he can tell because he's seen the same guy with the weird mustache and plaid hat three times. Zoro doesn't seem to notice this and simply continues walking with his hands on his katanas and the same casual stance as always.

"Zoro, are we lost?"

"Of course not, Luffy."

"Then why haven't we entered somewhere yet and are just going around in circles?" Luffy finds this whole situation really funny and likes watching Zoro's face tense up at the mere hint of his terrible sense of direction.

"This town is too big, you know?" Zoro whispers so that only Luffy can hear him. He's about to continue bugging Zoro about it, but then he sees other reward posters plastered on a mural and Luffy drags Zoro along to find out who the most wanted in these parts are.

Nami finds them shortly after and tells them that she already found the shipyard. Luffy smiles excitedly, the place is all wood, construction noises, and the sounds of the seagulls that perch on the top of the pillars. While walking and seeing the variety of ships they are offering, Luffy sees one in the distance that catches his attention.

Is beautiful. With a goat's head on the bow, and a delicious chocolate and off-white as the main colors of the hull and rails. Luffy climbs the ladder, quickly drawn to the structure and essence of the ship. And Luffy touches it, and there's something vibrating that comes from within and it's just, cool. Of course, he don't have to look any further because he know that he have already chosen what his future boat will be.

Then Usopp appears. He quickly gets along with him. He looks like a guy who knows what he's talking about and Luffy decides to believe his judgment. He's almost sad when Usopp tells him it's not for sale, but then offers to take them to the ship's owner's house and see if maybe they can convince her to make a deal. Luffy, of course, accepts. He's sure he can talk to Miss Kaya and make her understand why that ship is so important. She talked to me, annd I know that's because he's also chosen me as his captain.

He takes a liking to Usopp immediately. He knows how to tell a story, he is funny, he likes adventures and above all, he seems to be a good boy because he is helping them get the boat. They exchange some experiences and anecdotes and Luffy laughs and laughs with each of the things he says, because he's someone who is intelligent like Nami, but not as serious as Zoro. It's something like a mix of the two, but different, and that makes them connect and become friends even though they only met a short time ago.

Luffy is surprised when the mansion's servants scold Usopp for being present, but before a bigger scandal can arise, who must be Kaya arrives and she kindly invites them to her birthday dinner. And of course, Luffy isn't one to say no to a good celebratory banquet. It doesn't matter if they have to get dressed or bathed or whatever they are asked to do, if food is involved it will probably be worth it.

They are taken to a room where there are all kinds of rags hanging in closets, on the walls and on the ceiling. Nami is more than happy to have so many choices about where to choose her wardrobe, but Luffy finds all this very boring and just sits in an armchair waiting for Zoro to return from the bathroom.

Minutes later, Nami comes out wearing a dark dress that is quite tight on her. "How do I look?".

Luffy blinks slowly before answering. "Like Nami." She doesn't seem satisfied with his answer and goes back into the locker room. Luffy hears the sound of her walking and taking clothes off the hooks. He's not sure why she really seems so dissatisfied. Whatever she wears, she will still be Nami but with different colors and other styles.

They talk a little about Kaya and how big and lonely such a big house must be for one person. Nami seems to have a pretty bad perception of wealthy people. Before he can give another answer, the doors open and Zoro appears.

He's wearing a red bathrobe with several black details and the tightness of it leaves a good part of her chest open. It looks like he took a bath or at least a shower, because the humidity makes his face shine under the weak light of the lamp and his short green hair looks wet and disheveled. Luffy simply can't help but smile seeing him like that.

"Zoro, what clothes are you going to wear?". Luffy asks with genuine curiosity.

"Something black."

Luffy's gaze doesn't leave Zoro's walk. There is something hypnotic about him that prevents him from stopping looking at him, and Luffy remembers that that was something that had only happened to him when he saw him fighting, but he's not in a fight right now, and yet he can't take his eyes off him. He turns his head because Zoro sits behind him and now they are both staring at each other. Luffy keeps eye contact and so does Zoro, and there's something tingling under Luffy's skin when he feels like Zoro's full attention is on him.

"And how does this one fit me?" Nami says. They both abruptly break the moment and look at the woman. She is wearing another dress, only this time it is dark in color.

"You still look like Nami." Luffy comments following his previous logic.

"I said I'm wearing black."

