Author's Note: Why hello everyone! Welcome back to another fun and adventurous fic with yours truly. This fic is my passion fic, tbh. I LOVE parallel universes. I think "what ifs" are fascinating and the fact that the smallest changes can shift an entire personality is just so interesting. Thus, this comes about. I plan on having several fics in this series, six so far, one for each of the pre-timeskip arcs. Anyone who has read While the Gods Sleep probably recognizes a lot of the things in here. That's because these fics will lead up to a rewrite of While the Gods Sleep! I've been dying to rewrite that fic and I really figured that getting to know the other crew early.

That being said, this is a parallel universe/alternate universe fic. That means lots of OOC moments, because while these characters are the Strawhats we love, they've been through different experiences, so they act and react differently. If you really, really dislike OOC moments, you're probably not going to enjoy this. Just an early warning. That being said, I hope that you guys are willing to take this new, fun, crazy ride with me!

All That We Are (All We've Ever Been) is an alternate version of the Romance Dawn Arc. We start with Shells Town and we'll end in Logue Town.

Please enjoy!

If it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, Luffy would think the man in the courtyard was dead. Dried blood covers his face and neck, bruises peppered across his lax face and his bare chest, skin red and peeling from long exposure in the sunlight. The signs he's seen posted all over the fence state that this man is a criminal and anyone caught inside the gates would be put to death. Beside Luffy, a nervous and trembling Koby stares with parted lips. As though he can't believe his eyes.

"This," the scaredy cat mutters. "This is torture. He must have done something really bad."

Out of the corner of his eye, Luffy sees a ladder appear. A small girl with brown pigtails climbs to the top, a canteen hanging from her neck and a small wrapped bundle in her hands. She presses a finger to her lips when she looks at Luffy, glancing around the yard carefully before she jumps down.

"Wait," Koby calls after her. "You shouldn't go in there. It's dangerous."

The small girl ignores him, though the call is enough to rouse the green haired man. His left eye doesn't open all the way, dark bruising around it so puffed up he can't seem to use it. Stopping in front of him, the little girl unscrews her canteen and stands on her tiptoes.

"Rika." The man's voice is hoarse, sounding like it scratches against his throat when he uses it. "You shouldn't be here."

"You say that every time, oniichan," she replies, pressing the canteen to his lips. "He never sees me. And I haven't been here in two whole days! Aren't you thirsty?"

Despite his protests, the man on the post drinks greedily. Leaning on the wall, Luffy watches the man's tongue dart out to catch a spare droplet of water when Rika pulls the canteen back.

"See! I knew you were thirsty," the young girl says.

"Go home, Rika," the man sounds tired. "Don't come back."

"But, I made these for you." She pulls the towel back to show him twin rice balls. "I did it all by myself."

"I don't want them, Rika. Go home ." The last bit comes out of the man with snarl.

It feels out of place compared to the soft tone he's been using with her. Rika seems unaffected. She only gives him a smile and holds the rice balls up a little. The man's face twists into a snarl, looking painful as it pulls at the dark sunburns across his cheeks.

"Leave, now !"

"No, you're hungry," the young girl protests.

"Get out. I'm not eating them. Leave."

"But, I worked so hard."

"I don't care, Rika. I'm not eating them. Get out."

"So mean," Koby says with a frown. "She's trying to be nice and he's being so mean. No wonder he's-"

"He isn't being mean," Luffy mutters.

He's trying to save this young girl's life, hoping that if he's mean enough or scary enough, she won't come back. Unfortunately, Luffy doesn't foresee that happening. She can obviously see past his mask as well as Luffy can.

"Now, what is this?" The man's entire body tenses as a new voice rings out. "A visitor?"

Luffy's gaze moves over to the main gate, watching a blond man with a weird face and dressed in a too nice suit stride into the yard. Two in-uniform Marines with deep scowls flank him on either side.

"Who's that?" Luffy asks, more to himself than to Koby.

"He must be a really high ranking Marine," Koby says, voice full of relief. "Thank goodness. He'll get her out of there safely."

