Work Text:
A torrential rain was falling outside.
At the Grand Line the four stations don't act normally. Today can be a snowy day, tomorrow can be the hottest day you've ever lived. Nobody knows.
Everyday is different, and everyday there's a different danger.
It was a normal night for Zoro. Of course he's awake, his sleep routine is the most fucked up thing you'll ever see. In the masculine dormitory, lying in a hammock, Zoro stares at Merry’s wooden walls.
The rain was falling hard outside, Zoro could hear the noise of the drops hitting the wood and the metal of the ship. The noise was very loud, but not higher than the noise of the thunder of the storm.
The noise of the hammock ropes was low. The noise of the deep breath of each one of the strawhat pirates that rested there was low. But Zoro could hear them, each one of them.
The noise of Luffy's complaint was low, but Zoro would hear every single movement of his captain. His senses are trained to hear Luffy, Zoro could hear even his thoughts if he tried.
When Zoro moved to see Luffy better, the captain was cowering, whimpering softly. Zoro felt his heart tighten painfully, an excruciating agony consuming his mind and body.
He has to protect his captain. This is his duty.
“Luffy…?” he called softly, being careful to not wake up the others.
Luffy had a sad pout on his lips, turning around to stare at the voice who called him. Wait, those are tears on his cheeks?
Zoro felt his world fall apart.
“Hey…” Zoro extended his hand to touch (his) the captain. He was worried, and this feeling burn in his heart. “What happened?”
A lightning illuminated the room, followed by thunder breaking the silence. Luffy shrank more, terrified. He covered his ears, like the sound bothered him.
“Luffy?” Zoro called again. He opened his eyes and stared at Zoro with his bright eyes, full of tears.
“My ears…” he sniffed. “They hurt… I don't like loud noises…”
Readily, the swordsman was already by Luffy's side, stroking the beautiful messy dark curls and the rubber cheeks.
In all this time Zoro is next to Luffy, he never saw Luffy cry. He's always with a happy smile, as bright as the sun. Luffy is always happy, making a new stupid thing, getting into trouble. Luffy is always bouncy on the ship, excited with an insect that he saw in his encyclopedia.
But now he's crying, afraid of thunder. Zoro's heart aches so fucking much.
“Your ears hurt?” Zoro asked, and Luffy confirmed with his head.
Luffy has autism. You may realize this by your own seeing how he's obsessed with bugs. Or how he prefers to die from starvation than eat food that he doesn't like the texture of. (Yeah, as incredible as it may seem, there's some foods Luffy doesn't like. Zoro was surprised when he discovered it too.)
You can also presume that by seeing how Luffy is kinda sensitive with light and loud sounds. Luffy will grimace and cover his ears to protect himself, or will close his eyes and cover them up with his hands.
But Zoro never thought he would see Luffy crying. And he feels so bad when Luffy isn't happy. He feels so bad when Luffy isn't smiling and laughing.
Ensure that Luffy is fine, that's Zoro's life duty. If he needs to die to make sure of it, he will.
“Hey, majesty…” now Zoro is layed with Luffy, in Luffy's hammock, hugging Luffy's body. Oh, he feels like his chest would explode. “That's okay, I'm here with you. Okay?”
Other thunder, but now Zoro is covering Luffy's ears with care, caressing his spine. Luffy still shrinks, but he seems way less scared. The captain hugs Zoro's body —stronger than you imagine—, sighing and sniffing.
They have this strange relationship. They aren't boyfriends, they don't have a name to describe what they really are. But they also don't are just friends, because… friends don't do what they do, right?
Friends don't kiss each other (on the mouth) daily, friends don't make promises like theirs, friends don't hug each other for so long, friends don't talk about spending their life together.
Friends don't look at each other like they look. With so much love? With so much passion? No, they aren't just friends.
They are something in between, maybe. Something in the way.
Despite this fact, Zoro's heart doesn't stop racing every moment Luffy approaches.
Zoro's heartbeats are for Luffy. Zoro's breath is for Luffy; Zoro's thoughts are for Luffy; Zoro's heart is for Luffy. Everything Zoro can offer is for Luffy, just like his devotion.
Zoro doesn't believe in god. Zoro believes in Luffy.
This man, who insist to say to every fucking person he meets that he'll be the Pirates King; This stupid, who have a so fucking beautiful smile; This man have Zoro's soul. His devotion, his love, his trust.
This little silly man, that is hugged in him, afraid of thunder. He owns Zoro's heart, he makes him blush and laugh from embarrassment. And you can't even judge him, have you ever seen Luffy's smile?? You'd agree with the swordsman.
“Zoro…” Luffy called softly after sniffing. Zoro could hear his words right in his ear, and feel the harm breath on his neck. He felt his cheeks heat. “Thank you for being here for me…”
Zoro melted.
“You don't have to thank me.” He kissed the handsome messy curls. He's so in love. “I'm here for you, I'll always be. I made a promise.”
Zoro could feel the brown-haired smiling on his chest. His breath lapsed.
“Let me thank you, idiot!” he settled into Zoro's arms. His face was on the green-haired's neck now, breathing in his ear.
The thunder gradually stopped, and Luffy was calming down. Zoro's hand still covers his ear, protecting him from a possible surprise sound. When Zoro realized, Luffy's lips were on his cheek, kissing it affectionately.
And then, Luffy stood up slightly, touching Zoro's lips with his own.
It didn't take long for Zoro to hug Luffy's waist, kissing him with the same intensity.
The thunder stopped, and after some caresses, Zoro and Luffy finally slept again, hugging each other. Nothing in the world would bother them now.
They don't have a name for this. They don't have a definition or something, but it will come someday. For now, they're just these two silly men in love. And they are fine with this.
What about tomorrow's questions? Well, they'll think about it when the day begins. While the sun is hidden, they'll enjoy each other's company.