Nami rolls her eyes. And then he reappears and throws a suit at Zoro. The jacket and pants are black, but the shirt worn inside is a gold color that matches Zoro's earrings. He looks quite pleased with Nami's choice.

Luffy gets an idea.

"Can I wear something black too?"

His two crewmates look at him. Nami has a rather funny expression and although Luffy expects Zoro to refuse or get upset, there is actually a very small smug smile on her lips. And that makes Luffy feel too satisfied with his decision. Nami looks at him, and then looks at Zoro. He repeats the same thing a couple more times until he leaves muttering something about having idiot friends. But Luffy realizes that he doesn't mean it when he brings him a jacket and shorts that fit Luffy's style perfectly.

And although Nami denies it, she knows them very well.

Luffy thinks that the only bad thing about Kaya's birthday dinner is that very little food was served. Yes, it was delicious and carefully accommodated  on the plate, but it wasn't enough to leave him full. That's why, even though the bed in the guest room is more comfortable than the hammocks on his old ship, Luffy gets up because his stomach won't let him sleep until he gives it food.

While hanging around Kaya's elegant mansion, Luffy spots Zoro in the distance. Unfortunately, he's no longer wearing his black suit, but he's still cool. He seems a little disoriented and with all his senses alert, as if he expected someone to attack him at any moment. Luffy sneaks up on him, ready to ask him why he's awake.

"Hey, Zoro!"

Zoro's strong hands squeeze his thin shoulders tightly and he feels strange. Zoro isn't the most affectionate or clingy person he knows, and very rarely have they even touched each other. It's not uncomfortable or unpleasant to feel Zoro's touch on his body, it's a bit complicated to describe and Luffy has always called strange to the complicated things. When he realizes he's not a stranger, Zoro lets him go and Luffy feels maybe just a little disappointed, because a part of him didn't want Zoro to back away.

"I wanted a drink, but this house is a labyrinth." Zoro, for some reason, looks at him from head to toe. "And what are you doing at this time of night?"

"I was hungry".

And Zoro says that he will continue in search of a good drink, but stops him. The greedy part of him wins and this time it's Luffy who's holding Zoro's shoulders, just with enough pressure to make him stop. Zoro doesn't tense up at the physical contact, he remains relaxed while Luffy tells him that he will be the one to lead them. Luffy likes the idea of Zoro being okay with being more physically close, and now that he knows he's not averse to being touched, Luffy might be able to use that a little.

In Kaya's kitchen, Zoro is silent again while Luffy takes the opportunity to choke on anything he sees and put it in his pockets in case he gets hungry later. He likes being like this with Zoro. Without the need for either of them to speak to show that they feel comfortable with the other's presence, and Luffy likes the fact that this comfort only happens with Zoro and no one else. Maybe it's a first mate thing.

Because after thinking about it some more during their trip to Syrup Villa, Luffy understood that Zoro fits the concept more than Shanks did ten years ago than Nami. He's someone who is in Luffy's company and enjoys spending time with. Zoro trusts Luffy and Luffy trusts Zoro, and although neither of them have said it out loud, they just know and that's enough. And he doesn't know if someone will arrive in the future who can replace his position, but he doubts it. Luffy has met many people, but he knows that the bond he has built with Zoro in their days sailing together is different from everyone else's and he doesn't think he can repeat that with another person.

Usopp arrives and the atmosphere becomes a little lively from then on. They talk about everything a little and he doesn't know how, but in the end they end up talking about the romantic feelings that Usopp has for Kaya. Luffy laughs, a little shocked to see the blush on his friend's cheeks and to see his expression so soft and dedicated. Is this what it looks like to be in love?

Then, Luffy realizes that he has never been in love. Well, at least the girls of Villa Foosha never sparked his interest, and he spent his time training or thinking about his dream that he never felt that strange desire to fall in love. But listening to Usopp talk about how pretty he says Kaya is and hearing the cheesy things he compares them to, Luffy's gaze ends up on a back-turned Zoro who is going through a drawer.

Zoro is... Zoro is... Zoro is cool. That's what Luffy thought of Zoro the first time he saw him. He has too many striking features that make him stand out and it is well known how much Luffy likes things that are different. But when he sees Zoro more closely, he realizes that Zoro's body is wide, tall and that his visible muscles are very well worked, that he has a sharp and fierce face, like that of a tiger, but that does not make him a less... less... less a cool guy. Zoro is... kind of like a meat. Juicy? Maybe... Zoro is juicy, yeah.