But, she isn't in any danger. Luffy feels the strength radiating from this man. If he wanted to hurt this girl, by now he would have found a way to do it. Dark eyes flash dangerously as the prisoner turns his gaze to the smirking man, his lip moving up in a protective sneer. Fear flows from Rika, who moves herself a little closer to the snarling man, the rice balls falling to the ground as she grips onto his pant leg.

"Such a dangerous face for a man who's going to starve to death," the blond man sniffs. "I'm surprised you've made it this long. Nine days already. Hmm, I give you another day before you're begging me for mercy."

The green haired man lets out a low growl. Still smirking, the blond man's eyes shoot from his captive down to the small girl trying to hide behind one of his legs and then to the food sitting on the ground.

"What's this? Don't these look good." He snatches one of the rice balls up and pops it into his mouth.

"No!" Rika cries, peeking out from behind the prisoner's legs. "Don't do that. I didn't make those for you!"

"Rika, hush," the captive hisses.

Rika ignores the order. "Stop it! Leave those alone."

The blond's blanches, coughing and spits out the rice ball. It lands near the prisoner's boot in a disgusting, half chewed pile of mush.

"Ugh! Too sweet! Why is it so sweet?"

"I-I used sugar," Rika squeaks out. "I wanted oniichan's food to be sweet."

Luffy watches the prisoner's leg stiffen, rising half an inch to hide Rika from view a little more.

"Sugar? You idiot! You're supposed to use salt. Salt ! That tasted awful."

Despite the obvious fear on her face, the girl sticks her nose up. "Well, I didn't make them for you , so I don't care what you have to say about them!"

The blond man's face twists with anger and he points one of his pale fingers at her. "You clearly don't know who you're dealing with, do you, brat? I'm the son of Captain Morgan. You know, the man who ordered that no one enter this yard. Under penalty of death ."

"But," Koby mutters. "She's just a little girl."

Rika shrinks back again, burying her face in the man's pant leg as though he'll be able to protect her. Based on his tense stance, he intends to try.

"Throw her over the wall," the blond orders.

The green haired man lets out a threatening growl. Both of the Marines hesitate, glancing between each other. Luffy stands a little straighter, uneasiness churning in his stomach. Gramps has shouted for years about how Marines are the "good guys" and that they would never do any evil deeds. They wouldn't dare harm someone so defenseless.

"Did I stutter? Throw her over the wall!"

"Sir, she's just a little girl."

"And if my father were here, we'd be stringing her up beside him. Throw her."

Swallowing, the Marine steps forward, despite the prisoner's low snarls. "Sorry, little - ugh."

The green haired man's leg shoots up and out when the Marine reaches for Rika, slamming into the unsuspecting man's face. Rika lets out a squeal of terror as the second Marine shoots forward. For a moment, the yard is nothing but a cloud of dust and flailing limbs. Rika scrambles back across the yard during the distraction, backing toward the wall with small whimpers of fear.

Luffy leans forward without thinking, stretching down an arm to wrap around her waist and pull her up. Koby snatches her from Luffy's grip, jumping back from the wall.

Dark gray eyes watch them carefully and the green haired man's limbs still, allowing blows to reign down on him once Rika is safe. Red stains his face, blood spilling from his nose and mouth. Luffy blinks, watching carefully as he takes blow after blow without so much as a whimper of pain.

"Where did the girl go?" the angry blond man shouts.

A small smirk crosses his prisoner's face. "Guess," he pauses to spit out a wad of blood. "She left."

Turning to him, the blond slams his fist against the green haired's cheek, ring creating a fresh cut. "You'd do well not to be so snarky. I could kill you right now if I wanted!"

His bloody nose crinkles in a threatening look, but Luffy thinks he sees a bit of uncertainty behind the dangerous persona. "We have a deal."

"Deals mean little when they're made with the unjust."

Luffy's teeth grind together. A deal is a deal, no matter who it's made with. To willingly go back on one's word is shameful and disgusting. It makes Luffy's blood boil. Judging by the look on the prisoner's face, he thinks the same.

