Nine First Nights
Authors Note:
Basically, I was daydreaming in math class and this idea for a short set of one-shots appeared in my head. I was originally going to have it be about robin's first night on the ship and her uncertainty, but I realized that it wasn't just her, that all of them probably felt the same. Thus, this was created, starting with Luffy's first comrade, the swordsman/first mate himself.
I actually know the general idea for all of the one-shots, so this will be updated and finished relatively quickly. Also, yes, my drabble fic will continue. Also, some of the keys on my keyboard are sticking so please excuse some typos. xD
I like this one a bit, but it's not my favorite writing-wise because I struggle writing for Zoro because he's so stoic and the partnership he has with Luffy is kind of hard to express sometimes.
Anyways, Enjoy I suppose~
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Roronoa Zoro had absolutely no idea what he was doing here, floating on a tiny boat in the middle of nowhere, clutching Kuina's katana to his chest. His sleepy eyes opened wider, and his eyelids peeled apart as his vision cleared. His mind cleared with it and he became vaguely aware of his current situation.
His eyes drifted and focused on the boy, who sat at the front of the ship with his legs crossed, whose state of mind felt like it was somewhere far away. He shifted, and the moment was broken when the boy turned to give him an owlish look, which quickly broke into a small grin.
"You sleep like the dead, and snore a lot," He stated bluntly, staring directly at him,"And you always hold that sword." He chuckled a little. Zoro let the silence after hang as he clutched the sword tighter, a nostalgic look on his face. The boy took it as a signal that the swordsman was open for a minimal amount of conversation.
"It's important, right?" The boy leaned back in a casual way as he turned away, his expression unknown to the swordsman.
"It's not worth anything to you. I have no idea if it can bring any profit."
"That's not what I meant," The boy said in a firm tone. "It's like this hat, right?" The swordsman was taken aback by the simple words, reminded of something the boy had said earlier.
Something inside his head clicked and it finally dawned on the tired man that this was not a boy, but rather the man and leader that a far more conscious version of him had chosen to follow into uncertainty. The boy was his captain. Luffy.
"Who did you make a promise to?" Luffy said firmly, looking up to the stars with false innocence, knowing fully the potential depth of the question he presented, and the lack of courtesy it held.
"…A childhood rival." Zoro said after a moment of silence between the two when he had debated whether or not to say anything. "A friend." His eyes softened.
Nothing else was said between the two, they simply heard and understood. He recalled the similar question he had asked the boy earlier that day as the waves lulled him back to sleep.
"Why's the hat so important?" He asked as he handed the straw hat back to the younger man behind him, who was grateful that it had been prevented from being blown away. The captain grasped it firmly, staring at it with an intensity Zoro had seen on his own face countless times.
"I made a promise…" Zoro inhaled sharply as Luffy continued, his hand falling to his swords. " …to the man that saved my life."
Zoro smirked as he became drowsier, the captain returning to his original state of not thinking, but rather guarding and seeing what lies ahead.
Then, as the man who saved mine, Zoro mused, I owe you at least a promise of my loyalty…
Captain.