Usopp asks Zoro a question which he answers in a strange way. And Luffy, always honest with his friends, tells him what he thinks about it.

"Well, I like you, Usopp."

And Usopp doesn't say anything. Neither does Zoro. And Luffy is glad that the conversation about feelings is over because things were getting too weird and even worse if it's about his thoughts Zoro. Then, he starts lifting the pots in search of more food. Maybe it's just hunger.

"Are you coming, Luffy?" Zoro asks, apparently he's going to get wine from the mansion's cellar.

"Nah, I have everything I need here." Luffy answers when he finds a good-looking soup, repeating the same words Zoro had said to him earlier that night.

Luffy feels dizzy and weak. As he regain consciousness, more single words and phrases come to mind. Something about a kidnapping, death, butler, lies... Luffy's head hurts too much if he tries to remember a specific scene, and more than a pain in his mind, there is a nuisance in his stomach that he needs to expel as soon as possible.

Luffy feels that something is coming from inside his gut and he gets it out of his system with all his efforts. When he's sure there's no more left, Luffy finally feels like he's breathing. Little by little, his eyes open and the first person he sees is...

"Koby!"

He can't deny that the white navy uniform looks great on his friend, but if Koby is there that means that... Indeed, two strong marines have him restrained by the armpits and they are the ones who are helping him to get up. While the blonde fool who has the cool hairdo Zoro made him, he's... covered in a slimy, disgusting light blue substance that Luffy assumes is his vomit. I'm sorry.

Luffy remembers that his most important purpose is to save his friends from the clutches of the evil butler. And when Coby seems determined to help him, the blonde pulls out a gun and points it directly at his head. Even if Luffy wasn't made of rubber and vulnerable to bullets, he wouldn't even have had a chance to be afraid when he hears the thud of two bodies hitting the ground.

Zoro is there. He looks tired, somewhat dirty and quite agitated, and he looks especially closely at the blonde. He knocks him down with a clean punch without letting him say a single word, and that's when Luffy takes the opportunity to approach Zoro and thank him for appearing at such an opportune time.

"Zoro! How did you find me?"

"I didn't, I was just looking for the way to home."

And as the two are about to rush to save their friends, they overhear Koby's attempt to place them under arrest under the name of the navy. Zoro stands still, the casual gesture of placing his palms on his swords to show that he's just being a spectator. It's Luffy who approaches and tells him that as much as he understands that Coby is doing his job, this time he has his friends' lives at risk and not even he will be able to stop him from going to save them.

When he turns around, he finds Zoro's comforting gaze and Luffy feels energized again.

Well done, captain.

***

Luffy had thought that after leaving Syrup Villa with two new crewmates maybe they 'd have some kind of party to celebrate and create a good atmosphere. That was until their grandfather decided to board them after not even an hour of leaving the port.

Luffy doesn't mind having to endure Garp's love fists. After all, his childhood was built on those blows and he is used to enduring them. It doesn't bother him that he has tried in every way possible to break the will to pursue a dream that he chose since he was just a little boy, but this... It's completely different.

He's now a captain. Under his command and care are three people, a ship and a name that he must protect at any cost. As long as he is on the receiving end of the damage, Luffy can still stand and fight, but the fact that his crew members and the Going Merry are hurt by the old marine's whims is something that gives him a feeling of unhappiness. repulsion and confusion towards his grandfather.

He'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, even if it means going toe-to-toe with Garp. He doesn't care. If they remain unharmed, your heart will be at peace. The simple fact of imagining that at some point they could leave temporarily or permanently... makes Luffy feel like crying terribly. He knows that one day it will have to happen, because he has heard the voice of death camouflaged among the sirens and the gods of the sea when it makes the waters angry; but he can avoid it and postpone it as many times as possible. 

He hears footsteps approaching behind him and relaxes when he realize it's just Zoro's booties crushing the wood of the Merry. He's just centimeters away and Luffy abandons all those thoughts about his grandfather, the fight and death and lets out a sigh as quietly as he can and smiles again as usual. He can still see them, smell them and touch them, his biggest fears are still fictitious and there is no reason to worry when he know that they're all strong and will be able to fulfill the dream they have wanted so much.

