When In Doubt

Chapter 3

"Yeah I think I fell asleep in that class." Luffy admitted sheepishly.

Zoro stared at the test paper. "Yeah…I can see that." Zoro briefly leafed through the sheets. "Well it isn't like you don't have the right idea, you just need a push in the right direction."

Luffy smiled, grabbing a few more textbooks out of his bag before walking over to Zoro and his square table and sitting beside him, closer then the previous day. But Zoro didn't seem to notice.

"I think I know what part you're struggling on and it's just because you haven't got the base to help you. Here, I'll teach you a trick."

Seeing as he'd probably really need to pay attention, and not on Zoro but to what he's saying, Luffy directed his gaze to the pad of squared paper where Zoro was currently scribbling.

Luffy snorted suddenly and Zoro looked up.

"What?"

"You should just teach our class. The stupid professor made this look way harder then it really is."

Feeling oddly proud of himself, Zoro smirked. "I'm glad you get it."

"I don't get why things are so complicated!" Luffy huffed, falling backwards against the cool floor.

Zoro turned to look at him, eyebrow raised in question.

"You know..." He mumbled, looking up at the ceiling. "Why hide the truth under more complicated things when the equation is so simple?"

Zoro couldn't help but think that Luffy's words were double sided, but he didn't take Luffy for someone who would say something and mean something else so he didn't think on it too long.

"Well sometimes you have to work harder to get the answer you want."

A silence followed and Luffy's head snapped up, large dark eyes staring straight at him.

"Zoro you're a genius."

Baffled, Zoro mumbled a 'thanks?' before hesitantly turning back to the pad of paper.

"So," Luffy sprang upright, edging closer to Zoro until his nose was almost brushing Zoro's cheek, his chest pressed up against the older's arm. "If I work hard for something I want, I'll get it?"

Zoro grimaced, unsure what ideas he'd accidentally put into the other's head. "Well it depends on what you're after."

Luffy pondered this silently for a moment before speaking again.

"If it's a person?"

Zoro wasn't very experienced when it came to relationships because he's never had one himself nor felt inclined to, so he was well aware he probably wasn't the person Luffy should be asking about 'mutual love' or whatever.

"I guess that depends too."

"On what?"

Zoro pursed his lips, tapping his hand on the table deep in thought. "I guess the initial relationship you have with that person counts, like how well you know them."

Zoro, obviously thinking seriously about this subject, didn't notice when Luffy's arms slipped over his shoulders and hung loosely around his neck, chin relaxed on the muscle that connected shoulder to neck.

"Like I don't think I'd go after someone I just met because that might freak them out, but that's just my opinion."

"So if I told someone I just met that I kinda like them, they'd freak out?"

"I don't know, maybe? Or they might not reciprocate the feeling."

That was probably all the confirmation Luffy needed as he gently pulled his arms off Zoro and scooted a little further away from him.

"Yeah that's probably true."

Zoro, completely oblivious to Luffy's 'smooth moves', put down his pencil and turned to look at Luffy who had lost most of his earlier vigour.

"You know, I'm probably not the best person to ask this," though for some reason I'm partially thrilled you're asking me. Zoro nearly gagged at his own thoughts.

Luffy quirked an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I've never liked anyone before, at least not the way you're implying."

That said Luffy fell back to the floor with a groan, hands slapping over his eyes.

"What?" Zoro mumbled, alarmed.

"So, Zoro doesn't like anyone?"

There wasn't an immediate answer which to Luffy meant his plan may be salvaged yet, but part of him was calling the other, more hopeful part, an idiot and badgering to let it go.

"Not particularly no."

That was ambiguous. Luffy sat up again. He normally saw no point prolonging the foreseeable and frankly he wanted to know exactly how Zoro felt about him, but when he opened his mouth to say what he felt, no words came out.


"It's so annoying!" Luffy groaned slamming his head down on the table. "I hate feeling like this!

Usopp chuckled. "Wow, Zoro should feel honoured you're thinking so much about him."

"I don't see why." Sanji grumbled from the kitchen of Usopp's and Luffy's shared apartment. "I don't know what you see in that moss head."

"I wish I didn't see ANYTHING!"

Usopp laughed at this as Sanji brought two delicious smelling plates over, putting one in front of Usopp and Luffy.

"Not hungry." Luffy grumbled, but his stomach suggested otherwise.

Usopp and Sanji nearly had a fit.

"You? Not hungry? The very thought is absurd." Sanji mumbled.

"Wow he's really special."

Soon though, no matter how much Luffy protested against it, his gut won and he cheerily inhaled the food.

"Should I go give him a good beating?"

Luffy, although he wouldn't dare say it out loud, thought that if the two fought seriously, Zoro would probably win.

