-Tangled Web-
A role-play/joint-fic by Digitaldreamer and Constable Remington
Chapter Twenty-three: Figuring It Out

Sooo…second week at Kaya's. By the time this thing shows up Otakon will be over, so I'll put a little con report in my next chapter. But for now you get my ramblings from two weeks ago as I got ready to go and what not.

I imagine by the time I post this this fic will have four hundred reviews, so if it does…well, woot! If it doesn't, I predicted wrong and am a bloody idiot.

Anyhoo, this chapter has something you've all been waiting for and well…I hope you enjoy it.

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"STOP!" Luffy screamed at the top of his lungs, throwing his head back as he did so. A shock-wave of power burst from his huddled form, sending bits of dust and broken bits of the concrete floor flying. Boxes flew up into the air and over-turned; the windows shattered, cracks began to appear in the walls. All of the girls who had been attacking them were thrown into walls and boxes before sliding to the ground, unconscious. The businessman was knocked into his little corner and was left unconscious well.

After the wave had passed Luffy sat there on his knees, panting.

Zoro was lucky to have missed the flying hail of wreckage and debris, and he gasped for a moment, not believing his luck. Looking towards Luffy, he quickly sheathed his katana and rushed towards the boy, kneeling beside him.

"Luffy--" he breathed, shakily running a hand over the boy's back. "You okay?" What had just happened? Had Luffy done that? But how?

Why was strange incident after incident happening ever since Zoro had met the boy!

Luffy slowly opened his eyes as his breathing slowed a bit, glancing around. His face became one of tired confusion. What had just happened, and why was he so tired now? He then heard Zoro's voice and turned to the swordsman, nodding in answer to his question. "Zoro…what happened?" he asked, going to looking around at the mess and the fallen girls.

Zoro couldn't find the words to talk for a while. "You... I don't know... you started screaming and it was like... like an explosion." He frowned a little. "How did you... how did you do that?"

The boy blinked in confusion. "I started screaming and caused an explosion?" Luffy's brow furrowed. "I don't remember any of this!"

Slightly frustrated by this, Zoro gestured around the room. "You screamed 'stop' and then it was like everything just... blew up." He looked around. Damnit, even the guy he was supposed to be protecting had been hit. He frowned, but could see that he was still breathing. "How could you not remember! It just happened, just now!"

Luffy just stared at Zoro, looking completely confused. "I did…wha…" He shook his head. "I don't remember any of this. The last thing I remember is following you here, then fighting the freaky girls, and then my head started hurting and the next thing I knew everything was like this." He glanced around at the room again. "Wow…this is really weird…"

Zoro frowned. Yet another mystery surrounding this boy. In this moment, Zoro was now certain that his previous encounter with Luffy on the roof had been no dream. Why did strange and odd incidents seem to radiate off Luffy? Why did they frustrate Zoro so much! He was getting sick of the unanswered questions. None of this would have happened if Luffy hadn't followed him! "Why did you follow me?" he asked pointedly. "I told you to stay home."

Luffy looked back at Zoro, then laughed a bit nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I was really curious as to what you did…and I wanted to find out…and whenever I asked you never really said anything so I decided to find out for myself…eh heh heh." He laughed again, beginning to play with the slice in his hoodie caused by one of the girl's katana.

The man sighed, casting a glance around. "Well, do you see why I didn't say anything before, now?" he asked. "You could have been killed, Luffy..."

The boy kept his gaze on the tear in his shirt, tracing his fingertip across the fraying edge of the material. "…Yeah, I know I could have been killed," he replied, voice quiet. He knew Zoro was right, he could easily have gotten killed back there…but Luffy hadn't really minded in his own life's case. The entire reason he had stuck around was to make sure Zoro would be okay…and now Zoro was hurt and if he hadn't been there the swordsman probably wouldn't have been. So…it was all his fault, really. Just by acting on his own curiosity, he had nearly gotten them both killed.

Noticing Luffy's reaction, Zoro sighed. He saw how sorry the boy was. "It's all right," he said softly. Luffy was probably shaken from what he had seen. Zoro hesitated a moment, before he wrapped his arms around the boy, pulling him close in an effort to calm. "You're okay, though, and that's what matters."