There's no point in worrying about something that hasn't happened yet.

"What are you doing, Luffy?" Zoro's voice sounds slightly different... Maybe a little softer?

"I'm repairing my hat, it was damaged during the last fight." Luffy answers as he continues to remove some branches of straw that came out of the weave.

"Yeah well, about that... Do you want to talk about it?"

Luffy looks away from the hat and focuses on Zoro. Since that night in Syrup Village, the two have learned to communicate without words. It's something that was born out of nowhere and they haven't even taken the time to code everything or plan it like a real language. It's spontaneous. Luffy thinks so loudly that he even feels like he'll say his thoughts out loud, so that Zoro can hear him, can understand in his features, in the details, in his body, the things that words are insufficient to explain.

"Nope."

I don't want to talk about it. I'm fine, I can deal with this alone. It's what is implicit in the pleading eyes with which Luffy sees Zoro. He usually doesn't answer anything, he just nods or denies so Luffy can know if he understood what he wanted to say or not.

After a while of just staring at each other in silence, Zoro nods and there is a small gesture with his left hand that is new to the vocabulary. Luffy tilts his head, asking what the meaning behind his movement is and Zoro, in response, all he does is make that face that looks like a smile and then leaves.

Oh.

I'm here.

Luffy manages to completely forget about the confrontation thanks to Zoro and, of course, because his nose is smelling food and adventure very, very close.

Luffy doesn't expect to have to work for the Baratie's delicious food. In its head it's pretty simple. Have the food now, and pay for it later, when he will be the king of the pirates. But, it seems that the grumpy old restaurant owner doesn't understand the terms of their negotiation and only agreed to be his errand boy because Zeff reminds him terribly of his grandfather and he has no interest in repeating history.

The only advantage he could get from that was being able to spend more time with Sanji, the friendly waiter who served him and his crew. Luffy had been concentrating on his task of washing and cleaning up the dishes, until a dying pirate arrived asking for some food. Sanji apparently has a rule of feeding whoever is hungry (a rule that Luffy strongly agrees with), and he prepares an impromptu dinner for Gin. Luffy also receives his own plate because according to Sanji it is what errand boys deserve after working so hard.

The two men eat at a table, while Sanji smokes cigarette after cigarette. Gin feels free to share a bit of his tragic story with them, and when the poor man falls asleep on the empty plate, neither of them wants to wake him up, because it can be seen from afar that he is too tired and neither of them has the power to prohibit him from sleeping and resting a little.

Luffy and Sanji stay in a how for a while, but the atmosphere feels a little more intimate and Sanji talks to him about the All Blue. Luffy thinks that his dream is a real challenge, and that when he fulfills it, it will result in a feast fit for royalty that involves many new and exclusive dishes that Sanji will be able to cook just for him. Luffy's mouth waters just thinking about that opportunity and realizing the comfort that exists between them, Luffy doesn't hesitate to ask him the question.

"Be the cook of my crew! Come pursue your dream with us!"

Sanji smiles. It's the first that does not give an absolute refusal. Althought he denies with his head, Luffy can see the amused glint of adventure in his eyes.

"That beautiful girl traveling with you..." Sanji becomes a little more serious as he takes another drag of the cigarette. "Are you and her together?"

"Of course we're together! She's part of my crew!"

The laugh that Sanji lets out seems sincere and Luffy can't help but reciprocate it. "No, not that way. I mean if she and you know... Are boyfriends, lovers, fiancés or something."

Luffy cocks his head at Sanji's strange comments. "She's just Nami. She's my friend and my navigator."

"Good to Know". The look Sanji gives him is strange and Luffy thinks he's talking about that kind of thing related to strange feelings for people.

"You want her?"

"She is an undoubtedly beautiful woman, the most beautiful girl who has ever set foot in Baratie, but she seems like someone very difficult to conquer... Although I won't stop trying." Sanji looks dreamily up at the ceiling and Luffy doesn't know what to say at his words. "And you, chore boy, do you want someone?"

Luffy knows that Sanji's question doesn't refer to the love and appreciation he has for his crew. It's related to what he apparently feels for Nami, or Usopp and Kaya feel for each other. Strange things are happening inside his body that make Luffy's face burn softly. He wants to answer the question. Say that you are not interested in thinking about the issue and that you do not love anyone like that. Instead, Luffy asks:

"How do you know you want someone in that weird way?"

