Chapter Text
To Kiss Death
When Zoro first woke up after dying he thought the darkness strange. He remembered the steel piercing his belly was cold. It hadn’t deterred him from grabbing hold of the man’s hand to keep him from pulling away. All that mattered was Kuina survived. Then he closed his eyes and waited for the warmth and light to come after.
That was what was supposed to happen. Right? What Zoro found was emptiness. Well, no wonder people are afraid of death .
There was a coldness and a low ambient blue glow emanating from pieces of rock inside the cave-like walls. As he got up to wander about the cave that smelled of ash and valerian root, he began to wonder if Death himself deliberately made it into a maze for him.
Eventually Zoro reached an enormous cavern where there was a door frame carved straight into one of the walls. As he made his way towards it he noticed there wasn’t an actual door. Just a carved stone wall.
“Oh! There you are.”
The largest white bear Zoro had ever seen wearing a strange set of orange coveralls and standing on his hind legs approached him. It would be more believable if the bear had three heads.
“I’m sorry?”
“Roronoa Zoro?” The bear read off a strange tablet in his hands.
“How do you know my name?”
“All souls are recorded on the memolith. I’m Bepo and your guide today.” Bepo smiled at him before going back to reading. “Okay so it says here you— oh… uh, well that’s unusual.”
While Zoro wasn’t too keen on getting close to a talking bear three times his size and weight, he couldn’t help but lean closer and ask.
“What’s unusual?”
“Your death.”
They were both silent for a moment. Zoro thought he could see his name written in a bright light on the dark stone. Then Bepo snapped out of it and hugged the memolith to his chest.
“Ah, yes— I’m sure the boss will be wanting to see you now.”
~
They soon arrived at a different cavern where there was a winding river filled with pebbles made from the glowing rocks. The cool air was strangely crisp despite the earthy, sour smell. There was even some sort of mint growing along the riverbed.
Death, himself, waited atop a small rise that they reached by walking up a slight incline. The God was not at all what Zoro imagined he would look like. He was dressed mostly in black and gold and wore a cloak so blue sapphires would envy it if not for the feathery-like mantle. Even more surprising was the shade of gold Death’s eyes were when he finally looked into them. They reminded Zoro of the marigolds his mother used to plant alongside their home when he was a child.
The whole situation made Zoro feel awkward in his most modest clothes. The tear from the sword and blood that surely stained the old dusty green coat were gone at least. Still, he felt unremarkable and plain standing next to a god.
While Death silently looked him over, Zoro noticed the sets of tattoos along his hands and arms. I can see why sometimes humans worship the Gods.
Zoro had the undeniable urge to say something. In the mess of his thoughts it came out as, “I thought you’d be on a throne with a crown.”
Death blinked at him several times before a look of amusement replaced the eerily still expression he had a moment before.
“Is that how you want me?” Death asked.
Throughout his life, Zoro prided himself on being prepared for anything. The deep yet airy sound of Death’s voice was not one of those things. Apparently the Gods were more than just their looks. Before Zoro could say anything else, Death waved at the pedestal.
“Place your hand here.”
He hesitated for a moment because he was still trying to process the sound of the God’s voice. Nothing about dying was what he expected.
The stone was smooth and cool. Zoro tried not to think about how many of the dead had done exactly what he was doing and relaxed his palm over the surface. Death brought his own hand to hover over Zoro’s. Zoro concentrated on reading the black inked letters on the long fingers spelling out the God’s moniker to distract himself.
A silvery shimmer poured out of Death’s hand and glided over Zoro’s. It tingled all the way up to his chest and after a moment, the stone pedestal lit up with dozens of flowy heart-like designs. The memory of his death flashed briefly and when he blinked, it was over. Death was staring at him with a look of curiosity.
“That’s it?” Zoro asked.
“Expecting something else?”
