"You look like the Little Mermaid when she's all wrapped up in the sail," Zoro realized, wiping his knives clean.

Luffy looked down at his double-hospital gown, makeshift garment and shrugged, "I don't know who that is."

"It's a cartoon," Zoro explained, aghast, "The Little Mermaid! Ariel! Prince Eric! Flounder! Ringing any bells?"

Luffy made a face, "I grew up in a lab, remember?"

Zoro groaned, muttering, "Never mind."

Luffy laughed, lifting his skinny, bare leg and kicking Zoro squarely in the ass, "I'll watch it the first chance I get, okay?"

Zoro grunted, shaking his head, "I don't care, I just thought you'd have seen it…"

"Teach controlled the television," Luffy replied with a shrug.

Suddenly the intercom squeaked, interrupting their squabble, "Luffy! Run! The D Foundation is…"

Luffy stood, his hands clenched into fists at his side, "Robin…"

"Shit, we've gotta go," Zoro realized, yanking Luffy by the arm.

"What about the others?" Luffy gasped, staring at Zoro's hand wrapped tightly around his wrist.

"You need to get out first," Zoro instructed, "I'll worry about the others. You just go."

"No fucking way, Zoro!" Luffy snapped, sliding to an abrupt halt.

"Hey, Luf."

Zoro and Luffy were silent.

"It's Marco."

Zoro scrunched up his face. The name was familiar but he couldn't quite place it. But when he looked over at Luffy he knew the younger man knew exactly who it was.

"Luffy! Zoro! If you can still hear me; GO!" Robin's warning made Zoro's pulse quicken. He yanked harder on Luffy, dragging him toward the stairwell. Zoro struggled mightily against Luffy's uncooperation, "Come on, Luf-fy-" Zoro grunted, "You've gotta go!"

Marco continued over the intercom, "We've got some things to talk about."

"Marco…" Luffy managed to say, shaking his head. "But Marco's dead. He killed himself after…" Luffy shook his head again.

"Why don't you come downstairs and we can catch up."

"Luffy, look at me," Zoro panicked, realizing what Luffy intended to do. "You can't. I know you want to, but you can't."

Luffy looked Zoro up and down, his eyes suddenly wide, "It's too dangerous."

Zoro smiled and nodded, sighing in relief, "Yeah, buddy, it's too dangerous."

"Zoro."

"What?"

Zoro took a surprised step backward as Luffy pressed his lips against his. Luffy's kiss was warm and wet and fast. He pulled away, his eyes still closed. Luffy murmured something beneath his breath before eventually opening his eyes again.

"I'm sorry," Luffy said simply.

Zoro shook his head, "Don't be sorry, I- Ow! What the fuck?!" Zoro's thought trailed off as Luffy's forehead connected painfully with his. Zoro felt blood gush from his nose and he staggered backward, tasting blood, "You fuckin' idiot! What the hell was that for?"

Luffy groaned loudly, holding his head, "I thought that would work." Luffy leaned weakly against the wall, holding his bleeding face. "Ouch."

"Work for what?!" Zoro demanded, snorting two nostrils of blood onto the floor.

"It's too dangerous to go downstairs," Luffy said, standing back up. His forehead was red from the impact and he had a thin cut from where Zoro's nose broke against his.

"That's what I was saying!" Zoro snarled, popping his nose loudly back into place.

Luffy nodded, "Yeah, so you aren't going."

Zoro's eyes narrowed, "What?"

Luffy rolled his head from side to side, his bones cracking audibly, "You'll die if you go downstairs."

"They're here for you!"

"I know! That's why I'm going downstairs! I can't leave Usopp and Nami and Robin and Franky and Chopper and Clay and Sanji and that other guy we just met…"

"Brook."

"Yeah, Brook," Luffy amended, "It's my fault. I have to be the one to do something."

"We all knew the risk. They took it."

"I have to save them. I have to," Luffy insisted, "They're my friends."

"If D Foundation gets you, everything was for nothing," Zoro argued. "I will get them. I will save them."

"You'll die."

"And you fucking won't?! You're not immune! Just because you're… Damn it, Luffy! I'm the one going downstairs. You're leaving. And that's final."

"I can't let you die. I'm sorry," Luffy murmured, clenching his hand into a fist.

Zoro stepped forward, as if accepting the challenge, he shook his head, his muscles flexing expectantly, "If I have to beat your ass and lock you in a closet, I will."