Sanji seems delighted to answer his question.

"It's not something you have to think about too much, your own body tells you that that person is different from the rest. When you see them, you immediately want to get close, hug them and never let go. You're not willing to share them with anyone, you want it to be just for yourself. And it doesn't seem crazy to you to share your entire life with them, because you know that you will find company and a home."

"What if I keep looking at them when he walks or is he just there?"

"It's normal, Luffy. For you, is the only person in the world you want to appreciate that way."

"I think maybe I understand." It's part lie and part truth. Sanji's explanation is perhaps too complicated for his taste, but there are a few stray words that stick in Luffy's mind. If Sanji says that it is the body that makes the decision, then it must work similar to food. If he is hungry, he eats and his belly stops growling. If he want to be close to...

"And are you gonna tell me who the lucky girl is?"

"It's not a girl."

The conversation is interrupted when the doors burst open. Even Gin jumps a little in his sleep because of how loud the noise was. Usopp is standing in the doorway, his legs wobbly and his chest rising again and again with difficulty.

"Luffy, Zoro is about to do something stupid."

***

Luffy knows that there are things that not even he can stop. May the sun rise every day, may the leaves on the trees stop withering in autumn and of course, may his crew members fulfill their dreams. It's true that they travel the seas together, but Luffy knows that if at some point in their journey they must separate to achieve their goals individually, he'll have to accept and support them in their decision.

That's why he ignored Nami's complaints and hysteria and didn't stop Zoro from fighting for the title of the best swordsman in the world. Luffy, better than anyone, knows the importance and weight behind a promise. Especially if it's one made by Zoro. The night the two met to talk about it, Luffy sees in his swordsman's eyes the same fierceness and determination he had when he was captured at the Marine base. There's even more. Something like the feeling of having your greatest ambition at your fingertips and being so close to fulfilling it... Luffy doesn't know how to describe the feeling, but he understands it.

And Luffy can safely say that he has no regrets about not persuading Zoro to give up his dreams. He firmly believes that he will win, that he will cut Mihawk down just like he has every guy before, that he will leave him bleeding, defeated and half dead. Then, Zoro loses. And Luffy feels like a big part of his world is completely shattered when he sees the huge wound on his chest.

And then the fish men appear and with them a saw-nosed guy called Arlong. And Luffy can't even get a break from the men who want to kill him, but he doesn't mind, he can handle them. Arlong is strong, yes, although Luffy admits defeat to him when he not only manages to steal his map, but also a member of his crew.

There's something inside him that prevents from thinking about Nami betraying them. It simply cannot be possible. She had fun with them. With the wind blowing their hair as they sailed, telling them at every moment that they were just a bunch of idiots, choosing their clothes because neither Luffy nor Zoro have any fashion sense... Luffy only has good memories of Nami and in all of them, she seems love them. That's why Luffy doesn't allow himself to think that all those good memories are lies, and he's determined to get her back when Zoro wakes up.

Luffy seeks comfort and Zoro's presence in the only white sword left unharmed. He remembers that at Kaya's house, Zoro told him that he has a name and that where he went, so did his swords. The cold of the pod causing him to shiver when his fingers dare to caress it. But Luffy doesn't cut. And take that as a good sign to continue caring for her and hand her over to Zoro in due time.

Of course, he knows that Sanji and Usopp are worried about him. He knows this because the two try to distract him by offering him meat, and although in any other situation it would have worked, the simple idea of putting something in his stomach makes Luffy feel an uncontrollable desire to vomit. If he will eat, it will be with Zoro's company. Because he also deserves to laugh, joke and be with them, not lying on Nami's bed doing absolutely nothing.

"You want him, don't you?" It's the question Sanji asks when he finds him thoughtful in the same place where the dinner happened.

And Luffy doesn't answer, not because he doubts her answer, but because the lump in his throat doesn't let him say a word.

Sanji also shares with him and Usopp the story of how he met Zeff and how they began working on the Baratie. And Luffy is surprised by the coincidence that a loved one has decided to lose a limb to save them. Although he doesn't seem like that stranger to him, he is also determined to lose his arms and legs if that way would save Zoro.

