Zoro sighed and relaxed against the railing, watching the idiot he'd decided to call captain fondly.
He didn't know when these emotions started creeping up on him, but he couldn't find it in himself to care.
Not even a year. It hasn't even been a year since the day they met. He snorted and shook his head, remembering what he'd said to Luffy moments after accepting his position on the crazy strawhat-wearing idiot's non-existent ship.
If you get in my way, you will end yourself on my blade. He'd declared that he would follow his own ambitions, and threatened Luffy if any action of Luffy's ever caused him to give those up. Days later, when he fought MiHawk and lost? He'd apologized to Luffy... for disappointing him, for not being as strong as Luffy probably expected, for losing when he thought he would win.
His first impression of Luffy was that he was an idiot. He'd almost expected them to part ways soon after meeting for some reason or other, the kid was just too naïve seeming, too much of an idiot.
His bold declarations of being the Pirate King, and his endless energy annoyed him to no end. There had been several times when he contemplated getting rid of the brat just for some peace and quiet.
He almost laughed when he remembered what Coby had told him, that Luffy was the only one who could save him now, and that he was the only one who could save Luffy.
He hadn't realized just how lonely it was, until Luffy bounced into his life. Coby had no idea how true his words were... He was a fool to ever have called himself strong before meeting Luffy, before he had somebody worth fighting for, before he had somebody to protect.
A few months ago, he never would have even considered doing what he'd just done. Kuma had offered him a way out, had even questioned how his actions meant giving up his ambition, he hadn't even given it a second thought. At the beginning, Luffy took a second seat to his ambition, he'd even run off to fight MiHawk as a result, without a second thought that he probably should have waited for his captain to give the 'ok'. But now...
The way I see it, how can I protect my ambition if I can't even protect my captain.
When did it get turned around? When had his priorities flipped like that?
He'd even knocked that crap-cook out to keep him safe! What was up with that?
He reflected back on his journey at Luffy's side, on his actions throughout the trip, and snorted. He hadn't even realized what he was doing at the time.
Loguetown, he went running to save Luffy after the stupid idiot got himself caught by that dumb clown. Whiskey Peak, he went out to fight the bounty hunters on his own (not a difficult fight) to let his crew get some rest. Little Garden, he almost cut off his own feet to save the girls from being turned into wax statues, his own well-being had been an after-thought. Alabasta, he took charge of the crew without a thought when Luffy stayed behind to fight Crocodile, and tried to pair up his crew so they had the best chance of covering each other's weaknesses. Skypeia, he hadn't even hesitated to do everything possible to protect Robin, a woman he didn't trust or accept as a crewmate yet, because Luffy had said she was a Strawhat. He's not even going to go into the mess that was Water 7, but he knew that he mourned some of the lost innocence that was Monkey D. Luffy's natural charm.
Luffy's crew had started to crumble, so he stepped up and became their rock when Luffy started to falter at the unexpected losses.
All the times he'd stepped in front of Luffy and knocked somebody away, all the times he'd become Luffy's sword or shield so he could focus on his own fights without interruption.
He'd never meant to get attached, so when had it happened?
When had he become the guy who would sacrifice himself and everything he'd ever striven to achieve without a second thought? And for somebody who blackmailed him into joining him in the first place! When had he become the guy everybody else turned to in times of trouble? When had he become the guy who tried to contain his occasional blood-lust so that his weaker crewmates didn't get scared of him? He'd always said he didn't care what others thought, he'd never cared before that people would shy or run away from him in fear. He'd used to enjoy it, even. It meant he didn't have to deal with crowds or inane small talk from somebody who couldn't take a hint to go away.
When had he become the guy that would let others (Chopper or Luffy) take naps on him? Or climb into his hammock with him after a nightmare?
When had he stopped caring about all that?
When had he stopped caring about anything other then the well being and safety of his crew and captain?
