Where There is Loyalty, an one piece fanfic

Author's Note: This fic has been sitting in my brain for about ten million years now. I swear I've written it and rewritten it at least twelve times and I'm finally pretty okay with how it turned out. Hope you enjoy!

"Where there is loyalty, weapons are of no use." - Paulo Coelho

Shivering, Nami presses herself a little closer to Zoro. Somehow, despite both of them being completely soaked through after their river escape, the swordsman still radiates heat. Vaguely, Nami wonders if that might be a bad thing. But, she's too tired to think that much.

The various scrapes along her body sting with dirt and water and her muscles pound from overuse. They've been running around for hours, stumbling through unknown terrain. Now that the sun has set, plunging them into near total darkness, all Nami wants to do is sleep.

She feels the rise and fall of Zoro's chest, his right arm wrapped around her to keep her close, and wonders if he's managed to fall asleep. The lack of snoring makes it difficult to tell.

"Zoro!" Luffy shouts in the distance. "Nami!"

Zoro's arm tightens around her and Nami's hand fists in his shirt as the swordsman pulls her a little closer.

"Come out. Captain's orders!" Mock cheerfulness fills Luffy's voice.

Nami's teeth sink into her bottom lip and she holds her breath, worried that Luffy might hear it. Leaves rustle and branches snap as the captain's voice grows louder. Closer to them.

"Zoro!" Sharpness fills Luffy's tone.

Beside her, Zoro tenses. Luffy's approach grows louder. Nami squeezes her eyes shut, praying that Luffy won't hear the wild beat of her heart, and buries her head in Zoro's shoulder. The swordsman turns his head to rest his cheek on her head, his entire body going still. Worry churns in Nami's stomach. Her eyes snap open in panic, looking up at Zoro as his chest stops moving.

Holding his breath.

Nami's heart shatters. Luffy's steps continue to crush leaves and sticks, so close that she knows he must be walking across the ground just feet from their heads. And Zoro is so afraid Luffy will hear them, so afraid of his own captain, that he's holding his breath.

It strikes fear into her bones and she nuzzles herself closer to the swordsman. Zoro's arm tightens around her in a silent promise of protection. Of all the people in the world, Nami never once thought she would be afraid of Luffy.

"Where's your loyalty, Zoro?" Luffy snarls. "I said captain's orders!"

Nami's knuckles turn white as the shirt she clings to. Every muscle in her body tightens, ready to spring into action, to run away. They need to run. No matter what Zoro's stupid pride tells him. They have to run.

More branches snap. Zoro's arm tightens around her. Beneath her head, Nami feels Zoro draw in a deep long breath. His hot breath hits her hair.

"When I say so," he whispers. "Run."

"ZO-RO!" Their captain screams like an enraged animal. "COME OUT!"

Nami swears the shout shakes the ground around them. He's so close. Too close.

In one, swift movement, Zoro pulls them both off the ground and shoves Nami forward. "Run!"

(Twelve hours earlier)

"You'd better take care of Nami, you idiot marimo!" the cook screams from Merry's deck.

Rolling his eyes, Zoro shoots him the finger and follows Nami and Luffy down the path. Pass a test in order to stay long enough for the log pose to reset. What a joke. If Zoro had it his way, he would have just sliced this entire village to pieces and nap until the damn thing resets in fifteen hours.

But Luffy had hopped around all excited and rambled about a mystery game. Because the idiot has no concept of potential danger. The fact that these weird villagers will only let three of them step foot on the island should be another warning sign. And it's just Zoro's luck that their navigator insisted that Zoro accompany her and Luffy instead of taking a nap like he fully intended.

The cook seems as upset as Zoro that his precious Nami-swan didn't want him to go onto the island with them. Usopp and Chopper wave happily from the ship's bow, Robin most likely muttering about their imminent dooms. For once she and Zoro agree on something.

Nami sticks uncomfortably close to Zoro as they make their way down the path. Luffy's sharp but off-key singing fills the air, drumming against Zoro's mind. God, he wishes he was still on Sunny.

"Alright," the village leader - a tall man wielding a bow - says, stopping in the middle of a clearing. "You two will wait here. That one," he points to Luffy, "will come with us."

Zoro's fingers trace Wado's hilt and he eyes his captain carefully, looking for any sign of distress. Luffy only grins, bounding over to the man's side.

"Wait a minute," Nami protests. "You haven't told us anything and now you expect us to just split up? No way, buddy! Luffy-"

"'S okay, Nami." Luffy's grin widens. "Don't worry so much! I'll be right back."

"Luffy! Oh, you're impossible! Zoro!"

Zoro shrugs. "Luffy wants to do it."

"Don't be an idiot!"

