Had to do some revisions to older chapters, so if you find something wrong with the continuity, please message me, or even review it. Anyways, this is an extremely short chapter since nothing really super important happens. The chapter is just necessary for the story. Enjoy~
A day after Luffy had come back home, he'd spent more time in their room than before. Zoro could only think he was being in his room so much to make up for how long he'd been away from it. He had been thankful Robin had had the carpet cleaned immediately after he was hospitalized. Luffy didn't see proof that he caused a mess.
Everyone was confused when Luffy came home and was smiling and looking healthier since he'd been sleeping regularly again. Luffy seemed to flip flop, emotionally and physically. One day, he was smiling and spending time with the others, only to hide away from everyone and stop coming to meals and not sleeping the next. The others didn't know why Luffy's actions had changed, other than Zoro had been acting strange as well. No one knew what was going on, but were just happy whatever had happened was over.
Around a week after Luffy had come back, he was scheduled for going to see a doctor to be approved of having anxiety medication. To say he didn't want to go was an understatement. He knew Robin had said he'd feel and sleep better if he was put on the medication, but Luffy hated going anywhere, and he really didn't want to go to a hospital again. Robin had told him many times they weren't going to a hospital, but doctor's office sounded the same to him.
Two days before their visit, Luffy was having a sit-down talk with Robin about what information the doctor is most likely going to need. She found out that he hadn't had any immunizations in quite some time, because he refused to get anywhere near a syringe. He was allergic to kiwis and and walnuts. She asked him why he hadn't told this to her before. He was a little confused about why it was a big deal if he never got anywhere near the things he was allergic to. He'd tell her if he was in danger of being near something he had an allergy for.
"I will do the talking for you, so you don't have to say anything. Just stay calm. If the doctor says you need shots, you may need to get one. Don't panic, it's only for serious issues that I would even consider having you get a shot," Robin reassured him quickly, before he could truly freak out. "You may need a physical since it's been a while since your last one, but I will not force you to do anything you are truly uncomfortable with." Luffy nodded somewhat solemnly. He'd had a physical a couple years ago. He wondered if he was as unhealthy as he looked.
Robin could understand that Luffy might not want to know how healthy or not he was. He was still very skinny and didn't eat or sleep regularly. Sure, he ate meals with the rest most of time when he wasn't not truly upset, like he had been when he shied away from Zoro.
Speaking of Zoro, he laid in his bed and tried to sleep. He was tired. It was really hard not looking and thinking about Luffy at night when he slept right next to him. He knew Luffy had been watching him, and could tell Zoro turned red for only him. Thank god he still couldn't figure out why the older teen was blushing so much. Luffy was so innocent it made him feel guilty to like him like this. There was zero chance of them being together even if Zoro confessed. Zoro still loved having Luffy's company, whether it's talking, playing games, or just both being in the same room yet doing different things. Luffy had even started trying to draw him. While Luffy stared so intensely, Zoro was red the whole time.
Once, when he was drawing Zoro, he saw his face turn a deep crimson red and asked Are you ok?
Zoro had learned some of what words to say and what words not to say, so he said, "I'm okay," instead of "I'm fine Luffy." Zoro truly smiled around Luffy, even if they were more like smirks sometimes, so his portraits didn't look grumpy or irritated. Well, most times because Luffy liked to hide around corners and sketch Zoro super fast when he was interacting with the others and not posing, but he didn't show Zoro those pictures.
Luffy had been sleeping well when he was with Zoro, but still woke up with a nightmare occasionally. Maybe twice a week, which was why he was going to get medicated for his anxiety and PTSD.
Luffy was nervous and scared the next morning because it was the day to go to the doctor. He couldn't eat beforehand but wasn't hungry in the first place. Zoro tried calm him down by playing video games before he had to go, but Luffy was so nervous and distracted he was losing pathetically. Not long after starting, Zoro turned the game off and suggested Luffy read his books, only to find out he'd finished the series in only a couple weeks after having not read for years.
Luffy had been in his closet when he got to the part where Dumbledore died along with all the deaths near the end of the last book. He cried so hard but silently. It felt strange that he was glad he was crying about something not related to him as a person. It was somewhat refreshing in his mind.
It was finally time to go. Luffy said goodbye to Zoro as he walked out the front door and sat in the back of the car, followed by Robin in the front seat and started the engine.
