𖤐ㅤ 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌. ๑ 𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗮 𝘇𝗼𝗿𝗼 !
꒰ synopsis ! ꒱ roronoa zoro & fem!reader / after being struck by the power of an akuma no mi, reader is doomed to sleep for eternity until they finds a cure... fluff + mutual pining.
Being part of the Straw Hat Crew meant not only being a pirate, an outlaw, hunted by the Marines and the World Government, but also being in constant danger in exchange for satisfying Captain Monkey D Luffy's insatiable thirst for adventure.
Not that you didn't enjoy the adventures, you had the chance to meet incredible islands and people ⸻ you and the crew even ended up on an island in the sky! The Grand Line was full of mysteries, and it didn't hurt to unravel them as you continued to make your dreams come true. But some situations could have been avoided if Luffy hadn't been so impulsive in his desire to venture into unknown lands.
An example of this would be the current situation in which the Straw Hat crew find themselves...
You felt your legs betray you as you ran in a random direction through the forbidden forest that Luffy had decided to explore. Even the scary stories of the inhabitants of the small village near the forest, about a monster that inhabited the forest and all those who tried to explore this area never came back, weren't enough to dispel Luffy's desire to discover the true mystery of this place. Kids' bedtime stories wouldn't scare Luffy ⸻ but with you, Usopp, Chopper, and even Nami, it worked a little differently; it was enough to make you think twice before getting into trouble. By the way, if there were stories, it was because something had happened before.
But by some quirk of fate, the crew was trapped in the forest, fleeing from a monster ⸻ the monster from the stories that had turned out to be real. As you ran, looking for the right way out of the forest, you noticed the absence of your companions. You were alone, at night, in that vast, frightening forest.
With your legs tired and sore, you began to slow down until you came to a panting halt with your hands on your knees. You turned around, squinting your eyes to find a familiar figure in the darkness, but nothing. 'I really am alone...' you thought to yourself. As you turned forward again, you noticed a hooded figure standing in the middle of the path.
"I see you lost your crewmembers." A dark voice rose above the nocturnal sounds of the forest.
"Who are you?" you asked, trying to control your breathing.
"I have several names, but I am usually called 'The Witch of the Woods'," the person laughed.
"You're the witch from the stories!" You tried not to sound frightened when you met the figure who frightened the villagers.
"I see they're still talking about me, and there are still those who think they're brave enough to invade my forest, even after being warned of what I'm capable of."
"Look, to tell you the truth, I didn't want to be here." You scratched your head, unashamed of the sincerity in your tone, "This was all my idiot Captain's idea!"
"And to tell you the truth, I don't care whose idea it was for you to invade my property and put an end to the peace that reigned here. Either way, you're all going to pay for your captain's stupid initiative!"
Before you could say anything or prepare to flee, as your fatigue would not allow you to fight for long, you felt your body hit by something and gradually a feeling of drowsiness came over you and the only thing you could see before you closed your eyes was the sinister smile of the Forest Witch shining through the darkness.
Zoro had no idea where he was. Surely he was lost (again) in the midst of so many identical trees. But his main goal was to clear all obstacles, find the crew and get back to the ship. He couldn't remember exactly what had happened to make him run in that direction. The only thing he could remember was that Luffy had persuaded the crew (despite several protests from Nami, Usopp, Chopper and you) to explore the forest, which was technically forbidden, and that he heard a loud noise and Usopp and Nami's desperate cries and ordered everyone to run back to the ship.
"Oi! Who's there?" Zoro asked after hearing the sound of voices. He quickly put his hand on the hilt of his katana and approached the figure in front of him who was standing and looking at something on the ground ⸻ what Zoro soon realized was a body. The boy squinted, trying to see in the dark, when he noticed that the person on the ground was wearing a pink dress that he would recognize anywhere, even without meaning to. "What did you do to her?"
"Well, I didn't do anything." The hooded figure laughed, "She just got what she deserved, just like all those who invaded my forest, she's now condemned to sleep for eternity."
"Stop talking shit." Zoro grunted before he attacked the unknown person and threw them away. They hit something Zoro didn't even bother to look at. He bent down next to you on the ground and put his ear to your nose, listening to your faint breathing. "Hey! Hey! Come on, wake up! Hey, we have to get out of here!" He shook your body, not as gently as he should have. "What did that witch do to you?" Zoro picked you up like a bride and went back to looking for a way out.