"Stop your whining," Zoro tells her as their captain bounds away. "It's not like we have any choice. The log has to reset before we can go anywhere."

Nami pouts and drops onto a fallen tree trunk. A small number of villagers continue to linger around them. All of them are small fries. He can see it in their shifty movements and their nervous glances toward him. If they needed to, Zoro and Luffy could wipe this entire village off the island without breaking a sweat.

It takes almost twenty minutes for the village leader to reappear, a smug smile on his face. Zoro doesn't like the smile. It makes unease churn in his stomach. Nami springs to her feet, moving a little closer to Zoro.

Where is Luffy?

Zoro's thumb strokes across Yubashiri's hilt as he stares at the man. Around them, the villagers rise, creating a tight circle until there's only two ways in or out. Metal clangs softly as Nami's trembling legs cause the pieces of her clima tact to clack together.

Where is Luffy?

"The gods have blessed us! This crew of pirates has agreed to the gods' test!" the man announces. Applause breaks out around them. The warmth of Nami's body presses against Zoro's back as the village leader's eyes find them again. "A test of loyalty and endurance. Until the sun rises, you must ensure your captain does not catch and kill you. And that you do not kill him."

Kill Luffy? Zoro nearly scoffs at the idea. Not that he would ever admit it outloud - the cook would never let him live that down -, but Luffy is the one man Zoro could never kill. No matter what the cost. And, Luffy would never try to hurt his nakama. No matter what these people asked of him for their ridiculous test. Maybe other crews will put themselves over their nakama, but Luffy - the Strawhats - would never.

Zoro's disbelief must shine in his eyes. The villagers snicker softly at him.

"You don't believe us," the leader says. "Few do. I'm sure that your captain cares greatly for you. However, under the thrall of the Was, he will not care for you nor your safety. Here, allow me to show you. Bring him!"

Several more villagers lead Luffy forward. Ice floods through Zoro's body when his captain's gaze meets his. The look on Luffy's face compares to a tiger that's seen an injured deer. Cruel and hungry. The way Crocodile once looked at Vivi. The way Enel looked at them when he was planning to kill them off one by one. Zoro fights down a shiver.

"Luffy?" Nami's weak voice barely made it to Zoro's ears.

The leader continues to shout to his cheering villagers. Zoro can't hear any of his words over the drum of his heart. Luffy - happy-go-lucky Luffy - looks as though he's never felt a stitch of joy in his life. As if he's only ever felt bloodlust.

"L-Luffy," Namii calls again. "Stop playing around, you idiot! This isn't funny. You aren't going to hunt us!"

Luffy gives no inclination that he's even heard her. His eyes stayed locked on Zoro, lips twisted in a disturbing smile. Sizing Zoro up, he realizes. Even under the influence of whatever they've done to him, their captain can assess the levels of threats.

"In order to pass your test," the leader tells them. "All three of you must survive until the sunrise." Nami's hand grips Zoro's arm. "We will give you a five minute head start. It rarely does any of our visitors any good. Still, I recommend you don't waste it."

"Zoro," Nami whimpers.

Unrecognizing, cold brown eyes stare at them. Gritting his teeth, Zoro shoves Nami backwards.

"Run!"

Nami refuses to let go of Zoro's hand. She spent the first half hour of their time in this thick jungle searching for the lost swordsman. Now, Zoro's pouting as she drags him along. They've been running for at least an hour. Sweat sticks her hair to her face and neck, bugs nipping at her exposed arms and legs.

Her foot catches a stray root. Zoro manages to keep Nami on her feet, pulling her into his arms to steady her. Every part of her body drums with pain and exhaustion. Panting, she pulls away from Zoro to start running again. He yanks her back almost immediately.

"Zoro," Nami starts to protest.

They don't have time to stand around. They have to put distance between them and Luffy.

Zoro presses a finger to his lips. The thick forest around them remains still and silent. Too silent. Almost as though any creature - even as small as a bug - knows that a dangerous being is stalking the trees. Terror snakes up Nami's body, wrapping around her chest and squeezing until tears of fear burn her eyes.

"Zoro," she whispers.

They stand, silent and still for a long moment. Gradually, Zoro's grip loosens.

"Keep going," he tells her.

Paranoia presses into her spine. If she moves, Luffy will see her. Luffy will hurt her. Nami's chest heaves in the effort to force some courage into her body.

"Nami," Zoro says firmly. "We have to keep moving. Sencho won't hurt us, come on."

There's too much confidence for the situation they're in right now. Nami didn't see her captain back in that clearing. Arlong stood back in that clearing. A man who would hurt her for no reason. With no remorse.

"Nami." Zoro's calm voice rumbles against her back. "We have to keep moving."