Luffy bit his lip, his entire body shaking in Zoro's arms. He leaned against Zoro's chest, but pulled back slightly when the swordsman's blood began to seep onto him. That wound…was his fault. Just another burden that he had ended up forcing the older man to bear. Why was it no matter what he did, he always ended up causing more problems for Zoro?

He took in a shaky breath, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. "But…you got hurt because I was here…you got hurt trying to keep me safe…you always get hurt."

Zoro looked down at the wound for a moment. "It's not bad," he said softly. "Hardly even notice it's there." He frowned. "Besides, I would have gotten hurt trying to protect this guy anyway." He gestured towards the passed-out businessman, before noticed that Luffy had tears in his eyes. Surprised by this, Zoro reached out to push them away. "Luffy..."

Luffy shook his head, tears flinging out of his eyes as he did so. "You're always stuck trying to protect me! You always get made fun of and hurt because of my mistakes! I-I'm nothing but a burden to you, if I hadn't been here tonight you wouldn't have gotten h-hurt! If I weren't around making such a big mess of everything you wouldn't be stuck having to do so much! If you'd never found me you could live your life and be happy, you wouldn't be stuck t-taking care me!" he cried, tears now beginning to streak down his cheeks.

"You…never should have found me. Then you wouldn't be burdened by me. Then you'd be happier," he muttered, looking down at the cold concrete floor.

"Happier?" Zoro repeated in a faint voice, thinking on this. He knew what Luffy was saying wasn't true. "No... Luffy, you're not a burden." Zoro didn't really understand how the boy had arrived at this conclusion. Zoro didn't mind having Luffy around at all -- in fact, now that he had more or less opened his life up to Luffy, it was strange and almost painful to think back to life before him. Sure, he didn't get made fun of back then, but having company was a small price to pay. Zoro was puzzled by this, though -- he had always shunned off company before. So what could possibly be so different about Luffy that changed his mind about this rather important issue?

Luffy shook his head, eyes remaining fixated on the floor as he shivered. "A-am too. I always cause you problems. You would have been happier without me," he sobbed. He was happy when he was around the swordsman…he was so happy. The boy always felt happiest when he was near the older man…but it felt like all he did was cause Zoro problems. He loved being around him…but he didn't want to make Zoro unhappy.

"...Maybe I should leave…so you can be happy." But he really didn't want to. His heart hurt at the thought of never seeing Zoro again.

…but what was he supposed to do?

Zoro's arms pulled Luffy close in again, forgetting momentarily about the blood. "No. You're not going anywhere, Luffy." He stared down at him, eyes hard and serious. "I made a promise -- remember?" But there was something more than that... "You have to stay. Because what you're saying... isn't true." He paused. Words were not Zoro's forte. How could he put a vague feeling deep within his heart into words? "It's the opposite, Luffy. I... feel like I can't be happy without you."

Luffy finally looked up at the swordsman with tear-filled eyes. "…Can't be happy…without me?" he repeated, cocking his head to the side. He felt his heart grow a bit lighter, as if what the swordsman had just said had lifted a weight off of it. What Zoro had just said…he knew he felt the same way. He couldn't be happy without the swordsman. That was why he had made Zoro make that promise those few days ago, because he wanted to stay with him forever and ever. And that was a part of the "mystery feeling" in his heart…

What was that feeling?

Nodding a bit, Zoro moved a hand to wipe the tears from Luffy's face. Luffy didn't look like himself when he was crying. "Luffy..." he paused. A million things were running through his mind, through his heart. A voice in his head was screaming to admit it, already. Zoro was having a hard time pretending that he didn't know what it was talking about. But... Luffy didn't even know what... what love was. How could he return a feeling he didn't understand? Zoro wasn't one for laying his heart on the line, but he had to reassure Luffy... he had to keep the boy with him...

Luffy gazed up at the swordsman as his calloused fingers wiped the tears from his face, feeling his heart thump in his chest. His face felt a bit warm where the swordsman's fingers had touched it, everything seemed a bit warmer than usual. "Hm?" he prompted the swordsman to go on, curious as to what he had to say.

