Wow! You guys rock! Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad to hear that you guys like it so far! I do have a question though...

Would people rather see this fic remain fluffy friendship type stuff? Or would you like it to become slightly more romance oriented? Because I have a freaking hilarious idea, but it can only work if it's a romance. If not, I'll just have to make a seperate fic out of it...

And as a sidenote- Luffy seems to have gathered quite a lot of supporters! I find that so funny! I didn't even consider people taking sides!

To my reviewers:

To KuroKame: You're one of the few rooting for him. hehehe. Luffy's got quite the following. But I'm with you! Crossdressing Zoro would be quite amusing... I'm glad you like that name! hehehe Thanks for the review!

To Griever5: I know! Isn't that strange? But irritating Zoro is definitely why he's helping. Oh ho ho! You'll just have to read and find out! Mwahahaha... I'm glad your enjoying it! Thanks for the review!

To tori007otaku: Glad you like it! Hehehe, hope you like this one too! Thanks for the comment!

To Sofia: Hehehe, glad you like it! Yeah, they have been pretty short so far, but this chapter is more than twice as long, so enjoy! Thanks for the review!

To The Plushie Bandit: Ahhhh! It's you, it's you, it's you! I LOVE your FMA story, Between Dreams and Reality! A masterpiece! Pure genius! Freaking amazing! Anyway, I was reading through your profile a bit, and I agree. Jin (from Samurai Champloo) is indeed hot! You know, your name is probably partly where I got it from! I didn't want to come up with something corny, names that actually sound stealthy are way overdone in my opinion. That, and they definitely don't suit Usopp. hehehe. Yeah! Break out the signs and banners! Hahaha, glad you like it! Thanks for the review!

To zoroluver003: Well thank you! Glad you like it! Hehehe, thanks for the comments!

To Okami1: Mwahahahaha... Dirty thoughts... me too actually, but that's another story... Glad you like it! Thanks for the review!

To The BirdFox Hybrid Productions: THANK YOU! Hehehe, glad you like it! Thanks for the comment!

To Lenna Hunter: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter! Thanks for the review!

To Digital Dreamer: Wow! You're reviewing another one of my stories? You're so awesome! I'm glad you like it so far! Hehehe. Anyway let me just tell you how much I enjoyed chapter 23 of you fic... It was wonderfully touching! Thanks again for the review!

I hope I didn't miss anybody! But anyway, on to the fic!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece!

The Bet: The Ship Bites Back

Sanji had just grudgingly informed Zoro that it was now ten-thirty.

The swordsman yawned loudly, glancing casually around the deck.

Luffy had spent the last half an hour trying to sneak up him, relying solely on his own stealth. And knowing that the boy's ability to be secretive is.. well, let's be honest here... completely nonexistent, he had yet to come within five yards of Zoro.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. Twice he had managed to get a little closer, but that was only because he'd had help.

The first instance had been partially the love cook's fault. Luffy must have asked the chef to distract his first mate while he crept up behind him. That may have worked, if only the blonde's eyes hadn't kept shifting to look over Zoro's shoulder.

The second time had just been pathetic, and the green-haired young man had actually burst out laughing at his captain.

His companion had employed Usopp as a shield, and had hidden behind the sharpshooter as the boy had approached Zoro.

There were two details that had lead to plan B's downfall.

One: Usopp could not have looked more suspicious, with his stiff posture and anxious expression.

Two: Luffy's straw hat had been clearly visible behind the marksman; its brim protruding past either side of the notorious liar's head.

Surveying the area now, Zoro guessed that the boy had either given up, or had decided to try and come up with a real strategy. He snorted. 'Oh, yeah. Luffy's grand master plan. Right.'

Did Luffy even know what a strategy was? The great majority of the time the captain just rushed headlong into battle, without a moments hesitation; rubber fists flying.

The first mate frowned, remembering how his pulse raced each time he watched his friend charge fearlessly onward, often towards what seemed like glaring impossibility. One of these days he knew he'd have a heart attack.

Pushing the questions out of his mind, he smirked. He knew Luffy, and Luffy did not give up. His captain was out there somewhere, plotting as best he knew how.

