[Pairing: Zoro-centric with mild one-sided ZoSan]
5. Dark
Warning: Spoilers to those who haven't finished reading the Thriller Bark arc yet!
Weak.
That's what he was. For not being able to defeat Kuma. For not being able to defend his crew. For failing his captain.
Zoro steeled himself as he thrusted his arms into the paw shaped bubble Kuma had made for him out of Luffy's pain and fatigue. He gritted his teeth as the pain flooded through his veins.
Dammit. He can do this. He has to. For the captain. For the crew. For his honour.
For that cook.
That thought alone was enough to keep him going.
The bubble was getting smaller. He took a shaky breath through his teeth in relief.
Just a little more…
When it was finally over, he couldn't find the strength to move. So he simply folded his arms and waited. Waited for the darkness to take over. For his consciousness to leave him. Any second now…
"Over there!"
He heard a familiar voice from behind him say, followed by quickening footsteps. Who…
"You freak me out!" The voice was clearer now. Sanji? He's conscious now. That's… good. He felt himself smile. He wanted to turn around but his body wouldn't listen to him anymore.
"Oi! Where did that warlord go?" Sanji's voice became more urgent when he noticed that Zoro wasn't responding.
Sanji you're here… you're really here...
"Why the heck is there so much blood."
How are your ribs… I probably broke a few… Sorry about that… Zoro felt bad about what he did but he had no choice. There was no way the cook would've been able to withstand this.
"Oi… are you still alive?!"
Glad to see you're worried about me. Zoro smirked inwardly, and his heart fluttered a bit. So the cook did care after all.
"Where did that guy go!?"
Sanji… His vision started to fade. I'm losing consciousness… Finally some well earned rest...
"What on earth happened here!?"
"Nothing…" Zoro said finally. "Nothing… at… all…"
Then everything went dark.