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There are two new people on board of Going Merry.
Well. A person and A duck.
(There was an idea to get Sanji to cook it, make a beautiful golden roast with a mountain of smashed potatoes and rivers of rich, brown sauce -Luffy already could feel the saliva trickling down his chin- but the girl, Vivi, for some reason not happy about the future meat, only started to cry even harder and Nami punched him for that. So, whatever.)
Now everyone is scrunched up under the main mast, lively discussing the appearance and disappearance of the mystery lady that happened a few moments ago.
Luffy couldn’t care less.
The thing is, yes, she did touch his hat without permission and kind of threatened them by boarding the ship uninvited, which was rude and mean- but in the end no one was hurt (except maybe the guy with funny hair who already started to fade from his memory) and she did promise a lot of surprises up ahead. Moreover, she left without a fuss, so no hard feelings, end of story. Moving on.
He just really doesn’t see a point in hearing all of the concerns others have right now, the what ifs and the bad feelings regarding the next island- everything on the Grand Line is sooo different and exciting and new, so why should he worry and plan for what’s coming, if it’s gonna come anyway, and in a way no one expects? Where’s fun in that?
(also, he feels a little weird -a bit like being underwater, without the drowning part- in a way everything moves slower than it should, only to jump back into place- and it’s too loud but not exactly clear, the annoying, echoing ringing, -and his breath struggles to come out at times, so maybe it is like drowning- and Usopps shrieks pin tiny needles to the back of his head-)
He decides to leave the crew to their musings and climb the figurehead instead, wanting to be the first one to spot the adventure and perhaps gum-gum rocket them towards it as soon as possible so they can focus on something more interesting than dumb hat-stealing women and crime lords crocs- or something- when Zoro calls to him.
“Captain?”
Luffy can’t help the wide grin that spreads on his lips whenever this one simple word is directed at him, how it still feels a bit strange, like a too big hat thrown over his head in hopes it would fit someday; but also so right at the same time, exactly how it should be, filling him up with warmth and belonging he hasn’t felt in a long time-
(Sabo and Ace would be so jealous, and he didn’t even had to fight anyone for that title! It’s his! He found people that will follow him anywhere, take care of him, play with him and cook for him, and he’ll do anything for them too, like Shanks and his crew! He can’t wait to eventually meet Ace, and show them to him…)
-and it’s so nice, makes him all wiggly and fuzzy inside!
And, and, oh, how Luffy loves the sound of it, especially when Zoro says it, with all the cadence and understanding, akin to the respect he holds when he’s tending to his beloved white sword. There’s just something special about it, as if the seriousness of the title will bring them closer to their shared goal. Maybe it will. He may be stupid and lost sometimes, but the swordsman knows all the important stuff.
Zoro, who immediately believed in the future Luffy foresaw and entrusted him with his own. Zoro, first one to put his life in Luffy’s hands, and swearing on his most prized possession, his treasure, to never leave his side, to be there till the end. Zoro, first one to join him on this road to greatness, not minding the uneven pavement of rough beginnings, steadily treading forward and not looking back.
Because there’s no captain without a crew, and there would be no Zoro without Luffy- they’re together like that, fates intertwined -maybe not fates, Luffy doesn’t really believe in stupid thing like that- so maybe more like tendrils woven into one meaty muscle, working as one, always tensing and relaxing in perfect sync.
He is getting a bit hungry.
Luffy happily turns towards his swordsman and measures him up and down, taking in the stiff posture and knitted frown he sometimes sports when he thinks too hard (which is not a good look on him, Luffy much prefers his lazy smiles and the toothy grins that Usopp calls bloodthirsty), the sharp line that only barely resembles a mouth and crossed, closed off arms. And waits.
Nothing happens.
Usually, they’re both men of action. Usually, they get each other without a word. Usually, Zoro doesn’t shy away from the eye contact.
This is not the usual.
The air of hesitation is so uncharacteristic between them, so wrong and itchy, it makes something ugly stir in Luffy’s stomach, a bad feeling he certainly doesn’t like- but he pushes it down for now and gives Zoro all of his attention. He schools his expression to something inquiring but open, and a blank stare- whatever this is, it seems important to him, and deserves to be treated seriously.
“Can we talk? Privately?” Zoro finally huffs, way more formal than there’s ever a need on this ship, and gestures to the top of the mast with the flick of his hand. The rest of the crew (and Vivi, and Duck) carefully observe them from the back, uneasy curiosity and anticipation plastered on their features.
He wants to tell them there’s nothing to worry about, but Luffy is curious as well and he can’t spare any second. He must know what’s going on and he needs it now. Giving one affirming nod he grabs the edge of the crow’s nest with stretched arms and-
- considers it, but there’s something eating Zoro, making him uncomfortable and weird, so he allows him to join on his own terms (climbing the ropes like a boring person),
- and launches himself alone into the air.