He realizes that his last thought is being said out loud by the stares he gets from Sanji and Usopp. Somewhat inhibited, Luffy decides to visit Zoro again. He has already made an attempt to talk to him, but the words were lost somewhere in the sea and he'd never find them. But this time, Luffy feels that it will be different. Who knows exactly what he wants to say to Zoro.

For the first time, Luffy feels that the word captain is too big for him. That a member of his crew is leaving, that he loses the map that takes him to his dreams, that Zoro is almost dying. These are just his first weeks at sea, what if he isn't prepared for what's next? If perhaps the dangers are greater than his bravery? Luffy lets out all the fears and insecurities that were slowly consuming the fire in his heart, and he knows that if Zoro were there, and gave him one of his soft looks, everything would be easier to bear.

"I need you, Zoro—."

And it's Zoro's whiny, sleepy voice that reaches his ears and makes his heart beat twice as fast as when he's fighting. And sure enough, Zoro is awake, opening his eyelids heavily and shifting uncomfortably in bed. Zoro is awake and Luffy is happy.

And Luffy climbs on the bed, and just, just, sits on him. He feels his legs bump against Zoro's hip bones, but it's not uncomfortable. It's quite the opposite. Luffy is overcome by an intense need to touch Zoro, the sides of his face, his forehead. And then he realizes how close their faces are and can see himself reflected in Zoro's irises. And Luffy hugs him, because just as Sanji told him, he never wants to let him go.

Due to Zoro's moans of pain, Luffy has to move away but remains standing motionless next to the side of the bed. I had a dream that Nami was leaving. And oh, Zoro, he wish all of this was just a nightmare that I could wake up from.

"It's all my fault—" Luffy quickly tries to explain what happened but a gesture from Zoro stops him.

"Of course not..."

Then, Zoro swears to stay. It's a solemn vow and for every slow drawl that comes out of his mouth, Luffy knows there's an intense sincerity and devotion behind it all. Regardless of whether they must fight pirates, marines, or beasts of the sea. And Luffy feels like he's floating in the ocean. He is fascinated and completely enthralled by the idea that Zoro is the one who promises to stay. He remembers it.

Benn wouldn't hesitate to follow me until the day I die.

So when Zoro calls himself first officer and addresses Luffy as captain, Luffy doesn't hesitate to believe that that so it will be until the day they find the One Piece.

Zoro's hand is on his chest, and Luffy can't help but hold it and caress the scratchy skin of Zoro's knuckles. Luffy is overflowing with happiness. The emotion that bathes his body is almost uncontrollable and he needs more. Zoro looks... juicy right now. With the light that comes through the window making his face shine, his green hair  disheveled a little wet because of the sweat, and the small smile that is on his lips.

Lips that Luffy, belatedly, realizes he's dying to taste.

And maybe he'd have brought them together, but Usopp enters the room, and although Luffy is not ashamed to show the affection he feels for Zoro, he wants at least their first kiss to be a memory shared only between him and Zoro.

So, Luffy can be patient and wait a little longer.

When they leave Baratie, everything is relatively quiet. Sanji is now an official member of their adventure and having met Blinky again is helping them locate Nami and soon they will be able to have her back. The night sky is clear and the Merry moves gently to the rhythm of the waves. And for Luffy that would be an ideal environment to sleep in, but he stays awake not because of a nocturnal craving.

Luffy very rarely has nightmares. Almost all the time he goes to bed with a full belly and that helps him a lot to have a pretty heavy sleep. But, even though Sanji made them one of his unpublished delicacies during dinner, Luffy is not feeling well. The situation gets much worse because he remembers exactly what happened during his dream and feels that the image of Zoro's limp and bloody body is carved into his retinas.

He shouldn't worry, because Zoro is sleeping at the other end of the men's room and his chest is moving, and he's breathing, and he's alive. Luffy tries to console himself with that and wants to go back to sleep but I can't. There's something uncomfortable that boils in his gut and that feels like it is piercing his organs. The anguish of feeling that death was taking away his crewmate, is simply...

And Luffy decides that he can't take it anymore and gets up. He searches, with the help of the little moonlight that filters through the cracks, for Zoro's hammock. And he finds it, maybe half asleep or half awake, he doesn't care. Luffy gets in, careful not to hurt his chest too much, and listens to Zoro grunt and murmur his name in surprise, but neither his arms nor his legs do anything to get him out of there. And Luffy shifts a little more, ignoring the little space  between them (it's better this way) and finally settles into a position where his nose fits into Zoro's neck and he can smell the smell of steel, sweat and dried blood which, strangely, makes him sleepy.