"You would do well to remember, Roronoa Zoro, that I hold all the power. And, if you know what's good for you, you'll think of a way to please me. Lest I decide I've become bored with you."

Roronoa Zoro doesn't back down from the words. If anything, his face darkens with challenge. The fear Luffy half expected is nowhere to be found. There's only determination. Giving the appearance of strength in the face of promised death. Refusing to show an ounce of fear.

Roronoa Zoro.

Luffy commits the name to memory. It holds the kind of strength and respect that Luffy wants - no needs - for his crew. Here, Luffy planned on recruiting the infamous thief - a mysterious woman who moves like a cat - first. But, fate has a funny way of pushing Luffy where he needs to be. And fate seems to think that Zoro needs to be the first member of Luffy's crew.

Even the King of the Pirates can't argue against fate.

The blond man and his lackeys turn and stalk out of the yard. Zoro waits until the gates swing shut behind them to slump against his bonds, spitting out another glop of blood. His dark eyes close again, chin resting on his chest.

"Let me go," Rika says from the ground. "I want to make sure he's okay."

"Are you insane? They just threatened to kill you. Luffy, we should - Luffy!"

Luffy bounds over the wall without a second thought. With the annoying Marines gone, it's time for Luffy to meet his first nakama. Tired gray eyes blink up at him when he stops before the beaten man, amazingly unbroken and still determined. Everything that Luffy needs for his crew.

"Rika?" Zoro mutters, voice cracking halfway through the name.

"She's okay," Luffy tells him cheerfully.

His bottom lip cracks with the small smile. "I'm glad. You should leave. 'M sure he'll be back."

"No. I'm gonna wait here."

Zoro blinks at him. "You got a death wish?"

"Shishishi! No!" Luffy grins at his future crew mate. "Want me to get you out?"

Green eyebrows furrow. "I don't even know who you are."

"My name is Monkey D Luffy! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates. Join my crew!"

"No."

No. No? Luffy hadn't prepared for no. And he has no plans to accept it. Not when there's a man of Zoro's strength and determination standing before him.

"Eh?"

Zoro wiggles slightly in his bonds, grimacing as he straightens himself. "My apologies, Monkey D Luffy. But, I made a promise. And I can't leave the East Blue until it's complete."

A promise. Luffy can respect that. Promises are one of the most important things in the word. And, it's a promise that keeps Zoro from joining him. Realistically speaking, it would be best to accept that and move on. But Luffy can't do that. A voice in the back of his head screams that he needs Zoro. Someone so powerful and yet so kind. That's the kind of person Luffy wants as his nakama.

"Yosh!" He flashes Zoro his best smile. "I'll help you finish your promise. Then, you'll join my crew?"

Surprise crosses Zoro's face, blinking at him. Then, something akin to sadness crosses his face, lips twitching upward in a small smile. "Hai. If you help me keep my promise, I'll join your crew."

Excitement explodes from Luffy's chest. He grins at Zoro. "Yosh! I'll untie you."

"No."

"Eh?"

"That wasn't the deal," Zoro tells him, firm though quiet. "The deal was I survive here for thirty days."

Luffy frowns at him. "But the guy said-"

Zoro shakes his head. "I gave my word. And, until he breaks our deal, I have to keep it."

Grudgingly, Luffy respects it. He'd rather have someone loyal to their word than someone he doesn't know if he can trust. Still, it doesn't mean he has to like that he's going to leave his crewmate tied to a post.

Luffy groans. "Thirty whole days?"

"Twenty-one now," Zoro offers, lips twitching in that sad smile.

It's almost as though Zoro fully expects Luffy to retract his offer and leave him there to starve. Luffy can tell already that Zoro is going to be a strange guy. Hopefully, Luffy can change that.

"Are you sure you don't want me to let you out now?" Luffy whines.

"I'm sure."

"Yosh. I'm gonna go find something to do 'til then."

"Um, L-Luffy?"

