Hey again! This is the sequel to the liked fic I wrote, Broken but Loved. Lot's of drama, suspense and romance. Not to mention quite a bit of angst. Enjoy~

music: One More Light- Linkin Park

PART 1

Chapter 1

Luffy sat in his partner's lap, finally able to without hurting Zoro's leg, which had broken eight weeks ago from falling down the stairs. Their bedroom door was closed and they had a movie playing in the background, neither really watching. True to his word in the hospital, Luffy was talking to Zoro. Only Zoro. He answered questions fine, but it was hard to suddenly break such an ingrained habit of not speaking, no matter what. Luffy had gotten used to his voice, now knowing, even if he didn't know he was the one talking, that it was his voice. He rarely laughed, maybe letting a small one out on accident, turning red from it, still thinking it was girly and looking down at his fingers. But Zoro didn't think that, and when Luffy had looked up at him, nervous he would think it was funny, Zoro grinned at him and pulled him close and kissed him softly and meaningfully.

But still, Luffy didn't laugh much. Even if he was fine with his normal voice, and Zoro was fine with his laugh, Luffy still didn't like it. He didn't like hearing it, even if Zoro did. It was embarrassing. Though, truthfully, Luffy didn't really know what a normal, good laugh was supposed to sound like. When Zoro laughed, it was more like snorting loudly. Did that count as a laugh?

Since the hospital visit a couple months ago, Luffy had opened up even more than before. By seeing Zoro hurt himself to make sure Luffy wasn't had touched his heart deeply. Luffy really felt like he was precious to Zoro most times. Someone Zoro'd put himself in danger for because he loved him so much.

Luffy was even more affectionate, in ways that Zoro was happy with. He finally was comfortable enough to instigate small and short kisses, but Zoro didn't mind. He was just glad Luffy was able to be brave enough to kiss at all. Previously, Zoro had initiated the kissing, and Luffy initiated the cuddling. But now, sometimes the roles were reversed. Zoro would suddenly come up behind his small partner and hug him, almost curling his body over the little teenager.

Luffy now not only sat in Zoro's lap with his back to his chest, now he liked to sit the other way, his chest and face snuggled to Zoro's broad chest. Zoro would wrap his arms around him and they'd sit there like that, the taller one running his fingers through Luffy's soft black hair or up and down his back.

"Luffy?" Zoro asked as he held Luffy on his chest while he laid on his back after the two changed position.

"Hmm?" Luffy asked quietly. Zoro ran his thumb across Luffy's cheek, somewhat rewarding him with affection when he spoke. Neither recognized that was what was happening, so it didn't exactly bother Luffy.

"When do you think you'll talk to others?" Zoro asked softly. Luffy shrugged his shoulders, but Zoro didn't let his fingers leave Luffy's face, now running his thumb over Luffy's bottom lip. "I'm happy you talk to me, very happy. But why don't you talk to mom also?" he questioned.

"I don't love Robin like I love you," Luffy said quietly, laying his head back down on Zoro's chest and listening to his heart beat, smiling when he heard it speed up at his words.

"Do you think you ever will?" Zoro asked, trying to calm his heartbeat because he knew by that smile that Luffy was listening. And Zoro was a bit embarrassed.

Luffy nodded. Someday he'd definitely talk to Robin. He just wasn't ready yet. And he didn't know when he would be. But he knew that he would speak again to others someday. "Good," Zoro said, and dropped the topic.

Luffy eventually fell asleep quietly and peacefully as he laid on top of Zoro, falling asleep to Zoro's steady heartbeat under Luffy's ear. But Zoro didn't mind. As long as he could still play with Luffy's hair and see Luffy's face, he could be like this forever.

A while later, Zoro heard Luffy's stomach rumble multiple times. He gently woke Luffy up, who was a bit groggy, with some drool. His stomach rumbled again and his face turned red. He was still easily embarrassed, and he honestly thought he'd always be like that. He didn't remember much of what he was like before his parents tortured him so long ago, so he would never know if he had always been easily embarrassed. He assumed he didn't always feel ashamed of things. He wanted that to go away. Being embarrassed is one thing, but feeling ashamed all the time was another. He didn't become ashamed as easily anymore. When he didn't do a small task correctly a few months ago, he'd be flooded with shame and retreat to Robin's closet. Now he might blush in embarrassment, but not the tear jerking self-hatred that had accompanied him for a long time.

