Work Text:
Zoro knew where he was going.
He always knew where he was going.
"Zoro," Luffy said from somewhere behind him, voice bright and entirely too awake for this early, "you're going the wrong way."
Zoro didn't even turn around.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
A pause.
Then, closer now too close "You are."
Zoro stopped walking. Slowly, he turned his head.
Luffy was right there. Of course he was. Standing just behind his shoulder, leaning in like personal space was a concept that simply did not apply to him.
Zoro frowned. "Why are you following me?"
Luffy blinked. "'Cause you walked away."
"That doesn't mean you follow me."
"It does."
Zoro stared at him.
Luffy grinned.
Zoro turned back around and kept walking.
"...Idiot."
He'd only meant to scout ahead.
That was it. Quick look around the island, make sure nothing was off, head back.
Routine.
Simple.
Except now the forest was thicker than it should be, the path had disappeared somewhere behind them, and the coastline was...
Zoro paused.
...Not visible.
That was fine.
Totally fine.
Behind him, Luffy stretched his arms above his head like they were on a leisurely stroll instead of
"Zoro."
"What."
"...Where are we?"
Zoro kept walking.
"I know where we are."
"Sure..." Luffy giggled.
Zoro's eye twitched.
They walked for another ten minutes.
Or twenty.
Or longer.
Zoro didn't keep track.
He did notice, however, that Luffy had gotten closer.
Again.
Not just walking behind him anymore no, now he was beside him, occasionally bumping shoulders, sometimes drifting slightly ahead before circling back like an overly energetic dog.
Annoying.
"You're in the way," Zoro muttered.
"I'm walking."
"You're wandering."
"So are you."
Zoro stopped.
Luffy took one more step forward before realizing and turning back to him, tilting his head.
"What?"
"...Stand still."
Luffy grinned. Then deliberately leaned closer. "Make me."
Zoro moved before he thought.
Reflex.
Hand on Luffy's wrist. Shift of weight. Quick turn.
The world flipped.
And suddenly, Luffy was on his back and Zoro above him.
Pinning him.
Silence.
Zoro froze.
Luffy blinked up at him, completely unbothered.
Then he grinned.
"Ohhh," he said. "You're strong."
Zoro's grip tightened instinctively as he gritted his teeth.
That wasn't...
That wasn't the point.
"You..." Zoro started, then stopped.
Luffy's wrists were under his hands.
Pinned.
Zoro's knee pressed lightly against his side to keep him down.
And Luffy...
Was looking straight at him.
Too close.
Way too close.
Zoro became abruptly, painfully aware of it.
The distance, the warmth.
The way Luffy's soft and messy hair brushed against his wrist.
The way his captains chest rose and fell beneath him.
Zoro's breath hitched.
Move.
He didn't.
Luffy tilted his head slightly, like he was studying him.
"You're really close."
Zoro's brain stalled.
"Zoro," Luffy added, still staring, "your face is red."
Zoro let go immediately.
Like he'd been burned.
He stood up too fast, stepping back, turning away.
"Shut up."
Behind him, Luffy sat up, still grinning.
"You tackled me."
"You were in the way."
"You liked it didn't you Zoro!" Luffy said laughing at his swordsman.
"I didn't."
A beat.
"...Did you?" Luffy added, curious.
Zoro's jaw tightened.
I didn't.
He started walking again.
Faster this time.
They were definitely lost, Zoro knew that by now.
Not that he'd say it.
Luffy didn't seem to care. If anything, he seemed... pleased.
He hummed as he walked, occasionally darting ahead to poke at something or inspect something completely irrelevant, then coming right back.
Always back.
Zoro noticed that.
Of course he comes back, he told himself. He's not an idiot.
...Debatable.
"Zoro," Luffy said, appearing at his side again, "you're lost again."
"I'm not lost."
"You said that last time."
Zoro ignored him.
"And the time before that."
Silence.
"And the-"
"I get it."
Luffy beamed.
By the time the sun started to dip, even Zoro had to admit.
They weren't getting back anytime soon.
"...We'll stop here."
Luffy dropped onto the ground immediately, stretching out like this had been the plan all along.
"Okay!"
Zoro glanced at him.
"...You're too relaxed."
Luffy looked up at him. "Why?"
"We're stuck out here."
"So?"
Zoro frowned.
"So-"
"It's kinda nice," Luffy said, cutting him off.
Zoro paused. "...What?"
"Just us."
Zoro stared at him. Luffy smiled, simple and easy.
Zoro looked away first, his face getting warmer.
"...Idiot."
The fire took less than a minute.
Zoro had it going before Luffy even managed to stack the wood properly.
Luffy watched him like he'd just performed a miracle.
"Whoa."
"It's a fire."
"You're good at stuff."
Zoro snorted. "Obviously."
Luffy scooted closer.
Of course he did.
Close enough that their shoulders brushed.
Zoro stilled slightly.
It's just Luffy.