Luffy freezes and turns back to look at the green haired man. Even against the deep sunburns spreading across Zoro's face, Luffy thinks he detects a slight blush.

"Would - um. Could you give me that?" Zoro jerks his chin toward the crushed rice balls.

"This?" Luffy peels the flattened rice ball mixed with dirt and stones from the ground. "Are you sure? It can't be any good."

Zoro's gaze meets his and he opens his mouth without a word. Luffy obliges. The telltale crunch of teeth against stone makes his wince but Zoro swallows, even though it must sting his already abused throat.

A slight smile pulls at Zoro's dry lips, eyes moving to Luffy again. "It was good. Will you tell her?"

Luffy grins.

Rika's mother offers Luffy a bed and dinner when the small girl brings him back to the bar with her. Koby takes his leave to go see the Marines in hope of joining them, despite Rika's vicious, vocal protests. Luffy bid him farewell, promising to see him in twenty-one days when he comes to pick up Zoro.

Rika fills the silence with the tale of how she met Zoro. Apparently, she and her mother had found him on the shoreline when they'd gone to fish, bleeding and unconscious. The next few days had been filled with trying to ward off the infection that had set into the deep gash in his abdomen. Zoro had offered no explanations to his predicament, but had been kind and insisted on helping where he could in order to pay back their help. Which is exactly how he ended up tied to a post, protecting Rika from the Marine captain's son and his rabid dog.

In truth, Luffy only half listens to the story. He doesn't care where Zoro's been or what he's done. Simply listening to the way Zoro speaks to Rika, Luffy knows that he's a good man. Watching him square off against the blond man without a flicker of fear despite being tied up and helpless, Luffy knows that Zoro will be strong and determined. Everything he needs to know about his first nakama, he saw in their first meeting.

The sun has started to sink low in the sky and Luffy's spinning on one of the bar stools, trying to figure out what to do for the next twenty days, when Koby appears. The pink haired boy's face has lost a few shades of color and he looks about two seconds away from crying.

"They're going to kill Zoro," Koby whimpers.

Luffy sighs. He really should have seen that coming. The blond haired man's threat from earlier certainly sounded like far more than empty.

"And they're coming for Rika too."

"What?" Plates clatter to the floor behind him. Rika's mother has dropped and shattered an arm full of plates and glasses, staring at them with wide, horrified eyes. "For Rika?"

"And if my father were here, we'd be stringing her up beside him. Throw her."

The words move through Luffy's mind again. Apparently the Marine captain found out Rika was in the yard with Zoro and fully intends to follow through with his son's threat. Which, Luffy is kind of excited about. The pirate lady's men were too easy to fight against. It was kind of boring. These are trained Marines, like Gramps. They should be at least a little fun, right?

Luffy turns to Rika's mother and smiles brightly. "Don't worry! I'll take care of them."

"You're back."

There's a bit more blood on Zoro's face and, even in the dying light of the sunset, there's a very visible split in his bottom lip. Anger begins to rip through Luffy's stomach. Not only do the Marines intend to go back on their word, they're also more than willing to bully someone who can't defend themselves. And Luffy can't stand bullies.

Not that it seems to bother Zoro that much. If anything, Zoro looks rather amused. His lips are quirked in a slight smile, eyes sparkling with slight surprise.

"We're leaving," Luffy tells him firmly, hands already working at the knots around Zoro's right wrist.

"Oi," Zoro protests, his voice sounding like sandpaper. "I told you-"

"The Marines lied," Luffy says simply, tugging hard. The rope tightens. "They came to get Rika."

"What?"

Luffy tries to pull the rope the other way. "They won't keep their word. So, we're gonna get Zoro outta here." Zoro's binds tighten again. "And we're gonna kick their asses."

"You're tightening it," Zoro tells him around a wince.

"Sorry."

"Get my swords. I can cut myself out."

"Swords?" Luffy blinks up at him.

Zoro nods. "I'm a swordsman. But, that no good blond bastard took them when they tied me here."

