Love Cascading.

A one piece Fanfiction

Drake Strike*

(Authors Note: Next update will be in a few days or week because I have work and other ff's to do. Sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the character.)

_Chapter 3:_

"Gahhh I am stuffed!" Zoro said cheerily, having just eaten a large meal. I almost starved to death."

"So it is impossible for you to last a month?" Luffy said while shovelling more food into his mouth.

"You're so skinny and yet you can still eat more than me?" Zoro asked, bewildered.

"Yeah sorry, I eat a lot."

"No problem, keep eating, you saved our town." Said a woman who was cooking, she was the mother of the little girl earlier who was saved by Zoro from Helmeppo's pet.

"Onii-San, you're so strong." Said the little girl.

"Yup, and will get stronger."

"What are our plans now Luffy?" Asked Zoro.

"The grand line!" Said Luffy, still eating. Coby went cold and looked at Luffy as though he was a mad man.

"Stop saying crazy things Luffy, that's where all the strongest pirates are. You can't go." Coby complained.

"Heading there seems alright." Zoro agreed.

"Not you too Zoro!"

"It's not like you are coming with us."

"But I still worry. I can worry can't I? I am you're friend right Luffy? Even though we just met?"

"Yeah, always will be Coby." Luffy replied.

"You two are great, teaching me to live for my dreams, thank you."

"That's why we are going to the grand line."

"Yeah I guess…no wait, it is still reckless!"

"Don't worry about us." Zoro said. "You should worry about yourself. Sure you were trapped doing chores on the pirate ship, but you were still a pirate, and if the marines find out you can never join."

"Excuse me." Luffy, Zoro and Coby turned in union to the front door when the marines who had been controlled by Morgan stood. Their new leader by the looks of it entered the house. "Is it true you are pirates?" He asked.

"Yup, just got my first mate, so we are pirates." Cheered Luffy from his seat, still eating.

"Well, even if in reality you are pirates, you saved us, and we would like to thank you, but as marines we must ask you to leave immediately."

The town outside shouted against it, how unfair it was and how they had just saved the town.

"Well let's go then. Thanks for the food." Luffy said, getting up.

"You're really leaving Onii-San?"

"Luffy-San."

Luffy and Zoro walked past Coby without a word towards the door.

"He isn't he with you?" Asked the marine, pointing at Coby.

Coby, knowing Luffy wants him to join the marines too and even though they are parting ways knows they are friends, though hard, answers quickly.

"No, I am not with them."

"Well we should check, hey, is he your friend, is he a pirate too?" Luffy turned and looked at Coby.

"Oh, he use to work for a really fat lady, didn't you, a pirate, a big fatty pirate called Alvida." Luffy said walking over to Coby.

"Shut up." Coby said, mad at his friend for giving him away, punching Luffy in the face. Luffy punched him back, and a few to Coby's stomach.

"You want a beating huh, I am going to beat you down." Luffy said.

"Stop this, it is clear you are not together, now leave." The marine said.

Zoro dragged Luffy away, saying he over did it a bit. Coby lying on the ground knew Luffy did it on purpose to make the marines think they weren't friends, that he did it for him. Even now Luffy was taking care of him, smiling, he knew he had a great friend for life in Luffy. He was so useless though, he had to take this opportunity while Luffy gave it to him. Standing up, he bowed to the marine.

"Please, please let me join the Marines, it's been my dream, I will do chores and clean, please let me join."

"I am against it sir. He could be just trying to spy on us, pirates do it often." Said another marine at the door.

"Please sir. I have always dreamed to become a great marine!" Coby asked again.

"We know your past, but I will let you join."

"Thank you sir!" Coby cried, finally he was on his way to fulfilling his life goal.

Meanwhile outside, Luffy and Zoro made their way through the grateful town to the port.

"Nice act, because of that they won't care if he was a pirate in the past." Zoro said.

"Yeah, I am sure Coby will be fine now."

"This your ship, a little small eh?"

"It's just a start."

"True."

"Luffy-San!" Shouted Coby, running to see them off. "Thank you, I will never forget you for the rest of my life!" Coby saluted his friends, smiling as tears of joy rained down from his eyes.

"Shihihihi." Luffy laughed.

"Never seen a marine salute a pirate before." Zoro stated.

"We are not ordinary pirates I suppose." Behind Coby more marines appeared.

"Group Salute." Shouted the marine commander. All the marines and Coby saluted, watching them set sail.

"Bye Luffy, bye Zoro!"

"Bye Coby."

"See you Coby."

And with that they were gone, setting off towards their dreams.

"You have great friends Coby."

"Thank you sir."

"We just saluted pirates though and broke marine code, so no food for a week."

"Yes Sir!" All the marines shouted in union.

…..…

"Away we go Zoro, to the grand line!" Luffy exclaimed.

Zoro smiled as he watched his captain laugh and punch the air in celebration. Something about him, about this childish boy that made Zoro want to gawk and stare. Luffy's raven hair, his dark brown near black eyes, cute nose, and his pink supple lips curved into a regularly appearing smile drove him mad. He didn't know why, but when Luffy first looked up at him, the bright blushing cheeks, his shimmering eyes, he knew he had to follow Luffy. Something he had never felt before was ignited in his heart.

