I think my love of fluff is taking over…
A NOTE: I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE ARCHIPELAGO THEY WERE SEPARATED ON, JUST THAT IT BEGINS WITH 'S' SO I SHALL CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE EVERY TIME!
I said their would be ZoLu nakamashipping!
Chapter 4. Breakfast with the Strawhats and a Drink of Brotherhood!
The moment Nami's fist pounded into his skull, Zoro sprang bolt upright, making Nami jump back.
"-MI…" Then he bent over, clutching his side. A little nervous at how to approach him, Nami took a step towards him. His legs were pulled up to his chest, his forehead against his knees. If she listened she could hear him mumbling.
"Zoro?" He raised his head and turned to her.
"Nami? I'm awake?" he asked, quietly.
"Yeah, you were having some kind of nightmare." She sat down beside him again.
"Do you need painkillers or anything?" He shook his head a little. Gently she felt his forehead. Surprisingly he didn't pull away from her or slap her off.
"You're still a little feverish." Carefully she checked the bandages and stitches around him. He never flinched, or pulled away.
"Is everyone safe?" She froze. She had never heard Zoro use such a whimpering voice before, almost childish. Looking up she found a face she wouldn't of recognised as Zoro. His brow was furrowed in a mix of pain and anxiety. The bandages looked grey next to his sickly pale was nibbling his lower lip. He only ever did that when he was genuinely worried. It took a lot to scare the tough swordsman. He must be very troubled.
"Everyone's fine," she replied, trying to use a soothing voice. "What's wrong?" Sure she hit him and called him names. Sure she treated him like a pack mule and argued with him at every opportunity she got. Still that didn't mean she liked it when he was hurt or upset. The latter was so rare she didn't have it in her to pick at him.
"Just a bad dream." His voice was shaking.
"Must have been a really bad dream then. You look terrible."
Chopper had been so caught up in the story he had done the ultimate sin and left a sick and injured Zoro alone with Nami. Realising this he sped out of the room, leaving Luffy and Usopp with Scritcher, who was crying happy tears into Luffy's red vest. He wrapped his rubbery arms around his new friend and grinned.
"Since you're our nakama for at least a little while, you'll have to be introduced to the rest of the guys! OI-" Usopp clamped his hand over his dumbass captain's big gob.
"If you wake them up now, we'll be murdered." Scritcher was looking up at the two with a look of wonder.
"Na-ka-ma?" she said slowly. "You've already agreed to help, I don't want to impose on you, anymore!" Luffy laughed. He clearly wasn't listening.
"Don't argue with him. Once he's decided on something it takes the fist of a demon-woman or her loyal companion to change his mind!" whispered Usopp in her ear.
"So how come a little kitty can wear hats and pants and talk and have SWORDS!" Scritcher's eyes contracted in reaction rage. In a moment she was a vicious whirlwind of claws.
"Don't call me kitty!"
Wado Ichimonji was as beautiful as it was heavy, Nami concluded, passing the ethereal white katana to it's master's cradling hands. She'd seen him hug his sword before, and it had originally made her wonder if he did have no other love. Months with him had proven, though, that he wasn't cold-hearted. She had seen him roar with laughter and with rage. He put up his tough front, but all it took were a few small tears from Chopper for him to go into kind big brother mode that made some of the numerous fan girls- dubbed insolent sluts and bimbos- he had accumulated swoon and sigh over him. Nami sat down on the bed in front of him, pouring sake out of a bottle Chopper probably had for medicinal purposes. She slipped a teaspoon of white powder for eleviating his fever into it and stirred it till it dissolved. Then she raised it to Zoro's chapped lips.
"You'll feel better." Zoro let her tip the medicine into his mouth.
"Makes the sake taste like shit," he said flatly. It made her smile to see him returning to normal.
"You have to take all of it." He did, with a little encouragement i.e. her pinching his nose and forcing his mouth open.
"Whose a good boy then?" Nami teased, but was gentle wiping the excess away.
