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It was love. Zoro was in love. The emotion he felt curled around his heart was love. He felt friendship, sure, and devotion and loyalty. But it was love that outweighed these other feelings, love so strong that he was sure it could be seen in the blood that spilled from his wounds.
There was no grand, dramatic moment of understanding. There was no world-ending fight or heart breaking loss. No, nothing big happened for him to realize this feeling. If anything, it was a slow realization that occurred beneath a warm sun, ocean waves a quiet lullaby against the hull of their new ship.
Luffy, forever incapable of sitting still, was running around the deck with Usopp, the two playing some kind of tag. Zoro was napping—well, attempting to nap, against the mast, close enough to grab Luffy should something happen but far enough to not get roped into their shenanigans. Nami was in the kitchen, a newspaper having been rolled up in her hands when she had disappeared some hour or so ago.
The day was peaceful. There were only a few clouds in the sky and the breeze was a gentle whisper against warmed skin. The sun was shinning, but its rays didn't bear down with unbearable heat. It was a pleasant day. A day meant for working out and napping. Something Zoro was trying to do.
Laughter rang out across the deck, Luffy's playful voice urging Usopp after him as they played, their steps slapping against the wood. Even with his eyes closed Zoro could track his captain, his sandal-clad steps distinct to Usopp's boots. The two ran by again, Luffy just in front of their sniper and teasing the other boy.
A small snort left Zoro as they went by, affection filling his heart. Despite every misadventure that he had been sucked into since meeting Luffy, he wouldn't have missed a moment of it for anything. And listening to the laughter that emitted from his captain, the genuine happiness that filled the air, only solidified his feeling. He had realized soon after meeting the other that there was nothing we wouldn't do to keep him happy, a realization that he hadn't dwelled much on at the time. But now, with nothing to occupy his mind but keeping an ear on Luffy, his brain returned to it.
Why had he been so quick to decide that the other's happiness mattered so much to him? He could argue that it was because the boy was his captain and thus his direct superior. But that didn't feel right. Zoro had never believed that someone was worth more or deserved more because they ranked higher than someone else. Sure, his captain deserved the respect of his crew, but that wasn't freely given, it was something he earned.
Maybe it was because they were friends, the first real friend he had made in a long time. Sure, he had a few bounty hunting people that he could almost consider friends, but neither of them had ever held such importance in his heart and mind. Even Kuina, way back when he was a child, had never commanded such a presence. He had mourned her loss of course, but there was never a part of him that had wanted to die to bring her back, not like he would should anything happen to Luffy.
Could it be because of how they met? Zoro could honestly say that the way he met Luffy was a unique experience that he had never had before. Not only had the boy freed him from his bonds, he had given him a job, a purpose, to go along with his ambition and eventually, a home and a family. Meeting Luffy had been a catalyst for a life that was much better than the one he had lived. It would make sense that he would want the man who gave it to him to be happy. But happy at the cost of his own life? Well....Zoro wasn't sure about that.
The sound of footsteps slapping against the wood interrupted his thoughts only seconds before a warm weight landed in his lap. “Zo-ro!” Luffy shouted in a sing-song voice, his face right in front of Zoro's. “Are you asleep?”
“He can't be asleep if you're yelling at him,” Usopp responded dryly from off to Zoro's right, his steps halting several feet away from them. “If you had just walked up to him and asked him quietly maybe he could be, but I highly doubt he could sleep through you jumping on him and yelling in his face.”
“Zoro could sleep through anything,” Luffy responded, a pout entering his voice. “Right, Zoro?”
Letting out a small grunt of agreement, Zoro opened his eyes, taking in his captain sat on his lap. His straw hat had fallen from his head and lay across his back, the string that held it drawn across the boy's neck. His dark hair rustled in the breeze like the air was running its fingers through it, black locks brushing against suntanned cheeks. Eyes so dark they were nearly black lit up in delight at the sight of Zoro awake, the sun catching in them like they were sparkling.
“Zoro!” Luffy happily exclaimed, hands grabbing at his shoulders. “You are awake!”
“As if I could sleep with you yelling in my ear,” Zoro grumbled good-naturedly, letting his arms fall from where they had been crossed behind his head. “Whadda ya want?”