I won't let anything happen to you, Nami hears.

Pulling a deep breath in, Nami forces herself to keep moving. She tightens her grip around Zoro's hand as they move. He puts up no protest but gives her a gentle squeeze of comfort as they move.

A branch snaps to their left. Zoro's arm slams into her and Nami hits the ground with a shout of surprise.

"Gommu gommu no pistol!"

Broken branches cut into her skin and shirt. Zoro's grunt of pain and shattering trees makes Nami's heart stop. Arms shaking, Nami pushes herself up from the ground. Several feet away, Luffy turns to her. A trail of ruined trees leads to Zoro, hundreds of yards away, pulling himself from the rubble.

"Naaaaaami," Luffy sings.

A vicious smile takes over his face. Nami's chest tightens. Every inch of her body freezes, locking her to that spot. Her captain is gone. This monster stands in his place, stalking toward her. She knows she should reach for her clima tact, but what good will that do? If Enel taught them anything, it's that Luffy is immune to lightning.

Nami is trapped in a web. Locked in place. An ant under Luffy's boot.

Zoro plows into Luffy, back of his blades, swiping at the captain. Any noise is lost beneath the wild beating of her heart.

"Nami," Zoro growls. His large hand wraps around her bicep and he hauls her up, shoving her into the forest. "Run."

Finding his hand again, Nami runs. Their feet pound against the ground as they move, tripping over roots.

"Zooooorrrrrooooo!" Luffy shouts from somewhere behind them.

Nami jerks them to the left. Zoro puts up no fight, following behind her as she zigzags through the forest. She can hear him mumbling curses under his breath as they go.

Eventually, when Luffy shouts fade into nothing, Nami stops. She lets Zoro's hand slip from hers, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"We have. To keep. Moving," Zoro pants from behind her, apparently just as out of breath as she is.

It makes Nami feel a little better. Their tough, athletic swordsman can only run as far as her before he needs a break. The slight smugness fades when Nami turns to look at him. Blood dries against the right side of his face and he favors his right side slightly.

Gray eyes meet hers. "I'm. Alright. But we can't. Stop."

Biting her lip, Nami looks down at the hand he offers her. He's right. Just because they can't hear Luffy doesn't mean he won't catch up to them in no time. Wishing she'd stayed on the ship, Nami takes his hand.

His ribs are broken. Not that Zoro should be surprised. Luffy's powerful and Zoro had taken the hit full on to keep Nami from taking the brunt of it. Still, it doesn't change the fact that agony floods through him as Nami leads him through the uneven terrain. The sun shifts above them, hours passing agonizingly slow.

They don't speak, watching their footsteps as they go. Prey should always be quiet to avoid predators.

When did Roronoa Zoro become prey?

I'm not. I just can't hurt Luffy.

If this was anything - anyone - else, Zoro would cut them down with no problem. But this isn't anyone else. This is Luffy. Zoro's captain. Zoro's nakama. Zoro's best friend.

Nami makes them stop by a stream. She shoves Zoro onto a rock and rips off the bottom of her shirt.

"You owe me a new shirt," Nami tells him sharply, dunking the strip of fabric into the stream.

I'm glad you're alright, Zoro hears.

"Luffy owes you a new shirt," Zoro corrects.

We're going to get out of this, he's telling her.

Rolling her eyes, Nami begins to scrub the blood from the side of his face. There isn't much point. If they run into Luffy again, he's only going to end up covered in more blood. But, if it makes Nami feel better, Zoro can let her do that.

"It's going to storm," Nami tells him, glancing up at the sky.

Zoro follows her gaze. Big, puffy white clouds float across the sunny, blue sky. The weather looks beautiful, but Zoro learned a long time ago to never doubt his navigator's skill.

"Zoro!" Luffy's voice rings through the trees. "Nami! Oi! Come out!"

Nami starts like a frightened deer. The voice echoes loud around them, not soft and distant. He's close. Pulling the cloth from her hand, Zoro drops it to the ground. Her wide eyes speak of fear. Fear of their captain.

Zoro never wants Nami to be afraid of her captain again.

"We need to go."

Nami nods, clinging to his hand and pulling him up the bank again.

"Shishishi!" Luffy's laugh should never sound so grotesque. "Don't you wanna have fun? I wanna have fun! Zoro! Nami!"

Rocks clatter down the bank, echoing around them. Nami freezes and lets out a small whimper.

"Found you!" Luffy cheers.

Cursing, Zoro shoves Nami up the rocky shore. They take off into the forest again. Branches snapping gives way to rocks clattering as Luffy reaches the shoreline. Cursing, Zoro scans the forest around them. Plenty of large trees, the trunks thicker around than he is.

