He sat in a state of meditation, people may think he was napping but he was completely aware of everything around him.
For instance he had sensed his sword upstairs earlier but they had been moved out of his reach again. This had happened just before the old man had came with Curly, the man that they had said was his father.
He had been rummaging around in his head for anything that the blonde bastard had told him but anytime he got near anything before the academy he just hit pain and darkness. His brain refused him access and this pissed him off, he wanted to prove the blonde wrong and he had no idea why.
Something about that blonde destroyed the training that had removed his emotions, he wanted out of these ropes, he wanted his swords and he wanted to fight that curly-browed bastard. Not kill him which confused him, he wanted to prove he was the better fighter and rub it in his smug face. He felt the presence of the old man leave, he had deliberately tuned him out partly afraid of what he might say. Afraid….god dammit his boss was going to make him do that training again, what was the point in an assassin with feelings.
He had figured once he had been caught that they would kill him, the hands that had kept coming no matter how many he destroyed had knocked him out; as the world went black he had never expected to wake up. So when he had awoken in this chair he had waited to be tortured, instead the blonde had wound him up and stole his bandana; he had then started calling him weird names and left.
Zoro…..was that really his name?
He felt the presence of the blonde again, he was arguing with someone else. He kept his eyes shut but listened in.
'I don't get why the fuck he has to stay in my room.' that sounded like blondie
'He only talks to you, plus I'm sure you could beat him if he tried to kill you' a cheery voice answered.
'Seriously Luffy why can't he just stay in my room and I go stay with the girls'
'Didn't Nami already hit you for saying that, plus you two get on great'
'In what world do me and that moss brained idiot get on'
He didn't know what it was about Curly but he set fire to his blood, he hadn't felt this way since…..he hit blackness again. He couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to what the people here were saying, he had always been told that he had no friends, no family and had volunteered for the programme. That he had voluntarily gave up his memories and name to become the perfect assassin.
He felt a hand on his ankle and something cold and metallic click closed. He opened his eyes and glared at the blonde at his feet, the defiant look he got back made him want to grin back in response. He fought the urge though, what the hell was going on here, when he got back he was going to be in so much trouble. Not only had he not killed the mark but he was getting attached to him.
'Knew you weren't asleep Mossy' he stared at the blonde as he stood up 'That thing on your ankle will knock you out if you try to leave the house, so behave'
He felt the blonde go round the back of him and the ropes started to loosen.
Was this some kind of trap? He tensed up as the ropes loosened, expecting some kind of attack.
'Right Mossball apparently you're staying in my room, now when was the last time you ate I saved some lunch for you'
When he didn't respond he could see the blonde becoming frustrated, he wasn't smoking and that seemed to make him fidget more.
'Look you have two options' he crossed his arms and glared him 'You can walk up those stairs or I'll drag your ass up them'
He was tempted to see if the blonde would do it but his pride won out so he stood up, he could feel his arms and legs tingling as the blood supply returned, he stretched to help loosen his muscles. It was only when he went to follow Curly up the stairs that he noticed that the kid with the straw hat was still there, he needed to leave here soon this place was screwing with his head.
He reached the kitchen and saw the plate of food on the table it looked and smelled good. He saw the black haired guy dive for it and he watched with admiration as the blonde kicked him clear across the kitchen.
'It's not poisoned I swear, so eat up'
He looked at the food, he hadn't eaten in about three days, he'd been punished for answering back before he'd left for this job. His boss had wanted him to train some kid in santoryu, he just stated that the kid couldn't do it, he figured the punishment would have been worse if he'd failed to train the kid.
He saw the kid with the hat going for his food again, only to once again get deflected with a kick, he looked down at what had to be one of the most delicious looking bowls of pasta he had ever seen.
'Saaanji I'm hungry' the kid was going for his food again.
'Luffy I already gave you three portions, if you touch that one I won't cook any meat for a week' the blonde's tone was threatening.
'You're mean' the kid sat down at the table with his head resting on his crossed arm, giving the blonde a sulky look.
'Look just eat the fucking food Marimo' the blonde looked stressed.
He sat down, gave one last glance at the blonde and started eating, he could almost feel the tension leaving Curly. Though he told himself he was only eating to keep his strength up for when he left not because of Curly.
The food was incredible, he'd never ate something this delicious, though to be fair his boss didn't exactly feed him five star food.
He finished the plate quickly, he was still hungry but at least he finally had something in his stomach.
'When did you last eat? And this time I want an answer' the blonde looked calmer but still wound up.
'Just over three days ago' he shrugged, he saw no reason to lie he'd went longer before.
'Dammit I should have given you something lighter, I'll make you another snack later' Curly looked concerned, why the hell would he care.
