His sneakers thudded softly against the concrete as he pushed through yet another empty courtyard, yet the sound of his footsteps echoed too loud in the wide empty space. 

Every turn looked the same. Every door looked the same. Plus, the stupid little windows were too high for him to see through, which felt completely unfair! What was the point of windows if the students were too short to even use them?!

All Zoro had done was go to the bathroom.

That was it!

One normal trip and now the playground might as well have been on the other side of the world.

Zoro glared down at the floor and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked.

Oh well… It wasn't like he was in a rush to get back.

Helmeppo and his dumb friends had been especially annoying today. They always circled him like insistent flies that he couldn't shoo away. Their buzzing whispers were always just loud enough for him to hear.

“Don't you know Zoro is adopted?!”

His jaw tightened at the thought.

They said it like it was something gross.

Sometimes (a lot of times) he wanted to knock their teeth into the sand. Just once. Just enough to make them shut up forever.

However, Mihawk’s voice lived rent-free in the back of his mind.

“Be slow to anger. Only attack when protecting yourself or a loved one.”

Zoro scowled, kicking lightly at a crack in the pavement as he walked.

If he fought them, he’d lose more than just recess privileges. His father told him there would be no training if he irrationally lashed out.

No wooden sword in his hands.

No chance of getting stronger like his dad…

Zoro couldn't risk it.

So, he swallowed his anger. Every. Time. Even when it burned his blood until he saw red.

He pushed open another door.

Another courtyard.

Zoro stopped just past the doorway, staring.

There were too many doors.

They lined the walls like a puzzle. Each one leading somewhere… or nowhere… or maybe just back to where he started. Classrooms. Hallways. More courtyards… but where was the playground?!

“Ugh!”

He kicked the nearest metal pole.

Ding.

The sound rang out as Zoro exhaled through his nose, glaring at nothing in particular.

He wasn’t lost.

He refused to be lost.

The school was just stupid.

That was all.

He leaned back against the wall, folding his arms over his chest as he tightly shut his eyes.

Mihawk said a swordsman should know his surroundings without looking.

So, if he couldn’t see his way out, then he’d just listen.

Wind slipped through open spaces.

The distant rhythm of a jump rope hitting concrete could also be heard.

Kids were laughing.

The clink of a tetherball chain rattled in the distance…

A quiet, broken sound of sniffles reached his ears.

Zoro’s eyes snapped open.

It was close. 

He tilted his head and tried to focus by letting everything else fall away until only that sound remained.

A small stifled sob rang out again. Uneven stifled breaths tried and failed to stay quiet.

It came from the door beside him.

Zoro reached out and pushed it open.

The classroom beyond was dim with all the lights off. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows in long, pale strips, stretching across empty desks and polished floors. The cold air instantly made goosebumps rise in his skin. He rubbed his arms for warmth and wondered why all classrooms had to feel this way.

“Hello?” Zoro called as he continued his way inside. His voice came lit softer than usual without really meaning it to be.

The sniffling stopped.

Silence.

“I know you’re in here,” Zoro added, walking further in. “I heard you.”

A faint shuffle to his… left…no, right… he sometimes had trouble remembering which was which.

He turned just in time to catch movement under one of the desks. A pair of small feet scrambled back, trying to disappear. They almost succeeded, but the untied laces gave them away.

Zoro walked over and crouched down.

A boy about his age stared back at him. Messy black hair fell into wide brown eyes, still wet with tears. His cheeks were flushed, streaked, and his nose was running. His arms curled tightly around his legs like if he made himself small enough, the world might forget he existed.

“Hey…” Zoro's voice spoke even softer than before. It felt instinctive to do so in a classroom. “Why are you crying?”

The boy’s face twisted instantly.

“I’m not crying!” he snapped, scrubbing at his face with his sleeve like that would fix it. “Only babies cry!”

Zoro raised an eyebrow.

“Then you’re a baby and a liar,” he said flatly. “’Cause you’re definitely crying.”

“SHUT UP!” The boy shouted with his teeth bared.

Zoro leaned back in surprise and frowned.

Great… Another annoying kid.

He could just leave… He really should… He didn’t come in here to deal with someone else’s bad mood. He already had enough of that outside with Helmeppo.

But…

His gaze lingered over the other boy.

This wasn’t like Helmeppo.

There was no smirk or crowd of bullies. There were no mean eyes looking for a reaction. It was just a kid alone and hiding… 

Zoro looked away with a quiet click of his tongue and dropped down to sit across from him anyway.

The boy blinked, clearly not expecting that.

“Aren’t you gonna leave?” he asked with a suspicious glare, but his voice had now become a lot softer.

Zoro shrugged.

“Do you want me to?”

The other quickly shook his head.

Zoro settled in place. “Then I’ll stay.”

The boy slowly uncurled, not all the way but enough to sit instead of hide. His eyes lingered on Zoro, openly curious, as if he was trying to figure him out.

“I’m Luffy,” he said suddenly.

Zoro nodded once. “Zoro.” He paused, leaving a beat of silence before asking, “Are you new?”

Luffy nodded, his earlier bravado slipping just a little.

“I had to change schools.”

Zoro tilted his head. “Why?”

Luffy’s fingers tightened around his knees.

“Some people said me and my brother Ace couldn’t live with my grandpa anymore,” his voice dropped so low that Zoro had to lean closer to hear it. “So I live with Ms. Makino...” His voice caught at the end and he looked down, struggling to say the next part out loud. “Ace lives somewhere else.”

Zoro’s brow furrowed.

“Why didn’t you stay together?”

Luffy shrugged, his shoulders pulled inward like it was painful to think about.

“The people at the forest agency said there wasn’t enough room.”

Zoro blinked.

“Forest agency?”

Luffy nodded, completely serious.

This kid must be a bit of an idiot. There was no such thing as…

Zoro's eyes widened, a soft ache pulled at his chest… 

“I think you mean foster agency.” Zoro gently corrected. 

Luffy’s head snapped up.

“…Oh.”

A beat.

“…Yeah, that one.”

Zoro huffed quietly through his nose, and rested his chin in his palm.

“I was in foster care too,” he admitted. The words felt strange in his mouth. He didn’t talk about it much, since Helmeppo and his friends always taunted him about it…. but it felt important to share with Luffy. “I was too little to remember.”

That got Luffy moving.

He scooted out from under the desk, closing the distance between them until their knees brushed together.

“Smaller than you are now?!” Luffy asked, eyes going wide.

Zoro nodded once.

“My sister remembers it more,” he said. The ache in his chest subsided as he thought about Mihawk and Perona. “But we got placed together and we got adopted.”

Luffy’s face crumpled anyway.

His shoulders dropped, and his eyes filled too fast.

“But I don’t want to be adopted away from Ace!” Luffy burst out. “I don’t wanna be away from my family!”

Panic overtook Zoro. 

Crap!

He didn’t mean to make Luffy cry!

His eyes darted around the empty classroom on instinct, like an adult might magically appear and fix this like they usually did whenever a student began to cry, but it was just him and Luffy.

Zoro swallowed, forcing himself to look back at Luffy.

“It’s… different for everyone,” he said a little awkwardly. He reached forward to pat Luffy’s back. “That’s just what happened to me.”

He shifted, frowning as he searched for the right words.

“They’ll probably try to keep you together,” he added. “That makes more sense.”

Luffy sucked in a shaky breath, and pulled his legs up to hug them again, as if trying to hold himself together. It didn’t work very well.

The snot flowed once again from his nose, and he kept wiping at his face with his sleeve, causing tears to mix with the mucus.

Zoro grimaced. He glanced toward the teacher’s desk for tissues. Thankfully, there was a box there.

He stood quickly, grabbed a handful, came right back, and held them out.

Luffy blinked at them, then turned his watery eyes towards him. Zoro could still see tears clinging to his lashes.