"A swordsman! Suge!" Luffy grins widely. A swordsman for his crew. That's perfect. Every good crew needs a swordsman. "Suge! Suge!"

"Luffy," Zoro says, firmly. "My swords."

"Right! Where are they?"

"Somewhere in the base." Zoro nods to the building to their right.

"Yosh!" Luffy bolts into the opposite direction. It will be far faster if he can rocket in there. Besides, if there's any Marines near him, he'll take them by surprise. It's the perfect plan.

"Oi, oi, where are you going? The base is that - way?"

Zoro lets out a few mutters of confusion and surprise as Luffy flies by him. It's a familiar reaction. Though, Luffy thinks Zoro seems far more onboard with his Devil Fruit powers than most people do. His shock and confusion are far tamer than most of the screams of terror Luffy receives.

Zoro's a strange guy, alright. But, Luffy thinks he's going to like Zoro a lot.

Finding his katana isn't difficult once Luffy tracks down the annoying blond that tied Zoro up in the first place. It took mere moments to grab the two swords sitting in the corner of a very frilly room, strap them to the back, and turn to the window. In the yard below he spots Koby, desperately trying to undo the ropes on Zoro's wrists while the swordsman - his swordsman - struggles violently, wide eyes locked on the small group of Marines approaching them. Raising their weapons.

Oh. They're going to shoot Zoro where he stands.

That just won't do.

Luffy rockets out the window. He hears the crack of gunshots as he lands, bullets slamming into him and stretching his skin back. The Marines scream loudly, in utter terror. Luffy feels his lips stretch in a wide grin.

"Shishishi!" he cheers, letting his skin snap back. "That won't work on me!"

The bullets fly backward, slamming into a few unfortunate Marines. The cowards try to scramble out of the way, screeching and screaming in confusion and terror.

"What?" Zoro stutters behind him. "What are you?"

Still grinning, Luffy hurries back over to Koby and Zoro. "I'm a rubber man. Here, I brought these for you."

Zoro blinks. "A rubber man? You ate a Devil Fruit?"

Nodding, Luffy presses the swords into Zoro's chest. "Duh. Now, come on. Cut yourself lose!"

"Lu-Lu-Luffy." Koby squeaks out.

Tearing his gaze from his bloody crewmate, Luffy turns back to the Marines. Each one of them pulling a blade, leaving their own to bleed on the ground. Just when Luffy thought he couldn't be any angerier. To leave their nakama to hurt. It's disgraceful.

"Luffy!" Koby shouts.

This is probably bad. The one thing that actually does anything against him is sharp things. Like swords, for example. But that doesn't mean this can't be fun. Anything can be fun when you look at it the right way. Especially when there's a challenge involved.

The Marines are in spitting distance when a hand grabs Luffy by the back of his vest and yanks him backwards. A flash of green and black moves through Luffy's vision and then Marines are falling, slashes oozing blood as they collapse. Luffy blinks in surprise, staring at the graceful swordsman who slips through each raised blade with ease.

This is far from Zoro's first fight, one on one hundred. And, just as Luffy expected, Zoro is strong. Even the cracking sunburns, so raw and rough that they leak blood down his shoulders and chest, do nothing to slow him down.

"How dare you!" the Marine Captain screams. "I am Marine Captain Ax-Hand Morgan. I run this town. You dare defy me?"

Zoro doesn't respond. Only stares at the man, impassive, dual blades at the ready. Luffy stares between them, watching with interest. Zoro has yet to move, as though awaiting orders. The Marine sneers back at him for a moment before he stalks forward.

"You will all pay for this."

The ground seems to tremble beneath Luffy feet as Captain Morgan stomps forward. Zoro doesn't flinch. Koby grabs Luffy's arm, tugging at him and muttering something about helping Zoro, but Luffy ignores him. Zoro doesn't need help.