"Same." Luffy retorted, chewing anxiously on his lip.

"Look, this is ridiculous," Zoro finally erupted, deflating his chest, "A second ago you kissed me and now this… Why did you kiss me anyway? Hadn't you already checked that off your bucket list before?"

Luffy seemed to unwind, he blushed a little, a sheepish smile crossing his face, "You didn't hate it, did you?"

"Not really." Zoro replied, stepping forward. "Wanna do it again?"

"Well, uh, it's, um," Luffy stammered, closing the distance between them. "I'm kinda busy right now. But, yeah, I guess I could probably…"

Zoro leaned in, kissing Luffy softly. It was a delicate kiss, sweet, tender. And then suddenly Luffy was in a headlock. Luffy cried out in surprise, fighting against Zoro's hold. Zoro dragged Luffy down the hall and into one of the rooms. Luffy threw out his legs, holding onto the doorframe. Zoro grunted through his teeth, "Let go! This is for the best!"

"You tricked me!" Luffy shouted, wrestling against Zoro's hold. "You tricked me with your kiss! That's wrong! That's soooo wrong!" Luffy's body shook he was so agitated, "You honey potted me!"

"Honey pot? Where the hell did you learn that?" Zoro wondered, smacking Luffy's legs down and carrying him toward the closet. Zoro opened the closet with tremendous effort, barely managing to hold onto Luffy. "Look, I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, you'll be able to get out soon. Just please, let me do this…"

"ZORO!" Luffy shrieked as Zoro used zip ties on his wrist. He layered ten, one over the other until he thought it might hold. Zoro moved to Luffy's ankles, tethering them together the same way.

"When you get out go straight to the Museum of Natural Science, we'll meet there," Zoro instructed, using the last of the zip ties to attach Luffy to the shelving. "If we're not there in two days, well, then go on without us."

"Zoro! I'm not going to forgive you! Zoro! Why? Why are you being so stupid right now?!"

Zoro kneeled beside Luffy, his hand pressing to the younger man's cheek, "Because I'd do anything for you."

"Why? We're a team! Let's just do it together…" Luffy suggested.

Zoro shook his head and stood, "If I don't see you again…"

Luffy's face darkened, "If I don't see you again I'm gonna kick your ass! You hear me?!"

Zoro nodded, "I hear ya."

Zoro shut the closet, pressing both hands against the door. He leaned his head against the cool wood, closing his eyes for a brief moment, "I know you're mad," Zoro murmured through the door, "But I can't let you go down there." Zoro took a deep breath, "I can't let you go back there…" Zoro licked his lips, "Because I-"The door burst open, slamming violently into Zoro's head. Zoro growled, falling backward onto his ass, his hands on his face, "What the fuck?!"

Luffy sprung out of the closet, his hands still clasped together behind his back. He looked around in a daze for a moment before jumping over Zoro, "Come on, man. Did you really think that was going to hold me?"

"Well I didn't want you in there forever, dumbass! That fucking hurt!" Zoro snapped, snagging Luffy by the ankle.

"I have to be the one to go, Zoro," Luffy hissed through clenched teeth. He fell on the floor, smacking his face against the tile. "Ouuuch…"

"You okay?" Zoro asked sarcastically, pulling himself on top of Luffy. He sat on his back, pinning Luffy down. He hooked his arm around Luffy's neck, pressing them closely together. "Listen. Calm down. Listen!"

"What?! I don't have time for this! I have to go save the others!" Luffy complained, finally tearing through the last of the zip tie bondage. Luffy flipped himself over onto his back, nearly managing to toss Zoro to the floor.

"I can do it, Luffy. I can save them. I need you to trust me. Trust me and go."

Luffy looked up at Zoro. He didn't say anything for a moment. He placed his hand against Zoro's chest and simply felt his heart beat, felt his flesh heave with each new breath. Luffy smiled softly, "I do trust you. I know if anyone in the world could do something it would be you and me. We're a team."

Zoro nodded, "We're a team."

"I think I might have always loved you," Luffy admitted, staring up with wide eyes.

Zoro opened his mouth to reply. And then he wordlessly shut it. He leaned over and kissed Luffy, sweat and blood mingling in their mouths. He sat up and nodded, "Yeah, me too."

"Me too? What the heck is that?!" Luffy complained.

"What?! I said it… I love you too," Zoro blurted defensively.

"No, you didn't say it until I told you you didn't say it…" Luffy insisted, shaking his head. "You're the worst."