A huge grin lit up Luffy's face as he wiggled in his lap. “Come play with us! Usopp says we need another person to play tag with since it's not fair that I always beat him.”
“I said to ask Nami, actually. I don't think adding Zoro would be making this any more fair,” Usopp muttered, looking at the kitchen Nami had disappeared into.
“Nami always says no,” Luffy reminded him, still looking at Zoro with eager eyes. “Please, Zoro?”
As much as Zoro wanted to say no, he was weak to a pouting Luffy. His dark eyes pleading and his lips turning down crumbled his resolve and before he knew it, he was reluctantly agreeing. It was worth it, though, to see Luffy's grin return, the sparkle back in his eyes as he dragged Zoro to his feet.
Seas I love him.
It felt like time stopped for a moment, everything freezing in place. The ocean waves froze, the boat sat just slightly askance atop its surface. Even the wind had stopped, silence permeating the air as Zoro blinked, realizing what he had just thought.
He loved Luffy. He....loved him.
He loved him. And....it made sense. Of course he loved him. Why else would be prioritize his happiness over his own? Why else would he worry for his safety when the other had repeatedly shown he was strong enough he didn't have to? Why else would he draw his swords against the ocean itself if he was asked? It was because he loved Luffy. It all was because he loved Luffy.
Warm hands gripping Zoro's arm dragged him back, the ocean waves rolling against the boat again as the wind caressed bare skin. “Zoro? Hey, Zoro, you okay?”
Blinking, Zoro looked down at Luffy, concerned eyes peering up at him. “I-I'm fine Luffy. Stood up too fast I think.” Fuck. What am I supposed to do now?
The concern in Luffy's eyes didn't go away, but it did at least lessen. He gave a small nod, releasing his grip on Zoro's arm, the absence of his touch feeling like ice pressed into his skin. A grin was quickly growing on Luffy's lips as he stepped back, mischief beginning to appear on his face. “Good,” he said, grin widening. “Because you're it!”
Several rounds of tag, rescuing Luffy from the sea, and dinner later, Zoro was sat at the base of the mast again, staring out at the night sky. He had taken the first shift of watch duty for the night, knowing he wasn't going to be sleeping anyway. His mind was too full to rest, his thoughts jumbled by his realization earlier in the afternoon. He loved Luffy. But he didn't know what to do now.
Soft steps padded across the wood, familiar orange hair emerging from the shadows as Nami approached. “Brr it's cold,” she commented, stopping next to Zoro and sitting down. She handed him a blanket, something he appreciated even though he wasn't really cold. The night air was cool, sure, but it wasn't cold enough to warrant a blanket.
“Thanks,” Zoro muttered regardless, draping the blanket across his and Nami's laps.
They sat quietly for awhile, the only sounds being waves lapping against the ship hull and the occasional groan from the wood around them. Zoro wasn't sure why Nami was here, but he knew that she would reveal it in her own time. Besides, he had his own thoughts to attend to.
“Hey, Zoro, you know you can talk to me, right?” Nami finally said, her voice soft in the quiet air. Her brown eyes were fixed on the stars when Zoro glanced at her, her hands playing with the hem of the blanket. “I know we kind of started off on the wrong foot but we're crew now. You can always come to me.”
Well, that wasn't what he thought she was going to say. Zoro blinked at her a second before shifting his gaze back over the ocean, watching the moonlight reflect against the distant waves. While it was true they had come far since their first meeting, far enough that Zoro could consider her a friend, he knew there was still something holding her back, something she refused to share. When she had appeared out of the night air, he had thought that was what she was going to talk to him about, not himself. Still, he knew he had to answer her, so he grunted, “Of course.”
Nami's gaze fell from the sky towards his face, her eyes studying him as if he were a map. It took a lot for Zoro to not squirm under her intense stare, knowing that she was as good at reading people as she was the weather. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”
A nearly imperceptible sigh left Zoro. Of course the girl would know about his feelings. She was too damn perceptive at times. “What makes you think there is?” Zoro decided to ask, trying to deflect. It wasn't that he was necessarily opposed to talking to her about his feelings, she was a good listener if nothing else. It was just....well, he himself didn't quite understand what was happening and he wasn’t used to talking things out. He had only just realized that what he felt for Luffy went beyond friendship that day and that realization was still sending shockwaves through his body, his mind flailing as it tried to figure out what this meant. How was he supposed to explain all of it to someone else when he himself didn't even understand?