His eyes run up and down Zoro's flawless back. Despite the blood that's poured from his shoulders and the raw red of a less intense burn, Zoro's back looks as though it hasn't been touched. Except for one spot. Just over the back of his rib cage, near his spine, Luffy spots something. The scar of a symbol he can't quite make out from this distance. It isn't thick and puckered like a burn, but thin and wrinkled like someone dug a knife deeply into his skin.

Whatever the scar is, Luffy can already tell, he hates it.

"Look out!" Koby shouts.

The ax descends toward Zoro, posed to cut him in two. And then, the ax is gone. Blood flies through the air, dancing around Zoro's sword. So quick that Luffy almost misses it. The effortless way Zoro swings his blade, slicing through skin and bone as though it's nothing, his eyes dark with anger. Then, without pause, Zoro throws himself forward, second blade slashing across the Marine Captain's chest.

Captain Ax-Hand Morgan falls in seconds and Luffy's swordsman stands, slipping his swords away with silent ease. Tension swirls thick in the air for a moment. The remaining Marines stand, froze, and stare at them. Then, they erupt in cheers.

The closed sign hangs on the bar's front door, but Luffy suspects that doesn't apply to them, so he shoves it open without knocking. Rika's mother gasps when Luffy and Zoro stumble through the door with Koby just behind them, holding both of Zoro's swords. It'd taken a few moments of convincing to get Zoro to allow Luffy to support him back to the bar. Between his injuries and his lack of food, Zoro can barely stand, let alone walk by himself. Rika hops off the stool, dropping her cleaning cloth, and rushes toward them.

"Oniichan!" Rika throws herself into Zoro's waist and he lets out a grunt of pain but places his free hand in her hair. "Oh, you stink!"

Zoro lets out a chuckle. "Yo, Rika."

"Rika, let go of him. Oh, Zoro-kun." Her mother hurries forward to pull Rika back, frowning at the blood staining his face and the burnt skin peeling from every part of him. Even in the dim lamp lights around the bar, Zoro looks awful.

Zoro winces slightly at the name but gives her a strained smile. "I'm fine, Ririka-san."

"You absolutely are not fine. Rika, run up and start a bath. Then make sure the bed has fresh sheets."

"Yes, Mama."

"You don't need to fuss," Zoro mutters, a blush turning his face even redder. "I'm really fine."

Ririka ignores him, ushering him into a chair before she vanishes into the kitchen. Luffy frowns down at the swordsman as he rolls his shoulders and grimaces. Koby hovers in the corner, clutching Zoro's swords to his chest.

"Uh, Lu-Luffy-san?" the pink haired scaredy cat calls.

Luffy glances over at him with a raised eyebrow. He doesn't want to say it, but Koby wants to go. Once the Marines find out that he's been hanging around pirates, chances are it could spell trouble for him.

"Leave them on the table," Zoro tells him, nodding toward his swords.

Apparently he can read people as well as Luffy. Koby looks slightly surprised but places the swords on the table and gives them a bow. He rambles some stuff about how much he appreciates what they've done for him and for the Marines on this island, but Luffy can't force himself to listen. He's too busy eyeing Zoro, taking in the tight muscles beneath his injuries.

Ririka returns with a small kit as Koby takes his leave, gently pulling Zoro's arm into her grip and inspecting it with sharp eyes. The rope burn around his wrist has started to turn purple, like some sort of sick bracelet. Small bits of the rope stick out from the puffy marks, buried in the skin along with dirt and sweat that must have caused infection.

Zoro doesn't make a sound as the woman pulls the threads from his wounds, causing fresh blood to trickle down his wrists. Though his face twists in a grimace with each movement. By the time Rika re-emerges to tell them the bath has been drawn, it seems like every one of Zoro's wounds have been reopened.

"Wa-wait," Zoro stutters as Luffy tries to help him up the stairs. "Ow, wait. Luffy."

Luffy pauses, letting Zoro pull away to lean against the railing and pull in slightly wheezing breathes. This would be far faster if Zoro would have just let Luffy carry him like he wanted to. But, the swordsman has been adamant that he can walk himself.