“…Thanks,” he mumbled, taking them, although Zoro wasn't sure if he was being thanked for the gesture or the soothing words.

“You’re welcome.” Zoro shrugged, and dropped back into his spot.

Silence settled between them again, the only sound in the room was Luffy blowing his nose, but the quiet felt more natural this time.

Zoro waited until Luffy had finished wiping his face.

“So…” Zoro tilted his head at the desk still half-hiding Luffy. “Why are you under there?”

Luffy looked down, setting the crumpled tissues on the floor.

“My teacher yelled at me…”

Zoro raised an eyebrow.

“Did you tell her to shut up too?”

Luffy shook his head.

"My shoes kept getting untied,” he said, frowning. His fingers curled over his shoes. “She said I’m too old to not know how to tie them, but I’ve only ever worn sandals before moving into Makino’s home.”

Zoro’s mouth flattened.

“That’s stupid,” he said bluntly. “Yelling doesn’t teach anything.”

Luffy hummed, like he was considering that.

“That’s what my grandpa did,” Luffy replied. “If we didn’t understand, he yelled louder or he would do corporate punishment.”

Zoro’s frown deepened. 

…Luffy definitely meant something else, but Zoro didn’t correct him this time. It didn’t feel right to do so.

His gaze dropped instead to Luffy’s untied shoes.

Zoro shifted closer without asking, reaching for the laces.

Luffy went still, watching.

“I can show you,” Zoro said, fingers already moving as he crossed the laces. “It’s not hard once you get it.”

He tightened the first knot, then looped and pulled, slower this time so Luffy could see.

“For now, I’ll make them tighter,” he added, tugging firmly. “So they don’t come undone.”

He double knotted it. Then triple knotted it… Just to be safe.

He moved to the second shoe, repeating the process with the same careful focus.

“There,” Zoro said, leaning back when he finished. “That should hold.”

He gave the knot one last testing tug to ensure it was secure.

Luffy lifted his foot and stared at the laces in awe.

His eyes widened, lighting up with wonder like the world had just given him something it hadn’t before.

Zoro stilled as he stared. The look made him feel weird.

Good-weird.

It crept through him slowly, settling behind his ribs. It was warm and a little strange, but it wasn’t uncomfortable… 

He decided that he liked it. A lot… He liked feeling this way around Luffy. 

Luffy must have felt similar, for a moment later, he dropped his foot and blurted out, “So, you wanna keep meeting me?” 

Zoro didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Yeah.” He said with a smile. "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to."

Plus, someone had to make sure this idiot didn’t hide under desks all day.

“…But we shouldn't meet under a desk,” Zoro added, glancing around the dim classroom. “We should meet on the playground.”

Luffy laughed gleefully at Zoro's comment. 

His whole body folded forward like he couldn’t hold it in, hands clutched his stomach as he tipped his head back, a “shishishi” spilling out of him without restraint.

Zoro felt his mouth tug upward before he could stop it. The warm feeling caused his heart to leap in his chest.

“We should go now and pick a spot!” Luffy said, already scrambling to his feet like nothing had ever been wrong.

Zoro shook his head as he leaned back against the leg of a desk.

“Good luck with that,” Zoro replied. “That place is impossible to find.”

Luffy tilted his head, confused.

“What do you mean?” he asked. “It’s just down the hall.”

Zoro stared at him oddly. It wasn't just "down the hall"!

He’d gone through what… ten courtyards? Twelve? At least half of them looped into each other like some kind of trap. There was no way…

Before he could argue, Luffy grabbed his arm.

Zoro’s eyes widened as he was yanked upright.

“Hey!”

“Come on!” Luffy grinned, already pulling him toward the door. “It’s this way!”

Zoro stumbled after him, caught off guard, but he didn’t pull back. He let himself be led.

Luffy pushed through one door. Then another.

Sunlight burst across the ground ahead of them.

Zoro stopped short at the threshold, blinking against the light.

The playground stretched out in front of him. A ball bounced past, chased by a pack of shouting kids. Laughter overlapped with the squeak of swings and the rhythmic slap of shoes against pavement.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.” Zoro mumbled under his breath.

He stared like it might disappear if he looked away.

Two doors… It had been two doors away! The realization made him feel equal parts disbelief and offense twist in his gut.

Luffy didn’t slow down, he just kept pulling him along like this was the most natural thing to do with Zoro. They wove through clusters of kids, dodging games and chatter until Luffy finally stopped.

“We should meet over there!” Luffy said, pointing ahead.

Zoro followed his gaze.

The play structure loomed ahead. It was built like a pirate ship, with climbing walls and slides twisting down from different levels. At the front, a carved ram’s head jutted outward like a figurehead.

Luffy stopped right beneath it, beaming upwards.

“This spot is perfect!”

Zoro frowned. The excitement from before began to dissipate. His eyes flicked around the area, already expecting Helmeppo to pop up any moment.

“…Maybe we should pick somewhere else,” he said quickly.

Luffy’s shoulders slumped.

“But I like this spot,” Luffy pouted. “Why can’t we meet here?”

Zoro opened his mouth to explain-

“I thought we told you to stop hanging around our spot!”

Zoro’s muscles tensed at the familiar voice. He turned slowly, a glower already fixed onto his face.

Helmeppo stood near the steps, arms crossed like he owned the place. Three other kids hovered behind him, all wearing the same smug, ugly expressions.

“Get away!” Another kid spoke up. “We don’t want your disease!” 

Zoro’s fingers curled into fists at his sides.

Before he could say anything, Luffy stepped forward.

“Shut up!” Luffy snapped, his own fists clenched. “Zoro doesn’t have a disease!”

The group paused, finally noticing him.

Helmeppo recovered first, and planted his hands on his hips with a scoff.

“My dad says their whole family is diseased,” he said with a smirk. “He said it was wrong that someone like his dad was allowed to adopt in the first place.”

Zoro’s teeth clenched.

That was new… They’d never brought Mihawk up like this before.

“There is nothing wrong with my dad adopting me,” Zoro practically growled through his gritted teeth.

Helmeppo lifted his chin, like he thought he was better.

“It’s wrong because you don’t have a mom,” he sneered. “And you never will. You’ll probably end up with two dads. My dad says that’s wrong.”

The others nodded, muttering in agreement.

Zoro’s body went rigid.

So that was why they treated him differently? 

The anger flared though him, climbing up his throat until it tasted bitter on his tongue. His hands trembled at his sides, nails biting into his palms.

He could hit him.

Just once.

That would be enough.

Surely Mihawk would understand…

‘Be slow to anger.’ Mihawk’s voice echoed in his mind again. ‘Only attack when protecting yourself or a loved one.’

Fighting because of the mean things said about his father counted as protecting a loved one… Right?

Before he could decide, Luffy moved forward.

“Don’t talk to Zoro that way!” Luffy’s voice rang out with anger. His now blazing eyes locked onto Helmeppo. “It’s really pissing me off!”

Zoro barely had time to register it before Luffy’s fist flew out in a blur and connected squarely with Helmeppo’s face.

Thwack.

Helmeppo flew backward, crashing into the sand with a startled cry, hands flying to his nose.

Everything went still for half a second.

“Hey! You can’t do that!”

One of the boys charged forward, arms flailing.

Luffy ducked the swing like it was nothing and drove his knee into the kid’s stomach.

The boy crumpled with a wheeze.

The other two rushed in when Luffy’s back was turned.

Anger flared back to life in Zoro. How dare they attack from behind! It was a dirty move and they knew it!

Zoro’s arm shot forward and grabbed one by his wrist, yanking him off balance, then shoved him straight into the other before he could reach Luffy. They collided and hit the ground in a tangled heap, a pathetic whine escaped their lips.