The wind up high is cold and free, tousling his hair and already making him feel better, breathe easier. He reaches the top in no time and sits down sideways on the small space that wooden boards provide with crossed legs, head twisted in a fashion only a rubber person could call natural towards the ship’s bow, catching the shy sunrays of early morning. This actually is perfect; he can talk with Zoro and still be on the look out for the adventure!
Merry’s head bobs happily on the calm waves. The fog has lifted, but reveals no land or adventure in sight, not even a sea-king’s shadow shows from underwater. It’s completely peaceful, like back on the East Sea. Boring! The clear horizon annoys him instantaneously, so he peaks down, observing swordsman’s slow progress as he ascends. The deck underneath has fallen quiet, with girls now conversing between themselves about who knows what, and Usopp a bit further away laying down fishing gear for the repairs (this time the rod broke on itself, honest!). Sanji’s gone out of view, and the trail of smoke that always follows him leads back to kitchen, where he is probably already whipping up snacks he’ll proclaim are “for ladies only” but will be enough of them to satisfy everyone. Till dinner, that is.
-Duck is also no where to be seen, which gives Luffy a tiny little bit of hope for roasted meat for lunch (instead of the fish, again), and his stomach grumbles, encouraging him to go check out the galley, maybe try to convince, nudge Sanji once more, just in case he would change his mind-
Luffy’s head springs back in place with loud snap when Zoro at long last reaches the crow’s nest, drops down across of him, and without even as much as a glance as a preamble, starts talking.
He usually listens to what swordsman says, he really does, the same way he minds Nami’s warnings at the changing winds and growing debts, her resigned irritation when he steals some of her food (as if it’s ever his fault she is slow eater-), or when they’re just goofing around without her, as well as her satisfied sighs and relieved smiles when everything turns out alright and they’re safe, because she did her best guiding them through the waters;
The same way he enjoys Usopp’s stories, the distracting ones when they fish for hours on end but they’re still empty-handed and hunger starts to crawl in, or the funny ones while they draw, splayed on deck with wind laughing beside them and sun scorching their backs, - or the warm and soothing ones - his favorite- late at nights in hammocks, when the sleep just won’t come, but it’s fine, they’re all together now and nothing’s gonna change that;
The same way he hears Sanji quietly hum shanties passed down by the seafaring cooks, about legendary oceans and beautiful women, when he thinks no one’s in the kitchen and he loses himself between the various utensils, dancing with practiced over the years moves to the rhythm of smoke and heat, all sweet melodies and even better, mouthwatering smells.
-They still really need a musician, but Sanji’s lullabies whispered to simmering stew are the next best thing, Luffy recons. He also needs meat- but that must wait as well, he is busy not listening to Zoro right now.
Because whatever he is currently saying, something about strangers and taking randoms aboard, and being more careful on the Grand Line, is pure nonsense, and it just makes Luffy mad- the girl poses no danger (even if she did it would be exciting if nothing else) and Zoro is well aware of it. There’s no way in hell that’s what this is about, something so little wouldn’t make the greatest swordsman nervous. There must be different, hidden meaning behind those words. Which means Zoro is being stupid.
So Luffy punches him.
Hard.
He withdraws his hand, stretched out limb almost knocking out the unfortunate seagull while gathering up the momentum, then it coils up on itself and bounces back, rushing in straight into Zoro’s face-
-who is not moving out of the way.
Not even flinching.
Waiting.
Still.
That’s the thing about Zoro. Steadfast, consistent and unshaken, he is kinda similar to that dog from the island they found Nami on. Zoro believes in a given word and sticks to it no matter what; he practically operates on faith and vows. Luffy values promises as well, he made some very important ones with his brothers and Shanks after all, but he isn’t sure if he could go even a few hours without eating because of one. To Zoro though, there aren’t many things more crucial than that.
They have a promise and he trusts Luffy with his life, because unwillingly putting Zoro in harm’s way is to stand in his way to a dream, which Luffy would never, and will never do to his swordsman.
Except maybe he already did.
Ah.
The fight.
That’s what’s going on.
(that’s probably the reason why his head feels so weird too- he is usually immune to blunt force, but Zoro can really pack a punch)
He last millisecond lightens his hit, and barely missing the left eye he grazes swordsman cheek, leaving red mark in its wake.
Zoro, for his part, is only mildly surprised, but for the first time since they’ve boarded this morning he looks up at him, and Luffy finally finds the rest of his answer.
