A.N: Hey guys, Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers.

Bonds of Trust

Chapter 4

Sanji opened the door of the washroom and stepped outside, feeling an instant chill. He wanted to just turn around and have another soak in the warm water, but decided against it - he had supper to prepare after all.

Closing the door behind him, he wrapped a white towel around his wet hair and made his way to the kitchen. What should he make today? Something warm would be good for Luffy. A crab soup for starters, and perhaps he could do a spit roast? There was still enough salted meat left in the storage - he could use that. He would begin with a strongly spirited cocktail for the adults, and Chopper, Luffy and Usopp could have squeezed lime in theirs to replace the sensation of-

Sanji's thoughts were interrupted when he bumped into something hard and almost landed on his butt. He gathered himself together and stood up straight, glaring at the culprit.

"Watch it." Zoro said, not giving him time to respond as he continued to walk.

"Sowy Swanji." Luffy's voice sounded from where the green haired man was. Sanji noticed Luffy's sandaled foot sticking out over Zoro's arms. Oh, now he understood.

He frowned. What on earth had Zoro and Luffy been doing in there that he nor the rest of the crew could bear witness to anyway?

Well, of course he had blindly obeyed Robin-chwans orders...but now that he thought about it, Luffy was his captain too, and he wanted to help! Since when had marimo become the one Luffy felt he could speak to most?

Okay, that much he understood. Relationships between a captain and his first mate were things people should not underestimate. He already knew Zoro and Luffy had some sort of bond between them, he knew that much since the first battle he had witnessed from this crew. Zoro had even cried for the boy, for the sake of his own shame. But for some reason, this situation seemed a bit too...different. He knew Luffy, no matter how idiotic and playful, did not enjoy displaying any sort of weakness. Why was he allowing marimo to hold him like that? Was his brain okay? Was marimo taking advantage of him in his weakened state?

Taking advantage?

Oh God.

Sanji's frown deepened as he considered something he never thought he would have to consider on the Merry go. He squinted his eyes ever so slightly to observe the departing two. He noticed that Luffy seemed a little more relaxed and floppy...unlike his usual energetic self. He noticed the strange colour in marimo's face as he got further and further away.

'What the hell am I thinking? Marimo's just embarrassed to be having to hold the kid and Luffy's just tired,' he thought to himself, shaking his head.

However...

Zoro never let himself get embarrassed. He'd just take 'horrible' situations as something he could not avoid and avoid them he would if he could; and Luffy...would at least be saying something, even if he was tired, weak...

"Oh yeah, and hungry..." Sanji resumed his journey to the kitchen.

He needed to hurry and whip up those losers, as well as Robin-chwan and Nami-swan, something to eat. He'd just keep an eye on those two after they'd eaten.

(((((((((((((oOo))))))))))))))

Zoro looked down at the exhausted bundle in his arms. He smiled, despite the fact that there was no reason to do so; Luffy just looked so adorable...What? It was okay to think that wasn't it? It was a free ocean right? And if he thought someone was adorable, then they just were - it wasn't something you could force yourself to think otherwise about, and as long as he never said that out loud then all would be well.

Luffy's face had almost recovered from its owner's abuse as he looked up to find Zoro smiling down at him. He felt so weightless in Zoro's arms, and that smile really affected him in ways he couldn't...

yet...

describe (1).

It was so...beautiful. He could feel his aching muscles return the smile - never in his life had he felt so relaxed. Even though he had almost died earlier, he wouldn't mind doing it again if he could hold his swordsman's attention like this... See his amazing smile.

Now he felt like he was aching for something more...like he wanted to hear him speak or something. He closed his eyes, leaning his head onto Zoro's chest and listened to his steady breathing and heartbeat. He really, really wanted to hear his voice.

Being the straight forward man he was Luffy asked shyly, "Zoro, can you sing?"

The green haired man laughed softly. Luffy closed his eyes and sighed, feeling the man's vibrating chest emit the music he was longing for. He had never really understood it, but he had always loved it when Zoro spoke. It was like an addiction that he could never get enough of. He would always pull faces and make jokes to get his attention, just so his crew and that man could comment on it.

Why on earth was he thinking like this? Was this how it felt to be weak? Confused and Reflective?

Well, he did happen to feel like a lump of raw meat at that moment - his mind would clear up when his body recovered. All he needed was some meat, some sleep...and some dry clothes. There was a cold chilling breeze blowing around the ship, but Zoro's body seemed to shield everything, excluding one of his feet.

"Here we go." Zoro said suddenly. Luffy looked up to the man who was carrying him, who was looking straight ahead of him. The captain followed his first mates eyes and his own landed on the door to the room Chopper had begged to use as his laboratory.

Luffy almost laughed aloud; he remembered how Zoro had persuaded him to allow Chopper do experiments in the presence of his stored food. Zoro really was the mother hen of the crew. Well...he could think of him as a father hen instead but...

