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Edited: 06 January 2015 PHT
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Summary:
They say girls, or rather women are generally weak. Well, she's here to prove them wrong. And if the overprotective men in her life will try to save her in the process of reaching for her dreams of becoming the next Pirate King, she'll kick their asses. "Me? A damsel in distress? Hell no!" Female Luffy.
Inspired by Alia Inverse's 'How to Save an Overprotective Brother'. A ZoLu pairing. Random OOCness and some other fluff.
Disclaimer:
One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to One Piece
By: Zelga Lim Li
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Chapter 8 - His Circumstances
It was decided that the Straw Hat Pirates will go to Loguetown to get their supplies. However, during their journey… something terrible happened.
It was… unimaginable for a certain green haired swordsman.
…
"What did you just say?" Zoro asks again. His aura darkening much to Usopp's liking and frankly, the hunter turned pirate is making him uncomfortable. Scaring him even. "Come again?"
"You heard me right," Nami answered worriedly, not even fazed by Zoro's sudden foul mood. "This is the first time I see her like this…"
The topic of their conversation lies in the girl's quarters, covered in blankets. Sanji himself is already frantic with worry and hovers beside their fallen captain like a love crazed fool er doctor.
"What are we going to do? Miss Luffy is sick! I can't see her like this, no I just can't!"
Usopp yelled angrily, smacking Sanji in the head with Nami's newspaper that she purchased earlier. "Stop that! You're making me more anxious."
"She is more injured than I ever imagined…" Nami commented seriously. "Looks like she is not as indestructible as I thought she would be…"
Sighing tiredly, Zoro finally entered the room. His face unreadable which Sanji already noticed as he stops freaking out from Luffy's bedside, eyeing the green haired swordsman unemotionally.
"That's because she is human, just like us…" Zoro answered. Pinching the bridge of his nose, his demeanor change instantly which everyone noticed as soon as he spoke.
"Sanji, cook something for Luffy. A soup perhaps…" The swordsman ordered the cook.
Sanji himself was about to comment rudely but upon seeing Zoro's face decided to save the argument for later. "Got it."
"Usopp, find more blankets. We need to warm her up. She will get some chills because of this fever and we have to lower her temperature…"
"Okay," Usopp answered hastily.
"After you do that, make sure to take watch, the marines might be after us now that Luffy made an enemy out of them. You might do double shifts till someone can replace you…"
"No problem. I can handle it!" Hitting his chest smugly, Usopp answered confidently. Surely, in case an enemy shows up, all he has to do is alert everyone else, right?
"What can I do?" Nami asks herself. Sanji started to swoon like a love sick puppy but Usopp was able to drag him away to start their tasks.
"Your oranges might help." Zoro said as he sat beside Luffy and replaced her used washcloth with a new one. "And bring lots of liquid."
"Understood…" Nodding to herself, Nami turned away. Before she left the room, she looks back and glances at the two. "Make sure to keep her company. She tends to fall out of her bed quite a number of times." Zoro didn't answer and the navigator shook her head in amusement.
Acting like a true second in command, Zoro really impressed her this time. Clearly, he was obviously worried for their captain.
No. There is more to it. Nami is sure about that. But she can think of that later once Luffy is well again.
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When he heard the door closed, Zoro released a tensed breath. Running a hand through his hair, he let himself slide from Luffy's bed and sat callously on the floor.
He really should control his emotions. If one looks closely enough, the said pirate hunter is going catatonic inside.
'Damn! Damn! Damn!' Cursing wordlessly, Zoro gritted his teeth in agony. If something happens to Luffy…
No. He will not permit himself to even think that way.
Never.
Suddenly, a familiar hand patted him gently on top of his head, caressing his short tresses. Calming his earlier crazed thoughts.
"Sorry for making everyone worry… especially you…" Luffy said in a small voice.
Turning hastily, Zoro stared right through her eyes. Luffy pouted when her first mate didn't react and continues to look at her, as if he saw something off her face.
"Don't look at me like that…" Wiping her face with her blanket, the she-pirate tried to remove whatever stuff Zoro found on her face. "I don't have drool on my face, right?"
When the older teen remains unresponsive, Luffy's eye twitches. "Come on, Zoro, say something?" Clenching both her fist irritably, she tried to hit him in the face with a weakened version of her Gomu Gomu no Pistol. In doing so, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. She fell flat on her face towards the floor.
Looks like she'll be sleeping somewhere flat and hard tonight. Again.
And even though she is made of rubber, simple clumsiness on her part might hurt a little. Don't forget Nami smacking her every now and then.
Then again, fate has always been kind to her as she fell on top of a very warm and solid form which is obviously not the hardwood panel of their room. She already has forgotten that she isn't wearing anything under the covers except for her underwear. She even removes the tight bindings off her chest.
The said form was able to cushion her fall. Strong sturdy arms cradled her gently making sure she won't hit her head for the nth time as if 'it' knows what happens to her every time she falls off her bed.
"Shishishi… Sorry about that…?" Grinning sheepishly, Luffy raised her head, eyes beaming with gratitude to her makeshift bed, uhm savior.