Luffy leaned in, peering at the fire.
"It's warm."
"It's fire."
"I like it."
Zoro exhaled slowly.
Luffy shifted.
Closer.
Again.
Now their sides were fully pressed together.
Zoro felt it immediately.
Every point of contact.
Heat.
Weight.
Presence.
It's not that cold.
"So," Luffy said, nudging him slightly, "you gonna admit it?"
Zoro didn't look at him. "Admit what."
"You're lost."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Luffy leaned even closer, face near his shoulder now.
"You like being lost with me?"
Zoro's breath caught.
Just for a second.
"That's not-"
He stopped.
Because Luffy had shifted again.
Now he was really close.
Zoro turned his head, and immediately wished he hadn't.
Too close.
Way too close.
He could see everything.
Luffy's eyes. Bright. Curious. Those stupid... adorable eyes.
Focused entirely on him.
Zoro jerked his gaze away.
Too close.
"What?" Luffy asked.
"Nothing."
"You made a face."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Zoro stood up abruptly.
"I'm getting more wood."
"There's wood right there."
"I'm getting more."
Luffy watched him go.
Still smiling.
The night settled in quietly.
The fire crackled softly.
Luffy had stopped talking at some point.
Zoro noticed.
Of course he did.
He always noticed.
When he glanced over
Luffy was leaning back on his hands, looking up at the sky.
Stars scattered across the dark. "...It's nice," Luffy said softly.
Zoro sat back down. "...Yeah."
Silence stretched between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
Luffy shifted again.
Zoro tensed slightly, but instead of crowding him again, Luffy just leaned sideways.
And rested his head against Zoro's shoulder.
Zoro froze.
Every muscle tensed.
Move him.
He didn't.
Luffy sighed softly, completely at ease. "I'm hungry..."
Like this was normal.
Like this was nothing.
Zoro stared straight ahead.
This is fine.
Luffy shifted slightly, getting comfortable.
Closer.
This is not fine.
Zoro swallowed.
"...You trust me too much."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Luffy hummed sleepily.
"Yeah."
Zoro's chest tightened.
"'Cause it's you."
Zoro's breath caught.
He didn't respond.
Couldn't.
Because something about that
Something about the way Luffy said it, so simple, so certain
It settled somewhere deep in his chest.
Heavy.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Luffy's breathing evened out.
Asleep.
Just like that.
Zoro glanced down slightly.
Close. Still too close. His head resting against him. Trusting. Always trusting.
Zoro exhaled slowly.
Move him.
He didn't.
Instead he carefully adjusted slightly, just enough so Luffy wouldn't slip.
So he'd be more comfortable.
Zoro stilled after.
Realization hitting.
If it were anyone else, I'd move.
Silence.
So why am I still here?
His jaw tightened.
This is just loyalty.
It had to be.
It was always that.
Nothing else.
Nothing more.
...Right?
Zoro looked down at him again.
Luffy shifted slightly in his sleep, hand curling loosely against his side.
Zoro's breath hitched.
Heat crept up his neck again.
It's just the fire.
There was no fire close enough for that.
Zoro looked away.
"...Tch."
He didn't sleep much.
Didn't move either.
Morning came too quickly.
Luffy stirred first.
Stretching.
Yawning.
Like he hadn't just...
Like none of that mattered.
"Morning," he said, smiling.
Zoro nodded.
"...We should head back."
"Okay."
Zoro stood.
Paused.
Then started walking.
This time, they knew the way.
Zoro exhaled.
"...This way."
Luffy followed immediately.
Of course he did. No hesitation, no doubt. Luffy trusted Zoro and Zoro trusted him.
They walked in comfortable silence.
Luffy eventually drifted closer again.
Not as obvious this time.
But still there.
Always there.
At some point he reached out.
And grabbed Zoro's sleeve.
Zoro glanced down. "...What are you doing?"
"Making sure you don't get lost again."
Zoro huffed.
"Let go."
"No."
Zoro could pull away easily. But he didn't. "...Idiot."
The Merry came into view not long after.
Voices.
Movement.
The crew.
"Oi! There they are!"
"What took you so long?!"
"How did you BOTH get lost?!"
Zoro stopped at the edge of the clearing.
Luffy let go of his sleeve.
"We should get lost more often."
Zoro turned away.
"...No."
But his voice lacked bite.
"...Idiot."
And this time, he didn't sound annoyed at all.
"Luffy! You know Zoro isn't good with directions! Tsk, What were you thinking following him..." Nami dragged Luffy on the boat, Zoro followed.
"He didn't have to follow me, he just came along. And we're back now!" Zoro defended.
"I was just Bored... Ow! Nami!" Nami gave luffy a kick and sighed.
"Scold Zoro, he didn't know the way!" Luffy chuckled, trying to get Nami to hit Zoro.
"Just be careful, we don't want to lose you two." Nami said with a small smile on her face.
Well this wasn't the first time Zoro got lost. And same goes for Luffy.