Wiping at the fine sheen of sweat that had beaded on his forehead, Zoro debated moving to find a more comfortable spot. The sun had shifted, taking almost all of his shade with it.

Just as he was about to push himself to his feet, the swordsman noticed a new shadow on the deck, situated between his outstretched legs. He stared, watching as the silhouette grew and took shape.

"What the hell is that?" He mumbled to himself. "It looks like a..."

Two seconds before it was too late, Zoro recognized the form the new shade was taking. Cussing loudly, he rolled, throwing himself to the side as Luffy landed, with a violent crash, in the place he had just abandoned. "LUFFY! What the hell are you trying to do? Kill me?"

Prying his body from the now-cracked floorboards, the smaller pirate sprang to a standing position. "You weren't supposed to move!" He accused loudly, arms flailing wildly in emphasis. "That wasn't part of the plan!"

The first mate blinked in surprise. 'Plan?' But he shook it off, returning his attention to his companion.

"You know," Zoro began, ignoring the boy's indignant outrage. "If you crush me, I certainly won't make a good slave." Then he turned his face upwards, his focus settling on the crow's nest. "And what did I tell you about stretching? We agreed it was against the rules."

"I didn't stretch!" Luffy replied defensively, looking almost proud of himself. "I jumped!"

Eyes widening, Zoro looked up again to gauge the distance between the top of the mast and the deck. He scowled, but there was an obvious edge of concern in his voice. "You idiot! What were you thinking?" Standing, he brushed himself off. "You could've hurt yourself!"

Luffy shrank under the intensity of Zoro's anger. He hadn't thought of it that way...

"You're rubber. You're not indestructible." The swordsman continued, moving closer to scour his captain for any sign of injury. He checked from head to toe and back again, suddenly pausing on the boy's right arm. "And you're bleeding."

Hearing this, Luffy was visibly startled. "What? Where?" He frantically searched himself, letting out a gasp as he saw the deep red streaks running down his upper arm, pooling in the crook of his elbow.

In his panic, he clamped a hand over the source of the stain, yanking it back with a cry a moment later when the ache pulsed even stronger.

Zoro rushed over to aid his captain, but every time he reached for the injured limb, the boy would jerk away, howling about the pain. After another unsuccessful grab, the first mate was fed up. "Luffy! Stop thrashing! You're only making it worse!"

"I don't care!" The boy wailed, scrambling away from his comrade. "It'll hurt worse when you touch it!"

"I'm not going to touch it!" He shouted, trying to cut his captain off as he turned and dashed away again. "I just want to look at it! We have to figure out what's wrong!"

Luffy sniffled, side stepping his first mate's reach. "That's what they all say!" He yelled pitifully.

One more dodge and Zoro was done fooling around. "Fine. If you don't want help now, don't come crying to me later when it's gotten even worse." He stalked angrily away, crossing his arms and leaning back against the rail.

Seeing the swordsman ignoring him, Luffy deemed it safe to take a short rest. Finally halting, he looked down at his wound and the still free-flowing blood.

"Ouch..." He whimpered, his bottom lip trembling miserably. Suddenly sad and alone with the lack of Zoro's attention, the boy cradled his injured arm to his chest.

Having been discretely watching his captain, the older pirate saw his opening. Seizing his chance, Zoro tackled the boy carefully around the waist. Not hard enough to knock him over, but quickly enough to throw the boy, still motionless from shock, over his back.

Feeling his first mate's shoulder settle into his stomach, the rubber-man was instantly on the move, struggling to free himself. "Traitor!" He accused, writhing against his friend's hold.

The swordsman rolled his eyes, but instead of responding, turned his head and called to Sanji and Usopp, who had been drawn from their business by the previous racket.

"Usopp, go find some bandages. Sanji, go wake up your precious Nami-san and see if she has any tweezers."

The marksman was gone without a word, but the cook opened his mouth to protest; probably about the their navigator needing her beauty sleep.

"Just do it!" Zoro ordered, and he turned, moving to march through the kitchen door.

