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The smell of saltwater hung in the air as he stared into the open sea from his new perch. He silently watched the waves, taking another sip of sake every few minutes as the laughter of his crewmates echoed up into his hideout.
Franky’s dream ship had amazed him when it was first revealed, and his appreciation for the new vessel only grew each day as they sailed further away from Water 7.
Zoro allowed his mind to wander, thinking over the adventures of the past few months as his eyes slowly began to close.
Boop.
His nap was interrupted by something poking his nose, then his cheek, before his entire face was being assaulted by a series of soft presses.
“Zorooooooooooo.” The familiar voice of his captain whined, clearly searching for attention.
“What?” He replied gruffly, though he had to fight off a small smile as Luffy huffed and fell into his lap.
“I’m bored.”
Zoro sighed and readjusted himself on the bench, his careful grip on his captain ensuring that the smaller man would not fall off his thighs.
“Why don’t you see if Usopp wants to tell you a story?” He suggested. Though his own feelings towards their sniper were still a bit complex, he knew that Usopp could always entertain Luffy for hours on end when he was up for it.
“He’s in his workshop.” His captain pouted, his cheeks puffing out as he crossed his arms with a glare.
“Hm.” Zoro replied after forcibly stopping himself from squeezing Luffy’s face in his hands.
Before Luffy could complain any further, Nami stuck her head into the entryway. She raised her eyebrows when she saw the position they were in, but didn’t comment on it.
“Sanji made everyone a snack, come grab some before it's all gone.”
“Snack?” Luffy’s eyes widened as he leapt off Zoro’s lap and scrambled for the doorway, leaving his two crewmates in the dust.
Zoro made a move to stand, pausing when he noticed Nami staring at him with an intense expression he couldn’t quite identify.
“He may be an idiot, but he has a good heart.” She spoke as though she were explaining something to him. As though he didn’t know the kind and determined nature of their captain, as though he hadn’t been the first.
“I know.” He grunted, not wanting to explore the conversation any further than that. The promise of a meal and a fresh batch of sake tempted him as he inched his way across the room.
“Don’t hurt him.”
The words made him still, his mind trying to logicize the request from their navigator.
Had he done something to make her think he would ever hurt Luffy?
Sure they enjoyed sparring, both of them excited to find an opponent that could give them a challenge. Their spars always ended with a few injuries, but never anything that would be a cause for concern.
“Why would I hurt Luffy?” He finally asked after he shook himself out of the momentary spiral.
Nami stared at him for a moment longer before her face broke into a small smile, her head nodding as she went to leave the lookout.
Weird.
------------
The sun was beginning to set, a cool breeze covering the deck as they relaxed after a long day at sea. They had come across a rather overzealous group of bounty hunters that were hell bent on claiming their new bounties.
Zoro was tired.
He was laying in the grass, the scent of the earth surrounding him as he allowed himself to finally relax.
Usopp was sitting a foot away as he tinkered with his latest invention, his quiet presence helping to ease the tension that had filled him all day. The sniper may be a dumbass, but Zoro cared about him. He was the glue that kept them smiling on tough days, his jokes and ridiculous behavior a welcome distraction from the trials they had faced.
His eyes were halfway shut when a sudden yelp had him shooting up on his feet. A splash came only moments later, confirming his fears.
“Luffy!” He was running before he knew what he was doing, his feet carrying him to the edge of the ship as he saw the shadowy form of their captain sinking into the sea.
Chopper and Robin stood staring over the edge with wide, horrified eyes.
Zoro jumped.
After Luffy was safely back on board and dried off it was time for dinner, the two of them sitting shoulder to shoulder as they devoured Sanji’s latest creation. Zoro found himself watching the rise and fall of his captain’s chest, a sense of relief washing over him at every breath.
They all helped Sanji clean up the kitchen after their meal, and the chef rewarded them with a small batch of cookies to enjoy as they watched the sparkling stars in the night sky.
