Hee, I may just get this story finished by the end of the holidays. Still another week to go! Whooppee!
Chapter 7
Zolo paused at the open door and looked in at the inert body on the bed. Luffy's chest was gently rising and falling as he slept. Zolo sighed. How would he face Luffy after what had happened? How could he? It just… wouldn't work. He felt too guilty to be able to do something like that. He was just about to turn away when,
"Zolo?" Luffy's voice called him back. Zolo blinked and then turned to Luffy with a smile.
"Hey prince." he said and walked into the room. Luffy smiled at him, eyes slightly glazed with pain. Poor kid. Zolo sat down on a chair beside the bed and his eyes strayed to Luffy's chest, where a bandage was now covering that wound. Zolo felt his face tighten slightly.
"Zolo? Are you alright? You look kind of sick." Luffy said brightly. He seemed… fine. Like nothing was wrong. Zolo blinked.
"I'm…sorry." he said looking down at the floor, "I was supposed to protect you and instead I… hurt you." Luffy tilted his head on the pillow and then smiled.
"That was an accident. Not your fault. I know, when I was little, I was having this really bad nightmare and Trace was trying to wake me up. I punched out and hit him in the face. Broke his nose." Luffy said with a small chuckle. He stopped quickly because it hurt to laugh.
"What did he do?" Zolo asked, interested.
"He chased me around the palace every day for a week and then shoved me in a cell in the dungeons for the day. But he said that it wasn't actually my fault. Because, when you're dreaming, things seem to be real, right? And when you wake up, your body is still asleep and it continues dreaming and follows through with the action it was doing in your dream." Luffy explained and then shifted slightly, wincing at the pain it caused him.
Zolo blinked down at the boy, who soon noticed and then grinned widely.
"So, it's not your fault! I know you would never hurt me, or anyone you know." Luffy said.
You care about me too much. Luffy thought. Zolo smiled and reached up a little awkwardly to run a hand over Luffy's head.
"Right." the swordsman replied. Luffy grinned and then yawned before closing his eyes and going back to sleep. Zolo watched him for a while. He… didn't feel as guilty anymore. He still felt that it was his fault, but Luffy telling him that it hadn't been intentional, and that he knew Zolo would never hurt anyone, that had released the swordsman.
If anyone else had of said that, Zolo would have never forgiven himself, but, coming from Luffy's mouth, it was like the key that released the shackles around your wrists so to speak.
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Luffy's appetite for food sure hadn't subsided with his injury. Sanji always made sure the prince was properly fed though, so, there was nothing wrong with that picture. Zolo wouldn't leave Luffy's side.
Day and night the swordsman was there and whenever he dropped off to sleep, he made sure he was as far from Luffy as he could be, that way, the accident couldn't be repeated. And the next morning when he woke, Luffy would be there, sitting in his bed and watching the swordsman with an odd look on his face until he realised Zolo was looking back and he hurriedly focused on something out the window, a blush settling on the boy's cheeks. Zolo smiled.
"Morning Luffy!" Usopp cried as he bounded into the room.
"Usopp!" the prince replied happily. Luffy always enjoyed seeing Usopp. He also enjoyed the stories Usopp told him.
"I have some new clothes for you seeing as… uh, you know." and then he dropped a small sack on the bed. He pulled out a shirt that was made of red cotton and had cut off sleeves. He also pulled out a pair of jeans that looked like they were going to be way too big for Luffy.
"Anyway, I also brought some stuff for Zolo. Something I think you're gonna like." and he pulled out a white shirt, green haramaki (a/n is the spelling of that correct? I thought sash sounded to… stupid.) and dark pants. Zolo blinked and then he smiled. Usopp had gone through his old clothes that had been left here when he had gone to the palace.
"Thanks Usopp. That was very thoughtful." and then he got up and walked over to the bed, sitting down in his chair. It had been a week since the accident had occurred, and Luffy was starting to get very agitated by having to stay in bed all the time. Usopp smiled.
"Right. So, you want me to tell you a story today Luffy?" Usopp asked, putting his hands on his hips. Luffy thought a moment, his eyes coming to rest on Zolo's face, silently asking him if he wanted a story. The swordsman shrugged. He didn't really give a damn, and Luffy knew that but the boy still insisted on asking.
"No. Not today. I want Zolo to tell me a story." Luffy replied. Zolo blinked, sitting up straight in his chair.
"Are you nuts? I don't know any stories. Get Usopp to tell one." he replied, turning towards the window and focusing on a small dove sitting in the branches of a nearby tree. Luffy tilted his head.
"But… I want you to tell me one." the boy stated. Usopp sighed.
"I can see that he isn't going to give up. But, how about this Luffy? If Zolo's too dumb to tell you a story, then I will. K?" Usopp asked. Luffy paused, and then he noticed the slight twitch of Zolo's cheek when Usopp had said 'dumb'.
