Chapter 7: Heavy Weather

A storm hits the Going Merry.

In this bed the nightmares creep
Out of the arms of sudden sleep.

- Arthur Symons

At breakfast Sanji kept a discreet watch from the corner of his eye for Zoro to come in. The swordsman appeared and sat down with his nakama, saying nothing except a perfunctory grunt in response to any morning greetings directed towards him. When Sanji set a plateful of food in front of him, Zoro didn't look up: merely picked up his fork and set to, one elbow propped on the table. Normally Sanji wouldn't let those kind of bad manners pass, but something about the set of Zoro's shoulders warned him off direct attack. He directed his attention at his other nakama instead, deciding not to let whatever mood Zoro was evidently nursing impact on his own day.

"Mmhh, that's good. Any more omelettes left?" demanded Luffy.

Sanji reached for another couple of eggs. "There could be. Anyone else want seconds?" There was a chorus of general requests, to which Sanji smiled. "More omelettes coming up."

"Better eat a good breakfast," said Nami, steepling her fingers as she looked around the table. "The weather's going to change… We're going to have a big blow before the day's out. So we better get busy after breakfast fixing up the rigging and sails. We haven't done that in a while, some of it is bound to need repairing or replacing." Groans and protests greeted her announcement. "Hey, don't blame me. You should be glad you get a warning of what's coming. It'd be pretty bad trying to fix broken rigging in a storm, so show a little gratitude."

"How severe a storm is it going to be?" asked Chopper, his eyes apprehensive.

"Not dangerous… But rough enough that we'll all be busy for a while."

Usopp leaned back in his chair. "I'll look out the tools and spare rope, if Chopper helps me. And some canvas – there's a tear in the lateen sail that needs repairing."

"I could sew that up!" declared Luffy.

"No you couldn't." Several of the Mugiwara answered him simultaneously, mindful of Luffy's staggering lack of skill where careful work was required.

"The rails need strengthening in a couple of places," said Usopp quickly. "You could do that, Luffy – if I show you what needs doing."

"Sure! Whatever." Luffy nodded his agreement, attention already switching to where Sanji was folding a cooked omelette onto a plate.

"We really ought to lower the main yard and fix new tackles, if we can," mused Usopp. "The old ones have about had it. That'll be a big job, though – it'll take a few hours, then we'll have to get it hoisted back up and re-rigged before the storm reaches us."

"I'll do it." Zoro spoke up, pushing his plate away.

Usopp nodded gratefully. "It'll need a couple of us to manhandle it - "

"I can manage." Zoro shrugged. "If I need help, I'll ask for it."

"We ought to check the storeroom too, make sure everything's stowed securely and battened down." Nami tapped one finger on the table. "The last thing we need is for things to start sliding around, throwing the ship out of true. It'll be hard enough to steer a course in the storm as it is."

"I'll take a look," offered Robin. "And if there's anything I need help with securing, I'll come and find one of you to lend a hand."

Sanji set a perfectly-cooked omelette in front of her, with a courtly bow. "Consider me at your disposal, ladies. I'll make something simple that'll do for both lunch and supper; then my time is yours."

The day passed quickly enough, with the crew turning to the task of making the Going Merry as ready as possible to weather the storm. Helping Robin to secure cargo in the storeroom only took a couple of hours: Sanji turned his attentions to helping out on deck, assisting Chopper with repairing and rehoisting the lateen sail.

They were almost done when the weather began to turn. Sanji noticed the change in the ship's motion first. The Going Merry began to pitch a little more, and to roll slightly as the swell grew bigger. He looked up from tying off a rope to see the sky had changed to a sullen grey, the sea spread beneath it in an uneasy dark green. "Huh… Looks like Nami was right. That storm's on its way."

Chopper peered over the rail too. "Oogh. I hope it doesn't get too rough. That swell already feels pretty big."

"Yeah, we're rolling pretty good in it." Sanji looked towards the mainmast. "That crap swordsman better have got the mainsail back up and rigged. We're screwed if we can't use that to keep some decent headway on the ship – without it the storm'll pretty much throw us all over the place."

"Maybe we should go and see if he needs a hand," suggested Chopper. "We're done here, aren't we?"