"...I..." There was a pause, before Zoro felt something like anger flare up inside him. How could he be afraid to admit to his own feelings? He wasn't going to let something trivial as emotions stop him from saying what he wanted to Luffy. It was the truth -- he could see that now, as clear as crystal -- so how could he have trouble with saying it? "I'm happy, when I'm around you. If you leave, if something takes you from me... I can't..." he frowned, brows furrowing. "I can't even imagine it. You're a part of my life now. You're staying. I'm not letting you go, because... because I love you," he finished, and it sounded softer than he wanted, but it had still come out.

The boy sat there for a moment, staring up at Zoro with wide orbs of dark chocolate. Time seemed to go slow for a few seconds as he tried to work this out, his brain unable to come up with anything comprehendible. Finally, it clicked.

Zoro….loved him?

Love was when you really cared for someone. When they meant everything to you. When you loved simply being around that person, and felt like you could be with them forever. This was how Zoro felt about him?

Did Luffy feel the same way?

…Maybe that was what the mystery feeling had been? All this time, maybe that had been it? Zoro was the world to him. Zoro was everything. Zoro was a part of his life, and Luffy definitely didn't want him out.

…Could it be that the mystery feeling…was love? That he had it all along and just hadn't been able to quite grasp what it was?

Luffy smiled warmly, wrapping his arms around the swordsman's chest and pulling him closer as he gazed up at him. "I think I finally get it. Love is being happiest around just one person. That person means everything…and you would do anything for them," he said.

"They are more than just a friend, more than family, more than anything else in the world, because you love them. That is love…and I think I finally get it." He paused, cocking his head to the side as he met the swordsman's eyes. The boy's face spread into a grin. "And…I love you too."

A strong arm pulled Luffy even closer, and Zoro felt a wave of warm relief crash over him. Luffy understood, and Luffy felt the same way -- it was more than he could ever dream of asking for, to have the younger boy so close to him, such a part of him. Luffy looked so happy, his smile was contagious, creeping onto Zoro's features as well. His other hand, the one that had lingered on the boy's cheek after wiping away his tears, brushed down Luffy's soft skin and went to his chin, pulling it up just a bit more, before Zoro leaned down to grab Luffy's lips in a kiss. It wasn't forced or accidental, this time, and the shaking swordsman felt electricity through his veins just under his skin, bursting to be free upon contact. He couldn't help but squeeze Luffy closer, pushing into the gentle, chaste kiss.

Luffy returned the kiss quite willingly, a shiver going up his spine. It was like fireworks going off in his head, a rush of energy that traveled from his head to his toes and back again. The rain outside, the slight chill of the warehouse, the unconscious guards and businessman…none of that mattered. All that mattered was this feeling, this moment. It was as if time had stopped and everything else had faded out, leaving only Zoro and himself.

After a moment, Zoro gently broke away, his hand moving up to push hair from Luffy's face. He stared down at the boy for a long time before he finally whispered, "I'm still mad at you for following me, though." A gentle smirk lit his face. Love wasn't so bad. Wasn't so bad at all. He stood from where he had been kneeling beside the boy, reaching his hand out to help him up. "We need to get out of here before they wake up -- or before someone realizes something's wrong and others show up."

Luffy blinked as he glanced around, remembering where they were. He also remembered that he wasn't exactly supposed to be here. Following Zoro may not have been the best idea in the world, but what he had gotten out of it was worth it. He laughed, taking Zoro's hand and allowing himself to be helped to his feet. "Yeah…guess we should go. Are we going home?"

Zoro nodded. He moved towards the corner where the businessman was slumped, bending over and hoisting him up onto his shoulder. "Have to carry him somewhere a bit away, at least," Zoro murmured.

"Okay! Let's go then! We have to get moving so we can fix you up, right?" he asked, gesturing to Zoro's wound.

Zoro looked down at it, then up to Luffy's hoodie, now soaked with his blood and sporting a rather large cut. He frowned. Luffy had really liked that hoodie. ...Not to mention that going home covered in blood and torn clothes would be a little suspicious.