Luffy stood in front of them, chest rising fast, fists still clenched.

“Don’t be mean to Zoro,” Luffy yelled despite the heavy breathing. “Or I’ll kick your ass!”

Gasps rippled through the playground.

“Did he just say a bad word?”

“I’m getting a teacher!”

“Woah! Did you see that?!”

Some kids scattered.

Others leaned in, wide-eyed.

Zoro barely heard them.

His pulse pounded in his ears, adrenaline rushing through him as he stood there.

Luffy had fought for him. He didn’t seem to think twice about it. He just did it because someone was being mean and it wasn’t right… 

The brown eyed boy turned back to him. The anger had melted away, replaced by a blindingly bright grin. Luffy puffed his chest out, clearly proud of what they had just accomplished together.

Zoro stared in awe.

That feeling in his chest came back, only stronger this time.

It made his whole chest feel warm. His heart pulsed harder, causing the warm feeling to spread down to the tips of his toes. 

A sharp whistle pierced the air.

One of the playground monitors was running toward them.

Zoro should’ve worried about the trouble they were about to be in, but he couldn’t stop himself from smiling back at Luffy.

He didn’t feel nervous or any sort of regret over the fight, because standing there, next to Luffy, he knew he found someone special.

He’d found someone who would be his best friend for a long long time.

-------------------------------------

PRESENT TIME

-------------------------------------

“Zorooooo.”

Luffy’s voice dragged out into a whine as he slumped sideways, burying his face straight into the nape of Zoro’s neck.

Luffy was so warm. So damp with sweat… 

“When are we getting to the hotel?” Luffy groaned, his breath hot brushed against Zoro’s pulse. “I’m staaaarving…”

Zoro jammed his hand between their faces and shoved Luffy back by the forehead.

“Can you not rub up against me like that?” Zoro snapped. “You’re sweaty and I barely have any space as it is.”

The shuttle van was packed with all of their friends crammed into three rows. Luggage and bags were shoved wherever they would fit and the thick humid air carried a faint smell of sunscreen and salt.

Zoro was exhausted, but he wasn't the only one.

They’d just come in from a late flight, and everyone was a tad bit grumpy from the long travel day.

“Don’t shove him into me, mosshead!”

Zoro turned towards the source, ready to fire back, but the van hit a nasty bump.

Thud.

His head knocked into the window with a sharp crack.

“OW!"

A chorus of groans rose from behind them.

“Sorry!” the driver called. “Bumpy road ahead! I’ll try to avoid them, but it’s hard to see this late!”

Zoro rubbed the side of his head and cursed under his breath. Great. Just what he needed: arriving at the hotel with a bruise.

He glanced over his shoulder to see how the others were faring.

Even in the dim lighting, he could make out the rest of his friends shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

Nami had her fingers pressed to her temple like she had a headache, Vivi had her forehead pressed into the seat in front of her, Sanji was trying to shift away from Luffy, Usopp was complaining under his breath, Franky slouched awkwardly with his knees jammed into the seat in front of him, Chopper was half-asleep and swaying with every bump, and of course… Robin looked the least bothered. She always did.

Nine people crammed into a small van.

Nine.

Sometimes it still caught Zoro off gaurd with how big their group had grown. They had all gotten extremely close over the years, and their connection all traced back to one person.

“Luffy!”

Sanji’s grating voice cut through Zoro’s line of thought.

“Lean on mosshead, not me!” The blonde jabbed an elbow into Luffy’s side.

Zoro barely had time to react before Luffy tipped back into him again.

Luffy practically melted against him, going completely boneless like he’d decided that this was much better than leaning against Sanji.

Zoro clicked his tongue. He didn’t shove him off this time.

Instead, he shifted to brace his arm along the back of the seat and let it drop around Luffy’s shoulders. It was easier than fighting him, honestly. It kept him from sliding around every time the van hit another bump.

“Fine, you can stay,” Zoro muttered. “Just don’t move around so much.”

Luffy hummed contently, like he’d just been handed exactly what he wanted.

Zoro stared straight ahead.

This was fine. Completely normal by their standards. It was just Luffy being Luffy… Even if he felt like a damn space heater.

Seriously… How was one person this warm?

Zoro resisted the urge to shove him again, and shifted just enough to keep from sticking to him completely.

It didn’t matter.

Luffy had been like this since they were kids. Always too close, too loud, too comfortable taking up Zoro’s personal space like it belonged to him.

Eighteen years of this, but Zoro had gotten used to it.

“Can someone crank up the air? It’s too hot back here!” 

Zoro glanced over his shoulder at Nami, who was wedged into the middle seat of the row behind them. She was reaching up to adjust her girlfriend Vivi’s air vent, frowning deeply when it did absolutely nothing.

He’d known her long enough to recognize that exact expression. The one that meant she was already calculating how much she’d paid for this trip versus how much she was being inconvenienced. She had been this way since they met her in middle school.

There was no doubt in Zoro’s mind that she would be haggling the driver for a discount once they parked.

“Maybe we wouldn’t be so hot and cramped if you’d splurged for the bus instead of this cheap shuttle.” Usopp complained from Nami’s other side.

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence.

“…No offense, man!” he added quickly, leaning forward just enough to call it toward the driver.

The driver shifted awkwardly.

Zoro snorted under his breath.

Usopp had joined the group in high school, around the same time as Sanji. Usopp and Luffy had the same goofy energy. The two of them would feed off each other until teachers gave up trying to separate them.

“We are not wasting money when we all fit perfectly fine,” Nami elbowed Usopp back to reclaim her space. “You can survive being uncomfortable for thirty minutes.”

Usopp recoiled like he’d been stabbed.

“Okay, but you could’ve at least picked a flight without that nightmare layover,” he argued, gesturing dramatically out the dark window. “I can’t even see the ocean! It’s too damn late!”

“I gotta agree with Usopp on this one.” A deeper voice called from the last row behind Zoro. 

Zoro craned his neck just enough to catch Franky crammed into the last row. One arm was hooked behind Robin’s seat, in a futile attempt to stretch for more space.

“It would’ve been nice to check in early,” Franky went on, “maybe eat dinner at the resort instead of that airplane garbage.”

“Mmm… food…” Luffy hummed beside him.

Zoro grimaced when he felt the unmistakable warm line of drool trailing from Luffy’s mouth onto his shirt.

‘You’ve gotta be kidding me.’

Zoro thought as he tilted his head just enough to glare down at Luffy, who was already half-gone in whatever food fantasy he’d drifted into.

Zoro sighed, dragging a hand over the damp spot.

Whatever.

Luffy had drooled on him plenty of times before.

“We also would’ve been at the resort by now if someone-” Nami’s voice sharpened as she twisted in her seat, eyes locking onto Franky, “wasn’t so adamant about grabbing his wallet before getting in the shuttle even though his wife had already packed it in their suitcase!”

Franky frowned, clearly offended.

“Don’t shame a bro for his quirks,” he said. “I can’t get in a car unless I know my wallet’s in my pocket.”

“It’s not a bad quirk,” Robin added calmly, patting his arm. “It’s actually quite practical in case your body is flung from the vehicle during a terrible accident. It would make identification much easier.”

Zoro felt a shudder crawl up his spine.

The van went quiet.

Even the driver stopped shifting around up front.

Zoro stared straight ahead, jaw tightening.

‘…Why did she have to say it like that?’

“Robin, that’s too scary!” Chopper’s small voice piped up from the far back. 

Zoro could barely make out Chopper’s brown curly hair trembling in the dark, but he didn’t need to look to know their shortest friend was probably clutching onto his seat for dear life.

Only Luffy looked completely unfazed.

“Hmm,” Robin hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her lips. “Though, if the body were severed in half, there is a chance the portion containing identification wouldn’t be recovered.”

Zoro’s eye twitched.

