Me- hey there and yup I know it's been a long time since I updated this pairing one-shot, but no matter, anyway I decided to write a cute Zolu fic. It's a bit of fluffy; Luffy keeps falling into the water and Zoro can't always be there to save the other, but during a near death situation, Zoro becomes scared that he'll lose his captain, and after the incident becomes more protective over him than usual. This is a late request from Crazyanimelover1289. She had requested a protective Zoro type fluff, the story is changed around from what I had originally planned, but sorry for the late story, hope you like it.

Breathe

"Sometimes one cannot always be there even when they are needed most"

Sunny had become a barren wasteland, and that is if you can even call it that. It had become way too hot for even Zoro to take his usual naps which the swordsman valued the most. Even Sanji was having difficulty making snacks in the kitchen for his beloved Nami and Robin. However, Luffy was enjoying the warmth, although it had made him rather tired. Luffy yawned as he fell asleep on the figure head with not a worry in the world. Zoro watched his captain in slight worry, he would never admit it but he truly did care for his captain. Zoro loved his captain and would do anything to keep him save; that was his duty as his first mate, but also as a friend.

Suddenly the weather had taken a sudden change as storm clouds had appeared above the Thousand sunny, and Nami had picked up on the odd weather rather quickly as she got prepared to lead the crew through yet another danger that was the grand line.

The waves had begun to get a bit bigger, thus rocking the ship to the point of having a sleeping Luffy fall overboard which Zoro noticed immediately and dove into the water to save his oblivious captain whom was unable to swim. When Zoro had risen above the water with Luffy in hand, the waves had become a lot more rough, and was forcing him to go underwater; pulling him as if he was a toy.

"Luffy…" was the only thing the green haired swordsman could murmur as he managed to get back to the ship with his captain in hand. Once they had gotten back on board, nothing had seemed to change; Luffy was still asleep and Nami was barking orders as if nothing happened. Zoro inwardly growled as he realized that no one had noticed the danger that Luffy had previously been in. Usually he wouldn't worry too much about that since he was always near the captain to save him when he fell in the sea water that was like poison to his devil fruit abilities, but what if one time he didn't make it. Those thoughts began to whirl around his mind as he thought of all the scenarios that could of taken place when he is absent even just for a moment.

"Zoro, what's wrong?" Luffy questioned as he rubbed his eyes, his clothes clinging to him because of the water that one second ago was wrapped around his body.

"You don't know what happened, damn it Luffy be more careful will ya!" Zoro scolded as he stared into his brown eyes. He wasn't ready to lose his captain; he didn't think he would ever be.

"Thanks Zoro!" Luffy exclaimed with a wide grin after noticing the dampness of his clothing and skin.

"It's not a problem, just be more careful." Zoro spoke, immediately calming down once his captain smiled. His captain always had that kind of effect on him. He would always calm down when he saw the boy smile, and it had been like this since a time he couldn't even remember.

"I'll be careful." Luffy spoke as he ran off somewhere only to slip on a random bar of soap and landed back into the ocean.

"Luffy, you idiot, and what the hell's with the bar of soup!?" Zoro called out to no one in particular as he jumped back into the ocean once more to save the boy from once again drowning.

It was now later in the evening and Luffy was sitting in the kitchen slumped over with his face planted sideways on the table. He was so bored and it didn't help when his first mate refused to let him go anywhere on deck since he had fallen into the ocean twice in one day, but Luffy didn't quite understand the problem; those happenings were freak accidents and it wasn't like he was going to let it happen again. Luffy couldn't help but let out a sigh as a certain blonde haired cook came over to scold him for drooling on the table which was the cause of his boredom. He recalled that he had dosed off a total of three times in the course of four hours and the straw hat captain was unimpressed. He really wish they would hit land soon so that he can at least get some fresh air.

"Luffy, I hate to bother with you, but why the hell are you in the kitchen anyway when you're always outside playing with Usopp and Chopper?" Sanji questioned the straw hat teen as he started to wash the dishes of the meal they had just had.

"Zoro said he didn't want me to go out on deck so that I won't fall in." Luffy pouted as Sanji began to laugh. He had never thought the idiot marimo was so protective of the captain.

"Well, did you fall in at all today?" Sanji questioned stifling bits of laughter from the laughing fit he had previously.

"Well I did fall in twice, but they were freak accidents and they aren't going to happen again." Luffy said as he looked toward Sanji whose expression had become that of a strict father.

"I can see why the marimo won't let you out; you'll be staying in here for the time being." Sanji said as he continued to wash the dishes, with a little bit of concern for their idiot captain.

Luffy couldn't help but sulk once he had gotten the cooks answer, normally the cook wouldn't care, and would tell Luffy to be careful since he knew he could take care of himself and if he did fall he could always spring back up with his gum gum powers, as long as he hadn't already hit the water that is.

"Luffy, come and join us, we are fishing for some fish and Usopp caught a big one!" Chopper came running into the kitchen with a smile on his face as Luffy stood up ready to leave only to be stopped by the cook.

