Title: The Reason I Train

Characters/Pairing(s): Zoro&Robin, Strawhats

(Pre/Post) Time Skip: Post Time Skip

"Come on, Zoro. Let's play." Luffy begged and begged for the swordsman to play with him, but he wouldn't budge.

"Ask Usopp or Chopper. I'm busy. 1422, 1423," Zoro chanted as he lifted the oversized dumbbell.

"But they're asleep!"

At the moment, it was midnight on the Sunny. Zoro was on watch and decided to train for a bit. Luffy was wide awake and hyper. Having no other around, Luffy decided to spend some time with Zoro to relieve his boredom. Just like to all the requests Luffy's made in the past, Zoro declined.

"Hmm... Oh, I know! I'll train with you!" Luffy ran over and grabbed the dumbbell Zoro was using.

"Oi! Luffy, wait!"

A horrifying scream was heard throughout the Sunny and it came from the crow's nest. Everyone was fast awake and ran to where the scream came from.

-x-x-

Luffy bowed apologetically for the fifth time the next day. It was Zoro who had gotten injured the night before. Zoro had broken his leg due to a small mistake on Luffy's part. Right now, all the Strawhats are in the infirmary where Zoro will be staying for a couple of weeks.

"I'm sorry, Zoro."

"DAMN RIGHT YOU SHOULD BE!"

"Zoro, calm down," said Robin. She sat on a chair by the bed. She hasn't left his side since they brought him in. Zoro sighed.

"When can I walk again?"

"About almost a month," said Chopper. Zoro yelped.

"WHAT! HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DO MY TRAINING THEN? WHAT IF ENEMIES COME AT US!"

"Calm down, marimo. With you down, I can finally have the spotlight to myself. Along with endless ladies cheering for me," Sanji began to daydream of his freedom for the rest of the month. He would've been knocked out if Chopper wasn't holding Zoro back.

"Its not like it matters. You sleep all day on the ship anyways," Nami teased.

"Shut it." Nami laughed.

"Don't worry, it's the captain's decision to decide whether or not we should lower the anchor until you recover... Captain..."

"LOWER THE ANCHOR UNTIL ZORO GETS BETTER!" bellowed Luffy. Zoro rolled his eyes.

"Whatever."

"That settles it then," said Nami. Everyone in the room started leaving one by one, except for Robin.

"What are you still doing here?" asked Zoro. Robin smiled innocently.

"What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't take care of my boyfriend?"

"You've got better things to do. You don't need me to hold you in this stuffy room."

"Wanna bet?"

-x-x-x-

Robin walked in with a tray filled with food. To her surprise, she found Zoro trying to stand on his good leg. Robin almost dropped the tray when Zoro almost tripped. She set the tray down and helped him.

"What are you doing?"

"I've had it with this room. I need to train."

"It's only been two days. You'll have enough time to train once you've healed."

"Don't try to stop me, Robin. I need to train."

Four arms sprouted from the bed and pulled Zoro in, holding a tight grip on his arms and legs so he wouldn't move.

"Sorry, Zoro, but I needed to do that. I can't let you get anymore hurt than you are now."

"Ugh, shit."

-x-x-x-

One the fourth day, Nami bursted in with his tray filled with food. Zoro blinked when he realized it wasn't Robin bringing him food like every other day.

"Where's Robin?"

"She, Sanji-kun, and Franky went on mini merry to go to a nearby town to get some more supplies," she set the tray on the bed side table. She then took a seat on the side of the bed and crossed her arms.

"What?"

"Why do you need to train so much?" Zoro looked away.

"That's none of your business."

"Everything that goes on on this ship is my business. Tell me, or I won't leave you alone."

"I train.. for her," Zoro murmured. "I train to protect her, not just her, but everyone on this ship. I train to fight. I train to survive. I train for the sake of being the best. I train so none of you will die. I train so she wouldn't leave again. I train so she wouldn't get hurt again. I train so she'll have the chance to smile everyday. Do you understand why I train now? Do you understand what I've been going through?"

Nami was taken back. She stared at the swordsman in awe and smiled.

"What?"

"So, you do have a sweet side!"

"SHUT UP!"

Little did Zoro know was that standing on the other side of the door was Robin. She heard the whole conversation. She leaned her head on the wall, closed her eyes and smiled. Times like this was why she appreciates the life she was given.


This was actually suppose to be a Luffy&Nami fic., but then I realized that Luffy can't break a bone. I don't even think he has any bones. So, I chose the second best couple in my book.