“Babe… read the room…” Franky sighed.

“Yeah,” Usopp added quickly, his voice tight. “I’d like to go to bed without nightmares tonight, thanks.”

Another pause.

“…But seriously, you did hold us up with the wallet thing.”

Franky straightened, immediately defensive.

“Hey! If you’re blaming anyone, blame Sanji,” he shot back. “He was the last one in the van ‘cause the luggage had to be handled a certain way.”

Sanji’s head snapped around, eyes ablaze as they locked onto Franky.

“I was not going to let the men’s filthy luggage crush Nami and Vivi's bags,” he said through gritted teeth. “Have some respect for a lady’s belongings.”

Zoro rolled his eyes.

“Our driver had it handled just fine until you started acting like a priss about it,” he muttered.

He barely got the last word out before-

THWACK!

“OI!”

Pain flared up his leg where Sanji’s foot connected cleanly with his shin.

Zoro glared at the other over Luffy’s head.

“I wouldn’t expect a moss-for-brains like you to understand,” Sanji shot back. “You don’t have a single chivalrous bone in your body.”

Zoro’s mouth curled into a snarl.

“Oh yeah? I think you’re the one who needs a good bon-”

He didn’t get to finish.

Sanji’s leg came flying again, but the cramped space betrayed him. His foot slammed into the back of the driver’s seat instead.

The whole van jolted.

Luffy leaned back instinctively as Zoro surged forward, ready to swing.

They barely had room to move, but that didn’t stop either of them from trying.

Luffy burst into a fit of laughter, his shoulders shaking like this was the best thing he’d seen all day.

The van swerved again as the driver overcorrected, clearly trying not to look back while chaos unfolded behind him.

“CAN WE ALL JUST CALM DOWN?!”

Vivi’s urgent cry was just loud enough to make both Zoro and Sanji pause.

Vivi looked flushed from the heat, strands of blue hair clinging to her cheeks as she fanned herself weakly.

“It’s too late for this kind of fighting,” she added, glancing toward the front. “And I’m sure we’re making our driver very uncomfortable…”

Zoro clicked his tongue, leaning back into his seat again, though his glare didn’t leave Sanji.

“Tch.”

Sanji mirrored him from the other side, arms crossed, still scowling.

“I’m sure he’s dealt with worse,” Zoro muttered.

“…Um… actually…” The driver’s voice wavered.

The van slowed to a stop at a red light, and the man slowly turned around.

A hush fell over the van.

The guy looked like he was one wrong word away from tears. Both hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles had gone white.

…Yeah. Okay. Maybe they took this one a bit too far.

No one said anything after that.

The rest of the ride settled into awkward silence.

Luffy didn’t stay still for long.

Every few minutes he’d lean forward again, practically draping himself over the center console to peer through the windshield beside the driver.

“Oooh, are we close?”

“Hey, is that it?”

“Do you have any snacks on you?”

The poor driver looked increasingly stressed every time Luffy suddenly appeared beside him.

To ease the driver's nerves whenever Luffy leaned too far, Zoro would hook an arm around his middle or grab the back of his shirt and pull him back to prevent him from toppling into the front seat.

“Sit down before you kill somebody,” Zoro muttered after the third time.

Luffy pouted but settled back against him without complaint.

The van rounded a turn. Tall walls emerged from the darkness outside.

Soft golden lights illuminated elegant lettering against the dark night. It looked just as expensive and polished as it had in the brochure Nami shoved in everyone’s faces months ago.

Thousand Sunny Springs.

Zoro let out a long breath.

The tension in his shoulders eased little by little as reality finally settled in.

They’d made it.

Fourteen miserable hours of airports, layovers, lines, cramped seats, stale air, bad food, and listening to Usopp complain every twenty minutes would finally be over.

Zoro closed his eyes and let the side of his head rest against the top of Luffy’s.

He could already picture the room waiting for them: Cold air conditioning, clean sheets, a bed soft enough to sink into face-first, and (in the next bed over) Luffy would be snoring loud enough to shake the walls.

Zoro never understood why everyone acted like the snoring was unbearable. Sure, it was loud, but after years of it, the sound had become strangely familiar. Comforting, even. Like background noise his brain automatically associated with home… Nostogia would hit him as he remembered Luffy’s snoring from countless sleepovers where they would be sprawled across their bedroom floors and the soft flickering of the TV would illuminate Luffy's peaceful face when he couldn't stay up any longer.

Luffy asleep nearby meant everything was right with the world.

A finger poked Zoro's cheek.

“Oi.” Zoro cracked one eye open to look at the culprit.

Luffy was grinning at him from inches away. Even in the dark van, his eyes shimmered with excitement. 

“We’re here!”

The van slowed toward the entrance.

Warm light spilled outward through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the lobby in soft gold. Even from outside, Zoro could see polished marble floors, huge tropical plants, and fountains.

Zoro had to hand it to Nami… this place was fancier than he expected.

Beyond the lobby, another wall of glass revealed the center of the resort.

Tall hotel buildings curved around an enormous pool lit from beneath, the water glowing blue against the star-filled night sky. Farther back, just barely visible in the darkness, stretched the beach.

The ocean itself looked almost endless this late at night. It was just a black void swallowing the horizon whole.

During the day, it’d probably look incredible.

Right now, though?... It looked kind of ominous.

“WOAH!”

Luffy was practically vibrating beside him.

Surprisingly, the driver was the first person out of the van. The second the vehicle stopped, the man launched himself from the driver’s seat like he was escaping the pit of hell.

Zoro craned his neck to watch the guy speed-walk toward the back of the van without even a pause.

By the time Sanji slid open the passenger door, the driver had already unloaded half the luggage.

“Hey! Be careful with the bags on top!” Sanji snapped immediately. He jumped out the door and rushed to the back of the shuttle. “Those belong to the ladies!”

Zoro rolled his eyes.

Luffy jumped out next, sandals smacking against the pavement. 

“This place looks amazing!” Luffy exclaimed. He stretched his arms wide like he was trying to physically embrace the resort.

Zoro climbed out after him. The humid air wrapped around him immediately, but at least he could move now. He stretched both arms overhead until his spine gave a pleasant crack. 

Damn, that felt better.

One by one, everyone else exited the vehicle… groaning and untangling themselves after being folded into the van for so long.

“Finally…” Usopp groaned dramatically while rubbing his back. “I don’t think I could survive another second being crushed in a small space with all of you.”

“Don’t get comfortable yet,” Nami warned while stretching one arm across her chest. “We still have to get checked in and sort out the rooms.”

“That’s fine,” Usopp sighed. “So do we grab our own bags or…”

A piercing whistle cut through the night.

Everyone jumped.

Zoro turned just in time to see their driver cupping his hands around his mouth toward a smaller building beside the main lobby.

A tired-looking bellhop poked his head out from a side entrance.

The driver pointed at them.

“They’re your problem now!”

Before anyone could respond, he slammed the van doors shut, sprinted back into the driver’s seat, and peeled away so fast the tires squealed.

The group stared after the retreating vehicle.

“…What the hell?” Nami frowned. “I didn’t even get a chance to ask for a discount on the return trip.”

“Honey,” Vivi sighed gently, “I think we should be more concerned about whether they’ll agree to pick us up at all.”

Nami pressed her lips together.

Judging by the narrowing of her eyes, she must have realized that Vivi had a point.

Behind her, Sanji was fully committed to “rescuing” the women's luggage. He had crouched beside the luggage pile and dramatically heaved them up so they wouldn't “touch the dirty pavement too long”, when a sudden blur of movement flashed past the group.

Luffy came gliding across the pavement riding one of the luggage carts like a scooter, sandals planted on the bottom rack while he pushed himself forward with one foot.

The exhausted bellhop stumbled after him in panic.