Normally Sanji wouldn't even have considered following the first mate's request. But as Luffy braced his arms in the doorway, fighting to wedge himself away from Zoro, he noticed the blood on the boy's skin.

Obviously the captain was in some sort of distress, and so he reluctantly obeyed, psyching himself up to pull Nami from her slumber... early. 'I hope she doesn't hit me too hard...'

"I told you you'd hurt yourself."

Luffy pouted back over his shoulder at Zoro, huffing dejectedly. His first mate had him pinned against the kitchen counter, bent over the sink as the crew surveyed the damage done to his arm.

"That's what I figured you'd have." The swordsman muttered, looking at the six or so large splinters that had been revealed once they had washed away most of the blood.

The boy's whining had died down to a sorrowful whimper, and he had ceased fighting under the weight of Zoro on his back.

After scolding him, Nami had shuddered at the sight of the jagged wood stuck in the captain's skin, and had relinquished her tweezers to leave the room.

"You know, Luffy. If we had just gone with my original version of Operation Bonzai, this probably wouldn't have happened." Usopp, who was now perched on the kitchen table, nodded to himself.

Zoro's eyes widened momentarily before he directed his wrath at the marksman. "So it's your fault he did this to himself?" He ground out, furious.

With a strange squeak, the sharpshooter scuttled backwards, putting the table between himself and the now fuming swordsman.

"I didn't make him do it!" Usopp exclaimed, striving to escape that angry glower. "It was more of a... strong suggestion." He added meekly, ducking behind the tabletop.

Whatever the first mate was about to say next eased into an irate growl.

Shrinking further in the opposite direction, Usopp thrust one finger at the cook. "He helped!" He cried frantically, desperate to redirect Zoro's rage.

The swordsman's livid gaze settled on the blonde.

Ignoring the eyes he knew were burning holes in the back of his head, Sanji turned a glare on the sniper.

"Because shooting him out of one of your cannons, let alone any cannon, is such a great idea." He quipped sarcastically, remembering how the drawings had called for the construction of a large catapult/slingshot contraption. "I told you to keep the bodily harm to a minimum. Nice job, genius."

The chef, who now held the tweezers in his hand, irritably pinched the utensil between his thumb and forefinger, producing a rapid clicking noise that had Luffy squirming in discomfort.

Just as the liar opened his mouth to argue, Zoro scowled. "Can it. You two can bicker later." He reached around his captain, tightening his hold. "We need to take care of his arm."

As the swordsman had anticipated, when the boy heard this, he began thrashing with renewed energy. Being careful of the broken skin of his arm, Zoro grappled with the rubber-man for a good three minutes until he was able to safely trap him again.

Their scuffle had landed Luffy pressed firmly against his first mate's broad chest, his back flush with the counter behind him.

The hand of his wounded arm was now laced with Zoro's own, keeping his limb extended and allowing access to the damage.

Zoro shifted carefully on his free leg, the other currently tangled around one of Luffy's, taking away the boy's leverage. "Hold still." He ordered gruffly, winding one arm securely about his captain's back.

"You're always tossing your knives around, and you haven't lost a finger yet, so you've probably got the steadiest hands." Now addressing the love cook, the swordsman jerked his head at the boy in his arms. "Get it over with, Sanji. Hurry it up."

Rolling up his sleeves, the aforementioned chef gingerly clasped Luffy's elbow. "Yeah, yeah." He muttered, pausing as the boy tensed noticeably. "Here we go."

Zoro suddenly found a lanky arm cinched around his own waist, his captain's free hand clenched against his back.

The smaller pirate hid his face in the hollow of his first mate's neck, resigning himself to his fate.

Relieved that Luffy had finally relented, Zoro let his thumb stroke across the back of the boy's hand, attempting to soothe him. 'Is this how you comfort someone?' He wondered briefly.

"You're alright." He murmured clumsily, his voice barely a whisper.

The small body against his jerked as the first wooden shard was removed, and the swordsman felt the boy's breath hitch against his collarbone. Feeling fingertips digging at the muscles of his back, he pulled the boy closer.