It takes about five minutes to get up the stairs and into the bathroom. Zoro twists himself around, moaning and breathing deeply. Something cracks. Luffy winces. Zoro lets out a long breath, tucking his arm against his ribs, as if to hold them in place.

"Th-thank you for your help," Zoro huffs out.

"Of course!" Luffy grins at him. "You're nakama. That's what nakama do."

Zoro's brow furrows. "Nakama?" he mutters the word like he's never heard it before. Or like it shouldn't belong to him.

Luffy frowns, staring at the confused swordsman. "Hai. You're on my crew, that means you're nakama."

"I told you." Zoro winces slightly as he tries to toe off his boots. "I can't join your crew."

"You can once you finish your promise." Obviously, why is it so hard for Zoro to remember? Luffy kneels down to untie the boots for him, pulling them off and setting them to the side. "And I'm gonna help you finish your promise. So, you're gonna be on my crew. So, you're nakama."

"You don't have to-"

"I do. Zoro's in real bad shape. You never woulda made it the whole thirty days. I can't believe you made it nine. I would have starved after an hour."

"Oi, oi." Zoro jerks slightly when Luffy starts to undo his pants. "Stop that. I can do it."

The swordsman bats away his hands, blush creeping up his neck and cheeks, all the way to the tips of his ears. Luffy sits back, waiting for him to finish undressing himself so he can get the filthy swordsman into the tub.

Breathing deeply, Zoro strips his soiled and ruined pants from his body. The red of a rash envelopes both his thighs. Luffy's nose crinkles at the stench wafting off of the man and he watches Zoro refuse to meet his eyes. It seems to take a lot of time and energy for Zoro to stand himself up. Too much time and energy. By the time Zoro gets into the tub, it's going to be cold.

An indignant yelp leaves Zoro when Luffy scoops him up and slips him into the water. Luffy grins down at him, watching shake water from his face as more water slosh over his chest. The surprised look on Zoro's face melts to a moment of confusion and then a slightly amused smile when their eyes meet.

"If we're going to travel together," Zoro says, sinking into the warm water with a slightly relieved sigh. "Can you not make a habit of throwing me places?"

"Shishishi." Luffy grabs the cloth from the side of the rub and squirts a bit of soap into it before he grabs one of Zoro's arms.

"I can do it," Zoro mutters, but his head tilts back, eyes closed, and his voice slurs as exhaustion begins to seep through him.

Between the uncomfortable position he'd been stuck in and nine long days without food, Luffy can't say he's surprised. After a short moment, Zoro sinks a little further into the water and lets out a soft snore. Luffy snickers, running the cloth along every part of Zoro's body he can reach to scrub away loose skin, blood, and dirt. Even when some of the cuts crack and begin to bleed, Zoro doesn't stir, allowing Luffy to maneuver his limp form without protest.

Tipping Zoro forward to clean his back does little more than elicit another loud snore from the swordsman. Luffy takes the opportunity to examine the scar carved into Zoro's back. The line work looks sloppy, done by someone who is not an artist by any means, but he can still make it out. A cross with what looks like a feathered hat at the center. Strange. So very strange.

A soft groan interrupts Zoro's snores as Luffy rubs the cloth against the rash on Zoro's thighs, but otherwise, the swordsman sleeps on. It takes a lot longer than Luffy would have liked to heave Zoro out of the tub. Water sloshes across the floor, but Zoro pays no mind, carefully drying Zoro's skin before he heaves the swordsman across the hall and onto the freshly made bed.

Luffy prides himself on remembering to cover Zoro's naked body with a sheet before he follows the sweet scent of food.

"Take these with you," Rika's mother orders, pressing several bundles of bento into Zoro's bandaged arms.

The older woman had bullied Zoro into keeping his bandages on after he'd torn them off twice. He gives her a soft smile, accepting the packages and quickly moving them away from Luffy.

"But Zo-Ro!" Luffy whines, the heavenly smell of fresh food. "I'm hungry."

"We just ate twenty minutes ago, you glutton."