"I'm the worst?" Zoro scoffed.

Luffy suddenly smiled, pulling Zoro back down for another kiss, "No," he breathed out sweetly, "Sorry. Zoro's the best."

Zoro sat up with a blush, his skin stained scarlet. He climbed off of Luffy, clearing his throat, and extended his hand, "Together?"

"Yeah, together," Luffy agreed, taking Zoro's hand.

"You should probably respond," Zoro suggested, wiping his bloody face on his shirt. He pointed to the telephone at the nurses' station. "We've taken a while."

Luffy nodded, "Yeah. But that was your fault."

"My fault?!"

Luffy snickered, "Yeah. You should just automatically do what I say. It just works better that way."

"Better for who?"

Luffy smiled at Zoro handsomely, "I just can't do it. Fuck. I'm sorry."

"What do you me-" Zoro's words died in his throat. Luffy struck him sharply in the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious. He laid him down gently, hiding him beneath the station desk.

"Sorry, Zoro," Luffy breathed out, camouflaging Zoro to the best of his ability. "I'll see you soon. I promise." Luffy stood and rearranged the furniture so that even if D Foundation looked, they wouldn't find him.

And then Luffy picked up the phone, holding it against his ear as he hit the intercom, "This is Luffy." He thought of lying to Zoro and his stomach twisted painfully, "I'm coming down to talk." He thought of Sanji. And Usopp. And Nami. "And when I get there, if any of my friends are dead…" He thought of Franky and Robin. And then of Chopper, "I will fucking kill all of you."

Luffy looked down at his clothes- he tugged at the hospital gowns and shrugged. He spared one last glance at Zoro's hiding place and walked to the elevator. He pressed the button and waited, leaning against the wall. A door slammed somewhere on the floor and Luffy shook his head. He reached forward and pressed the down button again. "Fuck this place, man."

The elevator door pinged cheerfully and the doors slid open. There was a huddle of D Foundation soldiers inside. Luffy smiled brightly, giving a merry wave, "Ah, perfect." He kicked the closet man in the face, jumping up above their heads. He snapped another's head back, twisting the neck sharply. One of the men attempted to shoot Luffy, injuring several others in the attempt.

By the time the doors began to close Luffy was the only man standing. He looked around at the dead soldiers and inspected each one carefully. He started to undress the smallest of them. He put on the stolen pants quickly, rolling the cuffs of his pants into shorts. He removed the armor and tossed it aside, examining the torn shirt. He suddenly looked up and pressed the button for floor 1, "Oops. Almost forgot."

He removed the hospital gowns and spared one more look at the shirt. There was so many buttons. And the collar was stiff. It looked scratchy and uncomfortable. Luffy nixed the shirt idea and looked down at his makeshift baggy black capris. He lunged and squatted, immediately losing his pants.

He grabbed the shirt off the dead body and ripped it in half. He strung the torn fabric through the loops of his pants, securing them in a knot. He moved around, bouncing wildly to test the adjustments. He smiled and nodded in approval. "Thanks, dead guy."

The elevator chimed and the doors opened. There was a small skirmish in the hall. A few D Foundation soldiers were mowing down a pack of zombies. One of the zombies turned, and he looked Luffy up and down. He took a staggering step forward and spoke, "Take… armor…"

"What the fuck?!" Luffy panicked. "Did you just talk?" He looked from the zombie and then around the elevator, leaping in place. No one moved. Luffy shook his head and leaned over grabbing the discarded armored vest. He slowly put it on, suspiciously watching the bodies on the tiled floor of the elevator. And then the zombie's head exploded sideways, brain matter splashing across the walls. "Did anybody else hear that?"

Luffy stepped out of the elevator and over the zombie. He was uneasy having it behind him so he scuttled quickly away. He didn't smile at the soldiers across from him, instead he simply walked toward them. "Where's Marco?"

"He's in the conference room," One of the soldiers answered. "We're his team. Let us take you there."

Luffy nodded wordlessly, suddenly feeling unprepared and outnumbered. He followed behind the man, the others following directly after. He got pissed all over again when he thought about his friends, "Are my friends alright? I'm serious. I'll ki-"

"Easy, tiger," the man drawled, smiling in a friendly way. "Marco ordered safeties on."

They walked up on another group of D Foundation soldiers. The leader approached the man beside Luffy, a strange snarl curled his lips. "We'll take him from here."