Everyone trickled off to bed or to their workstations for the night, the long day at sea finally catching up to them all. Zoro decided to stay on the deck to keep an eye out for any potential threats - and perhaps to keep an ear out for any signs that someone had fallen overboard.
He pulled out one of his swords to polish when his thoughts were interrupted by someone sitting at his side.
“I still feel guilty about what happened.”
Zoro took a sharp breath before turning to his crewmate, their eyes locking for a moment before Usopp turned away from him. He could only grunt in response - it was clear the sniper had more to say on the matter.
“I will never be ashamed about sticking up for Merry, but I don’t think I can ever really forgive myself for hurting Luffy.” Usopp picked at a fraying piece of string on his pants, his eyes drifting as though he were somewhere else.
Zoro suddenly felt out of his depth, his hands clenching around Wado Ichimonji as he floundered for a response. He had never been good at emotional shit, much preferring to work out his differences through combat or silent mutual understanding.
“He forgave you.” He replied, because of course Luffy had forgiven him.
Usopp simply nodded with a small smile, and something in his expression made Zoro wonder what the true nature of the conversation was.
“Just… don’t hurt him, okay? I’ll kick your ass if you do.” The sniper stared him in the eye with a sense of determination and resolve.
Zoro could only nod.
Seemingly satisfied with this response, Usopp stood and began walking the path back to his workshop.
He looked up at the stars, his stomach twisting in knots as he tried to understand the strange conversation.
First Nami, now Usopp?
Did they really think he could physically harm their captain, without the man himself fighting back?
He was self-aware enough to know that Luffy would beat him in a serious fight - it was part of the reason he had followed the man across the East Blue and the Grand Line.
Maybe he’d invite them to watch their next spar, perhaps that would put their mind at ease.
------------
“You remind me of that coward Fire Fist!”
Zoro flinched as he watched Luffy scowl at the captain of the pirates that had decided to attack them. He had tuned out the long winded speech about glory and defeating such a powerful foe, only paying attention after the man dared to insult the Straw Hat Captain’s beloved brother.
“My brother is not a coward.”Luffy spoke in a dangerously calm tone, which was a warning signal for anyone that knew him well. He launched himself towards the other ship, tackling the captain as both crews leaped into action.
The fight was comically easy, the enemy crew barely putting up a fight once they realized what they were up against. There was no hesitancy in the Straw Hat’s movements, even if three of their crewmates acted scared in the moment.
Fighting so many battles - almost losing everything over and over again - it had tuned their senses and made them intimately familiar with the high stakes of the paths they had chosen.
It was an easy fight, but that didn’t mean that everyone came out unscathed.
Zoro cursed as a piece of debris stabbed through his shoulder, his momentary distraction over an enemy’s devil fruit power leading to his current predicament. The last thing he saw was Luffy knocking out the other captain before turning to him with horrified, wide eyes.
Then everything was dark.
The next thing he knew he was slowly blinking awake, the familiar scent of Chopper’s medical suite greeting him as he tried to remember what had happened. There was something pressing down on his thigh, and he turned his head to find his captain fast asleep.
Luffy was leaning forward from his chair, his hat on Zoro’s chest in a protective gesture.
Zoro didn’t have any time to process his situation as the cook entered the med bay only moments after he had woken up.
The blond stared between the two of them with a blank expression, his reaction causing Zoro to narrow his eyes. Sanji quickly stepped over to the bed, revealing two bowls of stew that smelled amazing.
Not that he would ever admit that to the idiot cook.
“Only you could manage to get injured during such a simple fight.” Sanji’s words were biting, but his tone lacked the usual malice it held. He began listing off the ingredients he had used in the meal, making sure to emphasize the medicinal properties and benefits.
Zoro wasn’t listening, choosing to enjoy his food as he ignored the cook.
“I brought one for the captain as well, I knew he’d be here and I didn’t want him stealing yours.”