After a day of feeding Zoro and tending to his wounds, the Marines decided to ask them to leave. Which is more than Luffy can normally ask for. But, the jerks did interrupt his breakfast, so he isn't that grateful.

Luffy throws himself against Zoro's side, pouting up at him. Amusement sparkles in Zoro's eyes, his smile small still there. It's the most Luffy's gotten out of the swordsman since they met. Which is slightly frustrating, because Zoro seems to read Luffy with ease after only a day of knowing each other. He understands what Luffy's saying without having to have it explained. Pushes things to Luffy without having to be asked.

And yet, even though Luffy knows that Zoro is going to be great nakama, the swordsman guards himself carefully. Like he doesn't want Luffy to like him. Like he doesn't want to like Luffy. Which is stupid. Because Zoro is going to join his crew officially soon. So, they have to like each other. They're going to be nakama.

Zoro gives Luffy a funny look each and every time he explains it, green brow raised. " I don't not like you ," Zoro tells him innocently, every time.

"You'll come back and visit, right, oniichan?" Rika asks, pulling at Zoro's pant leg.

Zoro ruffles her hair with a small smile but makes no promises as he moves himself into the small dingy they're "stealing" from the Marines.

"Be safe, Zoro-kun," Rika's mother calls.

Luffy senses the discomfort that slithers through Zoro, though he makes no protest despite how much he seems to dislike being called "Zoro-kun".

"We will be, Ririka-san." He gives her a deep bow, a genuine smile on his face. "Thank you for everything."

Ririka smiles.

"Bye oniichan! Bye Luffy! We'll miss you."

Luffy grins, waving to them as the sea begins to move them along. He doesn't stop waving until their dots on the horizon. The heat of Zoro's gaze on him is intense but, somehow, comfortable. He gives Luffy another small, guarded smile when their gazes meet, settled against the far end of the small boat and stretched out for a nap with piles of white on either side of him and his katana resting against his shoulders.

"Oi," Luffy says. "Zoro took off his bandages."

"It's hard to move in them," Zoro tells him easily, crossing his legs at the ankles. "Besides, I don't really need them anymore."

True. It seems like most of Zoro's cuts have scabbed over, his sunburnt arms look more like scaly lizard skin than anything. The thought brings a giggle to Luffy's lips that takes seconds to explode into stomach aching laughter.

Zoro's eyebrows furrow. "What are you on about?"

"Zoro-Zoro's all scaly like a lizard. 'N he's got green hair like one too. Shishishishi!"

"Oi, oi," Zoro protests.

The blush that crosses his cheeks makes Luffy laugh even harder. He leans close to Zoro, inspecting every inch of his bright red face. "Now, Zoro looks like a tomato!"

Zoro's hand presses into Luffy's face, shoving him away. "Oi, oi, shut up."

Tumbling backwards, Luffy clamps a hand down on Hat to make sure his treasure doesn't fly away as he laughs at his swordsman.

"Where are we headed anyway?" Zoro asks.

"Dunno."

"Dunno?" Zoro echoes, his wide eyes blinking at Luffy in shock. "You don't know where you're going?"

"Well, no. I gotta find my crew first. 'N I dunno where they are, so I gotta find 'em. Duh."

"So, we're just aimlessly floating around in the ocean?"

"Yup!"

"You're just hoping that you're going to find some people who want to join your crew?"

That's most of the plan. With any luck, they'll find their way to the thief that Luffy's heard so much about. Every pirate needs a good thief. And, if the rumors are true, she's a sly navigator too.

Luffy grins at the dumbstruck swordsman. "I found you!"

"I'm going to regret sailing with you, aren't I?"

"Shishishishi!"

And so, romance dawns! Luffy has a slightly reluctant swordsman and he's on the hunt for a cat burglar. We're headed for the Orange Town Arc next, which means we get to see our wonderful, beautiful navigator. The first two chapters follow a similar path to the cannon, but once chapter three hits, we'll veer off course.

As always, you beautiful, perfect people, please remember to stay healthy, stay sane, and stay safe out there!