Zoro grunted and sat properly bringing her along. Technically, she was sprawled all over him, with her head drooping at the crook of his neck as if she was being lazy as usual. Her skin cold while her breath gives him the chills.
It was a little too late for his mind to finally settle in when he felt Luffy's skin under his palms. In its entirety, he could feel her all over his body.
Paling considerably, Zoro didn't even want to look down. But then, curiosity won. Little by little, he let his eyes travel down to look at the girl. At first, he saw Luffy's eyes twinkling in amusement.
And then… her chest.
From pale white to deep red, Zoro blushed uncontrollably.
Even though Luffy's breast size is not as abundant as Nami's, his captain is… sexy in her own right. Just right for his taste. His brows furrowed in distaste upon hearing his own thoughts.
What the heck?
Technically speaking, as a very proud swordsman, he did not know how to measure or ogle like a pervert towards the opposite sex and their 'packages' unlike that shitty cook.
Unless the things mentioned are good quality swords like Kuina's Wado and that bastard's Black Sword.
Anyway, back to his current dilemma, he tried to cover Luffy's body by grabbing one of her many blankets. The girl herself didn't even move from his lap and snuggles closer to his body.
"It really feels so comfy here…" Luffy said in a matter of fact tone. Goosebumps started to spread from Zoro's arms where Luffy's exposed backside was enfolded.
"Ah… L-luffy, I think you should…"
"Hmmm?" The female pirate muttered softly, her eyes fluttering drowsily. In a matter of seconds, the girl fell asleep, snoring lightly.
Zoro tried to remove her but was unsuccessful to do so as his captain sleeps like a log especially if she is half asleep like this. Unless she woke up, she will stay this way for the rest of the day… or night.
Someone cleared their throat and Zoro couldn't help but groan. Nami couldn't help herself but chuckle.
"I must admit, despite her cluelessness about your feelings, she really knows how to get under your skin, ne?"
"Don't start on me, Nami…" Luffy who is oblivious to everything now that she is sleeping snuggled closer towards his body, her lips brushed slightly on Zoro's neck that earned another blush on the swordsman's cheek that reaches up to his ears. "Help me transfer her back to her bed…"
Literally, his voice is pleading. He will deal with the degrading act later, for now; he really needed to put Luffy somewhere else.
Period.
"You know too well that it is not possible, right? Among the five of us, I am the weakest when it comes to strength…" Tapping her chins, Nami's eyes sparkle and whatever she is thinking brought Zoro to another dilemma.
"We need Sanji to remove her off you…" Nami hit her fists on her other hand's open palm as she smiled mischievously.
Figuratively, Zoro growled like an animal ready to bite Nami's head off. Unconsciously, his arms wrapped protectively around Luffy's slumbered form and the girl herself wrapped her arms over his shoulders.
"I thought so," Nami's smile turned wider when Zoro frown after a few moments of contemplation. The swordsman felt that the orange haired girl's earlier suggestion was a ruse intended solely for this reaction.
"What the hell…? Are you toying with me?"
Placing the pitcher of water and a glass of freshly squeezed orange beside Luffy's bed, the Navigator giggled at Zoro's startled reactions. Maybe she should have brought a camera to capture the moment.
"Just stating the facts, Zoro. Anyway, if I were you, I will make myself comfortable. Unless you wanted to sleep that way for the rest of the night. Hopefully, her condition will get better before we reach Loguetown."
Grunting annoyingly, the hunter glared at Nami's retreating form. Following her advice, albeit grudgingly, he shifted himself to a more comfortable position. Somehow, he manages to correct Luffy's frame to an acceptable one. Avoiding one particular part of her body, he snatches one of the blankets and covered her everything. Well, except for her face down to her chin so that she can still breathe.
It was still not enough knowing he can still feel her bare back. Sighing in surrender, he decided to meditate just to past time and divert his attention away.
Concentrate. Yes, concentrate a little bit more...
Moments later, he can feel himself slipping to unconsciousness. But before he succumbed to a peaceful sleep, he heard Luffy spoke while her hands tightened around his neck.
"Thanks Zoro…"
Smiling a little, Zoro tightened his own hold as Luffy snuggled even closer. He supposed he can get used to this 'cuddling' thingy. He never thought that his captain loves to snuggle in someone's arms especially when she is sick. He just has to make sure that no one else's would take advantage of Luffy's 'weakness' now that they have a pervert on board.
"Anytime captain… Anytime…" Zoro muttered softly. His own hands tightened around his sick captain and kissed the top of her wild tresses. Even if his eyes are closed, he can feel Luffy's smile that suddenly adorned her lips. Automatically, he smirked in response.
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From the outside, Sanji literally cried a river as Usopp and Nami tied him to the mast and prevent the said cook from interfering. Things like this are priceless and they will never let anyone destroy this one special moment between their beloved captain and her first mate.
Who knows, Nami might earn extra bellies if she decided to bribe someone from his momentary weakness. With that thought in mind, she laughed like crazy scaring the two from their own musings.
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Author's note:
Happy holidays everyone. Cheers!
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