AN: Hey guys! Please enjoy my third chapter!

Bonds of Trust

Chapter 3

Zoro just rose a delicate eyebrow. Was there something Luffy wanted to discuss in private?

The two sat in silence for a while. Zoro had situated himself bellow Luffy, leaning his back against the wall whilst he sat on the wooden floor. He found it soothing, just relaxing there with him. He felt like he could just nod of right there and then.

Zoro thought for a while before starting off. "Why?"

Luffy, for once, was glad Zoro wasn't watching him; he couldn't help but show a heavily ashamed expression. He knew what Zoro was going to say. He had said it earlier.

"Why didn't you call for help like you usually do?"

Luffy turned his head towards the opposite side of the room. How Zoro was always one to know why people did what they did would always bewilder him. He gave a shaky response. "I couldn't, there...there wasn't enough time-"

"Luffy, I'm pirate. I've had my share of wetness. I know it's a long way from the ship to the ocean. You knew you had time to call for help, but instead you ignored your initiative and yelled 'I give' instead. Now, I'm asking you why."

"..."

Zoro ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Luffy!"

"I shouldn't be so dependent on you guys. I need to be able to look after myself...and I can't even do that." the brunette said quietly.

"Tell me this Luffy. What the hell do you think nakama are?" Zoro asked calmly.

Luffy wouldn't usually even have to think about the answer to that question, but this time he felt the meaning to be more serious. He felt as though the word had a deeper meaning that he had not yet cared to discover, even after using it as frequently as he did.

"Nakama are...their the people I've chosen to stand by me."

"Nakama stand by you. Not under you," Zoro pressed on.

"I never s-"

"No. You didn't just say that, but with you feeling as if you need to completely fight for yourself and not depend on us as we depend on you means that you do."

Luffy kept silent.

"You didn't pick us to be your children Luffy. You picked us to be your nakama. You're allowed to rely on us, and we can look after ourselves pretty well thank you. I know I can't speak for all of us, but I know I can trust you. I know you can fight the battles that may make me break more than a sweat, and I let you. Just like how you occasionally leave me to fight the battles you know will be easier for me and not you. I know I'll survive anything and everything if you're there with me because I know how much you want me to become the greatest swordsman...you won't let me die before I become that," Zoro smirked, closing his eyes.

Luffy smiled. "It's only a matter of time now Zoro. I've only appointed the best in my crew. I know I've already got the worlds greatest cook and navigator, the world's smartest animal, the worlds fastest reader and the worlds funniest man with a long nose. Me and you've got to reach the new world before we can show the world that we are the best." he said, letting his mind wander. "Hey Zoro, how about we train together?" he asked absentmindedly.

"Huh?" Zoro opened one eye and looked at the other boy.

"You heard me." Luffy stated blankly, but he actually felt too embarrassed to repeat himself. He'd been thinking over how to approach Zoro with his question for a few weeks. Just knowing how much Zoro had improved since he first boarded the going Merry excited him. He had tried training a few times…but he couldn't really get into the swing of a routine. If he trained with Zoro he would not be as tempted to give up and find entertainment as he usually was.

"Sure." Zoro laughed. Luffy turned his back on the wall he was previously facing and watched the swordsman, feeling a smile grow on his face. The sound of that laughter sounded almost musical to him... It made his face feel odd.

Luffy pinched his face, stretching his skin at different angles. Zoro's laughter died down instantly. Laughing always felt slightly uncomfortable without a tankard within his grasp.

"Oi Luffy, what the hell are you doing?" Zoro asked, raising one of his dark eyebrows.

"Mwah facesh fweels tight." (My face feels tight), he replied.

"Your face feels tight huh?" Zoro repeated, processing the words.

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He didn't know how it had happened, but Zoro soon found himself massaging his sides and breathing heavily. He was now staring at a frowning and droopy faced Luffy. He had continued to aid Zoro's laughter while pulling faces for quite some time. Now he just looked disappointed...or maybe that was only because the skin of his forehead hung heavily over his eyelids.

"Dis ibbnt fwony Zwarwo." (This Isn't funny Zoro) Luffy continued to look annoyed.

The green haired man did attempt to look guilty...but unfortunately one if his eyes started to water quite a lot.

"Bot wod you bo ip I wook wike bis forweber? Beh?" (What would you do if I look like this forever? Eh?) he asked, perhaps angrily.

Zoro shook his head, trying to gain some self-control. A swordsman should be able to control himself much better than that. He took a deep breath and then breathed out slowly, puffing out his cheeks.

"Ah, much better." He pulled himself up and walked over to the hammock Luffy was sitting cross-legged in. He opened his arms, shyly gesturing for his captain to fill them. "Come on, lets go let Chopper look at you." He muttered, annoyed for some reason.

Luffy blinked, and then shook his head. "No, I cun pork byself." (No, I can walk myself).

"Luffy...accept my help." Zoro said with a frown, reaching further into the hammock and pulling the boy over his shoulder as he lifted him out of his bed. Luffy kicked his legs a bit, but stopped, falling into the mans arms and burying his face into a white t-shirt.

"I'm sworry about bis..."(I'm sorry about this) he mumbled, clutching the cloth covering the green head's chest. Zoro felt a smile grow on his face and he sighed. "I'm always here for you buddy. I've always got your back."

"Am bi twoblesome?" Luffy asked quietly, relaxing as Zoro brushed a hand through his mess of hair.

"Yeah, you are. But for some reason...I don't want you to change."

TBC

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Chapter three complete!

Thank you for reading guys. If you've made it this far, then you HAVE to review XD

I know this chapter was a bit short, but I'll make up for it in the next chapter. In that chapter I might make things "roll" if you know what I mean :o

xXx