Stubborn as he is, Zoro never complains when he’s hurt- maybe someone used to call him crybaby too when he was little- but that doesn’t mean he never is. He clearly is now. Not because of this hit or any of the previous ones (although some of them had to hurt, Luffy was really angry at that moment), but because his trust was betrayed, his pride damaged. He might hide his feelings well most of the times, but Luffy quickly became accustomed to reading Zoro like he did the animals from Dawn Island- purely on instinct and the look into their eyes.
There’s frustration spilling out of the swordsman, a worry too. He hates being not in control, watching things unfurl and be powerless to stop them. Luffy saw that in Louge Town from the lightning-stuck platform, the blink-and-you-miss-it expression on Zoro’s face as if the whole world was about to end and he could do nothing. It’s apparent in how light his sleep is during the night and how he naps next to the stairs, within the range of whole ship; in a way he’s always ready to jump into the cold sea and fish him out, straining his lungs and muscles as he dives deeper and deeper. That’s also why he was so uncomfortable watching Nami sail away on the Merry, twitchy and in denial of her being true nakama, because it was easier to pretend to not care.
He’s strong, very strong, but he fears it’s not enough to protect the crew, not with the captain not taking things seriously.
And there’s that too- Luffy just asked him to join the crew- to have his back, sure, but not to be his right-hand man. Because Zoro’s dream is to be the greatest swordsman, not the best first mate in the world.
But he still takes it upon himself to stand between the danger and their nakama, snarling and biting the heads off for their protection.
Shanks once said that being a captain is not as easy as it looks, and Luffy thought he got it the first time he watched Zoro bleed for him. Because of him.
Maybe he was being a bit reckless, but he always is, and it usually works out just fine until it didn’t and suddenly there were repercussions. Before, if he got hurt, that was that-the only one to blame, the only one to suffer. Now it’s different. He isn’t used to to having someone at his back, to looking behind making sure everyone’s fine. Ever since he was little, it was him who was running after Ace, hiding behind his back, desperately reaching out with open arms to try and grab the sun, feel the warmth of another person.
And now he is at the front, the one leading into danger, responsible not only for his actions and the paths he chooses to take, but the safety of his friends-of the people who left their previous lives to follow him to the top and chase their own dreams along the way. Well, it’s a small price for being no longer alone.
His eyes drop down to the haramaki-covered side, where that idiot clown’s knife pierced through some weeks ago. (Striking someone from the back, what a cowardly move!) ((Wait, did it leave an actual mark? Zoro said- Luffy cringes at the unpleasant memory of his swordsman almost dying- that scars on back are THE WORST, or something -so if that’s the case- if he has a scar because Luffy was being stupid getting himself caught- if he is ashamed and now can’t achieve his dream- he needs to see Zoro naked, right now!!!
Luffy jumps onto Zoro’s spread out legs, shifts and wiggles until he is effectively straddling the other’s hips and not letting him go, frantically fumbling and tugging at this offending piece of belly warmer that keeps him from learning this super important piece of information that very much might change everything-
There’s strangled noise coming from Zoro’s throat and his previously awkwardly hovering hands clasps Luffy’s sides, anchoring him on his lap and stopping his movements. Their eyes meet once more and for the moment there’s complete silence, their breathing against each other’s the only sound.
What are they doing again?
Ah. There’s apology to be made.
Luffy isn’t exactly sure what went on his head when he saw those people (bounty hunters, as Nami later explained) who fed them unconscious and cut, because the voice in his head said Zoro is too kind to hurt people who give food. And although he knew it to be true, some other part of him just simply didn’t understand. Maybe he turned into that demon everyone called him (and Luffy kinda wanted to believe he could, how cool would that be?!) and lost control? Then he would have to be stopped, and that’s what Luffy tried to do.
Or maybe he didn’t think anything at that moment. Ace said he did that a lot.
Either way, it was his fault, his responsibility as the captain and a friend to make things right again.
Luffy won’t say sorry though, it’s pointless. Sometimes words are stupid and come out of people too easily, losing all the meaning they were supposed to have or shifting in a way that’s too confusing. Usopp is really good at expressing them. He can play with words, melding the so they’ll represent exactly what he wants, using them to his advantage. It’s really amazing. Luffy can’t do it though. He needs his statement to be clear and sturdy, unmistakable for anything else.
So he stares at his swordsman, faces inches apart, with all the intensity, conviction and sincerity he can muster, silently communicating, pushing in the idea of it never happening again, the regret, and most importantly, that he trusts Zoro more than anything. He’s still figuring out this whole captain thing, but Zoro is so good for him, and he wants to be good for Zoro too.
And Zoro gets it, understands it, because Zoro is his.
“Whatever, it’s fine” his voice rumbles lowly and echoes through both of their bodies, as he relaxes against the mast with half-lidded eyes. The redness from where the punch landed somehow traveled to the other undereye as well, and it’s warm to the touch as Luffy discovers, reaching out and caressing swordsman’s cheek. His. “Just maybe think a bit more next time.”
