Title: They Should Never Have To Stop
Author: Chibimono Akuno
Fandom: One Piece
Pairing: Zoro x Luffy
Rating: G
Word Count: 634 words
Warnings: Angsty WAFF.
Disclaimers: Not mine. Just pretending. Oda is the man, man.
A/N: For the LiveJournal community 101 kisses - theme #95: Warmness on the soul.

They Should Never Have To Stop
by Chibimono Akuno

The main deck was host to a rowdy party, but the galley was quiet for once. Luffy was normally the loudest, out in the thick of it all, dancing and singing. But tonight, he was basking in the silence of the galley, and listening to the joy outside.

He had been out to sea for two whole years now. This very day, he left home and Makino and his little island for a great adventure. So far, he still had not reached his final destination, but he did not mind. Luffy's luck was good and he'd get there in time.

Two years used to be a long time, when Luffy was young. But don't they say that time flies when you are having fun? And he has had fun. Lots of it. However, it has not always been games and smiles, either. There were times when things were so hard... But in the end it always came out right and Luffy was just happy for his nakama and himself to be alive.

In two years, he had become so much stronger... And he made for himself the best family he could ever ask for.

He smiled as he remembered it all, but he still felt a wetness on his face. He moved his hand, to wipe it away, but stopped. Instead, he let the twin rivers stay and pulled his straw hat low over his face.

The galley door creaked on its hinges, making way for the crew's swordsman. He paused for a moment there in the entrance as he noticed his captain seated at the table.

"There you are, Luffy," he grinned as he moved to take a seat beside the rubber boy. "You're missin' the party."

Luffy just nodded from under his hat. "I'll come later," he said softly.

"Hey, Luffy..." Zoro tipped the straw hat back. He leaned close and gently touched a streak of tears staining the young pirate's face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Luffy managed to smile as water welled in his eyes. "I'm happy..."

"You could've fooled me," the first mate said with chuckle. "What's got you so happy like this? We're having a party for you, and you aren't even out there making noise."

The tears spilled over again, and Luffy's smile tried to crumble, but there was more determination in his heart than to let it fade.

"In two years... I've made it so far, Zoro. I've got the best crew ever. You've all become my family. And there were times when I thought I would be all alone... I'd never have got here without you all."

The warm, secure arms of Zoro surrounded Luffy in a strong hug. "Happy tears are good ones," Zoro said, rubbing small circles into Luffy's back. "And as long as they remained happy, they should never have to stop."

The tears became a flood, and Luffy cried onto Zoro's shoulder. It was as if all the tension and fear of ever losing any of his nakama was being lifted. Sure, they still had the rest of the Grand Line to sail, and the rest of their lives to live after, but right now, Luffy was not going to lose any of them. And though he had not felt cold before, he did feel a warmness spread all the way through him, just from having Zoro so close by.

Zoro, who had been the first to join him and had followed him ever since.

"Will you stay with me...?" Luffy asked against Zoro's neck, now wet from tears. "Will you stay by my side, to the very end?"

Gently tilting Luffy's chin, Zoro smiled tenderly into his captain's water-filled gaze. As a tear rolled down the rubber boy's cheek, Zoro softly kissed it away.

"I'll be with you every step of the way."

- owari -