Chapter Text
The night felt biting, much colder than the usual nights Luffy spent outdoors. It was barely 10 PM, yet the freezing air forced him to bundle up in thick layers just to keep the chill at bay.
He was bored—dead bored. His older brothers, Ace and Sabo, were buried in their books, cramming for semester exams and leaving no time to play with him. Left to his own devices, he decided to wander around the neighborhood to see if anything interesting was popping up. Going to bed early wasn't an option; he’d already napped the entire afternoon away.
Thirty minutes in, trekking down the same familiar streets, he still hadn't found a single thing to catch his eye. Perhaps because it was getting late, the roads were relatively deserted, with only a few stray souls passing by.
Luffy kept walking until he spotted a bar that was still wide open. Usually, he steered clear of bars—he hated the stinging stench of alcohol, the smell of cheap cigarette smoke, and the rowdy crowds. But driven by a boredom so profound it was almost painful, Luffy decided to pop in. He wanted to see if there was anything worth his time inside.
Deep down, Luffy felt a tug—a hunch that there was something he shouldn't miss. As he stepped inside, the atmosphere was a bit different from what he’d imagined. It wasn't his first time there; he vividly remembered Ace getting wasted in this very spot, and Luffy having to practically haul him home. Back then, the place had been packed and suffocating. This time, it was the complete opposite.
The bar was nearly empty. Two people sat at the counter—a bartender and a customer, in Luffy’s estimation. To the left of the entrance, a white-haired man with two cigars clamped in his mouth sat alone with two drinks, looking like he was waiting for someone. And to the right, four men were huddled together, engrossed in a game of gambling.
There was a long table on the right side of the room. On top of it lay two katanas—stakes belonging to the green-haired man with three long earrings on his left ear, or so Luffy guessed. He noticed a third blade still tucked into the man's waistband. Opposite him was a pile of cash and coins belonging to a man wearing an eye mask and his two 'cronies.'
Luffy decided to head in and watch the game, picking a seat in a corner. A server soon approached, offering the menu. Naturally, Luffy wanted to order everything on the list, but Sabo’s long-winded lectures about "saving money" echoed in his head. He settled for a plate of spaghetti and an orange juice. He hadn't intended to eat, but he simply couldn't say no when food was involved.
Once the order was placed, the server scurried off, and Luffy turned his focus back to the four men. He leaned his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together, narrowing his eyes at the game.
The masked man aka the dealer handled a small porcelain bowl with fluid, practiced movements. To an amateur, he looked like a pro. But to Luffy, who had nothing better to do than observe, the movements felt... staged.
"This is your last bet, Swordsman. Lose again, and that third blade on your hip is mine," the masked man sneered. His two companions let out mocking laughs, while the green-haired man merely grunted, his right hand still gripping a glass of clear liquid.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The porcelain bowl was slammed onto the table. The two dice inside stopped rolling, trapped in the darkness beneath.
"Odd or even?" the dealer asked, his eyes glinting through the slits of his mask.
The swordsman went quiet for a moment. He glanced at his two katanas lying helplessly on the table, as if apologizing to his own weapons. "Even," he replied shortly.
From his slanted vantage point in the corner, Luffy saw something fishy. While the dealer’s hand was still resting on the bowl, his ring finger pressed a tiny protrusion under the wooden table. It was silent, but Luffy caught a slight, unnatural vibration in the bowl—as if the dice inside were forced to shift by some hidden magnetic pull.
His spaghetti and juice arrived. The aroma of tomato sauce was tempting, but Luffy just held his fork without taking a bite. He was too busy watching the trickery unfold.
"Alright, let's see your luck..." The dealer lifted the bowl slowly.
The first die showed a 4. The second showed a 1.
Total: 5. Odd.
"Ah! Too bad! Odd again!" the masked man barked, laughing loudly. His hand immediately reached for the two katanas as if they were prized trophies.
Luffy narrowed his eyes. He remembered clearly—just before the bowl was lifted, the second die had been a 2 (which would have made the total 6, or even). It had flipped because of that magnetic vibration.
"Hey," the green-haired man’s deep voice cut through the rowdy laughter. He hadn't let go of his glass, but the aura around him shifted. "You're pretty handy with your fingers, aren't you?"