When they descended from the stern to the main deck, the Going Merry's main sail was in fact hoisted up into its rightful place, although Zoro was still high up in the ratlines working on the rigging. Sanji watched him for a few moments, frowning against the rising wind that was whipping his hair across his eyes. "Oi, marimo! Aren't you done yet?"

Zoro's only response to Sanji's yell was to lift one hand from the ratlines – leaving him attached only by his legs wound and braced through the ropes – and to make a dismissive gesture. Sanji saw the swordsman's other hand was hauling on a rope, while a second rope was clenched in his teeth.

"Looks like he might need some help," ventured Chopper, although his tone suggested he was not enthusiastic at the prospect.

"Yeah." Sanji glanced at the little reindeer, then gave a wry smile. "I'll go. You better see if anything else needs lashing down before the storm hits."

Chopper headed off across the deck, relief evident on his face. Sanji paused to slip off his shoes and wedge them into a corner, before heading for the ratlines and climbing barefoot until he reached the heights where Zoro was still working on the rigging. Alerted to his crewmate's presence by the movement below him, Zoro paused and looked down: favoured Sanji with a scowl. "What do you want?"

"I've come to give you a hand. If we don't get a move on, this storm's going to be right on top of us."

"I can manage."

"You want to get blown out of the rigging, craphead? Be my guest. But I'd rather we get the mainsail fixed up first, so the rest of us can steer the ship."

"I'm almost done, anyhow." Zoro tugged a knot into place with what seemed like unnecessary force. "You'll just get in the way."

"There's plenty of room up here for two of us, if you just shift your musclebound carcass over a little. And two pairs of hands will get the job done quicker." Sanji saw the swordsman open his mouth again as if to argue, but he wasn't going to get into a debate about it. "Move over. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can both get back down on deck."

Zoro said nothing more, but shifted over on the ratlines with ill grace. They worked silently but swiftly, both familiar enough with the ship's rigging to get the job done efficiently. They were hampered however by the wind which continued to rise, and the increasing motion of the ship. Sanji had good sea legs – a prerequisite for a ship's cook – but after a while even he started to find the swaying of the mast top somewhat challenging. Like Zoro, he wound his legs through the ratlines, keeping himself secured while reaching out to thread tackle and knot ropes: the wind began to pluck at his shirt, gusting hard.

"I'm done." Zoro slid back from where he'd been precariously leaning out towards the mainsail yard. Sanji ran his eye carefully over the rigging he'd been working on. "Yeah, me too. Let's get the hell down."

Nami was waiting for them when they regained the deck. "Just in time. The storm's really coming in, now."

"Well, we've made the ship as ready as she can be," said Sanji. "Guess we'll just have to ride it out, like we usually do."

"We better double up on watch," responded Nami. "It'll be a hell of a night… And tomorrow isn't going to be any better."

Nami's prophecy was accurate. By nightfall the storm had swept over the Going Merry with seas that rose and crashed over the ship's bows and rails, setting the deck awash and making those on watch resort to clinging onto the weather lines that they had stretched along the ship as a safety precaution. Keeping the sails trimmed and the ship running before the weather proved an exhausting task, and even when not on watch and trying to sleep in the lurching, creaking darkness below decks no-one got much rest.

The morning came with murky grey skies, but little slackening of the winds. Squalls of rain came and went throughout the day, and by the second nightfall of the storm most of the Mugiwara were exhausted. In the galley Sanji dished up generous bowls of spicy soup and dumplings, accompanied by a mammoth pot of heavily sweetened chai to try to revive his nakama's flagging energy and spirits.

"Ohh… Listen to it. It's still blowing a gale out there," groaned Usopp, holding his bowl of soup steady with one hand while plying his spoon with the other. "How much longer is this damn storm going to last?"

"We should pass through the tail-end of it sometime tonight," predicted Nami, nursing her mug of chai against her chest. "Hopefully by tomorrow, the winds will have slackened off."

"Here's hoping," said Robin, face stretching in a yawn. Her wrist bore a bandage, a sprain courtesy of being pitched down a ladder in a violent lurch of the ship. She was not the only crew member sporting injuries: Nami herself had a bruise on her cheek from a collision with a doorway on her way through; Sanji had a scalded hand where the challenges of cooking soup in a pitching galley had temporarily got the better of him; and everyone bore assorted cuts, bruises and rope burns from grappling with the ship in the extreme weather.