The half hour that Zoro wandered through the forest like a ghost in redemption seemed more like an eternity, and with each passing second, though he wouldn't admit it even to himself, his concern grew for the crewmate in his arms who wouldn't wake up. Eventually ⸻ and with a bit of luck ⸻ Zoro made it out of the forest, first meeting up with Chopper and Usopp.
"Apparently she's under some kind of spell." Said a worried Chopper, "We'd better get her to the ship!"
It wasn't long before the others arrived on the ship, and Sanji was arguing with Zoro about his lack of responsibility for a lady's safety.
"Hey Chopper, did you manage to wake her up?" Luffy asked hopefully.
"Nothing so far." Chopper sighed sadly, "I'm going to do some more research on what I can do to wake her up."
In the corner of the room, Zoro let out a discreet sigh and heard the witch's voice in his head. 'She's now condemned to sleep for eternity.' Was it possible to sleep for eternity? How many years was an eternity? You couldn't sleep that long, you had dreams and goals to achieve. Would you never wake up, or was the witch just bluffing? Maybe the witch was making something up to scare him. Maybe you would be up bright and early the next day, ready to train with him. At least you were in good hands, so maybe he shouldn't worry so much...
For a week, you slept soundly.
Apparently, no method Chopper used was enough to wake her up, not even the ones he had learned in his medical books. And your absence made it seem as if something was missing from the crew ⸻ especially to a certain swordsman.
"I thought of something to wake her up!" Sanji exclaimed smiling, "Maybe I should kiss her!" His eyes turned to hearts as he imagined the most romantic scenario of a prince waking his princess with a kiss of true love and they spending eternity together.
"And why would you kiss her?" Usopp looked at Sanji blankly.
"Because that's how enchantments are broken in fairy tales," Sanji replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"And what guarantees that you are her true love?" Usopp asked again, emphasizing the 'you'.
"How much do you want to bet that I'm the love of her life?"
"Stop this nonsense!" Nami shouted, "If a kiss of true love is the solution to wake her up, then maybe she really is doomed to sleep forever." Nami's expression turned sad.
"Why do you say that Nami?" Chopper asked, holding back tears, he couldn't lose one of his friends, a part of his new family.
"What guarantees that she has already found her true love? They could be on the Grand Line, in East Blue, anywhere in the world, and they could be dead at the same time."
"Don't say that! I'll do everything I can to wake her up!" Chopper said with conviction.
"Trying won't kill anyone." Robin muttered so that only Zoro could hear.
"What did you say?" Zoro turned to the woman next to him, confused.
"I was just saying that trying doesn't kill anyone, you'd be a good match." Robin got up from the table with the smile of someone who was in on something and walked out of the kitchen.
Zoro looked down at his empty plate. A kiss of true love? Nonsense! You wouldn't wake up if Zoro kissed you, he was sure of that... But then why was he thinking about what it would be like to kiss you?
Zoro looked at your sleeping figure on the bed. The sight of you, completely relaxed, sleeping soundly without a care in the world, as if nothing could touch you, with no idea that you might never wake up again. Zoro was afraid for a moment. Afraid of never hearing you again, afraid of never looking into your eyes, never seeing your smile. Zoro was afraid to lose you. And Roronoa couldn't accept losing you, you were a part of his life that he couldn't let go of easily, he couldn't let you go ⸻ even though he didn't know why it was so hard to let you go.
‘Trying won't kill anyone.’ Robin's voice echoed in his mind. Maybe he should try to kiss you? Would you mind if he kissed you? Would you like him to kiss you? What if he kissed you and you didn't wake up? What would that mean? That he wasn't the love of your life, or maybe that only works in fairy tales? What if Sanji kissed you and you woke up? Zoro shook his head, trying to forget the image of Sanji kissing you and you waking up. He certainly wouldn't want that to happen...
But what if he kissed you and you woke up?
Were you meant to fall in love and stay together? Were you made for each other?
Maybe Zoro wasn't ready to get romantically involved ⸻ but he wouldn't have minded if it was with you...
He tightened his grip on the Wado Ichimonji, determined to carry out his plan. And if you didn't wake up after the kiss, he would do the impossible to wake you up. And in the end, Robin was right, it wouldn't kill him to try just once.
As he got closer to your face, Roronoa felt nervousness rising inside of him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he couldn't give up when he was so close. And then he locked their lips in a three-second kiss before standing up quickly, incredulous at his own actions. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at you, you were still sleeping...
