Paste your document

After the fight with Crocodile Luffy was out for two nights and three days. This is the first night. Will there be a second night? Uhh I have no idea.

When all of his friends were patched up and Chopper finally deemed their states satisfactory, he was asleep before Vivi could fully tuck him in. She smiled fondly as he murmured in his sleep to keep a close eye on Luffy because his fever would soon climb and make sure Zoro didn't get up and tear his bandages.

Vivi took a seat beside the window where she could get a good view of the peace and beauty Alabasta had meant to have all along. She had ice water and towels readied in case of infection and guards stalled outside. They'd never be able to stop Mr. Bushido from what he set his mind to do but hopefully they'd stop him from getting lost. The kitchens were also ready so if anybody woke up and wanted soup, they would get it in less than sixty seconds. Vivi was ready to take care of her friends.

Or she thought so, until Luffy began to thrash.

At first she thought Luffy was stirring and frowned because it was far too early for Luffy to be waking already. The captain looked flushed and she moved to check his fever and suddenly there was a harsh intake, flurry of movement, and sheer surprise as Vivi was almost knocked off her feet when Luffy lashed out. It was only because of her reflexes honed by her past time as an agent that she managed to duck. And it was thanks to the time she spent on Going Merry as a crew member that she instantly abandoned the possibility that Luffy tried to hurt her and realized Luffy wasn't himself at all.

She picked herself up and looked at her friend. Her heart sank to see the glint of wild alarm in the eyes staring back at her. There wasn't the faintest hint of recognition.

"Luffy-san," Vivi called carefully, approaching slowly. "You're at my home. We're safe now and you-no, no! You musn't move like that!"

At once Vivi sprang foward and struggled to stop the pirate from getting up and though Luffy was greatly weakened, his panic seemed to feed his strength.

"No, don't-!"

Vivi never noticed the shadow that rose from behind her, not until the shadow reached from behind her to grab Luffy's flailing arm. She looked up to almost bump into Zoro's chin; Zoro had reached for Luffy and Vivi had ended up between the two, between Zoro's arms. She ducked under the arms and readied herself to give whatever assisting Zoro would need. Zoro's movements were stiff and off and his eyes were glazed-with pain no doubt.

"Luffy," Zoro tighened his grip on his captain's arm and Vivi watched in amazement at how Luffy quickly slackened in the familiar vice grip. Luffy met his first mate's eyes and the alarm rapidly drained away.

"Wh.." Luffy looked at Zoro and there was complete confusion and eyes shining too brightly but absolute trust as always and Vivi wanted to cry. Luffy's words were slurred. "What happened?"

Vivi followed Luffy's gaze and wondered if Zoro knew about the shoulder that had been twisted in an impossible angle, or the three ribs that had been snapped clearly. Or about the knuckles that had been worn and the torn badly enough that even an untrained eye could see the chilling white bone or the raging high fever that still potentially disastrous.

"You got hurt," Zoro said simply, his voice betraying none of what he was seeing.

Luffy's brow frowned anyways because sick and hurt and tired or not, he could read his first mate and Luffy obviously didn't like what he was hearing. Before he could protest, the ex-pirate hunter gently pushed the tussled black haired head down.

"You'll be okay though," Zoro placed his hand on his friend's eyes, forcing them to close. "So shut up now and get some sleep."

Vivi watched the exchange with a fond smile blossoming on her features. These people were the ones who taught her miracles did exist and she reveled in watching them live through one after another.

The two patiently waited until Luffy's breathing slowed and finally the swordsman removed his hand.

"Thank you so much Mr. Bushido. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't woken up… Um, Mr. Bushido?" Vivi asked uncertainly when the swordsman didn't move from Luffy's bed with the same blank expression he had during the entire ordeal. Vivi could see why Luffy was worried because it wasn't the usual indifference Zoro masked himself with. He barely seemed to notice Vivi standing beside him, and if he did he didn't acknowledge it which was strange. His face was vacant and his eyes were glazed over. If Vivi didn't know better she'd think Zoro was-

Vivi's eyes widened in realization.

Still sleepwalking, Zoro ruffled his captain's hair before settling in his own bed.

here...