"Do we need to double up on watch again tonight?" asked Luffy groggily, almost asleep in his soup bowl.

"Well… With the winds easing, it'll probably be okay just with one person on watch." Nami shrugged.

"We all need to get some rest," piped up Chopper. "There have been enough slips and falls and injuries: everyone should try to get some decent sleep, or one of us could have a serious accident."

"Huh. Every time I tried to get to sleep last night I woke up on the floor," remarked Usopp.

"It won't be as bad tonight," Nami assured them. "You can already feeling it easing up a little."

"Maybe you can," Usopp retorted snarkily. "The rest of us don't have an internal barometer."

"Oi, mind your manners, long-nose." Sanji gave him a slap across the top of the head. "Don't be rude to Nami, or you can eat your supper out on deck."

Usopp buried his face in his soup bowl. "I abjectly beg your pardon, Nami. I'm sure that the storm is definitely departing, just as you say."

"Is there any coffee?" demanded Zoro, setting his own soup bowl down, empty.

Sanji gave him a look from under one raised brow. "There's chai. I didn't make coffee."

Zoro pulled a face. "That stuff's too sweet to drink. I want coffee."

"Then make it yourself."

"All right." Zoro got up and moved to the stove, adjusting his steps to the still-unsteady motion of the ship. Sanji watched him narrowly, mindful of the unfortunate possibilities of Zoro on the loose in his kitchen.

"I'll have some more chai," said Robin, holding out her mug. "It's delicious."

"Thank you, Robin-chwan." Sanji abandoned his surveillance of the marimo to turn a beaming smile on his dark-haired crewmate, rising and ladling out a generous mugful of chai into her waiting cup.

"What do you put into it?" inquired Chopper interestedly, one professional to another. "I can taste ginger in there… And cinnamon?"

"Fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, a few cloves, ground cardamom, star anise… and a little black pepper." Sanji sat down and pulled out his cigarettes. "The trick is to get the balance of the spices right. I bring it to a simmer with a good tea, then leave it to stand a couple of hours to infuse. Then I warm it through again and add the milk, and a little honey."

"Mmm…" Nami took a sip of her own drink, letting out a sigh. "I can feel it warming me up, that's for sure. I'm going to finish this, then go to bed."

"So... Who's taking first night watch?" asked Usopp, in tones that suggested he hoped it wasn't going to be him.

"I will." Zoro spoke from over by the stove, standing with arms folded as he watched the kettle heating up on the stove. "Once I've made some coffee, I'll head out."

No-one made any attempt to refuse his offer. After a moment's slightly guilty silence, there was a general chorus of mumbles from around the table, on a general theme of "OK", "Thanks, Zoro", interspersed with unrestrained yawning. After that, the nakama soon drifted off their separate ways to bed; Zoro headed outside with a steaming mug of coffee; and Sanji washed up and set the galley to rights.

When Sanji stepped out on deck to go to bed himself, the storm struck at him with all its wet wild force after the snugness of the kitchen. Pulling his jacket close he carefully negotiated the steps and headed for the hatch down to the men's quarters, grateful that at least the deck wasn't as awash as it had been earlier.

Once below he headed straight for his hammock, shedding only his shoes and jacket which had got wet during his journey. He pulled a blanket up over himself and lay back in the darkness. The sounds of his nakama's snoring was almost drowned out by the creaking and groaning of the ship and the roar of the weather and waves.

Well, at least Nami said it should blow over by tomorrow morning. With that comforting thought, Sanji pulled his blanket up over his head to try to block out the worst of the noise, and fell into an exhausted sleep.

"Oi, Sanji! Aren't you ever going to wake up? It's breakfast time."

Sanji went from peaceful slumber to bleary wakefulness in the space of half a second, assaulted by the insistent tones of his captain about an inch from his ear. "Mhuh… Crap…"

"The storm's gone, the sun's up." Luffy still spoke loudly, as if fearful that Sanji might slip back to sleep unless properly encouraged. "The sea's still rough but it's already much better than it was. And I'm hungry!"