A sigh left Zoro's lips and he turned quickly with his back to you, ready to leave the room.
"Zoro...?" Your voice came out weakly as you blinked your eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the brightness, and sat up in bed, stretching.
"What?" Zoro turned to you in surprise.
"Huh? What's going on? The last thing I remember was meeting someone in the forest who called herself a witch..."
"You were hit by an incantation, Chopper suspected it was the power of an Akuma No Mi. You slept for a week..."
"And you woke me up?"
"Um..." Zoro murmured in confirmation.
"With a kiss?"
"Um..." Zoro murmured again and scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed, something that certainly wasn't in his nature.
"Thank you," you smiled openly. And it was then that Zoro realized how much he missed you, perhaps he had never realized what your absence could do to him. You got out of bed and approached Zoro's still figure with long steps, on tiptoe you reached for the boy's cheek with a kiss. "Thanks for saving me again."
"It was nothing..."
"So... you're my Prince Charming?" You smiled teasingly and nudged Zoro's waist.
"This is no fairy tale and I am no prince." Zoro stared at you, his words carrying no weight.
"Yeah, I know!" You laughed, "But you woke me up with a kiss anyway!"
"Yes, but don't think that I'm going to take it easy on you in training." Zoro smiled sideways as he saw the smile disappear from his face, "And remember, you haven't trained for a week."
"Come on Zoro... don't be so mean! You should be nicer to me!" You sulked, "We're soul mates, you shouldn't be mean to me."
"If you do everything right like a good girl, maybe I'll reward you at the end." Zoro's sly smile made you burn with shame.
Zoro could have awakened you from a deep and eternal sleep, but he would have been the reason for your death.
© SEONGHRTZ, 2024ㅤ⸻ㅤall rights reserved. please do not copy / steal / translate / modify any of my works !
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Hello Dove, I've been reading your shots for a while now and I must say your work is lovely, and everytime I read them it makes my day.
I hope is not a bother, but may I request a platonic scenario with Zoro and a youngling swordsman. Basically the strawhat crew stopped by in a island to refill their supplies, Zoro being Zoro started to explore alone and got lost (as usual) and he saw a fight between the youngling swordsman and other pirates, witnessing their fighting style with their katana that looks like Shinobu Kocho from demon slayer, cause their katana is not for slay rather works like a syringe cause is always covered in poison. Zoro caught interest in the youngling somehow but failed in the attempt to reach them so the strawhats set sail. Without knowing the youngling was hiding in the ship cause their next destination is the same as the crew, cause the youngling was finding a person to get revenge on for whatever reason, in the end they ended up discovering the youngling and the rest I'll leave it up to you.
I personally love platonic scenarios and I don't see much of those, but of you accept them then it's ok. However if you don't make platonic scenarios, feel free to make changes if these request caught your intrest. Have a lovely night
Apprentice
(SFW)
Warning: mention of wounds, mention of drinking, mention of fighting, spoilers for Nani’s backstory, spoilers for Zoro's backstory
Summary: After finding a small boy on the way to the Isle of Tenohira, Zoro reluctantly comes to care for him, reminiscent of his past self in his stubborn and vicious sword wielding abilities.
Word Count: 4,000
The Going Mary docked at the small port, clear blue waters rocking gently as one-by-one the crew dismounted, leaving Usopp behind to care for his worn-out ship. It was agreed for only a short stay to collect necessities and supplies for the next stretch of vast blue, knowing anything longer than a few hours would detour their path for the Isle of Tenohira.
Zoro landed on the creaking wood, grunting as he peered over his shoulder at the sudden commotion caused by his captain. Rolling his eyes he watched as Luffy ran off laughing, Nami and Sanji following close behind, yelling at him for being careless and ignorant of his surroundings. Every trip curated the same response, predictable turnouts from his fellow crew-members as they scattered over the island, never sticking to the plan Nami instructed.
Looking around, Zoro noted his surroundings, figuring he would go in search of a bar to drink at for the duration of the time. The island, although small, made up for the distance with height, weaving hills dotted with pink shrubs falling beyond his sight. Figuring the sun was pointing east, he turned on his heels, heading west, walking towards thick shrubs away from the obvious clearing to the town.