This caused the swordsman to pause.
How could he know that Luffy would be here? He said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
And… wasn’t it?
Every time he was injured he could always count on Luffy to be by his side, excitedly chatting away or softly scolding him.
He remembered his fight with Mihawk, Luffy’s worried face as he took on the greatest swordsman in the world. He remembered Luffy’s face only hours ago, completely forgetting to celebrate his victory as he watched his first mate go down.
Zoro quietly thanked him, hoping the cook wouldn’t mock him too much for it as he continued to eat. His eyes never left Luffy’s sleeping figure, the captain’s cheek covered in drool as he snored and nuzzled further into the blanket.
He looked completely content, as though being by Zoro’s side was where he was meant to be.
The green-haired man swallowed, ignoring whatever feeling was bubbling in his gut. God forbid the cook saw him get emotional.
“He waited outside the door the entire time Chopper was operating, and he forced his way in here as soon as he could.” Sanji’s voice was quieter, softer than it usually was towards Zoro.
What is he supposed to do with that information?
He swallowed again as he continued to stare at Luffy.
In his periphery he could see Sanji reaching for a cigarette before dropping his hand, clearly remembering Chopper’s strict no smoking policy in his medical office.
The cook stared at him for a moment before sighing.
“Don’t hurt him or you’ll be eating scraps for the rest of our journey.”
Zoro grimaced and looked up at the blond, scowling as he realized that he was once again missing something important.
“Why do you all keep saying that I shouldn’t hurt him? I’ve never seriously injured him during a spar.”
I would rather die than hurt him remains unspoken.
Sanji’s visible brow shot up, confusion morphing into a sly smirk as he glanced between captain and first mate.
“You’re an idiot, Mosshead.”
The blond left before Zoro could answer, and Luffy woke up only moments later due to the smell of food.
As his captain checked over his injury and began eating his own meal, Zoro found himself lost in thought.
You’re an idiot, Mosshead.
What was he missing?
------------
Of course the uninhabited island they had stopped at couldn’t be normal.
There were strange plants covering the entire forest, their varying colors and scents initially intriguing the crew as they explored. Luffy stuck his face into a bright yellow and orange plant that had large petals. His bright smile distracted Zoro from the sense of danger that itched at the back of his mind.
A large plume of pollen burst from the plant, covering all of the Straw Hats in a thick coating before they could protect themselves from inhaling the orange dust.
Chopper spent the next hour looking through his textbooks, quickly identifying the plant and its pollen with a sigh of relief. The effects would not be fatal, just a bit of inebriation for the next 24 hours.
Their doctor was left unscathed, perhaps due to his reindeer anatomy, and insisted that they all rest until the effects ran off. The cook immediately insisted on hosting a feast on the beach, and the rest of the crew readily agreed.
The crew ate to their heart’s content, sticking to non-alcoholic beverages at the insistence of Chopper.
Zoro had ended up leaning against one of the trees on the edge of the beach, keeping a careful eye on his friends as they enjoyed themselves. Robin and Franky were leaning into each other’s space, their noses brushing as they talked quietly amongst the laughter and shouts of the rest of the crew.
He looked away, not wanting to invade their privacy.
His body felt light and heavy at the same time, the simple grilled meat dish that the cook had made perfectly satisfying his hunger. There was a slight breeze in the air, the sounds of his crewmates’ joy filling the beach as the sun slowly began to set.
Luffy was dancing and singing with Usopp and Chopper, the light from the fire shining in his eyes as he smiled brightly.
It was impossible for him to take his eyes away from his captain, his heart pounding in his chest as he was overcome with a variety of emotions that settled into a lump in his throat.
He didn’t realize he was smiling until Luffy turned and caught his eye, both of them staring at each other for a few moments with matching grins. His captain made his way over to him and collapsed into his lap with a satisfied sigh before placing his hat on Zoro’s head.