Zoro shrugged and flexed his hand trying to decide if it was still tingling. The God before him seemed to expect an answer, so he said, “I dunno, something more dramatic? Like take my heart out and put it on a scale or something.”
“Did that once. The poor soul leapt into the river and died again.”
“Seriously?”
Death laughed. Who knew the Gods had a sense of humor too.
“Well, aren’t you just as unusual as your death. Tell me, do you regret taking your sister’s place?”
Somehow hearing it from Death himself made it that much more real. Kuina was supposed to die that day, not him. Zoro shook his head. She had so much more life and good to do left in her.
“I’d do it again.”
“Really now?” Death looked surprised by his answer. He grew quiet and picked up a memolith and stared at it for several minutes as if lost in thought. “What if I allowed you to see your family again?”
“You can give my life back?”
“Oh, no. That’s not how it works,” said Death. “In exchange for your mortal soul I can allow you to return as you are to them. For a time.”
Zoro hesitated, not because he didn’t want to. He had heard stories about making deals with Gods before. They had always ended in trickery and despair. If Zoro was going to take it, he wasn’t about to go in blind.
“You’re gonna have to elaborate before I answer that.”
Death looked pleased and asked for some things to be brought up to them. Bepo jumped in place at the unexpected request but hurried off. It didn’t take long for the bear and two others to bring up a table, chairs, and writing materials.
According to the God, death was a state of being. Once his soul had left his physical body behind there was no going back. To go back meant that Zoro wouldn’t have a form that would allow people to touch him. But they could see and speak with him. Death only agreed to allow Zoro to stay for his extended family and their children. Once the last of them passed on, he would be required to return to the Underworld where he would reside for the rest of time. Zoro also had Death agree to not interfere with the natural life expectancy of his family to speed it up.
“Two hundred years is no concern of mine.” Death shrugged as it was added in. “It is not every day a man with no regrets graces my home.”
Content as well, Zoro signed it along with Death. The flurry of letters looked too long for just a single word. Before Zoro could read it properly, Death rolled up the parchment and slid it into a metal tube and handed it to the bear.
“If you ever need to see it again, ask Bepo. He will bring it to you.”
Zoro nodded, even though he didn’t believe he ever would. They stood up and Zoro felt a little awkward trying to think about what would happen next.
“So, um, how exactly do I give you my soul?”
For a while, Death looked thoughtful. Then, without warning, Death was kissing him. Zoro couldn’t move if he wanted to. He couldn’t even breathe. And when Death licked his lips, Zoro parted them without hesitation.
The overwhelming desire to let Death curl up inside and devour him consumed Zoro’s every thought. Maybe it was because Death was doing just that. Death pulled away as did Zoro’s breath. It came out in a wispy golden haze similar to smoke and Death was swallowing it a second later.
Zoro stood there replaying the kiss in his head trying to understand what happened. There was still a hint of orange and mint left in his mouth that he would never forget. Did he just eat my soul? Death was certainly looking like it had been his first meal in a very long time.
Then Death seemed to come back to the present. He cleared his throat and stepped back, clearly not expecting what had just happened either.
“I’ll be waiting, Roronoa Zoro.”
After one more look over, Death walked off. Leaving Bepo to take Zoro back to the door where he could watch over his family one last time.
(Roughly two hundred years later)
It was strangely thrilling as Bepo greeted them like old friends at the gates to the Underworld and led them to the place where Death had once kissed him. They greeted each other in silence as Bepo led Zoro and his last relative before the God to have her heart weighed.
Zoro looked away from the golden eyes. Maybe he doesn’t remember. After all, Death had told him two hundred years was nothing for him. Even his style had changed slightly. The cloak and fluffy mantle was replaced with a long black coat in which the top half was covered in thousands of obsidian gemstones cascading down.
“What’s with the hat?”
Zoro couldn’t help pointing out the ridiculous white hat with a large brim and black spots along the edges. It didn’t fit with the strange way the rest of Death’s clothing dripped over his lean form.