...that sounded odd.

Even though Zoro was male, mother hen just seemed to be the perfect way to describe him. He always knew what to do and everyone could rely on him - he had all the motherly aspects.

And sometimes, Luffy wished he could be like him. Only sometimes though, he didn't exactly want to be a lazy butt who drank whenever he could. It was just that people could rely on him. Everyone seemed to rely on him too, but was that really true? He had been so sure before, but now... he couldn't really tell anymore.

He wasn't going to let it get to him, he would just get stronger.

Zoro opened the door, wincing as a loud creak echoed on board. The ship was really in a bad condition but luckily Water 7 was just around the corner. Merry would soon be upgraded from the battered heap it was.

Chopper was sitting at a desk with his back facing them; he hadn't seemed to have noticed them.

"Something's not right. It's impossible, science can't explain it. Was it a dream...yes...that's right! It was all a dream!"

"What was?" Zoro asked abruptly, his voice startling the already shaking creature.

"Z-Zoro! What are you doing here...WHAT HAPPENED TO LUFFY?!" the little reindeer screamed. Luffy cringed, his friends really did worry over him too much. A voice at the back of his mind reminded him again that it had to stop.

"Imb owka, rwierly" (I'm okay, really) Luffy mumbled.

"Did he almost drown?!" the animal blurted.

"Yes, just a few minutes ago." Zoro replied. "Chopper you haven't been dreaming. I know it might be unexplainable in your science...but this is Luffy we're dealing with.

"Eh?" Luffy frowned, confused.

Chopper ignored him. "Okay, fine... I guess I'll just have to accept it. But still...how? It's like saying Luffy defeated death itself..."

Zoro walked down the room, suddenly aware that it was Luffy in his arms. It made him feel...less than comfortable. He reached the neatly made bed and dropped the stretched mess of skin onto the covers.

"Well here he is- alive and breathing, and with a new problem." Zoro said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Chopper gave him an odd look and stared wordlessly at Luffy...then looked back at Zoro. "Yeah..." Zoro began, "He was stretching as he usually does, but then ....his skin wouldn't return to its original-"

"Shape? Size? I understand," Chopper interrupted the swordsman's brief explanation. The animal processed in digging out some tubes from a large cardboard box. He finally stopped making a mess a few seconds later. "Ah ha!"

He trotted up to Zoro who uncrossed his legs and lent forward to analyse what he assumed to be a jar of cream.

"Use this cream Luffy." Chopper instructed, handing the glass tub to Zoro. He turned and went back to pick up the now broken tubes of other creams from the floor. "This is definitely because of what happened earlier. His abilities have malfunctioned somehow; he's been weakened. Don't worry Luffy, your face will recover once you use this cream, it will just enhance the firmness of your skin." the fluffy animal picked up the last tube and placed it with the others, pointlessly sealing their only escape; they weren't going anywhere. He picked up the box and plodded his way to a shelf. "However, I'm still not sure why he hasn't recovered yet. He's had plenty of time..."

He relieved himself from the weight and jumped into his chair, spinning around to face the two once again. He followed Zoro's eyes, which were examining Luffy, and suddenly exclaimed, "Ah ha!"

Zoro turned his attention back to the little doctor, his eyes holding obvious anticipation.

"Zoro...I told you to get him into some dry clothes...now look at him. He's almost dry now." Chopper observed, annoyed.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Zoro questioned.

"No! It's not a good thing! All this means is that it will be harder for him to get rid of the salt on his body. That salt is the most important mineral of the sea, and it is also our weakness." Chopper explained, an anger mark protruding from the side of his head.

"Okay okay, I get it. I'll just make him take a shower. Let's go Luffy." Zoro said, twisting a little to get the attention of his captain. He then witnessed one of the most amazing moments in history. Luffy struggling to fight sleep.

Luffy's breathing grew a little quicker and he inhaled sharply, opening his eyes, "Eh?" he muttered sleepily. His eyelids had never felt so heavy, he rubbed them tiredly.

"Come here." Zoro said quietly, effortlessly scooping the half lidded boy back into his arms from the position he was in. He straightened himself upright and readjusted the dozy boy into a more comfortable position for them both. He turned to Chopper and noticed the reindeer giving him a goofy grin. "Aren't you supposed to be angry for some reason or other?"

Chopper just shook his head and continued his cheesy upward turn of the lips. "Nah" He said, flapping his hoof to the side. "It's just that I've never seen you worry about someone this much. In fact, I somehow feel honored to be witnessing this." He said, unbending one of his rainbowed eyes to admire the scene again... and then quickly unbending the other one when he caught Zoro's glare.

TBC

I know that was a quick one, but I'll get the next chapter up very soon because it's almost done.

(1) He couldn't 'yet' describe his feelings because he's never been educated on how to...and he's an idiot anyways.

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