Luffy settled his head into his shoulder, and Zoro immediately wrapped his arms around the shorter man without words. They settled into each other as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Perhaps it was.
He watched as Luffy’s back rose and fell with each breath, and he fought down the urge to run his hands through black strands of hair and over sweat-coated skin.
Luffy smelt like grilled meat and earth, and he allowed himself to move his face closer to his captain’s head to breathe in the scent.
“You’re silly.”
Zoro stilled as Luffy began to giggle in his arms, and he could only grin back as they began to laugh together. His mind was overwhelmed with thoughts about the man in his arms, his name repeating in his head as though it were a prayer.
His senses were completely overtaken by his captain’s aura, his heart racing as he tried to calm himself down.
It felt as though they were the only ones on the beach, the rest of the crew dissolving as they quietly chatted about everything and nothing. He leaned back as Luffy told him stories of his childhood, of Ace and Sabo. Luffy’s eyes sparkled as he talked about Shanks and his visits, and how much the man’s sacrifice had meant to him.
The sun was long gone, and their eyelids began to lower as the fire dimmed. It seemed the rest of the crew had already fallen asleep, scattered across the beach in various spots.
Luffy was playing with his earrings, his forehead pressed against Zoro’s cheek as they sat in a comfortable silence. His captain had told him so much about his life, had shared things even the rest of the crew didn’t know about his past and his dreams. Zoro was his first mate, the first person to join in on this crazy journey.
Perhaps it was time to share a piece of himself as well.
His hand fell on Wado Ichimonji, his fingers clenching around it as he took a deep breath to prepare himself.
Luffy seemed to realize he was about to speak, his hand drifting away from his earrings and down to his shoulder with a soft squeeze.
He told him about Kuina, how Luffy reminded him of her sometimes. How both of them were passionate and strong - how they both inspired him to be stronger. He told Luffy about her accident, how he wanted to reach their shared goal for the both of them.
They sat in silence for a minute, both of them taking in the vulnerability of the moment before Luffy broke the silence.
“She sounds badass.”
Zoro laughed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in years.
“She was.” He agreed.
Luffy went back to playing with his earrings, but Zoro had one last thing on his mind.
“It seems I have a habit of admiring badass people with big dreams.” His face was hot, and if it weren’t for the pollen’s influence he probably would have remained silent.
He waited for Luffy to call him weird, or to push away, and was surprised when neither happened. His captain stared up at him for a long moment, his eyes shining with something akin to hope before he nuzzled back into Zoro’s neck.
It only took a few minutes before the man was asleep, his soft snores filling his first mate’s ears as the swordsman thought over the last few hours.
Zoro took a quick breath before deciding to do something selfish, something that he would blame on the pollen if anyone ever asked him about it.
He kissed Luffy’s forehead, carefully moving a few strands of hair out of his face before settling back against the bark of the tree. Sleep quickly overtook him, his arms squeezing Luffy tight against him as he fell into his own dreams.
tap, tap tap
His eyes slowly opened, his mouth dry and back sore after what must have been a few hours sleeping against the tree. Zoro turned to find Chopper staring up at him, and he immediately opened one of his arms for the small reindeer to curl into his side. Luffy wrapped an arm around their youngest crew member in his sleep, almost on instinct.
Zoro couldn’t help but grin to himself, two of his favorite people snuggled against him as the stars shimmered above.
He was just about to shut his eyes again when Chopper looked up at him with a sleepy gaze.
“I want to sail with you guys forever, I’m happy that Luffy brought us all together.”
The words did something strange to Zoro’s heart, and he squeezed Chopper closer to his chest.
“I am too.” He spoke quietly as he looked down at their captain with a small smile.
“I know you would never hurt Luffy, but I worry about him sometimes. He has such a big heart, I don’t want him to go through any more pain.” Chopper’s voice was soft and vulnerable, and Zoro clenched his jaw as he thought about how to respond.