...He couldn't really worry about that now. Heading down the hallway, Zoro glanced back to make sure Luffy was following him. "Walk in front of me," he said suddenly. "Just in case."

Luffy blinked in confusion, jogging a bit to get in front of the swordsman. "Um…okay." He glanced back at Zoro. "Just in case of what?"

"In case one of 'em wakes up and attacks from behind," Zoro finished, keeping up his pace down the hallway.

"Oooohhhhh…okay," Luffy nodded, deciding that was a good enough reason for him. Zoro wouldn't be easily snuck up upon like he would, after all.

"Say…Zoro? You're supposed to be watching the skinny guy, right? Won't you in trouble for just leaving him somewhere?" he asked as they continued to walk down the hallway.

"What else can I do? I'll try to wake him up, but if he doesn't, it's better than leaving him here." He sighed, readjusting the man over his shoulder.

"True…" Luffy scratched his head and remained silent until they reached the door. The boy grinned, tugging it open and rushing out into the night air.

"Yosh! Freedom!" he cheered, doing a little dance in the middle of the downpour. His hat had fallen from his head sometime during the fight and was now dangling around his neck from a string, catching rainwater in it.

Standing in the door way for a moment, Zoro sighed, staring out into the rain with irritated eyes before moving out into it dejectedly. "All right, come on, let's hurry up and get out of here," he instructed, already beginning to walk away. "This part of the city isn't safe."

Luffy stopped dancing and pouted. "But…rain…aw, okay." He jogged after Zoro, sneakers hitting puddles and splashing water every which way, getting the bottoms of his jeans completely soaked. Once he reached Zoro's side he slowed to a walk, reaching out and taking the swordsman's hand in his own as he beamed up at him.

Glancing sideways, Zoro's fingers tightened a bit on Luffy's, not saying anything. He was still somewhat recovering from completely baring his heart to the young boy. Thinking on this for a moment, he finally spoke, his voice nearly lost in the downpour.

"There's... really no need to tell anyone at home about what happened tonight, alright? About any of it." Between Zoro's confession to the fighting, Zoro preferred to be a mystery to his housemates, really.

Luffy blinked up at Zoro for a moment with wide eyes of dark chocolate. He could understand not telling everyone about most of the things that had happened, but what about the love thing? Zoro didn't want people to know about that? Maybe he just didn't want to be made fun of anymore? Hmm…

Well, Luffy was sure Zoro had his reasons, even if the boy couldn't quite fathom what they were. He smiled and nodded, shaking a few droplets of water loose from his hair as he did so. "Okay! I won't tell anyone."

"Good."

A car drove past, and then another, as they began to enter a more populated area of town. They reached the street corner Zoro had met the business man on, and, pulling his hand from Luffy's, Zoro bent over to set the man down on the stairs leading to the door of the abandoned apartment complex there. Zoro lifted a hand, awkwardly hitting the man against the shoulder.

"Hey, wake up," he muttered gruffly.

The businessman groaned, peeping open one eye to stare up at the swordsman. He then blinked in confusion, glancing around. "Huh? Where am I?"

"A random street!" Luffy chirped, squatting down so he could grin at the man.

The man's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who are you?"

Luffy blinked, then laughed nervously and waved his hand dismissively. "No one important!"

Zoro grimaced a bit, sighing. "Well, the point is, we got you away from the gang, but they'll probably keep coming after you. You'll need to be more careful from now on." He looked towards Luffy, then back at the man. "This is where we met, so your on your own to get back home. My work here is done."

It wasn't that Zoro didn't care if the man was safe or not. It was just that he didn't want to get involved.

Turning, he threw a hand up in a wave, catching Luffy's wrist with the other hand and pulling him along as he began to walk away.

"Bye mister weird guy! Have a nice night!" Luffy called back, waving enthusiastically as he was pulled away.

The businessman stared after them, blinking the rain out of his eyes. His brow furrowed as he tried to remember what had happened. He remembered talking to Ener, then someone had been attacking him…and then everything was blank.

Ah well, probably wasn't anything important. The man stood and shrugged, brushing off his suit and walking away.