"Hey, Zolo isn't dumb. But, I guess a story from anyone is as good as one from him." and Luffy pouted. Zolo growled.
"Fine. I'll tell you a story. But not with Usopp around because I'll just get corrected every five seconds." the swordsman snapped, getting rather annoyed. Usopp jumped up from the chair he had been sitting in.
"Fine with me! Bye Luffy." and he ran out the door, shutting it behind him with a sharp snap. Zolo sighed.
"What kind of a story do you want?" he asked resignedly. Luffy thought a moment.
"A true one. About… a swordsman." and he looked pointedly at Zolo who understood instantly that Luffy was asking him to tell the story of his life.
Should I…? Zolo thought to himself as Luffy's eyes watched him carefully. Zolo sighed.
"Alright. I'll tell you how the swordsman ended up being a guard in a palace, ok?" he asked, playing Luffy's game. Luffy giggled and snuggled back against his pillows.
"Sounds cool." the boy responded.
"Well, the swordsman used to live in a restaurant, because when he was young, he had gotten stupid and wandered away from his home and then got lost. So, he lived in this restaurant with five others. One day, a man came around, proclaiming that the kingdom of D was looking for some new soldiers to become guards, runners, etcetera. So, the swordsman, thinking that he needed to find a better life, with a new adventure, decided that yes, he did want to go to the kingdom. Two of the five decided to come with him. Both swordsmen like himself, but, they only fought with one sword each."
"Did they have names?" Luffy asked, tilting his head to one side. Zolo smiled.
"Right, Yosaku and Johnny. They journeyed across the country and got… er, lost. Heh, but then they found their way again. Upon reaching the village, Yosaku, Johnny and the swordsman were pointed to the castle and there they approached the King. The King agreed to let them train and become royal soldiers of the palace guard. Then, one day, the swordsman was walking past a courtyard, where he saw the prince and his brother at play. Not willing to interrupt, he silently watched them from the bushes and then he went back to his friends."
"Why didn't the swordsman say hello? I'm sure the prince would have liked to have met him." Luffy asked, his eyes a little sad.
"The swordsman was a… coward. Besides, the prince was currently trying to stop his brother from killing him after the prince had broken his nose." Zolo said with a small smile. Luffy paused and then he laughed.
"That was a nice story Zolo. I liked it, a lot." the prince praised him and then yawned.
"Come on, time for a nap. You're tired already." Zolo said as he straightened the sheets on the end of the bed.
"Nah, I don't want to sleep on this mattress any more. It's warm, but hard." Luffy muttered.
"Well, the beds here aren't as good as the ones at the palace your highness." Zolo commented as he leaned back in his chair, casually slinging an arm over the back of it before rocking it back onto two legs.
Luffy tilted his head and then moved to lean over. When he had managed this, he began to crawl across the top of the sheets towards Zolo. The swordsman raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?" he asked, letting the chair fall back onto all fours, just in case he needed to help Luffy. The prince didn't answer and at last he reached his guard and slumped against him, resting his forehead against Zolo's shoulder like he had in the forest. Zolo blinked a moment.
"You'd be better lying on your pillow you know." he commented. Luffy shook his head.
"No I wouldn't. I'm comfortable where I am." he said, voce slightly muffled. Zolo sighed.
"Hang on a second. Lean back for a minute." he muttered. Luffy did so, but he fell back against the bed, face slightly pale from the pain of his wound. Zolo got onto the bed, and leaned against the wall, stretching his legs out in front of him.
He leaned over, and mindful of Luffy's chest, he lifted the prince carefully and moved the boy to where he was leaning against the swordsman, legs stretched out on the bed while his side was against the older's chest.
"Better?" Zolo asked. Luffy nodded as he put his hands up, resting them against Zolo's chest.
"Much." and then the prince fell asleep. Zolo smiled and let his head rest back against the wall.
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Nami hurried up the stairs, hands clasped on the edges of a tray of food. She gently nudged her toe against the door of Luffy and Zolo's room, and was about to walk in when she saw the two, asleep against the wall.
Luffy had his arms wrapped around Zolo's middle and was sitting on the swordsman's legs, while Zolo had an arm over Luffy's back, resting on the boy's outer shoulder. Both had a contented smile on their face.
It looked as if Zolo had finally gotten over his fear of hurting Luffy while he slept. Nami smiled for a moment before gently placing the food on the floor inside the door, and then walking out, gently shutting the door behind her.
Aww, so fluffy. Gotta love the fluff. And now, we are starting to learn a little about Zolo's past. He he, I'm gonna say it again. Reviews make Plushie a very happy chicken, so review, because reviews are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. XD
PS: I do not own Forest Gump.
