But my words like silent raindrops fell

Zoro awakens in the arms of a god. He realizes it as soon as he opens his eyes. He feels an ancestral power coursing through his nerves, his tendons, his bones. He feels the energy he thought lost, that he thought impossible, returning mobility to his stiffened muscles. He breathes again through his shattered lungs, now recomposed by divine grace. Yes, Zoro awakens in the arms of Luffy, because if there is a god, it must be Luffy. No one speaks. They are surrounded by their crew, their allies, their friends; but no one matters. No one matters except the two of them, captain and first mate, Luffy and Zoro. Always, always Luffy and Zoro. Luffy smiles, and Zoro feels his warmth all over his body, no longer cold, no longer dead. Because Zoro was dead but Luffy wouldn’t allow it. So Luffy smiles, and Zoro cries for the first time since Hawkeye. Zoro hears Sanji’s voice, tender, asking everyone else to leave, to let him recover, to let him understand. So Sanji is still himself. Good to know. The others leave, and in the ruins of Onigashima, Zoro speaks. “I won”. And Luffy… Luffy laughs, bright, fearless, beautiful. “Of course”. Zoro has never once prayed to god. He thought he’d never do it. He thought he would never have the capacity to believe in anything but his dream, in anyone but himself. But now… Now he knows he can. He could for a long time. Zoro believed in Luffy as soon as he saw him smile, and he’s been a devotee ever since. Of course Luffy is otherwordly. Of course he’s a god. The sun. Luffy is the sun, in Zoro’s life, in everyone’s. Under Luffy’s gaze, Zoro feels like he’s on Sunny’s deck, sleeping peacefully, at home. Luffy gave him a home. Luffy gave him a family. Luffy gave Zoro something bigger than his life, than his ambition, than his dream. Zoro had been worshipping Luffy long before he knew he was doing it. He has no regrets. “I will follow you” he sais, “I will follow you until the end of this earth, my captain, my king. My god.” Luffy just laughs, and laughs, and laughs. “I’m so glad Zoro’s alive!!”