He shook his head and sighed. He frankly didn't know what to do with these feelings that were somewhat foreign to him.

"Sanji if you liked Usopp, would you tell him even if you just met him?"

Usopp nearly spat the contents in his mouth out at that, slamming his hand down on the table whilst simultaneously choking.

Sanji, completely calm faced, thought about this for a moment. "I'd probably tell him yeah, although I wouldn't expect an answer straight away because he's so shy and stubborn he wouldn't admit it, even if he did like me back." Sanji grinned and patted Usopp's head affectionately, making the long nose blush as red as the tomatoes on his plate.

Luffy bit his bottom lip and hummed to himself. "Usopp would you tell him?"

"I—"

"This idiot wouldn't tell me. I'd have to make the first move because he sure as hell wouldn't although he'd be dropping hints."

Whilst Sanji snickered and Usopp denied loudly and at length, the little clogs started ticking in Luffy's head and unbeknown to the others, Zoro was in for some serious hint dropping this evening.


He realised that he'd tried to open Zoro's door without even knocking. He guessed that coming to Zoro's place was such a casual thing now, although the older man may or may not clobber him for just walking into his house unannounced.

He was surprised again when the door wasn't locked, and with a light tug it opened.

Luffy, hesitant for only a moment, walked into the room.

"Zoorooo?"

He followed the loud gunshot noises coming from Zoro's tiny living room that connected with his kitchen.

Zoro was engrossed in a video game, fingers slamming against the controller in what could only be described as serious button mashing.

He grinned and trotted over, plopping himself right into Zoro's unexpecting lap.

Zoro, seemingly unfazed, lifted his arms over Luffy's head, evidently enclosing Luffy in his arms. He then proceeded to shift slightly so he could see over Luffy's head.

He continued to grumble obscenities at the console and Luffy couldn't contain his laughter.

"Zoro! I just got here and I can already see you're going the wrong way! No- no! It's that way!"

"Shush you," Zoro snapped. "No backseat driving!"

"Actually, Zoro's lap is more 'front seat' driving right?"

Zoro snorted.

Luffy was ecstatic that Zoro had let him sit on him without any punches or loud swearing. To Luffy that was a good sign, and his first hint drop seemed to have worked—somewhat.

He took this rare and exceptionally precious moment to turn slightly in Zoro's grasp and lay his head against Zoro's collarbone. To Luffy, that movement alone was exhilarating, especially when he felt Zoro's cheek press against his forehead.

Zoro was really good at the game, the only issue is he kept getting lost on the map and running out of time. It made Luffy snort loudly which resulted in a slightly painful, but not altogether unpleasant, cuff to his ear on more then one occasion. Hell the man could get lost where point A to point B was a straight line!

When Zoro had lost for the umpteenth time he finally slammed the remote down and laid back in the black beanbag chair with a huff.

Luffy giggled and wriggled around so that he was leaning on his crossed arms that were on Zoro's stomach.

"Are you not gonna yell at me for coming in?"

Zoro grunted and shook his head. "No I was expecting you anyway. And if it wasn't you, I'd have just kicked whoever it was's ass."

Luffy laughed. Yep, he definitely liked Zoro.

The realisation hit him like a sack of meat and he was thrown for a moment. He thought about Zoro a lot but he never truly admitted it to himself openly.

Luffy bit his bottom lip. He knew already he probably wouldn't be good at any form of hint dropping, subtle or otherwise.

Part of him just wanted to blurt it out but the other part, the one that wasn't slamming itself against the edge of his skull, didn't want to take the risk and lose Zoro as his friend.

Astonishingly, Luffy wasn't ready to take that risk.


The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. They ended up studying for a straight four hours and frankly, Zoro was starting to freak out. Luffy hadn't once made a move to snuggle against him nor make some wack excuse to raid his fridge. He found he didn't like this Luffy. This serious, depressed looking Luffy that wasn't cracking any jokes and looked like a lost cause.

Zoro supposed he should be glad that he managed to cover half a unit with Luffy and get most of his own work done, but he wasn't.

"What the hell is wrong with you today?" Zoro grumbled at last, turning around and peering down at the boy who was reading whilst laying on his stomach, chin propped up by his palms.

Luffy peered up at Zoro, aware he probably looked as drained as he felt. He had waltzed in here expecting to drop Zoro hints but that idea was now about as appealing as the scrape of skeleton fingers across a blackboard.

In truth, Zoro was concerned about his moron of a friend. He'd never seen him so solemn in all the two weeks that he's known him.

"Zoro, were friends right?"

Zoro nodded, unsure what he was getting at.

Luffy nodded too.

"Why all of a sudden...?"

"I don't want Zoro to hate me."