He took his time wandering, assuming the bar wouldn't be far from his position, taking in the unusual sights around him. It was a particularly sunny day, a warm breeze rustling through the vibrant shrubs with a whistle as if they were singing out to the swordsman. The grass, if you could even call it that, was short and tuft, weaving strands of iridescent gold, dotting through flowers curved in oblong shapes.
Zoro shook his head, dizzy from the unfamiliar surroundings, parted at sea for what felt like weeks.
A call up ahead prompted Zoro to face to his left, easily spotting the commotion right away. A band of mismatched pirates surrounded a little boy no more than ten, laughing down at him. The young boy wielded a sword, unusual in appearance, as most things were here, with scaling edges down the blade, dripping in an ominous thick brown liquid. It was clear the sword was too large for the boy to hold, using both hands on the handle to lift it off the ground. Shrugging at the boys obvious stubbornness to fight alone, Zoro continued on, assuming the situation was under control.
As Zoro sat in the bar, he couldn't help but feel panicked, unknown to how the fight turned out; feeling a slight guilt in the safety of the child. Looking at the boys stubbornness and dedication to take out a band of pirates reminded him of a younger version of himself, holding onto a weapon that would've taken all his strength just to hold. He held his breath, hoping that the pirates wouldn't enter the bar, cementing only what he feared.
The more Zoro drank the less he remembered about what he saw, fogged over by the alcohol in his body; the ringing of chatter around him soothing his mind. He swayed along to their conversations, dancing silently to his own rhythm by the vibrato in their voices, amusing himself as he flagged down the bartender for another beer.
The doors of the bar crashed open, Zoro sluggishly looking over as someone called out his name, groaning as Sanji made his way over to him. He swore under his breath, wishing someone else came to collect him, scowling at the two-bit chef. Sanji ignored Zoro's look of disgust, grabbing onto his arm as he trudged out of the bar, barking at him. The crew had agreed to be back at the ship hours ago, and as per usual, Zoro lost track of time, drinking away.
Too blinded by hate to zone into Sanji's words, Zoro stumbled alongside him, his eyes darting around. He refused to look in his direction, the drug of alcohol creating a haze over the surreal island, making it seem almost amusing to him. And although this island sparked a particular interest in him, he couldn't help but feel soothed by the promise of returning to his beloved ship.
He couldn't wait to return back to his usual napping post.
Zoro awoke to a heavy crash, his hand reaching for his sword in a bid to fight whoever disturbed his drunken rest. Jerking his eyes around the room he was met with silence, a figure crouching behind one of the barrels in the corner, knowing they were caught. He assumed it was Luffy or Chopper, coming to pry some of Sanji's hidden treats, quickly lacing some venom in his words.
"Oi, piss of will ya! Ya wanna get cut? I'm tryna to nap here!"
"I'm sorry mister..."
Quickly, Zoro sat up, his eyes wide at the unfamiliar voice realising it wasn't a crew member. Focusing on the barrel, he watched as the boy he encountered before stepped out, his sword slung to his back. His innocent and round face was littered with cuts and bruises, one of his dark brown eyes clouded with a purple ring. His light ash hair seemed almost wet, sticking to his forehead, dipped with darker ends from what he could assume was blood.
"The hell ya doing here?"
"I snuck onto the ship"
"Well, yeah" he rolled his eyes, taking a stand. Zoro moved his neck around, cracking in a rolling motion, walking over to the barrels. "Ya need to get outta here, idiot, it's not safe invading a pirate ship!"
"I wasn't trying to invade" he admitted sheepishly, "I just needed a lift to the Isle of Tenohira"
"How'd ya know we were going there?" Zoro drew out his sword, sceptical of the boys knowledge.
"I heard the stringy one talking about it; the one with the hat"
Luffy.
Realising his mistake, Zoro withdrew his sword, sighing heavily. He was still half asleep, his brain feeling like static as he thought for a moment, unsure of what to do with the boy. He could throw the boy overboard, letting the sea drift him someplace he wouldn't have to step foot in? But it would cause too much commotion.
Looking away he sighed again, not wishing to look down at his soft and wide eyes, knowing he might give in and help him.
Zoro just wanted to nap.
Scratching his head, Zoro felt lost, confused on what to do. He didn't wish to put further injury on the boy, given his current timid and broken state, but he also knew he couldn't stay here, his rest disturbed enough. Suddenly, he had an idea, smiling wickedly, knowing exactly who would put some sense into the boy. Zoro was familiar with them enough to understand how they operated, viciously attacking any of the boys on the crew whenever they pleased, hoping the same end would be met for the boy in front of him.