“I’ll always do my best to protect our captain.” It was the truth - it might have been the most honest thing he had ever said in his life.
Chopper nodded against his chest before drifting off to sleep, his soft snores joining Luffy’s after a few moments.
Zoro fell asleep with a soft grin on his face.
------------
Another quiet day at sea, another night spent training on the deck until he collapsed on the grass with only a bottle of sake and his thoughts to keep him company.
He was just about to shut his eyes when a familiar presence appeared behind him.
“Aren’t you cold?” Robin’s cool voice spoke over the soft breeze in the air, and he turned to find her standing with a book and a mug of tea.
“It would take a lot more than a bit of wind to take me out.” He grumbled, gesturing for her to join him on the lawn. She smiled as she sat, adjusting herself so that her tea would not spill before turning to watch him.
Back in Alabasta he would have called her gaze cold and calculating, the eyes of a murderer that was always ready to strike. Now, after everything they had been through to get her back, he knew differently. She was a scholar, someone with a deep curiosity and yearning to learn about the world.
They sat together, Robin reading her book as he sipped on his sake in a comfortable silence that was only broken by the sound of waves or the soft howling of the wind.
His thoughts began to wander, reflecting on the words of his crew mates and the way his heart skipped around their captain. Robin was surely the most mature person on their ship, and she would more than likely have some thoughts on his current predicament.
Zoro cleared his throat, waiting for his crewmate to close her book and look up at him with a raised brow. He waited a moment, collecting his thoughts and his nerves before speaking.
“Do you think I would hurt Luffy?” He stared out into the vastness of the sea, holding his breath as he awaited the answer. A sudden sense of regret overtook him, the feeling that he should have let the question die in his throat growing every moment as Robin silently stared at him.
“Of course not.”
It was said with confidence, with such certainty, and it made his throat clench as his head shot in her direction. Robin greeted him with a kind smile, a bit of bemusement in her eyes as she let him get his thoughts together.
“But- but the rest of the crew thinks I would!” He hated the desperation and hurt that were so clear in his voice.
Robin’s eyes crinkled in confusion, and she gestured for him to continue with his explanation.
So he did.
He told her about how their friends seemed to be convinced that he would hurt their captain, how he felt around Luffy, everything.
Her eyes seemed to light up in understanding, a coy smile on her face as the swordsman continued his rant. Zoro felt lighter, like a burden he had been carrying was finally lifted off of his back.
He let out a sigh after he was finished, waiting for the archeologist to call him crazy or to tell him that the rest of their friends were right. That he was a dangerous beast that should stay away from the shining sun that was their captain.
“Zoro, they don’t think that you would hurt Luffy.”
His eyes slowly made their way towards her, disbelief and distrust building in him as he awaited for her to continue.
Robin let out a soft laugh and took a sip of her tea, clearly bemused by his reaction to her words.
“They know how much Luffy means to you, but they also know how much you mean to our captain.” She explained slowly, as though she were talking to a child.
Zoro looked down at the swords in his lap, his heart doing gymnastics in his chest as he tried to understand what she was saying.
“I don’t think he feels the same way that I do.”
It was a quiet admission, one that would only be given in the dead of the night with a bottle of sake in his hand. He wasn’t even certain what he meant, what the true nature of his feelings were.
“I would talk to him before jumping to conclusions. There is a reason that most of the crew thought the two of you were already courting.” She smiled and stood, clearly understanding that the conversation had overwhelmed him.
Robin drifted away towards the kitchen, leaving a very confused swordsman in her wake.
He took a large swig of sake before laying on his back, his eyes watching the stars as he allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts.
------------
No one was truly surprised when Franky and Robin invited them to the aquarium to announce their relationship. It had been obvious from the moment their shipwright joined the crew that the two had a special connection that would blossom into something more.