Zoro sputtered and barked a laugh. "Why the hell would I hate you, you dumbass?"

Luffy grinned and Zoro felt a wave of relief wash over him at that signature grin that seemed to have all it's oomph once again.

A smile twitched at his usual frowning features and he sighed, lifting a hand impulsively and embedding it in Luffy's silky raven locks.

Luffy wiggled forward, crawling towards Zoro and hurriedly burying his face in Zoro's shirt, arms wrapped around his waist.

"Oi— what gives?"

Luffy hummed against his stomach, nuzzling against him.

Zoro rolled his eye and petted Luffy's head.

"D'you think you'll be able to pull off the mock test tomorrow?"

Luffy nodded. There was no way he'd forget it, not when Zoro had taught it to him so memorably. Or maybe it was just the fact that ZORO taught him that makes him want to remember, to pass and show Zoro that he can do it—if he tries.


Usopp looked at the clock. Luffy would undoubtedly want something to eat when he got back, that much was certain.

He peered into the kitchen and saw Sanji, obviously still working on his culinary masterpiece.

"Oi, Usopp, can you help me set the table?"

Usopp stood and hurried into the kitchen grabbing forks and knives as Sanji grabbed the placemats and napkins.

"You're doing that thing again," Usopp glares. Sanji's eyes widened slightly in puzzlement.

"What thing?"

"That thing when you touch me."

Sanji made a face as Usopp elevated his shoulder a couple of time as if saying 'stop brushing against me here'.

"It's your imagination."

"Hell no." Usopp pointed in front of him, past Sanji. "You have ALL that room to walk. In fact, you could set the other side of the table."

Sanji began chuckling at Usopp's face.

"What the hell are you laughing at?"

"I'm just happy." Sanji said after a few seconds of laughing because it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he could breath again. The tension created earlier by Luffy's questions had really fried Usopp's nerves, he could see it. He'd be worried if Usopp sounded genuinely pissed off, but he didn't. His voice wasn't pissed off, possibly slightly annoyed but not altogether displeased.

Usopp raised his eyebrows.

"Happy?"

Sanji smiled and lifts his hand, placing it atop the long nose's head.

"Yeah." He nodded, moving closer so he could press his forehead against the shorter man's. "Happy."

"Oiiii!"

Usopp jumped back, far away from Sanji, his eyes darting to the door where Luffy just burst in.

"Luffy, you— what the fuck is Marimo doing with you?"

Zoro grimaced. "What the fuck is the shit cook doing in your place?"

Luffy laughed. "Zoro gave me double study sessions today so I said I'd treat him!"

"I told him it wasn't necessary, but he wouldn't let me go and half dragged me all the way over here."

"Being friends with Luffy signs you up for all types of weird shit." Sanji grumbles. "I guess I can spare some scraps for the muscle-brain."

Zoro snorted, stepping inside and taking a seat beside Luffy at the table.

Luffy, moments from stuffing a rack of ribs gracefully down his throat, paused to glance at Zoro who was laughing at a joke that was just told.

He looked nice when he laughed—his smile was infinitely better then his frowning face.

Easily distracted from his food, Luffy's eyes trailed, unabashed, down Zoro's body, starting from his strong jaw down to his thigh where his hand was resting. Luffy had the strongest urge to reach out and touch him, it was almost maddening and Luffy knew he should look away before his 'do it or die' nature took over.

No one seemed to be paying attention, and even if they were, no one said anything.

For the first time Luffy felt genuinely nervous but excited at the same time. He wanted to throw all these feelings he'd been keeping at bay into actions, badly.

With an intake of breath, Luffy turned to face Usopp who was sitting across from him. He then slowly outstretched his arm, placing his hand with utmost gentleness on the back of Zoro's.

Zoro's hand was so warm under his touch, and his skin was unexpectedly soft.

Luffy swallowed, feeling his cheeks heat up vaguely. He didn't dare turn his gaze to Zoro. When the man stopped laughing suddenly he knew he felt it.

No one seemed to notice the sudden cut off, but Luffy did, making him even more nervous.

Ace said we couldn't live with regrets he told himself sternly. I won't live with regrets.

Luffy and Usopp's eyes met. Usopp looked at him questioningly for a moment, but Luffy's expression spoke volumes to him.

He quickly sparked up another conversation, mostly aiming questions at Sanji so nothing would seem fishy about the silence.

Time seemed to slow and Luffy could feel himself start to get sweaty.

Luffy didn't move his hand, just kept it lightly against Zoro's, not even fully covering the top of the other's hand.

He felt Zoro's knuckles beneath the pads of his fingers and tried to block off the impulse to gently caress them.

He wanted so badly to sneak a glance at Zoro, but he couldn't. He was too worried what he might see.