“Sir! SIR PLEASE!”

Nami whipped around instantly.

“LUFFY!” Nami's voice cracked through the entrance area like a whip. “GET THE HELL OFF THAT THING BEFORE YOU GET US KICKED OUT!”

Luffy skidded to a stop on the luggage cart, one sandal still planted on the bottom rack while the other dragged across the pavement.

The excitement on his face immediately deflated into a pout.

“But I’m not hurting anybody.” he complained, his frown deepening.

The exhausted bellhop standing nearby looked like he disagreed very strongly but lacked the emotional strength to say so.

Nami let out a frustrated growl (that sounded much more like an internalized scream) before snapping her attention toward Zoro.

“You.” She jabbed a finger hard into his chest. Then pointed sharply toward Luffy. “Handle that.”

Zoro frowned instantly. His own irritation was building.

He hated when she ordered him around like that.

It was a damn nuisance, especially when he already dealt with enough bossiness from Perona back home.

“Why do I have to do anything?” Zoro argued. “He’s not hurting anybody.”

Zoro knew he had repeated Luffy’s own defense, but it was a sound one!

Luffy was just rolling around on a luggage cart having the time of his life. They were on vacation! There were worse things he could be doing.

Behind them, the bellhop cautiously approached Luffy again.

“Sir, I really need to ask you to step off the cart!”

Luffy smoothly rolled backward out of reach, laughing.

Nami’s eye twitched.

“I will personally exclude both of you from the snorkeling excursion if you don’t get him under control.” she leaned so close that Zoro could feel the venom radiating from her hissed warning. 

Zoro’s eyes narrowed. He was certain that his pout looked the same as Luffy’s did just moments ago.

Damn witch. 

With a long suffering sigh, Zoro shoved his hands into his pockets and walked over toward Luffy, who brightened instantly when Zoro approached.

“Come on,” Zoro said. “Hop off.”

Luffy frowned at him now too, eyes widening into an almost pathetic expression.

“But I wanted to ride it inside,” he whined.

Zoro felt his resolve weaken instantly.

Damn it.

He could never handle that face. It always felt wrong seeing him disappointed, like watching the sun go dim in the sky.

“I’ll carry you inside if you get off.” 

Like a light switch flipping, Luffy’s grin spread back across his face. Apparently, this compromise was a satisfactory one.

Zoro turned around just in time for Luffy to launch himself onto his back. The impact nearly knocked the air out of him despite being completely expected.

Warm arms wrapped around his shoulders and strong legs hooked around his waist.

The familiar weight settled against Zoro easily. Really, they had done so many times before that it felt natural at this point.

Zoro adjusted his grip under Luffy’s thighs before turning his attention back to the group.

None of their friends looked surprised. At this point, everyone in the group was completely desensitized to Luffy climbing on him like an oversized backpack.

The bellhop, however, looked utterly bewildered by them.

Zoro ignored it.

People outside the group had a tendency to stare when Luffy was involved.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Usopp told the bellhop while stacking his own bag onto the cart. “Keeping this group organized is like herding cats.”

“Uh… No apology is necessary.” The bellhop replied awkwardly. He reached for one of the other luggage and began loading the Luffy-free cart. “I can take the luggage from here. The front desk will direct everything to the appropriate rooms.”

“But won’t you need to know whose bags belong who?” Chopper asked.

“Can we figure that out after check-in?” Franky groaned. “I’m about five minutes from passing out.”

“I’ve got the reservation info,” Nami said, already swiping through her phone with intense focus. “Everyone else just sit down somewhere while I handle this.”

Robin gently coaxed Sanji into finally relinquishing the remaining luggage to the bellhop, and little by little the group filtered into the lobby.

Nami and Vivi headed toward the main desk together.

As others collapsed into nearby armchairs, Zoro lingered near the entrance instead. He paused to adjust Luffy to sit higher on his back and took in the resort properly.

The lobby was massive.

Three separate help desks sat spaced throughout the room, each had polished wood that gleamed beneath warm hanging lights. Blue mosaic tiles lined portions of the ceiling like waves, contrasting against the dark wooden beams overhead.

An assortment of leather couches and armchairs surrounded a sleek indoor bar tucked near one side of the room.

Zoro’s gaze lingered there longer than necessary.

A drink sounded really good right now. Unfortunately, the bar was closed.

Luffy shifted on his back, chin resting lazily against Zoro’s shoulder while he looked out the double doors with open fascination.

“That pool is huuuuuuuge!”

Zoro turned his head to look in the same direction as Luffy. Instead, his eyes landed on a peculiar tree right beside the bar window.

Its branches twisted wide, stretching outward like grasping fingers. Strange fruit hung in clusters, their colors so vibrant they almost seemed unnatural beneath the soft yellow resort lights. It was lovely and eye catching, but it was the movement from beneath the tree that drew his attention.

A tall broad shouldered man stood there. His silhouette was imposing, and the sharp spikes of his dark hair gave the strange impression of horns jutting from his head.

At first, Zoro thought the man was simply admiring the tree.

Then he noticed the way the stranger's gaze swept across the grounds, like he was making sure nobody was watching.

Despite his shiftiness, it was not done nervously. It looked more like it was out of habit or routine. 

Without further hesitation, the man reached up. His hand closed around one of the colorful fruits.

It took one quick twist for the fruit to come free.

Zoro watched as the stranger slipped it into an inner pocket of his vest with ease.

Zoro's brows furrowed in confusion.

That seemed… odd. Were others allowed to take fruit from the resort landscaping? Was he stealing it?

Before he could think much further, the man looked up. His eyes wandered across the lobby windows. 

His gaze locked with Zoro's.

Even through the glass and the distance between them, Zoro felt a shift in the atmosphere.

One moment, the man’s expression was neutral. The next, his face hardened into a cold glare.

The hair on the back of Zoro’s neck stood up, making him feel as though he had observed something he wasn't supposed to.

“Zoroooooo!”

Pain flicked through his ear.

“Ow!”

Zoro jerked his attention away from the window.

Luffy’s face was absurdly close to his own. Close enough that Zoro could see the tiny freckles beneath his eyes. One hand was still reaching for the gold droplet earring he'd just flicked.

“What?!” Zoro snapped.

Luffy grinned unapologetically. His legs tightened around Zoro's waist for a better grip.

“Take me closer to Nami and Vivi,” he said. “I wanna make sure we get extra snacks in our minibar.”

Zoro felt his irritation flare.

“That’s your priority right now?”

“Yup.”

Zoro fought the urge to roll his eyes and glanced toward the window one final time.

The man was gone.

Zoro frowned.

There wasn't anywhere obvious for him to disappear to, but there was no movement near the tree. No silhouette walking away. No sign of him at all. Only branches swaying gently beneath the resort lights.

It was as though he'd vanished.

Maybe he was more tired than he realized… Fourteen hours of travel probably had his brain running on fumes.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GAVE AWAY OUR RESERVATIONS?!”

Nami's voice detonated through the previously tranquil lobby.

Zoro’s head whipped toward the front desk.

Nami was gripping the counter with both hands so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

Beside her, Vivi looked equally horrified.

Zoro’s blood turned cold when Nami's outburst finally registered in his mind. 

His arms dropped to his sides.

"OOMF!"

Luffy slipped from Zoro's back and landed on the floor in a heap.

No one acknowledged it.

Everyone's attention was entirely tuned to the front desk.

“As I stated before…” the blonde concierge adjusted her glasses to glare sternly. She raised her voice ever so slightly over Nami’s, “the resort is only obligated to hold reservations for the day they are booked. If you look at the time…”

The woman pointed toward the clock hanging behind her.

"It's tomorrow."

The condescending tone seemed to make Nami physically vibrate.

"Because of the absence, your rooms were rebooked due to high demand.”