“Didn’t you mention something about a crown before?”
Death sounded genuinely curious. It made Zoro feel conflicted.
“Not the same.”
“Noted,”
His niece tried to hide her amusement and failed horribly. Death made no other comment and ushered her towards the pedestal for her heart to be weighed. Afterwards, they spoke briefly. Whatever the God had to say she seemed satisfied. Then Bepo helped her into a boat that waited in the river nearby and readied it to take down the river.
“Can I go with her?” Zoro asked Death. “Just to see her off. I won’t step off until Bepo brings us back.”
Death hesitated for a moment before nodding.
It was a peaceful ride. The sound of the water being displaced by the rod Bepo used to guide them kept them from the overwhelming silence. Then he saw it.
A field of grass greener than his own hair, trees with plump red apples and ripe oranges, and dozens of souls walking about speaking to one another before moving on to the next person. Bepo was telling his niece something, but Zoro wasn’t paying attention. He barely heard his own farewell to her.
Zoro was still piecing all he had seen together when they returned. He had assumed souls passed through the Gates of Rebirth directly after being judged. The place for them to rest beforehand had thrown him off. As did the fact Death was still waiting when Bepo brought the boat back into the small dock. It made him a little uneasy and all the things Zoro had thought of to ask Death when they met again were forgotten.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I told you everyone has regrets.” Death sounded sad.
Before Zoro could say anything, Death turned to walk away.
“Oi! Wait just a sec—”
Instinct had Zoro reaching out. He expected his hand to pass right through Death just like everyone else for the past two hundred years. It was an action that usually made people stop whatever it was they were doing and had served him well.
Death did stop. So did Zoro’s hand. It wasn’t just the lush feel of fabric he gripped in his hand. He had a hold of Death’s arm. Zoro was touching Death. And the God… he was staring back at Zoro with just as much panic that he felt well inside his chest.
Zoro quickly let go. “Sorry. I— I didn’t think—”
“No, it’s fine.” Death didn’t sound at all convincing. “I do have other things to attend to. Excuse me…”
He blinked and Death was already turning a corner down one of the many hallways. Bepo cleared his throat and in a clearly uncomfortable voice, asked Zoro to follow him.
~
Law had never walked faster away from someone than he had from Zoro. He wasn’t even entirely sure why he had waited. It wasn’t like Zoro could have gone through the Gates of Rebirth anyways. It was real. I didn’t imagine it. If Zoro had the ability to actually touch him then maybe the “kiss” they shared when he took Zoro’s soul had been real too. What do I do?
“Wow, Bepo was right.”
Law hadn’t realized he wasn’t alone in his office anymore. Penguin placed a plate of mixed fruits on his desk before turning to sort through the stacks of memoliths and sliding them in their places inside the wall.
“What did Bepo say?”
“That there’s something wrong.”
“Is there?”
Penguin gave him a hard stare. “You tell me.”
When Law didn’t answer, Penguin went back to filing the memoliths. He climbed one of the tall ladders that rolled against the wall with a few then came back down. Brushing off his beige uniform Penguin let out a long sigh. Law still ignored him.
“I’m not sure why, but it was your idea to keep him here. You know you can’t avoid him forever.”
Law still didn’t comment. Penguin shook his head and finished his work without another word.
~
Time moved differently in the Underworld, and Zoro wasn’t used to it. He tried to look for Death on several occasions. Even when Zoro found his way into the chamber where the heart weighing ritual was performed, the God was nowhere to be seen.
Zoro eventually tracked him down in a random corridor. When Death noticed him, he stopped briefly as if deciding if backtracking was possible before continuing forward.
The hat was gone this time, but the light gray cloak with darker spots all over stood out more. If Death was trying to hide from me he isn’t doing a good job with that thing.
“Can we talk?” Zoro asked when they were close enough.
Death took a second before nodding.
Zoro took a deep breath before continuing. “Is there something here I can do?”