A small hum left Nami but she didn't immediately reply. Instead, her head tilted slightly, her gaze losing its intensity as it left his face and settled on the distant ocean as well. “I think that sometimes we all need someone to talk to,” she eventually said, the words nearly lost among the waves crashing against the ship.
Her words resonated in Zoro, but not necessarily about what he was currently feeling. No, it sounded more like words she wanted to hear, words she wanted to be directed at her. But something held Zoro back from flipping the conversation to her, something that just barely darkened her gaze as it focused on the empty horizon.
“I think I love Luffy,” Zoro finally said, fixing his gaze on Nami to watch her reaction. As he suspected, the girl must have already known because she barely reacted. Her eyes trailed back to his face, silently encouraging him to go on. “But I-I don't know. I don't even know what love feels like to know for certain. And....I just don't know.”
“Love is hard to understand—or at least, that's what my mom always told me. But she also told me that love isn't really meant to be understood, it's meant to be felt.”
“But how do you know when its love, then? How do you know it's not just friendship or-or loyalty or something? What sets love apart?”
Nami frowned for a moment, eyes flickering across Zoro's face. “What's your favorite thing about Luffy?” she asked abruptly, steepling her fingers together.
The question caught Zoro off guard but his response was still instant. “His kindness and strength.”
“Is that what first attracted you to him?”
“I didn't really get attracted to him. He more or less blackmailed me into joining his crew.”
There was a small laugh from Nami, her hand quickly rising to her mouth to stifle it. “Not quite what I meant, but good to know. What I meant was, what made you first like him? What made you follow him? Because I know that, no matter how hard he could have tried to force you, if you didn't want to do something you wouldn't do it.”
That made Zoro pause, his head tilting as he thought. What did first draw him to Luffy? He knew there was something there the first time they met, when Luffy announced he wanted to be the King of the Pirates. Zoro had figured that the feelings arose because of their dreams, of the fact that most deemed them impossible. But that wouldn't have been reason enough for him to follow him. So what had made him follow the boy in the straw hat? Was it his kindness? He had saved him, a complete stranger, from execution. But he had also used it as an excuse to try and get Zoro to join his crew so that probably didn't count as true kindness. Was it his daringness, his bravery? He had approached him, the known pirate hunter, to ask him to join his pirate crew. That was pretty brave in Zoro's book—though, it was also pretty stupid. Had Zoro been anyone else it could have ended very badly for Luffy.
Maybe it was a combination of all of it then, of recognizing a kindred spirit in the other. “I think,” Zoro began slowly, still trying to get his thoughts in order, “that his kindness was part of it, but it wasn't all of it. And I think his dream being like mine was another part. And maybe....maybe the fact that I knew when I met him he was also brave.”
“Qualities you admire,” Nami simplified for him, her lips still curled upwards in a smile. “He has a dream as grand as yours. You're both kind and you're both brave. He is someone who can keep up with you and someone you don't necessarily have to worry about.”
“But I do worry about him. I worry about him a lot. I mean....he's an idiot sometimes! Do you know how many times I've had to fish him out of the sea? Because I don't even know anymore! And don't get me started on how easily he trusts others.”
The smile on Nami's face didn't waver. If anything, it grew. “He can take care of himself,” she countered, her voice steady.
“He shouldn't have to.”
Nami's eyes grew soft as she looked at him. “That's what love is.”
“Thinking he shouldn't have to take care of himself?”
“Wanting to help someone even though you know they can take care of themselves.”
Huh. Zoro let her words resonate in his mind, the sounds soothing over his racing thoughts. He loved Luffy. He worried about Luffy. He wanted to help Luffy. But he also knew that his captain was capable of fighting his own battles. “Like-like watching their back because you know they can deal with what's in front of them.”
Nami nodded, her eyes back up on the night sky. “Exactly. It's knowing that they can take care of themselves but being there to help them if they need it. But not stepping in until you’re asked.”
They fell back into silence, Zoro's thoughts beginning to calm. He could understand it now, he could understand how he loved his captain. There were still parts that didn't make sense, but like Nami had said, love wasn't necessarily meant to be understood, it was meant to be felt. And he knew he could feel it. He could feel it in every action he did, in every promise he made. He could feel it pumping through his veins, filling his lungs. He loved his captain.