The doctor's office wasn't nearly as big and white as the hospital, which eased his nerves a small amount. Robin and Luffy walked into the lobby, which thankfully didn't have many people in it. The two went to the front window and Robin told the woman behind the glass about Luffy appointment. It didn't take long for the two to be called into Luffy's new doctor's room. Robin pulled Luffy's Kindle out of her bag and handed it to him. Luffy pulled his whiteboard over his head and wrote that he had finished the series.
"Would you like to go to the bookstore after this?" she asked, unsure about what his answer would be. She could see a slim chance of Luffy saying yes, but he shook his head no. She hid her disappointment. "Then we can go shopping for new books over the internet. How did you like the ending?" she asked about the book series.
I was really sad when Fred died. It was cool that Harry died but then came back. Then when Bellatrix died and swore at her. I cried when Dumbledore died. I liked Ginny and Harry, though," he wrote, erasing each sentence to write the next. Robin smiled about how excited Luffy seemed to be about the series. It made sense to her that it was special to him since they were the first books he'd read in years. The doctor came in as Luffy continued to talk about the books.
Luffy looked up and widened his eyes from his nerves. It was a woman, which Robin had picked out. She thought a man would be scary for Luffy touching him in any way. She had informed the scars and trigger warnings that accompanied Luffy. The physician had been very kind and understanding about Luffy's situation.
Robin did most of the talking about Luffy's medical history. Well, all that Luffy knew and Robin was told. The doctor was nice and patient with Luffy's slow reactions and messy writing from his shaking hands.
Luffy was brought to another room, having Robin accompany them, and his mandatory physical started. He was deemed healthy in most ways, he had a higher temperature than normal, but not too high to be unhealthy. The only real problem was that Luffy was underweight and, for his health, he needed to eat more and then exercise once he's at a healthy weight. Luffy had found out he was just above the dangerous zone of being underweight. He really didn't want to eat more, but he didn't want to cost Robin anymore money for his health. He had refused anything having to do with needles, and Robin could only hope his anxiety would lower enough that he was willing to get his blood drawn and necessary shots taken care of.
A couple hours later, after more talking about the medication Robin wanted him on, the two left the building, and had to wait for the prescriptions to be ready at the pharmacy. He was on going to be taking Xanax, Lunesta, and Prozac.
Robin drove home and waited for the call from the pharmacy as Luffy went and did something to entertain himself.
For lunch, Luffy tried to eat more than usual, when surprised most of the residents besides Robin, who told him, before he got a whole 'nother sandwich, told him to try and eat a half of sandwich, so he didn't upset his stomach by suddenly eating a lot more than his body was used to. He also had to start eating healthier, so no more high sugar content juice, but that was really the only thing he consumed that was bad for him. He was also forced to eat more fruit and vegetables.
Dinner was the same. He had to eat slightly more food and drink water or milk. Everyone could tell Luffy did not like eating more since he looked slightly angry at his food as he ate. Zoro had to resist laughing.
Before Robin went to bed, she explained Luffy's medication schedule, with Zoro in the room as well in case Luffy forgot. He had to take lunesta and prozac every night and xanax when he felt he was getting upset or another could see it.
Luffy didn't like taking the pills all together so he took one one at a time. Zoro watched him the whole time to make sure he actually took them. When Luffy finished drinking the water, the two went to bed.
Again, Zoro had trouble falling asleep with having Luffy next to him and sleeping so peacefully. He finally fell asleep after moving as far away from the younger as he could and facing the other way.
Everyone noticed over the next few days that Luffy was around the others longer. He still didn't talk, but his smiles seemed even more genuine than before his medication started. He didn't have any more nightmares and actually watched movies with the others. He still got overwhelmed sometimes and found sanctuary in the closet, though. He read his new book with others in the room, and he had been getting most used to eating larger serving sizes. He wasn't allowed to eat the sugary cereal the others got to. He only was able to eat more bland things, like Cheerios. He was still allowed to eat kinds of sweets, but only if they were sugar free and not to frequent, but he didn't really mind since he ate "so much" at meals he wasn't hungry afterwards.
Though the medication was helping him, he still saw the words carved into his skin, still reinforcing part of him that he was a bother, but he didn't say it anymore. Even if the others didn't think he was a bother, he believed the medication was expensive, despite Robin trying to explain the concept of insurance. She and Zoro knew Luffy wasn't going to be better overnight, and it would still be best for him to see a counselor, but Luffy still refused.