That was it.
Zoro was decided.
He would take the boy to see Nami.
"Oh my dear, look at you!" Nami bent down in front of the boy, cupping at his face "what happened?"
Zoro's face dropped, not expecting her to react so sensitive to his needs. When he had brought the boy to the crew he received a hearty thud over his head, Nami immediately snapping at him for bringing a child onto the ship. However, as she faced the boy she shifted, turning almost into somebody he didn't recognise at all.
"Did that brute do this to you?" Nami's tone was snappy as she whipped her head around to Zoro, glaring at him. "If I find out you laid a hand on this poor child I-"
"No" the boy shook his head "I was ambushed by some pirates back at the island"
Nami turned back to him, whimpering her bottom lip as she pulled him into a sweet hug, her breasts engulfing the boys face, almost suffocating him. She cooed aimlessly at him, inaudible to Zoro as he stood there burning up, realising he should have been tougher on the boy and kicked him off as soon as he saw him.
"You really thought she would be mad at him, didn't you?" Sanji snickered, lighting up a cigarette. "You clearly don't know my sweet Nami-swan at all"
"Oi, shut up, ero-cook! Nobody asked you to speak"
Sanji quickly snapped into action, lifting his leg up to strike at Zoro, to which he swiftly dodged. Pulling out his swords, Zoro resumed a typical stance, mumbling profanities as Sanji attempted to land a few hits at any open area he could find.
"Will you both just be quiet!" Nami ordered, flailing her hands into fists as she smacked them each over the head. Shoving herself between the boys she created space to separate, clearing the thick air that hung overhead.
Luffy laughed, amused by the astounding situation, the addition of a possible new crew member exciting him. "I think we should keep him"
"Huh?"
"Luffy! You can't be serious!" Nami's face dropped, realising the possibility of the situation. A familiar feeling of anxiety fell over her, reminded of her horrible tangled past with pirates as a young girl, never wishing upon that for anybody. "We can't possibly accept a child to join our crew, especially since what has just happened! We need to turn the ship around and get him home to his -"
"I overheard you were travelling to the Isle of Tenohira" the young boy piped up, averting the attention back to him. Everyone continued their silence, waiting for the boy to explain further, giving him a chance to speak his peace. "I will be happy to leave once we have arrived; I just need a ship to take me"
"That's at least a three-day trip" Usopp interjected, informing the boy of his situation.
"I am aware, just please let me stay until you dock there"
"What has you so interested in this island, anyway?"
"I need to get revenge on some pirates" the boy lowered his voice, a hideous growl muffling his words.
Luffy laughed, reminded just how stubborn and vengeful his own right-hand was, noting similarities between the two. "Well, we will be more than happy to have you join us. What is your name?"
—————————
After some time, Zoro returned to the crows nest, fuelled by his strict routine to get back into training. He was aware there was too much time lost, frustrated with the unwanted distraction of a child to focus on his goal. The weights he usually bared felt heavy, only frustrating him more, feeling much weaker than before. He knew nothing had chance but regretted falling out of his usual rhythm.
He lunged the weight back and forth, mimicking a swinging action similar to his sword, working his arms to swing all around him. As he spun around the room he stopped, stepping back in fright, tripping over his foot. The weight landed behind him in a crash, rocking the crows nest briefly, causing him to wobble off balance.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The young boy stood in front of him, his cuts and scrapes patched up poorly by Nami's efforts to coddle the child. He had changed into new clothes, a large t-shirt bunched up and tied off at the waist, showering him in fabric.
He ignored his question. “Do you mind teaching me that?”
"What?" Zoro acted clueless, hoping the boy would give up and leave.
"Would you teach me how to train properly to be a swordsman?"
"No"
The boy huffed, confused that Zoro would be so quick to shut down his request, despite his blunt and dismissive attitude to his presence. Unamused by the boy's childish behaviour Zoro stood his ground, turning back to his weights with a heavy roll of his eyes.
A harsh quiet fell over the crows nest, almost irritable, growing an intense and thick atmosphere. The hairs on the back of Zoro's neck stood at attention, a shiver running down his spine, knowing something bad was about to happen.
"NAMI!" The boy's voice rung through the crows nest, shrill and cruel. He added a drawn out whine, letting his voice be heard through the ship, rearing his beloved new friend. The addition of overdramatic tears rolls down his cheeks, making his performance theatrical and threatening for Zoro. He had already underlined his name in Nami's bad book, knowing this would corrupt him into something horrible; owning her something to make up for the child's woe.
