Title: Little things
Chapter/s: 1/?
Pairing/s:Zoro/Luffy/Zoro
Summary: The small moments in time between the captain and his first mate.
Disclaimer: One Piece is a manga created by Eiichiro Oda and is in no way affiliated with this fiction. The plot however, is a product of my own intellect, please do not duplicate or repost anywhere else without my expressed permission. Thank you.

1: The Strawhat Kid.

Prolonged solitude can really break down a man. All Zoro had for company was his own thoughts, the occasional beating from Helmeppo and his marine dogs and the growling of his stomach. And then heappeared. Zoro's first impressions of the guy that was hanging over the marine base walls were that the Strawhat kid was an idiot.

Everyone in town knew not to come near the marine base; they knew the consequence of assisting him or even stepping a toe out of line as any such 'treason' would result in their execution.

But then again, the kid looked as though he had a head full of air with his stupid optimistic grin and piercing stare. 'Yeah, this kid probably doesn't know what could happen to him if he's caught.'

And so, Zoro took a chance. There was something about him; maybe it was the way his eyes showed no sign of corruption. Zoro had grown up knowing that one's eyes were the window to one's soul.

Strawhat didn't seem to be afraid of him; he just stared at him with curiousity, his lips pinching at the corners to form a friendly smile. It was refreshing to not be feared. Strawhat stayed to watch when that scum, Helmeppo and his marine's came to gloat. His blood had already dried uncomfortably on his skin, his sweat making his clothes stick to his body and the ropes holding him captive chafe his skin red.

'Nine days without food or booze…'

Suddenly the kid was before him, talking nonsense about him joining him as a pirate. He was a pirate hunter; he killedguys like him for the money. And then he disappeared. Somehow he felt lonelier than before; it was as though Strawhat had taken all noise with him, leaving Zoro in unsettling silence. He didn't understand why at the time, but he wanted him back, he needed his presence.

Minutes dragged on in the heat, the sun overhead was bearing down on his body, scorching his skin and causing him bouts of nausea and mind boggling headaches. And then he was before him once more, spouting more nonsense about him becoming a pirate. The kid just wouldn't give up. It was annoying, but it provided the swordsman with company he had been deprived of. It grounded him, pulling back some of his sanity in the sweltering heat.

Zoro admired Strawhat's resilience. The kid sure was determined to make him a part of his crew. He felt oddly flattered that he wanted him, of all people, to join him.

"…I'm gonna go to where that bastard is and get your katana's back. But if you want me to return them to you, you have to join me!"

'Sneaky little bastard.'

It wasn't until the boy left him to retrieve his katana's that he realized, 'He never introduced himself and he expects me to join him? What a joke. He sure is interesting.'

If only Zoro knew what the future held for himself and the 'Strawhat kid'.