"Yeah… Give me a minute." Sanji groped his way upright, blinking at the new day that had been forced upon him.

"I was dreaming about ham and eggs," Luffy informed him hopefully.

"Sounds great." Sanji swung himself out of his hammock. "Now get the hell out of my face until I've had my first cigarette."

One cigarette and a brew of coffee later, Sanji set about preparing breakfast. He was finishing up cooking and setting the table when the galley door opened and Zoro walked in. He gave the cook a nod as he headed to the table and sat down. Sanji gave him an assessing look: the swordsman was tousled and grubby, his green hair spiked wildly by wind and salt spray. He looked utterly wiped out, his eyes heavy. Sanji decided to play friendly. "Breakfast'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Good." Zoro sat slumped in his chair as though he never intended to move again. "There any coffee?"

"Fresh brewed." Sanji reached for the pot and set it on the table, with a clean mug. "Though you look more like you could use some sleep, rather than coffee."

Zoro grunted, pouring himself a mugful. "I plan to get some, after I eat breakfast."

"Rough night?"

"Storm blew itself out a couple of hours before dawn. But there were still a lot of big seas coming in. It got easier once it got light, though."

Sanji paused at the stove. "You took the whole night watch? On your own?"

"Yeah." Zoro blew on his coffee, then took a huge gulp.

"Why didn't you come get one of us, to swap over midway through?"

Zoro shrugged. "Everyone was asleep."

"Well, duh. Of course we were… But that doesn't mean you couldn't have come and woken one of us up."

"No need." Zoro shook his head. "I was okay taking watch on my own. And everyone was tired, so I figured I'd let you rest."

Sanji regarded him. "No wonder you look beat. You going to be able to stay awake for breakfast, or are we going to have to fish you out of your plate when you fall asleep in the middle of eating?"

"Just dish up breakfast, cook, and I'll eat it." Zoro gave him a look from under lowered brows. Sanji said nothing more, turning back to his stove.

In the wake of the storm the weather quickly cleared. A few things had been dislodged or battered by wind or waves and needed setting to rights, but life aboard soon resumed its fair-weather rhythms. Coffee and a sizeable breakfast had temporarily restored Zoro's energy, but after doing his share of the storm repairs he took himself up onto the aft deck and lay down, arms folded under his head. Weariness was making his eyelids heavy: he needed sleep, and he intended to get a solid few hours of it, his unruly nakama permitting.

As he lay there with his eyes closed he could hear the soft sounds of the wind ruffling Nami's tangerine trees; the flap of Going Merry's sail; the plash of the still-ruffled sea. It was soothing, as was the feel of the sun through his shirt, after the long cold hours of wind and rain during the storm.

There was always the chance that someone would wake him, sleeping here; but he felt no inclination to go below to his hammock. Napping on deck was something Zoro was good at. And at some level he was aware of a curious reluctance to sink into a deep sleep… because with deep sleep, there was always the chance of dreaming. He settled his shoulders more comfortably against the deck, let out a long breath and let the sounds of the ship and the sea gently lull him into slumber.

"Where's Zoro?" Sanji cast his eye at the empty place – yet again – at the table.

"Sleeping aft." Nami gestured with one thumb. "When I went to check on the trees he was sprawled out on the deck, snoring like a buzz saw."

Sanji clicked his tongue in irritation. "I told that craphead not to turn up late for any more meals. This time Luffy gets his lunch."

"Woo-hoo!" Luffy looked up happily.

"Maybe he needs the sleep more than lunch," Robin suggested. "He did look rather tired this morning."

"Whatever." Sanji slid Zoro's portion onto Luffy's eagerly held-out plate, before sitting down to his own meal.

Robin smiled at him. "I'm sure it's no reflection on your food, cook-san. It's as delicious as ever."

Sanji beamed back at her, his mood sweetening. "Thank you, Robin-chwan. It's always a pleasure to cook for one so lovely. Not to mention, appreciative. Allow me to serve you with a morsel or two more."

"I have plenty, but thank you," Robin responded.

"I appreciate your cooking!" declared Luffy, enthusiastically shoving his plate under Sanji's nose. "Give me some more morsels!"