Huh. He never really considered it. Fighting always comes easy, naturally, instinctively. A swing here, a dodge, triple kick from a jump and a roll. His trained gut tells him how strong opponent is, how much danger they pose to his friends or if it’s even worth fighting them, and Luffy just acts accordingly. Simple. It’s a different thing to study and anticipate, but if he were to think before every strike, he would be long dead. Animals and bad people don’t hesitate.
Does Zoro really expect him to stop and weight every move? To wait until it’s almost too late? Surely not, he himself doesn’t do that and he’s not a hyper-critter or something, so he probably means more of the ‘don’t hit your nakama’ thinking. Which is. Fair.
“Not now, idiot” Zoro huffs softly and nudges Luffy’s hand still plastered to his face, so it falls against his ear and the earrings ring softly. “In general.”
Before doing something you’ll regret hangs an unspoken advice in the air, and although Luffy already knows it, he accepts it into his heart with a light laugh. It’s good, they’re good again. He lets his head fall in the crook of swordsman’s neck, relaxing, inhaling the musky, sweaty smell mixed with the clove oil and a tinge of alcohol that long ago settled deeply into his whole being.
It’s a nice smell.
Would it taste good?
Not one to wonder too much about things, he leans a bit back and drags his tongue along Zoro’s exposed collarbone and up to his chin. It’s exactly as it smells like, all salty and coppery and so Zoro, and Luffy feels him shiver, the tiny goosebumps forming where his touch lingers. The accelerating pulse of his blood just beneath his fingers, the hitched breath struggling to leave his contracted throat, Adam’s apple jumping up and down, and the spreading heat emanating from his body- it’s so exciting! Zoro makes another funny noise but doesn’t pull him away- on contrary, his hands squeeze where they’re still holding onto Luffy’s shirt, fingers curling and twisting and not letting go. All of that makes a joyous giggle bubble up in Luffy’s stomach, and greedy as he is, he wants more. A bite then?
… But he is also the captain.
And even though Zoro is his (his, his, his,) he doesn’t want Zoro to be obliged to give him everything just because of it. Luffy knows he would, but that’s not the point.
He remembers what Makino told him once. After Ace already left on his journey, he’d wander off down to the village and straight to the familiar bar, not exactly an outsider but not one of them either, a wild child starving for company and food (although more often than not he’d bring his day’s catch and as much fruits as he could carry- pirate’s debt wouldn’t repay itself). She’d talk with him whenever she wasn’t super busy, which was often, indulging him in the retellings of other patrons’ stories, and listening to his misadventures in return. She’d tell him a lot of boring junk too, the adult stuff and somethings she called ‘common knowledge’, things he didn’t care much for but listened with one ear anyway, for the lack of better entertainment- and it made Makino happy, so it was win-win. She even tried to teach him to read and write, a thing Sabo failed to do, and she was very proud of him when the basics stuck around.
One afternoon though, as the days grew longer and the ocean’s call louder, more irresistible, he found her outside leaning against the fence and clutching her hands close to her heart, looking wistfully at the blue spreading before them. “I’m certain you’ll find many special people on your path, Luffy” she said after a while, something sad weaved into her gentle smile, “Just make sure you’ll treat them right, okay? A good captain never takes away from his crew, he gives to them.” It was pretty obvious to him- if he were to be the Pirate King, he had to have the best nakama, and for that he needed to be good. Simple. But Makino was very smart, and despite not being a pirate she knew a lot about them, so it was easy to agree with her and keep that in mind.
So, until Zoro is ready to tell him what he wants, Luffy will wait for him, content with the warmth and safety the swordsman offers. And since he did promise to stay by his side to the end, they have all the time in the world. Luffy can be extra patient if it’s something worth waiting for.
Like embarking on adventure only after he turned 17.
Or meat.
Speaking of, soon Sanji will call for them, and they’ll all gather in the small kitchen full of delicious food and laughter. Usopp’s gonna show off the fishing rod he undoubtedly managed to fix already, and Nami will roll her eyes at the following stories of sniper’s biggest catches, and inform them the next island is right on the horizon. Then Zoro’ll start to bicker with Sanji about something or other, sword’s dull edge clashing with elegant shoe, and whole meal will turn into mess, fun and light, but still chaotic- making it double easy to steal from the other’s plates. And Vivi’ll be no longer sad.
But for now he settles back against the broad chest with a hum, and Zoro’s arms automatically wrap around him. Luffy feels the tiredness of previous night finally setting in behind his eyes, the tension and worries leaving his body, and Merry’s steady rocking lulls him into sleep with smile on his lips.
A quick nap, and onto the next adventure.