"Marco-"

"We don't work for Marco, we work for Mr. Donquixote."

The man beside Luffy smiled tightly and nodded, turning to face the young man, "Alright, follow them."

"I have a feeling I would've liked you better," Luffy realized, watching Marco's team step back.

The man nodded, licking his lips, "We'll be right behind you."

"You're a little overdressed for the living dead," the leader teased, hooking his hand around the strap of Luffy's armored vest. "Do you need something like this?" Luffy wasn't sure how to respond and when he finally did it was met with derisive laughter. The man pushed Luffy along forcefully, "A zombie told you to grab it?"

Luffy nodded, "Yeah."

"It ain't funny," another soldier barked, "It means he's fucking showing signs already. He's losin' his fuckin' mind already."

The leader nodded in agreement, sobering up instantly, "Which means we need to watch his resets… if he gets like Law…"

"Law?" Luffy's ears practically perked up.

The man nodded, "Yes."

"Is Law here? Is he here? He is, isn't he? I thought he might be. I really did. But something felt wrong and I- He's here, right?" Luffy chattered.

They took a sharp turn down the next hallway and Luffy felt a sudden twist in his stomach. There was an open door at the end of the hallway. And beyond the door was an armored truck, doors open and ready. Luffy shook his head, "Wait… I thought there was a meeting room or something…? I thought we were talking first…"

Luffy came to an abrupt halt. The soldiers behind him knocked into him violently but he didn't move an inch. He looked from the open door to the man in charge before speaking again, "Where's Marco?"

"Outside."

"I don't believe you."

The soldier smiled, "Are you… afraid, LUF?"

Luffy snorted defiantly, "No."

"We can work on that later."

Luffy laughed humorlessly, "If you think I'm going quietly, you're dead wrong."

The man turned and suddenly began firing. He hit Luffy in the chest, over and over and over again. The bullet proof vest could barely hold up against the close range and firepower. The bullets tore through the material and burned into Luffy's skin.

Luffy snarled loudly, blood spewing past his lips. He dropped to his knees and covered his head, crawling unnaturally on the floor. He leapt into the mass of D Foundation soldiers, using them as human shields.

Marco's team opened fire down the hall and someone shouted, "Down!"

There was a strange clatter as something rolled beneath Luffy. He looked down at the live grenade and immediately picked it up, flinging it up and away as rapidly as he could. The explosion knocked him flat. He heard only a screeching siren and he felt sick to his stomach. He vomited blood and passed out.

He wasn't sure how long it had been, but when he came to he was being dragged down the hallway. It was Marco's man, he held Luffy by his ankles, and he was bleeding profusely from the neck. He shouted something and another man grabbed Luffy.

"I'm awake…" Luffy tried to say, but he couldn't hear himself.

The two men heard him though and the relief was evident on their faces. The wounded man leaned over Luffy, placing a helmet over Luffy's bloodied head. The man mumbled something, his voice vibrating deeply.

"I can't hear you!" Luffy shouted.

The man smiled kindly, tapping the helmet. He said something else that Luffy couldn't catch and then he was on his feet. He hoisted Luffy up and smacked him on his back. And finally Luffy heard his command, "GO!"

Luffy ran down the hallway in confusion. He followed the soldiers in front of him, putting as much space between him and the door as he could. He was tugged sideways and he turned, sliding on the tile. There were two double doors up ahead, soldiers stood outside and waved Luffy onward.

The ringing in his ears finally subsided enough that he could hear the gunfire. He ran as fast as he could, his vision blurred. Something struck him in the leg but he kept running. He didn't even slow down for the doors to open. He jumped before the impact, kicking open the doors. The wood shattered and burst, flying in every direction.

He landed inside the conference room. He looked up at Marco and pointed at him accusingly, "You killed yourself! How the hell are you here?" Luffy looked around at his friends, inexplicably dressed in D Foundation uniforms. "Is everyone okay? Is everyone here?"

"We don't have time for a sweet reunion," Marco murmured. "We have to go. Now."

"Luffy, holy shit," Ace breathed out, reaching for the younger man in shock.

Luffy turned, staring at Ace in disbelief, "No way. No way… A-A-A-Ace?"

"Marco is right," Law interjected, "We escape now and live to explain later…"

"What? What's happening?" Luffy asked, shaking his head.

"Yes, Marco," Doflamingo Donquixote suddenly sighed, stepping into the room. "What is happening here?"