"What’s that supposed to mean? Luck just isn't on your side tonight, kid," the dealer shot back, trying to keep his cool even as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Luffy let out a long sigh and finally took a massive, messy bite of his spaghetti. While chewing, he mumbled loud enough for his voice to echo through the quiet bar.
"But it was even earlier," Luffy said casually, tomato sauce smeared on his cheek. "Mask-uncle pressed something under the table to make the dice spin again. That’s cheating, you know."
The bar froze instantly. The green-haired man turned toward Luffy, looking surprised to see a kid in a thick hoodie and a mouth full of pasta meddling in a life-or-death gamble. However, that surprise quickly morphed into a bloodthirsty smirk.
"Oh? So you saw it too?" The swordsman stood up, letting his glass hit the table with a heavy thud. "I was just about to say it myself, but it turns out there's a witness who’s more honest than you, you bastard."
The dealer and his two friends stood up in unison, kicking their chairs back. "You brat! Watch your mouth unless you want your tongue cut out!" one of them yelled, pointing at Luffy.
Luffy just tilted his head, sucking his orange juice through the straw until it made a provocative sreeeet sound. "I’m not lying. Cheating is boring."
The swordsman gripped the hilt of his third katana. His sharp gaze locked onto the scammers, then flicked briefly to Luffy. "Hey, kid. Thanks for the tip. But you better finish that meal fast, 'cause I doubt this place is gonna stay quiet for much longer," he said with chilling confidence. "I can't guarantee your safety, either."
Hearing this, Luffy gave a fleeting grin and proceeded to inhale the rest of his food at lightning speed. He could feel it too—something exciting was about to go down.
The swordsman’s hand was already on his blade, the muscles in his arm tensing, ready for a lethal draw that would end the dealer’s breath. But just as the air in the room reached a breaking point, a violent crash hit the front door.
SLAM!
The wooden door hit the wall with a deafening crack. Every head turned at once. Standing in the doorway was a woman, panting heavily, wearing a neat but slightly disheveled long blazer. Her red-rimmed glasses were crooked on her nose, and a katana hung firmly at her left hip.
"Sorry I'm late, Captain Smoker! I got lost on Rose Street!" she cried out in a panicked tone that didn't fit the tension at all.
In the other corner, the white-haired man with two cigars—Smoker—let out an incredibly long sigh. Thick smoke billowed toward the ceiling as he massaged his temples. He looked at her with profound disappointment; his partner had just blown a stealthy stakeout with the most conspicuous entrance of the century. Not that he was actually angry at her, though.
'The guy in the corner must be Smoker.'
'So he was waiting for his partner.'
'Why does she have to yell, though?'
'Smoker... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere...'
An awkward silence hung over the bar for a few seconds. The tension that had been centered on the gamble shifted into pure confusion. But Zoro didn't let the moment go to waste.
SHING—BOOM!
Without warning, a lightning-fast strike from the green-haired man’s blade cleaved the long table perfectly in two. The thick teak wood groaned before collapsing to the floor, scattering coins, bills, and rigged dice in every direction.
"Damn it! Don't break the furniture, you bastard!" the bartender screamed from behind the counter, his face flushed with rage. Panic-stricken, he scrambled for the phone under the bar to call the authorities, completely unaware that one of the top brass was already sitting right there, smoking in the corner.
"Fuck, let's get outta here!" the masked man yelled to his goons. They spun around in a panic, trying to make a break for the exit.
The bespectacled woman, who had been standing there awkwardly, finally seemed to grasp the situation: four gamblers—one of whom was a swordsman—and three others trying to make a run for it. As the trio neared the entrance, she shifted into a stance, her hand hovering over her hilt, ready to draw.
It all happened in a blur, before Smoker could even finish his sentence: "Wait, Tashigi! Don't—"
WHAM!
Out of nowhere, Luffy delivered a devastating blow straight to the masked man’s solar plexus. It wasn't that Luffy could teleport; he had simply sprinted toward the door alongside the trio, leaving nothing but an empty plate on his table.
The sound of the impact was solid. The masked man didn’t even have time to groan; his eyes rolled back, and his body slumped instantly onto the wooden floor, knocked out in a single strike.
Everyone in the room stared, jaws dropping at the sight. They wondered just how strong this kid had to be for a single punch to drop a grown man. And more importantly, what did he even gain from getting involved?