"Witch." He smirked slightly. Strange, she had never really paid attention to how cute and sexy the boys in her crew were. Running her eyes over Zoro's strong features, and exceedingly well built body she realised she might have missed some rather attractive eye candy. He had stopped shaking and looked more like the Zoro she knew. Chopper's sure taking his time…
"So why you in here?" he asked curiously.
"Well," she started, taking a deep breath in mock preparation, "One of my nakama has a bad fever and keeps his doctor up all night so I thought I'd bring said doctor a drink to cheer him up." She nipped his earrings gently.
"No concern for your sick friend then, witch?" Zoro faked hurt. He probably didn't mean to but it made him look sort of cute. In the way an Alsatian can look cute.
"Why, what are you implying?" Nami pretended to be insulted. Just to verify she did somewhat care for him, she cupped his cheek lightly in one hand, letting him lean into it. He seamed to be enjoying it. It must be because he's sick. My Zoro wouldn't take anyone being gentle to him. Wait… since when was he my Zoro?
"I must still be asleep 'cause you're not acting very Nami-ish."
"Silly boy." She pinched his arm to prove he was not back in dreamland. Getting round to the point, she asked, "So what were you dreaming about?" Zoro's smirking face faded and the lost childish one returned. His hands clenched tighter on his sword like a teddy. Man I wish he wouldn't look like that. It's too not Zoro. Nami resisted the urge to cuddle him, guessing the swordsman would take it as an insult.
"It doesn't matter…" he whispered.
"Zoro, I have bad dreams too, but I talk to Robin about it. There's no reason you can't tell me." Zoro smiled weakly.
Chopper had been listening quietly at the door, it open just a crack. He had arrived just when Nami placed the sword into Zoro's hands and sat back. Seeing the man awake made him want to run and hug him, but judging by the warm atmosphere between them, it really was a private moment. Happily, Zoro seamed to be himself, especially their friendly banter. Touching his face seamed to be her way of expressing relief he was recovering. Then Nami mentioned something about a dream. They were talking quietly to he only heard a snippet, but after she had spoke, Zoro became paler, and stopped smiling. Nami snuck a little closer to him and whispered something gentle and comforting to him, judging by the weak smile. Then Zoro began to succumb to tiredness again. He yawned, not too restrained and began to faint. Nami caught him before he fell out sideways. As if he were made of glass, she laid him back on the pillows. Zoro held onto his sword tightly in one hand.
"You be good just this once and rest until Chopper says you can do otherwise." Zoro's comforting chuckle rewarmed Chopper like a second mug of cocoa, though it made him cough a little. Then he saw something very un-Nami-ish indeed. Tucking the blanket around his shoulders, she kissed his forehead. Zoro's face turned a deep red, but he smiled as he prepared to drop off to sleep again. Nami watched him staying still for once, smiling as his breathing steadied. Chopper decided now was a good time to come in. Nami looked up suddenly, turning pink.
"Ch-Chopper! You just missed him awake!" she stammered, removing her hand sharply from Zoro's hair. Zoro mumbled something quietly, perhaps he was enjoying being stroked. Nami stood up.
"I-think-I'd-better-be-going-back-to-bed-now-goodnight-Chopper-goodnight-Zoro!" She almost ran out of the room, blushing crimson. Zoro sighed. Chopper toddled over to the man and jumped up on the bed. Zoro's cheeks were still dark puce.
"Has she gone?" he asked weakly.
Chopper replied, "Yeah, why?" A goofy grin stretched over Zoro's face. Chopper grinned too.
"You're in love with Nami aren't you, Zoro?" An odd sound escaped his lips. Zoro pulled a face like he wanted to yell at Chopper but was too exhausted to. Then it changed to a soft smile, one Zoro rarely used. A few moments later he was snoring deeply.
"So we have a plan to get Zoro's sight back!" Chopper's eyes were glowing. Luffy grinned. His crew, minus Zoro who was still tucked away in the infirmary, plus Qwerk (used as a bench by Usopp and Nami), were gathered in a semicircle around him, in a pre-breakfast crew talk. Ace was by no means an early riser, so he lay against the bird-goat with a blanket over him. They were fairly used to narcoleptics after all.