Moving his hand from Luffy's wrist to catch the boy's hand, Zoro sighed, inwardly cursing the rain. The air was chilled, and Zoro knew he'd have to change into dry clothes as soon as he got home to avoid getting some kind of cold. The two eventually reached the house.

Moving to the doorway, Zoro sighed, pulling a key from his pocket and beginning to unlock it. He stopped, pulling back and thinking. Looking to Luffy, he sighed. His shirt was covered in blood... Besides which, they would be confused as to why Luffy had come back with Zoro...

Wonderful.

"Maybe we should go in through the kitchen," he muttered.

Luffy glanced down at his shirt as well, frowning. He really had liked this hoodie, it was sparkly!

Oh well. He could always clean it…or at least he hoped he could.

It probably wasn't a good idea to walk into the house in a blood soaked shirt. Nope, not a good idea.

The boy laughed, tugging Zoro down the front steps and around the boarding house. "Okay, let's go then!"

Following Luffy, Zoro quietly crept around into the alleyway through the rain, coming to the kitchen door. He peered into the window. Luckily, it was dark. Unlocking the door, he swung it carefully open. "You need to be quiet," he advised in a whisper, stepping a dripping foot carefully inside.

"Kay!" Luffy whispered back. Sure, it was a rather loud whisper, but at least he was trying. He walked in behind Zoro, easing the door shut behind him, listening to it softly click.

He glanced around. Oh yes, no one had noticed. He was stealthy like a ninja!

The boy crossed the kitchen floor, pausing for a moment to stare longingly at the refrigerator. But no, food could wait. The fact that Zoro was still hurt was a bit more important than meat.

Not wanting to drip too much water or possibly blood on the floor, Zoro swiftly moved towards the doorway, down the hall, and up the stairs, being quiet as possible, trusting Luffy would follow.

And of course, Luffy did follow, making a bit more noise than Zoro but somehow managing to not attract any attention.

They eventually reached the top of the stairs and Luffy immediately charged into the bathroom. "I'll get the first aid kit!" he chirped.

Pausing a little, Zoro frowned. "All right," he said softly, slipping into his bedroom. Damn wound... he didn't want Luffy to see him vulnerable like this.

Ah, hell. Not much he could do to change it, now.

He slumped on the bed, sitting at the edge and pulling off his shirt and belt.

The cut looked pretty bad. Zoro hissed, putting a hand to it.

Luffy glanced frantically around the bathroom, then yelped as he slipped on the rug and fell backwards. He groaned, rubbing his head, then glanced over at the cabinets.

Where was the first aid kit? The boy didn't have the slightest clue where to look.

He tore open the cabinets under the sink and poked his head through the doors. Nope, nothing but towels…unless the first aid kit was behind the towels?

Luffy began to pull out towels and toss them over his shoulder. After several minutes the bathroom floor was covered in towels and the cabinet was empty. "Awww…no first aid kit here." He pouted as he shoved the towels back in, not quite as neatly, and closed the door. Maybe it was in another cabinet?

The boy grinned, hopping to his feet. He pulled open another cabinet…nope, just soap and stuff. He then opened the next one. Nope, just toilet paper and things like that.

Geez, where was the first aid kit?

He tore open the final, top cabinet. And lo and behold, there was the first aid kit, peeking at him from behind various pill boxes and medicine bottles. Luffy grinned triumphantly, pulling the kit out of the cabinet (and sending a few bottles flying in his haste) and setting it down on the counter.

Ducking down once more, he then pulled a cloth out from under the sink. Zoro had used a wet cloth when he had been helping Luffy, hadn't he? Luffy vaguely remembered a bowl of water and several cloths on the bedside table…

Well, he didn't have a bowl, so he'd just have to make the cloths wet.

Beaming, Luffy turned on the faucet and jammed the cloths underneath the spray. Zoro would feel better really soon and then he'd be happy!

Once the cloths seemed soaked enough he turned off the faucet and lugged the first aid kit and wet cloths to Zoro's room, dripping a few droplets of water here and there as tugged open the door.