Zoro felt a rush of regret fall over him, spiteful a part of him felt so connected to the boy in front of him. Since seeing the boy on the island, he couldn't help but sense a part of the stubborn swordsman inside him that pushed him to where he was today. But as he looked down at the manipulative tactics of the child, he realised he was far from the same.
"Fine!" Zoro snapped, turning around to face him with a roll of his eyes. Pointing to the boy with the end of his sword, Zoro held himself firm and cold, not wishing to give into pity for the sake of the child. "But I will not go easy on you because you're a kid. Understand?"
The boy nodded, a delighted smile replacing the well of tears, wiping away the snot from his nose. "I understand"
As per Zoro's usual routine, he trained, holding the same measures as he would against any object to come in his path. The boy, all the while clasping his sword, struggled to keep up with Zoro's intense ability. He accommodated both hands to lift his chosen weapon, making the fight more strenuous on his body, his arms and back caving at the heavy weight. And Zoro could feel it too, every hit that collided with the sword appalled him, wondering how someone of his size wield such a beast.
The sword matched the length of his own, the spikes curling through each clatter as they collided. Zoro feared what liquid oozed from the weapon but knew he was far from finding out such atrocities. He was a small child after all; Zoro was the master here.
However, no matter how hard and fast Zoro swung, the boy kept up, ignoring every inch of his body to give up. His hands were covered with thick callouses, grasping the handle of his blade tightly not to drop or lose sight of Zoro. Cuts and bruises littered his skin, fair to the word of keeping up with Zoro as much as he could.
He was learning fast.
He would be something great one day Zoro was sure.
Around the crew the boy would keep the same chipper attitude, slowly mimicking how they moved. He carried the same light-hearted and hungry energy as Luffy, challenging him to the last bits of meat Sanji worked hard to prepare; winning with Nami on his side. His stamina and aim heighten, time spent with Usopp throwing off Zoro's expectations for how quickly he was learning skills. Accidents and wounds lessened, learning how to fix his own incidents, knowing any setback would cause his training to lessen.
He was improving in all aspects, quickly adjusting to the movements and flow of sparring against Zoro, reminding him of a version of himself long forgotten. Zoro could see that now, misjudging his manipulation, realising how smart and creative the boy was in his own right.
Zoro's past stood in front of him, so vivid it haunted him in the night, keeping him awake from drawing in his memories. He viewed himself, the child, in the same determined nature which craved more, burning their bodies to the ground in pain; and no amount of rest would be enough to sooth them. He could feel himself attach to the boy, instinctively protecting his own shadow, and as the Isle of Tenohira grew closer, Zoro started to grieve something he was fond of.
"Oi!" Luffy's voice boomed through the ship, the clatter of his sandals beating against the deck. It had turned three days since the boy joined the crew, a day Zoro had began to dread, knowing instantly what that meant for his and the boys future.
In the crows nest Zoro caught onto Luffy's voice, the boy catching the same, however, failed to part away from his training; lifting the weights above his head. Unwilling to make the first move Zoro ignored the call, turning back to his own corner, twisting his sword around in motions that caused his head to spin, unable to keep up.
"Was that Luffy?" the boy finally spoke, grunting through his repetitions.
Zoro grunted, unable to look over at him, half afraid he might actually break. He didn't wish to admit he had grown fond of the child, distancing as much emotion as he could muster, his direction becoming a loose brick in his emotional walls built around him for years. He was started to enjoy the presence of somebody else in his space, quietly and in tune to his own routine, sliding peacefully compared to the distant chatter of his fellow crewmates.
"Should we go down? He is the captain after all?"
"Do whatever you want" Zoro bit, unwilling to move from his spot.
Latching onto a spot on the wall Zoro focused, hearing the boy behind him put down the weight. He said something, to which Zoro grunted again, unsure what exactly was being said, before leaving the crows nest. Zoro's vision began to blur, his focus slipping, wishing to go with him, see him one last time with everyone; but he also didn't wish to part from him. He could hear below him the crew, their voices echoing off each other, laughing, enjoying the few moments left together before separating on the Isle.
He was hurt.
Everywhere hurt, unsure where to pinpoint what was happening to his body.
It was only a child after all.