"If everyone is in agreement we're setting sail for Yamishima!" Robin folded her hands together.
"The island of Micro-technology?" Luffy and most of the guys cocked their heads in confusion.
"Would you understand if I told you in depth?"
"No, Robin, we wouldn't."
"Then in simple terms, Yamishima is a island of specialized scientists, in particular eye surgeons. Or it was until it was over run by the World government." Luffy loved the wide-eyed expressions of his crew.
"So its a mystery island!" he said punching his palm. THWONK.
"Sumimasen, Usopp..."
"Zoro won't have to be blind his whole life?" Nami said, perhaps a little too eagerly, earning many odd looks.
"What… He's more useful when fully functional okay?" Luffy saw through the thin cover-up. She was definitely worried about the swordsman.
"Also, for this voyage we have a new companion aboard!" Luffy had been waiting for this bit all morning. Usopp jumped down off of Qwerk and began a drum role as everyone looked on in mixed expressions of curiosity and "oh-crap-what-crazy-thing-is-he-adding-next?" Opening the door into the boys' dorm he called,
"Oi, Scritcher, you can come out now!"
"Qwerk?" came a confused sounding call from outside. From under a blanket on one of the chairs appeared a fluffy black and white face, lamp like eyes shining in the darkness.
"-kay just coming!" The lithe shape of a cat jumped onto the boards and padded towards him, holding her tricorn hat in her mouth. He grinned as she came into the light. And began to straighten up into her bipedal form.
Usopp made a finale on his drum role and boisterously announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to introduce, native of Yamishima rebel against the World Government..." Now fully visible to the whole crew, Usopp, Luffy and Chopper struck a pose around the Nyathen. She took a deep and theatrical bow, before straightening up and with an extravagent twirl that made the many feathers sway, placed her hat upon her head.
"Blackjack Scritcher, at your service!"
Breakfast, a terribly noisy affair on the Thousand Sunny. Especially with two extra people, one of which large enough to count as at least three.
"Sobu wo 'ere borm im 'a fame 'iwwib?" Luffy said, his mouth full. Translates to: "So you two were born in the same village?" Scritcher nodded, looking at her food. Delicately she picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of succulent looking shark. She glanced up at Qwerk, her childhood friend, scoffing his food like he hadn't eaten in weeks. He noticed her and gave her a "go-on" sort of nod, cheeks bulging like a hamster. The room suddenly became quiet as she lifted the fish to her mouth. The heartbeats rose. The eye of the young blonde chef was fixed on her, wide with anticipation. She sniffed eloquently, paused, then opened her small mouth and placed the fork into it, careful to not scrape her teeth against the metal. Then in slow motion she retracted the fork, chewed noticeably, then paused. The heartbeats rose to a crescendo, then stopped. Silence. Then she swallowed, the gulp like a whale.
"DELICIOUS~~~!!!" she yelled, eyes wide and full of stars, raising her arms in a victory position. Then the whole room exploded into laughter. Scritcher began to scoff as hard as Qwerk and Luffy. Sanji's grin stretched from ear to ear, before he went into his proclamations of love for Robin and Nami with so much gusto he almost melted. Luffy laughed out loud, his mouth still full of food. Scritcher abandoned her cutlery and ate with her white paws, flashing in and out.
"Extraodinary!" "Brilliant" "Never tasted better!" she cried, though what was heard was "Eflobibary!" "Wiwwiam!" and "Mewer waswed bewwer!"
"And there I was thinking we'd found someone with table manners…" Nami sighed. Robin giggled. Chopper was watching in awe of the little female, scoffing at the same rate as the larger boys. One glance between Qwerk, her, Luffy and Ace, and it was a full blown, eat your own weight in one meal contest. Everyone roared when Scritcher and Qwerk panicked, due to Ace falling asleep in his meatballs.
"DOCTOR!"
"QWEEEEERRRRRRRRK!!!!"