Luffy caught Usopp's gaze again and frantically darted his orbs towards Zoro and then gave Usopp a questioning look.

Usopp, catching on marvellously, shifted his gaze to the green-haired man and Luffy watched Usopp's features carefully.

Usopp's lips twitched and he smiled, looking back down at his food and eating.

Luffy felt at a loss, he didn't know what to make of Usopp's expression. If Zoro had been making a scary face, the others would've noticed so he wasn't.

Luffy had worked up the courage and was about to take a sneak peek at Zoro's face before he suddenly felt that hand beneath his shifting.

He panicked, unsure whether or not he should retract his hand, but then he felt his fingers lace in between Zoro's, Zoro's fingers gently curling with Luffy's.

Luffy felt his heart flutter in his chest and he smiled at his plate that was still partially full.

Both of them had eaten dinner with their free hand and Luffy was reluctant to release Zoro when he began standing.

Before Zoro had stood, he'd given Luffy's fingers a light squeeze and released him, the raven-haired boy's hand falling to Zoro's thigh, before he stood and Luffy pulled back his hand completely, sharing looks with Usopp as he gave him knowing smirks.

"Ah, Zoro'll get lost if I don't take him back!" Luffy laughed gleefully and sprung up, hurrying towards the door.

"Thanks for the meal shitty cook, it was really good."

Sanji grinned. "Your not welcome, shitty moss."

Knowing it was futile to deny, Zoro allowed Luffy to lead him back to his apartment.

They walked back in comfortable silence, the space between the two almost nonexistent.

Luffy felt hot and bothered, his face unusually warm and heart stuttering every time his shoulder or hand brushed against Zoro.

He wanted to reach out and take Zoro's hand again, but he didn't know if that might be a bit too much in one sitting.

Zoro didn't seem to have any problem walking close beside him, and it did wonders to the younger's heart when he draped an arm over his shoulders to steer him out of the way when a few drunk students came hollering down the hallway.

Expecting his arm to drop when they were out of harms way, Luffy was pleasantly surprised when Zoro made no move to remove his arm from Luffy's shoulder.

Luffy felt that they reached Zoro's place far too quickly and he had a feeling he'd need to milk the time he had with the swordsman for all it was worth.

Zoro unlocked his door and opened it.

He walked in and turned around. He then lifted his hand and brushed his forefinger against the tender skin under Luffy's eye. The simplicity of such an action made heat lift to his cheeks and even more swell in his chest.

"Night Luffy."

Luffy felt his lips split into a delighted grin. "Night, Zoro."


Luffy didn't wake easily the next day, and although he had no classes, he felt compelled to leap out of bed and bound in direction Zoro.

He yawned and rolled over, snuggling closer against his pillow. As incredibly tempting as it was to go and track down Zoro, Luffy was pretty exhausted, more so then he'd been in a long time.

"Liking people sure does take it outta you." He mumbled into his pillow.

"Got that right."

Luffy jumped, lifting his head to spy Usopp in his doorway.

"'Sopp?"

"I made bacon, but when you didn't come running I freaked out so I came to check on you. Maybe you have love sickness."

Luffy snorted, the idea utterly ridiculous.

Usopp climbed onto Luffy's bed and plopped down beside him.

"I like Sanji."

After a second of stunned silence, Luffy spun around lightning fast, watching his best friend with huge sparkling eyes.

"You like Sanji?"

"I like Sanji."

"A lot?"

"A lot."

Luffy grinned and chuckled, tucking his arms under his pillow and turning his head so he could still see Usopp.

"For how long? Why are you only telling me now?"

Usopp sighed. "A while. And because what you said the other day got me thinking. Seeing you with Zoro helped me recognize my own feelings and..." He trailed off, face gradually heating up.

Luffy smiled. "I haven't told Zoro yet."

"I think he knows."

After a silence, Usopp peeked under his arm that was covering his eyes to see a horrified Luffy staring at him.

"Relax I didn't say anything. Sometimes actions speak louder then words."

Luffy's face softened and he smiled.

"I really really reaaaallly like him Usopp!" Luffy whined almost childishly, causing Usopp to snort good-naturedly.

"Then you should reallly reaaaaaally tell him."

"I'm going to."

Usopp turned over and mirrored Luffy, staring at him with arms tucked under the white fluffy pillow.

"Today." Luffy wasn't sure he had ever felt so certain about something before in his entire life, and the thought made his insides explode with butterflies.


A/N: There was so much fluff in this chapter I could barely keep a straight face. I was practically puking baby unicorns shitting rainbows. But whatever, I was in dire need of some serious fluff. Oh and I threw some SanUso in there too... :D

QUICK HUGE SHOUTOUT TO FlightWulf, Thank you very very much for your review!