"You can't just go around punching people like that, kid," the green-haired man remarked, letting out an amused snort.
"Shishishi! They were trying to run, right? I hit him because I felt like it," Luffy replied with a wide, toothy grin. "Besides, he’s not dead. I doubt he’d still be breathing if you’d aimed that sword at his throat instead of the table," he added, giving a casual shrug.
Thanks to the bartender’s frantic call minutes earlier, the distant wail of police sirens began to echo through the night. Hearing this, Smoker and Tashigi shared a silent, knowing nod. They moved immediately to secure the remaining two scammers who were still reeling in shock.
"Gatz. thirty-four years old. An illegal drug runner operating under the Donquixote Family. A history of criminal activity and fraud," the man with the two cigars stated, snapping handcuffs onto the masked man, now identified as Gatz. "No reason for us not to take you pieces of shit in."
While the two officers were busy, Luffy casually strolled over to the swordsman, who was busy sheathing the two katanas—his reclaimed stakes—back onto his right hip.
"That was so cool! I’ve never seen anyone split a wooden table in one swing like that! You’re amazing!!" Luffy chirped, his eyes sparkling with genuine excitement. "My name’s Luffy. I like you—let’s be friends!" he added, thrusting his right hand forward.
The swordsman barely spared a glance at the offered hand, choosing to ignore it entirely. Instead, he crouched down to gather the coins and bills scattered across the floor from the aftermath of his strike.
Seeing his gesture snubbed, Luffy pulled his hand back without a hint of offense and decided to help gather the money. "Hey, shouldn't you be running? The cops are gonna be here any second, you know," Luffy noted, curious.
"The name’s Roronoa Zoro. Don't worry about me, kid. You’re the one who should head home before those cops start looking at you like a delinquent," Zoro finally replied after pocketing the last of the cash. "Also... thanks for the help back there. I appreciate it."
"Hehe, don't worry! I was just bored. That's all!" Luffy chuckled.
Zoro then walked toward the bar counter to pay for his drink and provide compensation for the wreckage. "Sorry about the table," he said flatly, sliding a stack of cash over.
The bartender let out a massive sigh of relief. Seeing Zoro hand over a portion of his winnings made him realize the swordsman wasn't such a bad guy after all. "Ah... alright. Thank you, sir. It’s just a table; it can be replaced," the bartender said with a somewhat forced smile.
"Ah! I have to pay too!" Luffy shouted behind Zoro. He’d nearly forgotten he’d ordered food. He began frantically patting his pockets, only to realize with a jolt of panic that he’d forgotten his wallet at home. Dammit.
Zoro noticed the kid’s struggle. He reached into his pocket, pulled out some extra cash, and covered Luffy’s tab without a second thought. "I guess we're even now, Luffy," he said, dropping the money on the counter.
The bartender accepted it gladly, and Luffy felt a wave of relief wash over him—thankful he didn't have to face the wrath of his brothers for adding to their tab.
"Woahh, you're so nice, Zoro! I'm really a fan now! Let's be friends!" the boy exclaimed again, only to be met with Zoro's usual stoic silence.
After paying, Zoro headed for the exit, followed by Luffy. Outside, the three scammers were already being loaded into a squad car. Smoker and Tashigi watched the two of them walk out as if they hadn't just caused a riot inside. For now, the duo agreed to treat Luffy and Zoro as mere bystanders.
"You brats better head straight home," Smoker threatened, his gaze sharp. "Before I change my mind about arresting you for the chaos in there." Luffy responded with nothing but a shrug and a wide, annoying grin. Seriously, how could a kid smile that wide?
"Yeah, yeah... whatever."
"Ou! Thanks, Smokey! Shishishi!"
'S-Smokey? That's... actually kind of cute...'
"Shut it!!" Smoker barked.
The two of them finally left the bar behind. Three police cars were parked out front, lights flashing, but they ignored the spectacle and walked away into the night.
"Oi, Luffy. I'm heading this way. If we're going the same direction, you better take a detour," Zoro said, gesturing with his thumb to the left of the bar.
"Hmm, alright, if that’s what you want. Thanks again for the treat!" Luffy said cheerily. "And hey, let's swap numbers so we can meet up again!"
Zoro gave him a brief look. "Sorry, I... don't have a phone or anything like that. But if fate’s on your side, maybe we'll run into each other again someday." With that, he turned and walked in the direction he had pointed.