But a part of Zoro felt helpless, pathetic, unable to even face his friends or the child to say goodbye. Why was he craving to the idea of something so mirrored by his own actions? It should fuel him to move; to work better. He had always desired more, nothing being enough for him no matter who or what stood in his way. All he wanted was to live his dream, to focus on what was at stake, and nobody, not even a version of himself would stop him of that dream. He made a promise to himself. He made a promise to...
Zoro steps away from his post, looking around in despair. How did he not realise it sooner. The boy, it wasn't him. It wasn't a part of his past haunting words and memories of his upbringing, triggering his fight response. He was someone else. Someone he didn't wish to lose again.
It was Kuina.
Zoro quickly scaled down from the crows nest, fumbling as he landed onto the deck. The ship was deserted, everyone disbanding off the Mary, his voice calling in a desperate plea for anyone to still be aboard the ship. He didn't care how loud or broken his voice had turned, desperation forcing him to try every avenue; even if it meant he would be teased.
"What are you on about, Marimo?" Sanji's voice snapped, his frame appearing in the door of the kitchen. A cigarette was alight in his hand, flickers of smoke guiding up towards his brow. Zoro spun towards his voice, too rushed with adrenaline to capture fully who was in front of him. He just needed answers.
"Where did they go?"
"Who?"
"Everyone. The boy. Where are they?"
Sanji smirked, dropping his cigarette, letting his foot squish the remaining bud with a slight sizzle. "So you do care about him?"
"I don't have time for your half-ass comments, twirly-brow. Where are they?"
Looking out towards the Isle, Sanji nodded towards a patch of houses, spreading out into a clearing of people. It was undeniable how his friends stood out, Luffy's buoyancy and features standing out in the clutter of grey. His friends were clearly taken to the midst of the town, carelessly wading through for food no doubt, occupied in their own endeavours to care about the absence of the boy; his figure missing from his friends.
Zoro ignored the cooks advice, shrugging him off as he hurdled over the side of the ship. He didn't have time to argue over his useless directions, deciding he was wasting more time standing around than actively looking for the boy. He could feel his mind racing, his body struggling to compete with the overflow of words that swum around in his head. His eyes were frantic, knowing he couldn't dare leave any patch of the Isle unattended.
It wasn't long since everyone had parted from the ship, however, it was unclear to Zoro just how far the boy had got before colliding with those pirates. He was so quiet of how and why he needed to fight them, but there was a strong determination bubbling like fire within him, knowing he needed this and would stop at nothing to achieve it.
Zoro had participated in his fair share of fights, memorising every step and manoeuvre since occupying the battle field. He could determine when and where a band of pirates would attack, catching them out in a feverish rage before they suspected a crucial attack. Everything in his body was telling him to ignore the cooks advice, and while he knew it wouldn't be hard to do so, it was if something was pulling him to the other side of the island.
A commotion of voices caught Zoro's attention, averting him to change course, sprinting up a hill, weaving through thick trees. In one hand he had already untied the bandana around his forearm, prepared to cause a devilish scene to the upcoming voices, growing louder and cruel. It was obvious a fight was brewing, a sea of cluttered metal and shouting bringing out the small call of a shrill voice; someone he recognised well.
As Zoro reached the hill he saw the boy surrounded by a band of pirates, more dehumanised and feral than when he first met him. It was clear now why he swore revenge, the burning look in the child's eye was unmistaken; they had taken someone from him. And just like the rage and desperation to reunite with his dear friend, Zoro concluded in an instant what he needed to do.
Sliding through the battle, Zoro's sword flipped and sliced through several bandits. His motions were smooth and quick, catching the pirates off guard in a bid to get to the boy. He knew it would be an incompetent action, throwing everyone, even the boy off from their main objective. However, Zoro was prepared to catch them in a moment of weakness, letting them know the boy wouldn't have to fight alone.
Reaching the boy, Zoro stood close, almost protecting him. He stood to his side, nudging gently, the boys expression on the verge of bewildered tears. A part of him swore he would never see Zoro again, his last few moments heartless and rude; but he was glad he was here alongside him.
"Well, cmon them" Zoro raised his swords, looking over at the boy. A smirk was plastered on his lips, curling his grin in a cocky arch, determined to boost his ego. He could tell he wished to say something, pleased to have company in the rut of a mismatched battle; in over his head.
But Zoro needed this to stay between them - both knowing each other as their own outlook and companion.
"They'll have to take us both on if they want to defeat you"
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