"High demand for what?!" Nami’s fist slammed into the desk. "I purposely booked this after your busy season! After spring break! We're not even near summer!"

“The demand increased because of the bioluminescent phenomenon that will be occurring on our beaches.”

For one brief moment, Nami looked confused. Then her anger flared back to life.

“That does not excuse giving away our rooms!”

The concierge visibly braced herself when Nami's voice rose another octave.

“I booked these reservations months ago,” Nami continued. “You can't just hand them to somebody else because we were a few hours late!"

The concierge remained calm. Although, her jaw tightened as she adjusted her glasses once more.

“Your check-in was at one o'clock yesterday afternoon,” the concierge replied evenly. “You arrived more than twelve hours later."

Nami looked seconds away from climbing over the counter.

“Do we not have a room?”

Chopper’s small voice wavered from across the room. The youngest in their party looked genuinely devastated. Tears were already gathering in the corner of his eyes.

Usopp wasn't looking much better.

Neither was Franky.

Even Robin had paused reading the brochure she'd picked up.

Zoro didn't feel so hot himself.

The idea of spending all those hours traveling only to discover they had nowhere to sleep was a nightmare!

“We still have one of your reservations available,” the concierge said matter of factly. Her red manicured fingernails clacked against her keyboard. “The best I can do is place your entire party in that room and contact you if additional rooms become available.”

Sanji made a horrified choking noise.

“This can't be happening...” Usopp muttered. He buried his face in his hands. “This can't be happening...”

“I did not pay for four rooms just for all of us to be shoved into one,” Nami seethed.

“You will not be charged for the unavailable rooms until replacements become available.”

“Do you know when that will be?” Vivi asked quickly.

Her hand had settled on Nami's shoulder and began to rub slow soothing circles through the fabric of Nami's shirt.

“I honestly don't know,” The concierge sighed. “We weren't anticipating this level of demand.”

Her fingers clacked rapidly across the keyboard.

“The bioluminescence is extremely rare in this area. The last major occurrence was eight years ago.”

She turned her monitor around for them to see.

A video played across the screen.

Dark waves rolled onto a beach before suddenly bursting into brilliant shades of blue. The water shimmered with an almost ethreal glow, lighting the shoreline like scattered stars. Every movement in the surf left trails of luminous color behind.

“WOAH! The water really glows like that?!” Luffy launched himself toward the desk and shoved himself directly between Nami and Vivi to get a closer look. “That's awesome!”

Nami shoved an elbow into his side.

“Move…”

“Ow!”

“...BACK!”

Luffy scooted over just enough to avoid a second elbow.

“The conditions don't happen every night,” the concierge continued. “Many visitors extend their stays while waiting for ideal viewing conditions. Some remain for weeks hoping to swim in the illuminated water.”

With the way Luffy was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Zoro figured his friend looked ready to do exactly that.

“We'll take the room you have available,” Vivi said smoothly while Nami was distracted. “Would it be possible to get your name? I'd like to know who to contact if additional rooms become available.”

Another click of the keyboard and a printer hummed beneath the desk. The concierge retrieved a sheet of paper and folded it neatly into a sleek black resort brochure.

“My name is Kalifa,” she didn't even glance up as she wrote her name across the front. “I typically work the night shift. I've also documented everything on your reservation so any staff member can access the notes.”

The brochure slid across the counter into Vivi's waiting hands.

“Thank you,” Vivi said.

“Please wait while I retrieve a temporary room key and have the room prepared according to your special reques-”

“Ah-ah-ah!”

Nami raised a hand so quickly that Kalifa paused mid-turn.

“Cancel that request,” Nami insisted. “We won't be needing it anymore.”

Kalifa raised an eyebrow.

Zoro furrowed his own brow curiously.

Request? What request?

He glanced around the group.

Nobody else looked confused.

In fact, the others suddenly became very interested in the decorative lobby decor. Well… everyone but Luffy. 

Usopp whistled innocently while staring in the opposite direction.

Even Vivi was avoiding eye contact.

Kalifa adjusted her glasses with an exasperated sigh. 

“Very well.” She replied, then disappeared through a door behind the desk.

Zoro watched her leave before rounding on Nami.

“What request?” Zoro nudged Nami.

Nami only gave an annoyed glare as an answer.

Meanwhile, Luffy was still staring at the computer monitor.

“Do you think the water glows all the way to the bottom?” Luffy asked excitedly. “Can fish glow too? What if we catch glowing fish?”

“I don't think that's how it works,” Chopper answered.

“I hope it is. Oh! Or what if it can give you super powers!”

The conversation immediately shifted toward the glowing waters.

Zoro continued to stare at Nami for another moment, but the red head turned to rest her head on the counter looking utterly defeated by the way the night was turning out.

Weird, but whatever.

Right now, he had a more pressing problem. Like how they were going to fit nine adults into one room.

His brain kept trying (and failing) to figure out how that arrangement was supposed to work.

Franky alone occupied enough space for at least two people.

Sanji would absolutely refuse to sleep anywhere near him.

Usopp kicked in his sleep.

Chopper somehow managed to spread out despite being the smallest person in the group.

Robin slept like a corpse, which was unsettling for everyone involved.

And Luffy...

Zoro glanced toward his best friend.

Luffy always ended up pressed against him, arms wrapped in a tight embrace… That wouldn't be too bad.

Several minutes later, Kalifa returned carrying a key card.

“As I mentioned before, this is a temporary room key.”

She handed it directly to Vivi.

“Your resort wristbands will function as both room keys and activity passes. The welcome desk opens at seven in the morning and can prepare them for you.” Her gaze swept across the exhausted group. “Any questions?”

Everyone remained silent. Nobody had the energy left to speak.

Kalifa nodded approvingly.

“Excellent. Your luggage has already been delivered to the room.”

A collective sigh of relief spread through the group.

At least their luggage was already waiting for them.

“Thank you for choosing Thousand Sunny Springs.”

Vivi offered Kalifa a tired smile and turned toward Nami.

The redhead stared at the floor for a moment before releasing a long defeated sigh.

“Everybody move.”

Her voice had gone completely monotone, lacking its usual fire.

Honestly, that worried Zoro more than the yelling had.

Angry Nami was normal. Sad Nami was a bit unsettling.

The group shuffled toward the exit. Exhaustion had caught up to everyone by this point, evident by the way they moved in silence. 

The humid night air wrapped around them the moment they stepped outside. Earlier it had felt tropical and exciting. Now it just felt sticky.

A breeze stirred tree leaves overhead.

The rustling immediately pulled Zoro's attention back toward the strange tree near the lobby exit. His eyes settled on the twisted branches and the colorful fruit before scanning the spot where he had seen that man standing.

Beside him, Robin took notice of Zoro's attention and followed his gaze. She then stopped walking all together.

Zoro glanced over.

Her eyes were completely fixed on the tree, staring at it with as much intensity as Zoro had.

Franky was the next to notice. 

“Everything alright, babe?” He took a few steps back to stand beside her and Zoro.

Robin didn't answer.

She continued watching the tree in silence. Her eerie blue eyes didn't even blink.

The rest of the group kept walking, too tired to notice.

The back of Zoro's neck prickled. Something about the entire situation felt off. After all, Robin wasn't the type to become distracted by nothing.

“Is something wrong?” Zoro asked.

Robin finally blinked. Her shoulders jumped ever so slightly as though she had just remembered others were standing there.

Her lips curved into a small reassuring smile. It was one she wore whenever she chose not to explain something.

“I'm fine.” Her gaze shifted back toward the tree. “You all go ahead. I'd like to examine something before heading to the room.”

Zoro looked from Robin to the tree… then back to Robin. His friend was an archeologist. Not a Botanist. Yet, there was obviously something about the tree that had his friend transfixed and it had piqued Zoro's own curiosity.