"HE'S HAD A HEART ATTACK!" At this point Luffy joined in the screaming, believing that to be true.
"ACE!" he screamed, "CHOPPER, DO SOMETHING!" he was simultaneously struck over the head by Sanji and Usopp.
"DON'T BE STUPID LUFFY!" Then Ace decided to wake up. Qwerk attempted to jump into Scritcher's arms at the same time she tried to jump into his. Feathers and fur were all on end and their mismatched hats leapt clean off their heads to the extent the strings would reach.
"HEEEEE'S ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!"
Back on the shore, citizens were woken up by the rowdy breakfasting habits.
"It's them strawhats again," one man said to another.
"Should we complain?"
"Naw, they're doing no harm." Then they began to laugh, and laughter is contagious.
"Ya see you're taking care of my little bro as if he were your own, and I can tell you're a second brother to him," Ace explained for the thirteenth time.
"Luffy thinks of the whole crew as his family," Zoro replied. The previous twelve times either he or Zoro fell asleep. Eventually they enlisted the help of their cannon ball little brother to keep them awake. Chopper was afraid for his room with the D brothers plus Zoro in the same space, but put up with it on the baisis that Zoro and Ace were too narcoleptic to make too much of a mess. Zoro was sitting up against the wall, his arms behind his head.
"Because you are!" Luffy interjected, excited about what was going to happen.
"But you're also his First Mate, the right hand man. A Captain would be nothing without his first mate."
"If I share a drink with you, we're brothers, right?"
"When I'm not here you're already this idiot's acting Aniki," Ace said, hitting Luffy and making a BOING sound. "Just want to make it official." Zoro sat up straight.
"We're from rival crews, and you barely know me."
"Still, fancy officially becoming our brother?" Ace asked cockily. Zoro pulled his trademark grin.
"Ech, there's not going to be that much differance really." Luffy grinned and laughed. Carefully Ace poured three mugs of sake and passed one to each of his companions. Quietly they touched the edges together before throwing back the mugs. Then the three brothers, simultaneously fell asleep on the bed.
"I'm not sure if that's sweet or weird..." Nami said peering in at the three. Scritcher tugged at her skirt gently. She looked down into the feline's big gold eyes.
"Yes Scritcher-chan?" She pulled a string necklace over her head and held it up. From it dangled a small blue orb, with the unmistakable red/white needle of a Pose contained within.
"To get to Yamishima you have to go to specific Islands first and have the Animapose altered. Each island only takes a few hours adjustment." Nami bent and picked Scritcher up like a cat.
"Nami-san?"
"Hai Scritcher?"
"They'll not lose will they?" She smiled. Gently she picked Scritcher up like a cat.
"Luffy's fighting for his best friend. He won't lose to a wimpy government official."
"IS EVERYBODY READY?" Franky yelled from the helm. The rest of the crew clung to various objects or each other. Qwerk was using his talons and beak to hold onto the mast, Chopper and Scritcher holding tight to his wings.
"I'll never be ready for this..." Usopp muttered. Scritcher was officially panicking.
"Nani, nani?" she babbled. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Luffy's grin was worrying his brother. Franky glanced over his shoulder at the advancing marine envoy.
"See ya round Marine losers!" He pulled a lever,
"COUP DE BURST!" All those unaccquainted with Sunnys escape method lost their eyeballs.
"WHAT IS THIS -!" was heard trailing back to the archipeleago, along with,
"QWE~!" as the Thousand Sunny with it's nutcase crew shot out of the water towards Yamishima.
So now the plot has started! And they're dragging Ace along with them!
if your wondering about the brothership thing, I just thought since Ace and Zoro play similar roles in Luffy's life, they would officialate their brotherhood with him like they did when Luffy and Ace were kids. Not to mention Luffy has the energy of three boys while Ace and Zoro are narcoleptic...
BTW that breakfast scene was fun as hell to write!
I have an image of qwerk uploaded here http:// blackjackscritcher . deviantart . com /art /Two-sides-ffic-spoiler-148193718 (take out spaces)