Luffy looked over to Zoro, his emerald green hair now fully visible and waving in the wind. It was beautiful, everything about Zoro he found strangely beautiful. Zoro wore a white shirt and black pants with a Haramaki around his waist. His upper body was visible, and made Luffy feel flushed when he looked at Zoro's muscular chest. He never had thoughts like these, but something about Zoro cause him to think that way. His three gold earrings Luffy found cool, his three swords hanging from his side he thought awesome, and Zoro's body he found…irresistible to turn away from. Zoro was strong, his face conveyed strength, but when he looked into Zoro's eyes he saw something familiar, a drive, a dream, and passion. He saw familiarity and a spark. A spark that he felt when they first touched. His first mate Zoro was going to be special to him, but he didn't yet know how special.

Luffy's hat blew off his head suddenly, a gust of wind carrying it towards the prow of the boat, Luffy running for it, yelling out for it. Zoro, noticing how important it is to Luffy, stood up too and chased after it, reaching out and grabbing it with the tips of his fingers before it fell overboard and into the ocean.

"Here Luffy."

"Thank you so much Zoro." Luffy said, taking his hat and holding it to his chest. He then, to Zoro's surprise, wrapped his arms around the older male. "This hat means a lot, thank you." Luffy let go, blushing slightly and sat back down on the boat.

"You're welcome Luffy, really." Zoro was all flustered and joined his captain, sitting next to him. "Is it your treasure? You love you hat huh?"

"Mhm, like your sword. Except this hat isn't mine, I am borrowing it from someone."

"Oh, who? I mean, why is that borrowed hat so important to you? If you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't mind, it starts with the man who owns this hat, the man who saved my life, Shanks…"

…..…

Luffy's story was a long one, and Zoro felt bad for him when he told him his guilt for causing Shanks to lose his arm, but Zoro was happy at the same time that Luffy was alive today, if he had died back then, Zoro most likely would be dead now, and the two would of met. This seemed to bother Zoro, he is glad to of met Luffy, really glad. Happier than he had been in a long time. Zoro felt the weight on his chest move, and he held his breath. Luffy had fallen asleep on him, sitting in his lap, arms wrapped around his neck and head resting over his heart. He didn't know why Luffy had decided to sleep like this, but it felt right, and waking him up was the last thing he wanted. Zoro guessed it was because of the cold that Luffy instinctively crawled over to him and snuggled up to sleep for the night, but he happy to be Luffy's source of warmth. He looked down at Luffy's smiling face, even in his dreams he was so cheerful. Zoro carefully traced the scare under Luffy's eye, it had been self-inflicted and Zoro was sad to see such a perfect face purposely hurt, but is added character to Luffy, something interesting and beautiful.

The damaged skin was smooth to touch, and the warmth from Luffy made Zoro wonder if it really was the cold, Luffy seemed to be a sleeping oven. Zoro watched the boy, fixated of even rise and fall of his chest, every flicker of movement beneath his eye lids, every parting of Luffy's soft lips. This boy was Zoro's god send.

Zoro wasn't gay or straight, though he had been with plenty of girls in the past after a drunken binge. He had never felt any emotion towards his bed mates, just mild attraction, lust stimulated by alcohol. But now he was certain he looked this boy a lot, he felt something for him, both passion and lust, physical attraction and genuine infatuation. He loved the way Luffy smiled, laughed, talked, and even fought. And they had only meet a few days ago. He was definitely going to follow this boy anywhere, weather Luffy felt the same he didn't know, but he knew this voyage was going to be a great adventure, for the body and his heart.

…..…

Luffy awoke to the sound of a gentle beating rhythm. He was in the embrace of two strong arms, head resting in the others chest, heartbeat soothing him, relaxing every fibre of his being. He looked up into the sleeping face of his first mate Zoro. Luffy enjoyed being held like this, it comforted him. He thought it would be awkward waking up in Zoro's lap, but somehow it felt refreshing. Surprising though was Zoro allowed him. Perhaps Zoro had been too tired to notice, seeing as he sleeps through three quarters of the day. Nuzzling his head closer into Zoro's warmth, he thought about the adventures he was about to have with his new Nakama. Things were going to be great from here on out, and knowing Zoro was by his side gave him all the assurance he needed.

The older boy stirred slightly, panic built up in Luffy's chest. What if Zoro throws him off or is disgusted to have Luffy this close. Zoro didn't seem to be the touchy feely type. But before he could decide to move to stay, Zoro woke up and smile down at his captain.

"Morning Luffy. Sleep well." Zoro asked gently.

"um, yes. Very well thank you. Zoro's so warm Shihihihi." Luffy chuckled, trying to hide his actions through humour.

"Yeah, well, it was cold last night."

"Mhm, yeah."

"Well, we should try and find land and get some supplies and blankets to keep warm. Not that I don't mind sleeping with you, just might be a good idea."

"Yeah, sounds great, I could do with some meat." Luffy concurred, blushing.