Luffy had been naive in his planning, thinking that things would be easier if only he could get his Nakama back, that it would heal the gaping hole in the rubber boys heart.

He would be the first to admit that it had helped temporarily, but it had only been a temporary band aid unable to hold up to reality.

Zoro's haki soothed his soul, when he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine that he was with his swordsman. The one that had scars that matched Luffy's own. He could place himself in better times, days where him and Zoro had journeyed away from the rest of the crew, the captain and his first mate on their own side adventure.

He could pretend that the rest of the crew were aboard the Sunny, enjoying their lives, basking in their freedom. He could hear Chopper and Usopp laughing on the wind, smell Sanji's cooking. He could lose himself in the good times, until he opened his eyes. He would catch a young Zoro staring at him. One that hadn't learned how to trust others, that was regretting his impulsive decision to follow a captain who didn't know how to navigate a ship.

As they sailed onwards, only Luffy's blind faith to guide them on a small rowboat tension grew high.

As hours turned to days and food became scarce Zoro's gripes got louder and Luffy became tenser, had he failed already? He couldn't remember the journey to Orange Town, only that him and Zoro had arrived there after they left Shells Town, but he was sure he would not have forgotten Zoro being this annoyed.

He would give anything for some space, just a moment to sneak away and speak to Shanks or even Gramps, he was desperate to talk to anyone that could sooth his fears.

This Zoro was so different to the one he had lost, sullen and disconnected from his emotions, his only driving force was to be the best. Any questions Luffy asked were met with one-word answers, it felt wrong.

It didn't help matters that Luffy was tired, it had been almost a week since he had last been able to use up enough energy to force himself to pass out, his eyes felt heavy with every blink but Luffy could not risk falling asleep, he would not expose Zoro to the horrors of his nightmares, to the bone chilling screams that would tear from his throat and the helpless way his hands would seek salvation, often leaving marks across his body as he desperately tried to make the pain stop.

Shanks had been the only one who had managed to calm him through the night, and even though he found the presence of Zoro's mental signature comforting he could not risk scaring the swordsman away, so he forced himself to remain awake. Growing more erratic as time passed.

Zoro quickly noticed that Luffy was not sleeping, it was impossible not to in the small space. At first the swordsman assumed his captain was ensuring his recovery, keeping watch as he slept, exhausted after nine days strung up on ropes, but over time he began to suspect that there was a more sinister reason. Zoro had never been one for company, his only friend long dead and any acquaintances only sticking around momentarily, as such he was unsure of social etiquette. Perhaps his captain was not sleeping due to the pirate hunter making him uncomfortable, was his captain scared of him. That couldn't be it could it? The boy had practically begged him to join his crew. When they had fought side by side they had moved in sync, complimenting each other perfectly, a unit, but out of combat it seemed harder for them to bond.

It was days of give and take before something snapped between them.

Zoro hungry and bored of being stuck in the small, confined ship had offered to take watch so the captain could sleep. When the rubber boy refused his offer for the umpteenth time Zoro had had enough.

"What is your problem!" Zoro snapped; his sudden outburst caused the rubber boy to blink at him owlishly. "Look, you asked me to join your stupid crew and now you don't trust me not to kill you in your sleep or something?"

Luffy's eyes grew wide, he knew for a fact this had not happened last time, he'd ruined it, just like he thought he would.

"No... no I trust you Zoro promise." Luffy begged his dark eyes wide, a hint of desperation in his voice. "I'm just not tired."

Zoro snorted humorlessly. "You want to tell that to the bags under your eyes." Zoro reached out grabbing the boy's hat, watching as the boy reached out delayed, his brain moving slowly in his exhaustion. "You can barely function, if you don't sleep you will get us both killed."

Luffy blinked at his hat, shocked that Zoro had managed to nab it, the swordsman was right if he didn't sleep, he'd be no good to anyone, but he was scared. His bond with Zoro was already weak, what if this was the thing that broke it. Luffy considered his options before deciding, better Zoro leave him here then Luffy lead him to danger when he was too tired to stop it.

"Okay, I'll try sleep." Luffy whispered, gripping his fist tight. He raised his eyes meeting Zoro's own; he implored his swordsman to listen. "Zoro, I don't like sleeping, the bad thoughts win when I'm asleep, if it looks like I'm struggling you need to wake me before it's too late." Luffy was vulnerable in a way Zoro had yet to see.

Zoro nodded suddenly afraid of what might happen as Luffy slept, he had seen flickers of something dark beneath the boy's facade, something he knew his captain was running from.

"I'll protect you captain, even from yourself" Zoro promised.

Luffy nodded, snagging his hat back from the swordsman laying down trying to calm his heart rate, he imagined Shanks beside him, telling him a story. Eventually he managed to slip into the unknown, he could only hope he wouldn't find himself back there.

Zoro watched as Luffy slept the boy still as death in sleep, perhaps his warning had been for nothing. Sleeping the boy looked peaceful, his face lax. Zoro didn't understand his captain, he was a complex person that's for sure. One moment he could look innocent and carefree, like the world had no effect on him, he was the epitome of freedom, running through the world on a dream alone, casual in his approach to piracy, I mean who else would set out to sea with no crew or ship? Then there was the other side of the boy, a darkness that would take over in an instance. Zoro was not the sort of person to experience fear but when Luffy got that look in his eye it took everything in him to not shiver. He wondered what could have happened to cause a pain that deep, all he knew was that for as long as he was a part of Luffy's crew he would hurt anyone that hurt his captain.

As Zoro watched he saw a switch in Luffy's posture, it begun with a tightness around his eyes. Had he not been watching so closely he might have missed it. Then came a low whining sound, a desperate keening noise one that cut through Zoro like a knife. The swordsman was instantly on his captain a soft hand reaching to him to shake him awake, but as his hand made contact something strange happened. "Zo-ro" Luffy muttered in his sleep, his face falling lax once more peaceful. Zoro raised a brow, maybe he had reacted to soon, he moved his hand away alarmed to see the tightness quickly returning to his captain's face. 'Fuck' he thought through what he knew of the rubber boy, he was obviously tactile, throwing around hugs like they were candy. There was nothing for it, his captain needed sleep, so Zoro did the only logical thing settling down beside the smaller frame he wrapped him in his arms. Happy to hear his captain sigh happily leaning into the swordsman's touch, maybe Zoro was better at this people thing then he thought.

They lay there for a while Zoro slowly joining his captain in slumber as they floated along the sea gently bringing them closer to their next adventure.

When Luffy awoke it was to find the green haired swordsman rowing their little boat, he was surprised he had managed to enjoy a full night of slumber, he couldn't remember the last time he had slept this well, probably back before he lost everything. He didn't understand but he certainly felt better for it.

"Morning captain." Zoro nodded at the boy. "Sleep well?"

Luffy grinned stretching his limbs. "I can't remember the last time I slept this long."

Zoro grinned, teasing his captain gently. "I think you were being a drama queen."

"Hey" Luffy grumbled but smiled to let Zoro know he knew the swordsman was teasing. It was amazing what some sleep could do, Luffy had a new lease on life joking with his best friend as they sailed forward. It was a new dawn and Luffy felt hopeful for the future.

"Seems I'm a better sailor when I don't have you to distract me, judging by the birds I've seen overhead looks like we may be approaching land." Zoro smirked gently knocking his captain's hat.