“Are you going to tell him?” Nami asked as she stood up, the blanket falling away from her legs. She looked down at him, her brown eyes not quite back to their normal guarded look. She still looked open, still like a friend.
“I don't know.”
Another soft hum left Nami as she turned away. She paused, looking back at Zoro over her shoulder. “Well, that's for you to decide. But let me say, I don't think there is anything you can do that Luffy wouldn't be able to forgive you for if that's what you're worried about. And, it's Luffy. He wouldn't let anything affect how he sees his friends.”
Nami's soft steps faded away as she left, returning to her room. Zoro reclined back against the mast, staring back up at the night sky. He knew that, even if Luffy didn't feel the same way, he wouldn't let it affect their friendship. He cared too much about his friends for that. But at the same time, Zoro didn't want to put him in that position in the first place. He didn't want to burden Luffy with his feelings. It would probably be better for him to continue on in silence, to act as if nothing had changed. Because it hadn't, not really. They were still friends and Luffy was still his captain. Sure, he now knew his feelings went beyond devotion and friendship, but that didn't mean anything had to change. Things could continue on as they had been and Zoro would learn to live with this love.
—
Luffy always knew Zoro was special to him. He had known it after their first fight together, when they had sat eating and talking in the small cafe. It was solidified after they met and recruited Nami, the other not sparking the same feelings in him as Zoro did. He loved Nami, of course he did. Just like he loved all his friends. But Zoro....there was something different about Zoro. It was as if his swordsman had a gravitational field around him, constantly pulling Luffy into him. Every chance he got Luffy was next to him, constantly trying to bask in his presence. Something he knew he didn't do to the same extent with the others.
He was pretty sure that Nami had noticed, if the looks she gave them were anything to go by. He tried to spend more time with her, to assure her that she was just as valued on their crew as Zoro was, but it was hard when their boats were tiny and she preferred to spend her time on hers and not on theirs. Their upgrade to a larger ship was sure to help, though even there she seemed to prefer to sit on her own rather than be surrounded by the others.
Usopp didn't notice—or at least if he did, he didn't seem to care. He was happy to play with Luffy, the two often chasing each other around the deck or fishing while Zoro napped and Nami hid away, doing boring things like drawing maps and reading the newspaper. Usopp was a really good friend, but even he didn't make Luffy feel like he did around Zoro. There was only so long he could play with him before Luffy was seeking Zoro out, whether it be to drag his swordsman into a game with them or to get him to go fishing with them.
Friendship was weird, was what Luffy had decided. He had never felt the way he did about Zoro with any of his other friends, so he figured it must be because Zoro was like him. They both had dreams that others thought were impossible. That must be why being friends with Zoro felt different than being friends with anyone else. A reasonable assumption, in Luffy's mind.
That assumption was shattered, however, at the sight of Zoro laying bleeding on the Baratie's floor. Luffy didn't like to see any of his crewmates get hurt. Nor did he ever want to see any of them on death's door. But Zoro....seeing Zoro like that made him feel like it was himself who had been cut open. Like it was him who was bleeding out.
The only thoughts that went through Luffy's mind was that he couldn't lose Zoro. He just couldn't. He needed him by his side. He needed his quick wit and sarcastic nature. His unwavering loyalty and his strong arms. Luffy needed him alive.
“I'll never lose again!” Zoro promised, his only surviving sword held proudly up in the air, unwavering despite the effort it must have taken. “Got a problem with that, Pirate King?”
And just like that, everything was right again. Luffy grinned, even though he knew Zoro couldn't see him. Of course his Zoro would never lose again. He was too strong for that. He was too strong for anyone to take him out before he got his rematch with Mihawk, the duel where Zoro would claim the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman for his own.
So Luffy let Zoro go, he let him chase after Nami while he took care of the Baratie. He would see him soon, and it would be with their new crew member in tow. Because whether he knew it or not, Sanji was going to join their crew and then they were going to go get Nami back and defeat the pirate that was lording over her.
It wasn't until several long fights and days later that Luffy could finally relax and could finally let his guard down. They had all survived. Every one of his crew was alive. Arlong had been defeated and the people he terrorized were now free. Nami was free.