His eyes swept over the surrounding area for the strange man… 

There!

Leaning against the lobby building, nearly out of view, was the man with the oddly styled hair. His own cold eyes were watching them closely.

Zoro instinctively squared his shoulders. 

The man’s lips curled into a grimace. He kicked off the wall and turned his back to them. Only then did Zoro see that the man’s vest had SECURITY written in large bold letters across his back.

Zoro’s chest deflated in confusion. 

Was that man a security guard? Or a thief? Was he both?

Maybe exhaustion was making him paranoid…

“I'll stay with her.” 

Franky’s large hand landed on Zoro's shoulder, effectively pulling his attention away from the security guard.

“We'll catch up in a few minutes.”

Zoro hesitated. Part of him wanted to stay in case they needed him, but Robin wasn't exactly fragile. If anything, she was one of the more terrifying members of their group when she wanted to be. Plus, Franky wasn't exactly easy to intimidate either.

“Alright.” Zoro nodded. His eyes flickered to the tree one last time, before settling back to Robin. “Don't stay behind too long. Call if you need me to come back.”

Robin smiled.

Franky gave him a reassuring thumbs-up.

With that, Zoro finally turned and followed after the others.

Of the two resort buildings that curved around the massive pool, their room was located in the building to the left.

As they walked, the pool gradually disappeared behind walls and tropical landscaping.

The hallway they entered was open to the night air on one side.

Beside them, a lazy river wound around a swim up bar. Soft lights beneath the water cast rippling reflections across the ceiling.

The sound of flowing water blended with the distant rhythm of waves rolling onto shore.

At least the place was nice. It was probably lively during the day, and they were pretty centered to the pool, lazy river, and beach. Plenty of opportunity to swim, unwind, and keep Nami from murdering someone over the reservation fiasco.

Probably.

Halfway down the corridor, Vivi and Nami suddenly stopped.

The rest of the group nearly collided into their backs.

“What now?” Usopp groaned.

Zoro followed their line of sight.

A decorative sash hung across the door with white fabric, red hearts, and several glittering stars stretched across the center.

“Are we interrupting some special night you both had planned?” Zoro raised a brow, but his question fell on deaf ears.

Beside him, Nami made a strangled sound.

“I told her to cancel that.” She growled through clenched teeth.

Vivi quickly stepped in.

“It's okay.” She forced a smile. “We can just take it down.”

“Can we take it down tomorrow?” Usopp asked. “I don't care what weird thing is on the door. I just want to sleep.”

“Agreed,” Chopper mumbled.

Without further discussion, Vivi tapped the key card against the lock.

A green light flashed.

The door clicked open.

Vivi and Nami stepped inside. Both women immediately froze.

“What the hell is this?!” Nami shouted.

That didn't sound promising…

He leaned forward to look past them.

The first thing he noticed was the trail of rose petals that stretched from the entrance deeper into the room.

The second thing Zoro noticed was the layout. Or rather… the complete lack of one.

The front door opened into a wide entryway that led them in between their overstuffed closet of suitcases and the bathroom.

The opening of the bathroom was nearly twice the width of a normal doorway, leaving the sink, shower, and toilet completely visible with no door to close it off.

Farther inside, the sleeping area opened into a large uninterrupted space. The furniture seemed unusually low to the ground. The couches sat lower. The coffee table sat lower. Even the bed looked closer to the floor than normal.

The entire room felt oddly spread out while simultaneously feeling too small.

Zoro's brain hurt just looking at it.

Who the hell designed a room like this?!

Usopp shoved past him to investigate.

A second later, a horrified gasp echoed through the room.

"THERE'S NO PRIVACY!" His voice bounced off the bathroom tiles. "This is a nightmare!"

Luffy wandered inside next, completely unbothered by any of the obvious problems.

He crossed the room until he reached the far side where large glass doors looked out to the giant resort pool, which was within walking distance of their patio.

His eyes swept across the room. A wide grin spread across his face.

"We really get to share the whole experience together!"

Usopp whipped around so fast Zoro thought he heard his neck crack.

"What experience are you talking about?!"

He pointed accusingly toward the bathroom.

"I can't use the toilet with all of you watching me!"

Luffy tilted his head.

"You can if you stop being weird about it."

"I'M NOT THE WEIRD ONE!"

"I think you're being pretty weird."

Sanji finally stepped inside, as they continued to bicker. One look around seemed to drain whatever life remained in him.

Zoro took notice of the way Sanji's fingers twitched. No doubt he was itching for his favorite vice, one that had eluded him with the long day of travel… smoking.

"In what world is an open bathroom a good idea?" Sanji muttered while stuffing his hands deep into his pockets.

"I think this might be an accessibility room," Chopper piped up.

Everyone turned toward Chopper. 

The youngest member of their group was standing beside the front door, studying it closely.

"A what?" Zoro asked.

"An accessibility room." Chopper pointed toward the door. "You can tell from the lower peephole."

His finger traced over a second peephole positioned significantly lower than the normal one.

"Some hotels design larger, more open rooms to accommodate guests who use wheelchairs or mobility equipment," Chopper explained. "It makes navigating easier."

Zoro stared at the bathroom unimpressed. 

"I'm pretty sure people in wheelchairs still want accessibility to privacy when they're taking a shit."

Chopper opened his mouth, paused, and nodded.

"...Fair point."

"This is ridiculous!" Nami marched farther into the room in a huff, gesturing wildly around her. "This cannot be the only room they had available! Even the furniture is lower to the ground!"

As if summoned by her complaint, a loud THUD sounded from the corner. Followed immediately by several creative curse words.

Sanji was hopping on one foot while clutching his shin. A low coffee table sat beside him.

"I'm too tall for this shit!"

"Don't you spend half your time kicking punching bags at the gym?" Zoro taunted.

Sanji shot him a murderous glare.

"A whole lot of good that training does if a coffee table can take you out."

Luffy immediately burst into laughter. He doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"Oh my god! Sanji got attacked by furniture!"

Sanji looked ready to strangle them both.

"Shut up!" Sanji dropped his foot to the floor with an angry stomp. "I could kick both of your heads in from here if I wanted to, and I guarantee both of your skulls are harder than that stupid table."

"Don't you dare start another fight!" Nami's voice cracked through the room like a whip. One arm shot out protectively in front of Vivi. "This room is cramped enough already. I don't need Vivi getting hurt in the crosshairs."

Sanji immediately backed down.

Zoro rolled his eyes at her dramatics.

"Forget fighting!" Usopp called from the bathroom. His voice carried a faint echo. "How am I the only one freaking out about the bathroom situation?!"

Before anyone could answer, a knock sounded at the door.

Chopper hurried to open it.

Robin and Franky stood outside. Both carried armfuls of extra blankets and pillows. Apparently they had anticipated the sleeping arrangement disaster before the rest of them.

The pair stepped inside the cramped room, unbothered by the tension already growing in their close quarters.

"So, this is the room?" Franky looked around.

"It would appear so," Chopper replied. He stepped aside to let them enter. "I think we're all going to get a little closer than we originally planned."

"The bathroom doesn't even have a door!" Usopp shouted… again.

Robin's gaze drifted toward the frame surrounding the entrance. She studied it quietly for several seconds. Without saying a word, she ran her fingers along the edge of the wall.

A soft click sounded.

Everyone stared as Robin pulled at a hidden latch, revealing a pocket door that slid smoothly from inside the wall.

The entire bathroom disappeared behind it. Usopp vanished from their view.

Stunned silence filled the room.

How had every single one of them missed that?

Another beat of stunned silence passed before it was broken by the door sliding open.

Usopp launched himself out of the bathroom and wrapped both arms around Robin in a dramatic embrace, causing one of the extra pillows to fall to the floor.

"THANK YOU!" Usopp looked seconds away from tears. "What would we do without you?!"