Perfect.

Zoro yanks Nami to the side, pulling her behind a large tree and against his chest. Nami lets out a shaky gaspand Zoro can't help but put a hand over her mouth.

"Shh," he whispers.

She trembles against him.

"Zoro!" Luffy's shout doesn't need to echo for him to hear it. Leaves crunch beneath Luffy's feet. "Come on out. Then it can all be over. We're gonna have fun, Zoro! Don't you wanna have fun?"

The forest remains silent around them. Zoro continues to breath.

"Zoro," Luffy's voice drops to a growl. "You and Nami come out, now! Captain's orders."

Nami presses further into Zoro. Zoro tightens his grip around her waist.

I'm here. You're safe. I won't let him hurt you. He's not Arlong. We'll be okay.

Luffy continues to tramble through the forest. Then everything goes silent. Zoro swears he could hear a pin drop from thirty yards away. Closing his eyes, he tries to strain his ears for any indication of where Luffy may have gone. Everything remains silent.

A branch snaps. Leaves fall down around them.

Zoro's gaze snaps up. A distorted grin meets.

"Found you," Luffy growls.

Shoving Nami forward, Zoro dodges away from Luffy's rubber fist. Awful, sickening laughter fills the air. It takes a moment for Zoro to regain his footing as Nami stumbles away and he turns, pulling Yubashiri free.

Luffy laughs. "Zoro's not gonna cut me."

No, Zoro won't cut his captain. But he can at least defend. The sun has already begun to set, pinks and reds exploding over Luffy's head. Halfway there. Just twelve more hours and then Luffy will be free. The log pose will be set and they can leave.

"Go," Zoro tells Nami.

"What? No! I'm not leaving you."

Luffy's attention turns to their navigator. He lunges. Throwing himself forward, Zoro barely manages to get Yubashiri up in time. Rubber meets steel.

"Nami, go!"

Luffy's face twists in a sneer. His free arm wraps around Zoro's ankle. Realization hits Zoro with the force of a hull.

"Stupid, Zoro," Luffy growls. "Get outta my way."

His captain whips him into a tree, but doesn't release him. Wind whips through Zoro's hair and clothes as Luffy throws him around the forest. Trees slam into his back and head. Fresh blood wets the back of his neck. His ankle cracks. Sharp pain erupts through his leg, as though someone is stabbing him repeatedly.

Luffy shouts in surprise and, blissfully, Zoro's wild ride stops. He hits the ground with a groan, grateful that he managed to keep a hold on Yubashiri. The world spins around him as he struggles to sit up again. Black spots dance across his vision. Zoro blinks them away. He needs to get up. Needs to find Nami. Needs to-

Orange flutters in front of him as Nami races toward him. Eyes wide with terror, Nami hits her knees and begins to pull him up. The rumble of her voice reaches his ears, but his brain is too muddled to make out what she's saying.

"Nami." His captain's growl reaches his brain.

Zoro looks up. Luffy rips a tree limb from his leg. Red spills down from the wound. She stabbed him. Nami stabbed their captain.

"You shouldn'ta done that." Luffy throws the branch at them and then his arm slams into Nami's side.

She screams as she's thrown away from him. An angry growl leaves Zoro's chest as he shoves himself up again. His ankle protests immediately, giving away underneath the sudden weight. Shit.

Luffy stalks toward Nami as she scrambles up right.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Shoving himself up right away - careful to keep as much weight as possible on his left leg - Zoro pulls Kitetsu loose.

"Taka Nami!"

Luffy lets out a yelp as the rush of wind hits him, carrying him up and away. It won't keep him away for long, Zoro knows. The captain can latch onto a tree and swing his way back in no time. They have to hurry.

Nami meets Zoro halfway, ducking under his arm to support his injured right side. Neither of them speak, but her warm against his side is comforting. She's safe. A little worse for wear with a little bit of blood seeping from various cuts and a bruise already forming on her temple where she must have hit a tree.

Dark clouds rush in above them. Somewhere in the distance, he hears a waterfall.

"Zoro! Nami!" Luffy laughs from above them. "We're not done."

"Oh no," Nami whispers. "Zoro, what are we going to do?"

Zoro has no fucking idea. Branches crack above them as Luffy begins to come back to the ground. Zoro pushes forward, dragging Nami with him. She clings tightly to him as they move, hobbling with his broken ankle. She should leave him behind. Luffy can beat the hell out of him and she can make it safely to Merry.

Nami pauses for a moment. Luffy's footsteps grow closer.

"This way." Nami drags Zoro to the left.

"Found you again!" Luffy laughs, behind them. "You're bad at this!"

The trees give way to a large, bald cliff. Water crashes below them.