"I found it!" he chirped, hopping through the doorway and closing the door behind him.

Zoro looked up, frowning a bit and nodding. The roll of bandages still sat on his bedside table, and he looked away. "You should change into some dry clothes," he said softly, already having pulled on dry flannel pants, having abandoned his wet ones.

"Okay!" Luffy beamed, setting down the first aid kit and the wet cloths before rushing over to his corner. Yes, it was his corner; his stuff was there, so it was his. He should put up a sign…

Eh, the sign could wait.

Luffy tugged off his hoodie, pausing to give it a mourning glance. "Stupid scary sword lady," he pouted, tossing it aside as he dug around for a shirt.

Zoro frowned towards the hoodie. He had seen others like it in the store... maybe they could get Luffy a replacement. Reaching for the first aid kit, he opened it up, looking inside. With a sigh, he grabbed one of the cloths, beginning to clean his wound.

Luffy eventually just settled for the old blue shirt Zoro had given him, then kicked off his now soaked jeans and pulled on a pair of dark blue sweat-pants. But wait, they weren't just any dark-blue sweat-pants….they had monkey's on them!

He grinned as he hopped onto the bed next to Zoro, clearly quite thrilled with the monkeys on his pants, and with the fact that he was no longer wearing soaking wet clothes.

"Want any help?" he chirped.

Pausing, Zoro looked up at him, then returned to cleaning his wounds, grimacing at the slight sting that the peroxide caused before setting the bottle away and reaching for the bandages. He grabbed the end, handing the roll to Luffy. "You have to wrap it tight," he said simply. "And carefully. All right?"

Luffy grinned and nodded, happy that Zoro had let him help. "All right!" he said, taking the roll. He began to wind the bandages around Zoro's chest, managing to only accidentally elbow Zoro lightly once.

Once he was finished he tore the end of the bandage off with his teeth and tugged it tightly, then stuck it on Zoro's back. "There, done! Did I do okay?"

Zoro had kept still the whole time, but as Luffy finished, he moved to lean back carefully and rest against the bed. "Yeah, you did it fine," he said with a smile. "I'm sure I'll be fine within a few days." It hurt like hell, but there was no way he would tell Luffy that.

Luffy smiled as well, though the smile faded a bit as he glanced up at the ceiling. "That's good…sorry for getting you hurt back there," he mumbled, gaze shifting from the ceiling to the floor.

"We've already been over this, haven't we, Luffy?" Zoro asked pointedly, folding arms behind his head. "I told you, it's all right." He paused a moment. He was just glad Luffy was okay.

"Yeah…I know…" he said, scooting backwards and flopping down on the bed next to the swordsman. "But saying it's all right isn't gonna make you all better."

Thinking about this for a moment, Zoro turned his head to gaze at Luffy. "That's true, but worrying about it won't, either."

Luffy stared at Zoro for a moment before inching closer and wrapping his arms around the swordsman's waist, a small smile gracing his lips. "Yeah…guess you're right."

Zoro managed not to hiss in pain as his wound was somewhat jostled, instead looking down at Luffy with almost soft eyes. Luffy's smile was infectious. Shifting a bit, his own arm went to rest around Luffy's waist as well.

Luffy stayed in this position for awhile, just content in being close the older male. Eventually, he did start to feel a bit sleepy though. He yawned, leaning up to give Zoro a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for helping me figure it out…love you," he mumbled sleepily, snuggling against the pillow.

Slightly surprised, Zoro looked down at Luffy wistfully, before turning to push a gentle kiss to the boy's lips. "I'm glad I figured it out too," he responded simply.

Luffy just smiled as his eyes drifted closed, and in a few moments he was asleep.

Watching him for a moment, Zoro sighed and brushed some hair from the boy's face, sitting up for a moment to flick the lamp off before settling back beside Luffy and falling fast asleep.

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To be continued

Well? What did you all think? I hope that those two finally confessing their love made you all happy.

Sooo, next time I'll actually answer reviews, because I'll be back from Kaya's. Huzzah and joy and what not.

Next Chapter: Luffy's dreams seem to be taking a darker turn…not a very good way to start off Zoro's special day.