"Finish what you have on your plate and learn some good manners, idiot!" Sanji whacked his captain hard on the head with the nearest thing to hand, which happened to be a wooden serving spoon. Luffy subsided, then resumed stuffing food into his mouth with a haste that suggested he had hopes that a clean plate might be rewarded with a refill.

Zoro woke mid-afternoon with a stiff neck and a dry mouth, but otherwise feeling a good deal better. A few hours of training took care of the stiffness, while the dry mouth was remedied by swiping a bottle of wine from the galley when Sanji was busy chatting with Nami and Robin on the foredeck.

After supper, Zoro was about to head outside when Sanji's voice followed him. "Oi. I need a hand with the washing up."

Zoro turned back, frowning a little. This was the cook's usual ploy when he thought one of the crew had transgressed some piece of kitchen or dining etiquette: a penance of sorts. As he stepped towards the sink, Sanji held out a dish towel. "I'll wash. You wipe."

Zoro grunted; waited for the first wet plate to be held out to him; took it. As Sanji sank the next plate into the hot soapy water, the cook said noncommittally, "You missed lunch."

"Mhm." Zoro shrugged. "Slept through it, I guess."

"I figured." Sanji handed him the next plate. "Luffy got your share."

"Eh, well…" The corner of Zoro's mouth lifted into a wry smile. "Then it didn't go to waste."

"No food on this ship goes to waste." Sanji's tone grew a little more clipped. "But a certain marimo might find his share gets smaller, if he disrespects the cook by continuing not to show up for meals."

"I get the message." Zoro stacked a dry plate away; reached for the next wet one.

"Good."

Chores done, the crew of the Going Merry settled down for the night. Below decks in the men's quarters Sanji swung himself up into his hammock, settling back comfortably. His eye fell on Zoro: the swordsman was sitting on the couch, gazing into the middle distance. Evidently halfway through preparing to go to sleep he was barefoot, swords stacked neatly on one side; scratching slowly and meditatively at the palm of his left hand.

"Oi, marimo. Put the lamp out." Sanji knew from experience that the swordsman often fell asleep on the couch, sometimes still sitting up. Zoro blinked; glanced at the cook, then rose from the couch. He turned out the lamp and moved to his hammock in the darkness, sure-footed in the familiar space.

Lying there under his blanket, Zoro listened to his nakama around him. Usopp already snoring loud; Luffy muttering in his sleep; Sanji's quiet slow breathing. Chopper was on first night watch with the ship quieter than it had been, the sea finally settling. Despite having slept during the day, Zoro felt drowsiness quickly creeping over him again. Well, that was fair enough: they'd had a crazy couple of days and nights with the storm. He let out a long, jaw-cracking yawn, before giving himself up to sleep.

He was in front of the scaffold in Loguetown, fighting his way forward, katana cleaving a way through the men trying to block him. Looking up to where Buggy stood over the kneeling Luffy; at the sword lifted high in Buggy's hand, ready to sweep down and end it all. Zoro pushed forwards; a few yards away Sanji was doing the same, both of them trying to force their way through the crowd to reach the scaffold, to bring it down. And then he heard Luffy's voice.

"Sorry. I'm a goner." And unbelievably, as the sword started to fall, Luffy laughing.

There were still yards between Zoro and the scaffold, Buggy's blade slicing down. It wasn't supposed to end like this. Luffy saved his life, and now all he could do was shout uselessly as the deadly blow fell.

"NO!"

And this was when the storm came. This was when the bolt of lightning struck, turned Buggy's sword aside. He remembered it happening.

But no lightning came. The blade in Buggy's hand fell all the way. Zoro heard the sound of it meeting Luffy's neck, with a sound that would stay with him forever -

- and Luffy's head dropped away.

"LUFFY!"

Time stopped: the world was suddenly wrong.

Buggy lifted his sword triumphantly and its blade was bloody: his usual clown's grin was stretched wider than ever in maniacal glee. And what had been Luffy fell like an old sack, a streak of blood dark on the scaffold.

A blow on his swords jolted Zoro where he stood, rooted motionless, eyes still fixed on where his captain, his nakama, lay dead. Reflexes kicked in and he was fighting again, but this time with a blind screaming fury, a raging pain that filled his chest and drove him wildly into the men before him. The wrongness of it made him unsteady: his feet slipped on the bloody flagstones of the square beneath his feet. Somewhere not far away he heard Sanji yelling, screaming. Zoro slipped again and went down on one knee, sick to his stomach and not knowing what there was to fight for any more.