"Oi! Where are you going? Come back!" Annoyance fills Luffy's voice.

"Do you trust me?" Nami whimpers.

"Yeah," Zoro breathes.

They reach the edge of the cliff - the edge of the waterfall - and jump.

She feels the rise and fall of Zoro's chest, his right arm wrapped around her to keep her close, and wonders if he's managed to fall asleep. The lack of snoring makes it difficult to tell.

"Zoro!" Luffy shouts in the distance. "Nami!"

Zoro's arm tightens around her and Nami's hand fists in his shirt as the swordsman pulls her a little closer.

"Come out. Captain's orders!" Mock cheerfulness fills Luffy's voice.

Nami's teeth sink into her bottom lip and she holds her breath, worried that Luffy might hear it. Leaves rustle and branches snap as the captain's voice grows louder. Closer to them.

"Zoro!" Sharpness fills Luffy's tone.

Holding his breath.

"Where's your loyalty, Zoro?" Luffy snarls. "I said captain's orders!"

More branches snap. Zoro's arm tightens around her. Beneath her head, Nami feels Zoro draw in a deep long breath. His hot breath hits her hair.

"When I say so," he whispers. "Run."

"ZO-RO!" Their captain screams like an enraged animal. "COME OUT!"

Nami swears the shout shakes the ground around them. He's so close. Too close.

In one, swift movement, Zoro pulls them both off the ground and shoves Nami forward. "Run!"

A crack of lightning fills the sky, illuminating the trees around them. It illuminates Luffy's looming silhouette as well. Nami reaches out for Zoro's hand again as the skies open above them. He avoids her hand, pausing to pull his scabbards from his side. Even in the darkness, Nami sees determination in his eyes.

His katana are thrust toward her. "Run."

"You self-sacrificing bastard!" Nami shouts.

Zoro ignores her, turning back to face Luffy. His captain stalks toward him, each step large and imposing.

"Zoro!" Nami screams. "Get over here! You self-sacrificing dumbass!"

That's not what this is about. Zoro has no intentions of self-sacrificing Sure, he doesn't want to watch his nakama hurt - Zoro never wants to see his nakama hurt. But, this is more than that. There's only one person on this crew that can stand against Luffy and it sure as hell isn't Nami. Zoro is the only one who would survive. And when Luffy wakes up again - when whatever this clears out of him - he needs his nakama to be alive. Knowing he hurt Zoro will be bad enough. Knowing he's the reason one of his nakama died is something Luffy would never come back from.

"Get back to Merry. Go!"

"Zoro," Nami whimpers.

"Go!"

Luffy throws himself forward. Zoro lets his captain hit him. It feels like being trampled by an entire herd of dinosaurs. Every ounce of oxygen leaves Zoro's lungs.

"Nami!" Luffy shouts. His weight disappears from Zoro's chest. "Come back!"

Rolling over, Zoro throws himself forward, wrapping both arms around Luffy's body to stop him in his tracks.

"Oi, oi, Sencho." Zoro throws Luffy away from Nami's trail. "We're not done yet."

Luffy rolls to a stop and glares at Zoro. Gritting his teeth, Zoro pushes himself to his feet. Rain pours down around them, mixing with Zoro's blood as it falls down his face and stings his eyes. Luffy's eyes rake over Zoro's body. His lips twist in a smirk. Predator sizing up its prey.

"Zoro doesn't look so good."

He blinks and the air is stolen from his lungs again as Luffy tackles him to the ground. Stars explode in his vision as his head smacks off the ground again. His captain settles on his chest.

"Zoro thought he could run from me." Luffy smiles cruelly.

Luffy's weight presses against his broken ribs, forcing them into his lungs. Zoro gasps out a wheezy breath.

"Does Zoro think he can get away from me?"

"N-never," Zoro forces out.

The grin grows. "Zoro's never gonna get away from me." Luffy raises a fist. "Zoro promised."

Luffy's fist collides with Zoro's face. His nose crunches beneath the punch and blood pours from his nostrils. Copper stings his tongue. Another fist collides with his temple. Black overruns Zoro's vision. Another fist on the opposite side of his face.

Luffy's going to beat him to death. Nami should be a good distance away.

Fight back. Fight back!

Zoro swings blindly, hoping to at least knock Luffy off of him. He doesn't even make contact before Luffy's hand stops him. A snap reverberates through Zoro's arm as Luffy breaks it. A strangled scream leaves Zoro's lips. Luffy laughs, pressing his broken arm into the ground above his head.

"Thought Zoro was never gonna lose again. Zoro broke his promise."

The words hit harder than any of Luffy's punches.

"Zoro's a liar."