Robin smiled and gently patted his shoulder.

The expression on Usopp's face somehow became even more emotional.

Zoro glanced toward the newly discovered pocket door.

"Well, at least we've got bathroom privacy again."

"Aww." Luffy crossed his arms with a pout. "I thought it would've been funny if there wasn't a door."

Usopp pulled away from Robin to glare at Luffy.

"HOW THE HELL WOULD THAT BE FUNNY?!"

"Can you please lower your voice?" Vivi gave a tired plea. She rubbed her temple with one hand while leaning heavily against the wall. "I don't think I can survive a week of all this yelling."

Robin stepped forward before another argument could start.

"Perhaps we should decide on sleeping arrangements and call it a night."

Her suggestion was met with a murmer of approvals.

"Can't we all just pile into the bed?" Luffy suggested. "We can all sleep together."

“NO!” Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and Nami snapped at Luffy.

The response came so quickly and in such perfect synchronization that it startled even Zoro.

"What? Why not?" Luffy looked genuinely confused.

"Obviously the ladies get the bed," Sanji swept one arm dramatically toward Nami, Vivi, and Robin.

Robin offered him a warm smile.

"That's very generous of you, Sanji. Thank you."

Sanji immediately melted. His knees nearly buckled.

As if a realization struck, his eyes widened with excitement.

"And I get to sleep on the bed too since it was my idea!" He thrust both fists into the air victoriously as if the decision had already been made.

"Not a chance in hell," Nami said flatly.

Sanji lowered his arms, making it look as though his soul visibly left his body.

"I'll sleep on the floor." Zoro spoke up.

"I'll sleep next to Zoro!" Luffy volunteered immediately.

The answer came so quickly that Zoro wasn't sure the idiot had even thought about it.

Not that he minded.

Robin handed Chopper one of the pillows.

"I think Chopper should take the couch." Robin suggested. "The rest of us are too tall for it anyways."

Chopper eyes became suspiciously shiny.

"I get the couch?" He looked around the room as if waiting for someone to challenge the decision.

Nobody did.

The next thing Zoro knew, Chopper had wrapped Robin in a grateful hug.

"Usopp's right!" Chopper cried. "What would we do without you?!"

Robin laughed softly.

"I guess that means the rest of us are on the floor," Franky said.

Usopp looked horrified.

"Do you know how many diseases are probably living on hotel floors?"

Nobody answered.

“Do you want to get COVID on this trip? Because I'm pretty sure we would all get COVID that way.” Usopp continued.

"Usopp." Nami's voice carried a warning. "Stop being a baby and pick a place to sleep."

Usopp grumbled something under his breath but finally relented.

Slowly the room settled into organized chaos.

Everyone took turns digging through suitcases for pajamas, chargers, and toiletries.

The bathroom became a revolving door of activity as they each took turns brushing their teeth.

Nami and Vivi claimed it first.

While they were occupied, Franky and Robin began distributing the extra blankets and pillows they'd brought back.

Robin handed one to Zoro.

"Thanks."

His fingers curled around the pillow.

Then something occurred to him.

"I thought you were staying behind to look at that tree."

"I was, but security asked us to leave the area.” Robin answered smoothly. Her expression didn't change as she spoke. "So we decided to grab extra bedding while we were near the lobby."

Zoro frowned. Something about that felt incomplete. Like Robin was omitting some important details. Such as why she was interested in the tree in the first place.

His thoughts drifted back to the strange man he'd seen standing beneath it. Particularly, the way the guy's expression had darkened the moment he'd realized Zoro was watching.

Maybe Robin had noticed something too.

"Zoro.”

Zoro was pulled from his thoughts by Vivi, who was standing near several suitcases.

One of her hands rested on her blue bag while the other pointed toward a green duffel.

Zoro awkwardly navigated around the maze of blankets, pillows, and exhausted friends sprawled throughout the room. It felt like traversing an obstacle course.

The bathroom was thankfully uneventful.

Chopper finished first and quickly gathered his things before slipping back into the main room.

“Night, Zoro.”

“Night.”

By the time Zoro finished brushing his teeth and splashed water over his face, the room beyond the bathroom had grown noticeably quieter.

He stepped back into the main area.

Immediately, he spotted Luffy kneeling on the floor beside his red backpack digging through a grocery bag that he had deemed suitable enough to call a toiletry bag.

Luffy's tongue poked from the corner of his mouth as he dug through the contents with intense concentration.

“Damn.” His shoulders slumped. “I forgot my toothbrush.”

His eyes flickered up and brightened the moment he saw Zoro. 

“Hey! Can I borrow yours for the week.”

Zoro didn't think twice.

“Yeah. We can share.”

He tossed his toiletry bag toward Luffy.

Luffy caught it effortlessly.

“Awesome!” Luffy beamed happily before he disappeared into the bathroom.

Zoro turned to the main living area, only to be met with silent judgemental stares.

“What?”

Unsurprisingly, Sanji was the first to speak up. 

“That is just vile. You can't share a toothbrush.”

“Why not? We already share food.” Zoro stepped over Usopp's blanket and made his way toward his sleeping spot. “Sharing a toothbrush isn't that different.”

“Bro…” Franky shook his head from where he was attempting to plug in his sleep apnea machine. “That's super gross.”

Zoro felt annoyance boil under his skin. 

“Toothbrushes are for cleaning anyways!” Zoro argued. “You kiss Robin. You're swapping way more saliva than Luffy and I are.”

“Yeah, I kiss my wife,” Franky shot back. “I'm not scraping tartar off her teeth with my tongue.”

Robin looked mildly amused.

“Ask Chopper.” Franky continued. “He'll tell you it's unhygienic.”

“Chopper is going to school to be a doctor. Not a dentist.” Zoro snapped back.

“Chopper,” Usopp called desperately. “Please explain to him how gross this is.”

Chopper was already wrapped entirely in a blanket cocoon. Only the top of his head remained visible.

“With how rarely those two shower,” Chopper mumbled without opening his eyes, “I'm just happy they brush their teeth at all.”

Nobody continued the argument after that. Everyone seemed to collectively accept that answer.

Eventually Luffy emerged from the bathroom looking entirely pleased with himself.

The toiletry bag was returned to Zoro's duffle bag.

Lights were turned off.

People shuffled into their chosen sleeping spots where blankets were adjusted and pillows fluffed.

The bed looked crowded with Nami, Vivi, and Robin sharing it.

Franky had claimed the floor directly beside Robin's side of the mattress. His sleep apnea machine was already softly humming.

Sanji settled near the foot of the bed.

Usopp had somehow positioned himself in the exact center of the room.

And Luffy...

Luffy immediately dropped down beside Zoro.

Within seconds, he had claimed half of Zoro's blanket and made himself comfortable.

Zoro stretched out on his back.

The sliding glass doors beside them offered a view of the softly illuminated resort grounds. Reflections from the pool water danced across the ceiling.

Beyond that, somewhere in the darkness, the ocean waited.

It wasn't a terrible place to sleep.

The floor was surprisingly comfortable, the room was cool, and (despite all the chaos of the evening) everyone had finally settled down.

Luffy shifted closer. His head found its familiar place against Zoro's chest.

Zoro automatically draped an arm around Luffy's shoulders.

A satisfied sound escaped Luffy's parted lips, followed by snoring.

The trip was already off to a disastrous start: cancelled reservations, odd trees, and he was surrounded by rose petals for reasons he still didn't understand.

Still...

As he listened to the steady rhythm of everyone's breathing and felt Luffy's snores vibrating against his chest, Zoro found himself relaxing.

Whatever problems tomorrow brought could wait until tomorrow.

For now, everyone was here. Together.

His eyes finally drifted shut.

A few moments later, sleep claimed him completely.

--------------------------------