“How is Zoro?” Luffy asked, settling against his swordsman at the edge of the party. A clean bandage was wrapped around Zoro's torso, covering the gruesome wound that lay beneath it. A few other bruises dusted his skin, none of them appearing to be a concern as Zoro drank without issue.
“I'm fine,” Zoro grunted, setting his drink down. “Why aren't you at the party? It's in your honor, you know.”
Luffy laughed softly, moving closer so that he was pressed against Zoro's side. “Wanted to sit with Zoro a bit. I haven't got to see much of him since the Baratie.”
“That's what happens when you throw him into the air in the middle of a battle,” Zoro retorted dryly, though his eyes were glowing as they settled on Luffy's face. “Not to mention, you stayed behind at the restaurant because you just had to have that waiter as our cook.”
“Hey, Sanji's a good cook! And a good fighter!”
A snort was his response, though Zoro's expression remained soft as it rested on Luffy. His silver eyes swept across him, seemingly cataloging all of the injuries he had received in his fight.
Leaning forward, Luffy rested his head on Zoro's shoulder, feeling the way he relaxed beneath him. It wouldn't have been a very comfortable position for most people, but since Luffy was made of rubber the odd angle his neck was at didn't bother him. Not that he would have let it bother him anyway. Any time with Zoro was worth it.
“Hey, Zoro?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really okay?” Luffy asked, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. He had felt bad that he had had to fight against the Arlong Pirates when he was still so injured. If he could have, he would have ordered Zoro to stay on the Merry, to stay safe and in a place where he wouldn't get hurt again. That hadn't been a feasible option, though, nor was it a good one. Had he made it a captain's order Zoro would have obeyed, but he would have been angry about it. And Luffy wouldn't have blamed him. Nami was their nakama and everyone fought to protect their nakama. That didn't mean Luffy didn't worry about him, about the stress the fight could have caused to him.
A soft exhale ruffled the hair on Luffy's head as Zoro's own head leaned downwards, the tiniest of kisses pressed to the crown of his head. “I'm fine, Luf. You don't need to worry about me.”
Luffy frowned, rolling his head a bit so he could look up at him. “You would tell me if you weren't okay, wouldn't you?”
“Of course.”
“Because I don't want you to lie to me. I don't want you to say you're fine when you're not. Captain's order that you have to tell me!”
Zoro laughed softly, breath brushing Luffy's face. “Of course, captain.”
Satisfied that his swordsman wasn't lying about being fine, Luffy settled back against him, head lolling to watch the party unfold before them. Usopp had a crowd gathered around him as he told embellished tales of their victory over Arlong, the villagers enraptured by his words. Sanji was stood across the clearing, still preparing food for the masses of hungry people and ensuring that they all left with full bellies. Nami was sat with her sister, their navigator looking the happiest Luffy had ever seen her as she talked and laughed, more carefree than she had ever been. Everything was perfect.
“Hey, Zoro?”
A soft, fond sigh left Zoro. “Yes, Luffy?”
“I don't want you to die.”
Stiffening a bit, Zoro lifted his head, looking down at Luffy as he rested on his shoulder. “I'm not going to die, Luffy. You don't need to worry about that.”
“But I worry about you,” Luffy protested, also raising his head so that he could look Zoro in the eyes. “I don't like it when Zoro gets hurt. And I did not like seeing Zoro nearly get killed.”
“It's barely a scratch.”
“Zoro.”
Zoro closed his eyes for a second before they blinked back open, his silver eyes staring straight into Luffy's. “Luffy, we're pirates. We're going to get hurt. It's just a part of life.”
“Doesn't mean I have to like it.”
“No, no it doesn't,” Zoro conceded, still staring at Luffy. “How do you think I felt—?” he suddenly cut himself off, gaze leaving Luffy's face as his cheeks reddened slightly.
Luffy tilted his head, curious about Zoro's reaction and what it was he was going to say. He had noticed a shift within his swordsman, starting not long after they had gotten the Merry. Luffy hadn't asked, preferring that Zoro came to him in his own time instead of him trying to pry it out of him. But right now, he had a feeling that whatever it was Zoro had stopped himself from saying was connected to that change.
“What is it?”
“It's nothing.” Zoro cleared his throat, still not looking back at Luffy.