The grip on his broken arm tightens. Thousands of needles stab into Zoro's arm. He prays for numbness. Luffy shifts on his chest. His broken ribs shift too. Zoro's next breath leaves in a wet gasp. Blood bubbles up over his lips.

Warm breath breathes over Zoro's face as Luffy leans closer.

"I kinda like Zoro like this," Luffy mutters. "Stuck beneath me."

Luffy leans closer and laughs. "Zoro likes it too, right? Sanji says Zoro would like it."

A wet tongue runs over Zoro's cheek, lapping up the blood from Zoro's cheek and nose. Zoro can't hold in a whimper.

"Shishishi. Zoro does like it."

Luffy bounces on his chest and Zoro thinks Luffy might be killing him. It's almost impossible to breathe. He chokes on a breath. Luffy's fist slams into Zoro's face again. Warm blood stings his eye as his eyebrow splits open. Luffy's tongue runs along the bloody cut.

"Lu," Zoro chokes out.

"Zoro looks so pretty when he's all red." Luffy tells him. More breath warms Zoro's face. Then Luffy's head drops and his teeth nip at Zoro's neck.

No. No. No.

Luffy would never come back from this. If he remembers this when he's awake, his captain will never heal.

No. No.

Zoro has to do something. Has to protect his captain somehow. He tries to move. Luffy's fingers dig into his broken arm again.

"Lu-ffy," Zoro manages to choke out. He hates the way his voice shutters. How easily it must be to hear the fear in his voice. "Luffy. Please. Lu-ffy."

Blinking against the blood, rain, and tears, Zoro watches his captain straighten again. In the black of night in the jungle, it's impossible for Zoro to see his captain's face. But, something shifts. Something changes in the air around them.

"Zoro?" Luffy mutters.

His captain's entire weight collapses on top of him. Zoro lets out a gasp of pain. On top of him, Luffy goes completely still. Around them, the trees remain silent. Zoro closes his eyes and holds his breath. Waiting.

Is he going to pop up again? They said sunrise to sunrise. Why is Luffy so still and quiet?

After about five minutes, Zoro chances a breath. Luffy doesn't move.

"Lu-ffy?" Zoro chokes out again.

Nothing. And then, Luffy lets out a long snore.

Against his better judgement and under heavy protest from his aching body, Zoro laughs.

Luffy wakes up cold and with his vest sticking to his skin. Did he fall asleep in the rain? His leg throbs dully. He's only felt pain like that when he's been stabbed. The ground moves beneath him, only slightly. Up and then down. Like breathing. Luffy blinks his eyes open. The sun rises around him, spilling lots of pretty pinks and oranges across the green grass of the forest.

Right. They'd docked to let the log pose set and had to do a test for the people who live here. Maybe the challenge was how much meat they could eat. Though, Luffy's stomach feels pretty empty for that. But he only wakes up from a sleep this good when he ate lots of meat.

A rasping breath reaches Luffy's ears. Blinking, Luffy looks down. Horror floods through Luffy's body. Zoro sleeps beneath him, eyes moving rapidly beneath his eyelids. Red covers his face, nose crooked and one eye swollen shut. One of his arms is flopped over his head, a large bump in the middle of his forearm with a deep, ugly purple bruise.

Another wheeze leaves his swordsman's lips. Luffy scrambles off of him.

"Zoro?" Luffy whispers. His fingers twitch over his nakama's cheek and Zoro doesn't respond. "Oi, oi, Zoro."

Zoro's eyebrows furrow but he doesn't open his eyes. Raising his head, Luffy scans the trees around them. How did this happen? They were just coming so they could wait for the log pose to reset. Them and Nami.

Nami.

Where's his navigator?

"Oi!" Luffy shouts. "Nami!"

Bugs and birds chirp back at him.

"Nami! Chopper! Mina! Anyone!"

Birds and bugs again.

Gritting his teeth, Luffy looks back down at his injured swordsman. Blood and bruises everywhere. They can't stay here. Zoro needs help.

"Zoro," Luffy says, tapping his swordsman's face softly. "Oi, Zoro, we gotta get up. You need Chopper. Zoro."

Zoro flinched under touch but didn't speak or open his eyes.

"Yosh," Luffy mutters to himself.

Moving Zoro will hurt, but he can't leave Zoro there. Not by himself. Not like this. He needs to find Nami and get Zoro to Chopper.

"Sorry, Zoro," Luffy says, carefully pulling Zoro into a sitting position and drawing a groan from his swordsman. "This is gonna hurt."

He hefts Zoro onto his back and stands. Zoro lets out a long moan, arms hanging limply over Luffy's shoulders and his chin nestled on Luffy's shoulder. Now, he just needs to figure out which way to go. As soon as he gets Zoro somewhere safe, Luffy's going to find out who hurt his swordsman and kick their ass.

