It wasn't often someone found Luffy looking thoughtful, but there he was. The rest of the crew had settled down to sleep in a circle around the campfire, but their captain stared into the dying flames, playing with a book of matches. And it wasn't even his watch.
Sighing, Zoro- who was on watch- stalked around the fire to sit beside the younger man. The swordsman's lone eye shone with concern.
"What's the matter Captain? Aren't you tired?"
"Have you ever heard of vulcanized rubber?" Luffy asked in reply. He was met only with confusion, so he continued.
"It's something I learned while I was with Raleigh. If you heat rubber up enough it becomes really tough, a bit less stretchy, but really, really tough."
"Okay..." Zoro drawled slowly. "Sorry buddy, but I can't pretend I know where you're going with this." Although, he did maneuver closer to Luffy so he could catch the reubber man should he attempt to jump into the fire.
"Do you think I could've saved Ace, if my skin was tougher?" Luffy asked. Zoro bit his lip, not knowing what to say. Oblivious, Luffy rambled on.
"I mean, I know I couldn't stretch the same way and to my rocket and things, but maybe if I was tougher I could've taken the blow he did. I could've been his shield."
Well, that was certainly an odd image. Zoro mused on it for a moment, the idea of his captain being hard and heavy like the rubber of a tire, not stretching or bouncing about. The swordsman shook his head. It was a disturbing thought.
"Don't you dare," Zoro whispered, pulling Luffy into his chest. "I know you want to protect everyone, but it works both ways. We want to protect you too. And we'd be doing a pretty poor job of it if we let you burn yourself up."
"Why?" Zoro thought, he's crying. If there was one thing the swordsman hated, it was seeing his captain cry.
"Luffy, you wouldn't be you if you were vulcanized. That stuff's hard, grey, heavy... You're supposed to be bouncy and stretchy and full of life."
"Even if I'm too weak to protect everyone?" Luffy sniffled. Zoro smiled into the younger man's hair.
"You could never be weak Captain. And even if you can't do everything, we'll be okay. We can all look after ourselves. You're not the only one who's gotten stronger these past two years."
Pushing Luffy out to arms' length, Zoro fixed his captain with a firm look. "I know you want to protect everyone, but don't let that change who you are. We- I- love you just how you are now."
Cautiously, Zoro leaned forwards and pressed his lips against Luffy's. The rubber man stiffened initially in shock, then melted into the kiss. Zoro couldn't help but shiver, being glad he was kissing the familiar thing, warm rubber of Luffy instead of the thick stiffness of a tire.