Luffy yawned loudly and scratched his side, clearly uninterested in the latest development in his crews’ personal lives. It wasn’t that he didn’t want them to be happy, moreso that he didn’t understand why they had to announce it in such a fashion.
Robin chuckled at their captain’s disinterest, her eyes sparkling with a light that hadn’t been there when she had first joined them. It was clear she was finally giving herself permission to be happy, to truly live.
The small moment was quickly interrupted by the cook’s screams, but Nami hit him over the head before he could get too out of control.
“Don’t hurt her or I’ll bankrupt you.” Their navigator turned to Franky, who met her threat with a smile and a thumbs up.
Curly Brow rubbed his head and stood back up, quickly turning to their newest crew mate with a fiery gaze.
“Hurt her and I’ll kill you!”
Usopp puffed his chest out and pointed a small slingshot at the man, his eyes narrowed in a rare show of courage.
“If you hurt her I’ll send my entire army after you!”
Both Franky and Robin were chuckling, clearly bemused by the antics of their crew. Chopper congratulated them, giving Robin a big hug while shooting her new boyfriend a quick protective glare.
“Why would he hurt Robin? Aren’t you supposed to protect the person you love?”
The crew froze, turning towards their captain with matching surprised expressions. None of them had expected him to comment, especially when it came to romantic love.
Zoro’s heart was pounding in his chest, his mind fluctuating between panic and realization as Nami explained the sentiment.
“It’s what you say when someone is dating somebody you care about.” The navigator’s eyes quickly darted towards him before they landed back on their captain.
Franky stuttered out something about being a part of the crew as well, and Nami humored him by winking at Robin and asking her not to hurt their shipwright.
Robin reached to hold her boyfriend’s hand, swearing that she would do her best to never hurt him. The man was clearly pleased, popping into one of his infamous poses and wiggling his hips before kissing the top of her head.
Zoro was half-listening, his mind recalling everything his friends had said to him since they had left Water 7.
Don’t hurt him..
He thought of the knowing glances Nami would send him when Luffy hung over him. The way his heart fluttered every time his captain praised him or seeked him out to take a nap on him. How his eyes always scanned for Luffy, whether they were on the ship or on a battlefield.
Oh.
Oh.
He tried to school his expression, not wanting to draw the attention of the rest of the crew as his entire world shifted on its axis.
He loved Luffy?
He loved Luffy.
The way his mind had immediately accepted that truth almost made him chuckle, the reality of his current predicament slowly dawning on him as he took a slow breath.
Of course the rest of his idiots had seen how gone he was for their captain before he even realized the extent of his feelings. It made sense they were so protective of the person that had saved them all from themselves, from the horrors that they had faced.
It seemed inevitable, falling in love with his captain.
Now that he finally accepted this fact, he wondered what he should do with it.
Something suddenly pressed into his side, interrupted his thoughts as he turned to find a beloved straw hat leaning into his shoulder.
“M’ tired.” Luffy grumbled as he settled himself fully into his side, his knee clicking against the swordsman’s as he crossed his legs over each other.
“I’m not your pillow.” Zoro admonished, though there was no heat behind his words as he grinned down at the smaller man.
He looked up to find Franky staring at him, and with a wink and a thumbs up the shipbuilder’s attention was back to the conversation he was having with his girlfriend.
Zoro would never admit it, but the quiet acknowledgement of what he had already known made him blush. He tried to hide his reddening cheeks as he leaned closer into Luffy’s side, enjoying the moment with the people he held closest to his heart.
We have plenty of time, it’ll all come together soon enough.
------------
Time was a cruel mistress.
Nothing happened.
Being torn apart from each other for two years after Luffy lost his brother.
Failing to be there for him when he needed us most.
He was stronger now, more aware of his abilities than ever before. Zoro tried to ignore the nervous pitter-patter of his heart as he re-familiarized himself with their ship.