Luffy stood there for a moment, watching the swordsman until his silhouette vanished into the shadows. Then, he realized he needed to haul ass. It was late, and Ace and Sabo were definitely going to kill him.
He reached his front gate a few minutes later, gasping for air after a non-stop twenty-minute sprint. He glanced at the window; the lights were still on, meaning his brothers were still awake. Hopefully, they’re still buried in their books, Luffy hoped.
But as he was about to step toward the house, he spotted a familiar figure...
Green hair. Three long gold earrings. Three katanas strapped to the right hip...
"Ah! You?!" Luffy cried out, unable to believe his eyes.
How was this possible? They had just parted ways minutes ago. He was certain he wouldn't see the swordsman for a long time, let alone a few minutes!
Zoro also froze, recognizing the boy in front of him. Wait, isn't that...
"Oi, kid! How the hell did you get here?" Zoro yelled, equally stunned.
"Pfft! Don't tell me you're lost, Zoro!" Luffy cackled, a massive grin plastered on his face as if he’d just won a bet without even throwing a die.
Zoro grunted harshly, looking away with a deep scowl. "The streets here are too damn twisty, that's all," he muttered, an excuse that sounded weak even to his own ears.
Luffy exploded into laughter, clutching his stomach. "BWAHAHA! So you really are lost? And you told me that if we were going the same way, I should take a detour!"
Zoro’s usually pale face turned a bright shade of crimson, reaching all the way to his ears. He stared at a streetlamp as if it were the most fascinating object in the world, though his eyes remained sharp as a blade.
"Shut up," Zoro growled, his voice nearly drowned out by Luffy’s laughter. "All the buildings in this town look the same. I just... took a few wrong turns."
"A few wrong turns? Zoro, the direction you pointed back there was the total opposite of this place!" Luffy wiped a tear from his eye. He then pointed to the modern, two-story house right in front of them. "But this is luck! Because this is my house. Welcome to my palace!"
Zoro looked up, scanning the house from top to bottom. His brow furrowed. The place looked incredibly cozy—a far cry from the image he had of Luffy as some wild kid who just wandered the streets at night. "This is your place? I figured you lived in the woods or something," Zoro muttered honestly.
"Eh? No way!" Luffy hopped toward the gate and swung it open. "Hey, instead of walking aimlessly and ending up in another city by tomorrow morning, why don’t you just stay here? I’ve got plenty of room!"
Zoro flinched, his feet rooting to the spot in front of the gate. "Huh? Stay over? Don't be ridiculous, kid. We met barely an hour ago, and I’m an armed stranger who just trashed a bar. You can't just invite someone like me into your home."
"But you paid for my food, so you're a good guy!" Luffy shot back with his trademark, bulletproof logic. He grabbed Zoro’s arm—which felt as solid as a rock—and tried to haul him inside. "Come on, my brothers won't mind. They’re cool! Besides, it’s freezing out here. You don’t really want to sleep under a bridge, do you?"
Zoro tried to pull his arm back, but he was genuinely startled by the strength of the boy's grip. This kid was small, but he was stubborn, and his raw power was no joke. Considering the night air was indeed starting to bite through his clothes and the fact that he truly had no clue where he was, Zoro finally let out a long, defeated sigh.
"Only until sunrise," Zoro stated firmly, stepping into the yard with a stiff expression. "After that, I’m gone. And don’t you dare tell anyone about me getting lost."
"Got it!" Luffy grinned from ear to ear, then threw the front door open without even bothering to knock. "I'm hooommme!! Hey, Ace! Sabo! Look who I brought back!"
Zoro stood behind Luffy, awkwardly clutching the hilt of one of his swords. He felt like he’d rather face a whole squad of police officers than have to explain to Luffy’s brothers why a random swordsman had suddenly appeared in their living room at midnight.
Inside, the sound of hurried footsteps thundered down the stairs. Two young men appeared, their faces a mix of intense worry and sheer irritation.
"Luffy! Where the hell have you been—" Ace’s sentence cut off abruptly as his eyes landed on the looming, green-haired figure standing behind his little brother.
Sabo, standing beside Ace with a book still gripped in his hand, could only blink in stunned silence. He stared at the three katanas strapped to Zoro’s waist with a look of pure disbelief.