“Don't lie to me.”
“I'm not, captain.”
A frown grew on Luffy's face. “You just did. Twice.”
When Zoro didn't answer, Luffy decided to take matters into his own hands. Straightening up, he sat up on his knees before maneuvering so that he was directly in front of Zoro. He sat down, his knees on either side of his thighs. “Talk to me.”
With Luffy now sat atop Zoro, he was more or less forced to meet his gaze, his cheeks flushing further. “It really isn't anything,” Zoro protested, his hands resting on Luffy's thighs like he wasn't sure if he wanted to try and push him off or not.
“It's bothering you,” Luffy countered. “So it means something to me.”
“Why?”
That was not the question Luffy expected. His head tilted as he stared back at Zoro, trying to make sense of what it was he was asking. “Why what?”
“Why does it matter to you if something bothers me?”
“Because you're my Zoro.” Now Luffy was very confused. Of course it mattered to him! This was Zoro! If Zoro was bothered by something then so was Luffy. Luffy would do whatever he had to to fix this bothersome issue. Zoro was worth it. Zoro was worth a lot.
A soft breath left Zoro, his fingers digging into Luffy's thighs a little bit more. It looked like he was weighing something in his mind, his eyes uncertain as they remained locked on Luffy's. His tongue darted out to lick at his lips, the motion catching Luffy's attention as his gaze dropped to his lips. He kind of wanted to kiss him.
Huh. That's new. Luffy had never wanted to kiss someone before. Then again, he had never felt what he felt for Zoro before. Maybe the two things were related.
With Zoro still not responding to Luffy, he decided he may as well give kissing a go. No one had ever claimed he was great at controlling his impulses anyway. And besides, something told him that Zoro wasn't going to mind.
Dragging his gaze back up to fix on Zoro's again, Luffy leaned in. Their lips pressed together in an uncertain touch, Luffy only realizing then that he didn't actually know how to kiss. All he knew was that it involved your lips and someone else's lips. And maybe a tongue? He wasn't sure.
A small gasp sounded against his lips, Zoro's eyes fluttering shut at the motion. Before Luffy could respond, or even move, one of Zoro's hands had come up to the back of his neck, pulling Luffy in closer while his head tilted. In the new position their lips slotted together better, Zoro's mouth moving a bit more confidently against Luffy's until they found a rhythm.
It was Zoro who pulled away first, his eyes dazed as his chest heaved for breath. “Luffy?” he breathed, sounding more breathless than Luffy had ever heard him. It was a good sound for him, Luffy decided, finding he greatly enjoyed the way that it was a result of what he had done.
“I felt like kissing you so I did,” Luffy told him, aware of the hand still on the back of his neck. “Did you—did you not like it?”
“No! I mean, yes, yes I did! I enjoyed it,” Zoro said, fingers gripping Luffy's neck a bit harder as he spoke. “I just....why?”
Luffy shrugged, his hands toying with the edges of Zoro's open shirt. “I don't know. I just felt like it.”
A smile small rose to Zoro's lips even as his blush deepened. “I've felt like doing that a few times too,” he confessed, loosening his fingers on Luffy's neck as if he just realized he was holding him.
“So why didn't you?”
“I-I didn't know if you wanted to.”
“You could have asked.”
Zoro laughed at that, a genuine one that Luffy didn't hear often. It made him laugh too, even though he didn't know why they were laughing. It didn't really matter anyway. Zoro was happy and that made Luffy happy. It made him even more happy to know that he was the one who was making Zoro so happy.
“I guess I could have,” Zoro agreed, his eyes darkening with uncertainty again. “Hey, Luffy?”
“Yeah?”
“Um,” Zoro paused to swallow, though his eyes never left Luffy's. “I-I love you.”
“I love you too.”
A small scoff left Zoro, his eyes closing for a second. “Not like a friend, Luffy. I mean I love you romantically. Like, the kind with kissing and stuff.”
Luffy tilted his head. Love. That would make a lot of sense for what he was feeling with Zoro. It would explain why what he felt for his swordsman wasn't something he felt for his other friends. For why he was so much more concerned about him and why he preferred to stay near to him. “I think I love you too.”
“Since when?” Zoro asked, his brows rising. “Don't tell me you just figured that out.”