Zoro twitches against him, cheek nuzzling against Luffy's shoulder. Every part of Zoro twitches against Luffy back for a minutes and Luffy pauses. After enough time sailing with Zoro, Luffy knows when his swordsman is waking up. A sharp, wheezing gasp hits Luffy's ear with Zoro's breath. A pit forms in Luffy's stomach as Zoro squirms, rasping, and trying to shove himself away from Luffy.

"Zoro," Luffy protests. "'S okay, 's just me."

The words don't do Zoro any good. His swordsman whimpers, finally wriggling from Luffy's grip. Zoro hits the ground with a thud, trying to push himself up and failing. Both Zoro's right ankle and right arm have funny bumps, surrounded by deep purple bruises. Zoro hobbles, hits his hands and knees, and all but crawls away from him.

"Zoro," Luffy protests, bounding forward to touch his swordsman's shoulders. "Oi, oi, Zoro. 'S me. You're safe, 'kay?"

For a moment, Zoro is tense, as though waiting for a strike. Then, he relaxes in Luffy's hold, hitting the ground again in a dead faint. Heart slamming in his chest, Luffy carefully pulls Zoro onto his back again.

Who would have done this? It's Zoro. Nothing can keep Zoro done. His swordsman swore that he would never lose again and it's a promise that Zoro has kept. Will keep. Zoro always keeps his promises.

"'S okay, Zoro," Luffy whispers. Promises. "Whoever did this, I'm gonna kick their ass."

He will. Luffy always keeps his promises too.

"I hurt Zoro."

Luffy's whisper trembles, breaking through the silence of the ship. Nami looks up from their swordsman's bandaged face. An orbital fracture to his right side, his nose broken and crooked, so swollen from multiple punches that Nami thinks his face might be one giant bruise.

Sad brown eyes stare down at Zoro, tears sparkling in the lamplight. The insane villagers and their awful island are hours behind them now. They're safe. Chopper sleeps on the couch, Sanji cooking a late night snack while Robin reads at the table and Usopp stays curled in the crows' nest for the night.

Luffy sniffles. "Hurt Nami too."

Her captain's eyes settle on her next. Nami struggles not to shiver beneath his gaze. Zoro wheezes out another snore as Nami and Luffy stare at each other, Nami desperately trying to find words.

Luffy breaks eye contact first. His fingers brush over Zoro's forehead and their swordsman leans into the touch with a satisfied hum. More tears gather in Luffy's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Luffy whimpers.

"Luffy," Nami breathes.

The dam bursts. Loud, hiccuping sobs echo around them as Luffy rests his head on Zoro's heavily bandaged chest. Apologizes leave Luffy as a chant, like a lifeline. Nami presses her fist to her mouth, trying to hold in tears of her own.

"Luffy." Tentatively, Nami reaches out to touch her captain's shoulder. "Luffy, it's alright. We're alright. We're safe." Her voice shakes as she speaks. "It wasn't your fault."

The words do nothing to calm Luffy's crying. His entire body vibrates with sobs. Nami's heart breaks for him. Her brave, strong captain - the man who fought for her, tooth and nail - reduced to heart wrenching weeping over the healing body of his first mate.

"It wasn't your fault," Nami repeats.

It hurts to breathe. Each small intake tries to choke him, pressure squeezing down on his chest. Zoro forces his eyes open. Only one of his eyes seems to work. Everything on his left side is visible but his right side seems black. The ceiling of Merry's kitchen greets him when he looks upward.

Merry. He's back on Merry.

Thank fuck.

Bandages press into his skin, making it nearly impossible for him to move his arm or his ankle. A soft ache drums against his skin. Everything feels heavy. Zoro feels like he's drowning, his ears clogged and his vision blurred.

Luffy sure can pack a punch.

"Zoro's awake?"

The question comes from his right, of course. Turning his head to face his captain feels like being punched repeatedly in the face again. Luffy shifts from side to side, barely making eye contact with him.

"Yo, Sencho," Zoro mutters.

He regrets it. It sends a wave of agony through his jaw. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to will the pain away.

"Should I." Luffy hesitates. "Want me to get Chopper?"

More bandages. A fussy, nervous doctor rushing around him. It sounds like an even bigger headache.

"No."

Luffy nods fidgeting more. Unease has pushed out Luffy's normal happiness, sad brown eyes watching Zoro as though unsure he's real. He's hurting. Zoro's eyes scan Luffy closely, searching for injury. White bandages poke from beneath Luffy's shorts from where Nami stabbed him. A few angry red cuts from Kitetsu and Yubashiri are scattered around his arms and hands.