They were all so different now, but still the same people he had grown to admire during their time together. Everyone was stronger, more sure of themselves than when they had been pulled away and tossed into the chaos of the world.
Luffy had changed.
It wasn’t difficult to notice the subtle shift in their captain’s aura.
He had always been powerful, defeating warlords and taking on the world government before they had truly made a name for themselves. Their captain had lost his brother, had held him in his arms as he took his final breaths and titans clashed around them.
Luffy moved with a confidence and certainty that would put anyone on edge, waiting for the moment he decided to strike or make his move.
Zoro couldn’t help but be proud.
There was a small sense of awkwardness amongst the crew, everyone trying to learn about each other’s adventures without opening up old wounds of loss and pain. No one asked about the battle at Marineford, and Luffy didn’t offer up any information on the matter.
“Why don’t we have a feast to celebrate our reunion?” The shitty cook offered, and everyone cheered at the idea of a party.
If he were a different man he might have teared up at the sight of his friends all together once again.
Robin and Franky were wrapped around each other, two reunited lovers embracing once again. Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook were dancing and singing together with large smiles on their faces. The cook was running around with trays of foods and drinks, clearly excited to be back in his element after so long.
He took a large gulp of sake, watching as the people he cherished the most in this world shed off the trials of the past few years and just had fun.
Zoro stopped himself from grinning when he felt a familiar body lean into his side.
The past two years had done nothing to diminish his feelings for his captain, a fact that was only made clearer in that moment. His loyalty to Luffy, his love for the other man had been his guiding star as he trained to become stronger.
He would never fail him again.
“Zoro.”
He looked down to find Luffy staring up at him, his hat hanging on the back of his neck as he nuzzled closer into his swordsman’s side.
“I missed you.” The quiet admission was so unexpected, so unlike Luffy that he was taken aback for a moment.
He reached out an arm and squeezed the smaller man closer to him, not wanting his silence to be taken as some sort of rejection. After a moment he leaned his check down, letting it rest in ruffled black hair as he took in the scent that he had longed for.
“I missed you too.” His throat clenched, the vulnerability of his words almost too much to bear.
“I want to be like Franky and Robin.”
It felt as though his entire being had left his body, floating high above as he tried to form a logical thought at the simple confession. Memories flashed before him, everything they had been together that had led them to this moment on the deck of the Sunny.
His mouth was dry, words unable to form as he realized that one of his greatest wishes was about to come true.
“I’d like that.” It was a short response, but nothing else came to mind as he slowly forced himself to breath so that he could truly enjoy this moment.
Luffy pulled away, his signature sunshine smile dazzling Zoro as the two of them simply grinned at each other for a while. His captain reached out a tentative hand to play with his earrings, an old habit that made the swordsman feel at home.
He reached out and pulled Luffy to his chest, holding him in the way he had dreamed about over the last two years.
The smaller man giggled in his arms, finally wiggling his way out after a while with a mischievous smirk.
“Luffy? What are yo-” His words were interrupted when his captain jumped up and began to run around the deck.
“Me and Zoro are like you guys now!” Luffy pointed at their shipwright and archeologist, who both looked at him with wide eyes before their faces morphed into wide grins.
The rest of the crew seemed to freeze for a moment before breaking out into cheers.
“Finally! You owe me one hundred berries!”
“The stupid Marimo finally got his head out of his ass?”
“Ho ho ho! Love is in the air!”
Luffy finally made his way back to the swordsman, reaching out an expectant hand before pulling him up to join in on the fun. The entire crew burst into cheers as they all took a toast, celebrating their survival and their reunion.
To new beginnings.
His captain reached for his hand, grasping it with admiration and trust that made his heart soar. He began to reflect on his friends’ not-so-subtle threats from a simpler time, before they knew the true trials they’d be facing in the New World.
As he stared down at Luffy’s beaming face, their shoulders brushing together as they sang along with Brook and Usopp, he made yet another promise to himself.
He would never hurt his captain.