"Zoro told you to stay put, remember." Sanji spoke using Zoro against the young pirate as Chopper looked up at Sanji with puppy dog eyes. For a reindeer he pulled it off quite well.

"Please let Luffy join us, I promise we won't let Luffy fall into the ocean." Chopper spoke as Sanji sighed and complied to the little reindeers wishes. Sanji knew Zoro would be asleep, knowing that Luffy would be safe and sound in the kitchen, but he also knew that the swordsman would kill him if Luffy fell into the ocean again after strict orders to keep him inside.

"Fine, but if that marimo wakes up, rush back here, understand." Sanji said as Luffy nodded before join his crew mates to fish, but of course sneaking by an unconscious Zoro in the process.

"Luffy, look at this one I caught." Usopp shouted as he let his captain view the fish that had been caught. It was rather large and with Luffy's appetite, could probably last them a week.

"Sugoi, that's awesome Usopp!" Luffy smiled as he laughed before taking his spot next to the two.

Before the group knew it, it was getting close to night fall, and Luffy was lucky that Zoro had yet to wake from his nap. Luffy knew Zoro would be mad, and getting the moss haired swordsman was not on his agenda of the day.

"Luffy, Chopper, I'll be back, I'm gonna check with Nami and Sanji. I'll find out how long away from the island and when dinner will be ready, so no getting into trouble." Usopp warned as Chopper and Luffy laughed before continuing there fishing. Now it was only the two devil fruit users and Luffy didn't exactly mind either as long as Zoro didn't wake it was alright with him.

"Luffy, did you see that." Chopper cried out as he tried to get a better look at what he had seen in the ocean, but Chopper also wasn't aware of exactly what he saw and when something hit the ship from underneath them immediately knew that it was the work of a sea king. The rocking of the boat of course stirred the swordsman awake as he went to go check on Luffy, not exactly paying attention to his surroundings. Zoro stepped foot into the kitchen but when he had arrived he gaped at the fact that the captain wasn't where he had left him which made Sanji panic since he had told Luffy specifically to rush back here when Zoro woke up.

"Shit cook, where the hell is the captain?" Zoro questioned looking a lot angrier then usual.

"He's fishing." Sanji stated as Zoro got ready to hit the cook but stopped when he heard a voice yell.

"Chopper!" the voice pierced through the walls as Zoro and Sanji rushed outside to see Chopper flying over board with Luffy jumping after him and using his powers to return him to the ship, but before he had a chance to grab hold of something, he had hit the water.

"Luffy!" Zoro called after him as he went after him, but he was quickly stopped as a sea king appeared before him, which made Zoro's rescue attempt fruitless.

The sea king wrapped itself around the swordsmen as he used his sword to slash the creature so that it would let him go which it did, but by the time he got away, Luffy was nowhere to be seen which made him panic. It was then that he saw his hat that he swam at vast speeds to reach the captain; only hoping that he could make it above water in time since Luffy had been down there way to long. When they had reached the top, Zoro immediately got someone to get them aboard, upon which Chopper tearfully checked Luffy's pulse which was fading.

"His pulse is fading." Chopper cried as Zoro afraid of losing his captain pumped his chest, before closing his nose so that he could breathe air into his captain. He proceeded this procedure ten times, and then he had stopped once he heard his captain cough up the water that was stopping him from breathing.

"Zoro, I'm so…" Luffy began to say before being wrapped up in a hug from the swordsman, followed up by little chopper who joined in on the hug.

"Don't do that to me again, you don't understand how'd scared I was." Zoro spoke softly as Luffy smiled, patting the swordsman's back for comfort.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Zoro." Luffy apologized as the rest of the crew came joined in the hug, already having come out once they heard there captain scream.

"Well Food's just about ready so let's eat." Sanji spoke as the rest of the crew followed except for a struggling Luffy and Zoro.

"Zoro, you can let go now, it's time for food." Luffy would always have no problem bursting out of any situation, hug or anything when food was mentioned, but why was Zoro holding on so tightly this time?

"Luffy…" Zoro spoke sternly before leaning in to give his captain a chaste kiss. He had always cared for his captain, and the thought of losing him today really brought out his feelings, and as he realized he'd never be able to truly kiss his captain if he died on him. The fear had come over him as he couldn't help but kiss him here and now while he was still with him.

"Zoro?" Luffy questioned with his cheeks tinted red.

"Don't scare me again." The swordsman huffed before stomping off toward the kitchen, checking to make sure that his captain was following and that he didn't fall into the ocean again like an anchor. He truly did love his captain, but more than that; his loyalty was what made him Zoro and the reason why Luffy trusted him as his first mate. That's why no matter what happened, he wouldn't let anyone harm his captain, even the sea water that was his weakness.

"You don't know what you've got till it's gone, and in this case, some refuse to let it go since they don't ever want to let them go"

Me- hope this was to your liking and remember I'm taking requests so what ever you want I will do =) even crack pairings.