loyalty
The outcome of his mission to Thriller Bark surprises even him. (Drabble, Chapter 485 Coda)
Author's Note: Decided to do a One Piece drabbles series. Won't intersect with my OtOB story, but will be (mostly) canon ficlets/drabbles, to help me work on characterization, and to work past writer's block.
He inspires fear wherever he goes. His power is beyond the realm of imagining to all unfortunate enough to witness (or experience) it, and with his power, comes deference and groveling respect from those weaker than him. It had not been that way with the revolutionaries, but with the rest of the world…meh.
Thriller Bark comes as a surprise to him.
He looks out at the sea, and if he had been capable of such things, would have smiled as he remembered the pirates screaming their defiance of him in defense of Mugiwara no Luffy.
"I hope you will keep your promise after I die," Roronoa Zoro says quietly, the knowledge of his own death clear in his eyes, but there is no fear. Because it is either his life, or his Captain's. And that is no real choice at all.
Bartholomew Kuma looks to the sky.
"To find such loyal companions…Your son is quite amazing, Dragon."