This group confused the hell out of him, he had came to kill one of them, specifically the guy who was worried about his eating habits. Yet he was now free to wander about and they were giving him incredible food, not that he would let blondie know he had enjoyed it.
'I'll be fine Curly, I usually just go back to eating normally after punishments anyway' what reaction he had expected he didn't know but he certainly hadn't expected the blonde to get so wound up he kicked the back door off it's hinges.
'Goddamn assholes just wait till I find them' watching the blonde destroy the door, just made him want to fight him more. He could almost feel the adrenaline surging through his veins like fire. Up until this point he couldn't name one time he had felt excited about a fight it had always been routine. None of his marks stood a chance against him, if he was honest most of the people back at base couldn't lay a finger on him.
He only played along because apparently that had been his decision, the life he had chosen; even if he did change his mind where was he supposed to go he had no one.
He felt a growing urge to stay with them but the fear of rejection if he wasn't who they thought he was quashed it. Plus once his boss worked out he'd failed he was going to get punished and everyone here would probably be killed.
He had a week until his deadline and he would have to work out what to do before then.
'Right Marimo, I'm going to bed apparently you've to stick with me so come on'
He followed Curly up to a converted attic the room was large with a king bed, large cupboard and a set of drawers. Curly saw him looking round the room 'The bathroom's that door over there, we're going to have to share until Luffy buys a new bed in'
He watched the blonde take some clothes out of his chest of drawers and snatched them out of the air as they were thrown at him, it was a pair of pyjama bottoms and a pale blue tshirt.
'Go have a shower before bed you stink, I'll wake you up when dinners ready' He watched as the blonde took his shirt off, he couldn't help be impressed with the muscle he had been hiding under that stupid shirt.
Curly turned round and noticed him staring, he pulled on a darker blue t-shirt 'Oh right suppose I better show you how the shower works'
He watched how to alter the temperature and then the blonde started the shower and left, he took his clothes off and dumped them down by the door, they really were filthy. He hung his clean clothes on the back of the door and climbed into the shower, the hot water was amazing, he hated the cold showers back at the base. He scrubbed up using the soap and shampoo that had been left in the shower and got out and dried himself, he pulled on the pyjamas, they fit a little neatly but they were comfortable. He checked out the band on his ankle it seemed almost solid and it took a few attempts for him to find where it closed, the only thing that gave away that it wasn't jewelry was a small red light on it.
He walked into the bedroom, Curly was already curled up in the bed, he seemed to be asleep though he wouldn't be surprised if he was pretending. He didn't feel comfortable joining him in the bed so he sat with his back to the wall near the door to the bathroom. He would have felt better with his swords next to him but that wasn't going to happen, so he settled into a comfortable position and let himself drift off to sleep.
'Hey Mossball wake up' his eyes flickered open, it was a dull but warm day and he was in an open field, leaning against a tree where he had been napping. In front of him was Curly but a much younger version, if he had to guess he'd say he must have been about eight or nine.
'What is it Cook?'
'Kuina's here to get you, it's time to go home'
He got up and looked in the direction that the Cook was looking in, there was a girl short black hair, she was wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts. She looked like she was almost a teenager, he really wasn't good at guessing ages.
He ran towards her but as he did someone shot a something into her neck and she collapsed, he looked around the field was empty, the sky was darker. Only Kuina and himself were left where had the cook gone?
'Zoro help me' Kuina called as she slowly lost consciousness, he tried to move but he couldn't he watched helplessly as she was picked up by a man in a white t-shirt and dark trousers, he threw her over his shoulder and began walking away. He still fought to make himself move but his legs still refused to listen, he felt something stab into his neck and the world went dark.
His eyes shot open, his breathing was erratic, small quick breaths, his chest was tightening, god it felt like he was going to suffocate, his breathing sped up more and what felt like a steel band tightened round his chest.
'Marimo' he felt his face get pulled up to look into the brown eyes of the cook.
'Cook, I can't breathe' he choked out god it hurt, black spots began to invade his vision, no he couldn't pass out, he couldn't face his dreams again.
He felt the blonde's forehead press against his own.
'Okay breath in until I tell you to stop, just listen to my voice okay?'
He listened to the cook and slowly they got his breathing back to a normal pace, by increasing the amount he took in slowly.
He saw Curly type quickly into his phone and put it away. They sat in silence whilst the pain in his chest slowly calmed, he heard a knock at the door and listened as it was answered.
Whoever it was left without coming in, he had been staring at the floor trying to work out what his dream had been about. He looked up as he felt a presence near him and he almost cried as he was handed his white sword, he couldn't explain it even with no memories of it he loved and treasured this sword.
He took the blade in his lap, almost feeling the calmness washing over at him. He looked up at the blonde 'Who's Kuina?'