But nothing major. Nothing new. Luffy's had these kinds of wounds before. There's nothing that should be causing this kind of agony on his captain's face.

"'S wrong?" Zoro forces himself to ask despite the burning along his jawline.

Silence falls over them. It's uncomfortable. The ache in Zoro's chest has nothing to do with his broken ribs.

"Zoro's hurt," Luffy finally whispers.

It's so quiet, so faint and un-Luffy-like, that Zoro nearly misses it. He needs to do something. Find some way to make Luffy look like this; small, nervous to be in his presence, guilty. It wasn't his fault. He didn't do this to Zoro, not really.

"Tch." The small scoff sounds more like a choked gurgle. "'S nothing."

Luffy doesn't smile. There's no jolly laughter of "shishishi! Course not. Zoro's tough". If anything, Luffy's head drops even lower.

"I hurt Zoro."

"Barely scratched me."

"It's not funny!" Luffy shouts.

His captain's shrill cry stabs into his temples. Zoro can't hold back a flinch. Tears swim in Luffy's eyes.

"Luffy," Zoro mutters, holding his good, bandaged free hand out for his captain to take.

Luffy moves away from him.

"Oi."

"Zoro's scared of me."

"Am not."

"You were. Last night."

"No."

"Don't lie! I remember. I hurt Zoro. I hurt Zoro a lot. Pinned him down, broke his arm, n' - n' bit him." Tears begin to tumble down Luffy's face. "Zoro was scared of me. I heard it when you said my name."

Forcing his arms underneath him, Zoro ignores the fire under his skin to sit up. "I wasn't scared of you," he protests. "I'd never be scared of you, Luffy. None of us would be."

"Nami is. I hurt her."

Like Arlong did.

"No," Zoro argues, reaching for his captain again. His fingers brush Luffy's vest when Luffy moves back again. "Oi, cut it out. Nami isn't afraid of you."

"Is." Luffy sniffles. "N' she should be. I hurt her n' Zoro."

"Luffy."

"I know what Zoro sounds like! When he's angry. When he's hurt. When he's scared." Grief and regret burn in Luffy's eyes. "Maybe you only said my name, but I know what I heard. Zoro was scared."

"Not of you. For you," Zoro snaps.

The words cause Luffy's jaw to clamp shut.

It takes more energy than Zoro's proud to admit for him to sit up. The effort leaves his panting. Luffy's apprehension lingers in the air. Before all of this, his captain would have laughed at him and slipped against his back, rambling about what an idiot Zoro is. Now, Luffy will barely look at him.

"I wasn't scared of you," Zoro repeats. "Because that wasn't you, Luffy. You'd never hurt me."

"I did!"

"You stopped."

Watery eyes meet Zoro's.

"It wasn't sunrise yet. We had hours to go, Luffy. But, you stopped. Like I knew you would." Luffy allows Zoro to settle a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. "Nami isn't scared of you either, baka. None of us are, Luffy. You're our captain."

"I messed up," Luffy mumbles, head down.

"We all did."

They never should have left with those villagers. They should have just taken them all out from the get-go and waited in comfort on Merry. But hindsight's twenty-twenty. And it's too late to have perfect vision now.

"But there's no use whining about it now, Sencho. What's done is done. Everyone's safe. That's what counts."

After a brief pause, Luffy nods and finally leans into Zoro's touch. "Still sorry," Luffy whispers. "Zoro never breaks his promises."

The words bring him more relief than he thought they would. "Never," Zoro agrees. Especially not when it's a promise to you.

"N' thanks, Zoro. For protecting me n' Nami."

"Of course."

Luffy pins him with a blinding grin. All the weight on Zoro's chest vanishes. "I like having Zoro to watch my back. You're real good at it."

Lips twitching, Zoro drops his hand to tug on Luffy's vest. "Come here, dumbass."

Luffy crawls under the blanket beside him, nuzzling against Zoro's shoulder. The warmth floods through Zoro's body, soothing the dull ache of broken bones and forming bruises. The steady breath of his captain sings a soft lullaby. Zoro closes his eyes. Merry rocks them gently.

"Zoro?"

"Hmm."

"I'm never gonna let anybody do that to us 'gain. I promise."

Zoro's lips twitch in a smile. "I know, Sencho."

I feel like I probably could have written another 10k in this fic, but this seemed like a fitting end. I'm going to be back with another chapter of All That We Are (All We've Ever Been) soon, along with - hopefully - posting the final chapter of Born of Blade and maybe the first chapter of a modern AU that has been beating me over the head for the past few months now.

I hope you're all having a safe start to your summer. Please remember to stay healthy, stay sane, and stay safe out there.