"Let's go get something to eat, you sound hungry," Zoro said calmly, trying not to smile at Luffy's blush. Even when he's blushing because of something he thought he did wrong, Zoro found it adorable. He liked it best when Luffy blushed during the couple's "activities". Not once since the day Zoro pushed Luffy's comfort zone too far, did he attempt anything more extreme than a somewhat rough kiss. He didn't really mind keeping their activities simple because after that incident, he had quickly resolved that Luffy might never want to be touched anywhere other than where you touch when you are hugged, outside of clothes. He was fine with that as long as it made Luffy happy. Zoro never wanted to see that look Luffy had given him that day ever again.

The two walked downstairs, holding hands of course, and got something to eat. Zoro ate cereal and Luffy ate a yogurt, still holding hands. It reminded them of the day they confessed to each other what seemed a long time ago. Nami walked in and giggled, getting a snack for herself as well. Zoro got irritated when Nami giggled at them. It was all the time. Why couldn't she just get used to it as normal and not something worth giggling about all the time, because it honestly embarrassed Zoro.

He didn't know what it was about Nami giggling and smirking at him that made him flustered. And the odd thing was Luffy was the complete opposite. He and Nami were close friends, disregarding the age gap, and he confided a lot of their relationship with her, so he didn't mind when she thought he and Zoro were cute. Part of Luffy considered his and Zoro's relationship cute himself.

Robin walked and smiled at Zoro and Luffy's joined hands. It had taken only a few days for Robin to get used to the two being together. She had caused such a mess just a few days before, but seeing how Luffy completely went back to being happy and more social after he and Zoro were "allowed" to be romantically involved again, she couldn't help but appreciate how good the relationship was for both boys.

She noticed the gentleness Zoro handled Luffy with, and was convinced he was never going to take advantage of the younger teen based on what she had seen. The most intimate she'd seen them was Luffy laying his head against Zoro's chest, sitting in her son's lap happily, actually sleeping while Zoro ran his hands down Luffy's back absentmindedly. She wasn't supposed to see that but the two had left their bedroom door open a crack. She was going to go in and ask them something, but after seeing them like that, she left them how they were, deciding to ask them her question later. She was just glad Luffy was able to sleep better now, even if it was only with Zoro. He looked so much healthier than when he'd arrived at his home. Exhausted, miserable, blank and so anti-social he didn't eat or socialize with anyone in the house besides Robin, and then Nami, and then Zoro.

"Good morning," Robin greeted the three. Luffy nodded to her with a smile and unconsciously squeezed his fingers around Zoro's and then relaxed them. Zoro squeezed back. Luffy was still happy, over two months later, that they could be public more.

After a couple days, their relationship really sunk in for the other three children. Sanji and Usopp didn't understand it much, and Nojiko had no inkling of what their relationship was or could be. The two boys had felt a bit awkward when they saw the two teenagers share a kiss, though it was a short one. They weren't necessarily against it, just felt weird about it. Not just because they were both guys, but that it was Zoro and Luffy. Seemingly such polar opposites. Seeing how gentle Zoro was with Luffy made them feel like everything they knew about Zoro's personality was thrown out the window and a new Zoro moved in.

But of course, the next minute, Zoro was being disrespectful towards Robin after he moved away from his partner and Luffy just watched from the couch as Zoro argued about something with his mom until he got bored and started to read. The two boys had looked at each other. Yup it was the same Zoro, now just with a new aspect of his personality only for and belonging to Luffy.

"Hi, Robin," Nami said and then walked out of the kitchen herself. Robin watched after her with a smile. Then she turned to the boys.

"I'm going shopping at the grocery store. Is there anything either of you want me to buy?" she asked.

Luffy really wanted popcorn, but was too embarrassed to ask. Yet he wasn't at all surprised when Zoro said, "Can you get some butter popcorn?" and squeezed Luffy's hand, who gave a small smile, looking at the table below him.

"Sure. Anything else?" she asked, writing down Zoro's request on a pad of paper with a list of other items. Zoro looked to Luffy who shook his head.

"No, that's it," Zoro said, turning back to Robin. Robin told them she'd be back in a while. Luffy waved goodbye, causing Robin to smile. Once the front door closed and locked behind Robin, Zoro leaned over and gave Luffy a kiss on the cheek, happy to see him blush and smile.

Everything was going smoothly for another week or so, Luffy talking a more every day, able to make short conversations, but of course still only for Zoro. Luffy hadn't had a flashback in quite a while, which he was happy for and completely forgot about them altogether. He still had an occasional nightmare, but he had peaceful dreams more often than the bad ones he'd had for years. Luffy was still taking his medication, able to swallow all of the pills at the same time now.

Then that week ended.