Which was when a blade hacked into his side, slicing deep below his ribs. He wrenched sideways, staggering back to his feet, bringing his katana up. Around him the press of men closed in, grinning: they smelled blood. Zoro swept aside the first sword that swung at him, blocked a second: but the weight of the attack rolled over him like a tide and he went down and the blades found him from every side

And then he was awake and all around him were the sounds of Usopp's noisy snoring; Sanji's quieter breathing. And Luffy, turning over and mumbling in his sleep.

This time Zoro lay for some time in his hammock in the dark, staring up at nothingness. The sick feel of the dream clung like fog, failing to disperse upon waking. His body twitched at the memory of the swords piercing him; at the remembrance of how he had lost the will to fight.

At the sound of Buggy's blade as it struck home.

I failed him -

Even as the thought came, he resisted it. It didn't happen that way. Luffy didn't die. The lightning came, we all survived.

Yet his hands were clenched into fists: he could still see the scaffold, with its dark smear of blood. Blinking against the darkness, he lay in his hammock and listened to his nakama breathing their way through the long hours of the night.

Nami made a careful mark on her chart, adding a precise notation beside it. A shadow fell over the paper, blocking out the late afternoon sunshine: she twisted around and frowned up at the silhouetted figure behind her. "Hey, Zoro! Move it, you're in my light."

He shifted sideways, stepping away across the foredeck. Nami continued her careful work, muttering, "Damn great swordsman cluttering up the place…"

Zoro walked away towards the prow of the Going Merry. Luffy was in his customary place on the figurehead, gazing out happily at the sea. Zoro took station beside him, leaning on the rail with folded arms. Normally he wouldn't seek out their chaotic captain's company, but today he'd felt a need to just… be around Luffy.

"Ehi, Zoro." Luffy spoke cheerfully. "I saw dolphins just now."

"Dolphins, huh?"

"They're so cool." Luffy sighed, then smacked his lips. "And they taste so good!"

Zoro smiled. "You plan on fishing for dolphins? Good luck with that. Just don't fall in."

"Noooo…" Luffy shook his head, "I'm too comfortable here for fishing." He wriggled luxuriously on the figurehead.

"Don't get too comfortable." Nami's voice reached them from where she was still working on her chart. "It'll be suppertime soon, and then you're on first night watch."

"Am I?" Luffy pouted. "It's not my turn."

"Yes, it is." Nami spoke firmly.

"I'm the captain!" stated Luffy, assertively. "Captains shouldn't have to take watch!"

"Or help with making sail, or do the chores, or do pretty much anything except sleep, fish and eat," Nami commented dryly. "I know what your ideas are, of what a captain should do. But tough luck: everyone on this ship does their fair share. That means you too, Luffy."

Luffy pouted. "Nami, you're mean."

"Want me to tell Sanji you've been mouthing off at me?" Nami bent over her chart complacently. "I bet you'll get no supper."

"Ahh!" Luffy sat bolt upright on the figurehead, stricken at the thought of the famine that would ensue. His sudden movement nearly pitched him off into the sea: Zoro gripped him by one foot. "Watch out, idiot!"

"Nami, don't say anything to Sanji! I'll work! I'll work really hard!"

Nami glanced up briefly, a smug smile on her face. "Okay. I won't say anything. Unless I hear one more complaint out of you about standing watch." She returned her attention to her work.

"Ehh…" Luffy slumped on the figurehead. "That was a close one."

"You don't want to stand night watch? I'll do it." Zoro spoke quietly, so that Nami wouldn't hear.

Luffy shot a wary glance towards their navigator, then looked back at Zoro. "Really?" He spoke in similarly low tones.

"Sure." Zoro shrugged. "I don't mind taking night watch. I can sleep just as easy in the daytime."

It took Luffy a nanosecond to decide to accept the offer. "Okay. Thanks!"

"No problem. Just keep quiet about it, in case Nami finds out."

"Oh, yeah. Sure!" Luffy gave a conspiratorial wink. "I can keep a secret."