"Good night, Zoro." Luffy whispers sinking deeper into the swordsman's rough skin. He wraps his rubber arms around the hammock to keep them trapped, so Zoro can't go anywhere.

Zoro doesn't say goodnight, but Luffy doesn't mind. He's starting to feel tired when he feels Zoro's hands gently rest on his waist. Luffy doesn't know if he's squealing out loud or just in his mind, but the thought of the two of them being a tangle of limbs that are completely tangled together makes Luffy feel warm and very full. He rubs a little more against Zoro's skin so he can feel a little more of his skin and Zoro reciprocates by moving his thumbs up and down.

Luffy's hammock can get old and lonely. From this moment on, he has decided that he will never sleep without Zoro again.

***

Luffy admits that Nami is intimidating sometimes. She's a strong woman and with that cane she has, she can break the skull of any guy she wants. Many might run away if she glared at them, but when Luffy and Nami meet in Coco Village and she tells them to leave. Luffy stays because he can in the turbulent waters of her eyes that hide something else, a cry for help, a plea, a hand that is waiting to be held, but that Nami cannot express verbally.

And Luffy is willing to know what Nami is hiding.

Being rude and violent runs in the family, because when they arrive unexpectedly at her house, Nojiko welcomes them with a shotgun. Luffy tells him the truth and they explain that they are friends and that they want to know what the problem is that torments the town. But she seems reluctant to share information, and thank goodness, Sanji has a little more sensitivity when dealing with women, and convinces Nojiko to prepare him a delicious dinner in exchange for a little of her time and information.

It's true that Sanji's food never disappoints, but this time, Luffy feels blinded by a lot of overwhelming sensations. When Nojiko finishes telling them her and Nami's story, Luffy gets up from the table and goes out to the patio. Outside, the night air is much more refreshing than the suffocating atmosphere in the kitchen.

On Nojiko's palm terrace, Luffy has an incredible view of the sky. There aren't any clouds in the way, and he can see the many white dots scattered in the dark blanket. The moon is full and bright, and it reminds Luffy of the first night they set sail from Shells Town, and it was also just as a comfortable night as this.

The difference is that Nami was with them.

Luffy knows that Nami needs help, but he won't give it to her until she asks for it. She's a great person, and although in Nojiko's story she is the villain, Luffy holds on to the fact that she is his navigator, his crewmate, and his friend.

Then, Luffy hears someone else coming up to the terrace and he doesn't need to look to realize it's Zoro.

He sits next to him. There is silence while the nocturnal animals hidden among the tangerine trees sing piteously. Their shoulders almost touch, and Luffy can feel Zoro's warmth. Not as close as when they sleep together, but close enough to make him feel drunk and tempted to have more. The feeling in Luffy grows and without a hint of dissimulation, he moves a little closer to Zoro until their bodies are actually touching. And Luffy suffocates a sigh.

"What makes you think she's good?" Zoro questions. His eyes fixed on Luffy's face, and despite experiencing waves of strangeness towards Zoro, Luffy allows himself to smile at him with unusual calm.

"It's the same as what I felt when I saw you tied to that cross."

And then, Luffy realizes that Zoro isn't just juicy. His earrings tinted by the movements of his head, the brown of his eyes looking more appetizing than ever, his arms crossed, his cheeks slightly pink from the cold, the bandage sticking out of his shirt... Zoro is not juicy, nor cool. Zoro is beautiful. He is a truly beautiful man in face, body and spirit, and Luffy's thirst becomes more and more unbearable and he wants to swallow all of Zoro's essence.

"We're gonna get her back."

His hand is on Zoro's, and the touch of fur is warm, it's soft, it's natural. Zoro doesn't move away, he just ends up intertwining his fingers with Luffy's and that, perhaps, is a sign for him to keep going. And then Luffy's face gets dangerously close to Zoro's until he feels their breaths mix and their noses are touching. Zoro is completely agitated, but doesn't move, and when Luffy's free hand grabs the back of his head, Zoro closes his eyes and leans forward.

