It is another afternoon in the vast and seemingly endless sea that is the Grand Line; another afternoon the Going Merry sails it's treacherous waters. A few hours has passed since the Strawhats escaped from the marine blockade as they left Alabasta with a bitter-sweet farewell.

Luffy sits in his special sit as he enjoys the relative peace and quiet; which is more than welcome after the exhausting adventure the strawhats have went through. The wind blows gently, Luffy savours it's sweet aroma. But the sweetness is temporary as his thoughts interrupt his bliss.

He lost. He lost twice. He hasn't been humilated like he was humilated against Crocodile; death knocked on his doors twice yet here he is, looking ahead in the endless blue ahead as if it never happened

Death is something he has made peace with, he was ok to depart at any moments notice, but even when you make peace with death, you still irrationally fear it. At that point don't fear death itself but you fear for what you leave behind.

He momentarily forgot about his own mortality as he steamrolled the East Blue and it's "Elite" pirates. Grand Line was whole another beast and it reminded him that death is a lingering shadow that will never leave him as long as he sails

The reality check he got was immeasurable and despite his easy going nature, he will carve the lessons he learned from Alabasta into his heart. He had one person to thank for still being here. That person recently became part of his crew.

Before he could ponder further, he takes a glance behind as footsteps interrupts his thoughts

"Luffy"

It was Zoro. Luffy knew it was time for another one of these serious 'talks' as captain and first mate & not friends. Zoro always has a look and a voice reserved for it whenever he approached him for the very infrequent times when he is demanded to act "professional" as a pirate captain.

Luffy had a good idea what it was about given the unceremonious way the newest member on board joined the crew; Luffy was anticipating for the eventual confrontation. Even if he did prefer to avoid these talks most of the time due to him feeling that their importance is overblown by Zoro, He knows he can not simply brush it off this time.

Luffy plopped down from the head of the Merry, "What's up Zoro?" He asked as he stepped towards him.

Zoro crossed his arms, "You know what I am going to ask you right?" his tone making it clear there is no escape until he is satisfied with Luffy's explanation for his preposterous decision earlier

Luffy scratched his head sheepishly, "Yeah…" He cursed himself in the back of his mind for not initiatiatng the conversation himself earlier, the unforgiving look Zoro gave him pierced through as a reminder that he should have.

"So, let me just get straight to the point, why did you let that woman join the crew?" Zoro asked, not hiding his disapproval.

Luffy internally winced, although he knew this wouldn't be pretty. It was worse than he thought given how close Zoro was to snapping with just the first line "Are you against it?" He asked inquisitively.

Zoro narrowed his eyes, "That doesn't answer my question Luffy" The edge loud and clear in his words.

Luffy didn't reply, he needed take control so it isn't a one sided beatdown. He went to the railing as he faced the sea "I will answer yours but answer mine first"

Zoro glared at him "I have to trust your judgement, but I don't trust her, I can't keep telling myself to trust your judgement if I am not given an explanation right now" he said sternly.

Luffy turned to face him again and glared back, "That doesn't answer my question Zoro"

"Fine! Yes, I am against it! Now tell me Why did you think letting the 2nd highest officer of the organization that almost killed us all and actively participated in destroyed our friend's country gets a ride on this ship as one of us!?" Zoro said stridently, his face filled with irritation that Luffy is not taking the hint.

Luffy face was neutral yet his glare was stubborn as he waited for Zoro to say anything else before he speaks. He wasn't going to give in and let him control the conversation.

Zoro matched his glare with his own. Their glares spoke more than anything they could have said out loud; The glare off served as a contest of daring the other back down.

Zoro eventually lost as he broke the glare and sighed, "You know I don't discuss serious business a lot with you captain. You are a carefree moron, and we are all ok with that and don't think anything less of you for it, but this can cause rifts and endanger our crew from the inside, you need to come clean with me" he said much less demandly though he still made it clear that he is not backing down.

Luffy's eyes became neutral, Satisfied that Zoro isn't just going to constantly pummel him verbally; Luffy felt comfortable enough to speak "She is not a bad person"

The previous gentleness from Zoro was gone as the glare returned "Explain" He demanded emphasizing every syllable.

Luffy took his hat off and remained silent for a while before finally speaking "Zoro, be honest with me. What has she done that makes her bad?"

Zoro's glare intensified "You know the answer to that question Luffy"

Luffy put his hat back as it hid his eyes "Do I?"

Zoro gritted his teeth "Luffy I don't have time for your riddles, I already told you! She allied with Crocodile and helped him ruin—"

Luffy looked straight at Zoro, his eyes no longer hidden "If she truly wanted to help Croc, she wouldn't have saved my life twice"

Zoro stood there shocked "What?" Of all things, he did not expect to hear this.

Luffy looked away and faced the sea "She wouldn't have saved my life twice"

Zoro recovered from his shock as he stayed silent for a moment "What do you mean?" He asked seriously.

"I wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for her" Luffy said simply "I lost to Croc badly when I fought him in the desert, she pulled me out of quicksand and handed me over to the falcon guy who patched me up and helped me to get to the capital"

His glanced sideways at Zoro as he continued " I was poisoned by Croc when I fought him in the tomb and she gave me the antidote. If she was truly loyal to Croc then why would she help me?"

Zoro's anger was gone as contemplated on this new information. He finally sighed "I still don't like this and I don't trust her, but I will go along with your decision because it looks like we do owe her"

Luffy turned his eyes back to the sea "I am not asking you to like it" he said firmly "All I ask is you accept my decision"

Zoro turned his back "I just had to make sure you knew what you were getting into and this isn't one of your strange whims" He knew he wouldn't be able to change Luffy's mind, but at the least he had own peace of mind that Luffy had some level of self-awareness

Luffy rolled his eyes "You know I am not a kid right?"

Zoro smirked "Do tell me what you let the witch do to you when you first met her"

Luffy's eye twitched "Screw you" He muttered as he remembered how Nami handed him over to Buggy

Zoro chuckled good heartedly "I am gonna go train, see you at dinner" He started to walk back

The mention of dinner brought him out of his annoyance as he drooled slightly "See ya Zoro"

An ear close by disappeared as the conversation ceased.

Unbeknownst to both, Robin had been following the entire conversation.