Thinking hard, Luffy thought back to when the feelings first started. “Since I met you.”
“What?”
“Yeah, definitely since I first met you.”
“You loved me when we first met?”
Nodding, Luffy explained, “Well, I didn't know that's what it was, but yeah. I just thought we were really good friends or something which was why I felt differently about you than my other friends. But I guess it makes more sense that it was because I loved you.”
Zoro was doing a remarkable impression of a fish, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn't decide if he wanted to speak or not. It was funny. But Luffy wanted to try kissing some more because he had found the feeling of the other's lips against his to be pleasant and he wanted to feel it again.
Not giving Zoro a chance to really organize his thoughts, something Luffy thought was overrated anyway, he leaned in again, kissing him more confidently than he had the first time. Zoro instantly stopped opening and closing his mouth, his lips responding against Luffy's and the hand on his neck moving higher to tangle in his hair.
They sat there for awhile, time passing by in a meaningless blur as they figured out how to kiss. Zoro's lips were slightly chapped, but Luffy didn't mind the roughness. Nor did he mind the way his tongue slipped into his mouth, the appendage playfully rubbing against his own. Teeth nipped at Zoro's lips as Luffy pressed closer enthusiastically, enjoying the sounds that were emanating from his swordsman. The small gasps and groans were eagerly swallowed, Luffy diving in for more every time they pulled apart to breathe. Breathing was overrated too.
The two probably could have spent the entire night like that, wrapped up in each other and learning about each other's bodies, but they were interrupted by a shrill squeal followed by Nami shouting, “I knew it!”
Luffy whined as Zoro pulled back, the blush on his face returning in full force and darkening until he looked like a tomato, complete with his green hair on top. Luffy couldn't really care less about what it was that Nami was shouting about, but since it looked like Zoro did, he turned around to look at her as well.
Nami was pointing at them, giddiness oozing from her as she shook Sanji's arm, still squealing in delight. The cook's cigarette had fallen from his open mouth as he stared at them, seeming to be at a loss for words for once.
“What?” Luffy asked them, trying not to sound too cross. He wanted them to hurry up and explain what it was they wanted so that he could go back to kissing Zoro. That felt more important.
“Nothing,” Nami squeaked, fingers digging into Sanji's arm. “Nothing at all, captain. We're actually going to leave now. Goodnight!”
Watching them go in confusion, Luffy turned back towards Zoro. “What was that about?”
A small noise left him, his cheeks still a deep red. “Damn witch.”
“Be nice, Zoro.”
“I am.”
Laughing, Luffy gently slapped his shoulder, a yawn leaving him. Now that he was capable of thinking about things that weren't Zoro and Zoro's lips against his, Luffy realized he was actually quite tired. It had been awhile since he had gotten a good night's rest and it was finally catching up to him. Another yawn left him, his body sinking into Zoro.
“Get some rest, captain,” Zoro murmured, his arms wrapping around Luffy's waist and nudging him forward until they were pressed chest-to-chest.
“Don't wanna hurt Zoro,” Luffy muttered, even as his eyes closed and his face nuzzled into Zoro's neck.
“You won't,” Zoro assured him, a hand stroking up and down his back. “Just sleep. I'll be here when you wake up.”
Shifting a bit so that his weight wasn't pressed against Zoro’s wound, Luffy settled back against him, his own arms wrapping around him. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
Satisfied, Luffy felt himself drifting off, the sounds of the party around them fading until all he could hear was the sound of Zoro's heart beating steadily beneath his ear. This was something he could get used to, falling asleep atop of or next to Zoro every night, much like it had been when they had first set off and before they got the Merry with her individual hammocks. Yeah, this was much better. Zoro was more comfortable than any hammock and the sound of his heart beating was more comforting than anything Luffy had ever heard.
He wasn't sure what all the kissing meant for him and Zoro, but he had a feeling that it would be happening a lot more now. Something he was glad for. He liked kissing Zoro. And it seemed that Zoro liked kissing him too.
Love wasn't something Luffy had really given much thought to before, finding that it wasn't really important to him. But knowing that that was what he felt for Zoro, that made it feel right, it made it feel important. So while Luffy may still not understand it, he was going to try so that he could be better at loving Zoro. After all, there was nothing more important than his Zoro.