“Oh.” The tension in Death’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Well…”
“Your harpy woman mentioned the other day to Bepo about a particular stubborn soul that won’t go through the gates for Weighing.” The silence dragged on longer than Zoro thought it would. “If you’re worried I won’t come back…”
“I’m not,” said Death. “I will always know where you are. I just didn’t think you’d want to do something like that.”
“Well, I used to do stuff like that as a human— wait, how do you know where I am?”
Zoro sensed a different kind of hesitation when Death started to say something then stopped. Very slowly, Death raised his hand and Zoro watched the emotionless expression on Death’s face falter when his fingertips rested just over Zoro’s heart. A pulse Zoro hadn’t felt in a long time thudded through him. It was hard not to think about their kiss when Death’s gaze moved down towards his mouth. Somehow Zoro understood. He wasn’t sure how or why, it was just there.
When Death finally pulled his hand away the sparkling feeling went with it, but the heat remained. Zoro wanted him to put it back.
Instead, he asked, “What do I call you?”
It was risky asking a God such a thing. The words just tumbled out before he had thought it through. Apparently, Death was on the same page for once.
“Law. Trafalgar Law.”
Death had told him his name. And it was a human one.
~
“Soooo…”
Penguin had been quiet while Law was recording the death memories for the last set of passing souls. Emphasis on had been. What could be so important that he would interrupt our work? Law started to turn to face Penguin—
“How are things going with our new resident?”
And he turned right back around to his desk. Picking the memolith back up, Law started his work again. Penguin slumped into the empty chain on the other side of his desk and groaned.
“It can’t be that bad…”
He shot Penguin a look over the memolith. Well, now Law definitely wasn’t going to tell him that he had told Zoro his human name. It had been a minor lapse in judgment spurred on by the fact that each time he expected to pass through Zoro he didn’t. Law was still processing why he had.
“Okay seriously. You both are like pining kitchen maids.”
Law scoffed. “I do not ‘pine like a kitchen maid’.”
“Oh really?” Penguin challenged.
He stared at the glowing letters on the memotith pretending not to hear it. No, he didn’t “pine” over anything or anyone. Law was a Death God, who had not only made a deal for a mortal’s soul but got confronted by nearly every one of his relatives.
Each one brought new memories and conversations to his realm, all of which were about Zoro. A man who was honorable… and kind… and protective… even after death, and by the time he returned to the Underworld Law was conflicted.
Law stood up. He needed to take a walk. Penguin just grinned and started cleaning as he walked out.
His feet took him towards the side of the river where the spring welled from. There across the bridge covered in white morning glories stood Zoro in a field where Law had asked for marigolds to be planted. Law thought to walk away and let Zoro be alone. Something nagged at him not too. Zoro glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow but didn’t comment when he quietly approached.
“Can I ask you something?” Zoro asked, breaking the silence. “How many souls have you eaten before?”
Law didn’t even blink or hesitate. “I’ve only ever had yours.”
His answer seemed to trip Zoro up. Zoro drew in a deep breath and licked his lips.
Reaching out, Law took the collar of Zoro’s jacket between his fingers. He rubbed the soft fabric and marveled at the way the dark green complimented Zoro’s bright hair.
“I’m glad to see you are finally wearing my gifts.”
Zoro blinked as if he had been distracted. “O-oh, I didn’t realize…”
Then Zoro was staring very intently at him. Law wasn’t sure what was going on, but when he started to pull away, Zoro placed a hand over his. His breath caught at the touch. Slowly, Zoro laced his fingers between Law’s and held them there over his heart.
“You don’t have to have an excuse to kiss me, you know.”
Zoro didn’t wait for his response. He rose up on his toes and pressed their lips together. Before Law knew it, he was wrapping his arms around Zoro. The air might have smelled of bitter earth and marigolds, but their kiss tasted sweet and full of light. If sunflowers would grow in the Underworld, Law would plant them.
Fin