As each sliver was removed, Luffy's hand would reflexively clench around his, and Zoro found himself squeezing steadily back.

Sanji dropped the third-to-last splinter into the waste basket that Usopp had produced. Turning to the next one, he hissed as it pulled stubbornly at the boy's skin, only breaking free when he gave it a reluctant tug.

A sharp cry sounded from the captain.

Feeling tears gather behind his eyes, the rubber-man was intensely grateful when he felt his first mate tighten his inadvertent embrace.

Zoro was mumbling something to him... something Luffy couldn't quite make out, but he was instantly calmed by the low tone that rumbled through the man's chest.

"Sorry." The cook spoke, gently patting his arm in encouragement. "Last one."

The pain of each removal had become progressively worse, and the final sliver did not break the trend.

Pressing his face deeper into Zoro's shoulder, Luffy bit back another pained whimper as the final piece was drawn from his arm.

"There." With a damp rag, Sanji wiped away the blood that was beading from the now cleared wounds.

Holding a dry cloth over the boy's broken skin, he pulled the captain's hand from Zoro's firm grip and placed it over the compress. "Hold that there." He directed quietly, straightening the cuffs of his black coat as he moved away. "The bleeding will stop soon."

Stepping back, Zoro rewarded Luffy with an awkward pat on the back. "Good job." He offered, releasing his captain with almost reluctant hesitance. "That wasn't so bad no-"

The smaller boy met his eyes for an instant, his expression plagued by something beyond the physical pain of his injury, before bolting from the room.

Staring after his friend's abrupt exit, the swordsman was at a loss for words. Something the cook never seemed to lack.

"You know," Sanji began, speaking around a freshly lit cigarette. "Someone still has to bandage his arm."

"And clean his cuts." Usopp added, summoning the courage to invite Zoro's attention. He thrust a bottle of disinfectant at the first mate, the cap pinched between two fingers as if to minimize the contact. 'That stuff stings...' The marksman shuddered slightly at the memory.

Looking between the expectant faces of his two crewmates, the green haired young man sighed in defeat. Snatching the proffered antiseptic, Zoro ignored their knowing grins.

"Fine." He grumped, stomping from the kitchen. "I'll do it."

Zoro found his captain huddled on one of the couches in the men's quarters, curled protectively around his injured arm..

"Luffy..." Quietly entering the room, he saw the boy start at the sound of his voice. "You shouldn't have run off like that. Your arm still needs to be cleaned and wrapped."

The smaller pirate watched cautiously as his first mate approached, coiling into a tight ball. He whined, his voice wavering with his unease. "Sanji's not gonna do it, is he?" Pausing, he scooted over to make room for the swordsman. "His hands are cold."

Soft, fond laughter echoed through the room.

"Don't worry, I'm going to do it." Zoro replied, dropping down beside the boy and tousling his hat. "You can even check my hands first." He offered jokingly.

Not catching the jest, Luffy promptly took him by the wrists, pressing the green haired young man's palms to both of his cheeks.

Dazed, Zoro's stunned eyes met his captain's innocent ones, rendering him speechless.

The rubber-man hummed lightly, a smile spreading across his features. "Your hands are nice and warm..." The boy praised, nodding in approval before his face contorted slightly. "But rough." He added, pulling away to inspect his comrade's fingers.

Swallowing his initial shock, the swordsman forced himself to speak as the boy's gaze dropped to his hands, his expression scrutinizing. "Um... Well, it's from training all these years."

"Training..." Luffy mumbled, fingertips tracing the lines in his friend's palm. "Well, I like your hands!" He spouted energetically, sandwiching Zoro's left hand between both of his, comparing them.

"You... like them?" He questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow at his captain.

"Yeah!" The boy exclaimed, inching backwards to give himself room. "They're all tough and strong, like the rest of you!" He paused and gave his first mate a look of admiration.

"They're... They're all... I dunno, they're just all... Grrr!" Letting his speech regress into an animalistic growl, Luffy flexed his slender arms in demonstration.

The swordsman snorted, baffled by his captain's behavior. "Grr?" He repeated, glancing sideways at the still posing boy.