Luffy may be able to better understand the loving words that escape Sanji and Usopp's lips when they are talking about the people they like. They mention something about fireworks, wild fires, and colorful butterflies, but what Luffy feels when he touches Zoro's lips is like three times better than all those things combined. The feeling of conquering the highest mountain in the world or eating a feast of delicious fish and meat barely compares to the happiness he feels when he and Zoro are kissing (he and Zoro are kissing!)

Their lips barely move, but Luffy is satisfied with feeling the pressure and intimacy of the moment. Luffy knows that kissing is something only Zoro wants to do and he hopes Zoro feels the same way. He presses the hand that is in Zoro's hair a little more and they accidentally bump their noses. Zoro pulls away abruptly, mumbling a small pained moan and touching his face.

The two look at each other, both now aware that they just kissed and that their hands are still intertwined. Luffy, for the first time in his life, doesn't know if there's anything right to say after a kiss (maybe be grateful for how good it was?) and all he does is smile at Zoro with a shyness unlike of him. 

Then, Zoro laughs.

He laughs softly and almost silently, but he laughs. He squeezes Luffy's hand. And it feels like a weight you didn't know he had on his back disappears.

And after helping Nami, Luffy promises to kiss Zoro much, much, more.

***

Coco Village celebrates Arlong's defeat with a loud celebration. Luffy, sitting on a tree trunk, feels his heart relieved to see his fellow crew members being happy. Usopp telling a large audience about how he defeated the fish men, Sanji delighted to serve his food to all the villagers, Nami making up for all the lost years with Nojiko while they joke and hug, and Zoro, well... He's sitting in front of him drinking a good liquor that one of the residents offered him. He gives him one of those smiles that Luffy now knows are exclusively for him and can affirm that he feels complete.

Despite the awkward interruption from Garp and his marines, the party continues until almost dawn. When most of the villagers are tired, Genzo approaches them and offers them a couple of rooms so they can rest before continuing traveling. When Sanji almost immediately croaks that he will be sharing a room with Usopp, he gives him a knowing smile and Luffy can only smile.

The other bed in the room is completely tidy and arranged, because Luffy will obviously sleep in his favorite place. Zoro lies down and a few seconds later, Luffy falls on top of him, in a position that almost seems practiced because of how quickly their bodies intertwine. At some point, Zoro dropped his blue shirt and now his bandages are uncovered. Luffy hugs him, because he thinks that being like this might make him cold.

"Does your scar still hurt?" Luffy asks in his ear, with a softness that only comes to him when he talks about Zoro's injuries.

"No, almost not, captain."

"Good!"

And Luffy makes a sudden movement, and now he's half sitting on Zoro and kisses him. It's amazing, of course, because now Zoro feels more confident and now his lips move in a messy and jerky way, but Luffy finds that funny so he just tries to keep up and not lose to him. Zoro's hands also come to life and gently run over the skin under Luffy's shirt, and after a while, Luffy realizes that Zoro lingers more on the areas where his grandfather left bruises and marks.

"Zoro is taking care of me."

It is not a question. There's a certain happiness and pride in Zoro doing that kind of thing. Maybe it's because the dense darkness gives him a little more anonymity, because Luffy knows that Zoro likes to pretend that he is a tough guy and that he wouldn't like others to see him in that state of complete docility. It's a version just for Luffy, and for some reason, he likes that too much.

"I do it because you also took care of me and Wado, remember?" Zoro's voice is delicious when he speaks to her in that low, husky tone. "Besides, you are my captain."

"So Zoro only looks out for me because I'm his captain?".

Luffy knows that Zoro is not one for words. It's more about showing what he feel with sword cuts, direct looks or in this case, kisses. This time, Zoro is the one who initiates the contact of their lips, while he takes both of Luffy's legs and holds them tightly. It is a soft kiss compared to the previous ones, it is not only intended to create an atmosphere of intimacy between the two or because they both need to feel each other. This kiss feels loaded with all the feelings, the weird things that Zoro feels for Luffy, and he stays still, and lets Zoro soak him with all that love.

And the question answers itself.

"I love Zoro very much too." Luffy responds as the kiss ends. Zoro smiles again and hugs him. And she begins to leave kisses all over his face that tickle Luffy. Definitely, he couldn't be happier.

And when the time comes and Luffy meets Shanks again, he will be absolutely right to tell him that he found the first mate worthy of the future king of the pirates. One who, in addition to fulfilling his duties, also devotedly cares for and protects the captain's heart until the end.