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It was just another day as a Straw Hat Pirate. The crew had just finished rescuing some backwoods village from a tyrant who was trying to appropriate their land and pull the children in to work for the giant industries in his factory. The townsfolk were so grateful that they held a giant bonfire party to celebrate their rescuers.
These parties were not uncommon to the Straw Hats. Luffy was always trading support and fighting for the little man, only accepting food in exchange. Nami would pout, wanting coin instead, but would eventually find herself enjoying the music and drink.
The children were always so enamored with Chopper, who would just get bashful and tell them to stop. Although he didn’t really want them to. Usopp would always find a gullible gaggle of women to listen to his tall tales.
Frankie and Robin had recently started seeing each other and were tucked into a corner, ignoring the rest of the world.
Sanji was busy preparing and delivering food to the partygoers. He still flirted with every beautiful person he saw. Zoro didn’t mind, it was the man he fell in love with. He knew Sanji would come back to bed with them at night.
Although they had dozens of these parties, Zoro would usually find himself completely inebriated in celebration. Despite himself, he would laugh at the crew’s antics, poke at Sanji and Nami just to rile them up, and genuinely enjoy himself.
This party was a little different.
When he found his seat, a decent enough spot he scoped out, he ordered a drink. Before it arrived, his two-year-old daughter toddled up to him from the crush of blankets they had set up for her in the tent near enough to the fire, but far enough from the noise. She was clutching her stuffed stegosaurus that Usopp had made for her. There was a mess of long curls, and she had a drowsy look in her eyes. She tugged on his bandana to get his attention, and although he had been looking forward to the drink, his heart melted at the sight of her.
Quietly, she said, “Papa, I had a bad dream. Hold me?”
Without hesitation, he scooped her up and tucked her into his side, where she snuggled in comfortably. He knew he would be aching soon from the way she was being held.
When his drink arrived, he told the person who had delivered it to switch it to water.
Just then, Sanji strode by and dropped a couple of hors d'oeuvres onto a napkin for Zoro, since he was not moving anytime soon. Sanji kissed the top of her head. He then leaned down and whispered into Zoro’s ear, “I would have never in a million years imagined I’d see the day my Marimo orders water at a party.”
Zoro huffed in response, but couldn’t help hiding his smile. Sanji then leaned over and gave Zoro a kiss on his brow. He quietly said, “Looks good on you, Moss,” before he walked away to return to handing out hors d'oeuvres.
Zoro smiled as he looked down at his daughter, tucked into his side. Her eyelashes were brushing her cheeks, and she quietly signed as she breathed out. He knew she was asleep, that she felt safe in his arms.
He reflected on what Sanji had just said, and he would have never in a million years have thought that he would order water at a party either. But this little piece of him that he was holding, quiet and tender, who could also be a little gremlin sometimes when fully awake, he loved with everything he had.
He had a family now, and he knew what was important. And although this wasn’t how he used to party, he wouldn’t change this or trade it for any damn thing.