Noticing the broken skin on the boy's left arm, Zoro realized that the rubber-man had managed to completely distract him. 'That little...'

"Hey, why did you run out earlier anyway?" He spoke, hoping to catch his companion off guard.

Freezing halfway into his next flaunting stance, Luffy turned guiltily away, instantly sobered by the change in subject. "I didn't want anyone to see me cry..." He grumbled, fidgeting anxiously.

'That's it?' The first mate thought, once again taken aback. 'That's why he rushed out?'

"Now look who's trying to be tough." His response came only after he had hooked two fingers in the collar of the boy's shirt.

With a quick tug, he had Luffy sprawled between his legs, pinned within them as Zoro locked his ankles together.

Pulling the bottle of antiseptic from where he had hidden it, he drew a cotton ball from the small stash in his pocket and soaked it in the foul liquid. Before his captive had a chance to recognize the sterile odor of the disinfectant, he dabbed at two of his six wounds.

"Ow!" Cringing, the smaller boy attempted to squirm away. "Hey! That hurts! You could've warned me!"

The swordsman frowned as his captain continued to fight him. "If I had warned you, you would have been long gone by now." He defended easily, taking hold of the boy's wrist when he refused to stay still. "Fine. We'll do this the hard way."

Quickly dragging his friend near enough to reach his damaged arm, Zoro drained the entire bottle of antiseptic over his beaten skin.

Hearing the boy's now anguished cries, the first mate had to admit that he understood the boy's distress. That stuff really hurt when you applied such a large amount.

He had just managed to get the young pirate's arm bandaged before Luffy finally wrenched himself away, fleeing to the other end of the couch.

Observing his captain's quivering frame, Zoro sighed in regret.

"Sorry, but you didn't make that easy for me." Excusing himself, he sank into the cushions, relaxing for a moment before he heard a sniffle. His eyes flew to his comrade again.

"Are you crying?" He asked, a bit louder than he had meant to. There was nothing worse than seeing his captain so sad or in so much pain.

Flinching at his crewmember's harsh tone, Luffy hid his face in his arms and shook his head wordlessly, his back still turned.

"If you're going to cry, get your ass over here."

It was a direct order. One that, even though he was the captain, and Zoro seemed angry, Luffy felt compelled to follow. Slowly, the younger of the two crawled towards his first mate.

Suddenly feeling very impatient, the swordsman reached over and hauled the boy into his lap, settling his arms awkwardly around his friend.

Completely startled, the rubber-man tensed, before realizing that this wasn't another attempt to fuss with his injury.

Zoro was holding him just for the heck of it... embracing him.

Smiling to himself when he felt his captain lean heavily against his chest, Zoro knocked the straw hat off of his head to ruffle the boy's unruly hair. "Is this alright?" He wondered aloud, not fully expecting an answer.

Moving to return the squeeze, Luffy halted for a moment. "Hm?"

"Is this... right?" Struggling visibly, Zoro scrambled to find the correct phrase. "Does this... make you feel better?" For a few seconds there was no reply, and the swordsman shifted restlessly. 'Is this not how you comfort someone?'

His worries were brushed aside when his reply came in the form of a simple nod, the boy's head nestled comfortably beneath his chin.

Luffy inched into another position, seating himself neatly against his first mate when he felt the firm hands on his back invite him closer.

The moment stretched on, the room silent save for the subtle breaths of the two who remained cradled against each other.

Zoro was the first to reluctantly interrupt the calm, cursing his legs and the tingle that signaled their lack of blood flow.

"You know, by now you've probably got about an hour left."

There was a brief pause, a gentle nudge, and Luffy found his hat returned to his head.

"Oh yeah..."

And once again, Zoro's captain was off like a shot.

There it is! Third chapter down. Anyway, I know some of you might be thinking "what's the big deal about a couple slivers?" But you know what? They freakin hurt, man! (shudders) I hate those! And the splinters I imagined Luffy having are fairly large... Whatever!

Thanks again to those who reviewed! And thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave a review!

Next Time: Luffy's not off to a great start. Will his next idea give him the advantage? Or will he go a little... overboard...?